#Reality Gem

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

EXPLORING THE COSMIC ANGLE OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE AND THE POWER OVER ALL THAT IS.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on 1991 Marvel house ad for the monthly title in the Cosmic Marvel saga, "Warlock and the Infinity Watch" Vol. 1, on sale February 1992. Marvel Comics. Artwork by Angel Medina & Terry Austin.

PIC #2: Cover art to "Warlock and the Infinity Watch" Vol. 1 #1, repurposing the same artwork from the house ad above, released by Marvel Comics in February, 1992.

Sources: https://forum.sanctuary.fr/t/page-s-de-pub/185608/225?page=9, various, etc...

[egophiliac]

I have SO many thoughts about everything and they are in no kind of order yet, so here's just some quick little bits in the meantime!

I am not normal about any of these characters!

[solbellaria]

Joel said if he could team up with anyone in the next life series it would be either lizzie, which he totally didn't accidentally leak will be in the next series just now or gem. That trio is literally my dream team I can't wait for the next season

[garden-of-thoughts-fruit-of-lips]

[silverspectre51]

Wildest Dreams

Danny hated spending his planned road trip tracking down the Reality Gems. It was taxing, and made him less excited for his actual vacation. And now, he had to find the Gem of Fantasy somewhere at Kennedy Space Center.

As he passed invisibly around Cape Canaveral's many tourists, Danny spotted something small and blue in the distance. There, atop the iconic Space Shuttle Discovery, was the stone. Carefully, he flew over to the orbiter, the vehicle he longed to pilot more than any other. He touched down softly and-!

Suddenly, Danny was strapped into a seat, surrounded by several astronauts. Looking down, he realized that he was dressed the same. The mission's commander eyed him concernedly as they hurtled back to Earth.

"You okay, kid? You look a bit green."

Danny swallowed hard and squeaked out a reply.

"I-I'm fine, honest."

"Okay. Just remember your training."

Danny nodded and gathered himself, executing the landing sequence he had memorized from the simulator. The shuttle touched down perfectly, rolling to a stop right on the runway's center line.

Tears rolled down Danny's cheeks as he reached forward and grabbed the Gem of Fantasy from the orbiter's control panel. In an instant, he stood atop Discovery again, like nothing had happened. For a moment, the ghost boy cried softly, clutching the bright blue stone to his chest.

"Thank you..."

[soujux]

DMD Friendship The Reality — Thoughts

The year is yet to end, and Your Sky is airing, so I think I still have the time to talk about Domundi Friendship The Reality.

Totally not a dating show, by the way, but kinda functions similarly, which is perfect for a bored aroace girl in a limbo during holiday break. I also have no idea who these people are, so that adds to the experience.

DMD Friendship The Reality is a reality show by Domundi where they have 8 of their talents live together for several days. They do missions, get rewards, bond, and search for a partner to potentially win the Best Couple Award and become the main leads to a new series. There are 6 episodes of the actual show, and 1 episode of them doing a Q&A. In retrospect, it's basically an acting, performing, and chemistry workshop, because the missions all revolve around the contestants honing their skills in the areas relevant to their careers as DMD artists.

The participants are as follows according to the introduction:

Keng (24)

FirstOne (23)

Namping (22)

Latte (23)

Teetee (18)

Kong (20)

Thomas (22)

Gems (19)

I honestly thought it was too calculated to have 8 contestants—an even number—when they are supposed to each choose a partner at the end, and DMD probably thought the same after awhile, because in episode 3, they introduced Tle (25). Overall, the show had 9 contestants.

First Impressions on the DMD Artists

FirstOne is the lovechild of Mix (GMMTV) and Seokjin (BTS). He has very soft, but manly features, and his mannerisms are very boyish.

He moves a lot during interviews. When he talks, he smirks and grins almost in a playful way. He looks like the popular naughty kid in school. He has a face of an it-boy.

Also, I don't know if it's him or Keng, but one of them kept saying "Annyeong!" and it was kinda funny.

I find Kong to be so cute. I adore his braces, but what really sold me was his fudanshi tendencies.

He knows more than me, because he obviously clocked KengNamping really early in the show. There was a conversation around the authenticity of the show, because Keng and Namping was fairly established upon entering, but more on that later.

It was so interesting for these celebrities to introduce themselves by their educational attainment, because I don't see that everyday. Most of the contestants are degree holders, and Kong, for example, is a sophomore taking up engineering. He balances work as a DMD artist and his studies. He even talks about it twice with Thomas later on.

I really enjoy the premise of the show. Just chill guys in a chill mansion doing chill missions. We don't often see a reality show that doesn't isolate or restrict its contestants from the world. I love to see them use their phones before going to bed.

