#I like to reread this once a year or so 🥺

[suchine-toki]

"Tsukuyo joined this story at that moment when Gintama’s narrative started to switch its gears by finally establishing the main subplots in its serious arcs." "Therefore, it is not surprising that like Yoshiwara district itself Tsukuyo received a lot of attention in Gintama." "As for every other Gintama character with a nickname, (the Death God Courtesan) title is a huge part of her identity and what it means for Tsukuyo will be thoroughly explored during her story."

"Both of them are stuck in their respective cages, where they seat willingly." "Sorachi makes it clear that Tsukuyo’s character arc serves not only thematic purpose in the narrative. It foreshadows Gintoki’s journey of self-discovery and recovering from horrible past related to his own teacher."

"But where Jiraia sees weakness, Sorachi sees true strength." "She isn’t ashamed of being a woman anymore. She accepted the fact that she fights to protect not for some abstract duty, but for people she cares about. She made lots of friends and she fell in love." "She has a beautiful face carrying a beautiful soul."

The exploration of Tsukuyo’s character arc

I want to start this meta by saying this – I love Sorachi Hideaki! He is one of the best mangaka in the industry and I am so glad that despite everything he managed to keep Gintama alive in the industry where corporate heads prefer to prioritize money over original ideas and artistic freedom.  

Instead of going for typical “hero’s journey” narrative where everything serves to progress main character’s power trip, Sorachi tells more introspective story. At first glance, Gintama is not that different from any shonen manga: it has its big fights, heartfelt speeches about power of comradery, the Main Villain of the Arc narrative, etc. However, there is something more going on in this story. Unlike other manga that tend to focus solely on the Main Protagonist (or at best the MC and his closest friends/rivals), Gintama uses the fact that it doesn’t have the main goal that characters want to achieve (or does it?) and takes its time to focus on every character in this story. Everyone has the time to shine in Gintama, but there are certain characters who receive much more focus than the others do.

These characters serve for Gintama in three ways – they progress the main plot, they serve as the way for Sorachi to explore certain themes and their character arcs help Sorachi to structure Gintama in a certain way. Gintama isn’t just chaotic parody galore – it’s a very carefully structured narrative but instead of using the main plot to make us invested in it, Sorachi uses his characters to make this job done.

While we can clearly understand that the focus of the story is Yorozuya trio, they are not the only main characters of Gintama – you can actually see the whole main cast in this last poster.

And I want to talk about one of these characters in particular – the one character who sparked a lot of controversy in this fandom – Tsukuyo.

Keep reading

[cdelphiki]

Sometimes I forget that you wrote Reclaiming Innocence xd

This fic is so so so good I love how you wrote Jason and his relationship with Bruce, how he is slowly healing and tentatively starting to hang out with him and trust him (when he invited him to make a lego car together I was like ಥ_ಥ)

It's certainly one of my all-time favourites. Actually, I think I'll go reread it for the third? time 😅

Hehe 😄 thanks ❤️ I love that story a lot. I often think of it as the best thing I’ve written thus far. Someone the other day commented “you really wrote a Jason masterpiece then DIPPED huh” and im like 😅 if only a fictional character hadn’t stolen the last seven years of my life.

Once I’m done with Jason and the three terrors my goal is to go put a check mark on reclaiming innocence. J&3T isn’t too far from done. I can’t put a chapter number on it yet but each part has been about 30 chapters and I don’t see part 3 straying too far from that pattern. I probably won’t have it done by new years but my goal is I’m not too far into 2025 working on it. Then RI isn’t far off, either. Really Jason needs to address the sleeping in a bed issue and Donny has to be dealt with. Then it’s done. The last chapter is Jason’s first day of school. Or, specifically, Bruce dropping him off at his first day of school. 🥺

[tennessoui]

Hi kit!! I just reread the hs reunion au + the christmas fic and once again had a lil cry about it 🥺

I think you said before that shmi is the one who got luke and leia obi-wan’s childrens books to start reading, but the christmas fic shows that their post-obikin breakup relationship wasnt good. How do you think it was repaired before her passing?

(the hs reunion fic + the christmas fic for it)

(thank you for this ask because it actually got me to reread all the christmas fic collection lol which was something i did not have time for but still found very fun)

(but back to hs reunion au)

so the whole crux of the au is that qui-gon gets a terminal diagnosis so obi-wan ruins his life to stay with his dad in small town tatooine to take care of him without letting anyone (anakin) know that qui-gon's sick

but i imagine after like 5 or 6 years when qui-gon is getting very very sick (even though it's a bit of a miracle he's still alive at all), he goes by shmi's house and asks her to please look after obi-wan once he's gone because he doesn't want his boy to be alone. and at first shmi is very resistant to the idea, but qui-gon's got a way with dying wishes, and obi-wan does pathetic very well in the days after his dad's funeral, so shmi shows up at his house with a casserole and sorta just bullies her way inside. and eventually they talk about the whole breakup between obi-wan and anakin and obi-wan confesses that qui-gon was supposed to only have a few years left to live and he couldn't leave him alone but he also couldn't damn anakin to rot in tatooine when he hated the town so much so he just let him go and gave him a reason to make sure he left

and shmi is oh you stupid boy (but sorta tearfully) and makes him eat an extra serving of casserole.

and she sort of becomes his biggest advocate after that, carefully keeping from anakin that she's talking with obi-wan and reading his rough drafts of his childrens' books. but she knows obi-wan still loves her son and she's pretty sure her son is still fucked up over obi-wan in a way that's mostly love, so she sends a copy of obi-wan's book to anakin for his kids to read because she thinks it's so obvious that obi-wan is writing about the lives he's dreaming up that anakin is having

[bighandsforabigheart]

Hello~ :3...I need hurt!Solo fic recs 🥺🥺🥺 the darker the better hehehe. Thanks~✨ and love your art!🩷🩷

Thank you!!

Took me a while to go through (reread) my bookmarks lol

Here are my faves, some are physical hurt and others emotional:

Earning Freedom by Dagger_Stiletto

The CIA takes Napoleon back, and he suffers. Oh how he suffers. If there is a chance he can escape, or at the very least clear his name, he does all he can to feed UNCLE the information he can. But on his last mission, his time might be up.

Needs Must When The Devil Drives by ZealouslyQuixotic

When it boiled down to the bare elements, Napoleon had always lacked the ability to treat serious things with the respect they deserved, and Illya was nothing if not serious. A serious person and a serious relationship right from their stumbled attempts at friendship through to the nebulous lines surrounding loyalty, lust, love. He had never known where they stood because he refused to quantify his own emotions. How could he begin to comprehend Illya’s when he was so far in denial about the sheer extent of his own? He had wasted years in that same manner; denying, joking, maintaining a front of shallow interest, of want founded solely in carnal gratification. His time had long since run out and now all he had was an undeserved sacrifice, a cracked veneer, and a paraphrased line from a 17th century poem. "Had I but world enough, and time." Damning last words of regret and forgiveness.

