#NOT ART BUT ILL PUT IT THERE SO I SEE IT AGAIN ONE DAY. maybe ill make a comic for it too idk

[seventh-district]

several days and 15 thousand words later, i am relieved to report that the suffocating urge to Write Something has been sated and no longer has me in a chokehold

[alchemiclee]

firefly, but it's eureka seven and she's eureka. and stelle is renton (because I love lesbians) and the story is very similar but it's changed to fit more into the star rail world. like instead of gekkostate it's stellaron hunters, or stellaronstate perhaps. maybe it's a combo is stellaron hunters and astral express! and their ship is the express. because himeko would be a great talho. maybe kafka is their "fearless leader" taking her inability to fear seriously in that regard lmao. firefly is the secret weapon the military was using and this stellaron express group rescused her. they later bring in a strange girl after sam crashes into her house. but the leaders know who she is and know they need her. their world is being destroyed by a stellaron and they have to stop it. oh! and firefly has surprise kids (hook, clara, huohuo). March is there just to take pictures on her film camera and make a magazine to sell and get money on the side for them. this would be pretty cool if I actually had the motivation and time to write it lmao

[fatuismooches]

Dottore with an art-centred lover !! Painting, poetry, singing, you name it, but ofc you can’t practice a lot because it’s not accepted in the akademiya. Getting close to Zandik and he learns of all your hobbies and in the beginning he (of course) looks down on them. But in time he grows to appreciate all the poetry and songs toy write for him …

(Angst) but now that you’re so sick…there’s no way you can practice all your art. So you’re left to wallow in your uselessness while prime rereads that book of poetry you wrote him. And he realizes how much he missed your art <3

It was no secret that Akademiya looked down on the arts, and consequently, that thinking had negatively seeped deep into Sumerian society's views on artistic expression. Therefore your love for the arts was only allowed to linger while you were a kid before it was quickly squashed by those around you. Still, you continued to practice in secret with critters and strange hat-wearing creatures in the forest, who always complimented your art. There were times you sneak out to the Grand Bazaar, but seeing how often the Akademiya hassles the poor performers, you had to limit your visits.

And so, your secret hobby followed you to the Akademiya. In the beginning, it was easy to put your mind to paper, considering your roommate, Zandik, was either not home, or simply did not spare a glance at what you were doing. But as time continued to go by, you realized that in a way, you two were more similar than you thought - both shunned for things people couldn't understand. Of course, eventually, Zandik got curious enough to pry into what you spent your time doing, and although his reaction wasn't surprising, it was still disheartening.

"You have an intricate mind that can keep up with me, but you'd rather spend your time doing such pointless things. I don't understand," his praise turned into words you were familiar with.

"Have you ever considered this is why I am able to understand you? Zandik... I would appreciate it if you could try to do the same for me."

It was a tough road ahead for Zandik, but he loved you too much not to at least take up your request. And so he bore witness to your labor of love, staying silent most of the time. Occasionally you asked for his opinions or thoughts, but nothing he had was really helpful, but you appreciated the effort nonetheless. He thinks you just wanted to probe his brain. After a while, you start reading your poetry out loud to Zandik.

Unfortunately, he doesn't catch on to the fact the poems and songs are about him until about your dozenth one in, blushing at how skillfully you manage to delicately weave such loving words about him. Or when he opens his notebook to a drawing of you two, distracting him from his work for a little bit (an extreme feat!) And on days he can't sleep, you hum a little tune for him, soothing his aching head. From then on, he understands, and not a word of his criticism was ever heard again, rather, even gruff encouragement is offered when you're stuck.

But now even his sweet words are rendered useless in the face of your illness. All those things you love to create - your body and mind simply won't allow you most of the time, no matter how much you try. Dottore can only sigh when he finds you ripped up all your failed attempts at your art, and carefully tape them back together to store with his collection.

He needs to make sure you have a good day soon. Maybe if he rereads your book of poetry for the one hundredth and sixty-seventh time, he could come up with his own little thing and surprise you.

[macking-cheese]

Transformers: Earthspark brainworms rn

What if Bee got put under Mandroid's control? GAH ITS EATING ME UP THINKING ABOUT IT

inspired by asimp4bee's (I think I spelled that right) art I saw with the same theory, and the song Control by Halsey

This also includes Breakbee! Ig it's like a situationship but actually they're terrible at feelings and Bee is like “am I not enough for him” and when shit goes down later Breakdown is like “damn I gotta step up fr” (this is probably a terrible explanation and for that I am sorry)

Also this accidentally became an exploration of Jawbreaker and Bee's relationship (AS SIBLINGS!!! I just think that in a way they complement each other and I wanna explore it) (It's probably me just projecting my neurodiversity onto them tbh)

This is like really bee-centric, more than I originally intended for it to be. I wanted it to gauge the terrans’ reactions to losing their brother/mom#2 (this is an inside joke pls don't flame me for it), then it became me wanting that twink mentally obliterated (and studying the journey of healing through family support after the inevitable crash out)

So here's a little drabble? Of me fleshing out the introduction of my ideas a bit more so I have a basic outline of where to go with the fic I'm planning! This has some dark themes (TW: suicidal ideation, kidnapping, torture, violence, harming of children, crazy how most of this is canon typical)

Basically this is set right after the kids break Bee and co out of the G.H.O.S.T cells, he tries one last time to get Breakdown to join them, and is rejected. So Bee goes home with the kids, and after a bit, making sure they're okay and under supervision of their family, he goes back alone to try and get Breakdown to join him again, the first place he looks being back at the facility, hoping he might still be there, but he knew he wouldn't, it was his dumb optimism saying there might have still been a chance.

Of course heading back there first was a bad idea. Probably the shittiest call he could make. He immediately gets recaptured and those G.H.O.S.T fuckers torture him and demonstrate their new mind control technology, trying to break the bot mentally and turn him into a weapon for their own personal/military use. When the big battle happens, he's sent out and,,,,

The terrans are so happy to see him, they missed their brother figure (jokingly their mom#2) and could really use his help and possibly Breakdown's, if he succeeded in his mission, in the fight. He told them he was going back to try and get more recruits, he'd be gone for no longer than a day, but if it takes longer, not to worry. It's been two weeks. (Or however it happened canonically, idk. I haven't actually watched the show in a month so this original setup probably doesn't make sense, really just writing to write here)

But when they get a closer look, he seems so worn down and tired and small. Trying to appear angry and bitter and intimidating, but it looked so fake and they didn't know why he wasn't easing up upon seeing the terrans again, until they see that cold, emotionless white in his optics.

They can't believe it. He’s not wearing a G.H.O.S.T badge. Maybe he's playing an ill-timed prank.

“That's not funny, Bee”

“We need your help”

“You're scaring me”

“Please stop”

“Bee?”

They notice the flicker of blue and the horrid screech-click of a failing vocalizer. The way his body trembles and his arm plating shakes with the effort to keep it from transforming into his stinger.

A last-ditch effort on his end, he turns on his radio with a slurry of static.

“C-an't help thi-sssssssss- should be sk- scared -f me-!”

The terrans are a mix of horrified and worried. They know they should move, run away, some catch up fast enough and do that, having to drag others. Jawbreaker just can't. That's his favorite person, his confidant, his older brother.

“Back-back-ba-ckhss… up!” It was the only semblance of himself that he seemed to have somewhat control of, and he clung to it. The terrans needed to know he didn't mean anything he was going to do.

Jawbreaker did move, a few disbelieving steps away, not fast enough to dodge the hand landing on his chest to move him away, too harshly for anyone's comfort.

Bumblebee was tearing himself up to try and fight for control. It hurt, it hurt so much, he almost wanted to sink into that awful bliss the chip in his back offered. But he couldn't, those were his mentees, his kids. He'd kill himself if he ever brought harm to them.

He wondered if the chip would stop him if he tried now. Maybe he could fry his circuits if he kept pushing against the breaching walls of code. Maybe he could shoot himself or something.

With that thought his arm finally transformed and the kids booked it. He couldn't stop himself from aiming at them and landed a few painful shots. He begged for forgiveness as he lost himself, giving up and letting the parasite fully enter him.

All this for Breakdown, and he didn't even know if it was worth it to have gone back in the first place.

-----

There's so much more I have running around in my head and my notes for this! You're welcome to share any thoughts, and please disregard if this was structured oddly. I'm jumping in my seat right now with excitement and my thoughts are a bit scattered trying to get this out.

[mukimokai]

having "childlike wonder" doesn't mean a character is "childish" or a little baby

childlike wonder is an attitude: of finding joy in the mundane and enjoying the simpler things in life. Having an inherent interest and excitement in new things, places, and experiences. Wanting to take in every detail of something, even if it's something small. It drives exploration and discovery, wanting to know how the world works and figure it all out. Having inquisitive minds. Being fascinated by the world around oneself. Being open to new perspectives.

childlike wonder doesn't mean "childish."

Yeah. I believe Alhaitham can see Aranara. It makes perfect sense because he has every quality listed above.

Yes: Alhaitham has childlike wonder. No, he is not childish. There is a distinction between "childlike wonder" and "being childish"

So can he see Aranara? Most likely yes, it's probably canon: Web events have always been that way anyway, always introducing you to the characters and their respective personalities and interactions if there are any. Web events are canon in the sense that: if the scenario happening in the event took place, this is how the character would act in said scenario.

Yes, I do think there is enough evidence he can see them just looking at his character as a whole: plus why else would the Sumeru lobby have us turn into Aranara if almost the entire Sumeru cast were adults that the Aranara don't inherently trust? The only character who would've been there in that case would've been Nahida but we had Alhaitham and Nilou as well? And it makes sense for them to be able to see the Aranara so like. I was actually completely unsurprised that Alhaitham and Nilou could see them so uhhh-

oh and also. to the ppl who say "Kaveh can't see the Aranara bcz he's traumatized" girlie. the one child in Yoimiya's quest was going through such a traumatic illness and she could still see them.

