#(yeah that's what i'll be tagging them as for now)

[orion-my-rion]

hi!! this is suddenly getting a LOT of notes out of nowhere lol so i thought i would provide some updates and clarification now that it's been over a year since i made this post :)

for starters, i still highly recommend both of these programs for several reasons, one of the main ones being that duolingo is getting more and more useless every day, and outright paid alternatives aren't accessible to casual learners or people who simply can't afford a subscription like that.

let's start with mango :) i love mango! i have absolutely no issues with anything about mango. the one thing i did want to mention, bc someone had brought it up in the tags and i realized i may have mistakenly worded my original post, is that mango is Not provided by all libraries in the us/ca. just like any other service, libraries decide what to offer based on their population and funding. i've heard of some providing rosetta stone (which i have never used and know nothing about, but i'm pretty sure it's older than i am so it might be good haha), and some having no language services beyond some textbooks etc. so, be sure to use the link above to check if your library has it.

also, the reason i had said us/ca specifically is bc that's what their website said, but good news! someone said that their library in new zealand used to offer mango!! so, if you have a local public library in any country, look around on your library's website or ask your librarian to see if they offer it. you might be pleasantly surprised, so give it a shot! and remember, public libraries want to cater to you, so if you want something they don't have, ask for it! they might not even know about the program and would be happy to look into it for you :)

now for the other stuff. in the case of busuu, in the fall of 2024 (several months after i made this post), chegg (the owners of busuu since 2022) announced that busuu would introduce a "conversations" feature for english and spanish learners, which would use ai to allow learners to practice their target language with a chatbot. additionally, at some point in the summer of 2024 (again, months after this post was made), people started noticing ai-generated videos/audio in the later sections of the italian course. the explanation from busuu support was that the course designer had generated the content, and busuu was implementing it to see how users felt about it. i don't know if this is still in use as of now.

that all being said, busuu ads currently like to talk about their "ai-powered practice sets," which i'm fairly certain is just chegg trying to benefit from the word "ai" when it's really just a regular vocabulary study. in terms of the "conversations," i believe this is entirely optional and only available in the english and spanish courses. the only other "ai" i know of in the program is a relatively new "busuu bot" that will correct your open-ended exercises just like a native speaker would. i've only really seen it in the wild when correcting english-learners' exercises, so i don't think it's being used in most courses, and this still has the leeway of allowing a native speaker to still correct the exercise or even report the bot's answer if necessary.

that's just some stuff i wanted to bring up about busuu! if you know anything about the duolingo bullshit (which, if you don't, please please look into it and stop using duolingo Now.), you should notice that while there are a few areas where chegg is trying to implement ai to enhance the courses, i have Not heard of them firing translators in favor of making people correct ai slop. i cannot effectively emphasize how detrimental this has been to duolingo and its courses without turning this into a 20k essay, but yeah.

if i ever hear of something like that happening at busuu, i'll add to this post again, but as of right now, the original courses are intact and the chatbot is 100% optional (or nonexistent, depending on the target language). and, hey, remember i said they were looking to see how users felt about the ai stuff in the italian program? if you see any ai bullshit in a busuu course, send in feedback and explain Exactly why it upset you. the more data they have on unhappy users, the more likely they are to change their tune before chegg turns busuu into duolingo 2.

that's all :) tldr see if your library has mango, ask them about it if they don't; busuu seems to be tentatively moving towards ai but Only if their users let them get away with it, so don't let them! okay love you bye!!

i cannot keep quiet about this anymore.

if you're in the US or Canada and interested in learning a language using a free app please get a library card and download MANGO. it's very good and extremely free with a library card (there are many public libraries and universities using the service, so make an account and use the search feature here to find out if there's one near you).

mango currently has 72 available languages and dialects (that's right! different courses for french or canadian french! spanish or latam spanish!). it's set up basically like an audiobook with text. the idea is that the narrator explains the words while you read, and you repeat after them or say the translation out loud when prompted. there's a daily review where you go through flashcards. you can also use the flashcards at your leisure and create your own. at the end of each chapter there's a listening comprehension quiz and a reading comprehension quiz. i cannot emphasize how effective this all is. and it's free with a card.

if you're not in the US or Canada and/or looking for something more like duolingo (don't use duolingo btw tldr they fired translators and replaced them with "ai"), then try BUSUU! it only has 14 languages atm but the lessons are really descriptive and effective. it also has a feature where you can correct other people's open-ended speaking/typing exercises. you set your fluent languages, and exercises by people learning those languages will appear in your feed for you to correct. you can even add others as friends! and, much like duolingo, it has a streak and leaderboard system for you to strive for, minus the guilt-tripping owl.

busuu is free (you watch ads to unlock lessons and they're all skippable after like five seconds), although it also has paid premium/plus versions (i don't use the paid version—the language courses are available for free, and the ad system is Really unobtrusive).

so that's my wisdom for the day. mango and busuu. please check them out :)

[schemmentisimpasours]

Chapter 16- Simping for Schemmenti

Underneath the Christmas Lights

Summary: Melissa never thought she would get married again. But with a ring on your finger underneath the Christmas lights she knew that this was the future she waited a lifetime for.

