#also the fact that he uses this opportunity to make small talk and improve his relationships

[waitineedaname]

the immediate aftermath of the demon invasion is so funny when you know all the peak lords are a gaggle of gossipy bitches who were definitely taken advantage of the opportunity to see their almost certainly possessed shixiong. like before secluding himself in the lingxi caves and then coming out just on time for the invasion, the only other peak lord he'd interacted with was yqy, so I feel like what happened was like:

YQY: Qingqiu has been weird ever since his qi deviation :( everyone, well used to YQY's weird attachment to their least favorite shixiong: yeah whatever man MQF: unfortunately I think Zhangmen-shixiong is right. Shen Qingqiu let me do a medical examination of his meridians without hissing at me like a feral cat, something seriously strange has happened to him and I don't just mean Without-A-Cure all the other peak lords, scrambling to find any excuse to visit Qing Jing: oh shit clear my schedule I've got to see this for myself

[helloyellowsunflower]

♤⊰•˚₊‧. 𝔻𝕖𝕦𝕔𝕖 𝕩 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕤.‧₊˚•⊱♠︎

!!Possible Spoilers for White Rabbit Fest!!!

Confession:

It takes a while before he gathers the courage to confess. You are a very dear friend of his and he doesn’t want to lose you. However, he can’t stand having to pretend that he doesn’t have any feelings for you either. 

And so, fueled by his determination (and eager to prove Ace that he is not, in fact, a chicken),he decides to ask you out. 

Needless to say, it doesn’t go as planned. 

At first it looks like he wants to run away, but he reminds himself that he has to do this. And so, he starts talking:

At first it looks like he’s reciting a text by heart while he’s looking straight into your eyes, which, let’s face it; is a bit awkward! But by the half of it, he’s lost all of his bravado and begins stuttering and tumbling over his words only to finish bowing and saying: “...So please go out with me!”

Poor man is a tomato, standing there fidgeting while he waits for your answer. Oh Sevens, please say yes

When you agree to go out with him it’s like someone told him he wouldn’t need to go to Crewel’s classes anymore. My god he looks so happy. If the look of sheer adoration in his eyes is anything to go by, I’d say you just made him the happiest man in all Twisted Wonderland. 

First date:

You know Deuce strives to be a model student, a better version of himself; so he wants your first date to be perfect. Or as perfect as it’s going to get. 

Since his budget is limited, you’ll probably go to the town’s library or to a free access art exhibition; or if you prefer to do something outdoors, you’ll probably go for a picnic in a nice park (with food made with the help of Trey and Cater, who did not trust Deuce around the kitchen or Ace and Riddle to help) or walk around town window shopping. 

If you do end up in town, he’ll probably use this as an opportunity to show you to his favourite blastcycle shop, showing off his knowledge of the various models and characteristics. If only his ability for memorising history events and dates was as good as this. 

He’s sorry he can’t take you anywhere fancy, but he swears that when he’s saved up enough he’ll take you to the cinema or to a nice restaurant; and if you’d like to, he’ll give you flowers.

Anniversary + Love languages:

Cater told him that forgetting your anniversary was the equivalent of saying you wanted to break up, so Deuce made sure he marked down in his calendar the day of your first date to celebrate the following year. It gives him something to look forward to, celebrating one year together. Plus, having it written down acts like a little reminder of why he’s improving himself (along with this mother’s birthday and the day he was told he was accepted at Night Raven College). 

He takes your anniversary very seriously, and he’ll spend weeks saving up so he can get something nice for you; even if you tell him he doesn’t need to give you anything. 

Deuce strikes me as someone who expresses his affection with acts of service and gifts because he finds it easier to show his appreciation for others that way since words evade him sometimes. He might not be very good at giving others compliments, but if you need a helping hand, he’ll always be there for you; and if he knows you want something, he’ll do his best so that you can have it. 

As for him, I think he would enjoy quality time and words of affirmation over anything else. He won’t say no to a hug or a small present, but he values greatly when others set some time aside for him since he knows that most around him are very busy people. He also knows that he’s not perfect,that he makes a lot of mistakes, so when someone tells him he’s doing great or even good he feels all fuzzy inside. Please keep complimenting him when he gets something right, he loves feeling like he’s made progress from how he was before. 

Arguments

Unfortunately, your views and personality can clash sometimes, leading to disagreements that have escalated once or twice. 

Arguments between you two are not very common though since you do your best to communicate your feelings and your reasons for doing things a certain way so even if you don’t always end up agreeing on what you’re doing you both learn to compromise. However, due to Deuce’s hot headed nature and impulsiveness, things can get a bit out of control. 

On those rare occasions, you both decide to spend some time apart to cool off and try to think things rationally. Deuce spends that time reflecting on his actions and what has caused him to act the way he has. Again, he is trying his best to be better, so he has done a bit of research on how to de-escalate arguments as well as keeping his anger under control, finding better outlets you know?

It is possible that during that time you see him venting his anger by aggressively painting all Heartstabyul roses red. 

Going to the White Rabbit fest

You’ve already gone together when you went with Silver and Epel to visit Deuce’s hometown to help out his mom, but this year’s the first you’ll be going together. Which, come to think of it, doesn’t make that much of a difference, oh well. 

I mean, the only difference will be that Deuce’s mom will tease the hell out of his son (she loves him to bits) and use this as an opportunity to dig out every photo album she has to show you; Deuce’s first White Rabbit fest, his looks when he still had his hair dyed… 

She insists on taking your picture, wanting to commemorate the moment and while she won’t refuse you helping her out at her stall like last year, she wants you to have fun and enjoy your time at the festival; maybe get a nice clock or a watch or something if you didn’t get to last year.

[sly-s-n0nfusion]

The ot2 travelers don't feel like a found family as much as the ot1 travelers - an analysis

This is probably the boldest opinion I've ever shared on socials for this fandom and I am aware this take will probably get me some hate but I feel like I want to say this and compare the two games under this aspect also to know other people's opinions about this (I feel so brave right now) but I have to make a premise: I loved octopath traveler 2 to death as well as the ot2 travelers, this is not a hate post by any means. Also, the fact that the first game is still more dear to me doesn't make me blind to the fact that ot2 did improve its formula under almost every aspect and is overall of better quality than ot1.

So as I was playing ot2, I felt like it was somehow “missing” the same warmth of the first game. Naturally, my first thought was that it was just nostalgia for the first cast, until my boyfriend said the exact same thing to me some time after he started playing ot2. When I asked about it in a small octopath server, almost every response I got was similar to what we were feeling, and many of us pinpointed that the main reason is that the cast doesn't feel as a found family as much as the ot1 cast did, and I'll explain why.

/!\ Spoilers for both games! /!\

The group of travelers in ot2 doesn't feel as cohesive: on the contrary, it often feels like the travelers aren't involved in their friend's adventures as much. They often come off as a bit more individualistic and just casually sharing the same road together while pursuing their own goals. In their banters together, they rarely offer/actively seek each other's help and they generally feel more lonely in their paths

This is kinda ironic given how much more content together the ot2 travelers have, like the crossed paths or the journey for the dawn chapter. The one exception, at least regarding the crossed paths stories, are probably Throné and Temenos

The found family trope is more often than not shoved down your throat in a way that's just less effective and more annoying ex. Ochette calling Osvald and Castti mama and papa (or the general imagery of every traveler seeing Castti as their mom when she is just doing her job as a caregiver) or Osvald getting drunk and mistaking Castti and Agnea for his wife and daughter, when Osvald often shows fatherly instincts only towards his actual daughter Elena

The major issue we all agreed on: the travel banters. The main difference is that in ot1 every travelers had a chance to talk to all 7 travelers during each chapter of their story, which actually gave the impression of them traveling together and also the opportunity for a good balance between more lighthearted banters about disparate matters, and deeper banters that explicitly address what's going on in that moment. In ot2 we had the amazing opportunity to reread every banter without missing even one of them, but the amount of banters drastically reduced! Which left me kinda confused!! Because for every chapter, only a few travelers get to talk with the one progressing through a chapter. And that leaves place for an awkward silence on the other travelers' behalf, because it does almost deliver the vibe that they're just observing quietly, or that they don't care enough about what's happening to intervene. That silence takes a big toll on how believably the concept of found family is delivered, in my opinion. We don't really need 70% of the banters to be about card games, fashion, hobbies and food (why are there so many banters about food lol) when the actually deep/important matters barely get addressed by the other travelers.

An example: the apothecaries' chapters 3. They both are very emotionally heavy chapters, where both Alfyn and Castti are having a really rough time. Having the chance to talk to all 7 of his friends, Alfyn not only gets to talk about his job as an apothecary and joke with Therion about getting drunk at the tavern, but he also receives important advice and active help from his teammates. Like Olberic, for example, you can almost picture him holding Alfyn's shoulder in the attempt of getting him to calm down

Whereas in Castti's chapter 3, she goes through one of the most painful and heartbreaking moments of her life (remembering what happened to Malaya and the Apothecaries) and barely anyone comforts her. You only get Temenos saying "you can count of me" and Hikari, saying more or less the same thing. No Osvald talking to her about dealing with the grief of losing everything?? No Agnea and Partitio reassuring her, telling her she did what she could and that it was not her fault?? No Throné sharing with her the relief of freedom, of finally being free from her amnesia?? ... That does feel like a huge missed opportuniy and really makes it look like the other 5 travelers are just observing in silence, and that really ruins the immersion to me. They do feel more lonely and less of a family, no matter how many times Ochette calls her "mom" , she wasn't there for Castti when she needed it. She didn't say anything. The effort made by their crossed paths story isn’t enough to make up for it to me

Not only that, but ot1 is full of other examples of the travelers actively seeking each other's help: Olberic is constantly asking for his teammates' opinions because he trusts them (Olberic ch4, Cyrus banter) and offering his protection in return, Tressa and Therion often value each other's advice, and many other cases.

Final point: this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, but I couldn't help but feel my opinion reinforced by the promoting team's choices; in every piece of art for the first Octopath Traveler game anniversary, all 8 travelers were featured. As they should be! OCTO is in the name, after all. None of them is more important than the others, and it's crucial to me that in their anniversary art they ALL get featured. Well, for the first anniversary of the Octopath Traveler 2 release the official promotional art only featured Temenos and Crick. One (1) traveler and a npc. Well done, that's how you don't want to celebrate your game's 1 year anniversary when the main feature of the game in question is that it's a collective story that features 8 characters. Yes I am not blind I am aware of Temenos and Crick's popularity as both individual characters and as a ship (which by the way I am very neutral about so again, no hate), but my god that official art did leave a bitter taste in my mouth as soon as I saw it. Like really? What about the other 7 travelers? Aren't they supposed to be a found family?

So in the end I think the missing travel banters are what makes the ot2 crew feel a bit more distant and less of a family to me, and the crossed paths and Journey for the dawn really, really struggle to make up for this because the basics of the relationship between the travelers just aren’t quite there.

Now I know this game is dear to many, me included, and that many others may have the complete opposite opinion, and that's okay. We can talk about it! I love hearing different opinions.

Peace! ✌️

[liillyliilly]

Lost In Yesterday

ushijima wakatoshi x reader words; 1446 synopsis; Ushijima wished that things would always stay like they were when it was yesterday. When Y/n moves out of his yesterday, will he be able to keep up?

[Eventually, terrible memories turn into great ones]

Ushijima Wakatoshi doesn’t know what it means to be subtle. Even as a second year in middle school, when he first saw Y/n he knew he needed to say something about the way she looked or else it would just kill him.

“You are very pretty.”

Y/n just gave a small smile and said something in what he could only recognize as English. When she walked off to her desk in the second row, Ushijima knew he was in for a challenge. Being quiet himself, he realized this wasn’t a good match to try and win. His confidence was at an all-time low, as he looked on at her trying to find ways to fit in at school. She would try and use her hands to talk, or resort to drawing what she was talking about. But when people would just shrug and walk off, he felt like seething because Y/n honestly didn’t deserve that.

The one time he tried to get her to play volleyball with him was when he saw her sitting under a tree flipping through a book. But when she just shook her head and pointed at a group of other kids, Ushijima set the ball down and sat next to her. He felt like he was going to burn himself from how much heat was rushing to his face. When she tried to talk to him using small phrases, he felt endeared to her because even though she could only talk like a small child she had tried her hardest. And he could commend her on that.

