#I would be quite happy with that tbh.

[terribleoldwhitemen]

"#can you believe it took fandom over 20 years to do anything interesting with vinick. #but also can you believe I get to read vb in the year of our lord 2023" Your legacy.

[me-beef]

@strangeravatar made a great point

i was gonna focus on the spike-hotboxing-celestia aspect but i got distracted somewhere along the way and i think i forgot what joke i was trying to make

but dont you think its interesting how many guards of the exact same color/body type she's managed to accrue?? i do

ooohh you want to go look at our stickers so bad

[autoboros]

Been a hot second since I've drawn her

Hogaraka my beloved

[lenievi]

Just something short I wrote for "I can’t believe you were that stupid" Saturday prompt over at 30+ fanfic discord.

Might potentially take place in the same 'verse as this and this snippet. Just weeks later and after Cosette gets married.

warning: mentioned canon Valjean's self-harm. first draft.

Jean Valjean/Javert

It's kind of (my idea of) fluffy – for the two of them.

---

Valjean rolled up his sleeves. Before he could take the sickle, Javert caught his elbow in a firm but gentle grip.

“I can’t believe you were that stupid,” Javert said, carefully tracing the burn scar on Valjean’s forearm with his fingers.

It had been a week since Javert learnt about its origin, but except for a few furtive looks at Valjean’s forearm, he hadn’t mentioned it again. Valjean would prefer if he'd forgotten. The notion of Javert caring—caring about him and his well-being—was still strange. Strange and yet… not entirely unpleasant.

Valjean shrugged. “What does one more scar matter?”

Javert dug his fingers into Valjean’s flesh and raised his head, his other hand falling. His throat worked. Valjean could see that there were things Javert wanted to say, but he seemed to swallow them and stayed silent.

Valjean sighed. “I told you they had been threatening Cosette. I couldn’t have them bother us again.”

“I know.” Javert’s grip softened; his thumb caressed—for there was no other word than that—the skin around the tender scar, sending shivers down Valjean’s spine, and as he had done for weeks, Valjean ignored the sensation.

“I knew I could handle it,” he said instead. Even after twelve years, he could still remember the searing pain caused by the stolen coin he had taken from the fireplace in his house in Montreuil and clutched hard in his palm. That one, he’d deserved; the other one, he’d done for Cosette. He’d never regret it, for she had cared for him when he’d returned home. Washed his wound, sat with him, loved him. He would treasure that memory forever now when she was married and not by his side anymore.

“It was still foolish of you,” Javert said, letting his hand fall.

An odd sense of disappointment washed over Valjean at the loss of Javert’s touch, and he quickly grabbed the sickle. The garden had been overgrown and needed a lot of work.

But he didn’t move.

When Javert had looked at him with eyes that seemed to try to penetrate his mind and read his thoughts in Montreuil, Valjean hadn’t been able to break their eye contact for fear of looking weak and guilty. Now, he didn’t want to look away and instead, it was Javert who often couldn’t maintain the contact for long.

Javert ran his fingers over the workbench and removed some of the soil that had been forgotten. “Yet, you continue to astonish me. You’ve always done things that haven't benefited or harmed you. Even—” Javert stopped himself. “No matter.”

Despite the time that had passed, it was still bizarre hearing Javert, who had never stopped to consider someone else’s reasons or circumstances in the past, who had only assumed that everything Valjean did had been to gain something, speak like that.

“I only did what I had to do. You must know what it feels like now; you let me go.”

Javert frowned. “That was different.”

“Was it?” Valjean remembered Javert’s shaking shoulders and sobs as he clutched the fireplace mantel in the drawing room on rue de l’Homme-Armé. He remembered what had come after, Javert’s despair and desperation as he clung to Valjean in a strange imitation of an embrace.

“Yes,” Javert said, and he sounded almost sure. “I didn’t let you go.”

No, he didn’t. That Javert was here in Digne with him, was proof enough. “No, you didn’t,” Valjean agreed and nodded at the wall above the workbench. “Take the other sickle and let me teach you how to use it. If you are to stay, you can be useful.”

[helyannis]

The Lay of the Children of Húrin

fol. 5r, 5v, 6r

Description:

5r: In the centre, Morgoth talks to Húrin whose hands are bound. He shows him the two options he pretends to offer – to the left, Húrin is is lying in a fiery pit and being tortured by balrogs. Elves, weeping, turn away from him. To the right, balrogs are forging weapons and offer them to their master.

5v: This page depicts Húrin as a captain of Morgoth, standing in the centre with raised sword on a heap of shields and spears in flames. To the right are the armies he commands, to the left balrogs serving him. An elf is hiding in the mountains.

