#I just need to buy the last few volumes and then I own the complete set

[pretzel-box]

Might I humbly request more streamer au Sebastian?? I don't have a specific prompt so honestly do whatever you'd like!

SEQUEL TO THE STREAMER AU

PART 1 HERE

Tags: Doubt, Comedy, Teasing, Slightly Fluff, Streamer AU

Words: 1,6k

You glanced at the message on your screen, your eyes narrowing in playful suspicion.

“Jellybeanie_?”

Even though it was just a jumble of words on the flat screen, you could almost hear the amusement behind the way Solace wrote your username. It was a name that carried a bit of a past, a digital footprint that had followed you through your early streaming days. Your father had given you the nickname "Jellybeanie" when you were young, and it stuck, especially during your awkward teenage years when you thought beanies were the pinnacle of cool fashion. There was a bit of irony there, considering the sheer volume of cringe it represented. You had done everything to erase that phase from existence, deleting your weird selfies, throwing the beanies out and pretending you’re too cool for silly headwear—except for the username. Somehow, it had become part of your identity, both endearing and a little bit embarrassing.

"Don't judge it, Shoelaced_Seb42," you shot back with a grin, your fingers flying over the keyboard as the heat of the moment pulled you in. You could only imagine what kind of story was behind his own name. Maybe it was a wordplay with “shoelace” and “Solace,” but “Seb42”? That was anyone’s guess. There had to be a story there, too—everyone had one.

His reply came almost instantly. “Careful, doll. I don't want to reveal my edgelord side in front of a cute bean like you.”

You felt a flutter in your chest, something warm and annoyingly familiar. Damn him for knowing exactly how to get under your skin—and damn you for liking

While you had no problem flirting with Solace during your nightly gaming streams, your real-life roommate was a different story entirely. It was a cruel twist of fate, really. Your fans always talked about how well you and Solace—a famous streamer with a massive following—got along. They called you "the perfect duo," and more than a few shipped you two. They didn't know the irony of the situation. Because in reality, when you weren't "Jellybeanie_", there was no Pressured_Solace, just Sebastian.

The Sebastian who would leave his empty coffee mugs all over the apartment. The Sebastian who would blast his music at ungodly hours, regardless of how many times you'd told him you needed quiet for your recordings. The Sebastian who seemed to have made it his life mission to be the most insufferable person you'd ever met.

You had moved into this apartment months ago, both of you, lured by the promise of a prime location and cheap rent—only to discover that you couldn't go five minutes without bickering over something mundane. The Wi-Fi. The thermostat. The last of the milk.

"Seriously, Sebastian," you muttered under your breath the next morning after your midnight chat with Solace, staring at the empty carton of milk your roommate left in the fridge. "Is it too much to ask for you to throw this out? Or better yet, buy more?"

Sebastian sauntered into the kitchen, tousled black hair sticking up at odd angles, a lazy grin on his face. "Morning to you too, sunshine," he said, ignoring your frustration completely. He tossed his phone onto the counter and grabbed a can of energy drink from the pantry. "Did you see my note?"

You rolled your eyes, exasperated. "Yeah, I saw it. It was crumpled up in the trash. Nice touch."

He just smirked, leaning back against the counter as he cracked open the can. "You know, I think you secretly love our little banter," he said, taking a sip and watching you with those infuriatingly bright eyes of his. He was definitely teasing you, his tone wasn't like Solace his…Sebastian was the ungodly opposite, annoying, mean and insufferable.

"Love is a strong word," you shot back, fighting the urge to hit him with the empty milk box. He had this way of getting under your skin, making you react, and he seemed to take endless delight in it.

When night fell and the cameras turned on, it was a different story. As Jelly you felt like you were seeing a different side of life by spending time with Solace. The witty banter, the playful teasing over the text messages—it felt real. More real than the stupid arguments with your roommate over dish duty or who got to use the bathroom first in the mornings.

You’d been doing collaborative streams with Solace for months now. What had started as a random pairing in a popular online game had quickly turned into a regular thing, and your viewers loved it. There was a chemistry there—an undeniable spark that had even you questioning what was real and what was just for show.

And the more you streamed together, the more you found yourself looking forward to those late-night gaming sessions. The way he made you laugh, the way he’d check in to make sure you were okay if things got too intense in-game. There was a kindness to him—a depth that you didn’t see in the Sebastian you shared your living space with.

“So, Jelly,” his voice crackled through your headset, bringing you back to the game at hand. “What’s the plan? You gonna carry us to victory, or should I start writing my will now?”

You chuckled, glancing at the chat as messages flew by. Your viewers were eating this up. “I don’t know, Solace,” you replied, your tone playful. “Maybe I’ll let you die first and then come in for the save. Would make for great content.”

He laughed, a sound that sent a small thrill through you. “Always thinking about the content. That’s why you’re the best.”

You felt your cheeks warm at the compliment, a smile tugging at your lips. Damn him. Why did he have to be so... nice? And why did you have to like it so much?

It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time your stream ended. You stretched, feeling the fatigue settle into your bones. As you stepped out of your room, you were startled to find Sebastian in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge.

He looked up as you entered, a frown on his face. “Late night?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

You rolled your eyes, too tired to muster up a proper retort. “Like you’re one to talk,” you muttered, grabbing a water bottle from the counter.

For a moment, there was an awkward silence, the kind that seemed to fill every corner of the small apartment. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Do you ever… wonder what your online friends are like in real life?”

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, looking uncharacteristically thoughtful. “I mean, it’s easy to get along with someone when you’re just a username and a voice on a screen. But in real life… things are different.”

You studied him for a moment, unsure of where this was coming from. “Yeah,” you said slowly. “I guess you’re right. People can be… different.”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before he turned back to the fridge. “Anyway, good night,” he said over his shoulder as he grabbed a snack and headed back to his room.

“Good night,” you replied, watching him go. You couldn’t help but wonder about the sudden shift in his demeanor. The whole conversation was just a giant question mark and you didn't understand where the sudden question came from.

A week passed, and you couldn't stop thinking about that night in the kitchen. Your streams with Solace were becoming more frequent, and with every passing game, you felt that connection deepening. It was confusing. Especially after Sebastian's words from last week, you actually don't know much about Solace. What he looks like, what his job is, if he has a partner…God he could be a 65 year old man named Josh that drives a truck and eats Hamburgers every day for lunch. He could be anyone.

And then, one fateful night, everything changed.

You were streaming a new co-op game with Solace when a message popped up in the chat from a mutual fan. “Wouldn’t it be crazy if Jelly and Seb were roommates IRL?”

You laughed it off, typing a quick response. “Yeah, imagine that chaos!”

Seb responded with a chuckle, “We’d probably drive each other insane.”

But the thought lingered. Your eyes drifted over to his username again—Pressured_Solace. You hated the feeling of having a crush on someone who was out of reach, someone who had not a face and not a real name. And it crushed you not to know if you would ever know more about him. Wondering if all the flirting and the jokes were just a facade for the streams or if he actually tries to get close to you.

Your sudden silence must have been noticeable because Solace his voice came through your headset, concerned. “Jelly? You okay?”

You swallowed hard, trying to compose yourself. “Yeah, I… I just thought of something.”

“Like what?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

“Nothing,” you replied quickly, too quickly. “Just… something funny. I'll tell you later.”

But as you ended the stream, you knew there was no way you were going to let this go. Not without finding out the truth behind Solace.

The stream ended, the microphone turned off and you leaned back into your chair, fumbling with the cables of your headphones.

“Solace?” Your fingers moved on the glowing keyboard, texting him on discord. The most healthy thing was confrontation instead of confusion and you collected your courage to ask him for a picture.

“What's up, Jellybeanie!~”

“Can I get a picture?” It didn't take long till he replied with a spoiler-covered picture, adding a secretive emoji that holds a finger in front of their mouth. Your heart skips a beat, anxiety and excitement rushing through your mind and you click on the image with shaky hands.

It was a fish. He trolled you.

“SOLACE!”

“ALR ALR CHILL BEANIE!1!1”

He send another picture.

And in a single moment, it hit you hard.

And you screamed.

[stellastra-scribbles]

Finally completed the outfit reference for Jayna Stiles, a half-elven NPC follower from Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.

Outfit breakdown (or "outfit onions" as I like to call them lol~)

I really like Jayna Stiles and her backstory + goals of becoming a technological healer. I'm also a sucker for 19th-century fashion and I have an unhealthily large collection of reference books and a bunch of files saved from online museum collections (I've got about 22+ gigabytes of refs downloaded from the Library of Congress alone haha I need more hobbies).

Back on track, I really just wanted to design Jayna an outfit that suited her character more than her in-game sprites while also being practical for travel/adventuring.

More unrestrained detailed design ramblings below the cut~

Individual layers. I pulled most of her colors from her default outfit.

Since Arcanum's starting year is 1885, I usually picture the "modern" sense of fashion in big cities like Tarant and Caladon taking cues from real life 1885-1890s western fashions (to give myself some leeway with references). Smaller towns can be a bit more dated, but I try not to go back further than the 1870s in most cases.

However, for a character like Jayna, who hails from Dernholm, I gave her clothing from references dating back to the 1850-1860s. I did this because Jayna says in her recruitment dialogue that "[her] parents weren't wealthy people, and [she doesn't] make much money here in Dernholm," so I took this to mean that she likely wears clothing to last, wearing hand-me-downs, makes her own clothes, and mending it over the years rather than buying new clothes.

Given that Dernholm (+ the Kingdom of Cumbria in general) isn't in the best state when the game starts, they may be behind the times and the latest fashions take longer to reach Dernholm.

Gar: “Alas, poor Dernholm! Once home to the legendary Dragon Knights, it has fallen on hard times since Praetor became king some 60 odd years ago. He despises all technology, and I think he's recently become sour on magick as well.”

Herkemer Oggdoddler: “For two generations Cumbria languished as an economically abused and technologically impaired backwater in the shadow of Tarant. Its once fine capital, Dernholm, has become a ruin.”

Layer 1 - Chemise + Open Drawers. I deliberately drew the drawers as fairly loose so as to not expose her without having to redraw the pose or resort to "Barbie doll anatomy."

Various resources demonstrated the chemise being tucked into the drawers or worn fully untucked/loose, but I drew it as tucked-in for the sake of reference visibility, so perhaps either one works in practice.