He thought he would try and pick up on his English when he got home that day. As he laid on the floor, looking through an English dictionary, his eyes wandered to the volleyball sitting right by the door. But he refocused and lasered his eyes onto the pages of words.

“You can do this. Do it for L/n.”

The next day at school, he swallowed thickly before going up to Y/n and making conversation.

“You and I are friends.” He meant it to be more of a question but the reaction Y/n gave was enough of motivator to keep him learning English.

As he went through Middle school and eventually was in his first and second years of High School, Ushijima kept learning English. And while Y/n improved her Japanese and Kanji writing skills, she was still lacking in a lot of descriptive words and could only make out simple sentences. Which gave Ushijima the opportunity to say whatever he was thinking without getting too flustered, knowing that she wouldn’t understand unless he repeated the words.

“Your eyes remind me of the passion I have for volleyball. Deep and pure.” He mustered out as Y/n was resting her head on her hands reading the same magazine as him. They were sitting across from each other at his kitchen table. And if he lowered his gaze, he could see the colors of the magazine running across her eyes.

“What was that?” She set a hand on the magazine page, lifting her head and straightening her back so that she could be semi-eye level with him.

“Nothing to worry about.”

The days he spent trying to keeping growing as friends with her turned into weeks, that turned into months, that turned into a strong bond going into third year.

[Does it help to get lost in yesterday?]

Ushijima Wakatoshi feels like the only time he ever experienced true jealously was when Y/n started going on dates with the boys on the volleyball team. Even as a blunt person, he just couldn’t ever bring up the fact that he also wanted to take her out on a date. At least once. He could deal with meeting and challenging other volleyball players, but the idea of facing Y/n left a sickly-sweet taste in his mouth.

He didn’t notice just how much she had changed from his second year in middle school, until she started to speak to him in near perfect Japanese. Or how she made friends easier than he did. Or the way she laughed at the jokes his team members uttered. He figured the best way to approach this was to talk to Tendou.

“Satori, how do I make a joke?” Ushijima was laying on his dorm bed, his volleyball resting on his chest.

“Oh, is this mayhaps about the foreign girl?” Tendou kicked the desk he was sitting at and slid across the dorm floor with his office chair, only stopping when his chair hit the edge of Ushijima’s bed.

“There are millions of foreign girls Satori.”

“But there’s only one L/n.” Tendou sang, as he wiggled his fingers in the same way he used to taunt their opponents.

“That is true.”

['Cause it might've been somethin', who's to say?]

Ushijima Wakatoshi was never one to regret things. But he regretted ever letting his heart become Y/n’s, if only for an hour. Recently Y/n had been going on and on about some boy in her math class. And it itched at Ushijima. Every time she said his name in that very specific tone of voice, it scratched at him. She would talk about what it would be like if she ever did confess, saying something about it ‘being something, but really who’s to say’.

“And he lent me a pencil when mine ran out of lead. Can you believe that?” She sighed dreamily, and put her hands to her face and held back a smile.

“I can give you a pencil.” Ushijima handed her a pencil.

“Thanks, Ushi, but it was different when he did it.” She twirled the pencil around her hand. Toying not only with the writing tool, but also toying with Ushijima’s heart. It was some sort of game where she continued to just give him hope then steal it away at the last moment.

“Different how?”

“I don’t know. It just felt,” She muttered in English for minute before getting her light bulb moment. “It felt like some sort of made for TV movie about teenage romance.”

“Real romance is not the same as it is in the movies L/n.” Ushijima clarified. He didn’t want Y/n to mix her reality with the incessant daydreams she wandered through.

Real romance wasn’t just a love at first sight thing. Real romance is knowing and understanding a person on such a deep level where you could probably be more conscious of them than your own self.

“I know.” Y/n huffed, and handed the pencil back to him. But he just closed her fingers over her palm so she kept gripping the pencil.

“So why are you fawning over it?” Ushijima was stuck. He wanted to stay in his yesterday of simply talking to Y/n about her books, or school work, or even just listening to her blabber in an incomprehensible jumble of English and Japanese.

“Ushi, you sound angry.” Y/n set the pencil down on the nearest table in his room.

He didn’t want to be angry. He just had had enough of the waiting around for yesterday to happen again.

“I am.”

“Why?” Y/n tilted her head.

“Because I like you.” He confessed.

“I like you too Ushi, but I don’t know what that has to do with this.”

Ushijima wanted to pull his hair out. Ushijima wanted to grab her shoulders and shake any form of sense into her head. Ushijima wanted to stare at her eyes and watch as the vivid colors swirled around with her emotions. Ushijima wanted something so simple, but why wasn’t he getting any sort of response.

“No, you do not understand. I like you.”

“I like you too! But why are you being mean?” Y/n huffed and turned around so that she wasn’t facing him anymore. It seemed so childish and immature. But it was the only way to protect herself from having to directly look at him.

“Can I show you?” Ushijima walked around Y/n so that they were facing each other again.

“Sure.” Y/n still wasn’t meeting his eyes

He leaned in and pressed his lips onto of hers. He didn’t try to go further by moving his lips. He was content with just having his lips touch hers. But when she pressed back and her hands moved up to run through his olive colored hair, he was no longer lost in his yesterday. The yesterday of staying still and watching everything from a defensive stance. Because, it isn’t yesterday any longer. It’s today.

[thecreaturecodex]

Skelm, Palace

Image © Paizo Publishing, accessed at Archives of Nethys here

[Talking with me during the development of her red hag, @soylent-crocodile referred to it as "a species of Starscreams". Which is a great description, and also an accurate assessment of the palace skelm. Although it's obvious that Grima Wormtongue is also a major influence on this PF2e monster. The fact that palace skelms and red hags are the same CR and would absolutely hate each other is the icing on the cake for me.]

Palace Skelm CR 8 LE Monstrous Humanoid This humanoid figure is almost human, except for the pair of gleaming antlers growing from his skull. He is dressed in fine noble’s clothing.

Palace skelms are creatures that delight in the corruption of power. They often are found among military officers and politicians, some of whom transformed into skelms in that position. Palace skelms spend their time either jockeying for power or abusing the power that they do have, treating their subordinates with casual cruelty. A palace skelm is an excellent liar, and they can even insert their words into the mouths of others. They encourage competition, jealousy and paranoia in any court they find themselves in, turning functioning governments into a den of vipers to exploit. They are ostentatious by nature, and frequently flaunt their wealth and status with finery.

Most palace skelms prefer to exert power from behind the throne, ingratiating himself to a ruler and warping their perceptions so that they only trust the skelm. Coups and political upheavals are dangerous for palace skelms, as they simultaneously allow for more opportunities to inflict suffering while increasing the risk of the skelm’s true nature being exposed, or of the skelm losing their grasp on what power they have. Palace skelms have a tendency to self-sabotage, as their interlocking schemes can spiral out of their control, and their answer to being caught in the act is usually murder.

Palace Skelm     CR 8 XP 4,800 LE Medium monstrous humanoid Init +4; Senses Perception +16, scent

Defense AC 22, touch 14, flat-footed 18 (+4 Dex, +8 natural) hp 102 (12d10+36) Fort +7, Ref +12, Will +11; -2 vs. emotion effects DR 10/cold iron

Offense Speed 30 ft. Melee gore +18 (1d12+6 plus trip), slam +18 (1d6+6) Special Attacks incite violence Spell-like Abilities CL 8th, concentration +13 (+17 casting defensively) Constant—tongues At will—message, paranoia (DC 17) 3/day—clairaudience/clairvoyance, enthrall (DC 17), invisibility, suggestion (DC 18) 1/day—charm monster (DC 19), curse of the outcast (DC 21), private sanctum

Statistics Str 23, Dex 18, Con 17, Int 18, Wis 17, Cha 20 Base Atk +12; CMB +18 (+20 trip); CMD 32 (34 vs. trip) Feats Combat Casting,Combat Expertise, Deceitful, Improved Trip, Improved Vital Strike, Vital Strike Skills Bluff +21, Disguise +21, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +21, Knowledge (local, nobility) +14, Perception +16, Sense Motive +13, Sleight of Hand +13, Stealth +16; Racial Modifiers +4 Intimidate Languages Aklo, Common, tongues SQ change shape (Small or Medium humanoid, alter self), corrupt speech, skelm traits

Ecology Environment urban Organization solitary Treasure standard

Special Abilities Corrupt Speech (Su) As an immediate action, a palace skelm can corrupt the speech of a creature within 30 feet. The skelm can say up to twelve words and makes a Bluff check as opposed to the Perception of other creatures that can hear the original speech. If the skelm succeeds, the perceiving creatures hear the palace skelm’s words come out of the speaker’s mouth. If the skelm fails, they hear the original speech. If the Perception check succeeds by more than 5, the perceiving creature hears both phrases, and knows that the skelm spoke the words. If the skelm’s Bluff check against a target succeeds by 5 or more, the skelm can cast suggestion or paranoia on that target as part of the same action. A skelm cannot use a spell-like ability on multiple targets in this way at a time, even if it successfully deceives multiple creatures. Incite Violence (Su) As a standard action once per day, a palace skelm can incite violence in all creatures that can hear it within 30 feet. If a creature fails a DC 21 Will save, it makes a melee attack against an adjacent creature of the skelm’s choosing, choosing its most powerful weapon or natural attack if it has multiple. If a skelm uses this ability and an affected creature has no creatures adjacent to it, the creature is instead stunned for 1 round. This is a mind-influencing, compulsion, sonic effect, and the save DC is Charisma based.  Skelm Traits (Ex) A skelm gains a +4 racial bonus on Intimidate checks and a -2 penalty on saving throws against emotion effects.

[depressopax]

Dale Cooper SFW headcanons

Fandom: Twin Peaks

Pairing: Dale Cooper x gender neutral reader Genre: Fluff, headcanons Warning(s): Cuss words, dirty jokes Words: 900 Summary: Being in a relationship with Dale Cooper would include…  English is not my main language, if I make any spelling mistakes please let me know so I can improve my writing! <3 Avaliable on AO3

This man… He has so much love to give you, and won’t hesitate to do so.

He sees you as a treasure and knows how to treat you like one.

His job means long days and much time apart from you. To not speak of the dangers that come with being a special agent.

He tries making up for this, though.

At work, he’s serious and focused on his tasks

At home, all his attention is on you.

ALL OF IT.

He spends his free days off work with you, either at home or going outdoors. As long as you’re together, he doesn’t care. 

He might come across as “clingy”, but he just wants your love and company.

His career means late night, so he either comes home to find you already sleeping, or sitting up on the couch watching tv. Either way, he always greets you with the biggest smile.

You try visiting him at the police station, too. Going to him for lunch, surprise visits etc… 

If he has the opportunity, he does the same for you when/if you work.

Dale is not a good chef, but he enjoys cooking for you.

Especially in the mornings.

He often ends up burning the food without realizing it

But he looks so happy when he tells you that he has cooked, and you can’t bring yourself to tell him that he accidentally burned it

He looks so smug whenever you eat his food and tell him you like it

He might be a night owl, but still gets up early in the morning. How he does so is a damn mystery.

Maybe it’s the fact he usually has weird dreams at night that makes him wake up early?

Or is he just always energetic? 

He wakes you up with kisses and the first thing you smell is coffee. 

This man is absolutely head over heels in love with you

He appreciates small gestures from you, he’s not the guy to like big romantic gestures. Like seriously, just make a cup of coffee for this man and he will swoon for you.

Dale’s love language being touch and quality time 

He likes making coffee for you, it’s his ultimate way of saying “I love you” lol

Speaking of saying “Ily”, he was definitely the one to say it first. 

You’d only been dating for a month or less when he realised how much you mean to him, and that he had fallen for you.

He feels very comfortable around you and appreciates the feeling of you jot judging him

That’s why he likes sharing his weird theories with you and rant about different cases he’s working on, wanting your take on it

Whilst other people laugh at his passion for the paranormal, you are supportive, and find it interesting too.

Which makes him very happy, since he finally can share his thoughts without getting judged <3

He also tells you about the weird dreams he has

At first, you were very concerned when Dale started ranting about his dreams of weird creatures and creepy places

…But you grew to like it. Once getting used to his weird dreams, you’re always intrigued to hear another story

If you don’t believe in paranormal stuff/you’re not spiritual - you definitely change your opinions later. He has a way of talking about it that just fascinates you to the point you also believe it.