Warnings: 18+, Strap On, Smut... uh teasing (Listen I'm fucking sleep deprived idk anymore)

Thank you @milfjuulpod and @earpivore for reading this for me and reminding me I'm not actually a bad writer. 🥹 (Look I'm sensitive rn)

Masterlist

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-

The party had begun to wind down, with more than enough hints being given by Melissa that she wanted to be home alone to be with her new fiancé. People were leaving in small groupings, thanking Melissa for the good food and complimenting you on your engagement ring. You were nothing but smiles now, the rest of the evening seemingly forgotten. Janine had gone to leave with Gregory when the older woman stopped them.

“Janine, can I grab ya for a moment?” Melissa asked, taking her hand without waiting for an answer.

Janine looked at Gregroy wide-eyed before following Melissa back into the living room. The older woman dug through the presents underneath the tree and pulled out a small golden box. On a little tag was Janine’s name written in Melissa’s handwriting.

“Figured I should thank you for helping me pull my head out my ass when it came to this dinner tonight. I didn't forget what you said, and it meant a lot. Probably would have lost Y/N if it wasn’t for you,” Melissa smiled, handing it over, “It came in after our normal gift exchange, but now that you are here, I don’t have to wait till school gets back.”

“Melissa, you really didn’t have to,” Janine said, her face betraying her excitement.

“Just open it, pipsqueak,” Melissa smiled.

Underneath the golden lid was a silver necklace with two interconnecting rings, a diamond in the middle. The card behind it was black with white script that said I’d shank a bitch for you right in the kidneys. Janine felt the tears run down her face as she began to laugh.

“I thought you would only kill for family,” She said, looking up at Melissa.

“You family kid,” Melissa said, taking Janine into a hug, “You got your work mom in Barb and maybe I can be your cool Aunt or somethin.”

“That sounds nice,” Janine said, wiping at her face.

Ava had been watching from the sidelines when she interrupted, “And if you want to come to our sister nights, they are on Wednesday…just don’t make it weird.”

Melissa looked between the two of them as Janine’s eyes grew wide, “I wouldn’t want to intrude or anything.”

“Take the offer and run, pipsqueak. She could change her mind at any moment. We will text you when the next sister night is. It got a little delayed cause the holiday craziness,” Melissa said and pushed Janine back towards the door.

When Janine was safely outside, Melissa turned to look at Ava. She raised her eyebrow as Ava looked away from her. Crossing her arms, she waited a couple more moments before speaking, “What you doing Ava? Never once have I ever seen you be nice to Janine, let alone think about inviting her to a sister date.”

“Your proposal got me all mushy and shit,” Ava shrugged, “Now I am outta here so you can have just engaged sex or whatever.”

Melissa rolled her eyes before giving Ava a hug, “You know it’s okay to not be strong all the time right Av?”

“Never thought you would say that.”

“That’s called growth,” Melissa winked as the other woman moved to the door.

“Yeah yeah,” Ava said, but before she went to grab the handle , she said, “I love you, Red. I'll see you tomorrow at Tara’s.”

Melissa returned the sentiment and then wandered off towards the kitchen to find you. You were staring at the overloaded sink of dishes with your hand wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate. Your ring glinted on your finger, and Melissa smiled as she slid up next to you. You leaned your head on her shoulder, letting out a sigh. She kissed you on the forehead like it was the most natural movement in the world.

“You think if I stare long enough, the dishes will just do themselves?” You asked playing with your engagement ring.

Melissa laughed, “I wish. But really, my love, I can do them.”

“After the amazing dinner you cooked? Plus, you threw together a whole proposal that I rushed. Absolutely not. This is my burden to bear,” You replied with another sigh.

“What if I sweeten the deal and set up the living room for a sleepover moment? Finish a load of dishes, and we can play under the Christmas tree lights,” Melissa smiled, getting up to kiss your cheek.

You placed down your mug and started towards the sink, “Fine fine, you drive a hard bargain Schemmenti. But I want you to know I'm doing so under major distress. So you better hurry the hell up.”

Melissa laughed as you started the water, but then paused, “Hey hun, you sure you are okay? After everything with my family I just… I know it had to have been a lot.”

“I’m more than okay, my love,” You smiled reassuringly, “I know what happened with your family wasn't great. But I knew it was going to be hard going in. I have dealt with worse. And I'm not about to let them ruin that proposal. All of that hard work that you did, and our family being together. That is what matters at the end of it all. This will always be one of my favorite days to remember.”

“It was pretty good, huh? I pride myself on being quite the romantic.”

“Blew my dreams out the water then some,” You grinned, “But Mel the real question is are you okay?”

“With you I'm always okay,” Melissa said, placing a quick kiss on your lips, “I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“I love you,” You said, and as Melissa left the room, you added, “Now I have to up my proposal game.”

