#and I am absolutely here for this partnership to really take off

[pttucker]

Yoo Joonghyuk pulled out his sword. It was a hard attitude that showed no more dialogue was needed. "Give me Kim Dokja. Then I will spare you." Lee Sookyung stared into Yoo Joonghyuk's blazing eyes and recalled her son's voice. Despite his many complaints, her son always looked somewhat excited. –But the story won't continue without him. Ways of Survival is such a novel. At this moment, enlightenment filled Lee Sookyung's head. 「 Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves most.」 Lee Sookyung realized the true meaning of this fate. She knew who would kill her beloved son.

SEE I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE JOONGHYUK

[aurae-rori]

DR RATIO ANALYSIS PT 3 BUT IT'S JUST GAY

Now, you might be saying - "Aurae, you've done part one, and part two, so why do we need a part three?" The answer is because of two things - one. I made a deal with the Tumblr Peoples that if one of my posts hit more than 50 likes I would do this analysis. Two. Mihoyo is making this shit canon. I CAN'T MAKE THIS UP. So, let's delve into my usual disclaimer, as we might have some new people joining us for the first time with my insanity.

I have been researching psychology personally for about six years, so although I am not a professional (crawling my way there through the education system. I will be one, one day.) I do have some experience with analyzing homosexuals. Psychology hours, my children. They don't call me "chronically cooking" for nothing. Maybe I should change my url to that...

NOW THAT MY LONG AHH DISCLAIMER IS OVER, LET'S GET INTO THIS! It's time to deconstruct these homosexuals like a modern airplane, because they might as well be taking off with how canon they are.

"It can't be canon," they say, but then Mihoyo DOES PAID SPONSORSHIPS WITH THESE FUCKERS BEING GAY. We've all seen the paid partnership edit. We've all seen the video where Aventurine has the audio of "nice rack" as he talks to Dr. Ratio. PAID SPONSORSHIPS. Now, if that piece of evidence isn't enough for you - let's dive into their actual relationship, which is just a HOMOSEXUAL MESS. I will be focusing more on how Dr. Ratio sees this guy as this is a Dr. Ratio analysis™, but hey, the crumbs.. we eat 'em all. Amen.

Let's start off (I say as I write this part three days later) about how people are like, 'Aven is Ratio's favourite idiot' WRONG. Ratio does NOT consider Aventurine to be an idiot and knows that he is smart and capable in his own right. While Ratio is book smart, Aven is extremely street smart and holds his own very well. Ratio does not consider Aventurine to be an idiot as he takes off his plaster head around him and actually indulges in his whims around him. This is a blatant showcase of fondness because although he is emotionally constipated and can't be affectionate through words without sounding semi-backhanded because he's never had true affection in his life, he showcases his love through actions rather than words. He's just bad at showing love, okay? But he does love Aven. Or like him, to some extent, if you don't want to see them as romantic, which is fine. However, no matter what you label their bond as, it's obvious that they care for one another.

Also, the fucking ZEST FEST that was 'keeping up with Star Rail'. He says, "wait a minute - MUTUAL?" which indicates that he has respect for Aventurine in the first place. He LITERALLY TOLD US that he respects Aventurine and he was commenting on Aventurine's playstyle & everything.. also, at the end, he was here because 'I appreciate this show's dedication to knowledge' - his TONE. Kudos to the VA because that was not convincing at all. Bro was NOT here for the knowledge, bro was here to be GAY!!! Also his little own bathtub couch. We all know Aven bought it for him. Trust, I am John Hoyoverse.

"The Charming Audacity" HUH? BRO? Okay this is hilarious to me because this is the first time that we ever really see them interact with one another, and we get absolutely bitchslapped in the fact that Dr. Ratio calls this guy's audacity 'charming'. That's GAY. That's HOMOSEXUAL.

Also, comparing him to a peacock.. a very beautiful bird.... Must I say more?

Now, the part that I really want to focus on is the part where he gives the Doctor's Note to Aventurine. This shit is important. And I agree with the people who are like - Acheron helped him. Because she did. She was a big part of it and she helped Aventurine get back on his feet in the void. Dr. Ratio is not his only reason to live, but the note, showing that someone will stay by his side? Showing that someone truly cares for him? Someone who's waiting for him when he get back? This bond that he has with Dr. Ratio isn't fake. He already has a starting point to get back to - an anchor to return to. Dr. Ratio is his anchor. Whenever he goes off to do crazy shit, Veritas Ratio will be there when he returns. Because Ratio is loyal. Ratio cares. He cared enough to almost jeopardize their plan to make sure that Aventurine was going to be okay. He cares so damn much about Aventurine that he decided that this man's emotional state after the fake betrayal was more important than all of fucking Penacony.

If you want an example of "I would let the world burn for you," it's Ratio. He's a romantic not in the traditional sense, but he cares and loves Aventurine so damn much it makes my heart hurt. "Do stay alive," he says, knowing that Aventurine struggles with living. Those three words mean the whole fucking world to someone who struggles with suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts. Someone wants you to live. Someone wants you to stay. Someone wants you by their side.

Dr. Ratio cares. Let me say that again - he cares. He banters with Aventurine, tries to create an environment where Aventurine can feel a little bit more comfortable with the two of them, even in a place as dangerous as Penacony. He will put his own life on the line for Aventurine.

He cares. He cares so damn much. I hate gay people. They make me VIOLENTLY homophobic.

Dr. Ratio after expressing his care indirectly and complimenting Aventurine indirectly: Did I do it?

Aventurine, who has caught none of the hints:

Anyway, thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2024 - A few more recs...

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2024

Before the year ends, here are a few more recs of stories of 2024 that found their way into our inbox! I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope, that we can discover lots of fun fanfics next year as well! - Kay

Follower Recs

~*~

Think I've missed the 2024 Rewind follower recs but I've been absolutely loving this story!

WIP Modern Cultivators AU where WWX and LWJ have just agreed to a betrothal contract - for supposedly purely political reasons but in actuality because they fell hard and fast for each other during the prior fic in the series. POV switches between the two of them as they face up to (and increasingly embrace) the concept of being cared for and loved for being exactly who they are. Beautiful writing and brilliant characterisation, every update feels like a treat ☺️ @slothwithwifi

🔒 I'm Much Older Than I Thought I'd Be

by MajorEnglishEsquire (@chuckwinchester)

E, WIP, 81k, Wangxian

Summary: “Now. Before we break for the evening, as the topic has arisen between Lan Xichen and myself, directly, in accordance with an inquiry from the Lans,” Uncle passes him the copy of a draft agreement. “I wonder if you recall your lessons on the cross-clan arrangement of cultivation partnerships.” Picks up after The Further I Go, The Less I Know.

~*~

Hello! I want to submit this fic for Rewind because I love cherry magic AU and lwj pov is so rare. It’s very funny to listen to wwx pining in his head and lwj panicking over it. - Anon

My Heart is Yours to Fill or Burst

by anancites (@ananc1tes)

E, 67k, Wangxian

Summary: On his 30th birthday, Lan Zhan gets struck by a mysterious curse: suddenly he's a mind reader! As much as he dislikes most people talking too much, hearing their unfiltered thoughts is even worse. To top it all off, he learns that his old friend Wei Ying might not be flirting with him just to be a nuisance. He might be flirting with Lan Zhan because he's actually really into him? (a WangXian AU very loosely inspired by Cherry Magic)

~*~

Delightfully hilarious. I read it over a month ago and still laugh sometimes when I think about wwx in this. @alyseofwonderland

Living Art

by relenafanel (@relenafanel)

E, 8k, Wangxian

Summary: Broke artist Wei Wuxian takes a hard look at his finances and shrugs his way into becoming a content creator on OnlyFans. Jiang Cheng sighed. “These columns are negotiable. If you want to keep this subscription, you have to replace something to break even.” Wei Wuxian stared at the spreadsheet. He hummed in thought. “I need to break even.” “Yes.” “In order to keep my OnlyFans subscription I need $65 a month. On OnlyFans.” “No,” Jiang Cheng said quickly. “If I become a content creator and earn $65 a month--” “I am begging you--” “Then I can keep the subscription. Thanks A-Cheng!” The account in question? Hanguang Jun's Reading Livestreams.

~*~

🔒 Only with Time

by adrian_kres (@Bichen-Suibian)

E, WIP, 66k, Wangxian

Summary: Thirteen years ago, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were arranged to be married as is tradition. Throughout their thirteen-year-long "courtship," things were not always as they seemed. Now, newly married, old secrets have ripped open wounds they thought were closed, and they must work together to rebuild a trust they never had and a love they always did but couldn't see. Told from alternating points of view between LWJ and WWX with frequent flashbacks to memories of their "courtship". Updates weekly.

~*~

Proud Author Spotlight

~*~

I can't believe I almost forgot to shout-out my own fic that I started this year! It's a modern AU with cultivation where Wei Wuxian loses his hand, gets taken in my Wen Qing and her family, starts a prosthetic start-up and schemes to take down Wen Ruohan from the shadows feat. Wen Yuan having a big sister, Wen Zhuliu redemption and all the Found Family vibes!

Black Sun

by thelastdboy (@thelastdboyy)

E, WIP, 51k, Wangxian

Summary: Within one afternoon, the Yunmeng Jiang Clan became a mere branch of the Wen Clan. They lost their estate, all of their assets, and Wei Wuxian – He lost an arm. All to appease Wen Ruohan. To the Jiangs, the name Wen became a curse to be hissed out between gritted teeth. To Wei Wuxian, the name Wen became something dear after Wen Ning and Wen Qing saved his life and took him in. Years later, Wen Ruohan and his sons have long since died under mysterious circumstances and Wei Wuxian has been branded a traitor to the high society of the cultivation world. Together with the remaining Wens, he turned to the civilian world and revolutionized the medical field by developing prosthetics controlled by spiritual energy. Enter: Lan Wangji. After their fight against the Tulu Xuanwu, his leg never really recovered. Years of countless surgeries and feeling as if he was living inside a gilded cage while being patronized by his family passed, until Lan Wangji finally took his chance and absconded. To Yiling.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)

[kuwdora]

Saturday Morning Vid Recs - FEELINGS & THAT DYNAMIC

Alright, here is yet another post for @poetikat of vids from days gone by and the recent past. I love and adore the vids. I think people should watch them for a much-needed boost to the heart and soul.

I’m calling this collection of recs FEELINGS & THAT DYNAMIC (capital letters!) because of how big and immersive the emotional experience is while watching them.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I Gotta Feeling by CountessMary. The Muppets (The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, Muppets Take Manhattan, and Muppets in Space). A throwback to the dance club party Club Vivid 2010. Tonight’s gonna be a good night!!!

Uptown Funk by @revolutionarygirlshati (Legend of Korra). An incredible addition to the uptown funk canon of vids!! Korra is so damn expressive!

C’mon by rhoboat. Inside Out (2015). C’mon, c’mon with everything falling down around me, I’d like to believe in all the possibilities. Perfect song and lyrics for this film. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ So many big feelings.

You Told the Drunks I Knew Karate by @settiai. Doctor Who. Amy/Rory. This is the first vid I think of when I think of this pairing, I can’t get enough of it!

