#also makes me wonder the specifics of that. like. does bridge just never have to worry about dental care?

[sysig]

You’re gonna die if you keep that up (Patreon)

[muniimyg]

𐙚₊˚⊹ bbydaddy!yoongi (7) ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹

series m.list // taglist

note: yoongi and oc have the what r we talk,, have a few awh moments,, and r jus so cute... anyways,, my apologies as i'll be fixing my taglist next week ,, too busy n just trying to push out content lol !!! also PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE UR @ IN THE COMMENT BOX FOR SPECIFIC FIC TAGLIST STUFF (in the taglist form)

EDIT: mochi < injeolmi

//

as yoongi stands outside your door with a plastic bag swinging in one hand—all he can really think about is how amused he is from the 2AM craving text.

he takes a breath, raises his hand to knock, but the door opens before he can and there you stand with puffy cheeks streaked with the telltale signs of crying. 

his smile drops instantly.

“hey,” yoongi’s voice softens, concern etching into his features. “___, what happened? w-why are you crying?”

you try to muster a smile but fail. your lips tremble as you glance at the bag in his hand. letting out a shaky laugh, you wipe your face and take a deep breath in. 

“i don’t even really want pickles and peanut butter,” you admit. “i just… it’s… this isn’t about a pregnancy craving, yoongi.” 

yoongi’s brows knit together and he steps forward. closing the space between you two, suddenly you feel a rush of guilt. 

“okay, then what is it about?” his voice is gentle. he places the bag on the floor so he can rest a hand on your arm, grounding and reassuring. "everything okay? you okay?"

you looks up at him, eyes glassy and full of a vulnerability. 

“i just…” you take another breath, steadying yourself. “i didn’t know how to tell you i wanted you here. just you. no excuses, no weird cravings.”

yoongi’s eyes widen, confusion and something else flashing across his face.

“wait—you could’ve just asked me to come over. i would’ve dropped everything to be here. you know that, right?”

a tear slips down your cheek. shaking your head, a sad smile forms. 

“yeah. we’re friends, yoongi, but we’re not friends.” you say, emphasizing the word. a pang of bitterness lingers. “we’re not close like that. i guess i’m just freaking out because as much as i want this—fuck, i want this so bad… i’m upset that i’m having a baby with someone i can’t even ask to come over without making up an excuse. does that make sense?”

yoongi’s heart clenches. 

he’s struck speechless for a moment. then he sighs and runs his hand through his hair. 

“i get it,” he says quietly. his hand still rests on your arm. he squeezes it lightly. “can i come in? let’s talk about this please.”

you nod and move aside for him. 

yoongi steps into your apartment, closing the door softly behind him.

he heads to the kitchen, methodically placing the jars of pickles and peanut butter on the counter. his movements are slower than usual as the weight of the moment settles in. 

when he turns, he watches you retreat toward your bedroom and for a second—confusion prickles at the back of his mind. 

why aren’t we sitting in the living room? he wonders. 

he’s never been inside your bedroom before. 

… but he follows you anyway, trailing behind you like a shadow.

the room feels more intimate than he expected.

the walls holding a quiet familiarity, but also the tension of something unspoken. you two stand there for a beat, the silence stretching until you blurt out;

“s-sorry. uh, the couch makes my back hurt if i sit there too long. i’m more comfortable in here. is that okay?” 

yoongi takes in your words, a small pang of concern for her comfort, and nods, his usual nonchalance cracking just a bit. 

then, you both settle on the bed.

the awkwardness between you two is palpable. yoongi braces himself for the conversation they both know is coming, hoping the closeness will bridge the distance they’ve been struggling to cross.

“are you regretting this?” you ask, voice quiet and afraid. 

yoongi shakes his head instantly. 

“no. i’m not,” he answers. “are you?”

you also shake your head. 

“no… but, i do wish i thought it through more.” 

he titls his head. “specifically about what? about me?”

you bite bottom lip, trying to find the words to explain how you feel about him. how you feel about everything between you two…

and it’s hard.

it’s difficult because you never had to think twice about yoongi and your friendship.

friends. 

until sometimes, when you two are alone.. it’s friends. 

“let’s be honest,” yoongi begins, cutting your thoughts short. “we’ve always had this weird… in-between thing. but if you need me, you don’t have to make excuses. i’m already here, aren't i? and i’m committed to the baby—our baby. to you, even… so, tell me where your headspace is at. i’ll match it. i’ll place myself in between where you need me and where i want to be for you. you just have to tell me what you want, ___.”

you look at him, eyes searching his for something… then, yoongi continues, his voice sincere and steady.

“we’re about to have a child together, yeah, but more than that… i care about you. always have. so, please don’t think that you have to put up walls or hide what you need from me, okay? i want to see through it. i want to see through you.”

you take a breath, relief washing over her as you nod. 

“okay.” 

and in that small word, a bridge starts to form between them—something real and raw and hopeful.

you and yoongi have never been close. 

there has never been a moment where you were in trouble and thought to yourself; shit i need yoongi’s help.

no. 

there was always hyemi, nam joon, jin, hoseok, jimin, taehyung and jungkook before yoongi. not that you liked him the least—if anything; considering the current happenings—maybe you like him the most. but besides that, you two are truly just decent friends. 

everyone in the friendgroup is. 

you laugh at the same jokes, make fun of nam joon when he says something ridiculous, and have each other’s backs when needed—but that’s it. 

or at least it should be.

again, until you’re alone together... then, it’s different. 

there’s this undercurrent.

something unspoken that takes all makes it hard to breathe. it’s the way he leans in when he’s talking to you. it’s the subtle touches he probably doesn’t think about… all these vague flirting moments leave you second-guessing… but you know what is it. you know who he is. 

and that’s what’s confusing. 

in the midst of this in-between—you don’t know how to word what he makes you feel. 

safe?

nervous?

loved?

and now with the baby; it should be more complicated. everything in your life feels more complicated but somehow; what you are—or what you aren’t—hasn’t changed at all. 

you’re still friends.

friends. 

“can we talk about this?” you speak out. “like first… what are we?”

yoongi’s eyes widen. 

he wasn’t ready for this question, but he also doesn’t hate it. he’s been wanting to know too. he’s been thinking about it too. 

“what do you want us to be?” 

you gulp, not knowing if he’ll like the answer you’re about to give. 

“friends,” you tell him. “is that ridiculous?”

yoongi shrugs. “only if you make it to be.”

“it’s just… i feel like i need to get to know you more. i didn’t even save your number in my phone until last year. we’ve been friends for over 3 years, yoongi… also, i don’t know your favourite colour. i don’t know your birthdate because i always confuse it with hobi’s… yours is in february, right?”

“march.”

you throw your head back, letting out a sharp and loud hiss. 

“fuck—s-see what i mean?” you take a breath and regulate. then, you reach for his hand and squeeze it. “i’m sorry. we’ve been decent friends but truth be told sometimes i feel like a stranger to you. i didn’t think this through—”

“it’s fine,” yoongi says, patting your back. “we’re not complete strangers. you know things about me, ___. don’t act like you don’t just because you’re scared. and, you know what? we can get to know each other more as the pregnancy goes on. besides, once the baby comes out—you’re stuck with me for life. i mean, it’s our baby.”

your lips curve into a small smile. 

“is our baby gonna have two cribs?” you blurt. “hyemi made a passing comment and for some reason i keep picturing it. two cribs.. two sets of clothes.. two homes.. two car seats—”

“one then,” yoongi simplifies it for you. “move in with me or i move in with you.”

you blink at him. 

“...hear me out,” yoongi says, voice calm but his eyes serious, holding yours as if he’s trying to make sure every word sticks. “we already spend so much time together—in our friendgroup setting at least… and i know it won’t be perfect. we’ll annoy each other, i’m sure, but it’ll be easier. for both of us. we won’t have to juggle back and forth or worry about where the baby should be or whose place has what.”

you swallow. 

the image of two cribs still lingering in your mind, mixing with the new picture he’s painting—one home, one set of everything, a shared life that feels both thrilling and terrifying. 

“yoongi…” you start, your voice wavering. “it’s not just about convenience. moving in together means… a lot. and what if we make things harder? what if it complicates everything more than it should?”

he nods, understanding the hesitation even as he inches a little closer, his presence grounding you. 

“i get that,” he says. “but we’ve already made things complicated, haven’t we?” his lips curve into a small, almost hopeful smile. “this way, at least, we’ll be complicated together. and if it doesn’t work, we’ll figure it out, for the baby’s sake. we owe it to them—and to ourselves—to at least try.”

you want to say yes.

to fall into this idea of a shared space, of yoongi always being just a few steps away, but the weight of uncertainty keeps you frozen. 

“i don’t know,” you murmur, dropping your gaze to your hands. “it’s a big step… and i’m scared of what it could mean… for us.”

yoongi reaches over, his fingers brushing lightly against yours. 

“i’m scared too,” he admits softly. “but i’d rather try and fail than not try at all. just… think about it, okay? no pressure. maybe a timer though. baby is coming soon.”

you finally look up, meeting his eyes, the sincerity there chipping away at your worries. a small, reluctant smile tugs at your lips. 

“hahaha… okay. yeah, i’ll think about it,” you promise, and the room feels a little lighter, hope lingering between you both. "... what if we buy baby things and leave it at yours? i think... i do want to move in with you. i think your points make sense and honestly? i've been thinking about us a lot... let's just do it slowly, okay?"

yoongi leans back slightly, studying your expression before he continues. 

“okay, if we’re doing this, I want to do it right,” he says, the seriousness of his tone making you focus. “since we're confessing.. truth be told, i’ve been struggling with this entire thing too. ___, i don’t want to be the dad who just shows up when it’s convenient or only takes half the responsibility. until we figure out the whole moving-in thing… i need you to keep me in the loop. not even the loop—in it. everything, okay? every appointment, every little thing the doctor says. even if it’s something silly, like craving pickles at 2 in the morning, call me. i want to be here. i meant it when i said i need you to figure out how to need me.” 

you nod slowly, his words settling into your chest. the way he’s looking at you—it’s like he’s already preparing himself for every moment he might miss if you don’t.

“and i'm serious about appointments,” yoongi adds, his voice softening just a little, the corners of his lips turning up in a small smile. “i want to know every detail. hear the heartbeat, see the ultrasounds, even if it means i have to reschedule work. screw it, honestly. you and baby are my priority… i’m gonna do everything to make you know that you deserve to feel like we’re doing this together.”

a lump forms in your throat, and you swallow, feeling the weight of his commitment. 

“you really mean that,” you say quietly, more to yourself than him. “yoongi…”

“of course, i do.” he pauses, his eyes holding yours with that steady, unwavering calm. “we might not be close, but this baby deserves two parents who are trying their best. and maybe…” he hesitates, his voice dropping lower. “maybe this will help us become more than just friends who share stolen glances. more than whatever weird, in-between thing we have.”

a beat.

“shit, do we have to talk about that now?”

he laughs. 

“no,” he shrugs. “i’m not in a rush. i’m cool with taking things slow. i have a lifetime with you anyway. also have a feeling you'll be moved in with me in a week or two.”

you roll your eyes and he chuckles.

then, you’re silent for a moment, processing the vulnerability he’s showing, the way he’s extending himself for both you and the baby. 

“okay,” you finally say. “i’ll call more. i’ll update you on everything. breakfast and prenatals and all.”

yoongi snickers at you. “... and when we’re finally living together… we’ll figure out a routine that works for both of us. we’ll make it as easy as possible… for all three of us.”

before you know it, you launch yourself at him.

you wrap your arms around his neck and he wraps his around your torso, returning the hug without hesitations. for a moment, it feels safe, like he’s anchoring you to something solid amidst all the uncertainty.

when you pull away, you glance up at him, nerves tightening in your chest. 

“can you… stay the night?” you ask, your voice softer than you mean it to be. “i guess that’s what i meant with the pickles and peanut butter.”

yoongi snorts at you. 

“i knew it.”

he earns a hit to his chest, but he takes it like a champ. even though he’s teasing you, there’s something so reassuring in the way he says it. 