Provenance by cactusonastair

Napoleon Solo is in love with Illya Kuryakin. He knows it. Gaby knows it. Illya presumably does not know it, otherwise Napoleon would be dead. It's not just Illya's rejection Napoleon fears. The CIA and KGB would never brook their top agents canoodling with each other. And who the hell knows what Waverly will think. No, it's better for all concerned that he keeps his mouth firmly shut. Then a mission unexpectedly unravels, things spiral out of Napoleon's control, and all his best resolutions turn to dust.

And I Was The Boy Who Was Lucky by Chamel

Napoleon was, on the other hand, of course prepared for the weather. He’d acquired a bright new seersucker suit that he wore like he’d dressed in the quintessentially southern fabric since he was a child. The pale blue stripes brought out the blue of his eyes, even from across the covered deck. Not that Illya had told him such a thing, because, for one, he was sure Napoleon already knew and had in fact planned it that way, and for two, as much as he secretly enjoyed watching his partner preen under his praise, the last thing he needed was Napoleon getting any ideas about Illya’s feelings. Because there was nothing to get ideas about, truly.

Silver to Lead by Elri

Napoleon Solo has been cursed for a long time, but it never mattered before so why bring it up? Of course, now things aren't the same as they were before.

And if you're okay with gallya ← solo unrequited love

The Show Must Go On by Ingu

It’s not that you don’t think about dying. You know with a clear certainty that yes, it may well kill you. But the part where your mind trips over itself is in the possibility, the uncertainty behind an inevitable eventuality. Yes, it might all end terribly, just maybe not today.

I'm sure I'm missing some of the darker ones (can't read them more than once) so if I come by more I'll add them

[shitouttabuck]

Do you have any buddie fic recommendations for me? Sweet fluffy smutty idc I need something good 🥺

hiya! these are some of my faves off the top of my head and you’ve probably read most of them and if you’re like. nina. these are eighty percent fics by your mutuals. well i BECAME pals with them by adoring their writing and bullying my way into their lives about it <3

stitch my soul 30.5k by @onward--upward (soulmates au that genuinely changed my whole life i think about it daily—fair warning it’s a little heartachey, but in the best way)

it’s nice to have a friend 6.4k by @colonoscopys (a little domesticity i love this with my whole heart it’s so soft and sweet)

drench yourself in words unspoken 26k by @eddiediazes (everything is the same except eddie secretly writes romance novels and i reread this like once a month it makes me so happy)

the side effects of eating too many clementines 3k by @forthewolves (idk what to even say, no one writes love like amanda writes love, it’s a bigger-than-your-chest kind of feeling)

(this kiss is) something i can't resist 7.9k by @clusterbuck (family curse where eddie has to kiss his true love in one year or he’ll die, i laughed so much, EXACTLY the kind of romcom shit with a side of ridiculous i adore)

growing sideways 3k by @housewifebuck (extremely evan buck buckley is christopher diaz’s parent and you WILL cry about it)

left your mark on this heart 5.8k by @anxieteandbiscuits (buck thinks he has post-lightning heart complications but he’s just That stupid in love)

slip like freudian 4.4k by @jeeyuns (eddie diaz gets jinxed and is Extremely entertaining about it)

sundae kind of love 18k by @rewritetheending (okay this was the first morgan fic i ever read—and maybe one of the First buddie fics i read actually—and i think about the pier scene all the time! au where buck works at an ice cream shop by the beach)

maybe fall in love 1.8k by @try-set-me-on-fire (brick’s writing is just. unfailingly gorgeous but also 8 out of 10 times the most devastating thing you’ll ever read so this is a sweet, minimal emotional damage first kiss one???)

there’s always been a rainbow hangin’ over your head 8.7k by @alyxmastershipper (just the heartwarmingest of coming outs feat. the mug of my dreams. so so soft)

i think it’s my body wanting it the most by @transboybuckley (post-date that they’re not sure is a date, this is under a thousand words and i could not stop beaming i come back to it all the damn time)

you shaped this heart of mine 5k by justhockey (i haven’t reread this because it was such an enormous ache—in a good way—when i read it the first time, but god. god i love it so much. domestic sickfic)

i’ll scrawl it on every wall i see 29k by @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (loosely a you’ve got mail au???? which is simply my favourite romcom in the whole world. this is so fucking funny as is everything they write and i adore it)

there ain’t language for the things i feel 1.8k by calvingseason (eddie buys buck a plant at the farmers market it is. so unbelievably soft)

i’ve almost certainly forgotten a bunch of faves so let me trawl through my bookmarks later and round some more up!!!!! highly rec ALL of these guys’ fics though SOME OF YOU are hell bent on breaking my heart these days and anon asked for “sweet. fluffy. smutty” and not hole-in-chest-in-shape-of-author's-fist, so

[vierss-herondale]

Please tell me your favourite thing(s) about Clace! I'm rereading TMI and I just am falling in love with them all over again. I'm at CoFA, they're FINALLY officially together, and their banter is ON POINT (they come by it honestly. Wessa, yk yk.) But YEAH . And also ramble about Sizzy too if you're into it, they're hitting SO hard this time and I'm in love in love in love with them.

Bestie, I don’t even know where to start 😂

The fact that during TMI most of the people saw Clary as this tiny little girl and they underestimated her but Jace realized very quickly how STRONG she really was! Like, he kicks her ass for real during training! He knows she can take it! And she’s the bravest person he knows!

And how everyone sees Jace as this strong warrior but Clary knows the fragility that lays underneath his tough exterior. Most of the people describes Jace as "hot/sexy" but Clary almost always thinks about him as ✨beautiful✨

Don’t even get me started on how Jace lacked love for so long in his life, even thinking that his heart was broken and he was incapable of falling in love… and then he met Clary, someone with such a big heart and with SO MUCH LOVE to give, and then they fell in love! ♥️

It makes me so sad that during TMI Jace had such a low faith in himself because of the way Valentine raised him. That he thought he had to be perfect or the Lightwoods would kick him out. Can you imagine that? Living with such fear of losing the love of the only family you ever know? 🥺🥺 That's why I love the fact that Clary's faith in Jace is so big and it NEVER lacks! And she makes sure he KNOWS it. That he can always count on her and her love for him.

And the fact that even when Jace was taught that love destroys you, he was never afraid of loving Clary! He said that loving her was the best feeling he ever felt. In many other books you see the male protagonist keep the girl away because they are afraid to fall in love but Jace never did that, quite the contrary actually.

I love how they complete each other, and how they helped each other to be better! Jace learned so much from Clary, and became a better version of himself, but Clary also growth so much after meeting him!

I also love how they pick on each other so much! They know how to have fun!

Listen, I know it's SUCH a big cliche and judge me all you want but I LOOOVE how Jace was mean to everyone but Clary lol In my defense I was a teenager when Wattpad was a hit and the bad boy trope was on every story 😂 So yeah, I like that he’s such a sweetheart with her and ONLY her ��🏻

How Jace looks at Clary as if she's his personal miracle 🥹♥️

I love that she NEVER slut shamed Jace! I have seen that some part of the fandom judge Jace for sleeping with other girls BEFORE HE MET CLARY. Like bro? It's his body and he was single, I don't see the problem and I love that Clary never judged him for that. She always knew that what they have is different from anything Jace could have had with other girls. I love a secure female character 🫶🏻

Also girl the way he's SO OBSESSED with her! He worships her so hard! I love those kind of male protagonist!!!

