#The Legendary Soul Man

[kismetconstellations]

If you ever find yourself questioning whether or not the Voltron: Legendary Defender showrunners truly despised Shiro, or Shiro fans are simply being melodramatic and hyperbolic when we state as much, contrast the staff's treatment of him with their handling of Pidge.

Compared to their teammates, whose appearances were relatively unaltered, both characters underwent extreme cosmetic makeovers for this iteration of the Voltron/Beast King Go Lion! franchise.

While Takashi Shirogane reclaimed his name and ethnicity from the original 80s Japanese anime, his appearance much more strongly resembles that of a famous character from a completely different franchise.

Pidge Gunderson was gender-swapped, renamed, and de-aged from a "little man from Earth", to Katie Holt, a fifteen year-old girl, with Pidge being a childhood nickname and the alias Katie assumed to disguise herself as a boy when she infiltrated the Galaxy Garrison to uncover the truth about the fates of her father and brother.

Both Shiro and Pidge were given their own unique backstories flavored by varying degrees of tragedy.

And, yet, when Shiro dies two seasons in, we're treated to no dramatic scene of the people who became his found family dropping to their knees, crying out in anguish, and shedding tears over what should be a devastating loss. He's simply gone. No body left behind because it was completely destroyed. By the next episode, Changing of the Guard, with no real sense of how much time has passed, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, and Allura are all referring to Shiro in the past tense, when they refer to him at all, and show no real signs of grief or mourning until the very end of the episode's run time. (Coran doesn't matter, as he's Wacky Comic Relief Man until the plot requires him to fret over Allura, offer exposition, or handle a technical issue on the Castle of Lions.) Even then, each one of them offers perfunctory little sentiments about how Shiro affected their lives (past tense), extending solidarity to Keith for the express narrative purpose of convincing him to move on and let Shiro go.

The episode immediately following, Red Paladin, Lance is set on proving himself deserving of the new Black Paladin title, and Hunk and Pidge are cracking jokes and fooling around inside of the cockpit of the Black Lion, the very location where Shiro's life came to a violent end, as if nothing ever happened.

Aside from Allura donning pink armor to honor lost and fallen heroes, and making a point of specifically naming Shiro as one of them, It's Keith and Keith alone who seems at all seriously emotionally affected by Shiro's absence.

And, even he is over it by the third episode of the season.

And, this was intended to be the permanent status quo. Shiro was not supposed to be brought back in any capacity.

Pidge, on the other hand, is given an appropriately emotional sequence, complete with poignant flashbacks, atmospheric backdrop, and swelling music, when she believes she's found her brother's grave and was too late to save him.

No one cracks jokes or attempts to make light of what happened. She's allowed the appropriate space and time to mourn before realizing that Matt isn't actually dead, and immediately resuming her journey to find him.

Arguably, both Takashi Shirogane and Pidge Holt were altered so extensively, they might as well have been the showrunners' Original Characters. But, it's only the gay, disabled trauma survivor (whom the showrunners intentionally turned into one, as Takashi and Ryou Shirogane in the original Japanese/Sven Holgersson in the English dub was neither forcibly disabled, nor gay) who is cruelly cast aside after suffering repeatedly, while his able-bodied teammates live on to fight another day.

[kaidanalenkosprmanager]

THE BEST OF PRIORITY: MARS (PART 2)

Featuring: Cmdr. Sophie Shepard, Maj. Kaidan Alenko, Lt. James Vega, and Dr. Liara T'Soni With: The Illusive Man and Dr. Eva Coré Your vision is pathetically limited. You were a tool- an agent with a singular purpose. And despite our differences? You were relatively successful. But like the rest of the relics in this place, your time is over. Mass Effect 3: Legendary Edition (2021)

[fluffs-n-stuffs]

a silly swap au where Eusine is the gym leader and Morty is the one who chases after a legendary except their personalities are still intact so Eusine is the funky obsessed psychic-type specialist while Morty is constantly lurking in the shadows following leads of Entei

[funnypansexualanimorph]

Muses

So while Marco is my primary muse right now, here's a few others you can send me asks to get (yes I do Crossovers):

My Hero Academia: Denki Kaminiari, Shota Aizawa, Tomura Shiguraki

Death Note: Mello, Near, Light

Final Fantasy VII: Reno, Cloud Strife, Yazoo

Voltron Legendary Defender: Keith Kogane

Animorphs: Marco, Tobias

Kuroshitsuji: Sebastian Michaelis, Ronald Knox

Yuri on Ice: Viktor Nikiforov, Minami Kenjirou

Free: Iwatobi Swim Club: Haruka Nanase, Nagisa Hazuki, Nitori Aiichirou

Blue Exorcist: Amaimon, Yukio Okumura

Durarara!!: Izaya Orihara, Shinra Kishitani, Kasuka Heiwajima

Food Wars: Satoshi Isshiki

Soul Eater: Spirit Albarn, Death the Kidd, Soul Evans

D. Gray Man: Lavii Bookman, Allen Walker, Reever Wenham

OC: Ronan Sidhe, Yuya, Rowan, Dorian Gray

[todayisafridaynight]

So I’ve noticed you’ve been getting a lot of what if this dragon ball character was in Yakuza so how about we do the opposite. Here’s some characters and you tell us how they would fair in DB land. Daigo, Goro, Nick & Taiga. Anyway love your art hope this puts balance into the universe. 💚

nick's definitely like. An Honored Guest at capsule corp parties i just know he is meanwhile saejima and daigo are probably The Most Normal chaps just minding their business, esp if they're running a security company now

every time shit starts to stir in the city i already know majima's hauling ass to the site

[dogmasquerade]

fuck it why not.

