#and it was rather fun to get Alice to make all that food

[victorluvsalice]

-->And then it was time for everyone to converge on the greenhouse and help out Victor – specifically, by doing some targeted harvesting while he finished up his tending! I had Alice return to normal and rush in there to pick the coconuts, the pineapples, the soy and black beans (and evolve a couple of plants while she was at it), while Smiler picked a bunch of their herbalism stuff (with a focus on stuff like the noxious elderberries and poison fireleaf I didn’t have before). Smiler then dusted Victor’s bees with mite treatment, fertilized their noxious elderberries so they could evolve them up to nice level, and headed upstairs to have a nice bath –

-->And Alice got sent to the kitchen to make some more food for the food stand, using her new appliances! :D Because if we’re going to have a food sale, we need to have food to sell! She’d already made a garden pizza last playsession while at the store, which was already in the stand – I thus had her make a fresh batch of dough in the stand mixer, then bake up some banana split waffles, a loaf of artful focaccia, some minty mocha cupcakes (in the oven! :D), and a pineapple pizza! Yes, I was thinking a bit about food that Smiler would probably like, as they were the one who was going to be running the stand – sometimes I regret that they’re a vampire who can’t eat regular food in this save, as I know any human Smilers would be all over banana split waffles and pineapple pizza. In another save, Smiler, I promise! I’ll fudge things a bit in my potential future Valicer In The Dark save! XD

-->While Alice was getting her cooking on, Victor and Smiler were keeping busy with the last of the farm chores (while the chickens were keeping busy with a fox – I gotta get some more livestock upgrade parts). Victor FINALLY finished the tending (and deactivated poor Elmer to stop the bot from constantly trying to weed a glitched plant) and got the initial batch of super-selling done, then left Smiler to finish off selling everything while he cleared out the cow shed (and once again dropped the results on the ground next to said cow shed – I just had him put the trash in his inventory for later recycling). Smiler got Gardening skill 9 from all the super-selling (and harvesting the lemon tree in the corner that had gotten skipped in all the super-sell batching), which pleased me greatly –

And then I realized “wait a minute. Isn’t it supposed to be New Skill Day? Where’s the holiday thing?” Concerned, I checked the calendar, and confirmed that it was indeed a holiday – but that I didn’t have the overlay for it in the corner of my screen. Uh-oh. That DEFINITELY seemed like a sign the save file was on its way out. I decided not to worry TOO much about it at the moment, as New Skill Day is just a pop-up holiday, and not a particularly important one, and instead Alice box up the final pizza, slapped all the food in the foot stand, and had Smiler grab said food stand and gather everyone up to bring them to the Brindleton Bay Pawspital –

[flippinpancakes64]

Could you do The Cullens x Reader! Who is just a very happy and cheerful person, pretty small, and then they just get sad or teary eyed when someone calls them childish, what would be their reaction?

The Cullens with a very happy but sensitive reader

I can definitely relate to the sensitive part, but I am rather large so we'll see how good I am at portraying that

Thank you for requesting and I hope you enjoy

Edward:

He doesn’t mind that you’re smaller than him

He actually kinda likes it

And he loves your personality

It’s so bright and nice

It’s a good change of pace to hear kind and clear thoughts as opposed to mean and rude ones

Now as far as when he hears people insulting you

He doesn’t let that shit fly

Especially when you come up to him later with tears in your eyes

He is anti-bully and pro-you

He will knock a bitch out

And he does his best to reassure you that he loves you for you and that he never wants you to change ever

Alice:

All things considered, you are like her clone

Small, cheerful, peppy

Only difference is that what other people say still gets to you

Granted, she’s had over 100 years to become desensitized

But she knows the feeling

Those people calling you childish have called her that too

She tells them to back off and watch themselves

As for you, she never wants you to change

You are so vibrant and lively and fun

And if those people ever got to you and you felt that you needed to try to change yourself, she shuts that down instantly

No changing yourself to fit into society for her

One order of being your own person please

Jasper:

He loves your personality so much

It’s canon that he tends to gravitate towards people who have a positive mind because it makes him feel better

And what better person than sunlight embodied

But when you come to the lunch table one day and you look like you’re about to cry, he is ready to fight

He doesn’t actually fight tho

He knows he won’t be able to hold back and he will end up killing someone

He loves you, but not enough to blow their whole cover and to reset all of his progress

He reassures you that he doesn’t think you’re childish

If anything, everybody else is just miserable

Rosalie:

Grumpy and sunshine relationship dynamic?

She likes to give you a hard time sometimes, pretending to be annoyed at how energetic you are

But in reality she loves it

She’s so used to Edward being miserable and everyone at school being miserable that she loves your personality

And she does fight someone

When you come over after school and look like you’re about to cry, she instantly takes her earrings out

She finds whoever said it and beats their ass

She will not let anyone upset you like that ever again

Emmett:

Your personality is a nice change from Rosalie’s

Not that he would admit that

But it’s nice to have someone who actually acts happy all the time

You’re his little ray of sunshine and he loves you

And when you come up to him about to cry, he gets ready to kill someone

And then he actually does

The guy deserved it idk

They can’t trace it back to him so it’s all ok

He reassures you as much as you need that he loves you and that he never wants you to change

Esme:

Another ray of sunshine

She’s so inviting and kind, you two match each other perfectly

Only she’s never really had to deal with anyone calling her childish

She’s of course had the random soccer mom asking her if she’s really qualified to be caring for a bunch of teenagers, but that’s it

So when you come home crying, she’s not too sure of what to do

She does her best to comfort you

Cue your favorite food, movie, and blanket

She spends the whole night cuddling with you and telling you that you are perfect exactly as you are

Carlisle:

He appreciates a nice, positive person

He deals with a lot of rude people at work, so it’s good to unwind

He has never once thought of you as childish in any way

One day you’re visiting him in the clinic and a random man says that you’re far too childish to be dating the doctor

He’s shocked

And you’re upset

He takes you back to his office to calm down and pages the secretary to kick that guy out

Reassures you that you are not childish and that he never wants you to change

Vampire! Bella:

She’s been around sunshine people for a long time

Her mom, Alice, Esme, and Edward when he gets what he wants

So your presence is nothing new

But she appreciates it nonetheless

She loves how you can find the good in everything

It balances out her bleak mindset

So when she sees someone insult you, she’s irate

She goes over to them and like stomps on their foot or something

And then tells them to never even look at you again

Ultimate bodyguard

[writingsofwesteros]

Social Media AU

Chapter 2

They left their family’s estate three days early, to drive up to St. Baelor’s and settle back into their dorms at school. It was not as if there was much keeping them at home even before the incident. That night when Viserys returned back to the estate, he scolded them all, and Nora stormed out of the room, her siblings following her, and angrily told Alicent she was going back to school before term was to start. Which was why the four Targaryen siblings were mostly alone on the private high school campus that any passerby would think was a mediaeval castle, but was simply where the elite of the elite sent their children to attend high school. All Targaryens had attended the school since it was erected- Aegon the Conqueror was one of its founding members, after all, when their family was a monarchical dynasty before it became a corporate one. Every Targaryen, Baratheon, Lannister and Tyrell attended, the richest of the rich, amongst others who strived to send their children to high school with the country’s future Presidents, politicians, and  businessmen.

The school was built in the rich countryside of the Reach, with a few towns surrounding it and the main city, Highgarden, was a ten minute drive. Helaena’s favourite spot was the huge gardens that surrounded the school and it was most of the reasons why she was late to class; Aegon being the other. 

“When’s Sienna coming down?” Aegon asked Nora as the four siblings were lounging around Nora and Helaena’s shared dorm. Helaena’s drawings scattered in a neat chaos that she was only aware of as Nora’s designer clothes were neatly hung or folded. Their personalities shine through with ease; both sisters exist peacefully. Nora tossed her phone on the dresser as she sat on Aemond’s lap. His hands instantly moved to rest on her hips. “In a few days.” Nora replied. Sienna Lannister lived just down the street, or rather, in the same vicinity of the Targaryen estate just outside the city. She had become a childhood friend of Nora and Hel’s since they were little ones, but she and Nora had a penitent for getting into trouble together as they got older. “Mother called,” Aemond told them. “To apologise for Father again.”  

Nora rolled her eyes. “If the old bastard wanted to apologise he’d do it himself.” She had long stopped giving her father excuses. “Nora,” Hel sighed. Alas, it seemed her sweet sister had not learnt that lesson. “What? It’s true.” Nora idly began to braid Aemond’s hair, his silver locks much straighter than Nora’s curlier ones. It was an act that would calm her brother down as much as it did for herself.  “Enough about him,” Aegon grumbled. “We’ve got the whole campus to ourselves for a few more days before everyone else starts coming down. We should do some fun shit before the semester starts.” “Aegon’s right,” Nora said. “I mean Aemond’s the only one who enjoys school itself, but- I just like being away from home and Father and his shit.” “Maybe that is a good idea,” Helaena agreed softly. “Nice,” Aegon grinned. “You three come up with some ideas,” He got up, and kissed Hel, then Nora. “I’m gonna go walk into town and get some food. They said the dining room won’t open until the semester starts, so.” 

Aegon walked the ancient stone halls of St. Baelor’s an hour later with takeout bags; after three calls to make sure he got Nora and Aemond’s picky orders at the Dornish takeout place right. Gods, they were so peculiar whereas Aegon would eat anything and everything. As he turned a corner Aegon spotted an unfamiliar girl walking through the girls’ dorm area. “You lost?” Aegon asked as he came up to her. She smiled nervously and shook her head. “Oh, no, I know where my dorm is- I just- I just wanted to look around a little.” She spoke with an accent, he noted- it sounded like somewhere in the Free Cities. She radiated a certain humility that was foreign to the girls that went to school here- even his own sisters, he had to admit, even though he loved them to death. “Are you new?” He asked curiously, setting the takeout bags on the bench in the hall. “Yea, I am, I- I just came up a few days early to kinda get used to the place. It’s just- It’s so huge,” She gushed and he couldn’t help but smile. “Yea, I guess. Never really noticed like that before,” He replied with a shrug. The castle hardly caused him to blink with the richness he had been surrounded by since birth.

