#THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[katerinaaqu]

Oh gosh I am really honored that you liked it! Especially the comparison with Achilles and Apollo (tragic coincidence given how Apollo assists Paris who according to some versions kills him). For example if you read the Lucian Dialogs of the Gods (2nd AD century) like...so amazing!

Hermes : Why so sad, Apollon?

Apollon : Alas, Hermes,--my love!

Hermes : Oh; that's bad. What, are you still brooding over that affair of Daphne?

Apollon : No. I grieve for my beloved; the Lakonian, the son of Oibalos.

Hermes : Hyakinthos? he is not dead?

Apollon : Dead.

Hermes : Who killed him? Who could have the heart? That lovely boy!

Apollon : It was the work of my own hand.

Hermes : You must have been mad!

Apollon : Not mad; it was an accident.

The pain and sorrow and regret! That gives me so much Achilles vibes! So I think post-homeric writers especially those who supported the idea that Achilles and Patroclus were also lovers must have seen that.

I absolutely agree. No matter the path as I mentioned above Patroclus is everything to Achilles; his cousin, his brother, his friend, his playmate, his squire, his war comrade, his companion, his listener... he is indeed his soul mate and twin flame in every shape or form. I think their relationship is too deep to continue being so blatantly stated only as friends vs lovers given that for once they are not mutually exclusive and two their relationship is so deep!

Oh yeah either way he is buried with them. The Odyssey only implies not in the same urn but they are in the same tomb anyways so future writers do seem to entertain the possibility or alternative versions where Antilochus is indeed in the urn but I so agree. His role is so important in the war in general and to Achilles in particular and yeah no wonder that Achilles completely lost it when he saw him killed....

Achilles and Patroclus: Friends Lovers or both? (An analysis based on Homeric Epics and some ancient sources)

Yet another analysis requested by my dearest friend @artsofmetamoor while we two explore the complexity of human relationships in our own projects including romantic relationships of various kinds, including homosexual and homoerotic material as well as more traditional notions of family and kinship along with the complexity of values such as companionship and friendship, which we hold in the same regard as in the above so here's one of the most discussed relationships in greek literature. Buckle up with me because it is gonna be a looooong ride!

Achilles and Patroclus are two figures of greek literature and mythology that sparked discussions and analysis from the very first time they were introoduced as characters in the homeric poems in 8th century BC and not for their heroics in Trojan War but rather the nature of their relationship. Not to mention in modern day times we also start the rather overused and kinda ridiculous joke of "Historians say" around. But there might be some truth in some concerns in regards to their relationship.

A small history of their family

Achilles and Patroclus were related by a distant ancestor, Aigina. Aigina had a son with Zeus named Aeacus who in turn got married and had Peleus, who has the father of Achilles. Patroclus comes from the same line for Aigina later marries Actor and has Menoetius with him. Menoetius marries his cousin Damocratea, also possible daughter of Zeus and had a son named Opus who in turn had Patroclus, making Patroclus and Achilles de facto first cousins by the line of Aegina

(Yes...sorry "Troy" haters out there...hahaha Patroclus really WAS Achilles's cousin! ^^; Not that it ever stopped anyone in greek mythology!)

Patroclus was ellegedly exiled from his homeland when he accidentally killed his playmate and he fled to the court of Peleus where he got adopted by him thus the two characters lived most of their childhood together. Patroclus by most accounts is quite older than Achilles so in a way he was also assigned not only as his playmate but also as his "squire" or protector in various occasions. Needless to say that of course the two of them developed a very strong bond together.

Greek Text

To be honest, every time some person who does support the theory of them being lovers is being asked on it and that person claims that "the greek text is quite simple really". Allow me to disagree though. It is not. Quite frankly if it were, it wouldn't have sparked the conversation even to ancient greeks themselves of their time!

Arguably Homer never explicitly describes them as lovers in his poems (as opposing to other figures in the text that are undoubtedly sharing sexual relationships in the Iliad such as Hera and Zeus, Paris and Helen or even, ironically Achilles with Briseis once she is returned to him). However one would be a liar if they denied certain insinuations of a romantic involvement betwen the heroes.

Φιλέω-ώ= to love < > φίλος=friend, companion (Substantive), beloved (epithet)

Quite frankly Homer as we said before he a master of words and none of his words is picked at random. And the term φίλος is no exception. The word is being explicitly used in Homer by various of characters. The term can be translated interchangably from either "friend" to "beloved" depending the context. One of the most infamous and touching moments this word is being used is at the lament of Achilles when his mother asks him to speak up on why he laments so hard:

With heavy groans, fast in feet Achilles responded to her: "Oh, my mother! The Olympians have done what they had predicted for me! But what joy remains for me, for my beloved comrade Patroclus is gone! I lost him! The one that I valued most among my other companions, equally to my own life!"

(Translation by me)

In here the concept of "φίλος" is clearly an epithet or plays the role of one since the actual word that we are looking for as a substantive is the word "ἑταῖρος" which stands for "companion" or "comrade" (a term used generally throughout the poems to indicate bonds in army or of friendship or even husband and wife at some cases). In here it clearly means "beloved" by the general text for the word "φίλος" is not used as a substantive. Other cases such as this appear in other parts of the poem even with the fullest form φίλτατος which means "the most beloved"

However it needs to be noted that the term φίλος as the essence of "friend" comes directly from this term "to love" which means someone "you are close with" someone "of your own kin" someone "dear to you". The ancient greeks do not seem to be making a distinction between love as in lovers and love as in family or relatives when using this verb and the words coming from it (one good example is Thetis referring to Achilles as "φίλον υἱὸν" which means "beloved son" and here has no romantic implications at all).

The term is being used interchangably throughout Homer to speak about characters with close relations of kinship that are not linked to romantic essences at all. For example the way Menelaus adresses Odysseus as such in the Odyssey:

Oh, how strange! That has come to my house the son of a man much beloved to me; who for my sake has suffered so many ordeals!

