#and just seeing that acknowledged w the memorial drawings….

[funnyscienceman]

i think one thing i'm never gonna get over about the movie is that the memorial wall full of art — some of the drawings are of shadow nimona. i can't get screenshots right now but like. shadow nimona smiling. beaming. getting hearts and smiles and hugs, from the kids, from other shadow creatures. it's just. it's so sweet. like it's the kids who drew that taking all that raw hurt and vulnerability from the final act and giving it the hug and empathy and solidarity it needed. and it's like, look at nimona's line after the kwispy incident, look at the cereal ad, the board game billboard; look at gloreth being taught hate, and then look at the drawings. and i just lose it every time i think about it

[nanamis-princess]

✯¸.•´*¨`*•✿ ✿•*`¨*`•.¸✯

Asking them to peel an orange for you; strawhat addition

Synopsis: they peel an orange for youuu<3

Genre: fluffy fluff fluff

T/w: 🤔 I don’t think there is any, lmk if I’m wrong. Possibly misspelled words I’m sleepy lolll.

Luffy, zoro, nami, sanji & usopp (separate) X reader

Luffy

-he’s sitting out on the deck drawing as you guys are heading to you next destination. You come and plop down next to him, he turns smiling at your presence. “Look y/n! I’m drawing a fish.” He holds up the drawing so you can see better. Smiling at his drawing you look towards him before he goes back to drawing “luffy can you peel this for me?” You ask innocently.

-he sets down his pencil and sketchbook before taking the orange from your hands, “yeah sure!” He begins working away.

-he gets done peeling it fast and tries getting the bigger pieces of the orange strings off for you. He also steels a little piece of the orange before handing it to you with a bright smile. “Here you go!”

-once you begin eating your now peeled orange, Luffy tries a small piece of the outer orange. His face twists in discomfort, humming in discomfort he gets up and goes to the railing spitting the rind into the sea.

Zoro

-He just got comfortable in his hammock after struggling with his swords to cooperate. Laying back with his eyes closed listening to the way the boat rocks softly with the waves. Hearing you make you way to him, he opens one eye. His arms are crossed behind his head. “Mhm?” He hums as he scans over your face for any signs of discomfort.

-you hold the tangerine second guessing if maybe you shouldn’t ask, he looks comfortable. “I was going to ask if you could peel this for me” you say looking at the tangerine. “Are your fingers broken?”he asks as his attention is on you now. You let out a little huff “no I just didn’t want to get all the stickiness on my hands” you say feeling a little dumb for asking him now

-just as your about to turn to leave he holds out his hand for the orange

-it doesn’t take him long to peel it, he gets off some of the white strands but then hands it to you. “Bon appétit” he says in a plain sarcastic tone, mocking Sanji in the process with a small grin on his face.

Nami

-shes sitting in the kitchen with a book and a cup of tea while you guys are docked somewhere. Just you two on the ship, keeping an eye on it. She turns her page as she acknowledges you coming in, her eyes look up from her book as you sit across from her. “What’s up?” She asks as her eyes go back to her book.

- “I want this tangerine but I don’t feel like peeling it,” you say hoping she gets the hint. She looks at you above her glasses with a tsk noise leaving her, she puts her book mark in place and closes her book.

-she takes the orange and begins peeling it as the citrus smell fills the space between you. She picks her tea cup, placing it on the table so she has a place to put your orange. She get most of the white strings off, peeling an orange is mussel memory at this point. She splits it in half for you.

- before siding the plate to you she takes three little piece of the orange, she eats a slice and smiles at you. “preparing tax” she motions to the small piece she took before opening her book.

Sanji

-he just got done with the lunch rush and luffy’s big appetite, sitting out on the deck enjoying his cigarette. He notices you out the corner of his eye as you are walking to him, he smiles brightly at you as he puts out his cigarette in the ashtray. “Hello sweetheart” he says as you stand across from him. “Hi Sanji, I wanted to tell you that lunch was good, I never got to tell you earlier” you say with the orange in your hand.

- “I’m glad you liked it my sweet” he says with a small smile as he admires you. He takes note of the orange and nods towards it before holding out his hand. “I can peel that for you” he looks up at you and takes it once you hand it to him.

-he’s swift and makes it look so easy, he even gets a majority of the white strands off for you. He makes it so they are just little pieces, you don’t even have to rip it apart. Handing the pieces back to you “here you are my love” he says with a smile before getting up to discard of the rind.

-he comes back out to sit with you as you watch Luffy and usopp try to catch dinner.

Usopp

-you find him sitting down fidgeting with his slingshot and making more ammo. It takes him a moment to realize you are sitting across from him but he smiles when he sees you. He gives you a brief yet detailed rundown about how he’s going to take down bad guys with his weapon.

- “I was wondering if you could peel this for me?” You ask looking at him as he dusts off his hands. Usopp nods “yeah yeah, I got you” he says as he takes the orange. He works away a the rind then the stringy parts.

- he splits it in half for you, one of the small pieces come off and he holds it up to his mouth it make it look like a smile. He smiles whiling holding it up to his lips then eats it before holding out the rest for you.

[i2ycat]

way too late

pairing jake x gn!reader synopsis in which you come to the realisation that you’ve been loving jake all this time way too late genre angst, fluff, friends to ??, hurt w comfort word count 0.7k warnings little mention of blood, kissing with a bloody lip main masterlist

reblogs and comments are very much appreciated!

Jake’s hand softly caresses your face, tears brimming his eyes as he holds his suitcase in the other with a vice grip. It was evident that he didn’t want to leave either, not with how your relationship was starting to blossom so beautifully in the spring.

“Can’t you just stay?” you plead, finally mustering up the courage to reciprocate the intensity of his stare. You could see his face soften even further, brows furrowing and gaze dropping to his feet in an attempt to choke down the impulse to drop everything and run back to your open arms, to where everything would’ve been in its place and nothing else would matter. It would just be you two against the world.

Your heart clenches almost painfully in its place. “Can’t we just go back to where we were?” you continue, even though you know that it is damn near impossible. This was the last page of your shared chapter, ink no longer tracing the lines of his name or the crinkles of his eye smiles; the last paragraph of his current existence—the boy you met in your first year of college, the boy that loved you more than anything.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, throat constricting as he continues to stare at the ground.

You bite into your lip harsh enough to draw blood because you were frustrated at the world, at the entire damn universe for presenting you with the one boy who understood everything about you without much toiling and then taking him away the moment you realized just how much you’ve loved him and wanted him in your life.

He didn’t even need to try hard to make you forget all about your problems; just his existence was comfort enough. He was your only safe place as you navigated yourself in this confusing world.

The absurdity of it all made you want to laugh, even through the tears.

“I hate you,” you say.

Jake looks up and searches your eyes for any confirmation, which he obviously doesn’t get because you love him and he knows that you love him more than just any friend would.

He releases his grip on the handle of his suitcase and brings you into a hug. His perfume and warmth engulfed you almost entirely, which made you damn near sob like a baby in the middle of the airport.

Your chokes drowned and died down in Jake’s hoodie as you proceeded to tell him that you hated him.

“You don’t mean that,” he says, bringing your face from his shoulder towards his own. “I know you don’t.”

It felt like the world had stopped then and there, much like the first time you met him. You didn’t want to admit it at the time, but you fell in love at first sight with Jake, in his baggy jeans and hoodie, adorning an expression akin to that of a lost puppy. You were the ultimate fool for only realizing that now.

His dewy brown eyes drew you physically closer, and before you knew it, his lips were on yours. You could taste the irony of your own blood against Jake’s own lips, but you were not in the right headspace to be caring enough about proper hygiene.

This was your personal euphoria, but in a few hours time, it was just going to be the last line you wrote as you reminisced, so you hurried to savor his cherry-flavored chapstick and commit it to your memory forever.

Everyone else in this space and time was just a part of the flurry of emotions that you felt as you kissed Jake. This was the first time, but you’ve already acknowledged it as the last, even if you didn’t want it to be.

Even through the dull ache in your lungs, you kissed Jake, and only until you'd used up the last of your oxygen did you stop for air.

The two of you panted and huffed, your arms wrapped around his neck and his arms around your waist.

The cold air of the airport brings you back to the reality that Jake will no longer be in your arms like he is right now, so you take the opportunity to finally say what has been on your mind the very moment you met him: “I love you, and I hate that I do.”

“Even when you’re admitting that you love me, you still won’t hold back on the ‘I hate you’ stuff.” his lips crack into a smile. “Well then, I love that I love you, Y/n, more than anything in this entire world.”

© i2ycat 2024

[risingsuntarot]

1--2

3

What are you currently not seeing ?

My lord I'm so sorry I've been gone for so long I kinda jus felt so unmotivated and kinda went hermit mode for quite a while so I apologize for my absence!! Anyways I wanted to make a come back with a reading regarding being trapped, blinded or stuck on something that is unfortunately, hindering your process ;+(

Also * will indicate a reversal from here on out also only three piles because I wanted to get this out ASAP !!

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Pile 1

---Cards pulled---

5 of Coins/4 of Wands*/The magician

3 of coins*/The Moon

---Clarification---

9 of coins/9 of Swords/The hierophant

Ace of wands/3 of wands

There is most likely a financial or material issue happening, I heard "just enough to get by"

It looks like you lack in what you currently need as well? But despite this you are content or try to come off that way

Maybe you just moved into your own apartment recently? Or now have to pay rent or something along those lines

A new responsibility within your family/home life too

There's a lack of confidence here especially within self and home life

Something or someone in your home isn't making you feel quite safe? Or you get nightmares about them (if this is the case please seek help!!) that might be a very specific message BUT Could also be ready as you may be dealing with flashbacks at this time due to financial or material loss !! Maybe you grew up in poverty or an unstable home? Or your parents/caregivers weren't able to provide necessities?

It looks like with the magician and the hierophant there is a gift on the horizon or a very promising belief or like system? Maybe a change in routine or spending habits and thinking will help tremendously

I see that on your end for some your guides are frustrated with your lack of effort and motivation to make your thousands of ideas a reality

They absolutely love your creativity tho don't get me wrong

Maybe you have a hard time focusing right now and have many great ideas to put into place but lack motivation or resources as well so this leads to lack of movement or commitment

Sadness, restless emotions and late sleepless nights are prominent here, someone may deal with insomnia here but y'all sleep schedule is wack (same tho)

Feeling blocked and frustrated >:+(

---ORACLE/ADVICE---

Summer - "Bask in Joy and Light"

"Rise up, open your wings and shine. Bring your projects and plans into into the light, into manifestation" as soon as I opened the guidebook lil

DEADASS do that's just that, start off easy with a lobes hobby, draw something new or listen to a new genre, learn that new music sheet that has been challenging you or even get into a new type of skill to re motivate you !!

