#Actually need to think of a new layout for when we change it

[sanctuaryblur]

i just realized that you and ally’s pfp are matching SAUR CUTE SJEVEJEHJED

and they say romance is dead!! (mike’s gonna hate this)

KDHDHSJS HII YES WE R MATCHING :333 we actually chose jack and Ralph bc of an inside joke

mikeru6 is SHAKING in his boots rn

[blueblossomcherry]

UNHEARD FEELINGS || ₊˚⊹ nishimura riki

🌸 ——— my life without you is a misery

▫️ MASTERLIST

▫️ nr x reader 1.4k angst, fluff, mdni

▫️ layout ib @bbokvhs

▫️ part 1

₊˚⊹ It had been a few months since you had seen Niki. You had been reminded of him everywhere you went, from seeing him on all of your social media platforms after the release of ‘No Doubt’, to getting text messages and calls from family and friends asking what happened between the two of you.

It was starting to get old, you missed him enough as it is. You didn’t need to constantly be reminded that you were on your own again. But it wasn’t just your friends that kept prying, it was also Niki’s friends, specifically his band members. You knew that they had meant well, that they were worried about you and Niki, but it was starting to get on your nerves.

One day while you were lying on the couch, you had received a text from Jungwon. It was the usual, “You should come over, Niki really misses you”, that he would always send you. You slam your phone against the couch and pull the blanket further over your shoulders. It had been so long since you had gotten a text from them, you thought they were done pushing.

You sigh as you hear your phone start to ring. You knew that it was Jungwon, calling to, once again, ask you to come over. You decide to answer this time, thinking maybe that would shut him up, even just for a few days. “What do you want, Jungwon?” You ask him, in a deadpan voice.

“Look, I know that things aren’t the greatest between you and Niki. But he’s not the same person as he used to be. He really misses you.” Jungwon tells you. You can hear the worry and desperation in his voice. It slightly sways you, you adored Jungwon and the last thing you wanted was for him to have to worry about something that doesn’t involve him. “Can you just come and talk to him? Just for a little bit? Even if it’s just for closure.” He pleads, hoping that even just a little talk would make Niki feel better.

“If I do this, will you all leave me alone?” You ask. You were so fed up with having to deal with this whole situation. Sure, you missed Niki. But if he wanted you back so bad, then why not make the effort himself. Why did his friends have to talk to you about getting back together with him? “Yes, we will. I promise.” He says. You can hear the smile in his voice. “Thank you.” You hear him say as you hang up the phone.

A few days later, you were on your way to their dorms. You could feel your heart beating out of your chest. Thinking about the possibilities that could come from this talk. You could find out he actually has changed and you could take him back or you could find out that absolutely nothing has changed and walk away for the second time.

When you finally arrived, you knocked on the door. You didn’t know if Niki knew you were coming but you didn’t really care. No matter how scared you were for this talk, you couldn’t wait to see the others. You wonder if Sunoo would still give you a tight hug like he used to every time he saw you. Or if Jay would tell you about a new recipe he found, or a new song he learned to play on his guitar.

Hearing the door unlock and open, you snap out of your thoughts. You see Jungwon smiling at you, stepping aside to let you in. He takes your purse as you walk in, placing it onto the table near the door.

Immediately, you see Sunoo walking up to you, giving you a tight hug. You melt into the hug, smiling into his neck. This was one of the reasons that you didn’t want to come back, you were scared that things had changed with all of the boys. “Niki’s not here yet. He’ll be back soon so you can just wait out here with us.” Jungwon tells you, walking back over to the couch to sit down.

You take a seat between Sunghoon and Jay, who immediately turns to you and starts telling you about everything that has happened since you and Niki broke up. You smile at the interaction, you had always seen Jay as a big brother. You two being closer than you were with any of Niki’s other friends.

Eventually, you hear the door open. You and Niki lock eyes as he walks into the dorm. It was like everything around you had slowed down. But before you could let yourself get fooled by a fairytale moment, you looked away. You didn’t come here to get fooled again. You came here to get closure.

“Um, do you want to go to my room?” Niki asks. His usual cool, calm demeanor is replaced with a nervous look. You wordlessly nod, getting off of the couch and walking to his room. “Good luck.” You hear Heeseung say through the walls of Niki’s room.

You sit on Niki’s bed as he takes a seat on the couch, facing you. “What did you want to talk about so badly?” You ask him. You quite honestly already wanted this conversation to end.

“I’m so sorry for the way that I treated you. You didn’t deserve that at all.” Niki tells you, putting his head down. ashamed of his actions. You take a breath, your heart hurting at the sight in front of you. “Niki.” You quietly say. His head snaps up to look at you, you can see his eyes filling with tears. “Please don’t cry, Ki.” You say. Your hand travels to cup his cheek, wiping the few tears that have started streaming down his cheeks.

“I’m sorry. Please, I’d do anything to get you back.” Niki mutters under his breath. “Why couldn’t you contact me? Why did everyone else have to?” You ask. You were still upset at the fact that he had made all of his friends text you, day in and day out. “I didn’t think you’d want to hear from me.” Niki whispers. Trying his hardest to keep his emotions in check, not wanting to break down in front of you.

“I did want to hear from you. I still do, no matter how many times i try to deny it.” You tell him, brushing strands of hair out of his face. “I really miss you, Ki.” He looks you in the eyes, trying to read you.

“You mean that?” He asks you. He grabs your hand, squeezing tightly. “Yes, I mean it. I promise.” You say, squeezing his hand back. He gets off of the couch, walking over to the bed to sit next to you.

He uses his unoccupied hand to cup your cheek, pulling you close. Your eyes flutter close as he presses a kiss to your lips. Your lips move in sync, tongues clashing against one another. It’s passionate, as if you’re making up for lost time.

Your hand travels up his chest, finding its place in his hair. Digging your nails into his scalp and tugging. Niki groans into the kiss. His hand moves down to your waist, giving it a squeeze before pulling away.

“I missed that so much.” He grins at you. You playfully roll your eyes and push him away. He pulls you closer, pecking your cheek. Before his hands travel to your sides, tickling you. You giggle loudly, sure that the boys in the living room could hear you. It takes a while for the two of you to calm down.

Remembering the conversation you two were just having, his face dropped a bit. “So? What does this mean for us?” He asked, a bit hesitantly. “I want to try again, Ki.” You tell him, looking him in the eyes and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. An excited grin makes its way onto his face.

He wraps his arms around your waist, picking you up and spinning the two of you. “You won’t regret it, baby. I promise.” He tells you. He sets you back down on the floor, pressing another quick kiss to your lips. “I know, Ki.” You say, wrapping your arms around Niki’s neck.

“I love you, so much baby.” Niki tells you, looking you straight in the eyes.

“I love you more, Ki.”

᥉tella speaks ₊˚⊹ thank you for the support on my works

᥉tella’s thoughts ₊˚⊹ i’m actually so proud of this

[luvseisagi]

—s. across the wrong universe.

chapter 09. caramel iced coffee

(🕷️) smau + narrated ch.

content. cussing. a little bit of angst at the end.

the little bell on the café door rings when you walk in —a soft little chime that announces a new customer— and you're instantly wrapped in an atmosphere you're already used to, one that feels almost as much like home as your own apartment.

a small smile blooms on your lips at the familiar scent of freshly baked pastries, ground coffee, and ripe fruit; the warm colors of the place welcome you as you weave between tables toward the last one —where reo and nagi are already waiting, halfway through their breakfast, and chigiri sits in his staff apron.

“finally, the princess appears,” reo lifts an eyebrow at you before you even sit down, next to nagi, who pats your head lazily as a greeting.

“when was the last meeting you attended? a month ago?” reo continues. it sounds like a complaint, but the soft smile he gives you after says he’s actually just glad to see you.

you shake your head. “mmm, no. i was here the day we talked about changing the layout of the twitter account.”

chigiri tilts his head. "well, yeah. that was a month ago."

you’re about to protest, but then realize you can’t —he’s right. has it really been that long? between exam stress, the whole spider-people situation, and rin barely being home for over a week, time's just slipped through your fingers.

“alright, let’s start. the other day, before he disappeared, i found a piece of green spiderman's web and i want to analyze it.” reo declares dramatically, opening his arms and hitting nagi by accident —the streamer doesn’t even blink. “so in today’s meeting, we’re going to discuss what it could-”

however, reo’s theatrical introduction is suddenly interrupted when he sees a waiter approaching your table.

reo and nagi already have their drinks. chigiri is sipping on a smoothie. the waiter holds a tray with a single glass and a cookie.

you glance at the tray. no one says anything for a second.

chigiri clears his throat. “guys, this is yoichi. he started working last week.” he shifts his chair so the boy can step closer. “yoichi, are you on break? you can deliver that and sit with us if you want. what’s your take on spider-man?”

no one really notices the subtle side-eye reo gives him, because the new guy quietly shakes his head and sets the drink and cookie in front of you.

"uh... this is for you, right? caramel iced coffee with a chocolate drizzle and a red velvet cookie.”

again, silence.

“…i…” you look from the tray to him, then to the table, then back again. it looks like he’s avoiding your gaze. “i mean, yeah, it’s my usual. but i didn’t order anything.”

yoichi freezes, as if he had been under a spell until now and had just broken it. you're pretty sure his face was a couple of shades less red before.

“i’m sorry. i don’t know why i… i guess you reminded me of someone who used to order that. i must’ve made a mistake. i’ll take it back right now.”

he moves quickly to grab the drink, but you interrupt him—your fingers on the sleeve of his white shirt grabbing his arm.

isagi prays you don't notice his heartbeat speeding up.

“no, it’s fine,” you say, smiling politely. “it’s what i was going to order anyway. besides, these cookies are the best thing this café has.”

you look up at him “thank you, yoichi.”

"uh... it's nothing.” 

he smiles back —a little nervous, a little dazed— and quickly walks off with the now empty tray under his arm and his whole face red.

how could he have been so stupid? he didn't even have time to think about what he was doing —saw you walking through the door and felt the need to approach you. he didn't even know he remembered your order by heart. he hadn't even realized that he'd been preparing it for him all week —like he was waiting for you.

he manages to calm down and plaster a fake smile on his face when another customer walks through the door, and he can finally focus on something that’s not you —it was like this in his universe, too. nothing else ever existed for him when you were near him.

and when the café quiets down again, he can’t help it —his eyes drift back to your table. he’s not staring, just glancing, but he can’t take his eyes off you.

you are wearing a t-shirt that belonged to him in his universe, but it's black instead of blue —he almost breaks the blender again when the thought that rin might have lent it to you crosses his mind. your hair is slightly longer, he thinks, and his yn never puts her hair up —if you were too lazy to comb your hair, isagi always offered to braid it. 

also, you look healthier, more alive, here —no dark circles under your eyes, no tired smiles or forced laughter. maybe it's because you don't have a shitty boyfriend stressing you out day and night in this universe.

he bites his cheek and he tells himself not to care, but he can’t help it. 

when you laugh again, he sees the way you lean toward your friends, relaxed, like you belong here.

and then he finds himself wondering which hurts more —a world where he never had you, or one where he can't have you at all.

chapter 08. ✦ masterlist. ✦ chapter 10.

author's note. "u hate me in the right universe and i cant love u in the wrong one" i want to rip out my heart but fear i love this passionately

tags ౨ৎ @levihanmyotp @inojuuy @blu3-l0v3r @rohfulike @inosukehana @cruziival72 @kuromixheartzzz @koko-77 @kurona-theshark @yoichiin @elliehenry24 @kuronarnze @sugarcor3 @ranzess @lovingmayday @vinzcoke @soph1sticatedly @l0v3ly-st4rs @milkteeboba @ilovewonyo @mivqko @beepbopzlorp @thatmf-jay @angelhqlo1111 @jnkosstuff @ssngkk @c4ttheart @risagichi @neeeooon @emicatz @chokifandom @n0tbelle @veyyluvezcats @saekisserfr @scoosh4you @ihsoti @nana7nana777 @sillymil .ᐟ

﹫luvseisagi, june 2025.

