#Free To Take I Suppose Though I'm Probably Putting This On The List To Do Myself Someday

[kyliafanfiction]

I saw a bit in a Taylor/Amy fic (the latest chapter of Desperate Times Call for Desperate Pleasures) where Amy compared Taylor to a Necromancer Princess (it fits in Context) and that immediately made me think of a Fantasy AU of Worm. No shards/powers, or at least not in the Worm way, but playing with the characters.

And of course that has me thinking about who everyone would be in such a story idea:

Taylor - necromancer, obviously, given the inspiration. Maybe not a princess, but of some high birth. Danny Hebert is still his canon personality, but as a necromancer. Probably a distant father since the death of Annette. Maybe he's consumed with trying to find ways to restore her to full life or something. Doesn't control bugs, maybe? Or maybe she controls swarms of dead insects in addition to or instead of the usual skeletons and zombies? I'd lean to no bugs, just skeletons and zombies, but YMMV. Keeping her bullied/etc experience may be harder, but if Emma is also a noblewoman, perhaps of higher status (maybe Taylor's low nobility? Or not at all?)

Amy - she's a cleric of some healing-related goddess, presumably? The rest of her family are probably all Knights and Paladins of some sort. Her birth father could be some sort of Bandit King type guy who played up a 'honorable highwayman' schtick (and may actually have been a noble as well as a bandit) akin to the 'code' and 'better than the other villains' thing he had going in canon. Her guilt over not healing all the time probably wouldn't be a thing because there'd be too many other healers, but you could still play with the idea, and she'd still have that separation from her family because she's not a warrior.

Tattletale - no magic, just really smart. Probably a 'Rogue', if we were applying classes to it.

Rachel - Ranger, obviously. Has a wolf animal companion, maybe actually gainfully employed as one of the Royal Huntsmen or someone who prevents poaching on a King's Forest type place. or maybe she's a poacher herself. Probably the latter, but the former could be done well, IMO. Either way, definitely still pretty feral from not spending a lot of time around most people.

Brian - maybe some kind of Paladin of darkness type thing. He could be sworn to Taylor's father as her bodyguard (and Taylor still has her canonical attraction to him).

Alec - I'm honestly not sure. If I were wedging it into D&D classes, some form of Bard, but I wouldn't necessarily want to be bound specifically to classes. Still, he could either have magic specially around manipulation and controlling of the body, or maybe he's like, half-demon, or quarter-demon (and Heartbreaker is either a demon or half-demon) and that's the source of his power. I lean towards the latter.

Aisha - Illusionist? Uses her magic for lots of pranks and stuff, and gets really good at making herself invisible, etc.

New Wave - as I noted, the rest of New Wave would probably be knights/paladins of some sort. Maybe Vicky, Sarah, Crystal and Eric ride griffons or some other flying beast? Vicky on a Pegasus sounds really fitting. Also probably a noble family, but definitely recently ennobled or low nobility, to play into the privileged WASP upper middle class vibe New Wave has in Worm

Lung - could be an actual Dragon, could be a guy who shapeshifts into one, maybe a half-dragon (playing on his half-chinese/half-japanese canon backstory and how he was an outsider in Japan as a result). Warlord or roaming bandit type guy, probably. Oni Lee would be a teleporting assassin who works for him, and Bakuda as an alchemist making explosive compounds and such is there.

Armsmaster - a master Smith and warrior. Already has a Halberd. maybe he does enchanted runes into his weapons or something to make them sharper

Miss Militia - either she's a super skilled archer of some sort, or maybe a magic who specializes in big, flashy attack spells (fireball, etc)

Dragon - Secretly a construct (or disembodied animating spirit?) of some kind that has free will and sentience, but pretends just to be a construct-crafting mage? Might not be able to keep using that name if Dragons are a thing in-setting. Depends.

Kaiser - probably a normal noble in his public face (Max, of the House of Anders), known for his charity towards the poor (only the humans, of course), but secretly the leader of a racist militia-type group that persecutes nonhumans in the Kingdom? Or specific groups of humans. Or both. Probably doesn't have magical powers, but does have some cool enchanted gear he paid a fortune for, and hides just how good he is with a sword, except in his secret persona?

Hookwolf - actual werewolf? Still works for Anders, presumably.

None of these thoughts are necessarily final, really, and I have a few more, but nothing quite formed yet.

Obviously, more might need to worked out, including plot and the particulars of the setting (is Brockton the whole Kingdom? Is Brockton Bay one city? A major focus? Maybe Brockton Bay is a larger region, and some of the various parts of the Bay are distinct cities and towns in the Bay area. I have a setting that involves both Paladins and Necromancers in prominent roles that I might repurpose if I was going to write this... which I still might, but not yet).

Other characters could play all sorts of roles, would have to think more on their equivalent versions. Can't just make everyone some flavor of wizard/warlock/witch/etc, and wouldn't want to be married to specific 'classes', but it's a solid starting point anyway.

What would you all envision 'Fantasy AU' versions of some of the characters? Do you think I'm way off the mark with some of them? Obviously 'Fantasy AU' covers a wide swath of possibilities, so there's a lot of variation. Still, curious as to people's ideas with it.

Obviously, if I wrote it, it would be Taylor/Amy in the long run, (I am nothing if not a predictable, hopeless shipper) maybe involving Taylor (and the AU's version of the Undersiders?) kidnapping Amy at some point, who knows.

[landograndprix]

「Feel the magic ๛ l.n」

part iii

✧.* things with lando get serious quickly and while your'e going through a rollocoaster of emotions with everything that's going on the public voices their own opinion.

✧.* this was supposed to be a cutesy, fluffy series but would it really be a landonfour story if it doesn't turn angsty? 💀 reader is older. Taglist is open. I always see your requests to be added to the list in the comments and I do add you but if you can't find your name in the list, it's probably because I was unable to tag you and therefore put you off the list. Feel free to ask again though, we'll keep trying! 😊

✧.* prev part - next part

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mclaren

liked by landonorris, y/nusername and 98,765 others

mclaren dream team..literally 😴

tagged: landonorris, y/nusername

view all 362 commente

julieeeexo admin is going to be the biggest y/nlando shipper out there 😂

norry4 match made in heaven

norrislandofan y/n be sleeping so much because she's of old age 🤪

hamilt44n so funny..I'm so quirky..landos definitely going to fuck me.. 🤪

bott_ass didn't know there was a fucking age limit to taking naps..damn

jackson88 they better be wide awake when the season starts, I'm expecting big things!!

hannahh me and who, when?

mclarenslando stop it, the season hasn't even started yet and McLaren's already exposing them 😂

carlandosainz 🤮 🤮

chilisainz babe, do we need to call an ambulance or are you overreacting again?

landonorris cute

norrizz I think you forgot the heart emojis and everything

y/nusername can't live in peace anymore

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y/nusername posted to their story

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y/nusername

liked by landonorris, milouberger and 201,853 others

y/nusername ..and we shall call it family 💕

view all 876 comments

hamilt44n okay but what does it take for y'all to accept me in the family?

y/nsmclaren hope you have fun bbyyy 🥰

laaaandonorr do your parent know you like little boys?

milouberger where was my invite? Tell dad he forgot to text me the location..

y/nusername dad just told me he's disowned you..

milouberger oh 😔

f1gurlz ..and another family torn apart :(

nor4iss they better hide those children knowing y/n loves her boys young 💀

sainznorriss are any of your nieces, nephews or siblings looking for a girlfriend? Asking for a friend 👀

gaslyslando ur disgusting

bobnorris get out of here if you're so disgusted 🙄

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y/nusername

liked by landonorris, maxfewtrell and 199,653 others

y/nusername recharging 🔋

view all 786 comments

mcbully/n yessss y/n, kick back and relax because we need you back on the track in top form!

charlos16 okay girl, keep being an absolute vibe. 😍

grussell63 imagine being lando and getting to call her yours 😭

landoscar don't know who to be jealous of 😭

pierreswife she's for real or of his league!

teamlando4 nah lando's way out of y/n her league, she should find someone hey own age 🤨

grussell63 @.teamlando4 nobody asked for your WRONG opinions.. thank you.

julieeeexo pls tell me where you got that necklace from, I need it 😍

cecilemoulin beauty 🥰

y/nusername no you 🥰

leclercnorriss leave lando alone and retire already

hamillewis why's everybody hating so much? Let her live her life..

landonorris 😍😍

norrizz okaaaay boy said I'm not hiding anything

lan4lan I mean he's been waiting to call y/n his for years 😂

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landonorris posted on his story

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taglists->

Feel the magic taglist: @celesteblack08 @mrsmaybank13 @cha-hot @judesgfirl @roseseraj @kissesandmartinis @jpg3 @amulhermaisfelizdomundo @marialovesf1 @silkenthusiasts @luvrrish @laneyspaulding19 @emily-b @formula1bby @buckybarnessweetheart @itsjustkhaos @strawberrychita @iifloweringnightsii @buendiabebeta @jjsprobablywrong

Everything taglist; @thomaslefteyebrow @hopefulinlove @smoothopz @softboystarkey @buffysummrsx @honethatty12 @cixrosie @parkersmjs @ireadthensuetheauthors @celestialams @be-your-coffee-pot @heli991113 @kodzuvk @reality-is-a-con @80sloverry @bibissparkles @myescapefromthislife @lanando4

Lando taglist: @beatricemiruna @simp-for-fictional-people @ihrtdan @landossainz @christianpulisic10

[starringthesturniolos]

bite me(part 6)-Matt Sturniolo

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6

summary: matt hates your guts but all of that changes when he wakes up and finds out your his mate.

contains: vampire!matt x reader, highschool au! (18 years old), dark themes, death, smut (not in this part)

A/N- THIS CHAPTER IS KINDA SAD but y'all will be alright, trust. a lot of violence in this chapter so by all means if that is not your thing please don't read. I want everyone that reads this to ENJOY it. love yall, bye!

matts pov.

the drive back to my house was silent. even with my heightened sense of hearing, I could only hear the sound of our breathing and the quiet hum of my engine. two minutes ago, she had been crying and I saw into the darkness that was her life. key word, was. between the protection spell and me, no one is ever going to hurt her again. a dark thought pops into my head, and ,unlike any other time, I welcome it with open arms.