I was gonna put this in the tags but tag limit so instead it's under here.

warning! text block ahead! traffic has been diverted to a different route. please scroll carefully

perpetual war- eschaton is about what happens after the end of the world. post-rapture depending on who you ask. when reality itself unwound and respooled and tangled itself in knots and rips and tears and belief changed truth and truth became lie. when the world tore itself asunder and gave birth to its death and killed its present and past and ate the future whole. when humanity went to war against things they called angels and gods and demons and devils and spirits and aliens and beings of a thousand other names depending on who you ask.

they won.

but now what's left is constantly having little skirmishes and conflicts. the whole world ended and yet it goes on as normal (countries continue to have unnecessary conflict with each other that does not necessarily result in tangible war but nonetheless is the foreplay to many)

human modification? Oh ho ho. when the soul is an intangible organ you can seperate from the body and stick wherever you please to instantly add intelligence and massive amounts of storage space why wait? stick souls in weapons, stick them in engineered biological nightmares, stick them in doors to open them automatically. who cares if its still a living human being with a sentient mind? open the door door opener. Even if you're dead it's no respite- since the world ended your immortal soul is stuck permanently here anyway so like. you might as well work! sure a dead soul can't learn but it still has a memory and a ghost knows how to count coins right? good. operate the train ticket machine dead man.

New and terrible war machines- well as previously mentioned souls can be inserted into just about anything with far less preparation than an organic-bodied pilot would need, and it's cheaper than building a proper self-piloting mechanism. Soul transfers aren't just limited to machines though- stick them in animals, they don't mind! animal souls are usually overpowered by human intellect anyway, it's hardly a risk, and if it goes wrong just destroy it and try with another. the cost-benefit ratio is worth it when you have a siberian tiger with a human mind ripping a man's face off at your command!

once upon a time it was possible to rewrite the rules of reality and create creatures from scratch, but since the Rift closed that's no longer possible. no new shambling masses of paradoxes as weapons anymore :( but that's okay because the great fields of bioengineering and mechanical engineering still exist! if the old weapons tear themselves apart because their version of truth is Incompatible with this version, just make new ones that are compatible!

AI ruler- Only 0utRUN, and it only runs the Undergrowth. which, while it is a city large and powerful enough to rival any of the major Cities, is sworn by a trade alliance and maintains a careful neutrality between the Big Three and the Federation. although rumours of it working with the Children of the Beast are rife...

Born a soldier- ehh arguably? for all the monsters made by humanity solely for the purpose of war. like Jean-Claude. ironically enough steel soldiers, which were manufactured by Boarate specifically for use as expendable troops for wave attacks that overwhelm through sheer force of numbers, don't count as born soldiers since they were made from refugees seeking shelter in the City and had lives before their conscription.

I can never go home- for the entire world. everything and everyone who existed before the end of the world existed in a version of the world that no longer is.

uncertain future, fear as a motivator, loving your weapon (because it is yourself)- goes as mandatory

Mass produced human bodies- the norm during the wars, still practiced by Viperalm. when you can re-use fertile bodies that you've already stripped the soul from to produce more souls, why not? it's basic efficiency and saves a lot of money and time. bodies don't die without a soul after all. they're an excellent source of a wide variety of genetic materials plus organs, and viable for live testing. Viperalm makes genetically modified soldiers using samples taken from their gene storage, and uses the same gene storage as incubators.

the body is a tomb- see above.

free space- i HAVE to fuck that [REDACTED]

your gun is in pain- see "humans modified beyond recognition". a human soul makes an excellent inbuilt targeting system, but a bird or a cat does just as well.

RC robots- with souls!

Trains- the Undergrowth is a massive connection of underground subways built during the wars as a way to get between the three Cities without exposure to fallout. 0utRUN repaired and maintains the trains there, and they run 24/7. they don't ever stop. entire towns live on those infinity trains, living and dying between rails and never knowing a life without the rocking of carriages around you.

dark forest / takeover- a lot of people think this is what happened to cause the wars.

global unity against threat- during the wars. now the world's ended we're all back to seething mutual dislike.

global warming- if i ever drew a map of Eschaton it'd be pretty funny. let's just say all the seas got up and walked somewhere else. even on a local scale fallout both nuclear and metaphysical linger, affecting weather patterns

cold, clinical use of language- (:

mars base- some ancient myths say there was such things as distant lands with toxic air where argonauts rode fire breathing dragons and set down in enchanted masks. historians widely agree this is in reference to earth, of course.

crappy public services- in the Cities it depends where you live. The deepest levels of monarchist Viperalm are the richest and have excellent services, while the surface level is... not great. The sunken side of Boarate is generally better off than the land-locked aspect, although the City's communist nature means standardised public services in theory. Hyper-capitalistic Gullaxian's flying neighbourhoods look down at the unwashed masses that spill onto the mountainside, and their public services don't ever go surface-side. In the Wastes, the Federation attempts to provide some kind of responding force for disasters and attacks, but most towns and villages are self-sustaining and vary greatly in what they provide to their people. 0utRUN has thousands upon thousands of machines at its command which provide a level of public service parallel to the City's best and arguably is closest to pre-war conditions.  and the CoTB have... some services.

Extinctions- tend to happen at the end of the world. What isn't so expected is the amount of de-extinctions. when you're constantly rewriting history, you sometimes get things mixed up. Welcome back dinosaurs!

And yet despite it all, still humanity clings to hope.

Bingo card for Bad Ending to compare tropes with your own setting.

A version of my sci-fi setting where, instead of technology advancing for communication, it pursues war. Fearful planets, exploitation, and machines alive in more ways than one.

