#and it does make me really sad to see how little time and energy I've spent on shit I really love and care about because of that

[outeremissary]

Kinda crazy how you can love something so much it fills you with a deep sense of sadness. Like yikes man what's that about

[asstrolo]

astrology observations for sad people

— the signs who I personally believe are really misunderstood by their peers are often capricorns and aquarius because of their saturnian tendencies where they become the mature, bigger person or are aloof of how they're presenting themselves, they always think they know better or people feel very intimidated by their personalities and, because people don't understand them, they alienate them,

— aries and scorpio as they are very intense, over confident people, other's might feel put-off by them, they can be very controlling and have a "I don't care" kind of personality that doesn't usually goes well with others, their ways of always trying to make themselves clear and understood causes the opposite effect, they are often misjudged as villainous or mean,

— geminis are also put in a place of having to know better, not given a chance or space to mess up as they are very intelligent people and show it, others might have big expectations which are often not met since they prefer to do what makes them happy and makes them curious, they tend to over-inflate themselves, or the opposite, and people take their words too seriously or not at all, very polarizing sign.

— a stellium in 4th can be super difficult to deal with, specially if it falls on not easy planets like mars, or saturn, uranus, or pluto. These people are always dragged back to their family issues no matter how much they try to escape, their parents maybe gave them too much responsibilities as little kids or vented to their child without thinking of the consequences, if these people ever decide to have a family they should always consider if they're doing it because they want to or because it is what's expected of them.

— chiron in social signs as gemini, aquarius and libra feel very alienated at all times, having social interactions is a learning experience for them, whether is good or bad, I also notice people usually get obsessed with them? They don't respect these people¡s space or it could be the other way around, to me is a placement where you'll learn to not be socially inept or teach people how to treat you right for some reason?

— saturn IS a complicated planet, it depends on the person's other planets and aspects how they deal with saturn, a person with moon conjuct saturn has a harder time dealing with their emotions than a capricorn moon. Even when the energies are similar, they don't have the same impact.

— now, a person with a capricornian stellium or dominant does deal with the saturn energy much comfortably than a person with sun trine saturn, because they were born with it. I personally believe you accommodate, or your aspects accommodate to you as you grow and evolve as a person.

— a pisces stellium, specially if is on moon or ascendants, is very perceptive to other's opinion on them, not in a superficial way but more on a "does this person thinks i'm being fair or mean?" Let's not forget the sister sign of Pisces is Virgo, so these signs also share the analytical or more neurotic way of seeing the world. A Pisces Rising is very self-aware of how they come off to people or how they are seen, they might not show it or say anything about it, a Pisces mercury might be self-conscious about how they approach others, how their voice sounds or how they come off when talking.

— I do believe leo's have a harder time being appreciated by people, as they devote to other's so easily they could neglect themselves in the process. Is the kind of person who is always looking out for someone to make happy or to make them feel comfortable because is something they want reciprocated. But this is a thing that can happen to fire signs a lot, they can be overbearing or too kind to people that it ends up backfiring on them, they have a very childlike mentally.

— is true what they say, a 12th house stellium in a natal chart makes the person passive and/or too in their own world, they have premonitions in dreams, but I've also seen these individuals have a really hard time with sleep, they have paranormal experiences a lot that some of them are used to it. They can be in some sort of medication, but not all, and not always these people are medicated or doing substances, they have an easier time to have out-of-body experiences, like lucid dreaming or sleep paralysis, these can occur because these people are super sensitive and get easily drained and stressed. Is important they are taking care of their energy at all times, I've met many that have one, two or more 12th house placement where I've found out some other person has been doing some sort of witchcraft on them, or have a big negative energy that this 12th houser sucks accidentally.

— having a mercurial dominant or rising can be super difficult when it comes to feeling, they tend to rationalize everything too much, are easily distracted and indulgent, they are very, very anxious at all times on all situations, even if they show otherwise. they overthink things too much, are the kind to be incredibly self-aware or completely out of touch with themselves.

— the ascendant aspecting negatively the mercury gives the individual speech impediment or a very shy personality, an almost inaudible voice or a raspy one, people with this placement have a harder time getting their thoughts across, or people might misinterpret them.

— keeping the conversation going, mercury negatively aspecting saturn makes a shy and reserved person, someone who, as a kid or a teen, has problems with being heard, or people simply didn't care or asked for this person's opinions, they might had been very codependent on an adult or somebody else to talk or to get to be seen, as they grow older they learn to communicate rather excellently, they might want to treat their shyness or whatever problem they have with unwanted attention or negligence

— neptune in personal houses like the 1st, 7th, 4th or 10th is really tricky. you might ignore gut feelings bout certain individuals, or on the contrary, believe someone is good when they aren't. these people can be their own worst enemies as they are super perceptive of how they come across to others, or how others make them feel.

— neptune in the 1st is common on actors and models and singers, usually on famous people, because they can create a fantasy of how they want people to see them, or act like chameleons around people, this creates a series of identity crisis during their lives.

— neptune in 7th is prone to feel things that really aren't there? they convince themselves somebody hates them or likes them for just one interaction, these individuals are like a sponge in social situations and they take everything somebody tells them to the heart. they also are known to lie a lot to people on behalf of good manners, they like to be liked.

— neptune in 4th house has a really confusing or unclear family situation, they might adopt the role of the parent when they shouldn't, or are treated as a child even as an adult, something in their family, in what they think is normal growing up, isn't. the most likely to stay in a bad situation for many, many years because they don't know any better, or think it's normal.

— neptune in 10th, although it deals with fame and impersonal relationships, to me, is just as fundamental as the houses listed above. they don't see themselves through their own eyes, or feel like they depend on other's perceptions on themselves too much, they are confident, or pretend it really well. these individuals know how to act the part, how to commit to the bit, they never feel that sense of belonging anywhere, because they might show different parts of their personalities to different people

— for me, the hardest moons to have are capricorn, scorpio and virgo.

— capricorn moon is a strictly analytical sign, they don't feel comfortable in the moon as is where the emotions and insecurities shine the most.

— scorpio moon is a very intense sign, as opposite to the Capricorn, they can be super emotional, or completely numb, very extremist and their emotions are black or white, polarizing.

— virgo moon is extremely difficult, they don't like to have to feel things, they like to think and act with precaution and it's hard for them to let their emotions slip, the kind of friend who'd have the most practical advice to all sort of topics, a helpful hand in all situations, but when it comes to them as individuals, they let themselves be too much, their head is always at a thousand percent. From what I've gathered of this moon is that, yes, they are neurotic when it comes to certain things, but completely careless to others, and it's usually to themselves, you won't ever see a Virgo moon misbehave or dress bad, but they can hold a lot of suppressed shame or anger or sadness, like they tie it with a bow in a box and keep it locked.

— lastly, no aspect or moon or sign is bad, they are just more difficult than others, there are people with easy aspects, like sun sextile or trine jupiter, they are prone to idealization and inferiority complexes. it's true that a person that has the harmonious aspects is lazier or gets unmotivated way easier. nothing is really set in stone, you can have a moon conjunct saturn and a cancer mercury in 9th house, your way of expressing yourself is more reserved, but optimistic and even childlike. when it comes to astrology, every single aspect and sign, and house counts to describe a person.

[firestorm09890]

there's a part of canto vi I've been thinking about since it came out, and it doesn't actually have anything to do with Heathcliff.

this

She is bitter as fuck and as time goes on she's getting worse at keeping it down. Sinclair's the one who started it, by talking about how sad it is that they'd never get to see color, and Rodya starts to get a little irritated over it (yeah, sure, pity the Backstreets folk and their poor miserable little lives, privileged nest boy), but she's obviously trying not to straight up call Sinclair a privileged nest boy because she doesn't want to. But then Yi Sang and Ishmael join in on talking about how sad this place is with no color and she just can't keep her opinion down.

But that makes the atmosphere tense, and she hates a tense atmosphere, so she changes the subject and her tone, not giving a damn about how obvious it is. also, haha, ice and cold references.

And actually, this doesn't really have much evidence to support it, but I wonder if she holds a higher level of resentment for Sinclair in particular.

Canto II had some discussion about how Rodya wishes she was special (and while I think what Sonya said about her killing the tax collector just to feel special is absolute bullshit, I do also think there is some truth to her wanting to feel special), and introduced us to the concept of The Sign in a way that was vague and more like foreshadowing than actually introducing it. Then Canto III was all about The Sign, and how special Sinclair is, and since then we've had people talking about signs and stars and a new birth of the world and it's all stuff Rodya doesn't get to be part of.

I don't think she wants to hold resentment for Sinclair, and she especially never wants him to know, but going back after all this time and rereading this one interaction with him in Canto II felt pretty jarring.

the more important part of this is the way it feels like she's making a joke at Heathcliff's expense, for being poor, like even though she's also from the Backstreets she feels she's "above" it.

She absolutely does not feel this way.

On my way to find the first passage, I reread some other interesting stuff:

Once again, there's the harsh juxtaposition between casual, fun-loving Rodya, and tired, poor man's advocate Rodya. Almost everyone on the team speaks through the lens of a Nest dweller (I have to wonder if learning that Heathcliff was apparently raised in a mansion made her even more bitter), and the way she's so short with her mention of the Sweepers makes me think she's thinking about how painfully obvious it would have been to any other Backstreets dweller. And then, right after, dropping back into her casual voice, and Sinclair revealing that Rodya used the fucked up Backstreets creature to tease him...

Other obvious moments of Rodya being bitter as hell about rich people include this part of S.E.A.

and this part of her observation logs on Spiral of Contempt (actually, nearly everything in that log that isn't about the physical abnormality has to do with how much she hates how rich people look down upon the poor)

Hong Lu's canto comes after Don's, and then after his is Ryōshū's, who, based on her source material, probably served one of the most awful, contemptuous rich people the sinners have access to, and I really hope at some point here Rodya gets to snap in a big way

...hey so I wrote this entire post at 1 in the morning and then saved it to drafts because I didn't want to post something at 1 in the morning. the Timekilling Time trailer came out about two hours later, featuring both Rodya... and the long-awaited return of the Yurodiviye. so now it's past 3 in the morning for me but I'm posting it now anyway because ohohoho seeing the Yurodiviye again has given me SO much energy

I have a feeling all this is going to be very relevant extremely soon

[elllisaaa]

Hi!!! Can you please write headcanons for seventeen members about how they will act around their crush and random, cute, or dumb things they will do to subtly show their love to her? Tysm 🫶🫶

hii anonie ! i've already talked about how they acted around their crushes when i did the how they would confess reactions, but it was more in a you-already-are-very-close-to-each-other-way. so i'm gonna do it here again in a different way here, because i could talk about these boys being helplessly in love for hours I swear 😔. thank you for the request, hope you'll like it <3

how seventeen would act around their crush

-> pairing : svt x gn!reader

-> word count : 2.2k

-> genre : fluff

-> reblogs and feedbacks are appreciated !

-> sorry for any mistakes, english is not my first language.

-> masterlist | svt masterlist

CHOI SEUNGCHEOL

he may seem strong and impressive, but he would be like a high-schooler around his crush. 

it’s so obvious and funny that his members can’t help teasing him about how easy it is for you to fluster him. 

he wants to look dependable, and would 100% flex his muscles and show you how strong he is every chance he gets.

please acknowledge his effort and praise him, he’ll be all giggly and shy (so cute). 

already said that but he has such a golden retriever energy, like he could have had the worst day ever, as soon as he sees you, he’s happy again.

would always ask you about your day and listen carefully.

your biggest supporter in everything you do

it’s really easy to know that he has a crush on you, he doesn’t even try to hide it that much because what’s the point ? you have him wrapped around your finger anyway.

so it’s up to you to do something about it…

YOON JEONGHAN

so much teasing, so so much because that’s jeonghan we’re talking about 

but the thing is that he’s not teasing you as much as his members, letting slide things that he wouldn’t with the guys.

they have noticed of course, but they don’t say anything because jeonghan would kill them for exposing his soft spot for you.

however, he does not make it obvious, he wants to be sure that you have a thing for him too. 

sometimes he starts a conversation about the things he knows you like just to see your eyes sparkle and hear you talking on and on about what you’re passionate about. 

stares at you with a fond look on his face every time he listens to you. 

always team up with you and defend you when you play games with the other, even make plans on cheating with you and love that you’re always following his antics. 

let you play with his hair everytime you ask with his heart beating like crazy. 

HONG JOSHUA

the original gentlemen, i already said it and i’ll say it a million times if necessary. 

holds the door for you, puts his hands over the corners of furniture when you’re near so you don’t hurt yourself, waits for you when you have to fix your shoes when you’re walking. 

and he doesn’t even address or really acknowledge these gestures, it just comes naturally to him. 

he unconsciously cares for you and he melts inside when you smile at him to thank him.

so so gentle and attentive to your feelings and emotions

like he will notice immediately if you feel a little sad or if your social battery runs out during a gathering with your friends.

when he walks you home, he doesn’t leave until he has seen you get inside and heard you lock the door behind you. 

will probably get you flowers a few times just because “they reminded me of you” and hoping that you would take the hint and notice that it was in a romantical way.

MOON JUNHUI

a silly and goofy mess, part time idol and full time comedian really.

always has the biggest smile on his face when he manages to make you laugh, and would take notes of what type of humor you liked and make more jokes like that.

he would not be afraid to do something ridiculous or embarrassing if it makes you at least smile.

will become as red as a tomato everytime you come closer to him, and it’s so so obvious, all his efforts to play it off are doomed. 

hug him and it’s the end of him, he could die a happy man in your embrace.

often stares at you when you’re in the same room but not talking with each other, and if you notice him and stare back, he’ll act like he wasn’t looking at you (but his red cheeks are kinda giving it away).

he’ll have your favorite food and drink memorized and he’ll purposely order for you, in front of you, loving to see the shock on your face and then the pretty smile stretching out your lips. 

