#That they would have SUCH funny interactions

[erlanmizu]

I was in a group of straight guys once, on a night out, and we were all very drunk. We were talking about our exes, so when my turn came, I used masculine pronouns. And this one guy was like "HUH? HIM????" with the same energy as "you KICK miette?". And from then on, whenever I said anything that had to do with men he would preface with "well I don't know what it feels like / I am not into that, but as for girls..."

It was sincerely quite funny. Like, we would talk about a girl's hair color and I would casually say "well ginger girls are unbeatable, and ginger boys" and he needed to rush to say "well I don't know about ginger boys for sure, but..."

I mean... Relax. Nobody's coming for you and/or for your masculinity. You can interact with someone that doesn't have the same sexual orientation as you, no harm in that...

pet peeve of mine whenever I talk about being bisexual online and people want to make it about them

[blacktabbygames]

Cant remember if you answered this already but do you guys have any personal favorite video games in 2024?

We've finished surprisingly few games this year, and I don't love weighing in on games I haven't finished, but here's some favorites we played (not all of them came out this year though!):

The demo for Perfect Tides Station to Station - I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the full first season in the sequel. The first Perfect Tides is one of my favorite interactive narratives of all time it really says something that the sequel so far blows the first game out of the water. Aspirationally good. Criminally underrated. League of its own. Thronefall - Great mix of tower defense hack and slash, and resource management.

South Scrimshaw, Part One - Phenomenal and imaginative visual novel styled as a documentary about the life cycle of a whale species on an alien planet.

1000xResist - Wildly complicated narrative that beautifully weaves together an astounding number of themes. What does it mean to yearn for a place that no longer exists? I would recommend going into it blind.

In Stars and Time - We're bad friends and didn't have the chance to finish it until this year. Really thoughtful time loop narrative. Made us cry.

Nine Sols - I'm breaking my "I haven't finished it" rule because I really like what I've played so far. It's also pretty hard so not something I want to pick up when I get tired. Brilliant metroidvania by Red Candle Games, who are one of our favorite developers. Quite a different direction than their previous titles though (Devotion and Detention.)

Thank Goodness You're Here - really funny slapstick adventure :)

Path of Exile 2 - Finally an ARPG with challenging gameplay that's deeper than spamming 4 buttons really fast.

Alan Wake II Welcome to Nightsprings DLC - SO clever and creative. Really loved the text-based adventure in the last one.

On my ever growing backlog: Animal Well, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (I've heard people have needed physical notebooks for this one though so it might not be my speed), finish Indika, which is so stylish, finish Rise of the Golden Idol (loved the first game!) We've done so many things this year — Pristine Cut, move into a new place, get married, etc, so I've been too tired to engage with a lot of more difficult games.

[ask-the-rag-dolly]

Was there gonna be any raggedy Ann or Andy interaction that was gonna be relevant for the plot or the story?

i planned for ragatha to have a talk with ann about her woes since she's realized at this point that she's kind of a fucking Wreck . and ann would give advice that wouldn't immediately fix ragatha but it'll help her take steps to get better which is better than nothing ( see : image )

it's going to be probably be the most personal part of the comic . honestly most of phase 2 has my personal feelings mixed in and being processed through a funny ragdoll .

[lgbtpopcult]

Ranking the Top 10 GL Series of 2024

10. My marvelous Dream is You

A highly expected gl from Idol Factory that fell short of our expectations not for lack of chemistry from its love team (they in fact had some of the best chemistry in the industry) but because of the bad writing. The writing simply didn't allow the story to flourish. The couple spent most of the series apart, and we don't mean simply not in a relationship. They hardly spend any time together at all, and when they did, there were no romantic moments happening most of the time. What saved the series was its couple that sold the rare moments they had together really well. No surprise that they're dating in real life.

9. Apple My Love

Short and sweet, this story was a fun little romcom that fulfilled its purpose well. The couple needed to prove themselves as a love team, and they did. Happy to know they got a new series out of it.

8. Petrichor

For the people who had heard of Englot but had only seen them as a love team on Show Me Love, their popularity remained a mystery until this series. This police drama/romance has been good enough to prove they may not be the team with the best chemistry out there, but they're definitely not completely deprived of it like Show Me Love made us think. The series itself is interesting if you like your romance in small doses amidst the action.

7. Blank The Series

Here comes the controversy. One of the most successful and also controversial series of the year. We have to acknowledge that unlike what some fans would like us to believe the problem was not in the age difference per say but in the fact that one of them was 21 and initially very immature for her age. However, she was not underage, she was not unintelligent, and she had agency. She was the one who persistently pursued the relationship. The story was exciting and passionate. Also, mommy issues sell.

6. 23.5

A series that gave milklove, a much beloved love team, its chance to shine. It was a sweet high school romance that was enjoyable for most people and had some great highs. Its jealousy episode was one of the best around, and both of the admins here in lgbtpopcult are willing to die on that heel. It did, however, have the limitations of an innocent high school romance. A lot of time was dedicated to side characters and the couple could not be shown in a more mature relationship. Still, a good time!

5. Mate the Series

It is endlessly entertaining to watch Gen and Aoey interact. The perfect ice queen, rich girl that wanted to only be with the perfect man (somehow nobody was ever the perfect man) trying to resist her innocent, tempting friend. They are funny and sweet and passionate at the same time. The series does a good job of focusing on their relationship with little interest in anything else

4. The Loyal Pin

This production, supported by the Thai ministry of culture, definitely deserves its spot at number 4. At 16 episodes and with great production value, it is a journey through time that not only shows us the love story between two women but also the food, dance, and customs of the country of Thailand. The love story itself did a good job of remaining entertaining by inserting some jealousy and lots of obstacles in the course of the couple.

3. Affair the Series

A fierce debate broke out amongst us about whether this series would occupy the third or the second place in this list. You see half of it, the second half, was so incredibly good. The push and pull of a couple with exploding chemistry while they lived together. The obsession Wan had with Pleng. The amazing love scenes. But the first part of the series dragged it down. The chemistry was there from the beginning but they spend too much time in the past when the leads were young, and one of them was pushing the other to be with a guy just to avoid her feelings. That part wasn't bad, It had its moments, but it was at times frustrating and too long. A great series nonetheless.

2. Pluto

This series has it all. A love team with great chemistry, an interesting plot, good acting, and quality writing. It did not only show us an exciting romance but addressed issues of disability and even teased a throuple (through a side couple don't worry the mains are as crazy in love as gl couples should be). Insert some surprising twists and turns and it's a go!

1. The Secret of Us

The number 1 spot could go to no other series. It wasn't even a debate. Lingorm, the love team comprised of Ling and Orm, was tasked with proving a gl can go toe to toe with straight romance series on a major Thai network. They knocked it out the park! The Secret of Us was super successful. Throughout its run, it remained in the top 10 of Netflix in Thailand and the other Asian countries it was available in. It frequently occupied the number 1 spot, and its numbers on the network's own streaming app surpassed those of its straight counterparts. There was a reason for all of that. The story was a very popular romance trope (angry ex vs. regretful ex) done right, the chemistry of the love team was enticing and both main characters were infinitely charming. We all fell in love.

[consistantly-changing]

[Image descriptions in order: screenshots of reblogs on this post.

Images in the first reblog:

moregaythanyourealized: i was at an antique store in Austria once and when I went to check out they guy was like "Oh, that was my wife's. Oh well, she'll be okay without it!" I felt a little guilty]

[takk: #bought a ceramic seal at an antique store and the woman at the counter said 'do you know what this is?' and i said 'a seal?' and she said #nothing else]

[vintagegarf: #this has happened to me multiple times #I tried to buy a lamp they were using for light that got unplugged #they let me buy it but i had to haggle for a bit]

[tackyflamingosarah: I was in a local used bookstore once and they had an original finalized script for The Breakfast Club. That was pretty cool to see. Still have no idea where they got it from]

[shakespearerants: #ahahaha throwback to the one time I went into THEE most expensive antique store in the city to ask about a ring that was haunting me #and the about 90 year old sales lady a. didn't recognize the peice b. immediately told me if she'd have seen it earlier she would've kept i #for herself c. turned the tag around and was surprised to find a price in her own handwriting d. deduced I don't have a job by my manicured #for-once hands e. offered me a 100€ discount because she liked my vibes f. immediately invited me to come to her property and meet her #horses after I expressed the slightest interest. when I say property I mean castle with grounds. when I say horses I mean own private stud. #OH YEAH and this whole interaction started with her wanting to throw me out of the store as soon as I walked through the door bc she had a #private client coming in 10 minutes. #vladi speaks]

[cosmic-courtroom: #me when i find radioactive glass in some random persons booth and it's just labelled 'green glass $2.50' like. #stares. girl. and the owners of the store see my blacklight in hand and go 'oh so is it [uranium/depression] glass??' and i flash it with #light and sometimes it's the brightest shit they've seen like. Hey That's a Really High U Concentration Actually.]

