#A few of these would be actually terrifying

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Hm. Potential extensions of Ed and Stede's trauma into their new life that make me want to rip the door off my fridge

Stede losing sleep because he Needs to lay very specifically with a palm over Ed's chest to make sure he's always breathing, and he keeps waking Ed up in a panic because he thinks he can't feel him breathe

Thunderstorms Freak Ed The Fuck Out. On stormy days he needs to be bundled up in a blanket fort with lots of scented candles lit and his hands over his ears

it starts out sweet, but Stede is maybe a bit obsessive over making sure Ed is always wearing warm socks

They have to get into the habit of leaving each other notes when they leave the house, no matter how briefly, no matter if they're getting something that's supposed to be a surprise. Too many sobbing meltdowns otherwise

Sick, feverish Ed freaks out when Stede tries to feed him soup, terrified he's back in the gravy basket

Again, at first it just comes across as chivalrous, but Stede is a bit too gung-ho about wanting to bite everyone who so much as looks at Ed wrong in the throat

Ed cannot STAND the taste of alcohol anymore, his reaction to even the smell is so bad that they can't keep it in the house

Stede's marriage feelings are Weird. At first he doesn't even grasp that Ed would want that so much. Then he keeps putting off asking him because he was a bad husband before and he doesn't want to fuck it up again

It's the first time Ed's actually been safe in his entire life. For a few months he's so jumpy just waiting for the other shoe to drop that he accidentally punches a hole through the wall because of imagined attackers. twice. Stede lets him hide a bunch of weapons around the house and make a panic room in the basement and dig an escape hatch through their bedroom floor because like. what else can you even say about that to a guy who has lived a life where he's in very real danger of people skinning him alive for fucking up? at least it helps him feel safer

once they get settled in the worst disagreement is over whether or not they should get a horse. Stede keeps hinting at it VERY hard and whenever Ed asks him what he wants for birthdays and holidays he says "a horse" in that tone that's joking but also Not. Ed hates this bit (he is scared of horses)

[phookbook]

a quick FAQ!

hi! world's worst ask replier here to answer the most common questions all in one. i'm sorry it's another long block of text, i didn't want to spam everyone with individual posts. hopefully you can just skim it and easily see the question you're looking for

i definitely left out some, so please do feel free to ask again if i didn't answer yours, as well as anything else you might be wondering about

Q: Do you accept desserts? A: yes! the main focus is on regular food but we will also have a few desserts, just know the chances of those making it in might be lower depending on how many we get

Q: I have a recipe but it's got a lot of meat, can I still submit it? A: YES!! sorry i think me mentioning how we want vegan options made people think they can't submit any meat at all, but you can! by all accounts dnp very much do eat meat, they just seem to try to limit it. the ideal option is having non-meat alternatives for meat dishes, but if yours doesn't really work for that don't worry about it, submit it anyway, it could still make it in you never know

Q: How do you know the recipes people submit are actually good? A: it's a bit tricky because i can't actually try them all, nor do i think it would be fair to judge them purely based on my own preferences. what even is good? good to whom? it's all very subjective. the most important thing is that it's a serious recipe and not just a terrifying concoction someone came up with high as fuck at 3 in the morning, and at least those are fairly easy to distinguish

Q: Are you just one person deciding what makes it in? A: no one actually asked this but, adding onto the last answer, this seems like as good a place as any to clarify that i'm not just like picking my personal favourites and calling it a day. i will be asking around for opinions and i've got some friends helping out, as well as my mother who knows a looot about cooking and and recipes. i promise this isn't just the most unemployed person you follow on a power trip, just in case anyone was worried

Q: I can't provide my own photos of my dish(es), can I just find some online? A: eh, maybe. ideally we want a photo of the exact recipe, plus it's a lot more personal if it's our own pictures! you don't have to take it yourself though, we can most likely find someone else to do it, with the added bonus of they get to try out your recipe. worst comes to worst however, since this book isn't being sold or anything we can use pictures from online as a last resort, i just think it's cuter not to. but don't worry about any of this when submitting recipes, we'll get to it

Q: Will the book be available online or is it just for Dan and Phil? A: the whole thing will be uploaded as a pdf for everyone to download and do whatever they want with

Q: Do you need help with- A: maybe! probably! i'm not sure! genuinely huge thank you to everyone who's reached out to offer assistance, i appreciate the help a lot and i'm very happy people are so excited to get involved. i'm so sorry i haven't responded to most of you, the main issues are literally just that i'm a bit of a control freak and also don't know exactly what the plan is yet. i would just hate to tell anyone they can help with something specific and then suddenly decide to go in another direction, you know? also i'm a bit shy, believe it or not, lol. i don't like telling people no or criticising someone's work, which combined with the aforementioned control freak bit makes things a bit awkward. we will see how it goes though, i might reach out to some of you later if i have something specific i know i need help with, at which point you're free to either help or tell me to fuck off for leaving you hanging for a month that's also fair. really though, again, thank you, so many of you are very helpful and kind and i appreciate you <3

[wemlygust]

^that bothers me too, but I feel like I have to use the words anyway because there's no alternative. I think there is often an element of fear. But sometimes it's more an element of disgust. Sometimes it's just hate. Sometimes it's all three. The words also bother me because the phobia framing almost sounds like it would be meant to legitimize the supposed phobia (though I don't think people actually use these words that way - I think the way the word is constructed doesn't actually match what it actually means to most people). Like. It is reasonable and okay for a person with a terrible spider fear to run away from a spider because it's a spider. Can't judge anyone for that. But it's NOT reasonable or okay to run away from a trans person because they are trans. It especially bother me because the "gay panic" legal defense was an actual thing in actual U.S. court cases, where people would get away with assaulting gay and/or trans people by claiming they thought the gay person was hitting on them, and that a straight person being hit on by a gay person will naturally panic (something something see also the patter of sexist men afraid of being treated the way they themselves treat women), and so they claim they panicked and that's why they attacked, and that this supposedly natural and understandable panic excused the assault. And they *won* cases with that argument. People literally claimed to be terrified as an excuse for hate crimes. And now we construct words as "phobia of [group]" instead of "hatred of [group]" and that combo feels a smidge odd to me. I think it probably has some relation to the old feminist framing of sexism as being a case of men fearing women? Like, I can remember hearing more than a few people talk like men's fear of women was the entire basis for sexism. So I'd think these two things are probably philosophically/linguistically related somehow? But I don't actually know/don't quote me on that.

