#I have not learned how to balance living and working full time in the city with seeking out trees and rocks

[rabbitrah]

Every single day I'm just like..... I should be out in nature rn..... a waterfall could fix me

[syrupfog]

Zoro who grew up in the foster system, passed from house to house because he’s labeled a flight risk after continually getting lost on his way home. No one ever believes him that his sense of direction is really that bad, but every new house is a new neighborhood to learn. No matter what home he’s at, as soon as he gets lost they ship him somewhere more restrictive until he ends up in someplace similar to juvie, where he can’t get lost bc he can’t leave. 

He meets an angry blond kid his own age there, who was dropped off by his own family, and

I assume they don’t get along, for a myriad of reasons not least of which that Sanji has a family, and Zoro hates that about him. They get paired in a room together and Zoro can’t understand why Sanji hates his family when Zoro would give anything to have one

It takes until a visitor day months down the line for him to figure it out. 

Because Zoro never attends visitor days. He doesn’t have visitors. But he shows up to this one bc he literally got lost and ended up there. 

He gravitates toward the group that’s clearly Sanji’s family

Just close enough to hear the way they speak to him and about him, about how he’s bringing down their name and he’s lucky he’s here and not on the streets and Sanji weakly mumbling that maybe he’d rather be on the streets they won’t even let him cook here

And his dad backhanding him at that. And Zoro sees the staff witnessing this and doing nothing and draws the correct conclusion that this is a regular occurrence and completely allowed. 

So of course when Sanji appears in their room later Zoro loudly declares, “I’m watching out for you from now on, we’re in this together.” 

And Sanji’s like “fuck off I don’t need your pity.” 

Zoro says, “what fucking pity? This is about me hating your fucking family, we’re gonna get out of here someday and I’m going to kick their asses.”

Sanji doesn’t accept this pronouncement for a long time but Zoro makes himself the Sanji Guard Dog and he hit his growth spurt before Sanji so he’s able to tower menacingly behind him, it works well. 

And Zoro’s angry inside but he hasn’t felt sadness for a while, until Sanji.

And Sanji’s sad inside and his anger’s a facade for that. So like, they balance each other out. 

Sanji turns 18 eight months before Zoro and Zoro tells him not to show up to visitor days but Sanji always does, and talks about this fucking chef he’s found who’s taken him in.

And for the both of them life starts at 18, living in a tiny rundown flat above the Baratie and they’re still full of anger and sadness but when Zoro gets lost the first time, he’s so worried Sanji’s going to throw him out like every other family did.

But he doesn’t. Zoro comes home five hours late from getting on the wrong train and Sanji throws his arms around Zoro’s shoulders and says he was worried. Zoro snaps at him because he was so wound up ready for a fight.

But Sanji doesn’t just give up on him like he thought, and Zoro learns the city ever so slowly and he gets lost less (it doesn’t ever entirely stop, though) and Sanji learns his habits, gets good at finding him.

Zoro spends a long time stunned at this. Confused that Sanji is never more than grouchy or worried. 

The only time Sanji is ever truly upset is one night when it’s been raining hard and the landmarks are harder to find on the dark so Zoro’s hours late, and Sanji’s pissed When he walks in the door, yelling about where has he been, it’s been fucking hours, fucking hell, Zoro. 

Zoro’s so hurt and overwhelmed (and sopping wet from the rain) and having flashbacks to his childhood and feeling like, oh this is it, the straw that broke the camel’s back for Sanji apparently. 

He turns to leave, just walk right out that door and disappear, but as he wrenches the door open suddenly there’s a hand clenched tight around his wrist and Zoro can’t pull out of his grip

And he starts saying that Sanji had better fucking let him go, only to see that Sanji’s crying, lips pressed tight together, trembling, looking at the floor, tears running down his face. 

Zoro realises maybe this isn’t about him.

He learns after he’s closed the door again that Sanji’s family had been by, had threatened a number of things directed at the both of them, and then Sanji had sat and waited for so so long for Zoro to get home, to prove to himself Zoro was Safe.

Zoro pulls him into a hug, tight enough prove he’s real and okay. 

They have a shitty little one bedroom flat as it is but that night they share Sanji’s bed. And then most nights after, too. 

They fall into a relationship sort of backwards but that’s okay.

Both of them were abandoned in different ways. Both of them needed finding, holding, keeping. And they get that in each other.

[positivelybeastly]

[Roleplay Start]

The cryptid approached much like how a predator stalked its prey before making the kill. Instead, he placed himself in the wicker chair. There was a knowing gleam in his eye and a wicked smirk playing across his face that was infamous for getting him and his friends into more crap than most others knew how to handle. Were you most others? Who could say? Perhaps you were, perhaps you weren’t. We will just have to wait and see. “Are we sitting comfortably?” The creature spoke, his voice rich with confidence and warmth. “Stories. I’ve told a few in my time, been in a few too. Stories are like people, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they can be unruly and complicated, they can get out of hand, they can be funny, they can be scary…they can be sad.”

The creature’s gaze turned away from you for just a moment, his eyes almost seeming to droop melancholically. It turned back to you before it could be commented on and he continued. “My favorite stories, the ones I like to think can place themselves in the lives of absolutely anybody, tend to be *adventure* stories. They move quickly, packed full of danger, mystery, villains, and monsters- oh yes…”

His yellow eyes narrowed and his smirk grew into a full-on grin. “So many…monsters…”

… 

The sun cast a warm, golden hue over New York City, painting the skyline in shades of tranquility. The bustling metropolis, often a stage for extraordinary battles, seemed to be enjoying an uncharacteristic peace. Central Park was alive with the laughter of children, joggers taking their early morning strides, and couples enjoying leisurely strolls. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of traffic, a symphony of what many would call normalcy.

At the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, serenity reigned. Students practiced their powers under the watchful eyes of their mentors, their youthful exuberance filling the halls with a sense of hope and potential. The grounds were immaculate, the summer sun casting long shadows across the lush greenery. In the library, a place often filled with whispers of strategy and contemplation, there was an unusual stillness. Books, ancient and new, stood sentinel on their shelves, bearing witness to the calm.

Outside, the world seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Avengers Tower stood tall and silent, its occupants engaged in routine maintenance and training drills. The Daily Bugle's latest headlines spoke of mundane politics and celebrity gossip, a far cry from the sensational crises that usually dominated its front page. Even the ever-watchful eyes of S.H.I.E.L.D. found little to report, their surveillance systems capturing nothing more than the daily grind of a city at peace.

Hank McCoy, known to the world as Beast, was seated within his apartment, located closest to the middle of these locations, surrounded by a makeshift fortress of scientific literature. His blue fur, seemed to blend into the shadows as he pored over his notes. The rhythmic ticking of a clock on the wall punctuated the silence, a reminder of time's relentless march forward. His work, no doubt a delicate balance of research and preparation, continued uninterrupted, his mind a whirl of equations and hypotheses.

*Yet, beneath this veneer of calm, there was that unmistakable tension—that collective holding of breath. A familiar sensation, one that seasoned heroes and vigilant citizens alike had come to recognize.* *The calm before the storm. It was a phrase that echoed in the minds of those who had seen too much to trust in lasting peace. The world, it seemed, was caught in a moment of delicate balance, a prelude to inevitable chaos.*

They all knew it, but few wanted to actually say it.

The silence of Hank’s office was abruptly broken. The insistent ring of his phone sliced through the quiet, yet another jarring reminder that serenity on this Earth was often fleeting. The moment of calm had passed, and the storm, it seemed, was ready to begin.

"I think it's time . . . for you to know . . ." Humming under his breath as he scrawled away at his notes, both of his fuzzy blue mitts occupied by a pen and working on different projects, Hank's half-moon glasses were perched on the very tip of his nose, very nearly on the verge of sliding off as he mumbled softly along to the song routed through his earbuds. "The awful truth . . . the truth about me, and the truth about you . . ."

Glancing up at his clock, the pre-eminent mutant scientist made a note of the time, just a half hour before he was due to give his remote lecture on genetic atavism to Cambridge, before his lambent eyes cast back downwards once more. "Cause you're a brand new species, big cat, uh, oh . . ."

Running his tongue along his teeth contemplatively as he checked back over his calculations, the Beast tutted as he realised he'd been writing so quickly the ink hadn't dried and the excess had gotten all over his forearm, though, thankfully, it hadn't ruined the work.

"Space Nazis, Robert Stack, uh, oh, god damn it, gonna snap, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh . . ." Capping his pen and dropping it atop his notes, Hank moved off to clean the ink from his arm, running it under a cool burst of water from the sink and rubbing softly to get the more persistent splotches out. "Leonard Nimoy, call me back, call me back . . ."

Just as he was about to get a little more into the song, really put his baritone through its paces, the dulcet tones of Lemon Demon were interrupted by the harsh staccato of his phone going off, and he sighed as he popped out his earbuds. A shame.

He'd almost been relaxed.

Swiping his Starkphone from the bedside table, Hank brought it up to his ear and accepted the call, moving over to the kitchen to scare up a Twinkie or three for what would pass for lunch. "Hank McCoy's phone, this is Hank. How might I be of service?"