Melissa grinned the whole time as she laid down different blankets and pillows to create a cocoon in front of the Christmas tree. Once she was sure that it would bring some fraction of comfort, she went to get ready for bed, shedding off her holiday clothes. As she looked through the drawers, she pushed aside clothes looking for the box. The box that she knew held her own engagement ring somewhere. She had been looking for it for weeks ever since you started dropping hints about it. She never thought she would feel this way again about marriage. But the thought of wearing the ring you had chosen for her brought a lightness to her heart that kept out the pressing worries in the back of her mind. Her family may never understand her, but she had created her own, and that is what matters. Well, at least that is what she reminded herself when she gave up her hunt and slipped under the blankets and waited for you to come out.

You returned from the kitchen, smiling at the cozy scene in front of you. You immediately sank to your knees, resting them on either side of Melissa so you could take residence on her stomach. Her red hair was splayed across the pillow, and you were transported back to that first day in your apartment. How beautiful she looked laying across your bed underneath the fairy lights. She was your angel sent down to mend all your broken pieces.

“Finished my dishes,” You smiled devilishly, “What is my prize?”

Melissa ran her hands up your thighs, further hiking up your dress till it was around your hips. You were already putty in her hands when she said, “Why don’t you take off that dress, and I can show you?”

The Christmas lights reflected off your skin as you pulled off your dress and bra. The cold air hit you instantly, making your nipples hard. But all you felt was fire as Melissa ran her fingers along your stomach, tracing patterns around your freckles and stretch marks. Admiring how the green, blue, and red lights shimmered off your goosebumps. With anyone else, you would have cringed at this attention, but with Melissa, it was different. It had always been different with her. You leaned forward to kiss her your hair falling like a curtain to cut you off from the rest of the world. It slid your body down just enough that you rested right above her hips. Your boobs brushed against Melissa’s causing her to moan in your mouth.

She bit down on your lower lip, drawing out a long groan from you before she slipped her tongue into your mouth. Your mind went blank once Melissa rocked her hips forward and you felt the bulge of the strap press between your thighs. Your eyes widened as you looked down at your fiance still hidden underneath the blanket.

“Mel,” You whispered it coming out as a choked plea.

“What baby?” She smirked kissing down your jaw to bite down at your neck. With another rock of her hips you could feel your arms shaking.

“What do you have on under this blanket?”

“Oh you know just my usual night time attire. Eagles shirt, boxer shorts,” She mused kissing down your collar bone to settle right above your breast.

“Is that really all?” You asked gripping the pillow on either side of her head as she rocked against you again.

“Might have a lil surprise for you too,” Melissa replied as she took one of your nipples in her mouth.

“Fuck,” You whimpered as she gently scraped her teeth across your nipple before soothing the pain with a lick.

Her free hand came up to palm your other breast and you closed your eyes at the stimulation. Small grunts escaping your lips as she twisted and pulled at your nipple. One of your hands found its way to her hair fingernails scraping her scalp as you rocked against her. It was just enough pressure to get you riled up but not enough to bring you any relief. Then as your fiance let one nipple go to give the other similar attention you thought you were going to burst. Images of her down on one knee ring in hand had been playing in your head for hours

“Mel, fuck, please,” You whimpered shamelessly.

She pulled away and you groaned from the loss of contact. She brushed your hair behind your ear letting in just enough light to see the devilish smile on her face, “Please what baby?”

“I need you.”

“Come on you are gonna have to do better than that,” Melissa said pulling at your nipple.

“Fuck,” You swore a red blush coming across your cheeks, “I need you inside of me.”

“More,” She hummed accompanying it with another tug.

You whimpered, “I need your cock in me now.”

Melissa hummed slotting a hand between your thighs, “Do you think you are ready for me baby?”

She swiped two fingers between your folds and closed her eyes as she swore, “Fuck mi cuero. You are already so wet for me.”

“Something about you on one knee really ruined me,” You whispered in her ear and you smiled as her whole body shivered, “Sono tuo. Per sempre.”

“Mio. Per sempre,”Melissa whispered back and pulled you in for a kiss.

She played with your clit rolling it through her thumb and pinching it until you were squirming above her. The begging started before you even really started. You weren't sure exactly how it all happened too distracted by Melissa whispering Italian to you. But soon the blanket covering the older woman was gone and she was guiding the brand new purple dildo inside of you.

Her hands were on your hips nails digging in as you let out a loud moan. You felt yourself bottom out biting your lip to contain a scream as Melissa’s eyes rolled back. The harness hit her clit just right to send shockwaves through her body. You stayed still for a minute breathing into the sensation.

“Baby,” Melissa whispered thumbs running across your hip bones, “Look at me,”

You fluttered your eyes opened looking down at Melissa hair put in a halo around the pillow. Her cheeks were already flushed but the smile on her face was one that made you feel like you were already coming apart. You went to talk but Melissa bucked forward and you let out a faint fucking shit. Melissa giggled which made you roll your eyes.

“You are such a tease,” You said placing your hands on Melissa’s shoulders.

She grabbed the hand with your wedding ring on it kissing each knuckle before kissing the ring three times, “And I will spend a lifetime doing it.”

