#“Assuming all but we see and seem is not just a dream within a dream” is an important axiom in the empirical sciences

[21st-century-minutiae]

An axiom is a statement that is presumed to be true without debate for the purpose of further discussion. It is related to a "premise" which is also a statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of a logical argument. However, axioms imply a level of rigor and non-controversy, and are generally standardized, while a premise can be any non contradictory statement, such as a hypothetical.

For example, Euclid's first postulate "a straight line can be drawn between any two non-coincidental points" is well accepted as an axiom, while a statement like "suppose you had a society where all members were really bad at dancing" is a non-axiomatic premise. Both of these statements can be used in formal logic without issue, but the former has a rigor and history to it, allowing it to be an axiom.

Notably, 'axioms' are not 'true' statements. They are useful statements that have useful implications. But it is possible to have contradictory axioms, as long as they are not used in the same argument. For example, Euclid's Fifth Postulate, the Parallel Line Postulate (which essentially states the non parallel lines will intersect on one specific point on on side side and parallel lines will never intersect) is quite useful for working with geometry, but it is blatantly false when talking about the geometry of a surface of a sphere.

In early twenty-first century mathematical proofs, it is standard to exhaustively list which axioms a given proof is using. These are the only premises that are permitted in the argument. Everything else must be derived from the premises and logical forms. It is common to have a shorthand for common sets of axioms. For example, in Set Theory, "ZF" is used to refer to a set well-understood axioms (excluding the controversial "Axiom of Choice"), while ZFC is used to refer to that same set, including the Axiom of Choice. As such, a Set Theorist only needs to include those two or three letters at the start of their proof to signify what system they are working on.

The fundamental nature of epistemology is infinitely regressive. At some point statements must be made without proof in order to do logic at all, and these statements must be accepted without controversy for the purpose of the argument. Ultimately, all mathematical proofs come down to either tautology, or the form "If X, then Y." "Y" can never be reached directly. And we use axioms or premises in the place of 'X.'

Axioms are kinda goofy imo, just imagine having to specify basic assumptions for your experiments in any other field of science.

"Yes, the animals used were made of bone and flesh when we tested on them"

"The electrons will have to be negatively charged and the positrons positively charged"

"these stones.... are not rocks, maybe"

[wileycap]

Crackfic Idea:

30-year-old Zuko gets randomly flung back in time to his 16-year-old self. For a couple of hours at a time. At the most random times imaginable. Imagine the potential.

Zuko assumes that it's a dream or a vision, but definitely not real. He tries not to freak everybody out too badly, but he's also fully enjoying himself and seeing all of his friends as their young selves.

ZUKO, as he and Aang circle each other at the South Pole: I've spent years preparing for this encounter. Training, meditating. You're just a [Spirit Shwoop Sound] ... baby Aang!

AANG, confused: Well, more like preteen Aang. How do you know my name?

ZUKO, looking around: Wait, where are we?

AANG: Um... this is the-

SOKKA: Don't answer him! He's trying to get information out of you. You can't give away our location!

KATARA: Sokka, he's standing in the middle of our village. I think he knows.

ZUKO: We're here? This is so weird. I was just here for the Annual Penguin Race.

AANG: THERE'S AN ANNUAL PENGUIN RACE?!

ZUKO: Well, yeah, it was your idea... you gave a whole speech about cross-cultural cooperation and friendship, but I know you just wanted to go penguin sledding with a bunch of people...

AANG: Well, I-

SOKKA: Stop giving him more information! He already knows about the penguins!

Everybody else is confused, bewildered and even befuddled except for Iroh, who assumes that it's Spirit Shenanigans™️ and just fully accepts that his nephew likes tea and hugs and Pai Sho sometimes while being his usual shouty surly traumaball self at others.

ZUKO, stepping into the cabin: Hi, Uncle. I brought you some ginseng. How about a game of Pai Sho?

IROH, tearing up a little: I would love that, my nephew.

ZUKO: I wish we could do this more often, but you live so far away...

IROH, mentally calculating that he lives exactly three doors away from Zuko, and nodding sagely: The rat-viper may never climb the mountain that a hog-monkey can, but the monkey does not know what lies underneath it.

ZUKO, sighing sadly: I know, Uncle. I do appreciate my position in life, even if it has disadvantages.

IROH: Hmm. Your move, nephew.

The crew of Zuko's ship is terrified by the fact that whenever it happens, Zuko is somehow even more hyper-competent, seems to be weirdly calm about everything, and most unnervingly of all, he's polite.

SOLDIER: Here is a report on the best teahouses within three days travel of our current location, Sir. And, uh, Commander Zhao sent a messenger hawk.

ZUKO: Excellent. Thank you very much, Sergeant. I think we can ignore whatever Zhao has to say. In reply, I want you to send him a list of the most famous officers in Fire Nation history, and point out that none of them had sideburns. I want to see if he shaves them.

SOLDIER, sweating nervously: O-of course, Sir.

As a matter of fact, the whole fic could just be Zuko trolling Zhao. It would be glorious.

[avocad1s]

The Gnosis Can Wait

Requested By: No one. Original work.

CW: 5.0 spoilers below this line!!! 5.0 spoilers below this line! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Summary: After his battle with Mavuika, Capitano was left injured. He retreats wanting to replan his strategy when he runs into you, the Creator, who had just descended to Teyvat.

Note: So how are you all liking Natlan? As of right now I think it’s okay only because I want to return to Fontaine 😞

Capitano wasn’t used to the taste of defeat.

As number one in the Fatui harbingers and the strongest amongst them no doubt, he is used to winning every match he partakes in. Or for his opponents to concede before the battle even begins.

Yet he doesn’t take it to heart, he knows the outcomes of every battle can differ in many different ways and he isn’t arrogant about his strength.

Mavuika was a God after all. Even though his power rivals hers, he knew he would have to best her with a foolproof strategy and it seemed barging in wasn’t the right one. She was a worthy opponent.

Capitano returns to his camp, the pain in his chest still burning from the small wound Mavuika left on him. He can wait, once his wound heals then he will strike her again, only this time he won’t miss. At least he has an ally in his pocket keeping him up to date on all the politics within Natlan.

“My lord,” Capitano’s right hand, Rezanov begins while bowing. “We found footprints nearby. We believe someone might stumble into camp soon…”

Capitano lets out a sigh underneath his mask, “how many people?”

“We believe only one, there’s only one track of footprints.”

Only one person? Nothing really to worry about. Unless this person is returning to tell the Archon his location.

“Find them and bring them here.” He orders and Rezanov nods and quickly takes off.

———

Okay… don’t freak out. Don’t freak out…

You just woke up in Genshin Impact.

You remember waiting impatiently by your PC for the newest update to the game, but you must’ve fallen asleep while waiting. Now you were dreaming about the it? Jeez, even in your own dreams you thought about the game. You really needed to touch grass. (lol jk jk luv you all)

You were dreaming about Natlan… a nation that you haven’t even played yet. You couldn’t have had a dream about your favorite nation? Or meeting all your favorite characters?

But everything felt so real. Even after watching the trailer and the leaks you’ve seen online, there’s no way you could know such detail about the nation. Maybe it was just your mind filling in the gaps…

“Stop right there!”

You turn around and your blood runs immediately cold. It was two fatui skirmishers and one fatui agent. You don’t even know the amount of times you’ve killed these enemies for their drops or just for the fun of it.

So this is how you die… at least this is better than falling into the claws of Childe, who you’d beat up anytime you built a new character.

“Our lord the Captain will deal with you, come with us with no fight.”

Scratch that. This was much, much worse…

“Wait… isn’t that…?” One of them whispered.

They put down their weapons, looks of remorse on their faces.

“Your Grace… please for give our imprudence we had no idea it was you…” Rezanov. “Please come with us, the Captain would be delighted to see you.”

Right… you’ve read fanfics like this before. Believing you’re their Creator… you wonder if your blood was gold. Perhaps you could check later. For now, you were going to follow them, it’s not like Capitano has appeared in the game you can get a first time look at him.

You follow the trio deeper into the forest, a small fireplace in the distance, you could only assume the Captain would be there.

“My lord, we found who was trailing around camp. Their Grace has decided to bless us with their presence on Teyvat once more.”

Capitano turns around and say nothing for what felt like forever. Even with the helmet, you knew he was staring intently at you.

“Your Grace.” He finally says, his voice much softer than you ever expected. “I am honored to be in your presence.”

He approached, towering over you.

“You three. Fetch Their Grace some food—“ he looks down at you once more. “And a change of clothes.”

You feel embarrassment creep up your neck. What’s wrong with your pajamas? Could he tell they weren’t from this word?

He holds out his hand, and you take it being able to feel the warmth underneath the glove. This dream was much realer than you thought…

Capitano leads you to his large tent holding the flaps open so you could enter. “We weren’t expecting your arrival so I apologize for the lack of preparations…”

You shake your head, “everything is fine.” Not like you’d be here forever…

“You can have my tent You Grace, I will camp outside.” He adds.

