#Crazy and Funny Resolutions Ideas and Goals

[4dtk]

NCT127 falling in love with a s/o with a time-consuming job like a lawyer or a doctor

NCT 127 with an s/o who has a time-consuming job

this is so cute, thanks for requesting! i made this in a format in the ways that the boys might show their care when you’re so busy with your job :) long as hell LOL enjoy!!

brief spoilers for shang-chi if you haven’t watched! i just watched it this week lol it was really good

→ TAEIL would direct conversations to a more neutral stance. it’s not that he wants to talk about himself, but sometimes if you don’t want to talk about your case or patients, he easily slips into conversation about theories or his favourite tv show or your rundown of what groceries to take for the next time you head to the supermarket. just really normal small things that take your mind off the stress, especially at night when you’re laying in bed and just before you’re drifting off to sleep, the two of you would engage in a topic that you both know fairly well about and then you’re usually the first to succumb to sleep. taeil purposely picks out topic he knows will excite you (and bc he knows you’re passionate about it, he reads up on it which allows a well-balanced convo). if you’re rambling on about a topic, then he’ll occasionally play the guitar while laying down, just simple melodies that bring a lot of peace to the room.

“wait- how d’you like this melody?” taeil softly says, changing it instantly when you commented on the previous, discordant one. your nod encourages him to carry on with the plucking of his fingers while you yourself continue with your rambles. “so i’m saying right, it seems totally unfair for him, and you’d think that, right? but all he ever does is whine and moan about his misfortunes, plus his character is so terribly written i kinda feel sorry for-“

the halted melody prompts a sharp turn of your turn to the guitar, which you almost collide with, “what?” taeil only shrugs. “nothin’. just like how passionate you get about the show, it’s cute.” your boyfriend smiles after, ignoring how his words affect you and how your cheeks heat up at it.

→ JOHNNY is one to take you out after your work. it’s not to a super intense, high-energy place like a club or anything, but small little dates that won’t take up much time. eating dinner at a restaurant, walk in the park, small cafe trip, strolling through supermarket to make fun of brand names. if you’re too tired that day, he always finds a way to make your time at home fun. from setting up a small karaoke session, to maybe making a pillow fort, to trying out new cuddling positions, he has everything on his mind. always showing you things to cheer you up if you happen, from memes to funny videos. is low-key down for you to review crime/doctor shows too, just to see how accurate they nail it. your time at home is consuming endless pieces of media until your tummies hurt or you’re sniffling at a movie together.

“hold on- lemme show you this video,” johnny’s hand is outstretched to you once he finds the video and your spoon full of food is left near your mouth. you proceed to watch the low quality video which your boyfriend claims to be the funniest video on earth.

W-HOR? WAH? the girl’s finger in the video traces over the word “who” as she struggles to pronounce it, with presumably her sister in the background prompting her. the repeated pronunciation of the word makes you snort, while the wheezing and the loud NO in the background causes you to fully erupt into laughter. johnny simply smiles at another successful attempt to make you smile.

→ YUTA always has a hand on you when you return home. he brings you into a hug, he guides you by your back, you have to eat with one hand bc he can’t keep his hand off of you. he hopes his little touches will ease your tiredness even by a bit and if you don’t want it, he’ll stop, but it’s yuta’s way of showing he cares without words. busy days with yuta usually involve just sitting in silence as you catch up on a show or a series, or even listening to a song in silence and enjoying each other’s company. he will talk if you want to, but if not that’s fine too, preferring more to stroke your hair in silence and think about how much he loves you. becomes very sappy when you’re in the quiet of your room and generally is very fond of the small pockets of time you get to spend before you two fall asleep. likes that you’re so resolute in your job but can be soft around him behind closed doors.

“you comfortable?” yuta calls out, barely above a whisper as he wraps an arm tighter around you. there’s comfortable ministrations that his does with his fingers, massaging the skin under your pajamas while you snuggle deeper into his chest. humming, you tighten your hold around his top.

“i am, yeah,” you can’t care much for the tv show on the screen now, with empty takeout boxes and tissues littering the coffee table. you feel the gentle kiss of yuta on your head before you’re drifting off to dreamland to a scratchy, 60s jazz song playing through the speakers.

→ TAEYONG would always welcome you back with a table set and food ready, always. he knows that food is the way to someone’s heart and you eating his food always makes him happy and offers to clean-up. lets you shower first if you come back together, puts you before himself very often that sometimes you have to tell him to tone it down because you don’t want him ending up more tired than he already is. following up on this, taeyong would show his love by cooking your lunches for you. when he has the time he makes the effort to put it in a nice bento or box for you to eat. he also does the general chores around the house (assuming the two of you live together) so the bed will be a little less messy when you come back, the floor’s cleaner, the countertops aren’t so cluttered with stuff. even if there’s nothing to clean up, he always these small little things before you come back, and even if you don’t notice it, he sees the way you’re able to navigate the space or when you’re more at ease and it makes him smile.

“do you want to shower first?” taeyong calls out softly, admiring the clean house he’s managed to do up before he went to meet you, “i’ll just hang around until you’re done.”

“you need to prioritise yourself too, yong,” you pout, rubbing a hand up and down his forehead as you toe off your shoes, “how ‘bout we shower together? you did clean the house up pretty nicely.” that earns a grin and a kiss from taeyong, who goes straight the prepare the bath. you chuckle, “he’s already forgotten what i’ve told him.”

→ DOYOUNG supports you silently and listens to your day when you return home and talk about your patient or a case you’re working on. he gives you his own input when he sees fit but other than that he wants you to explain the details. being a doctor and lawyer is crazy and hectic and just wants you to know that you’re appreciated in the workforce. the way he might show his love when caring for a busy s/o like you is when he brings you stuff that you might’ve forgotten like an umbrella or your lunch since you were rushing out of the house earlier. he doesn’t mind going the extra mile to you literally bc it’s a win-win! you get your food, he gets to see you, etc. if not he’ll send someone over to pass it to the receptionist, or he’ll make up for it by meeting you outside the office to apologise and then ask you what you wanna do so he can make it up to you.

“did you manage to get the bento i bought you?” doyoung asks worriedly through the phone, holding up a hand to the staff member who was beckoning him to his photoshoot. “you bought so much!” you exclaim, with a shoulder to your ear, phone perched in between, “thank you doyoung.”

“’m sorry i couldn’t come over to give you your lunch today, angel. i’ll see you after you’re done with work, okay?” you smile at that, shooting a quick reply before you delved into your food.

→ JAEHYUN would honestly serve you once you come back from a busy day tbh. where taeyong does the chores around the house, jaehyun helps by doing the chores on YOU and only you. giving you massages, bringing you dinner on a tray, other unsaid things… and maybe even carrying you from room to room lol he’s relentless and just goes you need to rest, lemme help. big gentleman even when you reject him, doing smaller things like constantly checking up on you, pulling the blanket higher onto your body, cuddling you closer to his body when it’s cold. on top of that jaehyun also one that would meet you at your workplace and take you out like johnny, but those dates are extremely chill. he lets you choose, and when you’re not sure, he takes you on a night picnic at the field or a rooftop, just dinner, but outside bc the view is really nice and he likes the way you look even after a long day of working.

“where should we park our mats?” your head moves from left to right, looking for a suitable spot while you tug on jaehyun’s hand. he hums at it, searching for a spot just like you are. the wind’s blowing gently when you settle near a tree, mat occasionally flying up which you counter with your heavy laptop bag.

“any idea where we can get desserts later?” you call out as a half-joke, not expecting jaehyun to pull up his phone to instantly search for a baskin robbins. “there’s one close-by, wait here for a minute and i’ll go get one for you-“ you laugh before pulling him back down, “don’t worry! we’ll go together, plus i don’t want to be left alone.” jaehyun softly smiles, nodding along as he takes out the food he packed.

→ JUNGWOO has similar intentions like johnny, except he would just wanna stay home. where johnny’s goal is to make you laugh, jungwoo just likes doing things together at home. playing board games, folding the clothes together, making dinner together. it’s not that he doesn’t want to do it, but when he’s given free time he sometimes just likes to laze at home and rest from schedules. he sometimes takes himself out of bed to help before you come back but he’s lazy lolol. loves it when you’re both equally tired and living off 5h of sleep. it’s not romanticising the lack of sleep but your schedules just don’t allow you to sleep equal amounts of hours of sleep. through that, you’re at least able to connect over sleepy talk and droopy smiles while you make the bed or assemble a lego piece or playing video games. if jungwoo’s energetic enough he doesn’t mind doing the crazier activities but he generally prefers those activities done in semi-silence while you exchange jokes and funny videos.

“noooo- no! you only need to move three times, you’re cheating-“ jungwoo pouts and moves back your playing avatar back three spaces on the board game. you purse your lips, not expecting him to see it since he was particularly invested in the movie playing on the screen. knowing it was a shitty film, you tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. with eyes glued to the screen a few seconds earlier, you took your chance to move down one more space in order to get the benefit on the game board.

“you’ll get to buy a house soon, honey,” jungwoo grins cheekily, laughing even more when he’s able to move four steps, landing on the square that you wanted. now it was your turn to pout as he flips the card for property purchases, happily placing it next to his five other houses. “you’re so annoying!” you say as you fall back on the bean bag, but jungwoo doesn’t believe it when he sees a smile poking out from behind the hands shielding your face..

→ MARK sends you a looooot of texts. your convos with him are just him spamming questions or sending you memes. on every platform LMAO he has tweets sent, ig dm’s are blowing up from the weirdass nct memes that some of the fans make, he uses the official nct tiktok account to send you viral trending videos and he’s like we should try this!!!! and it’s a couple doing acrobatics or some shit. he’s crazy. anyway, he just likes to share things with you, from songs, to playlists, to youtube videos or interesting topics like crime psychology or movie theories etc. he knows that you’re hardly going to see it in your job but he sees the way you react across the room when he sends you stuff so he’s sure that you’ll like it after you get off work. sometimes likes to rickroll you, he knows it’s an old trend/troll thing but the thrill of seeing your frustrated replies always make him laugh out loud. when you’re back home, the both of you review whatever you send each other and then laugh together at them.

“hey, babe, check out this video,” mark says in a text, pasting a twitter link to a video. the video starts out interesting enough, mentioning something about a fun fact with stunning visuals has you wanting to learn more. when the guy in the video starts on his first word, the video immediately changes to rick astley with never gonna give you up. you mutter a small fuck under your breath, gaining a bit of attention from your colleagues during lunch break.

under the table, you flip him off in a picture, which he responds with a big smile of his that’s obviously teasing you for falling for it. you’re going to get it when i get back home!!!!! on a new high, you text the message and set your phone down, already excited for the evening where’d you be able to spend your time with him.

→ HAECHAN is a mix of everything kinda. he’d bring you out after work sometimes and other times likes to stay at home, mainly takes you out to eat after work, but that’s the extent of his after-work-escapades, he doesn’t want to tire you out too much. i think one prominent things he likes to do to is vlog to you, send you videos of what he’s doing on set or at home and just treats your convo like a bank for endless videos. y’know how there’s this video feature in telegram? he sends sooo many of those that you have the time of your life watching those on the ride back home. if you have time, you HAVE to facetime him during your lunch break and tell him how you’re doing and how’s your work coming along. do i have to kick someone’s ass for making you feel uncomfortable? is that patient being creepy again? and you have to explain that haechan, no, that patient is an elderly you cannot beat his ass. he’s like i don’t care, creepy dudes are not excused!!! and you can’t help but smile at that. always wants to be talking to you, close to you. if one day, you’re able to bring him to your job, this man follows you around like a lost puppy and just admires what you do, it’s endearing.

“ah, wait- you know how the sister, xia ling was sent to shut down the ten rings army? well… i just reviewed some of the articles and-“ the video cuts into the next one, haechan’s face zoomed in as he looks straight into the camera, “y’know, she might become a villain one day, i don’t know. maybe i should review some of the comics too?”

“anyway! come look at our set for the music video! it’s sexy, outfits are fire, sets are so good, the choreo this time isn’t too hard, either.” haechan asks the other members to wave as he passes them by, no doubt going his own make-up and hair after the others were already done, “okay, gotta go- love you bye!” you smile at that, texting a quick reply before you open up a video of your own, whispering through the speaker with a promise that you’d see him tonight.

[ct-multifandom]

MLB ideas/hopes/predictions/prompts

Bunnix using her umbrella to fly like Mary Poppins

Ladybug coming up with an overly convoluted Rube Goldberg machine type plan with her lucky charm, but not having some of the components, so she just sends Pegasus to the store in the middle of a battle

Characters who are close slowly finding out about each other’s superhero identities in funny ways

Pigella picking up something massive and like 10x heavier than her and chucking it

I really want one of these heroes’ tools to be a comically large anime-style weapon, but alas I don’t think they’d do it

Season finale boss fight featuring all the new heroes, which is totally gonna happen at some point, but it would look really busy on screen to have them all running around at once, so I’d split them into smaller teams based on their skills to carry out specific parts of Ladybug’s Epic 36-Step Plan™️. It would make for a satisfying “oh yeah, it’s all coming together” montage and also give us some unique character interactions.

Ladybug picking unique combo teams of new heroes based on their skills to fight specific strong villains

Alya starting a school paper and getting the whole team in on it. I love the episodes where the class does one big project together, they’re so cute.

Someone/a group getting akumatized on purpose to disobey Hawkmoth and take advantage of their akuma’s power for a noble goal

Episode from the POV of a boring background character detailing how the life of the average Parisian is affected by LB and CN. Unreliable scheduling, monster traffic jams, the sheer embarrassment of getting got by an akuma...

I want an animal to get akumatized. Someone’s dog who feels lonely when their favorite human gets a new, demanding job and turns into a terrifying Cerberus beast or something.

Mayor Bourgeois allocates some taxpayer dollars into a LB bank account to support her, and she has to make the very important decision on whether to save it for a real emergency or buy 17 hamburgers.

Okay part of me doesn’t want to make kwami/future hero predictions in case I accidentally come up with something way cooler than what will really happen and then be disappointed, but the other part of me is like hee hoo predikshun. So don’t expect these to actually happen lol.

I won’t talk about Multimouse because we kinda know everything about her, but she looks cute and it’s nice to see two heroes who aren’t super skinny.

The silhouette of Minotaurox in the intro doesn’t offer a lot of insight other than his epic horns. I have no idea what his tool might be. His costume looks to be pretty simple/practical, though, which is in line with Ivan’s character. I heard a theory that his power will be increasing in size, and it makes sense looking at Stoneheart and the pattern of flipping the characters’ flaws on their head, but that sounds kind of boring to me, especially compared to all the other creative abilities.