[edenesth]

By Order of the Black Pirates

An 'Ice On My Teeth' Comeback Special Series

"N-No, please! Spare me! I was wrong! I swear I'll never do it again!" The man's voice cracked as he grovelled on the damp ground, tears carving paths through the grime on his face. His trembling hands offered up the tiny diamond he'd been foolish enough to steal—his last-ditch effort to appease the eight figures towering over him like shadows of death.

He'd heard the whispers, the warnings: Never cross the Black Pirates. Never touch what belongs to them. Never even think of betrayal. Yet greed had blinded him. Now, staring into their cold, merciless eyes, he knew his regret was far too late.

The leader of the gang stepped forward, a smirk tugging at his lips as he tilted his head, studying the pitiful man like a cat sizing up a doomed mouse. "Didn't I ask you to screen these rats better?" he drawled, casting a sideways glance at the eldest among them before shifting his focus back to their prey. "No time to waste. Finish him."

A low chuckle echoed through the tension-filled night as the gang's usual executioner, a broad-shouldered figure clad in his signature fur coat, stepped forward, his grin as sharp as the blade in his hand.

"Sorry, buddy," he mused, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "This will be the night you take your final breath—by order of the Black fuckin' Pirates."

ـــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـ

Watching the harrowing scene from a distance stood a figure with crossed arms, his voice low as he muttered to his right-hand, "Every man has a weakness. Find the Black Pirates', and we'll knock them off their high horses."

"And if they have none, sir?"

The figure's lips curled into a dark smile. "Then we'll make sure they do."

Pairing(s): gang members!ateez x fem!reader

AU: gang au

Summary: One by one, the Black Pirates uncover their greatest weakness. But when the cracks begin to show, will they stand firm or let their vulnerabilities bring their empire to its knees?

Genre: angst, hurt/comfort

Trigger Warnings: violence, torture, abuse, blood, murder, language, contains dark themes in general

A/N: Credits to the wonderful @sundaybossanova for giving me the idea of something Peaky Blinders inspired. Thank you so much and ily💖

**Dearest readers, please note that all chapters are interconnected. You're advised to read them in order.

ATEEZ MASTERLIST

Hongjoong

‣ The Captain

The Captain of the Black Pirates—respected, feared, and unmatched in strategy—lives by his sharp mind and unshakable resolve. But his carefully constructed world begins to crumble when a grave mistake leads him to torture an innocent suspect nearly to death. Haunted by guilt, his quest for redemption takes an unexpected turn, awakening a part of him he never thought existed: a desire to protect and care for someone.

Seonghwa

‣ The Gentleman

The Black Pirates' poised diplomat, celebrated for his refined demeanour, sharp wit, and unmatched negotiation skills, is always in control. But his composure falters when he encounters an unwilling captive trapped in the Red Room—a ruthless training ground for spies. Driven by an unexpected urge to save her, he finds his carefully maintained boundaries beginning to unravel.

Yunho

‣ The Enforcer [Coming soon]

The towering enforcer of the Black Pirates, both disarming and deadly—his easy charm capable of winning over enemies, while his legendary fury dominates the battlefield. But his unbreakable facade begins to crack when he meets a psychologist during a mission—someone who can see through his carefully crafted mask, just as he can see through hers. Beneath her confident exterior lies a frightened soul lost in a dark world, and for the first time, he finds himself compelled to protect someone in a way he never expected.

Yeosang

‣ The Phantom [Coming soon]

Mysterious and elusive, the Black Pirates' intelligence expert is known for his sharp instincts and unparalleled skill in espionage and reconnaissance. But when he crosses paths with a woman who surpasses him in both skill and wit for the first time, his confidence begins to waver. As she outsmarts him at every turn, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her, eagerly anticipating each challenge—because the thrill of being near her is something he never expected to crave.

San

‣ The Tempest [Coming soon]

The Black Pirates' most unpredictable force is a whirlwind of fiery passion and unbridled energy—always the first to leap into action when chaos erupts. But his world tilts when he stumbles upon a woman who, unlike his victims who always begged to live, is on the brink of ending her own life. Upon discovering she's terminally ill, he finds himself gripped by an unfamiliar and urgent desire to save her, igniting a battle within himself unlike anything he's ever faced.

Mingi

‣ The Firestarter [Coming soon]

The Black Pirates' wild card is notorious for his fiery temper and even more explosive schemes—a dangerous yet irresistibly charming presence. But his confidence takes a hit when one of his near-disastrous plans is salvaged by an unlikely passerby: a composed and resourceful former aristocrat, exiled and stripped of her wealth, now navigating the world's harsh realities. Her icy demeanour and unshakable poise captivate him, leaving the ever-impulsive man unexpectedly drawn to her.

Wooyoung

‣ The Charmer [Coming soon]

The Black Pirates' negotiator and master of distractions is renowned for his confidence and flirtatious charm, which can sway almost anyone. But his ego is severely wounded when he encounters the loyal bodyguard of a high-profile target, someone completely immune to his usual tricks, during a high-stakes mission. Frustrated by his failure yet captivated by her unwavering resolve, he finds himself unable to stay away, drawn to the challenge—and to her—in ways he never expected.

Jongho

‣ The Anchor [Coming soon]

The steadfast foundation of the Black Pirates is renowned for his unfaltering strength and calm under pressure. As the gang's moral compass and protector, he's always put duty above all else. But when a rival gang's attack threatens the life of their kind-hearted hired doctor, he begins to realise that his priorities extend beyond just his brothers. Torn between his loyalty to the gang and his growing feelings for her, he faces an agonising choice: protect his family or save her.

