#[ so all I'm saying is: if you want to escape the US then do your homework and come prepared ]

[heavyhitterheaux]

GQ Couples Quiz

See Me Through You Series

Synopsis: You and your favorite person in the world decide to participate in the GQ Couples Quiz

Pairing: Husband!Joe Burrow x Wife!Reader

Requested by: a beautiful anon 😍

Series Masterlist

Please Do Not Repost My Content Anywhere

The two of you were sitting across from one another as the cameras had begun rolling and Joe was all smiles as he stared back at you which made your face instantly heat up and a laugh escaped from your mouth.

“Why are you laughing? We haven't even started yet!” Joe asked you as he also started laughing.

“Because you're staring at me!”

“So, I can’t look at my wife anymore? Where do you want me to look? The floor?”

“I didn't say that!”

“Are you going to laugh the entire time? How are we supposed to get through the questions?”

“As long as you're on your best behavior we shouldn't have a problem.” You told him as you shuffled the cards in your lap.

“I think that you need to take your own advice. Anyway, I'm Joe Burrow and this is my wife….”

“Y/N Chase-Burrow.”

“I… since when is your name hyphenated? That isn't on your driver’s license.” Joe asked you with a confused look on his face.

“It’s not. I just did that for dramatic effect. And to see you make that face.” You answered with a smile as Joe gave you a blank stare.

“See, she’s starting already.”

“I'm definitely asking you all the hard questions.” You told him and he scoffed.

“And I know that I'm going to get them all right.” Joe replied as he winked at you, making your face heat up once more.

“We have to get through this in one sitting so stop looking at me like that! Okay, first question. I'll go easy on you and then they'll get harder.”

“I'm listening…” Joe told you as he sat up straighter in his chair.

“What's my full name?”

“Seriously? Y/N Katherine Chase-Burrow. You're named after your grandmother on your mother's side.”

“I thought you said my name wasn't hyphenated?” You asked as you eyed him.

“I… you said it first so I just repeated it. Next question, please.”

“Okay, where was I born?”

“Harvey, Louisiana. You were born at 3:36 in the morning while your twin was born at 3:39 even though you swear your parents found him in a dumpster behind Popeyes.”

“That’s my story and I'm sticking to it. And look at you trying to get extra brownie points. I didn't even know you knew what time that I was born.”

“I have my sources.”

“The sources being my mother, but moving on. What is my secret hidden talent?” You asked Joe and he was about to say something, but stopped.

“And keep this PG Burrow! I see you over there smirking.”

“I… you know what? I'm not even going to go there. Your hidden talent is that you're a really good baker. You don't do it as much as you did when we were at LSU, so when you do I tend to eat the entire thing.”

“Good job, baby. That's the one that I was thinking about. Okay, what's my favorite meal?”

“You don't really have one. But if I had to choose it's chicken parm. Now if we're talking cheat meals, you love tacos and pizza.”

“My husband knows me like the back of his hand.”

“I told you that I would get each one right.”

“Calm down, we aren't done yet.” You told him and he made a face at you.

“What's my favorite song to dance to around the house?”

“Juvenile, Back That Ass Up. Cash money taking over for the 99 and the 2000's.” Joe replied without hesitation, making you laugh.

“Still remember Erin and Alisha requesting that at our wedding reception.” He added as you went to the next card.

“How many Olympic medals do I have?”

“Four because my wife is amazing.”

“Aww. And what was the music that I used that has been my all time favorite floor routine that I did at LSU?”

“It was between the Prince or Beyoncé medley.”

“What was our first date?”

“Officially or unofficially? I feel like this could be a trick question.”

“Hmm, unofficially.”

“It was the day after we first met and we went on a breakfast date and we talked about how nervous I was going from a backup quarterback to being a starter.” Joe smiled at you as he remembered that day.

“And I told you that you were going to be amazing and look at how what I spoke into existence came true. When did we first tell each other ‘I love you’?”

“It was even before we officially became a couple since we had been friends first. But in a sense, you were actually the one who said it first.”

“Very true and I was scared out of my mind how you were going to take it.”

“But why? You knew that I liked you.” Joe asked as he smiled at you.

“Maybe because I fell so hard and so fast and I was hoping that everything would work out and it did since I now have a ring on my finger.” You told him as you held up your left hand to show the camera.

“You want to know when I knew that I was going to ask you to marry me?”

“I thought I was asking the questions, but yes tell me because I have no idea.”

“That summer after your first year at LSU and you came to visit me in Athens for two weeks. I saw how much my family loved you and how you fit in perfectly with us. When you left, I started designing your ring.”

Hearing him say this, your eyes went wide as your mouth hung open.

“Seriously?” You asked him as tears pricked your eyes.

“And I actually bought it during my rookie season.”

“You love me real bad, don't you?”

“Yes, and that doesn't even begin to cover it.”

“Last one before we switch. How do you know when I'm mad at you?”

“Easy, you call me by my first name. My full first name and give me that look.”

“What look?”

“It’s just a look you do and I know that I'm in trouble.” Joe told you as he finally held up his cards.

“You ready, wifey?”

“I was born ready, thank you.” You replied as you flipped your hair over your shoulder.

“Okay and I'm going easy on you for the first question and that's it. Where was I born?”

“Ames, Iowa. Give me a hard one.”

“What award did I win in my senior year of high school and what year was it?”

“Mr. Football and Gatorade player of the year in 2014. That wasn't hard.”

“Okay, then Mrs. Burrow, how many rushing touchdowns did I get in high school?”

“27.”

“I… I had no idea that you actually knew that.”

“I make it my business to know everything.” You answered as you fixed your necklace.

“Hmm, just like older siblings. But, moving on. Favorite dessert my mom makes me and favorite dessert that you make me?”

“Snickers salad and my strawberry cheesecake. “

“Can you tell me how many awards I got at LSU and name five of them?”

“16 in total. Hmm, only five? The Heisman, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Lombardi award, Walter Camp award, and unanimous all american. All of them you won in 2019.”

“Damn. At this rate, you probably know my playbook better than I do too.” Joe told you as he laughed with you joining in right along with him.

“I would definitely agree with that.”

“My favorite nickname for you?”

“Princess or baby doll.” You sweetly said as you twirled the end of your curly hair around your finger.

“What is my biggest fear?”

“Career wise or in general?”

“In general.”

“Now I think this one I actually don't know.”

“You do know and I'll give you a hint. Losing.”

“Losing? I'm still not sure.” You told him as you were trying to think of what he could possibly mean.

“Losing you. We've come close to it, so let's not do that again.” Joe quietly answered as you nodded.

“Promise not to.”

“What is the first thing I do when I wake up in the morning?”

“Kiss me and tell me you love me! And sometimes that wakes me up too.”

“Despite how grumpy you usually are.”

“Well yeah especially when you wake me up at 5 in the morning.”

“Last one, babe. I'll give you two points if you get this right. What was the degree I got at OSU and the degree I got at LSU?”

“At OSU, you finished in 3 years and your degree was in family and consumer financial services. At LSU, your masters is in liberal arts. Actually surprised you got that one since you had been all up on me ever since you got to Baton Rouge. Yall I never saw this man study. Our study sessions would turn into make out sessions every single time.”

“They would not! And I did study!”

“I'll ask my twin for confirmation, but he didn't even graduate so he's probably not the best person to ask.”

“Ask him when we leave. Anyway, you did amazing. You know me pretty well.” Joe told you as you scoffed.

“I would hope so. I'm married to you and we're locked in for life.”

“Yeah, I like you so I guess I'll keep you.” Joe told you as you gave him a blank stare.

“What do you mean you guess?!”

“And there we have it. That concludes our GQ couples quiz. See you guys next time.”

“Joseph! Answer my question!”

“Uh oh.”

[summertimesadnessirl]

The problem is...

We never escaped gender essentialsm.

We just got rope a doped.

Men were like "the girls are getting liberated! Let's make liberation about peer pressure and drug assisted date rape!"