"do you want him dead?" I mutter, letting the thought free. I said It quietly, but it sounded like I might as well have screamed compared to the quiet of my car. it made my skin crawl and judging by the look on her face, it made her's crawl too. "what is that supposed to mean??" she whips her head to me with fear in her eyes. merciful. I added that to a list of chracteristics that y/n had that I subconsciously accumulated in my own head. even though he hurt her in the worst ways, she'd never want anyone to lay a finger on him.

"he's my dad, matt!" she panics taking my lack of response as a promise that I would go back to her house and finish him off. I put one arm up in defense. "I was just asking. you panic too much, someone should go check your blood pressure.Jesus." I scoff, playing it off as if I wouldn't have gotten rid of him the moment she told she wanted me too.

she slumped back in her seat, clearly relieved. its right then that I notice the dark circles under her eyes. she's tired, and humans need rest. "go to sleep, you look like shit." I quip. if she were in her right mind, she probably would have said something back. instead she brings her knees into her chest and puts her head on the window. her eyes close and in a few minutes her breathing and heart rate slow. she's asleep and my eyes stay on the rough, pot - hole infested road. all the way home, I dodge the holes so she sleeps fine.

unreasonable fear hits my chest at my own actions. when did you start to care so much? is the question I ask myself as I gently lift her sleeping form into my arms to bring her into the house.

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y/n is in the other room, and I wake up to my phone buzzing incessantly. I pick up my phone to see that nick is calling me. "he disappears off the face of the earth for two days and all of a sudden he wants to chit chat at the crack of dawn", I think to myself before smashing the accept call button in annoyance. "what?" my gruff voice answers in a more than grumpy tone.

"I need you to come to meet me, now! I'll send you my location. do not bring anyone with you, and do not to take your sweet ass time either matt." he says seriously. I can hear in his voice he is fighting to keep himself from sounding panicked. sensing the danger he's in, worry surges through me, and I can't help but wonder what he's gotten himself into. "don't worry nick, im coming." I say back just as seriously before hanging up the phone and rushing out the house.

I drive over as fast as I can to the unknown spot. it's just a clearing of trees and grass where two cars are parked side by side. ones nicks' and the other is someone's I don't recognize. I hop out of the car quick on high alert. nick where are you??

"you think you can just take my daughter and get away with it. I'm sorry son, but you're in for a real treat." says a terrifying voice that-unless god forbid I took another girl to my house tonight- could only be y/n's fathers’. I turn slowly to see him, a tall, burly man. he's holding nick close too him, a knife pressed lightly against the sensitive skin of his neck. regulary, I would look at this and shrug, vampires aren't supposed to be able to die. but nick's neck is bleeding from where the knife lightly grazes him. vampires can make other people bleed, but they themselves can't bleed, at least that's how it's supposed to be. even though the wound wasn't deep enough to be lethal, the wound itself was the problem to begin with. All thoughts aside, I lunge forward to grab nick away from the man but he dodges with unnatural speed. he smells human, but he's quick, too quick, which can only mean one thing.

y/n's dad is a fucking lunatic magic user, and, based on the position he's got me and nick in right now , he's a damn strong one too.

he throws nick to the side right then, and nick flops to the floor gasping for breath and clutching his bleeding throat. I freeze in fear for what's happened to nick. for what is going to happen to me. he waves the same knife he had pressed against nick at me in tauntingly cold, cut motions.

"matt, run" nick says weakly. my feet listen to nick's instructions, and I turn to bolt, only to find the powerful magic user right in front of me in an instant. before I can react, he plunges the knife into my stomach in three quick motions. unbearable pain laces through me and I feel something coming that I never thought I'd ever have to experience. that something is death.

"should of asked for a protection spell yourself." he lets out a cold, hard laugh as I drop to the floor slipping into an abyss of darkness.

@bbernard-03

@sturnthepot

@hoeformatt

@sturtriple16

@faygo-frog

@sturniol0s

@katie-tibo

@cindylcuwho

@I34n

@chrissv4amp

@sturnslimited 

[malaidarling]

since a few of you were actually curious, this is the messy way i use a dictionary to help me study vocab.

i suppose this method could work with a digital dictionary, but i much prefer a physical one that i can flip through and carry around. i got this one for $8, but i have other ones that i got for even cheaper from second-hand bookstores. i really like this one though, because it's intended for learners and has tons of examples sentences and notes to put the characters in context. super handy for me, i like to test myself by reading the example sentence and then coming up with one on my own.

basically, i whip this baby out whenever i have a few moments to myself (mostly on public transport) and flip through it. if i'm looking for new words, i have a sticky tab system to follow. if i'm reviewing old words, i'll try to recall the word i tabbed before just by the colour and placement to test myself before flipping to it.

colour system:

blue tabs are for words i got from hsk vocab lists. i'm currently around hsk 4 and the sheer number of words is overwhelming, so i'm taking it slow.

yellow tabs are for words i found interesting while flipping through. as a writer myself, i thought 构思 could be useful.

green tabs are for words i found through consuming media (usually reading). found this word while translating a poem for class.

red tabs are for the shit i don't understand at all! i'm too embarrassed to show an example. and i'm ngl to y'all i totally forgot what i'm using the orange tabs for. they're just there for the vibes.

honestly it would probably help me more to put these words into anki, but i'm never consistent with anki. i think it's just so fun to be able to have something physical to hold and see my progress as i add more sticky tabs (and remove them, when the vocab has cemented in my brain!! so satisfying)

i don't know if this will help anyone else, but it's a way that really helps me so i thought i would share. feel free to ask questions, and do lmk if y'all make any modifications to a method like this! i've really only been using it for a little while and it can definitely be streamlined. a problem i found personally is relying too much on the pinyin, so i wonder if a chinese-only dictionary would help once i get more advanced.

[mollyringle]

Laughter in LOTR

My household has been rewatching the Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings, and this has inspired me to excavate some of the LiveJournal (!) posts I wrote twenty (!!) years ago. In this one, I ran a search on all the times laughter is mentioned in the books, and listed them. It’s a long list—view the link only if you dare. My shorter sum-up is pasted below, however. The grim/bitter/nervous laughter section intrigues me now: I’d forgotten about Galadriel laughing upon being offered the Ring, or Pippin laughing about the palantír. Those moments were definitely not in the films!

Analysis from 2004:

I'd say we have at least three varieties of laughter: the genuinely happy, the grim/bitter/nervous, and the disturbing/evil.

The Genuinely Happy variety is what the hobbits do most of the time. It's also what the other good guys do when in the company of friends, old or new, when they are not currently under active attack from Mordor. Bombadil, the Elves, and the Ents engage in a lot of Genuinely Happy laughter, being pretty much without a care in the world. Gandalf engages in a lot of it too--and surprisingly so does Aragorn--despite both of them having plenty of cares. The sweetest and most touching instances of the Genuinely Happy laughter, in my opinion, are moments between Frodo and Sam: when Sam somehow makes Frodo laugh on the quest (e.g., see that passage about Samwise the Stout-hearted). Indeed, these tend to be the only times Frodo laughs on the quest, and it's good to see that they're genuine laughs and not laughs of our next variety.

The Grim/Bitter/Nervous/Ironic laughter encompasses those moments like Eowyn's laugh on the Pelennor Fields when she takes off her helmet, or Sam wondering what kind of spider made cobwebs like these. I would also count here the laughs I'm not sure what to make of. For instance, Galadriel laughing when Frodo offers her the One Ring? Is this really a funny moment to her? Maybe, but only if you consider it shocked/nervous laughter. Or Pippin laughing after the Palantir episode, saying he wants Gandalf to tell him everything there is to know. I can't imagine Pippin laughing at all that night, after getting psychologically knifed by Sauron, but if he did I suppose it would be to relieve the tension. We could probably put Gollum's cackling in this column too, since it comes of being mentally unstable. Ditto for Denethor and sometimes Saruman, though they're shading into the third category.

The Evil laughter is yet another beast. We find it in places where the movie also had it: Saruman, Orcs, Ringwraiths, and other evil creatures tend to laugh when contemplating the helplessness of their good-guy victims. That's standard fare for this type of tale. But Tolkien also includes laughter the characters fancy they hear in the wind howling off Caradhras, or in the depths of Moria, or from the roots of a nasty willow tree. Those instances are the laughter of the haunted house, the laughter we don't want to hear at night. Cruelest of all may be the Mouth of Sauron, who seemingly can't stop laughing when telling Frodo's friends that Mordor has caught him and the quest has failed and he'll likely die a painful death.

I think I've babbled enough now. You can easily compare it to the films, since we've all got the films memorized. One addition comes to mind that wasn't in the books: "It's the beards." Other things in the film were funny, but only the audience laughed; not the characters. ("In fact, it's better if you don't speak at all, Peregrin Took.")

Feel free to discuss.

[raccoon-eyed-rebel]

What's the occasion?

Masterlist

A/N: What this was supposed to be: A fluffy comfort fic about reader's husband taking care of her after a rough day/week/month. What this isn't: A fluffy comfort fic about read.... you get me.

What this somehow ended up being: A not-so-fluffy not-so-comfort (?) fic about reader's husband taking real good care of her after a rough day/week/month.

You're welcome, I think? (I honestly don't have a clue how this ended up being some of the smuttiest smut I've written to date... But it happened... I'm not even going to question it.)

Pairing: Syverson x reader (you)

Summary: You come home from a terrible day at work, thinking you have about a thousand things still on your to do list, only to find your husband has taken care of all of that, and has also made you the first thing on his to do list.

Word count: 3.8k

Warnings: 18+, NSFW, SMUT, MINORS DNI. oral (m and f receiving), p-in-v sex, Sy being all dominant and massive, some light (yes, really) throatfucking, hair pulling, manhandling. Some of this can probably be considered blasphemy.

Also, fair warning: this story contains a man doing household chores without having been (explicitly) asked to do so. Just... Bear with me. I know it's not realistic, but we're here to have fun, right?

@geralts-yenn @deandoesthingstome @keanureevesisbae @fvckinghenrycavill @ellethespaceunicorn @peaches1958 @sillyrabbit81 @peyton-warren @summersong69 @mayloma @livisss

Parking your husband’s truck in your driveway is an absolute nightmare. It takes you twenty minutes and a breakdown – during which you fight yourself over whether or not to just go inside and ask him to park his stupid car for you – but you eventually manage. Now, it’s time to go inside, after the longest day at the office in the history of long ass days at the office, and do the six million other things that come for free with having a house, husband, and kids. Dishes. Laundry. Dinner. That stuff.