Tigresse’s silhouette makes me think her design will be awesome. Her tail looks like it might be her tool. It kind of resembles Amethyst’s whip from SU so maybe she can use it to grab things like Ladybug does with her yo-yo. I heard a theory that her power will be invisibility which I support because it takes the flaw that turned Juleka into Reflekta (wanting to be invisible out of insecurity) and makes it powerful like the stealth of a tiger.

From the silhouette, Caprikid looks a bit like a beginner’s Trollhunters cosplay, but I’m sure he’ll be cool. I’ve seen people argue whether he’s Nate or Marc and I’m positive he’s Marc (making Nate CC) so if anyone asks for an explanation I’ll make the comprehensive post on why. He’s holding his tool, and I’ve seen debate over which direction it’s in. If he’s holding it pointed up it looks like a giant calligraphy brush, but I think he’s holding it pointed down and the “brush” is just a decoration on the end. I’ve heard a theory that it’s a shepherd’s cane which is my favorite one. Personal idea here: I’d make his power telekinesis. Pretty basic, but I can imagine it being very useful for the type of scenarios we see in the show without it being OP. I like the idea of using a cane to “shepherd” something through the air. This could reflect Reverser’s desire for control, but flip it to be more collected and useful.

I fully support Coq Courage’s ninja pants, they are simply Correct. It’d be cool if his tool was a bow and arrow, and that seems like a pretty popular theory. The shape to the left of his torso looks like it might be a quiver but it’s probably just his other arm. Thumb rings are used in archery, but what little we’ve seen of the miraculous (disguised on Marinette and Chloe) shows a different type of ring. Still tho. Also get ready for my crazy never-gonna-happen idea: the bow can turn into a hang glider. Roosters can fly, but not super well/freely, which could translate to gliding. It’d add some versatility to the way the heroes move around since a lot of the temporary ones can only run, and it would let him reach places LB might not be able to. I’ve heard a theory that his power will be supersonic voice which could contrast how Nathaniel is bad at communicating and quiet until he gets mad and blows up.

Orikko might be the kwami of illumination. Roosters are associated with the sun and Evillustrator’s power was sourced from light. At first I thought his transformation words might be “sunrise” and “sunset” but someone said the activation code could be “rise and shine” which sounds awesome.

Traquemoiselle, believe it or not, is actually in the intro, she’s just hidden at the very top and only a snippet of the head is showing. All we know is that she has round dog ears. Barrk is surprisingly one of the more fleshed-out kwamis as of now, having a few solid lines of characterization in Furious Fu. Kwamis are usually yin-yang to their holder, so Barrk fits Sabrina perfectly, being loyal yet independent while Sabrina is loyal and an absolute doormat. No clue about her tool. Her power is kinda in the name: tracking. Maybe she can track down some one specific thing of her choice, but maybe she can sniff out akumas. As seen in Dark Owl and Gang of Secrets, Hawkmoth can be creative with akuma placement, so she can probably save the team from some close calls.

I have no theories for the transformation words of the other kwamis. Ziggy or Stompp could include “horns” or “charge” and Roaar “stripes” but I can’t think of any phrase including those words that isn’t too similar to an existing one. There are some phrases based on powers, though, not the animal. Or maybe they’ll just give up and give us another iteration of “Sass, scales slither”.

I think the theme for one of these remaining new heroes might be “assertion”. A lot of them struggle with that as their civilian selves, and the animals that are left can all be associated with independence/dominance, not that the animal traits always play into what the heroes are.

Ok last one, long one: in season 3, Luka’s main traits were “cool and nice” which doesn’t make for an interesting, complex major character, and at first he seemed like the perfect love interest, but from an outside perspective the extent of his kindness is kind of disturbing. I’m hoping they can flip this around and turn it into a character flaw where he has practically no boundaries, and it turns into a problem. Maybe he could agree to run random errands for the background characters for nothing in return, and at first it’s just him being nice, but later people start seeing his help as an obligation. They get peeved when he’s unavailable one day and get akumatized into a “boss rush” of classic akumas, effectively trapping and forcing him to help them. Then Tigresse Pourpe comes and helps save the day, expanding on Juleka and Luka’s relationship. The resolution can teach kids that putting yourself first isn’t necessarily selfish, and that sitting back and letting people take advantage of your kindness isn’t heroic.

There’s probably some stuff I forgot which I can put in a different post later, but lmk if you want a separate post about any of these things in more detail! This was just me rambling out all my new hyperfixation thoughts. Also if anyone uses any of the hypotheticals/scenarios as a prompt I’d love to see it.

[jenivi7]

writing tag game!

Thank you @clyde-side and @bdeblueyes for the tag!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

22 plus a small handful on ff.net that I still intend to move over to AO3.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

30,445!  I’m surprised it’s that much considering how short most of those stories are. (And it’s a little deceptive since it doesn’t include the 80k monstrosity that is Ryou and the Thief. That one’s probably going to stay on ff.net though.)

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Those Things He Keeps for Himself (Total agreement. Personally I think this is the best thing I’ve written so far.)

Human (Was at #1 until very recently! I attribute this entirely to the story being on @shinayashipper’s Rivalshipping Rec List. Thank you Red! <3 )

Black (From when I wandered into Homestuck fanfic for a brief time! I’m still stupid proud of this one though.)

Ghosts, Goths and Other Anxieties (original short story) (I swear I’ll get back to posting the big bang version soon)

Finality (This one’s so old but I guess people still like their tendershipping! I mean, same~)

4. Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

I do try to respond to everything! I so appreciate when other authors respond to me and do my best to return that good good energy. Also I genuinely like chatting with people (especially about something I wrote lol) even if I get overwhelmed sometimes and can be slow ^^; 

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

This is a tough one cause when I start a story, it’s usually with the goal of giving the characters a happy end but it’s probably Coffee and Cigarettes. It was for a pairings competition where the random pairing was Mana/TK Bakura and I gave them a weird little break in the middle of canon where they both know what’s about to happen and it just came out sad.  NO WAIT I’M WRONG. Lol I just gave my story list another look and it’s definitely Crazy for You! That was an insane asylum AU that’s ABOUT everything going straight to shit.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Oh goodness, almost all of them! I love a happy ending. Like, the story doesn’t have to be all fluff, it can have an impossible looking problem or be about two people who just don’t go well together but I love a good, satisfying resolution. Most recent happy ending is No Betting, just a bit of adorable, domestic, peachshipping fluff. Favorite happy end is probably A Million Missed Chances, Mai/Valon. I feel like Mai is a challenging character to give a happy ending to. She’s just stubborn like that <3

7. Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

So, I haven’t written a crossover yet by myself but @miss-moberg and I will often throw around ideas for ones where we will use YGO characters or parts of the world building or magic system to fix things we don’t like in other canons. Right now we have a RP that’s a BNHA/YGO crossover where… oh, spoilers for BNHA: instead of going crazy and faking his own death, Toya grabs both his brothers and just fucking leaves. They run away to Domino, get picked up by Ryou and Akeifa (TK Bakura) and it quickly becomes the found family story I didn’t know I needed. We do some wild things blending the two canons. Domino is this little pocket where shadow magic keeps the hero and villain nonsense out and the citizens are pretty ok with it. Yugi and Atem are the city’s guardians. Ryou and Akeifa are not allowed to use shadow magic though they have access to it. I think Ryou and Yugi had proper quirks that they sacrificed to the shadows at some point, each for something different thing that they wanted or needed. Oh! We have quirks being derived from shadow magic at some point in the distant past and the shadows are always happy to take a quirk back to fulfill a wish or desire. They’re tricky though and usually corrupting. Very classic fairytale where it’s a thing you don’t want to make a deal with. Seto is quirkless and basically runs the city behind the scenes. He can’t deny the existence of heroes and villains but still refuses to believe in magic. This always gives Atem a headache when they have to coordinate to protect the city. Which is often.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

A couple criticisms but no outright hate I don’t think. Or if I have it was so long ago I don’t remember. I was on ff.net at the worst times too and somehow all the hate just passed me by.

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

I love smut so much but I rarely write it. For stories I just usually end up with one or two erotic sentences. RPs are the exceptions to that though and are where all the good stuff happens. >.>

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope. Haven’t had one stolen, haven’t had one taken down. I’ve stayed small enough to fly under the radar for both things luckily enough!

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I wish! Man that would be amazing <3

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! Ryou and the Thief is a cleaned up version of @miss-moberg and my very first RP. (And the only RP of ours to ever hit an actual ending.)

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Puzzle with Gemshipping very close behind though I ship many, many things.

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

Phoenix. It was one of my very first fanfics started almost 15 years ago and while I’d love to finish everything, that one’s just not going to happen. It’s been too long and I’ve grown way too much as a writer to go back to it now.

15. What are your writing strengths?

I think it’s dialogue. And maybe the ability to be amusing. Not funny-funny but like, lightly humorous when setting scenes or winding up to something.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

RUN ON SENTENCES. Sometimes they get away from me a bit XD

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Haaaa, actually when I first started writing fanfic I would throw in Japanese phrases and honorifics and looking back, it’s pretty cringe. BUT I can appreciate it as it was originally intended: learning and practicing a new language. If it makes sense for the character or situation though it’s really cute, like in Allargando by Slaycinder where Atem uses Arabic endearments for Seto. (Have I gushed about that fic on my blog yet? It’s so good.) Ancient Egyptian is the exception to everything I just said. I absolutely LOVE when someone takes a stab at putting ancient Egyptian in their fic. I go a little feral for it and it was the hardest but the most fulfilling thing about writing Ryou and the Thief was doing all the research write actual AE dialogue for Akeifa early in the fic.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Yu-Gi-Oh. I’ve done a handful of things for other fandoms but Ygo is the one I keep coming back to and definitely the one I’ve written the vast majority for.

19. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

Oh no this is hard! They’re all my babies and I love them! Probably my favorites have been listed in previous questions already. Ryou and the Thief because of the sheer amount of work that went into it and the fact that we ran the boys through a whole ass adventure, Coffee and Cigarettes because it’s such a fun, quirky little thing with a great atmosphere and Those Things He Keeps For Himself because I feel like I was able to really capture the idea in my head effectively and there’s some great imagery in it.

TAGGING:  Oh my god this took me so long to finally sit down and complete that probably everyone I would tag has done it already!  So not tagging anyone this time but please do it if it seems fun!

[ramblingguy54]

New Gods On The Block: Expectations Of Self Worth & Family Name.

Hey, Scrooge will come to his senses and realize you’re the best adventuring team he’s ever had. Nothing bad is gonna happen.

Well, here I was thinking New Gods on the Block would be a Donald and Daisy focused episode, but it being a mash up between Della supporting the kids self-esteem along with those two’s shenanigans, regarding Storkules interference was a welcoming surprise I very much enjoyed. Della has been on the sidelines for quite a good chunk of Season 3 and what better time to bring her into the fold when these kids are feeling lower than usual after a failed adventure with Scrooge? Scrooge McDuck, despite having grown a very loving connection with them, is still someone that has high expectations for greatness, so when you’ve got children that want to be as strong as their role model, it creates a potential for serious doubts in their minds. Doesn’t help Scrooge is wanting to find more professional people for this current adventure to retrieve an artifact Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby didn’t have the apparent in sync team work to pull off this time. They’ve always admired Scrooge as their elder relative, where hearing him say they are more or less not cut out for the job can make them all wonder, “If we failed this time, who’s to say it won’t become a greater issue?”. We got light of this idea in Dewey’s episode, The Rumble For Ragnorok, where he was greatly worried about the future of inheriting everything Scrooge has stood for. New Gods on the Block puts that perspective into gear with all their worries and concerns about living up their great uncle’s achievements in life. It’s already hard enough trying to make yourself feel happy, but when you’re related to a beyond talented relative it can in turn hurt your pride and ego in the long run.

We got to see a very good contrast between Della & Scrooge’s ways of parenting in how they comfort the children emotionally. Puts into perspective Della’s considering nature of how the kids might feel, instead of herself. Della has made it evident time and time again that they’ve never had to prove anything to be worthy of standing alongside her in adventuring, even though she too has a renowned reputation for what she’s managed to create for herself in McDuck history. We’ve seen this with Dewey & Webby in their own respective episodes centered around trying to impress and earn Della’s admiration in Season 2. Della goes above all else to tell them they don’t need to be like her to feel worthy of themselves because they already were equals to begin with. They’re a family, so they don’t need to compete for someone’s affection. Della has gone to clarify that point as much as possible to make them feel more secure about their place in the McDuck lineage. It’s always important for a parent to never let your kid feel inadequate about their role in the family tree, which Della understands a hundred percent. Scrooge does love and respect the kids with ever fiber of his being, but he can get so wrapped up in himself at points that he forgets to comfort them when they need it, too. That plays an important part in why they took on the test to see who could be a better God. It parallels with how they view Scrooge as someone who’s equal to that level of grandeur. Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby are so amazed at what Scrooge can be capable of doing they wholeheartedly believe that becoming Godly beings will help close that gap of inexperience. Something that Della does her best to fully support them in all trying to accomplish with, mind you, unpleasant results.

Della’s heart is certainly in the right place without a doubt. However, allowing the kids to participate in a contest that involves becoming an all mighty powerful being was a recipe for disaster. Although very funny shenanigans ensued, yes, it only threw more fuel onto that fire about whether or not they could live up to the name of McDuck. It’s endearing that Della strives to want the best for them, but this wasn’t a route to take, which comes to a head with Selene saying they’re not ready take on that responsibility and are too inexperienced for it. Della’s goal was for the youngsters to not feel out of place just because of an unfortunate failure. Della’s all too familiar with the concept of failure because of the Spear Of Selene, since she had to work through that and regain her confidence again over time. It’s pretty safe to say Della didn’t want them to feel like how she did under those circumstances, even if this is a very different situation with less higher stakes. Regardless, the kids were near naturally because of their concern for the results of whom Selene might choose. Out of all stuff this was the last thing the children needed to overhear because it makes them feel terribly worse off than before in their thinking about what they can contribute, overall. Della wanted nothing more than for them to feel worthy about who they are, but went overboard with what the resolution should be. It’s not about getting newfound powers to compensate for something else you’re lacking. What’s most important is one thing that every person in a family needs to hear especially. Validation.