Then that meant most women went back to being anti sex for a while, so men went

"Cool, the girls want to be in charge? Let's give them all the responsibility and none of the authority!"

Then they got to do weaponized incompetence while women were so used to being infantalized that they fell right into attempts to prove themselves until it was too late and when they were emotionally exhausted they were like "have you tried submission? Maybe if you don't want all the responsibility and none of the authority you might like to just sit back and do what someone else wants with no pesky thinking or yelling at men and feeling guilty and triggering your childhood trauma by feeling like you're doing the same infantalization that was done yo you as an infant?"

And then women were like

"Maybe I can just get a job and some cats dude idk." An the girls were getting financially liberated, somehow all the hiring practices became more strict and more based on "networking" and more companies started having strict dress codes and codes of conduct and the degrees for female dominated professions suddenly involve a ton of student debt and the way to get jobs in male dominated fields involves an apprenticeship that is bestowed upon you by a group of men and then the pay in female dominated feels dropped and men were like

"Hey girl boss, wouldn't it be nice to take a break from the harsh realities of capitalism with some billionaire sugar daddy smut on kindle that's cheaper than all the other books? Hey did you know you can torrent 50 shades of grey? Wouldn't it rock to quit your job and just sexually service some insane rich guy and rationalize his insane behavior all day?

And women were like

"Nah screw that if you want me to suck dick for money I'm going to come as close as I can to seizing the means or diversifying my portfolio or whatever and suck lots of dicks on onlyfans for a small amount of money each so none of them can back me into a corner"

And men were like

"Sorry, now you don't deserve human dignity and you can't expect brigades of trolls not to come after you and you can't expect people not to financially discriminate against your job or stalk you or SA you or publish revenge porn that would be good for your career right also we're gonna make your job illegal and also you're a Dubai toilet are you sure you don't want to go back to the 1950s household, sweetie? It doesn't seem like you're very good at running your own lives maybe if you just pretend to be a child and do pilates a man will take care of you. Maybe women's lib was a mistake? Everyone makes mistakes baby it's okay."

And any women left over got

"Actually you are persecuting and oppressing men and all the stuff you had done to you that you are afraid of replicating like a cycle of abuse and also we will literally take over the government and... you know those nice queer kids who were always nice to you and would make out with you or maybe just be your friends without asking anything other than friendship in return? Yeah we're gonna torture and possibly murder them if you don't do what we say. You know the nice non white people who seem like they don't do as much cisheteronormativity as us because of the legacy of us raping and torturing all the members of their society for years and commiting weird sexual violence on them so they aren't perfect but they don't do gender roles the same way we do exactly and also we hate them anyway and are always looking for excuses to hurt them? If you get married maybe we won't take away their rights. Maybe. We might have to fuck around and do it anyway. We can't have them breeding with you, unless it's us forcing you to performatively have sex with them in fetishy ways that make you feel racist and dirty. Of course we can have sex with whoever we want. You know there are so many warm, kind, feminine women in other countries who still believe in love. Don't even think about trying to have sex with the gays, we will turn that into fetish fuel for men who want to rape them. Oh, and you didn't care about the child poverty rate, right? Because right now eggs are awfully expensive and there was price collusion in Kroger and some other grocery stores- it was in the news. And no one is blaming the high cost of ice cream or chicken breasts or apples or rice or bacon or noodles or hot wings for why the guys who want to cut all social safety net programs got elected sweetie, just eggs. Kinda a coincidence that the guy behind that is having some big sex scandal with his children's mother? And it would all be easily solved if they were married. Anyway, we're going to repeal no fault divorce and hiring discrimination laws and post thousands of fake job listing's online and conduct real interviews for them and not tell you, and we're just going to wait right here watching all this soft core porn of women cooking with their tits out. No pressure. Whatever you decide. It's your choice."

i miss when "don't normalize this" actually meant something. i miss when we would point out toxic thought patterns and note "you're romanticizing something tragic". i miss when you could actually call something antifeminist and you'd be taken seriously. what actually happened.

no, it isn't fucking normal we have teen girls saying "tee hee girl math girl dinner i'm just a girl." no it's not fucking romantic that your man lured you away from your hobbies and your career so you could raise his children and rely on his financial support. yes it's fucking antifeminist for you to say "i'll explain this mathematical concept so the girls can understand it". just because you put it in pink and make it wear a bow doesn't mean it's a safe little doll. it's still the same wolf.

you are being taught to casually accept gender essentialism and bigotry as the natural rule of order! you are being taught to self-admonish and self-control! you are not just being boiled! the water has practically evaporated! this is no longer a thought experiment, my love. this is a genuine problem.

[bbyg4rl]

daddy gets what daddy wants

cw: JJ x reader, smut, rough sex, (semi) public, degradation, daddy kink.

summary: dom!jj teaches you a lesson on submission. MDNI

< rough sex, edging, orgasm denial, squirt, exhibitionism, mean!jj, dom!jj, daddy kink, subby!reader, spanking, slapping (happens once), multiple positions >

a/n: this is kiiiinda unedited, im ovulating lol

He's pounding into you mercilessly, his hands hold your hips up at an angle so his dick can hit your cervix at every thrust. Your eyes are closed, its too much for you to handle. All you can focus on is the cold feel of his rings digging into your waist and his sharp grunts above you.

"open your eyes" he commands from above you. When you dont register his words through the stimulation you're receiving, he stops. He stops all movement until your eyes shoot open in protest. You need him.

"eyes on me or im walking outta here princess"

Its a threat you know he'll make good on if you dont listen to him. He's a punisher, If you dont submit you'll get punished. Fuck, you can't have that you need his dick in you.

"...Sorry" you mutter under your breath.

SLAP.

He slaps you across your face. "Louder baby, I couldn't hear" He feigns faux sympathy, furrowing his brows as he uses two fingers to calm the red mark forming on your cheek.

"Sorry Daddy" You whimper, loudly.

"Good girl"

He's back to rutting into you. His hand now wrapped around your throat. He's cutting off your airflow. He's watching as your eyes roll back into your head. Choked sobs and moans escaping your open mouth, gasping for air.

His pelvis hits your clit deliciously at every thrust. The bundle of nerves threatening to push you off the edge at every touch. Your back arches and he knows you're close. He pulls out. Sadist.

"JJ- Please" A pathetic whine leaves your body, aching for the feel of his cock.

He doesn't say a word when he flips you over. His hand pushes your head into the pillows as he pushes into you slowly. His thrusts are slower now. Painfully slow.

You can't even protest with how you're being held down. All you can do is try to move back into him, trying to regain the friction he's deprived you of.

SMACK.

He gives a sharp smack to your ass. Leaning down over you so he's speaking to your ear now- "Don't act like a fucking slut"

SMACK.

"Or I'll fuck you like one"

Oh how you wish he did just that. You moan against the pillow, a wordless plea. He accepts.

His hands reclaim their place on your hips as he drills into you again. His balls slap against your clit with every grind. Hes slowly pushing you to your climax.

"You wanna cum mama?" He taunts. There's that cruel tone again. You can tell by his demeanor that you weren't allowed to cum. He wasn't going to let you.

In a desperate attempt, you shake your head- no. But he knows better. He feels how you're clenching around him. He seeing how your back arches. He knows you're close.

SMACK.

"Liar."

Fuck. He caught you. You're fucked now. He pulls out. This is your punishment. He puts on his boxers and walks out.

No, No, No. You're scrambling to follow him but your legs are wobbly. You call his name- no response. You follow him into the kitchen- sweaty and naked. You're mind is so hazy you don't even care if the rest of the pogues saw you walking naked around the chateau begging JJ to come back to bed.

Whiny 'Please' and 'I'm Sorry's leave your mouth in an attempt to sooth his anger. Finally, he stops in his tracks. The pogues are outside in the cat's ass. One look toward the door and they'd see you and JJ. Risky. Just how he liked it.

