#���which gives them a form of control over it and they can keep it subtle or undo it if he wants. which makes it easier)

[nyatbinary-81]

@vulpixisananimal sifstem art jumpscare!! more specifically i got bored and decided to mess around with sif and mal's outfits.

[merbear25]

Hi. How are you? Can you please write a fic, Zoro x Fem Reader, where Zoro loves reader but doesn’t know/get that he’s in love. He’d do anything for her but he wonders if it’s love or what? Thank you so much. You’re amazing 💕

Hello! I'm hanging in there and hope you're doing well, too. Thank you for sending in a request. I hope you like it, lovely 💜💜

You were his friend, nothing more. He gave you a helping hand every now and then just like he did with the others. Giving you advice for combat was something he would give any of his friends. So what was it about you that got his heart racing and his palm sweaty? Brushing it off wasn’t doing any good, further piquing his curiosity.

CW: SFW, fem!reader, fluff, slow burn, mention of combat training, confession

The kind of love that sneaks up on you (Zoro)

In a world where only the strongest seemed to thrive, you were left no choice but to learn how to properly defend yourself. You were finding yourself in sticky situations more and more often, and despite Zoro always being there to save you, deep down the fear that one day he wouldn’t be able to grew. Guilt festered as you felt more like a burden. Even though no one made you feel like you were, you were clearly weaker than the rest. However, that was something you were determined to change.

One-on-one sessions with Zoro were spent working on your reflexes and general combat skills. It wasn’t necessary for you to become the strongest; merely keeping your head afloat and learning to use your enemies' advantages against them were skills you had set out to exercise.

“You gotta keep your eyes on me. Don’t look away.” The next swing he delivered was swift yet controlled, testing how good your intuition was.

Each move from him was countered with more confidence than the last. You nodded at his advice, keeping your head held high and not allowing yourself to stay cowering in the shadows anymore.

Zoro’s expression was stern, serious, and each push he gave you was carried out from a place of care, for letting you off “easy” would be an insult to your abilities. He believed in you, and your progress never went unnoticed.

Panting from exertion, you had reached your limit. The subtle shift in his demeanor was followed by him retracting his next move. He sighed, “Let’s stop here for today.”

“What? Why? I can keep going!”

“It’s not weak to know your limits.” Wisdom was a quality of his that was often overlooked. Swallowing the tough pill, you knew arguing would be useless.

Watching your inner conflict was something that felt all too familiar. There was a tightness keeping his heart from beating freely as you stood there looking defeated. His mouth went dry and his gulps felt like wet cement caught in his throat. 

There’s no point in sulking was what he wanted to say, but he hesitated. It was true, so why couldn’t he form the words? They’d hurt you, perhaps deep down he knew that. However, you were sensible enough not to take it personally… weren’t you? The thought of bringing you to tears kept him locked in place. This uncertainty of how to approach you would settle on his chest every now and then, unexplainable and popping up at the oddest times.

“You should get cleaned up.” When your eyes met his once more, his breaths grew uneven. “You look a bit sweaty and would probably be more comfortable if you changed.” The subtle touch to your hair as you averted your gaze caused his cheeks to burn red. 

Should I have mentioned she looks sweaty? He mulled over the awkwardness now dispersing through the air when you left the room. The room felt hot all of the sudden. His brow furrowed and he crossed his arms in irritation. Images of you were there in his mind’s eye: your eagerness to improve, the devotion and passion that were evident when you fought, and that refusal to be forced into a box just because you were a woman. 

Such traits were admirable and honorable, parts of you which sent his heart racing in an uncontrollable state that not even meditation could calm sometimes. When you weren’t with him, he went looking for you, and when you were, he didn’t want you to leave. 

Did you feel the same? He wondered. Such a question made him antsy with anticipation. Uncertainty never deterred him from pushing forward in the past, but you were different. The reason why wasn’t clear, you just were.

A long slightly agitated sigh left him. Irritation not tied to you specifically but to the emotional state he found himself in. Pulling, tugging, grasping: he could feel the discomfort clawing away at him. His fingers dug into his biceps while he fought off the meddlesome thoughts to confront you in vain. Shaking slightly, he couldn’t take it. 

Without a plan, his feet carried him to you, which left him at loss for words when you turned towards him. The face that kept him in a chokehold was washed with concern given he appeared to be hyperventilating.

“Are you alright?” Gentle, caring, selfless: you had no idea how much your tone affected him.

“Yeah, I just came here to say…” A fear he never thought would trouble his life reared its ugly head time and time again. “That I hope our last training session wasn’t too much for you.”

“Is that really all you wanted to tell me?”

The pounding in his chest was nearly agonizing, but what was he to do? Ignoring the way he felt about you was only making this pain worse, taking the plunge into the unknown seemed like the only option to lift this weight off his shoulders.

“No, but I’m not sure how to articulate this exactly.” He gestured to the state of him—riddled with nerves that were beyond his understanding. There was no explanation needed, though.

“I know how you feel.” Your smile gave away your own struggle with trying to comprehend how he affected you. “It’s kind of scary,” you added with a chuckle.

“It’s… yeah, scary,” he breathed. A flush of red spread across his face when you stepped closer. Your eyes held such a depth of emotion towards him. His heart began racing again, but this time was different. Instead of uncertainty, elation pounded against his chest. When you wrapped your arms around him, the hesitation from him wasn’t out of figuring out what he should do, but instead disbelief.

Fear had never left him shaken before. Knowing that you not only understood but also returned his feelings made that unease deep within fade, and the longer you held onto each other, the more he distanced himself from it.

[guided-by-the-skies]

Where shadow work glitches and how to fix, by pluto house

another post in the meanwhile because i got bored...

... next after this will be the one you guys chose on the poll! thanks to everyone who answered, means a lot to me :)

Ok, so your pluto sign may be pretty nuch the same as everyone else in your generation, but even if there isn't much diversity in pluto signs, there is definitely diversity in pluto houses

pluto is the planet of the shadow and all that we are unconscious of. however this will have it's own specific vibe or colour depending on house. shadow work and making this stuff conscious (so it does not control you!) is way harder than it needs to be because unfortunately our modern lifestyle is totally screwed up and has disrupted our ability to introspect spiritually or embark on any form of personal development. so what are your common pitfalls/your achilles heel based on the house your pluto is in? and how can you transform it into something positive?

HOW IT WORKS - by house - YOUR SHADOW WORK GLITCH OR MOST LIKELY PROBLEM | followed by - HOW YOU CAN REFRAME IT OR TRANSFORM IT INTO A POSITIVE

🌌 pluto in 1st house - over intellectualising it. transform into: you have an amazing capacity to build struggles into a new identity ans grow from the difficult things which have happened to you.

🌌 2nd house pluto - being too hampered down by what people may think of you. transform it into: noticing projection and reflection, a powerful ability to influence those around you for the better

🌌 3rd house pluto - talk and no action, blurting things out, need to concentrate on thought before action. transform it into: an incredible ability to 'read between the lines' and subtly work out how to say the right thing in ANY situation

🌌 pluto in 4th house - childhood baggage. transform it into: an ability to break patterns not just for yourself but for other people. you have the ability to be a good influence to those around you - not by giving too much of yourself, but naturally, by your energy.

🌌 pluto in 5th house - being ruled by your emotions to the point of them becoming unbearable. transform it into: an ability to use your darkest emotions as a powerful drive for good. basically, they can fuel you, as opposed to controlling you.

🌌 6th house pluto - somaticising emotions so you don't know what you feel. transform it into: being able to reconnect with your body, strengthening energetic boundaries, and a strong ability to sense energy and understand how to use your 'gut feeling'

🌌 7th house pluto - 'one true problem' / magic bullet fallacy. you keep searching for the one thing that will helpp, without knowing the answer may lie on multiple places. transform it into: powerful focus and dedication, yet without losing yourself in one goal. an ability to follow any resolution you set yourself through to the end

🌌 8th house pluto - expecting immediate results and ignoring small changes. you guys are INTENSE. when results from shadow work are not similarly intense, you may feel as if mothing has happened. transform it into: an ability to notice and draw from the snall and subtle changes, getting as much potential from them as possible

🌌 9th house pluto - getting too into it. sounds weird because it can be hard to confront your shadow. but the intellectual stimulation shadow work gives you can often mean you may start identifying with it. transform it into: an ability to share your bravery with others. you don't have to become the therapist friend, but you can definitely help thise who are less confident at confronting themselves

🌌 pluto in 10th house - focusing on achievement and results, not your feelings. transform it into: setting emotional goals, an ability to master your emotions without suppressing them, a real skill that will support you through many situations

🌌 pluto in 11th house - lacking a sense of self before you start. transform it into: a genuine opportunity to find your trye self without the need yo create a mask or have a persona you show to the world, in the shadiw work process uou have the ability to synthesise both the desired and less desired parts of yourself into a complete whole

🌌 12th house pluto - not knowing what shadow work looks like or means for you. transform it into: a genuine opportunity to be totally OBJECTIVE with yourself, seeing what you TRULY need and not what you want to see

this is part of a series on 'how to shadow work in the modern world'. over the past 100 years humanity has gone through immense social changes, and not all of these are aligned with human nature spiritually. thus, we experience more blocks, life seems harder, and shadow work encounters more blockages.

hopefully these posts can give a hint as to how to realign. as with everything, take what resonates, leave the rest. for the post masterlist, see here.

[admirationandromantics]

Computer Assembling

The photo mentioned is the first one on the three-photo preview on the top. Fucking hell. I swear to god, you guys are going to be the death of me when writing cause ugh, this just flew and flew and flew! I don't have time to write like this, but can't help it when you make the exact scenarios I've been imagining myself. Holy shit, well, read the request and you'll get a good idea of what's about to happen. Ps, added some lovely smut in this, so enjoy <3

Word count: 2,4k (Unedited)

h a i . . . :3 sent u a photo in your inbox to go along with this little request/thot thinking about Chris lowkey being into building computers and he's wearing THAT outfit i sent you and his build looks like that too and maybe the relationship is like you guys are hanging out for maybe the 4-5th time ever and you're just sitting there staring and drooling and not being subtle at all and he's just stuttering and trying not to literally fuck you right then and there while you two are in his room while he builds his new pc build.. oh my god.. i really need nerdy, beefy chris today and your writing always fuels me 🫶😇 -@nerd-space

I can’t help staring at his arms, his sweater rolled up over them, making the lower half partially visible. I wonder what’s underneath the rest of it…

“Can you hand me that star-formed screw?” he asks, reaching out his hand for me to give him. I look around the floor, different bags of screws, corks, plastic and tools. I take some screws with crosses and hand them to him. He takes a quick look to see that they’re correct, before starting to spin them into the metal. I watch intently, his fingers working their magic, no detail too small. Being precise and delicate as he keeps going. Veins forming on his hands as he tightens the screws. 

