#FEEL TE EMOTIONS

[cheeze-possum]

I have done it again-

[artist-rat]

when the earth is in blossom and the ryebird sings / when the trees are full of leaves and the winter sleeps / when it's Midyear and its endless golden fields

skyrim ocs Reino (mine) & Ruis (@artharakka)

[silusvesuius]

nnnnnnnnnnnnno maa'am

[witchspeka]

It's always "Shou and Ritsu need to blow stuff up with their minds for mental health reasons" or Ritsu and Teru or even Shou and Teru!

But what about Mob? When does he get to blow stuff up with his mind for funsies? For shits and giggles? He didn't go through all of those meltdowns and character development for nothing, let him go ham on a junkyard car or something smh

I believe in Mob's narrative given right to fuck shit up sometimes

[qcomicsy]

Do I find Damian incredible annoying? Yes Will I fight every single motherfucker who resumes his entire character to violent and 'bad'? Also Yes.

[rabbit-rays]

the fact that the aqua achievement is called the seeker really gets to me

[sunmisbf]

wayv’s 2nd win encore on the show today <3

[m439]

[gr3n0nion]

If I am not lovely

I must be funny.

And if I am not funny

I will be nothing

[eigenwoorden]

I’ll wait for you to find your way back home.

[skygemspeaks]

So Beta sector declared the second Roman Empire in 2605, and the August Clan ruled for 53 years, until the Artemis tragedy happened in 2658

During this time, the Military were banned from Beta sector, and I imagine that included the Betan Military clan alliance.

I can't stop thinking of how heartbreaking that would have been.

All the older folk who had to flee their home planets and passed away in exile, never to see their clan halls again, never to be buried with their forefathers.

All the children who didn't have childhood memories of sleepovers with their cousins, of running through the clan hall and being surrounded by generations upon generations of their family's history.

All the young adults who never had their proper coming of age ceremonies.

All the presentation ceremonies and betrothals and weddings that had to happen in foreign lands, their joy tempered by the grief of being exiled from their homeland.

Do you think when the Military got the distress signal from the people of Artemis, they tried to send as many Betan military officers as they could? Do you think the people of Beta sector had that kind of Catharsis? The ones who had been exiled returning home in a blaze of glory and heroism to save the helpless civilians of their home sector?

And as much as there's heartbreak, there's also just as much joy.

Because 53 years feels so long, but in a world where people can comfortably expect to live to their hundredth, there would have been many older folk who DID get to go home. People in their 60s and 70s and 80s and so on, who had long lost hope of ever seeing their home again. They stepped through the interstellar portals, and were surrounded by the screaming welcomes of their fellow Betans, calling them home.

Children and teens who had grown up hearing wistful stories from their parents and grandparents, their uncles and aunts, finally setting foot on their home world, taking in the beauty of their planet.

Clan halls that had been empty and forelorn for 5 decades, covered in a thick layer of dust, suddenly echoing with the laughter of their family returning home.

Windows and doors thrown open to let fresh air in, old and young clan members alike spending days working together to clean their clan halls until the floors are gleaming and there are fresh sheets on all the beds and the whole building is steeped in the aroma of good food.

[your-talos-is-problematic]

WIP Wednesday!

Thank you @umbracirrus @skyrim-forever and @throughtrialbyfire for the tags! Tagging @sylvienerevarine and everyone else who wants to join!

More BG3 stuff! This one’s a retelling of a pretty major scene in early Act 3, so spoilers ahead as usual. Also it’s got missing chunks signified by a double space as usual. I am impressed by some of y’all’s ability to not jump around while you’re writing 😅 I really like writing BG3 and this scene stuck out to me as such an uncomfortable moment in game. I’m quite proud of this WIP so far :D

————————————————————————

A servant approached us and gave an awkward half bow. “The Archduke-to-be wishes to speak with you,” they said. I cursed the ambiguity of the you pronoun in Common. The request felt pointed at Karlach and I, but I waved over Astarion and Wyll anyways. They were locked in what seemed like an extremely boring conversation with a noble. Once they had extracted themselves, I pointed with my tail towards the throne. “It’s go time,” I said. “Remember, we’re staying peaceful for now.” I could feel Karlach’s hand heat up a bit in mine. I pressed a horn to her forearm, hoping she got the message. I don’t want to do this either, but we have to.