He motions you to stand in front of him. You're looking straight at the hot tub filled with people. He's behind you. "Warned ya' not to act like a slut"

SMACK.

You jump at the sudden contact. He's bent you over now. "Be loud. Let them hear." He says as he starts bullying himself into your little cunt. He's holding your hands behind your back, pulling you up so your tits are bouncing up and down at every thrust.

Your eyes threaten to close but you know better. You couldn't do anything JJ wouldn't be pleased with. So you keep your eyes open, You're looking straight at the group, Hoping none of them took back at the house. How would you explain this to them?

But, Maybe, Just maybe a little part of you wanted to get caught by the way your pussy clenched tighter around JJ.

"Knew you were just a little slut, mama." He seethes in your ear. His thrusts are harder now, It feels like he's splitting you in half. Little 'uh, uh, uh-'s leave your mouth at every rut of his hips into you. You bite your lip in hopes to keep quiet.

SMACK.

"I said 'let them hear' didnt i?"

Daddy gets what Daddy wants. You stop let go of your lips. Any worry leaving your body as you feel his ringed fingers swipe at your clit. Fuck. Let them hear. You're a moaning, whining, sobbing mess in his hands. If he wasn't holding you up, you'd be a puddle on the floor.

You were close. Every push of his dick against your cervix teeters you over the edge of ecstacy. As if an act of mercy, he kisses your temple.

"Cum for me baby"

That's all it takes for you to burst. A loud moan leaves your mouth, surely catching the group outside's attention as your orgasm bubbles in you. Your release paints a white ring around JJ's still moving dick. It's as if you've been fucked into another dimension the way your ears ring and you lose all sense of your surroundings.

He wasn't done with you yet. He holds your boneless body up as he carries you back into his room. He's laughing at your mindless state. Who knew he could be so mean? You couldn't lie and say it wasnt making you wetter.

As you lay on the bed, looking up at him, he's pushing in again. Chasing his own climax now. He's drilling into you faster and harder. He's assaulting your walls with no regard to how overstimulated you were getting. Afterall, Daddy gets what daddy wants.

His fingers find your clit again, "Cum with me princess"

You feel him getting closer with how his thrusts were losing their momentum. His fingers getting more erratic. He pinches your clit with his thumb and index finger. Your body jerks at the slight pain before pleasure washes over you as you squirt around him. Thats all the motivation JJ needs to bottom out in you, he presses against the bulge in your tummy as he shoots warm white ropes of his cum in your womb.

He collapses on top of you, exhausted. He gives your shoulder a few kisses as you both pass out, his dick softening, still inside you as your combined release drips out of your cunt, dirtying the sheets under you. That was a problem for when you woke up.

check out my other works ! masterlist

[specsthesecond]

🐍🗡

It was a mistake to come here. A foolish attempt at proving yourself. Both the sword and shield are heavy in your untrained grasp. Regrets grew with every step towards the gorgon’s garden, littered with stone corpses of much stronger fighters than you, all frozen in permanent anguish.

Your skin is prickling before you even see the beast. You walk backwards, using the reflection in your shield as your eyes. All you need is a glimpse of the monster and your heart stops. Despite the snakes writhing atop her head and the scales covering her body, the thing that strikes you most is her eyes. A piercing yellow gaze that makes you feel like a prey animal, it triggers your flight response without a thought.

You don’t make it far, in your haste you trip over the hard shell of what was once a person, hitting the floor and dropping your sword. Your arm makes a sickening crack on impact and you can barely even attempt to reach for your sword, as if you could fight a beast like that anyway.

You rush to cover your eyes. A sob leaves your mouth as you hear the monster step closer.

"And who might you be?"

A melodic voice calls out, filled with what sounds like genuine curiosity. You resist the urge to look over, just to confirm that such a beautiful voice came from such a beast. Her steps stop where your body is curled up on the hard gravel, you’re sure it's a pitiful sight. She must think it's funny, in pursuit of heroism, you will die a coward like those before you.

When you hear her kneel down to your height, you tense further, readying yourself for a sudden blow, a strike, anything.

Hands reach down to your wet cheeks, they gently lift your head up and you squeeze your eyes shut tighter. Will she try and force your eyes open? Her grasp is not forceful or agitated, she lets you struggle, carefully guiding your face up towards her as if you were a frightened animal. She only stops when you cry harder and clutch your injured arm. She moves your head so it rests on her legs, lightly shushing you when you whimper in pain and fear.

The pads of her thumbs swipe the tears from your eyes and you feel her lean down closer to you. Tiny hissing surrounds you. You can feel them, dozens of snakes probing and prodding at your hair, face, neck, anywhere that interests them. You want to hide, you want to scream, you want to run but all you can do is keep your eyes shut and cry.

It takes everything in you not to squirm in her tender hold as her thumbs cares your cheeks lightly. You can feel her breath on your face as she breathes softly through her nose, just inches away. You can feel her lethal eyes, burning your skin as she watches you silently with her petrifying eyes.

“They like you.”

She says, in a hushed tone, as if telling you a secret. You feel little forked tongues lick your tears off your cheeks. The sensation makes you flinch and turn your head in her lap, a cry escaping your mouth.

“Oh, I'm sorry. They don’t mean to scare you, poor thing.”

She coos, as if the snakes are the only reason you’re scared. The snakes retreat and she must see the way your eyebrows crease in utter confusion because she huffs through her nose. She places a hand over your eyes and holds your jaw up gently with the other. Not even the most skilled prophet could have prepared you for the feeling of her lips on yours.

She's soft and slow, as if coaxing a lover from sleep. Soft lips mould into yours as she swallows your surprised sound, her eyelashes flutter against your cheeks, the snakes nudge their little heads gently against your cheeks and nuzzle your head.

It’s very overwhelming and you whimper against her lips, a sound that makes her deepen the kiss even more. She licks your lower lip, nibbling on it with teeth too sharp for such a delicate action.

"You aren't like the others at all."

Her hushed voice muses against your lips, and the cruel fates mercilessly spin their thread.

[fairycosmos]

welp it's official i'm going to end my life. no one loves me i don't have any friends and my family is estranged. im american and the government is trying to crush us. and im just sad all the time. and im so over it. i'm so done. i'm going to kill myself.

i'm really sorry you're feeling this way. i know how much it hurts when it feels like you’re completely alone, when the weight of everything just keeps pressing down and there’s no relief in sight. i won’t try to fix it with empty reassurances or tell you "things get better” or whatever bc because i know that’s prob not what you need to hear rn. honestly when you’ve been carrying this much for this long, it makes sense that you’re exhausted. it makes sense that you’re at this point. but i also know that suicidal thoughts have a way of convincing you that this is the only way out, when really, they’re just trying to escape the pain. you want the suffering to stop which is completely understandable. and that’s an important distinction. because if what you really want is relief, there are other ways to create even the smallest bit of space between you and the pain, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

i hear you when you say no one loves you, that you don’t have friends, that your family is estranged etc. that kind of isolation is brutal, and it’s easy for your mind to turn it into proof that you don’t matter. but i think loneliness can someetimes lie to you tbh which is something that took me ages to digest. it warps your perception, makes you believe you’re inherently unlovable rather than just unseen. and i know that telling you to “find people” isn’t helpful when it feels impossible, but connection doesn’t have to start with something huge. sometimes it’s just about engaging with the world in tiny ways—a conversation with a stranger online, a support forum, a podcast that makes you feel even a little bit understood. when you’re deep in it, your mind wants to convince you that you’re completely alone. but loneliness isn’t a reflection of your worth—it’s just where you are right now. and where you are can change.

