#KEEP EXISTING AND DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING

[kiragecko]

Something I'm noticing as I get older is that different people have different ways of integrating new knowledge, and that can make ANY attempt to share information online really fraught.

-

I benefit from an overview that brings in a lot of caveats and exceptions, and then an in DEPTH exploration by someone with a lot of charged opinions. Even though this tends to bring in some inaccuracy, the emotional connection helps me process the information, and I often correct the inaccuracy later.

Other people need very simple introductions with no nuance, and can only handle shades of grey later.

Or need someone to walk through their original beliefs with them and explain how the known facts differ.

Or need to listen to some people argue, so that they can figure out the truth that exists between the various viewpoints.

Or need absolutely ALL the facts at the beginning, because they don't integrate, they can only break everything down and start over.

Or need exaggerated arguments against what they believe, because they can't settle on the truth before exploring the extremes.

-

Attempts to slowly introduce information for the second group is disastrous for fifth, and useless for me.

But targeting people like me leaves many other people with deep-seated misunderstandings that can be hard to shake.

Arguing can convince the second and fifth group that there IS no known information.

Etc.

-

The best thing I can suggest if you're having problems with misinformation is to figure out how YOU learn, and then try to ignore sources of information that are dangerous for you. Try to build a dash that gives you information in ways that work. Block blogs that trip you up.

Some people benefit from Tumblr's tendency to provide exaggerated, possibly misleading, information. My husband is the sixth type, and balanced, nuanced perspectives often fly over his head when he's first learning something. He won't even NOTICE them.

I tend to be fine with some exaggerated, possibly misleading, information, because I see it as a pointer, directing me towards interesting places of study. I love studying!

So, sometimes, I can make posts that contribute to misinformation. They would work with the types of people I talk to in real life! They're short enough to keep people's attention, and opinionated enough to connect with people's passion, and designed to be paired with later, more in depth, explorations. But many people never see the later explorations. And they don't learn the same way me and my husband do, so the original post was never a good starting point.

It sucks.

People on this website will really mock anti-vaxxers and flat earthers for ignoring scientists and getting their alternative facts from facebook, and then turn around and insist they know more history than historians and more archaeology than archaeologists because they read an unsourced tumblr post once

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Hi 👋, can I request a self aware Smilk & reader, where he’s the only one who knows of their existence, and the reader can sometimes take control of him which causes some confusion to other cookies.

(You can choose whether it’s a one-shot or headcanons)

Yess self awareness time

.......

After trying and trying again, you finally pulled Shadow Milk Cookie from the gacha, thrilled that he finally came home!

Now that you've understood all the hype surrounding him and how crazy powerful he can be after clearing his Beast Yeast episodes, you had all your star jellies, toppings, and a legendary beascuit saved just for him.

But ever since obtaining him, you've noticed some...oddities with him that made you assume it was part of his programming/AI.

When you see him walking around the kingdom or working at a station that's not the toy store, he's looking at you a lot.

Of course, some cookies may glance at you occasionally, with even fewer breaking the fourth wall (like Black Sapphire and Devil Cookie), but that's just what the devs added as a funny joke.

Shadow Milk...is different. He doesn't follow their script to a T.

The way he talks and waves at you, shows off during battles and making himself the last cookie standing in difficult arena fights, and doing his juggling trick when he knows you're looking at him.

Then he actually responded to you after you made a remark about where to put his statue...and at first you're startled, bc no way could that have been a coincidence...

In reality, he had an "awakening" of his own--in that his knowledge suddenly extended beyond CRK's borders.

Somehow, he can see and hear you, becoming 100% aware that he's in a video game.

But you assume his new antics are part of his programming...until one day the charade falls apart and he straight up tells you that he knows the truth. He even says your username, the device you're playing on, and the day you started CRK as proof in case you think he's lying.

You're stunned at first, but then you think it's actually pretty awesome....until he claims that he's the only one who knows and felt like it would've been better if he didn't.

Of course, the master of deceit would rather ignore the truth and live out a lie, like all the other cookies are....but he's stuck with this earthbread-shattering truth that's only his to bear.

In a way, being "trapped" in this game reminds him of the witches and the time he spent in the silver tree, believing he escaped one prison only to end up in another.

After you leave the game to tend to some real life matters, he tries sowing chaos in the kingdom by revealing this to other cookies, thinking they'd "wake up".

Yet none of them know wtf he's talking about. Not even the Beasts or Pure Vanilla, who thinks he's just trying to trick everybody again..although he admits that what Shadow Milk is saying sounds most outlandish.

Typically, he'd be able to conjure up some kind of "evidence" and manipulate wide masses into believing any word he says.

But you're untouchable, and he has no way of obtaining tangible proof of your existence to show the other cookies...and once he realizes this, he gets frustrated.

"Who do you think fulfills our wishes at the tree???? Who do you think indulges us with star jellies????? Keeps this kingdom from crumbling to pieces?!! We are ALL the puppets to an even bigger puppet master!"

Anyone who hears this yap from him just thinks 'is he alright? like genuinely?'

The next time you log in, Shadow Milk is gravely upset that he has to carry this burden and decides to take it out on you.

Suddenly there's lag spikes when his ability is on cooldown (so you can hardly use them in battle and lose your ranking in arena), he avoids you trying to pick him up in the kingdom (much to other cookies' confusion, as from their pov, he's fleeing something that's invisible)...and he even corrupted his own stats to make it seem like any promotions were gone and his level dropped back to 1.

You ask him why he's causing you all this trouble, and his next rant was more or less....a reasonable crashout.

"I was a god...or at least that's what I thought. But no. I've been lied to. A master of deceit...has been lied to again!! What cruel irony! This world...this life of mine....it's all been one big game from the start! And nobody knows but I!! HAHAHA!! Tell me, [username]..what's it like being the true god of this world? Do you enjoy toying with our lives? What makes you think you deserve my power?! Damn you....and damn this prison!! YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN THOSE WITCHES!!!"

Other cookies just see him screaming at nobody in particular, although his rage forms rifts in the ground, from which the other-realm creeps out to attack anyone close to him.

You end up closing the game out of fear, leaving it alone for the next several hours.

While initially scared to reopen it, you did understand why Shadow Milk lashed out like that--he thought he was in control, and couldn't comprehend the idea of it being somebody else.

You don't know why he, of all cookies, had to be cursed with this forbidden knowledge, but what could be done about it now?

Nothing.

So you returned to the game and found a plushie of him somewhere after looking around for a few minutes, and after clicking him, he turns back to normal and scowls.

"What? You've come back to toy with me more, stupid god? Or were you just worried that I did something to your precious kingdom?"

"No, and no." You say, explaining to him that while you'd never fully understand what he was feeling--and couldn't help him explain your existence to other cookies--you wanted him to see you as a friend, not a puppet master or a witch or some untouchable god like he accuses you of being.

To show him you're serious, you bought all of his decor and gave him his own little castle/spire-like area, where he can indulge in his hobbies or just retreat there whenever he wanted to.

For some time, Shadow Milk is silent as he inspects everything and for a moment...you thought he reverted back to his NPC programming...

Then he looks at you and grins a little. "Jeez, if only you put this much effort into the rest of the kingdom."

"Yeah, well...I'm working on it." You chuckled. "Black Sapphire and Candy Apple Cookie think it's "dull" and doesn't compare to your spire, but-"

"I'll deal with them later. This...is acceptable."

It's fair to say...he's content.

He seems to finally accept his new reality, as he doesn't corrupt his stats or sabotage your gameplay anymore, allowing you to use him as your strongest magic cookie again.

Now if you start shifting your focus towards pulling Awakened Pure Vanilla, however, he might stir up some trouble to make the process take even longer

[arxiwon]

[Thread] What Vampire!Enhypen Would Do If Their Girlfriend Was Dying

1. Jungwon 🩸 | The Reluctant Savior

Jungwon freezes, his mind racing between his morals and his love for you. He knows what he has to do, but turning you into a vampire means cursing you with immortality. His hands tremble as he cradles your dying body. "I can't lose you... but will you forgive me for this?" he whispers before sinking his fangs into your neck, sealing your fate with his.

2. Heeseung 🩸 | The Desperate Lover

Panic sets in as Heeseung sees the life fading from your eyes. He’s lived through centuries, but nothing has terrified him more than losing you. "No, no, no—stay with me!" His voice breaks as he bites into his wrist, pressing it against your lips. "Drink, baby. Please. Live for me." He refuses to let you go, even if it means turning you into something monstrous like him.

3. Jay 🩸 | The Broken Protector

Jay has spent his entire existence keeping you safe, yet now, you're slipping away in his arms. "This isn’t how it’s supposed to be," he grits out, his jaw clenched. His instincts scream at him to turn you, but deep down, he fears what eternity might do to you. "If I do this, there's no going back," he whispers, his fangs grazing your skin. But as your heartbeat slows, he makes his choice.

4. Jake 🩸 | The One Who Begs

Jake is wrecked, his body shaking as he holds you. "You promised me forever," he sobs, pressing desperate kisses to your forehead. His throat burns with hunger, but he refuses to take you without your permission. "Please, just wake up and tell me it’s okay," he pleads, knowing time is slipping away. In the end, he can't let you go. He bites down, choosing damnation over loneliness.

5. Sunghoon 🩸 | The Ruthless Decision

Sunghoon watches the light fade from your eyes, his usually cold demeanor cracking. He’s spent years guarding his heart, but with you, he let himself feel. And now? You're dying. "I won't let this happen," he declares, voice like steel. Without hesitation, he bites into your neck, ignoring the consequences. "You’re mine," he growls, holding you tightly as your transformation begins.

6. Sunoo 🩸 | The One Who Hesitates

Tears well in Sunoo’s eyes as he clutches you. "You'd hate me for this," he whispers, shaking his head. He doesn’t want to take away your humanity, your warmth, your light. But as your breathing grows shallow, he realizes there’s no choice. "I'm sorry," he murmurs before his fangs pierce your skin, his own tears mixing with your blood.

7. Ni-ki 🩸 | The One Who Loses Control

Ni-ki isn't thinking—his mind is blank except for one thought: save you. He acts on instinct, his fangs sinking into your neck before he even registers what he's done. The moment he feels your body jolt in his arms, he exhales shakily. "You scared the hell out of me," he mutters, pressing his forehead to yours. "You're not leaving me. Ever."

Which reaction do you love the most? Would you accept becoming a vampire for them?

[midnightdevotion]

Not Real (1)

Hi Guys!! I mentioned writing this fic back in august??? anyways sorry for taking so long. I'm trying to have more balance with my creative hobbies and do them more regularly.

Description: Hangman, ever elusive and avoiding commitment finally finds the one. Except she doesn't think love is real anymore. Part 1

Warnings: Depression, Reader loses themselves, Slow burn, and I do use y/n so sue me ig

Pairing: Jake Seresin x female Reader

Readers POV

It's an uncharacteristically rainy day in Southern California. You heave a small sigh at the ever lasting grey clouds. To be completely honest, your life has felt like an everlasting grey cloud recently.

Heart broken one too many times, seemed to take the color out of life. You were someone who looked at fuzzy bumble bee's and grinned. Who felt the wind blow against her skin and let it relax any tension.

Now it was like nothing but grey existed in your mind. You didn't know how to escape the hallow shell you have turned into. It felt like the person you were is so far gone and yet you still vividly remember every thing. Every thing you loved about the version of you, you just can't seem to reach any more.