[zosan-secondchances]

The Pirate King of the North: Part 2 with Concept Art

Main Themes: Villain Sanji, Alternate Universe, Zosan Ship

Warning: Long post ahead and some One Piece spoilers. Contains strong language.

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 (Special) | 19

Let's go back a touch to when old Sanji reunited with his Zoro after the arm incident.

Sanji

I'm back Marimo-kun~! Sorry I was gone for so long!

Zoro

What the–? How the fuck did you get into my house?!

Sanji

Turns out I got this genetically-modified body so my limbs are practically replaceable! This isn't normal, right?

Commander 1

My Liege, we still need to attach the rest of the flesh.

Sanji

Oh, shush it now. I know it's just for padding at this point.

Anyway! This means we can keep fighting! Isn't that wonderful? I know your dad doesn't fight with that red-head anymore because of it.

Zoro

Dad? What are you…? Forget it. You're a freak. Get out. Now.

Sanji

Is…is it the hair? I thought I'd try something new…. I spent so long fixing it up for you. Do you not like it?

Zoro

Wait, what is that?

Sanji

Oh! This thing on my hand? It's a get-well-soon gift from my dear Doffy! He said I should at least try and make the fight fair for us so you won't get bored of me. What do you think?

Zoro

Fair? What do you mean fair?! And who the fuck is Doffy–?

Sanji

So many questions! Marimo-kun, I'm actually just here to propose. Let's go and get married!

Zoro

This…this must be some kind of a sick joke.

Sanji

I'm plenty serious actually. Come now, it'll be fun! If you marry me I'll give you all the sake you want~!

Zoro

You're barking mad if you think I'd agree to that.

Sanji

Commander, please present the dowry.

Darling, do you accept sea cows or do you prefer gold?

Zoro

Get the hell out of my house!!

Sanji

Hmm…you're right. I'm not doing this properly. Hey, is your dad still at Kuragaina? And was that a yes to sea cows?

Zoro

OUT!!!

This is Sanji's first of many marriage proposals.

---

Later in the week, a certain captain is over at Zoro's.

Law

You don't have to marry the man. Just get on his good side enough to get the information. I don't care how you do it.

Zoro

You ask too much this time, surgeon.

Law

Oh, for fuck's sake–you owe me. And I'm cashing in.

Zoro

Fine. But I'm only doing this for Luffy. What do you need exactly?

Law

I need to know if someone's still alive…. It's only a rumour but it would kill me I'd I don't find out for sure. And only he might know it.

Zoro

A friend of yours?

Law

You can say that.

Zoro

What's the name?

Law

It's…the Marines call him Corazon.

----------

Notes: I'm still exploring how to do dialogue the way my brain lays it out in my head. I've written scripts for storyboarding purposes before but Tumblr layout won't let me do what I need so bullet points it is. Oh well! Depending on feedback I might change it up.

[sincerelystarry]

( ☆ ) . * we’ll float away, but if we fall . . . i only pray, don’t fall away from me !!

f!dist. 13 medic!reader x finnick odair — finnick odair masterlist

ask : “hi! could you write a Finick Odair and f!reader and make it with angst but also sweet and love and it is around the time they got to district 13? thank you!” — anon

summary : when finnick odair is extracted from squad 451’s mission and brought back to district 13 grievously injured, he’s put under your care, just like how he was when he first arrived after the 75th hunger games

warnings : this is kinda sad but also kinda sweet, jumps back and forth between when finnick & reader first meet vs present time, sorry if the layout/timeline is confusing but also i WANT you to be disoriented so im not that sorry actually, description of injuries, suicidal ideation, mentions/vague descriptions of forced prostitution

word count : 3.6k

You’ve been in District 13 for as long as you’ve known. You were put in soldier training when you turned 14, but it never really took, and you instead gravitated towards learning medicine. Learning of different herbs and drugs and their effects on the human body. Taking a particular interest in what little information District 13 had of Capitol muttations and figuring out how they were designed to specifically harm people.

Your knowledge came in extreme use when the Mockingjay destroyed the arena forcefield during the 75th Hunger Games, when there was a new influx of refugees from District 12 that all needed medical attention. You were assigned to the surviving tributes of the Quarter Quell, the ones that managed to get rescued back to 13. Namely, you were tasked with taking care of Finnick Odair. 

“Hello? Mr. Odair?” you prompt, entering his hospital room. He seems around your age, maybe older, but you’re not sure how much of it is the passage of time and how much is just the stress you imagine he’s gained from being apart of the Hunger Games, not just once, but twice.

“Yes?” His voice is monotone as he answers, flat, as he twists a length of hempen rope in his hands.

You introduce yourself, approaching his bedside. “I’m to be your primary caretaker as you recover from your injuries,” you explain. “If there’s anything you need, any questions at all, know that I’m a friendly face!” You offer him a smile, of which turns into a slight grimace as he just stares blankly at you in response. “Now— ah— are there any injuries that I should be made aware of? We can give you some sort of salve for any scratches or burns, or if your injuries are extreme, morphling can be acquired and prescribed.”

He wordlessly extends his arms, revealing a litter of scratches and scars he’s earned from the arena, along with various burns he likely obtained from the destruction of the forcefield. 

You busy yourself with preparing a salve for his burns, carefully holding onto his arm as you apply it. “Where else?” you ask. If he doesn’t want conversation then you won’t give it to him.

“My back,” he answers simply. 

You nod, wrapping his wounds before instructing him to remove his shirt so you can tend to his other burns. When you finish, you set the salve and bandages aside, telling him, “I’ll be back in a few hours with food and to change your bandages. But please, feel free to ask for me if you need anything else. I’m only really supposed to be your nurse but I can also be your friend.”

He nods, your eyes briefly meeting, which you gather as some sort of progress for that day.

You’re not sure why, and no one will answer your questions, but you’re rushed down to one of the rooms in the District 13 hospital, taken from your task of restocking various herbs and medicines. You’re confused as you didn’t remember hearing of any rescue missions to bring in new refugees, nor did you think someone getting injured during training would require this much panic.

Your questions are answered when you’re rushed into the room and see an unconscious Finnick Odair, an IV in his arm. Bite marks and bruises are littered across what visible skin can be seen through the thin white hospital garb.

“We thought you should know,” one of the other medics who led you here says. “We know you were the one that mostly took care of him, when he first came here.”

You take a moment, eyes pressed shut, nodding slowly. “Thank you,” you say, voice strained. “What happened?”

“Some sort of muttation encounter with Squad 451,” she explains. “We didn’t get all the details; he was brought in just a few hours ago.”

“Is he okay?” you ask.

“No one’s sure. His injuries are treatable but we have no idea when he’s going to wake up. If he’s going to wake up.”

You only nod again, moving to Finnick’s bedside. Your movements are slow, hesitant, almost as if you’re moving through a pool of honey. You don’t want to believe that this is real, that there’s a possibility of him staying like this for months, for years, forever.

You’re sat with Finnick in the same hospital room you met in as you help him with some fresh cuts and bruising he had acquired during training. He’s been in a better state recently, being involved in the Mockingjay’s and President Coin’s plans, filming propos from what you’ve heard. He’s still quiet around you—nervous, almost—and it irks you. 

It doesn’t make you angry at him, just upset. He seems like a genuinely interesting person, and you want to know more about him. You’ve tried to learn more about him. But he doesn’t seem to let you.

It doesn’t stop you from trying.

“What is it like at home?” you ask.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean in District 4,” you explain. “That’s where you’re from isn’t it?” You only get a nod in response, so you press on. “I hardly ever get to go outside. Even less now, with the rebellion and everything. It’s not safe. What’s it like? The sun there? The wind? You guys have beaches too, don’t you? What’s that like? The sand and the sea and everything? Do you miss it?”

“Of course I miss it,” he answers simply. “Are we done here?”

“No,” you lie quickly. “Why do you miss it?” you continue. “What do you miss?”

Finnick is quiet for a moment before he answers, “I miss the sun. It’s warm. It’s always too cold down here. The air is too stagnant.”

“It is,” you agree. “I mean, I’ve never really known what non-stagnant air is like, but I feel like fresh air would be a lot easier to breathe. Does that make sense?”

Finnick gives you a strained smile. “It does.”

“Why else do you miss the sun?” you ask.

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Maybe because of the light? The lights down here are fluorescent. Blinding. Sunlight is more yellow-ish, not a pure white. It’s more comforting. I think the sun also just makes you happier. A science thing?”

You nod. “I’ve heard of that.”

The two of you are quiet for a moment, but the silence isn’t the same uncomfortable one you’ve had to endure before.

“I miss swimming,” he says after a while. “In the ocean, not in a pool. Accidentally going under when a large wave comes and coming back up with a mouthful of saltwater.”

“That sounds horrible,” you say honestly. 

Finnick laughs. A genuine sound, one you’re determined to hear again. “It is. But it’s one of those things that’s just a part of life. It’s one of those things you don’t think you’ll miss until it’s gone.”

“Do you get seashells on your beach?” you ask.

“We do. Hermit crabs, too. There’s a lot of them, but I don’t think I ever really paid any attention to them,” he admits.

“I would like to collect shells if I could,” you say.

“Maybe you can come to District 4 for a visit one day, when this is all over. Bring home as many shells as you want.”

You smile. “Maybe.”

Your nights are sleepless and your days are spent at Finnick’s bedside, monitoring his status, getting occasional updates on the known information on the rebellion and the Capitol. You tell Finnick everything you learn, you tend to his injuries, and you only pray that maybe he can hear you, even in this unconscious state. 

There are times when he’s unstable. When there’s an irregularity in his heart rate or his blood pressure and you and the other medics have to scramble to get him stable again. You go into miniature episodes after these moments, the fear of losing him overcoming you.

When what remains of Squad 451 returns, you force the details of what happened to Finnick from one of the officers, who tell you about the mutts they encountered in the sewers. The way Finnick ushered them all up the ladder first, the way he almost slipped, almost died. 

But he didn’t. He got injured, grievously so, but he lived. He lived and he made it back to District 13. He made it back to you.

You spend your nights thinking about the mutts, the way they were described. All mouths and hands and a toxic perfume of roses. You think of the stories Finnick told you about his time as a Victor, all the nightmares of hands he confided in you. The cruel mouths and hands of Capitol citizens who wanted bits of him for themselves. The artificial and suffocating perfumes of these people, the way the scents would stick onto him for days no matter how many showers he took, no matter how hard he scrubbed. 

You take up a habit he had. Twisting and knotting a length of rope in your hands whenever you can’t think straight, whenever you can’t sleep, which is most nights now. Your knots are messier than the ones he would make. Your fingers are deft when it comes to bandages and gauze but clumsy when it comes to hemp. You don’t like how the rough material of the rope scratches at your hands and seems to rub them raw, you don’t like the way you have to dig your nails into the knots you make to undo them and make a new one. You hate this new way of fidgeting. And yet you do it anyway.

You do it because it’s something he would do. You copy the knots he showed you, try to remember which each one was used for. A bowline, a clove hitch, a reef knot, an anchor bend. You perfect these knots, but never remember what the purpose of each one is for. You make a note to ask him when he wakes up.

When. Not if. Because he will wake up. He has to wake up. He survived the mutts. He made it back to 13. He’s gone unstable but you’ve always managed to bring him back. He needs to wake up. 