[new-berry]

Kieran / Jude. NSFW not true

This got sort of slapped together a bit. it could do with a fluff. Navel-gazey writer comment was only just getting a handle on Jude.

His cock is hard, and deep but well Jude’s cock is fucking hard as well.

He’s never forgotten his own name. That’s the cliche isn’t it, come your brains out, black out drunk on fucking. But it’s close. Closest it’s ever been. A win in the Euros: from the centre of the pitch to the back of the net.

He looks up, dizzy from the odd angle on his back on the bed and his hips tilted up, he wants this the other way around next. It’s on Kieran if he allows it. Neither of them are in charge of the other. They aren’t equals, not exactly. It’s more that Jude doesn’t have any say over Kieran. Can’t be misconstrued as favour.

Jude shakes the thought out of his head. The duty of fucking the superstar, keeping him happy.

Girls he can hurt and guys he can’t relax around. “Go work out your daddy issues on someone else,” Kieran had said, he sounded bored but not offended. “Kyle is actually the oldest.”

Kieran’s smaller than him. Smaller and meaner and full of sneaky tricks, like yanking him up across his hips, just before he thrusts in, leaving Jude speared open and off balance.

Jude bites his lip so hard it’s past a hint of copper to feeling like his blood is bubbling over.

Jude rubs his lips together, the skin isn’t even broken. It’s becuase his mouth is full of spit. He keeps rubbing his lips together to starve off the noises building in his throat. Kieran’s slightly up on his knees, pushing down, cock getting deeper. Not cruel, but Jude feels like an afterthought, second best, Like Kieran intends to come first. He’ll just be dragged along with it, accidentally fucked hard enough to come untouched.

“I don’t have a daddy kink,” he told Kieran. He doesn’t have to work to sound grossed out. “I have a not getting outed kink.” He shrugs, he knows how he looks and sprawls back slightly more, jeans that stretch across his thighs, t-shirt tight around his chest. “I have a not getting photographed at nightclubs kink.”

Jude reaches out, but drops his hand at Kieran’s unimpressed eyebrow. Jude’s already run through the team list, if Trent fucked guys.. If Aurelian played for England. If he only liked girls he wouldn’t have this issue

The sound he was trying to hold back was a harsh grunt that is instead puffed out through his nose. “Your wife isn’t here,” Kieran’s shoulders stiffened and Jude stutters out a hasty explanation. It was a miscalculation, he never knows how they feel about their wives. “I just mean there isn’t anyone else here that you’re going to spend time with.”

“Find someone your own age.” Jude keeps his hands still so he doesn’t fiddle with his clothes, “I don’t want to assume they will think it’s for a starting spot.”

Kieran’s eyes soften. “You don’t need to sell yourself short Jude.” His voice gets gentle, practised, like talking to a kid. There’s an echo of Luka and Jude’s mouth twists up. Hard pass on that.

“There’s no reason to live like a priest.” Jude shoves all the confidence in his voice he’s learned from stepping off planes into parts unknown since he was an actual kid, “offers open.”

Kieran changes position, tugs at Jude’s hips until he’s further up in Kieran’s lap and fucking hell. There’s the taste of toothpaste in his mouth and Kieran wouldn’t kiss him, not on the lips anyway.

But it’s polite isn’t it? Not to drown yourself in cologne so there isn’t a trace. No teeth. Jude throws his arm over his face, plants his heels in the bed to shove back onto Kierans dick, the angle grazing inside him.

It’s not fully dark, they can see too much of each other in the weird ambient light of a hotel in a big city. Blackout curtains that don’t close properly. Lights that always seem to be switched on.

In the dressing room after the win Kieran and he clapped hands pulling each other into a half hug. “Third floor, room 12.” Jude doesn’t even care that means he’s the one who will get kicked out. Kieran seemed almost suppressed he’d said it when they both pulled back. He don’t retract the invitation though.

Worth it to walk back to his room exhausted. Better than calling Aurelian, he isn't going to call Jobe and get mocked pining after Trent. He’s going to get laid and sleep like a baby.

Jude drags his forearm down his face, it makes his vision pop and fizz for a second.

“Wait,” he says, and it’s not particularly his voice. Thinned out a little, almost like a weird echo. He wants to ask if they will do this again, wants to know what it would be like to suck Kieran’s dick. Politeness says Kieran would do it back.

He’s surely been clocked , not his floor, not near one of the rooms his mates are in. Which is fine. Kieran had the door already open from his text. He avoids Jude’s kiss, and slips in smoothly under Jude’s chin, the kind of nibbling pecks that don’t leave a mark and have clear intent.

Kieran pauses, his dick still so fucking big inside of Jude that he imagines he can feel Kieran’s heartbeat, steady, dependable, pulsing in that thick vein that runs under it.

Thinking about it, know what it’s like is almost part of the thrill, the anticipation if it. Hardly enough time between the dressing room and walking in the open door tonight to be properly up for it.

Jude swallows the spot in his mouth. But he is up for it. Thinking about Kieran’s dick again, another win, another reward, another shot of arousal spiking up Jude’s spine. He knows he wants it all now, wants to know what it feels like to drag of his tongue against Kieran’s cock. The expectation of his mouth flooded again with spit at the first bitter taste of come as he swallows. If his jaw would ache trying to swallow all of Kieran down.

It’s not supposed to be like this. He isn’t supposed to want when everything he should want is always offered on a plate. Its selfish to want, the stretch of his legs, the press of thumbs into his hips.

Kieran’s eyes change colour in the low light of the room. Bathroom lights, phones flicking alight with messages, Jude doesn’t know him well enough to read his expressions. Intense as he looks down at Jude. Patient, probably. Jude wonders if Kieran can work out what’s probably written all over his flushed face. He probably knows, he maybe guesses. Which, fuck, fuck. He doesn’t want the gentle pity back.

“It’s better if I flip over,” Jude gets out, can’t take Kieran’s eyes on him for a second more.

Kieran stops, his eyes sweep down Jude like he’s being committed to memory. “If it’s what you like.” His voice is rougher than normal, it takes a breath to get the whole sentence out. Jude feels a shot of pride like that pleasure that jittered up his spine. “You sure, this is good.”

It’s not a question, exactly, and Jude nods. Kieran takes another breath and pulls out, doesn’t say a word, but pushes at Jude’s hip when he’s left Jude emptier out and hollow. Jude doesn’t like the feeling, but it’s got to be better than having to stare up at Kieran who keeps looking back at him like he knows something Jude would prefer not to admit to himself. It’s got to be better than hiding behind his arm, or fucking closing his eyes like some green kid.

It takes a moment for Jude to turn himself over, Kieran getting frustrated and pushing more. Jude rests his forehead on the bed, he arches his back and Kieran says “fuccck” his voice even deeper and there’s him if approval threaded through it. Jude’s face heats up even as pleasure prickles through his skin. Kieran’s hand closes possessive and sure over his hip. It’s better like this, Kieran will be back and can’t see what will end up written all over his skin.

Kieran’s palms are warm as they slide down the sweat slicked up skin of Jude’s thighs and pushed in, Jude nudged forward until his ass is even higher up. Want twists deep in Jude’s gut to be handled like this, muscle and bone and desired.

Jude doesn’t care about his breath, can hide any sound in the sheets. He just hear around the thumping of his heart loud in his ears as the blunt head of Kieran’s dick slides between his cheeks back and forth.

He’s wet back there from how much lube Kieran used, how he carefully worked him apart until Jude snapped at him to fuck him. The sneaky smirk that Kieran had made him almost beg. Jude’s eyes fell half closed, that Kieran has read about him so easily.

He watches the condom rolled down Kierans cocks with fingers that arent perfectly steady.

Kieran rubs the top of his cock against Jude’s hole. He slips around, by design not lack of skill, wet and tacky feeling from the condom. Jude’s going to say something but then he slides in and Jude’s head drops. His mouth opens wide as he sucks in air from the pillow below that smells hotel laundry powder. Maybe the hint of Kieran shampoo, like Jude’s toothpaste now. Like sweat from them both.

Jesus, fuck it’s too much.

Jude stretches out, fuck it even if it’s only this way he wants this, wants it for the whole tournament. The last game Kieran’s wife and kids will be there. By then Jude doesn’t care, he’ll be wrung out from the win. He’s going to add this to his collection. In the moment, Kieran fucking deep, grazing his prostate he doesn’t know if he means the trophy or Kieran himself.

[dnf-fic-recs]

A long (80k+ words) fic that you recommend?

Super by Lottiara

-note from mod sparkle, this is very very angsty and made me cry (read the tags before xx)

- Two of the city's superheroes fight villians and protect the city whilst keeping their true identities a secret. They cannot even know the names of each other, their faces disguised by their magical jewels. Dream is a flirty, cocky and impulsive hero with a sword and a smirk, never failing to cast witty and flirty remarks at his partner. GNotFound is clever and calculated, and can’t stand being near the flirty masked hero. Exams, friend groups, crushes, fights and prom should be their main stressors. But George and Clay barely have time to sleep, let alone focus on anything else. None of that stops George from crushing hard on his classmate, but Clay’s heart seems to be somewhere else. Perhaps with a certain masked hero he secretly spends nearly every day with. Neither can escape the responsibilities on their shoulders, and they can’t tell anyone their problems. The only person that could possibly understand what they are going through, is each other. But they don’t even know who that is. Which is Super inconvenient.