This also indicates summer may be your time of change!! New opportunities, new memories maybe even knew people

I feel like this is the perfect time to go outside, bask in sunlight and enjoy a nearby park or go on a nature hike, try meeting new people at libraries, bars or events even book clubs?

I'm getting a message to connect more with water so swimming or maybe even kayaking?

The big message here is try something n e w but I'm also being told to "loosen up" I'm tensing up a lot with this reading

Bumble bees maybe significant to someone :+) or honeycombs cereal? Lmao honey and bee related things here

---Channeled Songs---

Ego brain - SOAD

"You see my pain is real

Watch my world dissolve

And pretend that none of us see the fall

As I turned to sand

You took me by the hand

And declared, that love prevails over all"

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Pile 2

---Cards pulled---

Temperance/9 of Wands/Ace of cups*

Knight of Coins/6 of Wands

---Clarification---

5 of Coins/The Lovers*/8 of Coins

The Moon/Queen of Wands

Okay so there's a sense for reluctance from this pile tbh like to fully acknowledge the truth

I keep wanting to say what happened so you may be being asked this question a lot

For one there is guilt over either healing and moving on or from not healing and moving on from a difficult situation but for most it's a romantic connection

I feel like voices were silenced, and you were constantly fighting for you right to be heard, seen or acknowledged fairly

It was a toxic dynamic that you still look back on to this day but almost feel indifferent but it seems it's just suppressed emotions and memories that you have yet to actually acknowledge

You seem to be a BIT too logical with what happened, like everything was supposed to be this way even this you didn't at all anticipate it if that makes sense

Like you knew what it was exactly, no bs and people tried convincing you otherwise

It looks like someone may come to you to talk about what happened although you may be reluctant to actually open up and speak on your side or even acknowledge that it hurts

It's like you go on about your day with a heavy rain cloud over your head and this person can see :+(

it maybe a friend to help you through this for some possibly offering you a type of hype sesh or even help you glow up a bit even if it's confidence lol

---ORACLE/ADVICE---

Wolf- "Take care of your needs"

I feel like you definitely need rest here, this card says "Do everything you need to do to be at your best, Then move beyond your fears and limitations"

it feels like a state of I can FINALLY get some rest from running and running and running

You've been in survival mode for so long or you just genuinely feel exhausted from the expectations around you or the trauma in your past

Know that's it's okay to just chill out and it's okay to be on your own for a while it's all part of the process, in fact I believe your guides are asking you to spend time with yourself more

Self care and YouTube days are recommend :+))

---Channeled Songs---

Around the fur - Deftones

"Please don't fuck around and die like this

'Cause I love her"

Brand new numb - Motionless in white

"All of my flaws, I wear 'em with honor

A purple heartbreak for all we've suffered"

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Pile 3

---Cards pulled---

The Hierophant*/King of cups/4 of Swords

Wheel of fortune/5 of wands*

---Clarification---

Ace of Swords*/5 of Swords/Queen of Coins

The Hermit*/Queen of Cups

This may be a more masculine in terms of energy for this pile but I'll still read the same

So it seems there was a hypocrisy or an act that went against your morals and you were quick to act and deliver your opinion... "sharply"

You stood your ground and what you believed in in your heart despite the haters lol, and despite the arguments or how many people you had to leave behind something about conflict here

Although the way you did this was quite nonchalantly and someone was not a fan I'm picking up on black hair and green for the description for some reason

This person tends to be the center of attention? Or is very attractive, or maybe even a bit out of place almost ? But you not caring is pissing them off

I see there's gonna be change to the situation but someone may have to trail off onto their own path :+( a bit shunned almost but it's a high probability it's this other person

It's possible someone with the same morals and values as you is helping the conflict "die out" but not caring or almost standing in solidarity

---ORACLE/ADVICE---

High Priest - "Intend and Create"

"Recognize you have the power to change you life. Face your fear and align with the light"

Kind of a plain message but with this card I am getting that you can literally move anyway you want with this and just move on

It seems your intentions were nothing but pure in the end so no Karma was ever delivered to you

How unfortunate for the other person :+pp

It also seems some may follow in your path a bit here but spirits asking you to reach out to someone like a teacher for further guidance if you feel stuck

---Channeled Songs---

Riptide - Grandson

"I've tried getting better, did all of the twelve steps

Whoever would'a thought? Whoever could've guessed?"

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

[pagesfromthevoid]

A Real Nightmare | a.a. | 3

Astarion x fem!tav

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: Brief mentions of sex. A little bit of angst. Mild trauma bonding.

Author's Note: I really did plan on them banging in this part but then I got in my feelings and then....this happened.

Talk to Me! | Series Masterlist | AO3

She jolted awake, the darkness of her surroundings swallowing her confusion. A hand gripped her shoulder, pulling her from the clutches of sleep. Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of it all. This wasn't the familiar touch of Asterion, nor the comforting confines of her camp. Panic clawed at her throat, threatening to choke her.

"You're awake, good," came a voice, gentle yet urgent. It felt like a lifeline in the sea of uncertainty that engulfed her. With trembling hands, she reached out to grasp at the reality slipping through her fingers.

As she struggled to focus, she noticed the figure before her, bathed in an otherworldly glow. His armor gleamed like starlight, and his eyes held a wisdom that seemed to stretch beyond time itself. He was graying around the edges, the only indication of his age. Recognition flickered within her, a memory just out of reach.

"I know your voice," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've heard it before."

He nodded, a somber acknowledgment passing between them. "We have met," he confirmed, his words carrying the weight of shared history. "More than once."

She tried to piece together the fragments of memory, but slipped through her fingers. Something about a shipwreck, a beach strewn with wreckage and the promise of salvation. His presence felt like a thread connecting her past to her present, weaving a tapestry of destiny.

"We have met," he repeated, drawing her attention back to the present. "But now, I am here to save you again, Tav."

Her name echoed in the caverns of her mind, a beacon in the darkness. She followed him, stepping into a realm that felt both alien and achingly familiar. Reality twisted and contorted around her, a surreal landscape painted with the brushstrokes of possibility.

"Don't worry, love," he reassured, his voice a lifeline in the storm. "You will not become a mind flayer, not while I'm around. I will protect you."

She hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at her resolve. But his hand extended towards her, offering solace amidst the chaos. With trembling fingers, she reached out, her touch igniting a spark of recognition deep within her soul.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"There is a great potential within you," he explained, his words like a guiding light in the darkness. "But you must learn to wield it."

She struggled to comprehend the magnitude of his words, the weight of the future resting upon her shoulders. But before she could protest, he ushered her forward, unveiling a vision of turmoil and strife. Was he truly asking her to accept this parasite writhing in her mind? Promises were meaningless when he wouldn’t even tell her his name. Worthless when she couldn’t even trust her own mind.

"What you see is a fight for the very fate of Faerun," he explained, his voice grave with solemnity. "A fight we are losing—for now."

She watched in silence as spectral beings descended upon a ship, their presence a harbinger of doom. Fear clutched at her heart, threatening to consume her whole.

"You can change that, Tav," he implored, his eyes burning with determination. "But only if you embrace your potential."

She hesitated, the weight of his words settling like a cloak around her shoulders. But as she watched the chaos unfold before her, a fire ignited within her soul. 

"I don't understand," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.

But before she could seek clarification, he was gone, leaving her alone in the void. Reality shattered around her, fragments of truth swirling like leaves in the wind.

And then, with a gasp, she awoke, the remnants of the vision fading like wisps of smoke. 

Sitting up in her bedroll, Tav took in her surroundings with a sense of disorientation. She wasn't outside by the fire where she fell asleep earlier in the night. Instead, she found herself within the confines of someone's tent. Looking around for a moment, trying to get her bearings straight, she realized it was Astarion's tent that she was occupying now.

Outside, a storm raged on, the sound of rain pounding against the canvas creating a backdrop to her thoughts. She pulled her knees to her chest, noting the scattered belongings and the subtle signs of occupation. Astarion must have brought her inside from the rain, she deduced, her gaze lingering on his wet clothes strewn across the floor. 

Then she noticed her own clothes were on the floor as well and for a moment, she panicked, looking over herself. However, she was dressed –sort of, at least. It was one of Asterion's night shirts –loose and a bit tattered on closer inspection –but dry against her otherwise rain slicked skin. While she wasn’t wearing anything beyond the shirt and her underwear, she wondered why Astarion, of all people, decided to bring her in from the storm.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement from where he stood perched at the flap of his tent. He wasn't looking at her –instead keeping his eyes out on the storm. Her eyes trailed over the markings on his back, exposed skin raised into scars that covered the entirety of his pale flesh. He had explained them previously, having gone on a bit of a personal tirade about Cazador and the torture forced on Astarion. Tav had listened intently that night –only for him to blow it off like it wasn’t clearly traumatizing for him.  "Someone’s finally awake –I hope whatever dream was keeping you so occupied was worth soaking everything you own.”

“I…yeah, I guess it was,” she managed to say, though she didn’t know how to explain what she had experienced in her dreams. She wondered, momentarily, if any of the others had a similar dream. “Have you tranced tonight, yet?”

Astarion shook his head, finally turning away from the storm to look down at her. “Too much is happening to properly rest, I’m afraid. Perhaps tomorrow. Besides –you are using my bedroll.”

Silence filled the space between them for a beat, with Tav still processing everything that had happened in her dream. His eyes were on her, piercing and analytical, even as he moved through his tent and collected a book from the stack beside her. 

“I didn’t mean to take over your space,” she finally sighed, running a hand through her wet hair. “Thank you for bringing me inside.”

Astarion snatched two of the larger cushions she had been laying on and tossed them to the side, sitting down on them himself. His legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed, and he opened the book in his hands, his attention no longer on her.

Then he shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as his eyes scanned the pages of his book. "No harm done," he replied, waving one hand dismissively. "Consider it repayment of sorts…for the blood. And besides –I couldn’t bear the idea of drinking from someone ill, Tav. The sickly don’t taste nearly as good as the healthy.”