(Translation by me)

In here Menelaus again is usingthe term φίλος but he doesn't speak out of romantic intentions at all. He speaks with the warmest words but in here it is the most intimate form of friendship and kinship and is followed by the implication of gratefulness, how he adds up how Odysseus suffered "for his sake" aka to fight the war and be lost afterwards. And before someone says "it is not the same amount of warmth" one must think again because before Menelaus speaks about how because of the agony he feels for his friend he does not eat or sleep properly and given that it has been 10 years already since the last time they saw each other that is a damn long time.

But all of them I do not grieve as much, even if I mourn for them, as much as I do for one man, because of which I both detest sleep and neglect to eat, for there is no one of the Achaeans that suffered more than what Odysseus suffered and endured

(Translation by me)

So not only Menelaus feels like Odysseus suffered the most out of them (and strictly speaking one can look at fates of other heroes like Diomedes to see they are not far behind in suffering) but that the way he constantly wonders about his well-being makes him unable to sleep or eat and that seems to be happening for years and years which shows the true depth of their friendship.

So no, strictly speaking the word "to love" is not used by the greeks to imply only romantic love and it can be used pretty intimately even if it is not referring to romance. And the difference can be perceived by the same writer as well not just some play that was written several centuries later in which, inevitably, we could talk about some alterations of meaning to the words over the course of time

However there seems to be another phrase used to express intense feelings of love which is κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ which means "dear to my heart" and in Iliad ironically that phrase is spoken by no other than Briseis herself!

Oh, Patruclus! Dearest to my wretched heart!

(Translation by me)

This interesting shout of love coming from Briseis is also interesting for it could be implying both emotions of romantic love but also of affection in general. Which is another phrase that researchers have looked upon in search for hidden meanings of romance but once again it was often used either as such or with the term "φίλος" instead to speak of relationships of family or kinship. But grieving scenes such as the one of Briseis might also be indicator of romance although not exclusively referring to that.

The Lament

Quite frankly speaking, Achilles's lament is one of the most infamous and well-known in greek literature exactly because of its explicit nature. We do see characters lament in plays before but it is not as frequent to see lament SO strong coming from a male character and so openly (see for example in the Odyssey how Odysseus tries to hide his own tears many times or how his men are wrapped up in veils in lament for their own lives and their fallen comrades' but by n large the male lament is more subtle, more silent). Achilles is different. For example when he is first told about the news of Patroclus's death the result is nothing less but the ultimate emotional collapse:

So they spoke and black mist of distress covered him: With both his hands he gathered smoky sand and he poured it over his head and disfigured his face: his nectarous chiton turned black with ashes. And he himself dropped in the dirt and stretched over his lying (here: the corpse) friend/beloved pulling out his hair in lament. The slaves given as war price to Achilles and Patroclus, released a great cry of sadness and they approached all to the sides of mourning Achilles, beating their chests with their hands, and their knees each. Also Antilochus with them was lamenting and pouring tears holding the hands of Achilles: for he was moaning with his noble heart: worried that he would cut his throat with iron (here: a knife).

(Translation by me)

There is no words to express such an intense display of pain given by Achilles from second one when he receives the news of the death of Patroclus. He immediately pours ash over his head (quite a common trope for mourning done by many characters before.) and "disfiguring his face" which means he was digging his nails down his cheeks which was again a trope of mourning in greek literature. The intensity of his lament is so great that Antilochus feels the need to hold his hands just in case he would want to comit suicide in his pain!

Ironically for most part in this lament does it mention that Achilles was making any sound at all during the process, which somehow makes it even more disturbing to think that Achilles simply drops to his knees, covers himself in ashes and scratches his cheeks while lamenting over the body of Patroclus hardly making any sound at all. It is the slave women who arrive later that release the cries that undoubtedly are within the soul of Achilles. Somehow his lament is extreme and yet no audible hint exists for most part of the text EXCEPT the final one where it says "moaning with his noble heart". It almost seems that his body does most of the talking till the women arrive and cry out like he so much wants to and then his mouth also makes sounds. It is not a scream; it is a moan. It is possible of course that the clip refers to Achilles constantly moaning but I do like this as a possible food for thought that if Achilles was firstly responding to pain with his actions and then with his voice and in a way the moment he actually made a sound was the moment Antilochus truly began to worry!

There is a certain theatricality to this scene of lament and drama which of course as many analytics before me would say, it seems to be hinting to some other infamous laments of mythological characters and more specific the laments of Apollo. Apollo is one of those figures for whom we have no doubt he was lamenting his lovers and some classical examples are Hyakinthus and Cyparissus both of them transformed into a flower and a tree respectably. The associations of Achilles and the grieving god seem to be more than just a possibility here. Which of course enforces even further the idea of them being lovers. It is also the amount of time that Achilles mourns plus the intense way that he refuses to let go of the body of Patroclus to which he seems to be holding on from the 18th rhapsody when he first finds out of his death till the moment that she arrived with his armor one rhapsody later. Quite a gruesome scene is when she enters the tent and finds Achilles crying while clasping Patroclus onto him:

And she found her dearest son still lay there, clasping Patroclus and crying woefully and his comrades around him mourning

(Translation by me)

And at this point Thetis hasn't yet given nectar and ambrosia to the body of Patroclus to prevent the sepsis from happening, which happens a few lyrics later. So Achilles was holding the dead body for the entire day even after it was cleaned and prepared showing the intense pain Achilles was expressing and going through. And he seems unwilling to part from him till Patroclus's spirit itself arrives in his sleep and requests a burial so he can rest.

Of course it needs to be noted that intense lament is not exlusive to lovers in greek mythology. To name a few Athena grieves intensely the loss of her friend Pallas and by some accounts she does take her name as her epithet post-mortem. Antigone intensely mourns her dead brother and laments his disgrace when she finds that the ritual burial she performed had been disturbed. And the acting of killing oneself out of sorrow again is not strictly remaining to the love affairs. For example Ismene killing herself after learning the deaths of her family members in general and Antigone in particular. Another most prominient example is king Aegeus who throws himself into the sea when he sees the black sails of the ship coming from Crete, thinking his son was dead.