KengNamping as Contestants in DMD Friendship The Reality

Starting this show with no background was confusing. Did KengNamping work together before entering the show? Did they have a project lined up together? I felt like being in a new friend group and I don't know the inside jokes, so I just have to go along.

So, starting off, I had to establish that:

Keng and Namping are KengNamping.

They are always together and making Tiktoks together. (Source: FirstOne)

They will be one of the couples by the end.

Kong is the captain of the KengNamping ship.

However, I did enjoy the drama in the first episode. Absolutely nothing prepared me for the shame and disappointment awaiting Namping, but I appreciated Keng's reasoning behind it.

Context for those who don't know or forgot: Keng won the first mission and was rewarded a fancy dinner with a partner of his choice. Everyone and their mothers expected him to choose Namping, but he ended up choosing Teetee, leaving Namping embarrassed and disappointed. Teetee was so shocked and confused, but neverthelss, grateful. In Keng's defense, Teetee is a new addition to the company, and the dinner was his attempt to get to know his junior (in this context, his nong.)

Although, I have to admit that I got "salty" over it. I wrote a long rant about it in my notes, and it goes a little something like:

"Keng and Namping entered the show with the contestants having this preconceived notion that they are the KengNamping. That's why it was a big deal when Keng chose Teetee over Namping for a dinner date, despite his good intentions, because they are expected, almost pressured to always choose the other when they win special awards. Otherwise, it's an act of betrayal."

All of their interactions after that, especially the one in the suite, to me, felt a little forced. I kind of felt bad for Namping, because I saw it as Keng feeling sorry for him. I'm sure they do care for each other, but the dynamic between them and the contestants was not a wise set-up. If Keng and Namping were given a little more independence; it would have been interesting to see them interact with other people, like how Keng dined with Teetee, before seeing them actively choose each other.

FirstLatte and ThomasKong Dinner Dates

May I introduce my favorite dinner "date" in the entire show?

Everything about this dinner was perfect—yes, even the mosquitoes! From the announcement, the arrangement, the editing, and the results. It was well-thought of, and underappreciated.

After Teetee departed to eat with Keng in episode 1, the remaining contestants are given the chance to also have a fancy dinner with a partner. But here's the catch.. the dinner can only happen if you choose each other mutually.

These were the results:

Thomas chose Kong.

Namping chose Kong.

Latte chose FirstOne.

Gems chose FirstOne.

Kong chose Thomas, and FirstOne chose Latte. They have dinner in the garden.

The editors did such a great job at this, because they didn't reveal Kong and FirstOne's choices until during the announcement. It was so well-thought of.

It was one of those moments where I was sure ThomasKong and FirstLatte was gonna be a thing. The aspect of the dinner happening because you both chose each other in secret is very romantic. No fancy dinner in a cruise or suite could ever match up to it.

At this point, it's obvious that I forgot to stop treating this as a dating show. I started to get delusional the moment FirstLatte declared that they'll choose each other as partners over and over again. I began kicking my feet when Thomas said that he found the partner he was looking for.

Althought FirstOne eventually ended up paired with Tle in the future, the moment he shared with Latte in this dinner remained special. FirstOne will go on ahead and choose to spend his next dinner rewards with Keng and Tle, but it is not a dinner that rewards you for choosing each other.

I Guess, I Really Like the Implication of Being Chosen (ThomasKong)

I lied. I actually had a surface level idea of who Thomas and Kong were, because I watched 6 episodes of Your Sky before watching DMD Friendship The Reality. In my defense, I only knew them as Muenfah and Teerak! So, I did not really lie about not knowing who they are as DMD artists.

But oh, ThomasKong. What a couple. Watching them in the reality show felt like watching two people in your friendgroup that are obviously dating, but didn't tell you.

I didn't know that they were close before the show (or off-camera). They don't really talk, even though you always see them sit beside each other. So, I was honestly surprised when Thomas sent his postcard to Kong, and Kong to Thomas.

Not only that—they constantly chose each other all throughout the show.

We talked about the perfect dinner™, where they had the cutest "date" that felt so spontaneous and earnest. Although they never really explicitly said that that they would choose each other as partners, the qualities they mentioned when describing an ideal partner ultimately referred to.. well, each other.

"I want someone I'm comfortable talking to, and someone who is older."

Kong said this while talking comfortably with Thomas, his Phi.

"Just someone I'm comfortable with. Someone I can be my true self and be happy with. I think I've found him."

Well, do we even need to discuss Thomas' response?

It is quite a popular comment in each episode that Thomas locked-in on Kong from the get-go, but I honestly believe that Kong is no better. Kong also sent Thomas the postcard, chose Thomas for dinner, and it's Kong who chose Thomas during the acting mission.