[agdab: #this was how i got a cursed ring #i had to bury it in a graveyard to get rid of it]

[chikinan: #still thinking about the cow fetus]

[horneboy: #omfg no i got a 60s soviet union biscuit tin from a vintage shop #and the guy was like wtf whats this never seen it before #and i was like it's your shop blud]

[thirdchoiceurl: #love when they ask why I picked something out and I get to tell them about all the uranium they have]

[Images in the second reblog:

abyssalterrors: #me w my collectible nsync marionnete puppets #jt i WILL find you]

[therebloger22: #the employee going i don't think we have postcards cause postcard lady hasn't been in lately and then here i come with postcards]

[ghostphy: #i once tried to buy a little Pikachu figure from a thrift store #and they would NOT sell it to me #because they were convinced it wasn't from the store #so they just took it and kept it #like. ok]

[phi-says-bullshit: One was at an antique store, he asked "where did you find this?" I said, in a bucket marked a dollar? And he gave me a handful of things from the bucket for free. What a score]

[tinygreenbug: #one time i bought an atrocious lamp because it was only $4 and i thought it was funny and she went 'oh thank god']

[chrono-of-june: #me: waltzes up to the counter with a pink frilly parasol and a gruff also plush #*gruffalo #the lady there: ?????]

[mothmanns: #one time i found a little ceramic piggie at the antique store #not my first but one of the early ones #and i fell in love with him instabtly even though he is missing an ear #and i took him up to the counter and said 'i know hes broken but i love him so much' and the owner smiled at me #and she said 'he was broken when he got here but i kept him because i knew someone special would want to take him home' #and she gave him to me for free and also i cried #im looking at him rn !!!]

[speakingofdoorknobs: #I once found an autographed photo of the Professor from Gilligan's Island at an antique store #yes of course I bought it how could I not?]

[bubsu: #i went to an antique store with a basement and nothing had price tags #also you could only access stuff on the perimeter of the absolute pile of stuff #i took a pic of chairs i wanted and the guy was like oh yeah i remember those i sold them and then bought them back #couldnt buy them lest i find him in my apartment taking his chairs back in the middle of the night #also they were $400]

[stan-pines-mullet: contrary to mom n pop thrift stores, where you can go to the deepest corner of the shop, find a tunnel created by chairs and dressers, crawl into it, be meeted by diverging paths but eventually picking the path less trodded, and at the end you'll find like a cute lamp or something and bring it to the desk and shes like "ahhh yes the lamp" and probably tell you exactly when she got it and who gave her it".]

[Images in the third reblog:

fairyundead: #Or the store is owned and staffed by just one dude who knows exactly when and where he got each and every item #And while he's ringing you up he tells the story of how he found the item and how he had planned to do XYZ with it #He seems almost sad to let it go but when you're like "you don't have to sell it to me?” He's like no no it's yours now #And it makes the item just a bit more special to you whenever you see it]

[idyllic-idioms: #bought a hat at the charity shop yesterday and the guy at the checkout was like #is this hat yours #and i was like ????? #and he was like did you find it in this building or bring it in yourself #and i was like oh yeah it was in that bin over there #and he was like hmm interesting]

[sleepysuccubi: #either that or they have extensive knowledge about the random Pyrex bowl you found in the basement]

[ereborne: #when I got my cuteass little teapot I wanted a little trivet to keep on the floor in the corner of my room for my teapot to perch on #and the first of the little antique/consignment shops we went to didn't have any trivets we could find #the second one I found a trivet in the first main room and I was much encouraged! I marked its position in my mind and kept looking #and by that point my family had gone farther in (an acknowledged fact that I am always the slowest and should be left) #and the lady behind the little desk asked if she could help me with anything so I told her I was looking for a trivet #but also we were all just there to poke around no worries and she was like 'oh well I don't think we have any trivets but enjoy!' #and I was like 'ah well you do have at least one. right here. on this shelf maybe two yards from where you spend all your time' #very funny to scoot a milkjug aside and lift a bunch of plates to show a little cast-iron maple leaf trivet and see her be like oh!!!!!! #that is the trivet I ended up buying but they did have at least four in the shop. maybe more hidden where I didn't see them #and also actually we never went to the other floor so who knows how many there! but yeah at least four and the first in that front room

mariedemedicis: #quoth queue quoth i]

[dreamshappytrail: #this happened when i bought a clown once #cashier had. never seen it before ???? #so they let me have him for free :3]

[roominthishell: #this happens in normal shops too if the customers are insane enough #ive had people come up to me with our wall decorations that we like nailed onto the wall trying to buy it #and i have to be like 'where did you get this from????']

[uncivilliberties: I bought an eight inch tall cast iron Michelin Man coin bank the other day and the cashier looked at it blankly for a full thirty seconds and then just whispered "what"]

[everlastingrandom: #me every time I find a new lead crystal piece #that guy at the counter is like 'we had that in the store???' #and I'm like yeah man #:3 treasure hunting]

[wierdrocks: #bought a framed cross stitch when i moved #and the guy at the antique store squinted at it and was like #i... sold this #were there two?? #guess there were two]

[lachlame: #bought a sword at a thrift store one time #had a price tag and everything #but that cashier swore on a stack of bibles that theyd never seen it before]

[Images in the fourth reblog:

lichensings: #a friend of mine when she found a doll that looks exactly like her in the back #(they let her have it for free)]

[fisherkings: #once someone semi accusingly asked if i got my sweater there and i said no and she said hm. well i wish we sold it. okay?]

[ivytwines: #the walk of shame to show them the rando booth you picked it up at]

[aquilathefighter: #the awkward description of which booth and what dusty corner of said booth #listen gertrude i like to DIG through all the musty crap]

[obfuscatingintelligence: #i found what i think was a Christmas tree topper from the Soviet Union #hammer and sickle and everything #still no idea how it showed up in small town lowa]

[turtledactyl: #my friend once found a large jar of various stones and jewelry and the person working was like idk where you found that but its uhhh $20 #there was like hundreds of dollars worth of stones and cabachons in there]

[pumpkabitch: #i know ive reblogged and tagged this before about this #but i wanted to look at this little gold frog in a case and the guy opened it took the frog out and said Ive never seen this thing before]

[goosefeathered: #one time it was a rat #the only thing worse than being a customer is being the customer that finds that rat #she put it in a jar and gave it to me? #i let it go in a creek #weird day]

[berry-femme: #me like hello I want those three musical ceramic wall masks please #and they're like #the what now.]

