#Ultimatum ending

[unhingedlesbear]

Yo check this out guys I'm gonna be SICK!!! (Ignore the audio glitch at the beginning) but this what I was on abt. Ultimatum with Kate upset at Mark.

Even worse than regular Ultimatum and I didn't even think that was possible. Like the way usually she's all like "You had no choice, we'd be dead otherwise" and we can AT LEAST have that but this... nuh uh...

AND THE WAY SHE MOVES AWAY FROM HIM I WANNA RIP SOMETHING AARRARARARARARARFRFRAFFR😭😭WHY

AND THE WAY I CAN GET HER TOO BC SHE FEELS LIKE SHE LET DOWN MORE PEOPLE UGHHH

[108garys]

Gravey ultimatum alternative

So I tried to go crazy colours and get that harsh light vibe tho I don't know how well it landed but here's Becky, suffering ✨

Close ups and stuff under cut

I honestly find the uncoloured version so charming in its own way

I wanted to show off how much colour was in her face but I think I just made her look like a whimsical bruise(in a good way?), at any rate I feel like this colouring would work better lighter but harsh light behind means shadowed up front

I do love her gold and teal(ish) eyes tho

@kassiekolchek22 @delurkr @tatjana-fantasy @unhingedlesbear @qusok @kindheartedgummybears @kagoa @ctrvpani

[khaoala]

GIFSET REQUEST: Times Ray could have done things by himself, but he'd rather have Sand do them for him.

FIRST KANAPHAN as SAND and KHAOTUNG THANAWAT as RAY PAKORN in ONLY FRIENDS

[likethexan]

Zeus and Metis filling up my brain again. Metis was his best friend. His first friend. The one who gave him the drug that freed his siblings, his future wife. He loved her. As a friend or a lover? Maybe it goes beyond that. Some versions she resisted him. Some versions she loved him back, even doing it behind Hera's back. Does it matter? He killed her. He was her best friend and he subdued her into nothing. He had to. Did he have to? Was his kinghood worth it? Maybe that's why he was lenient with Dionysus, his son said to take over his throne. Was the wisdom he gained, her wisdom, for good and for evil, worth it? Maybe that's why he keeps Athena around, the motherless goddess, motherless because of him, even when she tried to betray him. In the essence of her mother, Athena's mother, it's almost like Athena's betrayal was warranted- he betrayed her first.

[mercless]

i would like to know more about hn talon's feathery ailment ... is it their demonic nature clashing with the angelic blood that is resulting in their worsening condition ? is there a reason why it is specifically feathers / bird-likeness as opposed to anything else ( i.e. would other demons undergo similar transformations if they also got contaminated with angel blood ) ? can you share more about how you envision the progression and prognosis ? will it kill them or will there be some sort of final stage of their transformation ( whether that's a bad thing because it only gets worse and worse , or a good thing because maybe now that it is complete , they won't be in as much pain and discomfort 🥺 ) ? is it at all affected by whatever they're doing / thinking / feeling / experiencing ( tamagotchi talon ... ) ? what do they do to manage their condition ? does it make them self-conscious or feel badly about their physical appearance ?

"-But it looks like the angels ain't done with you."

I don't recommend that anyone ingests angel blood (good thing that's a difficult thing to do these days) but I wouldn't want to definitively say how it works for anyone else either. and I think it makes sense if talon isn't too sure either, with not meeting anyone else in a similar predicament as they (yet... will get to this later) but say if it were another angel Talon had attacked and drank the blood of, I believe they would still be having similar symptoms, as angels are quite feathery beings (varus with his arm of feathers, irelia with her wings and other choicely placed feathers.) But the particular angel they stole from has had a specific impact on just how the blood has changed them.

The reason for their worsening condition is because the blood has a powerful influence, like an undiluted acid. And it is so dramatic of an change because this influence is the polar opposite to their demonic existence. The more that Talon fights against the changes, the less symbiotic the blood and their demonic nature melds, the more violent and painful the experience is for them. And without any interference either with understanding or other experiences, I see it as a bitter, drawn-out struggle. Just wallowing in fatalism until Talon is nothing more than an unrecognisable pile of bile, blood, and feathers that tore itself apart...

