#and that this particular friend is not and has never been the most reliable person even though she's a sweet and good person

[rapha-reads]

Can you die of loneliness...? Asking for a friend.

[etz-ashashiyot]

You know, during the 6-8 weeks that I fully stepped away from tumblr, it was in large part made possible by the fact that my personal life has been an on fire dumpster wafting down a stream of sewage (no I will not be elaborating publicly) to the point where I have been utterly incapable of engaging with anything else.

But one very pale upside to this is that, for those 6 - 8 weeks, I was so caught up in my own personal bullshit that I lived in a world where violent antisemitism on the left, violent transphobia on the right, horrific war updates, and the upcoming terrors of the US election and its potential societal fallout didn't exist to me.

And in particular, I was blissfully unaware of any unhinged things the tumblr red-brown alliance goon squad were saying about Jews.

On the one hand, I'm glad my real life has stabilized (a bit. for now.)

On the other hand, coming back to this site for even just a couple days has felt like

So anyway uhh. Hmu on discord if you want to reliably reach me lol. Also don't argue with idiots online... you're never ever ever going to convince them not to be a cesspool, but if you build community offline you're more likely to make a real difference (something most of these idiots cannot even conceptualize let alone do) or at least have IRL friends to weather the storm with.

[fandom-nursery]

Hi I just saw that u like vox machina :] I loveeee VM

What r your personal hcs? :0 /nf

- @/thetinyblossom 🌸

I have a lot! (please keep in mind I have only seen the show so this may not perfectly fit with the actual campagne)

Percy 

Big age range. Regresses between ages 2-9

Starts regressing after the Briarwoods are dead and his revenge is over he since he no longer has revenge to focus on and finally feels safe enough and trusts his friends enough to be little around them  

Struggles to control his facial; expressions when small. Everyone can always tell what little percy is feeling 

He is usually very talkative while little however he struggles to pronounce larger words 

He’s a pretty happy little full of all the curiosity and childlike wonder he had as a kid 

He loves to play adventurers or detectives while little. He enjoys running around the woods with a magnifying glass and studding the bugs. He keeps a “field journal” while little where he catalogs cool things he finds complete with drawings. He also loves to read or if he's feeling particularly young, be read to 

He has a particular book of stories that his parents used to read him when he was little. He found a copy one day while big and purchased it on a whim. If he’s ever feeling bad while little the book is a sure fire way to comfort him 

He prefers to change into more plain and durable clothing when he regresses. He doesn't want to ruin or mess up any of his fancy clothing so he makes sure to have at least once clean set of “play clothes” he can use 

All of vox machina know about his regression. The twins found out first and from there so did everyone else. 

Vox machina typically take turns watching him or babysitting when he’s in a younger headspace. The twins in particular tend to watch over him the most 

Scanlan 

Regresses the youngest of anyone in the group and us never older than 2

He also regresses the least out of any of the team's littles. He really tries to avoid doing it at all costs 

He is very good at noticing the signs that he’s about to slip into headspace and usually either finds a hidden place away from everyone or pushes it down 

He is terrified of being teased about his regression by anyone which makes it a sensitive subject for him. 

Because he regresses so little he has a hard time even walking on his own and prefers to be carried. He won't admit it but he loves being picked up and carried even while big

When little he's very openly emotional. He isn’t able to repress his emotions or play them off with jokes while regressed so they end up coming out at full tilt 

He mostly babbles or goes completely nonverbal while regressed however there are a few words he can pretty reliably say including mommy. The fact that it’s one of the words he can always say when little is the main reason it’s his safeword. Regression absolutely means he needs to be able to get out of any sexual encounters he may have been in the middle of. 

He hums almost constantly as a way of self soothing and just because he really does love music 

This man will happily fall asleep at any time. Because regressing tends to be such an emotional experience for him he gets drained easily 

Does not have a paci but really should. Currently resorts to chewing or sucking on his fingers most of the time 

Vex

Regresses between ages 4-6

Usually regresses voluntarily although she sometimes needs some prompting (usually from Vax) to actually do it when she needs to 

She is incredibly expressive and prone to very big emotions that she doesn’t have much of a handle on. While little Vex feels things at 100% wether that's joy, sadness, anger, or fear 

Her accent becomes stronger while regressed and she gets a bit of a lisp while speaking. She also tends to struggle with her volume control and is either mumbling or borderline shouting

She really loves magic while regressed. Something about the shiny lights and sparkles really entertains her. She also loves spending time with Trinket. She is also very dead set on doing everyones hair while little. It’s not uncommon to see almost the entire party sporting braids, ribbons and flower crowns after vex has gotten ahold of them. She is also a bit of a prankster and especially loves to pull them on Vax and Grog because they have the best reactions (Vax’s are usually fake but Grogs are very real) 

Vax bought her a stuffed bear that she calls mini trinket and Percy regularly gifts her little inventions he’s made for her to fiddle with

When Vax can’t be there with her while shes small he leaves one of his cloaks behind with her so she has something of him to hold onto until he gets back 

Vax has always taken care of her when he can and once the others know vox machina does their best to help her out and watch over her while shes regressed 

Vax 

Regresses between ages 3-8

Regresses less often than he should. He feels the need to always be available to watch over and protect Vex so he doesn’t let himself be small as much as he really needs to 

He finds himself slipping quickly and without warning into headspace especially when his separation anxiety kicks in. He has a few methods of pulling himself out of headspace though so he can usually stay big during emergencies 

He’s a very calm and quiet little. He relaxes and follows others (usually Vex) around like a lost little duckling 

He’s a very sleepy guy while small and if he feels safe and is around the people who care about him he will pass out wherever and become very cranky if he’s woken up 

Loves to play elaborate pretend games and gets annoyed when Vex doesn't want to play along. He’s usually pretty much happy to do whatever Vex is doing. He also loves to climb up big rocks and trees and then jump off or out of them which gives everyone else a heart attack 

He will spill his drinks if they aren't put in a bottle 

When she's not also regressed Vex is his caregiver but he is also taken care of by the rest of vox machina 

Keyleth 

Regresses between ages 2-6

She is a voluntary regressor and does as a way to cope and help her relax and calm her anxiety 

She tends to ramble while small about anything and everything that’s on her mind or go totally silent with no in between. She knows a little bit of sign language that she will occasionally use if she doesn't feel like speaking 

She’s a social napper and will only really take one if others are regressed with her and also being put down for a nap 

She loves making flower crowns and playing outside in the sun. She also really loves animals and if you put a creature in her lap she will sit with it for hours 

She loves fruits and berries and her fingers and mouth are almost always stained with juice 

She has a lot of toys because she keeps buying them while big. She's very good at sharing them with the others 

She does have a paci and will occasionally use one on days she isn’t talking or when she starts biting at her nails 

Grog 

Older kiddo. Regresses between ages 7-12

He has sort of a hard time noticing when he’s feeling little and usually it takes someone else pointing it out to him for him to realize he is small 

What little volume control he has goes out the window 

Very much plays a big brother role to the other littles in the group. He’s very protective of his friends. Pike has caught him attempting to beat up multiple rocks and logs because they “tripped his friends” 

He loves asking pike questions when small and will not be stopped from throwing rocks into water or off of cliffs to see what happens. If he’s not currently by a cliff or body of water he will pick up good throwing rocks to save for later 

Pike

Caregiver all the way 

The only one Scanlan tells about his regression first 

Hates being separated or splitting the party because she wants to be able to keep watch over everyone 

Very good at calming down upset littles 

She is very lenient when it comes to rules and tends not to be too strict 

Very good storyteller 

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Harry's "Sliding Doors" by u/Hermes_Blanket