The acting mission was one of my favorite episodes, because I was thrilled to see a script interpreted in several ways. My best pick in acting from the show were Gems, FirstOne, and Thomas' performances.

Thomas and Kong won this mission, and I think it's a pretty significant win. While they still lack in the acting department, they were the only group that leaned into the romantic subtext of the script, and delivered. They delivered it so well that the judges (and I) were left giggling and blushing after the scene. They were capable of selling a character to you, and it was an immersive experience.

They were rewarded with a night together in a suite. Then the dinner, mosquito bite joke, and the exclusive video happened.

I am absolutely fond of how comfortable they are with each other. They gave us several swoon-worthy moments, but I am the most at awe when Thomas checks up on Kong, when Kong trusts Thomas with everything, and when they feel safe enough with each other to talk about personal topics.

Their conversation about choosing each other and being 200% certain is very important to me. They make a promise, and it's a promise for years and years to come.

Issues With DMD Friendship The Reality

I'm not surprised that there are scripted interactions. I honestly think the entirety of episode 5 is scripted, if not, orchestrated by the staff to happen.

They revealed quite a lot about it in DMD Friendship The Reality Last Ride, and it was kinda funny, because they weren't even hiding it.

Some of the confirmed orchestrated moments in DMD Friendship The Reality:

Teetee and Kong's conversation in the rooftop. The conversation (probably) was not scripted, but the location and the timing was decided by the staff.

Thomas' "jealous" reaction to Teetee calling Kong. Thomas admitted that he was curious, but the staff told him to act a certain way. He thought it was funny that it made him look mad.

Tle interrupting Latte and FirstOne's conversation.

Keng and Namping talking about being each other's partners by the pool.

Scenes that I think are either orchestrated or scripted, but not confirmed:

Teetee and Thomas talking about Kong.

Thomas and Kong talking about being each other's partners on a random deck. However, I don't think the polaroid joke was scripted, because that's something only Thomas can think of.

Thomas and Kong's exchange after the red string journey. The blockings and the "From now on, please, take care of me, Mr. Kongpob," "Please, take care of me, too, Mr. Teetut," felt too unnatural. Plus, Kong was obviously acting.

I also heard a rumor about KengNamping and ThomasKong being fixed from the very beginning, and that the show was made to make them sell, but I'm not entirely convinced. I just think it's a waste of time and money for DMD to conceptualize and create a whole reality show for that purpose. However, it's also not far-fetched. After all, both couple won Best Couple Award, because they apparently tied.

Anyway, In Conclusion..

I really enjoyed DMD Friendship The Reality. I think it did a great job at fostering healthy bonds between colleagues, and developing DMD artists in several departments. It also did a great job at presenting male friendship as something that shouldn't fear closeness and vulnerability. I enjoyed watching a bunch of friends go on dinner dates after missions, and share beds without being scared of it seeming inappropriate.

As an aroace person, I adore the exploration of profound connections between ThomasKong and KengNamping. Actors in partnerships like this got to be my favorite queerplatonic relationships.

[chestersbraincell]

Oh btw for any grumbo shippers(I know I reblog a lot of the pairing because! Because they just have chemistry dang it!!), be it platonic or otherwise, I just came up with a little side plot-point that could work if you tweak around some of the timing between the two.

Imagine the reason why Mumbo is greying is because he’s secretly working at Mined!! To rescue Grian from the liminal hell he resides in!!!

[mossball-cockatoo]

I wish I had the art skills to actually draw this but:

Snail Grian & Gem drinking rat poison from glass bottles and Scar walks in on them and is like

‘Whatcha drinking?’

abd their like ‘Rat poison :3’

‘WHY ARE YOU DRINKING RAT POISON THROWITTHEFUCKUP-‘

and Grian & Gem r super confused while watching Scar panic

[yb-cringe]

man how was i not supposed to walk away from empires s1 and not see the wither rose alliance as the worlds most fucked up if true polycule

[hinmotion]

DMD GEN3 Fan Meeting in Bangkok "Friendship Never Ends" Fancams links & my personal notes

Disclaimer: I watched all the performances on my Twitter timeline. All the photos, videos, clips are not mine. This is just for archival purpose.

I think of fan meeting as a way for a company (especially small like DMD) getting more money to invest in their productions and pay their talents. Therefore, even though the performances might not be perfect, I still view them positively and try to appreciate them for what they are. I know there are people dislike actors singing and dancing, call them "idol wannabe" but a fanmeeting is 3-5 hours long, you cannot entertain your fans by just playing games. Besides, some actors actually enjoy performing and some consider it a way to pay back for fans. So yeah, in general, I don't mind actors singing and dancing. If I don't like it, I will just ignore. And I have soft spots for the DMD Boys always, there's that.