6r: To the left Húrin is raising his hands in rejection of Morgoth's offer. Morgoth covers his face with his hand (‘hides his mood’) and gestures to the future he pretends to offer: Húrin as a captain is tended to by two men. He is attacking elves hiding in a cave.

[thereigning-lorelai]

seriously starting to get annoyed by people equating sad and tragic endings with meaningfulness. happy and/or hopeful endings don’t mean less. they’re not silly or less impactful. i'm just really tired of people telling me that the tragic ending is more romantic or beautiful or interesting or that the main character needs to "learn" something from the loss of a loved one.

[bunnyboy-juice]

spent the first hour and change at work deleting some old files and am having a grand ol time laughing at myself for not realizing i was a lesbian sooner

[silviakundera]

Haha I also used the dickless bore. I thought that only the two main characters came back didn't know he did as well. I still don't buy him ever being into her but that's just me I do wonder if he's going to try and kill her again. I do think Li Rong is treating him too well for my liking she should at least treat hit similarly or worse than she treated ML I want to see wet paper towel non stop suffer.

on one hand, imo a SRQ who is heartless doesn't work for the story the writer is trying to share with us. On the other hand, it's totally ok to decide to be a full-time hater towards a minor character, just because it's fun. I support haters! 🎉 \o/ 🎉

One thing that I think is relevant when comparing LR's reactions: if PWX had killed her, the motive would have been as part of his mission to have his childhood love Qin Zhenzhen's son become the next emperor. (Remember, he came over to threaten her life over that right before she died and called his ex Zhenzhen lmao) THE AUDACITY. In contrast, LR is viewing her murder at SRQ's hands as part of the revenge plan for the Su family's execution.

Some passages of Li Rong's POV:

After a few moments, she whispered: “Where did the scent on you come from?”

“If I say it, you might be upset.” Pei Wenxuan’s eyes had a hint of gloating at others’ pain.

Li Rong thought for a while and frowned, “Su Rongqing?”

“Yes.”

...Li Rong said nothing. She blankly stared into the fire.

Pei Wenxuan turned the fish over and looked at her with a smile, seemingly quite happy. Li Rong found that he had a fearless, unabashed look of enjoying a good play and couldn’t help but be a little fazed.

She believed everything Pei Wenxuan said.

---

Su Rongqing was someone that she saved with her own hands.

That year, Prince Su rebelled, and Su Rongqing’s elder brother spoke up for Prince Su. Later on, he was falsely accused of colluding with Prince Su, implicating the Su clan with treason.

At that time, Li Chuan was so furious that he fainted. He put the entire Su clan in prison without going through the Joint Trial of Three Divisions first and put the men to death and the women into exile. She disagreed with this decision and rushed to beg Li Chuan before the Su clan received their sentence. After being subjected to ten planks, with Pei Wenxuan’s intervention, she was finally able to ask for amnesty for the Su clan.

Even if the death sentences can be forgone, it was impossible to escape punishment while still alive. Even though the men of the Su clan could live, they would be subjected to castration. The others couldn’t bear the humiliation, so they all committed suicide in prison. When she arrived, there was only one man “desperate for life and afraid of death” left among the men of the Su clan, Su Rongqing.

At that time, she had told Su Rongqing that she saved him without the intention of asking him to repay her. She could give him silver and a position, so that he could continue to live a good life in the future.

Back then, she didn’t have any special feelings towards Su Rongqing. It was just that he had saved her before, so after he took care of her, bit by bit, she felt grateful, and…vague sentiments towards him.

For the most part, she sought to save the Su clan for Li Chuan and her own conscience. The Su clan was a prominent, noble family. It was difficult for her to sit back and watch if they died in such an ambiguous manner.

At that time, Su Rongqing refused to go.

...It wasn’t that she had never thought that Su Rongqing would not take revenge on her. After all, it was Li Chuan who ordered all the men of the Su clan to be beheaded and exiled all the female family members. It was impossible for anyone to forget this blood feud, let alone the formerly first and most outstanding gongzi of that year?

For so many years, she had never dared to give him real authority, observing him and guarding against him while still trying to help him live a better life. She couldn’t actually kill him because of her own conscience, but she couldn’t actually trust him and give him power.

In the end, he still decided to act. He killed her first, then successfully took her authority in the name of eliminating Pei Wenxuan. If she guessed correctly, he would not leave with the advisors. Instead, he would borrow the excuse of taking revenge for her and enforcing the will of the people to join forces with the Empress, assist Li Xin in ascension, and fight to the death against the remnants of Pei Wenxuan’s faction.

...

She had anticipated this possibility from the moment she took Su Rongqing in, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit regretful when it actually happened.

