#ain't gonna lie i love these colors

[juniperdugong]

Relationship Quirks 97s ver.

Aka habits I can see the boys doing in a relationship || 95s || 96s || 97s || Maknae line ||

The8 Wears your favorite color

Now this one is truly an unconscious thing that Hao does. You mention your favorite color one day during a random conversation and he doesn't do much with it... until the color starts becoming more eye-catching.

Suddenly more and more of his wardrobe is taken over by your favorite color; Not in a way that cramps his personal style but in a way that adds to it, of course. And even when he isn't wearing clothing that's your favorite color then his nails will definitely have sort of accent in or completely be (insert fav color here).

It's funny because he vehemently refuses to believe that's what's happening. If anyone, especially you, brings up how often he wears that color then he will scoff; Something about "no one being able to shake his personal preferences" or something like that.

"Been liking purple a lot lately, huh?" "No, I haven't." "But your nails are purple, your beanie is purple, and your cardi-" "Maybe, It just fits with my current style???" *Rolls his eyes and then buys a belt he's been "eyeing for ages"... just so happens to be purple*

DK Brings you up in every conversation

This sweet summer child~! (He's older than me) You would never in the world have to be jealous when with this man. Because chances are if he's talking to someone and it looks like anything interesting is happening AT ALL he's probably talking about you. Honestly, his dedication to talking about you might make people think he's obsessed (...he is) Maybe people would be even more interested in him because of that though... Call me crazy but dedication is sexy!

Either way, you're the only person in his sight and he swears it up and down. Doesn't leave any room for doubt either! The boys and your mutual friends are constantly telling you how appalled they are at how sweetly Kyeom talks about you when you aren't there. You're at the forefront of most of his conversation when you're with him, you can't imagine it being worse when you aren't around, but apparently, you are DEAD WRONG.

Seeing a pair of shoes can turn into a rant about what pairs of shoes you like. Ice cream flavors remind him of the time that you got ice cream for him when he was feeling sad and he just has to tell the guys about it. A talk with his manager about his recent health suddenly takes a turn and now he's sobbing talking about how much you take care of him. It's all you you you~

Mingyu Has to hold your hand

So we all know that Gyu is the biggest cuddler of all time, there's no doubt that he isn't clinging to your side when you're around. But hand-holding is different, Gyu can stand to not be hugging you 24/7... as long as you're holding his hand.

Claims that it feels like he's missing a piece of himself when he lets go, and also claims that you practically disappear if you aren't holding his hand, endless sulking. (Dramatic ass) And why can I vividly see him holding YOUR hand while clinging to the members??? Like he'll be swaying your arms back and forth while LITERALLY HOLDING WONWOO BY THE WAIST & BACKHUGGING HIM!!! Then has the audacity to be offended when you let go.

Also, has to hold your hand to sleep. He would love to cuddle! And he often does!... For like 10mins before this human space-heater gets too sweaty and has to move to the opposite side of the bed. Holding your hand in his sleep is a good compromise though, of course until you're letting go to use the restroom. (Deffo the type to follow you to pee, sits on the sink too)

A/N: I ain't even gonna lie... all of these headcanons could have been turned into full fics. I went insane imagining these habits, the 97s have been killing it in terms of looks and popularity lately. On a real note though, FUCK PLEDIS! PROTECT THE BOYS! Still so fucking pissed about what they let happen to Mingyu and TWS. Calming down... Comments and Reblogs are like super fuel for my writing and are much-appreciated lovelies!

TAGLIST (open): @bemybabiibish @bath1lda

[emmylksblog]

H.FORT BF HEADCANONS!

based on this request

a/n: extra long to feed you girlies cuz i ain't uploading any soon, writing just takes my whole day and not gonna lie drains all my energy :(

hope it doesn’t disappoint! stay safe yall 🫶🏻

⚽︎ bf! hector doesn't have time for long skincare routines between games and practices. His own routine was a quick rinse with water and a bar of soap. But watching you spend at least an hour every night made him memorize the process without even noticing.

Whenever you come home after a long day, completely exhausted, I imagine hector insisting on doing your skincare for you.

⚽︎ bf! hector would always be the big spoon. He took great pride in being protective of you, and cuddling was just an extension of that role. But on nights when he would feel particularly vulnerable, like after a brutal loss on the field, Hector would flip around and let you hold him instead.

⚽︎ bf! hector would never leave for training without giving you a goodbye kiss. Even if you're still asleep, he'll pause next to the bed, gently smooth your hair from your face and brush his lips against your forehead. It's a small gesture, but he knows he won't be able to see you until much later in the day.

⚽︎ bf! hector would be the type to keep a hair tie on his wrist at all times. You were infamous for forgetting to bring one with you whenever you left the house, and once your hair became a tangled mess, it would annoy you endlessly. To prevent any potential tantrums, Hector took it upon himself to always have a hair tie at the ready whenever you two were together.

And yes, it also had the added benefit of signaling to all the other women in the room that he was taken. He liked that even better.

⚽︎ bf! hector would love to brush your teeth together. He enjoyed starting and ending the day with you in that quiet, intimate moment. Sometimes he would even sulk a little if you did it without him.

"You started without me?" he would complain, pouting a bit as he picked up his own toothbrush.

⚽︎ bf! hector who would adore to spend time with your family. He especially would enjoy playing football with your siblings, as it would allow him to show off a little and get them excited about the sport. Your siblings would usually end up worshipping him within minutes of starting a game, especially when he'd let them score on him occasionally. He'd always make a point to ruffle their hair or give them an encouraging high-five afterward.

hector had never had siblings of his own, but that didn't stop him from instantly bonding with yours.

⚽︎ bf! hector who seems unable to keep his hands off you when he's driving. He always has his arm around your shoulders or is holding your hand. Sometimes he even caresses your thighs while he's driving. He simply can't go for too long without touching you. It's like a need for him to feel your skin against his and know you're close.

⚽︎ bf! hector who pretends to be cool and collected when you attend his games, but deep down, he's absolutely thrilled to have your support. He puts on a poker face, trying to maintain his tough-guy image, but in reality, he loves it when you cheer him on.

His favorite part is when you wear his jersey. Seeing you in his colors, proudly showing everyone that you're his biggest supporter.

⚽︎ bf! hector who would always look out for you, especially when you're wearing high heels. Once your feet start screaming in pain, he'll immediately notice and sweep you into his strong arms.

"I can't have my girlfriend suffering on my watch,"

⚽︎ bf! hector would be your biggest supporter in your career endeavors. He would encourage you to go after whatever goals you had and would do his best to help support you in any way he could.

After long study sessions, he'd insist on giving you massages to work out the aches and knots that had formed in your back.

⚽︎ bf! hector who is a fiercely independent person, not one to rely on others for much. But with you, he would allow himself to be vulnerable.

He would love it when you pampered him, especially when it came to his hair and face. Only you had the privilege of touching his skin so intimately. Whenever you'd stroke his cheek or run your fingers through his hair, he'd lean into it, his eyes fluttering closed. He knew he could relax and let you take care of him.

⚽︎ bf! hector who is a disaster in the kitchen (pls that man can't cook to save his life, if you have seen the video of him and cubarsi you will agree with me). Even boiling water was a challenge for him. But when you got sick, he wanted to take care of you, even if he didn't know how.

He called his mom for help, determined to prepare something nourishing and healing for you. Unfortunately, his culinary skills proved to be woefully lacking, and his attempt at the dish was more "creative adaptation" than actual recipe. It didn't taste great, but the gesture was heartfelt, and you appreciated his effort.

⚽︎ bf! hector who has a weakness for your collarbone. Every time he kissed it, you'd let out a little giggle or squeak, and it was music to his ears. He relished the fact that he could make you laugh with just a simple action.

⚽︎ bf! hector who would have unwavering trust in you. He would value your opinion above anyone else's and take your advice to heart, believing that your wisdom was unmatched.

⚽︎ bf! hector who would make sure to hold your hand, as if afraid that you might slip away from him in the crowd.

Whether you were attending a fancy gala or grabbing coffee at a local café, it was always the same - his larger hand would instinctively reach out for yours, lacing your fingers together tightly. He took comfort in the warmth of your touch, and the knowledge that you were right there beside him.

⚽︎ bf! hector would gladly tag along when you hit the gym on his days off. His true motivator for agreeing to go was definitely to watch you work out, admiring the way your body moved and how you pushed yourself to your limits.

However, he would always throw in a few exercises for himself as well. After all, he couldn't let you have all the fun, could he? And who knows, the extra cardio might just come in handy later...

⚽︎ bf! hector who is a playful partner (i know he is and you can't tell me otherwise), and one of his favorite ways of messing with you was biting you to get your attention. He would nibble on your earlobe or your neck, just hard enough to get a reaction.

But oh, the tease didn't stop there. Once he had your attention, he'd act completely nonchalant, like he hadn't just been biting you for cuddles. He'd lean back with a smug grin on his face, feigning ignorance about what had just happened.

⚽︎ bf! hector who can't resist pampering you, especially when it comes to your nails. Every time you'd get a manicure, he'd insist on paying for it, claiming it was an investment in his own comfort.

He absolutely loved the feeling of your manicured nails scratching gently against his scalp, massaging his head and sending tingles down his spine.

⚽︎ bf! hector who is a waist boy through and through. Once he had his hands on your waist, he rarely let go.

⚽︎ bf! hector who adores your hair. He would love the way it looked, whether it was flowing freely down your back or pulled up in a neat bun.

He would often find excuses to reach out and touch it, running his fingers through the strands or absentmindedly twirling a lock around his finger. He would bury his face in your hair when he hugged you, inhaling your scent and letting the silky smoothness of your locks caress his skin.

⚽︎ bf! hector who would turn to his mother when he found himself in hot water with you. Whenever you two had a disagreement or you were upset with him, he would seek the counsel of his mom.

In the end, his mother would always encourage him to swallow his pride and apologize to you, no matter who had started the argument.

⚽︎ bf! hector can't stand being on your bad side. He hated feeling disconnected from you, and the idea of you giving him the silent treatment was torturous.

He would do just about anything to get you speaking to him again, even if it meant being the one to cave and apologize first. He missed the sound of your voice, and he'd do anything to hear it again.

⚽︎ bf! hector who can't help but gush about you in front of his friends and teammates.

"Man, do you ever shut up about her?" Marc would tease him, pretending to be annoyed. "We get it, She's great."

But no matter how much he teased Hector, it wouldn't stop the smitten footballer from talking about you.

⚽︎ bf! hector who loves imitating you, often teasingly mimicking your mannerisms and expressions just to get a rise out of you.

You'd respond with a swift punch to his arm, trying to hide your embarrassment as he chuckled at your reaction. Despite the mock annoyance, deep down, you couldn't help but be endeared by his antics.

⚽︎ bf! hector who exudes a natural air of dominance, but is always willing to let you take the lead when the mood strikes you.

⚽︎ bf! hector who is a passionate fan of Anuel, and typically had no tolerance for those who weren't. But you were the exception.

