#and perhaps amarie feels the same

[fistfuloflightning]

Arakáno | the high chieftain

Day 2: Exile - Arrival to Beleriand | Fingon | Argon | Elenwë for @nolofinweanweek

[ahummingbirdwitch]

Fantasize (Cypher x F!Reader)

Summary: After a long day, you find yourself in need of some relief, and who better to fantasize about than the agent you're crushing on?

Pairing: Cypher x F!Reader

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 3,639

Warnings: female masturbation, vaginal fingering, sexual fantasy, p in v sex, voyeurism

Notes: Welp. The masked man wormed his way into my brain and made me write this. I've never played Valorant and I'm not super well-versed on the lore, but I did my best to work off of what I know and existing theories about Cypher and his past!

I fantasize about it all the time

If you were mine

I’d give this pussy to you 9 to 5

5 to 9…

~ ~ ~

You collapsed onto your bed, exhausted.

Freshly showered and sore from a hard day’s work, nothing sounded better than curling up in your quiet room and getting some well-deserved rest. And, if you were being honest, there was something else you’d been meaning to do; something that could very well relieve you the most—and calm your restless mind.

For the last month since you’d joined Valorant, you’d met many agents, each one captivating in their own right. But one agent in particular had captivated you the most.

Cypher.

The masked man from Morocco, the information broker whose face had never been seen by anyone in the agency. Every agent in Valorant had secrets, but Cypher had the most by far. He was enigmatic, impossibly clever, and seemed to know everything about everyone. He’d known you by name before you’d even introduced yourself to him, and in the short time you’d been with the agency, you’d become more than familiar with his ways—the little things he remembered about others, the watchful eye he kept on his fellow agents. No one knew anything about him other than his real name—Amir El-Amari—and his unwillingness to reveal his identity to anyone.

He was a complete mystery, and he had drawn you in completely.

You remembered your first meeting with him clearly. He’d been standing to one side of the room, nonchalant with arms folded, and said your full name before you’d spoken it yourself. You’d been stunned at first, but before you could turn accusatory, he had laughed. “I’m sorry,” he’d said, his voice softening. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He had then uncrossed his arms enough to wave to you with one hand. Despite the mask that concealed his features, the look on his face had seemed almost gentle. “I am Cypher. Pleased to meet you.”

Your initial shock had faded, replaced with something else—something you couldn’t quite understand at the time, something that made your heart thrum unexpectedly in your chest. And that strange feeling, you’d realize in the coming weeks, would only grow stronger.

On missions, you were often put on the same team as Cypher, and you’d come to know him more than you thought you would. At least, you’d come to know the side he showed to others. He was polite, easygoing, frequently cracking jokes and making fun wherever he could. He liked to stimulate his brain, particularly with chess and gadgeteering. He kept a level head in times of crisis, acting as a leader when necessary. He always had the team’s back, and, perhaps surprisingly, he was kind.

It would’ve been easy for you to write him off as a trickster, a spy who cared for no one but himself, who had no regard for anyone’s privacy. While it was true that he knew more than he should, and sometimes intruded on his allies’ personal lives, you’d learned quickly that he was not an uncaring man—far from it, in fact. He was never rude or crass. His jokes had no cruelty behind them. He was an attentive listener, occasionally even providing advice. It was clear he had boundaries, and there were lines he would never cross, despite his line of work.

You’d wondered endlessly about his past. There was so much about himself he kept hidden, so much you wanted desperately to know. What kind of life had he known before joining the agency? How could he be so secretive, yet so considerate? What kind of pain had he experienced? Had he had a family before? Who was Nora?

You shook your head, bringing yourself back to the present. There were so many questions you wished you could ask him, but you knew he would never answer them. He was a mystery, one you might never unravel.

In spite of all that, though, you’d fallen for him.

It wasn’t wise to have feelings for your fellow agent, especially one like Cypher, but there was no denying it, and no helping it. Your heart jumped whenever he entered a room, and fluttered at the sound of his voice. You went out of your way just to try and impress him on missions, always keeping as close to him as you could. You savored those brief moments where your eyes would lock with his, or his hand might make contact with yours when passing you a weapon. Your spirit soared whenever you made him laugh, and you were always thinking of all the ways you could make him do it again.

It was probably the hardest you’d ever crushed on someone, and it was torture.

It was bad enough you both worked together, but on top of that, you were sure Cypher would never want you. He would never reveal his identity to anyone, let alone you. He was older, and had been with the agency far longer. He was always busy, caught up in an assignment or working away at something alone in his room. And then there was Nora, a name you’d heard him utter once or twice under his breath. Curious, you’d asked around about her; some agents theorized she was his wife, either dead or simply no longer around. There was no way you could know for certain, but whoever she was, it was clear he was still hung up on her.

You closed your eyes, sighing heavily. You didn’t want to think about any of that. Right now, you just needed to let go.

Climbing under the covers, you laid back against your pillow, then carefully slid your panties down to your ankles. Spreading your legs, you lifted one hand, guiding it tentatively between them. You swallowed, feeling the same anxiety you’d felt the last time you’d done this. This still felt so dirty, so wrong, but when you pictured Cypher in your mind, blue eyes glowing against the black of his mask, you felt yourself start to relax. You rarely did this, but tonight, you needed it.

Slowly, you eased your hand lower, and let your imagination take control.

You were pressed back against a wall, Cypher standing over you. You couldn’t read his expression, but the desire in his voice betrayed his emotions. “I want you,” he murmured, gazing down at you. “Right now.”

Your fingers found your entrance, already slick from just those few words. Biting your lip, you teased your slit.

Cypher brought his hand to your face, stroking your lower lip with a gloved thumb. You opened your mouth for him instinctively, and he chuckled. “I want to kiss you,” he said softly. “May I?”

You nodded without question. “Y-Yes.”

His eyes gleamed. With his free hand, he reached for the bottom of his mask, pulling it up just enough to reveal the lower half of his face. His lips curled into a smirk, then he was moving forward and kissing you all at once.

Your thumb brushed your clit, and you began to rub at it, continuing to tease your opening with your fingers.

Cypher’s kiss was shockingly fierce, and utterly mind-numbing. Moving his hands to your waist, he slipped his tongue into your mouth, swallowing the gasp that rose from your throat. You met his tongue with your own, kissing him back with matching fervor.

Thumb still working your clit, you dipped the tip of one finger inside your entrance. You needed more; you needed to speed this up.

In the blink of an eye, Cypher had unzipped your pants and pushed them down. Trailing kisses down your neck, he used his fingers—inexplicably ungloved—to caress your clothed pussy. “Oh, what’s that?” he said with interest. “Seems someone is wet for me.”

You grasped at his coat. “Cypher. Please.”

You felt him grin against your neck. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he purred. “I know what you want.” Slowly, deliberately, he slid one finger under the hem of your panties, then plunged it inside you.

At the same time, you parted your folds with your own finger, pushing it in deep. You let out a soft moan when you curled it inside you, finding that familiar sweet spot.

Cypher sucked on your ear, pumping his finger in and out of you. “That’s a good girl,” he cooed. “What pretty sounds.”

You whimpered.

“Make some more for me.”

You moaned louder, unable to stop yourself.

“Dirty girl,” he teased. “So wet already and I’ve barely started.”

You clenched around your finger. You could hear how wet you were, the sounds of your pleasure muffled only slightly by the covers. Just as you prepared to add a second finger, you decided to speed things along once more.

You were completely naked now, while Cypher was still clothed (you realized you’d never seen even a hint of his skin, but that didn’t matter). His pants undone at the waist, he hoisted you up by your thighs, hitching them around him as he pressed into you. “Come here,” he growled before pushing inside you swiftly.

You arched your back, grinding against your palm as you fingered yourself, imagining it was his cock spearing you open. How big was he? Fuck, he had to be big. Even if he wasn’t, though, you wouldn’t care. You just wanted him. You needed him.

Cypher groaned into your ear, starting slow with his thrusts, then fucking up into you like an animal. “So tight,” he gasped. “Oh, so tight for me.”

You were moaning more than ever now, losing yourself to the feeling of being full. You wished you could hear him moan with you, feel his body on yours. You wanted to kiss those lips. See his face. He was so handsome under that mask, you were sure of it.

Cypher bit down on your neck, forcing you to cry out. “Yes, that’s it,” he coaxed when he came up for air. “That’s it, sweetheart. I want to hear you.”

You threw your head back, moans falling from your open mouth. “Cy… Cypher…”

“Call me by my name, my love.”

Your body jerked, reacting to his voice in a way you couldn’t even control. “A-Amir,” you whimpered. “A-Amir, please—”

“Just like that,” he whispered, gripping your thighs harder. “Yes. I know you’re close.”

You were. Two fingers knuckle-deep and your thumb at your clit, you were ready to burst. Just a little more, and you’d be right there, right there. “A-Amir,” you pleaded. “I—I need you—”

“I need you to cum,” he panted. “Can you do that for me? Hm?”

“Mm—mhm,” was all you could get out, ferociously rubbing at your clit. You knew you sounded ridiculous, but you didn’t care. You didn’t care about anything right now. These walls weren’t thin, but you wouldn’t give a shit if they were. You didn’t even care if Cypher himself had mics in your walls, and he could hear every sound you were making. You just needed him. You needed to cum.

Cypher leaned in, panting like a dog, thrusting into you even harder and faster. “Cum for me,” he breathed. “Cum for me now.”

That was all you needed. The cord within you snapped and your vision went starry. You shut your eyes as you came, whining uncontrollably. “Cy—Cypher,” you blurted out, moaning long and loud. You couldn’t stop the words from escaping you. “I love—I-I love you—I—mm—”

You continued to moan as you rode out your orgasm, keeping your fingers still deep inside while your body spasmed with pleasure. By the time you could feel yourself calming, the trembling in your limbs fading to a dull buzz, you were unsure how much time had passed. You felt utterly numb, your heart racing and your chest heaving as you caught your breath.

You exhaled, leaning back against your pillow. You did feel better. Touching yourself to the thought of Cypher had brought you relief—just like you’d wanted. There was still a part of you that felt guilt, felt dirty at what you’d done, but you suppressed it.

No one knew, and no one would know. Cypher kept so many secrets, why couldn’t you keep this one for yourself?

You got up and washed your hands, then brushed your teeth and returned to bed. You nestled deep under the covers, closing your eyes as you prepared for sleep to take you. You’d worked hard today. You deserved to rest.

