#PLEASE TRUST I HAVE ANOTHER GIFSET FOR YOU

[hertl]

sharkudablr gift exchange ⟼ philip levine

a gift for @puckpocketed based on the career of cult sharks goalie arturs irbe !

[unadulteratedkr]

~Let's talk about credit~

(not financial credit trust me you don't want to take financial advice from me lol)

No, today I am inviting y'all to the table to talk about the importance of crediting other creators in fandom!

Because, listen. We don't have a peer-review system. We don't have to submit our stuff to a plagiarism checker or go through stringent editing when shitposting on tumblr; we operate in an honor system of crafting folklore using our favorite blorbos, and that means that inspiration and using the specific words and images from canon creates a grey area on what ought to be credited, and how to do it in a way that creates a solid, strong community.

Here's a little of my philosophy and how I give proper credit where it's due, so I figured I'd share them to hopefully encourage others in making sure no one out there ends up becoming fandom's James Somerton

1. Links are your friends, use them enthusiastically

Drooled over a gifset that made you write a poem? Read a fic that made you pull out your embroidery hoop? Saw some art that made you write a song? Link to the original! Tag the original artist, hyperlink to the giffer, share the fic via the amazing shortcut button on Ao3, it's what those creators deserve! Even if it's a shitpost, that creator is where your idea started, and it's the right thing to do to share directly where your audience can connect with the person who inspired you.

This holds INFINITELY true if you are directly quoting someone. If you've used someone else's words to create your own work, link back to the original. No one wants to be sent a fic or a funny post on tumblr and then feel the sinking pit in their stomach when they realize that post is their own words with someone else's name on them.

2. Ask for permission when you can

Now, the reason I threw the addendum on this with "when you can" is because knowing when to ask for permission is more of an art versus a science. I myself have written more than one fic inspired by art where I didn't reach out to the artist before I shared the fic because I had no contact with them (the joys of me refusing to touch the garbage that is the bird site). BUT this is why point number one is to always link back to the original inspiration, because I believe that should always be the bare minimum.

THAT BEING SAID.

If you have a way of contacting the original fellow fandom person who inspired you? Reach out and ask them if they'd feel comfortable with you creating something! 999 times out of 1000, they're gonna be over the MOON you want to create something inspired by what they made, and they'll be really fucking pleased you reached out to check.

3. Ask yourself: is this a "two cakes" situation or am I putting my name on someone else's cake?

This is another one that can absolutely fall into a bit of a grey area. I have written many a fic that started out with me reading a take or a fic that went in a WILDLY different direction from what I was expecting or wanted, and I went "okay, fuck it. I'll write my own." And that's absolutely been a great motivator for me to start a project!

HOWEVER.

That is me creating a different flavor of cake, putting my own frosting on it, and probably adding something weird like lemon zest and instant coffee for a lemonade cappucino chiffon that shouldn't work (but definitely does, trust me)

If I were to have read a fic or a take and then gone, "Oh, yeah, definintely, here's the same idea but now I've rephrased it juuust a little and now it's under MY username on my blog".... that's slapping a different color of frosting on the same cake and claiming it's mine. If you find yourself doing that, I really invite you to pause and consider why you felt the need to do so instead of sharing the original post.

Like, not to bring Shakespeare into it (they say, poorly concealing their icon), but fandom can be exactly like how Juliet views love. Sharing joy in what others have created absolutely can be as "boundless as the sea [...] the more I give [...], the more I have, for both are infinite". It does not take away from the joy your fellow fandom friends will have in your own original work to share the work of others.

4. Hyping up your inspiration is FUN

Finally, this is more of me going "no really, proper credit isn't going to mean people love YOU less" because I truly believe in the power of how much FUN it really is to give credit where it's due. I was buzzing for WEEKS in anticipation of publishing Objection! and The 'I Duoy' Newlywed Special because the marvelous @jackuntiljune had brainstromed with me on the name for the boat my boys eloped on. And I get so fucking giddy when I see someone comment on those fics about the name of the boat because I get to take a giant breath and go "MY FRIEND JACK CAME UP WITH IT, AREN'T THEY AMAZING?!"

If you practice giving credit where it's due, I promise promise PROMISE it will become a joy. It's FUN getting to bring more people into the sandbox to play, and I know I love it when there's more than one person out there I can yell at (affectionate) when I've been emotionally destroyed (again, affectionate) by a gifset or art or fic <3

Thanks so much for reading this far! I can't wait to keep sharing inspiration with all of you out there

[ace-of-spaders]

*taps the mic and laughs nervously because of the major stage fright*

Lizzington shippers, fam, grandmas and grandpas, can I have a moment of your attention, please?

It's not a secret that, while some people in Lizzington community are still active, whether they write or make gifs or keep our dash full of Lizzington even in this trying times ( @melbob26-blog, thank you for this! ), Lizzington community as a whole went into hibernation over the last couple of years.

And I get it, interests change, especially when one show ends and there's another ongoing, moving on from the show that ended is totally natural, especially when it didn't give your favorite characters the happy ending they deserved.

I get it.

Hell, for a pretty lengthy while there I focused on other ships and shows, too, especially after TBL ended ended last year.

But you know what I realized earlier today, when I reread some of the old fics, browsed through gifsets and text posts, watched some fanvids?

It's the show that ended, for some in 2021, for others in 2023. And the only thing that means is that it cannot disappoint us anymore.

( it's not like we were suddenly deprived of quality content, because let's face it, the fans have been the main source of the quality lizzington content for years now, while the show gave us mere crumbs, on a good day )

But Red and Liz?

They are still out there, fighting criminals, catching Blacklisters, travelling the world, shamelessly flirting, toppling shadow organizations, raising Agnes and/or any other children they have, and generally being the sexy badass power couple they are!

Nothing changed in that regard.

So why would we mourn them, when they are out there, healthy and happy and in the middle of yet another adventure? I'm sure right this moment Red is drawing Liz into another one of his heists and she's only too happy to join him, even though she pretends that she's not, for the sake of the game.

There's literally no reason for us to stop writing, giffing, editing, sharing theories and headcanons and memes and just talking about our favorite couple.

And by writing all of this, I want to propose something daring to you:

Let's revive the Lizzington community!

Let's rewatch earlier seasons and gif the hell out of them because it's been a while and because precious moments between these two are not going to become less precious even if it's giffed 10 or 100 more times, not to mention that ever gifmaker's style is different, so there are virtually no two identical gifsets as there are no two identical snow flakes.

Let's make fanvideos, picspams, picture edits, fanart, moodboards! The amount of songs, quotes, moments etc that can inspire you is virtually endless!

Let's write fics, let's explore AUs, let's give each other prompts and challenge each other to try something new or practice some aspect of writing, like writing kisses or AUs or hugs or making up Blacklisters etc!

Let's share headcanons and theories and ideas and what our versions of Red and Liz are like, because everyone has their own unique versions of Red and Liz living in their head, and it's just beautiful, if you ask me!

Let's reblog stuff, filling each other's dashes with Lizzington!

Let's scream about Lizzington because no one does it like them!

Let's revive the Lizzington Community, we all miss it!

PS. Feel free to reblog this post – spread the suggestion!)

PPS. To assure you that I'm not the type of person who encourages others but doesn't do anything themselves, I can tell you I've already got some ideas for a couple of Lizzington events in mind. Those include challenges, thematic weeks etc.

PPPS. I'm not sure how many people are checking the tags these days, so I'm gonna tag some people I know under the cut, just in case, to spread the suggestion. If you weren't tagged, trust me, it's nothing personal!

@meetmeatthecoda @iwouldlovetoeatyourtoast @agxntkeen @factoseintolerant @tale-xistime @james-baeder @lettie1609 @withwhatiam @peace-love-on-planet-earth @missourired @felilaprivada @strawberry-pills @roominthecastle @codewordpumpkin @my-robot-heart @kitkate91060 @imyourplusone @shelly1952 @itsjustme-itsmylife @castle2cute @nancyjocom @cress-26 @lunaarlilacs @femaleoptimistic @scifi-gk @greeneyedsoul88 @figureofdismay @shippinglizzington @kissthefuture @thetwistedargent @actuallylorelaigilmore @sorrydearie @turningtimeinthetardis @buildinggsr @apicturewithasmile @windfalling @piketrickfeet

[kayluh1915]

psssst, disclaimer…

@swiftllama: *texts me with no context* EVERY BTS THEY GET GAYER AND GAYER

Me after watching said BTS:

It's Ianthony moment breakdown time, BBY!

I know I've been gone for a while but I've really been going through it, y'all. I want to post more from here on out, but I can't make any promises. Executive disfunction and ADHD paralysis sssuuuccckkkkssss.

Anyways, back to our regularly scheduled screamings!

Also, this is from a members only video. If you can, please support Ian and Anthony directly. I do not share content outside of small Ianthony moments like these.

The noise that came out of my mouth was not human in anyway, shape, or form! Anthony has carried Ian like this before, but it was before his departure. Back then they were really stiff and awkward with each other since their friendship was strained, as they have mentioned several times. Now they're super close and don't give a flying fuck and MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!

Sam has been keeping me up to date with everything and I just can't believe the timeline we're in. Everything else might be shit, but at least Ian and Anthony are back together and give us moments like these on the weekly! 😭They keep me sane.

ANYWAYS, I made some gifs of the moment because AHHHH and I'm going to break down the little moments that made my fandom heart flutter

Let's get to it!

Right off the bat, Ian very minorly freaks out when Anthony picks him up and immediately grips Anthony's arm. Logically, I know that anyone would grab onto the closest thing on instinct in this situation... but my Ianthony brain is screaming: "AWWW! ANTHONY MAKES HIM FEEL SAFE!!!!!!!"

Okay, my logic brain is calming down now because this gif just confirmed that Ian not only trusts Anthony whole heartedly but also FEELS SAFE! As soon as Anthony reassures him that he won't let him fall Ian relaxes and starts to let go of the death grip he has on Anthony's arm near the end of the gif.

Another demonstration of how much Ian trusts Anthony. He doesn't even flinch when he lifts him up and even has that face he makes that screams: "yeah yeah, we know Mr. Buff." after Anthony comments on how easy it is for him to hold Ian.

DUDE! The way Ian just goes limp after Anthony once again lets him know that he's got him. IT'S SO FUCKING CUTE and, again, is proof of how much he trusts him. He knows Anthony won't drop him and just decides to relax for a second, putting his full weight on Anthony's shoulders. I CANNOT! It's so intimate!!! Ian probably also took notes from Rhett's "I'm Dead" move he pulls on Link which I find hilarious.

