#Snippet of life

[thatoneautisticshark]

Well I saw that you’re bored and wanted to ask maybe we can get Johnny after a long sleepless night (bc of nightmares) finding Simon smoking outside. Just both of them sharing a smoke and the silence. A bit of fluff and just existing together.

Also love your writing!! I always get excited seeing your notification🤭🫶🏽

Cw warning for smoking

Such a cute idea!! Yes absolutely adore it!!

Soap groaned, wacking his head into a pillow as he still failed to sleep. He'd went to bed at a decent time too. 9pm in the hopes to get some semblance of sleep, but no, he'd had a few fitful nightmares and over all got about 30 minutes and it was now, what?

He rolled over checking the time. 3am. He'd been laying here for a whole six hours, as had barely gotten any shut eye, he was feeling worse then when he went to bed.

Deciding there really was no point in staying laying in bed, when all he was doing was getting more riled up and frustrated, he slipped his shoes on.

Soap quietly slipped out into the cool air, hoping a calm walk would settle his mind and allow him to get at least an hour conked out before the morning. He sighed as the cool air rushed over his skin, much better than the stuffy room he was tossing and turning in.

He started off mindlessly, not really paying attention to where he was going, just wandering around the base absently, letting his mind wander.

As Soap walked he saw a dark shape he immediately recognised as Ghost, and considering the small bit of smoke he could see, Ghost was either smoking or on fire. Soap reckoned it was the first, but you could never be sure with the lieutenant.

He slid up beside the hulk of a man. “Cannea bum one?”

It was only when he actually looked over he realised Ghost didn't have his mask lifted above his mouth like usual, he wasn't wearing on at all, his face was bare, something Soap had never seen.

A cigarette was pushed gently into his hand, and when he put it between his lips, Ghost leaned forward, lighting the top with his own.

Soap nodded, “Preciate it, LT” he murmured taking a drag, letting eyes wander over the skyline, and the way the light reflected on Ghost's features.

A thick hand brushed against his on the railing, not holding, just resting against. A subtle support, before Ghost finally spoke. “What are you doing up at this hour sargent?”

Soap paused taking another drag as he considered his answer, considering one of his typical responses, a joke to brush it off, but there really wasn't a point. “Couldn't sleep… nightmares”

He received a soft hum from the other as a comfortable silence settled over them, the biting chill of the air, and watching the smoke swirl and spiral. It was calm, and nice. Soap didn't have to pretend with Ghost.

He knew he could expand further if he wanted, and Ghost would listen. But he also knew Ghost wouldn't push.

He would be content to just exist with Soap.

And Johnny thought he could just exist with Simon at any point in time, anywhere, any universe.

[turquoisetangle]

Monday 04 24 2023

Sunshine picture of my backyardMorning light is magical and so so goodBrisk out there April 24, 2023

[quillofspirit]

At the beginning of this year, I had to very suddenly say goodbye to my dog. When I say he was my heart dog, I mean he was my whole heart and I got to share my life with him for 7 glorious years.

The tradition was, every December, we'd all don an appropriate hat™️ and go in search of the perfect tree. Not too wide, not too sparse but with enough space for bobbles to properly hang between the branches, and tall enough to fit in the living room without looking too small. Oh- and with a beautiful fir tree smell.

It was a tall order.

Yet, each year, we let my dog sniff around the trees until he spent a little more time on one. That was the one we brought home. He gave us some very memorable trees.

It's the first time in 7 years my dad and I chose a Christmas tree without my heart dog. So this Christmas will be bittersweet for me.

But, I've got two nephews and two nieces to share the magic of Christmas with, and my brother's dog (who I like to call my first niece) to snuggle up with.

I'll be thinking about you dear Copain, and I think you'd be very proud of the tree we chose 💚

[standingonnewgrounds]

There are four substances that affect the soul: determination, dissonance, remnant, and salt. People called them soul substances.

Determination is a liquid substance that is created in the body in certain species. It lets the soul persist upon death. If there is more determination within the soul than necessary to persist, it will bring them to the Other Place. If there is even more excess determination, one can essentially travel through the past.