Which only makes him love you more, if possible.

You and Dale are a pretty calm couple, but your shared love for creepy shit probably leads to Dale taking you on your own little investigations/missions

He wouldn't let you tag along to a real mission, but suggests going to abandoned places for sightseeing.

And who are you to say no to that?

Somehow, it’s almost cozy to walks hand in hand in the creepiest of places, while discussing theories and scaring each other with stories

You also make it a challenge sometimes - who gets scared first?

Spoiler alert! It’s you.

Dale is a special agent, and works with cases like this, after all. 

He’s pretty competitive, believe it or not

Sometimes, he even makes sure to make you frightened 

He likes comforting you and feeling like “the knight on a white horse”

A bit rude, I know, but he can’t help it!

“Fuck sake Dale! You did that on purpose!”“I would never!”“...”“Ok, maybe I did intend to scare you.”“I hate you”“I know you don’t… Don’t be mad at me, my love!”

Don’t worry, he does make it up to you in one way or another ;)

His ideal date would be coffee dates (what a surpriseeee) 

On your first date he took you to Double R Diners, so he could show you how amazing coffee and cherry pies they have.

He also likes taking you out on picnics, sightseeings and being outdoors with you.

But if you prefer calm dates, he doesn’t mind taking you to the cinema, or even just stay at home to watch movies and eating takeaway food

He doesn’t mind PDA - he holds your hand in public, kisses your forehead, wants you close etc…

But he prefers to kiss you when he’s alone with you

If you were to kiss him around people he’d turn into a blushing mess lmao

Dale is the boyfriend who likes staying up with you - having deep late night conversations

The two of you are pretty cheesy - slow dancing under the night sky, stargazing… You name it

Being in a relationship with Dale brings you the passion, love, adventures and amount of weirdness that you need in your life - His goal is to be the best boyfriend ever <3

[goofie-light]

My Hero Academia- Kyoka Jiro

Kyoka Jirou also known as Hearing Hero: Earphone Jack is a student in Class 1-A at U.A. High School, training to become a Pro Hero.

•Kyoka is a petite, fair-skinned girl with a slender build. She has triangular onyx eyes with notably long lower eyelashes and small eyebrows. Her dark-purple hair is chin length, with an asymmetrical fringe that has two reflections shaped like heartbeat monitor waves on either side. Her most prominent features are the flexible, plug-like earphone jacks hanging from each of her earlobes; they act like extra limbs that she is able to control at will, and change their length if so desired. Following the Paranormal Liberation War, she gains a small scar on her right earphone jack. During the Final War, her left ear and earphone jack are blown off by All For One. You can also call her Jiro!

•Kyoka has a pragmatic, unenthusiastic, blunt, and teasing personality that is mostly shown to those she finds irritating, like her fellow classmate Denki Kaminari, whose cluelessness makes him an easy target for her snarky comments. Kyoka is not always like this though, as she does enjoy socializing with others, in which case she is usually nice and friendly, most notably with Momo Yaoyorozu.

•Her hero costume consists of a black leather jacket, long salmon-colored shirt with several rips at the collar and hem, black pants, and boots with stereos built into their shafts. She also has two small, triangular red paint marks just below her eyes, a plain black choker, and white fingerless gloves.

•Later on, her costume gains a set of headphones with two bracelets that double up as her amplifiers and she changes her face paint to two larger chevron-shaped marks.

•Kyoka often gesticulates through her elongated earlobes in place of her hands.She can also be quite aggressive, evidenced when she uses the Earphone Jacks her Quirk provides, to physically punish people when provoked or to keep them in line, most notably Denki and Minoru Mineta. During hero activities, however, Kyoka prefers smarter approaches, usually by coming up with a plan herself. She is surprisingly organized and makes sure to convey her ideas in a way that's easy to understand.

•Despite the fact that she comes off as cold and indifferent, Kyoka also has a much more sensitive side, being very defensive towards her friends, empathetic with others' feelings, and getting flustered when her talents and capabilities are brought up. While Kyoka is hard to unnerve or surprise, she is afraid of horror-based activities, and has an aversion to nudity. She is a bit self-conscious about her looks as well, becoming noticeably upset when she was not seen as attractive by Minoru.

•While she doesn't commonly employ close-quarters combat efficiency, Kyoka makes effective use of the handling she has on her Quirk, Earphone Jack. She utilizes the prehensile nature of her Earphone Jack Quirk in whip-like fashion, and use the sound generating effects of her Quirk to shock targets with vibrations, effectively stunning and sometimes defeating them. By the time of the Provisional Hero License Exam, Kyoka improved the efficacy of her Quirk, allowing her to plug her earphone jacks into the ground, and generate sound waves strong enough to make the ground quake, cause fissures, and disrupt large enemy formations. Her abilities eventually garnered the attention of Gang Orca, giving Kyoka the opportunity to intern under the No. 12 (formerly No. 10) Pro Hero, and improve on her search techniques. On Nabu Island, Kyoka, alongside Mashirao Ojiro, acted as the fourth line of defense against Nine, and effectively ambushed him before he subdued the two with his Hydra Quirk. Soon after, Mashirao and Kyoka aided Mezo Shoji against the powerful foe, forcing Nine into using the full power of his Air Wall Quirk to defeat the trio of students.

"You wanna talk... about being scared? Or strong? Or weak? Or "special"? Well, I don't give a crap! You hear me? Screw all that! My problem is that you're the one... who made my pals cry!!"

-From Jirou Kyoka

[kailinin]

eJournal #2 on Andrew Temes' Presentation

Overview of the Speaker's Presentation:

In my recent Digital Marketing Seminar Series class, Andrew Temes, an experienced marketing executive, delivered an insightful presentation on real-time marketing within the broader context of digital marketing. He started with an introduction to his extensive background in brand marketing and the digital space. And with his degrees from Western University and the Schulich School of Business, where he also teaches, Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.

During his talk, Andrew covered several key topics: changing consumer trends, the importance of real-time marketing, and practical job-hunting and networking tips. He highlighted the sharp decrease in human attention spans, now averaging 8 seconds, and the widespread use of multiple devices while consuming media. These trends show the need for brands to engage consumers quickly and effectively.

Andrew also shared compelling examples of successful real-time marketing campaigns, such as Oreo's "You Can Still Dunk in the Dark" tweet during the Super Bowl blackout and Samsung's quick response to Apple's decision to exclude a charger with its new iPhone. His talk ended with practical advice on job hunting, emphasizing the importance of using job search platforms, networking, and using LinkedIn effectively. He also stressed the importance of continual self-improvement and maintaining a balanced life.

What I Learned from the Speaker:

Andrew's presentation was a treasure trove of insights into the fast-changing world of digital marketing. The most striking takeaway for me was the concept of real-time marketing. The idea that brands need to be ready to respond to events almost immediately is both exciting and challenging. Andrew's examples, especially the Oreo tweet during the Super Bowl blackout, showed that responding quickly to events and trends is not just about speed; it’s about being prepared, creative, and strategic. This realization has inspired me to think more dynamically about how I approach marketing challenges and opportunities.

The statistics Andrew shared about consumer behavior were also eye-opening. The fact that 96% of Canadians own a smartphone and use it for over 4 hours a day, and that 86% of internet users are on other devices while watching TV, shows the fragmented nature of consumer attention. These insights highlighted the need for multi-channel marketing strategies that can engage consumers across different platforms. Understanding these trends helps me see the bigger picture and prepares me to create more effective and targeted marketing campaigns.

Beyond the technical aspects of marketing, Andrew's practical advice on job hunting and networking was invaluable. His emphasis on the importance of a well-crafted LinkedIn profile, the benefits of early morning routines, and the value of networking through volunteering provided actionable steps that I can implement immediately. Andrew's endorsement of the 1% principle—making small, daily improvements—resonated deeply with me. It’s a simple yet powerful approach to personal development, encouraging continuous progress without overwhelming oneself. His words reminded me that success is not just about reaching the top but also about the journey and the small steps we take every day.

Reflection on How This Impact My Career Path:

Andrew's insights have significant implications for my career in marketing. Understanding the importance of real-time marketing and the necessity of being agile and responsive will be crucial as I advance in my career. The focus on consumer behavior trends has reinforced the importance of staying updated with the latest data and adapting strategies accordingly. As someone aiming for a career in digital marketing, I recognize the need to continually learn and adapt to new tools and platforms that can help reach and engage consumers effectively.

Andrew's advice on job hunting and networking has also provided a clear plan for my career development. I will actively seek opportunities to expand my network, both online and offline, and engage in continuous learning through industry associations and networking groups. The idea of volunteering to build my network and gain practical experience is particularly appealing, and I plan to explore opportunities in this area.

Andrew's presentation was not just a lecture; it was a catalyst for self-reflection too. His insights and advice felt like a guiding light, helping me navigate the complex and often intimidating world of digital marketing. I found myself not only absorbing information but also thinking deeply about my own career path and how I can apply these lessons to achieve my goals.

In summary, Andrew Temes' presentation was a transformative experience. It provided a comprehensive overview of the current marketing landscape, practical advice for career advancement, and a framework for personal growth. As I move forward in my career, I will carry these lessons with me, striving to be adaptable, informed, and proactive. Andrew's talk has inspired me to embrace the dynamic nature of digital marketing and to continually seek opportunities for growth and improvement.

[xtruss]

Getty Images

How To Master The Art of Small Talk? A Guide To Having Actually Interesting Conversations With Strangers.

— By Allie Volpe | March 2, 2024 | VOX

Andy Lowe was not naturally blessed with the gift of gab. But even he, a self-described shy, introverted person, understands its functions. Lowe works at a technology public relations firm where chitchat with clients and journalists is just another part of the job. As a previous user of dating apps (Lowe is happily partnered now), he realized banter reigned supreme. He also plays bass in bands in Seattle; meeting other collaborators involves some amount of introductory small talk.

So he decided to get better. To improve his small talk, Lowe says he paid closer attention to his conversation partners to discover “what makes them tick, what drives them,” he explains. He’ll ask what books people are reading or movies or television they enjoy. “Then just making sure that when you go into those situations,” Lowe says, “you are more interested in the person that you’re talking to than talking about yourself.”

Small talk gets a bad rap for being too surface-level, too rote, a throwaway filler conversation. But casual chat can be the on-ramp to deeper connection. After all, most of us wouldn’t introduce ourselves to a stranger with a question about their biggest fears. Small talk is an opportunity to build trust and to learn about others, and to become a more curious person, says Georgie Nightingall, a conversation specialist and human connectivity researcher. “Being genuinely curious, that always helps,” she says. “You can actually realize that you do want to know more rather than having that sense of like, I’m just asking for the sake of asking.”

Even if you find your small talk game lacking, with some practice you can improve. To ensure you’re leading with curiosity, experts and small talk enthusiasts offer their best advice to strike up a conversation with strangers and familiar faces alike, without relying on stereotypical openers.

View Small Talk As An Opportunity, Not An Annoyance

Many people bemoan small talk because they “get stuck” in it, Nightingall says, without moving on to deeper conversation. “One of the key elements of small talk,” she says, “is having the mindset that actually this is not where we’re going to end up.” Consider all the relationships that began as banter or the job opportunities that came from acquaintances. There is potential for small talk to bloom into something bigger.

However, you should avoid viewing chitchat as solely transactional. Research shows people enjoy and appreciate talking with strangers or acquaintances, and these brief interactions contribute to well-being. While these conversations have the potential to be awkward, Gillian Sandstrom, a senior lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex, has found in research that most introductory small talk with strangers does in fact go well. As people engage in these chats with greater frequency, the more confident they are in their abilities to talk to strangers, according to the study. “That’s enough to allow you to be in the moment more instead of in panic mode,” Sandstrom says.

What To Talk About Instead Of Your Job

Popular scripts dominate small talk: comments about traffic and the weather, the questions “So, what do you do?” and “How are you?” Often, people give unengaging or throwaway answers that don’t give the other person much to respond to. Instead, lead with inquiries related to your interests, says Adam Smiley Poswolsky, a workplace belonging expert and author of Friendship in the Age of Loneliness: An Optimist’s Guide to Connection. Consider asking a barista at your neighborhood cafe about their favorite beverage or if a friend of a friend at a party has also watched the newest season of Love Is Blind. If you want to feel a little more prepared, Poswolsky suggests having a list of five or so questions at the ready that are topical and feel authentic to you — just be sure to refresh your list every few weeks. Maybe your talking points include asking if someone has an upcoming vacation or if they tried any new restaurants recently.