GEN 3 – ศูนย์รวมความน่ารัก (Cuteness Center)

I unironically love this song. I love boy group, bubble gum pop songs. And this song is just like that. Simple cutesy catchy. This fancam is the only full member fancam I can find on Youtube.

SOLO PERFORMANCES:

They cut it short so each performance is around 2 minutes. I enjoyed all of them. I don't know if they all just stood behind the doors waiting but I can kinda see some of them in some camera angles XD My favorite solo performances is TeeTee's (boy group pop song, tropical vibe). My most surprising performances are Namping's and Firstone's, they both usually sing but they tried something new this time.

TeeTee — LOLAY (โลเล) by ATLAS

Thomas — "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli

Gems — "พบรัก (Preview)" by Ink Waruntorn | @minshawol_ on Twitter

(cannot find a good photo of him singing ＿|￣|○)

Kong — "หมวยนี่คะ (Muay nee ka)" by China Dolls

Latte — "Good Morning Teacher" by Atom Chanakan

Tle — "ถ้าเธอรักฉันจริง" by Three Man Down

(cannot find a good photo of him singing x 2＿|￣|○)

Namping — "เปิดใจไม่เปิดตัว (KEEP IT LOW KEY)" by TIMETHAI

Firstone — Liar by BUS

Keng — "โต้ละลิม (melt)" by NONT TANONT

(Namping acted as the love interest in this song's MV, directed by Third from Tilly Birds :") )

DUO PERFORMANCES:

MarkGems — "น่ารักมั้ยไม่รู้ (Narak Mhai Mai Roo)" by Butterbear

The reason why Mark was in the bear costume until the very end, I believe, was to surprise fans. Because before this, they showed a VCR where all the established pairs in Gen 3 were all paired up (duh?) via lucky draws. It ended with TeeTee, Latte and Gems opened their draws and acted surprised. And then Gems started his performance on his own, tricking fans into thinking he would perform solo again I supposed.

There are better fancams on Twitter but they are all vertical and I don't like how Twitter requires login to view so...Anyways, Gems is cute and Mark has long hair XD

LatteKim — "ต้องชอบแค่ไหน (FIRST LOVE)" by PRETZELLE

Latte was just so endearingly bad at dancing I couldn't help but falling in love with him. He know he's not good but still he earnestly tried his best :") It is better if he has something to act on (i.e a storyline, or with another characters rather than alone on stage). The way he pulled Kim in and Kim's reaction at the end, I was screaming. I was a fan that was satisfyingly served. Nice song too, +1 in the playlist.

PorTeeTee — "ดีดี (UNEXPECTED)" by JAYLERRxPARIS

Cuties 🥺 Love the bubble gum pop song, the idol boyfriends vibe. They are good at dancing and singing. Added a new song to my playlist +2. I was a fan that was satisfyingly served +2.

Por also posted on Twitter about taking his personal in-ear monitors out for this stage and feeling thankful to be on stage again after a long time, and I'm like :') I don't know if those are the same one he got when he was in DVI, but still :') His ex bandmate also replied to the in-ear monitors tweet :') (I know he technically got on stage before in the DMD Charity but it was more for funsies and not officially with elaborated stages and back-up dancers like this). Happy for him and TeeTee for getting the chances to do what they love as parts of their jobs.

TleFirstone — "Die with A Smile" by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars (+ a little interview after the performance)

When it comes to singing, TleFirstone always delivered. Great harmony. They sang it a little "lighter" (if that makes sense?). However, I have listened to the original too many times, I just cannot listen to this more than twice without getting tired :'( which is a shame. Also, why did they stand 5 feet apart, finding a decent photo with both of them in it is hard =)))))

Tle apparently got sick when practicing just 1-2 days before the fanmeeting and had to get an injection and then hurriedly went back to practice :(

ThomasKong — "Green Tea & Honey" by Dane Amar

They were having so much fun together and so was I :"). Cute and romantic. The song is not for me but still, I was a fan that was satisfyingly served +3.

KengNamping — "งานเต้นรำในคืนพระจันทร์เต็มดวง (A Dance on the Night of a Full Moon)" by Cocktail ft. New Napatsorn

They sang beautifully and they got a little dance together near the end. And then Keng just starred at Namping for at least solid 10 seconds before lightly brush Namping's hair. I felt like a Victorian man seeing a woman's ankle for the first time. I was a fan that was satisfyingly served +4. Added a new song to my playlist +3.

JUMPING SCISSOR PAPER STONE GAME:

This moment from ThomasKong that made everyone on stage lost their minds.

Full video from @tinyJmouse23 on Twitter

Photos from @punniex25 on Twitter. (There is a clip of Keng holding his arms out and going in circles during this but I cannot find it. Man really go into NPC mode.)