There's LOTS of things I love about Clace but I might never finish listing them so let's just cut it here lol

Now about Sizzy... I love that couple because they always seem like such a REAL LIFE couple to me.

Look I'm such a sucker for love at first sight couples like Clace BUT the reason why I love Simon and Izzy is because they are so real about the way their relationship developed.

In real life most people falls in love more than once in life and that's normal and it's okay. You can go through heart break and be hurt but that doesn't mean that you can't fall in love again and it be even MORE stronger than before! Simon represents that so well. He loved Clary so much for many years but then he realized they didn't work like that, and his love transformed into friendship love.

And then he fell in love with Izzy and it was a stronger feeling! This time he knew he belonged with her. That's just like real life is, you can fall in love more than once but it doesn’t mean that your previous love was less valid.

And Izzy is such an amazing character, she was the one that taught teenage me that you can wear makeup, dresses and high hills AND STILL KICK ASSES while doing so!

I think she's such a brave character because she carried the pain of her father's betrayal on her mom for so long... But she overcame it and she was brave enough to open up her heart to Simon. This comes from someone who went through something similar at a similar age and believe me, I KNOW by first hand how brave and strong Izzy had to be to let herself trust someone else with her heart. She’s so special to me.

And she opened her heart to Simon TWICE! They are a couple that went through a LOT and it makes me so happy to know that they are engaged now ♥️

[a-canceled-stamp]

Hi Stamp!

For the ask game:

🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love   ❄️ ⇢ what's your dream theme/plot for a fic, and who would write it best? 🏜️ ⇢ what's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work?

Hi again Rae!!! This answer is very very late, but thank you so much for the ask 🥺💞

🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love  

IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION. But also a favorite. I shall choose 3 bc I can. buy back the secrets by sundiscus ( @vinelark ). TimKon fic feat. Identity Porn out the wazoo. I'm still obsessed with this one. It's so fricking good. It was the first fic we read in our book/fic club and y'all, let me tell you. We are still not okay. When chapter 6 drops all hell will break loose. A Premonition of Drift-Design by @shirokokuro. Amazing Tim & Bruce content. I first read this years ago when I first joined the fandom, and have been obsessed ever since. I reread it the other day for the memories and y'all. It is just as freaking good as I remember, if not better. The entire If That Happens, I'll Catch You and Secretary Tim (And Other Shenanigans) series are top notch tbh. Go read them rn, do it 🔫 And finally, a Malevolent fic bc this show is ruining my life [affectionate]. lacuna by @calamitxtum. I am 5 chapters in and have eaten my pillow. The mattress is next. I am so so so normal about these two. It doesn't help that Cal's writing is insanely good. NOMNOMNOM. The fic was completed the other day too so you can and should dive into it this instant. (Spoilers through ep 28 though). Go!!!

❄️ ⇢ what's your dream theme/plot for a fic, and who would write it best?

This was an impossible question to answer. I have been staring at this draft for 30 min. But I finally have an answer. I love the Hidden Injuries trope and have started reading more fics focusing on Bruce and Jason's relationship. And honestly, there is no one I trust more with this dynamic than lemongarden. They are the one who wrote Stargazer, and bro. Brooooooo. Holy shit. It is fucking incredible. I wish I could bottle their characterizations of Jason and Bruce in a bottle and study them for science. Stargazer is so incredible near and dear to my heart, I almost get emotional talking about it ahdjkhskjd. This sort of turned into another rec but you know what those are always great.

🏜️ ⇢ what's your favorite type of comment to receive on your work?

Honestly any kind of comment at all, like just a goofy smiley goes a long way. But comments that make me kick my feet are the keyboard smash, all capital letters, unhinged rambles - those fill me with immense joy. Also, the liveblog-esque comments are to die for. And the analytical, deep dive into the reader's own interpretation of events is so much fun to read. I know that these take time tho so I really don't expect people to do that (I once spent an hour on a comment. AN HOUR. It was 1384 words rip).

Thank you again for the ask, Rae! Ily :smek:

[dayseternal-blog]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. spread the self-love ❤

Bunny-senpai!!! 💕

I answered an ask similar to this one last year in March and I don't think my answers have changed...

I rewrote each blurb haha, so it's not an exact copy-paste from before.

1 “It’s No Secret” - Rated M, High School AU, Multi-chapter, Incomplete. Hinata returns to Konoha after 5 years studying abroad in the Moon Kingdom. She just wants to enjoy her last year of high school as a normal girl, but blossoming love forces her to confront her future. - My top fave. Back then, I wrote this like I was possessed. This story consumed my mind, and I was posting chapters every 1 or 2 weeks. I'm amazed at myself from back then. No, it's not my technically best writing, but I was having so much fun thinking up all kinds of scenes!!! Oh, to be a fanfic writing newbie all over again. Major love to everyone who's read this flirty teenage shenanigans mess and enjoyed it!!! One day I will write part two 🥺

2 “Nightdreams” - Rated E, Canon-Divergent AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. Naruto and Hinata find comfort in each other after the war. - This fic idea came to me sometime after I read agitosgirl's "A Special Friend," and I wanted Moooooore!!! I wanted more of this hurt/comfort dynamic between NaruHina!!!! So bam, the fic almost wrote itself, it flowed so easily (except for when it didn't). I'm so happy that people reread this fic, and then tell me that they're rereading it :D. Once in awhile I reread it, too, and think, oh, I should fix that sentence, or whatever loll, but I don't. I kind of think it's nice to leave it as it is, imperfect in little ways to bother me. Please read this fic and recognize that I was copying Katarinahime's writing techniques throughout.

3 “Awkward Jocks” - Rated G, 1990s High School AU, Multi-chapter, Complete. She knows that if he were to ever ask her out, she would accept in a heartbeat. After all, he’s the star quarterback and basketball player. Plus, she’s liked him since…forever. But when her home phone rings, and he’s on the other line, she hangs up. - It's interesting to me that even after all the fics I've written over the years, it's a few of my oldest fics that take the top 3. I guess I really have been trying to write for myself since the start. This one is based off of my ex-coworker's love story. Even though I don't work with her anymore, I still think of her as my role model for good leadership. When you read this, I hope you can feel how much I love her!

4 “About You” - Rated G, 1970s High School AU, One-shot. A summer job at the Dole pineapple cannery, graveyard shift 10 PM to 6 AM. A long bus ride into and out of town. Two teens, shy beside each other. - This is my most personal fanfic. Based on stories my parents told me and stories I found online from people of their generation, I tried to dive into their time using NaruHina. Ever since I was inspired to write after reading emmykay's "Torch Song," I had wanted to write a fic with Japanese-Hawaiian pidgin dialogue. This fic is close to my heart, but it's not higher on the list because there are inaccurate details that bother me 😅. I'm thinking of writing a fic about my great grandparents' generation one day, I've done a ton of research for it! Anyway, I'm so happy that others love this fanfic, too.