Like Magic by KangarooKen, Serotonin103, Xeniality ~ Ongoing

“Don’t you get it?” Dream said to him in an excited whisper, eyes alight with joyous realization. “You—you’re magical, George!” “What does that mean?” “It means you’re like me!” When George first met the tall, freckled child who called himself Dream, he thought the other boy was bonkers. Strange clothes, a foreign accent, a closely-guarded secret — what was George supposed to make of his new next-door neighbor? Despite the newcomer’s strangeness, the two boys quickly forge a friendship. George soon realizes that he and Dream have a lot more in common than he first thought. //Dreamnotfound Hogwarts AU//

Walls by 24notfound

He had the awkward tenderness of someone who has never been loved and is forced to improvise.

When George is finally able to visit Dream in Florida, they start to face a lot more complications than they'd anticipated.

Read Between the Lines by hayloftown

-I LOVE THIS FIC SO MUCH, WILL ALWAYS RECOMMEND (but defo read the tags cuz it gets angsty xx)

The unexpected of parenting meets the uncertainty of love. Dream has to learn how to balance building a relationship from the ground up and his kids as he faces a new school year, new coworkers, and new drama. Or, in which Dream is a parent who is a little too interested his kids’ Kindergarten teacher.

Order 73 by merlotmylove

“Did you seriously just call me a prick? Last I checked, you dumped coffee on 𝘮𝘦.” He glares up at me with angry eyes before rising to his full height, stepping closer to me. I look down, senses filled with his extravagant cologne and my sweetened coffee dripping off the silk. ✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯   Or// Dream is a self-made millionare struggling with a company growing faster than he may be able to handle. George is months away from getting a doctrate, working at a coffee shop for some semblance of peace. A very expensive and sticky mistake later, their lives entwined more than either of them welcomed.

[ash5monster01]

(@he-is-half-my-soul I hope you don’t mind but this post inspired a little something in me because I live for tropes where each of the poets come to terms with Neil’s death)

Trapped in Time

Warnings: mentions of suicide, depression, grief, light swearing, all around sad, and I’m sorry.

Summary: after Neils death and Graduation the Dead Poets make sure to keep in touch, not wanting to risk losing another. They help each other through the grief and remind each other that the powerful play still goes on. When they discover Todd still struggles they band together to do the same for him.

Masterlist

Each of the Dead Poets found themselves in different places after graduation and college. Despite the distance they never lost touch and in the end it was a good thing. They had a shared life experience, one surrounded by turmoil and trauma. Not many people in the world went through what they did. They saw the light at the end of tunnel but before they could get to it they lost a friend, their teacher, and some of them a school. So when the torture of the future they tried so desperately to avoid came crushing down on them they had each other. The only issue being the distance keeping them from seeing things right away.

Luckily for Todd, Charlie had ended up in the city just like him. Todd kept his quiet persona but was less outspoken which worked in favor with Charlie’s still boisterous personality. Todd became an English professor at NYU and Charlie found himself on Wall Street, a shark in the business, his father no longer deeming him incompetent considering he was now more successful than him. Either way the two ended up having each other, only a 30 minute cab ride from the other’s apartment. They met weekly for dinner or lunch and it was always nice to have a familiar face.

Charlie had been uptown for work. Meeting with investors and attending fancy lunches and dinner shows. Basically kissing ass and praying they’d shake on the deal. He was also bitterly annoyed when he had to cancel lunch with Todd and make plans for dinner. This bothered him because Todd didn’t have any classes today and without Charlie he would never leave the house. Todd still needed to learn how to live a little and Charlie figured it was fate he ended up near him stead of any of the other poets. So Charlie with a permanent scowl walked beside his business partner in the Broadway district, annoyed he sat through an entire play just for the investors to say they were considering a different direction. So here he was stuck uptown, annoyed about work, and disappointed he missed lunch with his best friend for something as stupid as that.

“We didn’t need them anyways Charles, we have other investors” Benjamin, his business partner pried as he tried to keep up with him.

“I know, I’m just annoyed they wasted my time. I enjoy theater but that was torture” Charlie grunted, realizing twenty minutes into the show the investors were freaks and knew nothing about real entertainment.

“Yeah I could’ve gone my entire life without seeing that” he agreed, knowing full well he didn’t understand a damn thing that happened the entire time he watched the play.

“Idiots, all of them” suddenly Charlie stopped, Benjamin practically running in to him from trying to keep up the entire time.

“Woah, why we stopping?” Benjamin caught his balance and moved back from Charlie where he almost knocked him face first to the cement.

“Todd?” Benjamin looked up to see Charlie catching the attention of a blonde gentleman stepping out of the theater.

“Charlie, what’re you doing on Broadway?” Todd meekly asked, the brunette boy approaching him. Charlie assessed the situation, surprised to see Todd out, that was until he looked up at the sign above the theater. A Midsummer Nights Dream.

“I should be asking you the same thing” he said, trying to read any emotions coming from the boy. Todd went to speak but was caught of abruptly.

“Mr. Anderson, you forgot your coat” a theater worker rushed from the doors, holding out his jacket. Todd happily accepted it. “Maybe you wouldn’t forget it if you stayed till the end of the show for once”

“Thank you Margaret” Todd acknowledged her, wincing slightly that he was caught red handed by Charlie.

“Margaret” Charlie stopped the woman from walking away and she turned with a smile. “How long have you been putting on this show?”

“About a month and a half now. Mr. Anderson here enjoys it so much he comes once a week, sometimes twice if we’re lucky” Todd’s shoulders fell and Charlie nodded and thanked her as she disappeared back into the theater.

“Do you want to explain?” Charlie pressed, Todd struggling to make eye contact with him.

“You know I don’t” Charlie sighed, pressing a hand to his face. Benjamin stood confused but patiently waited nonetheless.

“Do you know how bad this looks? Todd why would you do this to yourself?” Charlie wanted to cry. He never ever wanted to relive that night again. To this day it was still the worst 24 hours of his life and here Todd was trying to relive it.

“I don’t know Charlie?! I just do” Benjamin was surprised to hear someone refer to the man as Charlie and not Charles. Sighing Charlie turned to his business partner.

“Head back to the office, let Clarice know to clear my schedule the rest of the day. I have to deal with this” Benjamin nodded, feeling he already peeked to far into Charlie’s personal life than he ever wanted too. With zero hesitation he rushed off, ready to finish his workday.

“I need you to explain this to me Todd, or else I can’t help you” Charlie pleaded and Todd sighed as he looked down to the coat in his arms.

“Can we at least sit down?” he asked and Charlie nodded, starting back on his pace as he bustled down the city sidewalks to a diner that was sure to appear. He grimaced at the Worlds Best Coffee sign in the window that every diner in this God forsaken city seemed to have.

“You want to explain it now?” Charlie asked as he went to take a sip of the worlds best coffee. Todd kept his gaze on the table, not wanting to meet his eyes.

“It started when you had to cancel lunch since something got messed up at work. I didn’t want to sit home so I went for a walk. That’s when I saw the sign. At first I wanted to run away but then I realized I hadn’t seen the play since that night. I practically knew it word for word since Neil made me run lines with him every chance we got. It felt like I watched it yesterday even though I hadn’t seen it in years” Charlie felt his heart tighten. They had all been at the play but Todd was the one who practiced with him. Todd played every part alongside Neil’s Puck.

“So you went inside?” Charlie egged on, needing to know the dark thoughts in the boys head. They all struggled with the shadow of grief, it’s overbearing weight crushing their shoulders over the smallest things. For Charlie it was soccer. Him and Neil had played together since children and after he died he never played or watched again.

“I figured it would be a good thing. Give myself a new memory but then the end came. It was Pucks big speech and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. That was Neil’s moment, I remember cheering so loud my lungs hurt, then I remembered it was pretty much the last thing I ever heard him say. So I ran out, too afraid to relive it” Todd said and this made Charlie more confused.

“If it was too hard why did you go back?” he asked, leaning forward on the table wanting to know where this was going.

“I wanted to find the strength to finish it. I never could though. After a while it became less about finishing it and more about getting lost in the play. Feeling like that 17 year old kid again who just saw his best friend follow his dreams. It felt like when Neil was still alive” this answer hit Charlie like a ton of bricks. This was torture and he had gone too long without realizing Todd was trapped in an endless cycle of torment.

“Todd-” Charlie held his face in his hands, not knowing what to say. He wasn’t prepared for this, this was worse then having nightmares about that night or crying when it all became too much.

“I know, I know I need to stop. It’s hard though, when I’m home with nothing to do I started remembering and getting upset and when I sit in that play for at least an hour it’s as if nothing ever happened” Todd told him and Charlie nodded, understanding wanting to feel like the people they were before tragedy struck.

