#and sometimes i cycle between the three versions

[calliemity]

✨When you get this ask you have to(not have to, only if you wanna) put 5 songs you listen to, post it, then send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers (positive vibes are cool)🎶

oh this is fun!!!! im not sending this anyone im kinda a chainmail hater sorry, the bloodline ends with me

here's 10 songs ive been listening to a lot and would totally reccomend! ik it said 5 but like. whatever

Ain't Nobody But Me - Supertramp

He's a Liar - Bee Gees

Metal Fatigue - Allan Holdsworth

Telepathy - Lene Lovich

Commercial Breakup - Thomas Dolby

Dancin' - The Tubes, Olivia Newton-John

A Most Disgusting Song - Rodríguez

Housework - The B-52's

Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor

Dangerous - Depeche Mode

[moondirti]

DEE IK THIS IS SO OFF THE BAT BUT IMAGINE RIDING MIGUEL’S ABS??!;!;?:?:? WHATS UR CRUMB ON THAT BCS IM LITERALLY ASCENDING INTO HEAVEN JUST BY THE THOUGHT OF IT😩☝🏼

SUMMARY: after the events of DOUBLE RAPTURE, we follow Mig back home and explore his less than ideal relationship with his world's version of you.

explicit (18+) | 1.5k words

part one / can be read as a standalone! WARNINGS: smut, ab-riding, handjobs, codependant relationships, submissive (?) miguel, ANGST, fear of commitment (on the reader's part), implied parental issues, drinking, anxious/avoidant attachment styles NOTES: did this take me forever to respond to? yes. have i been thinking about it every day since i received it? also yes. please have a little drabble as a sweet treat for your genius mind, anon. sorry i took it too far

This is how it is with Miguel.

Buttressed on a leather couch that isn't so much leather anymore, but cotton dotted with the flakes of black suede that've managed to hold on through the years since you bought it. It's old, unstable – somewhat an apt metaphor for your relationship to the man – and stands situated across a television with no cable. He shows up at your door on any unannounced night, where for once you wish he'd catch you with plans pre-made, and intrudes on your vain attempt to connect the old screen to your neighbour's internet.

And it's ironic that you should end up watching dated cartoons anyway, stuck inside your apartment that is a fraction the size of his, because he always opens on some variation of the same line – the very thing that woo'd you all those years ago, when you were younger and prone to any man's charm:

What's a pretty thing like you do in a place like this?

It's dark outside – night-worn inhibition being one of the main constituents to poor decision making – and his skin gleams golden in the dim lamp light. You can't refuse him for all your rationale on why, so he comes in and you pour a strong drink whose hangover tomorrow will take precedence over your guilt. He drinks too, perhaps to make your eventual rejection easier, and the two of you make-out on that tumbledown couch until your lips turn blue.

Sometimes, he comes up for air – only when he gathers enough courage to break away from you – to whisper filthy nothings and little promises on the shell of your ear. Neither are empty, you know. Miguel’s good at making good of every word when it comes to you. The push and pull gets to him, fuels his gears until he’s pouring proper work into making you happy. From what you can physically face – gonna have you creaming on my cock, cariño – to prospects that remain ever-frightening – wanna stay like this forever, you on my lap, sharing our home. 

You’ve never had a reference to ‘our’. Commitment remains a fickle thing for you, instilled by parents who didn’t have the mind to give it. He knows as much, but you don’t think he understands just what keeps you around regardless. What keeps you at the door, waiting for an acknowledged three-knuckle knock. None of the in betweens, flowers, nor the heights you reach spread-eagled underneath him. It’s always just been exactly that – his return, done every time without fail. 

(And there’s the ever-negging fear that one day he’ll grow sick of the cycle. 

On one hand, you hope he does. It hurts him more than it does you, and you hate to watch him leave. Yet on the other, more volatile hand – you pray he fucks you so well you forget your reserve, that he breeds and carries you away from this hole you’ve dug yourself in.) 

For now, though–

For now, you lift the shirt off his frame. He’s let his chest-hair grow since you met him last, and if you strain to remember, he’s gotten bulkier. Abs more pronounced, with pecs that bounce when you graze your nails down his side. It’s refined, a look that makes him appear older. You swoop down to lick his neck, moaning hotly once you reach his mouth. 

“You been working out, Mig?” 

“For you, hermosa. Figured you’d like me better like this.” He groans, kneading the flesh of your thighs. His fingers dip into the waistband of your underwear, snapping it on your skin in an explicit plea to take it off. 

“And who told you that?” You say, acquiescing, working the lacey strip off your hips. Your cunt sucks at it, belligerent in letting go now that it’s soaked the fabric through. 

“A couple I met. They remind me of us.” His head follows yours when you draw away from an attempted kiss. It’s unintentional, done to stand off and strip completely, yet his reaction to it sends little tremors of pleasure to your core. “Of what we could be.” 

“Shhhh.” Once you’re completely bare, tits freed from your tank top, you straddle him again, a little higher this time. His waist is cinched enough to allow you to do so with little fuss, tendons at the top of your thighs aching only slightly. “Make me feel good, please.” 

“Of course.” 

His thumb presses down on your swollen clit, holding it in place while you arch your back and trap it underneath you – sandwiching it between your mound and his midriff. The pressure is electric, charged to fervency, buzzing as it lights every nerve ending from your waist below. And three thrusts forth and back see to it that he’s slick, lubed with the juices that gradually seep from your needy slit. 

The sight, the sensations, the thought that he’s putting effort outside of this room for you – they all make you exceedingly weak. Your legs wobble, practically jello, spine made out of sand and unable to support you fully. Miguel stays firm, one large paw squeezing your breast and the other at your pelvis. You’d ask him to help, to move you against him until you see stars, but a stone lodges in your throat and prevents the words from finding clarity. 

It’s guilt, of that you’re familiar, but for a number of things; the fact that he would help you seek pleasure in spite of his own – his erection left abandoned under the confines of his pants. The idea of desecrating his hard work, those muscles made pronounced, with your filth without fully appreciating it first. For everything, everything, and it’s so crushing that you stop moving altogether. 

“No, no. C’mon, pretty. Keep going.” He begs, pelvis thrusting up with need. You shove your arm behind you, seeking out the zipper keeping him from you, palming his hard length with clumsy assurance “Don’t worry about me. Wanna feel you cum on my abs. Gonna lick you clean after. We have forever if you’d let me. There’s no rush.” 

No rush. It’s far from the typical Miguel sentiment, and you blink in perplexed contemplation. But he just grins, brows knitting up with reverence. 

“Did these people also teach you to take your time?” You struggle to say patience, because he’s always been patient with you. 

“Something along the lines.” He mutters, suddenly sheepish. His fangs always intrude when his tone is quiet, like they’re intentionally making him difficult to understand. He knows he’s special to you when you try to decipher it nonetheless. 

“Don’t be making me jealous, now.” You taunt, dipping to bite his lip. It’s fun to pull up, up, until he whines and shoves you harder onto him. Achingly empty and close to cumming on his abdomen alone. Slowly, you start to gyrate again, riding unrelenting sinew. And in the meanwhile, you manage to get his zipper undone, sneaking your hand beneath his briefs.

“I’ll explain lat… later, p-promise.” 

“I don’t doubt it. F-Fuck,” Somehow, the pleasure is simultaneously heavenly and not enough, this little game you decided to engage in tiptoeing the line. He’s good even when he isn’t trying, just laying there, pinching pebbled nipples with enough callousness that it aches in the best way. On your first date – which wasn’t really a date, but a happenstance meeting at your father’s shady bar – he’d been hesitant to hurt you like you wanted. The best he could do was pepper your neck with sore hickeys, pocketed in the back alley, touch kinder than any you’d experienced before. “Oh my god.”

“Y-You’re so soft. My gorgeous girl. So soft and… and pretty when you do that.”

“Mig.” You wail, useless in properly pumping his pulsing cock. It’s all you can do to palm the head, smearing prespend all over his velvet tip. And it’s hard, like smelted iron, throbbing hot and heavy. It’s been so long since you’ve had it in you that you’re sure it’ll take some effort to fit. The abstraction fills you with desperation so poignant that you start moving faster, rougher, seeking an end where you’re stuffed full yet doing nothing to actually achieve it. 

That is, until–

“What do you need?” He asks.

Your hole clenches. Your guts knot together. Your orgasm gathers, full and sloshing wet, trapped behind the wall he’s been breaking down since his arrival. 

“You!” You finally admit. “You.” Softer. 

And when you cum, soaking his middle with shameless indulgence, all he does is flip you over to settle beneath him. The couch rocks with the sudden upheaval, threatening collapse, so he keeps a firm hold of your shoulders, kneeling between your quivering thighs. His breadth bobs from over his pants – you don’t recall taking it out – purple with restrained pain and just waiting for your cue to allow him entry.

“I’ve got you, cariño.” Miguel hums, positioning himself onto the divet of your cunt when you give a frail nod. “I’ve got you.” 

And you know, of course you do. He’s never backed away from a promise before. Because that is how it is with Miguel.

[fizziepopangel]

A Fizziepop Take: Let's talk about Blitz's new look at Stolas

Ok, so in the past, I’ve talked about how the incident at Ozzie’s put more strain on an already fragile relationship, thus solidifying the idea a certain imp had in his mind that he was essentially beneath Stolas in every way he possibly could be and therefore unworthy of love. This ideology made the relationship between the pair appear strictly transactional since Blitz wouldn’t let it be anything else because he himself feels that that’s how it should be; that it’s all it could be. Now don’t get me wrong, Stolas isn’t completely innocent in making the whole relationship feel more like a transaction than a relationship, but in this instance, we’re gonna focus on Blitz and what I believe his turn around will be based off this newest episode because I believe that it could be a game-changer for their relationship and Blitz’s own character development. So let’s get into it!