5 “Matcha” from “Shared Vows” - Rated T, Canon-Compliant, One-shot. Naruto calls Hiashi “father” for the first time. - According to my previous blurb, I picked this one because I loved how I structured it, I thought I wrote it really well. I also loved the notion of Naruto finding his own family. On deeper reflection, I think I also picked this one over "Finally Home" because I have a not-so-secret agenda for reconciliation between Hinata and Hiashi, fed by my own family's dynamic with my dad.

If I were to recommend any one of these for someone to read, I'd say they should start with Nightdreams or Matcha as an intro to some of my work since canon universe fanfic is always easier to digest.

[rosekasa]

you were my top 1 author this year.. a few months ago i left u an ask saying i read most of ur fics, well ive read ALL of them by now, so i guess that's why you're at the very top 😅 anyways just wanna say i love ur writing AGAIN. and "your body is a nightmare" is still one of my favourite fics ever. (the one with zombie!adrien if u forgot once more lol)

i wish u a happy new year!! ^^

STOP IT IM BLUSHING AHDJSHSJAJAJA!!!!!! ive been struggling so much with writing so that means a lot to me rn 🥺

ALSO YOUR BODY IS A NIGHTMARE SUCH A FUCKING BANGER. IM SO OBSESSED WITH THAT FIC. i get scared to reread it because it was so uniquely incredible that i feel like im saving it like a special bath bomb

[uhhhhyandere]

I have been a long time reader of Orphic and I just seen you updated the sequel almost 11 months ago! I just started rereading and now as an adult I have a few new Headcanons that I wanted to say! I love you and I will be in touch for the upcoming updates ❤️

-If light never got the Death Note, him and the reader would have gotten together in a normal way. I think there was a natural magnetism they stare together and chemistry that works for them as teens and young adults. Like why was the first person the reader used to cover herself was light or why light almost immediately makes her an accomplice to scheme. Maybe in a different world they would have been a normal couple and not Yandere control trip that Death note light their in now.

-talking about teenage years, Light has always had a crush on reader. A smart, snarky, and independent girl who didn’t worry about hurting his feelings. There is no way he didn’t crush on her even if he wasn’t aware of it. Like the reader is a foil for Misa in every way, maybe why his obsession got more twisted while she was away. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

-with that being said, I believe light has always seen reader as his queen of this new world he wants to create. Like with every other girl, he just knew he didn’t want them like he wanted reader. At some level, he as some kind of respect for her intelligence for figuring him out but also just kind of lusted after her in a way. Because why didn’t he just kill her when he had so many chances to kill or always kept her in the loop of his plans before L died, he just needed her to be a sound board without any real opinion. He sees her like Hera to his Zeus, she is a lesser god but it doesn’t make her less of a god to others. Well, the others thought he seen them as equal gods, the reader never gave Light the benefit of the doubt of thinking he thought she was an equal.

-At some level, the reader is lowkey into him being a killer tbh

-I think Light does love reader at some level even if it’s narassitic and self rewarding. Like when reader isn’t looking or is asleep, he watches over her like 🥺 because she never betrayed him or let it slip that he was Kira to anyone important. Light seems to love the loyalty and the “devotion” the reader gives without trying

saw these when you initially submitted and OMG had to step away from the puter and do a lap.

will get to continuing the sequel once i graduate (my last degree ever) and have the time to for sure, but i think there's a lot to speculate on the reader/light dynamic and whether they actually love each other and their own kind of perspective and definition of love, and i tried to encapture its complexity (best i could when i was 17-18 years old haha) now that im so old and wise hopefully when i resume working on the sequel (which isn't planned to be as long as the OG) i can use my developed cerebral cortex to better show it. I think OFC she's lowkey into it - bc i think in light of the death he's caused there's just no logical way fear on its own keeps her with the killer of her brother and father. at that point, you lose so much, just fucking report him?? but no. another tough thing to juggle is light's relationships with others and how to capture someone in a relationship w/ someone when in the original IP he simply uses love and sex as another tool. But at the same time i think a huge draw to his char, reader and his relationship, and their whole dynamic is the ambiguity. unlike in the show, we can't get a read into his head (and lord knows reader is unreliable as they come) so we just have to be like . . . "light what was that . . . " Thanks for sending this in, taking time to write it all out, and reading the work i put into this world. i hope one day to be back to writing, as it sparks a joy in me that hasn't been filled since college.

[rainscenes]

1. favourite ryan look

2. what do you think buddie's stupidest argument would be. is there a silent treatment involved or do they make up in 15 minutes tops

3. do you think buddie mutual pining era is possible or do they spill immediately once they've Realised their feelings for the other

4. if you wanna, talk about a fic you've enjoyed recently :) alternatively (or: also), what was one of your favourite bits to write in your own fics?

1. i spent too much time thinking about this. you'll get two because one of them is technically eddie. but you Understand.

2. their stupidest argument would be about who loves the other more. there would be no silent treatment because they'd end up fucking about it.

3. i personally think a mutual pining era is possible AND necessary. at least for me and my viewing pleasure 🥺 i think they wouldn't expect the other to feel the same (considering the timeline of 7 years and counting here) and they'd both be so terrified about fucking it up that there'd be at least some time passing where they both Yearn, oblivious to the Mutual Yearning going on because probably not that much would change in their behavior considering they've both been heart-eyes-ing each other for years without realizing. (for the record i can definitely see buck realizing and telling eddie immediately, too.)

4a. today i read this series by @ithilien-writes and loved it. such a tender work about eddie in el paso, and i adored how buckeddiechris felt like such a solid Family Unit even in parts 1 and 2 ❤️

4b. one of my favorite things to write was probably the first scene of pulmonary, where buck is reviving eddie. i wrote it quickly and while i haven't reread it in a while, i think i managed to create exactly the air of panic and grief i wanted to :)

[mrghostrat]

ok gamers lets Interact

(answering asks) (bc i get self conscious abt spamming the dash)

@goblin-named-sam: oh my goddd that would be SO RAD!!! i would love to see this, you have my full permission! (and same re: reading everything out loud omg i do that too htphfpt)

also my bestie is the same with human AUs so i completely get it, and am so pleased & proud my work can be considered so in character to bypass that worry. i agree that the 6,000 years of pining, as well as their separation from the rest of humanity, is a massively integral part of what makes aziraphale and crowley. but imo their lil everyday interactions are just as important, like their flow of conversation and all the temptation vs resistance.

so as long as human AUs recreate that dynamic in some way, they can be sooo fun to read. and then you unlock a whole new range of stories for when you get tired of the same/similar End Of The World narrative. it's hard to get it right, especially when writing a completely different medium like twitch chats and discord messages, but soooo rewarding when it lands 😭🙏 thank you again.

@froggyliciouz: thank you so much holy shit!!