“Gods, how could you not?” She looked up at the stone architecture on the ceilings. “It’s amazing, the stone carvings, the history in this building alone is crazy. Imagine just the history these walls have seen, the people who might’ve lived here, and made a life in a place like this-” “Sorry- I don’t mean to ramble,” She said shyly. “It’s just that I never thought I’d be here studying, and now I am.” 

“No, it’s fine. I have three sisters, believe me, I don’t mind,” He told her and she giggled. “Wow, three? Do they go here?” She asked, and he raised a brow. Did she really not even recognise him? “Uh, two of them do, yea- they’re here right now, actually. The other one’s at a different school down in Oldtown.” He looked at her for a sign of deception, even though admittedly Nora was way better at reading people than him. “Wow- that’s lovely,” She smiled. “I never had siblings- do you have any brothers?” She asked curiously. Shit, he thought- she really has no idea who he is.

“Yea, just one- he goes here too.” “It must be so amazing to have a big family,” She told him. He remembered the other night- Aemond and Jace fighting, their father shouting at them, Nora shoving her bags in the limo as they all got in to leave, their mother helplessly apologising for their father who never even told them goodbye. “My siblings are great,” He told her. “The rest- well, depends on the day, I guess.” She nodded. “Oh! I’m Charlotte, by the way.” She introduced herself. “Charlotte,” Her name felt right, on his tongue. Like he’d known it far longer. “Nice to meet you. I’m Aegon.” “Aegon,” She smiled, not a flicker of recognition behind her eyes upon hearing his name. “It’s really nice to meet you, Aegon.” 

“Where’s Aegon?” Nora asked Helaena when she got back to their dorm, tossing her coat onto her chair. “I think he and Charlie went down to the polo field,” Hel told her as she coloured in the picture of the caterpillar she sketched that morning after class. Nora flopped onto her sister’s bed beside her. “She’s taking up a ton of his time lately,” Nora commented dryly, and Helaena set down her sketch pad. “Nora,” Hel spoke gently. “She’s very nice, you know. You’d see it yourself if you didn’t scare her off every time.” She shrugged. “I don’t know her. I don’t know who her family is, where she comes from- how can she afford to come to a school like this? Why Aegon? Why not some other rich guy, Seven knows there are a ton on this campus.” Trust didn’t come easy to her, people had been trying to worm their way into their lives since they were children, to latch onto their family’s name, and money. 

“You jealous?” Hel gave her a small smile, and Nora fished through her bag for her pack of cigs. “It isn’t about jealousy, Hel, it’s about being careful- like, for example, that helpless social climber Cassandra Baratheon,” Nora huffs as she finds the cigarettes but not her lighter. “Nora,” Hel pouted a little. “You promised you’d stop smoking.” “I’ll smoke outside,” Her sister relented, as she left her sister with a quick peck. Though she wore the uniform, her styling of it showed not only her privilege and the influence she had, but her lack of care for the rules. The skirt was hemmed to be shorter, instead of sensible loafers she wore knee-high boots, her blazer discarded, and her white blouse was tied off at her abdomen, her tie loose around her neck. And she got away with it, because of her last name. Of course, many of the girls ditched their loafers for knee high boots within the first week of the term. But they didn’t always get away with it like she did. She found herself down by the greenhouse- she’d poached Aemond’s lighter when she bumped into him on his way to her and Hel’s room. Nora lit her cigarette as she watched in the distance people hanging out by the polo field, walking around campus since official classes were over for the day. She took a drag, and her moment of solitude was interrupted by a voice that, annoyingly, had become familiar. “Daenora?” She looked up to see Charlotte- Charlie, as Aegon had taken to calling her. She wore her uniform like an image out of the school’s rulebook. “Charlotte.” Nora barely glanced at her. “Shouldn’t you be busy with my brother?” She exhaled a puff of smoke. “Oh- Aegon’s got polo practice, so I thought I’d get some reading done.” Charlotte said, sitting beside Nora. “I-um, aren’t you scared of getting in trouble? With…you know,” She gestured to the cigarette in Nora’s hand. Nora chuckled and took another drag. “We both know I won’t.” Nora replied. “Aegon smokes too, you know,” Nora told her. “If that’s something that bothers you.” 

“Oh, I know,” Charlotte shifted beside her as they watched the polo field in the distance.”I just wouldn't like for you guys to get in trouble, that’s all-” “Why? I mean, we won’t- we both know that, even though you pretend you don’t know why- why do you care about people you don’t even know?” Nora asked, more harshly than she meant to. “Aegon’s my friend, and I- I know how much he cares about you guys-” Nora scoffed. “Honey please, you have no idea just how much. Do you really expect me to believe that you don’t have some underlying motive? This place is filled with a bunch of vapid, self serving social climbers.” “Nora-” “Don’t call me that. We hardly know each other- look, Aegon can be fucked up, but he’s also someone who loves deeply, and goes over the moon for people he cares about. He’s my brother, and I know that if you’re just using him for money, or to boost your status, it’ll hurt him. And I can’t stand people who hurt my siblings, okay?” Nora crushed her cigarette. “He might choose to see the best in people, but I’m a realist. And trust me, I’m really good at making people’s lives hell when they get on my bad side.” Nora stood and stalked off, leaving Charlotte sitting there, stunned, tears brimming in her eyes.

That night Nora was alone in her and Hel’s dorm, since she and Aemond went for a walk down to the gardens. She was flipping through the TV when Aegon burst through the door. “What the hell did you do?” He stormed over, and Nora sat up in her bed. “I don’t know what you’re-” “Don’t do that, Nora- I know you said something to Charlie. She won’t even talk to me, and she won’t tell me why.” Aegon folded his arms across his chest, his jaw clenched. “She came up to me, okay? Not my fault if-” “She was trying to be nice! Because ever since she and I became friends, you’ve been a bitch to her! But she knows how much you mean to me.” Aegon cut her off. Nora huffed and snapped, “Look, Aeg- you’re too trusting, okay? We don’t know her, and we both know that people love to latch onto our name. That girl could be using you as a step to climb, and you wouldn’t even know until she just abandoned you, or something! I’m trying to protect you!” 

“You didn’t even give her a chance! She’s not like the rest of vapid cunts in this place, Nora! She’s the first real friend I’ve had in a long time that didn’t like me because of money, or whatever.” The door opened, and Aemond and Helaena gauged the argument going on and Aemond murmured to Hel, “Come on, love- let’s go back to my dorm instead.” before shutting the door. 

“Apologise.” Aegon demanded. “No.” Nora replied stubbornly. “Dammit Nora- you’re being so fucking unreasonable right now-” “And you’re being naive!” She held her head high stubbornly, as was her way- it was equally her worst and best trait.  Aegon stormed out, slamming the door behind him without another word. It was best to leave before words were said that they didn’t mean.

Nora hated fighting with her siblings, but soon he’d see it was for his own good.

[hyacinthdoll1315]

4 Months of Moth HRT

Well, I got sick again. Uuuugh, like, I got the flu I think two weeks ago, it seemed to get better, and then I got sick again? not to mention what I've been feeling all week anyway and it sucks.

Okay, uh so, update time. (maybe i should talk about myself? just leave it at what happened.) So I'm not hanging out with my friends anymore. I think I already said I'd be doing that in the last update but it's way different to do something compared to saying it (say? do?) and well, my friend circle has become rather, small. Like, Alice still comes by sometimes to chat and hang out (yesterday? last week? I can't remember) but beyond her and maybe one or two friends I've made online, I'm pretty much alone in my little flat.

I don't really have the money to afford a big house or a cottage (maybe I could make one? flatting on land. how much money for a tiny forest home?) so for now I've been renting a small room in the city. It has been rather livable and nice in the past, but now, it's (HURTSHURTSHURTSHURTS can figure something out carsaretooLOUD) not great. Still, I'm working on a solution and I'm sure things will be okay, I think.

Um, still, I've been making progress in other things though! My tea has been really nice lately, and I found out that leaves are kind of tasty now? like, not lettuce or kale but like, small leaf parts are really yummy, I've um, kind of been buying tea bags just to open them and eat them found the leaves in tea to be a good snack.

My sense of smell is really good now too! And not just for tea, but other things. It's a little awkward since even when wearing a mask, I can still sometimes smell things (including things I did not think I'd be able to smell) which can sometimes be a bit gross. But the smell of different plants has been so calming!

My sense of taste has also changed a lot. I may not be eating cotton (not all moths do!! >:c ) but meats are just, not the same anymore, while stuff like carrots have been really nice! I can't be sure, but I think my reaction to some things have changed too? I can't tell I don't remember sugar keeps making me very excited, but at the same time, chocolate has been making me feel sick. (why must you betray me my dear chocolate?) Spicy food is also an absolute no-go now, I tried a bit of mild and started coughing from just the smell.

My eyesight hasn't been too good lately either, which I was told to expect as my eyes change. It's kind of like, everything was normal but blurry, and then suddenly I'm seeing a slightly fuzzy double vision? but now it's triple vision! it's kind of funny seeing like this! if I look in the mirror I end up just seeing like, 9 of me? super fun times with mirror buddies! it's super trippy but cool.

Sadly, this comes with a few downsides.

As said, I still don't know why but I've been feeling very sick (body just goes ick coughing, drool, sore throat, stomach aches) sometimes, and my sense of time sometimes slips, where I might be somewhere in midday, and suddenly the suns moved and I might be across the street? (amnesia? ADHD gone worse?) it tends to be a little after eating some things, but I don't know what's causing it. My stomach will just hurt really bad and sometimes, especially after something sugary, time seems to stutter.

I felt a bit better last week (thank goodness), like it was a bad flu that had finally passed, but now it's back again. not to mention, I think last time my body felt, tight? It, It hurts now. Like, not super sore, but like a headache across my whole body. I don't know what it is but I can see black splotches beneath my skin (blood? chitin? poison?) and I'm a bit scared. I tried asking the doctor for help, but he just gave me a reschedule for next week, the asshole barely knows and if I go to the ER, I'm not sure what they'll do. Maybe that's paranoid, but I don't think the doctors there will understand and will just assume I'm an alien or messed up human like everyone else.