He shifts, noticing my stare. I can’t control it, therefore I have to force my hand upwards, closing my mouth and turning my head. I bet he’d kick me out for the nasty thoughts I’m having. 

“So” he starts, coughing a little. “Think we can get this done in one night?” 

“I know something we can” 

“What?” 

Shit, I said that out loud. I stutter, trying to find something remotely similar which doesn’t sound as suggestive. 

“I know we can” I quickly rescue myself, and he gives a silent nod, dragging the metalwork on his lap, hiding the view I’m so shamelessly taking advantage of. I sigh, turning back to the equipment. We weren’t far away now, just one board and a little assembling left. I enjoy watching it, not just because of him, but because it looks just like lego. I bet if I bought a set, he’d build it with me. Another reason to watch his hands work, his muscles tense and veins popping. 

His room is cozy. Blinds are open, but the outside is dark. It’s nighttime after all. A lot can still happen before dawn. His walls are full of posters and pictures, his old gaming setup on the desk, as well as a semi-large bed. Around a queen-size one. I take another breath, thighs pressing together to stop my thoughts from wandering. 

“Are you feeling alright?” he asks, cheeks a bit flushed. Is it hot in here? 

“Um, yeah. Just you know”

“What?” 

“Nothing, I’ve just never been in your room before” 

“First time for everything, right?” He laughs a little, and I smile. His hand wanders up to his face, rearranging his glasses, pushing them back. God, if he only took them off, if he did and threw that piece of machinery on the floor and just took me hard right now on the-

“But yeah, none of the others have been here yet” he explains, waving to the room. I nod, looking around once again. The urge to look through his stuff is exhausting. I can’t help myself. 

“Mind if I check your drawers?” I ask, already standing up. He smiles, nodding along and holds his hand out. 

“Be my guest” 

I firstly walk to his desk, opening the first drawer and being met with a couple of game cards, coins and some paper and pens. All of them seem to be minecraft coordinates, remembering where different structures are and other people’s bases. 

“Didn’t take you for a Minecraft sweat–gamer” I joke, looking through the notes. 

“Well, when you’re playing with Josh, you kinda have to” 

“I see” 

I move to the other drawer, bending forward a little since it’s lower. Maybe a bit on purpose? He won’t notice either way. This one is full of candy wrappers, every colour just laying there. I dig through it, finding a small notebook on the bottom. 

“You know there’s something called a garbage bin?” 

“And you know there’s something called privacy?” 

“You said it was fine!” 

“Yeah, yeah” 

I open the book, seeing a couple of old drawings and doodles. Some of them are only scribbles. On one page is Ashley’s name, and my heart falls a bit. This was three years ago. It still doesn’t matter, we all know how down bad he was for her. I sigh silently, closing the book and putting it back. 

I figure that’s it, I’ll stop snooping now. I turn around, seeing him on the chair, screws still in hand as he works intently. I sit down on the bed, right over him, watching as he tightens them, arm flexing in the process. The curvature of his muscles as they reach all the way back behind his sweater. 

Jeez, I need to stop myself, I sound desperate. Desperately horny to be honest, but who wouldn’t be? He’s sitting there, with his arms bare, working his magic right beside me. Glasses on, pants unfortunately on, muscles tensing and a sweet blush on his face. His adorable glasses and messy hair. He said he got out of the shower right before I came. I feel hot, and it’s definitely not okay. What if he still likes Ashley? What if he sees me as just a friend, nothing more? I don’t want to ruin this. 

“Um, y-you’re turning quite red, are you alright?” he suddenly says, a worried look in his eyes as he looks down at me. I pull myself from my trance, chest heaving as I try to steady my pulse- 

“Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking” 

“About what?” He watches as my eyes linger over his arms once again, breathing getting uneven and my thighs pressing together. I have no shame, damnit. 

“Y-you know” 

“Care to elaborate on that?” He laughs a little, gazing over, taking in every inch of me. Am I that obvious? Was this top way too low-cut, because I’ve seen him staring a couple of times. 

“About why you’re staring down my chest” I blurt out, being too forward. Shit. His face gets completely red, hands working in a rush as his attention goes back to the project. He sighs, head leaning back as he collects himself. 

“You can’t expect me not to look when you’re dressed like that” 

“Hartley, are you calling me easy?” 

“Hey, I’ve seen how you’ve looked at me for the last hours” 

The room turns silent, my mouth open to say something back, but I don’t manage. He’s stopped working on the computer, arms stiff and eyes shocked, as if he can’t believe he caught me. Shit, he actually caught me. I’ve been so careful, at least as much as I could. We both stare at one another, and I feel my pulse go up again, heart beating faster and breathing quickening. Fucking hell, why is he staring at me like this? I look him up and down, the computer still being in his lap. 

“I-I um” I start, but can’t finish. A small smile creeps up on his lips as his attention goes back to the project as if nothing happened. I look up confused, wondering what just happened. 

“If my bare arms has that effect on you, you could’ve just told me” he laughs a bit, fastening the frame. 

“What, no, that’s not-”

“I mean, I can take off the whole thing if that’d make you pay attention, but I think it wouldn’t work” 

“Hey, I wasn’t-”

“But you can sit there drooling over my fucking fingers without me thinking about how you’d handle it” 

“What, handle what?” 

He puts the tools down, moving the computer off his lap and walking over. Just then, I notice his large bulge underneath his pants. The thought alone makes my face blush, all the ways I’ve imagined him coming back to haunt me. 

He leans over, and before I can process what’s happening, his lips are on mine, arms on either side of me on the bed. I melt into it, hands going up around his neck, pulling him closer. I lean down, dragging him with and letting him tower over me, even if we’re laying horizontally. His fingers move to grope my thigh, roughly kneading as he bites my lips. I can’t help the moan that escapes my cords, getting swallowed by him as he moves lower and looks up at me. 

“You really can’t keep testing my limits like this”

“What if I do?” 

“Then I can’t be held responsible for what I do next” 

“And what’ll that be?” 

“You’re about to find out” 

His lips leave kisses and bites all over my neck, sucking until he finds the spot making me scream. His hand immediately goes to cover my mouth, smiling as he stops for a bit. 

“Thin walls, I’ve got neighbours, contain yourself”

“Easy for you to say” 

“Do you know how much I’ve wanted to fuck the life out of you for the last few hours?” 

“N-no” I stammer, his hands moving under my shirt, groping my breasts. 

“So much I already had a trip to the bathroom, and you got me all going again as I came back” 

“So, you’ve already tried to take care of yourself” 

“You make it difficult” he smirks, dragging my top off. 

“Well, we have to do something about that” 

“You bet I am” 

He takes hold of my already unbuttoned pants, dragging them off with ease, and watching in hunger as my breast jiggles from the movement. I gasp at the cold air, feeling it especially on my soaked panties. He doesn’t waste time, unbuttoning his pants and dragging off the white, thin sweater, letting me see his muscular build. I reach up to him, feeling every curve of each muscle until he gets impatient and throws me down on the sheets. 

“Again, we’re not testing my limits tonight, they’ve already been crossed” 

I snicker, feeling him cage me with his arms as he kisses my lips. I carefully take off his glasses, placing them on the nightstand. His face is flushed, chest heaving as he breathes, but I don’t blame him. I probably look worse. He kisses down my stomach, stopping by my thighs to suck them dry. I moan loudly, forgetting about the walls and neighbours. They would have to deal with it. He leaves red and blue marks all over, several times causing me to slam my legs shut. He doesn’t get hurt though, his big strong arms keeping them apart easily before moving to my heat. His fingers trace over the wet fabric, and he hums to himself when feeling it. When feeling me. I whine from the tender contact, the touch too weak to do anything about my craving. He stands up, taking fully off his pants and boxers. I do the same, wanting him so incredibly bad, right now. I’ve waited for him long enough. I pull off my panties, unhooking my bra and throwing it off. He stands there mesmerized by the sight, but I don’t let him take it in. 

“Gaze while we fuck, I need you now” I whisper, taking his hand and dragging him over me again. 

“As you wish ma’am” 

He leans over me, letting his length coat itself in my juices. I’m so ready for him, even though I didn’t get the time to see how big he is, I need him right now inside me. 

“Are you sure you can take it?” he whispers teasingly, making my tension build up. 

“Chris, I swear to god I’ll do it myself if you don’t-”

I give a loud moan as he pushes himself completely in, filling me too much, way over the brim. He gropes my thigh, lifting my leg to get him even further, almost reaching my cervix. I whine, the pain and pleasure merging together and starting to build in my stomach. 

“You know, there’s something so satisfying about shutting you up” 

“So this is how confident and cocky you get when you understand that someone likes you?” 

“Maybe”

“Do I need to remind you of the time you saw me in that short skirt-”

I moan loudly again as he pushes out and completely in again. That time, his face was flustered the whole night. I even got a comment from both Mike and Josh, which made him look over more often, watching intently the whole night. 

“If you keep reminding me of stuff like that, we’ll stay here until dawn” 

“I wouldn’t mind that” 

He starts moving, each thrust earring whimpers and moans from us both, filling the room with our voices and sloppy slapping. His hand eventually finds its way down to my clit, rubbing soft circles in rhythm with his movements. My arms go to his back and neck, pulling him down and meeting my lips with his, my nails scratching from the heavy stimulation. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s doing it well, the knot in my stomach steadily building up as he keeps going. 

“Switch” I whisper, and he obliges, turning us around and letting me straddle him. I start moving immediately, chasing my orgasm as he whimpers and groans. I jump up and down, my thighs doing most of the work. He notices quickly, and his arms go to my ass, groping harshly and moving me. The position makes him reach a new angle deep inside, making the pleasure unbearable. I’m so incredibly close, I just need a little more time. I start feeling hotter, sweat appearing on my forehead as I keep up the sloppy rhythm, letting my breasts jiggle in front of him. 

