#I'm not even pushing on at this point. life is doing all the pushing. I have no idea where I'm headed but idc enough to fight against it

[dduane]

I read the Young Wizards series when I was probably 10 or 11, and absolutely loved it. Specifically Deep Wizardry was incredibly important to me; it was a huge push for me to get interested in the ocean and how humans affect it.

Thank you for writing such a wonderful series, especially one that didn't simplify the complex emotions and experiences children go through. Childhood was an extremely dark point in my life, but I consistently remembered your books as a comfort and reassurance of the goodness and sheer interesting-ness of the real world. I cannot express how fascinated and joyful the world you built in those stories made me.

I've started my re-read of So You Want To Be A Wizard today, at age 20. The writing still holds up to adult-me, and I'm enjoying the book all over again. I'm looking forward to reading Deep Wizardry again especially; I'm three years into studying Oceanography and Biology.

Thank you so very, very much.

You're entirely welcome. I'm very glad the books were there for you when you needed them.

As for Deep Wizardry, at the oceanographic end— The amount of go-to-the-New-York-Public-Library-and-dig-out-the-data research I had to do for that astonishes me to this day. It was a long time before Google, and the only source of data for much of the background needed was NOAA stuff that was locally publicly available only there. (Some more info on that in this post.) The lack of even very basic maps such as this one (published three years after DW was) forced me to handcopy and merge data from various sources into homebrew mapping notes like this.

...So I have to say it's nice to discover that this doesn't stack up too badly against more modern mapping resulting from much better data. :)

And this area is apparently still on track to become a national marine sanctuary, assuming nothing goes wrong with the process secondary to yesterday's unfortunate events.

Anyway: do enjoy your reread! And thanks for letting me know about your endeavors. :)

[aihoshiino]

chapter 165 thoughts

Aqua Hoshigan Status: It's Officially Hoshinover

Chapters Until The Story Ends Without The 143 Kiss Being Addressed Or Acknowledged: 1

damn i guess they really did just kill his ass

I'm gonna be so real with you gamers, I kind of don't have a lot to say about this one either lol. Which I acknowledge sounds completely wild given the Everything that happens in it, but most of my meat and potatoes analysis in these reviews comes from breaking down characterization and we're flying through everything at such breakneck pace that we're barely getting any characterization.

It continues to drive me bugfuck insane that Ai is completely absent from this finale despite the importance of 15 Year Lie. Its imagery is plastered all over but whenever we return to it, we just see Aqua. Not only that, but Gotanda is the one who insists on pushing the movie through for Aqua. 15YL as a story about Ai's true self and her tragedy is now officially taking a backseat to being about Aqua's tragic death and legacy. It was already bad enough that we spent so much time in the Movie Arc not actually focusing on Ai to the extent that, as everyone pointed out, based on what we saw on-page it was basically a Sad Kamiki Movie, but this really is just pissing right in the wound at this point lmao.

The funeral scene also serves as the final nail in the coffin for any Secretly Alive Aqua copes, which is kind of a relief. I still don't like how Aqua's death played out, but I think dragging it out for four chapters then going "sorry you thought i was /srs when i was just /jk" would have been infinitely more insulting. I don't like this ending, but I can respect that Akasaka seems to be sticking to his guns on it, even if we still do have like a whole chapter left for him to whip around and go "I WAS /JK ALL ALONG!!!!" but I don't see it happening.

Anyway, yeah! The funeral! Uh. Is it gonna sound weird if I say I felt kind of like… grossed out reading this the first time? Like, I really don't know how else to explain the visceral "why the fuck is the author making me read this" reaction I had to it. I think it's just because Kana is so fucking distraught here and the drama is just so hammy and so over the top that it feels kind of… ech. I dunno. I just really didn't vibe.

It doesn't help that this is part of a much broader pattern in the back half of OnK of Aka getting us right up close into the gory details of a character's complete mental breakdown and suffering and then spend zero time or focus on their recovery. This happened with Ruby all over the Movie Arc and this many times and with this little runway to the end of the series, it just starts to feel exploitative, like a way to cheaply pull at our heartstrings without doing the work to build everyone back up after tearing them down.

also pre-emptively dreading all the fuel this is going to add to the fires of People Who Are Weird And Misogynistic About Kana but she could die saving innocent children from a burning building and people would find reasons to be shitty about her lmao

we really are not seeing ruby's reaction to finding out her brother was dead huh lol

I will say the one thing I didn't Actively Dislike about this chapter was Ruby, though. I was honestly starting to get pretty skeeved out with how many people were gleefully predicting or actively wishing for her immediate suicide purely for ship motivated reasons and I was also worrying that the story was going to pretend that Ruby doesn't like. Have a life and support system outside of Aqua. Yes, she should absolutely be affected by his death but this period of her shutting down only to drag herself back onto her feet that we seem to be getting feels way more in line with pre-Movie Arc flanderization Ruby and I'll take that W where I can get it.

god. I haven't even talked about Kamiki's supposed serial killer cult. I just don't have the strength. Like… that's self-evidently stupid, right? I don't need to explain to you why that's ridiculous and unbelievable? You don't need me to tell you why it's fucking crazy that we're getting this information about the alleged overarching antagonist of the series not only in the second-to-last chapter of the entire series but after he was already dead, right? We can just move on? Ok good. jesus christ.

FINAL CHAPTER NEXT WEEK…

[manheeiim]

Nothing Lasts Forever - Gone Too Early

Warning: Season 4 Finale Spoiler Ahead

ᥫ᭡ link to nothing lasts forever masterlist

I ran through the crumbling building, my goggles pushed up my face, headscarf covering my hair as I ran around looking for JJ. He had left for a few moments to help the others and we were now separated and I was alone, scared for my life.