Harry's "Sliding Doors" I'm sure MM is familiar with the 1998 film "Sliding Doors", in which her idol Gwyneth Paltrow plays a woman whose life is shown in two scenarios, one with what would happen if she caught a particular train, and another with what happens if she misses it.If Harry has actually gone AWOL, it could be because he is imagining his own version of "Sliding Doors". How, in his mind, does his 2024 life compare to what it would have been if he and MM had never left the UK?Okay, so if they had stayed in the UK, as Harry saw it, they had problems -- Pursued by paps, denigrating stories in the Daily Mail, Sun, and Express. Having to walk behind William and Catherine. Living on allowance from Daddy. Family and lifelong friends disapproving of his wife and expressing worry about him. Worry that his massive security detail are leaking to the paps.But in LA -- His wife keeps on calling the paps to get noticed, denigrating stories in not only the Daily Mail, Sun, and Express but all over YouTube and the comment sections of every other publication. Now publicly compared unfavorably to William and Catherine, in fact more and more as time goes on. Living on shrinking wad of money gained by betraying his loved ones, while wife hustles fruitlessly and in an undignified manner attempting to get more. Family and lifelong friends now despise him and have cut him off. Has to provide his massive security detail himself now at great personal expense. Not to mention pay for his attorneys.So, to wrap it up, the life he has in 2024 has similar problems to the life he had in the UK, but magnified by 10.And the advantages he and Meghan had in the UK -- free high-quality security, free housing, a continuing, reliable income stream, the goodwill of (most of) the public, cheering crowds wherever they went, the old friendships that sustained him -- GONE. All gone.What did he get in exchange? Money worries, the mockery of millions, isolation, and I'm willing to bet the hot sex life isn't so hot after seven years with MM in perimenopause.Harry would have to be a much more mature and thoughtful person than he has shown himself to be thus far not to blame someone else for his problems.And who insisted that if they only left the UK, she would be blissfully happy and they'd be even more wealthy, fulfilled and adored? Meghan.If they stay together, it will likely be because all Harry has left is his pride and his inability to bear seeing William have everything -- the crown, his strong marriage, and the love of the public -- while Harry is left with nothing. post link: https://ift.tt/8yhI2E3 author: Hermes_Blanket submitted: October 30, 2024 at 05:24PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[wheredidhiseyebrowsgo]

Firstly, thank you for keeping my Sterek obsession fed and watered all this time- you are the best!

Secondly, I have searched tags and can’t quite find what I’m looking for:

I am obsessed with fics where Stiles is developing magic ability but finds out he gets a huge power boost from Derek (maybe tied to Hale territory and the like) - that ultimately makes them an unstoppable force. Derek getting hurt then healed by Stiles always a plus. Do you know of any in this particular vein?

You are so welcome! And thanks to @kevaaronday because she did all the work for this list.

light a spark by raisesomehale (8/15 | 30,778 | Teen | Sterek) “It’s not” - Derek cuts off as quickly as he starts, teeth gritting with frustration - “It’s not like the others it’s… There’s a reason I came to your house last.”

Stiles’ eyebrows raise. This is hands down the weirdest Derek has ever acted around him, and it’s making him curious. 

“And that reason being…?” He rolls the sleeves of his flannel up to his elbows and leans against his desk to start untying his shoes.

“I need” - Derek grits through clenched teeth - “Your help.”

Stiles just blinks at him, shoes in his hands. “That was excruciating to witness, just so you know.”

Teen Witch by Mr_Bilinski (9/? | 29,956 | Mature | Sterek) After the Nogitsune possession, a bit of the darkness remains, unseen by the Pack. Due to his connection to the Nemeton and having been possessed, Stiles finds himself more on the "super" end of the natural/supernatural spectrum. With power unseen by any before, who can hold Stiles in check? Will the darkness and the seemingly unlimited potential of what his powers could do corrupt Stiles or will he heed the infamous words of Uncle Ben?

Canon compliant up through the end of season 4. Some elements from later seasons will be incorporated with some twists.

The Spark of a Wolf by WolfMadeFromAsh (9/9 | 24,540 | Teen | Sterek) Stiles is a Spark.

WTF does that even mean? Other than the fact that he needs an anchor to maintain control and that anchor is a shapeshifter, he has no idea. It seems that everyone around him is figuring things out before him and no one is thinking about cluing him in. His best friends act as if he's not right in front of them and Derek Hale is the most reliable person in his life right now.

What the hell?

Of Mischief and Trickery by GrimReaperlover11 (14/? | 24,258 | Teen | Sterek) A fight with a witch ends in a big secret regarding Stiels' parentage being brought into the light.

a leak of light in a blue town like this by sikenlore (1/1 | 21,153 | Mature | Sterek) stiles spent the summer of his freshman year of college practically living at derek and cora’s cozy, three bedroom a-frame. he carved a space for himself in their house, in their lives.

(snippets of moments in the lives of the beacon hills pack, or more specifically, in the lives of stiles and derek, the pack emissary and the alpha.)

Born Out of Magic by sparkandwolf (4/4 | 20,850 | Teen | Sterek) “I’ve—we’ve—kept this town safe ever since we were teenagers without the help of—” Stiles couldn’t bring himself to say his name, not yet. 

“It was only a matter of time, you know?” Scott said, his voice clearly sympathetic. 

“Why are you all just standing around?” The voice was like ice through Stiles’ spine. As much as he wanted to run or to lash out at the person he thought he disliked most in the world, he froze in place like a coward. 

Even as the most powerful mage on his side of the country, he was still powerless against Derek Hale.

Or, Stiles gains magical abilities he never knew he had while battling the Darach all while slowly falling in love with the person he least expected, Derek Hale. After the pack defeats her, Derek leaves Beacon Hills—and Stiles—behind. A few years later, there's a new big bad the pack is struggling to defeat. The only thing their alpha can think to do is call on the one person who can truly bind Stiles' powers and complete their pack. 

Derek saunters back into Stiles' life as if he never left and the past seems to surge to the forefront of Stiles' mind.

Mage: Gajos by DaoOfGay (2/? | 12.472 | Explicit | Sterek) "These are the Gajos." The book whispered in delight, his voice broke in a near maniacal villain laughter before it awkwardly coughed. "Many Gajos placed their knowledge in me, in hopes of making the future generations as powerful as they were- I have the knowledge of every single Gajos that has ever lived... Including you, Mieczslaw Genim Stilinski, or should i say- Vklay Klein Gajos."

"Wait, what?" 

X-x-X

A.k.a: Stiles finds out he's from a powerful Magic family and royalty as well.

It's a little rushed.

Also cringe, but cringe culture's dead- Embrace second hand embarrassment

5 times that Stiles saved Derek and the pack, an one time they saved his life by Sivan325 (1/1 | 5,080 | Teen | Sterek) Stiles and Derek were a co-alpha to the Hale pack, and Stiles was over the moon. He enjoyed his role and was delighted that his spark gave him the power and being the alpha.

Also written for Teen Wolf Bingo - Creature AU

Heart Spark by DaoOfGay (1/? | 4,183 | Explicit | Sterek) "He's more than a simple spark, Derek-" Peter smiled softly as he held the sleeping Stiles on his arms, the entire pack either asleep or almost asleep around them: "-He's a Divine Spark of Hestia, a spark directly from the flames of the Heart, he was born to be protective, motherly, born to be a healer and to have a large family... And, of course, with the ability of providing the means of having said family."

A little shocked by his Mate's divine powers, Derek whispered a little confused: "...what?"

"Pregnant, Derek." Peter ignored how half of the entire pack just froze and stared at Stiles with shock: "He can get pregnant- In fact, he already is."

Oh. That's why everybody has been so overprotective of him recently.

"Oh."