I start grinding a bit when I go down, letting our pelvises touch, and giving me that extra stimulation on my clit. This takes over me, making me go over the edge, tightening around him. I keep going, riding out my high on top of him as he jumps me up and down. He gives one last slam, pressing me deep on him and spilling inside me. Thank god I’m on the pill. 

I collapse on top of him, pulse skyrocketing and chest heaving. We’re both sweaty and flustered, breathing in sync as his hand comes to caress my back. I hum into his neck, kissing him softly. 

“So, I think you might have a thing for me” he smiles, fingers going to tangle in my hair. 

“You don’t say” 

“I’m not complaining”

“You better not” I laugh, capturing his lips on mine yet again. “Should we finish that computer?” 

“You don’t want to see what else these hands can do?” 

“I’m not saying no to that”

[urmom-richietozier1]

NEW PJO OC!!!

First Name: Solar

Middle Name: Eclipse

Last Name: Dione

Godly Parent: Nyx, Goddess of the Night.

Reason for Scar: During her childhood, Solar witnessed a fierce battle between minor deities and was caught in the crossfire. A rogue celestial weapon left her scarred, but this also awakened her latent divine power.

Sexuality: Pansexual (Solar values connection over gender and embraces love in all its forms.)

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Nationality: Athens, Greece

Backstory:

Solar grew up in Athens, where she lived with her mortal father, a reclusive scholar who taught her about ancient myths and stories of the gods. Her childhood was spent surrounded by books, the starry night sky, and whispers of spirits she could sense but couldn’t yet see. After the celestial battle that changed her life, she was brought to Camp Half-Blood, where she learned of her true heritage and trained to master her powers. Solar still struggles with balancing her connection to the mortal world and her divine lineage.

Prophecy:

"Through shadows, she walks, where night takes its flight,

A child of Nyx must guide the light.

When the sun and moon in chaos align,

A choice she’ll make—redemption or decline."

Relationship:

Solar is close friends with a child of Hecate who shares her interest in magic and the supernatural. She also has a growing romantic bond with a child of Apollo, whose sunny and extroverted personality balances her introspective nature.

Personality Traits:

Quiet but deeply empathetic and intuitive.

Creative and thoughtful, often overthinking situations but finding solutions others might miss.

Loyal and protective of her loved ones, though she struggles with opening up.

Has a dry sense of humor that surprises people who think she’s overly serious.

Often feels torn between wanting solitude and a desire to connect with others.

Hobbies:

1. Stargazing: She finds peace in the constellations and often sketches them in her notebook.

2. Jewelry Crafting: Solar creates necklaces, rings, and bracelets using beads, stones, and scraps of metal. Many pieces are enchanted to ward off negative energy.

3. Poetry and Writing: She keeps a journal filled with cryptic verses, dreams, and observations about the people around her. Writing helps her process her emotions.

4. Herbalism: Solar loves learning about plants and their magical or medicinal properties. She creates herbal salves and teas to help herself and her friends recover after battles.

5. Tarot Reading: With her natural connection to spirits, she uses tarot cards as a way to guide herself and her friends.

6. Music: She plays the lyre (an ancient instrument she found during a quest) and composes haunting melodies that seem to resonate with spirits.

7. Urban Exploration: She loves exploring ruins, abandoned places, and dark corners of the camp, where she feels most connected to her mother’s domain.

8. Shadow Puppetry: A whimsical hobby where she uses her shadow manipulation to create elaborate puppet shows for younger demigods.

Powers and Abilities:

Shadow Manipulation: She can control shadows to create illusions, shields, or tendrils for attack.

Spirit Communication: She can speak with ghosts, sometimes summoning them for guidance or assistance in battle.

Dreamwalking: Solar can enter and influence the dreams of others, though it leaves her physically exhausted.

Night Vision: She sees perfectly in complete darkness, which gives her an advantage in stealth missions.

Aura of Calm: Her presence can soothe those around her, a subtle gift from Nyx that helps with her connection to spirits and living beings alike.

Appearance Details:

Clothing Style: Solar wears dark, layered outfits, often incorporating celestial patterns and flowing fabrics. Her favorite hoodie, embroidered with tiny constellations, was a gift from her father.

Accessories: She always wears her handmade necklaces, especially one with a crescent moon pendant.

Hair: Often tied up in a messy bun or braid, but she lets it loose during ceremonies or when she’s deep in thought.

Eyes: Her dark eyes seem to glimmer faintly in dim light, hinting at her divine heritage.

Scar: A jagged mark across her cheek, which she has come to wear proudly as a sign of her resilience.

Weapons:

Nyxblade: A celestial bronze dagger that absorbs light and strengthens in darkness.

Moonlit Chakrams: A pair of razor-sharp discs that glow faintly and return to her when thrown.

Spellbook: A small enchanted book filled with spells, incantations, and protective charms she has learned.

Additional Quirks:

She has a faint scent of lavender and midnight air, which follows her wherever she goes.

Despite her serious demeanor, she has a secret love for animals, especially owls and black cats.

She has a habit of humming soft tunes when she’s alone, usually songs her mortal father used to sing to her.

[imtotallyokandnormal]

If we are looking for comfort, we could fast forward to when John and You are officially together. John broaching the topic of how they have accidentally hurt you in previous loops, and wanting guidance on how to not hurt you, as they don’t experience pain.

Oh this one will hurt but in a DIFFERENT way this'll be fun!! Don't worry there will be comfort in the end, I can't make it too miserable. Also apologies for the title being kinda clunky I didn't know what to put there tbh.

First part!

Second part!

Reader: gn reader

Warnings: very sad and angsty, mentions of hurting and killing you accidentally

Image link: where did ya come from

》☆John Doe Trying to be Better For You☆《

- It's been a while since the two of you have finally gotten together. Thousands of loops, thousands of tries, thousands of times where he couldn't get close to you, couldn't love you properly. And now, John can finally give you the love building inside of them over the course of infinite loops. And to them? It was more than worth it.

- But one thing hasn't been able to leave their mind; memories of your death, and how they've hurt you in past loops, haunt them as they cuddle you close. As every moment goes by, the regret eats at them in the back of their mind while doing daily tasks with you. A constant reminder of how destructive his love can be.

- He knew in his heart(?) that he needed to tell you, or at least ask you how to avoid it. Of course, he was afraid of how you'd react to him bringing it up, but he wouldn't be able to bear seeing you hurt again. Especially not because of him.

- They decided to talk to you about it after weeks of contemplation. It was a day like any other. You went to work, Doe kept an eye on you from a distance and visited you at lunch, everything was its normal routine. But the nervousness in him was apparent, as he was somehow more fidgety and jumpy than usual. Any questions about it were met with him saying he was alright and not to worry, that he couldn't be anything other than alright if you were with him.

- But once you were home, he couldn't help but be nervous. The fidgeting would get worse, he couldn't even meet your gaze as he went to ask the question.

- "M- my dearest- do you...how much- pain do humans feel?"

- If you were confused about why he'd ask that (which is incredibly understandable) then they'd try to say it's just out of curiosity, since they don't feel pain in the same way humans do. They'd be internally kicking themselves for not telling you the full truth about why, but they realize this might help them better understand what to avoid.

- When you'd answer with common things that Doe hadn't even considered (touching a stove top, falling too hard, biting your own tongue by accident), it came as a fascination to them. But, at the same time, it was completely worrying. So many little things could hurt you, and John could have done them all without even realizing. They wouldn't have been able to hide this worry, their gaze fixed on your face with an uncharacteristically worried look.

- If you asked them what was wrong, they'd decide it's not worth lying about. They'd reach out to hug you, but pull their arms back quickly, brow furrowing as if telling their body to keep itself under control.

- "...my love- I worry. I worry- very much- about you being hurt- a- and I've been worrying and worrying about it this entire time- what if- I hurt you?- I- I can't hurt you-! N- not-"

- Not again.

- His face would fall as the guilt floods back into him. He can't bear to look you in the eye, fearing that you'd only look at him with that terrified expression, just like last time.

- But you stayed.

- All it would take was a subtle form of acceptance, maybe it was a hug, maybe an understanding smile. Whatever it was, they found themselves in your arms, melting into your embrace. Though no tears fell, he took shuddering breaths as he laid against you, finally letting go of that guilt, that fear of losing you.

- They let their arms wrap around you, just gently enough.

- You were here now. They couldn't be anything other than alright, now that you were here.

[astrojulia]

Pluto transits in the Natal Chart

~ Pluto in the Houses

1ST HOUSE

You have the power to take control of your life and not let anyone else dictate it anymore. During this transit, things you've kept hidden may come to the surface, and you might find yourself throwing some tantrums without really knowing why. But don't worry, you'll also be able to see people for who they really are and understand what drives them. This is a great time for personal transformation, where you can change your image and yourself at a deeper level. However, you might experience some intense situations or people that could be a bit overwhelming. So, it's best to avoid anyone or anything that seems subtle and embrace the positive changes in your life..

When Pluto crosses your Ascendant, it's time to break free from traditional thought patterns and be a role model for others. To make the most of this, try to connect with the forces that shaped you and made you who you are, based on the sign that was on your first house at birth, and your Pluto sign at birth. This will help you to have more control over your unconscious motives that might have caused compulsions or irrational obsessions in the past..

You might feel a strong urge to control everything and everyone, which could create difficulties in your relationships. But remember, the key is to learn to control yourself and see yourself in a positive light. This is an opportunity to discover new resources and values within yourself. You might feel like you have too much power, which could push people away from you. But don't worry, this transit will bring about a huge change in your image and the way you express yourself..

2ND HOUSE

The key to success during this time is to be completely honest with yourself about what you want. If you know what you want, you'll be more likely to accomplish your goals. However, explanations will be necessary under certain circumstances, so don't be afraid to speak your mind. Your opinions and behavior regarding what you value and what matters to you will be influenced by outside forces. It's important to understand that nothing really belongs to you and everything you give or receive will come back to you in some way..

But let's be real, living in a materialistic society can make it hard to let go of the anxiety about social status and the benefits that come with wealth. During this period, you might be focused on increasing your income and raising your social and professional status. However, it's important to remember the philosophical lesson of this transit: understanding the place that money and position have in your life..