KWON SOONYOUNG

i think he would be very obvious too, like it’s not difficult to see that he has feelings for you. 

will try to show off his skills around you and impress you, bringing you over their dance practice and putting in a lot much more effort just for you.

if you tell him that he’s a good dancer or singer, oh he’s a goner, giggling and eyes sparkling at your compliments. 

despite his packed schedule, he would try to spend as much time as possible with you.

you ask him if he wants to hang out but he already had plans with some of his members ? screw them, he sees them everyday, and you’re the love of his life. 

he’s often seeking physical affection when he’s tired or sad and if you try to comfort him or offer him some cuddles, he’ll be on the verge of tears, so happy that you’re here for him.

all the little things you do for him have him falling even more for you, and he’ll be pretty quick to tell you about his crush because he wants you all for himself. 

JEON WONWOO

calm and collected on the outside, freaking out and screaming on the inside. 

as i’ve already said, i think he's the definition of the word soft for me, it’s so calming and soothing to be around him. 

the best listener, when you start to open up about your life and your problems, he’s delighted to know that you’re trusting him enough for that and that you’re seeking his comfort.

he’ll always be there to hear about your bad days or problems and advise you as best as he could. 

if you ever initiated physical contact, like landing your hand on his arm or pushing a strand of hair away from his face, he’ll be frozen in place and he’ll have to stop himself from blushing too much.

you could be in the middle of the most chaotic fight between his members and you two will still be there, discussing the most important and serious subjects. 

he would want to develop a real and deep relationship with you before telling you about his crush.

LEE JIHOON

can seem a little distant at first because he’s an introvert but he’s just too shy and impressed by you to talk to you first. 

so you’ll have to engage the conversation i fear but after that, he’ll come to you by himself.

he had spent so much time looking at you and being close to the conversation you were having with his members that he already knows a lot of things about you. 

everytime he mentions something new that you had not told him about yet, you look at him with a surprised expression that he thinks looks so cute he can’t help but keep on doing it. 

he would want to make you listen to some of his music, but he wouldn’t want to annoy you.

eventually, you would ask him to explain some things about it and he would be on cloud nine because you’re asking about him ? you want to know him more ?

often goes out of his way to do things for you in hopes that it will compensate for all the times he’s too shy to talk to you properly. 

LEE SEOKMIN

another funny man whose only goal is to see you smile and be happy. 

but also and mostly a sweetheart.

he would always be the first to greet you when you enter the room, immediately asking about your day and if it was good or not.

if you say no, he will do everything in his power to make it better (and would often succeed because his mere presence would solve 99% of my problems).

so attentive everytime you talk to him about something, entirely focused on you.

and he will remember a lot of little details you told him during these conversations. 

wants to know everything about you so he’ll ask soooo much questions and if you tell him that you don’t want to annoy him, he’ll be quick to reassure you that he’s interested. 

if you advise him to listen to a song or try out a type of food, he’ll do it and review it to you next time he sees you.

he feels all giddy inside everytime you smile at him, and he smiles so much himself when he’s with you that his cheeks hurt when he comes home. 

KIM MINGYU

golden retriever energy, a litteral puppy.

kinda the same as cheol, i think he would want to flex his muscles too, but more in the sense that he wants to impress you.

he’ll always try to help you with things that require strength just so he could show off his muscles. 

gets all shy when you praise him for that or compliment him, cheeks turning red and becoming a stuttering mess. 

often gets sleepy around you, and he heard that it can happen when you’re really comfortable around someone. 

let him sleep on your shoulders or lap, please, he’s so cute, and if you pet his hair too, his crush would become even more obvious. 

it is so visible to everyone that at one point, he starts to think that maybe you just don’t feel the same because he’s painfully obvious. 

but teasing mingyu is so much fun, and he’s so cute when he’s trying to impress you that you can’t help it. 

XU MINGHAO

i think he’s pretty good at hiding his feelings, and he would not show his interest in you at first.

he just wants to make sure that you’re also attracted to him before letting you know. 

he’s a pretty straightforward guy, and he doesn’t want to lose the time he could have spent with you instead.

would often make comments about the fact that he could be a good boyfriend, always looking your way when he’s saying that. 

compliments, so many compliments about your outfits or your makeup or on how smart you are. 

anyway, he always makes sure to praise so that you’ll see how good he could treat you. 

interested in everything you have to tell and love to have deep conversations with you.

would want his confession to be well prepared though, so he’ll practice a lot in order for it to be perfect and deserving of you. 

BOO SEUNGKWAN

immediately wants to know more about you when he gets introduced to you.

firstly, because he thinks you’re very pretty and that he was instantly charmed by your sweet smile. 

secondly, because your personality is just as sweet and charming. 

thirdly, because you’re not bothered to listen to his rambles for hours and hours, always staying attentives. 

he would always try to seek one-on-one time with you, asking you to go shopping together, or under the excuse of showing you this cute café he told you about some time before. 

even when you’re not around, he’ll always find a way of mentioning you during his conversation, and once he starts, no one can stop him. 

would whine and refuse every single one of your compliments, but the tip of his ears are so red it’s obvious how flustered you make him. 

CHWE HANSOL

very chill and calm usually, but every time you’re here, it’s like he gets a sudden burst of energy and adrenaline. 

outside of that, it would not show too much that he has a crush on you, and only his members or people that know him really well would notice the small changes in his behavior. 

would listen to the music you like because he thinks the type of songs people listen to are saying a lot about them. 

full attention on you everytime you talk, even if it’s not to him specifically.

he loves to just look at you, admire how pretty and easy-going you are. 

same as some of the others, he would want to know you well before confessing, just to be certain of his feelings. 

not easy to make him blush or fluster him, but if you start to praise him out of nowhere, his cheeks would be dusted pink. 

LEE CHAN

match his outfits with yours every time he has the chance, playing it off a coincidence but not daring to say that it makes you look like a couple even if it’s what he’s trying to imply by doing that.

he would want to teach you some of his choreos but would not want to impose this activity on you. 

so if you compliment him on how good of a dancer he is and how you wished you could be as talented as him, he’s quick to jump on the offer and become your teacher. 

will literally treat you like royalty even if you’re not his partner yet. 

would buy you random gifts just because they made you think of you. 

another one who’s very obvious, but because he’s not able to hide his blush and giggles every time you’re close to each other, or when you’re looking into his eyes. 

honestly so cute it’s hard to resist him for too long.

-> i don't allow any copies, reposts or translations of my work.

svt taglist (fill in this to be added) :

@lil-kpopstan @hann1bee @iraisswiftie

[scarletwinterxx]

I choose you and me religiously - joshua hong imagine

istg every love song i hear, he's the only one i can think of. i'm in my joshua brain rot era and i'm loving every second of it😭😭

for my other joshua fics, check them here

if you want, u can buy me coffee(totally optional but any donation is very much appreciated!) thank you🥺💛

All works are copyrighted ©scarletwinterxx 2024 . Do not repost, re-write without the permission of author.

(gif not mine, credits to rightful owner)

"This is so not fair"

"What?" your boyfriend blinks back at you with his doe eyes, knowing full well what this does to you

"You can't use that every time you're trying to win, Josh" you grumble, hitting him playfully with a pillow. He blocks it with his arm, laughing at your annoyed but cute expression, clearly he's having more fun than you.

There are so many things Joshua does that makes your knees go weak. The moment you met him you knew you were in deep deep trouble. It was hard not to get swayed while staring in his eyes when they say so much.

Even before, you can never keep eye contact with him because if you do you'd end up a blushing mess. His eyes confessed to you first, and you stared right back getting lost along side him.

Your relationship with him is like those cliche movies and cute scenes in books you only dreamt of happening to you, then along came him and made those into reality.

Like how can you not think he's the cutest human ever when he made a beaded bracelet with his number on it and gave it to you because he was too shy and too much of a gentleman to ask, how he held pinkies with you on your first date while walking around the park, or how he giggled (yes, this man straight up giggled) the first time you kissed.

Every thing he does is an arrow shot straight to your heart. He might not be aware of it but he got you on the palm of his hand. You can't even argue with him because the moment you see his sad eyes and pouty lips, you're already waiving the white flag.

You thought it would be scary for someone to have this much power over you, but not Joshua. He's honest, gentle and kind through and through. In a world of boys, he really is the gentleman.

He never did anything to make you feel uncomfortable or angry or upset, sure there are little arguments here and there but he will never let a day end without making sure you two are okay.

Most often you would say he's too kind for this world, all you get is a shake of his head and a smile. It's just who is he is. Not a single mean bone in his body. You would fight the world for him, always his number one defender and he loves that about you.

Why would he care if the world was mean to him when he got you on his side?

That's all that matters to him anyways.

"Do you ever get angry?" you ask

"Of course, I do" he answer with a chuckle, prompting you to raise your brow at him

"I've never seen you angry, is that a bad sign? They say you should see your partner angry to see that side of them or whatnot"

"I just never find any reason to be. I feel upset, I do. But then I resolve it. It takes too much energy to be angry, life's too short for that don't you think"

"Okay but like what if someone insults you?" you prod

"Do they know me?" he asks back "Just hypothetically"

"But like what's the scenario" "Oh come on, indulge me for a moment will you" you say, getting annoyed at your boyfriend but he just laughs. You always look cute when he annoys you, wishing he could keep you in his pocket all the time.

"Okay let's change it then, let's say we're walking out at night and someone says something about me-" "Well that's different, darling. They won't even finish the sentence, I'm already walking up to them" he cuts you off, even though it's just a made up scenario he already feels a bit mad at the thought of someone disrespecting you

"And what? Fight them?"

He doesn't say anything for a while, staring back at you like he's making you read his mind. Then he pulls you by the arm until you're cuddled against him.

"They can hurt me any way they want, I can handle that. But you, I'd lose my mind if anything happens to you. I can't even imagine it, it's making me mad"

Looking up at him, you see the change in his expression "Oh love, I didn't mean to upset you. Sorry" you mumble, smoothing the crease in between his brows

"No need to be sorry, it's the truth. I treat you with nothing but love and respect, I can't have some stranger treat you any less"

Your lips immediately form a pout when you hear his words. Your sweet sweet boy.

"You really love me huh" you whisper

He looks down at you, his expression quickly changes when he sees your cheeks squished against his chest and the cute pout on your lips. Like a little cute dumpling.

Leaning down to give your cheek a few pecks, "A little bit more than how much you love me"

You laugh at that, you never doubted your feelings about him. You know you love him so much, every single cell in your body knows that. "Sounds impossble"

"Oh you disagree? Lovely, we can sit here all day and talk about all the things I love about you. I can go on and on and on"

"Okay okay fine I get it, I thought you don't like arguing" you tease him

"I like arguing with you like this because I know I'll win"

"Okay Mr. Confident"

"I'm only telling the truth. Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm wrong" this time he's he one teasing, knowing full well you're weak for his stare

"Not fair, you can look at me and I'd say yes to anything"

"Anything?"

You pinch his side, earning a yelp and a laugh from your boyfriend. Then he hugs you again, holding your hand his time so you don't get any ideas.

"Want to know something? I feel the same, the moment you looked at me I knew I was going to be yours for the rest of this lifetime" he whispers

He tucks your hair behind your ears to see you eyes more, leaning down again to give your nose a peck "You had me the moment we met"

You smile at him before stretching your head to meet your lips with his, feeling him smile during the kiss. You don't say anything, you just let him feel all the emotions that are too big for any word in any language.

Exchanging I love you's through kisses.

[astrologylunadream]

Your Crush's Biggest Insecurities💌😰💧 (Pick a card/Tarot love reading)

Hey it's Lunadream🤗 Does your crush have insecurities too? If so what are they? We'll be doing a reading on their biggest insecurities right now💭 hope you find your message🌸

Notice: Only take what resonates because the most important thing is your own judgement!♡ If anything doesn't resonate, don't worry! It's not your message right now <3 (Entertainment purpose only. All rights reserved)

Now, shall we begin~? ^w^ There are 6 piles this time! Think of your crush, and pick whichever pile that fits the energy you're feeling~☁️♥️

Pile 1💮

Pile 2🥀

Pile 3🛁

Pile 4🍰

Pile 5🌪

Pile 6🍷

Take your time and choose carefully with the heart~♡

On to the readings —> ☁️🎲🖤

Pile 1💮

Sign energy: Stress, Early, Intuition, Sidelines, Short-term, North node, Mercury, 7th house, 12th house, Sun, 🎪💣🟫📆

🥀Your person's energy: This is someone you have thought about seriously marrying/committing to pile 1, I see you👀 Now for the overall vibe of your person it's a lot of air energy I'm feeling but also they could have air in their water houses like for instance the 4th/8th/12th houses are all water houses naturally but for your person they could be like gemini/libra/aquarius in those houses in any order too. Virgo is coming through for some of you, I'm getting Libra/Virgo cusp rn. I'm seeing someone who is a heavy over thinker right now they get lost in their mind a lot. Your person is prone to stress and sometimes they just stress themselves out over little things, they even obsess about the dates flying by and have an over emphasis on time. This is someone that has a lot on their plate, but you just want to step in and be their true loving partner🥺❤ You just wanna make their day and help them out a bit, you want to turn their frown upside down I'm hearing haha. This person may have confessed to you recently or perhaps thought about it a LOT. They trust their intuition because they are usually right and they're the type to say "I knew it" and "I'm going with my gut on this one" because they really have a hunch for things sometimes!! This person may not be in your life yet, but they can sense a future with you and they think about you a lot.

