#Not actually related to autumn but pretty autumn colours

[aphroditeslover11]

I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, hoping to be kissed

Jonathon Crane x Reader

Sorry, this took me a while and it's pretty out of character but it was fun to write. I usually write in second person but did this for a change. It's based on another 'Love Actually' quote as well, because why not?!

Requests are still open so please ask. I do a lot of music related stuff, so the Christmas season is manic but the bulk of my work is over now, so I should be able to get back to writing now!

Love you all, thanks for reading and please interact! 💜

Warnings: mentions of alcohol, talk of divorce, age gap, cheesy fluff

There had always been something about Jonathon Crane. He was my dad’s best friend, a psychopharmacologist that worked closely with him. When I was younger he had been my first port of call whenever I needed advice, I had stayed with him when my parents were going through a messy divorce and he had always been a shoulder to cry on. When he realised the true extent of my problems he had offered me counselling and when I refused because I didn’t want my parents to find out he had offered it to me for free. There was very little left about me that I didn’t know. In turn, he had told me a lot about himself - the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his father and stories about the time that he spent working at the asylum. 

Everything changed when the divorce was over though. I went to lie with my mum full time and never saw him anymore, I texted him a lot to start with but my need to communicate diminished the longer we were apart. Then I hit the age of 18 and finished my exams, passing with flying colours and choosing to go and study at university. I turned 19 the autumn that I moved away and everything finally felt as if it was in the past. My parents were no longer as big a part of my life as they once had been, therefore neither was Jonathon.

It was the first December since I had left my mum’s house, I had decided that I was going to spend Christmas with my dad - just a quiet one the pair of after I hadn’t seen him for so long. I had left halls earlier in the month and returned home. I didn’t have a job here or anything so I had to spend the lead-up to Christmas in the house on my own whilst my dad was still working. It was three days before Christmas and I had gone out to do the massive food shop that always comes with the season, I was just unpacking the bags when there was a knock on the door. I thought it was probably somebody delivering a parcel, but was happily surprised when I opened it to find Crane. From the look on his face he was feeling the same.

“Jonathon, my god, I haven’t seen you in years. How are you?” I moved to allow him to come inside.

“I’m not too bad, how about you? My god you look so different now.” It was then that I spotted a gash on the side of his face, grooving across his perfect cheekbone.

“What happened, are you alright?” He looked bemused for a moment before reaching a hand to his face, there was blood still on it when he took it away.

“Oh, that… It was one of the patients at Arkham, had a break when I was in a room along with him. I’m fine, honestly.”

“At least let me get you something to patch it up with. You’re bleeding.” He looked a little awkward, only agreeing when he realised that I was worried about him. He probably hated the idea of upsetting me after everything we had discussed over the weekend.

A few minutes later I had found him a plaster, putting the kettle on for a cup of tea and sitting down at the kitchen table to catch up. He was interested in my studies, very apologetic about the divorce and assured you that if I needed anything whilst I was in town he was just a call away. I found out that he had moved up in the world, now the psychology lead at Arkham and lecturing part time at the university as well. He had left not too long later, but only after I had asked him to come over on Christmas Eve for dinner. It would be like old time, spending an evening with him and my Dad, probably watching die hard and laughing at them when they drank a glass too many of scotch. 

~

Christmas Eve arrived, and with it came a small disaster. My dad had been called away for work urgently and was going to be away over Christmas, meaning that I was left to spend it alone. The dinner had been cancelled and with it all of my company for the festive season. I wasn’t planning on celebrating now, moping around and making a ready meal before settling down to watch ‘The Holiday’ with a glass of wine. I had just made myself comfortable when there was a knock on the door. “For fuck’s sake,” I thought, “I just want to get this bloody depressing evening over with.”

I answered the door, with a scowl, only to find my spurned dinner guest behind it.

“Jonathon, I thought I told you that Dad was away over Christmas, I cancelled dinner and everything.”

“I got your message. I was going to be alone for Christmas Eve as well, so I figured that we could be alone together, or something like that. Don’t worry about dinner, I’ve booked a place. I want this evening to be easy for you, just relax, God knows that you deserve after the last few years.” 

It was then that I realised he was wearing a suit - a nicely tailored navy blue rather than the somewhat stuffy ones that he wore for work. In his hand was a bouquet of flowers, which he seemed to have forgotten.

“Jon, you brought me flowers?” He thrust them forwards then. “White roses, my…”

“…Your favourite.” He awkwardly interrupted, finishing my sentence. I gestured him inside, going to put the flowers in a vase.

“I’ll go and get ready then, make yourself at home and I’ll be as fast as I can.”

~

Half an hour later I was down the stair in a black dress and heels, hair haphazardly pinned up in a tumble of curls and makeup done. Jonathon emerged from the lounge, taking his coat off the peg and getting ready to go.

“Shall we then, the restaurant isn’t far so I thought we could walk.”

He was right, it wasn’t far at all and we were soon seated at a table. This place was more expensive than I was used to and we were half way through the main when I mentioned it.

“I’m not sure I can half this bill with you Jon, I’m a broke student.” He just chuckled good-naturedly in response.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s on me. It’s Christmas and I thought it would be a nice treat for both of us.”

“You sure?”

“I’m positive, since the new job I’ve been making a little more than I can spend on myself without feeling guilty.”

“How’s it going? Do you enjoy working at Arkham? And you lecture as well, right?” He hesitated before responding.

“I like my work at the asylum, it’s fascinating and there is such a rich body of patients to observe. Lecturing I don’t like quite so much, my students are a pain, none of them actually seem interested in the subject. If an assignment is handed in on time it’s a novelty for me. How are you finding university?”

“I can’t say I’m loving it, I haven’t made many friends really and the lecturers are a bit dull. I just wish that there was someone there I knew, that I could talk to.”

“Give it a bit more time, but if things aren’t working out you could always transfer to Gotham. It’s not the safest place in the world, or cheap, but the university is good. I can put a word in if you like, you can even stay with me for a while, give you a chance to get on your feet.”

“That’s really kind of you Jon, I’ll definitely think about it.”

At the end of the evening Jonathon paid as he had promised, refusing to even let me see the bill. When we stood from our seats he held out his coat to me, helping me to slip my arms through the too-long sleeves.

“Here, you’ll need it more than me.”

“Are you sure you won’t be cold.”

“I’ll be fine.” He proffered an arm to me as well, which he didn’t on the way there. He could tell I wasn’t used to this sort of treatment, but he had become more instinctually protective as the evening went on and couldn’t help himself.

“You’ve had a few glasses of wine, I want to make sure that you’re steady. Can’t have you falling on the way back.” I slipped my hand through the crook of his left elbow, automatically bringing me closer to his warm body. 

“You know, you are so much more grown up than when I last met you. You were a girl when you left and came back a well-rounded, compassionate woman. You should be proud of yourself for how you’ve turned out.”

“Well, you haven’t changed at all Dr Crane. Always were and still are wonderful to me.”

The little exchanged stopped shortly after that and we carried on the walk in comfortable silence. A small amount of snow had started to dust the ground, starting to visibly settle just as we reached the front door.  I stopped to retrieve the key out of my bag and fumbled with the lock before Jon put his hand on mine, stopping me. He looked up, signalling me to do the same. Above us a single sprig of mistletoe was hung on the doorframe.

“It would be a shame to waste the opportunity, don’t you think?”

“Are you sure? I mean, it isn’t that I don’t want to, but you’re my dad’s best friend. Are you sure it isn’t wrong?”

“Well, I want to kiss you and you want to be kissed, what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing I suppose.”

“Well then, I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, hoping to be kissed.”

With that I reached up to him, bringing my lips to his in a passionate yet gentle kiss as he engulfed me in his arms. At that moment I could tell that, despite what I had originally thought, this was going to be a truly magical Christmas.

[emilystheories]

Hi, I wanted to say I love reading your theories and how well thought out they are. Perhaps I missed it, but I’m curious to know if you think there’s a chance some of the Dusk Court/Starborn powers may actually be present in the Day Court (Helion and Feyre’s glowing and seemingly light related powers, the Pegasus belonging to the Day Court currently). I’m asking as I thought this might be another reason why Elain’s book is so connected to CC, through her connection with Lucien (I’m not necessery reffering to it shipping wise, just to the fact that they are two characters whose stories intertwine).

Hi my friend! Thank you so much for the kind words! :)

I don't necessarily have any concrete answers/theories for you, but I definitely agree that Helion/Day Court and the Starborn are connected in some way.

For example:

There's pretty solid evidence to suggest that the Horn in Bryce's back is the 4th Dread Trove item, and that her Starborn ancestors also wielded the Horn (and the other Dread Trove items). Then in ACOSF, Helion looks at the mask (another Dread Trove item) and backs away from it, suggesting that his ancestor wore it (and that it didn't end well?) That's very curious...

Theia was the Starborn Queen, who had two daughters. In Greek mythology, Theia was a goddess who also had two daughters (Selene and Eos), but then also had a son - Helios, who was the God and personification of the sun.

Even the fact that Lucien, Helion's son, has similar hair/eye colouring to Bryce, and there's obviously a connection between the Autumn King in CC (who has fire power) and the Autumn Court.