Or instead of questioning your conversation partner, try a statement or observation. Something as simple as “This line is taking forever,” or “[Mutual friend’s name] makes the best cheese boards,” or “You have the cutest dog I have ever seen” can be an effective entrée to small talk. Research has found that making an observation about a product or item another person has chosen to display — like a band T-shirt or a colorful hat — is a better conversation starter than discussing the weather. Initiating a chat with someone wearing a shirt from your alma mater is easier than attempting to find common ground with nothing to go on. “Those conversations tend to go better,” says the study’s lead author, Hillary Wiener, an assistant professor of marketing at the University at Albany, “because it’s on something that both people involved might actually care about.” The products that were most successful at launching a conversation “suggested a point of commonality between the asker and the person wearing, using a product,” she says. For example, try approaching someone in a Taylor Swift shirt if you too love Taylor Swift or sharing a hiking story with someone who is drinking out of a water bottle from Yosemite National Park.

However, don’t feel like you must write off meteorological small talk. Discussing the weather is ample conversation fodder for my colleague Miles Bryan, a senior producer and reporter (and the self-appointed Philly Bureau Chief) for Today, Explained. “It’s such a shared experience between everybody I’m talking to,” he says. “It’s a way to connect with somebody else without a lot of pressure on the conversation.” Luxuriating in small talk is thoughtful, Bryan says: “Small talk is empathetic.”

To Be Better At Small Talk, Actually Listen

Making the most of small talk — and elevating the conversation to large talk — involves active listening. If someone mentions the city they grew up in, you can use that detail for follow-up questions. What did they like the most about that city? What did they dislike? Why did they move? You can even offer a personal anecdote, Nightingall says, maybe mentioning a trip you may have taken there. “Whenever someone shares anything with you, they’re sharing a tiny dot in a web of hugeness,” Nightingall says. “Our job is to find out what makes this person different, interesting. What makes their life unique?”

The more curious you are about another person’s experiences or perspectives, the more likely the other party will be interested in continuing the conversation, Poswolsky says. The other person, in turn, will readily offer more information, furthering the discussion.

Just Don’t Make It Weird

With any interaction, there is a risk of coming on too strong or rubbing your conversation partner the wrong way. For small talk with strangers, especially, a well-meaning question may not be taken as intended or they may suspect you of trying to flirt with them. Small talk is warm and introductory, with no ulterior motives. It can surely blossom into a more flirtatious exchange but you should lead with curiosity and friendliness. “You can’t realistically be sitting next to someone on the plane and say, ‘Hi, what’s your favorite superpower,’” Wiener says. “That doesn’t work on a human interaction level.” Starting with an observation about how packed the flight is or asking whether the person is traveling for work might be more of a context-appropriate introduction.

Wiener also suggests avoiding making small talk about someone’s physical appearance or religious wear. Never make assumptions about or comment on someone’s background, income level, sexuality, political stance, or other personal identifier.

Try not to sound accusatory either, Sandstrom says. One of her go-to opening lines is “What are you doing?” “I saw someone who was leaning over a bush and lifting up a leaf,” she says “and I’m like, ‘What’s going on here?’ They taught me some stuff about bugs.” But do your best to keep the mood playful — you’re asking out of curiosity, not suspicion.

Every once in a while, someone might bristle at your attempts at small talk or appear confused as to why you’re talking to them, and that’s okay. Sandstrom finds explicitly stating “I’m just being friendly” helps ease some of the awkwardness.

What To Do If You Get Stuck

Every conversation, including small talk, inevitably encounters roadblocks. Whether you find yourself giving one-word answers or the discussion veers toward potentially contentious territory, there are ways of deftly navigating. For chats that are veering on boring, feel free to direct the conversation to another topic or ask a random question. (Conversations aren’t linear anyway, Nightingall notes.)

If you find the discussion isn’t going anywhere after a few exchanges, don’t force it, Poswolsky says. Either politely excuse yourself (“I’ve got to run to the bathroom” is a great exit) if you’re at a social gathering or simply drop the chitchat if you’re mingling with a stranger on public transit. For talks that become prejudiced or offensive, Sandstrom suggests saying “This conversation is making me uncomfortable.” Just remember, both people need buy-in for small talk to be productive.

“If zero people are excited, it’s over,” Poswolsky says. “If one person is excited, you can see where you’re heading. What you’re looking for, and this is rare, is when two people are [having] a back-and-forth. There’s active listening happening on both parties. There are decent questions happening.”

Small talk is what you make it. It can be a delightful way to spend a few minutes with a stranger while in line at the grocery store, it can be your superpower at a party, or it can lead to your next career move. Or, if you’re like Bryan, it can simply be uplifting banter about precipitation.

“If it looks like rain, and you’ve got more to say about it, and you’re interested in what your partner has to say, just stay with it,” he says. “The big stuff will come. But you don’t need to rush it. It’s okay to stay small.”

— Allie Volpe is a Senior Reporter at Vox Covering Mental Health, Relationships, Wellness, Money, Home Life, and Work Through the Lens of Meaningful Self-Improvement.

[missspringthyme]

January 23rd, 2024

Another thesis meeting today that I was NOT late for. Fuck yeah! Small improvements!! In fact, I was early!! This meant that I had to stand awkwardly outside my supervisor's office because he was in a meeting, but hey at least he saw that I was early. I'm also doing a fantastic job at putting together some very cute business casual outfits, absolutely love playing professional dress up and I finally feel like I'm finding a style that makes me look put together but not like a little kid wearing their parent's clothes.

I got to see the EEG lab for the first time today, and when I was in there my supervisor mentioned that if we wanted to observe on a high-density session that we could do so. I put a reminder in my calendar so that I could ask him to sit in on a session at a reasonable time. Otherwise, I would absolutely forget.

It took a while to get things set up in the lab because nothing was working (ha, gotta love academia) but testing is done in this sound proof booth. There's a camera inside so you can sit outside the booth and observe or give directions, but for this study we will sit inside with the participant. While the door was open I kept looking at the screen that showed the live feed from inside the booth, because it meant I could see myself fully from the back. It's wild how rare it is to see yourself in ways that are normal for others. I'm already such a slut for mirrors, but oh boy was that a trap. I kept reminding myself to look away so that my supervisor and the greek girl wouldn't notice how entranced I was.

When I used to act, they have to take a recording of the silence in a room for editing, and that means a room full of people barely even daring to breathe while a guy stands very seriously with a boom. I wonder who was the first person to realize that they needed the silence from a specific room during sound editing, it must've seemed a bit odd to do the first silent room recording. Anyway, one movie that I did we took a silence recording right before a scene where I was going to be asleep in a bed while "my mom" had this big emotional moment and sobbed next to me. So we were all in the bed, and I was doing my best not to rustle the sheets or squeak the mattress, but I vividly remember this moment because it was the first time I realized how heavy and uncomfortable true silence can be. The recording felt like it stretched seconds into years and all I wanted to do was have it end. To yell or clap or whatever other noise that would cut through this thick jello. Being in the sound booth is like that, but at least with the experiment running or people talking it goes away. I got to try the mobile eeg on, which was fun, and then we got sent home with them to mess around and figure them out.

We had dnd that night, so I put it on former Italian roommate and third culture Australian and let them look at their brain waves. Of course, they didn't really know what they were looking at, but I just kept saying "That's you! That's what you are. A collection of electrical signals!".

DND went well, they liked the backstories and spent 1 hour of real time with the halfling shop keeps I created called Pimmy and Pizzy. German American's boyfriend was visiting so I offered to have him control authentic australian's inner demon. This resulted in him losing most of his money and acquiring all the bullshit items at Pimmy and Pizzy's stand. He and German American also immediately wanted to risk it all with the deck of many things, and neither of them pulled very well. I think I'll have to implement more opportunities to gamble in the future. French girl is leaving to go back to Paris soon, so I'm trying to make her last few in person sessions as fun as possible. Although I really thought they would get further in the campaign than they did this session. C'est la vie.

[froggyinaspen]

Between Comfort and Chaos: CH 3

Link to Chapter 2 Above

Also Available on AO3/Wattpad

OminisxMC- Slooooowwww burn, Angst

Word Count: 3,394

Unsettled Feelings

Ominis’ POV

The next week flew by with Lessie dividing her time between myself and her babysitting duties as we had affectionately dubbed her time spent with Sebastian. As a result, it seemed that my poltergeist appeared less often and mostly at a distance. When he did attempt to converse a swift unseen flick of my wand would cause the idiot to stumble and trip. In his haste to stand I could swiftly get away. In a way it was much like the game I would play with my younger sister. She had started her studies at Hogwarts the previous year and as much as I tried to act the part of the doting older brother, she refused the association. In retaliation I took to using the tripping jinx on her at the most opportune times. Never hurting her, but more so just letting her know I was there if need be.

Although Lessie and I had the majority of classes together, we rarely spoke in them, simply preferring the conversations in the passing corridors or nights spent planning adventures in the undercroft. My mood had improved leaps and bounds and I was starting to feel like myself again, the anger bottling itself back up and nestling away into the compartment of my mind where I kept all the other unpleasant things confined. I attributed this mostly to the fact that today after classes were through, we would be headed to Cragcroftshire to finish the last of the Merlin Trials. I was excited to spend the time with her adventuring as well as attend the Halloween feast together the following night. It was the small triumphs that made me smile, or maybe it was her.

The lines of our friendship had started to blur in my mind, and I was unsure of how to proceed. I had always had a fondness for her, but for a reason I couldn’t place it felt different now. More pronounced. More evolved. Everytime she casually brushed my hand or said my name I could feel a swarm of fluttering in my stomach. It was a pleasant sensation, that had my emotions conflicted. What could I possibly hope for? What kind of future could I give someone who put the sun to shame?

She treats everyone like this. You’re no different. Don’t hope for something that can’t be.

I shook the unproductive thoughts from my head, as I slid down to the floor in one of the open atriums. There was no use dwelling on them, we were friends and that was that. She could never be with someone as tainted as I was. It didn’t matter how I felt.

It never does.

The cool stone beneath me helped to settle my nerves. My fingers traced our names absent mindly on the smooth marble. Exhaustion took over, and I realized just how worn out I was from the late nights with her. Usually, I followed a pretty stringent sleep schedule being safely tucked into bed by 10:00pm on the dot, but had been making an exception to meeting up with Lessie in the Undercroft all week. We’d stay there until the early morning hours, just talking about everything and nothing at the same time. A yawn escaped my mouth. Many might laugh but, it was such a long walk back to the common room, but if I stayed right here, I could take a quick nap and then head over to my last class of the day.

Alright, just 10 minutes or so then off we go.

The hall was relatively quiet, with groups of students buzzing around here and there, and I shut my eyes. Behind my eyelids was a swirling darkness mixed with soft pin-pricks of random light. It felt like I was floating much like that day over the lake…My last though before succumbing to the sweet embrace of unconsciousness was the subtle scent of lilacs and ghosting feel of callouses.

                                                            …………………………………………………………………….

The chill of the glacial air was seeping into my bones, and I found myself a bit disoriented to my surroundings. Where was I? I tried to blink away my confusion, but nothing became clear until I heard a familiar voice.

“I won’t cast it on you Sebastian, you’ll have to cast it on me.” The sound of shoes scraping on stone, widening into a spaced stance. They sent echoes about the room, giving it a distinctly haunting atmosphere. Everything felt heavy, as if a boulder had been placed on my chest. My heart began to race, sweat pooling on my brow causing my hands to start shaking.

It was Lessies’ voice but…. But what was she talking about?

“Fine. If that’s what you want…” Sebastian’s lilting voice held no remorse. It took only a split second to realize that I was back in the scriptorium. I had to stop him.

NO! Nooooo! No!

I couldn’t scream out; it was like an iron band had been secured against my throat. Choking out any sounds that would attempt to stop the depravity before me. I began wildly thrashing, trying to reach them but everything was dark and cold, and I couldn’t move from where I stood. This felt all wrong, I was trapped in my body, and I couldn’t reach her. I couldn’t save her.   