Okay, this is my favorite one of this whole gifset. The way Anthony looks back at Ian to make sure he's still comfortable and then smiling to someone about it!?!? BRING AMBERLAMPS! MY HEART HAS STOPPED!

Damn, I needed these two in my life so badly right now. The fact that they pulled THIS SHIT just makes it so much better. I know they've said and done things more damning within the past few months, but I enjoy more intimate moments like these. Yeah, it's for a bit, but it shows just how much Anthony cares for Ian and how much Ian trusts him.

Lord have mercy, I need a nap after all of that. 😮‍💨

[chinzhilla]

most popular vs favorite gifsets of 2024

tagged by the love of my life jay @kantpattanawat to do this fun little retrospective. it's cool to go through each month and reminisce on what shows were airing at the time, how insane they made me, and what i created as a result!

january most popular: yeowoon in ep 4 because he cried on the track field after myungha was nice to him and none of us ever recovered Favorite: phayatharn x first light. there are some things i would change about it now and my vision was hampered by tumblr's size limit but i still love this set

february most popular: myungha being infatuated with yeowoon. the lfls era was really something 🥹 favorite: i am gonna cheat and do two here because phayatharn x fly to you (flash warning) is one of my favorite lyric sets i've ever made but i also had soooo much fun with my little passion project abcs of love set

march most popular: latte appreciation post 🐶🩵 favorite: tharn blorbo bleebus set. up there for favorites ever, another one that was a lot of fun

april most popular: thk pilot trailer. one of my favorite fandom moments ever was that trailer drop kasjdfjk favorite: same as above. we are entering my giffing dry spell so there won't be much to choose from, especially super creative sets, for the next three months

may most popular: chainpun (mostly pun) reacting to tanfang's romance journey favorite: babe's big sparkly anime eyes 💖

june most popular: word of honor episode 10. no i never finished this rewatch. check back with me in 3 to 5 business years. favorite: i suppose it has to be the only other gifset i made in june - ryuzen flashbacks

july most popular: pun making up for lost time. we deserved so much more of them than we got but this moment will always be legendary favorite: was shocked kitsune!vee didn't take the top spot this month but he has top spot in my heart. one of the scenes of all time and i really like the coloring i landed on here

august most popular: cringefail tyme. as it should be. favorite: definitely ray x trust me mate (flash warning). the second gif is one of my favorites i've ever made

september most popular: akkayan face kisses. warms the heart. favorite: 4 minutes ep 8. i think it's one of my prettiest episode sets. love the gif of bible with the neon wings especially

october most popular: jackjoke being in love in front of everybody's salad favorite: jackjoke and the almost-confession. true to form i ignored the dialogue and just giffed them staring at and being soft for each other and i still get warm fuzzies looking at this set

november most popular: jackjoke and the confession of the year favorite: i'm doing three this time because this is my post and i make the rules. #1 is akk(ayan) x beginner's guide to destroying the moon (flash warning). this set ended up being less than the sum of its parts but i really like some of the components, like the shifting letters in the first gif and the the text illuminated by akk's lighter. #2 is jackjoke evil parallels because sets like this are very darkly fun for me to make and nothing fuels me like the 'sick and twisted' tags i get. and #3 is the sign rainbow because it's the first rainbow set i've made and i really like the way it turned out.

december most popular: style tormenting fadel in the kitchen. one of my better colorings i think favorite: gotta be ray x black box warning (flash warning). another set that was just fucking fun to make, the ideas just flowed so easily. and i love how it turned out. also honorable mention to this hope moment that changed my life. not many people felt the same way apparently but this set has a million notes. to me

and that's that! not tagging anyone cause i think most people have done something like this already if they wanted to (and also i'm slightly hungover and after all that i simply cannot be bothered. love you all though <3). that said though if you haven't, and you want to, please use this as an excuse! and tag me if you want!!

happy new year beloveds i wish you all a joyous 2025 💖

[hellaverse-events]

What is this?

Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss is about the structure of Hell through Vivienne Medrano's mind. With the completion of the first season of Hazbin Hotel, we are excited to host a themed week to focus on Hell a little bit more. Through the themed week, we are hoping for more content from you guys, whether it is art (of any media other than murder, we'll keep that to the shows only), fanfic or anything else that makes sense to you to create!

When is it?

HellaVerse Week will take place between October 27th, 2024 to November 2nd to honor the release of the Hazbin Hotel Pilot which is October 28th, 2019, and @random-nerd-posts is hosting other events between that time and can't do two things at once it seems.

HOWEVER! This should not stop you from creating fan works for the fandoms either! But if you post before the week, we might miss you, so be sure to tag us when you do post so we can share the joy of creation with you.

Are there prompts?

Yes! There are four to choose from each day and some alternate prompts as well. This post has the final prompts and explains the tagging system. Many thanks to the discord mods for helping ensure the list looked pretty and readable.

The theme of the prompts is rainbows, rings of hell and the seven deadly sins, which in itself is a load of days you can use as well.

What can I make?

You can make or write basically anything: haikus, limericks, 100 word drabbles, ficlets, long fics, traditional art, digital art, gifsets, cosplay, embroidery, etc.

Just keep the killings to the shows please, I don't need to be arrested for accessory to murder.

What about existing fanworks?

Feel free to link existing works you have completed in the past, but they need to be tagged accordingly so we can share the works on the blog and you get credit for the day. You can also recommend other's works (obviously crediting to the rightful creator) so that they can get credit for the day as well.

What if I'm not interpreting a prompt correctly?

If the prompt calls to you one way, but not another person's, that's fine. This is what we call the creative process and encourage it.

Is NSFW Allowed?

YES! For sure NSFW is allowed. Yes, we will reblog nsfw content. Do we feel uncomfortable with the possibilities of minors participating, yes, but we also trust that they know not to post nsfw content online. So don't do it.

We are allowing NSFW works because... HAVE YOU SEEN THE SHOWS?!?! Have you seen Asmodeus, or Hazbin Hotel episode 4? Yeah, those are nsfw, so can the content. BUT TAG ACCORDINGLY OR WE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT!

For more clarification, check out our page of the blog: What is NSFW?

Are there other events for HellaVerse?

Not that we know, but there is a @nimonabigbang happening. The writer applications close March 1st. Artist applications close April 1st and more information can be found on the blog, which is run by @random-nerd-posts and @zyrafowe-sny.

There's also a @nimona-week going on, which is run by Zyrafowe and you should give them a follow.

Feel free to participate in those if you liked the movie/comic or like shapeshifters!

Feel free to send an ask if you have additional questions. We will also be updating the FAQ as needed.

[objectivelyimpermanent]

I watched My Personal Weatherman and I really liked it. It was cute. I'll rewatch it later. But I do understand why some people are so wary of it. I don't think it's unusual that I check Tumblr before I decide to watch a series. I usually scan the gifs because my main attraction to series is production values and general prettiness. My point is that some of the gifsets do give off a wrong impression of the context of Yoh's and Mizuki's relationship. I was under the impression that the scene where Mizuki ties up Yoh and gets a little rough was right after the one where he finds Yoh playacting kink with (whom I thought at the time was) a potential romantic rival, and that sort of dubiety is a bit of an uneasy thing for me.

I was slightly worried that the consent was all deep-subtextual or linguistic, or that it was one of the cop-outs where it's presumed that there's an agreement off-screen which is kept so vague that the audience isn't made aware of where are the boundaries. I've found that sort of thing a lot in yaoi and shounen ai, so usually I have to screen for a panel where it's made clear that there are lines of which the characters are aware.

In the series it's fairly clear that it's firmly on the right side of dubious consent, and that it's kinky and not abusive, but that's only with the context of all the interstitial domestic scenes. The high-passion scenes which are gifset most often give off a bit of a bad impression without them.

-- This is where it turns into therapy. Please ignore if you like.

I'm not alone in sympathising with Yoh's inability to read the room. When you feel out-of-step with others, it's difficult to trust them. It's like being locked in a room with a telepath. There's this person with this superpower that makes them able to read your mind, but to you, they're a stone wall; and since this ability is so common that it's only a superpower because you can't do it, it's clear that you're the one who has failed, and so any situation that forms because of your lack of understanding is your own fault. You have an incompetence that makes your life difficult, and everyone around you seems to navigate with ease these complex social nuances that either you don't notice or of which you don't register the significance. It's like being very short in a room full of giants and, having climbed up to the bar with difficulty, suddenly realising that everyone has already left without noticing that you were still there and still struggling.

The yearning then is not for someone to understand you, but for you to be able to understand another enough to trust them despite their understanding of you. It's difficult to trust someone with this much of an advantage.

I say all these deeply embarrassing things to explain why I (and I think some others perhaps) find it so uneasy when the consent is dubious due to a social reticence or due to a deficit in explicit communication.

I understand that, with Japan, it can be a cultural thing; but Japanese also has quotidian, functional things like linguistic aspects that make more clear your relationship to others and their relationship to you as a matter of existing in the world. That sort of coded social protocol is a relief. [Conversely, this is not to say that unease or miscommunication is impossible in Japan or with Japanese, as can be seen with Yoh. But I don't think that Yoh's miscommunication is the same thing precisely as that about which I'm talking.]

It's unwise to trust strangers, but if you don't trust strangers, you can never become close enough to trust someone wisely. It's scary to let pass that kind of superpower, and since trust is a skill, you are going to fail many times before you succeed. When you're this bad at reading the room, failure is like letting a tiger into your bedroom. It's infantilising.

Is your superpower so strong that you can understand me better than I do myself? Do I trust you in that? How do I know if I'm wrong to do so? What do I do if I am wrong? Not everyone is Segasaki Mizuki, and I'm not Yoh.

[mushroomwriter]

(pt 1) "Atleast we can suffer together!" lol true! Gosh, that line (and tbh that whole scene with Sergio and Martín murders me of FEELS)... it's just so angsty cause it's not even the fact Andrés died, but he was also sick and Sergio knew that and he still never truly considered the possibility of his brother dying :(

BTW, what headcanon for the hermanos backstory do you subscribe to? I'm not sure when you first started the show, but I watched the show back when s3 was just released and in those days everyone subbed to the hc that they were half brothers, and there was this interview where Alvaro mentioned even more headcanons abt the bros (they shared a father, who abandoned Andrés for Sergio & his mom, then after he died Andrés appears on the scene and tells Sergio he is his brother, took care of him for medical treatment etc)... of course, 2 years later s5 seemingly retconned all that and just made them normal full(?) brothers growing up in the same household with both parents which I didn't appreciate very much lol. Anyway, just asking you that because some of my thoughts about the hermanos are influenced by my thoughts about their childhood - especially if Andrés raised Sergio as a kid, it makes everything so much more WORSE and heartbreaking cause of course he'd have grown up thinking his older brother is invincible almost, right? Interested to know what you think!!