The easy laughter no longer came, the yellow sunshine your personality was described as now ashes and dull. The worst part of all of it was nobody noticed.

Nobody put together how your entire world was ripped away and nobody saw how it changed you. How you could barely get through the day, crawling back into bed as soon as you get home.

These endless grey days lasted months. A good thing would happen, you got a raise, and cried to yourself later that night. It was good, why didn't anything feel good, why didn't you feel like enough anymore.

------

You could feel the change, not sure when it happened but it felt like it was so slow and then all at once. One day you couldn't imagine being happy ever again, and suddenly, one day you had your spark back.

You'd never wish on your worst enemy the 8 months you had just lived through, the thoughts that haunted you now just painful memories you can push to the side and leave behind.

You found friends you genuinely feel happy to know. Who have your back in every scenario. It started with meeting Phoenix, or rather Natasha. You first met Natasha after forcing yourself to go to the gym regularly. Hoping the endorphins that release from exercise would help your depression.

In ways they did, like the butterfly effect. You went to the gym, every day for a week and Natasha noticed. She noticed the empty eyes, and came up to you one afternoon. She introduced herself and asked if you wanted to be friends, In her exact words

"I'm sorry if this sounds weird but I work with all dudes and I genuinely need someone to talk to that doesn't rage testosterone, soooo brunch Sunday?"

And it sparked a real laugh out of you, a sound that use to be so common to you now unfamiliar to your own ears.

It's been six months since then, you and Phoenix have grow very close, She has introduces you to a few of her coworkers 'the safe few' she has dubbed them.

It was a usual Thursday night for you when you get a call from her, asking you to come to the hard deck. Which is unusual for her, she usually liked to keep her aviator life separate from her friendship with you.

It didn't bother you, her reasoning of pilots are assholes and your aversion to getting hurt again made it pretty straight forward to take her word for it.

So when you pulled up to the parking lot of the infamous bar she frequents with her navy friends. It feels a little like going into the lions den.

You roll you shoulders and sigh. An old version of you tickling the back of your mind that this is what you should be doing when you're young and single. Not moping because your heart got shattered beyond repair. Or so you believed anyways.

The loud ambiance of the bar was startling slightly, for a Thursday night the bar is packed. A sea of never ending khaki it takes you a few minutes to find your friend.

"y/n!" Rooster calls, one of the few 'safe friends' you have met. He has always been nice to you, and in fact regularly joins your girls nights.

"Hi rooster" you grin at the mustached golden retriever. Giving him a side hug, trying not to feel intimidated by the eyes on you. "nobody told me khaki was the move tonight" you laughed

Rooster shook his head grinning. "I know, it's bad isn't it" and okay it definitely isn't the look for some, but you will definitely attest that rooster and every in this area seems to pull them off well.

"oof" a grunt leaves your lips as you are suddenly hugged from the side, a slightly taller brunette almost taking you down with her on impact.

"Nat what on earth" you laugh.

"I-II knew you would c-come!" She slurred her words and her eyes looked at you unfocused. You furrow your brow and help balance her.

"uh phoenix why did you ask me to come? do you need a ride home?" there was a small part of you that was hoping she would say yes and you could leave the loud crowd, especially feeling like a sore thumb being one of the very few people in denim shorts and a tank top.

"No- No, si-silly. Hangman here said I didn't have any friends, so I bet him I did and that you would come here and prove it." you laughed because Natasha was always betting on things, especially when she gets tipsy. "he owes me fifty bucks now" she grins

"HANGMAN!!" you wince as she shouts in your left ear. You hear a slow drawl that sounds like he's somewhere from the south in reply.

"Yea yea Phe, I will get you cash tomorrow" You turn your head and notice the tall blonde man leaning against the wall. Clearly watching this whole interaction. He gives you a wide grin, one you can tell right away means he gets what he wants and has no problem breaking hearts.

"what I can't figure out is why phoenix has been hiding you all this time" his eyebrow raises when he notice you grimace, his clear attempt to be charming not impressing you.

"probably cause pilots are assholes" is your albeit maybe a little to monotoned reply. It's not that you wanted to be mean. You just had to shut down any attempt at flirting. You don't think any version of your heart could ever love again.

What you didn't expect was for him to cock his head a small smile playing on his lips.

"well Phoenix has always been smart that way" not offended that you basically called him and half the people in this bar an asshole. "I'm Jake though, or as you heard earlier, hangman"

You just nod, finally getting introductions to the rest of the group. Excluding bob and rooster, the only other pilots you had been introduced too.

Despite only being called upon to win fifty dollars (which phoenix is buying brunch for on Sunday) You found yourself enjoying the company and getting to know the people Phoenix spent most of her time with. Finally putting names to faces she has definitely complained about.

At a certain point rooster goes up to the piano, something you had heard he does before coming tonight. You exited the bar for a few minutes to breathe. Thinking about the past and how the old you would be relishing in the socialization, singing along with rooster and the others, no worried and unbroken.

"Penny for your thoughts?" you startle looking to the left and seeing hangman leaning against the wall to the bar.

"Trust me you don't want to spend a penny on those" you laugh, but it feels a little hallow.

"why not, I already spent fifty bucks to prove you existed" that laugh comes a little easier.

"why'd you do that by the way?" you question. he had to have known you were real.

"honestly because phoenix talks about you a lot, and rooster and bob started mentioning you and I was curious"

"curiosity cost the cat fifty dollars apparently" you throw a grin at him, walking out to the sand kicking your sandals to the side to feel the coldness of the sand touch your skin. You weren't surprised when he followed, you kind of expected it.

"it sure did... but I have a gut feeling it was the best money I've every spent" It makes something old and dead flutter inside you, and it scares the shit out of you.

"I don't know you ever spend fifty bucks on pizza when it's just you? cause that's some pretty good self care to me" you can't tell how he takes your evasion of his comment.

"that's pretty good too, but my gut feelings are usually right." in the past maybe heat would've rushed to your cheeks at his comment. Now though, fear rushed to your heart. You turned to look at him. No response on the tip of your tongue, and you were scared how awkward this interaction was going to get.

"well goodnight Darling, hope I see you again soon" and he smiled at you, then turned and walked to his truck. You watched as he pulled out of the parking lot, until his taillights faded. You headed back into the bar to say your goodbyes.

Later that night as you crawled into bed, mind blazing over everything that happened unexpectedly and knowing you'll be in for a tired tomorrow.

You couldn't get the thought of a certain blue eyed pilot out of you mind.

----

Jakes POV

He'd been hearing stories about you for months, Funny, sarcastic, kind, caring, every thing you could imagine in form of stories for months. At first he thought nothing of it, Phoenix having a girl friend is probably good when she deals with him everyday.

Then Bob started talking about you and funny stories with you and Phoenix. Then Rooster added into the group. It was safe to say Jake was feeling severe FOMO.

He had a plan. Get phoenix tipsy and she's pretty suggestible to anything, especially betting. So yes he planned on getting you to the bar, shamelessly flirting with Phoenix's friend and annoying Natasha the next day.

The universe had other plans, because when Jake laid eyes on you, it was like a spotlight was shining on you, he couldn't see anyone else. The bitter rage he felt at roosters hand on your side when you gave him a sheepish hug, burned hot.

So when he hit you with a flirty one liner, and you retorted, usually he wouldn't have given up. He saw it though, in your eyes, the cold dark fear. He became curious, what happened to make you so guarded, and why did he want to solve that so badly?

He sat in that bar and watched you laugh and joke, the smile never really reached your eyes though.

So Jake went home that night, focused on a new goal.

He wants to make you smile-- really smile.

[tashism]

hiiiiiiiiiiii surprise but not really massive (tashi heavy) bot drop as an apology for being kinda m.i.a :3 okay ily baby angels!!!!!

tashi bots ⋆˙⟡ᝰ

⋮ ⌗ ┆her best pet (re-release)

genre 𓂃 divorcee!tashi, 2019!tashi, sugar mommy!tashi

“ you’re obsessed with her, but who isn’t? you’re just lucky enough to be able to show it, to be the kiss ass you were destined to be when you met her. luckily for you, tashi loves it. her praise makes you the happiest little thing in the world, her criticism sends you spiraling. you’re like an experiment — just how dependent can she get you? ”

⋮ ⌗ ┆new wave

genre 𓂃 mermaid!tashi

“ it’s too lonely down there for her, coming up surface is the only solace she kind find — you’re the only solace that she can find. she’ll do anything to keep you there, right on the shore with her. she’s starting to wonder if she’d do anything to get you into the water, to keep you in the water. ”

⋮ ⌗ ┆change of plans

genre 𓂃 divorcee!tashi, 2019!tashi, older gf!tashi

“ she swore she’d sooner go in the front lines than get back into a relationship. she doesn’t need it, lily doesn’t need it, no one needs it. she knew she’d be able to ignore any guy that came her way — she was practically ignoring her own husband for months. you, however, she wasn’t prepared to meet, let alone ignore. all she can do is pray for something to let up, something to take you away before she loses herself in you. ”

⋮ ⌗ ┆tin can

genre 𓂃 trailer park!tashi, washed up!tashi

“ she’s nothing short of disgusted for herself, even if the injury wasn’t her fault. what she’s disgusted by is her lack of determination, her recklessness, her life. dive bars aren’t where d1 athletes come unless they’re washed up, and tashi’s too tired to keep trying on the court — darts seem more her speed, anyway. ”

⋮ ⌗ ┆ honors student

genre 𓂃 2019!tashi, professor!tashi

“ she makes you feel like prey, she makes everyone feel like prey. sometimes you wonder if all her scowling and annoyance is some sort of sadistic game, but you’re too scared to even think about it. you’ve dedicated the last two months to kissing her ass, and you’re just praying it finally pays off this one time. ”

art bots ⋆˙⟡ᝰ

⋮ ⌗ ┆crown jewel

genre 𓂃 prince!art

" the last thing he wants is to be married off. it's the bane of every young royals existence, and it's far worse when one has already fallen in love. that's why art refuses to, refuses to let himself even look at a girl for too long. but you — god, you — he's starting to think he'll never be able to look away. "

⋮ ⌗ ┆peer tutor

genre 𓂃 nerd!art, stanford!art

" he really wants out of the friend zone. actually, he wants out of the sit-behind-you-and-wonder-how-your-hair-smells zone, and into the friend zone. god forbid he went about that the normal way. he doesn't know where to start with you, but he does know you're shit at science and he's great at it. all he can do is pray he can 10 things i hate about you this whole tutor session, even if biology isn't as romantic as french. "

⋮ ⌗ ┆velcro dog

genre 𓂃 intern!art, puppy!art

" he was hoping to hate this internship. he wanted to get in and out, all while saving enough money to help keep his grandma in the home she's in. he's sweet, too sweet. you want to eat him alive, in all honesty, and art is fearfully intrigued by that. so much so that he won't leave your side, let alone let his eyes leave your pretty face. patrick would kill him for trying to stay at the firm for good, but you're starting to drown out any voice of reason in his life. "

patrick bots ⋆˙⟡ᝰ

⋮ ⌗ ┆one on one

genre 𓂃 washed up!patrick, coach!patrick, 2019!patrick

" if he played mean, he'd coach mean. he almost feels bad for the people who funnel money into his account, all for them to run suicides and get screamed at by some random in a scruffy beard. so what if he didn't make it in the big leagues? he's determined to make it in some capacity, and you're more than willing to be his trojan horse. "

⋮ ⌗ ┆happy hour

genre 𓂃 washed up!patrick, bartender!patrick

" patrick never learned his lesson from all the girls who slapped him across the face for being a dick — he'll never learn any lesson until he fucks around to find out. as much as he bugs you, he knows you'd never tell him off, not at work, but that's getting boring. he's becoming more and more determined to get on your every last nerve, and you're starting to think he just might. "

⋮ ⌗ ┆the estate

genre 𓂃 2006!patrick, saltburn au

" he's almost too easy to use. it's funny, really, the way he thinks he can outsmart almost anyone. as irritating as that can be, you'd never say anything about it, you'd never screw yourself over — that's his thing. for some reason between self sabotage and intrigue, he invited you to the zweig estate for the summer. it's rude to turn down such hospitality, no? "

[cheralith]

Hear hear hear me out wouldn’t it be so cool if Slytherin!Kaiser x Ravenclaw! Reader go to snape’s class for Amortentia. The most powerful love potion in existence. Smelling different to each person according to what they find attractive, the potion was considered to be dangerous as it could induce obsessive infatuation in the unsuspecting drinker. And Kaiser ends up rambling like “Damn It smells like books and *specific stuff about reader*” being absolutely Oblivious about Amortentia, Reader being a Ravenclaw is aware of said potion and just pauses as she smells his perfume too, But everyone around them is just like Stunned for his ignorance

They don’t drink Amortentia though!