i also hear you when you talk about the state of the world, how crushing it feels to live under a system that doesn’t care if you make it or not. it's a big thing for me too rn, i feel like im always staving off a panic attack or burying my head in the sand about it. you’re right, it’s not fair. so much of what you’re feeling isn’t just personal pain, it’s systemic. it’s feeling like you’re drowning while the world keeps piling more weight on top of you. i think the most evil thing about systems like this is that they want people to give up. they want you to believe that you don’t have a future, that you’re powerless etc. and you’re not. survival, in itself, is resistance. every day you’re here, you’re proving them wrong. and no, that doesn’t erase the pain, and no, it doesn’t mean you’re suddenly going to feel okay. but shifting the frame from “i’m helpless” to “the world is trying to crush me, and i’m still here” can sometimes make things feel just a little less suffocating. i know that's easier said than done. but it's a mindset i try to practice when i feel the way you do, even if my brain initially rejects it.

i know none of this fixes what you’re feeling. i know it might all sound like noise against the intensity of your pain. but you don’t have to carry this alone. even if you don’t believe that reaching out will help, even if you don’t think anyone will care, please consider trying anyway. in the u.s., you can call or text 988 for the suicide and crisis lifeline—there’s no pressure, no commitment, just someone to listen. i've lefft international options if you're from elsewhere in the link below. if that feels like too much, even just writing things down, changing your environment slightly, or doing something small that breaks the loop can help. you don’t have to figure everything out right now. you just have to get through this moment. i'm sendindg so much love and warmth your way, and again i'm sorry that you have to deal with this level of hurt. please please reconsider your options and try to take care of yourself, even if it's the last thing you want to do in this moment. my inbox will always be open if you need someone to talk or vent to. x

international suicide hotlines / coping with suicidal thoughts pdf / creating a crisis plan / suicidal ideation coping skills / suicidal ideation coping skills 2

[rahuratna]

Synopsis: Astarion's companions have had quite enough of his mocking nicknames and decide to turn the tables on him ...

[Astarion x GN Tav]

Genres: Romance, Humour, Crack, Action

Dividers by: @saradika-graphics

(Hello friends! In my new run, I've been playing Astarion as a bard, and I thought about how everyone might be subject to his little taunts, lol. If you'd like to be added to or removed from the taglist, let me know!)

"Gods, it's irritating."

"It's ... not that bad."

"You would think so."

You coughed and straightened, glancing back over your shoulder at Shadowheart. You had both struck out into the woods near camp, collecting firewood for the evening meal. Shadowheart had chosen this time to offload her frustrations about a specific issue that had evidently been plaguing her.

You shook your head, a slightly pained expression finding a home on your face.

"That's not fair. I'm subject to it more than you, so maybe I'm just ... gathering immunity."

"But it's endless. And for the rest of us, it's mocking. He never really insults you. And he says the things that he knows we find annoying."

"Well ... that's Astarion. It's part of the package."

She sauntered ahead of you, bending over exaggeratedly in what you assumed was an imitation of the charming rogue.

"Oh look, my precious sex dewdrop. Look at my perfect little buttocks. What do you think, honeymuffin? Doesn't it look delectable in leather?"

You almost dropped the firewood you were carrying as she arched her back and fluffed out imaginary curls.

"Mmmm, I'm so famished, my sweet bloodsicle. Want me to get on top of you and writhe like a passionate leech while you go cross-eyed under my ministrations?"

You couldn't help the snort that escaped you.

"All right, look, I know the pet names are excessive ... "

"All the time. Every day."

"Well, what do you suggest then? He isn't going to stop because you ask him to. In fact, he'll probably get worse. You know how he is."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"You make a good point."

"So, if there's to be an intervention of some kind ... "

Shadowheart snapped her fingers.

"Wait. How about ... we give him a taste of his own medicine? Astarion talks all flowery, but he hates the sentimental. Or being made fun of himself."

You paused and gave the idea some thought.

"You're ... right about that. But then, how would we - "

"Leave it to me. I've got an idea."

For all that she was a friend to animals, plants and sometimes the softer side of life, Shadowheart's expressions could turn positively demonic when she schemed. As much as Astarion was a slippery customer, you were sure he was going to face something wholly unexpected in the near future.

Shadowheart's plan was put into action when next you raided a goblin outpost. Astarion was completely unwitting regarding what was about to befall him. Your other companions, by some sly means, had all been briefed beforehand.

The primary objective was to hike up to a rocky ledge, set up camp, and take the goblins by surprise just before the crack of dawn, that hazy time when the dangers of the night seemed about to tuck themselves away to make room for the new day.

It started during the climb to the spot you'd scouted out earlier. Astarion was already grumbling about sore muscles. He was never in the best of moods when a tough trek was inevitable. 

Karlach exchanged glances with Shadowheart before approaching him with her customary cheerful demeanour, guaranteed to rub him the wrong way.

"Astarion? You okay?"

"Oh, just wonderful, sweetie," he replied acidly, "Having the absolute time of my life, come to think of it."

She gallantly offered him her back.

"Well, climb on then, my nimble Cherry Chomper. I can help you for a bit."

"Oh ... I ... "

You bit your lip as you saw Astarion vacillate between questioning the strange nickname and accepting the assistance offered.

"Well, thank you. For just a while, then."

Wyll hastily scooped up Astarion's pack, waving him off when he reached for it.

"Ah, don't worry about it, Curly Pops. I've got it."

A crease formed between Astarion's brows, but he settled himself comfortably on Karlach's back as she straightened effortlessly and carried him up the slope.

A little further on, you spotted a movement somewhere in the sparse, hardy mountain brush. Tugging your bow down from your shoulder, you gestured to your companions.

"A mountain goat. Just up there. Should make a good roast for camp."

Astarion's tongue ran over his fangs and he made to slip down from his perch on Karlach.

"Let me assist you with that."

Gale waved him off absently.

"Oh, no need, Petal Cheeks. I'll just cast a holding spell. That'll keep it in place."

Astarion opened his mouth to protest, but the Weave was already leaping from Gale's fingers, and your arrow flew true, quivering through the air towards your intended prey. The goat went down with a faint bleat.

Lae'zel gave a humph of approval.

"Good kill. Nice and clean."

She jerked her head at Astarion.

"Would have been a lot messier if Ghaik Gobbler here went after it."

"Excuse me?"

"Upsy daisy, Lord Lazy!"

Karlach hitched Astarion up on her shoulders again, ignoring the truly bewildered look that had now adorned his face.

She had recently received her engine upgrade, and her burning heat had simmered down to a warmth that surrounded her in a welcoming aura the further you climbed into the frosty heights. Astarion looked on the verge of questioning things, but seemed to decide against it in order to remain in this rare offer of luxurious comfort.

Soon, the campsite you'd spotted came into view, a series of sheltered ledges, wide enough to accommodate your bedrolls. The cliff curved around the longest jut of rock, concealing a campfire from the valley below. It was perfect.

Your companions made short work of setting up camp, with the goat skinned and ready to be subject to Lae'zel's quick and efficient butchery. Now came the bloodletting, a ritual of sorts which you enacted every time you obtained a new kill. The blood was always stored as an emergency reserve for your resident vampire.

Astarion sauntered over, in singularly good spirits after having been spared the most grueling portion of the climb. A razor-edged knife slid into position between his fingers, drawn seemingly from thin air.

"Here, let me - "

Shadowheart beat him to it, her face carefully stoic as her own blade sliced through the jugular of the goat, angling the head and neck such that blood poured into a sturdy wooden vessel.

She eyed his surprised expression before shrugging one shoulder.

"Tough luck, Fairy Fingers. Someone else has to do it sometimes. Here."

She handed him the bowl and you watched as Astarion's eyes flickered suspiciously back and forth between her and everyone else.

"What is wrong with the lot of you? You're being awfully sweet to me today. Am I missing something?"

At that moment, Halsin's hulking form appeared on the lip of the ledge and he came forward, shaking his shoulders to rid them of the cold. You had asked him to send out his animal envoys, to scope out the goblin encampment and report relevant information back to him.

He came toward the fire, his large hands placing themselves firmly on Astarion's shoulders and moving him out of the way, much a like a bear cub being lifted by the scruff of its neck.

"Ah, make way there, plucky ducky. That fire's calling my name."

"Plucky what?"