As I’ve pointed out previously, Blitz has felt like he’s been used as a glorified sex toy since the beginning of their relationship. And given the hierarchy of the demons, Blitz is already pretty low on the totem being an imp while Stolas sits somewhere on top…. We can see that Blitz understands that when he’s tripping balls in “Truth Seekers”, but because of this, it seems that Blitz got it in his mind that Stolas was less than ‘human’ (for lack of a better term). Because of the status difference, Blitz always just assumed the other demon was unfeeling, uncaring, and essentially indestructible; building this image of the demon prince in his head that is a romanticized version of him that truly was worlds above where Blitz sees himself. And until “Western Energy” came out today, this is really the only version we’re shown of Stolas because we seem to be seeing the man the way Blitz does. Is he whiny? Sometimes. But do things hurt him? From Blitz’s point of view, no. 

We as the audience see maybe two or three times where Stolas is truly vulnerable but it seems to end just as quickly as it starts. Blitz doesn’t see that side of him. Granted, I believe Stolas does want a relationship with Blitz where he can be vulnerable in ways he never was able to before and because he has a preconceived notion of what their relationship is, Blitz shuts down any attempt Stolas tries to initiate intimacy… But I think in the imp doing this and Stolas just blindly going with it to try to appease Blitz has given the image of someone made of stone… And being so used to the abuse from Stella, Stolas doesn’t see that he’s almost restarting the cycle with Blitz by allowing the imp to be as mean as he is to him; even going as far as to tell Blitz through text that he can be mean to him if it’s what he wants. I think this genuinely leads Blitz to believe that Stolas can't be hurt in any way, emotionally to physically.

In all honesty, it’s interesting to look at Blitz in this light where he seems to unintentionally be another abusive relationship that Stolas is trapping himself in because you can see that the imp does genuinely care for the owl, even if he thinks he shouldn’t. That is why the incident at Ozzie’s was such a big deal to him, because after some time, I think Blitz was slowly trying to open himself up to Stolas and whatever little progress he made was pretty much crushed when Stolas basically refused to acknowledge the fact that he’s out with him in public when confronted. For someone like Blitz who struggles with communication and bases their self worth on how others view him, Stolas not wanting to be seen with him in public but being kind to him when no one else is around would have destroyed every sense of security he may have been starting to feel with the other man. Like just shredded it. Which in turn, is going to cause a rift that Blitz will rationalize as just him not being worth anything more even though he is actively contributing to the rift by refusing to communicate.

Now, the interesting part: in the newest episode of Helluva Boss, Blitz actually has a chance to view a more humanized idea of Stolas. It sucks that it took Stolas being damn near murdered and hospitalized for Blitz to see him on a different level, but it does happen. I think this in turn may give us a more freely feeling version of Blitz down the line. We can already see small fragmented moments when Blitz is genuinely worried about Stolas, genuinely cares about him, but he still keeps himself distant…. Seeing something bad happen to Stolas does open the man up a little, prompting him to text the man while he’s in the hospital to let him know that he hopes he feels better. Despite how minor that may seem, I think it is a step in the right direction, and I do think he’ll see a more personified version of Stolas which could prompt him to want to be closer to him, meaning he would have to stop pushing his feelings down to allow himself to wander into this territory of emotional vulnerability he may have seen but never experienced.

While I trust Vivzie completely in this journey she’s taking us on, this is definitely a route I really hope she takes because I truly do want to see the two men get a happy ending of some sort whether that’s at the end of the series or it advances their storyline together through the rest of the series.  But this is just a Fizzie take on things so far. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on how Blitz and Stolas’ relationship seems to be going.

[johannestevans]

thinking a lot about boundaries and expectations and like.

the way that "setting boundaries" can be used as a way to set restrictions on the extent to which another person is permitted to have emotions or express those emotions

and especially the way that those boundaries can be established not only as one-sided, but as a way of like. punishing people for asking for change or expressing hurt with how you've tread them or continuing to treat them

idk i'm in a position now where i'm sort of. out of quite an unhealthy situation where several ppl have been pretty hostile to like. my having emotional needs or responding to abusive treatment, and like

idk. none of the people involved are acting truly maliciously, none of them are doing it out of a desire to harm anybody, myself included - it's a combo of like. repeating abusive cycles and patterns in past relationships

and then also just. several people who are unfortunately just. too focused on their own feelings to the exclusion of other peoples', and like. bc they're focused to such an extent on "having space" with their feelings

they're not like. actually reaching out to the people they're having feelings about? not me, not anybody? and it's just that thing of like. if i do something harmful or that feels malicious, i can't apologise for it or clarify it

and then bc i'm like. the singular person who's been pushed to the outside as punishment for saying like. hi, don't shout or scream at me, please work to make me feel cared for and considered in our relationships, do not try to control or "set boundaries" about my relationships with other people or how i act in my own life

whereas for them it's three or four people talking about how malicious or unkind i am, none of them actually talking to me, but just talking in circles about me whilst never talking to me to clarify like

how i feel, especially about the exclusion and social punishment like. they're able to construct a version of me that's pretty separate from the reality, and i'm robbed of humanity? i'm not able to be complex or flawed in the way that they are as individuals in this collective

instead i'm just like. one outsider who is the enemy and can be retroactively considered to always have been the enemy

idk i know that polycule drama isn't new, and that esp when we all have mental illnesses and our own responses to like. anxiety and intimate relationships that might trigger old traumas and bad coping mechanisms like

sometimes shit like this happens, where it's genuinely not people being intentionally malicious or cruel, but it is ultimately doing a lot of harm to others

idk. i've been excluded from a group of people where like. one guy built up and built up resentment toward one trans girl before making her homeless, and then as soon as she was gone, the resentment and social exclusion was turned to me instead

and then in a few more months i'm sure that the like. insiders-vs-outsiders thinking will turn and cannibalise someone else from their social circle, and so on and so forth

and as shitty as this stuff is, it's really difficult to view it objectively from within - and as soon as you try to view it objectively from within, or talk about the genuine harms and risks caused, you become an interruption to the insiders-thinking

so you become a target for exclusion, because you're interrupting the function of or the feelings of the group, and you then become the enemy.

idk. more intelligent and better put-together people than me have talked at length about the connection between domestic abuse and coercive control within intimate relationships and cult behaviours, and obvs with a polycule like

the potential for that cult-like behaviour just becomes heavily exacerbated simply because there's more vectors for it.

idk. i'm sad bc i feel quite used and taken advantage of, and at the same time like a lot of people i love and care for are thinking of me in a way that's really dehumanising, and especially then like

accusing me of being "unwell" whilst not like. talking about ways in which their behaviours have contributed to my mental ill health? esp bc like.

bc after all of the talk of boundaries and "harm" when it comes to expressing one's own feelings, i've been so anxiously aware of overstepping that i'd literally be leaving these people alone for weeks and weeks at a time

where no care would be extended toward me, no one would check in, any hanging out had to be like. aggressively labelled as "casual" and you're not allowed to talk about any of the harmful or shitty stuff, because that ruins the vibe

so it feels like rather than being said out of care or concern for me, i'm being labelled as "unwell" as a way to like. make my responses to abusive treatment automatically irrational, and all of my feelings as worthy of dismissal?

like i've effectively been labelled as a hysteric and told to go to a professional, but even if the waiting list for free counselling was open tomorrow and i went to a counsellor and said

hi, i've been in a relationship with some of these people for a long time, these are things they've done that have made me feel distressed or upset, i have tried to express my feelings in x or y way, the response has been this

any professional worth their salt is gonna say like. well you should work on cultivating other relationships where you feel safe, cared for, respected, and loved.

you should feel safe and free to set reasonable boundaries and expectations, and respect those set by others, without feeling what's being limited is your humanity or your response to abusive or coercive behaviours

and that any relationships that feel so like. distinctly weighted in the favour of the other person to your detriment - especially when it's a group of people who have decided together you're worthy of punishment - should be avoided

idk. i think i probs want to write on this more and maybe do a big personal essay about it because i know it will feel cathartic even if i don't publish it widely or publish it under a pseudonym

and i'm just like. very aware of my own flaws and my own issues, and whilst i do think i'm ultimately like. being treated very poorly here, it's not a black and white thing of people desiring me to be hurt or treated poorly

it's far more a thing of like. not caring that i'm hurt or being treated poorly - or anyone else who's an outsider - because what has become more important is the good of the "group"

and that just. sucks.

it sucks when you realise that like. you can neither reason with the people who you thought loved you, nor connect to them emotionally and with mutual care, because they no longer extend that respect to you, nor feel in extending that vulnerability to you

it's a very profound sense of loss, and i know i'll be grieving it for a while

[niteshade925]

Just a short post on the topic, since I intend to reserve the long version for my culture sideblog where this kind of post should belong:

Since many people (esp people in the west) tend to misunderstand what “Mandate of Heaven” really is, I’ll just explain it in a concise way.  “Mandate of Heaven”, or 天命, which really should be translated as the “Will of Heaven” or “Heaven’s Will”, actually reflects “the will of the people”.  I’m too lazy right now so I’ll just copy paste what I wrote in an addendum to someone else’s post:

Instead, "heaven" is better understood as "nature", one which can "reflect" the opinion of the people like a weird mirror of sorts.  To understand what Mandate of Heaven means, one absolutely must understand what "Unity of Heaven and Humanity"/天人合一 means.  In this concept, the opinions, thoughts, and actions of humans (not just ruling class people) are echoed by "heaven".  Which means that, yes, this concept is really all about the people.  Ideally, anyway.  This also means that every time a natural disaster happened, it was seen as the people's discontent or the ruler's mistakes/wrongdoings reflected in nature.  Thus, we see that when natural disasters happen in history, the emperor might issue a public confession (called 罪己诏, or "Edict of Self-Blame"), in the hopes that "heaven" (people by extension) might cease its wrath.  Sometimes these "signs from heaven" were also used as justifications for rebellions and uprisings like OP mentioned above, sometimes also usurpations.