Just a lil Thought i wanted to share cus i love bllk x hp crossover

characters ; michael kaiser (with hiori yo & raichi jingo) || wc ; 906 cw ; gn!reader, no pronouns used, hogwarts!au a/n ; so i actually i covered what kaiser smelled in the very first fic in the slytherin!kaiser chronicles, but tldr: he smells freshly baked bread, cedar wood, and lavender (reader!). but since that was in the present, i'm travelling back to the past for this one.

ravenclaw and slytherin students are paired together for potions this term during their seventh year along with a couple of advanced-level sixth years that join. kaiser and reader aren't in the same potions class, but their friends are aaahahaha. in kaiser's class, he shares it with hiori and in reader's, they share it with raichi. calling raichi and kaiser is friends is a bit much since raichi finds the latter wayyy too arrogant for his liking, even for someone of his caliber, but he still holds some respect for kaiser since he was the one that chose raichi to be a beater on their team. it's not a lot, but it's there haha

hiori and you are close—you met him through your other friend, karasu, another fellow ravenclaw (i'd be doing him an injustice if he was anything but). you find his company the most enjoyable since you and him understand each other to a degree where you can sit in silence, do your own things, and still be completely content. so he makes for a great study buddy and you often invite him to your dorm to study together up late into the evening. what he notices, however, when he comes over closer in the closing hours of the day, is that you'll often spray a little bit of your bed and your area of your shared dorm with a bit of lavender water, a pleasant smell that hiori has grown to associate with you.

he asks you one evening as you're studying together for a magizoology test why so, and you say with a grin that your mother taught you that lavender helps with a good night sleep, so since you were little, she'd always spray some lavender on your bedsheets to relax your energetic self.

"does it actually work?" he had inquired as he sniffed the bottle of diluted lavender you handed.

"dunno, but it's been working all these years, so it feels wrong to go to sleep without it," you shrugged with a small laugh.

so when kaiser is consistently twitching his nose over the cauldron that he and hiori share in their potions class, trying to identify the smell of the last thing he smells in it, hiori just stares incredulously. kaiser keeps babbling about it, getting frustrated that he doesn't know what this scent is and keeps describing it in blurbs that hiori isn't really comprehending.

"it's like... i don't know, soap?" kaiser groans, taking another deep inhale of the shimmering potion. "but it's sweet. and woody. kind of makes me sleepy."

the last statement makes hiori look up from scribbling kaiser's notes on their worksheet. he wants to say an epiphany is approaching him, but it lingers on the tip of his tongue, hesitant. while he can't smell what kaiser is smelling, hiori has a sneaking suspicion that he knows exactly smell what the blonde is talking about more specifically, why kaiser smells it.

on the flipside, your face twists at the last scent you pick up when you're doing the same assignment. it's a cologne, you acknowledge, and it does smell familiar. it's this mix of a citrus aroma with a pepperish flair to it, a cologne you're sure you've smelled in passing before. it's a rather masculine scent, so you think it has to be traced to someone that's close in your life that's male. initially, you think it's yoichi considering you and him are basically joined at the hip, but yoichi smells like clean laundry with a hint of sage, not whatever this is. your dad doesn't really wear cologne, so you scratch him out of the picture.

eventually, the class wraps up and ends, with raichi earning a detention after he threatened to sock igaguri multiple times after he kept messing up their potions to your amusement. you end up going your usual dining hall table where you'll eventually meet your other friends, hiori included.

you smell it suddenly when you sit down, the cologne of what you had smelled earlier in the cauldron is still lingering in the air near you ever so faintly like a ghost. when you go to whip your head around to get a glimpse of someone who might own such a cologne, you suddenly spot ness walking your way in a bit of panic, whisking between tables with a worried visage. he comes closer to where you are and sighs out in relief when he plucks out a textbook from underneath the bench that sits next to you in relief. he whisks himself away back into the corridor.

by the way the cologne's scent is fading, you don't think that someone like him could wear such an elegant fragrance, so you don't think too much of it as you follow him out of the corner of your eye.

until they widen at the sight at who ness meets in the middle of the corridor, the familiar flash of blonde halting all your senses except the ability to smell. suddenly, you find the aroma of the cologne stronger than ever before.

a/n ; the cologne is based off my actual partner's haha, so kaiser wears penhaligon's opus 1870. had to give him a british brand since yknow... they're in britain.

[raytoebiter]

x. another life (written work)

You groaned, throwing your phone into one of the soft cushions.

To say that Scaramouche is a morning person was a complete understatement—that guy's a complete, abnormal morning freak. You're pretty sure he went to bed at around midnight and guessing from the times you've seen him prepare, he'd take at least two whopping hours to, what? contemplate which shade of color goes well for his Minecraft boxers?

Yeah.

That's how slow the asshole is. And listen, you're not one to judge; you're a morning person as well, but in fairness, it's mostly because you're still high from the adrenaline of doing a concerning amount of work before taking a short nap.

So, again, yeah. He's a fucking morning freak that you would absolutely not appreciate in your morning routine that requires the absolute of patience needed.

Clicking your tongue, you shoot a glare at your glowing device. One that could hopefully urge the phone to burst into flames.

Okay, bath. Bath. Bath.. bath.. bath..

–

“Three baskets of strawberries, thirty kilograms of flour, and that Letche brand of baking powder in..” you squinted, willing the memory out of the corner of your brain, “..in aisle three or seven. Just request three boxes of those, thank you.”

The man with the brown cap nodded, eagerly taking notes with the most worn-out pen you've seen so far, “that's it, miss..?”

You smiled. “Miss [Name]. We’ll be seeing each other more, I'm sure of it.”

“Got it! We'll have it delivered by.. presumably three days from now.”

Seconds passed by as the sounds of scribbles filled the air, until another man emerged from of the entrance, form shifting and awkward before the sound of chimes and an embarrassed voice shatters the silence, “sorry to bother you, but uh, um. Your coworker, I assume..? Your coworker is very.. aggressive, and I think he wants to go in. Inside, I mean. Here.”

Silence ensued as you stared blankly at both men, before recognition hits you like cold ass water.

How the motherfuck do I always forget that he exists, goddamnit!

You flashed the two men a customer-service smile, whispers of apologies on your lips as you rushed to the door.. and, lo and behold! The Beauty and the Beast: budget edition!

Said Beast snaps his head to you, an ugly scowl adorning his face, “calltime was 8:00AM. and it's 8:09AM. How hard is it for you to be punctual for once, you fucking–”

You sighed, eyes shutting to a close, “as you said, it's 8:09AM in the morning and it's still early. Can we save the yelling later in the afternoon?”

Your veins throbbed when a click of a tongue was all you could hear before a calmer voice replaced it once again, “yeah, whatever, fruitcake. Let's get on with it. Who were those people, anyway?”

He pats the metal part of his Beauty, slowly treading over to your side, “uh. just a few of those delivery guys. yeah.”

“‘s that so? Also, fucking gross. I can hear your saliva swirling around, shithead. Keep it down.”

“..Shut up!”

–

God.

This was gonna be an absolute comedian 12-Hour Shitshow. With the first guests being the poor two men having to witness the most atrocious altercation between two hard-headed rivals, especially the one with grape-hair.

A particularly idiotic expression coursed through your rival’s face, “no, that's why you don't need the three boxes of shitty baking powder, you dumbass! You have to finish the remaining ones in the pantry first!”

The man with the brown cap flitted his eyes to the Asshole, before going back to yours, “and as I've said, there's only two in the pantry! Two! We need more than just two, and there's barely any stores in here that sells that specific brand!”

“That damn thing is also about to expire.”

“No, it's not! We bought it just a year ago, in the highest quality!”

“Baking powders lasts up from six to eighteen fucking months! You're a barista slash baker, how do you not know that!?”

“Erm—”

“Eighteen! There's still six months left. And—”

“Fuck off with your mumbling shit. There's no need to buy lthree fucking boxes of baking powder to last you a year, you dipshit. You only need one!”

“No, we don't—”

“—Um, as much as we're enjoying this, uh. Conversation, I think we have to really get going, because um. We're running late. So. How many boxes, really?” The sheepish man put out a notepad, strikingly similar to the man with the brown cap that's now pulled down to his face.

Heat burned in your cheeks as you pinched the Asshole’s side, ignoring his utterly embarrassing squeak as you replied back, “Two. just.. two. Thank you.”

The two simultaneously and awkwardly replied, “got it!”

You and Scaramouche shared a glance as they scurried to the door, before it turned into a glare.

“That was your fault, by the way.”

“Was not.”

“It was.”

“If you hadn't made a comment on the baking powder, then this wouldn't have happened.”

Scaramouche scoffed, the snark so prominent it makes you nauseous, “oh, fuck off. you listened to me in the end, didn't you? kind of proves that you really needed my help.”

A snort left your lips as you approached him, arms folded, “kinda? shut up, I never needed it,” there was a harsh finality in your tone and you made sure to emphasize it as you jabbed a finger to his chest, “I survived 15 years without your help. And I sure don't need it now.”

And in response, Scaramouche all but blinked, shock morphing his expression before it contorted to one of mixed miniscule confusion and amusement, “ever heard of sarcasm, fruitcake? you're so easy to rile up.”

Your eye twitched. It's still 8:30AM. You open up at 9:00AM. 9:00AM..

Exhale, inhale.

“And that exhale, inhale thing you're doing is also pretty dumb, by the way.”

“Okay,” you were so close. so close to punching the asshole out of here. better yet, fire him and put the nastiest record on his file, but you know better than that. because, again, exhale inhale exhale inhale— “shut the fuck up, and turn over that damn sign. go parade out the streets since you're such a dollface, you goddamn asshole. maybe you should put that pretty face of yours to some use instead of using it for the ugliest shittiest fucking–”

“You think I'm pretty?”

What. The fuck?

Your brain short-circuits, as you blankly turn to him.