You furrow your eyebrows, “this tent is big enough for two people, can’t we just share it?”

Capitano doesn’t say nothing for a moment, you fear you’ve might’ve offended him with your offer but it was the complete opposite. Capitano felt as if he was on top of the world, to share a camp with the Creator? To be able to protect you? To see your sleeping face…

He feels his cheeks grow crimson and he is eternally grateful for his helmet. “Of course, if that’s what you wish Your Grace…”

The flaps to the tent open and Rezanov enters the tent. “My lord, we've received word that the Pyro Archon has lost much of her power.”

“Although your injury complicates things, this is most certainly the opportune time to seize the Gnosis...”

Capitano was slightly irritated with his subordinate’s unwarranted entry but he wouldn’t do anything yet, not while you were right in front of him.

“The Gnosis can wait, we have more important matters…” he replies, his focus never leaving you.

© avocad1s 2024

Note: Capitano was the highlight of Natlan for me. Sorry but i’m a Fatui Harbinger glazer 😞 why’d they make them so fine? It’s not fair… Now here’s to hoping my man is playable, saving all my primos for him so he better not disappoint.

Edit: I know Mavuika isn’t a God but I’m thinking Capitano wouldn’t know that since she’s the only one of the Seven that isn’t a one which is where I went with this fic

[pige0ns]

i love how much the current season of severance is characterized by interpenetration. the first season was cold and isolated. severed. the innies and the outies were separate, and the leaks between them mostly only ominous hints. a tissue in mark's pocket. a dream of black goo. a blue band aid. an orange book. a recording from the break room. of course a reintegrated petey could not survive in season 1. in a severed world, it is the person trying to become whole who is the doomed, ill-suited freak. willing lobotomy should be grotesque, but when it is sanitized by corporate and scientific aesthetics, it can seem like the civilized thing, and anti-lobotomy that is grotesque. anti-lobotomy that is homeless, unshaven, and dripping blood.

this is why the we we are is so successful as a conclusion to season 1. it is a shocking violation of the boundary that existed all season. it is not just an ominous hint, but a total, almost violent obtrusion. as transgressive as the act of cutting, but in the opposite direction. and it makes the violence of the original cutting more salient in retrospect. (it's in the name, too--"we" instead of "you"; a coming together instead of a separation)

and now, in season 2, in the aftermath of that boundary violation, the boundaries start breaking down even further. helena on the severed floor. mark's reintegration visions. gemma being herself, even deep inside lumon's bowels. milchick visiting their houses. gretchen visiting dylan. mark in the birthing cabin. the innies outside at the ortbo. burt and irving being influenced by their innie connection. mark and helena meeting in the restaurant. the literal sex and romance and infidelity, involving not just innies or outies, but innies and outies. representatives of the inside and outside physically, bodily, commingling.

and it's against this backdrop that the characters in season 2 have begun to confront the boundaries within themselves. they've begun to ask how different and how separate they really are. do innies and outies have different souls? is infidelity with yourself really infidelity? it's almost cliche at this point, but really: does love transcend severance? clear narrative roles of hero and villain are decaying. former antagonists like milchick and cobel are now something murkier. meanwhile helly and helena, once seemingly so distinct, have increasingly revealed their commonalities. both trapped, both drawn to mark, repeating lines like "she's not your wife." the emphasis on helena this season is key. helly and helena embody self-division, given their initially divergent characters, goals, and narrative roles--one a hero, the other a villain. so for their differences to erode, for helena to get closer to the screentime that helly got last season, signals that this is a story in which self-division itself is growing suspect, unstable, untenable.

and then there's mark's reintegration. if of course petey couldn't survive reintegration in season 1, then of course mark can't complete his reintegration in season 2. season 2 is not a story of completion, it is a story of transition. it is messy, ambiguous, ambivalent adolescence. mark might want his innie's memories, but he has given no indication that he wants or identifies with his innie's self. as protagonist and deuteragonist, mark and helly are natural foils, and mark's forced and unsuccessful reintegration process is in contrast with helena's unexpected inching towards "natural reintegration", to use britt lower's phrase. in "attila" we see helena with her hair and manners loose, however awkwardly, playing at aspects of helly in a way that mark scout, as of "the after hours" (when this is written), would not consider doing with mark s. metaphorically, mark cannot yet reintegrate because his halves are not aligned. but they're not separate any more either. they're overlapping. they're at odds. but what will make them align? i assume that is what the finale and next season are for.

[zolo-san]

I know I just rambled in the tag, but if you took the time to read all that, might I direct you to this post & my ramblings there as well~

Something about Zoro being one of the most misunderstood and mischaracterized characters in One Piece is funny (not haha funny, funny sad) to me because?? That’s literally how his introduction starts?? With people misunderstanding him and thinking he’s some big, monstrous demon who kills with cause and cannot be trusted or tamed.

Meanwhile the actual Zoro is a driven guy who is often both literally and figuratively directionless in life and found his goals in life through good people (first Kuina and then Luffy). He's tied up in the Marine base not due to those actual crimes he commuted (well not inherently anyway) but because he ‘disrespected’ a Captain's son and stood up for a little girl. He accepts the challenge they present to him and because Zoro himself is a guy that puts his money where his mouth is he assumes the Marines will uphold their end of the deal and let him go (note the actual shock when Koby tells him the truth)

He joins Luffy's crew but also outright says he’s not gonna let his goal take second place to Luffy or anyone else's for that matter, he bears the weight of two people's dreams, his heart isn’t going to be swayed by some pirate.

Speaking of Kuina, her impact and influence on Zoro's life isn’t talked about enough for my liking. She was Zoro's first friend, his first rival, his first goal. He looked up to her so much and his reaction to her passing cracks my heart in half every time because you can seem him just..go numb. Kuina, dead? Kuina, the strongest person he knows, gone? Kuina, who swore to him just yesterday they’d race to the top of the world together, doesn’t exist anymore. His blank face only cracking within the privacy of his sensei before he begs. He begs on his knees, tears streaming down his face please please please let me take Kuina's sword with me. Let me take our dream to a high neither of us could imagine. I won’t let her name die here.

On top of gaining the Wado Ichimonji that day Zoro also gained…fear. Not of death, well at the very least not his own, he gained his fear of not being enough. Kuina kicked his ass every way a person could and still died, what could someone like him do? So he trains…and trains…and trains some more. Overly, obsessively, constantly telling himself he’s not enough, he’s weak, he can’t protect anyone like this and everyone's death would be on him.

As for Zoro being cold and stoic that’s just…not completely true? He’s not stone, he can be excited or sad or angry just as much as most characters he just sucks at showing it canonically (Kuina thinks he hates her before their final fight after all). Sure he’s not as forthcoming about it as some of the other Strawhats but Zoro's more of an action guy anyway, he'll show his love with his protection and unwavering faith.

In conclusion, Zoro is a ridiculously stubborn, incredibly loyal, mildly emotionally constipated, do what you say/say what you mean kinda guy.

(Also that whole ‘Zoro would kill the whole crew if Luffy asked him to’ thing? Top ten stupidest things I’ve ever heard from the fandom and that’s saying a lot. He’s loyal not brainless and heartless guys if Luffy asked him to do that, he would never but I digress, Zoro would square the fuck up with him so fast. DPMO.)

[hotheadedhero]

Think You're Cute

'Like 'em Big Series'

AN: I have so many stories to write but I had to do this. Blaming being sick, m'kay? Fever has got me bad and these meds got me loopy. Thinking we need some good, silly fun in our lives, right? Plus, now that I've watched Rise, I'm hungry for some big Raph appreciation. I know I ain't the only one

Part 2

All characters are aged up

Raphael x Reader

Warnings: near peril, easily smitten, possible errors due to fever (what kind of fever is up for deliberation🥴)

Cutting right to the chase. You like big dudes. That doesn't necessarily mean muscles, either. You just love you a big man - someone with a bit of something-something to them. More to love, you know? Given your track record with the greater world, it shouldn't be all that much of a mystery. Cats? Get yourself a tiger that you can cuddle into. Jumpers? Comfort central, baby. Beds? If you can't spread eagle then you see no point. The old-age saying does declare that the bigger the better, so who are you to disagree? How true that is may be up for debate but it’s merely as simple as understanding what your preferences are.

However, this makes dating a difficult ballpark to play in. No matter how tall, jacked, or voluptuous someone is, it never feels like enough. Human biology and genetics can only go so far in the conceivably possible sense. You just want to be absolutely engulfed when you get a hug. Is that such a crime? Apparently, it is. Unfortunately, you also seem to come across the worst jerks when you attempt to date within this set of criteria. One might argue it's your karmic justice for being so superficial and picky but a woman has needs. Not those kinds of needs, either. Get your head out of the gutter.

All hope seems lost and after yet again, another failed date, you decide to call it in for the evening and make your way home. A fresh failure and another wonderful outfit gone to waste. By no means is it anything flashy but you put a lot of work into it: pencil skirt, turtle neck sweater, and a nice pair of boots to compliment the look. The whole shebang! All of that effort for nothing. This is the last time you spend three hours doing your hair and makeup. Block after block, your feet grow heavier with every step. What you would give to come across a mountain-like man you can climb who is also a kindred spirit. Perhaps this dream guy will forever be that - a dream. Men like that don't just fall out of the sky.