“You can’t go back Todd, if you ever find yourself needing to go you call me. I’ll cancel whatever I’m doing, say it’s a family emergency because you’re the only family I have Todd and I can’t let this consume you” Todd nodded, feeling guilty for having kept this secret for so long.

“Okay, I promise” with a content nod Charlie accepted this answer, not needing to have anymore depressing conversation.

After they ate their meals and Charlie made sure Todd got home he found himself unable to stop thinking about what Todd had been doing. Tugging his tie from his neck and getting ready for bed he kept going over it, again and again, wanting to understand how he could put himself through that. Yet the longer he thought about it he realized how little closure they all got. The days after Neil’s death were filled with so many things. In a matter of a few days they went through losing a friend from suicide, a funeral, their teacher getting fired, and for Charlie, getting kicked out of school. Everyone was so focused on finding who to blame, including the Poets, that none of them ever came to terms with the fact that Neil was really gone. So with this in mind he came up with an idea.

Putting the plan together wasn’t hard. Using his connections he found a way. So even though Todd thought this was just a normal dinner for the two of them he actually had no idea what was to come. So Charlie knocked on his door, signature smirk proud on his face as he waited for Todd to open it.

“Hey Charlie-” Todd froze as he saw not only Charlie but Knox, Chris, Meeks, and Pitts standing behind him. “What’s this?”

“We’re all going to dinner, and a show” Charlie reached forward and Todd saw the familiar ticket in his hand. When Charlie had reached out to the boys and told them about what was happening they all agreed immediately to help Todd through this. After all every single one of them needed it too.

“I thought it was a bad idea” Todd said, already growing nervous at the thought.

“I did. I still do. Then I realized the reason you felt that way about the play was because you never got closure. None of us did. So we’re gonna stay to the end, and hopefully when we all get through it we will feel a bit better” Charlie said before stepping to the side and gesturing to follow them out. Todd nodded, still nervous as they left his apartment and made their way out to the loud streets.

It was like deja vu sitting in those seats all together again. Every single one of them remembered the night like yesterday. Charlie nearly jumped as the orchestra started in the pitch black of the theater. Knox squeezed Chris’ hand like his life depended on it. Todd tried to settle his nerves as they waited for it to start. When the actor who played Puck appeared it was as if the whole group couldn’t breathe. He had the same look in his eyes that Neil did all those years ago and Charlie felt himself begin to cry. Pitts and Meeks looked at him with sympathy as they all faced this nightmare together. Suddenly Todd’s hand appeared on Charlie’s back and gave it a comforting rub.

When the end of the play approached Charlie felt the air surrounding him thin. There it was, the feeling Todd had described. This was the last moment they saw their friend with a smile on his face. When he came out for that final bow and looked so fucking proud. Their friend who deserved the world and everything it had to offer because if anyone of them deserved to be in this world so did he. So Charlie sucked in a breath and kept his eyes on Todd who looked like he wanted to flee his seat. All six of them grabbed hands and prepared for it to end and the curtain to drop.

“If we have unearned luck. Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends” chills filled their bones as the last line was spoken and the curtain dropped. As Charlie turned to Todd he saw the boy absolutely broken, sobs raked his body. The boys all wrapped themselves around him in a hug. Bystanders clearly confused by their emotional behavior but this was a beautiful moment for the group. They faced their demons and they did it together.

“See Mr. Anderson, the end is beautiful” Margaret said as the exited the theater and he smiled at her.

“It really is, thank you Margaret” Todd told her and she waved as the group followed him out the doors.

“That was intense” Knox sighed, his arm wrapped tightly around his wife.

“I never realized how heavy that moment was until now” Meeks muttered pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“Neil would’ve loved this, going to Broadway and seeing the shows. Hell even being in them” Charlie said and the group nodded as they reminisced their friend.

“He’s with us now, I know it” Pitts smiled and Todd looked up at the sky, barely any stars visible, a violet haze around the earth.

“He changed my life, I wish he would’ve stuck around to see how it turned out” Todd muttered and Charlie tugged him in a hug, thankful he could help his friend.

“He was my best friend, my first friend. The only guy who put up with me until I met you dorks” Charlie said as he pulled away.

“His heart was too big, he would’ve given each of us the world if he could” Knox told them and Chris smiled, never having met their beloved friend. But she remembered him in that play, it was the best local theater she had ever seen and despite not knowing him she knew he would’ve changed the world.

“To Neil, and us. Remember the powerful play goes on and we may contribute a verse”

[bg3-stole-my-soul]

TavTash Tag Game

I was tagged by my beloved bestie @randomfanner to participate in @bearhugsandshrugs and @crystal-overdrive Tavtash game!!

1. Tell us a bit about your Tav!

I have many, but out of them all only 1 is shipped with Gortash, and that is Kieran. Unfortunately I have no pictures of her yet as I haven’t made her in game 🥲

She’s a Zariel Tiefling with a very warm orangey-brown skin tone and a deep scar on her cheek. She’s got pretty horns that she is actually proud of. She has orange-gold eyes. She has long auburn locs. Body type wise she’s built like a brick shithouse and is very androgynous looking (in full armor she’s often mistaken for a man) , but she doesn’t mind this fact.

2. What alignment is your Tav? How does that align or clash with Gortash? Do they agree with him morally?

Kier is Lawful-Neutral good, which leads to a lot of conflict with Gortash. The two often disagree, which does sadden her for multiple reasons. Kieran is usually really easygoing and Gortash is very much not—

3. What God does your Tav follow? Is Gortash's position as Bane's chosen an issue?

Hahahahaha Gortash being Bane’s Chosen is a MASSIVE issue for Kieran because she is a paladin/cleric of Lathander. When she saw him during the cutscene underneath Moonrise girl was genuinely tempted to throw her mace at his skull because “THIS FUCKING MORON BECAME A B A N I T E”

She does make it a personal goal to try and help him renounce Bane and become less of a tyrannical asshat—

4. What did your Tav think of Gortash when they first met? Did they take his offer of an alliance?

Well— the first time they met was actually pregame when they were children. Kieran was the young “apprentice” of the local glassmakers (she was given to them by her parents who did not think they could care for her), and lived not far from Gortash’s family. When she first met him she thought he was a scrawny little dork who was bound to get his ass handed to him in any scraps he got into— so she declared herself his bodyguard and friend. He wasn’t very keen on this big, smiley, weirdo.. but he got used to it. Then one day she disappeared— turns out Raphael impulse buys “useful” children often. So once Gortash was taken to the House of Hope they were reunited and he once again had his protector.. just in a much worse situation. They eventually worked to escape together, but were separated.

When meeting at the coronation she’s… not happy. Like she’s obviously happy to know he’s alive as that was a worry she carried with her for years, but learning he was the Chosen of Bane and trying to take over the world with an Elder Brain? Ya no she very much wishes to BONK him on the head and ask why he thought this was a good idea. She accepts the alliance with a few extra conditions (like having him work to help fix Karlach’s engine because she’s very upset about that) hoping to rekindle their friendship and tell Bane to go fuck himself.

5. How did Gortash and your Tav get together? What do they see in each other?

During the actual story of BG3 the pair have a lot of complex feelings about one another and argue often, but deep down the two could never fully hate one another. They literally survived the Hells together— so lots of tension, lingering glances, and thoughts about what could’ve/should’ve been.

Post Game I think is where the two could finally truly open up to one another. It would take a bit of time, but Kieran would be placed as Gortash’s “handler” while the two work to rebuild the city— and they can fall back into their long ago pattern of working together. Because when not fighting they can work together well, they balance the other out. Very Good Cop/Bad Cop dynamic at times.

As for what they see in one another-

Kieran’s always admired Gortash’s mind. His creativity and ingenuity have always astounded her. As children she often asked questions about his tinkering and encouraged it. She also has (almost) always found his wit funny, even when it got the two of them into trouble.

Gortash on the other hand has (almost) always liked Kieran’s strength, both inside and out Kieran’s never allowed herself to buckle. He admires her perseverance even in times when he would’ve stopped. He also likes that despite his very methodical nature, Kieran’s easygoing and adaptable to almost any situation.

6. What does the future hold for your Tav and Gortash? Are they in a relationship, a one time thing, are they going to rule the sword coast together or kill each other in a tragic showdown?

Realistically? Tragic showdown that would tear Kieran to pieces. Idealistically and because it’s my brainchild? They get together after working together to help rebuild the city (and symbolically their relationship). As for kids I haven’t put a lot of thought into it yet, but they would at least have 2.

Unfortunately I do not have anyone else to tag- but if you wish to participate, please do!!

[futurebird]

I was watching this really great video from Sophie from Mars "The World Is Not Ending" where she addresses climate change doomerism and the importance of being able to imagine and then working to create a healthy, non-violent, co-operative, self-governed, technologically advanced post-capitalist future. She talked about "reproductive labor" the work of producing, educating, raising and caring for the next generation and used the London trans community as an example. She talked about the kind of balancing acts around chores and planning and how all of the work that needed to be done got done without a transactional system. And that's when I started to feel-- uncertain.

