#*yeets this out into the void*

[aster-go-brrr]

A Scene Above Dihua Marsh

Xiao/Aether - Wordcount: 622 - No warnings

A late-night conversation between Aether and Xiao leads to the adeptus sharing more about his history than he had planned to.

Xiao stood on the balcony, facing away from Aether and instead looking out over Dihua Marsh. The cool, gentle night breeze wrapped around them like a chilled blanket, stirring up both their clothes and the golden leaves of the tree above.

Finally, after a long while, Xiao quietly spoke. "It's not safe for you to be around me. I shouldn't even be standing here."

Aether's golden-brown eyes narrowed. "And why not?"

The adeptus sighed deeply, leaning on the railing of the balcony. "I was designed to kill, Aether. Regardless of how you feel about me, that can't be changed."

"Designed by who, then?" The traveler stepped forward, just a little closer. Xiao turned his head to shoot him a warning glance, and was struck by how gentle his expression was. "I can't imagine Morax doing something like that," he continued.

Xiao shook his head. "No, not by him. For everything that's happened in his history as an archon, he would never do that." He paused, reluctant to say anything more - what good would sharing anything further do? After all, regardless of how either of them felt, this shouldn't continue. Even still, he felt compelled to explain himself just a little further. "... Before I became an adeptus, and before my lord became an archon, I served another god. Even after my lord defeated that god and saved me, I couldn't escape the consequences of what I'd done under his control."

While Xiao was speaking, Aether had somehow come even closer, standing beside him at the railing without the adeptus noticing. The traveler thought that was unusual - he was speaking to the vigilant yaksha, after all. "... You didn't want to do any of it, did you?" It was less of a question, and more of a statement.

"No. But that doesn't change the fact that I did, and it doesn't mean that I can ignore reality." Xiao looked away from both the scenery and his companion, focusing his eyes on the intricate whorls and streaks of the ancient wood that made up the railing.

"You say that, but... Despite all of that, I've never had the feeling that you weren't safe to be around. No matter if you were battling, or if we were just talking like this, I've never had the sense that I was in danger." Aether leaned against the railing too, looking out over a landscape that was much less familiar to him than it was to Xiao.

The adeptus scoffed. "... Maybe your sense of danger is broken."

Aether turned to look at him, but Xiao stubbornly refused to meet his gaze. "Or maybe yours is. My intuition hasn't been wrong yet, but you haven't given yours a chance."

"I haven't given mine a chance because I already know what will happen, and it's not something anyone wants." Xiao raised his voice slightly, irritated.

"How can you know for sure if you've never actually tested it?"

"I just *know*, Aether," Xiao snapped, but immediately found that he regretted it.

The two stood in silence for a while after that, the adeptus feeling too awkward to speak and the traveler hoping he would say something more.

"... I need to leave," Xiao eventually said. He stopped inspecting the woodgrain and turned to look at Aether. The traveler offered him a gentle smile, and he immediately averted his gaze again.

Aether's soft voice was almost a whisper as he replied, "Just think about it, okay?"

"... If you need help, call my name." And with that, the adeptus was gone, vanished into the air. Aether felt eyes on him for a moment longer, but stayed as he was, just for a little while.

After a minute or two, he whispered, "Thank you, Xiao. I will."

[Note from author: I might have a bit of a different concept about Xiao’s backstory than other people, I can’t remember what’s canon and what’s my own ideas anymore hehe... anyway I love them.

Maybe I’m not fully happy with this, but I’d rather just post it than keep it languishing in my files forever, never to be seen again, because I know I probably wouldn’t end up finishing it... ]

[trustrage]

"first you will be unmade. first you will be broken."

A REAPER , prompts.

Edward's ominous words cut through him but he remained behind a mask of stoicism. There was, however, a flash of pain in his eyes, and if one paid close attention, you'd see it. A blink and you miss it moment.

Was Edward simply speaking out loud, revisiting some painful memories? Or was he threatening Loki?

Either way, he could not help but revisit some painful memories of his own. His identity had been shattered long ago, the horrifying revelation that he was a stolen babe of war and not at all an Asgardian but of the highly feared Jotuns, the monsters he had been told so many blood-curdling tales about.

And if that had not been traumatizing enough, he fell into the hands of a deity who used him for his own dirty work. The horrors of having spilled innocent blood and having your mind warped to do someone's bidding.