Kaveh can't see the Aranara not because he's traumatized or whatever. but because he's pushed away his past. Kaveh is actively removing himself from childlike wonder in favour of idealism: he is constantly chasing after his goals, constantly trying to do more and more, constantly striving for perfection that he forgets the mundane, everyday things in life due to the sheer amount of stress he is putting on himself on a day-to-day basis. Kaveh is also not open to new perspectives; following his own ideals to a point and shutting away anything that contradicts his ideals. He is not an inherently curious character either; we've only seen him comment on a few things that pique his curiosity (i.e. the one voice line abt lightning) but as a whole, he's not interested in much else if it doesn't have to do with the arts or things he is passionate about which is unlike Alhaitham who seems to take an interest in literally everything other than gossip.

again: childlike wonder and being childish are different things, PLEASE understand that...

i might have 50 million people come at my throat for my take on all this but like ykw idgaf: I'm entitled to my opinion and this is how i see the whole situation.

I do think people who said it's "out-of-character" for Alhaitham to see Aranara are either mischaracterizing him or they don't understand what exactly it takes for Aranara to be seen by adults. Maybe it's both; i know a lot of people skipped the Aranara quest dialogue, and, for the longest time, Alhaitham has been one of the most wildly mischaracterized characters in the fandom (and still is being mischaracterized to this day unfortunately) so idk tbh.

and ppl always say Nilou is bland so like... i don't think ppl pay much attention to her at all which is unfortunate because she's really silly actually. Nilou stan number 1 right here tbh.

idk it's just my thoughts on it: yeah I do think it can be seen as "basically canon" but I don't think it should be used to justify "omg!! hahahahah they're so childish lmaoo!! alhaitham and nilou are such babies ahahah!"

like. gen. nuh uh. what.

yes i call them babies because they're my babies but that's just bcz i like their characters, i called them that even before this whole fiasco with the aranara... so like. uhm.

this was way longer than i planned it to be. sorry for the yapfest holy.

considered not posting this but eh who cares, it's just my take lol

[artdcnaldson]

thinking so many thoughts about stanford!art who has a thing for humping pillows for comfort/relief.

patrick teaching him to jerk off created a straight up monster, he’s fucking insatiable after that first time. he discovers that he really enjoys humping things pretty quickly, his palm, his bed, and especially his pillows. he’s got an… active imagination - he’s no stranger to wet dreams and waking up with sticky boxers, so the next logical step is to sleep with a pillow between his legs, his dick nestled up against it so he can roll his hips and rut into it in his sleep. sometimes he doesn’t even do it strictly to get off, it just becomes a comforting habit. after a long day, he’ll curl up in bed and hump his pillow, maybe even suck on the corner of it to keep his mouth occupied too.

it was never a problem until he started dating you. he’d never shared a bed so small with someone before. sure, he and patrick would push their beds together every time they were put up in some shitty hotel for tournaments but that was more space!! and patrick didn’t care, he’d just make some smug comment about art having to marry his pillow after defiling it and turn over to pass out for the night.

the first few times you sleep over in his dorm room, he insists on being a gentleman and taking the floor, but eventually he runs out of reasons to stay out of bed with you. he tries to resist, he really does, it’s just that your ass is so close and your skin is so soft and you smell so good and and… he just breaks. he rolls his hips into yours once, twice, then all of a sudden he’s pawing at your hips and your boobs, rutting his dick against your ass and whimpering out little apologies.

“m’sorry, m’sorry— can’t help it, needed it— needed you so bad,” he’s practically in tears by the time you’re awake enough to register what’s happening. not that you’re opposed. it’s actually kinda cute how quickly he got so desperate and how when you shush him, tell him it’s okay, take what he needs, he immediately calms down.

he becomes so docile, like every thought in his head left the second you gave him permission to keep humping your ass. all he can do is whimper and whine as you grind back against him. when he cums he whispers a series of garbled out, “thankyouthankyouthankyou”s and buries his face in the back of your neck before falling into the deepest sleep you think you’ve ever seen.

you fall asleep with a throbbing pussy and more than a few questions about what the fuck just happened.

the next morning he stumbles through explaining his pillow humping habit, how it clears his head, brings him comfort, and makes him cum incredibly hard.

“it’s stupid, really, i’ve just been doing it for so long,” he says, his eyes sheepishly avoiding yours.

you can see the guilt spiral he’s thrown himself down written all over his face. he looks like he’s about to panic and apologize again when you finally speak up, “come to me next time.”

“what?”

you move closer to him and run a hand through his hair gently before gripping it at the base of his neck, tight enough that his eyes roll back and his hips jerk forward of their own volition.

“next time you need to get out of your pretty little head, don’t use your pillow. i’ll take care of you so much better.”

so from then on, whenever art has a bad day or needs to empty his head (cough and his balls) he comes to you instead of his pillow.

i have… too many thoughts about this mf man so i started with a tame one akshsk hopefully this wasn’t too long and rambled !!

-first time sending an ask so if i send again ill be 🎀 if that’s cool <3

Hnnhnggggg poor baby :(( also hiii!! I love this and ur brain is amazing

god he just can’t help it. You’re so warm, so soft. He gets so hard and he just starts rubbing against you out of habit, but it feels too nice. He feels bad when he wakes you up :(((

But he needs it so bad, needs to feel it, needs to cum :((( and he falls asleep so hard after— drooling and all heavy where he’s practically crushing you :((((

And maybe you make him do it again, let you watch how he fucks his pillow when he’s had a long day. It’s too cute of a habit to kill entirely, right?

[lopposting]

guys.

I think I did it.

I think I cracked Lies of P.

(me rn)

i keep going back and forth on carlo's death.

i know i was adamant before, on him dying from the petrification disease. i think logically he would have to have had it because of ergo.

but here's another weird point about his death,

i just realized why we intrinsically think he was killed.

Carlo is wearing his school uniform when his stalker finds him, and on the floor at that. That's quite odd. Maybe not being on the floor, but the uniform. Why the uniform?

"He didn't even come to your graduation?"

For the son of an aristocratic family, would this be the image of a deathly ill son in care? Did Geppetto know? Wouldn't he be in palliative care, as Lady Antonia could afford?

Why wear the uniform after graduating?

"Oh, she's here! Grab her!"

"...Gemini, get rid of them! I'm off!"

Was his death literally right after his graduation, on the same day?

And also, Gemini is a little lamp guy. (She doesn't look to be carrying the lamp.) Why does she tell him to take care of the boys? What can he even do? Tell them off?

Here's another funny thing... We NEVER see Carlo outside of his school uniform. (at least, in the "past", "real" Carlo time line).

And as we know, the school uniform has a prominent Sailor collar, the type that is associated with nautical outfits [down to the three stripes, supposedly called a "naval collar"]. The Graduation pendant that he gives to Romeo is of an anchor. [I know that these are all artifacts of the charity house. but they are nonetheless associated in tangent with Carlo]

When we find Carlo's painting, it's right next to this one of a ship. [also, two bottles on the counter, perhaps representing the "two lives" of Carlo and Pino]

also... when Carlo's memories materialize... it's in the sand. Only on the seaside.

Remember, Romeo seems to be associated with a fire element, and Pino with water, the same seems to go with Carlo. The original novel of Pinocchio itself seems to have a strange fixation on the ocean.

And now, might I present to you:

The DLC images are also of a ship and some kind of water turbine.

Director Choi (in pre-release interview): "I'll put it this way: there are more stories I want to tell in Lies of P, so I hope [it] does well."

Also: "There sure are stories we could not introduce in the game" (talking about the story being adapted into another form)

[basically, that there was more to the story than what was really present in the final game.] I'll leave all this to your consideration without adding my own just yet. (I'll add it in a reblog on my own blog without tagging it) Just kidding I want to keep wasting everyone's time

Perhaps after the events of the game,

This is some sort of effort by Pino to either learn more about the deceased Carlo or try to remember his "previous life" as Carlo, by taking to the sea.

Maybe even after the game, Pino will STILL attempt to "awaken" as him so to speak [:(].

[Maybe he actually will.]

Again, Carlo is strongly associated with nautical elements. Again, he is never seen outside of a sailor suit, basically. Also, when we gain the memories of Carlo, they materialize on the sand, at the seaside. Remember, he DIED in the sailor outfit

Maybe we are to take the "sand memories" more "literally" as they are in the sand?

Did Carlo drown and his body wash ashore, which is why these memories materialize in the sand? Why is he so associated with ships?

Pino is also depicted in the water, remember, including what looks to be concept art that was used for the OST? Maybe it isn't "just" a motif? [even simple things like his "official" coat and his eyes being blue, blue blood's tailcoat, and him being associated with the colour blue in general]

Which is why Pino is pictured in the water, since he was "born" from Carlo's death... He was birthed in the water the same way Carlo died in it?

[more notes in reblog]

[polysyndetonaddictsupportgroup]

i was rereading glaze defects (again) and i literally could not stop thinking of this scene. it was literally one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire fic for me?? like screaming crying throwing up. every time i get to it i have to look away and take a breath.

also! speaking of controversial supreme court case buck v bell have you ever heard of United States v. Zubyadah ?? :)) it literally broke my head i was so taken aback. anyway, enjoy baby matt right before his life goes to complete shit

Oh I love love love this. The art is AMAZING and I love that line in glaze defects.

I think what I really love about that line is that it’s almost definitely not accurate.

On a basic level, Matt was a very little boy when this happened, and his memory of this probably isn't perfect. But on another level, it probably just wasn't said that way.

Like, maybe Stick said it like this. Or maybe he said some shit about how the Chaste were the baddest badasses that ever were and if Matt paid fucking attention to what Stick was showing him, he might one day get to join their ranks. However, he put it, Matt's answer just doesn't sound appropriate.