It's all so strange! But definitely not a coincidence...

[emeritus-fuckers]

Hello there! I would like to take part in the match-up event and I'd like to be matched with a Papa ♡

I'm a bisexual genderfluid person (my preferred pronouns are she/they, but I'm fine with anything really), I'm [in Terzo's voice] a little bit-uh... short (I'm 5'2 / 1.58 m) and I have an average body shape, I guess. I have shoulder lenght wavy dark brown hair with bangs, light blue/greyish eyes and really pale skin. I'm the youngest of three siblings and I'm in my early 20s. I'm currently in my first year of university and I'm studying to get a bachelor's degree in Studies in Cultural Heritage.

Personality wise, I could be described as a social chameleon: I can adapt to almost any kind of social context and I manage to get along with many different types of people, but I struggle with forming real connections, because it takes a long time for me to trust someone enough to open up to them and be emotionally vulnerable. To most people I may seem like a pretty chill, friendly, outgoing person, but I'm actually an introverted socially awkward mess, I'm just really good at hiding it, usually by coping with humor and sarcasm. Speaking of humor, I have a pretty dirty and sometimes dark sense of humor, but I also enjoy silly puns and dad jokes!

My main hobbies are drawing, reading, listening to music and podcasts, binge-watching films and tv series, collecting random stuff (crystals, stones, pebbles, sticks, feathers, bones... anything really) and travelling. I also enjoy witchcraft and all things esoteric. I'm interested in art, literature, history, philosophy, psychology, religions and mythology, as well as astronomy and anything related to space.

Other random facts you should know about me: I'm a cat person, my favourite colour is purple, my favourite season is autumn (because of Halloween), my favourite kind of weather is rainy/stormy, I'm a picky eater (mainly because I can't stand the texture of most foods) and I'm a night owl.

I guess that's all (apologies if it's too long)!

Your match is…Terzo

“So err, I hear your favourite colour is purple uh?” When you say yes he is so happy, it's his colour!

He makes you a purple bracelet to wear, so you can be reminded of how much he loves you.

When you sit down to study he'll appear next to you, and start distracting you.

He'll flirt with you, kiss you, touch you, anything to get your attention back.

The best thing you can do is let him help. Either get him to test you on things or give him something to read and make notes on.

He'll proudly tell people how he's supporting his love to get their Bachelors degree.

He knows you are introverted undernearth it all. So he's supportive in any social sitation. He's always there for you. You can both get on with anyone, but like you he's not as confident as he comes accross.

You both have a dirty, dark sense of humour.

The pair of you get very carried away on halloween. Especially Terzo, he'll decorate your entire rooms and dress up.

Terzo also happens to be a night owl. So you often stay up late listening to music or podcasts.

Or you will stay up and bingewatch films and TV series. If you are doing that he will buy popcorn, and have a duvet on the sofa for you to snuggle under.

He is very happy to support your witchcraft. He'll find rare long forgotten books for you in the ministry. He's so proud that you are into such things.

~

This post is a part of Match-up Event. The Event ends on July 15th.

Written by Nyx

[outer-space-face]

Since you asked me, what are YOUR favourite movies??? 👀

Thank you for the ask boog!! :DDD OH BOY DO I GOT ANSWERS

(also I'm gonna be bending the rules a little bit for what counts as a movie because there's some things that I just need to mention that aren't technically movies but I watch as movies if you know what I mean)

Okay first and foremost, let's get the elephant in the room out of the way: Kiki's Delivery Service.

I could write a whole 4 hour long video essay on how much this movie means to me and how it is absolutely incredible. The art, the characters and their development, the message, the voice acting, THE SCORE?!?!?!? EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS MOVIE IS AMAZING AND IT IS CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED FOR HOW GENUINELY THOUGHTFUL AND WELL CRAFTED IT IS. I love this movie so much and there are a bajillion times more instances that I have related to Kiki than I can count. I love this movie.

Okay now that that's out of the way, another two favorites of mine are Amélie and Little Miss Sunshine.

These movies are so warm and fuzzy. Like, I always leave them with such a giddy smile on my face lol. I am quite literally BEGGING to live the life that Amélie is living (who knows, maybe I will) and the family dynamics in Little Miss Sunshine are so genuinely heartwarming and I just UGH. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Also, both scores are ✨️impeccable✨️

Another one of my favorites is Fantastic Mr. Fox which I actually only watched fairly recently. I'd just watched it around autumn of last year so it's more recent than a lot of the other one's on my list but I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS MOVIE. First of all, the script is hilarious and I love the sheer ridiculousness of the whole escapade, and the foresty fall vibe and colour palette of this film is just so ✨️🍂crisp🍂✨️ it's PERFECT. Also I just ADORE stop-motion animation so this movie is an absolute delight.

I'm gonna group these next two together under the category of "Romance I am completely hopeless and pathetic for" and those movies are The Wind Rises and Anastasia (Amélie could also fit in this category but it carries more of a similar fuzzy feeling to Little Miss Sunshine so I grouped those two together instead)

I FEEL SO LONELY AND IN LOVE EVERY TIME I WATCH THESE MOVIES. I'M NOT KIDDING, IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED ANY OF THE ROMANCE SCENES IN THE WIND RISES GO DO THAT RIGHT NOW YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. THEY ARE SO SWEET. THE HUG. THE HUGGGGG. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON ANYA AND DIMITRI'S DYNAMIC BECAUSE OMG. I need that in my life :') I also just love all the visuals in both of these films. Like that one scene in Anastasia where all the ghosts of Anya's past fly through the windows is just SO PRETTY. Anyway I'm done being obnoxious about love now ajsgsjhsk

Now is the time where I bend the rules for this question a little bit because TECHNICALLY it's not a movie, it's a recording of a stage musical but I don't care because it's just so good. That Musical is Into the Woods (not the movie because it's terrible)

This movie is Shrek before Shrek was made. It is so funny and yet so genuinely impactful and meaningful all at the same time and it baffles me every time. The music is so fun and the lyrics so well written. It's bizarre and fun and bittersweet and I love it. If you haven't watched it already, the full original recording is up on youtube for free and I HIGHLY recommend if you're feeling down.

Sorry this list was a little lot long I just love talking about my favorite stuff!! Thank you for the question boog!!! :DDDD <3333

[just---keep---simming]

The Pancakes - Autumn 2

As we drop in on the Pancakes for their second autumn, we find them kicking things off with an immediate birthday celebration. It's time for Adrienne to become a teenager! While Axel Wood celebrated his teen birthday at the end of summer, Adrienne is the first Sim who was actually born into the Townies save to reach adolescence, so this seems like a bit of a milestone.

And here she is! Adrienne has taken after Bob in her colouring, but I can see some of Eliza in her features for sure. She keeps her childhood penchant for red and goes bold with a dark red lip. She's actually quite an interesting-looking Sim (not conventionally pretty, definitely not ugly) and a dark lipstick really flatters her, so while perhaps unusual for her age, we're going with it. Adrienne adds the self-assured trait to her childhood vegetarian trait - I randomly roll most traits as personality and storyline guidance or prompts, unless I have a specific idea for a Sim I want to follow, so Adrienne turns out to be both confident and moral. I also randomise aspirations for the same reason, although I'll tinker with things if I feel they don't fit, but Adrienne rolled Fabulously Wealthy. Given her mother, Eliza, has a wealth-related aspiration too (Mansion Baron), this felt appropriate.

Having a teenager in the house called for a bedroom makeover. Adrienne's purple, girly kid's bedroom is overhauled into a sunset-coloured retreat.

She's delighted with her new room and thanks her mother with a hug. I wonder if these two will remain close, or if the natural boundary-pushing of adolescence will test Eliza's strictness and need for order?

Rotations start on a Sunday morning for me, so Adrienne takes her one day of weekend and heads to the library in Willow Creek, where she comes across Bjorn. She is blissfully unaware of Eliza and Bjorn's affair prior to her birth, or that her paternity was actually under question for a time, and Bjorn doesn't enlighten her. He simply introduces himself as a good friend of her parents.

Then, Adrienne gets a jumpstart on her homework before her first day at school, and also meets Angela Pleasant.

The next morning, as with Axel in the Zest's last post, we head off to Adrienne's first day of school with her, where she kicks off her high school journey by claiming and decorating a locker. She picks a dark academia theme - girl's a fan of The Secret History, you see.

Class starts and literally every single student is on their phone. I feel like the Sims team is trying to make a very heavy-handed point with the choice to have Sims of all ages obsessively pull out cellphones all the time.

At lunch, Adrienne meets Molly, who she likes, and Wolfgang, who she does not.

Like when she was younger, though, Adrienne proves to be a dedicated, hard-working, and very academic student. This girl will be heading to university for sure! After eating her lunch, she spends the rest of the break time studying for the exams that will take place at the end of the week.

Let's not forget that she also wants to be fabulously wealthy, though. The real progress towards that will start once she graduates university into a prestigious and high-paying job of her choice, but there's certainly no harm in taking some baby steps right away. Adrienne signs up for a barista job that will have her working for two hours every morning before school.