Anonymous: i live for this. ur sustaining me. every time i open my inbox and look at this message, more of my age lines disappear

Anonymous: thank you for telling me so! 🥹

Anonymous: dying over all the ppl rereading it even when it's just come out!!!! so freaking flattering i can't even describe <3

Anonymous: it's lil messages like these that i worry im gonna be annoying if i publish them all to my dash but they bring me SO MUCH LFIE i love every single one kiss kiss thank you for messaging me 🥺

Anonymous: oh how naive i was to think that all this positive reinforcement wouldn't make me keep writing at such a desperate speed 😂

Anonymous: I SWEAR I REPLIED TO THIS ONE... well i hope the cards turned out well! i am 100% here for dangling my fic like carrot and string to get you through chores and tasks >B) phase 2 of the plan is getting us all on a healthy sleep schedule

Anonymous: all hail the stream worm 🙇🪱🙇 and you can thank all the tasty comments people are leaving (and asks like this!!) for making me doubly feral about getting new updates out. must--please--the worms--

Anonymous: AYYY THERE YOU ARE I'M SO PROUD OF YOU 🎉 thank you so much for comin on back and sharing such lovely thoughts about my work 😭💛

Anonymous: ty for reading!! so many fics have done the students' reaction to their relationship better than i ever could 💛 but i love it when they're in total shock and maybe don't even believe it at first 😂 adam would definitely think crowley is pranking them at first (but it would also be so sweet if they all started being a little more personable with aziraphale — i imagine that after the trip, they already would, since they got to see this fun snarky side of him. but even moreso once they realise he's their favourite teacher's husband)

@quinnie28: thank you soooo muchhh for recommending it!! some of my favourite all time fics were sent to me by my bestie. very honoured to be read by someone who doesn't usually read wips <333

Anonymous: he'll always be our lil meow meow

Anonymous: I'm so happy i could bring you a lil joy 🥹 lots of love to you

[thekingofthenameless]

What's going on honey <3 sending love

Thanks anon 🥺❤️🫂

It’s mostly because of an argument that I had last night with two people… and it started with one question after I’d started writing because I was trying to be accurate: “Do you think a kid who’s nervous would presume their stomach dropping might be something they ate?”.

I don’t know how to write kids. They’re my Kryptonite.

But at least I’m trying, I guess?

Anyways, I asked, saying that I thought that the “kid” (who doesn’t count as one, apparently, because he shouldn’t have a human thinking process), was about mentally five-ish, if not physically.

Then when I apparently didn’t make it clear enough, I sent the passage:

Then she sighs softly, gently placing him on her stomach once she moves to lying on her back. “…First off, I’m not trying to overstep here, or scare you, all right?” He trills nervously, stomach twisting. Was that because of the milk? What could she be talking about?

And got Person One saying “that doesn’t sound realistic” and Person Two saying that “I couldn't tell that was what was happening from reading this excerpt honestly”.

Also I’m overestimating how smart a five year old is, and a five year old would definitely be talking by then. YEAH, NO SHIT. BUT HE’S PHYSICALLY A BABY.

Charlie is mentally five-ish okay. He’s only a year old in dragon years and fifty-five chronologically.

This is my current explanation for how dragons age: ���️

Despite the differences between the two subspecies, as a whole, they age one physical year every fifty-five chronological years. At a year old [fifty-five], they’re still too small to open their eyes. Five years later [60], they’ve opened, but their teeth haven’t grown in yet. Ten years later [70], they’re able to be weaned off milk. At two years old [110], they’re able to speak. From there, the main changes are their bodies slowly changing into adulthood. They become full adults at five years old [two hundred seventy-five].

And he like ages mentally before his body, okay? Does that make sense?

No. Person One: “that sounds horrific”. It’s how all of them age??

Person Two: “Can I be honest. The brain aging faster than the body doesn't make sense. Like it wouldn't be able to learn anything because it’s ears and eyes would still be closed”.

Person One: “yeah he’d basically just be a blank slate until he gets his senses”.

Person Two: “Meaning you wouldn't talk to him in full sentences. Especially not like ‘pardon me my good man but I've come to the realization that I haven't a clue on what to call you!’”

He’s a dragon. What’s not clicking.

Then they kept critiquing my version of events because they didn’t read the chapter, so I had to send it. Person One: “yeah like the second you find a baby alone you’d want to comfort them”. No shit?? The baby was already found?? He’s already at home with Merlin. Person One: “shut up”. Bro I’m literally trying to explain since you’re not understanding.

Anyways, here’s the chapter, because he’s too smart for his age even though I actually reread it and still liked it, a rare thing for me:

Person Two: “Just finished it this baby is wayyyyyyy too intelligent”. What am I supposed to do? It would be nothing otherwise. I deliberately made my writing simpler, and it wasn’t good enough at all.

Person Two: “And the baby would definitely not understand what a name is”. Okay, fine. Sorry Charlie’s easier to write for some reason. Sorry for still liking some writing when I thought I wouldn’t.

Person Two: “So he doesn't know what hands are but he can fully comprehend the day and night cycle and the concept of things having names?” Yes, because he’s never met a human before!! I was thinking his mom told him!! She explained things to him since he can’t see and she remembers what that was like!!

Person Two: “If he can't see he wouldn't know what paws or birds or night is”. I just said?? He can try to imagine!! And he’s certainly felt her paws before!!

Person One: “istg aging this slowly has to be a fucking nightmare. according to you he’s been stuck like this for at least 50 years”. That’s how they age!! We’ve been over this!!

Person Two: “You used to be a baby too and you still don't know what it's like”. They’re dragons!!

Person One: “just make him age faster you idiot. 50 years is way too long to be a baby for”.

Me: “55”.

Person One: “shut the fuck up”.

Then they both had typos, which were actually pretty funny, but once we stopped laughing, we went right back to where we were.

Person Two: “As funny as this all is let's not get distracted by the fact that none of what Joy wrote makes sense”:

Like what am I supposed to do? Write a blank slate? Pages of nothing?

Person One: “actually if you think about it newborn babies aren’t the only children who get abandoned. it sucks to think about but it’s true”.

Me: “He’s not a newborn”.

Person One: “he basically is according to you. and yet hyper intelligent”.

They brought up newborn animals like sea turtles, and I tried to say that he’s not those types of animals; dragons age really slowly.

Person Two: “But that's the thing. You can't be smarter than what your body allows”.

Person One: “yeah. that’s not how it works”.

I tried to bring up Wings of Fire and Warrior Cats to be like: “Hey, I’m not the only one who’s done this lmao.”

Person One: “how about i hit you with a hammer”. Okay…

Person One: “quit using examples from other media to validate your ‘point’ you stupid bitch it’s your own story”. Fine, sorry.

Person One: “bodies and brains age at the same time it’s just basic logic. my suspension of disbelief isn’t going to work here regardless of what you say”.

Person Two: “Babies do technically have genius level of intelligence but because they are literally infants they still don't know anything. It just means they learn fast”.

Person One: “they don’t have knowledge from the get go lmao they have to learn from adults”.

Person One: “why are you so attached to this bullshit aging system”. Because I built it!! I’ve had it since July!!

Person One: “ok well that’s stupid”. Wow, thanks!!