Fortunately for them, the more Talon interacts with their rotting world and the people (and creatures) also struggling in it, the more they will come to terms with their own potential, and reflect on how they can be something more than what they once were. Learning that they don't have to let their worst action define their existence. More than just accepting what they did, and putting in the effort to understand emotions and how to be an active part of life, will mean they are not stubbornly fighting against their affliction. This will increase the speed of it's progression, but also be far less painful of an experience since they won't be actively fighting against it. When Talon is unable to call upon any of their demonic abilities anymore, the physical changes of the affliction will be complete, but they will continue to learn and better themself in an attempt to make up for all the wrong and pain they have caused in their existence. I can picture this happening in two or three decades time, in which there is no longer any hellfire, brimstone or summoned weapons. Talon is no longer a demon, but maybe by then they'll also know if the powers that be would accept a malformed, inexperienced, makeshift samaritan as a stand-in. But that's a hopeful thought, thinking they'll live that long.

Going back to the symptoms of the affliction. Previously, Talon's form was one of shadow and brimstone, and they were able to phase in and out of being corporeal at will. Over time, this ability has been weakened - only able to vanish as a shadow for a moment at a time. Brimstone skin was made brittle until it fell away to soft flesh, hollow bone, and hair. Feathers have begun sprouting through this softer skin too, mostly across their left shoulder, arm and chest, but are beginning to sprout along their throat too. Talon used to pull them out by hand, but has forfeited the fight. Back to the left arm, a sort of carapace has begun to form over their left hand, along the thumb's metacarpal and back of the hand in layers of grey ash and weathered gold. This and the growth of the feathers is very similar to Varus' - the angel in which Talon killed and drunk the blood of - own feathers and angelic arm. But without any of the matching powers, it is a far less grand sight.

Although still considerably hot to the touch, Talon's core temperature has drastically lowered compared to the past. Whatever organs of malice and bile a demon has have made way for a growth in their chest, helping pump the foul angelic blood and pesky emotions around their body routinely, and push out more of their demonic essence every day, little by little. With this, it has already made their demonic powers incredibly weakened. Previously Talon also used to be able to disintegrate bodies with a slice of their hellish blades, but they just do not run hot enough anymore. The final physical symptom are their eyes. Once filled with hellfire, it is far more likely nowadays to see their extinguished, golden-brown irises instead. It is slightly controllable with their emotional state, or when using their powers though.

In other ways, the blood has made Talon far more empathetic, given them a conscience. Troubled with how their actions will effect others now, the suffering and cruelty of the world has become a pain all it's own. Dulling the delight in spreading fear and even disturbing the once simple exchange of souls, Talon is often contemplating their next course of action instead of only giving thought to their best interests. And how their previous, often violent actions, have caused so much.

The agony and illness of coughing up feathers and demonic bile leaves talon haggard and frail. Getting sleep and relaxation would help the most, but with their paranoia it is difficult for them to find places to fully lower their guard and properly rest. Talon's tried to get a room in the crossroad saloon before, but it's... never really worked out (Gragas doesn't let them). Hating and damning the ailment only makes it worse, since it's basically like trying to separate themself from something that has already been mixed in. Feathers get stuck in their many teeth, skin itches from keratin growing in. Fatigue and sensitivity to their own heartbeat. Talon tries their best to hide the majority of their symptoms. Their coughs and exhaustion are the most obvious.

For how the changed made by the affliction is making talon feel... I'm going to paraphrase from a previous message;

I say its dysmorphic but the more I think about it, it's also… having your health decline and your body changing along with it, at least with talons perspective right now since they're losing their demonic powers. dysphoric in the way that they're still holding on to the thought that this isn't what they're supposed to be, they're Supposed to be a being of shadow and hellfire not flesh and bone, let alone feathers and sympathy. so I want it to be much more about accepting that this is their body now moreso than finding a way to reverse the changes. That it's okay to change with age and wisdom as you open yourself up more to the world.

At this time, Talon misses being completely monstrous, of being frightening and having that implicit respect. They feel weaker than they really are because they continue to compare themself to the long-gone height of their power, and because their new physical changes make them feel vulnerable. Being constantly exhausted also doesn't help with any of this. Beyond this though, the only other thing they don't like about these changes is just that; it's different. The uncanny features still don't feel like that that's who they are, and there is this disconnect when others react to them, or comment on their looks.

poses I don't know, maybe Talon just needs some sort of big motivation to no longer see this affliction as a curse, but as an opportunity to be more than a demon that skulks in the shadows. And some encouragement that yes, that is in fact a good thing. Maybe like an ultimatum of some sorts.

