#absolutely delightful wonderful event to discover that

[sixohsixoheightfourtwo]

แค่เพื่อนครับเพื่อน | Bad Buddy: the Series || I Really Like You - vid by Sisabet

[multiplicity-positivity]

Here’s some positivity for headmates who have been dormant!

For many headmates, re-emerging from dormancy can be a disorienting, confusing, or scary experience. Many headmates may discover that their system and circumstances have changed drastically while they were dormant. To every headmate who has resurfaced from dormancy, we want to uplift you and show you some support! So here’s to all the headmates who have been dormant in the past!

🌙 Shoutout to headmates who had been dormant for over a decade!

🪐 Shoutout to headmates who are struggling to readjust to life after dormancy!

⭐️ Shoutout to headmates who have missed out on major life events or things they had been looking forward to due to dormancy!

🚀 Shoutout to headmates who are having difficulties socializing and connecting with the rest of their system after their dormancy!

✨ Shoutout to headmates who can’t remember anything that happened to their system while they were dormant!

🔭 Shoutout to headmates who have emerged from dormancy only to find that their system or the world around them has changed drastically while they were gone!

💫 Shoutout to headmates who have resurfaced after being forced into dormancy by another headmate or an outside factor!

🛰 Shoutout to created headmates that went dormant for some time due to a member of their system forgetting about them or being unable to work with them!

🌟 Shoutout to headmates who feel lost and confused about their purpose in life and their system after their dormancy!

🛸 Shoutout to headmates who emerged from dormancy with no memories whatsoever, even if the rest of their system can remember them from before they went dormant!

Dormancy is a morally neutral occurrence and a natural, common phenomenon in many systems! It can absolutely be scary and challenging re-emerging from a dormancy, but if you or someone in your system is going through this, we want to remind you that you’re not alone and everything’s going to be okay! It’s not too late to enjoy the small things in life and try to figure out how you want to spend the time you have.

To every headmate who has resurfaced from dormancy, know that we see you, we understand your struggles, and we are wishing you a bright future filled with comfort and delight. Know that you are so loved, and you are allowed to exist as you are now - even if you don’t know much about yourself or feel lost about your future! Please do you best to take it easy, be gentle with yourself, and have a wonderful day!

[cheesy09]

[CN] Kiro's Absolute Match Mind's Quest (Part 2)

🌸 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date that hasn't been released on the EN server yet! 🌸

Note: This date explores some very suggestive themes, so if you do not meet the game's required 16+ age rating, I'd suggest to avoid reading this date.

Part 1: HERE

[CHAPTER 5]

After successfully communicating with the organizer of the charity match, I shared the news with Kiro that I was going to join the cheerleading team.

Of course, he was surprised and delighted. We agreed to supervise each other and continue our "hellish training".

There were more fulfilling things to do in the long summer. While the exercises were obviously boring, they made my mood warm up every day.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day the baseball game started.

MC: Savin, have you seen Kiro?

Savin: He seems to have been called to the other side. Do you want me to find him?

MC: No, I'll go find him myself!

Savin nodded and gave me a thumbs up.

Savin: With the way you look today, I guarantee that Kiro will be looking straight at you!

I laughed twice, pulled on my cheerleading skirt with slight embarrassment, turned around and walked quickly in the direction he pointed.

-

Though this charity competition wasn't such a high-key event, many influential figures were invited, and the backstage area was bustling with people.

MC: Sorry, excuse me, thank you... Kiro! I'm here!

I waved my hand energetically. Kiro looked around after hearing the sound. His eyes lit up instantly when he saw me.

He walked quickly through the crowd and came to me, his eyes full of amazement.

Kiro: Today you, you....

MC: How is it? Youthful, right?

I smiled, raised my pompom and struck a pose.

Kiro: Very youthful!

Kiro: I can't believe you actually hid such a cute appearance and are only showing it to me now. No wonder you refused to let me come watch you rehearse yesterday.

MC: Hehe, of course the surprise must be discovered on the same day the surprise is happening!

MC: Originally, I wanted to wait a little longer and let you see it during the performance, but I was afraid that it would be too late to perform the ritual for you.

Kiro: Ritual?

MC: Did you forget?

I took out the prepared marker, took his hand, and wrote my name one stroke at a time on the inside of his wrist.

MC: You said during the game, that writing the names of important people on your wrist will bring good luck to the game. I remember that.

This is another reference to Kiro's Heatwave Date :>

Kiro opened his mouth and then smiled.

Kiro: Mm, I'll definitely live up to this mark.

He gently held my hand, folded our palms together and covered the handwriting.

Kiro: Then, we agree that we'll be each other's witnesses later on, and that we'll both stand in the most dazzling place.

-

After the lively opening ceremony, the music sounded again.

MC: Three, two, one, GO!

The girls on the cheerleading team jumped briskly onto the sports field with neat steps.

Almost instantly, I locked onto those pair of eyes I wanted to see most in the sea of spectators.

Blue, bright, and only mine.

Whether I was jumping, catching a throw, or even turning my back, I could clearly feel that line of sight firmly locked on me.

My heart felt as full, as if it was filled with air, but my body was lighter than the clouds.

Did Kiro feel the same way on stage every time I looked at him from off stage?

Accompanied by the rapid drum beat, the once extremely difficult movements during practice no longer seemed to be difficult at this moment. I supported my teammate's hand, stepped hard, turned around, flipped, and froze in the final step.

Woah--

I knew that the applause on the field at that moment may not have been because of the cheerleading performance, but a warm up for the next game.

But I also firmly believed that the handsome young man with blond hair and blue eyes in a baseball uniform who stood up to applaud - all of his cheers were only for me.

I took a breath to calm down and watched the players from the two teams appear one after another.

The captain on the left was Carol. He was standing next to Kiro while watching the cheerleading performance. When our eyes met, he smiled and winked at me;

And the captain on the right was of course, Kiro. He tried his best acting like a big star, but the moment he saw Carol making a face, he couldn't hold back from giving him a smack in the face;

MC: Pfft...

I suppressed my laughter and watched the two teams shake hands with each other.

The other members of the cheerleading team all left the field, leaving me the only one still standing on the field. Kiro looked at me with slight confusion.

At that moment, the referee handed the baseball to me.

Referee: Please kick-off the game, miss.

MC: Okay.

Kiro: .....!!

Hmph, how unexpected!!

If there were a comic-like dialog box above my head at this moment, it might have been an extremely big and extremely gorgeous dialog box that I could show off to everyone.

This was the second surprise I had prepared for him.

Kiro: MC...

For the first time, Kiro's eyes were extremely wide. If the referee hadn't order the athletes to get into position, he might have rushed in front of me by now.

In the end, Kiro walked to home plate and raised his bat.

I held the ball in both hands and took a deep breath.

MC: I hope...

I hope the next word didn't need to be said. All of my hopes were in my hands.

I raised my hand, twisted my body as much as possible, and swung the ball hard.

Boom!

-

Referee: Strike out!

Referee: After the end of the first half, there'll be a ten-minute intermission.

Unknowingly, the seventh game had concluded, leaving the score between the two sides very tight. Although this was just a friendly charity match, the competition's intensity was not low. While Kiro's baseball abilities were good enough, he hadn't reached a level where he could crush his opponents.

What's more was that he was facing against Carol.

I clenched my hands and looked at Kiro not far away.

The halftime break was very important, and he was discussing follow-up tactical arrangements with his teammates, a serious look on his face.

When Kiro entered working mode, his eyebrows seemed to be three points sharper than usual, and his blue eyes were astonishingly bright.

Even though his teammates were all leaders in various fields, at this moment, they all listened to his explanation with conviction and admiration.

Six or seven minutes passed, and since the tactics were almost planned, everyone dispersed to take a final break. Kiro also smoothed his sweaty hair and hurried to the bathroom.

MC: Huh?

When he raised his hand, I realized that the name I wrote before going on the field had been smudged by sweat, leaving only a few strokes remaining on his wrist.

[CHAPTER 5: Interweaving Emotions]

The sun shone brightly and the lawn on the court was coated with a fuzzy halo. The cheerleaders were in uniform and exuded youthful vitality under the dynamic music.

Obviously they were all wearing the same uniform, and their formations changed at an almost dizzying extent, but Kiro's eyes never strayed from the girl's body for even a second.

Carol: Hey...

She smiled brightly, and the dangling pompom in her hand was the finishing touch, making her entire body sparkle.

Kiro couldn't help laughing along, turned on his camera, and zoomed in a little bit to try and capture his Miss Chips in the fast-paced dance.

