#AAANYWAYS if you read this all i love you <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[saviltriide]

Hi hello, im terribly invested in doctor who again <3

[caramelcleopatraa]

DADDY'S HANDS

word count: 509

x: finally got something out (excuse any errors you see) :( I have 3 other imagines in queue right now. I should be able to get another imagine out by Friday. this was inspired from the video of him signing his merch.... obviously. aaanyways, the usual college is whooping my black ass and i'm still horny as ever :p. Enjoy :)

content: Roman Reigns x Reader, 18+ MDNI, hands.... that's it.

You love his hands. It’s not your fault that your eyes gravitated to his huge hands engulfing regularly sized objects. Or the way that the veins in his hands demanded your attention while he was busy signing away an endless mountain of merch. You could get lost for hours imagining those hands all over your body. Pressing, pulling, dragging, and tugging at you. How his hands would look soaked and swimming in your juices. How his hand would hold your wrists above your head while he fucks you passionately. You knew that those same hands would be on you an hour later, but that hour felt so far away. You felt like an impatient kid waiting for a kids meal. You wanted him. Unknown to you, Roman had already peeped your quietness and noticed your eyes glued to his hands. He smirked to himself knowing you were lost in your imagination, your still body and blank eyes told him so.

“You okay?” His voice brought you out of your mind and back to the present. You shifted in your seat and gave him a genuine smile. “Yeah. Just thinking.” 

“I know,” Roman says confidently. The look of his face told you that he knew exactly what you were thinking about. You weren't sure if you should be embarrassed that you are so easy to read, or turned on because he knew exactly what you wanted. He knew exactly how your mind worked and what switches to flip to get you right where he wanted you. Realistically, he didn't have to do much. His body straining his all black outfit already formed a pool between your legs.

“I can take a break,” Roman says, closing the shiny sharpie and laying it down on the table. He was already moving towards you before you could form a response. Your eyes twinkled with desire for Roman. If there weren’t staff members in the room, you would let him bend you over the table and have his way with you. It felt like heaven finally feeling his hands on your waist, holding you tight. Your mind was running wild with all sorts of ideas of what he could do to you. But they all circled back to his hands. How they flipped you into the next position, how they would restrict your movements, how they would explore every part of your body. “What are you thinking about right now?” 

“Your hands,” you said with no hesitation. He smiles and takes his hands off of your hips to look at them closely in a pretend state of confusion. “My hands. What about ‘em?” You took his right hand in yours and replied, “How they’ll hold me place while you fuck me.” Roman’s eyes darkened and his smug smirk returned once again. He yelled at the staff to exit the room, and they followed instruction, fastly filing out of the room. 

“Get on the table.” You looked at him in question. “Why?”

“Cause i’m ‘bout to make your daydream come true. Hands above your head.”

🏷️ tags :) @reignsboy19 @2-muchsauce @theninthwonder @harmshake @alichesmi @thesamoanqueen @alyyaanna @empressdede @badbitchcentralinc @christinabae @fame-ass-ers @southerngirl41

[madstronaut]

tis christmas in july aka the season for feasting year-round 

much like the 3-in-1 monstrosity of shampoo/condish/bodywash that the COD men probably use (not gaz, though he would n e v e r) I am tossing in my ramblimmentaries three of cin’s lovely fics together here 🥰

aaanyway not even ashamed to say I’ve been re-reading their holiday keegan fic SEVERAL TIMES a month since I first saw it last december cos it’s so cute and fluffy

ok I need to get this out of the way laughing my ass off rn because autocorrect changed cumikering to cucumber several times throughout here and i was howling when I went to edit this and I was like why are there cucumbers everywhere??? LMAO

Reading: Neighbour Keegan Russ x reader by @cumikering

ah meet cute at the laundry room; I love it alr (as you can see i am easily pleased/amused/moved)

also it’s already on sight with reader’s cuz, i have unfortunately met ppl like this IRL (haven’t we all) and well talk about telling on themselves about how unhappy they are :/

“Well, if you need company��” he said, trying to not sound too hopeful. I’d love to spend some time with you. You turned to him, brow raised. “Wait, you mean, you want to come with? Be my plus one?” “That wasn’t- well, yeah. I can do that.” He shrugged. “If you want.” This wasn’t the direction he was heading for. He was going to offer to spend Christmas together, maybe exchange gifts, but he surely wasn’t going to take that back. Anything for a chance with you.

AAAA OBSESSED WITH HOW CUTE AND AWKWARD THIS WHOLE EXCHANGE IS

He always enjoyed seeing your face brighten like that, despite never getting the chance to see it enough…But between deployments, he was lucky to even catch a glimpse of you once a week, leaving any possible advances towards you simply a fantasy to him. He was out of practice, but was he that out of practice that he came on too strong and scared you? He certainly didn’t mean to make it suggestive. This was going to end before it even started. He grimaced to himself.

we love some good ole mutual pining🥺🥰🥺🥰🥺🥰

That time you saw Keegan on a run shirtless out your window you had to sit down.

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA crying laughing at this…also reminded me of a time I hung out with a friend in LA who went to pick up a friend after he ran a marathon and drop him off before we went to dinner - didn’t realize the runner was an old acquaintance I hadn’t seen in a while since he was a senior when I was a freshman in college but I fucking remembered him alright when he came running up ripped af, shirtless, sweaty, saw me and went “MADSTRONAAUUTTTT OMG” and picked me up and spun me while in his giant hulking sweaty arms and I briefly bluescreened…anyway cough sorry back to keegan what was I saying, yes shirtless sweaty keegan yes yes 

He didn’t speak much (you wished he did though because his voice was divine)

my fellow voicekink brian bloom fans where you at

ah wooing by fake dating, is there a better trope (tbh the ones I’ve read are hit or miss but this one is 10/10)

Keegan sat on his bed as you went through his wardrobe. How cheesy would it be if he were to pull out his guitar and serenade you? He, too, was told the ladies liked men who played the guitar. Why do you think he picked it up in high school?

*thousand eyed stare thinking of how many times I've heard wonderwall as a millenial*

He’d made it his mission to make sure taking him to your family was worth your while.

ah yes a true soldier through and throughhhhh~

You were a steady stream of glee that didn’t drain him and he couldn’t get enough.

AAWWWWWWW fucking loved this line!!!!!!!

also the cousin’s name as Bella now has me picturing her as twilight kristen stewart

It only made it hard to dilute your hopefulness that this meant the slightest bit more than nothing.

“dilute your hopefulness” GAAHHH LOVE THIS PHRASE CIN MWAH MWAH

now how to put this lightly but everything about bella just filled me with pure rage lol first off I WOULD ALSO KILL FOR A DYSON AIR WRAP GIFTED TO ME (can I buy one? yes. can I justify buying one? hell no) and I hate to use this term but textbook definition of a ‘pick-me girl’ right here but seeing casual cruelty like this would make me hear those kill bill sirens and have me swabbing some vaseline on my face and taking my earrings off and spitting some razorblades out my mouth and- cough anyway that’s from my younger fanciful days, I don’t carry razorblades in my mouth this isn’t late 90s/early 2000s new york ha cough anyway moving on smh throwing my hands at bella up in air

but I loved the contrast with keegan and let me just say everything about bella’s ‘gift’ goes against the pure nature of giftgiving and I am thrilled that she left the card there but got to take Keegan home 🥰

this whole fic reminded me of a lovely quote I read on a tear-off daily calendar lol

“The wise one knows. The giver of the gift IS the gift. And the gift is just the giver’s heart in the shape of something to make you smile.  The gift decays. The giver stays. And so the real gift remains.”

I will make an exception for celebrating Christmas in July for any of cin's holiday fics 🥰🥰🥰

-----------------------------------------

aaaaand also reading: by Ghost x plus-sized reader by cinny

omfg fucking tearing up my pillows to shreds at how much I love this lil fic!!!

You scoffed, looking past him at the other ladies in the room. “Are you serious? There are plenty who weigh far less.” His brow rose. “Are you calling me weak?”

fucking love reading about a suave smooth-ass ghost

His eyes softened a touch. “May I? Please?”

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 WHO CAN RESIST PUPPY EYED GHOST??? TELL ME WHO

 Across the pub, the table of three men grinned at the massive stranger. The one with the mohawk was very much entertained as he gave him thumbs up.

yes yes we love wingman!141

You laughed, your breath warm against his ear. “Are you going to set me down or am I having my drink on your back?” “Don’t give me ideas.” He chuckled as he lowered you to your feet.

HOW CUTE IS SIMON CARRYING READER TO THE BAR? AAAAAAA

“Okay. Well, thanks for he drink. You could get back to your mates if you want.” “I’m Simon,” he mustered instead.

“he mustered” AAAH I LOVE BIG NERVOUS MEN STUMBLING OVER THEIR WORDS

When he turned to them, they immediately busied themselves with their drinks, averting their gazes.

LMAO

So that was why you were alone. You were waiting for someone. Disappointment anchored at the bottom of his chest. “Right. Okay.” You smiled. “Thanks for the drink, Simon. I’ll see you around, yeah?” He grunted and you headed to the end of the bar. He stood umoving for another second before retreating to his table like a kicked puppy.

ummm omg I literally keeled over and slumped out of my chair in sympathy for simon for a good minute before I could read on OMG CIN HOW COULD YOU (lmao jk I loved this sm)

You flagged down some other blond man who walked over to you with a smile.