Not that all of it was on Thanos.

There was a revulsion for what enjoyment he got from causing fear. The sheer panic of the people as they ran out the building in droves after he threw that man on the slab of marble, and injured his eye. The sheer power, for once he was respected instead of mocked, and If he couldn't be loved, he might as well be feared.

But it left him hollow. He felt himself to be the monster he was made out to be.

"What do you know of being unmade?" His voice remained calm but sharp. "Is this a threat or a confession?" The corners of his lips twinged slightly at the thought of a mere mortal breaking a god. He let out a cold and hollow laugh before his expression turned serious, blue eyes lit with a calm fury.

"And will you be the one to unmake me? To break me?"

You cannot unmake what has already been unmade, and you cannot break what has already been broken.

[ominouspuff]

Continuing this fix-it AU where Commander Fox springboards off the deep end into a full-on rebellion, featuring unlikely allies belatedly finding out they are allies far too late to stop being allies but then again it’s never too late not to throw a terrifyingly destructive fit about it (Maul)

Close-up’s under the cut

[bebewrites]

wip page 08 - an all-inclusive wip page

preview / code

several people have asked for this one, so sorry it took me so long to release it!

featured image and sections for synopsis, themes/tags, links, project details, major characters, minor characters, and general sections like 'locations' and 'terms to know' which can be use for anything

footer section for additional info, but you can delete it if you don't want it

slide out menu with a second image, can be used for additional information or to feature an excerpt

pls like/reblog if you use, let me know if you run into any bugs, and pls don’t remove credit. thanks! ♥

additional info under the cut :)

if you'd like to change any of the icons, you can find more at phosphoricons.com

scripts are noted in the code so you can delete them if you want a javascript-free theme. without the javascript, the slide out menu will not work, just an fyi! delete the slide out menu at the top of the html section, and delete the script at the bottom of the code.

all images in preview via unplash.com. i recommend using unsplash or similar websites for images because they're free and high-res. (to create the character icons, i just crop the images into a square, upload into a tumblr post, save as a draft, and then right click the images for the url.)

[bytemycupcakes]

I like to think Kinger is prone to "digital hallucinations"

Especially those of a certain.. Queen.

side hc that he stays in his fortress bc its hard to get hallucinations if you cant see anything in the first place. (at least thats his logic.)

[distance-does-not-matter]

shoutout to small and meaningful human interactions that keep my soul alive

[lurkinglurkerwholurks]

Several people I follow—but I don't remember who—reblogged a post about sci-fi books not written by old white men. I don't remember who OP was either. The post recommended some books I know and love (like the Imperial Radch books by Ann Leckie and the Murderbot books by Martha Wells), but also made a heck of a one-sentence pitch for The Space Between Two Worlds by Micaiah Johnson.

Whoever made that post, whoever reblogged it, thanks for turning me on to maybe my favorite book I've read all year.

[haine-kleine]

Shigaraki and Yoichi being character foils on top of Shigaraki and Izuku being character foils on top of Yoichi and Izuku being character foils to All for One and Shigaraki.

Yoichi being the only good thing in AFO's life, his obsessive love for his brother being his only positive quality depicted in the entire manga. Yoichi's rejection of him being his ultimate downfall, twice. Tomura and Yoichi being the only two characters to share AFO's surname. AFO willfully giving his surname to Shimura Tenko, grooming him since his childhood, custom creating a second Yoichi for himself. Yoichi and Tomura's faces being hidden from the viewers for the longest time, Yoichi's by the memories, Tomura's by AFO making him wear a dead hand on his face. Designing his successor, hiding his appearance and taking away his agency, making an isolated and abused child look like a horrifying villain. Tomura looking more and more like Yoichi by the end of the manga, revealing his face first to his comrades, then to the entire world. Him also rejecting AFO and his ideology, being the one to strike the final blow to AFO, the idea of evil, together with Izuku.

'At the time of chaos like that, it was when All For One was born'. 'Keep in mind, there can be another Shigaraki/All for One hiding in us from plain sight as we speak'.

What is being said and what is being told in the story right now contradicts itself. Shigaraki wasn't 'born' at the time like this, he wasn't born a monster, he was forcibly made like that by AFO, just like Yoichi was. Just like Yoichi, he ended up developing his own ideas and beliefs. Just like Yoichi, he rejected AFO and defeated him, together with Deku.