As you drifted off, you completely forgot that you’d confessed your love to the Cypher in your mind.

~~~

Elsewhere, in a secluded room in the dormitory, Cypher was wide awake.

Unmasked, and dressed only in light clothes, he sat at his desk in the darkness, watching the cameras as he did every night. There was a single camera for each Valorant agent, along with its own mic and recording device, positioned in the most secure, hidden place possible in every individual room. He recognized the invasiveness of it. He didn’t take pleasure in keeping tabs on his allies in this way, but it was necessary. He would do all he could to ensure he kept the upper hand, even if it meant spying on those he considered his friends. He had been through too much to let anyone take advantage of him.

For some time now, he had been scanning the cameras, studying each agent as they wound down for the night, and something in particular had caught his eye.

You.

You, coming out of your bathroom in nothing but a t-shirt and panties. The moment he’d noticed you in your state of undress, he’d averted his gaze, waiting for you to either leave the frame or cover yourself up. When you’d finally crawled into bed, he’d been content to turn his attention to other screens, but then your mic had picked up some… telling audio.

You’d started to touch yourself.

Cypher was not a stranger to the female body. He’d been with women, been married to one. Countless times, he’d been at his desk and witnessed female agents—and male agents, for that matter—masturbate. Whenever it happened, he always turned away, often shutting off their mics as well to at least give them some extra privacy. Some agents did it more frequently than others, and he had even grown accustomed to their routines for it. But you…

Well… you didn’t do it very often, that was for certain.

You were new to the agency. Young, spry, full of confidence. When he’d first met you, he was sure he knew exactly what you’d be like. He knew your type—hell, plenty of the better-established younger agents were just like you. But in all honesty, in the month since your arrival, he’d learned there was more to you than met the eye. He was surprised to still be peeling back layers of your personality even now, when normally, he would have had someone thoroughly pinned down. There was always new information to be drawn from others, yes, but even so, you continued to intrigue him.

Cypher had heard you touch yourself only once or twice before; only faint noises coming from your bathroom had made him aware of the act. He’d been certain that the next time you did it, you would do it in the same place, but for some reason, you had chosen your bed instead tonight. As was your right, certainly. But regardless, he had not been expecting it.

He’d shut off your mic without thinking, lingering on the image of you in your bed for just a heartbeat before quickly tearing his eyes away. There was something about this that unsettled him, made him uncomfortable in a way that was unfamiliar. There was nothing unnatural to him about masturbation; he did it himself, when he was most in need of it. But something about seeing you do it—you, his sweet, sincere teammate—made him feel almost… ashamed. Like he was violating you.

He understood the necessity of keeping an eye on the agency, knowing he could never fully turn off the cameras in the rooms, but for whatever reason, he wished he could turn yours off now, at least for a little while. He didn’t want to see you in such a vulnerable state. He didn’t want to commit your expression of pleasure to his memory, imagine what sounds you could be making…

Cypher rubbed his eyes now, blinking rapidly as he cleared his thoughts. He had to focus. He had to make sure everyone was asleep before he too allowed himself to rest. He would wait until you finished.

But then… how could he be sure when you would finish if he couldn’t hear you?

A strange feeling nagging at him, he turned back to your screen. Though your lower body was concealed by your covers, he could see your movements underneath, and could see clearly what you were doing. No doubt, you were fingering yourself.

He swallowed, his throat suddenly very dry. He kept watching, unable to look away from your mouth, ever opening and closing. You were still muted, but he didn’t need audio to know you were moaning. Of course you were. Everyone did when they self-pleasured. But then, unexpectedly, he saw you form a word.

No—a name.

A name? Whose name? Questions flooded his mind. If you were uttering someone’s name in this state, did that mean you had… feelings for them? Was it an agent? Was it someone on the outside?

Cypher tried not to dwell on it. This was your business; your moment of privacy. It didn’t matter to him whether you had feelings for someone, agent or not. It was nothing. It was just—information. Useless information—right?

But then again, if he had it… maybe he could use it.

Before he could change his mind, he turned the audio back on. A second later, his heart dropped when he heard you moan out.

“Cy… Cypher…”

He froze, staring at your screen. No, it couldn’t be…

“A-Amir… A-Amir, please—”

Cypher couldn’t believe his ears. It was… him. It was him you were crying out for. You’d even said his real name—he’d never heard you say it out loud before.

He didn’t understand. You wanted him? Why? Out of everyone in Valorant, why him?

Had he missed something, all those times he had gone on missions with you? He had noticed your enthusiasm when in proximity to him, your noteworthy eagerness to follow his orders, but he had never considered it out of the ordinary. He had always just thought of you as a dutiful agent, eager to prove yourself and gain respect from your more seasoned teammates. Was that not the case? Was the truth that you’d been interested in him all this time?

Your voice severed him from his trance. “A-Amir,” you whimpered. “I—I need you—”

Cypher shifted in his seat, a sudden discomfort between his legs. His name sounded foreign your lips, and yet… sweet. He’d never thought he’d hear you say it, but more than that, hear you say you needed him. You couldn’t mean that. You weren’t thinking—too caught up in your own pleasure. You couldn’t possibly know what you were saying.

He could tell you were getting more desperate now, your hand moving faster under the covers. You had to be close. You gasped, shutting your eyes, then all at once you were coming undone, and he couldn’t look away.

“Cy—Cypher,” you cried out, catching him off-guard. “I love—I-I love you—I—mm—”

Cypher could hardly think as he watched you unravel before him on the screen, your words ringing in his ears.

I love you. I love you. I love you.

The only explanation was that you had lost yourself. Why else would you say something as bold as that without thinking? You didn’t love him. You couldn’t love him.

There was nothing about him you could possibly want. He guarded his secrets more fiercely than anyone. He was so reserved, staying out of the limelight whenever he could. He’d kept his identity hidden for years, carefully cultivating the persona he would allow people to see. You’d never even seen his face.

And yet… it was his name you’d uttered when you came. It seemed you had fallen for him anyway.

No. No… you hadn’t. It wasn’t possible. You didn’t want him, and you certainly didn’t love him. Love was knowing someone, knowing all of their secrets and foulest parts. It was something deep and potent, and only grew with time. It was what he’d had with Nora, before he’d lost her and everything else.

You had not been in your right mind, that much was certain. Maybe you liked him, liked the person he presented himself as, but you didn’t know him. No one did, and no one truly would. He liked you, but… well, not like that. How could he? He was a broken old man, and you were young and lovely, still with hope for the world…

No. No, that wasn’t right.

It didn’t matter. You would go to sleep now, drowsy in the aftermath of your climax, and so would he. You would not remember your confession in the morning. He would, but he would not let it consume him.

This was… nothing. He was sure of it.

Cypher began to rise from his chair, only to be made aware of the painful hardness in his pants. He grimaced, looking back up at your camera. You were wrapped up in your covers, already asleep. You looked so innocent. Peaceful.

… Beautiful.

He hung his head, running one hand through his hair. Oh, sweet girl, he thought. What are you doing to me?

(LET ME KNOW IF Y'ALL WANT A PART 2)

[86stagram]

🙋‍♀️Hiya! Maybe I should have written earlier . . . 🤔

↑cited from X 🍊💛🥩🍤🏀(´Y｀)🧀🎃🍯🧡🍻

Results of the Sanrio character awards in Japan(2024 ver.) Unwavering 1st place : Cinnamoroll 2nd place : Pochakko 3rd place : Kuromi 4th place : Pom Pom Pudding 5th place : Hello Kitty 6th place : My Melody 8th place : Hangyodon *1 12nd place : Cogimyun (*1 Really!? Oh he is actually high on the popularity rank. I'm sorry for writing, "Perhaps he is just a leftover from Sanrio like Amari" in Japanese . . . 🙇‍♀️)

When I saw Cinnamoroll sitting on Hibiki's shoulder in this post, it instantly reminded me of this ranking. Cinnamoroll is very popular as always consistently ranking No.1 every year at least in Japan. I feel there's some kind of intention behind this pairing of 2 characters. I first thought it was because of a similar color theme. Or because they have something in common of if someone not know character setting, it's hard to judgement their gender. Ummm. . . no, actually, it's probally because their fans are generous with their spending haha

Way down in 32nd place is Ruroromanic. Uh sorry, to be honest, that's a character I didn't remember before. I thought it was a bit strange that the organizers picked these characters instead of choosing Kerokerokeroppi who is 7th place!🐸 I think that other combinations are good. Especially I think that Pom pom pudding's color is perfect for Mirei's vibe.

Also, I want Ham to be able to wear especially Mirei's coord in these, too, so I feel the need for these to be implemented in Adpara or Aipri Verse someday! Oh, Umm . . . Sad that there is no hope for the development of the SwiPara😥*2 (*2 By the way, we call All Idol Perfect stage "SwiPara" in Japan🗾 Nintendo Switch + PriPara)

Side note, I’ve made it a habit to vote for Mewkle Dreamy every year. Unfortunately, she is slowly fading and in 50th place this year. Oh no! During that time in Japan, Pri☆Chan was broadcast at 10:00-10:30 AM, followed by Mewkle Dreamy at 10:30 - 11:00 AM, and I enjoyed watching both of them. All I can say is that I really loved the tempo of that anime! It's only natural that I feel something similar, as Pripara and Mewkle Dreamy share to same a part of production staff. oh and, Jewel Pets too hahaha

The story begins when Yume sees something fall from the sky, and meets Mew. Mew has "Yume Synchro" (Dream Synchro), that power to dive in dreams. And they collect "Dreamy Stones" in the dream world. Do you feel it's just a very cute story, right? But you might not find this description very interesting but just by reading it, right? . . . hehehe No problem!!! No worries because that's gag anime like PriPara.

Some anime episodes was delayed but these was broadcasted later and associated products didn't sell as well as staff thought to the COVID-19 pandemic. But I can recommend that anime to fans who enjoy the ridiculous gags of Pripara. Of the Pretty series, especially Pri☆Chan SHOULD ALSO COLLABORATE with Mewkle Dreamy!!! . . . and if we don't become able to use that coords in Adpara or Aipri Verse, so out of the question😭

That's it for today! See you again!🙋‍♀️

[pretty-idol-hell]

Idol Land PriPara Episode 12

The end... or is it?

The episode opens with My Dream back at school, at lunchtime. Yui is double-fisting rice balls. Shogo walks by and complains about how loudly she's enjoying herself, so Yui throws his baby pictures everywhere. In other words, everything is back to normal.

While Yui and Shogo are fighting, the remaining members of WITH and MyDre acknowledge they will be holding a surprise promise for Yui later that day.

Meanwhile, Amari is at her desk looking through her old notebook and acknowledging all of her idol dreams have been coming true one by one. She stops when she reaches the place where Mario's page was ripped out, and looks down sadly at the blank space.

Later, at PriPara, Mirei and Shion discuss how things are returning to normal. All of the idols are full of dreams again and it's all thanks to Yui. But, it's thanks to Amari that Yui was returned to normal, so everyone surrounds Amari and thanks her.