Dissonance is a plasma born from a… ‘glitch in the matrix’, if you will. A substance that should not exist, but does anyway. It is created when determination returns from the Other Place, causing the substance to transform into an energy that can cause any soul—alive or otherwise—that interacted with it to go insane. It can be used as ammo for a powerful weapon that can disintegrate any matter it touches, or be purified back into determination or a form that doesn’t turn anybody it makes contact with mad.

Remnant is a mercury-like substance which is a vital tool in some types of necromancy, although there are other types that do not use it. It can be used to trap souls within an object, forcefully enmeshing them. Despite the grim image it gives, the substance itself is created by positive emotions, and can, in fact, empower a living being, no strings attached.

Salt is a crystal-like substance found in the seas. If it makes contact with a soul, it inflicts burns to the soul. This is one of the few ways one can damage the soul, and such, it is used as a way to exorcise spirits, even in ancient times. In fact, it is considered as the first soul substance discovered.

One wonders if there are more soul substances. Perhaps there are, but they remain undiscovered.

Perhaps someone would discover a fifth one, but who knows.

[annsillsomething]

sometimes I feel like I’m a bit too much of a pushover

I’m working overtime just because there’s no one else to do my job, I’m not payed extra, I’m overworked as hell

to get promotion I need to prepare a presentation with my achievements and reasons to promote me but I don’t have neither time nor energy to do it right now

but

today my supervisor told me that she would prepare that presentation for me

I know she’s working twice as hard as me, because we’re currently understaffed, I see with my own eyes how much she does every day, we’re sitting nearby, she’s responsible for the whole branch and I’m the only one left in my department and it’s not like I’m extremely competent, I’ve never worked in this field before, I’m still learning and the people who were supposed to instruct me left a few weeks after I joined the team so it’s all really hard

I’m picking up the pieces of what they left and trying to make up for numerous mistakes they made

what I’m trying to say is that for some reason I don’t regret anything, I feel appreciated for the first time in my fucking life

and it’s not just some kind of « you’re a valuable employee » bullshit because the person who has so much more responsibilities and problems than me is ready to go out of her way to get me a promotion

it’s nice

really nice

[writersbloxx]

Body Language

When someone is…

Nervous/Anxious

Face:

Darting eyes/avoiding eye contact

Rapid blinking

Tense jaw

Looking upwards when talking or fixing eyes on a more distant point

Furrowed (or raised) brows

Frowning

Blushing 

Micro-expressions- quick/short facial expressions like suddenly widening their eyes or a brief grimace

Voice:

Shaky or trembling

Higher pitch or thin

Breathy

Wavering

Raspy or slightly cracked

Hesitant

Speaking quickly or stuttering

Choppy (many pauses in speech)

Shorter, clipped words (staccato)

Gestures/Posture:

Tense, closed off stance

Hunched shoulders

Body is stiffened

Crossed arms

Fidgeting

Touching clothes

Cracking knuckles

Bouncing knee

Subtly covering their mouth

[m-thermopolis]

[aroaceleovaldez]

i have suddenly become obsessed with a theme that HoO established but never proceeded to extrapolate on, which is:

You are Percy Jackson, and you have been swapped with a boy who was allegedly everyone's favorite person, but they have decided to replace him with you. They just met you. You stand next to his best friend and the people he's known his entire life. In his home. In his cloak. In his place. They stopped looking for him.

You are Jason Grace, and you have just found out you have a long lost sister who completely replaced you in her life with this girl you just met. Your lives and personalities are mirrors. She is you, living the life you were robbed of.

You are Annabeth Chase, and you have just become starkly aware that you have been inhabiting the void left behind by your best friend's long lost brother. You and Luke were just replacements for him. Now you have to look him in the eyes when he has nothing and know you took that life from him.

You are Piper McLean, and you have just found out your relationship is fake and built entirely on the memories of Annabeth Chase. You have been given a boyfriend when hers has been taken away. You have no idea how much of it is real or not but regardless you feel like if your relationship isn't exactly in their image that you have failed.