For Your Entertainment by such_heights Legends of Tomorrow. Again there is something exquisite about using this song for this source. Legends of Tomorrow is so cracky and bizarre. This vid made in the earliest seasons of the show while it was airing and fucking nails it. The legends truly are here for our entertainment, bwah.

Groove is in the Heart by giandujakiss. Doctor Who/Torchwood up through 2007. This is an oldie for sure but it’s so firmly embedded in my brain that this song now exists because of this vid. The vibes of the song is really wonderful and fun. Nine and Ten, Rose and Martha and Jack Harkness and Torchwood and friends and lovers. I love how it transitions from Nine to Ten and Torchwood and back again to Doctor Who.

True Love by @findmeinthealps. Cobra Kai OT4!! This vid is such a treat because it is a tapestry of slash and Johnny and Daniel’s love for their partners throughout and and and. They all just fit together, okay. One big karate family. Each section of this vid is more delightful and full of LOVE than the next.

Take On Me Doctor Who by @trelkez. Doctor Who, classic and New Who through 2010. I heartily rec all of trelkez vids, and especially all the Doctor Who vids. Picking this one out for this list was a no brainer. There’s just something wonderful about A-Ha being used for the partnership and adventure in this show. The part at 2:01 always makes me grin because trelkez has a great sense of musicality and humor.

Garden of Your Mind by @sandalwoodbox. Critical Role, Dungeons and Dragons. This is about storytelling and imagination. AND it utilizes a really cool remix of Mr. Roger’s voice. It’s so beautiful and I cry lots about it because I’m a sap and it’s really that powerful.

Life Less Ordinary by di_br / @why-the-face. Doctor Who. Nine/Rose. Di’s vids were my go-to when I started vidding back in 2007 and I was obsessed with all her Doctor Who vids. It turns out I still am obsessed. This vid makes my heart so warm and fuzzy and I absolutely have to rec this one after all these years because the Nine/Rose feelings are off the chart and span space and time.

I Do Adore by @kiki-miserychic. Adventure Time. Princess Bubblegum/Marceline. This is another oldie, and also for a show I've never seen but always been a fandom-in-law. This vid is so, so so sweet and sapphic and shows me exactly why Bubbline was so beloved.

Carries On by @monkeyswithjetpacks. Jim Henson and The Muppets. This vid brings the big cry about, too. It’s a wonderful tribute to Jim Henson and his work. I really love the music choice here which is The Magnetic Zeroes and there’s such a wide array of different sources from behind the scenes and the muppet shows. It is so beautiful.

Previous Saturday Morning Vid Recs:

Video Games

Women!

Space and Robots

Animals

Follow the tags to keep up with recs this fall:

#saturday morning vid recs

#kuwdora vid recs

#kuwdora recs

A guide I wrote for commenting on fanvids:

How to Leave Feedback on Fanvids

[specialagentartemis]

Trick or treat! Tell me about your ace cavemen

hell yeah

the question of “what does sexuality look like in Paleolithic times, when the population was very low and dispersed, and it’s unlikely that property ownership or inheritance are factors to be concerned about?” is one that’s of interest to a lot of people, but there’s little imagination given to queerness that I’ve seen. What does being queer look like in this very, very different social setting?

Landownership is an incoherent concept here, and there’s very little distinction in material wealth to be kept private, and what clan you belong to is far more important than who your parents are directly. (I’ve also given my Ice Age community a consensus-based egalitarian decision-making system, so descent isn’t important in leadership either.) What are sexual norms in such a society?

So I’m thinking about Pendíkhia as ace-spectrum, though of course the language doesn’t exist and they don’t really conceptualize sexuality in terms of attraction and identity. There must always have been people who just… weren’t that interested in having sex, didn’t really desire it that much and preferred other types of relationships.

The “standard” normative relationship in this culture are committed pairs or small groups. You are born into one of three clans, and your whole clan is your family. Having sex with anyone born into the same clan you were is taboo, it’s incestuous. The clans are matrilocal; men move to join and live with their wives’ clan. Same-sex partners, meanwhile, are accepted as valuable alloparents; every adult in the clan helps raise the children, so having childless adults at any given time is valuable to help distribute the caretaking duty and make sure there are people to look after children and people to go off on hunting or gathering parties. Same-sex partners choose whose clan they live with based on 1) who has a pregnant sister, or a sister with an infant, who needs more support; or, if both or neither do, 2) the one with lower status within their own clan will tend to move to live with the partner of higher status within their clan. Women are encouraged to be trained as religious and medical specialists rather than men, to reduce the chance of these specialists leaving the clan. Some men may choose not to take a committed partner at all, in order to stay with their birth clan, if that is something they consider valuable to them. Summer is a time when all three clans get together and live together along the coast, a time of abundance and freedom, and unpartnered young adults are encouraged to have whatever sex they want (that doesn’t break incest taboos ofc) as a way of determining if they want to settle down and commit to any of them. (Nobody really conceptualizes romance as the root of partnership. Desire, affection, love, sure yeah absolutely. But romance as a category is just not… a thing they have.) Pendíkhia is an unpartnered adult who tried that the first summer she reached adulthood and realized she… doesn’t actually. Care. Or want to spend her time doing that, or committed to another person like that.

Kurrat meanwhile is expendable for human sacrifice partially because he isn’t interested in fucking and therefore unhelpful in preventing Neanderthal population collapse. What use are you then.

(Also partially my interest in sexuality and asexuality is a pointed refutation of a kind of baffling concept I’ve seen in MULTIPLE places—that people in the Ice Age didn’t know that sex led to babies. That they believed that pregnancy just Happened when the time was right. I find this… hard to believe.)

Also, writing asexual characters just kinda comes most naturally to me lol. I am not that interested in writing about sex. However the refutation of romance as a timeless and universal understanding IS intentional.

[inchidentally]

Um, these 60 seconds of recent content between Lando and Oscar made me realize one thing, are these two really only knowing each other for a year or their whole lives?

the audience does not know !!!

like there's a very specific 'united front' thing I can see in a lot of partnerships and it's founded on different things but ultimately manifests in a feeling of cohesion between the drivers. (and I am so sorry bc I saw in passing someone else made a similar post to this but I cannot remember who so lmk bc I don't want to be ripping off their idea !! I have my own separate feelings about it so it's not a copy but still I wish I could have kept that on my dash long enough to rb)

like most teammates fall in the neutral category of professional politeness and friendliness but also the need to push for their own advantage wherever possible. totally fine and normal. also allows for a few fireworks occasionally which is just as good for fan engagement - sometimes more - than if the drivers were always cool w each other.

aberrations like Senna and Prost, brocedes, and sebmark are not to be included - way too unique. could even throw Esteban and Pierre in there.

you've got consummate professionals Lewis and George who are both careful about cultivating their own separate images and who hold a baseline of genuine respect for each other - but part of that respect being that they both know they'll look out for themselves first. so they're very much similar and equals even in operating very independently. ultimately they want the mess to get cleaned up and to shake hands and do business as usual. I could see them genuinely having to hash out something truly ugly and shake hands and move onto their own lives no problem. which like, they clearly have lol.

then there's a situation like Alex and Logan where the dynamic is so incredibly imbalanced BUT you have someone as humanly decent and warm as Alex (even if he maybe wishes he were less so for competitive reasons) and Logan has already become very skilled at dealing with being an outsider/almost unwanted :( and it's clear that they both see how hard-working they both are and what a massive thankless task they have in trying to just achieve points - undetermined if they're mostly friendly out of trauma bonding or will remain friends after being separated but there's absolute friendliness and respect.

then there's The Charisma Guys of Daniel and Carlos and now Lando (who mooched a lot of his F1 charisma off of Carlos and then Daniel). Daniel and Carlos replicate an almost identical dynamic with all of their teammates and it's predicated on what most drivers are already well versed in, which is: playing gay for fangirls, bromance hugging/camaraderie/ribbing for sports media and fans, and taking care of their own brand and career separately from their teammate. it's a powerful tool to have especially for leveraging the popularity of whatever bromance they're in towards their own image without having to lose power over their own image. individual sponsorships being a driver's second goal after winning races and WDCs also makes this an exceptionally good skill to have. it only starts to break down when the personal fortunes of one of the drivers start to hit hard times (current example being obvious).

the Carlos and Charles dynamic absolutely pulls a lot from the charisma/bromance stuff but the huge difference is that Ferrari would - like any F1 team - not give a shit if they didn't get along and just hitched on a bland smile for the cameras. Ferrari aren't remotely behind C2 being what it is, that's all Charles and Carlos. don't get me wrong Ferrari social media teams are MORE than happy to jump on! and sure, the challenges and content are a fun bonus thing to sponsors but three things here: one is that Ferrari IS the brand and they're a top 3 team like they're not grasping for sponsors asflgaslf. two is that as many partnerships have shown, you really don't need to do that much to satisfy the brief. and third, sponsors are like 99.999999% interested in the team's standings and the drivers' individual popularity with partnership popularity coming dead bottom - the bromances are only worth it if they're engagement darlings like carlando. and charlos doesn't do anywhere near those numbers or that widespread corporate social media appeal. you gotta do major impact with crazed fans for it to at all influence a brand's decision where to put their money. so all of the pop off the screen fun and genuine enjoyment we see Carlos and Charles have is fully legit. when they're being tongue-in-cheek levels of cutesy they literally say so. 2025 onward will see how much of a friendship there actually is, but as far as them being very happy with the partnership and collaborating exceptionally well within it, they're far more rock solid and natural at it than most. and the fact that they're if anything even tighter when there's zero incentive for it ?? and when their families and fanbases and their team principal and garages are constantly feuding ?? like it says everything about how much they respect each other and actually feel affection for each other to remain such a united front and so happy and affectionate. nobody else benefited from Carlos asking his team to tell Charles' team to come celebrate his win with him. nobody else in Ferrari or on the grid made bank off of about Charles rushing to congratulate Carlos while he was still in the car. (especially not when carlando did a quick hug and it got brands and official accounts posting tiktok ship edits to the predictable delight of thousands of fangirls. and for them all to cough cough conveniently ignore the embrace with his gf to push the image further.) there is no PR benefit behind C2 that would justify them hitching on such a dramatic facade - and if anything the people around them would prefer they kept separate so that they could celebrate one without the other. whatever their relationship is after this there will always be that massive respect IN SPITE of what the world around them wants.

but Lando and Oscar are such a major aberration not just in them both being so incredibly young and arriving into F1 so hot and already being so close in ability, but their specific 'history' and personalities. they were already such an easy fit together that it surpassed the professional need for a bromance buffer - and at the same time their bond being partly on how naturally private and shy they are made them poorly suited for a PR machine.