Voila, my loves! As promised, I finally managed to come up with a little something for this comeback teehee. I hope you're as excited about this as I am! Truthfully, I just returned from a 10-day trip in Shanghai and am back to work on Monday already - which means I might not be able to write much until the following weekend but I will do my best to get the parts out ASAP!

Super excited to hear your thoughts on the concept! Do let me know which member's summary enticed you the most!✨ and of course, just leave a comment if you'd like to be tagged for when the parts are released!

General ATEEZ Tag list:

@aurasblue @marievllr-abg @itsvxlentine @minghaoslatina @huachengsbestie01

@evidive @weedforthoughtz @minkiflwr @cheolliehugs @ho3-for-yunho

@the-kpop-simp @itstheghostofmypast @vantediary @green-agent @skzline

@sharksandminhos @writingwieny @heyitsmetonid @tinyteezer @hollxe1

@pandabur666 @vampzity @tournesol155 @lilactangerine @oddracha

@haven-cove @idfkeddieishot @vic0921 @vnessalau @apriecotte

@bangtannie7 @vtyb23 @khjoongie98 @scuzmunkie @anxiousskylar

@bunny4yungi @zl-world @bethelighthalazia @tsunchani

All Rights Reserved © edenesth

DO NOT REPOST, TRANSLATE, PLAGIARISE OR OTHERWISE REPURPOSE ANY OF THE WORK HERE.

[sserpente]

The Sunwalker's Gift

Synopsis: Legends say those who were cursed to live in the shadows are not lost. There is a ring, a ring of incredible power that allows its vampiric wearer to walk in the sun once more. If there is one thing you know, it is that Astarion—your partner, your lover—deserves to own this ring more than anyone. You put yourself in great danger to acquire it for him without his knowledge but in the end, you succeed. So now, what magical piece of jewellery would be more suitable to propose to the vampire spawn you want to spend the rest of your life with than this one?

A/N: Who’s the goose that’s on the loose…

Words: 1694 Warnings: so much fluff, mentions of smut, SPOILERS FOR ACT 3

Blood, tears, sweat, another suicide mission. The rusty ring in your hand almost appeared as if it hadn’t been worth it to risk your neck and sanity for it but appearances were deceptive. This unassuming piece of jewellery in your hand held the answer to Astarion’s prayers. The very object that had made this long and exhausting search so rewarding in the end.

He didn’t know about it yet. He had no idea you’d had a lead with this legendary object at all. And after months of relentless and disappointing searches, Astarion had all but decided the ring was just another myth created to mock him in his misery… to the very point you had begun to doubt your decision to stop him from finishing Cazador’s work and letting him ascend.

You took a deep breath, shaking your head to chase the thought away. No. Walking in the sun was not worth spoiling his mind, his very soul—regardless of the fact you would have never left his side. You’d decided that the night he had confessed his feelings for you. This man was to be yours, forever.

Now you’d give this ring a little bit of polishing, and a bath in vinegar and soap and then you were certain it would look as good as new. You couldn’t wait to see the look on his face, to see the first moment he slid it on his finger and stepped back into the daylight without tadpoles and sacrificed souls. Nervousness washed over you when you pictured your plan in your head but there was no doubt—only excitement and impatience.

Today would change his life for the better. Perhaps one day, if he so wished, you would even find a way to cure his vampirism altogether but for now, you wanted him to have this gift.

Your shared bedroom was empty, the sheets unmade and the smell of sex still lingering in the air. You were still getting used to the nocturnal lifestyle, of course. Staying up with him all night and sleeping during the day was messing with your inner body clock but it was a small price to pay to be with him.

The wooden door leading out to the balcony was open, the barest hint of light pouring through the gap. You approached it on bare feet, the hinges creaking when you pushed the door open further.

“There you are,” he mused without turning around. Astarion was leaning against the metal railing of the balcony, staring into the darkness. A few torches here and there lit the still-sleeping city as the sun began to crawl up from behind the hills, the chirping birds urging it on to start the morning. He truly was a sight to behold—shirtless and pale, even with the everlasting scars Cazador had inflicted on his back, you were overcome with the urge to drag him back to bed and have your way with him in an instant. You did that a lot these days—giving him pleasure upon pleasure without asking for anything in return. Astarion had learned in a rather rewarding way what your mouth and tongue could do for him. Teaching him to be intimate with you in a both consensual and sensual way was a task you were happy to pursue.

You hummed in response, walking up to him to sling your arms around his middle from behind, the ring hidden in the pocket of your morning robe. You pressed the side of your face against his back, his cold skin cooling your heated cheek.

He had been doing this a lot lately. Dragging out the final moments of the night, catching a glimpse of the sun and Baldur’s Gate below him before retreating to the shadows again to ensure his own survival. No more. You sighed.

“What is it, darling?”

“Nothing… I just… love you.”

Astarion chuckled—a barely audible sound coating your heart like sweet honey. At last, he turned around to face, your arms still wrapped around him. You had to look up to meet those crimson-red eyes and the gentle smile tugging on his lips.

“I love you too.”

“I don’t ever want to be apart from you again, my love.”

“Nor I from you,” he purred. His smile was gentle, genuine. You’d fought hard to make him drop that wall of feigned confidence and reveal the real feelings lying underneath. Now, you couldn’t get enough of it. “Let’s head back inside. I’m starting to feel… warm.”

“Just a moment, please.”

The vampire spawn raised his eyebrows but waited nonetheless.

“You said forever,” you went on, your heart pounding in your chest.

“Yes?” He dragged the word out and smirked, reciprocating your hug now; his palms resting against your waist. His closeness calmed your nerves, encouraging you without him knowing.

“I… I want forever to start now. I want us to belong to each other and I want everyone to know.”

“Oh my… you’re feeling quite poetic today, my sweet. I don’t object.”

