#All the Time in the World (Timekeeper)

[thegoodmorningman]

Dear Corvi Dable, Time is a lie. A lie they've been telling you all your life. They don't want you to have a Good Morning all day every day. Because if you did, what power would they have left? Your Eternal pal, Bud☀️🧙🏼‍♂️✌🏼

[the-poke-nebula]

"Aw, how sweet... the Girl out of Time fell for someone in the past~! But oh, how sad it must be that she can't remain.

...but... perhaps I can help..."

Sylvia, if you have any common sense, do NOT let this bitch fuck with your life-

[spy-kids-database]

Photoshoot of Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.

[deathbxnny]

Helloo!! Arcane is ending soon, so I was wondering if I could request the Arcane cast reacting to a reader who suspiciously seems to know everything that’s gonna happen in the plot? They always appear where the action is, and they warn about dangers before they happen, trying to ”subtly” change the outcomes of horrible events. Tragedies are a core element of the story, so I feel that the narrative would create another disaster if one event got prevented, but the thought of these characters being safe and happy after all they’ve been through would be so healing :3 It’s up to you which way you want to take it 🐁💖 I’m fine with both platonic and romantic, but I’d love to see Vi, Jinx and Caitlyn if that’s ok :)

I love love love your writing, reading your HC’s before bed has become an important part of my day and it’s always a joy to see your work pop up in the tags <3 Thank you for letting us read your creations 💖 I can’t wait to read the second part of your Caitlyn fic!!

The Timekeeper. | Vi, Caitlyn, Jinx x Gn!Reader

I absolutely LOVE this idea, Anon, and I appreciate your request so much!! Also, thank you for your kind words. It really means the world to me reading something so sweet!<33

Content: Angst, can be read as either platonic or romantic tbh, time traveling, fluff, bitter sweet, cursing, spoilers for season 2?, sfw

Reader has no set pronouns.

((Not proofread))

You were always a mysterious figure to them. One that appeared at the right time in the right place whenever they needed you the most.

You never revealed a thing about yourself. You never even told them your name. But one thing they did know was that you had always looked out for them, like a guardian angel in a way.

And on one fateful day, after another evaded tragedy, they finally caught up to you just before you could leave again.

》VI

"Who the hell are you?" She asked completely out of breath after having practically chased you down through the dense crowd of the undercity. She had seen you so many times before. So, so many times. And every time she did, you were somehow able to save her from certain death by subtly showing her the right way to survive.

It took her a while to piece together that you must've known the outcome of every situation she had ever been in beforehand. That was the only logical answer to the many questions around your existence she could come up with, but it wasn't enough to satiate her desperate curiosity. There were times she had chosen against your signs, and the consequences ended up being almost grave. So whoever you were, you must've had otherworldly knowledge about everything and everyone.

Because whilst she didn't know a thing about you, you certainly knew everything about her.

Raising your hooded head, you idly played with the pocket watch in your hand, piercing eyes meeting her own. "Does that matter?" You ask, and truthfully, it shouldn't. Who cared about your identity when she knew she could trust you? But that wasn't enough. "Yeah, it does to me. Now tell me who you are already. I... I've been seeing you everywhere for years now. You have always been there and I..." She trailed off, suddenly losing her confidence.

She had thought of this moment for years now, imagined exactly what she would say to you. And yet, ultimately, she found herself speechless in your presence that seemed to drown out everyone else around you two. "I see... but my apologies, we were not supposed to meet yet." You said calmly, seemingly undisturbed by her appearance. "Time and fate... they both are so tightly intertwined and yet also so far apart from each other... how odd that the timeline changed so suddenly again, no?" Your words made zero sense in her mind, but that just added to your mystery.

"What-" "-Are you happy with the way your life is going?" You ask, and that made the woman pause in thought. The answer was positive, of course, but only because you had a strong hand in it once she accepted your help. She thought of Powder back home, who was probably happily tinkering away with the young girl Isha they recently took in, and that made her finally nod. "Yes. All thanks to you." "Not at all. It was you who chose your fate. I only showed you the alternative paths."

You two stood there in silence for a moment before she shoved her hands into her pockets and looked over to a nearby bar she liked to frequent in-between missions. "Let's go grab a drink and talk. It's on me." Deciding to accept this new path the timelines had given you, you accept her invitation with a smile.

》JINX

"You're terrible at your job." "Am I? I like to pride myself in my good work ethic, actually." Jinx was idly swinging her gun back and forth on her index finger whilst she rested up in the ceiling above you, clearly having followed you around secretly. But she knew that you already knew that from the start.

Scoffing at your words, she jumped down and landed in front of your indifferent figure as she pointed the gun right at you. "Pah! You're a funny one... so what are you? A time traveler?" "Ah, I like the title Timekeeper more." You were aggravating but at the same time a familiar face she had grown to appreciate deeply. You were the reason she was doing well in life now, even if she ignored you for a very, very long time. She thought she knew better despite all the odds pointing against her, especially you. Ultimately, she learned her lesson when she finally just listened to you.

"Ugh... whatever. Can't ya at least tell me your name?" "No." "Man, you're such a pain in the butt!" "Likewise." Rolling her eyes, she lowered her gun and lazily leaned against a wall, arms crossed tightly as she observed the crowds passing by from outside the abandoned building you were in. An admittedly comfortable silence fell between you two, one that relaxed her shoulders and made her sigh in defeat after a while. Your presence was always so comforting.

"So, you let me catch up to you this time. Finally tired of the cat and mouse game we've been playing?" You lowered your head at her question, a sly smile on your face that made her narrow her eyes in interest. "Perhaps. Or maybe I just wanted to ask you how you're doing?" What an odd question, considering the context of your meet-up. And yet, it was somehow fitting coming from you specifically. Wasn't your whole mysterious mission revolving around her well-being anyway?

"Shouldn't you know the answer to that, oh so esteemed 'Timekeeper'?" You found no offense in the mockery of your title. Just pure amusement. "I'm afraid that mind reading was not in the initial job listing." Jinx took a moment to think about your question carefully then, deciding to indulge you despite her better judgment. Things were good now, after all. She, Isha, and Vi were together again as a family, including Vander, even if they had yet to find a way to turn him back properly. But everything was happy otherwise... because you made sure that the end to her story wouldn't be a painfully tragic one.

"... I'm fine. Everything's fine." She muttered, and your smile widened at that answer. "So... I'm not terrible at my job, after all?" Pressing a playful hand to her chin, Jinx acted as though she was in deep thought. "Hmmm... I guess I'll need more convincing than all of this to decide." "Of course... then how about we start with running away before the Enforcers show up to raid this place in approximately... 2 minutes?"

Jinx rolled her eyes again with a grin but agreed to follow you, very much glad to have learned her lesson at your side throughout the years.

》CAITLYN

She was ignorant towards your judgment from the start, especially as she was able to analyze very quickly that you weren't all you claimed you were. You were too smart, too fast, too aware of everything. It was clear that you already knew how her life story especially would come to an end. But that didn't mean that she'd always listen to you.

Caitlyn believed to know better, even going as far as to protest against your word, which she had learned to be fate itself. And sometimes she'd nearly get away with her life, and on others, you'd be the one to show up just in time to save her. It was embarrassing and at times even near humiliating, but you never judged her, just silently left every time she attempted to confront you.

And this time she had finally succeeded.

Now dressed in a formal uniform, she watched your still form stare out of a window in her estate, as though you weren't practically trespassing. But Caitlyn was used to that. "It's going to rain soon. I wonder if the construction workers will get done with the restoration on time today before the first drops fall." The navy haired woman came to stand next to you, ears finely tuned to your calming voice she had heard in her dreams and mind for so many years. It felt surreal to stand next to you at last.

"You already know the answer... but I think Mother will send out guards soon to retrieve them." Her mother, who had only narrowly escaped her death, if it wasn't for you. She had only gotten a little injured from falling debris, but that was all that happened. All of the councilors and people in the building had survived the Jinx attack. No grave injuries. All because you prevented it by throwing Jinx slightly off balance enough to make her shot not as precise.

"... Thank you." "For what?" The right answer would be absolutely everything, but she refrained, noting that you didn't seem keen on praise. You saw it as your job. As your duty to her for a reason unknown. "For saving my mother." That should do.

You nodded at her words in acknowledgment as your eyes spied Ambessa retreating with her troops in defeat. They were practicing chased away by the council since their help was unwelcome. Served them right for meddling with the business of other nations. You had exposed their ulterior motives in secret, and that's all it took for the tide to turn against them. "Just my duty." "I knew you'd say that... but I want to reward you for all you've done. If it wasn't for you... then I... I don't want to know what I would have become."

You glanced at her with an unreadable look in your eye, and that reconfirmed her suspicions regarding how deep she would have fallen otherwise. It's best not to think of it.

Humming to yourself in thought, you gave her a small smile. "Very well, if you insist... you can treat me to some fine tea and cookies." Caitlyn weakly mirrored your grin, relief filling her senses at you accepting her offer. She was worried you wouldn't. "Of course. Follow me." Linking your arms together carefully, you made your way through the dim halls.

A chuckle left your lips when it indeed began to rain.

[tinietaehyun]

Wondrous Tales

[Wonderland!txt x lost!reader] [one-shot series]

Pairing(s): wonderland!txt! x lost!reader

Genre(s): fantasy, dark fantasy, romance, supernatural, thriller, one-shots.

Contains: (specific to each one-shot)

Links: Masterlist

Summary: Upon your stroll in the park, you stumble upon an envelope on the grass. With further inspection, it appears to be an invite of sorts. How peculiar indeed.

Wonderland? What was that? Did someone accidentally drop an invite for a birthday or costume party on their way?

Brimming with curiosity, you open up the flap to peek inside. Initially there seems to be no name, huh, it’s not addressed to anyone. Then why…

Before you could even finish your thought, you begin to see the world around you warp and twist as you soon come to realise the dire consequences of your insatiable curiosity.

Perhaps you should have left that damn invite alone because now, you were stuck in a whole other whimsical and whacky world with no idea how to get out!

Luckily (or unluckily) for you, you’ll meet some rather interesting people along your journey to leave. Though….dear reader, will you successfully escape or become ensnared by the five lovely figures of Wonderland?

1. The White Rabbit - Choi Soobin

➸ “The timekeeper of Wonderland, no matter how efficient he is, he is destined to run late. A timid soul who has always led guests to their doom, there’s not much he can do about it after all.”

Summary: With your abrupt arrival into this whimsical space, you wander around aimlessly. How odd, every turn you took, you ended up in the same spot.

Though as they say, third time’s the charm, when you encounter a blonde haired man, with a top hat and formal attire - goodness, were you going insane already?

The man gives you a gentle smile, walking towards you with his hand outstretched, “Goodness it’s been awhile since we’ve had any guests,” he observes you, “A pretty one no less.” That‘s it, you were definitely going insane.

He brings your hand to his lips with a soft gaze, “You must be so frazzled, guests always are. Well it’s my pleasure to be your guide. Now, come on, chop, chop, time’s ticking.” With a swift tug, you’re getting pulled along by this strangely tall man. What had you gotten yourself into?

Read here!

2. The King Of Hearts - Choi Yeonjun

➸ “A ruthless, flirtatious man with a dramatic flare who has quite the fondness for new guests. So much so, half don’t even make it out. He’s always looking for entertainment and wishes to be the centre of attention, so always make sure you give him what he wants.”

Summary: You peer around at this red, black and white lavish interior. A shudder vibrates through you - maybe you were better off with Soobin. You wonder what happened to him, everything happened so quickly. One moment he grasped your hand tightly and the next you saw him getting dragged away!