Carol: Kiro, it's all so blurry and you still want to take pictures? Where can I see your partner here?

Carol: .....

Carol: Hey, Bro!

Kiro felt a heavy tap on his shoulder. He subconsciously turned his head and saw Carol, who was seated with him in the stand-by area, raising his eyebrows in depression.

Carol: I've been talking to you. Why are you just looking at your sweetheart?

Kiro: She's performing, so of course I've gotta watch her at all times.

Kiro said, his eyes falling on the girl again, the smile in his eyes never disappearing.

Carol: Then the two of you really match each other.

Carol: When you were practicing, she was in the same state as you, with almost the same expression. Looking without blinking - yes, just like that - and smiling from time to time!

While Carol was describing in shock, there was a bit of envy in his eyes.

Carol: Tsk, no wonder you didn't admit that I was your "soulmate" before. The compatibility between your souls is rare in this world~

When Kiro wanted to respond to his opponent, he found the girl on the court looking at him for a moment, and he quickly straightened up and waved.

After a while, he turned back to look at Carol, who looked even more "haunted", with a hint of apology on his face.

Kiro: Uh... what did you just say? Soulmate?

Kiro quickly went through every detail of his and the girl's daily life in his mind, and unconsciously felt sweetness in his heart.

Kiro: Almost, but the word soulmate isn't good enough.

Kiro: In my heart, she is MC. She is my favorite person.

Kiro: As long as I look at her, I know what's in her heart. Whether she is happy or sad.

Kiro: That's why I'm eager to bring her the best things in the world!

Kiro: But you won't understand, even after I've told you all of this.

Kiro: This is a unique connection between me and her. Go ahead and envy it~

The more Kiro said it, the prouder he felt. Because no matter how good the pronouns were, he couldn't explain the girl in his heart. She was so unique that even the most beautiful words used to describe her would feel a bit inferior.

But as he talked, Kiro noticed that the person beside him remained silent and he turned to look back--

Carol was very dramatically covering his ears.

Carol: Wow, I'd love to see you show off your affection, but isn't this "dog food" a little bit much?!

Kiro: You even know the term "dog food". It's very local~

T/n: The term "狗粮" (dog food) is Chinese slang used to refer to PDA, i.e. public display of affection :>

Kiro smiled and bent his eyes, the little pride in his heart swelling like a balloon. Just as he was about to continue being arrogant--

The music on the field stopped and the performance ended.

Kiro immediately stood up and moved his wrists and ankles, his eyes filled with determination. Then, he turned to Carol and raised his eyebrows provocatively.

Kiro: Chat's over, old classmate. Now, you have to be careful.

Kiro: Because I won't let her down.

Kiro: Today's victory will belong only to "us".

[CHAPTER 6]

Two minutes to go.

I clenched the marker in my hand and looked at the bathroom door anxiously.

The moment Kiro appeared, I immediately rushed over and pulled him into a corner of the stairwell.

Kiro: ...?!

MC: The wording is blurry. Let me make up for it.

I couldn't help but uncap the pen and write more seriously and vigorously than last time. Kiro laughed and carefully wiped off the wet water stains on my wrist.

Kiro: You seem to be extra superstitious today.

MC: I can be as superstitious as I want.

MC: And I have even more superstitious tricks.

I stood up on tiptoes and fiercely kissed Kiro's lips, almost knocking his teeth in my haste. He smiled and gently accepted the tip of my tongue again.

One minute left.

Please, please, pass all my luck today to him through this kiss.

I didn't know if there was such a god in the sky that could grant my wishes, but I would still stubbornly pray for it.

As long as Kiro was fighting everything in this world, I would make this wish.

Thirty seconds to go. An announcement was made outside reminding the players to enter.

I pressed against the tip of his nose, and said word by word.

MC: Because I've see how hard you've worked this month, I really want you to win.

MC: It doesn't matter if he's an MLB super rookie. You're still my superhero.

I kissed those most beautiful eyes in the world again, and then pushed Kiro towards the arena.

MC: So, you can definitely win.

-

MC: Although Carol's "Fire Team" was about to strike out with a beautiful outfield ball to send the game into overtime...

MC: Kiro, the ace player of the "Sunshine Team", hit a perfect homerun, base, and hit in the tiebreaker!

I deliberately emphasized the word "homerun", leaned on the sofa, took a sip of beer, and continued reading.

MC: "Then, in the defensive round, Kiro made another critical hit, completely ending the game and winning the final victory."

MC: "All income and prize money from this competition will be donated to the Youth Sports Development Foundation..."

Kiro: Why are you still reading the report? The game ended long ago.

Kiro's voice sounded from above my head.

After the game, Kiro and I were really tired, so we simply declined most of the subsequent interviews and activities and went home to lie down.

MC: It hasn't been that long. It's only been half an hour since we got home, of course I'm still very excited. Here, look.

I showed Kiro the screen of my phone with a smile. There was a photo of the victors, hugging and celebrating.

--And this time, I was also among the victorious group, firmly captured by the image.

MC: I emphasized to Xiao Zheng and the others that this photo was very important and had to be taken!

MC: This way, we can make up for the regret of not having a celebratory photo at Hitachi High School last time!

Kiro: ! Quick, send me a copy!

MC: Sent, check~

I not only sent him this photo, but also some other photos of the game, as well as bits and pieces of training over the past month.

Kiro: So many...

He slowly looked through them one by one in amazement, and I leaned on his shoulder, smiling contently.

MC: Is it a lot? I still think it's little.

MC: If I were a photographer, I'd take a thousand time-lapse pictures during your competition and pick them slowly!

Kiro: Hahaha!

While we were looking through the photos, we casually drank a bunch of beers. Suddenly, Kiro's cell phone rang and he clicked on the screen.

MC: What's up?

Kiro: It's Carol. He said he's going back to the United States tomorrow morning and wanted to treat us to dinner tonight.

Kiro: Do you want to go?

MC: Hm... after all, he is your friend, so I do need to be there.

MC: But I'm still so tired now...

I pointed at Kiro's baseball uniform and then at my cheerleading uniform.

MC: See, we haven't changed our clothes since we laid down here.

Kiro: Shall we take a shower then?

MC: Let's rest for ten more minutes, shall we?

Kiro: Hmm... No, I'll get sleepy if I lie down any longer.

MC: But right now I'm too lazy to move even a finger--

Before I could even finish speaking, my body suddenly rose into the air, and Kiro picked me up.

Kiro: It's okay, you don't have to move.

-

MC: Wait a minute, Kiro. I seemed to have missed something.

Perhaps it was dopamine, controller of excitement, or perhaps it was the gradually brewing drunkenness. While Kiro was helping me unscrew the liquor, I suddenly pulled him back.

Kiro: Eh? Is it a bath towel, or a change of clothes? Should I go get it for you?

MC: It isn't...

I hesitated and couldn't answer, so I just took two more steps towards him.

MC: It's... something about you.

Kiro: [still clueless] About me? What is it?

I still couldn't answer, but my instincts drove me to seek out for him.

Not on his sleeves, not on his fingers, not on his chest...

The hormones caused by teen sports mixed with alcohol filled my nasal passages, making my head dizzier.

MC: It seems like... It seems like it's here.

Finally remembering, I gently licked the corner of Kiro's mouth.

MC: Yes, I remembered, you missed the praise.

As I spoke, I rubbed his neck again and again, and his center of gravity grew unstable for a moment. I tipped Kiro slightly and we sat on the ground together.

The showerhead slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. The inverted water rolled twice, and fine water droplets began to scatter unscrupulously.

Kiro blinked, and his breathing became a little faster.

Kiro: ...MC, are you drunk?

MC: ...Am I? Maybe so.

MC: Anyway, don't change the subject! You anyways missed it. You didn't say it.

I reluctantly pried open Kiro's lips, as if wanting to get the treasure that a brave man deserved after going on an adventure.

MC: I've praised you for being so amazing on the field, but you haven't praised my performance yet.

MC: Hurry up, or else the peacock who spread their tail and got no response will be angry...

Kiro suddenly raised his hand and lifted up his team uniform.

My hand that had initially been loosely clinging to his arm failed to grasp it, and my entire body suddenly fell into his arms.

Kiro: Don't be angry.

His breath touched my lips, and his voice mixed with the gurgling water.

Kiro: It was an oversight on my part. I should've really praised MC.

Kiro: How about using my entire body as your prize?

MC: Really? It's all mine?

I blinked in surprise and confusion, and my hands suddenly fumbled away indiscriminately.

From his eyes, to his nose, to his cheeks, to his Adam's apple...