Oscar had already said - and a lot of fans already knew - that there were several friends in common and that the shifts in careers and being separated professionally by more years than their ages is the only thing that meant they'd never crossed paths before privately. as K said back when Oscar originally opened that TikTok acc it was so long ago that he followed Max F but that Lando didn't even have an one yet.

but also as many people close to Lando have said (good example that was posted recently) and that we can often still see in streamer Lando - Lando is very much like Oscar as a person at his core. pretty much all of the 'famous person' stuff we saw him become happened after 2019 and directly because of latching onto the social lives of guys like Carlos, Daniel and Martin. he's always referred to as extremely shy and he's said before he likes for others to lead. but his comfort place is still either hanging out in private with close friends only or to get on stream and laugh with his friends. Lando himself said that he considers Oscar to be very similar to him as a person outside of F1 and for all that in some ways that seems surprising, when you look at who Lando is when he's not in Professional Mode or Party Friends Mode he genuinely really fits in with someone quiet like Oscar who loves spending hours gaming w his friends and not being in public. I don't know enough about Martin Garrix as a person but I rly honestly see that with him as well. yes there's the Party Friend aspect but for them to travel solo for two entire winter breaks in a row ?? clearly Martin is a peaceful, quiet guy on Lando's level <3

and ofc I go onnnnn and fucking on about how while we all hate it bc it means we don't get as much content, the fact is that Lando and Oscar are the type of friendship/partnership where it's quiet and private and not something that translates to a bromance on camera. it's never going to be strategic.

so the fact that they have this "twinning" thing isn't that they are identical or that they even look all that similar, it's down to actually slotting in really well with each other as people! as always who knows how deep these friendships actually go but the whole mind-reading and synchronization and total lack of drama between them as drivers comes from genuinely being similar people and liking each other - that's what we're all picking up on when we watch them together.

the fact that they honestly find it awkward as hell when the media try to get them to "package" their friendship in bromancey soundbites or when they look at the camera a bit like an intruder that's making them dance their friendship around for media, like. that's so incredibly relatable for how any of us would feel with one of our actual friends having to do all that. having a camera aimed at us and some stranger being like "so you two get on really well huh?" and practically leaning in for an expected answer ???? it would be so stupid and weird and the whole way Lando and Oscar work together in unison to dispel how weird that is is so natural !!

idk it's like there's different things to take from different partnerships and literally all of us are suckers for a fun bromance and great professional chemistry. but I think this whole universal 'twins' thing that everyone sees in Lando and Oscar is genuinely two guys who are similar in all the fundamental ways and who actually slot together in ways where they naturally just agree on everything and therefore can predict a lot of what the other person is thinking if that makes sense ??? like yes Lando has Single Guy Party Times and professional motivations where Oscar does not but for a friendship and partnership to work, those are the two least relevant things to need to be similar about y'know ??

[alexusonfire]

Hey, wondering if you could do a Larissa weems x fem reader where reader is Cupid (ik im late to v day) and never really experience love before and kind of resents it until Larissa falls in love with her (I love your work btw)

A Valentine's Surprise

Larissa Weems x fem!cupid!Reader

A/n: Thank you so much for the request anon! Apologies it took so long 😓 Also, I'm writing this more as reader isn't the Cupid, but moreso Cupids are a type of "outcast", like shapeshifters or werewolves. Hope that's alright! Just some meet-cute fluff at the Weathervane ☺️

Valentine's Day.

The mere thought of it made you roll your eyes. Fake cardboard hearts plastered in every building, storefronts covered in reds and pinks and lace trimmings, men running out last minute to buy over-priced flowers- none of it really meant anything. It was all for show, something to make the normies feel better about celebrating partnerships that weren't destined to last.

You were sat in a booth at the Weathervane, idly sipping at a latte with a heart poured on top as you scanned the ever-growing crowd, wondering at how some of the startstruck lovers had even ended up coupling together. Having been born a Cupid, you could tell at least half wouldn't last the year, some no more than months; yet here they sat, talking about futures intertwined, plans and dates. All for naught, and they had no idea of what was to come-

"It's rather busy today isn't it?"

You turned at the sudden voice, more clear than the others mulling around you, and you met the eyes of one of the prettiest women you'd ever seen. Her cherry-painted lips were curled up into a half-smile, her statuesque body still turned towards the crowd as though she were merely remarking to herself on the state of the coffee shop. You noticed she held a ceramic mug in her hands instead of the foam takeout ones, her original intent clearly being on enjoying her beverage in-house. Feeling a small rush of boldness, you gestured to the empty seats in front of you.

"It is, but to be fair I am taking up a fair amount of space for just myself... you're welcome to join if you like?"

Her half-smile turned into a full one, and she checked if you were absolutely sure before sliding across from you. There was a beat of silence before she took a sip of her drink (hot chocolate, if your nose was correct) and sighed.

"I'm Larissa, by the way, Larissa Weems. I don't believe I've seen you around here before?"

You introduced yourself, your heart skipping a beat when she repeated your name back to you. You'd never thought much on your name, but coming from her you wouldn't mind hearing it over and over again.

You'd ended up talking for hours, about yourself, about her, about your lives. It caught you off guard how easily the conversation flowed with Larissa; neither of you noticed how the noise of the other patrons died down, or the sun beginning to sink over the nearby rooftops. You were so enthralled in her stories, the way her nose scrunched and blush tinted her cheeks and chest when you offered a compliment or two, that you didn't see one of the baristas making their way over to you until she stood at your table.

"Sorry ladies, but we're fixin' to close up. Manager thought to give us the night off for Valentine's. Don't mean to boot you but-"

Larissa waved her hand in apology, finishing up the last of her drink while you settled the final round of beverages (at your insistence, though she did put up a bit of a fight). You thanked the barista for the wonderful service, then made your way out into the brisk evening, Larissa winking down at you as she held the door open. Once again, a beat of silence sat between you, both hesitant to simply walk away with a mere goodbye. You were unsure whether it was the three lattes singing in your veins or how Larissa looked achingly beautiful in the soft glow of the streetlights, but in that moment you worried too much about never seeing her again to dwell on your next question.

"I had a really nice time with you Larissa. Perhaps you'd be up for another chat sometime? Over dinner?"

Her shy smile set your heart racing, and you wondered what exactly it was about her that made your palms so sweaty.

"I'd like that very much."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small card, then handed it over and squeezed your hand in farewell before walking off towards a lone minivan. You couldn't help but watch her go, the vehicle disappearing completely into the night before you looked down at the card she'd handed you.

Larissa Weems, Headmistress of Nevermore Academy, (555) 567-8910 ext. 321

Larissa Weems, Headmistress of Nevermore Academy-

Larissa Weems.

Perhaps Valentine's Day wasn't so bad after all.

[shukakumoodboard]

then ghost of tsushima au👉👈

@rkaln oh my god, i just realised i fecking forgot to answer your asks (and you too anon!) hkdskghdfkg. i swear i didn’t ignore you, im just a moron

so as an apology, this one is gonna be LONG. buckle up bro-mies. under the cut!

welcome to kels one sole attempt at a True Longfic. and when i say longfic, this one—if i can ever pull it off—i mean 200k+ to fit everything i want in it. JRR tolkien whomst?

anyway. this fic is yet untitled, though the favoured contender is bushidō. that being said, im not… sold on it? for some reason? but lets get onto the fic itself.

the fic plan is a heavily modified spin on the plot of the videogame ghost of tsushima, which follows the tale of a samurai named jin, adopted son of the jito of the island of tsushima, and his descent into dishonour in pursuit of saving his home during the mongol invasion of 1274. it’s, in my humble opinion, one of the best games ever made. when i say there were moments in this game that had me sobbing, with tears dripping onto hands clenched so tight to my controller i nearly broke it, i am not being dramatic in the slightest. aside from the truly brilliant plot, it has jaw dropping graphics and my favourite play mechanics of any game ever. everything in this game is awe-inspiring.

also you can pet foxes. just saying.

in this fic, lee takes the place of jin as adopted ward of the jito (hiashi) where he is effectively the “lesser” second son of the jito. first son, ofc, is neji :) to take you very briefly through the beginning, konoha (which takes the form of tsushima island in this universe) is invaded, though the invaders are, in this case, suna, led by rasa ofc. (งツ)ว

what i intend to follow is a long winded story of lee battling to save his captive family from suna, and what lengths he must go to in order to accomplish such a monumental feat, even if it costs him his honour. of course, the entire cast of thousands have roles to play—tenten, an assassin; kakashi and gai, former samurai with a painful understanding of the choices lee must make; naruto, hidden son of the former shogun, leading a band of ronin and desperately trying to bring his wayward friend sasuke home. sakura, a healer who wants to be a samurai in a time where gender roles work against her, inoshikacho working through the temples to secretly subvert the will of suna, and of course, the sand siblings, beleaguered children of a mad conqueror who work to subjugate konoha island… until, perhaps… an unlikely partnership forms. i hope it will come to no surprise that this fic is not safe for sasuke huehuueheuheuheuheeHUEUEUUHEUHUE

not only is this meant to be a long fic but its also meant to span years in time as well — so im really excited to build a universe this big. however, i wouldnt expect this to appear anytime soon. im not going to do anything public until i have a solid outline built for all my character arcs and at least a list of general scenes for chapters, and thats not going to be soon. i have three things i ABSOLUTELY want done in 2025 before i even turn my head towards this, and when i do, it will be a slow crawl of a process, especially because right now i’m also in my final 1.5 years of my doctorate, and that means all my writing juice is going towards academia lol. but one day, so help me, i will bring this fic out of my brain and onto paper!

of course, i won’t talk about a fic without sharing at least some bits, so here’s some snips from my longer-than-some-fics idea sheet! two scenes i have planned and the drafted words to a really melodramatic confession god gaara get yourself together thats ur enemy winkwonk

[fansplaining]

IWTV is the best show on TV. In today’s media environment, it is singular to be able to enjoy a show without the toxicity of the large fandoms. I have found that a majority of the show’s fans are hardcore Anne Rice fans making conversations about the show far more interesting. I am concerned of how this will change once S1 premiers on Netflix. The show deserves a larger audience and it will get it after it premiers on Netflix, but I hope the show runners remain true to the source material and continue on the path they have laid. Looking forward to future IWTV episodes.

Hello! Apologies for the delay in answering this, which I believe was in response to this article I wrote about the show and its audiences. With the official announcement this week that the AMC slate of shows are coming to Netflix on August 19th—

(also: lol Netflix, thank u)

—I was reminded to come back to it!

I totally agree with you re: the show itself, of course—but I also think you've curated your feeds very well haha. I've been observing many corners of the fandom throughout s2, partly because I was reporting on the fan/creator stuff, partly because I'm in the fandom, too. Fandoms are multifarious, and I'm not trying to paint with an overly broad brush—I've seen a ton of creativity and plenty of smart analysis etc. But I have also seen *so* much toxicity and *so* many willfully bad readings over the past few weeks, it's been shocking. Twitter in particular seems to have a literal Discourse of the Day and I don't understand how this is going to be sustainable over the year+ until s3 (lord help us all when s3 arrives lol).

There's a running joke—made so many times I'm not even thinking of a specific post—that people fear ~the Netflix masses~ will bring Bad Takes, but it seems highly likely a casual viewer will go, "Wow! Entertaining!" and move on with their lives, whereas existing fans of this show are already rocket-launching The Worst Takes at each other like clockwork (and even at random viewers who love the show but aren't a part of fandom conversations—because they don't like a person's phrasing, or the picture they chose for a post, etc etc etc).