"Okay" is too short and simplistic an answer. Saying shit like "I'm going to make you into something great" isn't the sort of shit you're expecting an "okay" too. You'd expect someone to say something off the cuff back, or something out of gratitude, or something that at least matches the tone. Saying something like that just doesn't really seem to mesh with an "okay" as the only answer.

But in Matt's retelling, Matt just says "okay," because Matt is inherently unfair to himself.

I like to make Matt Murdock one of the most unreliable narrators in my docket. He's a mess of mental illness and guilt and concussion. He's never going to be fair to his young self who was taken advantage of.

Matt gives an easy, unconcerned assent to Stick in his recount of what happened because he sees himself as just having given into Stick easily. His big fear of being turned into a weapon came true, and he just said fucking okay. He views himself as a gullible, stupid child who was easy to trick.

In reality, he was a traumatized child being brutally maniuplated and taken advantage of. He was a child soldier and Stick spent every single one of their sessions just manipulating him.

Even if Matt literally remembered the way it went being more complicated than just an "okay," he's always going to skew his own retelling of events to be more unfair to himself. He's got the opposite of rose colored glasses on.

He was a hurt little boy who was manipulated by someone he was supposed to be able to trust. It was not his fault. But he will always blame himself.

So instead of recounting the months of manipulation Stick needed to get him there, he just remembers himself saying "okay"

Thank you for sharing your amazing art with me! I love it so much!

[vickyvicarious]

van Helsing waking Jack by putting a hand on his head is quite sweet somehow. Maybe it's that he wakes him gently, and doesn't blame him for falling asleep even from the beginning. Of course, it's possible that when he first arrived he assumed Jack has just gone to sleep after the night was over, but still.

"That is one of the things that we learn in an asylum, *sighing* at any rate." He sounds so bitter here about his work...

I love the delivery of the "Gott in Himmel!"

"Even the lips were white, and the gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see in a corpse after a prolonged illness." the kind of dull horror in his voice is great.

van Helsing has "the instinct of his life and all the long years of habit" working to keep him from showing anger, huh? I wonder if this could be related to his backstory too

love the clinking of the decanter

the sigh and misery in the way he said "there is no young Arthur here now" - I feel you, van Helsing. I'm sad about it every time.

the reaching into the back noises!

once again, Jack and van Helsing are so on it. I love it, he's already rolling up his sleeves.

the little stutter on "a-already?"

van Helsing you do not know Art yet do you. Last time he shook Jack's hand. He would never be enjealoused!

I love the way Jack's voice gets so perplexed when he is talking about the mystery of Lucy's condition. You can hear him trying so hard to understand, but he's exhausted, drained of blood, and cannot see any explanation at all so he's just circling through the same thoughts again and again.

his fortifying breath before "Lucy slept well into the day", like he is dragging himself forcefully away from those thoughts.

"When her mother came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any change whatever" his voice getting sharper/snippier on the last bit, ooooh boy he does not like Mrs. Westenra at all

I for one love her voice and delivery. She sounds so kind of sweetly absent, well-meant but just lost in her own head in a way. and obliviously making everything worse even just in the context of social awkwardness

van Helsing doubling down on complete silence today is so annoying. I know it's consistent with his character and is a fault and even understand how it happens but. aaaagh

how softly he says "I was much touched by their kindness." Jack wants so badly to be cared for doesn't he.

and even now he's finding it hard to go to sleep apparently! jeez.

[kroosluvr]

hi!! as a fellow royal trio-truther ive been ADORING and loving your posts so much <3 you mentioned that you've like mentally re-wired shusumi so i was curious if you had a list of head-canons for how they develop in the game/post-game!! Im super curious to hear (: also any head-canons for the akesumi dynamic would be great bc I hate how little the game developed them together !!!

OMGGGGGGGGG HAYYYYYYYYYY ok so. first. look at this (idr if i posted this here already but if i did look again heh..)

ok now ill actually talk under the cut

note that some of this is headcanon territory bc i just be frolicking at this point

some backstory i fell in love w sumi as soon as her art was revealed i was like omfg peak design PEAKKKKKK i love her so much so i was really excited abt her but i feel like there were so many loose ends w her confidant and namely her crush on protag sometimes doing her a disservice (it turned ppl off from her (understandable bc i also dislike when writers make a female character out to be dependent on a male character) but also made other ppl weird abt her in the same breath....... shivers. people who overly-romanticize/sexualize mentally ill characters (especially girls/women) freak me out sorry

anyway that put me off frm p5 fandom for a hot minute. BUT regardless. i think people often focus on like "shy cute sadgirl kouhai crush-on-protag" for her which on top of atlus's.......mediocre handling of her also does her character a disservice... shes so multilayered!! she houses such insane convoluted levels of distress and fear and anger and reluctance and most of all STUBBORNNESS. i think her headstrong personality is not really emphasized in fandom but i can totally see it (maybe its just me but).

ok moving on to my shsm delusions i think to turn sumire's canon crush on its head i want to make them doomed to never get together. i think 3rd semester is so tense and high-emotion that royal trio are so deeply intertwined w each other:

like they all are mildly-to-a-lot suicidal so they hold onto each other so tightly to make sure none of them spirals and does anything bad. i think in the end they just want the other two to be Okay, even if they themself doesn't. if the other two are ok, then it's all good.

ok back to shsm LMAO i think seeing their relationship as like an odd high-emotion situation makes sense. they love each other, obviously, and provide each other comfort, but the idea of a relationship slips thru their fingers like water. is that right...? is that how it is? like i said up there they just crumble under the weight of their own love. tldr theyre in no place to "date" each other........ but they have their "almost." they're inseparable, they love spending time with each other, but knowing in the back of their heads that it won't last, and they'll have to leave it be one day. "sometimes when i really love someone i leave them alone forever." peak shsm to me. "let's run away together - but what if it's not enough? what if all of this fear and sadness still stays? i take a man down to the river and he throws away his sadness but hes still left with his hands, he's still left with the river (paraphrased richard siken). peak shsm to me. i think they try to treat eachother so softly and gently that it fucks it all up, actually. peak shsm to me. it's not codependency in the sense that theyre not trying to save each other - they're just trying to salvage out some love from it all. all of these terrible things that happened: there's still love, right? there's still love. but the pain can't all be sifted out, and everything still hurts. but they still love. (they just don't date or even talk to each other much after graduating and i think they talk to akechi but to each other its suddenly COMPLICATED. i hate these guys)

ironically i think if you throw akechi in the mix it stabilizes out and i think shuakesumi could totally have a happy married ending. but shsm as a pair i dont see endgame for them. peak for me is that theyre in love and then they spend the rest of their lives trying to forget each other (they don't)

(If this sounds ridiculous and stupid im sorry. i just like shoving too-many-emotions onto my favs sometimes (a lot of the time))

IN REGARDS TO AKESUMI i think my latest 2 comics describe how i feel abt them pretty well!!! link 1 and link 2. actually i think akesumi's friendship is a great way for me to explore how i see/portray/feel about sumire, because i see them as way more similar than the game pays attention to. they're both stuck in their ways: sumire in her cowardice, hiding from the incident and refusing to move on, and akechi entrenched in his own traumas and feeling like he doesn't deserve more than that. their self-hatred manifests in two opposite ways but its very similar at the core. they both like. have no fucking clue what they're doing in terms of handling their pasts so that's why i think them working together to get around their own respective traumas is so fascinating: akechi is terrible at it, pushing sumire too far, but at the same time that perspective is something that she needs. meanwhile, her sensitive and observant personality shows akechi that like, you can have This too: a soft, good love. to have someone care about you unconditionally, so gently. you deserve that, too. yeah i can explode my head off now

i did not proofread this.

[cconfusedkat]

(shaking hands, functioning on three iced coffees, not beta read we just die) (LIL BRO TREATING THIS LIKE AO3Anyways yeah i did not read anything i typed here a second time so my wording might Suck Major Kuss)

Hey chat! sorry my holiday depression unfortunately kicked in, i had a ,, relatively decent Eid (cuz i dont celebrate christmas) ...? so i hope everyone had a relatively better holiday than i did… 💦

My friends often tell me i look like my art and i kinda see it. Hooray! Meeting the artist! Except i took matters into my own hands of making my own collage because I Do Not Have Enough Storage Space For Any Other Editing App

Additional shitpost ❤️ the art I've been most proud of are not actually in here, really! I'm mainly proud of the fanart i made for the few smiling critters AU's aaaall the way back feb-march but. I guess the stuff i liked the most i did this year was probably for the one who wilts? Im trying to think of stuff earlier than that. I noticed i definitely had an improvement in art, and i learned i do have a preference of drawing certain ways now too lmao- the fun of art! I hope to improve more in 2025 :-)

Herm,, all jokes aside, im glad people like my art...?? I am not a very Secure artist myself (already taking me five minutes to type that out and consider myself as an artist) so im SHOCKED when people Actually like my things. My doodles. The sometimes rare occasion of real art i put out there. Like! Wow! Thats crazy

Id have to say the same for youtube- im currently at 456 subscribers 🥺❤️ that is huge to me,, i wouldnt have expected me posting for the first time in years on youtube would result to me getting this many subscribers? ? .???