Kiro's body continued to heat up under my touch and caress, and the heat captured in my palms spread to my body along my fingertips.

He kept maintaining a posture that allowed me to ask for anything. Only his rapid breathing and tight muscles guided the smoothest path.

Guiding me into opening this gift that was mine.

I couldn't help but confirm it again.

MC: Is it all mine?

Kiro: It was yours from the very beginning.

MC: Huh, if it was always mine, it can't be considered a prize for my hard work today, right?

Kiro: .....

Kiro: I found that Miss Chips is very logical when drunk.

His Adam's apple rolled, and the corners of his mouth curled up helplessly.

Kiro: Then should I tell you some hidden rewards?

He grabbed my hand. But this time, the rhythm of the body was completely dominated by him.

It was like an unimagined arrangement of a familiar piece of music, and the unaccustomed rhythm made it impossible for me to resist.

I could only be passively guided by him, and go with him to open doors that I'd never touched before.

The salty sweat mixed with alcohol filled my mouth with the taste of summer.

Kiro: Particularly dazzling...

I seemed to hear Kiro's dazed murmur, and I opened my eyes in a daze.

MC: ...what did you say?

Kiro: I'm talking about you on the court today.

His eyes were hidden behind his wet bangs, like the most bewildering ocean.

I was immersed in this ocean, but I knew it was about to set off a giant tsunami.

Kiro: And you now.

Unknowingly, the water had flowed along the floor tiles.

Translation Masterlist: here

[maddymoreau]

My Thoughts on Poppy Playtime Chapter 3

Ollie is ADORABLE!!!! "No ouchies or lost body parts?" HE'S A BABY I NEED TO PROTECT!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!! (¬‿¬) I have ZERO evidence for this but my theory is he’s The Prototype.

I’m REALLY happy to see the phone Ollie calls the player on is identical to the one in Project: Playtime! It’s nice seeing stuff introduced in Project: Playtime finally appear in the main series.

( ⚆_⚆ ) ESPECIALLY DR. HARLEY SAWYER!!!! WOW THE TAPE FEATURING HIM TALKING TO THE PROTOTYPE WAS DARK!!!! I knew a man like Dr. Sawyer would be a sick and twisted individual since he created the Bigger Bodies Initiative.

Despite that I was NOT prepared to hear the joy in his voice to experiment on children. It was revolting.

This exchange:

Prototype: "You stick us. Beat us. Tear at flesh. Do you feel it?"

Dr. Sawyer: "There is a secret inside you, 1006. Valuable beyond all measure. I cut and prod and burn at it, and I get closer with each session . . . So speak, or don't. Fight, or give in. Regardless, I learn something new about you every day . . . (Laughs) It excites me!"

Prototype: "Thank you."

Dr. Sawyer: "You . . . thank me?"

Prototype: "Absolutely. I learn something new about you every day."

THAT FINAL LINE WHEN THE PROTOTYPE IS MIMICKING DR. SAWYER'S VOICE AHHHHHH!!!!

＿|￣|○ I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DR. SAWYER SO BADDDDD!!!!!! He wasn’t around for The Hour of Joy but I hope he suffered.

Leith Pierre: "Normally I'd have Dr. Sawyer do this but he's uhhh . . . out, let's say. So you got me until they find his replacement."

(o ´ _ ` )o The contrast between how Dr. Sawyer speaks to the experiments VS Leith Pierre the Head of Innovation at Playtime Co.

Both dehumanize the experiments in different ways.

Leith Pierre can’t even bother remembering Catnap's real name. He puts on this fake friendly facade. Referring to Catnap as his Pal and Buddy. It's so disingenuous.

Especially when he asks, "Heya Theo! How ya doin' bud?" Pierre could care less about how Catnap feels. It's only when Catnap responds, "The Prototype will save us." That gets Pierre to finally drops the corporate spiel. Admitting to what this place is. Catnap’s prison.

No wonder Catnap worshipped The Prototype after being save when this is what he’s told about his horrific situation.

Leith Pierre: "THIS is your life now. Get used to it."

I absolutely LOVED all the new features for the Grab Pack. The air jet looked SO FUN!!!! Watching people desperately shoot the flare gun against smiling critters in a cramped space WAS SO INTENSE!!! The smiling critter's small growls and whimpers made me sad.

(ʃƪ 〃’▽’〃)♡ The horror in this chapter was INCREDIBLE!!!! While I had fun playing Chapter 2 I remember feeling disappointed by the scares.

CHAPTER THREE HAD ME HORRIFIED!!!! EVERY JUMP SCARE HAD ME FLYING OUT MY CHAIR, THE ATMOSPHERE WAS AMAZING AND AHHHHH THE HOME ORPHANAGE SECTION!!!!!

It reminded me of PT ∑(; °_°) Especially with the radio informing us that in Elliot Ludwig's house it was discovered he HAD THE BODY OF A CHILD IN A DUFFLE BAG!!?!?!?!?!?!

ALSO THAT ONE RADIO'S REVERSE MESSAGE!!!

"8-8-1995 I find your presence intrusive. After all this time you return. You come in here and yet you kill and murder. You pilate and destroy. Your presence was demanded 10 years ago and yet you didn't show up . . . 8-8-1995 You were supposed to be here. Why weren't you here? You missed the event. You missed the meeting. You missed the party. You have no right to be here . . ."

AHHHHHH MOBGAMES KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THE LIGHTING IN THIS SCENE!!!!!

I thought I was going to see MY BOY 😭💔!!!!!!

Huggy Wuggy is completely fine.

Kissy Missy was so sad and adorable in this chapter. Seeing her stare at the picture and hug herself BROKE MY HEART ( o̴̶̷᷄ _ o̴̶̷̥᷅ )!!! She deserves the world.

Catnap acting like a child and avoiding school 😭💔

Miss Delight was a minor spoiler I knew about since people used her face in their thumbnail. However I was NOT prepared for her to act like a Coil-Head!!!!

Theodore being described as antisocial and having a peculiar relationship with an imaginary friend _(:ì」∠)_.

That “imaginary” friend being The Prototype. Who guided Theodore to help them both escape. Only for Theodore to get electrocuted since he was just a child who didn't know how to safely use a Grabpack.

The Prototype throwing away their chance to escape to save Theodore by bringing him to the staff. Showing The Prototype does care in some way.

Only for Theodore to be later turned Catnap.

THEN the player electrocutes Catnap the SAME way Theodore originally received his injuries. The Prototype comes to “save” Theodore once again but this time by making Catnap a part of him AND CATNAP ACCEPTS SO WILLINGLY (˃ ⌑ ˂ഃ )!!!!

It felt like I was watching a religious experience.

I love Poppy Playtime but I do think they show too much in their trailers. Dog day is a great example but even then his scene was *chef kiss*

All the smiling critters crawling inside Dogday as he desperately screamed in agony and for us to run away left me speechless.

I liked the detail of Dogday calling us angel. I'm excited to see all the AUs people create where we save him.

ALSO THE HOUR OF JOY WAS A BLAST TO WATCH!!!!!

I know Poppy is right that it was just senseless slaughter. How all that death didn't fix or help anyone. Especially when it didn't matter if those killed were innocent or not.

However imagining these characters being painfully experimented on and stripped of their autonomy. Going though years of hell and finally reaching their breaking point. It's hard to not feel good for them getting to release that anger. Even if I know it's wrong.

ALSO I GOT TO SEE MY SECOND FAVORITE CHARACTER BOXY BOO YAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

THERE WAS SOOOOO MUCH HUGGY WUGGY IMAGERY IN THIS CHAPTER AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I'M GOING TO OVER THINK IT!!!!!! I HAVE NO THEORIES I’M JUST POINTING DETAILS OUT!!!!!!

When hallucinating Huggy Wuggy's face is on the employee training video:

“Join the Innovationists, where the bounds of science are continuously pushed. Or join the Counselors of Playcare, whose diligence and care for our children will help shape a brighter future, just you see.”

“Now every one of you has your part in that future, so should you come back tomorrow feeling unhappy for where you are, or what you’ve done . . . worry not, for your supervisor is here and happy to listen! And . . . should you come back . . . years later . . . your conscience finally getting the better of you. May you descend into the dark and the dust, finding all that awaits you are incomprehensible horrors . . . each hungry for your return, each eager that they might find you. Perhaps they’d smile at you from a shadow, their smiling mouths full of teeth and meat and plastic, watching and waiting patiently for their turn at a warm welcome. Or perhaps they won’t allow you such a time to figure your place in the world you’d left. A world that’s theirs now. Welcome home.”