SURPRISE SPECIAL GUEST "BUTTERBEAR"

They were genuinely surprised when Nong Noey came out, the crew kept secrets from them entirely.

Here a clip of DMD Gen 3 members received Hi-Touch benefits from Butterbear at the fanmeeting LMAO (Video from @jengphleng on Twitter)

GEN3 — "หากเธอเคยรักใคร (IF YOU LOVE)"

Cannot find a fancam that have all members, only focus cam :')

GEN3 — "รักเธอเต็มฟีด (LOVE FEED)"

Same as above :') Technically, they didn't sing much, they went around the venue and threw little signed plastic balls.

They also played the project video made by the collaboration of all the official fanclub of each member. Namping Official Fanclub tweeted to say thank you to every FC in this project and for Kong Official Fanclub, they are thankful that although they fought at that time, they still cooperated to finish the project XD.

There is this one line in the video that I really like "For as long as I exist, you will be loved." (which may or may not inspire me to write a love story.)

Miscellanies:

I'm so normal about them. (When they kiss in Khemjira, I'm gonna be an annoyance to everyone.)

Keng and his armpit protection saga. (It honestly hilarious how when taking selfie for the whole DMD Gen 3 in the DMD Charity event, he was STRUGGLING to hold onto his sleeves and fans caught it on camera =)))) )

The theme was sleeping and look at TleFirstone vs everybody else (Photos from: @TThisperson on Twitter)

Thomas got absolutely blasted by all the confetti. (Photo and video from @babii_uu on Twitter)

TMK and KNP (Video from @arawusbb on Twitter)

Keng vs Kong ft. a dramatic Namping (Video from @bcpsx1 from Twitter)

Conclusion:

Everyone is great. They have improved a lot :") All the performaces are enjoyable to me. Love how many fans came for their faves but still wholeheartedly supported and cheered for everyone in Gen 3, and even Marks, Kim and Por. I saw many accounts that dedicated to one members posting fancams and praising other members. Remind me of K-pop fandom a lot :") A nice fandom experience. 10/10 ❤️❤️❤️

[turnbacktomorrow]

Hello fellow shifters. I would like to propose a crystal to help with your shifting. (If you believe that crystals can aid you 💛 if you don’t kindly just scroll by please)

Sunstone

Helps with alleviating stress, negative thoughts and emotions, especially ones to do with self confidence. This stone provides deep emotional support which could help a shifter with confidence issues or in a negative mindset.

When I use this stone for shifting I will hold it in my hands and meditate with it. Imagining the sun’s guiding and uplifting light fill my body and help give me confidence and energy before a shifting attempt.

[edoniancommander]

*holds my hand out to u* be insane about space dandy with me

[pharawee]

source: mark_sorntast & gems.jsd @ ig

[softquietsteadylove]

Miss your Maleficent AU. Could you maybe write some more of that ? Maybe jealous and protective Gil/Thena

(also I just want to say. I got into Eternals because of your. 👉👈 I love Don Lee, and I came across your post. I didn't know that he played in this movie. Thank you 💕)

Misery. Mating season was pure misery. As far as Thena was concerned, it always had been. Even back in the isles, all mating season meant was morons crooning at her from treetops like seagulls.

She had seen humans aflush with mating hormones. Usually in the spring, they began courting each other. They would trade soft, quiet words, perhaps sing sweet songs and trade trinkets. Humans had such cute mating rituals. Nothing like a bull flying too close and flapping his wings at her.

Thena curled around herself tighter as a couple flew past, way too close to her, and way too close to each other. Their wings were hitting each other on occasion. Some of their feathers floated down into Thena's space.

She stood with a huff, sending the errant feathers away. This was a poor place to choose as her waiting spot. But she had a view of the side entrance to the nest this way.

The patrol would be back any time now.

As the nights grew shorter, the patrols too grew longer. She could see from her higher vantage point the way Druig was one of the most eager to crowd the entrance. He was waiting for his own mate.

She was waiting for hers...in a sense.

Not that she and Gilgamesh were declared to each other. They weren't really mates, in the way most would consider the term. But she had his feather! And he had hers, even if not displayed publicly.

"They're almost here!" she heard one eager, young fae bubble gleefully to her friend waiting next to her. They were bouncing in their excitement. "Do you think he'll land first?"

Thena rolled her eyes. Young spring fledglings yet to face the harsh winds of the world.

"The captain always lands last!"

Thena bristled, as did her wings. She fluffed them, attempting to smooth them down of their own accord. She couldn't let her hackles raise to every young chick who was aflutter over Gilgamesh. She would never know peace if she did.

Gilgamesh was a very desirable specimen. He was the captain of the nest's border patrol, as well as a personal guard when occasions called for it within the nest. He was a good hunter, a provider, strong, a skilled flier, and he was handsome-

Thena walked away from her waiting spot, refusing to watch Gilgamesh be ogled as soon as he arrived with the rest of the border patrol shift. He could come and find her if he wanted to share some food, or her company.