You toss your bag down on the bench next to the front door and put your coat on the overflowing coat rack six times – it keeps coming down because for some reason, your teen daughter owns 12 jackets, yet she still always asks to borrow yours seconds before telling you that all of your clothes suck – before you finally give up and leave it where it falls.

It takes you a minute to realize that you smell food. With three kids and your mountain of a husband, that can only really mean one thing: someone got hungry, your plans for dinner are now in ruins and your kitchen looks like an episode of Hoarders. And even though those are your expectations, your family still manage to exceed them every time, so God knows what you’re going to find when you round that corner and step into your kitchen...

It’s Sy. And it’s not just Sy, but it’s just Sy. Come to think of it... The whole house is suspiciously void of music, screaming or shoes scattered around for you to break your neck over.

“Where are the kids?” you ask as you walk towards Sy.

“With my mother,” he replies without turning around, “to be returned to us on Sunday night at eight, and not a second before then. Are ya goin' to make a habit of not sayin’ hello to me when you get home? ‘Cause I don’t care for it.”

“Well, excuse me for not taking the time out of my busy schedule for pleasantries, but I have a week’s worth of laundry to get to,” you snap. He doesn’t deserve it, you know that, but it’s the kind of day you’ve had, and... And it’s all on you again.

“Laundry’s done,” Sy says calmly, still not looking up from the lasagna he’s putting together.

“Oh,” you stammer. “Well, then I’ll just grab the vacuum and...”

“I did that, too.”

“Alright, I’ll give the garage a quick call to see if they can...”

“I changed the oil in your car this morning.”

“Groceries?”

“Done.”

“The bathroom?”

“Yep.”

“And you’ve obviously got a handle on dinner...” You have to admit it: you’re a little stumped. “What about...”

“Woman, if you’re lookin’ for somethin’ I didn’t do so you can blow up at me for it, I’ll just hand it to ya: I didn’t get to cleanin’ out the gutters today, so I’ll have to do that tomorrow.”

But you’re not planning on blowing up at him over anything...

“Well, hello Mr. Syverson,” you say, still completely in awe that your entire schedule for the night – and probably the whole weekend – just opened up. “Remind me... We got married in October, right?”

“Yes, Mrs. Syverson, we did.” He’s even less subtle than usual, skipping your hips and putting his hands on our ass right off the bat.

“So, what’s the occasion?” you chuckle. Sy pulls you in for a kiss, just passionate enough to leave you wanting more, but not so bad you beg him to take you right here on the kitchen counter. It’s a fine line, really. A tightrope you’ve tried to walk before, only to fall off on the wrong side and be late for yet another dinner with someone who was never going to be more important than having sex with your husband, anyway.

“The occasion is... You’re beautiful. You deserve it. You do so much for our family and somewhere along the lines I seem to have started takin’ that for granted. Take your pick, I’m sure there’s plenty more reasons to come up with.” He squeezes your ass. Hard. “This sensational ass could be the occasion?”

“You’re saying you got rid of the kids for the weekend and checked off my whole to do list to celebrate the existence of my ass?”

“Sugar, I celebrate the existence of that fine ass every damn day. Now, I’ve fallen a little behind on celebrating the existence of the woman attached to it... I’d like to make up for that.” There is absolutely no way you aren’t blushing right now. Sy doesn’t let go of you, but his hands move to your waist. You’re trying your best to not drown in his eyes, but you’ve been hopelessly lost in there for nearly twenty years. For a brief – but lovely – moment, you stand there, just holding each other and making eyes like you used to when you were young and in love. And young...

“This needs about half an hour in the oven, still, so how about I give you forty-five and you can take a nice, long shower?” Sy winks at you – or rather: tries to. “There’s something on the bed I’d love to take off of you later tonight, but I also understand if you just want to wear something comfortable.”

“Did you pick it?” you tease him.

“You’ll be more than happy to know that I did, but under the very strict supervision of Dana.” It seems like your dear husband has finally learned how to use the fact his best friend’s wife works in a lingerie store to his advantage… Took him long enough.

“Right on time,” Sy says as you step into the kitchen. You take the glass of wine he’s holding out to you and take a sip.

“Mmm...” The sound you make is almost a moan. One look at the bottle on the table tells you this is a really nice wine – one from a price range you can’t afford to shop at...

“Gift from a client. Walker said I could take it. I guess his wine cellar doesn’t fit any more.” Sy pulls you in for a hug. It doesn’t last long, but it’s nice, very nice.

Dinner is amazing. Sy is a great cook – when given means, motive, and opportunity – and he has prepared three courses of absolute heaven. He only has to assure you twice that the price of the ingredients won’t put your family in financial ruin.

You’re halfway through dessert – a deliciously indulgent, rich chocolate mousse you’re fairly sure he made from scratch – when you realize something.

“You can’t have done all the laundry. We don’t have the space to hang all of that...”

“I fixed the dryer,” Sy interrupts, “I’m sorry I only did that after it became a problem to me, personally.”

“That’s alright...”

“No, it ain’t,” Sy grins. He knows you.

“Very well, then. I accept your apology. You’re forgiven.” You remember the moment you knew you were going to marry this man: right after your first fight – he had been wrong, although you can’t remember what he’d been wrong about. It had had something to do with your mother. Either way, right after that fight, he’d apologized, and for some reason the lack of excuses had made you want to jump him right where you were standing. You’d almost broken up with him when you realized you weren’t half as good at apologizing as he was.

“Alright, well,” Sy smirked, still. It was incredibly attractive, and at least as annoying. “I was planning on makin’ up for that, but now that I don’t have to…” His voice trailed off for a moment before you gently nudged his leg with your foot.

“How about we finish this bottle upstairs?” You don’t need to tell him twice: he’s on his feet before you even finish the sentence.

“You go ahead, Sugar,” he says before kissing you as gently as a giant like him can muster, “I’ll make sure this kitchen is spotless before I come up.”

“Oh, Mr. Syverson, you are killing me.”

“Oh,” Sy adds with a grin on his face, “and you were right. The vacuum cleaner sucks, we need a new one.”

“Say that again…”

“The vacuum cleaner sucks?” He knows damn well which part you’re referring to. That wasn’t it.

“Before that.”

“Ah. You were right.”

“You have ten minutes to get to bed, or I’m starting without you,” you tease, knowing very well he wouldn’t mind one bit if you did start before he got there.

Sy is impatient as ever when he finally steps into your bedroom, pulling his shirt over his head before the door even shuts behind… Alright, maybe the door doesn’t close because he just leaves it wide open.

“Sy! Close the door!” you shriek, but he just takes a few more steps until he’s right next to the bed.

“Why? Kids ain’t home. We’re alone, we don’t need to close the door,” he says as he pushes you back onto the mattress. “We don’t gotta be quiet, either.” With a devilish grin on his face, he kisses you. First your lips, then your neck. His beard doesn’t tickle – not after all these years. He shaved it off once, only to immediately get on growing it back, because you wouldn’t give him any. You move your hands through the hair on his chest while Sy roughly pulls your shirt over your head. He groans appreciatively when the bra he picked out for you appears.

“Do you like it?” he asks. He doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to picking stuff that’s actually to your tastes, but you’d be lying if those items didn’t have their own special little drawer – that you definitely haven’t opened in far too long…

“I do,” you purr into his ear, biting your lip when he grinds his hips into you. He’s hard, seeking friction, release. You love when he gets this worked up over you. “You did a good job.”

“Hm,” he growls, “I didn’t like it at first. Thought it was kinda boring.” That’s not what you want to hear… It’s a good thing he opens his mouth again to continue: “But now that it’s your tits in there… Can’t decide if I wanna keep it on ya or rip it off…” To your surprise, he opts for the former, making sure to kiss every inch of skin that’s newly available to him as he makes his way down your stomach, dragging you to the edge of the bed as he goes along.

He can do it within minutes. Making you come on his tongue, that is. He never does, because the smug fucking bastard likes teasing you too much to ever give you what you want – nay, need – that quickly. That patience, however, is nowhere to be found when it comes to taking your clothes off. He admires you and your new underwear for maybe five seconds, and then your panties are somewhere in the room. No, you don’t care where, exactly.

“Fuck, Sugar, you’re beautiful,” Sy growls from between your legs. “I’ve missed this sweet little cunt.” His words used to startle you so bad you asked him to stop talking multiple times when you’d first started going out. Now, they just make you blush, and they make you wet, and that’s all that you need from him right now. Sometimes, you’re still grateful for the moments he can’t speak – when his mouth is otherwise occupied, so to speak. It’s the moaning, and growling, and the grunts and obscene slurping – hideous word, but sadly the only applicable description – sounds that get you. It’s the pleasure, and the way he knows exactly how and when and where to move his tongue to make you squirm, moan, and scream in his strong arms. Unfortunately, he still isn’t exactly at that point. He’s still teasing, and you’re still whining, and no one is coming.

In no time, you’re going nuts. It’s not bad enough to speak up. And by that you mean: beg him to finally eat you in that way you both know makes you see stars and seek God and scream His name – or Sy’s, but what difference does that make, anyway? Instead, he keeps you right there, at the point where you’re just invested enough in the fantastic feeling that you want to be consumed by it, but it just isn’t enough to keep you from getting distracted. By the feeling of his beard against the inside of your thighs. By the fact that your panties somehow ended up on the lamp on his bedside table. By the gentle pulsing of the vein in his forearm your finger currently rests on. And he keeps you there, and keeps you there until you’ve almost convinced yourself you’ve gotten so used to this – to him – that he can’t do it anymore, forgetting that he really isn’t even trying. That twenty years of ‘this’, whatever the fuck that may mean, just means that he’s found so many different ways to take care of you that he couldn’t go through all of them in one night even if you could physically take it, simply because he’d run out of time before he made it halfway through the list.

And when you get there, to that point where you start thinking he might just not be as good as he used to, you’ve lost. Because from then on, it’s a minute. Thirty seconds. Maybe even twenty, or ten, or less – not that you’d know, because you couldn’t count to three anymore if you tried.

“Darlin’, you taste like fuckin’ heaven,” he mutters, never taking his lips off your skin completely. His fingers tease your entrance, pads coarse and calloused. It appears that, even after all these years, you still haven’t learned that if your mouth won’t beg, your body will. Unconsciously, you angle your hips, lean into his touch, use your legs to pull him closer – and he answers. As always. Sy knows what you want, and he doesn’t think twice to give it to you, even if – possibly especially when – what you really want isn’t what you think you want. He’ll know, just like he’ll know exactly when his name is on the tip of your tongue, waiting to be released along with everything he’s building up inside of you.