As far as the idea that Rolin Jones or AMC will waver from their plans, I absolutely don't see that happening. AMC has long licensed their shows to large-audience platforms (Netflix in particular), but they're not making TV *for* those platforms. Jones and (IWTV EP) Mark Johnson have been pretty explicit about how they only could have made this show at AMC. I also found these post-finale comments from Jones very interesting:

I’m confident that we made the best vampire show we could make. I’m proud of the adaptation. There’s the element of second windows, how these things are going to be disseminated going forward. There does seem to be a lot of legwork done by fans. I look at 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and part of me is like, Ugh, that’s way too high. If the intention here is to make something that will haunt you and that will work 15, 20 years from now, did we piss off enough people?

There was another interview I cannot find now about how a larger viewing audience in those "second windows" means more chances for the people who really connect to the show to find it. I've loved seeing that this season, even—people who hadn't checked it out for whatever reason and have now been changed by it. When I wrote that article, fans were kind of cycling in an information vacuum, with minimal signals from AMC/the creators that the metrics for success weren't a pure numbers game. But in the final press run, they hit that message hard—they are in it for the long run, they want to make the best show they can, and they understand this is a sustained partnership with fans. I think they're going to continue taking the biggest creative swings they can, and I can't wait to see what's next.

(BTW, IWTV folks: I pulled @flourish away from their baby for 90 minutes and despite their combined total of perhaps 10 hours of sleep over the past 4 weeks lol we managed to finally record a season 2 special episode. It should be out for patrons early next week!)

[narratingvoice]

My sincerest apologies for the radio silence from this blog recently. I know, it's very out of character for me. The thing is, I've been in a bit of a pickle over the past few months. The fiscal year for 2023 didn't end nearly as profitably as I projected, not even with the hype and celebration surrounding

THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STANLEY PARABLE (2013)!

Server maintenance isn't free, you know, and neither are infinite holes. And with Unity changing its pricing structure on top of it, well, I really needed to put the old noggin to work finding a way to squeeze every last dime out of my fans provide new and valuable pieces of entertainment that will be worth your money. And that's why I'm thrilled to announce my partnership with the fine folks at I Am 8bit to bring you: The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe: Collector's Edition!

It's true! Yes, I know I did a fake announcement for something similar last year, but this one is for real! A physical product that you can purchase and have delivered to your home, and play on your Nintendo Switch or Playstation 5. And this package involves absolutely no changes to the game itself, which really takes a load off my back. Since I have no presence in the physical world, I have to trust that my collaborators will deliver the finest quality items. And trust them I do. Shall we take a look at all the wonderful bonuses you'll receive?

Stickers!

Just like the ones I slapped onto Stanley's bucket, now you too can slap these stickers on your own bucket. Or anything else that currently lacks stickers on it. You will not receive a bucket to stick them on. We floated that idea, but Mr. 8bit told me he'd rather not have to lug dozens of buckets down to the post office every day. You'd look like a right idiot doing that, I agree. So get your own bucket and enjoy the thrill of sticking!

Oh, and do be aware that whatever object you affix the "Property of Stanley" sticker to, does legally become Stanley's property, and he will demand you send it to him.

More surprises under the cut!

An instructional manual!

"But Narrator," I hear you saying, "didn't you just say you're not giving me a bucket? What do I need this for?" First of all, do not interrupt me when I'm giving a presentation. Second of all, this manual is for the bucket that's in the game. I've noticed many players do not seem to know how to operate the bucket, and treat it like it's a person rather than an inanimate container. With this instructional manual, I will give you a comprehensive guide as to what a bucket can do (such as: prevent water from spilling all over your trousers) and what it cannot do (such as: love you back). I have had some harrowing experiences in the field of instructional manual writing, but I think this one is some of my finest work yet.

A figurine!

Yes, our most requested piece of merchandise is finally here! The OFFICIAL Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe Stanigurine stands 5 inches tall and is made of durable PVC. And as with the virtual Figustans, that's all there is to it. There's no articulation or any type of toy action. You don't get anything but the feeling of deep satisfaction at owning this collectible. The package only comes with one, so why not buy six copies if you really want to recreate the game in your home?

But wait, that's not all!

If you are an absolute Stanley Parable fanatic, you'll want to supplement your Collector's Edition with even more plastic tat commemorating your favourite game. And you definitely want to support me as much as possible, right? So you can also buy:

The button that says the name of the person playing the game!

For just $10, you too can have a button that says your name, presuming your name is Jim. The button will only say the name Jim and will never say any other name, no matter how often you press it. I found that a lot of players really got into the immersive experience of being Jim, so I decided to keep it that way instead of programming it to say a whole lot of names. Sorry, but there are too many different names in the world. You're Jim and you'll like it.

Vinyl albums!

When you buy the Collector's Edition, you'll get a free code to download the Official Soundtrack in MP3 format. But what if you don't like MP3? What if you're a bit more old-fashioned in your audiophile taste? Well, I've got you covered! With this 2-record set, you can listen to all the office ambience on your gramophone or turntable. Why, you could even DJ a set with it! If you do, please send me your mixtape and I'll give it an honest review. My music taste is impeccable.

An instructional audio cassette!

Yes, this is just a cassette telling you how to install and run a copy machine. Listen, I took some odd voiceover jobs here and there to pay the bills. And I figured, you lot are so ravenous to hear my voice that you'd even pay good money to hear me deliver some boring instructions. At least, that's the impression I get from the more saucy side of the fandom. So that's what you get. Do I do anything funny? You'll have to buy it and find out!

Hold on, Stanley is trying to tell me something. What do you mean, nobody has a cassette player any more? Why wouldn't they? It's the perfect compact audio format! It's got two sides, which is more than you can say for a CD, and it's a lot more portable than vinyl. Well I'm not shipping out cassette players. You can take it or leave it. No refunds.

[elephant-in-the-pride-parade]

📓 for Agatha All Along again if you don't mind (and have another), please ❤️

Talk about another unwritten Agatha fic? Oh absolutely I am happy to.

I'm gonna try to write this without giving away major Undying Heart spoilers so here we go.

So something I'm definitely gonna write is a lil sequel the the Uncharted Series called Upheaval.

And this is specifically a chance for our favorite haunted toaster Evanora Harkness to team up with a returned-from-where-ever-gone-is Wanda Maximoff.

(I do intend to ensure Evanora is no longer a toaster by then because I just couldn't get the gravity of the fic right if Wanda spent the whole time taking a haunted toaster seriously.)

Anyways, I think theyd be rather natural allies by this point. Wanda has gotten rid of the darkhold, shes come to terms with her grief. BUT shes still got a weakness for wanting her family back, for wanting families to be together, and most importantly she still going to have a really negative view of Agatha.

As for Evanora, I feel like shes the kind of villain who can justify everything by taking the moral highground. (shes like lawful evil here.) I mean she sentenced her own kid to an execution that sounds like someone who always thinks theyre right and has a pretty black and white world view. mainly that anything she does is justified because its for good.

And I've been mulling over their potential partnership. I suspect Evanora would have a pretty good pitch to her. She'll help Wanda learn magic and witchery and shell help her find her sons. If Wanda will use a bit of that chaos magic to get Agatha back under Evanoras thumb. Wandas going to fall for the "Mother who made mistakes 350 years ago and wants to reform her daughter and help her not be evil" act. All Wanda has to do is kidnap Agatha and cast a new hex. One where she takes Agathas place as the leader of the Eastview coven. she gets her two sons back form Agatha, de-ages them back to 10 and gets a second chance to raise them. And then ensures the Eastview coven forgets Agatha exists.

So this has been REALLY fun in my brain to think about because im facinated by what kind of cracks would be exposed by the hex - what evidence of Agathas existence slips through. Who in her coven realizes first that something is wrong. Whether Wanda talking to these women starts to get uncomfortable with her assumption that Agatha was evil and must have manipulated them all.

And on the other side of it, We've got Agatha who's basically Evanoras prisoner. I think what i'm coming around to is the idea that Evanora doesn't have a permanent body and so shes trying to break Agatha's spirit so she can eventually steal hers and properly come back and restart her salemite coven. (I know im really evil. why would I do this to her. Angst is FUN okay!)

The thing is, while this is happening. Billy is next door. and he may have all his memories of the time since Westview surpressed. but hes got his own magic. and hes a mind reader so I think Billy and then Tommy are going to start pushing the limits of Wandas new hex pretty quickly. Evanora wont be expecting them to be a problem. wont notice them if theyre snooping. And theyll realize pretty quickly that Evanoras not exactly mother dearest.

So I'm having fun figuring out how this is gonna work. I think part of the torment for Agatha will be watching Wanda take her place but not being able to do anything about it. So im thinking of hoe her coven and she can encounter eachother when they forget who she is. (Especially Rio. that will be some torment)

So this is all very much being workshopped in my brain right now. working on what Evanoras new form is gonna be. (Chaos magic? temporary body? is she on a time crunch? is she limited to westview. does she have any salemesque allies hiding in the basement? what kind of act does she put on for Wanda? do Wanda and Agatha interact and how? How do we keep Agatha from just telling everyone shes been kidnapped? Can Wanda shut off her siphoning power (yes definitely doing that?) does she escape and how? who does she turn up to for help? does Wanda get super frustrated with Magic? if I dunk Wanda in the hallowed water at the covens little hallowed ground retreat, what happens if the little corruption purification ritual doesnt work on her (this is a really hilarious scene in my head of her being baffled that this worked for Agatha and not her). How much do Lilias gaps complicate everything for Evanora and Wanda (LOTS its LOTS).

Another thought I had is that Wanda goes into this assuming that Agatha stole her children and taught them a bunch of evil things and was probably horrible to them. and she comes out of it realizing that Agatha is the reason Tommy is alive and the reason Billy is so well adjusted rather than scared of his own power.

The biggest question I have to mull over though is whether Evanora can remain a threat if Wanda turns on her. but thats not a problem its just a plot puzzle. honestly the best kind of puzzle.

[headfulloflettuce]

The Human Who Fooled All of Prythian

25. An Iris and Her Pine Tree

Note: Viviane and Kallias matching each other’s crazy for 5907 words straight.

“By the Mother Eris is attractive.” 

“Attractive? The male is steaming!”

“Did you see how he danced with Lady Noel on the Winter Solstice?”

Viviane sipped her tea as the young ladies of her court gushed over Autumn Court men.

“I am sorry, but I have to disagree. Day Court is where it's at if you want a fling.” another young female jumped into the discussion, “The emissaries Helion brought…I have no words.”

Thank goodness I have Solene and Evelyn here to keep me company.

Viviane glanced at her sister who was nodding at one of the females rambling about the Vanserra brothers, maintaining an air of interest.

“Well, if one is looking at potential partnerships, they must also consider the in-laws.” Evelyn smiled politely behind her tea cup.

Evelyn please do not stir up unnecessary drama.

The younger ladies shared a knowing glance; no High Fae male worth his money would marry his child off to a Vanserra unless the deal being offered was extremely profitable. No one wanted to deal with Beron in a dynamic where they had the disadvantage.

The only exception to this being Eris, the heir, but he would most likely marry someone within Autumn Court.