The guards shove you through a set of grand heart engraved doors and you stumble to your knees. Peering up, you see the man himself, one leg atop the other, a bored expression on his face, his eyes glimmering in intrigue.

“Ah, my darling guest, have you already fallen for me? Surely, you must have plans to keep me more entertained than that.” He smirks almost too sweetly with a flick of his wrist, “After all, you’ll find out very quickly, what happens to those I get bored with.”

Read here!

3. The March Hare- Huening Kai

➸ “Tea, tea, tea. It’s always tea time for him. Time for tea? Or is it tea’s time to be had? Don’t ever refuse his offer for tea, or you’ll find yourself perpetually mad.”

Summary: Gasping and panting raggedly for breath, you seemed to have done good by sliding down the fluorescent tunnel as a last resort! The King’s guards almost caught you!

What a maniac he was! How could someone be so obsessive? Your heart rate slows as you peer around, huh, this area seemed secluded. You deem it should be safe to take some rest here. Right? Goodness, you couldn’t trust this place at all! Little by little you feel your sanity tearing away.

“Oh? Who’s wandered into my little grove? Another guest for my tea party?” Your head snaps up seeing a tall man, with a coy grin as he clicks his tongue, walking towards you, “Oh you must be the pretty little guest I’ve heard so much about…oh then, join me, won’t you? For my little tea party?”

You had a feeling you couldn’t refuse even if you wanted to.

Read Here!

4. The Mad Hatter - Choi Beomgyu

➸ “His pretty face hides the most decrepit madness. A man who killed time, quite literally. Is being mad so bad? Is being bad so mad? Why be suppressed with all those boring rules and go insane with the Hatter instead?”

Summary: Having managed to elude the tea party and trick Kai into thinking you’ll stay, you scramble for your life by bargaining with a strange caterpillar hanging from the trees to escape.

Being barely lucid, you stumble into what seems to be another secluded grove, another tea party. Oh, you were definitely mad by this point. Not again! You see exuberant host with his feet up on the table with a grin, “Welcome, welcome, do come and join me, little love. I have lots of tea or are you sick of it from the March Hare?”

Panicked you rush off past him, he makes no move to chase after you. How strange. “Toodles, love!” Grimacing you rush off through the tangled foliage….only to arrive back to where you were facing the man again. A loop…?

“Time’s prisoner I am, and so you will be too. I’m awfully lonely and the hare’s fed up of my games. You’ll play with me and keep this Hatter company won’t you?”

Read here!

5. The Cheshire Cat - Kang Taehyun

➸ “A man with hypnotic eyes and a killer smile, almost uncanny in its slyness. A man who likes to toy with his prey and use his wit to outsmart any and who dare to trespass his woods. He isn’t mad like the others, no, under his grin, hides someone smarter than everyone in Wonderland.”

Summary: You break the loop and take the Hatter off guard by your boldness, managing to somehow bypass his riddles and games. With all your remaining strength, you run deliriously, where? You don’t know.

All you know is the thousands of signs reading and pointing to an “exit” were taunting you. You couldn’t believe them. Not anymore, you couldn’t believe anyone, or anything in this world. You were not stupid enough to follow those damn signs and so, you go the opposite path. Into the Dark Woods.

Finding yourself even more lost and the last of your sanity crumbling away, the pollen in the air making you feel hazy, you’re startled to hear a voice, “Well, well, well, what a pretty thing has stepped into my woods today. Has no one told you I don’t like trespassers, hm?” Your eyes snap up to a man lounging in the branches above with a wide grin, “Don’t look so scared, I don’t bite too hard.”

Read Here

Taglist: [CLOSED]

@naoristerling @staaaarykids @tremendousphantommiracle @lun4kazumii @lunathewritingcat @ur-mother-realnotclickbait @taehyhunnzly @20crowsinahoodie @baekberrie @syraphyina @fullbodyblankets @soohashits @f4iryfever @themochiverse @atiny-chocolate-chip @nothingwithoutgyu @ethystclove @hancafe @nap-of-a-starr @isa942572 @evn-09 @ninitorih @m3chigo @tenleeluvr-blog @matcha-binz @soobunnymoa @sleepyygyu @nicngyu @vicurious28 @kurokkkiko0 @zyoopioo @noraimp @bvqler @lailols @iiisusy @astridxxxx @kookiesbunny @scrumptiousloser

[accioscarheadthings]

I been reading your ken sato stuff and love them🤭. Could you do one were it’s like curvy reader but they just have that milf aura to them but that’s just how they are. Like basically Ken kinda met his match idk how to say it😞. But ya keep up the beautiful work pooks ☺️

thank youu anon 💖💖 i hope i delivered what you asked for...

Tender Dominance

pairing: kenji sato x curvy!fem!reader

warning: none, fluff, soft moments, partial nudity(?), mentions of smut towards the end

summary: kenji with a curvy!fem!reader who has milf energy

masterlist !

⇏ kenji couldn't help but feel a surge of desire every time you entered a room. your mere presence seemed to ooze a magnetic energy that drew him in.

⇏ as you stood there, talking to a friend or adjusting your clothes, his eyes would follow your every move, tracking the subtle curves of your body. he'd find himself staring at the way your hair framed your face, or the way your lips curled into a smile as you laughed.

⇏ kenji was captivated by the way you moved and carried yourself. there was something about the way you commanded attention, the way you held yourself with such poise and grace, that he found utterly intoxicating.

kenji clung to you like a lifeline, his arms wrapped tightly around you. even the threat of being late couldn't break his hold. he needed this closeness, the warmth of your body, the scent of your skin, the rhythm of your heartbeat. it was a primal need, an inborn craving. your presence was a balm for his racing mind, soothing the anxieties that plagued him. with you, the world seemed quieter, simpler. the constant chatter in his head faded, replaced by a sense of peace and comfort. you cradled his face in your hands, gently tracing the contours of his cheeks and jaws. his eyes fluttered shut, a look of pure bliss washing over his features. with a soft smile on your lips, you began to cover his face with a series of tender kisses. you started on his forehead, then moved down to his temples, followed by the tip of his nose. finally, you arrived at his lips, where you lingered for a moment, savoring the softness of his mouth against yours.

his fingers curled around your waist, gently gripping the soft flesh there. he relished the feeling of your velvety body against his muscular one, the subtle give of your stomach making him want to pull you even closer. "kenji, aren't you late for a press meet?" you reminded him gently. his eyes snapped open, and he cursed under his breath, "crap, you're right," he muttered, reluctantly pulling away from you.

he sat up with a huff, raking a hand through his hair in frustration, "i can't believe i lost track of time again," you rolled your eyes as he regretted his lack of timekeeping skills, "of course you can't," you echoed, pulling the bedsheet up to cover your bare chest. as you watched him scramble to get ready, you couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and affection for his scatterbrained nature. kenji quickly rose from the bed, stretching his limbs as he searched for his clothes, "damn it," he muttered under his breath, "i should have set an alarm," he flung open the wardrobe doors, grabbed the closest items of clothing he could find, and began pulling them on like a man possessed. his hands fumbled with the buttons and zippers, fingers trembling with frustration as they tangled in the fabric. you watched with a mix of amusement and concern as he frantically dressed, amused by his chaotic energy but concerned about his punctuality, "don't you think you should take a moment to calm down?" you offered teasingly, a smirk playing at the corners of your lips.

the bedsheet was draped around you, the sheer material hugging your curves in all the right places. the way it clung to your body, the thin fabric leaving your bare flesh tantalizingly visible.

kenji's eyes roamed over your form, taking in every inch of your exposed flesh as the sheer fabric clung to your body. his gaze lingered on the way the material bunched at your stomach, drawing attention to its soft, rounded shape. it curved up around your breasts, creating a delightful crevice that framed your cleavage, and then continued to hug your sternum, the taut material pressing against your skin. your hardened nipple was clearly visible through the translucent material, leaving little to the imagination. his hands itched to reach out and touch you, to run his palms over your curves and feel the warmth of your skin under his fingertips. but he knew he couldn't, not when he was running late. he immediately felt his cheeks flare up in a deep blush. he stammered, his words lodging in his throat as he found himself unable to look away. "eyes up here, big boy," you chuckled at his flustered state, enjoying the effect you were having on him.

kenji's heart thumped in his chest as he heard your words, his desire for you growing stronger with every passing moment. he fidgeted restlessly, his hands clenching at his sides as he fought the overwhelming urge to reach out and touch you. he bit his bottom lip, his eyes still glued to your seductive form, "you're killin' me, mama," he groaned, his voice hoarse with longing. you laughed, enjoying the effect you had on him, "and you're a sucker for it," you retorted, running a hand idly across your barely covered waist, the bedsheeet dipping between your legs and revealing a hint of your bare thigh. kenji's eyes followed the path of your hand, his mouth going dry as he watched the way the sheer fabric moved with your touch, "you drive me insane," he rasped, his voice low and husky with need, "fuckk," "is that a good thing or a bad thing?" you teased, leaning back on the bed and deliberately arching your body to give him a better view.

kenji's breath caught in his throat as he took in the enticing sight before him. his eyes raked over your form, taking in every curve and contour, "both," he answered, his voice hoarse and strained, "good because it makes me i feel lots of things. bad because I can't act on it right now," you chuckled, relishing the power you held over him in that moment, "poor baby," you purred, feigning sympathy, "so desperate, but so helpless." you rolled over, laying on your stomach, and gazed up at kenji, a coy smile playing on your lips. the bedsheet fell open slightly, revealing an irresistible glimpse of your bare skin through the sheer fabric. you beckoned him closer with one finger. kenji's eyes widened at the sight, his heart racing at the way the bedsheet now hung loosely off your form, the sheer fabric revealing just enough to drive him mad with desire. he swallowed hard, walking towards you, torn between his primal urges and his sense of duty, struggling to keep control.

you caught his hand gently, bringing it to your lips and showering each knuckle with a tender kiss. the gesture was so simple, yet it made his breath hitch. he watched you, entranced by the softness of your lips against his skin. you bit his knuckles playfully, gently nipping at them with your teeth as you gazed up at him. kenji's breath hitched at the sensation, a mix of surprise and pleasure coursing through him. he watched you, a smirk forming on his lips as he noticed the cheeky gleam in your eyes, "you're a naughty one," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. he flexed his fingers slightly, testing the way your teeth pressed softly against his skin.

he squatted down on the floor, positioning himself in front of the bed. his hand slipped from your grasp to the back of your head and pulled you towards him, clashing your lips to his in a deep kiss. your mouths meld together, and your lips move in a passionate embrace. a low moan escaped from your throat, the sound muffled by the intensity of the kiss. kenji's hands immediately slid down to your hips, groping possessively, trying to feel as much of you as possible, his touch both demanding and tender. you pull away from the kiss with a soft gasp, meeting his gaze as you remind him, "you're late, honey," kenji whined in frustration, his eyes clouded with desire as he looked down at you, "i know, mama," he muttered, "but I can't help it when you're being so damn tempting," you roll your eyes at his response, knowing all too well the effect you had on him, "well, you better get untempted quick,"

⇏ those times, when the weight of public scrutiny and criticism felt too heavy to bear, he found himself drawn to you like a moth to a flame. he'd come home after a particularly tough day and seek you out, desperate for comfort and reassurance that he wasn't as bad as the media made him out to be.

kenji stumbled through the door, his expression a mix of sullenness and shame. he knew he had messed up, again, and the weight of media criticism was weighing heavily on his shoulders.

the media had jumped on the incident between kenji and his teammate, exaggerating the fight and painting him as a volatile and uncontrollable athlete. to make matters worse, his subsequent outburst at a news conference had earned him the label "wild athlete gone loose."

kenji was met by your disapproving gaze in the living room, your arms crossed in front of you. you fixed him with a steady glare, your finger pointing at him firmly, "i notice you've been keeping yourself busy," you said, turning off the television and giving him your undivided attention. he hung his head, feeling ashamed of his behaviour, "i'm sorry, babe," he murmured, his voice sheepish. he took your accusing hand into his own, gently covering the span of your fist with his. he brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to your pointer finger.