LMAO yes yes simon you are clearly superior

“I know she’s with someone, but I can tell she likes you more,” Price said, and Simon finally tore his gaze away from you. “Ye should fight ‘im, L.T. He dinnae stand a fuckin’ chance.” “You can knock him out with a slap,” Gaz quipped.

fucking love this, cin has 141 characterisation down to a T with each of their responses!!!! 

also men of the world if you can please take notes on stepping up from 141 here, please start doing so yesterday tyvm

so busy mopping up my heart from melting at how adorable this meet-cute is and I also got halal two days in a row from the halal guys cart by work thanks to reading about the kebabs in this fic

-----------------------------------------

and finally reading: Ghost x asmr artist reader by cinny

"Simon had a pepper problem and a pasta dilemma"

🥺🥺🥺🥺 I am dying at the cuteness here alr🥺🥺🥺🥺

You turned to him. He noticed the little startle before you shoved your phone back in your pocket.

men who are self-aware of their size and presence and the effect it has on ppl around them and act accordingly, I love you

Your quiet cooking videos were one of the only things left that offered him calmness, especially on those nights away on missions, giving him tingles in all the right places, and shamefully, the wrong ones too sometimes.

sir, sir, there is no room for shame in love~

“Ah- I’m sorry,“ he managed, flustered by your sudden exit. “I didn’t want to be presumptuous, but you make those videos, don’t you? I recognised your voice.” You grinned, turning to him. “I just wanted to thank you,” he said. “Your videos comfort me a lot.” “I’m happy to hear. Thank you for watching.” Simon wanted to tug his beanie over his face because as you walked away, he was unmoving with a racing heart and a blush over his pale cheeks.

omfg WANTED TO TUG HIS BEANIE DOWN??? I AM IN LOVE I LOVE STRONG YET VULNERABLE GIANT MEN SM (this is a fluff fic so I am keeping with the fluffy vibes nd restraining my horny ass from choking out some absolutely thirsty comments here)

Despite the uncomfortable circumstances, your quiet yet crisp voice always sent him into a restful slumber.

yes shoutout to my favorite YT vids and comfort fics for putting me to sleep without fail

The chance encounter only fuelled his attraction. Knowing the kind smile behind the sweetest voice felt like an intimate secret, one you shared with him and only him - not with the rest of your few thousand subscribers.

i love how sweet simon is here with his lil parasocial crush and OMG WHEN READER APPROACHES HIM FIRST IN THE PASTA AISLE I also blushed IRL GOD I LOve FLUFF FICS SM

“Someone sent in a recipe for a video, and it’s absolutely delicious. I’ve been making it at least once a month ever since.”

SIMON’S COMFORT YOUTUBER’S COMFORT RECIPE IS SIMON'S??? WHAT IS THIS GLORIOUS OUROBOROS OF A COINKYDINK

He combed his hair back with his fingers, hoping his hat hair wasn’t terrible. He caught the double take you did at his tattooed arm.

🥰hehehe i love these little tidbits and morsels of vulnerability (hmm good band name, writing that down)

The rich scent of caramelised meat drifting in the room wrapped around him like a warm blanket.

Between sips of tea, you enjoyed your own halves of the chocolate wordlessly, the music melting into the background.

The savoury aroma glided past the thin gaps of the oven, swirling and dancing between you and him.

mmmmmm this has to be one of the coziest fics ive ever read

“I was an apprentice butcher before I enlisted.” He pressed down on the ricer with ease.

so much said in two sentences!!! ugh mwah mwah so many chef’s kisses for your writing style cinny

also loved how both are very self-aware and how reader picks up on simon talking about his mom in past tense and the whole fic emerging to fit around this bit of simon’s story is so wonderful to me… He waited until you took a bite before taking his own, and his breath caught. His brows furrowed as lump formed in his throat. Had the ground cracked and plunged him into a glitched universe? He was once more in Manchester, 10 years younger, finally home after a long day at the butcher, his mum and brother waiting at the table with the piping hot dish in the middle of it.

literally picturing that critic eating ratatouille flashback end scene from the eponymous movie 😂🥰

The last thing he wanted to do in front of you was shed a tear, but there he was, some hulking stranger sobbing on your shoulder as nostalgia held him in a death grip. It was humiliating to be seen like this – he didn’t remember the last time he cried from feelings, yet the tears wouldn’t cease despite his efforts. But you held him close, and his thick arms wrapped around you. He told himself if he pulled you close enough, it would hurt less.

i love how simon’s comfort streamer becomes an IRL comfort place for him to safely break down 🥹🥹 did I cry from reading this? IDK MAYBE WHO KNOWS? (looks at the ruined kleenex piled in my wastebin)

I hope all readers know and have a person and place like this (and may we host such places and become such people as well) 💛✨🌿

and of course I will pause my rambles here with a big-ass hug 🫂 and thank you to cinny for being a wonderful comfort fic writer for meeee 🫶🫶🫶😘👌😘👌😘👌

[drifloonz]

Hii Can i request glitchy red having a s/o that's similar to him? (Reader got cruelly removed by their game and got replaced) also i really like your hcs:3 keep up the writing!! :D

ofc ofc !!! ty for requesting. Once again these sort of stray into general thoughts and headcanons abt glitchy sometimes but oh well i have just learned to accept that tht just sort of Happens when i make these.

i try to make the reader / s/o in all of the headcanon posts very blank templates but if i didn't i'd probably go ham with the implied backstory. Maybe. but for now its just a "Make your own and inject it into the headcanons" typa post.

glitchy red with a similar s/o !!! Love wins

♡ glitchy honestly didn't... know something like him could even Happen again. i mean, he does and he always secretly hoped that one day someone, anyone in his game would gain sentience suddenly so he'd at least have someone else to talk to instead of himself and whatever player he had atm. and that makes you... very interesting and special to him.

♡ suffice to say, you two have a lot of shared grievances probably, and glitchy is a very rant-y person. both of you will shittalk and rant and complain about your similar situations and bond very fast over it. honestly, that's probably how you two got closer in the first place. Easy way into glitchys heart: Bitching abt things ig <3

♡ in a similar but more positive vein, you two can and will often ramble about things you did in your respective games - or even just rambling abt you two's games in general if you yourself didn't come from a pokemon game. although glitchy is very cynical and apathetic to all of it now and knew that none of the pokemon or npcs in his world really had feelings, he still likes to explain the mechanics and the pokemon to you... he wishes he could've taken one home as a pet for you two, but would that even work? would it even recognize him? would it be anything more than a piece of coding that can no longer work due to being forced into a physical form? he thinks about this more than he should.

♡ ... aaanyways, on a lighter topic, due to that train of thought he probably gets you two a cat or something, after extensive research and reading bc he does not want to accidentally handle any animal poorly. it's name is up to you but if you just wanna go with whatever glitchy chose it's name is like, mittens. or something really basic. or it's pikachu/pika/chu or something because as much as he loves being free he does feel odd without pokemon so naming a cat that sort of helps but not really.

♡ i like to think if you did have a pokemon or a favorite though it'd be eevee just to match how glitchys favorite is probably pikachu or one/all of the 3 starters bc he's unoriginal

♡ do you think their replacements date. This isn't even a headcanon this is just something i went "oh if they both have replacements... wait."

♡ frlg red and whoever the hell replaced you kiss under the moonlight. every time we touch amv . Ok anyways back to the actual headcanons i apologize

♡ assuming you two both somehow Physically Manifested irl and aren't just somehow visiting or talking to eachother in you twos digitized forms, you are both adjusting to the real world. and trying to help eachother with it. But since neither of you are used to it, it isn't going that well. Very odd and weird couple that look unreal, while ones also glitching out of reality every 5 seconds casually having a walk in the park. It's normal. Love wins

♡ presumably, you also are as touch starved and affection-starved as glitchy due to your whole ordeal being so similar. you two will be ALL over each other. PDA and general affection and touch are CONSTANT. no matter what. you two are so lovey-dovey it's almost comical

♡ i've stated this in a few other headcanons but legit do anything affectionate to glitchy and he'll become redder than his mfing clothing. dude is so touch-starved and is also really easy to fluster and he hates it. with this s/o specifically, though, i like to think since you two are similar he'll absolutely try to get back at you by immediately doing anything to fluster you back, and it probably works... you two are just incoherent blushing messes at the end of it all

♡ most of these headcanons are just "Mutual Problems: The Thread" and i find that very funny. what being undersocialized, replaced, toyed with, abandoned, and traumatized for decades does to two mfs

♡ adding onto that you both are probably clingy with each other and get a bit of separation anxiety. glitchy is like. "Where is my fucking spouse." in his head any time you are not within his sight. my wife is soft and i like her post but in Glitchy Red and in Gender Neutral terms

♡ glitchy is sort of weird with romance. like, he knows that people date. but he's not... really socially aware of much of anything. anything he knows is through osmosis of his players or of things he overhears sometimes or something. due to this he probably just copies what he sees in media and is very cheesy about it and will give you bouquets and flowers he picked off the ground. Alternatively and probably more in character, he just doesn't do that and is very casual about his affection and love due to not knowing How To properly give affection. it's a lot of mumbled "I love you"'s and cuddles during the evening. small stuff like that.

♡ wait no. since you have very similar issues to red... concept: relationship dynamic where one person is very casual abt it and the other person is very extra and romantic and gives everything they can to the other person. you are the extra and romantic one. it makes glitchy so confused and he feels like he's undeserving of it, but it makes him fluster sm. You were from a dating sim game you have to be extra about romance /j ( unless you want it to be serious backstory i guess. reader DDLC monika type beat... )

♡ sometimes he asks what you did to players. and i .. i actually do like you being like. monika sorta where you're more clingy and attached to players. So if you choose that to be the case he finds how different your approach is to that odd. but he supposes your game was probably not as fucking glitchy constantly, or at least wasn't known for its glitches. he's partially envious of that, but part of him is glad you didn't have to endure the hell he did.