You are Leo Valdez, and you have just learned that you are the echo of your great-grandfather. You are not your own person. You just exist to be a mirror of him. A doppelganger. An actor and stunt double facing all the danger he never had to but wearing his face. To be there for his best friend decades later simply because he couldn't. You are playing a role. A seventh wheel and a pawn for a goddess who carefully sculpted your entire life for her own purposes.

You are Hazel Levesque, and the only reason you are alive is because your brother couldn't save your his sister. You are a consolation prize. An apology. Your existence here is misplaced in every way but you inhabit it anyways.

You are Frank Zhang, and you are a shapeshifter. Inhabiting your own body feels strange and clumsy when you could be literally anything at any time. You are anything and everything and live your life with the simple certainty of knowing exactly how you will die.

[hiraethminds]

It’s so fun communicating from farm country to suburb

[helianthus21]

i NEED to see Armand laughing out loud, head thrown back, maybe even giggling at something Daniel said while Loustat are in the room, turning to each other in surprise like "did you ever see him like this??"

[shycorvid]

A demon twins idea where they think they're brothers, but due to some mishaps half of Danny's DNA belongs to Dick while Damian got Bruce's. They only find this out because Danny got real mad at his Grandfather and bit him hard enough to draw blood that one time so Ra's checked to see if he got rabies from his idiot grandchild and something in those tests didn't look right. He got his doctors to investigate further and oh no that child is Grayson's, they have to get rid of him fast.

Because Bruce might get a little mad at Talia for hiding his son from him if he ever finds out, but Richard Grayson? Richard Grayson would rain hell upon them.

[flamingpudding]

Little Snippets #8

A/N: Recently reread an older prompt thread of Danny reincarnating as Tim and remembering his previous life at nine... that inspired this...

Something was different about Tim. They all noticed as they watched the third Robin as he went through the cave like a whirlwind on fire. Collecting small gadgets and trinkets, his laptop and other things before hurrying off with some kind of excuse again. Dick arched an eyebrow and glanced at Bruce. The first Robin felt tempted to as Bruce for help to figure out if something had happened during their last mission.

While near death situation weren't uncommon in their line of work, they never before had affected the young teen the way they have right now. Dick had first thought, the kid had suffered some kind of head trauma considering how disoriented he had been when he first woke up. But this, was ridiculous, it wasn't like Tim was acting all to different from his usual self but.... Dick shock his head. Maybe he was just imaging it. The kid was still the same, tinkering with gadgets and drinking coffee or energy drink in amounts the kid was still way to young to consume the way he does. Maybe the boy hit puberty finally.

In his room Tim dropped everything he had collected from the Batcave into a pile, before quickly grabbing a notepad and scratching out bullet points as well as adding new points. The kid then proceeded to start pacing his room, counting something down with the help of his fingers as he muttered to himself.

"Okay Tim, think... I should have everything I need... I just need to remember the blueprint and then build it. It's not like I never build gadgets of my own. It something I have always done once I got into it... so it will be easy to make it and then..." His muttered continued before he plopped onto the ground, not before grabbing his little multi-tool box. His hand grabbing his notebook once again as he opened it and began scribbling down.

"If I use the parts of the stun gun.... and then the chip set from the bat mini computer.... then use the metal from one of the many batarangs..." Tim mumbled to himself, before coursing as he dropped his pen. His hand going intangible for a brief moment. His eye twitches for a second before he took a deep breath calming down, then picked up his pen again. He really needed to get started on building that Fenton bracelet.

"They just had to knock me hard enough into the head that I would remember my past life...." Tim mutters quietly, annoyed with the goons he had fought during their last mission. He took another deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. Memories that belonged to Danny Fenton flitting across his mind. When Tim had woken up the first time he hand't remembered for a hot second that he was Tim Drake, son of Janet and Jack Drake, ward of Bruce Wayne and third Robin to Batman.

He literally thought he was Danny Fenton waking up in a strange dimension. After his initial panic calmed down Danny, or rather Tim had anaylized his situation and figured out, he was remembering his past life. It made the most sense. At first that was easy to deal with, until Tim one day fell through the floor. Thankfully neither Bruce, Alfred or Dick had noticed that incident. But to Tim, that meant he unlocked his abilities from his past life.