[malulurivers]

Searching for Frogs | Zelda x GN!Reader

Word count: 1.5k~ Warnings: frog described affectionately as round, spherical and chunky (as well as stinky); technically unsafe handling of frogs (but this is a fictional world, so bear with)

AN: because I love my girl and I love frogs! it took a lot of effort for me to refrain from naming this frog Boggy.

☾ ₊ ˚ ✩ ˚ ｡ ☽

the grey heavens opened. at first there were a few heavy droplets, but they quickly lightened into a foggy drizzle. you pulled up your hood, trying to shelter the handwritten journal Zelda had handed to you. but as she pulled ahead, levering her hand to the sky with a glowing smile, you realised why the pages were so crumpled.

"finally! we're in luck, y/n!" she called over the breeze that had picked up slightly.

"we are?"

she nodded vigorously. "we're frog-hunting, remember? and this," she gestured to the arguably grim weather, "is exactly what we want!"

she skipped further ahead, towards the edge of a nearby pond. the surface was dappled with ripples, silvered from mirroring the clouds. you flicked through the journal, landing on a page marked with a woven stripe of leather twine. titled 'tireless frog,' Zelda's calligraphic handwriting swept across the paper. she had clearly detailed its habitat, appearance, diet, and more. her theories lined the edges in a thinner pen, mainly on the species' innate stamina-related properties.

the words sounded all too familiar—they resembled the ones she'd mused to you on the way up the ridge. she'd been so animated then, talking so much that she very nearly forgot to take a breath now and again. it didn't matter if you didn't understand some of the more scientific things she spoke about, you always listened intently.

her excitement was practically tangible now, and you couldn't help but smile as she peered carefully into some bushes. tucking the journal into your pocket, you joined her at the pondside. "they like the rain, huh?"

she hummed, straightening herself as well as her satchel. "there aren't any in the bushes..." her crown was decorated with droplets, loose locks of hair beginning to stick to her forehead. but as she turned to you, her grin couldn't be any bigger. "we're going to find one today, I'm sure of it!"

you tucked her hair behind her ear, before gently pulling the hood of her coat to cover her head. "I know we will."

she rolled her eyes at you playfully, but when you cupped her cheek, she leant into your touch.

"don't want you catching a cold," you said warmly, running the pad of your thumb across her skin. her skin was mottled with rain and pink from the cold, but still smooth to the touch.

it was if your hand was made to hold her. her fingers slipped between your own with ease as she gently eased your palm from her cheek. your hands fit together perfectly.

"I think it's going to take a little more than some rain to stop me." she insisted. "did I tell you about the time when I single-handedly held off a creature of pure malice for 100 years?"

you searched her eyes her carefully. it wasn't often she mentioned her direct involvement with the Calamity. but there seemed to be a smile on her lips, still. "I think I've heard the legend before, maybe," you chuckled.

"do you want to hear it again?"

it took you a moment, but there was no doubt about it: she was teasing.

your thoughts flashed back to the dark nights, the quiet ones, where Zelda had clutched onto your hand so tight she'd turned her knuckles white. the ones where she'd spiralled, spilling blame all over herself.

that Zelda morphed into the one that stood before you. the one with a resilient gaze, her head tipped higher than she'd dared before. she was joking. about it.

your heart swelled, squeezing her fingers. "no need, I understand. rain's got nothing on a hero."

her chuffed expression morphed into a flustered blush which she immediately tried to shield from you. letting go of your hand, she turned back to the pond. "the frogs are this way!"

in two steps she was shin-deep in murky water. with only mild hesitation, you were right behind her. icy cold drenched your feet in an instant, your leather boots well worn and offering little protection against the temperature. Zelda only seemed mindful in her step so not to slip, and remained completely unfazed by the cold.

keeping an eye on her as best you could, you aided her search. "so, how long are we going to hold onto one?"

she tutted, scouring the surface for any sign of movement. "only for a brief moment! now be careful, they're quite skittish..."

"how do we decide which one to take? is there a specific thing you're after...? ooh!" you pointed to a ripple of movement off to the left. "was that one?"

instantly Zelda was making her way across the pond. "we choose one that's easy to catch. one which is a solid specimen, of course."

you nodded knowingly. it was a lie of course. "oh yes, of course... and a good specimen looks like...?"

"a good specimen is... very..." Zelda thought for a moment. "round."

"round?" you echoed, spluttering into laughter. "oh that's brilliant! i love spherical animals! spherical frogs sound—you should've said that sooner!"