[comradecrab: #that one lamp shaped like a ship i bought with little sails and an anchor #at least five older ladies crowded around me to watch me see if it turned on and cheered when it did #cashier was like i swear i have never seen this in my life anyway that'll be $15]

[Images in the fifth reblog:

ectogasm: #found this absolutely fucking DELIGHTFUL antique store in keyport the other day #just packed to the gills #some of the strangest shit just piled onto shelves #religious pamphlets from 1895 thrown into a bin stacked next to a shelf that had uranium glass plates and an old box of antiseptic dressing #nixon political pins and a BOTTLE OF MERCURY and antique rolls of film #i wanted to move in #anyway i bought a pair of earrings and had this exact exchange w the shop owner]

[thesunshookwithjoy: #shout out to the lady at the antique store who said 'what the hell is a gyroscope' while we were buying said gyroscope #and then I think just guessed at the price #it's really cool though it's from an old boat]

[midnight-herald: #LITERALLY #there was this antique store in boston i would go to after moving #because there was so much good kitchen stuff in the basement that the owners forgot about #so they'd cut me a crazy deal #i'd be trying to add up how much for everything i had grabbed based on what the signs downstairs said #and the guy working the counter would just look at this shit and me with my calcualtor (not even joking) and say '$35' #ever september we would do this song and dance #got a rlly nice cast iron skillet from him this way]

[shower-man: #everytime i come up to check out with the dustiest crustiest doll that looks like it no longer believes in light]

[bohello: #"oh yeah theres a mannequin in the bathroom btw" after getting jumpscared by the mannequin]

[tyronetoastertime: #me when I got my hand caught in a bear trap at an antique store]

[ghxsttowns: #i love tiny cutlery. like tiny tiny. and whenever i find any in antique stores and go 'hi how much will it be for this' theyre like damn #those are minuscule where were they ??? u can just take them Imao dont worry]

[songsfordustmites: #usually they dont comment on my purchases but last time they did #yes there are captain kangaroo records out there. yes i did get a great deal on that bag of colorful thread. #yes the little toy that i bought is so cute. thats why i bought him.]

[cookinguptales: #I also love the opposite #when you bring some little tchotchke up to the front desk and they're like oooh do you know what this is #and you're like yes it's a little kitty with a pumpkin and I love him #and they're like THIS is a FIGURINE that came packaged in TEA and people COLLECTED them #and you're like fascinating thank you I've named him timothy]

[maximum-snoot: I briefly worked at an antique mall in highschool, the kind where they rent out spaces to different vendors and whatnot... Well one day a customer brings this skull up to the register and like, that's fine, a lot of vendors have the occasional animal skull, but we had to be like UHHHH WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS because it was a fucking PORPOISE skull, which is EXTREMELY illegal to own and even MORE illegal to sell and I guess the vendor who was trying to sell it somehow didn't know this??? So we had to be like "Sorry, you can't buy this. Nobody can buy this. We shouldn't even have this. Please don't tell the authorities."]

[Images in the sixth and final reblog:

zooophagous: #"i got it from the booth full of santa claus decor" #i also love the random booths that are selling clearly brand new items and handmade soap #like girl youre lost this place is for mildew covered magazines and racist salt and pepper shakers]

[autisticmisabel: #my favourite thing is when they're so confused about you wanting whatever useless knick knack #that they just give it to you because they can't think of a reasonable price #it's happened to me twice now i think]

[goomygoomygoomy: #me at river market all the time #'where did you even get this' in a dark corner of the basement floor dw about it]

[quillkippsisalilbitchandilovehim: #one time i asked the guy behind the cash desk about something and he tried to walk over before realising he was literally trapped behind the #desk because of all the stuff piled up around him. had to help this dude climb out lol]

[catskincass: #when I bought a pair of vintage rare binoculars for pennies because they put the decimal in the wrong place]

[siixxeyes: there's an antique store across the street from my house. i collect vintage poodle related things (i show poodles) and i found a really gorgeous poodle brooch from the 60's. the owner looked at me and said "where the fuck was this?" and proceeded to write down my name and put the word POODLES next to it. i get a phone call every few weeks when they either find something or get something new.]

[asstrainmcfucktruck: #'who let you into the forbidden relics section' 'fred??' 'NOBODY NAMED FRED WORKS HERE']

[carneflower13: #not even the creators of the labyrinth are truly aware of what lurks within it #memes]

[zzazu: #once found a 300 year old history book and the store owner was like #where did you find this? weve been looking for this for 8 years]

[night-creeps: #the best and only time I went to an antique store #i was like 3/4 years old #i dont remember if i was with my mom or my aunt #but near the counter they had their small/ easily steal-able things in a glass case #and i saw this set if two wooden cats that are vaguely reminiscent of lucky cats #but they were painted black and with slight floral detailing #and i was obsessed with cats as a kid #and in my brain i was like convinced they were super valuable because they were in a glass case #and the lady who owned the place thought i was adorable and let me hold them #and i was begging to get them but was told we couldnt #but the lady gave them to me anyway #now that im older im p sure they arent that valuable #and i only have one becayse i gave tge other to my best friend in elementary school #but I was so wowed as a kid that the lady let me have something i was convinced was extremely valuable]

/End ID

i love antique stores you go to check out & theyre like “where the hell did you get this”

[catsushinyakajima]

KLANCE FIC RECS FOR THE NEW YEARS RECAP PART ONE

2024 has come to an end! Here are all of my fav fav Voltron fics and authors that I've interacted with throughout the year. I'm trying to make this list as diverse as possible so everyone can find some tropes they like but I PROMISE all these fics are worth a read. Listed in no particular order, we have:

fear no more the heat o' the sun by taromi | 28k | Canon-Divergent

This fic is an ASTOUNDING depiction of Keith's perspective on life and how Lance changes things up. Every scene between them added not only to their dynamic, but also to our vision of Keith. We see how he is and how things unfold so beautifully. The prose is beautiful and the scenes carry both fluff/emotion so well.

Silver Bells by heavily_caffeinated/@heavilycaffeinatedsblog | 86.3k | Christmas AU

I'm not one for much holiday cheer/hallmark-esque tropes, but caf's writing still managed to draw me in so much. I applaud Caf sincerely for their incredible diligence to upload a chapter everyday (totaling to 86k words in 25 days!!), and their enthusiasm to include everyone in it's creation. This fic is a pure show of passion, in both it's story and the creation of the story. I encourage you all to check out their other fics too.

late night talking (can’t get you off my mind) by ShatterinSeconds/@shatterinseconds | 5.8k | Werewolf!Keith

This fic is SO GOOD for touch starved Keith. It's short and sweet and you get both perspectives of their pining and feelings together. It's a really cute one shot, and I had trouble picking between this fic and other fics by the author so check those out too! Also @shatterinseconds is the goat for not only commenting on all my fics, but somehow always being in the comment section of every fic I read.

Hearts Don'/t Break Around Here by klancekorner | 135.5k | Roommates/Childhood Best Friends

This fic is a classic in the KL fandom but I still don't hear it talked about enough!! I don't usually like childhood best friends trope that much but this fic made me LOVE it!!! It also portrays Lance's anxiety and Keith's avoidance so so well and shows them growing up beautifully.

Cores of Diamond by speaks/@speakswords | 25.6k | Friends with Benefits

One time I lost this fic in my bookmarks and spent a whole day trying to find it. It's such a good depiction of the way KL don't always see eye to eye due to a lack of proper communication and bridging that gap between them. Has NSFW scenes!

Where the water meets the sky by speaks/@speakswords | 106.3k | Mer!Keith

I NEEDED to rec another speaks fic, this one is unfinished but it ends on a conclusive note. There's themes of growing up, living with changes, reunions, and also lots and lots of feelings.

got got got it bad by kairiolette | 10.3k | Post-War | Pining Keith

This one is also pretty popular. It's so so funny. And so real. Keith goes through the five stages of grief as he realizes he loves Lance and like. Of course he would do that. Really sweet.

so kiss me (kiss me kiss me kiss me) and tuesday's sweetheart (sunday's lover) by hearttpoem | 10k | roommates AU | getting together

This author writes the BEST modern/roommates AU. I love the way KL lives together in their fics and I love the way you can see different love languages in the fics. I was going back and forth between which fic to rec and I chose both these fics cuz I read them all the time!!

Where the apple falls by europa_report/@jupiters-junipers | 130k+ | post-war | comatose

No fic rec list is complete without this fic. This fic is genuinely one of my favorite KL fics, its not finished but I believe the author will finish it. The prose is beautiful and it is an entire emotional rollercoaster. You guys should definitely check this fic out

I've Said Too Much (You Promise I Can't Ever Say Enough) by negativefouriq | 1.8k | Autistic!Lance | Est Relationship

This fic is short, sweet, and such a good depiction of having so many thoughts and wanting to share them all and the anxieties of it. Keith's perspective and his reactions to Lance are very healing to read.

baby, i'll rock your world by AsterikaMay/ @catsushinyakajima | 9.5k | Christmas AU | Gift giving

I am putting one of my fics here lol because I did enjoy writing this one a lot! I keep writing fics about gift giving and pining...this must say something about me ahahah

Part two here

[familiarscars]

Lost In Control | Bad Omens | CHAPTER 26

adult content | minors do NOT interact.