[imeminemp3]

what i love so so much about lady parts is that ayesha doesn't come out to her parents. her girlfriends gives her this 'ultimatum' but it's not right for her to come out. so she doesn't. when she said 'there's a lot to be said for staying in. where it's safe.' she was right. coming out isn't the best choice for everyone and im so, so sick of media trying to say it is

[unhingedlesbear]

Ok tumblr. I'm taking this to u lot bc I really don't know 😍

can't believe it really took me this long to even consider the idea of a swap like this but. It does have me wondering. What r we thinking here gang

[108garys]

On human sacrifice & hypotheticals

So here's the shortest writing I've posted and I've tried something different, I won't go into it because it's such a short fic but I hope you enjoy what I've done

@kassiekolchek22 @delurkr @tatjana-fantasy @unhingedlesbear @qusok @kagoa @kindheartedgummybears @ctrvpani @mybrainrotforreal (I hope you read this in Randolph Hodgson's voice)

Have you ever heard of the trolley problem?

The tired hypothetical that pits one life against five and asks you to make an impossible choice.

The pragmatist would logically pick the outcome with least loss of life. Emotional arguments push in either direction, people argue around in circles about interference and responsibility, of letting it happen. Many ultimately reject the hypothetical itself; it's too unrealistic, too simplistic and says nothing about a person's character.

Some boldly argue. "Why not go after the monster tying people to train tracks?"

…But you can't…

What if you're not so different from ancient peoples who made sacrifices to the sun and moon, to the seasons and darkness? Modern people sneer at the past because we know better, blood won't keep the sun shining and children safe at night. We understand these forces of nature and are above the simplistic reasoning of the past…

But when put in that impossible hypothetical, with your hand on the lever and the devil awaiting your decision. Like caged animals desperate to not be thrown to the fire they bend…

…Send five instead…

Grin and bare it. They have the same chance as you, it's all been done before and other comforting lies told by those who know deep down that death can no more be staved off than age or winter and the eternal after…

Perhaps merely having access to the lever makes one culpable for the outcome, perhaps the blood of sacrifice drips endlessly off condemned hands irregardless of choice and some deep, primal part of the human psyche that turns us all into believers of fairtales where a no win ultimatum has a happy ending and maybe you'll never sleep again or more likely sleep forever but faith overpowers all rational thought…

With shaking hands and the naive hope of a timid boy who still believes… Mark picks up the phone.

[samazing0831]

Only One Year - Dean Winchester x Reader

Dean Winchester x Reader

When Dean makes a deal with a crossroads demon to bring Sam back, he's given one year to live. Haunted by his decision and the clock ticking down, he finally confesses his secret to the one person who might be able to save him from more than just Hell. What follows is a raw confrontation filled with grief, frustration, and something deeper neither of you can keep buried any longer.

1k words

The bottle of cheap whiskey sat heavy in Dean's hand, almost as heavy as the weight pressing against his chest. He stared down at it, unmoving, seated at the edge of his bed in the bunker, every muscle tense with the burden of what he had done.

One year. That was it. One year until his time ran out. Until the hellhounds came for him.

He hadn't told Sam. Hadn't told anyone.

But you - you deserved to know. Even if it changed nothing. Even if it only made things worse.

So when you walked through his open door, concern knitting your brows as you took in the sight of him - alone, quiet, and drinking in the dark - he looked up and cleared his throat.

"Hey," he rasped, voice rough from silence and too much whiskey. "We need to talk."

You gave a nervous chuckle, trying to lighten the mood like always. "Okay? Is this about your crippling cheap whiskey addiction? Because I can fix that with a quick trip to the liquor store."

Still, you crossed the room, sitting next to him, fingers fidgeting in your lap. He never invited you into his room unless it was bad.

Dean huffed, shaking his head. "Nah, sweetheart. This one's not that easy to fix."

He took another long sip from the bottle, like maybe the burn would numb what he had to say. It didn't.

"I made a deal," he said after a pause. "Crossroads. After that last hunt. After... Sam."