“i'm already in my pajamas... i’ll just use the bathroom real quick. be right back.”

as yoongi makes his way to the bathroom, he flicks on the light and notices the little details of your life scattered around the sink. toothpaste, skincare products, and…

a blue toothbrush placed neatly next to yours. 

his heart stumbles at the sight, realization washing over him. 

it’s for him. 

you had thought about him even in the smallest of ways, planning for him to be here.

what the fuck is his heart supposed to do with this?

it tugs.

it skips a beat.

it races.

it falls for you a little more.

when he returns to your bedroom, he finds you already lying in bed, looking smaller and more vulnerable under the soft glow of the bedside lamp. he hesitates, unsure of how to fit into this space with you. the silence stretches awkwardly between you both as he slips under the covers.

neither of you knows quite how to lie together. 

you both fidget, trying not to make it more awkward, until you shift uncomfortably, a small wince escaping your lips. 

“ugh,” you mumble, “my back hurts.”

yoongi is at your side instantly. his nonchalant demeanor slipping away as he sits up. 

“here, let me help,” he murmurs, carefully guiding you to reposition. his hands are gentle but firm as he encourages you to lie partially against him, your body leaning into his. he wraps his arms around your belly, cradling you and the baby, and nuzzles his face into the curve of your neck. the warmth of his breath sends a small shiver down your spine, but it melts away as you sink into his embrace.

you both stay still, letting the comfort settle in. slowly, the awkwardness ebbs, replaced by a sense of calm as you relax against him.

just as you’re on the edge of sleep, you murmur something faintly. 

“yoongi?”

“mhmm?

“injeolmi...” you whisper.

yoongi stirs, confused. 

“huh?” he whispers back, trying not to disturb you too much. “are you craving injeolmi? i’ll get you some tomorrow–”

you smile sleepily, eyes already closed. 

“no.. our baby looks like injeolmi,” you explain, your words trailing off into drowsiness. “the ultrasound… injeolmi. let’s call our baby injeolmi for now.”

yoongi heart squeezes at the endearing name, a small smile tugging at his lips. 

“injeolmi,” he repeats, pressing a soft kiss into your hair. “okay. baby injeolmi it is.”

wrapped in each other’s warmth, you both drift off, with yoongi holding you close. all he thinks about before falling asleep is;

baby injeolmi, you are so loved.

[maypiles]

🥀🎀Suddenly, all the love songs were about you ♥️🪞🎼

Pick a Pile: What's in your love life for 2025?

💌My beautiful souls, you’ve come to me for the most tantalizing glimpse of what 2025 holds in store for your love lives. Such curiosity, such daring, you must be craving something special—well, don’t you worry, because I’ll give you exactly what you deserve. We’ll dive into the stars, the cards, and all the whispering energies that promise to guide you through a year of love, passion, and maybe even a little heartbreak—just to keep it interesting, of course. So, lean in close, dears, as we unravel the mysteries of the heart and see what the universe has laid before you. Hold tight—it’s going to be an unforgettable ride. Happy New Year! 🎉 💋

❗THIS IS A COLLECTIVE YET ONE LAST TOO SPECIFIC PILE READING SO TAKE WHAT RESONATES AND LEAVE WHAT DOES NOT❗

Pile One 📿

Darling, pile one is already radiating so much energy—let’s dive in and see how these forces are about to unfold for my collective in 2025.

Ah, dearest, it seems you’re on the cusp of a dramatic transformation. The Wheel of Fortune at the bottom? That’s fate’s hand at play, turning in your favor. Destiny is ready to strike, and the universe is lining things up in a way that will leave you breathless, like a sudden shift in the wind. You may not see it coming, but that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it?

The Star, 6 of Cups, 9 of Cups, 10 of Cups: Oh darling, if there was ever a promise of something magical and fulfilling, this is it. It’s all coming together—something from your past (perhaps a soul connection?) is returning, and it has all the right energy to ignite something truly special. This could be the kind of love that fills you up like a cup overflowing—emotionally abundant, fulfilling in ways you didn’t even expect. You may have dreamed of this connection, yearned for it, and now, it’s here. Romantic feelings? You bet.

8 of Pentacles, 2 of Swords, King of Swords reversed: Ah, but here’s the catch, darling. As your heart gets swept up in this beautiful dance of love, there’s also work to be done. The 8 of Pentacles suggests effort, time, and patience. But beware—2 of Swords and the King of Swords reversed show confusion, mental blockages, and someone who might not be entirely clear on their intentions. Could it be that a past lover or a situation leaves you questioning where you stand?

6 of Swords reversed, 8 of Cups: honey, the past isn’t done with you yet. There’s unfinished business, something you might try to walk away from—but it keeps pulling you back in. A return to something old, a cycle that hasn’t quite ended… could it be that reconciliation is on the horizon? Perhaps someone from your past is coming back into your orbit, ready to rekindle things. The emotional pull is strong, and though you may have tried to move on, there’s a magnetic pull that’s hard to ignore.

The Romance Angels:

With the mix of cards here, it’s no wonder we have a delightful mess of energies. Very Soon—oh yes, expect clarity to come quick, darling. Romantic Feelings and Playfulness—suddenly, everything feels light and exciting again. Getting to Know Each Other? Yes, there’s a beautiful process here, peeling back the layers, one flirtatious moment at a time. And that Chemistry? Well, if you don’t feel it, you’ll definitely know it when it hits.

Yet, Religious Factors and Deception warn that not everything is perfect. Someone may be hiding something, or your differences could play a role in how things unfold. But the Past Life Relationship card? A powerful connection that could bridge any gaps. You may be in for a reconnection, where the spark never truly died, and that Reconciliation is just the start of the journey.

To sum up:

Darling, your love life in 2025? It’s a whirlwind. Love from the past is returning, but don’t expect it to be all smooth sailing. There’s work to be done, secrets to uncover, and clarity to find—but isn’t that what makes the ride so thrilling? Be ready, because fate’s wheel is turning, and it’s going to sweep you off your feet… even if it leaves you a little dizzy at first. Hold on tight, sweetheart—love’s about to get intense.

Pile Two 💅🏻

My darling, this spread is an absolute thriller. The cards speak of love, confusion, and an intricate dance of emotions that will keep you on your toes throughout 2025. Let’s dive into the juicy details of what the cards have to say, shall we?

Oh, sweetness, it seems 2025 is poised to serve up a delicious rollercoaster ride of emotions. The 6 of Swords reversed at the bottom tells us that you're not exactly moving on from something—or someone—just yet. That past connection is still lingering, like an itch you can’t quite scratch. There’s unfinished business, honey, and I’m willing to bet it’s not just your mind playing tricks on you. There’s something here that still demands your attention, whether you’re ready for it or not. Fate, it seems, is calling.

2 Pentacles, Queen of Pentacles reversed, 9 of Cups: The pull between conflicting desires is strong here, darling. There’s a battle between what you think you want and what will actually bring you happiness. The Queen of Pentacles reversed is telling me there’s imbalance—perhaps you’re investing so much in the material or external aspects of life that your emotional foundation is slipping. You need to focus on self-love and self-worth, darling, because only then can you truly manifest that 9 of Cups fulfillment you’re craving. Don’t neglect your inner world while juggling it all. Balance is key here, and finding that will unlock the joy you deserve.

2 Wands, 5 of Swords, Page of Wands: Well, isn’t this an interesting dynamic? There’s tension here, love—conflicting plans, uncertain paths. A decision needs to be made, and while one option seems enticing, 5 of Swords warns of potential betrayal or miscommunication. Be cautious—there’s a risk that someone’s intentions might not be as pure as they appear. The Page of Wands is all fire and passion, and while it ignites excitement, it’s not the most stable energy. If someone is pursuing you, darling, it might be fleeting. Think twice.

Chariot reversed, 8 of Cups, 2 of Swords: Oh la la, the hesitation. The momentum you hoped for seems to be slipping through your fingers, doesn’t it? The Chariot reversed tells us things aren’t moving in the direction you expected. There’s emotional distance here, with the 8 of Cups—someone might be walking away, or perhaps you feel as if you need to leave something behind. The 2 of Swords shows confusion—no clarity, no decision made. Indecision runs deep here, my dear, and while it’s tempting to dive into the unknown, your heart is at odds with your mind. Listen carefully to the signs—sometimes, the stillness brings the clarity you seek.

9 of Pentacles, Queen of Cups, King of Pentacles reversed: Awe, my darling, there you are in your prime. The 9 of Pentacles shows you shining on your own, independent, powerful, and radiant. But there’s something about the Queen of Cups and King of Pentacles reversed that tells me there may be emotional drainage from someone you’re dealing with. You’re stepping into a time where emotional fulfillment will be crucial. Be mindful of who you allow into your inner circle—certain people might bring more stress than love.

Ace of Cups, Knight of Pentacles, 7 of Swords: Here we have new love entering the picture, but with a layer of caution. The Ace of Cups offers you a fresh emotional beginning, but the Knight of Pentacles reminds you that this new connection will need steady, reliable growth—it won’t be a whirlwind romance. And then there’s 7 of Swords, which, darling, signals deception, dishonesty, or someone who’s hiding their true intentions. Don’t rush in blindly, love—take your time to observe before you invest emotionally.

7 of Pentacles, 8 of Pentacles, Knight of Wands: The energy shifts between patience, work, and passion. These cards tell me that there’s progress to be made, but it’s not going to happen overnight. You’ll need to put in the effort to see things come to fruition. Knight of Wands brings a rush of passionate energy, but it’s fleeting—this is the kind of passion that can burn brightly and fade quickly if not nurtured. Be careful not to get lost in the heat of the moment, darling, or you might end up feeling unfulfilled.

5 of Cups reversed, Page of Swords, 6 of Wands: Sweetheart, the past is almost behind you. The 5 of Cups reversed indicates you’re starting to heal from the past heartbreaks, and with the Page of Swords, there’s a certain sharpness in your perception—you see through the facade, no one can deceive you. 6 of Wands brings victory, recognition, and public acclaim—oh yes, you're coming into your power, and others will begin to see you for the catch that you truly are.

Ace of Pentacles reversed, Star, High Priestess, Hanged Man: My darling, there’s a major shift coming in your love life, but it may require a pause, a moment of reflection. The Ace of Pentacles reversed speaks of missed opportunities or things that haven’t fully manifested yet, but don’t despair—the Star promises healing, hope, and divine guidance. The High Priestess urges you to trust your intuition—it’s whispering to you, so don’t ignore it. The Hanged Man reveals that sometimes, the best thing you can do is wait and allow the universe to guide you.

King of Wands, Fool: Now now, the bold energy is here, darling. Someone with a big, fiery personality—possibly a new romantic interest—could sweep you off your feet. There’s a feeling of new beginnings here, as the Fool signifies taking a leap of faith. Trust your instincts, but be careful not to rush into anything recklessly. There’s a lot of passion, but tread carefully.

Romance Angels:

The Retreat card suggests you may need to take a break from love to focus on healing and introspection. Love Yourself First and Healing Family Issues urge you to put yourself first, darling, before diving headfirst into another connection. This is a time for personal growth.

However, Wedding, Attraction, Chemistry, and Honeymoon show me that there’s the potential for something serious. You’ll be attracting someone worth your time, and when the connection happens, it will be chemistry at its finest.

The Flirt card is a playful invitation—don’t take yourself too seriously, darling. Life is about enjoying the moment, and sometimes, the right love comes when you least expect it. Keep your heart open.

To sum up:

2025, darling, is going to be full of twists and turns. The energy shifts from healing and self-reflection to new opportunities that will test your boundaries and your heart. Some things from the past will have to be released to make room for the future, but oh, the connections that are coming are worth the wait. You’ll need to take your time, trust your intuition, and not rush into anything too fast. Keep your eyes open for deception, but don’t be afraid to leap when the right opportunity presents itself.

And darling, remember—you’re the one in control. Let the game unfold on your terms.

Pile Three 🎴

Oh honey, this is a story of tension and power dynamics—I can already feel it. As I channel this energy for you, the vibe is spicy and full of fiery passion. I’m talking sizzling chemistry, a divine masculine who can’t keep his eyes off of you, and the kind of possessive energy that’s both intoxicating and dangerous. There’s a lot of rawness here, and it seems like this love is going to knock your heels off and leave you breathless. Let’s dive into the details and break it all down for you.

(Channeled green color, jealousy, possessive divine musculin, I started cussing out —saying bitch mostly— and talking sassy, 222 on the timer, also could be African American couple, sexual tension, height difference, biting lips wanting to lean up to kiss (divine feminine), rainy street (you know after the rain stops and it's chilly and the road and sidewalk are wet)

Hanged Man, Devil Reversed, Knight of Pentacles, 4 of Wands Reversed, Knight of Swords, 5 of Wands:

Hold up—this is where the drama kicks in. The Hanged Man tells me that things aren’t moving at lightning speed just yet. There's a pause—a moment of reflection before the storm. The Devil Reversed feels like a release from toxic ties, addictions, or something holding you back from stepping into your power, but there’s a push and pull. The Knight of Pentacles comes in with that slow and steady energy—someone is taking their time here, possibly observing you, building the courage to move forward.