I had never thought that my life would come to the point that I was in another country for the nth time, running from people. I was now always running from people ever since I met JJ and the other pogues.

I look around as I call out for my boyfriend when suddenly, someone comes up from behind, grabbing me harshly, one hand grips my shoulder while the other holds a knife up to my neck.

I scream and immediately I'm being shushed so I oblige, scared for my life. I didn't even know who was behind me but I had a few guesses.

I could hear footsteps and JJ came running in he froze for a moment as he saw the position that me and whoever was holding me were in. He then comes over, holding onto the bag that held the crown.

"Let her go!" He firmly told whoever was holding me.

"Stop right there." The man behind me tells JJ and so he does. "You know what I want." He tells JJ and even I knew what he was talking about. The crown, he wanted the crown.

"Just let her go." JJ says and I really hope that he just gives the crown to this man to get me out of this situation but really, I had no real doubt that he would.

"You could've stuck with me JJ. Think what you could've had." The man says and immediately I know that it's his dad. His real dad.

I'm whimpering in fear as this all happens as I look into my boyfriend's eyes, waiting for him to just give the guy the damn crown. He looks me back in my eyes before looking over at his dad.

"You want the crown. Sure, take it. Take it. I don't want it. Just let Lucia go." He firmly says.

His dad reaches out for it and JJ hands it to him, his other hand immediately grabbing onto me as he exchanges the crown for me. He holds me close as he pulls me away, leaning down and hugging me tightly.

I relax into his hold and start to cry a bit in fear as we hold one another close.

"It's okay. It's okay." He softly says and I pull away a little before kissing him. We pull away after a few moments and he looks down at me.

"JJ." I hear his dad say. JJ reluctantly turns around to face his dad. "It's a shame. You and me." His dad says and I sigh.

There's then a movement from his dad, a squelching noise, and JJ is bending down a little, a groan falling from his lips. I freeze, not able to process what had just happened. I back away a little and then I see, the knife in JJ's stomach. I gasp, my whole body now shaking in fear, not knowing what to do.

I watch in fear as his dad shoves the knife deeper into him, "You should have.. given me.. the rope." His dad says before pulling the knife out of him. JJ falls back a bit and I hold onto him as his dad stands there for a moment before running off.

"JJ..." I say, voice shaking. "JJ." I say a bit louder, the panic setting in. He falls to the ground and I kneel down with him. "No, no. No. Please, no. No." I'm stammering, tears sliding down my cheeks.

He's coughing, choking, stammering and I'm freaking out, my hand trying to stop the bleeding even though obviously that wouldn't work.

"I- I don't know what to do." I sob, feeling like I was making this even worse by not knowing what to do.

His hand comes up to my face before moving to my head, caressing my head over the scarf weakly. "Lucia.." He mutters out.

My heart drops even more than it already did, "No, no, don't." I say, knowing what he was going to say.

"Lucia, I love you. I love you so much." JJ says, despite my rejection. I find myself sobbing as I lean my head into his chest. "We're- we're not going to be able to have what we wanted. The- the big kook house with dogs and kids- kids of our own. I'm s-sorry, baby." He stammered out, using a lot of energy even to just say that.

Those words hit my heart so deeply, hurting it in a way I've never felt before. I'd never felt this type of pain before. Never in my life.

"Don't say that." I sob against his chest. "Don't!"

"I love you, Lucia. I love you." I say and after a few moments, I feel his body still and his hand slowly drops from my head. I freeze, quickly pulling away and I could see his body completely still and his eyes shut.

"JJ." I say. "JJ. JJ? JJ. Please, JJ. Please answer me!" I sob, shaking his body but he's limp. "No!" I cry out. "No! No! No!" I sob loudly as hug his body. "No!" I scream in internal pain as I cry against his skin.

I don't even realize it when the others come running over and crowd JJ and me. I don't. I'm completely in my own world as I sob in utter pain and sorrow. He was gone. He was dead. JJ was dead.

The man who, yeah, I planned to live in a nice Kook house with, with dogs and our own kids, was dead. Sure, I knew that would never happen but I was okay living the life we already lived, as long as it meant that I was with him.

What was I going to do without him? What was I going to do? He was all I wanted and now, I could have him no longer. JJ was the only one who really fully understood me. The only person I ever fully opened up to. I couldn't imagine being like that with anyone else and he was gone. Gone.

Sure, he made some stupid choices and sure, he didn't have the best life but that never mattered to me. I knew that all too well. I could never judge him for it. I'd always love him despite that.

Maybe I should've known that this day would come. I probably should've. Maybe in the back of my mind, I did know. If it hadn't been today it likely would've been another day. Especially with the way things were going leading up to this day.

I should've known that nothing lasts forever.

THE END

[syndrossi]

Jon and Daemon arriving right behind one another is a juicy scenario I hadn't even considered.

Angst potential is definitely off the charts, especially with how it plays into Jon's curse to never know his mother, other than through stories (Lyanna) or his original counterpart's memories of Rhea. And Rhea herself is in a complicated place as a mother. I could easily see Jon hardening his heart to her memory, a bit like Resonant!Jon tries, because of what she did both with him and the twins--though I'm sure original!Jon doesn't fully let him, since she would have been a constant presence in his secret life until his kidnapping.

Honestly, even that is complicated. I'm sure Volantis's tactics included convincing him that his mother did not care to find/rescue him, and that his father clearly did not want him at all. And they had ample examples to drive that home. Perhaps they even pointed to the twins, after their birth. "See? She already replaced you." For younger Jon, especially.