This has been a very Adrienne-focused update, but Bob and Eliza are still here, of course. Eliza has had relationship-related fears ever since her indiscretions with Bjorn, and although Bob doesn't know about that, Eliza is still working hard to try and feel secure in her marriage. She talks her fears over with Bob, which helps, but doesn't dispel them completely. She'll need to keep having these conversations with him regularly.

Conscious of spending a lot of time on her typewriter, working on novels, or in the office doing the same thing, Eliza also takes up a casual jogging habit. She's no fitness guru, but enjoys a light jog around the gorgeous autumn streets of Willow Creek.

The trees are turning red and gold in the neighbourhood, making for a charming scene as the barge chugs past in the canal.

At Adrienne's next day at school, she meets and starts getting to know Darling Walsh.

The two of them hit it off, and Darling joins her at home after school, playing games on Eliza's computer while Adrienne does her homework.

But while Adrienne is making new friends from school, we've not seen anything of Axel! Annoyingly, it looks like you need a mod to choose classmates otherwise teen Sims your Sim already knows won't tend to turn up at school at all. I might get the mod or we might say Adrienne and Axel go to different high schools - regardless, Adrienne fixes the lack of Axel in her life by meeting him at Thriftea. Is it a date? Are they just friends? Adrienne isn't actually sure how she feels just yet, but we do know Axel has a hopeless crush on Marion Sparacinco, so we'll have to wait and see.

When Harvestfest rolls around for the Pancakes, Eliza as always goes all out on the decor.

And Bob goes all out on the food, preparing a tofurkey for Adrienne to enjoy and fruit pie for dessert.

Father and daughter have a good relationship at this stage. Bob is proud of Adrienne's work ethic, even if he feels both Eliza and her have goals in life that are somewhat shallow and materialistic.

Work ethic Adrienne certainly does have though, and if she succeeds in becoming fabulously wealthy, it will be through that hard work. She quickly proves herself one of the top students at her high school, and loves going every day. She aces the exam at the end of the week too, of course.

Axel isn't half so dedicated at school work as she is these days - his attention is far more on the football team than his homework - but she still enjoys his company. They meet at the gym in Oasis Springs after school one day - Axel's choice this time.

A yoga class together could be a date? Or could still be just friends? Axel turns her down for prom, so that might answer that question, although Adrienne may also not give up so easily.

Adrienne heads along to prom alone, perfectly happy in doing so, and dressed the best of any Sim there. Boyfriends can wait - Adrienne is having a great time as a teenager so far without one; she's crushing her school work, she's making loads of new friends, and she loves her part-time job.

Meanwhile Bob and Eliza make the most of an evening home alone!

And that brings us to the end of autumn for the Pancakes! Bob and Eliza continue to work on their relationship, but Adrienne was definitely the star of the show this season. Deservedly so - I think she's a great first child of the save, with a strong and cohesive personality emerging as she's getting older. I wonder what winter will bring for her and her parents?

[justanothercatastrophe]

@athelstan-anglecyning tagged me in something where i have to fill out some questions. so yeah. thanks for the tag. idk what i'm doing yet.

Favourite colour and why? blue. it's so comforting and relaxing. also lilac, teal and green.

Five comfort movies: i can't choose a top five. hmm. i love calamity jane tho.

Favourite season and why? autumn. i love the colours of the leaves and how crunchy they are when they fall down. the smell of bonfires. (i stole this entirely from prevs answer but i just agree too much)

Favourite book(s): i don't read that much :/

favourite aesthetic(s)and why? cowboycore, cottagecore and pastel. i like light colors and westers.

Favourite genre and why? rom-com

Favourite clothes style: mostly i dress pretty casually. i like anything with bees or plants on it, and anything with embroidery. pastel colors are always good too

Favourite music genres: country and folk

Favourite artists: anything country or folk related. also queen. i've recently got into hozier

Favourite song(s): the heart of the appaloosa has such sentimental value for me, and i still listen to it loads. mostly i like queen. i'm kinda basic in my taste in pop songs.

Favourite fandoms: star wars. i've loved it since i was a kid. i used to love the lone ranger too. *sigh* i'll have to watch it again

Hobbies: walking in nature, birdwatching with my bf, reading fanfiction, baking, playing soccer. lots of things

Care language you give: soup

Care language you like to receive: hugs and a willing ear

Are you an introvert/extrovert/ambivert: introvert. i don't like interacting with people much unless ik them lol. it's much easier online.

Morning or night person? tbh i'm more of an afternoon person

City, country or suburbs and why? city, but veering more towards suburbs. i don't think i'd be able to survive out in the sticks.

Favourite time of day and why? probably late morning. that's when i feel most energised.

Do you have any religious beliefs(don’t have to answer if not comfortable)? nope. nobody in my family is particularly religious apart from my great-aunt, but we don't talk about her.

What does your ideal family look like to you? it's already pretty good. me, my bf, and my pet dog. i wish our families could see more eye to eye tho.

Dream future: for my family and my bf's family to get on with each other, with me, with my bf, and for everyone to be accepting of each other in general :)

Dream place to visit: prev said Denver and!! i live in Denver!! hai!! it's actually a nice place to live. my bf has lived here all his life and is kinda sick of it tbh. there aren't many tourist destinations ngl, but maybe that's a good thing, idk *shrugs* aNYWAY i would like to visit Edinburgh. I have been to Scotland but not to Edinburgh

Favourite type of nature: when i visited Scotland, I loved seeing the lochs

Favourite habitat (eg jungle, desert, tundra etc): grassland-y type places

How would you describe yourself in 4 words: shy, nostalgic, excitable, loving

If you could be another thing on earth what would it be: ooh, tricky one. maybe a fish.

Favourite type of weather: crisp autumn weather

If you could travel anywhere right now where would it be: prev said Denver!! i could give you a guided tour. I would travel to Paris.

Do you have any fears (serious or otherwise): insects :(((

Dream job: an actress in a western

Would you be a pirate/vampire/cowboy/astronaut/werewolf/wizard/witch/knight/cryptid and why? cowboy. i love westerns.

tagging @veradragonjedi and all their mutuals

[camellia-thea]

For the dnd ask game - 13, 34, 40, 56, 61

you did not specify for who, but i'm pretty certain these are for taralin, but some got navi answers too (i've been neglecting my girl :( ) gfdkjfdg

13. what are some motifs you associate with them? did you intentionally bring in those motifs, or did it happen over time?

Taralin, of course, has motifs related to autumn, crows, blood, and decay. less obvious are smoke, and shadow. They've slowly been moving away from autumn though, especially with the gnolls moving away from the Morrigan, and their marriage with Esther; we be heading towards twilight babyee. the change in their colour scheme -- reds, oranges, creams and touches of purple and brown, to black, dark blue, and purple with touches of silver and red!

navi, obviously, has cats (servals specifically because. y'know) but they also have moths! her cloak and colour scheme is modelled after the deaths head hawk moth, and their name roughly translates to moth too! i had the moth thing before i had much else actually. specifially, death head hawk moths pretend to be bees and slip into beehives to get honey, and i kind of took that vibe for navi? she goes into tenetsia and brings back refugees. not quite the same, but i love it for her.

34. what languages do they speak? how did they learn them?

Taralin spoke common and elven equally throughout their childhood, though Khaj never taught them dwarvish beyond a few words -- a later regret for taralin. celestial came a little later, from amaurea as well. sylvan had a steep learning curve, but they got the hang of it very quickly because she had too. gnoll and mordish are the most recent acquisitions; gnoll from murgg and the clan. it was a requirement for diplomacy, as felt like an obligation with their transformation as much as a necessity. mordish came with esther, tucked away while they traveled (they had to ask her to spend a little bit only speaking to them in mordish, which he enjoyed a lot)

navi's languages are a little different; growing up, her house was also a mess of languages, especially paired with the fact that lycanthropes tend to spend more time as animals when they're children. common wasn't spoken around the house--it was a mixture of elvish and the lâm, and navi learnt common from primarily travelers instead of her parents or siblings. (is this my logic for why her accent is inconsistent? yes.)

40. if you had to remake this character right now, how would you change them?

ohhhhh okay. tbh i'm pretty happy with taralin as a character, but i'd probably change little aspects of their backstory? i love their tragedy but they are so edgy :pensive: when they were made, i wasn't having a great time and it... came through jhfdgkjhd i'd probably dial it back just a little. but i have a lot of fun with how fucked up they are.

navi would be changed a lot more; i love her concept and i love her character but i was not very well when i actually made her sheet and the decisions made were bad. i'd want to properly commit to a class. so yeah, i think mechanical changes mostly, but also her drive for adventuring is... lacking. i made her motivator too small in the grand scheme and so she kind of doesn't work as a long running dnd character? rather, she works for an arc -- getting home -- but beyond that i can't see her wanting to adventure, if that makes sense? again, i love her and her concept, i just wasn't super aware when i made her, and when i started actually playing her i realised i'd fucked up kjhgfdj

56. who would they trust with their life, unequivocally?

taralin would never answer this question aloud. they've been so guarded for so long that uttering words of trust is... too vulnerable to consider. late at night, though, curled up next to their wife (and the word still leaves a breathless joy curling in their throat) they realise just how much they're willing to give her. they would stop fighting, if she asked. they've taken a life for her specifically, and they would follow her to the ends of the earth if she wanted them too.

