#Uhhh i'll just like it and think of a tag later i guess

[hoodie-prince-kid-archived]

I almost forgot to post these

Luke and Jamie sonic AU. Luke is a german shepherd, Jamie was originally meant to be a black cat but the fur blended with the hair and i didnt like that so i made him brown. (x)

[tan1shere]

Bitter Sweet

Ellie williams x fem reader !

Summary: you're the sweetest soul around Jackson, perfect girlfriend, perfect friends. Everything seems to be perfect but it isn't. You get bullied, but no one sees it. You hide your feelings until one day it gets really bad

A/n: just thought of this in bed, I'm feeling a lil insecure myself so i hope you girlies get warm fuzzies at this cute lil fic (I haven't proof read this yet so- if there's any mistakes pretend I'm an amazing speller 🥰)

Warnings: none just fluff really. Reader is insecure about body, so maybe if it triggers you or you don't want to cry or I dunno, just thought I'd mention :) kinda angst??? But also not-? Body shaming-? (Do not condone whatsoever. But I relate a tiny bit- sadly- anyways)

Masterlist

You enjoyed days like these, the sunshine kisses your beautiful bronze skin, the slight tan arising from the beautiful summer air. You were currently attending to your garden, listening to all the critters making their pretty musical songs. When you get a tap on your shoulder startling you. You stand up and look to find your girlfriend, Ellie looming over you. You get up fanning out your skirt from any dirt. "Sorry angel. Didn't mean to give you a fright." You smile at her. "No no it's alright." You speak softly going to kiss her. "What have you got planned for today?" She swipes a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

"Just picking out some flowers for my new vase." You smile brightly at her. She returns that smile, looking around at your garden. "How about you Els." You ask going to grab some of the flowers and heading inside. "Me, Dina, Jesse, and a few others were going to go out later and ofcourse I'm asking you to tag along." You weren't a very outgoing person, you kept to yourself. You knew Jesse and Dina, although you aren't one hundred percent comfortable around them. You stuck close to Ellie, always. She was your rock. "Uhhh maybe." You go over to your sink, her following close behind. "You'll be with me baby I'll make sure everything's ok."

You contemplate. "Maybe Els. I dunno I'm not use to New people." She goes closer to you. "I know I know, but I really want you there. Please?" You think more, really not sure. "I guess it couldn't hurt." You smile slightly. She smiles more. "Awesome I'll come pick you up later." She kisses your cheek, leaving you to your thoughts as she leaves out the door. You didn't have a good feeling about this.

Few hours had passed and it was almost the time Ellie was suppose to pick you up. You were just looking in the mirror you constantly wore skirts and cute blouses. You examined your body, your stomach, thighs, arms. Even if you aren't big or anything you still feel awful about your body. Stretch marks, your pale skin. You wanted to cry. If you were completely honest you just wanted to stay home. But seeing Ellie so happy made you happy. You get up to a knock on the door, going and opening it. "You look beautiful." She says smiling at you. Lies. You knew she was just being kind. You never really believed her when she'd compliment you. You just couldn't.

"Where are we going?" She leads you out. "Dinas, she's having it at hers." "And how many people will be there?" You ask nervous. "Uhh maybe like 10 at most." You sigh. She was so outgoing, so enthusiastic, knew everyone and anyone. You don't know what she even saw in you. You were so different. "We don't have to be there for long." She nods with a tiny smile. You nod back. Still not even wanting to leave in the first place. Your bed sounds so much more comfortable right now.

Once you're at Dinas, she greets you by the door. "Hey you two, come in." You both step inside hearing some music and voices. You stay close behind Ellies tall figure like a puppy dog. "Thanks Dee." She smiles at Dina, going into the kitchen to get a drink. You kept on following, when some giggling girls walking past, caught your attention. One looked you up and down. And definitely not in a good way. They all walk on by grabbing their own drinks. You felt queasy. "So we could just chill in here, maybe dance." You just nod along to her words. This was going to be a long night.

You had just told Ellie you needed to use the bathroom, heading down a hallway, full of drunk teens. The smell was putrid, some even making out. Once you approached the bathroom you notice the same girl from earlier and her little group. You decide on whether or not you should speak up, or hold this unbearable pee until you get home. "U-uhm.. excuse me.." Your voice was weak, frightened of these strangers. "Oh I'm sorry, did you say something?" The main one spat. One of her friends snickering. "I need to use the bathroom.." You didn't want to make eye contact. You couldn't.

"Sorry but you might want to speak up. Can't quite hear you when you talk like a toddler." You go silent. "Still can't hear you." She smirks. You really don't know what to do. Should you leave? "Well come on, spit it out. And this time, try not to speak like a my little pony character." Its the way you caught onto what she was saying right away. That made you want to run, but you felt glued, like you couldn't. "Aren't you Ellie Williams girlfriend?" You look at the blonde infront of you. "U-uh yeah." You stutter. "Pft, I have no idea what she sees in you. She could do way, better." Her friends laugh yet again. "I mean come on, you follow her around like a lost dog. Think that lil bit you did just then was the first time I've heard you speak." You go to leave, just wanting to go home.

But she grabs your wrist. "Oh look girls, she's even the size of a toddler." She fake pouts as they giggle. You hated how tiny your wrists were. You hated it. You hated how small your hands were. You never held Ellies hand, you were afraid she'd view you differently. "Damn, do you even eat." You blink at her. You ate perfectly fine. You don't even know why you look like this. "I- i-" She let's go. "Y-you." She mocks with a snicker. "Go back to being a lil follower to your girlfriend. You pathetic twig." You felt tears threatening to spill at any moment now. And all you could do was run. "Careful you might break something!" She calls out, turning to laugh with her friends. Bitches.

You ran out of that horrid house, tears streaming down your face, sprinting to yours. Feeling your eyes blur as you slam your door and sink to the floor. You let it all out now. How can someone be so cruel. But oh they were so incredibly right. That's why it hurt so much. They saw what you saw. The truth. Suddenly there was a banging on the door to be found with Ellies worried voice. "Babe, open up please." You sniffle. "J-just go home Ellie.." There was a pause. "You know damn well I'm not doing that, please let me in." Your shakey frame moves out of the way to let her in.

"Hey hey whats going on with you-" She goes to reach for your arms but you immediately make sure that doesn't happen. She feels her heart break. "Y-you don't wanna touch that.." She furrows her brows in utter confusion. "Baby what are you on about." If she wasn't worried before she really fucking is now. "No.. you- you don't wanna be with some twig wh-who can't even talk to people properly." You sob out feeling your body ache. "Babe where is this coming fro-" You look at her. "My brain. Everyone, you-" She shakes her head. "Woah woah woah. Calm down, I don't know what's going on but you need to breathe." You cry more. "I- I can't.. my brain won't shut up, I'm ugly Ellie i- I am.. and everyone sees that."

She was shocked but that slowly turns into a tiny giggle. She moves closer to you grabbing your face gently. "Do you have any idea how naturally gorgeous you are." You look at her still feeling tears. You know she's caught on. "Whoever said these things are clearly big fucking cunts." You were shocked by the language she used, but you let out a tiny dry laugh, feeling your throat and eyes hurt from the crying. "And if it's who I think it is, there's one thing they need that you don't." You listen, wondering what that was. "They need makeup. You don't. And that is something you should be truly proud of." You melt at her lovely words. She rubs her thumb under your eye gently. Wiping away those pesky tears.