Absolute agony, of course, for Rhea when she sees that he's alive and not dead like she'd been led to believe by whatever fire had been conjured to cover his disappearance. Had she known to look, how differently might things have gone? I like to think she found some peace at least in being able to give him his birthright, and his apparent love for siblings he had never met.

Very wtf for Jon though, to be sure. He's already rolling with all the punches that have been thrown his way since waking up. I think he judges Rhea and finds her wanting--Ned hiding the circumstances of his birth and raising him as his bastard came from a place of love for his sister and for Jon. Rhea hiding him away had come from a place of selfish (paranoid) fear that she might be replaced. To the outside eye, it would seem like she had not wanted to relinquish power.

Daemon's pain and confusion puts all others to shame, of course. Talk about punch after punch after punch. He has twin sons! Wait, three sons. Teens? No, one teen, two younger. This one--had been kidnapped? But now safe, with a dragon. The other two: definitely kidnapped, likely by the same bastards who took his firstborn, and BOY HOWDY does Daemon want to get to burninating Volantis. Gather up the dragon posse, incinerate the Triarchy's forces and fire a few warning shots over their Free Cities, then continue on until Volantis is leveled and no longer able to threaten his children again.

But who is available in that moment for his wrath? As you said, not Rhea. He has to be gentle for Jon's sake, to let her pass in silence as he seethes. And then in walks Allard, all but cheerfully whistling at his successful maneuvering. (I mean, he did care for Rhea and wasn't glad that she died, but what a nice inheritance to salve that sorrow!)

I think you're right. I don't know if it occurs to Jon in the moment, still reeling, but definitely after he's had some time to think things through after. When they're in the eventual debriefing with Viserys, and he wants to know how Jon knew that the twins were in danger, he has the brightest yarn to spin about the evils of Allard Royce...

I like to think that Jon pushes for him to be allowed to take the Black. Allard Royce was ambitious, but he didn't commit any actual crime, and he is no threat at the Wall.

Uuuugh but going back to Jon and Daemon and the twins now. New siblings, surrogates for Dany (Rhaegar) and...hm, himself, I suppose in little!Jon (Baelon, with Daemon getting his way). Daemon also has so much more power with Jon as an ally with Rhaegal? Like, where he has to bow and cater to Viserys's every whim and mistake in Resonant, he and Jon can just...do things. They have the carrying capacity for the twins, the might of Runestone as a refuge from which to protect their family, and dragons. Jon hears about what Crayne threatened his little brother(s) with, and he's organizing the man hunt himself across Essos, pulling Jaehaerys-style "threatening you with dragons but not actually threatening you...you hope" maneuvers to secure the cooperation of the other Free Cities. It especially helps if they did singe the Triarchy cities just a little.

Jon also protecting the shit out everyone, including Daemon, who keeps trying to be his protector and restore some of his shortened childhood to him. Jon finding it much harder to put down his sword vs Baelon, who's not strong enough to wield it and is dealing with eight-year-old emotions and limitations. Jon understanding Baelon in a way that no one else can. Seeing pieces of Dany in Rhaegar and missing them both somehow. Daemon...being like no one he's ever been close to in his life, pure intensity and warmth, more like the Free Folk than he'd ever dare tell someone so proud of his dragonlord heritage.

On the topic of what Viserys does when he has the political headache of a severely ascendant Daemon with three prophecy children... I think he cuts his Velaryon losses, possibly. Jon's dragon makes up for the loss of Vhagar, and the twins' hatchlings will only grow. So a scandal is made about Laenor's "bastards" (aka Corlys's bastards), the marriage annulled, and Viserys gets his Rhaenyra-Daemon match to both cement his loyalty and achieve future prophecy babies (he thinks/hopes) of their shared line.

Plus it would be plain cruel to skip over Daemon for his son, given Daemon's feelings for Rhaenyra and vice versa.

Jon meanwhile could be offered as a match for Laena, but it will depend on how House Velyaron feels about what happened with Laenor. Maybe Viserys eases the sting by offering to have the Crown dissolve her betrothal to the sealord's son? I could definitely see Jon being quite into Laena, given her own fire, and since he was nineteen before, a woman of twenty-three doesn't seem that old to him.

The ultimate loser in all of this is Otto and House Hightower, if Viserys gets all the things he wants, which means Otto will be doing his best to sabotage everything he can without kicking off the Dance early, which he can't afford because he has no dragons.

So I have another "what if" prompt that is very out of left field. Jon gets brought back as his 14 year old self in the 8 year old body (same as Rhaegar) only he's not the only version of himself that the got Summerhalled. They managed to grab 19 year old war vet Jon who is transported into the actual conception child Rhea and Daemon would have had. Rhaegal and Ghost come with (he doesn't get an emotional support twin so he gets 2 service pets to compensate). He's the one who stops in and saves the twins and inadvertently helps sell Daemon's fiction that the twins are true born because he is literally an older version of Jon.

This ask predates Restoration AU, I think, which is funny because it's sort of a reverse Restoration AU? Two Jons but in Resonant era, and one of them the same age as Winterfell!Jon in Restoration, while the other is the nineteen-year-old vet version.

I don't think the math quite works out for 19-year-old Jon to be the consummation baby of Daemon and Rhea's marriage unless he's a few years younger in the Dance era, and Daemon wouldn't have abandoned a trueborn son (nor would early marriage Rhea have hidden him). Maybe it works if he's 14, aka born 3 years into Daemon's marriage with Rhea, when she was much more embittered against him, though again we have to handwave that Rhea was willing to hide an actual trueborn son when Jaehaerys himself was still alive!