Stretching her bare legs in front of her once more, Tav raised a brow at him as she tried to read the title of his book. Noble Blood, Common Heart, a silly little romance novel that she had picked up from one of the villages they had traveled through. Most of the books she snagged she simply left in the camp for whoever wanted to read them. Something about Astarion choosing a romance novel was almost funny to her.

“Do you like it?” She asked, motioning to the book in his hands. “I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.”

He glanced over the top of the book, eyeing her closely for a moment before he closed it. “It fills the void.”

“The void of…what, exactly?” 

“Desire, boredom, lust –whatever fits the bill,” he explained simply, returning his attention to the book. Tav’s brows furrowed in thought, trying to understand what in the hells he meant by the comment. He must have sensed her confusion because he drawled out, “Sex, my dear. It fills the void of wanting to have sex.”

At that, she barked out a laugh and looked at him funny. “I can’t imagine any book filling the void of actual intimacy, but to each their own, I suppose.”

Astarion chuckled, a sound that held a hint of mischief. "Ah, but you underestimate the power of literature, my dear Tav," he retorted, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Words have a way of stirring the imagination, igniting passions that transcend the physical realm."

Tav raised an eyebrow, skeptical yet intrigued by his words. "So, you're saying that reading about it is just as satisfying as the real thing?"

He shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps not quite as satisfying, but it certainly offers a...distraction," he replied cryptically, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

She shook her head, unable to suppress a smile at his audacity. "Well, I suppose everyone has their own way of coping with desire," she conceded, her tone laced with amusement. "Though I’m certain there’s better distractions out here than books.”

“Are there?” He questioned, setting the book down now to finally give his full attention back to her. “Unless you’re suggesting you may be a better distraction.”

“I –what? No, I was just –I meant –,”

“You’re too pretty when you blush, love,” he teased, resting his chin in his hand as he looked her over. “All hot and bothered and I’m not even doing anything to cause it.”

Tav bit her cheek, feeling the heat rushing to her up her chest and to her ears. Astarion was too good at getting her flustered –or hot and bothered as he put it –and he was right. He wasn’t even trying to. Which only frustrated Tav more.

“If you want to have sex with me, you only have to say so,” he continued to tease, brow raised in a way that could only be described as seductive. 

“I don’t want to —I mean, of course I want to, but I don’t want…I just —,” she couldn’t manage to get the words out, embarrassed by the shift in conversation. 

There wasn’t any reason to deny her desires for the spawn in front of her. And it wasn’t as if she was some inexperienced girl; what she lacked in friends in Otherus was made up for in bed mates when she felt inclined. But that didn’t make this conversation any less embarrassing. 

She did want to sleep with him; but she wanted more than that —at least, she thought she did. She liked Astarion for all his flaws, and while she wasn’t in love with him by any means, she could certainly see herself loving him. 

More importantly though, she knew that what he was offering —a tryst in his tent —was his way of repaying her for letting him feed off of her every night. As if he owed her anything for ensuring he was strong enough. And Tav couldn’t bear the thought that he might actually think so lowly of her that all she’d want was sex from him. 

“I do want to sleep with you, Astarion,” she finally admitted, covering her face with her hands for a moment. “What I don’t want is for you to feel like you have to.”

This must have caught the elf off guard, because his brows knitted together in confusion as he sat silently for a few seconds. But his smirk returned —though it wasn’t the same as before. It was timid, not all there. 

“I can assure you, darling, if I didn’t want to —I wouldn’t be offering.”

She eyed him cautiously before finally standing and making her way to his side of the tent. Even with all her caution, she could see his shoulders tensing up as she approached. 

“I don’t want you to want me because you think that’s all I want, Astarion,” she explained, sitting on her knees in front of him. Her hands rested in her lap. “I want you to want me because that’s what you truly want. Not repayment, not obligation —not some trick you think will work on me because I’m naive. Because it is something you want for yourself.”

Astarion opened his mouth to comment, but shut it just as quick. Slowly, he sat up, the facade of the charming rogue slipping just enough that she was able to see the confusion –the fear, really –behind his eyes. While it was easy to assume that everyone she had managed to bring together had some sort of trauma they needed to sort through, something about the way Astarion held himself in this moment said quite a bit.

“You have a choice,” she finally said as he rested on his knees in front of her. “You know what I want –but I can and I will take ‘no’ for an answer if you do not want the same as I do.”

“Why?”

She wasn’t sure he meant to ask that, because his brows knit together and he snapped his mouth shut immediately after asking. But she hesitantly reached out to take his hand. And when he didn’t pull away, she rested her other on top of his, holding it carefully.

“Because we all deserve a choice, Astarion,” she promised, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I know what it’s like to lose my choice to say no, and I will never take that from someone else. Even if that someone happens to think he doesn’t have a choice.”

“I…,” Astarion trailed off, resting his free hand over hers now, their hands stacked on one another’s. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I do love when I leave you speechless,” she teased, mimicking his accent dramatically –easing out of the tension that had filled the tent.

Astarion laughed –an actual, proper laugh with a smile that she had never seen on him before –and Tav decided in that moment she would find more ways to bring him little bits of joy.

[euphreana]

The Shape of Truth - Chapter 3: The Pink Phantom

Masterpost

-

Ambrosius was convinced he was seeing things. The stress of the day was getting to him. The punk teen who’d randomly appeared in his room continued to hold her hand out expectantly.

“I don't care.” He said in response to the greeting, “Just leave me alone.” He moved past the pink figure and flopped back onto his bed, eyes closed.

“Leave you alone? You look like you need all the help you can get!”

Ambrosius cracked his eyes open. The hallucination that had called itself ‘Nimona’ had her face inches away from his, upside down. She grinned.

“And luckily for you, I happen to be the perfect one for the job!”

Ambrosius narrowed his eyes. “What job?”

“Your new sidekick!”

Ambrosius groaned and rubbed his eyes. Was his brain trying to create an imaginary friend to fill the void Bal had left behind? When Ambrosius opened his eyes again, the teen had disappeared. Good. Then the same voice cut in again from atop a shelving unit.

“Don’t bother to fill me in, I saw everything.”

“What?” Ambrosius sat up, seeing Nimona now lounging on the shelves.

“It was a beautiful scheme!” She said.

Ambrosius blinked, and Nimona was suddenly spinning on the easy chair across the room.

“Assassination of a monarch, the kingdom thrown into complete and utter chaos, it would have been perfect, if only he’d made his daring escape! But don’t worry! This is just half-time - you can still finish what he started!”

“Finish w—” Ambrosius began, but suddenly found a sheaf of papers whirled into his hands. “What’s this?”

“My resume!”

Ambrosius glanced at the papers. There was no text; just crayon drawings of all manner of animals rampaging through piles of royal guards.

“… This is—”

“Awesome, isn’t it? I thought a visual aid would really make it POP!”

Ambrosius looked up from the papers to see Nimona sitting on the dresser.

“Sooo… what’s the plan, boss?”

Ambrosius stared at her for a long moment.

“What are you supposed to be exactly? Some repressed memory?”

The teen huffed and hopped off the dresser. “I told you - I’m Nimona.”

“Okay… Nimona. I’m tired and don’t want to deal with this right now.”

“Oh, oh sure, I get it. Still getting over your buddy’s death. Got it. Just let me know when you’re ready to move on to the next stage of the plan.”

Ambrosius shoved the papers back into her hands.

“There is no plan. Bal is…” He locked his jaw, willing the tears to go away.

“That’s not going to stop you though, right? The man must be avenged!”

Ambrosius was about to respond when he heard a knock at the door. He hoped the noise was real this time.

He opened the door. It was Captain Ironwill; a burly man with black hair.

“Captain.” Ambrosius greeted him.

“Goldenloin.” Ironwill nodded. “I heard about what happened at the execution. They’re giving you tomorrow off.”

Ambrosius lowered his gaze. “Thanks.”

“I tried to get you full bereavement leave, but you weren’t legally related.” Ironwill’s voice dropped slightly. “I’m sorry. I know you were close. At least he didn’t drag you into it.”

Ambrosius nodded.

Ironwill continued, “Nice choice of color.”

Ambrosius looked up. Ironwill was looking past him, into the room. Ambrosius turned around. There was a pink cat sitting on the bed wearing a vest labeled ‘Emotional Support’. Ambrosius stared at it mutely.

Ironwill acknowledged Ambrosius again and left. Ambrosius stood in the doorway, still staring at the cat.

The cat spoke up, “What? Not a cat person?”

Ambrosius sputtered, then turned to the open door behind him. The hallway outside was empty.

“Good Gloreth I’m going crazy…” he muttered, shutting the door.

“Come again?” Ambrosius turned back to see Nimona sitting cross-legged where the cat had been. Definitely a hallucination, and one he was tired of.

“How do I make you go away?”

Nimona shrugged and got up, bouncing on the bed a few times. “Same time tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Morning?”

Ambroisus rubbed his eyes. Anything to make her leave.

“Fine. Just go.”

“Got it, boss!”

When he opened his eyes again, there was a pink bird perched on the windowsill.

“Tomorrow!” the bird said, then took off, leaving him alone in his room. Finally.

“Gloreth please don’t let this happen again.” Ambrosius said to himself, falling back onto his bed. He didn’t want to end up in the psych ward.

~ ~ ~

The front office was surprised to see Ambrosius when he went in early the next morning.

“Didn’t someone tell you to take the day off?” the receptionist said.

Ambrosius remembered the stress hallucination from the day before. Or had it been a vision of the future?

“Oh… Yeah, I forgot.” he stammered.

Ambrosius left the building, wondering what it was that had happened yesterday.

“THERE you are!” a familiar voice broke into his thoughts. It was that Nimona hallucination, except this time she’d taken the form of a large, pink dog, again wearing the emotional support vest.

Ambrosius groaned.

“You again…”

“Me again! I thought the longer legs would make it easier to keep up.” The dog waved a paw. “So what’s the plan for today? Or should we… discuss things somewhere private?”

Ambrosius wondered if ignoring Nimona would make her go away. He didn’t want to be seen talking to an imaginary friend, although there wasn’t really anyone to see - it was early enough that hardly anyone was out on the campus.

“Whatever.” he mumbled and started the walk to a nearby tea shop.

“What better place to hide than in the open. I like that.” Dog-Nimona winked and followed alongside, “I thought up some ideas for revenge - it looks like the director was the one who ordered the execution, so I was thinking we-”

“I’m not taking revenge. For all I know… Bal was guilty.”

“No duh! I saw him fire the… wait, are you saying that wasn’t part of the plan?”