You look down at the length of rope in your hand. It’s tied into a loop. The first knot he showed you in some sort of twisted joke when you first asked him about the rope. A small voice in your head says that it won’t be a joke for you if he doesn’t wake up.

“What’s with the rope?” you ask Finnick one day as the two of you sit together on a small break hour.

“I used to go sailing and fishing with my dad,” he explains. “He taught me a bunch of these. They bring me comfort now. They remind me of home.”

“Will you show me?” you ask.

Finnick gives you a surprised look, as if no one’s ever asked him to show them how to tie a knot, or, at least no one that wasn’t a tribute he’s had to mentor. “Yeah,” he says after a moment. “Hold on. I’ll show you my favourite.” 

You watch as he loops the length of rope around itself. He creates a noose. Finnick loops it around his neck, tightens it a bit, but keeps the knot holding the noose together away from his throat. He holds out the end to you, a grin on his face. 

“You could take me for a walk,” he offers. You stare at him blankly, causing him to laugh, pulling the noose from over his head and undoing it so it’s a straight length of rope again.

“You’re insane,” you say.

“Clinically,” he agrees. “But didn’t you think that was funny?”

“A little,” you cede, earning a beaming smile from him. “Why did you start knotting rope for comfort?” you ask.

“Like I said, it reminds me of home.”

“But this doesn’t seem like a new development. You’ve been doing this since we’ve first met.”

“Longer,” he corrects. “Since I was fourteen.”

“When you won your Games?” you ask, getting a nod in confirmation.

“Being a victor meant going to the Capitol a lot. Being far away from home for a few days or weeks at a time. I didn’t know anyone there, not unless you count my escort and styling team, but they weren’t really friendly. I needed something to remind me of home.”

“What would happen at the Capitol?” you ask. “After you became a victor?”

“At first, when I was still a kid, nothing horrible. People pinching my cheeks a lot, saying how cute I was. How they could just ‘eat me up’. But it got worse when I turned 18,” he says. 

“Worse how?” you ask hesitantly.

“I was sold,” he says simply. “Like a toy. I had to pretend I was some sort of casanova. That I would go to the Capitol and take a bunch of lovers and that I could never be nailed down to any one person. But the reality of it is that the people in the Capitol found me desirable. They liked my body and my face so they bought me and used me and sold me to each other.”

“Used you?” you ask, slightly confused.

“For sex,” he elaborates, hands moving quickly on the rope now, not looking at you.

“You don’t have to explain further, if you don’t want,” you quickly say to prevent him from having to go too far into his painful memories.

“Thank you,” he says, hands freezing when yours suddenly reach out to grab onto his.

“I’m sorry,” you say.

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“For asking,” you say. “I didn’t mean to make you relive any of that.”

“It’s alright,” he assures you. “I relive it most nights anyway.”

“I could get you some sort of sedative,” you offer. “Something that will prevent dreams?”

He gives you a smile at that, his palm flipping over so he can properly hold onto your hand. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” he says. “Thank you, though.”

“Of course,” is all you say.

The two of you sit there for a moment in a comfortable silence, hand in hand. After a little moment, you break it.

“Is it true?” you ask.

“Is what true?”

“That you can’t be nailed down to any one person,” you say, using his words from earlier.

“I’m not sure,” he says. “I never got the chance to get to know someone for long enough to figure that out.”

“You have the chance now,” you say. “And later on, after this is all over.”

Finnick looks at you and smiles, squeezing your hand gently. “I think you’re right,” he says.

“I wouldn’t ever want to hurt you like that,” you say, almost as if you’re trying to assure yourself that you’re not a bad person for asking about his past. “I know sometimes I might say too much. Say the wrong things. I’m sure that’s why you didn’t want to talk to me when we first met.”

“That’s not true,” he argues. “You do talk a lot. And I admit, I was less than kind to you when we first met. But that’s not because I didn’t want to talk to you.”

“Then what was it?”

“I don’t know,” he says. “I guess I was scared. That you only cared because you had to as a medic. Or that if you wanted to get to know me, it’s because you wanted to know what my Games were like or what life as a victor was like.”

“And your verdict?”

“You actually want to know who I am,” he says. “Which still surprises me. You want to know about my fidgety habits and what I miss about home and what I look forward to doing after this is all over. You actually care. I don’t think I ever expected anyone to care about me that much before.”

“I like learning about you, Finnick,” you say. “I’m not sure why or what is is about you, but I like hearing about your happier memories. I like learning about you. I guess being stuck in 13 my whole life doesn’t leave much space for getting to know other people. I got lucky that I found someone so interesting.”

“You think I’m interesting?”

“Yeah. Not because you’re a victor or because you’ve been in two Hunger Games but just— because of your life, I guess. It’s so boring and normal up until your Games and I sometimes wish that my life could be boring and normal like yours was.”

“I wish my life could be boring and normal again,” he says.

“How’s this,” you start, “when this is all over, when the rebellion is done and we’re all let out again and Panem gets rebuilt and everything, we’ll just… be boring and normal together. You can show me the beach and I can collect those shells I’ve always wanted. I can start a garden. I’ve always wanted to start a garden, and I can show you what my favourite plants and flowers are and you can help me with my garden. And we can go to the market every Saturday and make home cooked meals and everything. And get a cat or a dog or something. Some sort of animal.”

Finnick watches as you ramble on about the life you want after the rebellion is over and he laughs, but there’s no malice behind it. “Is that what you think normal is?” he asks.

“Is it not?”

“No— it is. You’ve pretty much got it. I just don’t understand how someone can make normal and boring sound so interesting and fun.”

“Is that a yes, then?” you ask.

“To what?”

“To being boring and normal together.”

Finnick smiles, squeezes your hand again. “Yes.”

You’re sat in a chair by Finnick’s bedside, monitoring his status, dark circles beneath your eyes, when, for the first time in two and a half weeks, he stirs. You don’t notice it at first, too busy staring at the limp length of hempen rope in your hands, but you snap up immediately when you hear his raspy voice call out your name.

“What happened?” he asks. “Where am I? When am I?”

You stand and rush over to him immediately, pressing the rope into his hands, checking his vitals, telling someone to get him food. “What is your name?” you ask him, watching as his hands automatically move to tie a bowline.

“Finnick Odair,” he answers. 

“How old are you?” you ask.

“Twenty-four,” he answers again.

“Do you know where you are?”

“District 13, right?” he asks, as if searching for confirmation from you. “I’m not sure how I got here, though. Last thing I remember was the sewers, with the mutts.”

“You’re in 13,” you nod, confirming it for him. “Everything will be explained. Do you know what the date is?”

“Sometime in November?”

You pause for a bit, shaking your head. “It’s December. It’s been a few weeks since everything with Squad 451.” You slowly explain everything that’s happened while he was comatose, from him being brought back to 13 to Snow’s capture and imprisonment. “They’re going to execute him,” you say. “In a few days. And it’ll all be over.”

Finnick reaches out, grasping for your hand, but neither of you say anything for a few moments.

“I thought you wouldn’t wake up,” you say, breaking the silence, voice cracking slightly. “I thought—” you let out a shaky exhale. “There were moments where your vitals would go haywire. Your heart rate would drop or your blood pressure would skyrocket and everyone would just be scrambling to get you stable again. You were out for weeks— I kept getting scared.”

“The rope is more frayed than I remember,” is all he says.

“I started doing the knots you taught me. It made me feel okay,” you explain. “It made me believe that you’d wake up. That you’d be okay.”

“I am okay,” he says. “Some gaps in my memory, and everything kinda hurts still, but I’m okay.”

You nod, squeezing and holding onto his hand like a lifeline. “You’re okay,” you say. “You came back.”

He nods, squeezing your hand in return. “We get to be normal and boring now,” he says softly.

You smile at his words, tears slipping and rolling down your cheeks. “Normal and boring,” you agree.

“You’ll come back to District 4 with me?” he asks, getting a nod from you as confirmation. “We can get a house by the beach. I’ll take you sailing and we can use those knots I taught you.”

“Not the noose,” you say quickly, earning a laugh from Finnick, causing your smile to widen.

“Not the noose,” he agrees, nodding. “We’ll have a huge backyard, where you can plant all your herbs and vegetables and fruits and flowers and whatever you want. We can get a dog and a cat and whatever else. We’ll go to the market on Saturdays and have home cooked meals and do everything normal, boring people do.”

You know you should be more careful of his still-healing injuries, that he’s still probably a bit disoriented from everything, but you can’t stop yourself from wrapping your arms around him tightly, burying your face in the crook of his neck.

“You still want to be normal and boring together, right?” he asks, holding you in return.

You nod, mumbling against his skin. “I do. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. To be normal and boring with someone I love.”

Finnick pulls back from the hug, a look of surprise on his face. “You love me?”

“Of course I love you,” you say softly, one hand moving to cup his jaw.

His head turns, pressing a kiss against your palm. “I love you too.”

a/n: i stayed up until like 6am to write this don't fucking @ me if it's cheeks i think i got possessed though longest fic yet thanks to eza for proofreading mwah

taglist 🏷️ : @allisluv @loveution @noodleisodd @joluvsfinnick @echoesintheravyne @daisyjonesgf

[ms-demeanor]

Hello! First, I wanted to say thank you for your post about updating software and such. I really appreciated your perspective as someone with ADHD. The way you described your experiences with software frustration was IDENTICAL to my experience, so your post made a lot of sense to me.

Second, (and I hope my question isn't bothering you lol) would you mind explaining why it's important to update/adopt the new software? Like, why isn't there an option that doesn't involve constantly adopting new things? I understand why they'd need to fix stuff like functional bugs/make it compatible with new tech, but is it really necessary to change the user side of things as well?

Sorry if those are stupid questions or they're A Lot for a tumblr rando to ask, I'd just really like to understand because I think it would make it easier to get myself to adopt new stuff if I understand why it's necessary, and the other folks I know that know about computers don't really seem to understand the experience.

Thank you so much again for sharing your wisdom!!

A huge part of it is changing technologies and changing norms; I brought up Windows 8 in that other post and Win8 is a *great* example of user experience changing to match hardware, just in a situation that was an enormous mismatch with the market.

Win8's much-beloathed tiles came about because Microsoft seemed to be anticipating a massive pivot to tablet PCs in nearly all applications. The welcome screen was designed to be friendly to people who were using handheld touchscreens who could tap through various options, and it was meant to require more scrolling and less use of a keyboard.

But most people who the operating system went out to *didn't* have touchscreen tablets or laptops, they had a desktop computer with a mouse and a keyboard.

When that was released, it was Microsoft attempting to keep up with (or anticipate) market trends - they wanted something that was like "the iPad for Microsoft" so Windows 8 was meant to go with Microsoft Surface tablets.

We spent the first month of Win8's launch making it look like Windows 7 for our customers.

You can see the same thing with the centered taskbar on Windows 11; that's very clearly supposed to mimic the dock on apple computers (only you can't pin it anywhere but the bottom of the screen, which sucks).

Some of the visual changes are just trends and various companies trying to keep up with one another.

With software like Adobe I think it's probably based on customer data. The tool layout and the menu dropdowns are likely based on what people are actually looking for, and change based on what other tools people are using. That's likely true for most programs you use - the menu bar at the top of the screen in Word is populated with the options that people use the most; if a function you used to click on all the time is now buried, there's a possibility that people use it less these days for any number of reasons. (I'm currently being driven mildly insane by Teams moving the "attach file" button under a "more" menu instead of as an icon next to the "send message" button, and what this tells me is either that more users are putting emojis in their messages than attachments, or microsoft WANTS people to put more emojis than messages in their attachments).