I'm scared.

I don't think I can keep this to myself, I'm so lonely so I'm sending this journal entry online I think. Who knows, maybe someone will have the answer? (I'm not going off the hrt) so well, if anyone has any idea of how to fix this, or just has some funny cat videos to share or just wants to message, um, please do.

Goodbye Talk to you all later. Emily.

Previous | Next

[walkingstackofbooks]

Treat + Garak!!

Thank you! I don;t have any WIPs with Garak in that I can currently share, so please accept this conversation from Vision Awry that I'm still very happy with ^_^

“My dear doctor, are you quite alright?” 

“Wednesday,” he chuckled, trying to sound like he’d only just realised what day of the week it was. “I was totally on Tuesday.” It was a weak deflection, and he raced to find a topic of conversation that would draw Garak’s attention away more thoroughly. “Do Cardassians have Wednesdays?” he asked, remembering a conversation that had carried them practically the whole way through lunch almost two years ago. It was conceivable that he could have forgotten it. “I mean - what are you saying when I hear “Wednesday”? More accurately, we should all call it bikrenga - I hope I’m saying that right - but the Universal Translator simply translates the Bajoran third day of the week into our third day of the week, and I don’t think I’ve ever asked what a Cardassian week is like.”

Garak smiled. “You mean to say you’ve forgotten our most diverting conversation on the topic when discussing Toloth’s Memories of a Dutiful Citizen?”

“I must have,” Julian lied. “I can always look it up if repeating yourself will bore you…”

“Doctor,” Garak admonished. “Speaking with you would never bore me. What would you like to eat?” 

Julian reeled off his usual order, and soon they were both seated at a table. Now that he had food in front of him, the doctor realised how hungry he was, and was pleased that Garak wouldn’t have another reason to be suspicious. 

“In answer to your question, yes, Cardassians have weeks. Each one has exactly ten days  - which even you must concede makes far more sense than a Bajoran week does.”

Julian had still not figured out what Garak really thought about Bajorans, but he was certain that the distaste Garak had for the Bajoran week was not put on. Bajoran time operated on a bi-weekly system; their months were 26 days long, a bi-week 13 days -- meaning that the closest equivalent to a Federation “week” alternated between being 6 or 7 days long. Having lived on the station for three years, Julian had grown completely used to the system, and barely even noticed the “missing Sunday” anymore. 

“Perhaps, but there’s a certain sense of whimsy our weeks have that I’m rather fond of.” Julian bit back a grin; “whimsy” was a concept he’d had to explain to Garak when they’d read Alice In Wonderland, of which Garak had been wholly sceptical. 

“My dear doctor, “whimsy” is a very poor substitution for efficiency,” replied Garak. “I refuse to believe you actually favour the Bajoran system.”

“I suppose I’d have to take into consideration how long a Cardassian weekend is,” Julian smiled, knowing full well there was no such thing as a weekend on Cardassia. He sat back in his chair, waiting for Garak to take the bait. He didn’t often “forget” conversations, but he wasn’t expected to remember everything, and on the odd occasion when he didn’t want to think so hard, it was fun to revisit an argument that Garak could not resist. 

“Another Federation concept that would have been scrapped long ago if your society had any desire to be well-organised,” said Garak. “On Cardassia, we get rid of archaic customs once they have outgrown their use.”

“If you don’t have weekends, when do you get time off?”

“Doctor, serving the state is not a commitment you can simply put down.” Garak was leaning forward, his eyes bright as he made his point. “You have a duty to your work, and a duty to your family, and so there is time enough for both in every Cardassian day.”

“But Garak, it is well-established that people need rest to be happy and productive. I’m aware you don’t care much for the former, but surely productivity is something Cardassians value?”

“Our citizens know what is expected of them. Which is more than I could say of the Federation - when was the last time you had one of these lauded “weekends”, Doctor? I’m certain they don’t appear in your schedule.”

It was a fair point - Julian definitely worked far more than four days each week - and on another day he might have admitted defeat. 

“My days off might not be as consistent as they are in other jobs, but I do get them, Garak. As evidenced by the fact that I’m not working today,” he said smugly, feeling pleased to have come out on top for once. 

“So you have, Doctor,” replied Garak, “and do enlighten me - is it usual for you to spend your precious time off with your colleagues in Ops? You seemed ever so reluctant to stop working earlier.”

Julian had the sinking feeling that he hadn’t outmanoeuvred Garak at all. As usual, he’d played right into the tailor’s hands. He really didn’t want to tell Garak about the reality of his last two days though, since the Cardassian was more than likely to find a hundred different things Julian could have done differently, and treat the argument with the same levity that he would give their discussions on literature. 

Distraction hadn’t worked, so he decided to see if an honest plea would. “Actually, Garak, I’ve been caught up in some things that, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not discuss right now. 

Garak raised his eyebrows. “You intrigue me, Doctor. I haven’t noticed anything amiss on the station, certainly nothing concerning yourself, or the health of Chief O’Brien.” Juilan stiffened in his seat, and Garak raised his hands in apology. “But then, what should I know about station affairs: I am just a tailor, after all. Forgive me, Doctor, I shall restrain myself from prying if it pleases you. Have you finished reading The Knife and Bearer?”

Julian relaxed back into his seat again, pleasantly surprised that the other man had let it go so easily. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Garak… although it was true that he didn’t, exactly, trust Garak… but the Cardassian was usually as tenacious as Julian was himself. He smiled across the table, more than happy to accept the olive branch Garak had offered.

“As a matter of fact, I have - and your choices are getting better Garak, I almost enjoyed some of it!” 

Garak sighed and shook his head. “My dear Doctor, I can see we still have a long way to go in your instruction. What issue could you possibly have with such a distinguished work?”

“Issues plural, Garak. Now where should I start…?”

[oddlyhale]

Call me a boomer or whatever, but I actually like doing budgeting.

If they're that strapped for cash, and if I had to make budgeting decisions, I would: - Cut Jaune out of the volume. Since his arc ends with him reverting back to his younger self, there's no need for him to be in Ever After. - Weiss killed Penny on the Golden Bridge. She's in terrible grief for what she did and is in constant anxiety to explain herself to Ruby. - Cut Little out of the volume. From what I understand, creating Little was a huge feat because their model is more complex than the usual models we see. Cut them out and save money and time from creating them. - Move the Red Prince battle at the end of the volume. We can keep the marketplace throughout the volume since it helps set some world-building of Ever After through the NPCs and environment. - Neo is fine in the volume, she didn't pop up much. And since she has no VA to be paid, Neo is very expandable, but it was good that they didn't overuse her this volume. - No suicide arc!! It was stupid!! - Keeping Ruby separated from her team for the majority of the time. Would save quite a bit of time and money to only focus on Ruby rather than having to focus on them all at once. Yang, Blake, and Weiss can have their own episodes. - Ruby starts to see glimpses of Weiss running off into different wooded paths, yelling something about being late. Ruby chases Weiss throughout the volume. Weiss doesn't stick around often and vanishes. - Neo is down on her luck. She doesn't feel the need to go after Ruby because she feels like she's trapped in another universe and she can't get back home. However, a new anger towards Cinder festers. - Instead of creating more Ever After characters, utilize the main characters. Weiss can be the White Rabbit and Blake can be the Cheshire Cat. Yang can either fight to stay normal or become a character. All will be cured by the end of the volume. Neo also starts to act like the Mad Hatter. - It appears that Ever After is taking over the minds of whoever has fallen. Ruby and Yang both feel the effects as they both start to feel different from their old selves, but they're able to stay original. - Eating food (A LOT OF FOOD) and drinking a lot of tea was a notable part of Alice in Wonderland 1951. They could say that eating anything from Ever After causes the character change. - Ruby can't find Cresent Rose but she does find Summer Rose's weapon at a blacksmith's shop (but she doesn't know it belongs to Summer Rose). She carries that around because it feels familiar to her, but also she wants a weapon to defend herself. It'd be fun to watch as Ruby tries to work with a new weapon. - Weiss sees the glass sword of Penny's. She doesn't remember Penny, but the sight of the sword throws her into a frenzy and makes her lose time. Her time dilation goes out of control and it causes bouts of chaos wherever she's at, but the Red Prince isn't bothered by it.

i'll come up with more later in a reblog

[missalicevalentine]

A lil G/T writing snippet I did for fun!

The winter was frosty and Alice honestly was just glad she wasn't outside in the cold. That the cold wasn't nipping at her small toes or her tail wasn't frost bitten. The feeling of her long, elven ears freezing was the worst; and how her nose would turn bright pink. It was, if she was to put a word to it…uncomfortable, miserable and just hellish! She never liked the cold, at least not when it snowed. Rain was difficult enough, but the snow? Oh snow wanted her dead. It was like it knew she was alone out there, like it could wrap its filthy claws around her tiny body. But now, oh but now she wasn't outside. She was—wait, what was the word? The English word for this feeling of security? She couldn't remember…

Now she wasn't freezing her tail off or her teeth chattering. Whatever this ‘T-V’ was was playing loudly and the room was heated up by whatever that thing on the ceiling was. She sat quite comfortably next to her giant Friend. A person she couldn't communicate completely with. They spoke English and Alice, well she spoke her own language. She'd picked up bits and peices of English so far, like ‘food’ and their name, but most importantly ‘cat.’ she didn't like the cat, opting to call it a beast since it had more than once tried to get a hold of her. Still, as she sat next to her friend she wondered what went on in their mind. Why they had opted to let her live in the walls once they found her.

She was staring rather intently at them. Taking in all the horrific and giant features of their face. Her nose and brows knitted together as she studied This human and their short ears and tailless behind. They looked so…almost weird. Without a tail how did they balance? Or without long ears how did they listen for hawks or beast—cats? It seemed her friend noticed her staring, chuckling softly as they reached a hand out to grab her. Alice, well still hadn't exactly gotten use to the grabbing, the feeling of a hand grabbing her was almost, well, uncomfortable. She had tried to stand up in time to walk away but unfortunately for her they caught her with another laugh.