“Yes, in-laws are an important aspect of marriage.” Olwen nodded in agreement, the cute bow in her light brown hair bouncing as she reached over to take a sweet from the platter, “But so is love!”

Viviane could see Solene restrain a snort.

It was a beautiful take, but a naive one.

“I only hope that my future partner is half of the male Kallias is to our Lady of Winter.”

Viviane smiled, “Thank you dear, me and my mate are truly fortunate to have such a partnership.”

“But what if the male you fell in love with was a nobody? Someone who brought no value to your family or society?” Noel spoke up.

“W-What?”

“What if your mate was from the lowest circles of faeries? A criminal no one wanted to associate with?”

“Well, I am sure that wouldn’t happen…”

“But what if it did?”

Olwen laughed nervously, dropping the cookie she had grabbed, leaving crumbs in her puffy, pale blue dress. Flustered, the lady quickly tried to clean up the mess she had made.

This child had entered society fairly recently - within the past ten years. Perhaps it was the conflict with Amarantha or the war with Hybern that followed soon after but she clearly lacked the elegance required for these events.

Viviane didn’t judge too harshly though, the point was to make friends.

However, Olwen will need to learn to deal with pressure if she wants to do well here.

“I heard you recently got a new pet hare Lady Olwen.” Viviane spoke up, changing the conversation thread.

Noel backed off, crossing her legs, her simpler dark blue dress resting well along her legs.

“Yes, my father got me one as a gift for my birthday. She’s absolutely gorgeous!” Olwen beamed.

“I heard he got you one when you made your debut into society as well.” Evelyn said.

Olwen nodded, “The two of them are so different yet get along so nicely. What about you Lady Noel?” Olwen turned to the white haired fae, “What animal did your family get you when you made your debut?”

Viviane wanted to facepalm. 

Did you not get enough the first time?

Noel smiled, “A polar bear.”

“O-Oh.” Olwen tried to smile back, “Aren’t those used for the military mostly? Not the most friendly house pet is it?”

“Who said it was for the house? My father wanted me to be well defended and ready for the world outside our home. Hence, he gifted me a creature that could match me in strength and smarts.” Noel’s voice took on a mocking tone, “Though, I am sure a cute little white hare will strike fear into its enemies.”

Olwen tensed, “You…that hare was expensive and is of the highest quality!”

“So is my bear.”

“But it’s so unlady-like!”

“Ha…Lady Olwen, my family is in the military business, do you really think I am concerned about the ‘lady-like’ nature of a bear?”

“You…but that’s…”

Viviane did not step in to help the recently debuted female. 

“Perhaps you think I would like a little canary or another fancy dress?” Noel pushed even more, “Truly, with all the time you’ve spent renewing your wardrobe Lady Olwen, I would have hoped you’d have the decency to study up on the interests of your fellow ladies.”

Olwen looked tearful, her hands made into fists as she stared dejectedly down, unable to come up with any counter argument.

A shame, I had high hopes for Olwen. Her family consisted of quick witted scholars, but this was just embarrassing.

“Ahem…I heard there were quite a few intriguing new vendors during the solstice.” Solene spoke up, returning the conversation flow.

With an older fae having spoken, some of the younger females calmed, smiling once more. Olwen’s expression remained a scowl.

“The new perfumery was there too!”

“What was it called again?”

“Serene Fragrances.”

“Did you get a chance to try out the perfume they released for the solstice?”

“They released a new perfume?!”

“Wow, you’re really out of the loop.”

“I heard the perfumer was spotted walking in the Forge district with Amelio.” one of the other ladies leaned in, whispering. 

Not that any secret mentioned here would remain a secret for long.

“Forge district?”

“Why would she go there?”

“Perhaps…you know…she has a thing with him?”

“With whom?”

“Amelio.”

The ladies gasped at such news.

“But he’s with Lady Solene!”

“So?” Olwen spoke up, “Birds of a feather flock together. It only makes sense that two Lesser Fae would date. They can’t understand what an honor it is to be married to a lady like Solene, so they go and pull a stunt like this.”

Viviane smiled.

Olwen smiled back brightly.

Wow, truly not a thought in that pretty head of hers.

A couple ladies had the self awareness to be nervous and embarrassed by Olwen’s statement, glancing at Solene to gauge her reaction to the rumors. 

Solene however remained calm, elegantly trying one of the cookies dusted with white sugar.

The idea that Amelio would ever cheat was stupid. Is there something wrong with our water supply? How could you even have such a thought?

“On the topic of the Forge district,” Noel spoke, her voice overpowering the general chatter, “What is the administration's progress regarding the food shortages, Lady of Winter?”

There it was.

“We are currently working on programs to ensure improvements to our internal food supply.”

“What of external food sources?” Noel tilted her head, “How are negotiations with Autumn?”

“I am afraid I cannot disclose a state secret like that.”

Not even to Kallias’s close family.

“I see, however I am still curious,” Noel continued, “If negotiations are taking so long do you require additional help?”

“I can assure you that we can handle it. The best thing you can do to help us is do what you do best and continue helping your family’s business.”

The ladies present watched the two as if it were a duel in a Day Court stadium - who would win?

“I would but even there you have given us orders that some would argue to be counterintuitive.”

“Are you questioning the instructions we have given you?” Viviane leaned back in her armchair.

“Of course not Lady of Winter.” Noel’s tone was serious, “I would never think of doing such a wretched thing, but I must ask how much longer things will go on like this?” 

Viviane had to admit Kallias’s cousin was a master of pissing her off and walking the border of respect - just like his uncle.

“We are working towards resolving all these issues.”

Noel nodded, but looked unsatisfied with that answer.

I wish I could tell you that eventually we will stop letting Night Court pass through with no consequences, or that I have a definitive solution for the food shortage, but I can’t.

A grandfather clock sounded as it struck 2pm..

“Well, it seems our time here together is over unfortunately.” Evelyn pipped in, cutting through the tension that had settled over the group.

Everyone began getting up, curtseying before Viviane as they left.

“Thank you for the invitation.” Noel bowed.

“I appreciate your attendance.” Viviane nodded in acknowledgement, watching the fae disappear down the hallway.

Viviane relaxed in her armchair as all the guests left, leaving just her sister and Solene.

“Well Your Majesty, any of the new ladies catch your eye? Olwen seems like such a joy, no?”

“Please save your tone Solene.” Viviane ran a hand down her face, “Did etiquette tutors die out, or has gossip always been this bad?”

I am not about to bring someone into my close circle of supporters who actively wants to belittle those who keep our economy running.

“Gossip always has been this bad,” Evelyn said, setting down her teacup, “You’ve just been so busy with Kallias’s duties that you haven’t gotten to see it as much as us. Welcome to the club sister.”

“That is concerning.”

“In their defense, most kept their mouths shut during Amarantha’s rule of fifty years,” Evelyn muttered.

“It’s because nobody wanted their head on a spike, or worse.” Solene retorted.

Or worse - the fate that befell those younglings.

“Noel did well, as always.” Viviane said.

Regardless of her feelings towards the fae Viviane had to acknowledge her prowess in the social circles; since, that was exactly what made her so dangerous to their rule. 

Granted, I’d rather deal with Noel than her uncle or any other members of Kallias’s distant family.

Solene nodded in agreement, “Surprising none of us of course. What about the others, any thoughts?”

“Well, I wasn’t particularly impressed by the rest, but we’ll make do. We’ll reach out to those who were staying quiet during the major disputes.”

Their silence could be an indicator of smarts. Not every fae can remain quiet in such an environment after all.

“Later I’ll look over in more detail again who came and select a few of the gossipers for closer observation.”

Even if I don’t like faeries that needlessly spout nonsense, that ‘nonsense’ is what keeps our social circles busy and defines family relations or even a faerie’s status for centuries to come.

“Sounds good.” Evelyn said.

“How is Cosette’s project coming along?” Viviane looked at Solene.

We need to get Noel off our back as soon as possible.

“It’s coming along well. According to Amelio they sent out the first shipment of prototypes to be tested yesterday.”

“Good.” Viviane played lazily with the fur of the blanket on the armchair, “Say Solene, what do you make of Cosette?”

“Smart girl.”

“Anything else?”

We’re not having you and Amelio watch her to only get ‘smart’ as feedback.

Solene smirked, “The girl undersells herself. I honestly don’t know if she does it on purpose or if she’s really that naive. She claims to ‘have little experience with business management’ and that she has ‘a minimal understanding of the inner workings of the Winter Court’, while her actions scream otherwise.”

Unless she just got extremely lucky, however, that fae’s idea to improve our farming system didn’t seem like a mindless attempt at striking gold. It was planned and well thought out.

“How is her relationship with Amelio?”

“Wary, but you know my husband.” Solene smiled darkly, “He has the ability to calm even the jumpiest of fae. They’re getting along just fine.”

Good, I do not need her acting up right now.

To put it frankly, at the moment, Cosette was a wild card. Either one that turned out to be a golden goose, or one that could cause more problems than good later down the line if not taken care of.

Viviane was hoping it was the former.

“Amelio would adopt the girl if he could.” Solene confessed.

“Really? Adoption? Forgive me, your husband never struck me as the type for such noble acts.” Evelyn, just like Viviane, was surprised.

The male who was the star example of a vicious and cruel Winter Fae? The one who would throw an innocent to Autumn’s notorious hounds and smile as they were torn to shreds? That male wanted to adopt a complete stranger?

“Oh trust me I reacted the same way as you’re looking at me now.” Solene laughed dryly, “He says she has the drive and instincts he wished he saw more of in his students or fellow entrepreneurs. He’s practically itching to mold her into the perfect little business fae. Claims it would be easier to accomplish such a task if the female was within the family. Makes it easier to manipulate and control her.”

That sounded more like the Amelio we know and love.

Seeing Viviane’s tense expression Solene raised her hands placatingly, “Don’t worry Viv, he hasn’t done anything yet. Amelio is waiting patiently for yours and Kallias’s command.”

Viviane nodded.

“Are you still trying?” Evelyn looked at Solene, her eyes soft.

“Casually, it would be nice to have an heir eventually. Additional layer of security, you know?” Solene answered, standing up, “But we’re not holding our breaths.”

Evelyn followed suit, helping Viviane stand up.

“When is your due date?” Solene looked at the Lady of Winter.

“It should be any day now.” Viviane smiled, patting her stomach.

“It’s best that you have the healers on site, just in case.” Solene noted.

“We have already summoned a team to stay in the palace.”

“Good.”

“How long until we get a response from the farms about the prototype?”

“A couple weeks.”

Not horribly long.

“Thank you for your work, both of you.” 

Viviane dragged herself out of the room, bidding goodbye to Solene and Evelyn, making her way to the private area of the palace reserved for herself, Kallias and Briar.

The Lady of Winter took her duties seriously. From the smallest details in how plates were set up during official dinners, to the big picture of where trade routes were located and their subsequent impacts on their economy and relations with other courts.

This tea party was just another one of those duties. Listening to her fellow noble ladies' plights and concerns. Their dramas and intrigues. It might seem trivial, but it was vital in order to maintain an image and an understanding of their court’s current ongoings. No matter how…annoying the conversations could get. 