However, even after everything that happened in the last episode, there are still some bugs floating around Idol Land. (...Feels familiar.)

The others talk about Mario's disappearance and wonder where he is. Amari says, "He's gone," but the others don't quite get it. Nino says it was rude he disappeared without saying goodbye.

I guess they really did not notice he uhh... burned to death...........

Amari looks down sadly again but only Laala acknowledges it.

Meanwhile in DanPri, all the boys are hard at work cleaning up the mess Mario made. Including Ushimitsu, who is doing his best to remind Shinya of his past using uhh... puppets? (Ninja voodoo dolls? I don't know the actual name for these haha.)

But he is unsuccessful. Shinya is STILL brainwashed even though Mario is gone. Ushimitsu is out of options. HARAKIRI IT IS.

Asahi is able to stop him, however, as WITH arrives to help.

"Leave it to me," says Koyoi as Asahi's eyes light up with fear, reminded of Koyoi's dark past. It can't be that bad, Asahi.......

OH

I GUESS THIS IS JUST HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS IN PRIPARA NOW

EVERYONE FIGHTING EVERYONE IDOLS

hahahahaha

Meanwhile, Yui arrives in Idol Land, annoyed at being left behind. She's quickly whisked away by Nino and Michiru, as not to ruin the surprise.

Also meanwhile, SoLaMi Dressing, Hibiki, Amari, Meganii, Meganee, and the managers., are having a meeting to decide what to do about the bugs still appearing around Idol Land. Amari shakily raises her hand.

"D-D-Do we really have to exterminate them?" she says, launching into a stuttering, rambly rant disagreeing with Hibiki about how she doesn't exactly like the bugs either, but the line between love and hate isn't that simple. In fact, they are basically the same, because even after hard times you can still see a blue sky in the end so storms and sunny days are basically the same and and AND... (before collapsing on the table).

"I AGREE WITH AMARI-CHAN!!!" says Laala. Immediately.

Everyone else agrees as well, except for Hibiki of course, but they are far outnumbered.

Meganii says there is still a lot they don't yet know about Idol Land, and it's possible the bugs are connected to that, so perhaps it's best to leave them for now. As Meganii speaks we see Gaaruru walking through the woods as bugs follow behind her. Gaaruru tells the bugs she doesn't care, and they can do what they want.

After the meeting ends, Amari and Laala are walking together in a deserted hallway.

"If only we could have become friends with Mario," Laala says, causing Amari to stop walking. Amari asks if Laala knew what happened to Mario, and Laala says she guessed based on how Amari was acting.

Amari says that thanks to Laala she finally understood that Mario had meaning to her. But, she realized a little too late.

Laala takes Amari's hand and says, "But I think he was really happy! That he was able to save you! That you cared about him!"

"Thank you, Laala..." Amari says as she starts to cry. The two laugh together.

Meanwhile, MyDream is touring Idol Land while the battle between Shinya and Koyoi continues to escalate into by far the most violent thing we've ever seen in Pretty Series.

Goddamn.

And Amamiya is still trapped in the toilet....

Thinking this is some kind of fate that has been thrust upon him, he starts working to make the toilet so clean that uhh...

He hallucinates toilet goddess Mirei...???

The implication I think is that his love for her overflows and gets him out, but we never actually are shown that. His love overflows from the stall and um, next scene.

Nino and Michiru are about to head back with Yui, when.... uhhh...

So, these are Haniwa. I believe the implication is like.... MyDream disturbed Ajimi's ancestral family burial site??? in PriPara????????????

Back at the stage, everyone is ready but MyDream is nowhere to be found. The crowd is getting restless, especially the animals. But no worries, Fuwari knows just what to do...

Sing a new solo in a new recolored outfit!! Prominently featuring her occasional sentence enter, "-nachu"!

And so we get Fuwari singing this lovely, calming song, inter-spliced with like Hibiki dropping their tea and Shinya/Koyoi still fighting (oh lord).

New Making Drama too!

Back in DanPri, a badly bruised and battered Koyoi and Shinya have finally come to a standstill. Apparently Shinya "had fun", "let's do this again".... (the others stare blankly). Back to normal, I guess.

Finally, MyDream arrives and Yui finds out about her surprise. They hop from an air balloon, coord changing in mid-air (AiPri style? haha).

New coords, new song, new Making Drama...

NEW TEAM CYALUMES TOO!!!

After the performance, Non Sugar wheels out Janice in a baby carriage, who congratulates them. Janice thanks Amari for protecting PriPara as well, who has the reaction you would expect she would have being addressed by a goddess (even a baby one).

Janice turns to the audience and explains that she still hasn't returned to her full power, and therefore is unable to carry out her duties as goddess in this form. Thus, she will be giving temporary goddess powers to.... FALULU!

Falulu is (temporarily) a PriPara GODDESS!!

This kinda reminds me of... umm... *mumble mumble King of Prism something something*

Hibiki leads Falulu to the stage, who is calmly surprised by this announcement. The time twins give her a goddess staff.

Fuwari asks Falulu what she will do in her first act as goddess. Ignoring the selfish requests from Meganii and Dorothy, she says she does have something she's been wanting to do...

And so, getting everyone together habitat for humanity style, Falulu has everyone build Pololo a house... T_T After being a roof for others for so long, she finally has a roof of her own.....

Falulu says she will continue to use everyone's power to make everyone's dreams come true!

As the credits roll, we cut to Amari back in the lunchroom at school. She's holding her tray and looking at a group of girls sitting across the room.

Mario's hand appears behind her, giving her a push, as she passes through an invisible barrier, and begins to approach them...

In the voiceover, Amari says, "I have a dream. A dream to enjoy my high school life!"

The time twins curl up together in THE CUTEST PAJAMAS (want), talking about how today was a great day, and tomorrow will be a great day too. We pan to the Takara Tomy logo in the night sky, and the episode ends.

WOW, what a wonderful and also depressing episode to end on.

I really REALLY REALLY thought Mario was going to come back.

Well he did, but he didn't. His hand pushing Amari at the end could have easily been her imagination. But then again, that's basically the same thing, isn't it?

I also super related to that scene WOW. I often feel like, even though I know how to be social, I know I can approach people and make friends..... I just have this invisible barrier around me, and I have to be either right in the perfect mood, or I have to be making a very conscious effort to pass through it. If I'm taken by surprise by someone approaching me in public, I often keep the barrier up and try to leave the conversation as quickly as possible. The more I've adjusted to being back in America, the more I've improved at getting that barrier down and socializing with people when I'm at cons and events and stuff. So it was pretty cool to see something like that represented visually.

So, lots of new coords, songs, making dramas... we've always got lots of new stuff in episodes before, but this was the first time it actually made me sad. Because up until now I knew we would probably get the new coords at least, and there was a glimmer of hope in me that maybe, just maybe, we might get a new song or making drama SOMEday but.... with the lackluster updates this past month, who knows if we'll be getting anything at all anymore. So, I spent a lot of this episode sadly yearning for the arcade days of knowing for sure all the new content would be available to experience soon.........

*sigh*

When they made this episode they were planning on a season 2. SURELY. Or at least, they certainly left the possibility open.

SO MUCH is still unresolved. Like yeah, Yui's back, but all the other stuff from episode 0? The update that went wrong, and the bugs, and losing PriParis and all that stuff..... (I've got watch that again)

I'm scared now that they are gonna resolve that in the Hibiki comic instead.....................

BUT MARIO

Mario should come back. Mario DESERVES to come back.

IT'S. NOT. FAIR.

And Falulu has goddess powers!? Like, for the foreseeable future we're just leaving her like that.

So like. In my other post I denied that Laalulu, the 10th/1000th-anniversary character would have anything to do with Idol Land.

But like, seeing Falulu get goddess powers is making me somewhat rethink that. Like, I dunno, I feel like this could be connected somehow. Maybe.

LIKE.......... THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES TO GO FROM HERE.

Not to mention for all we know AMAMIYA IS STILL IN THE TOILET

COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

please

[bbleague-crispin]

Hello Crispin, seems like you, me, and Drayton all made blogs around the same time. What a strange coincidence. Perhaps we should reach out to Lacey and invite her as well? I'd hate for her to feel left out.

@elite-amarys

oh hey amarys!!!! nice to see ya on here!!!!

but YEAH we should get lacey on here!! it'd be really funny if all 4 of us joined today!!!!!!

[vacantgodling]

::::::::::::::::: CAGE ::::::::::::::::::

read the full fic on ao3!

CHAPTER 1. REDEMPTION

Sometime closer to dusk when the number of airplanes he could make out crossing the horizon was fewer and fewer, and the lights of Gibraltar’s closest neighboring city La Linea began to kiss the night with her bright lights, Lena came to find him.

Cassidy knew something was wrong by her approach; he barely knew it was her until she was standing right beside him. He always had trouble placing Lena’s footsteps; it was like listening to a dance. Usually he’d hear a step or two, then a smell of electricity indicating a blink forward, then a few more steps after that. He likened it to a horse making jumps and Lena giggled profusely the first time he mentioned it, making it a point to neigh at him whenever she went past—an inside joke between old friends. But hearing each muted step against the cold steel of the walkway he’d perched himself up on for the evening startled him out of his distracted haze, and a frown parked itself on his face before he could look up.

“Cole,” She said softly, and he turned his head, regarding her. She wasn’t wringing her hands, but she may as well have been; they fidgeted at her sides, and her attempts to look unperturbed were valiant. What got her shaken up? Or was it just nerves about how he’d take whatever news she had to bring? Whatever the case, she cleared her throat lightly, then continued.

“I’m not sure you were looking at your comm. But, we’re having a meeting now.” Cassidy shuffled around in his pocket for the communicator, that now that she mentioned it he did feel buzzing a few minutes ago, or was it hours? He always lost track of time up here.

“Shoot, I didn’t mean to keep y’all waiting.” He stood and the communicator tumbled from his pocket and down into the abyss of the inky black night below. With zero hesitation, Lena scrambled over the railing of the walkway and jumped, catching the comm before it hit the ground and rewinding herself in time back to standing next to him. She wiggled the communicator in her hand with a small smile.

“Wouldn’t want to lose that, would you?”

“Lena, you damn near gave me a heart attack!” Cassidy chuckled despite the fear that rabbitted his heart. That was something he had to get used to about being back here; people taking unnecessary risks for the sake of being a helping hand. He shook his head and pocketed the comm, resigning himself to his fate of being the only person with common sense around—perhaps the only one plus Angela. He could see how the light in the good doctor’s eyes had dimmed as of late, not the fault of anyone’s own, but due to the world around them, and the jade of age. Cassidy felt the same when he looked into the mirror and stared at his own demons after every restless night where sleep eluded him.