The video transforms into a manifestation of the player's guilt. Not only for their involvement for whatever they did while working at Playtime Co. but for being gone and returning after ten years.

This is also paired with the player's possible guilt for killing Huggy Wuggy and their fear of him.

The hallucination version being a more exaggerated version of the Chapter 1 Huggy Wuggy vent chase.

When Catnap causes the player to later hallucinate:

Poppy: “Do you even know what’s real?”

Poppy: “No you don’t.”

THEN AT THE END OF THE HALLUCINATION IT SHOWS US THE DAY OF JOY!!!! Which is very odd when you consider two things. We've been told multiple times we weren’t there and during this scene we didn't know what the Hour of Joy was.

So the player hallucinating being in front of Huggy Wuggy’s podium during The Hour of Joy with a large Prototype hand reaching for us IS ODD!!!

ALSO THE TAPE IT SHOWS THAT’S WHERE HUGGY WUGGY WAS DURING THE HOUR OF JOY!!!!!!!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?!?!?!

This is just speculation but perhaps the player's memories aren't as trustworthy as we think. After all we still aren't even sure who even sent us the letter or tape in Chapter 1.

"EVERYONE THINKS THE STAFF DISSAPEARED 10 YEARS AGO WE'RE STILL HERE FIND THE FLOWER"

It’s important to point out the characters from Chapter 2 made ZERO appearance during these hallucinations. Mommy Long Legs, PJ Pug-a-Pillar, Bunzo Bunny and the Wack-a-Wuggy.

Is the Huggy Wuggy imagery used because he’s who we encounter at the start of the game?

OR SOMETHING MORE AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[amberskywrites]

Just Leave A Comment Fest Stats

Thank you to @justleaveacommentfest for hosting!!!

Decided I wanted to put my stats somewhere - as well as just post all of the awesome fics I ended up reading! Seriously recommend checking some of them out, they were truly a delight, and I'm really appreciative of this event not just getting me back into commenting, but reading fics in general, as I had entered a sort of reading funk ^^

Total Comments: 31

Bingo Cards

I plan to fill these out more over time for blackout but I got bingo on two cards during this event ^^

The Fics

Here's a link to ALL the fics I read ^^

I didn't read through all the fics I wanted, but I definitely read a lot more than I have in the past like 3 months so! I'll count that as a win while working through more of the listed fics over time

Below are some fics that I HIGHLY recommend - these were my favorites to read (or reread) ^^

Forever Onward, Scion - 32 fic long Wizard101 Series

This. Series. Is. INCREDIBLE!!!! No joke, definitely within a Top 10 favorite series list of mine, perhaps even a Top 5. @oldestenemy literally changed how I interpreted events and characters in this game. I actually read most of these fics early this year, and when I say they absolutely sucked me in, I mean it. I was obsessed with oldestenemy's portrayal of the Young Wizard, as well as just all the other characters and their dynamics. I literally could not put this series down once I started, I know I very much proctastinated on lots of assignments and maybe even didn't pay attention in class just because of it. For the fest I tried to comment on as many of these fics as I could to make up for the fact that I didn't comment when I first read it - and! I had fun letting it absorb my life all over again ^^

the existence of love - 1.6k words of all the Nanatsu no Taizai emotions

I went through the whole spectrum of emotions reading this fic. And I'm gonna say it was fate that I ended up finding this fic, considering I found it by rolling dice for not one but two different bingo cards. I cannot recommend it enough! By the end I was feeling so... flabberghasted, that this fic had the audacity to take me on such a wild rollercoaster of emotions. And I had to sit for a good hour after before I could continue reading. The author captured the characterizations perfectly and managed to create a character that I could relate to but filled me with absolute rage with each word out of their mouth.

By the water - 42 words of Minecraft Diaries relaxation

It's so short, but it was incredibly relaxing to read. Genuinely, I read this right before going to bed, and I was overwhelmed by a sense of calmness and just... felt so much better. I don't normally read fics this short, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

I've Tried Everything - Painful yet beautuful Nanatsu no Taizai Melizabeth angst

Incredible. So so incredible. I really love this author's fics, but I was surprised when I discovered I hadn't read this one! So I jumped on the chance as soon as I could and I don't regret it one bit. Head's up for suicidal Meliodas, and how his cursed has affected him over the years, and beautiful angst and distrust among the Sins. It's wonderful, all of their work is wonderful (seriously, also check out But We All Bleed Red and As Long As You're Alive by them. Incredible.)

[zukkathirst]

Thank you for this event! Zukka fandom now has wonderful artworks and fics and artists have their wonderful compliments. It was so thoughtful of you! Creators really need more praise from us.

I discovered this event too late but hope there will be more. Next time I'd love to participate too!

thank YOU for such a lovely ask!! We rlly got so many more thirsty creations and an abundance of lovely comments too, we're rlly so glad this event could not only amp up the horny but also encourage people to show their appreciation <33 And better late than never!! we're so happy to have you here and to know you enjoyed the weekend, we'd absolutely be delighted to have you there next time as well

[pinchofhoney]

Hi!! Congratulations for your milestone!! I woul like to request something for your event! Could I have d with our dear Ben, please? I just love the idea of love in habits, and the domestic side of a relationship, it has so much fluff potential!!! (And we know how much I love fluff...)

Thank you so much, and congratulations again!!

hey, thank you so much for participating in my little event!! i got so excited as soon as i read your request, my imagination literally immediately began to toss me the sweetest scenes!

» fluff alphabet event

» special events masterlist

d: domestic do they want to settle down? how are they around the house?

Oh, Ben's enthusiasm to settle down with you is as cozy as a warm blanket on a chilly night. He's like a chameleon, effortlessly shifting from the dazzling actor to your loving partner the moment he steps inside your snug and comfy home. It's absolutely adorable how he cherishes these intimate moments, where the world outside fades away, and all his attention is devoted to building a beautiful life with you.

Your shared home has become a haven of love and warmth, like a charming little cocoon where you both can be your true selves. Inside those walls, Ben becomes the ultimate homebody, always eager to snuggle up with you on the couch for a cozy movie night or twirl you around the kitchen while whipping up a delightful dinner together. Every moment with him feels like a dream come true, and it's in these simple moments that love truly blossoms.

Can you imagine? It's a rainy evening, and you both find yourselves nestled by the piano, surrounded by the soothing sound of raindrops on the window. The soft glow of twinkling fairy lights casts a magical spell, making it feel like the most enchanting moment of your life. Ben sits by the piano, and with infinite patience, he guides you through the songs you've always longed to learn. As his almost black eyes lock with yours, a spark of affection lights up his gaze, and you can't help but be swept away by his charm.

But wait, there's more to this magical man! He's not just an actor; he's a culinary wizard too! Despite his busy schedule, Ben has discovered a secret passion for cooking, and he's quite the culinary artist. He loves experimenting with new recipes and whipping up delicious meals for both of you to enjoy. There's something pleasing about seeing him in an apron, focused on creating a masterpiece, all the while wearing that heartwarming smile.

When you both have downtime, the fireplace becomes your cozy sanctuary. Sipping on hot cocoa or tea, you share your dreams, and Ben becomes not just your partner but also your biggest cheerleader. He's there to support you every step of the way, just as you cheer for him in his struggles.

Oh, and those sweet surprises! Ben's love isn't about grand gestures for the world to see; it's about the little things that make your heart flutter. Those cute notes and doodles he leaves around the house speak volumes about his affection for you.

Every day spent with Ben feels like a fairy tale, and you can't help but fall in love him deeper and deeper. His caring nature, humility, and genuine heart make you feel cherished and adored, as if you're living in a world of magic and wonder.

In the quiet, sleepy mornings, as the sun gently peeks through the curtains, you find yourself wrapped in Ben's warm embrace. His soft whispers fill the air, like a sweet lullaby that soothes your soul. This is your safe space, where you feel loved and absolutely at home.

And so, in this cozy haven of love and warmth, you find your happily ever after, where love blooms like a never-ending spring, and the magic of your relationship shines brighter than any star in the sky.

[seivsite]

Congrats on that milestone and thanks for this cool event! Could you do 9. with Bachira and gn!Reader? Hope you have fun and looking forward to your other stories as well ^^

WHIMSICAL MESS.

prompt: one gaming (or focusing on something) normally whilst the other styles their hair in silly little ways.

includes: bachira meguru x gn!reader. hurt/comfort but not really, established relationship. wc: 451

(Name) was focused on studying for their exams next week. They diligently jotted down notes and marked essential details that would earn them those coveted extra score points. Meanwhile, Meguru, who had been sitting on the couch behind them, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness. His beloved seemed completely absorbed in their work, paying him no mind. Pouting at their slightly hunched figure, engrossed in scribbling on their notebook, he felt neglected. It tugged at his heart.