But focusing on the operating system, since that's the big one:

The thing about OSs is that you interact with them so frequently that any little change seems massive and you get REALLY frustrated when you have to deal with that, but version-to-version most OSs don't change all that much visually and they also don't get released all that frequently. I've been working with windows machines for twelve years and in that time the only OSs that Microsoft has released were 8, 10, and 11. That's only about one OS every four years, which just is not that many. There was a big visual change in the interface between 7 and 8 (and 8 and 8.1, which is more of a 'panicked backing away' than a full release), but otherwise, realistically, Windows 11 still looks a lot like XP.

The second one is a screenshot of my actual computer. The only change I've made to the display is to pin the taskbar to the left side instead of keeping it centered and to fuck around a bit with the colors in the display customization. I haven't added any plugins or tools to get it to look different.

This is actually a pretty good demonstration of things changing based on user behavior too - XP didn't come with a search field in the task bar or the start menu, but later versions of Windows OSs did, because users had gotten used to searching things more in their phones and browsers, so then they learned to search things on their computers.

There are definitely nefarious reasons that software manufacturers change their interfaces. Microsoft has included ads in home versions of their OS and pushed searches through the Microsoft store since Windows 10, as one example. That's shitty and I think it's worthwhile to find the time to shut that down (and to kill various assistants and background tools and stop a lot of stuff that runs at startup).

But if you didn't have any changes, you wouldn't have any changes. I think it's handy to have a search field in the taskbar. I find "settings" (which is newer than control panel) easier to navigate than "control panel." Some of the stuff that got added over time is *good* from a user perspective - you can see that there's a little stopwatch pinned at the bottom of my screen; that's a tool I use daily that wasn't included in previous versions of the OS. I'm glad it got added, even if I'm kind of bummed that my Windows OS doesn't come with Spider Solitaire anymore.

One thing that's helpful to think about when considering software is that nobody *wants* to make clunky, unusable software. People want their software to run well, with few problems, and they want users to like it so that they don't call corporate and kick up a fuss.

When you see these kinds of changes to the user experience, it often reflects something that *you* may not want, but that is desirable to a *LOT* of other people. The primary example I can think of here is trackpad scrolling direction; at some point it became common for trackpads to scroll in the opposite direction that they used to; now the default direction is the one that feels wrong to me, because I grew up scrolling with a mouse, not a screen. People who grew up scrolling on a screen seem to feel that the new direction is a lot more intuitive, so it's the default. Thankfully, that's a setting that's easy to change, so it's a change that I make every time I come across it, but the change was made for a sensible reason, even if that reason was opaque to me at the time I stumbled across it and continues to irritate me to this day.

I don't know. I don't want to defend Windows all that much here because I fucking hate Microsoft and definitely prefer using Linux when I'm not at work or using programs that I don't have on Linux. But the thing is that you'll see changes with Linux releases as well.

I wouldn't mind finding a tool that made my desktop look 100% like Windows 95, that would be fun. But we'd probably all be really frustrated if there hadn't been any interface improvements changes since MS-DOS (and people have DEFINITELY been complaining about UX changes at least since then).

Like, I talk about this in terms of backward compatibility sometimes. A lot of people are frustrated that their old computers can't run new software well, and that new computers use so many resources. But the flipside of that is that pretty much nobody wants mobile internet to work the way that it did in 2004 or computers to act the way they did in 1984.

Like. People don't think about it much these days but the "windows" of the Windows Operating system represented a massive change to how people interacted with their computers that plenty of people hated and found unintuitive.

(also take some time to think about the little changes that have happened that you've appreciated or maybe didn't even notice. I used to hate the squiggly line under misspelled words but now I see the utility. Predictive text seems like new technology to me but it's really handy for a lot of people. Right clicking is a UX innovation. Sometimes you have to take the centered task bar in exchange for the built-in timer deck; sometimes you have to lose color-coded files in exchange for a right click.)

[nickistuffs]

A Reminder to Breathe

Pairing: Harry x Designer reader (curvy or plus size whatever you feel they should look like. This is my preference 😌)

Summary: After pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion with work, Y/N finds an unwavering source of comfort in Harry

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: None. Fluff slight angst.

✨masterlist✨ read the rest of Harry x Designer Reader there

...

Everything felt overwhelming, chaotic, and messed up. The weight of it all pressed down on you, and all you craved was his presence—his soft voice to soothe you. But no, here you were, at work, running yet another onsite project.

Today had been a whirlwind. You’d spent hours running around town with one of your contractors, picking up materials for a clothing store your client was planning to open. It was a job you loved, but exhaustion always crept in. From overseeing your team’s work to managing quality control, it seemed like there was never an end.

Then the client arrived to check on the progress.

“Hey, Y/N! How’s everything going?” he greeted with a smile, eager for an update.

“All is going well,” you replied, trying to keep the exhaustion out of your voice. “We’re on schedule and already planning the next steps to avoid any confusion.”

As you wrapped up your conversation with the builders, he wandered over to a wall where your plans were laid out, studying every detail of the room’s design. When he spoke, his tone was casual but firm.

“Y/N, is this what you initially planned for this section of the room?”

You walked over, confirming his observation. “Yup. I’m actually really excited about this part. That’s why I wanted to be here in person to give specific directions.”

He studied the layout for a moment before his eyes flicked back to you. “Well, I don’t think it’s popping like I imagined. Can you change it?”

Your heart sank. The audacity of this guy to change everything with the snap of his fingers. Your blood boiled as you held your ground.

“Well,” you began, keeping your voice steady, “it’s easier said than done. We’re already behind schedule from the last round of revisions. And honestly, the deadline you set won’t align with the store opening unless we stick to the original plan.”

You met his gaze, frustration creeping into your expression as you tried to make him see reason.

“I’m your client, Y/N,” he snapped, his tone growing colder. “I’m paying you, and people keep saying you’re the best. So, I expect new plans for this section in four days. Got it?”

With that, he turned and walked off, leaving you standing there, fuming.

Henry, your contractor, noticed your irritation and patted your back in a supportive gesture. “You do what you need to do, Y/N. I’ll start on whatever can be done now. We’ll finish this and have another meeting afterwards.”

You nodded but couldn’t shake the frustration. As much as you loved your work, dealing with clients like this always felt like a battle. Gathering your things, you left the site, knowing you had a long night ahead. At least you could take some time to breathe before diving back into the chaos.

Two days had passed, and you had barely stopped working. It was nonstop, relentless. Sketching, adjusting, planning, and coordinating—your life had become a blur of blueprints and emails. You weren’t even sure when you last ate a proper meal. The only thing you knew for certain was that your body ached, your head pounded, and sleep had become a distant luxury.

You barely had time to check your phone, and it wasn’t until you glanced at it, seeing the unread messages, that guilt settled in. You hadn’t replied to Harry.

Harry, who always checked in. Harry, who had probably noticed your silence by now.

At that very moment, Harry was at Felice’s, ordering lunch for both of you, worry evident on his face.

“Hey, Harry, how’s Y/N?” Felice asked, handing over the order.

“I actually don’t know,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “We haven’t been in touch for two days, so I’m worried.”

Felice frowned, glancing toward the kitchen. “That’s not like them.”

Harry sighed, picking up the bags. “Yeah. I know they’re busy, but… I don’t know. I just hope they’re okay.”

With that, he left, heading straight to your place, determined to check-in. Because if you weren’t going to take care of yourself, then he would.

Harry knocked on the door of your workshop, the sound cutting through the quiet hum of your overworked computer. You blinked, your bloodshot eyes straining from hours of staring at the screen. Your glasses had slid down your nose, and your hair was shoved into a messy bun, strands falling loosely around your face. The weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on your shoulders, but the knock startled you enough to jolt upright.

When you opened the door, you were met with Harry’s concerned gaze. His eyes swept over you, taking in your disheveled state, and his brows furrowed.

“Y/N…” he said softly, stepping inside before you could protest.

“You—what are you doing here?” you stammered, genuinely surprised by his presence.

Harry sighed, lifting the bag of food. “You haven’t answered me in two days. Felice is worried. I’m worried. And looking at you now, I was right to be.”

You swallowed, suddenly feeling exposed. You hadn’t realized how bad you looked until you saw the concern written all over his face. He set the food down on your cluttered desk and reached out, gently squeezing your shoulder.

“Come on,” he said. “Eat first. Then we’ll talk.”

And for the first time in days, you let yourself breathe.

After finishing your food, you felt energy returning to your body, the warmth of a real meal helping to shake off some of the exhaustion. Instinctively, you pushed your chair back, ready to dive back into work.

But Harry’s hand was on your wrist before you could stand, stopping you.

“Y/N,” he said firmly, his voice laced with concern. “You’re working yourself to the bone. Did you sleep here?”

You opened your mouth to respond, but his sharp gaze told you he already knew the answer. The messy pile of blankets in the corner, the half-empty coffee cups littering your desk—it was obvious.

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s what I thought.”

His disappointment stung more than any lecture. You wanted to argue, to tell him you were fine, that you had deadlines to meet. But the exhaustion settled deep in your bones, and for once, you didn’t have the energy to fight him.

“Come on,” he said, tugging you gently to your feet. “You need sleep, not another round of revisions.”

You hesitated, looking at your screen, but Harry squeezed your hand. “Please, Y/N.”

And somehow, that was enough to make you nod, letting him lead you away from your desk and toward the rest you desperately needed.

...

Harry drove you back home, the soft hum of the car’s engine lulling you into much-needed rest. The moment your head rested against the window, exhaustion took over, and you drifted off into a deep sleep. Harry glanced at you briefly, his expression softening. You had pushed yourself too hard, and he wasn’t going to let you do it alone anymore.

As he pulled up to your place, he gently shook your shoulder. “Y/N, we’re here.”

You stirred, eyes heavy with sleep. He smiled slightly. “Come on, let’s get you inside.” As you stepped into your apartment, the weight of exhaustion hit you like a wave. Without a word, you shuffled straight to the bathroom, desperate to wash away the stress of the past few days. The warm water felt like a small mercy, soothing the tension in your muscles as you changed into your softest pyjamas.

Meanwhile, Harry moved around your kitchen with quiet efficiency. He set a kettle on the stove, pulling out your favorite tea blend and preparing a mug. As the water heated, he glanced toward the bathroom door, listening for any signs of movement. His worry hadn’t faded—not entirely—but at least you were home, taking care of yourself, even if it was just for a moment.

When you emerged, looking slightly more refreshed but still utterly drained, Harry held out the steaming cup. "Drink this," he said gently. "Then we’ll talk about getting you some real rest."

You took a slow sip of your tea, the warmth spreading through your chest as you settled onto your bed. The familiar comfort of your mattress made you realize just how much you had missed it. Your body ached in relief, sinking into the softness, but before you could relax completely, Harry sat beside you, his expression unreadable.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Y/N… I'm disappointed in you. You didn’t reach back to me in two days. Two days. Do you know how worried I was?"

His voice wasn’t harsh, but the weight of his concern settled heavily between you. You stared down at your tea, guilt creeping up your spine. You hadn’t meant to shut him out—it just happened, lost in the whirlwind of work. But looking at him now, at the way his brows furrowed and his jaw tensed, you knew you had to say something.

"I'm sorry, I know... I just had to finish it," you mumbled, the words spilling out in a tired rush. "My client really laid it on thick, saying that I was ‘the best’ and that I should do whatever I needed to do. I didn’t want to let them down."

You rambled, voice cracking slightly from exhaustion. You weren’t even sure if you were making sense anymore, but the need to justify yourself clawed at your chest. Harry sighed, his gaze unwavering as he studied you. He knew you loved your work, knew how much passion you poured into every project—but he didn’t think you would go this far. That you would sacrifice your own well-being for it.