A loud moan escapes you when his fingers curl inside you, diligently working the perfect spot while his tongue laps at your clit, looking for the perfect move, speed, pressure, everything, until you shriek the words ‘oh God, Sy, don’t stop’, or you gasp, or moan – or one of the million other ways in which you tell him what needs done without saying a single word. And he doesn’t stop. Not until he unravels you completely. Not until you remember why you normally close and lock that door and keep quiet. Not until you know with every fiber of your being that he holds back, and he reminds you of everything he’s capable of.

When he comes back up, caging your body in between his strong arms and broad chest, pinning you down on the mattress, you hope he’s had enough time to catch his breath, because you immediately pull him into a long, deep kiss that says more than just ‘I missed you’. If it was at all possible to stress every syllable of a sentence, now would be the time. But who’s got time for talking when that impatient bulge grinds between your legs, the heavy, coarse fabric of Sy’s jeans harsh against your sensitive skin.

You push against his shoulders – it’s usually pointless, but he seems to have grown at least as impatient as you have, so he gets up. Four hands reach for his belt. You always make a great team, but this is madness, and neither of you are surprised you don’t get anything done this way.

“Move those hands if you wanna keep ‘em, Syverson,” you say with a sly smile on your face. He grits his teeth when you look up at him – it’s one of the things you know he loves to hate, because it drives him insane, and he doesn’t like that. Sy wants to be in control. Tough luck. Getting him naked is child’s play now that his hands aren’t in the way anymore, and you can’t stifle an appreciative moan when his cock appears in front of you.  

“I’m not saying I married you for this big dick, but it didn’t hurt your chances.” You bite your lip and look up at him. The amusement at your words fades off his face within seconds, making room for something darker and more sinister than you usually get to see.

“If you can use that mouth to talk, you can use it to suck my cock,” he says. You’ve played this game a thousand times, yet you’re still stupid enough to open your mouth in protest, and he seizes the opportunity. “That’s a good girl.” There’s a hint more… savagery to his naturally dark and gravelly voice than you’re used to hearing under normal circumstances. It’s a possessive, almost animalistic sound. It’s something that used to scare you when you were first going out. Something he didn’t let you get too closely acquainted with until he knew for sure he could trust you with that side of him – the side of him that sometimes just loves to shove his cock down your throat in one smooth thrust until you’re gagging and fighting back tears. Tonight is exactly the night you want every inch of him in the exact way you haven’t had him in for the longest time.

Your eyes beg, and once again he listens. How one man can be made up of so many contradictions, is something you’ve accepted you might never find out. ‘He gently fucks your throat.’ It sounds completely insane, but it’s possible. And you know it’s possible, because it’s happening. To you. Right now. If that weren’t the case, you probably wouldn’t have believed it yourself. He’s kind and ruthless at the same time, moving in and out of your mouth with controlled movements while moans and profanities escape him with reckless abandon. His hand is tangled in your hair, gathering a good portion of it in his fist, gripping just tight enough to remind you he’s there, but not so tight you’re in pain.

“God, baby, I love fucking this pretty li’l mouth of yours,” he says, teeth gritted, eyes closed, and the expression on his face warped in such a way that tells you it’s taking everything he’s got to keep whatever composure he has left at this stage. “But I gotta tell ya,” he continues as his breathing grows more and more ragged, a low growl barely audible on the exhale, “this ain’t what I need right now.”

He effortlessly tosses you back onto the mattress, finding his way between your legs in no time.

“Baby, I want you,” he growls before he kisses you again. “I need you. Need your tight, wet, fucking pussy around my cock right now.” He doesn’t move away from you much as he lifts your legs onto his shoulders. He’ll be deep, too deep, maybe, and you know you’ll regret this in the morning – but what good has regret ever done anyone, anyway? As he pushes into you, you realize he’s on his last bit of restraint. You take one last good look at him, because after this, it’s going to hurt so good you won’t be able to keep your eyes open for so much as a split second.

“Careful,” you chuckle, already far more out of breath than you like to admit, “you’re too much for me.”

“What’re’ya talkin’bout, woman?” Sy grumbles. “I know you can take me.” He’s not wrong. Exhibit A would be the fact that he buried his cock in your tight pussy with that one, agonizingly slow thrust. The next one is neither slow, nor even remotely as gentle, making you moan as you pull his face down to yours and kiss him. Your legs are trembling on his shoulders within minutes, and you find yourself chanting his name religiously – making it just about the only thing in your life you’ve done in that particular manner.

“Good God, you’re amazing,” Sy growls in your ear as he bottoms out with every erratic thrust. You watch as his jaw clenches when you dig your nails into the flesh of his back, careful to avoid the scars – an unwelcome souvenir from his time in the army. Most of the memories of the times you accidentally caught one in the heat of the moment have faded away by now. It hasn’t happened in years. You could draw a map of his back: every muscle, every scar, every mark on his skin is etched into your brain, and will stay there until the day you die. He’s yours every bit as much as you’re his, although he likes to put a little more emphasis on the latter.

“Want me to fuck another baby into you?” Hearing him say that makes you realize how incredibly happy you are that he can’t make good on that threat anymore. Sy hadn’t been happy when you’d informed him that you were bestowing upon him the incredible responsibility of contraception after having baby number three, but appointments were made, surgeries were had and all was right with the world. He’d only pouted and moaned about shooting blanks for about six months until things went back to normal.

“Do your worst, big guy,” you tease. You heard his breathing when he asked his question, felt the sheen of sweat covering his whole, massive body as he continued pounding you into the mattress with the same relentless pace as before, only slightly wavering in rhythm… You pull him close, gritting your teeth to get through the cramp in your leg as the weight of Sy’s body forces your legs closer to yours. “Fill me up.”

“That was mean,” Sy mutters, out of breath.

“As if you would have lasted any longer!” you say as you slap him in the face with a pillow. “I was about to tap out, anyway.” Not one word of that is a lie. You wouldn’t have walked for a week if you’d let him keep going. It really was a good thing he was a little on edge already…  

“Fine, woman, have your victory,” he growls as he pulls you into his arms and lifts you off the bed. “Ready for another shower?”

[heathersdesk]

One of my favorite follows on TikTok is Reverend Oliver, a trans pastor in West Virginia whose whole thing is trying to teach leftist people how to shed their worst impulses and inclinations to be better members of their communities. He is a firm advocate for genuine connection, leftist cooperation and community building with those on the right, and the kind of activism that is truly transformative and leaves no one behind.

He made a post, in an ongoing conversation about ways for leftists to identify opportunities to connect with their larger communities, that listed some of the fronts where leftists need to consider society's unmet needs. He included child care and elder care on that list. He also included addiction recovery resources.

Seeing an opportunity for the kind of interfaith connection he's always talking about, I pointed out that the LDS Church has free addiction recovery programs that anyone in the public is invited to attend, regardless of religious affiliation. And unlike other resources like the bishop's storehouse, no interaction with ecclesiastical leadership is necessary or expected. You can just show up, get support, and leave without any expectation of obligation, financial or otherwise, to our church. And honestly, a healthy dose of reality for the program from voices outside of our own community might temper some of the attitudes in our own community about pornography and compulsive masturbation being equivalent to an addiction.

So tell me why a random ex-Mormon took it upon themselves to begin an argument with me in Rev. Oliver's comments about the LDS Church leadership and past animosity towards queer people, that it isn't a safe space for them, that all queer people are forced into conversion therapy (which is false), and people show up in ARP with things that aren't even addictions.

Even after I told that person I'm queer affirming, that I believe these are things the Church can and does need to change, that I have actively been working on those improvements through my church membership since Prop 8, they just kept going. I became the dumpster for their unresolved anger towards the institution, even though I'm a total stranger and have nothing to do with anything they were complaining about. I have never put any queer people into conversion therapy and never would. I'm not Dallin H. Oaks and never tortured queer people at BYU. I think the Church has many sins it needs to answer for in relation to its treatment of queer people. At no point did I disagree or argue against anything that was true. For all intents and purposes, this person and I probably agree about a lot of things.

So why were they still attacking me? I'm actively trying to improve what upsets them without invalidating any of their feelings, and they're still upset with me. Why? What more do they want from me?

I find myself in this position with ex-Mormons all the time. With a tenure on Mormon Twitter that went from 2009-2023, I've seen every form and progression of ex-Mormon sentiment that could ever possibly exist. Especially because I left the Church for a time and did so with heartbreaks of my own. They don't know this when they approach me because they have no idea who I am, and I don't expect them to. But the irony is never lost on me that we could honestly be besties if they would shut and stop making assumptions about me long enough to hear what I'm saying.

And I mean that with my whole chest, and with all the self-recrimination that comes with it: ex-Mormons engage people in fights when they have no intentions of listening, achieving understanding, or engaging in constructive resolution with anyone in relation to the Church. They use people for emotional catharsis, and that's all they want from these interactions. I'm just supposed to sit there and take it. That's what they want. That's what they expect. And when I refuse to engage in the process as a receptacle for their disregulated emotions and the shame they want to make me feel, they get mad at me for not giving them what they wanted from me.

They don't see me as a person. They don't respect me or the work I do. They don't actually want to see the Church grow or improve beyond the ways it hurt them in the past because it means the Church and its people were always capable of doing that, just not for them. And they aren't prepared to feel or confront any of that, emotionally or spiritually. All they've ever wanted is a real apology and real change, but when it happens—when someone from the Church genuinely apologizes to them and tells them they deserved better, as I always do—it's not emotionally satisfying at all. The skies don't part, angels don't sing, and they don't feel any better.

It's like that scene from Malcolm in the Middle where Lois finally apologizes to Francis for being abusive to him when he's not expecting it, he freaks out because he had built up what that apology would look like and what it would accomplish in his mind, and he gets mad at Lois for ruining the fantasy in his mind. She doesn't know what to do, so she asks him if $20 would help. He takes the money in a state of confusion, but clearly still doesn't feel any better because it also doesn't help.

So I'm going to say the same thing here that I did there, for when this inevitably happens here: I'm not going to apologize for trying to make the Church a better, safer place for everyone. I'm not going to apologize for my association with the institutional Church, despite its failures and imperfections. I have made peace with my place here, the good I do, the impact I have, and the changes I am making. This is my church too, and despite what people think, there's room for me here. And as long as I'm here, the Church is a better and safer place for marginalized people because I've committed to making it that way. I don't expect anyone to stay when it's safest and healthiest for them to go, but I'm not going to join them. I already tried that and it was a waste of time for me.