Shigaraki Tomura, Shimura Tenko cannot equate to the irredeemable monster of All for One. The question 'Who was Shigaraki Tomura?' has not been answered yet. He needs to make a personal appearance and give his own answer.

[koushuwu]

sakura fukuzawa

[herewithinthevoid]

Thirty-one days of my favorite horror movies in no particular order. Presented with no commentary other than I love Moder, and she's my wife 🥺

Day Eight - The Ritual (2017)

[kuiilandtorch]

I didn't want to do this, especially on Christmas Day when mostly everyone is with family and/or friends enjoying the holiday or at least hopefully chilling at home, but as I've moved cross-country and am between employment, it's looking like the rental reimbursement check I'm expecting from my former property management won't arrive in time for my next bill this coming Wednesday. I've already postponed payment on a loan last week and things will continue to cascade the longer that check takes to show up. If there's any possibility any of you out there can spare some funds and I can have enough small contributions, maybe I could make the $200 I need to pay and avoid missing another bill. You can find my ko-fi page HERE, my PayPal page HERE, and if you prefer to use Venmo (which also won't take any fees from me), you can DM me for my handle. I know this is a long shot, but I'm even though I'm blessed to be spending my holidays with friends kind enough to take care of me and give me a place to stay in my new location, I'm still stressing out over money. I should be getting my reimbursement eventually, but it's a matter of timing. Thank you for your consideration and have a Merry Christmas or a happy holiday or at least some restful time off, wherever y'all are.

[fullmetalscullyy]

never thought we'd ever have to go without (i)

summary: 

Their breakup was amicable. They were both going in two different directions with their lives and where Roy was going - the military and the numerous off the grid sites for weeks or sometimes months on end – he wouldn’t ask her to wait for him. She deserved to live her own life, not wait around for him and his ambitions.

When a tragedy befalls their child, Roy and Riza are left devastated. They come together to work through it while waiting for her to wake from her injuries

rated: t | words: 2948 | tags: royai, angst, au, modern au, kid au, parental royai, tragedy, injury, angst with a happy ending, separated parents

read on ao3 | read on ffnet

snippet:

Hey Dad, I'm on the plane. I know you won’t get this for a while, but I still wanted to send you a message. Hope all is going well with you. Mum was freaking out at the airport. She was worried I’d forgotten something again, but she literally emptied and repacked my bag for me so many times, so there’s no way that would happen. I think she’s scared about me going off by myself. Could you give her a call when you get out? I don’t want her to feel alone while I’m gone, and I know she’ll love hearing from you. I’ll speak to you soon. I love you.

read on ao3 | read on ffnet

[bobtheacorn]

I've decided your tags on that post about Leo not being anyone's favorite brother are the only take I will be accepting from here on out. Galaxy brained and honestly very in character for all of them lol.

tags from this: #leo is actually Everyone's favorite brother they just all insist that he isn't bc he would be Insufferable if he found out #april asking 'whos your favorite bro' in pre-lair game interviews and don mike and raph instinctively going #'leo - WAIT I MEAN [other brother]' April being like Mhm *writing that down*. donnie makes her sign an nda

Thanks I made myself sad about it actualy dslfkjskldf

-

"Who's your favorite brother?" April asks.

Mikey answers at once, cheerfully:

"Leo." He realizes what he's said as soon as it's out of his mouth, while April is gleefully jotting the answer down on her interview notepad, her phone balanced in her other hand, recording an audio file for redundancy's sake; Mikey looks at her pleadingly, clapping both hands together. "Don't tell 'im I said that, April! I'll never live it down! Especially with the Games comin' up!"

"My lips are sealed!" she promises.

-

"Who's your favorite brother?"

"Leo," Raph says - and then laughs nervously when he actually processes the question, slumping back on the bench and folding his arms like he's trying to hide something, avoiding eye contact, "I mean! Mikey! No, no - Donnie! I mean - Raph loves all of his brothers equally…!"

"I didn't ask which one you loved more," April clarifies with amusement, rolling her eyes, "I asked which one's ya favorite. Big difference!"

"Raph doesn't have favorites," Raph asserts, "And if he did, it definitely wouldn't be Mister Always Rubs His Five Years of Victory in Our Faces!"