Validation that you are more than enough and don’t need a fancy gimmick to earn said love or respect, either. This mindset is one thing Della realizes, where to get toward the root of this problem isn’t about trying to give them new powers, but confront their Uncle Scrooge head on about this big issue the kids are reeling over in emotional pain about. Scrooge’s biggest problem has always been how he can overlook issues when he’s laser focused on his own goals. He’s stubborn, prideful, an egotist to a degree, and deep down very affectionate to each member of his crazy family. Does Scrooge ever communicate those feelings often to them? Well, no, he doesn’t because the stubborn geezer felt confident they already knew that fact with how much Scrooge has helped to better themselves as people. Scrooge’s issue is learning that sometimes actions aren’t enough to show family how much you cherish them, but actually communicating those words to them directly. Actions can speak louder than words, as shown off in the Season 1 finale with their loving hug of forgiveness, but here the kids needed to hear him sing those praises more than anything.

They’re kids! They feel like they need to constantly prove themselves to you. You expect so much.

Maybe I got a little carried away. The kids are the best team I could ask for.

So tell them that!

Scrooge needed to understand there are plenty of times where you’re gonna have to make your affection known through words and not just actions alone. It’s an imperative part of what it means to be a parental figure. You need to acknowledge their strengths for what they accomplish, so the younger ones don’t start getting too self conscious about not feeling like an equal family relative. It must be known for the younger generation that each of them are an important part of what makes your life feel whole when you’re guiding them, like every parent should commit to doing. Della & Scrooge’s aspect of supporting the kids was what made this story a stand out in quality. Their struggles gave us insight into how Della’s parenting is versus Scrooge’s showing us the pros and cons of what makes their approaches work and not, too. All of that is wonderfully paid off by Scrooge’s apology to them about needing to prove their skills to him.

Kids, you are in no way suitable to replace Zeus. You’re ten times more worthy than he will ever be! I’m lucky to adventure with you and call ya family. I’m sorry I made you doubt that! I lost track of what I had! I don’t need different people on my team I just need you!

New Gods on the Block was a welcoming surprise I loved. Very pleased with how it turned out. We got to see more Della bonding with the kids reflecting on how she and Scrooge handle them with their emotional issues. Not to mention, we actually got an apology from Scrooge McDuck to the kids, which is a very rare thing to see him say, as he usually speaks that kind of stuff through remorseful actions, rather than communication.

[johannstutt413]

(requested by anonymous)

Asbestos parked her door-shield in front of the Doctor’s office door after closing it behind her. “Hey, you done yet? We’ve got some drinking to do.”

“This is four days in a row,” he sighed from his desk. “I’m starting to get used to having a hangover in the morning. Why are you so insistent about this?”

“You’re the one who begged to come on an expedition with me. If you wanna roll into a cave with me, you’re gonna have to pull your weight. I’m not sandbagging for your slow ass. Come on, damnit, daylight’s burning!”

He groaned, resolutely stationary. “But what the hell does getting drunk have to do with spelunking? And you’re the one who asked me to go with you by giving me a suit in the first place!”

“Because I had a spare, and it had to go somewhere, didn’t it? Sheesh.” The Savra crossed her arms and started tapping her foot. “Come on, time’s a-wasting. You know I won’t leave until you come along.”

“...Goddamnit. Fine, let’s go.” The Doctor stood up, threw his jacket on, and followed her through the double door...which she left in place. Of course she would.

She put her arm through his and tugged him all the way to her bar of choice - in other words, the one with the least amount of people. In fact, the only other person there was the bartender, a Forte with as many scars has he had fingers and said about as many words in a night, so in other words, it was just the two of them. “Give us both a whiskey lullaby, and keep it coming until this boy here becomes a man.”

“I’ve been one for a few years now, thank you very much.” He took the glass as it was put in front of him, took it straight to the back of his throat, and, admittedly, relished the burn for a moment. “You’re gonna be the death of me, one way or another.”

“Might as well be; otherwise, you’d never leave your office.” Asbestos took her one drink for the night slowly, monitoring the Doctor as he downed his second.

Then his third. He was getting much better at this. “Do you do this to everyone who tries to talk to you? Not that that’s many people, I imagine.”

“Magallan and Click didn’t need a test, and we only talk about our expeditions, so I didn’t bother. You, though? You need all the toughening up I can give you.”

“The hell does that mean?” His eyes narrowed; he’d let his hood fall down during the walk-drag there, and it gave his expressions an extra note of sincerity, like a fighter throwing aside their training gear. “Do you know the shit I’ve seen?”

She snorted. “No, and you don’t either, so don’t try that shit with me.” And there went number four.

“I wouldn’t if you didn’t pull out all the stops to annoy me...What’s your real game, anyway? There’s being tsundere, and there’s being a sadist, but you don’t really seem like either to me.”

“Tsundere? Wow, alright, nerd.” Asbestos, breaking tradition, finished the rest of her first glass and signaled for a second. “Who needs a game? I just want to be a jerk - is that so hard to understand?”

He slammed his free hand on the table. “Damn right, it is. Why d’ya wanna go around like that? The hell makes a person make that their whole goal in life?”

“Does it matter? I don’t want the baggage that comes with all that shit. All a friend would do is hold me back, anyway, and I’ve got too many crazy-ass caves to climb around in to make time for that. Especially a scrawny mite like you.”

“Maybe I am scrawny.” The Doctor, seeing double after his sixth glass, drifted his focus to her tail. “But that makes me pretty fast.”

The Savra followed his gaze and shifted so he couldn’t stare. “The hell are you staring at?”

“Heheheh...Nothing.”

“You’re a terrible liar. Hey, dumbass.” She snapped her fingers in his face. “My eyes are up here.”

It was too late; he was already pretty far gone by this point. “I’ve made my choice...Swish!”

“Swish?! What th- kyaaa~!” Without giving her any time to react, the Doctor had bolted out of his chair and was now standing behind her, grasping her tail with one hand and stroking it with the other.

“So smooth~” It was nice and warm, too. “Hehe- ow.”

The ‘ow’ was because Asbestos had kicked him off of her and was standing over him, hands on her waist. “Who the hell said you could touch my tail, because it sure as fuck wasn’t me!”

“But it’s all smooth and warm...You really gonna hog that all to yourself?”

“It’s my tail, asshole, that’s my right!” She groaned. “Forget it. You always get like this after five or so. It’s my fault as much as yours.”

The Doctor sat up, rubbing his head. “But you keep letting me get away with it~ Just admit it: you like when I do it.”

“...I’m taking you home. Come on, let’s go.” The Savra pulled him to his feet and started dragging him behind her again.

“♫’Bestos-chan is best girl♪” He sang to himself as he stumble-slid along behind her. “♫’Bestos-chan is best girl♪”

Asbestos was blushing, in spite of herself; her tail was lit up as a result, too. “Sh-shut up. Seriously, your voice is more grating than a piton on a rock face.”

“But you aaaaare best girl. Heh. You make, ♫dum-dum Hurt so good! C’mon, baby, make it hurt so good!♪”

“...Goddamnit.” He was always so cute after she knocked some sense into him, but...No. Giving in would just make him think he had a chance of getting through to her, and she couldn’t risk that. She had way too much to do and not enough heart to spare for him...At least, not that she wanted to admit to having.

They made it to the Doctor’s place without any more major altercations - no, just him singing his love to her off-key and her telling him to shut the fuck up. The usual post-bar routine. Tonight, though, things took a bit of a turn as the Savra opened the door for him, but he refused to let go of her. She dragged him into his apartment, but still, he hung on with a strength he’d never shown before...What was his damage? “Hey, we’re here. Get off. Train stops here.”

“Why should I?” Once she was stationary, the Doctor wrapped around her leg instead. “Then you might leave~”

“Yeah, that’s the idea, weirdo. Seriously, you turn into a perv when you’re drunk.”

He chuckled, chasing it with a hiccup. “Maaaybe.”

“You’re insufferable.” And yet… “Alright, look, if you let go of my leg, I’ll consider staying for a nightcap, but you can’t cling on me like fucking moss if I do, got it?”

“Alrighty-ighty-oh.” That convinced him; the Doctor let go of her leg.

She sighed, helping him to his feet. “There. I said I’d stay, so I will, but don’t get any funny ideas.”

“Sure.” Immediately, he kissed her, full on the lips, as he hugged her as tightly as he could manage. When Asbestos kneed his crotch, he pulled back, but he didn’t look like he was in any pain. “See? Not funny in the slightest.”

“...I’m never taking you drinking again. Forget the expedition, this shit isn’t worth dealing with-”

The Doctor, who seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness up to this point, cut the act and stood up to his full height - a good half a foot taller than her. “You know you won’t.”

“The hell?” Asbestos stared at him for a moment. “That...was all an act just now, wasn’t it?”

“If there’s anything you taught me to do, it’s put on a front. You know I’m not a touchy-feely guy.”

The Savra shook her head. “Maybe not when you’re sober, but- Oh fuck, wait a minute.”

“Yeah.” He smirked. “Like you said, you don’t know the shit I’ve seen; I’m not even talking about the part even I don’t remember. This was never about toughening me up, Asbestos; we both know that.”

“You leave one chink in your armor, and the whole suit is worthless.” She sighed, wishing she’d brought her shield with her.

The Doctor nodded. “Especially when you wave it in front of the guy with a knife aimed at it, begging him to stab at it. The thing is, I know this isn’t about needing a friend, because you don’t really need those, so what is this about? Why tempt me like this, only to push me away every time?”

“Well, it’s not playing hard to get, I promise you that.” The Defender looked around for a place to sit before deciding on the bed, since it was her only option in her immediate vicinity. “Look, I don’t...I don’t want to leave anyone behind when I go, alright? This Oripathy shit is gonna kill me one way or the other, and when it does, I don’t want someone missing me when I’m gone.”

“...That’s it?” He’d sat down next to her, partially because his knees were kind of wobbly, but also to signify he was genuinely paying attention at this point.

She repaid him for that by punching his arm. “Yeah, that’s it, asshole. Seriously, I bare my soul to you, and you still bitch at me.”

“What can I say? I learned from the best.” After a moment of silence, the Doctor sighed. “So, what? You just wanna leave and forget any of this happened?”

“Yeah...No...Damnit, you’ve got me all confused.” Her tail was glowing again.

He put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry about going overboard earlier. It’s not...I just...God, no, there’s not a single good explanation for that, is there?”

“You’re desperate? Hopelessly in love with me, willing to drag yourself through the mud behind me and get beaten to shit just to be near me?” When he didn’t say anything, the Savra sighed. “Of course you are.”

“Calling it love is too generous; I’m just a masochist who thinks you’re cute.”

Asbestos shook her head. “It just had to be you, didn’t it?...Alright, how about this: when we’re both less intoxicated, and I’ve gotten my shit straight, I’ll get back to you on where I want this to go. Sound good?”

“It’s better than nothing.” He sighed. “Until then?”

“Until then?...Eh, why not? One for the road.” She ambushed him, giving him a kiss on the cheek before walking out the door.

The Doctor watched her leave, stomach full of butterflies and alcohol-induced nausea and head absolutely spinning. Was that really it? No, it didn’t feel right-

The Savra walked back into the room and closed the door behind her, shaking her head. “I’m staying the night. The jacket’s coming off, but nothing else is. We’re gonna lie in that bed together, in a warm and tender embrace, and that’s as far as we go tonight. Got it?”

“You read my mind.” His shoes flew into the wall across from him and ricocheted off. “Really couldn’t get me out of your head this time?”

“That’s not it...I’m just cold.” The words rang hollow even as she said them, but it didn’t matter; the way her tail curled around him instinctively once they were both lying down, or the way his heart beat lulled her to sleep as she set his head against his chest, or the way he took it all in stride, seemingly grateful just to have a chance at all - those were the realities of the situation, and those were all she needed to come to terms with it for the night.

Because, even if she didn’t want a friend, it was nice to have someone to do this kind of thing with...

[hannjunkyu]

starden task one  /  han junkyu’s interview.

i. did you have any new year’s resolutions or general hopes and wishes for the new year? if so, what are they?

“hell yeah. 2021 is the year of opportunity. this year, i’m going to do something worth bragging about. whether it’s starting my own business or finally moving to the big city and making my debut, i’m not sure yet... but i’m going to be making big moves. you can take my word for it.”

ii. how exactly are you trying to / going to try to achieve your goals?

“right now, i’m studying for the ged exam ― maybe once i get that out of the way, talent agents will finally think i’m worth the risk. i also need to break past my mental barriers. i think i’m going to start doing, like, brain exercises. repeating things like i’m so hot and sexy and capable while i’m making my morning smoothies or whatever to start generating more confidence. which, i mean, i used to be confident; but being someone who peaked in high-school has a funny way of making you feel real dull. anyway, i’m gonna work on making my resume look better with educational stuff and work on confidence. we’ll see where it goes from there.”

iii. is it something you have wanted to do for a long time or was it more of a sudden idea?

“it’s something i’ve wanted to do for... as long as i can remember, really.”

iv. is there a specific reasoning to them?

“i want to shine. i guess i don’t talk about it as much as i used to, but i still want to be someone important. it’s not that i don’t like my life on the twin islands, it’s just... there’s gotta be more to life than this, you know? i want new experiences, new sights, new memories. i’m tired of the same old. tired of not being known for anything other than my sick money-sorting skills. does anyone on this island even know how good of a dancer i am? probably not. i want people to talk shit about me, but not because they know me personally and think i’m annoying. i want to hear whispers, like... oh shit! that’s han junkyu. he’s really something else. he shines brighter than anyone. but that’s kind of conceited of me, right? to have a dream like that’s bad enough, but to admit that that’s my dream’s even worse. but it used to feel like it was something i could do, anyway. conceited or not. now it feels... i don’t know. i guess it feels like i’m destined for the same mundane life that everyone else in a place like this will undoubtedly live. i want to get back to that powerful feeling, no matter what it takes.”

v. have you already learned something new this year? if so, what is it?

“you think i learn new things...? that’s so nice! (...) just kidding. of course i do. i’ve learned that ohio is also a place in the united states ― not just a japanese greeting! crazy, huh? i bet they’re a bunch of weebs.”

vi. is there anything you want to leave in 2020?

“nope, can’t say that there is...? i think that 2020 was a good year for me as far as, like, not regretting anything goes. i don’t think i had much personal growth, but it’s okay to be stagnant like that sometimes, you know. just vibing, feelin’ things out. there’s nothing overwhelmingly negative in my life that i’d like to leave in 2020, except, like... maybe my empty bank account. a bitch is broke. please commission me. i’ll paint you any anime girl you want.”

vii. is there anything you want others to leave in 2020?