Alice tried to wriggle her way out of their grip but failed rather miserably as they brought their hand to their lap. Their second hand joining and cupping around Alice almost protectively.

“Warm?” They asked, their voice soft as of they were making sure not to startle her delicate ears.

Alice knew what that word meant! It was the word she was looking for! The snow pittered outside the window, freezing everything in it's path well she stayed inside, warm. It felt like a hug, like the worries or rats and cats, hawks and snakes didn't matter. That right now she was safe. Warm; Their hands curled a little more around Alice as they spoke words foreign to her own. A gentle nudge of their finger to get her response had her tilting her head back to meet their gaze. They big, intense and almost terrifying gaze. It would have been scary if she hadn't known how soft they were. They made her brownies and let her sleep and walk wherever! hell! They even made sure getting onto their counter top was easier for her. They were warm. They where this complete blanket of safety; a hand —quite literally— that kept her safe. A friend. A commander. Her clan. Her warm.

“Yes, Alice is, eh—warm.”

Thats my first time writing G/T! An example of how I write if there are anyone down to rp! (Specifically over 18 cause im an adult and don't rp with minors)

[khasiehondra]

It Can't Be...Can It?

SUMMARY: Ghosts were real. He had seen them his entirety of his time at Hogwarts. He had even seen a few while on missions. But he didn't expect to see her at his favorite cafe on a Saturday morning. He had lived in Edinburgh for years after returning from France. The final year of his rotational training program led him to beautiful sights, new food, and some fun company. But he knew something was missing. His fulfilling work didn't distract him from her. The woman he had dreamed about more nights than he wanted to admit. The one who helped heal so many broken parts of him. And the one who threw his heart against the floor like it was glass. It wasn't just seeing her that made this difficult. But she was tiny. * Sebastian couldn’t believe that the love of his life walked into his favorite cafe, but the little girl next to her could have been a problem. Little does he know, Annie is his and Alice wants to keep it a secret.

Chapter 1: A Little Hiccup In The Plan

Alice

"There, there, love. Better out than in." Alice held onto the toilet for dear life. Her knuckles were white and she had a thin sheen of sweat forming on her brow. 

"I'm going to kill him. But first, I'm going to slam my head into a wall for being so stupid." Another wave of nausea hit her and the room was slowly spinning. 

Garreth Weasley was rubbing her back as she tried to breathe deeply. "Would you rather I make a spectacle of his demise? Did he not read the footnotes when he said he made some of the potion?" 

"Apparently not. Help me up, will you?" Garreth gripped the girl's hand and pulled her from the floor. "After the first round of vomit this morning I researched the potion myself. Only ninety percent effective. Lucky me. I've fallen into the ten. C'mon, we should get you out of here." 

Alice slowly peaked out from the girls bathroom and looked around before motioning to Garreth the coast was clear. He placed a hand on her back. "We could go to the hospital wing. What do you want to do? Studying for our exam can wait." 

It might have been the hormones but Alice thought she would cry. One of her dearest friends was helping her through the most intense moments of her life. And she had stopped a goblin rebellion for Merlin's sake! This should feel like a walk in the park. "I'm keeping it. I can talk to him about it. It would mean some of our plans would change, and I'll have to write to my father for support. Hopefully I can open the howler he will send in private." 

"Whatever you need, I'll be there for you, brainiac." Alice embraced him and started to walk with him toward the hospital wing. 

All of her plans were about to change. But it wasn't a mistake. All things happen for a reason. Maybe earlier than she expected, but deep down she knew that everything would fall into place. 

When she got back to her dormitory later that evening, Samantha was sitting on Alice’s bed, arms crossed. "Alice, I know what is going on. How do you think you'll be able to hide this for a month? What do you need me to do?" At her words, Alice did cry. Samantha was one of her closest friends and she didn't know how to tell her that she was lucky they only had one month left at Hogwarts. 

"I think I'm going to tell Sebastian. Tomorrow on a picnic by the lake. We already planned on lunch together. We already planned on being together as soon as we could after graduation. This would just expedite that." Samantha gave her a soft smile. 

"Alice, do you think you'll be able to work for a while? Or more importantly, if I could piece together your odd behavior, aren't you worried someone else will?" Alice pursed her lips and gave it a thought. 

"I can start work late. It'll be tight on money, but I don't think my father would leave me to the mongrels. He would help for a bit. And even though it is summer, I'll just wear my robes and skirts. No one else may even notice!" This was Alice putting her hopes out into the world. If she believed it then no one would question it. 

"As long as you're happy. I can help once things get farther along. I know Poppy is one of your other best friends but remember, the only creatures she handles are magical." 

Alice cut her off, "this one will most likely be magical." 

Samantha laughed and lightly shoved her friend. "You are such a smartalic!"

T he next day, Alice tried her best to set everything up perfectly. The blanket was laid out and protected from bugs, all of Sebastian's favorite foods were packed-minus the wine, and Alice held the letter from her father stating he would help them. She was absolutely giddy when one o'clock rolled around. She had worn her favorite everyday outfit: a cotton blue dress with a peach bodice underneath. It was her determination to wear all her favorite things before she couldn't. 

Sebastian came across the grounds, his grey trousers tapered perfectly to his long legs. The green sweater she guessed he had been wearing was bunched over his shoulder, the white shirt he had on was rolled at the sleeves. The sight of him still made her heart flutter. She had a crush on him after their encounter in the Restricted Section and almost a year later he confessed his own feelings to her. Ever since their first date they talked about a life together. When she experienced her first time with him, he praised her and doted on her every second. His vulnerability was something hidden behind doors, but she loved that he trusted her enough to see it. 

"Sorry I'm running late. I think Weasley’s lost his gobstones. He kept asking me how you're doing. When I told him that you were as wonderful as always, and thoroughly ravished the last few nights, he smacked my arm. That's our thing! Stupid and immature jests." Alice laughed. Garreth was horrible at secrets when they were someone else's. 

She started pouring the butterbeer and telling him about the nasty astronomy essay she had finished the night before. The rhythm between them was always easy. Halfway through the meal, Sebastian had pulled her into his lap and gave her soft kisses along her jaw. After almost two years, she could barely keep her hands off him herself. His lips found her and it was as if the world was silenced. Nothing else mattered. They were in their own universe. If Alice kept kissing him she thought the passion would consume her, but then again, if he stopped, she thought she might go mad. His kisses got hungrier and his hands started to roam over the shape of her waist. 

She broke their kiss before he could get any further. "How is the job hunt going? Did you hear back about the Auror program?" 

His glazed eyes took a minute to piece together what she had just asked him. When he finally was able to form a coherent thought, he smiled and bumped his nose to hers. "Fantastic news actually. They want me in the program, but they are trying a rotational system to help new Aurors with experience. I would go through a month's training before heading to America and then I would get my next assignment after a year. Isn’t that exciting! Since you want to be a healer that means you could get a job anywhere! We could still be together." 

Her face didn't miss the beat her heart skipped over. Alice felt her heart drop into her stomach. I can't leave. Sebastian, we are about to have a baby. That much travel is so stressful. And I can't work. We would need the money. But this is his dream. He's lost so much I can't ask him to sacrifice everything. "Sebastian, what if a child is involved?" 

"We don't have to worry about that for a long time! Even if we had one within the first year, we would have saved enough. You'll quit your job and be at home." Her face faltered this time. 

"But you'd still want to do these traveling rotations with a family?" She raised her brow and pushed back, creating more space between them. "I want our child to have both their parents around if they can, Sebastian." 

"I understand, sweet. But the initial rotation period is three years before getting a final station of our request. Would it be alright if we wait for a baby? You'd make a fantastic mother and the thought of you carrying our child makes my mind buzz with excitement. But I want to be selfish with you." 

But you can't. The entire conversation was infuriating her. Alice was angry. Angry that he couldn’t stay in London and expected her to go everywhere with him for three years. That he just expects her to give up her career once the baby was born, and most of all she was angry that she didn't want him involved anymore. "You are being selfish with me, like always." The venom in her words startled him. 

"Alice, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but it only makes sense if you follow me." He cupped her cheek but she threw her head out of his grasp. 

"Actually, I think this entire conversation made me realize how selfish you are. Ever since our fifth year I've been following you around. Bending backwards to your requests, even when my favors to you had been paid. I told Ominis that I didn’t think you should go to Azkaban! I was there when you buried Anne! I think I have been more than supportive and you just want me to give up everything. Here I go, following you around like always!" The echoes of her shouts across the lake were deafening. 

Sebastian's cheeks flushed and he rose to his feet. "If you're so tired of me then it's good we found this out now. You know, life is different outside of the castle. I'm glad we found out we want different things before we were trapped with one another." He turned to leave before facing her. His hand in his pocket. "Oh yeah, here. I don’t want it anymore." He dropped whatever he grabbed on the blanket and stormed off. 

Reaching down, Alice found whatever had bounced on the ground. The tears started to flow once she saw what it was. It wasn’t anything magnificent but it would have been everything. The thin bronze band glinted in the afternoon sun. Infuriated, Alice turned and threw it in the lake.

8 years later

Sebastian

Ghosts were real. He had seen them his entirety of his time at Hogwarts. He had even seen a few while on missions. But he didn't expect to see her at his favorite cafe on a Saturday morning. He had lived in Edinburgh for years after returning from France. The final year of his rotational training program led him to beautiful sights, new food, and some fun company. But he knew something was missing. His fulfilling work didn't distract him from her. The woman he had dreamed about more nights than he wanted to admit. The one who helped heal so many broken parts of him. And the one who threw his heart against the floor like it was glass. It wasn't just seeing her that made this difficult. But she was tiny. 

Over the top of his paper the small child peered into the glass display case like everything inside was made of precious gemstones. Her dark hair hit to about her mid back and curled at the ends. She looked exactly like Alice except for the nose covered in freckles and brown eyes instead of green. Denial is the first step of accepting loss. But creating completely unrealistic situations is also denial. Sebastian kept thinking this had to be a coincidence. No way in all of Europe would a small Alice be here. Alice wouldn't live here. 