💭Their biggest insecurities: Stage, Self reflection, Feminine, Prove, Vulnerable, Mars, Neptune, 5th house, Gemini, Capricorn, 🩰🔙💢👫 Alright my pile 1's, your person is so worried about appearing good enough for you😖💗 They're worried about a future partner or marriage, they may feel like no one could love them or they would screw it up so this makes them very lonely. For some of you I'm getting this person had a past longing for creative expression but it was repressed by others, I'm seeing someone who wasn't necessarily allowed to like feminine things. They have a deep insecurity about displaying their more feminine side (or more nurturing/emotional side) in fear of being taken advantage of or judged for it. Your person is so scared deep down you guys they don't wanna be called weak or stupid for their innermost self😭😭 They're afraid of daydreaming too much and being in their head all the time, and romanticizing a partner and hoping for one makes them feel vulnerable and desperate but like that's just themmm😫😫♡ Pile 1 you have no idea how insecure they are about themselves... they set themselves to be this strong, will powered, bold person who doesn't need affection but they're really just a sweetheart deep down who wants to be seen as delicate too.💓 My heart omg you guys this is so sad... I'm hearing "let me be myself". They want someone who they can show their true colors with, like looking in a mirror with someone who doesn't degrade their true self.

🖤Messages from your person: I've been trying to keep my distance, I don't know you, I want to take you away, You don't need to take care of me, It's not true (Omg they honestly do want to be cared for😟💞) Extra cards: Door, Lesson, Pretty, Phase, Work, Aquarius, Air, Moon, 6th house, 5th house (They're working on showing their hidden side🤍)

Thank you my pile 1's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❣

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ w ˂ )ɞ♡ If you did be sure to let me know pile 1 with the blossom emoji~💮 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading❤

Pile 2🥀

Sign energy: Career, Exotic, Pink, Last, Fixation, Water, Aries, 5th house, Neptune, Scorpio, 🏃‍♂️🗻❤🩺

🥀Your person's energy: Ohh okay I'm getting Leo, Aries, Pisces, Scorpio all those sort of signs. Your person is probably very fun and distinct from other people, I feel like they just have this look about them. Now this might be someone you're in a love affair with, maybe one of you enjoys flirting with the other. I feel like you may be resisting this person but your heart is saying like "Yes yes yes 👀👄👀" Now anyways I'm seeing this as someone who creeps into your subconscious a lot and you might have wild fantasies about themmm🙈🔥 Keep it low keyyyy it's so obvious lol your person may be from a far away land like a long distance from where you are, idk why but I'm getting rockstar vibes right now so your person could be into rock or punk music.🎸 Their hair is on fleek btw, they have an unnatural color or style most likely too. They make your heart beat so fast, they may like to run in the mornings. You've told yourself they will be your last, and you're heart is focused on them completely.

💭Their biggest insecurities: Mother, Rest, Escape, Bones, Call, Pluto, Cancer, Water, Libra, South node, 🧩✔♒👎 Hmm this is interesting, so I'm getting some serious baggage with your person my pile 2's... this may be a little dark but they might have a deceased parent or their mother could have a burdensome relationship with them. Whatever the case this is something that's weighing their energy a lot right now, so they're kind of at a dark place right now. This could be an tragic event from the past regarding their mother that they're still holding onto, this could be effecting their relationships with others aswell. They want to leave this mind prison they've trapped themselves in and stop dwelling on the past. They feel powerless and their state of mind is greatly imbalanced. They feel like they could have done things differently to change their past, and perhaps made things easier for their mother. I'm getting they may not have one and if for some of you they do, I'm getting they watched their mother deal with hardships while feeling like a helpless burden.😔🌧 They have this deep guilt and regret for not stepping up to help those in need more, and this has led to my pile 2's aswell. They don't want you to suffer like others they have witnessed before, they worry about putting you in a hard situation without knowing how to protect you. They are worried their care won't suffice. Your person wants to provide and protect those in need but they have little faith in themselves to do so.

🖤Messages from your person: Of course, I need someone, You really think I would choose you? I couldn't stop, What if I make a mistake? (They don't want to disappoint you🥺😭😢) Extra cards: Hot, Mars, Fan, Capricorn, Dreams, Taurus, Capricorn, Pisces, (Uh oh my pile 2's your person has some wicked fantasies about you omg they don't wanna get carried away with the passion they feel!!🥵❤)

Thank you my pile 2's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❣

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ w ˂ )ɞ♡ If you did be sure to let me know pile 2 with the rose emoji~🥀 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading❤

Pile 3🛁

Sign energy: Affection, Angel, Hunger, Escape, Unseen, Jupiter, Neptune, 6th house, Sun, Gemini, 🔒🐈🎲🎰

🥀Your person's energy: Your person is so soft and beautiful omgggg their soul is like a watercolor painting imo so lovely and enchanting🌊♥️ You may feel like they're unreal or like not human they have such a graceful presence, so stunning~ They may have soft Sagittarius + Pisces placements, I'm getting Leo and Gemini for your person, Virgo could be significant aswell. I keep seeing soft baby blue eyes and deep red nails for some pile 3's person, they have really pretty hands. They are known to daydream and space out into their abstract thoughts often, your person may find feline creatures very beautiful and identify with those creatures. They have an angelic voice and mind, you see them as a pure angel <3 They might take risks often despite their soft nature, trying out anything out of their curiosity. I'm hearing "curiosity killed the cat" lol that's them😂 They're such a curious cat about life and the world around them, I feel like they have diverse interests including you~ This might be someone you "crave" in any way whether it's emotionally or physically you just want themm💗💗 You imagine yourself with them often and fantasize about winning their affection and being held by them, it's always on the back of your mind my loveliesss.

💭Their biggest insecurities: Public image, Impulsive, Locked, Remedy, Book, 8th house, 12th house, Fire, Vertex, 5th house, 🙄🩰🖇🔝 Ohh alright we have some interesting things going on my pile 3's so let's see, with the heavy water house energy we're recieving I'm kind of seeing an obsession/addiction they're hiding from you... maybe it's your obsession that they're insecure about, because they feel so important to you and it's like a pressure in a way.. to be everything for you, they don't know if they can keep you🥺 I feel like your person might be afraid of what others think of you two, like they don't want everyone to know how deep things are between you both. You guys may have a mutual obsession with eachother that they're a little shy about, so they are insecure of their intense feelings for you💓 And I'm seeing the fate of you guys' relationship is something they are a little worried about, they feel in the dark about you and them. Your person is insecure about your loyalty aswell, I can see this as a huge concern for some reason. They might have certain ideas of you and assume you won't commit to them like they will.😟 They know you guys are connected and they're so scared of messing things up, my pile 3's your person knows you have eyes for them but they feel pressured to be the one for you <3 You make them feel special and they hold onto that desperately, so they're always nervous about being their best.

🖤Messages from your person: It all matters, Oh my god, This is interesting, I knew you would feel this way, I don't know who I am (Wow you got them thinking😫) Extra cards: Change, Crush, Innovation, Order, Secret admirer, Neptune, Earth, Chiron, 3rd house, Pisces (They're fantasizing of a confession!! Thinking of confessing to my lovely pile 3!!!)

Thank you my pile 3's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❣

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 3 with the tub emoji~🛁 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading❤

Pile 4🍰

Sign energy: Right, Abundance, Fan, Connection, Sadness, 11th house, Jupiter, Juno, Aries, Water, 😷🔧🧎‍♂️😳

🥀Your person's energy: Alright this is someone you are head over heels for rn, I can really feel this recieving energy from your person like they're in a state of receiving and earning love and admiration. They're very lucky and have many opportunities, this could who fixes things or very helpful. They could be like the term "fixer upper" so maybe they have some flaws or issues but you look past them.💓 For some of you this could be an internet famous person, they don't have much physical contact with you at the moment I'm really getting that honestly. Some of my pile 4's are the type to chat online a lot with them or maybe you often send messages to your person but then one of you stopped for some reason??😦 Many of you are a fan of your person like their personal little supporter🥰🎉 This may be someone with Aquarius/Aries placements, as well as Sagittarius. They have a nice smile and very emotional too, even if they don't seem that way at first. They feel a lot and I'm getting melancholy vibes from your person~ You see them as your ideal partner and you want to date them. Your person can be impatient at times.

💭Their biggest insecurities: Inspiration, Holding back, Earth, Love at first sight, Activity, Gemini, Vertex, Aries, Leo, Aquarius, ☸🎢🧩🌅 Okay your person has a lot they're anxious about rn, they have been keeping things to themselves a little more than they would like. Your person is afraid to lead you on, because they don't want to lead you in the wrong direction like a dead end with you. They don't want any of that so they're holding back their feelings they're stepping back for a while to process everything. Your person's mind rapid right now just thinking about what to do they keep pondering the best decisions because they're so worried about loosing you.😣 It feels like fireworks are going off in their mind just trying to comprehend the situation between you two. They are so confused and they don't know whether to listen to their head or heart!! Rejection is the biggest insecurity for them and they feel as if they're setting themselves up for disaster. There could be a little self sabotage going on with them, I feel like they have no idea what they want and it drives them crazy. It makes them feel worse about themself that they can't make a decision on this. It's killing them that they're so aimless right now, they hate to admit that they have no clue what move to make with you my pile 4's your person is a mess over you😩❤ They're trying to ground themselves and come up with a rational answer for their situation, because they're insecure about their ability to keep this relationship with you.

🖤Messages from your person: You're mine, I care about you, I want to give you cuddles, You're not okay, I'm so frustrated (Omg they're so stuck rn🥺) Extra cards: Rage, Union, Anonymous, Wish, Slow, Gemini, Aries, Virgo, Libra, Juno (They really want this to work!!🤧💖)

Thank you my pile 4's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❣

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 4 with the cake emoji~🍰 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading❤

Pile 5🌪

Sign energy: One and only, My everything, Kabedon, Mirror, Smile, Chiron, Eros, Jupiter, Lilith, Leo, 🎤💜🗿🍦

🥀Your person's energy: Ayy I'm getting heavy masculine energy with this one, I'm sensing a really attractive person on this pile's mind~ It's someone very successful and outgoing, they have a really hot smile. I'm seeing pile 5 just melting whenever they see them smiling LOL it's addictive.🥰 This is someone very fun and charismatic, they have such a light energy. It's so enjoyable and sweet!! Prominent Sagittarius and Leo energy. Your person has a genuine aura about them, very honest and showing their true self. They could be a singer or enjoy music a lot, could he their hobby. This person means everything to you, you love them so much and would do anything for them. You also try to be like them, mimicking their little habits and speech patterns <3 They may like the color purple or look good in that color, I have a feeling they are very sweet to you. Which caused you to fall so hard for them!! This person does not show when they are hurt, they will put on a poker face and keep going, so they always seem happy. They have a dark side that you see in yourself, the side you wish you could express but are too shy to. You see them as perfect.💝

💭Their biggest insecurities: Home, Absence, Meaning, Winter, Lesson, Juno, 10th house, Scorpio, Cancer, Saturn, 🤩😡🎧🦁 Your person has some deep feelings they're keeping in, and it's definitely weighing their subconscious rn. They don't feel in the right position, they feel misplaced you could say. Your person has a lot of repressed feelings that they can't hold back anymore, it tears them inside out emotionally. Your person is a drama queen deep down but they are so scared to show this side of them to anyone. Also, your person is so lonely and they have huge insecurities about being needy.😔💞 They just want to cuddle and share their feelings with someone who will keep them safe!! They feel like they have no meaning or worthiness, and they don't want to be a burden. Your crush is secretly clingy but they're ashamed of this, so they pretend to be unbothered by emotional distance. But every little thing really effects them!! They're so insecure about the relationship not bringing you both success and support, they just wanna ensure that you are cared for and that your connection with them will remain true.😚 I'm hearing "keep you interested" and "entertain you" now. They're insecure about you loosing interest or seeing them as less great than you thought, this makes them so nervous awww pile 5 your person really wants to please you.🥺🥺⭐

🖤Messages from your person: I want to hate you, You saved me, Don't think of anyone else, In your imagination, I can't wait to meet you (Ohhh pile 5 they're possessive😳😶❤) Extra cards: Baby, Bones, Nervous, Sight, Punish, 1st house, Aquarius, Mercury, 9th house, Saturn (Aghhh whyyy they're so into you pile 5 they wanna take you down🥵🤯)

Thank you my pile 5's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❣

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 5 with the tornado emoji~🌪 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading❤

Pile 6🍷

Sign energy: Separation, Quiet place, Neptune, Choice, Mermaid, Scorpio, 10th house, Virgo, Uranus, 1st house, 😫🦄🩺🍰

🥀Your person's energy: Okay I'm getting heavy Scorpio rising vibes oh gosh. Virgo/Aquarius rising aswell as capricorn rising. They have a magnetic aura, their gaze will suck you in so fast. They make you do stupid things without thinking rationally!! You can't think straight around this person, your heart starts beating out of control when you think of them.♥️ I feel like have an attractive collarbone/neck area for some reason, and I also feel called to say this is definitely a loner type of crush. You love their calm and cold demeanor, ohh and their stare has you obsessed you love their piercing gaze. I'm getting a no contact period for some of you with this person, you guys might be far away from eachother or someone is being really REALLY quiet.🤐 They are so mysterious and alluring and you barely know what's in their mind, they're very hard to read at times. But they are highly perceptive and can read you like a book lol it's not fair😂 They are very unique and special, they have charms that make them very different from others. You guys might have a strange situation with this person, a situationship is likely between you two. I feel like you daydream about being dominated by this person in the sweetest way like cuddles where their hug just swallows you whole🥺🥰

💭Their biggest insecurities: Shoulders, Venus, First love, Even, Movie theater, 10th house, 3rd house, Aries, Moon, 8th house, 😭🆙️💬🤝 Awww your person is so sweet omg so first I'm seeing they get really nervous around you like, you give them little butterflies. They have a soft spot for you especially when you pour your heart out and vice versa you listen.😍💕 Their biggest most deep insecurity is scaring you away🥺😰 They have a really deep bond with you and you guys have such an intimate connection, they feel so strongly for you that their emotions and intensity just consumes them. Part of them just wants to hold your hand and brush your hair gently, and then there's another part of them that wants to grab your shoulders and kiss you against the wall until you can't breathe💀 So like they're super worried about how you'll react to their intensity and they don't want to make you uncomfortable or seem to desperate/clingy for your love. They're worried you will just watch them like a clown circus as they cry over you😂 Stop why am I laughing it's so sad though. They are afraid you won't want to match their level of attachment to you, they wish you would let them take control of you in the most loving way. They're scared of being called dramatic or too obsessive, and they don't want to let go. My pile 6's your person is so afraid of becoming that "psycho ex" story for you lmaooo where they just never let go of you when you've moved on. 9/10 chance they're probably crying over you rn.🙃 But seriously they just want mutual feelings!!