You leaned down pulling Melissa into a kiss that both of you moaned into. Hands grabbed your ass setting a brutual pace. You held on to her shoulders as you rode her eyes closed head falling forward. You collapsed into Melissa not doubting that she would catch you as you fell. You kept up Melissa’s pace hips meeting each other as she swirled one hand between your legs. She circled your clit hard and fast and your nails dug into her shoulder her name falling out off your lips. She wrapped her hands in your hair pulling her closer to you.

Her lips brushed your ear as she whispered, “Come for me my beautiful wife.”

At the word wife you came hard screaming Melissa’s name as your body convulsed around her. Melissa came after you biting hard onto your neck. She kept her hips moving through your first orgasm the second building just as quickly taking you by surprise. Liquids ran down your thighs covering Melissa who kissed along your neck and bit your earlobe.

“My wife is such a good girl,” She purred in your ear.

You laughed as you slowly lifted yourself from her whimpering when you absence of her finally hit you. You flopped down on the blankets next to her immediately leaning your head against her shoulder. Melissa made quick work of undoing the straps and peeling it from her body before kissing your forehead.

“Let me put this away and I will clean you up.”

You clung to her for a moment, “Hurry back my wife.”

Melissa smirked, “Ah yes I can get used to hearing that from you.”

Your legs were shaking when Melissa returned wiping your thighs with a warm wash cloth. You breathing had settled but your body was vibrating. Melissa kissed your forehead as she settled next to you, “I love you baby. I got you.”

You smiled up at her moving a strand of hair behind her ear, “I could fall into you forever. I love you so much.”

“Luckily we have forever to go,” Melissa grinned.

“Sounds like a dream to me.”

With another kiss to your forehead you curled up against Melissa her heartbeat in your ear. She ran her fingers through your hair and down your back whispering I love you over and over in English and Italian. You fell asleep wrapped in a love that you never thought was possible but with Melissa felt limitless.

-

You woke to Melissa placing kisses along your back. There was light coming through the curtains and you could see flecks of snow coming down. Christmas had always been filled with sadness and bad memories ever since your mother had died. This was the first time that you hadn’t been woken by nightmares with that hollow put in her stomach. You reveled in the feeling as you turned to look at Melissa.

A grin was spread across her face with her red hair falling down around her, “Merry Christmas Mrs. Schemmenti.”

“Merry Christmas Mrs. Schemmenti,” You laughed and pulled her in for a kiss.

-

Taglist

@babytakeittothehead

@milfjuulpod

@yoyo-w

@cupldscntrl

@milfslvr

@liliapleasesteponme

[caoimhewrites]

Take It or Leave It

Undying Ground (Pt 3)

Ghosts decides... do you accept?

Tags/CW: brief mentions of grief/loss, non-graphic mentions of injury, post apocalyptic world, zombie mentions WC: 2k

Pairing: Simon Riley x Reader. Reluctant allies to lovers

Series Masterlist → here

A/N- Dabbling in a little Ghost pov. Don't know if I'll keep up with it

 G

The cans were a clever move. They almost gave him away when he had snuck up on you days ago. He almost felt angry with himself for not thinking of it. Relying on the sounds of growls outside the fence he built around the cabin wasn't the most foolproof solution when it came to alerting him to get rid of any infected that wandered too close.

He's spent days watching you sleep, eat and struggle with your bandages. There's something about you, something interesting, but he can't put his finger on it. Maybe it's the way you watch him back or the few words you speak in your conscious moments that have him biting back a small chuckle.

No.

Not that. Definitely not that.

You're up now, walking around with much more ease and no more limp. He doesn't speak when he sees you moving around. You've made yourself useful by packing up your things and Ghost would be lying if he said he wasn't a little... disappointed? He may have gotten the better of you a few days ago but still... you had skills to have made it this far. Five years, alone or not, was an achievement in this world. Ghost didn't consider himself to be a curious man. Didn't bother himself with the goings on of other people, not even before the sickness spread but the intrigue of you won't fade.

He's being practical, he tells himself. A decision like this… it makes sense, it's realistic. He's not getting any younger and the infected only find his cabin more frequently, their numbers only seeming to grow. Maybe a little help wouldn't be so bad?

No. Not help.

Ghost doesn't need help. He's never needed help a day in his life but maybe... an extra set of hands wouldn't hurt. If you stay as quiet as you usually are, fend for yourself, scavenge your own meds... it could work. He could find a way to tolerate it.

He's talked himself out of it a million times. He doesn't know you. His initial suspicions could be right. You might slink off in the middle of the night with all his things, leaving him practically defenseless. Or you could just end him. He's mulled that possibility over more times than he can count. He's been betrayed before. Before and after the world fell apart and as far as he's concerned he's in no rush to repeat history.

But he had to choose. Risk you betraying him, or possibly get swarmed by so many infected that even a man like him couldn't fight them. Or worse, some other lunatic who won't sit quietly like you do, keep to themselves and get out of his space whenever he asks. Someone who wouldn't hesitate to take everything he owned and toss him out as food for the infected.

So that's exactly what Ghost does. He chooses. Against every single instinct, every life lesson, every rational thought.

He chooses.

You can stay... For now.