Person Two: “I make shit all the time and you don't see me stick with it”. Yeah, so do I!!!

Person One: “you’re not sticking to your other “shit ideas” so why this one”. I’m trying to stick with something for once!!

Person One: “can’t you just admit this aging system is stupid and move on”. No!!

So then I got dealt a fucking low blow: Person Two: “Remember your spiderverse intro? You discarded that idea so why is this one different?”

Me: “That was pure fucking cringe dude!!”

Person One: “yeah no shit. so why isn’t this”.

Person Two: “It proves that you are willing to scrap bad ideas so why is this time any different?”

Started taking to another friend who was active, and he basically said what I said!!

“i mean babies think stuff and know stuff, they just don't always have the words for it yet???? so it could be considered like, his thoughts how you type them aren't in-universe, it's more to get the idea across. which is how i was interpreting it tbh”.

I hadn’t thought of that before, but I thought it was interesting.

“if you typed it how he was actually thinking then it'd be like-

'scared'

'merlin <3'

'happy'

or something idk. but that'd be pretty boring to read”.

When I showed them that: Person One: “what are you yapping about istg”.

Person Two: “Then write something new dingus”.

Person One: “exactly. i literally said you could write one where he’s older???”

I was trying to write something new before this all started!! I wasn’t planning on retconning shit!!

Person One: “hyper intelligent babies don’t work dude”.

Me: “What do you want me to do rewrite this a third time damn”.

Person One: “jfc i meant as a concept”.

Person Two: “The writer for game of thrones took decades to write. You'll be fine if you have to either rewrite this again or completely scrap it”.

Me: “And GoT was DOGSHIT so….”

Person Two: “Read the chapter you sent us lately?”

I was pissed, of course, and got told to shut up by Person One. But his defense was: “I was trying to say it in a nicer way but you didn't accept it”.

Person One: “can’t you just scrap it and move on oh my god”.

Me: “I was literally trying to do a continuation of this”.

Person One: “and it’s the same concept. hyper intelligent baby. lil bro would not know what names are or what they mean”.

Me: “He’s a fantasy creature!!! Why does it not make sense!!! You say do floating islands but then you can’t accept this!!!”

Person One: “oh my god that was ages ago i don’t care about those anymore”.

Me: “😒”

Person One: “and floating islands are cool. super smart babies aren’t. they’re already way too common”.

Person Two: “Boss baby”.

Person One: “exactly”.

Me: “Okay so I was apparently being too realistic when thinking about Charlie’s weight and now when I suspend disbelief it’s dogshit??? Fuck you guys”.

Person One: “yes because weight doesn’t matter and intelligence does”.

Sent them more evidence from my friend: “ok ok so lets say he knows zero words for argument's sake. he'd still know what things are, he just wouldn't think the words in his head, but rather would just like. imagine an image or something. you're literally just putting these images into words that are more engaging to read and capture these vague thoughts and feelings he's having. do they not get that”.

Person One: “oh my god can’t you just write him at an age where he’s smart enough to know this shit. problem solved”.

Person Two: “I seem to remember saying you were making him too light but I don't remember saying weight doesn't matter. I might've said that but I don't remember it if I did.”

Person One: “yeah. it wasn’t IMPORTANT unlike intelligence”.

Me: “Hollow bones now anyways, like dinos. So they can fly”.

Person One: “you mean a fucking bird”.

Me: “Dinosaurs had hollow bones too dipshit”.

Person Two: “also a mammal wouldn’t have those lmao.

so? they didn’t fly. bats can fly and they don’t have them”.

Me: “What the fuck is everything I do dogshit”.

Person One: “not to be rude but your biology is a fucking mess”.

Person Two: “When you're writing a fantasy you kind of have to pick and choose your battles when it comes to explaining things and saying ‘magic oooohhh’ and floating islands are okay and hyper intelligent babies make me go ‘okay buddy’”.

Person One: “you genuinely need to research this shit”.

Person Two: “You have great ideas and some not so great ones like everybody else”.

Me: “Do you want me to write a fucking version where he actually thinks for his age? Huh?”

Person One: “YES BUT NOT AS A BABY?? I SAID THIS THREE TIMES. it’s kinda poor execution too so that doesn’t help”.

Me to Person Two: “Fuck off you never think my ideas are great”.

Person Two: “Trans representation is always a great idea”.

Person One: “based”.

Me: “Oh gee, thanks, I guess. is that it”. I love trans Merlin, of course. I was just pissed.

Person Two: “No but I can't think of the words for what I was gonna say next.”

Me: “Oh wow, thanks”.

Person Two: “Look I'm stupid we all know that”.

Me: “How fucking old would you want him to be then if not a baby?”

Person Two: “The equivalent of a toddler would make sense”.

Me: “So like the way I had it???”

Person Two: “Nope. Physical toddler”.

Person One: “him being both dude. physical and mental”.

Me: “Bitch is that a toddler mentality with the writing I already did because I think it is”.

Person Two: “He'd only have a toddler mentally if his senses would be at a point where he can learn things and currently no he can't”.

Me: “He’s basically a blind toddler isn’t he 😐”?

Person One: “you could have him as a physical toddler and still be considered a newborn by dragon standards if they supposedly age so slowly”.

Me: “He has all his other senses”.

Person Two: “Nope he's a newborn”.

Me: “Does he not act like a fucking blind toddler in the chapter or not is my question”.

Person Two: “If his eyes are supposed to open later like cats than he's more physically a newborn”.

Me: “He’s not a fucking cat entirely”.

Person Two: “As ominous as this sounds:

He knows too much”.

Me: “It’s why his parents abandoned him”. (That was a joke.)

Person One: “what”.

Me: “It was a joke???”

Person One: “how the fuck was i supposed to know that”.

Me: “Because they didn’t abandon him for that reason”.

Person One: “considering how often you change things can you blame me”.

Me: “Did you read the fucking chapter or not? They literally abandoned him for being a runt”.

Person Two: “For the record I knew it was a joke”.

Person One: “not much of it past the first lines because bro was too smart and i couldn’t do it”.

Me to Person Two: “Thank you”.

Me to Person One: “Fuck off”.

Person Two: “Sheesh at least I read the whole thing”.

Me: “Fine if we wanna get real technical I didn’t say how they age mentally in the worldbuilding post.”

Me: “How old would you say his fucking mental age is? I said five”.

Person One: “hey i thought you were on my side”.

Person Two: “You gotta know the thing you're arguing about to make a good argument”.

Person One: “ok true”.

Me: “Oh no wonder her arguments have been so bad”. (It was past midnight at this point. The argument started at 10:56. I was petty.)

Person One: “fuck you”.

Me: “You roast me I fucking roast you bitch. Get a dose of your own medicine”.

Person Two: “I'm saying that even if he's mentally five or whatever if he can't see he wouldn't know some of the things he knows”.

Me: “I was thinking maybe his mom told him like I said if she knows his mental age. Cause they all age like that. Without me saying he’s mentally five just say what age he’d sound like”.

Person Two: “Thinking in full sentences like that? Maybe around 8”.