🖤Messages from your person: You're my dream, I want you all to myself, We're more than friends, I'm not okay, Who are you to me? Extra cards: Hidden, Innocence, Sugar, True feelings, Innovation, 10th house, Vertex, Air, Pluto, Saturn, (They just wanna stabilize their crazy feelings for you but it's so difficult for them...😢)

Thank you my pile 6's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❣

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ w ˂ )ɞ♡ If you did be sure to let me know pile 6 with the red glass emoji~🍷 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading❤

Wanna see more readings like this? Check out my tumblr for accurate readings for you!💗🌊🌸

Alright you guys this was a lot to write so I'm glad you found the message you needed. Thanks everyone for reading! (*^w^)/💌 -Lunadream <3

[suika-suigetsu]

Quick question what are your fav Yaoi and Yuri Ships in The Narutoverse? Just curious lol

Sorry to answer your quick question with a long text, but I'm just like this... 🥹

So, since I was a kid, I never watched Naruto thinking about couples, I was never a "stan", as they say. I just loved the story and the characters.

It was only very recently, when I started to like the character Suigetsu and researched everything about him, that I saw how perfect I think his relationship with Karin is.

I say this because, as much as I like the cannon couples and defend the story of some of them, I do it more because I respect Kishimoto's decision of the ending and because I think it's cute, but I didn't research it in depth to ship it faithfully like I do with SuiKa. But I like to respect what is cannon, even if some have destroyed other ships that I liked more (but I'll never say... 😭)

I ship when I think that, based on the character's story and the context, they make a good couple.

So, here are some same-sex couples I ship (using information that I think makes them perfect for each other):

Itachi x Kisame

I never really thought about it because I'm not a fan of Itachi, but I like Kisame, so I never saw them together romantically. But I've been thinking and researching about it for a few months now, and after seeing some cute art of them, I'm even more convinced.

I think Kisame fell in love first, and like Sasuke, I don't think Itachi was emotionally mature enough to reciprocate, but as an artist, I plan on pretending that they had a lot of loving moments together and I'll draw them as soon as I have time (I already have some sketches). 🩷

Gaara x Rock Lee

I don't like shipping characters that I feel have a more "innocent" aura. Rock Lee, Jugo, Mitsuki... I see them as babies. But I like to hear everyone's opinion and, sometimes, they convince me.

I like GaaLee nowadays, even though I don't have much information for it, but I just like the idea that the two of them are single parents who share a mutual love for each other and their children, and I also think that Rock Lee's energy would make Gaara's life happy, since he has such a sad past...

Izumo x Kotetsu

I don't need to say anything, right? They've been cannon since the first chapters they appeared, that's just a fact. They're stuck together like nails and flesh, nowadays they must be living together and traveling the world on a never-ending honeymoon. 💖💖💖

A little steal on the list: Sakura x Karin

This one doesn't make any sense, I only shipped them when I was younger, I didn't care about Suigetsu and I hated Sasuke. I just wanted them to use their love for Sasuke to get closer and form a couple, and they were my favorite female characters 🥹🥹 Obviously I don't think that way anymore nowadays, but I'll still draw them together a lot just because I really like it lol.

Another little steal: SuiKarin

Haha, I know it doesn't fit here, but I just think they love each other too much and have enough experience to have tried a lot of things together. After Naruto invented the Sexy jutsu, anything is possible, right? I still want to draw SuiKarin yaoi and SuiKarin yuri... I'm looking forward to it 🫣🫣

Now, other couples that I find cute when I see them, but I don't have enough information to ship them:

Kakuzu x Hidan (I think Hidan would be easy with Kakuzu, but Kakuzu seems too shallow to be with anyone...? Although Hidan seems to be very convincing when he wants to be...), Sasori x Deidara (I'm not just talking about sexuality here, but also about feelings. If Sasori still loves his parents, he can love someone romantically, and I think it's cute to think of him with Deidara. But that said, I didn't feel any chemistry between them in the scenes where they appear together. I'm rewatching Naruto now, maybe my opinion will change, and I hope it does, because I think the art of them together is really cute...), Jiraya x Orochimaru and Tsunade (This is another steal from the list, I shipped them when I was younger, haha. I just think they're a trio that only works if the three of them are together, and if it's just two of them, it doesn't work, you know? It's a hc I've had for a long time. Unfortunately, it didn't come to fruition... In fact, I have another ship with 3 people that I think would close the anime with a flourish, but I'll never be able to say which one it is publicly... 🥹)

Just about Kiri and the Swordsmen of the Mist

I think that just like in Akatsuki, they (the Seven) must have had romances between them too. And unlike Konoha, Kirigakure doesn't seem to care so much about marriage, starting a family and things like that... In fact, I don't know if it's cannon (I don't think so), but it really struck me when I saw in the anime that one of the call girls that Jiraya went out with was married to one of the men that Jiraya captured to get information about Pain. I still think to this day "wow, the people of Kiri are so bold..." .

Anyway, thinking about Kisame's story, they even avoided that (love someone). So I think there had a lot of "quick romances", maybe with more than one person at the same time. They weren't very emotional, you know? Life was hard, just killing and missions... So relationships were just a way to de-stress. That's one of the things that made me ship ItaKisame, because I think that even though he thought that way just because he grew up among the cold population of Kiri, Kisame ended up falling in love with Itachi after knowing him more than he knew anyone else.

Spending time with companions ends up breaking the coldness, even of assassins, so I think there must have been couples who loved each other within the Seven, but I just don't have enough information to know who would end up with who. Give me information, Kishi... 😭

I'm sorry for being so annoying about ships 🥹 But I really like having evidence that makes me like the couple. There are cannon couples that I don't like at all, even though I drew them...... And there are others that I love, but like with SuiKarin, we'll never have confirmation... But since things are complicated on the internet, I prefer to keep my opinion about them to myself.

Thanks for reading. 🩷

[spearsillustration]

°[The Doctor's Out]°

Note: I really hope this turns out well. I've had an old hyperfixation reemerge, and I had to write something before the motivation slipped away. Recently, I have been quickly moving from one thing to another. Most of the time I have trouble writing longer fics. But I'm so excited to work on something for Richtofen. I've hardly seen any good fanfiction for him so I'd love any recommendations.

Word Count - 4,604

Page Number - 12.5

[Hurt Edward Richthofen x reader] SFW

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        I had finally found him slumped against a wall after looking all over for him. Only to find him bleeding out from a wound in his abdomen. It seems he had enough energy to fight off some zombies before I arrived, but he was badly injured in the process. Seeing him like this almost knocked the breath out of me. 

        "I thought you vere going to leave me to bleed to death, it was so sad." He says quietly in a lighthearted manner, though his voice was weak.    

        "Keep quiet, you can joke about this as much as you like once I patch you up," I said quickly rushing to his side holstering my gun clearly worried about him. "How'd you even manage to bang yourself up this bad?" 

        He lets out a low chuckle, wincing in pain as he does. "I got cornered by a few of those damn things. You can only keep them off for so long before one of them gets the jump on you."

        He grunts in pain as I kneel beside him, struggling to speak through the pain as blood pours from his wound. "How is it looking, my dear?"

        "Well, you're the doctor, shouldn't you know?" I asked jokingly trying to lighten the mood up a bit more.

        He lets out a weak chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. I know roughly how it looks, but I'm a little...distracted."

        He glances down at his wounded abdomen, his hand hovering over the gaping wound as the blood slowly soaks into the tattered fabric of his shirt.

        He was losing blood faster than I originally thought making my eyes widen and uncontrollably gasp. I quickly sat down on the ground next to him and threw open our med kit. I rummaged through grabbing what I needed. 

        He watches me silently, taking note of the look of shock on my face seeing the extent of his injury. His eyes follow every movement meticulously, analyzing my every reaction to the situation.

        "I'm going to be fine, don't worry." He assures you quietly, trying to maintain a calm demeanor as his face twists in pain. Despite his attempt to appear unbothered, his hands clench into fists as his eyes narrow with discomfort. "I've had vorse."

        "I'll stop worrying once I get you patched up." I had everything I needed and moved closer to his injured side. I had him lie down fully so I could get a better look to see what I was working with.

        He complies with my request, grunting in pain as he slowly lowers himself to the ground, trying to avoid putting too much pressure on his wounded abdomen. His breathing quickens slightly as he sees the medical supplies in my hands, knowing that the pain he's about to feel is just the beginning.

        "You can still leave me...if you want." He offers, half-jokingly as he looks up at me from his position on the ground.

        "Don't even joke about that," I said sternly looking him in the eyes for a moment before getting back to work. I removed some of his outer layers and pushed up his shirt to get a better view of the injury.

        He let out a sharp breath as I moved his shirt, exposing the ugly wound on his abdomen. The area around the wound was already turning a dark purple color from the internal bleeding, and the actual gash on his skin was still seeping with fresh blood. He grits his teeth, bracing himself for the pain that's to come as he looks up at my face again.

        "Just do your work, dear." He mutters in a strained voice.

        I gave him a sympathetic look knowing this was gonna hurt like hell, fixing this with what little we have.

        He nods slightly in acknowledgment of the sympathetic look. He steadies his breathing, trying to mentally prepare himself for the pain that's about to come as he closes his eyes and tilts his head back, resting it against the cold, hard wall behind him.

        "Do your worst, love." He says quietly, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation.

        "I'll be as gentle as I can okay?" I said before starting to clean his wound.

        He nods silently, bracing himself as best he can as I start to clean his wound. He grits his teeth, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he feels the cold touch of the antiseptic against his skin. Every muscle in his body tenses up, waiting for the pain to come.

        "Just...get it over with, quickly please."

        "I'll work as fast as I can. But if I don't do this right it'll only make it worse." Cleaning the wound helped slow down the blood flow making it easier to fix before stitching him back up. "But I'll have you back in one piece soon."

        "I'm trying to hold still for you." He mutters through gritted teeth, struggling to keep from flinching as I touch the sensitive, wounded skin.

        After a few minutes, I removed my hands and got the needle ready to sew him up. "We're almost finished, just need to sew you up and we're done," I said gently caressing his cheek with my hand for a moment before going back to work.

        He nods quickly, a mix of relief and anticipation clear in his expression. The thought of being sewn up brings a grimace to his face, but he knows it needs to be done. He leans into the touch of my hand against his cheek for a moment, finding comfort in the soft caress.

        "Just... do it quickly, okay?" He manages to say, his voice strained and shaky.

        I quickly sewed him up and made sure it was secure before fixing his clothes. "All finished hon,"  I said with a sigh of relief. "I'll keep the medical work for you next time."

        He let out a long sigh of relief himself once I finished stitching him up. He glances down at his abdomen, inspecting the work I did.

        "Thanks, love. I'm sorry you had to stitch me up like that." He shifts slightly, trying to get more comfortable on the cold floor as he looks up at me once again. "You did alright despite zero medical training." He adds jokingly, unable to resist.

        "Well, I never wanna have to stitch you up again, that better be the last time. Be more careful." I said putting everything back away.

        "Now stay right there, I need to do a quick lookout to make sure we're safe to stay here for a while. You need to rest for a bit, and I don't need zombies cornering us before we meet back up with the group."

        He nods in agreement, reluctantly admitting that I was right. He leans back against the wall, resting one arm over his wounded abdomen as his eyes fill with a mix of irritation and exhaustion. "Fine, fine, I'll stay put. Just be careful out there."

       "I'll be right back," I said making sure my gun was fully loaded.

        He watches me check my weapon, "Give 'em hell, my dear.." He says quietly, a hint of a smile on his face as he leans back and closes his eyes.

        "Always do," I said leaving him there safely in the room we were in.

        I wanted to make sure the building was safe to stay in over the night. I looked around checking every room hardly noticing a thing. Well, that was until I heard something. A lone zombie by itself it looked like from the corner I hid in trying my best to keep out of sight. It hadn't noticed me so I quickly rushed back. It wasn't the best but our circumstances could be far worse. As long as we stayed hidden and quiet we'd be fine, most likely. It wasn't one of my best plans but we didn't have many options. The group has been separated and my only teammate and medic got hurt. 

        He waits patiently in the room, his head leaning against the wall behind him and his eyes closed as he tries to rest. It had only been a few minutes since I left when he heard the door burst open suddenly. He quickly opens his eyes, looking up at me entering the room, noticing the tense look on my face.

        "Everything alright?" He asks, raising a concerned eyebrow.