This transit marks the beginning of a metamorphosis that started when Pluto was in your first house. You might be going through a stage of collapse because what you once valued and appreciated about yourself and life no longer serves you. It's a time to learn to move forward with fewer resources and not hold on to any possessions or forms of income that you were once accustomed to..

It's important to efficiently manage all your possessions, including your ideas, principles, inherited values, and the money you earn. It's a challenge to review how you use these possessions or energies to achieve a spiritual ideal. If transiting Pluto makes oppositions or squares to personal planets, there might be economic and material losses. So, avoid any dishonest business practices. But don't worry, soon you will find a priceless inner wealth..

3RD HOUSE

When transiting Pluto is in your third house, you'll have a strong intuition that will make it hard for others to keep secrets from you. You might even go to extreme lengths to get the information you need, like snooping around or invading someone's privacy. Be careful though, because even if you succeed in getting the info you want, it could really damage your relationships with those people. During this time, it's important to take care of the small stuff, because neglecting even minor details could have serious consequences. Your ideas and way of communicating will become more serious and confident, and you'll start paying more attention to your immediate surroundings and the people you interact with on a daily basis. This is a time for personal growth and self-reflection, and you may find yourself questioning things that used to seem trivial or unimportant. Don't be afraid to speak your mind, even if it means offending people you see every day. It's also important to use your intelligence and really think through any important decisions or contracts before signing anything. If Pluto makes difficult aspects to other planets while it's transiting your third house, be extra careful during short trips or when you're on the road, as there could be a higher risk of accidents..

4TH HOUSE

Over the next few years, you're going to go through some major changes in your relationship with your parents. It might be time for you to break away from them if you've been relying on them too much. Don't be scared, because in the long run, you'll have the opportunity to express your individuality in new and exciting ways that you may not have even considered before. But let's be real, it's going to be tough. It might feel like the ground is shifting beneath your feet and everything you thought was stable is starting to crumble. This can be pretty daunting, especially if you're not someone who loves change. But on the flip side, this is an opportunity for growth and transformation..

During this period, you'll likely be experiencing a lot of intensity and excitement when it comes to your family and home life. Your family members might be going through some major changes, or you might even move house. It's important to take a deep dive into your personal life and be open to change on a deep level. You might not feel like the same person by the end of this period, but that's okay!.

It will bring up a lot of personal issues from your childhood, so get ready to do some self-reflection. This is the time to make sure you're staying true to yourself and being self-sufficient. You'll be faced with power struggles with your parents, and might feel like they're treating you like a kid when you're trying to be independent. But ultimately, this period will bring significant change that will help you grow and transform..

5TH HOUSE

This time can really mess with your gambling impulses, so don't go crazy with it or you'll risk losing big. Same goes for stocks – keep most of your retirement funds safe, especially if Pluto's making any stressful aspects while it's in this house. You might get obsessed with sports, games, or hobbies too, so have fun, but don't go overboard.If you're into art or something creative, you can make some amazing stuff during this transit. And when it comes to your relationships, they can be super therapeutic for you. Your connection with your kids will be intense, and everything you do with them will have a big impact on their future.Just be careful not to pressure your kids too much, or let them pressure you into doing things you're not comfortable with. And make sure to take care of their health..

When it comes to love, you might find yourself totally infatuated with someone who's totally wrong for you. It's like your subconscious is pushing you to do something you don't really want to do. Even if you're already in a relationship, things will get super intense and you'll go through a major transformation. If you and your partner can get through all the drama during this transit, your love will last forever!.

One thing to watch out for is letting your emotions run wild, especially in love, social life, or career. And if Pluto's making tough aspects to other planets, you might experience some occasional losses due to speculation..

6TH HOUSE

During this time, you might feel like improving your physical health and trying out some new ways of taking care of your body. Maybe you'll be interested in some alternative health methods, but don't go overboard and end up doing more harm than good. Your daily routine might go through some changes, whether it's something you initiate or others around you. If you've been thinking about getting a checkup, now might be a good time. You could also start a new diet or exercise routine if you want..

When Pluto transits your sixth house, it's time to focus on serving a noble cause and developing your endurance in the face of pain, disappointment, and personal failures. Be careful not to lose yourself in excessive self-sacrifice, though. Instead, aim for total dedication to a cause that helps you grow beyond just seeking ego gratification. Make sure to take care of yourself and your personal relationships along the way..

This is a good time for regenerative therapies, both physical and psychological. If you start taking care of your body now, you can regenerate it even if you haven't been paying attention to it in recent years. Just make sure to keep up with your diet too. And watch out - if Pluto makes difficult aspects, you might encounter some health problems..

7TH HOUSE

During this period you gotta be totally honest about what you want from others and what you expect from them. It's all or nothing! When Pluto is cruising through your seventh house, you might try to control or manipulate those around you, or someone more powerful might try to do that to you. The good news is that you can also build strong alliances that benefit everyone involved. There might even be some karmic connections happening, where you work together with others and let them work with you equally. But, you'll need to revise all your social connections, and some of them might crumble while new ones emerge. This isn't always easy and can be accompanied by some painful relationship revelations..

Pluto in your seventh house is a big deal when it comes to relationships. You'll need to release any hidden tensions and transform the way you approach relationships, whether they're intimate or professional. This period is all about finding balance in love and any connection between two people. You might even meet someone who will change your life forever, or lead to marriage. Keep in mind that whoever you meet during this time will have a strong impact on you, but it's because they're reflecting your innermost desires. So, don't blame others for what's going on inside you..

If Pluto is making some tough aspects, you might face conflicts over finances, alimony, or even sexual problems. But, with a positive attitude and an open mind, you can handle anything that comes your way..

8TH HOUSE

During this period, you'll be dealing with some pretty heavy transformation-related stuff. It could mean a major change in your life, like someone close to you passing away, or you facing a deeper aspect of your true self. When Pluto comes into play, it stirs up some intense emotions, and past issues might resurface. But hey, being honest and intense is where it's at! Just be aware that you might have to make some sacrifices to reach your goals, especially if Pluto is in your eighth house. It's like a death and rebirth kinda deal. You might find yourself getting into psychology, magic, or occult sciences during this time. Oh, and some secrets might be revealed too. If you're into that kind of stuff, you could even get an initiation in occult circles. The eighth house is all about new beginnings, and getting rid of the old. So, some outdated aspects of your life might disappear to make way for new things. But be careful with joint possessions and resources, you don't want to get into debt or let someone else control you. And watch out, if Pluto is making difficult aspects to other planets, it could put your life or someone close to you in danger. Natural disasters or big forces like politics, economics, or the military could also shake things up. But on the upside, this time could also stimulate some latent clairvoyant powers or sexual impulses, if that's your thing..

9TH HOUSE

When Pluto moves into your ninth house, things are going to get pretty interesting. You're going to feel the urge to expand your horizons and gain more knowledge, which will empower you like never before. You'll start taking a deeper interest in other cultures and if you travel abroad, you'll be totally transformed by the experience. You'll become much more interested in higher education, culture, and spiritual growth. If you weren't interested before, you'll definitely start feeling the urge to learn more and get some self-education. And if you're a communicator, your ideas will be taken much more seriously and you'll learn how to present them in a more compelling way..

But watch out, because there's a downside. You could become obsessed with gathering information and using it as a weapon to manipulate or control people. And if Pluto is in a difficult aspect with other planets, you might become fanatical about your beliefs and even get involved in foreign wars. So be careful and remember that everyone has their own beliefs that deserve respect..

If you're lucky, you might also get some financial aid or government scholarships for higher education, or get opportunities to travel for business or scientific purposes. And you might even have some mind-blowing experiences that cause you to rethink your entire worldview. So get ready for an exciting ride!.

10TH HOUSE

If you wanna make it big and succeed in life, you gotta have purpose and determination. Ain't nobody gonna control your future, so don't let 'em. Trust me, you'll regret it if you do. When transiting Pluto is in your 10th house, it's time to get serious about your life path. You can't just float along and expect things to fall into place. Nope, life will throw you some curveballs that will force you to make important decisions. Don't be scared though, this is your chance to transform yourself and your perspective on the future. Pluto in your 10th house makes you super ambitious and determined to succeed. But be careful, 'cause you might end up wanting to control and dominate everything and everyone. That's why you gotta be aware of authority figures trying to hold you back. Pluto challenges you to reach your life goals, so figure out what they are and go for it! Just make sure you stay true to yourself and don't get caught up in power struggles or political schemes. Remember, the key to success is honesty and integrity..

11TH HOUSE

This is a time when you gotta be real with yourself. No BS allowed. You need to figure out what makes you truly happy and go after it. As time goes on, you'll start taking your work and relationships more seriously. And let me tell you, when Pluto is in your 11th house, it's all about serving others and making connections with your homies and organizations. You might even form a strong bond with a kiddo who's not even related to you! Happiness during this phase is gonna come from the people around you and how you contribute to their lives. You might even start hanging out with a whole new group of peeps with similar interests. And who knows? You could even cross paths with someone pretty influential or powerful! (Maybe even a secret agent or a member of a secret society. Ooh la la!) Now, I gotta warn you, this is a time for transformation and change. You might end up saying bye-bye to old friends and groups that just don't vibe with you anymore. But don't worry, the new connections you make are gonna have a HUGE impact on your life. And hey, if you're lucky, you might even score a sweet scholarship or government grant for your scientific, artistic, or spiritual pursuits. Your beliefs and values are gonna shift too, and that's totally cool. But be careful not to get swept up in any impulses that don't align with your true desires. On the bright side, you could come across someone who'll be your mentor and show you the way to grow and flourish. So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride!.

12TH HOUSE

During this period, you'll be working on clearing out old and subconscious habits that might have been holding you back. It might feel like a psychological journey, as you'll be facing aspects of your psyche that you might have buried deep down. Be careful though, because sometimes your actions might be unconsciously motivated and could cause you problems, even if you had good intentions. If this happens, it's important to understand what's really going on inside and what parts of you might be in denial or disapproval. You might want to consider counseling to help you understand yourself better and overcome any obstacles that come up..

During this period, you'll have the opportunity to regenerate your subconscious and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. If Pluto is in sync with other aspects, this is a great time for intuitive exploration, meditation, and even discovering your clairvoyant abilities. The most important aspect of this Pluto transit is the psychological part, as it will bring up buried parts of your psyche that you'll need to confront..