Layer 2 - Corset + Socks/Stockings. I picked a more "contemporary" (1880s) design for the corset as I imagine it would be a more custom-fitted garment. Plus, anyone who has ever worn bras will attest that a bra that properly fits is comparable to a good pair of shoes: never cheap out on it because if you take care of it, it will take care of you. Perhaps that same logic can be applied to corsets in ye olden days and historically-inspired fantasy settings.

For Jayna, despite the simplistic design, it might be one of the few luxuries she can afford for herself given the necessity of the garment for bust support.

Layer 3 - Trousers + Shoes. I was inspired by vivandières and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, who typically wore trousers beneath their skirts. Dr. Walker was a "surgeon, women’s rights advocate, abolitionist, and spy, [and] the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War." Since Jayna is an aspiring technological healer, I feel like an allusion to Dr. Walker and her practicality was appropriate.

Layer 4 - Petticoat. It's just something to fill out the skirt volume a tad. I considered adding a corset cover in this layer but I did like having the upper outline of the corset somewhat visible in the shirtwaist layer to illustrate her living situation (aka she doesn't have one or just has a poor-quality one). As a modern-age woman, I think this this all already looks like a laundering nightmare to wash by hand.

Layer 5 - Shirtwaist + Outer Skirt. I really like the shape of the 1860s Garibaldi blouse's sleeves (I think these are bishop sleeves? correct me if I'm wrong...) and the stripes allude to some 19th century nurse uniforms. I initially went for a plaid pattern but that was a pain to draw and using a pre-existing plaid brush/pattern just didn't look as good as I wanted it to be.

Layer 6 - Sash + Pistol Holster + Bag. Given Jayna's goals of becoming a tech healer, I took design cues from vivandières, who were 19th-century women attached to military regiments, with a few known vivandières being nurses (like Anna Etheridge).

However, rather than lifting the vivandière look completely, I imagine Jayna would attempt to replicate the silhouette with her own clothes. The bag is a bit of an amalgamation of various 18th-19th century hunting/frontier bags, so I apologize that I don't have a direct reference image.

---------------

Of course, in the end, I did take some liberties with the outfit so it's not completely historically-accurate, but that's okay since Arcanum is a fictional universe.

I guess I should've prefaced that I'm no expert on historical fashion, just a casual enthusiast who thinks "ooh old dress is pretty!"

I just wanted to see how far I could go before I had to make some concessions, such as:

Jayna's hair is short and worn loose while irl Victorian women typically had long hair and wore them up (there were documented exceptions of course). Many portraits for both female player characters and female NPCs across all in-game races show short hair and loose long hair, so let's just assume that 19th-century Arcanum has more relaxed feminine hair standards compared to the real-life 19th century western world. Also, irl 19th-century rural women did sell their hair for money, so maybe there's something to apply to the world of Arcanum with that. Or maybe the short-hair craze just hit Arcanum a few decades early *shrug*.

I initially planned to give her gloves, but many resources show vivandières not really wearing them, preferring to go barehanded.

The clothing colors may be a bit too saturated for the era I took inspiration from, but I wanted to stay somewhat faithful to Jayna's original sprite colors.

I did simplify some garments down for the sake of me having to draw enough layers as it is lol. Sorry if the lace wasn't fancy enough or that she doesn't have headwear. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sometimes you just wanna finish a project and be done with it.

hoo boy, that was a lot

Thank You For Coming to My TED Talk :)

Now go play Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura~

[havendance]

hii haven! thinking of getting a comic on steph to join my favs and start reading about her, but i'm not the most knowledgable when it comes to her character and have no idea where to start. do you have any suggestions for me? thanks! <3

So to start, the thing about Steph is that she is very much a supporting character throughout most of her time. This means that comics with her are going to be very scattered and it's harder to find stuff focused on her. If you're the person who likes long lists of comics, I'll link you to this (very indepth) reading list by @bitimdrake. This basically has every comic she shows up in post-crisis broken down into eras so it is very informative, but also has the potential to be intimidating.

Now for specifically buying comics featuring Steph, I'll point you in a few different directions (Note: this will be focused on collected editions since I am of the opinion that if you're looking for single issues, your best bet is to go out and dig around until you find something with her on the cover and then go for it. It may be bad, it may be good, but I think it will certainly be fun. That being said, if you do want recs for individual storylines/issues, feel free to send a followup):

Batgirl: Stephanie Brown Vol. 1 -- This collects the first half of Steph's one and only solo run. It has what no other option on the list has, and that is a complete focus on her. It also has the advantage that it's being reprinted and will be released on October 22nd, just a month from now, so it will be easy for you to obtain. A lot of people really like this run and think it's fun. The main downsides I can think of for this is that it's set right at the end of post-crisis and also features her as Batgirl rather than spoiler so if you're interested in exploring an earlier era for her, it's less suited for that.

(Honestly, the trade that features the most both as spoiler and a key player post-crisis is probably, uh, War Games which is... it's own can of worms. I do not think I need to tell you that while this was a significant storyline for her it was not good and you should not start here at all.)

Batman: The Dark Knight Detective Vol. 8 -- In contrast to the first item on this list, this volume goes all the way to the beginning of Steph's history and collects her introduction storyline. Pros to this comic is that it was released just last year so it should still be easy to find and it's her introduction--which is iconic. Downsides: she only shows up for 3 of 12 collected issues (this will be a common thread through the rest of these recs). That being said, if you're interested in more than just her I think this is a pretty good volume for that as it also contains a Batman and Robin (Tim Drake) team-up storyline, an annual that has wormed it's way into my brain, and also the story that reintroduces Huntress into bat comics.

Robin Vol. 3: Solo -- Once again, Stephanie shows up for a three issue storyline, this time in Robin comics! Most of the points for Dark Knight Detective apply here, honestly. It has a team-up story with her and Tim that I remember enjoying and otherwise collects Robin comics.

Finally, I'll toss out trades from Tynion's run on Detective Comics. This is from rebirth rather than post-crisis continuity wise and I think Steph fans tend to not like this series as much for her. I personally enjoyed her arc in it. That being said, this is a team comic and she is a member of the ensemble in it. I think I'd probably recommend the first two trades of this in terms of where she has more story focus.

Hopefully this helps and gives you some ideas!

[asher-agere]

I am feeling better then last request… today I got some bookshelf’s finally so now none of my books are on the floor and I can display all the series’ I own! (And by “series’” I mean one completed series, two series’ I haven’t completed, and a bunch of volume 1’s/standalone books… so not actually very many series’.)

ANYWAYS as usual I have yet another request. This time I am asking for more thoughts on caregiver Kōyō :3 She is so silly! And I like characters who give off parent vibes. You know.

- Fyodor enjoyer

I’m so glad to hear from you again! And even happier to hear that you’re feeling better! (,,>ヮ<,,)! A bookshelf is so exciting! I used to read a lot so I understand the joy of displaying all your books hehe. Now I’m just a burnt out gifted kid (╥﹏╥)

Caregiver Kōyō

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

⛥ Kōyō would really struggle to get attached to someone after losing her lover like she did. So once she’s emotionally attached with to take someone on as her little it means she’s really attached. This means… Clingy caregiver! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡ She’ll never want to put her baby down. Always wants to be carrying them around with her

⛥ Like I said, clingy caregiver! No matter what she’s doing she wants to be completely holding her baby. No simple hand holding, that’s not enough. I think she’d prefer talking care of a baby so that they’re reliant on her. That doesn’t mean she wouldn’t take care of a toddler! She just might be overbearing if they have energy and want to run around. She just wants to hold them in peace

⛥ I think she would totally put Golden Demon to work! She’s incredibly busy holding her baby. No hands to spare to prepare the bottle. It takes a lot of practice, it’s not at all Golden Demon’s intended purpose. But if her ability, she’ll use it however she pleases thank you very much ( • ̀ω•́ )✧ But her baby is worth all the practice! They deserve the best after all

⛥ I don’t remember if this is canon or just vibes I got, but I think she’d love tea! When she has Golden Demon prepping a bottle she’ll have her also make some tea for Kōyō herself! She’ll set her mug of tea next to her on the table while she focuses on holding the bottle for her baby to drink from. They don’t need to do any work whatsoever!

⛥ Kōyō is actually one of the few characters I associate as a caregiver specifically in a parent role! Usually in my mind it’s sorry of vague what exactly they are? They’re just a caregiver ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀) But Kōyō I definitely see as a mother! She’d like to be called “Mama” specifically I think. This is her baby, she’ll take on that role completely! Plus it’s nice and soothing because I think she always wanted to have kids

⛥ I think she’d like singing lullabies! For a clingy caregiver sleep time is the best time, it’s the most cuddly time of all! So of course she’d be good at doing things to make her baby sleepy! Lullabies, warm milk, I think she’d even have a few sleepy time candles! This Mama loves her nighttime naps!

⛥ I think she’d use pet names intended to make her little one feel small! Things like “Baby” “Little One” “Tiny” If they act at all similar to her or if she’s changed how they act (She turned Chuuya from a delinquent to a refined gentleman, she changes people) I think she’d also use the nickname “Mini Mama”! She loves using nicknames that her Little One comes up with first to refer to herself! It usually pleases them very much ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞

⛥ She’s very willing to do things for her Little One! Her baby is her life, they deserve everything she can possibly give. She’d be willing to buy them anything they might want, rearrange her schedule completely for them. They are and always will be her priority. She’d rather face the wrath of Mori than have an unhappy baby

⛥ Kōyō likes traditional clothes, we always see her in a kimono. I think she’d like having her baby wear traditional clothes too! Simplified versions though, to be comfortable. She’ll but an extra big kimono for them to wear so that they’re absolutely swimming in it! Makes them look extra tiny, happy for both Baby and Mama!

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

I hope you enjoyed! I love Mama Kōyō, she just wants to take care of someone (·•᷄∩•᷅ ) Also this is the first time I’ve ever had so many requests! (Two of them are related but still-) I woke up this morning to see 4 requests! I immediately decided that today is gonna be a super awesome happy day! That doesn’t mean I have too many though! More requests are always more than welcome! ૮₍˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა

[chibivesicle]

Gokinjo Monogatari got an English release. I am just - feeling like I got my wish from 1998.

That's right, I'm alive but not very active on the meta for the time being. 2023 sped up for the second half; work got crazy busy for Q4. I worked up to Dec 18th through several weekends so yeah, needed some recharge time.

I don't know how I missed this, but thanks to watching Coleen's Manga Recs, I discovered that the one shoujo manga title that I had been wanting an English release for has finally arrived. Gokinjo Monogatari by Ai Yazawa!

I discovered Gokinjo Monogatari in '98. One of the local comic stores had the first three tankobons and I bought them based on the cover artwork alone.