I feel like "a fear of" isn't a super accurate way to describe a phobia.

Like. Just speaking as me here, I have fears, and I have phobias.

I am afraid of falling off of something tall. I am afraid of getting lost in the woods. I can do these things! I can climb things and go on hikes! I am able to take precautions and handle these things head-on, I just avoid thinking about the worst case scenario.

I have a phobia of spiders. I have phobia of needles. I am perfectly aware that these things are not likely to harm me in the context of my current lifestyle. I don't hate either. Objectively, I even think most spiders are kind of cute. But when these things are around me, my amygdala responds as though I am in mortal peril, and no amount of logic or reason can turn it off.

Sort of like an allergy, I think- Anaphylaxis is reacting like you're dying because you encountered something and your body thinks it's gonna kill you.

A Phobia is your brain reacting like you're dying because you encountered something it thinks is gonna kill you.

In my experience, my conciousness doesn't really get a say in the matter, but once I learned that it's my fear reaction I hate and not the thing itself, I eventually was able to just.... calmly, rationally, sit back and hyperventilate

[majoryeager104]

what about touya x a reader with family issues? you can choose what type of issues but they would understand each other so good ykkkkk butttt how would he found out if he didn’t know reader? i just love your touya content

thnx anonymous bestie and yess I love this idea 🫶🫶🫶

Summary: Touya gets into an argument with you, not realizing that he’d flesh out memories of your past. Warnings: language, toxic and abusive family traumas, angsty but it ends in a sweet way

a/n this is partially based off of my own experiences, but it was actually nice to write this, kinda helped me rant yk

“Do you realize how stupid that was!?”

“Im sorry”

Touya groaned in exasperation at your response, shoulders tense as the one sided argument rolled on. You’d nearly gotten hurt on a mission, again, and he had to swoop in and save you, again. He didn’t want to fight, but your apologetic deflections and blank expressions were making it harder for him to reach a conclusion. It was like you’d shut down under the pressure. It was worrying, not something he’d ever seen you do before, and it concerned him the way you loosely resembled some kind of abandoned puppy left in the cold. “Stop staring at me like that!” He snapped, rather loudly, biting his tongue as he saw you flinch, your eyes glassy as you nodded, blinking slightly as you attempted to look away, your eyes flickering back at him “please don’t yell, I’m s-“ you were cut off as he stepped towards you, grabbing your shoulders, a determined concern painted across his face. “Stop. Apologizing” he said sternly, his brows furrowed slightly as you managed a trembling nod, looking down to avoid his gaze. He sighed in defeat, all frustration now gone as he watched your tears fall from your now hidden eyes “Why are you crying?” He asked, softer this time, trying to coax you into decompression. You sighed, a shaky, shuddering breath, trying to calm your nerves “hey” he said, pulling you close, squeezing you against him “why’re you scared?” he asked quietly, rubbing you back as he rocked you back and forth, your trembling movements confirming his suspicions- you had looked like a deer in headlights because you essentially were one at that moment, but he couldn’t figure out why. Did he say something too harsh? Was it his face? Was that what scared you? Where was this coming from? After a few minutes, he got his answer, sitting next to you silently on the couch. Your parents had always been especially strict- you’d grown up knowing that anything you thought you had, they could take away. Privacy, friends, even your childhood toys, the few you had. And what was scarier than the way they’d treat the things you loved, was the way they’d treat you afterwards. Yelling, screaming, blaming and gaslighting to the point where you couldn’t handle any of it anymore. It was less of a physical abuse and more of a mental one, something you were yet to bounce back from. You’d shut down under this kind of pressure because you’d never known how to fight it, fawning under the mental torment of your fathers booming voice as he shouted over all your thoughts, leaving you frozen in place, and terrified. Or as Touya described, a deer in headlights. He sat and listened as you listed the isolated childhood you’d lived, how you’d never gotten to have friends, because every time you thought you had them, you’d be ripped back into the bubble of your parents idea of a firm well structured household. How they treated you like some type of soldier to be disciplined at 6, how they taught you to be “mature” by burning away any semblance of childlike wonder you had left at 7, how they belittled you into being “respectful” by resorting to shouting at you when you talked too often in public at 8, taking your stuffed dog, the only toy you had left at that point, and burning it in front of you to punish you for having the audacity to try and talk back at 9, making you into less of a person, and more of a mouse, if anything.

It sort of reminded him of his own traumas- the back and forth of Enjis affections, how he’d praise Touya one moment, and toss him aside the next. How Enji let him watch as Shoto took his place. How his punishments were of the same kind of isolation as your own. How he only had Natsuo to talk to, but even then he was left alone. Alone. That was it. You were both alone.