This morning, even, was no different. He didn’t remember falling asleep the night before, but he didn’t try. Remembering anything at all these days didn’t do anything but dredge up all the old demons that he drank to forget. He couldn’t even say he got a restful sleep, however, it was something, and certainly better than nothing at all. He sat up when the rapping he thought was just in his dream continued and bled into his slowly rising consciousness, and he ran a hand down his face, scratching idly at his bed-beard.

“Jee-sus I’m comin’! Give a man time to open his eyes!” He yelled at the door. The rapping thankfully stopped, but he could almost feel the person’s judgment seeping through the door by the time he managed to find a shirt and amble over to it.

“What, you tha wake up patrol?” He deadpanned, staring into the unnervingly awake face of Fareeha Amari. She gave him a smile, a knowing one that was all too similar to her mother’s for Cassidy’s sleep deprived brain for his liking. She promptly informed him that breakfast would be over in an hour, and he better get a move on if he wanted any of Reinhardt’s sausages. He’d joked with her lightly for a few more moments, before finally shutting the door behind her and letting out a sigh of relief to be alone in darkness once more.

In the present, he just smiled. Lena probably knew it was a bit forced.

“Lead on then, time cadet.” Lena giggled at his joke, but still didn’t blink as they made their way towards the conference room, and that worried him most of all.

##

A long wave of silence crashed over the meeting room once Winston finished his speech. The second Cassidy stepped in, it felt too close like one foot in the tomb everyone was so damn silent and no one was making eye contact. Said speech was a lot of words, and a lot of guff, but sufficient to say, what he was saying was—

“You mean to tell me,” Cassidy ground out first, his voice like daggers. “That you’re bringing a fucking kinslayer into our midst. And we’re just supposed ta what? Accept that?” The thunderclap of his accusation jolted the room, the tension palpable. For nothing better to say, Winston only coughed and adjusted his glasses, setting them back on his wide nose.

Surprising everyone—especially Cassidy—Genji was the one who answered. His voice was even, if strained, a hiss of synthetics on metal and the whole damn reason Cassidy was near shaking out of his skin with barely contained—if contained at all—rage. “I asked Hanzo to come. He—“

“You asked him?!” Cassidy leapt out of his seat, a full on growl on his lips and his expression twisted up into a sneer. “After what that sunuvabitch did to you?! You invited him to come here like it’s a fucking tea party for Chrissake?!”

“He is seeking redemption.” Genji said tersely. His hands clenched and unclenched on the table. Cassidy had no doubts that if the ninja was holding anything, he would’ve snapped it in half. “What better place than here?”

“Oh redemption.” Cassidy crooned mockingly. “He can have his little mosey with redemption so long as it ain’t within fifty fucking miles of ya! Who’s ta say he won’t finish the damn job?”

It spoke volumes that no one in the room told Cassidy to calm down, or to stop. Not a single person in the room said a damn word. If Genji tried to catch anyone’s eyes for support, for backup, they all turned their gazes away; downcast to the table or out of the windows. Even Winston didn’t really meet Genji’s face plate; but for the sake of his position, the gorilla took in a breath and tried. “Cassidy—“

“Don’t ya damn well tell me ta calm down Winston, ya know we’re all thinking it!” He felt like he was spitting coals down on an open fire and Genji was dancing on them. He hopped to his next foot, his next point.

“So you mean to tell me, that if Reyes showed up here today,” Genji’s synth was crawling with venom and agitation, and something violent seized in Cassidy’s chest so much that he wouldn’t be surprised if he had a stroke. “Asking to redeem himself that you yourself would push him away?”

“I’d shoot that sun’bitch myself.” Cassidy heaved, ragged, animalistic. “‘Cuz I ain’t that fucking deluded to put none of y’all in danger.”

“If you are so concerned about danger.” Genji spit. “Then the only one here who is in any sort of danger is me.”

“And why tha hell should we let ya—“

“I accept that danger willingly.” Genji’s synth finally grated on its edges; not dissimilar to how it used to whenever Cole got on his nerves back in Blackwatch, and hell, them spitting fire at one another like this was not an unusual sight back then. But Cassidy hadn’t yelled at Genji like this since the time the man almost got himself blown up on account of his own bitter, misguided pride—no, death wish, to go out in a blaze of unwarranted glory. Cassidy had grabbed Genji by his wires that day and shook him senseless, hollering at him until his voice went hoarse and he was near purple in the face.

They never argued again after that.

At least, not until now. And Cassidy swore himself then that he would never go back to how things were, yet it’d only been a month and he was shouting down his closest friend like he was a child with no sense. Hard to convince himself that he wasn’t.

“Well I’ll be tha first one ta tell ya, that one false move and I’m shootin’ the fucker.”

“Maybe that is why I have decided to bring him here.” Genji hissed. “So that if you are truly correct and he does still want me dead that I will not have to face him alone.”

More silence shuddered through the room, a whistling, eerie silence like wind in barren trees. Cassidy looked towards Angela, and her jaw was hard set and looking out towards the door. There was no way Genji got this cleared with her, he knew it. Maybe that was the source of the dark look in her eyes for the past few days. It was like Genji was taking all the sun and shine and joy they had begun to bring back to this old ruin and shut it out with rain.

Seeming to have nothing else to say, Genji left for the door. He didn’t bother to close it behind it, just left it hanging and forlorn. If Cassidy looked closer at the knob, he saw how tightly Genji had gripped it, so much so that the metal was bent.

None of them bothered to go after him.

Fareeha finally spoke up.

“I still think this is a rash decision.” Her voice was authoritative, and fierce; the wisdom of her mother shining in her eyes just like it had the morning before, like it had since he first saw her when he came to find her after the recall. “We cannot be sure where his loyalties lie. We’re a small enough team as it is; one traitor could break us.”

“I told Genji that this is a trial run.” Winston reluctantly said. Cassidy was still standing, itching for a smoke, a beer, to punch a good hole in the wall, hell, something. Anything to take the edge off of the coals of white hot anger burning underneath his skin. “You’re right Fareeha. We are a small team. We need all the help that we can get. We could be picky.” Winston paused for affect—or to collect himself. Cassidy couldn’t tell. “But if we don’t take a chance—“

“A chance!” Cole barked, a startled, disbelieving laugh.

“Cassidy.” Lena chided, gently. “Winston’s spent a lot of time thinking about this. Who knows?” She said softly. “Maybe he’ll be different than we thought…?”

“You don’t sound too sure o’ that neither.” But he did quiet down. He didn’t sit though. Winston went on to explain that Hanzo Shimada, Genji’s fucking murderer, would be arriving on base within the next 48 hours. He was currently en route; refusing to disclose how he would be making it to Gibraltar, just that he would. And that alone already set alarm sirens wailing in Cole’s mind but he bit down on his cigar so hard he broke the filter just to keep from making more of a scene. Winston told them all to be respectful. Not friendly; but respectful as you would be with a coworker since Hanzo was. Would be. Then, he dismissed them.

No one tried to follow after him when he stormed off. No one tried to reason with him. They knew that since the bull was riled up they’d have to give him time to cool. He’d cool off. He ain’t never been good at being professional so he reasoned with himself he would just avoid the elder Shimada—at least until he caught the bastard slipping. Then he’d off him, and fuck whatever Genji had to say about it.

He swore it on the rosary beads he kept stashed in the back of his nightstand. He wasn’t religious (never was and couldn’t be after all the hellfire and brimstone he’d been through), but they were all he had left of his mama and he swore on them when just a promise wasn’t strong enough.

He wasn’t going to lose anyone else to something he could prevent.

Never again.

[elite-amarys]

//OOC

Precise Confrontation

A short fic about Amarys confronting a school bully. Content warning for threats of violence. Please note this is an off screen post - your characters will not have knowledge of this occuring outside of the described camera footage. That said, they will likely be able to piece together that something happened if they are able to somehow access this footage.

That's all! Hope you like it. Writing Amarys in her feelings is fun, but writing her in Kill Mode is ALSO fun

EDIT: Also this has nothing to do with @guyinmink , who sent the anon that inspired this. They're cool we're all cool. Guy in this story is just a random made up dude I prommy.

21:07

Amarys was precisely on schedule. She always was, but it was particularly important that she stay on schedule this time. She had a very brief window of time to do what she needed to do, and if she fumbled or missed even a second it would ruin everything. But that was why she had to be the one to do it. Drayton would be annoyed that she had taken this task on by herself. It was a task made necessary by her love for her friend, and she knew he would be upset that she had taken sole responsibility for executing that directive without him even though he shared her fondness for Crispin (perhaps even moreso). But Drayton would not have been able to get the necessary information, and even if he had he would have carried out this task without concern for discretion. Which most certainly would have resulted in discipline.

No. That outcome was unacceptable.

Lacey also had the Director’s trust, of course. There was no doubt in Amarys’ mind that she could have gotten the target’s identifying information as well. But Lacey was not suited for this task. She was skilled in diplomacy and negotiation. She was charismatic and likable. She was not the type to confront a bully with force. And, according to Amarys’ analysis, force would be the only thing that would affect actual change.

Amarys had a great deal of respect for Drayton and Lacey. Neither of them were suited to properly handle this task. Amarys could handle confrontation. Amarys had the Director’s trust to get the necessary information. And, most importantly, Amarys had knife-like precision in her timing.

21:10

3 minutes, 16 seconds to navigate the halls towards her destination. She turned a corner and locked eyes on her target. He had left the last meeting of the Architectural Club and taken the average amount of time to walk to his locker. Given the late hour the halls were empty except Amarys and her target, and it was unlikely that anyone else would walk down this exact hall at this exact time. Amarys knew that for a fact - she had checked the schedules of all other members of the Architect club, the teachers of the surrounding classrooms, and the other students whose locker was in this hall. She had calculated this.

21:11

Amarys walked down.the hall, her steps sharp and quick. She walked slightly faster than the average student at Blueberry Academy. It wasn’t long before she was standing directly behind her target. Her heels clicked together as she came to a stop. She pivoted to face him. He hadn’t turned around to look at her yet, he was still preoccupied with his locker.

21:12

The hallway went dark. Every single light shut off at the exact same time, leaving Amarys and her target shielded from the view of the security camera currently facing Amarys’ back. There would be no footage evidence of Amarys’ confrontation. She watched as her target flinched at the sudden darkness, and then spun around to meet her eyes as she stood still as a statue behind him.

“Fucking hell,” he said, jumping backwards at the sight. “Uh, Amarys, right? Do you know what’s going on with the li-”

“812 Bouldevare Avenue, Anville Town.” Amarys did not leave time in her schedule for exchanging pleasantries. She went directly to work.

“Huh? What are you-” he tried to speak again, and was once again cut off.