So the exessive expression of grief are not just dedicated to lovers or husbands and wives in greek literature but rather it is expanded to all people who mourn someone dear to them regardless of the nature of the bond between them. In the case of Achilles of course he does seem to be having a specially strong mental breakdown every time some important person in his life that is said to be romantically involved with him dies or is taken from him starting with Briseis for whom he expresses his emotions many times in the Iliad and she is the first reason of his anger, of course Patroclus and Penthesilea for whom he apparently has feelings for a few monets after he sees her face after she dies. In Posthomerica it is even said that his lamentover her dead body is "the same as the one over Patroclus" and of course Antilochus later according to the Epic Cycle when he died protecting his father, caused another explosion of anger to Achilles which was fated to be his last one.

It is possible since his love is clearly stated in the cases of Briseis and Penthesilea that the same can have occured for Antilochus and of course Patroclus which was the most heartbreaking of them all and for good reason. In fact the case of Patroclus seems to be that he plays every role in the life of Achilles. He is his friend, his companion, his squire, his advisor so why not his lover too.

The Same Urn

Now of course where people surely think they have a clear case of romantic bond seems to be the request of Patroclus to be burnt but his bones to be kept in the same urn that is to be used for Achilles as well. The passage happens in the 23rd rhapsody:

And one more thing I ask for you to excecute; do not place my bones apart from yours, Achilles, but together just like we were raised in your chambers, when I was brought to your land by Menetoios as a little boy from Opois because of the grievous manslaughter, for when I was a child I was foolish and killed the son of Amphidamas without wanting to, for I was mad over a game of dice: there I was accepted to the chambers of the horseman of Peleus who kindly took care of me and named me your squire. And the same way I want for my bones to be together with yours in the same golden box, the one your divine mother prepared for you.

(Translation by me)

So apart from the fact that it is a highly emotional scene, seeing your dead companion arriving at you and begging to be let go (this is literally Patroclus saying "Let me go, Achilles...just let me go" for Achilles literally refuses to give up his body not even for a burial) it is also the scene that seems to be winking to the fans of the idea of them being lovers as a proof that they are together. And quite frankly I can absolutely see why and it would be foolish to ignore this possibility especially given how tenderly Achilles calls him "my beloved" (or "as loved as my own life") after the whole request is done from the spirit of Patroclus which is more than clear indication for many accounts and that makes perfect sense.

The custom of co-burial was known in Greece from the earliest times of its civilization till the end (because quite honestly I am not sure the custom will stop existing in Greece since despite the lack of cremations, we still have the custom of common graves even if it is only for those who can afford have a family monument). We often find urns contain bones of multiple individuals and yes more often whatnot they are maritable partners and the obsession of words that mean "together" in this passage such as; "μή (...) ἀπάνευθε" (not apart), "ὁμοῦ" (at the same place, together) or "ἀμφικαλύπτω" (cover each other) seems to be pointing to the direction of a romantic relationship and it won't be the only time someone is co-relating the mingling of ashes and bones with "marriage" (and example is The Hunchback of Notre Dame, where Victor Hugo describes the way Quasimodo and Esmeralda's skeletons turn into inseparable dust as "Quasimodo's Marriage")

However on the counter-talk, co-burials were also common among family members (which is exactly what Achilles and Patroclus are). Ironically from the excavations to Mycenae several co-burials were discovered that were not related by blood but they were theorized to be connected to some relations of adoption (which again seems to fit the case of Achilles and Patroclus from the time Patroclus was brought in and ellegedly adopted by Peleus)

I am also convinced that the fact Patroclus gives us some good portion of his background story here was not just a random thing. It seems that Patroclus places emphasis on why he wants to be in the same urn as Achilles; because they were raised together, they were together all their lives and he wants them to be together in death as well. It absolutely could be a romantic insinuation on Patroclus's part however it seems equally possible that the background story serves as a lever to make the public understand how the two of them were raised together and wished to remain together. It almost feels like Homoer wants either to stimulate the idea that the past is an extra point towards their romantic relationship or yet another point of the closeness of their kinship or both (to me it seems the latter)

However another factor to this urn seems to be Antilochus. Antilochus who was close to the age of Achilles, the one who was in charge to bring the news of Patroclus's death to Achilles and the one that we saw consoling him and trying to prevent him from doing something foolish seems to be added to this circle. In fact in some future sources he is featured as the reason Achilles died, for he was driven in yet another furious attack against the Trojans, forcing them to fall back when he saw him fall dead protecting his father from the Ethiopian king Memnon. In some accounts, even possibly Homer included, is insinuated that Antilochus was also included in the funerary urn with Achilles and Patroclus although in the Odyssey it is clearly stated that his bones are not in it:

Your mother gave me this golden amphora (here an urn with two handles); a gift from Dionysus she said to me, made by the renounced Hephestus, in which lie your white bones, radiant Achilles, mixed with the ones of dead Patroclus son of Menoetius, but without Antilochus, whom he honored above all his comrades after Patroclus died.

(Translation by me)

So in the Odyssey it doesn't seem like they were indeed in the same urn (unless somehow Nestor could tell the bones apart and took them out? hehe) but they all thee of them are joined in one tomb and worshipped as heroes. So in a way Antilochus seems to join them just not in the same box. However the three of them are indeed seen together in the underworld as one trio literally. They are apparently joined after death according to what Odysseus saw in the underworld.

Once again seems like the romantic as well as the kinship theories could be true interchangably or even at the same time.

Ancient Greeks on their relationship:

As I mentioned above many ancient writers and not just the infamous "historians" everyone mocks on the internet, seem to have placed their own guesses and opinions on the relationships of the two heroes.