Your breath caught. No. He couldn't mean -

"I got him back," Dean said quietly. "But I only got a year left."

Your thoughts raced. "A year?" you repeated, stunned. "That doesn't make sense - normally they give you five. That's... something's wrong."

He didn't respond.

"Dean, you shouldn't have done that... I mean - I get it. I do. But you have no idea what you've done."

"I know exactly what I've done," he snapped. "I couldn't just let him go."

Your heart pounded as he took another sip. "Dean, being alive and living are two different things," you whispered. "Did you even think about anyone else? About the people who were still living? What about me? Sam? What's gonna happen to us when you're gone?"

He didn't say anything, and that silence was answer enough.

"You didn't tell Sam," you said flatly. "Dammit, Dean."

"What was I supposed to say?" he shot back. "'Hey, Sammy, I sold my soul to bring you back - by the way, I'll be dead in a year'? He wouldn't understand."

"You don't give him enough credit." You were trembling now. "And what about me, huh? Was I just supposed to find out a year from now when you get ripped apart by hellhounds?"

Dean flinched at that. "I didn't want to drag you into this," he muttered.

"So you'd rather I be blindsided?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"Bullshit!" you yelled. "We would've found another way. Why, Dean? Why did you do this?"

"Because there wasn't another way!" Dean stood abruptly, his voice shaking with something deeper - regret, anger, heartbreak. "Sam was dead, and I - I couldn't lose him."

"And what about me?" you shouted, your voice cracking. "Did you think about how I'd feel? Watching you throw your life away? Watching you pretend like nothing matters?"

He turned, jaw clenched. "It doesn't matter."

Your chest heaved. "You don't matter? You think no one cares?"

Dean hesitated. Then softer, more broken: "I pretend I can live with it."

You stared at him, tears brimming. "People love you, Dean," you whispered. "People want to see you live. I - I don't want to lose you."

He looked at you like you'd slapped him. Like he didn't expect to hear that from you.

But it was too late. Your heart was breaking, and if he was going to keep shutting you out, then you couldn't stay.

"I may as well walk out that door if that's your attitude," you said quietly. "I'm not staying here for a year just to watch you throw your life away."

Dean stepped forward. "You don't mean that."

You stared him down. "Try me."

He opened his mouth to argue - but then he broke. "I did it because I can't live in a world where Sam isn't breathing," he said, almost choking on the words. "Because I can't do this alone."

His voice dropped. "Because losing you would be worse."

"What?" you breathed.

Dean swallowed, eyes searching yours. "You heard me."

He didn't speak. So you gave him an ultimatum.

"I'm packing tonight. If you don't tell me by the time I'm done that you want me to stay - I'm gone."

You turned to leave.

But then his hand wrapped gently around your wrist. "Wait."

You stopped, barely able to breathe.

"I don't want to spend what time I've got left without you," Dean whispered.

You turned slowly, tears falling freely now. "Don't do this to me if you don't mean it. We've only got a year."

Dean stepped close, cupping your face like he thought you might vanish. "We've only got a year. So yeah - I mean it. Every damn word."

You trembled under his touch. "I don't know what the next year holds, but just because you made that deal doesn't mean you get to risk your life more than you already do."

He smirked weakly. "That's not how this works, sweetheart."

"It is now." You poked his chest, your voice stronger. "No throwing yourself at death like it's some kind of solution. Promise me you won't give up before it's over."

Dean was quiet for a long time. Then: "Yeah. Okay. I promise."

And even though you didn't know what the next day would bring - you believed him.

"So..." you sniffed, managing a small smile, "not to make this a chick flick, but is this when we kiss?"

Dean huffed a soft laugh. "You really know how to kill a moment."

"It's a talent."

He stepped in closer, brushing his thumb along your cheek. "Yeah... I guess it is."

And then he kissed you.

It wasn't perfect. It was a little desperate, a little messy, full of unsaid words and unraveling restraint - but it was real. And with only one year left, real was everything.

[schmweed]

[korracrat]

Microsoft shutting down Skype has me feeling weird, it makes me feel nostalgic but also glad that it’s being shutdown.

Back in the golden era of Tumblr (2012 to 2016ish) Skype was the go-to place to talk to mutuals as you couldn’t reblog asks and the messaging system wasn’t even present (if it existed back them we never would have had the masterpieces like the Sonic The Hedgehog debacle). You couldn’t make messaging threads like you can today and it was a hassle and not for the weak.