He shook his head, his voice softer now. "Y/N… being the best doesn't mean running yourself into the ground." That's when the waterworks started. Tears welled up in your eyes, spilling over as the weight of exhaustion, pressure, and the looming deadline finally broke through. A choked sob escaped your lips, and you buried your face in your hands, overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, your voice trembling. "I know I need to work on this—on asking for help instead of trying to do everything alone."

Harry didn’t hesitate. He immediately pulled you into a firm, reassuring hug, his warmth grounding you as he gently rubbed your back. "You're not alone, Y/N. You don’t have to carry all of this by yourself. I’m here, always."

His words broke something in you, and you clung to him, letting yourself feel everything you had been holding in for too long.

You sniffled against his shirt, his steady presence grounding you as exhaustion seeped deeper into your bones. "Thank you for looking out for me, Harry," you murmured, voice thick with emotion.

He pressed a reassuring hand against your back, his touch warm and familiar. "Lie down, Y/N. You need to rest."

You nodded, too drained to argue, and let yourself sink into the comfort of your bed. Just as you were about to close your eyes, Harry hesitated before speaking, his voice softer this time. "Can I stay? Just for tonight?"

You blinked up at him, surprised but comforted by the thought. "You don’t have to—"

"I want to," he interrupted gently. "I just want to make sure you’re okay."

A small, grateful smile formed on your lips as you shifted, making space for him. "Okay. Stay."

Harry settled in beside you, the quiet of the room wrapping around you both like a cocoon.

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. It painted golden streaks across the sheets, illuminating the quiet intimacy of the space. Harry stirred first, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he registered the familiar weight pressed against him—the quiet rise and fall of your breath against his chest. It took a moment for reality to settle in—he was still in your apartment, still in your bed, and still holding you close.

His arms were wrapped around you protectively, your body curled into his warmth, and he found himself reluctant to move. He had been in relationships before, had woken up next to others, but this—this was different. There was no rush to slip away, no lingering regret or fleeting connection. With you, it felt natural. Easy. Like he belonged here.

His gaze flickered to your sleeping face, the exhaustion still evident in the delicate creases around your eyes. He thought back to the past few days, to the way you had pushed yourself beyond reason. He saw you pour every ounce of yourself into your work, into the people you cared about, until there was hardly anything left for yourself. It was a pattern he knew all too well too, and one that made his heart ache in ways he never expected. And yet, despite everything, here you were—peaceful, safe, finally resting.

Harry exhaled softly, running a hand through his unruly hair, the strands falling messily over his forehead. He never imagined he’d feel this way—that he’d want to take care of someone as much as he wanted to take care of you. The thought sent warmth flooding through his chest, an unfamiliar yet welcome sensation. He had always been the one to keep his heart guarded, to tread carefully in matters of love, but with you… there was no fear, no hesitation. Just certainty.

His fingers traced lazy circles over your back, reveling in the way you instinctively nuzzled closer, seeking him even in sleep. He smiled, something soft and tender curling at the edges of his lips. He wanted to memorize everything about this moment—the way the sunlight framed your features, the way your fingers clung lightly to his shirt, the way your presence alone filled every empty space inside him.

Carefully, he shifted just enough to press a lingering kiss to your temple, his lips lingering against your skin as if sealing an unspoken promise. He knew the world would call you both back soon, that the quiet sanctuary of the morning wouldn’t last forever. But for now, he let himself sink into the comfort of you, of this shared warmth, of the undeniable truth settling in his chest.

He wanted to be here for all of it—the bad, the good, in every way—just be with you.

...

Take your time lovelies. <3

[irrealisms]

hi! yr probably not lookin for asks anymore, but. what's your lifesteal elevator pitch? i know absolutely nothing abt it or any of the folks on the server except the vague things i've absorbed frm reading yr analysis as it crosses my dash, but it compels me, etc.+ also merry christmas! <33 🎄🌟

good news: i am always looking for asks

bad news: my parents DID go to sleep and i was able to wrap presents and put them beneath the tree and so on, so i wasn't going to do more asks tonight

good news again: i actually already have a lifesteal pitch. in a google doc. bc i'm normal

the pitch does assume you're basically already into mcrp and just curious about lifesteal in specific BUT we went to dsmp together so this works out

I really love shitty little tryhards causing problems via impressive feats of minecraft, and lifesteal is full of those. if you like people being good at minecraft, I really recommend lifesteal--in s2, clownpierce was top 50 worldwide at crystal pvp, and now he's washed and in s6 there are 2-3 (depending on who you ask) lifestealers who are better than him at pvp (admittedly maybe not at crystal); in s4, there's some stuff that's impressive in ~vanilla (eg parrot wins a 1v1 while on one heart) and some stuff that's impressive through exploits/social stuff (eg a group of people use a glitch + social engineering to get /op and prove to mojang that the glitch is a security issue that needs patched). every season is like this! lifestealers have backdoored the server 3 seasons in a row (s3-5). for a more recent weird Lifestealer Behavior, rekrap and jumper filled in every end portal room and built new fake ones to make it look like the world glitched and generated without them. lifesteal is weird and constantly coming up with new weird yet impressive things to do. a lot of stuff that's currently banned on lifesteal (F3+A, pie ray) are things i only learned were possible from lifesteal. (on the flip side i'd say: if you are not into shitty little tryhards making weird impressive clickbait, you probably won't like lifesteal, although you may still like hearing about it from time to time.)

related to them being shitty little tryhards causing problems: the rules are...more of a suggestion. getting around the rules, and hiding from the server owner and/or other players that you're doing so, is often part of the fun of lifesteal! (see also the thing where i mentioned that it's been backdoored three seasons in a row.) if that's intriguing: check it out. if not: once again, you have been warned.

lifesteal absolutely has lore and some people roleplay on it, there is nonzero c/cc divide, but it's more like traffic life than, say, late dsmp--it's fully improv, not scripted, and even more than traffic life it is genuinely adversarial. you can sometimes be confident that someone is in character but you can never be sure if someone is out of character, on lifesteal-- things like "going to someone's house irl to turn off their computer" or "lying about your homework/school/sleep schedule" or "changing your entire discord layout so that when you DM someone they think you're someone else" or "claiming you need their footage of an event for your video when actually you just want to see where their spawn point is" are all things that have been done on lifesteal that are considered fair game! everything on lifesteal is real; sometimes this goes well, sometimes it doesn't, but both are interesting to see imo because they are real

partially for this reason and partially for other reasons, lifesteal is fascinating to me as a piece of unique storytelling? a lot of mcyt is doing interesting things with its medium and being improv, lifesteal's not fully unique in that, but definitely if you like that you might like lifesteal. along with the improv, there's the fact that many lifestealers lie about what actually happened in their videos (comparing different videos with the vods, or in some cases with "what people say in various vods" when events weren't streamed, gives some fascinating insights imo--how do people frame their stories? how honest are they? what do they blatantly lie about, what do they gloss over or omit, what do they include in full? who, if anyone, do they see as the heroes or villains? whose videos agree with each other, and whose present a totally different story?), and the fact that conflict about "where do we want the story to go next, what do we think would be an interesting video/the best ending" is often the driving motive for in-character wars and conflicts! if you're interested at all in lifesteal and storytelling, check out barrier blocks part 2 by @mering/@myrmica, which is a deep dive on eclipse federation and the end of lifesteal s4 (those are my special guys); it dips into some academic game studies and it's really, really good. i genuinely cannot recommend it highly enough. (part one is also real good for non-lifesteal-specific discussion of mcrp!)

if you want a more specific plot summary (esp of s4) and/or "how do i actually, like, watch this" (of any seasons): hmu! but that's my pitch. also, read barrier blocks

[wardenbloom]

Zayne: Within Grasp (Part 4)

Reader x Zayne

Self-aware; ongoing series (Here's the link to chapter one if you haven't started it yet!)

Part 4: Landing a job is easy if you're handsome

"Are you ready for the presentation later?" Your co-worker, Missy, asked.

You sighed and typed in the finishing touches of your powerpoint presentation, adding more designs and layout.

"I do not understand why I have to present this. Can't they wait?" You frowned and stared at your screen. "The last time I checked, I am not in a managerial position."

"Haha!" Missy laughed and gently patted your back. "He's still on leave and the presentation can't be delayed as per the management." She shrugged. "Who knows, you might get the promotion if you pull it off." She winked then went back to her desk.

I honestly just want to go home. I wonder how Zayne is faring with his job hunt... I told him not to push himself too much since he's still adjusting in this world...

"Now eyes up." The gay make up artist instructed Zayne while he applied a thin layer of foundation on his face and he followed as other people tended to his hands, wardrobe, and hair.

Zayne found himself being recruited (on commission basis) by a start up company that needed a model for their product. He mumbled to himself as if memorizing various words or lines.

After his make over, the employees crowded around him.

"Woah... you did well with his make up..." The photographer said while he changed the lens of his camera. Beside him was the videographer who adjusted the angle of the camera.

"I didn't do much to his face, though." The makeup artist said while cleaning up his area. "His face has a good structure... Like it was manually sculpted by god himself!!" He exaggerated.

"Thank you..." Zayne said and nodded.

Around him was a photo studio with complete equipment and he was asked to do various poses while the employees watched in awe. The shutter of the cameras are not new to him, after all, way back in Linkon City, he gets a lot of appearances on TVs, informative videos and the like.

Meanwhile, you started presenting the report from last month. In front of you were your superiors who asked questions on the Return of Investment regarding the marketing strategy you pitched to them and got approved.

"Yes sir, I understand." You smiled. "You see, here, the trend tends to go higher, albeit slow, the sales will definitely exceed if we continue on promoting this way."

"Further, compared to other marketing platforms, the ads on this..."

You continued on answering their queries and presenting the rest of the report. After an hour, they mentioned their expectations for the next quarter and finally let you off.

They better raise my damn salary at this point. I was not supposed to do that.

You took a deep breath and sat on your office chair and sighed loudly.

"I HEARD YOU DID A GOOD JOB!!" Missy happily sat beside you.

"I should. After all, I'm doing all the work our boss should've done." You sighed again. "At this point, I should get his salary too... Scheduling a leave at the start of the month... despicable!" You frowned.

"Haha, I'm sure they're still on a honeymoon phase since he just got married the other week." Missy tried to cheer you up and be a voice of reason. "Anyway, you should email him to remind him about what happened and also ask him to treat you out for an expensive lunch when he gets back."

"Right... I should do that..." You forced a smile and Missy went back to his work station.

After being beaten up with workload, you decided clean your cubicle and go home on time. You opened your phone and checked if there's any messages from Zayne.

Zayne

"What time are you going home tonight?"

Sent by: Zayne

"I'm actually packing up right now."

Sent by: You

"I see"

Sent by: Zayne

"You're going home early too?"

Sent by: You

"I think so, yes. I'll see you at home."

Sent by: Zayne

You heart felt giddy upon sending him a text. It used to be automated chats and scheduled calls and posts from the game but now... It is real. You can't help but smile and be excited to get home to see him.

Ding!!

The elevator rang and you made your way inside it and upon reaching the ground floor, you noticed an unusual amount of murmurs and gossips around you.

"Oh wow I think he's a model!" A woman said to her friend while looking at the reception table.

"You should've asked for his photo..." The other replied.

Curious, you looked at the direction where people were staring and saw Zayne talking to the receptionist. Your heart skipped a beat while looking at him. The man who once was out of your reach is actually here with you now, breathing and alive.

You slowly approached him and you can't help but noticed that he looks more handsome than usual!

"Zayne! What are you doing here?" You asked. He glanced at you for a bit then looked back at the reception. "It looks like she's here now. Thank you."

He finally looked at you again and smiled. "I was hoping to surprise you today. He held his hand out to you, gesturing to hand him your bag.