X-x-X

Or; The one where Stiles gets a pack and Derek gets the love and happiness he deserves.

[freimeka]

TENDERNESS IS IN THE HANDS ★ GHOST RILEY

as the last addition to 141, you've earned yourself a spot in the team. however, your latest undercover mission seems like it'll test your patience as well as your feelings that are buried deep down. in short; ghost and you are assigned on an undercover mission in which you have to act as a married couple.

part one.

★ reader's nickname is vexen and it's mostly used, fake marriage trope, slowburn, flirty and teasing ghost!

tags and tws will be updated every chapter!

Vexen.

You remember the name vaguely whispered in your ear, yet you cannot remember who did it or when it was done; all you have as a memory is the way it sounded.

Like a secret.

From the moment you joined the army, this was the name that you've been called, and from time to time, it made you forget your own name. Still, it somehow gave a sense of belonging to you; having no family or friends behind, you've always worked for an untouchable place in the military. The particular dislike towards women in the military has been something that you've experienced very frequently, that's why you felt like you have to earn your place to never be disrespected again. Your relentless pursuit of this status paid off well in the end; you're known as the best choice to send on undercover missions out there. You've moved back and forth between countless military bases; you've made yourself smaller, bigger- you shaped yourself in every possible way to just fit in quite right, and you successfully managed to do so. Your journey felt like it'd never end, it consumed you both mentally and physically. Having your teammates brutally tortured, even killed, right in front of your eyes, and knowing that you're actually forced to stay quiet for the sake of the mission stripped you out from any possible emotion that a human could feel. You've grown to be a cold-blooded, ruthless person yourself. That is, of course, what captains who seek a reliable soldier look for first- well, not all of them... but most of them have this as a priority.

All your biased, maybe forcefully shaped prejudices against the higher-ups in the military have been your fuel all this time. Every step you took, every move you made... you wanted to climb all those stairs to the top to show those stuck-up men how it's supposed to be done.

Yet, the founder of the special task force 141, Captain Price, was the one who made you give another chance to yourself; all you know has always been shaping yourself, altering yourself suitably to the situations and the missions. Yet, Captain Price and 141 helped you to see that you don't have to be someone else all the time. You've had an identity of your own buried for such a long time that it took some time to bring it out from the depths of your unconscious, yet they helped you through it with all their sincerity-filled efforts.

You met Captain Price approximately four years ago during one of your missions; you had to go undercover as the daughter of someone really important- you can't even remember the man right now, and Captain Price was on a mission himself. He had his own ways to deal with stuff which made him disliked by many, but the moment you've seen him handle it much better than your past superiors, you've made up your mind to work with him, regardless of what it could take.

To your luck, your wishes didn't go unheard by whoever or whatever is responsible for weaving the strings of your fate. You've crossed paths with Captain Price again, and you've had the chance to prove your worth- being a man who has his own rules, Captain Price literally grabbed you and stole you away from your previous team. The paperwork and the endless efforts of convincing the higher-ups were a hell of a ride, yet Captain Price successfully had his way with every single one of them and made you a permanent member of 141.

Other members were Gaz, Soap, and Ghost-all of them had unique and particular characteristics, and it took you quite some time to get used to them. Yet they also tried their best because you had been fought for by the Captain himself... How could they do anything funny when it was made obvious that you held great significance?

Of course, they had their doubts about you when you joined them on a mission for the first time. It seemed simple: get in, get what you need, leave. Captain Price asked for your opinion specifically, and you thought it would be risky to openly steal. You could've stolen it secretly, so why go through all that bother? You thought Gaz would be the perfect choice as your partner since he could remain calm and cold. You hacked into the system of the company you needed to infiltrate and made two fake worker ID cards for both Gaz and yourself. You two went in as workers, obtained what you needed, and left.

To say the least, everyone was impressed-Soap was very vocal about his admiration for your meticulous style in undercover missions. For the first time, you felt like you had accomplished something valuable, and that's why you became attached to 141 in an almost obsessive way. After that, 141 didn't receive many undercover missions, but going on different types of missions made you learn a lot.

You step into the conference room with a bunch of files in your arms, blocking your vision, and you let them sit on the desk with a thud. Everyone lifts their heads up at the sound, then goes back to their paperwork with the same bored expression on their faces. You know that none of them likes paperwork; Ghost might not be reading them at all. So you try your best not to joke about the state they're currently in, but what can you do? You love annoying them.

"Such hardworking gentlemen," you say as you seat yourself on one of the chairs placed around the big desk. Soap lets out a breathy laugh. "I'd love to say the same thing about you."

"I am hardworking! Don't be mean," your fingers quickly move over the files, and as you quickly read the brief information on the cover, you start to categorize them: new recruit files, mission files, and so on. "You're just jealous because you can't read as fast as me. That's why it takes you guys too long to finish those damned papers."

"You seem very willing to show us how fast you can read, Vexen," Gaz speaks up and gently pushes a paper to your side. You look at it from the corner of your eye. "Typical permission paper. It outlines what the cooperating party will cover in the event of a potential hazard, as well as our duties and responsibilities. You signed five similar documents like this last week, don't you remember? Just sign it and move on to the next. It's for the procedure."

"That's Vexen for you-she never ceases to surprise," Soap comments, and Gaz laughs lowly. As you hand him the paper back, Gaz quickly signs it and moves on to the next paper.

Out of the three, Ghost is the quietest today. He seems really intrigued by the file he's reading, and you cannot help but feel curious. He doesn't even lift his head up; he just keeps reading it with utmost attention. You decide not to intervene and busy yourself with the files you have. But the curiosity slowly eats at you. Ghost rarely seems interested in any of the files he's given, so that's a first.

"I'll bring everyone coffee," you murmur under your breath, but the room is so silent that it can be easily heard. As you push the chair back and get up, Ghost does the same. "I will help you," he simply states and walks to the door. You're glad that he is coming with you, as you have the opportunity to ask him about the files. As the two of you make your way to the kitchen area, you decide to finally break the silence.

"I think you've got something really interesting in your hands, Lieutenant," you say with a slight smile. "May I ask what the files contain?"

Ghost looks at you from the corner of his eye, and you wonder what expression he's wearing under that mask of his. You can feel his intense gaze as he rests against the counter. As you pour the coffee into the cups, you start to feel a bit impatient, hoping for an answer.

"Well, if it isn't Vexen asking me for some classified information," he says, leaning more against the counter. "I'd love to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. And I'm not sure I'm ready to part with that pretty face just yet."

He effortlessly grabs two cups, making them look small in his large hands. For a moment, you find it amusing and want to laugh. Your gaze lingers on his bare arms, appreciating the tattoos he rarely shows. Whenever you get the chance to study his features, you never waste it. His eyes sparkle with a mischievous glint, clearly visible to you.

"But I can assure you, Vexen, it's a mission that requires a lot of... acting," he continues, emphasizing the word. You let out a soft, breathy laugh, realizing he's proving you wrong with his high spirits. You had assumed he felt intrigued yet irritated, but his playful banter means there might be good news. At least, you hope so.

"You could've just told me what it was instead of making me wonder more and more," you say as you take two cups and turn around to face him. Ghost's figure is well-sculpted, with broad shoulders and thick biceps. Even in his uniform, you can easily make out the outline of his strong physique.

You both remain in the kitchen, waiting for him to share what he knows. You search Ghost's eyes for any hint of a feeling beyond mischief and interest, but he's skilled at hiding his true emotions, and you can't decipher anything more.

"Where's the fun in that? I enjoy seeing you wonder and squirm," he teases, his voice low and husky. Well, what can you say? It took a lot of time for Ghost to trust you, but once he did, you two became known for your playful bickering. "Plus, it's more exciting this way, isn't it? Keeps you on your toes."