He tried to convert you many times, but your music taste leaned more towards pop and r&b. Despite his best efforts, you just couldn't get into Anuel's music.

Hector might grumble and complain about your apparent lack of culture, but deep down, he forgave you for it. After all, he loved you more than his favorite artist.

(i think this is just a reflection of how i think, but as a spanish i don't like anuel lmao)

⚽︎ bf! hector who loves seeing your face whenever he pulls out his phone. He had a picture of you set as his wallpaper, and he also had your baby photo in his phonecase.

(idk if that’s weird but couples do it where i live)

⚽︎ bf! hector who loves seeing you in his hoodies. There was something about your petite frame engulfed in his oversized clothing that made him feel extra protective of you.

⚽︎ bf! hector who would consider you his life partner. He sees you as his other half, the person who completes him in every way. He trusts you implicitly and can't imagine facing the world without you by his side.

[tarot-bimbo]

PICK A PILE♡⁠(⁠>⁠ ⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠<⁠)⁠♡

What does your future spouse look like?

1. 2. 3.

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Pile 1

Okay so pile one I am seeing someone who works out he or she is most definitely strong they could pick you up. I am seeing like 5'11 he could be that height or shorter I am hearing short king 👑 this person is definitely not so tall they could even be shorter than you actually. But you like that obviously, this person is gonna be your Husband most definitely gonna try to put a ring on your finger REALLY fast. You got lots of wands and swords so I am taking that as he definitely is not gonna disappoint you in bed and if this is a girl then she definitely has a wap lmao one of you may get shy a lot. There could be an age gap I am seeing short hair maybe black or white curly. He could be Italian or from Germany? He could like the beach a lot when you do get with this person he is most definitely gonna take you to his favorite place on the beach. He could also live by water or you two will meet by water. He's rich like not Beyonce rich but he doesn't have to work ya know? He's I can see he has chest hair and if you are a man reading this she definitely has really bug breast or really small. If you are a man reading this I think you definitely have a thing for milfs or they flock towards you and if you are a woman a lot of older men throw themselves on you or that's just what you prefer. They definitely have a big house. Possibly does gymnastics. They could also wear a lot of red or layered clothing. For men I am seeing a girl who mostly wears long dresses and for the woman I am seeing a man in formal get up honestly or like really layered clothing like the aesthetic boys you may see on Pinterest with the baggy layered cloths and stuff. Whoever they are they can dress. They like to cover up a lot tho maybe a cancer I thought of a crab going in their shell suddenly. They definitely also have a high role in their workspace and could even own their own business. Big bosses are what they call themselves 🤣. They have a very heavy accent probably not from the same place you are. Probably an earth sign. I rolled my zodiac dice and you got Aries,Virgo and Gemini.

( I hope this pile resonates with you. I love you☄️)

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Pile 2

Okay so pile twooo Already I am getting your person is loud and their personality. They keep you guessing. They definitely party,like the party doesn't start until they arrive. Your person is definitely clumsy I almost mixed two tarot decks😵‍💫. Definitely day dreams a lot they are very care free they might see the world as one day it's gonna end why not ruin it first? Okay so this person talks a LOT like never a dull moment with them tho. They could travel a lot honestly I ain't getting a lot on look but like green eyes dark hair and eyes, you may think their eyes are very intense and intimidating. They like wearing a lot of hats tho they could possibly be 25 and up. He works he's not rich or anything but he can most definitely spoil you. They definitely like touching you in public and being in nature. They are a lot to even handle not gonna lie but they are also very closed off. They don't want to tell me too much they like surprises and they know you probably hate waiting and stuff. I am also seeing dark red hair like cherry red. He's talking about how he dyed his own hair and has to mix multiple colors. I think you or them might like both genders. Heavy on loving animals might even be an Instagram influencer. I am seeing you two are closer than you think 🤔 my phone buzzed as confirmation on that. They will always be on the phone with you texting FaceTime regular calls it doesn't matter as long as you two are talking. I rolled my astrology dice to see what zodiac sign you would get and I got Aquarius,Libra and Scorpio so these could be in their birth chart.

( I hope this pile resonates with you. I love you☄️)

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Pile 3

Okay so right off back he may look like that dude from Ghostbusters Dan Aykroyd but when he was in his prime. They are on the thicker side and honestly they just might work a lot then go home and do nothing 😅 I am seeing you are the one to spice up there life might even be a chef. He has longer hair definitely not black but not honey blonde more so like a dirty blonde or like a golden brown. He likes to garden and build things. They are the type of you say that your car was messed up could fix it even if they are a woman this could shock the shit out of you. They could look like total dork glasses and everything. Favorite movie could be revenge of the nerds. I am getting a lot of older references and shit oop they definitely have a potty mouth 🫢. But I think both of you are older than most ( please don't take that the wrong way 💖) or just really have a thing for old stuff. They definitely live in the city but when they get with you I see you two might move in a place with more land and green fields I heard like Oregon but I have no idea what that place looks like 😅. I used my astrology dice to find out potential zodiac signs. Aquarius, Libra, Capricorn. You got two of the same zodiacs from pile 2 might wanna rest that too or not 🤪.

( I hope this pile resonates with you. I love you☄️)

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(if you are looking for a private reading please let me know mwah(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠))

I hope you enjoyed this pick a pile♡

[rapha-reads]

IWTV rewatch

Season 2 episode 1 [What Can The Damned Really Say to the Damned] - part 4/4

- And now... Mood shift, setting change, back to Dubai, 2022, and the 77 year-long lie. And lord oh lord, we jump right into it with the shot of the bedroom being a cell and Armand selling Louis' art without even telling him the works are up for sale. Greaaaat. This is gonna be fun.

[Louis] "'Could I see the pages we removed? Of Claudia's diaries?'

[Armand] 'We made an agreement.'

[Louis] 'I don't know what else is blurred or misremembered.'

[Armand] 'My name is in some of those pages.'

[Louis] 'I sit across from him and reckon with the knowledge I don't know what other misrememberings made into it. I won't share them with him but I need to read them again.'"

Brb, need to SCREAM. Oh, the control Armand us exercising over Louis... The way he micromanages every aspect of his life. The way Louis has to bargain for everything he wants, and the way he thanks (thanks!!!) Armand for every breadcrumb thrown his way. The way Armand cares more about his image, his reputation, his grip on Louis, than Louis' well-being and peace of soul and mind. And the way the scene is shot and designed, the bars behind the bed and the skyscraper settling, the lack of any colors and any homey furniture, the huge bed with an ocean separating them, contrasting with the comfy house and room of 1132 rue Royale, and how Lestat and Louis used to sleep entwined in each other's embrace... I will go mad.

- BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THE ENTRANCE HAND IN HAND, ARE THEY SERIOUS. Oh, this is too hilarious. And how they drop the hands as soon as they're seated, yeah, real convincing, fellas.

- Oh, Devil's Minion's crumb! Armand responding to Daniel by mimicking his "Yeah" and those big eyes looking so amused and fond at that old man. Couldn't care less about the Loumand, I'm here for the Devil's Minion. What a performance, Louis rubbing Armand's shoulder, lmao.

- Daniel shutting down Armand immediately is hilarious. "Sure, sire, you're on the record, but you still haven't made an appearance in the story so for now stfu and wait for your turn". No wonder Armand goes crazy about Daniel, that guy doesn't know how to be afraid. And second shoulder pat, Lou, hon... You're enjoying this, aren't you. You are enjoying the way Daniel puts Armand back in his place, something you haven't managed to do in years, despite what you both like to pretend.

- Oh, I love that piece of music! That one is "The Whole World Was Ready to Return" and it is gorgeous. It's played here, as Claudia and Louis go to Paris, and at the end, when Louis issues his threat/warning to the vampires in Dubai. Very thematic. The music in s2 is different from the music in s1, by the way. S1 soundtrack had very folk/blues undertones, New Orleans style, while s2 is much more orchestral/symphonic, Paris style. The music adapts itself to the setting, and I adore that. It gives so much more texture to the story.

- [Louis] "The war had turned off the lights, stripped its streets of their beauty, sent its avant-garde into exile. But now, the whole world was ready to return, to remake their lives. Pilgrims, on their hopeful way."

Nah, the avant-garde, at least artistic, was there, just, waaay underground or dangerously flirting with censorship and hidden meanings. In Paris itself during the war, there were several plays written and played against fascism while the Gestapo was patrolling the streets. Notably, though conflictingly, Jean Anouilh's famous "Antigone", in 1944, Josephine Baker singing and spying , as well as Sacha Guitry, who was arrested after the Liberation and accused of collaboration without any evidence, but who managed to save a lot of Jewish artists and personalities by playing double agent, or good ol' Sartre (who hilariously makes a cameo later on in the show) who writes a lot of stuff between '40 and' 44. Anyway. There's more but I ain't have time right now to do serious research. Back to Louis.

- [Louis] "'I wanna say something to you. I don't need to hear anything back I just need you to hear me. Hard words and soft words. The hard. Our life is shit. It's been shit. It is shit. It's gonna be shit again. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. No one's watching, no one cares. A shit life beats no life. But where we're going now we can't be running away again. Doesn't mean we forget what we saw. What she did in front of us. I see you going that way I'm gonna pull you back. I don't need that from you. As long as you walk the Earth, I'll never taste the fire, you understand me? We're going to find others like us. Aind if it ain't here, cos life is shit, or I fuck it up again, or you fuck it up, we'll go to the next place. We can't be the only good ones out there. Soft words. If you were the last vampire on Earth... it would be enough. It's you and me. Me and you. You and me. Me and you. You and me.'"

And my hallucination of your dead father.

Anyway that's his child, that's her parent.

Gotta give it to Louis tho, he doesn't lie. Embellishes, obfuscates, but lying, no. As long as Claudia's alive, he's not gonna try the sun. But if she dies... All bets are off.

Also Louis is right and hey, actually needed to hear that right now, thanks bae. Now someone needs to tell him back his own words, I think he needs to hear it back.

Episode insider:

Jacob talking about the heart full of sugar and how he spent the rest of the night on a sugar high is so adorable and hilarious when the part that comes next is Dreamstat. Also hey, "Dreamstat" was coined by Jacob himself, nice!

[Jacob] "Anne Rice's vampires are so human. This is kind of a departure from these sort of beautified, glamorous vampires. It's just really fun." - yeah, I like the glam vamp, but the monstrous vampire, a bit like Mike Flanagan does in Midnight Mass, is also a thrill.

Love Delainey saying she loved doing her stunts and all the physical stuff!

[Assad] "Armand wants to protect himself, but also wants to protect his relationship with Louis, what they have. He feels he has no choice except to come in, sharing the narrative with Louis." - yep. Protecting himself. Protecting what he has with Louis, even at the expanse of Louis' own will. Because what does Armand fear above all else? To be unloved. Not necessarily alone, like most vampires, but to be considered unlovable and unworthy of people's care. So if he can't be sure that people's feelings for him are genuine, he will orchestrate and manipulate them to tie them to himself. That's Armand's schtick.

season 1 masterpost

part 1 | part 2 | part 3

episode 2 | episode 3 | episode 4 | episode 5 | episode 6 | episode 7 | episode 8

[writtenjewels]

Mirage part 6

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

Salim woke in an unfamiliar room. He sat up abruptly, even more confused to find a soft bed under him. He looked around, the panic in his pulse switching to something more nervous when he noted the blank canvases and art supplies. Was he in Jason's room? Salim looked around and spotted a dresser and a half-open closet. He was in Jason's room, in the man's bed.