        "It's fine. Only a few zombies lying around." I closed and locked the door behind me. "But we need to stay quiet and I prefer to take extra precautions." We were hiding away in an old office so I pushed the desk in front of the door along with the bookcase. This wouldn't do much but it's better than nothing. "This will do for tonight," I said dusting myself off and wiping the sweat from my brow. 

        He watches as I barricaded the door, his expression a mixture of resignation and irritation. He knew I was right to take extra precautions, but he seemed frustrated at having to hide away in an old office.

        "Great, just great... we'll be stuck in here for the night then." He mutters, wincing slightly as he shifts his position on the floor, his injured abdomen still throbbing with pain most likely. 

        "Well we can't do much now, and you need to rest," I said turning to face him with another stern look. 

        He had already been pushing himself to the limit, and the strain of today's events had taken their toll on him. His exhaustion shows on his face as he leans back against the wall, trying to make himself as comfortable as possible on the hard floor.

        "I guess you're right. I could use some rest. But.. what about you? You still haven't slept either.."

        "I can wait, you need to rest. Doctors orders or so you'd say. Plus one of us needs to keep watch just in case anything happens. I'd hate to see what happens if both of us were taken by surprise. We probably wouldn't survive that one."

        He rolls his eyes at my mention of "doctor's orders," but can't help letting out a small chuckle.

        "If you say so, Liebling. I suppose I'm in no position to argue right now." He lets out a weary sigh, closing his eyes again as he tries to relax his aching muscles. 

        He was already hurting from his wounds so I hated to see him uncomfortable too. I walked back over and sat next to him. "Well, the wall isn't very comfortable is it?" I patted my shoulder gesturing for him to lean against my side and make himself comfortable.

        He glances at me, a mix of surprise and gratitude in his expression. He sighs quietly, reluctantly accepting the offer as he slowly shifts his position to lean against my side, gingerly resting his head on my shoulder.

        "I'm too tired to argue about this.." He mutters, his voice low and weary. But there's a hint of affection in his tone as well.

        "Whatever you say, doctor," I said with a smile.

        He lets out a soft breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over him as he moves into a more comfortable position, resting against my side. Despite the situation, he can't help feeling a sense of comfort from my presence, even if he would never admit it out loud.

        "That's better." He mutters quietly, his eyes fluttering closed as he leans into you. "Just wake me up if anything happens, got it, love?"

        "Just rest, let me worry about everything for now," I said tenderly.

        He nods silently, his eyes still closed as he takes a deep breath, his weary mind slowly starting to relax allowing himself to simply unwind and rest. "Just for a little while.." He mutters, the fatigue slowly taking over as he allows himself to drift off to sleep.

        I just lightly hummed in response.

        The sound of soft humming fills the quiet room, its soothing melody acting like a lullaby that slowly lulls him to sleep. He leans even closer, his head resting against my shoulder, his breathing slowly becoming more steady and regular, a clear sign that he is gradually falling asleep.

        I smiled as he fell asleep. He definitely needed it. I just listened for anything coming and kept guard as he slept. This was the first time I've seen him take anything remotely close to a break. However these days it was almost impossible for any of us to get a break. But it did bring a smile to my face to see him get some rest though I was almost envious. 

        ---

        A few hours passed as he slept quietly, the room filled with the silence of the night and the soft sound of his steady breathing. During the first few hours, he remained motionless, too exhausted and in pain to stir. It wasn't until later in the night that he began to shift and murmur restlessly, his sleep disturbed by some unknown nightmare.

        A few times here and there I could hear something moving around outside keeping me alert. As long as we were quiet and weren't located we'd be safe. I noticed him stir a few times here and there but I didn't think much of it since I can't believe anyone could have a truly restful night's sleep these days. 

        As the night progressed, his nightmare continued to cause him to stir and murmur in his sleep. Now and again he would let out a low gasp of pain or fear, his body tensing and flinching involuntarily as if trying to escape from whatever horrors his mind was tormenting him with.

        After a while of this, it started to worry me too much to let it be. "Richthofen...Richthofen." I repeated gently trying to wake him up in case his nightmare caused him to hurt himself even more or make too much noise giving away our location.

        His eyes snap open instantly, his expression one of disoriented confusion and fear. His heart was beating fast, his chest heaving heavily as he tried to figure out his surroundings in the darkness. It takes him a moment to realize where he is.

        "S-Scheiße, what...where..?" He stammers, his voice hoarse and strained as he slowly regains his bearings.

        You were having a nightmare, are you alright?

       He takes a deep, shaky breath, his hands trembling slightly as he runs one through his messy hair. The nightmare still had him feeling on edge, and his heart still felt like it was racing.

        "Ja, I-I'm fine. Just a bad dream, that's all." He says, trying to downplay the situation. He didn't want me to worry about him any more than I already was.

        "It seemed like a rough one. Not that I wanna pry. You were starting to move around and I didn't want you ripping your stitches or anything."

        "Danke, liebe.. I appreciate your concern, I'm alright. Just need a few moments to catch my breath." He says, his voice sounding strained and weary as he tries to calm his breathing.

        A loud crash outside the door interrupted us making me jump as I covered my mouth keeping myself from making noise. It sounds like something was knocked over right outside the door.

        Edward's tired mind quickly snaps to alert at the sound of the crash outside the door and he instantly goes tense, his eyes wide as he looks at me.

        "What was that?" He whispers, his voice low and urgent. He was fully awake now, adrenaline starting to course through our veins as he scanned the room anxiously, ready to defend the both of us if needed despite his injuries. 

        "Sounds like one of them knocked something over. It's probably nothing but we should stay quiet for now." I barely said over a whisper almost shaking as my hand rested over my gun.

        Edward nods in agreement. Every little noise and shadow seemed to make us more nervous, his fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly.

        "Right, let's stay quiet.." He mutters, his voice low and tense. "Hopefully it was just a stray zombie and it will pass on by."

        "That's what I hope for."

        He was used to dealing with hordes of undead regularly, but the stress of the situation was starting to wear on him. Sitting in a small, dark room with a group of undead roaming outside wasn't exactly on his list of preferred places to spend the night.

        "Hopefully it won't try the door." He mutters, his eyes flickering toward the barricaded door.

        "Well, don't jinx it," I said halfheartedly.

        He lets out a low chuckle, trying to make light of the situation. "Right, my apologies. No jinxing allowed. That'd be bad luck, wouldn't it?" He teases, his voice still edged with nerves.

        Suddenly a low, guttural noise comes from outside the door, causing both our hearts to skip a beat. 

        I unintentionally grabbed his arm for comfort as we both froze in silence and looked up at him with wide eyes.

        His eyes flickered over to me as I grabbed his arm. He glanced at me and then back at the door, his breath caught in his throat as the noise got louder.

        "Stay calm," He whispers, gripping my shoulder reassuringly as he speaks, trying to keep his voice steady.

        I only nodded as I kept my hand hovered above my weapon.

        The noise continued, almost sounding like a low growl. It lasted for a few moments, then slowly faded, leaving the room shrouded in an eerie silence. Edward exhales a shaky breath, his hand still gripping my shoulder. 

        "I.. think it moved on.." He says quietly, his eyes shifting toward the doorway.

        "I hope so," I said feeling slightly relieved, and let my tense body relax.

        Edward sighs, his body still tense as he keeps listening intently, straining his ears for any sign of movement outside. The silence was almost deafening, his heart still beating a little bit too fast for comfort. However, the fact that the sound seemed to have faded gave him a slight sense of relief.

        "Looks like we're in the clear for now..." He mutters, his hand still on my shoulder, his grip a little tighter than usual as if trying to assure himself that I was still there.

        My ears were practically ringing so I shook my head to get rid of the feeling. "Let's hope it stays that way."

        He nods, his eyes still flickering toward the door every now and then. Even though the room was silent now, the tension was still thick in the air.

        "Yeah. No sense worrying about what's outside. We just need to lay low and hope it stays quiet out there."

        He pauses for a moment before speaking again, his voice a little softer than usual. "Hey, look at me for a second, love."

        I turned to face him tilting my head slightly with a questioning look.

        Edward's gaze locks onto mine, his blue eyes studying me intently. He looked tired, yet the concern was still showing on his face. “How are you holding up?” He asked suddenly, his voice gentler than usual. His hand that was on my shoulder gave a light squeeze.

        "I'm doing al- I'm doing the best I can with our current situation." I didn't know how to answer. I was completely exhausted and overwhelmed with him being hurt, and everything was just crazy right now.

        He notices the hint of distress in my voice knowing I was trying to downplay my stress for his sake. He knew me all too well. 

        "Hey, hey, it's alright." He says softly, his hand moving gently to cup my cheek. "You know you can be honest with me, love. It's just us right now, I'm here." He says, his thumb stroking my cheek gently.

        "I-I'm just tired," I said leaning into his warm touch.

        His fingertips brush gently over my skin as his hand rests against my cheek. My tiredness was apparent, and he couldn't blame me for feeling worn out. The stress of the day was taking a toll on both of us.

        "I know, I know. But you've been through a lot today. You should rest." He says sincerely, his voice laced with a hint of concern and tenderness. His hand continues to caress my cheek, his thumb tracing soft circles against my skin.

        "I'm fine, you're the one who needs rest, you're hurt. I can rest once we get back with the group." I mumbled out, sounding far more pitiful than I ever imagined myself sounding.

   He sighs, shaking his head slowly as he looks at me. He can hear the fatigue in my voice and can see the shadows under my eyes. He knew that I was pushing myself to my limit, putting up a strong front for his sake.

        "Love, I appreciate your concern, but you need to rest. You're just as tired as I am. There's no point in pretending otherwise."

        His eyes were gentle and understanding. He didn't want me to push myself past my limits, especially not for his sake.

        "But-" Is all I got out before being interrupted.

        He cuts me off, shaking his head firmly. "No buts, not this time. You need to rest. I'll be fine, I've been through worse."

        He says with a smirk, his hand moving to gently brush a strand of hair out of my face. Despite his joking tone, his eyes were serious, wanting me to take care of myself for once.

        "Fine, but only because I'm too tired to argue."

        He chuckles lightly at my response, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'll take what I can get."

        He says, his hand still caressing my cheek, gently tracing the outline of my face with his fingertips. He could see the exhaustion in my eyes, the weariness etched onto my features. "Get some rest, love. I'll keep watch, alright?"

        "Alright, fine," I said before moving closer and cuddling up to his side like I had him do with me earlier.

        He let out a slight laugh as I cuddled closer to him, a small smile on his face. He slides his arm around me, pulling me closer to him as he makes himself comfortable on the ground.

        "Comfortable, love?" He teases me gently, his fingers tracing slow circles on my back. Despite the situation, he found a strange sense of comfort in having me close to him, my head resting on his shoulder.

        "Yeah, I'm pretty comfortable, but I'm not hurting you or anything are you?" I ask suggesting to his sewed-up side.

        He shakes his head, the smile on his face growing slightly as he gazes down at me resting against his shoulder. "No, love, you're just fine."

        "As long as you say so," I mumbled as my eyes grew heavy. It didn't take long for me to practically pass out from exhaustion. 

        He watched as my breathing began to slow, my body relaxing against his. He could feel the tiredness emanating from me, and it wasn't long before I drifted off to a deep sleep, my head still resting on his shoulder. He couldn't help but crack a small, genuine smile. Seeing me asleep and curled up against him sent a strange yet pleasant feeling fluttering through his chest. Even in a dangerous situation like this, he found a sense of comfort in having me near him.

        ---

        Like he did I could only sleep for a few hours before my body automatically woke me up. I'd probably never have a good night's rest for the rest of my days, though I did feel better than before.

        Edward's eyes were open the moment he heard me stir next to him, his hand having rested automatically on my shoulder as you woke. He glanced down at me in the dark as I slowly sat up, his voice low and gentle as he spoke. "You alright, liebe? You didn't sleep long."

        "Couldn't sleep, you know how it can be."

        He nods, understanding all too well the struggle to find rest during stressful situations like these. He knew all too well how it felt to toss and turn for hours with endless thoughts racing through your mind in the dark.

        "Yeah, I know the feeling. It's hard to find sleep when your mind won't let you relax." He says, rubbing his hand up and down my back soothingly, the action automatic and comforting.

        Just then I heard voices making me jump up. I looked back at Richtofen before moving closer to the door to listen and prayed it was our little team. We'd be far safer to leave if it was them.

        Edward was immediately alert the moment he noticed my reaction. He listened intently, straining his ears trying to make out the voices I was hearing. He gently grabbed my hand, silently signaling me to be cautious and quiet as he too moved closer to the door to listen.

        One stupid joke told me exactly who it was making me smile before starting to move my shitty excuse of a barricade. Our team was right outside the door.

        Edward let out a soft sigh of relief as he recognized the voices as well. He could hear Nikolai's deep, rumbling laugh and Dempsey's loud, cocky comments, and it put him at ease.

        "Guess we got lucky this time." He mutters quietly, a small smile on his face as he watches me start to move the barricade.

        "Guess we did," I said moving the last thing from our barricade. And before I opened the door I quickly gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

        "Hay guys, good to see you're all alive," I said after opening the doors.

        Edward was about to say something but was quickly cut off by Nikolai's booming voice. "It is good to see you both alive as well." He says with a chuckle, his eyes flickering to Edward for a moment before looking back to me.

        I gently nudged our doctor. "He's been roughed up a bit, got anything to help the pain?" I asked the others since we only had so much.

        Nikolai nodded, pulling a bottle of vodka out of his jacket pocket. "Vodka always helps the pain, ja? 

[qiutls]

TNGDH 020

The heavy atmosphere passed, and Sen smiled saying, "It's good that we can stay together quite a bit longer these days."

[ Current miracle value: 20% ]

Since I was able to change the fate of quite a big incident, the compensation was also hefty. Of course, if you think about it, the sacrifice I made was still a bit too harsh just in order to make it rise this much.