Looking out the window overlooking the training ground she could see Briar chatting with a few soldiers, all of them dressed in training gear.

Viviane smiled. 

It’s nice to see her happy.

She knocked on a large oak door, painted in various shades of blues, with little detailed ice shards and crystals decorating the edge of it.

“Come in.”

Viviane entered, making her way over to Kallias who was pouring over paperwork, as always.

“Love?” Kallias frowned upon seeing his wife, “Are you alright?”

She groaned, collapsing into his arms.

Kallias gently hummed, holding his mate close, “Did the tea party not go well?”

“It went how it always does.”

“Which member of the family did my uncle send now?”

“Noel.”

“Seems like she’s becoming more and more active within society recently.”

“She’s always been active.”

“So you’re used to dealing with her then.”

“Ehh…more desensitized and overly prepared.” Viviane smiled.

“What’s the most recent drama that is plaguing our dear court now?” Kallias gently stroked her hair, lowering his voice.

“They were gossiping about how Cosette is stealing Amelio away from Solene.”

Kallias snorted, “Not a brain shared between half of them I see.”

“That or they are all pretending to be stupid.”

“Are they smart enough to do that though?”

Viviane giggled, “Probably not the younger ones.”

“How are the older ladies?”

“I have a separate tea party with them planned later this week. Though, I suspect we’ll all spend more time looking over business contracts rather than drinking tea and chatting.”

Kallias nodded, tracing patterns on Viviane’s shoulder with a finger, “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

Viviane giggled, a comfortable silence settling over them as they enjoyed each other’s company.

“Was my family really that bad when I was gone?”

“Absolutely. They’re practically angels now that you’re here.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call them angelic…”

“By comparison Kallias, they absolutely are.”

Kallias admitted defeat by giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“My uncle is loyal though.”

“I know, that’s why I didn’t get rid of them like I did with some of the other families who were acting up. Your close relatives at least played nice and were willing to work together during Amarantha’s rule, instead of being hell-bent on destroying the court from the inside.” she exhaled, leaning against his chest, “How much longer do you think they’ll wait for results?”

Kallias sighed, “Until the problems we’re dealing with start impacting the flow of money into their pockets.”

“It already is.”

“Then we’re beginning to run out of time.” Kallias gently stroked Viviane’s stomach, trying to feel for the kicking babe, “Speaking of time, aren’t you due already?”

Everyone was asking the same questions.

“The healers said that the baby might come a bit late but we don’t have reason to worry yet.”

Kallias hummed, his worries not soothed. 

“Perhaps you should be resting then.” Kallias bit his tongue upon seeing his mate’s thunderous expression.

“Resting? With all the issues our court is facing?”

“Forgive me my lady for even suggesting such a bizarre notion.”

Viviane huffed.

“Please consider it Viv. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you or the child.” he kissed her neck, cupping her face carefully, holding his whole word in the palms of his hands, “You have looked more tired lately.”

She looked away from her mate, knowing he spoke the truth, “Fine, I’ll clear out the rest of my schedule for the evening.”

“Thank you.”

“However, I am not skipping Cosette’s visit.”

“Guess I cannot make you sit that out.”

“We both ordered a perfume, I want to receive my purchase in person too.”

“Of course.” Kallias kissed her hair.

This male has been desperate since they made their agreement to hold off on anything since the middle of her pregnancy.

Viviane got off his lap before they made any decisions they would regret.

“Cosette is going to be here at around 3. We should get going.”

Kallias nodded, standing up and taking Viviane's hand, beginning to lead them to the throne room when Viviane gently pulled on his arm, stopping him.

“Love?” he looked at her with a confused expression.

“We should meet her somewhere more casual.”

Kallias raised an eyebrow, following his mate to one of the rooms they used for meeting with emissaries or important guests, “Any particular reason?”

“Do you want to spook her by sitting on your throne?”

“No.”

“Then we meet her here.”

“Fair enough.” Kallias smirked, following Viviane’s lead he ordered one of the nearby guards to bring Cosette here instead of the throne room.

Viviane sat down on the couch, wrapping a blanket around herself.

This was much more comfortable than a throne.

“You know…you’re quite the manipulator when you want to be.”

“Whatever do you mean my love?” Viviane’s eyes narrowed mischievously.

“Easing the poor girl into a sense of security? Permitting Briar to be friends with her?”

“Oh please, Briar wanted to be friends with her long before we had a vested interest in that fae.”

“Yet you’re actively encouraging her to meet up with Cosette.”

“Just like you do too! Kal, don't call me out when you have tightened security around the streets that perfumer frequents.”

“Well I can’t have a visiting emissary try to steal a new talent away, can I?”

Viviane rolled her eyes.

An upbeat knock sounded on the door.

“Come in.” Kallias permitted.

Cosette stepped in, bowing “I greet the High Lord and Lady of Winter.”

“Please sit down.” Viviane gestured to the couch across them.

Neither ruler missed the way the fae’s eye scanned the room, taking in its icy opulence. Cosette quickly caught herself staring at the scenic paintings on the walls, and ornate furniture along the sides. 

She walked over to the couch Viviane had pointed to and sat down, the large window to their right made her blonde hair shine slightly. The fae wasn’t beautiful like many individuals Viviane had to interact with on a daily basis. Not that she wasn’t pretty. The term ‘cute’ might be a better way to describe her.

Cosette pulled off her cloak and sweaters before placing, and unwrapping before them a small, neatly packaged box, 

“I finished your custom orders. I apologize for the wait but I wanted to make sure that the scents were perfect before I presented them to you.”

Viviane’s eyes widened, the bottles were gorgeous. The first was a round bottle with the top designed like an iris flower, its petals curving outward, a few melting into the bottle’s body. The second bottle was taller, with the top being a pine tree, the branches of which were designed to look like ice shards.

If Viviane wasn’t confident in Cosette’s perfumery skills she would have been nervous. The perfumery street’s expensive stores were notorious for their gorgeous bottles and designs. It was a nice way of distracting the viewer from the atrocious smell for enough seconds to get them to make a purchase.

Noticing the presence of only two bottles, Viviane spoke up, “Will you be giving Briar’s perfume in person?”

“I am sorry, I haven't quite completed Briar’s perfume yet. I want to spend a bit more time with her before I decide what perfume would fit her best.”

Viviane was satisfied with that answer.

As long as Briar was happy and Cosette kept visiting them, this arrangement was acceptable.

“Did you commission a glassmaker for these?” Kallias picked up the pine tree bottle, examining it closely.

“Yes, there is this one glassworks shop in the center of the city. The first time I explored the capital I was enamored by the demonstrations they were doing in the window.”

“I assume the iris flower is for me?” Viviane picked up the other bottle.

“It is.” Cosette confirmed.

Viviane spritzed the perfume on her wrist. The scent was gentle, the primary note being iris but she could smell the subtle presence of the aster flower.

Kallias leaned over to take a small whiff, a smile spreading across his face.

“It smells good.”

Viviane hummed in agreement, “Cosette, may I ask why you selected the scents you did for this perfume?”

Kallias made eye contact with Viviane for a split second as he sat up straight again.

“Well, I wanted something that would compliment you visually, and the purple iris is perfect due to its regality. I also believe you to be a wise ruler that strikes hope and trust into the hearts of the Winter Court’s citizens. Hence, the usage of iris as the primary scent note.” Cosette spoke, “You are also the image of elegance and patience within Winter Court society that many ladies strive to learn from, so I included aster as an additional scent flavor.”

Viviane smiled.

Perfect answer.

Kallias tried his own cologne - a fresh musky, pine-like scent filling the air, with an undertone of rosemary. He nodded in approval, looking to Cosette for an explanation.

“During your visit you mentioned liking the smell of forests so I thought of Winter Court’s infamous snowy forests for inspiration, which led to me selecting cypress as the perfume’s primary scent due to its smell being reminiscent of a pine or cedar. I included rosemary for a eucalyptus undertone that contrasts the cypress's sweetness. With cypress representing eternity or specifically everlasting life, combined with rosemary being a symbol for remembrance, I believed them to be a good fit for the High Lord of eternal winter.”

Kallias hummed appreciatively, “You put a lot of thought into your work.”

“I want to deliver the best product I can.” Cosette smiled.

“We can see that.” Viviane said, “Your efforts are not going unnoticed.”

Whether they are in perfumery or other things. If the goal was to remain discreet you have failed. But, that’s okay, discretion is a skill we can teach you.

“Cosette, how is the farming project coming along?” Kallias set down his perfume bottle, leaning back on the couch.

“It’s going well. We sent out the first round of prototypes for testing to a farm yesterday.”

As we were told.

“Do you have enough people working on production? We have good artisans within the palace, and others that we can recommend inside the Forge district.” Kallias questioned.

“His father is assisting whenever he can but he’s currently ill, so no, not really.” Cosette hurriedly added, “I do plan on hiring more people personally once we get results back from this first test run.”

Solene was right, she is a smart girl. If she were to agree to our, or Amelio’s offers of assistance she would risk losing the extent of ownership she currently has over her little project. However, there is only so far she will get on her own.

Eventually, she will require the help of High Fae more and more. Something akin to a patron. I wonder when she will realize this?

Viviane brushed that question off.

She won’t need to realize anything if we’re smart about this.

“Would you like to stay for tea?” Viviane offered.

“I am afraid I can’t. I left the perfumery in Ophelia’s hands and I am worried about her having to handle everything by herself.” Cosette pulled on one of her sweaters, “Not that Ophelia isn’t competent, it’s just that it’s hard to handle a bunch of customers all by yourself.”

“Didn’t you have a male working for you as well?” Kallias raised an eyebrow.

“Theo? Yeah, but he’s currently working on the farming project, so he has no time to help us out at the moment.” Cosette smiled awkwardly, “I really need to hire more workers but I haven’t had the time to.”

“Well, good luck at the perfumery then.” Viviane didn’t pressure. They would be seeing more of each other soon anyways.

“Here is the payment for the perfumes.” Kallias pushed forward an envelope.

“Thank you.” Cosette said, pocketing the money.

“Are you cold?” Viviane tilted her head, watching Cosette as she pulled on yet another sweater.

The poor thing is as bundled up as Day or Summer Court emissaries whenever they visited.

“Yeah, I have a weak constitution so I dress warmly.” the blonde explained, putting on her hat and scarf.

“I presume you’re not from Winter Court then?” Viviane asked.

Solene had mentioned that the girl was from a village in the Faerie Lands.

“No, I am from a village in a central forest of the Faerie Lands.”

“What’s the weather like there?” Kallias smiled.

“Warmer.” Cosette smiled, the expression slightly stiff, “It’s not snowing all year round.”

Kallias chuckled, “Well, don’t freeze on us.”

“Yes, please take care of your health.” Viviane agreed.

“I am trying to Your Majesties.”

Cosette bowed, leaving the meeting room, with one of the guards escorting her away.

“Well, thoughts?” Viviane leaned back as well, matching her husband’s energy.