Zelda scoffed, about to argue that you should be interested in the frogs regardless of their chunkiness, until she spotted one. the princess' hands could very well have cracked like a whip by how fast they darted into the water. before you could be startled, in her palms was a wiggling frog. and yes, he was positively rotund. "aha!"

you were speechless, simply watching with wide eyes as she began to lead the way out of the pond.

"I know, sir, this is rather sudden. I do apologise for this impromptu excursion! I assure you that you will be back in your pond in no time."

it took you a moment to realise she was talking to the frog.

boots meeting unsubmerged grass once more, you grimaced at the cold sensation seeping into your feet. but before you could think about it any longer, Zelda called for you. "y/n, do you mind getting the pen out of my satchel? my hands are occupied with this little one."

you sprung into action, rummaging through the bag. glancing up, you had meant to catch Zelda's eye to compliment her on her accomplishment. however, you met the frog's eyes instead. they were a bright amber, and ever so slightly turned outwards away from one another. you giggled. it was quite endearing. "he's no longer wriggling!"

Zelda admired the creature's webbed feet with soft delight. "no, he's being very well behaved."

the frog blinked slowly, letting out a single long croak. his throat engorged, giving him the appearance of a balloon. pulling the small wooden cage out of her bag, you pouted. "he's adorable. he needs a name."

"absolutely not!"

"why not?!"

"I should've known you'd get attached." she shook her head, brushing her shoulder into yours. she quickly plopped the frog inside the holding pen and latched the little gate closed. the creature sat still for a moment, before beginning to have a little waddle around. "we're not keeping him."

you pouted even more, gesturing to the frog who appeared to be quite content. "but—!"

"no buts!" Zelda pressed a playful kiss to the tip of your nose. it worked like clockwork, your cheeks heating up as you sighed a bittersweet 'fine.'

her lips did crumple though, feeling a little bad for your poor heart. she glanced at the frog, who croaked pleasantly as if on cue. he was very cute. very relaxed. very round.

"come on, y/n, I need your help recording my findings. I can't feed him while writing things down."

‎

⌖˚‎٭ ﴾﴿ ⌖˚‎٭⌖

later that day, you'd left your boots and cloaks to dry by the fireplace. and now, on the table not too far from the warmth, was a glass terrarium filled partially with water. Zelda was focused, adding some moss and a small fern.

you meanwhile gazed at your frog, sitting patiently in the wooden cage. "what crimes did you commit, Mr Pickle?" you mused.

Zelda sighed, not looking away from the glass. "none! he's going to get a lovely new home that's going to mimic his natural habitat perfectly! he's going to be well fed and become even more rotund as all frogs should be."

"I know, I know, I'm only joking," you chuckled, cocking your head at Pickle. "all that food and space, all to yourself." you tutted. "what did you do, stinky man? to deserve solitary confinement?"

"don't call him that!" Zelda whined. "he's not stinky! he just has a protective layer of mucus that makes him smell very earthy! it's not his fault!"

you would've responded, doubling down on your affectionate teasing of your new friend. but you were too busy mulling a new thought over in your head.

"Zelda..."

"what?"

"he's going to be all on his own."

for a moment, only the crackling in the hearth could be heard.

"y/n, we are not getting another frog—!"

☾ ₊ ˚ ✩ ˚ ｡ ☽

masterlist | buy me a hot chocolate <3

[sskk-manifesto]

Ep 5!!!

[gustofwindfr]

Happy New Year, and Year of the Dragon !

[bonestrouslingbones]

oh my god the reason i get so bad with the sims is because its essentially a fucking character design factory isnt it

[tumbly-s]

Vi vs Jinx

[please check out my commissions info!]

[raelyn-dreams]

Engstars giving me a Kuro five-star from the free pulls like it'll make me forget about the four-paragraph support ticket I just sent them about avoiding Arashi gender mentions so severely they took her being mentioned out of the translation of a voiced line twice.

[roaringroa]

they should make a life where you don't have appointments, work, school and scheduled events every single day for months on end

[localgardenweed]

Im on a romance anime addiction rn and like just finished one and OMFG IM GONNA CRY THEY WERE SO FUCKING IN LOVE BRO THEY WERE IN LOVVVEEEE

I can’t fucking believe i almost stayed up all night on a work night to watch Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! A solid 8/10, some parts kinda wanna make me kill myself and some characters got on my nerves, at one point completely dropped till the end, but i felt the pacing was good and didn’t feel super rushed till kinda the end like we could have used another episode or two

Still looking for good wlw anime cause I ALMOST ACCIDENTALLY SUGGESTED WATCHING CITRUS BUT WHEN I READ A SYNOPSIS I LEGIT SCREAMED LIKE NOOOOOO NOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I just want girls who are in love bro and if its doomed so be it man