"Your natural beauty is my favorite thing in this whole world, so please. Never change. And it's not like you're unhealthy. You eat often and good. When they're over there, eating crap, getting sick. If anything they're the ones who should be vividly insecure. And they are, jealousy." She looks at every inch of your face admiringly. "Bitches." You blurt out making her smile so big. "Yeah, bitches." She kisses your nose. "Please never change because I fell inlove with my natural sweet baby. You're beautiful just the way you are angel. And I will remind you every single day. I'll kiss everything you don't like. And I'll do that everyday." You lean up on your tiptoes to kiss her. She kisses back sweetly.

"Why don't we get into bed and watch a movie, sound good?" You nod at her. "I love you Els." "I love you too my precious girl."

A/n: If you are struggling with your insecurities please know you're never alone in that and I hope this made you realize how everyone's perfect in their own way. I may not see that all the time in myself. But I do know my worth <3 (also not saying that makeups horrible I literally wear it often, but no one needs it to truly feel pretty. I enjoy doing it because it's fun!)

[thedreamsofgods]

I have some uhhh, grievances. With how Hephaestus looks in Hades 2. And I'm trying to find the best way to phrase this, but I make no promises that I'll manage, because I just flat out don't know how to say what I'm trying to say. In short, I think Hephaestus should've been given facial differences.

So theres a lot of different versions of Hephaestus like with any greek god, and as such, there's a lot of different takes on how different parts of his life ago, including his birth. In some myths, he's born a healthy baby and thrown off Olympus when he's older, which injures him and leaves him permanently disabled, and that seems to be the version of events Supergiant went with, and I'm actually mad that they did? Because in the other versions, Hephaestus is born visibly disabled. Some versions refer to him as "lame"(he walks with a noticable limp, he was possibly born with clubfoot which would mean the limp was assumed at birth, though some myths suggest the limp was gained later in life), others call him "ugly", a lot of the terminology is either outdated or completely avoided because asking people to confront disability without being rude about it is too much I guess. Upon seeing the way her child looks, Hera throws him off of Olympus for being born visibly disabled. The landing further disables him in most versions of the story.

And talking around the unpleasant parts of the subject is what bugs me about his Hades 2 design.

Yes, he is visibly disabled, as in he lost his leg at some point, probably in the fall from Olympus, and he uses a wheelchair because of his prosthetic leg. But... that's it. Supergiant had a genuine good chance to depict someone with visible differences that are often looked down on and to make a character just as gorgeous as everyone else. They had the opportunity to make a very handsome man with any sort of facial differences, and they didn't for seemingly no reason. No cleft palate, no cranial differences, no vitiligo, no birthmarks, no asymmetries at all? Not even visible back problems, something many myths specify him having? They didn't even give him any scars or burns when he's the god of the forge???

There was so much room to represent a group of disabled people that rarely if ever get to see themselves depicted as attractive in the game series known for having attractive people. It's hard to not feel like Hephaestus was designed the way he is because of the developer's reputation as the attractive characters game studio. The leg and the wheelchair are well done and he represents that particular disability very well but... that's not the only disability he should represent, and it feels downright cowardly that that's the only disability he represents? I get not wanting to make Hera out to be as terrible as the myths make her out to be, but I just feel deeply disappointed with this Hephaestus design. For as careful as they were with all the gods in the first game and with all the little details and obscure touches they've paid attention to previously, they either didn't do nearly enough here, or they willingly left out so much.

If anyone in this fandom knows of a way to reach out to the developers privately with this sort of feedback, I'd appreciate it. I don't feel even remotely comfortable trying to leave this sort of feedback on a public platform outside of tumblr, and I'm really trusting yall on here to be normal about this on here. I'm putting this in the tags in the hopes that it'll reach someone who can either help me contact Supergiant or who is willing to brave the public forums and feedback locations in my stead.

[Here's a link] to a post talking about the positives of his wheelchair and leg design as a palate cleanser.

[0vvl404]

Last line challenge

Rules: in a new post, show the last line you wrote (or drew) and tag as many people as there are words (or as many as you feel like).

OMG CHARMING @nooneherebutusghosts tagged me (I'M SO EXCITED)

Who can I boop who can I boop uhhh may I @dunf13 @alabyte @lychgate @clownbloody @mefiless25 sorry if disturbing you guys (gn)

It actually hasn't linework yet, I'm just trying to clean the sketch. Was going harder than usually, guess it's because I was tired. The end of year in university was hard, I need to take rest.

And about sketch? It's my teenjedy oc Nirai getting tattoo from my clone oc Sheb. Tattoo resembles of her family relic jewelry she can't wear anymore. I look at this now and think I'll change Sheb's pose a bit, I was sketching with no references and yeah it doesn't look like tattoo session.

I'll post some drawings of these kids later. I have ~40 old pieces to post sooo...

Thanks for attention!!!

Upd.:

Also may I show my sketchbook? I've added some new stickers recently and I really like how it looks!!

[illarian-rambling]

Thanks for the tag @nczaversnick!

OC Mega Questionaire

Random number generator suggests Djek :)

Five things that make you happy:

I mean, money in my pocket. That's like, the main one. A hopped-up party is probably second, with a crowd of rich drunks to follow. I guess after that... card games? Oh, and my friends! Can't forget those losers.

If you could save just one other person who would it be?

I... Am I an idiot if I say Tyche? She betrayed me, left me for dead. I doubt she- I doubt she ever cared about me in the first place. But I wish she could've. I wish she could've been better.

Tell us one of your funniest jokes:

Why does the sea roar? Well, you'd be hollering too if you had crabs on your bottom.

Where would you like to visit?

Oh, tough question. I've really been around, you know? Hit up most of the big cities - I don't got much use for hiking bullshit. If I could go anywhere, I think I'd pick Seluthena. Yeah, yeah, it's underwater, but there's magic. Sepo talks about it sometimes, and it sounds pretty. Plus, I want to see if all sirens are such hard asses.

When do you usually go to sleep?

Uhhh.... Probably three? Don't get on my ass about it, ok?

Are you a jealous person?

Totally not. I'd never be jealous of someone when I can steal whatever fancy digs they've got instead. ...I guess I used to be kinda jealous of Twenari’s sorcery when we first met, but she'll use it better than I ever would.

Have you committed a crime?

Seriously? I'm not gonna dignify that with an answer.

Do you have a chore you usually hate?

Ugh, what chore don't I hate? Laundry is probably my least favorite. Remembering to fold it feels like pokers in my brain.

Tell me an embarrassing childhood story

Ok, ok, ok, this is a good one. So, some of the bigger street kids were chasing me - I had some food they wanted and this one teen, Miks, just had it out for me anyways after he found me sleeping in this drain pipe he liked. They chased me all the way up into this warehouse, so I figured I'd hide, yeah? I jumped into the nearest crate only to find, oh shit, it's full of flour. It's getting all up in my nose and mouth, and I just know I'm gonna sneeze any second now, but the other kids are in the building. That's when I had my glorious idea. I stagger up outta the flour, groaning like some unholy spirit and waving my hands all menacingly. I conjured up some shadows and all those kids started screaming like nothing else, thinking I was an actual ghost. Miks even pissed himself! Course, they caught on a second later and beat the ever-loving snot out of me, but I kept looking up at that stain on Miks' leg and giggling the whole time. ...Ah memories.

Are you a good person?

I try. I know I've failed in my past, and I'll fail again in the future, but I still try as best I can. I think that counts for something, right?

What’s the worst thing you have ever done? Do you regret it?