Being in a tight knit community scares me to death. Social obligations, relationships that aren't well-defined scare me. Social skills have always been a struggle for me and I know I'm not alone in that. So, though I'm frequently one of the first to advocate getting to know your neighbors, and organizing locally there is an aspect to this kind of interaction that is frightening. I think this fear is natural for anyone who has ever had the experience of failing to fit into such communities-- because communities organized outside "the market" already exist. And people who are neurodivergent, or not a member of the dominant group may find such networking daunting, overwhelming, impossible-- And "tight knit" communities can be sources of great harm and evil. I think about the "tight knit" group of girls at the all girls school I attended-- I think about the times I've been "not a good fit" for some little theatre club or organization. Suddenly being a door dash worker paid by an app who never speaks to their "boss" seems appealing. One of the best things about living in a big city is you can minimize your mandatory human interactions per day. So, I guess what I want to discuss is if there is a way to imagine a solar punk future -- that gives those of us who are drained each time we must interact with more people a way to thrive? I don't think this is an insurmountable problem, I just think that people who are more outgoing, who enjoy those interactions more might not realize that when they describe such communities to some of us it sounds like you are describing the 5th circle of hell. (It's not that I don't want to be around you. Don't take this personally. No, it's that I'm certain that you, after a time, probably won't want to be around me. And I'd rather not find out either way. I'd rather just skip it. I have more than enough people in my life as it is.)

Some of the solutions can be found in cities. It's possible to participate in many community events, to help, to support the people around you without a lot of extraneous interaction. The key is a baseline understanding of politeness, and using online tools to bring together groups of people as needed. For example I've volunteered for years with a park restoration group over by 3rd Ave. I've shown up and planted vegetables, cleaned trash, pulled up asphalt, and I keep an eye on the garden when I'm in the area because I feel a connection to it. I don't think anyone in the group knows my name, I never talk to anyone, I just show up and work-- or make a suggestion if asked. I really appreciate that they haven't forced me into a corner or asked me to introduce myself. (Or worse when someone goes out of their way to learn your name, when you don't know their name-- and they are like "Hi ____" it just feels like a way to make you feel small.) Maybe, after a few more years, I'll introduce myself. I'm the same way with our co-op's roof garden group. I'm always there but don't say very much. No one forces me to say much and that's why I keep coming back. So, thinking about these groups has talked me down from the ledge of "the solar punk future is going to be full of people who know your name and say it all the time and you won't know who they are or what they want and it's going to be like a big loud party." No... I think there are ways to make this work even for anti-social people.

[sigappurojakal]

You are the proton and I am the electron...Character: Aarav and Anvita's story is of a small town. Aarav was a calm, serious and stable boy. He was always immersed in his work, top in studies and believed in living everything solid and steadily in life. On the other hand, Anvita was a fast, chubby and enthusiastic girl to try something new every moment. She was always full of energy, talking to people, trying to learn new things and always on the way to change.The meeting of both was a coincidence, like the meeting of electron and proton inside a molecular.First meetingOne day, there was a science seminar held in the city, where both had arrived from different objectives. Arav came to understand the rules of science in depth, while Anvita came there to enjoy the environment and meet new people more than science.Aarav was sitting in a corner listening to a lecture seriously, then suddenly Anvita came to her and said, "How boring do you think all these things are, right? "Aarav looked at her, her laughter and talks like lightening in her serious life." "No, I find these things exciting," Aarav replied slowly. Anvita smiled and said, "Your adventures are quite! "That's where the friendship of both began. Aarav found Anvita's fast-paced, chubby talks and way of life weird, but somewhere she started enjoying her talks. On the other hand, Anvita began to draw the stability of Aarav, her peace and her patience.Balance of a relationshipTime flies and both inevitably joined each other's lives. In the serene world of Aarav, Anvita filled laughter and mania, while Aarav taught stability and balance to Anvita's fierceness and enthusiasm.Sometimes there is an argument between them, like sometimes electron and protons go against each other. Anvita always tried to adopt new things, while Aarav wanted to think and maintain consistency in everything. But every time, this opposite nature between them brings them closer to each other.Aarav realized that without Anvita her life would have stopped at one place, and Anvita realized that without Aarav's peace and patience she could not lead her life in the right direction.Definition of loveOne day, when they were both sitting by the river, Anvita laughed and said, "You know, we're both totally different." You are proton and I am electron. "Aarav smilingly said, "Maybe that's why our mail is like neutron—neutral, calm, and balanced." "They both understood the definition of love, acknowledging their different nature. They knew that the balance of negative and positive experiences in life gives real happiness.The conclusionThe story of Aarav and Anvita teaches that love is not merely in finding similarities, but in creating balance between opposite nature. Just as electron and protons combined to create neutron, the combination of opposite thinking in life creates a stable and happy life.They were both incomplete without each other, and their love was a balance that separated them from the whole world. Life requires both negativity and positivity, and the right balance leads life in the right direction.

[karoiseka]

15) Free Day 2

((A little Heavensward time-period. I decided a certain someone would not have kept that helm on 24/7....and I know it changes perspectives halfway through, I'm going to quietly ignore that. lol))

The wooden pell made a hollow sound as her sword bit deep into the side, and with a sigh, Karo tugged it out of the wood.  Attempting to keep up with the lessons she had taken back in Ul’dah with the gladiator’s guild, she was only frustrating herself out on the road.  It’s not like she was welcome back in the city, and she had been slacking on her lessons anyway.  Haurchefaunt had attempted to help her with her form while she was in Camp Dragonhead, which she greatly appreciated, but here in the wilds of Dravania she had made sure to keep her trusty bow out instead of trying to rely on a new form of combat.  The arrows were much more suited for flying foes anyway in her opinion.

Straightening out her shoulders, she tried to remember the proper way to hold the shield so it would help deflect, instead of helping to shatter her arm from a direct hit.  She only had a small buckler with her, deciding to keep the heavier full shield back at Fortemps manor, and it was both a boon and a hindrance of what she already knew.  Scowling, she adjusted her position once more, before nearly jumping out of her skin at the voice directly behind her.

“You’ll want to raise your arm up a bit more,” Spinning around, Karo was surprised to see Estinien, his deep voice was soft–as if he was trying not to spook her like he already had.  If her tail fur hadn’t already been standing straight out, seeing him without his standard helm on probably would have managed to do the trick.  Speechless, she stared at the taller man, unsure of what to say or do, her form and what she had been doing almost completely forgotten.

Glancing away as if marginally embarrassed, the dragoon tried again.  “Your form.  You’ll need to bring your arm up more if you don’t want it shattered,” his steel grey eyes turned to her once more as she stayed frozen like a mouse caught at play in the cat’s territory.  With an audible sigh, he finally looked properly at her equipment.

“If you’d like more live practice, I’ll spar with you,” Karo’s breathing had steadied by this point, and her tail fur for the most part settled back in place.  “Or drill you in better form if that would work better?” The surprises wouldn’t stop coming as she tried not to strain her neck looking up at him.

“I could use the practice, as you could well see,” the reply finally made it through.  “It’s obviously not my strong suit in combat.” Nodding in response, Estinien drew his lance.

The first thing he noticed as she squared up across from him was the obvious size difference between them.  She was scarcely taller than most of the Elezan youth that were just joining the ranks.  The second though was that she had much more sense of balance in her stance than most of them did as well.  The bow work was working in her favor, since she knew how to move her feet without tangling them, keeping her focus forward.

Dipping into his own fighting position, he tried to follow any additional tells her movements might give him.  He had noticed during their travels so far that her ears and tail were very expressive, so he watched there.  Not disappointed in his assessment, her tail twitched ever so slightly as she experimentally lunged forward.  Batting away the feeble attempt, he tapped the small buckler once before taking a single step back and dropping into a defensive position once more.

A look of determination finally crossed the Miqo’te’s face, and Estinien had a hard time not grinning in response.  There was the warrior he had seen on the battlefield, there was the vaulted hero of Eorzea.  Without pretense, he pushed a gentle attack–a learning style–and the mock battle ensued in earnest.  They dance around each other, each pressing and defending in turn, and he watched as her form adjusted to where it should be.  She was no match for him with his lance, not with her rudimentary skills at this point, but watching her learn how to fight against him was pure pleasure in this depressing journey.

As the training continued, he slowly added in more varied attacks–still none of his jumps–but pushed her limits of what she had been learning.  The speed of attacks also was increasing as muscles limbered up, and comfort in the movements continued.  Continuing to monitor the fight, he was getting ready to call a small break, when she twisted in an unconventional way, rushing in closer than his lance would allow to easily counter to score a surprise hit on his hip.

They stayed frozen there for a long moment, before breaking away, panting.  Karo held a proud expression, despite her excursions, and rightfully so.  He hadn’t seen that move coming, and it was a good place to leave off for the evening–the sun having already set as they sparred.

“Good, you’re doing much better,” was all he said though, before sheathing his lance and with one last nod, headed back to where they were bunking for the night.  At least it was marginally warmer here than in Falcon’s Nest.