Still, thanks to this the duration of "Summon" is now two hours per day.

That means I can eat pecan pies for two hours! I picked up another slice and was about to take a bite when,

Knock. Knock.

The heavy knock made Sen's face brighten.

"He must be here."

Someone's coming?

My mouth snapped shut before even biting the pie and felt cold energy going down my spine... Hey, don't tell me...

"Ah! A while ago I met His Highness Kyle when I went to bring the pie and told him that you were here."

"What..."

"How can you not greet His Highness when he was the one who saved you? Do you know how worried he was when you disappeared without a word?"

"....."

Ah... I'm doomed.

In spite of my perplexed emotions, Sen cheerfully opened the door.

"Your Highness!"

The door opened and Kyle came in.

A handsome man stepped foot into the room, with a heart fluttering aura surrounding him... As if! There was no such man, instead there was a terrifying man, someone who conquered the North with his strength, of course he was still handsome, but......

His eyes are so intimidating!

My shoulders shook and I took a step back unconsciously. My back flinched at the shock, then hardened because of the pain. Yes, my back is better than yesterday but that doesn't mean it's fully healed!

I looked up at him, staying still awkwardly with no other place to retreat. To make matters worse, Sen announced that she was leaving, "Well, make yourself at home!"

Hey! Where are you going?! Don't leave us alone! How am I supposed to handle this, ah...

"....."

Kyle came closer to the lounge with his eyes fixed on me. The sound of his heavy footsteps seemed to sound more terrifying today.

Just by looking at his eyes, I felt like he was about to devour me whole. I faltered with my steps as I moved closer to the sofa.

He sat as well, not in front of me, but beside me. I gave way slightly by reflex... Hey, what's wrong with you. Why are you sitting next to me.

"You're alive."

He said, drawing himself closer to me.

Why? Are you uncomfortable I didn't die? Do you feel bad at the outcome? It was time to stop being passive and start loading up my eyes with bullets, let's see what this man has to say.

"I thought you were dead..."

His sincerity was reflected in his deep voice. I kept silent, somehow unable to bring out any words. I felt a little sorry.

'...You really must have been worried to death.'

I was injured and bled so much, there was no time to handle both me and the banquet's affairs. And I disappeared as soon as you settled me down at the study.

But I needed to do it. I don't have an excuse and I'm sorry I made you worry one-sidedly but there was no choice. Instead of waiting for the "Summon" time to end and endure the pain, it was better to release the skill and turn back into a hamster.

After thinking for a while, I mustered the courage to move closer towards him. But the face that greeted me was not gloomy or sad at all. He said all that with a straight face, man, I was worried for nothing.

"Were you that worried?"

Kyle sneered at my question,

"Do you think I'm a cold-blooded man who doesn't shed tears nor blood?"

"...."

"Well... That's what the people say that the grand duke is someone with no tears nor blood to shed."

His smile turned bitter at my response.

That's right, Kyle isn't like that at all. I've seen it with my own eyes, so why can't I still acknowledge his soft side. Someone like Kyle, who is compassionate towards the weak, and does not turn a blind eye towards his responsibility, is definitely a good person.

The Duke of Blake is much more affectionate and sensitive than what was displayed in the novel. He became strong in order to protect his people. He became meticulous in order to give the North a better future.

The more he worked hard, the more the world misunderstood him.

He has been called terrible names since he has conquered the barren land. He has been mocked by aristocrats for his execution of enemies. The imperial family locked him up in the North to "keep him safe."

"But it doesn't suit you, being a cold-blooded duke..."

Kyle's eyes bent slightly at my words.

"Anyways, I'm not dead so don't worry. I've living well so... My back doesn't hurt as much as yesterday, look I'm better enough to eat this much pie."

"The doctors said no other people came. It would've been difficult to treat it by yourself since you were injured at your back so how..."

"Well... Let's just say I'm a little more resilient than others!"

This body is not used unless I use the "Summon" skill, and since the system even helped fixed it, it's only natural that the wound would heal faster than normal.

"I won't disappear this time so, you can ask me if you have any questions."

I said while placing a slice of pie on a plate.

"Do you want some?"

Instead of taking the plate, Kyle held my wrist.

"If I lock you up, will you disappear?"

"...Your Highness, that is a crime."

"....."

"Is the grand duke above the law?"

"....."

"H-hey!"

Don't look so serious. If you look at me like that, I might flee again.

And it's no use if you lock me up anyway! I'll be back in the hamster house once the skill duration ends.

"You said I could ask any question."

"Well, yes."

"Why did you leave your clothes?"

"W-well, I was bleeding a lot, so I changed out of it before I left!"

"You had the energy to do that? You even took off the bandage."

"There were still some glass fragments on my back so-"

Ah... I'm just making things up...

"And."

"And?"

"Is your back okay?"

I already said earlier it's okay ah! It's healed enough to eat a pie... Wait! W-what are you?!

He turned me around and stretched out his arms to unbutton my shirt and pulled it down my shoulder.

It happened so quickly that I didn't even have the time to panic. The cold wind blew through the skin of my neck and my back and goosebumps came out.

'Hey! Is it normal to undress a person a like this?!'

I couldn't even struggle since my clothes were held firmly in his hands. I worked so hard to be able to get clothes, I'm not letting it get torn, who knows where I could find more.

Yeah let's stay calm. It's not like he'll do anything bad. But please, finish checking as soon as possible. If someone comes in, they might get the wrong idea!

"It seems the outside wound has healed..."

Kyle's fingertips wandered around my back. His touch was so soft and gentle as if he were touching something so fragile, that it would break with just a little force.

"But it might leave a scar."

"It's alright."

"The bruise might not heal until much later though."

"It's fine, it's not like my back is exposed anyways."

Right, a scar or two doesn't matter as much, compared to a scar left in your heart. You might think it healed, but sometimes you'll still remember and get hurt. *scar in heart is more figuratively, Shu means getting hurt emotionally is worse than physical injuries.*

"That's a relief."

Kyle whispered in a small voice which tickled my ears before it got carried away by the wind.

It felt strange to hear his whispering voice so closely. He felt relieved but my heart started to throb.

How many minutes are left?

"I..."

[ "Summon" will end in 20 minutes. ]

It's time for me to go.

When I looked back, Kyle's eyebrows were knit together. Why? What's wrong? Do you want me to stay in here forever?

"....."

He knows himself, he's making an unreasonable request. He doesn't want me to go, but he can't bear to say it, so he can only frown and knit his eyebrows like that.

'....Looking at him like this, doesn't he look like a black-haired puppy.'

A really really big and intimidating puppy.

His looks are like a curse, his actions are so cute that it doesn't fit his size.

"We can see each other tomorrow."

In the end, words of promise for the future left my mouth. Well, we can't be together all day, but I can still spend two hours as a human so...

"If you don't mind, we can meet here at the same time tomorrow."

It seems like this is the first promise I made to anyone since I came here.

If you ask me why I did it... Well, it just felt like I should. I just thought he'd be less anxious if I told him I'll meet him sometimes.

To be honest, having scheduled a meeting like this feels thrilling. It felt like invisible strings were intertwining my fate with his.

"I'm not going anywhere."

I have to save you; how can I save you if I leave.

"I see."

Kyle replied with a sigh.

"I'll wait for you."

In fact, I wanted to ask why you pay so much attention to me. Belial was injured and apparently another noble was nearby when the accident happened.

Out of all those people, you chose to care for me.

Why the hell are you doing this.

But the moment I made eye contact with him, I couldn't say anything. Whatever questions I had melted away from the tip of my tongue.

To be honest, I felt happy.

I don't even remember the last time someone cared for me this much. I only remember chasing life, always trying to make sure I was living well. Thinking about someone who will wait for me and care for me has never crossed my mind.

But Kyle.

Kyle probably understands this loneliness.

That's why he said that he'd wait for me so seriously.

"Alright."

A burning feeling started rising from my stomach and it warmed my chest and neck. Why is my heart tightening and throbbing like this?

"....."

Kyle's face came close. It was as close as when we danced yesterday.

His forehead seemed like it would touch mine at any moment, and his shallow breaths tickled my nose. We were so close; I could see myself reflected in his red eyes.

"...What are you looking at?"

"I just think, you look so much alike with someone."

I don't look like it, but I probably feel familiar to something you're thinking of. I felt a little bad for him who couldn't recognize me, so I stifled the laugh I almost let out.

"That kind of pick-up line doesn't work anymore, Your Highness."

Then Kyle laughed.

It felt like the coming of spring after months long of winter.

[666writingcafe]

An Interview With Simeon

Part Six

Question One: How do you feel right now?

A little tired, but otherwise okay.

Question Two: Would you rather live in the city or in the woods?

I find a lot more inspiration in the woods, plus there aren't nearly as many people. MC says that I'm an introvert because I get my energy from being alone, and I think they might be right. Not that there's anything wrong with groups of people; they just can be draining at times.

Question Three: Do you believe in soulmates?

Absolutely. But I don't believe in exclusivity. There are many types of soulmates, not just the romantic kind. Like, Luke and I are familial soulmates. I was meant to be his guardian, and he was meant to be my kid. *pauses* Don't tell Luke I said that. He hates it when I call him that.

Question Four: Who is the first person you call when you are happy or sad?

When I want to express good news, I call Raphael. He and I have grown fairly close since the war. But he's what I would call a fair-weather friend. He's made it clear that he doesn't want to hear about my struggles, and I've made peace with that. (So who do you call when you need to vent about something?) It depends on what it is. If I just want to gossip, then I reach out to Solomon, but if it's deeper and more existential, I call either MC or Mammon. MC is a great listener, and Mammon's been through a lot of the same things I have. Plus, he's actually willing to share his emotions with me, unlike a certain dark-haired demon I know.

Question Five: What makes you smile on bad days?

Luke and MC doing something together. They're quite cute.

Question Six: How would you feel if your daydreams became real?

In some ways, they already have. Unfortunately, I can't reveal much more than that, or I'd be in a lot of trouble.

Question Seven: What are you proud of right now?

I recently overcame a really bad case of writer's block.

Question Eight: What are you scared about not accomplishing in life?

Contentment.

Question Nine: What do you think about casual relationships and long-term relationships?

I think it's important to communicate those kind of boundaries upfront and check back in frequently to see if they need to change. Otherwise, the relationship isn't going to last, and one or both parties are going to be unhappy.

Question Ten: What do people say about you that you like?

Do you mind if I go on a bit of a tangent? (Does it pertain to the question?) Yes. (Then go ahead.) So, MC gives the best compliments. They have a way of looking deep inside someone's soul and saying what they need to hear. It can get very specific. (Give me an example.) MC once told me that the words I write rival the greatest pieces of art in the human world. They were reading a short story I wrote about nature, except nature was a metaphor for something--or rather, someone else. *pauses* Just thinking about it is making it hard for me to focus on this interview, and I'm sure you have more questions to ask, so we should move on.

Question Eleven: How would you define love?

What an...interesting question. *clears throat* I'd say love consumes you. You can feel it from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, but its pull is strongest inside your heart. (Have you felt that way about someone before?) I feel that way about someone now, but to reveal who it is would cause an uproar. (Do they at least know how you feel?) Yes, and they've agreed to keep it private.

Question Twelve: How much value do you place on other people’s appreciation?

A lot more than I should. I'm not supposed to care too much about people's opinion of me, because my relationship with Father is suppose to supersede all of that.

Question Thirteen: Have you broken someone’s heart?

Yes.

Question Fourteen: What do you think about “love at first sight?”

I've seen it happen once. A bunch of us did, actually. (Was it during the initial exchange program?) *smiles* It was.

Question Fifteen: If you woke up tomorrow as a person of the opposite gender, what would you do?

The same stuff that I do now. I know, not very exciting. Technically, I could change my physical form to a person of the opposite gender if I wanted to. We only look this way as to not scare off humans. But I like my current appearance. I feel it matches how I feel on the inside.

Question Sixteen: What is the most ridiculous thing you have ever bought for yourself?

A 200 pack of glitter gel pens.

Question Seventeen: What was your last Doogle search?

As soon as I say it, you'll know exactly why I searched for it: "how to put out a magically-induced fire".

Question Eighteen: What do you think attracts people to you?

I'm able to appear calm and peaceful. It doesn't always reflect what I'm feeling, but that's a whole other story.

Question Nineteen: What color is your aura?

A light shade of baby blue.

Question Twenty: If the world ended tomorrow, would you survive?

With help, yes. If I was by myself, however...I don't think I'd last very long.

Question Twenty-One: If your house was on fire, what is the first thing you're grabbing?

Luke. Objects can be replaced. He can't.

Question Twenty-Two: If you could take your favorite celebrity on a date, where would you go?

They enjoy late-night picnics at the park. (You say that as though you've already been on a date with your favorite celebrity.) That's because I have. Several times, as a matter of fact. Although, their fame is subjective. They're not nearly as famous where they come from as they are here in the Devildom.

Question Twenty-Three: If you could shapeshift into an animal, which one would you be?

A human world Arctic fox.

Question Twenty-Four: If you could do anything without any judgment, what would you do right now?

It would require a hotel room with a magical lock on it, soundproof walls, and lots of...shall we say, supplies.

Question Twenty-Five: Do you easily get scared?

Not anymore. I used to, and then the war happened.

Question Twenty-Six: Can you keep a secret?

Can you? *awkward silence* (We should wrap this up.) Good idea.

Question Twenty-Seven: Have you ever felt tongue-tied on a date?

Yes.

Question Twenty-Eight: Can you spend a whole night awake?

I have many times before, and I probably will do many more times in the future.