Person One: “um can’t you just do this”. (Physical toddler thing.)

Me: “Okay then that’s all I’m asking”.

Person One: “like aging standards could vary by species lmao”.

Me: “I already wrote him blind bro. I was trying to do that!!! FUCK”.

Person One: “what”.

Me: “That’s why I did the dragon thing!! I was thinking they didn’t just have different standards they actually aged differently!!!”

Person Two: “I've seen a video of a blind person talking about being blind and they say a lot of people ask if it's just darkness and the blind person says "I can't see darkness it's just absolute nothing". Which is why I'd say Charlie could have something explained to him and still not know what it is”.

Person One: “um yeah aging differently is fine it’s in fantasy all the time but your execution could be better”.

Me: “I am going to drop kick you”.

Me: “I just see black which to me is darkness??”

Person Two: “He wouldn't know what black is”.

Person One: “they wouldn’t know what darkness is dipshit”.

Person Two: “He wouldn't know what black is”.

Person One: “are you stupid you’re missing the point”.

Person Two: “He couldn't understand what darkness is”.

Me: “I’m saying my pov not his 😐”.

Person One: “god joy. THE POINT IS THAT HE DOESNT UNDERSTAND YOURS DUMBASS”.

Person Two: “It's a step further than that. He wouldn't be able to comprehend it”.

Person One: “yeah exactly”.

Me: “Okay fine what the fuck do you want him to not be blind. Fuck.”

Person One: “this is giving me fucking brain damage”. HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL?

Person One: “uh yeah i said this??”

Person Two: “Maybe we should put this conversation on hold until we sleep or something”.

Me: “YEAH FUCKING SAME. I WAS JUST TRYING TO WRITE DUDE”.

Person One: “what i meant by aging standards was he’d be a toddler in human standards but to a dragon it would be like he just hatched”.

Me: “I know!!!”

Person One: “no you don’t”.

Me: “But Micah says he’s like mentally eight so that wouldn’t work according to you!!!”

Person Two: “Y'know what it'd be better if we pretended this conversation never happened”.

Person One: “i mean literally in both physical and mental form??”

Me: “We’ve been arguing for over an hour are you fucking kidding me!!!”

Person One: “i’m gonna kill myself”.

Me: I KNOW

Person One: “DO YOU. i have a fucking headache”.

Me: “He’d have to be like mentally and physically eight!!! According to him!!”

Person Two: “I'm taking initiative. Goodnight my love. Goodnight big dawg (Person One)”.

Person One: “SO WHAT. THAT COULD STILL BE A BABY IN DRAGON STANDARDS”.

Me: “What the fuck are you kidding”.

Person One: “night bro”.

Me: “Well how the fuck is he supposed to age now!!”

Person One: “oh my god i can’t do this anymore”.

Me: “I had a system and it’s dogshit so give me a fucking new one”.

Person One: “um infantilization. like he’s not literally a baby but he is according to ancient dragons”.

Me: “Oh yeah then what am I supposed to about this too 😐”. (Dragon aging system previously mentioned.)

Person One: “this math doesn’t sound right but i don’t have the energy to figure it out right now”.

Me: “Wow thanks”.

Person One: “you wanted my opinion on your stuff then get mad when i give it”.

So. That’s where it ended until I began attempting yet another rewrite. An hour and twenty-seven minutes of stupid arguing.

If you understandably didn’t want to read all that anon, it’s basically this: Charlie, who’s who’s physically a baby but mentally five = no go. Unrealistic. Dogshit. Doesn’t make sense at all. My worldbuilding sucks.

I’m so tired.

And I keep flip-flopping on what to do now, so I might make a poll, but knowing them they’ll rag on me for that too because “I can’t make my own decisions”. I even got ragged on for making the post that made you concerned (and thank you. It means a lot): “girl are you serious 💀”.

So. Yeah! I’m fine!

[agentrouka-blog]

I was rereading AGOT and I forgot how… soft Sansa is?? Especially from Arya’s POV??? Like just look at her,,,,

Sansa’s needlework was exquisite. Everyone said so. “Sansa’s work is as pretty as she is,” Septa Mordane told their lady mother once.” She has such fine, delicate hands.”

…

Sansa was chatting away happily as she worked. Beth Cassel, Ser Rodrik’s little girl, was sitting by her feet, listening to every word she said, and Jayne Poole was leaning over to whisper something in her ear.

“What are you talking about?” Arya asked suddenly.

Jeyne gave her a startled look, then giggled. Sansa looked abashed. Beth blushed. No one answered. 

“Tell me,” Arya said.

Jeyne glanced over to make certain that Septa Mordane was not listening. Myrcella said something then, and the septa laughed along with the rest of the ladies. 

“We were talking about the Prince,” Sansa said, her voice soft as a kiss.

That’s why she was abashed? Because she was caught talking about Joffrey? 🥺

…

Sansa had the grace to blush. She blushed prettily. She did everything prettily, Arya thought with dull resentment. “Beth, you shouldn’t make up stories,” Sansa corrected the younger girl, gently stroking her hair to take the harshness out of her words. She looked at Arya. “What did you think of Prince Joff, sister? He’s very gallant, don’t you think?”

“Jon says he looks like a girl,” Arya said.

Sansa sighed as she stitched. “Poor Jon,” she said. “He gets jealous because he’s a bastard.”

This appears to be said with genuine sympathy; note her sighing, and think about Jon’s station in-world compared to Joffrey’s.

“He’s our brother,” Arya said, much too loudly. her voice cut through the afternoon quiet of the tower room.

Septa Mordane raised her eyes. She had a bony face, sharp eyes, and a thin lipless mouth made for frowning. It was frowning now. “What are you talking about, children?”

“Our half brother,” Sansa corrected, soft and precise. She smiled for the septa. “Arya and I were remarking on how pleased we were to have the princess with us today,” she said.

Sansa lying in a way that compliments Myrcella (“Princess Myrcella smiled uncertainly at the compliment”) and benefits Arya by making her look good???

😍😍😍

…

Everyone was looking at her. It was too much. Sansa was too well bred to smile at her sister’s disgrace, but Jeyne was smirking on her behalf. Even princess Myrcella looked sorry for her.

…

It wasn't fair. Sansa had everything. Sansa was two years older; maybe by the time Arya had been born, there had been nothing left. Often it felt that way. Sansa could sew and dance and sing. She wrote poetry. She knew how to dress. She played the high harp and the bells. Worse, she was beautiful. Sansa had gotten their mother's fine high cheekbones and the thick auburn hair of the Tullys. Arya took after their lord father. Her hair was a lusterless brown, and her face was long and solemn. Jeyne used to call her Arya Horseface, and neigh whenever she came near. It hurt that the one thing Arya could do better than her sister was ride a horse. Well, that and manage a household. Sansa had never had much of a head for figures. If she did marry Prince Joff, Arya hoped for his sake that he had a good steward.

AHH I LOVE HER SM

Anyway I just wanted to rant about how 🌷🌹🎀🧸😍🥹🥰 she is!!!

I appreciate your rant, thank you!!