It's important to note that you won't be able to hide any hidden characteristics during this time, as they'll come to the surface in destructive ways. You might also notice patterns of childish behavior that need to be corrected for you to become a mature adult. The key is to deal with these aspects of your life and past honestly and without guilt. You might even be surprised to find that when you're honest, your adversaries can change their opinion about you.

-> Back to the Pluto Transits

[tumblingxelian]

a Question about you 12 kwamis au

If the others kwamis existed how would you write it?

That's rather tricky to answer cos for several of them I actually took their powers and fused them with another Kwami.

Tiger has her own powers & those of the monkey, Turtle got Bulls, the pigs got translated to Fox, even the rabbits could be said to have blended with Sass given I usually give them a subtle prophetic ability.

If we just go with the one's left over...

Rooster - Sublimation & Phasing, is the easiest to work with as it is the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state. In this regard, its basically a form of transforming Miraculous, letting one become immaterial, an elemental or chemical gas, that kind of thing. It also still works with the red bird associations ala phoenixes without much work.

Canid - Hunt & Harvest, I think would need a revamp into something more akin to Hunt. IE, its the embodiment of tracking, hunting, capturing, the act of pursuit and retrieval alive or dead. Fetch is a way it can manifest, ensuring their prey is never out of reach, but it can also be used to locate and track down things without having touched them first, & so on. Tis goes beyond mere hunting dogs and into how ants have cultivated livestock and even slave ants.

Lamb - Genesis & Preservation is the power of giving and extending life, it is of the (Caveasphaera), IE, Animal era and holds the power to breath life into something or to heal. In essence, it is the "Breath of life" and healing hands, it cannot whisk life up out of nowhere, but more can create the perfect conditions for new life, imbue something with life, or heal something. The specifics are a little ill defined right now but I think this works.

Amusingly this means Lamb could be the second Miraculous Gabriel has, the one that they used to conceive Adrien but due to being broken that didn't pan out. (Makes notes) Damn, I may actually keep this revised list, Roosters now the weakest one but still has room to work even with my revized Renlings...

Here it is regardless:

Creation (Planck) Ladybug - Creation & Purification Cat - Destruction & Mutation Snake - Ouroboros & Time

Elemental (Matter) Rooster - Sublimation & Phasing Tiger - Combustion & Chaos Dragon - Storm & Power

Life (Abiogenesis) Peacock - Evocation & Transmutation Mouse - Multiplication & Duplication Turtle - Protection & Resilience

Animal (Caveasphaera) Lamb - Genesis & Preservation Horse - Action & Migration Canid - Hunt & Harvest

People (Conceptual) Bee - Order & Subjugation Fox - Mirage & Materialization Butterfly - Emotion & Transmission

Revised Bee, this is mostly just leaning on the concept of subjugation more. IE, Pollen represents people and thinking creatures idea of order more than she does elemental the stabilizing of neurons and atoms. Venom is simply the most straightforward example, utterly stilling a persons body. But at more advanced levels, the user can infuse their power into objects and guide them or compel people, so long as they use subjugation.

Notes:

Genesis was a problem because its basically just Lucky Charm with more control but less magic. Genesis means the origin point of a something, the beginning or creation, which doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room for reinterpretation or expansion. In some ways it'd fit with the theme I gave to mouse. Still, I like these other two so lets play.

I had the idea briefly to make Genesis a sort of scrying mechanic, seeing into the past and future (Vaguely), or to get meta with it and have it be among the fox and butterfly as to do with stories, giving one's words power. However, elements I have toyed with for the Bee can already fit into some of that so I was... Iffy.

Then I looked into lamb associations and themes and found out the Egyptian Deity known for incepting life was a lamb headed deity, and the creator of 'essence'. I leaned on that when reaching for preservation.

[ghooostbaby]

i don't like how much it seems like viktor was so passive all these years

kind of gently nagging jayce on can we please do something for the undercity now and jayce just keeps building stuff for the topside and subtly screwing over the undercity while viktor is politely waiting

i saw a random comment about the original lore that viktor was jayce's enemy and like... stole stuff from jayce's lab to cure a degenerative illness in the undercity... and he was always doing illegal "evil" stuff to directly help people in the undercity. i wish that arcane viktor was more like that

it seems like he sort of bides his time hoping jayce will give the ok and only pushes back when he has a terminal illness and then he's just trying to fight to save his own life and has become almost entirely disconnected form undercity yet still isn't seen as one of the topsiders

i think it would have been a better story if he had fought more

i would want him (and everyone) to stop giving jayce and the topside (can never remember the name) such complete deference, like waiting for approval and acceptance from them before they can do anything. even when viktor is fighting them he still seems so pliant to them, it's on their terms always. the upper city is goodness, and controls what goodness is and means. the under city is badness. and if you want to do good for the undercity you can only do it by going to the upper city and finding ways to help through them, but the upper city just condemns the undercity as bad and nothing happens and those "good" under city people just get absorbed into and become nothing, passive, useless...

like the "good" characters can't find themselves in the active terrorist abolitionists of the underside so they go to their topside oppressers like plz would you mind liberating us? oh, you'd rather i wait for next 10 years, ok, but do you promise to after?

i can't get over the subtle casual cruelty of how jayce treats viktor. his arrogance and ignorance

but it also kills me that viktor never seems to have really pushed back against jayce ignoring viktor's ambitions to help others, always giving jayce so much benefit of the doubt, until jayce fused him to the hexcore. i was cheering when he walk away from him but it seems ... too late. i just finished s2e5 and from what i've seen of viktor so far it seems less like he's shirking respectably to finally fight back against the upper city but more like he's completely absorbed the pultiver ideology of faux goodness, reasonability, order (or the hexcore taking over his consciousness has?) and taken it to the extreme. and now are they gonna make jayce the hero to fight viktor's corruption? it's more of just ... either undercity people are evil or they are passive, and if they try to act in any way the upper city are the heroes that stop them. it's such a cruel system and it is enraging that the story seems to be holding these moderates that created this whole situation as the heroes who are saving the world from the evil actions of those they oppressed... like. have you ever felt so gaslit by a TV show

anyway it's very disappointing. there seems this aggressive individualism in arcane. viktor seemed to wait quietly until disease affected him personally. the glimpse of viktor described in the game lore (which i admit i have no knowledge of other than a random video comment) is so much more appealing, where viktor was acting with that kind of desperation BEFORE it affected him personally.

maybe i would have preferred viktor & jayce had been enemies with viktor fighting for the undercity from the beginning (and they could still do that homoerotically)

[lyssophobiaa]

C-Virus & Hearing; Piers Nivans

I thought I’d share a few more details on other things the virus affects, this time we’ll be covering hearing with a few points under the cut!

Hyper-Acute Hearing: Piers’ hearing is extremely sensitive, allowing him to pick up on subtle sounds like heartbeats from a significant distance, even through layers of clothing or other background noise.

Unique Heartbeat Signatures: Each person’s heartbeat has a slightly different rhythm, speed, and strength. With time, Piers can learn to distinguish these subtle differences, allowing him to recognize specific people by their heartbeat alone.

Filtering Mechanism: His brain has developed a filtering mechanism that lets him isolate heartbeats from other sounds. He can “tune in” to the beat of someone nearby while filtering out ambient noise, like conversations or footsteps.

Heightened Stress Detection: Since heart rate and intensity change with emotions, Piers can detect when someone’s heartbeat quickens (indicating stress, fear, or excitement) or slows (signaling calmness or sleep), giving him insight into their emotional state.

Background Detection Mode: Piers’ hearing is tuned to detect irregularities, like sudden changes in a heartbeat. This allows him to “sense” if someone nearby is experiencing fear, surprise, or exertion, even without actively listening to them.

Sound Map of Heartbeats: In familiar settings, Piers can form a mental “sound map” of people’s heartbeats, knowing where each person is within a room based on their rhythm and position. This allows him to keep track of movement even without direct line of sight.

Virus Influence: When the Virus is more dominant, Piers’ hearing may shift to prioritize certain heartbeats, especially those that indicate fear or vulnerability, aligning with predatory instincts. This shift might cause him to lose some conscious control over what he listens to.

Slight Vulnerability to Sound Overload: Because his hearing is so sensitive, sudden loud sounds or overlapping heartbeats can cause brief disorientation, like a “sensory overload,” which he may need a moment to recover from.

[field-of-paper-flowers]

Hey, can I get uuuuhh, general fluffy headcanons for Bain and/or Wolf with a male reader who's also a heister. Thanks in advance !

Insert "Both? Both is good" GIF here.

For some of these, I had to give our heister a little personality or backstory, but I try to keep them generic so everyone can enjoy.

Bain:

Bain is tall. This is important because when he goes to hug his partner, he'll rest his head on his head.

He'll get Bain's soft beard nestled in his hair.

When they're cuddled together, he'll run his fingers through Bain's hair. It's one of Bain's favorite forms of physical, non-sexual, intimacy.

Bain brought him in because he realized that in a group of talented heisters, most of them were...a little rough around the edges. They needed someone who could talk. Someone who could bullshit. Someone who could charm.

This man is a known hustler, a tongue of silver and dashing good looks.

Bain brings him in, but absolutely professional. He realizes he finds the man attractive, but he doesn't make decisions about the gang base on his feelings.

Besides, the fact Bain found him attractive was a good thing, right? That means he was most likely a good choice.

Despite being a con man, the heister is actually a great crew mate with a fantastic sense of humor. He seems to actually care for the other members of the Gang and works seamlessly with most of them.

He and Bain start talking more and more. About the plans for heists. Simple, casual chatter during calm moments during the heists. And Bain starts to realize how much he enjoys his little chats.

Con man heister is the one to make the first move, because, let's be real, our boy Bain would just sit with his feelings forever.

Heister gets great joy out of making Bain tongue-tied with his charm. He thinks there is nothing cuter than watching a man obsessed with control, lose said control over a playful bout of flirting.

As the relationship progresses, it would feel like a battle for control. Both men are talented heisters, each with their own unique skills. Men like that aren't ones to let the other get a leg up.

But it's mostly in good fun, because at the end of the day, Bain is actually a very caring partner. He will give a lot of his time and energy to making sure his partner is safe and happy.

Sometimes too much. Bain is also a man who pushes himself way too hard.

A good way to lure Bain into relaxing is food. The man has to eat. So if our heister makes or obtains a delicious meal, he can lure Bain away from his constant planning and worrying. Even if only for a bit.