If someone decides to place the validation of their choice to leave the Church on my refusal to go with them, that's not my problem. I don't owe anyone that. And their choice to do that doesn't entitle them to use me as an emotional jizz tissue for their anger at (and grief for) the institutional Church and other people in it I've never even met. Put it in a journal or take it to a therapist you pay for. Don't hand it to me, then get offended when I hand it back to you. It's not mine. If you don't want the nasty end results of your emotional outburst, what makes you think I do?

All of this to say to ex-Mormon folks who do this: have some self-reflection. Do you do this to people? Is it healthy? Does it accomplish any of your goals? Is it helping you to become the person you envisioned you would be when you left the Church? Have you fully formed in your mind who that person is? Have you fully and appropriately grieved for everyone and everything you lost? If not, what impact is that choice having on the rest of your life? And should you be doing something about it instead of arguing with me?

Again, don't tell me. Put it in a journal. Tell a therapist. Or, even better, tell the person who actually hurt you. Because telling me isn't going to make you feel better. And you may not realize this yet, but it's tremendously difficult to be me, too. I'm the one telling your parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, neighbors, classmates, colleagues, co-workers, and other people in your life at Church that they need to treat you better—how to do it and what it looks like. You need me. What I do is important. It's also exhausting. And if you use up all of my energy in an argument with you, how am I going to do it? Do you think about that? Do you think about what it costs me to be the person you've already decided it's too exhausting for you to be?

I say this with all the love and encouragement I have: either help me or get out of my way. But don't make my job harder. Why would you do that? It doesn't serve you, me, or anyone else. It just makes you look bitter, makes me less effective at creating the changes you want, and all Mormons (former and current) look like we don't have our shit together. Because this isn't new. Every religious tradition on this planet has had to struggle and figure out how to create space for marginalized people. Every branch of Christianity has had to figure out their relationship to their own queer people, to stop actively hurting them and to embrace them instead. You're a part of this transition, even once you leave, by whether or not you perpetuate this animosity with people who stay. We all have to put down our weapons. The fighting will continue as long as anyone anywhere is still throwing punches.

If you're an ex-Mormon, be the best one there is. Be unbothered and totally disengaged from the Church and its problems. Create the life of your dreams with nothing from the past in it, if that's what you need. When the people in your life direct coercion and manipulation at you in relation to your spirituality and church disaffiliation, return to sender. Be so busy being your own best self, you don't have time for any of this.

That's what you deserve. That's what I want for you. That's what many in the Church who stay want for you, because we're not all selfish pricks who get our jollies from forced homogeneity and making people suffer. That's not even the majority of us. It's the people you're actually mad at. Stop treating us like we're all guilty by association. Have the courage to put the dog turd of your displeasure on their porch where it belongs, not mine.

[angelsanarchy]

One Long Weekend: - Clyde/YN One-Shot Series CH 06

"We've already slept together. I figured it might be nice to enjoy the honeymoon phase." "You probably can't tell but I'm swooning."

Tagging: @roryculkinluvr @siriuslymooned @alalalaaallaaalaaa @crypticsewerslut @icarus-star @desert-springtime

(Please let me know if you want to be included in the list above!)

SATURDAY, 2:00PM

When Clyde woke up, his arm was trapped. He tried to pull it from underneath y/n's hold but she had a death lock on his right arm as he spooned her from behind. He could feel how flushed his face was just realizing how close they were. He didn't have time to be embarrassed though because she turned over to face him, eyes still closed and burying herself into his chest. His arm was free now but he decided to put it around her body instead of use it for himself.

She was still very much asleep as he pulled her tighter to his chest, enjoying the feeling of her holding onto him. He closed his eyes, trying to will himself back to sleep but the loud banging at the door startled the both of them to jump out of the bed. Y/n reached over and grabbed Clyde's aid and handed it to him, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Remind me to kick Johnny in the back of his knee later." She groaned rolling out of the bed to find her jeans. Clyde ran a hand through his hair and unlocked the door.

"Dude! Why did you lock the...no fucking way!" Johnny put his hand up for a high five and Clyde shook his head at him.

"Is there a reason you're busting the door down so early?" Clyde rubbed his eyes as Johnny pushed past him and gave y/n a cute wave.

"Dude it's 2PM. We were supposed to meet Dave at the shop to get the bass restrung for tonight. Didn't mean to break up your little love fest." Johnny teased.

"Give us a minute and we'll meet you at the van." Clyde held the door open for Johnny who seemed stunned to be getting kicked out. He put his hands up in defeat. Y/n still had Clyde's shirt on as she pulled her hair up in a messy knot atop her head.

"Good morning...or afternoon I guess." Clyde smirked.

"It was. How did you sleep?" Y/n asked Clyde reaching into her bag to find a black tank she normally wore under her jacket.

"Surprisingly well. How about you?" Clyde moved towards the small refrigerator and grabbed a small bottle of orange juice which he smelled before putting to his lips.

"Honestly, it was really nice. It was good to be able to sleep not listening to my roommate snoring or rain machine for a change." Y/n turned away from Clyde and pulled the shirt over her head to pull on her tank. Clyde tried not to choke on his juice catching a glimpse of her naked back.

"So I can drop them off first and then take you home. If we take them, they'll only be more annoying and I refuse to give them that satisfaction." Clyde laid out the plan offering his juice to y/n now that she was dressed.

"That's fine. I think my roommate shouldn't have a problem with me coming home now." Y/n followed Clyde out of his apartment watching as he didn't even bother locking the door. The guys were already hanging around the van waiting on them.

"You better had fixed my steering wheel you fuckers." Clyde pointed at Johnny with his keys dangling in his hand. Everyone loaded up in the van and Clyde waited for y/n to put on a seatbelt which he didn't bother doing when they originally got into the van.

"Can you idiots maintain until I get back? I want to drop her off. I won't be too long." Clyde explained instantly receiving a bunch of teasing. Y/n shook her head and looked at Clyde who was blushing.

"Do you not hang out with women at all or something? Your friends seem to think you're inept at being charming." Y/n joked as Clyde pulled away from the music shop.

"The majority of the women who come back to our place are just band hopping. It's out of the ordinary that anyone is there with me exclusively." Clyde explained.

"Oh so you think I was there for you exclusively? Someone thinks awfully high of themselves." Y/n teased pointing at the next street over for him to turn.

"My mistake. Was it because you wanted to take a ride in my sweet van? Maybe it was the subpar burger and fries?" Clyde knew that Y/n enjoyed his company. She had told him so herself but the thought did linger in the back of his mind that maybe she was just hanging out because it was convenient.

"This is me up here." Y/n pulled him from his thoughts to pull into an apartment complex. He looked around for an open space and parked.

"So...any plans this weekend?" He asked with a smile. Y/n laughed taking her seatbelt off and turning her body towards him.

"Why? You wanna hang out with me again already? I haven't even left the van yet." Y/n teased Clyde but he shook his head.

"We've already slept together.I figured it might be nice to enjoy the honeymoon phase." Clyde smiled a toothy grin making Y/n laugh.

"You probably can't tell but I'm swooning." Clyde wanted her to stay. He wanted more time with her. He wanted her to want to stay. He just didn't know how to go about asking without sounding like he had literally fallen in love over night. I mean he hadn't..he just really really wanted to be in her presence.

"I don't really have any plans but I probably need to make sure my roommate wasn't murdered by her lady of the night." Y/n opened the door and Clyde wasn't sure what to say.

"Y/N!" They both jumped hearing someone scream her name.

"What the hell?" Clyde tried to look at where the screaming was coming from.

"Oh that's my roommate." Y/n hopped out of the car and shut the door as she looked up to the balcony three floors up.

"Hey! I was just coming up to check on you." Y/n said seeing her roommate in her familiar robe, very flushed.

"Yeah about that. I'm going to need you to do me a HUGE solid." Clyde had gotten out of the car and stood next to her.

"Who's that? I thought you just got a really weird Uber ride." Her roommate pointed to him.

"I'm Clyde..." He waved up at her.

"Hi Clyde, thank you for not murdering my roommate." Y/n shook her head and interrupted her.

"What is going on? Why are you screaming for me from the balcony?" Y/n asked watching her roommate glance over her shoulder.

"Listen I love you, you know this but this girl is my dream girl and she's agreed to stay for the long weekend. She knows I have a roommate but I told her you were on vacation on the East coast." Y/n was so confused as to why she would say the East coast. She's never even been to the East coast.

"Well news flash, I don't know anyone on the East coast and you know I can't stay with my dad unless he's in bad condition so what do you want me to do exactly?" Y/n threw her arms in the air annoyed.

"Clyde's a good guy, aren't you? Can you stay with Clyde for the rest of the weekend?" Y/n felt heat on her face from the imposition her roommate just threw on someone she has literally known for 24 hours.

"Dude no! You cant just-"

"I mean she's more than- you're more than welcome to crash at my apartment. I don't mind at all." Clyde cut y/n off and she stared at him. He was far too sweet for his own good.

"See Clyde doesn't mind. Clyde wants you to stay. Please just do this for me. I will owe you one. PLEASE!" Y/n chewed on her lip looking from her roommate towards Clyde.

"Are you sure? I mean you don't have to say yes to her just because she's being a complete ass." Y/n lowered her voice and Clyde smiled.

"I told you, honeymoon phase. It's cool, I promise." He nudged her arm and Y/n looked back up.

"You're the worst, you know that?" Y/n gave her roommate the middle finger. Her roommate blew kisses to her thanking her and Clyde as quietly as possible.

"Here, I threw a few things in the bag just in case. Some clothes phone charger, underwear, deodorant-" She tossed the bag down at the two of them and Clyde caught it as a few of the contents started to spill out, a box of condoms hit his foot.

"Oh wow." Clyde reached for them to put them back in the bag.

"DUDE! What the fuck!?" Y/n yelled but her roommate had already run back into the apartment. Y/n covered her face shaking her head. Clyde kept his thoughts to himself and smirked as they walked back to the van together. Clyde had never been so happy for two lesbians spending a long weekend together. Now all he had to do was not screw things up in the next few days.