“oh ― cringe culture, for sure. life is so short and we have to make the most of the time that we have, not waste it worrying about what everyone else is thinking. all that’s gonna do is drag you down, anyway. you want to wear that dress, but you’re worried that your neighbors won’t think you look good in it? honestly, who cares. wear it for yourself, not for everyone else. got some niche interest that no one else seems to be into? flaunt it! embrace it! say what you’re thinking, even if it’s fucking weird or you think people will put you down, saying you’re trying to be ‘quirky’ and ‘different’. on that note, let’s all reclaim the word quirky and stop thinking it’s a bad thing. life’s so fun if you make it fun. stop being embarrassed because of people who try to ruin it for everyone else. please. i’m begging.”

[atopearth]

The Men of Yoshiwara: Ohgiya Part 5 - Ageha Route

Now on to the last route! I can see why Kiyoha would want to choose Ageha though, he is really pretty, graceful and sweet. He's also energetic and fun in a different way from Utsusemi but still very cute. It's too bad that Kiyoha can't choose him outright because he's an apprentice getting ready for his deflowering, and apparently only experienced women are allowed to apply for it. I guess that's how they protect their new geisha just in case? Seeing Gakuto, Utsusemi and Ageha play and drink together with Kiyoha was pretty fun, I love it when they're together. But omggg when Ageha got a bit drunk and ended up kissing Kiyoha! Definitely against the rules here but omg, it was definitely exciting, it was understandable for Kiyoha to have liked it lol! Drunk Ageha is definitely very honest though, it seems like he likes Kiyoha just as much as she is attracted to him. I hope no one finds out this happened though, since Ohgiya is so traditional and strict, he would probably get a scolding. HAHAHA, there's a typo with Ageha's tear leaving a "steak" down on this face rather than a streak🤣🤣🤣 I was like aww, Ageha is such a crybaby, it makes you want to protect him, and then next moment, I see steak and I'm like what?! LOL.

I was about to say Kiyoha sending that letter to Ageha (about what happened + the kiss) wouldn't be the best idea at this time, and yep, it ended up getting them in trouble now! Wow, Ageha is such a pure boy, I found his letter (written during discipline, given to Asagiri to hand to Kiyoha) really kind and comforting for Kiyoha, he's quite thoughtful. My heart actually kinda ached when Ageha tearfully and very honestly spoke about his love for Kiyoha in front of Asagiri. Like wow, they're honestly like to lovebirds who are in a forbidden love lol. It's nice to know that they got found out because another apprentice secretly read his letter (and not because of Ageha being careless etc), like wow, no privacy much?! It's actually really cute how Asagiri is supporting their young love lol. Omg, Ageha's personality is normally so not my type, but he's so cute, it's kinda hard to resist. Especially when he kept trying his best to get used to calling her Kiyoha, and how he admitted that the drunken kiss he gave her the other day was his first kiss. Wow, they're so daring to have another proper first kiss! Like, I knew it was coming, but dang, they're really into each other lol! It was pretty hot. Considering how timid Ageha seems, he's actually quite daring when he drinks a bit of sake haha. I honestly find it really adorable how Kiyoha and Ageha are experiencing such an innocent first love. I love how they chat about anything with each other, play games they've learnt together such as juggling etc, and they just so naturally share their lives with the other. It feels so youthful and adorable lol.

Is this what we call the honeymoon phase? Because dang, Kiyoha straightforwardly telling her mother that she wants Ageha to be her husband after only a few days of thinking about it is pretty dang crazy LOL. To be honest, Kiyoha losing her chastity to one of the geisha to participate in the deflowering of Ageha is an idea that's probably uncomfortable but worth it in a sense. This is really the only way to keep Ageha's purity considering how much he loves her and how pure of a person he is. Considering what happened in Utsusemi's route, I'm not sure if Ageha could take it if he's in love with Kiyoha but has to be deflowered by someone else. Honestly though, when she started crying because she knew she couldn't just do it with Asagiri, my heart kinda broke. Kiyoha really does have the resolve, but she loves Ageha so much, she doesn't want to have sex with anyone else besides him. I think that's pretty understandable, she really shouldn't force herself if she really can't. It was really sweet of Asagiri to comfort her by stroking her back as she cried. The whole time he was with her, he was really considerate and kind towards her feelings too. He's such a great guy😭 Omggg, the drama is so real, but I have to admit, seeing Ageha's heart break when he saw Asagiri and Kiyoha together was pretty painful. I really feel like this route is like the epitome of that young recklessness I think would have been fun to experience. They're really living that dream well. Obviously, because they're the ones living it, it's rather tough though, since they're obviously breaking rules hanging out together outside Yoshiwara and playing around. But at the same time, I can't help but admire it all. I think it's because Kiyoha can finally act her own age and just enjoy love for what it is than to be forced into having an heir, and it's the best partner to share this innocence with, because Ageha hasn't been "tainted" yet, and is so innocent and pure after being brought up so carefully by everyone around him since they all love him. I also think I'm really enjoying this route because their young recklessness isn't really something I ever could really do, so it's nice to experience it here haha.

Wow, when she got hurt and had to recover in bed for a couple of days, I was like dang, that must have been a pretty bad injury. I honestly didn't think Ageha was reckless enough to run away from Ohgiya to visit her though, but it's understandable, all he heard was that she got hurt and nothing else after all. It went way too smoothly because of her injury, but I guess whatever, since it's because of this injury and their unrelenting love that Kiyoha can now be the one to deflower him and even buy him out of Ohgiya, but yeah I feel like the resolution was so anticlimactic and resolved quite haphazardly. I really liked how before this though, Ageha was adamant on Kiyoha being the one to deflower him and protested to the manager enough that he said he would kill himself if he couldn't be with Kiyoha. Like, I know it was pretty dramatic and everything, but I loved how Kiyoha made him grow as a person. He realised that he's so much of a crybaby all the time that he wanted to finally do something about the situation just like Kiyoha, so he voiced his opinion and I think that was really cool of him. 

I really liked how they showcased Ageha's talents for Kiyoha’s store! I mean the fact that he's a cinnamon roll is awesome enough to attract young and older ladies, but at the same time, he has a really good memory and a genuine heart that charms everyone with his pure words! He's also capable with flowers and a beauty, so he's great for showing off clothes haha. He also works so hard! So really, not a surprise the mother would approve of him so fast lol. Like, it's nice that Ageha is more "grown up" and forward with his feelings and affection now, but at the same time, it's kinda crazy how different he is in the endings compared to how sensitive and sweet he was as the innocent lamb he was before lol. Lmao in the sequel where Ageha runs back to Ohgiya and cries after losing ten wrestling matches to Kagerou hahahah. He's so silly. It doesn't matter whether he’s strong or not at all, when he takes care of Kiyoha so well, and that was shown before they even started those matches, which was when she tripped and he caught her. But I agree with Kiyoha, he doesn't need to rush into becoming a "man" for her, because they can both take their time becoming adults together instead. I thought that was really heartwarming and something nice to look forward to. Growing up with someone else at the same pace with the same goals is such a blessing. The ice cream story was so cute, I loved how it was just a simple story of them making food together, yet it was so nice to see.

Overall, it's really funny tbh, honestly, I usually hate LIs like Ageha the most, but there was something about him that made me just think it was so cute? Maybe it's because he's so genuinely a crybaby? Lmao. I think maybe it's because I think he and Kiyoha matched really well in this route. They were both new to the whole idea of love, so they were both susceptible to falling so hard for the other and being so rash about it, but at the same time, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful and sweet their young love was. I just found it so endearing to see two people work so hard towards a forbidden relationship, yet be so happy about it. I think their innocence and happiness at just enjoying spending time with the other really made my heart melt. Things were resolved way too easily, but I guess the romance was the highlight so whatever haha. I think I probably enjoyed Ageha and Gakuto's routes the most, with Utsusemi's story being one I quite liked too (the romance part wasn't as good though imo).

Overall Review

Overall, I really enjoyed Ohgiya and I think they definitely improved on both the stories and the guys from the prequel. It definitely is the superior sequel haha! Not only was Kiyoha a much better heroine (although she can get frustrating at times too but not as much lol), I also found that I liked most of the guys here too! There was no one I really hated, only routes I liked more than others haha. I really liked how they delved into the different lives they all lived even though they were all living the life of a geisha. Like, the variety when it comes to their backgrounds, reasons for being there and how they viewed life was so colourful yet saddening, and I think it was all portrayed really well, because my heart honestly broke for them, especially Gakuto. I think it was really cool to see how Kiyoha affected their lives and allowed them to think beyond the life of a geisha, and I guess that really made the game enjoyable. Definitely recommended if you want something short and nice. You don't even need to play the prequel haha.

[snehaliveityourway]

Top 8 New Year Resolutions 2017 For New Beginning!

Top 8 New Year Resolutions 2017 For New Beginning!

What is your resolution for this New Year?..Still thinking what kind of resolutions to be taken then please check this New Year Resolutions 2017. If you are confused   about what type of resolutions to be taken then see these Happy New Year resolution ideas. In a resolution, we must consider the factors about health, career, finance, and the resolution should be taken. Stay Fit and Healthy This…

[parniarazi]

2 0 1 9

A few days into the fresh energy of the new year, I’m still processing a lot from 2019 because it was a huge year for me. I think it’s a big missed opportunity for self-growth if you don’t take some time to reflect on your year, what it taught you, how it shaped you, and what your goals are moving into a new year. Resolutions can be cheesy and cheap, but serious self-reflection and actions towards your goals are what will move you forward.

In 2019, I got to experience a lot of things I love. I photographed one of my favorite artists, I went to 6 music festivals (including my first SXSW and EDCLV), I traveled to Vegas, Italy, Germany, France, Colorado, and Mexico (not to mention a few weekends away in the lovely Austin, Texas). I connected with many different people this year, a few of whom have stuck around to be good friends. I graduated college surrounded by the support of my amazing family, started my first semester of grad school and my first real job, and I fell even more in love with Pavel after we made the decision to move in together.

Whew. Talk about self-growth. Years like this that are filled with change are definitely among the most difficult ones I remember, but getting older is cool sometimes because I recall other similar times when I felt challenged, pushed, and even frustrated, but then ended up getting through it and life being way better on the other side. For example, when I first moved to Houston in 2016. Another similarly big transition year, 2019 didn’t come without its struggles, but those have been incredible learning moments and just as important as my highs. 

Overall though, growing up is hard. I think this is something I say often, but I really feel that in my soul. Sometimes I feel like I have a grip on adulthood, I’m now financing larger trips and travel plans for Pavel and I, I’m seeing more of the world, I’m less afraid of doing adult things alone and less afraid of the unknown general. At the same time though, so much of my identity is rooted in my youth. Young, wild, and free, you know? Nothing is better. So in many ways, feeling this slip away from me year by year as I get older and have to handle more and more of my own responsibilities really sucks. Not being able to be as carefree or have as much free time can be a challenge that comes with adulthood, but fortunately having the level of self-awareness I’ve developed, I’m also realizing that I don’t actually have to buy into that narrative anymore. Can I be a fully responsible, independent adult and still create time for myself and give myself breaks to play, dance, and rest? Absolutely. Can I be a smart, professional, respectable person while still being funny and quirky and myself? Hell yeah. Getting settled into adulthood by moving out and going through all these changes I did this year has helped me realize that my life is really my own to shape and create however I want. I’ve learned that no matter what advice others give me or see fit for me, the decisions are mine to make at the end of the day and I’m the one who has to live my life every day. As the indecisive libra I am, this was hard at first but I can literally feel myself growing into my power and that feels fucking amazing. 

Major shifts also happened in my academic/professional life that were extremely difficult to go through, but I have a feeling were a huge plunge in the right direction for me. For most of undergrad (which was only 3 years), I was committed to staying in academia to get my Ph.D. in political science and then working as a professor. This was mainly for 3 reasons — I was always good at school so I thought putting off finding a job to stay in school longer would be an easy solution, I wanted to stay in an area I excelled in and felt comfortable in, and I didn’t explore my other interests/options enough at the time. I also couldn’t see myself dressing in business clothes, working in an office or corporate-type job. Essentially, I settled for something I thought would be more comfortable, but it turned out my undergrad program had not challenged me or prepared me for this grad program at all. Instead of being comfortable, I was thrown to the wolves in classes and material I was completely unprepared for and not even interested in. Not to mention, I felt incredibly alone and isolated from my classmates because many of them were older, already had a Master’s degree, and their lives revolved completely around the department because most of them worked as TAs while being full-time students. Meanwhile, I was working outside of academics, wanted to maintain my personal life and hobbies, and simply could not keep up with the pace and demands of the program. Nor did I want to, because seeing both the Ph.D. student and professor life up and close as a grad student made me realize that’s not the life I want as a professional. Academia can be incredibly stifling of new ideas, very bureaucratic, and has cookie-cutter ways to ‘making it’ in your given field. I learned that it is not an environment where my skills and personality would flourish, and I deserve better than that. I realized it’s unfair to both myself and the people who could benefit from my skills to force myself to fit into a box I simply don’t fit into.

That doesn’t go to say I have it all figured out now because I surely don’t. In fact, I’m on a whole new journey of finding jobs and fields I’m interested in, then gaining the right experiences and connections to get those jobs. Fortunately, I saved my grad school career by advocating for myself. Last semester, I immediately realized I hated the poli sci program, started exploring other related degree options, dropped my most difficult class after midterms, and then pushed and begged my advisors to actually do something to help me do something about my situation. After exploring and talking to people a bit, I realized my skillset would be a lot more applicable for something in Communications, like Public Relations or Mass Communications. I’ve always had a mind for communication, media, and relating to others as a deep empath. With broad applications in the world, I also realized this is a degree that I can make, not one that makes me. I can apply it and use it to do anything I'm interested in — from entertainment PR and marketing, to journalism and writing, to leadership and team management. My advisors were able to transfer me into the Communications MA for this spring, even though technically I would have had to apply and start in the fall. An important consideration about leaving political science was that they had given me a full scholarship covering my tuition, but since I’ve transferred I’ll now have to figure out paying for this semester myself and then finding scholarships or other ways to pay for the next 2 years (because I’ve made it this far and I refuse to have student loans). I’m so glad I didn’t let the money stop me because I would have lost that scholarship anyway since I dropped a class and didn’t get the most impressive grades, plus no scholarship is worth suffering in something you don’t want to be in and that won’t get you where you want to be.