“What? No! Why would I- I wasn’t- I don’t even know if-”

“Oh….” The dog suddenly looked disappointed. It was a look Ambrosius had always dreaded seeing. Was even his subconscious disappointed with him?

The dog spoke up again.

“So you’re not a villain?”

“No!”

“But he was, right?”

“I don’t—”

“Well someone is. So why don’t we find out who?” Nimona hurried in front of Ambrosius, now walking backwards so she could see his face. “We dig - we find out if your buddy was behind the plot, and if he wasn’t, we find out who was. And we take revenge!”

“Revenge?”

“So what leads do you have? Assuming you’ve already been looking into this. Searched his belongings for clues?”

“Everything got confiscated or thrown out.”

“Huh. Anything else of his?”

“I don’t know… they have his sword in the archives.”

“Then off to the archives we go!” Nimona began to trot on ahead.

It didn’t sound like a bad idea, but Ambrosius wondered why his subconscious would be so focused on revenge. He’d been taught the pitfalls of seeking revenge since he was young - the right thing to do was forgive and move on. But… he did want to know if his dead boyfriend had been a murderer or not. He needed to know if what they’d had had been real. What if the Institute had missed something in their assessment of the situation and there was someone else involved? The authorities didn’t know Bal like he did, and stuff wasn’t adding up…

The imaginary dog had charged ahead, but now it was looking back at him with pleading puppy eyes, wagging its tail.

“Aren't you coming?”

Well, since this was basically his own advice, he might as well follow it.

Chapter 4

[butterfrogmantis]

I asked discord to vote on drawing something fluffy or fucked up and 2 people chose fucked up so here we are

Grave-robbing and frankensmurf shenanigans//

Ironically this was originally gonna be a bit of a cute TNBC thing w/ Jack and Sally parody except whilst I was looking for refs I found the Sally's origins video (great vid, defo watch) and my brain went 'OH! I can make my original idea worse now' /lh Oh and then I rewatched 'Igor' and if you've seen that movie then yes.

I acknowledge the grim inevitability that Archie, as with all Smurfs, is only mortal after all. The bittersweet irony of becoming the dead friend to the living skeleton. But I simply refuse to address it. Apart from this, that is. I try not to think so hard into the future. So perhaps this is an AU. Or not 😈

*As the Smurfs had gotten older, they'd inevitably begun to succumb to old age or unfortunate circumstances. Archaeologist wasn't an exception. Skelly had begged Death for it not to be so. Pleaded, even. But alas the kindly diety had reminded him that they are the ultimate equal, and cannot postpone their own inevitability. Buckle up Skelly, welcome to the endless cycle of immortality = infinite loss. Death is sorry but they can't make exceptions outside of necromancers meddling with their powers.

Years went on, turning to centuries, then some. Skelly indeed lived through the aforementioned cycle of loss over and over, it was becoming too much. At least in his cave where he'd spent a few thousand years, just him and his thoughts he hadn't LOST anything. Even following the descendants of Palaeontologist was becoming disheartening the more the generations separated from the original brothers that had been his friends. And Skelly, in spite of all the new friends he'd made and lost over the years, couldn't shake the memories of the time he'd been truly happiest, and he felt bitter towards the world for it, and eventually it boiled into an idea.

Skelly's no idiot. He knew that meddling with true necromancy would solve nothing - his own creator had vanished from existance just to create him and that would defeat the purpose of his goal. So that's not what he set out to do. You see as time had gone on, so had technology. Skelly didn't NEED to perfectly necromance in order to achieve his goal, he had some … interesting information about theoretical modern science up his sleeves. What he needed wasn't another suicidal necromancer, but rather a shovel, a bunch of 'borrowed' parts to sustain a body and lots and lots of electricity. So goes the theory.

Finding Archie wasn't the hard part - Skelly himself had kept that grave maintained for years after the others had crumbled and withered. Digging it up felt wrong but. It would be worth it. How ironic it was to dig up the bones of a man who'd dedicated his life to the study of them - but that wouldn't sustain without necromancy - only powerful sorcery could reanimate bones themselves. He does need to try and get Archie's mind back without his brain though, so a little magic-science combo MAY require a little magic on the bones themselves.

So in order to get back Archie's er, functionality he just had to er, borrow some stuff from the more recently departed (so Archie may very well be made out of the skin of some of the original smurfs descendants but don't worry he's not wearing the skin of any canon characters ohohoho isn't this fun I'm so normal /lh)

And with his preparations complete, adjustments made and a big storm, Skelly successfully elevated himself into the realms of Victor Frankenstein.

Death won't be happy about this, but right now Skelly doesn't care. Archie's … well. Not exactly sure if he's RIGHT but he's here; welcome to eternity.

Hey remember when I first started drawing them and was like 'the dyanmic is a friendly rivalry where Skelly is annoyed about being carbon dated hoho and now it's 'he's grave robbing and committing Death defying science just bcuz'

[psychiccent]

Shinkane Week Day 3 - Thoughts, HCs and Wishes ~Time/Space Edition~

Kogami had a lot of time to think to himself while in exile, and the novels did a wonderful job of shedding light on Ko's inner turmoil during this time. There is one presence that haunts Kogami the most during this period, and that is the ghost of Makishima. Time and time again, Ko entertains conversations with a ghost of man he could not let go, and this tells us that mentally, the poor guy has not been in a good place. At this point, Kogami has been stripped of everything in his pursuit of justice and is living on the tattered remains of whatever his life is now. There is another presence that hangs around Ko as well, but it is a memory rather than a ghostly hallucination. Kogami's brief reunion with Akane back in Shambala.

Akane dresses Kogami down while they are together and he invites her to do so, he even goes so far as to ask prying questions at one point ( Something you do not see Ko inviting anyone else to do - More on that later). Akane's assessment of Kogami at that time highlights the faults in his pursuit of purpose/justice and calls to light the high risk of harm it carries for those around him. Akane gives Ko a lot to chew on in regard to his affect on people and Ko's ability to draw others in around him. During their conversations that night in Shambala, Kogami hangs on to Akane's every word, and even after some time has passed and Kogami has moved on to other places, he carries Akane's sentiments with him. From trying not to kill, if at all neccessary, to turning down offers to run in mercenary campaigns, Kogami is actively readjusting his way of life, according to Akane's insight but still staying true to his original blueprint.

I found it interesting that, in a later installment, we see Frede dressing down Ko as they become more aquainted with one another (Which he most definitelty did not initiate) and as their banter runs it's course, in the novel we see that Kogami gets a bit uncomfortable at one point in the coversation. The reason why is heartbreaking, in the all the time he has spent thinking about the events that took place in Shambala ( Ko refers to to it often in the Sinners novel), he has equally been avoiding thinking about the whole of Division 1 back at home and their pursuit against justice there. Ko is forced to acknowledge (quietly to himself) that thinking about his comrades operating without him, or "forgetting" about Ko pains him. It HURTS to think about everyone going about their lives and he avoids letting his mind wander in that direction. This leaks out in his conversation w/ Frede and she points out the oddness in his statement when he remarks lightly on the others choosing to forget about him. (Call Ko out Frede, cuz Gino and Saiga are not there to do it! xD)

The constant hallucinations of Makishima start to make a bit more sense here. It's trauma that Ko has managed to turn into a coping method. That man, that GHOST is what Ko had given up his current life for, so who else is there to turn to, now that he is truly alone? During his time spent in soltitude, ghosty goo Makishima may have been his "companion" but Akane was Ko's guiding light. A beacon to help him navigate through the darkness of the world at large.

Just gonna slip this in here because I missed vital instructions lmao: @shinkaneweek

[jessamine-rose]

༻ The Golden Ratio ༺

Another deleted scene from Chemistry which I just had to recycle. May you all enjoy this fluffy, non-yandere take on Dottore and the science of love (≡^∇^≡)

♡ 0.9k words under the cut ♡

“Zandik, look over here! Aren’t these specimens remarkable?”

“Yes, they are,” he replies dismissively.

You frown, turning away the patch of Rukkhashava Mushrooms. Your classmate is still tinkering with the Ruin Guard, completely absorbed in his research.

“Liar. You didn’t even look at it.”

He doesn’t even try to deny it. “Can’t you see that I’m busy? If you allow me to finish my research, I can promise my full attention later.”

“But that’s what you said with the last sample,” you point out. “Is it too much to stop and admire the scenery for a few minutes? You are utterly rigid.”

Though you wouldn’t have fallen for him otherwise.

Zandik gives you an unamused look. “And you are too carefree, though I may recognize such childlike curiosity as befitting of your Darshan.”

You give him a bright smile. “Thank you for the acknowledgement!”

Was that a compliment or an insult? Either way, Zandik has been observing you!

As of now, your research expeditions have yielded little progress in your relationship. Your crush remains distant, focused on his work, at odds with your research approach. Still, you are thankful for the opportunity to witness him in action. To spend time with him.

Your own research is sufficient. You sit on the grass and watch Zandik, committing his visage to memory. After a few minutes, he breaks the silence.

“I am intrigued,” he says, “by your attitude to my research. The Sages always scold me whenever I express my fascination in these ancient machines.”

His research notes are neatly arranged beside his tools. The pages are marked with meticulous reports and detailed drawings. His enthusiasm practically bleeds into the paper.

You approach him, uncaring of your close proximity to the Ruin Guard.

“Well, I must disagree with them. No matter how dangerous those machines can be, they are still something to study. One might claim they are no different from my research specimens.”

“Ah, yes. Your little plants and animals,” he replies, glancing at your research notes. “And why do you research those subjects, may I ask?”

“Should there be an important reason?” you ask, adjusting your Amurta scarf. “It’s because they’re beautiful. Simple as that.”

Beautiful, mysterious, vital to this world.

“I did not take you for the poetic type,” he muses. “Anything can be deemed beautiful from one’s subjective perspective.”

“That is true,” you agree, “like your interest in the Ruin Machines. But objectively speaking, there are mathematical theories which can explain our prevalent standards of beauty. The golden ratio, for instance.”

“Ah, yes. That old thing.” A confident smile appears on his face. “I’ve read a thesis about the golden ratio in relation to facial aesthetics. Apparently, I am a good example.”

“Not a surprise. Many people find you handsome.”

“And what about you?” Zandik resumes eye contact, scarlet eyes tinged with amusement. “Do you agree with that conclusion?”

Your cheeks flush. “W-Well…yes, since you claim that your face fits the golden ratio.”