Except she walked straight through the door. Taking a look around she walked over to the child. People would have said it was like time travel seeing the two together. The girl couldn't be older than eight or nine and Alice…oh Alice. She was a vision. 

If he didn't have his coffee to his lips he would have sworn his jaw would be on the floor. The woman who amazed everyone looked like a picture in a book. Her hair was half pulled up, very different to society's standards, and her shirtwaist lacked much of the ruffles and lace most do. No matter how simple she dressed, her face had aged like wine. Her full cheeks now had high cheekbones, and her eyes sparkled like stars. Aphrodite couldn't even compare to her. 

They could be sisters. Her father and mother were still young. I don’t see a ring on her finger. Alice was finishing up her purchase of bread. She took the young girl's hand and they made their way from the Cafe. But Sebastian wasn't going to lose her this time. He dropped his paper, grabbed his coat, and ran from the shop. 

The two were walking down the cobblestone street toward the carriage call. "Alice!" Sebastian shouted and ran toward her as she stood rigid. Not a good sign. 

Once he had caught up he could see the young girl peering from around Alice’s skirt. But he couldn't tell what the look on Alice’s face was. Anger? Warranted. Sadness? Also warranted. But a small part looked like fear. Why would she be afraid of him? 

"Se-Sebastian. Long time no see." She barely met his eyes and he felt his heart pang. Please. Look at me. 

"Alice, this is surely a surprise. I thought you lived in London. Ominis told me that you lived at home in your family's manor. I would have never expected to see you in Edinburgh." He stuck his hands in his pockets, trying to keep from twiddling his fingers. 

She finally looked at him. "I did. A few years after graduation I worked as a potioneer for healing research. Easy enough work to do from home. Mother and father just built a small manor on the outskirts of the city. We wanted a place to call our own so we will live here and they will come visit during holiday." So that is her child. 

Sebastian looked at the child who was holding her mother's hand. "And who is this young lady?" 

"Annie Shaw." The young girl squeaked. 

"Annie, proper like we practiced." Alixe put comforting hands around her daughter's shoulders. "Sebastian was a very very dear friend of mine when I was at Hogwarts." 

Annie smiled up at him. She grabbed her skirt and curtsied. Sebastian couldn't help but be amused by the small thing. He dipped his hat in return and humored her. "Good afternoon, Annie. My name is Sebastian Sallow, but I don’t want any of that Mister Sallow nonsense from you. " 

She giggled and tugged on her mother's sleeve. "Mama, could Sebastian join us for dinner?" 

"Oh, Annie, Sebastian probably already has plans on his own." 

"Dinner sounds lovely. I would love to see your new estate. The one in London was beautiful. Your parents have fine taste. But then again, you never cared about that." Their eyes met and fire danced between them. 

"Alright." Alice let her shoulders fall in defeat. "But Annie, you need to practice piano right after." 

The carriage ride back was longer than Sebastian had anticipated. It was understandable why Alice didn't want to apparate. Annie was just too little. It would have been worth the half hour out of the city just to avoid the young girl's arms getting splinched. 

Alice had been right. The manor was smaller. But that isn't saying much considering how big the one in London was. A corgi was waddling down the slopping hill toward the carriage and Annie leapt from the top step and held out her arms for the pup. "That's Winston, too bad in a few years she won't be able to take him to Hogwarts." 

"Already showing signs of magic? No squib-like tendencies until she turns fifteen like another woman I know?" The lopsided grin on his face and raised brow were pointed at her in a jest. 

"You know, even being behind, I recall beating your arse in a duel or two…or thirty-seven." She reached out to his hand as they exited and walked toward the formidable building. 

Breaking the silence first, Sebastian cleared his throat. "So, will I have the honor of meeting Annie's father at dinner? I would like to meet the chap that you married " 

"Her father wasn't around. But she is exactly like him in every way. I was young and stupid, but I can’t deny how much they are alike." He could hear the sadness in her voice. 

"May I ask what happened?" It was dangerous waters to tread but he had to know. 

Alice was silent as they followed Annie through the large walnut doors. "He and I just didn't work out. Annie wasn't a part of his future. So I never told him. I think he would have loved her though, the little devil. You know, when she was two I found her playing in my garden. But I couldn't get mad because all of the seeds she threw on the group sprouted into beautiful wildflowers. It was the purest magic I had ever seen." Sebastian saw the adoration in Alice’s eyes. 

"Mama, can Sebastian come see my nifflers?" Annie's little curls popped from around a corner. "Juels said that it'll be a while until dinner." 

"Alright, Annie, but remember the way to unlock the greenhouse. We can't have them getting out again. I'll meet up with you two later. I need to talk to the kitchen staff." 

Sebastian was pulled forward by the child. She seemed so happy and full of life. "Oh, you'll just love Sugar and Cream and Nigel and Ruby!" 

"Are those foods or your nifflers?" Sebastian laughed as she tried to get him to walk faster. "Did you know your mother had a niffler den she took care of whilst we were at school?" 

"Really! Mama tells me stories of her adventures, but she mainly talks about Aunt Poppy and Uncle Ominis. Mister Weasley came by our house in London and he said that he helped take care of Mama when he found out she was going to have me." Each of the words sounded like a stab to the heart. 

"Your Uncle Ominis is actually my best friend. I saw him just last week." Annie looked up at him with a pout. 

"If Uncle Ominis is your best friend then how come he and mama never talk about you?" He didn't know how to answer that one. Because I loved your mother and I broke her heart over my damn pride? That Ominis told me I was the biggest idiot for how I handled the situation? The idea of bringing up a man who was never around would possibly only confuse the child? Yup. Wonderful answers. 

"Your mother and I had a huge fight one day. I had really hurt her feelings." He looked back at the manor as they entered the greenhouse. "Don't tell her this, but I wrote her an apology over a hundred times but I was too scared to send her a single one." 

"Doesn't that make you a coward? It's just a letter." Her comment felt like someone had twisted the knife in his chest. 

"You're right, Annie. I was a coward. I'm not afraid of bad people or dangerous situations. I am scared of being rejected by someone who meant alot to me." Annie tapped some flower pots in a certain order and a hidden entrance opened. The inside reminded Sebastian of the Vivariums. Actually…it was the vivarium. Did Alice let her have one while she tended the rest? 

A small fluff ball scurried over and went straight for the little gold button Annie had in her hand. The baby niffler was the color of milky cream and tucked the button in its pouch. "Cream and I think that you used to like my mother." 

"Did you get your brains from your mother? She was in the house with all of the brightest students." He patted her head and leaned down to hold a black niffler waddling over. 

"I do, actually. She says I get my blunt attitude from my father. Do you still like my mother?" She pursed her lips and stood very still. 

"I never stopped, but from the looks of it. I think I'm barely treading on friend territory. How about we go back? You can give me a tour." Hand in hand they walked back to the beautiful building. Maybe in another life he would have lived there, had his own child with Alice. 

Dinner and tea time were filled with laughter and music as Annie played her sonatinas. He had never particularly liked children until this one. She was so much like her mother, but her bits of defiance and boldness made her stand out. At some point in the evening  Sebastian and Alice realized it was a little too quiet. They ran about the halls until they saw Annie asleep at a coffee table. Alice walked over and pulled a drawing from underneath the sleeping girl and tucked it away. 

Carrying Annie to bed and tucking her in made him want this. He could have been in her life more if he had just apologized sooner. With a soft click of the door, Sebastian knew he had overstayed his welcome. But being there with them made him feel like he was missing something beyond Alice. He wanted a family. 

The walk to the front door was silent but he almost preferred it that way. It wasn't until he was about to apparate home that he called out to Alice. Her wavy hair framed her face, making her look so much younger. The girl he saw at the lake. All those times in Hogsmeade. This was his chance to have her in his life again. And he wasn't going to waste it. "I'm sorry for how I acted in our seventh year. I never once asked what you wanted. Never once did I think your mercy for my antics would run out. But when it did, I knew I was a fool. I tried to replace you. Each time was unsuccessful. This isn’t me asking you to forgive me all at once, but if you see it in your heart to let me in your life, I'll be there for you."

[kimium]

Sleepover time at NRC!!!! What did each Night Raven College Housewarden have as a favourite stuffed toy when they were little?

Oh! A fun question! I'm looking forward to answering this because I really love stuffed toys in general. I'm also going to limit myself to stuffed animals because I feel other stuffed items (such as food or plants) should be a separate list.

NRC Housewarden's favourite stuffed animal when they were children

Riddle: Rabbit

Yeah, I know not an original choice considering: A) It's an obvious Alice in Wonderland reference B) Riddle is pretty much a proxy of Ciel and we see Ciel with rabbits in Kuroshitsuji and C) They seem to be more of Deuce's thing (based on what I know of the event running on the JP server). But I don't care. I absolutely love stuffed rabbits. For Riddle I'm thinking of the JellyCat ones, which are an absolute delight, come in multiple colours + patterns, and are super soft.

Riddle's rabbit is either a soft grey or a nice charcoal black. Not white because his mother said white is "hard to clean" and not any fun colours because she believes "those aren't accurate". What a sad, boring lady :/

Leona: Hippo

I picked this because while Leona's stuffie is Absolutely Effing Adorable, Leona would take great glee in telling other children that "hippos are actually very dangerous animals and they can and will murder you in seconds" just to watch their conceptions of hippos forever be shattered. The power of media fooling us VS the cruel hard facts of reality.

This impact may be slightly lessened by the sheer adorableness of his stuffed hippo, but I think the hippo facts Leona spent two days memorizing just to terrorize his younger cousins + other kids (who are all annoying according to him) outweighs this fact.

Azul: Jellyfish + Two stuffed eels

Okay, hear me out. Before Azul met Jade and Floyd he loved his stuffed jellyfish (named Jelly) because it was shimmery like a pearl and under the right light it would reflect many different colours. Then, he met Jade and Floyd who were instantly jealous of Jelly but knew they couldn't just Get Rid of Jelly less Azul be mad. So, they made him (poorly) two stuffed eels that represented them. Azul teased them about it but he also still has those eels so...