⋆ 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆. Bad Omens X ex-girlfriend and singer!Reader.

⋆ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒. You and Noah had a difficult ending but you still need to support each other for the band.

⋆ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆(𝐒). melancholy, ex-boyfriends, difficult relationships, alcohol abuse, swearing, drug addiction, violence.

It's okay to not agree with the characters' attitudes during the fic. It's good to remember that the story is fiction from the author's sick mind and of course they will make dubious decisions according to my fantasies. Nothing is done to be compared to reality.

A fearful man, nearly two meters tall, was walking behind you in the dark woods, using the light of a cigarette lighter and you as a shield. This was about as pathetic as your life could sound at the moment.

You both walked hesitantly, careful not to step on any dry leaves that might alert whatever was making the noises nearby. Noah seemed to get closer with each step, and whenever his arm brushed against yours, a brief shiver ran down your spine.

“Could you stay at least one step away?” you muttered while checking behind a bush. “You’re making me nervous.”

“You’re the one with the light, and I can barely see in broad daylight, let alone in the dark!” Noah retorted, almost offended. “Don’t think I’m using this situation to take advantage of being near you.”

“Oh, really?” You raised an eyebrow, shaking your head at the joke. “I never would have guessed if you hadn’t said anything.”

Noah huffed and took a step back, and you chuckled as you continued walking, pressing the lighter's button with a bit more force. It was a simple motion, but it required extra effort with trembling fingers, a side effect of withdrawal.

Pretending nothing was wrong was becoming an impossible challenge as each withdrawal symptom hit harder than the last. Your body’s dwindling supply of the drug felt like a red alert. The abrupt pause gnawed at you more than years of uninterrupted use ever had. No one gets clean overnight.

Least of all you.

Your thoughts were interrupted as Noah jumped, startled once again by a sound coming from the bushes. You couldn’t help but laugh, covering your mouth with one hand, but when you lifted the lighter’s flame toward his face and saw his blank expression, you quickly stifled your laughter and focused back on the strange noise’s source. It was almost funny, the way he trusted his life to your shaky hands for a few seconds.

Ruling out the possibility that it was a real person, your chest felt a bit lighter. After being chased through the streets and finding your house open as if someone had broken in, you weren’t taking any more chances.

“Ah…” you said quietly, almost frustrated, as you knelt on one knee and looked up at the towering monument that blocked the moonlight. “It’s just a bird.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” he muttered, incredulous, and from his tone, you could tell Noah would have preferred it to be a bear if only to make his earlier display seem less ridiculous. “Fine, fine, leave it there, and let’s head back inside.”

“He’s hurt.” Your words sounded more like sorrow as you handed him the lighter so he could provide some light. “The weird noise was because he got tangled in the branches. Look!”

You stepped aside, giving Noah room to kneel beside you. Thankfully, he had enough empathy not to say anything snide, instead waiting to see what you’d do next. Maybe he remembered that you loved animals, adored birds in particular, and always wanted a dog but never felt competent enough to care for one.

Now, the two of you watched the small bird among the dry leaves, its wing broken and a raspy whistle escaping its beak. You bit your lower lip, trying to devise a quick and effective strategy, your eyes falling on a loose thread from your sleeve. Wrapping the thread around your index finger, you tugged it free with your thumb.

“Do you think it still has a chance?” he asked, tilting his head as you gently brought the bird closer.

“When Seth used to shoot at birds singing in our backyard, he rarely hit them, but the shock of the gunfire made them fall and injure themselves just like this one,” you recalled, the bitter memory immediately filling you with regret for sharing it. Still, you continued, inspecting the bird. “I’d keep them in my room, tying their wings with string and popsicle sticks until they could fly again.”

“Did it work?” There was genuine interest in his voice, warming the cold knot in your stomach and making you smile as you nodded.

“Yes! Two days, and they’d be flying again, even if slowly.” As you spoke, you knotted the thread and, using a hairpin, improvised a splint to keep the bird’s wing stable.

“It’s a shame we won’t know if it truly healed since we’re leaving it here alone.”

“We’ve done our part, offering help without taking it away from where it belongs for some selfish idea of solidarity. It will decide what to do next with this new chance.” You smiled, standing alongside him, watching the little bird struggle but ultimately move forward—free.

A few steps ahead, you found a river where you insisted on stopping to wash your hands. Subtle raindrops fell over the water, unable to blur the moonlight so bright it illuminated the entire area. You lifted your gaze, fascinated by the reflection on the water.

“Damn, it’s freezing here,” Noah grumbled, hugging his arms. You barely heard him as you played with the water, dipping your fingers into the cold stream. Rain had a special way of making the chill feel bearable, even pleasant.

“Hey! What are you doing?” he exclaimed in near desperation as he saw you strip off your clothes, tossing them onto a rock. Wearing only your underwear, you smiled, recognizing the tone of his voice. It was almost like a time machine. Noah was still as unsure as the first time he’d seen you embrace the rain without fear of soaking your clothes.

“I want to jump in the river,” you declared, puffing out your chest as you freed your hair. He struggled not to stare at your body in the moonlight, his restless eyes darting nervously.

“You’ve lost your mind!” He let out an awkward laugh, grabbing your shirt from the ground and tossing it at your chest. “Get dressed! Let’s go! You hate working sober, and you’ll definitely make my life hell if you get sick!”

“It’s been so long since we’ve had any kind of break that maybe I am losing it. We’re stuck in a deserted place with no way back to the hotel before dawn. Like it or not, we have to put up with each other, so why can’t you stop being so unbearable?” you teased, tossing the shirt back at him and shrugging, certain you were close to pushing him over the edge. “I won’t tell Scarlet if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“You’re pathetic and immature,” he muttered, rolling his eyes impatiently. “I’m freezing, Miss I’m Willing to Annoy Noah Sebastian!”

“Well then, don’t let me stop you! Look how nice the water is!” Taking advantage of his distraction—Noah had let down his defensive posture—you pushed him into the river. To both your surprise, it was deeper than it seemed.

You stood on the riverbank for a moment, laughing at your audacity, but you couldn’t resist for long. Taking a few steps back to gain momentum, you leaped into the water after him. The impact was cold and disorienting, but it didn’t take long for your eyes to find Noah’s figure beneath the surface.

His expression was anything but amused. His eyes were narrowed, his lips pressed into a line of disapproval that only made your laughter intensify as you both surfaced.

“You’re insane!” he muttered, spitting out water and pushing his hair out of his face. “And I’m freezing, thanks to you!”

“Oh, poor thing!” you teased, splashing a handful of water at him.

“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes.

Before you could react, he splashed water at you, igniting an awkward, laughter-filled battle. Every movement sent water splashing around you, mixing with the rain that continued to fall, turning the river into a chaotic dance of droplets.

You tried to swim away as he closed the distance, but the sound of your shared laughter — yours and his, in perfect harmony — drowned out any sense of urgency. You were both surrounded by problems, carrying the wreckage of everything that had trampled over what you once felt for each other in the past two years. Day by day, you fought to bury it, to smother the persistent flame that refused to die.

But it was impossible.

The energy between you was an uncontrollable force. In the same space, the air shifted, gravity seemed to pull you together. You radiated electricity, igniting each other, yearning with an almost insane intensity for what no principle or real obligation could replace: the singular feeling only the other’s presence could bring.

“There’s no use running!” he exclaimed, launching himself in the opposite direction to cut you off.

Eventually, you felt his arms reach you, a touch firm yet gentle, as if he always knew exactly how to hold you. Both of your breaths were heavy, your faces close enough that you could see every drop of water on his skin, his intense gaze locked onto yours.

Noah paused for a moment, his smile softening, as if lost in something deeper than the river surrounding you. Your hands rested on his broad shoulders, his soaked shirt clinging to his torso, outlining his chest and strong arms.

“You know this is the part of you I always hoped would never change?” he said, his voice low, almost drowned out by the rain and the current.

Your eyes searched his, a mixture of surprise and anticipation building within you.

“What part?” you asked, almost breathless.