"i snapped," he admitted, a hint of regret in his voice, "i know i shouldn't have, but i just couldn't hold it in any longer," his grip on your hand tightened in distress. your expression softened a little as you watched him, your stern demeanor faltering in the face of his remorse. your fingers shifted to intertwine with his. you knew kenji was impulsive, prone to letting his emotions get the best of him. but you also knew he was trying to change. you sighed, "you can't keep doing this," you chided, your voice firm but gentle, "every time you lash out, it reflects badly on you and on your team," you continued, "the media is already having a field day with your behavior. you need to learn to control your temper,"

kenji nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "i know," he muttered, squeezing your intertwined hands, "i just get so frustrated sometimes. the pressure, the expectations, it all builds up and i just can't take it anymore," he sat down on the couch, in front of you, his hands coming to rest automatically on your hips. with you still standing in front of him, he pulled you closer, his face nuzzling into your stomach as he inhaled deeply. the warmth of your body, your soft scent, and the familiar feel of your flesh under his touch immediately eased some of the tension in his body. you threaded your fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp in soothing, circular motions. he closed his eyes, a contented sigh escaping his lips as he leaned into your touch. the feel of your fingers on his scalp was like a tonic, seeping right through his blood and easing the stress pumping through him. he buried his face deeper into your stomach, seeking comfort in your presence, "'m just so sick of everything," he groaned, looking up at you with his chin on your tummy, a pout on his adorable pink lips, "'m so tired, mama," you hugged his head closer to your body, kissing the top of his head, "i know, baby. it's okay. i got you,"

⇏ you could be doing something mundane as preparing dinner, the spatula in your hand, and kenji couldn't help but watch you intently.

⇏ the way you stood, your hip naturally resting on one side, had a certain allure to it. your confidence was captivating, and the casual grace of your movements was effortlessly attractive.

⇏ it wasn't just the action of cooking that caught his eye, but the way you carried yourself while doing it. every move you made was fluid and confident, radiating a subtle sensuality.

kenji was watching you in the kitchen, fascinated by how you skillfully wielded the spatula, your hand resting on your hip as you cooked.

suddenly, he found himself completely captivated by your look - something about the way you stood, hip cocked to one side, holding the spatula like a seasoned chef, drove him absolutely wild.

he couldn't help but approach you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and nuzzling his face into your neck, whispering, "you don't know what you do to me when you look like that,"

you leaned back lightly against him, sinking into the warmth of his body.

he pressed his body against yours, his hands resting on your hips as he inhaled deeply, taking in your scent, "you look damn amazing like that," he murmured, his lips grazing against your skin, "like a hot mama, cooking for her man."

"but i'm just cooking," you defended with a chuckle, his words shooting shivers down your spine, "does it turn you on?"

"yeah," he chuckled in your ear as he ran his hands up and down your sides. "there's something about watching you cook. i especially love the way you stand, hip cocked, like you know exactly what you're doing," he moved one hand up to your hair, gently tugging on it, "it's like you're tempting me or something," his lips found their way to your neck, starting to press hot kisses along the sensitive skin as he continued, "it makes me want to forget about the food and just have you instead. right here against the counter," you sputtered, mouthing wordlessly as you tried to ignore the effect he had on you, "k-kenji..." he chuckled against your neck, feeling your surprise, "you're speechless, huh?" he nipped at your skin playfully, "that's okay, mama. you don't need to speak. your body is doing all the talking for you,"

he ran his hands along your sides again, his touch growing more possessive, caressing the soft flesh of your tummy, "the way you stand, the way you move... it all screams 'take me, i'm yours',"

"mmhm, you can take me, but not now. i gotta cook. so now, you gotta behave," you responded by reaching your hand back to cradle the nape of his neck. you turned your face slightly to place a quick, sweet kiss on his cheek.

he let out a low hum of satisfaction as he felt your lips on his cheek, "now that's just not fair," he murmured, tightening his hold on you, "you can't do something hot like this and expect me to behave myself!"

⇏ kenji’s flirty ambiance was all about confidence and charisma. he’s not afraid to use his good looks and charm to get what he wants, and his smooth talk and easy-going attitude make him hard to resist.

⇏ but this demeanor faltered in your presence. becoming a tangled mess of nerves. his usual charm and wit are replaced by stutterings and stumbling over words, making him seem flustered and vulnerable around you. it’s as if his feelings for you overwhelm his usual charm and wit, leaving him speechless and off-balance.

kenji entered the kitchen, his eyes taking in every detail of your appearance as you sat on the counter, your legs swinging back and forth. a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he admiringly ran his gaze over your form, taking note of the way the white sundress clung to your curves and the way the hem swayed gently around your thighs. he let out a low hum of appreciation, his eyes trailing over your figure as he approached you, "mm, you look good, mama," he leaned over and sponged a loud kiss to your cheek, pulling an endearing smile from you.

kenji couldn't help but be enchanted by your charming smile. you pulled him closer, wrapping your legs around his hip, and tugged him toward you, causing him to stumble between your legs. he took in the sight of you, lounging on the counter with your hands resting behind you. you looked down at him, "thank you, baby," your voice was sultry and soothing. kenji's cocky smirk faded into a flustered boyish expression as your seductive presence and the way you took charge made his heart rate quicken, "y-you can't just... do that to me, babe..." "do what?" you tipped your head to the side with a questioning look, your hair falling in the same direction.

"this," he paused, "this thing you do... when you just... take control like that," he let out a shaky breath. his fingers trailed over the exposed part of your thigh, his expression shy and timid, "'s driving me crazy," you brought up a hand to cradle the side of his face, adoring how submissive and pliant he got around you. he leaned into your touch, his eyes half-lidding as he relishes the feeling of your palm against his skin. a shiver ran down his spine as you grasp his face, and he involuntarily lets out a soft, low hum of pleasure.

you traced your thumb just below the outline of his lower lip, cooing softly at him, "my pretty boy," kenji tilted his head closer, his lips instinctively following your thumb. he let out a shaky exhale, the touch sending a jolt of electricity through his body, ”more,” he muttered, his voice a mere whisper as he tried to press closer to your touch, "please mama," his hands made their way up to your curves and your stomach. he let out a satisfied hum, his fingers digging into your flesh as he gripped your love handles almost possessively, his palms cupping to mold them into the hollow of his palms, ”i love your body so much,” he muttered, his voice low and filled with reverence.

you looped a finger into his gold chain, leaning back and pulling him closer. your lips landed on his jawline in a smooch, the hand on his face caressing lovingly. he closed his eyes, relishing the tenderness of your touch. growing shy, he hid his face in your neck, making you poke fun at him with a chuckle.

⇏ when kenji calls you 'mama', his voice takes on a soft, sensual tone. he's not just saying the word; he's savoring it, the way it rolled off his tongue in that sweet and affectionate way. it portrayed how much love he holds for you in his heart.

kenji would come home to you with a bouquet of flowers, a proud smile on his face. he had personally picked them out for you, hoping to make you smile. "these are for you, mama," he said warmly, his eyes softening as you accepted them with an excited gasp.

⇏ sometimes, there's a hint of desire and longing in his tone like he's trying to show how much he craves you. a subtle but unmistakable hint of the depth of his need and want.

"oh f-fuck, you feel so good, mama," he groaned against your neck, bottoming out and grabbing a hand full of your ass. with both of you on your knees, your back pressed against the strong expanse of his chest. he wrapped his arm around your body, holding you snugly in place while he fucked his hips into yours ruthlessly. your mouth was wide open with each breath, sending puffs of air past your lips. drool dripped down your chin, creating a sight that was both sultry and captivating. he dragged his cock out of your sopping heat, groaning at the way your pussy sucked him in. your mixed arousal dribbled down your inner thigh with the force of each dip of his cock. "hnng, so perfect. so," thrust "fucking," thrust "beautiful,"

[bogkeep]

in which i tell you about medieval timekeeping methods

ok we gotta start with BABYLONIAN TIME and SUNDIALS because this is the Foundation. this is what they used for thousands of years. pretty much every structure we have for understanding and conceptualizing time is based on The Movements Of The Universe - years, months, days, this is how we understand Time to pass. the sun and stars were used for keeping time since Always!!!! there were also multiple ways of keeping time with the Shadows of the sun, not just sundials, but also tablets to measure the length of shadows. And Such

BABYLONIAN TIME is twelve hours daylight, twelve hours nighttime. this makes very good sense considering Sundials, you just split the indicators into twelve parts. don't know why Twelve specifically other than that the babylonians liked it, but it is a very nice, divisible number, and its been kept as the base for all the hour keeping systems i've read about so far.

but yes this does mean that a babylonian hour does not have a set, static length like a modern hour does...! it changes with the seasons and the place, so a babylonian winter hour is different from, say, a winter hour in northern norway. it probably helps to be closer to the equator and reliable sunny weather.

until the invention of mechanical escapement clocks, babylonian time was The main, foundational understanding of timekeeping, BUT...!!!!!! the church put a spin on it. what the monasteries needed to keep time for was Prayer Times, which they had seven of and were based on the passion of the christ. so they signaled the Seven Canonical Hours, starting at sunrise, ending at sunset. church bells is also how people kept time, because you could hear them out in the fields. timekeeping was a bit of a wibbly wobbly art but accuracy wasn't That important.

the various methods used to keep time in addition to sundials included: the cock's crow, candles, hymns, incense, and water clocks. not hour glasses, as they were invented around the same time as mechanical clocks. isn't that wild!!!!!!!

WATER CLOCKS, also called clepsydra, are a diverse category of clocks ranging from a container with water dripping out of it at a steady pace, to complex hydraulic mechanisms with weights and stuff that i honestly have yet to grasp. the simple versions were used in classical greece + rome in the same way you'd use hourglasses, to keep track of speech time, watch time, et cetera. the islamic world + china were the ones to develop the complex water clocks. there's documentation of a water clock in gaza that had like, moving automata and stuff around year 500. there was a water driven astronomical clock in china around year 1000. water clocks made a comeback in europe around the 1100ds, and were getting more widespread use. like at least they work at night, unlike SOME dials

"mechanical clock" is a bit of a misnomer since water clocks were clearly also mechanical, and the exact time of invention of what we think of as mechanical clocks is Vague. the word "horologia" was used to refer to any kind of timekeeping device, including the noble rooster, so it's a bit of a semantic haze.

they had astrolabes, which Could be used to tell the time, but weren't used to do that in the daily life. scientists wanted to make an automated astrolabe for like, the Science, they just needed to invent the perpetuum mobile first and then combine them. obviously.

the missing piece for the MECHANICAL CLOCK was the escapement, the mechanism that regulates the time with which the gears turn. once they got this going, probably early 1300ds, they got the shows on the road. the shows being: the astronomical clock, and the public striking clock. these were considered different things, you see.

the astronomical clock is the Automated Astrolabe. it shows the movement of the sun and moon and stars and as a consequence, the Time. they had dials that people could read the time from, but they were generally considered objects of prestige and god's glory, kind of like cathedrals. they often had moving figures and such.

now, public clocks that mark the hours with sound, THAT'S a timekeeping device. they didn't even have clock faces at first, and it really is so interesting to think about how looking at a clock wasn't considered the main way to tell the time. these clocks seem to have originated in italian cities and spread from there, and this is where we get ITALIAN TIME.

to show babylonian time with a mechanical clock is impractical. the machinery is good at regular movement, to show babylonian hours you kind of need the astrolabe. so italian hours were static and unchanging in length. you had twenty four hours in a day, and the cut-off point was half an hour past sunset. that was the end of the twenty fourth hour, and a new calendar date begun.

of course, the time of the sunset keeps changing all the time As Well, so these clocks had to be adjusted for that Continuously. which was annoying but they still did it until the 17th century. this method was used in italy, bohemia, silesia and maybe poland? i'm unsure what they used outside these spaces at the time, if they stuck to the babylonian hours even with mechanical clocks and did complex maths about it.

at least the NUREMBERG CLOCK had its own take on it, even if it didn't spread beyond southern germany at all. they used babylonian hours, but instead of changing the length of an hour, they changed the amount. eight day hours and sixteen night hours in december, opposite in june. the tables needed for how many days with how many hours were very complex and annoying also.

the concept of starting a new calender day at midnight, and never needing to constantly adjust day hours or when the sunset begins, WAS known but only used for scientific and astronomical purposes. like that's such a weird way to split the day!!!!! twelve at MIDDAY?? WEIRD. some travellers noted that this was a very practical and elegant solution, though, but travel and far flung communication was still very slow, so mismatched timekeeping was more annoying than inconvenient. but anyway that's for the future to figure out

[burningcheese-merchant]

BurningCheese/GoldenSpice AU where Golden Cheese is sent back in time to when Burning Spice was still a hero (how? By Timekeeper. Why? Who knows? Maybe Timekeeper wanted to actually help people for once, albeit in this extremely convoluted and unconventional way. Maybe she was just bored and wanted to mess with time and people again. Maybe both. Who knows...)