"Look out!!"

The sudden shout almost scares you into tripping over and you look behind yourself, wishing you hadn’t. Two very large, very dangerous-looking figures entangled in battle, those of which are approaching your helpless little self. You quickly duck as the giants hurdle over you. One falls on its side whilst the other claws and skids against the ground, regaining its balance. It shakes its head and locks onto you, a guttural snarl rumbling past its jowls. Such a creature is surely from the stuff of nightmares. An indescribable nightmare whose sights are set on you. The smart option would be running away but it's as though your shoes have melted into the pavement. Pawing into the tarmac, the beastly thing growls and lunges for you. Great. This is how you die: torn limb from limb by a demon dog. Well, assuming your clothes join you, at least you’ll look like a total babe in the afterlife.

"Oh no ya’ don't," the other one yells from behind the predator, grabbing it by its tail. “Pretty ladies are not food!”

With a mighty tug, he pulls it back and swings it as far away from you as possible. You release a shaky breath, legs trembling beneath you. That was far too close for comfort. The fight isn’t quite over, however. Just as it approaches him, the green goliath swivels on his feet, full 180, and whacks the creature's jaw with a closed fist. His speed alone has you in awe but the force is astounding, practically earth-shattering. It completely knocks the air around you and pushes you onto your backside.

When the dust clears, the first thing you see is your saviour panting, his spiky shell(?) pointed towards you. Just past him in the distance, you notice three more figures in blue, purple, and orange taking a closer look at the unconscious tyrant. You swear one of them pokes at it with a stick. Witnessing strange beings such as this isn't entirely new. Anyone who's watched Chateau Pretenche knows about the celebrity chef turning into a grotesque pigman. To describe it in one word? Horrifying. It's just whether people choose to believe it genuinely happened or if these bizarre entities exist. Being up close and personally observing it now puts your scepticism in check.

As the humanoid turtle calms, he turns to face you, recapturing your attention. A red mask sits over his eyes and there’s a noticeable snaggle tooth poking past his upper lip. Typically, the prerogative is keeping out of sight but it’s much too late for that. He gradually advances towards you. You watch him warily and he keeps his movements slow for that very reason. It wouldn’t be a shock if you were to try and make an escape. He wouldn’t blame you. Currently, all he wants to do is make sure you weren’t hurt during that fiasco provided you don’t suddenly come out of your bewilderment and run off. You have good reason to but he just saved you. Either that or he’s as ravenous as that beast and wants you all to himself. The irrational conclusion remains as such - irrational - when he descends to one knee and outstretches a hand. There’s an irrefutable kindness in his eyes; a caring nature that can’t be replicated in the face of savage brutes.

"You okay?" he asks.

You continue to gawk without a word but, bit by bit, you reach out for his offer. Your fingers lightly trace the centre of his palm before comfortably trusting the proposal. His hand engulfs yours completely and Raph hopes to mercy that you don’t realise how sweaty he’s getting. He can feel his heart beating like crazy. He wonders how much of that is the adrenaline from the fight and how much of it is being in the presence of such a beautiful gal. As he helps you to your feet, he rises to his own. Someone of his stature shouldn’t be capable of being this delicate but he is. It has you running through a loop and you unintentionally stare at the remarkable behemoth.

Quite pathetically, you nod, unable to verbally respond to his question. How can you? You are effectively starstruck. Once you gloss over the turtle-y features, all you see is the sheer size of him as he towers over you. Height, width, the magnitude of those arms! All of it is glorious. You can hear the universe asking, “You want a big man, huh? How about one who isn’t human?” to which you answer, “Who gives a damn?”. If the only way a man can be this big is not to be human, so be it.

Amidst a whisper, your mouth moves on its own, "You're beautiful."

"What?"

"Huh?" Blinking out of your trance, you realise what you’ve said and giggle sheepishly, "I mean, you're be... ba... booming! Totally awesome with the whole- uh... saving thing." Nailed it. 

He blinks right back down at you. This is certainly a first. He can feel his face heating up and he withdraws his hand lest you endure the wrath of his bashfulness, opting to hold the back of his head. At this moment, he seems to look anywhere but you.

"Heh. Gee, thanks." His humility is adorable and you’re glad he doesn’t question your initial statement. He turns to you once more, regaining some composure. "You sure you're okay, though? That thing was pretty scary looking."

It’s clear that you haven’t sustained any physical injuries but even bearing witness to something so unsightly can have lasting effects on one's mind. His brows furrow gently in concern down at you and it occurs to you that there’s a soft heart under all of that shell and muscle. Bonus points. This makes you smile for the first time in front of him and Raphael is sure that the streetlights got brighter.

You laugh fondly, “Yeah, I’m okay. Thank you.” Twiddling your fingers, your lips purse up in his direction.  “Is there any way I can repay you?”

He places his hands on his hips and chuckles cutely, “Just doing my duty, ma’am.”

He may be indulging in his alter ego - the Red Angel of Preventing Harm - but it’s not every day he gets paid thanks when he saves someone. It’s also not every day he gets to save such a pretty woman, either. You, however, can’t just leave it at that. There must be some way in which you can properly thank him. Ulterior motives include getting to know this already loveable lug better but shh. It feels like the odds are finally turning in your favour and you won’t let this slip away from your grasp. That’s when it hits you.

Muttering under your breath, you erratically search through the confines of your little handbag. You are certain that you had one in here somewhere. In the spare pocket maybe? Ah! Found it. Fumbling to take the lid off of your pen, you hold out your hand, gesturing for his. He slowly complies, to which you jot down a series of digits on his palm accompanied by your name and a tiny 'x'. 

"Gimme a text sometime," is the last thing he hears before you disappear around a corner.

Oh? Oh. Ohhh. Wow. Getting your number is the last thing he expected. Did he get hit on the head during that scuffle or something? Was everything from the last few minutes a dream? He bores holes into the writing on his skin, scanning it over and over, scared that it’ll disappear if he so much as blinks. A dumb, wobbly smile not so gracefully decorates his lips as he trudges back to the turtle tank. He takes his seat but it’s obvious that he isn’t all there. Being so caught up in his rose-tinted bubble, he doesn’t register his brothers' voices. In an effort to gain his attention, Michelangelo jumps onto his shoulder, partly intrigued by what their leader is so absorbed by.

"Oh me gosh!” the young brother screams in shrill excitement, “Raph's in love!"

Careful not to smudge the neat ink, he’s quick to hide his hand against his chest. "That's crazy talk!”

Donatello sniffs the air and mockingly covers his nose. "The overwhelming manifestation of your nervous stink indicates otherwise, dear brother."

"I got a girl’s number!” he continues to defend, feeling his face go all kinds of red. “'Course, I'm nervous but that don’t mean I’m in love."

Lies and slander. It was practically love at first sight. He just doesn’t like the idea of his brothers knowing that. It’s easy pickings to be made fun of.

"Don't worry, Big Red. Lucky for you, you got a guy who knows all about the charm." Leonardo points both thumbs at himself as he falls back into his seat and props his legs up on the dashboard. "First, you just need to..."

The "helpful" advice drowns out as the large snapper opens and gazes at his palm again. He just can't comprehend how a gorgeous individual such as yourself could take one look at him and give him your number. It's puzzling but he supposes there’s a first for everything? That also doesn't mean he won't text you. The only thing getting in the way of that is fear. Raphael thinks he’d rather go toe-to-toe with that mutant dog again than have to face the risk of embarrassing himself. To anyone who knows him, it’s no surprise that he caves under pressure. No. He will do it! A chance like this is one in a million.

Oh boy. What could possibly go wrong?

[timkontheunsure]

Prophetic stars & dreams

Stolas was born to read prophecies from the stars.

And it's the job Via was born to replace, if Stolas couldn't be controlled.

Both of them seem to pick up small glimpses of the future outside of this work, about important things in their own lives.

And don't seem to really understand that's what's they're doing.

Feeling more like they get hints and nudges; that aren't always in the right order, can get confused with other similar events, and even are clouded by the emotions from their future selves.

The 11th birthday

Stolas starts getting prophecies as soon as he's handed the book. Putting these hints with his gut instincts as soon as his life's purpose is named by Paimon.  

He takes one look at Stella and goes all the nope.   

He sees Blitzo, and isn't just smitten; but stays that way for 25 years.

Blitz is important.

And out of all the teddies they could be playing within that room; Stolas wants to share his more important possession, knowledge, with his new friend. 

He has a small idea that he should share his books with his first friend.  Like he will do with the grimoire later.  It's important to do.

He knows Blitzo will be a good boss, and is very supportive of Blitz dream.

But Stolas does has a couple of questions about their conversation. 'A office for a circus business?'  Seems like he's got a feeling that it's not the right business plan.