Gortash lightly picked up my right hand and placed it between his gloves. I shivered. This is wrong. It was wrong for him to be staring at me so intensely with a face like he was plotting something. It was wrong that Karlach was twenty feet from the man who ruined most of her life and I wouldn’t let her do anything about it. He was even holding my hand wrong- the metal tip of his glove dug into the scales at my wrist. Most stupidly of all, my brain screamed that it was wrong of me to have taken my own gloves off earlier, since it was against the dress code.

I couldn’t take my eyes off his face. I swear there were more people around earlier. From this angle, everyone was too far, Karlach and Astarion and Wyll and Gortash’s guards. Right now, it was just us and two massive Steel Watchers lurking behind the throne. It was disgustingly private. I held eye contact, but I could feel my heartbeat speed up in panic.

“Your name is Tilia, correct?” he asked. It was such a strange, normal question for him to be asking. Unsettling, but at least it made it easy to answer.

“Tilia of Tragedy,” I clarified. My voice came out shaky.

He smiled and nodded. “A virtue name, I assume. Very infernal.”

Instead of thinking of a response, I just nodded. When had I ever gotten choked up like this? Titles didn’t scare me. Neither did thrones or the middle-aged men who thought they deserved to sit on them. The Steel Watchers scare me, I guess. They had a scent that was very familiar, like they might be made of infernal iron. And there were at least six of them in the room, but only four of us. Stay focused, Tragedy. You’re not fighting right now. “Yes,” I said. I wasn’t quite sure what question I was answering.

As soon as we were in the hall, Karlach whipped around to face me. “What the fuck was that, Tilia?” She sounded both mad and disappointed.

“I know,” I said. I could feel my tail trying to wrap itself around my ankle. Her being mad felt wrong; her being mad at me felt much, much worse. “But we agreed that we’d stay peaceful-“

“We said we’d stay peaceful,” Wyll said. “Not make an alliance with him.” Astarion said nothing, but stared at me with an incomprehensible expression.

At least that was an easy claim to dispute. “We’re not making an alliance with him. I’d never do that.” It was so strange to be on the defensive against Karlach and Wyll.

“Why would you tell him you’d consider it?” Karlach hissed.

“Karlach, I-“ My eyes were watering. I gave up on words and just pointed to the end of the hallway, where a Steel Watcher stood on guard. My friends followed my hand. While the three of them were turned away, I sniffled and tried to regain my confidence. “Right now, we’re too vulnerable to risk angering the city’s government, especially when he has the Steel Watch with him,” I explained, my voice calm. “I didn’t want to refuse his offer outright and give him a reason to be mad. But I promise that I will never, ever accept it. Even if it means the city turns on us.” I stared into Karlach’s eyes, pleading for a reaction.

Wyll spoke first. “I see where you’re coming from, Tilia. I think we all-“ he angled his head towards Karlach- “would have just liked to have been briefed beforehand.”

I pressed my lips together. “In my defense, I was not expecting him to be okay with sharing power with anyone.”

Astarion piped up. “Clearly someone thinks you’d be a good Archduke.” It seemed to snap everyone out of their emotions. Wyll shook his head with a sigh, and Karlach laughed and walked over to me to ruffle my hair. Her hands were still warm, but not dangerously hot anymore.

“I’d be a horrible Archduke,” I said. “Plus I wouldn’t get to use my university degree.”

Karlach leaned down to kiss me. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Nerd,” she said with a giggle. “Now let’s get out of here before we run into anybody else.”

“That seems like a good idea.” I grabbed Karlach’s hand. We both waited for Wyll and Astarion to start walking before we did, falling into step a bit behind them.

After a few silent minutes, Karlach asked, “He was talking pretty quiet for a bit there. Did he say anything… weird to you?”

I frowned. “No, but there was an undertone.” I rubbed my forehead scales against her. “That’s kind of the only way you can have two people on the throne, so… I don’t think he meant anything by it.”

She nodded. “Hopefully. Or he just has a thing for tieflings.” We both laughed emptily. My heart was still beating at a mile a minute, and the faint crown of flames around her head made it clear that she wasn’t all the way done with being mad at him. Or at me.