I let a little girl watch her mom get beaten to a pulp in front of her eyes. I let my best friend be taken by a demon she'd spent her whole life fighting. I killed an evil man and stopped him from doing an evil thing, but I still wonder late at night if he could've been redeemed. I regret all three.

What’s the quickest way to make you laugh?

Heh, tell me a dirty joke, and I'll probably be on the floor.

What is your favorite song right now?

The Kindly Vixen. It always has and it always will be a visionary among bad bar songs.

Do you sometimes wish to be someone else?

Oh, every day, my friend. I don't usually mean it, but yeah, every day.

Do you push forward or take time to rest?

What, do you think I'm some sort of soldier type? Some expert mage who stays up too late and doesn't remember to eat her breakfast? Nah, I take it easy when I can because who knows when the next opportunity will come around.

What is your favorite drink?

Dryuenya tyri. It's sweeter than regular tyri, and people usually mix it with cherry juice.

If you had to pick an item of clothing or accessory to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Shit, maybe a bandana? It's a pretty versatile piece. Or, wait, maybe glasses would be more practical. Damn, I wish I had glasses.

If you were forced to forget one memory, what would you choose?

One of those hungry street nights. They all run together anyways.

What is a positive thing your worst enemy would say about you?

I'm a determined little bastard, I'll tell you what. I'd like to think even my enemies can appreciate just how many times I get back up after taking a beating.

I'll tag @dragonedged-if @pluppsauthor @watermeezersworldofkaldria @wyked-ao3 @uraniumwriting and anyone else who wants in :)

[hergan416]

@user-needs-new-hyperfixation Thank you for the tag!

Also I'm glad you answered this at the same time you tagged me, because reading your responses literally helped me understand what the heck kind of media this didn't exclude.

Rare writer ask game: name three pieces of media that are not novels/short stories or movies/TV that were formative for you, and tag three people.

Like you, I really don't consider this "formative" to my writing but to my sense of "self."

Anyway:

This is maybe a cheat? Because I still read it? But The Importance of Being Earnest. I really hope that a play is separate enough from TV/movies & novels/short stories to count for this because it really does seem adjacent, and like I'm being overly technical about it but ANYWAY. The unit on this play and on Oscar WIlde generally was like - I dunno. It was a lot of things to me.

So for one, The Importance of Being Earnest is absolutely hilarious, and I genuinely enjoyed reading it. For two, even though a lot of WIlde's statements about writing as a craft were made in relation to The Picture of Dorian Gray, our unit on this book also talked about his attitude in regards to literature and morality and art and aestheticism pretty extensively - I think because this specific literature teacher is awesome, but also because he was arrested during a showing of this play? But all of THAT was also formative. (I could also probably put Billy Joel's Only The Good Die Young here for the same reason - I tied the two together in my mind so if this play can't be it, then that can take over. But the play also was formative when I was trying to get myself back into reading stuff because I no longer read the kind of... "genre" stuff that I read as a kid/teen and I was trying to come up with something I'd actually want to read, and came back to Oscar Wilde like "hey you made me happy before... what's your other writing like?" I was not ... really. expecting. The Picture of Dorian Gray to be Like That the first time - what a tone shift! But that ALSO was formative much later and this is why that showed up for me when it did so.

Next I guess I'll just say "Green Day" - like all of Green Day. At least their discography up through 2009. Like - I already agreed with them, so I guess they didn't really change my mind or influence me much in that sense. But the Green Day obsession was certainly a personality trait for a while. And like - I still jam with King for A Day or Holiday or St. Jimmy or whatever. The characters on American Idiot absolutely made it into some of my fanfiction at the time. It was a major piece of my life.

And I'll end with Arkham Horror: The Board Game (1st/2nd edition) This game was something I was introduced to in college and I had never played anything like it. It is cooperative (games can be won by all the players at once!?! totally foreign to college-aged me) and long and complicated. It took several sessions of playing it before the owner of the game taught me how to set it up even. It's one of those. And without it, I don't think that I'd be who I am today. We also played D&D and Munchkin and Killer Bunnies and some zombie RPG where I played a prostitute and Catan and Axis and Allies and Starcraft The Boardgame... and so I probably would have ended up this brand of nerd either way. But this brand of nerd is horribly central to my world.

I work in a board game store. And this is the first job I've had that doesn't make me feel like killing myself. It's a lot of work, but at the end of the day I'm in the business of having fun. I get to sell people a good time. We're not so corporate that we have no lenience, but it's structured enough that I still thrive. The kind of people I met playing those games in college are why I shopped at this store and how I got this job the first time - and my personality is absolutely affected by this.

Uhhh ok yeah I talked a while here. Let's tag... @sakuplumeria @vitya-nikiforova and @dragontamer05?

[nimbus-bugs]

Nim Sketch Dump

as promised, here's a big sketch dump of my sona/oc nim! this isn't gonna be a popular post and I don't care 👍

I didn't originally intend to post these so I've referenced some art works heavily but I've written the name of the artist and I'll type it out too! if any of the artists see my references and is uncomfortable with it please let me know and I'll remove it from this post :D

dump under the cut!

the first ideas for his "modern design" (he's been around and recycled for a loooong time). the pose in the top right hand corner is taken from @/hiraethminds! they are a very cool artist and inspire me a lot. though the grey-ish tones as the major colour goes away I still really like the centipede tattoo, centipedes are rad as fuck and you can't tell me otherwise

I started to play with the idea of a goat design for him here! which is strange because like. that's not even his main design or motif or anything, I just really liked the idea I guess LMAO also Aurelai belongs to my mate of the same name! she's not on tumblr (yet) but you should still like her because she's cool and awesome

a treat for my qsmp enjoyers!! an unfinished short comic I sketched on the day tallulah lost her first life. the other characters in this are my old ocs, don't even worry about them

I straight up just have the image that inspired me in this one. its by @/sss-eriema and it was a gift from GOD. I was trying to sort out the colours and wanted to incorporate both orange (my favourite colour) and green (my close second favourite colour) but wasn't having much luck. eriema's artwork showed me that it can work in a more muted way and it was very very helpful!!

maid dress. sorry. also slimecicle

I started to get the colours down in the bottom right corner!! I really like this sketch page honestly. some bonus self portrait sketches because I wanted to try and put some more of my own features into his design as my sona! also in the notes I was debating between the two eye shapes and I'm still thinking about it. I think the bottom ones fit his personality more and are way more expressive but I just like the Vibe of the top ones

a lot of little drawings with varying styles! also more slimecicle. I am adhding so hard for him right now, it's concerning.

t. this one is the reason for the blood tw in the tags. I just really like drawing blood. as a treat. don't come for me this is my self-indulgent safe space leT ME BE EDGY </3 also the writing is a little hard to read so I've put it in the alt! and more qsmp doodles!

I'm starting to ditch the goat design but this one is my last hurrah. basically settled on the general colour scheme now! and more qsmp stuff. its literally gripped my brain I can't escape it, even in my personal work

then I realised. nimbus-BUGS. bugs! what if bug? this was a really fun study for using more creature features that I wasn't used to! loving the mandibles tbh

my most recent sketch as of posting! I might update this later, but this sketch page is probably the most gratuitously referenced, the expressions in the bottom left and top right were basically ripped from @/microwavablesquid so if you like those please check them out! the basic design structure of the full body was referenced from @/aresonist, retroactively I realised a lot of my design choices. uh. they also made LMAOOO so if my design in General tickles your brain, follow them!

as for his lore and basic information for what he actually Is, uhhh. ??? I don't know HAHAHA he's a little guy! he's creature! is he human? probably not but no one could say for sure! is he bugs? is he 1000 bugs in a trenchcoat? sometimes he's goat I guess??? I can never decide on a design and I think that aids his cryptid-like habits. he shows up sometimes, vibes and can't die in a way that matters! he has a running motif of my fake-God-thing, the centipede ouroboros, so I was like "what if he was a harbinger of the ouroboros, what then." and I like to imagine he has video game logic where when he dies, he basically respawns. also weirdly it's worked out in a way where he has lots of biblical motifs, like my name is literally nimbus, like the halo, and he's a messenger of a god like some fucked up blorbo angel. also lily of the valley is my favourite flower and I like drawing him with it, it also has lots of symbolism in the bible?? wild.