Anyway Skype was the best way to keep up and video chat. I spent so much time speaking with friends I met in fandoms, like this girl from Germany who had this cutest bird and was just as obsessed with Pabu as I was, a guy from Australia who said my Midwestern accent was too think and I also thought his was too thick, and another guy who was famous back in the day for only attending virtual fandom showings with a Batman mask on and cat ears and he actually took off the mask for me. And the original messages between me and my first ever girlfriend.

Most of the relationships didn’t end on good terms. They were important to me, but I was sick and lashed out often or the others were caught in the crosshairs. I am not saying this as a pity me or to excuse my behavior mind you. I am not completely healed but I’ve done a lot of work, especially over the past three years. I wish I could find them as I would like to apologize, but I also understand if everyone deactivated various social media to move on from people like me and the people they used to be.

I would love to go back and revisit those conversations. Same with my original Twitter. In the middle of one of my fights, I angrily changed my password to hand it off to someone else in the fandom and to carry the mantle as it had a large following at the time and just never got around to it. Now I can’t remember it.

All those memories gone. One by one. I don’t know if I truly want to look at those messages or if I want to go back in time and be the better person that I am today.

[pettyprocrastination]

also thinking about the ultimatum tashi gave art of "if you lose this game ill leave you" in hopes of pushing him to playing at his very best, but then realizing that his very best may still not be enough to beat patrick and will end with her losing him so she then tells patrick to throw the match in secret. these people are insane.

[unhingedlesbear]

Heard an audio in some edit, had an idea, boom. Ofc I had to make it ultimatum bc I looove (and hate) ultimatum <3

tried some new things with this one idk. anyway gnnnnn <3

[108garys]

silly billy confession time

After I played tdim for the first time I was skimming through the trophy list and saw the ultimatum related ones and when I say I got the wrong impression

For a hot minute there I thought Mark was going to be a traitor, like legit betray for his life like in a whole subcategory of Du'lie fics

And here's the thing, I wanted to experience the ends on my own time so it took me a bit to actually see how it goes

Don't ask me how I thought this was supposed to play out or what it'd mean character dynamic wise but I felt bad for assuming mark would do that given he's not like that

In short you could say for a few months there I thought something along the lines of Du'mark was canon and people just weren't talking about it for some reason

[redladydeath]

oc post

helen "knew"/guessed that vox was frequently cheating on her, but she had no idea that he was attracted to men. if she'd ever found out, things would've gotten... ugly.

helen had really grown to hate her husband and her first instinct would be to out him without a second thought; it'd give her a reason to divorce him without any blame being placed on her, after all. however, if she threatened him with that (and had proof), vox would've fucking groveled, begging her not to tell anyone and offering her anything to keep it secret. helen's desire for revenge might waver, and she would agree not to tell anyone on the condition that they divorced asap and she was allowed to keep the house, the kids, and the money that she had brought into the marriage. it'd be a bitter pill for vox to swallow, but he'd feel like he had no choice. his reputation was everything to him– he couldn't even begin to imagine what he'd do if he was outed and blacklisted from the industry.

[mizuki-foreshadowing]

These past few months I've been writing a fanfic right, and long story short, Mafuyu (the point-of-view character) unconsciously applies her mom's dichotomy of things being either worth someone's time, or not worth anyone's time, to Ena, who I'm interpreting as actually being bad at art (it enriches her narrative in a lot of ways I've had fun playing with). Mafuyu sabotages the song that saves Ena's life in Insatiable Pale Color and Arc 2 of the fic is the aftermath.

But, Kanade has been smooth as butter to write. She's seamless; her narrative was always ready for this, it was like she was waiting for it. And it just hit me why. Kanade's lived her life as a trauma response, and this is the eventuality she lives bracing herself for.

Her canon is about letting herself reclaim having a life of her own and the reality that she really isn't going to lose the people in her life who love her, but here, she loses Ena and is seamlessly able to initiate Carnation Recollection but in control. Her music takes another person away from her and she's able to force herself to confront her past and get through the mental blocks on her composing, because she is experiencing the reality that people die if she isn't able to compose in a way that can save people.