It wasn't until undergrad I was able to meet a few more people and figure out more than just the name and artist. I tried to find the translation of the manga online, but was unsuccessful. I have to remind people that before scanlations, you had to buy a tankobon and hope you found the text based translation which would have the text according to page number and what panel location. I read a fair bit of Kenshin that way, but sadly, this series was not that popular with readers in the States. I've been moving my entire adult life hauling my three precious volumes of the manga hoping that someday I would first, collect volume 4-7 to complete the picture and that I'd have my matching English version. Granted, I haven't done a good job of looking for volumes 4-7 when I've been in Japan . . . or using the internet either.

As if to spite me, the follow up manga, Paradise Kiss, did get a translation in 2002 from Tokyo Pop which exists in the same universe as Gokinjo Monogatari. Note that a previous manga's characters show up at the Flea Market in Monogatari as well and Yazawa likes to keep a lot of her series tied together. Eventually, the scanlation of the series appeared and I read it around 2011. I'd only found an episode or two of the anime during the golden age of file sharing, but didn't follow through on it. I wanted to read the manga before watching the anime. In 2017, I visited the Manga Museum in Kyoto, got to see a cool display about Ribon magazine and of course they had Gokinjo Monogatari merch! I bought the file folder set and stickers! I bought the Gokinjo Monogatari UT shirt from Uniqlo featuring Ribon series. Yet each time I found more stuff, the universe got the last laugh. Japan released the collectors set with four volumes, there was a French translation, German etc and never one for English. So, you have to realize how I absolutely lost my mind when the thing I'd figured would never happen, happened! Not only was it a thing, I'd even missed the December 2023 release date -at least I didn't have to wait for a pre-order to get volume 1.

I'm happy to see that this version included some of the original color pages!

It has a few more at the end with a photo wall of Mikako's outfits. Everything about the style of this manga, I absolutely love. The fashion goes so hard even now. I get nostalgic with all of the mid-90s Japanese street fashion which has a mix of 60s mod and 70s flare. I think the series also does a good job of capturing that awkward time in your teenage life when you are trying to figure out how to act with people you are interested in. But failing to sort things out. Unlike a lot of other high school manga series, this one stands out with the much more "normal" appearance of the students. I remember picking it up and thinking that the characters looked like they could be my peers; though there is no way Mikako's outfits would pass my high school's own liberal dress code where dyed hair and piercings were permitted. Her bare midriff would get her in trouble . . . Funny how now when I look at it, this is a very unusual high school set up for a Japanese reader likely coming from a more regimented school environment with a uniform and strict dress code. I never thought about it at the time. More that I was plotting my own hair dying plans for when I moved out of the house for undergrad just like the characters had - while still in high school. I did read Parakiss back when it came out from 2002-2005; however, it never really resonated with me the same way a series that I couldn't even find a decent translation for. I started to watch Nana but couldn't get into it at all. Maybe it was my mindset or the fact that I wasn't the mood for young twenty-somethings figuring their shit out.

Yet, here I am in the winter of 2024, and I have volume 1 of the collectors edition format of Gokinjo Monogatari and I'm still loving every little bit of the story as I read it. Perhaps, Parakiss and Nana were more edgier/grittier than something like this which is why they never quite clicked with me. I wanted my fashionable shoujo drama but not over the top. I'm not sure what I'll write about it. It isn't a well known series both due to the fact it is from the 90s and that it is shoujo but perhaps I can reflect on what I was drawn to it all those years ago and what I think about it now.

[brainbuffering]

12 Days of Manga (2022)

Day 1: Favourite Ongoing Series - Snow White With The Red Hair by Sorata Akiduki from Shojo Beat (T: Caleb Cook L: Brandon Bovia E: Karla Clark)  

[ID: English cover for Snow White With the Red Hair Vol 19 by Sorata Akiduki. Kiki wears a burgendary psudo-european-medievial style dress with long flowing sleeves. In on hand she holds a wine glass, and in the other she gently clasps her sword. She sits sideways but looks knowingly at the viewer. Behind her, a festival at dusk is in full swing and we see the backs of Hisame (left) and Mitsuhide (right)]

This year (as of writing) the UK has been gifted Volumes 17 - 19 of SWWTRH*, covering the Bergat Arc which finally gave some more time for our beloved Kiki to shine and the return of everyone’s (read: my) favourite beloved arsehole Hisame Rougis. This more action and romance based arc was a nice return to form last year’s Orimmallys arc. As wonderful as it was to see the STEM elements of SWWTRH come to the forefront, with no doubt Cook’s experience on Dr Stone helping him translate all that psudo-science, I’m a simple Blogger who likes to see some swords and swooning.

That said, this combination of genres and themes really does highlight what makes the series so good. Anyone who tries to tell you that Shojo is all the same really needs to read this series because it will swing from mystery to romance to action adventure to science explainer in only a few chapters. I’ve said it elsewhere but I will say it again: it i also just so nice to have a manga I can confidently recommend to literally anyone! It’s a great starter for those looking to get into Shojo, be they a 10 year-old who has some book tokens to use up, or a 40 year old who wants to finally branch out beyond the Shonen Jump Sphere of Influence.

The series is also beautifully unintentionally queer, and that was highlighted again this year. Well, I say unintentionally. Some of SWWTRH’s contemparies in LaLa include explicitly queer stories such as Ouran High School Host Club, so who is to say how it will end? I can hold out for my bisexual polyamorous ending in which Obi, Zen and Shirayuki end up married with 2.5 children, right? With lines like this, it’s starting to feel more like text than subtext. 

[ID: Zen smiles widely. “You might have a trio who lived completely separate lives... ... but came together in the palace... ... to now spend their lives together, side by side.”]

But I digress. As I said! This was the year of the Kiki. We got to get more of a glimpse into her role as heir to the Seiren Family, and what expectations that holds. She got some closure on her relationship with Mitsuhide that, without spoilers, was very afirming from an Aro/Ace perspective, and started to see her take new steps with Hisame in a way that allows them both some character development and encourages world building! We also got to see her beat people up with a sword, although perhaps not as much as I would have liked. She did get her own dramatic “I’ll be shooting for my own hand” moment, with all the paralels and metaphors of working hard to choose your own fate and your own destiny, and to not get thrown by romantic rejection but rather remain to stay true to yourself no matter what. So I suppose I can’t really complain. 

[ID: Two manga pages of Kiki shooting arrows in the middle of the night, the range lit by fire light/beacons. The first ten arrows have missed the center of the target completely. Kiki looks disapointed and uncertain about everything. Then she appears to center herself and manages a bullseye.] 

I’ve said many times before, that I don’t think there is any reason for a series to go beyond 30 volumes. I can’t imagine any story that needs to go on for that long without it becoming far too repetative. However SWWTRH is one of those series that I will happily be buying for the next ten years! For one, unlike a lot of ongoing series, SWWTRH is not restricted to a time scale (e.g. three years of high school) or singular goal (e.g. entering the olympics). Shirayuki and Zen confirmed their romantic feelings early on, and whilst we want to see their relationship develop the pace it is going at feels realistic for people of their age, and in their situation.

Why should they get married at age 19? Shirayuki becoming a well respected court herablist will help her standing in marrying him, sure, but it’s also the goal she wants to achieve without romance being on the line either. Heck, even if her only goal was marriage, it’s perfectly reasonable to want to finish your studies before settling down! The story is not lessened by its slower pacing, but rather enhanced by it. Much like real life, it takes its time with each arc, meandering rather than steamrolling. Yet it doesn’t feel repetative, it doesn’t feel as though Akiduki dragging things out for the sake of it, but rather just allowing the characters to take moments to breathe inbetween events.

The characters are allowed to grow and change with the narrative, and have that be reflected within the story. There’s a whole time skip that takes place without it feeling like some big terrifying event, rather just the nature of what happens in adult life where you just spend a year focussing on your work and your studies, and so naturally don’t get up to the sort of major adventures that you might tell your grandkids about.

The series finds strength in the age of its characters, young adults growing into themselves and finding a purpose in life without fear of falling and failing. Obi is allowed to find comfort in the mundane, and not having to go on life changing ninja adventures all the time. Shirayuki’s focus on her studies living away from Zen doesn’t mean that their romantic relationship must come to an end, and she is allowed to develop completely independently of their love whilst still having that love be incredibly important to her! Mitsuhide is happy to live a life without marriage and kids because he cares more about the platonic relationships in his life, and wants to put his time and energy into those. Kiki is still working out what to do next now that her initial plan for life has turned side ways, and that’s good too! She has a support network in place to help! Zen meanwhile continues to be the perfect prince, the white haired anime boy all white haired anime boys should aspire to be, and I hope that he is able to move back in with his girlfriend and boyfriend full time. 

The joy here is in the journey, not in the destination, and i’ll happily continue on with these characters for years to come!

*The Americans have up to Vol 21, but the ongoing supply chain crisis and paper shortage are out to get me personally.

[ahedderick]

Running around

   Yesterday I had quite a few errands spread across two towns. And then an evening meeting with a prospective art client. The day did not . . entirely go well.

   For whatever reason, the high school did not receive yearbooks until after school was completely over? The seniors last day was May 19th, and the rest of the kids got out unusually early on June 2nd. They didn’t have snow days to make up this year, which helped. I went to the school to pick up K’s yearbook. There was a student at the door right in front of me, so we were buzzed in together and walked to the office together. She asked the secretary where the yearbooks were, and was told that they were across the hall beside the guidance office. I didn’t ask the secretary anything - because I had just heard her give the answer. Silly me. I followed the student and we quickly found the teacher giving out yearbooks. ‘Amy’ got hers, and I asked for my daughter’s. Ms. M couldn’t find her on the list. “What grade is she in? Oh, senior’s yearbooks are in the office.” Where I just was. Of course they are. I went back and asked the sec’y for a senior yearbook. They are alphabetized and it still took her a while to find it - but eventually she did.

   Off I went to find Mackie’s Sewing Center. It’s been a couple years since I had a machine serviced. I checked Mackie’s out online to be sure of their hours and double check the address. He shares space with a vacuum cleaner store, which by good luck I also needed. My husband bought a new vacuum last year, and I needed more of the (outrageously expensive) bags. I’ll get two things done at once! Yay!