And:

Now we come to the part of why I said "ideally".  In ancient China, there was a special social class that held just as much power as the emperor (sometimes even more than the emperor, for example the Three Kingdoms period).  This class was called shi/士 (sometimes translated as "scholar officials" or "literati"), and may be understood as the class of "elites" in ancient China.  Shi elites often exist in the form of clans or families who have a sort of "monopoly" on governmental positions, and they are not simply rich people or landowners or nobles.  Most importantly, they have knowledge, and they can control the dispersal of knowledge.  It was the shi elites who came up with this concept of "Unity of Heaven and Humanity", which meant they have the final say in what the "signs from heaven" actually meant.  In theory, the "humanity" in this concept should encompass all people, but in practice, it really only meant the shi elites.  So in the end, it was a nice idea, but its overwhelming reliance on human interpretation made it so historically the situation often became a tug of war between the ruler and the shi elites, and not the people putting a check on the actions of the ruling class.

To add on to that, here are more concepts associated with 天/Heaven:

天 (Heaven):  Heaven in traditional Chinese thought represents the supreme morals and natural laws of the universe, and is not a god (which means it is also not “the” god).  It’s above all gods.  It does not have a form and unlike many other deities in Chinese religions and culture, is not visually anthropomorphized.  It is also different from 老天爷 (”Old ‘Ye’ Heaven”) in common vernacular.

天道 (Heaven’s Way):  the natural laws by which everything in the world exists, operates, and changes.  Can also mean causality, as in the phrase “天道轮回，报应不爽” (”The Way of Heaven cycles around, and retribution will come sooner or later”; the implication is that if one does bad things, because of this cause and effect it will eventually come back to bite them in the ass).

天行 (Heaven’s Workings):  literally the way Heaven operates, or just the laws of nature.  As in “天行有常，不为尧存，不为桀亡” (”Heaven’s Workings is constant; it shall not exist because of a benevolent ruler like Yao, and shall not disappear because of a tyrannical ruler like Jie”) from 《荀子·天论》.

天理 (Heaven’s Principles):  the natural laws of the world, the supreme morals, and the ultimate truth.  Often used as the ultimate moral basis, as in “天理昭彰” (”Heaven’s Principles are clear and evident”; means that Heaven will uphold justice, punish those who are evil and reward those who are good).

天命 (Heaven’s Will):  the will of nature (which includes all people).  See above.

[evermorethecrow]

Any thoughts u want to share on the omegaverse au?

YES ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW

-Dazai isnt a omega or alpha but in fact a beta (it fits him so much trust)

-i have alpha and omega as the majority beta being far and few between + generally not looked into that much too?? some people dont really even think about them ( you go to your sex ed class its like 3 slides on omegas, 3 slides on alphas and then like 1 slide on betas thats like 'yeah they just have nothing happen to them' a lotta betas think they just havent presented yet)

-NO SEX!!!!!!!!!!! like for realzies ive been calling it the sexless abo au for a reason theres like none of the usual typical abo heat cycle shit , im Far from a prude but i wanted to do something non traditional and abo is traditonally a sex trope so yknow

-chuuya isnt a alpha omega or beta but a weird sorta combination??? a variety of factors (Lab, suribachi) fucked his biology over quite a bit, he presented real late (typical age in this one to present is like 13 he showed nothing till 16) and hes basically like all three of them depending on the day ??? his scent fluctuates and changes a ton ,entirely inconsistant, it'll full on like disapear entirely sometimes for like a week and then come back. as for the actual heat n rut thing (the thing people are here for </3 /j) he kinda like. has both. let me explain, he might go into heat or whatever and then midway through it changes OR he could have them back to back or like nothing for months its like again NOt at all liner.

-Back to the no sex thing, its not like a pg rated au its more i wanted to use omegaverse as an excuse to do a whole fic on various charecters relationships with sex, in usual evermore fashion. the omegaverse is a very gendered trope i feel a lot or at least its become that??? became that at some point?? its also a more sex focused version of our society you can really do a LOT with the omegaverse i find it real fun to play around with especially when it comes to charecters who dont fit into the ideas general society has (read: chuuya).

-asexual chuuya

-im also not doing any of that 'inner alpha' 'inner omega' stuff sorry to any fans of that </3 when it comes to compulsions like nesting or whatever i say its something either can have (either being alpha or omega) i think its just pushed more onto omegas and sterotypically an omegan thing

-oh also im giving them the fangs and claws because i physically cant NOt have some kind of monsterish parts on bsd guys everytime i have to design a bsd charecter with no supernatural elements a fairy dies

-AND this is set in the bsd canon world so abilities and such a still around, theres a high concentration of betas among ability users and abilities can effect the abo parts, maybe chuuyas so messed up because hes a singularity who knows??

I'll stop my rambling now but you get the gist of it

[shaunashipman]

For something fun, what’re your hopes with where Bick and Tommy’s story is by the end of the season and how they may set it up for the future? I’m hoping that they have a more focused ending for them going into season eight unlike what we got in the last season with Buck and Natalia. That ending felt very open ended in that they could be serious or could not be. I mean that worked out well for Buck’s story, but given this relationship with Tommy is his 3rd within the last three seasons, I would imagine they want it to be a good and serious one AND for the general audience to take it as such. That’s why I think ending the season with them not just being in a ‘good place’, but showing us (and not just telling us) that they are serious and committed would be the way to do that. This would also break the cycle of Buck’s nerve ending never succeeding romantic relationships.

oooooh fun stuff

my dream version: tommy and possibly buck heroic moment in ep9, we get worried boyfriends, maybe another big smooch, bit of conflict as they both have to come to terms with being on the other side of dating a first responder, and we end the season with them in the montage watching the movie they never got to see, but this time at home cuddling on buck's couch (the movie is either love, actually or top gun)

real world version where it's not the bucktommy show: i still think maybe a heroic tommy moment in ep9 cause of the award ceremony, unless it actually is for the cruise ship rescue (which wouldn't quite make sense, yeah they saved people and the dept saved face, but tommy still stole a chopper, and the others lied to their superior and disobeyed orders, also, how long has it been in-universe 🤨) hopefully a cute domestic moment during/after the ceremony (my heart for a buck/tommy/bobby/athena scene). as for a more focused ending, half of the finales so far have had a get together of some sort, so having a party at bobby and athena's and buck bringing tommy would help cement the seriousness of their relationship, since none of the others have been shown at the family events, and then we could get a bit of them dancing at the party during the ending montage

(i'm also pretty sure, if they are together at the end of the season 🤞 then they'll still be together at the start of s8, cause otherwise it'll be the second premiere in a row where we last saw buck seemingly happy in a relationship only for them to break up between seasons. if they are gonna break up, it would probably be sometime during the first half of s8. or they could stay together forever and get married and grow old and die within hours of each other, like thomas and mitchell)

[acourtoflostandwanderingstars]

ModernCollegeAU! ACOTAR headcanons

p.1 -- the bat bois

i loved writing this, addign all the little detail and working on fleshing out this world

i may or may not already have a fic in the planning stages

anyways, enjoy the sfw version of the bat boys (slightly suggestive but nothing super explicit)

BAT BOYS:

They met each other by joining the same fraternity

That’s where the whole ‘brother’ thing started

Ever since, they’ve been pretty damn inseparable

They are drop-dead gorgeous

Like, everyone on campus wants to sleep with them

And, to be real, it sometimes feels like they have

They’re in a band together, and it would be called ‘The Bat Boys’ [inspo elenana.art on insta]

They play at shitty, underground clubs because as rich as Rhys’ father is, and as little as he seems to care, Rhys kinda doesn’t want him finding out

And Rita’s, of course

He is paying for a majority of the amenities the school has implemented

And most of his tuition

The band does make them more appealing – adds an edge to already ridiculously attractive men

They are the upperclassmen that freshmen are warned about going into college

Now that they have moved on from the fraternity, their apartment has become a hotspot for parties

The biggest parties on campus

Landing an invitation to one is akin to being personally invited by a celebrity to hang out with other celebrities

I feel bad for their neighbors

They are decent enough in the day though

They keep their yard clean and trimmed, they are considerate of parking regulations, they know the names of their neighbors

Which, by the way, is a pretty big deal because their neighbors cycle in and out fairly frequently

On campus, they have a gig revolving around tutoring going

Rhys heads up the operation, Azriel is elusive and can be hard to book, and Cass is usually just there for moral support

But they are frequently booked out

(Some are suspicious that studying isn’t the only thing that happens)

It can make finding free-time very difficult during finals

So they designated Rita’s as their hangout place

They can be found there most Saturday nights

They pregame there most of the time too

Y’know, since they have to host a party during the game

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AZRIEL:

Azriel is the quiet, elusive homebody

He’s definitely bi

And everyone positively drools over this man

And the rumors that spiral around him?