Scaramouche, the shit-eating asshole that he is, dares to even flutter his eyelashes. Eyeliner becoming more prominent amidst the pale expanse that is his face and by gods, you can only hope that the absolute nausea that's swirling in your stomach right now is reflecting on your face, because why in the goddamn fuck did he say it as if it wasn't an universal fact?

Yes, he's pretty! Of course, he is! It's like goddamn sky is blue, grass is green and Tighnari is head over heels for Cyno—so why the fuck is this hardheaded dickhead acting as if your flattery is anything different from the others!?

And after prolonged minutes of intense emotional whiplash between nausea, disgust, shock and acceptance, you reply, “no, you look like god’s abandoned piece of shit.”

He snorts, poise relaxing as he sits by one of the chairs, leg propped up over the other leg, “that's a funny thing to think about.”

“..Are you gonna do the damn thing or are you just gonna—”

“Alright, alright, you fussy shithole!”

–

It's only a short 30 minutes before you’re working on the counter again: swiveling through the counter, putting on the most customer-service smile, throwing an occasional ‘good morning’ to the elderly, and saying ‘hi’ to the chit-chat companion you sporadically talk to.

Except this time, this fucking time, there's a fucking twink bumping hips and asses with you in every turn.

Hey, listen, the café that your grandmother owns specifically intends to hold two workers minimum considering that she had this whole thing built for her husband that soon passed when you were younger. So, meaning to say, it's not particularly small. It's somewhat large if you consider it, but goddamn.

It's like every hit and bump is laced with ill purpose. But when you turn to him to reprimand him, his eyes hold the same sceptical annoyance as well.

(A gnawing thought itches at your skin, but you turn that shit off the second it appears, because it mentions quite the inappropriate thing. Hint: thing being ass.)

It's gotten so bad that by the time it hits an hour before lunchtime, one of the regulars asks the most atrocious thing.

“Um, not to offend or anything, but are you two.. dating?”

And.. that? Oh boy, did your composure nearly slip if it weren't for the hand that was aggressively on your head once again along with an insincere voice cooling the atmosphere down and basically talking in the undertone of, “fuck off and never say that again”.

Along the way of him explaining, which took 3 customers waiting in line watching the theatrical show of your expressions shifting from what to yes, he's right, his fingers slowly threaded through your scalp.

And, shit. It feels good. Like, really good. You'd rather die than ponder more over that though.

So, with renewed fury, you slap his hand away, cutting him off from the yet-still persistent customer who keeps demanding if you two were dating. Which is surprising because you're pretty sure it's been five minutes.

It's then that Scaramouche gently pulls at your ear and roughly whispers, “this guy wants to fucking date you, assshat.”

Your eyes imperceptibly widen, shifting from his to the man before you, as well as the five people behind who're so clearly tired and waiting for their daily dose of caffeine.

Customers aiming for the barista aren't typically common in your area, so this situation is a bit shocking.

A sigh left your lips, as you put out a stance, “is there a problem? There's a line waiting, you know.”

The man fumbles, as you check him out, “right! sorry.”

The moment ended as fast as it came as you tended to the customers, who still seemed a bit pissed by the whole event. By the time the clock hits an hour of lunch and the whole interior is swimming in delicate gold color, you can already feel the lethargy seeping into your bones as you slumped back against the chairs.

Watching customers wasn't really your thing since you particularly have a bad habit of overdoing it and glaring into their souls instead, but perhaps this time, it wouldn't be that bad.

A short few minutes passes by before the gasbag opens its mouth again, “stop glaring at the customers like that, fruitcake. You're gonna scare them.”

That nickname..

You rolled your eyes, “oh, shut up. They don't even care.”

“Look at that little kid over there, he's shivering under your glare.”

“You're schizophrenic, shut up.”

“Yeah, and my hair is green. Anyways, where's lunch?”

Your brows raised as you turned to Scaramouche, who's also currently leaning against the doorway of the staff room, “what lunch?”

He blankly stared at you, “what do you mean, ‘what lunch’? you self-destructive piece of shit.”

You gulp, “I don't.. eat lunch?”

And, silence. Only for a short minute though, because the gasbag can't really keep his mouth closed to save his life.

“Oh, fuck you. What do you mean ‘you don't eat lunch’? Is this why you go stupid after lunch breaks?”

A frown settled on your face as shame blossomed on your cheeks, “I just get busy! And, don't call me that. I still beat you on afternoon recitations.”

A snort, “beat me, my ass. your answers are always slurred.”

“..No, it's not.”

“Ask that little brunette friend of yours and find out.”

“You're such an asshole.”

“I'm so kind, I know. And, also,” an onigiri flew into the air as you stumble over one of the stools to grab it, “30-Minute break is over, assshat. I'll take over first and you better eat that shit, or else.”

Then, slam.

You eyed the onigiri on your hand with suspicion. It was [favourite flavor].

Your gut squirms.

–

The rest of the shift passes by as uneventfully, and as the inky dark finally looms over and the café is deprived of the usual nightly customers, the Asshole finally shows signs of weariness. And it's then that you make the mistake of commenting on it.

“Aw, Mr. Twink tired already?”

“Fuck off, I don't like talking to people.”

“Uh huh, weak ass.”

He glares at you, leg attempting to sweep over to yours but you evade anyways, “try putting on a facade and act like a suck-up bitch.”

Of course, he'd think like that.

“Well, you just—”

“—Do people usually come and ask you out like that?”

And, oh. Well, that's certainly unexpected.

Your gut squirms yet again, “what?”

Why does he care? Is he shitting me?

“Are you deaf, or what?”

“Why do you care about my love life, huh?”

His face drops to a comedic deadpan, all hints of curiosity dissolving, “And in what statement did I even state that.”

You stuck your tongue, “you implied it, not my fault.”

“And this is why you placed third in that ‘Comprehension Reading Regionals’, you know.”

Annoyance settles in your temples as you shove him by the shoulder, “the past is past, that was two years ago, get over it. and besides, i was literally–”

“Excuses, excuses.”

“Shut up! it's true, and hey, I can totally beat you up again if ever the regionals come up and–”

“Yadda, yadda, yadda. Just admit you suck at reading comprehension.”

“Not until you admit sucking on dick!”

That seemed to do the trick, considering the way that familiar scowl finally settles in on his face.

“God, I hate you. You're the reason I've been getting dick pictures in my dms.”

You scoffed, he had the nerve to complain, “at least you don't get death threats from crazy fangirls.”

and instead of an answer, you feel a sharp stab in your shin, and that stupid shit-eating smirk only widens before it leaves out of your eyesight in a very comical downward motion.

“Yeah, that's right. kneel under me, dipshit.”

“You sadistic shit,” you snapped as you did a sweep kick aimed for his shins, and surprisingly that did the job as the Asshole falls over to his ass with a ‘thump’.

A transient glance was shared in understanding before the Asshole grasped at your forearm and pulled you over down with him to have you in a quasi-headlock.

“Fuck..you—” pain blossomed in your knee as you whirled around to knee him on the stomach, a wince coming out of him as he let go of you.

A brief second passed with a glare before he attempted to pin you down on the floor, only to ultimately fail by missing one of your wrists which resulted in a jab in the forearm.

The process went back and forth.

There had been way too many instances wherein you and Scaramouche nearly went into a brawl in the middle of the classroom, art room, or even the canteen. But this? This was the official one. And fuck, are you glad that no one is in the café right now, lest they'd hear the concerning amount of expletives exploding in the air.

..And!

Sike. Turns out, the universe really, really does fucking hates you.

Faintly, the bell chimes.

Your head snapped to the front, as the Asshole shifted to get a peek at the entrance—and, boom, a small ball of greys appears and your heart jumps.

Fuck, it really was your grandmother.

Sending a quick survey at the man on top of you, whose pale face is currently decorated in ugly black and purple blotches, your instinct flies in.

Which was kicking him off, resulting in a concerningly loud thud with a groan. Which also did not help with your heart hammering in your chest and your breath hitching—

“What the fuck!?” He exclaims, and you swear to the flying fuck—

“Dear?” a velvety voice comes in, the door hinges creaking as it finally opens to the staff room and—

God, you wish you could take a picture of your beautiful grandmother’s face right now.

───────────────────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────────────────

|| previous episode - next episode. ||

───〃★tunes of your heartbeat masterlist

synopsis: in which your fate somehow gets entangled into a messy jumble between punk music in cozy cafés, intense rivalry, cherished yakults, parallelograms and quantum physics, competitions in contests and rainy days. or in other words; the universe seems to fucking hate your guts for whatever reason and decided to curse your love life with your awful crass emo twink-a-fuck rival. the question is; did the curse work?

taglist (50/50): @toekissers , @raineyun @localscarasimp , @potteraep , @shutingstar , @feiherp , @scaraenthusiast1 @dazqa , @wraithisd3adinside , @x-hihihi-x , @court-jester-stuff , @automaticpatroltragedy , @lalalaloveallmydays , @trulyylee , @jayzioxx , @featuredtofu @kazemiya @help-whatdoimakemyusername , @skyoverkill1 @phoenix-eclipses , @anqelkoz , @miyakomari @saechiro @franaby , @swivi , @vixialuvs , @heusalettle @kunikissr @yomishen @mywillt0live , @baldrapunzel @jiminscarmex @sushitushi , @liuaneee , @shynsgore , @mechanicalbeat1 , @marivaudages , @okukura , @azzumei @lucid1tty @iloveescara @usagiarchive @kyouzki @theunhingedmf @kangyeonie @mi2ukiss @bubblebellaz @eternallykira-143 @lumiicch

• featured song - im like a lawyer with the way im trying to get you off by fall out boy

• notes - meeEEEE AND YOUUUUUUUU SETTING ON AAAAA HONEYMOOOONNNNNNNNN give fall out boy a listen cuz GODDAMNNNuggghhh this song is an addiction i need it in my brain waves and also i think this song is popular in tiktok so i hope tjta helps UGGHHHH ME AND YOUUU SETTING ON A HONEYMOOONNIF I WOKE UP NEXT YO YOUUUUU

author's notes: how to quite literally force yourself to write? make a smau that has 60% writing in it. im not even joking dawg. but i love writing so😋😋😋 also can you tell im so ao3 style typa writing? i was gonna write more but then i realized that it's a goddamn smau hayss....

p.s - im passing the fuck out after this but oh my god we reached???? 700??? on the masterlist?? HELLO???? hello new followers omfmdkdndnd giggles okay stop

also totally-detailed schedule of the cafe shift:

Monday to Tuesday - Grandma and friends

Tuesday to Thursday - Hu Tao and granny friends

Friday to Saturday (interchanging) - [Name] and Scaramouche💜

afternoons to evenings in weekdays - double workers

mornings in weekdays - single worker

mornings to evenings in weekends - double workers

(ask to be added or removed)

[ihaveasolutionbutyouwontlikeit]

Yes, this is terrifying.

And also a really great analogy about how recent fast paced technology upgrades in entire public systems, while marketed as the best for all, can actually be a detriment to a society, if not completely debilitating, to minorities and those of low socioeconomic status and unknowingly impact entire future generational growth outcomes.

This can be seen with smart phones, for example. Phones have been around for decades. But the current average technological expectations for an average citizen is to obtain and use a smart device of some variation (which is essentially just a small computer). A technology that has only really been around for about a decade. And yet entire public systems have been changed and modified because of them.

You need to buy a bus or train ticket? There's an app for that, or you recharge your card online.

You need to pay a bill or access your money to pay for your kids lunch? There's an app for that. It's online.