"Oh! Well, you have surprised me, doctor Zayne." You casually replied to hide the fact that your heart is pounding since the moment you saw him earlier and handed him you bag.

He gently hung it on his shoulder and with his free hand, opened his palm and you held his hand.

"Did something happen? You look more handsome than usual... and your hair... it's pushed back..." You asked while looking up at him as the two of you walked along the city streets.

The sky slowly became darker, indicating night time, and the streetlights were lit. Suddenly, you noticed that his face was more... happy than you usually see in game.

He looks happier for some reason... did he land a good job today?

"Let's just say that I made a bit of money on commission today." He replied.

"On commission?" You tilted your head. "I see. Commission-based jobs usually do not require or need identification, just your output."

He nodded.

"Your make up looks good on you." You grinned. "Did you land a modelling job

"Yes." He smiled. "They were nice people too. I told them I didn't have much money but they still took care of me, even fed me before we did the shooting."

That's nice... At least his first employer is a good person.

"I'm happy for you, Zayne. That's great." You childishly smiled and he gazed at you.

You're always happy for other people... You never changed in every universe.

He thought and squeezed your hand.

"Thank you." He replied. "Do you want to eat outside or at home? I'll cook for you." He asked and you shook your head.

"Let's just eat at home. I'll cook for you to celebrate your first salary!" You happily said.

"Shouldn't we spend my first salary for the celebration?" He chuckled.

"No! You should save that first so you could land a job with stable income! Then your first salary from your stable income work would be our celebration funds." You explained and hugged his arm.

"I see. Alright, let's go home."

Once you reached home, you rushed to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for tonight's celebration while Zayne placed your bag in your room then washed his face. After, he joined you in the kitchen and helped you in cooking. You had him wear a frilly pink apron while you wore an apron with duck prints. You giggled while tying the ribbon behind Zayne's apron and he let you.

After cooking dumplings, fried chicken, stir-fry beef, and rice, he placed down the dishes on the table then you two started eating.

"What kind of product did you promote anyway?" You asked while munching on the fried chicken.

Oohhhh this is good!!

"Its a secret. I signed a contract." He replied.

"Oh. I see. It must be something top secret or something." You giggled.

You then talked about your day and he listened intently. Nodding when you said you felt happy about today's reports and how you handled the question from your superiors.

"You did well." He replied and patted your head. "I'm proud of you."

He said those words gently and it brought you comfort. After a week of stress from the corporate pressure, you felt at ease while you were with him.

A week after, you sat on the couch and opened the television to watch the news. Zayne was still out job hunting so you decided to just stay at home and maybe catch up with what was happening in the world.

Commercial came up and you noticed that it was a commercial that you've never seen before.

Oh? A new commercial?

You thought as you watched. It was a story of a salary man who's been going to work everyday --

WAIT???!! IS THAT?? IS THAT ZAYNE!??!?!

Your eyes widened as you saw him in the commercial. Continuing, it was about a salary man who's been going to work everyday. He found a feral stray cat who's been living under his porch. Everyday, he places cat food for it until the stray cat became familiar with him, enough for him to give it cat treats. Eventually, he adopted the cat and the cat became healthy and fat.

Eventually, the cat went blind and Zayne became older but the cat, even though he was blind, he could still smell the trusty cat food Zayne's been feeding it ever since.

It was a cat food commercial.

You found yourself tearing up with how the commercial narrated the relationship between an owner and a pet.

Zayne suddenly arrived home, finding you in tears after you watched the commercial he starred in.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS A HEARTFELT COMMERCIAL!! I THOUGHT THEY JUST TOOK PHOTOS HUHU" You wiped your tears with a towel.

"Oh, did they broadcast it already? It was a nice commercial. The cat was friendly too." Zayne smiled then showed you a plastic bag with take out food. "Let's eat."

<< Chapter 3: Piled up unspoken feelings

>> Chapter 5: How much did it cost him? Probably his life savings

[danrifics]

you all pestered me for it and here it is. the closeness analysis/ theory.

now if you didn't see I basically had this theory that the closer to BIG and COTY we get in the DAPG timeline the closer dan and phil sit to each other. Dan made a comment about how them playing Heartthrob being like a gay soft launch and that got me thinking of some other ways they could have done it and one of those being the idea that as time goes on you get less and less strict and worrisome about what others think of you and so they end up gravitating closer and closer.

This post will be under a see more cos its probably gonna be long af.

I will be splitting it into stages.

2014 -15

2016 - 17

2018

revival

sorry the screenshots arent clickable to make bigger tumblr only allows for 30 on a post so i had to group them together!

(i will not be covering horror games apart from in the revival stage and i will also not be talking much about gamingmas 2023)

2014 - 15

now when i initially went to collect my evidence, i was suddenly worried maybe i kinda had things wrong because i feel like in Donkey Kong Country (the first dapg video, see screenshot below) they're sat pretty close but honestly when we get to how they sit a lot later on you'll see that this is actually pretty far apart

now here are some screenshots for the inital look at at the end of them we'll talk (this will be the layout for most of this post i think)

now of course this is only a selection of those year's videos if i screenshotted them all i fear this post would never end. now these first 2 years are a good mix of at desk videos on sofa videos. i noticed from some other videos not show here that in sofa videos they rend to sit a lot closer to each other than they do at the desk, this is kinda funny to me cos really they definitely have room for a wider frame on the couch if they wanted to sit like normal people.

2016 - 17

2016 and the start of 2017 feel like a mixed bag of how close together they are but i did notice that the more into 2017 we got the more they seemed to be shoulder to shoulder! these also started to wean out sofa sitting games (not 100% gone yet but almost). now if you're wondering why i've kept this screenshot apart its cos this is the last one in the first london apartment.

and honestly from here on out is where i believe the "soft launching" begins!

so lets finish 2017 and see if im right!

just had to single out this screenshot for a sec:

in case anyone wondered that is the face dan made during dream daddy when phil reads "we were roommates for a while too"

softlaunch?

anyway moving on

watching these videos definitely feels like something changed btw, while they still arent as close as we'll start seeing them sit, i definitely noticed more often they were shoulder to shoulder. but like a new room has definitely changed the vibe a little bit between them, and now we can move on to the next and final year of pre hiatus dapg, where things as you will see immediately start to change.

2018

like i said... immediately we are met with this, i would also like to let everyone know that 2018 is my favourite era of pre hiatus dapg

lets see what the rest of this year will bring

now i'm splitting 2018 up into parts because i need to do a whole talk about the tour situations so for now lets look at the above screenshots, now its very obvious that they are sitting so much closer to each other which i think is really funny considering how big that room is and often in this section of videos there is a lot of room either side of them so they literally do not need to be that close.

now lets talk about the tour bus. this is how close they're sitting

thats for sure a 1 person seat yet they've both forced themselves on even tho the sofa literally behind them would have been perfectly fine to sit on, and they cant give me "this is the only place to set up the camera" babe its really not theres a whole surface behind you.

okay thank you for listening to this, moving on to the final part of 2018!

(the last 2 screenshots are out of order oops)

idk about you but yeah i think they are definetly a lot closer than they were way back in 2014. i really dont have a lot to say other than that, and i have definetly proven my theory so now we've established that lets have a brief look at post hiatus dapg!

Revival

Now this is gonna be really brief its just a summary of where we are post BIG/COTY and post hiatus (things my brain still cant quite believe is real)

now here are the revival moments i wanna give a mention!

firstly sims season ep 3 when dan moves his chair away from phil and their wheels are literally locked together, pushing phil's chair too

heres dan looking into the monitor and then moving closer to phil <3

and finally

hand hold

thanks for reading all this and sorry if it didnt live up to the hype lmao

[2024-grimoire-challenge]

January Week 1

Welcome welcome to the 2024 Grimoire Challenge! Time to really get started everyone! This week will have a lot of stuff all jammed in. So buckle up, grab your grimoire and your supplies, and let’s get to work!

Monday

Name your book - this may seem silly and you definitely don’t need to name your book. Not properly at least. Other than “my grimoire” or “book of shadows” or what have you, which is totally fine. But some of us might feel the need to give it a proper title. “The Basil Grimoire” or “Hazel’s Handwritten Workings” something, anything, that ties the book to you and your craft. Make a title page! If you feel so inclined. If not, that’s fine too.

Definitions (New Page) - ritual and spell. Let’s define a few things. Make a page specifically for definitions, that we’ll add to through the challenge. Let’s start with a couple simple definitions. Define spell. And define ritual. Within the confines of magic, witchcraft and your practice. What is a spell? What is a ritual? What are the differences?

Study (herb) - Pick another herb from that list we made, and dig into the details. Make a page for it on its own, or add its info to another page! Whatever works for your craft. The questions to ask for these study prompts are going to continue to remain the same. Where did it come from, where does it grow, how does it grow, what are its mundane and practical uses. What are the myths and legends and stories surrounding the herb? What are its magical properties and why/ how do you think the other information you've learned about it have influenced its magical associations?

Tuesday

Outline/ index (New Page!) - it helped me a great deal to have an index or outline to my grimoire. I started this as a file on my computer as my grimoire grew and changed I could more easily manage it and rearrange it as I saw fit. Then eventually I could make it into a handwritten copy.

Study (gem) - Like our herb prompt, the gem prompts are going to always use the same outline and questions. Where does the gem come from? What is it used for in a practical and mundane sense? What are its physical properties? What are any myths, legends or stories? Where and how does it form? How does all of that relate to its magical correspondences and what does the herb mean to and for you in your craft?

Spellwriting 101 (New Page!) - make a new page dedicated to spellwriting. This is going to be one of those prompts that is focused on you and your craft. How do you write spells? How do you set them up? What components do you use? What is the format? How is it done? What does it require? From materials to timing and circumstances? Write it all out in your lab notebook. Make it a work in progress. Not all spells are going to work out the same or function the same as you perform them, but having a general layout and method helps to focus your practice.

Wednesday

Common tools - What are the common tools in your craft? That is, you don't need to have a list of every single tool ever used in witchcraft, just the tools that you use in yours. Both regularly and less regularly. What are they used for specifically? What purposes do they serve in the magical and practical sense? Are they ceremonial and symbolic or do they serve an actual physical purpose? (i.e. a wand used to direct energy serves many purposes, while an incense burner could literally just be that, an incense burner)

Year outline/ calendar - not everyone celebrates the same days, holidays or even the same holidays the same way. What are the special occasions and days in your calendar? Mark them and when the proper season/ holiday comes around, we can make pages dedicated to those days. This week this will simply be a list of these days, while later we will actually make pages for them individually. Think of it like the Wheel of the Year, Yule to Midsummer and so on. What days are important to you and your practice? Are they actual holidays? Or simply days of power like the full moon? Or is it simply days that are significant for other reasons, like the anniversary of the day you began practicing witchcraft?

Practical - tool usage - practice using your tools. For example if you use a wand. Practice using it to direct energies or whatever it is you utilize it for.

Thursday

Altar design/ work space (New Page!) - make a page dedicated to your altar and its setup. Why are things where they are? The reasoning can be simple as “that’s where it fits” or you can give it a more meaningful reason. Candles in front of or behind something to represent some purpose. Do you have items that represent the elements? Deities? Different sources of power or directionality? Different colors for different meanings? Why is your altar the way it is?

Practical - cleansing space - practice cleansing your space and tools. This is of course a physical and 'energetic' cleansing. Tidy it up, redecorate your space, clean the tools if they have dust or ash or anything on them. Sometimes it is good to have a clean start.

Friday

Personal practices - this is just a thought provoking prompt tied in with the Journal prompt below. What are some of your personal practices that you've brought into your witchcraft? Anything from little habits from your every day life to things brought from religion or family traditions. No matter how hard we try, we carry within us echoes of things not related to our practices into it. And that is totally okay. Recognizing them, acknowledging them, and truly incorporating them can be a huge step toward understanding ourselves, our beliefs and our practices all around.