Burning Spice is still beloved by the world as the Herald of Change, and by the Wild Spices as their strong, boisterous and kind-hearted leader. He finds her lost and confused (and far beyond angry) in the middle of Wild Spice territory by chance (or did Timekeeper drop her in at the right place and time on purpose?) and not only is he instantly moved to help her out of a genuine sense of altruism... but he's instantly smitten with her, too. So captivated is he by both her beauty and her personality, even while the latter manifests as "harsh" and "paranoid" when they first meet, that it's practically love at first sight.

So now Golden Cheese is stuck living amongst the ancient Wild Spices while she tries to figure out how to return to when and where she came from. She is also stuck dealing with Burning Spice on a regular basis, who now spends every moment of free time he gets by her side, pestering her (in her eyes). He's up front about his feelings and how he wants to court her, and does not relent even after she rebuffs him repeatedly ("doesn't take no for an answer" is a core personality trait of his across all time, apparently).

There she is, trapped in the distant past, completely alone save for the Wild Spices who are kind enough to take her in, desperately racking her brain day in and day out for a way to get back home, all while the man she'd previously only known as a threat to her and to the world at large is not only an unironically good person here and now, but is actively hitting on her every chance he gets.

Maybe she eventually calms down and learns to open up and get along with these people while she's there; she's stranded until further notice, she might as well (and they're so warm and friendly in this time; so unlike what she knows them to be in the future...). Maybe she realizes that she could perhaps change the future - even save it, if she dares to dream - by somehow stopping Burning Spice's descent into villainy before it happens.

...Maybe she ends up liking Burning Spice quite a bit, because it turns out he can be very charming when he's not behaving like a genocidal maniac. Not that she admits to that, at least for a while.

And maybe the Burning Spice in the future knows she's missing and does everything in his power to find out where (and when) she is, because he really will stop at absolutely nothing to have her and her Soul Jam in his grasp again.

This is, like, the 5th AU to infect my brain and it's the dumbest one so far. Send help and asks because I'm already trying to prep and cook stuff for this thing, and I want to hear what y'all think

[duckprintspress]

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, EVERYONE! We are thrilled to announce our second-annual Pride Bundles for Charity with two all-new short story bundles – 30 stories total! – that we are selling at a discount to raise money for our chosen queer charity!

Last year, our debut Pride bundles raised almost $350 for queer charities. This year, we’re back with a new General Imprint Bundle and a new Explicit Imprint Bundle, each discounted 20% from their list prices (and each including multiple stories that aren’t for sale and are usually only available to our backers on Patreon) and with 20% of the net profit going to Rainbow Railroad.

How This Works

you buy one or both bundles between now and July 8th, 2024.

we tally up all the proceeds earned and do some math-e-magic to figure out how much we’re donating!

before the end of July, we donate the raised money to Rainbow Railroad, we post the proof we’ve done so.

you get fantastic stories!

we all get that happy, glowy feeling of knowing that money has been well-spent on fantastic causes!

About the Press

Duck Prints Press is a queer-owned indie press, founded to publish original works by fancreators. We’ve been in operation for over 3 years, and in that time we’ve worked with well over 150 creators to publish six anthologies and almost 100 other stories, from shorts to novels, and we’ve got more on the works (our next anthology, our first erotica collection, will be crowdfunding within the next month!). The vast majority of our creators and their creations are queer/LGTBQIA+ (maybe even all, but we don’t out anyone and we don’t ask demography because, frankly, it’s none of our business).

25 of our authors have chosen to include their short stories in one or both of these short story bundles, and all our short story authors nominated potential charities and voted to select Rainbow Railroad as the beneficiary for our 2024 Pride Bundles.

About Rainbow Railroad

In countries around the world, LGBTQI+ people face violence and oppression simply because of who they love or who they are. Rainbow Railroad helps them get to safety! Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety worldwide. Based in the United States and Canada, they’re an organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics. In a time when there are more displaced people than ever, LGBTQI+ people are uniquely vulnerable due to systemic, state-enabled homophobia and transphobia. These factors either displace them in their own country or prevent them from escaping harm. 

Note: This charity isnot affiliated with the Press, do not know we’re doing this fundraiser, have not endorsed this in anyway and are, as such, utterly uninvolved in this beyond being the beneficiaries of our efforts! Text is from the Rainbow Railroad website.

About the Bundles

We are offering two bundles, one with 18 short stories published under our General Imprint, the other containing 12 stories published under our Explicit Imprint. The shop listings include details about and excerpts from all the stories. Here’s the gist…

Titles in the General Imprint Charity Bundle:

The Princess and the Maze by A. L. Heard

Of Loops and Weaves by Catherine E. Green

Glass Slipper: A Dance by Cedar D. McCafferty-Svec

Songs, Suppers, and Stories by D. V. Morse

Waiting for the Tide to Turn by Genevieve Maxwell

Chinaski’s Dirty Work by J. D. Harlock

Foundations by Johnathan Stern

Seal Island by K. B. Vimes

Into the Wyvern’s Lair by Mikki Madison

Sarisa by N. C. Farrell

Whispers of Atlantis: A Tale of Discovery and Belonging by Neo Scarlett

Be Not Afraid by Nicola Kapron

Awkward and Oblivious by R. L. Houck

Washer Wars: A Laundromat Feud by Samantha M. Piper

The Wayward Timekeeper by Terra P. Waters

if it’s meant to be by Tris Lawrence

Meet C(omm)ute by Violet J. Hayes

Chrysopoeia by Zel Howland

18 stories. 254 pages. 82,462 words of fiction!

Price: $22.50

Approximately 20% of the list price of this bundle will go to Rainbow Railroad.

Titles in the Explicit Imprint Charity Bundle:

Brambles, Pollen, and Other Natural Disasters by A. L. Heard

A night such as this by April Steenburgh

Theirs All Along by boneturtle

Orchidelirium by Dei Walker

Old Kings and New by Lyonel Loy

Weather the Storm by Lyn Weaver

Pretty 7 Days a Week by R. L. Houck

Adventures of the Scarlet Sentry: After Dark by Samantha M. Piper

Worlds Apart (but Still Close) by Sanne Burg

Taken at Sea by Shea Sullivan

Warm Anything You Want by Tris Lawrence

LA Photographs Itself by YF Ollwell

12 stories. 198 pages. 69,550 words.

Price: $21.50

Approximately 20% of the list price of this bundle will go to Rainbow Railroad.

Come get some great stories, support a queer-owned business this Pride, and benefit two fantastic causes. Win-win-win situations don’t get much better than this!

These bundles will only be available for one month, so don’t miss out. Visit our webstore between now and July 8th and get yours!

[yeonmuse]

In which our hatter is invited to live with the timekeeper and his daughter. Little did he know his time spent with her would lead to falling in love

Request from anon: Chosen Journey [ hatter guide, potion & pocketclock tether, traveling to the hatters teaparty ]

✧ fluff, alice in wonderland au, childhood best friends to lovers, jake is an absolute fool for reader

Authors notes: another req for the 1k special event. this one took so long im so sorry. I’m currently on the road right now so i wrote all of this while on an 14 hour car ride. Cant lie im very slee deprived but i wanted to make sure i got this done for you, i truly hope you enjoy it. (Might be losing my mind idk)

Other reqs can be found here

The timekeeper wasn’t a man of many words, he was poised, stoic and every move he made was completely calculated much like the white rabbit who was oh so punctual. Though when it came to you, your father had always had a soft spot, he’d give the world and more to you, his only daughter, only child.

The only thing he could never grant you was access outside of the palace. You wondered what it was like to venture past the walls of the old castle. To live in a place where there was more in life to observe than just ticking clocks or counting the hours as that dragged along. Here it was just you and the stretch of time that never seemed to end when you’re living within the walls of time itself.

Your father was of course aware of your desire to venture, and as guilty as he sometimes felt for keeping you there, it was up to him to keep you within those walls, to ensure he would never lose you to the time outside of those walls. So eventually when you turned 5 he did one of the only things he thought suitable for someone of your curiosity.

Sim Jaeyun was a peculiar boy, known as Jake or the hatter to those closest to him. He’d been most known for holding tea parties and dancing aimlessly amongst the trees and animals of the forest. He was quite questionable to many, though as mad as he was in their eyes to the wonders of wonderland he was no stranger. For he knew the entirety of wonderland like the back of his hand, as if he himself had created it.

He had entered every cavern, every home, every forest and sea there was to explore, though the one place he had never been was the timekeeper's palace. Aside from the family that lived there, not a soul had ever been granted access into such a place. So imagine his surprise when he received a letter from the timekeeper himself inviting him to live in the castle. A castle that many had heard whispers of, a castle whose beauty knew no bounds, no time but eternity.

The day you’d anticipated was finally here, your 5th birthday, the day you’d waited for longingly counting down the seconds, minutes and hours until it’d come. Sometimes the clocks spoke, whispers and rumors they told of course, you’d grown used to the white lies and stories they told just to invoke your happiness. But this time they spoke of a boy, a boy from the outskirts of the timegates, a boy who would soon arrive to teach you everything that he knew about the outside world. About wonderland.

When your father called you down from your room he hadn’t expected to find his precious daughter dressed to the gods, hair perfectly slicked back with a ponytail full of braids and curls and ribbons, and a beautiful dress one of many found in your room of wonders (in simple words it was just your closet that had a mind of its own). When he called you from your room little had he known you’d already been peeking from the banister into the foyer, your curiosity not allowing you to wait until you were called to meet the boy, you just had to see for yourself.

“yn, this..this is Jake, he’ll be living with us from now on.” You stood shyly behind your father, eyes peeking out from behind him to finally catch a look at the boy you’d heard whispers of for two weeks now.

As you stood looking at him, taking him in curiously, he himself seemed to be just as curious about you. He stared at you almost as if you were some sort of spectacle.

“I’m Jake!” He finally inquires, jetting out his hand for you to shake, with an enthusiasm that almost bewildered you.