[hazbinbrainrotimnotokay2]

Kay so crack theory #2

In episode 7, someone (I forget who lmao) mentions "how will we defeat them, just the 7 of us" as in the number seven. 7 years, 7 deadly sins, 7 episodes until that point, 7 rings of hell, 7 of them.

The number 7 clearly holds significance, but I won't get into any of this right now (or ever, i'm too lazy)

But the main point I want to make is, 7 deadly sins, 7 characters in the main/secondary-ish-main cast, and obviously the Seven Deadly Sins are characters in the show/Helluva Boss already but I mean each one probably like REPRESENTS one

Based on this picture I tentatively put together a list of who I think represents which sin and an explanation of why;

Lust: Angel (Pretty self explanatory but to expand on it, the quote for Lust, "Wanting it all, way too soon.", has so much to do with his character it's hard to get into, the whole reason he ended up firstly in hell and secondly with his soul signed away is because he wanted everything he'd never gotten the chance to have, the "way too soon" being his immediate jump to get what he thought would be freedom but turned out being the opposite, not thinking about the consequence of getting it as soon as possible rather than waiting)

Gluttony: Niffty (Her obsessiveness towards cleanliness and "bad boys", her thirsting for these obsessions to be met and fulfilled, she is gluttonous for the result of her compulsions, "Being excessive with your thirst for words." she wants to find the way to express herself and chose this masochistic way of taking orders and enjoying being forced to do things, along with forcing herself or feeling compelled to do things like kill bugs obsessively, like a hunger)

Wrath: Husk (His gambling issues, the attitude he has towards being free of his deal to Alastor, "Wanting to win so bad, you get ruthless in your endeavours." it's why he sold his soul off to Alastor in the first place, his longing to win as an overlord and involved in gambling caused him to find other solutions, to grow ruthless in his pursuit of success. Then, after making the deal, the way he challenges Alastor shows his ruthless attitude towards freeing himself eventually, to get out of their deal at last)

Sloth: Pentious (He doesn't ever try to change any way he does things until he's forced, he was very slow to change his attack strategy, slow to confess to Cherri, slow to actually redeem himself, though he agreed to do so rather quickly, "Being too slow to publish." he is almost lazy and most certainly cowardly in the way he goes about life, he may not be the epitome of Sloth, but still quite similar)

Envy: Vaggie (She tries so hard to be the perfect partner for Charlie, and you can see her getting upset/jealous of Emily when she and Charlie hold hands in episode 6, she's also trying to pretend she's not a fallen angel, "Trying too hard to be like someone else." the someone else being the perfect person that she was supposed to be before she was cast down to hell and for Charlie)

Pride: Charlie (Because her father is king of the pride ring for one, secondly because she puts herself and what she believes is good for her people ahead of rational thinking any consequences her actions may cause towards the safety of hell as a whole, "Focusing on you, when there's a lot more territory to cover.")

Greed: Alastor (He certainly cares more about his own personal gain than for anyone else, his *audience*, as we see in Ep.8 with his piece in Finale, "Caring more about personal gains than your audience." encapsulates his need to be all powerful and discard his attachments in order to do so, to leave his audience behind in the hope of doing so)

This probably made no sense and sounds like me rambling but uhh yeah. @costco-poutine Thanks for cursing me with this idea for a theory and helping me write these out.

[kyoukris]

i am holding this up to you and politely begging for you to infodump about Lysander if you can 🎤

MANNN idk how long this ask has been in my inbox (too long probably) but uh uhhh lemme just put down a list of things about them that i can think of rn

(I might have mentioned before but) Lysander is genderfluid! They use any pronouns but do go through periods of feeling more masculine or feminine and these periods last a long time due to how she's lived for over 500 years and so time passes differently for her.

She found out very early in life that she was genderfluid since her parent was too! Her parent Falril, a half-elf, went by any pronouns. She looked up to him so so much when they alive together.

She's also bi, poly, and asexual. She's been married twice, and has raised about 14 children between those marriages!! Even though she had acute amnesia as a vampire, her desire to have a big family, both times, was definitely something she wanted in life having been raised as the youngest of 6 children herself. This was something she couldn't exactly remember, but stayed with her regardless.

She lived as a vampire for about ~463 years, during which she had no memory of her previous life, so even having died near her home she had no idea where she was or Who she was, only remembering her first name and nothing else, which is why she wandered off trying to figure out what she was and what she was supposed to do. She was in hiding for some years before meeting her first spouse, Selene.

Her childhood friend Malvicor was the vampire that turned her, having been attacked himself while out hunting, he became very scared and lashed out when Lysander's parents (the local physicians) couldn't help him. Lysander didn't exactly help things when she kicked him out of their home and forbade him from coming back for how he treated Falril specifically, and Malvicor held contempt for Lysander until he died and turned, finding her by chance after having made plans to leave their village before anyone found out. He took out his pain on her, killed her, and left her. She eventually woke up as a vampire herself, having just barely been able to turn she woke up with zero memory of her life until that point.

To this day she has a tendency to loom over others as a parental figure, not intentionally trying to mother/father people but she just tends to care in that parental way and it just so happens all her fellow guild companions are centuries younger than herself.

She keeps in contact with all her living descendants and her 3 remaining living children, taking all her free time to visit them and their families.

She has cussed maybe 5 times in her whole life. She is not one to use language like that but I allow her to say one swear each chapter of our campaign when she gets really pissed off. The last time I allowed it last chapter was when one of her twin daughters was being pursued by vampires, having attacked one of them they retaliated and realized she was a vampire herself, commented on this, and she laughed and said "I'm going to knock your fucking head off."

HERE'S ART I DID OF THAT SESSION WHEN SHE SAVED HER BABY GIRL (she's a grown ass gnome woman)

idk maybe ill dump more info later i gotta get ready for work soon :9

[gazingstarsabove]

Hi! Thank you for your services, I love your headcanons!

I have a request, can you share your thoughts of what the SQ was doing before the madness? Not just work, but lives, relationships, goals, that sort of thing.

If it comes more natural as story than a list, I'm perfectly fine with that, too!

Thank you!!! <3

interesting! I'll list you some little headcanons for the main SQ, this is a thought I haven't really think about, but it makes me curious! and thank you!! I put a lot of effort in my headcanons, glad to see you like them! ^^

•Hank, before he became the psychotic bloodthirsty murderer we all know, he was just an average guy. Just an average grunt walking down the street, rather, a really buff one. Even before he did the killing, he was still just a quiet as ever, but he'd speak a few words and I think would hold longer in small talks, listening in carefully. Not the best in socializing, but he does give the best hugs, I assume.

·He lives a quiet life, he resides in an apartment dorm with a stray cat he decided to take in. He doesn't really have relatives nor friends, he's just really introverted and prefers time to himself. He's the type to take in volleyball training and sports, it would be actually pretty fitting for him. But he keeps popping the ball, he doesn't really mean to, but he strikes the ball a little too hard.

·He would just be your average (buff) nevadean. I think he likes sweets and likes to spend some time playing guitar while sitting beside a tree, strumming the chords as he hums his little tune.

·His relationship with anyone? He's not really interested. He doesn't really see anything in anyone, rather, just other people trying to live their lives. He views the world a little monotone, but that's just his way of living things.

•2BDamned, or Doc, would be a medical student before the madness.. to say it didn't really go as planned. He wasn't as attentive as the other students, he was slightly overwhelmed with the projects and board exams he had to take before actually becoming a doctor. But that wouldn't stop him from practicing. He dropped out of medical school and decided to make his own path for himself. He spends his free time learning the (human) grunt anatomy, studying the different organs, bones and joints, etc..

·He was determined to atleast try and attempt to be a good doctor, something his parents and he himself would be proud of. He doesn't have a PhD, that much was obvious. He was socially awkward, but he was nice. As time goes on he started to realize that him being a doctor would be impossible without a PhD.

·He was quite serious about his goals, but he never seem to bring himself to actually accomplish them. He'd still continue studying, but an actual goal was never set on his mind, only temporary tasks that he needed to get done, ones like; 'oh I need to do this project', 'oh I'm curious about this thing guess I'll do research about it'.

·He's not with anyone, though a lot of people do know him, he only finds them as acquaintances. But he has been curious about his own sexually, questioning himself and not getting a clear answer about anything.

•Sanford is a mind breaking one! I'm not sure if before the madness, he'd be a weightlifter, some sort of coach or a lifeguard. But I suppose him being a weightlifter and a lifeguard makes sense? It just sticks with me! It fits his personality, imo. Him being a weightlifter might be a good explanation as to why he's so lean, and he's probably one of those kind, and more socializing lifeguards. He can swim, yeah, but he'll probably scream or whistle at someone if they run in the wet paths, especially tiled floors. He's just concerned they'll fall and injure themselves.

·I feel like his dream was to just live in a little home, away from the city, and have a peaceful life. He's good all on his own, but knows a few contacts and a few friends he always checks up on. He'd be a good friend. He always thought of adopting a dog, but never really had guts to handle the responsibility.

·He didn't have a relationship with anyone, but he has thought about getting a girlfriend or boyfriend. He always thought what it would be like coming home to his lover, he always thought it was quite cute. But he gets all quiet and introverted around women, he's not the best at flirting but he tries.

•Deimos even before the madness already lives a fun and chaotic life, hanging out with several friends and living his life like it ends tomorrow. He always wanted to do insane stuff like sky diving, mountain climbing, and other stuff. He'd be a fan of race cars, I think. He lives in an apartment, and his bedroom is always so messy it's astonishing. He can go days without washing his clothes.

·He only learned how to smoke when he was recruited in SQ, so that being said.. his lungs were still healthy back then!!! Though his liver wasn't! He'd be chugging energy drinks all night, while he plays his videogames.·He isn't really the healthiest guy, but he's really fun to be with! I'd like to imagine there isn't a moment where he's not smirking or grinning. And he's not the most organized person, his wardrobe is always either empty or always full of unwashed clothes.

·He was quite the loudmouth, but getting a girlfriend/boyfriend was difficult. Mostly people only find his flirting to be annoying, which he doesn't really mind since there's a lot of fish in the sea. But it kinda stings his pride though.

[betweenthings2]

holding hands during a stressful situation, it’s giving matty being nervous to fly or on a high ledge for some reason

Thank you for the ask!! The prompt list is here if anyone else wants to see it =) Poor Matty not liking flying--I love flying. The airport is the only place I can pay $15 for a beer at nine in the morning with the best and worst dressed people I've ever seen.

Anyways, here's holding hands in a stressful situation from the physical intimacy prompt list.