But he now supposed he was lucky, as now you had each other He nodded, holding you as he listened as you spoke- you were conditioned not to talk back, conditioned to crumble under the words of those who deemed themselves worthy of doing so, just because. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that…sorry, pretty” he said, pulling you closer, glad your tears were finally gone, your eyes still slightly pink, even in the dim light of the room as the two of you sat in silence for a moment

“you know…” Touya finally spoke up, finding something to say as you peered up at him, blinking in the low light. “…you don’t need to be scared of me…please don’t be…I’m not gonna do that shit to you, you know that?” You were silent for a moment as you watched him, his mouth opening again as he fully collected his thoughts “its okay though…you know how my childhood went…guess we’re both traumatized huh?” He chuckled, playing with your hair. “We were both just kids conditioned to be walked all over… so I know how you feel… I won’t yell at you like that again, I promise.” He smiled softly, pulling you impossibly closer. He couldn’t help but feel bad for how he’d put you through that, but he also couldn’t help but be glad he’d pulled you back from it. The way you bounced back from that suppressed fear made him hopeful- like maybe you wouldn’t have to fear it anymore, and maybe he’d be able to help you get to that point…or maybe that one day he’d be able to do the same with his trauma too. But he settled in, pulling you closer on the small space of the couch, because that was a story for another time, and right now he owed you some make-up cuddles.

(Man trauma dumping through fanfiction is peak 👌😌 and Touya being perfect once again was also peak )

[hangingslothcentral]

Today is the fourth anniversary of the day I launched Spirit Box Radio, and it's also the last day of trans awareness week.

I have a lot of big feelings about SBR. If you've listened to the show, you'll know that I was medically transitioning through its release. I went on T at the show's midpoint, in the middle of S2, and my voice was changing throughout the rest of the show's run. I got top surgery two months after the show ended, almost exactly to the day.

Now. We're all big enough and daft enough to be able to have a grown up conversation about this, I think. So here's some stuff about that experience I haven't really talked about before.

1. I wish there had been media which had trans creators transitioning alongside a character who is transitioning when I was younger. The main reason for this is that it would have been representation of trans people, but honestly? The main thing I wanted was to see someone transitioning over a long period of time. So often, transition seems to happen behind closed doors. Unless you are lucky enough to have lots of trans people around you (I grew up in semi-rural Wales so no luck for me there) you just do not see it happening. People, understandably, want to hide the length of the process, the messy in between stages.

2. Transitioning and playing Sam transitioning simultaneous to me was one of the most mentally challenging and emotionally vulnerable things I've ever done. I do not say this lightly; I'm a survivor of abuse and I've seen a lot of shit in my life. I've come out as nonbinary at a corporate job and argued with a university about changing my name on my graduation certificate. As much as I loved it, and still love it, and I'm intensely proud of it and SO glad it exists, making SBR was fucking brutal. Hours of editing my own voice through a period where it sounded different on a near-weekly basis. Having no idea how I sounded anymore and posting episodes anyway. Dealing with the emotional fallout of people responding weirdly to me in my real, actual life whilst portraying a character who is outcast, isolated, and terrified of himself? Challenging as fuck.

3. Many people need to examine the way they're talking about trans men. The conversations around Sam shifted very violently as my voice dropped. This is in part due to the arc this character follows, but it's hard not to notice a shift in language as dramatic as this. It started as soon as the show came back from its S2 midseason break and my voice had shifted down a bit. People talked less about Sam being cute, and for the first time, I started to see people talking about him like he was sexy. These things aren't mutually exclusive, but it was very noticeable to me, especially in contrast to conversations about Oliver, Sam's hot, cis gender, florist boyfriend, who was categorised as sexy from the off. Before my voice dropped, even though they were using the right pronouns for them, people talked about Sam with very feminine, infantilising language, and this almost entirely stopped when my voice dropped.

4. I am so fucking glad I did this. Yes, it was brutal, emotional, and I really struggled through a lot of this process, and I am so glad I did this. I will have the immense privilege of medically transitioning in the way I have over the last few years exactly once in my life. I am glad I took that vulnerable moment and made art with it. I'm glad that my transition is captured and mirrored by this thing I was making at the time it was happening. I'm glad that thousands of other trans people have listened to the show and have heard me doing this as they are doing it, or before they do it, or after, or as they're deciding not to, or finding out they can't, or realising they'll never have the chance, or any one of the myriad experiences of transness that exist. I am, frankly, honoured to have been a part of such a vulnerable aspect in the lives of so many people.

Thank you for reading this. Thank you for listening to the show, if indeed you already have. If you enjoy my work, I would love to be able to pay my bills and be able to keep making it. I have never made even minimum wage for the work I do on my shows. Please consider becoming a member.

[txrully]

hii! I was wondering if i could request request a professional/upcoming volleyball player reader w blue lock boys?

thank you! do this whenever you free💕

ahhh tysm for your request anon!

actually my first time getting a request 🥹🩷

BLLK BOYS WITH A VOLLEYBALL PLAYER!

chars.: isagi yoichi, bachira meguru, chigiri hyoma, nagi seishiro, mikage reo, itoshi rin, hiori yo, shidou ryusei, itoshi sae, michael kaiser, alexis ness x gn!reader

( although reader is specified as fem in reo, shidou, and kaiser's parts.)

isagi yoichi

this man is obsessed with how you spike. like, borderline analysis mode every time you land a killer shot.

tries so hard to cheer you on during your games, but he’s also yelling tips from the sidelines like he’s your coach.

“nice spike, y/n!! BUT WATCH YOUR BACK LEFT—"

you once invited him to play volleyball, and he absolutely faceplanted while diving for the ball. his soccer instincts don’t always translate well.

lowkey jealous of how you dominate the court but 100% supportive—he’s your number-one fan, and he makes sure you know it.

bachira meguru

oh, he’s playing volleyball with you whether you like it or not.

turns every warmup into an opportunity to spike balls at you for fun.