Journal/ introspective/ meditations - Think about the above and write any of it down that you come to terms with. Self understanding is important in and outside of witchcraft.

Thank you all and I hope this week's prompts aren't too overwhelming! Stay tuned next week for the next set of prompts!

-Mod Hazel

[wip]

Hi there! I am a long time user (over a DECADE on my original blog), but this is a brand new blog I just made, on the web, after seeing a post about the creation process for new blogs and wanting to test it myself. I like the suggestion that people follow some tags to start, to help put some good stuff on their For You page! However, you'll also notice that this blank blog with a generic name and default appearance looks an awful lot like a bot. And there is also an influx of spam bots right now as well - @changes always tells us to report those when there's a new wave of them, and we usually block them too. I think I've managed to discern the difference after looking at the suggested names vs some actual bots, but most people can't. Suggesting random names for new users (which is fine on its own), sending them to an unskippable page where they have to follow *people* (not just tags) before they've had a chance to explore the site, and not ever pointing them in the direction of their personalization settings (which are buried in the new layout) is going to end up with a lot of new users getting blocked and reported as spam! Perhaps after the tag following page, you could redirect people to the Blog Settings page, where you can have informative pop-ups suggesting people add a profile picture and header that reflects their personality/interests, and point out the description section to "Tell people about yourself!" You could make the page skippable if you think it would discourage people who just want to jump right in, but it would be really useful. I see on the app that a section like that comes up when you go to your own blog, but I think it should be a step in the sign-up process, before you follow anyone. Skippable, but encouraged. (Also, the requirement to follow individual blogs REALLY needs to be skippable) Encouraging new users to have a profile picture, header, and personalized bio would really help in preventing real users from getting blocked by all the cool blogs they're trying to follow who think that they're spam bots! Getting blocked for no reason won't encourage new tumblrs to stick around! Please, encourage some individuality from our new internet neighbors, so they can become our internet friends 💙

Answer: Hey, @lefttragedysandwich!

Thanks for getting in touch with this. We are very aware of this situation, and we are trying to find the best way to solve it—without just adding more steps to onboarding, which (unfortunately) most people won’t do.

This, in turn, just adds friction to signing up for Tumblr, which means fewer people sign up to join us. Which means fewer internet neighbors, let alone less individuality. 

But this is an important question to answer, and we are grateful you raised it with us. As and when we have a good solution, we’ll announce it on @changes. Keep your eyes peeled, and hopefully, it won't be too long.

Best,

—The Tumblr WIP Team. 

[stereopticons]

On This Day in Schitt's Creek: April 21

2019

All the comfort invested in my soul [david/patrick, G, 1,542] by EscapingReality51

Patrick has decided to propose to David but he needs to do some thinking - and talking - first. a.k.a Patrick talks to Stevie about proposing to David

Couch [david/patrick, T, 1,923] by another_Hero

just chillin on the couch after work

finding what's right [david/patrick, T, 3,315] by livelyvague

“Hi, I’m Rachel.” Patrick looked up from his new script to see a redhead staring back at him, with a hand extended out. He grabbed it and shook it a little awkwardly. “Hi, I’m uh, Patrick,” he replied back. Or, Rachel and Patrick through the years.

lightheaded [david/patrick, G, 1,212] by my_middle_name_is_awkward

He couldn’t stop thinking about how David’s eyes watched him carefully as he thanked him for making the first move. They were intense and warm as they tracked Patrick’s expression and it made him melt in his seat.

So High I Can Kiss the Sky [david/patrick, E, 2,244] by @wildxwiredmakes

The second time David and Patrick get high together, it’s a welcomed reward for one hell of a busy week.

To Be Alone [david/patrick, G, 4,300] by @mostlyinthemorning

David was certain that love wasn’t something that happened to people like him.

2020

"I Love You" [david/patrick, T, 2,793] by @unfolded73

The second of a series of snapshot fics centered around stages in David and Patrick's relationship.

Happy In a Million Ways [david/patrick, G, 3,881] by odofidi

David decides he wants to celebrate American Thanksgiving. And he wants to cook.

Pride and Pretention [david/patrick, T, 3,937] by @reginahalliwell

Just my take on the David/Patrick interactions from 3.08 "Motel Review," using verbatim canon dialogue. David and Patrick meet and don't quite know what to make of each other.

The Rosebud Graphic Design Affair [david/patrick, M, 5,563] by For_pucks_sake

David/Patrick AU based on the story of Sarah and Karl from Love Actually. David and Patrick have been working together at the same company for two and a half years and Patrick has been in love with David for all of this time, but they are just colleagues, never having found the courage to ask him out. One night, at a party, things change.

Try and catch the wind [david/patrick, M, 5,077] by @kiwiana-writes

It will be okay. It will. David is very, very used to one-sided crushes. He can deal with this.

white wine? [stevie/alexis, G, 1,119] by tuatarasa

"Curious, he followed her line of sight to see who she was looking at. Oh! His eyes definitely bugged out for a second, he didn’t expect that to be who was making her so happy. He turned back to her, his eyebrows forming a crease in the center like they did every time he was confused. 'So...Are we into white wine now?' Stevie seemed to slam back into reality when she looked back to David in total shock and then looked at her glass of red wine, 'What are you talking about I’m drinking…' She stopped herself, shit. He noticed. Of course he noticed, he’s David and he knows her better than anyone. 'You know, I just don’t think red wine is for me, I tried it for a while because that’s what it felt like I was supposed to do but…'" Inspired by the comments in the finale that Stevie and Alexis had not slept the night after the wedding.

2021

From discord, find harmony [david/patrick, T, 2,700] by @simplymarleycat

It was the way he went over the projections and profit margins so that David understood without feeling like he was being talked down to. When David was thinking out loud about the layout of the store and Patrick gave his opinion, he seemed neither angry nor bothered that David didn’t take his suggestions. The shy, comforting smiles overtop of the harried and tipsy crowd on opening day reminded David that they were really doing it, and it was okay to be excited and happy. Patrick made David feel like he was on the right path and grateful to have a partner even when so many people in the past had let him down. Then there was the hug. ----Early business-partners-who-don't-know-they-both-like-each-other, helped along by technology.

i'll follow you way down (wherever you may go) [david/patrick, T, 8,420] by @rosedavid

Patrick breaks his ankle during his hike with David. David helps him get back to the emergency room. And there's definitely still a proposal, even if it doesn't go exactly as planned.

if you want it all [david/patrick, G, 2,646] by @designatedgrape

Patrick’s phone buzzes on the table and lights up with an incoming text. David doesn’t mean to look, really, but it’s right there, and it’s not his fault that Patrick has message previews on, is it? Rachel: Hey birthday boy, how are things going with DAVID??Rachel: Grown a pair and asked him out on an actual date yet?

In which David Rose takes a three day vacation to the past [david/patrick, T, 1,008] by YellowRosesAndDragons

Showing up ten years in the past should have been a bigger shock to David than it was. He knew three things about the time travelling: 1) he would be about forty-five years old, 2) he would be there for only three days, and 3) he would arrive before he and Patrick were together.

Libya [bob/gwen, G, 300] by Rosey_Peach

Make Foolish People Do [david/patrick, T, 2,445] by @thesleepyskipper

It’s only the second day of camp and David cannot believe how scorching hot it has been for so many days, one after the other, consecutively, in a row. He’s lounging on the beach, watching Stevie in the lake playing frisbee with some of the campers.He notices that her phone has fallen out of her bag and is sitting in the sand right beside his People magazine. He can’t help but see the text notification open on the screen.I can’t believe you told me to work here and didn’t tell me David worked here too! You know I’ve had a crush on him forever!!Well, that’s certainly an interesting development.

No More Waiting [david/patrick, T, 1,058] by @reginahalliwell

What if Patrick had let himself leave without kissing David on Grad Night? He'd come in early the next morning to finish what he started, of course! A sweet ficlet to celebrate my ficaversary -- 1 year in the SC fandom!

Patrick Brewer for Town Council [david/patrick, M, 14,905] by resilient_rose

When Patrick decides to run for town council, David does too much to make sure he wins. Featuring Ronnie, cows, and terrible wine.

Simply the Best Person I Know [david/patrick, M, 18,127, CW: major character injury, alcohol abuse] by Rosieboo98

This is the worse day of Patrick Brewer’s life. He looks from Johnny Rose’s shocked face to Moira Rose who has collapsed boneless in her husbands arms to Stevie who’s dark eyes bore straight through to his soul, her face thunderous despite her bloodshot eyes and tear streaked cheeks then to Alexis with her furrowed brow as if she can’t quite comprehend what’s happening. ‘Button?’ She says her voice small and shaky. Tears stream down his face as he lowers his head, he can’t look at them, he’s too ashamed, they must hate him, he hates himself more. ‘I’m so sorry’ he whispers. It’s so quiet that he’s not even sure that they heard him, no one responds, he doesn’t expect them to, what he’s done is unforgivable. He doesn’t look up at them, he can’t. His arm is tugged and he’s pulled away.

Wintering [david/patrick, G, 1,627] by @holmesapothecary

"Wintering is a season in the cold. It is a fallow period in life when you're cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress." David weathers the storm.

2022

i'll always hold you the way you remember [david/patrick, T, 5,996] by @colourcodedbinders

In standalone parts, the story of seven hugs, and their purposes. OR You don't ever really need a reason to hold someone you love in your arms, but here are seven of them anyway.

Just Watch Me [david/patrick, T, 5,432] by @different-but-the-same

“Patrick’s got the right idea. Everything’s better with a nice cup of tea.” “I didn’t think Americans drank tea.” “They’re Canadian.” “Oh. Right. Is there a difference?” “Maybe Canadians drink tea. Maybe that’s how you tell them apart.” In an alternate universe very much like our own, Nick Nelson introduces his boyfriend Charlie Spring to the TV show Schitt’s Creek… …while meanwhile, in another universe next door to that one, David Rose discovers that his boyfriend Patrick Brewer has a hidden guilty pleasure: a webcomic called Heartstopper…

nightmare creek [david/patrick, M, 39,630] by strangeluvz

"Who are you, David?” David’s smile twists into the corner of his mouth. Everything in Patrick wants to lean over and kiss that look right off his face, but he knows he can’t. “I’m an open book, Mr Brewer,” he says, and he looks up to meet Patrick's eyes. “And I thought you were a mentalist. Aren’t you supposed to tell me who I am?” * It's 1949, and Patrick Brewer is a telepath; or, at least, that’s what he’s led his audience to believe. He’s performing at a hotel lounge when he meets consulting psychologist David Blumenthal, who is intent on disproving his act. Yet, when the eccentric Rose family enlists Patrick’s help to put them in contact with their deceased son, he turns to David - the only person in New York City who appears to have any information about the late Mister Rose. Or: Patrick is a fake clairvoyant. David is a psychologist who is hiding his identity. They fall in love. Inspired by Nightmare Alley.

Rainbows have nothing to hide [patrick/rachel, G, 1,042] by @a-noble-dragon

Patrick’s life lived in colour, from grey, to gold.

Smile [patrick/rachel, G, poem] by @a-noble-dragon

"Smile Patrick," they said, as you caught her eye. The accompanying backslaps made you flinch, as you followed through on a lie.