Ignoring the spitting outrage, Halsin relayed his intel to you, warming his fingers over the roaring blaze.

"Approximately sixteen of them, in and around the area. Five guards on regular patrol. They have a warlock and their position is a good one. They've managed to stake themselves a spot where they can see all approaches from the land on either side."

You frowned thoughtfully.

"What do you suggest? We could approach from the woods behind them, but that might take a while and we want our presence to be a surprise."

Astarion took a decisive step in front of Halsin, hands on his hips. He'd been compelled to take up the sidelines for long enough and now he was asserting his presence again.

"Now listen here, sweetheart, there's another perfectly good approach we could use."

His finger drew a curved line through the crude map Halsin had sketched in the dirt.

"I can sneak into the camp, blow up the central area and someone can silence the warlock immediately after. Then we strike."

You nodded slowly.

"That could certainly work. Shadowheart could cast a concealing spell on you for additional cover."

You beamed up at him and offered a cheeky wink.

"Thanks, Sugar Lips. We'll go with that. You're always the stealth expert."

Astarion raised an eyebrow at your epithet, but this time, he preened, his voice immediately lowering a few octaves.

"There's not much you can't accomplish with me at your side, my lovely - "

"Great idea, Astarion!" Halsin exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder, "Takes a ruby-eyed rapscallion like you to make this work."

"Can you all stop with those awful pet names?"

His glance flicked briefly, sly and seductive, in your direction. His waved a hand beckoningly, fingers dipping.

"Except for you. You can call me anything you want."

Well now. This was going in an unexpected direction. You hadn't thought he'd actually like the pet names coming from you.

Wylll cleared his throat.

"Oh, come on. We can't have favouritism like this. I say it's fair game for everyone if that's the case."

Astarion scowled across at him.

"Dont think I've forgotten about your thrice-damned Curly Pops. You're about to watch this aged body of mine show more flexibility than yours ever has once we infiltrate that camp."

"Is he in position?"

You glanced over the rock you were concealed behind and nodded.

"He's there."

"Right."

In order to keep the team compact and less likely to draw attention, you were accompanied by Lae'zel, Shadowheart and Wyll. Astarion was crouched in the foliage ahead, his enchanted cloak wrapped snug around him, a satchel full of smoke powder bombs strapped to his back.

You watched as he reached up and tugged the hood over his pale hair, blending even further into the darkness.

Shadowheart, kneeling beside him, waited for the right moment before placing her hand on his shoulder and casting her enchantment. You heard her low murmur.

"Blow them away, my heartless honeybear."

Astarion clicked his tongue in irritation before surging forward. Wyll stifled a snort.

"You think if we rile him up enough, he'll just take out most of the camp for us?"

Lae'zel hummed thoughtfully. You were surprised to see how seriously she was taking this endeavour.

"I'm going to kill the greatest number of enemies, of course, but ... let's put it to the test."

The crude outpost erected by the goblins showed no sign of disturbance in the silence before dawn. The sentries had stilled their pacing, and the fire was crackling and sparking as it slowly died down to embers.

None of your enemies noted the silent shadow that slipped past the perimeter, keeping to the greater darkness between the tents and carts. One of the wargs twitched, nostrils briefly flaring before its large head dropped back onto folded forelegs.

Something moved, close to the fire. A fuse was placed, a slow unspooling of flammable thread tracing back to where a faded backpack had been placed close to the cluster of tents. Nimble fingers cut the yarn loose, and Astarion made his way over to the cliff that overlooked the camp from the other side. 

He drew a mirror from his pocket, a small glare of faerie fire dancing across one fingertip, reflecting across to where the others were. That was the signal. A wicked smirk curved his lips.

Now this was what it was all about! He could hardly wait until -

A powerful ball of flame, most likely conjured by Wyll, flew from the foliage just outside the camp and burst upon the campfire. The sentries were startled into activity, growls, shouts and guttural curses of alarm spreading through their ranks.

The fire spell had done its work. The thread Astarion had laid down ignited, burning a visible line towards the tents. The smoke powder satchel went up in a glorious boom, a shower of cinders (and possibly goblin remains) scattering down over the camp.

Oh, an absolute beauty.

He drew his crossbow and loaded in a bolt, taking careful aim at the swarming shapes below. 

Maybe Tav would be more amenable to a congratulatory kiss once he got back to -

From behind the foliage, the voices of his companions carried across to his ears.

"What a blaze, you foxy firestarter!"

"Oh, he's amazing! My fluffy, bitey snow squirrel!"

Astarion's first bolt flew wide and he cursed under his breath.

Damn those annoying blood bags. He couldn't let them -

Loading another bolt with swift dexterity, his next shot struck true and a goblin keeled over.

"Take them down, you saucy studmuffin!"

"Show them the freak, vampy champ!"

Gods below, they were really getting on his last fucking nerve.

At this point, Lae'zel charged from the brush, her greatsword swinging down in a great arc. The goblins fell back under her onslaught, regrouping behind the carts.

Astarion's next bolt was an explosive one that struck a bag of chaff, briefly blinding the goblins crouched under cover. They stumbled away from the fine, choking filaments, coughing and gagging.

Lae'zel shouted in feral joy, spotting her targets immediately.

"Haha! That's it, Carrion Breath! Keep sending them my way!"

Was that supposed to be ... a compliment of some kind?

Feeling another surge of frustration, Astarion unsheathed his blade, muttering aggravatedly as he coated it with the most unpleasant, corrosive poison from his selection.

Maybe slicing something would ease his frayed nerves.

Leaping lightly down from the rocky ledge, he darted towards the goblin ranks, rapier striking out in quick succession. He moved fast, aiming to slash rather than stab. The poison would do the rest of the work.

The goblins screeched and flailed as smoke drifted upwards from the wounds he left in his wake.

"Who the fuck is this bastard?"

"Shoot him! Shoot her too!"

Lae'zel's eyes widened slightly when she saw that he'd entered the fray, her face streaked with blood. She grinned and licked her lips.

"Come to join me in glorious bloodshed for once?"

"I've always joined in," Astarion countered, flicking a stray curl from his forehead. "I suppose your face isn't the only thing remarkably like a goldfish."

"I'm not talking about skulking on the sidelines."

She grabbed his arm, ignoring his squawk as she dragged him aside and kicked a goblin into a burning bale of hay.

"Now fight, you blood sucking bitch queen!"

A ... what?

Astarion snarled, finesse forgotten as he stabbed right into a goblin archer's eye and wrenched his blade free.

"Care to repeat that?"

Shadowheart's blessing energy abruptly struck him in the backside, causing him to lurch slightly forward.

"A boost for you. Not that you need it, Saer Juicy Junk."

Now positively seething, Astarion whirled on his heel and let fly with first one dagger than another, each thudding home in goblin skulls.

One of the goblins popped her head around the side of a cart.

"Stop eggin' him on!"

Wyll countered a series of eldritch blasts from the warlock with a flourish. The silencing enchantment had evidently worn off.

"Egging him on? Who'd do a horrible thing like that?"

Tav's volley of arrows came sailing towards the tents, at the same moment that their summoned boar charged the barricade the warlock had been shielded behind.

Seeing an opportunity, Astarion leapt.

In its (comparitively) short life, the boar had certainly never expected to be mounted by an enraged vampire spawn. His fingers dug like icicles into its neck as he leaned forward, his cold hiss ghosting over its twitching ears.

"Charge them again, Porky, and I might not drain you dry the moment we get back to camp."

Squealing, the boar temporarily shied out of its true master's command, leaping towards the goblin warlock and his warriors.

Tusks swayed from side to side like a deadly thresher as it bore down on them, ignoring the screams and the stab of polearms.

From its back, Astarion yelled in uncharacteristic martial fervour as he balanced like a trapeze artist on a ship in a storm, his daggers flashing as he took down the remaining bodyguard. The warlock was reduced to something ...  unmentionable beneath the rampaging hooves of his 'noble' steed.