Aeschines seems to be contemplating the idea they are lovers (aka he says that Homer "hides their love") and he even reads Patroclus's story as "an intercourse they had once". He names their relationship έρως aka romantic love (eros). Aristotle in Nicomachian Ethics and Rethoric he uses the term "comrade" to talk of them, choosing to focus more on their friendship. His teacher Plato though was a different story. He was convinced that they were not only lovers but he had also figured their roles in their relationship as presented in his Symposium, naming Patroclus as ἐραστής aka "the one who gives love" and mentions how Achilles is in love with Patroclus. Plato remains one of the most...great "shippers" of the two having no doubt about their love affair. To the other end is Xenophon who is adamant that they are not lovers, in his own Symposium. A large number of greek writers seem also to comment on both possibilities, it seems to me quite interesting how many different readings the homeric poems provide.

More mordern readings:

While it is true that there is a certain confusion to the public since a large number of texts either were deliberately modified or genuinely mistranslated (given again how terms like φιλώ means "to love" in general in ancient greek and not just romantically or that the term ερώ does mean "to love as a lover" in some contexts but it also means "to desire very much" and it was used in various of contexts) and these double-meanings were taken advantage of to translate the texts differently and that is because when someone in modern times says "my beloved" by n large they refer to a lover which was something that was greatly hushed up in public

Of course as we stated above for ancient greece that was not the case since the term "beloved" could be used in various contexts and it showed intense emotions of kinship between two people regardless of the nature of their relationship.

However in some accounts the obsession upon trying not to show intense potentual homoerotic material made many of these translations unreliable. There were exceptions to the rule of course but the real breakthrough wouldn't really happen till later in the 19th century where we also have more samples of printed work. Translations like Butler at the end of 19th century are far reliable to the text and seem to follow the spirit of Homer. Quite frankly there was already a breakthrough to homoerotic material thanks to not only the neo-classisim but also gothic literature such as the vampire novelle Carmilla so many writers became more bold into translating the tender words of love as they were and leave the public decide upon their nature.

However this effort to hush up the tender words spoken in Homer out of fear that they might be interpreted as homoerotic created of course this modern uprage in which we have the other way round; that people are afraid to talk about friendhsip and kinship because they will be hushed up by the readings of the text as homoerotic

(see my other post for this)

This, in my opinion simply removes all the abive context; that love can be expressed between family members or friends or people who have been through a lot. Quite frankly as you can see not only I am not denying their energy as lovers, I like to believe I am also supporting this theory a lot because there is a lot of possibility in it just like there is on the direction of tenderness and affection. I do think today people are afraid to speak up on the other side exactly bcause nowadays the most famous way to see them is as lovers as opposed to the previous periods that did the other way round

Conclusions:

I have no doubts that Homer, even though not clearly speaking about it (for example referring to sexual acts) he seems to be insinuating that the two of them were sharing romantic bond or feelings for each other

(it needs to be noted that it is not entirely clear that if there WERE romantic feelings that they were confessed or known by both parties, which could potentially mean the two of them loved each other romantically but did not fulfill their love which could be another tragic note to their story)

Homer seems to be sending several hints to his viewers/readers that one could interpret them as lovers given the tender dictionary they use between each other and for each other, allowing his...fans to decide for themselves. It is also highly possible that he too saw them as star-crossed lovers, for he gives them all the elements of various other stories that involve homoerotic romance, even the tragic end to their story.

However I am equally sure that he also wanted to say that their friendship was of equal importance. There is no doubt that Homer considered them close friends (for he gives us a small hint of their backstory, how they grew together) and their story is being projected like many other duos and characters in the Trojan war that are linked together with bonds of kinship and companionship; stories that flourish at war. He might not straight out tell us that they are the case of story "from friends to lovers" but he absolutely seems to be letting us know that their kinship is there!

And I am grateful to Homer for his writing because it seems to me he wanted both sides to equally enjoy the story; whether they are those who do think their closeness is romance and those who think it is close kinship, strong family bonds or friendship. I am almost convinced that Homer deliberately used that as a way to please both sides of the audience or to give a more tragic aftertaste to their story since closeness is much more impactful to the face of separation.

I like them both and in fact I support them simoultaneously for honestly there is no best lover than your best friend; someone you can trust with everything you have. If I had to support one form of love, this would be it but at the same time I do support the idea that friendship is already a powerful bond of two people and that romantic love in this case would come as a bonus. Somehow Homer does seem to entertain this idea in his writing given again the extreme tenderness and the tragedy of these two while at the same time leaving the door open for his audience to speculate, make interpretations and enjoy the story in their own perspective.

If that is not art I dunno what is.

Okay guys this is only but scrapping the surface of this relationship that lasted for 3000 years now! Hahaha but I hope you like this! It took me several hours to synthesize but I hope you like it.

[darkxsoulzyx]

EXPLODES INTOA BILLION PIECES

Here is my mass-revenge for everyone on Artfight up until a certain point (I’m so sorry if you didn’t make it in, this took me a few days to make 🙇💀💀💀)

IM GOING TO TRY AND TAG EVERYONE THATS IN IT, WISH ME LUCKKKKK

(Credits/tags under the cut)

TV/Dark: @darkxsoulzyx (ME)

Virux: @bunrux (and whom the attack is addressed too because wE’RE LINKED TOGETHER)

Indigo: @astral-olive

Ace/Luria: @gufaspins

Invalid: Breadmaster (artfight)

Nihility/Tizo: @cinnabynn

Puppet: @dustyisegg

Stitch: idiotofthecentury404 (DeviantArt)/cheese_idiot2 (Twitter)

Luna Phasma: @stefdarkblood

Tasia: pinnipuff (artfight)

Ace/Soi: yekorav (Instagram)

Ali Surna: @alisurna

Hollow/Fatality: @inkywellcrow

Beast Sans: FernTail06 (instagram)

Candyland DCA/Sandman: @garbagechocolate

RELLIK: @s0l-st-ice

Alex: @boredlydoodling

Livvy: flowerry_._ (tiktok)

Floral/Unknown: Holy_Mol_y (Twitter)

Crash: @russianfig

Vitrum: @mossdoesartshit

AbsentCat/Mystery Apocalypse: Absentcat (tiktok and YouTube)

Rootsy: @awoscorner

Eli Jin/Fry08: @sandeewithtwoe

Rosy Sans: @justabirds-art

Judas: @claie171art

Comedy/Tragedy: @woolysstuff

Faolan: @the-jadedknight

Kai: @blizzysnowolf

Scot: @usercookie2008

Thane/Nyx: Khaotic_Order (Twitter) Khaotic_order_ (instagram)

Moss: @swiftmitsu

Chiib/H.O.PE.: @chiib-foxx-artz

Glitter: @kandidandi

Motus: potato_mochi_679 (instagram)

Tempean: @zef01

Loanen Riverside: nox_starswimmer ( instagram)

Twister/Wraith: @marinavoyageuse

Aya: @domijeannes

Exp: Cut_It_Out (Artfight (and I’m assuming Amino?))