[dionisms]

[ yuyu kitamura, demigirl, she / them ] — whoa! IZUMI TANAKA just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for SEVEN YEARS, working as a GRAD STUDENT / PART TIME WORKER @ COVER TO COVER . that can’t be easy, especially at only TWENTY FIVE. some people say they can be a little bit PEDANTIC and CONCERNED, but i know them to be METICULOUS and ATTENTIVE. whatever. i guess i’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to BROOKLYN!

STATS

character name: izumi tanaka / nicknames: izzy, mimi / place of birth: nyc, usa / birthday: september 10th / sexuality: panromantic pansexual /gender identity: demi-girl ( she or them ) / zodiac: virgo / mbti: intj / occupation: graduate student of linguistics, part time worker at cover to cover / languages: japanese, english, latin, spanish, french, german, arabic, persian / moral alignment: lawful good / love language: acts of service

BIOGRAPHY

izumi is born as the middle child in a family of overachievers. her father's a finance analyst at a skyscraper somewhere, and her mother's a surgeon. they are impossible to impress, and it takes a while for izumi to realize she does not have to strive to do that, she does not have to for that unachievable goal. at the end of the day, it's clear it will only make her unhappy. albeit their parents are working for most hours of the day ( and night ) the tanaka siblings grow up in a somewhat peaceful and pleasant household. as it is common between siblings, there are screaming matches and spats every once in a while, and it's usually izumi who tries to find the balance in between them. they grow up, and izumi finds her passion in languages. it's her favorite thing about new york, the fact that there are so many people from so many countries. she first realizes her talent with it when speaking with one of their neighbors. she picks up spanish from an old lady who finds her very well-behaved, and cooks for her every once in a while. during high school, she takes as many electives as she can, and joins other language courses. it's clear that she will apply for a linguistics major, and does her best to keep her gpa high. applies to many colleges throughout the country, and is over the moon when she gets into nyu. however, unlike her other siblings, she does not get a full ride, and while her parents are ready to help — she wants to pay them back eventually. university life is different, though it's also a space where she grows and becomes her own person. moving to a flat with a roommate, she learns how to stand on her own two feet. gets close to her professors, and they encourage her to pursue an academic career. after graduating, she gets into grad school. it's difficult to juggle while also working, but izumi wouldn't change it for the world. when it comes to her personality, she is pedantic. usually gets stuck in the details, which helps a lot in her studies, but not so much in real life. super careful, and calculative, the type of person who wants to know exactly the itinerary of a day before going out to meet someone to hang out. she has been trying to cut loose, but it's sometimes a challenge. she loves expressing herself through fashion and clothes, and can be found wearing color-coded outfits depending on the day. cheerful, but can get stuck in her head when something does not go according to plan.

IDEAS

- siblings! (will be putting up wcs, but feel free to hit me up hehe) - childhood friends / enemies / etc - high school friends / enemies / etc - ppl who also went / is going to nyu! might have had some classes together, or maybe they still study there? - other ppl who also pursue an academic career, and they do study sessions (and cry) tgt - she works at cover to cover part time, so any regulars there would be interesting - they go to the same café, and strike up a conversation one day

[morguemaw]

I WANNA HEAR THE LORE DUMP PLEAS

I HAD TO COPY PASTE AGAIN PLS WORK WITH ME

ITS ABOUT MY OC ENDO!! I REALLY LOVE HIM <333 BE GENTLE WITH ME THE INSPO SOURCE IS OBVIOUS BUT IM SHY WITH IT BECUASE OF HOW BASHED PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY DO THIS

ENDO BACKSTORY:

Endo was born and raised in Japan, moving to the city he lives in now after turning ten after his grandfather passed and left a Self Defence training school in his hands. Endo took charge of said school, and ran it with Cinder when he turned 14 as he was not yet old enough to own it himself. Shortly after he was 17 and given full ownership of the small school withint he town, he got involved in an incident that would change the course of his life.

Endo was exposed to a concentrated solution of nitroglycerin, a highly unstable and explosive liquid. Despite the solution mixing into the water within his body, he didnt go through with getting properly helped, soon gaining the ability to generate and control fire and smoke at just the age of 18, once he hit 20 he learned explosions and lava as well.

Endo quickly realized that he had the power to generate and control these elements, and he struggled to control his abilities. With his arrogant and hot- blooded nature, his abilities often ran wild, causing chaos and destruction wherever he went. However, he slowly learned to harness his powers and use them for good, becoming a powerful Vanguard in his world.

It's an even more impressive considering he's only over 20 years old with so much time and means to improve, and yet he's already rubbing shoulders with the top Champions.

Concept: The world-build that Endo lives in is akin to a stereotypical Hero/Villain concept. Terms were changed overtime to try and balance out the cliche view on those within.

CINDER

TEACHER, BUSINESS PARTNERS, CHILDHOOD FRIENDS.    

Within the growing lore of the world dynamic and their overall relationship, Cinder met Endo shortly after his 'awakening' arc. A arc inwhich Cinder escaped from a coma-induced tomb within a lava rock after his own lore took place. After this awakening, Cinder and Endo met in highschool, Cinder being a few years older than Endo. It was here Endo explained to Cinder that, considering he is not yet old enough to own his business, yet he is old enough to work, he is offering the Self Defence school to Cinder to run until he is. This helped grow their connection as they grew, as when Endo was old enough, Cinder had since graduated from CTC, and was in the process of purchasing the entire CTC school itself, making Endo's school a small sister location for those not yet prepared for the hardcore training the CTC provides. As you can guess, their bond is extremely strong, and due to the events explained here, Endo was offered a spot in the CTC, which he passed with flying scores and, despite also being offered to be a Champion, he currently is a Vanguard while still teaching in his own school.

CTC: Champion Training Course is a course inwhich people who have abilities go to train to help better understand and expand them, know how to properly use them, but also to start training to be next in line for a Vanguard or Champion title. However if they do not meet the criteria needed to show they are responsible or confident in their training, they will instead leave the course and will return back to their life before the course with just a better grip on their abilities. This course offers free service to those who often are just curious to what they behold

THEN TO EXPLAIN THE CHAMPION / VANGUARD THING ITS THAT CHAMPIONS ARE PRO HEROS, VANGUARDS ARE JUST HEROS THAT NORMALLY GET CALLED WHILE THE PROS DEAL WITH THE BIGGER ISSUES

BC IN THIS WORLD IF U ARENT TRAINED U CANNOT BE HERO

BUT OFC THERES STILL OTHER MINOR PPL. LIKE I HAVE A GUY WHO IS IN THIS WORLD TOO WHO IS A CRYPTIC HUNTER AND THE ONLY POWERS HE HOLDS ARE WITCH LIKE POWERS LIKE THE WHOLE CLICHE BREWING POT SHIT

THEN OFC A CRYPTIC FOR THE CRYPTIC HUNTER!!! I HAVE MORE TOO

ITS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE A SLICE OF LIFE STORY

[halfbakedspuds]

Did they have a meet cute? Or was it a train wreck?

If someone flirted with or showed an interest in their S/O, how would the other react?

For anyone you'd like :)

Thanks for the ask! I'll do this for the major couples across all my WIPs.

It's long, so it continues under the cut.

Did they have a meet cute? Or was it a train wreck?

Lyanni Sverik and Adrian Castellan (Children of the Stars):

Lyanni and Adrian meeting was a very uncomfortable time for both of them.

Basically, Lyanni had slighted her people's temples by digging a little too deep into their secrets and because their word is law, she was turned from the heiress of a fallen noble house into a slave destined for the mines, or worse.

Adrian, having just won a rather brutal war for Lyanni's people, was offered a choice of slaves to choose a servant from, and she was the only one he could save without destroying a delicate political balance integral to his job, despite abhorring the entire concept with his very being.

The first thing they ever agreed on was to pretend that that whole ordeal had never happened, that their official relationship according to the documents didn't exist and that they were just housemates. And of course, that blossomed into friendship and finally into a romance of some exceptional blindness all round.

Adrian Castellan and Dima Leznitsky (Children of the Wolves):

Dima was Adrian's boyfriend before he left Callisto, and they actually met while trying to do the exact same thing.

Adrian and his siblings had tried -and rather catastrophically failed- to secure a trade deal with another clan, resulting in him booking it through the lower parts of Hab-tower 6 while being chased by another clan's warriors and eventually pulling the old "slip into the same booth as someone at a restaurant and act like you belong there" trick.

The person whose booth he slipped into turned out to be Dima Leznitsky, who was actually doing something similar to hide from a Solar Homeguard search party and to figure out what he was going to do next, which is how Dima ended up living with clan Castellan for a few months and him and Adrian becoming more involved in that sense.

Jason Haliday and Helga Ravenscar (The Tempest Prince):

I distinctly remember them meeting because Jason called Helga out for purposefully intimidating some of the younger kids that trained with them only to proceed to getting his ass beat in a duel for the next... 4, 4½ hours?

Yeeeaah, he became a magos for a reason, man's can't fight worth toffee...