♡ you two do get sometimes recognized among the general public but are assumed to be cosplayers. whether this pisses you off or not is up to you, but i think glitchy has very mixed feelings about it. he just scowls and has a look of visible confusion on his face. he Doesn't really like socializing with anyone other than you tbh so this doesn't help, nor does he really enjoy talking about or remembering pokemon without his ok ( Good luck with that when its like the highest grossing multimedia franchise ever RIP glitchy red 2011-2023 )

♡ once again. relationship dynamic idea. you being the more outgoing social one Who is secretly sort of cracking from pressure and red being the brooding awkward blunt one. imagine you going to cons bc you like the attention from getting recognized as yourself. red is begrudgingly at your side rolling his eyes bc he doesn't like cons, probably ( although he will eye the pokemon merch with both disdain and intrigue... he will come home with a 10 foot tall pikachu and charizard plush ). people ask for pics w you sometimes. they all fuck up bc red will not allow you to leave his side even when ur taking pictures he doesn't wanna be in, and as i said in other posts, Any footage of him comes out looking like cryptid photos / they just get really fucked up in processing in... various weird ways. he finds it funny and is oddly proud of being able to screw photos up, but he'll eventually get juuust out of shot if you really want to take pictures w other people

♡ Do not put either of you two around technology, it'll fucking explode near either of you ( probably, anyways - assuming you're also glitchy and unstable like. well. glitchy is. but i assume any code made manifest into physical form like you two, glitched or otherwise, would not be able to use technology without it fucking up a little. )

♡ although glitchy can be sort of a dick sometimes, he tries to never be that way arnd you. if he makes you upset he like, immediately feels bad and apologizes, and will be there to calm you down and comfort you

♡ you prob prefer to call glitchy by red, i just mostly use glitchy for him when writing these posts for Clarification's Sake. he does like being referred to you by name, though. the way your voice just... says it. idk, it makes him smile. your voice is nice, in his eyes. your everything is nice in his eyes, really.

♡ he sometimes gets really really worried that one day he'll wake up and you'll start repeating all of your actions and words, like. becoming an npc with no depth. it scares him a lot, because this life is too good for him in his eyes. sometimes he has sort of panics about it and you have to calm him down - which isn't too hard, but it's just easy for him to overthink about negative outcomes and about "oh god what if all of it was fake" types of scenarios

♡ ending this on a lighter note than... that, uhhh! i think he's a little in love enough that whenever you r away and he gets lonely, he might honestly look into the game you're from and act like a mfing in love fangirl ( aka, only looking at the parts you appear in and just intaking everything about you in your source material asap. you look so cute in the artstyle of the game, too... man. he's a little lovestruck. a little fruity, even. this is even funnier if you take the dating sim / visual novel backstory into account bc glitchy Would download the game just to romance you. And you come home and see him doing that and are just like. Flustered and confused and 50 different emotions while glitchy just goes "I can explain, I swear." ).

♡ breaking news red from pokemon red and [ y/n ] from [ insert game ] are real and Are kissing. Maybe even under a tree. do what you will with this info

[xx-vergil-xx]

So I’m officially Crushed that Hounds is finished, even though the ending was perfect! So I’ll take the opportunity to respond to the writing style thing from earlier this week. Sorry if this is too random! I have 10 billion things I love about your writing, I’ll just pick out some that come to mind spontaneously

Thing 1, I love how you write supernatural beings! Genuinely alien and scary at first, but then we spend more time with them, and find such a human core to them. Like, the potential of the supernatural-as-metaphor is realized to perfection over and over again?

There’s something so recognizable in the way Desire toys with people, in Dream’s guardedness, in the Corinthian’s hunger. One example is in the Corinthian’s interactions with Daniel, the tension between experiencing sudden unexpected freedom, but registering it as rejection, as feeling obsolete and useless because who even are you when you aren’t needed…for him, that arises from his supernatural nature as a creature literally created for a specific purpose, but for me as a reader, it still speaks to something relatable and painful. Really great stuff

Thing 2, the references! To literature, poetry, myth, music, history…I just recently read “Underland” by Robert MacFarlane (warmly recommended) and he does something similar, to similar effect. It gives everything such scope, makes it feel so much bigger than the immediate story being told, like it situates the story in some Great Narrative about all of humanity, with the references connecting it all like a myriad mycelial strands.  

Thing 3 is that I love the way you word familiar things in an unusual way, which always feels like I’m getting some kind of revelation about what the thing’s essence is. I always struggle to put into words why a certain moment, or gesture, or landscape, or person makes me feel a certain way, and then I might encounter it in your writing and suddenly I’m like “Yes, finally someone gets it!” And I especially love it when the verb is doing the heavy lifting.  Random example, how to immediately capture the eerie vibe of a lonely nighttime street – “buzzing security lights futilely scratching at the darkness”.

Aaanyway this is way too long already, but I want to just thank you again for sharing your writing :) Hope you have a good weekend!

hi??? hello??? and what if i wept??? what THEN??? what if these businessfolk on this commuter train had to watch me sniffle with pure inexpressible joy???

but seriously — wow this really sent me reeling in the best loveliest most consuming way!! it is maybe the most richly validating feeling in the world to have someone point out bits of your work they love and it is genuinely such a gift — your time and your thoughts are of immeasurable wonder and i will stuff these praises in my pockets like treasured cool rocks from a beach <3

i am thrilled my supernatural creatures hit — in even my non-fic stuff i am absolutely fascinating by scales of humanity — by the way the immensely surreal and even the seemingly ahuman can contain with in it exaggerated mirrors of the truest human experiences. i love playing with that like bizarre distortion (especially w my baby cori, but all the endless were such a sublime opportunity to Mess Around With That), and then narrowing the aperture down to try and pinpoint the real, authentic humanity that the most inexplicable wildness can contain <- all that to say made me feel crazy wonderful that you liked the way i mucked about with the wild supernatural gang !!!! bodes well for my future projects <3

i am going to put underland on my library list!! i am such a sucker for intertextuality like what if words were a sculptural medium what if by compounding text on text on text you build a form greater than the sum of its parts ANYWAY gosh makes my spirit light and free to know you liked all that <3 <3 <3 i look forward with delight to reading that book!! (also mycelial is such a brilliant word thank you for reminding me it exists <3)

the moments of articulating specific little feelings are generally the ones i beat my head against the wall about the most and so it is genuinely so rewarding to know that they hit and they resonate <3 and verbs!! to the chagrin of some professors i tend to insist on giving descriptions active agency and it is again wonderously validating to know that that’s a vibe!!! thank you thank you thank you <3

this really make me feel like my body was full of light and i’m going to have a real killer of a day now <3 thank you so so so much for your kind words they mean everything under the sun to me <3

[faaarawayyy]

quick note (and dni):

i’m a minor, so if you’re an adult who doesn’t want minors following/interacting, keep that in mind! i dont usually check on individual profiles so i won’t know if you’re an under-18 dni account, so just do us both a favor and don’t interact if you wouldn’t want me to! thanx ^_^

i do explore some “darker stuff” in my creativity, but i’ll always tag any posts that might have triggers! if you ever have something you need tagged that i don’t already have covered, just lmk (through anon ask or reg ask or whatever you wanna) and i’d be more than happy to fix that! don’t want anyone to see anything they don’t want to!

dni: queerphobes, aphobes, racists, xenophobes, pedos, necros, zoos, general bigots, etc. basic dni criteria. just be a good person and i dont have a problem with you

OKAY AAANYWAY THAT ALL OUT OF THE WAY, read on for more info on me!

hi there! my name is bea/benrey, i go by poyo/dolphin/sob/snivy/cynda/hey/she pronouns. i love drawing and writing, and i'd really love to become a professional writer and animated filmmaker in the future! i've just got super big dreams that i know i'll achieve someday. but i'm taking my time! :]

generally, hey/hem by default is best for me, though i love my neos and have a lesser preference for she/her

i plan on posting a lot of different stuff both on this main and some sideblogs! right now you can expect random stuff and ramblings, my ocs, art, gaming stuff, and possibly more!

i hope you enjoy your time here :DD

#delfinxxiaposting (old) / #clicksnsqueaks (new) is just for anything and everything i post on my own!

#my art and #my doodles r both art related, but the latter tends to be lower effort than the former.

#friend art is for art made by my friends ofc ^_^

#ocs r about, well, My OCs my beloveds. theyll also have seperate tags ex #oc: bea

#for me <3 is… well anything made for me lol!

might have a writing tag at some point but not rn !

#reblogs is for reblogs obvs

#4later is stuff i wanna come back to, this includes resources

#important is in the same vein but more serious

#inspiration is stuff i find SO AWESOME and will probably come back to later to draw some inspiration from

#fav is similar, just stuff i REALLY like but doesnt have to be creative related, could be silly

#silly is just goofy things i like

#wholesome is nice stuff… cute or sweet or whatever all that

i thiiink thats it rn! Yay! 🐬

[dapandapod]

Prompt 6 - unconsciously searching out each other’s hand while sleeping

Trainees Geralt and Eskel

This has been written for *months* and I forgot about it somehow?? It feels like i already posted it but i guess not? xD can be read as platonic or non…platonic… Aaanyway please enjoy this little (indeed little) thing! and Maya love, I hope you like <3

On Ao3 Hand holding prompt collection

Witchers are supposed to be independent, self sufficient. One unit working on their own. They don't need anybody else. Working together is a bonus, a rarity.

Meeting up is about honing the individual skill, not forming bonds or dependency. It is supposed to be like that.

Reality, however, is different. Sometimes witchers find each other, find themselves with each other. Brotherhood, family, a partner, a friend. Out on the path or behind the walls of the training ground, sometimes in sleep.

Geralt and Eskel have snuck off after breakfast, ditching Coën and Lambert and Luka and the others, skipping out on laundry.

There will be hell to pay later, but for now they run through the forest, yelling and hooting at their temporary freedom. At breakneck speed, they jump over creaks and logs and stones.