   Nope. Mackie’s and the Vacuum store - closed. Sign still out, webpage still advertising - store locked and empty. A random passerby, seeing me standing with a sewing machine in my arms and a puzzled look on my face, informed me that they were - maybe? - a couple miles away near D’s Sporting goods. I sighed. Trudged back to the car. Mackie’s isn’t really in the plaza near D’s. However, if you walk around long enough, you might spot a little poster in the window of the FED-EX store (?!) that says Mackie’s. I went into the Fed-Ex and asked the lady behind the counter. She said I could drop off my sewing machine on a little shelf in the corner, fill out a service tag, and it would be fixed and brought back there. That does solve one problem, but I had also hoped to be able to show him some of the antique machines I want to sell, and get ideas about value and where to sell them. I sighed, filled out the service tag, gave up completely on buying vacuum bags, and slumped dis-spiritedly out of the store.

   Off to Staples to get a photo printed. My printer will only print black and white. Since they seem to have a lifespan of 6 months as far as printing full-color photos is concerned, I’m just going to keep the half-functional one that at least prints text and not print my own photos anymore. I asked the lady behind the print desk to print me an 8x10 of this

for my son to enter in an art show. She printed it and the price was quite reasonable. I left and drove home, turning up Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll" to nearly lethal volume as a form of therapy.

   The photo turned out to be a bit bigger than 8x10, and will not fit in the frame we have for it.

[madfantasy]

Dear blogging

So happy I finished one of my biggies, happeir it made other's day (or just hurt their feels, I'm sorry I know im depressing heh 8"c

Hugs to dears💛

I've been doing nothing but strictly drawing lately, thanks to the wave of bugs that is paralysing my normal focus and gives me constant nightmares that jolts me awake every time I'm desperately fallen asleep. They are not as intense anymore, thankfully, but my paranoia wouldn't let out.

On the bright side, I am drawing more than ever and those sticky notes taken down at last after a century of em up 8D ✨️✨️✨️

(Just wanted to show a sense of their volume at the beginning, these are just the ones who perished and I thought I came out to piles of dirt, at first x'c)

In the pauses between the signing muse in my brain, in complete immersion, i don't remember what got me to guardians discussing something, and it came about the subject of mental health and trauma. Some way or another, I managed to tell one of my truths, which is that I am fairly certain that I am on the spectrum. Of course, it started with the usual denial and unreasonable yelling. Yelling that automatically shuts me down, but I yelled back even though my voice wasn't helping. It keeps disappearing alongside the ability to find words as I try to explain it all. Finally, I felt it dawned on them, and only when they said they 'now know it is to find help with', I broke down. They were comforting me by keep saying we'll fix it. I wanted to say it's not something broken to be fixed, but I was deep in hyperventilation to be able to articulate it..

It has been a few weeks since then, and I didn't want to bring it up because my chest was hurting me too long after the ordeal.

In a way, I don't know why i bothered to tell them because realistically, they can't do anything. As everything dear or near to me, I can't tell them causally, and it never had real bearing on anything. They need tending cause they are ill and elderly, and i do my best until it comes to dealing with people, I become just as crippled and can't function without them. I never show them my art, or tell em i want surgery for my dysphoria or I'm none of society's conditioning of identities or whatever they are willfully ignorant in. But I make points to remind them that im not a mere gender and I still correct them when they wrong name me, my simplest wishes they can't comply with. Even by the religionlNthey uphold, not to call women a degrading word in arabic that means that she is a forbidden object, they kept using it it but not around me... I don't know why i try, but they are my world, my only world, and the only humans i know and depend on. I'm not able to do anything now but draw, everything else i tried to do i either have forgotten or have no further means to do more, I might as well have forgotten how to speak English if it wasn't in everything I communicate with, consume and own set to it, and every now nd then write these so called diaries, ive already forgotten how to write my precious poems in arabic, or write in arabic as swiftly as i used to. I wake up most days with complete apathy or regret that I'm still living and costing to take space in this world.. my guardian asked me, who in support or women driving and having independent lives, if I could right now a chance learn to drive, will I do it. I said no. Even tho for years I knew with upmost certainty that I could do it, I always wanted to do it and have endless dreams of me driving, I always studied the booklets with our car to learn the road signs and all. But now I can't. Things I did by force of necessity on my own, I can't do anymore. I know I'm not the good elder sibling either cause I'm not always there to argue for my siblings, and it adds more and more to the guilt I can't clear, but I try buy them toys or a meal every chance I get commissioned.

I don't know what can be set in motion, at least I know I can hold on till 36, and while still having my drawing list to go through. Even with the same old interests, or hyperfixations should i say, things I can't change and seemingly have no gain posting around, especially when it comes to fanart. Otherwise, will be doodling fantasy junk such as these on me own

I wish all of you the best 🍀

Crying with makeup on and then laughing cuz I forgot I tried to do art on my face and now we can add 'crying in makeup' to our first time experiences lo' 10 pm, 6.6.2023

[clfcoin]

CLFCOIN Users Remain Unaffected by BitMEX Bitcoin Price Plunge

CLFCOIN Users Remain Unaffected by BitMEX Bitcoin Price Plunge

Big news in the crypto world continues: the world's largest pension fund explores bitcoin, and exchanges have some people rejoicing and some people worrying

There was an abnormality in bitcoin trading on digital currency exchange BitMEX. A seller dumped more than 400 bitcoins into the market in a short period of time during a period of insufficient liquidity, triggering a flash crash in the price of bitcoin on the BitMEX platform, which at one point fell below a staggering $9,000, which was caused by the exchange's lack of liquidity, while at the same time, the price of bitcoin on other exchanges mainly CoinAnimals, CLFCOIN, etc., is still at more than $66,000 USD. For the situation of insufficient circulation in future trading, it cannot be ruled out as the norm. It is recommended that investors try to choose digital currency exchanges with circulation strength like CLFCOIN, CoinSafe, etc., when choosing a digital currency exchange to trade on, so that the lack of liquidity will not trigger the passive closing of positions.

Anonymous crypto community member syq writes:

Someone has dumped over 400 bitcoins in batches of 10-50 bitcoins over the last 2 hours, causing over 30% slippage in the XBTUSDT pair on Bitmex. They lost at least $4 million dollars.

I guess they're done for now. So far, after 3.5 hours, the total trading volume is just under 1,000 bitcoins with a low price of $8,900. BitMEX has now disabled withdrawals.

BitMEX then investigated the unusual activity in question.A BitMEX spokesperson said the company investigated the incident and found aggressive selling behavior by a few accounts outside of the expected market range, adding that its systems were functioning normally and that all user funds were safe.The BitMEX exchange then posted a message on social media stating, "This will not affect any derivative market, nor will it affect the index prices of our popular XBT derivative contracts."

It's worth noting that Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of the BitMEX exchange, previously said that if the spot bitcoin ETF is too successful, it could destroy bitcoin altogether, and that the company's current trading volume really can't be compared to the likes of Crypto, CLFCOIN, COINBASE and other such large-scale exchanges, but all that can be said is to apologize for what has happened.

Bitcoin ETF issuers holding large amounts of bitcoins will negatively impact the number of transactions on the bitcoin network and miners will lose the incentive to maintain transaction validation. The end result is that miners will shut down their machines because they can no longer afford the energy needed to run them. Without miners, the network will die and Bitcoin will disappear.

Bitcoin has retreated more than $10,000 cumulatively from last week's highs

Bitcoin has retreated in recent days after hitting an all-time high of nearly $74,000 last week. While other exchanges didn't see an alarming drop below $10,000 on Tuesday, generally speaking it fell below the $63,000 mark, retracing more than $10,000 from its all-time high.

Bitcoin ETF products saw their largest net outflows since inception on Monday, with outflows dominated by GBTC, which is primarily from shades of gray.

Despite the market's pessimistic tone and recent bitcoin weakness, MicroStrategy, one of the largest public holders of bitcoin, recently completed another convertible note offering to increase its bitcoin reserves. The notes issued totaled $603.75 million.

When asked if the company would sell its reserve of 190,000 bitcoins it owns, Saylor, the company's co-founder, said, "I will always buy, bitcoin is the exit strategy."

Possible entry for the world's largest pension fund?

The other big news in the bitcoin market this week was the announcement that Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world's largest pension fund, will be exploring the possibility of diversifying a portion of its portfolio into the bitcoin space.

According to the announcement, as part of its diversification efforts, GPIF will be soliciting information on illiquid alternative assets such as bitcoin, gold, forests, and farmland. GPIF stated that they seek information on the basics of the targeted assets and would like to understand how overseas pension funds are incorporating these assets into their portfolios.

While GPIF is not currently invested in the assets mentioned above, the move suggests that the fund is actively looking at investment options other than stocks and bonds. With more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management, even a tiny allocation to Bitcoin could significantly impact the price of the digital currency.

Zerohedge, a financial and monetary blog, commented that there is a significant potential source of Bitcoin's price rise - foreign exchange reserves. Standard Chartered analysts recently predicted that it is increasingly likely that large reserve fund managers will announce bitcoin purchases in 2024

[titles-for-tangents]

Joe Farrell Sometimes Has  Supernatural Shenanigans Happen to Him

With not just one but two excellent collections of Peter S. Beagle’s works coming out, it occurred to me some of his novels and short stories take place in the same universe and sometimes feature the same characters, but I hadn’t really seen an online list yet of what order they’re supposed to occur in chronologically. I came to reading his stories in perhaps the right order for me to be introduced to them but also completely ass-backwards. Sometimes, between my scattered short story collections, years of life happening, and rare library hauls, I’d remember that some of these characters had names that sounded vaguely familiar. I don’t own everything he’s ever published, robust as my collection is at this point, so if I make an error or learn of a new story that came out, then I will edit my list here. This will be a Part I, and I will make a Part II for the world of The Last Unicorn under the same idea (wish me luck).

Beagle takes titling his stories seriously, and his ongoing adventures of Joe Farrell have no real umbrella title that I’m aware of. Perhaps they will get one and their own book collection one day. So without further ado (and more for my past, dumbass, novice self):

Lila the Werewolf - Lila Braun is one of Farrell’s first girlfriends as a young adult. It doesn’t go well. Takes place in New York City. First published 1974 and has seen only a few reprintings since then (The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle, Mirror Kingdoms, will be included in The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume 1). First appearance of Farrell’s best childhood friend Ben Kassoy.