Which how was he going to explain that? 'Oh hey Bruce, I woke up and I don't have a meta gene but I remember my past life and now I have ghost abilities.' Yeah... that would go really well with the paranoid old man. Someone Tim was currently babysitting until that man recovered from his grief.

That brought Tim to his next dilemma. Because he remembered Danny Fenton read comics, while he mostly read comics centered around Martian Manhunter his past self thankfully had a friend that was into Batman and had discussed the comics with him. That was lucky for Tim. Because Tim wasn't stupid, he had seen other kids at school read these kind of books before. So he was aware that he was currently experiencing and living through the plot of one of these reincarnations book.

A part of him was partially sure that he could blame that on some of his ghostly friends from his past life.

Eitherway, thanks to his past life's friend. Tim had knowledge of the future, even if he didn't remember everything. Bad point, he had by now figured out in which timeline he was. Or at least Tim believed he had, which meant he was to late to prevent the fall of the second Robin, but if he calculated right either Damian was going to appear soon or he would be joining the Teen Titans which meant one step closer to going to get attacked by an enraged second Robin coming back. There were targets painted on his back. At least he wasn't at the point at time where he had another insane fruitloop obsessed with him.

Tim groaned. "I swear if this life were a novel it would be called, 'how to survive your siblings rage after awakening to your past life'."

There was a pause in the moment where Tim just let his mind wander. Before sitting straighter and getting to work onto the things he needed to suppress his ghost powers for the moment as well as making plans for the inevitable appearance of his future siblings. He just hoped he remembered the order of events correctly let alone that they were from the timeline he was in, otherwise he would be screwed.

"And that is, if I really only remembered my past life and did not taking over another kids life.... And Ancients... please don't let this be a Joker Jr. timeline...."

[turquoisetangle]

peace full beauty

A mourning dove resting on a backyard deck with a dusting of snow visible atop the wood bench, the grass, and nearby swing-set. a mourning dove landed on the backyard deck I spied her through the window and said, “Good morning, beautiful” the sun is shining the sky is blue welcome sights yesterday’s dusting of snow lingers the air is blustery cold a bird from The Lord for me, a…

[laddertek]

etho said actually you _don't_ understand the intricacies of how tango is my boyfriend and bdubs is my ex

(and how tango and bdubs kiss too)

Scar: We went on that little adventure, you know! Etho: Yeah, yeah, we had our adventure, that's true, that's true. Scar: You disparaged your teammates. That's it, all right, no more spoilers. Etho: (laughs) Our team has -- our team has some weird dynamics this -- this season. Cleo: (overlapping) Really, Etho? Is there trouble in paradise? (pause) Who's third-wheeling with you, again? I can't remember. Etho: (laughs) Uhh. The -- Cleo: Genuinely can't remember. I know it's you and Bdubs. And...Tango? Tango. Tango. Etho: (loudly) Why -- Why is Tango the third wheel? Why -- why isn't Bdubs the third wheel? Cleo: Because it's you and Bdubs. I'm sorry. I understand how that relationship goes. Etho: (dissatisfied) Hmm.

[standingonnewgrounds]

(This story is filled with headcanons, especially when it comes to QT lore. You have been warned!)

…

Daniel always wanted to see a crossling.

Daniel always loved creatures when he was a child, learning about the multiple creatures living around him, sapient or otherwise. He loved these creatures, and dreamed of traveling the world to see them all one day.

Although the creatures he learned about can be reached just by traveling to a certain place, there is one species that he couldn’t quite reach, even if he tried: the crosslings.

A long time ago, the gods sealed their native home—the state of Nevada—away from the outside world, putting an indestructible barrier that seemed to be made with the toughest materials. The reason? The crosslings have become restless and aggressive, which led to many incidents that could threaten the end of the world if left unchecked, so they sealed it off for years to come, with no way to get in nor out.