Aside from the whirlwind that was this last semester, I am incredibly proud of myself for getting through all these crazy changes and still managing to be my joyful and best self (at least most of the time). I had my days where I cried hard after school and work, and some dark weeks this semester, but I made still doing things that make me happy a priority. Yoga, music, travel, going to festivals, going out with friends, seeing my family, and just slowing down for self-care. Finding familiarity and comfort in these things that bring me joy, combined with support from Pavel, are what got me through my hardest times this semester. Now I feel more settled into my new life being moved out, I feel more confident and powerful because I made my own decisions, and I feel excited about this new journey and the fulfillment and abundance this new path will bring me. 

Speaking of Pavel, it’s actually unreal how seamless and perfect moving in with him has been. Of course, we are immensely privileged because we aren’t dealing with rent, bills, or even cleaning much. But nonetheless, we’ve dealt with challenging times together but just going to bed together and waking up together makes life better. He’s my best friend in every way, living with him and sharing a space together is so magical and beautiful. I feel so safe, welcomed, and open to create the space and life I want here. I feel so cared for, valued, and loved with Pavel. We work so well together, it feels effortless and deliciously perfect. He grounds me, and this space has become home so quickly because of the way he makes me feel here. Moving out has taught me so much, helped me start overcoming a lot of fear and anxiety, and just allowed me to blossom more into myself. I will be forever grateful for Pavel helping make that happen with me at this point in our lives where it was so perfectly needed. I respect and love him endlessly for being the mature, intelligent, caring, patient partner that I need in my life. 

2019 was also a year of letting go of a lot of friendships, people, and energies that no longer serve me. I realized that I am a wonderful friend who is ready to give support, love, guidance, hugs, and my whole heart to someone who is willing to give all of that back and who is deserving of receiving that from me. Even though I’m in a healthy and happy long-term relationship, I still feel myself holding space in my heart for deep friendships and connections with other people (specifically with women/feminine energy), but I haven’t been able to fill that space since moving to Texas. I miss the friendships I grew up having, and I put a lot of pressure on filling that space for a while, but I realizing forcing it gets me nowhere and a lot of people simply aren’t in a place to be able to reciprocate my energy in a meaningful way. A lot of people are really caught up in their own lives (which is totally understandable), already have other people filling the space for friendship in their lives, or simply aren’t at the level of maturity and growth that I am so they can’t connect with me on a deep level. Making close friends as an adult is way harder, people are just busier, but I really do trust that I will attract the right people and they will come into my life at the right time.

Continuing to expand and grow into my spirituality and spiritual practices by meditating, journaling, listening to podcasts, and practicing yoga has also brought me solace and internal happiness. It’s hard to describe and most people my age/similar to me are really disconnected from having their own authentic beliefs/practices because they either go with what they’re taught or dismiss it altogether. For me, having a career path I find exciting and fulfilling, a stable romantic relationship, healthy friendships, a spiritual practice, and fun hobbies are all areas of my life that I need to satisfy to feel balanced and genuinely happy. Knowing this, and after reflecting on all of these areas within the past year, I’m manifesting the following for each area in 2020, but I also know the Universe knows more than me and things may go differently for a reason (like my poli sci program not working out) so I trust that I will receive this, or something better...

☽ Career — I will get a second job/start a side hustle that will help fund my school and travels this year, I will start learning exciting new things that prepare me for a field/job I’m passionate about, I will secure an internship that pays well and allows me to practice/gain useful skills, I will get scholarships for next school year, I will feel a sense of belonging and make friends in my new program, I will continue learning and exploring different options/opportunities, and I will make connections with people who can mentor me and help me grow into starting my career.  

☽ Relationship — Pavel and I will continue to support, love, and care for each other in all aspects. Our love will continue to grow and flourish as we grow in life together. We will go on adventures that make us feel happy, excited, exhausted and refreshed. We will add to our stories and crazy experiences. We will continue treating each other with love and respect, supporting each others’ growth as individuals while also growing together in a really beautiful way. 

☽ Friendship — I will continue to grow my valuable friendships with people who are on the same wavelength as me. I will have a lot of laughs and good memories with people I care about. I will get deeper into the communities of like-minded people around me (music, yoga). I will find more friends who inspire me and actively support my creative ideas/work. I will develop deeper and more fulfilling friendships with people who reciprocate my energy, and I will extend myself in new ways by being the person I needed for others. 

☽ Spirituality — I will continue practicing meditation and yoga as much as I can. I will also continue to read one book per month and listen to one podcast per week to grow the value in my practice. I will journal and synchronize my self-growth with lunar and astrological cycles, which allows me to tap into my higher power and divine connection with the universe. I will also consider doing a YTT this summer or winter, but regardless I will find outlets to be of assistance to others and give back in this area that has been of such deep value in my life. I will practice breathing, mindfulness, and presence to feel grounded during stressful times. I will get better at protecting my energy and staying rooted in my own positive energy and affirmations (aka, not letting other people’s BS or toxic energy affect me). 

☽ Fun — I will continue going to events that surround me with good energy and good people. I will continue doing what brings me joy, allows me to move and release tension and energy, and that brings me closer with like-minded friends. I will continue to make the incredible trips and experiences I desire a reality by saving money and smart planning. I make more of an effort to bring this good energy with me into my every day by being myself and sharing my laughs and joy with the people around me. I will continue to feed my inner child, my creativity, and my natural human existence on this earth.

I have no doubt that 2020 will continue this amazing momentum and growth that I have cultivated over the past year. I am beyond blissful and grateful for the incredible year I had and all it taught me, but I’m also ready to move forward feeling more prepared, confident, and capable of making everything I can imagine a reality. 

[apolloappreciationblog]

What do you love about Trials of Apollo and why? How'd you get into the series? What do you hope/think will happen in books 4 and 5?

Thanks so much for asking! This got really long so I’m putting it below. I guess it’s also sort of like an about me also in regards to the fandom, for anyone who wants to talk Trials (please do, I’m obsessed)

How did I get into Trials?

I read PJO a long time ago back when it was new, fresh, and super popular, and instantly fell in love with the series (like everyone else) but fell off the boat a bit after the first Heroes book came out (I guess, also like everyone else). It’s not that I didn’t like it, I was busy at the time, and since The Lost Hero had just come out, I lost track of waiting for the next books to come out and somehow just forgot about them as a whole (No I still haven’t read them all (oops). Yes, I’ve been stuck on the “It’s Percy! Oh my gods he has amnesia!” cliffhanger for years now).

It’s been a long time since then, and I thought I’d pretty much made peace with the series. But for some reason I was smacked over the head with nostalgia after someone I know mentioned how fun it would be to play a powered by the apocalypse game in a PJO setting (I’m a pretty huge tabletop rpg nerd). Naturally that thought sent me down a rabbit hole and I decided I was going to literally build a big homebrew system for PJO (which I still am, currently), despite the fact that I hadn’t engaged with the series in years. My memory was far from perfect, and I ended up doing a ton of research-sifting through wikis and even rereading some parts of the books-and while I looked around I noticed there was a new series being written. I read the synopsis and instantly fell in love. I’m a huge fan of the tropes present in trials, and the more I thought about what ridiculous shenanigans were possible from the idea, the more I absolutely could not resist reading them. I came to be entertained and stayed for the heart wrenching character development, but I’m sure we’re all the same.

Which brings me to your first question! What do I love about Trials?

First and foremost I am a real sucker for the whole general concept. Like, taking one of the gods and making them a pathetic mortal teenager?? Making it PJO’s Apollo of all gods??? I don’t think I would have ever said I needed that absolutely horrific and yet genius concept, but here we are. I was also under the impression this was a freakishly fun spinoff series (RIP me), and I mean, it kind of was, for like…half of book one.

And then, oh gods, I realized Rick had made this self important asshole likeable. In fact, even more than that, he had made him a sympathetic and compelling asshole. Where it was completely fine and fun to relish in Apollo’s hilarious punishment in book one, suddenly it wasn’t funny anymore (ok maybe just a little)-it was heartbreaking (Rick you monster, stop making him wet his pants!). But hey, that’s good writing for you.

So basically I really love the concept and, well, I just really love Apollo. The books are executed so good you don’t even realize you are completely rooting for the kid you were laughing at two books ago (because, like YIKES man, that ego!), and gladly die for him (No? Just me?) and the character development is such a subtle and delicate change, but it’s noticeable, really effective, and extremely compelling (and heartbreaking, mostly, in a good way). The comedy is on point (Sometimes it’s hard to tell if Apollo’s taste in pop culture is just bad and cringey or if it’s Rick. The truth is that it’s both and thanks, I hate it) and all of the characters, both new and old, are nostalgic and fun, and there are real reasons you can understand for every action they take and thing they say. The plot doesn’t let you down with twists and turns, but also easy to grasp and follow, and keeps you turning the page even if it’s 3am and you have class at 8. I found that TOA’s books seemed to be more focused, every encounter, no matter how seemingly random, pushes the protagonists in a way that progresses something meaningful, whether it’s the plot or their own development. It’s also really nice to see Rick return to his first person roots, especially when he does it so damn well.

It’s a fresh take on a series I grew up with and it’s just as enchanting now as it was when I was a kid. I do have some gripes with a few things in the series (Listen, I didn’t even read HoO but I loved Jason) but overall it does what it’s set out to do really well, and Rick sure knows what he’s doing (for better or worse).

What are my hopes or predictions for the rest of the series?

Oh boy. Honestly, the overall plot of Trials being “Will Apollo be restored to godhood or not?” is probably the worst plot for my heart, since I don’t even know, ever? We all know it’s going to be a yes, but at the same time…

I didn’t read HoO, though I know the general plot of it, so I can’t really do any elaborate theorycrafting in regards to Camp Jupiter or the roman demigods, but here are my thoughts on the big plot themes:

Promises Kept: Rick’s made it really clear that Apollo didn’t give a flying hoot about promises or oaths before Trials, but it’s quickly evolved into one of the biggest themes in the books. Apollo will keep his promises, maybe even regardless of the cost, and I think we’ll really see that shift in the next two books given the ending lines of book 3. This sort of also bleeds into Apollo considering the weight of life and his own heart, and the whole idea of him trying to change to make amends for his past behavior. I think by the end of this, we really might just have #1 Dad (and God) Apollo (I’m very hopeful).

Choice of Mortality: Heavily foreshadowed in book 2 (looking at you, cal), there’s going to be some crazy stuff in the coming books regarding this. We got a small glimpse of it near the end of book 3 when Apollo was questioning that, if given the option, would he go back to Olympus and abandon his friends in that moment? With circumstances debating, it’s really the heart of the plot and the series and I think we’ll see him questioning Olympus in general. The similarities between Zeus and Nero, and in turn, Apollo and Meg, are made incredibly clear in the series. Apollo would never let Meg return to Nero-it’s his goal to help her to free her from his influence and guide her through her trauma-and yet Apollo is in the same exact situation, the stakes are just, arguably, a lot less black and white. Meg will most definitely not return to Nero and overcome his manipulation, and in turn, I think it will inspire Apollo-making the choice harder than it already is.

There’s no doubt Apollo will ultimately return to Olympus, but that doesn’t made the ride any easier. While there’s no hope of Meg coming to terms with Nero (And I’m not saying there should be (please kill Nero)), Zeus is a problem that isn’t going to go away, and I hope that at the very least, Apollo can overcome his abusive relationship with his own father at the end, and maybe even revolutionize Olympus. It would make a great resolution to the series, and I think that’s what it’s pushing for and heading towards, the complete opposite of what the gods are doing now, and Apollo may just be the one to start it.

Misc predictions and wants:

>Meg and Apollo will HUG (godsdammit, even if I have to force them myself!) And for the love of the gods, can we please get a clear cut reference to their relationship regarding the SUN and PLANTS. LISTEN MAN,

>Someone else is going to die. If they don’t, they will come extremely close, and be saved by Apollo (solidifying his character development regarding the effects of his actions on others) in some intense true self sacrificial way that can’t be debated (i.e., Apollo’s excuses for being able to stabbing himself in the chest). And…the Styx is hungry.

>I have no idea what Annabeth’s up to in MC, but I’m hoping that she will make an appearance (and hopefully along with percy?). I’d also guess that camp jupiter and half-blood will come together again, but that’s just purely hoping (Don’t look at me like that, I have no idea what funk was in HoO).

>REUNION WITH ARTEMIS. PLEASE. FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS.

>I really want more camp half blood life. I really, really, really do. We’re sure as hell not going to get it. But oh, what I wouldn’t do for Apollo’s extended stay at camp, or even just, camp in general for anyone. Please!

>Everyone is going to hate the shit out of Apollo for Jason’s death (arguably, they should be upset at Rick and not my stupid, stupid son…) and oh boy is he going to have a fun time with that. I initially thought that Apollo didn’t react nearly as strong to Jason’s death as he should have (was it just me or did he mourned Crest harder than Jason?? You could argue unreliable narrator, but come on), but oh boy, I think it may be because the worst is yet to come regarding that.

>Probably some shitty forced romance for Apollo. I do not want this. I really do not want this (does ANYONE want this???). But the arguments predicting this are pretty darn hard to refute, sadly. One can only pray.

At the end of the series I really want Apollo to be like “Fuck you guys, I’m the god of demigods now. Fuck you. Especially you Zeus. I’m protecting everyone in this bitch. You can’t stop me.” and proceed to aggressively aid demigods everywhere wearing the camp half-blood shirt. Also if he moved in to camp, I sure as hell would not complain. I also wouldn’t complain if he gave driving lessons to his kids in the sun chariot. Or if he made amends with everyone he’s ever hurt. Or if he kept aspects of Lester’s appearance (like those love handles) because hey, he doesn’t have to be insecure anymore and you know what, it’s cute dammit, abs are so out. Or…well, you get the idea I’m gonna stop myself there.

That was long (LIKE, FOUR FREAKING PAGES LONG) but I hope I answered your questions!

[the-coolest-mallard]

Write your RPer Resolutions for 2018! (What are some goals for yourself as a writer? Improve descriptions? Plot with more members? Etc.)

1. Be part of a big plot that causes an event. I want one of my characters to be involved/cause it or idk. I really want that.

2. I want to go through a whole arch for my characters. That would be super satisfying to go through that process.

3. Plot with more people. I feel like I stick with a few members and I want to expand that in some way. It would probably lead to some interesting things.

4. Have a short fling type ship. I feel like I always want to go for something permanent and lengthy and never try other things that develop my characters. But how about a dramatic short thing that goes down in flames.

Write at least one resolution, or “goal,” that you have as an RPer for your character(s) 

1. Goal for Celia: I want her to accidentally turn someone she cares about to stone and see the consequences of it. Is that a goal or a plot arch? Haha idk. My goal might be for her to be comfortable enough with someone to consider something beyond just a friendship. She’s really far away from that.