But honey, then comes the Knight of Swords—fierce, impatient, and ready to charge forward. The 5 of Wands is all about competition, conflict, and a little bit of sparring between the two of you. Maybe it’s all the playful back-and-forth, or maybe it’s just the fire that's too strong to ignore. This is not an easy journey; it's hot, intense, and there's some power struggle at play.

---

6 of Pentacles, Knight of Pentacles, Knight of Cups, 8 of Wands:

Now, I feel a shift—a real one. The 6 of Pentacles tells me there is an equal give and take, which means things will settle after the drama. There’s a desire for balance, for a fair exchange of energy. The Knight of Pentacles comes back in with the same slow, steady presence, making sure the foundations are solid. Meanwhile, the Knight of Cups brings in romance, emotional devotion—he’s looking at you like you hold the keys to his heart. But, don’t let him fool you, darling; he’s not always this open.

The 8 of Wands brings in the speed, and I’m talking things moving quickly once that shift happens. Expect texts, calls, or even meetings to ramp up quickly—there’s momentum now. The attraction is undeniable, and you’re both, getting caught up in the rush of it all.

---

10 of Pentacles, Ace of Swords Reversed, Strength, 2 of Cups, 10 of Cups:

This is the dream. I see a potential long-term connection here—10 of Pentacles is legacy, it’s stability, and it’s family. The groundwork is being laid for something that has staying power. Ace of Swords Reversed signals some confusion or lack of clarity, but I don’t see it as a huge obstacle; it’s more like one of those moments where you don’t need to know everything right now. Just trust that things are unfolding in the right way.

The Strength card shows me inner power, resilience, and the courage to keep going, even when things feel uncertain. The 2 of Cups is pure romance, partnership, and union. Oh, darling, this is the meeting of two souls meant to be together. 10 of Cups tells me the emotional fulfillment is real—true happiness is possible, and it’s on the table.

---

4 of Pentacles, 5 of Cups Reversed, 7 of Swords, 9 of Cups, 8 of Cups, Ace of Cups, World:

We’ve got some emotional residue here. The 4 of Pentacles shows someone holding on tight, not wanting to let go. Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s them. The 5 of Cups Reversed is a turning point—a healing moment. You’re ready to leave the past behind and embrace what’s next. But wait, here comes the 7 of Swords—a card of deception or someone sneaking around. But it’s not as sinister as it may seem. Sometimes, this card shows us that someone’s guarding their heart—maybe too much—and trying to protect their feelings. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden truths in the beginning, but don’t get paranoid.

The 9 of Cups brings satisfaction, wish fulfillment, and emotional contentment. But, I gotta warn you, with 8 of Cups preceding it, there’s the possibility of walking away from something or someone. It might be that a choice is made to leave behind what no longer serves you and step into a new emotional beginning with Ace of Cups. And with World following this—oh, honey, this is the completion of a chapter. A new cycle is about to start, and it’s going to feel like everything finally comes full circle.

Romance Angels:

Now, the energy in these cards speaks to a divine connection brewing. Express Your Love and Love Yourself First are urging you to open your heart, but also make sure you’re grounded in your own worth before giving too much away. Getting to Know Each Other hints at the slow burn of a relationship growing, but the Forgiving and Learning card shows there are some wounds here that need to be tended to.

There’s also that Engagement card—darling, don’t be surprised if this connection leads to something much more serious. With Soulmate and This Could Be the One—I’m hearing loud and clear that this could be your person. And there’s a romantic chemistry that will ignite the flames of passion, making things impossible to ignore.

To sum up:

This is not going to be a boring ride, darling. We’ve got raw energy, power struggles, healing, but most importantly—chemistry. Expect moments of intensity, passion, and some jealousy, as that possessive divine masculine energy is HARD to resist. But keep your cool. You’ve got this. The world is yours to conquer in 2025—get ready for this beautiful, fiery, life-altering romance.

Pile Four – “Daisy, This One’s for You”☎️

My darlings, listen up! Spirit had me in an absolute chokehold with this one. I sat down thinking, 'Okay, let’s just do three general piles for 2025 love vibes,' and then—Spirit was like, 'Wait, hold my celestial cocktail. There’s someone out there who needs this.' And I’m like, 'Okay, Spirit, if you’re going to hijack my reading, you better be scarily specific.' And honey, when I tell you Spirit DELIVERED, I mean they pulled up with receipts, details, and a whole life story. I’m over here shuffling cards and suddenly I’m channeling someone named Daisy—British roots, living in Philly, petite, dark blonde hair, loves purple, wears glasses sometimes, probably 14–16 years old, dealing with divorced parents, and possibly has a school crush she’s overthinking about because of all the family drama. Oh, and Spirit didn’t stop there. They said, “Patterns! Mention patterns! Mention Australia! Mention her ginger dad named Andrew!” I’ve got a headache from all the overthinking energy I’m picking up, like someone wearing the wrong glasses. HELLO??? I’m sitting here like, 'Spirit, this is NOT a private session,' but they’re adamant. Someone—maybe Daisy herself, or someone close to her—is meant to find this. Like, this is wild. I don’t usually get messages this specific in a collective reading, but Spirit was NOT playing games today. So buckle up, because if this resonates, you better let me know. Daisy, love, YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED! let's get into it!

The Energy Surrounding Daisy:

Daisy, love, I feel you’ve been stuck in some emotional patterns, likely tied to your parents’ divorce. There’s a lot of healing happening here, but oh, the strain it’s left on your heart. Your dad—British, ginger, a little chubby, maybe named Andrew?—is coming through as a significant influence. Australia popped up too, and it’s making me wonder if there’s a connection there. Maybe a move? Or family ties?

This school crush energy—it’s sweet but layered. You’re retreating, overthinking, caught in this whirlwind of wanting to move forward but feeling trapped by family dynamics. It’s like you’re standing at the edge of something new and exciting (Ace of Cups), but the weight of past pain and parental expectations (Ten of Swords reversed, Healing Family Issues) keeps pulling you back.

You’re Stuck Between Healing and Overthinking:

The Ten of Swords reversed and Four of Swords show me that you’re recovering from something deeply painful—probably the divorce—but you haven’t quite learned how to rest in your healing yet. It’s like you keep revisiting the pain, poking at it, asking yourself, Why did this happen? Could I have done something differently?

But Spirit is urging you to stop overthinking, Daisy. Let yourself rest. Healing doesn’t mean solving everything; sometimes it just means letting things be.

---

Your Social Life Feels… Off:

The Three of Cups reversed makes me feel like you’re pulling away from your peers. Maybe they don’t get what you’re going through, or maybe you’re just tired of pretending to be okay. You’re focusing on your own growth instead (Eight of Pentacles), pouring your energy into school or hobbies as a distraction.

And that’s fine for now, but don’t forget that it’s okay to lean on others. Isolation isn’t the answer, love.

---

A Crush Worth Exploring?

Ah, here’s the sweet part: Page of Pentacles and Ace of Cups. There’s someone in your orbit who makes you feel all kinds of butterflies. They’re kind, probably a bit shy, but there’s a connection there. I see you holding back, though, unsure if you should act on it because of all the other chaos in your life.

Spirit’s advice? Let yourself enjoy it. Crushes are supposed to be fun, not stressful. Don’t overthink this one.

---

You’re Stronger Than You Think:

The Knight of Wands and Six of Wands tell me that, deep down, you’ve got a fire in you. Even when life feels like it’s throwing bricks your way, you keep going. You’re determined to rise above it all, even if it feels impossible some days.

But here’s the catch: the Strength reversed and King of Wands reversed suggest that you don’t always feel like you’re in control. Maybe your dad—or another parental figure—is a bit overbearing, making decisions for you or pulling you into their emotional orbit.

Spirit says: Stand your ground, Daisy. You’re allowed to set boundaries, even with family.

---

The Future Looks Brighter Than You Think:

The Two of Wands and Ten of Pentacles tell me that you’re on the brink of something new. There’s stability waiting for you, even if it feels far away right now. The key is to keep moving forward, even when it feels like the world is against you.

And that crush? Oh, darling, there’s potential there for something sweet and meaningful (Knight of Cups, Ace of Cups, Two of Cups). But don’t rush it. Let things unfold naturally.

---

Romance Angels’ Advice:

Let Go of Control Issues: Stop trying to solve everyone else’s problems, love. You can’t fix your parents’ divorce, and it’s not your job to hold everything together.

Healing Family Issues: This one’s obvious—there’s a lot of family baggage here, but Spirit says you’re already on the path to healing. Keep going.

Free Yourself: You’re not trapped, Daisy. The patterns you’re stuck in can be broken, but it starts with believing you’re capable of breaking them.

Flirt & Getting to Know Each Other: It’s okay to smile at your crush, to feel giddy, to let yourself be a teenager for once.

Forgiving and Learning: Forgive your parents for their mistakes. Forgive yourself for feeling like you have to carry their burdens. Learn to let go.

---

Final Thoughts for Daisy

Daisy, Spirit wants you to know this: You’re not alone in this. The weight you’re carrying feels enormous, but it’s not yours to carry forever. You’re allowed to rest, to heal, to find joy—even in the middle of the chaos.

2025 is your year to step out of the patterns holding you back, to let yourself dream again. And that crush? Smile, lean into the butterflies, and let yourself feel alive. You’ve got this, love.

And there you have it, my loves. Spirit came through loud and clear for Daisy, but if this resonates with anyone else, take what you need. Daisy, if you’re out there—Spirit sees you, and so do I.

Additional Note:

LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 😭💕 I had to do a reading to see if this actually gonna find this Daisy and Spirit is nodding vigorously, darling, because this spread is practically screaming “Daisy is going to find you.” 6 of Cups + Hermit Reversed: This is definitely connecting to someone from the past—or someone longing for that warm, familiar feeling. Daisy could be drawn to this reading because it feels like a safe space for her. She's stepping out of her shell, slowly but surely, seeking clarity and comfort. 8 of Pentacles + 9 of Pentacles: She’s working on herself. Whether it's overcoming patterns, navigating family drama, or even managing school life, Daisy is putting in the effort to grow. She’s aiming for independence, and this reading is a reminder that she’s on the right path. 4 of Wands Reversed + 6 of Pentacles: That divorce energy is coming through hard here. Her foundations may feel shaky, but there’s an undercurrent of balance coming into her life. She’s learning how to receive help and emotional support (probably from friends or a trusted adult). Strength Reversed + 2 of Wands: She’s grappling with insecurities and indecision, but she’s also planning. Daisy might be daydreaming about her future, wondering how to break free from the patterns holding her back. 7 of Cups Reversed + 5 of Wands: Clarity is coming, but it’s not without inner conflict. She’s battling herself, her doubts, and maybe even external pressures. However, this is leading her to make focused decisions. Bottom: 10 of Pentacles: This is BIG, my love. Posting this might just reach you Daisy or someone connected to her because Spirit is saying this message is part of her long-term healing and growth. Splitting: King of Cups, 4 of Pentacles, 5 of Cups Reversed: Emotional stability is coming, but it’s a journey. She’s holding onto some grief, yet she’s starting to release it little by little. This message could be the nudge she needs to take that step forward. To sum up: I posted this because Daisy (or someone in her orbit) will find it. Spirit is clear: this is destined to resonate and reach the person it’s meant for. Daisy you better leave a comment because Spirit has been working its magic!

[tackytigerfic]

tacky! if you’re not fed up with talking about it: what was your macro process for first watch of the night, soup to nuts? wondering about how you broke down outlining, drafting, editing. was it different in scope from your ordinary process, or just scaled up?

soup to nuts, baby (i had to google that, it is one of those delightful phrases that we don't use here and i'm hopelessly charmed by it).

thanks for the ask, pal. i'm always interested in people's processes myself, particularly since I came to writing so late (late 30s) and have never approached it formally. i do read an awful lot and that i think is my main influence and teacher (less so in recent years but am trying to get back to incessant reading). i have also been trying to read more works in translation and to revisit classics too, as well as try more formally inventive works. this i struggle with as i'm a bit basic when it comes to reading, i like the segue 'twixt page and brain to be seamless so it's like i'm absorbing it rather than thinking about it, while ofc a more experimental style does often necessitate thinking about it. My partner (approvingly) described my original work as a 'stylistic blank' (the cleaner the better i say) and that's exactly what i like best to read - though it's always a pleasure to be dragged by the throat out of my comfort zone too.