“2442 Sinclair Drive, Anville Town. 34 Mavis Crescent, Nimbasa City.” Amarys took a step forwards, trapping him between herself and the wall of lockers.

“What the fuck?” He flinched backwards, his back now flush against the steel doors of his own locker. Amarys saw him tense and, predicting an attempt to flee, shot her arm out to block him. Her hand slammed into steel, quick and sharp and strong. She had been correct about his attempt to flee, and he all but crashed into her arm the moment it shot out. “What is your problem?!” Amarys’ eyes had adjusted to the dark, and she could see the fear in her target’s face as he spoke. Good.

“Dorm 3587, Tower C, Blueberry Academy.” She concluded her list. “I assume you know what all four of these places have in common?” Her voice was steady, and did not betray even a hint of the anger she felt while talking to her target. Her eyes, however, with their cold, hard, focus very much did.

“I don’t- I don’t understand. What do you want?” He flinched back further, but did not break his terrified eye contact.

“Hm.” Amarys had hoped he would have made the connection between these addresses for her, but had anticipated his lack of cooperation. Her RotomPhone drifted up out of her pocket to float at eye level, screen facing the target. “Linux.”

There was a slight thud above them. Amarys and her target both turned their gaze upwards to see Linux, Amarys’ Metagross, clinging to the wall above them. They looked somewhat like a large, murderous spider up there, and clearly had no issue holding onto the wall. They had been waiting near the ceiling, keeping out of the view of the camera until their trainer showed up and the lights went out. Now, with the attention of both their trainer and their target on them, they started to crawl down the wall towards the pair. Their legs moved quickly, one at a time, hitting the wall with a low thud as they descended.

Amarys’ target whimpered as Linux approached, but he seemed too frightened to do much else. Linux stopped a couple of feet above the pair, and their eyes gained a faint, red glow as they accessed something on Amarys' RotomPhone. Electronic copies of school records and census files flashed across the screen.

“These are the addresses for your previous residences.” Amarys continued, snapping her target’s attention away from Linux and back to her. “Linux is quite skilled in accessing these kinds of files. I want to ensure that you know that. It does not matter where you go, Linux will be able to track you down.”

She leaned in now, smooth and steady. Her target tried to lean away, but was stopped by the metal locker behind him. Amarys held his gaze, her eyes boring into him. When she spoke her voice was low and dangerous. “It has come to my attention that you enjoy sending vitriol to my friends. Did you think we would not see what you sent to Crispin?”

“No-no. I didn’t- Amarys I-” He stuttered. The hand that Amarys did not currently have planted against the locker shot out, grabbing her target’s chin. She tilted his face up to look at her, pleased that she was taller than him. Her grip was strong, and even though she was not blocking his mouth it was enough to shock him into silence.

“There is no point in lying.”

“I-I-I-I’m sorry, I didn’t think-” His sentence sputtered out on its own this time.

“I see why you prefer to do your bullying from behind a screen. You are unskilled at communication. But let me make one thing perfectly clear.” She paused, blue eyes practically drilling into his.

“If it comes to my attention that you have sent any of my friends this kind of abuse ever again, I will find you wherever you are and I will crack your jaw into pieces simply so that I can wire it shut myself.” Her grip on his jaw tightened to make her point. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Uh-huh.” He grunted, attempting to nod despite her grip on his chin.

“I cannot hear you.”

“Yes! Y-yes, I understand. I’m sorry-”

“Good.” With that Amarys quickly straightened up, releasing her target’s chin and taking a step backwards.

21:16

The lights in the hall suddenly clicked back on, and the camera behind them was blinded by the unexpected brightness. The lens only took a split second to adjust, but it was enough for Amarys to quickly return Linux to their ball, the flash of the return fading just before the moment Amarys knew the camera would have readjusted. She adjusted her glasses, and pulled an envelope out of her bag. She brusquely held it out to her target, who was still leaning against the lockers, shaking and sweating.

“This is a work order.” She announced, returning to her regular demeanor now that the lights had righted themselves and the camera was recording them. “There are several repairs and upgrades we would like to request the Architectural club make to the League Clubroom. You will find an itemized list herein.” She continued to hold the envelope out to her target. He stared at it blankly. “Take it.” She ordered.

He took it. She returned her hands to her sides. “Please send me an email once you have figured out a timeline for these repairs. Goodbye.” She gave him a curt nod, and then pivoted 90 degrees to continue down the hallway, leaving just as suddenly as she had appeared.

As she walked away she mused about her one miscalculation. She had expected him to get violent. Linux was certainly most displeased that he hadn’t. She would have to take him out for a battle soon. Perhaps Crispin would be willing to indulge them.

[astra-ella]

𝐙𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

fandom: haikyuu ship: nishinoya yuu x oc/reader status: complete ao3 link

"I think you're really pretty. Will you go out with me?" That was the first thing he's ever said to her. And needless to say, Amari Chiyo was not impressed. So as promised, Nishinoya Yuu will get to know her better and confess again. And again. And again. And again. It'll take 6 years and 9 confessions, but he'll get there. Eventually.

⌦ content: fluff, light angst, love at first sight, friends to lover, slice of life

⌦ note: you are free to insert yourself into Chiyo, just keep in mind she has her own character/backstory. i know some people don't like that, so just a heads-up.

story masterlist | this is the first chapter! | next chapter

The first time he confessed was the day they first met — on the first day of middle school, when they were just twelve years old.

After a long day of orientation classes, meeting new teachers and classmates, and just a long day of sitting still in general, Nishinoya Yuu was exhausted. And just as he leaned down to rest his head on​​ the desk, he saw her stand up from the corner of his eye.

Growing up, his grandfather brought home a different lady every other week. They were pretty, sure. But he never thought much of it.

For the first time, he was enamored.

At the time, she was about the same height as him, with long, neatly styled brown hair and dark blue eyes. How could he not have noticed her earlier? He tried to remember her name, fishing through the introductions their homeroom teacher made them do only to draw a blank. Thinking back on it, he sorta nodded off to sleep after doing his own — a result of not getting much sleep the night before due to the sheer excitement of starting at a new school.

As he sat there pondering, the girl put the last of her textbooks into her school bag and headed out. Suddenly, Nishinoya was struck with the realization that if he let her leave now, he'd lose the chance to make a stellar first day introduction.

"Be bold," his grandpa always said.

With those words pushing him on, Nishinoya hastily shoved his textbooks and school supplies into his bag and ran after her.

"Hey!" He caught up to her just a few feet outside the school gates, right under the blooming cherry blossom trees. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears. This was perfect.

She glanced back upon hearing the call.

They made eye contact and she watched him in a mixture of curiosity and confusion. His scruffy black hair was styled upwards, with a small tuff falling forward that was bleached dirty blond. And judging from how dry it looked, it had been that way for a good while. He had a bit of a goofy grin, one that she couldn't quite make out the reason for, but she found kinda adorable.

She recognized him. He was the one who's self introduction was the most loud and energetic of all their classmates. Though what Mister Confidence wanted to do with her, she didn't know.

"Nishinoya-kun, right? Is something wrong?"

She remembered his name. He could feel his cheeks sore from how wide his smile was growing.

"I think you're really pretty," he said, eyes twinkling. "Will you go out with me?"

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the nearby cherry blossom trees and whisking up a rain of pink. Nishinoya took a deep breath. He said it, just like how he saw on TV. And amongst the falling petals, he saw her lips part slightly.

"No."

With that simple answer, she turned on her heel and began hurrying away, leaving Nishinoya a little shell-shocked.

This was definitely not how it went on TV.

Once he got over the initial shock, he quickly shook it off and gave chase. He soon caught up and gently grabbed her by the shoulder.

"Wait, why?" He asked earnestly. "I'm being serious — you're really pretty!"

"That's not the problem here," her face was tinted slightly pink. Perhaps from the cherry blossoms, perhaps from embarrassment. "We just met today. I barely know you."

"And?" Nishinoya looked genuinely confused.

"You could be a weirdo for all I know!"

He certainly was acting like one.

"Well, you can trust me." He pointed to himself with an air of absolute confidence. "I'm definitely not a weirdo."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that makes it so much better."

"I don't get it," Nishinoya cocked his head to the side. "Isn't the point of going out to get to know each other?" At least, that's what the dating reality shows said. "Why does it matter if we do now?"

"Because you know absolutely nothing about me!" She then took a deep breath to try and settle herself. "Look, you said you like me 'cause you think I'm pretty, right?"

He nodded.

"What if we start going out, then you find out I'm a thief? Or a baby-eater? Or uhh, someone who steals lollipops from kindergarteners? Would you still want to date me then?"

Nishinoya thought for a bit. "No, I guess not."

She gave him a questioning brow raise. Guess? If she found out the person she was dating was any of those things, she'd be super angry. She'd maybe even call the police.

Either way, she shook her head in exasperation. "See?"

After hearing her explanation, Nishinoya gave it some thought. "So if I get to know you, then ask you out again. Will you say yes?"

"W-Well," she felt her cheeks heat up at the prospect. "Depends if I like you, maybe. But most likely not, cause I already think you're a huge weirdo!"

Despite her insults, Nishinoya only grinned. "Nice," he laughed. "I still have a chance."

"Don't look so happy," she crossed her arms over her chest. "For all you know, you could stop liking me once you know me better."

"That won't happen. I know it," he assured as she rolled her eyes and marched on ahead of him. He waved after her.

"I look forward to getting to know you, erm..." He then stumbled over his words, realizing he forgot to ask something extremely important. "Hey! What's your name again?"

A few feet ahead of him, the girl spun around, her long brown hair fluttering amongst the cherry blossom petals. She pulled down her lower eyelid and stuck out her tongue at him.

"My name is Amari Chiyo," she shouted back. "Don't forget it!"

story masterlist | this is the first chapter! | next chapter

[ba-mi-soro-orisha]

Here's the non-spoiler review I just wrote for retail sites:

This is the series that got me back into reading, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. But the five year gap between book 2 and book 3…I felt it.

Bottom line: I did enjoy reading the book. However, it doesn't get full stars because the trilogy finale just doesn't hold up to the first two, and I think there's a lot of things that could have been done for a better read. The book reads a bit like Tomi lost enthusiasm during COVID and like she was just kinda finishing from an outline without the heart of the other books.

The deep emotions of the first two books just aren't there. There's a whole lot of telling rather than showing. You can tell by the smaller size of book 3 that we just don't get as much detail or exploration or action as we did in the previous books. I sobbed through entire portions of book 1 and book 2. In book 3, I had some perfunctory tears at the end of the story. But it absolutely wasn't the same emotional ride as before.