She wasn't his mate, so what was she waiting on him for?

If she had to watch him be given mating trinkets she might not be responsible for her actions. She trudged through the tunnels instead, determined to take the caves back to the inner cliffs. Perhaps she would just drag herself back to her nest and lie around like a pitiful runt with a broken wing. At least she would be the only one to witness her own misery.

"Are you lost?"

She looked up, shocked to be spoken to in the middle of her brooding. She hadn't even realised she had passed another fae. He was an arctic fae, she gathered from his light coloured robes and the silvery shine in his hair and even his eyelashes. "What?"

"The gathering fire has been lit, they will be handing out food," he repeated, even pointing in the direction from which she had just come. "I wouldn't want you to miss out."

She frowned. What business was it of his if she missed the first servings of meal time? "Perhaps that is my choice to make."

"Yes, of course." But he smiled, showing off pearly white fangs. He was a pretty thing; she was certain he would also be giggled and flapped over by the eligible and awaiting fae out there.

Just like Gilgamesh.

Her mood still soured, Thena turned, determined to continue on her way.

"There will be fruit."

It was impossible for her to hide that her ears perked at that. They were practically fluttering like her wings at the thought. Winter had made it hard to find the sweet, delicate morsels she so loved. Her eyes must have looked bloodthirsty when she looked at him again.

He smiled warmly, hands folded into the sleeves of his robes. "I heard that once mating season begins, the last of the dried fruit rations are distributed, as a celebration that fresh fruit will begin growing once more."

She regarded him cautiously. He was promising a great treasure--almost too good to be true. "Heard?"

"Ah, I have travelled much in my life, I too am not native to this area," he excused with a laugh. "Although I come from the north, I had the pleasure of experiencing the southern Isles many years ago. I remember how lush the fruit was, no matter the season."

Indeed, it was the only thing she missed of the Isles. She approached him again. "You lived on the Isles?"

"For a time, yes," he sighed, opening his eyes again. They were a pretty colour, she had to admit--much like the waters of her island home. "I was quite happy during the time I spent there."

A smile came to her face, perhaps from sheer nostalgia. The thought of warm winds and soft sands and the sounds of her brothers' laughter (when they were still small and cute) came to mind. "They are pleasant."

"Pleasant, yes," he agreed. His smile changed slightly and he stepped closer to her, "and beautiful."

She blinked; had she misread his intentions. Her feathers weren't standing on end, but she couldn't help but tilt her head at him. "Hm?"

"I do miss the beauty of the Isles," he repeated. He was no coward. "The soft gold of the sands, the sparkling green of the seas. Truly the most beautiful sights one can behold."

She clasped her hands behind her back. She couldn't very well tell him he was speaking to a mated fae--he wasn't. Her tongue turned sour again and her frown returned without any need to force it. "I don't-"

"Ah, forgive me," he offered with genuine sounding contrition. He even stepped away again, back to a more respectful distance. "I do not wish to cause you discomfort."

She eyed him. He had taken no for an answer, which frankly put him ranks above plenty of the hormone driven bulls out there. She straightened her back, stating firmly, "I'm not looking for a mate."

"Then let it be so," he agreed easily. His voice was like silk. "I will not ask anything of you."

Thena maintained the distance he himself had offered. But if he truly was ready to accept her answer, then perhaps something of a friend would not be the worst to have in this mothernest. She was starting to realise that with exception to Gilgamesh, she had made little effort to find more, now that this was their home.

"I confess I knew you were from the Isles the second I saw you," he offered, again his own defense, but not disavowing his declaration of her beauty. "I have longed to return to the Isles for many years now. I was eager to speak with someone else who knew them."

"Hm," she contemplated her options aloud. She could surely talk with him about her past home. There weren't many other options, after all. And so long as he kept it to himself if he found her beautiful or not, she could concede having some company besides Ikaris might be nice.

"Your brothers flew here with you, yes?"

She relaxed some at the mention of her brothers. She was not the only one he had learned about. "Yes, we all made the journey together."

"Druig, the younger one," he began carefully. "I was not able to connect that he was from the Isles and your kin until recently, I confess."

She had to smile. Druig did look quite her opposite, in many ways. He had short horns, dark and coiled tightly to his head. Dark hair, sharp features, and his wings were like the darkest part of the ocean.

"He is mated with Makkari, the lightning guard."

That was a fitting name for her, Thena had to admit. "I am quite happy with the match."

"What of your other brother?" her new acquaintance asked, his hands back in his sleeves again.