I would always have described myself as a pantser - I never outline, never do writing exercises or character work or beat sheets or whatever (i'm quite resistant to a very structured formal approach). every fic i ever write starts with the germ of one very specific idea - a cameraflash-quick image of a scene, a piece of dialogue... whatever it is. and then i usually start to write at the start and then work my way through.

This one was fairly similar in approach, initially. I opened one doc for loose note-taking — it's where i jot down any ideas i had for scenes, any snippets of dialogue, anything I'd need to remember. I then started writing the fic itself - in this case, I actually skipped through and wrote out of order, not that I knew what order things were going to go in, as such - but I just wrote any scenes I had thought of that felt interesting to me, and skipped a lot of the world-buildingy scenes or the sort of "texture" scenes, the ones that construct a sense of the world they're in and the relationships they have. I then found myself in the position of having to go back and write those bridging scenes, and make the connections (which in some cases did not naturally fall into place) - it was not easy, and I wish i had taken a more linear approach to the writing, in retrospect.

So by the end, some scenes in this fic were written in 2021 and some in late 2024, which means that when I finally finished the rough first draft, the writing quality was patchy, the pacing was off, and some plotty stuff really didn't make sense. That's when the real hard work started.

A few people had looked over very early scenes, but the bulk of the fic was written with no input from anyone else - just three years of writing it into a vacuum without any sense of perspective. Showing it to my alpha/beta people was so nerve-wracking. they read it at different times, which was great as i could concentrate on their feedback one by one, and all three of them had different suggestions (as well as lots of overlap ofc). It was extremely helpful to see what made sense to them, and what they liked - but more significantly, what bits they went 'what the fuck' at, or which bits all three of them had issue with (i'm thinking of the ending here, i really had to kill some darlings there when all three were unanimously just like... tacky no). i had different docs for all three of them, and i worked off one master doc, deciding which changes i wanted to incorporate and how i wanted to approach them. plot stuff was a HUGE issue. the writing quality could be smoothed out - but i'm not a plotty writer and sadly this fic has A LOT of plot. so i needed to work on that. i also have some wolfstar (including a sex scene) which i was nervous about, as i have never read any wolfstar.

Once i finished all the edits, i then did one more read-through myself. I've never edited on such a significant level before. my other two longer fics were written for fests, usually in a scramble to get them done on time — this felt expansive in a way i couldn't have imagined allowing myself to be before i was in it, but as i was working it didn't feel necessary to try to force myself into speed i couldn't hope to achieve or maintain.

@sweet-s0rr0w and i had a really happy morning organising the chapter breaks, and then i had to decide on a title and write a summary. tagging was easier as i had my friends to advise.

another big difference to previous processes is the posting schedule. now i'm posting a chapter every two days, i spend the day between posts working on the upcoming chapter one more time. in all but one chapter i have made quite a few changes immediately prior to posting, which just goes to show that the work is shaping itself as it goes. It's been fascinating to me how putting the fic out into the world is giving me a sense of perspective, creative distance, and dare i say a tighter control over the narrative now that it's not just in my head anymore? so i do think any tiny remaining wrinkles are more satisfyingly flattened than i could have ever hoped for.

so in short, this work is different in scale, ambition, and process in almost every way to anything i've ever written. I can't imagine i'm likely to be able to pour myself into something so profoundly ever again, tbh. it took me by surprise, but it's been the most creatively satisfying thing i've ever done. having people finally reading it (and so generously too) is like getting a very special gift.

Regrets? Being the slowest writer in the world, being too perfectionist (not that i think it's perfect in any way, just i wanted it to be the best i could make it, when it probably would have been grand if it was ehhh fine, you know?) Also, i think i could probably have refined the pacing a bit more. We're on chapter 7 now and six months have passed, so basically the last three months of the fic take place over the last 14 chapters 🙈 But that's because this is where most of the romance and plot develops, so it makes sense that it would take up more space. And i do firmly believe that fics should be a bit self-inulgent, so why not stretch out in the parts i'm most interested in writing?

tagging @citrusses @maesterchill and @sweet-s0rr0w who i can never thank enough for the work they did to get me to this point. everyone already knows what brilliant writers all three are - what a lucky bastard i am to have had their insights and advice.

[nikethestatue]

Elriel theory time:

Something I thought about.

I am going to try to make it make sense, but I am excited about this so my mind is racing and scattered.

We have potentially THREE Made objects in Elriel's possession.

And I think that their reaction to them is very interesting.

Elain's engagement ring--she was wearing it when she was thrown into the Cauldron. it, by definition, has to be Made.

Truth-Teller--Made.

Elain's Necklace --quite possibly Made as well, by Elain's powers and through her emotions. *Just like HOW and friendship bracelets were Made by Nesta.

Now, what's interesting, is that Elain, even after Graysen broke up with her, couldn't get rid of the ring. We know that she held on to it, and wore it for at least a few months after she was Made. Yes, possibly harboring futile hopes for a reconciliation. However, interestingly, we know that Elain also kept the ring, even if she no longer wears it.

Whats more, Graysen demanded that Elain give him the ring back. She refused, again, possibly for sentimental reasons, but it was RHYSAND who stepped in and put Graysen in his place, telling Elain to keep the ring.

The question is, did he realize what it was? And did he want to prevent Graysen from having a Made object?

Does it remind you of another person--he couldn't get rid of a piece of jewellery after a break up?

Azriel found Elan's necklace in the pile of presents and took it with him to the snowball fight. Afterwards, he had every intention to return it, but as we know, he couldn't bring himself to. In the end, he ended up, as if in some daze, in the Library.

But he didn't go to Gwyn or any other priestess. He didn't go upstairs to his bedroom and he didn't shove it in a cupboard. He went to Clotho. Clotho, who, like Rhysand, very well might be a daemati. She takes the necklace, and of course we know that she didn't give it to Gwyn, because there is never any mention of Gwyn possessing it.

So the question is--does Elain, and by extension Azriel, now have their own little Trove of Made objects? We have a ring, a necklace and a dagger. What's interesting though with these items, is that at least two of them (dagger and necklace) were handled by both of them.

Unlike Nesta's swords, and friendship bracelets, and even HOW, which were specific to her and Made by HER, for HER, there is a sense, at least in my opinion, that the Elriel Trove is much more of a unified and combined sort of thing. Azriel who is just as involved in this exchange of Made objects as Elain.

I wonder how all of this will come into play later or, but it makes me think that the next book will be much more of a duet, like Feysand, than just "elain's story' or even 'azriel's story'--like that of Nesta, and Bryce.

Azriel and Elain are inexorably linked, not just in affection, but magic too. The magic is a bridge between the two of them. Like TT was--a bridge between dark and light.

There two MORE items that I am wondering about.

The headache powder and the ear plugs.

Now, interestingly, Elain tells everyone that 'I had Madja make it for me'--and it is quite possible that Madja made the actual powder. But did Elain also Make the powder? Which, by the way, is another thing that Azriel treasures and keeps by his bed, unable to actually utilize it, because...perhaps, he feels that now isn't the time yet? Might this potentially Made medicine come in handy at a later time? Just like the ear plugs?

Are Azriel and Elain, unbeknownst to them, building a treasure Trove of Made items, which will come in handy in their own book?

[maxwell-grant]

You’ll prob wait to answer this after Caped Crusader drops, but: Does making Penguin NOT a white guy drastically change the character? And if so, is that a good thing?

Anonymous asked: So... Thoughts on Oswalda from Batman: The Caped Crusader?

@jcogginsa asked: New Batman show is out, and with it is a new Penguin. Have any thoughts on Minnie Driver's take on the Penguin?

Regarding the first ask, I mean, it really ought to, right? That seems to be part of the point of doing this kind of thing, to change or recontextualize something big and important about a character in a new light. If it wasn't supposed to be some kind of big change, if it wasn't meant to at least be something new or say something slightly different, I'd ask what would be the point of doing it. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely a thing to do just for fun / variety's sake, but it's not a choice that can just exist in a vacuum, it does matter how and why exactly you're doing it.

There's a couple of things that I'd say make or break this kind of stuff for me, besides like, you know, not removing existing meaningful elements of characters identities, like making Jewish or Romani characters generic caucasian Americans, real basic decency stuff y'know, not a lot to ask here. I think a change like this should at least bring questions to strengthen it, like: If this character is defined by certain traits or saying certain things, how is this interacting with those? Is this strengthening those existing traits and statements, is it providing new ones, or is it weakening them without offering much in return? Questions about how much can you redefine a character and still have that character be recognizable and all that, and of course the actual important questions of, Who is this for? What is being said here? Why was this decision made? And so on.

The example that comes to mind regarding that specificity, and how that can work wonders to breathe new life onto a character, is the MCU take on Namor, as Ritesh Babu elaborated on in a Patreon article

The reason I say I never truly cared for Namor is that while I thought him a great, compelling character in plenty of works I loved, I always felt a lack of emotional connection. He was enjoyable, but I didn't care about him, y'know? There was a connect. Watching Ryan Coogler's Wakanda Forever helped me bridge that disconnect. I finally realized what had been missing for me. It was Emotional Context.

Namor is historically an abrasive character. He's an angry character. He's got fury and rage, and he doesn't suffer fools. He's headstrong and unrelenting. He's an unyielding force. And he's great and fun that way, historically handled by mostly White writers (with rare exceptions, such as Greg Pak). But it was also, for me, an anger and rage and fury framed and constructed in such a way that it could be broad-strokes. It could be anything and everything from the pollution and climate ruination to perhaps some other tragic thing involving someone he cared about.

Ryan Coogler and Tenoch Huerta to me granted the character an emotional context here that clarifies everything he is, and all that shapes his thought. He's not angry at the surface world and its clownshit in abstract. It's not just the anger of a distant warrior-king of the oceans. It's the anger of the colonized, of the Othered.

What Ryan Coogler and Tenoch Huerta did is give him specificity. He's not just a broad-strokes figure in White hands, for White writers to write as an archetypal broad-strokes morally murky angry bastard guy. No, there's a specific history to this guy, there's a cultural specificity and context to his very existence.

And so Namor isn't some weird racially ambiguous/sorta white figure in largely White hands, but is instead an Indigenous Mexican hero and legend. He's a Mesoamerican figure and he's Mayan.

Coogler dispenses with the vagueries and broad-strokes thinking of the comics, and like any interesting creator should, asks good, rational questions. And that specificity, that's really what makes it for me. That's what I was missing. This is an attempt at using genre to speak to truth, to realities and real experiences, which are important to Black and Brown people. It's a far cry from some abstracted away thing to serve a primary White audience and its sensibilities or interests. - Ryan Coogler's Namor and Specificity

An example I'll give, as far as one reinvention that can make sense but I didn't find so interesting: The conception of Deadshot I like, from Suicide Squad (1987) and bits of Secret Six, is heavily informed by him being a privileged rich white man, a morally catatonic and emotionally rotten self-serving piece of shit in large part because of his privileged background and experiences, as well as a guy who's purposefully evoking the image of white western cowboys and providing commentary on their archetype. Deadshot, to me, is heavily informed by his whiteness, by his American elite background, and by his toxic masculinity, and thus the cocktail of what Deadshot is, comments on and speaks to comprises specific things that I think you'd have to approach very very differently if Floyd Lawton is a black man. I think the specificity of what that character is saying or tends to stand for is lost in adaptations that fudge those elements to make him more like the Will Smith version - you can definitely have another kind of meaningful and cool take on Deadshot, but it's a Deadshot who's gonna have to be saying different things, if he is to be saying anything at all - and most of the time, he isn't, and so to me, that context behind Deadshot is lost with not a lot gained in return. Under no circumstances does this mean you shouldn't be allowed to do it, but I feel like if you're dedicated to doing this to an existing character, there should be at least some commitment to what they are and do.

Getting back to that first question, it also really depends on what exactly are you changing. Like regarding the Penguin specifically, is it his race? His gender? His nationality? It's a very broad question to apply a single Yes or No to so I'm gonna say it's kind of both. On one hand, obviously some major aspects of his presentation and origin and defining traits would have to be altered to better correspond to that defining change. On the other hand, he is already extensively defined around his issues with his self-image and his surroundings and how people treat him, a person who is ostracized and Othered because of his looks or his background and where he stands in the city he grows up in. One of the consistent cornerstones of Oswald as a character is that he's trying extremely hard to overcompensate in wealth and class and power partially to override the ability of others to marginalize him over his weight or stature or poverty or disability and so on, in no small part that's what allowed him to take on protagonist status in recent years. If he was just a regular white guy, he'd be Rupert Thorne. Although, on the other other hand, I must stress here that treating marginalized traits as if they are equally interchangeable is how you get the X-Men school of representation, and we simply have do better than that.