“c’mon, y/n! block this one! oh, wait—oops, too fast?” giggles maniacally

definitely tries to incorporate soccer dribbling into volleyball. ( spoiler: it doesn’t work, but he thinks it’s hilarious )

somehow, he convinces you to play beach volleyball with him, and he dives into the sand just to make dramatic saves.

chigiri hyoma

he thinks volleyball is artistic—the way you move across the court? beautiful.

he’s not one for loud cheering, but his quiet, supportive claps when you win a point mean everything.

if you challenge him to play volleyball, he absolutely crushes it. His speed makes him terrifying at the net.

you might tease him for being too graceful, and he’ll shoot back with, “at least I don’t trip over my own feet, y/n.”

secretly memorizes your favorite post-game snacks and brings them to every match.

nagi seishiro

volleyball? too much effort. but watching you? sure, he can do that.

if you manage to drag him onto the court, he still dominates because his height makes him impossible to block. he doesn’t even try that hard, which makes it even more annoying.

“huh? i didn’t even jump that high…”

lowkey flexes how good he is when he wants to impress you though.

your games are one of the few things he’ll willingly stay awake for—he’s surprisingly proud when you win, even if he doesn’t say much.

mikage reo

treats your volleyball career like a business venture—he’s always hyping you up to sponsors and teams.

“did you know y/n scored 15 points last game? absolute MVP material.”

if you’re stressed about a big game, he’ll find a way to rent out a fancy gym for you to practice in.

when you win a match, he spoils you—dinner, gifts, whatever you want. you deserve it.

totally brags about you to the blue lock boys, claiming, “she could beat all of you on the court, no question.”

itoshi rin

at first, he doesn’t get why you’re so into volleyball—it’s not soccer, so why bother?

then he watches you play. big mistake. now he’s hooked. he won’t admit it, but he’s insanely proud when you dominate on the court.

refuses to join any friendly volleyball matches because he’s hyper-competitive and will lose it if he makes a mistake.

“volleyball isn’t even my sport, so why would I care if I mess up?”

( spoiler: he cares. a lot. )

secretly watches your games to pick apart your technique, then casually suggests improvements.

“you could be faster on your back-row defense.”

if someone mocks you during a game, rin’s death glare activates, and you have to hold him back from starting a fight.

hiori yo

he’s your calm and quiet supporter who loves the strategy of volleyball.

offers to help you study your opponents before big games and creates detailed notes about their playing styles.

if you’re feeling down after a tough match, hiori has the perfect playlist to cheer you up—it’s borderline magical.

you two bond over the mental aspect of sports, discussing how to stay focused under pressure.

lowkey amazing at volleyball when you play casually together. his precision makes him an insane setter, and he always puts the ball exactly where you need it.

your games are one of the few things he actively looks forward to, and he’s not shy about letting you know how proud he is of you.

shidou ryusei

this menace turns your volleyball practices into pure chaos. he spikes every ball like he’s trying to break the sound barrier.

“c’mon, y/n, don’t be scared! It’s just a little power spike!”

he has zero chill when watching your games.

he’s yelling from the stands, making the wildest comments, and hyping you up louder than anyone else.

“THAT’S MY GIRL! DESTROY THEM!!”

shidou’s energy is unmatched, and while it’s chaotic, it’s also incredibly motivating.

if anyone talks smack about your playing, they better run because shidou takes it personally.

itoshi sae

in the beginning, he acts indifferent—volleyball isn’t soccer, so why should he care?

but once he sees your precision and skill, his interest is piqued. he starts showing up to your games, claiming he’s “just passing by.”

he’s annoyingly good at volleyball when you play together. his smug smirk when he blocks your spikes is enough to make you want to scream.

“was that your best, y/n? try harder.”

despite his teasing, sae respects your dedication and often gives you genuine advice on handling pressure during big matches.

after a win, he’ll give you a subtle nod and say, “good job.”

( that’s basically a love confession coming from him. )

michael kaiser

volleyball? amateur sport. but you? an exception. he’s intrigued by how passionate you are about it.

always finds a way to make everything a competition—“i bet i’d be better at volleyball than you in a week.”

ends up eating his words when you destroy him during a friendly match. he’s so salty about it but tries to play it cool.

“i let you win. don’t get cocky, liebe.”

he calls you his “queen of the court” and insists on showing up to your games in the flashiest outfits, drawing attention everywhere.

secretly loves seeing you in your element and is constantly impressed, though he’ll only admit it in private.

alexis ness

the most polite and supportive fanboy you could ask for. he’s always clapping and smiling during your games.

if you’re nervous before a match, ness is the one calming you down with his soothing words and quiet confidence in you.

he’s surprisingly good at volleyball basics and helps you practice when you need a setter. his gentle encouragement makes training with him a joy.

“you’ve got this, y/n. i believe in you more than anyone.”

keeps a journal of your games where he writes down highlights and his favorite moments—it’s his way of showing how much he cares.

gets a little flustered when you thank him for his support but brushes it off with a shy smile.

© 𝘁𝘅𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 :: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

𝘥𝘰 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘤𝘰𝘱����, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴.