I sincerely doubt it but if you guys have any questions about nim or want to draw him or anything I would Die. I would just keel over. you'd take me out.

thank you so much if you got to the end of this btw!! this was a lot. seriously though, it means the world if even one person would like to see my little guy <3 have a great day and take care of yourself!

[chipthekeeper]

Answer the Questions and Tag 5 Fanfic Authors

thanks for the tag @quarantineddreamer!!

1. How did you get into writing fanfiction?

blame my father tbh. when i was a wee lad upset with the ending of a book he told me "write a different one" and it stuck. i didn't actually do it but 15 years or so later i was suddenly filling in gaps

2. How many fandoms have you written in?

an oddly complicated question. officially, three i guess. star wars, top gun, and one i will not speak of. i have also written for wheel of time but have not finished nor posted. one day.....

3. How many years have you been writing fanfiction?

if we ignore the first time (we will) just four-ish

4. Do you read or write more fanfiction?

definitely write. as discussed recently, i have this problem where i think my stuff is pure garbage when i read other people's work. or the opposite problem arises and my editor mind makes me mean

5. What is one way you’ve improved as a writer?

oh god uhhh......i've tried to get better at figurative language and description and just stuff that doesn't come naturally. idk. i don't think i've been all that successful at improving anything specifically but i know when i read old stuff i cringe more than when i read recent stuff, so something must have happened

6. What’s the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

i can never remember specifically anything weird, i just tend to have stacks of star wars books at hand to make sure i have "facts" correct. although for the top gun fic i was researching like. parts of airplanes? it always feels more weird to research real world things lmao

7. What’s your favorite type of comment to receive on your work?

i live for 1. play by play of the lines you liked and what you thought about them 2. very long keysmash in caps lock

8. What’s the most fringe trope/topic you write about?

i'm not very fringey. non-toxic lesbians (by my interpretation) i suppose, that doesn't seem to be popular faskldfkasjkdj

9. What is the hardest type of story for you to write?

same as B, smut. i feel like i almost got there lol but it's just.....idk i get very sweaty about it

10. What is the easiest type?

nothing anymore it seems! but my style leans to angst with a happy ending

11. Where do you do your writing? What platform? When?

in the shower. or anywhere really but the shower is where anything useful happens. and google docs unfortunately. though things tend to originate in notes app scribbles before getting there

12. What is something you’ve been too nervous/intimidated to write, but would love to write one day?

kind of anything not ship-centered i think. i just sort of don't really trust myself with characters outside the two that i really focus in on for something. which is stupid but that's just how my brain works

13. What made you choose your username?

originally it was chippingthegoalkeeper, in honor of a world cup goal that changed my life. but since my blog moved away from soccer for the most part i've shortened it. i think the brand is strong though at this point

this was fun! i feel like i'm the last person to do this so no tags from me (unless you wanna do it in which i'll tag you in like it's wrestling)

[felixantares]

fic author interview

thank you for the tag @mirrorofliterature 🥰

How many works do you have on AO3?

technically 3, but one I'm listed as a co-author but I just did the art in it so I don't really feel comfortable counting it. so 2.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

37,317 words and counting!

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Well I only have two, so a sign in the midnight sky (297) and my floorplan for Grimmauld Place (24)

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes!! I try to respond to all the comments I get 💕 they always make my day

5. What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

hahaha well it's not finished yet so I'll skip over this question!

6. What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

like the above, ASITMS isn't finished yet so I don't have an answer haha, but I'll at least say that when it does end it'll probably be more happy than angsty (the angst ends will be for the rest of the series)

7. Do you write a cross-overs?

I haven't but I want to!!!!! I've got a HP Founders fic/Narnia crossover AU thing that's been sitting in my brain for ages and I definitely want to poke at one of these days (but I am trapped by ASITMS for the foreseeable future (i am okay with this i like it here))

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

nope! Everyone has been really lovely so far!!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Not in ASITMS, it's very firmly in it's T rating (and if I do boost its rating later it'll be for some uh. violence. i've got planned 👀) but later in the Shrines series there might be some, if I feel like it. I've never written smut before though so I think I'd be worried about the quality of it haha

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope!

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No

12. Have you co-written a fic before?

Co-written, no (though I want to! one day!). But @sandervansunshine wrote an absolutely stunning little Jegulus fic based off an art I did and put me down as a co-author on that one! You can read it here

13. What's your all time favourite ship?

oh gosh, I don't know. Like maybe a tie between Drarry and Wolfstar? I go back to drarry a lot, and I think a good chunk of my favourite fics to re-read are drarry

14. What's a WIP that you want to finish but think you never will?

ohhhh well I don't know that I'll never finish it, because I do intend to write it one day, but I've got a time travel tomarry sitting in my WIP folder gathering dust, and it'll probably stay there until ASITMS is done at the very least, if not the whole shrines series.

15. What are your writing strengths?

uhhh oh no... probably descriptions? I feel like I'm pretty good with atmospheric stuff and having characters interaction with their environment. Oh and worldbuilding, I do love worldbuilding. 😅

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

Dialogue. The absolute bane of my existence. I don't know how to talk in real life and I definitely don't know how to make a conversation sound normal. (Though I've been told I'm doing a decent job of it, so I guess hours of obsessive editing do pay off lmao)

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in fic?

I mean, I don't mind it in fics (I do appreciate having a translation in the notes though) and if it feels appropriate, I'd definitely put a few lines in my own fic, but I don't think I'd put like... a whole conversation in a different language. If someone's having a conversation in a different language and it's really long I'm more likely to either just say they're talking (if the POV character doesn't understand the language) or write it in English but in italics (if the POV does understand).

18. What's the first fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter!

19. What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

I really really want to write a Dungeons & Dragon: Honor Among Thieves fic, for no other reason than I want to flex my forgotten realms knowledge somewhere other than my own campaigns 😂

20. What's your favourite fic that you've written?

Well it's a pretty easy answer when there's only one! a sign in the midnight sky. It's not only because it's my only one though, i'm really proud of the outline that I wrote (50k between two docs). The whole series is massive and honestly a bit of an insane project to take on, but there's so much time and research that went into it, and because it's 5 fics planned out from the very start there are threads I've already started laying down for the last fics and it's stupidly intricate, and I'm very excited to share the rest of it because I worked really hard on it!!!

tagging: @allalrightagain @girl-with-goats @gloivy

[raventhekittycat]

nine people you'd like to know better (tagged by @1989nihil thanks!!)