I was very intrigued by the idea of turning Oswald into a woman. Fat men are very often shamed and ridiculed due to traits they are perceived to have in common with women, to be a fat man is to be dehumanized and stripped of masculinity and thus stripped of your worth of as man. To be accepted, fat men are forced to overperform masculinity just as fat women are forced to overperform femininity, and that element of overperformance is never not present in Oswald Cobblepot, who essentially lives in drag 24/7. A genderbend take on Oswald could certainly add a whole different meaning to his typical overreaction to jokes about his weight or looks, things that are commonly played as a joke. Fat women get consistently treated like absolute garbage by most people in ways that are different, more pervasive and frankly nastier than the ways fat men are also treated like garbage, and if people didn't treat him like garbage, The Penguin wouldn't be the person they are.

Penguin as a woman is a concept that could force a lot of his traits to demand renewed consideration, and in some ways you could argue he kinda already is feminized. He certainly doesn't get treated as a man the way Batman and the Joker and Bane and Gordon are. He overcompensates extremely hard in that regard, and it doesn't stick, he can act as tough and grizzled as he wants and he will never not be "the fat one", will never not get pushed around by the real man in Gotham, will never not be the unfit and bloated and squishy lesser-man hiding behind the umbrella because, why, he's not man enough to grit his teeth and hash it out with his fists. If we go back to Count Fosco from The Woman in White, we'll find this is something else they share in common:

"Fat as he is, and old as he is, his movements are astonishingly light and easy. He is as noiseless in a room as any of us women. With all his look of unmistakable mental firmness and power, he is as nervously sensitive as the weakest of us. He starts at chance noises as inveterately as Laura herself."

This passage holds the key to Marian’s complex attitude toward the Count; she is at once fascinated and threatened by him. As Marian’s description reveals, he is both alluring and dangerous, not merely because of his increasingly suspicious behavior throughout the narrative, but because he unnaturally exhibits the qualities of both sexes.

Even though Marian does not explicitly identify the Count’s androgyny as the reason for her discomfort with him, the novel’s keen preoccupation with identifying unknown figures by their sex illuminates the anxiety underlying Marian’s description of the Count. The Count complicates those binary categories, and, in true Victorian fashion, his deviance attracts simultaneous fascination and repulsion - Count Fosco and the Androgynous Mystique

He is Oswald Cobblepot, the pathetic little momma's boy, because even his personal tragedies are depicted as lesser, insignificant, not the right kind of cool cinematic masculine tragedy, and he is The Penguin, the eccentric oddly enthusiastic about worthless little things like his favorite animals and trinkets - things that the narrative deems worthless because Oswald is worthless in the literal term: he is worth less than Bruce Wayne, less than Batman, and we watch him as he fights tooth and nail to deny this, whether it's by beating Batman his own way or seeking power to avert his lot in life and stand above all the men that have put him down, or even just seeking villainy as a form of self-actualization, through that perseverance and ability to outmaneuver men so much bigger and scarier, who think they can nail the Penguin while their world is swiped from under them.

It's not for nothing that, in terms of where they stand in Batman's world nowadays, Penguin is practically sharing an apartment with Catwoman and the Riddler, the other 60s camp queens who won't leave banding together even when they can't stand each other. So, yeah, I was extremely curious as to what direction Caped Crusader was gonna lean into with the idea. Could it go wrong and be offensive garbage? Obviously, but I also thought it promised an intriguing new direction, of context that could add or rework so much about his existing traits. I didn't like the name Oswalda, no, but even besides all that I mentioned above, with The Penguin show coming out with it's new take on the character that's all about modernizing and grounding and twisting him around, I thought going big on Classic Penguin, with the top hat and monocle and sword-umbrella and existing in a Golden Age Gotham, and doing a genderflip, was a very solid idea to place opposite of it. So how did I feel about Oswalda Cobblepot?

...It sucked, guys, I'm sorry, I'm really not happy to say it. Caped Crusader's first episode was ASS, and 6 episodes in, while the rest of it has been better (not great, but tolerable, occasionally good even), that pilot was the most stone-faced I've ever been sitting through a Batman thing and frankly I don't even have anything to say about regarding Oswalda. There were tentative beginnings of a take but not actually anything that rounds out into one (and frankly I'd say this Harley Quinn also has that problem to a lesser degree, this show so far has been just really barebones across the board), and frankly I'm not asking for much, I've lived off breadcrumbs before when it comes to Penguin, I'd be good with something if there was something. She isn't remotely a threat to Batman and seems pretty damn dumb, and she gets dealt with on the pilot to make way for Rupert Thorne in a way that kinda really betrays the escalation theme they're shooting for here and it's, guys what else am I supposed to talk about here, seriously?

I don't even like the design that much, it feels like they started from Penguin's head and shoulders and then tried as hard as possible to cinch her waist and slim her down leaving a weird disproportion between her upper body and legs, it looks weird in some shots but I guess you could say that's just the animation being, uh, sub-par to be polite. I guess I like her ruthlessness and that scene where she murders one of her sons, even though that's her being really stupid not noticing the obvious snitch in the room, and it's more so because that was the only moment in the episode where something almost cool happened. I do like her being a cabaret singer, but, man she sounds way too boring for a character with such a distinct way of speaking, if she didn't look like the Penguin from the shoulders up you would never tell that's who this was supposed to be.

I'm sorry that she continues Penguin's bad streak from BTAS, man what a bummer. Still, I have been really enjoying The Batman Audio Adventures lately, it's not like I'm starved for a more classically flavored take on Penguin, so it's only a bummer. I'm open to the idea that she can come back in a later season for a better showing, and she was far from the worst thing about the episode, in fact by process of elimination she was overall the best, but she was the one part I had the most slight hopes for. Oh well.

[nariism]

i don’t dance!

pair. pro-player!ushijima x PR manager!reader

content: fluff, reader is his VERY TIRED PR manager who really deserves a raise, weak attempts at humour, no pronouns used for reader

synopsis. you need to teach ushijima how to waltz

wc: 2.2k

a/n: i eat the “teach me how to dance” trope up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (also yes i absolutely did use a high school musical song as the title who’s gonna stop me)

ushijima wakatoshi is what people typically refer to as emotionally unavailable.

he just doesn’t have the time to worry about trivial things like romance or feelings or anything of the sort. not while he’s trying to keep up with his rigorous training schedule on top of countless interviews and photo shoots that you, his wonderful PR manager, generously offer to help him prepare for.

it’s no surprise that this man - 6 feet and almost 4 inches of pure heart throb material - has yet to find a partner worth keeping around. not that he hadn’t had one night stands, per say, but being emotionally available for a committed relationship isn’t something he has on his mind right now.

although he isn’t exactly the type to be nitpicky about this kind of stuff, he does come off as cold if you don’t know him well enough (unintentionally, of course). people who he welcomes into his life simply find him too busy or too severe in his mannerisms to form proper relationships. thus, his friend group is kept tight, extending almost exclusively to members of the japanese national team.

ushijima keeps to himself and minds his own business. he doesn’t speak until spoken to, unless he has some opinion about other volleyball players you have to thwart. he doesn’t make a fuss about insignificant things. he respects his elders and works hard in every aspect of his life that involves his career. words are kept short and to the point, never sugar coated and he certainly never lies.

he specifically remembers one scenario in which an adoring fan had come up to him after a game while you were distracted with the press, and they had confessed their undying love to him much to his horror.

“could you leave me alone?” he had told them bluntly when they asked if he could please dm them on twitter, and you nearly died on the spot when the cameras all turned to the pair behind you. it was a horribly busy week for you, playing the role of damage control all while ushijima remained completely indifferent to the storm that was brewing on social media around his name and how he was trending for two whole days after the fact.

thankfully, the fan had gratefully accepted a bouquet of flowers ‘courtesy of ushijima’ (which he also almost vehemently denied online before you smacked him upside the head), and all was forgiven. it even made him trend for a couple days longer, but this time with everyone singing his praises. he should give you more credit where it’s due, because being a PR manager for someone so terrible at smiling for the camera is like hell on earth.

you had told him once that it was important to keep a good rapport with his fans, even if they were more forward with their advances than he was used to back in high school. he looked at you funny until you continued: “i’m not saying you should go off and date anyone who confesses to you, but could you at least be a little nicer?!” sounding extremely exasperated.

he didn’t even end up agreeing with you, too distracted by the way your lips moved while you scolded him to pay you his full attention.

“tonight’s the gala. everyone will be there.”

“i know.”

“so why,” you hiss out the words through grit teeth, jaw tense as you pinch the bridge of your nose, “are you standing outside my house when you should be getting ready?”

he’s silent for a moment. you glance up to make sure he’s actually still standing there being stupidly handsome and that you’re not just dreaming he is. ushijima averts his gaze awkwardly, hands in his pockets as he contemplates whether or not he should say what’s on his mind and risk having you slam the door in his face in frustration.

(it’s happened before; once, when he told you he was the top reply on a post for asking what “smash” means and why everyone was commenting it under all his instagram photos. you slammed the door in his face then, too, but he could still hear you erupt into laughter from the other side much to his confusion.)

you’re looking at him expectantly, with a brow raised and your lips pursed as you wait for an explanation.

“it’s a gala.”

you close your eyes and take a deep breath, patience wearing thin. “i know, wakatoshi. i just said that.”

“it’s a gala, so...” he huffs, “i have to dance, don’t i?”

you look up again at his words, confusion written all over your face. you’re in the middle of getting ready yourself, dressed to the nines. not as his date, of course, though he’d asked you.

(“what did you just say?”

“why can’t you just come with me? it would save you the trouble of getting the extra ticket. it’s not like i’m taking anyone else.”

“i can’t- that’s-... it’s unprofessional.”

“oh. i see.”)

you take the opportunity to scrutinize his outfit, as your eyes always end up doing. you’re always observing him closely, hoping and praying he doesn’t do or say something that will get him cancelled. in his defense, he’s gotten better at keeping his mouth shut when he knows you’re sitting there stressed to all hell about what you’ll need to apologize for on his behalf that week.

not that he would ever admit it out loud, but he likes the attention a little bit. enjoys being fussed over, since he spends most of his time isolated save for the members of his team. and it’s not like you’re very secretive about your judgment of him. it’s your job, for one, but there’s an undeniable and genuine worry in your eyes every time he says something he shouldn’t. he thinks it’s fine that he indulges in your presence just a bit, especially since people have found him intimidating his whole life. it’s nice to talk to someone who isn’t afraid to stand up to him once in a while.

you sigh quietly. “yes, you’ll have to dance. why?” you open the door wider for him, a gesture he’s familiar with equating to come in. “you’re not planning on bailing ‘cause of that, are you?”

he watches as you retreat further into your house, probably to fix your hair one last time before you head out early. you always arrive to these sorts of events earlier than he does, and always in a separate car. you were insistent that he arrive either alone or with his own date, since it would reduce the risk of scandals questioning your seemingly close relationship with each other.

close is not the word either you nor ushijima would use to describe your feelings toward one another. sure, you were the one helping to manage his schedule even though the job description did not at all entail that, and you’re the one keeping him in line with the media. he even has you over sometimes for dinner after an especially long day. but no, you’re not close. work acquaintances at best.

“no, i’m not bailing,” he tells you as he trails behind, following you to the mirror in the hallway - the one hung up above a high table littered with trinkets from past events and some photos of you and your friends and family. you look at him with a quizzical expression through the mirror.

“then?”

he stands rigidly behind you. the thought that it feels strangely domestic with you getting ready in front of him like this crosses his mind, and makes him grossly warm and fuzzy inside.

“i don’t know how to dance.”

you pause in your ministrations, hair that you meant to pin up falling back over your eyes as you stare at him with bewilderment. “you what?”

“i don’t know how to dance,” he repeats, though you heard him perfectly fine the first time.