"You're not funny, Lieutenant. I can just run back to the meeting room and see the files myself."

He scoffs, as if to challenge you, but both of you know that you won't do it, especially with two cups of coffee in your hands.

"Well, if you really must know," he continues, his tone becoming more serious. "We're going undercover as a married couple."

A married couple.

For a mission.

A married couple?

You initially brush off his words as a joke, laughing it off from deep within your chest, not believing a word he says. But Ghost doesn't join in the laughter, and his stiffened posture makes it clear that he's serious.

"Oh," you murmur, completely surprised now. "You're not joking. You're being dead serious," you whisper to yourself, and Ghost doesn't hold back from confirming it.

"Congratulations on your amazing discovery, Vexen."

"Shut up," you scold him, your voice void of anger, just pure astonishment. "That's a first. Isn't it normal for me to react this way?"

"But why? You've gone on undercover missions your whole life. Why is this so hard to believe?"

"Because I've never had to pretend to be married before," you explain, furrowing your eyebrows slightly. "You seem like you've had your fair share of marriages."

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Ghost responds, genuinely intrigued by the mission. You can't help but feel slightly irritated by his nonchalant attitude towards the situation. How can he remain so calm and not freak out right now? A marriage? Sharing a home, possibly even a bed...

"I actually don't, really," you say, turning on the heels of your boots. "The coffee's getting cold. Let's head back."

You don't continue the conversation, choosing to remain silent. Usually, you're good at multitasking, keeping your thoughts from tangling too much, but on this occasion, you fail to do so. Your mind is a mess, flooded with countless possible and impossible scenarios.

Perhaps getting on each other's throats would be the best outcome... but then again, what would be the worst?

Your head spins, getting dizzy from overthinking it all. Without uttering another word or glancing at Ghost, you make your way to the meeting room and hand the cups to Gaz and Soap. Ghost follows behind, placing the cup of coffee in front of you along with the mission file, without saying a word. You accept it, as silent as him, and begin to read it carefully.

Ashbourne Family, no kids. They've been married for eight years, and they tried to adopt a baby boy once but then decided not to proceed with the adoption. Yara Ashbourne is 35 years old, while her husband Ruben Ashbourne is 37. They met in college and married two years after their graduation. Ruben Ashbourne started working for AmmoWare first, and later his wife was interviewed for a position in the company. She began working there almost nine months after her husband.

It is believed that they are entrusted with highly important intelligence, but they are also aware of potential threats and therefore live in complete seclusion from their environment. Although they are a social couple, they only spend time with their colleagues.

Approaching them, gaining their trust, and infiltrating the company are crucial objectives in this mission. Your priority is to gather all the possible intelligence listed below...

The file is so thick that you suddenly feel threatened. Since they have been chosen by the company, they probably know that someone might come for this intelligence. Gaining their trust will be difficult, especially because they only socialize with their colleagues. They previously attempted to adopt a boy, but later reversed their decision. What prompted this change? Did the company exert pressure on them? Or did they anticipate difficulties after eight years of marriage?

As if Ghost hasn't left you with enough questions, more doubts are added to the mix. Without lifting your head from the files, you reach for a pencil and a piece of paper to jot down every detail you deem important. Only when the weight of someone's intense gaze becomes overwhelming do you finally raise your head. Across the table, Ghost is already looking at you, his mask resting above his nose as he takes a sip from his coffee. He remains silent, merely observing you, and you do the same. Your eyes lock for a moment before you release a deep sigh of resignation and return to working on the file.

[catwings-writes-things]

❄️ Snow - Who is your coldest / most stoic character and how do they express themselves (if at all)?

☀️ Sun - What's your favorite part of your WIP?

☁️ Cloudy - What inspired you to start writing your WIP? (or in general)

Finally getting around to these--thank you for the ask! As usual, it's long, so putting this under a cut:

Snow - Who is your coldest / most stoic character and how do they express themselves (if at all)?

That would be Mike. He does express emotions in various ways, but neither his emotions nor his methods of expressing them tend to make much sense to people who are not him, especially if those people don't already know him well. Those who do know him well know that his facial expressions are much less reliable indicators than his clothing, body language, and speech patterns--when he's uncomfortable, he puts on more layers or buttons or zips the ones he has on to cover up as much as possible, relies more heavily on scripted sentences to speak or stops talking altogether, looks around compulsively as if checking for threats or escape routes, or just Vasts himself out of the situation altogether. If he's comfortable, he'll take off his jacket, unbutton his collar, be more willing to speak in single words or choppy sentences or use sign language as long as he's getting the point across, keep his attention on things for longer without needing to scan the area for threats, and generally seem more present.

Sun - What's your favorite part of your WIP?

I have SO many favorite parts of my WIP, but right now two things are coming to mind.

The first is the final scene of chapter 5, which includes a compilation of interwoven flashbacks from Jon's time as a captive of the Circus of the Other and Helen Richardson's second time in the corridors of the Distortion that culminates in Helen Richardson seeing Jon as a hopeless, defeated prisoner, choosing to try to help him even at the cost of her own life, and melding into her own prison as a result, leading to Distortion Helen coming into existence and rescuing Jon but also destroying both of the people that Helen used to be. I think I did a good job both showing the parallels between the respective situations and creating a sense of disorientation without leaving my readers totally lost, and I'm proud of that.

The second is a scene from chapter 11, where Harriet voluntarily offers Jon a statement and ends up telling him about Robert Kelly, a young man she befriended, slept with, tried to recruit into the service of the Vast through trickery, and ultimately murdered in a fit of grief and anger when her plan failed. I'm particularly proud of this one because I had a delicate balance to strike--Harriet's actions were genuinely horrible even by her own sometimes bizarre moral standards, and I didn't want to gloss over or excuse that, but I also didn't want my readers to lose sympathy. In the immortal words of @runarelle, the ways being an avatar fucks with you are many and complex. Harriet thought she meant well, she truly didn't mean to hurt Robert (at least, she didn't intend to harm him in any way she didn't think he'd agree was worth it) except for that one moment, and the guilt and remorse have been tearing her up inside for the past fifteen years, but she still did it, still lied to and betrayed and killed someone who loved and trusted her for literal years. She made a horrible, horrible mistake, she knows and readily acknowledges that, and she has learned from it and changed the way she interacts with humans so as never to do something like that again--and she still kills people, even if it's not as often as she lets her avatar friends and family assume. She's a messed-up person living in a messed-up world, and so are we, even if it's not as obvious. This part in particular is, I believe, one of the best things I've ever written:

Jon smiled at her, then picked up his mug and took a sip of tea.

Harriet wiped her face one more time, blew her nose, and set her handkerchief on her lap, then followed suit with her own mug, grimacing as her tea was contaminated by a bit of snot she'd failed to completely remove from her upper lip.

Jon looked at her, this dangerous, terrifying predator with blood on her hands and a smile full of teeth, this playful, caring friend who routinely risked her life reaching out to new avatars she didn't even know, this loyal and devoted acolyte of eternity and family member to her fellows, this manipulative schemer who'd betrayed and killed someone who had loved and trusted her, this grieving woman sitting on a sofa she'd bought for a friend and helped move into his new apartment after she called in multiple favors to help him escape a horrible situation while he’d still been a complete stranger to her, just because she'd wanted to help. The kindest and the cruelest of the little group who'd assembled to help Jon escape, holding a star-filled sky in her hands and a snot-soaked handkerchief in her lap, waiting with red, puffy eyes and a mug of hot tea that was nearly a quarter honey to find out if Jon would think less of her now that he knew the details of what she believed wasn't even the worst thing she'd ever done.