The logistics of Rhaegal suddenly appearing in the world would certainly be...interesting. Vet!Jon would have to be pretty clever with his explanation there! Once the Volantis shenanigans are known to him, maybe he can claim that he was kidnapped by them as a child and only recently escaped/returned to Westeros.

[brotherwtf]

Having thoughts about age gap au Gale hiding an injury/illness from John because his dad always made him feel like a burden and that hurt was deserved 💔 and John losing his mind but trying not to show it as he takes care of Gale, or maybe he doesn't get to because Gale has to go to the hospital and John gets the call while he's at work </3 these boys can fit so much whump and trauma and comfort

ughhhh yes putting Gale into the whump blender again :(( I want to traumatize this boy forever that is my lot in life

----

Gale knew to never show weakness. It's what he was taught from an incredibly young age, weakness meant you could be picked from the crowd, weakness meant that you weren't good enough.

There was a lot of things Gale's father viewed as a weakness. Being sick, scraping your knees, getting hurt and you better not think about crying because at that point you'd be better off dead anyway. Gale learned to hide it whenever he got sick, to lick his wounds in solitude, and to never, ever, ask for help or pity.

So Gale didn't even flinch when he woke up with a 102 degree fever. He's lived through worse, no need to be a baby about it. He got ready for his classes like normal, kissed John goodbye, and waved off his looks of concern when John pressed his cheek to Gales forehead, fretted about him running hot. Gale was fine, he didn't need John's help.

He was able to get through his first class without many problems, he felt waves of nausea periodically and some bouts of lightheadedness, but Gale wasn't going to let that take him down. His second class was a little worse, his hands quivered when he tried to write and the nausea stayed, no longer ebbing in and out in waves.

Gale passes out around lunchtime, Marge by his side and all he can really hear is her anxious fretting, calls of his name and yelling at someone to phone the hospital. He remembers weakly trying to push her off, says he's fine, but Marge tells him to shut the fuck up, he's going to the damn hospital. He doesn't remember much after that.

He wakes up to the soft beeping of a heart monitor, the bright fluorescent lights of a hospital room and he groans. Gale shouldn't be here. He's taking up the space that someone else needs more, he doesn't deserve the time or energy that people are wasting on him. He doesn't get to dwell too much before John is quickly at his side, taking his hand and pushing his hair back. His lips press into a thin line, palm pressing against the sure heat that Gale gives off.

"Baby? Are you okay? God Marge told me you collapsed and I left work immediately. Fuck Gale you should have told me you weren't feeling good," John frets and Gale just shakes his head weakly.

"I'm fine, John. I'm good, you didn't need to leave work just for me. When are they gonna let me out?" Gale asks and his voice is hoarse.

John's brow furrows and his expression grows stern.

"Gale, no, you're not fine. You have a 103 degree fever and you're shaking like a damn leaf. I'm not gonna stay at work when I know you're sick," John says and Gale can feel another wave of nausea that isn't caused by the sickness.

Gale turns his head against the pillow, avoiding John's gaze and he can feel his eyes well up. No, no, he can't cry. Crying is the worst thing he could do right now. But the tears come anyway, streaming down his face steadily and John rushes down to wipe them away, fretting all over again.

"Hey, hey, baby, Gale, come on don't cry. It's okay, I'm not mad I swear. You should have just told me you weren't feeling well, I could have helped, then maybe you wouldn't have fainted," John says, a firm thumb brushing away the tears that stream down his face and Gale shakes his head.

"Don't... don't wanna be a burden," Gale manages to choke and John shushes him and forces Gale's head to turn towards him.

John's face is both soft and firm, his eyes filled with emotion that's both frustration and affection. Gale hates how worried he looks, just because Gale's a little bit sick.

"Gale, you will never be a burden to me. I promised your mama I would protect you, and I promised you the same. I love you, Gale, and if it takes me dropping everything for you to understand how much you mean to me, I'll do it in a heartbeat," John says, cupping Gale's face with both of his hands.

Gale squeezes his eyes shut because he knows if he looks at John anymore he'll just ugly sob, grabs John's wrist and nuzzles his soaked face into it, gasps and chokes as he continues to sob, John shushing him and bringing him in closer until their foreheads are pressed together, breathing heavily against his face.

"I swear, Gale, you are not a burden. You are my everything, doll, my everything," John whispers, and Gale can only nod, finally allowing himself to melt into the sheets, letting himself feel fatigued and exhausted and sick because John is letting him, allowing him to let go.

[velvetvexations]

Ive seen at least two responses to your antigonism post saying that the word would be divisive because “transfems who are normal about transmascs are the norm” and I really truly do believe that’s probably the case but at the same time it personally feels a little dismissive?? I cant speak for all trans people obviously but I know A LOT of trans people, basically everyone in my life is trans- my blood sibling, all of my friends, my 2 girlfriends (im poly) I am regularly in contact with other trans people/trans communities in several cities across my state, and for me it really does not feel like its a “small vocal minority” of transfems who hold anti transmasculine and exorsexist beliefs.

I want to make it clear I absolutely love the transfems in my community, they are my dearest friends, and I deeply treasure our relationships; but absolutely every one of them that I have gotten close to has ended up saying something to me that made me feel really weird. They either mention something about how transmascs have it easier/transfems have it the worst, or they feel the need to gatekeep things from other trans people& borderline accuse other trans people/intersex people of copying transfems, or they joke and complain about “theyfabs” or justify the use of the term (both of my gfs did this- mind you I was afab and exclusively use they/them pronouns), or they invalidate feminine transmasc and afab enby people (again something both of my gfs did despite me being genderfluid and sometimes presenting feminine).