Daniel doesn’t know if that story is true or not, but upon hearing about these sapient creatures and their interesting biology—floating hands, clay-like skin, a cross for a face with other facial features hidden underneath—he has been fascinated by the creatures ever since.

He wants to touch their skins for himself. He wants to see their culture for himself. He wants to see Nevada for himself, although he knows that the last one is a bad idea, all things considered.

It only made him more intrigued by these creatures. How are they doing in Nevada? How are they dealing with the madness that made the gods seal them away anyway? Are they perhaps immune to poison because they poisoned the land? Who knows, he doesn’t. Neither did everyone else.

When Daniel was an adult, he decided to go to a particular forest far from civilization that was infamous for having a curse of some sort, where people do not come out once someone enters. He doesn’t know why he decided to go there, maybe because he’s curious about what lies within. Maybe he thought he could find some unidentified creatures within this forest.

What happened instead is that he became a scientist in a laboratory called “Brutality Labs,” a secret laboratory hidden deep underground, and the reason behind the disappearances, as one of the important policies is that employees must never leave the place, no matter what.

Daniel was sad. Since he could never leave the laboratory, perhaps he would never meet the crosslings in his lifetime after all, just because he did something daring and foolish like entering a forest you cannot get out of.

He wonders if that’s what the crosslings who were trapped in Nevada felt.

…

As he keeps working for the laboratory, and as new employees get hired, Daniel eventually meets someone who shares his interest with creatures: a woman by the name of Dawn.

Dawn… is a bright light in this dark laboratory, as she doesn’t let the stress of ‘working’ in this place phase her, trying to lighten the mood.

It included talking about girly thing with other girls, and trying to replicate that as best as they could, like makeup and dress-up. It sometimes included boy things, like sports and gyms. Their boss, the ever controlling Amelia, however, doesn’t want any of that near her precious lab, which disappointed everyone. Didn’t mean they tried, as spite is a main motivator for humans who are brave enough at times.

Sometimes, Daniel talks to Dawn, alongside Ashley and Gabriel. They made for a pretty great friend group, all things considered. And they are happy about that.

Dawn shared her love for fashion, and all of the different emotions it can evoke. Gabriel shared his love for his QT creations, and mourned the discontinuation of all of the failures. Ashley shared her love for singing, and desired to be a choir singer. Daniel shared his love for creatures of all kinds, including the ever so elusive crosslings.

While Daniel cherished these friends, he cherished Dawn the most.

Her skin, her bright pink hair, her red eyes, she was the shining star that brought light to the desolate brutality that is Brutality Labs. She was… beautiful. And Daniel loved her for it. He loved her smile, her optimism, and her energy, even if it causes trouble sometimes. He never had a chance to tell her any of that, however. Just a few vague hints he isn’t sure she caught.

Daniel made a promise with Dawn, however. An impossible promise. A promise that if they get out somehow, they will see a crossling together. They both know that this is impossible, since even if they get out of the laboratory somehow, the barrier is still there. Even then, it wasn’t in bad faith or anything, and it became an inside joke between the four friends.

This is why, when he heard news of her death because of something he warned not to do, he was devastated.

Gabriel promised that he’ll commemorate her somehow in his sixth QT unit. That particular unit’s personality is going to be based on her.

They all know that despite that reassurance, that unit is not Dawn. She’ll never be her.

…

Daniel tried to fight against the status quo, but can you fight something like that when your opponent is a man who modified their own body so much with who knows what?

Dawn warned him of that, Daniel realizes. And now, much like Dawn, he also knew too much.

He now knew that Ashley’s unusual dissociation among other things wasn’t the work of Amelia, but rather, an entity named Cinder. He now knows that death isn’t permanent, and he will risk his own life in order to avenge her, and try to find a way to revive her, if able.

But… it was all for naught. Yama caught him, and they will use his S3LF energy—his soul—to power a project of theirs. A killer robot that will suck up the blood of humans as fuel.

‘I’m sorry, Dawn. I should have heeded your warning,’ he thought as he drew his last breath as a human.

…

Eventually, Ashley found the room Daniel was killed, his soul now inside of the metallic construction.