"Uhuh," April says, circling something in her notebook.

-

"Donnie, who's your favorite brother?"

"I refuse to answer on the grounds that anything I say can be used against me - "

"Donnie. This is a for-fun Pre-Lair Games interview."

".....Are our answers confidential?"

"Exclusively for my eyes only! I'm not gonna publicly display your answers on the fridge or anything."

"Sigh. Obviously it's Leo." Obviously, April thinks, trying to suppress her fond smile so Donnie doesn't see it and suddenly become allergic to his own Emotions. She busies herself with her notebook while Donnie pushes back and forth in his gamer chair, fingers steepled in front of him like a super villain. "He has the most consistent pro-to-con ratio, if only marginally - though that is subject to change in the next month, what with the Lair Games coming up."

"Obviously," April says, waving a hand.

Donnie narrows his eyes at her.

-

"Who's your favorite brother?"

"Aha, a trick question," Leo says smugly, "You'll have to get up earlier in the day to pull that one over on ole Leon."

"I'm not pullin' anything," April laughs.  "I'm askin' all you guys the same questions! Just tryin' t'think of some fun little headliners for the interviews and stuff, y'know? All in good fun. Now answer the question!"

"Uuh-huh. Well, it depends on the day of the week, I guess," Leo evades, shrugging.

He's playing with some fidget toy in his lap, allowing it to distract him. April is perched on the arm of the chair beside him, so she can't see his face. She folds one of her legs over the other, notepad balanced on her thigh while she taps out a rhythm with the mechanical pencil.

She can't help but tease him.

"Wanna guess who said Leo was their fav?"

She's not really gonna tell him. (That would break her NDAs.) And what it would do to his ego, she doesn't like to think - but she expects him to guess correctly, anyway. She's fully prepared to brush him off and play a little game of as if. But Leo chuckles and braces his feet on the opposite arm of the chair, pushing his shell briefly back into April's side, and says brightly, "Oh I guarantee you, I am nobody's fav. I'm too magnificent! They hate me cuz they ain't me."

Now that catches April off guard.

"Excuse me?"

Leo curls the fidget toy into his palm to touch his fingers, counting off, "Raph and Donnie both probably picked Mikey - and who can blame them, he's got all of us wrapped around his adorable little baby brother fingers. But if they picked each other, it's because Donnie actually shows up the most for Raph's missions because he loves having a Schedule, and because Raph always lets Donnie infodump at him because he likes listening to someone talk. And I know Mikey picked Donnie, because Raph always tries to smother-hen him."

"Uhuh," April says, uncertain about how she's feeling right now. This was supposed to be for laughs, but she's not laughing. Sharply, she adds, "Are you playin' with me right now?"

"I would never!" Leo says, scandalized by the very idea. He flicks the fidget toy so it swirls between his fingers, and he chuckles. "But I'm gonna play those losers like a Kazoo during the next Lair Games! What's the next question, Apricot??"

April taps her eraser against the notebook.

She doesn't have one ready.

.

[sighonaraa]

To Hold a Little Hand in Your Own

chapter 3 of the football kiddos au is now on ao3! read it here.

So he brews himself a cup of coffee and pours Jamie a glass of orange juice, and he’s just about to go wake the lad up when Jamie comes barreling into the kitchen and plops right down on the floor. “M’not hungry, Roy,” he announces before Roy even has a chance to direct him towards the bowl of Cheerios on the table. “M’ready for footie!” “You have to eat before you play footie,” Roy says. “Or else you’ll get a fucking…head rush, or something.” Jamie shakes his head. “Don’t wanna.” “Tough shit,” says Roy. “You’re gonna. Look, there’s also orange juice.” “Don’t want orange juice, Roy,” says Jamie. “Wanna play footie. Please please please can we go play footie?”

in which ted makes a lot of references that no one except him and possibly i understand, keeley attacks roy via astrology, and the kiddos are, perennially, adorable. i hope y'all enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it, and stay tuned for the upcoming chapter 4 that will be out much sooner rather than later!

[rottenlittlefink]

Ok so I’ve combed through the CIA documents like twice already and like… Guys, the gateway tapes *can* help u shift BUT they don’t *shift* you *for you*. This is why they’re called gateways - the focus levels are states you can enter and then shift from via your own efforts

[niaevum]

.