Kallias responded after a minute of thinking, a hand resting on his chin, “She has the behavior of a business fae that I would like on our side. Not only does she have good ideas, but she’s calm and collected when questioned. Many fae would get too nervous before giving as eloquent an explanation as she gave.”

Well, let’s give our faeries some credit here. It’s not that they don’t know things, they just have stage fright before their literal rulers. Cosette wasn’t from Winter Court and thus didn’t feel the same way towards us. It hardly seemed fair to be so harsh in the assessment.

“She’s adamant on refusing help or relying on resources from others though.”

“Not adamant enough. She hasn’t pushed Amelio, or us away.” Kallias argued, “Cosette is keeping a respectable distance but that’s just because she’s wary. Wariness is a good thing in business. It keeps a fae smart. Wouldn’t you be disappointed if she was a pushover?”

“I guess that’s true.” Viviane agreed.

“Sooner or later she will need to accept our help, or one of our close supporter’s help as otherwise she won’t be able to grow.” Kallias stood up, pacing the room, “Alliances are key to success within such work. We offer her the perfect connections to expand her business.”

Viviane let her husband ramble, her eyes tracking his fluid movements. 

“I shall invite her to the palace personally. If we are planning on truly bringing her into High Fae society we will need to prepare her not only to handle the conniving words of politicians but the behavior of business fae.” Kallias thought aloud, “We have quarterly meetings with the trades faeries of our court. I can teach her the basics of our economy and commerce over lunch. Then, invite her to said meeting which gives her the opportunity to create new connections due to our help.”

“Who’s the manipulator now?”

“Oh hush, you’re scheming just as much as I am.”

“Of course I am.” Viviane confirmed, sitting up, the blanket previously wrapped around her falling down slightly, “I will invite her over for tea with my close friends, but before that she will need to be taught etiquette. I am sure Briar will not mind having a friend join her in her studies.”

Kallias walked back over to Viviane, kissing her, “I love your mind.”

“And I love yours.”

Viviane found her appetite lacking as she stared down at the delicious spread before her. Kallias kept casting glances at her as he ate the pork on his plate, and Briar nearly devoured the plate as well, hungry from all the training earlier that day.

“Viv,” he stared gently, “Can you try to eat at least a couple bites?”

“I am really not hungry, Kallias.” she sighed, putting her head in her hands. She felt so tired, wanting nothing more than to collapse into bed and hopefully sleep. The baby in her stomach had decided that his mother did not require sleep as he kept kicking her awake in the middle of the night yesterday.

“What about some juice then?” he offered her a glass of apple juice, which she reluctantly took and began sipping.

Briar nodded, her expression concerned, “Are you okay Viviane?”

“Yeah I am fine, just need to rest.” Viviane gave the human a smile, following Kallias’s lead out of their private dining room.

Her mate carefully supported her as they walked to their shared bedroom, the walk taking a lot more out of Viviane then she would have liked to admit.

Seeing her exhaustion, Kallias winnowed them straight onto the bed.

“Kal, you didn’t have to.” Viviane sighed, tugging off her dress.

“You look like you were about to collapse if you walked another step.” Kallias murmured, giving her a nightgown and helping her change into it, “What kind of male do you take me for? To allow my partner to walk in that state?”

Viviane rolled her eyes, snuggling up to him, “You should save your energy.”

“Ha, for what?” Kallias chuckled, “For paperwork?”

“Exactly, or a number of other courtly duties.”

“Well, if I am banned from using my magic, then I shall have to carry my beautiful lady like I did on the night of our mating ceremony.”

“You’re impossible.”

“No, I am persistent.” Kallias smiled, leaning over and capturing Viaine’s lips, “Let me take care of you love, please.”

“But I am okay.” she kissed back, sighing as his hands wrapped around her, playing with her hair, his body hovering inches above hers.

“You ran this court all by yourself for fifty years, let me be here for you now.” Kallias moved his kisses down her neck to her collarbone.

Viviane wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him closer so they were now touching.

“We agreed to not do anything until the baby was born.” Kallias whispered, moving his kisses back up her neck.

“Well the baby has decided to stick around for longer, so why do-” Viviane gasped.

“Viv? What is it? What’s wrong?” Kallias immediately sat up, trying to see what caused her reaction.

“My water broke.” she stared at her mate, “The baby is coming.”

“Holy shit.” Kallias quickly got off the bed, before rushing back into bed to fix the blankets and pillows around Viviane to make her more comfortable, “I am going to call for the healers, I will be right back. Alright?”

Viviane simply nodded, countless thoughts racing through her mind. Kallias winnowed away leaving her alone.

Was the baby going to be healthy? Was it a boy or girl? Was her not eating that evening going to be bad? Who was going to change the sheets? 

Wait, Kallias. I want him here. 

Why was he not here?

As soon as the thoughts of panic had begun to creep up the familiar presence returned along with a couple others. 

She grabbed for the familiar hand that gently squeezed hers. Soft lips pressing against her fingers.

“I am back. I am here.” Kallias reassured her as the healers busied themselves around her, checking her vitals.

“Everything seems in order.” the older healer spoke, looking at his rulers, “Now we just wait.”

“How long?” Viviane asked.

“A while.”

As soon as Viviane heard the baby’s cries she relaxed against the pillows, Kallias wiping away her tears.

“You did it. You’re okay.” he murmured softly, not letting go of her hand.

Viviane nodded, unable to stop smiling at the small body that was being carried away to be wrapped up.

“Congratulations, it’s a girl.” the head healer smiled, taking the child to a changing table.

Viviane tensed when the child disappeared from view.

Where did she go?

She gripped the sheets of the bed, ice covering the top slightly.

“Bring her back!” she cried.

“Love, they’re just putting her in a blanket.” Kallias tried to calm his mate through gritted teeth. It didn’t help that he himself was restraining the urge to deck the healer for taking the child away but he knew it was necessary. 

The two only relaxed when the doctor returned with the child in his arms.

Viviane snatched the baby back, practically growling at the healer who took a step back for his own safety. Kallias waved a hand dismissively, the healer and his assistants getting the message and disappearing out the door.

The babe sniffled as Viviane shushed and soothed her, gently rocking her back and forth.

“Hi little one.” Viviane felt tears in her eyes, “It’s me. Do you recognize me?”

The baby cried.

“Please don’t cry, or I’ll cry too.”

Kallias wiped Viviane’s tears away, settling in on the bed beside his mate.

“You’re so beautiful.” Viviane gently stroked the child’s cheek as she slowly calmed.

The fireplace crackled, while the wintry winds howled outside, beginning to paint the large windows of their bedroom.

“Her name is Lumi.” Viviane stated, brooking no argument.

Kallias reached out to gently stroke the child’s head, “Hello Lumi. Welcome home.”

That night the winds in Winter Court picked up, and snow covered every inch of open space; celebrating the arrival of a new fae child. 

Next: Chapter 26 - Toxic Tea

Back: Chapter 24 - Pointy Stick of Doom

Masterlist

Tag list: @rcarbo1

If you want to be added to a tag list let me know :D

[polyamzeal]

Would you ever consider writing something about red flags in polyam dating? I'm so new to the community (and dating in general) that I feel like it'd be really helpful

If you google it some results come up. I feel like I would have a very hard time because everyone is different. What might be a red flag might be a pink(?) flag for someone else. I think our society likes to conflate a single one flag with "Absolutely stay away at all costs" when it is suppose to be, "Take this into careful consideration and if there are too many red flags then it might be a good idea to stay away." But here are some of the ones that stand out to me.

Overly structured relationships, especially unbalanced ones. It is good to know what we want and polyamory allows us to structure the exact kind of relationship we want. But it also allows great flexibility in our relationships. And if that flexibility is being ignored for complete devotion to a certain structure that can be concerning. These include only dating as a couple, OPP, or coerced mono-polyam partnership. Being really strict about wanting lap-sitting polyamory or Don't Ask Don't Tell also falls under these. As well as Hierarchy vs non-Hierarchy. Maybe they have good reasons to pursue these dynamics, some of which are often very toxic, but never being open to discuss the alternative is even worse than starting off there. I find OPP awful but lots of couples start there when first opening up and quickly transition away from it.

Being too self-centered or selfish. By its nature, polyamory is more community focused than monogamous dyad dating, even if only in a closed triad. I am not saying that polyamorous people need to be selfless charities. But I think a good polyamory person has at least some ability to recognize when their own needs are legitimate met and they can put effort toward or make a sacrifice for someone else that doesn't directly benefit themselves. But a sub-set of polyamorous people can be very selfish. This is where we find the harem seekers, NRE junkies, and the cowboys/cowgirls (we seriously need a better label for that). These people want lots of partners but will manipulate their partners to not pay attention or spend time with their other partners.

Bad relationships with other partners. This one is really tricky and nuisance. Not every polyam relationships require you to meet your metamours, a DADT relationship is controversial but can sometimes work in a healthy way in extreme cases. But even if you don't meet their other partners, if they are always talking bad about them to you that can be a problem. If the other partner is calling to yell at them a lot, that is suspicious. Many couples open up their relationship, realize the initial relationship is really toxic, and want to get out while continuing other polyam relationships. I'm not saying cut those people out to leave them high and dry. But know that their will be additional baggage there. And sometimes the person you are dating is the toxic one, that their other partners are correct to not get along with them. All couples fight so don't judge this on one or two incidents. But if there are no happy moments with their other partners that is a bad sign.

I think the last one is just rushing in too fast. That one is pretty self-explanatory. People that really don't know what they want out of relationships. This kind of covers people new to polyamory too but that is not to say that polyam veterans should never date newbies, just keep in mind the extra burden it might bring. All of these naive or wishy-washy people can cause a lot of extra trouble or stress in more complicated polyamorous relationship. While this one is less of a dealbreaker than the others, it should be accounted for as it is very common.

[goodobservationshirley]

Good evening! I stumbled upon your Elise x Eryka post a couple of days ago! I was intrigued and decided to give The Tunnel season 2 a go (apologies, I did try season 1 a while ago but couldn't quite get into it; I might go back to it now that I've seen season 2! I do find Elise and Karl's partnership very endearing and it will be fun to see how they got to this place of trust as I recall from the pilot that they weren't that impressed with each other!)

Anyway, I am here now to scream about Elise and Eryka in your ask box for a little bit!

Just…Eryka comes along and she's a person of interest in this complicated case and they have this spark! Like oh, you actually do understand my very specific life circumstances and you are the only person I can have a real conversation with about all this! We must stand with our faces very close together! I will decline my boyfriend's calls when we're at dinner!

What I found absolutely hilarious was that Elise actually checked with her boss if it would be okay for her to be friends with Eryka before she asked her out for a drink? And then her boss said yes because he trusted her? She was trying SO HARD to do everything by the book!

And then she ditches her boyfriend and puts on makeup for the first time in forever and goes for drinks with Eryka! Even though she doesn't normally drink! Also - that bit where she says she'll take the makeup off when Eryka compliments her on it is so funny.

Props to Elise for continuing to try to do things the right way when Eryka walks her home after the birthday non-date! She says she has to stop because her boyfriend is waiting for her at home! Ahhhh!!