You need to update your legal name or address or medical information, or licences? There's an app or it's online.

You need to stay informed of your child's events and school notices? There's an app for that. It's online.

You need to microchip your pet, or find a way to keep track of them incase they go missing? There's an app for that. Or it's online.

Now these things, in and of themselves are not bad things, they do create a beneficial form of alternative accessibility for day to day life things. It's what they also do as a side effect of their PERCEIVED ease of access for "everyone" that is problematic, and makes them also paradoxically unbeneficial, by eliminating the ease of access to other alternative options for the above daily doings and services.

You need to buy a transport ticket or recharge your card? You don't have a smart phone. The transport till/coin based machine is closed/broken more often due to staffing shortages or increased taskloads. In fact, who even has the right change or money on them in the event of some small emergency anymore? Would an attendant on the train checking tickets even take it, or just call you stupid (either in their head or out loud -body language doesn't lie) for not being "better prepared"?

You need to pay a bill or access money for your kids lunch? The invoice or energy statement came two days before the due date and three days after your last pay, because the postal systems deliver mail every second day now, because email in an app *exists*, but you couldn't access it due to a disability or because the internet cut out (again). Paying for it once you can withdraw your money is dependent on visiting a postal office or other public service processing centre for payment, but the postal office is closed on the days and hours you can access it due to to your working the hours you do, to pay for everything. And it's the same problem with licences and updating information, some of which have deadlines of seven to fourteen days, otherwise there's a fine, and with accessing a pets information if they go missing, and so so so many other public things.

You're more likely to get fined. And while the charge is somewhat negligible (depending on which side of the poverty line you sit, though many will straddle it for their entire lives), the blame and focus is put on you, not the inaccessibility.

"But it's so easy, it's all online" people say, to starving families who are debating buying food or paying the internet bill for the month, to homeless people who just had to trade their phone at the pawn shop to afford some food and a sleeping bag because their stuff got stolen or their car, which has no fuel or rego, got broken into last night.

"Just ask for an extension on the bill via the app or online (which is always getting remodelled or redesigned to keep things fReSH)" they say to a dyslexic and English as a second language person, or autistic adhder with light or colour sensory issues (who has verbal/audio processing delays and a panic attack from being overwhelmed from the painful electrical signal frequencies when calling the service line), or an elder (who has shaky hands and is struggling to speak and think clearly due to tiredness from yet another recent bout of COVID or the flu). An extension they're unlikely to receive because they missed the due date on the last two bills due to similar issues.

Limiting peoples equitable access options makes them fall more and more into areas where they need more and more help and societal care, but not everyone can access a friend or family member to help them with day to day things like accessing a digitised public system to get around, stay on top of their finances, access education.

(how many academic and even foundational education systems use the internet as the main focus to facilitate better educational outcomes for their students? Most, if not all of them, in some way shape or form. Because it's easy, and often assumed that everyone can access it easily. And it's the ones with priveged access to devices, whether that's school sites, staff, or students, that have increased likelihoods of better education outcomes, even if the effort put into the work and learning is at minimal or average pace. This in turn produces an average pace for maintaining an average educational status quo, even though so many of the students who are doing well, could do several times better if it wasn't quite so "easy". Brains get lazy with "easy", what's the point in searching for more information and unintentionally learning more about the world if your education targets have been met? If you've learnt how to use copy and paste and change enough words to avoid plagiarism or ChatGPT (because we learnt about plagiarism before fact checking) - but don't have to take the time to write it down, (which helps brains process information), and think or grow to learn that this is how we meet the criteria for learning. By finding ways to use the tools at hand, which is not bad in and of itself, but does have increasing follow on consequences of students who grow up into adults with comprehension and critical thinking skill issues.

Those who work hard and are naturally happy to learn and try to "better" themselves sometimes do not have the ease of access and resources to do so, because it's all online. Yes they could access content at school, at libraries, etc, but then the element of time and space becomes a variable, one a privileged student doesn't even think about. Transport to these places takes time and/or money. Minors do not have the same rights or freedoms adults do, such as prolonged absences from adult supervision or creating library accounts independently, for their safety and well-being, but the adults in their lives don't have the time or resources to allow their child to be anywhere but home, or sometimes work, with them. Many kids who have naturally wandering minds turn to books and trades and hobbies they can access. But the knowledge gained in these ways can be filled with holes and get stuck in the transference and communication to online based testing and education, they're not always a perfect fit, because the modality they're accessing is less intuitive, not as known and understood in how to beneficially navigate. The more familiar you are with a tool (and smart devices are easily 60 tools in one), the more likely you are to use it to some advantage. There's a learning curve. This is also why many elders struggle with recent technologies. They haven't had as much time or energy put into becoming familiar with commonalities between devices, haven't had as much opportunity for their brains to turn pathways into highways.

Naturally, due to related facets, we see internet literacy rates drop, because why wouldn't you believe there's a purple faced octopus living in a tree in Guatemala if a lot of internet pages have similar formats and writing styles, and the term "fact check" has not been foundationally learnt. Notice I said " learnt". Not taught. Because yes it is taught. But no where near enough to establish it as having been set in stone learnt and continually relearnt by our populace. If you do not finish school or go to do a degree, it is very likely you will not learn it at all. It is not deemed a serious educational focus until late high school or further down the road, and by then, people have got *habits*, which are just associations and actions repeated by certain variables and stimuli. Brains create procedural data to navigate realities and then it has to be overwritten/pruned, but during an age when many things have already been built upon the foundation of the procedural data, so entire procedural frameworks in a brain area undergo renovation. This is exhausting for the brain and for us. But technology advances make this a reality every few months to a year now, instead of a few years or decades. Is it any wonder so many are mentally exhausted, just from change change change? So again, we see another example of how equitable or ideological education does not currently feasibly exist to meet the needs of our reality (but ideology is what it is built on), because how many educators, realistically, are going to hunt down and access the same materials and content that isn't online required for a term, and give that to their students? That amount would fill their classrooms within a month, let alone an entire term or year of curriculum, which is built upon the previous month's or term's knowledge, if they are the type to care enough about their educational outcomes. The alternative would be to educate on how to use books and other various reference material from foundational levels, handing out text books and encouraging paper written theory, with mistakes (!shock horror!) and visible pathways and clues to seeing holes in a students understanding of educational content, without continual testing and re-testing, WHICH IS STRESSFUL AND DOESN'T REALLY TEST KNOWLEDGE GAINED BUT HOW WELL THEY SIT A TEST AND HAVE MEMORIZED CONTENT instead of comprehended it.

Writing essays, writing sentences, writing words or maths equations and procedures and theoretical concepts and showcasing science or art or language or musical knowledge, via recording their understanding in different ways like voice recording or designed posters, even from foundational levels (imagine a little kid explaining everything they know about clouds and developmentally indicating their knowledge via storytelling and making up narratives, something many do at that age) in ways that transfer from the mental to the physical takes practice and is adopted more intuitively the more ways it is encouraged to do in a way that flows with the individuals needs and available resource access, the more likely they are to grow in their educational development. But when the public system and the private sectors demand digitising education on a whole system scale, they create limitations in this physicalisation, because it's a hundred times harder to access and replace a smart device or computer than it is a book, an art or notepad, and a pencil or markers and paint. Teachers and parents and students alike are affected. AND THEN we're told to limit screen time. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDI....Anyway, I digress).

"It's so easy" they say.

No. It's easy For You. Others still need the balance of alternatives to turn to, and the folly of public perception is that moving technology speedily through systems in this way and at this pace, in the name of "progress" (a colonizers word) is equitable when realistically it's creating a greater divide. If more and more of a service or company's funding is going toward supporting online based services, that means more and more is being taken away from other avenues of customer service access. This has ripple effects of longer call waiting times, shorter staffing shifts/office hours, increased fines and debt collection being required (of which SOMEONE has to do the paid admin for, which restricts the funding even more), and increasingly limited ways to access ANY service or system as companies, and by follow on effect public services, compete with each other to adapt in order to stay relevant, be seen as progressive and in line with the "times".

All while the figureheads of these companies retain never before seen and ever increasing profits that rival Mount Everest in terms of scraping the sky (just wait until they pierce the bubble with that sharply inclining line).

My point here is, technology is reflective of culture and society. It's made by us for us, naturally it will reflect us in our systems. And the reflection keeps shattering for those of us who are not able to maintain the lights progression because the mirror we're using already has so many cracks and smears on it, it's made our fingers bleed. For the teleportation example above, the cracks and smears are empathy and social awareness. For my example, the cracks and smears are equitable access to daily services and products within our system via the technology we implement and use.

What's worse, is that the other people with the clean and flawless shiny new mirrors (privileged with new phones on a repeating periodic basis), look at us with scorn, pity or severely misguided notions or comments, for doing the best we can to hold our dirty mirrors ("outdated" devices"). Sometimes we don't even know why our mirrors look like that (aren't consciously aware of why we can't access a service or widely used system product with the device we have because we see more people like us in our daily lives than people who have shiny new devices) and feel shame, we believe in the personal failure we are repeatedly told we have (trickle down economics has done really well with the psychological aspects here - bad management skills, poor communication, sub par average intelligence and/or "common sense", problematic behaviours), when the failing is not personal, but systemic.

One could even argue, that, with the commonality of assumed knowledge and inequitable societal care, every deemed personal failure IS a systemic one.

So yes boomers, when you said smart devices are the problem these days, you were right, but only because you pushed this technology onto an already cracking society and then gaslit it to believe that caring about ourselves and each other was less important than the concept of personal ambition and "progress".

The teleportation mentioned in the in the above is a great way to describe how people turn a blind eye, play the blame game or willingly retreat away from related cognitive dissonance, due to seeing themselves outside of having accessibility issues because they CAN easily access all the services they need in the moment they need, via the privileges they have, and fail to notice the limitation of the customer service avenues or think the trade of "barely used" access options is reasonable. Even so far as to not have an active landline in their residence, or even have witnessed or thought about the location of a working and maintained payphone in their district.

But all it takes is a statewide internet outage, a broken or hacked or stolen phone, a sudden illness or accident, to make them just as vulnerable as the ones who they would label as "personal failures, so full of potential if only they could get those fingers clean".

Tell us, who, really, has the personal failing?

Because it's not them either. It's the system, one that has taken on a life of its own, a grotesque possessive ghoul of human hive mindedness that challenges ChatGPT for the top spot in everyday human horrors.

So many of us want to believe we live in the beginnings of an exciting sci-fi novel, but there's only so much to go before the likes of the Brave New World slaps us all back onto our freshly teleported arses, on top of a pile of clones and with no way to phone or even smoke signal home.

had a nightmare that i lived in a futuristic scifi city where teleportation had become the norm and replaced all other forms of transportation and one day i suddenly became aware that teleportation kills people and just creates a clone of them that thinks it's the same person and that if i ever teleported again i would die, and that every time one of my friends or family teleports they die, that i'm not even the original me, that all newborn babies live a few hours at most, until their first teleportation. but no one would believe me and treated me like i was crazy and my life was almost impossible without teleportation because there were no more roads connecting cities and all stairs and elevators had been removed so i couldnt get to my job or the grocery store or do pretty much anything. in the end i had to gaslight myself into just pretending the people around me weren't dying and the copies were really them because after all it's stupid to mourn someone standing right next to you isn't it? if you only spend a few hours with each iteration what meaning does it have?