2. Goal for Vinny: have him cause a town drama somehow. He literally blows shit up. I want to cause some some sort of panic. I also do want to see his character grow a bit. He’s very rooted in his grumpy sort of persona and not liking most people thing. So my goal would be to have him open up to a few more people maybe.

3. Goal for Louie: I want him to get into a huge amount of trouble. That’s what teens do right? I want him and some friends to do something monumentally stupid. I’d also love for him to be manipulated by someone evil. Or I don’t know just get into some ridiculous trouble with people like Andy or Mitte. Let’s cause some mayhem.

4. Goal for Jasmine: Have her run for the board next elections. Also have her real name revealed before that. I mean that’d be ideal really. But have the whole plot happen and even better: have someone come to Agrabah with Jasmine. I really really want to explore Agrabah. Agrabah is really my main goal to go into with her.

Write at least one resolution IN CHARACTER for your characters. What do THEY want to accomplish or change in the New Year?

1. Celia: to get rid of her curse. That’s what she wants to accomplish. desperately.

2. Vinny: to create his business and work with animals and not really deal with people.

3. Louie: get a fake ID and start a job at the Court to get mad MONEY. His long term goal is to become filthy rich of course.

4. Jasmine: wants to do well in her classes and continue to remain unknown as a royal.

List one or more characters you have never interacted with that you would like to do so

man I have so many characters I’d love to interact with. I’ll just go down the list with everyone’s babes.

Phoebus: I think he’s one of the few mk characters I haven’t interacted with, and I think he’d be interesting. Plus I get the feeling a couple of my characters could have brushes with the law so...idk. 

Merida: I honestly don’t think I’ve actually interacted with Merida? Which is kind of a shame because she’s super interesting. I know it’s weird to say but I feel like she and Louie might agree with each other on things. Maybe? He’s not exactly super pro magic cause he’s kind of a jerk. idk. so that’d be interesting. Of course she’s also going through some serious shit so I guess that would change things too. Idk but Merida.

Cruella: I’ve tech interacted with all of Avarick’s characters I think, but I really want Louie to meet Cruella ngl.

Jake: hmm what would be interesting there. Jake and Vinny? I don’t know. I don’t know much about Jake yet I have to think about that but I’d love to write with him.

Jiminy: please give Celia some therapy. She could probably use it the most though she seems the most put together. Isn’t that wild? Idk. Her or Vinny they could both use some therapy sessions. 

Mateo: you know what would be funny? Sicking Louie on him and having him be the ultimate Elena defender just: “How DARE you do that to THE PRINCESS OF AVALOR!!!” it’d be so fucking funny you know? Why don’t we do this?

Percy: I’ve pitched this so Celia should meet him. I think it’d be super interesting.

Lena: Though I hate that her name is my name lmao I think she and Louie should maybe meet?

Ken: I’ve never met Ken and it is a true tragedy. I know I say Louie to a lot of things but Louie is in the closet and doesn’t even know it. Cause he’s dumb. I’d love for him and Ken to have a chat.

Deb: I think of Chloe’s characters I’ve never interacted with Deb? I’m not sure who I’d throw at her but I’d like to succeed and interact with all of chloes wonders.

Lumiere: hello new person. I love Lumiere! I’d love to throw Celia or Jasmine at him, see what happens really and what sort of direction you take him in.

Woody: for real I need to meet the sheriff somehow. Someway. Let it happen. Arrest one of my kids. Or just be their friend. That works too. Oo or maybe Celia and Woody after she’s been used as a vamp snack. 

Amelia: big fan of the character. I think she and Vinny could make really great friends potentially. 

Duchess: I think technically I’ve met all of jaby’s, but I’m not sure if I’ve really written with Duchess? Duchess and Louie? Louie loves fashion so that’d be fun. He’s poor of course so he’d have a crazy envy of her but yeah. 

Raksha: I have never officially interacted with Raksha I think and that is a tragedy. I’d love for her and Celia to chat or even Raksha and Jasmine. Or I don’t know. I’d love to just have the ladies hang.

Gregory: god I see him from a distance and I admire him. What a wonderful sunshine-y character. I’m not sure yet who I’d throw at him but I’d love to brainstorm something fun. Ooo actually maybe Jasmine. Jasmine and Eeyore take on politicians or something. That could be super fun.

Jessie: Big fan of the character. I’d love to interact with her. Dunno with who but I’ll brainstorm that one.

Reese: He seems like a real sweetheart. I’d love for him to be friends with Celia or something.

Marisa: I think otherwise I’ve interacted with all of Mckala’s in some way probably. But damnnn. Give me your other mermaid. Maybe wiiiiith Celia? Idk that could be interesting.

Frederick: WOW YES! First of all I love his fc. Just personal love. Second, can he meet Celia and be her friend? Or more importantly can Louie meet him and discover his sexuality stuff? God idk but I’d love to meet him.

Lymantria: Never met her I don’t think and I’d love to change that! Uhhh perhaps let Jasmine and Lymantria meet?

Megara: One of my fave characters from Hercules gd. Please let’s write her and idk Jasmine? Jasmine loves powerful women and so do I.

Simon: I think I said in a voice thing but he seems like an interesting dude. I’d like to meet him somehow.

Shere: Idk have we had Shere interact with one of mine? I don’t think so. Not yet. Let’s do that. Oo let Louie ride a tiger. Yeah? xP

Ralph: man I love Ralph as a character. I think he and Celia could make some good friends. idk. I’d just like to meet Ralph in general tbh.

Sofia: Sofia and Jasmine. And someday perhaps Sofia and Elena and Jasmine and Isabel for a Princess Squad gathering? Idk I just like the idea of uniting the royals.

Elsa: I still maintain Elsa and Vinny would be an entertaining thread.

Shock: I have yet to meet her but she could be yet another bad influence on Louie if we wanted her to be. Or 

Dewey: in other news, we need to have the brothers interact lmao I suck.

Plotting Exercise! Pick one of the resolutions/goals in #2 and plan a rough guideline to how you could accomplish it. Here’s an example. EXAMPLE OF A MOCK PLOT: MILO FINDS A MERLIN’S OBJECT

Para One: Louie goes to Andy for a fake ID

Para Two: Louie uses that to work at the Court and ends up meeting someone sketch like Desoto or idk Shock or someone.

Para Three: Desoto convinces Louie to be a drug handler guy on the side of working at the court.

Para Four: Donald finds some of the drugs stashed in Louie’s room while cleaning it. Cue explosion/fight and punishment

Para Five: Despite disappointment, Louie sneaks the hell out and continues to try to make more money and goes back to Desoto/whoever the drug dealer guy is.

[thedavesnews]

2020...Two?

I called 2021 as my year.  So many things went right in a year that so much was going wrong.

I was frustrated with my job and was actively working to find something new.  I not only got a new job and while it did get me out of the rut I felt I was in it ultimately crumbled when that company had financial troubles.  Luckily, I made my way back to the company I loved in a better position than I left.  Changes were made to my prior role based on my feedback and I think while I didn’t want to leave it was for the best for all parties which feels like a rarity.

Found myself a great lady with a love of Disney and adventure. 2022 is going to be so much fun with her :)

This was the year I did what I said I never would...run a half-marathon.  Ran 2 in fact along with a 10k for a challenge in my 1st ever attempt.  Crazy enough I still have 2 more on the calendar including another challenge with plans for more.  I never planned to be a runner but I’ll do it as long as I can.

I don’t know if 2022 will continue the roll for me that 2021 provided but I’m optimistic but you’re not hear for that...you’re hear for the results and plans for next year so here.  you.  go.

2021 Results

Complete half-marathon distance in a single session (training or race)

Off to a great start with this one!  Completed not 1, but 2 half-marathons and the 1st was a challenge race including a 10k.

Get physical.  No mandates on time of day or what the physical actions must entail.  Just do something.  Yes, it’s a repeat…I’m allowed to do that.  This is MY list.

Never got momentum if you don’t count the running which I’m not.

Determine the best diet for achieving #1 or #2

I maintained Keto most of the year so I think I found myself for this resolution.

#SixPackDave…still laughing…

Still funny

Read 70 books.  Just set this on Goodreads.com.  Crushed my 60 goal last year and took a break from reading (audiobooks) in December.  Going with the number I stopped at in 2020 but I’m sure I’ll slaughter this one again.

Hit the goal later in the year than previous but I still 

Compete in a distance race (preferably half-marathon but anything shorter counts).  Haven’t decided for this to be in-person or virtual but I just want to finally do one.  Preferably with someone I know.

3 races in so this was another major win for me.  What started as pressure before the pandemic became a goal which then became a thing I did.

Non-compete 5K under 27 minutes.  Want to beat my personal best.  If #1 happens I could shatter this.  26:59 would be OK as well.  Leaving this as it’s my training distance for the small days in half-marathon training.

I got right around 30 minutes for a 5k.  This previous number HAD to come on a treadmill so I don’t know that it counts as a didn’t make because I’m not sure it’s possible given my current long distance training paces me between 10-12 minutes.

Get 2nd novel in a review-able status.  I think I need someone to see what I have and tell me which to continue first.  Surely one of them is good enough to focus on right?

Too many ideas.  Need to focus if I actually want to get anywhere with this.

Do some writing prompts.  Tumblr is full of them, let’s have some fun this year on the blog!  Yep, repeating this one too.

Seemed fun but I never took part in the many I see on my Tumblr.

Grow the Twitch/Youtube channels.  I don’t need DrLupo level fame but I would love to have regular visitors come engage with me in the world of gaming, coding and whatever else I can figure out how to stream.

This went nowhere.  If anything I might have stepped backward a bit.

Get at least 2 technology certifications (PowerApps and TBD).

Career priorities switched a couple times this year and while that’s not a good excuse it did have me changing the learning path and it’s a bit harder to motivate and get it done when that happens.

2022 Resolutions

Continue running the Disney races in 2022.  Should be the easiest on my list to finish since I’m already registered for a couple.  Maybe keep the challenges going when offered (unless it sells out).

Get consistent with working out.  Doesn’t need to be top tier every session but just keeping it going and giving as close to 100% I can is all I can ask for at this point because I know myself.

Get a diet between Keto and the six pack diet I was using years ago.  Keto got the weight off but sustainability is key here as well as opening the culinary ideas to keep me wanting to stick with it.

#SixPackDave…laughter intensifies…

Read 70 books.  Setting this again (tomorrow on Goodreads.com).  Was the hardest goal so far and will be kept as is at least for 2022.  If I crush this I’ll up it otherwise this might be my ongoing goal for awhile.

Go for a new PR.  Current half-marathon PR if 2:18.  Would like to see if I can get that under 2:15.

Pick one of my novel ideas and stick with it to get a 2nd novel review ready.  The ideas are pretty sound (in my opinion) and I just need to finalize the story for someone else to read and maybe publish.

Do some writing prompts.  Tumblr is full of them, let’s have some fun this year on the blog!  Yep, repeating this one too.

Last year I wanted to grow my Twitch and Youtube.  This year I just want to be consistent in streaming.  Also building out a plan would be super beneficial overall I think.  Some of my highest views were the coding streams and I have ideas on what to build so why not put it on display?

Get at least 2 technology certifications (PowerApps and TBD).  Based on some things I did at year end I have the opportunity to take 2 free cert exams and I have plans to do it before the deadlines of March and June of 2022.

To those who left us this year, we miss you.  To those still hear, let’s do better.

-Dave

Got that right body and that right mind rolling up to party, got the right vibe

[ber-bonfamille-lyons]

BDRP Resolutions

in which this is long 

Write your RPer Resolutions for 2018!

-Plot with more members, definitely! I try to expand of course and rp threads with everyone but I think I could do better and could def do bigger plots with more people.

-Complete more tasks tbh. This one is gonna be hard for me to do but idk if I could do at least one task every other month that would be an improvement over last year haha.

-Continue to work on scenery and detail etc. My weaknesses. I hope that rping more detail-oriented characters, like Charlie or even Mowgli, or exploring the lake with Andrina or the forest with Prince/Merida will help with this. Though also just being more aware of it in the day to day

-Dream Journal for Charlie/More music stuff for radio

Write at least one resolution, or “goal,” that you have as an RPer for your character(s)

Mel: This was on last year’s so that tells u something but I think it’s gonna happen-- explore her feelings for Howl! Also would love for her to do some more seedy things and i see want an apprentice!!

Ber: Explore Berlioz’s mental health more. Whether I do this through tasks/one-shots or something, Ber is kinda in this weird place where he’s blurring the line between reality/fantasy and I think that’s interesting. A lot of it has to do with things he isn’t dealing with (trauma from Taka and going down into hell). Also very specifically I want him to rp with Marie more bc Berrie is kinda underdeveloped both on my part as an rper and his part as like a mediocre brother lmao. I also like him as a supporting role in other people’s plots and I hope I can keep pushing him in those directions. And of course I’m very interested to see him and Simba repair and grow their relationship hopefully stronger than ever. <3 OH and g row a backbone tbh stand up for himself more do it ber

Kiara: Figure out her school life!! I still want to have her shadow someone sooo I think I could see her shadowing Minnie or even Jiminy since she’s sort of into health and social work. Also explore her envy of her friends with magic bc she had powers in Star wars and lowkey she still wants powers (opportunity for Feys Gold Antics here-- also feel liek there could be something interesting in Kiara v. Jake if Jake really does start getting more elitist)

Hades: BOARD STUFF. Im really excited to play Hades as a politician and like-- authority figure in town. Though he’s gotta save his own soul first lol. Also supporting Belle in hopefully going back to school. Alsoooo there are loose threads in hell that I have and would like 2 look into…

Milo: Talk with Jane about what comes next after pride u because his grant is almost up! Plot with BIANCA/BERNARD hopefully about the rescue aid society.

Nala: ONE NIGHT STAND SERIOUSLY. Let loose. Date someone bc if she fell in love work wouldnt be her focus and she’d grow a lot. Uh repair relationship with Simba?

Kiki: bring back jiji lmfao i suck. Finish her apprenticeship and unlock the trU nature of her powers and stuff mhm. Also kiss someone lol

Anita: Bring her fam in town and explore like, this clash between her old life and the new life now that she has grown so much.