Last night, Salim had fallen asleep in Jason's arms. At some point, the other man must have brought him in here. Imagining it made Salim's heart beat even faster.

Salim eased off the bed, waiting a few seconds to make sure he didn't feel faint before making his way to the door. He would need to build up his leg strength before he could go very far, but he could at least walk on his own now. He gently pushed the door open and stepped into the next room. Jason was asleep using the beanbag chair as his pillow. The position did not look very comfortable. There was a canvas nearby; he must have been working on his landscape until he fell asleep.

Salim knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help staring at Jason while the man slept. His cheek was pressed against the chair, face turned toward the bedroom. One arm was flung up over his head with the other draped over his body. He looked peaceful enough despite his awkward position. Still, he was likely going to be sore, and Salim felt guilty that Jason would give up his bed for this. Salim rested a hand on Jason's shoulder and gently shook him.

“Jason? Wake up.”

Jason let out a grunt and shifted in his sleep. Salim gave him another nudge and Jason's eyes flickered open. He focused on Salim, blinking a few times.

“Salim?”

Salim realized how close he was to the other man and backed away. “Um, good morning.”

“Mornin',” Jason returned. He sat up and let out a sharp gasp, a hand clasping the back of his neck. “Fuck!”

“Are you all right?” Without thinking, Salim leaned close again, placing his hand over Jason's. “Did you strain something?”

“I'm good,” Jason insisted. “I'm all right.”

“No, you aren't. You slept on a beanbag chair.” Salim pushed Jason's hand out of the way so he could press his fingers into the muscle directly. He could feel the tight coil and rubbed it, trying to get it to ease. “There was no need to hurt yourself.”

“Thanks.” Jason's pale cheeks flushed pink. “You ain't half bad at this.”

“After all you've done, I would say you're overdue for being taken care of.” He wouldn't lie and pretend he wasn't enjoying this closeness, but he truly did want to help. Jason tilted his head to look at Salim. The flush on his cheeks was spreading. He already looked handsome, but that flush of color made Jason even more appealing. Perhaps because Salim was the cause.

“Speakin' of,” Jason said, “I noticed you're up and movin' around.”

“Yes, I'm feeling much better this morning.”

“Then I'd say that's worth some strained muscles,” Jason concluded.

Salim smiled, the giddy flutters going wild inside him. Jason hadn't pulled away from his touch yet, so he continued kneading into the man's shoulders despite the muscles feeling more loose. Their eyes kept meeting only to look away again. He felt the light caress of fingers on his chest and his heart skipped a beat.

“This shirt's pretty tight on ya,” Jason observed.

“Only because you're so short,” Salim teased.

“I'm not short!” Jason snapped, and Salim laughed. “Asshole,” Jason grumbled. “Here I was gonna show you what I've been workin' on.”

“Oh!” Salim lit up. “I'd love to see it!”

Jason pursed his lips. He grunted a “Fine”, leaving Salim's embrace to pick up the canvas. He set it on his lap and Salim leaned in to get a better look.

All of the line work appeared to be finished. It showed the interior of a cave, Salim assumed, noting the stalactites. There was a waterfall in the background cascading down into a cavern below. A rock shelf was in the foreground with a pathway leading to another section of the cave. It was a much more enclosed space than Jason's other drawings. Yet there was something appealing about the image. Jason hadn't added any color yet, but Salim could picture the dark shadows pierced by shafts of life; he could almost hear the rush of the waterfall. There was something almost intimate in the space...

“I feel like it's missin' somethin',” Jason told him.

“I wouldn't know what to suggest,” Salim admitted. “I like it, though. It's incredible that you drew all of it.” He reached out to take one of Jason's hands in his. He brushed his thumb over the graphite smudges on the man's fingers.

“Salim.”

He lifted his eyes to Jason's face. He noted just how close the two of them were, and his heart raced. Jason didn't pull his hand away from Salim's touch. After a moment he felt Jason's fingers squeeze around his.

“I can hear you thinkin',” Jason told him.

“I was wondering why we never met before.”

“'Cause nearly dyin' in the desert ain't somethin' most people do.”

“And you call me the smart-ass,” Salim chuckled. Jason smiled back at him. The man had such a nice smile. Salim's eyes gravitated toward those lips and lingered there.

Salim's eyes slowly followed the line of those lips. He should not be staring at this man's mouth, yet he found himself entranced. Jason's fingers brushed his chest again, feeling where the fabric stretched against Salim's chest. Salim gave a gentle tug of Jason's hand to bring the man closer to him. Jason tilted his chin up just a little.

“Jason.” This was the first time they were this close to each other without Jason needing to help him move or walk. They were embracing, and Jason wasn't pulling away from him. In fact, he could feel Jason brushing fingers against his chest. Maybe Salim wasn't the only one feeling this intense attraction. “Jason,” he said again.

Jason leaned a little closer and Salim bent his head down. Was this strange? They barely knew each other, and yet... Their lips teased against each other in a delicate touch before pressing into something firm and sure.

[areyoudreaminof]

This Life and the Next: A Nessian Playlist

It's finally @nessianweek! And of course for Day 3 I had to make a playlist!

We love their banter, their angst, their passion, and their deep undying love for one another. To watch Cassian and Nesta find each other despite their own personal challenges was such a beautiful and satisfying love story. For this playlist, I tried to follow a somewhat narrative structure that fell in line with ACOSF. I wanted to represent these two people finding one another and lifting the other up. This playlist also has a fun little bonus track for your fun Nessian writing needs. LISTEN HERE and take a look at some lyrics behind the cut.

As The World Caves In-Matt Maltese

My feet are aching And your back is pretty tired And we've drunk a couple bottles, babe And set our grief aside And here it is, our final night alive And as the earth burns to the ground Oh, girl, it's you that I lie with As the atom bomb locks in Oh, it's you I watch TV with As the world, as the world caves in

Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene-Hozier

Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh, I Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet Fresh from the fields, all fetor and fertile It's bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet

Lose My Cool-Amber Marks

I was so full of pain just stuck in my head There was no one that could get me out of it Yes I think the drinking was a bit excessive Just to be frank the drinking ain't what caused me to be aggressive My heart has been taken over Everyday I get colder to 'em I realize need to let go expression from the get go to 'em Feeling it like I just need to speak my brain

Banquet-Bloc Party

And if you feel A little left behind We will wait for you on the other side 'Cause I'm on fire 'Cause you know I'm on fire when you come

Homage-Mild High Club

Please just have a laugh with me 'Cause you know I'm borrowing by now These sounds, have already crowned Come on it's a silly dream Dreaming of the imagery unfound The view sits nice from that cloud

Make You Better-The Decemberists

I'll love you in springtime I lost you when summer came And when you pulled backwards I wanted to, I needed to Oh-oh, to make me better

Andromeda- Weyes Blood

Treat me right I'm still a good man's daughter Let me in if I break And be quiet if I shatter Gettin' tired of looking You know that I hate the game Don't wanna waste any more time You know I been holdin' out Love is calling It's time to give to you

Skulls-Bastille

I don't want to rest in peace I'd rather be the ghost that annoys you I hope you can make me laugh Six feet down when we're bored of each other A match is our only light

When our lives are over and all that remains Are our skulls and bones, let's take it to the grave And hold me in your arms, hold me in your arms I'll be buried here with you And I'll hold in these hands, all that remains

Leather-Tori Amos

Look, I'm standing naked before you Don't you want more than my sex? I can scream as loud as your last one But I can't claim innocence Oh God, could it be the weather? Oh God, why am I here? If love isn't forever And it's not the weather Hand me my leather

waves-Miguel & Kacey Musgraves

Put it out, I'm on fire, fire That’s what I’m about, take me higher, higher, tonight I'm gonna ride that wave

the last beautiful thing I saw..-Paris Paloma

And I looked up, and saw the sun It separated all the colors And the ice, into my eyes It fell and left me blind That was the last thing that I saw The fractured glass and its downpour I felt the blood mix with the water And I didn't see no more

Rut-The Killers

So I'm handing you a memory I hope you understand That steadily reminds you of who I really am

This city's always breathing, I wish that it would die The kickbacks and the bachelors, the fever for the velvet rope The money from my mother's men I'm not like her, you're not like them

Tell Me You Love Me-Sufjan Stevens

My love, I've lost my faith in everything Tell me you love me anyway, tell me you love me anyway My love, I feel myself unravelling Tell me you love me anyway, tell me you love me anyway My love, I feel the darkness on my back

Eternal Flame-Saint Sister

I believe it's meant to be, darling I watch you when you are sleeping You belong with me Do you feel the same? Or am I only dreaming? Is this burning an eternal flame?

Milk & Black Spiders-Foals

Oh, I hope you can hear me All those million miles away, you'd stay 'Cause I'd love you dearly All those billion miles away 'Cause I've been around two times And found that you're the only thing I need

BONUS TRACK: Smut-Tom Lehrer

Give me smut And nothing but! A dirty novel I can't shut If it's uncut And unsubt-tle

Taglist: @asnowfern @damedechance @foundress0fnothing @foreverinelysian @gaeleria @goddess-aelin @itsthedoodle @kataravimes-of-the-shire @krem-does-stuff @labellefleur-sauvage @moodymelanist @c-e-d-dreamer @nessianweek @octobers-veryown @popjunkie42-blog @reverie-tales @rosanna-writer @spell-cleavers @sassyhobbits @separatist-apologist @secret-third-thing @thesistersarcheron @the-lonelybarricade @ultadverb @vulpes-fennec @witchlingsandwyverns @xtaketwox @wilde-knight @witch-and-her-witcher @iftheshoef1tz @ofduskanddreams @talons-and-teeth

[speakincodes]

In this essay I will be explaining why the song Crutch by Match Box Twenty is the most hilson song to exist.

Well, I don't want to be the crutch

One step away from down

Well, I don't want to be the crutch

One step away from

So I imagine this song mostly from Wilson's perspective. It's a telling of how Wilson is holding house up, how houses cane holds him up physically but Wilson is his emotional crutch. Every time house has a problem he goes to Wilson and every once in a while Wilson becomes fed up with it, therefore he doesn't want to be the crutch one step away from falling apart.

Man I feel like hell, so come on over

Be a love machine and I could be your friend

Ain't no shame, feel strong for one another

Make a real true color come end to end, then

Goddamn, change of pace

I think you've got a piece of my heart on your face

It's a shame to let it waste

How does it taste?

How does it taste?

The first too lines just express what hilson is, two friends that are literally a love machine feeling like hell. House and Wilson bring out another side of each other and more specifically Wilson brings out the color and empathy in house. I interpret the next few lines as the change of pace being from being friends, some sort of boarder-line homoerotic relationship to anger, jealousy, self sabotage, and all the words in between. Yet through that, house has a part of Wilson's heart, his empathy.