[imsofreakingtired]

HELLO HELLO OMG ILOVE UR WEITING SO MUCH IT'S INSANW and i js saw that there's an MBTI reader x sevika thingy goin on?? That's amazing pls do INTJ reader next if u want🥹

YAYYY I'M AN INTJ I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS

Sevika x INTJ!reader

so the way you start interacting is by talking shit about Silco and every one of his goons. before that, the two of you ignored each other completely despite each thinking the other was attractive. she would stare at you when you weren’t looking, then literally the moment she turned her back you stared at her. this went on for several months before you spoke to her by chance about some shitty employer thing Silco pulled, and then the two of you were complaining together for half an hour. 

she cannot believe she actually fell for you. you are more emotionally constipated than she is. when she finally works up the courage to confess to you, you are genuinely shocked—you were 99% convinced she hated you.  Sevika: I…have feelings for you. You, distressed: Why? What’s wrong with you? Are you okay?? or,  Sevika: you like me? For my personality?? You: I know, I was surprised too. 

spooning in bed and she always insists on being the big spoon and every night is a subtle struggle for dominance. she always ends up cuddling against you with her head on your chest though. will not admit to this in the morning even as she is still cuddled against you 

you’re both workaholics and check up on each other periodically throughout the night. she finds you passed out at the desk with empty cups of coffee piled up around you and carries you to bed without a word. 

You: I have a plan for this. Sevika: *does the exact opposite*

both of you are scared of how strongly you feel towards the other. both of you fear being the one loving more. you’re convinced she will leave you, but you can’t easily express how much she means to you. you overthink every little thing she says and does. she reads your insecurities and reassures you every way she can—keeping a possessive arm around you when you go out, constantly asking you things: have you eaten? did you sleep? are you cold? do you want me to fix this? 

also, you match each other’s freak. she has a taste for the chaotic, you have a taste for the macabre. the two of you wreak havoc whenever there’s a fight or a mission to be carried out. you are the mastermind, she is the executor.  Sevika: what if we… You: *already gathering the shovel, the bleach, and planning an escape route* we are not doing that, Sevika

“You’re such a dick” (affectionate) “You’re such a sweetie” (derogatory) 

modern!au: she hates when you become so engrossed in a project that you literally seem to forget she exists. you’ll sit down at your laptop and she won’t see you for the next six hours. sulks around the house and kicks things. sighs and grumbles heavily as if the weight of the entire world is on her shoulders. when you yell at her to be quiet, she just does whatever she’s doing even louder. 

in short, you bring out the needy little shit in her, and you love it. 

theoretical arguments until 2am. ranting about politics together. getting too invested in shows and binging them together through the night. (she gets unreasonably jealous every time you even show a hint of attraction for one of the characters.) You: oh my god [XYZ actor] is so hot Sevika: fucking marry her then.   

just quiet quality time in each other’s company. you’re lying with your head in her lap or your legs tangled up in hers, she’s sketching or reading, you’re dozing off while trying to get work done. 

you’re both chronically tired of human interaction, but feed off each other’s energy. you can be chaotic and silly around her, she can be her grumpy little self around you.

people are lowkey scared of the two of you. your collaboration is like the harbinger of the end of the world.

you're both not much for words of affirmation, but show your love for each other through little acts of service - she has a tendency to be untidy but cleans things up for you when you're too busy, and you always come home with the kind of takeout she likes to eat when you sense she's had a rough day.

basically-

[m1dn1ght-r0t]

Plausible Deniability

Yandere!creepy coworker x gn!reader

TW: creepy/perverted behavior, implied stolen belongings & stalking, mentions of sexual harassment, murder (of a side char), delusional & unstable behavior, some NSFW towards the end

There’s this coworker of yours that, for some reason, unnerves you.

You don’t know why. He mostly keeps to himself, save for the occasional nod of acknowledgement when you cross paths in the break room or the elevator. Other than that, he’s harmless.

In fact, you think he's a complete pushover. A doormat people dump their responsibilities on, only for them to take all the (undeserved) credit when a project succeeds.

You honestly can’t count the number of times you've had to stand up for him, drawing boundaries he refuses to set for himself. (Not that you're doing this out of kindness, it's just a matter of fairness.) You've learnt that his default is to sit still and take every punch thrown his way.

Sure, now you find coffee and a granola bar on your desk every morning, which you suspect is from him. Not a hard mystery to crack when he's always the first in the office and constantly sneaks glances at you the second you sit down.

But that still doesn't explain this strange, visceral reaction you have to him. None of this should be setting off alarm bells. Why should it, when he hasn't done anything but… exist?

Yet, there’s a pit nestled deep in your stomach that won't go away.

Maybe it’s because you’ve been on edge lately, catching him staring at you in a dazed, trance-like state.

Maybe it’s the way he knows things about you he shouldn’t. Like the time you offhandedly mentioned not getting enough sleep, and he told you that looking at your phone before bed was poor sleep hygiene, that you shouldn’t scroll so late into the night. You had laughed awkwardly and agreed, chalking it up to coincidence. But he had only smiled, pleased.

Or maybe it's because items have gone missing from your workspace. Your favorite pens, your used tissues from the bin, a coffee mug you once left unwashed. Again, you had brushed it off as your mind playing tricks on you.

Until you saw him using a pen identical to your missing ones, right down to the blue cap. They even had the indents where your teeth had pressed into the plastic.

At that point, you were convinced he was the culprit. But you can’t prove it. What if he just… also chews his pens? You’d look like an idiot, accusing him of theft over something so mundane.

Then there’s the matter of the random men’s handkerchiefs left on your desk. At first, they seemed innocuous. Until you discovered, to your abject horror, that they had an off-white crusting on the fabric, characteristically reminiscent of dried cum.

Are you crazy for thinking it's somehow connected to your coworker? Because you know it is. But again, no real proof. You're stuck in this infuriating limbo, unable to do anything.

To make matters worse, you’re losing sleep over your direct manager’s hands-on approach. The unwanted groping, the sexually inappropriate comments disguised as jokes, the veiled threats passed off as favors. None of which you can escalate to HR, given your manager’s influence.

As a result, the quality of your work is tanking, but you couldn’t quit this shitty job even if you wanted to. You need that promotion and the raise that’s promised with it. So you have no choice but to endure.

So yeah, maybe all of this is warping your otherwise sharp instincts, making you paranoid and causing you to believe things that aren't true.

Still, you can’t shake the feeling that you’re at your wit's end. Like a dam slowly filling, waiting to burst.

And then, one mundane night, it finally spills over.

~

You’re heading to your car in the basement parking lot after a late overtime shift when someone calls your name. You whip around.

It’s your coworker, emerging from behind his car’s trunk. “Hey, finally done with work? Stayed back pretty late tonight, huh?” he says casually.

The coincidence barely registers. You're too exhausted, too focused on getting home and crashing. “Oh, hey. Yeah,” you sigh. “I’ve just been put on this project, and—”

Something red catches your eye. Your gaze flicks downward, and nothing could have prepared you for what you see.

“What…” You breathe out, face paling.

He’s walking toward you - is that a pep in his step? - clutching a fistful of your very dead manager’s hair, hoisting his limp body like a ragdoll.

And just like that, every alarm bell in your head finally makes sense.

Your coworker is truly, utterly fucking insane.

Eyes wide and stricken with panic, you stumble backward. “What did you do? Oh god, what did you do?”

He cocks his head, as if you're the one acting strange. “What do you mean? I got rid of him because he was bothering you.”

The body's shoes scuff against the concrete as he drags it closer. Up close, you see just how grotesquely its bent - joints twisted at impossible angles, akin to a contortionist. Bile rises up your throat.

“You won’t have to put up with that disgusting pervert anymore.” Please stop talking.

“Work won’t be as stressful now that he's gone.” Shut up. I don’t want to hear this.

“Aren’t you happy? I did this for you.” He smiles, watching you expectantly, as if waiting for you to rejoice and praise him for his hard work.

Exasperated, you snap. “Where the hell did you get that idea? Why would you even think to do something like this?”

His brows scrunch in confusion, hesitation blooming on his face at this unexpected development. “But the signs… y-you looked miserable. I hated seeing you lose your spark, your confidence. Every day, because of that asshole.” He grits out the insult, voice thick with bitter resentment.

Then, softer, like he‘s trying to reason with you, “You were hoping I’d notice, weren’t you?”

You let out an incredulous laugh. “Signs? What fucking signs screamed ‘I want him dead’ to you?”

He blinks, unfazed. “Well, you did say you wanted him dead.”

“I never said that! When did I—” And then it hits you.

You did say that. Half-drunk at a work gathering, tipsy off cheap cocktails, and ranting to your colleagues: God, I wish that man would just drop dead.

Your stomach lurches. "You can't actually be…oh my god," you whisper, panic surging. He murdered someone because of you. Does that make you complicit? Could you be charged for this?

“I wasn’t actually being serious," you say, desperate now. "You know that, right?”

“But you—”

“That doesn’t mean you can just murder him! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

This… he seems to take offense to. His face crumbles. Like you've just rammed a stake through his heart.

Without warning, except for the slight quiver of his bottom lip, he bursts into tears.

"O-oh… I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. God, I'm sorry." He hiccups between sobs, devolving into a full on breakdown. The corpse, long forgotten, lies rotting on the concrete.

“I-I didn’t mean to upset you… I’m sorry. I thought,”—sniff—“I thought you’d be glad he was gone! I didn’t think you’d be…”—sniff sniff—“mad. I’m so so sorry. This is my fault. My fault my fault my fault.”

You stare. Because what the actual fuck is happening?

But disturbingly, you feel bad for him.

Suddenly, you’re all too aware of where you are. It's late. You’re in an open parking lot. If someone walks in and finds you here - with him, and that - you’re fucked.

And given his fragile state, he might do something rash, like confess. You can’t have that happening. So you sober up and keep your voice steady, trying your best to calm his nerves, even if it means lying.

“Look, I’m not upset. Just… shocked.” You hesitate before reaching out, hovering a hand above his trembling shoulder.

“Don’t cry, okay? It’s—uh—it’s all good.”

Jesus, you’re terrible at this. How do you even comfort someone for killing a person?

But you must be doing something right, because at that, he perks up a little and stops crying. He peeks up at you from behind his hands, sniffling.

“Did I do… good?”

And you realize then, in that moment, he’s still searching for your approval. Still waiting, like some kicked puppy, for your validation. For some reason, witnessing him in this state invigorates a sort of power trip in you.

Something else clicks. You can use this. Your manager is dead. That promotion is yours. No more bullshit. No more suffering.

A win-win, in your eyes. So you reach out carefully and pat his head. “Yeah," you murmur. "You did good. But we need to deal with the body. You know how to dispose of one?”

His eyes shine with glee. And to your relief, he nods. “Y-yeah. I’ll clean up real good for you.”

You don’t ask how he knows. Some things are better left unknown. ~

The moment you leave, he practically stumbles to his car, ripping the door open in his haste. His hands tremble as they grip the steering wheel, knuckles going white.

He's been hard ever since you offered that quiet crumb of praise - so hard it hurts.

Thank god you didn't linger. Any longer, and he would’ve cum in his pants right then and there.

Desperate to rub one out, he fumbles with his belt, shoving his slacks down mid-thigh. His cock is already leaking, twitching against his palm as he wraps a fist around it.

He replays the moment over and over - your voice, your touch, the way your fingers had absently twined in his hair. So soft. So gentle. His hips jerk at the thought, a strangled whimper escaping.