============================

Oh, and if any of you were curious about how much it was worth… >:)

[my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction]

😭💚🫂😭💚🫂😭💚🫂😭💚🫂

They do!

Hii, I love your fics, especially the Moon Knight ones, sometimes I'm so giddy that I need to take a step back and remember myself that they aren't real.

May I request headcanons about the Moon Boys overhearing reader talking to their pet (probably a kitten) about how much they love the boys, and their quirks and their little differences and just going on and on about how perfect they are?

I understand if not, I will love whatever you post regardless!

Oh my gosh, this is so adorable! I hope I did it justice!

Just Happy

Jake Lockley x gn!Reader • Rating: PG pals Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? | request info • buy me a coffee? • ask-travaganza masterlist •

Summary: Jake eavesdrops.

Warnings: Fluff, Jake being emotional, not beta read, please let me know if I have missed a warning!

Word Count: 482

You stroke behind Salem’s ears, the small kitten’s eyes are closed, his head pressed as close as he can to your hand. 

“You like that, hmm?” You smile, “Who’s my favourite little guy?” 

Salem purrs loudly. 

Jake smiles from his position in the doorway, his hair still damp from the shower. Both Marc and Steven were still asleep, Steven hadn’t come to bed until well into the early morning and now that things in their life were calmer Marc was using the opportunity to catch up on fifteen years of rushed power naps. 

“Who is it, hmm?” You lean down and kiss the top of Salem’s head three times. 

Jake can’t help himself, he slowly takes out his phone from his pocket, not wanting to alert you to his presence. He finds the perfect angle and then starts filming, he’d have to send this to the group chat Steven had created. Affectionately called ‘The Body 💪📖🚗⚾’

“It’s yoooooooou!” You say sing-song to Salem and grin, “Well you’re my favourite little cat guy. I think Steven, Marc, and Jake might complain if they’re not my favourites too. Though I don’t think they’d mind being second best to you.” 

At the sound of Steven, Marc, and Jake’s names Salem perks up his ears and meows softly. 

“Yeah! You love them too, don’t you? They are the best, we love them so much. Because they’re so kind and great. And they give you the best pets, don’t they? Well, second best, I’m best obviously.” 

Jake covers his mouth with his hand, trying not to laugh. He’s smiling so hard it’s hurting his cheeks, his chest so light it’s almost painful. Tears prick at the corner of his eyes, his throat thick. He tries to force the emotion down, but it just builds and builds. 

“I know part of the reason you’re so excited when you hear their names is you think you’re gonna get extra treats, I know they give you more than they should.” You smile. “Can I tell you a secret?” You lean a little closer and Salem looks up at you with large eyes. “I love them so much, literally so much. Every day my heart gets a little bigger with how much I love them. Opposite Grinch situation going on in here.” You tap your chest. 

“Amor,” Jake’s voice makes you jump, and you turn from your position on the floor just in time for him to wrap his arms around you in a bear hug. 

You let out a little oof of air and then giggle, “Were you spying on me?” 

“Yes.” He mutters into your neck, his voice is thick and wavering. 

“Hey, you okay?” You stroke his back and try to move to see his face. But he just snuggles deeper into your chest and squeezes you tighter.

“I’m fine.” 

“You sure?” 

“Just happy, my love. Just happy.” 

Thank you for reading!

@pleasurebuttonwrites @raven-rk @campingwiththecharmings @alexxavicry @whatthefishh

@romanarose @strangerhands @saturn-rings-writes ho

@steven-grants-world  @eyelessfaces @angel-of-the-moons @minigirl87 @lunar-ghoulie

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@pygmi-cygni @hammerhead96 @emma23 @sub-aro @killerdollz

 @maplemind  @mwltwo @loonymagizoologist @dameronshandholder @queerly-anxious

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@mandytrekkie @lounilu @avengersinitiative2012 @pigeonmama @marcsb1tch 

@iolaussharpe-24 @chaithetics @DowBaStan @faretheeoscar@lonelyisamyw-0love 

@queerponc @twwcs @Spnwhore2430 @mari-thesimp @ominoose

@ierofrnkk @have-you-seen-my-sanity @to-be-a-sunshine @blushingrn @missdictatorme

@musicalnacho @buckyssugarchick

@soft-girl-musings @casa-boiardi @theratscorner @krakenkitty @amasdaydream

@i-have-all-these-freakin-uwus  @purple-amaranthe @brunlocc @bookoffracturedescapes

@marcsb1tch @pigeonmama @sergeant102105 @weekendgothgirl @silvernight-m

@klillah @howellatme @mystic-writings @f0url3af

If you'd like to be taken off the tag list please let me know here

[fearmeeeee]

If your still taking requests-

Can you draw deuce and ace ? I really admire you and your work :D

[trashyshrew]

for the art thing... lawlight 👉👈 ? they look so cute in your style no pressure though 🙇

my pleasure - thank you so much ☺️

[nezhanetwork]

happy double life anniversary!

[humanintownau]

AHHHH, THANK YOU💕💕💕!! Not gonna lie, your art style would taste something like strawberry cheesecake. Just thinking about it makes me hungry.