“CRUCIO!”

Before the last syllable was uttered my blood went cold, draining. Instantly the hall was filled with the desperate cries of my friend, begging and pleading for release. I could hear her body collapse. The gravel crunched as she writhed on the floor, no longer in control of her body. Her feeble pleas falling on deaf ears, as Sebastian moved, stone scraping under his feet as he moved toward the opening door. He didn’t care that she was in pain. That she was begging for help. The door was open, why couldn’t he end her torture?

The sounds of torment too great to be contained in such a small frame sent electrical waves through the space, causing a release of static. It bit at my skin, causing me to call out once more.The sounds of anguish sending me into a spiral.

“Are you alright?!?”

There was an overwhelming sense of nausea. Her crying pierced my ears cracking every nerve in my body. Tarnishing my very soul. I couldn’t get to her, I couldn’t make it stop. It hurt. It hurt so much.  

Lessie, No. Please, please, make it stop!

                                                            ……………………………………………………………………….

“LESSIE!” Her name clawed its way out of my throat leaving a taste of iron and bile as I jolted awake. The amount of damp cloth clinging to my skin indicated that I was sweating profusely. I ran my hands through my hair, disheveling it in the process trying to block out the lingering screams. My heart rate was erratic, and I started to gulp for air as I heard footsteps approaching. I reached for my wand and sent a pulse out as I struggled to gain my composure and gain some orientation. My lungs were burning, as if I were drowning on land. My mind went into survival mode repeating my mantra for times like these.  

It’s just a nightmare. It’s just a nightmare. It’s just a nightmare.  

“Ominis? Are you okay?” It was a familiar voice, but in my haze, I couldn’t place it. Everything felt wobbly, and surreal.

I heard the scrap of shoes on stone as the girl crouched down next to me concern lacing her voice. I didn’t answer and instead continued to focus on my breathing.  

1….2….3….4…. Exhale….1….2….3….4…. Inhale

“Are you hurt? Have you fallen.” The concern increased and I could sense the undercurrent of panic from the girl. I must look a sight to her. Hyperventilating on the floor, wet and erratic in the midst of a panic attack. The pain was palpable causing radiating stabs throughout my chest, as if someone was stabbing me with pins. My head was swimming, making the panic intensify.

I need to breathe. Breath, please… oh gods…. 1…2...3…4…

The air shifted and she reached her hand out, offering it. Without thinking my hand reached out smacking it away defensively. A shocked gasp escaped from her lips. This didn’t deter her and instead she went from crouching to sitting next to me. There was some shuffling in what sounded like a bag of some sort and the ping of something metallic being pulled out. The girl shifted again, and the sound of a cast.

“Aguamenti”  

The tinkling of water hit the metallic vessel and then stopped just as fast. My heart rate had started to decrease as my breathing slowed. In the midst of my panic, my knees had come up to my chest, and I found myself rocking slightly. A throbbing headache took up residence behind my eyes and I winced in pain. It brought with it a smidgen of clarity. 

You’re safe Ominis. You. Are. Safe. No, one can hurt you. Breathe.

“Here you look like you need this. It’s just water, I promise.” The sound of a metal bowl gracing the floor within arm’s reach of me sent out some vibrations. She was afraid I would smack her away again. My hand reached out, searching the area until I found the vessel and hurriedly brought it to my lips gulping it down eagerly. The taste of iron lingered coating my mouth like a thick film. I took a few more moments to breathe, putting the bowl back down where I had retrieved it.  

“T-Thank you Poppy. I’m sorry to have frightened you.” I gave a small apology hoping the girl wasn’t too upset.

“You didn’t frighten me. I should have approached you slower. You don’t just grab a graphorn by the leg, do you? No, I’d say that your reaction was justified.” She let out an uncertain laugh. “I do apologize however, the only thing I had was Persephone’s water bowl.” There was a matter-of-fact air about her. As expected, she was treating this like a close encounter with one of her beasts. To be fair I felt like a beast. If I hadn’t been in such a state, I would have berated her for giving me an animals’ dish as a cup. Instead, I ignored the statement, not wanting to dwell on trivialities.

“Regardless, I do apologize.” I took another stuttering breath and then turned to her. “A-are there quite a lot of people about?” My anxiety of being seen as the delicate blind boy bubbled to the surface once more. I could hear the rumors swirling around already about my embarrassing display. Behavior unfitting of a Gaunt. I flinched reactively knowing the backlash I would receive once again for tarnishing the family name.

“Students? Oh no everyone’s in class.” There was a nonchalant attitude to the statement as if that should have been common knowledge.

“WHAT?! In class? What time is it?” I groaned audibly, pushing my fingers to the bridge of my nose. How had I managed to make an even bigger mess? Professor Sharp already had an immense dislike of me for my poor crafting abilities. Throw in the fact that I had essentially skipped his class to take a nap. Why had, I decided to take the damn class this year too? I could already hear the lecture.

Poppy laughed beside me. A swift annoyance edged into my voice. This was not a funny situation. It was demoralizing! How dare she laugh at me.

“I don’t think you have the right to be laughing at my situation while it appears that you also skipped your class.” 

She stood up next to me. The sounds of her smoothing the fabric of her skirt drifting down.

“I’ll have you know that I am in my elective period, which consists of beast care. I have free roam of the campus!”

She extended her hand once more, no condescendence in her voice.

“Now, up you go. You can come along with me and I will have Professor Howell write a note that you were helping me round up the puffskiens that got loose. There are at least three more roaming around the first floor.” 

Refusing her hand, I pushed myself off the floor and stood up, the tremors having not left my body. A wave of panic and nausea forced me to let out a distressed grasp. I could hear her shuffle her feet, unsure of how to assist. I felt raw and did not think I could face lying to Professor Howell in this state, let alone chasing beasts. Her offer was tempting and kind. However, I feared that a trip to the nurses was in order.

“I appreciate the kind offer, however I am on my way to the hospital wing.” Without waiting for a response, I shakily re-drew my wand and began to slowly wander away down the corridor.

“I’ll come with you! Just to make sure everything is okay!” There was no use arguing with a Hufflepuff on matters like these. I did not have the energy to argue nor field a million questions that she would inevitably ask. I kept my lips tight as we walked side by side toward the faculty tower. Poppy seemed to be bouncing instead of walking deciding that If I would not speak, then she would fill the space.

“Any big plans for this weekend?” It was a genuine question. My head was still swirling, and it took a great effort to form a coherent reply.

“No.” I could tell she wanted more than that. She continued to prob, but I kept shutting her down. She didn’t seem to mind and launched into a diatribe about her upcoming activities and how exciting it was to be able to have a chance to leave the school grounds. To my ears her senseless droning sounded like a swarm of bees I wanted to extinguish. It only escalated the tumultous throbbing in my skull. Thankfully we were at the stairs leading up to the hospital wing and I hastily gave my goodbyes as I ascended the staircase. Poppy took the hint and scampered off to do whatever she did with her beasts.

Merlin’s Beard, can she prattle on!

My wand guided me to a familiar door and the scent of antiseptic and cotton flooded my senses. It didn’t sound as if any other students were in the room. I tucked my wand into my sleeve and walked down the center. Having been here frequently, I knew that the layout never changed. It was comforting. I could hear the scratching of a quill and Nurse Blimey’s foot tapping rhythmically under her desk.

“Mr. Gaunt, what a pleasant surprise. I was wondering when you’d next visit. How are your nerves my dear?” She put her quill down and strode over to a cabinet, intrinsically knowing the reason for my sudden appearance. The sound of the keys jangling on her chatelaine came to a stop as the sound of a door opened and a glass vial was pulled out. 

“I seem to be having the nightmares again….” I took a deep gulp, my hands shaking “This time in the middle of the day.” I fumbled with the sleeve of my robe, feeling slightly embarrassed to admit that I had inadvertently skipped class. She strode towards me and I felt the press of the glass vial in my hand. It was larger than the usual one she supplied when my nerves were in disarray. I screwed my face up in confusion.

“It’s a double draft. In most cases, where trauma is suppressed you’ll find that more drastic measures are needed in order to make the individual comfortable.” She stated this in motherly tone as her hand gave my shoulder a quick pat. “As for your delinquent behavior, it seems that classes are about to release for the day, there would be no point wandering there now. I can send an owl to your professor informing him that a medical necessity came up. No need to worry further.”

She led me to have a seat on one of the nearby cots. The thin mattress creaking underneath. It was a deep contrast from the stone floor I had been on minutes before, as well as the one in my nightmare. A shiver came over me at the thought. My hand rattled the bottle.

“Your Aunt used to have episodes much like these, you know.” Her voice was filled with nostalgia. The hint of sorrow lingering in its tones. The fact that Noreen Blimey had been a classmate and very close friend of my favorite Aunt was one of the reasons I felt comfortable coming to her with issues such as these. Issues my own family would see as a weakness.

“I never knew her to be similar in this way. Most of my memories of her are full of warmth.” I was quite taken aback to learn this new bit of information. We had had many prior conversations about Noctua Gaunt, but this was the first time I had heard she also suffered from a disorder of the nerves.

“Oh, yes. It wasn’t as frequent as your episodes seem to be but she did have them. All I could do was comfort her until she was over the worst of it. I would give her some of my violet syrup and rock her back to sleep.”

“I am so sorry to hear that.” I wasn’t sure why I was apologizing, but it seemed as if it needed to be said. Kindness deserved reciprocation.

At that she gave a weak laugh but then took on a serious tone once more.

“What I mean to say Ominis is that I may not fully understand the causes of your particular condition, but I have known your family all my life and I can sympathize through having seen the pain she endured. No one will ever be able to completely understand your internal battles. They can’t see what you had to put yourself through to heal from it and grow. They can’t see all the wars you fought within yourself in order to make it here today. You should be proud of how hard you fought to save yourself and how you continue to do so every day. Be proud of the way you survived and the joy you can bring others.”

I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. I don’t know what I had expected Nurse Blimey to say, but it wasn’t this. It had been so long since someone has been able to encourage me in this manner. The only other person who knew all the sordid details of my family life was Sebastian, and he only knew a surface layer.

“You sound almost as if you were her.” I whispered as the first tears fell. They weren’t overwhelming, just a silent release of the anxiety that had built up. I let them fall, unashamed.

“That’s because they are, she said almost the exact same thing to me once. Now it’s my turn to honor her and impart them to you.” She made her way back towards her desk. “Now, enough of this, we can have a social call another day. Drink your potion and then enjoy your weekend. The weather is supposed to be grand!”

The sounds of her quill began again as her chair creaked. I let out a sigh of relief as the tears began to stop and uncorked the bottle, bringing it to my lips, taking a quick sip. The taste of peppermint caressed my tongue, instantly relaxing my shoulders and sweeping away the iron taste that had taken residence in my mouth. I recorked the vial and put it in the front pocket of my trousers. It would be good to have on hand.

“Thank you, ma’am. I do appreciate your kindness.”

The quill stopped and I could feel her eyes on me. There was a smile in her voice.

“Of course, young man. Now run along and if you should have further need, please feel free to find me.”

With that dismissal, the quill resumed its scratching and I walked towards the exit feeling ready to forget about my misadventures in napping and fully enjoy the field trip I was about to go on with Lessie. Everything was going to be fine. I was safe here.

[sgcairo]

Pants giving his stinky man a bath but it's actualy wholesome

Dottore getting a bath is a very rare experience, but this just about sums it up.

It's a pain just to get him to climb into the tub, given he's usually so bone tired that he moves at a snail's pace and resists Pantalone trying to scrub the blood off him (it'll be a miracle, the day Dottore comes back from the lab without blood on him) in vain. By the time he's undressed, in the tub, and covered in soap, he's already halfway to sleep just from the effort of it all. And with Pantalone massaging his scalp and body tenderly, hitting all the knots in his back and little sore spots along his arms and legs? Oh yeah, he's out in minutes. Pantalone has to fish him out of the bath and dress him again, but Dottore being asleep is such a rare occurrence that he really can't complain. His mouth is shut, which is already a vast improvement over his usual complaining.

As for when Dottore does stay awake, he's weirdly clingy, and he might even let Pantalone brush his hair if it's a good day. In fact, he'll lay in Pantalone's lap and fall asleep as Pantalone brushes his hair, which is only accelerated by the Regrator singing or humming old Liyuen lullabies. Dottore has always loved the sound of Pantalone talking to him, but in another language and so tenderly? He's out like a lightbulb in minutes, and it takes Anastasiy clambering into the bed and flopping on top of him to wake him up again in the morning.