The Folk of the Air - Farrell returns to Avicenna, California after having been away for a number of years and finds Ben, who also now lives in Avicenna, has both become a professor AND lives with an older woman named Sia. Sia lives in a nice, old house that just so happens to be a casual walk in the House of Leaves park, and sometimes she has goddess-tier powers. Seems to take place in the 1970s; is also the first introduction to Farrell’s longtime girlfriend with latent magic powers, Julie Tanikawa, and Farrell’s ancient Volkswagon bus, Madame Schumann-Heink. Farrell, Julie, and Ben get mixed up in the League for Archaic Pleasures where they playact at medieval chivalry, but sometimes the cosplay gets a little too real and reality starts to bend a bit. Your boyfriend’s shit, Aiffe, SHIT! Published 1986. Beagle notes in Mirror Kingdoms this one took eighteen years and four separate versions to write, and in We Don’t Talk About My Brother he describes Avicenna as a “shadow-Berkeley”. Note: this is the only entry here that’s never been properly reprinted to my knowledge. If you want to read this, you’re going to have to check if your local library has a copy or buy it second-hand. If Beagle’s Wikipedia page is to be believed, he’s currently rewriting it for an expanded re-new release. Hell yeah! Whatever happens in between here and the next entry, I’ve yet to find out.

Julie’s Unicorn (short story) - more than twenty years have passed between Farrell and Julie’s relationship “of picking up, letting go and picking up again.” Easily the sweetest of the four tales. Takes place in Avicenna and Farrell’s hair has gone grey by this point while working as a respected sous chef. Julie has a fantastic name for her black and white cat, “NMC”, short for “Not My Cat”, and somehow Madame Schumann-Heink has survived into the millennial age. I’m actually not certain when this was first published, but I first saw it in print in 2010′s Mirror Kingdoms, and it was later included in 2011′s The Urban Fantasy Anthology. Have you ever been so moved by a work of art it just makes you both heartbroken and fucking livid? Have you ever been so stirred by how well an artist captured their subject that you just needed to do something about it? Julie Tanikawa’s powers don’t always manifest, BUT WHEN THEY DO-

Spook - Takes place about five years later also in Avicenna (North Avicenna to be exact). Farrell and Julie have just moved in together into a loft and Ben heads up from Los Angeles to help them move in. Turns out the loft is haunted by a previous resident in the silliest way possible, and it sure as hell wants Farrell out. Farrell and Ben employ an old acquaintance to help with deciphering what to do about it, and Farrell has the idea to challenge it to a duel. The weapons of choice? Bad poetry. Bad poetry. It’s ridiculous and fun as fuck. First published in a 2008 3-story collection called Strange Roads and reprinted in 2009′s We Don’t Talk About My Brother. Beagle says he looked forward to recording an audiobook version, but I’ve not found any evidence that it exists, especially not post-Connor Cohran. Will be reprinted in The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume I and no audiobook is listed yet.  One of the nice things about these stories is that Farrell is such an ordinary dude, and yet he is alarmingly well educated in medieval music, mythology, and far more across that board. Farrell just owns a lute and knows how to play it, for example, and he can take any piece of classical music and arrange it for his lute. Farrell can be the best kind of pedant and is remarkably accepting and empathetic of other people and their situations, supernatural or no. And for as much as he tries to keep his head down and out of other people’s business, when their business comes knocking he’s thoughtful about where they’re coming from and just does his best to deal. Beagle also shines here in his knowledge of what people are like as they age and even though marriage in the traditional sense may not be the best fit for them, remaining life partners still is. I found Lila the Werewolf the toughest read, as it’s about toxic relationships with no easy answer, and Julie’s Unicorn easily the sweetest tale of the lot. The Folk of the Air takes a little while to get into, but once it gets going it keeps up that steam and all the characterization is handled memorably well. Spook is by far the most fun and we even get a little backstory into how Farrell and Julie met. Beagle tends to know when to come back to and touch base with characters he’s not quite done with yet, so if he ever writes more of what’s going on in the world of Joe Farrell it’s bound to be an entertaining ride.

[unladielike]

    Honestly, the more Vivian thought about it, the more it suddenly occurred to her the pile she accumulated may have been slight overkill; after all, Hayate probably didn't need so many new manga to read during the holiday season, that simply getting him a few volumes of one series would better guarantee it wouldn't be left, abandoned and untouched over his desk. Why, with how tired he gets from working and how much he sleeps during the day, she could see him setting aside the pile to read later, only to completely forget about it... which made her wonder - was she perhaps being a bit too excessive by picking out that many books?

    "Hm... you really think so, Keester?" Uncertainty would finally lace her tone the moment she brings herself to speak, and little by little, her bespectacled gaze would lower itself back down towards the pile she was still carrying. "Not gonna lie, I can easily envision mother dearest telling me to stop dilly dallying and to just pick the least expensive one out of the whole bunch already... yet at the same time, he always spoils me rotten whenever I visit Chiba, that I wanna splurge at least a little bit. Like, my friend has always been the sorta guy who would rarely use his money on himself, it makes me wanna gift him something that would at least bring a genuine smile to his grouchy face." No sooner does Vivian admit this, she'll then go on to sigh.

    Oh, if only she happened to be a bit wealthier! Unfortunately, though, she wasn't, meaning for better or for worse, Vivian had to agonize over what to buy him while also minding her own finances, because on the off chance she didn't, she might have to end up later asking her mother to send her more money... provided, of course, she could no longer get by from the disability funds the government sent her and the savings she got from working part-time.

    "Still, I guess as far as 'stand outs' are concerned, I can guarantee he would absolutely love 'My Roommate is a Cat' series; in fact, that emo-haired jerk always has so much cat-related memorabilia lying around, he'll definitely struggle to put down a manga that lovingly depicts those feline creatures," Vivian finally acknowledges before reluctantly proceeding to shelve away the other volumes of manga. ...After all, limiting herself to only one series would make her save so much money in the long run. Once she had managed to return the last one back to it's rightful position, however, the sound of Keith's voice would have her immediately whipping her head around, and before she knows it, Vivian would find her eyes widening.

    "W-Wait, you mean to tell me you actually found the last volume?" came her incredulous query. By that point, she'll subsequently saunter over so she could better peer at the manga he held closely to his chest... and sure enough, a wry smile would meander it's way across her lips. "Welp, I'll be! Perhaps the lord himself had noticed your plight and decided to enact a miracle. ...Indeed, I'd have to offer a prayer of gratitude to him later for coming to your aid," Vivian declares.

So most of the titles were for her friend—that was... actually pretty nice of her, honestly speaking. If a friend saw this many books he liked and had such a dilemma about which ones to pick out as a gift, he'd surely be grateful on the receiving end, no matter what book was gifted in the end. It was the thought that went into the selection that spoke volumes—though the way he treasured those kinds of gifts himself probably said a lot about how much he'd do the same for his friends too.

Although he would love to help Vivian narrow down selections fast, Keith wasn't a manga reader outside of some shoujo here and there (basically whatever Rachael decided to shove in his face). Maybe he could try to narrow it down in ways other than title recommendations. Tugging the basket forward to sit beside him rather than behind him, Keith gently lowered the handle the best he could before letting the handle fall to the floor with a clack. Folding his arms over each other, he tossed a question to Vivian, ❝ Are there any stand outs among that pile? Ones that are a definite 'he would 100 percent want this volume'? ❞ Keith asked to at least help her consider a different viewpoint, ❝ or anything that's easier on the wallet? I know some volumes are cheaper than others. ❞

His ears perked upon her last statement, his eyes momentarily widening a bit at the self-depreciation. Subtly dropping his shoulders, he lowered his chin, ❝ I wouldn't call it indecisive if you're trying to pick out a thoughtful gift. It shows you care enough to make the gift more personal and meaningful, ❞ he smoothly replied without missing a beat, ❝ you'd be surprised how many people don't do that. ❞ He had plenty of examples with that, such as people gifting things he literally couldn't use even if he wanted to.

Glancing off towards the shelf for a moment to distract himself from the thought, a pink hue caught his eye. Oh! The spine looked like the volume of Kitchen Princess he picked up earlier; the art on the spine even had the same girl drawn there. It seemed someone had put it back in the wrong spot. It had a similar width to the one he picked up earlier, except the number on the spine was a 4 instead of a 1. He... definitely had to get this now.

Unfolding his arms and practically snatching it off the shelf, he turned it to the back cover—ah, it seemed that this forth one was the final volume. As much as he wanted it... two extra items of expense... and not to mention if he was lucky enough to find the other two volumes somehow—now he understood Vivian's dilemma. The heart-racing feeling at finding a good book that interested him was exhilarating. Clutching the book almost protectively against his chest, he thought to himself: now I get it.

Putting the thoughts into words, he spoke them aloud so Vivian could hear them, ❝ now I get why the pile keeps getting taller. ❞

[listentotheshityousay]

I’ve reread the entirety of the pandora hearts manga again and I’m so fucking emotional about elliot nightray

[sukirichi]

“your hair is really soft” – jjk ver!

ft. itadori yuuji, gojo satoru, fushiguro megumi, nanami kento, ryoumen sukuna, & inumaki toge

ITADORI YUUJI – you’re in the room with Yuuji, who is busy watching the movies gojo-sensei had given him. He holds the cursed corpse in his other side, careful not to let him hit you, while your head lies on his shoulder, eyes drooping close from your long day. Yuuji turns the volume down and brings you closer to him until you’re practically sitting on his lap, his lips making brief contact at the crown of your head while he mumbles sweet nothings, too engrossed in the movie.

You smile at his sweet gesture, gently fisting the front of his jacket while you return the affection, kissing the edges of his jaw softly to not distract him too much. Yuuji’s lips tilt at the soft press of your lips on his warm skin. Soon, your hands rake up to his hair where your nails rake his scalp. Immediately, Yuuji deflates like a balloon as he purrs at the movement, making you chuckle in your sleepy daze.

“Your hair is really soft,” you note, and his eyes practically sparkle. Yuuji was a huge fan of hair gels and hair products, that his desk was filled with different brands all so he could keep his hair perfectly styled – in that somewhat natural, messy appeal. You love it on him and he melts at the fact you’ve noticed his efforts into taking care of himself. Most of all, the feeling of the smooth tendrils running past your fingertips like caressing a field of flowers lulls both you and him to a serene state.

GOJO SATORU – Like Yuuji, Gojo takes his time in styling his hair. You brush your teeth beside Gojo, who scowls as he struggles to keep his hair up the way he likes before he puts on his blindfold. The lanky man groans and adds more product, flattening the strands of his hair between his palms before swooping it up. When it falls down, Gojo whines, leaning forward on the sink counter.