Completing a full turn, he brought the boar back to heel, finding that the camp had now been completely obliterated. Astarion's nostrils flared as he slipped from the boar's back, stalking over to the others.

"Would someone care to tell me what that was all about?"

Shadowheart was examining her fingernails while Wyll looked the picture of gentlemanly innocence.

"What are you talking about?"

"That. The ... the name-calling."

"We weren't name-calling! Every word was said in complete admiration for your ... considerable charm and skill."

Tav had emerged from cover, approaching and dispelling the boar summon with a slightly sheepish smile.

"Well, Astarion, I certainly wasn't expecting you to ... respond quite like that."

He huffed and folded his arms, nose wrinkling in displeasure.

"So you were in on it too?"

Tav straightened, and Astarion saw a faint flush steal over the bridge of their nose as their glance slid away from him.

"I admit it. Yes. But ... for the record ... you're quite dashing when you're so riled up."

For all his years of seduction and false wiles, Astarion could have sworn that his non-functioning heart skipped a beat.

Damn Tav and their sweet little ...

He ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to restore some order to the disarray his mad charge had effected.

"I suppose there has been an aim to all of this ... tomfoolery?"

Shadowheart rolled her eyes.

"You mean the point escaped you? That we'd all appreciate less of your mocking little nicknames?"

He growled and flicked his sword, removing the excess blood that was now in danger of congealing there.

"Oh, silly me, for thinking that people had regular conversations where they communicate their needs nowadays. Probably comes from being an aged Curly Pops like - "

Wyll groaned.

"Is that really the one that got to you the most?"

Astarion chose dignified silence for once, brushing past them and heading back up to the clifftop camp.

As he passed Tav, they leaned towards him and lowered their voice.

"If you want to know, the one I came up with was 'Sanguine Savant'. I think it's quite fitting."

He humphed and stuck his nose in the air, but he was sure that Tav could sense the small, irrepressible smile that etched itself on his lips a moment later.

Taglist: @radish-breath @roguishcat @fantasyheroine @davenswitcher @alwaysmauria @dseerie @dramatiquechipmunk

[pearlescentparade]

[ao3 request] "Cccoilll x reader fluff headcanons,,, coughs loudly and disappears into a dust"

a momentary breather from my never ending onslaught of smut </3

💠🔶coil fluff headcanons💝💞

ALWAYS tackles-hugs you the moment he spots you, even if he's currently being chased. when you hear that familiar voice yell "HEY BABE!", expect to be embraced and on the ground in the next second (don't worry, he makes sure to cushion your head with his hand), then left in the dust in the next next second

his face lights up when you walk in. it's almost cartoonish how his usual cocky smirk gets immediately overtaken by an adoring, excited, goofy smile. he tries to play it off and act cool about it, but you just roll your eyes and tease him for being so whipped

loves to roughhouse and playfight. he'll literally wwe slam you into any surface as long as it's soft and cushiony, like a bed or a couch. sometimes he likes to just grab your face and hold you in the air with one hand while you attempt to swing at him, he finds it hilarious. though if you're able to gain the upper hand, he gets so giddy with excitement. coil likes a challenge!

loves summer, because it means you cuddling up to him due to the crystal embedded in his body giving him a cool body temperature. he's like a demon air conditioner! though, to your dismay, he still likes to cuddle in the colder weather. he even gets all whiny when you try to push him away

"coil. no."

"babe pleaseee, don't you wanna huddle for warmth?? i'm so coldd.. brr...."

"YOU make me colder! stay away!!"

though in the end, he gets his way, and you have to suck it up. no worries, you can always borrow his hoodies!

enjoys laying his head on your lap and boasting about his latest heist or the losers he beat up recently while you idly play with his hoodie strings. other times he likes to lay on top of you

likes to pretend he doesn't need your praise, acting like he'll do whatever he wants regardless if you approve or not. it's completely untrue. whenever he's regaling any sort of tale of his crimes, he's always waiting to hear some encouragement or praise for his job well done, whether or not he catches himself doing it. it's a bit obvious too, because he starts looking at you really hopefully when he's finished and saying stuff like "cool, right? isn't your boyfriend impressive, babydoll?" until you eventually resign and agree that you're impressed. though, not without a lengthy lecture about how much danger he's putting himself in

coil flexes you everywhere to anyone at any possible time. always rambling about you to skateboard about the cutest thing you did yesterday or the date you had together a week ago that he already told him about but felt like bringing it up again

"you tryna hang later?"

"hah! nah, go on without me. my pretty thing's waiting for me back home. you wanna know what they said the other day? they-"

"oh my swords, dude, shuuuut uuuup!"

pops up when you least expect it, like swinging by to walk you home and carrying your groceries for you, or protecting you from some stupid hooligans who try to mug you. no matter what, he shows up at the most perfect times, whenever you need him

has several scars and injuries himself, but loses it when you get a tiny scar or when he sees a bandaid on you, immediately jumping to ask what happened and who did it (and if he needs to beat the shit out of them). he's definitely the type to start beefing with a table if you stub your toe on it

probably used to make fun of couples and be grossed out by them before you dated. now he is part of said gross couples, because he practically eats your face off in public

fangirls whenever you do anything cool. he sees a gang try to pick a fight with you, and like usual, he's about to swoop in and save the day, but you land a hit on their leader and run off! after he sighs and swoons dreamily, he'll jump down and make sure those ruffians don't give chase while you make your escape. skateboard's going to receive a lot of messages from coil, detailing the cool look in your eyes and the way you wound up your fist... even if he mutes his phone, coil's absolutely telling him everything all over again next time they meet up

you are probably the only demon in the entire inpherno who he 'bows' to. you tell him to do anything, and he's on it immediately, no questions asked. akin to telling a dog to go 'fetch'

"coil.. i'm concerned about you. please, be more careful?"

"aww, i can handle it, sweets. quit worrying your pretty little head over me, i'm literally the hellhound!"

"..if i see you running from the cops again this week, i won't cuddle with you anymore. and i won't let you take showers with me."

".. *cough* on second thought, you're completely right. i'll- try.. to stay out of trouble."

likes to nuzzle into the crook of your neck when you cuddle, maybe even tickle you with a few kisses there. sometimes he'll nuzzle into you from behind and surprise you, he loves to hear your surprised yelp and getting smacked upside the head by you. worth it!

always laying a hand around your shoulder or waist, he likes to keep you close to him and it also helps get the message across that you're his to any passerby. any demon that tries to hit on you quickly scampers away once coil slings his arm around you. because of this, he accompanies you on walks home at night (it was his idea). legitimate scary dog privileges

when stealing from blackrock nobles, he makes sure to nab a lil something he thinks you'd like too. you have a whole collection of stolen jewelry, art, trinkets, care products, high-quality technology, anything he can grab. you name it, he'll get it

[notasapleasure]

Ok, Brasso Opinions, why not

When I first watched the show I was primed to love a big guy who was shown immediately to be smart (alibi 'yes and's) kind (concerned both for Cass and Maarva) able to trust Cassian without needing every detail of what he was mixed up in, and happy to play into the ambiguity of gossip - 'helping you back to your chair when you fell'. He's not someone who would punch Cassian? He's not someone who says he would, or would do it and talk about it?

Sure, he's not got loads of screen time, but the more we see of him the more interesting he gets. For all his attempts to lay down the law with Cassian (not lending you money, look after your mother etc.) he doesn't actually push for any more information than Cassian is comfortable sharing. For all his embodiment of the Ferrixian working man (based on working communities in Belfast and the north of England), with his apparent insistence on the value of 'real' work, his place in this team of manual labourers who have to work together to get their dangerous, dirty jobs done, when it comes to sabotaging the PreMor ship that's something he does alone, for Cassian, and he drinks about it afterwards alone. He's more like a Daughter of Ferrix than the Daughters of Ferrix with the amount of time we see him round at Maarva's, caring for her and Bee alongside Bix. And that performance of big, bumbling in-the-wayness he does to try and give Bix time to escape the troopers won my heart forever. He's not the get up and ring a bell and cause a ruckus type - he stands out for his size and can't help that, but even the Imperials, calling him 'the big guy' find no reason to go after him, because he's so cautious about how he resists. Up until the end, of course. You can only push a man so far, and touching Bee is well out of line.