R

You hear him before you see him. It feels strange. He’s always appearing out of nowhere, leaving a delirious you confused and scared shitless before the details of his frame clear. But, today it’s like he wants his presence to be known. 

“Yeah, yeah I’m going,” you murmur as you shove your old tattered coat into your bag. The summer still rages outside, leaving you far too sweaty even in the relatively cool damp of Ghost’s cabin. You had used it as a blanket when the shivers set in, side aching. Now it really serves no purpose, just weighing you down until the winter comes again.

“Stop.” His voice is demanding, slightly cold. 

“What? Why?” You freeze your movements, looking up at his towering frame. It casts a long shadow across the room, blocking out the light from the oil lamp.

“You can stay.” His words come out flat, emotionless. 

“Stay?” You can’t be sure you heard him right. Stay? Why on earth would this man let you stay? You still haven’t figured out why he would take you here in the first place. 

“Under some conditions.” He adds, words keeping their flatness.

“Conditions?” 

He rubs a frustrated hand over his face, venom lacing his voice. “Will you just- stop repeating everything I’m saying and listen.”

“Sorry,” you mutter quietly.

“You can stay… under some conditions. You get your own food, your own medication and first aid. I will not help you. If you get stuck out there, people or infected. I will not help you. If you get injured. I will not help you. You will sleep in the corner. If you want a mattress, find one. And…” He pauses, his brown eyes boring into yours, “stay the hell away from my room.” 

The question slips out before you can stop yourself, “why are you letting me stay? We don’t know each other. I mean… you let me heal here but, why?”

He hesitates, jaw clenched as he chooses his words wisely. “We… could be allies.” He says it like it physically pains him, like any suggestion of having someone else around goes against every instinct and desire. 

"Why should I trust you?" Your tone is accusatory, sharp like a knife.

"Why should I trust you?" He echoes, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You're the one who asked me to stay." You tilt your head, throwing in as much sass as you possibly can.

He lets out a huff at your words. You're right, but he's not going to admit that. He isn't the type of man to be wrong and certainly not the type of man to admit when he is. "Doesn't mean I trust you."

"Well I don't trust you either," you retort in a snarky tone, face scrunching in annoyance.

"Good."

What does that mean? Good? Good? Your stomach churns in annoyance. He's the one who brought you here. He's the one who asked you to stay. 

"Well? You staying or what?" His tone is sharp, impatient.

You didn't realize how long you had been silent, neglecting to answer his question, head spinning. What options do you have? Stay with this guy who's mildly annoying and definitely a bit out of his mind but at least have a roof over your head or go back out on your own with hardly any remaining supplies and legions of infected wandering the earth who wouldn't hesitate to make you their next lunch?

"Take it or leave it," he adds with an annoyed sigh.

"Fine. I'll stay... I guess."

---

Ghost wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't help you. He hasn't lifted a single finger in the second week that you've been occupying his floor. You haven't bothered to do much more for him. It's tense and awkward, the atmosphere thick enough to slice with even the dullest knife. Your conversations are short and stilted, exchanging nothing more than a few words each day.

But, you keep up your end of the deal. Stay quiet and out of his space. It's not too bad, you've had roommates far worse. 

Yet, he still watches you. Quite frequently in fact, his distrust obvious. In all fairness, you don't trust him either. Sure, he lets you stay and keeps to himself, not even bothering to pretend to be your friend, but even still, he could always betray you. It's the risk you run in this world.

"So... Where did you learn the trick with the cans?" he asks, eyes studying you suspiciously as he sits across the small table from you.

"A friend." You reply, voice clipped.

"Infected?"

"Yeah... Infected," you murmur quietly, the word feeling heavy on your tongue like you almost can't speak it. Your mind swirls with memories of Vivienne. You can't be sure of exactly how long it's been, the days you spent half conscious on Ghost's floor were hard to keep track of. You think it's been three weeks since the infected found your camp. Three weeks without the one person who had been with you through everything. Thinking about her always seemed to make you feel worse. Knowing that after so little time, her voice had already been forgotten. 

"You've been traveling?" He's pushed his food away now, focusing solely on you. His words feel more like an interrogation than an actual conversation.

"Yeah. Quite a lot since the start." You give a small nod, picking at your dinner.

"Where did you start? Virginia?"

You let out a huff and finally meet his eyes, looking up from the overcooked squirrel on the plate in front of you. "North Carolina actually."

You're tempted to ask him about himself but something in his eyes stops you. Something tired and... sad? Maybe if you could see his face you could understand it better. Trying to read him just through his eyes was proving to be quite difficult. His body language reveals even less— always statuesque.

The minutes pass in an awkward and tense silence, the only sound is the rustling of the fabric of your clothes as you eat in silence. "You... uhhh you been here since the start?" You regret it as soon as you say it, your question slipping past your lips shakily.

"Yes. Military," he says simply, offering nothing else. His shortness makes exasperation rise in your chest. Who is he to ask about your life, but give hardly anything in return? He’s the one who brought you here, who suggested you be “allies”, whatever that means to him. You shake the feeling off, you’re not going to let him get to you. It’s fine. It works. You can live with it. Dealing with Ghost’s interrogations mixed with indifference is paradise compared to the last five years.