Im very, VERY thankful for the people ive met this year through fandom and generally. Unfortunately—for the past few months—Ive hit a really low stump in my mental health that limits me from talking to people without getting super drained, even on social media i kinda struggle with being active again. I am thankful for the people that continue to stick around and know im the way that i am,, one day ill be mentally stronger and everyone is gonna see my growth as soon as i can ,, Actually leave my own home and hopefully start a new. I didnt really consider that until one of my friends shared its experiences with me and i GENUINELY realized i can run away and get better one day,, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,, there IS,, but not now. Not today. Not in a few months. Itll take me years to heal but 2025 and ongoing years as i get more freedom to do so,,

UHHHH UHHH. ASIDE FROM CHEESY RANTING OF HAVING HOPES FOR THE FUTURE, YAPYAPYAP- i got a drawing tablet (again another thing my friend inspired me for- technically two major things in a row it inspired me for- hope in the future and drawing BWAHAHA-) and uhhh. HmMMOOHHH YEAH I REUNITED MY MEOWMEOWS! HOORA🎊🎊🎊🎊

my 2025 goals are not just improvement in art,, but in hopes of getting a full time job (since my last full time UMM. did NOT work out well! How am i gonna learn to pay my taxes on my own dawg,) and trying to get a place of my own since i missed out on that two years ago (or one? One year ago? I DUNNO..!!!!) , therapy and trying to heal better compared to my terrible stumps of 2022-2024,, i dunno what else but. Maybe working on my social skills at some point 🗿🗿 a far fetched goal is moving out of state completely and also going on testosterone but that is farrrr from now </33

Thank you lot for following and keeping up with my goofiness i gen did not think an animanga nerd with a passion of indie and mascot horror games could reach 510 followers within one year HELPPP thats crazy

On less serious goals though i hope on watching more animes than reading manga in 2025 BWAHAHAGAHSAJD i read manga more and anime is Extremely Rare for me to watch but both jjk and Beastars have all ive been watching as of recent lol- trust i will be such a geek (girl Please that is NAWT something to look forward to) (YES IT IS. HAVE YOU NO WHIMSY?)

[elvisslut]

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬

Elvis x reader

Warnings-none,strong language, fluff thats it:)

Summary-Elvis come off the stage with a little doubt in his ability to please a crowd, trying to help that and rudely getting interrupted you find out that he just needs a little bit of love.

Sitting back with joe and jerry as Elvis sang his final song, talking about the less important things; which was a luxury for anyone in the group that was deemed ‘the Memphis mafia’ a few years ago.

Hearing clicks from the familiar boots, telling you and the guys elvis was almost down the hall to the room, you all knew he’d want out of his suit and in regular clothes in the matter of seconds.

With the guys shuffling out you stayed back wanting to talk to him a bit in the privacy of his dressing room, elvis walked in slouching slightly from the weight of the jewels on his jumpsuit.

“Did you have fun?” You ask with a smile, getting up out of the way of the curtain so he could change in his own privacy sitting on the top of the vanity in that room.

“The crowd was good..” he answers softly going behind the curtain and closing it, peeling the sweaty jumpsuit off and throwing it over the curtain rod.

“Did you not like the songs? Isn’t this your first time doing burning love though?” You frown to yourself as you try to think of what he didn’t like.

“Yeah, but it’s pissin’ me off to stand there an’ sing the same damn thing with different words.” He huffs getting in his regular a little less sweaty clothes.

“I know..maybe you could change up the set list, here..” you trail off grabbing a pen and gift shop bag of the vanity-that being the only paper available.

“What songs do you like to sing?” You ask pulling your knee up and laying the paper-bag on it to write.

“Honey i don’ think-” you’re quick to cut him off, really not wanting to have him doubt himself or his show right now. “Shut up, what songs do you like singing?” You ask again, earning a exasperated sigh as he opened the curtain.

“That one tonight would be a good opener i s’pose..” he muttered, walking to the chair in front of you. “Mhm and what else?” You hum writing down the song and a note in parenthesis; opening song.

“Honey-” you roll your eyes at his attempt to protest again and cut him off. “I said shut up. What. Songs. Do. You. Like?” You say pronouncing the words individually.

He sighs and shakes his head. “I don’ know honey..maybe how great thou art? An’..are ya lonesome tonight” he says rubbing his temple and his forehead as he tries to think of some songs.

“Good thank you..more” you say in a bit of a strict tone, writing down his answers. “Honey can we-“ you let out a long heavy sigh rolling your eyes again. “Elvis..I’m trying to help you enjoy your shows here can you help me figure out how to help you?” You huff putting your leg down as well as the paper bag and pen.

“I don’ think ‘m allowed to be switchin’ up the set list” he say’s looking up at you, his brows frowned upward. You mentally awe at the sight before reaching over and patting his cheek. “As your stage manager honey i allow you to switch up the songs..as for the people who run the way it goes in the musical part of it all..i changed the songs.” You chuckle giving him a smile.

“Maybe we can just..switch it up another day? ‘M tired an’ I just wanna go to bed” he says timidly leaning against your hand, you let out a softer sigh this time and nod.

“Okay E. Ill walk up to the room with you I need to go up there anyhow” you say pushing him back a bit with your foot and hopping off the vanity.

“You feel better being in your..clothes?” You ask the word ‘regular’ definitely not being the word to describe his style. “Much” he chuckles softly getting up and starting the walk with you up to the suite he was staying in.

“Do you get to bring lisa next tour? Or atleast get her when you get back home?” You ask missing her on your own accord but knowing he’d had to have been dying to see her after it being so long.

“Cilla ain’t called me to tell me yet..but i hope i can do both..she’d love the lights in Vegas an’ she likes car rides i wanna take her on a road trip” he said with heavy notes of hope in his voice. “If you get her when you get home you better call me, presley. If you don’t i’m whooping your ass.” You say half jokingly, you’d punch him so hard in his beautiful bicep if he didn’t tell you- in all honesty.

“Okay no need to threaten me..ya should get your head checked out..always threaten us guys..you’re a scary woman” he says with a laugh. You quirk a brow and punch his arm. “Hey! ‘M just bein’ honest..damn you’re provin’ my point” he hollers rubbing his arm in the area you punched it.

“You’re just weak” you say rolling your eyes at him and walking into his room. You head towards the coffee table grabbing the files of paper work you left in there and turning to see his chest mere inches from your face.

“Can i help you?” You ask looking up to his face. “I wanna know if ya can stay in here tonight..i don’..i don’ wanna be alone, i ain’t had a great day..” he trails off biting his lip with embarrassment as his ears turn a soft shade of red.

“Yeah sure E. Just get me a blanket i’ll stay on the couch.” You say softly, him shaking his head at you making you frown in confusion. “Stay in my bed please..i’d still be alone if ya slept in here.” His voice is a little shaky..almost like the boy was about to cry and you were the one who was going to make or break that barrier.

“Yeah..are you sure elvis? I can sleep on the floor or something” you suggest earning another head shake. “No my bed” he says his voice a little less shaky; you nod and turn around setting the file back to the table.

“Thats fine i need to go to my room and grab a-“ he shakes his head cutting you off. “No- no just..i got stuff ya can use..just stay an’ don’ leave i need ya here..i need ya everywhere..” he trails off again, making you frown in confusion again.

“Elvis..what do you mean?” You laugh a little making a face. “Baby ya know what i mean..i wanna be with ya, it would be a lot easier to see ya too..bein’ my stage manager i could see ya more then i seen cilla” he say, making a good point.

You look everywhere but his eyes, knowing you wanted this conversation to happen long ago when you were teenagers and you were very comically in-love, like a teen girl with elvis now days.

“Be with me? Elvis are you okay? Do you need to go to bed? Yeah, here come with me ill help you down” you say grabbing his hand leading him to the bedroom part of the suite. “No doll, i mean what i said. I wanna be with ya..forever” he confirms, pulling you back to him and wrapping his arms around you.

“I don’ think i ever wanted anythin’ more than you” he adds holding you to his chest and leaning his chin on the top of your head. The moment was sweet but you quickly pulled away to look at him making it short lived.

“Elvis i don’t think you’re thinking clearly. Me?” You ask earning a nod and smile. “I’ve loved ya since the day we got in that motorcycle accident, ya all scrapped up an’ still smilin’ it really got me turnin’ my head ya know?” He says with a laugh.

“ELVIS! That was 15 mother fucking years ago! You could have told at least a little sooner!?” You shout, mentally you were bouncing off walls just hearing him say he wanted to be with you and jackhammering off of them as he told you he loved you for 15 years.

15 years before

“Do ya wanna go ride around the block?” Elvis asks as you look over his new bike in amazement. “Do i?! Do you?” He chuckles at your response and gets on starting the bike up and nodding for you to get on.

You happily get on wrapping your arms around him and laying your head on his back, taking in the smell of his new leather jacket mixing with his cologne.

He drove down and WAY further than the block. Going somewhere you haven’t even been; even with touring and all. He went up what he called deadman’s turn, and of course going 40 and in the middle of the road a car turns the corner too, which he would have moved for but being the reason he called it deadman’s corner was because you couldn’t see no-one turning till it was too late.

He lucked out and swerved just nearly scraping the car, then apparently he unlucked out. Complete losing control of the steering and gasping a bit as the motorcycle rocked down throwing you and him off it before slamming into a tree completely totaling the bike.

He sits up and looks over himself a bit before snapping his head up and looking around for you remembering you on the back of the bike. You sit up and stand walking towards the bike completely unfazed by the road rash the cuts and the scraps all over you.

“Are ya okay honey?! Oh god mamas gonna kill me for hurtin’ ya..” he says looking over your face and wiping and blood off with his thumb. “Elvis im fine, are you? Your bike aint” you say pointing out the obvious.

“Yeah ‘m okay..an’..i think she could make it home” he says with laugh, looking to the bike. “I hope you weren’t expecting to pick up any girls with it..they only thing you’ll be picking up is a tow truck guy” you say half jokingly, because he’d really be getting a tow truck guy.

“Haha yeah” he says with a fake laugh, pulling you to him again just to recheck that you’re okay. “Elvis stop im fine” you chuckle swatting his hands away. “I know ‘m just checkin’ to see if it knocked a brain back in this hollow head of yours” he sasses, making the both of you laugh.

He laughed that gorgeous hiccupy laugh and nodded. “I didn’ mean to keep it from ya that long i was just scared i’d lose ya” he said, you very much would have stayed whether you loved him that way or not.

“You could just kiss me” you say a bit confused actually, on why he didn’t. Thats what he did with almost all his other girlfriends. Kissed them longingly in a private room chatting after and bam Elvis Presley had a new girlfriend.