(pt 2) Yeah all but one of my exams are done with... meh I've been pretty miserable but thank you for all your kind wishes! You're so right, if Andrés just mentioning Sergio makes us feel things, I can't even imagine what a whole scene with them together again would do!! I miss Sergio too 🥲 Once again, feel free to take your time and wait for the inspo, I actually came across an angsty quote that might fit the Scene that shall not be Named and since you love pain, I will tell you. "I wanted to fall down right there but I knew you wouldn't catch me because you're dead." - Richard Siken. Don't think about how as Andrés fell, Sergio was also falling in Helsinki's arms. (Also please don't feel like I'm forcing you to make a gifset with the quote or anything, I'm sorry if it comes across that way I just wanted to share for the #hermanos angst) I have no words for your next para but just. yes. I agree with everything you said. I will never get over the fact he literally tried to run back into the (idk how many metres long) tunnel himself despite knowing the police were on the other side and it would almost definitely lead to capture but Sergio was willing to risk all that just to get his brother to safety :( (pt 3) "When they're together, they're a big brother and a little brother" I knowww 🥺🥺 it makes me so SOFT. I'm with Andrés, how can you possibly eat breakfast when the world's most precious hermanito is not there yet? That scene when he wakes up Sergio is so sweet, Sergio looks so adorable and just the fond amusement Andrés has when he picks up the book "did you stay up late studying again" and how gentle he is when waking him up, Sergio also does not startle in the slightest, in that small moment you can see how familiar they are, how much they both love and trust each other, your honour I LOVE THEM!! Ah the Toledo house always makes me think how they spent those 5 months pretending to be strangers, I mean you can't tell me that Sergio was also not taking every excuse he can to spend more time with his brother (it's DEFINITELY to discuss important plans with the heist Captain!) but I like to imagine Sergio also took care of Andrés in secret, helping him with the meds and stuff... despite everything, Andrés did have a clock running out and they both knew it :( On another sidenote, I've been wanting to write a oneshot of the bros in Toledo since like 2020 but I never got around to it LOL so thank you once again for letting me ramble abt the heist brothers to you Oh god yes, those lyrics truly come straight for the heart and make Sergio's grief infinitely worse! Awww I'm glad you enjoy my thoughts (and I hope you haven't regretted your invitation yet) Haha, you should probably put this one under a cut too, how do these things always get so long??? Truly the hermanos live rent free in my head... but you're right it's great the Range of thoughts they give us from sheer tragedy to happy little childhood memories asdfjsk. YES IT'S THE CUTEST EVER and Alvaro plays it so well :') Comfort scene of all time to me <3 No, thank you for your patience and just being so lovely!! As always, it gives me so much serotonin to talk with you abt the heist bros ❤ Have a great day/week whenever you see this!! (also I hope you got all 3 parts, my wifi is being so weird rn 😭 I can't imagine how confusing it would be to get only 1 half or someth, anyway. pls ask me to resend if tumblr did in fact disappear an ask)

So true (that scene really leaves me on the floor suffering!!)... he knew and yet... at the very least he was convinced they were going to have time after the heist (the scene where he's giving instructions to the other band members about where they'll live etc. always gets me because he was supposed to go somewhere with Andrés...)

About the hermanos' childhood, I feel like I'm an outlier there 😅 because I learned of that headcanon later, I don't remember exactly when, for sure after watching season 3, and season 3 gave me the impression they were full brothers, because I think we get scenes where Andrés refers to their mother and to their father in a way that made me go, okay, so they share both parents. You know, the scene where he tells Sergio he's got mom's disease and the scene where he asks him where did dad go wrong when he robbed the bank... So when after that I saw that interview I didn't really embrace (? I don't know how to say that lol) the half-brothers headcanon because the show had already given me another impression. On the other hand, I immediately accepted the idea of Andrés bringing Sergio to Russia where he got the cures he needed (also because lol that's a point they never clarified in the show, right? How he ended up healing). That said, I really like the potential and implications of the half-brothers headcanon too... like, for example, as you said, Andrés basically raising Sergio. I think you can kinda work that into the full-brothers scenario as well, though maybe not quite at the same level, because if their parents already had trouble with medical expenses for Sergio when they both were there, once their mother was alone I imagine she really had to bury herself into work, which left Andrés in a position to really have to take care of Sergio... also as I mentioned I believe he was the one who found that hospital in Russia where Sergio could be cured, and found a (probably not very legal) way to take him there and so on... and at this point I like to play with both options and confront them and see like, okay, in half-brothers scenario Andrés probably resented their mother for abandoning him while in full-brothers scenario he ended up resenting her because she couldn't take proper care of them and (probably especially) because she failed to come up with a way to save Sergio's life, Andrés had to take matters into his own hands. And I think it's super interesting that he doesn't end up resenting Sergio (which I think he could have easily done in both scenarios! Like, in half-brothers scenario because he was abandoned for him, and in full-brothers scenario I have to imagine his unhealthy little brother received a lot more attentions!) One thing I think we get more intensely in the half-brothers scenario is that taking care of Sergio is really a Choice, like he really didn't have to and still!

Oh, and regardless of scenarios, I really love the idea of Andrés being the one who ultimately saved Sergio's life, it's possible that at some point doctors in their hometown were a bit resigned about him not making it but Andrés was like NO. And he did save him! I bet he's ferociously proud of that, and maybe it's another think that makes him feel especially protective of his hermanito (and makes Sergio feel like Andrés can do ANYTHING).

I see, at least you're almost done... ugh, I'm so sorry, I get it... I hope once you get rid of that last one too you'll feel a bit better... Gosh, I would probably never ever stop screaming if we get a new hermanos scene! And HOLY HELL, that quote fits the whole thing so well, I feel sick! Literally literally Sergio falling but he's not falling in his brother's arms, his brother isn't there anymore... no, absolutely, don't worry, it goes without saying that I appreciate the #hermanos angst, and suggestions about quotes that could fit them are always welcomed (I mean, as of right now I wouldn't know how to make a gifset with it but maybe by turning it over and over in my head I'll get an idea...)!! Also, I actually got inspiration for a gifset about them, finally!!! from another Richard Siken's quote, no less (he was really writing about them lmao), like I'm still not completely sure of which scenes to use, but I do have an idea, I hope it'll work :D

Oh god that's true. Oh man he really tried to run into that tunnel, no matter how crazy that was... I cry!!

It's trueee, that scene where Andrés wakes Sergio up OVERFLOWS with familiarity, it's so clear it's not the first time he had to wake his little brother up after he stayed up late to study and had to pick up some book Sergio left lying around... he's so fondly amused!! Please and now I'm smiling so much at the idea of Sergio coming up with Very Important Topics He Needs to Discuss with The Heist Captain... and I wonder how many times they were the last ones left in a room (a mere coincidence, of course!)... and yeah, I bet Sergio also played the Finding Many Small Ways To Take Care Of You game, this is making me emotional! Hehe I'm happy I gave you the chance to talk about these things, if you ever get around to write that please let me know (if you want to of course)

I definitely don't regret my invitation, when I saw your new messages I was like yessss! Oh right, at this point the ability to put things under a cut is my friend sjsjsjsk but I feel you, I can't get them out of my head!!

Don't mention it!! Talking with you about the hermanos is such a serotonine boost, and honestly I very much needed that, the last few weeks have been pretty tiring! Thank you, I hope you do too, despite that accursed exam! Please take care! (Also as you can see all three parts made it safely to my inbox, thankfully!)

[what-if-nct]

hiii today's reminder is the drama that I've been following obsessively through reels and tumblr and recap articles but don't wanna commit to watching fully if it ends sad is ending next week and I'm so excited to finally watch it after finding it absolutely everything about it

also re your last reply. block him, and let a few people around you know. ideally tell the people you live with, so they can stay alert, and someone else you trust who can come help you if need be. you don't owe it to him to turn him down gently, and you definitely don't have to coddle him after everything. just block him. also if there's some kind of guard/security personnel in your building/area, let them know too please

Hiii, that is the best way to watch any show before you actually commit to it to scope out how it goes and if you'll actually like it. I always watch shows depending on TikToks and Tumblr gifsets I've seen. It's how I started watching Abbott Elementary. Oh also commercials. Like I'm still trying to figure out if I can handle watching Swarm but also Rory Caulkin is in it. That's enough incentive for me. I hope you enjoy it after you collect everything you need to know about it.

Okay, I already blocked him because he just wasn't listening to anything I was saying and was just trying to wear me down and beg. And I told the guy I'm seeing he does live the closest to me compared to all of my friends. I can't quite tell my family I live with okay so I know I'm 30 but I'm actually not allowed to hangout with guys so I have to always lie about who I'm with and where I am so i can't tell my family. Is that safe? No and Does 98% time no one knows where I am or who I'm with? Yeah and have I been in a hotel room in a completely different city with a guy I just met? Yeah but it just makes living with my family easier that way. But I'm fine I've only been in scary situations like twice and I'm okay. But I'm really hoping that he just kinda forgets about me I just don't understand why he's so fixated on me and demanding of me. But I should be fine I was just really overwhelmed and I swear I just get barraged with messages and d-pics from ex hook ups every single day and they just won't take no for an answer and it's tiring even if I block one another pops up and I'm so tired. I tried so hard to move away from that lifestyle but everyday I just get reminded all ill ever be is someones sex doll and its my only purpose and no one will love me and im sorry i keep just over sharing ok im done im sorry.

Oh also last night I had a dream and you were in it. I was watching a movie and it was just a cute sleep over movie and you showed up and we had snacks and blankets and when the sleepover in the movie was crashed by a bunch of guys and turned into a big party four of the girls hid in the bathroom away from the party and we were talking about how we'd do the same thing and we were just talking about the movie and eating snacks the whole dream.