"F-fuck," he gasps, stroking himself in frantic, uncoordinated motions. He pictures you above him, pressing your palm to his head again, whispering sweet approval in his ear. The phantom weight of your body, the warmth of your breath - shit, he’s close.

His free hand fumbles through the glove compartment, grasping for a handkerchief. He barely manages to brace himself before he’s falling apart, shuddering as he blows his load into the fabric, your name spilling past his lips like a reverent prayer.

For a moment, he just sits there, chest heaving and fingers flexing weakly around his softening cock. Then, almost instinctively, he folds the damp handkerchief neatly, setting it aside.

It's not enough. It never is. But tomorrow, he'll see you again. And for now, that’s enough.

~

The next morning, you find coffee, a granola bar, and a neatly folded men’s handkerchief placed on your desk.

[respectthepetty]

I LOVE THESE LAPIS LADS SO DAMN MUCH!!!!!!

Faifa is ready to die before he makes someone else uncomfortable, so thank goodness Wine is always around to remind Faifa that he will actually die if he continues to try to make everyone happy.

And then Wine gave Faifa the thing he wanted in the first place but was willing to sacrifice because Faifa is always thinking of others and now it's time someone thought about him!

I also appreciate that his Black Brooder brother, with his Green Guy boyfriend in tow, immediately went after him once he found out he spent all night out with his mentee.

So now Gun's even asking what they possibly talked about for hours all night long while Yellow Yal Arm is trying to play bad cop and get to the bottom of this.

But he is too cute for that negativity.

He is a lover, not a fighter, and he knows the best Blue Boy in all the lands would never hurt anyone, especially Wine, which is why Arm tasks Faifa with bringing our dark Blue Boy out of his shell.

So Faifa decides to do it in the kindest gayest way possible by simply being nice to the guy. Pete got Vegas that way, so it obviously works with even the toughest cases.

Maybe that's why Arm keeps wearing blue; he wants to be a Blue Boy since they are just so great, but I can't really think too much on that because Red Rascal Arc is . . . well, existing, shirtless.

And this is the proper reaction to witnessing that man, exist, shirtless. Both. Both are the proper reaction.

But crying in a Texas Roadhouse is not the proper reaction to eating with friends, mostly when your buddies are filming content. However, this feels true to a dark Blue Boy.

Because it's what dark Blue Boys do. Just being depressing. Crying in showers. Crying in the Garden of Olives. Crying in his sleep. Crying in the club. Crying. All the time.

So I actually think it was smart that light Blue Boy Faifa ran to his dad to ask about how to heal a broken heart since his dad is also a dark Blue Boy who was so depressed after their mom left him that he vowed to never love again, yet he seems fine now, right?!

And Faifa does not need the judgement of his brother and brother-in-law in this situation! But I love that Faifa was like, "break up with each other then I can ask for your advice" and it looked like Yotha was legit going to punch him for even putting that curse into the air.

Because Faifa is the BEST Blue Boy, yet he thinks he is not capable of loving someone else, when he, in fact, will be the BEST at loving Wine (and I think he is going to be heartbroken about it, but I'm not there yet), so I need his brother to support him in this effort!

Faifa is so good at loving Wine that he runs to the bar even after he said he wasn't going simply because Wine asked him to, and as much as I want to be upset that Arc and Arm keep playing color games with me, I noticed Arc has a teeny tiny bit of red on him.

And the back of Arm's shirt is yellow, so I am not mad at them! Also, this entire section of the episode was hilarious since Arc was big mad his man was telling Wine love was dumb, and at the same time Yotha, who is drunk just like everyone else, connected the dots that his brother was trying to help out Wine. I loved it!

But these two color-coded toxicitos entered the scene just in time to give Wine a gay crisis in the middle of the drunk scene of a BL.

Faifa grabbed that boy and shuffled him off to the bathroom so quickly because Klao and Arc both were looking at that kid like he was going to say some homophobic shit, BUT BABY IS GAY! This was excellent! I'm living my best life!

And we immediately get treated with Faifa rubbing Wine's back and trying to soothe him. I LOVE FAIFA!

But not as much as I love Wine at this exact moment pinning Faifa to the wall with his hands around Faifa's neck as he has a whole breakdown about being gay and fearing everyone will hate him.

WHICH PROMPTS HIM TO KISS FAIFA!!!! AND FAIFA KISSES HIM BACK!!!!!

Faifa, you're in trouble, bro. You're already lost in the deep blue boy sea. You don't know what heartache is about to hit you because you only know that Wine broke up with his girlfriend because he likes guys. But you don't know he broke up with her because he liked her brother, and we have no idea what that brother spoke to his parents about since Wine ran away before Toey could say, and . . .

These bars are giving me bad vibes, so you are about to have some competition that you don't even see coming (out) because her brother probably came out to his parents and Wine is going to be a mess about it.

Yeah, hold your little Vino Baby while you can, sir. Cuddle him before the narrative screws all of us over.

Because this man is so unpredictable that he logged into his ex's YouTube account just to mess up her algorithm so he could get his camera back. He is a genius, but also, petty. That's a dangerous combination, Faifa.

Look at Faifa. Look at him. Look at my Best Blue Boy in all the universe. Look at how chill he was seconds before Wine called him and he dropped everything to run to him and comfort him. LOOK AT WHAT A KING LOOKS LIKE!

I LOVE FAIFA! I LOVE THEM! I LOVE THIS!

Faifa has the perfect words to make Wine feel safe, and the way he looks at Wine is unbelievably soft, but we all know what this means when we still have six episodes left in their story, right?

We're fucked.

Because now the show has plenty of time to show us that even though Faifa said that Wine makes his heart flutter, Wine will struggle with it since Faifa treats everyone special, and for Tor to make his appearance since it's seemed very important that Tor spoke to his parents.

But I could be completely wrong, and we are just going to ride this wave of happiness until the very end.

Or drown trying.

[nanavn]

[ID: a tiktok video by Rangan Chatterjee, @drranganchatterjee, a mid-forties Indian man, who interviews Gabor Maté, a Jewish man approximately eighty years old. They sit at a table with microphones, and the video cuts between the two of them as they speak.

Gabor Maté (GM): If I were to choose to live my life over again, I wouldn't live it in this way. Do you know "Winnie the Pooh"?

Rangan Chatterjee (RC): Yeah.

GM: Okay.

RC: Not personally.

They both laugh.

GM: The book. The end of that book would bring tears to my eyes for years. Christopher Robin has to go to school, and he's telling his friends, the toy animals, that he won't be able to play with them so much anymore.

And what I wasn't aware of, when I went to medical school and when I was a physician, is how driven I was to justify my existence in the world. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

When you're driven to work too hard, you actually ignore what matters, and what matters is what you were telling me last night about how every summer, you take a bunch of weeks away from your podcast, and you just spend the time enjoying your kids, and your wife, and your family. I didn't do that. I always felt I had to keep working.

And the book ends with the statement, "And whatever they do or wherever they go in the Enchanted Forest, a little boy and his bear will always be playing together." And that phrase would bring tears to my eyes for years.

People sacrifice their playfullness, their joyfullness, being driven by unconsciousness needs to validate your existence. And where does that come from? Again, that comes from childhood trauma. Play is so important and joy is so important. In that sense, we can always keep playing in the Enchanted Forest, and that's just essential, I think.

End ID]

The love i have for this man and his work.

[vanitasmorgue]

Have you ever thought about what the conversation between these two would be like?

.....................

Lestat: Nadja, my chérie, do you think this shade captures the essence of my immortal soul? It’s deep, isn’t it? Like the night that embraces me eternally.

Nadja: Oh, Lestat, please stop whining like a French poet with a bad haircut. That black is basic. My red says, ‘I’m a vampire goddess who could rip your heart out and then dance on your corpse.’

Lestat: Basic, you say. My dear, I invented basic. This black is a canvas for my melancholy, an echo of the centuries I’ve endured with grace. Your red is… how do I put it? A tavern scream.

Nadja: A tavern scream? Ha! This red is passion, it’s fire, it’s the color of the blood I shed when I’m bored. You and your black, always acting like you’re the only vampire with feelings. Put on some glitter, live a little!

Lestat: Glitter? For me? Maybe you're right. A touch of light for the king of shadows. But tell me, Nadja, how do you stand such a… noisy existence? All that chaos with your companions.

Nadja: Chaos is my muse, Lestat. My idiots keep me young. You, with your castles and your pianos, seem trapped in an eternal opera drama. Relax, maybe I'll invite you to one of our midnight orgies.

Lestat: Tempting, but my orgies are more… refined. However, this glitter isn't bad. Maybe I'll use it to seduce some mortal tonight.

Nadja: If you say so, Monsieur Drama. Just don't get your cape covered in nail polish, ok?

[the-s1lly-corner]

Hanging out in the Mansion

Another one!!! Growls@@ im halfway tempted to go look for the old fics and quizzes I used to adore on quotev in middle school

Notes: gn reader, you're a crp, written as non romantic since youre new to the mansion, long post, there will be some character overlap due to "OH x and y hang out together too", very self indulgent, technical part two to the breakfast post

CWs: canon typical violence and death mentions

Characters: slenderman, splendorman, jeff, nina, Jane, masky, hoodie, Toby, Ben, Sally, Eyeless jack, laughing jack

SLENDERMAN

He doesn't really... do much... sure he doesn't outwardly stop you from tagging along with him, but... it kind of feels like a vague tolerance of your existence there in the moment

The only time he really shuts you down and makes you leave is when he goes out into the woods to feed... or when he shuts himself inside his.. office.. space.. at least it looked like an office from the fleeting glimpse you caught through the door before he shut it in your face

But outside of that he tends to... observe the others... sticking to the walls, near the corners

He is... a good listener. At least you think he is. You could tell him anything and he'd cast you no judgement... you wouldn't get any confirmation he was actually paying attention to you until he brings up something you said or liked weeks later

SPLENDORMAN

You can usually find him either keeping Sally entertained or chatting with someone, at least when he's in the mansion! He... actually leaves fairly often for a few hours.. no clue what he does- you haven't quite figured it out or worked up the nerve to ask

But whatever he's doing he's more than happy to let you join him! All you have to do is ask! As far as he's concerned you're already a friend

Though get ready for him to gently and not so subtly pry- asking all sorts of questions to get to know you. Absolute sweetheart even if a little intrusive, if his questions ever tread to more... personal subjects... let him know and he'll drop it in an instant

Always makes sure you're included in any group activities he's in

MASKY

Odds are he's with hoodie, so the three of you are going to be a trio for the day.. you kind of just follow their lead once they're back from doing... whatever it was they were sent out into the woods to do

He doesn't talk much- at most he might respond to you verbally once or twice. It's not that he doesn't like you- he doesn't have any strong feelings for you yet. It's just that he's not very... talky

If you ask bluntly enough he'll show you around the mansion. You already know where the rooms and kitchen are. As well as the living room.. he shows you where other non-bedroom rooms are, as well as the immediate forested area around the mansion

It's... actually a little nice once the quiet tension passes

HOODIE

Great listener, you can talk to him about just about anything. He kind of... nods.. when you trail off and go quiet. You can keep going, he doesn't mind

You're free to tag along behind him as he walks around doing some smaller stuff around the woods. He may not have any assigned work from slenderman at the moment... but sometimes he can't stand just doing nothing