You give your father a timid look at which he returns with a nod of encouragement, making you finally step out from behind him to shake the boy's hand.

“Yn.” You respond softly, taking his hands into yours

From that day forward you and him had become quite close. He told you of his every adventure outside of the castle and you told him about time, and all of the things that made the castle tick. There were often days where you found yourself dissatisfied even with his company and he was sure to give you space on such days. He’d go and venture outside of the castle and return with different gadgets and whatsits all to put a smile on your face and bring you joy. It was his everlasting vow to you that if you couldn’t visit wonderland then he’d just have to bring wonderland to you.

“Jake, we only have two days to get this right. Will you please come down from there and help me with these books.” You complain, piling books onto books and gathering them all at the nearest table before dropping into the seat.

Jake on the other hand had been too busy perusing and goofing off in the loft area, it was part of the library that he and his father had worked on solely for you once you’d told him you wanted your personal book nook.

“What’s the point of studying if the words just don’t stick? I find that if you just study the class beforehand, your memory is more likely to be kind to you.” He responds swinging down from the loft before dropping down at your side.

“Can’t exactly study how to train a bandersnatch in a single hour, or is it that you’re looking to get eaten rather than train one?” You respond, your head in your books as always.

“All I’m saying is, you study too much, you’ve always studied too much.” He retorts, pushing the book from in front of your face and giving you one of his ever so charming smiles.

Growing up with Jake you’d grown used to his flirtatious banter and peculiarity which on many occasions had influenced you. Since the day he’d entered the castle it was like the two of you had been sewn together at the hip. He never left your side, like a newborn puppy that had already grown attachments to its newfound family, he had been completely devoted to staring at your side. It had gotten so bad that eventually your father had made the executive decision to finally let you venture outside of the castle by going to school (with the company of Jake of course). Of course he didn’t allow you to go as far as Wonderland but, for now the little freedom he had decided to give you would just have to suffice.

“Studying is the exact reason why I’m passing every class while you, Sim Jaeyun, are getting tulips for a grade rather than roses.”

“Hey tulips aren’t that bad, I could be getting lilies.” He defends, earning a winded laugh from you.

“Jake, study.” You command softly, giving him a concerned glance before returning your attention to your books.

“And what if I don't?” He responds teasingly, earning an amused look from you.

“Hm i guess the bandersnatch is gonna want a snack.” You retort, resting your hand on your palm, making him scoff.

“I’ll be sure to give him one when I get that perfect grade. You fail to remember I know all of wonderland like the back of my hand, anything you study I already know.” He shrugs, seemingly completely unbothered at the topic of tomorrow's lesson.

“Exactly why you’re getting graded with tulips hm?” You tease, your brows knitting together with amusement.

“Oh getting that rose grade and rubbing it in your face will be so sweet.” He comments, sparking an idea that you knew he was bound to abide by, after all he’d do when you asked him.

“How about we bet on it then? If I’m right and you’re graded less than a tulip, then you take me to a wonderland.”

“What about your father? You think he’d allow you to venture off? You’re already pushing it by going to school? Do you remember that time in kindergarten when you let kim sunoo talk you into going into town square, your father took away your pocketwatch and you cried for hours because you’d never seen him so upset with you.”

“Will you let that go when I was six?” You respond rolling your eyes, a sigh escaping your lips. “I’ll take care of it okay.”

“Alright say I do agree to this, if I win..what do I get out of this?”

“Um. Well what do you want?” You could see the gears in his head turning the moment the question spilled from your lips, and you weren't sure if it was a sign to run for the hills or if he’d choose to spare you.

“To be determined.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Means that you’ll find out when i win.” He responds, shooting you a cheeky smile before kicking back in his seat.

Today would serve as the determining factor of your future, freedom and finally experiencing life outside of the walls you so desperately seek an escape from. While you yourself were completely nervous to have everything riding on this Jake had been as confident as ever, so confident it almost annoyed you.

“I can’t wait to wipe that smile off your face.’’ you taunt, scrunching up your nose at him as you watched him circle you with a cheeky grin on his face.

“You’re so sure you’re going to win.’’ he responds, stopping in front of you and pulling up a chair to sit. Admiring you as you tie your shoes.

“Of course i’ll win i’ve been studying everything that the professor told me, even saved the research on my phone see.’’ Pulling your phone from your pocket you hand it over to him so that he could see all of the research you’d taken the time to gather. You’d hoped that within showing this he would realize how serious you were and that it’d rile him but he simply gives an amused look as he continues to scroll through.

“You also happen to have, like, a hundred photos of prince sunghoon on here.’’ he teases, making you snatch your phone back.

“Why do you have so many photos of him on your phone anyways?”

“Stop smiling.’’ you shove your phone into your pocket, ignoring the pink tint that had formed on your cheeks at the revelation of wonderlands prince in your camera roll.”the girls at school talk about him okay, I just wondered what he’s like…since he’s famous in wonderland..everyone seems to know him.’’

“Already looking to ditch me for a prince?’’ he responds playfully, a hint of jealousy in his tone that seemed to go unnoticed by you.

“I could never replace you jakey, you’ll always be my number one.’’ your words made his chest tighten in his chest, for those words meant so much to him but you would of course never know that.

No matter how obvious he’d seem to make it you never seemed to get the hint that he was completely, utterly in love with you and he had been since you were children. He loved your curiosity and wonder for a world that was not your own, you’d had such a peculiar outlook on the world that anyone outside of the palace walls was sure to call you mad just as they called him.

“Are you sure you don’t want to backout of that I mean i’ll understand if you decide to change your mind i'm quite good with animals.” he brags on, stepping up from his seat as you yourself finally stood to make way and join the others that had been participating in today's lesson.

“Afraid that you’ll lose Jakey?’’ you question tauntingly earning a chuckle from him.

“Actually i’m pretty confident I'll win.’’ he retorts, until eventually the two of you are shushed by the teacher as she begins to go over the do’s and don'ts of today's lesson. An endless list of things you’d already known all because you had gone out of your way to learn them.

Everyone's turns seemed to fly by quickly, many of them doing half assessed work whereas some of them had actually been taking their lessons seriously. Then it had come down to you and Jake, and as your name had been called to show what you’d learned your confidence had slowly dissolved and replaced itself with nerves, that was strike one. Never show fear or nervousness when working with bandersnatch, they were majestic yet frivolous creatures and any sign of unease could at any moment set them off.

It had been a simple task, tame it, and get a saliva sample, how hard could it be right? Everyone else had done it without casualty so it couldn’t possibly have been that troubling?

Oh how wrong you were, the monet you’d inched onto the field the creatures nose flared and it let out a huff, it was obvious that he could already sense your unease but of course you had been too far in, there was no stopping you then. That was strike two, you should have drawn back, should have taken your chances leaving it be, but your pride consumed you, you wanted to win.

‘Yn i don’t think you should-’’ Jake tries to warn, but you immediately shut him down

“I got this jake, I practiced for this.’’ you had been so busy plotting your next move, too busy caught up in jake's warnings to realize it's inched closer curiously. By the time you’d turned around to meet its eyes you’d panicked and lept forward, as quick as you tried to be it had been quicker, clawing at you and swiping you off to the side making the others around you panic. Through blurred vision you could make out Jakes figure leaping over the fence and into the field, the last thing you’d seen as your vision blurred was him calming the animal to get to you.

You woke up in your bed, the moon peeking through the curtains casting shadows on your bedroom floor. When your vision had fully cleared you spotted Jake at your bedside fast asleep, hair a disheveled mess. He seemed to be sleeping completely sound until he felt your fingertips graze his forehead, pushing his mess of hair back on his head.

“Yn?’’ he called out softly, a slight rasp to his voice, obviously due to the fact that he’d just woken up.

“I’m not dying you know.’’ you spoke softly trying to lighten the mood as you’d already known you were about to receive an earful from him.

“You wanted to see wonderland that bad hm?’’ he finally spoke and you sat gazing at him in complete shock as he sat rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“I didn’t , i just wanted to prove that I could do it. It was my only chance to get you to agree and-’’

“I’ll take you.’’

“What?’’ You stare at him, blinking repeatedly as if you’d heard the words he just spoke incorrectly

“I’ll take you yn.’’

“But the bet, I didn’t win.’’ you respond, obviously confused at his sudden agreement to take you.

“Screw the bet. I’d rather give in now and just deal with whatever consequences with your dad later than have you hurt again.’’ at his words you immediately fell silent, you weren’t exactly sure what to say.

“Where. Where did you want to go?’’

“Wonder forest.’’

You know that this was a crazy idea, everything about it was completely mad, to go against your fathers wishes was something that you had never done but alas your curiosity outweighed your obedience. So now here you were standing outside of Jake's bedroom door anxiously waiting for him to open up before your father could find you waiting there. Finally the door swung open revealing Jake on the other side, first words to leave his mouth as he saw you standing there completely dolled up “i’m literally such a fool for you.’’

He had said it so faintly if you hadn’t stood right in front of it you’d have missed it.

“Exactly what makes me love you more, now are we going?’’ you ask, turning around to make your way down the hall but he’s quick to stop you.

“Where are you going?’’ he questions, making your brows knit together in confusion.

“Um..wonderland?’’ you respond back as if it wasn't the most obvious answer.

“Are you trying to get caught by your father?’’ he sighs, pulling you into his room and shutting the door behind you.

“I don’t understand how else are we going to get there if not out the front door?’’

“Through the looking glass.’’

“The what?’’ You watched as he moved to the giant mirror standing only a few feet away from his bed.

“The looking glass? It’s like a gateway? How have you never..how have you never heard of it all this time?’’ you shrug in response, making him sigh and shake his head before taking your hand.

“I brought this back with me from Wonderland the day your dad forced his curfew, it allows me to transport back and forth without the risk of being caught. Though i haven't made much use of it since he started letting you go to school.’’

‘Well how does it work.’’

“Let me show you.’’ as if it was the most normal thing in the world he steps through the mirror forcing you to follow suit as he dragged you along. For a mere two seconds you were met by complete darkness until you found yourself stepping out of a doorway of sorts.

“You’ve had that in your room this entire time? Why didn’t you tell me?’’

“Because i know if you knew i had access to a literal portal into wonderland you’d do something stupid.’’

“I would not?’’ you scoff, earning a skeptical look on his behalf.

“You nearly got mauled by a bandersnatch today for a bet?’’

“Well that’s different!’’

“Is it?’’ he chuckles pulling you along with him as he made his way down a cobblestone staircase.

“Where exactly are we right now anyways?’’

“You wanted to come here and you cant even recognize where we are?’’ he responds, a breathy laugh spilling from his lips as the two of you stopped right before an archway of trees.

When you finally did realize where you stood your eyes lit up immediately, there was no hiding your excitement especially from him. There was always a glimmer, a twinkle that shined in your eyes when you’d become excited or happy. The look on your face was one he knew all too well, and as long as he could stand here and know he’d make you happy it was all he cared for, to him nothing else mattered. The further you walked the more your eyes wandered, taking in the conglomerate of trees that stretched out through the forest, all shapes , all colors. Some adorned with flowers and vines while others had grown mushrooms and leaves had fallen though they were all beautiful nonetheless.

“I can’t believe you got to come here every day…that you got to live here.’’ your fingers grazed the leaves that felt so different to the ones back home, they brushed against your skin like velvet, as if the leaves had grown into a fine silk.

“It was kinda lonely, wonderland is a beautiful place but it sometimes becomes dull without anyone to share it with.’’

“I’m sure you had friends?’’

“None like you..’’ he responds softly, his gaze now dead set on you and the way that you’d taken in your surroundings as if it was a dream you were bound to wake from.