Wolf:

As Wolf first starts developing feelings, he is freaked out.

He hasn't even considered the idea of finding a romantic partner because, well, heist life.

But as they go on heists together, he can't help but notice that his eyes keep looking over at this man.

"He is a goddamn grown man, he shouldn't get butterflies in his stomach while sitting next to him in the van," his thoughts would yell at him.

But he does.

Wolf is not subtle.

Like, the second he realizes he has these weird feelings, it becomes super obvious. Our awkward boy dials the awkward up to 11.

Heister finds it really cute. Wolf's awkward words and movements show our heister exactly how nervous Wolf is around him.

Heister would approach Wolf during one of his little awkward times and say something along the lines of, "You know, I don't need fancy words if you want to ask me out on a date. And I'll go ahead and answer the question anyway, 'It sounds great. Something quiet, yeah? How about drinks in my room?'"

While this would absolutely short-circuit Wolf, he would genuinely appreciate how the heister seemed to understand the chaos and panic that was going on in his head.

Over time, Wolf relaxes around him. Heister doesn't magically fix the chaos in Wolf's mind, but he quiets it. Like a weighted blanket.

Which in turn, turns into heister laying on Wolf, or pressing his weight against him when they cuddle or snuggle. His weight providing a sense of security and grounding.

I jotted down an idea I had while super sleep-deprived, while forgetting this was for Bain x Male!Heister and Wolf x Male!Heister and not Bain/Wolf. But I liked it, so bonus headcanon:

Bain would be weirdly defensive if other heisters are mean to Wolf.

(Because let's be real, everyone basically just openly talks about how crazy Wolf is. Whether he is right there or not.)

[beatmyfeet]

Seeing how another woman uses him will give me ideas for new methods of discipline.

By observing the techniques and approaches she employs, I can enrich my own way of controlling and training him. Every woman has her own methods, her own tricks to achieve perfect obedience, and it is always instructive to see how they go about it.

By entrusting him to another, I can see disciplinary techniques that I might not have considered. Perhaps she will use different tools or strategies, or maybe she will have a more subtle but equally effective psychological approach. Each new experience he has with her will be an opportunity for me to learn and refine my own methods.

This diversity of approaches will allow me to better understand his limits and how to push them optimally. By seeing how he reacts to different forms of discipline, I can adapt my techniques to maximize his obedience and devotion. She might discover a new weakness or strength in him, something I could exploit to reinforce his submission.

Observing his interactions with another woman will also be a source of creative inspiration. I can see which methods are most effective in controlling and punishing him and incorporate these ideas into my own practice. This will add a new dimension to our relationship, keeping things fresh and unpredictable, which is essential for maintaining a high level of discipline and engagement.

Finally, by seeing how he behaves under the direction of another woman, I can assess his level of loyalty and submission. This will give me valuable insights into the aspects of his training that still need work. By enriching my arsenal of disciplinary methods through these observations, I will not only strengthen my control over him but also his devotion and willingness to serve me.

In sum, this experience is beneficial for both me and him. It allows me to become an even more effective and innovative mistress while providing him with more comprehensive and varied training. Each new method of discipline I discover is one more step towards perfecting his role as a submissive.

[followthebluebell]

Bluebell!! As you know, I’m working with that tuxedo baby boy! I actually have a couple questions I’m hoping maybe you could answer…

Once he gets neutered, I’m concerned about his recovery and what I should do. Initially I was thinking about setting up a kennel with a bed + litter pan at least for a couple of nights while he heals, but when I asked the vet about his recovery, they said it really depends on the cat and that I may have to just let him back out if he really hates being inside. They mentioned I should try to get him a little used to being inside before the procedure, but he’s definitely full of worms and fleas, and we already have two cats and a dog here. I want to socialize them all eventually but I don’t want to risk the other animals getting worms right now. I’m hoping he can get dewormed while he’s at the vet. Would you happen to have any ideas that could work?

Second question- while he loves getting pets and even loves to be on my lap, sometimes he still swipes at my hands even if I’m not doing anything. He does NOT try to bite me. Could he just be over stimulated? Learning how to act around a human? What can I do to deter that without upsetting him? Or is it just something that might go away over time? (Also I’d like to follow this up with I thoroughly wash my hands after every interaction and I change my clothes if he sits on my lap).

anyways… if you’re able to help, i’d really appreciate it 🥺 i just want to get everything right.

I'm following the adventures of the very dignified boy and hoping he settles in quickly, ngl!

Cats usually recover from neuters pretty quick. It's a very, VERY small procedure (sorry to all toms reading this; your balls are not that impressive). There's usually not even a check back to get stitches taken out or anything. I do recommend crate rest, just to be sure he doesn't pull anything. It also helps to monitor how much he's eating, drinking, and eliminating.

so, the type of dewormers used are really going to depend on what kind of worms he's got. Since you've mentioned fleas, he's got tapeworms at the very least, which isn't as bad as it sounds. They're the easiest to get rid of, with just a single dose. Drontal is the typical form used, since it covers a larger spectrum of parasites than just pure praziquantel.

It's worth knowing that dewormers aren't JUST available in oral forms either. There are some that are transdermal, which is super handy when you're working with a cat who's not 100% used to human contact and might not be easy to pill.

The problem is, it's also SUPER easy to get contract them again, because their eggs are carried in the fleas. Cat grooms off an infected flea, eats it, and gets tapeworms all over again. So getting rid of tapeworms includes getting rid of the fleas, and the right flea medication depends on where you live.

I happen to live smack-dab in the middle of flea country. Fleas in my area have presented with a REALLY high resistance against most flea medications. The ones that still work in my area are selamectin (revolution, and revolution+; also a handy one since it takes out a lot of internal parasitic worms), spinosad (less effective in recent years, but includes comfortis), and spinetorem (cheristin; this is what I use on my personal cats, and it's also the active ingredient in Advantage XD). I've heard good things about bravecto and credelio, but haven't used those personally. Absolutely ask your vet what's working in your area right now.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a flea control that kills adults, larvae, and eggs. Right now, the best thing is to keep him on quarantine for a week or two, just in case he's got something nastier than parasites.

As far as his behavior, I'm guessing he's still learning how humans work. It's possible he's giving some sort of signal that's just too subtle for humans to catch. Just keep doing what you're doing and he'll figure out how to communicate with you. If he continues to swipe, you can work on finding a sort of comfortable compromise where, instead of sitting on you, he sits next to you in a little bed.

Good luck with the little guy!

[believesthings]

Not Just A Girl - Chapter 11 // Jason Sudeikis X Reader

You are, by some small miracle, standing out of view of the director’s chair while watching Jason's performance. The scream that he bellows gives you shivers - the subtle shift of his shoulders as he turns away from the fallen Theo - the confident swagger as he steps towards the camera and the third actor taking part in the scene, Ava. As he moves the mixture of sweat and faux blood glisten under the lights of the soundstage. Watching Jason's controlled heavy breathing sends a pang of longing running through you, a desire to feel that very movement of his chest, or better yet, be the reason for it. You forcibly keep yourself as still as everyone else present. With all the crew watching, all the eyes absorbing ever detail, somehow he seems to sense your presence. His eyes leave his costar and lift over her shoulder to find you standing apart from the crowd.

Your heart begins its oh-so-familiar conga within your chest. You start to scold yourself while still determinedly remaining motionless. You shouldn’t have wandered over to watch them filming, let alone stay for multiple takes. This is what happens – you end up in his direct eye line and … Now? Lord, this is probably not what he had in mind when he asked that you stay on location. On location and on the soundstage are two very different things. Why didn’t you stay in wardrobe admiring the costumes? The temptation to see Jason performing had held too strong a pull and now here you are.

When his lips part you can almost see his mouth moving to form your name. Thankfully the words that come out are apparently his lines. You allow yourself a small smile which makes the corners of his eyes crinkle in response. His gaze then slips back to its mark, to his costar Ava, and the scene continues.

As soon as the director calls cut you begin to edge further towards the exit while Jason’s attention is still on the feedback he is being given.

The director is ecstatic with what he has captured. “Yes, yes. Good. Ok. Again, but let’s get more blood. Adjust the spray. I want the…”  

Oh thank goodness you didn’t ruin the take. You have almost reached the hallway now, safety in a mere few steps. When you turn back you can see Jason surveying the moving crowd, trying to spot you again while adjustments are being made. His eyes are skittering quickly over the many people milling about. You are tempted to turn to escape down the hallway before he has the chance to spot you on the outskirts of the room but the earnest expression on his face as he searches stalls your steps.

His eyes are skipping over the tops of everyone’s heads - oh - he is trying to catch a glimpse of your hair. You can’t help but laugh at his technique. “Cheater…” you mutter under your breath.

Jason soon finds you, so far from where he saw you last. The small frown that had formed is instantly replaced with the same look that had sent your heart fluttering around in your chest a few minutes ago. Before his prolonged distraction draws the attention of too many more curious crew members you give him a small wave, waiting for him to return a nod before you make your exit.

You wander down the hallway to wait out the rest of the day somewhere out of sight, eventually settling on the muffled quiet of Jason’s dressing room. The question now is how to occupy yourself for the next few hours until Jason is finished and the pair of you can go home.

To delay what is sure to be a lovely phone call to Todd to tell him about the paparazzi encounter – oh he’ll so love hearing that you’re a little more willing to talk with him about having security – you take some time to look at the memorabilia that Jason has placed about the room. It is tempting to read each letter that is in view, but then these weren’t meant for you. You quell your curiosity and focus on the fantastic artwork decorating the walls closer to the comfy looking stuffed chair. Jason’s jacket is draped over the arm of the chair and your bag is resting atop the seat cushion. You only have to shift your bag slightly to sit. The chair is large enough to swallow you, but for a man of Jason’s height it makes perfect sense.

Alright. Enough avoidance. You dig in your bag, pushing aside your newly purchased lingerie, to try to find your phone. It’s a shame you left the blueprints for your apartment back at Jason’s – that would keep you busy for hours, guaranteed. Also, it would keep you from having to make this phone call to Todd…

You release a sigh when you finally find your phone and lift it from its hiding spot in the bottom corner of your bag. Better to call and be the one to give the news to Todd rather than have him hear about Jason being chased from another source. Instead of the usual answer after a few rings you are greeted by his outgoing message. Alright – a summary in his voicemail it is then. You ramble on, circling back to admitting to the incident and having the explanation be longer than really necessary. How long can messages last these days before they are cut off? Now it is sort of a challenge. No, better not to anger him even if you’ve just admitted that he was right. Well, admitted it in so many words.