[chynglvies]

most of the mbti community has never met an actual ENTJ and it shows…

[quicksilverdrabbles]

Shattered (1)

Taliesin: Ugh. How far away from the next town are we?

Kaidan: Nowhere close enough to get to shelter before nightfall. Guess we're making camp.

Morana: There's no need for that. We can use my master's old outpost nearby.

Lucien: Your-? Are you sure you're okay with being where your master lived?

Morana: It's fine. It's where I hid out after I destroyed his lab in Morrowind. Not really a... traumatic place for me, if that's what you're thinking.

Xelzaz: Still, I don't know..

Morana: It has a toilet. And bathtub.

Taliesin: I'm in.

Lucien: Let's get on with it.

Inigo: What are we waiting for?

Morana: *thumbs up* It's pretty close by. We'll be there before sundown.

Xelzaz: Your master was an alchemist as well, was he not? Does he have any special recipes or ingredients in this outpost?

Morana: He figured out a way to cultivate Jarrin Root. I've been meaning to go back and restock my supplies.

Xelzaz: Jarrin Root?! How on earth did he manage that??

Morana: I still haven't figured it out yet. He kept the plant in its own self-sufficient terrarium so I don't have to worry about taking care of it, but I've yet to be able to keep a new clipping alive.

Taliesin: How long have you been walking around with the most deadly plant on Tamriel in your pockets???

Morana: Since.. always?

Kaidan: Gods above, it's a wonder Styx hasn't gotten into it.

Morana: Styx is a good girl. And besides, I only actually use it against powerful enemies. Like giants, and now dragons... *sighs, head tilting down and away from them* .. He was a brilliant man, really. Horrible and cruel, but brilliant. He was even looking for a cure for the Afflicted of Peryite. Got pretty close too, until I killed him.

Lucien: Imagine what he could have done, if he had better methods..

Taliesin: I imagine he'd be revered as one of the world's greatest doctors.

Morana: ...

~

Morana: Watch your step. It's kind of dark inside, and it's a long fall if you trip on the staircase. Don't kill the frostbite spider, he's my pet. Eats all the skeevers that try to get in.

Lucien: That.. is a terrifying image.

Kaidan: It goes underground?

Inigo: Another ancient ruin, I imagine. Your master had an affinity for finding vacant buildings.

Taliesin: Yes, yes, very interesting. Where is this bathing room you say you have? My hair is an absolute birds' nest and must be remedied immediately.

Morana: First door when you enter the main room.

Taliesin: Excellent.

Morana: Everyone else can get comfortable. Yaksha, would you mind checking for injuries?

Yaksha: Of course. If anyone has any unusual pains, let me know, please.

Lucien: Oh, actually I've been getting the strangest throbbing on my leg-

Morana: *sighs, pulling her hood down and adjusting the circlet on her brow, setting her cane against the wall to sit on an armchair nearby*

Kaidan: Oh, getting comfy are we?

Morana: *nods* I figured I may as well, if we're spending the night.

Kaidan: You want dibs on the bath after Taliesin?

Morana: No, you can take it first. I need to sit down and drink some potions. It hurts today.

Kaidan: Oh.. alright. Is there anything I can get you?

Morana: ... Can you ask Xelzaz to make me half a honey-glazed roll, please?

Kaidan: Won't it upset your stomach?

Morana: Not if it's a small portion.

Kaidan: Aye, I'll see to it, then.

~

Taliesin: *walks out of the bathing room with an edgier than usual frown on his face*

Kaidan: Hm? What's up with you, ya' fucken grump? Morana didn't have your favorite scented soap?

Taliesin: Hmph. Your turn is next, is it not? Why don't you go in there and see what is 'up' with me.

Kaidan: ...? Alright, I'll bite.

Morana: *happily munching on half a honey roll, swinging one leg while her left sits perched on the table nearby*

Xelzaz: Good?

Morana: Mhm..

Kaidan: *walks into the bathing room, stopping in his tracks at what he sees in the corner. A mounted mirror, completely shattered. Shards of glass litter the bottom of the basin, with the pieces still hanging on to the frame cracked and splintered in a pattern like a spiderweb* ... What?