The other thing he questions is if Blitz will really hire him. And this feels like it gives us a clue to how these powers work.

Stolas is only hired after his powers are stripped.  Seems like it makes it much more hazy for him to see. But he does think it would be a good thing to happen.

Via's nightmare

Octavia's had one unshakable fear for years.  That her dad will disappear from her home one day, and she won't be able to find him.

This is the same night. We see what scared tinny wee Via so much in Loo loo land. She saw what was happening in I Will Be Ok in Sinsmas. 

This is her nightmare.

Via's see her home after Stolas' banishment, and it becomes her biggest fear.  

No promises can make her forget it.

  This vision is why she's so sure that Stolas will leave her, running off with Blitz. 

She's been waiting for the other shoe to drop since he turned up.

And she's not the only one worried by this nightmare.

Stolas' assumed earlier death

Between the mandatory precautionary aire, the chronic depression, and the abusive wife; Stolas always appears to have expected to died young.

But it's likely that on some level he tuck Via's nightmare as conformation. With this being reflected in the lullaby he sings her back to sleep with.

He didn't expect to still be around when she's grown. But knew she'd physically be 'ok', and he tuck comfort in that. (It appears Stolas made sure that Via would have some level of independent, from Stella, as well as everything thing he owns; in the event of his death).

Again, this feels like he can't see properly see past having his powers striped. And appears to have assumed that ment he'd be dead before Via turned 18.

They both saw him as gone after all.

Think this is why Stolas is so extremely surprised Satan didn't just kill him. (Not just that he's unaware of his own privage. Those he definitely is that lol. These visions are only tiny glimpses acting as gut feeling after all).

And even when Stella tries to kill him he's pretty resigned to it. He doesn't want to die, but also doesn't seem to think he'll have much to a choice in the matter.

Home doesn't feel like home anymore

Via next vision gives her more information about her dad disappearance.

She gets 3 tiny pieces of information about it for her future self. And they cement in her mind that's it'll Blitz who'll take her dad away, because that's how Sinsmas Via sees it.

1 That home isn't home anymore.

That moment when she looks up and sees how different the palice is without her dad. There's no warmth or life anymore. With even her dad's pet plant dead.

2 And that Stolas will run off with Blitz

It's the first time her dad introduces them, in place that's ment to be comforting familiar; but it's understandable that she's scared.

Yer it's all coloured by how she sees and understand it at the time. Both for how she feels it now crying at Loo Loo Land, and how she feels in Sinsmas. All making the kid scared and anxious about the future.

3 Stolas will go somewhere she can't find him.

And there is a time where she can't find her dad.

I think Via comforted herself that she knew where her dad was.

Ok, he's not allowed the the palace anymore; but she could just go to IMP any time and there would be her dad with his shitty boyfriend. Safe, just waiting for her to come around.

And when he's not there, and he's not safe because he hasn't got his antidepressants; she gets terrified. Enough for it to be part of what she has sees will happen.

The horse stars

Oh and another cute one before we get more trauma.

Stolas's grimoire trys tell him about Blitz, the day the met as adults. By turning Ursa major into a horse, just as Blitz is trying to attract his attention at the window.

But Stolas has his eyes shut and doesn't notice either.

It's sweet that his magic tried to point out the love his life though it.

Via's rejection

She also sees that she's going to have the opportunity to see her dad, that he will reach out to her.

As well as that she will be too angry with him to take it.

Stolas' ways

Stolas was definitely bubble scrys to find out where Blitz is in Truth Seekers, and then he only steps in when IMP are out of options.

(Stolas uses Blitz's advice when captured by Striker, so he was very likely watching a while there).

But I've gone back and forth on Stolas' reason for checking in the first place.

I think he's definitely put a curse on Blitz to make him practically bullet proof (Blitz hasn't ever gotten shot since Stolas hand glowed red in Ep1), and stop his guns being used against him.

Making them heat up and misfire, taking out the guy tried to use Blitz's stolen gun.

I'd assumed he'd had some sort alert for Blitz being in shit he can't get out of. Like when he and Moxxie were captured by the Dhorks.

But it did make me wonder why Stolas wouldn't turn up in chupacabra. When we now know he does in Mastermind, so it's not the heartbreak that would stop him if Blitz is really in stuck.

It's that Blitz could get himself out of there (with the help of a cute goat), so Stolas didn't get the urge to check.

This leads up on to...

Andy's ways (not the worst plan)

Andy says he's a similar job a power set to Stolas. This is why he can be fairly certain that not summoning him to the court, but having Satan broadcast the execution; will get Stolas to see what he wants. And only what he wants. (Not the fake rape accusation, or that Blitz now apparently paid Striker to kill him 🙄).

Otherwise it's a very dumb plan.

While lower class demons TV's turn on, and automatically play the trial; Stolas' doesn't.

Stolas is already got the TV on and is actively channel hopping before Andy's scheme makes it mandatory viewing for anyone. And Goetia aren't included in the Satan's power play.

Stolas even skips past his favourite show, helluva novella, twice to see Blitz's execution. He's got a little itch telling him he's need to flick over.

But because Andy does have a similar magic he can be pretty sure that Stolas will see it, and come running to Blitz's aid.

Knight in shining armour

Stolas has a fantasy about being rescued by Blitz, his knight in shinning armour.

It's a rock solid believe for him. To the point that he trys to make it happen twice, to a greater and lesser extent. (Only being shaken of it after Striker's torture).

First by hiring Blitz as an unnecessary bodyguards, to introduce his lover and kid.

And second by phoning Blitz to please rescue him when Stiker had him kidnapped.

While Blitz does save him, it doesn't happened either time Stolas was expecting it to.

It happens after his powers are striped; and he isn't expecting anyone to help him. He was expecting Andy to kill him.

(Stolas was going see Via or die trying).

And Andy would have if Blitz didn't realise where Stolas had gone, and take IMP and Via with him.

Gonna chalk this is up to a combination of similar things similar things happening make it much harder to understand when things are going to happen. And the full knight in shinning armour moment doesn't happen till after Stolas is striped of his magic.

Hummm actually Stolas specifically tries to make it happen Twice.

And Blitz is his big romantic rescuer twice. Guess him seeing it twice could explain why it's such a rock solid believe.

Stopping Stiker in Harvest Moon Festival could count, but Stolas doesn't find out till Apology Tour.

And that's a really shitty way to find out Blitz did that, because not telling Stolas someone wants him dead nearly got him killed.

Like Via's emotions from her visions are colour how she feels, so do Stolas'. Stolas is definitely a dumbass feeling it has to be Blitz savings him, but it might explain a little why he's so stuck on the idea.

(He's a daft salty bitch lol, but we love him).

Striker's demise

Think both of these are hints on how Striker will die. That Stolas will destroy Striker if he hurts Via. Which seems certain he'll do.

But even though I do think at the start of this scene Stolas believed Blitz would come for him; I think he'd given up all hope by the point Striker's asks for any last words.

The rest feels like was going to be "Blitz...will... kill you".

Thinking this means that both dads will fight Striker together to save Via.

Like how M&M fought together to save Stolas. We've only seen them fighting singularly before. I think it would be amazing to see them together fighting to keep her safe and sound.

With Stolas having the last hit to protect is little girl, and the dead blow.

The flames of rebellion -Stolas' last prophecy

Stolas tries to warn the court that treating Blitz badly could spark revolt of imps.  

Then Satan call Blitz a pawn, and throws him out like trash. Completing it by saying on live TV that his life doesn't have matter compared to a goeita's. 

 This is after Andy already stepped on Blitz's face, telling him he should know his place.  

It would be funny if Stolas' last official prophecy was predicting imp rebellion, because of their ill treatment to his lover.

[soulofapatrick]

Nothing Changes - Aaron Hotchner x female reader

Summary: You wake the next morning to an empty bed and panic

Words: 1.3K

Warnings: None; fluffy

Notes: I'm really sorry for writing so much Hotch, I'm rewatching criminal minds and all these story ideas for him have been on my mind

Waking up to an empty bed, I feel my heart sink as the realization hits me: Hotch isn’t lying beside me anymore. Panic flutters in my chest as my mind races through a flurry of thoughts. Of course, he left. He couldn’t stay, not without risking our jobs, our reputations, and maybe even our friendship. What if one of the team found out? What would they think of me? They’d probably assume I’m taking advantage of Hotch, especially considering it’s only been two years since Haley’s passing. The man seems to still be grieving, and here I am, complicating things even more.

The distant sound of the shower running breaks through my panic, and relief floods through me, mingling with a tinge of nervousness. Maybe he hadn’t left entirely. Maybe there’s still a chance, a hope that last night wasn’t just a fleeting moment of weakness, but something more. Last night was the first time we gave in to the building sexual tension between us.

His clothes are still strewn across my room, a tangible reminder of the intimacy we shared. I can’t help but replay the events of last night in my mind—the way his touch ignited a fire within me, the way his eyes held mine with an intensity I couldn’t ignore. The way he was so gentle yet so dominant, knowing how to work my body right.