Don’t get me started 

(They mostly revolve around bedroom behavior and wingspan [iykyk])

They are well known on and off of campus, somehow

One of the bat boy’s neighbors is an old, grandmotherly lady

And she teases him endlessly about the rumors

(Much to Rhys’ chargain and Cassian’s endless amusement)

He’s in school for business and computer science, but he’s dabbled in some art– [because i read Midnight Muse by @azsazz ~ 10/10 would recommend]

Nothing too specific, just art

He loves things that revolve around the dark lines and spaces in between

Like inks and charcoals

So he’s considered ditching computer science for art school after he graduates in business

No one’s 100% sure where he works

He’s very dodgy about it

He is totally a cat dad – he found three black kittens in the dumpster

The one behind the dormitories and the greasy pizza place next to them

(He and Cassian had gone dumpster diving for pizza)

So he picked them up while Cassian enjoyed his pizza

The first two he kept and named Wisp and Wisteria

The third Cassian requested for a girl he was seeing

Azriel didn’t find out until much later that he gave it to Nesta (who named him Bryaxis)

Anyways, he used to have a major crush on Rhys’ cousin, Mor

Until Cassian’s current gf brought her sister to a party

He’s figured out where she works

He figured it out quickly – within the first week following the party

The little flower shop

Now he needs to figure out an excuse to go there

He owns a motorcycle

It’s like the one big purchase he made for himself

It adds to the intrigue

To the untrained eye, he’s a man of the shadows

The mysterious bassist that rides a motorcycle, ever elusive

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CASSIAN:

Cassian is in school for Project Management and a minor in the Science in Health and Human Performance

He works at two of the campus’ gyms, and one off site

No one is sure where he gets the time

Or the energy

Which he seems endlessly full of

His freshman/sophmore year, he signed up for the dorm warming committee

He got kicked out because he brought barbells and beer

(Which were not meant to be served to the freshman)

(The beer, that is)

Morale had never been higher, though

He’s a junior on the books

But because he’s failed enough classes to count for a semester or two, he’s technically a senior

The only reason he didn’t flunk out was because of Rhys

Actually, he started (aka was the first customer of) Rhys’ monopoly over the tutoring business, and now shows up purely for ‘emotional support’ (Rhys’ customer’s are hot)

He’s the drummer for the Bat Boys

And, although you might not guess it, he actually manages the band most of the time

Like he makes sure they have a place to play when they feel like it

Because a lot of the bars owe him favors (we won’t say why)

Rita’s is, of course, his favorite location

He’s befriended the owner

Or intimidated

The man is nearly 7 ft tall of solid muscle with a reputation round the block

He drives an old, run down truck

It has issues – with the exhaust, the muffler, sometimes the oil leaks, and he’s had to have the cylinders re-aligned multiple times

But he loves it

It’s one of the ‘tests’ he puts his dates through – how much do you love (or tolerate) the truck

The noisy, stinky bucket of bolts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RHYSAND:

Rhysand is in school for business and law

His father is the CEO of the ‘only’ law firm in town (the others disappeared without any real explanation)

He is passing all of his classes with flying colors, miraculously, though the way he carries himself you’d never know he’d be the type

Like, he radiates spoiled rich kid who’s dad is paying his way through college

Which isn’t true

Feyre hates it

She just can’t understand how 

How his grades are so good, how his ego is so high

To make it worse, he’s her tutor

Much to his delight

He’s a junior, so he qualifies as a tutor if he keeps a certain grade

(He probably only keeps the ‘A’ for Feyre, be real here)

He has a sort of monopoly over the tutoring program and makes a pretty penny off of it

It doesn’t hurt that most of his tutoring sessions could end in something MUCH more personal if he was in the mood

Everyone who hangs around him has become known as the ‘inner circle’

Often abbreviated to the ‘I-C’

Everyone knows who the ic are

Everyone

So, of course, they have enemies

And they have taken to referring to his friends as the ‘ick’

A play off of ‘ic’

A cheap, uncreative insult in Rhys’ opinion

His cousin, Mor, keeps a fair amount of people off of it though

He doesn’t want to know what she did to scare them off

Because of his charming, well presented nature, he has been able to climb his way to success

And he’s only a junior

He lands every scholarship, he has internships lined up, he’s gotten into several vacation plans

The guy is insane

He plays guitar for the band

But he can also sing

The guy can sing

Smooth, rich, almost throwback quality but still modern

Perfect for a bittersweet love story

Perfect for sweeping his lovers off their feet

So the rumors about his pillow talk

Gods

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

||| ~ mk mk loves, i'm finishing up Feyre, Elain, and Nesta's, and i have Mor, Gwyn, Amren, and Emerie written out. Then I'll slowly eat my way through Tampon, Lucien, Eris, and the other high lords [and then maybe i'll do some nsfw headcanons, and perhaps move on to some reader x character headcanons] ~ |||

anyways enjoyyyy <3

[themandylion]

2022 Fic Round-Up

Happy New Year! In 2022, I wrote 29 new stories and 85,622 words*. Here’s all the stuff I wrote in 2022!

2019 Fic Round-Up | 2020 Fic Round-Up | 2021 Fic Round-Up

Teen Morphology - 16k, JayTim. Gotham Academy's newest student is smart, funny, hot—and also constantly lying through his teeth about who he is and where he comes from.

Renegades - 11k, JayTim. Sometimes, all it really takes to make the world a brighter place is a good handle on your anger management. A softer version of Tim's search for Bruce in Red Robin.

Deep Destinies - 864, JayTim. Two mers lying in the seagrass, talking about destiny.

Vigilante Life Cycle - 2k, gen. When Jason digs himself out of his grave, there's someone there to help him. Again. (Part 2 of Vigilante Life Cycle.)

There Are Many Advantages - 944, JayTim. A marine biologist consults with a terrestrial biologist. (Part 2 of MerMemes.)

Grey Ghosts - 2k, gen. "We guard those that guard our cities and the people in them. We find them when they die and prepare them to live again, as they so often do." (Part 1 of Vigilante Life Cycle.)

Sharks Are So Smooth - 696, JayTim. T’m is dispensing hot takes on sharks as learned from the internet. (Part 1 of MerMemes.)

Shifting Compromise - 3k, JayTim. Red Hood and Red Robin are trapped in a tricky situation with little to no hope of rescue on the horizon. Luckily, Red Robin has a hidden talent. Jason just wishes he didn't have to be so frickin' good at it. (Part 1 of Fuzzy Business.)

Tiim Travel - 3k, JayTim, Jason&Tim. Red Hood is in a safehouse only Red Robin is supposed to know about. Hard to believe the most logical explanation is time travel.

Unsafe Hobbies - 5k, JayTim. Tim discovers something in his old photos that sheds new light on a case from Jason's time as Robin.

Contraband Catch-All - 4k, JayTim. Officially, no one is supposed to work weekends. Unofficially, sometimes Storage has other ideas. (Part 4 of Earth and Alpf'ch'l.)

The Icing on the— - 1k, JayTim. It would seem that Tim took the Batmobile out for a bit of fun and failed to clean it before turning in for the night.

Shake Apart - 8k, JayTim. Robin keeps insisting on putting himself between Tim and danger. (Part 3 of Vigilante Life Cycle.)

Pull Together - 4k, gen. Jason does everything Robin needs to do—small acts of kindness mixed with great feats of heroism—as he slowly feels out this new role he's taken on. (Part 4 of Vigilante Life Cycle.)

In Danger of Overheating - 3k, DickTim. Dick is not sulking after being confronted with certain truths, and he is definitely handling the unexpected scantily clad catboy in his apartment in an adult manner. Really.

Deer - 238, original work. The language you're raised with heavily influences the way you perceive the world.

In Tandem, Now - 6k, gen. Getting Tim back proves infinitely harder than spiriting him out of the city was. (Part 5 of Vigilante Life Cycle.)

Fic or Treat - 100-word drabbles done for Halloween: - Lingering (Tim&Cass, and a ghost) - Unreasonable Request (200 words, part 6 of Fuzzy Business) - Haul (JayTim) - Rouge (Red Hood and a goon) - Shared (TimBer) - Tired (JayDami) - Moon (Part 2 of Fuzzy Business) - Sweater (Part 8 of Tales from the House of Mau) - Tradition (Follow up to Shine a Light) - Prudence (Follow up to Three Birds in Flight) - Turning (DickTim)

This Is Not a Hallmark Christmas Movie - 9k, JayTim. Jason makes a project out of DI’s CEO after Tim’s girlfriend dumps him for a Christmas-tree farmer. Not!fic.

*(Technically inaccurate because I also wrote an epic campire/not!fic with Kieran Granola in 2022, but we’re still futzing about editing it. >.> )

[tosahobi-if]

Hi! Do you have any skin tone or clothing references for the ROs?

before you laugh at me just know that for some reason i didn't think i was going to be asked about clothing so i "designed" my own sect uniforms but i don't actually know how to draw clothing HAHAHAHA i'll put the skin tone references in the character introduction posts (which i need to finish up 🥲)

the clothing explanation got really long and only encompasses yul, jinwol, and the mc because it ended up getting LONG sjffsj

the time period in which tosahobi takes place (which is non-specific) is sometime between 300AD to ~590AD, and pieces from the three kingdoms period in china (220-289AD). so when thinking about the clothing i started out by looking at xianxia and muhyeop designs. cue me crying and opening up google and trying to put together a list of what i could research. (has anyone seen love between fairy and devil i need to yell over how cunty dongfang qingcang's costume design is with them PLEASEEEE)

and then i started my research via primary text (the samguk yusa and the wei shu), published papers, books, archeological discoveries, research conducted by experts, and tomb scans. and then i made my own conjectures from those! the clothing the characters wear is a bastardized version of hanfu and goguryeo clothing – so they're historically inaccurate but have some basis behind them. this is known as guzhuang, which is ancient-style clothing inspired by hanfu and most typically seen in dramas and plays. i've linked ziseviolet's blog for visuals of pieces but i suggest doing external research as well!

MOUNT HUA SECT:

located in shaanxi, the clothing the disciples (what the mc, yul, and jinwol start out wearing!) wear are a combination of what was popular amongst northern wei (386–535AD) nobility at the time (specifically a cinched waistline, flowing sleeves, and flared silhouette) and taoist clothing with some of the vibrant colors seen in goguryeo clothing. any combination of the following pieces work:

zhongyi (中衣) - underwear or undergarments consisting of form-fitting (usually lightweight) fabric in two pieces, the undershirt and underpants. either worn in black or white.

chang (裳) - a pleated skirt worn over the zhongyi

a lightweight inner robe (usually white, though disciples *cough* jinwol *cough* wear other colors at their own discretion. usually also usually made out of the same lightweight fabric as a zhongyi) with a jiaoling youren (交領右衽) an overlapping collar (crossed left over right).

banbi (半臂) - a half sleeve jacket in either black or white and embroidered with a plum-blossom in red, magenta, or even white thread. trimmed with bronze (third-rank disciple), silver (second-rank), or gold (first-rank)

bixi (蔽膝) - a decorative piece of hanging fabric that acts as a knee covering – this is typically plain and of a matching color to the main parts of the outfit, and is trimmed with colors according to the wearer's discretion.

belt/sash - either a wide strip of embroidered or plain (usually plain) fabric cinched around the waist. trimmed with similar precious threads denoting disciple rank. jinwol wears a finely wrought metal belt instead of the standard sash.

hair ribbon - self-explanatory. used to tie the hair, can be whatever color you get your hands on – jinwol and yul's hair ribbons are the colors the mc picks out for them (hehe)

xiaoguan (小冠) - lit; small crown, jinwol cycles between several intricately designed crowns in shades of silver (some have precious jewels embedded into them) and they denote his status as nobility.

robe very similar to a daopao (道袍) - lit; taoist's robe, the daopao is a traditional outer robe with long, flowing sleeves. disciples traditionally wear black or white trimmed with crimson, white, and precious metal colors. most wear the sect's motif on embroidered on the lapel, though the yeo family members have their clan motif embroidered instead. in some cases the elders will wear shades of grey.