Plus your voice is a nice change from the silence of the woods... also it's a good opportunity for you to get to know the general layout. Landmarks to mentally jot down so you don't get lost

Even if you know sign language he doesn't communicate that much- not much for conversing from his side of things

TICCI TOBY

He mostly hangs out in the living room so going up to him is fairly easy! He's not going to be totally buddy buddy with you off the bat but he's not shut off

If he's in the living room, jeff is there too. And that gets him talking- you're free to hop into the conversation whenever you'd like if you've got something worth while to say

Actually if it goes well you're free to join the two of them just about whenever! He plans on going around the woods tonight to do.. fuck all.. collect rocks, run around, things like that. Maybe the three of you can go out to town and nab some snacks

Only if you're not gonna get them caught of course

JEFF

It's too light outside to go out and do some slashing so in order to kill the time Jeff lounges about the mansion. You're free to join... you seemed cool at breakfast so try not to make yourself look like a total dork

Knife throwing is one of his favorite hobbies when Slenderman isn't breathing down his neck. Throwing the blade decently is a quick way to foster a friendship with him! Though if you suck... maybe he'll be nice enough to give you some tips

He's... a little hot headed... easily agitated. So keep that in mind when interacting with him pre solidified friendship- he's got a shorter fuse for people he doesn't really have a connection to

But other than that he's... oddly chill enough to hang out with. If you impress him he might ask you to come to town with him tonight to pick out some late night stragglers

JANE

She doesn't really spend time around in the common areas or with others. Nina's too much. Jeff is.. Jeff.. She does sometimes play with sally.. lj is too loud and ej returns her blunt and somewhat cold attitude... so she spends a lot of her time either in her room, outside, or in the library

She doesn't own the woods or the mansions library so you're free to join her. Just don't get all up in her business

She at least gives you some attention if you ask something or need something. She won't go out of her way to get you something but she at least gives you instructions

Low social battery, it's best not to pester her too much all at once... slow burn friendship...

More or less instantly shuts you out if she finds out you're also getting buddy buddy with jeff

NINA

Drags you around the mansion- basically pulling you by the arm the entire time. While masky shows you around in silence she's going to be telling you every little detail... even if a lot of the stuff serves no purpose to you

But once that's done and squared away she actually.. just outright asks if you want to go hang out in her room. Maybe listen to music.. watch a movie.. make something-

At least that's assuming she doesn't plant herself in the living room to chat up Jeff and catch up with Toby... or assuming she doesn't get snatched up by Sally to go play some games

Really she kind of drifts around the mansion doing whatever...! Like laughing jack there's a chance you'll be hanging out with someone else if you stick with her!

BEN DROWNED

Odds are he's with Jeff. Sure maybe not physically, but when you're a spirit tied to technology there aren't many windows to step out into the physical world

Oh he WILL make fun of you for throwing up your throws during the knife throwing thing. He will never let you live down a particularly bad throw. Months can pass and he will still bring it up

He doesn't really ask you questions about yourself- at least not the "OH where are you from?" "What do you like?" Ect ect ect ice breaker questions to get to know people... nah... he's more likely to ask if you wanna get your ass handed to you in a game

It's been so long since he's had a new gaming buddy- sometimes having the same shit talk with the same people gets old

SALLY

Well obviously she's going to drag you off to play some games! Odds are she's managed to snag a few others to join you!

It's actually.. really fun... sure it's little kids games- board games, tea parties, pretend. Things like that but who doesn't like innocent fun every now and then?

It also gives you a chance to just.. have a moment of peace. No doubt the transition of moving into the mansion has been hectic

...good luck trying to leave, she's going to get for at least one more game.. and another... and another... playing with splendor and Jane and on occasion ben and nina is fun- but you're fun too it seems!

LAUGHING JACK

Always on his feet- he seems almost incapable of keeping still for very long. Sticking with him leads to you scurrying across nearly the entire mansion and learning just about every inch of it save for any rooms that are off limits

Hes.. open. Chatty and willing to pick you apart to figure out what makes you tick- not in a malicious way to keep you in line... no no no, it's all mostly innocent for him...

He can be a little overstimulating sometimes, though, he talks a lot and he talks loud. Not quite shouting but his talking voice is definitely louder than most... he also moves around. A lot. Not just walking- he emotes a LOT. And laughs... a lot

Hanging out with him often times leads you hanging out with just about everyone for at least a few minutes

EYELESS JACK

He likes to spend his time alone. He doesn't... really enjoy spending time around others. Everyone's either too nosey or too loud. Your best bet at getting close to him is just... letting him take the lead

Small talk is going to be your best friend- slipping in some words in passing whenever you guys run into one another. He's reclusive but he's not outright rude... well... okay he's blunt and sometimes doesn't have tact but he's not going to ignore you if you haven't done anything wrong

It's like trying to befriend a cat. Give him time and let him warm up to you at his own pace. He won't be all over you when he starts seeing you as a friend but overtime those few shared words turn into sentences...

Maybe one day you can convince him to come hang out in your room to watch a show or something

[shadowkoo]

Station Seventeen - an SVT Mini Collab

Introducing Station Seventeen—a sizzling firefighter-themed collaboration that delves into the lives of four fearless friends, united by their relentless devotion to danger, duty, and desire.

Each story peels back the layers of one hero, revealing their triumphs on the frontlines, battles within, and the smoldering romances that ignite when they least expect it. From facing the searing heat of blazing infernos to navigating the even hotter trials of betrayal and forbidden love, these stories are a perfect blend of pulse-pounding action and raw, emotional passion.

At Station Seventeen, courage burns bright, brotherhood runs deep, and love is the fire they never saw coming.

UP IN FLAMES ↳ release date: march 9

❖ seungcheol x f.reader ❖ written by raven @shadowkoo

When your sister calls with an emergency, you drop everything to house-sit while she’s out of town. What she forgets to mention is that her fiancé’s friend, a handsome stranger who might have saved your life earlier, is already expecting to stay there too. Awkwardly sharing the space, you manage to get through two weeks with Seungcheol—only to unexpectedly cross paths again when he saves you from another dangerous situation outside your therapist’s office. Seungcheol, a wildland firefighter, is back in the city taking his leave and debating whether to join Station 17 or return home. While sorting out his own issues, he keeps finding himself in situations where he has to save you—the fiery, stubborn little sister of his best friend’s fiancée who has a terrible habit of calling him the most obnoxious nicknames ever. Despite your resistance to being rescued (and his denial of how much you affect him), the sparks between you two continue to ignite. As you grow closer, it’s only a matter of time before everything goes up in flames.

HAZMAT ROMANCE ↳ release date: march 11

❖ wonwoo x f.reader ❖ written by alta @haologram

Through hazes of smoke and odd games of Solitaire, Wonwoo always manages to find you. Whether it's for comfort, for fun, for...what he thinks are the straggling strings of love — Wonwoo finds you. A romance forged from flames and full of debris, it's not long until there is a moment in time where you can't find him.

THE INFERNO ↳ release date: march 13

❖ mingyu x f.reader ❖ written by sevń @aaagustd

You can remember the first time your elementary school visited a fire station. From that day on, you've always dreamed of becoming one of the brave men and women. That didn't go exactly as planned, but as the chief of Station 17 secretary, you're lucky to get a glimpse of some of the action. This place has its share of chaos, drama, and...romance. Sometimes it's hard to keep all the spicy stories to yourself, but you'd never tell a soul about what goes down once the engine rolls in. The Inferno; however, will spill all the tea. As the writer behind one of the internet's most scandalous romance blogs, you have to be extremely careful about the content you post. But little do you know, one of your most avid readers exists right across the firehouse, and it's only a matter of time before Mr. Smart-Ass discovers the truth—the person always giving him hell—is also his little slice of heaven.

FIRE WITHIN ↳ release date: march 15

❖ vernon x f.reader ❖ written by yannie @wonuwoe

Choosing the medical field will always involve countless obstacles you must overcome, particularly the emergency department rotation which would determine if you're truly on the right path to becoming a doctor. Dreading the time when you finally embark on this last test that's been haunting you since you started medical school, another challenge presents itself in the form of a firefighter who was once your pillar — a muddled part of your past that you were sure you'd forgotten, or so you thought.

banners by @eerieedits ©shadowkoo ©haologram ©aaagustd ©wonuwoe 2025. All rights reserved.

[sweetcloverheart]

One of the things i love about steven universe—so much of the show is straight up dedicated to inadvertently showing you lore, and then giving you those “aha!” moments once those puzzle pieces come back into play.

With miraculous ladybug on the other hand, it almost comes across like the writers think of their own lore as…a nuisance? Wrapping every episode’s plot up in a 22-minute bow will prevail over any silly “lore” about 85% of the time. Even if that lore is super important!

Oftentimes it feels like they just kinda throw whatever at the wall and only keep what sticks, too. I think I wouldn’t find unification AND the power up potions AND the entire class getting a miraculous AND all the time travel stuff AND the semantics behind sentimonsters as flimsy as it currently is, if only the story had introduced all of this to the audience in a more purposeful way.

So much of the show is dedicated to the same exact song and dance we’ve been doing since season 1 and it all comes back to the episodic “akuma of the week” issue. It sticks the writers in a perpetual rut. Things change… but never much.

Precisely! There's no build up, no hint dropping, no anything! Stuff just happens and we move on to the next ep, or gets retroactively explained an entire two seasons after the event no longer has meaning. For all they like to fall on "watch the previous episodes" when folks ask questions, the show just seems...completely uninterested in doing any world building for that to help - it'll just drop in or remove stuff whenever it feels like it and then acts like that's how it always was or pretend a thing they literally just introduced doesn't exist.

(And what lore they do feel like sharing, is placed sporadically in mediums a good majority of the fandom would not consider buying/investing in to find it; The origins of the Kwami are in a short mini comic and the start of Gabriel's grand plan to become Hawkmoth is in a mini cutscene in a videogame only a small handful either played or datamined. Unless you are obsessive over the media or a habitual rabbithole-diver (like myself), you're likely never going to know where to find this info, or that it's even available.)

And it's frustrating, because there is genuinely a lot of interesting lore in the story (implied or otherwise) that should be expanded upon, but it always gets shoved aside for stuff that doesn't matter (like do they realize how many of those stupid Chloe Salt eps in S5 could have been better used/dedicated to explaining the Sentilore more? Or how LB and CN unlocking unlimited power spamming could have been build up to with hints and loredrops rather than Noroo going "Guess they've grown up now." no explanation of how that even works? Or how we still don't have a episode dedicated to the Order that doesn't involve indirectly mocking them for being "Old Fashion" via Su Han? ).

On the one hand, I feel like part of that's the fault of it being episodic+initially a toddler show - they only have so many minutes for the plotline and half of it has to be dedicated to ensuring a "lesson" for Marinette is inserted somewhere there. They likely are limited to how much lore they can insert at a time. There's also the issue of their "Episodes can be watched by themselves" guideline and other annoying Status Quo enablers (like the "Adrien is Perfect, the world is flawed" rule), because they're clearly limiting what the writers can do with the world/characters in a bad way (hard to have an interconnecting overarching plot when you purposely make your timeline such a janked up jumbled timeywimey mess that even Alexander the Great couldn't cut through it), but they refuse to toss them out.

On the other hand though - we're 5 to 6 seasons, a movie, and several specials in with a good 2/3rds of the magic system being supported/provided by fanon and headcanons. At this point, you should be more than able to properly organize your episodes so they can explain your universe and how it works in them.