“(Name)-chan~ Can’t you take a break?” he whined, gently shaking their shoulders. He could only hear them sigh before responding.

“Sorry, darling, but I need to finish these papers,” (Name) replied, glancing back at Meguru’s pouting face. They pondered on how to uplift his spirits, and a delightful idea dawned on them.

“How about you play with my hair, hm? You’ve always found joy in it,” they suggested, pointing to the box adorned with an assortment of hair accessories.

Meguru’s face lit up with delight at the suggestion, and he eagerly grabbed the box, placing it beside him on the couch. He instructed (Name) to shift back a little, explaining that he needed space to work his magic on their hair. (Name) peacefully resumed their work, while Meguru, with his playful enthusiasm, occasionally tugged a bit too hard while styling their hair, resulting in a few pained yelps from (Name), followed by his gentle apologies.

It seemed that the idea had worked wonders. (Name) finally completed their assignments, and Meguru no longer felt neglected. However, the aftermath of their hair was quite something. Meguru had embraced sheer creativity, adorning (Name)’s locks with an abundance of accessories. He couldn’t resist capturing the moment, taking pictures for (Name) to judge his hairstyling skills. Needless to say, the outcome was hilariously terrible, but at least they had an unforgettable experience filled with laughter.

“Love, my hair is an absolute mess,” (Name) complained, though not mad at him in the least, pondering how to tackle their hair situation.

“I’m sorry! If you want, I can help you take them off~☆” he exclaimed, already moving on to carefully remove the hair clips and pins from their tangled locks.

The two of them took their time, and eventually, Meguru insisted on brushing (Name)’s hair. Not wanting to cause any trouble, (Name) agreed. Soon, everything was back in order. Their hair was free from accessories and whimsical hairstyles, their assignments were completed for those precious extra scores on the exams, and most importantly, their boyfriend was buzzing with happiness.

In the embrace of tender moments, they discovered pure contentment, where love, laughter, and a hint of chaos danced harmoniously, etching a cherished memory destined to endure.

NOTES. thanks anon for forcing me to finally write my first fav bllk character LMFAOOAO

LIKES AND REBLOGS ARE APPRECIATED! ‹3

[acacia-may]

4, 11, 52, and 65 for the 100 writer asks? 👉👈💖

Thank you so much for the ask, Erika! I'd be delighted to answer these questions for you! Cheers!! 💖

4. What is the plot bunny you’ve been carrying for the longest? optional bonus question: do you ever wonder why you haven’t written it yet and experience deep existential dread?

SO.MUCH.EXISTENTIAL.DREAD.

I answered this question here and talked about my Langris x Finesse Beauty and the Beast AU. Super fun stuff that I never got around to writing at all unfortunately. I have a lot of plot bunnies, but I think that's the oldest I'm still carrying around and have never made any concrete progress on.

11. What's something neat you’ve learned while doing research for something you were writing? also, how much do you worry about doing research in general?

...do you want to know how the human knee joint works in excruciating detail??? I now have my honorary PhD in Patellar Instability thanks to fanfiction.

Jokes aside...I think a lot of the things I've learned for fanfics are related to injuries. I know way more about corneal lacerations, punctured lungs, broken fibulas, amputation recovery, and direct blood transfusions in World War I than I ever expected to know (among a lot of other things).

I also try to research the personal experiences of people who have similar struggles to the characters I'm writing if I don't have a personal frame of reference. For instance, I think I've read at least 100 first-hand accounts from widows and widowers who eventually remarried detailing their specific struggles in processing their grief and opening themselves up to love again. (A special thanks to the Widowers Support Network. They were very informative.)

Sometimes I just disappear down the research rabbit hole. I once spent literally an hour and a half researching cantera fountains for one throwaway line in a one shot. If the story takes place in a historical setting, I'll spend a lot of time researching that or (more often than not) researching whether or not certain things existed yet.

Recently I have been learning a lot about bridges. (I have this OC who is super passionate about bridges, but I know absolutely nothing about them 🤦‍♀️ so it's been a struggle). Last weekend I watched a 45-minute documentary about cantilever bridges just so I'd know how they work--only to discover that the cantilever bridge in this city where the fic was taking place had been torn down at this time and a new cable-stayed bridge had been built. So then I had to watch a bunch of YouTube videos about how those work too.

Oh I also do a lot of canon research too (i.e. going back to reread or rewatch relevant moments from the story because I generally want my fics to be as close to canon as possible. There is nothing worse than catching continuity errors in my work. Yikes 🙈

So yeah...needless to say, I do a ton of research--probably WAY too much because it's most likely that nobody even notices these things but me. But it's still important to me to be accurate to the source material and as realistic as possible.

52. How many unfinished ideas/stories are you working on at the same time?

I try to only actively write one story at time, but I generally work on actively drafting and outlining up to and around 5 at once (by shuffling around the ideas in my head). I specify "actively" because I constantly juggle a lot of WIPs and story ideas, but I can only make concrete progress on a few of them at a time. That doesn't mean I've abandoned my wips, just that they don't have my attention and therefore, won't get concrete drafting, outlining, or writing progression.

Going back to question #4, this also fills me with existential dread.

65. What is your favourite title for a fic you’ve written? 

Probably "A Ceiling Made Of Stars" (which is DRV3 fic). In a once-in-a-lifetime event for me, I actually titled that fic before I wrote it. It just came to me when I had the initial idea for that story, and I think it's poetic, especially in context. I'm also very fond of "The Hero You Loved" (which is an OMORI fic) though I haven't written the 2nd chapter of that fic which would fully explain where the title comes from yet.

It's worth mentioning though that a lot of my fic titles are borrowed from/inspired by lines in music so I felt I should share my favorite titles in this category too (the fandom is in parentheses): "Tackle The Monsters" (DR UDG) "Hearts In Tune," (OMORI) and "Lights Will Guide You Home" (EOA)

My favorite cheeky title is probably "Everything I Need To Know About Love I Learned From Latin" (Horrible Histories; The Movie) though "How To Catch A Mermaid" (OMORI) is a close second. 😁 "It's a Future Problem" is another fun one especially given what that story is about (and that's actually a Black Clover fic unlike the rest of these😅).

To be honest, I think some of my unfinished wips actually have some of my favorite titles I've ever come up with so I'll mention them too: "Lightning In Their Eyes" (Fairy Tail; about how each of the members of the Thunder Legion first met Laxus) and "Dissonant Melodies" (YTTD; about the Yabusame Siblings' (who are both musicians) extremely strained relationship). But alas, these stories never got finished...maybe someday...

[anncanta]

Will Graham: ‘I know who I am’

One of the most interesting things about the Hannibal series is that although it is named after Hannibal Lecter, it is actually the story of Will Graham. This whole film is about him, all the events are tied to him and centered around him. Will is both the main point of meaning and the point of the big bang from which the story is born. As the first season progresses and beyond, it becomes clear that it's not just Hannibal who is in love with Will—the writer and directors also are.

And this is no coincidence. Good storytellers (and all readers) know that a story doesn't need a villain or a conflict, although it's good to have both. A story needs a hero, a main character who is interesting to watch.

And Will is interesting to watch. When I tried to watch this series for the first and second time, I made a mistake—I looked at Hannibal. And, of course, I was disappointed. Because there's nothing to see there. Mads Mikkelsen is wonderful, he is good from any angle and in any pose, but the character of Hannibal ceases to amaze after five minutes. I'll say a terrible thing, but by about the third episode he is perceived as furniture. Everyone, absolutely all the characters beat Hannibal one-handed. The entire Jack Crawford team, from Alana Bloom, to the wonderful pair of forensic scientists Zeller and Price (it's hard to resist the assumption that this is a reference to Webber and Rice) and the beautiful and smart Beverly Katz, is amazing. So are the restless and youthfully cynical Abigail, the buffoonishly sassy Dr. Chilton and Freddie Lounds—a red-haired paparazzi with no brains, but with ambitions. What a delight! And in the middle of it all is Will. It is simply impossible to tear yourself away from him.

He is so smart, warm, lively. So different from any mold, cheerful, talented, kind. Perfectly aware of his limitations and aware that others are unlikely to understand that he understands. Irritated not because the people around him are stupider than him, but because he sees the beauty of the world, which cuts him with its sharpness. Everyone is drawn to him, everyone wants to be friends with him, everyone is literally fighting for his affection and attention. They don't even notice how, by his very existence, he does what Hannibal desperately strives for—conquers people.