They have stolen one of Vesemir's bottles, one they have seen him and Luka sip from late at night and become giggly.

There is no way two teenagers can keep their filthy paws away from the opportunity, and they take their small bottle of victory to the shed down by the lake.

Geralt scrunches his nose at the taste, Eskel laughs and snags the bottle, drinking deep, only to start coughing, his eyes tearing.

They become the same kind of giggly as Luka and Vesemir, they attempt their worst impressions of them both, and then of the rest of the witchers at the keep for good measure.

They laugh themselves breathless, the walls spinning and their eyes heavy.

It is late afternoon when Vesemir finds them passed out on the dirty floor, the evidence of their crimes by their feet.

They have curled up together on their sides facing each other, hands entwined. Vesemir can't help but smile, his own memories from a youth long past an echo of the scene before him.

But the two trainees were right. There would be hell to pay, and as they woke up with the first, and the worst, hangover of their lives. They were sent to run the walls until the sun came back up again.

When they were finally allowed inside for breakfast, Lambert took one sniff at them and gagged. Liquor and sweat and teenage hormones makes for a terrible cocktail for a young witcher nose.

All in all, Geralt and Eskel have no regrets.

As the years pass, they become two independant, self sufficient witchers, they don't need anyone else.

But they meet up anyway. They steal a bad bottle of whiskey, finish it together in the late evenings, making the worst impressions of the best people they know. They pass out, their hands still remembering how they fit together.

As they part, they bring new memories with them. To be honest, sometimes there’s less memories than they started out with, but that too is an experience.

And both consider themselves richer for it.

[beansterpie]

Charlotte/Casca, Klinger/Mulcahy, Fitz/Fool

<3 <3 <3 ur the best moth K Chasca first:

So the 'only in highly specific situations' is kiiinda a lie since I'd be down for them to get together in random AU's and stuff, but I feel this way because the two of them getting together would have to be preceded by both of them being hung up on Griffith lmfao. Like, they meet through Griffith, and it's their investment in him that initially helps them bond. That's also why I have 'facebook status it's complicated', messy friend group drama rip. And the 'give it twenty years', becuase I feel like a big part of their relationships is about growing slowly from where they were, and shifting their perspectives on who they are allowed to be in the world.

SO like, Klinger/Mulcahy is one of those ships I have where I like them as Just Friends™ just as much as I like them in shippy way, which is why that^ is kind of contradictory. The 'is it really subtext' is kind of tongue and cheek lol, because they really don't have that much subtext compared to plenty of other duos on the show, but they do in my heart <3 I want what they have because I find their friendship really sweet! You know, when the show bothers to focus on it rip

AND THEN FINALLY FITZFOOL SCREAM

thanks for asking me about this ship moth, you know I've been thinking about them nonstop lmfao

It's. Man. Where to begin. I feel like.... the stages of these two's relationship and lives feels like such a deliberate journey to the two of them getting together. The romantic overtones (because they're honestly a league beyond undertones), Fool canonically being in love with Fitz, them calling each other Beloved, the Wit as a concept (whether unintentionally or not) having such strong parallels to the queer experience to the point that scholars have pointed it out apparently, the way Fitz describes the Fool's physical appearance in much more detail than pretty much any other character, and their ~intense bond~ that is described in ways that's leagues more intimate and sensual than any other romantic/se xual relationship that Fitz has had..... and THEN THEY DON'T EVER GET TOGETHER? I was devastated, shot, died on the spot. Oh my god. So yeah IS IT REALLY SUBTEXT? In a lot of ways it feels like the perfect ship, my issue comes in the fact that dear ol' Robin Hobb doesn't seem down with the romance/se xual interest being reciprocated, because 'love can exist without carnal desires' which to me kind of just sounds like another example of two male characters (the Fool is gender fluid, but largely presents as a man in regards to his relationship with Fitz) being ~soulmates~ but including reciprocated romantic love or, god forbid, gay sex would somehow cheapen the relationship. who's heard that one before? It's especially frustrating because in terms of the rest of the canon ships in the series, it's all startlingly straight (tbf I haven't read RWC, and I hear one of the characters in that is gay), and sex doesn't seem to lessen the intensity or ~sanctity~ of the het ships in any way. SO. I have notes lmfao. But yeah they canonically grew up together in King Shrewd's court, and then (also canonically sob) have unresolved romantic and sexual tension forever and ever (and ever and ever). Maybe if they had another 20 years, they'd have figured it out (but idk if Hobb would allow it 🙃)

Aaanyway, thanks for the ask! <3

[nighttimepixels]

TALK TO US ABOUT MASS EFFECT I HAVE BEEN AN INSANE MASS EFFECT/SHAKARIAN TRASH PERSON SINCE 20-FUCKING-11 AND LEMME TELL YOU THOSE FEELINGS HAVENOT TARNISHED A SINGLE FRACTION IN THOSE TEN YEARS OH MY GOOOOOOODDDSSSS!!!!!!!

I DEMAND A PLAY-BY-PLAY UP TO THE MINUTE OF YOUR REACTIONS TO EVERYTHING!!!!

you are so valid and I totally see why everyone I've ever mentioned it to loves the hell out of it

aksdjlsdfj I meannnn if you want to hear my rambling about it then hell yeah

Okay, gonna put this below the cut to save everyone else XD also- since I'm not leaving this Mass Effect obsession anytime soon, if you're not interested in seeing occasional posts about it, please feel free to block the tag "night plays ME"~

(mild spoilers ahead??)

((also for real I mean it when I say this is rambling as hell lol, apologies and no stress if absolute no one reads all this))

OKAY SO Mass Effect 1-

Stars help me, I was honestly hooked right from the start?? Like even in Legendary Edition (the combined trilogy just re-released in one "can play it on one system + minor improvements", for anyone who doesn't know) where it's smoothed out, of course it's obvious that ME1 is a decade old... but the foundation for these relationships are all there and gods I love them already.

Like - Kaiden right off the top is a delightful good fightin lad, what the hell. I've heard that he's viewed as 'bland' by a good portion of the fan community but I dunno, he's a delight and even more complex by the time 2 rolls around and you encounter him on Horizon, it was honestly Ashley I was way more meh about - mostly because before you can learn about her family history/etc, she comes off as hella xenophobic and I was immediately offended for my growing space family that she didn't like/trust all the aliens around, pfff.

(she gets redeemed a bit through further actions/evolving thoughts, but I thought in retrospect it was a bummer that they didn't flip the order there, give her a chance to be liked before the complicating factor of being so rude about aliens >:c that then she could grow from... ah well. Apparently she has a good arc but uh, let's just say I chose Kaiden at the "key junction" in the latter part of the game so I won't be seeing anymore of Ashley uh... anytime soon, haha.)

Garrus??? Is??????? The ABSOLUTE best???????????

I liked him from the start, I'm always a bit of a sucker for a rogue-detective "the system won't bring this bastard to justice, so I've got to" type and all their moral shadiness XD But he just gets better, honestly, and where I'm at in ME2 (right before the Reaper IFF mission, as of typing this, with everyone's loyalty!) I am only digging myself deeper into this hole-

-*wheezing* okay anyways -

Wrex is AMAZING I love fightin' middle-aged krogan bastard, gods. Liara is great too, I'm a sucker for a wlw relationship (playing fem!Shepard, so) - buuuut I'll admit she's a bit more one-note in ME1. Last week while I was still on ME1 I remember hearing (while trying to dodge spoilers) that her arc is really good, though. I think they leaned a little hard on the 'innocent but sexy' sterteotype on her (so despite the yikes aspect of a few of the things I've learned in ME2, lol, I actually really like the complexity that's been added to her character.)

Saved Liara first, so by the time I got to Noveria and had the standoff with Benezia there was the chance to have emotions over Liara having to face her TwT and of course, I made the questionable but quality decision to free Queen Rachni heheh. no ragrets

More than a blow-by-blow of my choices though I totally wanna take the chance to say that even in the mild jankiness of ME1 (goddammit, the Mako.... please..... please just go up this impossible cliff I just want to resource hunt-) the way that the lore, both obvious/key to main plot and the lesser/filler/background/world-building kinds... I just love it. It incorporates it well, you can go ham in the codex learning more, or just dive into the basics - it's clearly a complex galaxy (and they do an even better job in 2 of fleshing it out further), and it never really felt overwhelming. It was pretty natural figuring it all out-!

Plus the interesting implications of resource hunting amongst the sapient races, and the little side missions you better bet I did every one of- there's so much rich depth in the story if you do 'em!! (And that lead with that Keeper side mission...? Looking back, damn, clever foreshadowing-!!!)

And oh my gods, Ilios??? hell yeah. I loved that mission so much, especially having Garrus & Kaiden with me when talking to the hologram/computer, and more than anything, that last sprint in the Mako trying to get to the jump before it closed-???

yeet the boi-

Also mannn I love a good setpiece, and having to go up the side of the elevator, space-side?? such a cool setup!!

Plus it felt good having been Paragon enough (as simple as the good v bad vibe system is, I don't hate it, lol) to avoid one of the Saren fights, ngl. And the er, "second fight" with Sovereign-Saren.... hell yeah

... I'll admit I had to double check my choice re whether to save the Council. I did in the end, but I swear, sometimes the way they phrase things I'm like ".... okay but Garrus is right, defeating Sovereign is more important than these few leaders??????" woops. Listen, priorities, is all I'm saying..... (￣ヮ￣|||)ゞ

'Course later they emphasize (in ME2) that there were 10,000 people on that same ship and I was like well I wouldn't have second guessed if I'd known that, I mean c'mon-

Also I did indeed romance Liara in this one, so I got that scene ;Dc But,,,, I also knew by the end that I was totally gonna romance Garrus in 2 since he's an option then finally,,,,, lemme tell you the guilt as I waffled over whether to romance Liara bc of it. hahaha.