Last song: uhhhh i think it was a journey song? was whatever was on the radio my dad was listening to in the car

Currently watching: with some people from school: second season of gwitch, second season of ancient magus bride, second season of ranking of kings, & magical girl ore. With my family, second season of slow horses. On my own? Nothing really, haven't been able to really since I lost Fussy unfortunately. Grief's weird I guess

Currently reading: nothing that im right in the middle of other than the manga I follow, which I'll list in no order: Yomi no Tsugai, Arslan Senki, Akatsuki no Yona, Akagami no Shirayukihime, Skip Beat, Witch Hat Atelier, Glass Mask, Ancient Magus Bride, Yamada-kun to lv999 no koi wo suru, zeikin de katta hon, tsuiraku jk to haijin kyoushi, yozakura quartet, bokura no kiseki, uhhhh it's a lot I guess. Ive been back into manga since I cant seem to watch stuff. I guess what might be more informative is was books i brought on vacation, but ive been to sick to start them: The Mill House Murders, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Cat who Saved Books, and one I just bought, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue.

Current obsession: trying to regain the ability to breathe. so sick 😭 uhhh i wouldn't say i have anything that in currently losing my mind over but im still into DetCo though I'm currently behind on the manga and anime, and some other things I'll always enjoy? Oh but maybe last things I was obbessed with (still into but not obbessed) Visual Prison, Macross, & Promare! Arguably tho I am still obbessed with DetCo and Akemi in particular and I just bought all the merch of her they released for the new movie. Is it the same still in a bunch of different formats? Yes. Is it Akemi tho? Yes. And previously there was only one piece of merch of her alone, and one with Akai (which I both own) as far as I can tell. So I'm excited for her! (Even tho I think it's all gonna arrive stateside after I leave for Japan..........)

Uh my brains not functional to tag anyone! If I follow you and you see this post, take it as an open invitation to jump on the bandwagon please! I definitely want to get to know some of you better but damn my brain is gone. (Might come back and try an tag people later but seriously I'm so sick i can't even focus on reading 😭)

[beansterpie]

hope you don't mind me just reblogging this with my addition! thanks for tagging me moth <3

tagging: @yokozumi, @yormgen, @spacesealion, @tootyfruityflower, @deabruarenjarraitzaileaya-ha, @ofdemonsandangels, @hawkfawun, @fancymeats, @alovelyburn

Were you named after anyone?

Kind of! Not my first name, but my middle name is after my paternal aunt, who died a very long time ago, way before my parents even met.

When was the last time you cried?

Oh idk lol, probably pretty recently. I'll cry at fic or movies or whatever at a drop of a hat. Sometimes I'll be reading fic, then just pause at an emotional moment and start imagining what I think would be the most emotional outcome of the scene and make myself cry lmfaoooo. Outside of fiction though, I cry rarely.

Do you have kids?

Nnnnnope

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Generally yeah, though I can reign it in easily if I have to be polite or whatever.

What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Uuuuhhhh, how gnc they look maybe? Also people's height I guess. I'm tall-ish, which means I grew up with an ego about it, so I'm constantly low key measuring myself against other people's height lol.

What’s your eye color?

Brown

Scary movies or happy endings?

Lol yeah this is so arbitrary. I suppose happy endings? But honestly it just depends on the quality of the story, and I love some good spooky vibes.

Any special talents?

Mmmm I'm artistic, I can draw and sculpt and stuff, though idk how special of a talent that is. Oh I can ride a unicycle, though tbf I haven't tried in many years.

Where were you born?

Califonia, though we moved right back to Tokyo after I was born.

What are your hobbies?

Drawing, writing, fandom stuff, reading comics (esp webcomics) & books. I've been trying to sew more lately, because I've always thought it was a cool skill to have. I also reallyyyy wanna get back into sculpting and also miniatures?? It would be so fun getting into miniatures, I just don't really know where to start.

Have any pets?

Not right now! Growing up I had... well several goldfish, three of which died within five days because we got them from a summer festival stall game which uhhh traumatizes them and results in short life spans (I'll always remember you Pinky TT.TT), and then later on two dogs.

What sports do you play/have you played?

I am Not Athletic™ lol. I did play one season of basketball in high school, mainly because my best friend at the time was on the team, and all the PE teachers would urge me to join in passing (like literally passing each other in hallways) because I'm tall, even if we'd never spoken before lol. I was ok, and it was kind of fun, but mostly for the travelling around aspect than the game itself.

How tall are you?

5'10"

Favorite subject in school?

Art lol, though I also liked English and PE. Of course it also depended on whatever teacher I had that year.

Dream job?

Literally idk. I mean something involving art, but I've always had trouble ever since I was a kid envisioning a dream job, which has very inconveniently never gone away rip.

5 questions and 15 mutuals

ty for the tag @majorbaby and @transgayhawkeyepierce 💖

tagging: @beansterpie @professormcguire @kissing-monsters @undecimber-of-joy @v-e-l-v-e-t-g-o-l-d-m-i-n-e @rescue-ram @pigtailedgirl @assignedishmaelatbirth @creepydai @hetakiba @penguinhug @pomegranate @lyesander @partlyironic @charlesemersonwinchesteriii

Were you named after anyone?

Nope.

When was the last time you cried?

Hm, it's been a while. Might be the last time I watched the mdzs Safe and Sound animatic lol, which would've been a couple months ago.

Do you have kids?

Noooooo

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Depends who I'm talking to, but often with certain friends.

What’s the first thing you notice about people?

lol idk, unless 'general physical appearance bc obviously' counts.

What’s your eye color?

green

Scary movies or happy endings?

this is a very arbitrary dichotemy lol, lots of horror movies have happy endings. I'm saying happy endings because scary movies is too narrow a category.

Any special talents?

no lol, all my talents are mundane or the usual nerd stuff like video editing/writing/etc.

Where were you born?

alberta 😔

What are your hobbies?

fandom, ie writing meta, writing and reading fic, and vidding; i'm into link to the past rando but only casually and as a viewer lol; singing and one day i will join a choir again.

Have any pets?

not currently. had budgies and hamsters and a dog growing up.

What sports do you play/have you played?

none really. I played badminton in middle school one year lol. went indoor rock climbing relatively recently and really enjoyed it, but not enough to take it up as a dedicated hobby.

How tall are you?

5'4"

Favorite subject in school?

hs: english (or choir if that counts lol. one of the choirs i was in counted for credits at least) uni: gender and horror perhaps? canadian cinema was a surprisingly good course too

Dream job?

frankly, cashier in a world where full time is 20 hours a week and you can easily live on minimum wage.

[vigilantaes]

name:   andy

pronouns:  she / he / they. whatever vibes i give u

preference  of  communication:  discord but i'm slow and busy to reply LOL my bad. its the adhd

name  of  most  active muse(s):   cass! im probably moving my wonder woman to a sideblog here tho cuz i miss her. also looking into another character to go w/ scoob's sandra... stay tuned.

experience/how  long  (months/years?):  like my whole ass life.... i think i literally started rping on wizard101. tumblr wise tho i belieevveee 2015ish? give or take

platforms  you’ve  used:  besdies online mmo games, i started more serious literary rp on devi.antart. got on tumblr a few years later and thats my fave to this day. not a fan of discord rp

best  experience:  man there were so many... obligatory best experience being meeting my fiance on here or whatever. imma be honest i wouldnt have mentioned this if kat didnt also almost forget and put it on her's GEHSUIEGSJKHDG but my best muses were probably when me and her were writing shin.obu and ka.nae from demon slayer. still am obsessed w/ those portrayals. probably my peak. had an insanely popular tsu.yu from b.nha blog that was also a fun time mostly

rp  pet  peeves  /  dealbreakers:  uhhh don't treat our rp stuff like we're in a dedicated 8 year long relationship or something because i do not take this website seriously whatsoever. also dupes who take out their dupe anxiety on/around me is the worst thing ever... especially bc i love dupes so so bad but ive had a long string of them starting shit w/ my friends just cuz they were jealous of something. we're alll just a bunch of nerds writing collaborative fanfiction its not that deep.