The first and third seasons are very clearly contrasted. The first is about Will and, so to speak, shown ‘from Will’. This season is light, breathing, open. The third one is extremely decorative, artificial. It is made up of exquisite and ‘expensive’ parts, like puzzles, which in the end do not fit together into anything. The third season is about Hannibal. It is told through the eyes of a psychopath and about a psychopath. In a certain sense, this season is the most boring, because, moving inside the maniac, we discover that there is nothing there—just gilding on a door that leads nowhere. It is the eternal threshold—like the entrance to the palace of the mind. A chapel, but behind it there is no palace. We don't get there not because we're not allowed to, but because there's emptiness there.

Throughout the series, we see Hannibal trying to become the protagonist of the story. It seems to him that if he pulls the strings, then he controls the lives of others, he weaves fate, weaves webs for others. But he simply sews an eye from the dead, because he himself is internally blind. And he understands this.

There is insight where there is another. This is the only way to go beyond oneself. Hannibal is looking for this way out, habitually tightening the noose on one neck of the other. Until he discovers that he pulled it on himself. And only then does he give up.

Do you know what else is needed to get out and be free?

Free will.

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

FIC WRITING REVIEW 2023

Thank you @loki-is-my-kink-awakening for coming up with this!

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either.

(I just copied @foxywrites)

Words and Fics

608,490 words published in 2023

10 fics worked on

6 completed fics

most productive month: July with 241,381 words

monthly words average: 50,708 words

Words Written per Fandom

Supernatural - 10,725

Pirates of the Carribean - 52,753

Marvel Cinematic Universe - 545,012

Top 5 by Comments

Multitudes - 286

Magic and Madness - 146

Becoming Spider-Man - 46

With Eyes to See and Ears to Hear - 36

From Street to Ship - 10

Top 5 by Kudos

Becoming Spider-Man [kudos:164]

From Street to Ship [kudos: 147]

Multitudes [kudos: 99]

Salvation [kudos: 35]

With Eyes to See and Ears to Hear [kudos: 22]

Top 5 by Hits

Multitudes [hits: 4,499]

From Street to Ship [hits: 3,137]

Becoming Spider-Man [hits: 2,722]

Magic and Madness [hits: 1,678]

Salvation [hits: 733]

Fandom Events in 2023

I discovered fandom events in July, I've never finishe- no, that's a lie!

July Break Bingo! (31/07)

Upcoming Plans

Fic's I'm hoping to finish writing/complete next year:

[MCU] On the Tide

[MCU] With Eyes to See and Ears to Hear

[MCU] Silver & Gold

[MCU] Hail Hydra

Fic's that I'd abandoned at some point, which I'm hoping to return to this year:

[SPN] Salvation

Writing Reflection

Finding JBB was a revelation, and very much accounted for our absolute mania in July. We now have a delightful collection of 700+ bingo prompts spread across too many boards to remember, and it's giving us so much motivation! We've started foraying into works written more for us, though, so we 100% expect less engagement over the next twleve months... But that's okay, because writing them has been an absolute delight.

The goal of this year is to finish the current four WIPS mentioned above! And hoooooopefully hit 500,000 words again... Though there's also a novel we should start. Oops.

Tagging some of my favourite authors: @buckys-wintersoldier, @gammacousin, @42donotpanic, @mrsbarnesblog, @un-unavoidableanxiousball

There's something important to be said, though. The most important thing, for us, that came out of this year wasn't the words. It was the very specific, 'pretty prevelant' commenter that found Multitudes a third of the way through after looking for something different. This... Amazing, beautiful person, making great statements of philosophy and shrewd insights through a computer screen at three am (leading us to wonder "Are you okay or do you need therapy-"). This person who Lia adorably demanded become our friend, and subsequently, we fell head over heels in love with. What's 153 miles (or ~207, given I'm not a crow) when you find the person - or rather, people - you've been looking for? @unfortunatebeetleandfriends Our Bug, our beloved... We can't wait to see you again. We will love you as long as we live. Lieutenant, Yoshitsune - y'all were unexpected, but just as much as a goddamn blessing, and we'll see you in 16 days and 22 hours. All of our love, forever and always, infinitely and endlessly. Thank you for deciding to backscroll.

[missingmissfisher]

Book Review: Locked in Pursuit by Ashley Weaver

Nothing could take the place of our beloved Miss Fisher, but there's still other fantastic female heroes out there that are worth getting to know.

If you haven't already discovered it, I highly recommend you dive into the wonderful world of Electra McDonnell!

I absolutely devoured 'Locked in Pursuit,' Book Four in the series by Ashley Weaver within two evenings of receiving it, and after constantly checking for updates due to the cliffhanger she left us poor readers dangling from in Electra's previous adventure. I can't wait to go back and re-read it slowly as I rushed through it, in order to savour my favourite passages.

And what a love letter indeed to Ellie/Electra's devotees with enough backstory for any reader joining midway because this latest edition doesn't disappoint!

I was super delighted that this one picked up not too far along after where things left off previously, nor that we didn't have too wait long before Ellie and Major Ramsey are back on the trail of one of the things they do best together: sniffing out enemy spy activities. I was honestly guffawing out loud at the author's deft way of portraying their 'battle-of-the wits' intermingled with their warring personal emotions towards one another, which have been one of my favourite aspects of these characters and this series. I also love the addition of meeting others from the major's world that provide more insights to Ellie's (and us readers) need to discover more about his closed-book life.

Without going into spoilers territory, I also felt Ellie's increased uncertainty and post-traumatic stress from the events of the previous book rang true, especially during war time, as she tries to cope with it on her own. Even though she was keeping things from those she normally trusted, it was good to see her continue to delve into the intel she learned about her parents' past.

On the relationship front, I was glad to see more progress with the dreaded triangle, and Ellie's attempts to muddle through this quagmire. It's good to see her budding maturity in terms of wanting to clarify things with Felix and the major, even if things take heart-beating turns with both of them.

The mystery and sleuthing plot retained more of the wonderful WWII spy caperesque pacing from the first book that I love about this series. Again, without giving too much away, I could not have predicted the ending at all.

Fellow lovers of Electra and Ashely Weaver's writing, you will absolutely LOVE this continuing tale, and new readers, I highly recommend you go back and start at the beginning to get the full meal deal.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Ashley for providing this advance copy that has actually whetted my appetite for the next one already.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

6 February 2024

King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, says Buckingham Palace.

The type of cancer has not been revealed — it is not prostate cancer but was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The King began "regular treatments" on Monday and will postpone public duties during it, the Palace said.

The Monarch, 75, "remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," it added.

No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis.

Charles informed both his sons personally about his diagnosis and the Prince of Wales was said to be in regular contact with his father.

The King returned to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning, and the palace says he has started treatment as an outpatient.

Although he will pause his public events, the King will continue with his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings.

It is understood his weekly audiences with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will continue and will be in person, unless doctors advise that he limits such contact.

There is a constitutional mechanism for when the head of state is unable to carry out official duties — in that circumstance, "counsellors of state" can be appointed to stand in for the monarch.

At present that includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward.

Prince Harry and the Duke of York are no longer called upon as they are non-working royals.

Prince William had also temporarily withdrawn from public engagements while he helped his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, as she recovered from abdominal surgery she had last month.

But it was announced earlier on Monday that he would return to public duties later this week.

The King was seen at a church service in Sandringham on Sunday, where he waved to crowds and walked for about 10 minutes.

He had a prostate procedure at a private London hospital more than a week ago.

At the time, the Palace said the treatment was for a "benign" condition.

"It was during this intervention that a separate issue of concern was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer," it said on Monday.

The King chose to go public about his cancer treatment, the Palace said, as he had been a patron of a number of cancer-related charities when he was Prince of Wales.

"In this capacity, His Majesty has often spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and the wonderful health professionals who help care for them."

He had also gone public about his prostate treatment, with the aim of encouraging more men to get prostate checks.

He was said to have been delighted to have raised awareness about the issue, with the NHS website reporting a surge in issues about prostate conditions.

The Royal Society of Medicine thanked the King for highlighting "how cancer is indiscriminate" and urged members of the public eligible for cancer screenings to make an appointment.

"Please don't be shy - the more information we have the better to help — hopefully — rule out cancer or, if not, put you on the most suitable treatment pathway," its president, Dr Jay Verma, said.

One in two people in the UK develop some kind of cancer during their lifetime.

There are more than 200 types of cancer — the most common ones in the UK are breast, lung, prostate, and bowel, according to the NHS website.

For many types of cancer, the chance of getting it increases with age.