The magical gps that brings Brasso to the tunnels because he has a message Cassian needs to hear is catnip to me. And that hug? Well. I turned to my husband like the rotating head exorcist girl and he sighed. To me that hug was the ending of Rogue One all over again - the hand scrunch in the middle of Cassian's back that he later passes on to Jyn. A message about Maarva's pride that's going to be mirrored later by Cassian's words about Galen: "Your father would be proud of you."

The final time we see him in S1 just fascinates me more, too - he's finally let loose in the fighting on Rix Road, but even then he's got his eye on saving Wilmon and Bee, and afterwards he looks exhausted and almost surprised at himself. It's where my headcanon that he's never left Ferrix and doesn't like to fly comes from - he's so rooted in Ferrix, what happens when you take him away from all that? How will he adapt?

I'm not going to speculate on S2, I don't expect much, I don't expect him to have even as much screen time as he gets in S1, but there will be enough gaps in the spread out timeline that I'll be able to retcon, fix-it and AU my way through it.

What I love about this minor character is that you can lean into different aspects of him in fic - if you want to you can look at him drinking alone and say he's not used to sticking his neck out and taking action like that and he's got to come to terms with killing the PreMor pilot - or the risk the crash might have had for any locals caught underneath. Or you can focus on the cheekiness of the alibi and all he seems to know about Cassian and say he's the kind of guy who'd help you hide a body - and has done for Cassian many times. One thing is for sure: he'll step up and do what it takes for those he's closest to.

tl;dr among the ambivalent many, Brasso is one of a select few who actually likes Cassian, even at the beginning. Brasso can handle him at his worst. He deserves him at his best.

Character Appreciation Friday - Brasso

Name: Brasso Played by: Joplin Sibtain Appearances: Kassa, That Would Be Me, Reckoning, Narkina 5, Daughter of Ferrix, Rix Road

Happy Friday gang! This week we're celebrating the friend we all want to be and have, the most solid man in the galaxy. Brasso will take care of you, your mom, and your sad droid, and in the meantime will take any opportunity to fuck up a cop.

Tell me what you love and appreciate about Brasso in a reblog, comment, or ask!

Next week: Bix Caleen

[ynnova]

sobbed !! (pls i love ur acc -lai/atzjieun)

' GLIMPSES OF THE PAST ' ask game // sobbed 📼 [ ask game closed ]

sobbed – for a scene from my muse's past in which they broke down in tears.

time period . 2021 | wc . 588 | tw . language, mentions of kingdom, themes of being overworked, mentions / thoughts of throwing up, slight hints of anxiety or another something else, mentions of mingi's hiatus | please support @atzjieun their blog is amazing!

you felt your hands shaking.

but not just your hands, but your whole body. you felt like you were going to be sick honestly. your breathing was getting labored and felt bile build up in your throat.

thank god you were already in the bathroom.

it was currently one in the morning. everyone else was already asleep. you would like to keep it that way. especially with how busy you all have been.

maybe that's why your body is shaking.

that fucking survival reality show – kingdom, even thinking of the show makes you want to vomit.

you let out a shaky breath as you moved to stand in front of the sink. turning it on before splashing some cold water onto your face.

nope. hands still shaking.

you felt like your body was on fire, you slowly slid onto the floor. the cold tiles a stark contrast to your hot, sweaty skin. when did you start to sweat. you focused on one spot on the ceiling. black spots clouding your eyes. a ringing in your ears that again made you want to throw up.

you felt so overwhelmed you didn't hear the soft knock on the door or the call of your name from the other side. you didn't even know anyone else was up until the bathroom door slowly opened.

wooyoung poked his head in and immediately gasped when he seen you lying on the floor.

"y/n!" he calls out, dropping next to you, his hand carefully coming to touch your cheek. "baby, are you alright."

you attempt to answer him. to tell your boyfriend something – you don't remember anymore, but instead a sob goes through your body and escapes past your lips instead. you look from the ceiling to wooyoung who is looking at you like you're made of glass. maybe you are?

you hand weakly reaches for him, grabbing the fabric of his pants and pulling slightly. "woo..." you say, tears blurring your vision, but wooyoung wipes them away for you.

another sob and wooyoung is helping you sit up and you immediately wrap your arms around him. pressing your sweaty form into his and he holds you back just as tightly. he pulls you into his lap, hand rubbing up and down your back as he comforts you.

"it's okay, y/n, i'm here. i'm here don't worry."

"i'm so tired woo," you cry, tears staining his shirt. "i feel like i'm about to collapse, and– and i want to keep going but i can't."

"you've done so much," he says softly, kissing your temple. "we all have. if you need to take a break then do so."

you shook your head, "i can't. not with mingi already on hiatus. i can't do that to you all."

"don't pretend to be strong, y/n. nothing would break my heart more than to see you push yourself more than you already have. i know the others would say the same. i promise you won't ever disappoint us."

his words sent something through you. you fisted his shirt tighter as you hid your face further in his shoulder. wooyoung only held you tighter as a result.

"i love you so much," he says, you don't know if you've ever heard his voice this soft before. "me and the others... we'll support you if you want to take a break, okay?"

for a moment you don't say anything. you remain silent, and wooyoung doesn't push you. he just continues to hold you.

"i love you too."

[into-fiction]

re: Elphaba staying (or being forced to stay?) I could potentially see them keeping Elphaba in chains somewhere, maybe Morrible does something to contain her powers, idk? And Galinda being kept around as leverage (i.e., we'll hurt her, kill her if you don't comply). Afterall, the Wizard tried to present her as positive leverage in the movie ("and if it makes you happy, maybe even your friend here").

The question is, how much would Elphaba sacrifice for Galinda? She chooses Animals/political resistance over her, ultimately. Would she willingly hurt animals to keep her safe? I think most gelphie shippers would probably like to believe that she would do anything to keep Galinda safe, but I think there's a conflict there that a lot of gelphie fic doesn't address. Yes, we all talk about how their relationship is "doomed by the narrative", but really, they ultimately just choose themselves over each other. Not true love, some would say, or at least not a compelling romance.

That's to say, I think there aren't many "Elphie stays" stories simply BECAUSE they're doomed by the narrative. When the narrative changes to accommodate their relationship, everyone suffers! There's no triumph, no character arc for either of them, just some kind of dystopian timeline, right?

(Unless both Morrible and the Wizard somehow get killed, say, before the hot air balloon scene. Then Elphaba wouldn't have any need to leave, though there would be a serious power vacuum and it's not like two random University students could fill it, right?..... shhhh I'm thinking....)

see the part where i hit a wall in any 'elphie stays' scenario is we actually have no idea what the wizard wanted her for. he has his spies now, so what else does he need? i actually don't even know there would be any other spells he'd ask her to cast on Animals.

tbh, i don't think elphie would need much restraining. lets be real- without the grimmerie, she still is someone who has almost no control. if she can't float a coin on purpose, she's unlikely to be able to escape easily. esp if glinda is leverage and esp if her personal morals prevent her from wanting to hurt anyone.

but really, what would her job be?? no doubt the wizard wanted to harness her magic somehow, likely to continue to control and suppress the Animals, but a direct spell like the monkey wings? seems like a one time thing. in fact- how would they even put a positive spin on winged monkeys without a wicked witch to blame it on?!

i agree with glinda being used as leverage! i think that makes the most sense. and as for whether hurting glinda is a strong enough incentive to push elphie to do something she opposes.....hm. how far would she go? if one of the guards had put a gun to glinda's head and said "stand down or else" - would elphie have stayed? would she have fought it every second or would she have listened to glinda?

and glinda herself! would she have begged elphie to cooperate? would she have told her 'its alright don't worry about me'? if she had said the latter, would elphie have felt better about letting her get hurt?

or, in a world where elphie listens first and stays of her own free will, would they even need to threaten her explicitly? or would elphie have cooperated out of her own desire to see things through from another angle?