“This one. The part that lives. That doesn’t mind getting wet, laughing out loud, dragging me — even if only for a few seconds — into feeling what it’s like to be as free as you.” He smiled, small and genuine, and that expression, so sincere, completely disarmed you. “I’m still a fan of that part.”

Before you could respond, he leaned in, threading his fingers into the damp strands of hair at the nape of your neck, bringing your face to his, and the kiss happened. It started slow, as if the entire world had slowed down to let that moment exist. Then it grew more intense, with both your bodies colliding, separated only by the droplets of water sliding between you, filled with everything words couldn’t say.

You savored every chance to be together again as if it were the last of your lives.

The rain continued, but you no longer felt the cold. Only the warmth of his touch, the hands that held you as if nothing could take you away. And, for an instant, the rest of the world didn’t matter. Each drop sliding down your skin was forgotten in the heat of that moment, in the pressure of his lips against yours. The river seemed to transform into an exclusive stage for the two of you, as if the universe itself conspired for that moment.

When the kiss finally broke, you stayed close, your foreheads almost touching, your breaths mingling as you tried to catch them. Noah opened his eyes, a different kind of light reflecting there, his lips trembling from the cold.

In the rain — your shared trademark.

You both remained silent for a moment, the sound of water and rain filling the space between you. It was as if the world had paused, allowing you both to process what had just happened.

“So…” you began, swimming slightly backward, trying to break the tension that was starting to form. “Still cold?”

“Not enough to forgive you for pushing me into the river,” he replied, but there was a playful smile tugging at his lips.

“Oh, so you’re still mad?” you teased, splashing another handful of water at him.

“Maybe,” he said, a mischievous gleam reappearing in his eyes as he moved closer again.

“Maybe?” You instinctively retreated, but he was already too close, his strong arms wrapping around your waist once more. Before you could protest, Noah spun you both in the water, drawing a surprised laugh from you.

“Now we’re even,” he declared, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like you’d both let go of everything that haunted you.

The rain began to ease, the drops now softer, as if even the sky was weary. You swam to the shore, the laughter gradually fading, but the lightness of that moment lingering between you.

Sitting side by side on the wet grass, both of you soaked but oddly comfortable, he looked at you with narrowed, bright eyes, an expression that held more than words could say.

“You seem worried about something.”

“It’s my mom’s birthday today…” you said softly, knowing Noah usually didn’t like when you brought her up. He cleared his throat uncomfortably, just as you expected. “Sorry for bringing it up with you, but it’s impossible not to remember every year.”

“I’ve always been a good listener. Above all else, we were best friends. You don’t need to apologize for wanting to talk to me,” he said quietly, with evident hesitation but sincerity. “I know you can’t talk to anyone else.”

“Thank you.” You raised one side of your lips in a smile that was more a reflection of relief.

“You always called her on her birthday, Mother’s Day, and Christmas. I remember that.”

“I filled her voicemail,” you said with a slightly embarrassed laugh, but out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Noah still serious, his gaze lost in something that wasn’t in front of him. “After a while, Crystal’s phone stopped ringing. Now it seems like it’s turned off.”

He cleared his throat slightly, as if something scratched at it, diverting his gaze for a few seconds before returning it to you. “Maybe she changed her number.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” You nodded, relaxing your shoulders and tossing a stone into the river, the sound of water breaking the uncomfortable silence. “Do you think she might’ve looked for me at some point over the years?”

Noah’s gaze was fixed on you. His restless fingers fidgeted with one another as he swallowed hard before shaking his head.

“I’m sure not.” He said, the words coming out slowly. “But… but it matters to you, doesn’t it?”

“I thought about going back to Richmond and stopping by her house a few times. I don’t know, don’t ask me why, but I felt this need countless times. To see her, to know how she was doing.”

“But you’re afraid of what you might find if you go there.”

“Yeah…” you replied, the word escaping almost as a whisper. You rested your chin on your arms, using the silence to reflect.

Anyone in your place would hate her, and maybe you had felt that at some point. But in the worst moments of your life, when pain was your only ally, your mother’s company was still what you sought when you returned home. Hers was the name you called out every night, and it was her you hoped to see at the end of every performance.

You waited for her for nine years.

From the corner of your eye, you saw Noah shrink slightly, pressing his temple in silence, as if he didn’t want to bother you with his groan of pain. Without ignoring him, you got up and gently asked him to walk back with you. After gathering everything that was scattered around, you both walked through the woods. He offered to carry you on his back if you were tired, but you refused and kept walking barefoot.

You tried to distract him so he’d forget the discomfort that was clearly bothering him. You brought up random topics, teased him more, and the two of you even managed to come up with part of a possible new song. But every now and then, he’d fall silent when that pounding in his head demanded his attention.

Back at the house, you used a pile of wood to light the fireplace and warm up. Noah had forgotten his hoodie at home, so he gave it to you to cover yourself while your clothes were hung to dry. You watched him sitting on the floor, his bare back exposed, revealing the large, colorful tattoo on his skin. He was in nothing but boxers, poking at the flames to make them grow.

In your pocket, you felt a piece of plastic pressing against your fingers. When you pulled it out, you saw an orange pill bottle with his name on the label.

“You’re the person most against self-medicating that I know. Would it be invading your privacy to ask why you’re carrying this in your pocket?” you asked without letting go of it, still calm as you looked at him. He turned his head slightly, his expression serene as he glanced over his shoulder at you.

“I still feel the same way about self-medicating, but the doctor who treated me said it’d be good to use those when I get headaches like that.”

You tightened your grip on the bottle, your eyes fixed on the label. Something about that name, about the doctor’s stamp, pulsed in your memory—like a song you can’t remember the lyrics to but know you’ve heard before.

“Dr. Klein?” you murmured, frowning as you scanned the printed name. Unease crept down your spine, as though an old shadow were trying to infiltrate your thoughts.

Noah turned slowly, his eyes scanning your face as if trying to decipher what had changed in your expression.

“Yeah. Is there a problem with that?”

You hesitated, your fingertips gliding over the bottle, now more cautiously, almost as if it might explode at any moment.

“I don’t know… I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”

He raised an eyebrow, a little suspicious, but chose not to press the matter. You were grateful for that since you needed time to rummage through your memory to figure out why it felt so familiar. But nothing seemed clear in your mind, and you dismissed it as a silly déjà vu.

After he fell asleep, you stayed by his side, hugging your knees as you watched him. The night’s silence seemed to amplify the sound of his breathing—a soft but fragile rhythm, as if it could shatter at any moment. The empty bottle nearby felt like a cruel reminder of his vulnerability.

You rested your head against the windowpane, staring at the reflection of the dimly lit room. The moonlight filtered through the half-open curtains, illuminating Noah’s features. Every line on his face, every shadow formed by months of absence and suffering, seemed to cry out for something he’d never admit out loud. Help.

Your chest tightened, a dull ache you couldn’t ignore, like a fist pressed against your heart. You hated feeling trapped in that bubble again, in that fate of trying to protect him at all costs. So many times, you’d sworn to yourself that you wouldn’t let it happen, but there you were, watching over his sleep as if every second of vigilance could make a difference.

He shifted slightly, a soft sigh escaping his parted lips. You held your breath, waiting for any sign he might be in pain again, but he only settled deeper into the blankets. Even so, you didn’t relax.

The doubts swirled in your mind like a storm. What if he needed you? What if he was getting worse? What if you weren’t enough to help him this time?

A warm tear rolled down your face, but you ignored it. The fear was overwhelming, a weight that seemed to sink your lungs, and the silence of the night only made it more oppressive.

“You can’t carry the whole world, you know?” you murmured to yourself, but the words felt empty, powerless.

Noah mumbled something incomprehensible in his sleep, his brow furrowing for a brief moment before relaxing again. You wanted to believe he was fine, that the apparent calm was real, but you couldn’t convince yourself.

And so, the night stretched on, slow and relentless. You stayed there, unmoving, staring into the early hours with tired eyes and a heavy heart, promising yourself you’d be there if he needed you—even if it meant losing yet another part of yourself in the process.

Finally, dawn arrived, and you were getting ready to head back to the hotel. Noah insisted you keep his hoodie when he noticed it was still drizzling outside. He was still groggy, unusually quiet, and you found it odd, knowing that mornings were rarely his silent moments—especially after the previous night.