UK figures suggest, on average each year, more than a third (36%) of new cancer cases were in people aged 75 and over.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the King a "full and speedy recovery," as did Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

US President Joe Biden expressed his concern and said he would speak to the King.

In a post on X, he later said:

"Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery."

Mr Biden's son, Beau, died of brain cancer aged 46, and his long-time friend, Republican Senator John McCain, also died of cancer in 2018.

Charles acceded to the throne on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and his coronation took place in May 2023.

The King and Queen are scheduled to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.

The Palace has yet to confirm whether the tours will go ahead, with no date suggested for the King's return to full public duties.

5 February 2024

[the-broken-pen]

First of I absolutely adore your writing prompts, you have really helped me with my writing projects. I do have some questions for you. I have a character in my book, she’s the main villain in the story. The story takes place in there Era’s, medieval, seventh century America (Salem Witch trials) and present time. My main villain was born in Salem Town, her father was a judge. She discovers she has powers and has to end up leaving her family and her town for fear of her being a witch. Her family is part of a ancient prophecy, and she believes that she is the girl it speaks of. Her powers have the ability to influence her choices and thoughts. I often think of it as Mr jeckle and the Hyde. The good vs evil. She ends up giving in to her selfish desires and becomes evil. The hero in my story is her ancestor; and she’s the girl in the prophecy. But I wanted to sort of use her as a sort of “cautionary tale” if that makes sense. My often think of my Villain, Alice her name is as very much like Lord Voldemort. She’s very clever and cunning. Manipulative. I’m on the part where my hero is learning about her, I want to make her infamous (sort of like when Harry asks dumbledore if he knew he had met the most evil wizard when he was just a child. And he replies with, no. If the monster was there it was buried deep within) do you have any dialogue that can help set the tone of how evil she is? ❤️❤️ ❤️

Anon, my love, I truly appreciate you, and you have no idea how much joy it brings that you both like my writing and it’s helped you. Absolutely wild.

Your story sounds absolutely delightful, and I adore the idea of a split timeline world building concept. I’m absolutely intrigued by it. Wether or not it’s simply flashbacks or short scenes that look back on the villain, or dual POV, I think it will be wonderful.

Now to actually answer your question:

I have a few suggestions, and you can shape them to what you want—I don’t know underlying motivations between the characters or actually events/scenes, so I’m going vague here.

“It was like walking into the ocean, surface calm and smooth, sun on your back. Until you step too far, too fast, and the current rips you under. There’s no escaping from that kind of hold—and eventually, you don’t want to, either, surrounded by such power. That was her. She was the sun and the riptide and the victim; and she was willing to drag us all down with her when she went.”

“People didn’t live through her—they survived in the aftermath.”

“It was never about forgiveness, or righteousness. At some point, she was a girl, scared and alone. All she had was herself, and her power, and at some point, one of those things won. And it wasn’t her.”

“Power is a thing you can love. It curls up in your heart, your mind, your soul, and it’s a beautiful thing. It’s easy. It gnaws at your bones until you forget the absence of it. She loved her power to absolution, and at that point, right or wrong didn’t matter to her. It just mattered if she was capable of whatever she wanted to do.”

“She didn’t hurt people because she craved their pain—she hurt people because they were in her way. They were casualties to her. A person who sees human beings as obstacles is no longer a person with humanity. And she saw people as obstacles.”

I hope that helps!

This next stuff is just general advice about dialogue, because I went off on a mini tangent while stuck on an airplane. I want to preface that my advice is based solely on how I write and other advice I’ve received—anything I do may not work for you, or go against something you prefer in your writing style. I’m not a professional, simply an individual who likes typing things.

When I’m writing dialogue, my main goal is to get it to flow well, which is my favorite part. Half the time when I start a scene, I have one very specific line fragment that I want to use, and I’m figuring out how the characters would naturally get there. For example, the lines “I need you to hang up,” “No, love, I’m going to turn you into another me,” and “Your brother isn’t alive, but he is living,” were big drivers for me within those scenes, but I have to get to them for them to make sense.

That being said, to write a good “evil” sounding dialogue/villain, don’t make it too outright, unless you’re going for, on some level, unhinged. Your villain lost the internal battle between good and evil, and is driven by her powers. So essentially, an outside force is pushing her to do these things, think these things, say these things. And since she’s manipulative, when she talks, you’re almost going to agree with her, and that’s what will make it more convincing. For example:

“I finally stood up and did something for myself for once—is that such a horrible thing?”

Which, depending on the situation, can be a gross oversimplification—but that’s what your villain would see it as. She did something she wanted, for herself, after leaving her town in fear. And anyone who has been pushed down by other people will relate to that, and the fact that they relate to it will make them uneasy.

Along with that, power dynamics. Not magic, but the way the characters interact. In improv, you need to have two characters on different levels. You can have a boss and an employee, a king and a joker, a mom and her child. There’s engrained power dynamics between those groups, and they make it interesting. If your main character isn’t at least a little bit afraid of the villain, it won’t be believable. Our main character isn’t afraid, why should we be? If Hagrid/Dumbledore/other adults weren’t at least slightly shaken by Voldemort, it wouldn’t matter. He’d just be a bad wizard—not someone who strikes such fear that people cannot say his name.

However, you can have people on the same level within writing, but it can sometimes make a scene lag. It all depends on the situation. But someone, somehow, will always have an upper hand. More resources, more power, less morality, ancestral sway, etc.

Woah, that got long. Anyways, I hope that helps, and if you need any more ideas, feel free to send me another ask, especially if it’s for a specific scene.

[brightlight-dazzlingeyes]

love means nothing | chapter 03

leon goretzka x original female character [+18]

synopsis: 10 years ago, after winning wimbledon at the age of 18, olivia araujo was tennis's biggest rising star. she had a cosmopolitan social life, a handsome boyfriend and all the time in the world. now she was pushing 30, single, lonely and after several complicated injuries she could feel her career coming to an end. warnings: sports-typical violence; mentions of depression; angst; timeline of events are not based on real life; minors dni.

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Chapter 03 | I won’t hurt you

“I have lost all my pride

I have been to paradise

And out the other side

With no one to guide me”

April, 2023, Munich

In the last few months people started to talk about me in the past tense. “Remember Araujo? I wonder what she’s been up to.” All of my idols in female tennis have already retired. The newest article about me in The Athletic reads “From a Supernova to a Dying Star: Araujo's Career and the Fragility of Greatness”. Times have changed. Still, I was expected to be in Charleston right now, probably losing to Paula Badosa. 

“Maybe I’m just too old.”

“We’re the same age.” Leon giggles. 

“I just don’t want to feel like it wasn’t worth it. Like I just wasted my youth.”

“You know, my father always tells me that as long as I’m playing I won't be able to truly realize how incredible the things I've achieved are. Because I still want more. Because I still feel like there's so much to achieve. We’ll only know if it was worth it once we're old and gray, looking at the dusty trophies and medals on the shelf.”

We’re in his apartment cooking dinner. It’s way too easy to be around him, the whole thing is way too domestic. He has a kitchen towel on his shoulder and I’m leaning against the counter, blushing, staring at him.

“Are we idiots for doing this again?” I’m biting my lower lip, trying to hide my smile.

“Yes. Absolutely.” He laughs and I can’t help laughing with him.

We were supposed to have a dinner date together, if I was lucky maybe hook up. But the next morning, naked in his bed, tangled together; I just couldn’t leave. And he didn’t seem too bothered about it. That same morning, without saying a word he opened space for me in his closet. At night, when we were cuddling again after making love, he whispered.

“Please, stay. I want you to stay. You can stay as long as you like.”

My father wasn’t too happy about it. Last time we talked was through text a couple days ago.

dad:

I'm so incredibly disappointed in you.

Let me know when you decide to get back to work.

You know I have to make my plans around yours.

liv:

i’m not giving up clay season, just taking a break

i’m playing stuttgart for sure

dad:

Yes, I’m sure ‘taking a break’ and playing Stuttgart will help you win Roland Garros.

That makes a lot of sense.

I’m being ironic, by the way.

Munich is beautiful and I’ve been filling my days touristing the Bavarian city. Starting my mornings with a traditional breakfast of white sausages, sweet mustard and freshly baked pretzels at one of the city’s many cafes. Then I’ll wander the winding streets of the old town discovering hidden gems, cozy pubs and quirky boutiques. I turned off my phone and decided to stay out of social media. For me it felt like a cleansense, but my family couldn’t see it that way. Chiara got in charge of visiting me and trying to take me back home.