☆Human in Town!☆

Welcome to the blog! This is all the information you need about this blog! (Updates will be notified!)

Last updated: 11/21

My main blog: bbqgrape

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What is this blog about?

By the title, this blog is about my new BATiM AU "Human in town!"

Now, about the environment:

• This story takes place in Toon Town, or as most refer to it "Toonsie town". A small fact, toons can immediately tell what type of personality a toon has just by which name they use for the town.

• Toon Town is the equivalent of New York, which was infested with all sorts of different toons, considering it was a big town. The smaller towns are Inkfell (Full of mafiosos with ink businesses), Hale Halos (Populated by mostly angels, I'll get into it on why later on).

• As by the first cover I did for the AU, this au takes place in 1961.

• Toon Town and other towns or living areas are separate from the human world. Each toon has the ability to leave the human world, but none can leave the toon world. This is important.

The characters:

I removed the refs for each of the characters' scars, because Tumblr only lets 10 per post 😔

• Daniel Darling:

(Couldn't fit each personality trait, so everything is a bit specific sorry `^u^)

Oooh boy, Daaaaniel, I have a lot to say about him...

And you probably already guessed, Daniel is a human in disguise. Well, he's technically a toon now, but with all the differences he has compared to toons, he might get his own category soon.

Daniel was a victim of "Angel farming" (will get into that later), and was a subject to torture and experimenting. And with no choice, he had to use one in a lifetime chance to escape. And that cost, well...a lot. First off, he's homeless, hungry, and even craving those peas he was force-fed back in the facility.

As I mentioned before, he was a victim of "Angel farming". This is an old project that has been active since the 1930's. This project is about turning humans into toons, more preferably angels, or any feathery toon. They are used for their wings (or halo). After those parts are removed, they make them regrow back by ink. This is a cycle that brings a lot of money to not only criminals, but also studios. Yes, studios. Money is money.

"Toon farming" is more popular, due to having less resources to make and sell them. (One of the reasons barely any toons are in the Human world).

Next on the list is...

• Benedetto 'Bendy' Stein

For now, I'll keep this short, since I don't want to spoil much. And I'll have elaborate on why Bendy's personality traits are too short (Yeah, it's because Bendy's gotta be the center of attention).

Soo... Let's start off straight and clear, Bendy's a mafia boss. And a good one at that, despite being kind of a dumbass. However, he's kept quite a reputation for the past few years, especially in 1959 (I ain't telling you why 🤫🧏).

His partners in crime are Boris (his best friend, and also a part of the mafia), Samuel 'Sammy' Lawrence (One of his soldiers), The Butcher gang (which joined Bendy's gang as an agreement)...And so on (I don't wanna introduce new characters yet...)

And for his personality, well...

He's... confident to say the least, it's what scares the rivals, and other things... 😨

Anyway, he's, despite his attitude or "occupation", he's quite loving and caring to the people he loves or cares about. One of his redeeming qualities. And if we compare him to the other mafiosos, he'd be a saint. But it doesn't mean he doesn't get his hands dirty when he needs to.

• Boris Stein

Another mafia boss to the list (Benedetto and Boris run the same one. They were forced to share /j)

Okay, Boris seems like a prick on the outside, but is quite caring and soft to the people he thinks deserves it (except Katie, they don't get along well...). His tough exterior and physique helps him in fights, and also to intimidate rivals.

Benedetto's short temper and anger problems always have to be relieved, and Boris is there to do it as the calm older brother.

• Samuel 'Sammy' Lawrence

Oh this grumpy old man...

Anyways... Sammy's a human as well. And has been here FAAAR longer than Daniel is. He died in 1935, when he was 26 years old, and is now pushing his retirement age. He hides his true age so Benedetto wouldn't place him in the retirement home. He's still 54, but his "body" and mind is one of a 30+ year old. He isn't that wise to be a grandpa, but isn't ignorant enough to be your typical older brother.

He's a trustworthy man for Benedetto, with his intelligence surrounding ambushing, and unlocking different closed off places, rooms, vaults, etc.

• Cinnamon --------

Toon Town's biggest sunshine. She's basically the kindest person you could ever talk to. She's amazing at advice and enjoys spending time with her friends and -----.

She, despite her sweet and optimistic personality, is quite reserved, afraid of saying too much. She always tries to display herself the best way possible. She's afraid to show her true self.

• Katie M'lady

Born to be a tiger, forced to be a lap cat.../j

Katie is a fierce soldier who will always protect her fellow comrades. If you're being jumped, she'll probably help you (unless if you stole her favourite booze from the bar cabinet). Benedetto always takes her everywhere during chaotic missions, because of her experience with fighting, and also her capability of working under pressure. She's quite reserved, so no one knows much of her. Only that she'll beat your ass if you look at her the wrong way.

• ----------

Wait, who was she supposed to be again?

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•

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Differences between humanoid toons (Non-native toons) and real (native) toons:

Let's take Daniel for example...

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Tags:

#BBQGrape's art: all my art is in this tag, including my main blog.

#Human in Town au lore / or just lore: lore about the au, environment, characters, backstories and so on

#Human in Town au: Anything related to the au / blog

#Daniel Darling: Mentions or drawings of Daniel (my oc)!

#Oc:Daniel Darling: Same as the previous one

#Benedetto Bendy Stein: for that cheeky bastard Bendy

#Boris Stein: for the big ol' woof

#Katie M'lady: ladies first.

#Cinnamon --- the ferret: Mmm, Cinnamon buns...

#Samuel Sammy Lawrence the old bastard: the old bastard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Qna:

• Is it okay for my ocs to interact with the characters?

A: of course! I am more than happy to answer them! ^^

• Can I make ocs for this au?

A: Of course! Feel free to draw them and most importantly, tag me; I'd love to see them!!!

• What kind of asks will you ignore?

A: I won't ignore any, except for ones that are basically not related to the blog in any way.

Or being inappropriate. That's an option too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading!