He chuckles and nods, leaning his head down and pressing his lips to yours and oh god. You were in trouble. One taste of his lips was like a taste of…really really good steak that you wanted to eat every day, for 24 hours. They were addicting, and as soft as they looked, not dry or wet but just right.

The kiss itself was passionate and filled with nothing but love and affection for one another. It was everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

“Come lay with me..i just wanna be close to you..” he says pulling away and smiling down at you. You nod and go to the bed with him, crawling under the blankets and warping your arms around his shoulders as his face buries in the crook of your neck, his lips pressing softly kisses against your skin.

His legs tangling with yours as his soft and messy hair tickles at your jaw. This is all you every wanted and its all you’ll ever need. “I love you too” you say softly, realizing you hadn’t said it back.

“You do?” He mumbles against your neck. “I do..and I always will.. like i have.” You answer, bringing one of your hands up and messing with his hair, earning a satisfied hum from him as he leans his head against your touch.

“You’re my best girl..ya an’ lisa will always be my best girls..maybe one day ya can be her step mama” your brows shoot up as he mumbles. “Woah now there Presley. I have been your girlfriend a few minutes and you’re talking about marriage?” You ask with a chuckle moving your head a bit to press a kiss again his head.

“Lets save that talk for later” you add earning a chuckle and nod against your neck. “What songs do you like singing?” You ask deciding to give it another try, he lets out a sigh and pulls away laying on his back with a smirk.

“Ya killed the the mood” he says looking at you with his goofy smirk still on his lips, your lips part a bit as you push his shoulder. “I was just trying to help” you say before crawling up on his chest and wrapping your arms around him, laying your head against his big chest and listening to his heartbeat.

His arm going around you and his free hand going to your hair playing with it softly. “Your hair feels nice.” He says quietly. “Sing me a song” you say quite randomly making him chuckle. “What song?” He asks making you think.

“How about…here comes santa clause?” You ask. “Here comes- are ya in a Christmas mood?” He’s answers with a question, earning a nod from you. “Women its the middle of July” he laughs shaking his head. “Fine how about true love travels on a gravel road” you huff with a small pout.

“That i can do in the middle of july” he say with a chuckle, making you roll your eyes a bit. “You can sing Christmas songs too” you talk back earning a light swat on the back of the head. “Hey!” You holler making him laugh, his chest bouncing your head a bit. “Just sing asshole” you mumble.

“How many girls choose cotton dress worlds, when they can have satin and lace And stand by her man, never once letting shade touch her face How many hearts could live through all the winters We've known and still not be cold True love travels on a gravel road.” He sings to you softly, his hand gently running through your hair.

“Love is a stranger and hearts are in danger All through streets paved with gold For true love travels on a gravel road.

Down through the years we've had hard times and tears But they only helped our love grow And we'll stay together no matter how strong the wind blows Not once have I seen your blue eyes filled with envy Or stray from the one that you hold Oh true love travels on a gravel road.

Love is a stranger and hearts are in danger All through streets paved with gold For true love travels on a gravel road.

Yeah, true love travels on a gravel road. Mmmm True love travels on a gravel road. True love travels on a gravel road.” He softly finishes the song and leans his head up press a kiss to the top of your head like you did his earlier, hearing soft snores from you making him smile.

“Goodnight baby..” he says softly.

[faneliansficaloh]

A Lifetime of Happiness

(Ch 1) (Ch 2) (Ch 3) (Ch 4) (Ch 5) (Ch 6) (Ch 7) (Ch 8) (Ch 9) (Ch 10)

This is Chapter 11

Notes

----------

26 December 1817

Dear Penelope,

I am afraid that temperate weather, although good for one’s spirits in general, does not make for the spirit we generally associate with the Christmas season. It doesn’t feel right to have the need for open windows so the breeze can cool one off. We should be wearing our heavy winter coats and gloves. At least our cook has been kind enough to learn to bake a perfect plum pie. That woman can bake anything to perfection, she is a treasure.

We were served fish as the main course for Christmas eve dinner at Lord Thornton’s if you can believe it. Here the celebration for Christmas commences in earnest on the eve of it and reaches its apex at midnight. There were celebrations with fireworks going off at that time, which made it impossible for the children to remain in bed, in turn making them almost unbearably ill humoured through Christmas day. How is that even possible?

Mr. Finch has communicated the good news that your sister Phillipa is with child again. I wonder if the poor man has had a night of sleep in the last two years, I admire his dedication to his family but even in his letters he sounds like he could use a nap, be kind to him.

Amy wants to know what Abby’s favourite colour is, and to please tell her that hers is still yellow. Ollie, surprising no one has declared his to be blue. I have to applaud their constancy.

We all send our love to both of you.

Yours, Colin.

1815 – The First dance.

Her mother had been preoccupied as of late with getting her sisters to produce an heir for the Featherington title. It seemed there was a chance that if any of her daughters could birth a boy, the Featherington title would go to that child, somehow. Penelope did not care enough about that to give it much thought. She needed to concentrate on getting a husband. Primarily because she needed to forget about Colin for good, and secondarily because this Featherington title business had put her into the precarious possibility of having to live at the mercy of one of her sisters, not that living her life to support her mother in her older years was a thrilling prospect either.

She could not withstand that. She needed to be able to have her own home, hopefully a kind husband that would let her be on her own so she could continue to write, and maybe even her own children to shower with affection.

It had been easy to get her mother’s approval to go to the modiste on her own and pick her own garments, as it had been her own suggestion that she should get whatever she felt she needed to succeed. Genevive was simply thrilled at the prospect of having the opportunity to use her full talents to dress Penelope.

“Miss Penelope, I have been praying for this since you first made your debut. I have been so mortified letting you go out on those dreadful colours and such dowdy cuts your mother kept pushing for, but she is --”

“She is a force of nature, is she not?” she nodded knowingly.

“Oh, I am truly sorry, but she is the most difficult of all my clientele!”

“There is no need to apologize, I’ve lived with the woman all of my life. I think she means well, but she was not blessed with your eye for fashion. I am fully in your hands now, Madame. What do you recommend?”

Genevive smiled like she had been given a precious gift, eyeing her greedily.

“Oh, this is going to be so much fun, miss Penelope. We will make you shine!” Genevieve would make the most of this opportunity – Penelope was truly a blank page that she could work and make true art from – and it didn’t hurt that she had a full purse.

“Just – No yellows, please”

“Oh, no, not at all my dear”

And so, as Penelope entered Lady Danbury’s ballroom for the first ball of the season of 1815, she could feel the nervousness of revealing a new identity to the world. She had been overcome at seeing herself so changed when trying on this new dress. Genevive had picked the most gorgeous dark green shot silk and adjusted the cut of the dress to highlight her figure in an attractive way, which she had never been fully able to do before. Penelope had asked Rae to get rid of the ringlets in her hair and opted for softer waves instead.

She had felt very confident at home but now that she was exposed to the eyes of the ton, it was nerve wracking. She realized her ugly yellow dresses had served her as a kind of armour that, at least in her mind, made it so other people would look away without a second glance. But now people were staring and lingering, eyes were perusing her with interest, not immediately bored and cast away.

She gathered the courage to descend the steps as she caught Eloise’s smiling at her from the crowd, so with newfound resolution, she made her way on her own to the middle of the room, near the dance floor.

“Oh, Penelope looks lovely” Marina said, prompting Colin to turn around and look for her.

He had to swallow with some difficulty before responding “She does, that colour suits her very well. But why is no one with her?”

“She’s hardly a debutante now, Colin, I don’t think many introductions are required. And we’re surrounded by family everywhere shall the need arise”

He then saw men had approached her, which was probably why Eloise had delayed on her attempt to join her, the coward. Penelope had her back to him so he couldn’t see if she was happy or uncomfortable. People kept distracting him, expecting him to participate in conversation and he thought it best to do so, lest his staring became too obvious. He had a mind to go to her when he looked again and saw the men had left her alone, but Francesca was now with her, which was good. Next time he looked, Eloise finally joined them, but very soon a man took Francesca away for a dance so it was just the two of them now. He could put his mind at ease now, he knew Eloise would not leave her alone.

“Pen! You’ve made quite a stir! I see your friendship with Madame DelaCroix is paying off, that is a smashing dress.”

“She really outdid herself, didn’t she? But I was not prepared for all the staring, and I have botched every attempt at conversing with the gentlemen that approached me. It was beyond embarrassing”

“I’m afraid I cannot be much help there, Pen, I am not exactly known for my graceful demeanour. And being the scandalous woman that I am, I cannot help you attract suitors. In fact, are you sure you don’t mind being seen with me? I might be more of a deterrent”

“I don’t think anyone cares about your scandal by now, El. The lack of approaching suitors, not that you truly lament it, is because we are well known by now and the men are all too busy examining the newcomers.”

“All I can say is that you should not care so much what they think. If they do not understand you, then good riddance! You wouldn’t want to marry someone like that, anyway, I hope. But enough about men. Should we go get some refreshments? I saw an attractive selection of cold treats over the winter section, of all locations.”

“Where would you have them be?” She was amused at her nitpicking.

“Wouldn’t summer make more sense? If it were truly winter, would you care for lemon ice?”

“I suppose not, but I could go for one right now”

It was when they were looking at the cold treats that Lady Danbury called their names, making them turn back immediately, caught completely off guard.

“Good evening! Miss Penelope Featherington, Miss Eloise Bridgerton, allow me to introduce Lord Debling” She gestured towards the tall blond man that accompanied her. They both curtsied.

“Good evening!” both said in unison.

“I hope you are all enjoying yourselves”

“Of course, Lady Danbury, it is a truly splendid night!” Penelope answered with a tinge of nervousness fraying her voice.

“Very much, yes” Eloise was doing her best to control her instinct to flee.

“Lord Debling is finally joining us in London after a rather long hiatus. When was the last time you graced us with your presence, my Lord?”