[viperwhispered]

So, to continue yesterday's brainworms of throwing Malleus into the mix with Jamil and Emi.

Honestly tho… The more I think about it, the more I’m starting to feel like Malleus x Jamil could actually work. (Mallejami is apparently the tag, as empty as it is.)

Like I said, Jamil could certainly help Malleus understand the consequences of his actions (and avert some of the disasters).

But I also think Malleus’s honest recognition could do quite a bit for Jamil’s ego and sense of self-worth.

Like these bits from Firelit Sky and Sebek's ceremonial robes vignette that yuurei20 compiled, where we see Malleus giving praise that Jamil seems to genuinely accept.

And also the point from that vignette, that Jamil doesn't seem supremely vary of Malleus as a person – it's Jamil's awareness of Malleus's position, and the potential consequences of things going wrong, that have Jamil on edge during Firelit Sky, for example.

(Apparently they also have some positive interactions in the New Year's event, but I've not gotten to hunting for translations for that one.)

Of course, it’d be a bit of a journey for Jamil to view Malleus as an equal, instead of falling back to all the things that have been impressed onto him since childhood. Not sure if Malleus being used to retainers and servants would kinda help here, tho - like, at least he’d be used to that kind of stuff (and used to dismissing it when he wants to?). And I’d imagine he could handle it a bit more “gently” than Leona did in book 6. He certainly seems to be decent about taking the wishes of the Diasomnia fam into account (at least now that I reread Glomas and saw the way he encouraged Sebek, for example). Again, not always done very successfully or thoughtfully, but Malleus certainly tries.

So yeah, it would definitely take a while for Malleus and Jamil to really have a heart to heart. But with mallemil in particular, we do have an Emi-shaped bridge here, so…

And like, it would not be easy, but Jamil’s experience certainly would help him slot in into Briar Valley, if that became a thing.

Besides, there is that straightforward, even blunt side to Jamil, which certainly could be helpful in calling Malleus out.

Though Malleus does have his own bluntness which doesn’t hurt either.

They both could just kinda do with it, you know? Having someone call them out, while also encouraging them in other aspects.

(Tho oh boy if both Emi and Jamil wouldn't end up kinda prickly about the whole self-determination thing at various points. It's hard to imagine Malleus fully learning his lesson just from his overblot, tho we'll see how that ends up. Like I'm sure they'd both have to remind Malleus, in various ways, that while he has the responsibility for making decisions for his subjects, he can't extend that same habit to personal relationships. Jamil certainly has had enough of things being decided for him, and it's something that gets Emi's hackles totally up, too.)

On the other hand, with mallemil, I can just so see all of them taking turns teasing each other. Like Malleus and Jamil could have so much fun ribbing someone together. Like during GloMas when they were so quick to both turn to teasing Sebek while Trein was showing them around the waterways:

Like look at me and tell me they couldn't be great shenaniganing together.

But also Malleus and Emi teaming up to fluster Jamil – or Emi and Jamil calling out / teasing Malleus.

It really just works all ways.

Plus these two as travel buddies? Once Jamil gets over his anxieties over Malleus? (I mean he could get over himself with Leona not needing babysitting, I'm sure with time he can let go with Malleus too. I hope.) Jamil getting to see all those new things he's been longing for, Malleus getting to experience all those things he’s only heard Lilia talk about... They could be so sweet and enthusiastic about it ngl, getting to break free basically 🥺

Though, on the practical side of things (and in me trying to figure out how a potential mallemil timeline would go), Malleus doesn’t seem the sort to dismiss his position or duties easily. So it’s not like he’d just up and be like “actually not gonna return to Briar Valley for a bit a human lifetime”. So things would definitely need some finagling post-NRC – and before that, there's not really that much time before Malleus is off for his internships and what have you.

But also like… Malleus would have the means to be traveling outside Briar Valley if he wanted to. Plus I don't know if we've heard about limits to his teleportation abilities. So it might even be relatively easy for him to drop in kinda regularly, as long as he can find the time to do so.

Though yeah, I really can't decide how much would be going on while they're all still at NRC (Malleus's overblot certainly could act as some kinda catalyst), and how much of the developments might only be post-NRC – Emi and Jamil being an established couple, and then Malleus becoming a part of that.

Gonna tag most of the Emi taglist folks, if for whatever reason you'd rather not be tagged for the Malleus part of things, just let me know!

@scint1llat3 @diodellet @bibi-cha

And if anyone else would like to be added for the taglist (for Emi, jamemi, mallejami or the whole shebang, take your pick), let me know as well!

[musette22]

Hello! Sorry for popping in with this random message but I need to vent somewhere and it was always your place that I used to go to. It’s been long, maybe over three years, since I’ve ventured down the stucky-rabbit hole but I was just going on about my day as usual when my brain decided to remind me of the line “but I loved you first”.

Naturally, I had to sit down and stare into a wall for a bit, and once I got home I started rereading Not Easily Conquered. Now, when I was in the fandom I was an avid re-reader of my favorite fics, getting at least five or six reads before I was satisfied (sometimes a LOT more). I’d almost learn entire paragraphs through and through. With NEC, however, I simply couldn’t do more than one reading. It was too emotionally charged, for one, and I also didn’t want to “tarnish” what it made me feel the first time I read it.

But now it’s been such a long time. I think I read it almost seven years ago. And here I am, in the midst of rereading. As I write this, I’m currently bracing myself to start the part with all of the letters in chronological order. I’ve already cried multiple times so it’s not looking great for me.

I’m really happy to see you’re still here. Makes this feel less of a harrowing experience, honestly. And despite what all of this sounds like I actually enjoy reading the greatest love story of all time, of course. Not to be a SAP or anything but it feels like coming home. Anyway. Lots of love to you! :)

Hi my love! Thank you so much for this message, it's so nice to know you found your way back to Stucky and my little blog! You don't sound like a sap at all, that is actually a really lovely sentiment ❤️

Ah, NEC never really leaves you, does it? It's the kind of fic that haunts you, the kind of fic you'll find yourself thinking of out of the blue sometimes and bring back a surge of memories and emotions that can knock you off your feet for a moment. I totally feel you there.

I personally also haven't reread NEC yet, for the same reasons you mention, but I did get it bound, so I am actually planning on rereading it one day! It just hasn't been the right moment yet for me, but I will wait patiently for it to arrive.

I'm glad to hear the moment came for you today, though! And I am absolutely unsurprised to hear that it's still making you cry, even seven years later 🥺 It's just that heartbreakingly good, isn't it? The letters are the most intense, the most beautiful and the most devastating imo, so I am sending you all of the hugs and strength for your rereading of that part! ❤️ I hope you love it just as much as you did the first time around, lovely. I totally know what you mean about it being a comfort that there are so many others who feel so strongly about this story (and I'm glad to hear you're also enjoying it, and not just in excruciating pain..!)

Thank you for your kind words about me and my blog, that means a lot 🥺 I'm not here quite as much as I was before, but I can't imagine ever leaving! Stucky and this community just mean too much to me.

Sending lots of love (and good luck) back at you! 💖