Kalim: Alpaca

You know those ones... the ones you see at anime conventions? The ones in multiple colours and sometimes come with accessories? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I think they're so cute and they can be rather large, which makes them perfect for hugging. Kalim also 100% named all his stuffed animals and when getting into fights with Jamil he'd say things like:

Kalim: Sir Eliot the III wouldn't treat me like this! He says you're being mean!

Kalim, holding the Alpaca and changing his voice, moving it along as if it's speaking: Yeah, Jamil! You're being mean!

Jamil: He's a stuffed alpaca. He's not saying those things!

Kalim: "He" has a name! Use it properly!

Vil: The Classic (TM) Teddy Bear

You know the one I'm talking about. I'm talking about an adorable brown bear that has the cutest features ever + a red bow as an accessory. I bet Vil loved changing the bows on his bear frequently and had a small collection of ribbons dedicated to his bear.

Idia: Pokemon. Multiple of them.

Yes, I am making the assumption Pokemon exists in Twisted Wonderland. Look me in the eyes and tell me Idia didn't want every single Pokemon plush out there, regardless of size or generation. He wanted them all and collected his favourites. I won't say which are his favourite because I think that's a rocky road + I haven't kept up with all the newer generations. What I do think is as an adult Idia still has Pokemon plushies and has a giant Snorlax and Spheal in his room.

Idia also calls his Pokemon by nickname so he could be asking Ortho to grab him "Eggy Boi" and it's like his stuffed Chansey.

Malleus: A stuffed bird (like a very chonky, very round one)

I'm imagining a very spherical, hefty boi that has adorable wings, beak, tail, eyes, and is so round it's almost like a ball. I think the bird has to be light in colour, like a nice pastel yellow-green, and is very huggable and squishy. Malleus just strikes me as someone who likes birds and thus this giant bird stuffie is so big he could lie on it like an oversized cushion.

And there you have it! I hope you like my picks! Please let me know which ones you'd pick for the Housewardens and maybe next time we can talk other stuffed items! Or do one of the Vice Housewardens!

[victorluvsalice]

-->So it was back home for the trio, where Victor fed Toothy AGAIN (hungry hungry cowplant), while Smiler went to sell the painting they’d made earlier and Alice sniffed around and had a scavenge, finding some literalite (a rare, very-cool-looking purple metal) –

Before heading to the jewelry-making bench to make her first set of jewelry! I decided to keep things basic for her first piece – quite literally, in fact, as the simplest set of jewelry you can make is the “Basic” set. XD I thus had her make a Basic metal bracelet out of the silver she’d picked up on her travels – I didn’t want to mess with anything more elaborate, in case it ended up botched (and thus couldn't be charged later on the crystal grid). Fortunately it didn’t, and she ended up with both an excellent-quality metal-wrap bracelet and Gemology skill 2. :D Maybe next time we’ll try something with a crystal in it!

-->As for Victor and Smiler – well, Smiler was feeling rather flirty after getting a message from a friend about a successful date she’d had, and Victor was full of confidence from having his familiar and getting a new spell. So, while Alice was making her jewelry, I had Victor go give Smiler a suave kiss, and sent them upstairs to Victor and Alice’s bedroom...

For a pillow fight! XD Okay, I was looking for the “Bed Makeout” interaction you get with the Cute Romance mod, but when I saw that I was like “I have never tried that and it seems like the kind of thing Smiler at least would do.” XD So yes, they went upstairs and promptly started thwapping each other with pillows until Victor ended up yielding to Smiler’s superior pillow skills. THEN they went ahead and had a bed makeout session (the interaction’s actually under the “romance” category when you click on a Sim – “Physical Affection,” natch). XD Once they’d had their fun, Smiler went to have a bath in their nice tub, while Victor dismissed Darkwing (who was probably like "can you dismiss me before you get frisky next time?") before heading down to his cauldron to do some experimenting. Alice finished up her bracelet while he was doing that and headed upstairs to resume writing her latest book, “Who Stole The Tarts” (on Smiler’s computer, of course), while Smiler headed downstairs to fix a wind turbine before going to chat with Victor and see how his experimenting was coming...

And that is where I left them, as it was getting a bit late and it was officially past midnight in the game. XD Whew – busy day, but a fun one! I am getting into them traveling around the various worlds in the game with their food stand and selling all sorts treats – it’s good gameplay, and makes sure I get them out of the house on the regular. XD Though speaking of their house, I’m starting to wonder if it’s time to revamp their lot...or perhaps move altogether. I like their little farm, but I don’t know if it really has the space for everything I want to do there. At the very least, it would be nice to add a basement for the nectar-making and aging...I’ll have to think about this some more!

However, next time we don't have house revamps – instead, we have party fun! Because I wanted to have Smiler send summer out on a high note, and because they hadn't seen some of their other friends in a while. What kind of party did they host? You'll have to find out next time –

But I will give you this hint: if you know anything about my experiences in Sims 4, you will know I consider this party at least LIGHTLY cursed.

[vanillafalvoredcoffee]

💕  for a moodboard on my muse’s view on romantic and/or sexual relationships (for Bernardus)

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

~ Bernardus's Love ~

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

(Imma give you some Headcannons too because...why not?)

Romantic Love

He is surprisingly really affectionate with his loved ones, Especially towards his darling <3, it's one and only Alice the witch of performance! But...that title is a little bit too long so I'll call her his darling or just Alice for now (she likes pet names lol)

He gets lonely from time to time since Alice has been really busy with her job lately, so he tries his best to be there for her when she's not busy by talking to her occasionally, read a fanfic book he personally enjoy with her, some PDA or just massaging her shoulders. he just wanna be a gentlemen.

His darling's attitude changes significantly when she's not at work, usually she has very confident and charismatic smile on her face all the time, while she has a lack of empathy towards the other actors that's on the stage with her...it's only because sometimes she's forced to hurt them and over time she's numb to it. He likes to watch her shows all the time...somehow he always manages to sit next to that white haired guy that seems to be a deity? Oh well...it's not like it's the strangest thing he'd seen

At home she's quieter and laid-back....but also playful and excitable. He likes that about her though

Sometimes he joins her when she's doing magic rituals, mostly by helping her make potions or willingly being a test subject

They go on dates every single weekend, they occasionally go to libraries to read something, or maybe go for a coffee at a local Café...like they usually do

On special occasions or when Alice has basically no work that is not on weekends, they travel to basically anywhere on the human realm to have some fun

He's very protective of Alice

He's the little spoon, while Alice is the big spoon...he kinda likes getting hugs from time to time...since he's very touch starved

He writes some love poems for her sometimes when he's lonely :3

He doesn't how to cook all that much, his food is rather average but it's really tasty to Alice...at least she says so. He doesn't have any taste buds so he couldn't taste test his food...not that he really minds it, he only worries about his cooking when he's trying to impress Alice.

(A 'tiny' bit of nsfw below...don't read it if you're uncomfortable with it)

Sexual love

Before you ask anything, yes he has a dick. He can hide it or manifest it at any time, and since he's kind of a shapeshifter he can control whatever form it takes. I will not elaborate any further.

He secretly has a thing for lingerie...and thighs

He's very embarrassed about it however...but it's relatively fine compared to uhh...the things I've seen online.

He's mostly takes the lead but....he switches it up sometimes on special circumstances.

He doesn't mind rough sex (He kinda prefers it actually)

He isn't into BDSM all that much but he found bandage kinda cool

For his stamina...well, he couldn't even keep his body together for longer than 3 hours so...what do you expect of him?

Even though he has low stamina, he can make it up by making it worth...it's up to your imagination though.

( Idk how to write smut, sorry :< )

[sugarsnappeases]

summer holiday matchmaking please!!

AAA HI HI DARLING!!

summer holiday matchmaking is kinda rogue but so silly to me it's something i thought of aaages ago and still haven't like properly started writing but it's very fun, it's basically the whole pre-marauders gang going on holiday to zabini's villa in italy in the summer one year and she's literally going about trying to set everyone up w each other...

more below the cut bc this got long.....

zira (zabini, btw i did have a reason that i can't remember anymore but i started calling her that in my head and now i can't stop so we're sticking w it) is there... obviously. and she has this whole major matchmaking scheme that doesn't go entirely right all the time but gets the right results anyway... like she manages to get most of the couples that she wants to get together to get together

the couples in questions areeee:

bella and rita, bc this is me we're talking about and i can't live without quillkiller, and they're circling each other like prey in this one like i think they take the longest to get together bc they just kinda don't want the chase to end

cissy and alice, they're so special to me!!! lots of very nervous kinda moves being made but also like... cissy figures out what zira is doing So quickly and immediately goes into denial about liking alice lol so there's a bit of difficulty there

rodolphus and antonin, my precious angry babies, you already know my thoughts about them as enemies to enemies who fuck and i don't think this is much different like they're not enemies really but zira just manages to gets them to fuck it out rather than scream at each other and calls it a job well done

frank and rabastan, quite sweet i think but i haven't entirely figured this one out it's just general vibes and pasta dough kneading atm

ted and andromeda, this is an already established relationship and they're very sweet and happy and in love etc etc bc they deserve it

lucius and gideon (prewett), but this is more of an unexpected one night stand rather than a relationship so this is very very minor (they somehow end up worming their way into half my fics like this)

also another already established relationship, potentially molly and arthur weasley?? bc i saw this tiktok one time talking about arthur and andy being friends and i was kinda like.... yeah?? maybe??

oh and then also fabian (prewett) and the carrow twins are all gonna be there too like that's their big friend group that spans several school houses and years (although i've lessened the age gap a bit like the black sisters are all just one year apart from each other in this like cissy just finished 5th year, andy just finished 6th and bella just finished 7th, and the rest of their friends span those years like accordingly yk)

also i was thinking of writing this from zira's pov, so it's all kinda an outsiders pov of the various relationships which i just thought would be really interesting to do... but tbh i haven't properly started writing this yet, i've just mapped out the general vibes

there's gonna be a bunch of lounging by the poolside, chatting on the deckchairs, beaches, clubs, cocktails, matching tattoos, house parties, italian food, skinny dipping, drinking games, pasta making, gossiping and DRAMA!! lots of drama and zira is just sitting back and relaxing and having the absolute time of her life......

anyway that's that for now!!!