And thats just some of the things Ive experienced IRL in my own home and within my own communities! If I were to start listing my experiences online Id be here all night!! I honestly want to go on about the shit I see online but I dont have the energy for it- but when I see exorsexist or anti trans masculinity coming from transfems (and self proclaimed tmes) online, the comments/notes/whatever is always filled with sometimes hundreds of other trans people agreeing and venting their own frustrations about “tmes” and it just. Again doesnt FEEL like its a minority. You are literally one of the only TWO transfems I know who makes content actively CONSISTENTLY standing up for transmascs and pushing back against anti trans masculinity. Its not that I think its transfems job to dismantle anti trans masculinity but the ratio of transfems who complain about tmes vs ones who actively push back against that rhetoric feels so disproportionate to how often I see transmasc and afab enbies pushback against trans misogyny and the exclusion of transfems in queer spaces.

This turned into a very long winded vent and Im kinda struggling to conclude my point but i guess I wish it felt like more people cared to pushback against TIRFism. It just feels kinda dismissive to hear people say that transmascs who are hesitant to interact w trans communities just need to touch grass or whatever when in my personal experience it feels like I cannot escape anti trasmasculinity or exorsexism in every trans space I am apart of. Kinda blanking on how to end this ask i hope any of this is coherent.

I wanna emphasize again that the person I responded to specifically was really cool and my emotions in this post are not directed at them

Recently someone said it was "easy to forget most trans women are normal about trans men," and I was scolded because me not thinking that was horribly transmisogynistic was apparently a sign I'd lowered my standards as a trans woman because I'm too discourse poisoned, so now I'm even more self-conscious that people will start to see me that way no matter how much I try to insist over and over that TRFs are a vocal minority.

Meanwhile I continue to get asks calling me a pickme and comparing me to Blair White. I continue to have ten people respond to my every reply going "don't listen to Velvet she's crazy and hates trans women!!!!!".

So yeah. It is, actually, easy to forget that sometimes.

Especially since I'm stuck in a tiny southern town without even the option to make use of what meager community exists in the area because there's no one to drive me several hours to the state capital for their annual Pride stuff. I can't just go outside and be gal pals with all the vast numberless hordes of Normal trans women. I would be shocked beyond fucking belief if I saw two gay cis men in my fucking zip code. With my personal situation I can't even be social with cishet people anyway, let alone other queers, let alone all the trans women others perceive as Normal because they've knowingly been in the physical presence of another trans person a single time in their life and have the option of making that happen when they want it to.

Thank you for the support, anon.

[sanjoongie]

𝔄𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔩𝔰 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔇𝔢𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔰

😈Pairing: Demon! Kim Hongjoong x Piercer! Reader (f)

😈Au: supernatural au, demon au, piercer parlor au, fallen angel au

😈Trope: s2l, your lover's ex to lovers (?)

😈Genre: smut

😈Rating: 18+, MDNI

😈Word Count: 2,902

😈Warnings: heaving flirting from hongjoong's end, descriptions of performing a penis piercing, oral (f), use of demon powers such as teleportation, mind-fucking (influencing), Hongjoong calls you dollface, seonghwa calls you flower

😈Summary: you have an unexpected visitor to your tattoo parlor and it isn't your typical fallen angel clientele. When the demon utters Seonghwa's name, you begin to think that this is more than just a dick piercing visit

😈Beta’s: @downtoamagicalland & @mejuii thank you so much for helping me with this, you make everything better 💞

😈Author’s Note: this is a spinoff of my fallen angel Hwa series. Hongjoong weaseled his way into this au, and I posted fallen angel Hwa for his birthday, so why not give the jealous, possessive man in my life his way and write this for his birthday.

😈To the man that encourages us to dream big: you're the reason I challenged myself this year to enhance my life and become something more in my work life. You're the man that I lean on and look up to, even though you're 10 years younger than me. Please never give up so I can continue pursuing my intellectual and creative goals as well. No regrets moving you back to your rightful position after our agreement 🤣 happy birthday, my birthday twin.

Pt 1- Wonderlust | Pt 2- Burning and Yearning {Seonghwa’s birthday smut}

"Is this the right place?" A red-haired man walks in like he owns the place. The casual way his hands are tucked into his front pockets and the wrinkle of his nose says it all: he's used to the world bending for him.

You folded your arms under your breasts. “Did you read the sign outside? It says piercings,” You quipped.

His eyes narrowed down on you and you gasped. He had no whites, only black sclera. His irises, however, were light yellow. He pushed back his hood 

He smirked. “Yeah but I heard this place doesn't discriminate against the Others.”

You laughed nervously. “Ah. Yes. I service all angels and demons.”

The demon’s eyes flit across your piercing salon, not looking at you at all. “Service, huh?”

You swallowed. “Is there anything you're looking to do today?” You pushed forward your catalogue.

He waved away your offer. “I know what I want.”

With that, the demon put one hand on your halfway door, jumped over it and sat in one of your piercing chairs.

“Wait a minute, I have appointments!” You protested.

The demon folded his arms behind his head. “I know. That's why I'm here.”

“Who are you?!” You demanded.

The demon laughed melodically. “Hongjoong.”

You slapped a hand on the chair Hongjoong was leaning back on and leaned in menacingly. “What do you want?”

“A Prince Albert, please,” Hongjoong had the audacity to say in a sweet voice, showing his teeth. “The curved barbell version.”

You hoped the look on your face shows that you're unimpressed. “You are aware that dick piercings are probably one of the most painful procedures?”

“Yeah.” Hongjoong's grin grew wider. “That's kind of the point.”

You threw your hands up in the air, your sign that you were giving up. “What is with you Others coming in here with a pain kink?!”

“Are you having fun with Seonghwa?” 