fluff,  angst,  or  smut:  i like all three! preference for fluff and angst but i'll plot out smut. never really wrote much of it myself but i'm open to that depending on the occasion. if i had to choose one i guess angst cuz im the best at writing that but i get bored of just one thing all the time.

plots  or  memes:  memes because my attention span is garbage and im sadly too busy to full on plot with people. i do loooovee plots but its also kinda difficult since it has a lot to do with if you and the other person vibe or not u_u would love to plot more tho

long  or  short  replies: i'll be honest. i love long so bad but it takes forever to write so i prefer like 70% short stuff and 30% long stuff. i don't like dialogue for more than goofing around. short for me is like 2-4 paragraphs and long is 5+, for reference.

best  time  to  write:  when my mentally ill brain allows me to focus/fixate long enough to do so AND im not being bombarded w/ ppl needing my help or job stuff. the woes of being a techy...

are  you  like  your  muse(s): in a few ways (like aesthetic) but not really, i've had other characters that i act way more like in the past. love her so bad tho she's definitely one of my fave character types to write even if i dont act much ilke her

tagged by @leopardblow ♥ ♥ ♥ tagging whoever hasn't done it! idk i haven't been on LOL

[moonlit-grove]

OC Interview: Vielcos

Draw (or use an old drawing, don’t worry!) or take a screen of your character in an interview setting and make them answer the following questions!

INTRODUCTION Can you introduce yourself?: "Sure! Vielcos, Spymaster of the Pact and Champion of Nykai."

What is your gender identity, orientation and relationship status?: "Well- Sylvari don't really use the same terms as other races. We don't really... Care? But I guess... what are the terms... Demiromantic, bisexual woman. And I'm taken." She winks to someone behind the interviewer. "By my incredible beloveds."

Where and when were you born?: "The Grove, dead of night, uhhh... 15 Scion 1320, I think. Sylvari don't really... Pay attention to that. It's the year that matters and really not that much."

What is your weapon of choice and fighting style?: "Really, that depends. If I'm alone, I'll be using my staff-" she taps the shaft with a finger, "and paying close attention to dodging enemies. If I'm not, I'm somewhat closer with my pistols or daggers."

Lastly, are you happy?: "I- That's a... Um..." She turns her attention away, brow furrowed. "I-I guess I am..."

FAMILY AND FRIENDS What’s your family like? What is your relationship with them?: "Oh, I have a massive family! I have my papas- Bran and Malomedies, my aunts and uncles, my dozens of siblings-" She stops midsentence. "Oh, I should explain. Sylvari don't have families like other races. Bran and Malomedies are more... father figures to me than actually being my fathers in the terms of other races. And- I love them! I love all of them!"

Have you ever ran away from home?: "I- ... Yes." Would you consider marriage or having children?: "Sylvari don't really marry, we don't have a ceremony but more of a promise between the ones that would be the... bride and groom? And I do have children! I have several!"

"Sayeh says that largos do have a ceremony, but she's fine bypassing it since I can't get to her House."

Do you secretly hate one of your friend?: "What? Why would I hate one of my friends? That makes no sense, why would they be my friend if I hated them?"

Which friend knows everything about you?: "Uhhh, if you're not counting my beloveds... No one. Caithe probably knows the most but my relationship with her is... complicated." ASKED BY FANS Are you literate? Have you been to school?: "Sylvari don't have school! I was taught by papa Malomedies and other mentors- but mostly him, I had... really bad emotional struggles as a sapling. He taught me a lot of what I know about the stars, but I woke knowing how to read and write Krytan. And a little bit of Ascalonian too!"

The eeriest prediction you made that later came true?: "Hmm... Not counting the visions Nykai's sent me? That a noon bloom that had come with us- I was a sapling at the time- on a field trip. He was being reckless and saying we should explore a cave nearby while our mentor wasn't looking. He led a group in and... didn't come out."

"I had said, when he was trying to pull more of us, that the cave would claim anyone who went in. I just said it trying to get them to stop..."

What is something you were embarrassingly late to realize?: "I- There's way too much. That the warden was trying to hurt me? That Nykai was keeping people locked in time for his defense?"

Do you have mental health or physical issues?: "That's a- personal question, isn't it? My- my mental health is mine to know! And... It's common knowledge that I have a hard time moving for long periods- running or swimming even- causes me extreme pain from a tear in my stomach. I think humans call it a hernia?"

What is your current main goal?: "Protect Tyria. Help Nykai realize all he can be... Share the love the Pale Mother filled me with before I woke."

CHOICES Drink or food?: "I'm a big food sylvari." she laughs softly, "I love eating! Especially when Cor cooks it!"

Cats or dogs?: "Can I say both? I love animals in general."

Early bird or night owl?: "Night owl. I'm a night bloom after all."

Optimist or pessimist?: "Um... I try to be optimistic but sometimes it's hard... And when I'm doing serious Pact things I sometimes am more of a realist..."

Sassy or sarcastic?: "Me or my beloved? Canach is both, I'm more sarcastic."

HAVE YOU EVER Been caught sneaking out: "Nope~ I'm a thief, and a night bloom. No one catches me unless I want to be caught."

Broke a bone: "Other peoples, yes. Several, I'm sure. But not my own since I... don't have bones."

Received flowers: She brushed a hand through the lilacs on her shoulders, "You mean these? Yes, I receive them every spring! And every time I'm extremely happy!"

Ghosted someone: "What?"

Pretended to laugh at a joke you didn’t get: "That happened a lot at first with Tybalt... And even more with asura and norn. They have weird jokes."

I tag (if you want to do it) : Everyone I would tag has already been tagged so... unless you wanna do it with a different character, ignore this <3

@thoseofuswhoblossom @salad-tales @dumb-dumb-mander @uselessidiotsquad @griffith-and-co @kerra-and-company <33

[skyward-floored]

I’m repeating stuff I’ve said (and that might’ve been said earlier in this post but I accidentally missed 😅) before I’m sure, but here’s my thoughts on all of it.

(readmore since I blabbed a bunch)

Basically? Reaching out is hard. For both big and small people, but I get the impression it’s worse for smaller folks then it ever used to be?

Like think back on how I ended up as a big blog, and I mostly just... reached out to bigger blogs. I reblogged art I liked and made sure to be nice in the tags, same with fics and analysis and all that stuff, and I sent asks telling them I loved their ideas and people just... ended up sticking around I guess?

And I don’t know really how to articulate it, but the vibe around here is just... different? Then it used to be?

And that might be because of the large turnover i feel like we go through (changing interests, one too many controversies for some folks I think. I don’t blame them), or just the general change of social media as a whole, but it is different around here. Not all bad, but not all good either.

—Buuuuut I’m getting slightly off-topic.

About different sized blogs and clique-y stuff and interacting, I think a lot of it comes down to just... time? And differing personalities too.

Like for me, I honestly just don’t have the time to reach out to every new person that pops into the fandom (does anyone..?) or even people a bit outside my usual circle. You guys are making awesome stuff I’m sure, and I try to at least check through the tag for neat stuff every other day or so, but I can’t look for new stuff, and keep up with my (unfortunately) large number of notes/asks, and check up on my friends, and scroll through my dash, AND reblog the stuff from blogs I specifically followed. And that’s not even mentioning stuff like making my own stuff, writing fics and analysis and other things, plus irl commitments... I’m only one person. Silver touched on this pretty well I think.