2023

Drabble Me This [david/patrick, T, 1,700] by @statueinthestonetoo

There is a blog on Tumblr doing Weekly Drabble prompts. https://schittscreekdrabbleblog.tumblr.com/ Each Chapter will be a stand-alone using their prompt of the week, I may do more than one Drabble per Week or I may skip a week. I will try to add warnings in the notes as I go and tags will update as I go. The first 6 Chapters had been posted as a series and I didn't like that it was making me look like I had a lot of work so I am switching them to Chaptered Work which I am more comfortable with. So some of you will have seen them already. I know this will mean fewer kudos for me, and I am okay with that. There are always comments!

2024

Making a Splash [david/patrick, G, 100] by @a-noble-dragon

David rides the crest of a gargantuan wave, feet planted firmly on his surfboard, balance perfect.

Plume [david/patrick, T, 10,974] by @jamilas-pen

David is a spoilt ostrich from a private menagerie, but when his easy life is turned upside down he struggles to adapt to his new, much lowlier reality. All he wants is a partnership with depth and meaning, to have someone who accepts him for who he is and stands by his side. When a truck pulls up at the farm with another new arrival for the herd, he's confident that the cocky ex-racing ostrich who introduces himself is not the answer he's looking for. Or, learning to love yourself: a modern ostrich fairytale.

Stats:

No fanworks for 2017 or 2018 2019: 6 fics/14,536 words 2020: 6 fics/22,370 words 2021: 10 fics/53,226 words 2022: 5 fanworks (4 fics, 1 poem)/52,591 words 2023: 1 fic/1,700 words 2024: 2 fics/11,074 words Total: 30 fanworks (29 fics, 1 poem)/155,497 words

[shelvesofsiddurim]

Some post!Shabbat thoughts about the antizionist siddurim Tatir Tzrurah and Shoshanat Yadi (and the wider antizionist movement) that are probably the reason I had a migraine all of Shabbat:

These siddurim are designed for three people: those who are in their late teens to early-to-late 20s, completely unaffiliated Jews who stumble in (or are drawn in) to the antizionist cult, and non-Jews. Shoshanat Yadi, in particular, gives the book version of JVP's teacup mikvah with all of its halachic citations. "Look at me," it says, "I'm a traditional siddur. I have halachic citations like other traditional siddurim*, therefore the person using me is most definitely a traditional Jew."

I think the reason that Tatir Tzrurah didn't have any morning services was less about the capabilities of the publisher and more because some part of the antizionist crowd knows that it's extremely hard to defend the antizionist position when you actually go through a traditional Shacharit. That siddur was the bait and its "successor" Shoshanat Yadi was the switch. Even with the changes that they made in Shoshanat Yadi, someone familiar a traditional siddur (wether that's a Koren or an ArtScroll or the Masorti/Conservative Movement's Sim Shalom) would go through it and be like, "hey wait a minute."

Which brings me back to the point about unaffiliated Jews: if their first experience with a siddur is Tatir Tzrurah, they won't have that "hey wait a minute" moment when they start using Shoshanat Yadi to daven Shacharit. An unaffiliated Jew is also more likely to be Jewishly-illiterate and thus more reliant on the English translation. (Shoshanat Yadi kind of gave its hand away there during the intro when it talked about its layout. It mentioned wanting to provide ease for those davening in English alongside those davening in Hebrew.)

To me, it seems like antizionist crowd's primary target are college kids who may not have a set Jewish community or who are wrestling with their own identities, and these unaffiliated, Jewishly-illiterate Jews. They draw them in by promising answers or friends or a non-judgemental community and legitimise themselves in the eyes of these new recruits by providing siddurim that purport to have "traditional liturgy". "You don't need to learn the aleph-bet, we have a transliteration and translation ready to go so that you don't have to think too hard about the words that you're saying," the antizionist crowd says.

There's a part of me that thinks that even Jews who are affiliated with a community and have some Jewish education, but don't have good/decent Hebrew foundation are good targets for the antizionist crowd. As with an unaffiliated, Jewishly-illiterate Jew, an affiliated Jew with a poor grasp of Hebrew is likely going to daven with the transliteration. They'll also be more reliant on the English translation because they don't have the skills to decode and notice the discrepancies that are present between the text and the translation.

I don't know how to fix it. As someone who's training to become a Jewish educator and leader, I don't even really know how to begin addressing it beyond pushing for stronger Hebrew curriculums in religious schools (and even then that's its own challenge, particularly in the more progressive streams because religious schools are often competing with other extra curricular activities on Sundays).

These siddurim make me angry. They also make me sad.

*even though the siddurim that have halachic citations usually just...have them all together in the back like a glossary for nerds like me to read when they're bored

**I do recognise that there are Jewishly-literate Jews out there who are antizionists. The Rosh Yeshivot of Shel Maala Yeshiva are two of them, plus the creators of these siddurim and others.

[pedrocomicreviews]

Absolute Wonder Woman #9

“It seems we will skip directly to the violence.“

Where my VILLAINY INC true believers AT, we are FEASTING over here, spoilers for the end of the book.

The new arc of Absolute Wonder Woman continues as Diana is informed of what I’m going to affectionately nickname MINOS’S MAZE #2 underneath a government facility, storing several magical specimens including, apparently, an Amazon. She makes the logical decision to jump face-first into this obvious trap, makes some new friends, and finds some new enemies for her, and old for us! 

Before we get to the big reveal, I gotta restate: this fucking building is absolutely (hah!) the future Hall of Justice, and no one can convince me otherwise.

Like come oooon, it’s shaped like Justice!

But more than that, I gotta ask, what is happening with the panel layout in this? It has never been conventional and I’ve seen plenty of people say it’s distracting, but this is the first time when I’m just actually confused about the shape of the page. 

Like, what is the experience I’m supposed to have with these shapes, why is one of them a semicircle that leaves so much of the page blank on the right corner, why aren’t any of them the same size?

This is not to disparage the art or even criticize the idea– I like weird shit, this is weird, I enjoy it, but at some point it’s just there for the sake of it. Other pages have this kind of layout looking much more sensible and on purpose, this feels like not that. Considering Sherman just signed an exclusive contract with DC, I assume we’ll have a lot more of him doing this, and I hope these get… better? More interesting? Less confusing? I don’t know exactly what I’m trying to say, it was just something I noticed that didn’t work for me.

The writing keeps working for me, though. Diana continues to be a little aloof, a little adorable, a little blood-lusty. I enjoy her interactions with Doctor Poison a lot, and with the newly arrived Absolute Ferdinand, a friendly Minotaur of Wonder Woman’s canon that you might recognize from Greg Rucka’s Rebirth run.

I specifically enjoy how Diana’s Lasso of Nemesis changes the way she interacts with the world. While the normal Lasso of Truth would simply allow her to see the truth in someone’s heart, this specific Lasso allows her to check for injustice– she immediately defers to it when not sure whether the maze’s Minotaur or his assailants are on the right side, and actively threatens the enemies with the total weight of their sins if they continue their attack. It’s a bit like Ghost Rider’s Penance Stare I suppose, although it hasn’t been nerfed into oblivion yet.

But it’s all about the reveal of the enemy! It’s Absolute Queen Clea!

And what a redesign! Regal, complex, and implying a lot about how the undersea world is doing in the Absolute universe. Her trident of Poseidon seems to be more of a staff, she has an army of Insmuthians at her thrall, and she’s in a maze under Area 41? This is sick, more of this please. From Golden Age villain to cameo queen, it has been a minute since Clea isn’t used, so I was very happy to see this return.

I hope this means Villainy Inc has a place in the Absolute universe, I think the name alone should give it more personality than most evil teams. We do know a lot of the Absolute villains are joining forces soon, so hey, this is a great one if they need a Wonder Woman villain that’s not just Doctor Psycho again.

Very happy with this issue, very happy with this book, a little funky on the art direction. But still well-worth the time and interest, the Absolute universe continues its all-bangers run almost a year in.

[vicky82gargoylesfan]

Thunderbirds Rewatch 3rd Week

@thunderversary-rewatch-party

Fireflash

This episode pays homage to the Trapped in the Sky episode from the original series.

The Hood hijacks the plane to get the new engines.

I assuming this is supposed to be Heathrow.

I assume Kayo was in London visiting her Father.

Poor Kayo who has to sit next to Bernard Bottomsly, who's trying to flirt with her.

If you think about it, this is quite a violent episode, with Kayo throwing stuff and hitting the Hood, he's trying to hit her. At the end of the fight, Kayo does hit him and he hits her back. Yeah an Uncle who hits his Niece.

As usual the Hood leaves in a escape pod, leaving Kayo and the other people on the plane to die

.Virgil, Gordon and Alan arrive just in time, this this the first time we see Alan inside Thunderbird 2.

Alan and Gordon use the elevator cars to help land the plane. pretty cool moment by using the music from the old series.

The plan failed as Fireflash could of crushed Alan and Gordon and Kayo didn't want to risk losing there lives.

I thought this was pretty cool shot

Kayo is about to pour her heart out.

Luckily Virgil comes in with last second save.

Unplugged

Great episode, I love that Grandma Tracy is involved in this episode. I also love Virgil and Grandma are pretty close.

The Hood uses the group called the Luddites, to take out the power so they could open some big safe and take this codex device.

Grumpy Grandma.

Traffic in London doesn't change much in 35 years.

"You can't park there mate" kidding, Virgil did well getting Thunderbird 2 down and without power

Grandma giving Virgil a lot of encouragement was pretty cool.

Virgil is correct that a lot of people could be dyeing due to no power. If you seen X-Men 97, Magneto took out the power of the whole world, killing millions.

So I wonder how many people died from this.

This is a lovely moment between Virgil and Grandma, talking about Grandpa Tracy.

Parker saves the day and does the old switcheroo.

Trapped in the Sky

This had a different story to the TAG episode Fireflash. In this version, The Hood plants a bomb on Fireflash so he could take photos of Thunderbird 1. This certainly wouldn't have worked in the TAG version.

The Hood has mind control powers and tries to control Kyrano by giving secrets about International Rescue. Kyrano seems to be in a lot of pain.

A few scenes later Kyrano says he's fine and it was only a dizzy spell!! That was some dizzy spell!!!!

If anyone has listened to the latest audio stories, The Tracy's do actually find out that it was Hood doing this.

Fireflash has a strange seating layout.

Apparently you can smoke on planes again in the 2060s, LOL. I know that they try to edit out the smoking but they have still kept some in because Lady Penelope was smoking in her car later.

And apparently there are 600 people aboard this flight.

This was a strange rescue attempt (not by the Tracys)

It obviously failed as when the bloke got into the Fireflash, the door was still open and he ends up falling, he survived by using his parachute but anyway they could shut that trap door.

Thunderbird 1 arrives and demands that his craft needs to be protected as they didn't want people taking photos of it.

This certainly wouldn't have worked in TAG because we now mobile phones with camera's on them, CCTV camera's, social media ect.

Virgil arrives and bring out the elevator cars, the third one has a fault but is cleared but Virgil didn't even know what the fault was. It later fails and crashes into another plane, so Virgil gets a 4th one out. So if that happened in TAG and Virgil didn't know what the fault was, he wouldn't have risked using that elevator car and replaced it with a new one.

Wow, The M1 is very quiet.

Lady Penelope and Parker, make sure there is no 1 around (they are still on the M1 by the way) and they shoot at him and blow him up but they don't stick around to see if he survived.

Apparently we going back to using camera films in the 2060s, LOL

Oh hello, Alan and Kayo, I mean Tin Tin, getting a bit cosy there.

She got back home quick, did she hitch a ride on TB2 or something.

I love the fact Jeff doesn't change the photos while the Doctor was already here. You think he would of done it before he got to the Island.

LOL, they took a photo of Virgil with a cigarette in his hand.

I can't remember if all the Tracy's smoked but it be hilarious if they vaped instead of smoking.

Apparently the Doctor said Kyrano is fine, just a dizzy spell, so no MRI, CT scan or any other tests.