Matty has been on edge since they got to the airport. George knows he doesn't like flying, but he didn't realize it put Matty on edge like this. He hasn't stood still since they got to the airport, practically vibrating while they stood in line to check luggage and go through security, then pacing once they get to the terminal. They're early, partly a product of Matty's anxiety, so don't have a gate yet, but there's plenty of open seating and space in the terminal, but Matty can't be still enough to sit. George watches him pace for about fifteen minutes before physically making him sit down. Matty lasts about thirty seconds before he gets fidgety and gets back up.

George asks him to go for coffee in an effort to give him something to do. Matty probably doesn't really need any caffeine, but it's usually about a fifty-fifty shot as to whether or not caffeine will amp Matty up or almost knock him out. George is banking on the latter today. By the time Matty comes back, their gate has been announced, which George would have thought would have calmed him down some, but Matty is still just as on edge as he had been when they get to the gate.

It's not long before Matty's anxiety starts to earn him glares and glances from the other people waiting in line, so George takes his hand and pulls him close, murmuring, "You've got to relax, love."

Matty wrenches his hand free, stepping away, and glares. "Don't fucking tell me calm down. I'm fine."

"You haven't sat still since we got to the airport," George counters. "You're gonna exhaust yourself or you're gonna feel awful later."

"I'm fine," Matty insists.

George fixes him with a sad look and agrees, "'k."

The line moves forward a bit, then Matty steps close to George again and quietly admits, "I fucking hate flying."

George takes Matty's hand again, running a thumb over his knuckles, and says, "I know. Flying is really safe, though."

"Human beings are not supposed to fly," Matty grumbles. "It's a metal tube held up by witchcraft or some shit."

George can't help but smile and chuckle. "I'm pretty sure it's math and physics," he says. "And aerodynamics."

"Witchcraft," Matty counters, shuffling forward as the boarding line begins moving again.

George presses a quick kiss to Matty's temple and agrees, "Whatever you say."

Matty keeps himself close to George as the line begins moving again, moving and letting go of his hand only when it's time for them to show their boarding passes and their passports. He's quick to take George's hand again, holding a little bit tighter as they head down the jetway. He only lets go when they get to the door of the plane, George urging Matty to go first.

Matty's nervous fidgeting is quick to return when they finally sit down and he's quick to take George's hand again. George feels for him, they have a ten hour flight and a photoshoot when they land and Matty is liable to be tense and stressed the whole time. George just isn't sure how to help.

"This is stupid," Matty mumbles. "What the fuck is a seat cushion supposed to do when the plane crashes in the ocean?"

George glances up, seeing Matty glancing over the safety pamphlet. He's like this just about every time they get on a plane, though, and George has learned to just let him share his thoughts.

"You know you used to be able to smoke on planes?" Matty continues, tucking the pamphlet away. "Why they'd get rid of that? I'd feel better if they brought that back."

George can't help but chuckle again and he runs his thumb over Matty's knuckles again, saying, "'s probably a safety hazard."

"So they want me to just freak out instead?"

"How many planes have you been on and been just fine?" George tries.

"Yeah, but what if this is the time it's not fine?" Matty says quietly, clinging to George's hand.

"I think it's going to be ok," George offers. "I think we're going to get to LA and we'll be fine."

"I just don't like it," Matty admits, gaze falling to their hands. "And I don't like not liking it."

"I know," George murmurs. "I'm sorry this stresses you out so much."

"Thanks," Matty mumbles, resting his head against George's shoulder. "Sorry for being so annoying today."

"You're not annoying," George counters. "You're allowed to be stressed. That's ok."

"Still," Matty insists.

George presses another kiss into Matty's curls and quietly says, "'s all ok. Promise."

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Guess what, guys? Guess what? Guess what guess what guess what guess what?

Finally. Fucking hell, finally. He took so long to finally announce what he's doing this summer. Which is apparently not Edinburgh, which I find odd because in previous years it's at least been a whole big thing, where he'd either go to Edinburgh or would spend a bunch of time explaining why he wasn't and how he was conflicted about staying home. I haven't seen Daniel Kitson explain any of that this year, but he has got shows in non-Edinburgh places that run to August 3rd and from August 24th, and he hasn't mentioned anything he's doing in Edinburgh even though we're a month out now, so I think it's safe to say he's not going there. Which I've known was likely the case for a little while now, and while that was disappointing, he had said he'd probably do a run of Collaborator in London in July.

I'm going to be in London from July 28-August 1, before being in Edinburgh from August 4-8 (a couple of days in Scottish Highlands in between), and if I can't see him in Edinburgh, I so, so hoped that he'd do something in London while I'm there. Anything. Anything at all. Not to be 6,287th person in the world to say "I'd happily watch Daniel Kitson read the phone book," but I'd happily watch Daniel Kitson read the phone book. I'd happily watch him do that show he wrote in 2019 that I'm convinced was conceived as a direct response to all the people who said they'd watch him read the phone book, as a fair bit of the early part of that show is just him essentially reading the household items equivalent of the phone book. No, seriously, I would love to watch that. He was supposed to do more of Keep in 2020 but that got canceled for some reason that no one can remember now and I think he should revive it.

Okay, sorry, I'm going off topic. The point is that I've been waiting for some time now on Daniel Kitson to tell us what he's doing with his life, and I've been putting off committing to any other concrete plans throughout my trip because I don't want to risk anything clashing with what could be the only chance to see Kitson. My godmother lives out there, she hasn't seen me in ten years, she wants to know when I'd be free to meet up with her, I said I don't know, I'm waiting for a comedian to send a message to his mailing list with his gig schedule. I wanted to book a show at the Soho Theatre, but not until I know what Kitson's doing. I want to plan one or two day trips out of London, but not until I know what evenings are taken.

And the thing is that I knew the longer I wait on everything in the hopes that KItson will do Collaborator while I'm there, the more I'll get my hopes up for it and start assuming I'll get to see it, and the more disappointed I'll be when he announces a run that ends before I get there. So I tried to compensate and remind myself that it's not actually the end of the world. Sure he's my favourite comedian, but he's still only one comedian. I'm booked in to see nearly thirty shows in Edinburgh, plus several more in London. One other show isn't going to make or break the trip.

That's what I was saying until today, when he finally announced his dates, and guys, guess what? I have a ticket to see Daniel John Kitson at an arts centre in London on July 29!!! And now that I actually have that, I can say, this trip is a hell of a lot of money to spend to not see Daniel Kitson. I'm so fucking glad I'm not doing this whole massive trip just to not see Daniel Kitson. I'm so glad. So very very glad. I couldn't have gone all that way to not see Daniel Kitson.

Guys it's going to be so good. Normally at something like this - a show with lots of audience speaking parts but the option to not speak - I'd take the latter. But obviously I'm not going to miss my sole opportunity to say I was in a Daniel Kitson show. Obviously I will take a speaking part and I will be in a Daniel Kitson show. It's such a great show, too. I'm going to be in a room with Daniel Kitson, guys. I have heard that guy talk for so many hours, a weird number of hours to have spent listening to a guy with whom I've never been in a room. I wonder if, of all the people in the world who have never been in a room with Daniel Kitson, I'm the one who's heard the most hours of him talking. There's a chance that I might be.

I'm so excited for this. The whole trip, not just the bit where I'll be in a room with Daniel Kitson. But definitely that. I've also got tickets to see Brynley Stent do her 2023 hour Frigid at the Soho Theatre during my week in London, and Desiree Burch do a WIP at ABC Comedy in London, the day I get back there from Edinburgh, and the day before I fly home. Both things I've been able to book now that I know what Kitson's doing. I'm hoping to do at least one other comedy night in London, I'd like to see the Bill Murray comedy club in person after all the words I've heard recorded there. But these are the main things. Soho Theatre and ABC are big things I wanted to see, venue-wise, Desiree Burch is a comedian I really wanted to see and was disappointed she gets to Edinburgh after I leave but it works out nicely with the WIP, and Brynley Stent I liked on Taskmaster and the description of her show looks very good. So I think I'll get to hit the main things I wanted on my list.

But I'll be honest, if Kitson's Collaborator run had ended in mid-July, I would be thinking that as wonderful as the rest of this trip is going to be, it's a long fucking way to go to not see Daniel Kitson. It's okay, though. I have a ticket (well sort of, my friend whom I'm staying with in London bought us tickets when they went on sale while I was at work and I shall pay him back with their strange British currency, so I don't actually have the ticket yet, but I'll get to use it). I can finally commit to things on other nights. Just over one month to go.

[off-brand-likes]

All for Nothing

Okay, I'm actually pretty happy with this one! It's set fairly soon after Kallus defects.

The Imperial officers at this outpost didn't really have the authority to interrogate Class One prisoners in their poorly organized basement/storage space. Since this lieutenant was questioning Kallus about rebel activity, he should've summoned a prisoner transport to take Kallus to the kind of core world facility the ISB preferred to work in. Instead, the lieutenant had decided to beat on his Class One prisoner like the amateur he was, for two hours so far.

Aside from the broken nose, which Kallus hated getting fixed, and the cut entirely too near major blood vessels in Kallus's arm, which was exactly why outpost personnel were not supposed to be interrogating class one prisoners, damn it, the interrogation had been more tedious than alarming. If the Empire knew anything dangerous about his mission to Barkhesh, then Lieutenant Tellme hadn't read the most recent reports. Another reason why outpost lieutenants--

A blow to his cheek snapped his head to the side so hard that Kallus greyed out for a second. It rocked the chair he was bound to, though not hard enough to knock it over. The lieutenant bellowed "Tell me what you were doing in the spaceport or I will begin cutting off pieces of you!"

Kallus rolled his head slowly back to face Lieutenant Tellme. Nothing wrong with his neck, but his cheekbone was probably cracked now, and his broken nose hurt worse than ever. "If you bleed me to death, the ISB will have you digging ore on Kessel this time next week."

While Lieutenant Tellme's face turned an interesting shade of red, and Kallus resigned himself to losing a few fingers to the bastard, the elevator that got people in and out of this basement opened to admit excited-looking aide. "We've caught another one!"

Kallus frowned. That hadn't been part of the plan. He was supposed to be holding Lieutenant Tellme's attention.

"Not one of ours." Kallus made an effort to sound more disgusted with these people than he already was.

Lieutenant Tellme raised a hand in a weak attempt to convince the aide not to announce any more interesting intelligence in front of the prisoner. He had his vibroblade out again, set against Kallus's little finger.