Pantalone always takes care to wash Dottore carefully, not only because it happens so rarely, but also because he takes good care of what's his. Dottore just happens to be one of those things. He will use the highest quality soaps, scrub him until Dottore is nice and clean, and dry him so tenderly that it's more like he's dusting the most precious and expensive art pieces in Teyvat. Pantalone will dry his hair, brush it, even braid it into small sections or pin it back if he's feeling fancy... he really does enjoy the few opportunities he gets to touch the Doctor without getting bit, it's such a rewarding experience.

On top of everything he does, Pantalone always makes sure to leave tender kisses on the Doctor's face, just to make sure that even in his dreams he knows that he's loved.

[letarasstuff]

Unbreakable Bond

(A/N): This is based on this post and this tiktok

Summary: A big age gap between Aaron's children doesn't have to mean that they are unable to form a strong bond

Warnings: Mentions of Haley's death and failed relationships

Wordcount: 1.8k

✨Masterlist✨

_________________________________

His life took turns Aaron never expected. It’s not the “Oh, mh, well that was unexpected”-type of turns, I talk about the “God played Cards Against Humanity with angels and decided to make it happen for someone”-type. But looking back he would not want to change a thing.

After Haley and Beth he was convinced that God, the Universe, something out there shared the opinion that romantic love isn’t the right thing for him and Aaron accepted that fact. Even more when he and Jack went into witness protection. I mean, when you are worried about the life of your family being in danger because of a stalker, you don’t think about the beautiful neighbor, who lives next door, right? Right?

Well, without going into too much detail, Hotch did think about her and she about him and vice versa. Everything went good until Aaron received the message that the team found the stalker and that it was safe to come back. He decided to come clean to his girlfriend. They talked about the possibility of moving back to Quantico.

In the end they decided in favor of the move, the final argument was the surprising announcement of her being pregnant. Hotch wants to raise their youngest where his and Jack’s roots are located. But he decides against taking a position at the BAU, instead taking a desk job in order to be more at home. He also has the opportunity to work from home after little (Y/N) was born and continues to do so until she is old enough to go to Kindergarten. Even then he takes two days the week where he stays home. Aaron learned from his decisions and mistakes he made in the past and wants to live up to them and be a better father and husband than before.

And Hotch keeps it to this day, six years later. It’s (Y/N)’s first day of school, while Jack just graduated high school and goes off to college in a few weeks. Even though they have an age gap from twelve and a half years, their parents are sure there are no other siblings with such a strong bond.

Ever since his baby sister’s birth Jack is her biggest supporter, protector and friend. Her first word was his name, though it was more of a “ACK!”, but that’s the best nickname he ever got. As soon as (Y/N) was old enough to comprehend the concept of movies, he introduced her to Star Wars. Since then lightsaber wars out of cardboard pipes are not uncommon. Last Halloween they even dressed up as Chewbakka and Han Solo. You get three guesses on who was who.

“JACK!” (Y/N) runs into her big brother’s room with an excited expression on her face. “Daddy promised to buy me a real lightsaber after I read ten books! With lights and sounds and all! Isn’t that cool?” Jack smiles. Aaron did a similar thing with him. For a certain amount of books he got a reward they discussed beforehand. This way he felt motivated to read and improved writing and reading skills.

“This is awesome. I think that means we have to go book shopping together, what do you think?” (Y/N) is not only the cool kid that has an older brother, she is also the cool kid, whose older brother has a drivers license, a car and a part time job. She nods with big eyes, speechless, because the offer sounds like heaven to her. Getting books and one on one time with Jack after he was really busy with school for weeks? This has to be heaven.

“Ok, then you put your outside clothes on and I’ll tell Dad about our plan.” At that the little girl rushes to her room, not wanting to waste any more time. Jack makes his way down to the kitchen, where Aaron wipes the table from lunch down.

“Dad, I take (Y/N) to this bookstore in DC and we’ll probably go eat ice cream after that. Is that alright?” Hotch looks up at his son. It still feels like yesterday as he told Haley that Gideon is a big no as a baby name. Now he is all grown up and just a few weeks away from the next big chapter in his life.

“Of course, just let me get my wall-” Jack cuts him off. “No need, I want to use this as a kind of goodbye thing. At least until Thanksgiving.” Aaron knows what he means. It’s his last day before he goes off to college and just a couple more until the first classes begin. The family still hasn’t told their youngest exactly what’s going on. Else she would refuse to go to school and go on with her day, insisting on using all the time they have until Jack drives off.

Two hours later the siblings leave the bookstore, both of them having a bag in their hands. Of course Jack's heavier, but both he and the cashier assured (Y/N) that they lift the same amount of weight.

“Uncle Spence will be excited when I tell him that I read Harry Potter, he told me so many good things about it”, the girl gushes. Jack nods, indicating that he is listening. Of course they also picked books that are not that advanced. Still, no sister of his shall grow up without knowing the beauty of the wizarding world. Also, secretly he is hoping for her to turn out as nerdy as he is so they get more things to talk about. His next step is superheroes, especially the Marvel ones.

They converse until they get to an ice cream parlor and order both their usuals. “Do you think you are ready for me to tell you something important?” The older one asks after they sit down at a table. (Y/N) nods, confusion taking over her face.

“Uhm, you know how I graduated from high school? I’m done with school, but I want to get a degree, but for that I have to go to college. It’s pretty far away so I can’t come home for a few months. But I’m back home when Thanksgiving is and also for Christmas.” It doesn’t matter what Jack says, a sad frown has formed on the little one’s face. “Oh. And after Christmas, will you leave again?” He nods and explains when he is off from college and when not.

“We can always skype and write letters. How does that sound? And when you get your first phone, we can even text.” That (Y/N) lights up a bit. For her first year of school she got a stationary set and is eager to use it to this day.

“I’m going to miss you so much”, she says hugging her big brother. Jack pats her back. “I’ll miss you, too.”

The goodbye the next day is a heartfelt matter. Everybody cries, especially (Y/N). She can’t fathom a scenario where her brother isn’t there for her all the time.

The following weeks are also hard for the family. The youngest refuses to sleep alone for the first three days after Jack’s leave. She is more closed off and mainly just does her school work or reads the books he bought for her. By the time Thanksgiving is only away for another two weeks, (Y/N) has read through all of them at least two times.

Her father already ordered the lightsaber he promised her. Unfortunately shipping takes several months, so the little girl still has to wait patiently for her reward to arrive. In the meantime she works on getting the next and she is already pretty close to the comic book collection she wants.

“Sweetheart, can you set the table, please? Your Mom will be here soon from grocery shopping and she will need help getting them from the car into the house”, Hotch calls for his daughter while stirring in a pot.

The little girl nods, putting her stationary set and pens aside to do as her father asked. She is in the middle of answering her brother’s last letter, telling him that she is now the one that usually has to read aloud for the class because of her advanced skill for a first grader.

Just as she sets the last piece of silverware down the doorbell rings. “Sweetie, can you please open it? This should be your mother.” Happily (Y/N) runs up and turns the door knob. Over the last few months she hit a small growing spurt and is finally tall enough to reach it without standing on her tippy toes.

“Mo-” She nearly chokes on her own saliva. The one at the door is definitely not her mother. “JACK!” (Y/N) runs up to him and jumps onto his leg. “Hey Princess. I thought now that you read your books, we need to hold the most amazing lightsaber fight in history.” With a mischievous smile he pulls two from his back, giving one to his baby sister.

It is the most epic fight in history between an elementary schooler and a college boy. They can only be stopped by their parents announcing that it is a tie between both of them and that they have to sit down, else the food gets cold.

The following weeks mostly consist of (Y/N)’s joyous laughs and cuddling with her big brother. She even insists on him sleeping with her in her much smaller bed. On his last night before going back to college, the little girl turns to him in the middle of watching her favorite movie in the living room.

“Do you promise not to forget me when you are away? Because I alway think about you and tell my friends so much about you. I told them you are a hero, my hero, just like Daddy. They wanna meet you because of that.” Jack has to hold back tears at her statement.

“I also think of you so much. All of my friends at college are pretty jealous of me having such a sweet baby sister. Maybe one time you can visit me and I can introduce you to them.” The thought of that makes (Y/N) smile and is a little consolation to the thought of her brother leaving again.

Aaron watches the interaction going down, happy to see the strong bond between his children, despite their age gap. This is nothing like he and Sean were and that is a relief for him and the worries he had in the beginning. It is a sign that he did do some things right as a father.

Taglist:

All works:

@dindjarinsspouse @big-galaxy-chaos @jswessie187

Criminal Minds:

@averyhotchner @mggsprettygirl @herecomesthewriterwitch @ash19871962 @ellyhotchner

[fanficsfromyesteryear]

Hi! Can I request headcanons for dating marcus (deadly class)? Thank you

HEADCANONS FOR DATING MARCUS LOPEZ ARGUELLO

A/N: Just a head’s up, I got a little carried away, so this is kinda long lol. Also, sorry this took forever! I’ve been suuuuuper busy lately :/ I almost had it done before work picked back up, but I couldn’t figure out how to end it. Anyway, I hope you like it!!

Before the two of you started dating, Marcus had no idea that you liked him, and for good reason

You did such a good job with hiding your feelings that sometimes even you forgot they were there, which was kind of the whole point

With girls like Saya and Maria around, sending out mixed signals and dropping subtle hints that they liked Marcus, too, it was intimidating

Add Marcus’s constant cynicism about love, and life in general, into the mix, and it was clear the chances of him actually liking you back were next to nothing

So, you knew it was probably for the best to move on

You used the “if you ignore it, it’ll go away” approach in the hopes that if you simply didn’t acknowledge your feelings, the problem would disappear

All this did, however, was create a whole new issue

Somewhere along the way, you’d begun to take the thought process of ‘ignoring your crush’ too literally

You and Marcus were best friends, so when, out of the blue, you stopped talking to him, he could tell something was up

He had no clue what, though

Naturally, he assumed it was something he had done

Marcus started asking around among your mutual friends to see if they knew anything, but they were all just as out of the loop as he was

You hadn’t told anyone about your repressed feelings for Marcus, and you had no intention of letting the secret slip any time soon, but accidents happen

The truth came out one night during a game of truth or dare when you were up on the roof smoking with the Rats

Your confession came tumbling out quicker than you could even think about reeling the words back in

“You hear that, Romeo?” Billy asked, elbowing Marcus in the ribs. “Y/N’s got the hots for you”

All Marcus could do was laugh nervously as he looked down at his feet, refusing to meet your gaze

To your relief, no one brought it up again for the rest of the game

When the next day rolled around and your crush on Marcus still wasn’t the topic of conversation, you started to think that you were in the clear

Maybe they’d all been too stoned to remember when they’d woken up that morning

Your hopes were shattered by the late afternoon

As you left the bathroom, Marcus spotted you from across the hall

He quickly rushed over and caught you by the elbow, dragging you back through the doorway

“Relationships aren’t really my thing,” he said

Marcus sounded like he had more to say, but before he got the chance, you cut him off

“It’s fine,” you said. “I get it”

“No, no. I mean, I like you, Y/N, really. I just don’t wanna mess it up”

You couldn’t stop the smile that spread across your face even if you tried

“You’re not gonna mess it up”

Before either of you could say more, the bathroom door opened and Petra walked in

She glanced between the two of you knowingly

“Hate to break this up, but if I hold this piss in any longer, I’ll explode”

With that, she pushed past you both, effectively ruining the moment

It didn’t take long after that for you and Marcus to make your relationship official

‘Official’ is a bit of a loose term in this case

For the most part, both of you kept the fact that you were dating fairly under the radar for fear of what others would do with that information

In a place like King’s Dominion, something as small as caring for another person beyond using them as an ally was seen as a weakness that could and would be used against you, and the last thing either of you wanted was to be put in a situation where you were pitted against each other

Of course, there were several instances when one (or both) of you nearly blew your cover

Such as in Martial Arts class

Instead of fighting you, Marcus would try to cop a feel

You’d quickly smack his hand away

“Miss De Luca’s right there!”