[neon--nightmare]

SO EACH FRESH PARASITE CANONICALLY HAS LIKE,, ONE ‘POWER.’ fresh doesnt have one bc he can use the abilities/magic of the host body, which his other parasites can’t!! the powers also get stronger the more they age, but not only is it rare for fresh parasites to even live long enough to take a host (fresh usually produces them involuntarily, spits them out into a bucket, and crushes them all into powder bc theyre competition and put him directly at risk) they tend to either get tracked down by him later or well. die due to other circumstances bc they were just born and tend not to be the best at subtlety/controlling and using their power with zero experience <- I NEED TO MAKE A FRESH PARASITE OC LORE GUIDE SOMETIME

toffee’s (my fresh parasite oc) power was literal emotional manipulation (e.g. if they touched you they could make you feel what they wanted, not by overwriting your current emotions BUT more just. adding them on top.) but they also had all the subtlety of a steamroller because they were barely a few months old AND could only do the most basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, anger)

oh toffee my toffee.. iirc if they lived long enough for personal growth theyd end up with DEBILITATINGLY low self esteem. if someone you cared about was sad and you had the ability to smother their misery out with happiness, calm them down and make it easier, wouldnt it be at least a little tempting to take it?

especially if all your life, that was your gift, your solution to every problem related to others you had, and your ticket to survival in a world that wants you dead merely for existing. you never knew anything else, how to comfort, help, how to be genuine. how to care, when being cared about, any living thing knowing the abomination that you are - it’s terrifying, it’s risky. you’re not very strong, you’re small, and you’ve never known one day of peace in your own short life. never the kind word of a parent, of a friend, of a partner. since the day of your birth, wriggling away like a leech as all your ‘siblings’ were crushed to dust behind you, the only one you’ve ever had is yourself.

and how would the other beings even react if they found out that the whole time they’d known you, any of your emotions weren’t theirs? the joy with you, sadness, fear was magically induced, and you never told them. they can’t trust any of their memories with you. it’s a defense mechanism, but you still did it. you still made the choice, over and over and over again. how could that ever be forgiven? tampering with minds leaves marks, after all.

and if just by being around you the people you cared about felt supernaturally happy, how could you trust that they actually liked you for YOU and not just what you could do for them? they don’t even know you’re a parasite, that the host body you’re forced to take for survival is in constant pain, agony, where the only alrernative is rolling over and letting yourself die. how could you trust if anything they say, the love they profess is true! everyone adores you, but they don’t adore you. they’ll never like you, so does it even matter?

isn’t it easier to shut down, not get attached, not let yourself care? it hurts less that way. treat them all like toys, keep yourself on top. no, better not to think about it at all. you’re just doing what you can to keep yourself alive, to see the sun crest the horizon again tomorrow. distract yourself, take advantage, manipulate, run, run, little thing, and never stop to think. or the awareness of what you are and what you’ve done will destroy you, and there’ll be nothing left.

(slushie’s under the cut so this doesn’t get TOO long!!)

while slushie’s (second fresh parasite oc’s) power was fast regeneration (if their host body was hurt it healed much faster than normal, usually without scars or visible cracks/fractures!) they were very clumsy and developed a very, very high pain tolerance. since unless they were wounded enough to actually lose a limb or something, which they hadn’t yet, there were no consequences besides an unpleasant yet deeply familiar sensation that faded in like, an hour maximum. in their mind that’s how it is for everyone, just a fact of life.

whatever accidents you get in, whatever happens to your host body, it doesn’t matter! you’ll be fine, without a scratch. the idea of a life where you don’t bleed magic every day and wake back up in the morning is nearly impossible to fathom. you nearly die, let yourself be torn apart willingly by those you latch onto with a smile, and get back up, again, and again, and again. you can’t trust anyone who doesn’t hurt you, it’s too unfamiliar, it doesn’t make sense, that’s what you live for. why do others look so horrified when you mention it?

that’s just the way things are, were, and always will be.

[umbravirtus]

Too late, Lucifer realized he was actually making the mess worse. What had once been an adorable, floofy chaos of hair was now even more disheveled. He laughed softly at himself and bent down to pick her up from the floor, cradling her gently. “Come on, love. Let’s get to bed,” he said, as they had discussed earlier.

She looked utterly adorable. This was so different from her usual straight-laced persona, and it felt incredibly intimate—like a moment reserved just for him. Sitting her carefully on the edge of the bed, he leaned in and kissed her lips sweetly. “Wait here,” he murmured before stepping away.

He was off to fetch the tardy walkers, though he needn’t have bothered. They were already attuned to her, and by the time they heard him moving outside the bathroom, they were making their way into the bedroom of their own accord. Seeing them approach, he smiled and gestured toward her. “Perfect timing. I need help fixing her hair, as she likes it, please” She felt more comfortable that way, and it was not his place to decide otherwise, much as he adored the current look.

Afterward, Lucifer returned to the bathroom to tidy up and put away the bottles he had brought earlier. That’s when he noticed a small bowl Hel had left there, sparking an idea. He mixed a bit of coconut oil with a few drops of vanilla, mint, and lavender oil, aiming to create a soothing blend. He wanted the oil to provide a warm sensation during the massage, a cooling, refreshing effect afterward, and finally, a calming lavender finish to ease any tension. Yes, this, he could do—and do well.

Returning to her side, he gently took her hand and began meticulously massaging her fingers and palm, his touch slow and deliberate. Little was said; little needed to be said. He shot her occasional small smiles, hoping to communicate his care without words. He wished, fleetingly, that they could forget the deals, the gods, and the weight of their respective realms—just for a moment—and simply exist together.

Looking briefly to Ganglot, he added, “She might need something to eat. And I wouldn’t mind a few snacks myself, please.” By now, Lucifer knew Hel rarely ate, but he was willing to try anything that might help her break through the paralyzing spell that bound her so tightly.

When they were alone again, his gaze fell on her, soft yet weighted. “You were right,” he admitted finally. “I was in too deep. I didn’t know what I was getting into.” He paused, his jaw tightening briefly before he continued. “But you were also wrong—because as terrifying as this whole ordeal was, I would do it again.”

The hurt that lingered within him wasn’t from Odin. His physical wounds were already healing—nearly gone, in fact. No, it was the betrayal of his father that had torn something deeper, leaving a gaping wound in his very soul. Perhaps Hel could sense it plainly, with her ability to read such things. It was there in his demeanor, in the spark that was missing from his usually vibrant eyes.

Something had died that evening. Lucifer just didn’t know what to call it yet.