“you... don’t know how to... dance...” you sound out the sentence slowly, hoping that you possibly misheard him. to your horror, he only nods in confirmation.

in your one year, three months and twenty-two days of working with ushijima, how could it have never once dawned on you that this 6 foot monster of a volleyball player doesn’t know how to do something as elegant as a waltz?

it’d never been a problem before. most events don’t include anything of the sort, and all the events you do attend with ushijima are to give out awards or give esteemed recognition to MVPs. but for a christmas gala, there will definitely be booze and partying and absolutely dancing involved.

for a second, he thinks you’ll keel over and place your head into your hands on the table like you usually do in these situations, or that you’ll start muttering curse words to yourself, or maybe you’ll scold him some more for never learning. but much to his (pleasant) surprise, you just laugh. and laugh. and keep laughing, until there are tears in your eyes. his poor heart can’t take it.

“what?” he asks, almost sounding offended. but his expression is still stone cold as you look back up at him, turning to face him this time. his breath hitches when the action causes a whiff of your expensive body spray to waft in his direction.

“i just wasn’t expecting you to say that,” you muse. he knows what you really mean is that you’re surprised he isn’t here causing trouble for you before this event like he always does, complaining like a child that he doesn’t see the point of attending. “why didn’t you just say so? it’s easy. i’ll show you.”

he stares at you momentarily while you stand there, hand outstretched as an offer to take it. he half expects you to yank it back and laugh in his face, more cruelly this time, but you just smile at him with the slightest tilt of your head. you sound so genuine that any hesitation left in his body melts away, and he awkwardly accepts your hand and waits for your guidance.

he’s stiff as a board as you pull his hands where they need to go, one resting on your hip and the other hanging in the air for you to take. “i’ll teach you how to lead first, okay?” he can only nod in response. you step forward once with your left, urging him to step back with your timing. then you’re shuffling over, gliding along the floor with ushijima trying his damndest to follow along, and then your feet meet again in a different spot.

he grunts quietly in concentration, watching your movements carefully and clumsily trying to catch up. it’s a simple enough motion, but he’s too big and it feels clunky to do this for the first time. you seem deeply amused by his confusion, and he glares at you quickly before his eyes are back on the floor.

“now you try. we can go slow,” your voice is soft. encouraging. so unlike your usual stern demeanor with him. “step forward.”

ushijima does so obediently, sliding his left forward to the best of his memory.

“good. now your right goes to the side and the left follows.”

he listens to you again, but his gait is much larger than you anticipated, and your back hits the table behind you with a gentle thud. he mutters something along the lines of an apology, but he seems too focused to realize the compromising position he’s put you in. you smile at him anyways, rotating around 90 degrees to give you more space to move.

“now again in the opposite direction.”

“this is too complicated.”

“this is the easiest motion...”

“i don’t like it.”

“you gonna keep complaining or are you going to dance with me?”

he stops in his tracks, boring into you with intensity in his eyes. you watch his adam’s apple bob up and down as he swallows. “...what’s wrong?”

ushijima just shakes his head, and then his feet are moving again as he tugs you along clumsily. “nothing. but maybe you should be my dance partner for the rest of tonight.” you raise a brow at him in question, even though you can feel the heat rising in your face and all the way to the tips of your ears. he clears his throat, looking away. “wouldn’t want any bad press about my terrible dancing,” he quickly adds.

this gets a laugh out of you. “as your PR manager, i don’t think that’s the kind of negative press i’m supposed to be getting you out of.”

“and as a friend?”

another laugh, a little breathless. “yeah, yeah. fine. as your friend i’ll make sure no one knows how awful you are at this.”

he blinks down at you, unsure if he’s ever seen you so relaxed before. you’re always so high-strung about work and keeping his name clear. there’s a softness gracing your face right now and he doesn’t know how to handle himself or his racing heart.

okay, yeah. maybe he can try and be a little nicer to his fans to see you like this more often.

EXTRA:

© ALABOADOA 2023 — please do not translate or post my works to other platforms.

[bberry005]

THE BAD BATCH FINALE THOUGHTS

this goes without saying, but this post contains spoilers for the series finale of the bad batch. keep reading at your own risk. also this got so long like i had so many more thoughts than i thought i would.

okay first of all i LOVED the finale. it played out simultaneously exactly how i expected and nothing like i expected at all. my top moments from this episode were definitely the ending and the scenes where they found out omega freed the zillo beast.

okay now for a few rapid fire lists

things i loved: - the fact they absolutely did not let crosshair sacrifice himself. when i saw the "plan 99" tweet by jennifer corbett, i had a feeling it was going to be something like this and i've never been happier to be proved right - additionally, "clone force 99 died with tech. we aren't that squad anymore" was an amazing moment. i feel like some people might not like it much but i thought it was so fitting. i have so much to say about it i might make a whole post on it - THE RETURN OF HUNTER'S ENHANCED SENSES WHEN HE FELT THAT BLASTER BOLT COMING TOWARDS HIM. chat it took us three whole seasons but we finally did it! we saw his enhanced senses! - the humor was on point, as always - omega's entire character this episode. like all her tantiss part 2 moments, this episode really showed how much she's learned and grown and the person she's starting to become - ECHO AND EMERIE!!! they're such a duo and if star wars ever does any projects about the clone rebellion, i want to see more of them - all the fight scenes were perfect, as always - the clone prisoners all joining echo and omega to save hunter, wrecker, and crosshair - going off of that, i loved how the batch got stopped and they faced extremely high stakes and losses. it wasn't easy for them to get in and out. wrecker got severely injured, hunter nearly got crushed, crosshair lost his hand, and they all got captured. their losses stacked up with how insane of a mission they were trying to pull off. i was worried there'd be too many losses or they'd win too easily, but the balance was perfectly struck - the scene on the bridge with hemlock was AMAZING. no notes. i loved it. hemlock's death was also so violent like i feel like they don't show that much violence usually but they really just showed him getting shot until he fell off that bridge and you know what? it's what he deserved - THE ENDING. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE ENDING OH MY GOD. without getting too sappy, the very last scene reminded me of me and my dad when i left for college for the first time. obviously the context and stakes of omega leaving were VERY different and a lot higher, but just that similiarity made me cry

things i thought were okay: - nala se's sacrifice. it was kind of meh and didn't really feel impactful to me - rampart's villain moment was so high drama but again i thought it was okay - omega sneaking off and trying to leave without saying goodbye felt a little out of character but you know what? that's okay. i think it fits a little with parts of her character that weren't super explored in the show

things i thought needed to be addressed more: - that insane cx trooper reveal? like hello? those guys were INSANE and i loved how they were purposely designed to all mirror the batch in some way (also fellow "tech is cx-2" truthers we were absolutely incorrect and even if he was cx-2, he's firmly dead now so uh yeah) - but building off the cx trooper thing, having a cx trooper that mirrored each member of the batch and then revealing them in the last episode was odd to me. it makes me suspect there was supposed to be another season based on this plot line but said season got cut - the fates of some of the side characters. i was kind of wondering where phee went and what was up with her

things that we all thought were going to be addressed but weren't: - cx trooper (but specifically cx-2) identities - where the fuck is cody???? - how the fuck did wolffe join rex???

all in all, a beautiful ending to a beautiful show. to me, the bad batch has always been a father-daughter story at it's core. again, without getting too sappy and personal, star wars for me and so many other people my age has always been something that's introduced to us by someone older who we look up to, and for me that person is my dad. for a franchise i associate so much with my dad and being able to connect with him to tell the story of hunter and omega, a father and his daughter, really means a lot to me. so thank you to the bad batch for telling this amazing story and being the thing that fully launched me back into loving star wars again. thank you for this story about love and family and loyalty and sacrifice and for honoring all the core principles of this story in the finale. i can't wait to see where omega's story goes in the future, and as always, may the force be with you <3

[mooshs-crack-headcanons]

My go to plan as soon as I get totk:

Get through the tutorial area (probably in the sky then need to get back on to the surface)

Go to hateno. See if the zelink living in the hateno house together fanfics were real.

Check out something specific relating to the art book leak. (Not describing or sharing the leak so don't worry about spoilers from me! :)

Find a horse that at least looks like the one I had in breath of the wild, my beloved baby boy Romeo who can do and hasn't done nothing wrong ever in the entire 6 years of his life (he kicked me off a cliff four separate times):

Go to Gerudo desert because out of all regions it's the one I'm the most interested in seeing the state of post Ganondorf resurrection(?) murderous pissy fit.

I'm going to build me a big fuck off Zonai tractor.

Zelda. I need to know if she's alright, I would like to find out this earlier on but that's probably going to be found out through story and I really do want to take my time with it.

I need to see what the hell is happening with this korok with a backpack:

Speaking of the koroks, uhm... korok forest is gone. I definitely want to check that out. (Sorry this picture so so fucking blurry with how it's zoomed in but the forests gone)

I need to find out if I can glue two Royal claymores together (or an equivalent) to make a big fuck off abomination claymore that does double claymore damage that looks like this:

Go back to eventide. I wonder if they added something there. It seems like something thats a no brainer to do.

Check out what the fuck is going on with the labyrinths I can't find the screenshots now but I remember seeing some of them floating with the sky islands at some point.

If if I can find a sky island resembling at least a little bit of skyloft. I feel it in my bones that Nintendo would pull that type of shit. Or not because this is also Nintendo.

Documenting literally every even hint of a zelink moment in the entire game so I can make several posts gushing over it in the future.

Take lots of screenshots! I actually played breath of the wild on wii u and never on switch so of course I never really had that screenshot or recording capability so I finally can really go all out in this game.

The dragon that is 10000% a fucking Gleeok on the bridge of Hylia I've already determined is going to be the first overworld boss I fight. 🙂 I can't wait to fight it with only five or so hearts 🙂

Amd finally since amiibo support is confirmed and costumes are too - the artbook actually confirmed it but I don't really think that's a spoiler because it's a very obvious mechanic to bring back than just having them be used once only for the paraglider skins you get that was officially confirmed here below so I can't wait to get my ocarina of time and twilight princess gear back that I can wear for the whole game!

Over all I just really want to have fun in this game and really it looks like it's going to deliver. I can't wait to sink hundreds if not thousands of hours into and I REALLY REALLY hope it can at least fix a lot of it's predecessors issues, especially with how it executes it's story. I keep saying it, breath of the wild *had* the potential to be one of the best zelda stories ever but it was done so extremely poorly trying to tell it, majority of it is just ruined. I sincerely hope Nintendo has learned their lesson from that and actually let the Link/you the player actually play throughand experience the games narrative instead of just... having it exposition dumped onto you over and over in flashback cutscenes as stuff that's already happened and can't be changed. I went having this game with very low confidence it was first revealed in 2019, but the more and more I keep seeing it now the higher my optimism gets and I actually genuinely hope this game is really good.

I'm actually wishing the best for it and desperately hope it doesn't disappoint. We've all waited so long, and now we have only a little bit more to go.

[voxofthevoid]

I really liked chapter 261 because it addressed a part of Gojou's character that I felt was never really properly expressed beforehand; in the anime, s2ep9 (Gate, Open), the collectively opinion of everyone on Gojou is simple. He's the Strongest. The cast describe Gojou's personality in adjectives, but it seems to me like Gojou's someone who leads a very private life, they can describe Gojou Satoru in a straightforward manner, yet they cant recall specific instances where they felt like they really knew him. We, and the cast, don't know much about Gojou Satoru's life. He's the Strongest sorcerer in life, and even in passing he's still just seen as a human-weapon. This is why I hated 236, it felt like such an empty conclusion to Gojou Satoru; even in death we do not know him more than the persona he takes on and few instances where he goes cold and callous. Who is Gojou Satoru when stripped of the mantle of the Strongest? Who is Gojou Satoru and it begs the question from Getou Suguru, "are you you because you're the strongest, or are you the strongest because you're you?" does Gojou's powers make him or is he more than just "the Strongest"?

this panel felt like catharsis. We've never seen Gojou breakdown or show weakness, and to me, seeing a character break is how I feel like I know them. He's been a kid playing god since forever, and the world he lives in sees him as nothing more than a weapon. Who is Gojou Satoru?

Hmm, I have a fairly different interpretation. Not saying you're wrong, and I get why 261 made you happy, but since you've sent this to me, I figure you want my take on it:

Gojou being reduced to just the "Strongest" by others, even people (relatively) close to him, is a salient theme in JJK, but it's also patently not all he is to others. We see it with Shouko, Yuuji, Yuuta, and Getou. There's tragedy in how, despite his evidently deliberate efforts to be perceived as an irritating asshole more than a terrifyingly powerful entity, he never quite succeeds or bridges that gap between himself and others—and how he's resigned to it. No wonder he's chasing after Getou and what he represents—a time in life when he wasn't so alone.