As I slowly come to wakefulness, the sound of the shower grows louder, filling the empty space with its steady rhythm. Part of me longs to join him, to lose myself in the warmth of his embrace once more. But another part of me hesitates, afraid of what this newfound connection might mean for us both.

Before I can decide both of our phones are ringing, the shrill sound makes my head hurt and I’m groaning, burying my face in the pillow Hotch had previously slept on. The phones ring till they stop and I count to four before both start ringing again, ruining the peace this almost domestic moment.

I’m smacking the bed in faint protest before wriggling over to the nearest phone and answering, “Yeah?”

No one speaks for a second before I recognise JJ clearing her throat, “We need you in, we’ve got a case.” There’s amusement in her tone that has me frowning before my heart drops for the second time this morning.

“JJ…” I pause, swallowing thickly, “This is Hotch’s phone, isn’t it?” I groan, turning my head to look at the bedside table to see my phone sitting there, “Oh god!”

“I won’t say a word,” She pauses and I hear her stifle a small laugh, I won’t tell if you tell me all about it on girls night.”

“Deal.” I reluctantly agree before hanging up and throwing Hotch’s phone somewhere on the bed.

I climb out of bed, feeling the cool air against my skin as I pad to the bathroom, wearing nothing but Hotch’s button up I throw on haphazardly, not bothering to do it up.

Hotch stands under the shower, his silhouette obscured by the mist, like a figure emerging from a dream. The gentle stream of water traces the contours of his body, sculpting shadows and highlights that accentuate every line and sinew. Droplets cling to his skin, glistening like diamonds in the soft light filtering through the steam.

His shoulders, broad and powerful, bear the weight of countless burdens, yet in this moment, they seem almost weightless, as if the water washes away the weight of the world. The water cascades over his chest, tracing the ripple of muscle, each movement a testament to strength and resilience.

His jawline is sharp, chiseled, a portrait of determination and resolve. The water courses over it, tracing the curve of his lips, the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corners. There’s a vulnerability in that smile, a glimpse of the man behind the stoic facade, and it steals my breath away.

His eyes, closed in peaceful repose, are hidden from view, yet I can imagine them so clearly—deep pools of darkness, windows to a soul that has weathered storms and emerged unbroken. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and in that moment, I feel as though I can see straight into his.

Every inch of him is a study in contrasts—the strength and vulnerability, the resilience and tenderness—all wrapped up in one beautiful, complex package. And as I watch him, bathed in the gentle embrace of the water, I feel something stir within me, something deep and unspoken.

It’s as if with each droplet that falls, my heart beats a little faster, my breath catches a little tighter. In that moment, I realize just how deeply I’ve fallen for him, how every part of me longs to reach out and touch him, to pull him close and never let go.

I give in to that want, stepping towards the shower, the warm water enveloping me like a comforting embrace. With a quick motion, I shrug off his shirt, feeling the fabric slip from my skin, and I step under the water next to him. Droplets cascade over us, mingling with the steam, as I close the distance between us.

My fingers tremble as I reach out, brushing lightly up his toned bicep, tracing the contours of muscle beneath his skin. A small sound escapes him, a mixture of surprise and pleasure, as he looks down to meet my gaze. His cognac eyes soften as they meet mine, warmth and affection swirling within their depths.

His hands find my hips, fingers tracing patterns against my skin, as if mapping out the curves and contours of my body. There’s a tenderness in his touch, a gentleness that belies the strength of the man before me. With each caress, he stirs something deep within me, igniting a fire that burns brighter with each passing moment.

I feel a surge of longing, an ache that resonates deep within my soul, as his touch sends shivers coursing through me. It’s as if every nerve in my body is alight with electricity, every sense heightened by the intensity of his presence.

And then, without hesitation, he pulls me flush against him, his lips finding mine in a searing kiss. It’s a collision of desire and longing, a meeting of souls bound together by the undeniable pull of attraction. His lips are soft against mine, a gentle exploration that sets my heart ablaze.

“Can we just stay here?” I mumble, pulling away from the kiss to rest my head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my cheek. I don’t care if we’re late, if I have to dry my hair before we leave, if we miss the plane. I don’t care for anything except the safety of Hotch’s strong arms wrapped around me.

“I don’t suppose the only reason you came in was to shower with me, was it?” He hooks a finger under my chin and makes me look up at him, an eyebrow raise and an amused look on his face.

“No,” I can’t help but pout, drawing a chuckle from him and he ducks down to press a kiss to my forehead, “we have a case.”

“Well,” he brushes my now wet hair from my face, “We have about an hour.”

“It takes me 45 on a good day Hotch.” I grumble and his eyes widen a little in disbelief as I’ve never told anyone where I live let alone how long it takes me to get to work until now. Until the very man I’ve been dreaming of for months is standing, very, very naked in my shower.

“Alright sweetheart, we’ll pick up some coffee on the way in.” My heart flutters at the pet name, my cheeks heating up and I’m burying my face in his muscular chest, “Sweetheart?”

“What happens when we enter the office?” I mumble against his chest.

“Nothing has to change.”

“Nothing has to change?”

“I promise”

Criminal Minds Masterlist TAG LIST - updated 21st Dec 2023

@guacam011y @rosaliedepp @kajjaka

[peyotebritta]

What are people's take on this? The pyramids in the background seem to support the Sutekh theory or are they just mountains?. Triad = Pyramids. Sue's Tech = Sutekh ( a stretch, I know but the Osirans do have advanced tech to rival the time lords). Maybe Susan is a (unwitting) servant of Sutekh like this guy in Pyramid of Mars whose face we never saw:

Looking at the promo pictures, it struck me how similar this image is to Sutekh's time corridor:

Additionally, we see this sand/dust cloud in the trailer. Sutekh wanted to turn all existence to dust:

We know an ancient evil will be awoken from within UNIT using TRIAD technology. Sutekh has been trapped since ancient antiquity but almost escaped in 1911 from a time corridor in UNIT's basement. but the Doctor forced him to age 7000s years, presumably killing him. But if not, he could certainly qualify as The One Who Waits.

We also know S Triad = TARDIS which seems to suggest time lord technology or something similar. If she used a prototype that went wrong, it could have scattered her across time without her knowing and she's experiencing her other lives as dreams.

We also have the matter of the Doctor's TARDIS acting strange, perhaps TRIAD Technology is siphoning energy or life from the Doctor's TARDIS In order to work

Additionally thoughts:

we have a new Tales of Tardis episode airing the day before the finale that will feature Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson. I'm assuming they will be in the Memory Tardis, which we know feeds on stories. which could link to the tv show / unreality theory. Is the Memory Tardis Triad Tech? Maybe she is selling it as a commercial experience to relive memories but it's a Ghost Machine Doomsday situation and she doesn't truly know what she's messing with or that her dreams are actually happening irl as a side effect of using the tech.

Empire of Death- Sutekh is the god of death

Tom Baker is the only Doctor to not appear in Tales of the TARDIS, so the new episode will likely be a Fourth Doctor story. Pyramids of Mars is my bet but are there any credible ideas?

But how to reconcile this with the 'tv show in a tv show' theory and Ruby's parentage? And this is complicated by this claim from RTD that the finale will link back to the Pertwee era, suggesting someone like Omega? Or maybe Susan worked for UNIT back in the 70s and has been building the technology for 50 years andh as only now succeeded with the influence of TOWW.

Every clue seems to raise more questions. I'd love to get people's thoughts as I may be spiraling here.

One thing I am sure of? Susan Triad is not the one in control

[sxkura-blxssxm]

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝙸𝚝𝚘𝚜𝚑𝚒 𝚂𝚊𝚎.

One of my favourite topics when it comes to anime is the misunderstanding of complex yet well written characters such as Mr Itoshi Sae himself. Due to his blunt and cold nature, many people seem to assume that Sae is the bad guy and wants to purposely crush the dreams of aspiring footballers (such as Rin) however it's not the case at all.

In reality, we haven't seen enough of Sae (both in the manga or anime) to paint a solid character profile and come to a solid conclusion as to why he is the way he is. I believe football and the exposure to it at such a high level whilst only being 13 would have massively impacted his personality and he suggests this himself in his profile within the Egoist Bible. When asked 'What do you think you'd turn out to be if you hadn't met soccer?', he replied with "I'd have lived a normal happy life. My personality might not have turned out like this either.". Sae is a gentle soul, we see this in how he is with Rin when they were younger and you can tell he does care for Rin however I reckon he would have had to 'toughen' up when being exposed to the cruel reality of being a professional footballer.

Professional sports is brutal. And so is the environment in which you are surrounded by. I'm not sure in regards to other countries, but English football can have some of the most toxic and vile fans, racism is a super common occurrence. In 2020, Marcus Rashford missed a penalty during the shootout in the England vs Italy match and received an influx of racism and abuse. I bring this point up because in Season 1 of Blue Lock we see Sae is wearing black and white wristbands which is what footballers normally wear to symbolise the 'Stand Up Speak Up' campaign created for battling racism within European Football. This could suggest one of two things: Sae is wearing it to promote the campaign or Sae experienced racism whilst in Spain. Experiencing something like this can be absolutely detrimental to a person, at the end of the day professional athletes are also human beings, if it is the case that Sae has experienced this, then it makes a lot of sense as to why he is the way he is ESPECIALLY towards Rin. Why? Because he wants to protect Rin from the harsh cruel reality of professional football.