Jon saw Harriet—the good, the bad, and the ugly; as she was and as she had been; the faults she was ashamed of, those she couldn't grasp, and those she couldn't face; her greatest triumphs and most brutal failures—and he loved her, fully and unshakably.

Erica (Erica's predecessor, technically) had been right. At this exact moment, Knowing so deeply was an honor and a privilege, one Jon was sincerely grateful for. One that led to love as inexorably and forcefully as a rainstorm in a desert led to a flash flood.

Cloudy - What inspired you to start writing your WIP? (or in general)

I've talked about the convoluted inspiration train of AWOHO on this blog before (see here, here, here, and here), so this time I'll talk about what inspired me to start writing in general--or, more accurately, what inspired me to start posting my writing. I've been writing stories (sometimes thinly veiled fanfiction, before I knew that fanfiction was a thing) since I was very young, but the first fanfics I wrote and the reason I made a ff.net and then an AO3 account were prompts from my sister, who had read some of my stories and asked me if I could write specific things. She's also the person who pulled up the first fanfic I ever read on my phone, shoved it into my hands, and said "you need to read this," so... yeah. You all have her to thank for me being here.

(Ask game here)

[mephinomaly]

[TL] PYSCHOBREAK/Chapter 11

[ This post uses Ois~su ♪ ]

Rei: ~...♪

Adonis: Oh, where did you get that guitar from Sakuma-senpai?

Rei: From Bouzu’s temple. I remembered I left a coupla instruments at his place so went to go get ‘em.

Koga: What are you two, a couple that just broke up?

Rei: That’s what it feels like. Even if we come together ‘n try to get on, I don’t think we’ll be able t’return to how we were before.

Even if he wants to, it’s not gonna happen.

That’s why I feel like meetin’ new people ♪

♪～♪～♪

Adonis: Wow…What a good song. Though the melody is rather intense, I feel weirdly better listening to it.

Amazing, Oogami, and you composed it yourself?

Koga: Oh, uh, yeah… But it only sounds good ‘cos of the person playin’ it… Since it’s Sakuma-senpai, he makes it sound like the best song ever.

Rei: Oooo you’re makin’ me shyyy. Oh to be young and naive~. Wish I could feel like that again~

I wished for that and now Wan-chan has named us UNDEAD.

Like Adonis-kun did, he somehow noticed I was depressed, even though I didn’t… I hope I can be revived.

This music might make me cry… I hope this revives my tired, withered heart.

I’ve been cravin' something this whole time.

And now I feel weirdly content.

This is what I wanted most, more than being showered in millions of compliments.

These are someone’s genuine thoughts.

♪～♪～♪

Kaoru: Hey~, you guys look cheery, hm~?

Rei: Yo, Hakaze-kun. Fashionably late, yeah?

Was worried you weren’t gonna show.

Kaoru: Hey, well, I’m here now… I requested that you guys exterminate the “vampires” so it’s my duty to supervise you all so you don’t slack off.

But I never thought I’d be joining a weird group like this.

Rei: You’re a Yumenosaki idol in the making aren’t you? We need your talent

Kaoru: Don’t expect too much from me, ‘kay? I’m pretty well known for skipping school.

But I’ll help out this time. I need to protect my job, so I’ve gotta work a little harder. It’s so bothersome I could die though~♪

So that’s why I made some promotional flyers for tomorrow’s showdown.

It won’t be hard to hand them out for Mr Worldwide Sakuma-san, so you guys make sure you pull your weight too, ‘kay?

I prepared a fancy stage for you guys. Well, I say it was me, but all the nearby shops who also were troubled by the “vampires” were helping me out too.

I was going to make some special uniforms for you too, but I don’t know you guys’ measurements, and I don’t think I would have had enough time to sew them anyway.

Rei: Don’t worry ‘bout it.

Our opponents won’t have made any special preparations, so I think it’s fine to wear our school uniforms rather than dress up all crazy like.

It’s fairer if we’re on a similar playing field.

Koga: Hm… So you wasn’t late ‘cos you didn’t wanna come, you was late ‘cos you were makin’ preparations?

Guess I was wrong about you, Hakaze…senpai. You get the job done eventually.

Kaoru: Yup! I’m a reliable guy, really really ♪

Koga: Yeah. You seem useless on the surface but you’re actually pretty hardworkin’.

Adonis: Umu. He is very helpful, since he completed the tasks we had not got around to yet.

Kaoru: But I don’t feel like enough has been done, if I’m honest. I’ve fixed up the stage, but isn’t there more we could be doing?

The “vampire” showdown is tomorrow, right? Yet we're going on stage without having rehearsed?

Rei: That’s why we’re here so we can practise. Our unit’s only just been formed, and we’ve barely met each other.

Adonis: It’s more of a reorganisation of members rather than meeting for the first time.

Rei: Ahaha. Adonis-kun, who is the most unfamiliar with Japanese, is the most particular about what words he uses.

Adonis: Words are important.

Rei: Yuup. In this country, there’s the belief that reality is affected by the spoken word. My good friend that passed away a bit ago said that—

Koga: Hasumi-senpai said that, and he’s not dead…

Even though it was his decision t’work behind the scenes, he worked harder than us. And we didn’t even ask him to but he convinced his parents ‘n shit to let us use this place t’practise.

Kaoru: He didn’t need to though. We could have practised at the livehouse.

Rei: Ah well. The weather’s nice ‘n isn’t singin’ in the sun super relaxin'?

Since we’re fightin’ vampires, we’ve gotta get familiar with their weakness so we can use it to our advantage.

♪～♪～♪

Kaoru: Is, is this really okay~? You’re talking about this like we’re in a business meeting, but is it guaranteed that we’ll be able to get rid of those guys?

Rei: Hey, even I can’t predict the future.

But I do think I’m goin’ a little crazy. Feels like someone’s inside me, going “indeed, you’re quite right” in an old man's voice.

Kaoru: Someone inside you? What? Are you drunk?

Adonis: I asked him that earlier.

Rei: I’m 100% sober. We couldn’t defeat the delinquents if I was pissed, and that’s also illegal, so.

Without stooping to their level, we will become the sun and burn the corruption that has infested the earth.

Trust me. I’m feelin’ weirdly good, so I’ll be tryin’ my hardest tomorrow.

Can’t promise after that, but I promise tomorrow.

♪～♪～♪

[ ☆ ]

Chapter 10

Chapter 12

[brynn-lear]

Dear Brynlee,

I hope my letter finds you in good health. I appreciate your swift and kind response. I'm quite relieved you do not mind my ignorance at times.

Moving on, I'm quite glad to hear your fondness for both the architect and the Duke. I favour the architect a lot, agreeing that he does put other artists at peace with his reliable nature. His way of communication is certainly one I nod at with great appreciation, and his sentimental disposition easily captures my curiosity.

As for the Duke though, my gaze of favour does not have any particular cause; it is simply that Monsieur Neuvillette an I happen to be close associates, and a friend of a friend certainly deserves my favour.

Of course, though, much like you, even I retain my appreciation for them away from romance. I simply adore them, is all.

Lord Kamisato is a curious one indeed... in spite of his status, it's safe to say that I consider myself quite fortunate to never have had the privilege bad luck to have a chance at interacting with him.

The Bough keeper is a more fascinating character though; I have never exactly been able to pin down his personality in spite of having had multiple chances to speak to him, in all of whom he has been nothing short of poised, respectful, and brilliant.

I believe he drapes on himself the title of a mourner, shading all other of his brighter qualities with its dull colour. He is illusive, but quietly so, never entirely being honest, or a liar; masterfully treading the lines that separate all that is good and evil.

Who dares to observe the observer? I do, of course. I await the day he shows his true nature; perhaps eagerly so.