“Right. Military,” you parrot, awkwardly tapping your wooden fork against your plate. You suspected he had made them both. They had that kind of rustic quality, much like the things your grandfather had made for your grandmother years ago. But these didn’t carry the comfort of their home or any home really. Nothing cute and sweet, just made from need and practicality. 

He lifts his mask just slightly so he can take another bite of his food. You see pink lips and a strong jaw dusted with blond stubble. It’s the only clue you had to how he looked beyond his brown eyes. You tried to piece him together, playing a game in your head, creating a million different versions of the man under the mask. None seemed too convincing. There was always something off, something that didn’t fit. It bothered you day and night not to know. 

“You’re low on supplies.” He spoke without looking up. 

“I know.” You stare at him as you take a bite of the stale bread on your plate that Ghost had actually decided to share with you to your surprise.

“You’ll need more. There’s a town down the road, not too far. I checked it out a few weeks ago, not much has been taken.” 

“Many infected?” Your voice is quiet but practical.

“Just a few.” He shrugs and glances up at you. There it is again. That look. The tiredness has seeped into him so deeply that you feel it radiating out of him. Five years alone out here will do that to you. Five years in some place that isn’t anything like home. Maybe it’s been there longer, you think. Maybe it’s something he’s been carrying on his shoulders for so long that tired is just who he’s become.

“I’ll go tomorrow then,” you say as you set the bread down. You see now why he gave it to you, it’s basically inedible. You would need several more rows of the world strongest and sharpest teeth to get through it. 

He lets out a low hum and nods, “I’ll go with you. Need some things. Don’t expect me to-”

“I know, I know.” You wave your hand in dismissal, cutting him off with a small huff. “You won’t help me.”

Taglist: @little-mini-me-world @angeldemon28 @iminlovewithjasontodd @i-like-foxs @dravenskye @lilynotdilly @thatghostlykid

[staybabblingbaby]

I saw someone ask @jisunggy and thought it was a fun idea sooooo

moots as stray kids members? ╰(*°▽°*)╯

LMAO you asked this so long ago I'm so sorry, I was in the middle of dying 💜 Probably not going to be anywhere near as poetic as @jisunggy (seriously, they made me tear up T^T) but I'll do my best! Also, I'm restricting this to Moots I actually talk to, bc I don't wanna b tagging folks who have never spoken to me (even tho I absolutely do adore those moots too <3) OK SO!

@brbwritingfanfic - That's my boy Han, right there. This is mostly based on vibes, but like, also, we can go down so many rabbit hole conversations together and end up so far from where we started it's crazy. My adhd buddy 💜 She's also so adorable and passionate, I love getting to listen (or, well, read lmao) to all the things she gets hyped about. It's seriously so fun

@lazyfacecowboy - I.N! she's not the maknae of my moots, but she IS the one I want to bundle up in a blanket the most lol. I want to be a cool older sibling figure to her but I'm so awkward and lame it's not a role i can take on xD Regardless, I love her to bits and I always worry about her. I also think she's more mature than me and cooler than me in every way, so she's very I.N coded tbh xD

@jisunggy - The man, the myth, the legend! I HAVE to pick Felix for Jisunggy, I know their bias is obviously the other Sunshine twin, but I can't help it! Jisunggy is basically my extrovert on this website lmao. Picked me up by my scruff and said "We're going for ice-cream!" and I've been in their pocket ever since. Jisunggy just has a way of making me smile and feel included in this wonderful community we call fandom. I'm STILL getting Bubble Squad tags from them and I hope they never stop 💜 They tag me in things sometimes and it reminds that I occupy another person's brain every now and then and I can't tell you what that does for my self esteem. I'm starstruck by them all the time always.

@thatgirlangelb - My og. my beloved. my daughter, the apple of my eye. She's so Hyunjin coded to me, i'm not even kidding. She's stuck by me from the start, and most of BFP and even some of Soulmate Garden would not exist without her. She's always so encouraging and sweet and I want to pick her brain apart because she has the BEST ideas. Nothing gets my creativity flowing quite like a conversation with her, she's like magic. I'm kissing her brain all the time.

@chancloud8 - My darling 🥰💍 Another ring for you, cos you deserve it 💜 Maybe it's a bit on the nose, but I'm assigning her our beloved leader Bangchan 💜💜💜 She's seriously been a rock for me lately and I don't know what I'd do without her 💔 She's always hearing out my stupid, crazy ideas and patiently letting me lore drop about the most obscure shit. 90% of the lore I babble on about in her DMs won't even be written or make it into the stories they're for but she's always got an open ear and a word of encouragement for me. She's one of those people I never realized I needed in my life until she was there, and now it feels like I've known her forever. You'll have to make your escape from me out of my cold, dead hands, beloved 🥰

@sh0dor1 - My most recent moot! I did not realize we weren't moots until I was double-checking if I knew everyone's pronouns and I was like, "wait, where's Sho?" so I literally followed them right before I started this post. I'm so sorry my dude T^T ANYWAYS! I am gently placing this one in the 'Felix' category. Hype man personified, they're literally so encouraging and lovely to speak to. We don't talk much outside of my replies, but I LOVE getting the chance to pick their brain and babble back and forth when we do talk. My motormouth soulmate 💜 If you put us in a room together I'm pretty sure we could take over the world by pure volume of words. They're always so bright and funny too. A lovely individual 10/10 would recommend

Anyways yeah, I love you all and I appreciate you and you make this hellsite so much better just by bein around 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[nnnnotebook-and-glasses]

My cleric who explodes bodies. Who grew up with an instilled love of nature and kindness and does want to do good and help but also body... body explode now.......