“She’s not looking”

In defense of both of you, though, a class in which hormonal teenagers are asked to pair themselves up and wrestle is practically an invitation to break the ‘no sex’ rule

The other classes you shared weren’t any better

Master Lin caught you and Marcus staring at each other instead of paying attention on multiple occasions, earning both of you a smack from his cane

Although Marcus was somewhat known for his smart mouth and talking back to authority, he knew better than to challenge Lin, not mention that if he did, he’d risk exposing the two of you in the process

So, Marcus bit back his insults and held in his tirade until the two of you were safely locked away in his dorm room

“He had no right to hit you like that”

“I’m fine,” you assured him, shoving another tissue up your nose to stop the bleeding. “Besides, he does it to everyone”

“That still doesn’t give him the right”

“Next time, I’m gonna stick that cane right up his ass”

Marcus wanted to shield you from all the violence at King’s, but when it was coming from teachers, there wasn’t much he could do about it

If it was a fellow student pushing you around, on the other hand, there was no holding him back

You loved how protective Marcus was of you, but sometimes you worried that he’d get carried away

Marcus always made sure you were never around to witness the fights take place, but the scrapes and bruises on his face that hadn’t been there when you saw him that morning were all the proof you needed

In such cases, you would insist on patching him up afterwards

The first few times this happened, Marcus was embarrassed by all the attention you were giving him

After a while, though, he grew to love the feeling of having someone fuss over him, especially if it was you

It was nice to have someone care about him for a change

You weren’t much of a fighter, but making sure he didn’t get Tetanus was your way of looking out for him

When you and Marcus weren’t getting into trouble, you were actually a pretty cute couple

Your roommates became accustomed to the two of you being a package deal, which often meant sneaking into each other’s rooms after lights out

Sometimes, it was to make out, but other times, it was so you could have late night conversations that you didn’t get the chance to have during the day

The topics of these conversations varied—they could be deep and philosophical (which was Marcus’s favorite kind), an opportunity to open up to each other about yourselves and your pasts, a time to plot someone’s death (usually only theoretically), or simply joking around

After especially long days, you would accidentally drift off in the middle of these nightly chats with your head on Marcus’s chest, but he never minded

He’d pull the covers up on your side and wrap his arms more tightly around you

While both of you were perfectly capable of pulling all-nighters, whenever you fell asleep, Marcus was never far behind

The sound of your evened-out breathing was like a lullaby to him, so it was safe to say that his sleep schedule drastically improved after the two of you started dating

You’d found that you slept better with Marcus, too, so on the few nights you spent apart, you’d doze off listening to the mixtapes he’d made you in your Walkman, which were full of your favorite songs and songs that reminded him of you (though, these had quickly become your favorites, too)

It was rare that the two of you weren’t together, though

Even during the day, you and Marcus were practically joined at the hip

At lunch, you would hold hands under the table and share food

Of course, this always opened the door for plenty of teasing from your friends, especially Lex

“While you’re at it, why don’t you chew the food up for each other and pass it back and forth like little birds?”

“Fuck off, Lex”

It was always in good fun, though

Actually, the other Rats were relieved when the two of you finally got together because the weird tension that had been brewing leading up to that point went away, meaning group hangouts could carry on normally

They could overlook you sitting in Marcus’s lap if it meant you weren’t being distant and secretive

Just like they pretended not to notice when you showed up to class wearing each other’s blazers by mistake after spending the night together

Or walking in late looking ✨especially disheveled✨

All in all, you and Marcus are King’s Dominion’s cutest couple™️ that only, like, five other people know about, but still-

[robininthelabyrinth]

Initiative - aka NMJ and JYL get engaged - ao3 or tumblr pt 1, pt 2

Jiang Yanli’s first engagement had been announced when she was three and a half years old – there had been a big party, festooned in color, exquisitely and meticulously planned out in advance, and she’d been obliged to stand on stage next to a baby in a cradle that had done nothing but cry and spit as all the adults around her congregated and congratulated each other on the excellent match.

She hadn’t enjoyed that at all.

Her second wedding announcement was simultaneously more casual and more noteworthy, and she enjoyed it tremendously. 

Madame Jin had sent several invitations to Jiang Yanli to come visit Lanling in advance of the hunt planned for Phoenix Mountain, speaking of how beautiful it was and how much she looked forward to seeing her good friend’s daughter – talking about she’d always regretted how Jiang Yanli had been obligated by circumstances to take shelter at the Unclean Realm rather than in Lanling City, although she’d been pleased to hear from her son that she was doing well – all the right sort of words. The words might have been more welcome if Jiang Yanli hadn’t known that Madame Jin was still intent on securing the marriage she had arranged.

If she hadn’t been engaged, she would have accepted the invitation, hoping to form an alliance for her sect through a close relationship with Madame Jin even if she didn’t have one with Jin Zixuan (no matter what Madame Jin hoped), but as she was, in fact, engaged to another – even if it hadn’t been formally announced – it would be inappropriate to go. So she instead played ignorant and responded graciously, protesting that she couldn’t possibly impose, that the rebuilding at the Lotus Pier needed her, but that she would of course be happy to attend the hunt alongside the rest of her sect.

She arrived at her brother’s side, smiling all the while.

Her second engagement was announced like this: Sect Leader Jin, using his newly legitimized son as his mouthpiece, had brought forward some ghastly ‘entertainment’ that involved shooting at helpless prisoners, tied up in chains. Jin Zixuan had complied, but Wei Wuxian had marched out and disrupted everything by showing off to a ridiculous extent – Nie Mingjue, who had been watching with a black face full of rage but unable to speak due to propriety, had started applauding very loudly and very enthusiastically – and Sect Leader Jin had ordered the prisoners taken away.

“Well, then,” he said, clapping as if he had impressed himself: as if they hadn’t just been subjected to a powerplay under the guise of hospitality, as if everyone would be over-awed by his might now that they had seen him abuse the helpless while they were all forced by the rules of etiquette to say nothing or else risk carrying the blame for trying to start another war. “Absent anything else, we should proceed to the hunt itself, where await you only the finest of prey and the sharpest competition among your peers.”

For the further display of the power of the Jin sect, he meant.

“Actually,” Nie Mingjue said, interjecting in a moment in which Sect Leader Jin had paused to take a breath so that it was technically not an interruption, “there is one thing. A request, in fact.”

Sect Leader Jin’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he maintained his false smile. “Of course, Sect Leader Nie. What can I do for you?”

“I’m getting married,” Nie Mingjue said. “The bride is Young Mistress Jiang, of Yunmeng Jiang, and I would like –” He raised his voice to overcome the abrupt explosion of talk that had erupted. “– I would like to have her accompany my sect in today’s hunt. I hope that doesn’t interfere with your plans for a competition between the sects?”

There were those who said that Jiang Yanli’s chosen husband was bad at politics, and they might even be right. But it didn’t really matter in the end if he’d thought of the idea on a whim or if it’d been a prearranged plan by Nie Huaisang, who was cleverer than he liked to let on to people, Jiang Yanli’s future husband had still wiped away in a single sentence all memory of the farce they’d all just endured and of the hunt that was yet to come, ensuring that the only thing anyone would remember about today was the shocking news of the engagement of the leader of one Great Sect to the sister of another.

(And if everyone remembered that at the last celebration hosted by Sect Leader Jin, he had proposed to resurrect the marriage between Jiang Yanli and his own son, instead, forcing her to publicly demur on vague terms…well, that just made it all the more satisfying.)

Now it was Sect Leader Jin’s turn to scowl and glare, and Madame Jin’s expression looked no less thunderous, but in the end Jiang Yanli got to go with the Nie sect on the hunt.

“You know I’ll only slow you down,” she said to Nie Mingjue, who snorted.

“No more than Huaisang will,” he said, and if his face was stern and his voice gruff then she still thought she detected fondness and humor beneath it. “Besides, it’ll be a good opportunity to measure you.”

It turned out that he meant that more literally than she might have thought.

Jiang Yanli was promptly whisked away to the back of the Nie retinue by a small cadre of Nie disciples, men and women both. She was presented with a number of training sabers shaped out of wood and made to hold them in a variety of positions as they murmured things about stability and reach and balance as if they really, truly thought that she would actually use the saber they were preparing for her.

“This one,” Nie Jiahui, a steely older woman with silver in her hair and fierce eyes, eventually announced, and the practice saber Jiang Yanli had been waving around was taken away. She was then presented with one that was twice as heavy, for “practice”.

“Do you always practice with something heavier than the actual thing?” she asked, and Nie Jiahui nodded.

“Strengthens the shoulders,” she said, curt but not standoffish. “Have some candy.”

Jiang Yanli blinked, but smiled and accepted the offer. It was licorice, which she liked.

“Do you often carry candy with you on night-hunts?” she asked, listening to the sound of fighting from up ahead. Every so often, a disciple or two would trot by carrying the corpses of larger and larger creatures, slain in the fighting; it seemed that the Nie sect was not, in fact, being slowed down in the slightest by her presence.

Of course, she also wasn’t being tended to as if she were their chosen lady, either, as she might have otherwise expected – all pomp and flowery language, Nie Mingjue by her side at all times to show her around as if they were on a pleasure stroll – but in all honesty that would have been a little bewildering. It was very much not the Nie sect’s character, all practical and straightforward, and she found that she preferred it that way.

“It’s important to have something to replenish energy,” Nie Huaisang said, having dropped back to join them from the front. He looked tired and grumpy, but his saber appeared to have been put to some work; he immediately climbed up into the carriage that people were taking turns riding and started cleaning it. “And licorice candy clears the lungs.”

“Clears the lungs?” Jiang Yanli asked.

“It’s good for more than that,” Nie Jiahui said. “But that’s one of the uses, yes. Do you ever feel like your chest is too tight, especially when you move too much? Leading to coughing, shortness of breath, your lips turning blue?”

Jiang Yanli blinked. “Yes,” she said. “But that’s just because I was born with a weak body.”

Nie Jiahui scoffed and Nie Huaisang laughed. “Good luck with that,” he said cheerfully. “I was born with muscles that didn’t keep their tone: too flexible, incapable of gathering strength, requiring more energy to do less, making me twice as tired twice as fast – even sitting up straight can be a struggle in some extreme cases, though luckily not mine. And do you think that helped me one bit in getting out of saber training? It did not.”

“Early childhood intervention is best,” Nie Jiahui said. “But the next best is starting today. I’ll show you some low-impact exercises that you can start working on to strengthen your shoulders and stomach, as well as some balance movements to center yourself and improve your posture – that way, by the time your actual saber is ready, you’ll be able to take it through one of the basic routines.”

“I’m happy to learn whatever you have to teach,” Jiang Yanli said, ignoring Nie Huaisang’s dramatic cry of ‘And here I thought you’d be on my side!’ “I only regret troubling you.”

“Not at all,” Nie Jiahui said. “It’ll be good to have someone watching the Sect Leader’s back on night-hunts.”

Jiang Yanli felt a surge of terror and excitement in her belly. “He would trust me with that? You would trust me with that?”

“I did tell you that you’d need to keep up with him,” Nie Huaisang said mildly, and it was true, he had, only she’d assumed it was a bit more metaphorical. “You don’t have to fight or even walk too much, if it doesn’t suit you – my grandmother was lame in both her legs from a childhood illness, she rode everywhere, scariest woman I’ve ever met by far – but you do have to be there. Someone needs to be able to tell my brother to stop. Someone he’ll listen to.”

And wasn’t that something of a thrill to think of?

Jiang Yanli wasn’t someone anyone listened to – not her parents, not her brother, not her sect disciples. She’d always been the one who comforted them afterwards, who supported them; she made them food and tried to convince them to be kinder to each other, and sometimes they even tried for a while before getting into another tiff. They would kill for her if she so much as hinted at it, tear down the sky for her, but it was more in the nature of indulging her rather than actually allowing them to guide her.

Yet here was Chifeng-zun, a war hero and a sect leader, one of the most powerful men in the world, a man admired by men and sought after (even if only in their hearts) by women, and his family was telling her that he would listen to her.

“If you say so,” she demurred, but they insisted, and by the time the hunt was over Jiang Yanli was surprised to realize that she hadn’t needed to resort to sitting on the carriage more than twice the entire time.