The first sunbeams hit the stone floor of the balcony upon his playful teasing and you could tell that he was getting nervous, eager to flee to the bedroom to avoid the angry burns he expected any moment now.

With a deep breath, you freed yourself from his embrace and took a step back to get down on one knee. It was then you saw the surprise dominating his beautiful face, his lips parting. Determined, you reached into your pocket and pulled out the shiny ring, holding it out to him.

“Astarion Ancunín… will you make me the happiest woman of Faerûn and marry me?”

It took him a heartbeat to remember how to draw oxygen himself, it seemed. He muttered your name under his breath, red eyes fixed on the plain but powerful ring in your hands. He didn’t recognise it, of course, didn’t expect it to be what it was. He had no reason to believe that this unimpressive piece of jewellery was about to return something to him which should have never been taken in the first place.

“Marry you?” he repeated, almost unbelieving. “I… I do, love. I want… yes.”

Yes. You smiled, the weight of uncertainty falling from your shoulders at once. You took his hand in his, sliding the ring on his finger and rose to your feet again, wrapping your arms around his neck to kiss him.

Astarion melted into your affectionate treatment without hesitation, yet you could tell he was holding back. Uneasy, he pulled away.

“Darling, as much as I would like to savour this moment, could we celebrate our engagement inside?” He glanced at the sun rising higher and higher. Any second now the balcony would be fully submerged in its warm light.

Instead of responding to his plea, however, you only smiled at him. You were certain this would work—you had seen the ring in action after all, made sure it was safe before you took it to your love. You had met up with Dalyria, one of Astarion’s spawn siblings, in secret, only two days ago for this exact reason and she had volunteered to try the effects of the ring—saying it was the least she could do in return after Astarion had freed them.

“I need to get inside!” You reached for his hands when he panicked, holding him in place. Only seconds later, you were both drowned in the soft morning sunlight.

Astarion squeezed his eyes shut and flinched, expecting the burn and the pain the day brought him—but nothing happened. He remained standing, the sunbeams warming his skin.

“What… what is… how is this possible?” he breathed out.

“The Sunwalker’s Gift. It’s the ring, Astarion.”

His red eyes widened, disbelief swinging in his smooth voice as he looked down on his ring-clad finger to admire the shining piece of jewellery reflecting the sunlight. “But… but how? How did you get it?”

“The mage we found and spoke to contacted me a few weeks back. He put me in touch with a bard who meddled with vampires before—two of which, after a couple of pints, revealed that the ring was every vampire’s secret dream and rumoured to have been buried with a deceased vampire lord in the lands north of Rivington a couple of centuries ago. After that, the mage and I returned to do more research and discovered where his tomb is located.”

“And you went to this tomb… alone? Have you lost your mind? Gods, anything could have happened to you!” He was trying his best to be upset, truly. You had to hold back a giggle when his voice went a little high-pitched. It was flattering knowing that the only person this gorgeous man had ever truly shown honest concern for was you.

“I wasn’t alone, I promise. I had help. Halsin and Gale accompanied me.”

“Halsin I can understand. But… Gale?” He pretended to gag, eliciting another childish giggle from you. But then, his tone became more serious once again.

“You did this for me… I…” The very hint of an embarrassed laugh clung to his words. “I’m not sure I even deserve you.”

“You do. I love you. And you’re stuck with me now. You just agreed to be my husband, remember?”

“How could I?” Astarion muttered your name again. There was admiration and affection as it left his lips like a prayer. You had no doubt that part of him was still processing what this engagement ring really meant. It was too early still for joyous screams and running across the flower fields hand in hand. “Thank you. This is… I did not dare dream of this and yet you continue to surprise me. I just… thank you, my love.”

You nodded. “I told you all I want is for you to be happy. I would have turned every single rock in Faerûn to find this ring for you. Now come on. We have a long day ahead of us and a wedding to plan.”

Astarion smirked, his red eyes sparkling with joy, relief and affection. “Darling… there is nothing I’d like more.”

A/N: I am so crazy for him this is abnormal even for me. I'LL BE GETTING A GROUP PHOTO WITH THE WHOLE MAIN CAST AT MCM, I'M SO HYPED!

[redsray]

Tim Drake is insanely wonderful to me because while, yes, he is a genius, an absolutely legendary Robin, a teenager who went up to Batman, looked him in the eyes and practically dragged him back up from the bottom, a kind soul, a boy who will put anyone he cares about above himself, an amazing business man, a prodigy in his own right, a breathtaking photographer and a hell of a funny guy...

He is also Tim Drake.

Bruce Wayne is his adopted father and you can hyphenate his name to Drake-Wayne all you'd like, but when he walks into a gala he is Timothy Drake, the son of Janet Drake. He glides through crowds methodically and with the confidence of someone who has been in these social circles for years on end. His analytical and judgemental stare scares even the most cunning there. When he's in the room, he is the predator and every single socialite in the vicinity is his prey.

Sure he's polite, and he's charming, and yes if you're kind towards him then he will be kind towards you. Tim is someone who will take kindness and he will repay it— but the same rule applies to unkindness.

The person Tim transforms into when entering a gala— the person underneath all that shed skin— never fails to surprise anyone the first time they witness it. It's hard to forget, for the rest of the family, that Tim was brought up in this environment even before being adopted by Bruce.

The first time Bruce noticed, the first gala he brought Tim to, he'd forgotten that Tim knew the ropes and thought he would have to teach Tim how galas work. Only for Tim to stop him, informing (and reminding) him that he's fully aware. The Robin suit may be what he wears to fight, but his three piece is what he wears to hunt.