As for us readers, we see a lot more than his persona from his teen years forward: the kindness, the casual cruelty, the arrogance, the self-awareness, the desire for reform, the trappings of the system, the compassion, the sadism. The list goes on. We know just as much about Gojou as we do about Megumi or Nobara. We know him better than we know Yuuta or Shouko. He may not have as many interior monologues, especially in adulthood, but his actions show plenty.

And I'm afraid I'm not sure I get what you mean by that panel and catharsis in terms of Gojou breaking down? Do you mean Yuuta's outburst serves as a kind of proxy breakdown for Gojou?

[strqyr]

... You know suddenly the fact that Raven had a decoy Maiden is suddenly in question if that was for her sake. Because Ozpin who Raven does not trust in the slightest has to know the details of her semblance. And so would Summer, suspected to be with Salem. Putting aside the question of whether either would - the fact that threatening Yang would get a highly elusive and hard to catch Spring Maiden to show her face wasn't known for over a decade. And relevant with the Relics of knowledge locked.

Okay I'm suddenly chewing this because Raven gets super mad at Ozpin for "What he did to [Qrow] and me" - and if you're right they are secondary keys Raven would have reason to be absolutely pissed upon finding out if Oz didn't say that at the time. Her semblance would make that a walking hostage crisis to anyone that can't defend themselves. And she runs specifically after Yang, someone who had no choice in the matter was born. (If she found out after Yang was born... No wonder she despised Oz) This also adds another layer to that talk in front of the Spring Vault if Raven burned her relationship with Yang to the ground to sell the lie she didn't care. Then with the weight of one of possible two locks off her back, the burnt/never built bridge that she can't talk Yang down because no trust after years of silence. Yang with one arm gone, already permanently harmed from the shadow war. Years of silence, Vernal dead and burned relationships all for naught ... Also if you're right about Raven being drawn into a trap by a threat to Yang - the parallels with how the audience first knowingly saw her. (And it lines up with how we saw her for the first time at least symbolically watching Yang as a bird)

what i find especially interesting is that, well, qrow knows what raven's semblance is. how it works. yet to him, raven acts like yang doesn't even exist, and most of the time he's always assuming the worst of raven.

but the thing is, raven cares, so her pulling this act that she doesn't is like... there's gotta be a reason for it, and kindred link being what it is fits perfectly.

and THEN. raven, with one simple, awkward question, makes it clear to summer that she cares. of course at the time it wouldn't have been necessary to hide the fact, but in hindsight, with summer working with salem, it's um. uh-oh, mistakes were made.

the main question as far as setting a trap goes is the reason for it. if the branwens are part of the solution to finding the crown, that could be one—assuming raven is still reluctant to cooperate. other option is that there really is just that much bad blood between summer and raven that it is Personal™ ("so you can believe when i say this wasn't personal" raven tells yang in the vault and oh boi if that gets told to yang by summer as well) that summer would set up an ambush just because. i'm leaning more towards the "cooperation" angle but the latter would be funny (to me) bc of cinder agreeing to change the haven plan solely to get a shot at ruby. time is a circle and no one is escaping from it (yet).

[autisticlancemcclain]

fic rec friday 21

welcome to the twenty-first fic rec friday! where, on friday, i rec five of my favourite fics.

1. Most Artists are Messy by @shipsgalore

Lance is drawing a complicated flower on the base of Keith’s wrist and it makes his lips pull up into a smile despite the panic. They’re always flowers when it comes to Lance. He uses them in everything he does, and usually doesn’t even know he’s doing it. Keith can count on one hand how many times the doodles on his arms haven’t been of flowers.

i love this one because keith & lance are just blatantly and clearly autistic. it’s wonderful. it’s sweet and fluffy and it’s a modern au, which as y’all know is my jam, and the last few paragraphs do this specific thing with sentiment repetition that genuinely gets to me every time

2. Be Alive With Me Tonight by @caesaria [EXPLICIT] [ABO]

When the Blade of Marmora requests assistance on an information gathering mission, Lance and Keith go undercover as a bonded alpha and omega pair. At first, it seems like this is going to be more like a vacation than a mission – right up until everything falls apart and they realize how unprepared they really are. Now, Lance and Keith have to fight to not only survive, but to make it out together. They’ll have to rely not only on their skills as Paladin, but the bond they’ve created and nurtured between them.

okay i gave this one the explicit warning bc there are chapters that are explicit, but tbh the scenes are skippable if that’s not ur thing. now this fic is an EPIC. truly. its a quarter million words and the plot is breathtaking, the worldbuilding is iconic and the romance is like HOLY SHIT. this is a novel, and better yet its a KLANCE novel, so. highly recommend if you have a day or two to read.

3. roses by @renyoi

Lance is always getting flowers for Keith, so Keith decides to return the favor--with a little help, of course.

written for prompt #4 of klance valentine's week!

keith is hilarious here. just in general but here especially and i love him. he wants to pamper lance so so badly and hes so straightforward and earnest!! and allura’s character in here is also excellent. i will leave u with this one line from the fic that made me laugh it loud: “ The next day, the sun rises to Keith Kogane, dressed all in black (that’s all that was clean, okay?!), loitering around in front of Alluring Blossom, the 5-star-rated “I’ve never had such a delightful bouquet delivered to me in my entire life!” flower shop of a woman named Allura Altea. Keith automatically trusted her because he loves people that also have alliteration in their names. “ king. love him

4. here it comes by rideahorse

Keith watched a lonely droplet of water fall from Lance’s soaked bangs, curving a path over the bridge of his nose and then pooling—almost teasingly so—at the bow of his lips.

“I feel like I won, for some reason,” Lance said quietly.

what have i told yall about fics from 2016!!! this fic made me SMILE and im not usually a fan of like senior year of high school fics but holy shit!! holy SHIT!! this fic had me smiling and kicking my feet and losing my mind. i will leave u with the note i put on my bookmark (spoiler warning):

a couple things: 1. “lance is a bad influence” and “lance is a pretty princess (tm)” are god tier tags so thanks for that 2. keith with a tongue piercing. must i say more. 3. i miss keith gyeong that was an excellent era 4. the couple tattoo moment had me taking a Moment 5. here’s how i imagine the aftermath of this: shiro: i saw u ditched prom. are you okay? keith: yeah actually! lance convinced me that we have to have a wild final night, so we went to a High School Party (tm), i decked a guy for lance and your honour, we panic drove away, went skinny dipping in a pool, got caught, ran away naked for two blocks, went to sonic in another town, got matching tattoos, fucked in the backseat of my car, and watched the sunrise :)) shiro: shiro: shiro: shiro: i’m sorry. what were those last parts keith: yeah i know you really like sunrises we probably should have invited you :// but it was kind of an us thing i’m sure you understand :) shiro: KEITH

anyways i laughed

5. if silence was a song by @angstinspace

“It’s … Your show is on so late at night,” Keith tries to explain, as if Lance didn’t know this already. “I guess I was just wondering why that is.”

A crackling silence answers him, and Keith’s stomach sinks. Did Lance hang up? Keith can’t exactly blame him.

But then he hears Lance make a noise––a short huff of breath that might have been either an impatient sigh or a quiet laugh … Keith has no clue.

“That’s the reason you’re calling? To complain about my time slot?”

or, Keith starts anonymously calling Lance's college radio show and develops an unexpected crush.

@catnippackets did a comic of this i believe, and it literally never leaves my head. yall know the trope where one person gets a phone call and halfway through they sigh wistfully and say “god i wish you were here” and then the other person smiles so viscerally it can be felt through the phone and they say “look behind you” and theyre THERE?????? that makes me lose it every time. i love this fic

that’s it for today!! i’ll see y’all back next friday for the next fic rec post!!!    

[lyndaris]

OC rambles:

Thinking about what Ophelia/Alec would be like as a companion in ESO.

About/Meet the Character:

“Alec, former agent of the Dominion. Supposedly a trusted Eye of the Queen as well, but that is just one of many rumors of that Mer…

Her appearance is unmistakable, being so short for a dunmer and the jagged scar that crosses her left cheek to the bridge of her nose. Those golden yellow eyes as sharp as her daggers… not to mention her gothic style of armor and that war paint. Does she ever wear any color?

Never mind, that’s not important. Anyways, she has said she’s an Ashlander of Vvardenfell but the natives claim to not know anything or refuse to speak to any outsiders in general. Some revere her, they call her a hero of the Ashlands. Most dark elves of the Houses despise her, even uttering her name will get you kicked out of a building. Or a city. Especially around the Tribunal temples.

There is little known about her, most is speculation or rumors. Some even dramatic as calling her a secret demiprince to the Prince Boethiah..! What we do know is she’s not an approachable person. Do not engage with her, don’t even look at her wrong or she might just slit your throat. I heard she’s been wanted for a number of crimes, mass murder. Arson. Defiling Shrines and Temples…

…potential criminal records aside. She is mostly known for being an antisocial mercenary these days. Who is very picky about the jobs she accepts so. Have fun and don’t turn your back on her. Might be your last mistake..!”

Character quest line:

Alec needs help in making peace with her past, which involves seeking out knowledge of the Good Daedra. Specifically, Boethiah. The Prince her parents worshiped. As well as shutting down the rumor of being a demiprince.

As she travels around and grows close with a companion, they have to visit places in Vvardenfell to learn and understand the Good Daedra and their followers.

Finally facing the Prince of Plots to shut down the famous rumor and she can also confront the Prince as she blames them for the loss of her parents. A bittersweet ending where Alec has lived up to the Prince of Plots teachings, a living legacy of her parents, learning they are at peace and reside in the Prince’s realm after their glorious deaths in battle.

Racial Skill: Decreases ability cooldown 3% and increases damage done by 3%.

Companion Perk: Alec’s Sight - See through the shadows and expose an invisible enemy so they can’t hide/escape. Enemies exposed cannot go invisible again for 10 seconds.

Default gear: medium armor and daggers,

Style: Ancient Daedric

Default mount: Midnight Steed, named “Shadow”

Rapport Status:

Positives

Cordial: Alec tolerates you.

Friendly: Alec thinks you’re a competent companion.

Close: Alec is glad you two met.

Allied: Alec would rather travel with you than alone.

Companion: Alec trusts you, one of few she can count on.

Negatives:

Wary: Alec is unsure about you.

Irritated: Alec wonders why she still bothers working with you.

Disdain: Alec wishes she never met you.

Negative rapport:

-25, taking her near the Tribunal or their Temples:

• “Really? You take an ashlander near a false god/Tribunal temple?”

• “next time, leave me out of Tribunal business.“

• “I question your decision to speak with that false god…”

• “I will defile their shrine/altar, I hope you know that.”

-5 - 10, intimidating merchants to pay gold / stealing kid’s toys / wearing Ordinator/Hand of Almalexia costumes:

• “why don’t you get your gold from a bandit, or a cultist instead?”

• “Merchants are making a living too, y’know.”

• “do you feel real tough? Threatening a civilian for a few gold?”

- “how heartless are you to steal from children?”

- “so you’re that kind of thief, huh?”

- “there are better things to steal…”

+ “I should kill you for wearing that around me.”

+ “this some kind of sick joke to you?”

+ “you are aware my people get killed by those House/Tribunal dogs, right?”

-1, getting a bounty/paying a guard, traveling to Coldharbour:

• “this is what happens when you get caught.”

• “you might as well have announced that you’re committing a crime.”

• “next time, watch for guards/witnesses.”

“Ugh, why are we here?”

“I hated it the first time I was here...”

“I should just leave you alone here.”

Positive Rapport:

+25 - 125, going near shrines to the Good Daedra, speaking to Azura & Mephala:

• “I may not pray to the Good Daedra, but I always pay my respects at their shrines.”

• “Do not believe all Daedra are evil, some view them as teachers. Like myself.”

• “Give me a moment, yeah? I want to think of my family while we’re here.”

- “Lady Azura, and all her beautiful glory actually spoke to us. May the Mother of the Rose guide us.”

- “My mother loved Lady Azura, as much as she prayed to Lord Boethiah…”

- “The Lady of Twilight among us…Do you feel overwhelmed? No? Just me? Huh.”

+ “Lady Mephala… bless us with shadows.”