Prince: ACCEPT UR FEELINGS FOR ELLA. Embrace them! Continue to train Bambi/find the fucker who shot u/be a Dad and do Dad things like idk a parent teacher conference??? Thats hilarious. Somehow I want him to become like a guest lecturer at Pride U but I’m not sure how yet. I also feel like idk Akela could draw him into becoming slightly darker after this shooting and that might be interesting so who knows, maybe he should join Akela’s morally gray magic club,

Paul: GO TO PRIDE U PLZ. Deal with the paulina plot lol. Contend with his inferiority issues that stem from the financial inequality between him and Perdy. Just rly go into their relationship and figure it out post-break up post-make up u know

Andrina: Explore the lake. Get into seedy stuff with Ursula maybe??? Continue to sleep with people thats very fun for me. FIND OUT WHO RAVEN IS. Get a cat.

Merida: I need her to make more friends bc I want her to fuck up and then ruin all those friendships ahaha. Want to have a showdown with some powerful magicks, gimme Akela and Max, all the shapeshifters!!!

Mowgli: Meet the Bonfamilles (lmao). Uhhh would lvoe to rp more with Akela i need to brainstorm how. I’d also like him to become more extreme tbh? Maybe start having night terrors or something bc of all his suppressed guilt wow just got a good idea ahha. Alsoooo maybe get a mentoooor…

Charlie: HAVE A PROPHECY ABOUT SOMEONE PPL HIT ME UP. I wanna start him on the research train when I get that in place and also maybe abuse hospital equipment (aka scan his own brain ehhe)  but also maybe save someone’s life would be cool, ok, yeah. Also hopefully grow his relationships with all hospital personnel and patients, and maybe get a  mentorship with Tibbs and/or Sweet. In fact it’d be really cooool if he could eventually help Sweet with his research like as an intern or assistant or something. And also i want to get him to an event but i need him to get a friend for that so!!! A texting buddy friend, that is a specific goal.

Write at least one resolution IN CHARACTER for your characters. What do THEY want to accomplish or change in the New Year? 

Mel: “Do something impossible.”

Ber: “Be a better brother and friend and boyfriend… be less crazy lol ahah”

Kiara: “figure out my LIFE lmao”

Hades: “Make real change in Swynlake.”

Milo: “Apply for a grant to study Atlantis...again.”

Nala: “Be my oWN love of my life. I’m a single independent woman and that’s amazing, I’m AMAZING.”

Kiki: “Restore Jiji D:”

Anita: “Direct a play again! That would be very fun. Oh, and paint more, I really do need to paint.”

Prince: “Be a good father to Bambi… make the forest a safe place again.”

Paul: “Be a good father, a good partner-- find better ways to support my kids.”

Andrina: “lol i dont DO goals bye.”

Merida: “Shoot Mor’du. Become a Prince.”

Mowgli: “... don’t make any trouble.”

Charlie: Bitch has a list.

Get phlebotomist license!!

Renew certs: CPR/AED/First Aid/Wilderness First Aid/BLS

Give up gluten! Again!

Exercise.

Go to a Swynlake Event! It will be fine no one will die!!! (!!!)

Plotting Exercise! Pick one of the resolutions/goals in #2 and plan a rough guideline to how you could accomplish it.

Mowgli explores his powers/grief

PARA 1: Has a  nightmare and accidentally sets something on fire (Akela)

PARA 2: Frightened, Mowgli confides in someone about his powers (Peach/Will)

PARA 3: Seeks help from either Howl or Ursula--depending on which one, it could litERally change the direction of the entire plot.

List of Characters I want to RP with:

I went through character by character but I would love to do more than this I am sure ahah.

Mel: Mateo, Ursula, Sophie (bc duh Howl), Akela

Ber: Irma, Sophie because they should be better friends, more Peg, JENNy bc they play piano ok!!, ANNETTE bc they totally know each other!!, tbh daisy and ber could do something with anxiety, Rita for sure, more Simon somehow i swear it

Hades: Sally, more stuff with Miguel, Jack, Shock/Samara, Al, Cruella, Simba, Oogie, maybe Dipper

Kiara: more stuff with Jake, Jiminy, Minnie/Rama maybe, Isa, Wilbur, Penny, Ollie, Jenny. Also lowkey Ursula.

Milo: more stuff with Kida, Bianca, Elena, also Goliath and Thomas (teachers!!)

Nala: MAUI. sorry look i just want maui its been a year. Also maybe some board members and stuff since she’ll be politically active? So Al, Cruella, Soleil for that (and Simba, but I rp with simba allll the time). Also Arthur, Adam.

Kiki: Mateo as well!! More young-ish people: Dipper, Maui (she’s a #bigfan), Callie.   

Anita: more stuff with Perdita. Also other artists: Pascal, Jane, Namine, Violet, maybe Art if he does art??, Peach, Peri, Duchess etc!! Hit me up please.

Prince: all the forest politics okay: Alasdair, Akela, Goliath, Shere, why are these men. Also just big Magicks in general: Ursula, Namine maybe. More fairies so Peri and Terence. Also very specifically: Theo and Thomas O’Malley. Maybe Jake tbh if he starts like patrolling the forest?

Paul: Goliath bc he’s a lit professor! Thomas bc they are bros now!!!! Maybe some other mersisters-- Aqua, Alana, Arista. Peach bc writing? Lmao. Also some lowkey shady people like Roscoe or Lock would be really great. Possibly Oogie bc he owns a casino and gambling~

Andrina: URSULA ok sorry i just want the sea witch. TBH Hiro or Tombo could be cool bc she’s into STEM stuff. Ken because I want to rp with Ken and I don’t think anyone else would get along? Ahah. Arista, Aqua and Alana. Herculessss.

Merida: Bambi bc scottish and also lowkey was involved in mother’s death!!! Maximus bc she should shoot him!! More Shere! Follow-up with Goliath tbh in class lmao would be funny. CORNY bc thye r destined to be friends. Callie!!! Oo, also more Eric.

Mowgli: Howl, Ursula, Mateo, more Peach, Jenny, Wilbur, Theo, Bambi Penny (yay orphans). Maybe a professor: Thomas, Goliath, Shere?

Charlie: so many ok. Ellie, Sweet, Shock, Jack, SALLY thats in caps bc I need it, Dipper, Boo, tbh could do some drug stuff with Roscoe, Lock and Theo. Rita bc she can be his mom, Oogie, anyone with trauma who wants charlie to relive it with them: eric, thomas, shere, lou the list can go on-- annnnd belle and callie also

[whimsicaldragonette]

Romancing the Sorcerer’s Stone (Part 20 of 24)

Part 1~ Part 2~  Part 3~ Part 4~ Part 5~ Part 6~ Part 7~ Part 8~ Part 9~ Part 10~ Part 11~ Part 12~ Part 13~ Part 14~ Part 15~ Part 16~ Part 17~ Part 18~ Part 19~ Part 20~ Part 21~ Part 22~ Part 23~ Part 24~

-Chapter 20: Golden Snitches-

March 2004 — The Burrow, England

Harry sighs, slouching further down the sofa where he’d thrown himself after eating far too much at one of Molly’s Sunday brunches. “We’re not going to be able to do a lot of searching in muggle scuba gear. And Zabini will likely only give us one shot at it.” He rubs his eyes. “I wish we had a metal detector.”

Malfoy, sprawled on the couch next to him, raises a quizzical eyebrow. “What’s a metal detector?”

“It’s… well, I’m not sure exactly how they work.” He shrugs helplessly. "Anyway, they’re muggle things. They can find bits of metal buried in the dirt. People mostly use them to search for buried treasure, but honestly I think they’re kind of gimmicky. Dudley and Uncle Vernon got one, once, and I got to play with it a bit when Dudley got bored of it after he didn’t find anything after five minutes of wandering around the yard. Too bad there’s not a wizarding version.”

Malfoy scoffs, leans over to flick Harry’s forehead. “It’s a diamond, Potter, not made of metal.”

Harry can tell Malfoy is gearing himself up to launch into the standard ‘but you wouldn’t know that because you grew up poor’ teasing, and steels himself, but instead he stops, mouth part-way open, staring at him.

“Malfoy?” Harry waves a hand in front of his face.

Malfoy lights up, which, honestly, isn’t the reaction he was expecting.

“Harry!” he exclaims, eyes sparkling, “You’re a bloody genius!”

That’s really not what he was expecting. “Sorry, what?” He must have heard him wrong. Did he space out again?

Malfoy ignores him. At least that’s normal, Harry thinks, bemused.

“That’s exactly what we need! It won’t even be that hard; we’ll just have to… Pansy! Hermione! We need your brains!”

Bill wanders over after a few minutes, drawn by the intense discussion that’s taken over their corner of the living room, followed by the Malfoys and Arthur.

Ron, who’s been watching with a strange expression on his face as he rubs Hermione’s shoulders, breaks in suddenly.

“You don’t even need a physical device, though — you just need to modify a detection spell. Although… Having some way to trigger it when you can’t spare the attention for a spell might help…”

Malfoy stares at him in astonishment. “Ronald, I never thought I’d say this, but you’re brilliant!” He claps him heartily on the back.

Ron grimaces. “Just don’t call me Ronald ever again. I feel like I’m in trouble whenever someone does that.”

Molly and Hermione share a knowing smirk and Ron colors. Malfoy just laughs. “You prefer Weasel, then?”

“If I can call you Ferret in return.”

Malfoy snorts. “I don’t think I’m ready to call you ‘Ron’ yet, so Weasley will have to suffice for now.”

Ron looks relieved. “Good. Not sure I’m ready to call you ‘Draco’ either, Malfoy.”

By the time they leave, once brunch has stretched well past dinner, they’ve made a fair bit of progress. Stranger still, they’ve all got plans to meet up again the following week for further research. Molly doesn’t protest — Harry knows she loves hosting their gatherings, and he secretly thinks she would do it more often if she thought she could get away with it — and it’s so nice to see everyone getting along. Strange, but nice.

This ‘Dark magic detector’ is turning into a fascinating bit of spellwork, and he can practically see the wheels spinning in Hermione’s head as Ron helps her into her coat. Ron makes an exasperated face at him as he herds Hermione toward the floo. Harry knows she’ll be up all night researching, but he can’t find it in himself to mind.

That’s just how life works, he thinks vaguely, as he twists in place and feels the tug of apparition pulling him away from the cozy Burrow. Hermione stays up all night doing the research, and we take care of the adventuring.

He doesn’t notice that somewhere along the line, ‘we’ has morphed from him and Ron to him and Draco.

September 2004 — Somewhere in the Caribbean

Harry marvels at the shimmering, blue-tinted world around him. Fronds of sea-grass wave seductively off to his left; a school of tiny fish darts past him to the right, rainbow scales shimmering in the weak light. The fierce tropical sun is dimmed and filtered here below the water, only the tiniest fraction of light able to pierce the depths. It’s otherworldly. Beautiful.

A hand clamps down suddenly on his shoulder and he starts, turning abruptly toward Malfoy’s exasperated face. He can’t speak underwater, but his thumb jerks toward their goal, then taps impatiently at his wrist, where his air-gauge gleams faintly. Harry nods, chastised. They only have enough air for an hour - an hour-and-a-half, tops if they push it. He doesn’t want to push it.

He turns resolutely away from the beckoning alien world around him and follows Malfoy’s wetsuit-clad form toward the hulking shipwreck.

Malfoy looks even more dangerous in a muggle wetsuit, all gleaming black rubber and toothy grin. Harry feels a frisson of something unfamiliar running up his spine, and he looks around warily, scanning for danger. The ocean stares back at him, placid and opaque. After one last wary glance behind, he turns back to follow him.

They’ve kept this dive as secret as they can, even laying down a false trail in the American Southwest, but… he wouldn’t put it past Zabini to turn up here. The man has an uncanny knack for finding them when he’s least wanted.

Malfoy’s expression is hard to read as he waits for Harry to catch up, hidden in the shadow of the decaying mass of barnacle-encrusted timber. Harry wishes, not for the first time, that Snape had been able to teach him legilimency all those years ago. He’d give a pretty penny for one of the magical communicators Ron and George are working on, as Malfoy’s scowl deepens. His hand twitches reflexively toward his hip, where he feels the lack of his wand keenly.

The wreck just had to be in a strong magical dead-zone, didn’t it? Of course, that’s likely why the blood diamond hasn’t been recovered before now. For that matter, Harry thinks, eyes widening, it isn’t terribly unlikely that something in that wreck is causing the dead zone — maybe even the blood diamond itself.

Malfoy rolls his eyes and taps a button on his wrist.

“What on earth is wrong, Potter?”

His exasperated voice echoes suddenly around Harry’s skull and he jumps, then glares when Malfoy sniggers. He’d forgotten about the muggle communication device that’s built into their suits.

He presses the button on his own wrist. “Yeah, yeah, Malfoy, very funny. Let’s just get on with this, yeah?”

Malfoy studies him for a moment, frowning, then glances down at his air gauge and nods.

“I’m leaving the channel open, though. We may get separated, and the last thing I need is to have to rescue you because you’ve spaced out again. Follow me.”

Harry hates to say he loves it when Malfoy is bossy, but Merlin help him, he does.

Malfoy turns, kicking slowly through a gaping hole in the hull. Harry follows, using his forearm to brush away more of the sea grass that clings to the opening, kicking his feet and propelling himself past the rotting timbers — they don’t look even a little bit like teeth, he tells himself firmly — and into the darkness beyond.

Malfoy has already activated his flashlight, and Harry does the same. The twin beams of light dance crazily around the cavernous room, obscuring more than they reveal. Harry squints, looking for some sort of opening… There.

“Found it!” he calls, and Malfoy’s light swings around to join his. Together, they reveal that it is indeed a doorway with a set of rickety stairs leading down and to the right.

Malfoy shoots him a quick grin. “I’m going in. Light my way from behind, will you?”

Harry nods and follows him deeper into the ship.

It takes longer than they’d expected to find the right storage room, even longer to find the right crate inside it. But when they do…

“Bloody hell!” Malfoy whispers. Harry’s low whistle echoes over his words, and then he snorts.

“Been hanging out with Ron lately, have you?”

“Shut up,” Malfoy says, but his words don’t have the usual bite to them. “I’ve been going with you to the Weasley dinners for months now, you know. Years, even.”

Harry stares at him. It’s true, he realizes. After that first day, when he’d pulled him with him into the side-along apparition without thinking about it because they were in the middle of some argument or another, he has been going to Weasley dinners regularly. Now that he thinks of it, Astoria’s joined them lately as well, and Lucius, and Narcissa, and even Pansy has become a regular after that job in Florence. Huh.

“Potter!” Malfoy snaps. “Get ahold of yourself! You can go back to whatever identity crisis you’re having after we get this thing back to the boat.”

Harry blinks, then blinks again. “Ah, Malfoy… How are we going to get this back to the boat?”