[cherry-velvet-skies]

Feeling Two-Foot Small (Part 1)

Tiny!Paul McCartney × Tiny!Reader

Genre: Fluff with some Angsty bits

Warnings: Convos about insecurities and stuff but that's about it

Words: 3k

Summary: Takes place in the Help! movie universe (but Modern!AU I guess? Idk lol); Reader wonders what it's like to be small, gets their wish, and meets a tiny Paul along the way

=======================================

=======================================

When people are asked if they wonder what it would feel like to be tiny, most of them think about the effects it would have on their life in a personal way. They rejoice at the idea of being the same size as their pet, having a small furry friend to play with. Some feel liberated at the idea of being able to get underneath all their furniture, hunting for all the loose paper clips, rubber bands, and hair ties they thought would never again see the light of day. Others might opt for a brief dive between the couch cushions to find every single stray coin that is now the size of their head.

You, on the other hand? Well, you think differently than that. You view being tiny from an outward perspective, pondering how being two or three inches high would have an effect on the world around you as opposed to you as an individual. When you shrink, do your clothes shrink with you? Or once you're small, do you lay naked inside a pile of now oversized fabric? Are those tiny skateboards you use for your fingers sturdy enough to support your weight? It would make getting around a whole lot easier. Does walking underneath the arch of a high heel shoe have the same implications as walking underneath a ladder? Would you receive some tiny alternate version of bad luck?

See, you don't think about what it is like to be small, because you already know that feeling quite well at your average height. You know what it's like to have the world tell you there isn't enough space for you, and that you must keep shrinking who you are until you fit. And sometimes, you are told to shrink so small that the only place you can fit is inside your own head. So why would you want to experience that sensation physically as well? However, it would be interesting to have your body match the way your mind has felt for a long while. In some sick, twisted way, you might feel right at home. 

But alas, it is only mere speculation. Something you didn’t want to think about anyway. You preferred not to fill your brain with any more possible outcomes of unachievable situations. You already did that enough with the things actually happening in your life. You already knew how it would all play out. You would spend hours sending your mind into such a frenzy that you tired yourself out, only to forcefully push the thought away the following morning. And if you weren’t careful, the topic would somehow barge its way back into your thoughts some weeks or months later, and the cycle would start anew. So, better to cut things off at the start, despite the part of you that couldn’t help but be the least bit curious.

When you awoke the following morning, something felt off. You opened your eyes to find the blanket completely over your head, which also felt much heavier than usual. You went to move the piece of fabric off your face until you realized that what was currently placed on top of you was two separate layers. You swiftly moved the first one off, poking your head out of the end only to realize it was the shirt you had put on before bed the previous night.

Mixed in with your confusion, your brain managed to form the idea that this was a dream. Your shirt and blanket becoming a hundred times bigger overnight is not physically possible. You felt like you were swiping the large blanket off your head for minutes until the bright beams of sunlight in your room hit your face. You sat up, only to notice that you had actually stood up, not that it made much of a difference. Whether you were standing or sitting, you still could barely see over the edge of the footboard. Glancing around, you noticed your pillow behind you, which was now the size of a giant’s, and the rest of your pyjamas crumpled beneath the blanket. A sudden breeze across the room alerted you that you were currently naked. And unless you were experiencing a rather severe case of Alice-in-Wonderland Syndrome, this was most definitely a dream.

You had always heard about lucid dreaming before, but the concept always frightened you. A dream that felt like reality? That doesn’t sound very safe. The only rule of lucid dreaming you remembered was never to use any of the bathrooms you see, as it will not end well. But other than that, exploring the world like this actually seemed kind of fun.

As you went to hop out of bed, You peered down the side of the cliff that was now your mattress, thankful you didn’t lose your impulse control and critically injured yourself from the start. You figured that if you somehow did end up shrinking in your sleep, you were going to need some serious level of strategy to get around.

Dragging one of the legs of your sweatpants over to the edge of the bed, you hoisted it over, hearing the elastic at the ankle thud as it hit the wooden floor. You looked down again before grabbing onto the side of the pant leg and using it to shimmy down to the floor like a fireman’s pole. If there was going to be any time in your life that you were grateful for not having a fear of heights, that time was now. But so far, your theory of your clothing not shrinking with you had been swiftly proven.

Once on the floor, your next task was to find new clothes. Or, at the very least, some type of fabric to keep you covered. Judging by how close you were to the floor, you gathered that your new height was about three inches, just like you had imagined. By those parameters, even your socks would be too big to clothe you. 

You felt like you were in a video game. Every single place you wanted to go felt like it took forever to get there. And that was when you spotted the perfect wardrobe. All these years, you knew something good would come out of your vintage Barbie doll collection. On the lower shelf of your desk, you had kept all the extra clothing your dolls weren’t wearing in a small bin. Luckily you were able to flip the lid open and start searching.

You may not have been able to see yourself in the mirror, but you felt like you looked good. One of Barbie’s rompers was big enough to look like a pantsuit on you, and one of Ken’s jackets was more than enough to keep you warm. Barbie’s winter boots weren’t exactly comfortable, considering they were nothing more than malleable plastic, but you didn’t exactly have much of a choice. In an equally small bin beside the clothes was a collection of small toys, including your finger-sized skateboard from when you were a little kid. Placing it beside you, you softly hopped on, pushing your foot and briskly gliding across your bedroom floor. As for your average-sized predictions, you had been spot on about the practicality of living a tiny life.

But now that you were properly dressed, you were most excited to try and explore the outside world. What you didn’t plan for, however, was how you were actually going to get out the door. After making your way to the exit, you groaned as the doorknob appeared to be a million miles away. You didn’t have any pets, so there was no convenient doggy door to use. Beside the door, you spied the small latch on top of the window. It was unlocked. Getting up there was going to be a pain, but it was your only logical way out.

Slinging your skateboard over your shoulder - with the convenient strap you made for it out of a pair of Barbie’s stockings - you began to climb up the curtain. The height from the window to the floor was about the same as getting up and down your bed, but getting up was definitely trickier. Once you settled on the window sill, you stuck the edge of your skateboard under the lip of the window, jumping on the other end of the board to pop it open. Granted, your decreased strength only opened it about an inch, but that was enough. You squeezed your way through the exit, and, seeing no other option, jumping down into the patch of dirt below. You didn’t injure yourself, but jumping that far didn’t feel good, especially after climbing up the curtain. This must have been what Tinkerbell felt like. Well, at least she had wings. And on top of just waking up and not eating anything, you already felt beat. 

That’s right. Food. You were so preoccupied with adapting to this new way of life you had forgotten to eat. In hindsight, the fridge had been too large to get anything out of anyway. But your prayers were soon answered as you noticed that the fruits in your neighbor’s garden were ripe and ready to be picked. You were sure they wouldn’t miss just one.

Dusting yourself off and skating a few feet ahead, you gently plucked a raspberry from the bottom of one of the bushes, making sure it hadn’t been tainted by any insects that might’ve gotten there before you. You would’ve only needed one anyway, seeing as a raspberry was now a watermelon in your world and one tiny berry would feed you for quite a few hours as you skated around. It also stained your lips a lovely shade of pink. Nature’s makeup, you thought.

Your neighborhood was pretty quiet in the morning, and being able to move about completely unseen actually brought you a level of comfort. No one to have to explain your circumstances to. No stray animals to drag you like a chew toy. You kind of liked it. To your surprise, the world wasn’t so bad from this height.

Reaching the end of your street, you decided to stop and take a rest. The sky looked like rain, and that was something you needed to watch out for. At this size, a raindrop could quite possibly waterboard you if you weren’t expecting it.

Taking shelter under a small plant in another person’s garden, you looked around at the other bushes and blades of grass around you. The garden felt like a rainforest. Tiny twigs and saplings took on the roles of redwoods and sequoias, towering above you, protecting you from the elements. You truly felt like a fairy. Like the ones who wore mushroom hats and made flower crowns from dandelion stems. The only thing that seemed a tad out of place was a gum wrapper that lay not too far from you. It was the perfect size for you to use as a blanket if you wanted it, but just as you got up to have a closer look, it moved. Clearly it was already occupied.

A boy with short brown hair popped out from underneath it, securing it around his waist like a bath towel. He turned around before you could hide, both of you screaming at the sight of each other. 

“How are you this small?” He blurted out, purely out of shock.

“Me? How are you this size?” You fired back, hoping he could give you some answers.

“I asked you first.” He retorted. You accepted that talking to him was certainly going to be an adventure.

“I woke up like this.” You explained. The boy seemed surprised, as if your reason was more simple than he expected. “Why, what happened to you?”

“It’s a long story.” He said sheepishly. “But one I hope is temporary. Nice clothes.” Sensing he wanted to change the subject, you lent him your jacket, which fit him perfectly. 

“They’re doll clothes. I had no other choice.” You chuckled. “I can give you some if you’d like.” The boy seemed unsure, but you persisted. “I know it’s not ideal, but it beats a gum wrapper.” The boy smiled this time, agreeing to go with you. You held out your hand to lead him back to the sidewalk and helped him on your skateboard. It was very clear he had never ridden one before, as he tightly gripped your waist the second you started moving. On the way back, you let him take a berry from your neighbor’s bush as well, to which he was very grateful.

“What’s your name, by the way?” You questioned. You told him your name as you watched his shoulders relax a bit, accepting you as his companion in this bizarre adventure.