[butteronabun]

You were grinning playfully at Diluc. After noticing that there were couples all around you while lining up for the musical theatre, you placed your hands on your hips and said, “No matter what happens - you’re not allowed to fall in love with me.”

Unimpressed, Diluc scoffed, and crossed his arms. “Won’t be a problem.” Just because he cancelled one business meeting for you didn’t mean he would already look at you that way. Ridiculous.

And yet years later, he finds himself smiling at the sight of you, walking down the aisle with a bouquet.

[frownyalfred]

Can I just say I love the way you talk about Ra’s and Bruce’s relationship! Or more specifically the way Ra’s is obsessed with Bruce and that Bruce is more or less just doesn’t think about him.

Like Ra’s is here posting shit like “if only he realizes his true place by my side” whereas Bruce just has so much shit going on in his daily life that he doesn’t even think about Ra’s. I think it’d be funny to see how much this drives Ra’s up the wall that he is just another annoyance (and traumatic experience) for Bruce when Bruce was (is) a beacon that illuminates a new path for him and the League. Just Ra’s having to compete with a bunch of young 20s and teens to even get Bruce to hold a conversation with him.

Love your works!! Hope you have a great day!

I love that dynamic for them so much, I wish there was more fic about it! Usually it's just fic about Tim, which is valid, but I like to think Bruce was Ra's' first obsession. He never got over him leaving the League and eschewing their mission (and his own potential).

There's also something very interesting about people like Ra's and even Minhkhoa seeing the potential in Bruce from early on, but being forced to watch the culmination of that power and skill and training from afar. And how their time together might be sacred to him, but to Bruce it was only ever a stepping stone forward in the pursuit of his mission.

[thatmooncake]

I love the way you characterize Moon, he's such a skrunkly gremlin, very cat like

Mewn

[my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction]

ILYSM!!!!!!!!

I'm obsessed with vampires... what if William Tell.

Me too 😭 I hope I did this one justice! <3

A Secret In Your Throat

Vampire!William Tell x afab!Reader • Rating: 18+ pals Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? | request info • buy me a coffee? • ask-travaganza masterlist •

Summary: You meet a man at the bar.

Warnings: swearing, kissing, oral sex, p in v sex, cream pie, blood, biting, gonna say a little dub con because of vampires hypnotizing powers, not beta read, please let me know if I have missed a warning!

Word Count: 1507

He’d seemed nice, non-threatening, when he asked if he could buy you a drink at the casino bar. He’d stayed a respectable distance, not crowding you in the slightest. And for some reason that made you want to get closer, caused you to shift your seat a few inches nearer. 

He’d asked soft questions, there was just something about his voice that made you want to float on the sound. He listened to your answers, hardly talking about himself and steering the conversation back to you again and again and again.

He said his name was William. Like the conqueror. It had made you laugh more than it should.

You didn’t notice the bartender give you both a knowing look when you invited William to your hotel room. You didn’t notice that when he lightly touched your waist you went giddy, light headed and dazed. You didn’t even notice how sharp his teeth were when you kissed him outside of your room’s door, too preoccupied with how he licked into your mouth and wrapped his arms around you. 

You didn’t notice the faint sheen to his eyes, how his skin was just a fraction too cold. Like he had been outside for hours in the dead of winter, not in all be in an air conditioned but well temperature regulated environment. 

He pulls your clothes off without allowing you to even unbutton any of his own, pushing you down onto your bed and burying his head between your thighs. 

You moan, arching up into his touch as he licks and sucks and groans. His fingers dig into your thighs, keeping you spread as wide as possible for him as he devours his banquet. 

You gently pull at his hair with one hand, rocking against his face as he lightly guides your hips to buck. 

His name falls from your lips as pleasure twists deep within your stomach, making you lightheaded, dizzy. Even more so than before. Like you could just slip into a fevered sleep right then and there. You blink heavily, despite the way his tongue moves, pulling you higher and higher, you fight against it. Struggle with that blanket of slumber that is trying to drown you. 

You press him closer, pulling his right hand from your thigh and wrapping one leg over his back. He groans softly, looking up at you with a mixture of awe and surprise. 

His eyes catch yours, like a rabbit in a snare. You can’t look away, can’t breathe. Every single part of you is frozen, paralysed as he slowly moves his mouth, moving back the smallest fraction, but just enough for you to see the flash of oh so sharp canines. 

Your stomach drops. Adrenaline screaming in your ears. 

This wasn’t real, couldn’t be real. You try to move, your limbs stuck fast and useless, a nightmare turning your blood to stone. 

William bites down, his teeth sinking into the top of your mons while he tongue still flicks against your clit. 

You gasp, finally able to breathe, the pain cutting through the haze and quickly dissolving into a syrupy pleasure. 

“Fuck,” the word escapes your lips like a prayer, you should push him back, get the fuck out of there but instead your grip in his hair tightens as you hold him closer. 

That thick blanket of haze dissipates, a fog lifting as you moan and buck your hips, needing him. 

You miss the look in his eyes as you push your head back against the pillows, the flicker of surprise that is quickly followed by a growl.

He bites harder, letting his canines sink into your skin. Your blood is so sweet as it wells up and fills his mouth, mixing with your slick. The endorphins hit his tongue like treacle, tingling along his spine. He squeezes your leg posessively, swallowing and lapping desperately. 

His cock throbs in his trousers, begging to be freed. The sensation is almost alien, the need to fuck while feeding is one that hasn’t raised it’s head in such a long, long time. And now it is almost undeniable, screaming in his ear and pulling at his limbs.

His usual method was practised, practically an art form. A light seduction and back to the target's room. 

He’d make sure they’d come with his mouth on them, a small bite to just get a taste, and then when they fully fell under his spell they’d sleep and he’d feed from their thigh before sealing the wound. Enough to fill him for a week or so.

The victim would wake in the morning with a dry throat and headache, but nothing worse than a mild hangover. They’d remember him sucking and licking and coming and that was all. It would be a nice memory, a pleasant one. They got an orgasm and he got a meal. A fair exchange. 