Dick did something similar; since his first gala was a media nightmare, after he'd gotten adopted, he wanted to spare Tim the horrors of being eaten alive by paparazzi and socialites. He didn't even get to warn his new younger brother before Tim was already off, blending into the scene like he'd never left it at all. (And, just maybe, he truly hadn't.)

It even absolutely stumps (and amazes) Bernard, because he had gotten used to a more relaxed Tim, far, far away from that rich and elite environment. He's seen the younger and more human side of Tim, the one who lives in a cluttered boat in the Gotham Marina and stumbles over his feet during their dates. The first time he gets an invitation to the gala, he's told he will meet Tim there— since the Wayne's are hosting. When he steps into the gala, though, and sets his eyes in Tim, he's absolutely floored.

Gone is the adorable, blushing mess that he sees sitting across from him during restaurant dates. Gone is the absolute geek that could ramble on about anything that currently interests him for hours and hours. Gone is the endearing genius that could figure out any puzzle if he put his mind to it. No, in front of Bernard stands a socialite, a young one yet one who knows his place. One who knows his worth. And yet, when their eyes meet and Tim flashes him a smile, Bernard knows— even in a three piece suit and with a sharp gaze that could render anyone in this huge hall speechless— that's still Tim.

[jellyboob]

I was feeling stressed and annoyed at everything and I literally looked at a picture of Shen Qingqiu and was like. He gets it. And I felt better immediately

[vaguely-concerned]

the things it adds to both of the characters involved that lucanis used to have a thing for viago could not have been more tailor made to be for me. literally the ideal thing to come out of this game for me personally and specifically and spiritually. I mean I'm teia x viago trash until the day I die and nothing will ever change this (and with the best will in the world and even the power of lucanis' big beautiful soulful eyes, that would never have worked out even if viago DID somehow understand he was being propositioned. which I'm not convinced he did. the mutual 'so. snakes are pretty cool huh. and. knives. also' awkward energy without someone of teia's charisma and people skills involved to mitigate it... it would have been dire), but on so many levels I find it so incredibly charming for what it says about them both that the (one-sided) attraction was there once.

what's more, it means the man about whom this legendary paragraph was written:

Viago was not a typical Antivan. He liked facts—checklists, numbers, precise measurements. Heart palpitations, clammy hands, tight pants—Viago did not like these things. In fact, he would go so far as to say he hated them. Mild curiosity was his favorite mood.

has got some of the hottest coolest deadliest people in thedas down so catastrophically bad it's got them acting unwise. teia had to wait a UST-drenched decade for him to be ready to take his fucking gloves off for her. and she did!! the tetchiest most neurotic least approachable little vetinari knockoff of a man you ever saw has game for days and days and lives rent free in heads for years. in eight little talons viago consistently feels so inadequate up against dante and it's like. man I'm shaking you by the lapels you have what he'll never have. the ability to bewitch body and soul with your terrible personality and long thin legs. do not waste the gift you've been given go get her she's waiting!!!

(lucanis is really good at reading people, so I wonder if maybe he saw through all of that to some of the steadiness and incredible capacity for warmth and tenderness in specific interpersonal relationships you see viago have with teia when he finally opens up enough, and maybe that was part of it. either way it's so perfect that both he and teia have regarded viago with this affectionate intrigued amusement. lucanis still seems pretty fond of him in a 'viago continues to be exactly himself no matter what else happens or goes wrong. comforting universal constant' sort of way, he brings him up quite a lot in party banter.)

you've seen lucanis' game in this day and age, arguably or at least hopefully older and wiser -- can you imagine how catastrophically bad it must have been back when he presumably handed viago, most paranoid man in thedas all years running, a knife like this expressed everything it needed to. people give him so much shit for the cake moment being his big romantic lock-in, but considering where we started that is GROWTH and I for one am so proud of him fhsdkjaf.

also I wonder at what point vis-a-vis that whole Situation teia and viago met for the first time, leading us to ask... just how much was it a matter of lucanis simply being ignored out of a lack of interest on viago's part (tbf, not entirely unlikely). how much was it lucanis truly not managing to make himself understood. (all but certainly. literally how would one understand that. I think it says some sweet things about rook and lucanis' dynamic that they -- somehow -- DO pick up what he's putting down in a similar scenario presumably b/c they know him pretty well by then haha.) how much was it viago interpreting the romantic move as a death threat from one of the most dangerous people alive and freaking out. (1000% and indubitably.) and how much was it andarateia steal-your-girl cantori turning up and thus setting off whatever spectacular, volatile, awesome-in-the-original-sense chemical reaction between the substances of her and viago's souls that goes on to this day and makes everything else kind of a side note at best. a gentle mix of several of these things, perhaps. ...god I love all these characters so much

[serpentface]

Miniature dog and khait effigies for a Wardi funeral. These are clay figurines that have been painted and decorated with great care by a skilled artist. Both include real hairs from the individual animals they have been modeled after. The dog is collared, showing that it is a loyal pet rather than a lowly feral scrounger. The khait is fully bridled and ready to carry the deceased in their journey.

---

It is believed that the souls of the deceased, once freed of their bodies, undergo a month-long journey to reach rebirth in the lunar lands. This journey is full of perils. It begins in the realm of the earth where the soul is naked and vulnerable and traveling through complete darkness. Evil spirits dwell within this realm and may try to capture the soul or lead them astray, and the way is twisting and obscured in shadows. Even after escaping this darkness, the soul still must travel an arduous and winding path through the realm of the sky in order to reach their destination.

A khait and a dog are traditionally offered as funerary goods (in addition to food, water, wine, clothing, weapons, and other needs) to assist the soul in their travels- the khait will ease their passage in their long journey and carry them swiftly, and the dog will navigate through earthly darkness and dense cloud by scent, and protect the soul from harm.