A finger which would not be easily replaced in a backalley clinic or the supply-strapped medbay on base. Kallus didn't have Imperial medical support anymore. Perhaps he should exercise some self-preservation.

Speaking slowly and in a tone Lieutenant Tellme must've thought was menacing, the lieutenant said, "Tell me who 'your people' are."

A worrying possibility occurred to Kallus. "Alright. Alright, I'll tell you." He listed some random names and threw "Jabba" into the mix. Just as he feared, that one startled a smile out of the aide jittering beside the elevator.

The vibroblade's low buzzing lifted away from Kallus's hand. He affected a sigh of relief.

"We'll be checking each of those. I believe you'll soon find that all your resistance was for nothing." 

Kallus couldn't help but feel proud of the way the lieutenant backed toward the elevator, well after he was out of kicking range, before turning to join the aide in meeting their next supposed victim. Kallus the traitor had built himself a reputation for danger that his Imperial self would've envied.

If the rebels needed Kallus free ahead of schedule, something must've gone wrong. And Kallus needed to get out of this chair before Ezra got himself hurt. He rocked the chair onto its side and kicked it apart. This was why the ISB designed special equipment for holding prisoners.

Now, to get to Ezra. The elevator security code wasn't even enabled, so that gave Kallus no trouble. These people were so indifferent to procedure that they might've already sold off his blaster. He hadn't seen it on Lieutenant Tellme's belt, anyway.

The elevator door opened. The lieutenant stood directly in front of it, which put him in perfect range for a punch. The aide holding Ezra's arm hadn't even bothered to draw his own weapon. Ezra, hands bound in front of him, stepped to the side to give Kallus room to punch the aide out out too.

"Aw, I had this whole thing where I'd hit them with the binders. They would've never seen it coming." Ezra's binders clanked onto the floor and he waved his free hands like he'd done a magic trick. His eyes focused on Kallus's injuries, a list to which Kallus could now add split and bleeding knuckles. Ezra's smile faded. "Looks like I got here just in time."

Kallus really would've missed that finger the lieutenant was moments from cutting off. He shuddered as he checked through the drawers, shelves, and boxes near the elevator, looking for his blaster and watching for troopers. "What's the emergency?"

"What?" Ezra asked from the elevator, where he'd taken the useful initiative of hiding the unconscious officers.

"What's gone wrong?" Ah ha, the lieutenant put Kallus's blaster in his own desk drawer. "What do you need my help with?"

"Nothing!" Ezra got the binder keys out of Lieutenant Tellme's pockets to unlock the two pairs dangling from Kallus's wrists. "We're running early. Hera's going to put it on her calendar as a galactic holiday when she finds out. So, we thought you'd want to..." Ezra was trying not to stare at Kallus's swollen nose and cheek. Kallus probably still had blood on his chin. "You know, not get tortured any more?"

"Oh." If there was no rush, then they could afford to be more cautious leaving this outpost. "It was fine. There was never any danger of that brute getting me to say anything useful." Kallus took the lead clearing their path to the exit.

"No, I mean--" Ezra ducked as the troopers outside finally realized they were under attack and started shooting. "We didn't want them to hurt you more than had to happen for the mission," Ezra shouted over his and Kallus's blaster fire.

Kallus spared a glance at Ezra to see if he was joking. He looked... Disturbed? Worried? Unsettled, anyway.

"I said it was fine." There was a lot happening just at the moment. Ezra must not've heard Kallus the first time.

They were past the outpost walls and halfway to their pickup point before it occurred to Kallus that Ezra might mean that he and the others didn't want Kallus hurt. They weren't doubting his ability to resist torture. They would simply prefer Kallus not get more injured than necessary.

Practical. Recovering agents weren't of any use in the field, and seeing evidence of torture damaged morale. Or...

Perhaps they didn't want their ally to be hurt, because... They valued the lack of pain that highly? They wanted every sentient on their side to be comfortable? The whole galaxy, once they'd won?

Wasn't that a strange possibility.

On the Ghost, Zeb had to nudge Kallus's arm with the end of the bacta canister to remind him to spray it on his injuries. He must've said something, too, but Kallus was still too stunned by this revelation about the rebels' philosophy to pay attention. What a wonderful galaxy these rebels were fighting to create.

[k1spiegel]

hi. here is that list of games i've enjoyed this year that i talked abt making, now under a read more for your viewing pleasure. not in any order besides the order i remember them

links will be to steam store pages if applicable, if not general home pages, though some of these will be available on multiple consoles

Inkbound - an isometric turn-based roguelike game in mid-beta where you play as a Needless, a blank, "generic" character with no supposed imagination or will, accompanied by a Kwill, a ball of light that helps you along. i'll be honest and say i haven't paid much attention to the story but i don't think i have to when the gameplay is so good. i love roguelikes and turn-based combat both, and the amount of customization you can get from random items and abilities during runs makes the game difficult but not soul-crushing. eventually you Will figure out how to make urself almost unkillable. no premium store or pay currency, just unlocking and in-game currency.

Cassette Beasts - a 3D environment-2D sprite creature capture game with a nostalgia theme (made in Godot!). i played(/replayed) a lot of creature captures this year, with cassette beasts probably being the earliest and one of the most memorable. there are some parts of the game i'm iffy on (the music, some of the companion quests compared to others), but the creature design and element mechanics in the fight make up for it by leaps and bounds. i've got a lotta favorite beasts in this one. suggested esp if you like 2v2 fights.

Palia - if you've hung around the "cozy games" scene at all, You Know This One. palia is a casual mmo currently in open beta that focuses mainly around farming, questing, and integrating yourself into a new community (though that's not All you can do.) by "casual" and "cozy" i mean that there's no real rush to do anything, your crops won't grow without you there and there's no friendship(/romantic) relationship deterioration. play as you want when you want. also it's free lol

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (no link available; currently only on switch) - i have never played a dragon quest game before. i think this was the funniest way i could've gotten into it. a creature capture-creature combiner game in the dragon quest monsters series where you play as a young Psaro, The Dark Prince, The Manslayer, the future King of Monsters, and go through different echelons of nadiria(/the area where monsters rule) beating ass and taking names. i probably don't have to sell this to DQ fans so much but the monster designs are fun, the story is funny to me whether on purpose or not, and i like either using the auto battle for quick levelling Or giving commands directly to my beasts. good stuff.

Lies of P - do you remember a few years back when everyone saw the pinocchio soulslike and went No Fucking Way and then forgot about it? lies of p is the pinocchio soulslike (though it's much more obviously a bloodborne-like, or to be even more specific, a code:vein-like). i love it. the setting and characters is kind of insane when you think about how it's All based on pinocchio, but it takes itself seriously enough to where you just go with it and enjoy your time with P and the npcs. the gameplay is fast and fun, with a pretty extreme amount of customization (swappable and upgradeable robot arm, usual soulslike Put Points Into Skills stuff, weapons with switchable parts that can be upgraded or change their scaling, etc.) i'm just having a really great time with it and want other people to too.

Risk of Rain Returns - an incredibly polished remake of the original Risk of Rain, a 2d side-scrolling roguelike where you play as a survivor on an alien planet full of things that want to kill you. i have almost 200 hours on the original ror and the remake has earned At Minimum 200 hours more - not only do the original characters and stages feel refreshed, but there's now new areas to visit, new survivors to unlock, and fun challenges to beat to try and get new items or abilities. plus chris christodoulou's soundtrack is, as always, The Best. if you didn't play the original RoR, i'd really recommend giving this a shot instead.

SPECIAL MENTIONS (no links. im lazy.)

Guilty Gear: Strive - tim managed to get me into fighting games this year and ggst was probably the best introduction i could've gotten. classic weird as fuck characters and story + an insane soundtrack.

Lethal Company - you've seen someone playing this, somewhere or somehow. funniest game to play if you and your friends are wussies. now has arachnophobia mode (<- is an arachnophobe, so i like it.)

Fortnite - sorry

[hunxi-after-hours]

小镇 anon here! I did read some of 高能二维码 though I dropped it at the time because the relationship dynamic was not really for me. I have been meaning to try it one more time but I have been putting it off haha. So, this might be quite an uncomplete comparison.

Keeping that in mind, I would say that both of them feature more of an ensemble cast (especially compared to something like, say, 地球在线）and both are heavy-handed with their themes, though I personally found the themes of 我的理想小镇 more compelling. 高能二维码 has a much more traditional "无限流 game" setting. While you could say 我的理想小镇 also takes place in a "game" framework, the actual setting makes it so that the inherent theme of "rebelling against the system" present in most 无限流 novels (including 高能二维码) is not actually a major part of its premise, at least not quite in the same way. I would say that the romance aspect is not really a focal point in both novels, but the male lead of 高能二维码 is much more present as a character than the male lead of 我的理想小镇, whose presence is felt very heavily through the narrative but does not make a lot of in-character appearances himself relative to what you would expect of a typical love interest. Also, when it comes to 人外, 我的理想小镇 is pretty much one of the best you could find to explore how you feel about it. On the other hand, although the male lead of 高能二维码 being turned into a mirror is a major thing that is spoiled in the 文案, I do not remember it being explored more than very-surface level things, but as I said, I did not finish it so anyone who did should feel free to correct me. Finally, the 美貌 descriptions？ Yeah, about that... 高能二维码 might be a bit challenging in some parts with that.

In conclusion, despite how hard I am trying to sell 我的理想小镇, 高能二维码 is a very good story with a tight pacing and good characterisation, I only dropped it due to not liking that particular dynamic personally so I would recommend them both, just one of them a bit more 呵呵. Thank you for coming to my TED talk. As a bonus, take a shot every time I say theme. (It's a lot of times I know.)

小镇ANON thank you immensely for this essay!!! suffice to say that you've very much sold me on 《我的理想小镇》 over 《高能二维码》 (I'm set on gamified/data unlimited flow atm so 二维码 was pretty low on the list to begin with, but the, ah, overgenerous 美貌 descriptions sealed the coffin hhh). I'll need to track down a copy somewhere sometime! it'll probably take a hot second for me to get to it since I've got other books that I'm, um, supposed to read for like, work or edification or whatever

definitely send along any other 无限流 recs you have!! I'm specifically on the search for non-数据无限流/无限流 that doesn't specifically lean on video game mechanics, which seem to be much rarer these days? and I wouldn't say no to other 人外 recs hahaha 我正在大开眼界的过程中