“If you’re still listening to this, Todd, you’re a saint and I love you and I promise that I’ll listen when I get back to LA and we talk about the whole bodyguard thing.” You glance at your watch, nearly five minutes of chatter… “Ok I’ll ah – I’ll stop now. Bye.”

There now. Required message relayed. What would you be doing now if lunch with Jason hadn’t been derailed? Most likely you would have headed back to Jason's and spent the afternoon either in the park near his place or – who are you kidding, you’d be curled up in a chair with a book plucked from the shelves in his study. While you are sitting there your phone buzzes in your hands. Will has sent you a few messages since you’d talked to him just this morning. Crazy thing. His panel should be done by now and he should be sleeping, not sending you texts.

I’m hearing some interesting rumours on the All Your Monsters sequel. Can’t wait to share the gossip. Miss you terribly ­­­. I hope you listened this morning and threw away that magazine. –x

You glance guiltily into your bag at the glossy cover that had sent you into such a rant while you were on the phone with him. Was that just this morning? You pluck the magazine from your bag and quickly flip it open so you don’t have to look at the annoying titular article that is plastered across the front cover. You tap a text back to Will before delving into the magazine to satisfy your curiosity, regardless as to the wisdom of the action.

Can’t wait to hear all the details – and I miss you also. Get some rest. Schedule a meetup when I get back to the states?

Skipping over the main article you start to skim through the magazine, pausing when Will’s reply comes through.

Taking a page from your book and surviving on caffeine and stubbornness. Consider a day set aside. Jo swears the new place is excellent but I need proof. You know, make sure you have furniture etc. –x

“Well invite yourself over why don’t you.” You roll your eyes, still smiling. You do still owe Jo drinks for wandering about the city with you while you were trying to find a place to live. Perhaps you can find a time when all three of you can get together, er – after you go furniture shopping. The place didn’t come fully furnished and you’d hate for Will to be able to hold that over you.

You’re evil. Get sleep. Nobody wants to be in the path of a sleep deprived klutz.

He either listens or simply has fallen asleep despite his intentions to the contrary because no more messages arrive allowing you to manage to read the entire magazine, Battle of the Costars article included.

Round One’s clear victor is Sudeikis. Confirmed by the pairing themselves, Sudeikis and his new girl had been frequently spotted enjoying each other’s company after first evidently discovering a connection the night both of them went home with a win in their respective categories. [Go online for exclusive video clips of the show!] Separation may provide Goldstein with a second chance. Sudeikis has a current project back in London while his sweetheart works alongside Goldstein in a yet to be titled piece. Soon after She will rejoin Poulter in a reprise of the role that won her her first award. With her star title on the rise and Sudeikis in constant demand, will there be time for the new couple to build upon their relationship or will their respective careers push them apart? Ding. There’s the bell for the start of Round Two.

You stuff the magazine down beside you into the slot between the cushion of the chair and the armrest while you muse over the words you’d just read. Relationships are complicated enough without all this additional drama. 

Tapping on the dressing room door interrupts your thoughts. Is Jason done already? No – this is a crew member. She doesn’t open the door all the way but just enough so that she can peek her head into the room. “Hi. Jason asked me to check in. He should be done in an hour, two maybe. They’re on a roll today.”

So soon? A peek at the time reveals that it is later in the day than you estimated. “That’s good. Um, thank you for letting me know.” You almost don’t get the words out before she dips her head in a small nod to you and then goes back to work.

So you have an hour to kill, or two, or more… if they’re on a roll they might just keep working until they are out of prepared scenes to shoot, or the momentum dies, whichever happens first. Rereading the magazine isn’t all that appealing so you opt to mess about on your phone until he appears. You tap out a few messages that are in need of replies. Your father is already asking about your plans for his birthday. You used to spend the weekend with him, as was family tradition. You didn’t make it home last year because you were filming All Your Monsters. Odds are you won’t be able to get home again this year to celebrate with him. How can you word it so that you can gently let your father down, once again? Maybe you can make it for a differently celebration – a holiday? That presents a whole other slew of problems since certain holidays are typically spent with one side of the family or the other.  

The door to the dressing room swings open to reveal Jason. His eyebrows raise when he sees the expression on your face. “Hello darling – what’s the matter?” 

You wiggle your phone at him, “Nothing, just keeping everyone up to date on the fact that I’m a horrible daughter.” Jason takes the two steps to stand next to you when you get up from the chair. His concern is evident on his face which leads to you explain further. “I’ve missed everyone’s birthdays lately. Sending a card or calling isn’t the same as what we used to do.”

“I’m sure they understand. Being away from the ones we love is hard, isn’t it?” He rubs your arms gently and leans forward to kiss your forehead. “Just let me get changed and we can go home.” He isn’t carrying any props but is still mostly in costume. When he turns to retrieve his change of clothes you can see that they’ve already removed the various prosthesis that had been applied to his skin and someone had given him a wipe to remove a bit of the faux blood and grime. He’ll still need a good scrubbing to remove the rest of it but it’s a far sight better than what he looked like on the soundstage a few hours ago. 

You’ve always loved the way men remove their shirts. To give Jason a little more room you sidestep towards the mirror and dressing table. Oh goodness watching him undress is terribly distracting. “Sorry, um… Sorry about surprising you out there. I should have just stayed in with wardrobe.” Jason is in the process of putting on his t-shirt and pauses to let out a chuckle. No – no, finish clothing yourself, then find the humor in the situation.

“Something told me to look over Ava’s shoulder and then there you were.” He continues to laugh and shake his head while pulling the shirt on. He settles down into the chair you just vacated to change back into his jeans. The action lodges the gossip magazine loose from the place where you had stuffed it and he plucks it up, glancing from the cover to you. “Did someone give you this?”

A little bit of the aggression that you’d seen on the soundstage is leaking through his overall curiosity at the presence of the magazine. “Finish changing and I’ll explain?” Jason doesn’t budge. This isn’t how you wanted to approach the topic but it will have to do. “No. Nobody gave it to me. I bought it this morning when I was walking to the park. We sort of talked about this last night, but why haven’t you talked to me about how it is plastered everywhere here?” You hold out your hand to take the magazine from him and stuff it back into your bag.

“You say that like it is a bad thing… Seeing it reminds me of you, which in turn makes me text or call.” He watches as you stuff the magazine back into your bag. “Did you read it? What did you think?”

You’re kneeling down in the floor beside the chair while you fiddle with your bag. “I think the media wants to see some sort of love triangle happen, that or have an implosion between friends.” You’re feeling much better in regards to the article now that you know that it isn’t a stress factor for Jason. Surprisingly, reading it helped too. Your imagination had gone to far worse places than what had actually been written.

“You don’t have to worry about any implosions. Brett and I had lengthy conversations about it while we were trying to get Will to introduce us to you. Now… about a threesome….”

You roll your eyes and tap Jason’s leg, “Dear Lord. That is not what I said. Will you just get changed so we can go home?”

Once again he again doesn’t move. This time instead of a stubborn frown the expression on his face is absolute delight. “As you wish, honey. Just keep calling it home.”

Tag list: @my-soupy-brain @tegan8314 @tortilla-maria1 @nerdgirljen @cavillsim @superloveeverything

[ink4spots]

OUCH

In which: Rohan wakes Ryoma up to give them some food. And also he has some Feelings.

Pairing: (TSKRLA) Inkspots (Ryohan)

Genre: Angst. Sad with a sweet ending.

TW: ehhhh the body horror is mild in this one. Just some brief mentions.

Part 3 of 3. Part 1 can be found here

\\\this was sitting in my docs. just skimmed it and did some minor editing. Just wanted to finish this for myself ñejdldsldjs

\\Ryoma is supposed to have a sort of .. echolocation... Heat vision... heatlocation type thing going on... I don't think I implemented that well in the first part butttt UHHHH you win some you lose some

Heaven's Door was lazily looped around the neck of the 'Ryoma-hybrid'. It had been assigned to keep watch over them as they slept until its human came back. 

It didn't mind the task too terribly. It liked the aforementioned creature very much, except for when they were the 'Gadzooks-spirit-organism'. It was incredibly aggressive, especially towards Heaven. Thankfully, it would be a while since Gadzooks would awaken once more, so it didn't have to worry about being snipped or eaten.

When Rohan tried to read the Ryoma, It was only luck that they themselves were able to stop Gadzooks, because it could've meant the end for both Rohan and Heaven. 

The creature was violent to the point of even hurting itself, the part that was once human. While not directly self injurious, the fusion process itself was painful, and harmful in other ways besides the biological factor.

It knew because sometimes, it would come and comfort Ryoma in the mansion at night, when they would cry secretly and entrust it with things that no one else could know. Fears, regrets and other hidden things. It absorbed every bit of information, as is its nature. Afterwards, the dolls would end up soggy, and perhaps a bit crumpled. Nonetheless, it would come and listen once more the next time.

Heaven's door’s eyes all shut for a brief moment, before being consciously forced awake again. 

 One of the few present sounds, their breathing, was consistent and continuous. Unlike its human, Ryoma showed very subtle distinctions between intake and release that were only audible due to the spirit's closeness. Eventually, the constant sound morphed into the crashing and receding of waves. These were more than adequate conditions for sleep, but it had a duty–to keep vigilant–so it remained awake, just barely.

Several rows of eye holes battled grogginess, blinking alternately. The dolls towards the back of the chain began to lag, and so, their neighboring dolls shook them awake, but as soon as those were attended to, the ones at the other extreme grew neglected and began to drift off. This back and forth continued for a while until one pair of eyes noticed something, or rather someone, above them. 

All parts suddenly took into the air, zipping around excitedly around its now returned human. Then, it encircled Rohan, forming a ring around his head, spinning. 

"Hello." Rohan remained undisturbed, raising a hand to touch it. It reciprocated the greeting by running its length against the tips of his fingers like an affectionate animal, doing so several times.

"Hello! Hello-hello!" It echoed. After that cheerful greeting, Heaven broke the ring and pointed a little hand down at Ryoma."Sleeping–eeping!” 