Taglist: @lost-in-time-wanderer, @fuzztacular, @dianedancer18, @sweetbrier2908, @flare-love, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf, @thunderlightning351, @l3v1chan, @anxious-chick, @5mary5, @expressionless-fr, @tenkobitch, @budbuddnbuddy

[deadrayg2mf]

The Gargoyle's Captive (A Deal with a Demon #3) by Katee Robert

Honestly, like, what do I even say at this point that ya'll haven't heard from me about how much I freakin' love Katee Robert and this series. I will keep this one brief for real because if I don't it'll just be like "Oh my god, Ray, shut the fuck up we get it - this book came out three months ago you're late to the party!"

Okay, so aside from it being Katee freakin' Robert, this book is full of enemies to lovers, femdom, grief-consumed protags, and - my favorite, of course - angst. Yeah, did I see the plot twist coming from a mile away? One thousand percent. Did I care? Frick no. Okay, so we're following the same story - deal with a demon, seven years basically married to leader of demon territory, maybe a baby... But this time, it's Grace the monster hunter and Bram the Gargoyle.

Grace is another enjoyable female lead who is a headstrong take-no-shit kinda gal, probably what you would expect from someone who makes a living out of hunting monsters. She's the last of her family and she's really only here for answers because Azazel happens to be the same demon her mother, who disappeared, made a bargain with, and by golly, she is going to get those answers even if it means selling seven years of her life. Bram is traumatized, grief-stricken, lonely, and at this point has the most sad-boy, giving up on life, fuck it energy I've ever seen in a protagonist - and I am so here for it. I eat that shit up. I love the tragics - stories and characters. He's also the last of his family after his entire family was murdered by an outsider his father brought in. He doesn't actually really want to be there but the opportunity and benefits it brings are too good to pass up, especially when you're in the leadership position he is...

I loved the story clearly, and really liked how handling grief was portrayed, no two people will be able to handle it the same even when they are in the same situation. Grace dug her heels in and became even more stalwart and determined while Bram gave in to the grief of loss and resigned himself to an empty life... and even potentially having it purposely ended at the hands of a scrappy little monster hunter in the bath... They are two people coming to terms with events of the past, the shadow of their parents, and suddenly dealing with someone new who they bought at an auction/got auctioned to for the next seven years that they don't necessarily get along with. That's right, they're totally toxic for each other. Don't worry, we're always promising happy endings here :) It's fast paced, there's a lot to get through in 186 pages, but I really think it was done to the best of its ability. Do I wish this was 500 pages? Uh, YEAH, but it is what it is and what it is, is really good. I will admit... it took me a hot minute to slug through obviously. I actually feel a little bad about this review because I was kind of forcing myself to read this. I wasn't in the right headspace and so while objectively I knew I was enjoying it I was also aware that I was, like, not locked in. I am very much intending to reread it when I'm not begrudgingly reading while rotting in bed just because nothing sounds enjoyable.

With that, I swear I am not just pulling shit out of my ass with everything I've told you. I really did enjoy the book, I love the way it's written, I liked the characters, the cover art is amazing, and it's just another great addition to the Deal with a Demon series. I think I'll give it a solid.... 7.9/10 with subject to change in the future :)

Would I read again? Yes, I plan to. Once the pesky ole depression and imminent demise anxiety wear off.

Would I recommend? Of cousre, I'm always recommending Katee Robert... I'm not sure what happens on the day I don't...? Does the world end?

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #16

Battle of the Dimmsonian

I want to highlight them specifically. Look at that FOP-style fairy boy! Baby's all grown up!

Jasmine and Winn are so ready to party at the museum sleepover.

Oh, they are SO ready for this (Also).

slifdj, Peri looking ahead, noticing Cosmo and Wanda in disguise, and screaming "MY PARENTS?!?"

What the heck, Fairywinkle-Cosmas? You left your son for 10k years? Why? Look at him; he's got anxiety!!!

Dev: I haven't talked to Hazel since our fight :'( I need to get to her. /apparently doesn't talk to her all day and now it's night and he's trying to scare people with ghosts for no reason

Removing the staff during the sleepover night (after a spooky presentation) seems like something a museum would totally do as a prank.

Peri has been onscreen for like 2 minutes and he's already sad inside.

-> Hey, I think he outgrew his fear of the dark!

Dev, I am begging you to make it clear to the audience what you're doing right now. This is not an apology. This is not close to what you said you were going to do earlier??

-> Confirmation Dev is Peri's first assignment, so my "high school trial run" lore hasn't been disproven yet. I can work with that in 'fic. We'll see if he says he's graduated.

-> I do have a fanfic set-up where he's going to do a trial program as Foop's partner when they're still in Spellementary, but I don't think this disproves that either since that's a very supervised experiment for him (It's their extracurricular).

I don't think I've said it, but I really enjoy the way this art style has been handling the hairstyles. These angles of Peri's swirl are really interesting.

Peri... Don't take this the wrong way, but if you can't handle Dev being mildly needy and pushy, you're not ready for the big leagues.

idk, Peri strikes me as WAY too overconfident. He showed up ready to go a couple episodes ago. This is the first time he's back onscreen, and this immediate crash on his end is just proof to me that his inexperienced little tail doesn't know what he's doing.

Peri is the guy who's super hype for kids because he thinks they'll be cute and fun, but he's unprepared for work and responsibility. I'm getting "Tries to avoid changing diapers and/or feels smug about how little housework he does" vibes.

-> What decade is he designed after? Cosmo was designed with 50s aesthetic and I feel like this is actually on-brand for attitudes during Peri's aesthetic parallel time period. lol.

-> It's not like Poof was doing the hard work of godparenting when he was a baby. This is new for him and probably different than he fondly remembers.

-> I looked it up and apparently suspenders made a comeback in the 1980s. I designed my teen Poof for the late 60s-early 70s (and he's my flower child), but it makes total sense that he'd be a little farther forward in time since Cosmo and Wanda weren't allowed to have kids for the first 10k years of their marriage.

- Yeah, I would look at this man and say he's giving me "macho 1980s breadwinner husband who has a fragile ego regarding his manliness and doesn't do his own laundry" energy. - Please tell me he started dating Goldie and she broke up with him because he's not good with stress and now he's clingy and wants her back; "He lost the pretty girl because he wouldn't pull his weight" would be the funniest possible direction to take their relationship - I might need to write a 'fic about Goldie showing up while Dev is out and she and Peri have a fight where he's groveling and begging and then Dev walks in and he's like "... Oh boy, I can't wait to have a business relationship with this guy."

Peri came to this party like "I grew up with Timmy Turner. My grandma teaches godparenting classes. I even did a trial run with Mrs. Crocker... I know the ropes! :)"

-> His crown did not know the ropes.

Diagnosed "would not take full custody in the divorce."

Peri, I cannot be any clearer that you can't behave this way around a neglected child right after establishing yourself as a trustworthy figure he can rely on. If this plot goes in the direction of Peri throwing in the towel (or snapping at Dev), I'm gonna crack up.

Like, at this point I am 100% expecting Peri to yell at Dev (maybe not this episode, but someday), and that's going to break this kid. I feel like Jorgen might get involved and separate them, unless Peri is desperate to "not have a failure on his record" or something (seeing as he seems embarrassed his parents know he's a godparent.

-> idk what's up with that yet. I'm genuinely confused. Peri, this is your first chance to see your parents since they dipped for 10k years. I can't get a read on your feelings. Are you angry? Did they invite you and you said No? How old were you? Did you grow up with Mama Cosma? Big Daddy? Boarding school? Inquiring minds need to know!

Maybe it's not been 10k years for him? Was he still existing in the slower-moving present day? Maybe Peri embarked on his own 10k-year trip? I'm puzzled.

-> I feeeeeeel like the time travel is a convenient plot device for the purpose of aging him up without jumping us forward to a more destroyed planet, and we're not going to get a straight answer about what happened with him, which is a shame.

Hmm. I suspect we're not going to delve into his backstory, but I'll hold out hope. Why throw that in there if you're not going to discuss it, though?

Did I miss something? Why does Dev think he doesn't need friends when earlier he wanted to talk to Hazel? Huh. I feel like there's a missing scene there. Hazel rejecting his attempt at an apology would've been helpful for me.

For some reason it's funny to me that the Tooth Fairy offered Peri a job, which he turned down. My brain immediately went Peri -> Cosmo is his dad -> Jorgen is Cosmo's distant relative but they refer to each other as cousins -> Tooth Fairy is Jorgen's wife. I wonder if they hung out together sometimes at like, extended family reunions or something.

-> von Strangles are big on family and Cosmo and Wanda kinda dipped out on theirs, so...

-> omfg, Mama Cosma is out there somewhere like that meme of the guy in the chair leaning over way far, head in her hands, because this is the 2nd time she lost her baby for 10k years. Left to get milk (Again).

He's so cute. I'm so glad to see him back in the series; I missed him so much. He's always been a favorite for me, which was largely based on my own 'fics, so it's really cool to see a character I love showing a wider range of personality onscreen.

HAZEL! If you weren't mad at Dev anymore, you should've told him! He's been miserable about you yelling at him without giving him a chance to share his side!!

His tushie cannot read minds!!

Dev is the kid that you want to get in a fight with because he's mean but then he looks at you like this and you're like " :| "

-> I hate that this is likely how Dale looked at Vicky once upon a time. Dev looks so much like his dad and now I'm like. "Yeah, she probably kicked him down the stairs."

Aww, reunion... <3

I really do like their color scheme and vibes. I've always thought Poof was a good blend of his parents (Good blend of smart, clean, and on top of things while also getting into trouble, holding petty grudges, and making bad or dumb decisions). I'm happy to see him and it's cool to see their hair designs and colors together.

I'm glad "Certifiable Super Sitter" wasn't his swan song from the franchise. It's nice to see a deeper take on his character <3

Patty Possums Party Playground

I'm glad they're making an effort to balance Hazel's Dev interactions with Jasmine and Winn. I keep wondering if they'll get sidelined. This episode seems to be about them, though.

Is the animatronic going to be run-down?

Winn is having the TIME of their life.

Cosmo: We're gonna do this without magic! Hazel: Isn't shrinking Wanda magic?

Immediate prediction: the possum mascot has been summoned to party with them and now she isn't going to let them leave. She'll get aggressive if they try.

Oh no, Cosmo just suggested Wanda use her wand to try getting his out of the claw machine. Is she about to blindly follow and stick it in there like when they were swallowed by a bear and Cosmo suggested dipping it in stomach acid to measure how deep it was and it dissolved? And she just... did it?

YES, sdlkfj. Never change, Wanda.

Nobody tell Gary and Betty there's a Smack-a-Mole game here.

The possum's singing a song about how the party never ends. Yeah, I think I called the plot.

-> Oh, I NAILED THAT!

They're so cute:

Hazel: Friendship isn't only about the moments you're together! It's also about holding each other in your hearts when you're apart! :) Dev, abandoned and confused since their fight: Hey. what.

Wanda dunking on friendship is very funny to me.

A Date to Remember

... Is this with Hazel's parents I assume?

-> Okay, maybe! That title card looks like it is. Also, waning crescent AGAIN? Y'know, the moons were so useful for my OG series episode timeline and I think some will have to be non-canon in New Wish.

I like how Cosmo and Wanda push their backs against each other the same way they used to dance. And I really appreciate how we seem to have a consistent floorplan for Hazel's apartment.

-> Okay, I treat "Cosmonopoly" as the first time they met so if I want to canonize New Wish, I have to un-canonize Cosmo's line about the diner being their first meeting spot, but I can't be mad since I pretty much never see anyone use "Cosmonopoly" for that.

Did Hazel just erase her parents' memories. Oh no, now they've never met! ... Are Cosmo and Wanda allowed to do that? It sounds like they just altered true love.

-> Hazel's parents look the same 11+ years ago as today. I'm a bit surprised by that.

CUPID! ... Oh, wow. His design's changed. I don't think I love it, but I guess it's cool they're doing unique shapes in this show since the OG had the same bodies all the time. I'm glad he's still a grump <3

-> Is he a lot older than Cosmo and Wanda? I'm surprised he aged(?) during normal time when they didn't during 10k years of travel? Is he old or just redesigned? Unclear.

I would make another "IS HE ALLOWED TO DO THAT?" joke here [Cupid trying to set Hazel's mom up with someone else] but... I mean, he's literally the only person who's allowed to do that.

egg baby.

It's hilarious that Hazel convinced her dad to listen to her by saying she's psychic. Of course the parascience scientist would go for that.

-> Note to self, he was interested in it at least 11 years ago.

Cosma confirmed to still be Cosmo's surname!

Cupid's bragging that he won because Brewster (sp?) is going to ask out Angela, but she's totally going to turn him down. Get wrecked, fool.

I am OBSESSED with the fact that Cupid knows all the humans' names. That is a man who does his job. Also I love how he keeps nipping at his bottom lip with his silly buck teeth.

-> I don't remember Cupid knowing people's names in the OG series (I don't think he has much opportunity to say them besides on the dating show in his debut) and now I want to see if that's always been his thing.

-> I'm pretty sure I remember Timmy was given an arrow with his name magically engraved on it at the end of "Love Struck Out," so... interesting.

[brucewaynehater101]

What music genres do you think the batfam members listen to?I ask this because of how little Alternative music fan headcannons there are. I personally think Tim enjoys grunge and or nu metal(Specifically bands like limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Korn, and System of a Down)

I'm not too familiar with genres, so I'll be giving this my best shot. I typically listen to music by the vibe it gives. My playlists include music that makes my brain go brr (the nice dissociation), songs for muses, ones to scandalize my mother, music a garage band would play, songs that make God fear me, and a long playlist for pleasant company.