61. is there an in-game moment of theirs you think about and just laugh?

Giant Nyral.

for clarification for those who were not present; in the first arc of our campaign, we were in some magical sewers because a clan of kobolds had stolen our rogue, gex, (played by the lovely kaziaxd) who is (kind of) a kobold himself. the party -- after a bunch of issues -- made it to a chamber, in which the kobolds were trying to sacrifice gex to a kind of primordial dragon god (this was almost two years ago now so i'm a little hazy on details), and we knew we couldn't take all the kobolds and couldn't get to gex. taralin had a mushroom with the effects of the enlarge spell and so i gave it to nyral, my pseudodragon familiar, and, with a very very lucky nat 20, pretended he was the displeased god they were going to sacrifice gex to. somehow. somehow. it worked. and then we got out of the sewers and our new player's character, torvold, came up to us and threw up on us. we'd been in the sewers for a while and stank, and nyral was still Large size, and this greasy unwell man stumbles over to our really weird party and he just stuck around because we were just as out of place as he was hjkdjfdg

anyway, nyral is absolutely useless and this is pretty much the only time he's been legitimately helpful and i hold it in my heart.

[destroyer-of-days4]

[firespirited]

Today was derailed (in a good way) I was doing futher desk buying research as the stuff I'm seeing online looks kinda flimsy and M was passing by and goes "hey I don't like my desk, can we swap?" so I spent the day on the floor dismantling desks.

Lily the dog insisted on hazardously getting in the way of any and all furniture moving including a point where we all got trapped in the tiny corridor and had to lift the item and gently kick the dog forwards.

She was furious when I closed the door on my room which could only be navigated like one of those sliding puzzles. Pretty sure she thinks she's the foreman and doing important supervision. I love having her around but she likes to nick dremel bits and screws.

I'm too sore to say if the new desk (it's actually super old) is any better so it'll be a few days but at least it's another size to try in case I buy later. M's happy with mine at least.

The finale of Quantum Leap left us on a vague single sentence cliffhanger. I was starting to enjoy it and the cast but it was only 8 episodes. Hope it gets renewed, the format is great for tuning in to a different story and perspective every week.

Decided to not watch Warrior Nun, I'm burnt out on the binge watch season with cliffhanger episodes. There have been some great ones this year: Midnight Mass and Paper Girls are just the most recent but I remember thinking "oh hey it would actually be more fun-fun and less pushy-stressful-fun to rewatch something like Stargate Atlantis."

I'm thinking about the GdT curated Cabinet of Curiosities or Archive 81, it fits my current taste for the episodic and might have some decent smart horror. I really enjoyed the Monsterland anthology in 2020.

Speaking of, Something In The Dirt from the Benson and Moorehead cosmic horror and very relatable characters universe is out, go see it if you can. It'll be on streaming at the end of the month but I just know it'd be amazing on the big screen. Watch The Endless on netflix if you want an idea of what these two storytelling friends do on a budget.

Will put together small postage and parcel postage posts of baldies and unfinished projects after the second more agressive sweep. Below cost or for trade: black saran, vivid or pastel hq nylon colours, nylon strands for building a swatch, good acrylic paint and medium, new gloss as mine is old and seems to break down a few weeks after painting when I've used watered down paint. Maybe interesting textured or coloured yarns for when I get to be able to do 40 mins an hour at a time. Yikes, We're not even close to rebuilding my lower back yet lol I'm already planning how to get back to creating.

I've talked a lot in the past about how I dislike twitter for how it made me feel and having to navigate back through the quote tweets to get answers feels like in jokes you have to learn (this is a feature missing from mastodon because they believe it promotes dunk/cringe content culture instead of direct communication) . But I hadn't really talked about the fascinating people who used to study twitter, large scale moderation, harm reduction on current events (think 'not naming school shooters guidelines' but for a host of issues). I really hope some of them get hired by tumblr on how to engage hate speech and put them into contact with deradicalization programs, not just nazis but the gender essentialists of the terf, pro choice and red pill types are in cult-like communities.

Love to everyone who's feeling the autumn in their joints and american friends not looking forward to the ungrateful work of making thanksgiving happen. ❤️🌸❤️

[hinagamoizaf]

Watching DA:LEK during another trip around the Sun

Focus on colour

Earlier this week I turned a year older & pretty much since my time in Ports, I have a mini tradition of watching my favourite films on my birthday. It’s also more accurate to say that they’re coming-of-age films, I re-watched Last Evolution Kizuna (2020). Out of the way, LEK is genuinely drop dead gorgeous. Yeah it was a theatrical release, but this is legit the best DA has looked imo, even better than the reboot.The art direction, the lighting, I’m not even touching on the animation; it all belongs in a gallery. Something that has always intrigued me is the use of colours in the film. Whenever I visualised LEK in my mind, blue & a variation of summer hues are the most prominent palettes that are ingrained into my memory. Obviously, Taichi & Yamato’s colour schemes are orange & blue; there’s that association that’s been around for the past 2 decades with these characters. Initially I was thinking of writing a piece that analyses the use of colours scene by scene. Yeah so um, I’m just busy straight up. But I still want to shed light on what stuck out to me the most. 

Colour choices

There’s the colour scheme of the characters with their crests / Digimon partners, and also the colour scheme of their clothes. The Crest of Courage & Agumon are orange (sometimes yellow for the latter), Gabumon & the Crest of Friendship are blue : basic Taichi & Yamato colours as discussed before.

Taichi As seen with Taichi’s signature clothes all the way from DA (1999), he usually wears blue clothing items. We see this in 02, Tri he had a mixture, & typically in all the scenes of LEK, Taichi is wearing variations of blue with his attire. Yamato has always had his ugly green singlet. In 02 what we do see of his casual clothes it’s actually black, from Tri my most prominent memory is his rocker black hoodie & the green jacket when they fought Alphamon. Coming close to his hipster brother, Yamato is arguably the best dressed male Chosen Child & during LEK, it’s a mixture of green & black clothing items. (Yes there are scenes for both where this colour choice isn’t always the same, likewise in promotional art. I’m just pointing out the most obvious ones.) Orange is a secondary colour from a combination of passionate red & optimistic yellow, it’s naturally a warm colour; these attributes fit Taichi. You’ll also see it associated with the autumn season & Halloween, all that stuff. *Incoming personal take, not related to colour theory or symbolism. Literally just my own opinion, it may change* Despite how loud orange is, I don’t see it standing on its own. It’s an in between colour for me; I see it, I think ‘that's just a mixture of red & yellow’. Yeah it’s associated with warmth, joy & enthusiasm, but again you get that more with yellow & red; it’s a colour that’s part of a package. Paradoxically, I personally think the same can be said for Taichi. Sure, he’s the main goggle-head leader & poster boy for DA. But when you think of a leader, you also think of his team members. *Your chance to walk away from LEK spoilers* Aside from the main message of growing up, Taichi’s goodbye with Agumon also represented his ‘in between dynamic’ with his partner. At the start of the film, he had his thesis which he wasn’t that sure what to write about. Similarly being a Chosen Child, of course Taich cares about Agumon & his duty, but he just manages the bare minimum amount of time to spend on this aspect of his life. Taichi’s in between worlds, and in either one, he’s not a 100% there - but cares & takes these things to heart. Tri gets plenty of criticism as it is, but the plotpoint of Taichi being melancholic & considering the impact of the Digimon fights in the real world, there’s some merit to it.

Interestingly enough in LEK, Taichi’s not the one taking charge, it’s Yamato. Taichi’s backseat approach reminds me of Sora not including herself during the first Diaboromon fight; and how she spends her last few moments with Piyomon just spending time with her. Taichi does the same with Agumon once they find out about the rings, it felt like spending your last few moments with a pet that has to be put down. But Agumon’s not a pet, he’s Taichi’s Digimon partner.

Yamato In recent years, I've seen people online vouch that Yamato is the one DA cast member who's unapologetically himself & will wear his heart on his sleeve. Taichi's a loud person, but he has a hard time confessing his feelings & confronting them. A foil to Yamato who by all accounts appears as a reserved individual, he's the boy who literally cries & he doesn't hide his emotions. Emotionally constipated maybe, but if he has something to say, he'll definitely show it.

This is apparent during the course of LEK. Whereas Taichi spent his final days with Agumon eating & taking him to his uni apartment, Yamato took charge of the investigation of the new adult characters they were dealing with. We could see at times while Gabumon was there, Yamato did keep his distance (my boy's character arc is learning to embrace his friends & not putting it all on himself). In some regards, Yamato’s the ‘blue oni’ to Taichi’s ‘red oni’ (or rather orange). Yamato is also part of that other half dynamic with Taichi, you usually think about him while  thinking about Taichi. There’s the ‘blues’ part of Yama’s colour scheme, his passion for music & moody character. Blue is a cool colour, it can invoke a feeling of calmness, loyalty in other situations. Then with the whole werewolf theme of Gabumon, there are blue elements there & the debatable ice/blue fire attacks he has.