Break it down in pieces, make it simple

'Cause you know damn well that I'm a simple man

All these things go changing like the weather

And they stay that way until the weather man says

One down, gone to waste

I think there's still a piece of that smile on your face

And I would like it erased

There ain't no two ways about it, no

Okay this verse to me says once again their relationship changing constantly from best friends to anger real fast. You can also interpret the first line more like breaking Wilson down, a man who is so weirdly normal. Similar to the heart line, the smile on houses face come from being with Wilson but in cases like ambers death, Wilson wants all that back thinking it's all a waste.

Bring it on then gone, use a lover

Like a cigarette the way that lovers do

One sweet song that starts a little slow and

Then goes on and on and makes you want to

Move around the room in circles

Everybody wants to be you

Try to find my place up on the map

Of all the men you've been through

Dig a little deeper and you'll realize

All I'm building up you're tearing down

First two lines express how house uses and manipulates Wilson. Uses him to feel good then tosses him to the side like a cigarette. Then it shows how Wilson is trying to find a place in houses life considering all his own wives and then all the people house dated or hooked up with. Everything Wilson create for himself or for house is quickly taken down by houses self destructive tendencies.

All you needed was a crutch

One step away from down

And I could never be your crutch

I could break you down

And I don't want to be the crutch

Hey, I don't want to be the crutch

No, I don't want to be the crutch

One step away from

The outro of the song changes from the chorus saying "all you needed was a crutch" and "I could never be your crutch" which is a lie. Wilson to be frank loves being houses crutch. He loves feeling needed and he loves house being needy, they feed into each other is the most tragic and heartbreakingly beautiful way.

And to conclude this lecture, if any of you have any hilson playlists I would love to see them and I'm probably gonna do more if this because no one else wants to hear about this.

My hilson playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2dMOuxvPZS3ydf9Cwbu5za?si=djkPuhrVQgS87IW7LeGMvw&pi=u-NzdGYAGnSnWB

[pigeonxp]

my fav lyrics from all hell, as of my first (technically second) listen

in italics are my absolute fav lyrics of the entire album

This is not including the instrumentals as they dont have lyrics (ovbiously) but just know that they were life changing and absolutely magnificent and very very dear to me.

The Coin-Op Guillotine

☆ "Your eyes glazed over while you sat unlistening / you said your head's on fire and every thought is kindling / a tired life is a wild ride for the saddest boy on the waterslide / when the breadcrumbs only lead to where you've been"

☆ "Heart erupts and the pavement splatters / i think i'm right, i don't think it matters"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Holy Smokes (2005)

☆ "Forward, morning after, cleanse your sins inside a dock dry bath tub / between the hunt sabs, ACABs, sobbing, being sick / hearing your name in the chorus left me prostrate in the pit"

☆ "You're the only thought in my head / you're the only thought i've got left in my head"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

 A Psychic Wound

☆ "They say put him down, a sickly dog, but competition's healthy / coffee rings, a perfect circle, i appreciate the beauty / do you still have that one tattoo? / that's how it works, of course you do"

☆ "it's a psychic wound you can't conceal / closing, opening, never heals"

☆ "if you're not the one that's leaving, you're the one that's left behind"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

I. Spit; or, a Bite Mark in the Shape of the Sunflower State

☆ "I'm sure of this as i'm of you: / spit will mend the bruise"

☆ (basically the whole song. this one was life changing i fear)

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Long Throes

☆ "Thought your heart was broken, but it's only yearning"

☆ "Me and my friends are sadists, backbreakers for spineless / wish 'em dead and then we'll put it in a song"

☆ "anxieties and maladies are falling out of love"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Feast of Tongues   

☆ "Swear i'd live through all of your nightmares if it meant that i could sleep okay"

☆ "I want the trust of every animal / gonna bay for the blood of those that are hurting ya / when the black cloud comes, if one flame flickers / we will feast on the tongues of the last bootlickers"

☆ "...grab you by the hips and say it's you that i'm grateful for"

☆ "To the tune of a national anthem / of a country that didn't survive / in a language i've learned and forgotten / i'll stay home, keep the garden alive"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

The Order of the Seasons

☆ "While the happiness ain't certain, you know heartbreak's guaranteed" 

☆ "It's been many years, since i played a high-line / they ask you how you feel, you say "i feel fine" / the order of the seasons depends on when you're born / i start count in winter, and heading for a fall"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

To Hell in a Handjob

☆ "The Sky's a pall, our blooming bodies wilt (an endless nothing)"

☆ "There's grief within my flesh and bones / cut me, watch the sorrow flow / floating in the flood now / floating in the flood now"

☆ "Mortal joy, so close to heaven / if i'm first punch, you're two to seven"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Clown Blood; or, Orpheus' bobbing Head 

☆ "God only knows i am scurrilously making this about me"

☆ "She fucks to cum, i drink to be drunk, and both of us are wasted"

☆ "Parasocial puppet master / every sucker in between / sacrificial muppet pastor / to a thousand needy teens"

☆ "Orpheus' head bobs in the ocean / i admit it takes one to know one"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

kms

☆ "No lie, i would lay down my life / for any rat in the road / yeah i, i'd lay down my life for you / depressive episode"

☆ "it's a medical condition to hold such inhibitions / second serving, sophomore slump / (so called 'cause you suffer more)"

☆ "i truly hope that both our luck is out / i'd kill myself if he won"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Moonstruck

☆ "When the light falls i illuminate / i am moonstruck, it's a welcome fate"

☆ "night takes color from the dusk now / paints it crimson in my jaw (I tumble from the pedestal)"

☆ "It's hard to find the romance / in a town not known for sunsets"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

0898 HEARTACHE

☆ "You are the sight and seeing, you're a reflection of it"

☆ "Restored to earth, afforded a second birth / dine on my rotten fruit for years to come"

☆ "i'm mouth agape arms open wide, not to receive but crucified"

☆ "0898 HEARTACHE / you're calling me a mistake, just call me if you want a bad time / dial 0898 HEARTACHE / if you're calling me's a mistake, then tell me why we're both still on the line?"

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Adult Acne Stigmata

☆ "Can you once see what you love / without imagining it gone?"

☆ "You're royal and you're flush / i'm tower, swords, and death"

☆ "Heart swells / you're so beautiful, the sky is blue / but we both know too well / it's all hell"

[bullet-prooflove]

The Bad Decisions Prompt List

Please check the updated character list on my pinned post to see who I am writing for before submitting a prompt!

Also read the rules and do not forget to put the entire prompt into your ask!

I could burn your stuff out in the yard, Slash your tires and key your car

In the back of my Chevy Fogged glass, hot and heavy We committed some deadly sins

I'm just gonna get Messed up in the sheets with a stranger

I watched her walk down A white church aisle wearing white

Well, the sun comes up as I say, good morning, darlin'

When you lose that dress, I lose my head And I'll never find it laying in your bed

Only way to fall out of love is to hate you

I smell his cologne on your shirt, it's hard to breathe in

Crying forever tears for another man

Yeah, it's lookin' like Double shots of whiskey on the rocks

How can she smile when my heart is all shattered I wanna stand up at the altar and scream

Like the story behind that scar

Got a good girl sayin' I'm the only one she wants

Made a promise to me front of God then she left Now she's swearin' the same vows to him

I said, "Ooh, I'm drownin' in the night Oh, when I'm like this, you're the one I trust"

And justify that night you had in his bed

Yeah, I'd do anything with anybody but you

Does he know that her snow colored gown is a lie

You've knocked me down a few times you're tough But I'm getting better at getting back up

 blow all my money on a wedding ring

Girl, where you been at? Don't try to lie

You can turn me on with just a touch, baby

Guess I'm the old love And he's the new

It’s who you are inside and what you do For everyone else not just you

So put your high heels on and diamonds around your neck

And you whisper sweet nothings in my ear

Take her hand slow it down

This ain't the first time I've danced with the devil

He'll smell like smoke, taste like beer Tell me all the things a girl wants to hear

I wanna start a family & watch those kids sprout like a tree.

I've been tryna call I've been on my own for long enough Maybe you can show me how to love,

Cussin' the fire outta me

You can try to break me any way you can

You're a fuckin' bitch, hope you know that shit

We both know there'll be consequences But, girl, we're good at making bad-bad decisions

Might not always be in between the straight and narrow

It’s the little things in life that mean the most

This ain’t my last rodeo

I heard a slammin' door This time it damn sure ain't the breeze

I may be bruised but I ain’t broke

The reason why I know what hurts the worst Is only 'cause I learned it from you first

So how can she Be happy ever after me

Look her in the eye when she says I do Hold onto that moment cause you know that you

How many others are you sleepin' with?

You call me up, you're already drunk I tell you off and then hop in the truck

2 a.m. at a Broadway bar She's puttin' her number in my phone

[bengiyo]

Laws of Attraction Eps 1 and 2 Stray Thoughts

For @lurkingteapot, @negrowhat, and @troubled-mind, here are some highlights from the voice recordings Bestie and I sent to the chat while we were watching the first two episodes.

Episode 1

Ben: They were death-flagging on this child, so David and I decided to take the over-under on how long it would take this child to die. We gave it five minutes. So, two minutes later.... David: They ran over that child like Wile E. Coyote!

David: I can't go to Thailand. Ben: I'm scared! I'm really scared!

Ben: I'm so excited. This is giving everything. We got a kid run over by a car after death flagging six different ways, and David's like that list better not be in that bag! Cuts to the bag. The list is covered in blood. David: This is a Mexican telenovela!!

Episode 2

Ben: Let's talk about this sandwich. This man put all this presentation into a single sandwich, which he cut in half! Then split between the two of them, garnished with a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, and a ton of onion....along with some orange juice from concentrate?? With bread that looks like it was burnt to within in inch of its life on a George Foreman Grill..... This man is insane.... Like we already knew that. This man is as insane as Bill in Kill Bill 2 using a whole chef's knife to spread mayonnaise on a sandwich.

Ben: Okay, David, you were correct. I'll give you a Clowned Correctly award. David said that that man is not touching him because he's insane and he absolutely wants that man to want him when he finally fucks him. I love it though! He's like, "You were drunk, and you puked on yourself. So I removed your clothes to clean you up, and lusted. I sure did! But I didn't touch you! Because that would get me 4-20 year in prison. And they're not gonna have my ruffles and bubble baths in prison." David: "I'm a not-so-secret luxurious bitch. I don't DO cells." Ben: This high sadity mofo's like, "Uh-uh. But! Since you're sober now!" David: "Let's talk!!" Ben: I love this man. David: "Good! What's really good?"

Ben: Not this man getting out of this car... David: With the gayest shirt! Ben: What the fuck is going on with this collar and these overlong goddamn sleeves? This man is a menace. David: This is giving, "Give me shirt but also a Faustian nightmare." Ben: He looks like someone just popped a can of cinnamon rolls. David: I can't want more for you than you want for yourself. Ben: I...am overdone...with this show... David: And not champagne colored! You're a gay man! You know better! Ben: Look how it's sitting on his shoulders! This is a travesty!