Taliesin: ... Raven?

Morana: Hm?

Taliesin: Can I.. ask you something?

Morana: Mhm. *pats the seat next to her, licking the remaining syrup off her fingers so she can sign properly* What's up?

Taliesin: ... How long has that mirror in the restroom been broken?

Morana: *frowns, shaking her head* It's been broken since I came here.

Taliesin: That's nonsense and you know it. Everything else in this place is in pristine condition. What once may have been broken has probably been fixed, all except that mirror.

Morana: ...

Taliesin: Did you break it? Intentionally, I mean.

Morana: What does it matter?

Taliesin: Answer the question, please.

Morana: You weren't even supposed to see it. It had a cloth over it for a reason.

Taliesin: ... Okay, that one's my fault, I'll admit that much.

Kaidan: *walks out of the bathroom* Hey, Morana? Can I ask you about the-

Morana: Did you tell Kai?!

Taliesin: Yes, okay, I am a horrible person! I was just-!

Morana: What, worried?? Did you think I was hiding something?

Kaidan: What?? No, he was probably just-

Morana: *whips around and glares at Kaidan* Stay out of it!

Kaidan: *raises his hands to his shoulders* Ah. Yeah, you're on your own with that one, Tal-a.

Taliesin: *deadpans* I'm ever so glad for your support, Kaidan.

Morana: Out with it!

Taliesin: Gods- Okay fine, I will admit I was worried. The cloth had fallen halfway off and I saw the broken glass- at first I was going to simply sweep the glass up so nobody hurt themselves, but then I saw the mirror and started thinking about the implications that might have gone with it-

Morana: I broke that mirror ages ago. Long before I met you or Kaidan or anyone. And even disregarding any implications- *her sign becomes more pointed and aggressive* It's none of your business.

Taliesin: If your health might be at risk, I would like to think it is my business! I'll not be parading around acting like nothing is wrong when there is still so much about your past you have not told us! We only know the least of what you've been through and the affects it has had on you! And that doesn't give me any cause to worry??

Morana: It's not just that, Tally, it's the fact that you smother me! You always just assume I need the help instead of asking! You jump in on fights I can handle or speak for me when I don't need you to!

Taliesin: I just want to help you! What's wrong with that?!

Morana: It makes me feel useless! It makes me feel like I can't go two fucking steps without needing to be coddled and I don't! I have bad days, but I've always had bad days, I can handle it! When Kaidan or Lucien or anyone else offers their help, they don't do it because they think I'm weak, but it just feels like you do! And they ask if I need help!

Taliesin: I- You don't-

Morana: And while we're on the subject of trust, Taliesin- *stands, leaning heavily on one leg and thrusting her finger into his chest* The names we share may not be our own, but at least I would tell you my name if I could remember it. I trust you enough for that. Not only do you think I am weak, but you don't think I'm someone worthy of that.

Taliesin: ...

Morana: *turns and snatches her cane, walking past him and pulling aside a curtain, revealing a bedroom before the door behind it slams shut*

Kaidan: ...

Xelzaz: ...

Taliesin: ... Damn it.. *runs a hand through his hair, looking stressed as he leaves the room*

Inigo: *staring at her bedroom door in shock* ... Uh. I could not catch all of that.

Lucien: I'll, uh.. I'll tell you later.

Inigo: .. I am going to go check on her.

[witchspeka]

Anyway, while still on the topic of Ritsu and maturity, I found it interesting that people tend to assume he's the older one when first watching the show

Ultimately, it does make sense because he's seemingly more responsible and reliable but that comes as a result of him walking on eggshells when it comes to Mob

Ritsu is actively trying to avoid stressing Mob out or bothering him in any way because he lives in fear of him getting overwhelmed and blowing up again

So, he takes away his responsability of being an older brother, he doesnt create any trouble or directly express any struggles lest Mob gets concerned

But that accomplishes nothing besides making them drift apart even more. Ritsu is constantly trying to manage Mob while Mob has gotten so used to Ritsu never struggling that he doesnt question his Perfect Brother act

They've both resigned to pretending The Incident didn't happen and when Mob does, eventually, bring it up, its too late. Ritsu pretends he did nothing but protect him to shield Mob from guilt, but Mob is already so deeply buried under self loathing that he refuses to properly process any of his emotions in fear that it'll result in hurting people