You chuckle to yourself; he could be so dramatic sometimes. Bumping your hip with his, you gesture at him to move, and the big baby pouts before placing his chin on your shoulder as he watches you gargle. “Babe,” he sniffles, arms wrapping around your middle before his nose nuzzles into your skin. You giggle and push him away; the little bastard knew you were ticklish there. “My hair won’t stick up the way I want it to. Now I don’t look so cool anymore. What would my students say? That Gojo-Sensei stopped being attractive?”

That earns him an eye roll and a playful smack to his shoulder. “Ow!” Gojo rubs his shoulder with another pout, although both of you know nothing ever really hurts the strongest jujutsu sorcerer. “You’re mean.”

“And you’re just fishing for compliments.”

When Gojo hides his smirk behind his palm, you know you’ve hit the nail right on the head. Gojo was probably the most self-assured and overconfident man you’ve ever met – the day he thought lowly of himself and worried about anything concerning him that would ruin his “image” would be the day pigs could fly. Nevertheless, you give in with a sigh, extending your palm towards him.

“Give me the gel. I’ll fix your hair for you.”

“You’re a lifesaver, babe!” Obediently, Gojo crouches down so you could reach his hair, but not before muttering “shorty” under his breath. You tug at his hair harshly than you intended as payback, and Gojo only lets out a loud, fake moan before doubling over.

Your laughter and his bubble and echo through the cramped room, but both of you don’t mind. It’s moments like these you cherish with your whole heart even though it’s not extremely sweet or anything over the top. Dating a jujutsu sorcerer, the strongest one at that, wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns. You worry for him all the time and stay up awake all night, only ever finding peace in your sleep when he comes home safely – which he always does.

Still, you don’t stop worrying for him. It’s only natural, after all, and the way Gojo’s eyes soften as you slightly massage his scalp and style his hair for him lets you know he loves small moments like this too when both of you are completely alone in your own worlds, just enjoying each other’s presence and not having to think about anything else.

“Your hair is really soft,” you muse, unaware of the way Gojo’s closed his eyes as he lets your hand do the magic. When the familiar scent of vanilla and flowers wafts into your senses, you lean down closer to him to sniff his hair, stopping in your movements. “That’s odd. You smell like shampoo, but I haven’t bought that scent in a week.”

“Well, I may or not be the one who emptied it the last time,” he sheepishly chuckles.

“Gojo! That shampoo was really expensive!”

“Yeah, but I wanted to smell like you,” he coos, gently peeling your arms off him so he could hug you. Because of the height difference, you face plant into his bare chest where his skin is still warm from the shower. You keep feigning your irritation, but really, you squish your cheek above his heart, and Gojo’s chest rumbles as he laughs – he knows you can’t resist him. “Sorry about it babe, let’s go grocery shopping tonight when I come home, yeah?”

“You better buy your own shampoo,” you grumble, but Gojo only laughs.

  FUSHIGURO MEGUMI – Megumi is hunched over his desk, eyebrows pinched together while his hands move at an extreme speed. He’s studying while you scroll through memes on your phone, not wanting to disturb your boyfriend. Megumi is studious as ever, and it’s not that you aren’t, but you’re definitely a lot more relaxed than he is. 

You often tease him that you’ve got amazing memory by tapping your forehead whenever he tells you to study with him, which only makes him huff, but in reality, you refuse to study with him because he’s so distracting.

The way he bites his lip when he’s concentrated on something has your stomach erupting with butterflies, and it doesn’t help when his dark blue eyes pierce through the pages like the poor textbook committed a crime he couldn’t forgive.

All in all, Megumi’s beauty tripled tenfold when he was dedicated to something, and it was this fact that had you keeping your distance from him while he studies, because the last thing he needs is to have you jump him when he’s got an exam to prepare for. Unbeknownst to him, you’re angling your phone upwards until his beautiful side profile comes to view – and it’s so unfair his lashes are longer and thicker than yours – and you take a silent snap.

You take a few more pictures with a silent giggle, making sure to set it as your lock screen later. Nothing better than waking up to Megumi’s face every time your alarm went off, but your daydreaming is halted when Megumi drops his pen with a loud sigh.

“I know you’re taking pictures of me,” he side-eyes you with a glare. You squeak before hiding your phone behind you, knowing that it’s not out of the picture for Megumi to steal them and delete his precious photos. It didn’t help he knows your password either (duh, it’s his birthdate) so you take the extra mile by offering him a sickeningly sweet smile, an apology ready to leave your lips when – “If you wanted my attention that badly, you could’ve just said so. I don’t mind taking a break or something.”

Although he sounds annoyed, the way he avoids your gaze to hide his reddened cheeks and ears say otherwise. Megumi’s back faces you as you wait patiently on his bed. You don’t want to bother him – you really don’t – so you stay put, and Megumi sighs for the hundredth time that night before spinning on his chair, arms stretched out wide open. “Come. Want hugs.”

He keeps his gaze on his lap to swallow the embarrassment of using baby-like words, which was a huge contrast from his quiet and cold persona. You don’t mind though. Deep down, Megumi is like everyone else who wants constant affection, so you leap out of his bed and jump into his arms. Megumi relaxes with your weight on top of him before he squishes his cheeks against your boobs – one of his quirks that you found endearing – a sign that he just wanted to relax for a little while.

Megumi isn’t really that huge on touch, so moments like this where he allows himself to be physically intimate with you has you floating on cloud nine. You hear him sigh between you, and you hide your grin by pushing his hair back to reveal those pretty eyes of his, beckoning him to look you in the eye.

As expected, his cheeks flush a beet red at the intensity of your gaze, but what really catches your attention is how his eyes just brighten even though they’re lined with dark circles. 

This precious boy means everything to you, and you cup his face until your noses are rubbing. “Love you, Gumi,” you whisper, the boy’s breath hitching when your eyelashes flutter against his skin. Megumi tsks, a faux scowl on his face because both of you are painfully aware that he just melts around you.

“Stop teasing me. You know I don’t like that.”

“I’m not teasing you,” you lie, brushing his hair back in a soothing manner to help him relieve the headache he gets when he studies too much. “You know, your hair is really soft. Can I keep doing this?”

Megumi hates it when people touch his hair, so you expect him to say no – and you’ll gladly respect it – but instead, he pushes you closer and murmurs, “Don’t stop doing that.”

You smile so wide you fear your face would break.

  NANAMI KENTO – You’ve always been fascinated with your co-worker. You don’t know what it is about the sharp-faced and stoic Nanami Kento that somehow makes him stand out from the rest. It’s not like he was smarter or better than anyone, although you do admit Nanami overworks most of the time.

It’s kind of pathetic you’ve been crushing on him ever since your first day of work. Maybe it’s because he worked with virtue and wishes to actually be honest instead of just sucking the money out of others. Maybe it’s because seeing him visit a bakery every after work makes him seem softer and a lot more human than his seemingly unapproachable nature. Whatever it was, you can’t explain why you’re so enamoured with the blond, or why you have the audacity to suddenly card your fingers through his hair at his desk that time.

You were told by your boss to give him this folder – quick, easy, and simple. But Nanami has this effect on you that he makes your brain go brr every time you go closer to him. You blame it on the fact both of you are alone at the office right now for OT, but when Nanami freezes under your touch, you realize the grave consequences of your actions.

As if you’ve touched something boiling hot – and he kind of is – you retract your arm and bow so deep you feel a vertebrae popping air. “I’m so sorry!” you begin to blabber, bowing repeatedly to the point your hair has become a mess. You can’t even look him in the eye – what were you thinking?! “I didn’t mean to, it’s just your hair looked really nice and soft and I couldn’t help myself! If you want to tell the higher-ups about this harassment and get me fired, I promise I won’t mind. In fact, I’ll take this to my grave and even offer my firstborn child as an apology—”

“Y/N.”

“because I’ve done something so horrendous and oh my gosh, I was just eating donuts and I probably got crumbs in your pretty hair—”

“Y/N,”

“And that’s really so low of me. Uh, actually, I may or may not have spent last month’s salary to buy my niece a huge ass dollhouse, but I’d gladly schedule a hair appointment for you—” you stop your words when you feel huge, calloused hands squishing your cheeks together until your lips are puckered out like a fish. Nanami stands before you, looking as handsome as ever, and that thought only has you panicking more and withdrawing. “I’m so sorry.”

Nanami sighs, pulling away to give you some space. You try to fight back the whine because not only did you look ridiculous under him, but also because you actually missed his touch.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind,” he takes the folder from you, pauses, then tilts his head to the side. “You think my hair is soft?”

“Uhm,” you blink rapidly, “Y-yes. Your hair is really pretty too. In fact, everything about you is pretty, like your hands when you type in paperwork but – I’m talking too much aren’t I?” you laugh nervously, scratching the back of your head. “I’m sorry. I tend to ramble when I’m nervous.”

“I make you nervous?” Nanami doesn’t sound like he believes it.

“Yeah,” you confess, switching your weight from one foot to another. At this point, you’ve given up on asking him out for coffee this weekend because you’re sure he’s labelled you as an idiot now. Not that it’s surprising though; not only does Nanami keep to himself out of social aversion, but you’re also pretty loud and awkward, a huge contrast to someone as well-put as him. “Anyways, uh,” you clear your throat, gesturing to your cubicle. “Now that you’ve got the file, I’m gonna go do my part. See you later, I guess. Or not. You can go home first you want. I’ve got quite a lot on my plate.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

“Sorry?”

Nanami organizes his desk one last time before following you to your desk. “I’m done with my part and it’s late. It’s not safe for you to walk home alone,” he glances at his watch, “I’ll wait for you until you’re done and walk you back home. That way, I don’t have to worry about your safety tonight,” he plops down on the empty seat next to yours, crossing his arms on his broad chest. “Take all the time you need. Just wake me up when you’re done.”

Just like that, Nanami dozes off, exhausted from a long day of hard work. You, on the other hand, are more energized than ever as you suddenly find a strong wave of motivation you’ve never had before.

Maybe you don’t mess up everything, after all.

  RYOUMEN SUKUNA – He groans when you giggle at him, using your small, dainty hands to brush it through his hair. Sukuna liked to sleep in and it was only seven in the morning, meaning he’s supposed to be still lost in dreamland with thoughts about you and your cute little face. But because you’re an annoying brat who’s an early bird and way too cheerful as a morning person, you’re wide awake when the sun shone through the windows, and you’re gently coaxing him awake by rotating your fingers through his hair.

“Your hair is really soft.”

“Stop that,” he complains, but doesn’t really do anything to push you away. “It’s too early. Go back to bed.”