Which brings me on to my next point! Sae and Rin's relationship as of now. This dynamic is heavily misread by a lot of people, even friends who I have discussed this with have said that Sae is just cruel and hates his brother. This is just not the case. If anything, Sae is super emotionally constipated, he cares but he doesn't exactly show it in the best way and I believe that Sae is just trying to protect Rin. Yes, he can be an ass but he's just naturally blunt as is anyways. My favourite thing to mention that not many people do, is that we have only ever seen Sae from Rin's perspective and so the portrayal of Sae is biased to Rin's feelings about him. During the fateful night where the brothers 'fought', I believe it was fully shown to us from Rin's perspective alone, Sae's dialogue and attitude is how Rin perceived him at the time which to us looks like: cold, cruel and bad. In reality, Sae had been through a lot in the four years he'd been away from home, he was only a baby himself and went through so much. When we see Sae in that scene he looks tired and Rin does ask if he's lost weight, this alone backs up that we saw the fight through only Rin's perspective. The whole point of me ranting on about this is because I don't believe Sae would have straight up told rin "You're not necessary in my life anymore", he cares about him too much. I think because of the shock that they aren't sharing the same dream anymore and Rin's refusal to see that Spain has drastically changed Sae and his personality, he paints Sae in a cruel way in order to try and dissociate his feelings from the situation. It's common knowledge that Sae didn't view that night as a fight and instead just saw it as Rin being a rebellious teen. I think it would be interesting to see how that encounter went down from Sae's perspective.

I literally adore Sae as a character, he is so real. He is the perfect representation of what professional sports can do to a person, but some of y'all wanna hate on my glorious king. I will literally defend this man to the end of time.

Dividers from: https://rxttenflesh.tumblr.com/post/677807751539425280

[micia-posts-stuff]

Some ramblings about chapter 113 of Spy x Family

I know I'm one week too late and all of this stuff has probably already been said by other people, but I have been too busy and tired to write down my thoughts earlier and I still wanted to do it, so here they are anyway :D

Spoilers under the cut

This will never not be funny part 1

This will never not be funny part 2

All jokes aside, I love how Endo uses manga as a medium for visual gags. Having Damian fight the sfx of his feelings and changing style for dramatic shoujo scenes, it seems like he's having a lot of fun coming up with these. Also Damian seems to be an expert when it comes to breaking the fourth wall ahah. Franky may be the one interacting with the readers outside of the story, but within the story itself, Damian's tsundere tendencies are too strong even for the fabric of their reality ahahah.

Also Becky being an absolute menace as usual, we love her for that. She's having way too much fun messing with Damian, who needs Berlint in Love when you can watch those two interact every day?

First of all "If you got problems, talk to us!" They are such good friends to him, I'm so glad! I'm so glad for every person Damian has on his side! He needs all the support system he can get. They are so precious!!!

Second, no it's not about language studies, if fact, that is a rare occasion for him to interact with Anya ahah.

Third, him clenching his heart in agony and literally fighting demons in his sleep, it's so cute, his crush is the cutest thing in the world I can't-

And lastly HE REALLY WENT FOR THE "IT'S NOT FOR ME, IT'S FOR A FRIEND OF MINE" EXCUSE. It's too funny T.T

AND OF COURSE THEY BELIEVED HIM T.T

These two I swear!

They know they are Damian's only friends, but no, he can't be lying! So instead of questioning him they assume there must be someone else! Comedy gold T.T

And it works because they are kids! I love how every miscommunication trope becomes more realistic and less annoying because they are kids and so it makes sense.

This whole chapter was a big win for Mr. Green, absolute MVP. Great advice for the characters and the readers. This chapter really resembled one of those kids cartoons ment to teach how to deal with different aspects of life, it was very nice.

I hope we get to see him more often, every time we see his mentoring skills they're an absolute treat!

Oh my heart!!! "You guys are my only true friends" T.T and their happy faces all sparky T.T

These three and their friendship are so precious to me!!! I really want to see a little chapter about how they met and how Ewen and Emile have come to respect Damian so much.

I really like how Damian tells them they're his friends here. Their dynamic was a bit stereotypical of the bully with his goons at the beginning, but I'm soooo happy that after that Endo has been constantly showing that no, actually, they really are friends. Tbh sometimes this friendship was a bit missing from Damian's side (Ewen and Emile jumping in the river for Damian and Emile not running away from the terrorist because Damian had "a bomb" on his neck, whereas Damian wanted to ask Ewen for his handkerchief to avoid getting a tonitrus < although this was also because of the panic about his father, but still) so for a long time I wanted to see him showing his affection for them somehow and in this chapter we finally got just that! For someone that has such a hard time dealing with his feelings, telling them "You guys are my only true friends" I'm sure means a lot. And you can see he's a bit embarrassed saying it, but he does it anyway because they're important to him!

First of all, very cool design for the Paradise Fist and Damian's dream sequences in general, but also veeery interesting lore drop about Donovan (dropping important lore like that in the middle of a silly chapter, classic Endo).

So Donovan was most likely in power when the war ended and that's probably where the idea that he stopped the war came from, at least from Damian's perspective. We know that Donovan is (likely) trying to start a new war, so it's very interesting that Damian considers him a man of peace. Is this his personal belief because he puts him on a pedestal or is it somewhat of a common idea amongst citizens? Did Donovan contribute to the birth of this image of himself or was it just a natural consequence? Does he want to be seen as a man of peace? Why did he even stop the war? A lot of interesting questions.

Regardless, I think this is also very important for Damian' character, that he admires his father because he thinks he stopped a war. First of all now it makes even more sense why he looks up to him so much. I mean it already made sense, but if we add the fact that, in Damian's pov, his father is responsible for the current peace, it's obvious that he'll keep admiring him, regardless of how cold he may be. Second it is very important to establish Damian's morals. Ever since he talked about his father during the war, in the bus hijacking arc, I wanted to know what he actually knew about his father's role in the previous conflict, if he aligned with his views and if he was indoctrinated somehow. But if he's convinced that his father stopped a war and he admires him for that, then it shows Damian is actually a pacifist, which will also make it all the more tragic when he'll eventually discover what Donovan is currently plotting.

Also it's interesting how Damian even ended up with these morals. Is Jeeves teaching him that? Does he do it following Donovan's orders or does he go against him? Or maybe it's just Damian's own personal values, it's not that weird that he naturally came to appreciate peace, I guess I just find it kinda weird that he wasn't taught the opposite. It's s very interesting.

Anyway, moving on

Yeah I think you really broke him Becky, he was fighting a Buzz demon in his sleep! The poor boy can't take any more! (The fiscal manifestation of the Paradise Fist is adorable!!!)

I love love loooove this part. The truth is that both Anya and Damian are geeky kids that have a lot of interests in common and they would have so much fun playing pretend together, if one of them wasn't so mean 👀

Anya likes the real Damian, the kid that likes action stories and has a big imagination. I really like that, because it shows she is not after him just because of Strix, it's obviously just his attitude that is throwing her off and that she actually appreciates his true self. I hope he'll start to realise that and embrace it. Like look at him! All the happy sparkles, he's so glad to have her attention. And the buzz going away. C'mon Damian don't you want to feel like this more often? Just a happy silly kid!

Also side note, he made the same face he made when he said Ewen and Emile were his only true friends! Adorable!

It seems like Damian has acknowledged and accepted his feelings of jealousy and that means that he has or he will acknowledge and accept the reason why they're there, the progression may be slow but it's definitely there and I really like how it's done.

Perfect way to end this chapter ahah, not only because it's funny, but also because it showcases yet another type of jealousy/envy. Showing that jealousy can come from different sources like friendships, crushes and parenting/mentoring and that both kids and adults are subject to it, once again helps with the message of the chapter about embracing these feelings and making peace with them.

All in all I loved this chapter. We finally explored Damian's feeling of jealousy, learned some interesting stuff and it had a very good moral message. Although I'm very biased because Eden chapters are always my favourites eheh. If Eden chapters have a million fans, then I am one of them. If Eden chapters have ten fans, then I am one of them. If Eden chapters have only one fan, that's me. If Eden chapters have no fans, then I'm dead.

(Btw I'm going to add 3 more pictures in a reblog of this post, because I reached the image limit. I don't have too much too say about them, but I really liked them and I wanted to highlight them. So you can't check them out in the notes of this post if you want.)

[stupidlittlespirit]

two thoughts:

-we all know ford needs a deep tissue massage, dude prob has so many knots from stress and weird posture/old injuries

-imagine being out star gazing and him not taking the hint so you gotta push him down on the blanket lol

uGhhHhhHH

Okay I'm assuming these are two different prompts:

Giving him a massage would be so good. Like, you find him in his study after a long day. He's been working non-stop recently, hunched over his desk or in his lab, and he's clearly in pain.