“I’m Paul.” He said, trying to hold the giant raspberry and keep his gum wrapper towel from falling off at the same time.

The endeavor of getting back into your house was something Paul was not prepared for. Honestly, you weren’t too thrilled either, but you were prepared for anything by this point. You never thought that climbing the curtain would’ve been the easiest thing you’ve done so far. You both had to get back up to the window by climbing up the twigs of the nearest bush, which strangely enough, felt like one of those wobbly rope ladders at a playground. You got the hang of it pretty quickly, but Paul, however, did not. He eventually made it up, but with several rips and tears in his gum wrapper towel, which you were just grateful didn’t fall off entirely.

The rest of the trip was pretty simple. Paul enjoyed sliding down the curtain, but he was upset that he had to leave the raspberry behind as he couldn’t hold it and climb the bush at the same time. You promised you would get him another one.

Your selection of doll clothes was plenty for Paul to choose from. He ended up keeping the jacket you were wearing. It looked better on him anyway. He also chose one of Ken’s polo shirts to match it. The only pants that fit him were a pair of Barbie’s denim shorts. What the gum wrapper towel couldn’t tell you is he had quite the shapely figure. 

Once you both were settled, you tried to get whatever food you could from your kitchen. With Paul’s help, you were able to reach the bottom pantry shelf, succeeding in acquiring a package of fruit snacks and a small bag of pretzel sticks. A subpar diet as they may be, it was more than enough to get you both through the day.

“Okay,” You began, making a comfortable sitting area on your bedroom floor out of some old socks, “How did all of this happen?”

Paul began to explain his predicament, but in all honesty, he kind of lost you somewhere in the middle. He was talking about how he accidentally received a dose of shrinking serum that was actually supposed to go to his friend in order to stop him from becoming some sort of human sacrifice. Something like that. Well, at least you confirmed your suspicions that this was indeed a dream. Whoever this Paul was and how he got in your subconscious, he wasn’t making any sense whatsoever.

“But it’s temporary, right?” You asked. Paul shrugged his shoulders.

“I hope so. At least that’s what I was told from the woman who gave it to me. But then again, she says she is not always what she seems.” He stated nonchalantly. You furrowed your eyebrows. Yep. Definitely a dream.

“Well, what do you want to do in the meantime?” You suggested. Paul’s eyes widened. 

“There’s not much we can do outside without us getting stepped on or drowned by rain.” He crossed his arms, a small pout appearing on his lips. “Being this small is no fun.”

“Who said we had to go outside? There’s plenty to do in here!” You debated, much to Paul’s confusion. “I’m sure I have another one of these skateboards somewhere. We can race them around the house! Plus, now that we’re tiny, we can play a mean game of hide and seek.”

Originally, your disposition had been similar to Paul’s on this whole situation. Being this size was no fun. But only if you accepted that as a fact. If you make it fun, then anything can be enjoyable. 

“I suppose so.” Paul admitted. “It’s just that I’m not used to this, you know? Being so tiny and all.”

In the small amount of time you had spent with Paul, you gathered he was the type of person whose presence was regarded everywhere he went. His personality was considerably assertive, commanding attention. Though a bit boisterous at that, he was quite charming. Being the size of a toy was no doubt a blow to his ego.

“To be honest, being this small isn’t really much of a difference for me.” You confessed, eliciting a puzzled look from the boy beside you. “People don’t really notice me anyway, so I think it’s actually kind of better that I’m small enough to be out of everyone’s way.”

Paul scoffed at your statement, as if it was unfathomable for him that anyone would think such a thing about themselves. But insecurity was often just as voluminous as it was compensatory.

“So then you run the risk of being stepped on.”

“Then I move out of the way before it happens.”

“No, you tell people to stop stepping on you.” Paul’s gaze softened as he delivered his reply, a bit surprised by his own comment. Judging by the look on his face, you discerned this was his first time giving such a profound piece of advice. No matter what size you were, the key to not being overshadowed by others was not to avoid the situation entirely. It was to stop it from happening before it even began.

Without answering, you leaned forward to give Paul a hug. He tensed up at first, but quickly reciprocated your embrace, softly rubbing his hands up and down your back.

“So…” He whispered in your ear, “I’ll hide while you count?”

=======================================

I'm so glad I can post fics again! 🥰 This scene from the Help! movie is one of my favorites so I had to do something with it 🤭 This is a 2 part story so the second half will be up soon 😊

[3gremlins]

Elden Ring Tarot: Death (Ranni) ⬆️transformation, change, endings, transition ⬇️stagnation, decay

I felt the character of Ranni worked well for the death card which doesn't represent death PER SE, but rather the concept of change (sometimes drastic). In the game, her entire goal is to break the current cycle and break free from destiny (going so far as to not only orchestrate the murder of another being, but also to sacrifice her own body).

Tbh, there are several characters who are also trying to bring down the golden order (the current ruling faction/world order) but Ranni's the one trying to break free entirely from the cycle (a lot of the other characters want to replace it with their own version for the most part, or just kill the current ruling pantheon).  please do not repost | if you like my work and want to see more, consider becoming a patron! This piece is currently available as a coloring page to all patrons | prints will be available in my shop other cards: The Magician | Three of Swords

----Elden Ring Spoilers---

If you follow her questline and get her ending, you enter the Age of Stars (she's also heavily associated with the moon) so ofc I could not resist a moon/starscape! 

She's sitting atop the corrupted skull of godwyn the golden (who is transformed from "beautiful god" to a creepy monster who brings a death blight- corruption- to the lands between) with her feet resting on his original body's corpse. 

You can also see her original form (which you can find in game). They both have a rune of death inscribed into them- this was originally a fully round rune- so they each have one half essentially. The predominant lore theory is that Ranni inscribed her half of the rune into her own body, while the black knife assassins (whom she  hired) put the other half into godwyn.  The idea is that by doing so, she killed his soul but her flesh (if the rune was whole, it would entirely kill one person) in order to break the golden order and escape her own fate as an emperyean (a chosen potential successor to the golden order).  (if you're interested in more lore on this, i super rec smoughtown's videos)

I figured this all works for the death card, since death is usually depicted either walking or riding across a field of dead nobility (to show that no one escapes death/change) and often also has skulls/death imagery around it (despite the card not actually being that scary). In the game, godwyn's essence? what's left of him after having his soul killed anyway, manifests in melty/corrupted versions of his face/skull in the actual environment (on the backs of crabs, in the ground, etc) and also in the death blight/root. 

So I included those as framing elements (i went with the thorny vines instead of the death root itself mostly b/c that's the fx used when you get it in game and it reads better visually)

[alchemicaldesignquery]

Overwatch: The Mercy "Problem"

Disclaimer:

Yes, those are air quotes.

No there isn't an actual Problem with Mercy, as much as there is a problem with elements of her Kit that are used as a path to complaining about her in general/being a weird gremlin about players who enjoy her.

"...Sometimes we try out a build b/c it's the best version for the greatest good.

And sometimes we try out a build b/c Mount Olympus needs to fucking fall..."

~3AM Game Design thoughts~

There are very obvious problems embedded in many of Overwatch's cast, but few are as egregious as Mercy's.

Damage Boost is a problem.

Resurrection is a problem.

and those are alongside the smaller inconsistencies that make her Kit Cohesion/Cycling, that much less <insert term here> (responsive, interactive, dynamic; take your pick).

There's arguments to be made for why none of these have been addressed, despite well-known Mercy mains and advocates banging their heads against the wall for anyone to hear:

Changing as popular a hero as Mercy would damage her reputation and gameplay within the community

Removing core elements of her kit would make her harder for new Support players to pick up (she is one of three introductory heroes)

Her kit doesn't need changes because she is only relevant alongside a more 'problematic' Damage Hero.

There's probably other legitimate concerns with any sort of rework, but these are the three I see the most value in (and argubly, the three that can be used across both playing as/against party lines).

These can be addressed within the design, especially around the two major mechanical problems in Damage Boost and Resurrection.

Helping Me, Helping You...?

'Punishing =/= Rewarding'

Mercy's design is meant to encompass a dual-sided nature; help others, while helping yourself. A lot of her kit reflects this, but a lot of it also, doesn't have any connection between the two:

Damage Boost / Blue Beam relies on whoever she is Boosting to be hitting their shots, inflicting damage to gain the benefit, and (hopefully) secure kills.

A Good Mercy might never be enough if the DPS on her team aren't performing. Worse yet, it will often come back on the Mercy player, because the feedback for what she is doing isn't exactly obvious.

A flat damage buff that has very few qualifiers (stay within a certain range and hold a button on a target), doesn't provide much in the way of information for the Mercy or the person being Boosted.

On the other side, a Mercy who is attached to another hero who is hitting their shots? With no qualifiers?

Nightmare fuel.

Resurrection is even worse at translating between the Mercy and the Teammate she is using it on; an ability that provides no direct value or benefit to Mercy herself, that also acts as an excuse for Teammates to position poorly and not learn from their mistakes-

-all the while blaming the Mercy if she doesn't bomb into the same poor position that might have caused the eliminated Teammate, to try and go for the Rez.

The ability also acts as a hard interruption of a normally fluid movement cycle, putting her not only in a paused state for a brief window, but also lighting her up like a golden target for enemies to shoot.

Add in the long cooldown and, it is not hard to see this ability failing as often (if not more) as it succeeds.

On the other side of the coin, a Rez that does manage to succeed, brings back a hero that was accurately and successfully eliminated, with spent resources executed to do so, at full health-- effectively resetting the effort the enemy put into eliminating that target. It can feel cheap, even cheating, especially around heroes who are already difficult to nail down or punish and who Mercy expectantly tends to 'pocket' often (Pharahs, Ashes, Widows, Genjis, Junkrats, etc.).

There are a few other points of contention within the kit that do not have as much issue within the game and could be reasonably balanced:

Healing Output can't really scale in a match and will often fall away before heavier burst/AoE potential

Guardian Angel's structure depends very heavily on teammate positioning, even with super-jump/glide.