“Are you okay?” you asked, watching as he turned away from the pensive moment he’d been caught in at the door.

“I don’t remember falling asleep in the bed…” Noah murmured, scratching the side of his head. “Did you figure out where that noise was coming from?”

You stared at him for a few seconds, folding your arms tightly when you saw the pure sincerity in his confused eyes. Noah didn’t remember the night before.

“I did… it was just a bird,” you said softly, and he gave a faint smile, nodding with a compressed grin.

“Ready to go?” He craned his neck to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything, and you followed him.

“We’re heading back to the hotel, but before we go any further, I really want to propose a truce.”

“A truce?” he asked, raising his eyebrows with a cautious expression.

“I’m not saying this night changed our lives or erased everything we’ve done to each other over the past two years, especially the last few months.” You took a deep breath, summoning the courage to continue. “But I think we can coexist as two human beings who… who loved each other deeply and now respect each other.”

Noah looked at you, puzzled, as if trying to decipher your words.

“I can’t promise things will be like they were or fool us with a false hope that we still have a chance, because I haven’t changed, Noah. And I can’t lie to you—I really haven’t changed.” You gave a sheepish smile, scratching the side of your head. “But I really wish we could live in a bearable environment until this is over, and we each go our separate ways.”

He stayed silent for a few moments before nodding slightly, his lips flexed in hesitation. Internally, you crossed your fingers, hoping he wouldn’t turn your attempt to be near him into something so complex. You felt the need to stay close, and you desperately needed an excuse to do so. He needed someone.

“You’re right.”

Noah sniffled discreetly, brushing off the discomfort in his nose, and took a step forward.

“But you’re not the only one who hasn’t changed… I’m still the same as back then, and that’s one of the reasons I want to keep my distance now. This version isn’t what you deserve.”

A painful silence lingered between you, and you closed your eyes for a few seconds, hoping to find another scenario when you opened them again. But he was still there.

“We should go. We’re going to be late for soundcheck, and Matt will chew us out,” you said. He gave a faint smile, trying to lighten the moment, but the shadow of his words still hung between you.

After the soundcheck, you returned to the dressing room and slumped heavily into the chair in front of the vanity. Your trembling hands rested on the surface as you stared at the pale reflection in the mirror. Your eyes were sunken, heavily concealed under layers of makeup. Your pupils were dilated, and cold sweat dripped down your neck. A tremor ran through your legs, forcing you to cross them in an attempt to mask it.

Your knotted stomach couldn’t digest anything but liquids, and the sharp pain in your head was a cruel reminder of withdrawal.

The sound of your phone ringing hammered at the back of your skull like a knife turning slowly. It was constant, repetitive, deafening, and every time you answered, all you heard was faint breathing in the background and the sound of something scratching. It made you stop paying attention to the device, treating it as if it didn’t exist.

With a sudden movement, you grabbed it and shoved it under the couch cushion, as if that could silence the noise that seemed intent on driving you mad.

You leaned forward, holding your head in your hands, when the door suddenly opened. Scarlet walked in, radiating that insufferable energy of control disguised as concern.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her tone suddenly softened but still laced with something insidious.

“It’s just a lack of patience,” you replied, trying not to show the weight of your confusion. “The incessant ringing of my phone gives me a headache.”

Scarlet glanced around and easily found the device under the cushion.

“You mean this phone?”

You nodded, not raising your eyes to her.

She frowned, glancing between you and the screen. “But it doesn’t have any missed calls.”

“What?” You jerked your head up, feeling the ground shift beneath your feet.

“Look…” Scarlet extended the phone toward you, and the blood drained from your face as you realized she was right. “There haven’t been any calls. Are you sure about what you’re saying?”

“Stop asking me if I’m sure of what I see or know, as if I’m crazy!” Your voice rose, echoing through the narrow dressing room walls.

“I’m sorry, but it’s normal for me to worry when I see you like this.” She tilted her head, her tone falsely empathetic, poisoning the air. “Your mind’s getting more confused every day. It’s not hard to imagine you’re seeing things that aren’t there.”

“But I’m not making this up! I’ve really been getting messages and calls nonstop for days!” you snapped, running your nails along the side of your head, as if you could scrape away the irritation. “Even…”

You stopped yourself, hesitating to mention the recent episodes—the feeling of being followed, the sight of your door being tampered with.

It was exactly the kind of thing Scarlet would use against you.

“Don’t tell me you’re also feeling like you’re being watched or constantly followed?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but the alarm in her eyes betrayed her. “I really should be worried about the clear signs of paranoia you’ve been showing…”

“STOP!” you shouted, the tension crackling in your voice like electricity, but she pressed on.

“You know it’s common for people in your state, don’t you? These things you’ve been using long-term erode your brain, and the tendency is for you to become more dangerous every day—not just to yourself but to others. That explains why Noah’s been keeping his distance.”

“I already told you to stop and get out of here!” Your voice shook, and you ignored her words, turning back to the mirror. The reflection was a battlefield where your inner chaos spilled outward. It wasn’t the moment—by no means—to absorb anything she said. You simply didn’t have enough control.

“Maybe it’s the perfect time to lock you up in rehab again.”

Those words hit like a punch, knocking the air from your lungs. Blood drained from your face, and your hands began to tremble as you heard something that should’ve been confidential. You had guarded that secret so carefully, buried under layers of shame and failure. Those months had felt useless—a recovery attempt now being used against you.

How did she know about that?

It didn’t matter.

You clenched your fists, jaw rigid, forcing yourself not to respond. Your vision blurred, breathing quickened, and a suffocating heat surged through your body. The incessant noise in the back of your mind, the weight of the accusations, and the physical pain melded into a whirlwind. Before you could control it, you lunged at her with all the force of your pent-up rage and despair, slapping her across the face.

Your body collided with hers, knocking her backward into the vanity. The impact sent some items crashing to the floor, but you didn’t stop. Your hands gripped her shoulders, shaking her as you screamed incoherent words—a mixture of anger and pain slamming her head against the wall with each strike. Blood trickled from her nose as the blows intensified.

Scarlet tried to defend herself, grabbing your hair and pushing your face away, but you were in an uncontrollable state. She attempted to slap you, but it only fueled your fury, blinding your vision until all you saw was red. You shoved her hard, slamming her against the wall again. She gasped for air but maintained that broken, defiant glare. With a firm tug on her hair, you alternated between punches and slaps. Adrenaline burned through your veins as you pinned her down, straddling her to immobilize her movements.

“Now you’ve got plenty of proof to call me crazy, you miserable bitch!” you screamed, your eyes wide, tears mixed with sweat streaming down your face.

She managed to free herself for a moment and tried to fight back, but the struggle was clumsy, chaotic. You both stumbled, knocking over a chair, until the sound of the door opening interrupted everything. Someone had heard the commotion and was about to step in.

You let go of Scarlet, breathing heavily, while she collapsed into loud sobs, struggling with exaggerated difficulty to move.

Both of you stayed silent for a moment, the room suffocating with the tension of the fight.

“What the hell happened here?” Noah’s voice cut through as he scanned the wrecked dressing room, startled by the disheveled girl sobbing and clinging to him.

“She freaked out and attacked me!” Scarlet sobbed, clutching his torso, her smudged makeup running as she brushed blood-matted hair away from her face.

Noah glanced between her and you, waiting for your explanation. But you merely shrugged with a restrained smile. After all, she’d come out worse. She was more injured than you, and any argument you made would be dismissed.

If she wanted to be the center of attention tonight, you had given her that.