His voice had a warm quality to it, but his tone was mirthful “I believe it was eight years ago, Lady Danbury. It has been very kind of you to still consider me worthy of an invitation.”

“As long as it doesn’t take you another decade to come back” The old woman teased.

“I cannot make any promises” There was a little spark in his clear blue eyes.

“Maybe someone else can persuade you, then” He chuckled softly, through closed lips that were surrounded by a full beard, which gave him an air of of solemnity, even when he was clearly amused.“Miss Bridgerton, would you be so kind as to accompany me? There is something I need to discuss with you” Penelope felt a rush of panic invading her. She would be left on her own with him.

“Beg your pardon?” Eloise, who had been fidgeting with her curricle quickly raised her eyes to look at Lady Danbury, completely taken by surprise.

“Come with me” Lady Danbury extended a hand to her, impatiently, giving her a significant look. Eloise was instantly relieved, even though she felt bad at abandoning Penelope like that.

“If you’ll excuse me, duty calls, apparently. Pleasure to meet you, Lord Debling” Once they were behind his back, Eloise turned around quickly and gestured to Penelope “I’m sorry!” and raising her fists encouragingly she gave her a pursed smile before walking away with Lady Danbury.

“Are you very close with Lady Danbury, my Lord?” Said Penelope, nervously, and regretting not having something more interesting to begin a conversation.

“Not really close, no. But she is held in very high regard in many circles, some of which we do have in common”

“Eight years seems like a rather long time to miss one of her famous events” It was very evident to her that he had not been keeping up with fashion. His attire seemed slightly behind the times, which was betrayed by the ruffles in the cuff of his shirt sleeves, as did his full beard. But he held himself confidently, so it was intriguing to her if he didn’t notice or just didn’t care about being fashionable at all.

“It is indeed a long time. I had just come back from Cambridge and my late father insisted at the time.”

“Oh, I’m sorry! About your father, not-- not about having to come here-- or about Cambridge, of course!” She laughed nervously and was starting to feel flustered, fearing that she might begin to fumble her words even further. Then a thought occurred to her. This man had not been around to witness her social failures in the last two years. He hadn’t seen her in her citrus, oddly shaped dresses. To him she had always been this version of herself. He didn’t know her, and it was as Eloise had said – if he didn’t like her, then what was truly lost?

“Thank you, it’s been a long time since his passing.” He shrugged almost imperceptibly.

“If the last time you were here was only at the behest of your father, what brings you back after this long?” He looked at her with a furrowed brow and then smiled

“I am assessing what London’s society has to offer”

She raised her eyebrows. “Ah! Well, as you can see” Said Penelope resolutely and to her own astonishment, completely in control of herself, as she turned to openly face the room and gesture sweepingly with her hand “We have a little of everything. Marriage eager mamas and their beautiful young charges, discerning gentlemen conversing about very important matters to be sure, music, dancing and surely you won’t find a more wonderful array of food and refreshments anywhere in the world.” A genial smile adorned her face.

“Hmm, truly, so many wonders! Anything you would recommend particularly?” He raised a brow, questioningly.

“If you are not hungry or thirsty, you should try dancing. Unless you’d rather join the musicians?” He laughed softly, clearly very amused.

“I’m afraid I did not bring my violin with me, so, would you do me the honour?”

She took the arm he was offering “Why, of course!”. She could not believe herself. She felt the rush that was usually reserved for the times she had haggled with merchants and printers for Whistledown, and she realized where her bout of confidence had come from.

As they positioned themselves for the dance she asked him, with genuine curiosity “Do you really play the violin, my Lord?”

“I do” He said as they started the quadrille.

Earlier, Colin had noted Anthony and Kate were dancing away, unbothered by anything around them, so evidently in love with each other, it was hard to imagine his brother had been intent on marrying her sister instead. He was happy for them, that they had been able to rectify their mistakes and enjoy their happiness together. Francesca was also dancing now, although she did not look as blessedly happy. Lady Featherington was talking with Lady Cowper and her friends, Phillipa and Prudence were with their husbands picking food... and Eloise was coming his way arm in arm with Lady Danbury herself, so that meant that unless Benedict… no, Benedict was talking to Fife. There was an unknown man talking with Penelope on the far side of the ballroom.

“Thank you for walking with me, Miss Bridgerton. I shall leave you in the company of your family” Colin was clearly not paying attention so she addressed him directly “Is everything alright, Mr. Bridgerton?”

“Oh, yes quite alright” he said, startled.

“He’s probably just wondering who that gentleman is, talking to Miss Featherington” Said Marina with what seemed to be an amused smile.

“Oh, yes. That would be Lord Debling, I just introduced them.” She seemed rather pleased with herself

“Oh, that’s wonderful! I heard he is looking to take a wife this season” Violet’s enthusiasm was incredibly offensive to Colin.

“He is, he has told me so himself. I think Miss Featherington would be a very good match. He’s of a scientific mind, rather reserved, but he has a quick wit and a good head on his shoulders. He does have a peculiar interest in nature, but nothing objectionable”

“He’s rather handsome, too” Marina interjected

“What a paragon of virtue!” Said Colin, sardonically.

“Not as handsome as you, of course, my dear husband” He forced a smile at her sarcasm.

“Oh, they’re going to the dance floor!” Violet was as excited as if it were Eloise dancing with the man. Colin looked for Lady Featherington and she also seemed delighted, but he could swear even she wasn’t as excited as his own mother.

Eloise was puzzled by all the excitement surrounding this man’s interest in Penelope. She would have been utterly disgusted but the truth was she was also invested, as she knew marriage was something Penelope wanted, as much as she could not understand it.

“Well, we shall see if Penelope even likes the man before sending out the wedding invitations, shall we?” was all she could say.

Colin had never liked his sister so much as he did in that moment. “Finally, some sense!”

“Heavens, of course!” Violet chuckled.

“You’ll have to excuse me, I need to go back to our Queen now. Please enjoy yourselves!” and then in not-quite-secret asked Violet “Let me know how it goes” Lady Danbury then retired from the group.

“We must go home now” Colin said, looking at his watch “I have to be at the ministry early tomorrow” He and Marina said their goodbyes and left. As they reached the top of the stairs, Colin fought the urge to look back at the dance floor, but he could not help himself. Penelope was smiling, she looked radiant, happy. He made haste and left, Marina following him closely, not missing out on his behaviour.

“Eloise, since Penelope might not be as available to you this season, you might want to expand your circle of friends a little? I’m sure the other young ladies also have something to offer”

“Must I, mother?” Eloise had not had much luck so far, making conversation with other young women in the ton. Most of them seemed to be entirely focused on marriage and what she considered to be trivial endeavours or accomplishments that she saw with disdain. But – she thought – what if Penelope kept getting asked to dance and suddenly did not have time for her? She would be stuck hovering around her siblings and her mother. And her siblings were not reliable company either. Francesca was also intent in marrying and already, on her very first ball, had been dancing or surrounded by men practically since they got there. Benedict was hiding away most of the time, he would not stick around her since she was an attention magnet for their mother. Anthony was besotted with his new wife – who she liked very much but who was just as besotted with her brother, and Colin came in a bundle with his wife these days as well, but she did not like Marina at all.

“Please make an effort at least?”

“Very well. I will go take a turn about to see if I catch a friend or two, then”

As she was walking to a group of ladies, she noticed the dance had ended and Penelope was now free, so she corrected course, but was still able to catch the voice of Cressida Cowper as she passed by her.

“Yes, well the dress might be beautiful, it is only a shame it is wasted on her. He must have taken pity on her”

Eloise stopped and looked at her. It was evident as the group of ladies were looking at Penelope, that she was referring to her, so she turned back entirely to confront her.

“Do you really feel that threatened by Penelope, Cressida, that you have to resort to talking about her this cruelly? It is no wonder you have no real friends” Cressida gave her an incredulous offended, sweeping look as the other ladies fled away from the scene. “See? No one is willing to stand for you”

“Oh, because you’re surrounded by friends? There is a reason why only Penelope hovers around you”

“Of course, because I’m a delight!” She then turned back around to go to Penelope but she could still hear what Cressida added

“More likely your brothers” Eloise just kept walking away.

Cressida might not be considered clever in an intellectual level by anyone who had met her, but she always knew how to hurt people. It was an instinct very well honed, Eloise thought. They hardly ever exchanged words but here she had still managed to touch a sensitive fibre. Ever since Penelope had revealed to her that she was Whistledown, Eloise had wondered why she had felt the need to conceal it from her so called best friend. Did Penelope not consider her a true, reliable friend? Maybe she just saw her as a means to spend time with Colin? Wasn’t it odd that neither of them had any other friends outside her own family? But that wasn’t true, Eloise knew Penelope had a friendship with Madam DelaCroix now.

“So, how did it go?” She asked Penelope as soon as she reached her.

“Were you talking to Cressida?” She was intrigued.

“Pay no attention to that. Tell me”

“I did enjoy dancing, even though I was very nervous, I managed not to step on him. You will be proud to know that I followed your advise and tried not to care what he would think of me too much.”

“Oh, good!” She was genuinely glad.

“I was surprised Lady Danbury went to the trouble for me”

“She was rather invested, let me tell you. Everyone in our group was talking about you and Lord Debling”

“Is there really nothing more interesting going on?” she scrunched her nose.

“It seems we all find you very interesting tonight, Pen. Lady Whistledown will have to talk about your success, for once”

“Eloise!”

“She has to be kind to you for once! And not the pitiful type of kindness either”

Penelope gave her an admonishing look but then smiled. “Oh, alright, but it cannot be all self-serving, either.” She had to accept that she was doing rather well that night, all things considered.

“I am a very good friend, aren’t I?”

“Of course you are! Now it can’t all be about me, so we better move around”

Cressida could eat a lemon and choke on it, Eloise thought, with a smug smile on her face.

***

Marina had grown suspicious of Colin’s sullen behaviour but she waited until they were back in their home on Doughty street to say something, using the ride home to consider if she should say anything at all.