[aetherphobia]

NRC Oc #2: Alice Undertale (/j)

Basics

Alice (She/It/Alice) is an eldritch being that does not naturally belong in Twisted Wonderland. Like Yuu (she is not the Yuu of this universe, that is still Comet Morningstar), Alice comes from another world. However, it's world not like ours. More like an alternative backrooms like dimension that soars all throughout every universe at rapid speeds. This realm is known as the Entropy Limbo. I will get more into this realm in a later post, but know that this is where Alice originates. She, however, did not know this until a much later time in the storyline. It took Alice a while to realize that she wasn't even human at all, for she has amnesia. And no recollection of her life before finding Night Raven College, let alone Ramshackle. Alice most likely isn't even her real name, simply a mere nickname that Yuu and Howl coined for her from noticing the resemblance she had to Alice from the Disney movie. She is another one of the soon to be many students that Yuu has to share their dorm with.

The quirks of Alice (Personality n stuff)

Alice is known by her peers to be just as chaotic as the power she holds, often being rather playful and curious, not really thinking before she acts and is just in it all for her amusement. She tends to not be as aware as she should when she recklessly uses her power for the fun of it. But when she does realize it, she is quick to beat herself up for it. She's not destructive on purpose, it's just her nature. And she doesn't really enjoy that being the case. Despite this, her destructive habits are balanced out by her creations and her love for all things mildly unsettling or misfit-esque. She finds comfort in caring for those who are like her in a way, almost like a motherly instinct.

While Alice can't think too far back without her head hurting, there is evidence that she wasn't always as excitable and bubbly. As when she was first discovered by Spirit accompanied by Howl, she was rather timid and closed off, confused about her situation and the world around her. She was scared more than anything. When asked, Spirit would remark that she wouldn't have ever expected this switch up in Alice's personality back when she had first arrived at all.

Funky party tricks (Talents and Abilities)

Alice doesn't have a signature spell, but she does do magic. The whole thing about Alice is that she rejects any and all of the rules of magic and logic that the universe of Twisted Wonderland has to offer. She is entirely a being of pure chaos magic. Think Discord from My little pony, for example. She can make random things appear at her fingertips, change her form, give sentience to otherwise non-sentient things, and generally warp the reality of everything around her. There are limits to what she can make, however. For example, she can only clone objects she has already seen before. Otherwise they turn out weird, glitchy, and all messy. And she has to have tasted the food she clones and liked the way it tastes for it to not come out tasting nasty. She can replicate looks, but she can't do tastes if she doesn't recognize it. And of course, everything she does has some sort of consequence to it, big or small. I won't get into it exactly. But you'll certainly know a consequence when you see it.

Her cloning abilities are what earned her a job at Mostro Lounge, making her a very valuable asset to Azul as she ups the speed in business. She enjoys using her magic in a way that doesn't make people mad at her, so she very much enjoys it there no matter how shady it may be. Despite her chaos, she is trying.

Trauma /j (Backstory, life back home)

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Relationships. (Philia, Storge, Eros, etcetc)

Comet Morningstar/Yuu - Philia

She is very greatful to Yuu for letting her stay despite everything! She has this respect for Yuu due to being in very similar situations in terms of being from a completely different world. She feels at ease to know that she isn't alone in all of this.

Grim - Squimch cheepse

She will pet the fire cat if it's the last damn thing she does.

Spirit Auraveil - Eros

Yeah she's shamelessly a pain in Spirit's ass, but she does still care about her. Spirit was one of the two people who found her when she was in a confused and scared state, even when it was because she was an intruder. No matter how much she may tease her, Alice is at her call. She would give so much to help Spirit with whatever she needs if she just asked. She knows she won't, but when you want someone to look your way, a glitch can dream.

Howl Pendragon (@thesunshineriptide's oc, not the real Howl Pendragon) - Philia

Howl is the other person that found her. And sure, they kinda did freeze her ankles and made her trip and hurt herself when they first met, but she's fineeee. She doesn't hold any grudge against them for that, although may tease them about it from time to time. She enjoys Howl's presence and finds solace in them also being from another world. She would kill for them Absolutely no questions asked.

Azul Ashengrotto - Eros??? Philia

Alice finds Azul amusing to say the least. He is her boss. But the thing is, Since Alice has upped the productivity rates in his business, Azul kinda can't really fire her without it having a large damaging impact on the speed of his business. So he kinda just lets her do whatever she wants because he kinda needs her. She enjoys teasing him and being around him when whe can, often sometimes bothering him in his office when she's bored and on break. He's probably gotten used to it by now. Alice has a teensy weensy crush on him, although she has not yet acknowledged that she does just yet. Their relationship is otherwise just professional (kinda) (a little bit)

Floyd Leech - Eros

The third person she had met upon first regaining consciousness in an unfamiliar place! Floyd gave her the nickname "Blue Tang" and squeezed her VERY tightly. It's actually because of this squeeze that made Alice start to question things, seeing the reactions of those around her and feeling fine despite the squeeze. It was like she didn't even have bones and she knew that something was wrong with her in that moment. However, she and Floyd did get along with their matching chaotic energies. Floyd once raced Howl to steal a kiss as a joke and won. Alice developed feelings and panicked because she hates the feeling of sudden change. Ended up avoiding him for some time. But they worked it out in the end.

Idia Shroud - soooorta Philia?

Idia once took Alice in for testing out of being curious about what the fuck she had going on. And he couldn't figure it out. Just that she didn't have bones and confirmed that she wasn't human. There was also another time where Idia made a body switching device and they swapped bodies so that Alice can enjoy being (semi) organic for a day and in return, he used her body so that he can work and play games without getting tired or needing to eat at all. It was a very amusing fiasco as Alice had given his body a full makeover, started singing a solo in public, said hi to people individually in the hallways, and generally confused the fuck out of everyone who knew Idia. They eventually did switch back and Idia had a panic attack (/hj). They still do talk, although mostly just online via a groupchat. Alice thinks that they're friends but she can't really tell for certain and just doesn't bother to ask.

Media. (Drawings, picrews, friend art and other stuff)

The first drawing was made by Howl (tagged earlier), one is a picrew, three are my own drawings, and the final two were made in gacha. Alice has many hair colors, although I mostly portray her with either pink or Blonde dyed hair. Generally, she usually has whatever hair color I currently have irl. She's not my persona, but I still think it's fun to do that anyway.

Alice's Official Tumblr account: @enigmacitrus-rp

Conclusion

I couldn't sleep so I did this instead! Alice was much easier to make in comparison to Spirit as there is much less information about Alice by comparison. At least not information that has been revealed yet! By the way, if you haven't noticed, Undertale isn't actually her surname. That's just a joke last name that is written down in Alice's student files as a placeholder until she remembers her real first and last name.

But with that said, that's it for this file! I'm doing this in a certain order. So I may start on Nrc student oc #3 tomorrow after I get out of school. So until then, peace out!

[ohgoditssnek]

It's this time of the month when snek complains about bungo stray dogs.

However, this time it is not entirely about bsd and more about general portrail of Lovecraft inspired characters in media. But since im too busy working on my diploma to write an actual paper about this topic, i will default to just being disappointed in bsd writing. And bsd Lovecraft is a good example.

So, anyways. Lovecraft is boring af as a character. I assume there is a piece of media that managed to make him fun that i missed, but bsd Lovecraft is nothing. So most of the others. And the reason is that they aren't based on the writer himself, but rather on one of his works. His nothing but a shallow Call of Cthulhu reference. Silly eldritch tentacle monster. In bsd his just a prop, standing there, being...tired. Yeah, yeah, Cthulhu sleeping in the depths of the ocean. I get it.

I assume Lovecraft as a person isn't very exciting. But the idea of making him into tentacle critter is even less exciting. That's the first thing that comes to mind and it's boring and unimaginative. That sort of interpretation just tells me that you don't know anything about the author really. It's the same thing as basing Lewis Carroll character ENTIRELY on Alice in wonderland.

If you want to make Lovecraft character based on his work at least choose less obvious one. Call of Cthulhu isn't even good. Lovecraft has much more interesting compelling works than this one. I know. I read all of them. I had a hypefixation moment, that's why I care about Lovecraft do much. I know too much information about him.

And H. P. Lovecraft is an IDIOT. He's STUPID. He's such a prick not like other girls hikka that it's hilarious. This man roleplayed with his panpals, he was talking about food SO MUCH in his letters, he kinned every 18-19 century poet and writer, he was an Edgar Allan Poe fangirl. Lovecraft was such a mess, I'd like to talk to him really. He wouldn't like me probably, because I'm not American and not even western European. And we both have such horrible social anxiety, we'd just sit in awkward silence and then I'd infodump about bees and dsmp lore and break him like a victorian child, unless he'd actually find concept of Minecraft roleplay interesting... BUT ANYWAYS BACK TO THE TOPIC.

Bsd Lovecraft is nothing but a plot device. He's there to be big scary monster for soukoku to fight. Nothing wrong with big scary monster to fight it's just. He has no personality, there's nothing exciting about him, no interesting thoughts or interpretations. Just an eldritch monster.

But you can make him so much more than that. He could be so out of touch with reality because his only source of information about society were old literature book, just like real life Lovecraft grew up petty much in isolation with a company of century old stories. Make him complain about humans, make him obsessed fashion, because he wants to look like a real gentlemen, but then he misses the point entirely. Just like real Lovecraft did. You can make his reason for helping Fitzgerald not some shady contract, but his own will to do something for a noble cause. There's so much more that you can do with him, instead of making him into apathetic wall with do a scary button.

But why bother writing all that for a background character who's only on screen for half an hour?

Why bother including him at all? I'm sure there's a way to do a soukoku moment without him in the narrative. Bsd has do many characters it won't make a difference if you remove someone of them. What's the point of forcing in a character if you not interested in making them fun or exploring them.

It's the whole premise of bungo stray dogs, isn't it? You come to see cool autor interpretation. Bsd is borne out of love for literature and writers, but then some of the characters get so much less attention and care then others. And it's not even that hard to write a good character when you have a real person as a reference. How'd come so many bsd characters are nothing but blank pages and troupes? If not for literature, half of the people won't be interested in the story.