“But I’m already awake,” you tease, proving your point by taking off his covers and patting his chest. “Come on, let me make you breakfast. Maybe we can go out today and go see a movie, what do you think? It’s my day off so we better make use of it!”

“Exactly, it’s a day off,” he growls the last part, surprising you when his strong hands grip your thigh and drag you beside him. Soon enough, Sukuna has you trapped in his muscular arms until you can’t move anymore. “Let’s just stay the whole day in bed. Plus, I’m the one making breakfast. There’s no way you’re still cooking for me on your day off.”

“But I love cooking for you.”

“I know, but it’s my turn now,” he huffs through your hair. Sukuna’s grip loosens around you a bit to give you room to breathe, but he’s taken aback when you only snuggle closer to him to the point your legs and tangled and your body is warm from his heat. You don’t have to say it out loud to tell him you’ve conceded to his wishes.

As always, Sukuna is right. It feels much better to just let go of time and enjoy this moment. And he smells so good, feels so warm, that you’re unable to stop yourself from burrowing closer onto his body until you’re sure you’re about to start smelling like him later.

Of course, Sukuna likes the thought of that, so he sweeps one arm behind to tug the covers back over your bodies. He kisses your temple, and with a low, husky voice, grumbles, “Let’s go back to sleep, then we’ll do everything you want later, okay? I just want to stay in bed with you a little longer.”

For a guy who was considered heartless and barbaric, he sure turned into putty in your hands.

  INUMAKI TOGE – The platinum haired boy lays on your lap, the wire of headphones dangling beside you both. You’re thankful Inumaki has his eyes closed, because the last thing you want him to see is how embarrassed and giddy you are at that moment.

You and Inumaki have been friends for years, meaning you’ve been hiding your crush on him for a painfully long time. He’s recently made a Spotify playlist with an innocent text of, “I made you a playlist of all the songs that reminds me of you,” which leads you both to your current predicament. It’s a rather lazy weekend and Gojo-sensei isn’t around to bother any of you, so you’re in Inumaki’s room, careful not to bounce your legs out of habit to not give the poor boy a headache.

You snap back to life when Inumaki squeezes your thigh, and you’re met with azure eyes looking back up at you. “Mustard leaf?” he points to your face, which has been previously constricted and heated from his close proximity. It isn’t the first time you and Toge have cuddled, but it’s been too long and you’re standing at the edge of a dangerous cliff with the desire to tell him you like him.

Inumaki must’ve thought you’re uncomfortable with his weight on you because he begins to sit up. “Oh, no, no!” you coax him back down despite his questioning eyes, a wide grin replacing your flustered state to conceal it. “Its’s fine, really. I was just vibing with the songs.”

He hums, not completely believing it, but he doesn’t want to push either. Soon, he settles into your lap again and makes you lose your mind when his breath starts to tickle your kneepads now that he’s facing behind you.

Your heart just about combusts, and before you know it, Inumaki has fallen asleep while the theme of Howl’s Moving Castle plays. Once his breathing regulated into a steady rhythm, you reach out to brush his hair back and lightly add some pressure for better sleep. You know Inumaki lies that, and you smile to yourself when he leans into your touch even in his slumber.

“Your hair is so soft,” you say mostly to yourself, leaning down to kiss his the crown of his head, making Inumaki sigh contentedly. Gosh, you love him so much.

Now isn’t the time but...hopefully, one day you could tell him how you feel. Even if he rejects you, you hope you could still be friends even after that awkward encounter –

You freeze as the next song comes on. I.F.L.Y by Bazzi comes on, and just as you cover your mouth to silence your gasps, you hear the faintest snickers coming from Inumaki before he goes back to “snoring.”

“Toge! Were you awake the whole time?!”

[thatgecko0]

Hi this is my first time posting anything on Tumblr since I had my old account so hi have some NSFW alphabet for  raihan (18+)

A- Aftercare (What are the like after

I feel like raihan gives amazing after care. He has towels, bottles of water, and snacks in the stand next to his bed and always makes sure your okay

B- Body part (What’s their favourite body part on their partner? Themselves?)

He loves his legs and abs, I feel like he likes looking and his body that he worked hard for

For his partner I think he loves their chest or tummy. He just loves his parents cute body

C- Cum

He LOVES it. Raihan loves to cum in you, on you, next to you, he also loves your cum and making you squirt

D- Dirty secret (What’s a dirty secret of theirs?)

Before you 2 got together he would jerk off thinking about you. That’s not the secret though, he tried his hand and a few toys but nothing was close enough to having you until one time you left a pair of underwear in the changing room. He then proceeded to jerk off with them and when that post nut clarity he started to panic because he felt so bad and so Creepy for it and never told anyone

E- Experience (How experience are they?)

He had a few Partners before you and also jerks off A LOT and dose a lot of research on things he might want to try

F- Favourite position 

Doggy style! Like don’t get me wrong he’ll take you in whatever way he can but he loves how desperate and feral it feels

G- Goofy (Are they more serious? Are the more laid-back?)

Like I said man is feral but he doesn’t mind if you crack a joke or 2 when you’re going at it

H- Hair (Are they well-groomed?)

He grooms himself pretty well, he’s not to hairy but also not completely shaven

I- Intimacy (How romantic are they in the moment?)

even though the boy is a monster in bed on special occasions he’s very romantic

J- Jack off (Do they masturbate?)

Yes…*a lot*

K- Kink (What are their kinks?)

Breeding kink for sure, maybe pet play and praising 100%

L- Location (What's their preferred location for sex?)

Honestly anywhere he can have you. He loves the bed but he does love fucking you in locker room before he goes out to battle

M- Motivation (What turns them on?)

Honestly a lot of things but he loves it when you’re bratty in public so he can take you in the nearest bathroom to show you who you need to listen to

N- No (Something they wouldn't do?)

Okay he’s into a lot of things but he doesn’t like anything to do with blood or taking pictures/ videos of you unless he has your 100% consent and will ask you multiple times to make sure you are definitely okay with it (he does love the pictures and videos he has though)

O- Oral (Do they prefer to give or receive?)

Don’t get me wrong the man loves receiving oral (I mean he who doesn’t) and will low key face fuck you so hard but he loves holding you down and feeling you cum as he eats you out

P- Pace (Are they fast and rough? Are they slow and sensual?)

I think I’ve made it obvious but fast and rough for sure

Q- Quickie (Do they like quickies?)

He’s not to crazy about them he prefers to go round after round but if he thinks you both need one he’ll take you wherever he can

R- Risk (Do they like to experiment? Are they up for taking risks?)

Boy loves to experiment with new toys and new kinks and doesn’t mind taking risks

S- Stanima (How many rounds can the last? How long?)

With raihan your going for at least 4 rounds and cumming on all of them but his limit is about 7 rounds

T- Toys (Do they own any toys?)

Yes! He also loves to buy you toys he even got a dildo made to look and feel like his dick for you

U- Unfair (How much do they like to tease?)

Maybe a little orgasm denial but he usually isn’t a tease

V- Volume (How loud are they? What sounds do they make?)

LOUD like growling grunting and morning as long as you 2 are in silence

W- Wild card (Random blurb)

Mans posts porn, as long as you’re comfortable with it he’ll record him fucking you ( hiding y’all’s faces of course) or just videos of him by himself

X- X-ray (What’s happening under those clothes?)

He’s obviously built and he gives off big dick energy

Y- Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

H I g h

Z- Zzz (How quickly do they fall asleep?)

He only falls asleep if he knows you’re okay

[frostedfaves]

Naive (1)

Masterlist

Pairing: demon!Wanda Maximoff x fem!reader

Summary: Of all the humans Wanda has met, you’re suddenly her favorite.

Warnings: 18+ ONLY, dark!fic, demon things™️ (be warned that this shit will get much darker in the future), subtle hand kink (don’t @ me)

A/N: special shoutout to the anon that inspired this fic series, I hope you enjoy this weird combo of AOU x IW Wanda. also if you have any previous knowledge of demons, throw it out the window before you read this because I guarantee that things will not add up here lmao

-

Wanda’s favorite thing about interacting with humans is her effect on them.

Walking through a crowd is fine. She’ll brush a few shoulders and rattle a few unsuspecting adults, flash solid black eyes at kids that either stare or scream. It’s temporary and brings a bit of fun to an otherwise dull day.

The real joy comes from direct contact. Wanda travels miles away from her apartment building, choosing different stores, restaurants and cafés just to keep things interesting. A new cashier each time. She’ll have an air of friendliness about her that isn’t exactly fake; she finds most humans to be charming, despite their fragile minds.

“Will that be all?” Roy--according to his name tag--asks with a grin and Wanda nods in response. “Okay, your total is $21.14. You can just swipe or insert your card in the machine there.”

Wanda inserts her card carefully, complimenting the decor as she waits for the transaction to be completed. After returning it to her wallet, she flashes a soft smile at Roy as he hands her the receipt, purposefully brushing her fingers with his. As his skin makes contact with one of her rings, she notices the goosebumps rising along his arm and hears his breathing pattern change.

“Roy? Everything alright?”

She hears the concerned voice of a coworker as she makes her way to a table to wait for her meal, already seated by the time Roy coughs in an effort to collect himself.

“Yeah, just feeling off I guess. I’ll be fine.”

A chuckle falls from her lips as she watches the poor cashier attempt to return to his previous state of mind, finding the urge to smile and wave when his eyes cut over to her. His voice trembles when he calls her name and he stands as far away as possible when she approaches the counter to grab her order.

“Thanks for everything, Roy.”

Sensing that he’s startled enough without it, she keeps her other tricks hidden in her sleeves and simply walks away, holding her laughter until the doors close behind her. A good meal with a side of human interaction, her absolute favorite.

-

The next day brings Wanda to a bookstore around lunchtime. She takes a minute to browse the aisles, taking an exceptionally long time lingering in the section harboring books on angels and demons. The stereotypes amuse more than upset her like they used to in the beginning.

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

Wanda turns to make eye contact with the employee behind her, about to ask a question for the fun of it when a laugh catches her attention. Her gaze redirects to the café counter straight ahead, and a warm feeling washes over her when she hears the laugh again.

You’re genuinely entertained by the elderly woman purchasing a bagel with exact change, and Wanda manages to catch the end of the conversation as she draws near.

“Safe to say, I haven’t worn the blouse since that day.” She bids you farewell with her bagel and receipt in hand, eyes twinkling as she observes Wanda on her way past. “You have such bright and beautiful hair, dear.”

“Thank you,” Wanda responds with sincerity, attention locked on you while approaching the counter. “Hi.”