Blue DA:LEK’s usage of blue covers both the joyous aspects and melancholic parts of not only the film, but is a mirror to the characters’ internal struggles. Butterflies have always been a huge motif in DA & Menoa has this butterfly hair clip that is a stunning, electrifying blue. But transferring that blue to Never-Land, it’s still electrifying, but for the worse. It feels hypnotic & eerie, the colour blue loses its calm connotation & diverts toward a sea of depression. For months after leaving the theatre, the Never-Land scenes were stuck in my head. The film has a message of ‘don’t get too caught up in nostalgia / your childhood’ & they hit it right over the ballpark with the Never-Land setting / conclusion of the film. Adult Menoa was trying to hold onto a childhood that her child self was previously trying to rush growing up from (??), it’s a cracked mirror to how Tai & Yama were also struggling to hold onto their beloved childhood while navigating the abrupt transition to adulthood. This mixed explosion of emotions & realisations, character growth & inner battles is reflected back in what I’m calling the ‘twilight colours’.

Twilight Menoa’s crystals have this purple-blue-pink thing going on. Her goodbye flashback with Morphomon is a daunting hellscape. Taiyama’s final goodbye with Agu & Gabu is a softer hue of that purple-like colour; literally getting darker & welcoming the night once they’re gone.

I’m really going on a limb here, but this reminds me of the ‘twilight hour’. *Could totally be pulling out of my ass - During my uni dissertation, I focused on Kimi no Na wa (2016). The film explored the ‘twilight hour’ & it had a more romantic connotation there. But there’s the rough translation of this period of time being a transition from our world to the other or supernatural world; that tiny bridge where we cross paths. In LEK during those twilight goodbyes, it’s Taichi, Yamato & Menoa having to say goodbye to not only their childhood, their Digimon partners, but also a part of themselves - that child part. That child in the blink of an eye is thrown into the same confusing world, but now debuting as a young adult with all its responsibilities.

[*22nd April, my brain deadass stopped thinking.May revisit & edit this in the coming weeks]

[lxghtbound]

thoughts about your muse // accepting!

@empodio asked: 📝 [[ i am so very curious about what scout has to say ] 

what color reminds your muse of mine?

“Hmm. I think kinda Autumn-y colours. All those deep browns ‘n’ reds ‘n’ bronzes. Nice calm colours.”

what song reminds your muse of mine?

“I got no idea. What kinda music does he even listen to? I gotta ask him ‘bout that one day. Maybe we can figure out a playlist together, hah.”

what scent reminds your muse of mine?

“Y’know that real earth-y smell after a bout of rain? That.”

what meme reminds your muse of mine? 

“Oh any memes that have any sort of chaos in the background with one person acting completely normally as if they don’t care. Or looking real tired.”

what sound reminds your muse of mine?

“Quiet, mostly. Guess that’s not really a sound. Or is it...? Anyway-- I think quiet is pretty apt for him.”

what setting reminds your muse of mine?

“Kinda related to the last answer, but a forest. One that has light cutting through the leaves , ‘n’ you can hear soft sounds all around that aren’t nearly enough to be overwhelming, but it’s not pure silence. Just...nice.”

what feeling does your muse associate with mine?

“Calm. He always seems so damn calm. Maybe not relaxed, but like he’s prepared for anything and everything, ready to take whatever the world throws at him.”

what animal does your muse associate with mine?

“Some kind of bull. Anythin’ super strong ‘n’ big, I think, but the horns help too.”

what holiday does your muse associate with mine?

“Mm... Good question. I dunno actually. My first thought was just somethin’ that ties into the next question.”

what season does your muse associate with mine?

“Pretty obvious probably since I already mentioned it before, but Autumn. Partially ‘cause of all the colours-- I can’t explain it. It’s just the vibes. Get vibechecked, Masador.”

[minilpark]

Hi there!! I was wondering if I could make a Top Gun ship request? (Hope I read your pinned post right and they’re still open whoops)

My name is Robin (any pronouns), and I’m terrible at describing myself but I’ll give it a go! I’d say I’m pretty outgoing, I really like talking to people and getting to know them. I’ve been told I seem like I know a lot of people, but I’m basically just friendly to everyone while only really having a handful of solid friends. I hope that makes sense ahsgdg. I used to be painfully shy but I’ve turned it around the past few years and learned to just go for it, it’s done wonders for my confidence. I love trying to make people laugh, my sense of humour is some mix of 12 year old boy and weird old woman. I’m from Scotland but I live in America, so my accent and tendency to swear too much stems mostly from my family and watching too much Billy Connolly as a kid lmao. Probably why I hate the heat as well. I’m constantly taking pictures and videos whenever I’m with friends, and I keep things like movie tickets in a sort of makeshift journal/sketchbook. I think I’ve got a fear of forgetting people and experiences, so I like documenting small moments. Apart from that I like anything storytelling based, so I’m into writing when I actually take the time to quit daydreaming. I love ‘kid’s’ media that have a darker slant to them, namely The Owl House, Over the Garden Wall, and Laika Studios movies. My hyperfixations change but right now I’m into Stranger Things, Top Gun, and Wes Anderson. As for hobbies, I’ve been playing bass for about 6 years, and I’ve been doing kickboxing and mma for almost a year. Music-wise I mostly like rock and punk leaning bands like Pinkshift and MCR (try before you deny), although I have a soft spot for Taylor Swift and ABBA in particular. My ideal date is probably something fun like a concert that we’d both enjoy, or going to see a late showing of some shitty movie and then making fun of it while walking back. Uhh my favourite colour is purple, favourite character in media is a tie between Kate Bishop and Inej Ghafa, and my favourite season is Autumn! Thanks for reading this (hope it wasn’t too ramble-y), hope you’re having a great day >:D

don't worry Robin, i really appreciate all the information you sent! it helps me narrow down the list of people i think you'd get along with a lot! also i totally relate to you on so many things it's crazy, you seem so cool!

anyways, i would ship you with rooster!

i think bradley would adore you, your confidence, your sense of humour, and the music taste (yes he would learn your fave songs on the piano to play for you). going into more detail, i think rooster would love the concept of making a scrapbook or something of sorts to document memories together. he would also be so interested in your hobbies and would want to do them with you (i vividly imagined you knocking rooster on his ass while sparring sorry). also, the thought of you two going to a concert together is so cool, he would def be the type to pick you up on his shoulders so you can get a better view and take pics if you want! in conclusion, yall would be an adorable couple i'd love to see it.

[taibhsearachd]

Yo, with that Asiatic Cardinal Colour Direction thing, do we know why the colours were assigned as such? Was it weather or seasonal based or something?

Thank you so much for asking!

Chinese and Turkic basically share cardinal direction colors, and while I don't think there's any direct association with seasons in Turkic, there is in China (north/black/winter, east/blue/spring, south/red/summer, white/west/autumn). However... in China, those colors are also associated with elements, weather, animals, and a ton of different things, so... I'm not actually sure if it actually derived from a direct association between the direction and the season, or just because the direction and the season had been assigned the same color, if that makes sense. (Disclaimer: a lot of Turkic-language areas are very much my area of historical interest; China is amazing, but I just have not dug into it nearly as much, so if anyone sees this and knows more on the subject, I would love your input!)

A lot of North and Central American groups also have/had colors for cardinal directions, which I would guess vary/correspond by language group and cultural relation... and apparently, uniquely among Western Europe, Irish too? I found an analysis of the patterns in this symbolism, which seems to be pretty solid despite the fact that it was apparently published in fucking 1899, if you want a very academic rundown on the subject.

[solomon-tozer]

Thank you @nomilkinmyteaplease for the tag!

1. Favourite piece of clothing you own: ...I really don't know? I have a very nice gilet that's a gorgeous iridescent green colour. Was just thinking about the 'pirate skirt' I have... But also very much love these trousers (the lace bit goes all the way down), of course currently living in my blanket hoodie, constantly wearing Terabyte and Mutineer t-shirts...

2. Favourite song: oh this forever changes, currently very into Iron Sky by Paulo Nutini and The Calling by The Amazing Devil

3.Favourite time of the year: I enjoy constant daylight in the summer, but despise constant people noise so and evil insects flying in... So I guess I have to go with late autumn (growing up it was autumn)

4. comfort food: jacket tatties with cheese, beans, and butter

5. Do you collect something? So many things... Plushies (I'm not allowed to buy any more), nail polish (I wear it maybe twice a year), books on WWI and 19th century British naval stuff, INK AND FOUNTAIN PENS HELLO YES, rocks I collect SO MANY rocks I keep picking them up this is a serious problem aldkjfa;ldjf, earrings (I always forget to wear them), One Piece manga volumes (I'm a bit behind because of the whole covid/not going out thing), pretty much anything with elephants on it (again, not allowed to buy any more...), obviously I collect things related to hobbies/crafts you should see my knitting needle collection oops, PENS SO MANY PENS, NOTEBOOKS OH GOD NOTEBOOKS (I should maybe just say 'stationery'), I have shoes I can't wear, stim toys... And, of course, blorbos.

6. Favourite drink: the only one I'm like... super ravenous for is the rubicon lychee soda. Other than that nothing really excites me? This is awful!