For now, Lucifer chose to focus on what he could control: tending to Hel. His fingers traced absentminded circles on her skin, a soothing gesture laced with the bittersweetness of finally being accepted.

The irony nearly drew a chuckle from him. His life seemed to be an endless balancing act between acceptance and rejection. To gain one, it seemed, he had to forfeit the other. Though, as the thought lingered, a darker truth emerged—was he ever truly accepted by his father in the first place? He doubted it. Deeply.

"We're past the point of what that deal was meant to be, Lucy." She lifted her head to look up at him, "You didn't have the chance to step aside." Did she wish he had? Very much. The sound of him struggling, So close and so very far as she could do nothing? Only one torment has been similar in her thousand years of life.

Odin was not his king to oppose. Not his foe to face.

She sighed and lowered her cheek to his belly, "But that was it. That was the moment I wanted to avoid. The deal can't be made now." She didn't lift her head but looked up at him again, "But I can call you my boyfriend."

For the five seconds before they become forcibly affianced.

She didn't take his bait. Whatever he had in store, she was sure it was undeserved.

Even so, she settled happily against his legs and belly as he brushed her hair. "My hair? Where do I keep my hair?" She grinned to herself when he commented. "Likely excuse."

The redhead nuzzled her cheek against her love. There wasn't enough energy in her bones to do half of what he gave but there was certainly plenty for idle affection.

"Well, my hair gets styled every few days. That's fairly low maintenance actually." She said nothing of the fact he was making the floof worse. You're not supposed to brush curls. Her hairbrush was there for after it had been straightened and before she braided it.

Hel, still smiling to herself sighed contentedly, "That's fine. I enjoy our bed picnics."

[ava-of-shenanigans]

Okay so I did Demeter and Demophoon/Isis at Byblos with eldritch horror gods.

[edwinisms]

seriously wondering why WW1 was never brought up at all throughout the show in regards to edwin and the life he was living before hell. I mean fuck we get a WW1 ghost in the FIRST EPISODE but edwin doesn’t say a single thing about his familiarity with the soldier’s garments and circumstances. you’d think that would come in handy in some way, or at least be an interesting thing to reference to emphasize edwin’s age (for lack of a better word) considering this was all during the expository section of the first episode.

1916 is directly in the middle of the Great War, and depending on how long edwin had been 16 by the time he died, he would’ve been somewhere between 1-2 years off from being conscripted and sent off to the trenches– ie; really not far, so it inevitably would be a huge weight on his mind at the time. since it was the middle of the war, he would’ve known decently well the horrors being faced out there– the mustard gas, the widespread illness, the shellshock– from newspapers and such, and I have to think that he’d feel like there was a clock ticking, counting down the days until he’d be sent to his inevitable death (considering he’s not the most athletic and physically resilient boy to say the least). and if he was exempted from conscription? it could very well be for “mental illness” and/or “moral indecency” if he didn’t hide his “effeminate” behavior well enough. all-around, it’d have to be an incredibly stressful time period for more reasons than just being bullied, alienated, and repressed at school– and yet we never hear about the elephant in the room. will they do something with it later? will it play into his family background in some way? for gods sake I need to KNOW

[lu-is-not-ok]

Base E.G.O that require Sin Resources the Sinner doesn't have are in general quite fascinating - there's a few more than the two you list! In fact, it's far more common for Base E.G.O to not be fully fueled by a Sinner's base Identity.

Suddenly, One Day requires Lust, which Gregor doesn't have - this one is actually a bit harder for me to read, but it might be about how Gregor is actively denying himself the ability to follow his initial instincts. He's someone who is terrified of how his arm reacts to triggers, and thus refuses to let himself indulge in anything that could rouse it in any way, even if it's as bening as dancing in Canto 2 - thus, no Lust.

What is Cast requires Gloom, which Rodya doesn't have - we see both in Canto 2 and in general from how she acts that Rodya does everything in her power to avoid thinking about her past and constantly hides her negative emotions. She's consistently trying to distance herself from anything that could be a source of Gloom.

Branch of Knowledge requires Gluttony, which Sinclair doesn't have - Canto 3 especially but also just overall Sinclair is shown to be someone who is very aimless, and someone who doesn't set out goals for himself without outside prompting. He's a character full of potential but without a will to pick a direction to point that potential towards, he lacks the hunger that characterizes Gluttony.

Crow's Eye View requires Wrath, which Yi Sang doesn't have - we see in Canto 4 that Yi Sang actively refuses to do anything about the warning signs he sees and actively refuses to fight back against his captors. His hopelessness has reached the point where he can't spark any Wrath within him.

Forest for the Flames requires Wrath, which Ryoshu doesn't have - while Ryoshu has plenty anger, she doesn't have that drive to fight back against the status quo, she simply accepts reality for what it is, and in fact actively does everything in her power to seek it out without trying to in any way change it. Her dedication to reflecting reality takes away any Wrath she could have had to actually change that reality.

Chains of Others requires Envy, which Meursault doesn't have - Meursault is someone shown to actively not understand why people wouldn't understand him or otherwise find his actions questionable. His struggles to connect with others reflect how he's unable to understand them, thus unable to find things he would want to covet from them. Plus he's generally shown to be self-assured enough to lack the self-doubt necessary for Envy.

What is notable about Land of Illusion's Sin cost though is that the Gloom that he lacks to fuel it also happens to be the single highest Sin Resource cost in any Base E.G.O. Land of Illusion is the single Base E.G.O to require five of a single Sin, and it just so happens to be the one Hong Lu cannot fuel himself.

Goddammit the two-in-one theory is even supported by GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

HONG LU'S BASE ID IS SPLIT BETWEEN RUPTURE AND SINKING

Yuuup. I haven't mentioned it on here but yup.