You froze as you had been reaching for the proper items to wash and clean Hongjoong for his piercing. “...what did you just say?”

“You haven't pierced his dick yet, have you? I hope I'm not too late,” Hongjoong said in a mocking tone.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” You said breezily. 

“Maybe a dick piercing is too ugly for the freshly fallen. He probably got something pretty like a belly button piercing,” Hongjoong guessed.

No, but not for the lack of trying, you thought to yourself.

“He did get something pierced here, though, right?” Hongjoong pushed. “Otherwise, why does he keep coming back here?”

You let go of your nitrile gloves with a snap. “I don’t talk about what I do with other clients.”

“Oh, I bet he has all kinds of fun with you,” Hongjoong teased.

“You do realize I have the right to refuse service, right?”

Hongjoong pushed an exaggerated pout. “But you’re one of the good guys. I’m just a demon trying to get a hot dick piercing. You won’t turn me away just because I’m a demon, would you? Imagine the backlash.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I just want what I want, dollface. A dick piercing and for you to ride my face.”

All your tools clattered to the floor. 

“Just kidding. You only provide that kind of service to Seonghwa, I’m guessing. Wheedled his way into your heart did he? He’s good at that.” That last part almost came out softly. 

It was clear this demon knew Seonghwa. Before Seonghwa fell. 

You sat down on a stool and lifted an eyebrow at the demon in your chair. “Do you really want a dick piercing or did you come here to inquire about Seonghwa?”

“Both,” Hongjoong answered cheekily.

You sighed. You had no idea why you thought dealing with a demon would be any different than dealing with a fallen angel.

“Seonghwa is…” You pursed your lips to the side in thought.

How did you describe how Seonghwa was? He seemed… happy? His goals to sin and sin some more were exhausting but you felt the fallen angel had a purpose and you couldn't turn him away with that. You had heard that some fallen angels have a hard time adapting to the human world because they couldn't figure out what exactly to do with the time they had no longer dictated by the big man upstairs. 

“Satisfied?” Hongjoong smirked in response.

You sighed. “Be assured, he’s well taken care of,” You settled for.

“Will you take good care of me?” Hongjoong asked. He folded his arms behind his head, flashing a tattoo. Clearly he was no newbie to pain, unlike Seonghwa.

“I know you Others heal quickly, but please, abstain from all sexual activity until this is healed. If you get infected then my reputation as a piercer will go down,” You cited your warnings as you grabbed new, sterile tools, sweeping the ones from the floor to be cleaned later.

“Surely not all activity,” Hongjoong ribbed you. “I’m not just a taker. I’m a great giver.”

“Not something I needed to know,” You mumbled to yourself. 

You jerked your head at him. “If we’re really doing this, it’s best if you…” The words you had meant to say fell off your tongue as Hongjoong easily removed his black jeans.

Hongjoong was thick and his mushroom head brought out your oral fixation. You quickly removed your gaze and turned around to grab the table that all your tools were on. Ogling your clients before you performed on them was not a professional act. And you were still a professional, despite Seonghwa’s corruption of your practice. 

“It’s not necessary to be erect, you know,” You informed the demon in your piercing chair. “We take that into consideration when we perform this.”

“Why not take the guessing out of the game, hmmm?” Hongjoong practically purred at you. 

You cleaned Hongjoong as detachedly as you could. Then after the solution dried, you marked the spot where you wanted the piercing to come out at the bottom of Hongjoong’s cockhead. “Does that look good to you?”

“I think I just got a glove kink from you handling me,” Hongjoong offered instead.

“Mister Demon Sir, this coming onto me has got to stop. I don’t know what else you heard about this place but Seonghwa was a one-time thing and--”

You froze when Hongjoong gripped your cheeks roughly. “I love a good cat and mouse game as much as the next demon, but dollface, you’re starting to make me think I’m rusty.”

Hongjoong let out a chuckle when your brow furrowed in confusion. “Fuck, you’re cute. I think I know why he picked you.” He let you go with a groan. “I came here for Seonghwa. If you could pierce me, to pay you back, I’ll tell you about Seonghwa before he fell.”

“I’ll pierce you but I don’t need to hear about Seonghwa,” you grumbled.

What the fuck was wrong with you? The way Hongjoong was flirting with you, the way he grabbed your face and growled at you, had made you extremely wet. You were used to being in charge with Seonghwa, but Hongjoong was bringing out your other side. Were you going to become a place that offered side services to your Others clients? Maybe you had to rethink your business strategy.

“Interesting,” Hongjoong mused out loud. “Then how shall I pay you for your services?”

You replace your gloves again, lubing up the receiving tube next. “Money works great. The normal way.”

Hongjoong chuckled at your sarcasm. “You’re not the least bit curious about his past?”

Your lips become a firm line of distaste. “If I need to know, Seonghwa will tell me.” 

You’ve become a little protective of your fallen angel. You weren’t trying to discriminate against Hongjoong, but you felt like he was trying to stir up shit just by coming here.

Hongjoong watched with rapt attention as you inserted the receiver tube into his urethra. 

“I need you to breathe in and then I’m going to pierce you,” You said tightly.

“Bring on the sweet pain,” Hongjoong said with a big grin. 

You nodded tersely, pushing the needle through the marked entry point. Hongjoong giggled at the feeling and you pulled out the receiver tube. It unnerved you for a moment before you lubed up the barbell jewelry. Once you push the barbell in, effectively pushing the needle out, you grab the ball end and screw that on.

“Et voila,” You said with low gusto. 

Hongjoong cocked his head. “Is it pretty?”

You rolled your eyes. You weren’t going to give him that win. You weren’t entirely sure what Hongjoong was looking to get from you, but you were very stubborn in giving him any satisfaction.