They were walking towards the stairs, Colin following behind her, when she finally asked him “For that you dragged me out tonight? Why did you even want to go if we were to leave so soon?”

“Lady Danbury is a very powerful woman, Marina, we should be in her good graces. And I did not drag you, you could have stayed if you wanted.”

She stopped suddenly, just at the bottom of the staircase, turning around and causing him to halt suddenly, almost crashing into her. She was blocking his way and put her hands on his chest, looking up at his eyes, lips half parted, teasing, perhaps offering a kiss.

He was taken aback “What are you doing?”

“I thought perhaps you would like to come with me into my room tonight” She reached out to touch his face but he recoiled, removing her hands with his.

“It’s too late.” He motioned with his hand for her to move “I’m going to sleep, good night.”

“Good night” she utttered coldly, worry in her face.

That night neither of them could sleep thinking of Penelope. Marina fearing she would lose everything to her and Colin thinking how he had always taken her presence for granted and was now in danger of losing her forever.

Chapter 12

[poessiblyfedya]

welcome to anastasia's 2024 mutual appreciation !

it's this time of year where i love to appreciate the hell out of my mutual babes n' sweethearts ! if you are not here , i do these yearly so . . maybe next year ?

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ heia | @heiayen

“just write im cool and pretty and thats it ill be happy” — heia 25/11/24

yeah. so about that? you knew i wouldn't do that. i mean i kinda did! anyways, hi heia! my little dove, my wife, baby, darling, angel, woah... we've mentioned it a lot recently but how have we only known each other just over a year? it feels way longer. i can't even begin to find the words to express how much you appreciate to me, there's physically not enough words between the three languages we speak together.

zakochałam się w tobie. je t’aimerai jusqu’à mon dernier souffle.

this stupid friendship started with you hiding in my inbox sending me raccoon memes and our weird psychic ability to respond to each other at the same time (this has not changed, huh) and now look! you were super brave and came to my dms. and i've not let you leave. bonus: you're not allowed to leave. i love you! you've dealt with me daily for so long now that i genuinely do not know what i'd do without you! you are cemented down as such a significant part of my life and i truly wish i could babble on and on about how much you mean to me.

from haikyuu brainrot (i love you and your stupid middle blockers) to doublechecking my polish with you to sending tiktoks and reels to looking for your initials and that one time i threatened to invade poland. all the times you've done the math to see if you'll be awake when i'm out from the cinema, all the ootds you've given me before class and the train and taking me to the kitchen with you. god knew we'd be too powerful together (read: ana would be too clingy) so he had to separate us.

thank you for literally everything this year. you've listened to so much of my crap and you're still by my side. i can't wait to spend another year with you!!

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ isa | @stopisa

it's isa's turn to receive my endless love and affection! where to start... we talk daily now, huh? it's actually really crazy to think we only met this year - and that we're the same age, shhh, you always seem so much older than me. you've made such a big impact on my life in such a short amount of time and i'd like to thank you personally for every single moment of every single day that you've dealt with me!

you're my personal ushi, dabi & choso girlie and i just know they love you soooo much in their individual ways (staring at you, touya...) and you know what, i love you so much and the content i get of your selfships! i know you wasn't very confident with them and i'm so proud of how much i get to talk to you about them. i love all your sillies and you!! so so so much !! you're never getting rid of me even if you are EVIL (please never get rid of me)

and on top of that, thank you so much for everything you do for me. you've been so supportive of everything, the network, my selfships, my art... you are such an important person in my life. you listen to everything and you don't judge and that's crazy. i love you. woah. i'm really struggling to put my feelings for how much i appreciate you into words right now. i'm gonna blabber in your dms later instead. happy new year, let's see how many thots i can send you in 2025!!!

oh and thank you for lowkey being the reason i put my septum jewellery back in!!

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ raine | @lyraea

elmo stares at you from across the room. hello there. fancy seeing you here... 2024 ~~and 2023~~ was not our year but... shhh.. you're here again. it's actually unbelievable how long we've known each other now. every day i seem to think back on how we met; you really were one of my anons, huh... i may have long abandoned that blog and moved away from writing kpop fanfictions but i took you with me - and according to our god awful habits, you're stuck with me.

no matter what happens, you're on my mind and all the amazing moments we've had together. the numerous stardew farms (oh look, my favourite harvey-coffee-feeder), having to teach you how to play overwatch on a switch (how did you manage), the various photos we took of kinich and mualani going idle, fucking around as saurians, being a damn magpie in your world- god, even the matching profile pictures.

things may have been rocky and hopefully they smooth you but you'll always be my yae miko. oh and let's not forget how much i loooove the kitties! nova, my sweet queen, i will continue to worship you throughout 2025. you, you silly goose, will always be cherished so dear and close to my heart, no matter where things go. even when you're not here, you're on my mind and i think that says a lot (that you need to stop haunting me, hello????)

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ miya | @kokonoiis

is that.. my baby? my sweet baby? oh my god. it is! we do not talk nowhere near as much as i'd like to, as for a lot of the following mutuals on this post as compared to the first three but i hope in 2025 we can! you've seen me experience some emotions... and we've bullied takemichi together (oh my god, he's a wet wipe) and i've had the joy of witnessing you start l&ds!! hello there, little zayne girlie, do i need to write a few doctor pieces? me thinks soooo..

you're yet again another angel that i only met this year. you're so prominent to me like hello? i'm in your discord about me? sobbing?? such a pretty baby... notices me... drops dead!! you deserve the world, you are so unbelievably sweet to anyone and everyone and i really don't think i've seen you angry? chat we have to protect this one at all costs.

next year, i'll be haunting your dms constantly, inescapable. good luck, soldier, kazuana is coming for you!

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ ying | @mlkbwunnies

hello sweet little miss ying!! it's hard to write for someone i'm slightly intimidated of, i don't think i'll ever truly get past being intimidated by you. maybe it's just how amazing and adorable you are! you truly are a light in every community you step foot in and i'd personally like to take the time to appreciate everything you do for the tumblr community. you're always so inclusive of everyone, spreading warmth and joy even if i'm too scared and nervous to actually participate in things.

my goal for 2024 was actually to talk to you more but i've been severely lacking on interaction with everyone as a whole so i already failed the resolution - i really hope that next year is different because i cherish every moment i get to spend with you, you're just so.... loving and positive?! it's contagious how much your love just... spreads! it's actually pretty crazy that the thing that brought us a tad closer was some anon accusing me of copying your network. that was a wild ride...

i hope that 2025 is kinder to you and that you stop getting spun around in the washing machine of life because if anyone deserves recognition and soft love from their mere existence, it's you!

ʚɞ ⁺˖ ⸝⸝ winter | @vxnusorbit

winnie!! my little winnie!! my sweet winnie!! my little sister!! that's you?! that's craaaazy!!! a little birdy told me that 2024 wasn't exactly kind to you, just another angel who got spun in the washing machine... sadge. i really, really hope that 2025 is kinder to you so that we get a break from angst, you're putting the genshin characters through hell in my retirement from writing...

we don't talk as much as we used to but we've known each other for over a year now too! you've always been so supportive of anything and everything i do and your genshin signature still makes me giggle every time i'm in my friends list (truly.. what a poet she is...) even if you are a littleee bit of a demon - i literally do not know this lyney you speak of...

see you next year, darling! unfortunately, regardless of how little we may get to speak now, you are inevitably stuck with me. crazy! one day, we're gonna gossip in french and have croissants and truly admire how stupid parisians are. mwah!

finally, our participation award... here is a pat on the back and a cookie. i'd love to fill this with paragraphs humiliating you all publicly so come be freaky in dms with me so i can see the downfall of your dignity /j (read: here's a taglist of everyone i have been thankful for knowing in this past year, who i wish the best for come this new year. hopefully next year comes with more chances to communicate with one another!)

@qichun @tetsuskei @reonaissance @fictionfordays @inazuman @prime-adeptus + noir & the entirety of the seabreeze street network for their darling support and questionable conversations.

[renlyslittlerose]

Last week was the one year anniversary of me posting my first obikin fic, and over the last year being a part of the fandom has brought me so much joy and happiness and enthusiasm once again. Some of you knew me before 2019 and were aware that I was working on my Masters in the Classics, which included a massive thesis. While working on the thesis I was also working part-time at the museum, as well as battling a few chronic illnesses - some of which still affect me today - all of which drained me physically and emotionally. When I had finished my thesis and graduated from the program I was well and truly burnt out. 

 2020 was rough for everyone, and I was contented to just exist without doing much of anything that could be seen as creatively productive. But then 2020 came and passed and I thought maybe I should get back on the saddle, and started working on my own original story. I fell off of social media, didn’t interact in fandom, and tried to grind out a story that wasn’t working like I had hoped it would. 2021 and I still wasn’t ‘feeling it’; I had gone from writing about 1-2k words a day to 500 words a week - if I was lucky. A part of me wondered if I was tapped out for good, that I didn’t have it in me anymore, and that my thesis was my last creative outlet - my last hooray.  I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but when you go from creating almost every day since you were sixteen years old, to suddenly believe that the well has run dry is terrifying. Maybe I was done for good - maybe I wouldn’t create something I was proud of.

And then Kenobi came out. I was a massive prequels fan since I was nine years old and the Phantom Menace came out, and an even bigger Darth Vader fan, but I had never interacted with the fandom in any meaningful way. I was contented to just watch the films and the shows and leave it at that. But as I was watching I had the epiphany that Obi-Wan and Anakin were actually ~roommates all along. I started reading obikin fic, came back on tumblr to see what sort of fandom there was, and suddenly found myself with ideas again, and a desire to create something. 

So I wrote my first fic ‘Sacred to the Gods’ based off of a thesis I wrote during my undergrad about the psychology of a Greek demigod. It took me about a week to write, but in that time I had a lot of fun - the words started to come more easily, the vibes were there, and the passion was slowly but surely returning. One fic turned into another, and then another, and suddenly I had written two multi-chaptered long-form fics, some shorter multi-chaptered ones, and a bunch of oneshots, all about our favourite duo. 