Ben: I know we comment on how unhinged this man is in every scene, but why is he taking the One Ring to Mordor as well?

Ben: This is the least insane he's looked in this show, and that's saying something. We've been here for nine hours.

Ben: I see why @ginnymoonbeam said this show might be for the KinnPorsche enjoyers because this is now the next show where we've watched a father slap his son in the most bitchless way possible. David: Slaps always come in threes! The first is your first salvo. The second, this time, is aiming to fuck up some real estate. The third is the disrespect.

David: They clearly defined her relationship with her employees. They are not afraid of her. If these are hoes, they feel taken care of. Ben: I don't know what the relationship is between Organ and Silvy's characters, but I hope we get to see them fuck on screen. David: If we don't, why am I here? I require women doing filthy shit to each other. I can get BL anywhere. I came to see women doing shameful things with each other. I came here for Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon in Bound. I did not come here for the Bridges of Madison County. Ben: Girl you ain't never lie!

David: I'm here for this. The unapologetic sissiness is what I live for. He had me when he pulled out that little gun. "Now, I can date you, but I can also put you down like a dog." You know there's nothing I love more than Gays With Guns. Look at God. Won't he do it. Ben: God had nothing to do with iQIYI.

[respectthepetty]

when you get this you have to answer with 5 of ur fav songs and then tag your mutuals to do the same, but as usual, I'm tagging nobody, and I'm gonna do what I want.

5 Colorful Songs!

tagged by @wen-kexing-apologist who had a pretty good playlist!

Note: Yellow is my favorite color; therefore, Coldplay's "Yellow" could not be considered. It's not fair to these other songs that they aren't about yellow.

AFI - Girl's Not Grey

Lead singer, Davey Havok, is everything to me. He looks good with any hairstyle and at any age, and the way he performs gender is amazing. I've seen AFI several times, but my favorite was when they were on tour with 30 Seconds to Mars and Linkin' Park. I caught the tour at the Dallas stop, and AFI was the opener. As much as everyone loves "Miss Murder," I'm strictly a "Girl's Not Grey" screamer because this music video is forever embedded in my head and my heart.

New Order - Blue Monday

No style of music hits me harder than 80s synth-pop, and any version of this song is a win in my book. The juxtaposition is what makes it one of my favorites because it gives us over two minutes of the best dance beats in the intro only to hit us with the lyric "How does it feel? To treat me like you do?" then proceeds to make us dance to five more minutes of the singer lamenting about an abusive relationship. It's a bop!

NENA - 99 Red Balloons

The 80s + dance songs about horrible shit = my eternal love. This song was originally in German then an English version came out, and everyone was dancing to a song about nuclear war. It was about a girl releasing balloons and because the government couldn't identity the objects, they shot them down, which caused a domino effect of other countries releasing bombs, but in the end, the girl stands in the rumble releasing one final balloon. It's a song about war, destruction, and hope. God, I love it.

Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse

Most people know this duo for their 2003 hit "Strict Machine" which is a song about control, machines, and, of course, sex, so know that is very on brand for the band. They came out with "Ooh La La" which was about wanting sex without romance, and "Ride a White Horse" could be referring to drugs, but it wouldn't be a stretch to think it's about sex too, especially since the color white aligns with purity and innocence, yet the lead singer is doing the dirtiest things in the music video, so yeah, sex is my final answer.

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

This song is about Nas. Winehouse is singing about American rapper Nas! She wrote other songs about him such as "Me & Mr. Jones" and "In My Bed" which he confirmed, but in a way that merely states Amy liked listening to his music, which seems like a bold lie because like all of her songs, it hits at the core of her emotions. The lyric "I died a hundred times" just ain't about sadness, you know? But that's why I love this song. It has a history. She is exposing a secret while keeping it close to her chest. She was sharing her whole life but being guarded. It was beautiful! It still is.

Bonus: Purple Disco Machine - Male Stripper

German Grammy-award winning DJ Purple Disco Machine knows his audience is queer and creates sets he knows will resonant with that audience. I have seen him at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada, Red Rocks in Denver, Colorado, and a club in Koln, Germany and each time he delivered queer dance floor icons like Sylvester and Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears to the masses, so I'm going to keep showing up to his sets because I know it'll be a good time for me and all the disco queers.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

Life Is Short So Make It Sweet

Chapter Fourteen: It's The Merriest Time Of Year

Summary- 5k Curtis Everett x Plus!Sized Reader. Christmas is just days away. You and Curtis finalize your plans for the holiday. You also meet Mason Academy's newest teachers aide and then it's off to Paulie's to celebrate the upcoming winter vacation.

Warnings- this is a pretty tame chapter, with mild talk of smut but nothing explicit, drinking, and improper use of a Santa Hat.

A/N- I know I have been piling on the chapters but I wanted to get the holiday chapters out during the season. Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, and shared. You all are the reason I continue posting. Thank you so much! Special thanks to @what-is-your-plan-today for all the speedy editing. Dividers made by @firefly-graphics

Chapter Thirteen / Masterlist

“So… you and Y/N have a good date at the aquarium?” Ella asked as she set down a steaming mug of coffee in front of Curtis while he colored with Sophia at her kitchen table. The little girl already had stolen his beanie hat and had it crookedly sitting on her head while she kept switching crayons with her uncle, informing him that Rudolph had a RED nose, not a green nose. 

“Yes, thank you for hooking me up with tickets. She absolutely loved it.” Curtis was sure to be careful sipping from the mug around Sophia. Ella smiled sweetly as she sat across from him. 

“Soph, how about you go watch some Doc McStuffins while Uncle Curtis and I talk.” 

“No.” She said without looking up, studying her coloring. 

“Sophia Jean.” Ella gave a warning tone and Curtis tapped his niece's nose gently to have her look at him.

“Do as your mother says, I will come to play before I go.” With a sassy roll of her eyes, she gave in, Curtis easing her off his lap so she could march into the living room, giving the adults privacy. 

“She is just like her mother.” He joked and Ella smirked. 

“Good means she ain't gonna take shit from anyone. So… back to the date. Tell me about it.” 

Here Curtis got suspicious of his cousin, narrowing his eyes at her. “We walked around and looked at stuff like you do in an aquarium. Why?” 

Ella gave a laugh, her grin going secretive. “Well, that's not what I heard.” 

“What did you hear?” 

“I was told that they had a couple going at it in one of the fire escapes.” 

Ella studied him closely and Curtis could feel his face heat up, sure enough, she knew so they must have actually been seen as well as heard. But he wasn't ready to admit to anything. “What makes you think it was me?” 

“Laurie told me that the girl said your name.” Ella chose to dip her spoon into her mug and scoop out some fluff she had in hers. “You gonna lie to me and say that it wasn’t you?” Curtis did his best to keep a straight face and Ella narrowed her eyes at him. “You were always a terrible liar. Grammy always knew when you were fibbing. I got her gift.” 

Giving a roll of his eyes that would put Sophia's earlier sassy look to shame, he growled out.

“Fine! Yes, we got a bit distracted.” 

Ella cackled over her mug, flashing him a thumbs up. “Good! About time you had some fun. You two are fucking like rabbits though, first Tanya’s, now the aquarium.” 

“Can we like… drop this? I don’t want to discuss my sex life with you.” Curtis scoffed and Ella shook her head. 

“Oh stop, I’m not asking for details. And I mean it, I’m really happy for you Curtis. You seem… “ She paused, looking for what she wanted to say. “Lighter? Y/N is good for you. I haven't seen you like this with anyone.” Curtis let her words sink in, if anyone would notice a change in him, it would be Ella. “Even Tanya has noticed, although I didn't tell her you defiled her mudroom.” 

“It wasn’t the mudroom.” Curtis interjected. “And we have a good thing going, I really care for Y/N, Ella, probably more than any woman I have been with before.” 

"Damn it, I thought I guessed it." Ella teased but her smile softened this time. “I can tell. Grammy and Grandpa would have loved Y/N.” They both grew quiet, Ella withdrawing to her own thoughts. Curtis thought about his grandparents, having to agree with Ella’s observation. They would have welcomed Y/N into their home just as quickly as Curtis had.

“I think you are right Ella, both of them would have absolutely loved her.” 

“Well, you certainly have Sophia’s and mine approval. We both adore Y/N. Oh, Christmas!” Ella quickly switched subjects, which Curtis was a bit relieved about. “I’m sorry Curtis, Grey’s parents really want us to come up to stay with them for a few days. I know you usually come here to spend it with Sophia…” 

“I was hoping you would.” Curtis shrugged it off. “Sophia should see her grandparents. What about your mom?” 

“Oh Mom is coming with me, you know my mom refuses to give up holidays with Soph. They invited all of us anyways. We will be going up for about a week, and be home just before New Year. So how about you come over then? I will leave stuff here for Sophia to unwrap, there will be more than enough at her grandparents. We can do a little Christmas here with you and Y/N.” 

“Sure, I will bring it up to Y/N and see what she says, but I know she loves holidays. I’m sure she will.” 

Christmas time was fast approaching and you were feeling the pressure to get everything sent out to both New York and Florida. Curtis stopped at your apartment with the shipping boxes he offered to pick up when you were currently on skype with your parents. 

“I wish you could come to visit this year Baby, but it just doesn't make sense for you to fly all the way here for that.” Your mother said on the computer, your dad in the background with his kiss the cook apron on. The familiar scene caused a sharp pain in your chest, but it was also heart-warming as well. Curtis was quiet as he came into your apartment, hearing you talk to your mother. “Besides, it's your father and mines twenty-fifth anniversary. You should bring your new boyfriend and have him meet the family in August.” 

You glanced at Curtis setting down the boxes. “Well, we will have to discuss it Mom.” 

“You know we want to meet him properly, none of this skype over the computer, it feels impersonal.” 

Curtis chose this moment to come into view of the camera, waving at your mother. “Hi Mrs.Y/L/N.” 

“Curtis! It’s Shelly, or Mom, whatever you wanna call me. I was just telling Y/N that you two should come up to Lake George this summer.” 

“I heard, I’m sure we can work something out. I should have some time off. Y/N and I will talk about it and she can let you know.” 

“See Mom.” You cut in, pointedly giving your mother a look. “Is dad making his no-bakes?” 

Your mother conveniently ignored the look, glancing at your father. “Scott, come say hello to your daughter before she has to get off.”

“I'm right in the middle of these!” He remarked as you saw him scooping out big hunks of chocolate onto wax paper. “I love you kiddo!” 

You laughed. “Mom, it's okay. Just be sure to send me some of those in your care package.” 

“Will do Sweetie, talk soon?” 

“I always do. I love you both, I will chat soon.” You waved goodbye to the screen and as soon as your mother disappeared, you closed the screen. Curtis sat on the other end of the couch for a second till he scooted closer. 

“So… New York in August.” His arm came over your shoulder and you let yourself cuddle into his side, ignoring the mess of gifts spread around your living room floor that needed to be wrapped. 