Instead, you grab some gauzes and wipe away any of the blood coming up. It’s a dark, viscous fluid, much darker than human blood.

You waved your hand towards the front of your shop. “Now, will you get out of here so I can meet with the rest of my clients that actually bothered to make appointments?”

Hongjoong snapped his fingers with a devil-may-care grin. “It looks like you’re suddenly free.”

You deadpan at him and get up to your laptop. All your appointments are cleared for the rest of the day. You turned and glowered at him. “That’s money you just stole from me. Who the fuck do you think you are?!”

Hongjoong shrugged and snapped his fingers again. “You did require payment, so you can consider this that and then a tip for the rescheduled appointments.”

You opened another tab and checked your bank account and your mouth fell open. “Seriously, who the fuck are you?”

Hongjoong snapped his fingers again. Where once you were standing at your counter, now you were straddling Hongjoong’s face on your piercer chair. “Why, I’m a demon, of course, dollface.”

“Fucking Others,” You growled. 

Hongjoong snapped his fingers and your pants were gone. Hongjoong had a front row view to see your wet spot on your underwear. He chuckled deeply. “You don’t have to beg, you know, I’d be happy to deliver on my end.”

Your body is covered with goosebumps and your nipples harden. If you were being honest with yourself, the way that Hongjoong was coming onto you, despite your deterrents, was turning you on. Your ability to say no was melting away; all you wanted to do right now was grind down on Hongjoong’s pretty nose.

Hongjoong caught his tongue between his teeth teasingly. “Is it time to put my mouth where my money is?” He switched up the saying but you knew exactly what he was getting at.

Throwing all caution to the wind, you decide to hell with it. You didn’t win against Seonghwa and you didn’t think you’d win against Hongjoong. “Do it, Hongjoong.”

The demon took no time in pulling aside your underwear. He blew against the wet flesh and you shivered. “What a pretty pussy.”

You swallowed loudly. “Thank you?”

“I’m surprised you don’t have anything pierced here, however.” Hongjoong’s dark eyes met yours from below you.

“This is as far south as I’m going.”

You lifted your t-shirt to show off your belly button piercing. From it hung a sole dark wing and Hongjoong growled. 

“Not me,” Hongjoong giggled and then wrapped two arms around your legs, pulling you down to his face.

Hongjoong played with your clit, flicking the tip of his tongue against the swollen nerve, making your hips jump at the sensation. He chuckled deeply as your body moved up his face. He held you more firmly and then began a combination of sucking and licking your clit. 

All arguments flew from your head as your lower half grinded down on Hongjoong’s face. You had to brace yourself, hand on the head of the chair, whining and gasping with all the sensations you were getting. 

Thoughts of a cute little clit hood piercing danced in your mind's eye, tinkling as Hongjoong enthusiastically ate you out. You shook your head. This demon was getting in your head.

“You're so beautiful, writhing above me, taking your pleasure from my face,” Hongjoong murmured, sitting back to watch you for a moment.

Was it because he was a demon that you didn't worry about getting dirty with him? Or was it the devilish smile, flashing those perfect pearly whites while under you, that got you dropping your defenses?

 Hongjoong’s ringed hands slithered up your torso enticingly. “I'm going to make you feel so good.”

A finger absentmindedly played with your nipple as Hongjoong flattened his tongue and shook his head back and forth aggressively. 

You cried out as pleasure shot through your nerves once again. All you wanted was to cover Hongjoong’s tongue and face with your slickness. Imagining him grinning with your desire all over his face was too much.

“Hongjoong,” You said his name in a whine.

The demon's eyes seemed to glimmer and say Come for me. You whined his name one more time and did exactly that. You cried out as you came, pussy walls convulsing and Hongjoong stuck his tongue into your hole just to feel you squeeze the wet appendage. You whimpered, not exactly opposed to the feeling but well aware it was in the overstimulation grey area.

Hongjoong snapped his fingers and suddenly he was fully dressed, his newly pierced dick packed away. He had a wet face cloth and almost adoringly cleaned you up. Once that act of service was complete, you found your magically poofed-away pants and put them back on.

“That was…” You really didn't know what to say.

“Just a taste of what hell might be like,” Hongjoong teased.

You cocked your head. “Why are you here and not there?”

Hongjoong ducked his head for the first time tonight, not meeting your eyes. “So Seonghwa gets a free pass for speaking of his past but I don't?”

“Well, I don't know you like I know Seonghwa,” You sputtered in protest.

“That could be arranged.” Hongjoong grinned, and you were starting to find that that devilish smile that you were falling for happened to be a mask of his as well, to cover up what he didn’t want to be looked into. 

“Hongjoong?!”

Your head snapped up as you found Seonghwa hanging around the front of the store. “S-s-eonghwa!” You stuttered.

“Hello, Seonghwa,” Hongjoong said, licking his lips lewdly. “Fancy seeing you here.”

You shot a dirty look towards the demon. “You said you were here for Seonghwa.”

Hongjoong’s lips pressed into the stereotypical kitty-kat smile. “I also said I was here for a dick piercing and for you to sit on my face. Seems like I got everything I wanted after all.”

Seonghwa’s eyes widened. “You gave him a dick piercing?”

“He paid for it,” You mumbled. “I didn’t do it for free.”

“Amongst other things,” Hongjoong smirked.

Seonghwa only had eyes for you, however. “How come you gave him one and wouldn’t let me have one?”

You rubbed your eyebrow tiredly. “Seonghwa, we talked about this. Your libido is so high, you would have me bouncing on your--” Your mouth closed immediately, remembering that Hongjoong was still in the room. “Now that Seonghwa is here, you two can have a nice chat--”

Seonghwa's face was a storm cloud of anger. “We have nothing to talk about.”