It's a fruitless task for both of them, they're not doing anything besides causing harm to themselves

One of the things that I love about their relationship is how messy it can be but like... ultimately they care about eachother

For a while its not certain whether Ritsu actually wants to help/protect Mob or if he's just doing it out of fear, to protect himself

Later on the answer becomes obvious, but even during their confrontation in the alleyway, Ritsu tries to claim he had no emotional investment in their relationship, that it was just an act

He's lying, most likely to purposefully hurt Mob, to convince himself that he won't let Mob influence him anymore, to live in fear of what he could do

A part of Big Cleanup is just Ritsu having an identity crisis, he's been defined by Mob's presence for so long, the admiration he once had for him mixing with fear

His desire to get powers is a reflection of that, at first he just wants them so he can reach his "standard", because his brother has them and Ritsu wants to be like him

But it eventually turns into something else, psychic powers aren't just a magic trick anymore, they're something dangerous, something that has hurt him

He wants psychic powers so he can defend himself, so he can have the courage to actually be honest with his brother

When he does gain them, when he finally faces Mob, he's finally achieved a sense of independence. He wants to cut Mob off so he can't be defined by him anymore

But, ultimately, that is not something he can do

Mob, who until now wasn't aware of Ritsu’s issues, who is still shocked by his real feelings, accepts them as they are

At the end of the day, they're still brothers, whether Ritsu likes it or not

Mob is quick to understand that Ritsu isn't fully honest, but that it isn't all a lie either. He takes responsibility for Ritsu's mistakes, asks for forgiveness from the people his brother has hurt, even if he had no part to play in any of it

Mob regains his position as an older brother. He listens to Ritsu, acknowledges the issue, then tries to set an example and asks for forgiveness on his behalf

UNFORTUNATELY this interaction stops here because some asshole decided to waltz in and ruin my catharsis

Still, I believe that after this is over, Ritsu remembers why he wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps in the first place (see: his conversation with Kamuro at the end of S1 and with Shimazaki)

Confession Arc is really the only time Ritsu is honest, both with himself and with Mob

There's no more hurdles to get through, he's got the powers he wanted, he can finally stand up against Mob

When Mob does actually lose control, he tries to stop him, he doesn't cower in fear anymore

Because he acknowledges that the person who hurt him isn't a dangerous, unexplainable entity. ???% is his brother just as much as the Mob who called him out during their confrontation but proceeded to stay by his side

People have put this into words better than I can but,,, yeah,,, I love this relationship so so much

[kagedbird]

Continuation of this *Allora and Kaidan are teaching Lucien horse riding lessons out in a field. Inigo is left on Taliesin Watch Duty, not too far away.* Inigo: So, what do you like to do for fun, aside from murdering people? Taliesin: I quite think I've mentioned once or twice that I was ordered to do that. I don't think anyone follows orders for fun. Inigo: Fair point. But really, surely there are some normal habits you enjoy. I quite like rhyming with Lucien on the road, or singing with Allora, and training with all three of them. Taliesin: She sings? She doesn't strike me the type. But I quite enjoy the finer things in life. Reading, for one. I hope to write a book someday myself. I enjoy training and the learning the various uses of weapons. Inigo: Hehe. Taliesin: Are you laughing at me for my interests? Inigo: No, no. I am sorry. I am merely laughing that, in any other instance, I believe you would have been very fast friends with all of us. Taliesin: I'm not so sure about that. Inigo: No? Perhaps you do not know about us enough just yet. I know Kaidan would want to spar with someone else at an equal level, despite how much he enjoys training Allora. And I know she and Lucien love reading. I think Allora has mentioned she has written stories before. I just feel like you would have rounded us out fairly nicely. That is all. Taliesin: What an interesting notion... *watches as Kaidan is forced to catch Lucien as he falls off Merryweather with Allora trying to not laugh and check up on them* ...Is it your turn to threaten me? Inigo: Did you want me to? I had assumed they were doing well enough. Taliesin: No. Thank you. And... for the pleasant conversation. It's nice to not be threatened. I knew I liked cats for a reason. Inigo: Do not push it. Taliesin: Right.