“What do you think? I mean, I know it's a lot, traveling to meet my parents and essentially my whole family as I know my parents will be having a party. My sister will be there with Frank and Mary, my aunts, uncles, and cousins, not to mention their friends.” You started picking at his pendant, rubbing it between your fingers. “It's a lot, and I hate for you to have to take time off from work to do this…” 

“Honey.” Curtis reached to grasp your chin and make you look up at him. “Do you want to go and bring me?” 

“It’s like eight months away still, we don't have to-” 

“Y/N, do you want to bring me to your parents?” 

You blinked up at him, the worries about how inconvenient it would be still festering, but he asked a straight to the point question and expected you to answer in the same sense. It was almost relieving in a way, not to have to guess and wonder what Curtis wanted to know. It was one of those things you appreciated about him. “I would like us to go together.” 

“Okay, then we will plan for it.” He pressed a kiss to your temple and moved to get up. “So I got you these two from the office, Tanya says she uses them all the time to ship stuff. Are they big enough?”

You followed along behind him into your tiny kitchen. “Plenty big enough, thank you.” You inspected them for a moment. “I can get things done tonight and shipped out tomorrow. They should reach them in time.” 

“Good.” Curtis grabbed a beer from your fridge and unscrewed the cap. You returned to the couch and he followed along, you cuddling up into his side once more. “I also stopped at Ella’s on the way over, she is going to go to Grey’s parents for a few days so I won’t be going to her place on Christmas morning. She did invite us over on New Year's Day to do a small Christmas with her and Sophia.” 

“Perfect, I can pick up a few things for under her tree then.” You sidled up to Curtis. “So… you are all mine Christmas day?” Rubbing a hand against his chest. 

“Christmas Eve too, naughty girl.” He wiggled his brows playfully. “I told Gilliam we needed the twenty-fourth off too, everyone at the freight yard deserves to spend it with their families.” 

You nodded, taking all that into account. You would be out for good around the twenty-second, you could do your deep clean of your classroom on the twenty-third and spend the rest of the time with Curtis without having to worry about returning to school till the beginning of the new year. “I have an offer.” You stated while shifting to sit up. 

“Oh, you do?” Curtis swept you into his lap, simply because he could. You were starting to get used to him pulling you on top of him whenever the mood struck him. “Let's hear it, Honey.” 

You resettled yourself till you were straddling him. “Well, Edgar gave us those tickets for a couple of nights in the cabins. What if we drove up there to spend Christmas? It will be a nice little first-time getaway for us, you said it’s only an hour away.” 

Curtis let his hands settle to your waist, pondering what you said. “Let’s give them a call, see what they are willing to do. Do you have the number?” 

You slipped from his lap to go collect the tickets and call while you wandered back to where he was waiting. After a few rings, a friendly voice answered. 

“Lakeside Cabins, How can I help you?”

“Hi. My name is Y/N and I have a gift certificate for a couple of nights I was hoping to use.”

You felt Curtis's hands fall back to your waist and make you tumble back into his lap, wrapping you up in his hold. You flashed him a look and he returned it with a smirk.

“Sure! What nights were you thinking? We have quite a few openings right now, so anything specific you were wanting?” 

“Well, I was hoping to arrive on the twenty-fourth and leave on the twenty-sixth. And as far as something special… one with some good views and maybe a hot tub?” You asked hopefully while Curtis nuzzled at your free ear, whispering. 

“We gonna get kinky in the hot tub Pretty Girl?” 

You swore the person on the other end would hear him, making you reach over your shoulder to cover his mouth to shut him up, making him laugh deeply while you did your best to keep it together. 

“Oh, I have the perfect setup. It's an open loft bedroom with a double bed, and the views from the porch make it all worth it. And it has a hot tub. In fact…” You heard some clicking on the computer and a triumphant sound from the person. 

Although it might have been Curtis behind you trying to mess with you. 

“... No one will be in this unit till after New Year, I can give you another night half off?” 

You didn't even have a chance to answer when Curtis pulled away to answer for you. “We will take it.” 

“You heard him, we will take it.” You exclaimed into the phone, after everything was finalized, you tossed your phone at the other end of the couch, twisting to face Curtis. 

“You’re a menace.” 

Curtis couldn't hide his grin, wiggling brows as he swept you up in his arms and pushed himself to a stand to carry you off to the bedroom. “Not me, I've been nothing but good.” 

“Santa’s leaving you coal in your stocking.” 

He lowered you to the bed, kissing you deeply while shifting over you to push you back. “All I care about is who's in my bed, not what is in my stocking.” 

You couldn't help but laugh as he pinned you underneath him on the bed.

Days before Christmas Vacation were hectic at the school. More so the kids were excited about the long upcoming break and having a hard time focusing. You chose not to assign them any homework during the break, knowing first that your colleagues had all given them assignments and you didn't want to set up half of them for failure. You knew that if they did manage to finish the work, it would probably be half-ass. 

Besides, it was their vacation as much as yours, you didn't relish the thought of having to grade those papers. 

So, you were doing your best to engage them in class, hushed whispers oftentimes rising above you speaking until you flicked the lights off and pulled in one of the school's ancient television and DVD sets. You turned to one of your trusty David Attenborough films and plugged it in. In your last attempt to gain their attention, you promised them a pop quiz before stepping from your classroom, the hallway was quiet for the moment as you took a deep breath. “Just a few more days Y/N.” You said to yourself. 

Coming up the hallway, the principal came, trailing a young woman behind her. “Miss Y/L/N, do you have a moment? I want to introduce you to the newest teacher's aide for the eighth-grade class, Yona.” You put on your most genuine smile as you held out your hand to shake the woman's hand. 

“No, kids are just getting ready to watch a film for their course. Hi, welcome to Mason Academy.” 

The woman shook your hand, smiling in return. “It’s my pleasure to be here.” 

“Miss. Y/L/N will you show her around a bit if your class is occupied?” 

“Of course, they should be good for at least another half hour. I will just have Claude open the door between our rooms, and keep her eye on them.” You offered and when the two of you were left alone, you started the tour. 

“So this is the science room, where I teach, then we got the math room, a computer lab, and then the two at the end of this hallway are the English and social studies rooms. Teachers' bathrooms are back towards the principal's office, so it's just easier to use the student ones. It also kind of keeps them from hanging out in them too much. The library is right across from us and if you go through there the cafeteria is the high school wing just down the hall. The gym is through these doors and that's really all I know. I don't go the high school side often.” You shrugged and walked the hallway with Yona. 

She was quiet, you observed her wide-eyed glances seemingly taking everything in and filing it away. “It’s smaller than I thought it would be.” She admitted. 

“It is, Duluth has quite a few other schools, I think it's split pretty evenly so we got lucky, no school has an insane amount of kids. I have been teaching here since September and so far have really enjoyed the atmosphere. Where are you coming from?” 

“California, so I’m used to everything being overcrowded,” Yona admitted. “I like this, it is exactly what I was hoping for. Smaller classroom sizes to work with the kids.” 

“Then I promise, you are going to love it.” You two had circled back to your classroom and peeked in. “And why not start now, the film is winding down.” You opened the door and stepped in, Yona following behind. 

“Class, we have a new addition.” 

Yona settled right into the flow of the school that day. You always looked forward to having her join your classes when her schedule was set up. There was an instant connection to the students, she was able to draw some of them out of their shells and open up to her in a way you had struggled to do. 

Yona also had the uncanny talent of keeping them focused, the students that you knew struggled at times she would pull up a chair to their desk, talking through the work till it seemed to click for them what you were trying to teach, enabling you to focus on the class as a whole. You were incredibly relieved the school hired her. 

But, you were still incredibly grateful when vacation rolled around and you wished everyone a happy holiday and to see them in the new year. The only one to stick around with you afterward was Claude as you two were going to ride together to Paulie’s to celebrate with some beers and games. 

“I didn’t think we would ever make it to today!” Claude exclaimed as she helped you pick up your classroom and lock away anything of value. “What are your plans for the next week and a half?” 

You were grabbing your bag and shouldering it while digging for your keys. “Curtis and I are getting away for a few days with that gift certificate Edgar gave us.” You paused at your desk and sorted through some papers till you found the picture Steve had drawn all those months ago and tucked it in your bag as well. “I will skype with my parents and sister on Christmas day but that is really it. We will be soaking in a hot tub with a snowy lakeside view the entire time.” 

“Sure you will… or you two will never leave the bedroom.” Claude smirked and you shrugged. 

“Open loft actually and that's a fact I’m counting on it. I hope they have a really comfy bed.” You laughed. “Then New Year’s his cousin invited us over so Curtis can have a Christmas with his niece. What about you?” 

“That all sounds… really nice and relaxed. I'm jealous.” Claude pouted as you two made your way down the corridor to head into the teachers' parking lot. “I’m driving to my brother's place. His wife is like a freaken warden.” Claude started mimicking her sister-in-law. “The kids will only go to the best of the best. “I don't want the kids slumming it in those low-class public schools,” she states as I’m across the dinner table. I’m tempted to suddenly get a cough and can’t go.”  

You hurriedly unlocked your doors for the two of you to pile in out of the cold. “She sounds like a real nightmare.” 

“She is the worst. I don't know why Francesco puts up with her.” Claude shuddered as she rubbed her hands together, the two of you waiting for the car to heat up. “Think they are already at Paulie’s?” 

You glanced at your dashboard clock. “I’m sure of it, Curtis told me they were getting out early today. I'm sure Paulie has them nice and tipsy already.” 

Claude grinned. “Good, Grey is fun when he gets liquored.”

When the car finally heated enough to see out of the windshield, you changed the subject on Claude. “What do you think of Yona?” 

“Oh, I like her a lot. I almost invited her out with us tonight.” Claude admitted, giggling at her phone. “Yeah, they are already celebrating.” She flashed you a picture of Curtis and Edgar taking some shots of dark liquor. 

“I do too, you should next time, see if she will come.” You snorted in laughter seeing the picture.

“They are gonna put poor Edgar under the table if they keep doing shots.” 

“Probably.” Claude ditched her phone and started to check her appearance in the car's vanity mirror. “I have to make tonight count with Grey, he will be heading to his parents with Sophia and Ella.” She flipped the mirror back up. 

“And how are you feeling about that situation?” You asked, knowing that Claude had questioned it before, not wanting to step into something that would turn into a mess. 

“I’m learning to adjust to it. After you told me what Curtis said, Grey and I talked about it. He was flat-out adamant that he and Ella were never getting together, that they were friends and were before Sophia was in the picture. But they don't have any feelings outside of a friendship. It was really just a night they both were drunk and vulnerable. I mean, I get it. I've had those nights where I went home with someone from the bar.” 

“Grey also really loves Sophia.” 

“He does. I haven't met her yet, but he has shown me pictures and talks about her. She sounds like a sweet little girl. I honestly hope she will like me when we are to that point.” 

“Sophia is an absolute sweetheart. You two getting serious?” You turned into the parking lot, parking next to Curtis’s truck. 