And then the love of necrotic and necromancy slowly growing. The decayed flesh has a stumbling sort of laughable beauty. Look at it, the way it moves. While it's also sad it's funny. And beautiful.

Bodies don't last long around them though, things are best exploded from the inside out.

And then what's this? The horors of mind flayer ship? Rag tag chaotic group?

... a hand extending from a swirling purple portal? That's a little pretty.

The hands owner wants help? Then I'll give it, and I'll pray to my God who blesses me with healing and death and explosions and I will pray for this hand to be helped and for this portal to not kill the hands owner.

Oh... the owner of the hand is really hot. Look at his eyes, his hair, oh he's shorter than I am FUCK

Hm oh hello hi uh wr have parasites and I don't know how to rid of them that's not my specialty :( but um come with me and maybe I can help? Later? Yeah? Yeah! Okay let's go

Lalala explode body, protect squishy wizard, have fun, become stronger, fall for the nerd who rants and rambles and doesn't mind the bodies exploded except for the annoyance of the viscera and blood on the shoes. Which is understandable. Who appreciates magic in all forms I want to hold his hand and tilt his chin up to kiss him ughhh

My cleric needs to continue the adventure but oh well!

[yourtoradorasextendedwarranty]

I like how Nazi has ceased to mean anything at all. It's actually kind of wild.

What's more, is I don't understand the hate outside of a lot of the false news about Trump. Yeah he was moron whenever he hired Bolton. His first term was filled with a lot of decisions that should have been different.

Now, can I say with any real sense of urgency that I hate the man? No. Because hatred should be reserved for people that you have an exceptionally strong disdain for and with good reason. To go a step further than that, you would have to prove that Elon is a Nazi. Except you can't because he's not a national socialist. In order to be a Nazi you actively have to be anticapitalist. Elon is not anti-capitalist. And, further still, Elon wears a dog tag around his neck with hostage victims names on it and has stated that he plans to continue wearing it until all the hostages are returned.

Not to mention the fact that a lot of you people, (Not Marc or Otaku) have literally been running around calling Jews Nazis. Because to you Nazi no longer has a meaning. It literally just means person that I hate.

That, and at some point we need to reestablish the difference between dislike and hate. Hate implies that you disdain someone so much that you would rather have a knife shoved into your stomach and have it twisted then stand next to that individual. And I'm going to very much go on a lemon think that otaku does not share that kind of sentiment towards Trump. Even further still a lot of people who are borderline okay with him being president right now despite the fact that they don't like him, are literally only doing so because the Democrats have gone so far off the reservation that they come off like actual psychopathic lunatics.

Aside from the fact that they are which is beside the point. But what kills me even further is understanding that a lot of the people who are calling out neoprogressivism will go right back to supporting Democrats as soon as they get a person who pretends to be moderate back in the top slot. And we'll then go back to ignoring all of the bad s*** that the Democrats have done to get to this point and we'll just let everything that has been done prior slide all for the banner of I'm a "progressive and not a conservative".

Because unlike them I don't actually care what I get labeled. I know that I am a moderate slightly left libertarian You can call me anything you fucking want to but it doesn't make you correct. And unlike a lot of the people on this hellsite, I won't absolutely scatter at the prospect of being called right wing or conservative because again I don't care. Mind you, I will correct you probably. But that doesn't mean that I'll have enough care to make a big deal out of it. But sure, continue to support the party or call yourself a part of the party that supports open borders, has continued to sell us out to China, drained our oil reserves, founded the KKK, and it's continued to bankrupt this country and push further and further and further towards neoprogressivism because they've always been that way. They will demolish this country and you will vote for it. And I won't be shocked.

And no matter how many people claim that Trump is far right the left and the right at least on the surface were aligned on issues back in the '80s and '90s and early 2000s. Trump is a Democrat from that time period. The only difference is he never went straight Neo progressive. He kept his same stances from back then. Besides that if Elon is such a Nazi why did it take you guys so long to see through it. Y'all literally have been supporting him for 15 plus years. Then Trump appoints him as an advisor and he does one off-kilter wave and you people lose your minds?

Bunch of arrogant children I swear.

Being pro Trump (and therefore pro Elon) makes you a Nazi hope this helps!

Yeah, I'm definitely a supporter of the guy I've called a, and I quote, "fucking retard", on multiple occasions. Also, the guy who put a married gay man in charge of the treasury and a Jew in charge of the EPA is definitely a follower of the ideology that says those kinds of people must die.