7. Favourite fanfiction: there are a good few I like, but I was actually thinking about a kylux (yeah, I know) fanfic set in northern England during the 1980s, that setting always gives me the chills.

8. Place you'd love to be right now? anywhere with someone kind who would give me a hug

9. Your fav film... of all time? ah fuck. Gladiator. Trust me I know its flaws but since it came out I've been watching it several times a year. I just can't not for some reason (current favourite is The Eagle, the fave I want to choose is Withnail & I)

I think most people I would want to tag have been tagged (sorry I'm really bad at this)

If you want to do this, please do! Not sure if this is an incentive or deterrent but tag me and I'll write you a little kiss ficlet.

[blackcherrykiss]

BLOOD BOUNDARIES - Enhypen OT7 Fanfic (ch.10)

[CH.1] [CH.2] [CH.3] [CH.4] [CH.5] [CH.6] [CH.7][CH.8][CH.9] previous chapters [CH.11] next chapter (unavailable on tumblr but avaliable on wattpad!)

"You'll give me your blood in exchange for theirs."

You could feel his earnest breath against the left side of your neck when he spoke. The proximity was causing you to hold your breath tightly. "Sunghoon please..." You just barely breathed out,  fearing anything you said would be the death of you.

"Afraid my love? I'm not going to hurt you unless you let me in." You felt Sunghoon's soft lower lip stroke up your neck until it met your ear, "I'll give you time to think." He pulled away to caress your face with a feathery touch as the sky grew darker and darker.

...

You rested the following day with no intentions of going to classes. You got your dormmates to tell the office about the severe headache you had; too weak to attend that day. To your surprise, one of the nurses at the school had knocked at your dorm to do a brief check-up and ensure you weren't lying.

"You must be Y/N! Sweetie, how are you feeling?" A slim young woman came in with a medium briefcase of supplies.

"It's nothing too serious right now, it's just a slight headache, I think you brought a bit much..." You held your pounding head while staring at the excessive equipment she had in hand.

"Oh, all of this? It's a standard to bring it just in case." The nurse said with a Southern Irish accent, "Now sit down, I'll take your temperature first."

You sat down on your own bed and watched as she took out a pink thermometer and put it under your arm. You yawned while waiting, getting a closer look at the woman. She had naturally fawn-blonde hair that flowed down in delicate curls. Healthy skin that was rosy at the cheekbones.

"Hun, your temperature is just slightly over normal. Is it just today you've been having headaches?" The nurse said while waving around the stick that read 38.1°C.

"I get them from time... Rarely though, I think I've been stressed lately that's all..."

"Perhaps you have low iron? Are you sure no other symptoms and potential causes?"

"Lack of sleep." You admitted, "And probably low iron... My mom has so I must too..."

"I see hun... Many girls call in sick and it's usually related to their menstrual cycles. But recently I find there is some sort of common cold going around. Yesterday this young boy fainted and when I took his temperature he had a seriously high fever." The nurse said while beginning to sterilize the thermometer with some rubbing alcohol.

"He did?!" You blurted out unintentionally, your voice making an embarrassing crack, "Sorry... He's just my friend, I was there when he fainted. Do you mind me asking how Jungwon is doing?"

"Not too well... He seems very sick but... Whenever I try phoning his parents regarding a checkup with a doctor or a record of his medical history, nobody ever picks up." The nurse looked upset and frustrated that she couldn't do much for him.

Little did the nurse know Jungwon didn't even have parents... 'Heeseung would be his guardian at best' you thought. "Oh, that's terrible..."  You felt yourself tense up knowing the reason for Jungwon's illness.

"Well, if you have no other questions I guess I will be on my way. Your name was y/n right?" She said while scratching a couple of words on a small pad of paper.

"That's correct."

"y/n... That name sounds familiar... Perhaps you are friends with Kyungeun?" The nurse put her pen and paper down on your nightstand.

"You know Kyungeun?" You rubbed the back of your neck.

"Of course! I visit her often. She's mentioned your name from time to time." She gave a healthy smile before getting up to leave, "She loves you to bits!"

You were touched Kyungeun would mention that to the nurse, it made you feel a little better knowing that.

"I'll get going now then, hun!" The nurse grabbed her case and exited your dorm after you thanked her.

When you went back to your bed you noticed the nurse had left her pad of paper. Taking the paper to go and run after her, you squint to read what was actually written on it. The paper just had blue ink notes in some wavy font about your condition and personal information. When you lifted the notepad up, you noticed a paper fell from the stack. Bending down with just your back, you saw Kyungeun's medical information swirled on the front.

"Anemia?" You read aloud before a  semi-aggressive knock was heard from behind your dorm door. You quickly stuffed the paper where it was originally attached, feeling guilty you saw what you should not have. "I was just about to chase you down!" You began speaking before the door was even completely open.

You saw the young nurse once again with a troubled face, "I'm so sorry, I'm so disorganized! Thanks, darling!" She looked relieved as you handed over the stuff she had left behind. You smiled to cover up the actual shock that shot through your veins after seeing Kyungeun's records.

Anaemia is a low blood condition and knowing Kyungeun had it still surprised you. Were you really trying to deny that Sunghoon drinks Kyungeun's blood?

...

You napped the rest of the day, catching up on the sleep you had missed over the past week. The throbbing in your head gladly helped you fall asleep in an instant, but your wishes of having a quiet sleep would not come true.

-

You found yourself in a fever dream, scenes flickering in your mind at the speed of light. You saw Jungwon's complexion glitter against a deep velvet as he drove his fangs deep into a prominent vein. The vein however on his own wrist; drinking his own blood. The amber-red liquid began streaming down his chin and into an empty wine glass in large opaque droplets. The imagery of the blood in a wine glass was one you had never thought you would see, especially in a dream. The blood was much thicker in consistency compared to alcohol and it made your stomach churn with absolute sickness as Sunoo picked up the glass to swish it around as the adults do with classic red wine. Sunoo then bit down on the heel of his palm, planting a deep bite mark. He began squeezing his hand tightly to release more blood into the glass. When the glass had filled midway, Sunoo chugged it down.  

-

"Y/N?!" You felt Nana shake both of your shoulders, waking you back conscious. You twitched while sitting up from your bed, "You're sweating like crazy. I got scared seeing your distressed face..."

"Fever dream... It's whatever..."  Surprisingly your headache hurt a lot less even after the vividly strange dream had seemingly interrupted your off day. The problem was now your stomach that felt awful over the constant blood being displayed in your head, "I think I'll be fine to go to school tomorrow after I sleep on it tonight, my headache has become a mild stomach"

"More rest? You probably just need to get up and out of your bed, it's too warm and stuffy plus you've barely moved the entire day." Nana nagged. To which you agreed, you were getting unbearably hot which might've been the trigger to the fever dream.

"Yeah, I'll go for a walk..." You stared down at your sheets while thinking about what the strange dream meant. Why did Sunoo drink Jungwon's blood? And can vampires drink each other's blood? You immediately thought of the book you had left in the woods the previous night, perhaps there were answers in it. You were just too horrified that day to pick up the book and take it with you. But it seemed it might be of use to you now.

"Have you eaten yet? Hyesun and Dahee are at the dining hall right now and I just came to check up on you."

"No, I haven't eaten the whole day... But I think I might vomit if I eat..." You fastened your eyes shut at the recollection of what you had seen, "Just go without me, I'll go for a walk in the meantime." You said with the means to go off into the forest and find that damned book.

...

You feel refreshed, with the clean autumn breeze gusting your hair back, and out of your face. It was around the time most people ate an early meal, so you weren't surprised to see few pairs of people in the courtyards. Students seemed to be taking it nice and slow under the calm weather, one on one conversations and cloud watching on the wood benches.

You strut along the same path you had gone down the other day, your mary jane shoes getting wet from a puddle on the way. The woods had looked a lot less intimidating during the early evening compared to after sunset. You just had to ensure you were taking the path Sunghoon had led you down and you'd find the book, right? It would be a quick and simple job.

But after taking the seemingly correct path, you found yourself getting more unfamiliar with where you walked. Regardless of where you ended up, the place was a lot more peaceful and pretty than your first impression of it. You skipped along, turning your journey into a leisurely hike now. The sun heavily coated one particular part of the forest, creating a mystic olive glow onto the dried grass. The section of forest, in particular, had fewer trees with a giant rock in the centre of it.  As you approached the area, you noticed someone far in the distance laying on the rock, basking in the sunlight with skin so white it looked teal under the reflection of the trees. The young boy didn't have your school's uniform but instead, a rust coloured flannel and some tatteredly torn jeans with cuts all over them. You were willing to just leave the delinquent alone, turn back and give up. That is until you noticed the boy reading.

As you came into a four-metre radius to get a better look at if the book he possessed was the one you were searching for, the boy sat up to gaze dead on at you. You probably looked worse than a deer in the headlights, surprised at his alertness. "Who are you?" The ash haired boy asked before you could.

"I'm looking for a book I dropped around here the other day." You bore your eyes at his hands.

"This wouldn't be it, would it?" The young stranger stood up to scoop the book off the rock so you could see it clearly. He was a lot taller than how he appeared while lying on his back.