I would share my enthusiasm for Sir Dmitri as well, should I have known him better; but considering that you adore him so, I believe he must be a good man. He certainly deserves my curiosity, then.

May I ask yet another question? Who do you adore from yet another parallel universe where the star of Stelle/Caelus finds home?

I hope my letters do not disturb you.

Yours Truly,

Chryseis Valois.

Dearest Chryseis,

You have no idea how much happy I was to receive another letter from you. I agree with most of your points, and I can definitely understand your relationship with the Iudex.

You better thank the God you believe in that you've never encountered Lord Kamisato. The Kamisato Commissioner is the elusive type. Perhaps one day you would encounter him. Who knows? Well, perhaps I do. I am an overseer after all.

I think I have a grasp on the former Black Serpent Knight's personality. He is someone I have the privilege of working with as of late, alongside Black Swan and "Medjed". Dainsleif may seem hard to understand upon first meeting, but the subtleties in his speech and humor shines the mote you interact. Though, considering that you are one of our guests, perhaps limited interacts is better. You know well that he asks the most mind boggling questions.

Interest in His Majesty...? Oh, no, you must've misunderstood our relationship. If you saw me inquiring women and men alike about their opinions of our King— it's an act done for my duties rather than... Whatever romantic airs people will label them as. I'm just helping a friend find someone to love him. That's all. Really. Please, believe me. Please.

As for the that other realm... Hmm. Well, Dr. Ratio and Aventurine are very similar to the Professor Veritas and Kakavasha I know— so it's no secret I'm fond of them. Though we'd never met, I think I would get along with Captain Gepard of the Silvermane Guards just fine. Jing Yuan is very hospitable, Kafka is charmingly persuasive, Sparkle is easy to befriend, and Blade is... Something. Hilarious how I found him most difficult to describe when he is my closest friend from that realm. His circumstances are unique, and I suppose I can relate to his... "tendencies".

Well, how about you? Who do you favor from that realm? I don't suppose Mister Aventurine is also in that list? Most people I know are quite obsessed with him. Do tell me your opinion. I'd love to know!

Sincerely,

- Brynlee <3

[meloncola]

I'm still doing art! Sorry for not doing as much of it as I should, but between school and the shitshow that is America, I haven't been drawing as much. Have no fear! I will not quit posting my art online for a while

With that being said, here's a lineup of The Primaries! I might do a strip showing their dynamic, but as with the rest of my projects don't expect me to actually DO the comic thing. Auhd is a bitch lol

Constructive Criticism is appreciated, as usual!

Character Information

💙

The blue punk you see on the far left is Aqua! They are reliable and responsible, not only running a grunge band (they play the drums), but also a children's book club. They also have a sense of ethics, and when combined with the confidence to act on their own interests, causes them to be the only one in the group to actively object to whatever shenanigans the group pulls (with few exceptions).

Where they excel in taking action, they lack in holding back on taking horrible actions. Aqua has a notorious temper and a shortage of patience. This results in them lashing out at others and potentially causing damage in property. They are not liked by the police, to say the least.

When not trying to keep the others from causing chaos, Aqua offers the group an extra set of hands or a second opinion. Rosita in particular enjoys their help, due to inadvertently watering her plants when they handle them. August also enjoys having a somewhat business-savvy confidant to help him brainstorm, and Aqua in turn is appreciative of the advice he offers them for their band. In turn, they are the very first ones to help when Aqua begins to burn out, often toning down their chaos and sometimes shoulder some of their responsibilities for them.

Trivia:

-Aqua is GREAT with kids, surprisingly enough! Their notorious temper decreases significantly if a child is in the same area, and they exhibit a level of patience otherwise alien to them. This baffles the rest of the Primaries to no end.

-The rock band they manage is called Elemental Decay. All of their members are made up of water, fire, earth, and wind. Aqua tries to avoid playing their music when the Primaries are around, but one of them might listen to them already.

💚

Standing next to Aqua is Emmie, an extremely dedicated ballerina who often gets carried away with her interest! She LOVES to dance, to the point where her apartment is essentially a miniature studio with a mattress and other necessities. When she sees an opportunity to practice switching positions or nailing that one jump, she'll take it. Whether the situation fits does not matter in the slightest.

While she does have a sense of ethics, she does not have a sense of self-preservation. She often gets herself into dangerous situations just to practice her ballet abilities by using them to escape. To her credit, she never causes said situations, she just makes them worse.

Despite this, she gets along great with Aqua, who offers her critique to her enjoyment. She is extremely close friends with August, who often practice ballet in their free time. She enjoys sharing her special interest with him and loves teaching him different jumps. It helps Augustus unwind and it provides Emmie a space for her to be passionate about her special interest. Her relationship with Rosita is less positive due to conflicting ethical values (or lack of, in Rosita's case)

Trivia:

-She has a fascination with rats and keeps a few as pets! They help her practice (read: they provide emotional support when she fucks up a jump). This practice scares the ever-loving Christ out of August, who has a mortal fear of anything rodent-like

-She has a surprisingly vast knowledge of nutrition values, and knows the nutritional information of most common foods. Rosita's more friendly interactions with her consist of different compost mixes to feed Rosita's plants.

💛

Standing at a much taller height than everyone else, Augustus Benedict IV is the 6th person to inherit the Benedict's ridiculous amounts of money. Like his family, he has a moderate ego problem and a constant drive to earn even more money than he already has. Unlike his family, he has a drive to learn about the lives of others outside his pocket of wealth, opting to major in Sociology instead of Business Administration like his predecessors. He is not on speaking terms with them anymore.

Due to having Scrooge McDuck levels of wealth, he funds the groups chaos without directly interfering with it. He would be the type to watch the fireworks while manning a popcorn stand, as a matter of fact. He enjoys the entertainment the group brings. Being made of metal, he can afford to act flippantly.

Putting aside his donor status, Augustus is close friends with the rest of the Primaries, and him and Rosita know each other from way before they were even 'founded'. She helped him pass his biology classes, and the relationship blossomed from there (pun absolutely intended). From travelling around the world in search of new plants, to running from the authorities once said plants are modified, they have an abundance of stories to tell with the rest of the group.

Trivia:

-Due to funding one of Rosita's experiments, he is officially banned from entering Bulgaria and other surrounding countries. Rosita and him would take information surrounding the specific incident to their graves.

-His parents visit every Thanksgiving, and every Thanksgiving the Primaries scare them off without fail, usually with Rosita's 'vegan-turkey' (Picture an emu in mating season made out of plant matter, and you'll get the picture).

❤️

Rosita may appear like a free-range hippy with a lab coat, and she doesn't mind playing up this image of her. Actual hippies, however, refuse to associate with her due to their various experiments with genetically modified plants that occasionally develop a hunger for meat. Disregarding such silly concepts such as 'ethics', she soldiers on her one-person crusade of science with the help/hinderance of the Primaries.

Rosita enjoys having an extra set of hands Aqua offers in cleaning up their various endeavours, and she is eternally grateful for August's funding. She is less friendly with Emmie, who has taken a dislike towards their experiments. Rosita shares this distrust, as her 'training exercises' seem to always increase the aggressiveness of her projects, which results in more mess. They do occasionally fight, and interactions between the two are rather distant. Augustus has tries getting the two to see eye-to-eye, with little success.

Trivia:

-She listens to Elemental Decay (Aqua's band), but hasn't made the connection to Aqua yet. Aqua is a fairly common name for water-born people like them, so they didn't want to assume anything. They do joke about the drummer to them though, to Aqua's horror.

-She has a hobby of crocheting and sewing, often creating their own clothes (and occasionally others). In another life, she would have been an Avant-Gard fashion designer with a ludicrous amount of houseplants.