⭑ @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard ; @iluvmewwwww75 ; @anarchydomainglory ; @foliosgirl ; @lacy1986 ; @chey-h ; @supersquirrel1996 ; @zozaline​ ; @just-randomm-stuff ; @do-it-jakey-baby

[maddragonfruit]

I love Sanders Sides Au's where Virgil swaps introduction wise with either Janus or Remus because when Janus and Remus were introduced in season two, Thomas was so genuinely surprised and shaken, (though he has kinda calmed down around Janus, and he hasn't had enough cannon interactions yet with Remus) and like worried about them. But when Virgil first showed up in season one Thomas was just like "Dear god, this bitch again?" like he wasn't threatened at all

and I just think its funny that if Remus had showed up in season one instead of season two, instead of being generally feared and have Thomas be confused by him. Thomas would have just been slightly annoyed and gotten rid of him in five fucking minutes, please tell you find this as funny as I do

[thrpr0phetuseek]

ooc: I think they have a great bond! Aka. basically no bond at all because we haven’t interacted, but @best-dressed-on-mt-olympus , Tir is craving some wine and might ask you to bring some, so if you feel like Hermes would respond to that sort of call and hang out with Tir for a little, I think that’d be cute

Also; I LOVE SLOAN’S ART!!!! Like- AAAA but anyway, those two interacting is just too funny. Love them (giving flying snakes/harbringers /silly /nf /gen)

Such a cute Hermes & Tiresias design, it makes me so freaking happy—they look so squishable!!! I wanna hug them, but anyway, thanks for the tag!!!!!! <3 /p

PLZ MORE OF UR TIRESIAS HE'S SO CUUUTE

Tiresias and Hermes doodles based on mason's tiktoks ^^

[real-fire-emblem-takes]

I think a really funny dynamic in a Corrin/Lucina ship would be Lucina trying to figure out why their new date/crush/weird obession reminds her so much of her cousin, brother and best friend. Is she just being nostalgic because she hasn't seen them in years or is there something actually to it? Especially if Corrin REALLY ends up taking things from their siblings retainers who are friends with Lilith without realizing it.

Corrin working dance moves and spins into their fighting style from sparring with Laslow, maybe also singing under their breath without realizing it and getting embarrassed when they notice someone

Small hc but I like the idea of Corrin only being able to use the half dragon form consistently thanks to mindset training and practice with Odin, but that also means needing to strike That Pose That Works to get the stupid lance arm. Also just a genuine passion for storytelling and finding out new things and astronomy and myth and whatever else Odin chooses to yap about.

Lilith: I'm uh sorry for stabbing you.

Severa: eh, who hasn't

Vs

Lucina: I'm sorry for stabbing you with Falcion

Corrin, in unimaginable pain: hey, who hasn't

I dunno I like the vibe of Corrin having so little social interaction in the fortress that they absorb any traits like a sponge from people that visit them.

👀

[justabeewithapen]

Idk anything about Dandadan, but the art’s made me curious. What’s your fav dynamic (of two or more characters) from it and why? :o

(Spoilers are fully welcome! Which is why I’m asking, but just in case you were worried about that)

Jiji and Vamola by like a long shot, though the whole main cast has a very dynamic group energy that is very fun, but Jiji and Vamola man… Jiji is an only child who has a big ole’ heart but is the most annoying man you’ve ever met. He makes a “deez nuts” joke in the dub and it is entirely in character. He is the kind of person you can’t stand but if anyone was ever mean to him you would beat them to a pulp. Vamola is a Sumerian (an alien from the planet Sumer/Sumar which are implied to have either lived on earth previously or evolved from humans, unsure which direction they are going) who doesn’t know anything. She came from a planet ravaged by war and is just trying to survive. The two of them act like the biggest idiots together

I live for their dumb sibling energy, both of them are only children and I love the idea they latched onto each other to be dumb together. I am just kinda a huge sucker for found family concepts and these two read so heavily as “this is my sister I will teach her all my dirty jokes and kill anyone who looks at her funny”. It is different from the regular “besties” dynamic everyone else has!! Aira and Chiquitita have a similar vibe but you mostly see them interact off to the side in group shots,,, but she has definitely mentally adopted that child.

[ssaluss]

Im also kinda shy, im not used to interactions this long but it has been so great to just delve into this. Nice to hear you're enjoying it as much as i ^^

Just cause i thought of some thinks that may add and/or help...

Not going to add at his origin just wanted to point out movie shadow's model has lighten-up gap in his inhibitors that resembles me a lot of silver's ones (not going to spoil just to be safe, but when he does a thing it do light up with energy). Just a funny thing ive found reading through the wiki cause i just do like doing that, aparently shadow has shown telekinesis before but i have to check it for myself before affirming.

I like to think that his cuffs are focusers, in this AU i do want to say that silver don't really fully capable inhibitors cause his chaos energy is weaker than shadow's so his body can handle it better and even use more at a time, he has less but by so he don't become overhelmed by it, its more efficient in other words, so just having a way for it to not blow in his face would be really helpful, and with GUN wanting something easier to control i think it fits.

Also, angst territory, as we don't know how hard it is to truly end shadow for once and for all, id say GUN was happy that if Silver ever went rogue, he would, of course be resistent and strong, but not as hard to end like shadow.

Idk how small silver was so, as im using movie shadow again cause his model is really well made, his rings have a joint were the two halves connect, i wanna say that Silver's do it too and that's why even when he grew up he just adjusted their size (don't fix if its not broken and your world is a litteral hellhole).

Shadow with separation anxiety YEEEEES!!! Anyway, i too see him fighting quite a lot as a caring person, i like him being in terms with Maria's death and not being really reliant in her to just function at all, but her influence makes me thing that some level of naivety and a child-like wonder make him a little compeled at helping, and silver is full of it, even in 06 when he finally sees a world not destroyed by the flames, i think a small bit about silver finally getting proper, home made food for the first time, so much angst potential and we don't even have to enter te alien stuff yet.

To season the angst, they interacting, even tho is akward, fills this feeling of this friendship already being doomed. Bear with me a little, shadow is not one to talk a lot, he's my one liner king, but he does just stay there menancingly, i think he would notice the moments that silver just acts with an almost childish excitement of being part of something, in wich he does not have in any other place, but everytime he looks and silver looks back its just kinda weird, they're not friends after all, both fear to connect with others, sometimes for the same, sometimes for different reasons.

Silver is not the calmest of the bunch, after the reveal he would either freak out like anyone would or he might be consumed by the power within. Anyway, it makes shadow act, be by conforting be by confronting.

I know the "green blood thing" and i just don't like the aesthetics of it lol it being black do be harder to see (and yeah, shadow with black blood has SO much potential, and Silver too cause its painfully on sight for him)

Silver being controlled by the hivemind could go so many ways its hard to decide, and i like eclipse too i miss some of my archie boys ( *cof* shard *cof*). To not tie this to anything maybe shard could be to silver what biolizard is to shadow? A first draft without all the needed materials, maybe made with stored remnants of the black comet, a full Black arm that could not be easily controlled and scaped, maybe he does have his archie origins, maybe he was the last of his kind that was spared cause shadow couldn't know that black doom had a backup plan. Idk, too much possibilities.

The other way is someone experimenting with it, maybe this time it could be eggman (i do not like GUN that much cause they're shady but is getting repetitive) he is experinenting and make a prototyoe to try and control shadow after his last fiasco, he knows that a controlled shadow could be usefull and maybe he would be easier to lure if he plays it right... just for it to not work with shadow, its too weak for someone who fought the leader and won, even his little scheme of a big fight to worn him out can't seem to work, nothing! So he discards it somewhere in the battlefield as sonic finds him and starts their weekly banter...

He goes off before he could see Silver just staring blanky in the direction he trew the prototype, wich ends with him not being able to stop the heavy hit coming. Everything goes black for a second before he recovered enough (the enemy is the robot he crumpled, maybe)

As they were fighting robots and i see silver as kinda of hardstrong, he just says the black thing in his head is grease if anyone asked (not shadow to, my boy knows this well enough).

--------

Reading the fic im just WOW

WOW

W O W

If you need any help writing it and filling things, and if you want ofc, we can talk more about it? Im not good at making coherent things but i can help if you need ^^ and i did love the concept and writing this with you S2

People talking about what if Shadow was Silver’s dad y’know but NOT ONCE have I seen anyone say that if that’s true, then Silver has black arms blood

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Researching Stories

Author David Sedaris expertly gathers information before writing essays and short stories. Here’s his advice for researching stories and improving your writing.

Tips for Gathering Information

Take great notes. Your memory isn’t perfect—so getting in the habit of being an observant writer and writing everything down will help you keep track of all of your story inspiration. Keeping a diary where you write down things that happen to you, things you find funny or interesting, dialogue you overhear and love, and character traits, will help you see the world differently. Keeping a dream journal will train you to remember more and more of your dreams. Keeping a gratitude journal and, each day, writing down what you are grateful for, will train you to look for things to be thankful for. Keeping a record of your surroundings will open you to moments that could become stories and the parts of your world that belong in your writing.