“That is an inadequate basis for your answer.” He stands in front of you and caresses your cheek, preventing you from looking away. “Why don’t you personally test that hypothesis? I will do the same with your face.”

He’s so close.

“All…all right.” You stay still and focus on his face, making the mental measurements.

His facial proportions are more or less congruent with the golden ratio. There are some details which may serve as basis for a counterargument, however.

His bangs obstruct your complete analysis. You’ve always adored his messy hairstyle, those stray curls which complement his character. You know from previous interactions that his hair is soft to the touch.

There is also his boyish, sharp-toothed grin which is equal parts manic and mischievous. His calm, close-mouthed smile is more aesthetically pleasing, but it lacks his unabashed ardor. Nevertheless, you are captivated with both versions, especially when those smiles are directed at you.

His eyes. They are like red suns, always bright and intense. There is a fascinated gleam in his gaze whenever he comes across something new.

It is beautiful. All of him.

His voice is what brings you back to reality.

“I am done with my measurements,” he announces.

“I…I see.” You give him a nervous smile, acutely aware that he is still touching your face. You’re blushing; can he tell? “So am I. Why don’t you go first?”

“You are beautiful.”

What?

Zandik taps his fingers on your cheek, tracing lines on your face. He’s close—too close, your flustered expression trapped in his ruby eyes. His expression is serious yet neutral, as though he is merely studying a specimen.

“A…according to which theory?” you stutter. “The golden ratio?”

He smiles at you. “I am speaking from my own personal opinion. If the laws of nature say otherwise, I must disagree and prove them wrong.”

A specimen worthy of his full attention.

Words fail you. What can you possibly say after receiving such a compliment?

Ever the diligent scholar, Zandik lets go of you and returns to the Ruin Guard.

“That is all I have to say,” he says. He picks up a rusty cog and takes notes. “And what of your observation? Do you find me beautiful, ______?”

You remain in your spot. “...Yes, I do.”

His tone is smug. “Objectively or subjectively?”

Honestly, why did you fall for someone like him?

“I’m not sure,” you admit.

“I see.” Zandik gives you one last smile, a knowing twinkle in his eyes. “Let us continue this experiment later. I am not one to be satisfied with ambiguous results.”

♡

This was originally written for the second chapter of Chemistry, but it felt too “close” for Dottore and Assistant! Darling’s early relationship. So I just edited and moved it to the last few chapters. But I couldn’t waste the lovely thought of Dottore’s s/o falling for the parts of him which aren’t considered beautiful by the golden ratio, so here we are~

Anyway, I hope y’all enjoyed this deleted scene ft. college crush Dottore ૮ ˶´ ᵕˋ ˶ა

Tag a Dottore enjoyer!! @gum-iie @sirbotik @surveyycorps @boundinparchment @ruayiri @darherwings @oofasleep @oh-no-i-am-here @nicebonescomrades @diaboliravioli @ryo-ri @unloadingdata @sodomewithlifern @maaarshieee @dottoreslittlelabrat @poweredbyghostadventures

[starfall-isle]

Petri questionnaire for @sonic-oc-showdown!

Name: Petri

Species: Hedgehog, with a little bit of field mouse!

Home: She usually rents an apartment in Sunset city, but that’s getting more complicated in her current situation

✨ How did you come up with the OC’s name?

Sonic naming conventions, so I went through a list of names that fit her skillsets! Petri like a Petri dish ^^

🧑‍🦳 How old are they?

27!

💞 Do they have any love interests?

Nope! Aside from a tiny crush on her boss, but what non-robotic Eggman lacky can’t say that.

🥞 What is their favorite food?  

She needs her fill of coffee every day if she wants a chance at staying upright. Aside from that she enjoys pastries and breakfast foods! Usually during a busy night though, she isn’t an early riser.

💼 What do they do for a living?

If she had her way she’d be working her old job as Eggman’s Secretary! While not the line of work she dreamed of, she’ll take any chance to get closer to the doctor and his resources someday. For now she’s interning at the Chaotix detective agency in exchange for their skills.

🏐 Do they have any hobbies?  

She’s an avid chess player! Though she doesn’t like playing on a competitive level. Petri adores board games and puzzles, and enjoys any activity that gets her mind racing and an opportunity to show her skillsets!

🎯 What do they do best?  

Setting her mind to something! Once she’s made a decision, she’ll be hard pressed to go back on it. Whether it’s due to arrogance or genuine passion is debatable, but either way she won’t settle for anything that she doesn’t deem to herself as successful.

🥊 What do they love? What do they hate?  

Petri loves her work as a chemist!! She cares about what she does a lot, and strives to one day create her own company. And as much as Petri loves the idea of success she hates any notion of not being needed or acknowledged for her talents even more. She’s also somewhat dismissive and snide, but can’t stand when people respond to her on the same level. 

📸 What is one of your OC’s best memories?  

Hanging out with Orbot and Cubot during slow office days! Whether it’s the chance to chat their processors to mush, or play a friendly game of checkers, those little visits secretly shine in her memory.

✂️ What is one of your OC’s worst memories?  

I Can’t really say yet! She sure isn’t happy about losing her job though.

🏚️ Is their current design their first one?  

Nope! I had a couple scrapped designs before I landed on what I liked. Originally she was going to be a lot more studious, a paleontologist, and she had a long braid for a little while! 

🧠 What originally inspired this OC?  

Petri was only developed as an attempt to design a hedgehog character to see what I could come up with myself! What was meant to be a one off sketch quickly turned into a slew of ideas once it dawned on me how much i’d enjoy making a more antagonistic character! If I created her now knowing what she would evolve into I probably wouldn’t have made her a hedgehog, but I really love the way she is now.

🎬 What genre do they belong in?  

Whatever you’d label sonic. Not as much mystery as you’d expect a lady tagging along with the Chaotix to have though.

🏳️‍🌈 What is your OC’s gender identity and sexuality?  

Bisexual trans woman! 

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How many siblings does your OC have?  

Only child!

🧑‍🍼 What is the OC’s relations w/their parents like?  

Not strained by any means, but not really on speaking terms. I think Petri is a little too prideful to let them back into her life before she’s established herself the way she envisioned.

💜 What do you like most about the OC?  

She is just sooo silly and holds a special place in my heart due to how much joy I’ve found from developing her! I’ve planned out an entire story around her and it’s the most passionate I’ve felt toward an oc in a very long time! To be succinct, I just like writing her :)

🖍️ How often do you draw/write about the OC?  

A lot comparatively, but i created her during a rough time and haven’t been able to draw as much as I’d want. So like! As often as I can.

🔪 Do you ever see yourself killing off the OC?  

Nope! I don’t think I’ve ever killed off any of my own characters, I’m much more into the idea that she has to face her mistakes than use her for a big self sacrificing gesture.

💀 Does your OC have any phobias?

Petri is much more anxiety prone than she lets on, and is deeply afraid of being forgotten. Aside from personal fears she doesn’t like being around flickies and small animals.  

❤️‍🔥 Who is your OC’s arch-nemesis or rival?  

Currently she has a guttural hatred towards Sonic for costing her her job, but he doesn’t know that. (Or her.) But other than that… well. :)

⏱️ How long have you had the OC?

Since September 12, 2021!!!

[tyoffee]

ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE SPOILER DUMP BELOW 💥💥💥💥💥💥

starting with the cameos oh ymgod

BEN. BEN REILLY MY LITTLE EDGELORD. he is like fail girlfriend to me. I need to see more of the clone squad in part two (spiderboycough)

DONLAD GLOVER PROWLER HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII LOSING it over his suit

AND THE OTHER LIVE ACTIONS UEOEOOGUH I DIDNT KNOW THEY COULD DO THAT!! EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT GWENS PETER WAS ANDREW (nope he's blonde) BUT NO ACTUAL ANDREW GARFIELD WAS IN THE 'SPIDERVERSE' VISUALISER ALONG W RAIMI UNCLE BEN GOTD DAMN!!!!!!!!!!

speaking of what everyone thought I love the changes from the trailer. Everyone saying oohhhh they're showing too much they're giving away the whole movie WRONG. YOU COULD NOT COOOMMPRREEHEEENDDD THE SHIT THAT WENT ON IN THERE.

miles' expression changes especially. he is Not as cringefail as initially believed put some respect on his name. he can be cringefail Later.

oh my godddd oh hyhg PAVITR.... PAVITR MY BEAUTIFUL BOY we need more of him we need more of him in part two do you hear me Sony.

'coconut oil, prayers and genetics' INCREDIBLE SHOWSTOPPING HILARIOUS

HIS UNIVERSE W A S OKAY FUCK YOU GUYS. HE DID JINX IT A COUPLE TIMES THOUGH BUT THATS NOT HIS FAULT

THE WAY HE HAS A GWEN.. AOUUUUUUUUUHH. CAPTAIN SINGH LIVES BABY

the way that the main tension in this movie is literally CAPTAIN STACY MUST DIE. so real

the thing is he usually doesn't too it's great

SPEAKING OF COMIC CONVENTIONS.

ULTIMATUM / THE PROWLER MILES MORALES

I TOLD YOU I SAID I SAID THERES GOING TO BE THE ORIGINAL MILES.

The movie is So good at letting you forget that the spider was glitching too. That's not his spider. Miles is the original anomaly OUUGGHGH (miguel was a Bitch for saying it like that tho)

ULTIMATE AARON DAVIS HIS FUCKING EYES HIS EEEYES MAN OUUUHHHHHHH

THE WAY ULTIMATE MILES' SPANISH IS BETTER. HIS BRAIDS. HES ON THE STREETS MORE. HES THE FUCKING PROWLER. AUG god they're gonna tell us who the spider was for ik and I do hope it's miles. yeah there's a spiderman miles who can exist but it's not you. You weren't supposed to be here. AUG

Since we have the Jefferson memorial maybe ultimatum has a great expectations piece too. maybe that's how he's reasoned with who knows I'd love to think that the collider is the split off point between both of them

Though that'd mean there'd need to be an og spiderman to make wilson fisk lose his family which there isn't- hey wait how was the spider created without fisk doing his dimensional shit. I thought we weren't allowed to acknowledge Norman Osborn.

also also also speaking of alchemex Spot being bagel guy. Of course he is. Holes

Do you think that was the inspiration. Bagel hole.

Anyways I need a full turnaround sheet of Ultimatum/Prowler I need to see him I love the glow and the spray on symbol aaaugghh

BETER AND GWEN FAKE AS HELL 🖕

I get the struggle tho. Beter and Captain Stacy made my dad cry.