Fun fact, he's the only Base Identity who uses two of the Major Status Effects rather than the usual one!

And just to add to it in case you think that doesn't matter - Faust is the only Base Identity who doesn't inflict any Major Status Effect, and we know she usually sees herself as more of a vessel for the Gesselschaft than a seperate person herself.

So clearly, there has to be Something to it.

[dykedvonte]

Can you talk about trans!Curly a little bit more? I'm curios if you have any headcanons and the like

-💀

It's just such a thing in my mind because it adds a truthful sadness and differing aspect to mouthwashing.

If Curly was trans it adds the horror of the horribly selfish thought he could have easily been in Anya's situation. It could've been him but it wasn't and he so conflicted on the pit it put in his stomach that brings and the shameful relief it wasn't. In this scenario he is friends with Jimmy for a long time still. Jimmy likely knew him pretransition. Maybe he gave Curly weird looks then, maybe they never stopped after, maybe they seemed meaner. They are guys now, bros, both of them are. He doesn't really have to worry what those looks mean anymore, Jimmy just has that face with him sometimes. It's recontextualizing a lot of things for him that he was in denial about or too ashamed to admit. How naive he was being and how he let that get another person hurt.

Specifically with Anya, it's he knows the dread and fear she's feeling. He can understand it because he had to live with it for a good portion of his life, he knows it cause he still does, just in a slightly different way. It makes him think of all the times he's been alone with Jimmy, all the times he's been way more drunk off his ass and not remember the night, Jimmy was always with him the next day. Makes him think of the comments he would laugh off both because that's what guys do but because that part of being a girl says to laugh so Jimmy doesn't do something. It's the selfish realization that he was never safe and he's uncertain now too. Mad at himself for forgeting that feeling, espcially since for a long time he would've been considered the only woman on a crew (with all that implies) for a long time.

He should've taken those blinders off, step back into that position for just a moment and it's so much more painful that Anya likely came to him because he should've gotten it. Those thoughts don't leave his mind after the crash when he's in an even more vulnerable position than she was...

[thedreadvampy]

sometimes I forget that my experience has been. um. not 'your experiences are not universal' vibes but more like 'your experiences are EXTREMELY atypical'

[dent-de-leon]

Do not think I'll get over the fact that Molly encourages the idea that he's always had a string of lovers, lets people believe he goes off with someone new or visits brothels every night, and the whole thing is just...just because he doesn't want anyone to find out he's got this bleeding heart.

That his "choir practice" is him risking his life to save some strangers he's never met. That he's this compassionate, fiercely loyal protector who believes, "The truth is...How do I put this...the world is harsh and cruel, and I don't seem to be able to just walk on by."

That he has this reputation for being a shameless flirt with countless partners, and just...as far as we know, he only ever had one relationship. And after she died, he carried her cards and wore her coat every day, kept her close to his heart and never said a word about it. Not until he admits to Yasha that he's lonely, that he wishes he still had someone. The way Molly is grieving and mourning a partner just like Yasha, and no one ever knew.

The way Lucien couldn't believe that Jester found him "dreamy," the way people only ever saw him as a demon and monster for so long. Waking up as Kingsley and still looking for the love he lost. Still falling for Caleb. Tealeaf keeping so much close to the chest, afraid to let himself be too vulnerable. Only ever trusting his heart with a few. Wanting so badly to be good, to be loved, to be whole. Worshipping the goddess of love herself. Writing down, "Love. It binds us. It frees us. What more needs be said?"

[fogwitchoftheevermore]

(context for watcher/listener!sausage can be found in the “videos” tag on my blog if you want it, but this ficlet can be read without said context)

- - -

“Y’know, of all the Hermits I was expecting to be pulling me into a dark corner tonight, I did not expect you to be first, Grian! I love the initiative!”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Grian says in a voice near a hiss. He’s got Sausage by the wrist, leading him into a small area of the upper floor of the tavern in Sanctaury that does look like it was built for the exact purpose Sausage is implying. Grian decides to ignore that as well.

“What are you doing here?” Grian’s straight to the point. He always has to be, with these Things, if he doesn’t want to get trapped in a loop of slant rhyming pleasantries.

“What do you mean?” Sausage asks, shaking his wrist out of Grian’s tight grip and leaning comfortably against the wall. “This is where I live. It’s my home. If anything, I should be asking you mysterious strangers what you’re doing here, but I’m sure you’ve heard that question enough for one day.”

“You know exactly what I mean.” Grian crosses his arms and tries his best not to look petulant, but he sure feels like it. “I thought They’d given up on trying to snatch me back, so why would They send you of all people? What’s your game?”

Sausage laughs, honest to god laughs, like he can’t believe Grian’s even asking him such a question. Grian thinks it’s a reasonable question, in this scenario, but what he thinks and what’s reasonable rarely seems to matter with these things.

“They didn’t send me,” Sausage looks him up and down in that way that makes Grian have to physically stop himself from curling inwards. This is why he never talks to Them. “Nobody sends me anywhere, they don’t tell me what to do and I like it that way! I just do my own thing. Isn’t that what you’re doing?”

“No you’re not! You’re not- you can’t be! That’s not how this works!” Grian begins to notice that he’s no longer whisper-shouting and starting to just-normal-shout and takes a deep breath, trying not to draw the attention of his friends enjoying themselves on the floor below. And, realistically, in the other dark corners Sausage seems to have built into this place.

“That’s exactly how this works. You didn’t think you were the only person who’d left, did you?”

Grian opens his mouth, closes it, and thinks. In hindsight… yeah, he had kind of assumed he’d been the only person who’d left. Not for lack of trying, probably- but They’d tried for so long to get him back, kept him closely surveilled even when They’d accepted he was gone- surely some people had caved to that pressure eventually. When there was no sign They’d ever let up, ever let you go… he could understand eventually letting it overtake you.