Bsd is very strange media to consume. You have to wach anime, read manga, read novells to understand the characters and setting, and then you have to read autors' works and biographies to understand the meta (and because people will bully you on the internet if you don't). But then. Then you look at it as a whole and. It feels like a fever dream. It rushes to tell you all the cool stuff, but then it's either not enough stuff or too much stuff and you have to go do homework to understand what that was about. It almost can't pick want it wants to be.

Bsd is just one big fanfiction that just wants to play with all those cool characters and doesn't want to do boring storytelling stuff.

And idk.

Slay?

What was i talking about by the way? Ah yes, Lovecraft. Please stop making him into Cthulhu. That's boring.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk, i will now proceed to write logistic strategy for a small game development studio in Poland.

[lya-dustin]

Cupid kills with arrows

Chapter 11

Cw:mentions of menstruation and teen pregnancy

Gif by @ladiesofcinema

“I am sorry for the words I said.” Alicent apologized as they had tea together.

Aemond had asked her to give Aemma a chance.

I would like you to have a good relationship with my Aemee, mother. I would not want you to be cut off from your grandchildren because you cannot get along with my wife.

The threat was loud and clear.

“No matter, half of it is true, I suppose.” Aemma dismissed her apology as she poured. “I can be conniving, I suppose I am little too given my youth, but I am no slut. That your son and I have had the blessing to be compatible in more ways than one should be something you should be thankful for instead of condemning.”

The queen doesn’t like challengers, never liked Aemma and her outspokenness since she could remember either.

This will be fun.

“I had forgotten how frank you were, well, are. Yes, that you and my son have found marital happiness together should have been something to thank the gods for.” If you were anyone else, the queen means to add.

Why did she have to be Rhaenyra’s daughter?

Why did Viserys cut Alicent’s chance to rule through Aegon and make him the king they need?

If she had to choose between her two eldest sons, she would not be able to do it.

If she had to choose between Aemond’s children or Helaena’s, she could not do it either.

Aemond was the one he saw a king in ever since he crawled into Aemma’s crib when he was a three and Aemma two and fell asleep there.

Aemond reminded him of Daemon and himself with his bookishness and fiery temper.

Aemond who would play out the story of Viserys and Aemma with a happier ending.

Baelon and Alyssa, Jaehaerys and Alysanne, Aegon and Rhaenys, Gaemon and Daenys, Hugor of the Hill and the Maiden as supple as willow and with eyes as deep as pools.

Even if they had been married for less than a fortnight, many believed it to be like the love stories of the past.

No one ever said that about Aegon and Helaena.

Only compared Helaena to Rhaena Targaryen for her strange attachment to Lady Elissa Piper.

Gods, Laenor must be laughing in hell.

“If it all goes as it should, you may have a grandson before the year is out.” There is no mention of her accepting her apology as she continues speaking.

You are not forgiven.

I will take your son, your court, and your crown from you.

Their marriage had turned a moon old around the time they left Bitterbridge thanks to a sandbar the barge became stuck on.

It had taken another week for the ungodly amount of river barges behind them to catch up to them in Longtable.

They were leaving Longtable now after staying there for the duration of the wait. The food had tasted off and Aemma had nearly fallen asleep during the solemn and dreadfully long feast the first night.

At the current pace it will take longer to reach Highgarden than it would’ve been on horse.

“You are an adorable shade of green, husband. Are you sure you don’t want to trouble the maester for the tonic?” Aemma rubs Aemond’s back to relieve his sea sickness.

What land did to Aemma, water did to Aemond.

“No, I am fine.” He lies and bravely walks to the oarsmen who aren’t fooled by it.

Not that he would admit to sea sickness even to her.

The journey south was slow, the Mander while great was filled with obstacles and a rather slow current.

Even Aemma had started to feel nauseous after Longtable.

But then again, she had not felt at ease with Ser Otto’s coffin there in the same barge with them --- her goodmother wanted them where she could see them and had to travel with her, Aemond’s uncles and Aemond’s siblings.

She could not wait until they got off at Cider Hall for a respite.

Even with Rhaena and Helaena for company, she was sick of this boat.

Rhaena had come at her invitation and had she not complained about her monthlies, Aemma would not have noticed.

She had had her blood end just days before the wedding to ensure it would not come during her honeyed moon.

Now it was a week and a handful of days late.

But she had had moons where it did not come, and she had never even been with a man those times ---something mama had often laughed at after telling her it was fine.

If there is no sight of her blood by the time they reach Highgarden, then she will seek a maester, she tells herself.

Three days later, at the modest feast at Cider Hall, she becomes sick and cannot hide her suspicions anymore.

Aemond, as ignorant as most men are about it, suspected poison as she is sick over a bucket a servant had brought.

Helaena, who has given Aemma most of the answers to her questions lately, dismissed his wishes to kill the servants and the cooks with a giggle.

“Dragons of black and green, flying everywhere from Dorne to the Wall and beyond the Narrow Sea.” Helaena briefly touched the crook of her brother’s elbow in congratulations.

It is comical to see his expression change so swiftly.

First to confusion, then disbelief and finally joy.

Their stay at Cider Hall is extended a day once Alicent learns of them seeing the maester for confirmation.

House Fossoway’s Maester had developed a fool-proof examination using urine and House Fossoway’s famous Cider, something he had learned from a pisse prophet at the Citadel.

The queen had gasped in surprise before congratulating them on their good news.

“It is wonderful news, to have a new life after a death in our family. I pray the gods bless the two of you with many children.” The queen said genuinely. It almost shocked Aemma to see her suddenly be nice to her.

What had changed?

She loathed her up until they boarded the barges at Tumbleton.

“When will you make it public?” Alicent asks, hoping for an answer that is not now.

“Once I have felt the quickening, your grace, it would invite ill luck if I were to reveal our good news so soon.” Aemma’s no idiot, she knows women wait until the quickening to reveal it in case it ends with disappointment.

And it would give her time to see if the queen’s sudden pleasantness was more than just a façade.

Despite the secrecy behind Aemee’s condition, Aemond has never felt this jubilant.

“You cannot laugh, it is a funeral procession, your highness.” Criston warns as they ready themselves for the long ride from Highgarden to Oldtown.

After the good news at Cider Hall’s, it seems the gods heard them and sent them a steady current in the wider Mander.

They had arrived within a week at Highgarden and while his seasickness did not leave, he was far too happy and proud of himself to care for.

“I only wish he had lived this long so I could see his face when he learned I have gotten my wife with child.” Aemond confided in his mentor.

“Surely, he could not have been so awful, your highness.” Even Criston found Ser Otto’s horridness surprising.

No one had known who he was behind closed doors. Criston had assumed he just hated Rhaenyra for standing in his way, but the knight had been shocked to hear the man had been known to strike his daughter and grandchildren whenever they displeased him, and no one was around to stop him.

“He was counting my impediment to further his schemes. Had I not gotten Aemma with child, he would have had Aegon usurp whoever we chose as our heirs.” Ser Otto had plans for everything and assumed Aemond would be unable to sire a child given he had not bedded a single woman he had sent his way.

Something even his mother had been shocked to know before they left.

“How? Even I did not know about that, and I gave you your spurs last year.” the knight asked.

“He had been the one to send ladies of ill repute my way to see if where my preferences lied, he was confident I would not sire a child giving him the opportunity to seize the throne in Aegon’s or Jaehaerys’ name and allowed the marriage to happen thinking nothing would change.” Aemond explained something they could not have discovered until Larys Strong changed his allegiances knowing he was next on the Seasnake’s list.

“I suppose we should thank whoever did him in, gods know what sort of hell he would have unleashed had he lived.” Criston Cole said as both knight and prince pretend to mourn the man who’s coffin they escort to his final resting place.

[elaratyrell]

I was rewatching the Great the other day and the whole time I was thinking about how coded the HOTD characters are to it

Like I can imagine the naive, young reader from outside of the seven kingdoms being betrothed to the young emperor and finding out he’s not at all as she expected

-> Aegon as Peter, who instead of properly ruling surrounds himself with food, booze and women, soon finding his smart and sweet wife more endearing than annoying, soon finding himself becoming completely head over heels in love with her, only for her to steal the throne and become empress, where he realises he’d rather spend his days having fun drinking and fucking his wife rather than seeing to royal duties. Rather than a bear, he gifts his wife a small dragon -> Helaena as Elizabeth, the rather eccentric (and bisexual) sister of the emperor, who many would see as a better fit as leader, and who cares for Aegon and is one of the only people other than his wife who actually understand him. There is a sadness in her eyes from where she lost her young son Jahaerys in a supposed accident -> Aemond is the smart and rather awkward Orlo, who spent his years studying history, science and philosophy rather than whoring about like most men in the court. He bonds with the emperor’s wife over their love of books- and hatred of Aegon- and once he agrees to help her usurp Aegon’s throne, he unlocks a darker, bloodthirsty side of him -> Alys is the empress’ maid, Marial, who was demoted from her previous station as a lady after her half brother Larys was found by the emperor doing something incredibly inappropriate with his mother’s (Alicent) corpse, or more specifically, with her feet -> Jace is the Leo of the story, a lover brought in by Aegon to please his wife with his rather large cock. A true romantic, he woos the empress and they fall in love, only for him to be killed by her infuriated husband -> Otto is Archie, a devoutly religious man who turned to god to sooty the sexual depravity in his heart. He manipulates the emperor to get his own way, making an enemy of the empress ->Daemon or Criston as Velementov, an angry drunken war general who is willing to declare war on any nation for the slightest inconvenience and who yearns for bloodshed. He joins the coup out of the promise of bloodshed and his lustful thoughts of the empress. His wife and son died in childbirth -> Cregan is the childhood friend of the emperor, Grigor, who finds himself torn between his loyalty to his best friend and the love of his wife, who is regularly fucked by said best friend -> I could imagine either Lannisters or Baratheons being in the place of Tatiana and Arkady -> Obviously Gwayne would have to be Hugo (Freddie Fox multiverse of madness lol)