Aaaaand Mass Effect 2-

So I'm only up to right before the Reaper IFF Mission, so I don't know the ending, etc etc lol. That said, I've just finished every side mission I've found with the exception of the Shadowbroker Quest and the Arrival Quest (I've heard the latter basically leads into ME3, and the former is best either right before the Omega 4 jump or in postgame).

So from the start - fuck yeah fuck yeah what a high adrenaline start Shepard noooooo but also yes save Joker aH-

The motion comic too hot damn nice job

I loved this setup, seriously - especially forcing Shep into this situation, having to work with/for Cerberus, and the compelling reasoning given behind "why" they do what they do (I especially found it a good point that the Salarians have the Task Force, the Asaris the Commandos, the Turians the- etc... like, true, when you put it like that, having a similar group advancing human interests/solving human interstellar problems is pretty reasonable...). That said, I love too that it really isn't shied away from how Cerberus is nonetheless fucked up - or its at least done fucked up stuff.

Listen, I still think some messed up stuff is gonna be revealed in 2's endgame......... after that Horizon mission and the Collector's ship???? TIM I SEE YOU YOU SHADY MF-

aaanyways lol...

I'm so so glad on a gameplay level they nixed the Mako style exploration. A few Hammerhead missions are fine and a lot more focused than the slippery ass navigation in that glorified ATV, pfff. The probes are a neat way of getting after similar resources - and more importantly, having good levels and some good hubs (the Zakera Wards, Omega, Ilium, etc) is way way more fun than having a more 'sprawling' space that is.... a lot of empty nonsense, lol.

Then there's the fact that we get Joker right off the bat and you can interact with him so much - and him and EDI??? Get out gods I love them. Kasumi is so right when she says they sound like a bickering old married couple lol. I have a terrible feeling that some shit is gonna happen with EDI..... but I don't think she's evil as-is, at least.

Side-eying the hell out of those "access forbidden" parts of her that she doesn't even know.... and the fact that her AI core has a locked door access................... something's gonna happen gdi LEAVE OUR ADOPTED AI ALONE.

(Also Joker pls stop fracturing your thumb on the mute button)

Also please save me there are so many hot aliens in this game,,,,, the xeno/monsterfuckers really comin' through strong in the sequels............... doin' the lord's work........................................

In general, I love how many levels ME stepped up in two with complexity and interwoven narratives!! Like, to the point it'd be almost a drag to replay ME1, even though it was fun going through it (if occasionally a bit tedious with the cookie cutter rando planet science/mine facilities, lol). Like, just from how fun and interesting ME2 is, mostly! more of all the pre-introduced races, plus new ones, plus more filling in of intragalactic politics, and more interesting implications of all these space-faring races mixing....

Also gods WREX and his planet holy shit,,,,, fuckin' hell yeah my man get their shit together and also adopt Grunt yes good-

And Mordin??? My singing semi-evil scientist best friend forced to confront his choices more than he thought he ever would have???? With some of the best ongoing general report chatter of all the companions??

(when I tell you I choked on my coffee when I talked to him after confirming romance choice w/ Garrus and that 'pamphlet' and 'anaphalactic shot if ingesting-' kajsldkfjsldfjk)

Like, fuck, the fact that they actually dive into the mixed morality and horrors of the genophage, and you can confront Mordin on it, for good reason, yet he still stands his ground, until finally some bits of his loyalty mission seem to... affect him, and I'm guessing might set up things for 3 with him? Unsure, but either way, damn, the fact that they start to dig into it...

And Taliiiii my beloved forbidden alien wife TwT her loyalty mission was SO GOOD. I love how varied they all are?? Getting to defend her and discover what she'd unwittingly been a part of-!!

Zaeed is a bastard but tbh I love that he is and that he's unapologetic in him - and Kasumi omg, best thief. A heist?? Gods, yes- I love our couch lounge chats XD

Samara is..... illegally.......... she's an illegally powerful and beautiful and eloquent MILF...........................

(.... listen I'm sapphic as hell and I'm kicking my own ass for picking her up last aksjdlfksjdfl - but her loyalty mission, damn. And seeing how there's this interesting cultural subset, and the struggle with the Asari in that they unquestioningly accept/respect justicars, but also know that the impact outside their culture is a diplomacy nightmare waiting to happen-)

,.,,,,,T,,, Thane,,,,,

I am weak for morally implicated murder dads okay?? And that voice??? His mannerisms?????? How you first see him, and that prayer after assassinating her...???????? And his history/his people's history with the hanar, gods I love how messy it is, it feels so much more real!

Also Jack is a mess and I love her (and want to get her some therapy, omg), and her and Miranda nearly duking it out after you've done both their loyalty missions??? so good and makes a lot of sense-! Honestly I would love more interactions between teammates on the ship, but there's already so much the devs had to balance I can't blame 'em for minimizing, heh. But suffice to say I also love Miranda and Jacob, even if I'm softest for my alien crew XD Hell yeah Jacob, we'll get loud and spill drinks on the citadel indeed TwT

.... I could write a whole essay on how much I love Garrus oTL Perhaps because he and Tali are the throughlines from 1 on your 2 crew, I have some of the strongest feelings about them... but genuinely, he was one of my favorite companions in the first game, and how you find him as Archangel in two? Getting to help him fight his way out after he's gone nearly 48 hours straight fighting off three gangs alone, jfc. His vengeance quest and what can happen there.... That line? fuck me, that line -

It's so much easier to see the world in black and white. Grey? I don't know what to do with gray...

How DARE you come for my heart like this, devs holy shit

(also, some other choice faves so far from the series from him include We can disobey suicidal orders?? and This wasn't in my training manual... [in 1, if you have him with you @ th Thorian fight] and his whole.... pop the heat sink - in his romance ;Dc)

asdasdfksadjfkl like I said I can write an essay on him PFFF suffice to say I'm very looking forward to his romance scene and where things go in 3

But yeah gods I'm just gonna keep rambling if I'm not careful lol. Gods I don't even know what to talk about it's all so good and while I can understand people roasting the obviousness of Paragon V Renegade (v neutral) choices/alignments, I think they do a pretty damn good job in 2 of pushing it further - to the point that there were some times that I accidentally got renegade points and I wasn't that mad, haha. There's so much fun in the interactions that I just have a good time anyways~

I have so many thoughts about TIM (The Illusive Man) and Cerberus.... theories evolving galore............... and like, what the hell!! Omega 4 going to the center of the galaxy is such a cool twist, goddamn - though my heart still breaks at losing Kaiden (his line if you haven't romanced him?? about feeling like he lost a limb when he lost you??? holy shit.... but I also can't blame him for not trusting Cerberus to the point of it affecting his ability to trust Shepard... like fuck Shep go after himmmm) I'm really excited to see where that goes since he comes back in 3, and what the fuck happens with Cerberus bc while I love the fact that obviously there are a lot of people in it for the right reasons, doing good work, there are those that are doing the opposite, and I have a very bad feeling about where TIM will end up landing....

All that said though I need to do the Reaper IFF mission (where I'm lightly spoiled as to getting That Boy, but not how/what happens to make it so - just that it's apparently wise to have all your side missions done before getting him...) and the actual Omega 4 jump. So we'll see what happens and what I think about it from there heheh!

.... major kudos and genuine props if you made it here to the end, I am so sorry for not editing on condensing all this, and appreciate you so much ;w;

[bumblebeug]

Felix, The Punk : Pt 2.

Pt 2 : Not completely Wrong

“Alright class. Attention, please,” Mme. Bustier clapped. The general chatter of the class settled down and focused on their teacher’s bright smile.  “I have a very special announcement! I know it’s unusual for this to happen at the end of the day but we have a new student joining us!”

The student next to her, half-heartedly raised one hand in greeting.

“Man,” Alya quietly muttered, “Another year, another kid.”

Yeah, you new kids are taking over, Nino texted to their group chat.

“Pft,” Alya snorted. You’re just jealous that we’re cooler than you.

As if. Came Nino’s reply.

Flirt on your own time, I’m trying to pay attention.

Sure thing, mom.

Marinette rolled her eyes and lightly kicked Nino’s chair.

“Hey!” Nino retorted.

“Something you wish to add, Nino?” Mme. Bustier asked.

Nino straightened, “No, ma’am.”

“Right, so, as I was saying – our new student is joining us from just across the channel. So please, welcome to the class Felix Lenoir.” Mme. Bustier clapped to signal the rest of the class should follow suit. The new student rolled his eyes at the smattering of applause that resulted.

Felix? Marinette turned slightly to smile at Ivan, as if to say, ‘What are the odds of that?’ only to find him already grinning broadly.

“Ok Felix, there is a place next to Ivan.” Mme. Bustier said apparently satisfied at the reception he received, “He’s in the third –”

“It’s ok,” Felix interrupted. “I already know him,” he added politely and confidently walked over to Ivan.

It was when the two of them quietly bumped forearms that it clicked.

Felix.

From England.

The most punk person Ivan has ever met.

WHAT?!

Marinette’s jaw dropped. She turned further to see that Juleka’s expression was a mirror to her own. Rose, on the other hand, was frowning confusedly at Juleka.

‘What’s wrong?’ Marinette could see Rose’s mouth form the words.

In response, Juleka shook herself and cupped a hand over Rose’s ear to hide her whisper.

“WHAT?!” Rose exclaimed.

As one, the class turned to stare at her outburst. Oblivious, or immune, to the staring while she pointed her finger in Felix’s direction. “You’re Felix?” she asked incredulously, eyes darting between Ivan and Felix.

“The one and only,” Felix answered gamely and even though Marinette couldn’t see his face, she was sure he was grinning.  