“I think so, I mean we haven't put a label to anything or said exclusive but it feels like it's headed that way,” Claude admitted with a bright smile. “And I’m excited about it. I never thanked you really for introducing us at Halloween.” She leaned over, hugging you quickly.

You returned the gesture. “Right place, right time. Life is short, we gotta take our advantages where we get them.” 

Going into the bar, you were met with the blaring of Christmas music over the loudspeakers, decorations plastered around, including what looked like a singing Rudolph head lovingly covered in Christmas balls above the bar, glowing red nose and all. Claude split off to find Grey while you approached the bar, knowing Curtis would probably be behind it helping till you got there. 

Sure enough, he was standing under the red-nosed reindeer, filling up beer glasses for a couple of women leaning against the bar, making eyes at him. “You sure we can't get you to dance with us?” One batted her eyelashes at him and you settled a couple of seats down to watch the show. 

Another time, this would have sent you into a tailspin of doubt, expecting him to flirt back or take them up on the offer. Another man, like your ex would have jumped at the chance since these women were stunning. Curtis though set their beers on coasters, shaking his head. 

“Listen to me, I’m happily in a relationship.” He cocked his head towards you, still all in your work clothes, which were fairly modest compared to theirs. “And she just got here, so I’m also done being your barkeeper of the night but… I got someone who would love to meet you two?” They nodded, happily willing to move on to someone else. “EDGAR! Come’re.” He beckoned his friend who split away from Grey and Claude to approach the bar. 

“What’s up?” He asked, before turning to the ladies standing there. “Well Hello…” 

“These ladies would love some company, buy them a round?” 

Already they were flirting with each other as Edgar handed over a twenty, leading the two women away to talk with them. Curtis stashed the bill into the till and made his way to where you were. You arched a good-natured brow at him and laughed softly. “You know those were some good-looking women you passed up.” 

“Eh, I have someone a hell of a lot better waiting for me.” He shrugged as he wiped down the counter, looking every bit of relaxed as you knew him to be behind the bar. “They don't hold up to my lady, fuck no. My girl knows all the right ways to keep her man satisfied.” 

“Is that so?” You snorted in laughter at him. 

“Damn straight, what can I get you?” 

“Whatever you are having.” You threw out and he winked before turning to the wall of hard liquor. 

“Oh last time we snatched a bottle of tequila, we had a good time.” 

Paulie poked his head out from the kitchen, Santa hat perched on his head. “Not my good stuff this time Everett, I mean it!” 

This time Curtis took the bottle of Blue Label Johnny Walker whiskey, making the bar owner flip him off. “Merry Christmas Paulie.” 

Your eyes widened as he poured the two of you a healthy serving. “Are you trying to get me drunk Mr.Everett?” 

“Just to catch up to me.” He handed you a glass and clinked them together before the two of you took the shots, the lyrics to Rocking Around The Christmas Tree really starting to wind up. 

Waking the next morning proved to be difficult for both Curtis and you. You were hiding your face in his chest and Curtis had his arm slung over his eyes to keep the sunlight out. The idea of driving the hour to the cabins suddenly felt like a lot of work. 

You lifted your head first to peer up at him, licking your lips and trying to get rid of the dry mouth that drinking always brings to you when you groaned. “Curtis you broke me.” 

He groaned out too, peeking down at you from under his arm. “I broke myself. Whose idea was it to drink whiskey?” 

“Yours.” You pushed up from laying on his chest to sit next to him. Curtis let his hand fall to your back and rub slow circles while you worked on waking up, glad to see that the two of you made it upstairs into his bed at least. “Who drove us home?” 

“I think Grey and Claude dropped us off.” 

You nodded, peeking over your shoulder at him. “I’m gonna go shower, and see if that helps.” 

“Let me know if it does.” He said while you slid from the bed and he let his head drop back to the pillow, eyes closed, listening to the shower start. When he guessed you to be halfway done, he rolled out of bed, knocking a Santa hat to the floor. Picking it up, he stuffed it on his head. Tis the season after all he reasoned with himself as he went to the closet to find clothes, comfy travel-worthy clothes. Pulling on boxers as you came out, you looked reasonably more awake and ready to start the day. 

“I left you some Tylenol on the sink, guzzle some water too. It helped me.” You offered, a toothbrush sticking out of your mouth while you made a grab for some clothes. Curtis allowed himself a peek at your backside with an appreciative groan before going into the bathroom to take his own. 

You were right, the shower, water, and meds helped, and by the time he got out and brushed his own teeth, he felt like a new man. Wrapping a towel around his waist and donning the Santa hat again in the spirit, he stepped out to get changed. You were in comfy clothes, wrapped in a hoodie and sweats. You looked up from your phone, questioning. “How much of last night do you remember?” 

“Umm… “ He shrugged while drying off, grabbing his boxer briefs to slide on and then his gray sweats. “Not much why?” 

You snorted in amusement, looking back at your phone. “I wondered if you remember wearing the Santa hat on your dick.” 

“What?” He exclaimed while falling on the bed next to you and looking at your phone. Sure enough there he was, standing in the bed with the Santa hat perched on his cock. “Fucking hell Y/N, this isn't the kind of pictures I expected us to ever take.” He groaned, falling back onto the mattress. “What else is in there?” 

“Nothing, just a few of us messing around in what looks like Grey's backseat and some bar pictures. Nothing as good as you using Santa's hat inappropriately.” You checked your messages, seeing Claude assured you that your car was in the driveway but you two would have to go pick up Curtis’s truck from Paulies. You thanked her, asking what else happened but she said nothing, you all had a great time although you and Curtis did get thoroughly drunk. “I think…” You said, reaching over to grab the hat. “We should take this with us to the cabin.” 

“You want another show?” 

“Maybe, one I will remember. I mean…if I got my own Chippendales, I wanna remember it.” You laughed as he tickled your sides, pulling you down beside him. 

“What if I wanna see you wear it? Be my sexy Mrs. Claus.” He wiggled his brows suggestively, making you snort as you pushed against his chest to make him go back to laying down. 

“You need more than a hat.” 

“Yeah, a bow. So I can unwrap you.” 

“Maybe that will be your Christmas present?” 

“God I hope so!” Curtis grinned wickedly, tilting in close and pressing his lips to yours, stealing away any other smart remark you may have had at the moment.

[inventors-fair]

Second Wind: Hope Contest Runners-Up

And our runners-up this week are @bergdg, @bread-into-toast, and @piccadilly-blue!

@bergdg — Cursemute

I won't call this a strictly better Teferi's Protection, but it's not too far off, as evidenced by the second two modes. You already know that, though, and you don't need me to tell you. Modal hope is just what we need, though, and wow, that first mode is even still powerful in itself. Getting to just straight-up slam a creature out of existence is pretty valuable even at rare, and in a format where there's kinda implied to be curses, you got some crazy stuff going on. A one-turn you-can't-lose-pretty-much card is gonna be popular with the folks it's already popular with, and with that precedent, that's all that we need, right?

I had honestly forgotten if there was a Cursemute card already depicted, but I know that there were a few cards from Avacyn's Funky Fun Time set that depicted various moments. I'm in the camp that there could be a boardwipe involved. I'm also in the camp that as more of a retelling kind of card, this does the job as good as it needs to and then some. Fateful Hour, despite being...you know, Fateful Hour, has enough application that this card's won me over on the hope of that. Everyone wants to make FH work, but nobody wants to get below five life. Ain't that a kick in the head?

@bread-into-toast — Reflective Exit

I think that it's right about now in the commentary haze that I realize just how much white there was in this contest. Not that I didn't specifically ask for hopeful/optimistic cards, but wow, there was a lot. I'm glad that weird cards like this are here as well. Sometimes we get an idea that, having played with similar concepts... I'll just say that I know it seems like it works well and honestly this is probably one of the best applications of it. Knowing me, I would have one mana and my opponent would cast a precombat killspell that would leave me at lethal to swings even if I used the exit to save my own dude. BUT. That's the worst-case scenario, and we're here to talk about HOPE.

Yeah, no, this card's great to me. I love this kind of stuff, seriously, I love the gameplay of bouncing and replaying and being in your own little world for a time until you can go nuts and rush in having controlled the board. In terms of flavor, I think I honestly don't need the AD with what you've got here. I recognize the shard, I recognize the goblins as goblins, and I only needed a tiny bit of context overall because your mechanics and flavor did a perfect job of explaining what you're about. There's hope to be had in a brief exit, and even if things ends up not going one's way on the board, we have our brief respite, the knowledge that we kept at least one person safe from harm.

@piccadilly-blue — Archangel's Radiant Feather

Not gonna lie to you, cap'n—the flavor text is a little bit goofy to me. That's really the only thing that's goofin' it, though, because this card's so on-point with what it wants to do that I'd like to commend it. The strict mana cost implies that you want to be deep in the color, and also the ability to recast your angels needs a target—so guess what you're playing if you open this card? That's right, you're in the mono-white pile of core-set wannabes. Gaining life is excellent and that alone would make people consider it, I feel. The wording as it is instantly makes me remember Chandra, Torch of Defiance, and I'm super down for that strictness. Gotta have the restrictions.

Maybe it's that heavy-handedness that gives me the "yeah, I get it" when it comes to the actual hope part of this card. I honestly thought that it was talking about Radiant, the character, or whatever her name was—that Boros one, yeah? But no, it's about angels in general, and I do wish there had been either a bit more specificity or a bit more subtlety there. Maybe more subtlety than anything. The blessing and the ability to rekindle an angel is certainly a sign of hope, so that all checks out with the mechanics, and I would absolutely play with this card. Heh, the Clue typing... I like how, in order to "solve" your clue, there has to be an Angel to bring back. No blessings without someone to bestow them, I suppose.

While you're reading this, I'm at a wedding. A nerd wedding! Commentary will be up later tonight once I get my act together. @abelzumi

[weebnotheree]

Monkey King x Reader || 𝒜𝓃 𝑒𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒

i FOUND YOU

lThe regroups near a river in the chapter they found .)

Pigsy: "Blue ain't really my color, but uh beats looking like that , ."

: "Technically, you'd be Zhu Bajie, now that you're on the ."

Pigsy: "Oh ho ho, no, no, no. Don't go comparing me to that demon. My name's just plain old Pigsy."

: "I can't wait to meet my ancestor, . I bet he was mega cool! Right, Tangy?"

Tang: (He laughs nervously.) "Well..."

: "I wonder when we're gonna meet my ancestor."

Mei: "I thought was your dad."

MK: "He's not my dad. Pigsy's my dad."

Pigsy: "Uh, kid, I'm not exactly your uh..."

Tang: "Hmm, Mei does have a point. MK, the rest of us mysteriously inherited the powers of the . However, Monkey King is the only original companion we know for sure is still alive. And yet, you have inherited all of his , so it is possible that—"

MK: "Yeah, right. If Monkey King really was my dad, don't you think he would have said something by now?"

Mei: "Yeah, 'cause he's normally sooo forthcoming with information."

MK: "Well, whatever. When we find Monkey King's stone, then we'll just ask him."

Tang: (Simultaneously.) "What?"