+ “Do you feel like murdering someone in her name? Maybe we could gain her favor…”

+ “Did you mention me to her? Give a good word? Please tell me you didn’t embarrass us-“

+5 - 10, crafting dunmeri/ashlander foods & drinks, visiting Vvardenfell tribe camps, completing Ashlander dailies:

- “reminds me of what my mother used to make…”

- “we going to eat/drink that… or?”

- “if you need someone to sample that, I’m more than willing to.. give feedback.”

• “would you mind if we stay a few minutes? I just… want to imagine what it’s like having a tribe again.”

• “I wish I still had my tribe… exiled or not, they were my family.”

• “being a Clanfriend is bittersweet, getting to visit the tribes camps but never having my own to return to.”

+ “I appreciate you helping my people. Truly.”

+ “Even if it doesn’t mean something to you, it means something to me that you’re helping these Ashlanders. Thank you.”

+ “You’re proving to be a good Clanfriend. Maybe we can make a difference here together.”

Greetings:

Cordial, Friendly- “hm?” “Yeah?” “What do you need?”

Close, Allied, Companion- “Problem, Sera?” “Change of plans?” “You have my attention.” “Feeling chatty?”

Wary, Disdain- “what?” “Yes, s’wit?” “What now?” “Unless it’s getting us paid, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Tell me something about yourself.”:

• “Vvardenfell is my homeland, no matter how many locals claim me to be an outsider… I still visit the tribes camps when I can.”

• “Daggers are my preferred choice of weapons, but I have spent time learning to wield other weapons too. Expand my knowledge and skills, train myself to be better.”

• “I lost my parents to Tribunal fanatics, and when I demanded justice I got turned away. Those false gods only care about themselves, their false godhood. I want nothing to do with them or their people.”

• “I pray to no divine or Daedric Prince. I have no connections to anyone, anywhere. I prefer to stay neutral, I hate picking sides.”

• “Murder, assassination, deceit, lies… all a part of me. What my parents and mentor taught me. I don’t care if you decide to stick a dagger into someone because you feel like it. Just don’t get caught.”

• “I admit, I proudly worked for Queen Ayrenn and her Dominion… when I was exiled from Vvardenfell and ended up in Auridon, Her Grace took a gamble with me. She didn’t have to trust an outlander, but she did. I owed her a debt.”

• “I don’t like alcoholic beverages, feeling drunk has never been a good experience for me. Feeling out of control… if you need a drinking buddy, ask someone else.”

• “Not that I assume you have heard the nonsense, but in case you have… No, I am not a demiprince. I am mortal, just like you. The tale spoken of me is greatly exaggerated and false.”

[milfygerard]

For the ask game: Dorothea, tis the damn season, cowboy like me?

oughhh the trifecta...

dorothea: If youre ever tired of being known for who you know y'know, youll always know me....dorothea

I just love when taylor really leans into wordplay and turns of phrases and this might be one of her most effective and smoothest examples. evermore is probably one of her albums with the least amount of what I affectionately call Taylor Clunk, which comes in many forms but here is where taylor has a specific idea she wants out and refuses to cut but she cant quite make it fit leading to awkward vocal patterns, rhyming a word with itself or painfully basic obvious rhymes, songs where the structure just doesnt quite click etc. You can find it plenty in her catalogue but especially on the better bonus/cut tracks like jump then fall (rhyming face with face, you can almost feel her irritation that she cant fix that), its time to go (the "thing" bridge that feels just a little too vague and awkward compared to the rest of the track) and IION (the verses are just kind of a mess structurally). This line? is what happens when taylor has nothing but time to hammer out each kink and annoyance and just make a lyric that flows like water. Its extremely singable and noticably clever but also still clears as smart if you sit and think about it while working beautifully within the song and still feeling real to the character taylors inhabiting. HM: "skipping the prom just to piss of your mom and her pagent schemes" "from you i'd buy anything"

TTDS: theres an ache in you put there by the ache in me/but if its all the same to you, its the same to me

what a profoundly sad and resentful lyric in a profoundly sad and resentful song. This one line I think really captures what TTDS is about which is that constant sense of feeling trapped. You felt trapped in your home town and you ran away, you escaped, but the escape alone isnt enough as you have what feels like all the same issues but somewhere else, and how a few times every year you have to walk back into the open spring-trapped cage and be reminded of the comfort of the cage you already know compared to the one youre pursuing. the what if of "should I just come back and be unhappy here if theres at least one person who will truly understand that?" Old habits are slipped into easily but not unknowingly, and the ache is still there even as dorothea and her lover pretend for just a weekend that they are still two anchors in one terrible place kind of silverflitn if you think about it i mean what. When paired with Dorothea as a track its also a tale of poor communication, dorothea as a character creating a sense of resentment from her lover far more intesne than the fond sadness in her namesake track. HM: "if I wanted to know who you were hanging with while I was gone i would've asked you" "I parked my car right between the methodist and the school that used to be ours"

CLM: now you hang from my lips like the Gardens of Babylon/ with your boots beneath my bed, forever is the sweetest con

AMBIGUITY BABY!!!! CLM has a stone cold poker face with a bleeding gash of emotion on its cheek and i love it so so much (the my own private idaho AMV that exists in my head for this song goes so crazy you wouldnt believe). this weird little third-verse-bridge-thing (the structure of clm is batshit even genius barely knows what to do w it i cant believe the track works as well as it does)plays on the surface as plainly romantic but like all the best stories it doest quite line up. The song itself feels like a story being spun a story is true a story is untrue i mean what by someone trying to avoid the direct stating of a too-painful truth. Even within this imagined narrative, reality slips through. The Gardens of Babylon are a great and beautiful thing, an architectual wonder lush with life. They also most likely never existed. A common thread throughout evermore is the questioning of its own reality, of if any of it was real or just a construction of marriage or suburbia or the law or death or a dream or our own anxieties, almost none of the songs have a conclusive, clear-cut ending and some even loop into themselves (tolerate it and gold rush both end how they began). In the end, this is a tale told over a campfire under the new mexico night sky as you watch the storyteller look off into the distance and you wonder if anything theyve told you is even a little true. HM: "Never wanted love just a fancy car/now I'm waiting by the phone like I'm sitting at an airport bar" "tellin all the rich folks anything they wanna hear/like it could be love, it could be the way forward only if they pay for it"

[radiocmyk]

OH. Also I did one of those Topsters things the other day

Behold. My opinions:

A Thousand Suns is my favorite album of all time. CURRENTLY. I will not be taking questions at this time. I have already died on this hill.

I consider Falling Satellites my favorite Frost* album, and I consider both Milliontown and Experiments in Mass Appeal to be objectively better, musically and constructively speaking. Falling Satellites is my favorite for other, deeply personal reasons. This is also the reason Day and Age is ranked above Milliontown, just slightly lower than Falling Satellites because the personal reasons are less deep.

I'm actually not sure if I think Horizons is my favorite Starset album or that it's better than Transmissions and Vessels because it does seem to change for me depending on how I feel, which of the three I love more. I just know that I rank Divisions fourth, not because it's the worst, just because the other three are the best. This is why it's not on the chart at all. I will say though I used to really dislike Divisions in comparison but it's slowly growing on me now, especially songs I thought were the lowest of the low (I'm sorry Telekinetic & Perfect Machine). OWTT is still the worst Starset song though, again not taking questions at this time thankyou

I do not give an inch about TikTok or animated memes or whatever the kids are doing over on there. I like Jack Stauber because I find his style fresh, distinctive and innovative. I have shown his music to people who've never heard of him or TikTok before and they've said the same and praised the originality. He's doing something no one else is so far, so I do not care if liking him isn't cool or makes me cringe. I also like his videos. I think he's a very good artist both in music and other mediums. I am watching "rain" and "library" like I'm in an art museum with my hands behind my back

I genuinely have no idea why I love Advanced Basics so much, but apparently, I do. I just listen to it a lot. Sometimes I crave it, even just that specific album and not USS as a whole. I'll listen to the whole album starter to finisher more often than I'll listen to individual songs on it, it is just very fun good neuron food.

Hey guys listen to me ok. There is an artist called S.Karma and they have like less than 50 listeners and their album Land of the Ever Bloom is genuinely just so good and beautiful and cozy and please go listen to them because sometimes I wonder either if an artist is just unlucky to not have blown up yet or if my ears are in a different reality and I'm not hearing the same spectacle that everyone else is

We're going to skip past The Mind's Eye and not talk about it on this post because allowing myself to talk about The Mind's Eye would increase this post's wordcount by 400%

I really do genuinely think that Death Cab for Cutie has just gotten better and better with time. I think Kintsugi and Codes and Keys are their 3rd and 4th best albums too. I think You Can Play These Songs With Chords and Something About Airplanes are just not as fun and enjoyable to listen to! I'm not going to apologize! I have loved Thank You for Today since 2018 and I think Foxglove Through the Clearcut is the best track they have ever produced so do not come crying to me when it's 15 years from now and suddenly those two albums are all the rage because I was saying so the whole time and diehard Death Cab fans who still have a chip on their shoulder about Y2K love to plug their ears and refuse to let in the transcendent bridge of I Miss Strangers or profound commentary on Seattle's gentrification problem of Gold Rush

I've fallen really hard into Joywave. It's like IDKHOW's good twin. It's very fun. I'm a fan now

Listen to Weeknight, open your heart to modern post-punk I am no longer asking

Like with Starset I never exactly know where I stand on what my favorite Porcupine Tree album is because sometimes it's Deadwing and sometimes it's Stupid Dream (I lean more Deadwing usually because of Lazarus) but either way Stupid Dream is a hill that I constantly have to die on because other Porcupine Tree fans, for some reason, never really talk about it EVEN THOUGH IT LITERALLY HAS STRANGER BY THE MINUTE ON IT

You can't show me a gothic fantasy metal concept album based on Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species and not expect me to [redacted]

Looking at this now I may have more of a genre theme going on than I always thought I did. Guys, I think I might actually have developed a defined, consistent taste in music as an adult. Oh god, and it's illustrative of my personality. What is this

[lia-land]

A Court of Frost and Starlight

3.5/5 stars

Spoilers for A Court of Frost and Starlight*

This felt like A Court of Rhys and His Infinite Amounts of Money. Why were we reminded every few pages that Rhys has unlimited amounts of money? I think the intention was to show us how strange it can be for Feyre to go from hunting for food to being rich all of a sudden, which made sense at first, but after all the times that it was brought up, all this did was make me wonder about the economics of Prythian and not get any answers. Does the Night Court have a Tithe-like system? Do the citizens pay tax? Did Rhys inherit the money? His wealth was mentioned so many times and we never get an answer as to its source. I liked the first time he’d mentioned paying the IC salaries in ACOMAF, as well as the Spring Court’s Tithe because we rarely see that sort of thing in this genre. It’s one of those details that isn’t necessary for readers to acknowledge, and for SJM to acknowledge fantasy economics and then not do anything with it felt unsatisfying.

I wanted to love this because a Feysand fluff book is all I wanted, but it was too good to be true because Feyre came across as a bit annoying and out of character to me. It also seems very sudden that she wants to have a child with Rhys now, even though she expressed earlier that she wanted to enjoy immortality for a while with just him. There's also the situation with the death pact, which causes a paradox because they can either 1. never have kids, and leave the fate of the Night Court uncertain when they both die or 2. have kids and both die at the same time, which can have drastic effects on the child.

This book made me realize that I think I liked evil Rhys more and he just feels too domesticated to me now, but that’s personal preference and not a fault of the book.

The art classes were also a bit random. I know this is a novella and was not meant to necessarily have a plot, but the things that did happen seemed out of place. I did enjoy that certain realistic things were acknowledged in this, such as the age gap between Rhys and Feyre, and the concept of Fae periods. Both were interesting to read about.

The interaction between Feyre and Lucien was odd. I don’t see why she was so rude to him when he was making an effort. He had every right to walk out after that. Feyre seems to be forcing him and Nesta into her group and doesn’t seem to be able to grasp that not everyone wants to be around the IC all the time. She specifically tends to forget the centuries of intricate history between Lucien and Rhys and how that won’t all just be unraveled in less than a year.

It was fun to see them all domesticated and celebrating the winter solstice, but it read like fan fiction and I likely won’t reread this (maybe I’ll just reread chapter 22 because wow). It was a nice bridge to the next book, I just did not like Feyre in this. Though, seeing Mor’s POV was refreshing, and for us to find out that she has a secret estate. I wonder if more will come of that in future books.

A Court of Frost and Three Stars, but 3.5 because we finally got the wall scene.

(Also, annoyed that this was the same price as the other books, but barely even a third of the length)