Overall, a skeleton of a hero that could use new life, to help new players adapt and not feel stuck in a permanent pocket playstyle, while giving veterans a chance to express the character to a stronger maximum.

Helping You, Helping Me

So what can be done?

There are a lot of builds that could go toward shifting what's been laid out above, but targeting the core issues would take some finesse and specificity, to ensure the Mercy player is being rewarded for participating, while also significantly downplaying the dependency on her teammates to even access that reward.

There's also a need to avoid simply eliminating the 'pocket' playstyle that is foundational to the character.

Every hero should be able to access multiple playstyles to better represent the variety of players that want to interact with that hero. More playstyles = more players playing the hero and the game.

I'm not about to go speaking for the community or even suggesting that there is a One True Build that could be implemented (even if I have my own theory on what direction to go in), but in directly tackling the above issues, there are some markers that we can follow to establish a stronger presence.

Allowing Mercy's Blue Beam to accumulate extra healing whenever her attached ally takes damage, would go a long way to expanding her healing output while attaching it to the execution of the kit.

At the same time, replacing the stark and lopsided nature of Damage Boost with a Movement Speed bonus, ramping Immunization against Status Effects, or even a Damage Transference to Mercy from the attached Ally (with appropriate Dmg reduction for the Mercy off this affect so she can absorb more), would go a long way to establishing much better decision-making and execution on the Mercy's part while eliminating a lot of the unclear measuring in her kit currently.

Resurrection, in all honesty, just needs to be replaced. It is too poorly designed to function well and the result is both unkind to enemies who work hard to secure that kill, and too kind to allies who will use it as an excuse to play poorly, knowing their is a 1UP waiting for them in the meantime.

Replace Resurrection, with something new; a summoned field that produces a small amount of healing + some additional effect (Immunization or Silencing on Status Effects, Anti-CC, Neutralizing Field for enemy placement effects like Immortality Field, Biotic Field, Inspire, etc.).

Additionally, allow Mercy to designate a spot on the map while her Staff is in hand (bound to reload) to summon a yellow life orb for Guardian Angel purposes. This gives her significantly more control over her own positioning and movement, without having to rely solely on the (often poor) positioning of her teammates.

These are, by no means, sure things or guaranteed to make the hero functional. They are builds that would need significant testing and structural adjustments, both numbers-wise and in application to ensure fair play.

But hopefully they serve as examples for what can be done about the hero, to not only move her into a more comfortable state, both as someone to play, but also?

As a Hero that doesn't deserve any of the vitriol and weird behavior often associated to her and, by extension, a lot of the players that like playing her.

[hitchell-mope]

I finally finished Modern Family.

It took about four years. And that’s only because season ten arrived on Disneyplus in 2023 and season eleven arrived on Disneyplus on New Year’s Day 2024. Two and three years after I’d watched the first nine seasons during lockdown. But anyway. All is forgiven. Because it really was an amazing sitcom. So here’s my little retrospective.

What I liked about the show:

I think one of my favourite parts about the show is that Jay left Dede not because of an affair, but because he just couldn’t cope with her anymore. Even nowadays the man leaving the woman because the love had disappeared is an incredibly rare occurrence.

I like how well Mitchell and Cameron balance each other out. They’re both a little camp. But Mitchell has the realism going for him and Cameron is the sports honcho. I just think they did a good job of evening out the personality traits.

I know not many people agree. But I rather like Haley ending up with Dylan. I liked Andy as well. But sometimes the first love wins out you know?

Tying into point one. I liked that while Gloria was younger than Jay. She wasn’t YoungerTM than Jay. He was nearing sixty. She was in her mid thirties. Again. Even nowadays that kind of age gap is still abc incredibly rare occurrence.

This is going to be controversial. BUT. I’m actually okay with the hbo type of jokes that they had. It’s probably because I watch supernatural and friends and the Simpsons. But in a show like this. The shipping options are kinda limited. Plus a lot of them were in the same age range. So looking at it from like a “Jane Goodall perspective”. I’m okay with the hbo type of jokes. It was just the right amount of Crossing The Line Twice.

Barring that one season nine episode. I’m happy that they never treated Dede with undeserved sympathy. That type of woman doesn’t deserve to be liked.

I really liked Joe. He was hilarious. It’s just a shame he didn’t get a lot of one on one interaction with Mitchell. Apart from that he was great.

Mitchell and Cameron’s wedding. It was a great two episodes.

Pepper Saltzman. He’s played by Nathan Lane. Where else was I going to put him?

Jay’s development with Mitchell. Claire was obviously his favourite. But it was nice to see how far he and Mitchell got by the end of the show.

What I didn’t like about the show:

This is a big one. While I liked that Alex and Arvin got together, at last someone that matched her intellect that she didn’t feel ashamed of finding physically attractive, I really did not like how she basically got shamed into quitting her lucrative career by a loaf of uppity college students. Just because she’s smart doesn’t mean she has to do the difficult job. She’s allowed to take the easy way out.

This is a little petty. But given Phil’s almost debilitating coulrophobia. It’s a shame that Fizbo and The Amazing Phil couldn’t take the circus world by storm.

I get that Claire wasn’t Dylan’s biggest fan. But for all her, justified, admonishments at Jay for how he treats Phil. She could’ve tried a little harder to break the cycle.

Pameron. Jessica. Tucker. She’s basically just a live action version of Gayle Genarro. Except lucid and aware of the chaos she causes. Baby Calhoun, however, is adorable.

Sal whatever-her-last-name-is. Hilarious. But grating.

Between all three of the Dunphy kids, Mitchell’s actor being part of the original cast for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Cameron’s whole thing. It’s a shame that the show never had a proper musical episode.

Dede. Just. Dede.

Farrah Marshall. Claire was right. She really WAS Dede reincarnated. Only more spacey.

The fact that Dylan and Haley got Mitchell and Cameron’s old house and not the new house that was literally perfect for a growing family like theirs.

The fact that Covid and the resultant lockdown turned the finale into an Allegedly Optimistic Ending. Which is why we really need a reunion movie

Character ranking: For the purposes of this I’ll be making clumps of characters because I just can’t decide. I’ll also be including the extended family. Like so.

Luke, Phil, Joe, Haley, Gloria, Dylan and Manny

Jay, Claire, Mitchell, Cameron, Lily, Alex, Poppy and George.

Frank, Merle, Barb and Calhoun.

Dede, Farrah, Jerry and Pam.

And that concludes my retrospective. Let me know if I missed anything out.

[howlingday]

My idea for a potential DEATH BATTLE! #4

2023, October 11, 12, 13, 15

Link to the third post:

Master list:

https://www.tumblr.com/donotmindme1/731003687600881664/mind-what-you-do?source=share

Achilles vs. Cú Chulainn (Greek Mythology vs Irish/ Mythology)

Let their anger be known and all warriors shall fear them!

Fighter 1: Achilles, the legendary warrior of the Trojan War.

Fighter 2: Cú Chulainn, the guard dog demigod of the Ulster Cycle.

Wiz: Mythology has given us heroes, monsters, and gods with amazing power.

*insert clips of Marvel's Thor on a Warrior's Madness, Clash of the Titans, God of War's Kratos, Asura's Wrath's Asura, and Troy 2004,*

Boomstick: Yet no one seems to get the memo: do NOT anger them, even if they're human! Chances are, they are NOT just human! He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick.

Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.

PREFACE: I am really, REALLY sorry for the late post. I tried to make PCBs for a project but for some reason or another, my attempts failed. I got super obsessed and stressed over it and because of it, I lost a night's worth of sleep. Add to it the fact that I've been struggling with my other STEM classes, and I haven't given myself the time to flesh this out. Not only that but starting next week, I'll be taking tests for two weeks. Safe to say that I'll be busy for a long time, so sorry again...

WHY:

Connections:

1. Cú Chulainn's association as "the Irish Achilles".

2. Both were born to a divine-like parent and/or royalty. Achilles was mothered by the sea nymph Thetis and fathered by Peleus, king of the Myrmidons. Cú Chulainn is the son of the god Lug (Lugh).

3. Both have done great deeds but at the cost of their very short lives. This tends to be one of the greater points of comparison between the two.

4. Both are known for their anger and fury. Achilles' most famous bout of anger stemmed from finding out that Patroclus died and Cú Chulainn is known for his battle frenzy (ríastrad, sometimes called a "warp spasm") in which his body becomes contorted and attacks anyone indiscriminately.

5. Both are super strong and are so skilled that they are deemed to be one of the greats of their respective myths. Achilles was said to be necessary for the conquest of Troy and Cú Chulainn was said to be the greatest of the Knights of the Red Branch.

Personal reasons: I can say with little if any hesitation that Season 9 giving us Heracles vs Sun Wukong was a shock to the system. No longer was DB! limited to pop culture's versions of ancient myths as they focused on the original texts and accounts, giving us what could honestly be one of the show's greatest analysis sections. Inspired by this, I thought up a matchup: a three-way battle between Achilles, Cú Chulainn, and Sigurd/Siegfried (I thank Persona 5 Strikers for introducing me to the last two, especially Cú Chulainn) because of how similar they at least appeared to be. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Cú Chulainn was sometimes called "the Irish Achilles", but I couldn't find any solid connections between Achilles and Sigurd other than the fact they obtained their invincibility from a divine source only to leave a single spot uncovered (Thetis dipped Achilles as a child in the waters of the River Styx, by which means he became invulnerable, except for the part of his heel by which she held him and when Sigurd bathed himself in Fafnir's blood, a leaf had fallen and stuck itself on his shoulder). However, I encourage others to idea up MUs using Sigurd, Gilgamesh, Beowulf, Rama, and figures from Aztec, Mayan, and Native American mythos. We need more myth matchups that aren't just Greek figures. I have at least one more matchup for the Greek itch. I had a different matchup that could likely be Halloween-themed, but it's unique, to say the least, and would require a very different analytical lens due to the source material. Not only that, but the source material could be to the disinterest of some, even if unlikely.