Characters from the last books are just shoved aside in favor of introducing the new characters and new worlds. The worldbuilding and new magic systems are amazing…but I would gladly lose them to be able to complete the story that it felt like the Orisha trilogy was originally telling. I would gladly lose them to be able to get answers to questions I had after book 2 that did not get addressed at all in book 3. Some characters were also just straight up lost and ignored and their fate's left open as plot bunnies.

I think we all knew that the cliffhanger in book 2 was going to drastically change the direction of the story, but I didn't expect that it would mean the story we spent getting built up in two books would just be completely abandoned and wrapped up in what was, quite frankly, an extremely unrealistic and unbelievable answer. The ending of book 3 and the entire series was just so abrupt. For as much work as Tomi does teaching writing, I really would have expected a fully played out climax with a suspenseful build and some sort of closure/ending. But it felt rushed. The ending was quick and then all of a sudden we're at the epilogue. It was not a well paced climax. After all the build up, the ending just fell flat. The final action was basically 0 compared to the buildup, and there absolutely was no taking us down from the climax. AND, I was left with a pretty big question at the end, plot-wise, which just doesn't get addressed whatsoever.

I've spent a lot of time on the things that I wish had been done differently, but since I did overall enjoy the read, I want to also point out what I enjoyed.

The writing was good, even if the storytelling wasn't the best. I finished the book in two days, and I did so because I did want to know what happened.

The worldbuilding and new magic systems we see are very interesting, though they might have been better explored in their own books and their own stories.

I don't know if it was always Tomi's plan or if she was responding to the fanbase, but I heavily appreciate how she handled Amari's character in particular.

I honestly thought the pacing in book 3 was much better than book 2. Book 2 was so heavy and hard to get through emotionally. I felt book 3 found its footing a lot better in giving me a lot of action but also not overwhelming me.

That said, I think the book definitely just suffered a mismatch of my expectations developed from the first two books and the final product, especially after so much time in between releases. It's been five years. A pandemic happened. A lot was going on in general, and I know Tomi must have grown so much in this time. Perhaps Tomi just outgrew the story she was telling for the age group she was writing for in the time it took for this series to get fully published and will blossom even further in her future projects.

I would like to go back and re-read all three books together and see how I feel about the finale after that. I did not re-read the series before book 3 (so the tons of flashback and reminder scenes were helpful for me, but might feel like too much on a re-read), and I would like to do that for a better overall picture of book 3.

[sleepyfaequeen]

Little Accidents

Chapter: 1

Warnings: xfem!reader, reader is in her early 20s, Jack Morrison is bisexual for story purposes. Don't like that, don't read. I don't think I have to explain that it's fanfiction and shouldn't be taken seriously. If that triggers you, do not read this fic.

A/n: Unsure who I should ship reader with but we shall see.

Summary: You find out something that you shouldn't have found out, but here we are. That's what you get for eavesdropping.

Song:

(Y/n) had become a part of Blackwatch for a few months now, and the constant training was always different, but joining Overwatch had become her dream. When she joined as a soldier, she was surprised that she would soon be joining a black ops group who was hand-picked by Commander Reyes himself. To work under someone who's well respected and knows what he's doing was a big honor. Not only that, but for some reason, she had noticed Commander Morrison has been watching over their training exercises. He would actually even compliment her. It surprised her at first, but she knew he probably did that to those he saw with potential. She always saw him talking to Gabriel in the distance, arguing about something, but regardless, it always seemed to calm down.

Today, she was walking to Commander Reyes' office to return some needed files that needed to be filled out and given to Doctor Moira. But she stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard Reyes and Morrison arguing. She knew it was bad to eavesdrop but she did it anyway.

"Absolutely not." Reyes' gruff voice came.

"I'm not asking you. I'm demanding that she be removed from you're squad." Jack could be heard sounding angry and less composed than he usually did.

"Why would I do that?" Gabriel shifts in his seat as he crosses his arms.

"Why?" She leans in, her curious blue eyes looking inside. Seeing Jack turn as he rubs a gloved hand over his face as he takes a moment to answer. "You got my kid in there."

".. What?" Gabriel tilts his head, seeming confused.

"I had a fling when I was young and.." He explains and Gabriel just laughs.

"Is it Cassidy?" Reyes jokes to which Jack scoffs.

"No, it's obvious who." The two lock eyes and (Y/n) can't help but jump as she feels a hand touch her arm. Seeing Captain Amari there made her completely freak out.

"(Y/n)? What's wrong? You look like you seen a ghost." She looks down at her concerned, and (Y/n) can't help but tighten her grip on the stack of papers in her gloved hands.

"No, I'm honestly fine..!" She could hear the two Commanders approaching the doorway and she quickly, shoves the papers into her chest before running down the hall and into the elevator as she turns she could see Commander Jack looks down the hall, her way, as the doors shut with a ding of the elevator.

She felt her heart beating so fast and her head spinning as she felt her entire face in a cold sweat. As the elevator stops, she finds herself aimlessly walking around. She wasn't sure what time it was when she found herself within the Blackwatch members' corridor room. She found her fingers shaking as she kept mistyping her own room code with multiple beeps being heard. She exhales as she stops herself for a moment.

Something about the new girl was off today. She looked rather tense, or at least that is what Genji's eyes could tell. To him, she was just another member, another teammate. A freak but she looked much more normal than the rest of them. More normal than him. Though he usually avoided conversations so he never thought of talking to her or much of anyone. Unless absolutely necessary circumstances. He resented them all for being.. human. It reminded him of what he was not. Of what was taken away from him.

The days in Overwatch was always the same. Everyday, to him, went by quickly and was just as empty as usual. Genji had his own routine like anyone else: training, meetings, more training, then showers. Perhaps the best part of his day. He was always grateful to feel the warmth of the shower against his torn flesh. Unlike his added cybernetic side, it could feel. He walked down the halls to the Blackwatch private quarters, with his towel hanging over and around his neck. Only in his gym shorts as his augments were showing. Stopping as he watched her fumble with her door passcode. "Needing help or something?" He asked her softly as he was more curious today about her expression. He was surprising himself since he rarely talked to other people, but she looked like she could use a hand.

She almost bit her own tongue as the robotic voice had startled her. Her head turning and her eyes blinking away any sort of distress as her fingers fumbled with the key card.

"Uh.. I.. I think I got it." Again, the beeping was still denying her access to her own quarters. She lowers her head as she steps aside and gestures for him to have a try. "Have at it. I swear I forget sometimes." She looks at him as she smiles and rubs the back of her neck as she hands him her keycard. "Code is 8170."

She never knew the cyborg ninja guy even talked. Well, he could she just has never really talked to him before. Only during missions there was usually nothing but nods or hand gestures. He would sigh or scoff and with the plate over his mouth it sounds more robotic. She's heard stories from others around the base and how he was so skilled. Some people would even think he was hard to look at but no one would dare tell him to his face. Honestly, with Genji's red cybernetic eyes, he looked like he could kill someone easily and he probably could. She didn't know him much but she knew he was usually a quiet guy and he seemed to like his solitude. Sometimes, Cassidy would talk to him and she swore Genji would roll his eyes but endure McCree's rambling.

His hand moved to type in the code after memorizing it and her repeating it quietly. His breathing could be heard from behind his mask as he typed in the last few digit numbers. The door to her room sliding open with a small green light on the keypad. He steps back and hands her the keycard.

"The codes are picky, sometimes you have to type them in slow." He said as his eyes looked at her for a mere moment in silence as he stepped back. Turning to walk to his own room as he takes out his own keycard.

".. Training will be early tomorrow." He said as he got to his own door and typed in his own code.

"Yeah.." she said as she steps inside her room and watches Genji walk over to him before her eyes met his. "Thank you, I'll be seeing you.. tomorrow." She said and he gives her a nod before heading into his room before pressing a button to let the doors close and lock and she did the same.

She sighs as she hangs her head low before going to her desk and immediately went to look at an old photo of her and her mother. Her mother never had the chance to tell her much about her father but the fact she unintentionally found him wasn't a coincidence. She just hoped whatever led them towards each other wasn't for the worst.

[fineprintedsunsets]

FREAK SHOW

circus au

Synopsis: Even the strongest people need a bit of comfort

Word Count: 680

!Trigger Warnings! - (this was so fucking last minute, likeeee.) mentions of trauma. short asf. comfort. kidnapping? Forced into an evil circus? (That's a warning you don't see every day.) (this one been sitting in the drafts, but i had to post for #hauntedhoedown)

I notice him the second he steps foot in the limelight. He looks like a man carved out of stone, his features beautifully symmetrical. His muscled arms, his bare torso.

Why is he here though? With the rest of the oddities we call “freaks?” He turns toward the crowd, his eyes piercing and unforgiving. I see it then, his left arm is replaced with a hunk of metal, painted to match the big-tops colors.

“Who is that?” I seem to ask, looking over at my companions, my two best friends. They chew on their own snacks, not hearing me over the loud circus music.

Clowns juggle in front of me, but my attention isn't on them. It’s not on the obnoxious crowd either. It’s on the man holding up a car with a single arm, all five fingers splayed under the metal framing.

His eyes are distant, never focussing on the roaring people. The ringer master's voice booms through the speakers, the performers continuing their acts.

“Welcome, Welcome!” The man utters, his voice loud and proud. Amaris and Baird smile, looking at me with proud laughs.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Clowns and Bears. Freaks alike! Welcome to the Big Top!”

The crowd echoes, shouting their encouragement as the man tips his hat in response. I stay still, still focused on the man holding up the broken-down car.

“We have plenty of freakish acts for you tonight, featuring our dancing bears, our tightrope walkers, our contortionist, and last but not least, Our strong man!”.

I sigh sinking further into our bleacher seats. Something about this is odd, and I don’t like it. The feeling of something in the air, the wisp of something sinister. I have to sit and watch for now, but believe me,

I will find out who he is.

My popcorn is running low. Not that any of the acts these “freaks” engage in are entertaining, but I needed something to crunch on to prevent my screaming. I’ve never liked circus acts, and I’m not sure why my friends thought I would, but here we are.