Ideally, one of the deceased's own living khait and hunting/guard dogs will be killed at the funeral (typically the most beloved of their animals, as who would be better company than that?) so that they can have familiar and loyal helpers in their lonely journey. However, there are tremendous class barriers to ownership and disposability of a khait, and well-bred working dogs (while significantly more accessible) aren't ubiquitously available, and many people do not consider captured feral dogs to be a worthy replacement. As such, funerals with full animal offerings tend to be limited to higher status individuals.

Everyday people still need protection on their journeys, and animal effigies can be appropriate replacements for the real thing. These effigies are usually designed with great specificity to represent known individual animals that have already died (often including the animal's actual hair, as seen here). The soul of the represented animal will recognize the effigy as its body, and can be called into the icon so that it may accompany the deceased. These effigies (along with any other necessary grave goods) will be placed onto the pyre and burned along with the body so that the traveling soul will be sent off with everything they need.

Some folk traditions have semi-legendary local animal spirits who will be represented instead of a personally familiar animal. This often develops around a small community 'sharing' one historically extant animal for their funeral effigies as a matter of practicality, developing a sense of attachment to this animal as an aspect of shared identity, and adding layers of legend to the animal's story with the passage of time.

For example, a very popular legendary guide in the northeastern rural parts of Ephennos is Chisnops-Inreña (which very closely translates to 'Orange Son Of A Bitch'), a legendary livestock guardian dog. The animal was said to have been the biggest, meanest, ugliest motherfucker around, but was an unshakably loyal and fierce guardian, as noble as a dog (not the noblest of animals by any means) can possibly be. He is said to have fought off everything from jackals to lions to cattle thieves in his day, and died protecting his herdsman master from an infamous man-eating king hyena, only succumbing to his own wounds when the great beast lay dead. His spirit was later used as a guide in his master's funeral, and local legend states that the same spirit has been seen following herdsmen and their cattle ever since, as not even death could keep him from his duties. Such a dog would make an excellent guide and protector in the journey to the afterlife, and effigies of him are favored in the funerals of northeastern Ephenni pastoralists.

A lovingly crafted Orange Son Of A Bitch

[taylorswiftstyle]

TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE: FASHION THROUGH THE ERAS

Available for pre-order now. Out October 8, 2024.

The story of Taylor’s style evolution from almost two decades of looks.

The designers. The details. And the intention behind it all. Featuring 200+ photos spanning 10 albums (+ Eras Tour). Accompanied by Critically Kind commentary (natch).

When it came to choosing a single image as homage to Taylor’s style, I selfishly had greener ideas in mind. Never fear - the spine is 💚.

One look made the most sense. A look iconic and quintessentially “Taylor”: Unabashedly girly, that had a cat eye sharp enough to kill a man, and a red lip classic thing that we all like. But also one that meant something more. A look that Taylor took and elevated to take on new meaning - intertwining the two methods of communication she has used in equal measure her entire career: Her music and her fashion.

A watershed moment capturing a rising country star poised on the precipice of her next great venture months before unleashing an album that would lift her out of the modern day trappings of ‘pop star’ and into someone of true, undeniable, legendary status. While looking every bit the timeless icon she would become. It was also a moment that split apart the atomic identity of Taylor Swift the artist before her reputation was leveled and rebuilt into something even grander that we see flourishing today.

I hope this caption gives a glimpse into the heart, the soul, and the care that went into this book. I’m sure you know, but I’ll earnestly say it now: Pre-orders mean everything. They make a difference. I’ve put a link in bio here options to pre-order from your preferred seller.

Taylor once dreamed of writing an album dedicated to a real love that shines golden like starlight. As a love letter to her catalogue and career that’s changed and formed my life in every way - the front and page edges of this first run of TSS: FASHION THROUGH THE ERAS ⭕ will be gilded in special, first edition gold foil.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for believing in the style behind the story and that this story in particular was worth telling.

- Sarah

[devildomwriter]

I have been playing Obey Me! OG and NB since October 2022, but I am still confused about the Demon brothers' powers and the dateables. I know Asmo has the power of charm, Barabatos has the power of time, the angels has blessing, and Levi can summon Lotan. If you don't mind, could you explain the powers of Demon brothers and the dateables? Thank you! I love you ❤❤

I can do a long post later but he’s what we know briefly

Lucifer — Natural skill. He can learn and do just about anything. We’ve seen him warp space, read minds, levitate people, and more.

Mammon — anyone in a pact with him has extreme luck especially with money. Despite not mentioning anything beyond this, he’s still stronger than Levi and it’s unknown why.

Leviathan — Leviathan can summon Lotan, breathe under water, summon rains and floods, can control water and speak with aquatic animals.

Satan — Wrath. His wrath is enough to shake buildings. He also has a natural talent for curses and similarly to Lucifer can learn just about anything but I’d say a “power” of his is his ability to befriend anyone and hang on to those high connections.

Asmodeus — The ability to charm others, even Lucifer and inanimate objects.

Beelzebub — Incredible strength. He’s also implied to be skilled with Wind Magic.

Belphegor — Belphegor can send anyone to sleep and can infiltrate and control their dreams/nightmares. He can also learn things while sleeping on the source of information (textbook etc.)

Solomon — Solomon’s ring of wisdom allows him to make intellectual decisions and talk to animals. His magic is also infinite as is his life which happened via an accident.

Simeon — Simeon has the power of an angelic blessing, he was also once the strongest rank of angels before being demoted to a warrior.