ALSO GWENS BAND AT THE END

SORRY I ALMOST FORGOT HHOBBBIEEEE HOBIE 'if you want a watch just make one. we're spiderman we can just do it 🤨🤨🤨🤨' BROWN I LOVE HIS STYLE I LIVE FOR HIS STYLE PORTALS I LOVE HIS PROWLER THEME OH MY GOD

THE SOUNDTRACK RELEASES TOMORROW AND I NEED HIS PROWLER THEME YOU DONT GET IT

i get my 2 hours of gatekeeping this movie b4 it drops in america and I'm losing it I need to talk abt it with other ppl but I'm also is it mean to want to hold it away from ppl who don't care abt spiderman and idk what they do draw weird porn of every new movie and ppl who will misinterpret it completely that feels selfish of me Anyways

THIS MOVIE IS A MASTERPIECE. literally it's art it's animation oh hhhhhgh it's so gorgeous I'm not kidding it's bresthestking (PAVITRS SWINGING!!!!!) but it's also just SO FUCKING GOOD. THE SCENES THE SHOTS THEY WENT CRAZY ON ENVIRONMENTS OH MY GLORD

ITS SO GOOD. ITS SO GOOODODDDDDDDDDDDD AUG

I'm seeing it again in like 2 days . I will not be satiated until 2024.

[k1rameki]

YEAHHHHH LONG OVERDUE AGOTI HC POST ‼️‼️ (human + digidevil designs teehee :3)

afro-latino icon, we love to see it,, also vitiligo bc i said so

transmasc agender agoti for the mfing win ‼️‼️‼️‼️ the ceo of being gender non conforming frfr

has autism, adhd, c-ptsd, bipolar disorder and agoraphobia

ARTIST IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD >:3 music, drawing, photography, you name it

YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW I DRAW AGOTI W GLASSES ALL THE TIME,, he didn’t start wearing them until later into his teen years because #insecurities

LOVES GIVING PHYSICAL AFFECTION especially to the people he’s closest to, so hugs and casually resting on someone is a very common thing

HEAVY METAL MUSIC LOVER ‼️‼️ especially interested in j-metal bands like unlucky morpheus (this totally isnt bc unlucky morpheus is my favourite band 😇)

ABSOLUTE GOD AT RHYTHM GAMES. arcade, mobile, you name it, agoti will boss any advanced level because of their quick reflexes and intense practice! they play arcaea, project sekai, taiko no tatsujin, and a bunch more games (his fav project sekai unit is wxs and his fav characters are mizuki, emu, nene and an :3)

when he’s not up all night playing video games agoti can sleep through anything and everything

astronomy spinterest! knows a bunch of random space trivia and has a telescope and a dozen space encyclopaedias in their room :3

if you piss agoti off, he’s gonna get revenge in the pettiest ways possible, for example:

“agoti did you eat my fucking cereal”

“i don’t know what you're talking about :)”

people have often asked the question “could you beat agoti in a fight?” and the answer is 100% NO. not only can this mf use his swords to his advantage but this bro does taekwondo too and you cannot tell me otherwise

bro is incredibly picky with the food that he eats, but will absolutely go ham for sour candy (bonus if it’s peach or cherry flavoured)

EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO LOUD NOISES. especially fireworks, they will have a meltdown over the constant loud explosion sounds even if the colours are really pretty (that’s totally not me projecting no not at all)

CAT LOVER ‼️‼️ since sol brings a lot of stray cats to the andromeda household, quite a few are under agoti’s care and he names them goofy names and treats them as if they’re his children

has no idea how to express his emotions at all and often times he cries for no particular reason (or so they say, agoti has a bunch of repressed memories and trauma that he doesn’t acknowledge at all)

was and still is a scene kid, and often times enjoys going out dressed head to toe in sparkly accessories and all sorts of elaborate and colourful outfits

despite being evil as hell sometimes, agoti is genuinely very empathetic and can often understand other’s emotions better than people think

HE’S A MAMA’S BOY!! ever since sol introduced amora to the boys, they’ve been inseparable,, amora and agoti spend a bunch of time together and talk to each other about everything, including all of the things agoti sees and does on a day to day basis

“oh my god mom you won’t believe the bullshit i just witnessed”

“do tell, agoti”

he and tabi are lifelong friends :3 they met in early childhood and ever since then they were joined at the hip

SPEAKING OF TABI the two of them even in adulthood have regular nightly conversations about dumb things, over the phone or in person

“hey tabi have you ever picked a skittle up off the ground and ate it? it’s honestly delicious and i would totally recommend”

“excuse me? agoti do i need to call your therapist again”

i have a bunch more that im gonna make a seperate post for mwhehehehehe :3

[justplainwhump]

Smile.

(The wedding)

[Dany’s story]

For no obvious reason, I’ve decided to write some wedding whump. This was mostly inspired by a prompt I couldn’t find again of a whumper commanding whumpee to smile, and includes an ask reply for @painful-pooch .

I borrowed @hackles-up 's mob boss Leo Luciano for this, because he’s perfect. As always, Ridley Lordin and B are hers as well.

Content / warning: mafia whump, intimate whumper, knife, forced marriage (m/f), threats, very graphic threats of noncon, misogynist language, implied pet whump, referenced dehumanisation.

An exclusive, secluded, and so wonderfully quiet wedding venue, I’ve heard Felicity gush about the chateau.

Wonderfully quiet.

I wish.

I haven’t had a moment of quiet in what feels like days. There’s been hordes of people around me, all the time. Felicity, master of ceremonies, everywhere, with clicking heels and fake glasses and a clipboard that holds absolutely no information but makes her feel in charge. A person, whose only job it was to get me into my dress and sew it close on my body. Two make up artists, to make me look "classy, natural!" and cover up the scars that couldn’t entirely be hidden underneath the exclusive white lace. Two more for the hair, even though Felicity decreed I was meant to wear it open not to draw too much attention to the thin lines in the back of my neck, where not long ago the collar had rested. Someone lady had rushed in to freshen up my nail polish, someone else delivered boxes of jewelry from the city’s most exclusive goldsmith and tried them all on me.

I’m sure I look fantastic. But all I see as I look into the mirror in front of me is defeat.

I never wanted to get married. And sure as hell, not even in my nightmares would I’ve imagined to get married to a man like Ridley. When this day is over, every last part of me will be signed over to him. I’ll become his, not only in the private, secluded shadow world where he can show me off as his pet, but in the most public way possible. Ridley is the richest man in the state, he’s running for mayor, he’s a celebrity in his own right. Behind the curtains only in the last half hour, I’ve seen more than two dozen limousines pull in, and twice as many sleek sports cars. The Lordin wedding is the societal event of the summer season.

"Don’t mess it up, princess," Ridley’s told me cheerfully, before he rushed off to meet someone important. "You’ll regret it."

As if I could. I’ve lost, each and every time I tried.

I reach for the white lace gloves on the cabinet in front of me and pull them over my scarred hands, swallow back the memories of what happened to them. That had the last time I’ve tried - we’ve tried - to be something more than what Ridley wants us to be. And we’ve paid the price.

I don't hear Leonardo Luciano step up behind me, but I feel him nonetheless. I don't know what it is, maybe a subtle draft of air on my skin, covered only by sheer white lace. Or maybe he does in fact exude a physical coldness all by himself. With what I've witnessed him do, I wouldn't be surprised.

I don't turn around, don't want to acknowledge his presence, but it's worthless of course. Just as I can sense him close in, he can sense my fear. And I know he savors it.

Topina, Leo calls me sometimes, little mouse. I hate how fitting it feels. A little mouse, nothing but prey, to be played around with, before the finishing strike. A trapped little mouse, heart racing uncontrollably at his presence. Playing along, because there's nothing else I can do. Because I’ve tried, and I’ve failed.

Something cool presses to the side of my neck and despite myself, I flinch. The flat side of a knife, all but caressing me.

"Stuart Hammond's precious daughter," Leo mumbles. He leans in over my shoulder, close enough for me to feel his steady heartbeat. His blue eyes meet mine in the mirror, shining with cold amusement. "Look at you now. All prettied up for your wedding. So quiet and obedient. His legacy. In my hands."

"Why are you here?" I whisper. Not that my words could make a difference. He was going to tell me anyway, or he wasn't. Nothing I do or say could change anything about his plan. I still try to keep up the illusion that I have a role in this, that I'm more than a mere prop.

"To be with my love on this special day of his life, of course." He smirks, and lets the blade wander closer to my throat. "And maybe to send a special message to my enemy."

I try to control my breathing. He can't kill me. Not like this, not on my wedding day, not under the eyes of everyone. He can't.

"Your Daddy won't be joining us today. Won't be here, to show off his principessa. But you're not his anymore, anyway."

I've never been, I think. I've always been my own. Dad has always let me be.

"I've taken the Hammond business. I've taken everything he ever had. Lots of it in the shadows. But the final step..." He places a kiss to my collarbone, and I freeze. Leo never did this. Never faked any affection. Leo is efficient and cold and brutal. This is new and it's frightening.

He chuckles, when he notices my shiver. "The final step will be in the light. I'll be the one to lead his treasured princess down the aisle. Show the world, who owns this city. Show the world who won."

No. No. He can’t do this to him. He can’t do this to me. After all he’s done to me, all he’s made Dad watch, this is… Too much. It’ll break him, if nothing else did.

"Please." My voice breaks, and I try to look away, but the tip of his knife bites in the skin underneath my chin, tilting my face up to look at him in the mirror. "Don’t… don’t do this."

Leo smirks. "Pathetic, how little fight is left in you. Pathetic you think you have any say in this. I enjoy watching my boyfriend play with you, but you're mine, Hammond."

He yanks at my hair and pulls me back hard, my spine bent painfully over the back of the chair. His face is blurry through the tears in my eyes. The knife is still there, blade resting against my throat, forcing me to stay in position.

"When will you learn that you're nothing? You're wrapped in pretty fabric now, but we all know underneath it you're nothing but your father's name with a tight little cunt attached to it. You-"

He's interrupted by a loud knock at the door, and a giggle that makes my stomach clench.

Leo enters a room just as he wants to be perceived, quiet and calm and efficient. Ridley however is loud and offensive, turning all eyes on him instantly. He looks like a picture cut out from a wedding magazine. Auburn hair styled to bring out his soft natural curls, white silk shirt, fitted tuxedo, dark red sash and cravat. His face is the slightest bit flushed, as from excitement, but from the way I see B behind him carefully wipe off his mouth, I am quite sure that the reason is another.