Here I am, anyway. At the popcorn booth, being told to ‘hold on a moment’ while they gave me another scoop of butter, per my request, It was far too dry last time.

A loud sniffling pulls my attention away, I can see inside a large tent stationed next to the snack stand, the sound of the repeating noises brings my attention away from the back of my accessor completely.

I’m far too curious now. The loud call of the crowd races behind me, but I slip into the tent, my breath is taken away but the sight in front of me.

The same man from earlier.

“The Strong Man”

I reach forward, almost on impulse running my hands through his shoulder-length hair. His eyes stay in their place, staring forward, looking distant. I gasped when his metal fingers wrap around my wrist, stopping my touching.

“What are you doing?” He asks, his voice cold.

“I-” I’m speechless, maybe because of shock, or perhaps it’s due to the fact the strong man is cutting off my circulation.

“I heard you.”

“You heard nothing.” He bites, swiping at his cheeks. I know he’s trying to hide his tears, it only breaks my heart that much more.

I smile as he lets my wrist go, blood pumping through my veins again.

“That’s condescending”. I respond, taking my time to look around the big-top tent. It’s plain, with a small couch and some boxes of circus props. The crowd bellows from outside as the ringmaster shouts orders.

“No, it’s not.” He bites, his stone eyes roaming my features. He sniffles, making it that much more obvious he’s upset. I don’t think, I just act. I reach my arms around the strong man, my breath heaving as nervousness sets in.

What if he pushes me away?

Except he doesn't, he wraps his metal arm around my waist, bringing my body to his. The circus melts away as I melt into him.

Even the strongest people need comfort.

[baddieladdie]

In my Sanctuary, Valentine

Chapter 1 Rating: G

Part II Link

Nick Valentine sat upright on a red crushed velvet chaise. The brim of his hat disguised his eyes as he looked down at the hands that hung in his lap. Waiting.

"Hey, Valentine" I gave a half hearted wave as I walked towards the gen-1 synth I was fortunate enough to call friend. His somber glowing eyes slowly met mine as I stopped still before him.

"Hope you got what you were looking for inside my head. Heh. I was right. Should've killed you when you were on ice." The usual milk of human kindness Nick’s voice possessed was gone. Only the familiar voice of the murderous bastard who took my son. Kellogg. 

"You… feeling alright Nick?" Panic crept up my spine as my mouth went dry. He knew the risks. He was so insistent…and without him-

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?” Nick responded in his usual gruff, but tender tone.

"You sounded like Kellogg just then."

"Did I?” Nick blinked. “Amari said there might be some "mnemonic impressions" left over…Anyway, I feel fine, so let's get going.” He paused, noticing Preston across the room chatting with Irma. “Or I could head back to Diamond City, since you've got company already."

"Thanks for offering, but I want you with me on this, Nick.” I waved over to Preston, motioning for him to approach. 

“Preston, could you head back to the Castle? There's more than anyone’s fair share of work needed there to restore the Caste to its former glory. I can meet you there after I take Nick to sanctuary. I’m not sure how long I will be gone, but there’s more than enough to keep you busy. If you run into any trouble, broadcast it on Radio Freedom. I’ll have my pip boy tuned in as we travel to Sanctuary.”

"Good plan, General. I know I'm leaving her in good hands, Nick." Preston smiled, tipping his hat slightly in respect. "Be careful out there"

"I'll keep out of trouble if she does" Nick chuckled in response.

I extended my open hand, ready to finally hit the road. "Let's get going, Nick"

"Been one heck of a ride so far." Nick took my hand and I pulled him to his feet. "Let's see where it takes us next."

----------------------------------------------------

"So why make a detour to Sanctuary? Need something?" Nick asked, his stride parallel to mine. I looked up at the towering Red Rocket sign that blocked the sun, casting a cool shadow on us - an already chilly autumn day. "Yeah, you could say that." I shrugged.

"Well, alright. What are we looking for?" 

"Remember when I mentioned I had served in the military before I had Shaun?" Nick gave a slow, apprehensive nod. "I didn't mention which division. I worked in R&D as an electrical engineer. Some of my research may very well have ended up in the wrong hands. Perhaps the hands of the institute. We closely worked with C.I.T.. I had a workshop in my basement, stocked with supplies for my engineering hobbies. Some of it undamaged by the nuclear fallout."

"Sure, sure. But why send Preston to the Castle? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be back on the road with you, but you two seemed like you were in the middle of something."

I swallowed my concern as we passed the signature welcome sign, now barely legible after 200 years of neglect. Kellogg was frightening. But the thought of losing my first and most trusted friend in this hellscape of a wasteland was worse. I killed Kellogg. He died like any man, if you could still call that cyborg a man. To lose Nicky - it wasn’t a tangible fear or mortal foe. Just a reminder that the loss of my pre-war life couldn’t stop my ability to love. Frightening but exhilarating all the same.

"You sounded like Kellogg, Nick. His voice...it's unmistakable. His cold voice coming from your body.” My fingers dragged along the rusty tip of the empty mailbox leaving orange dust on my finger tips. “I need to know you’re okay."

"Amari mentioned side effects-" Nick started before I interrupted him, pausing to face him at the doorway of what remained of my home.

"And I want to make sure that's all they are. I can't have my best friend turning into my worst enemy - or worse -  because he wanted to help me find my son."

“I certainly hope that never happens. If you think you can help, then I’m all for it. Lead the way.” He paused for a moment, following me inside. “And - Thanks”

-------------------------------------------------------

"Please, have a seat," I motioned to the cushioned, armless chair I had dragged into the center of my workspace. It had survived the blast relatively well. I thanked my lucky stars I moved my equipment out of Shaun’s room and into our cement basement. 

“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Nick seated himself comfortably, watching me sort through my equipment. Electrical lubricating oil. Magnifier. Circuit tool set. Soldering iron. Few more things...I piled my things onto a surgical tray I placed next to the cushioned chair. “Alright, that should be everything. Shall we take a closer look at those circuits?”

“No time like the present. Where did you have in mind?” 

My eyes darted from the exposed steel on his face to the skeletal aluminum hand that drummed on his thigh. The exposed circuitry by his ear there…If the institute created synths based on human design, then the motherboard should be accessible from there…But Nick’s sitting in my one good chair…

"Mind if I sit on you? I need to get a good angle to check you out."

"I-um…sure." Nick raised his arms slightly to make room for my waist as I lowered myself down on him, our faces inches apart. His arms found a resting spot just behind my ass.

“Comfortable enough for you?” Valentine chuckled. “‘Suppose I can add ‘chair’ to the list of services I provide.” I stifled a smile, acutely aware that this is the closest we have been together. It was only from here I noticed the distinct smell of burnt copper. A circuit must have shorted out. Easy fix, just need to redirect from the damaged part. A seared circuit should be easy enough to see… I clicked my flashlight on and gestured to the right. “Look over here, Nicky. I'm gonna take a look through this crevice in your neck here."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nick Valentine : POV

He couldn't find a place for his hands. Nick Valentine-the-synth hadn’t been this close to a human woman yet, there never was a reason to. Between the anti-synth rhetorique and his own complicated existence, it wasn’t something he had sought out - despite the institute being ‘generous’ enough to ensure he could pass as human - parts ‘n’ all. Nick Valentine-the-human, however, remembered exactly what it was like. Jennifer Lands had been his girl long, long ago. 

Nora's soft breast pressed tightly against the well worn fabric of his dress shirt. Her bosom tenderly brushed between his suspenders as she observed the inside of his metal mind. She mumbled frustratedly under her breath, searching for any damage.

Her weight suddenly shifted down on his member, sending an electrical shock of pleasure and surprise up his spine. A groan broke through his lips from the sensation, guttural and primal. Nora’s warm finger guided his face directly to her worried gaze. Those eyes…Nick hadn’t noticed she had brown in those emerald green eyes of hers.

“Am I hurting you?” She asked, her voice was soft and caring. So unlike the wasteland her vault had protected her from.

“Not at all, far from it. Please continue.” He smiled in return. 

“Good, I’m almost finished here. Turns out Kellogg’s memory chip wasn’t completely disconnected. Now, hold still please, this requires precision.”

Nora pivoted Nick’s head to the side and reached for the magnifying glass and tweezers kept on the surgical tray. She pressed herself tightly against him, pinning him to the chair. He could feel each subtle motion of her breasts, hips, and ass as she adjusted to work in the narrow exposed face. Pressure began building against trousers as her hips jerked forward into his. Trying to get a closer view, most likely. But damn…did it feel like something else…something the old Nick remembered and his subroutines understood. 

“I - Nick please, I’m trying to focus,” Nora teased, her delicate thumb stroking Nick’s cheek, the other holding the tweezers. 

“I can’t help it,” The words stumbling out of his mouth awkwardly.

“I - Oh, Really? I didn’t know you had feelings for me.”

“With your son…your husband…I figured it was in bad taste”

“Believe me, Nick, there is nothing I want more. The last thing I want is to be alone right now”

“Well then…what would that make us? Are we still partners or something more?”

“Anything you want to be, Valentine,” She flirted back. 

Nick took a moment to process, feeling out the gravity of the conversation. She was human, after all. A woman out of time, unsoiled by 200 years of mayhem. He could hardly say the same for himself. He’d say his body had seen better days, but he wasn’t even the institute's best work. Nick rested his skeletal hand on her exposed thigh, it was cool to the touch. The ratty skirt he had bought for her from Fallon’s had quickly become her favorite. Nick wouldn’t admit it directly, but he admired how lovely she looked too. 

“But..a body in tatters and a head full of memories belonging to another man…might make things though sometimes. So…knowing that…are you in?” He asked hesitantly, begging her to say yes but willing to let her go at a simple no.

“Of course I am. I’m not a simple case either. And, Nick, I can’t help the way that I feel…I’m in love with you”

“I, uh…uh well, I love you too. Maybe that's all that matters.

Soft lips pressed against his in the dusty basement. Hands, delicate and whole, held his face tenderly against hers. He wrapped his arms around her in a hug, completing the embrace.

Accompanying music, if you'd like: The Nearness of You

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

^ This is also published on my ao3.

Geeze, time just flies by when you're writing. I didn't get to the spicy content yet, but I'm at least at that point now. Ready to continue next weekend!

[bradshawsbaby]

My predictions/thoughts on Si Vis Amari Ama is some kind of tournament where Gallus is chosen. Perhaps Sabina is put up as the prize? (Did that happen back then, forgive me if it’s not historically accurate).

Or maybe a rebellion if Sabina is taken away/sold away.

As for Hannix (I’m not sure if you’re aware I’m always the one that blows up your prompt asks for them because I’m obsessed lol) I see maybe he gets hurt/scarred and Phoenix helps him see he’s more than the public’s puppet. I would personally love seeing him stand up for her in a Gallus type of way, taking perhaps the sword that scars him to save her. Something to show he’s not quite the callous man everyone thought.