"I'm pretty sure it is my book... May I have it back?" You asked politely after noticing the colour of the backing was identical to the one you picked up from the library.

"What's it to you?" He raised a brow while swirling his tongue around the inside of his cheek.

"It might answer some questions I have..." You bit your tongue as to whether or not the boy in front of you was among the vampire pack. It seemed his hesitation to give the book back was telling you undermining something.

"Ahh, so it's you who they talk about?" He nodded to himself, "Heard you were some clever girl who would eventually figure out our little secret." He dozed off into the distance at some withering pine trees. It was clear he was associated with the bunch by now, no surprises there.

"Sunghoon t-told me the other day you were all vampires... He was the one who took the book in the first place and used it to bait me here."

"Then why did you leave the book?"

"Got too shocked and sick, just wanted to escape the place after he told me you were all vampires. Thought I was going to die." You began to sweat. Recalling the situation made you realize you were in the same position once again; alone with a vampire in the woods far away from people.

"Alright? So you have questions about us that you think this silly book will answer? Why ask a book when you could ask the vampire right in front of you." He faced his palms up on either side of him.

You stood astonished by his response. Instead of forcibly taking your blood he was offering some useful information to you, "You mean you're not going to kill me?"

"I considered it... Until I found out who you were." He commented with a hint of disappointment. "Luckily you've caught me at the right time, so ask away."

"Found out who I was? What do you mean?"

"Who knows what kind of shit I'll hear from the guys if they found out I got a lick of your blood." He shut down your further questions about the matter, "Now ask the questions."

Looking around as if you were about to tell a secret, you dived right into the ideas you were given from your dreams, "Can vampires drink their own blood?" You gulped remembering Jungwon drawing blood from himself.

"They can... It helps with blood cravings but it tastes very bitter. Next." He said, treating the conversation as some speed round questionnaire.

"Okay...? Can vampires drink each other's blood?" The last scene of your dream coming to mind of Sunoo taking a swig of the wine glass filled with his blood mixed with Jungwon's.

"Who have you seen doing that? Sunoo? Jaeyun?"

"No one, it was just a dream!? Sunoo and Jaeyun actually do that?" It seemed weird hearing Sunoo's name being directly suggested. It was as if your dream was a potential reflection of reality. How could that be?

"Drinking other vampires blood tastes better than drinking your own blood but it's not often we do that." The boy tapped his head to think.

"So then what occasion would you drink each other's blood?"

"Usually when we can't get ahold of human blood. Survival purposes in short. Put it this way, drinking your own blood won't make you stronger because you're not getting any new nutrients. Drinking other vampire's blood will fulfil that it's just not as vital as half-humans or better yet, full human blood."

"Half-humans?! They exist?"

"Yeah, their blood tastes a lot better than full vampire blood but it's definitely not better than full human blood. Pretty sure Sunghoon feeds off some half-blooded girl, not that I can remember her name."

[elriel-oblivion]

So it's been four days so here's part two 😁 Just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who read/liked/commented/reblogged the last part! It was such an amazing response, especially given it was my first time posting my writing here, so thanks for all the love you shared 🥰🥰

Heads up, this part is actually part one from Elain's pov. Initially I wanted to continue from where the last part left off in Elain's pov, but as I was writing the background, I realised I'd written too much to just skip when Az gets to the estate and cut straight into a continuation of part one, so I ended up rewriting the whole thing in her view. So there's no new elriel moments, but you'll get a lot of new stuff anyway 😅 I would've said you don't have to read this part to understand part three, but when I was rereading the later parts a few hours ago, I realised there's some stuff that alludes to things in this part, so I strongly recommend you don't skip this 😅😅

Also, wow, some of my fave paragraphs I've ever written are in this part 😁 Bonus points if you can find them; there are four I'm thinking of in particular 😉

Word count: ~ 3.1K. Lemme know if you'd like to be tagged/removed 😊 Next part up in two or three days 😊

AO3

Ashes from the Deep

Part II

__

It had been a pretty uneventful day as Elain worked through her new plant textbook. Feyre and Rhysand had decided to spend the weekend away at the mountain cabin, Cassian and Nesta were away doing things she wished not to think of, and Mor was at the Winter Court.

Amren had only been round in the mornings, probably to check Elain was still alive. She'd glance round the living room, examine some of those fine crystal glasses in the display cabinet and then leave. There was no difference today, though Elain always felt Amren's scrutiny upon her even when that muted silver gaze was directed elsewhere; perusing Rhys' wine collection had become a tired ruse.

So besides preparing and taking her meals with Nuala and Cerridwen, Elain had spent her afternoon with her book, making notes and copying drawings. The twins had gone off on some errands, so she'd wandered into the garden at some point to tend to her many plants, telling them how lovely they each were. The crocuses looked particularly stunning this autumn day, their pale violet colour breathing life into the shades beneath some of the trees.

With her book, she'd identified new weeds, digging into the soil to rip some pesky ones out. Sometimes she didn't want the help of a tool; sometimes she needed to feel those roots on her bare skin.

Harvesting the carrots and beetroot was also on the agenda today, along with seeding for some spectacular displays next year. She'd been collecting the seeds from some of her summer blooms, like those soft clouds of baby's breath, saving them to replant. These she sowed directly into ground she'd prepared days before, her fingers digging into the crumbly clumps of earth.

Autumn onions she'd plant tomorrow, perhaps. Feyre always remarked on how their strong taste complimented meats well, so Elain wanted to harvest some fresh for her sister for once. It'd take a few months of waiting, but there was little else better than picking out and eating food one had grown with their bare hands and the essential ingredients of love and care.

Setting her book on the patio table, Elain surveyed the garden. It was a good day's work. Plants watered and sown, weeds uprooted, and hands sweaty and soiled, Elain was proud of what she'd achieved today. There were no distractions, nothing to take her from the one thing she always found satisfaction in.

After a long shower, she found herself back in the garden with a cup of tea and a blanket. The sunset washed the sky in a blaze of red and orange glory before it yielded to the cool tones of twilight then night. Elain sat in silence, hands wrapped around her mug. How long would it be until someone's arms were wrapped around her, until she felt the warmth her sisters finally had?

Silly, these thoughts. Immortality stretched far ahead, there would be time to develop that companionship. Months and years were but a heartbeat in the life of a High Fae. She wouldn't even notice the years pass.

Or so everybody else kept saying.

With her tea finished, she perused the book of recipes she'd borrowed from Nuala. Some recipes jumped out, ingredients for which she'd been growing for a few months now. Pumpkin pie sounded especially delightful, the gourd having almost darkened and hardened to ripe quality just a couple days ago. They should be ready for harvest tomorrow.

A chill wind sent Elain inside to prepare and have her dinner in pleasant silence. Even her mind was quiet tonight. After washing her dishes, she stood by a bay window, fingers idly tapping the windowsill.

Faelights bobbed like tiny lamps, dotted through the garden. The full moon was now high in the sky, its ghostly glow illuminating the datura flowers she'd seeded half a year ago. She pulled on her blanket and went out again for a better look at those gorgeous blooms, the petals opening only at night.

Elain couldn't be happier she'd found seeds of a triple-flowered variety. They'd grown to produce large trumpets, three layers of petals ruffled against each other. Somehow she thought of her sisters as she crouched and stared at the flowers, each layer so similar, yet fighting for space and breath as it unfurled before another. It was only when they were all fully open that they could sigh along the night breeze as one, an ethereal song of togetherness, tinged with notes of poignancy, only heard by those with the will to look deeper.

The white petals were stained with velvet violet, a true vision in her garden. While the others had given her passing compliments on the flowers, Azriel had seemed stunned the first time he saw them, citing them his favourite of all the plants Elain had grown so far. Something about their shape and contrasting colours, he'd mentioned.

She smiled fondly at the memory, where his eyes sparkled as he reached for one of the soft petals.

Her hand lashed out to grab his wrist. 'Don't touch them; the leaves and stems are highly poisonous.'

His brows rose. 'You wouldn't think that at first sight. But they're beautiful, Elain. Truly magnificent,' he said, his smooth voice so low, a voice that was night given sound. And how befitting, as even those datura flowers seemed enraptured by his presence, one shy petal finally unfurling towards him.

She beamed at him. 'They like you. Flowers like it when you talk to and compliment them - but these ones haven't given me the same reaction as they have to you. I think they really like you, Azriel.'

His answering smile was heartbreakingly tender.

A few more seconds passed before she realised she still held his wrist. She silently let go.

It was a shame she'd have to dig out the datura shrub and move it inside for the winter; it did look magnificent in the moonlight.

The sky shifted past its midnight velvet, and still Elain crouched, admiring the flowers. She shivered in the night's chill. The stars above twinkled and glistened, cold and distant as ever, yet stunning - infinitely more striking than they'd ever been when she was human. A thousand different colours sparkled in that vast expanse, the moon a phosphorescent queen in the centre of her court.

The Night Court truly lived up to its name in the wee hours of the day. Its opulence never failed to mesmerise her; the enhanced Fae eyesight was at least one thing she was grateful for from this body.