Ikaris was like a medium between her and Druig. He had some grey in his hair, peppery toned wings like a great owl. Thena sighed. "I fear no one would be able to stomach him as a mate."

Her companion laughed. He had a nice laugh, his voice light but also somewhat husky. "Surely he can't be so bad."

"I fear he is worse," she rebutted, making him laugh more. It wasn't as nice as Gilgamesh's laugh, but it was nice to hear any laughter, now that she thought about it. Perhaps mating season was getting to her after all.

"I have seen him with Ajak's assistant," he offered.

She too had seen him hovering whenever Sersi was in the open. But Ikaris was too ungraced to approach her directly. Thena feared that he had picked that up from her directly. "She will need to court him herself if she has hopes of making it through his agate of a skull."

"An agate for a skull?" he questioned, humored by her term for it.

"Large, some might find it pretty, but it's technically hollow inside."

Her friend threw his head back in laughter, truly enjoying himself now. She had to smile, too. It was nice to make someone laugh.

"I have heard much worse about siblings from others, if anything he should be grateful you compare him to something so desired," he chuckled, wiping a tear from his silvery eyelash in laughter.

"Indeed, he has had females pursue him in the past," Thena lamented, back to ruminating upon mating season. "But he is too dense to realise. I end up having to break the news to them that he is...not the courting type."

"Ah," he made a face of feigning understanding.

She frowned again, looking at him. He was a pretty fae, she could see that. But something made her bristle again. "Why aren't you out there?"

"Hm?"

"I know why I am here," she continued, feeling as if the air were shifting around her. Her feathers started rising. "No one uses the tunnels."

He tilted his head at her, utterly innocent looking. "I thought a quiet walk might be nice. All the mating season chirping-"

"Your wings drag," she pointed out, looking down at their feet, her sandals and his slippers. Indeed, his silvery wings were dragging on the ground behind him, they were so long. He wouldn't be taking the cave tunnels unless he had to.

He sighed, and harshly at that.

Her brows furrowed. "Did you expect to find me?"

"I followed you in here," he grumbled, some of the smoothness of his voice leaving him. "I've been trying to speak with you for some time now, but you're always slipping away like a wriggly little eel."

She shivered; she hated eels.

"When I saw you come down here I thought," he shrugged, making quite light of the confession to having tailed her like a predator. "This was my chance to talk with you."

Whether he meant that literally or was alluding to more than speaking, she bristled. She was no one's prey. "Was any of what you said true?"

He gave her a look, thoroughly irritated with her now. It was a sharp contrast to how gentle and soft he had seemed mere moments ago. "I didn't falsify anything. I did just want to talk with you."

He did seem genuinely discouraged. Perhaps it was the privilege of being a bull that he had no idea how threatening it felt to find herself entrapped with him like this.

"But you're always hanging around with that meathead."

Her wings bristled for an entirely new reason. "Who?"

"The captain," he sighed--scoffed, rather. "Gilgamesh?--throws his weight around, doesn't talk much. I have only seen him a few times during his duties and he seems...staunch."

He couldn't have been further from the truth. "He is not."

"You fly with him often," he pointed out, and she tried not to let it ruffle her. "He was your escort when you arrived from the isles."

She stood her ground.

"I always thought it should have been me," he muttered, letting some bitterness come through in it. "I volunteered, actually. I told Ajak about living in the Isles in years past--it made the most sense for me to be your escort!"

He sounded quite certain about that.

"But she chose him," he rolled his eyes, even pulling his hands out of his sleeves to run a hand over his horns. They were long, but they were downturned. Thena liked how Gil's flowed back from his head, like the depictions of old dragons in some cultures.

"You are envious of him."

He made a face, and Thena realised that perhaps this was one of those times when she was no more graceful with their own kind than Ikaris. It was an uncouth thing to say aloud. He looked at her with wild eyes and approached her with his shoulders forward. His wings raised and even confined within the space they were, they were huge. "Me?!--jealous of him?!"

Thena took a step back, but he continued to push his way into her space. She shouldn't have said that (even if she was right). And now she was trapped in a tunnel where she wouldn't be able to fly, at least not at any decent speed.

He slapped the cave wall between them, his temper now in full control. "What could that urchin brained, thick skulled, sea salt coated idiot have that I don't-?!"

Thena blinked as he was yanked backwards so far that he fell straight onto his wings. He yowled and grumbled as he was stepped over, his pretty wings being bent and rumpled as he attempted to pick himself up with the weight of them working against him.

"Careful you don't hurt your thick skull."

Gilgamesh stepped over the other male, completely unbothered by his agonised groans radiating through the tunnel around them. He walked over to her, leaning down to her ear, "are you unharmed?"

She nodded, happy she was still clasping her hands behind her and around her wings, which were absolutely vibrating at the sight of him. Her heart hammered in her ears. "Yes."