And in the that span of time, not only was I able to rediscover my passion for writing and feel inspired again, but I met so many amazing, incredible, kind, passionate, creative people who welcomed me with open arms. I was used to fandom being sort of a gate-keepy thing, where if you were the new kid in town it would take you a while to work your way into any circles. But it didn’t happen with this fandom. I went up to a few people, held out my macaroni art, and was overjoyed to see them take it and immediately put it up on their fridge.

There are a lot of people I want to thank, and I should thank, from those who read my stuff, those who send me asks on tumblr, those who bookmark and kudos and comment, and those who followed me, but there isn’t any space to do all that. So I hope that a general ‘THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU’ will suffice. Thank you for giving me my passion back, thank you for supporting me, thank you for being an awesome community that has it’s issues, but still cares deeply about the art they’re creating, and who care about fostering a community. 

However, there are a few people I would specifically like to address, because I don’t think this post would be complete without you. I’ll put it behind a cut because this post is already cumbersome:

@bi-wan || My beloved! You were the first person to follow me on tumblr after reading one of my fanfictions, and the first to reach out to me to be my friend. Thank you for reaching your hand out to me and dragging me into the fold. Because of you I’ve made so many good friends who I treasure dearly - including you. 🥰

@ragnarlothcat || I feel like you and Cam are a packaged deal, and so I thank you for being curious about me and checking out my work, and for allowing me to occupy both you and Cam’s comfy little raccoon haven. You’re so supportive, and your work was some of the first I read in the fandom which truly secured my desire to be a part of it. Thank you 💖

@intermundia || I’ve told you this before, but you were the first person I approached in the fandom when I decided I wanted to dip my toes into the experience, and your warmth and welcoming nature secured my desires to be a part of this group. The fact that you support my stories and are so passionate about it really fuels my desires to keep creating (as well as feeding my ego). Thank you for being such a good presence in the fandom.👑

@theseptemberist || I have a feeling that Will told you about me, and I am so glad that he did because we’ve struck up such a friendship that I can’t see myself without. Our chats on discord over the past few months have been wonderful in so many ways that are too innumerous to say here. Thank you for sharing your heart, and for being so kind and empathetic. And thank you for sharing your encyclopedic knowledge of fandom tea ☕

@unspuncreature || Just like Rag and Cam come as a team, you and Cal (and Wren, even though I’ve never spoken to her but feel like I know her) are the trio that delight and entertain. Thank you for your brilliant art and creativity, thank you for letting me bounce all my ideas off of you, and thank you for collaborating with me. You’re brilliant 💗

@kyberkenobi || Beyond the fact that your filthy brain inspires me and delights me, and the fact that you’re willing to goed me on when I come up with something that’s delightfully nasty, your maturity when it comes to fandom is refreshing. At the threat of sounding like a proud grandma, you’re still so young and yet you’ve got a lot of shit figured out - most importantly, that fandom is supposed to be for fun and write what you want to write. Can’t wait for us to finally collaborate one of these days 💕

@dininginspace || What can I say? You’re a delight, you’re incredibly funny, you’re kind and understanding, and you’re the best cheerleader a loser like me could ask for. The fact that you jumped on the Buffy bandwagon when I drove by on it secures you as one of my favourite people. Thank you so much for your early and continued support 🧛‍♂️

@nuandia || Thank you for chatting with me all the time; keep up your writing, it’s brilliant and worth it, even if you doubt it sometimes. 💖

@grapenehifics || I had just finished watching MASH when you commented on Moonlight Serenade. The noise I made when I saw your username, followed by the continued joy I get whenever I see you on my dash or in my inbox, or when I see you’ve posted something new for the world to enjoy. 🧡

@palfriendpatine66 || You’re a delight. You’ve got things figured out, and how you can write so much with the life you’ve got is incredible. Keep going - you’re a gem. 💎

@binaryeclipse || Love chatting with you on discord, and being able to throw out random things about Canada into the chat that doesn’t need explaining - you just get it. Especially when it comes to Alberta politics. It doesn’t always feel like a safe space out there when you’re an Albertan who loves her province but also hates so many things about it, but you make me feel as if I can be a contradictory mess and still feel as if I belong in Canada. Your muse will come back soon, I trust in this ✨

@treescape || Your work is sublime and an inspiration. I read your fics first when I went hunting for things to read, and was immediately captivated. When you followed me back and weren’t at all weirded out by me bounding over to you like an excitable golden retriever, I was very grateful - I am very grateful. Can’t wait to see what you create next. 💛

@starsdies || Thank you for listening to me; thank you for being so inspiring; thank you for helping with community events and exchanges. And thank you for streaming The Last of Us for me because I’m too cheap to buy HBO Max. 🙏

@tessiete || You fact-checked the details I put into Moonlight and all I can say is THANK YOU. Sometimes I feel like I’m getting too lost in the details, but its people like you who google that shit that makes me feel good about my obsessions. 🌸

[toujokaname]

Mischief / Episode 1

Characters: Rinne, HiMERU, Kohaku, Niki

"But it's kinda creepy... Bein' loved or hated by folks I don't even know, in places I ain't never heard of. Guess that's just what bein' an idol's all about, huh?"

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[ Read on my site for a better viewing experience using Ois~su ♪ ]

Season: Spring

Location: Café Cinnamon

Rinne: Yo, yo~♪

Still as cozy as ever, huh? You PBB lovebirds! Shoutout to the most lovey-dovey couple of the year! Gyahahahaha! ☆

HiMERU: It's really quite the talent how you've mastered the art of making others feel so uncomfortable the instant you open your mouth.

Rinne: Haah? I'm praising you, so rejoice, will ya? Thanks to you two, Crazy:B's having a once-in-a-lifetime jackpot streak!

C'mon, look at my phone! The notifications just won't stop dinging!

HiMERU: Is it because you're getting canceled again?

Rinne: No waaay, I've already been locked outta all my accounts 'cause I kept getting canceled.

These notifs? They're job offers for us.

People're begging for Crazy:B to show up on their shows, movies, interviews, photoshoots—

The offers are rollin' in like cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-chiiing!

Kohaku: Wow, sounds just like one of those pachinko machines.

Rinne: Pretty much what it feels like! It's not every day you get to cash in this big, right?

Though honestly, part of me's thinking, "What's goin' on all of a sudden? This is creepy as hell."

Not so long ago, everyone was like, "Crazy:B's gotta die!" Hated our guts, wouldn't give us any gigs—remember?

Niki: Nom, nom, nom... Maybe the public's finally recognizing all the hard work we put in last year?

Kohaku: I was wonderin' why you'd been so quiet after comin' in with Rinne-han. You're eatin' again, Niki-han...?

Niki: I've gotta eat all the time! Or I'll die!

Kohaku: So you've already got the lifestyle of an insect or somethin'.

Niki: Anyway, I don't really get it, but isn't more work a good thing? Maybe it's 'cause our latest Matrix got good reviews?

Rinne: They haven't even aired all the episodes yet. The reviews aren't bad, but y'know, people keep saying, "Well, considering it's Akan-san’s project..." It's basically just like that.

Niki: Hmm... We worked our butts off for that, so I hope it ends up with a good rep. It'd make our struggles feel a little more rewarded.

Rinne: Well, it's rare for stuff like karmic retribution to happen in society. It's always been the case that ill weeds grow apace, while good people get screwed over. Life's a piece of shit like that.

HiMERU: Those words carry a certain weight coming from you, Amagi.

Rinne: So yeah, this time around, it's best to think of it as just dumb luck.

HiMERU: Meaning?

Rinne: Meaning that it ain't like we worked our asses off, poured blood, sweat and tears into doing our best, and got rewarded for being earnest.

It's like tripping over a winning lottery ticket.

If you start seeing causality in that, next thing you know, you'll end up like me—acting all unnaturally nice to everyone before hitting the pachinko parlor, and creeping people out.

That's just me tryna stack up some good karma, hoping for a fat payoff in return.

It ain't like I got reincarnated as a kind-hearted, good person.

Niki: Wow, I don't get it when you use pachinko analogies! Sooo, toss in a food metaphor for me to chew on instead!

Rinne: Mm, but if we start on food, we'll get sidetracked. Y'know how when you're feeling happy, food often tastes better? There's a sort of cause-and-effect relationship, yeah?

HiMERU: —In short, what you're trying to say is, "this is just a fluke, so don't get too carried away."

Rinne: Yup, bingo! ♪ Maaan, it's always a relief how good at comprehension you are, Merumeru!

HiMERU: That's because there's always a very incomprehensible person nearby. Constantly.

However, it seems like this PBB thing really has become a big deal...

Since it's all happening online, it's easy to feel like it doesn't actually affect reality.

Rinne: Well, it ain't like the internet's some kinda isekai, y'know. It's connected to reality, no doubt about it.

And aren't there a lotta people these days who feel like the internet's more real than reality?

Kohaku: Uh. So, we're talkin' about how Crazy:B's gettin' a buncha jobs, and it's all 'cause of this PBB thing?

Rinne: I dunno what else could've caused it. All the requests are like, "we want HiMERU-kun and Oukawa-kun, the super popular PBB, on our show," and stuff like that.

Kohaku: We're really that popular... Me and HiMERU-han, huh...

Hmm, I guess that... I'm right pleased folks love me and all, but not knowin' why makes me kinda uneasy.

Niki: Not gonna lie, it's none of my business, so I don't really care~♪

Rinne: Me neither~♪

Kohaku: These guys... Well, I guess if we're gettin' more work and it's all good stuff, I don't really got any complaints.

But it's kinda creepy... Bein' loved or hated by folks I don't even know, in places I ain't never heard of.

Guess that's just what bein' an idol's all about, huh?

[ ☆ ]

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