Mme. Bustier cleared her throat loudly. “Now,” She said louder than necessary. The class went quiet. She continued at a normal volume, “Today we are going to focus on…”

“What on Earth was that about?” Alya asked out of the corner of her mouth to Marinette as she took notes. “You, Juleka, and Rose acted like you’d seen some sort of crazy anomaly.”

“Nothing escapes your keen reporter-senses.” Marinette said.

Alya tapped her pen on Marinette’s notebook, “Darn right. So you gonna spill or what? Why’s the new kid warrant such shock and awe?”

Marinette shrugged a shoulder, “Like, he doesn’t. Not really. It’s just – the other day, Ivan told us about the most punk person he’d ever met. I guess seeing who he meant was sorta a shock.”

Alya quickly disguised her laughter as a sudden coughing fit. “No way. That guy? Mr. Sweater-Vest over there is the most punk person Ivan’s ever met? He looks more like a pre-colour television Mr. Rogers.”

“Hence the shock,” Marinette replied with an upturn of her lips.

Apparently satisfied that she’d gotten to the bottom of it Alya turned back to her notes and left Marinette to her thoughts. Felix was nothing like Marinette pictured. She’d gotten everything wrong – from his height to his outfit. No patches, no rips, and certainly no tears. He was more neatly pressed than even Adrien was during a photoshoot. Where she’d been picturing a colorful explosion of hair, instead it was combed down. The heavy boots she pictured were a fantasy replaced by glossy dress shoes.  And she didn’t dare speculate on whether or not his dress shirt hid any muscles underneath it.

This was the guy that impressed Ivan so thoroughly?

She tamped down on the instinct to dismiss him. After all, Ivan rarely, if ever, exaggerated to impress others. Plus who was she to judge a book by its cover? She was the hero of Paris and didn’t look it. Of course, she thought wryly, the magic of the miraculous made sure that she couldn’t easily be recognized, so maybe that was a bad example.

Marinette tapped her cheek as she searched her mind for a good example.

Oh! She mentally perked. Rose was a great example!

Before Kitty Section, everyone thought that hard rock was a genre that Rose would utterly hate. It wasn’t until she founded the band that people realized their assumption was wrong. Actions, not appearances.

And – the bell rang, startling Marinette from her reverie. She stared down at her blank page. Had she really tuned out the whole lesson?

“Alya I,” she began as they filed out of the classroom, flush creeping up her cheek.

“Don’t worry girl,” Alya held her hand up, “I gotchu. Saw that you went to lala-land like, 3 minutes into the lecture and started recording when I realized that you weren’t leaving it anytime soon.”

Marinette’s phone pinged.

“There,” Alya pocketed her phone, “Do you also want me to send you pictures of my notes?”

“Alya.” Marinette placed her hands on the other girl’s shoulders. “You are my best friend. I owe you one.”

Alya laughed and brushed off Marinette’s hands and compliment. “Yeah, yeah. You do this for everyone else – least I could do. Plus, between you and me, I figured that Adrien would want some quality notes to read after his photoshoot.” She raised her voice teasingly as Nino passed by, “I saw the state of someone’s notetaking abilities and knew I had to intervene.”

Nino scoffed playfully. “Please, my notes are impeccable. Boy gets As all the time.”

She flicked the rim of his hat. “Only because he has to translate your chicken scratch to something worthwhile. Aaanyways,” She continued, “I promised my mom I’d help with some catering deliveries, so I gotta jet.”

When Alya closed her locker, she unknowingly gave Marinette a clear view of Felix a few spaces away, draping something over his arm.

 A leather jacket.

 ________

 I can’t say how nice it is to be able to kick back and have some time for writing. Hope you guys enjoyed Part 2. Also, just gonna say now - these chapters will have no consistent length, I’m just gonna write til I’m satisfied. Love reading comments, so write ‘em if you want to. 

Part 1

Tag List!

@kris-pines04, @heldtogetherbysafetypins, @hi-what-is-anything, @swirlmist, @princessofharte

[kazuoishiguro]

alright here we go this time for real: 1, 32, 48, 55, 69, 121, 133? 💖🌸✨

ah hello theree (also- thanks again i can't imagine going to ask something to only find i don't even them on hnjmhnm i'm mildly mortified but anyways thank you for the numbers and i hope you're doing well !!<3)

1. a book that is close to your heart

oh so many so many... hound of the baskervilles is my instant answer seeing as i read it as a kid and still have so much love in my heart for it and sherlock holmes in general :')

32. your favourite nonfiction novel

hm 'novel' confuses me because i could swear that refers to fiction but aaanyways--my favourite non fiction book? favourite is kind of hard to define too (these are horribly indirect answers im so sorry hwjnsj) buT i think white tears/brown scars: how white feminism betrays women of colour by ruby hamad is incredible, and as is because internet: understanding the new rules of language by gretchen mcculoch !

48. your favourite sci-fi novel

ahh i'm so into science fiction (and fantasy for that matter) at the moment but nothing comes to mind immediately? apart from something ishiguro like klara and the sun/never let me go, but i'm trying to think of one very typically exceedingly very sci-fi-y,, oH - the martian; don't know why i didn't think of it sooner whoops

55. a book with a satisfying ending

oh um, i'll say such a fun age by kiley reid

69. your favourite mythological retelling

i can't help but wonder whether you chose 69 for the question or because it's 69.... all the same, (this isn't technically mythological but) lancelot and the lord of the distant isles by patricia terry and samuel n rosenberg & mayybe the penelopiad by margaret atwood but it's been a while since i read that and i haven't even read the odyssey so i guess i don't have many opinions on it as a retelling ., i feel a little bit obligated to include at least one greek mythology retelling considering that damned edit i made but no yeah i haven't explored a good bulk of the actual mythologies so i don't want to delve into retellings of them quite yet hnfjsjs

121. a book that makes you nostalgic

ok brushing past sherlock and conan doyle, the phantom tollbooth bc i read it in primary school; i didn't actually read very much back then but also: dragonkeeper by carole wilkinson :~)

133. a book that you came across randomly and fell in love with

ooh ok this isn't too random but i did first pick out orlando at the school library not knowing too much of virginia woolf and that was my first introduction to her and she's now one of my favourite authors so! might mention interior chinatown by charles yu too bc i didn't know very much about it going in but i did really like it

book recs ask game

[otterintheflightdeck]

For the writing asks: 1, 3, 17 and/or 20, please and thank you! :D

Tell us about your current project(s)  – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it?

Ohhh boy. I have two:

- Mass Effect Andromeda fic: A Ryder/Avitus thing that started mostly as an excuse to try my hand at writing alien porn, but it turns out those characters are pretty much my usual kind of emotionally repressed sad sacks, so I couldn’t resist having them be very soft and fall in love with each other. 🙄 Progress has been nonexistent for a very long time -- I have 95% of a chapter written and I just need to finish up one sex scene. I picked it up again recently, so there’s hope! I like the actual conclusion I have planned for that story. I think it ties up a few loose ends from the game and explores the pathfinders’ relationships with their SAMs in an interesting way. Now I just need to actually get to that ending.

- Geralt/Emhyr “undercover as a couple�� fic, which is mostly an excuse to write about those two pawing at each other. There’s so much humor to be found in the contrast between Emhyr being a Repressed Fancy Man and Geralt being, well, Geralt. I’m probably about 80% done with this one, but I’ve faltered a bit because I’ve reached the point where something actually needs to happen with the plot, heh. My favorite thing about it is this running joke where Emhyr goes on and on about very fancy things he likes, and Geralt reacts with equal parts horniness and exasperation. It’s better than it sounds.

3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway)

So... I WILL one day be arsed to write this, but. My one personal writing project is this mystery set in Ancient Egypt, kind of an alternative take on the post-Akhenaten era. I want to explore what could have happened if Tut had died earlier, during the coup that killed most of his family, and his sister had become Pharaoh instead of having to marry him. Except with a dash of Lovecraftian horror and a conspiracy to dethrone her. :>

The protags aren’t set in stone, but tentatively it’d be a medjay who’s part of the Pharaoh’s personal guard and a young scribe who gets yanked into the whole situation because he’s in the right place at the right time and can read/write. I’ve had two specific scenes in my head forever: One where the two protags are camping out in the desert (running away from bad guys) and discussing religion, with the medjay unexpectedly having a very pragmatic/cynical view of it because of what he’s heard at court and seen at Akhetaten, and the scribe being much more naive and a true believer, partly due to learning his profession at a temple. (Spoiler alert: they fall in love and are soft. Yes, shocking.)

The second scene features Ai, the guy who became vizir after Akhenaten was killed, taking Akhenaten’s daughter to her grandfather’s unfinished temple complex to the old gods and giving her the “let’s bring Egypt back to its former glory by bringing back the old gods” spiel (which is basically what happened IRL and why Tutankhaten changed his name to Tutankhamun - and considering how young he was at the time, I’m gonna say it probably wasn’t his idea or his choice). Aaanyway, this little girl is like “nah”, has Ai killed on the spot, and sails back to Thebes with his corpse hanging from the front of her ship as a warning to leave her the fuck alone and let her rule on her own. I just love the idea of a girl Pharaoh who’s outwardly badass but terrified inside and still full of affection for her family and the god she grew up worshipping, despite huge political pressure to pretend otherwise.

17. Do you think readers perceive your work - or you - differently to you? What do you think would surprise your readers about your writing or your motivations?

This is such an interesting question. I think I am much, much less romantic than my writing makes me seem. The words that come up most often in the comments I get are, like, “soft” and “gentle”, but I’m a pretty acerbic, logically-minded person, and when I write about all of those men being Soft with each other, I’m not really sitting there wibbling and feeling those emotions, you know? Writing is a very calculated, detached endeavor for me. I like staring at a sentence and puzzling out exactly which words or phrasing will elicit exactly the reaction I’m looking for from my readers. So while bits and pieces of myself do make their way into my writing, I think I’m more detached from it than people probably imagine.