Anyways, I've seen a few fics where people say that Bruce and Tim share a love of those genres. I could definitely see Tim listening to the ones you mentioned. He probably plays it through his preferred headphones as he fixes electronics, codes, or plots destruction. He also, because he suppresses his anger a lot, probably listens to music like Ghostemane, Kim Dracula, and Freddie Dredd.

Jason definitely enjoys musicals. Dick as well, but Jason isn't as vocal about it. Instead, Jason will listen to 80's rock and 2000's girl bands if others around (he ofc listens to TLC).

I like to think that they all enjoy music in different languages. For Dick and Damian, they especially like music they grew up listening to in their respective cultures. The others, because the batfam is multilingual, just enjoy all kinds of different tunes in multiple languages. The batfam playlist, especially for hanging out in the cave, is chaotic. Bruce nearly had an aneurysm the first time he heard Touch You (Yarichin Bitch Club) over the speakers. The only reason the kids didn't get in trouble was because Damian was out with Colin at the time.

I hc that Cass likes lofi hip hop music. She typically enjoys all songs but prefers those without words (because understanding words still requires energy from her and can prevent her from fully relaxing). She does listen to a lot of classical music, a passion she shares with Alfred.

Alfred, the man the myth the legend, enjoys swing music the most. He'll put on a variety of music in the kitchen (different classical eras, opera music, the occasional musical, jazz, some more modern instrumental music, and some movie background tracks), but the whole fam knowns he's in a really good mood if swing music is playing.

Bruce is the type of person to just listen to what's on. Unless he dislikes the music, he will be fine with whatever his kids or Alfred have playing. He particularly enjoys alternative rock and old country music (like Garth Brooks), but he doesn't usually fight for the aux cord.

Barbara has playlists depending on her mood. Birds of Prey mission prep? Bruce being a dick? Dick being a dick? Batfam drama she has to once again intervene in? Coding nights? Can't get out of bed days? She also has a few playlists for each person she regularly interacts with. For calm or bad nights, she'll put the playlist in that person's comm. She also likes to hack speakers around Bruce and play her revenge music when he's being a petty asshole. Some of her revenge music includes "They're Coming to Take Me Away" by Sloppy Jane, "OoOo1" by galen tipton, "All I see is Poop" by Hobo Johnson, "I Swallowed Shampoo" by Soupy Garage Juice, "I am now going to bark at you" by thquib, and "I hope You Die in a Fire" by Grand Commander.

Duke is most definitely a Mitski, Hozier, Crane Wives enjoyer, and you can pry that hc from my cold, dead hands. He probably also likes songs similar to "Ancapistan" by Jreg or "The Fine Print" by The Stupendium.

Dick's music is either super high in energy or sad as fuck. He loves the songs "Has Anbody Seen My Will to Live" by The Tin Knees and "Copacabana (At the Copa)" by Barry Manilow because they are both sad and happy :) I hc that he likes songs by TV Girl, Yot Club, Joji, and Cosmo Sheldrake. He also has a few playlists he follows of Zumba music. The song "The Masochism Tango" by Tom Lehrer is one of his favorites.

This is already a pretty long post, so feel free to reblog with more ideas! I didn't get to Steph or more in depth with Damian :(

[goodluckclove]

Skylark's Apple Log: Cosmic Crisp

Hi! Scott Skylark here.

I don't really know why I'm doing this. I was having a nice conversation with my good friend Katy about the importance of putting apples in the fridge so you can enjoy a cold apple, and barely an hour went by before she suggested I make a physical (Digital?) log of my insights and share them with the internet. I hesitated at first, but she insisted it was for the best, as people online might only know of me right now as some "sad boy pretty boy".

To which I said "Huh? What? What does that mean?" But right as she started to explain I suddenly decided I really didn't want to know and made some loud nonsense noises to buy me time to leave the room.

Anyways, I'm definitely no food critic. If you give me some cheese, some bread, a hard-boiled egg or two and like 4-6 apples, I'm good for the day. I'm not picky. I'd hate to put some misinformation out there (Discourse! Can you imagine?) so I've asked the very capable Chef Edgar Gallows to comment on what I say before I post it.

Today I'd like to talk about the Cosmic Crisp, which is absolutely in my top ten favorite apples. They're a hybrid bred in Washington in the late 90s. Did you know there are people who dedicate their whole careers to breeding apples? That was my dream job for a while when I was a kid, but I always struggled with science and apparently that type of work is entirely science. Anyways!

When I can have a Cosmic Crisp and some toast for breakfast, I'm a happy guy with lots of energy for the day ahead. And when it's fresh out of the fridge, it's crisp and chill, so no need for a morning juice. I like to use an apple slicer to make nice inform shapes, but those end up pretty thick, so I'll cut each slice to be about half-thickness. Doing this means you get a better bite to enjoy the flavor - and it also makes it seem like you have more apples to enjoy, which is always fun.

Cosmic Crisps are really big. There are bigger that exist - the Hanners Jumbo for instance, which is actually sold exclusively in Oregon where I live! But the girth of a Cosmic Crisp is certainly nothing to sneeze at. It's really fun, and frankly a great option if you're looking for the most bang for your buck at most average supermarkets. Sometimes it gets to be a little overwhelming, though, because I personally can only eat about three before I start getting a little grossed out. But if you're just eating one or two, this is very much a consistently satisfying variety in terms of sweetness and bite.

In my youth I resented the coloring of a Cosmic Crisp, believing that a red apple should commit to the hue. Now I appreciate the look of an apple that is definitely reminiscent of something grown off a tree, compared to a Red Delicious that mainly just looks like a child's crayon depiction of an apple given physical form by some cruel, confused God. And the crisp! Very crispy apple, potentially the crispiest I've experienced by far.

If you choose to enjoy a Cosmic Crisp apple, I highly suggest pairing it with a little bit of peanut butter, or just eating it on its own. It's very yummy.

I don't know how to end this! If you're reading this I hope you see a video of a cute animal on the internet. There are so many out there. Way more than I remember.

Thanks so much!

Skylark

Chef's Note: I think I'm immediately unqualified to check this kind of writing for accuracy. Up until recently I thought all apples were either green or red. Even after being told otherwise I still kind of think that. It's pretty startling to know there is a person in existence who puts more thought into this type of thing than picking up an apple from a bag on the counter and taking a bite.

Chilled apples are pretty good. I'll give him that one.

-E.G.

Hey Songbird Taglist did you think I'd call you all here to read Scott talk about apples because here we are

@kuebiko-writing @cartoonghosts 

@atlasthecactus @aroaceghosties 

@booksntea6982 @xarrixii 

@mushroommanchanterelle @whoevenknowswhatimwriting

@fukurouonthesea

[touchlikethesun]

Hello, SVSSS fan! Can I ask your top 5 (or top 3) favorite characters from SVSSS? And why you loved them? Also, your top 5 favorite moments from the series? Thanks 🤩

hello anon <3333 thank you for such a lovely question i love talking about svsss so much (i am so annoying to my irl friends about svsss omg)

SO basically i am quite basic but for fav characters...

luo binghe <3 my bpd king <3 i love binghe so much it is genuinely concerning. a huge part of it come from how relatable i find him, so many times while i was reading the novels he would put words to things i had been feeling but hadn't been able to find the words or wasn't brave enough to say out loud. it is probably more concerning that i relate to that little ball of trauma but it is what it is... relatablity aside, i just also think he is such a.... precious person... i love his intensity, i love that he's a bit of a liar and a bit manipulative, i love how intelligent he is, and i love his resiliency. i wish he didn't HAVE to be resilient, i really want only good things for bingbing but i still think his strength is admirable. also his hair. he has really nice hair. and his glowing eyes. that is also a very nice quality of his. i could go on but. i will spare you...

airplane-bro, the lunatic that he is - i've said it before but airplane is the reason why i picked up svsss in the first place, i find the idea of an author trapped in their own novel just infinitely fascinating, the metaness of it, literally the metaphysical-ness of it, and i so badly wanted to see what airplane's character would be like. and then i met him. pathetic wet hamster of a man that he is. i think of all the crazy svsss characters, airplane might actually be the craziest. which kinda makes sense bc all the other characters contain part of airplane's craziness, but airplane the man himself has it all in one. of all the characters, he probably makes me laugh the most, he's just so irreverent, and the tired "over it" millennial energy is so strong with him. and then i do have a soft spot for characters that don't even realise just how strong they are, like sqh considers himself a coward, but i think he's one of the most fearless characters in the novel. anyways. i do reread the airplane extras extremely frequently.

shen..... yuan..... i had to think about this because i really like shen jiu as well and honestly for me it is a bit hard to separate them in my mind because shen jiu has such an impact on shen yuan's life as shen qingqiu, he is the definition of haunting the narrative. however ultimately, when i do separate them, i do like shen yuan's character just ever so slightly more. i do really love shen yuan as well, for as much as he frustrates me when i am reading the novel (boy let the harem thing goooooo ffs), i hold him as similarly precious as i do binghe <3 i think he is such a fundamentally good person, and similar to airplane, he really genuinely does not realise how unique he is and how much he is loved and valued by those around him. i love feeling how deeply he feels across the text, even tho he refuses to admit it out loud, i love how bitchy and bratty he gets when he's actually comfortable around someone, and i love how much he actually loves pidw (he does okay) and how excited he gets every time he meets a new character or monster, i just think it's incredibly cute. he's also insane. and if you can't tell i love insane men. (in fiction)

to round out the list it has to shen jiu, as i said up above. i think mxtx writes vilains incredibly well, and shen jiu in particular is really compelling to me. i think he is a horrible man, an incredibly sad and cruel man, and what makes him all the more compelling is that he keeps choosing to be that way. i think in pidw he is not even a foil to luo bingge and more like a direct parallel, an example of the cycle of abuse. someone was cruel to shen jiu, so he is cruel to luo bingge, and then bingge kills him. and when i say that he chooses to be cruel, it is not that i don't recognise his trauma, the way that he learned that there was no point in defending himself because no one would believe him anyways, the way that living on the streets taught him that the world was kill or be killed, that yue qi abandoning him taught him that he couldn't depend on anyone, all of that can be true, but he also had many chances to turn a new leaf to choose to be better, but he was so trapped and so hurt that he couldn't. i find him interesting to think about, i find it interesting to try and explain the enigma that is shen jiu. and i also really like imagining aus where somehow, by some miracle, he makes a different choice.

as for my top five favourite moments, this will be in no particular order, just as i think of them on the spot, if you asked me tomorrow you'd very likely get a different list because there are just so many good moments.

the moment in the holy masoleum where shen qingqiu has been dragging binghe as vines are growing out of his skin and then binghe wakes up and shen qingqiu is uncontrollably crying from pain and stress

in the extras when shang qinghua is asking bingqiu questions about their relationship and shen qingqiu soothes luo binghe's anxieties as easy as breathing

luo binghe's "as long as you don’t leave me" line (AND THEN SQQ DOES!!! SCREAMING)

every single second of airplane’s extra but especially the last line "it was just that he very much liked this story he’d written" i’m tearing up thinking about it now

white lotus bunhe pretending to be clumsy so shen qingqiu would hold him

literally just the first 5 that came to mind but i could already go for another 5 there are so many gems in svsss omg

thanks so much for the question!

[shoujomangathoughts]

Shoujo Thoughts - Snow White with the Red Hair

This is another series that I've heard about for years and finally gave it a chance (watched the anime then immediately went to the manga). It's a series that I find very charming, relaxing and was a nice change of pace for me and my usual tastes.

I remember seeing people warning others how "you shouldn't read the manga" because apparently it gets boring and is overstaying its welcome story-wise. While I don't think everything that has happened so far is entirely necessary, I think this sentiment comes from people wanting the more romance focused parts from the beginning to remain throughout. If you haven't read the manga, Shirayuki gets (and takes) an opportunity to help her studies as an herbalist but this results in two years away from the palace, and therefore Zen. They're still together here and there, but the manga starts leaning in a more slice of life direction and the romance is a bit more subdued. I actually appreciated this and found the individual adventures and growth of Zen and Shirayuki more interesting at times as Zen tries to learn and be a better prince and Shirayuki continues her studies and tries to reach people.

Zen and Shirayuki do have a nice relationship though and I find the romance to be pretty well done. They both have that awkward energy and are trying to navigate their own lives as well as their relationship.

The presentation and world of this series is another captivating point for me. The anime was visually great and I thought the manga's art was really nice too. It has a whimsical style and shows you a lot of small interactions and details. It makes the world feel lived in and allows you to have a clear idea of the cast and their personalities. I specifically really like the visual of Lilias and its snow covered imagery (as well as the wintry outfits).

The main cast is also mostly likeable. The way they interact with each other feels natural and they each have their own charm that adds something unique to the dynamic. Even the part that had people frustrated with Mitsuhide didn't bother me as much because I could understand how that was a very in-character decision for him.

Favorite character : Obi

I do find that Obi is the most charismatic character in the series for me. He's obviously had a difficult life but he also seems so genuinely affected by having found a group of people that he comes to value. Every time he's around he adds something, whether it be a witty remark or demonstrating his ability to be a bodyguard. Yes he loves Shirayuki, but the series doesn't really show that Shirayuki loves him back (basically the series isn't really leaning into the love triangle direction). Though I do appreciate that she has on multiple occasions told him how much she values him because he does do and help her a lot. He also seems to have good chemistry with the rest of the cast (particularly in his interactions with Shirayuki and Zen though I also love his relationship with Ryu).

All in all, I've found this to be a really enjoyable series up to the current chapter (sad to see it's on hiatus, hope the mangaka is doing well). I'm not entirely sure how long it will continue as the scope of the story seems to suggest it still has a while left, but I'll be continuing it whenever it does come back.

It's been a little bit since I posted one of these but as always, thanks for reading!