“So… You’re living with him?” She was being careful with her words at first. She accompanied me on one of my daily walks and we were sitting at a charming cafe in one of Munich's less busy neighborhoods. It’s very cold and we’re delighting ourselves with some great hot chocolate.

“Something like that. We haven’t really talked.”

“You should go to therapy.” She soundly put her chocolate cup on the table, looking me in the eye with a worrisome expression.

“Oh.”

“I’m serious, Liv. It helped me a lot.”

“You’re in therapy?”

“I’ve been doing therapy for the past 3 years. And you’re like, a pro athlete, you should be doing it from day 1.”

“Oh.”

I had no words. My little sister looked and sounded so mature. When did I lose that? Or maybe I never had it. Maybe I was never really an adult. Never had to, only had to be a player.

“It’s a lot, what you have to deal with. What you had to deal with since you were a kid. And our family doesn’t help. Mom is a narcissist and dad is an asshole.”

She holds my hand and I’m shocked.

“Chiara! What. I mean. You’re right. But you shouldn't say it.”

“You never thought about firing dad? And maybe get a coach who understands you and respects you?” 

Her words take me back to my first Wimbledon title. What it took for me to get there and how father made me feel.

“And don't patronize me, yes, of course. But he wouldn't take well and I never won a fight against him. I would rather just retire, honestly.”

“Well, that’s crazy. When did you become the type of person who prefers the easy way out?” Chiara looked angry. “You’re miserable and if there’s any chance you can still be happy playing, I think you should take it.” She takes another sip of her hot chocolate. “What about your friends? Isabella is living in Munich, did you know?”

"That 's true!” Isabella and I used to be inseparable, back when I used to answer my friends' texts and actually had a social life. “I’ve forgotten. God, it’s been so long since I talked to her.”

“Well, here’s your chance.”

Chiara was right. So I called Isabella and set up a lunch date; and then I looked for a therapist. Leon wanted to see my sister again before she went back to Portugal, so we went home together and they cooked us dinner.

I left the kitchen for a moment and, when I was walking back in, I heard them talking.

“What?” Leon asked.

“What are you doing?” Chiara is laughing.

“Olivia doesn't like sesame seeds.”

There’s a pause after that. Leon always takes the seeds off the bread for me. I take a peek, trying to get a better look at their interaction.

“You have always been my favorite.” Chiara hugs him with watering eyes. Then she playfully pretends to punch his arm.“If you hurt her I’ll kill you.”

“You guys are so cute!” I finally walked in hugging them both.

“You guys are so cute.” Chiara points at us and we agree. We really are.

***

“Dating a footballer? Couldn’t be me.” Isabella teased me. We were in a busy restaurant having drinks after lunch. Isa is a sports journalist who is currently covering the Bundesliga, so for her my current situation was funny to say the least.

“You know you're bound to eat your words, right?”

“If that happens, just shoot me.” She jokes. “You know twitter is going crazy about the two of you right? You guys are the new Jennifer Lopez and Ben Aflleck. People are obsessed.”

“I’ve been out of social media, but I’ve noticed the rise of paparazzi following me around; so I’ve figured.”

Meeting up with Isa was like a breath of fresh air. I’ve been isolated from my friends for too long. Later, in therapy, I would make the connection on how that was affecting my matches.

***

“I can’t keep doing this unless I know you’re as invested as I am. I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, but I can’t go through all of that again.”

We were getting ready to bed talking about his work, changes of manager, upcoming games; and Leon just burst it out. He looks anxiously at me and I can tell he was thinking about it for a while.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m invested, I promise.”

He nods.

[alexanderflowerbird]

Hey! For your spotify wrapped ask! 14, 20, 37.

Oooh hey! Triple threat! Let's go 14: Cuff It by Beyonce Jane knows this battle is in the bag, it's been a rough, wild fight with plenty of capable adversaries, a combat worthy of the trouble, but it's abundantly clear that between her, the Reliquary's fleet and Zephrinus Pact himself, they've grade A fucked up the Tellestrian rogue ships. Merciless pirate types, very fashionable, equally ruthless- it's been a ball and Jane wants to wrap this up, head back to the Reliquary and drink to their success of putting another horrible group of people completely out of commission. Another myth about Zephrinus Pact, no doubt-- the Tellestrians have been trouble all across the galaxy and they have a habit of leaving one or two people alive to pass on how absolutely horrifying they were in battle. Unfortunately for them, Zephrinus doesn't have those kinds of aspirations and (usually) takes no prisoners.

She has to wonder if Zephrinus is having as much fun with this as she is. He loves a good fight, is intrigued by an opponent that doesn't tuck tail and run at the mention of him, but he's so fucking old, and he's fought so many fights... is he having fun? Can he get drunk? That's a whole other matter- she wants to get drunk, and she wants to get drunk with him, but can he even get drunk when he's... whatever he is? She'll have to tell him when they get back that she'd like to get drunk and if while she's drunk she climbs him like a tree it's all consensual on her end. Get in a high stakes space battle, get drunk, get laid-- it's the perfect course of events as far as she's concerned, and she's going to tell him as much before he has a chance to tell her he's got to do debriefs or that she should rest or anything else. Knowing him he'll probably join her for drinking, let her get blasted, have a laugh at her flirting, make her drink water and put her lovingly to bed, some how without being a buzz kill about it. A buzzkill-less buzzkiller. They have to do something fun, it's a regular every day thing to crush evildoers for Zephrinus, but for Jane this is... fun. It's fun and she wants to enjoy it with him. Maybe she can just be frank and tell him that he has to act like this is a new thing for him, to conjure the ancient times where he decided to do this of all things and discovered how good it is to be a cosmic force of good. That, or to simply be capable of drunkeness so they can be drunk and silly and victorious together. It's a question for the histories, another thing she'll know about Zephrinus Pact that no one else knows, can the cosmic war lord get fucked up? Once they're done with this delightful conquest, she fully intends to find out.

20: Creature by Half-Alive The ghostlands this time of year are very loud, full of stories and memories and spirits eager to convene with the living. Femi doesn't know why this season brings on such restlessness, but it's tradition to go and hear the stories now, when the overlapping dead are making so much brilliant noise, calling to be heard. Her gift is to hear the tragedies of the dead, to know their unfulfilled dreams, their losses, their unending woes... but this will be the last season she takes that task. She is going to Reigward soon, to have this power altered, to make her talent into something new.

She has brought much comfort to the dead, has wept with them, has taken their stories and memorized them by heart, but soon, she will serve to soothe the living. She will train to be a doctor and if the promises made by the witches in Reigward are true, she will be able to pull apart the hurt of the body the way she has spent all of her youth pulling at the hurt of the spirit. It is a gift that has great value, she knows that- she has been made with not just the ability to attract sad stories to her, but to offer a profound, lasting comfort once they're told. Spirits that give onto her their stories can for many years be quelled from their grief, once they've given it over to her... she wants to do that for the living too. She will make her glorious gift into something new and do as much good as she can with it in her life.

The dead will still come to her, but she can handle all of it, she can take it in and make peace of it. She only has to serve the dead alone this last season and she will make it her best season. She will take up all the grief she can and unravel it and then she will serve her truest calling, the calling truest to her own soul. To help the living as she has the dead and recreate herself fearlessly into what she knows she was meant to be.

37: Never Gonna Let It (But It's Completely Different) by Lubalin Kalmin will get this damned boulder up to the summit, to the cathedral where he's promised the ancient king he'd land his stone and spirit. He's built so much muscle under this task, but he's still struggling, still exhausted and occasionally quietly doubtful that he can succeed. What happens then, if he fails? It feels like he's been doing this for so long that it's the only way for him to become King himself, to become worthy of taking hold of his own dreams and never letting go. The old King had promised him the key to his future if he can manage this, if he can be strong enough, persistent enough, if he doesn't give up on himself. He often comes down from the mountain side uncertain, but he wakes each day and returns to the boulder with high spirits.

He is meant to be King, to make Erato his Queen, to usher in another golden era for the Kingdom of Black. The old King doesn't care that he's young and struggling, that sometimes he's pathetic about it, huffing and whining and straining against the bulk of the boulder inch by inch. He's said he see the potential in him to make a king worthy of greatness. This is the way, this is the best way, and knowing that he puts himself against the work with all he can muster. He has his doubts, but he won't ever allow them to stop him. His dreams are too important to stop now. The cathedral seems so far away every day, but when it's done he will be a man, strong, capable, wielding all he needs to become King and rule with an endless love for the kingdom. He just has to keep going. Keep coming back. Keep pushing. If he can just do that, he can't lose and he won't. He simply can't. He will be King.