“Come on I wanna show you something.’’ with those words he takes your hand, once again dragging you along this time with rushed steps. Eventually the two of you came upon a small house in the opening of the forest.

“Jake? What is this?’’

“My house, or at least it was until.’’

“Until you moved into the palace.’’ you finish his sentence somewhat disheartened. Having been here made you realize how much you’d been depriving Jake of taking in the beauty of wonderland himself.

“Do you ever...do you ever regret deciding to stay there. In the palace with me and my father.’’

“At first it was hard, I can admit it wasn’t easy adjusting to your dads rules, but being there it became less lonely than things were here. I have you.” as his eyes burned into your own you found yourself growing timid under his gaze, something about the way he looked at you sometimes always made your stomach turn.

“Thank you, for taking me here even though i lost the bet fair and square you still went out of your way to make me happy.’’

“I’d do anything you asked me to..anything. When I said I was a fool for you I want it. Not in some Joking manner but in all seriousness. If you asked me to slay a dragon i would..if you asked me to give you the stars I'd give them to you.’’

“Jake I-’’

“Let me finish? Please let me finish?’’ he pleads, a slight whine in his voice that makes you fall silent the more you hear it

“I would do anything for you, I mean it every time I've said it.” he slowly inches closer, stopping in front of you and brushing the loose strands of hair from your face, an action that made your breath catch in your throat. “I’ve spent countless times mapping out how I would tell you this, many days I'd told myself to just go for it but I could never bring myself to tell you..i'm in love with you yn. From the very first day that I moved into that palace I've liked you. You don’t have to love me back. You don’t have to share those feelings but I'll always be your fool. I’ve devoted my entire life to being at your side and I won’t stop just because my feelings differ from yours’’ every word that spilled from his lips brought butterflies into the pits of your stomach. So many emotions, nerves, anxiety, happiness all because you had heard five weighing words spill fro your lips.

“You- you love me?’’

“Since the moment I knew how to love. I’ve had countless conversations with the moon at night. He tells me all about the sun and I've told him countless times about you. You know how foolishly in love a man must be to converse with the moon.’’ he rambles on, making a laugh spill from your lips.

“As foolish as a girl that talks to clocks? As foolish as the girl that cries in kindergarten when her best friend is put in another class. As foolish as a girl that has loved her best friend for years, but has forced herself to believe that he could never love her in that way.’’ you spout a long list of things, all of which call out specific parts of your life.

“You..you loved me?” for a moment there was a look of perplexion shadowed on his face, as if he himself couldn’t believe the words that had spilled from your lips. Though as he stood there staring at your face and the way you looked up at him as if you’d been anticipating his words there was a faint glimmer in his eyes.

“You’re serious.’’ his eyes widen as he gazes down at you, for the first time seemingly completely unsure of what to do with himself. “Can i…can i kiss you..please nothing else matters tonight if I get to feel your lips on mine. Even if i wake up tomorrow to find that it's all a dream i-’’

His rambling was cut short the moment your lips lock against his, both your lips molding together as if they were made for one anothers. A kiss to you that was nothing short of perfect,for the longest time Jake had been all you knew. Other than your father he’d been the only person consistently at your side. Even as your father had finally let you venture a bit further from the castle walls he’d chosen to stay. There had been this entire world outside the walls of your home that offered so much beauty and comfort yet he’d always remained stuck in the walls of time with you.

As each of you pulled away from the kiss you couldn’t help the goofy smile that’d spread across your lips.

“My dad is going to kill us both.’’

“Absolutely worth it.” Jake beams, and a giggle spills from your lips at his inability to care in that moment.

That entire night Jake had felt like he was on the clouds, he’d suffer whatever consequences were given by your father later but right now he was a complete and utter fool for you. He took you everywhere, you’ve square, the white kings palace, the red kings palace, any place he could think of that he knew you’d find wonders in. If you two were to be killed by your father for this he’d at least show you all of wonderland before it happens.

“Hey Jakey.”

“Hm?”

“You never did tell me what you wanted for winning the bet.”

“You, I wanted you.”

PERM TAGLIST: @planetmarlowe @dreeki @butterflywonz @sol3chu @squiishymeow @river-demon-slayer @jwonistic @getoxo @nithxhoon @lakoya @iichuuo @letmein2urheart @mitmit01 @hollxe1 @briansshiftz @starbyeol1512 @tinyteezer @jkslvsnella @manobillie @vvenusoncasual @i03jae @blackhairandbangs @sunooqvrlsx @addictedtohobi @gaytron3000 @firstclassjaylee @riribelle @ivyvoilettecarson @academiq @claumbeju @bubblytaetae @pkjay @nightowlpudding @emmacyc @papichulomacy @celestenlav @50-husbands

[vasito-de-leche]

;R1999 A Study on Afflatus (I)

Analysis and theories regarding the concept of Afflatus within the universe of Reverse: 1999

if you're from the old r99 news server or the current r99 rp one (or if you've talked to me at any point about r99) then you might know how obsessed I am with afflatus analysis!

so after going feral on my main account about it, and seeing my afflatus thesis drafts just catch dust on my wips, I decided to just open a discussion about it in the fandom! just little by little as I get the thoughts out of my brain!

so yes, this is very much an invitation for people to discuss and theorize about smaller details of the game such as afflatus, medium and other things--there are many fun ways to interpret the way afflatus applies to characters, I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts! ping me in your posts, go feral in the reblogs or comments!

as usual, transcripts were taken from the R1999 Neocities transcript project!

During the first few months of GL's launch, "Afflatus" was generally considered an extradiegetic aspect of the game--a simple mechanic meant to facilitate gameplay for the player, without any relevance to the lore or the plot. Throughout the course of the following patches, namely within the main story, this idea was disproved in many ways, and there were plenty of clues that reinforced its existence in-universe from the very beginning. For the sake of those who have never noticed, I'll do my best to be thorough, but there may be some instances of Afflatus that I missed, feel free to let me know!

The very first time Afflatus is mentioned is in the main story; Chapter 01 - Stage 4 "Chicago Rescue," Sonetto is the one to bring it up during one of the battle tutorials.

Sonetto: That's quite a lot of critters! Timekeeper, we must do something to turn things around now. Remember what the instructor said in class? "Afflatus is a way to hunt in the world." "Observations of the minerals, plants, stars, and beasts as well as our experiences with the spirit and intelligence let us better understand our own existence." Sonetto: Select a proper target for me, Timekeeper. Sonetto: Use an incantation that is strong against the enemy's Afflatus to defeat them more quickly. You can take it from here, Timekeeper.

The fact that this conversation takes place during a game tutorial doesn't instantly render the contents discussed as "just meta," since we've had many different instances of game mechanics being relevant to the overall history and worldbuilding of the setting; Artificial Somnambulism Therapy is both a game mode and a type of therapy developed by Mesmer Jr's family, used extensively within Laplace, as well as a key plot point in Chapter 3 "Nouvelles et Textes pour Rien"; Picrasma Candy is a way for the player to continue playing and an actual medicine for arcanists developed by Medicine Pocket that Argus heavily depends on to use her own arcanum. Bluepoch makes a point to further develop their story through these mechanics, thus it is impossible to separate them from the story itself--battle conversations, daily tidbits, loading screens, items and other details can all be considered canon! Afflatus is no different.

Another early instance of Afflatus occurs in the Tutorial Notebook, which disappears forever once completed--so the following screenshot was taken from this video!

The text reads: 

Sometimes, our Afflatus is strong or weak against an enemy. We need to follow this principle and select the proper arcane skills based on the enemy. Strong or weak? Like a cat to a rat? The relationship between different Afflatuses is like the ecological cycle. When your Afflatus is strong against the target's, your incantation will deal more damage. ─ On Afflatus, Chapter 1

The sticky note implies the existence of a book or research on the subject ("On Afflatus, Chapter 1") which, in turn, supports Sonetto's dialogue about the Afflatus lessons she received in SPDM ("Remember what the instructor said in class?"). With this we can understand that Afflatus exists within the world to a degree that allows it to be studied, also eliminating one of the earliest theories in GL about how Vertin is the only person who can perceive Afflatus due to her status as the Timekeeper.

To my knowledge, there are no direct explanations nor clues as to why or how one would discern Afflatus in others as of writing this. What is the point of assigning Afflatus types in-universe? How can it be done? Sadly, I don't have answers to these questions in particular!

But let's analyze our current examples so far.

According to Sonetto's knowledge on the subject, Afflatus encompasses "observations of the minerals, plants, stars and beasts as well as our experiences with the spirit and intelligence," that allows people to understand themselves. This serves as a list of both Natural (Mineral, Plant, Star, Beast) and Primal (Spirit, Intellect) Afflatuses, while hinting towards the purpose of Afflatus as a tool of introspection.

With this, one may theorize that Afflatus can apply to every living being, as it tackles observations with the surrounding world (Natural Afflatus) and one's inner world (Primal Afflatus). This is partially true, there is a small yet important distinction to be made!

The 1.5 "Revival! The Uluru Games" patch explored the physiological and social differences between humans and arcanists through Ezra and Spathodea, and a new batch of loading screen tidbits were added, such as this one:

The text reads:

The arcanum's Afflatus categories do not apply to humans. However, factors such as personality and preferred instruments may cause certain individuals to have a closer affinity to a particular type of arcane Afflatus.

This daily tidbit confirms that arcanum's Afflatus categories do not apply to humans. The rest of tidbits emphasize on the contrast between the two groups in different aspects; humans cannot cast arcane skills, they use technology and commands rather than incantations, they're considered rational instead of passionate, reason vs instinct, etc etc.

But I believe there is an important distinction to be made! The first loading screen tidbit mentions "arcanum's Afflatus categories," rather than Afflatus itself. There is an aspect of Afflatus that is directly linked with arcanum, and thus it makes sense that it cannot be applied to humans.

We can see this happening in Greta Hoffman's report from the Special Chapter - "The Star" in which she explains her interactions with 37's mother, 77. Here are a few excerpts.

Writer of the Report: I'm not sure whether she was making fun of me or being serious, but I had this feeling that she was eager to tell me how she was granted the secret through a moment of afflatus. It seemed she just saw through the laws behind all things instead of finding them through logical deduction.

"HER": "The rhombus can't be seen with eyes. You shall close your eyes, hearken to the teaching of the supreme existence, and seize the moment of afflatus!" Writer of the Report: Of course, I didn't see anything, nor did I understand what a moment of afflatus was. Perhaps it's just another privilege enjoyed by arcanists, just like their right to be lunatic. Nevertheless, she reached the correct conclusion in a completely wrong way. Is it really possible?

Writer of the Report: But, if there is a god, why are you playing such a prank on us, after we had suffered from the collapse of all the existing orders and the failure of all the great laws? If this is what she called the glimpse of the supreme existence, the moment of afflatus, do you have to present it in such a cruel way?

Even Matilda brings up afflatus during this chapter, in reference to her job monitoring new members.

Matilda: &$#% ... I know she's a rookie, but even so, she's way too unbelievable! "Guide new members with caution and patience. Trigger their afflatus at the right time." Oh, I have to admit, Vertin is doing it better than me for now.

Note the distinction between capital A "Afflatus" and lowercase "afflatus." In this context, the "moment of afflatus" exists as its namesake implies--as an inspiration, a moment of divine impulse that only arcanists can utilize and, therefore, cannot be explained nor proved through human logic.