Anyway I’m sure whatever you chose will be amazing as always! Wishing you happy writing ahead!

I love that you guys have all these predictions and thoughts!

There will definitely be major events in the Colosseum that come up in later chapters, including highly publicized and dangerous games that the Pugiones are expected to fight in.

Since Sabina is technically the private property of Atticus, she wouldn’t be put up as a prize in the games, but that’s certainly not to say that Atticus and Aurelia can’t use her as an incentive to motivate Gallus to do what they want 👀 And Aurelia may take issue with Sabina, especially in future chapters, but don’t forget that she now has extra value in Atticus’ eyes since Titus vouched for her as a healer!

Hehe, I have lots of love for all my Hannix peeps! Carnifex’s feelings for Phoenix run much deeper than anyone is aware of at the moment. And the same is true for Phoenix, though she might not want to admit it 🤭

[amariemelody]

I dunno know if I'm asking for advice or just need to let this out or...I dunno...

So I installed the Meetup app on my phone and, lo and behold, one of the social groups is for...out-of-closet LGBT people.

I saw it while scrolling last month and, though I'm still very much in recovery from the flu (my doctor gave me a 2-week sample of a Trelegy inhaler), I still look and see quite a few events/outings that look like a ton of nice, casual fun once I'm well.

From their posted past events, it also looks like alcohol & smoking aren't at the center-a major plus for my non-alcoholic, asthmatic ass.

The group is already made up of 30+ people, and looks full to the brim of other black women and non-Black POC from the pictures. It openly says "allies & inclusion" are important, so perhaps that's also a code for LGBT folk like me who are still quite-closeted in real life and would approach without revealing our identity.

A part of me...really, truly, desperately want to go to an event. I'd love to start going regularly.

Another part of me...still wants and needs safety.

As I continue to be closeted in real life, so I continue to stay safe-or at least feel safe-but that also means that as far as being bisexual, I am very, very isolated from other LGBT people in real life.

I hit 32-years-old two months ago and it's something...I've been grappling with more and more lately.

And I'm not sure of the answer.

My online dating on HER still isn't...as fruitful as I hoped. It's turning into O*Cupid for me: lots of wonderful, lovely, attractive prospects but too much silence after I hit that "Match".

I very desperately want to experience a romance for the first time in my life.

I've made peace with the fact that this would be my first one even as I'm in my 30s. A lot of us LGBT folks don't get our "firsts" until much, much later. And in any case experience does not equate health and/or happiness.

I still want the experience.

When I go out on my own in a nice blouse or sweater, makeup popping, medical mask on straight, and earrings swinging...I admit I wish I was with another woman who thinks I'm pretty and attractive and tells me so. I'd love to feel and do the same for her.

I want to catch another woman's eye In That Way and she catches mine.

I'd love for her to maybe catch me in the door on the way out of the event and maybe ask me out for coffee.

I would love, love, love a casual coffee shop date. There's so many little lovely hole-in-the-wall coffee shops in my town that I enjoy, but hell I'll even take St*rbucks too. I'm a touchy-feeling person that would enjoy even a small, hand touch in-between sips of hot, festive coffee/tea drinks.

Even if none of that leads to the eventual marriage I want...I admit to myself that I still want those experiences and I want to feel safe in them.

But I as much as I want that, I am still abjectly terrified of another woman asking me out on a coffee date in public, in real life.

That's...sad. That's sad that I'm terrified of the potential exposure and possible resulting danger of going on a coffee date as a bisexual woman.

In 2023.

So yes, I've tried...to do it the online way, what felt the safer way for a long time now.

I want to be safe, but I also want to experience if not love just yet, then at least friendship.

I don't...yet see myself walking up to a real-life group of my fellow LGBT's and introducing myself as bisexual. I'd just want to be "Amarie".

I have absolutely no idea when or if Amarie would drop the Bisexual Bomb on anybody in the group.

Would I even be accepted just as Amarie? I've always already been "queer" as in "strange" even before I knew I was bisexual at age 25: I enjoy kids' media more than adults; my voice is higher than oft expected; I can giggle endlessly; and I unintentionally hide high intelligence behind jocularity and affability.

And lately, sometimes...I worry that I can't find my way through (or do I go around?) the tight, but intense chasm between being a romance sap who deeply wants to be partnered vs. being an already deeply, intersectionally-marginalized black woman with already full-blown C-PTSD that just as deeply wants and deserves to be safe.

I don't want it to eat me up.

I'm just...still not sure how to be safe and happy at the same time. And I hate that I still live in a world where the two just might still be mutually exclusive.

I...wish I knew how to be brave enough that I could open up the closet door just a little bit more than a peek.

[searchingforserendipity25]

has anyone sent star-people for the wip titles asks yet?

Thank you @thalion71, @theworldisquietheretooquiet and @emyn-arnens for asking about Star-People!

This is a WIP I've talked about a bit on tumblr already, based on the idea that Amarie and Elenwe are the same people. Turgon/Elenwe/Finrod established relationship turned to widowhood/separation, with a focus on Elenwe post-reembodiment. It's been left a bit to the way-side, but I do intend to finish it eventually, even if it never becomes the gigantic thing it is in the vibes that dwell in my heart.

The reason this hasn't been a very serious operation is because the way I have ended up writing Elenwe, which is, it turns out, not very serious. I didn't expect her to be this irreverent! But she's an outsider to the royal drama, and part of it for her own connections and ambitions, far removed from the events of Beleriand and engrossed in her own psycho-sexual relationship with the Grinding Ice, so this draft has become the thing I write when feeling funny and forget about most of the time.

Have a wholesome romantic reunion (not very):

It was no surprise, of course. Some people were extroverted enough to keep politics afloat after slaughter, language-weregild and awful family feasting on opposite sides with a kingdom out of it; and some people took their ten thousand closest friends and hid away in a secret city without warning, which had ever been Turukáno's favourite daydream during excruciating holiday dinners. It was just as well she was dead by then, because she really had had no inclinations to move South of Araman's latitudinal equivalent point upon Beleriand. 

Elenwë got turned around for a bit, died for a few centuries, and naturally Túrukano went and built a hidden city to challenge and spite the Enemy and shelter their people.

"Typical," said she. "Oh, what an ass my husband is! A mountain city works no worse as a trap than as a safe. Well, he ought not to think he is getting this one over me, merely because of a short absense - I will have this island done decently."

“Will you,” said Finrod, not unpleaseantly. 

“Why,” said Elenwe, very unpleaseantly. “Do you mean to dispute for it, dearest? Point a few of your thatched roofs my way, perhaps?”

“They are very excellent material.”

“Do go on.” Elenwe of the riverside Vanyar, who had dwelled in her youth in floating islands of river-reeds built in the way of Cuivénnen, and had built her first house at twenty. 

They had been academic competitors before they were friends, and had remained competitors in the craft of raising buildings after they wed. It was not often that Noldor of the same craft joined their lives together, for a good reason; but that, they both agreed, was a matter for more foolhardy and reckless people. Competitiveness was something of a set feature, a foundational part of the material upon which their affection was raised, and so they had always liked it to be.

Tol Eressea was right there. Elenwë was very sorry about all the people she had murdered, to be sure, but not enough to feel any compunctions on building a city to rival Alqualonde for the market-power they had lost in isolosiotanism.

"Why are you like this," Finderáto asked, pretending quite badly he did not find her business acumen very charming.

[gloriouswhispers]

CHARACTER UPDATES

chapter four.

HOLLOW COVE

liadan murphy. is staying in kat's cabin with jude and saoirse since the supply run didn't return!! will be offering help to the cross' however she can, even if she feels like there's not much she can do. same with the town, her focus has shifted into mama territory but she knows the importance of community as always. wanting to boost morale and general mood through the pack and town.

diego garcia. is joining search parties to help look for missing cross members, but is also still focused on searching for amaris and cece. he feels in a limbo currently on who deserves more of his attention. as always being a dad to the best of his ability and looking out for ines as much as possible too. tobias turns 1 on march 6th in game.

margo morrison. frantically doing whatever it takes to find alana and kenzie. possibly realizing the importance of keeping the people she cares about close and is just a little bit all over the place in general. will be joining search parties too and being busy around the town.

fiene kersten. moves from the visser schoolhouse to wolf's cabin while tyr is missing, however she isn't any closer to joining the cross wolves as a pack member. but she is still helping them. her focus remains on finding cece, perhaps willing to strike a deal that if crosses look for their members, she'll continue looking for cece so it takes a weight off their mind.

bodie jones. pretty quiet muse currently but she has a lot going on internally. she's unsure how to navigate the return of her mother into her life, feeling extra protective over hazel and even lucy at this time. is also more vocal about how the jones' handled the situation with jack and then sophia, oddly teams up with jackson after an argument with him to demand clearer answers from crosses.

torben alfsson. is much happier now he's with his wife and they resemble the family they used to, but still not happier to do any work around hollow cove. he's closely working with rineike and roan instead with their strategies. goes on searches with astrid quite happily to look thorin and egil.

dalia freysson. has become slightly quieter despite being reunited with other visser wolves and witches, mostly because of the fact she is around tryggr again. her primarily focus is roan and rineike's decisions but she knows the bigger picture and is being more helpful through hollow cove in order to hide the visser strategy.

percy winslow. is focused on figuring a clear path of action with the felix situation and his coven. is still sticking to his guns with his ideas too, and not much will change it. his priority right now is his coven but he will be a hard worker through the town at the same time. is against revising the three day grace period too.

angel salah. new muse: been here since 2021 and is generally a friendly face around the town and is eager and willing to help anybody, as instructed by cruz. seems quite intense or like she's always a little bit out of breath. willing to go on searches with people and look for whoever. mostly a busy bee around the town as she has been since arriving.

THUNDER RIVER

dominic rose. will be a big part in helping with the escape plan but ultimately he agrees to not join the escape itself but to stay back and watch over teddy and tyr. he's later transferred to a facility.

kai huxley. once he's aware of the escape plan, he will be eager to put his name forward. will need situations etc that prove his worth and that he'll be a good person to let join them when the plan moves into action.

PLOT SPECIFIC / WILL HAPPEN ON DASH

sasha ackerman.

santiago medina.