“We’ll send Auntie Jiahui to the Lotus Pier after today’s hunt is done,” Nie Huaisang chattered cheerfully in her ear as they headed back towards Jinlin Tower. “She’ll work you through your paces, believe you me, and all the supplemental things, too – making sure you eat the right thing, take medicinal baths to improve your meridians, apply massages to loosen your joints…those parts are nice, actually. Take care of your body as you would your saber, take care of your saber as you would your wife! That’s how the saying goes. Trust me, you’ll be regretting the whole thing soon enough.”

Jiang Yanli didn’t think she would. “You seem very confident that A-Cheng will allow you to do as you please, even in the Lotus Pier.”

“I’ll tell him it concerns secret Nie sect marriage rituals,” Nie Jiahui interjected. “When two women are involved, men tend to run away when the words ‘marriage’ and ‘secret’ are combined.”

Sadly, she was probably right.

“Show me those exercises again,” she requested, and Nie Jiahui climbed up on to the carriage to show her the ones she could do even while sitting down.

Jiang Yanli might never have had the opportunity to strengthen herself before, and she was moderately certain that she wouldn’t have too much success now, as the various tricks Nie Jiahui had taught her were largely body refinement, barely reliant on qi, and her cultivation was still as low as ever.

But she was good at devoting herself to learning something when she wanted to, and as soon the hunt at Phoenix Mountain was over and they had shifted over to the various feasts and meetings that Lanling Jin had planned for the rest of the week, she began her efforts at self-improvement in earnest.

The weak body her mother had always despaired of might always be weak – Nie Jiahui had been quite blunt on that subject, making it clear that nothing she was suggesting was some sort of miracle pill, and furthermore that there was nothing wrong with being weak as long as she made an effort (Nie Huaisang had been the recipient of several pointed looks there) – but Jiang Yanli was determined to at least demonstrate that she was trying.

A gesture of good faith, perhaps. Some small show of initiative.

Nie Huaisang had said that Nie Mingjue appreciated her initiative.

“A-Xian,” she called one morning, only a few days later. “A-Xian, are you going out for a walk? Let me come with you.”

“You’ve gone on a lot of walks recently,” Wei Wuxian laughed, but allowed her to take his arm as they walked into the crowd. “Do you like Lanling City so much?”

“It’s the exercise I’m after,” she said, smiling at him. “The Nie sect is a martial sect, remember? I’ll be going on more night-hunts in the future, if all goes well, and I’ll need to keep up.”

“Oh, but surely they’ll bring a carriage..? I don’t know if you really need to go on night-hunts –”

“I want to! It’ll be nice. Don’t worry about me so much, A-Xian –”

Wei Wuxian was shaking his head, smiling, and he wasn’t looking where he was going; perhaps that was why he bumped into the young woman.

But then she looked up at him, and he looked down at her, and he froze.

“Wen Qing?”

[harfanfare]

I saw this post and I was wondering if you write Malleus' too, is okay for you to make that?

How to win a heart of Malleus Draconia?

a/n: I started posting my writings here because I want to improve my English — so I technically wouldn't make this request. But! Someone on Wattpad (where I take requests) asked for the same thing, so I rolled up my sleeves and wrote this guide today in both languages. Enjoy~

1. Don't be afraid of him.

It is said that the first impression is the most important.

So when you first saw this guy walking through the corridor of Diasomnia, it was hard for you to get rid of that view from your head.

Illuminated both by the green magic flames set in the lobby, as well as by the moon, which eventually managed to break through the dark clouds and with a bright glow appear in the windows of the dormitory, he seemed... lonely and beautiful.

You shuddered as you took a step down the hallway and the dark-haired man turned to you. He measured you with his emerald eyes. And then you recognized him; all the conversations about the mysterious and fearsome Malleus Draconia flew through your head.

Everything told you to rush towards the hallway and run as far as possible, but a piece of you found it inappropriate. Or rather, no one would want to chase everyone away from themself... right?

When you realized you were looking at him for a while, you took a deep breath and nod slightly.

"Good evening, Draconia-san," you said quickly. After a while you added, "The moon is beautiful today, don't you think?”

 2. Smile a lot.

Today was a really wonderful day: the test was postponed, your favorite dish was given in the canteen, and for some reason, the last two lessons were canceled – your class had to make just a quick note about a topic and it took less than fifteen minutes.

"Something happened?" Malleus asked, seeing how almost in the jumps you walk past him. When you looked at him, he added, "You smile a lot.”

"I can stop smiling if you want," you made a sad face, but after a while, the corners of your mouth began to tremble uncontrollably and twisted up again. "Oops, I can’t. Today... it was such a good day... that I think I'm slowly using my life's happiness.”

"I didn't say that smiling is bad," he said. "You look so much better when you smile.”

"Oh," you sighed with apparent surprise. "Is it a compliment?"

"It’s rather a fact..?"

 3. From time to time visit him during club activities.

"Is this a class of the ‘Gargoyle research society club’?” with a deaf knock you opened the door. Malleus turned to you, making a break from browsing through the materials gathered in the library about the history of each of the gargoyles on the school grounds. And there were a lot of them.

"Yes," he replied briefly, getting up. "Do you need something, [Name]?"

"Not at all, my club don’t have a meeting today," you said, closing the door behind you.

You looked around: the room was as clean as ever, except for one desk, where were laid several huge volumes about statues in NRC.

“Are you here alone?” You said before you thought. You lowered your eyes to see Malleus nodding unconcerned slightly. You blinked several times trying to think of what else you could say. "This room... could be a secret base," that was the first thing that came to your mind. Malleus turned his head to one side, uncertain of your response.

“A secret base..? Why?”

"I have no idea," you admitted quickly. "But the very existence of a mysterious point is interesting, isn't it? Doing normal things, such as watching movies or just talking, seems more interesting in places like this,” After a moment of silence, you sighed. "You know what, this idea with the base is stupid”

"We can try," he replied with serious tone. You raised your eyes to see how he looked around the room. "But you'll just have to explain this idea to me in more detail. We can also tell Lilia, Silver and Sebek about it...” he smiled as if seeing your five together in his thoughts was a pleasure. "It will be surely... fun.”

 4. Get yourself a Tamagotchi.

"Look!" you spin a new key chain on your finger. You finally stopped and showed it to Malleus. "Now they are matching!”

A small electronic toy, in a dark green screen that, when it flashed, showed a virtual, pixelated animal. You were impressed with how good quality it was made, especially since you only gave the Shroud brothers a sketch of a toy that Malleus owned.

Your keychain was exactly the same, just a different color and with another pet.

Malleus pulled out his own device and put it on the table. He pressed one of the buttons and a small pet appeared on the keychain – a dragon.

"They can now be friends," you brought your toy closer to so-called Gao-Gao Dragon-kun.

"Do you think so?" He asked in a very surprised tone, but it sounded as if in a moment he were about to burst out with an inexplicably joyful and surprised laugh.

"Of course. Everyone needs a decent friend, no?”

 5. Gain the trust of Lilia, Silver and Sebek.

Lilia, one of Malleus' closest people. It is much more likely that you will meet him before Malleus. He will be very proud when he learns that Malleus has found a friend. If you become a taster of Lilia, in terms of his pastries, he will 100% like you, and at 20% you will leave the kitchen alive and well.

Silver, who has mastered the art of sleeping in any conditions. It's easy to get him into your plans, although with the craziest ones he will hesitate. Rather well-disposed towards everyone, he can cover for you when you are not in class— but he usually inadvertently falls asleep and both of you often have penal assignments after school.

Sebek, faithful to Malleus, if he doesn't like you, you won't have too many opportunities to stay by Malleus's side without a thunderous glances at you. He will recognize you if you will listen carefully to his monologues about his master and as a sign of your friendship, he will teach you by heart of all the titles and achievements of Malleus so far.

With this trio by your side, you can get a lot further than you might have imagined...

 6. Be a master in hide and seek.

You’d give your right arm that your breath was too loud.

You pressed your hands to your mouth as you crouched in the corner of the room.

From whose voices you already heard, you knew that Lilia had already found Sebek. This meant that you or Silver would still be helping cook dinner since Malleus didn’t come at the start of the game.

This may seem silly, but the ability to play classic games was one of the elements of the art of survival in Diasomnia.

It was thanks to games like ‘stone-paper-scissors’, hide and seek or tag that household chores fell on the shoulders of the losers. Lilia loved the idea, and there was always a proud smile on his lips when he saw his beloved children play together.

You heard the steps behind you and shivered.

Very slowly you turned around and looked up to see Malleus standing over you and wondering what you were doing, crouching in the darkest corner of the room.

Puns were also included in the survival pack.

Fearing that Lilia would hear your whisper, you put your finger on your mouth, asking him not to say a word. You put a begging eye into it – all but not cooking with Lilia. Not again.

Malleus nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation, although he smiled.

Really, no one would want Malleus to be an enemy.

Or at least in such a situation.

 7. Do not hesitate to ask him for help with learning.

"In theory, you should focus on the space around you," Malleus pulled a wand in front of him. It flashed, and almost at the same time, a thin but incredibly strong protective barrier was created around him. “Weaker spells can be reflected. In turn, the stronger ones are better to block”

You nodded understandingly.

Defensive magic was not something easy to understand. Most depended on the person against whom the counter spell was being prepared. And there are countless people who walk on this Earth and want to start fights.

"Unique spells block or avoid physically," he continued. You nodded at every subsequent sentence, slowly feeling like all the lessons are eventually gaining transparency. “Using unique magic against unique magic, the stronger will win, both will lead to explosions or completely reduce.

He looked at you when you wrote down the last sentence in your notebook.

"I sincerely hope that you will only need this information in class," he said with a sigh. "If you need help, call me. I will come. I promise.”

 8. Sometimes be persuaded to wear extravagant clothes.

"Do you really think it suits me?" you turned around, looking at yourself from every possible angle in the mirror.

You were going to the theater in a few classes to see some era-related play that you've been discussing now in history lessons. Everyone, respecting the reputation, actions and achievements of theatre, dressed in their best clothes.

Malleus stood next to you.

He was already wearing a black and white outfit with green accessories. They all worked so well together and fitted him like a glove that you were sure that the whole outfit was made especially for him.

"Yes," he replied. "Everything you put on today suited you very well.”

Once again, with critical eyesight, you looked at the outfit, face and hair, before you quickly turned off the lights in the room and closed the door behind you.

Then you smiled at Malleus.

"We can go now," you said. You made your way through the portal to the main NRC building. "And... thank you for your help.

"My pleasure," he said. Under no circumstances was it just a polite formula. He really loved looking at you.

 9. Invite him to your birthday/party.

"Another break from school soon, huh?" — you muttered, leaning against the railing.

You took a deep breath and let the fresh, pleasant air refresh you.

"Are you going to home, [Name]?" Malleus asked. Green lights were still flying around him, so you guessed he’d just appeared here.

"I haven't decided yet," you sighed. "It would be nice to go home, but the break won't be very long... Ah, that's right!” you straightened up and turned to him. "How about spending another break together? As soon as I can, I will contact my family... although I cannot promise anything.”

Though he did not show it, Malleus' heart beat a little faster.

Spend free time? With someone? With someone he likes?

"Of course," he sounded less calm than he thought. He wasn’t often invited anywhere, even for the things he should have been on, so there was a lot of excitement growing in his body. "I don't see anything against it.”

 10. From "The Great Malleus Draconia-sama" to "Love".

"Ah, The Great Malleus-sama!" you sighed theatrically, taking from him a box of chocolates with a joyful smile. You could promise that because of this dark-haired boy here, you slowly become pampered. "Thank you for your generosity!”

Malleus frowned.

"The Great Malleus-sama"..?” he pondered, putting his fingers to his chin. "Did Sebek told you again to call me with this title?"

"No," you laughed softly at his reaction. "I did it out of curiosity. Maybe I could call you some cute nickname, hmm?" you smiled mischievously.

"For example?"

"By adding ‘-chan’ to your name?” you turned on your phone and typed something related to the nicknames. You started reading suggestions and struggled to hold back from laughing. ” ’Sunshine’, ‘star’, ‘flower’, ‘sweetheart’, ‘love’...

"I like the last one," he said, and the invisible force stung you to the ground.

"Would you like me to call you like that? Out of curiosity or out of love?" You laughed, but your cheeks were all red with blushes.

He smiled sincerely at your reaction.

"Hmm, I wonder..?"