...Plus I often use tumblr on a janky old iPod that sometimes takes several minutes to load things and likes to crash the app at any given moment, so that certainly makes things more difficult 😂

But it’s also just my personality at play here. I’m not good at making friends and never have been, and if somebody doesn’t talk to me I guess I usually assume it’s because they just... don’t want to talk to me 😅. Being an (unfortunately) big blog doesn’t mean I don’t have social anxiety. I’m just slightly more used to it then I used to be cause I’ve been on tumblr for 4-5 years. I mean just replying to this post made me anxious XD

So I tend to stick with folks I know because it’s just... easier for me. And that’s a really lame excuse, I know, but... that's the reason. And I’ve never intended to be clique-y, but I know it can come off that way. I've just known most of my mutuals on here for years now, and it's a different dynamic, you know? I always try to be welcoming to anybody who comes on my blog though, and I hope I've suceeded in that.

But anyway, it's like someone said earlier: interaction goes both ways, we've all got to interact with each other if we want to keep things alive around here. Big and small, and everyone in between.

Uhhh I think that’s about all I got. I'll probably look at this later and wish I'd put it better, but I think that's all I have to say.

For everyone who’s worried about interacting with people on tumblr I have a pro tip:

Use ask games!! Literally the lowest entry bar.

And if that’s still too much, I got nothing 😂 just please don’t expect creators to come track down everyone who secretly wants to be friends 🫠 I see my mutuals post them pretty often so there’s a good chance you have an in with them at some point.

[the-fiction-witch]

Drawn Hearts

BOOK THE QUEENS GAMBIT

COUPLE BENNY WATTS X READER

RATING FLIRTY + SEXY

I stood carefully cleaning and organizing the house as my boss had told me too. He had some people over to play poker tonight but I didn't pay much attention. I just focused on my work. I could hear the noise of them laughing and joking about the stench of whiskey, beer and cigarette smoke coming from the poker room. I could hear some gentle music in there too, likely on the record player or jukebox, but I forced it all out of my mind and continued working.

"Y/N!" I heard my boss yell so I went peeking my head around the door, it was a dark room filled with smoke and junk, the large round table sat in the centre with many chairs around it one light above the table illuminating the cards, money and drinks sat there. The jukebox playing in the corner and the other things in the room hidden by the dark. My boss sat at the head on the table a tall muscular man I had only known as sir as he didn't like people knowing anymore they that about hit, he said in his suit clearly by his pile of money he was doing pretty well, some other faces around the table I recognized from usual poker nights one especially so.

He sat across from my boss, his thick leather coat in the back of the chair almost reaching the floor, his hat there too revealing his blonde and brown almost dirty hair to the harsh light above him, his face a picture of concentration unreadable and he knew it. The speckle of hair above his lip and on his chin glinted a little in the harsh light much like his hair did, his brown eyes focused intently in his cards, in the other players and on the mile of money and other such things in the centre. He seemed to know on the inside of his mouth or perhaps his bottom lip perhaps he was thinking, his chains hung down to his chest contrasting to his black shirt, his tight jeans hugged his skinny body his belt done right with his knife long gone on the table to the side with some other things, his cards on the table face down he knew they he didn't have to keep hold of them this way knowone else at the table could read them, his fingers fiddled with his ring contemplating one move or another.

I knew about him, Benny watts. He had been coming to see my boss for poker nights as long as I worked here and I had to admit I admired him somewhat. He was smart but not oblivious as smart people so often are, he was nervous at times and could be a little tactless but he was smart and he knew how to use it.

Some part of me found that rather attractive, that and he's always in the paper or the tv for his championship here, winning his competition there I liked him but I never even spoke to him before. "Awww there she is" my boss smirked "grab me another whiskey y/n, as your up and all" 

"Yes sir" I nodded 

"Anyone else?" He asks 

A few murmurs of no or head shakes came from people and I was about to leave 

"Grab me a beer, if you're going sugar" Benny asked me looking up from the table to give me a tiny hint of a smile I nodded heading out making a whiskey and getting a bottle of beer the cold glass almost freezing my hand as I walked I had to stop just outside the door a moment as my hand felt like ice seeing the cold of the beer inside making the print from my hand begin to disappear, I giggled drawing a little heart on the bottle before picking it up and going inside putting the beer beside Benny's cards and handing the whiskey to my bosses expecting hand 

"Here you are sir" I said 

"Thank you y/n" he smiled to me 

"Thanks sugar" Benny nodded to me as I went to leave 

"Your welcome Mr Watts" I smiled 

"Benny please, you make me sound like a fucking dickward" he laughs I laughed and headed out the room going back to my work I didn't have much else to do anyway I was just finishing up packing my things away when 

"Y/n!" Was called from the poker room so I headed back sheepishly my boss didn't look very happy his pile had gone down must have started loosing I noticed Benny not at the table he was slipping on his long jacket and grabbing his knife 

"Yes sir?" I asked 

"Would you please escort Mr Watts out, he's done for the night" he said 

"Yes sir, I was just heading out myself"

"Alright see you tomorrow" he says I nodded leading Benny out the room and thought the house 

"I assume you have somewhere to go tomorrow," I smiled

"Hu?" He asked a little puzzled 

"Your leaving earlier then you usually do, I assume your off somewhere tomorrow" 

"Oh no, he kicked me out" he laughs

"Why?" I asked shutting the front door and heading down the pathway

"He always kicks me out when I'm winning" he laughs "why do you ask?"

"I was just curious, I like reading about your… uhh chess tournaments and stuff" I blushed 

"Do you? I'll have to take you with me sometime" he smiled as we arrived at the gate I opened it and closed it behind us 

"That uhh that's sweet of you but I couldn't get the time off work" I blushed "well it was nice seeing you" 

"Hey, you wanna ride home? Come on I'm not gonna let you walk home in the dark sugar" he says 

"That would be very kind Mr Watts" I blushed 

"For the last time sugar called me Benny" he laughs as he leads me to his car. I sat rather quietly as he drove only speaking to give directions. "So I'm off to Texas for a tournament next month, you fancy tagging along?" He asks "maybe you could…" he began before I felt his hand rest on my leg "be my little good luck charm?" 

"Ooh ahh I don't know, work and all" I blushed 

"Just skip he's a dick anyway" he laughs his hand returning to the wheel as he needed it to drive 

"I uhh I don't know, I don't wanna lose my job" 

"Alright, maybe I'll have a word with him sugar" he winked as we pulled up at my apartment block "so? This is you then?"

"Yeah, thank you so much for the ride Benny"

"No trouble It was in my way home save you from Walking home this time of night" he says "guess I'll see you around then sugar"

"Yeah, see you around" I smiled going to get out the car

"Uhh y/n, here" he says handing me something it was paper or atleast felt like it I went to look but he stopped me "oi, look later alright" he warns so I nodded getting out and shutting the door waving a little as he drove off I went inside the building and up to my little flat shutting my door and looking at what he had given me, it was a fifty dollar note with a little bit of paper the paper had a little drawn heart next to the words 'to you too X Benny Watts' I blushed a little he must have seen the little heart I drew in the condensation on his beer bottle I giggled putting the note by my bed and hiding the money away somewhere safe. 