It was a bit of a trainsmash, but after ironing out some kinks from both their sides, they became inseparable and a long adventure later, share the surname 'Snowsong'.

Alex Haliday and Isaac Blackwell (The tempest Prince):

Unfortunately, Alex isn't the POV character of the first few books, so there's only really snippets of their meeting (although I want to actually change this in my second draft to have multiple POVs including this scene.

Anyways, Alex and Isaac met because of the inter-city blood games, where both of them had had a sibling representing their respective city in the unascended category (basically: regular humans beating the shit out of each other, not hunters yet) and we're supporting them

They had a somewhat cute scene with Alex trying to give Isaac his number and learning very quickly that Allyria doesn't have any cell coverage, but they did hit it off and made plans to meet up again, which did work out after the chaos that was the war of transcendance.

If someone flirted with or showed interest in their S/O, how would they react?

Lyanni and Adrian:

Lyanni early in the book might've felt a bit uncomfortable, but would've brushed it off. Later in the book she would definitely go full passive-aggressive or aggro mode, and I think she actually has a line in the book where she says something along the lines of "Excuse you, b****," to someone who was flirting with Adrian in a very obvious manner.

Adrian's just fucken oblivious, but if he did manage to notice he'd handle it in classic Adrian fashion: sauntering up to Lyanni and asking a seemingly casual question while putting emphasis on referring to her as 'My love' or something along those lines. Something he just doesn't usually do, but that would signal to the other person to back off. If he missed his opportunity, he'd feel a bit jealous but wouldn't really show it.

Adrian and Dima:

Imma be honest, these two were more so a case of a very passionate and hastily made decision backfiring than anything else.

Even younger Adrian is just oblivious to these things, but considering what Dima ended up doing to Adrian and his people, I don't think he would've cared enough to feel anything about it.

Jason and Helga:

See, early Jason and Helga would just ignore this to try and not cause a scene.

By the time they start dating, they're both comfortable in their relationship to have decided to make a game out of this.

I'm going to use an example where Jason is getting flirted with and Helga watches this happen, but it works the same the other way around as well.

In this example, Jason will play really, really stupid to the interested party's flirtations, trying to throw them off and make them uncomfortable as they try to be ever less subtle to get their point across. In comes Helga, acting like a totally unknown individual who's also interested.

The goal is to see how badly they can get the other person to embarrass themselves in an attempt to flirt before giving up, and it's actually a common enough occurrence (thanks to people trying to use them for status and power) that this is how they pass the time at social functions

Alex and Isaac:

Alex has a bit of a confidence issue thanks to his power making a lot of people afraid of him or deem him as 'subhuman' (even though only the children are fully human in the hunter cities in any case), and so he'd sulk about it quite badly, but he'd just back off: believing that Isaac deserves better than him in any case.

Isaac on the other hand, is rearing to start some shit. Hallowsteel knocks out sensation for about an hour and having a prosthetic arm lined with the stuff he's not afraid to give someone temporary full body paralysis for trying to flirt with his man. In fact, one of the biggest things Alex lectures him on is to 'stop stunning people, goddamnit'

[16woodsequ]

hi! I’ve been considering attending university in Japan because I’m a Canadian studying at an international school in the Philippines. I know you spent some years in Japan and I was wondering what you could tell me about your experience there? Without too much detail ofc, just what you’re comfortable sharing. 🩷

btw I’ve been reading and rlly like your Apple, Honey and Lavender series. your storytelling is sooo good

Hi! What an interesting question! I did spend some time in Japan, but it was actually only three months, while I was in high school, so my experience might not be as helpful for you as you would like.

But I can give you some thoughts!

Coming to Japan from Canada, one of my favourite things was the train and subway. I come from a city without a robust system like that, and in Japan I took the train or subway every day. In the mornings the train was pretty full, and I learned to go to where the front of the train would stop, since I found there was slightly less people lined up there. My balance is pretty bad, so my everyday goal was to get deep enough into the train where I could hold onto something. The trains were be so full that if you didn't do that you would just be standing in a group of people, trying to keep your balance without falling on anyone. Also, everyone keeps their bags between their legs to keep them out of the way, so I got very good at slipping it off smoothly as I got on.

As a high school student I went to a school with an language program, so all the kids I was in class with spoke English. Still, I had studied Japanese enough to be able to understand basic common phases, and recognise if I was on the wrong train! Which did happen once, but thankfully I noticed!

I had two host families, for a month and a half each, so I got a diverse experience that way. One lived in an apartment close enough to the school that we walked, and one lived in a house farther away so that we took a train for an hour before school.

I already knew a lot about Japanese culture before going, and that helped a lot. My family had hosted Japanese students growing up, so I understood many of the customs. Gift giving is a large part of the culture. I brought gifts for both my host families and brought maple candies to school to share.

In my experience, Japanese people are very generous. The fact that I was a child under their care probably influenced this, but my host parents both bought me socks when they saw mine had holes (it took till the second time this happened for me to realise what was happening) and my first host mother bought be a kimono as a surprise when I'd expressed how pretty they were on a trip, and my second host mother bought me shoes when she saw mine were wearing out. She also bought me underwear because she did the laundry and mine were worn! Which I wasn't expecting at all, but I think it goes to show how much they treated me like their own daughter while I was there. I don't know what the experience would be like as an adult living independently, but I do think it's a cultural thing to keep in mind.

Of course, I didn't experience adult Japanese culture. From what I know there's a lot of expected socialization after work, like going to bars and karaoke. Hanging out with your coworkers is really important culturally.

Another cultural experience I got to have was public baths. I went to two public baths. One was a school weekend trip that had a public bath for the students. At the time I wasn't as familiar with public bath rules, so I went into the water with my washcloth, but that is not how it's done. When using public baths you keep you cloth or towel out of the water, often folded on your head. If you cloth falls into the water, you wring it out outside of the bath. I think this is for cleanliness purposes.

The second bath I went to was an onsen with my host family. By then I had looked up social conduct, so I knew what was expected. As a Canadian I wasn't used to public nudity, but I was eager to experience different things, so I was willing to go. I very quickly became comfortable in the baths. It's divided by gender and with anybody naked, you kind of forget about it after a while. Overall it was a good experience.

Another major difference for me, which probably isn't the case for you since you live in the Philippians right now, was the rain! It rained so much and so long! Very different from where I grew up. I always had an umbrella in my backpack. I lived in Sapporo, and everyone told me they didn't get that much rain, which I didn't understand at all until I saw the news about cities further south getting literally flooded from rain!

Other random differences, Japanese street signs are different. That probably feels obvious, but it took me almost three months to realise that the speed signs were entirely different than what I was expecting.

Students at school would talk to me just because I spoke English. I don't know if this would happen as university, but I had a boy come up and say 'hi' to me every day, and pretty much nothing else!

Oh! Major thing I didn't expect in Japan: public wi-fi is not really a thing. Even in the airport I landed in, there were only certain wi-fi spots in the airport that had wi-fi, not the whole airport. At the time I didn't have data, so I really noticed the lack of public wi-fi. Some people would carry around person wi-fi devices but I ended up not using my phone much outside of home because there was no wi-fi elsewhere.

Another thing to know, that maybe you do already, is deodorant is not as common in Asian countries. I just brought my own from Canada but that might be something to look into.

My favourite Japanese candy: Mistuya Cinder. I love it and I can't find it in Canada! I only tried the pop once, and I wish I'd tried it more. Convenience stores were very fun for me because I got to try cool snacks and candies. I also made it a goal to visit different vending machines. I tried a lot of different juices and pops since they have many different flavours we don't have in Canada.

Anyways, I don't know if I gave you anything that you were looking for, but I did enjoy reminiscing for a while! And I'm glad you're enjoying the Apple Honey and Lavender series! Thanks for the ask!

[multiversxwhore]

☾☾☾Hello! Hope you enjoy what you’re about to read, I would appreciate it if you like, and reblog my work here on tumblr. Please do not share my work anywhere else, and if you see it has been, or someone is claiming the work as their own please tell me. My master list is pinned to my page if you wish to see more! ☽☽☽

Parings: Peter Quill x black!oc

Word count: 1k

a/n: here’s a mini play list I made based off this one shot, and the oc: Spotify playlist

Featured songs: Drops of Jupiter by Train , and LOVE by Kendrick Lamar

Jumping from Jupiter to Knowhere

Part. 1

Akira stood on the balcony as she tried to take in the new found peace of her life with the Guardians. She smiled to herself as she thought about the first time they saved her from her dying planet Fury. She had no family, and no family meant that she was no longer royalty, on any planet. The watch Rocket made her beeped on her wrist, she blew out a breath of  content from her mouth as she turned to go back into her ring apartment. 