“Hey,” you greet her with a voice much calmer than the one you use with most of your other customers. “What can I get you today?”

You watch the orange haired woman turn her head to study the items behind the glass, taking the time to do your own inspection. You admire the dark red jacket that covers most of her torso, gaze lingering on the multiple rings hugging her fingers that seem to be smoothing nonexistent wrinkles in her dress, almost in a nervous fashion. It brought you a bit of comfort, assuming that she was affected in the same way.

“What do you recommend?”

“Oh, well…” You walk over to open the glass case from your side of the counter, naming each item as you grab it. “I usually have this pretzel that’s stuffed with spinach and cheese and this brownie. I can heat both of them for you, if you’d like.”

“I would love that,” Wanda responds in a grateful tone, placing a bottle of water on the counter after taking it from the fridge. “And I’ll also have one of these incredibly overpriced waters.”

You begin her order with a laugh, and she watches you ring everything up with the speed and expertise of a seasoned employee, wondering how she’d gone this long without running into you. The total price is brought to the digital screen just before her card is inserted, and she takes the time to quickly slip her rings into her pockets while you’re taking the pretzel and brownie over to the miniature oven. The last thing she wants to do is scramble your brain before she even gets the chance to explore it.

“Here’s your receipt,” you announce while giving Wanda the slip of paper, your eyes lingering on her hand for a moment before looking at her again. “Your food should be ready soon.”

“Okay, thank you…” Her sentence trails off as she searches for your name, the letters rolling off her tongue with ease when she finally locates it on the apron covering your chest.

“You’re welcome…” You trail off in the same fashion and she catches on quickly.

“Wanda.”

“You’re welcome, Wanda,” you repeat as you hand her the water bottle before she can walk away.

Less than two minutes later, you approach the table she’s taken over with two small ceramic plates and a sheepish grin.

“I should’ve asked if you were going to stay a while, but I can grab some bags if you need to go.”

Wanda shakes her head with a laugh as she takes them from you, startling you when she doesn’t react to the excessive heat radiating from the dishes.

“This is perfect.”

She takes her time with eating, and your attention is drawn to her between customers, grateful that she’s too busy with her phone to notice your stares. On the other hand, Wanda’s mind is filled with thoughts of you. What you look like when you think she can’t see you glancing over, what you smelled like when you were close. The nerves, the kindness, the desire to learn her name despite her being just another customer to you. She knows that you noticed her missing rings, but she’s already prepared with a cover story. A two minute conversation has her dying to pick your brain more, learn your habits and become more familiar with your body, beyond a simple brush of your fingertips. She already wants you to herself, just the way you came, without her interference for now; that’ll come later.

A good meal with a side of human interaction, her absolute favorite.

-

Despite Wanda leaving an hour before your shift ended, she lingers in your thoughts on the bus ride and walk home. You find yourself recalling her kind smile, fidgeting fingers and the scent of her perfume when she passed you on her way out, and you’re so deep in your memories that you end up colliding with your apartment door.

“That’s not going to get you inside any faster, dear.”

Your cheeks burn as you face Ruth for the second time today, the first time being earlier when you sold her a bagel.

“I know, Ruthie,” you respond sheepishly as you pull your keys from your pocket. “Is everything okay? You’re usually in bed watching a cowboy show by now.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to come home so I could talk to you.” She checks to see if the hallway is empty before opening her door and waving you over. “Come on, quickly.”

You scurry into the apartment behind her, taking in the scene before you while she locks the door. Having visited her before, you know she keeps the television at a higher volume, but it seems louder than normal.

“I know I might seem like I’ve lost my marbles, but I wanted to warn you about that woman you saw today....The one with the bright hair.”

“You mean Wanda?” you question, eyes widening when she nods. “Warn me about what?”

“There’s something off about that Wanda, if that even is her real name.” She snatches her arm out of her robe and brings it closer for you to see. “I’ve had these chills since I brushed against her earlier. Something’s not right with her. How do you even know her name? I’ve never seen her before.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” you assure her as you help her slip her arm back in the sleeve. “I only know her name because we were having a friendly conversation and she used mine. I was just being polite to someone I’ll probably never even see again.”

“Just be careful,” she pleads as you head toward her door again, and you offer your best attempt at a relaxed smile.

“I’ll be fine, Ruthie. Get some rest, okay?”

You hear her lock the door behind you as you make your way back to your own apartment, rushing through the process of unlocking the door and securing it once you’re inside. As much as you don’t want to let Ruth get you worked up over a stranger, you can’t help thinking about the odd little things you noticed earlier. 

It isn’t unusual for someone to linger after buying food or drinks from your counter, whether they have homework or even just a phone to keep them busy. Wanda seemed to be waiting for someone the entire time, and you remember hoping that she wasn’t on a date, despite not wanting her to be stood up. But she simply slid her phone in her pocket and departed with a friendly wave as if nothing had happened.

You especially remember her waving at you with those ringless fingers, and wondering silently where the intricate jewelry had disappeared to. Obviously you just assumed that the rings were tucked away on her person and not dumped in the trash, but she doesn’t seem like the type of person to give up on her accessories in the middle of the day. Part of you--a part that you didn’t dare to address--wondered if she’d emptied her hands to send you a subtle sign. No, that can’t possibly be it.

Sleeping proves to be difficult with so many unanswered questions floating about, but you eventually give into the act. A few hours later, you peel open your eyes when you think you hear something in the room. The digital clock that sits on your bedside and serves as an alarm and occasional radio reads 3:34am, and you’re just about to close your eyes again when you hear another sound. You raise your head to turn toward your closet, and a scream is trapped in your throat as you catch sight of a figure in the shadows.

The next time you wake, the sun is out and your alarm is blaring on the nightstand beside you. Your gaze flickers over to the closet as you reach out to silence it, your heartbeat dropping slightly when you don’t see anything other than clothes. Deciding that you must’ve been dreaming, you shake away the fearful thoughts and head to the bathroom to start getting ready for another day of work.

The only thing you haven’t decided on yet is whether you want to see Wanda again.

[moonctzeny]

go there with you [teaser]

pairing: roommate/daddy dom! jaemin x fem! reader

genre: smut

summary: "You'd be lying had you said you didn't pick Jaemin to room with you because of his good looks. You had successfully managed to keep things platonic between you until a mistake and an amateur porn vid would bring you closer than ever. His annoying habits might wanna make you rip his hair out, yet you can think of a couple ways you can be all in his face."

ask me to join the taglist :)

----------------------------------------------

Desperate. That’s what you had said in your ad.

You were desperate for a roommate because your landlord is an asshole who raised the rent of a girl he knows damn well is too stiff to become a stripper. You’d take anyone, really, but Jaemin still wasn’t the best candidate. You had a bunch of people that reached out to you. Quiet, kind, soft-spoken; the definition of a perfect roommate for most. A girl who said her only hobby was practicing chess by herself, a guy who was attending culinary school and promised to do all the cooking for the both of you, a girl who just needed a place to crash on the rare days she wasn’t sleeping at her boyfriend’s. They all seemed responsible and likable as well. So why did you settle for the loud talking, late-night gaming, plate scratching man in your kitchen? Just those few occurrences when you mixed up your coffee orders and had to take that first sip of his ‘Namericano’ was good enough of a reason to kick him out for good.

Well first off all, living with someone that looks like Jaemin hardly qualifies as ‘settling’. You were frankly swept off your feet when he came in for your roommate interview, dressed in the plainest of outfits yet looking so effortlessly handsome. He knew he was charming and used it against you, flicking his eyebrows when you asked him about his relationship status (you weren’t really in the mood to find a new naked lady in your living room every morning), running his fingers through his hair whenever he gave you an answer he knew you wouldn’t like.

And also, Jaemin isn’t always bad. On the days he’s not screaming into his headset or high on his caffeine overdose, he’s actually really fun to be around. He agrees to watch your favorite movies and he never steals your snacks, always smells nice, and is a good cuddler as well.

Desperate for him. That’s what you were that night you crossed the line.

He was bugging you for your wireless headphones again, barging into your room uninvited, as always. You just couldn’t understand why he didn’t just buy a pair of his own since he enjoyed working out in them so much.

“I swear to god Jaemin if you empty out their battery again-”

“I won’t! Please, y/n? I tried using mine but I keep getting tangled up in the wires.”

You just wanted that shirtless man out of your room. The results of his workout - or rather the mere warming up for it - were starting to show, sweat pooling on the hollows of his collarbones and fixated over his brows. His abs glistened in the dim lighting of your room, completing the godly image of your friendly neighborhood Apollo. Wasn’t he supposed to be smelly and gross? The light activity only intensified the spicy musk of his body spray.

You sigh and take off your headphones, letting your hair fall freely over your temples again. Searching a bit amongst the mess of cables on your nightstand, you pull out a small charger and throw them both in his direction.

“Just return them when you're done. And remind me to get you a pair of those for Christmas.”

Jaemin’s smile unravels for you gratefully, and you sigh when you finally hear the ‘click’ of your door lock. There was something he had interrupted you from, and unfortunately, you needed your headphones for the job. Guess you’d have to watch porn on mute.

It’d been a while since your last hookup. You’d been seeing that guy you met at one of your electives for a while now, your relationship mostly sexual. Everything was going smoothly, up until the day you decided on inviting him over to your place. Apparently, Jaemin’s definition of ‘being subtle’ was completely different from yours, since offering a drink to your date in your kitchen: 1) half-naked and 2) at 3 in the morning, seemed completely normal to him. You couldn’t really blame the guy for ghosting you after he left. You’d be intimidated too had his roommate been a model strutting in her Victoria’s Secret underwear.

And your little “friend” isn’t the only one affected by your roommate’s obvious good looks. In fact it’s reminded to you constantly during this whole rooming situation, and the way you’re sprung off for Jaemin for simply existing is starting to obscure you from functioning normally at this point.

It was a dumb little 2-minute video, retweeted by your favorite NSFW account. You had indulged yourself in the first few seconds and it became clear to you that this was not something to listen to in the presence of anyone other than yourself. Getting cozy under the duvet of your bed, you dim the lights to your comfort and finally press play.

You could swear the video had audio, too. At first, you thought that maybe the couple was quiet, but the way the man started snapping his hips against his girlfriend later on would make that extremely unlikely. You turn up the volume of the video some more, trying to figure out what’s wrong with your phone’s speakers when you notice the little icon at the top right of your screen.

Your headphones were still connected to your phone via Bluetooth.