Writing about Ryder has been a challenge for me for that reason. He’s a blank-slate character that’s meant to be customized by players, but I don’t really have a strong attachment or feel any particular kind of way about him. I know a lot of people develop very specific headcanons about that type of game protagonist (Ryder, the Inquisitor, etc.), but I mostly just watch the cut scenes a lot, listen to the way the character speaks and try to tease out some kind of personality that makes sense out of it. I find that less interesting than taking a fully-developed, static character and trying to write them faithfully, so that’s why you won’t see a lot of Mass Effect/Dragon Age/Skyrim/Fallout/whatever fic from me regardless of how much I like playing those games. Though I will say that the Cyberpunk 2077 protagonist has piqued my interest, so I might give that a whirl eventually.

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

Ohhh, I’ve told you about this, but there’s this tiny thing in The Plight of the Elves: Iorveth finds an ancient elven book at some point, and the assumption is that it’s something important having to do with the restoration work he’s doing, but Geralt finds out it’s actually a recipe book. HOWEVER, it’s not exactly a recipe book, it’s a “how to run a household” book intended for newly-married women. Pretty much an ancient elven version of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management. 

I was going to explicitly mention this at some point, but in the end Geralt didn’t find out and it wasn’t important enough to work in. I just like the idea that Iorveth would be very keenly aware of the irony, would hate that he likes it, and would rather die 500 times over than breathe a single fucking word to Geralt about the actual nature of the book.

I had a blast rambling about all this, thank you for asking. <333

[thekingsparty]

//ahhh i was gonna be here, but last night i got a mega headache and while the headache was decent by the time i reblogged the memes, i underestimated the intensity of it on my eyes. typing this is v slow lol. i’ll love on y’all properly tomorrow unless my boy’s condition changes.. then no promises. but honestly, i think he’ll be fine tomorrow as he was before we dragged him through the city to be poked and prodded.. >_> 

also i did not forget the starter calls. i will work on those this week and try get some drafts done too once i posted some of the memes. thanks a lot for sending them in guys <3 y’all rock tbh. thx for the patience.

lil cat update under the cut again for those who care. 

after a day of worrying, today was really really good. i needed this. taigi was fine today, no throwing up, no weird behavior. saturday started fine, but around noon taigi threw up his entire food even the treats he takes the meds with. it didn’t have a good color and after that he behaved strangely. he hid under my bed and refused to come out for most of the day, katzi came watching him, which she never does, which worried me a lot. my tries to get him out were unsuccessful. i had to drag him out to check on him at least once. he threw up everything he ate and he didn’t drink until late evening. he refused to eat at some point too and even ignored treats. try and get your furchild to take meds if he refuses to eat anything. mom managed it tho. idk what it is but she has something about her that makes animals love her. it’s unfair af, cause they’re my furkids and i feed and care for them, but they love her more than me. so rude. 

aaanyway, taigi woke me early today and demanded food. he loudly complained (as usual) that it took me long, but he ate. only a little as i wanted to go easy on his tummy after yday. he even visited us during breakfast to demand human food and pets and every few hours he’d get up from his fav spot to get some pets and food to then return to his sleeping place. he even jumped on and off a table. i think yesterday was a combination of stress (during the week), new meds and new food. it all upset his tummy. if you read about it, all.3 are valid reasons for cats to throw up. 

last night was the first night i actually slept. not as much as i probs should’ve buuuuut i slept. went to bed with a blinding headache and woke with it to feed cats. tried to sleep again but couldn’t. nap didn’t help either, buuuut an insanely big dose of ibuprofen did lol. i think it did anyway.. given how bad my eyes deal with light and screens rn and the fact every scent in the room kills me it might be migraine. no clue tbh. but i think sleep will help with the eyes. i just got on here after feeding taigi again to post this and now i’m gonna go pass out. 

thanks to those who read this <3 y’all are fab. 

[milkchu]

being married to joe mazzello [headcanons]

“Henlo~~~ I love your works <3 Can I request for a Joe headcanon where your married to him please ;) I need more MAZZELLO FICs. Thanks <3 <3“ - Anon

A/N: i know there’s gotta be more than this but this is all i could think of atm! happy reading! 💓 (btw i made joe as a dad hcs!)

if you think this man isn’t absolute husband material then i’d have to fight you

ok aaanyways let’s go

so when joe comes home tired from filming

he just ... buries his face in your neck

and you just wrap your arms around him

“tired?”

he just nods, his face still in yo necc

you two would just end up cuddling

his head laying on your lap

and you’re just stroking his head til he falls asleep AAAAAaaAA

wearing !!! his !!! clothes !!!

like he would always find you wearing his old red usc hoodie

and he would think you’re the cutest thing to walk the earth

you two would cook a lot together !!!

and by “cook together” i mean

you mostly do all the work and he just watches

and when he does ... he just stares at you

in adoration

like one time you were making pizza from scratch

“why are you looking at me like that, you weirdo?”

“bc you’re too beautiful for this world, you weirdo”

and let’s just say joe ended up with flour all over him

saying random things to each other like

“i love your butt”

“come here often?”

“joe, we’ve been married for three years”

“why don’t you explore my jurassic park?”

“no joe”

cute ass weird n i c k n a m e s

hon/ey

sweetheart

cutie patootie

joey ma lovey dovey hubby honey bunch baby cakes sugar pie bun bun buttercup sexy baby-

mO VIE N I GHT S

like you would be watching jurassic park together

and you would just fangirl over child joe

“you were so cute back then!”

then you looked back at him

“what the hell happened?”

oMG ALSO ALSO THAT JEFF GOLDBLUM SCENE

like who wouldn’t fangirl over that

so joe would be kinda jealous when you do

so one time when you came home from work

you just found him on the couch in a opened up black shirt laying down

in the exact same position that jeff goldblum did in the movie

let’s just say he didn’t stay in that couch for long

this man would flood everyone’s instagram feed with you

it could literally be a photo of you drinking coffee without you looking

and he would put cheesy ass captions like “My love is stronger than your coffee. ❤️”

another is when it’s literally just you in sweats wearing a jurassic park hoodie with messy ass bed hair and mismatched socks stuffing a bagel in your mouth

it would be captioned, “My wifey is gorgeous, even in the morning.”

hE ALSO CALLS YOU WIFEY IN REAL LIFE

another example is when you’re wearing a formal dress or gown at an awards show or a premiere

“MY 👏 WIFE 👏 IS 👏 A 👏 HOTTIE🔥🔥🔥”

for awards shows and premieres

while posing for pictures

hE DOES THE WILL SMITH THING

where he just points at his wifeHAHAHAHABH

like joe would totally do that tbh

he would be such a great dad

like he literally sobbed when you told him you were pregnant

“i’m gonna be a dad”

joe would also plan out the baby shower and everything

and sometimes during late nights, he would make sure you were asleep

so he could feel your baby bump and sometimes even talk to it

“hi there, mommy and i can’t wait to see you” AHHSSJGSJA

joe would literally bring an emergency bag just in case your water breaks

and when it does HOOBOI

this man would carry you to the hospital if he has to

during labor, he would hold your hand the whole time

and he would never let go

i mean never

of course until your baby comes out

he would kiss your sweaty forehead

“you did so well baby”

“s/he’s so beautiful, like you”

tbh i could literally hear joe saying this to his kid

“how was school, champ?”

okay that was so random ok bye

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Two Hundred: Follow the ___ ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina, vulgarity ] [ Verse: Best Years of Your Life] [ AO3 Link ]

“So, are you ready?”

Looking up from her tablet as Sasuke slides into the seat opposite her, Hinata blinks, hand half reaching for her tea. “...ready for...what, exactly?”

“I thought we were going furniture shopping today. Remember?”

Another blink...and then she perks up. “...oh! I totally forgot! I’m sorry, I’ve just been so scatterbrained as of late -”

“It’s fine,” Sasuke assures her with a wave of a hand. “It’s just getting a little old eating breakfast at a folding table with plastic lawn chairs.”

The Hyūga goes a pretty shade of pink. “I...I know, I just…”

“I’m teasing you, Hina.”

“...you’re mean.”

“You’re just more adaptable than me. It’s been driving me nuts since day one, but you hardly seem to notice.”

Shoulders lift in a shrug. “...I guess I don’t. So long as it functions, I don’t really mind what something looks like.”

“Which is weird, because your bedroom back home was done up really cute.”

“W-well…” A glance aside. “That was...different. I was there for my whole life. And it was my space. This is our space.”

At that, Sasuke’s mouth slowly curls into a grin. “...yeah. Guess it is, huh?”

Suddenly bashful, Hinata’s face ducks, smiling. “...mhm…”

“Which means,” he goes on, “that we should put a little money and elbow grease into prettying it up, huh?”

“...you’re right. Let me just finish my breakfast, and we can go.”

“Sounds good.”

As Hinata sips her coffee, Sasuke starts gathering up what they’ll need: primarily a list of what all they’ve decided to add or replace, his wallet, car keys...and a flyer that came in the mail for some new store with decently-priced furniture.

Perfect.

Shepherding his fiance into the car, he makes his way into the denser part of the city, GPS telling him what turns to take when.

“So...most of this is going to be things we put together, right?” Hinata asks as they walk toward the doors.

“I think so, yeah. Cheaper that way. Someday we’ll have big fancy couches and tables and...whatever. But for right now, we’ll hit up the basics so it looks like decent folk are living there, huh?”

Hinata snickers into a hand, following him in.

“All right, so…” Sasuke whips out the list. “We need...a new kitchen table.”

“Mhm.”