Her eyelids became heavy and she yawned. Why was she still out here? It was late into the night; she should be in bed by now. But the night was so beautiful and it was so quiet and she wanted to appreciate it all just once. Just once without the expectations of others, without having to wear that miserable smile all the time.

Of course, it didn't look miserable, which is probably why almost nobody ever bothered to look deeper into Elain. She should be used to it by now, but it still felt - wrong. That most overlooked her so long as she wore a smile. That most didn't think her capable of feeling the utter bitterness and loneliness she had once seen so plain on her sisters' faces.

And in acknowledgement of her sisters' hardships, Elain didn't fault them for not looking, for not seeing her. To see past the thick blanket of darkness in one's own mind was a trial in itself. But it had been years since the war now. And still they didn't notice.

They didn't notice that Elain was being shredded from the inside out.

It was almost laughable. But not funny enough.

No, it was not funny that people still treated Elain like a child, that people wanted to keep Elain in some weird impasse of a stage between child and adult. She'd thought finally carrying out her duty and giving her hand in marriage would show everyone that she was growing up: Elain Archeron, middle born but first married. Of course it was still on her own terms, to a man whom she'd loved. A man who'd seen her through the rubble of her family's lives. But she'd overall hoped doing what was expected of her would be enough.

Clearly not. She didn't even know who she was any more. Did she ever? Everything she'd once yearned for, gone. That fragile human life would soon be just a speck on the horizon of her past.

She sighed. Rebuilding herself was going to take a long time.

But what would she have to do for people to see her, to listen to her? Throw a rage? Fall into a drunken stupor and break a few dozen bottles?

She definitely could, but those were not her. She was Elain Archeron. And so she would wait. Patience wasn't a bad thing at all; she saw it on the shadowsinger's face all the time, that tranquility and calmness she so wished to feel inside.

Azriel. Her heart softened as he entered her mind again, and she dug her fingers into the soil, if only to occupy her fidgety hands. As sure as the chaos of her visions these days, there was a mess of butterflies related to him she wasn't willing to show. Or understand.

Elain and the spymaster? Now that was laughable. Truly laughable. He was wise and patient, while she - well, everyone already thought her a child, and though he listened like no other around her, surely even he couldn't glimpse the adult she so desperately wanted everyone to see.

No, it was foolish to entertain the idea of a relationship with him. No matter how much he saw.

No matter that he was the first to see her since Graysen.

Elain exhaled. She stifled another yawn, smoothing out the soil, then brushed her hands clean. She wrapped the blanket closer around herself and stood. Twinkling stars and velvety darkness and -

There, a knot of shadows materialising at the far edge of the garden, collecting and swirling into a larger mass before Azriel himself stepped out and sagged against a tree. His shadows whirled and obscured him, a dark fire with him burning at the core.

Elain's voice left her throat before she even thought to call him and she ran over to his figure slumped in the dimness.

She couldn't help but say his name again as she neared. 'Azriel!'

Those beautiful hands fiddled with a Siphon, but he looked even worse up close. Fatigue dragged at his body, a second weight to all the muscle and armour he already had to carry. Sweat and dirt clung to him, his hair. At least the shadows were parting, swallowing each other and misting away as they often did around her. Perhaps she should ask someday why they did that. But not today, not when his breathing was so laboured.

She raised a hand - to do what, she had no idea. She couldn't just touch him right now. 'You don't look okay.'

Something else limned his features as he huffed a light laugh and said, 'I'm fine, don't worry.' His voice was raw, so starkly different to its usual icy smoothness. It was common for him to guard his emotions, but in his state, this kind of thinking was just unhealthy. What would it take for him to be honest with her?

'You don't have to pretend with me, Azriel,' she said, lowering her hand. She studied the ground, embarrassed that she'd come up to him. What could she even offer in her pathetic childlike state when he was so clearly affected by his mission right now?

His hand rose. Her heart faltered, she had to do something, and she blurted, 'Can I wash your hair, please?'

His eyes widened, his entire composure crumbling. It wasn't often that the shadowsinger looked startled, but Elain was far too shy to show that she quite liked the effect her question had on him.

'You want to wash my hair?'

His face was so exquisite, it hurt to look at it. His eyes would be even worse; it wouldn't be the first time she was rendered speechless by their kind gaze. A myriad of colours swirled in their glistening depths - gorgeous greens and brilliant browns, all so natural and rich, if only she could look at them long enough to find their matches in the garden around her. Though, his eyes were an entire spectrum of colour in their own right. How would she ever pick out each and every shade?

And if she somehow did have the courage to meet his eyes now, what would she see of herself in their reflection?

A lovesick puppy? A doe-eyed, fearful fawn?

No, she didn't want to know.

So she swallowed and focused on his hair. Perhaps this Fae eyesight was a curse, for even his hair was shockingly fascinating. Only flat black from a distance, the faelights bobbing about the trees highlighted layer upon layer of silky raven locks up close. His hair was so dark it seemed to absorb the surrounding light. Mud stained one side of his head, and it was an effort to keep her hands from brushing it away, so she said, 'I'm positive that's mud and you shouldn't sleep with that in your hair. It'll only take a few minutes.'

He ran a hand through his hair, clumps of dirt falling out.

'You've managed to get some on your face, too.' There were light specks of mud and blood across his face, a more noticeable patch along his cheekbone, thrown into sharper relief by the faelights and his own weariness. Was that a cut beneath the patch? And another on his temple?

She leashed her arms.

What had happened? He wore the signs of a fight, but why would he come here when he knew Elain was the only one home?

His eyes bored into her face, but she refused to meet them. He seemed to lean forward then, stumbling.

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous that he wouldn't even acknowledge he was in need. Azriel rarely stumbled. Any fatigue Elain had felt just a while ago was now burrowing down a little longer. Her voice was firm when she spoke. 'I'm washing your hair. It'll help relax you into falling asleep.'

His brows rose, but if Elain stood there one more moment she wouldn't have the courage to do anything for him. For herself - she could take care of someone else. She could do for Azriel what she hadn't done for Feyre all those years as a human.

And for Azriel, she could tend to the male who'd provided her with comfort and safety in this world of distress and danger.

So she pulled him along, clenching her jaw and refusing to look back. Her heart hammered in her chest but she continued, hand wrapped round his armoured arm. Her hand slid down to his wrist but just as she was about to replace her grip, he grabbed her other hand and pulled her into him.

The shadows instantly began to ensconce them, dozens of those cool tendrils twining like vines. The estate loomed huge before them, and Elain gripped Azriel's hand tighter. 

'My bathroom,' she said. Beneath the low whisper of those shadows, her blood thrummed, her heart so painfully obvious against her ribs now. It would be a wonder if the spymaster wasn't aware of it. Though she did hear another flutter above, right by her ear. But as expected, the shadows made quick work of their journey and she didn't have the chance to dwell on it further.

Now out of the comfort of Azriel's hold, Elain set down her blanket and made to grab a chair from her bedroom. His dark presence was so overwhelming that she exhaled lightly as she entered the room and took the chair. She dragged it to the sink, avoiding his gaze, and pulled a towel, soap and a large jug from the cupboard by the door.

As she settled the soap and jug on the sink, she dared a glance at him. He was still clad in full armour, those black scales gleaming like obsidian over his skin, his Siphons glistening jewels across his body. 'I think you'll have to collapse your armour for this,' she said.

He inclined his head and tapped a Siphon, those scales lashing back into each other with cruel elegance. They were a mirror of their master: cold, controlled and unyielding, forged from scintillating darkness. He was a night sky riddled with stars; light existed if only one bothered to look for it.

Azriel's great wings righted themselves as he stood straight, now looking smaller in just his black tunic and trousers. Something about him seemed vulnerable without the armour, so Elain breathed, 'It's beautiful, all of it.' The hulking armour, the classic simplicity of the tunic and trousers, and the male who wore them all.

He was just so wonderful, Azriel. An enigma that could see her own. Her heart clenched.

Azriel rustled his wings, colour blossoming on his cheeks.

Elain blinked and pulled the chair out a little. 'Please sit.' As he sunk down, she rested the towel on his shoulders, hovering her fingers above his forehead. Her body tensed and her fingers remained suspended. It was like a spark of tension flickered in the space between their skin, teasing her, tempting her, taunting her.

After all, she'd offered to wash his hair, an act that would certainly require touching. But why was she so hesitant? She'd touched him before - kissed his cheek, even. Although that had been in the heat of adrenaline, a mark of her gratitude where a simple thank you wouldn't suffice, not for risking his own life for hers.

This was - what was this?

She finally lowered her fingers through that tense spark, pushing his head back against the sink. It was exhilarating, this contact, but he lowered his wings, shifting on the seat. Elain moved into the space he gave, turning on the tap as he went still. Just as her body was taut, taut as the skin of a drum.

She checked the water. Warm. It was time to start.

Azriel was looking up at her. Something like yearning swirled in his eyes.

He looked so tired. It made her heart ache.

'You can close your eyes,' Elain whispered. And he did.

___

Feedback's welcomed; thanks for reading 😊

If anyone wants to know what the datura flowers look like, CTTO:

@illyrian-lover-flower @julesherondalex @nooriee @mis-lil-red @verifiefangirl @tswaney17