[faithchel]

STELLA’S HOLIDAY GRAPHICS REQUESTS.

it’s that time of year again! wanted to celebrate the end of another year and my newly freed-up schedule to do a little thank-you to all of my beloved followers & mutuals.

samples of my standard work can be found here. things that aren’t featured in a specific tag (banners/headers, gifsets, etc) are scattered through my blog and my oc tags.

just a few general guidelines, nothing groundbreaking:

those familiar with my work know that blood, body horror, artistic nudity, etc. are more than fine — please just act in good faith and know i reserve the right to decline anything that makes me uncomfortable (discriminatory, racist, terfy, targeted/harmful intent, etc., the usual Big Ones). following me is not a requirement.

those guidelines established, anything fandom or request-wise goes!!* if you have something specific in mind — or even if you don’t — the more references, color/thematic associations, and so on, the better. lay it on me. *edited to clarify that, yes, original characters, oc x canon, oc x oc etc are welcomed and encouraged!

there’s no slot limit, just be aware that since this will operate on a first-come-first-served basis, i may not be able to guarantee completion by a specific date (though if it’s intended for a holiday gift, please let me know upfront and i’ll be sure to get it to you before the intended date). i can let you know what the expected turnaround will be based on the queue upfront, however, so please don’t hesitate to ask!!

and that’s it! will remain open through the new year (officially, unofficially there’s no firm line). thanks again for being lovely and trusting me with your concepts and have a fantastic rest of the year! <3

[gallavichthings]

I posted 1,225 times in 2022

77 posts created (6%)

1,148 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@ianandmickeygallavich

@gallawitchxx

@gallavichthings

@doodlevich

@suzy-queued

I tagged 1,169 of my posts in 2022

Only 5% of my posts had no tags

#fanfiction - 525 posts

#fanart - 291 posts

#gifsets - 224 posts

#kinktober22 - 152 posts

#gw2022 - 86 posts

#gallavich - 46 posts

#gw2022fanfiction - 41 posts

#ian x mickey - 38 posts

#shameless us - 29 posts

#graphics - 29 posts

Longest Tag: 72 characters

#feel free to send ideas just know i'll also feel free to ignore them lol

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Gallavich Gift Exchange 2022

It’s a wonderful time of the year yet again! Time for another gift exchange! I’m keeping it pretty much the same as last year, since that seemed to go well. Hope to get many participants again!

Please read the rules before signing up.

General rules:

Click here to sign up. You’ll be asked for a prompt for the gift you want to receive. Please notice you will also be required to make a gift for someone else (hence the word exchange). Having a Tumblr account is not mandatory, though it does make things a bit easier.

Once sign-ups close, I’ll be making a list of all the wanted prompts for you to choose what you want. This will be done in a first-come, first-served basis (if by any chance the prompts left are somehow not possible to be completed by the authors/artists left, the people who’ve requested them might be asked to make some changes).

If by any reason you think you won’t be able to finish your gift, let me know as soon as possible so I can find someone else to finish in your place. Please know that in this case it’s possible that the gift being done for you isn’t concluded either.

One last thing: you’re allowed to send anonymous messages to the person whose prompt you’re fulfilling to ask for more information (or just to be cute :) ), as long as you don’t disclose your identity, of course. If the person doesn’t have anonymous messages enabled or isn’t on Tumblr, let me know and I’ll send them the messages on your behalf.

As always, send me any questions you might have via askbox or chat.

Minimum requirements are as follows:

Fanfiction - 1,000

Fanart - lineart

Gifset/photoset - 6 gifs/pictures

Edits/manips: 4 small images OR 2 large images OR 1 large + detailed image

Videos: 30 seconds

Fanmix: 8 songs + cover

Podfics: 1 fic

Dates:

Sign-ups close: December 3rd

Prompts will be announced: December 4th

Check-ups: December 13th and December 20th (these are just so I have an idea of how things are going, there are no minimum requirementes)

Posting: December 22nd to 28th

117 notes - Posted November 20, 2022

#4

Gallavich Gift Exchange 2021 Masterpost

I wasn’t sure if I should host a gift exchange this year, figured not enough people would be interested, that it would be too much of a hassle, but fortunately I changed my mind and I’m so, so thankful to everyone who participated and helped make this such a success! Truly, you’re all amazing.

So here’s the masterpost (I apologize for the long post, but for once I didn’t want to put anyone under a read more).

Happy holidays and a happy 2022!

From @captainjowl to @thehonorarybeaumont: Laundry Day

From @thehonorarybeaumont to @captainjowl: Blue & Red

From @ms-moonlight-inn to @arrowflier: Princess Toadstool Gets a Night Tree

From @arrowflier to @ianandmickeygallavich: Merry & Bright

From @ianandmickeygallavich to @ms-moonlight-inn​: 5 Times Ian and Mickey Never Kissed Under The Mistletoe And 1 Time They Did

From @flamingbluepanda to @milkovichian: Pink + White

From @milkovichian to @sweetbee78: falling for you

From @sweetbee78 to @annatrow: Reinforcing Trust

From @annatrow to @mishervellous: Candy Canes and Weed

From @mishervellous​ to @thewesternredcedar: The Road not Taken

From @thewesternredcedar to @ravenstakeflight​: The Outsiders

From @ravenstakeflight to @imikhailo: a royal life

From @notherenj-nowherenj to @sisitrip: Who Am I, When I’m Not With You

From @sisitrip to @mrsmonaghan-blog: ...Two Marble Tags, And A Lullaby In A Steel Box

From @mrsmonaghan-blog to @filorux: Here for You

From @filorux to @marzgaperez: Mistletoe kiss fanart

From @marzgaperez to @y0itsbri: Slowly but surely

From @y0itsbri​ to @abundanceofnots​: Milkovich & Cookies

From @abundanceofnots to @squidyyy23: Two boys, one (not so) festive evening

From @squidyyy23 to @look-i-love-u: Bazooka

From @look-i-love-u to @energievie: Wrapped around your... Finger

From @energievie to @sully-999: Empty crown (my body’s missing pieces)

From @sully-999 to @doodlevich: 12 Days of Christmas

From @ms-moonlight-inn to @xgoldendays: A Change Of Plans At Tornillo-Guadalupe

From @xgoldendays to @sunoficarus: Something to hold on to

From @sunoficarus to @notherenj-nowherenj: Mutually Beneficial

See the full post

119 notes - Posted December 31, 2021

#3

Gallavich Week 2022

Hello, everyone! It’s that time of the year again! Are you all ready for Gallavich Week 2022? I’m so excited for this one! We’re doing things a bit differently this year, as you might have noticed. More details about the prompts as well as full guidelines after the Read More. Quick reminder that all kinds of work are welcome, as long as they are original. Please read the guidelines before posting.

DAYS AND PROMPTS

Day 1 (June 12) - Theme based (choose 1): Celebration (birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, holidays, random celebrations, anything goes) Trials and Tribulations (problems, big or small, it doesn’t matter; may be between them or something they face together) Day 2 (June 13) - Quote based (choose 1 - anything loosely based in one of these quotes goes): “I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning. “I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” - Rita Rudner Day 3 (June 14) - Painting based (choose 1 - again, anything loosely based in one of these paintings is enough; may be the general atmosphere of it, the situation in it or even them actually interacting with it somehow):

Stag at Sharkey’s (George Bellows)

See the full post

162 notes - Posted May 2, 2022

#2

Spring is here! (well, in the Northern Hemisphere it is) The boys are ready for some spring cleaning. Are you?

Welcome to the first ever Gallavich Spring Cleaning!

What is that, you ask? Easy! It’s a multiwork event hosted by @gallavichfanficlibrary and yours truly (with some help of @gallavichprompts​, thank you!) . That means any kind of work is accepted: fics, fanart, videos, gifs, you name it! Oh, and did I mention there are no requirements either? Drabbles and one-shots are more than welcome (my burn-out brain actually thanks you). 

The only rule for this event is: it’s got to be PG-13 - in other words, clean. (Get it? Cause of spring cleaning? *wink wink* I’m very smart). That means no mature teams, no smut, no M18, no ~lemon~. Of course swearing is allowed (I mean, it’s still Ian and Mickey we are talking about), just keep it sfw. Think of it as a reverse kinktober, if you will.

Prompts are under the Read More. You can use only one, several or all of them. Mix and match, if you want to! Repeat them, even!  They’re just your starting points! 

This event will run through the whole month of April, so you may post whenever you want. Tag me (@gallavichthings) so I can see and reblog it as soon as possible. Feel free to also tag the Library if you’re posting fics (oh, and if you can, please put your fics under read mores if they’re too long and you post them here in full, as a courtesy to those roaming the tags). 

For those using AO3, here’s the Collection for this event.

Let’s have some clean fun!

Situation prompts:

Spring cleaning.

It's the first sunny day in what feels like forever, after several weeks of bad weather and storms that have kept them spending most of the time in their apartment. 

Spring: sniffles, pollen, and tissues.

The Big Easter Egg Hunt.

The only thing Mickey knows about his soulmate is that he’s supposed to meet him in the spring.

Teenagers Ian and Mickey somehow end up spending St.Patrick’s Day together, and it’s not a date but it also kinda sorta feels like it might be? 

Spring on the Westside feels different than on the Southside.

Ian and Mickey are slowly turning their apartment into a ‘home’, bringing small touches of themselves into it.

Mickey’s always been a light sleeper who has suffered from nightmares. It’s only when they finally get their apartment sorted that he starts to sleep well and really understand what a good night's sleep can be.

The lease on the apartment is almost up. (Do they stay in the apartment? Move out? Go apartment hunting? Hire a realtor?)

One day Ian comes across an injured cat and nurses it back to health. After a few days he finds a stranger on his couch and the cat is nowhere to see. (Shapeshifting AU)

The last thing Ian expects to see in the mysterious box that Mickey brings to the dugouts is kittens. And he definitely didn’t expect that they would end up caring for them together.

5 times they visited family members + 1 time the family members visited them.

Debbie wants to make a good old Gallaghers’ style BBQ. (Everything goes wrong.)

The king sends his best knight to kill the monster that lives in the forest. Turns out, the monster is pretty charming and doesn’t actually harm anyone. 

Dialogue prompt

“Well, this is new.”

“This isn’t what it looks like, I swear! Okay … it’s kind of what it looks like, but just give me a chance to explain.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“So hang on, let me get this straight.”

“Oh, good, you’re here! Hold this.”

See the full post

162 notes - Posted March 19, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Gallavich Kinktober 2022

Hello, everyone! Are you ready for some (dirty) fun? Here are the prompts for this year’s kinktober. There are two for each day, one situational and one dialogue. You may choose only one or use both. You can also mix and match two or more days (in which case, please post on the day for the last prompt used and do mention all the days it fits so I can tag it accordingly). Reminder that all kinds of works are accepted and there’s no need to sign up. Simply post on the assigned day (or later, that’s fine, just make sure to mention what day(s) it is for) and remember to @ me so I can reblog it (just mentioning me in the tags won’t do, I can’t always see that). Let’s get this party started!