That is the basis for the tension between Greta Hoffman (a mixed whose arcane blood has been so diluted she can easily pass off as a pure-blooded human) and 77 (a pure-blooded arcanist from an isolated and ancient arcanist society) as two characters from vastly different groups that cannot reconcile nor find a middle ground in their differences. This is the arcane aspect of Afflatus as the 1.5's tidbit mentions, the part that cannot be applied to mankind. But Afflatus also exists as a tool of introspection as mentioned before, which encompasses aspects that any living being can relate to--therefore, it explains why we have both playable and non-playable humans with Afflatus types.

To further understand how non-arcane living beings can still lean towards different types of Afflatus, let's examine the enemies in the game.

The main story is very consistent with how they portray enemies, if you pay attention to their battle information you can see all the deliberate details Bluepoch has added; every enemy comes with a short description that might evolve and change along the story in future renditions of their fights, there are different card sets for different factions (Manus Vindictae's deep black and blue cards vs the Foundation's white and light blue cards), each attack/incantation is uniquely named, giving context and insight into the enemy you're fighting, some even have uniquely named traits/buffs/debuffs!

And as far as I know, every single enemy in the game, regardless of whether they're arcane in nature or not, has an Afflatus assigned to them. Let's look at arcane beings first.

We see that all three examples match their respective Afflatus; a Mineral Carbuncle with a Mineral Afflatus, a Dryad, commonly associated with nature has the Plant Afflatus, and Druvis III, a playable character, retains her Plant Afflatus even as a mysterious NPC boss fight in which her regular incantations have been switched to Manus Vindictae.

And we can also see continuity in Afflatus in other bosses, such as Matilda and Lilya in later chapters--they both retain their own Afflatus as playable characters, and much like Druvis, Matilda's cards are concealed as the default Foundation set for the sake of keeping their identities concealed. There is a clear intent behind these choices.

In the Surface levels of Artificial Somnambulism, the ones that directly correlate to the main story, also feature many other playable characters with their respective Afflatuses; La Source in "Misty Lake a"; The Fool, Bunny Bunny, Pavia, Satsuki and Tennant in "Floating Park a" ...

And I do want to mention that there are instances in which the game allows us to fight playable characters whose Afflatuses have been changed--but there is still an clear goal behind this.

The beta levels of Artificial Somnambulism feature the same aforementioned characters as the alpha ones, but a few of them have different Afflatus. This can be explained within the main story as the direct result of Vertin's mind being tampered with, as we see her struggle to remember and forget things clearly during her AST induced coma in Chapter 3.

???: Her traumatic segment has been reactivated. Increase the power, stabilize her psychube. Try the next dream. Z: The artificial somnambulism therapy may not work on her, Mesmer.

Mesmer Jr.: It means she had suffered the same traumatic experience repeatedly. Even so, she showed no behavioral or cognitive impairment. Back then, as we held her down and put the helmet on her, she even advised me in an extremely calm manner … “I agree with your judgment, but it’s just for this time.” … She was the bellwether of the “break-away” incident after all. I’ll say she’s been well-behaved this time. Sonetto: … I-I thought … Timekeeper is receiving for her low spirit. But you said you held her down … Mesmer Jr.: Oh, that’s just another description of the method used for the same purpose. The aim was to ensure Vertin was unconscious and taken back. That’s the direct order from the vice president of the committee, Constantine. The order from on high was given on the premise of rational thinking and consideration over pros and cons─you are not questioning the reasoning of mankind, are you?

A similar situation happens during UTTU Week, which features playable characters as different characters within the story that UTTU is attempting to share. For example, in 1.2 "Nightmare at Green Lake," the playable characters you fight in UTTU Week represent various different archetypes and tropes in horror.

These inconsistencies are done on purpose, as they're not meant to reflect the truth 1:1.

Now, let's look at human enemies. Here are the two human children from the beginning of the game who disrupt the suitcase--despite being humans, they both have Afflatus assigned to them, and not only that but different types as well, Star and Mineral respectively.

So, to backtrack again! Afflatus cannot be applied to humans from an arcane point of view, simply because humans cannot cast incantations. Therefore, their affinity for a specific type of Afflatus is based on something else, something that they share with arcane beings--such as personality, experiences and preferred instruments.

I want to propose the interpretation of Afflatus being the totality of one's experiences in life; depending on your experiences, the way they've shaped your thinking patterns, your instincts and your personality, you may have an affinity for one Afflatus or another.

This ties in with a different aspect of Afflatus: the idea that one's Afflatus type can change, as the person goes through big changes in their life that influence them in different ways.

If we acknowledge that these battle details are all deliberate and meant to add to the narrative, there are two outliers whose Afflatuses change. The first one is Kakania herself; her debut in 1.7 "E Lucevan le Stelle" includes a fight against her in Stage 8 "Mirror and Lantern" which clearly states her Afflatus is Intellect.

One could argue that this is not the true Kakania, as the battle involves fighting mirror versions of her--but as a reminder, the true one is, in fact, hidden among them! And furthermore, if the reflections are exact versions of the real Kakania, it makes sense that they would have the same battle information as her.

As we all know, when Kakania becomes playable in 1.9 "Vereinsamt," her Afflatus is not Intellect but Plant--I'd like to explain this change as the development Kakania goes through in this specific arc of the story.

Her idealistic views and activism, both for her city and her patients, are directly challenged as the story progresses. She realizes that none of her friends within The Circle were the people she thought them to be, namely Isolde whose complex life and struggles were both overlooked and impossible to discern in Kakania's eyes due to their close relationship, and she also sees the town she acknowledged as flawed but still worth fighting for, turn into violent patriots. Everything that Kakania stood for is gone in an instant, and we see her fighting spirit turn into a desperate near-suicidal attempt at making up for her perceived wrongs.

Such radical events like this would warrant a change in Afflatus, as Kakania adjusts her views due to her experiences.

And then on the other hand, we have The Guiding One's Harbringer boss fight in 1.9's Stage 21 "A Homage Paid"--one of its core mechanics is to change Afflatus to that of the last attack it received. Here we see that distinction from before, the lowercase afflatus referring to the arcane aspect, rather than the experiences a person goes through.

As far as I know, this section of the game also becomes unplayable (or is currently unplayable, I can't seem to access it anymore) so the following screenshots are taken from this video!

Kakania's Afflatus change is something that seems to be directly linked to her evolution as a character, while the Guiding One's Harbringer's Afflatus change is directly linked to its status as an arcane construct, using it as a "mimic strategy" during battle. The psychological aspect vs the arcane aspect of Afflatus respectively.

Next, I'd like to discuss some assumptions made about the different Afflatus types; we expect that Beast characters must have an affinity with animals or be animals themselves (Darley Clatter, Getian, Medicine Pocket, Nick Bottom ...) and we expect that Star characters are all related to celestial bodies or the skies (37, Lilya, Matilda, Lorelei, Voyager ...) due to the naming conventions of the Afflatus. And yes, there are motifs within the Afflatus types that match their naming conventions, but a quick look through the character list prove there is much more to offer, as a good chunk of characters don't align with this initial read of their themes.

We have Pickles, a literal dog, and Kaalaa Baunaa, an astronomer, both with Mineral Afflatus instead of what one would expect of them. It's similar to how fandom perceives Awakened as the sole category for sentient objects, when we have characters like Door and Darley Clatter who are undoubtedly objects, implied to have been given sentience, and thus fall within the group of pure-blooded Arcanists rather than Awakened.

I would also like to point out that these initial motifs have nothing to do with a character's Arcanum--another theory I've seen around is that Afflatus types influence an arcanist's arcanum, which can't be further from the truth. One could argue that Kaalaa Baunaa's arcanum (the summoning of meteors and planets) is related to her Mineral Afflatus--both relate to rocks, after all--but just like the previous assumptions, this falls apart when you examine other examples. Jiu Niangzi's arcanum has nothing to do with rocks nor minerals, but liquor. Ulu's arcanum revolves around fire, yet she's still Mineral.

As far as we know, arcanum is something that can be inherited through bloodlines or lineage--think of Mesmer Jr's 01 Story in her Cover Profile, which states “Nobody is more talented in this than Mesmer Jr. Her bloodline gives her outstanding ability and keen senses, which makes everything clear and intelligible to her” in the context of performing AST, or Tennant, whose 02 Story hints towards her father performing the same type of arcanum she's known for--but it's also something that can be taught. We see this most clearly within students of SPDM such as Sonetto, as her skill set matches that of the SPDM students fought during Chapter 3, portraying the "standard" arcanum taught to all arcanist children.

But not only that, arcanum can be influenced by other factors, such as a character's situation and interests--Blonney's arcanum revolves around making drawings come to life, which correlates with her love for storytelling and horror as a child. Pavia's shadow arcanum is hinted to have been formed out of necessity or as a result of his childhood in a dark basement. Tooth Fairy utilizes the fairies she traps.

We also know that arcanists from the same family may not inherit the same level of arcane power, as seen in Shamane and Kumar; the latter was cast out of her family due to her weak arcane power. In all of these cases, Afflatus has nothing to do with arcanum.

So what exactly do Afflatus types tackle?

These are the Afflatus as I've analyzed them, as much as I could summarize it for easier digestion!

With this interpretation, we can see that Star relates to celestial objects and the skies, but also trailblazer geniuses and unstoppable forces, that which is out of reach for common people. Mineral relates to solid materials and stability in permanence, but also the rigidness of strict systems or traditions or stagnancy. Beast relates to wild animals and creatures found in the world, but also the survival of the individual, the struggle to find a place for oneself no matter what. And Plant relates to the flora and the natural cycles in the world, but also the safety of a collective, that which is inherent to the world such as community or change.

This is why these belong to the Natural category of Afflatus: they are concepts that already existed on the world or were manifested into it, from the ground we touch, the people we interact with, to the ideals and beliefs that influence and create societies or bring people together.

On the other hand we have Spirit, relating to the soul, the supernatural and the spiritual aspect of things, but also the unknown, to follow one's gut instinct or embrace the inexplicable. "The way I see the world is unconventional, because I feel these different things about why and how things are the way they are." And then Intellect, relating to the mind and the logical aspect of things, but also the different mindsets and patterns of thought one can have to rationalize things. "The way I see the world is unconventional, because I have these different rules about why and how things are the way they are."

This is why they belong to the Primal category of Afflatus: they are, as the name implies, ancient impulses and habits that mostly exist within ourselves, our thoughts and our feelings.

The Tutorial Notebook also mentions an "ecological cycle," there is a relationship between the different categories that explains why some are strong or weak against others. It's rather easy to understand for the Primal Afflatus, as it's the classic fight between hearts and minds, but Natural Afflatus is a little harder to grasp.

We see the relationship between Beast and Mineral; the former is weak against the latter, the latter is strong against the former. You may read the Natural Afflatus wheel clockwise or counter clockwise.

Using the previous explanations, let us examine this cycle!

Beast is strong against Plant, because it's the disruption of a community or the harmony of the world through a single individual desperately fighting to change their current situation. A desperate animal does not think about the consequences its actions has on the environment while it tries to survive. Plant is strong against Star, because it's a tight-knit collective that embraces change and thus, the lone genius cannot shine above the rest. In an environment that welcomes everyone and everything, there is no way to stand out. Star is strong against Mineral, because it's a single individual choosing to disrupt the status quo, the stability of their society, for the sake of a dream or ideal. A single genius can topple over entire societies. And Mineral is strong against Beast, because a rigid set of rules or traditions leave no place for those who don't fit inside of it or who oppose it. A government that advocates for mankind's superiority leaves no room for arcanists and their rights, it forces them to assimilate within their established rules.

And this cycle goes backwards and forwards!

But I would also like to propose a different type of relation: we understand the aspect of having advantage or disadvantage, but what about Afflatuses that directly mirror each other?