Ashley cried out for Daniel. Daniel did not respond. She cried, and cried, trying desperately for Daniel to snap out of it, but nothing happened.

‘Daniel’ is gone. He is now ‘KillerByte’.

That’s what Yama said before they ordered him to attack what was one of his dearest friends.

…

KB escaped the burning laboratory, alongside a human in tow (which turns out, was actually a robot).

…

After a certain rap battle against that blue haired human, KB learns to care for QT, more than just a cooperation for him to survive.

…

For some reason, QT’s mannerisms remind him of something, or rather, someone.

…

KB realized that he really did forget things, and his first memories of a woman calling for ‘Daniel’ was her attempt to make him remember. To retrieve his lost memories in a desperate attempt to bring her dear friend back.

He wished it worked, and he has a feeling Ashley did too. If it did, perhaps he didn’t need to stay awake thinking about those memories.

The only thing he knows about his past life from Ashley is that he used to be friends with her, alongside people named Gabriel and Dawn. He knows Gabriel—he met him a few times in fact—but not Dawn, who turned out, was dead even before he was KB.

He loved talking about the different creatures that roamed in the world outside of the laboratory he lived in, including a species called ‘crosslings’, which he found out were creatures who were trapped inside of Nevada, much like everyone within the laboratory.

…how fitting.

…

If he wanted to kill the mastermind behind it all and avenge Dawn, he had no choice but to kill her puppet, even if that puppet happened to be a dear friend from a past life.

KB didn’t want to do it, having recently retrieved his memories as Daniel, but the only choices he can make are either to leave her alone, which results in Her trying to hurt even more people than she already had, or kill Ashley, which will end Her once and for all and avenge Dawn, with the cost of a friend’s life.

He made his choice a long time ago, and he will stick to it. Even if he had to cut off a part of his old life to do so.

…

Alongside QT, he buried Ashley’s body near the burned laboratory.

The curse of the forest is finally gone.

(The barrier that surrounds Nevada is finally gone.)

…

“Hey KB, our flight is coming!” QT said, seeing the airplane descending to the airport.

“I can see that,” KB pointed out.

Right now, the two robots are waiting for their flight so they can go to Nevada, as the border that blocked anyone from entering and leaving is finally gone.

While Daniel is not here anymore, and so are his friends, KB is here to pick up the pieces and continue where he had left off.

After all, even though he isn’t ‘Daniel’ anymore, he is finally free from Brutality Labs. Much like how the crosslings are free from the tyranny that are the AAHW and the Nexus Core.

As their flight lifts off to the skies, the two talked about the friends they have today. While he lost his friends and even past life, it doesn’t mean he will live with his new friends.

New friends that care for him, much like the three friends he had.

Daniel always wanted to see a crossling. KB is here to make that dream come true, even if Dawn isn’t here anymore.

…

(As I said, all of this is headcanon, but all named characters do not belong to me, and are actually canon to QT’s story. Not the events, but the characters’ existence.)

(If Daniel is KB, I’ll post this in Archive of Our Own. If not, or if there is a gigantic contradiction between this and canon, it’ll stay as a story exclusive in tumblr, and non-canon.)

[hemlock-dreams]

Why didn't Peter tell MJ he was Spiderman? Dating her put her at risk, it would have been better if she knew so she could try to take safeguarding measures.

I mean, that's the crux of so many superhero/civilian relationships in mainstream comics, isn't it?

The realization that the superhero doesn't respect his civilian love interest enough to give them the full story because their narcissism and performative martyr-complex won't allow it.

Because people who put a mask on to go fight crime have control issues. And giving MJ all the information would give her the power of choice, putting them on equal footing, and Peter's black-hole of a guilt complex won't let that happen.

And because H!Peter loves Mary Jane, but only so much as what she represents- a 'normal' life that he can take off and on whenever he pleases. She's not really a person with needs and desires that he respects, just the representation of a life he can put on a pedestal and worship. (Also because writers need that "drama" of Superheroes having to constantly choose between their loved ones and the suit.) The superhero can never choose their loved one, because the moment they put their own happiness over the suit, their run as a superhero is effectively over.