Day 1 - sex dream X “Touch yourself for me.”

Day 2 -  dirty talk X “Oh honey, you know, you really shouldn’t tease me.”

Day 3 -  uniform / costume X “You’d better be quiet if you don’t want to get caught.”

Day 4 - thigh riding X “If you’re going to act like a little brat then I’m going to treat you like a little brat.”

Day 5 -  jealous / possessive sex X “I don’t care how good it feels you’d better not cum until I tell you to.”

Day 6 - exhibitionism / voyeurism X “I can’t wait to be on my knees for you later.”

Day 7 -  food X “If you want to cum you’d better beg.”

Day 8 -  stripping / lap dance X “I wanna fuck you right against the glass so everyone can see how good you take it.”

Day 9 - 69 X “I guess I’ll just get off all by myself.”

Day 10 -  latex / leather X “Did I say you could stop?”

Day 11 - orgasm denial X “Open your mouth.”

Day 12 - against a wall X “Wanna see what I’m wearing underneath all this?”

Day 13 -  sex tape X “I bet all our neighbors can hear you, I bet they all know what a dirty little slut you are.”

Day 14 - piercings X “You know, you always look so much better when I mark you up.”

Day 15 -  unusual sex positions X “Did you dress up just for me?”

Day 16 - massages X “Come sit on my face, let me show you how much I missed you.”

Day 17 - hair pulling X “Take it off. Slowly.”

Day 18 - sleepy sex X “Pull my hair!”

Day 19 - face sitting X “I’m gonna fuck you in front of the mirror, I want you to see how pretty you look when you’re spreading your legs for me.”

Day 20 - wax X “Yeah, that’s it, baby, just like that.”

Day 21 - cum kink X “I think I like you better with a gag in your mouth.”

Day 22 - innocence X “You’d better be quiet or everyone’s going to know what a naughty little slut you are.”

Day 23 - handcuffs X “You deserve a reward for being so good today, what would you like it to be?”

Day 24 - scent X “You take my fingers so well don’t you?”

Day 25 - biting X “I love the sounds you make when you come undone.”

Day 26 - nipple play X “You look so good with my hand wrapped around your throat.”

Day 27- vanilla / slow & soft X “Is that a thong?”

Day 28 - tattoos X “You look good all soaking wet.”

See the full post

267 notes - Posted September 5, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

Congrats to the most reblogged ones, I guess. Myself included. 😂

Obviously the most popular posts were the event ones (especially this is mostly a reblogging blog), but the fact that the most popular by far was the Kinktober... Y'all nasty. 😝

Thanks for everything! And here's to 2023! (after the gift exchange, of course)

[dyed-red]

Please do put those amazing tags in a separate post because you really described their late seasons dynamic really well

<3333

Referring to this lovely gifset of late-seasons Dean arbitrating to Sam and how Sam (later in the conversation) goes along with it.

what always strikes me about late-seasons dynamic is how easily it can be mistaken for sam just capitulating to dean when that's really not what's happening, not in a way in which he's denied selfhood or autonomy (which is what happens to him in all earlier seasons! so this shift is important!).

i said in my tags "scenes that make me screeeeeam" because yeah! it does!

we see late seasons dean order sam around; sam picks his battles and pushes back on it (like in that gifset, "i beg your pardon?" - sam is independent and that hasn't disappeared! he still questions dean!) but then he often ends up accepting dean's arbitration.

and on the one hand it's like 🥴  stockholm syndrome king my beloved. and i do make those jokes and i like the line (half-joking and otherwise) about how damn pleased dean is that by late seasons he has a little brother who listens to him and does what he wants (and how guilty and fucked up he feels about all that happened to sam for them to end up here in this place that scratches that itch at dean's core).

but i honestly don't read sam as any less challenging toward dean in late seasons, or any more capitulating. i read them as having a healthier dynamic overall.

because here (in the gifset) when they're arguing about going back in time to the submarine and again when they argue about dean going to the alt-apocalypse universe with ketch, both scenes emblamatic of the shift between them because of how sam "gives in" and agrees to dean -- it's not that sam actually is giving in. not in the way one subsumes themselves or makes themselves small or gives up what they want for another person.

what's happening in both instances is that dean lays down the law, so to speak. he says hell no, you're not going. and sam balks, both times. but when he does, dean goes on to explain that his priority is keeping sam safe, and they don't know what they're facing on the other side in either of these situations, so he wants -- no, he needs sam out of it.

it's not like they don't face dangers and uncertainty all the time, but these case are particular. there are a lot of unknowns, and they're on a specific clock or existing with a narrow and focused goal under constraints. and dean needs sam not to go. it's a hard line for him.

why?

because with those constraints and with that goal, dean believes he can do it, can cut through all the mess and uncertainty of what is waiting on the other side and accomplish what they need to, but he can't do with sam. not because sam wouldn't have his back or because he'd rather any other partner beside him, but because sam is his priority. sam is his focus. now, always, in every universe.

so when faced with a new and complex and messy situation, dean can't accomplish the task objective if sam is there because his focus won't be the task objective, it will be sam, and keeping sam safe, and watching out for every danger and uncertainty and issue in order to prioritize sam. the mission be damned.

(we see this, time and again in the 15 years of canon. dean "oh i'm sorry have you met me?" winchester when told not to worry about sam. the man is self-aware on this topic).

and what's amazing is that sam accepts that! not capitulates, but understands! dean in both instances explains his priority, that he needs sam safe (that he doesn't give a shit what happens to ketch), and instead of sam's understandable insecurities getting the best of him, he recognizes that it's not about him. not that dean doesn't trust him, but that dean doesn't trust himself to get the job done. that dean will work best if sam is safe.

they're both so much more mature here 🥲 dean is being forthright (without bitching about having to be open about his feelings), even if he's blunt as hell about it. sam is trusting dean's words rather than letting his inner rebel lash out because he feels excluded.

so sam accepts dean's arbitration, his ruling in these cases, with his own caveats. and he figures out his role. he becomes dean's lookout and determines that if he can't watch dean's back in person, he can and will keep him safe from this end of things, and find a way to save him if he can't return. dean accepts this too, because he does trust sam and does rely on him, and honestly if everything goes sideways he will want and need sam's help, and the mission will be screwed regardless.

it's just that by late seasons, they're at a point where sam doesn't feel like dean doesn't trust or rely on him, and he gets that dean can't help his need to protect him. dean in turn is, for the most part, honest with sam and doesn't exclude him. he tells sam exactly what's up and they make decisions together, even when dean's arbitrating like this it's still a give and take. they mutually acknowledge their own needs and hard lines and determine the best course of action within those limits. which is what healthy dyads do!

(and my tags on the post mentioned that this leads to sam coming along on the second trip to the apocalypse universe with the "and if we die we'll do that together too" which itself is evidence in support of this mutual reading, rather than a reading where sam is capitulating. sam lays down his own law because he can't bear to be excluded on this and dean gets that. but when sam demands to come, he does so in acknowledgement of dean's priority being sam's life and potential death. and lmao sam does die so like, dean wasn't wrong to be concerned, and dean is ready to go back and also die next to him, so they get it. they understand each other. it's not just about the risks and not just about dean setting the rules, it's about them understanding each other's needs and working within those.)

so anyway yeah late-seasons dynamic is sexy submissive sam but only as a surface reading, because the reality is that he's calling the shots just as sure as dean, it just looks different between them because dean speaks in demands and orders -- he always has -- whereas sam convinces and discusses, but ultimately makes his own decisions regardless of what others (including dean) think. neither of their styles have changed, it's just that sam is more accommodating of dean and dean is more forthright with sam, and that obfuscates the equality of their relationship.

[babysoftstims]

How do you make your stimboreds?

To start off, here's a post by a previous mod with some important tips for making stimboards. To add to those with my own thoughts:

It helps to have a theme in mind going in. If you're taking requests, that theme is whatever the requester sent in. If you're coming up with something on your own, you might try a character you like, or a specific color, or a specific type of stim. It helps to have those in mind when you're trying to put a board together

Use filters when you search Tumblr so that it only shows gif posts. Trust me, you'll save a ton of time if you filter your searches by post type and select gifs

If you want more unique/less commonly used gifs for your stimboard, change the search display from top to latest. You'll see the most recently posted gifs, and you'll discover a lot of cool content that way as well. The option for that is in the same area as filtering by post type

Unless it's a joke/cursed stimboard, try to use gifs that look nice together. Part of the overall appeal of a stimboard is how well the gifs work as a collection; it's just as important for the visuals as how each gif looks on its own

Sometimes you have to look outside of Tumblr. Tumblr is great for stim content, but when it comes to more niche boards, you may not be able to find what you need here. Tenor and Giphy are pretty good resources for gifs as well – just make sure you crop them to the right aspect ratio, since their gifs are rarely 1:1 already

At some point, you'll probably need some kind of gif editor. Whether you want to do color tints, remove specific frames, change a gif's background, or any number of other things, it's good to have a few gif editors bookmarked/downloaded. We personally use GIF Maker, GIF Editor for most of our gif editing needs (since we do all our stimboars on mobile), and what we can't do there is done on Ezgif (which is used by pretty much every big stim blog at least a bit!)

Respect DNIs on posts. While some people only limit who can reblog their gifsets, other creators may say they don't want certain groups interacting with them or using their gifs. As much as you may like the gifs they make, if they say for you not to use them, please respect that and find a different gif!

If you can't find the source for a gif, don't use it. All creators deserve to be fairly credited for their work, especially when you're reusing it. If you can't credit someone, you can't use their work!

That's all I can think of for now. Feel free to send another ask if you have anymore questions though :)

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, November 24

GILES: Xander. You look like death. WILLOW: Are you ok? BUFFY: You didn't bring rolls?