THE FIGHT:

Art and animation: This one will likely be a 2D sprite fight like Heracles vs Wukong. It would have an aesthetic like that of a storybook or tapestry to separate it from HeraKong's scroll and brush aesthetic. It would be best to not have a narrator again, or at least to not have the ending spoiled by the narrator if there is one.

Possible setup:

Both heroes are on their paths to glory, having emerged from battles with nary a scratch. Cú Chulainn is riding on his chariot, thinking of his lovely Emer, but Achilles is still mourning his dear Patroclus. They see each other and prepare for battle. Warriors need no reasons to fight other than glory and survival. On their chariots, they charge into battle.

FIGHT! :

1. Both warriors used their spears to slay the charioteers and horses and were successful. They leave the chariots and start using their spears, resulting in parries and attempts to use their swords as well.

2. Both warriors slowly pick up their paces, but Achilles is able to successfully parry and even disarm Cú Chulainn. Cú Chulainn then attempts to strike from afar using his slingshot. Achilles uses his shield, but Cú Chulainn is able to get some shots in, including near his heel. Achilles slightly staggers, and Cú Chulainn takes notice, but Achilles only lets out an angry war cry and lunges forward like a bull.

3. Achilles closes the gap by throwing his spear and impales his enemy. However, Cú Chulainn lets out his own war cry and becomes horrid and deformed. Achilles is not taken slightly aback by the monster, and attempting to hurt the warp-spasming warrior is hit very hard and launched backward. Achilles could've sworn he heard his armor slightly crack. The deformed destroyer grabs boulders and hurls them at Achilles who is able to dodge all but one and is knocked down.

4. Cú Chulainn calms down, remembering his beloved Emer. He removes the spear with which he was impaled and notices something: his opponent does not seem to be too injured. His armor and his skin do not seem to be scratched. "Could it be a magical set of armor? Is he invincible?" No. His new nemesis faltered when hit in the heel, so he should try to use the Gae Bolg where his enemy seemed to be weak.

5. Achilles recollects himself and draws his sword again. His enemy can seem to mutate into a monster and become vicious, but becomes violent, almost to a mindless degree, putting a lot of force in his strikes. He should strike afar from with his spear and evade his opponent's spear and slingshot. "He's strong, but it looks like he can still be hurt with my weapons. He struck my weakness, but does he know of it?" With his plan in mind, Achilles raises his shield and charges, evading Cú Chulainn's projectiles. Cú Chulainn even throws Achilles' spear back at him which Achilles catches.

6. They start to clash swords, spears, and shields again, striking any exposed skin they can. Cú Chulainn cannot seem to injure his opponent and his armor is very sturdy. However, he is able to graze Achilles' weak point, and Achilles pushes him away. "Aha! So he IS weak there!". Using his shield, Cú Chulainn parries his attack and attempts to get another strike in, but Achilles, using his spear, keeps his adversary away. "He seems to know. I must keep him at bay." Achilles, using his own defensive techniques, is able to momentarily fend off his rival.

7. Cú Chulainn now knows what needs to do. He needs to end the fight soon, or else he'll never see his dear Emer again. "For Emer." With his dear love in mind, Cú Chulainn warp spasms again, and assaults Achilles, trying to hit his heel. Achilles attempts to rush his foe, and he is able to injure him, but Cú Chulainn flat-out launches Achilles away, leaving his weak point exposed.

8. Achilles knows his enemy is weak and desperate. Why else would he mutate like he did? However, Achilles still feels a bit of pain in his heel; his opponent has hit his weak spot and he knows of his heel's vulnerability. He grabs his weapons and prepares for one final clash. "For Patroclus." He meets his foe's eyes again and both let out one final war cry and charge.

9. Achilles wins by tiring out Cú Chulainn. The monster gets angrier and angrier, but Achilles dodges, and taking advantage of his foe's seeming mindlessness, slashes off one of his arms. The monster staggers, and in a short time, Cú Chulainn returns to normal, panting and bleeding. He ties himself to a stone using his own entrails and meets Achilles' eyes once again. Achilles throws his spear and successfully impales the now-normalized foe who lets out a shout of anger, seemingly not one of anger.

10. Cú Chulainn wins by keeping Achilles at a distance. Still in his ríastrad, Cú Chulainn is able to smash Achilles' armor so hard it starts to crack and break. The adversary attempts to rush him, but Sétanta knocks him away. He starts to calm down, knowing he only has one attempt to win. Seeing that Achilles' heel is exposed, he readies his weapon and throws the Gae Bolg with his foot. It successfully lands on Achilles' weak heel. The weapon then opens up into thirty barbs, causing Achilles to shout in agony and fall.

11. Both retrieve their weapons only after a raven lands on the corpse's shoulder. They pay their respects to their adversary for a great battle, entomb the other as a sign of respect, and depart the battlefield. Home is a long journey away, and without the horses, even longer.

12. KO!

RESULT:

Strengths and weaknesses:

Achilles:

+ Has divine armor from the god Hephaestus as well as his invulnerability from bathing in the Styx and/or the ambrosia he was fed as a baby.

+ Arguably the more experienced warrior due to his time in the Trojan War and his training under the centaur Chiron.

+ Is capable of killing powerful and skilled warriors like Hector, Penthesilea (Queen of the Amazons), and Memnon.

- The only weak point is his heel, but it was only exploited because of the god Apollo.

Cú Chulainn:

+ Actually favored by the gods of his pantheon.

+ Is likely the greater warrior as he defeated Fer Díad and Aífe. Fer Díad and Cú Chulainn were trained under the legendary Scottish warrior Scthach, and Aífe is said to be Scathach's rival and stated to be equal to Cú Chulainn in skill. Cú Chulainn also single-handedly fought Queen Mab's army and even harmed Morrigan, said to be a goddess of battle and war, though not in direct combat.

+ His anger is more dangerous due to the ríastrad.

+ Has a ranged option in a slingshot.

+ Likely has a healing option as when he met his father in a dream, his father healed him.

+ The Gae Bulg allows for an instant kill...

- ...assuming that Cú Chulainn can pull it off in time and Achilles doesn't avoid it.

- Can still be killed like a normal warrior, but that was because he broke his oaths which weakened him, and was killed by a magic king-killing spear.

- His healing was done in a dream, and Achilles doesn't tend to leave opponents in just a sleeping state. Even then, the healing doesn't seem to be instant.

Ending puns:

"Setanta just couldn't exploit his opponent's Achilles' heel."

"Achilles should've said 'Cú-dbye'." (Cú + goodbye)

MUSIC:

Name: "Face My Fury"

The title makes reference to both combatant's anger.

Art: The art would depict Achilles' shield being pierced by the Gae Bolg, but the spear would be chopped by Achilles' sword.

Sound: Grand and orchestral again, but it would be faster and even have some metal elements in it. The orchestra is for the mythological aspect and the metal is for when the two get angry.

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS!

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

First and foremost, amazing work.

This would be an amazing fight to see. However, I might be a little rusty in my folkloric knowledge, because I must have missed the "warp-shift" (and to be honest, I'm not as familiar with Cú Chulainn as I, a huge myth fan, should be).

I also find the references to their bonds pretty interesting, since I don't think we get a lot of internal dialogue in either references.

"Face My Fury" is pretty good for a track, so...

FACE MY FURY

[coochellati]

Custom DIU Phone Theme

Back in November of 2020, I hopped on photoshop and created a DIU phone theme. I realized yesterday that I should share it with you guys.

This is what my phone screen looks like! (The first three pages, at least.)

If you want to use this theme, I’ve got all the resources you need under the cut!

(If you’ve decided to use this theme, I’d really appreciate it if you could like or reblog <3)

Here’s how to make your phone look like mine:

Some of you will already know how to do all of this, I’m just trying to make this as clear as possible for those who don’t.)

1. The Files

Here’s a Google Drive link containing all the files. Inside this theme pack, there are:

17 app icons

16 small widgets (the character heads)

2 medium widgets (Breakdown and Killer Queen)

6 large widgets (the stand users)

1 wallpaper

I made all the app and widget backgrounds the same color as the wallpaper so that they could blend in.

2. App Icons

There’s two type of app icons in this theme pack:

regular app icons

toolbar app icons

There’s only so many DIU symbols, so I just use the icons multiple times. The anime repeats the symbols in the “next episode” cards anyways—I tried to follow that style.

I made separate icons for the toolbar so that the background colors of the app icons would match the color of the toolbar.

If you need a tutorial on how to change your app icons, here’s a YouTube video on it. (This tutorial is for iPhones, I think changing your app icon is a lot easier on Android. I’ve never used an Android so I don’t know.)

All of the toolbar icons I have been showing off thus far are made for the iPhone’s dark mode. If you prefer light mode, there’s light mode versions included. (How many of you actually use light mode?)

I don’t know if the backgrounds of these toolbar icons will match on an Android. If they don’t, send me a screenshot showing your toolbar and I’ll make backgrounds for the icons that match.

3. Small Widgets (the Character Heads)

Here’s a preview of the small widgets!

I’ve made it so the character heads swap out every once in a while.

I’ve used two apps for this:

Widgetsmith

Photowidget

For Widgetsmith, If you put a few icons into a photo album and then choose to display that album as a widget, it’ll cycle through the pictures. However, there is a bug that sometimes makes it so the widget won’t cycle through the photos in your album.

Photowidget will do the same thing, except you have to make the album in the app. You have a little more customization over how the photos get cycled, such as the time interval between when the photos change. I recommend this one.

Again, this is all for iPhone, I do not know how Android customization works.

4. Medium & Large Widgets

The two medium widgets (breakdown & Killer Queen peaking out of the wallpaper) don’t really need explaining. Just choose each photo to display as a widget.

Here’s what the large widgets look like:

(This gif compresses the large widget images—I swear they look good, they’re full-size in the Google Drive link.)

If you want to cycle through the stand users, just do the same thing you did for the character heads.

Alright, I think that’s everything. Enjoy your DIU-themed phone!