Meet a variety of people. When was the last time you asked someone for directions? Forcing yourself to rely on other people is a great way to create built-in encounters with strangers. David, for example, has never learned to drive a car. As such, public buses, Ubers, planes, and trains are all opportunities for meetings that can lead to diary entries and essays. These are situations that you don’t choose or orchestrate, but they can lead to a chance connection that you might end up writing about. These fortuitous interactions are part of what makes life worth living for David.

Be present in the moment. Once you’re in the habit of writing everything down, you might be tempted to whip out your notebook in the middle of a particularly juicy conversation. But resist the urge. “You don’t want to end it,” David says (of “the moment” in question). “I was in London and I was in a taxidermy shop. And the owner of the shop showed me these owls that he had for sale. And then he showed me a pygmy skeleton. And then he showed me an amputated arm. And then he showed me a girl’s head. So he had some human things that were for sale. And by that time my life really felt like a story. But I knew that if I pulled out my notebook, everything would have ended.” Instead of ending the moment, let a situation play out naturally instead of drawing attention to it by taking notes as it’s happening. People might feel self-conscious if they see your notebook, or, even worse, they’ll become aware of the way they’re being observed by you. That will alter or shut down what might have happened without the notebook. You can always jot down notes once the moment is over.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[kozukensgf]

< hazel 2024 wrapped! >

first and foremost,

happy new year everyone! 💓 this year is the craziest year for me because i’ve never thought that i would be a writer in this app? even though i have been on hiatus this app always welcome me like a warm hug (i love this community i love yall) hence i want to thank every kind soul on this app who has been supporting me since day 1 🥹

special thanks, to you

thank you for every likes, reblog, comment, mention and inbox. i read each one of them and often times they are so wholesome 🥹

thank you to my taglist, who always leave a like and comment under my post. thank you to my 🐨, 💍, 😻, 🩵, 🪐 , 😛, diabolical anon, i love reading the inbox you guys left me (it made my day). to my silent readers, thank you for sticking with me!

to the one who made this journey fun, cherry 🍒 (also a talented queen) @seungcheorry

thank you for approaching me to do a collab 🥹 it was the best decision i ever made as a writer, which is collaborating with a TALENTED writer like you. we then became friends and i’m so glad for that. you always knew what to say when i needed to hear it the most, esp when i rant to you about- (ok that’s all yall get)

keep slaying with your works, your blog is literally my favourite place (i keep coming back to your dk posts btw, it’s how i keep my sanity in check)

to my favourite writers

@sweetiesicheng

i’m telling yall in her works, she potray each members’ personality perfectly and accurately. are you living in seventeen’s dorm or something?? because no way. keep up the good work!! i love reading your dk’s drabbles hihi

@lololololchips

MOTHER. Idk what y’all say the slayed so bad with her smau. i love reading it, it’s funny asf. (I WANT YOUR PERSONALITY👹) little did you know, you actually were the one that inspired me to do smau 🥹🎀 looking forward to read more of your amazing-funny-smau in 2025!

authors and their works that i love and workshipped:

you made me giggling toes curling with your amazing works <3

@secndlife @bitchlessdino @ddeonghwa-s

((i really need to explore more))

last but not least,

i want to apologise for being inactive. i’ll post once in a while! that’s a promise that i planning to keep for a long time. may 2025 be nicer to me and i hope uni won’t be as harsh as now.

happy new year everyone 🥳

the real last but not least,

speacial thanks to my tag list <3 if we have interacted, trust me i remember you!

@worldpeaceforyoongi @sunooslover @forever-atiny @qockiestt @mystverse @blaycke @jaslwr @weird-bookworm @clownprincehoeshi @aaa-sia @http-mewchuu @heeseungthel0ml

@toplinehyunjin @aervera @arkynz @Hawshiiiii @jenowithjaem @chhnc @do-you-remember-summer-127 @unlikelysublimekryptonite @lesuneczka @tinyelfperson @codeinebelle @fr-freaky @cherrylvrr @dcrlingyou @hq3lo @jkbabiey

@sarabencze @gyuguys @dunixxd @glitterhosh @jihoonsbbygirl @tacosandbitch @dwaekki-bee @darkypooo @theidontknowmehn @ma-riiii @elein041 @enchantingellee @yejisuu @seungkwansflower @enhacolor @nctwishstan @jelliblue54-blog @wakandabiitch2 @tastyluvr @zerowantstobattle

THANK YOU 💕💞💗💝💘💖

[choccy-milky]

I dont know why I had this vision of clora riding a scooter, like a cute light blue one with italy vibes, like a vespa, and sebastian panicking behind her LMAO

I SEE THE VISION AS WELL...idk how shes on a vespa tho since they werent invented yet so lets just assume theres time-turner shenanigans going on LMAO

but also anon this request was so funny to me because the SAME day you sent me it, i also got this one on twitter:

TRULY THE DUALITY OF MAN IS AT PLAY HERE!!! LMAOO debauchery vs wholesomeness...and it made me laugh so much

(and for anyone curious yes i WILL also be honouring the other request......eventually👀)

@jstfndmthngs splitting your ask into 2 again bc its a CHONKER but I LOVED READING IT🥹🥹 "how much they love each other to the abnormal level that i envy" LMAOO THATS FANFICTION FOR YOU, BABY!!😍 also YESS interacting with my readers in the comments was my fav parts of writing a lot of the time, and im SOOO grateful to the ppl who commented bc without them the story would have turned out DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT. like, i know there are some people who write the entirety of their fanfic and then upload it in chunks, but if i had done that/written my story in a vacuum and hadnt incorporated any of my readers ideas/suggestions it would have been SOOOO much worse honestly LMAO. like, not even necessarily putting their requests or ideas in my fic, but even sometimes just reading a comment that would say something like "i cant wait to see how clora/seb reacts to..." would make me think...oh. i was never planning on even showing their reaction to that. but now that they say that, good point, i definitely need to include that LOL. so yeah even just little stuff like that was SUPER important to my writing process and my story and helped me keep in mind what people wanted to see/things i may have missed or glossed over if i'd been writing by myself, but i also just loved getting comments in general bc i loved reading them and they were so motivating🥹 BUT THANK U SO MUCH IM GLAD U LIKED MY STORY/SEB & CLORA SO MUCH, AND TY FOR SHARING ALL YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ME!!🥹💖💖 im lowkey the same way... i cant read any other fics rn bc im still too attached to seb/clora BAHAHA so i still need to give it some time before i delve into other HL fics (i even downloaded a program that will let me replace names so that i can replace the mc's name with clora's LMFAOOOO THATS HOW MENTALLY ILL I AM ABOUT THEM!!😭😭DONT COME FOR ME🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🚓)

omg...i already love unlocking kinks in people but for it to be specifically seb x clora is even more of an honour BAHAHA omg i love that....but i get it too. clora is submissive and breedable af😍LMAOO (im sorry💀that wasnt me just now that was seb blame him)

@acrenna MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS AND ALSO LATE HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! this is so sweet THANK YOU SO MUCH😭😭im happy my story was able to get you out of your reading slump!! (and hopefully will continue to, with my oneshot im slowly but surely working on😩) BUT THANK YOU AGAIN I APPRECIATE YOU SM🥹🥹💖

@misskkfritz you actually arent the first to say this and i also saw a pinterest comment on my art say this........FELLAS DO I NEED TO WATCH GILMORE GIRLS NOW🤔🤔🤔

[freakdoodles]

This is too nice, I must explode you NOW

Freeloading off the neighbor's fire works again this year, might make this a tradition lol

Happy new year y'all :)

Thank you my lovely mutuals for making this a fun year full of beautiful art, funny DCA and skele shenanigans and festive activities! Can't wait to do it all again next year >:p

@orisretr0 @sunny-inajar @jaybirdie421 @baby-bloos @kitsvoidcorner @cavefairy @freakdoodles @voidedpumpkin @missterious-figure @nebuladreamz

I'm to anxious to anybody else qwq

BUT! Just know you guys are awesome>:)