Other information:

Aqua is Nonbinary! Specifically, they consider themselves as agender, which means they don't have a gender. Their pronouns are they/them.

Emmie has Autism, as she is nonverbal and has a special interest. She often struggles to pick up social cues, and needs things done a specific way or she'll be uncomfortable. Her pronouns are she/her.

August's pronouns are He/Him

Rosita is a Demigirl, and uses the pronouns she/they.

[lalizah]

1, 2, 3 for NatexLiz // 4,5,6 for MasonxLiz beloveds, please! 🥰 (~agentnatesewell)

Hello lovely!!! Happy to see you here ahhh!

For Nate x Liz:

What, specifically, was the catalyst for their physical attraction (if applicable) to the other character? In other words, what in particular had them like “Oh, they’re...hot...”

For Liz, it was definitely Nate being all charming and not being an ass lol. They started out as friends though, and even if Liz thought he was strikingly attractive, she felt fine being friends and didn't think about it further.

For Nate, it was just general attraction. I think he felt more attracted after the Reveal and how Liz sought him out the most afterwards. Her openness, expressive and easy-going nature drew him in, especially since he struggles with letting someone see all of him.

2. Does this change over time? What things do they find “hot” about their partner after they’ve been together for some time, and have had more time to, well, notice and appreciate?

Nate fell first, and Liz fell harder haha. Liz loves the way everything changes around him, it becomes softer, kinder, and brighter. The way he appreciates things, people, and their experiences. His curiosity and how he listens to her like everything she's saying is absolutely important. The little things he'll do to get closer, to be nearer, and unbeknownst to him, his intoxicating presence, which drives her crazy while his hand on hers keeps her tethered.

Nate finds anything Liz does hot lol. He loves her little rituals with things and feels trusted when she asks him to be with her with things she'd otherwise do alone.

3. By contrast, what was the moment that first made their ~heart~ Soft for the other person? Not necessarily a conscious realization of “I love this person,” but a moment that had them like “Oh…I adore them…”

For Liz, it was when they had the conversation about him leaving before Murphy kidnapped her. She didn't realise how painful not seeing him would be until then. And when they met again at the warehouse, how he missed her just as much as she missed him. She didn't know it was love then, but she also knew that she wouldn't feel this way about anyone else.

For Nate, it was the carnival, where they had their fake date. He knew he wanted more dates, more of just them together.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For Mason x Liz:

4. Does this change over time? What will always reliably make them melt with how much they adore the other character?

Liz melts when Mason cares and kind of stumbles over showing it lol. She knows he's trying, and it makes her adore him all the more.

Mason loves it when Liz finds ways to make things easier for him. Bringing a mini fan and umbrella in the summer, an extra coat and scarf (he's got his own collection of all of her scarves but he's not returning them anytime soon) when it's cold, evenings spent away from the town and just in nature.

5.How do they consciously realize that they like the other character? Does it take them a while?

Both of them are dumbasses when it comes to love lol. But I think they realise it at the same time, that this isn't just friendship or what they feel for the others on the team, it's more. It's unbearable for Mason to not have Liz at his side and unfathomable for Liz to want anyone but him.

6. How do they react to the realization that they like the other character? Is it an “oh my god I’m never going to think about this again” thing, or are they pretty comfortable with it?

Mason's pretty chill until Felix tells him he actually has to tell Liz, lol. The confession has him worrying a bit (and maybe, even though he won't admit it, the thought that she might not want him the way he wants her) but he's put out of his misery when Liz just confesses. Liz is pretty comfortable with it and definitely happy. She showed up to her daily sparring session with a smile on her face instead of the look of dread and it had Ava concerned and Nat amused.

ahhh these were so fun to answer, thank you for sending them in lovely!

[aeternallis]

i know it was a personal post, but can i ask if you'd be able to give an example of a fanon idea that needs more examining? i'm in the kpts fandom, but it's not something i've ever thought about with particular headcanons...

//looks at this ask like it’s a damn behemoth, especially considering I just spoke with a friend about this.

I’m gonna preface this answer with a disclaimer and say that I’m not here to act as fandom police, nor am I well-versed in Thai culture. I’m not Thai, I’m Filipino. The two cultures are very distinct and different, but there are shared cultural norms, since Thailand and the Philippines are considered part of the SE Asia region.

Play in the fandom as what makes you happy, my dear anon. I’m not here to ruin your fun, I’m just here in my own little sandbox to play with these blorbos with a few select people I’ve come to know as friends.

Having said that, let’s begin with a fanon idea that I'm gonna dissect for you.

There’s a particular fanon idea that Porsche would have been enthusiastically open to having the sex talk with Chay, since Porsche himself is a proud whore (affectionate).

And the sentiments behind that headcanon—for what it’s worth—is nice. I’m definitely for the idea that sex education needs to be more readily available, so that the masses are properly armed with the tools and knowledge they need to live a healthy, sexual life, in whatever form that may be.

Be that as it may, there are a couple of factors that that fanon idea is most likely not taking into account.

And again, just to be clear: I'm not against the idea that Chay knows a lot about sex. What I have issues with is the framing of how he would come to know about sex, his sexual identity, etc. and the cultural context that would surround that situation.

1.) Does the HC take into account that, like most if not all Asian countries, Thailand is a high-context culture? In other words, not just the words being spoken, but body language, tone, gestures, social position, etc.—all these things factor in to what would be a sensitive conversation like the sex talk and is mutually understood between both parties, most times; it’s not something that’s easily translatable, yknow? Due to this, you could ask yourself: Porsche is a sexy slut, but would he deal with Chay as a sibling who casually sleeps around (as an equal), or as an older brother and parent who knows he has the responsibility of keeping Chay happy, safe, fed, and clothed (as one in a position of higher authority)?

2.) Does the HC take into account that, like most Asian countries, talking about sex openly in Thailand is still considered somewhat taboo? Be that as it may, culture is never static. It’s a bit better now with the availability of the internet and the younger generation’s more open mindedness, but it’s still nowhere near as the west’s general social fabric that contains within it something akin to ‘the talk’ for the parents once their kids are of age to talk about that sort of thing. The topic of sex tends to be more easily spoken of and discussed with amongst equal peers, so in which case, I can actually see Chay being more comfortable talking about sex with his friends (Ohm, and even Kim), rather than Porsche.

3) Finally, does the HC take into account that one of SE Asia’s shared cultural norms is the general collective’s mutual goal of trying to maintain social harmony? That to speak openly of sex, to talk about it “enthusiastically” to the point that comedic examples like the cucumber are used, would be seen more as disruptive than anything else? In my opinion, if Porsche were to even talk about sex with Chay, he’d be more likely to point Chay towards books as sources of reliable information, rather than give a crude visual aid. Lol

From my own experience anon, it's much easier to disregard the cultural context of a show like KPTS, because it has the optics of a western tv show: the business suits, the fancy cars, the high rise-buildings. Compared that to a show like The Untamed or a movie like ManSuang, where fans are much more aware to be mindful of the cultural context, because it's set in a historical setting (although in The Untamed, it's more fantasy than anything).

The HC we talked about is harmless enough, yes. But having said that, you now have to ask yourself: is it appropriate and acceptable to disregard the cultural context of KPTS, just because it has the optics of a western tv show?

And frankly, that's something you need to figure out and find the answer for yourself.

So, there you have it. Am I stopping people from having fun with HCs such as the one I talked about? Hell no; fly free, little bird. Do whatever makes you happy in this fandom, and I will do the same.

Is the HC I talked about something I can enjoy as an enjoyer of KPTS and would interact with? Hell no, because said HC is also ignorant in a lot of different ways, and I like playing with my blorbos as accurate as they are in the original show, and in the cultural context I understand the show in.