"Yes, I can see that." His eyes scanned their face, at the network of bulging veins and ruptured capillaries that lie underneath their skin. His expression hardened, forming sharp lines on his face. He recalled the revelatory phone call with Tomoko, in which she'd filled in all the blanks. As if they didn't have it difficult enough, they were stuck with a monster that neither them or Gadzooks could control. Still, the fact that it hadn't eviscerated him meant that Ryoma had some influence over it. 

He sighed heavily. "Can you wake her up?" 

It nodded before laying flatly against their nose and mouth. After a couple of minutes, Ryoma responded by reaching for their face to catch nothing but air. They begrugingly rose up, disheveled from sleep. They were still eyeless, but they had enough of an idea of his whereabouts to face him.

"I've got something for you." He rolled the wheelbarrow in front of them, stopping it a few inches from the couch. 

“Hi,” She was a little behind in the conversation, but they caught up rather quickly after a series of sniffs. He would've thought it comical if not for the circumstances. “Metal? You brought me scraps?” 

They reached out towards the wheelbarrow that was piled up high with discarded parts of various origins. It was mostly steel, their favorite, mixed with other assorted metals for a bit of variety. It was healthier that way, probably. 

After a moment of feeling around for a good sized piece, they promptly crunched down on it. The initial bite was followed by the hiss of dissolving metal, and more, as they began to dig in indiscriminately. It wasn't a too uncommon sight, but still one to behold. 

"Ugh! Thank you, I didn't realize I was so hungry!" Without a second thought, they shoved another piece, part of a car door, into their mouth. "This is so— mmm!" They interrupted themself in gleeful appreciation. "-perfectly rusted!" They wiped at their mouth with their arm, making more of a mess of themself. They were usually more conscious about their etiquette, but the circumstances made this excusable.

In just a few moments, the change was already clear. Their face was beginning to lose its pallor, and it seemed they were back to their old spirits, just like Tomoko had predicted. 

"Wait, Is this...? Don't tell me— it's from the place next to that funeral home, right? It tastes…” They savored what was left on their lips, thinking quietly to themself. 

“—I'm right, though, right?”

While some of their mental faculties were restored, they didn't seem to notice the rising upset in Rohan's tone or the shortness of his responses. Heaven's Door did, however, snaking into its designated spot under his jacket, on the right side of his chest, and over his quickening heart. 

“It is.” 

They lacked the sight to see him swallow thickly,

"I knew it! But actually, how'd you even find out about that spot? I don't remember ever telling you about it." 

"Your mother suggested it to me.” 

-or furrow his eyebrows, 

"Whaaa?! You guys talk? Since when?” 

-or set his jaw. 

“Since today,” He breathed in sharply in preparation for the next barrage of words. “after you vomited blood all over yourself, transformed into a beast, running around wreaking havoc on the streets for hours, then broke into my house and passed out on that couch!” His voice rang echolessly in the room in a bout of misplaced anger. 

Ryoma hadn't noticed in their stupor that the rickety, splintered thing underneath them was, in fact, broken, just like they hadn't noticed how their clothes were glued to their skin by blood that reeked of sweet motor oil. They were all too conscious now, though. Even small things that the pain had glazed over, like the debris caked under their fingernails were like blaring sirens in their mind. 

What followed was a long, uncomfortable silence. Ryoma took their time answering, cycling through different emotions. Shock, sadness, but most of all, concern. After a solid minute or two, Ryoma managed to stammer out a response. “...You mean, I…turned?”    “Not, Gadzooks, but the full...” Ryoma gestured vaguely. 

“Yes.”

“Oh.” That single syllable alone carried so much weight in it. “Did I… hurt anyone?” The second part of the sentence was spoken with so much hesitance that it was barely audible. 

“No.” They had committed a lot of property damage, but they didn't hurt anyone, no. Not physically, anyway, and the two witnesses left behind had their memories of the incident promptly erased by Heaven's Door. 

“Oh.” That seemed to put them at ease for a moment but the crease between their eyebrows returned almost as soon as it had left. The tension was still palpable, there was still something to address. They wagered a guess.“...I can fix your couch-” 

  “No, that's not what I… ugh!” Rohan was briefly overcome with frustration, not at Ryoma, but at the situation. He put his face in his hand, slowly dragging it up to comb his hair back into place. “Why didn't you tell me about this?” 

Ryoma seemed more than a little taken aback by his question. They again took a while to answer but he was willing to be patient, considering the circumstances. They were clearly frazzled. 

“I…” They idly massaged their forearms, trying to form words. “I don't know, I just…” Their voice began to break more and more as they went on. Stumbling awkwardly through an explanation, trying not to cry. “...It stopped happening years ago, and I didn't think it would happen again… and, um,”

“If it happened, I thought it wouldn't be so bad, since you're used to this kind of…stuff, so,” They tilted their head down, towards the floor. Now, they were rubbing their skin a little too hard for it to be comforting. 

Rohan sighed. “This is different.” 

“Yeah, I'm sorry.” They muttered, very small and very sad. 

The room was quiet again for just a second, followed by footsteps, followed by another weight on the couch. Warm hands took their fidgeting hands away from each other, and then drew them in as a whole. Ryoma could visualize his breath floating by the side of their head, and the heat silhouette of his profile. Warmth, unlike the prior burning of their irises, warmth that invited them to get closer. Warmth reminiscent of a cat on your lap, a sun warmed chair, and blankets fresh from the drier. 

They partially put their arms around him. Half afraid they might cut him, half afraid of staining his clothes with diluted metal. It made them want to cry even more. There was another reason why Ryoma hadn't told Rohan, one that he probably knew. In contrast to Rohan, their hands were cold, and terrible, and vile. Monstrous hands that only ruin and hurt, deserving of not even the simplest of pleasures, yet somehow…

“Don’t keep things from me, especially if it's about you.” 

They were too afraid to even speak, tears brimming in the hollows of their eyes. He breathed out and pulled them closer. Ryoma could now picture the patterns of woven fiber on his shoulder. They watched it subtly rise and fall with each breath. Breathe in, breathe out, over and over. It seemed to go by so fast compared to their own respiration, to their cold, corpse-like stillness. They wondered if he minded it as much as they did, but he held them like it didn't. 

“I thought you were dying.” 

Ryoma was unable to hold back their tears any longer, muffling their sniffles on his sweater. Then, they felt his breathing become irregular too, against their own dimness. Throwing caution to the wind, they embraced him with the fullness of their body. He didn't flinch when they wrapped their dull, bladed arms around him… Neither did he flinch when their bladed extra limbs clumsily joined the effort.

 “I'm sorry,” And they held, with no intention of letting go anytime soon. 

[foreststarflaime]

[more from the dragons au: evil Shinra board edition]

President Shinra: There was once a minor nobleman, displeased with his status and driven by greed, whose ambition would stop at nothing in his quest to rise in the ranks of his kingdom. It started with mere whispers in the right ears, subtle advances of his political power, entirely fair game for the nobility. But it was going too slowly, and he was all too aware of his advancing age. It wasn’t enough, he needed to rise to the top faster and he needed to live for longer. And so he looked for ways to stretch the rules of the game, to cut corners, and he found them—in dangerous allies, those who were just as willing to do anything to be the ones making the rules as him. They collected their power, and with it they overthrew the king, and Shinra’s rule of the empire began. But he was hardly satisfied—there were still other kingdoms outside of his reach, still more land to be controlled, still more gold to hoard. It was then that he began to…change. His fingers began to lengthen, long and sharp, the better to dig his claws into what was his and keep it. His eyes began to shift, moving further apart to give him better range of vision, to be better able to see any traitors sneaking around behind his back. Long spines began to grow from his back, physical forms of the knives he was sure were being aimed there by those who professed loyalty to him. His nose lengthened and grew into a long snout, ever pouring smoke but no fire, the better to sniff out any treasonous plots to steal what he had rightfully earned (no fire, because there were no plots to be found, originally). Now there is a sulking and hideous wyrm, hunched possessively over a great pile of gold in the ruins of a castle. His empire still lives, thanks to the efforts of those who originally helped him rise to power and whom he has not yet thrown out.

Hojo: There is a necromancer, a mad scientist of magic, whose focus—or more accurately, near-religious obsession—is with how much he can change the nature of something dead and still be able to return some semblance of life to it. He helped Shinra’s rise to power, mainly because it was bloody and offered him plenty of new material to work with. His work had been stagnating, and Shinra was growing restless with his lack of results—but that was when he saw him. A dragon, made of stardust, falling from the sky. When he reached the crater, the beast was still, eyes closed and unbreathing. He was excited to have something strange to work with—but that was when things got even better. The beast was still alive. It opened its eyes, still not breathing, and began to examine its surroundings. What undead masterpiece was this? Oh, the things he could discover if he got his hands on this specimen—perhaps, he could even crack the code to immortality, eternal undeath, like Shinra was constantly hounding him about. He must have it.

Scarlet: There was a noblewoman in the same kingdom as Shinra, a little higher in status, who was obsessed with beauty. But her idea of beauty was…a bit different than most people’s. How could it not be, when she was born already at the highest standard of human beauty, and yet still craved something more? She was lost for a long time, until finally she found what she was searching for, when an inventor from a neighboring kingdom was making the rounds at their king’s court. He had wonderful machines, the likes of which she’d never seen—machines that moved on their own, machines that could rip faraway things apart with the mere pull of a lever. There was an accident, and someone was shot that shouldn’t have been. She found the beauty she was searching for in that cold gleaming metal and the scarlet blood that it painted the walls with. She freed the inventor from the dungeon, and he taught her everything he knew. She made sure he would breathe no word of it to anyone else. This beauty was hers, now. She joined with Shinra to leech from his treasury to fund more pursuits into improving this beauty. Slowly, she began to make herself beautiful, too—a special high-tech eye that let her see more than a human eye could here (she only needed to pluck out her own to install it, she wasn’t losing anything important), an extra set of limbs protruding from her back there (no matter that she accidentally paralyzed her own legs in the process of attaching them, she could simply make more). Now there is an inventor in Shinra’s court, who is something not quite human.

Heidegger: There was a head of the guard in Shinra’s old manor, just as ambitious as his lord. He served him well and followed his ascent to power. Soon he progressed in ranks, and now there is a general, haughty and proud, sitting at the right claw of a hideous dragon. He would turn on him in an instant if he got the chance.