“Oh, Seonghwa, don't be like that,” Hongjoong lamented. “We've shared a human together now. Surely things are diff--”

“You should leave.”

“...Seonghwa?” You had never seen the fallen angel angry.

He pursed his lips, eyes snapping to you and then softening when he saw your face full of apprehension. “Flower, I…”

A brittle laugh came from Hongjoong. “Is this how you are with her? Who is this soft version of one of the angels of revenge?”

Seonghwa’s eyes could have cut with how sharp the look he sent Hongjoong. “I'm not that someone any longer, Hongjoong. And you haven't been that someone in a very, very long time. So drop it.”

Hongjoong’s eyes flashed with his own anger. “Are you exclusive with Seonghwa?”

You giggled nervously. You had a feeling you were about to be caught between a rock and a hard place. “Of course not, Seonghwa doesn't pay my bills.”

Hongjoong licked his lips. “That's not what I meant, sweetheart.”

Your stomach dropped out of your ass at the pet name. The words felt like a betrayal in your mind but you were compelled to speak the truth. “No. We've had no such talk.”

Seonghwa furrowed his eyebrows, unable to follow the conversation. “What are you two talking about?”

Hongjoong grinned like he had just won. “Then I'll be back when my dick piercing is all healed up.”

“Hongjoong…” you raised your hand to halt the demon from walking out of your parlor. “I don't think that's a good idea.”

“Believe me. I'm doing you a favor. If you become attached to him not understanding where you two stand, it'll break your soul apart. I know from experience,” Hongjoong told you quietly, out of Seonghwa's hearing.

The sorrow that poured from Hongjoong’s eyes was devastating. Then, like a mask snapping in place, Hongjoong was grinning once again. “Same time, same place.”

And in a poof of purple color smoke, the snap of Hongjoong’s fingers echoing, the demon was gone. 

The demon had left you to explain everything. Fucking angels AND fucking demons!!!

[middlingmay]

I come begging for some happy todcl headcanons bc I’d like to live in ur beautiful universe rather than my reality as an American 😭

I'm sorry, anon. I can't believe this has happened for a second time. Whilst I respect everyone's right to vote how they deem fit, I'll never understand their choice. Or how he was allowed to run in the first place.

Whilst where I live and our political parties certainly have their problems, I'm also living in a world with: workers rights including flexible working and a push against zero hour contracts and fire and rehire; tenants rights; buffer zones for abortion clinics; free period products; a push towards the Gender Recognition (Scotland) Bill; progress towards a circular, greener economy; the Muirburn Bill and protection for Raptor species; discussions on the Assisted Dying Bill; and free prescriptions and the NHS (which even in its worst and sorriest state, still gives me free healthcare). Scotland has a strong conservative bent as a society, there's no point pretending otherwise, and this absolutely includes misogyny, sectarianism out the wazoo and other religious intolerance and racism. But politically we are trying to expand rights, protection, and freedom of choices. Not restrict them.

But! That it not what you came to my inbox for! Happy TODCL headcanons, here we go:

We all know John likes to squeeze Gale's waist, but Gale likes to do it back just as much, if not more. He loves John's thickness. Not because it makes him feel small or anything, he just loves grabbing him and touching him and feeling something solid and soft and tangible under his hands. It makes John feel real to him, when he thought he was never going to get anything like their relationship in his life.

John often takes them on a drive just before sunset. He loves sitting there with the top down, Gale's head in his lap and his long legs dangling out the window, and watching the sun go down.

Crosby and Gale become keen penpals after Crosby moves away. He mentions Will in his letters sometimes, and Gale glares at those letters so hard, it's a miracle they don't burst into flame.

John is ticklish, but just on his feet. Gale discovers this when his hands gets too close in bed one day and next thing he knows he's blinking at the ceiling and John is peering over the edge of the bed at him, wide-eyed. Gale strategises how to make best use of this discovery.

Gale very quickly discovers he's got a lot of fantasies and a lot of thoughts that had just been waiting for the opportunity to come pouring out. John thinks he's going to have to guide Gale through the intimacy in their relationship but he surprisingly has to try to keep up with him.

I hope that at least makes you feel a little better anon. I have a bunch more but a lot of them are plot related and I don't want to give anything away.

[deoidesign]

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[thelivingsin]

it's normal to be disappointed when you learn that your dreams are already dead. but just like a phoenix, our death will lead us to our own rebirth; and like a supernova, some deaths are beautiful.

[symbioticsimplicity]

Yo...could I get some comfort up in this Tumblr? The thing I was telling myself not to die before seeing out didn't pan out and I am....sad to say the least.

[dragonji]

have to be honest guys its actually going Really Badly again.

[sealeneee]

siiiiiiigh

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

I think I've been touchy lately about my feelings of access to/participation in generativity. I've been feeling really overwhelmed lately by how much needs doing and how much disparate but necessary information I'm keeping in my head. I should probably get back into my thought maps for the work on the yard and house, because I think that will make it easier for me to empty my head when I'm not actively trying to work on something.

[mellotronmkll]

Sorry talking about alcohol abuse in this post but I know im far from the first person to experience this but it sucks how all the periods of my life when im doing the best socially are when my drinking is completely out of control and then when I do stop drinking my social life falters because I completely rely on alcohol to socialize and I'm comically completely inept at it when I'm sober and it seems like it shouldn't be that big of a deal but it is. Like it feels like my options are just say fuck it and let myself be dependent on alcohol and have friends or not be an alcoholic and have no friends and be scared of leaving my house. Whatever lol

[letbuckfuck]

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