“Calm down Kira, you’ve had many dates before, many suitors.” She took a moment to look at her reflection, her eyes emerald green, a reminder of her home planet, and all the family she lost. Peter’s goofy grin flashed across her mind just then, his personality is contagious. He got her out of her princess mentality, always reminding her that it’s okay  to laugh or talk too loudly. It was his silly puns, and  references to  songs she had never heard of  before now. She’s come to learn that it was just his language. She sighed to herself, dusted off her outfit, and made her way out the door. As she walked through the city, children greeted her with big hand waves, giggles, and even bigger smiles. Some of the children sat in a circle around Drax, he appeared to be teaching them meditation. His legs crossed, palms pressed together, and posture relaxed. 

At the edge of the city where forest had begun to grow thanks to Groot, and Rocket. Peter sat by himself on top of an old blanket;  next to him a basket that seemed to be full of snacks, and his all too familiar Walkman. Just then she was reminded of her own mp3 in her back pocket, grasping it in her hand, she froze as finally noticed Akira approaching. 

“I was starting to get worried you’d get lost, I would have come get you, but I figured you’d think that I thought that you were stupid. I don’t think that by the way.” He rambled nervously as he stood to his feet, but also tried not to trip over himself. His eyes looked over her face, he’s caught in astonishment  each time at how beautiful she is. Peter became a complete doofus around her; it was obvious to everyone but the two of them that they were immediately into each other. The stolen, lingering glances, the way they would “accidentally” touch hands, or how Peter developed a habit of obnoxiously joke telling. 

“No it was fine, back on my home planet guards would follow me everyone for my safety. That’s the one thing I don’t miss.” She stepped onto the blanket, Peter took her hand to help her balance on her way down. They both say cross legged, the picnic basket between them, they sat in silence at first. He of course couldn’t take his eyes off Akira, her skin burnt orange from many years of living so close to the sun. Her eyes vibrant  green, fire curly hair, “what a site” he’d say to himself. 

“So I…put together my own awesome mix, Rocket made this cord splitter. We can both listen, if you want.” 

“Yes, yes I want to.” He answered immediately, he tried to contain his giddiness, he coughed awkwardly grabbing his Walkman. 

“No, um I found this iPod in Rockets stuff, he said he was going to strip it, but he was kind enough to let me have it.” Peter scoffed upon hearing this, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, was this the same Rocket that didn’t want to let him borrow batteries? 

“He’s got a decent soft side, just gotta talk to him, and listen.” She said taking his headphones and plugging it in, then reaching over she places them back over his head. Her fingers caressing his cheek as she pulls back. “There he goes again looking at me like that…like I’m the only girl in the galaxy.” 

“I…I listen.” He mumbled to himself, but she just ignored him, smiling to herself. Putting her earbuds in her ears, she scrolled through her playlist nervously. She spent hours milling over each song, rather or not he would like her picks, and now here he is just staring at her. 

“Just hit shuffle and let it do its thing.” Peter smiled, Akira looked up at him, he nodded his head encouraging her to trust his opinion. 

“Okay then.” They waited for a second in silence, he’d be lying if he said he was a fan of this specific song. Though he was shocked she liked it enough to put it in a playlist. 

“Now that she's back in the atmosphere with drops of Jupiter in her hair, she acts like summer and walks like rain, reminding me that there's time to change.” Akira sang, Peter’s head snapped up in shock, her eyes were closed, and hands playing air drums to the beat of the song. Even if he didn’t like that song, he liked watching her sing it; as if she’s been listening to it her whole life, and then Peter imagined her singing like this in her room. Then he imagined her singing like this in his bed while he lay there and he watched. 

He pulled his headphones off his head, grabbing onto Akira’s hands into his own to get her attention, he didn’t give himself time to think. He just started talking before he could overthink it, she paused the music quickly. 

“Okay so I know I just met you a month ago, and this is kind of sudden, maybe you even think this whole thing is moving kind of fast.” He spoke at a rapid speed, too fast for Akira to really keep up with, and understand what he’s saying. 

“Wait what?” She shook her head confused, but Peter kept talking.

“I know I just seem like this crazy dumb guy that talks in 80s music references most of the time, I’m not like anything you’re probably use to, I mean hell you’re freakin princess from another planet—

“Peter, slow down.” She moved the basket of junk food out the way, and scooted closer to him. Their eyes locked on each other, the sensation of fluttering erupted in the pit of her stomach. 

He chuckled nervously, “Akira, I like you a lot. Not in a friend kind of way, but in a way I can see myself slowly falling in love with you kind of way.” Peter rushed his words out, he couldn’t tell if the pensive look on her face was a good or bad thing. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever been in love before Peter, I’ve never met anyone that’s made me feel in such a way.” She pondered for a moment longer, all the suitors over the years that tried to wed her. None of them made lasting impressions on her. 

“Okay as much as I know about music, and movies, you’re gonna have to level with me here.” 

“Peter, I've had many people try to court me. They would buy me expensive gifts, take me on elaborate dates, and compliment me, tell me how beautiful I am. Not you, you took me on a date in the middle of an artificially made forest floating through space.” She let out a giggle as her eyes looked around at the growing nature around them. 

“Umm okay, I—I can do better, we can go to any galaxy— 

“No, what I’m saying is, you make me feel special in ways no one ever has. It makes my heart feel fuller than it ever has.” Her hand cupped his cheek, Peter grabbed her iPod, and put the earbuds in her ears.  

Give me a run for my money, there is no body, no one to out run me. Sippin bubbly feelin lovely, livin lovely, just love me. Akira’s lips slowly stretched back into a smile as the music filled her ears; her eyelids fluttered close.Her hands slipped around the back of his neck, her fingers played with his curly strawberry blonde hair. 

He grabbed onto her chin pulling her face down to meet him halfway, with her eyes still closed, and a hint of a smile on her lips, he kissed her. It wasn’t like anything she’d ever felt before, he was so gentle, yet heated at the same time. Like he’s been starved, but he knew he didn’t want to be too rough with her. She loved how she tasted like vanilla; he knew she crafted all her own skin care products. 

They spent the rest of the afternoon listening to music, one earbud in Akira’s ear, and the other in Peter’s. Though he was just fine listening to her quietly sing along to all the songs. He turned on his side to look at her, she layed on her back with her face turned up to the star studded sky above them. They stayed there as long as time would allow, but eventually Akira fell asleep. Peter let her lean into him as they walked back, their hands, and fingers interlocked. 

Like a true gentleman he opened the door to her apartment, she turned to him, grabbed him by the hand and yanked him through the door. “Sleep with me.” She demanded softly, followed by a yawn. He didn’t get a chance to say no, which he wasn’t, because she had already turned and kicked off her boots. She didn’t bother to undress, she just got under the covers, and laid on her side. He mimicked her, and climbed in on the opposite side of the bed. Inhaling deeply he had to keep the groan to himself, even her sheets smelled amazing. 

“Peter…you’re not sleeping.” She mumbled, she scooted closer, and snuggled next to him, her head on his chest. Chuckling lightly, he wrapped his arms around her dainty shoulders, and closed his eyes. Soon they drifted off to sleep. 

A/n: tags– @wanderinpages

[shmaptainwrites]

back to school is just…no

the back to school depression is hitting kinda hard rn and i don’t really wanna be taking any of the classes that i am taking but i have to because they’re requirements for my degree. i just know i’ve always struggled with cutting myself some slack and giving myself room to not get as good grades and seeing that i’m taking 3 stem classes all with lab i know that attitude needs to go, but it’s not something that just disappears and i’ve been working on it for years, like since i was in high school but i’m still not at the point where i can just get a c, and be disappointed about it without a full emotional breakdown. faking it till you make it only works for so long and to a certain extent and knowing that i’m in microbio, biochem, and ochem with 6 midterms, 3 lab exams and who knows how many quizzes and lab reports i just don’t know if i can keep up with it all. because i need rest, i need time for my brain to recuperate and actually understand the material i’m learning not just suck it up like a vacuum and keep it in my brain forever. vacuums have dirtbags and they need to be emptied like where is the logic in this method of education? i have work, i have family responsibilities, i’m a really active member of my community and yet it feels like each time i think i’m doing the right thing with school, taking a balanced course load it just gets harder. i love to learn but school has been making me slowly despise it to the point where when my brother tries to come and tell me something new i just close my eyes and tell him i’m too tired or i don’t really care. the old me would have eaten and morsel of information you gave her, any rational concept you explained and now i just sit waiting empty the dust and dirt that’s sucked into my brian into the trash. speaking of not wanting to think i don’t even know if i can write which is normally what i go to when i’m stressed or anxious. tumblr is at the back of my mind and idk if it even makes sense for me to stay right now because with everything going on in my head and the fact that somehow i always seem to get interested in the things people want to talk about the least, i’m better off just appreciating media by myself (not on social media) and sharing on ao3 whenever i have enough energy. i need energy for fall and winter, prayers and love and warmth because as the days get colder and shorter i go more inward when i need to reach out. actually make friends, have lasting memories with the people around me and learn to appreciate them like i appreciate all the beautiful people i love who always seem to live in a different city than me even if it’s only an hour away.

this fall i want love. i want success. i want stability. i want clarity. peace of mind. serenity. contentment. certitude.

i want faith.

faith that i have the capacity to take a deep breath, look at life in the eye and say

i can take anything you throw my way. just watch me.