[abstractfrog]

Happy 1 year anniversary to Mr Sherlock Holmes! Here's a litttleee celebratory comic from me

[just-null]

Do you ever do requests? If so, do you ever plan on drawing some Yandere with the Hantengu clones? :D hope you have a good day/night!!!

Mentioning an unfamiliar name

yes!! I love yanderes.. and these guys.. these guys are such good material...... nods nods..

I'm not sure about requests..I assume you mean drawing requests? I suppose if it REALLY catches my interest enough, I'd do it, but it'd probably just be line art/sketches.

[yo-yo-yoshiko]

Shouma!! Aw, hey fella!!!

some closeups on these ones eeheh^^

[buttercupshands]

Some unfinished sketches in class bc

bc ep 8 yeah, also I just wanted to sketch something other than isat for now

[clownowo]

a little bit obsessed with this guy

[triglycercule]

horror is so BLESSED he's the only one out of the murder time trio that has actual good people trying to influence his story 💔💔 dust and killer were both driven to INSANITY because of the choices of their respective humans but horror??? every time without FAIL the polls for horrortale's plotline have always ended in a good place for aliza (either by bettering her relationships/reputation or for her to just. not DIE)

horrortale's potential alternate timelines my beLOVEd🙏🙏 they're SO lucky that we're being kind and benevolent hehe (≧ω≦) now where are the aus based off the possible different outcomes that could've happened in horrortale HUH???? (like how aliza couldve killed toriel or chosen horror's puzzle or gone with undyne to the core........)

[can-of-slorgs]

I'm personally blaming @starbiology and everyone who has reblogged or commented the other piece for this.

Bonus comic featuring my grundo:

[doodlingwren]

☝🤓 What if 🤨🤔! I was back 😨🤯 after some months 😞😤😲... ahahah jokes 🧐🤣😂... unless 😳👉👈

[camellcat]

hello timepetals people!! I was curious if doctor who has, like, The definitive "if you like timepetals you are practically obligated to read" tenrose/ninerose/whichever doctor timepetals fic(s)

[thetardisisnotourdivision]

I am unreasonably upset about the fact that I've been forced to accept that Gabriel was a Gerald.

For context, in An Inspector Calls, Gerald Croft is engaged to Sheila Birling when he meets a homeless, struggling Eva Smith in a bar, and essentially in return for a home and money he shows her affection (ahem), then gets rid of her once he no longer has a use for her. Now, obviously this isn't a direct translation, but the essentials are - a Gerald is a character who uses another character, in return for something they need, usually masking the fact that they're using them with affection and love.

And against my will I've had to accept that this is exactly what Gabriel does to Nathalie.

Did I want to think he had potential to be better? Did I think he genuinely cared for Nathalie?? Hell, did I just really really want somebody to care about Nathalie???

Probably all of the above but the point is: he's Gerald. And I cannot - I literally can't unsee it now. Their whole dynamic in S3 is like “oh boohoo I'm sorry I wish you didn't have to use the peacock Miraculous and kill yourself over it but uh I need to use your powers” “yeah no that's fine I'm all good”. Which, given the "Gerald" theorem, I'm assuming leads to the fact that what Nathalie needed, above all, was someone to care about her - and Gabriel came along, as Sheila Birling puts it, "like a fairytale prince", and was so caring and gentle and... Yeah. She fell for him. And. Yeah he genuinely did seem to care like twice. But so did Gerald. Gerald actually admits that he did care for Eva, just not the way that she cared for him, and, uh, not enough to not just dispose of her. So he discards her anyway when she stops being useful.

Leading me neatly to my point.

He starts using the peacock Miraculous the second it's fixed, the slimy bastard, HOWEVER. It runs way deeper than that. Assuming I'm right (which I almost DEFINITELY am), then Gabriel only needed Nathalie while she was useful. She didn't stop being useful in season three - she's still scheming for him, helping him with plan after plan. It's only partway through season 5 that she officially servers ties with him, and starts to actively hinder him.

Nathalie stops being useful when she fails as Safari. And I reckon that's when Gabriel and Tomoe decided she had to go.

(It's painfully, I-was-ugly-crying-over-it obvious in Conformation that Gabriel is fully prepared to let Nathalie die - in the original storyboard, her alliance was encouraging her to sleep, and he's very obviously prepared for this moment - I've made a separate post about it that I'll link if I can find it. However, onto the next bit)

With all of this, there's one thing that sticks out to me - Nathalie didn't see any of it until it was already too late. There could be many reasons for this. But you know who would have seen through it? Whose parents were all loving and perfect until she married the wrong man? Emilie. Emilie, who left behind those videos, which on the surface look innocent, but when you look deeper look like a (love confession???????) AHEM a warning. I reckon Emilie noticed what was going on and realised that Nathalie wouldn't see through Gabriel, so she left those videos addressed to Nathalie (not Gabriel, which surely they should have been - they were about him, after all - unless they were there...) as a warning. I don't think the videos were supposed to be about helping Gabriel, I think Emilie was warning Nathalie to get the fuck out of that house, and to take Adrien with her. Because Emilie knew it'd end like this.

Yes I'm still mad ok give me a break.