"It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding," someone else chides behind him.

"Not here for the bride," Ridley retorts. He's not looking at the speaker, nor at me. His eyes are sparkling, set on the man still pressing a knife to my skin.

Leo clicks his tongue and I feel him shake his head, before he lets go of my hair and lets me slump back into my seat. "Amore." There's a nauseating softness to his voice. "On a day like this, we should respect the traditions."

I can't stop a hard chuckle. "The fuck you honor-"

His hand flicks up and the knife presses against my throat. "I love tradition," Leo purrs into to my ear. "Like - the woman keeps quiet when her betters are talking." He presses down on the knife, and I gasp as I feel it nick skin, blood welling up.

"Danielle, no," Felicity gasps, hands raised, frozen in place. "The dress! The blood."

"Danielle, no," Leo echoes, mocking. His other hand is on my neck, too, pressing a handkerchief to the cut. "You'll be useless, if you ruin this wedding. But still stupid enough to risk it, aren't you? Hammond through and through."

I can hear Felicity's relieved sigh when the knife is pulled away and the blood catches in the fabric. I still don't dare breathing.

"Just a kiss?" Ridley pouts, ignoring me. "You can't look that hot and not let me kiss you."

"After," Leo says and shushes him away with the knife in his hand. There's a hint of my blood still shimmering on the blade. "Now, go, amore. I'll see you at the altar, when I hand you our principessa."

Ridley looks at me now, finally, a condescending smirk dancing on his lips, as he takes in my dress and body, and I find myself begging all higher powers that the superstitions are true, that bad luck will curse him until the end of his days.

"Good work," he says to Felicity appreciatively. "Dress really brings out that cute little ass of hers, doesn't it?"

Leo has stepped up to my side, clicking his tongue impatiently. "Leave," he repeats sternly. "All of you. I want to be alone with her."

Ridley rolls his eyes and blows him a kiss, before he retreats. "Two minutes," Felicity calls, before she follows at his heel.

One of Leo's men steps in to hand a small bottle to Leo, before he too leaves and draws the doors close, leaving me alone in the plushy hotel room with Leo.

He grabs my chin, tilts my head up and I gasp in surprise as something cool hits my neck. Spray bandage, to seal the little nick on my throat. They've prepared for everything.

"I could've cut deeper." Leo cleans his knife on the handkerchief, looks at it thoughtfully, before he tucks it away. "But you know, Hammond, with you, I wouldn't. Because right now, I don’t have a reason. Because if you did give me a reason, just the tiniest one, if you try and use that marriage to mess with my fidanzato, you're my enemy. And my enemies don't get the mercy of a knife to the throat."

I nod, clenching my teeth. The skin on my throat feels tight under the spray. It's just that, I tell myself. It's not dread pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

"I know," I mumble.

"Oh, no, piccolina. I don’t think you do." He checks his watch, and gets up, offering me his arm. "It’s time."

I steady myself on the cabinet, just for a moment, before I rest my arm on his.

As we step out, one of the hairdressers rushes in to fix my hair, fingers combing through it and adding another layer of hair spray. I don’t even see the person behind me, laying out the long train of the dress, just feel the short tugs at my hips.

Leo’s hand on mine is like a vise. "You need to understand," he says, as he starts walking down the opulent corridor. "What your Daddy did was, he fucked with my business. I don’t accept that. So I took everything he loves, and destroyed it, little by little, and I let him watch."

We turn around a corner, and two employees in grey suits step back to open the winged doors to the estate’s grand ballroom.

Faint music sounds from the back of the room, but I can’t hear it over the collective gasp of the crowd, hundreds of faces I barely remember, staring at us, walking down the aisle. With him by my side, it feels like walking the gauntlet. Leo nods towards a camera. "He’s watching right now. I’ve set up a live stream for him. Smile for Daddy, will you?"

The corners of my visions start to blur. I force my lips to curl upward, still.

"And mind you, this was because he messed with my business. Ridley - he is my personal interest. So let me make this abundantly clear to you, Hammond." His voice is all but a murmur in my hair, barely audible over the wedding march played on the ballroom’s huge organ. "If you mess this up, I'll throw you to my men and let them fuck you, over and over, until you’ve stopped moving, and then I'll let my dogs have another round with you."

He waves at someone in the crowd. I can’t make out any details any longer. I just stare forward.

From the end of the aisle, between too many camera lenses and too large bouquets of dark red roses, Ridley is looking at us. At Leo, me, my dress, my face. His smile is almost cruel, almost hateful, almost obvious, but not just yet.

I stumble over a fold in the carpet, and Leo catches me. The warmth of his skin is nothing compared to the icy cold in his blue eyes.

"And only when even they have no use for your sorry remains any longer, I'll chop those up into bite sized pieces and serve you to Ridley's dumb old guard dog in his dog bowl, for dinner."

A camera shutter rapidly clicks in front us, as the photographer dances backwards, all lenses on us.

"Got that?" Leo asks amicably.

"Yes," I whisper tonelessly. There’s still some meters left to walk. I don’t think I can make it.

"Good." His hold of me tightens. "Now smile. You look horrible."

I stagger forward. Leo's hand rests over mine lightly, underneath his thumb is digging into the freshly healed stab wound in my palm.

I swallow back a yelp.

"You heard me, Piccolina," he whispers into my hair. "Smile."

I straighten my shoulders, raise my gaze, focus on Ridley's face, closer now.

He smiles.

So do I.

The camera clicks again.

[oneirocartographer]

saw a lot of people doing this oc questionnare for @sonic-oc-showdown so! filling it in for skye!

Name: Skye the Otter Species: Sea otter Type: Speed Alignment: Good Home: Southern Archipelago (Sol Zone)

✨ How did you come up with the OC's name? It's been ages, I don't actually remember, but presumably following the pattern of Blaze and Marine's names.

🌼 How old are they? (Or approximate age range) 15!

🌺 Do they have any love interest(s)? In lesbians with Blaze, though it's not really dating so much as "acknowledged mutual crush".

🍕 What is their favorite food? Pretty much anything lemon-flavored, particularly shaved ice/snowcone-type stuff.

💼 What do they do for a living? Freelance cartographer and occasional salvage diver.

🎹 Do they have any hobbies? Does "exploring" count as a hobby if that's the main thing she does with her life? Besides that, though: loves comics, and has sporadic periods of playing the flute.

🎯 What do they do best? Skye has an uncannily good sense of direction, even out at sea with no landmarks in sight – part of it is that her powers let her read the winds easily, but she's also just mundanely skilled at navigation.

🥊 What do they love to do? What do they hate to do? Loves: exploring, finding out new things. Hates: staying still. (can you tell they're a counterpart to sonic lmao)

❤️ What is one of your OC's best memories? Not sure! I haven't come up with a lot of continuity for them, it's basically just "was involved in the events of Sonic Rush Adventure". That said, probably finding some really cool place while exploring.

✂️ What is one of your OC's worst memories? Being stuck out at sea during a really nasty storm – their wind powers weren't strong enough to mitigate it, and it was a pretty terrifying experience. [this answer made up on the spot]

🧊 Is their current design the first one? Her design's pretty vague, because I've never actually drawn her, but the image of her in my head has stayed pretty consistent over the years, yeah!

🍀 What originally inspired the OC? I wanted to round out Blaze and Marine to a counterpart trio to Team Sonic, and it made sense to continue the elemental theme.

🌂 What genre do they belong in? Action-adventure, probably! They'd be a great Legend of Zelda NPC. (especially if you put them in wind waker / phantom hourglass)

💚 What is your OC's gender identity and sexuality? In the general ballpark of "trans girl" (she's content not trying to narrow it down more than that), and a lesbian.

🙌 How many siblings does your OC have? I hadn't thought about it until Right Now, but I think she's got two or three younger siblings.

🍎 What is the OC's relationship w/ their parents like? Hadn't thought about this before either, but it's pretty good, I think. She doesn't see them a lot, what with the traveling, but she does her best to visit now and then.

🧠 What do you like most about the OC? funky lesbian go on adventure

✏️ How often do you draw/write about the OC? I... never have, actually. I just imagine comics with them and go :) about it. Someday I should actually try and draw her.

💎 Do you ever see yourself killing off the OC?

(^ not meant negatively, to be clear, it's just not something it's ever occurred to me to do)

💀 Does your OC have any phobias? Nah. The closest they've got is that outer space conceptually scares them a little to think about (it's VERY BIG and there's NO AIR).

🍩 Who is your OC's arch-nemesis/rival? Jules the Dolphin, another of my OCs (crewmember of the Sol Zone's archvillain, the cyborg pirate-queen Captain Octavia).

🎓 How long have you had the OC? A long time – they were one of my first OCs, back when I was... 12/13-ish, I think? So nearly a decade, wow.

[casspurrjoybell-27]

Moving Forward - Chapter 32

*Warning Adult Content*

Casualties

Waking up in Kyle's arms was something Max still wasn't accustomed to.

It gave him the comforting sense that everything was fine, that both of them were safe but then the memories of the night before came flooding back and Max just wanted to hide away from the world.

Bury his head under a pillow and wrap him and Kyle in blankets so as to never see another face again.

The most he managed was to keep Kyle in bed with him for a few more hours.

"Are you alright?" Max murmured, not wanting to break their little bubble by speaking too loud.

Kyle huffed a laugh.

"Barely a scratch, should be asking you that."

"I don't..." Max groaned, screwing his eyes shut.

"My head hurts."

"You had a few nasty bites," Kyle said, running a hand through Max's dark hair.

"Started tearing up bodies that were already dead. You wouldn't let anyone near me and then you passed out."

Groaning again, Max could only imagine what his father would have to say about that.

Another hour passed before Andy knocked on their door.

"Alpha Rivers has called for a meeting," she said, sombre.

Something else had happened.

Something Max hadn't been mentally stable enough to acknowledge.

Kyle gave him a forced smile and squeezed his hand.

To Andy he said.

"We'll be down in a minute."

A sigh escaped Kyle when he left the bed.

"What's wrong?" Max asked.

"What else happened?"

Kyle shut his eyes, keening quietly.

Collapsing back onto the edge of the bed, he dropped his face into his hands and a great wracking sob forced its way out of him.

Max was by his side in an instant, drawing Kyle into his chest, offering the only comfort he could without knowing the real problem.

"Love?"