“Did- did you leave, too?” Grian doesn’t remember the last time he saw Sausage’s face. He didn’t know him back then, of course. He probably would’ve connected the man with the person Pearl so often spoke about sooner. But he knows it’s been a long time, maybe even longer than the last time Grian had gone There. He doesn’t think Sausage had been There, that day. This might explain why.

“Eh, not quite?”

“What-“ Grian flails, both mentally and with his arms a bit. “What do you mean not quite?”

“Exactly what I said! I was never- it’s complicated, y’know?”

“Explain. Now.”

“Well, uh,” Sausage seems to flounder for the first time since this conversation started, which Grian is choosing to take as a victory. “Look, I wasn’t- they didn’t pick me. For this, or for anything, ever. Sometimes things just happen and you get yourself into a place you shouldn’t have and then… they can’t get rid of me, I can’t get rid of them, it is what it is.”

Grian stares at him for a long moment. Really stares at him, in the same way Sausage had looked him over earlier, in the same way that makes you feel like you’re under a microscope. Judging by the sudden nerves in his eyes, Grian can assume he feels it too. Grian remembers his face. That had been the first thing he’d noticed, when the Hermits had arrived. It had been a long time since they’d seen each other, but Grian knew his face. And now that Grian was studying him, really trying to remember… he’s not sure he quite likes what memories he’s dredging up.

“What are you?”

“Grian!” Sausage’s voice drips with mock offense as he puts his hand up to partially cover his mouth. “We only just met, do you think that’s polite?”

“Answer the question,” Grian sighs. How Pearl deals with this man on the regular, he doesn’t know.

“Well, if you insist.” Sausage sighs, somehow even more exaggerated than his previous movements. “It’s just… if you’ll believe it, it’s somehow even harder to answer the first question.”

“It shouldn’t be,” Grian says. “They’re two very different People, you know.”

“But they’re the same species, when it all comes down to it. Like, you might be very different than a chicken, but you’re both birds in the long run.”

Grian pauses, fanning his wings out a bit behind him as he considers. “I don’t think that metaphor’s quite landing the way you want it to.”

“No, me neither. Anyways, let me continue.

When they don’t pick you, things go a little differently! You don’t get sorted onto one side or the other since, well, you’re not really supposed to be there? So I’m… whatever I want to be, really. I think I’m feeling like more of a Listener, today, but we’ll see how the mood shifts.”

Grian flinches at the Name, on instinct. He doesn’t know how to feel about that, so he files it away to be dealt with at a later date. As for the rest of what Sausage said-

“What?”

“You heard me.” Sausage shrugs. He’s so nonchalant, Grian thinks he might strangle him, if not for the worry that that’s exactly what he wants out of this, somehow.

“Did I? Did I hear you?” Grian wants to pace, but that requires leaving the security of the corner, so he forces his feet to root themselves to the floor. “I thought- I thought you had to- if you wanted to change sides, I thought you had to-“

Grian closes one eye and takes his thumb to it, twisting the finger into his eyelid. The gesture seems to get the point across.

“Well, that’s the funny thing about this, actually.” From the way he’s been talking, Grian assumed Sausage thought this whole thing was funny. He restrains himself from saying that out loud if only so Sausage will finish his explanation.

Sausage reaches up to his left eye, pulls his eye lid back a bit, and unceremoniously pops out his prosthetic eye.

“All these processes and rituals actually have a lot of loopholes.”

Grian doesn’t know what face he’s making, but it’s enough to make Sausage giggle while he pops the eye back in. Because of course he does. Because this how his day is going, apparently. Walk through a weird portal in his basement and wake up in a world filled with his friends who don’t recognize him and also a guy he only ever saw There, who he was never supposed to see again. Sure. Of course he’s laughing about it. Grian thinks if he was a slightly different person, he’d be laughing too. It is, undeniably, absurd.

“Well, I think we’re done here then!” Grian would probably object if he weren’t so shocked about the loopholes. As it is, he just stands there a bit stupidly.

Sausage turns away to return to the party before turn around again for just a moment, reaching over, and ruffling Grian’s hair. That shocks him enough to shake him out of his stupor and swat Sausage’s hand away, though not before his hair is suitably messed up.

“What was that for?!”

Sausage smiles as he reaches up to rough up his own hair as well. “I assumed you didn’t want your friends asking questions about why you were dragging me into a dark corner, you know?” Sausage even goes far enough to pull his shirt a bit out of where it’s tucked into his pants, because of course he does. Grian tries not to cringe, but Sausage is right about this one thing. It is the easiest way to dodge any questions about where he’d gone off to- at the expense of the many knowing looks and teasing remarks he’ll be getting from the other Hermits instead.

“Have a good night, Grian!” Sausage calls over his shoulder as he turns to leave for real this time. “And remember, drinks are on me for all you guests tonight! You look like you need it.”

[petrichorium]

I know I’ve talked about capitano giving childe………. advice……… on how best to…………. court…………. his intended after noticing childe’s heavy hand w the matter but I would also like to discuss how childe makes capitano regress a little too

Capitano who sees how childe’s fiancé hisses and sneers and offers his own advice—a gentle hand, patience, those sweet words that always seemed to make your insults stick in your throat—but also finds himself feeling a bit nostalgic. To his own chagrin he misses the sting of your dull teeth against his hand when he once tried to caress you, the heat of your glare when he would venture too close and linger too long. You’ve become so easy to coax lately, so agreeable to his affections; you haven’t so much as turned away from a kiss in the past few months. It’s a feat he would never deny fills him with pride, but……… well. Perhaps when he returns to the manor (where you remain safely tucked away) he’ll ask if you’d be willing to let him chase you through the grounds…………