You've seen him holding his lower back when he's come up for air, or he's walking with a bit of a limp. He's tense. You know he is. His body language screams it. And you talk to him about his day and again, it becomes obvious that he's really suffering because he's kind of terse and short tempered in his answers, and it's blatant that he's not 100%.

So, you step up beside him at his desk and put your hands on his shoulders, and just very gently you give him a bit of a shoulder rub. It's small and very light, nothing much, and he tenses further at the contact.

He asks what you're doing and you tell him "you seem tense, I just thought this might help," and Ford denies it (because of course he does), but you don't relent. You press your thumbs in a little deeper and you hit a particularly solid knot in his shoulder, and you work it out gently even as he complains about being distracted.

The more you do it, the less coherent his protests become, until he just groans and gives in completely. And Ford just melts. He becomes putty under your hands. The line of his shoulders lower and he stops whatever he's working on, his eyes flicker shut, his body sags.

Eventually you have to encourage him to move off of his desk chair and onto the chaise (or even to bed), so you can give him a proper working over. He falls asleep after a while and you tuck him in and leave him to catch up on all the snoozing he's missed out on :)

Stargazingggggg omg!

I can see him taking you out to a secluded part of the woods. Nestled within all the trees, there's a big open meadow with a perfect view of the sky. He takes you with him one night, his telescope under one arm, a picnic basket under the other, and the two of you hike your way there.

You spend the evening watching the sky. Ford points out all the constellations you can see with your naked eye and then shows you more through the telescope. He explains them all, and he tells you about how they look on other planets, how the stars seem so different on Irion 6 and did you know that in the Negative Dimension, the sky is such a bright white that everyone has to wear sunglasses after sunset!

He gets so into it that all you can do is watch and bask in his passion, occasionally asking genuine questions and revelling in the way that he's so excited by your curiosity.

And yeah, after he's on his seventy fifth anecdote about nebulas and you've been kissing his neck for the past fifteen minutes, and he still hasn't picked up on your intention, you climb into his lap and ask him if you can make him see the kinds of stars he's never even dreamed of cataloguing.....

[ratridingaskateboard]

Tear You Apart

Eddie Munson x Fem! Reader!

TW: 18+, wet dream, p in v, cursing, bdsm, sexual acts, sexual fantasies, etc.

A/N: The trigger warnings would be too long if I mentioned every sexual act ever done in this story. We would be here all day!!

Synopsis: Eddie has had a crush on Y/n since the day she stepped foot into Hawkins High School. After constantly fantasizing about her, will fantasy finally become a reality?

-

The second Y/n waltzed her way into the main hall of Hawkins High, Eddie was awe-struck. She was clad in a bleached jean jacket capped in patches and pins of metal and rock bands. Many of them Eddie hadn’t even heard of. The Black Sabbath t-shirt she wore had been ripped to shreds, showing only a tanktop underneath. Her plaid red skirt swayed as she walked and had boys and girls anticipating for a gush of wind to reveal what was hidden under that scanty piece of clothing. To no one’s surprise, within minutes of walking in she was quickly pulled into the principal’s office for dress code violations.

The hall had erupted into gossip over who this mystery girl was. No one at Hawkins had a single clue who she was or why she chose their school to be graced with her presence. Eddie had never seen anyone like her in Hawkins, if he had he would’ve known. Just seeing what she was wearing made the blood rush to his cheeks but the second he saw her patched covered jacket he was practically on his knees.

This was his chance to finally get with a girl who he shared similar interests with. Don’t get him wrong, Eddie loved getting laid no matter what type of girl it was. But most girls had little to no interest in Eddie, they just wanted to see what it was like to fuck the school freak. They didn’t complain but they didn’t speak about it either. He was, to put it simply, a conquest. Now he had the ability to be around someone who, he hoped, wouldn’t shun him away like the others.

Eddie’s friends gathered around him at his locker, passing comments about the new girl and her clothing.

“God- I hope they don’t give her a pair of pants to wear.” Gareth hissed under his breath.

“I think I saw her bra underneath her shirt” Jeff added.

“The second you guys see a girl you are like dogs! I am surrounded by barbarians!” Dustin was quick to be the voice of reason. It was hard for teenage boys to view any girl as a person much less a girl who showed a little skin.

“You’re right Dustin. Did you see her jacket? It was covered in Metal patches. She seems cool.” Eddie finally added.

“Sorry Eddie- I was a little busy looking at other pieces of clothing she was wearing.” Gareth said.

Eddie rolled his eyes. One of the things Wayne had taught Eddie once he had reached puberty was to be a gentleman. Apparently, Gareth was not given this pep talk. Obviously, Eddie was attracted to her but he had to push down the want to tear her clothes off in order to form a relationship with her.

Hours had passed and she was still no where to be seen. Eddie assumed the principal must have sent her home with the list of violations she had achieved on the first 15 minutes she was inside the school.

Lunch was no different than usual except for the extra chatter of the mysterious new girl and her fondness for revealing clothing. Eddie pushed the food around on his lunch tray, disgusted by the unknown meat with the rancid smell.

“Hey-“ A gentle hand pressed against Eddie’s shoulder. The smell of cigarettes and vanilla filled his nostrils. Eddie looked up to see his friends wide eyed, staring at this unknown figure behind him.

“I like your Dio patch. That’s my favorite album by them.”

Eddie moved his neck to look at her but he found himself too embarrassed to look her in the eyes. Instead, his eyes focused on the jacket she wore, naming each band in his head- trying to get his mind off the absolute fool he was making of himself.

Shit, her hand was still on his shoulder. His face turned to a shade of red he didn’t believe was possible to achieve unless in scorching hot weather.

“Don’t mean to be an asshole but your sewing isn’t the best.” She traced a line with her finger against the trim of the patch. Eddie could still feel the softness of her fingertips even through the denim of jacket and cotton of his shift. Suddenly, Eddie felt the warmth of her breath against his ear.

“If you ever need someone to teach you, I would love to.”

Her hand moved back to his shoulder and lightly squeezed it, sending spikes of electricity through his spine. Then, she was gone.

Eddie’s face remained just as red as before. His fellow Hellfire members tried to help him regain consciousness but Eddie remained silent. He was stunned. He had never felt so weak. She toyed with him and he didn’t even fight back. He had never felt so powerless. In most situations he had had with girls, he was the one who approached and the one who lead. But, she… she was different.

“Eddie, dude, you should probably go to the bathroom.” Jeff patted Eddie’s shoulder, finally getting his attention.

Eddie looked down to find his dick as stiff as a board in his pants. Jesus Christ, he needed to get his shit together. This girl was messing with his fucking head.

After a moment in the bathroom, Eddie was able to go about his day as normally as he could. He still stumbled whenever he thought of the softness of her hand or the smell of her perfume. But as long as he didn’t see her he was fine. Right?

After Hellfire, Eddie returned to the trailer he shared with his Uncle and plopped himself on his bed. God- was he exhausted. Didn’t know being teased by a girl would make him so tired. His eyes fluttered closed and he gave in.

“E-Eddie please,” Y/n wimpered, looking up at him with big doe eyes, her hands restrained behind her back.

“Please what?” Eddie persisted, his leg pushing in between her thighs, feeling the warmth of her.

“P-Please fuck me!” She huffed, grinding her hips against his thigh. She seemed so helpless now. Her dominance was subdued by him and she had become a mess of herself.

“How much do you want it?” Eddie whispered in her ear, her perfume smelled even stronger when he was this close to her neck.

“I-I want it so bad, Eddie! Please I’m begging you!” She wailed.

He loved seeing her like this. Fuck, it made him feel like he was gonna cum in his pants. He couldn’t make her wait any longer and neither could he.

He started to reach his hand under her shirt when-

He woke up. It was a dream. It was a fucking dream. And one thing he knew about dreams like these, they always end the same.

Eddie lifted his comforter to find his boxers covered with jizz as well as the sheets underneath him. Eddie’s face crumpled into a frown. He had to get her back for this.

-

A/N: Dont worry there will be a part two coming soon!!! Hope u enjoyed

[medievalraccoon]

Baking Bliss

→ James + Lily try to convince Sirius to ask you out. Will he or will he not? Oh, and there’s a cake. Word count:912

“I don’t know, Sirius, usually when the person you’re massively, pathetically in love with is in the same house as you, you make a move.” In the kitchen, under the guise of checking on the chocolate cake in the oven, James had his hand gripping his best friend’s shoulder trying exhaustedly to convince him that the person he’d dreamed and cried over for the past year, obviously has feelings for him.

“Okay, first of all, you can’t talk, it took you, what? Fifty thousand years to win over your girlfriend?” A squawk pierces through the walls, catching the momentary attention of the party in the living room. Though everyone were used to their antics and carried on their conversations rapidly, Lily excused herself to go break up the boisterousness before dishes started flying. “Second of all, what’s even your proof that she likes me?”