Mei: (Simultaneously.) "Monkey King's huh"

MK: "Monkey King's stone. The one he was born from. Ever since I got into the , I've been having visions of Monkey King standing next to his stone."

Pigsy: Wha... You didn't think to mention that sooner?!

MK: I'm telling you no-

MK was abruptly cut off from what he was saying to his friends as a gust of wind wooshed in the middle of the dear friends. There stood a woman who looked the size of Mei but slightly shorter. She also looked confused as to where she teleported and slowly turned around and saw...MK. As she teleported non-stop, desperately trying to find someone, she noticed that the place she had landed had pigs and a big blue guy who seemed all too familiar. She wasn't even trying to specifically look for MK at the time, as she was trying to find the two people she loved most. She was actually trying to see if the Monk was there (for help), but saw MK first.

Her eyes widen as they slowly lit up with excitment. She zoomed past the 4 friends as she embraced him with a big tight and loving hug. Annd not gonna lie MK was very confused as well as his other friends. But he didnt push the woman away though..or hug back either because he didnt know as to who this woman can be or how she knew him. He just looked at the woman confused and like....[ill just show it. like this eccept hes not smoling just looking down at her]

"I've missed you so much Ming! And you got so big!" [Ming: Bright] [Heulyn: Ray of Sunshine]

[All excluding MK]"MING???!"

The woman stops hugging Mk as her eyes glance at the 4 friends(im including the cat too so dats y). "I almost forgot you guys were here" she sweatdropped. "And yes, Ming. That's his name. Ming Heulyn" she said as she broke the hug.

Pigsy: "Woah woah woah. You mean to tell me that his name is Ming Heulyn?? No no no no, his name's MK, you know, 'Monkey Kid.' And who even are you supposed to be anyway? Some girl who who what? Who's in love with him or something??"

The woman let out a laugh at his outburst. "No, no this is my baby"

[All Including MK] "BABY??!!"

"Oh- I'm sorry. I mean baby as in son?"

[All ] "SON??!!" they all exclaimed. Mei let out a breath of relief she didn't know she was holding in.

MK: "WAIT-"

Tang: "MK IS YOUR SON?!" Tang exclaimed and got a nod and a soft smile in response. "That's amazing! *nudges Pigsy* Right Pigsy?" Sandy smiled and said wholeheartedly. "That means you're...[eyes sparkle] My mom"

"Yes sweetheart"

MK was in a daze hearing her call him that and that he actually had a mom. Pigsy huffed as he crossed his arms slightly looking away. "Why show up now? Why did you even leave him in the first place? He's been just fine without you"

"Now Pigsy, I'm sure there's a good explanation for this situation. No need to be so rude to..to um.. what's your name again?" Tang asked nervously sweatdropping because he thought it was rude to not know your name. "My name is Y/n"

[N/N - Ai: love, estimation]

Tang: "Miss Y/n. What a lovely name for such an elegant lady."

"Please, don't be so formal. Just say Y/n" She reassured. "And I never left Ming, i just came back and he wasn't there. [frowns]And I've been looking for him for ages and i couldn't find him...[smiles again] But I finally found him and I'm never letting him out of my site ever again"

MK snapped out of his daze with a serious look "You said you been looking for me?" And he got a nod in response. "So that must mean MK was taken from her then..." Mei added. Tang nodded in speculation as he pushed up his glasses. "But who would want to take him away from his own family though?" Pigsy added, a little upset someone would do such a thing.

"You know...you four remind me of people I used to know but...you're not them. You just look really identical" Y/n mentioned. "If you mean our ancient ancestors then, yes. But rest assured we are not them" Tang replied.

"And far from it" Pigsy added.

Y/n chuckled. "Dont worry, I could tell from the moment I saw you." "Was it that easy to tell??!" Mei asked astounded as y/n nodded.

"We were just talking about being able to meet our ancestors until you showed up" Sandy mentioned. "Really?"

Tang nodded "Yeah, and we were wondering if MK had any ancestors"

Me: "He also said Monkey King wasn't his dad even though it was clearly obvious. I mean, he has all of the traits Monkey King does" As Mei went on and on about how similar MK and Monkey King were Y/n zoned out at the name and more as she spoke. "I mean come it's clear that the Monkey King is MK's dad" She stood proudly with her hands on her hips but there was silence so she opened her eyes only to see her friends looking at Y/n with confused looks. "Arrrree you okay?" MK asked with a finger on his mouth. "You're dad...Where is he exactly?"

"She does not seem happy to hear his name" Tang whispered to Pigsy and Sandy and they both nodded. . . . "Wait, did you just say dad??/DAD?!"

MK started as he rubbed the back of his neck "Weeeee-" "-dont exactly know where he is.....right now" Mei finished also sweatdropping putting her fingers together repeatedly. "Did he even tell you guys anything??" Y/n asked the friends and her son but was only met with them shaking their heads in sync. "He's so forthcoming with information," Y/n said as she rolled her eyes. "That's exactly what I said!" Mei exclaimed.

"By the way, MK says he's been havin' visions of the Monkey King standing next to this stone he was supposedly born from after he got hold of the scroll. Do you know anything about this?" Pigsy asked Y/n.

"Vision?"

"Yeah, like, visions of his past...things like that" MK replied. "Hmm...I only know a little bit of why it's happening... but not all of it. Your dad will have to tell you the rest"

"Could you tell me what you know? [puppy eyes] Pleeeasee"

"Finee. Wukong is tearing through his past memories to get to you...he must have sensed that I'm here now and is making a very destructive way of getting to us hm?" Y/n chuckled. "But Since he's going through his memories he can't find his way out. [boops his nose] I think he needs you to help him with a little encouragement" MK nodded confidently.  

[mightyanxiety]

Really curious- how do you choose your colors? They all blend so nicely and I have no idea how you do it but it makes your art look not only lovely but also Very Edible <3

Aye great question! I'll try to answer as well as I can!

I personally hate using true black as an outline therefore my go to is a warm brown but the coloring all depends on it! If I line a drawing brown, I will always make sure the colors look warm and vice versa if the drawing's tone is cold. Ain't gonna lie, I usually just line with brown and then adjust the color at the end.

And for the color choosing part, I've gotten used to it now so I can just pick'n'choose but I would always recommend adding a wash over them! Again coming back with the warm/cold tone, just pick the main color and overlay on every other one on low opacity!

And it's all the same for shadows and highlights! If a drawing is warm toned, I mainly use a slightly more saturated and warm color!

I hope I make sense here! And also thank you very much for the compliment although I still have no idea why my art is always being compared to food! (But I live for it)♥️

[rosalyneslover]

Now Playing: CRUEL SUMMER - TAYLOR SWIFT

chr: kujou sara

content: fem!reader, fluff, slight angst, modern!au, best friend!kujou sara

wc: 961

and i screamed for whatever it's worth / "i love you," ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?

Spring got swept away by the hot summer wind that brushed against your skin when you stepped outside your room to the balcony. Your family—part of the Yashiro Commission—rented this summer home for a while just to watch over the Irodori Festival that's taking place in Ritou right now. You don't think too much about it though, opting to stray your mind away from rather exciting and/or stressful thoughts.

"Hey!" You slightly jump when you hear a voice from down below. Your view is occupied by the large pool that catered to the other residents of the estate like your family, their friends, and the maids. You're not gonna lie, it's very beautiful here at night with fairy lights strung from one tree to another and lamplights that illuminated the areas far away from the pool if you really want to take some time to yourself to see the gardens.

You look down only to smile when you see Kujou Sara looking up at you on your 2nd-floor balcony.

"How'd you get in here?" Sara smiles back, gesturing to the single gate behind her.

"I climbed over."

Ah, Kujou Sara. The Kujou Clan rented a place near Ritou to help organize the festival with the Kanjou and Yashiro Commission. You were thankful that Sara's there, otherwise you would have had to talk to the Lord of the Kamisato Clan alone. And he's an intelligent man with an intimidating amount of knowledge.

"You wanna come with me?"

You raise an eyebrow at her offer.

"To where?"

"To the festival."

And just like that you accepted. Maybe you wanted to see the festival or maybe you just wanted to hangout with Sara. Either way, you were going to enjoy your night.

Sara raises both her arms, gesturing for you to jump from the second story balcony. There must be a look of doubt on your face because she smiles in a reassuring way, "I'll catch you, it's okay."

You trusted her.

9:30 PM. Mid-summer.

You lean against the wall next to the vending machine that Sara is using. She hums when she picks up two cans of soda, bouncing hers slightly in her left hand while she offers your own can in her right and you gladly take it. You don't say anything, but there's something in the air. Something you don't want to address and neither does Sara because she immediately drops her skateboard down, hopping onto it and riding off. She may have very well left you if you weren't riding your bike.

"Y'know, the shogunate could arrest us if we don't get home by ten PM," You joke and Sara grins at you playfully. You know she works for the shogunate (You've visited her countless times to eat lunch together) but they don't discriminate against who they arrest. Sara could very well be in a jail cell tomorrow morning and if you're both lucky, you two could be cellmates.

"I could tell them I'm accompanying you back home," She plants her foot down to stop her skateboard, she looks back at you with a playful smirk.

"On your skateboard?"

"Detective Shikanoin wears roller skates to his office," She counters and you tilt your head with skepticism when you look at Sara's clothes.

"Wearing a civilian outfit?"

"Detective Shikanoin wears a sleeveless shirt during office hours."

So, you trusted her.

10:00 PM. Late-summer.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," You say as you slam the car door shut. You see Sara visibly flinch at the impact, you're not sure whether she's concerned for her car or for you.

"Where are we going?" Sara glances at you from the rear view mirror before a small smile graced her lips.

"Tenshukaku."

You haven't been to the rooftop of the President's literal house and you don't think you're going to go here again after what Sara did when she practically snuck you inside before heading up the rooftop. She closes the gate behind her as you gaze at the setting sun as it paints colors within the sky. You step closer to the side of the rooftop and Sara follows behind, she wordlessly offers her hand and somehow you know what she means so you nod.

She places her hand around your waist and the other comes to take your hand to help you up on the elevated edge. Inazuma is beautiful during dusk. The wind brushing up against you both as you enjoy the tranquility of the moment.

You still feel Sara's hand on your waist as she sat down with you, feet dangling off the edge.

"You can shout your feelings out from this rooftop," You turn to her with genuine curiosity and hesitation, "What am I gonna say?"

"Whatever you're feeling."

You might as well let the wind carry your desires away. So, you did. You were sure the guards heard you but you didn't really care as you shouted the one thing that was always circling your mind whenever you were alone with your thoughts or with Kujou Sara. That one thought carried so much weight even though there were only 5 words in it. The thought you never wanted to say out loud, until now.

'Kujou Sara, I love you.'

And the way she looks at you when you said it...

It may just be the worst thing she has ever heard, but maybe just for a little while she could enjoy it. Maybe she could indulge you before summer ends. So she returns your grin with the promise of excitement and maybe a bit of pain once the adrenaline all dies down.

But you trusted her.

Summer may just be the worst season and your love for each is proof of that.

— 10/10/22