~~Pangs~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Shaping Trust by desicat (Buffy/Spike, G)

A Full and Stumbling Heart by fluffernutter8 (Angel/Buffy, G)

Shaping Trust by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Tummy Time by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Chaptered Fiction]

The Succubi Dungeon - Ch. 1 by MangaVampire666 (Buffy Yu-Gi-Oh! xover, E)

Daisy in the Dark - Ch. 4 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Through a Mirror Darkly - Ch. 3 by davidf89 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Seph - Ch. 6 by sweetprincipale (Buffy/Spike, R)

Learning To Be Love's Bitch - Ch. 16 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Randy + Joan: As Long As You Love Me - Ch. 14 by BewitchedXx (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Sentinel - Ch. 3 by Jws1993 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

i called you, a moment of weakness - Ch. 12 by snipssw (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Compelled By Love - Ch. 21 by Buffyworldbuilder (Buffy Vampire Diaries xover, Faith, Willow, Dawn, FR18)

We don't need another Hero... or do we? - Ch. 20 by CrazyDan (Xander, Marvel Universe xover, FR18)

I Still Say it Looks like a Nail - Ch. 10 by dogbertcarroll (Xander Stargate xover, FR15)

The Paper Incursion - Ch. 1 by myrabeth (Buffy/Spike, unrated)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Banner: seasonal_spuffy / 1 fic banner by teragramm (Spike, Buffy, bear, worksafe)

Banner: seasonal_spuffy - 1 fic banner by teragramm (Spike, Buffy, bear, worksafe)

Video: Spike | My Favourite Game: seasonal_spuffy by Double Dutchess (Spike, Buffy, worksafe)

Icons: more faith icons under the cut! by summrsbuffy (Faith, worksafe)

Gifset: [no better spot] by starryeyesxx (Anya, worksafe)

Lyrics + photos: Oh, I don’t love you, but I always will by spikesdru (Buffy/Angel, prob worksafe (shirtless Angel))

Gifset: 2.22 | There’s No Place Like Plrtz Glrb by dailyats (Gunn, Wesley, worksafe)

Video: Spike | My Favourite Game by Double Dutchess (Spike, Buffy, worksafe)

Sarah Michelle on Instagram: "How it started….how it’s going … Happy #thanksgiving 🦃" (Buffy, Willow, Giles, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Defensiveness and Weird Mixed Signals (Revelations) by herinsectreflection

Buffy Rewatch 2k22 - 6.4 Flooded by handsofabitterman

[Fandom Discussions]

seasonal_spuffy / Video: Spike | My Favourite Game [discussion of video] by various

I wonder if Jesse survived if he and Cordy would have ended up dating... by oveliagirlhaditright

Angel in "Not Fade Away" fucks me up.... by oveliagirlhaditright

What is your favorite episode in each 12 Buffyverse season by various

Joss Whedon... by gmac

Cordelia Chase by gmac

Joyce as a mother by gmac

Did Buffy know about Connor? by RightYeAre

Iconic/Genius Random Buffy Moments by Suitable-Garlic5217

Anya's character makes no sense - Spoilers by pinkguy90

Is SMG or Stunt Double? by AdDazzling1609

Thanksgiving by artisticsocialworker

After 7 seasons of wondering how some of the victims could possibly fall ... I now understand all it would take for me is Nathan Fillion in a priest uniform by webbmoem

What is your favourite line from the musical episode? by eggplantofdestiny69

Happy thanksgiving! Here's a review of "Pangs," from season 4. [discussion of review] by itshardtomakeupaname

Which table are you choosing? by InfiniteMehdiLove

Kiss rocks graffiti in buffy [poll] by intenseskill

Defensiveness and Weird Mixed Signals (Revelations) [discussion of meta essay] by RealAdaLovelace

Can we please give this delightful minion some love? by HummusOffensive

Do we ever get Buffy's reaction to Spike being alive post Chosen? (comics) by caste_away_jacey

Woke up this morning crying from a dream about Cordelia and Angel by Merrymir

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[nincompoopydoo]

DEBRIS AND MISERY

CURIOUS MINDS THINK ALIKE ; PART 5 / ?

PAIRING: Loki Laufeyson x Female!Reader WORD COUNT: 3.1k SUMMARY: Through guessing games and walking on eggshells, it’s you and Loki that dance the strange choreography of two curious minds trying to figure out the other. A/N: Slow moving chapter! If any of you speak Norwegian and know that sentence is wrong, please tell me! I took a risk, not sure if it's worth it. Anyways, I promise there’s more stuff coming in the next chapters. Tell me anything about this chapter, what you love, what you hate. Enjoy xo gif from this gifset by@marvelheroes WARNINGS: Swearing? More paperwork. support my writing through ko-fi💖 MASTERPOST ; MASTERLIST

The narration of Miss Minutes accompanying the grainy animated graphics of a training video on how, why, and when a branch of a timeline is reset seems to be the source of Loki’s absentmindedness. If he is typically referred to as outrageously and mostly unnecessarily communicative, it is his mind that beats his mouth—the tumult of his thoughts is loud and overwhelming like the people who amass at taverns every evening to drink themselves silly whilst singing jolly drinking songs until the wee hours of the morning. Except, his thoughts are far from jolly. He, mastermind of language and a silver-tongue, has no words of any language to describe the complexity of his mind with accuracy.

Kraftig regn som faller i en fossende elv.

Like heavy rain falling on a cascading river. Water from the sky on water streaming through the ground—thunderous raindrops from above against the river that strikes every rock of every winding turn.

Those were the words of his mother.

Maybe, that’s how his mind should be described.

It’s the mechanical creaks of spinning wheels against the polished floor that pulls him out of his thoughts and finds that he had been staring blankly at a page of men riding jet skis of a magazine he'd nipped from the stack of junk on Mobius’ desk for the last minute or hour. A second or a day? He isn’t sure.

Time works differently at the TVA.

“Hey Casey,” he hears you chime, the cart squeaks as it pulls to a halt. “Do you have a paperweight or something I could use?”

There’s a sound of rummaging as the clerk searches the drawers. Loki restrains the urge to look.

“Uh, yeah...Here.”

“Thanks.”

Probably an infinity stone.

The clerk then wheels by, pushing the evidence cart as he casts a cautious glance his way.

Right. He did threaten to gut him like a fish earlier on although the threat was not as deadly as he intended but proved to be surprisingly effective. Yet, Casey is probably the type to be afraid of his own shadow, he would comply with any sort of threat even if it isn't death.

Pathetic. But amusing.

The training video continues to play in the background, and Miss Minutes’ stupidly charming and cheery voice is starting to sound like gibberish to him. At this rate, it’s white noise to him—attention elsewhere but somewhat listening to a certain extent. He loves multi-tasking and isn’t afraid to admit he’s great at it though it likely plays a huge factor in contributing to the uproar of his brain. It’s why he doesn’t get any sleep for most nights.

There’s just...so much to think about.

And now, it’s filled with the reminder of how you met another version of him. Somewhere. Sometime. An inferior Loki, obviously.

Suddenly, the jet ski magazine becomes less interesting, his mind fleeting.

Discreetly, he spins in his swivel chair and sees you through inked writings and diagrams on the glass partition of your cubicle. Your coat’s discarded, and you have your sleeves rolled up, looking less formal, less tense than before. Yet, still as fierce with that constant scowl of your brows. He watches you bring your fingers to scratch the left side of your cheek and notices a vague resemblance of a fading scar.

He hadn’t seen that before.

The glowing orange hue of the soul stone sits idly on top of a stack of papers beside you.

Loki makes some sort of contemptuous noise in his mind at the sight.

The TVA is a strange place. The thought of a cosmic organization that overlooks all of the time doesn’t make it any less weird and neither do the uniforms—dull color combinations and collars that never seem to end. And the Time-Keepers, well, he isn’t sure what to make of that. Things are a little too straightforward, too simple for handling such a complex matter of the universe—Time. It doesn't make sense.

You spark his curiosity. You had a connection with him. Another Loki trusted you to a certain extent. He wonders what makes you so special, that Mobius was willing to try everything to convince you to help.

He also wonders what your name is.

The clearing of his throat comes off as a sudden and disruptive sound that resonates clearly through the somewhat silent environment of the office floor. A subtle way to gaining your attention although it's proving ineffective. You continue to flip through documents, scribbling notes on a notepad.

He wheels his chair closer to you. For a moment, he catches sight of a white mug amongst the mess. It says, 'Rocket scientist at work.' There’s no way a person as intimidating as you have that kind of mug.

He clears his throat once more.

Still nothing. It’s like he doesn't exist to you.

Then, he notes your vague attempt to fight down a growing smile.

Oh. Oh. You—

Hm.

He scooches closer and taps on the glass partition a little too aggressively.

“I know you can hear me.”

His tone comes out in a sing-song manner. Finally, your eyes turn up to meet his. They are different from when you first saw him emerged into the hallway. Less angry and shocked. Now, you just look unimpressed.

Loki somehow thinks it’s a great idea to charm his way to you.

A grin finds his way to his lips, curving widely with oozing allure.

Or so he thinks.

“Pardon me, but I believe we haven’t properly met and I didn’t catch your name earlier on.”

You don’t say anything, only blink in response.

Tough crowd.

Loki shifts in his seat.

“...What is your name?”

He articulates his words with care, and he doesn’t know why he finds it a need to tread lightly around you. Like with a touch, you will transform into a fiery beast from his childhood nightmares and eat him alive.

You and Mobius are polar opposites—personality-wise. It’s a wonder how the two of you get along.

Do you scare him? No. Definitely not.

Do you intimidate him? Perhaps. But, he will never admit it.

Maybe it’s the way you’re gazing at him with that constant, deafening deadpan look.

Then, you finally give him an answer.

“Agent.”

And with that, you're back to scribbling notes on a notepad.

Agent.

Loki scoffs silently to himself.

Well, that turned out to be completely pointless.

He turns his back to you, returning to scanning through Mobius' jet ski magazine within his grasp.

Loki doesn’t see how you’re now staring at the back of his figure, tapping your pen against the notepad absentmindedly.

Curious minds think alike.

-

You needed a change of scenery.

With all the noise of the muffling narration of the training videos from Mobius’ desk, you began to feel like you forgot how to do your job. The only job you were created for. The disturbance seems to be putting your brain into a frenzy and it’s preventing you from getting your head straight on report protocols. Trying to think of better words to describe the things you’ve seen on Sakaar that weren’t words that meant trash and didn’t end up sounding unintentionally sexual, is where you draw the line.

Times are hard for the variant turned analyst.

The archives are serene amid your solitude. Extensive tables hidden between shelves of identical-looking binders that expanded throughout the hundreds of floors of the building. The spot that overlooks the three looming statues of the Time-Keepers is your favorite. The occasional swish of a passing elevator calms your nerves from all the frustration and pressure ever since you were released from your arrest. You’re just happy to be somewhere familiar although it’s not home.

Although all distractions are gone, you manage to find new ones as you gaze at the glowing ‘357’ signage from across the building as you decide to let your thoughts run for just a little while. You feel like you’re looking through foggy glasses and your brain feels like it’s about to shut down any moment.