"Good." Gilgamesh's voice was deep, and smooth, and pleasant to the ear. He turned back to the other fae present. "You!"

"Ugh," the male grunted, finally able to pick himself up. He huffed and puffed, hair ruffled and wings positively bedraggled. "What the hell was that for?! I was-"

Gilgamesh was in front of him in a second, nose to nose, eye to eye. His fists clenched audibly. "If I ever hear of you following anyone around, let alone trapping them in a tunnel?"

He rolled his eyes. "I didn't trap her-"

Gilgamesh grasped the front of the opposition's robes. He brought his face close, growling right in it, fangs bared, breath heavy. "If I ever see you say even a word to her again-"

"Won't happen," he was quick to try and slither his way out of trouble. Like a wriggly little eel, Thena thought.

"Ever!" Gilgamesh roared right in his face, shaking him. "You come near her again, and I'll shatter your wings so badly you'll never even feel the wind in them again."

The fae paled; it was about a serious a threat as there ever could be. He wrestled himself from Gilgamesh's grip and began backing his way out of the tunnel, head down, wings pressed flat. "Never again. Consider me gone."

They could hear his steps scurrying out of the tunnel almost the entire way back to the opening. Gil turned back to her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

She looked down at her toes. She felt foolish for having thought he had innocent intentions, even for a second. And perhaps he did, but she didn't feel any better about it.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked her gently, coming to her and reaching out for her hand. "I landed and went looking for you."

She kept her eyes down, not wanting to admit that she hadn't wanted to see him fawned over by other faeries. "I didn't feel I had the stomach for it."

She wasn't exactly explaining herself. But Gilgamesh accepted that, moving closer until he could pull her into his arms. She sighed as his hand drifted between her wings, massaging the knot that had formed there.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to her, burying his nose in her hair. "I should have been here to fend him off."

She inhaled the scent of him from his robes. She did want that. She wanted him to be around to fend off others in the name of keeping them away from his mate. She wanted to be able to tell the young fledglings that openly lusting after another's mate was unseemly. She wanted him to be hers as much as she felt he already was.

Gil pulled away first, holding her cheeks to kiss her properly. Their lips parted but he stayed close, his forehead to hers. "I know I'm not...we're not...I know. But I'm your mate, Thena--I am. And I'm not gonna let anyone think otherwise."

She pulled her head back enough to look at him, her lashes fluttering. He stared into them, his eyes such deep brown pools that made her want to sink into them. And they were so honest--she could believe everything she saw in them. She blushed.

Gilgamesh accepted as she kissed him again, slipping her hands under his wings and up his back. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm here now."

"Hm," she purred, happy just to enjoy a moment with him away from prying eyes. She rose onto her toes to nestle her nose right into the folds of his robes. And there, she found her feather, tucked away against his heart. She was in her rightful place, as far as he was concerned.

"Hey, you didn't eat, right?" he asked, eager to move past this unfortunate episode. "I found you something."

Her ears perked again--wings fluffed again.

Gilgamesh pulled out a pouch. Before it was even open her eyes went wide at the scent. He grinned, "we flew out pretty far today. But I found a few of these."

Her eyes sparkled as he handed over the treasure; an agate in its own right, filled with its own kind of jewels. She loved pomegranate.

"How 'bout we get away from all the noise," he chuckled, handing over the treasure so he could wrap his arm around her waist. "And I'll feed you those little seeds."

"Arils," she corrected, but with a wide smile, entirely too thrilled to have one of her favourite - rare - fruits within her hands again.

Gilgamesh just chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Anything my mate desires."

[out-of-her-miind]

Y’all I made a TikTok 🥹🥹🥹

Totally unexpected and expansive! I am grateful for boundaries becoming enlarged. Shouts out to the I am limitless affirmation hooooooo!

I know your thinking ….its a free account …listen you gotta acknowledge all the small changes because once you can identify the small changes you will begin to see the whole picture shift. This isn’t something I planned on doing but it is something I love doing. I’m encouraging myself more than I am others but I absolutely love sharing, motivating, and coaching others on the same path.

Yes the queen of digress

I made a TikTok 🧚🏾✨ that means I can now share with even more people.

@ outofhermiind

Follow me there and Twitter/X and IG. Follow me everywhere except the bathroom because that’s creepy.

(Unless your a girls girls and I’m past my limit 🧚🏾)

Digress…

[singto-prachaya]

So the new gen DMD guys is getting a show to find their ship parter and the winning ship will star as the leads in a DMD original script. I wonder about that that adaption of the book Your Sky. Because that one was also meant for the new gen.

Anyways I was sure First and Latte were already a ship since they appear as a side ship in Love Upon A Time. + they had them going to some events together. I have been 🤡