He rolls his eyes. “Obviously, Potter, we’ll just cast a — oh.”

Harry snorts. Oh, indeed. He grasps one of the chest’s handles and tugs experimentally on it. Malfoy gets the idea and copies his movement on the other side. It doesn’t budge.

“Well, shit.”

They stare at it in silence for a moment. Malfoy frowns down at his air gauge, tapping it lightly and grimacing at whatever he sees there. “We’ll have to leave most of it here. Do you have that detector?”

Harry nods, fishing it out of the pouch at his waist, and passes it to him.

They find the diamond, eventually, with only minutes to spare. The needles on both air gauges are pushing disturbingly close to red — and they still have to get back up — when Malfoy lifts the umpteenth jewel and the dark magic detector goes crazy.

They eye one another, eyebrows lifted in surprise. This thing is dark.

Harry checks his gauge again and winces, hurrying to pull out the specially enhanced magic-dampening containment pouch — Charlie, Bill, and George’s contribution to the endeavor. His fingers, clumsy in the enhanced scuba gear, fumble for a moment as he tries to open it. The needle ticks over into the red.

Harry shakes the bag impatiently, finally wrenching it open. Malfoy drops the jewel in and Harry closes it, securing it to his belt.

He glances down at the chest regretfully, jewels winking temptingly back at him, then back at his gauge. Shit.

“Malfoy — we have to go, now.”

Malfoy sighs, but nods. “Right. Just let me…”

He draws out a second pouch and fumbles it open. The needle ticks again, and Harry can feel his anxiety rising. “Come on, Malfoy!”

Malfoy waves him off as he scoops a handful of jewels and coins into his pouch, secures it, and then nods. “Let’s go.”

Harry follows him from the room, rolling his eyes.

“Was that really necessary?” he gasps, once they’ve heaved themselves back over the side of the boat and discarded their oxygen masks. He rolls over onto his back, squinting his eyes against the harsh Caribbean afternoon sun.

He glances through his lashes to see Malfoy copying his movements; he flashes a quicksilver grin.

“I couldn’t just leave it all there. Anyway,” he says as he rolls suddenly, until he’s propped over Harry, muscles defined even though the wetsuit, “you like it.”

Harry stares up at him, blonde hair shining like a halo around his head, darker than usual and dripping water on Harry’s cheek, and he can’t find it in himself to mind.

“Like what?” he asks, voice coming out breathless, hoarser than he intends.

Malfoy grins his lazy, predatory smile, all teeth and charisma. “This,” he says, gesturing expansively at the glaring sun, the dazzling blue sea, himself.

“Adventure. Thrill. Danger.”

Harry tries to disagree but he can’t find the words. He stares, mouth open, at the light blush that dusts Malfoy’s cheeks. Then he rolls off him, breaking the moment.

“Come on, Potter,” he says, all business once more. “Let’s get back to shore. I want to get out of this blasted suit and back to London so I can run some tests on this before Zabini gets wind of it.”

A delicate cough sounds from the boat’s cabin. “That might be more difficult than you imagine.”

Their heads swing around in unison to stare at the interloper, and Harry thinks distantly that it would be funny, if not for the pistol pointed at Malfoy’s chest.

Malfoy stares blankly at the intruder. “Fucking Zabini,” he mutters. “What in Salazar’s name are you doing here?”

Zabini snorts, but the pistol doesn’t waver. “What do you think, Malfoy? Give it to me.”

Malfoy scowls and sets his jaw in the stubborn expression Harry has become intimately acquainted with in the past six years.

“No.”

Harry rolls his eyes but sidles cautiously to the left. If I can just get a little closer…”

He wills Malfoy to keep talking. Luckily the git’s stubbornness is something he knows he can count on.

“No?” Blaise looks pointedly at the pistol in his hand, and then back to Malfoy. “Do you know what this is?”

“I’m not stupid, Zabini. Of course, I know what it is.”

Just a little closer…

“Then you know what she’ll do to you at this range?” He pats the gun fondly; Harry grimaces. He’d never noticed how crazy Zabini was back in school. Malfoy, apparently, is thinking the same thing.

“Did Voldemort do something to your mind during the war, Zabini, or were you always this unhinged and I just never noticed?”

Zabini grimaces in disgust, and his face flickers with something that might be fear.

“Don’t say his n—“

Harry sees his chance, and, as he is a Gryffindor, he takes it without stopping to think. He launches himself through the air, hitting Zabini with a full-body flying tackle, sending them both overboard.

The sharp retort of the pistol echoes in the humid air and Harry fervently hopes that Malfoy had the sense to get out of the way. He can’t check, though; He’s too busy thrashing about in the water, trying to stay afloat and also get the upper hand.

And then Zabini’s hands are around his neck and squeezing, and the world starts to go dim and flickery around the edges.

There’s a deafening crack, and then Zabini’s hold loosens. Harry gasps in a breath that is more water than air and feels a hand snag his hair — none too gently — and lift him out of the water.

He finds himself on their hired boat once more, on his hands and knees on the wood planking of the deck, struggling to breathe.

Gentle hands support him, pulling his hair back from his face as he retches and coughs up the water he swallowed, then pressing his glasses into his hands.

“Thanks,” he rasps, when he feels reasonably sure he’s not actually going to drown.

The hands retreat, and Malfoy’s features resettle themselves into their familiar expressionless mask.

“Let’s go. Before he gets back.”

Harry scrambles to his feet. “What did you…?”

Malfoy’s mouth twitches into a reluctant smile. “Whacked him over the head with an oar. Not my most elegant move, but effective.”

Harry snorts, running his eyes over Malfoy’s form. There’s something— his gaze snags on Malfoy’s left arm, cradled at an odd angle against his side.

“Malfoy… is that blood? Did he shoot you?”

He scowls, turning away. “It’s nothing, Potter. Just a scratch.”

“It’s not nothing. Here, let me—“

Harry reaches for his arm, but Malfoy jerks away from him.

“I said it’s fine! Merlin! I’ll tend to it once we get back. I don’t know how hard I hit him, and that island’s just within swimming distance. I don’t trust Zabini as far as I can throw him.”

Harry nods, giving in, but quietly determines to keep a close eye on him until they get back. “Right. Let’s go, then.”

Some minutes later, a small, dark craft slips out from a sheltered cove, fishes a dripping, fuming Zabini out of the water, and follows..

Part 1~ Part 2~  Part 3~ Part 4~ Part 5~ Part 6~ Part 7~ Part 8~ Part 9~ Part 10~ Part 11~ Part 12~ Part 13~ Part 14~ Part 15~ Part 16~ Part 17~ Part 18~ Part 19~ Part 20~ Part 21~ Part 22~ Part 23~ Part 24~

You can also read, comment, etc on AO3, FF, or Wattpad

[chaptersonetoinfinity]

Writing Meme

Ooh, a new year’s goal meme, sure, why not! Thanks for the tag @dreamywritingdragon :)

Year in review

Well this year I’ve written more (190k and counting) than I’d ever written, combined, over my past five years? (A 40k novel + a 75k one + various short stories and unfinished pieces which might be another 30k or so.) So that’s cool.

I participated in, and won NaNo, for the first time. (And discovered I’m apparently a “crunch writer” who does well under the pressure of a deadline, or a timer. Or kinda both?)

This was my first time attempting fanfiction and so far it’s going swell! It’s making me a stronger writer and now that I know I can somewhat manage a gigantic mess of a story with too many subplots and all, I’m feeling more confident about my future original projects?

Took a creative writing workshop in fall and it was fine but it was also SORT OF a mistake when I’ve got my own project going on? Either way, sort of half-assed the three first drafts I submitted but I did try my best in critiquing others’ works and I’ve made some progress there.

Started plotting said original project in late February. It’s funny. The story’s been in my head for years but that one day I decided to chat with a friend about it (“yeah I do have crazy ideas listen to this... I have absolutely no knowledge of where tf this story and these characters are going though...”) and next thing we know, he and I drew a map, came up with a list of magical powers and characters with backstories, and an overarching plot. OOPS! (Still in the world building stage though. Going slowly.)

Made plans with my friend Jo (@joooooooo-e) to co-write a future fic series, a Sense8 AU! About what, you ask? Ask us again at maybe late January. Or early to mid February bc we’re procrastinators lol.

Goals for 2018

FINISH VERACITY (me to me: FFS SAS YOU SAID YOU’D FINISH IT BY THE END OF 2017 *sighhhhhh*!). Preferably before my winter break ends, but that might not happen so my new, softer deadline would be early February ‘cause I can post the epilogue on Valentine’s Day and it’s actually pretty fitting, for reasons I cannot tell.

Start on the AU series with Jo and maybe we can get like, two of the ship-oriented mini-series done as well as the intro piece? We’ll see. Depends on how our personal lives get in the way, ha!

Continue the world building for my original series. By the way, notebook.ai is a GREAT resource for storing world building details. You do need to pay a subscription fee to access all the features but I’ll see if the free version helps me. If so I can try and cut back my other spendings and invest in this.

Catch up on the Sense8 fics I’ve been meaning to catch up on, and do more edits as a beta because that’s fun.

Mayyyybe participate in and win NaNo again?

I’ll tag all my writer friends, but don’t feel obliged! Though if you’re a new year’s resolution type of person, I’d love to see what you say (and hold you accountable, tee hee hee)! @fiftyeightminutes, @joooooooo-e​, @hidden-inside-of-you, @greenmountaingirl, @gear65, @max-riemelts-me, @nadjanatorresident, @lizziec1 and @onceuponavet since you just started your own story.

(If I missed someone please be like SAS YO I’M A WRITER ADD ME IN THERE! Or ya know, just fill this out as a personal resolution anyway!)

[feedurmind]

How To Find Friends - The 3 Tips You Need

As you have noticed, friendship is sort of the "fall theme" on SBK. It is easy to understand why: without a developed social circle, the proactive spirit of the seducer is called into question. And then materially, it is the seducer who underlies the idea of self-confidence and security. Friends are sacred!

The problem is that the vicissitudes of everyday life do not always allow us to maintain a wide circle of profitable interactions. Shyness, fear of other people's gaze, lack of time or psychological isolation... the causes of loneliness are many. What I propose to you today, are 3 tips to improve your credibility as an interlocutor.  You will quickly make more friends and find the support you need to constantly strengthen your personality. find friends

READ ALSO: How to meet new friends Finding friends: The principle of personal commitment

It's an almost indisputable truth, we tend to appreciate more people who seem to be able to do something for us, to bring us something we lack. After all, we are only human beings and selfishness is difficult to internalize.

Having said that, it is a communicational manoeuvre that allows us to set ourselves up as potentially capable of responding to the needs of others, without necessarily impinging on our own personal affirmation.

The latter consists of a "proposal for resolution" of a problem that has been put forward. Through open-ended questions and active listening when you meet strangers, you will be able to detect certain hazards that can be resolved by the notion of mutual aid.

From a colleague who would have liked to have a drink, but could not catch the train home, to a stranger who declines an invitation because of a lack of financial means, to a young woman who can no longer find her way home... your involvement can help a relationship that is, at first glance, fleeting and quick to develop into a relationship of trust.

Thus, you can propose to bring the first one back by car (allowing you to sympathize during the trip), to invite the second one at your expense (provided you have the means and that you think the person is worth it, of course) or to physically accompany the third one to the place you are looking for.

Contrary to what some people think, no, altruism does not lead to the adoption of a position of dominance. It is in fact a formal proof of your desire to share, of your willingness to deepen the ongoing exchange.

This notion of "service" can be decisive when making new friendships. From the outset, it allows you to demonstrate a certain generosity and acceptance of interaction. This is always a decisive point when it comes to evolving in contact with others.

READ ALSO: 7 Tips for making friends at FCC The personalization of verbal exchanges

For your new acquaintances to have a sense of fulfillment at your side and include you in their social circles, you need to be able to show them your interest to a personal degree.

As you know, social interaction is such that your reactions influence the image that your interlocutors have of themselves. By allowing them to feel important, listened to and admired, you will set in motion a reciprocal mechanism.

Therefore, always be sure to include specific requests when you ask a particular person a question. Be the kind of person who asks for personal opinions and advice before making judgments.

The more you have the ability to insist on the contribution you are satisfied with, the more the individuals involved will tend to have you right.

In concrete terms, you will therefore avoid always bringing everything back to you in a discussion. Your objective is to maintain the dialogue by positioning yourself in such a way as to try to decipher the experiences shared by your interlocutors.

The ability to approach the areas corresponding to the expertise of the people you meet by questioning them about their own adventures creates a strong psychological and intellectual bond, from which the notion of trust is derived. The refusal of the solemn

It's not always easy to talk to people you don't know... especially if the goal is to build a social network. You are not afraid of being too reserved or on the contrary too "daring" in your communication.

At this level, I stopped worrying about it a long time ago. Banker or baker, I don't make any difference. It's true, if you take a close look, you can see that our formulations evolve according to the idea we have of our interlocutors.

We will then be more respectful with an "official" (salesman, adviser...) than with an ordinary person whose legitimacy does not seem to surpass ours.

In a respectful manner, I often liven up the conversation with a witty remark or a funny observation to bring down the tension. It works pretty well... I now count among my friends the sofa salesman who sold me my sofa!

The trick is simply to dissociate function and personality. When I was already a civil servant, I was the only one who was on first-name terms with my manager. One day I was even told "but you're crazy, he's a great lawyer at the Paris court"... So what? Does that stop him from laughing at a good joke, watching football or enjoying watching girls?

If politeness is a must, there's no point in being pompous. Using humour and lightness also means proving to your interlocutors that you think they're clever enough to follow suit!

Today's reflection is not intended to provide you with particular techniques or ideas for outings. I've already written two other articles that are more concrete, more focused on describing the terrain. No, our reasoning here is mainly about the stakes and personal obligations of an interaction that can lead to friendship. So I hope it has been useful in that sense.

What about you? Do you have methods or observations that can help improve the relational qualities of other readers? Feel free to share!

PS. Do you want to go even further?

... then feel free to watch this video where I show you how to overcome your shyness and fight loneliness. You will also learn conversation techniques and effective strategies to build a large and solid social circle:

Having a group of friends who love and respect you... Lots of stimulation and a very active social life, but still leaves you time to take care of other aspects of your life. unforgettable experiences with friends, and friends of friends: trips, parties, adventures with friends... etc. Birthday parties like you've NEVER had before People who knew you before will be CHOQUE to see all this evolution; but it will happen in such a natural way, that they will find it normal that it is YOU who have such results.