But then the boyf breaks up with her and Eryka just HAPPENS to come visit (because she's a baddie who might be spying on her (tbh I'm not sure if she was lying about that or not), but still!) and then Elise is like, I was thinking about you while I was being dumped! But not in a particularly physical way!!!! And Eryka's like, lol are you sure about that! And then things escalate quickly!!!! FINGERS IN THE MOUTH. I think I cheered.

And that whole conversation where Elise is like, I never want to fall in love because it's like a virus and Eryka's like, you should try it! It's nice! And then Elise does fall in love and you know what? It actually is both nice AND like a virus! Man, I would be so annoyed if I were Elise. Your first time falling in love and it turns out it's a woman who has very much committed (or at least been complicit in the commission of) atrocities and your job is to figure out who committed the atrocities!!! COME ON.

Ooh and Elise and Karl have that heated argument in front of their colleagues about Elise's judgement when it comes to Eryka!!! EEEEEEH! Do we think their colleagues all know about this? Is there a betting pool?

The breakup!! The angsty I-didn't-really-love-you-and-I-have-a-gun-so-let-me-go breakup! Eryka shooting Elise's boss in the leg in a very precise manner to hinder but not to kill!

And then Eryka makes a point to break into Elise's apartment in the middle of the night to tell her that she was lying about not having feelings for her! The hand on the mouth again!!! That whole speech! Eryka looking personally offended when Elise says she's had better sex! Would Eryka have taken the risk and asked for one more night if Elise hadn't said that?! We may never know!!! I love that she keeps going in for kisses! Like, YES girl seize your chance!!!

AND THEN WE LEARN THAT SHE ACTUALLY DID STAY THE NIGHT HAHAHAHAHA. I had to pause the television to process that and to laugh for a bit. A+ choices from everyone involved. YES the hero deserves to fall in love with the adversary and they deserve to have one night together where everyone knows everyone else's true allegiance. Also, Karl's face when Elise tells him about it in the car is so funny. And his 'you're in love, Elise' was so sweet!

And then the Disaster Duo go investigate The Chemist with NO BACKUP and end up in trouble! I was SO worried that Eryka would inadvertently give away how much she cared about Elise when her back was turned to Koba (was there a mirror in front of her?) or when she hid in the bathroom to make her mysterious phonecall - thank goodness none of that came to pass! Eryka making use of all of her resources and manipulating geopolitical events to save her girl??? YESSSS.

For the last 10-15 mins of the episode I just kept chanting, 'Eryka your one job is not to show up in the dead of night to visit Elise in the hospital and get yourself arrested'. When she popped up to whisper sweet Pablo Neruda nothings at Elise I thought, 'oh no she was too romantic and now she's going to go to prison for crimes she definitely committed' but no! She was a figment of Elise's imagination! EVEN SADDER AND JUICIER. At some point since their breakup Elise went and read that book of poetry Eryka got her despite saying that she doesn't read poetry. MUAH.

Thank you very much for your posts! I am going to be thinking about these two for a while. Hope you have a lovely day/night, depending on when you're reading this!

heyyyyyy i'm sorry it took me so long to come back to this, i got obsessed with some italian reality tv show for a minute and it's ruining my life

thank you for coming to me to scream about these two. you should totally check out season 1, it makes the Elise /Karl friendship in s2 so much better

"and then Elise is like, I was thinking about you while I was being dumped! But not in a particularly physical way!!!! And Eryka's like, lol are you sure about that!"

this was so funny! she was like bitch please you're dying to kiss me (and she was right)

"The angsty I-didn't-really-love-you-and-I-have-a-gun-so-let-me-go breakup!"

i love this scene so much! the drama, the pain, the heartbreak. perfect

"And then Eryka makes a point to break into Elise's apartment in the middle of the night to tell her that she was lying about not having feelings for her! The hand on the mouth again!!! That whole speech! Eryka looking personally offended when Elise says she's had better sex! Would Eryka have taken the risk and asked for one more night if Elise hadn't said that?! We may never know!!!"

you know what? i had never considered before that eryka might not have planned to stay the night until Elise told her she's had better sex. i always assumed staying the night was the plan all along but that take is so funny. like if eryka was only planning to clear the air before saying goodbye, she totally WOULD have been offended enough by the sex thing to insist on a reminder, she's 100% like that. but still, i think at heart she's a romantic and "one more night" is what she was aiming for from the start

"YES the hero deserves to fall in love with the adversary and they deserve to have one night together where everyone knows everyone else's true allegiance."

it's exactly why i love this show so much!

"And then the Disaster Duo go investigate The Chemist with NO BACKUP"

it's what they do TM

'oh no she was too romantic and now she's going to go to prison for crimes she definitely committed' but no! She was a figment of Elise's imagination! EVEN SADDER AND JUICIER.

i'm so glad she never went to prison for the crimes she definitely committed! when you're that gay it's what you deserve ^^

thank YOU for giving me all your feelings about this show <3 this is very precious and very appreciated

[archiveofkloss]

Karlie Kloss' lifestyle is shifting, one habit at a time. 

For years, the model and entrepreneur, 31, avoided lifting weights at the gym so she wouldn't bulk up. But today, she's found resistance training to be "an effective, important way to stay strong and lean and build muscle."

"I didn't think it was good for my body," she exclusively tells Women's Health in an interview about her partnership with Thorne. "There was always this myth that somebody put in our heads somewhere that like women aren't supposed to strength train, and that's absolutely false."

The same goes for her fueling her body: When she living out of a suitcase, Karlie felt like she "only ate snacks all the time," adding that she "didn't know where my next meal was gonna be." Now, she's become disciplined about her eating, noting that prioritizing three nutritious, filling meals a day has been a "game-changer."

The Kode With Klossy founder has become especially focused on her health after welcoming two kids (sons Levi, 3, and Elijah, 1, with husband Joshua Kushner) over the past three years. 

"I really recognize how much a woman's body goes through—not only through pregnancy, but also just getting older," she says. "I really am more aware of wanting to be strong and invest in things that are just going to make me feel better."

Ahead, here's everything to know about Karlie Kloss' diet and wellness routine, from her favorite meals to share with her children to her go-to sweet treat.

Breakfast is the most important meal of her day.

Karlie is trying to instill healthy habits with her sons from a young age, so she makes sure to start her day off right.

"We always sit down for breakfast when I'm home," she says. "To just sit down and have proper meal time—that is something that's also part of my wellness."

The family's favorite breakfasts include oatmeal with berries and pancakes made from banana, oats, almond flour, and chia seeds. If she's running out the door, Karlie will grab a chocolate shake made with Thorne whey protein.

Karlie typically eats the same lunches and dinners.

The Bedford Media CEO adds that she usually eats the same lunches and dinners day-to-day. "I'm so boring," she says. "I could eat the exact same thing every single day."

Since Karlie doesn't eat meat, she's a big fan of salmon—either grilled or with a ginger-soy marinade. She also loves to munch on eggs or Greek yogurt to get her proper dose of daily protein. 

"Protein has been a big, big focus for me as I get older and want to make sure I'm maintaining my strength and conditioning," she says.

She loves a sweet treat.

When it comes to indulgences, Karlie says she has a "total sweet tooth." Any kind of cookie—but especially chocolate chip—are her favorites.

"I dangerously live very close to a Levain Bakery in New York, and that's my go-to," she says.

She stays 'consistent' with her wellness routine.

In addition to fueling her body with lots of protein, Karlie prioritizes getting proper nutrients—even if it doesn't come from her diet. She's a big fan of Thorne's Memoractiv supplement to combat "mom brain fog," plus the brand's Basic B Complex to promote cellular energy.

"My kids keep me busy—my three-year-old gives me a run for my money, and my one-year-old is now just about to walk, so I'm chasing after them all day long," she says. "These [supplements] gives me peace of mind that I'll have the nutrients to make me feel good, both physically and mentally."

In addition to her daily regimen, Karlie likes to take a minute for herself, whether that's doing a quick meditation in the taxi on the way to work, doing a dance class at the New York City studio Forward__Space, or popping in her headphones for a brief run. 

"That makes all the difference in my day," she says.

[sanguinesorcery]

@}~ Shout-Outs ~{@ and such

An expansion to this post from earlier, since I was at work when I reblogged it and I loathe writing on mobile Tumblr, app or not. So! Because I reblogged that from the source, I chose a small handful of partners I've kept in relative contact with or who have influenced me greatly while being here thus far to absolutely annoy gush over. So here we go!

@uramii || @red-man-of-mustache

Pasta! You're one of my favorite people here! Not only were you instrumental in my developing this whole lore for Tumblr consumption years ago, you've done nothing but show me kindness and indulged my dumbest ideas. It means a lot to me we've been friends all these years, even with that one period of absence, and it means more that after that you'd still welcome me back and continue to enable me in the best ways of course. I probably would not have found the drive to come back if it wasn't for your influences. I'm forever obsessed with our story together and I can't wait for it to develop more. We've always meshed super well, I think, and our writing styles have always bounced off one another incredibly easily. I continue to look forward to our future roleplay partnership and friendship together!

@dragmirc

Bunyip! Fifteen years is a long time, buddy. How have you put up with me this long! Most people would have ducked out by now but you've not only stuck around, but kept the most upbeat attitude I've met in a person. I probably wouldn't be here on this blog if it wasn't for you to begin with. You held my hand and told me to keep going when everything crashed and I felt like it was all for naught, and this whole thing was going to never see the light of day again. Thank you for pushing, and thank you for being supportive in all the other ways I needed. I'm super happy to have been the enabler for once, and it's been an absolute joy to watch you finally feel like you can stretch and work out your own ideas and interpretations without restraint. I'm always looking forward to our interactions, even with your weird schedules, and our bantering shortforms have me in absolute fits, no matter how long or short they are. It's also really nice to have another geologist nerd I can scream at, I hope your current dirt analysis is going well. 'lil golden shit' still lives rent free in my head, thanks for that.

@obraveyouth

Rinni! I have known you for about as long as it takes me to finish a bag of chips. Which is actually about a month. It's a really big bag of chips, okay. But, I feel like we've already been friends for so much longer than that! To find out we have a lot of the same tastes in a lot of things makes everything super fun, and I love that you are always asking me things to vomit details on you like the doofus I actually am. It really helps me keep my lore-weaving up to date and I'm always happy to see your interest in it and its deeper dealings. I know we've only just started interacting, but it's always such a delight to see what you have developed, and I love your personal interpretations! They add a flavor that makes your Link truly unique and super fun to read and write against. I can't wait to keep writing with you!

@askganondorftobadragmire

Lightning! We always said worldbuilders just find each other. And that is super true in our case, isn't it! I absolutely love what you've done with the world of your AU, it's been a delight to learn and understand all the neat little details you toil over. The fact that you were super nice right out of the gate sold me to wanting to keep talking to you, and I'm happy I did! I know we don't talk a whole lot outside of casually projectiling details back and forth, but I'm always happy with our pokings regardless, it makes me happy to see you around. I'm having an absolute blast mashing our worlds together. They fit in so nicely, it's like puzzle pieces falling into place. It's super fun bouncing ideas around and what little is actually planned, I'm excited for! It's great fun to tell a story with you, and I'm looking forward to our future shenanigans for sure.