Beast and Star are two Afflatus that directly correlate to an individual against a collective, whereas Mineral and Plant are two Afflatus that directly correlate to a collective against the individual. They're foils of each other; Beast is the underdog, Star is the genius, while Mineral is the stagnant and rigid yet stable and secure systems while Plant is the ever-changing and adaptive nature of the world.

We may also see this in a more precise way: the ecological cycle and Afflatus relationships exist because someone of Mineral Afflatus who is stuck in their ways and refuses to change can be easily upset by someone of Star Afflatus whose nature is to radically change traditions and offer different paths. This is why Semmelweis, a Mineral Afflatus who is hellbent on clinging to the human aspect of herself and sticks to her stubborn mindsets, has such a fascination with Lorelei. Or rather, why Lorelei has such an effect on Semmelweis, as she is a Star Afflatus that begins Semmelweis' journey of self-discovery and acceptance within Series of Dusks.

We can also see previous themes discussed within this post here: one would think that such a radical change is enough to cause Semmelweis to change Afflatus, but we see through her gamemode and the different endings presented that this change is still very much in line with her mindsets and behaviour, Semmelweis remains stubbornly adaptive and pragmatic to the very end, and choosing to follow Lorelei has brought her a deeper insight to understand herself without radically changing who she truly is.

Another example would be Forget Me Not and Druvis III; we know that Forget Me Not is Mineral Afflatus due to his boss fight in Chapter 2 - Stage 13 "Documentary" and Druvis III is Plant Afflatus.

We see the foil dynamics of Afflatus that don't directly interact with each other: the reason Forget Me Not and Druvis III seem to have this type of relationship can be explained through their Afflatus, with Forget Me Not insisting that she perpetuates the very same cycle of revenge and pain, to never move on and continue in the same spot of grieving and mourning for her family. While Druvis III's entire development throughout the Chicago arc--and even leading into the next chapters--tackles her desire to grow and move on, to finally let go of the worst night of her life that took her family away and begin healing from it. It's exactly what Vertin notices within her, and why she's able to connect with Druvis III.

Vertin: Once you dispel the arcanum, it would not be what it is now. I think you are clear, Ms. Druvis, that … Every tree lives for tomorrow.

And that's where I'll leave this extremely long introduction to my study on Afflatus! I'm planning on discussing other themes in the future, such as the way a character's Medium serves as a bridge between their Afflatus and Arcanum, and analysis of the cover profule, but also proper in-depth analysis of each individual Afflatus!

There is so much to look at when discussing Afflatus, every single Insight material has its own description, and each stage for each Afflatus tells a story that relates to their themes!

Please don't be afraid to reach out with your own ideas or observations, I look forward to what everyone else thinks! And congratulations for making it this far <3

[the-poke-nebula]

"Heehee~ trying to prevent yourself getting attached with a broken heart like hers, is trying to fill a bucket with a hole run through it.

No matter how much you try to keep it in, there will always be some to slip through the cracks..."

[spy-kids-database]

Photoshoot of Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.

[inspired-lesson-plans]

This is a very long post. If you do not have the time, then please at least do the quick activity up top. The lesson plan that took me 4 days to write will follow the ⁜ symbol.

HW Due Mon:

Open https://mysolartime.com/ in a new tab and allow the website to track your location.

Open https://www.utctime.net/ in a new tab.

Reblog this post the current UTC time and your local time, using the following format:

21:00 UTC, 4:00 local

4. Vote in the following poll.

⁜

Social Studies, Grade 5, Geography 6.1.5.GeoSV.3: Demonstrate how to use digital geographic tools, maps and globes to measure distances and determine time zones, and locations using latitude and longitude.

Do Now:

Provide students with a paper copy of a population density world map and 2 minutes to fulfill the following instruction:

Draw lines on the map in order to separate the world into 24 time zones. Try not to separate dense population centers into different time zones.

⁎

Class Discussion:

Use the projector to share and discuss the maps of any students who are willing to share. Have fun with this, there are bound to be some good ideas and bad ideas because 5th grade is like that.

Then, project the official world time zone map, and discuss the good ideas and bad ideas present here.

Exemplary discussion points:

The 0-point of the timezone map is the Prime Meridian, which cuts right through England. Why do you think it's in England?

How come some countries like the US and Brazil are cut into multiple time zones, but China isn't?

Why do you think the lines are pretty straight in Europe, Africa, and North and South America, but so confused in Asia and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

⁑

Direct Instruction:

Long ago, nobody really cared about the exact time. All you really needed was sunrise, sunset, and noon, and you could figure those out with your eyes. If you wanted to be fancy, you could put a stick in the ground and trace its shadow over the course of the day to measure out hours.

Perhaps the first recorded complaint of time-keeping technology comes from Rome in 250BCE.

The gods confound the man who first found out how to distinguish hours! Confound him too Who in this place set up a sundial To cut and hack my days so wretchedly Into small portions! When I was a boy, My belly was my sundial: one more sure, Truer, and more exact than any of them. This dial told me when it was time To go to dinner, when I had anything to eat; But nowadays, why even when I have, I can't fall-to unless the sun gives leave. The town's so full of these confounded dials, The greatest part of its inhabitants, Shrunk up with hunger, creep along the streets. [x]

In other words, "Kids these days are always looking at their sundials. Back in my day, there were only three times, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. All we needed to tell the time was our stomach!"

Please note this was a satire, so if it sounds funny, you are correct.

But for 18th century British sailors, accurate timekeeping was no laughing matter. These sailors used fancy math (called trigonometry) to calculate their latitude. So long as they knew the angle between the sun and the horizon, and the time when that angle was measured.

Ship's captains would keep logbooks of these measurements. That way, another ship's captain would be able to reference the logbook in order to replicate the journey, much like replicating a science experiment.

Now... think about this... how can you do that unless the next captain is using the same time as you. We take this for granted today, but how can you be sure that two clocks are synchronized?

Scientists in the town of Greenwich, England (pronounced gren`-ich) recorded the solar noon every day of the year and calculated the Greenwich Mean Time. By keeping an accurate and exact time in one exact place, GMT eventually the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for everyone in the world. That's why in the time zone map, the 0 runs through one specific part of England.

This is important. For the first time in human history, the clocks in different places were synchronized. Solar noon happens at a different time in London than it does in Greenwich, but if they both use GMT (otherwise known as UTC), then they can coordinate their schedules. This was very important for railroads, where exact, coordinated schedules are very important.

Soon, the entire country of England existed within a single time zone.

When the United States built railroads that spanned vast lateral (East-West) distances, they needed to create different time zones for cities that were far apart from each other, such as New York and Chicago. Thus, the US became the first country with multiple time zones.

As the rest of the world industrialized, they needed to pick their time zones. You can see this on the map. Each time zone is, at least in theory, as wide as 1/24 the circumference of the Earth. It's like the space between the numbers on a clock! Most countries are smaller than this, so they can comfortably fit within a single timezone. Others, like Brazil and Australia, divided their landmasses into two or three time zones.

China did not have widespread industrialization until post-WWII dictatorial communist rule. This was a very uncaring and inconsiderate government, to put it mildly. Suffice it to say that for Chinese farmers in the far west, having to get up 2-3 hours earlier every day would have been the least of their worries.

⁂

Modeled Activity:

Show students how to use this Day and Night world map as a way to visualize the day and night cycle across the world.

Additionally, show them how to use https://mysolartime.com/ to find their current time where they live.

Give students a moment to calculate the difference between their Local Time and the official time in their time zone, and what that means.

(I am currently in Philadelphia, which is 11 minutes East of New York City)

Finally, show students how to use https://www.utctime.net/ to find their exact, current UTC.

Have students calculate the difference in minutes and hours between Local Time and Official Time.

00:41 - 19:30 = -5:11 (Philadelphia is 5 hours and 11 minutes East of Greenwich, England)

Explain that every internet connected device in the world uses a service like this one, then adds or subtracts hours to fit the time zone of your current location.

Higher Order Learning:

Students work in small groups to look up the local time in different major cities around the world, recording their data on a worksheet. As they do, they should discuss the following questions:

Are time zones still relevant in our always-online society?

If you can know your Local Time and the UTC any time you look at your phone, then what purpose do time zones still serve?

How would it feel for schools and businesses to use UTC instead?

How would you feel if your school day went from 4:20-10:50 UTC?

Finally, each student must individually write at least 3 sentences responding to the following question:

Would you advocate for or against your school district dropping references to the time in your time zone and instead referring to UTC and Local Time? Why or why not?

[anim-ttrpgs]

Why You Should Try Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy Part 7: Excellent Time-Keeping Mechanics Keep the Pressure On

This is part 7 of a multi-part series of posts about the awesome features of Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy, in no particular order.

Find the earlier parts here:

Part 1 Link: We Worked Hard on It!

Part 2 Link: It's Easy to Learn!

Part 3 Link: It's Easy to GM!

Part 4 Link: It's Easy to GM and Supports Narrative and Roleplay!

Part 5 Link: It Revolutionizes Investigation and Mystery Solving in TTRPGs

Part 6 Link: PCs are Not Just Mystery Solving Automatons

In previous parts, I mentioned time pressure and how this can push PCs to miss out on meals or sleep in order to solve the mystery before it’s too late. Well here’s the mechanic for that, the Ticking Clock.

Timekeeping in TTRPGs as always been a hassle, since the movement of in-game time will never line-up to real-time.

The Ticking Clock mechanic was made to solve this issue and create a hassle-free way to measure time passing.

Eureka gameplay goes through Scenes. One “Scene” is (usually) when the PCs go somewhere and do something at that location.

The Ticking Clock divides days and nights up into “Ticks.” Each day is 10 Ticks and each Night is 10 Ticks. 1 Tick is not equivalent to any real-world unit of time, it is a story-centric form of timekeeping.

Whether the investigators spend 2 minutes or 2 hours in a particular Scene, each Scene takes 1 Tick by default, but many things within a Scene can cause it to eat up additional Ticks. Travel, eating, and sleeping in particular eat up a lot of Ticks, but Ticks can also be lost to bad skill checks.

For instance, if the PCs have to go through a whole mountain of documents to find one piece of important information, then there will probably be a Paperwork skill check.

Full Success: They’re able to find it right away. (And gain 1 Investigation Point)

Partial Success: They do find it, but it takes them a long time digging through all the files. They lose 1 more Tick this Scene. (And gain 2 Investigation Points)

Failure: The overlook it and *don’t* find it, even after pouring over the files for what seems like forever. They lose 1 more Tick this Scene. (And gain 3 Investigation Points)

If they have 4 days to find the killer before he strikes again, that means they have 80 Ticks to do it in, and will become that much more desperate as the clock ticks down, so to speak.

[kirineka]

Emperor of Paradise Longan × Slave Timekeeper

【1st page】

Emperor of Paradise Longan made his plan come to fruition.

If he has conquered the whole world, does that mean the TBD has been defeated as well…??

Emperor of Paradise Longan keeps Timekeeper as his possession as a trophy after ruling the world.

【2nd page】

Slaves of Paradise Timekeeper

She is fitted with a heavy duty collar and manacles.

Her hands are tightly bound together with a special amulet.

She is treated as a slave so she is always barefoot.

Her Sonic Embroider were broken by Longan.

Timekeeper's time manipulation ability seems to be sealed with some kind of space-time fixing magic.

Slave status

She's much quieter than before. She used to be quite loud, but after Cookie was destroyed and she was imprisoned in the palace, she became as obedient and quiet as a doll.

Even when Longan spoke to Timekeeper, she would either just glance at him and remain silent, or mutter a few words and barely respond at all.

(Longan smiles, but is not happy with her attitude)

Timekeeper is beginning to become bored and distressed by the "a peaceful world without Cookie, where time doesn't even seem to pass" that Longan praises.