I stood cleaning and organizing as usual knowing my boss had planned another poker night tonight, I heard the doorbell and almost instantly

"Y/n! Can you get that dear!" He yelled so I went and got the door seeing Benny stood much the same as last I saw him 

"Hey sugar" he smiled 

"Hello Benny" I smiled 

"Am I the first one here by any chance?' he asked and I nodded Letting him in and leading him though to the poker room him sitting in his usual seat "good I rather hoped I was" he smiled "sit down a moment"

"I should really get back to work-"

"Come on sugar, just sit with me a minute" he smiled so I giggled and sat in the chair beside him resting my arm on the table we chatted about this and that what had been happening since I last saw him the whole time we talked his fingers playfully drew little hearts in my skin it always made me blush doing it back on his arm every so often which always made him smirk "hey sugar is about tonight after the games all over? How about I take you home again?" He offered

"Well that would be very kind of you Benny" I smiled

"And… maybe this time I can come up for a cup of coffee before I go" he suggested 

"Ohh I don't think I have any coffee at my flat I don't drink it you see" I blushed 

"Good, neither do I" He smirked 

"Oohh Benny I uhhh" I stuttered

"What's wrong? After all you're the one who started drawing me little hearts sugar" he smirked "so? Your place or my place after this?" 

"What's going on here?" My boss asked opening the door 

"Nothing sir, I was just asking Mr Watts if he would like a drink before the others arrived" I said getting quickly up from the chair 

"Ohh well do me a double whiskey as your going" he says 

"Yes sir" I nodded 

"Bring me a beer sugar if it's not too much trouble" Benny winked to me. I nodded going and making their drinks while the others arrived going back and giving everyone their drinks making sure I drew a little heart on the bottle for Benny leaving them all to their poker.

I continued with my work very nearly finished my work for the day, when I suddenly heard my boss call again

"Y/N!" 

So I headed into the poker room seeing the air thick with smoke 

"Yes sir? Did you need more drinks?" I asked 

"Not quite y/n" he smirked "come here" 

"Yes sir" I nodded going over to the table 

"So? You think you can take me Benny?"

"Yeah I do," Benny smirked pushing everything he had into the centre 

"You think that's enough…"

"Fine what do you want?"

"Everything, you have" he says "your winnings, your flat, I'll take everything" he smirked

"Fine" Benny smirked making some notes  on some paper and throwing it into the pile "but I think I need something off you too" 

"Fine, what do you want Benny?"

"Y/n" Benny smirked 

"Agreed I'll see you" he smirked grabbing my wrist and forcing me to put my hand into the centre of the pile 

"Sir I uhh" I stuttered

"Quiet y/n" he warned 

"Don't talk to her like that" Benny warned 

"She's not yours Benny, and you know what she never will be" he smirked putting down his cards 

"Actually she will" Benny smirked putting down his cards and he had actually beaten my boss 

"Ohh fuck, Benny I uhh I was just kidding around" he says 

"No you weren't, come on sugar" Benny smirked I giggled a little as he pulled everything he won over to his side of the table much to my bosses annoyance, I smiled going over to stand with him and Benny smirked pulling me to sit on his lap making me giggle even more as he smirked drawing a little heart on my leg 

"So should we uhh play again?" My boss asks

"No thanks I think I'm going to head home with my winnings" Benny smirked "get your things sugar" Benny smirked pushing me off his lap and slapping my butt before starting to gather his winnings and his coat I gather my things up and headed out with him to the car 

"Did you know you were going to beat him?" I asked 

"Course I did" he smirked grabbing something out his pocket "I may have had an… upper hand" he smirked showing off a handful of aces from his pocket

"You cheated?" 

"I just wanted to make sure I won what I wanted" he winked, "we're off to my place as I won you sugar" 

"What are you talking about?"

"Well I woke you, so I get to do whatever I want to you" he smirked as he parked up and grabbed my hand pulling me out the car "come on sugar" he smirked pulling me to kiss him I smiled happily kissing him back and pulling him inside the building.

[imjustalonesomewriteblr]

Word Count: 799

Warnings: Death by bullet wound, military, crying?.. uhhh it's pretty wordy so if you don't want that then sorry.

I'm so glad I finally got the prologue out! I thought it would be longer, but it fits everything I need, so it's.. fine, I guess. I'll definitely add a bit more if I do a second draft or something!

-

In the beginning, there were eleven of them. Eleven volunteers. Now seven of them are just names on a wall. Seven isn’t a lot when you think about it. Seven dollars can hardly buy you a coffee and snack at most cafes. But in the context of human lives reduced to names written in sharpie, it is a lot. Even one would be a lot.

Florette was with William when he died. They had been assigned the hardest mission out of the two that day, but both walked into it with confidence. William had infiltrated military bases before, and despite how much she despised it, Florette was used to tagging along, doing nothing more than fitting into smaller places and occasionally acting as his secretary.

They were caught, as Florette warned William they would if he tried to fit through the air duct. Instead of crawling through the air duct and finding a safe way out of the base, William and Florette were chased through the base by armed servicemen, trying as best they could to find the exit that led to their car. Then, suddenly, there was a loud bang.

Florette looked back for only a split second, but it was enough to give her nightmares for more than a year. William had been shot in his back, and, unbeknownst to Florette, the bullet had hit his lungs.

“Please, Florette..” William said, gasping for air that his now penetrated lungs couldn’t hold, but Florette hardly heard him. She was already down the hall, gaining valuable space in between her and the men. William collapsed onto the floor and died, alone, moments later.

Florette swiftly made her way through the winding hallways and confused people to find herself on the open road. She made a mad dash from the base to the car, tears blocking her vision. Men started shouting behind her, dogs started barking, and an alarm blared over the speakers. Florette ran faster than she ever had in her life, just trying to make it to the van and escape death.

Mr. Johnson hastily swung open the backdoor, having been awoken from his nap only a moment ago.

“Come on!” He shouted, crawling into the front seat. Florette had barely entered the van as Mr. Johnson pressed on the gas, sending her hurtling forwards.

“You want to man the gun in case?” Mr. Johnson asked, tossing Florette a pistol. She sighed and tossed it to the side. There was a moment of silence before Mr. Johnson spoke again, “You’re right, Russians alwa- where’s Mr. Bride?”

“I don’t know,” Florette said, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She didn’t want Mr. Johnson to see her cry. He would think she was weak.

“You left him?!” Mr. Johnson exclaimed. He spun the steering wheel to the left and they were finally on the open road. There were still servicemen following them, but they had lost distance and were now retreating to follow them by helicopter and other vehicles.

“I don’t know!” Florette said, covering her face with her hands.

“You don’t know? How do you not.. nevermind,” Mr. Johnson sighed and put more weight on the gas pedal. They were nearing a long, straight stretch of the road. He adjusted the steering wheel so that the van was pointing straight, then he crawled into the back, landing next to Florette, “Stop crying and help me get the machine started.”

“Can you plea-”

“Stop crying and help me get the machine started, Miss. Travere! That’s an order!”

Florette stood but had to bend over so that she could stand comfortably. Mr. Johnson took the sheet of the machine. Ms. LaPore had compared it to the size of a casket once. There was no room to fit inside of it, which Florette was forever grateful for. Caskets scared her.

She quickly flipped the switch that turned on the machine and began typing in dates.

“What day is it?”

“The fourth of May 2019.”

“What day did we leave?”

“The ninth of June, 2021.”

“Alright,” Florette mumbled. Her fingers shook with every key she pressed. If she didn’t set the dates soon, both she and Mr. Johnson would end up like William.

The sound of helicopter blades whirring rang in both of their ears.

“Are you finished, Miss. Travere?!” Mr. Johnson exclaimed.

“Yeah!”

“Then what are you doing?! Press the damn button!”