"Nothing's gone right," Kyle whispered.

"Dad... my Dad's dead. Max..." he hissed an intake of breath.

"My dad is dead, Max."

Kyle didn't use Max's name often.

It usually some form of pet name and Thiago if he was being sweet.

Now, like this, Max didn't like hearing his name fall from Kyle's lips.

Not in that voice.

Cracking and on the verge of tears.

Pained.

"We don't have to go to the meeting," Max said, running fingers through Kyle's thick hair.

"We can just stay here. Forget about the real world for a while."

"No," Kyle sniffed, held a breath and then let it out sharply.

"No, w-we have to go. The pack will think there's something wrong if I don't and..."

"Are you sure?" Kyle paused.

Max could see Kyle was taking a moment to think it over.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he said, after another long exhale.

Together, they got dressed and went downstairs hand in hand.

Everyone else was already there.

Andy stood on the stage by the stairs, nerves written all over her face and Carter stood next to Amelia, both of them red around the eyes, mouths set firm.

Fin, as usual, clung to his mother but now it was more desperate.

Blake positioned himself with Max's team, on the wall, close enough to the stage to help if need be, some of them sporting bandages well-hidden beneath their clothes but peaking out in places.

Still holding Max's hand, Kyle led them up onto the dais and they stopped on the left side of Amelia.

In the presence of Kyle, Fin shifted, not letting go of Amelia but helping himself to the hand that Kyle offered in support.

"It's been a harrowing night," Amelia started, voice strong if a little husky from crying but nobody could fall her for that.

"Some of you have lost siblings, parents, friends and I am deeply sorry for your loss. A loss to this pack is a loss for us all and I feel the absence as much as you all do. As you all know, we also lost Anderson. Without my mate, I feel I am not the Alpha I was just last night and so I will be stepping down."

"Before he died, Anderson named me his successor," Carter announced.

"Now, I give you the right to challenge."

There was some murmuring at that. Some wondering why Kyle hadn't been chosen or why Amelia couldn't just continue being Alpha.

It was bad timing, Max thought. Created instability within the pack.

This was exactly what Gillespie would want.

To Max's surprise, none of the pack challenged him.

"What about Kyle?" Parish called.

"I know I'm not pack and I don't mean to be rude but Kyle is older isn't he? Wasn't he meant to be Alpha?"

Max could be embarrassed, it would be easy but Parish was already being told off by Duke and Lola.

Besides, he was only asking the same question everyone else was.

For a moment, silence fell throughout the hall as Carter best tried to figure out how to answer the question.

Kyle stepped up.

"I've never wanted to be Alpha. Even when we were younger and Carter and I were taught our roles, I never wanted the one that our order of birth assigned us. Being born first does not mean I would make a good Alpha but Carter would," he took a deep breath.

"My Brother has always done right by y'all, always did his best ta make sure you were safe and happy. He knows what's best for the pack more than I ever would and I am happy to be Alpha Carter's enforcer."

Max didn't rightly know what an enforcer was but at the moment, it didn't matter. Pride welled up in him for his mate. The sting from having the Alpha title ripped away from his reach had been soothed and Kyle had figured out how he suited his new role in the pack.

If nothing else, Max was just glad that Kyle wouldn't hurt every time someone reminded him that he didn't suit the role of Alpha.

He'd have to find out later what an enforcer's job was though.

If it was anything like it sounded, Kyle wouldn't be able to it.

Once this was all over, Max was making damn sure that Kyle would never leave the bloody house ever again.

Later, once the meeting was over and it was just Max's team, Kyle, Carter and Blake left, Fin had gone with Amelia, they secluded themselves in the room that Team Panther had taken.

"We didn't want to alarm the pack," Carter said, standing in the middle of the room.

"But Lara escaped last night, too. Probably with the help of her brother."

[traggalicious]

(LONG POST, LOTS UNDER THE CUT)

AIGHT so Ceri is INTJ, and pre-death she’s pretty chill. She can be a bit batshit when really into smth, girl fixates HARD. and you don’t wanna see her during an autopsy. I promise. She’s determined, analytical, observant, reliable, and genuinely So Hungry For Knowledge. She wants to know shit. Not for any reason she just.. likes. Knowing. She’s a jack of all trades. In theory. Especially w/ the human body and life and death it’s like. Everything is intertwined. It’s a cycle, perfect and manufactured and it all clicks. Things die, they decay, they foster new life, which creates and lives and dies and it goes on and on. There’s a comfort about that. There’s something fascinating about it. And that’s one of the reasons she’s not a fan of myrkul.

(After death her personality is quite like BPD, she can be erratic, having mood swings due to shifting magical energy levels. Literally she is. Constantly on the verge of death. It fucks w/ her. Also: i will have to do more research on bpd bc this is based on quite limited knowledge, so apologies if I say anything inaccurate or potentially insensitive abt this/her. I don’t have it, so im no authority on the matter.)

Tbh, she’s not a fan of any of the dead three. She values the ability to choose, to be free, to be part of something larger but in the way you want. Everything has value. On the subject of values, she values intelligence, open-mindedness, and curiosity. She doesn’t understand those who live life knowing nothing but their own, who do the same thing every day without even acknowledging that they’re alive. For Ceri, every day is full of wonder and fascination. Because there’s always something to learn, or see, or do. Yeah.

Some less positive personality shit is that she’s got sucky interpersonal skills, her bedside manner kinda sucks so she sticks to being as blunt as possible about it. Plus, people thought it odd that she had such an interest in death and involved processes, especially bc she lived with elves, being a half-elf. Some viewed it as a sort of corruption from her drow father. Also, she tends to have a kinda monotone voice, as if she’s always reciting something from a textbook or smth… She’s also got habits of skin-picking and trichotillomania (eyelashes), and tends to wear gloves bc she’s very aware of Dirty. She also hates getting sick bc like. Fuck off, she’s a doctor! Why the hell is she allowed to be sick! Yk? Also, on medicine: she actually views healing as a form of necromancy. Loves pointing that out when ppl are a bit annoying about the necromancy. (Like look at u clerics, extending life unnaturally/hj) She can also be really proud, impulsive, and stubborn, and she’s kinda insecure about certain things, like her eye and her scars.

Aside from general research, she likes sketching (mostly life drawings) and people watching. She keeps a field journal that doubles as a diary. Her depth perception is kinda fucked though, and one of her eyes is a scrying eye. Works the same as a regular one, and sometimes she can take it out and send it ahead like a tiny scout <33. It’s like a weird prosthetic familiar thing LMAO. It’s cool as hell but she is still insecure abt it.

The eye thing also contributes to her fatigue and migraines, both before and after death. She does visual exercises and physically compensates for the fact that one of her eyes is magic, and sometimes she just takes it out. Bc it’s kind of a Lot to have it there. Especially now that she’s possessing her body and her magic governs most of her biological functions (it’s kind of like her nervous system now?), so it’s draining. To both her magic and the eye. She also gets energy from those she kills, which she usually did with those she embalmed (dead) or studied (undead). Similar to mind-flayer memory consumption and all that. Or vampires, but w/ energy!

Uhhh fun facts: she prefers skeletons to zombies n shit bc they’re cleaner, and prefers both over vampires and such bc they’re not really aware. Or living. Though she does find them and all undead super interesting. Especially when they are an undead now. ALSO since they were quite interested in the shadow-cursed land, and hung around there, she did make contact w/ the Harpers and Isobel. Oh yeah she definitely crushed on Isobel. (She will never admit that). She’s also interested in poisons, and the intertwined nature of poison and cure, the fine line between life and death, medicine and torture. It’s awesome.

She’s also like… Neutral good? Just neutral? Like. Ofc she has priorities and all, and ofc they’re mostly self serving and preserving. But if someone needs help, she’ll help as long as she’s not too busy. She just weighs the pros and cons. And if it’s a con, well. That’s just how it is. Sorry. I think she’d totally vibe w/ Gale, Shadowheart, and Wyll, perhaps also Astarion. Gale and Shadowheart bc magic, duh. Wyll bc monocular vision solidarity, and Astarion bc she’s interested in his situation. She’s interested in all of them but mostly Gale and Astarion like hfgrhffh. The tadpoles are FASCINATING. She almost forgets to be terrified. Which she is. But she cover up terror w/ interest. She copes w/ fear but learning as much as she can about it. What you don’t know can hurt you, and she’s gonna do her best to make it Known. Her interest in death n shit came from a childhood fear of it, and she’s still kinda spooked but mostly she fears the afterlife.

Iiiii did it againnnn (made a new character) (she’s cool as hell tho so it’s fine right)

She’s a half-elf drow (who was a necromancer), and *was* pretty fuckin good at it. So good, that when she died. She refused to do so. She was like “ermm stfu myrkul i aint listenin to you now i’ve been fuckin w/ u my whole life i will not stop at death.” Kinda funny, local sorcerer refuses to fucking die. So now she’s possessing her own corpse. Out of sheer will.

Now, you may ask "trag, why is she Ivl 1 if she was a good enough necromancer to literally refuse death?' GOOD QUESTION.

The answer is: one: she got tadpoled ): we all know being tadpoled fucks shit up, as seen in the case of Gale and Wyll and basically everyone

Two: basically her body is fuelling her spirit and her spirit is fuelling her body in a fucked up mutualistic relationship. Her body relies on her magical energy to yk, not decay on the spot (tho it is slowly decaying, adding to the urgency of getting a cure for the tadpole and getting her magic back to its og level). And her spirit needs a vessel.

Plus, the connection b/n body and soul is a bit fucked so her soul is basically a bunch of raw magic inhabiting a human container. Ain’t that great (:

Also also: now she’s a Wild Magic Sorcerer. For fun. And bc again: shit’s fucked. Thank u for attending my ted talk

Her name currently is Ceridwen, after the Celtic deity of rebirth, but also considering naming her Athenios which is a feminine variation of Adonis. Idk tell me which u like more (if u want). SO HERE’S WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE BABEY‼️ (Image and more under the cut)

SO.

Yeah obviously she’s kinda pale (for a half-drow) and the face paint is to distract from the bad circulation (which she still has circulation and stuff but biological processes are slow). She’s missing an eye (which would look red but there’s no option for that so idk maybe she has a tiny scrying eye replacement that’d b cool as hell). Her other eye is a dark blue and her hair is reddish brown bc google says that shit happens after death. Also! Her pupil is supposed to be white. But again, no option for that. Anyway, I love her, tell me what u think (:

Love youuuu