Dream away the pain, then.

Then, you hear a voice from afar. Two voices. It’s Mobius; you’ll recognize that quintessential Texan accent anywhere from the times he would rave about a new jet ski magazine he’d found on a mission...something along those lines.

Much to your chagrin, you also hear Loki with that irritatingly posh accent of his.

You should probably move somewhere else. Run and hide before you're being pulled even more into this mess because you know Mobius is trying to get you to spend as much time with the variant turned analyst to gain trust.

You’re still not sure how it’s helping with his case. Loki has better trust in Mobius than you as far as you’re concerned.

Before you could even gather the mess of your files, the two men you’ve been trying to escape are already by the desk you’re sitting at. You suddenly notice the stack of files on the other end of the desk, not remembering seeing the archivist putting that there.

Crap.

“Let me park ya at this desk and don’t be afraid to really lean into this work...”

You look like a deer caught in the headlights, signaling to Mobius that you really don’t want to share a desk with Loki. He continues to speak to him, ignoring your silent plea. Then, he gestures to the seat across from you.

There’s still time to leave.

Mobius addresses you with the stretch of his pointer finger.

“You, keep an eye on him. I’m gonna get a snack.”

Well, too late.

With a turn of a heel, you and Loki watch him walk away and pass neverending shelves of the archives. Once again, the two of you are left alone in the silence and the white noise of the TVA.

You meet each other's eyes at the same time, struck with the thought that you and he will probably be seeing each other a lot until the Loki variant is arrested. Plus, you’re tired of giving him the cold shoulder although you believe he deserves it.

This is a different Loki. The one who’s still power-hungry. The one who still wants to rule.

Time to start fresh.

You notice he now wears a jacket, a color somewhere between green, grey, and brown with a striking image of the TVA’s official badge above his chest. The lapels of his jacket jut out in an attempt to replicate his sense of pride and confidence.

He must have been on a trip with Mobius to the Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, 1985. Oh, how you would kill to tag along. Everyone who knows you knows about your obsession with Earth’s music pop culture, specifically the 1980s. It explains the cassettes you have lying around. Your apartment has more of it.

Unfortunately, you're grounded. That's reality.

Thus, you decide that Loki deserves a second chance because he’s also somehow looking at you for some kind of approval. You’re starting to wonder if this is the same Loki that was tapping aggressively on your cubicle earlier on.

With an open palm, you gesture to the empty seat surrounded by stacks of binders and folders. It's the first time he has experienced some kind of acknowledgment of his presence that you weren’t ranting or screaming about. Oddly calm. Oddly inviting. Momentarily, he shifts in his stance, eyes darting between a fading figure of Mobius rounding the corner and to the seat, across from you.

The air is tense. However, still breathable.

Loki slides into the seat, legs shifting under the desk as it brushes against your by accident. You shoot him a pointed look, and he responds with a coy expression, blinking at you innocently. It’s mischievous.

Classic Loki.

You turn back to your case file, ignoring the way his gaze seems to burn holes into the side of your face for a fleeting moment before flipping a binder open from the stack to his left.

-

You snore when you sleep.

Loki wouldn’t describe it as a snore; it's more of a wheeze. Soft and subtle but it’s there, cutting through the ambiance of the archives, drifting and resonating in his ears. Through turning pages, uttering words to himself for his amusement, and having an irritating lady shush him for that, he realized how it became a lot quieter. The grazing sound of pen furiously scribbling words onto the yellow notepad has stopped.

Then, he hears it. Your pathetic snores. Your cheek is unceremoniously pressed against the back of your hand while the other holds the orange pen that’s still pinned down on the paper, mid-scrawl. The tip of the ballpoint pen sits idly, halfway through the curved stroke of the last letter of the word, ‘debris.’ He cranes his neck, face tilting in an attempt to read the chicken scratchings of your handwriting.

0132: L1190 hauls me through the time door and I miserably land on Sakaar, the planet of wastelands and debris.

You are quite...miserable. In a comical way. And he knows how much you hated your time on Sakaar—Mobius warned him of your apparent irritation in reminiscent of being stranded and then having to resume paperwork immediately. He wonders if he, too, is the reason for another boiling rage.

Apparently, you were pardoned on behalf of not only Mobius but the Time-Keepers as well.

You, an agent, are recognized by the holy and almighty Time-Keepers.

You, an agent, who sleeps with your mouth agape.

The statues of the TVA’s creators loom over him like they’re watching his every step. Every movement. Every lingering thought. Right now, he has the urge to uncover, perhaps deduce, the holes within this whole mess. In a carefully calculated and discrete movement, he reaches to prod you on the forearm. You don’t move.

He prods you again.

You still don’t move.

Now, Loki is trying to chat up the archivist who watches him through narrowed eyes, glasses framing the austere and rigid structure of her face, in favor of files that turn out to be classified.

Classified, classified, classified. Only able to gain access to his own file.

His journey from the desk proved to be useless and unproductive although the much-needed stretch somehow made it a little worthwhile.

When he returns, you're surprisingly still asleep, brow twitching and lips still parted.

Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on him?

The pen you held has now left your grasp, rolled over to his stack of binders. He notices the words inscribed on it, ‘Mars is there, waiting to be reached.'

Through your fury and chaos, he knows there’s a part of you that feels, a part of you that loves. And you love everything about the Midgardians’ space program. It's shown in the way you cling to collected memorabilia.

There are dark circles that adorn your shut eyes, barely hidden under your lashes. You’re exhausted, fractured.

Loki is having a difficult time trying to suppress how he likes the way the frizz of your hair glows against the glowing table lamps from the desk behind you. You’re raw, flaws presented on a silver platter for everyone to see. Maybe, that’s the reason why you entice him the way you do.

He’s staring. Right. Back to work.

Loki returns to running through neverending case files, engrossed in the pixelated monochrome images that accompany the monospace typeface of endless reports.

Then, he sees it.

‘Destruction of Asgard’ in big, bold, and red letters. It glares at him sharply, images of his once divine home of Asgard, crumbling at the feet of Surtur. Buildings, people, engulfed in the flames of the fire demon. The prophecy of the end, Ragnarok—it was meant to be.

His home, it still was. Although an untrue Asgardian.

He knows how it ends. He knows he dies. He wishes his true self, the one on the Sacred Timeline, could have done more.

He doesn’t realize the forming tears that linger. He doesn’t realize that in the sense of premonition, you’ve awakened. He doesn’t realize that even with sleepy eyes, you notice the grief that glints in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

With three words, you’ve struck him with those eyes that seemed all-knowing. You see through the facade he has created, sealing the true nature of what is truly a child that is afraid of his destiny and to lose all he had ever known. His mother, father, and brother. His people. You see through it all.

You know that face. You’d seen it on Sakaar when he sat at the doorstep of your makeshift home, watching the splintered moon drift through the star-lit sky. You’d seen it in yourself through the dusty reflection of the screen of the tempad.

He longs for home. He longs for family.

For a moment, Loki sees Frigga in your eyes.

Then, his world shifts, hauling him back to reality. It’s you who’s across his way, not his mother. Loki blinks, partly to get his head straight with the excuse to blink away the sting in his eye. He shifts in his seat, rolling his neck and squares his shoulders.

“Yes. I’m alright. It’s just...”

Trailing off, he clears his throat. You follow his gaze and from your spot, you catch sight of those deafening crimson letters. Maybe, it was the spur of the moment. You blame your drowsy state, but there’s a growing warmth that spreads across your chest from the pit of your stomach. It’s subtle, a spark, but evident. Before you know it, you’re uttering words that leave your lips faster than your brain could perceive.

“I’m sorry.”

You don’t know when was the last time you said those words and meant it. Loki doesn’t know when was the last time he’d ever heard those words addressed to him, spoken from the lips of a stranger. Until now.

You mean it. He sees it in the curve of your brows.

Loki swallows, nodding curtly. For the first time, he has nothing to say. And as quickly as the moment comes, he brushes it off and so do you. Whatever is reminiscent of a residing unknown feeling, bubbling within, has disappeared.

He sees your hand reach for the pen and for a while, he thinks you’re about to reach for his arm.

But no, you’re back to scrawling notes on the paper and he’s back to studying useless documents.

It doesn’t take long for the two of you to fall back into your normal antics as you find yourself chasing after Loki, who abruptly left the desk with wide eyes.

Curious minds think alike. Mostly.

TAGLIST:

@lareinedususpense

@poubxlle

@mystoragehatesme

@the-maroon-panda

[yuziyuanapologist]

want the world to believe [yiling laozu!lan wangji, part 2.1]

[gifset] [part 1] [part 2.2] part 2 was getting way too long so i split it into two! here is the first 2.6k, enjoy :D

Xiongzhang,

It is not yet safe to go back to Cloud Recesses. Instead there is a gathering of clans in Qinghe for a campaign against the Wens. It is safer for us to travel apart, so I will meet you there.

You and I were rescued by Lady Wen and her younger brother. She restored your golden core, and asked in return only that we do not seek her out in the future. Her family, the Dafan Wen, are a peaceful and distant branch of the Wen family. She will endeavour to reach them, and keep them away from the fighting.

She understands that we may not be entirely in control of the campaign, but I promised that we would try. Please join me in this.

I have left a borrowed sword for you to fly to Qinghe, and will myself take a longer route there. Please convey my regards to those gathered, and I will join when I am able.

Lan Wangji.

It's the first thing Lan Xichen sees as he drifts awake, on the table to his side. He reads it without taking stock of what sort of condition his body is in, almost without remembering what events led him to this state.

Soon enough, his body makes itself known. The sharp slashes of pain across his chest, the aching down his back, the dull thrum of energy from his core -

He - felt it being crushed. It comes back in flashes, screams of laughter and the silent clenched-teeth pain, flaring across his ribs and back, and that one point of contact with a burning hand inside his body, reaching in and pulling at his insides and reducing it, smaller and smaller until what was once there, breathing along with him and humming to the beat of his body is - was -

He shuts his eyes, and it only makes it more vivid.

A deep breath in, and he sits properly. Realigns himself, his legs crossed on the bed, hands resting properly, another breath, and his focus narrows.

Lady Wen has done a - commendable job, he supposes. It hadn't been something he was aware was possible, but then, abilities such as Wen Zhuliu's are rarely used, and so, it could stand to reason that they are reversible by a skilled doctor.

Why she would choose to help is something that will evade him until he can attempt to coax the full story from Wangji, but perhaps she has a better idea of how this war will turn out than he. Perhaps it is something to find hope in.