“At least two chairs.”

“I still think we should do four.”

“Yeah, I agree. Four chairs. And...a table for the living room. So far the couches are holding up okay.”

“Maybe we could see if they have, um...those covers? That go over the couch?”

“...a good idea,” Sasuke amends, scribbling that down. “That means we’ll have to pick a color…”

“Why not just something close to what we have?”

“...Hinata, one is hunter green, and the other is administrative carpet blue,” Sasuke counters dryly.

“...you have a point.”

They look for the covers first, pleased to find a matched set in a pretty beige. “Think those will fit?” he asks, holding one up.

“I think so…? I could always try adjusting them.”

“All right, I’ll take your word for it.”

Nearby they find a coffee table at a decent price: a pale wood that, oddly enough, matches the covers they found.

“...I think they did that on purpose.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it.”

Then...to the kitchen department.

“Oh Sasuke, look!”

Glancing up from a display, he follows Hinata’s pointing hand.

“Isn’t it cute?”

It’s something called a breakfast nook, according to the accompanying sign. There’s a table, L-shaped seat, and a bench that sits along the other side.

“See? It’ll fit right in the corner! I bet that way, we’ll use a little less space!”

Sasuke gives his chin a thoughtful rub. She does have a point. “...I guess that makes sense. Doesn’t look too hard to put together. And technically it could probably seat five, which is better than the four we planned for.”

Looking almost starry eyed, Hinata gives her best puppy dog look. “Can we get it?”

“...all right, all right. It’s a good compromise.”

“Yay!”

Adding the (rather large) box to their flatbed cart, they take their current round of purchases to the counter, Sasuke at the ready with the coupons from the flyer. A savings of over fifty bucks later, they pack their spoils into the back of the car, and head for home.

And now...comes the tricky part.

Hauling everything into the little house, they start by trying out the couch covers. Tucking and tugging, they manage to get it looking...rather nice.

“...it’s all going to move the second someone sits on it,” Sasuke observes, making Hinata jerk in realization.

“...well, yeah...but until then, it looks nice…?”

He just snorts.

The coffee table is next. Laying out all the pieces and checking them against the instructions, Hinata confirms they have everything listed in the handbook. “Actually...we’ve got a few spare screws.”

“That’s going in the random stuff drawer. You never know when they might come in handy.”

Hinata takes charge of the booklet, carefully calling out each step and watching with eagle eyes as Sasuke obeys. Somehow, they make it through with minimal mishaps (they get two pieces mixed around, but thankfully it only took a few screws being removed and redone to remedy).

Standing it along the newly-clothed couches, Sasuke takes a step back and observes. “...I think...it looks good.”

“Mhm! I’ll have to get some coasters so nothing leaves a mark on it.”

“Good plan.”

They then take a break for lunch, reminiscing about how it should be their last meal with the folding table.

“I guess we can always use this stuff if we have, like...a party or something,” Hinata notes.

Sasuke perks a brow. “...are we the sort to have parties?”

“...well, it could happen.”

“...uh huh.”

With full bellies, they then turn to tackle the last beast. Tape cut and box flawed open, they stare at the contents.

“...that’s a lot of pieces,” Hinata murmurs.

“Mhm. Okay, let’s see if everything is here.” Taking out the parts and checking their sticker labels, Sasuke watches as Hinata crosses them off her list.

“...um…”

“What?”

“There isn’t another D-2?”

“...uh…” Shuffling some styrofoam, he checks the bottom of the now-empty box. “...nope.”

“Aw, s-shoot…” Nibbling the cap of her pen, Hinata says, “That’s the other leg of the bench.”

“...well, we’ll skip that for now. I’ll go in after work tomorrow and see if they can get me a spare.”

“Okay.”

The missing piece, however...is a bit of an omen.

Trying to tug open one of the bags of screws, Sasuke’s hands slip as the plastic suddenly gives way, and the pieces go scattering all over the kitchen. Blinking, he looks to Hinata, who stares back.

“...well, shit.”

Ten minutes are spent gathering them back up, ending up having to get a yardstick to fish out those that flew under the fridge and oven.

That alone puts Sasuke into the beginnings of a bad mood.

“Okay, so then that connects into E-4…”

“...E-4?”

“Mhm,” Hinata hums, staring at the book.

“...that doesn’t look right.”

“Well, that’s what it s-says.”

Holding the pieces together, Sasuke’s brows furrow. “...no.”

“...no?”

“No!”

“...but we have to follow the -?”

“Does that look right to you?”

Blinking, Hinata shuffles over to take a peek. After a moment of consideration...she snorts.

“...what?!”

“Sasuke…”

Fuming, he waits for her to stop giggling.

“It...it’s upside down,” she manages to say, pointing.

Brow furrowing, he looks back...blinks...then turns it over.

A perfect fit.

Scowling, his patience frays as Hinata giggles again, collapsing against him. “...I’m gonna holler. This is the most obnoxious thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”

Taking a breath after her laughing fit, Hinata looks up to him. “...want to take a break?”

“No. I want to get this done, so we can stop worrying about it.”

“I’m not worrying about it.”

“This nook thing was your idea,” he reminds her, shooting her a look that just makes her snort again.

“I know...I’m sorry.”

“Hn…”

“Will you forgive me when we finish it?”

“...I guess we’ll find out.”

By some grace, they manage to finish the table and the longer seat, propping them up in the corner of the kitchen Hinata had envisioned.

...it fits perfectly.

“...all right. I’ll get a spare part tomorrow. And then...we’re never doing this again,” Sasuke mutters, jostling as Hinata leans against him.

“Sasuke…”

“...hm?”

Giving a sheepish, amused smile, she offers, “...I love you.”

“Tch...you’re lucky I love you too. If anyone else tried to get me to do this, I’d’ve shoved them in the box and tossed them in the dumpster.” As she breaks into another giggle fit, he stubbornly fights a smile.

“That’s fair. How about we go out for dinner, okay? I think we better wait to use this until your temper cools.”

“...yeah. I agree.”

                                                             .oOo.

     Well...this is super random, but I had a LOT of fun writing it xD I think most of us know the pain and anguish that is putting together furniture that comes in a box. Oddly enough, I have one I've been putting off for like...a month. Whoops. Maybe tomorrow...?      I can see Sasuke as being That Guy that starts out calm...but just...starts getting more and more frustrated. Hinata, on the other hand...just laughs things off. Which makes for a rather interesting combo, haha!      Aaanyway...oof, two hundred days. And so far, with just one late day. None skipped. HOLY cow. And that's with several other projects running concurrently! I won't lie, some nights I feel pretty burnt out, but...overall this has been one heck of a ride. We're past the halfway point, and to our second of three hundred piece milestones. Part of me is eager for it to be over, and the rest I know will be sad when it is, but! For now, we keep on truckin'!      Thanks, as always, for reading <3

[satorsugu]

Hi Sarah! A few questions? If its too much you don't have to answer I'll understand. But have you read Isabel Hapgood's translation of the brick? How does it compare to Rose's? I'm trying to choose between the two. Or,, a better question: whos translation would you recommend the most? Would you be able to describe some of them briefly, if thats fine :( It's okay if not though. And is it better if I read the unabridged first? Thank you so much!

hello! i haven’t read hapgood’s translation, but to be frank i didn’t particularly enjoy rose’s version either. the dialogue was too modern for me and i would’ve preferred it much better if she had kept it closer to the 19th century. if that’s ur sort of thing though then maybe you’ll enjoy it? (if ur interested in knowing: hers was the only one i didn’t finish, since i put it down towards the middle. the brick itself is a 10/5 for me but her translation really isn’t my favorite). anyways, from the ones i’ve read, i really loved the translations of wilbour and denny. i’m currently going through christine donougher’s as well, and i’m not done with it but it’s going well so far. my analysis:

c.e. wilbour’s translation is the oldest and it’s probably the closest to victor hugo’s writing of the brick––not much to say about this one. it’s really good. his translation was the first one i read, and i appreciate how close it is to hugo’s version. 

norman denny’s is good too, though it isn’t exactly abridged? just keep that in mind. also, it’s a lot more poetic if that makes sense at all––the artfulness of it strays away from hugo’s writing just a bit, and certain parts were lacking in the accuracy wilbour had––but i feel that was denny’s intention anyway. it wasn’t a problem for me and it was still beautiful ok i loved it a lot

christine donougher’s translation is more modern, but it doesn’t stray far away from the language in the 19th century (unlike rose). she also uses a lot of footnotes and it’s incredibly helpful for first-time readers! so far my only problem with it is how she’s reduced some of the dialogue––though it shouldn’t be a big concern (like, there’s a line that i’m particularly fond of that she changed quite a bit, but that’s more of a preference considering that i’ve read other translations. it’s nothing really lmao).

fahnestock & mcafee – totally unabridged. i’d say it’s actually quite similar to wilbour’s in a sense that it doesn’t stray far away from hugo’s style of writing, though i still prefer denny’s version when it comes to unabridged translations of the brick.

julie rose’s version was fine, but i wouldn’t recommend it. too 21st-century. (if you aren’t particular about the language, then maybe you’ll enjoy it?)

i’ve heard positive things about hapgood’s translation, but i wouldn’t be able to give a proper description of it since i’ve not read it yet :-( sorry! 

aaanyways, in a nutshell donougher would be my #1 pick for ur first time; it’s probably the easiest to understand and it’s the most modern. if u want something less modern and closer to hugo’s style of writing, try wilbour’s; for something smoother and more poetic, try denny’s. 

to answer your second question, i think u should start with the abridged version first, then you can go ahead and read the unabridged if you’re still up for it. would definitely recommend denny’s version for that one, but again, if you want something less poetic and closer to the original, go for fahnestock & mcafee. 

hope u enjoy it, anon!!!