“Are we talking about (y/n)?”

“Ahh if it isn’t the gorgeous, all-knowing love of my life come to prove me right.” A bright grin immediately spreading across James’ face, the force pushing his glasses up his face so they brush into his eyebrows, and he pulls her towards him by her shoulders. She leans into him comfortably, her shoulder digging under his armpit, no complaint spoken between them over the manhandling.

“Merlin, does everyone know?” Sirius steps back dramatically raising his hands, smacking them down on the top of his head, causing his hair to smush down, springing back up as he rubs his hands down his face, collapsing onto his knees and rolling onto his side in the foetal position, the coldness of the tiles immediately noticeable through his jeans and t-shirt. James and Lily watching unimpressed from the side lines.

“You done?”

“Yup, thank you Prongs.” The floor boy replies, reaching a hand up, which both of them pull him up by, while Lily returns to the matter at hand.

“To answer your question, yes everyone does know, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if they did too.” The pair silently snicker at the speed at which Sirius’ face drops into further dread.

“Are you serious?”

“No that’s you,” Sirius deadpans at James’ answer, “You don’t get the joy I feel at saying that to you, I could spew poetry.”

“Please don’t James”

“Alright, Lilypad, I’ll leave that for you.” He winks that the girl next to him, and no matter how hard she tries the smile creeps up on her face too fast to stop it.

“Right! Let’s get back to my problem now. (y/n) knows? How do they know? Have they said anything to you?”

“No.”

“Then why did you say they know?”

“Oh I don’t actually know if they know, I would just assume that they know, considering you act like such an idiot around them, it seems like you’d want them to know.” Both boys look confused as they try to catch up to the information- or lack thereof- revealed.

Sirius opens his mouth to say something, who knows what because before he can speak-

“Since when does a cake need 3 people checking on it for this long?” You appear in the doorway of the kitchen, the trio turning to see you standing right there, within earshot of their whole conversation.

Three voices raise at once, a jumble of words thrown your way, none discernible, and eventually the happy couple inch their way past you back into the living room, turning to Sirius with matching encouraging thumbs up, James mouthing ‘do it’, leaving Sirius in perhaps the most nerve-wracking situation possible.

“…Hello.” Sirius gives an awkward wave. Merlin, you flirt with people everyday, pull yourself together, say something charming. “Your face looks nice today.”

….

“Thanks big guy.” Your eyebrows are furrowed in confusion as you walk further into the room, “I’ll put this one on more often then.”

Sirius gives a nervous laugh, his feet shuffling in place as he starts looking around the counters, maybe looking for something sharp to stab himself with.

“So, is the cake done? Or did you escape to the kitchen to get away from me?”

“NO! I mean, I don’t know about the cake but I would never want to get away from you.” Sirius finally looks into your eyes, his whole body stilling as he awaits your next words. Instead, you make an inquisitive sound as you make your way even closer to him.

“Is that right, why might that be?” You’re teasing him now, he’s sure of it. Nobody is that accidentally attractive.

“Um… I mean you know.” A beat passes between you, if James and Lily say you’re into him then there’s no harm in going for it right? He whispers, “I really like you.”

Now, you’re really killing him, looking at him through your eyelashes with the most devious smirk known to mankind. And then you’re whispering back.

“I really like you too.” His whole body relaxes, a smile- a real, genuine, cheesy smile- spreads across his face. He reaches for you, tugging you closer, or keeping you with him.

“You know, I’d say that calls for a date then, doesn’t it?”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”

The oven timer goes off, the party stampeding through the corridors.

You smile knowingly at each other as you’re separated by the crowd.

“Greedy bastards.”

[hellfridge]

Jayce wouldn't have survived the fissure.

The below shots were shown almost back to back. Originally I interpreted this as straight up horror, but what if it's secretly Jayce's unknowing solace? What if the infection isn't meant to harm, but to heal?

This would explain Jayce's miraculous recovery. He FULLY broke that leg, it was severed at the bone and jutting out the side, it was awful and it was bad. But immediately after he sets it and starts a fire, he nearly sees the Mage and immediately after that we see this shot of the wound.

Now, granted, we don't know how much time passes, but this seems intentional. Viktor wouldn't come just to watch Jayce suffer, when has he ever come into any scene to simply watch passively.

Now, what does this mean?

First, it hints at an interesting change within the post-apocalypse Herald that I haven't seen dissected yet.

The return from machine to man

This older version of Viktor literally seems to reside by Jayce's statuesque pseudo-corpse's side on top of the ruined Hexgates, all that's left of their dream, in a beautiful but grotesque garden above the clouds. You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be etc etc but. Here's the ringer. Why the garden? People have speculated it's for comfort and beauty, if not for himself then for what remains of his Jayce.

But if you look closely, it's almost as if the vegetation is eroding the metal of Jayce's body while simultaneously springing from it. What if Viktor is slowly undoing what he's done?

Why does the Herald seem to be made of flesh when he meets Jayce now, and as a child? Because he's not a Machine Herald anymore. Corroding all the metal and returning it to nature is part of the process. The way he wields the arcane now is far more biological, and even here--

--we see that the metal from the bracelet remains, centers the rune, while the majority of added material seems chaotic and biological. In the impact frame it almost looks like a creature, like something living.

I'm willing to bet that his Jayce said the exact same thing to him among the stars and souls. He did show Viktor, and Viktor did become his partner again.

It was just too late by then.

Bonus because it made me suffer :)

Jayce looks forward when Viktor touches him, but when the command comes to give Jayce his hammer, he looks away before moving. I fully believe this is because he knows Jayce will use it to try to kill his own Viktor.

They've assumed it was inevitable, that in every world one of them must kill the other. And they would have been right if not for Ekko.

[dwarfhorse]

p 1/??

Rune factory Guardians of Azuma

alrighty so this is gonna be a little lengthy because a lot was shown recently! however I'm typing on my tablet which is dying as I type and the sites won't load, forgive me for image sizes as I can't make them smaller.

first off, here's the new rune factory guardians of azuma trailer. accompanied with a release date of May 30, 2025. the game alone is 60$ USD while the limited edition is 100$ USD.

I'll get into characters in a minute, but we are seeing town building as well as being allowed to pick NPCs jobs (im assuming they're just store running NPCs with no storyline). and the trailer kind of gives pokemon graphics with genshin inspired mechanics. some mechanics also remind me of Pokemon legends Arceus. Keep in mind this is a sideline game, if I remember correctly they are working on 6, a mainline game. They are trying a totally new formula with this game and farming will still be included but not a main focus.

It seems there will be 2 romance routes locked behind dlc, and for the first time in a long time, the mcs will have their own distinctive personalities and the opposite of you pick will be romanceable.

Story: The Celestial Collapse — a calamity caused by a colossal object crashing into the eastern lands known as Azuma. The devastating impact sent fragments of terrain to the skies above and the seas below. With the earth shattered, the power provided by the runes ceased to flow. The gods of nature vanished soon after. Mountains crumbled and fields withered, leaving the people with nothing…not even hope. You awaken, startled by a dream of dueling dragons. You don’t remember how or why, but a voice resonates within you. "Accept the power of an Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.” Thus begins your lengthy journey to restore the gods…

now for characters:

Subaru (male mc) and Kaguya (fem mc)

Left his cold village in the northern part of Azuma on a mission to save the land. Childhood friends with Kaguya, who hails from the same hometown. Usually relaxed and easy-going. Enjoys gazing at the sky. While generally not a fan of battle, he has a strong sense of justice, and will fight fiercely to protect his friends and loved ones.

Left her cold village in the northern part of Azuma on a mission to save the land. Childhood friends with Subaru, who hails from the same hometown. Loves being in nature, especially interacting with animals and observing flowers. Although usually calm, she despises evil and resents any acts of injustice.

Woolby (mascot /sidekick)

The protagonist's loyal partner and guide. A bit of a braggart and a klutz. His gluttonous nature makes him susceptible to sweet bribes, especially dango.

Romance options, there are 16!

Iroha

The owner of Iroha's Teahouse in Spring Village. A friendly, caring young woman who dreams of revitalizing Spring Village and returning it to its former glory.

Murasame (they beefed him down in game sadly)

A samurai who wanders Azuma with the goal of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. Master of the Munen Muso sword style, which means "free from empty thoughts." Spends his days training and keeping his sword in good condition.

Hina

A half-human, half-fox were-animal who arrives in Azuma on an airship with Mauro. Claims to be an archaeologist. Childhood events instilled her with a strong desire to help others.

Mauro

A self-proclaimed treasure hunter from a foreign land who came to Azuma by airship in search of a legendary treasure. This sentimental soul is easily moved to tears.

Ulalaka

Azuma's kind, gentle god of spring and merriment. Her benevolence knows no bounds, and she simply wants everyone to live happy, peaceful lives.

Matsuri

Azuma's carefree god of summer and swords. Enjoys physical activities of all kinds. Despite being a master of the blade, she tends to solve problems with brute force instead.

Unfortunately I've hit the picture limit, so I'll have to make a part 2.