The restored core doesn't quite move in the rhythms he's used to - it's close, and it is familiar, but somehow - just shifted, ever so slightly. A dream’s rendition, almost, or a mirror image.

He shakes his head, and the thoughts away. To have his core at all is a mercy, and he must be grateful. Finding fault will only diminish it, when all he truly needs to do is re-tune himself with it. Learn these new rhythms and synchronise with them, until he can move in harmony with himself once again.

Still, at the edges of his consciousness, he can't shake the feeling that there's just something not quite right about all of this.

*

He has never before considered it safer for he and Wangji to travel apart. Even while being hunted, they are the Twin Jades - even with swords that are not their own, they move almost in sync, as though they share their lungs, their hearts, their cores.

Lan Xichen steps on the borrowed sword, and tries not to dwell on it. Tries not to dwell, either, on the sword's origin. The way his core moves wrong in two directions, catching between his own body and the edge of the sword, the wrong fit for both.

It shouldn't take more than a day's travel from here to Qinghe. He doesn't know how much earlier Wangji set off than him, and doesn't know how long this "longer route" should take. He doesn't know anything - Wangji must have his reasons, of course, but -

And he trusts his brother, anyway. Of course he does - how could he not? He may be stubborn and silent, but he is many things besides, and good at the heart of it all.

Perhaps he is playing the hero, somewhere. What with Wei Wuxian's influence, that could make sense. And, with Lan Xichen's injuries, he would want him to go directly to where there is safety with Mingjue.

Yes, perhaps - perhaps that's it. He is doubting only because he has been - he has been -

Wangji knows what he's doing. He must.

*

"Xichen, is it true?" Mingjue strides forward to meet him outside the gates of the Unclean Realm. "Cloud Recesses, is it -"

Lan Xichen has barely had time to take in the surroundings, the clear signs of a battlefield only recently cleared - the broken statues and blood spattered across the dry earth. The trophies that still hang above the gate. Bodies. Heads. Wens. Lan Xichen told himself he would never rejoice at a sight such as this one. Still, something curls up, cruel inside his stomach.

Instead of answering with words that he doesn't trust himself to articulate, Lan Xichen simply nods.

"Where did you -" it comes out hoarse, his voice having had so little use of late. He clears his throat, and tries again. "Where did you hear - is Wangji here?"

Mingjue seems unsettled by the question. "You were separated?"

"I know that he survived," Lan Xichen is quick to reassure, for both their sakes. He couldn't stand it if - the thought of - "Shufu led me and Wangji to escape, but -"

Shufu - where is he? Did he make it to Cold Pond Cave? Did it remain a fortress? Or have they all been starved out by now? Forced out and killed?

Mingjue's strong hand lands on his arm. "Come inside. You need rest."

He's had days of that, but still has nothing in him with which to argue.

*

Mingjue leads him immediately to the guest rooms that he always stays in, his hand hovering only inches from his arm the entire walk through. They take paths less common, though Lan Xichen can hear the sounds of people through walls, the sound of low voiced discussions and the distant clang of metal on metal, weapons being forged and trained with.

There's hot tea on the table and a bed already made, Mingjue lets him make the decision - and he needs answers, so he goes to sit at the table, his hands safely clasped together before him, all of his concentration on not letting them shake.

Mingjue sits opposite him, too far to touch, but then, Lan Xichen has always professed not to need that. It stands to reason that he would eventually be punished for lying.

Sliding a teacup across the dark wood table, Mingjue looks at him in that way he does, that way where he sees everything, and Lan Xichen is almost powerless against the way it makes him want to break so that Mingjue can put him back together again.

Now is not the time.

"Who told you of Cloud Recesses?"

Mingjue gives a gentle yet somewhat forced smile. "A few of your younger disciples managed to escape through the mountains. They - claim they were told to do so by the elders."

Lan Xichen knows what he’s implying - that they were cowards who fled, that they should have fought for the clan. But there’s no way for Mingjue to know, and besides -

“Their staying would not have helped." Just another number in the body count.

Though it is clear that he disagrees, Mingjue nods. “I suppose we will find out in the upcoming months what they are truly made of.”

Lan Xichen lowers his head. He doesn’t want to find out, he doesn’t want it to be an option.

Mingjue reaches out, shaking hand to shaking wrist. “It's been coming for a while, Xichen.”

When Lan Xichen had wanted his touch, he had wanted it as an equal. Now, Mingjue acts as though Lan Xichen is a naive child, as if he doesn't understand this war, and that's why he's upset.

In reality, he understands it a painful amount. He understands that the Wens' tyranny has been allowed to go unchecked for far too long, he understands that they need to be stopped. He understands, most of all, that he will have to fight against them with only a fraction of the disciples, the family that he had not two months since.

With a quiet inhale, he takes his wrist from Mingjue's reach, and does not look up, does not let himself regret the movement.

Thankfully, Mingjue does not question, simply moves the subject on. His voice gentler still, he asks - “Do we need to send out a search for Wangji?”

Lan Xichen shakes his head quickly, too quickly - he will not even consider - “He told me he would take a longer route here. I assume he will have travelled to Lotus Pier first.”

“The Jiangs have already arrived.” Mingjue is hesitant in his response, but Lan Xichen does not acknowledge it.

“They have? And - Lotus Pier, is it -?”

“It was burned. They lost - a few. Jiang-zongzhu and Yu-furen among them, but Jiang Wanyin fought well, and drove out the Wens. It seems their strength was underestimated.”

“I am - glad.” He is more so envious.

His thoughts turn quickly to his brother, then, flickering through the options of where he could be, but - he can't have known about Lotus Pier. So perhaps -

“He will have travelled there,” Lan Xichen concludes. “But he will come here once he finds they are gone.”

The way Mingjue looks at him - it's as though he's trying to believe him, but can't quite manage it. And - perhaps he's right not to. Perhaps Lan Xichen is as uncertain as he.

No, he trusts Wangji. If he can only have one true thing left of his home, let it be his brother. Let it be the trust and understanding between the two of them.

*

Mingjue persuades him to sleep, and his argument against being treated by a child slips further and further away as he notices the care with which Mingjue looks at him.

Care does not make it a restful sleep, though. He tosses every which way, and waits only for a sleep full of nightmares and relived helplessness.

Those junior disciples that he went back to save from a needless fate - too young to die at the hands of ruthless Wens - who came to the safest place like he told them, and will have to fight again anyway. Not only that, but they will be thought of as deserters, however untrue, however much it is Lan Xichen’s own fault that they ran, and that he was captured, that now - Wangji is elsewhere, unknown, and -

That he still feels this repaired core deep inside his body, as if it has always been there and yet as if it is someone else's instead of his own. That something went deeply wrong in the fixing, that Lady Wen had never intended to help but instead to hinder, that she had tricked Wangji into this -

In the morning, he cannot count on all of his fingers the amount of times his eyes snapped open in the night, the amount of times he awoke in cold sweat.

But he dresses as if composed, as if rested, in the clothes that Mingjue had set out for him - almost Lan style, yet noticeably different. Unfamiliar. Another piece of home that he has lost.

There are several gathered in the meeting hall. All of them far too young. Mingjue, and Huaisang. Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian. Jin Zixuan, and another of the Jin Clan - his cousin, Lan Xichen recalls vaguely. A few others besides, from smaller clans.

"Zewu Jun," A chorus of greetings, and bows, and. Lan Xichen returns such, and his eyes can't help but flicker to Wei Wuxian, whose gaze is fixed on the empty space beside him.

"Wangji will join us later, Wei-gongzi," he says, and immediately Wei Wuxian is snapped out of his daze, and his smile turns brilliant.

"Of course, Zewu Jun," he grins. "It's just a shame he won't be with us to recover our swords."

*

Whoever had gathered intelligence on this place, the Qishan Indoctrination Bureau, as they had called it, had been right - it has been left almost abandoned since the Wens have no more need of it.

Only a few Wen soldiers gather at the summit, off duty, and clearly not expecting any company - especially not that which arrives to attack.

Even with borrowed swords, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin are a formidable pair. Jiang Wanyin, now the owner of his mother’s Zidian, and Wei Wuxian with his ruthless unpredictability - it was almost unnecessary for Lan Xichen to join them. Besides, his core still isn’t all that settled yet, despite the hours over the past few weeks at the Unclean Realm that he has spent deep in a sort of conversation with it. There’s still something not quite honest in its presence. He can command a borrowed sword, and does, but perhaps he would not be considered of the highest skill level among his peers.

In the aftermath of the battle, Wei Wuxian leans against the fencing with an almost cruelly satisfied smile on his face as he watches the few Wen soldiers taken as prisoners led away by Jiang disciples.

"Jiang-zongzhu, Da-shixiong!"

Jiang Wanyin flinches at the title, and Wei Wuxian grins and hits him lightly on the shoulder, pulling him over to the disciple that called them - the disciple holding their swords.

"Suibian!" Wei Wuxian exclaims, delightedly snatching the sword and as good as dropping the one he had been using.

He's at least considerate enough to step a few paces back before unsheathing Suibian in a wide arc, and admiring the blade, testing its weight in his hand with a few practice swings. He moves to hold the blade in his left hand, with his right still on the hilt, and coos at it as though it is a child, murmuring "what did they do to you?" with a finger along the blade, but after a moment, he seems satisfied, and sheathes her once again.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wanyin has taken his own sword, and Lan Xichen has made his way over to the disciple, too, since one of the other swords he's holding - of course, Lan Xichen knew it would be here - that was the point of -

Wei Wuxian has joined them again, and notices Bichen, too. He flinches, as if to reach out for it, but stops himself.

Lan Xichen should take it. He shouldn't be concerned about it - Wangji isn't missing, and - anyway - he's strong. He knows what he’s doing. Lan Xichen will be able to return Bichen to him soon.

He takes the sword. In the background, he hears Wei Wuxian, as if far away, as if he's underwater -

"Hey, Jiang Cheng, that's the peacock's sword, right? Should we -"

"Shut up, Wei Wuxian."

Lan Xichen isn't listening, though, because - but it's only a minor shift within him, it's nothing - he could chalk it up to his closeness to his brother - it's really not that important -

But never before has he held Bichen and felt this level of familiarity. All the unsettled energy inside of him swarming to the hand that rests on the hilt, an exhale, of sorts. A quieting of the noise.

And then, cacophony, in his own thoughts.

- Why would Wangji have abandoned him unconscious after they were rescued; how could a doctor restore a shattered core without something to replace it? Could it be - Could they have -

What has Wangji done?