Luke — Luke’s angelic powers are said to be exceptional to the point Michael took him under his wing and expects great things of him. His protective blessings are especially“potent”

Raphael — Raphael is the most skilled warrior in the Celestial Realm and has the power to summon a singular spear or rain them down.

Michael — The celestial equal to Lucifer, he is extremely powerful, has a legendary sword, and can shape-shift.

Thirteen — Thirteen can reap souls, leads them to the afterlife, can see the quality of people’s souls, and has powerful magic as seen by the curses she placed in her home against anyone who broke her rules.

Mephistopheles — Mephistopheles is said to be as skilled as Lucifer with magic. If he makes a deal with anyone he can draw in any and all power in existence to see that it is completed.

Barbatos — Barbatos can manipulate time and reality. This skill can essentially do anything. It’s said he is stronger than Diavolo’s father.

Diavolo — there isn’t a damn thing this man can’t do. He creates entire dimensions as he please with a solar system included. He can freeze time, trap people within phones, bring inanimate objects to life and give them SENTIENCE, can magically fertilize plain eggs, controls Barbatos’s ability, and has a realm ready to obey his every word. He is THE OP

[songsofadelaide]

"Hey, Platoon Leader, are you guys trying to be the next Shinomiyas?"

You looked up from your plate of food and gave Kafka an incredulous look from across your shared table. "...What?"

The older officer raised his hands in defence when he caught the strange look on your face. "O-Oh, you know! The Director General and his wife, the former Captain of the Second Division. They were a power couple. I just thought you guys were similar is all..."

"Kafka-san, you better clarify whatever it is you're saying," you chuckled at his statement. "Though I definitely do not mind being compared to the Second Division Captain Shinomiya Hikari, the gods rest her soul. She was brilliant, after all! A shining example to so many young women, myself included. We could have stood to learn a thing or two from her..."

It was a tragedy, you thought. The Director General had always been a serious man, but the unexpected death of his wife made him all the more. And now that Kafka mentioned it, the weight of the idea rested even heavier on your mind. The higher you two rise in the ranks, the more will be expected of you. The more numbered Kaiju appear, the more you will have to set out in their field.

The higher the danger risk, the more skilled personnel will have to be deployed. And seeing how the top brass acknowledged your fiancé's most recent accomplishment— subduing and neutralising Kaiju No. 10— the likelihood of him being assigned even more dangerous missions will only increase—

"You think the Vice Captain would consider growing out a beard too when he becomes Director General? Like Director General Shinomiya. I mean you did mention once that his old man was grizzled and all..." Kafka asked aloud as he helped himself to his lunch.

???

His question was so left-field that you couldn't help the laughter that escaped your stomach. "Pfft— What?! Kafka-san, wh— Hahaha!"

"I-I'm serious, though, Platoon Leader?! A beard would make him even more menacing!"

"Haha! N-No, okay, okay! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for bursting out laughing like that! I-It's just— Soshiro grows stubbles at an alarming rate and he always shaves because he hates being told he'd look like his father with a beard," you said, nearly breathless and tears prickling your eyes. You continued to speak as you calmed down, the seriousness of your expression prompting your lunchmate to pause his meal. "I might not be able to achieve Captain Shinomiya's legendary level of coolness or renown, but I think as long as I continue accomplishing orders, that's good enough for me."

Arriving at your table not long after your fit of laughter were the Vice Captain and another recruit— one who happened to hear your conversation right from the start.

"I—" Kikoru started, her plate slightly trembling in her hands as you met her earnest gaze. "I think you're just as cool as Captain Shinomiya, Platoon Leader! More importantly, I'd like f-for you and Vice Captain Hoshina to always be safe while in the battlefield so you can both live long and fulfilling lives! Th..."

The kind her mother never got to live.

Soshiro took his place next to you as Kafka gestured for them to sit at your shared table.

"Thank you, Kikoru-chan. I am honoured you think so highly of me. If there's anyone feels the loss our amazing Captain Shinomiya the most, that would be you," you said as you reached for the younger girl's shaking fist from across the table, giving her a gentle yet reassuring squeeze. "If Soshiro and I ever do become the Defense Force's next power couple, I can only hope we have a child as talented and dedicated as you are."

"That's assumin' we're actually still a couple," Soshiro quipped. "I could hear you laughin' at Kafka's joke from across the building. Whatever did he tell you that was so funny, sweetness?"

"Kafka-san here was just saying how cool you would look grizzled with a beard all over your handsome, handsome mug," you shot back at him as you gently gripped his chin to force him to face you. "But don't worry, sweetness, I like you just the way you are now."

Kikoru's hands flew to her mouth as her face suddenly flushed. H-How lovey-dovey of them!

"You're already plenty menacing with that sly look of yours," you continued, before slapping the table so hard that it surprised both Kafka and Kikoru, who were staring in awe at just how affectionate their superiors were being. "Now eat, eat, eat up, our little fledgelings! Eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising are key to living long! Let's not miss out on even one of those!"

Soshiro smiled as you ate your fill along with your favourite new recruits, though he'd never hear you say that out loud. Being a power couple never appealed to him because all that mattered to him were saving lives and staying alive— to be able to live in the future you were all so earnestly fighting for.

I suppose having someone to proudly stand next to isn't such a bad idea.

[scruffyragdoll]

'Just Adam', page 2

It always struck me, how Adam almost obsessively clung to his titles. The first man, the first soul in Heaven, the leader of the exorcists... It's like his whole identity is constructed around them.

That's another reason, why I love sinner Adam stories so much.

Getting stripped of all these titles and falling to Hell, where no one even cares that he's the first man, probably would be one of the hardest but also one of the healthiest experiences for him. Maybe that would give him a chance to rebuild his identity, not as an idealized, legendary figure, but as a person.