[skeletwinsauaskbox]

HE HI GREE LENTO AND PRESTO,

SO, NORMALLY, I TRY TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH GOOD NEWS AS I POSSIBLY CAN. BUT TODAY... I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THAT. A LOT HAS HAPPENED THIS WEEK AND

THE ROYAL GUARD FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SANCTUARY AND... ASGORE ORDERED THEM TO STORM INTO OUR HOUSE AND TAKE IT ALL DOWN. LITERALLY. THEY TRASHED THE BASEMENT, TOOK ALL THE MUSHBLOBS... APART FROM ONE. HE DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE THE MONSTERS ANY RESPITE FOR SOME REASON. HE WANTS TO ARREST ME AND SA STUFFIE TOO, BUT WE ESCAPED. WE'RE CAMPING IN THE FOREST AT THE MOMENT. WE WENT OFF THE GRID.

MY BROTHER WON'T COME OUT OF THE TENT. HE'S NOT SLEEPING ANYMORE. HE'S ALWAYS WORRIED THE ROYAL GUARDS ARE GOING TO FIND US. HE'S EVEN BEEN PRACTICING HIS MAGIC NON-STOP JUST IN CASE OF AN ATTACK. DOESN'T HE REALISE HE'S GOING TO WEAR HIMSELF OUT?!?! UGH!!! HE'S ALREADY BEEN HAVING MENTAL BREAKDOWNS!!! SERIOUSLY, IT'S LIKE ANY LITTLE THING CAN SET HIM OFF!!! IT'S A GOOD THING THE MUSHBLOB WE SAVED IS HERE. IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY THING THAT CAN KEEP HIM CALM RIGHT NOW.

IS IT WRONG TO SAY I HATE ASGORE?

AS FOR MYSELF, I'M OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON THE SANCTUARY. ACTUALLY, THIS IS ONLY GIVING ME MORE OF A REASON TO DO IT!!! HE WANTS TO TURN THIS PLACE INTO A VIOLENT WASTELAND?!?! WELL, I WON'T LET HIM!!! IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN THAT TO BRING THIS SKELETON DOWN!!! I JUST NEED TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER PLAN!!! AND... RAID MORE TRASH CANS FOR FOOD. OH WELL. IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVEN'T EATEN OUT OF THE TRASH BEFORE.

WHY DOES HE HATE US SO MUCH?

SAY, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUPPLIES THEY COULD LEND US, THAT WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!! I'M NOT GIVING UP ON THIS PROJECT!!! AND I'M SURE WITH A LITTLE CONVINCING, I'LL GET MY BROTHER TO GIVE UP GIVING UP TOO!!! HE'S STILL SEWING THE SHIRTS

DON'T WORRY ABOUT US!!! WE'LL BE FINE, I PROMISE!!! WE MIGHT BE A BIT MORE SPORADIC WITH OUR LETTERS, THOUGH. NYAH...

NYAHFULLY YOURS, FANG!

[fivebecomesnone]

so... about this undertrack ticket system... could you explain it :00

BOY CAN I EVER

okay it's not THAT crazy but still

PART 1 - TICKET TYPES & WRITING

There are three ticket types:

Standard - It is a train ticket. It has a destination printed on it. You go from Point A to Point B. There's not much to say about this.

One-way - Technically all tickets are one way, but these are specifically for those escaping dying/collapsing/hostile/etc. realities. No destination, as it sorta works on a "get off where you like" system.

Railpass - For frequent travellers, often dimension hoppers that can't or don't want to travel under their own power. Infinite use, more like a keycard, has the user's info on the back.

Info is written on tickets in Mettaton's handwriting, which I've been drawing as fancy cursive + blue ballpoint pen, but you can interpret however you like.

PART 1.5 - DESTINATION

The format is [LETTER][LETTER][NUMBER]. This is a complicated system called an "Ace Attorney reference." You can use letters that feel representative of the AU, go ham, or pull from Ace Attorney cases (the Undertrack Official Canon™️ way).

PART 2 - CAR & AREA

okay i haven't worked this one out. just write funni numbers/letters that look realistic. good luck!

PART 3 - CLASS (THE GOOD STUFF)

hehehehoo.

The classification is split into two sections: Hazard + Hazard Level, and Accommodation. They are A-Z or 1-9. You can string together as many letters or numbers as applicable.

It serves as a quick summary of the passenger, although they generally also have a more detailed profile Somewhere in the system that can be pulled up as necessary.

Hazard is self explanatory: the risk that the passenger poses to the train or others. Can be voluntary or involuntary. It is accompanied by a 1-9 number, either overall or one-per-hazard.

Accommodation is what the passenger needs, either to survive (e.g. a fish needs water) or like a real-life accommodation (e.g. assistance navigating the train).

Without further ado: here they are!

Classification tips:

- Hazards are generally defined as "beyond what a (IRL) human could do". For example, I could grab someone and trap (E) them, but I'm not specifically adapted to do so.

- Don't worry about the number. It's just to make the system more realistic: if you don't like powerscaling, don't think too hard about it.

- If a character has a powerset like "can do all of these on command", you can just put down reality warping (major) or something similar.

- I used the left column as inspiration for the right, but they're not like. perfectly matching or anything.

- If you want me. to explain. PLEASE ask!!!

Hope you enjoyed! I will close with the art I've already made + blank templates to make your own. If anyone wants to design a Railpass back I'm travelling for a week, so be my guest!

[drgemmadawnnightingale]

Watching Rabie go quiet and appear to lose confidence was the only time Dr. Gemma's smile faded. She looked puzzled and concerned. Maybe she had said something wrong? She perhaps assumed Rabie liked being rebellious and adventurous, but perhaps not. Perhaps this toy was like many, just trying to escape and find a way out. On the other side of the coin, this was just the first meeting, of patient and doctor getting to know each other. There would be plenty of times to talk about these feelings.

"Oh, Valerie didn't get to take her things?" Dr. Gemma asked. "Very well, I can have the journal destroyed. I understand. And I'll arrange to have a journal and pen brought to-" She was flipping through the rest of the paperwork she had for any recommendations of future gifts or treats, when one paper marked with a bright red pen in Allowances stopped her in her tracks. NO ITEMS IN CELL! ESCAPE RISK! "-ah. Oh, Warden." she sighed, putting the paper work away. "Well, I'll see what I can do. If anything, I can bring that journal and pen with me to our sessions and you can just write in peace. It'll be for your eyes only, pinkie promise.

"And thank you for the advice, Rabie. I appreciate you looking out for me. Let's just say that I promise to use my psychologist powers for good, like I always have." Her cheerful smile came back with a mischievous wink. "It does make me sad to hear that others have been cruel to you. No wonder you want to get out of here so bad. But, the reason why I'm here is because I believe there's another way. Some way we all can be happy under the circumstances. Would you like to help me find it? You don't have to answer right away, but just know that I'm also not happy about these... circumstances. You seem like a good person deep down, and I want to help."

Starter for @drgemmadawnnightingale

Another day another pointless session with someone who wanted to 'treat her', which annoyed her. Rabie had decides to throw away her life before now. Not even going by her name of Valerie. Who she decided was a different person. After all, Valerie's life had basically ended. And her life now was as Rabie Baby. There was no changing that, but it didn't mean she had to be happy with what had been done to her

Though when someone she had never seen before walked into a, admittedly nice, interview room she was already thinking of ways to manipulate this one.

"Hello. Here to go rooting around in my head? Well, knock yourself out. I usually have you shrinks ready to give up after a month."

[autumnoakes]

desperately want to see a zag fight. sgg let me kick his ass

[afraidofchange]

ah, I love waking up with a nice cup of coffee and American silence.

[iniziare]

Re-tag drop: Yelan