But you weren’t sleeping. Weren’t falling further and further into that state of suggestion. 

He pulls his fangs free of your skin and sucks your clit into his mouth until you scream, legs shaking as you come hard. Pleasure washes over you in waves, sapping the energy from your muscles as it shots along your limbs. 

William snarls, sitting up quickly and undoing his belt and trousers just enough to pull his aching cock free. 

He presses one hand on your thigh, pushing himself in with little ceremony as your pussy is still fluttering and pulsing. 

You cry out, grabbing hold of his arms and the back of his neck to draw him closer, pull him deeper. 

He bends his body over yours, bearing his blood stained teeth as he grabs your jaw and thrusts inside. 

You gasp, tensing as he fills you, hitting so deep you can practically feel him in your heart. 

He stares at your eyes, trying to force the drowsiness to overwhelm you, but it just won’t come. 

“What are you?” He growls. 

You rock against him, sobbing as he presses so wonderfully deep. “What?” You bite your lip, your eyes rolling back as you move, needing him to fuck you in earnest. 

He leans forward, unable to stop himself as he kisses you roughly, licking into your mouth and moaning when you reciprocate, your come and blood on his tongue. 

You whimper, urging him to move and gasping when he finally starts to. He groans, letting his body buck automatically, sinking in and out in a long hypnotising roll of his hips. 

Your blood tastes human, your heartbeats under his hands as he squeezes your chest. Your words and cries are only truthful as you beg. 

It makes no sense. 

“Please, please, please,” you wrap your legs around him, matching his deep thrusts. The patch of dark curls between his legs brush against your clit with every rock, pushing you further and further into pleasure. 

“What do you want?” He growls, his forehead pressed against yours as he moans and runs his hands all over you, marvelling in how you writhe and lean closer. 

You sob, not really knowing what you want, not knowing how to put it into words. A deep craving settling low in your chest. 

You pull his hair, push his face into your neck. “I need you to,” you hiccup.

For the smallest second William thinks about refusing. About stopping himself.

You swallow, your heart thudding in your arteries.  “I think, I-”

He bites down harshly, whining as your blood spills into his mouth like honey. 

You scream, your back arching as the sensation flows along your body and pushes you over the edge with one swift hit. 

Pleasure pumps into your veins, spiralling and twisting, making you shake and writhe. You grip him tight, squeezing your legs and arms around his back as he pistons his hips and swallows your blood. 

Your body sings, your orgasm stretching on and on and he keeps feeding. 

William groans, thrusting twice before he spills deep inside, filling you with his cum as he drinks. He pulls his mouth away a fraction and slices his tongue against his teeth before licking his own blood over your wound. He’s drunk more than he normally would, but hardly more than a blood donation. 

Your skin tingles, tightens over the puncture marks before they heal over, leaving nothing more than a very faint scar. 

William stays close, lazily lapping the last drops from your neck as he softens inside you. He’s purring slightly, a small vibration echoing from his chest as the sweat cools on your skin and your breathing returns to normal. 

You lift your head up to look at him, with his dark, dark eyes. His teeth have retracted back, his face flushed and warm. 

He watches you slowly before leaning forward and kissing you softly, the purring in his chest growing when you reciprocate. 

“You’ll let me do that again, won’t you?” His voice is low, thick with want and you’re not sure if he mean fucking you or drinking from you, or both. 

But you nod anyway. 

Thank you for reading!

@pleasurebuttonwrites @raven-rk @campingwiththecharmings @alexxavicry @whatthefishh

@romanarose @strangerhands @saturn-rings-writes @steven-grants-world  @eyelessfaces

 @angel-of-the-moons @minigirl87 @lunar-ghoulie @silvernight-m @autismsupermusicalassassin

@reallyrallyauthor @basicalyrandom @alwaysmicado @mangoslushcrush @marc-spectorr 

@spxctorsslxt @novarosewood @pygmi-cygni @hammerhead96 @emma23 

@sub-aro @killerdollz @maplemind  @mwltwo @loonymagizoologist 

@dameronshandholder @queerly-anxious @homuraak3mi @swiftiegirliepop 

@oscarssimp @milkypompon @eternallyvenus @lounilu @avengersinitiative2012 

@pigeonmama @marcsb1tch @iolaussharpe-24 @chaithetics @DowBaStan

 @faretheeoscar@lonelyisamyw-0love  @queerponc @twwcs @Spnwhore2430 

@ominoose @ierofrnkk @have-you-seen-my-sanity @to-be-a-sunshine

@blushingrn @missdictatorme @musicalnacho @ingoldthewizard

If you'd like to be taken off the tag list please let me know here

[sanzosin]

For three lovely ladies who blessed me with their patience , good humour and generosity ,as i warped into the Rogue Trader universe!

@thetartmuse @cawyden-gaming @theevilscribbler

BONUS:

I imagine Heinrix has only two face expressions in my 1st playthrough

[teachyouhowtodothesponge]

something for ya lol

Enjoy pixel latter

OMG @zipora666 NO WAY THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!! 😭💖💓 Thank you so so much! I LOVE THIS!

[canisalbus]

hey there! sorry to bother again, but I was in a animating mood, so I ended doing a short animation of Machete for practice. It's kinda messy since I havent done that for a while, but hope you like it!

.

[dribs-and-drabbles]

The Thai 🤝🏽 Taiwanese Communal Wardrobe item #1

Theory of Love ep 5:

En of Love: This is Love Story ep 1:

HIStory 4: Close to You ep 1 & 14:

My Secret Love ep 10:

Check Out ep 10:

Mama Gogo ep 10:

Kiseki: Dear to Me ep 9:

(all credit to @chickenstrangers for this one)

+ bonus not in a series but...

and...

[trashyshrew]

if ur still taking art requests (months late I am sorry) I'd love to see lawlight hugging! ur art is amazing u cook every time

lol it's all good i sometimes take months to respond. thank you very much for the request - hope this is alright 😅