And this take on Porsche’s character, plus the cultural context I have as an Asian, is not something that matches up at all.

[milesmentis]

I saw @turbulentpumpkin43 do this for Ariadne and thought, why the hell not ... I always love a chance to talk about my Most Archetype of All Time Guy! 💗

(More below, but the rows basically line up to his looks, themes, and personality in that order)

Boromir (Lord of the Rings) - From the start, Daren's whole concept was "what if Boromir escaped his tragedy?" [Daren's relationship with Alistair is basically a direct inversion of Boromir and Aragorn]. I love Sean Bean to death and when I needed a comfort character to recreate "just for fun" of course it was going to be him. I have him to thank for Daren's tenacity, protectiveness, and stunning profile (and for teaching me how to love my nose by proxy).

Peter Pevensie (Chronicles of Narnia) - The character I used to temper him on Daren's second playthrough! He's the source behind his idealism, dry humor, and faithfulness. I had just rewatched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Christmas for the first time in several years and reimprinted on Peter like a baby duck. If I was going to play a noble, I couldn't think of anyone nobler. Also they're both big brothers ... which is why I NEEDED to make Maeve Cousland canon.

Odysseus (The Odyssey) - I love Love LOVE giving characters classical mythology parallels, before or after the fact. This is a more recent inspiration ... I used to say he was my Achilles because of his struggles with rage and PTSD, but that didn't feel quite right. Then I realized his propensity for lying, bargaining, and above all enduring made him a perfect Odysseus. All he wants is his home and family back, and that's his reward after a harrowing journey, but it's changed and so has he. You can never truly go back :) .

Eliot Spencer (Leverage) - This slot was up in the air and for a while I strongly considered putting Murtagh or Jaime Lannister here, because I really felt like this list needed a villain. And specifically one that was charming yet had a very particular relationship with violence. But in the end I chose Eliot, because he has the exact right mix of self-aware control, gentleness, and absolute ruthless brutality. For Daren, this applies to both his battle prowess and political/social clout and he can wield both as equally deadly weapons. He knows how dangerous he is, so he's content letting the people around him forget from time to time.

Horace Altman (Ranger's Apprentice) - Just like Daren, Horace is a secondary protagonist and serves as the strong arm and reliable ally to the titular hero. He's a champion, a prodigy when it comes to warfare, and head-over-heels for the princess. While he started as a lunkheaded bully, he grew into an honorable, thoughtful man. I'm finally reading the last book in the series where he is in his late 30's and I realized that he and Daren got the exact same ending. All the way down to saving the world, marrying the queen, and having a precocious adventure-seeking daughter. Way to go, fellas.

Clark Kent (Superman) - I have been obsessed with Lawful Good Paladin-coded Heroes since I started reading Justice League comics at the age of 5. Although he has more internal ethical struggles than Clark (usually) has to deal with, they both respond to injustice with the same open, uncomplicated desire to save people and Do The Right Thing. Daren is, under all his stoic responsibility and PTSD, just a big fat goober who tries to hide his feelings so his friends never worry about him. He's used to being the strong one, the reliable one, and his most important and deepest bonds form with people who make him feel safe to be vulnerable and see the toll that shouldering the weight of the world takes. Also, they both love women who boss them around.

[kattahj]

Thai QL Favorites Tag Game

Tagged by @telomeke – thanks for thinking of me!

Credit also: this game was created by @thatgirl4815 as Thai BL Favorites Tag Game.

Don't expect to get just one answer to any of these. :-)

Favorite Thai QL: I know 3 Will Be Free doesn't "count", but it's just SO GOOD. Also Moonlight Chicken, my first love, and Bad Buddy, which is such solid storytelling from beginning to end.

Favorite pairing: The recent posts by @waitmyturtles has really reminded me how TanBun from Manner of Death are absolutely unhinged in the best possible way, and also so thirsty for each other. Love them!

Most underrated actor: What do you mean Jennie Panhan isn't a massive star with a dozen leading roles? That's criminal!

Even further on the sidelines, Mark Pakin was such a cheeky little scene stealer in Moonlight Chicken (from that very first moment), but he had nothing to do in Bad Buddy, and I haven't followed his career but I hope he has more to do somewhere.

Also, there are a lot of reliable character actors in the older generation that I enjoy whenever they show up. I'm going to single out Jum Amata, who is in everything and always fun to watch.

Favorite character: I've got to say Li Ming from Moonlight Chicken. Such a well-developed role and powerful, nuanced performance, all coming from a teenager. I was impressed then, and I'm still impressed.

Favorite side character: Mae from 3 Will Be Free, come on!

And once again moving further to the sides to mention Fai from Together With Me, who really should have been a lesbian, and Tee from GAP, who was a lesbian and should have been allowed a side romance with Yuki. (They could have cut out some of the more repetitive scenes in the show to make room for it!)

Favorite scene in a QL: (*Pushes Korn dancing in Cupid's Last Wish aside.* Shut UP you're not my favourite!) I have to say Li Ming and Jim in Moonlight Chicken finally sitting down for a conversation, with Li Ming untangling his complicated feelings for his mom and shyly admitting that he loves his uncle.

Also, A Tale of Thousand Stars isn't in my top five or anything, but daaaamn that proposal scene in Our Skyy 2 was super romantic.

And yes, I'm aware I've just mentioned three of Earth's roles here. Your point?

Favorite quote in a QL: Right now, Kit asking his henchmen "Why are you pointing a gun at my son?" in Never Let Me Go is living in my brain rent-free because of what it says about their relationship, and I really ought to make a post talking more about that, but we'll see.

But the line that has had the most personal impact on me overall is probably Uncle Tong in Bad Buddy saying, "You may think one man can't change the world, but I want you to know that this world can't change someone like me either."

Most anticipated QL (and why): The four I've got on my to-watch that haven't been made yet are 23.5 (because more lesbians in general and MilkLove in particular), Last Twilight (more Aof, more disability exploration), Only Friends (more Jojo, more of several actors I like) and Dangerous Romance (more ChimonPerth). I don't want to single out one of them, because I have no idea which one will end up being my favourite!

Healthiest relationship in a QL: Apart from the first episode and a half, HeartLiming from Moonlight Chicken really had no problems with how their relationship was progressing. All their problems were external. It's so healthy that if they weren't a side couple it might even be boring!

Most toxic relationship in a QL: Bright/Farm in Together With Me, hands down. Nothing wrong with an open relationship, but don't do it like THAT (and especially not with an inexperienced kid young enough to be your son).

Guilty pleasure series: Guilt is not a meaningful emotion where entertainment is concerned.

Okay, okay, I do admit feeling a certain amount of guilt at how entertained I was by the trainwreck of Together With Me.

Most underrated series: Truth be told, the ones that make me wish the most for more tumblr posts are the non-Thai GLs I've been watching lately (Sleep With Me and She Makes My Heart Flutter). But of the Thai stuff, I suppose I agree that He's Coming to Me could use some more love.

I don't think there's anyone I could tag who hasn't already been tagged by others, but if you're reading this and would like to do it, feel tagged!

[tianarpowell]

task 12: secrets seven

read more to learn seven secrets about tiana powell!

Secret 1: While most of Tiana’s circle has figured it out already, Tiana prefers not to talk about this: her dream restaurant will celebrate the lives of Black heroes from American history, such as Rosa Parks and George Washington Carver. The reason behind her secrecy is that her ideas have been stolen in the past; a high school classmate copied Tiana’s final project in a literature class, and now Tiana takes care not to openly describe her creative work until it is complete. Tiana’s coworkers have already uncovered this secret, however. Tiana swore them to secrecy immediately.

Secret 2: When Tiana was fourteen years old, she illegally drove a car from her neighbor’s house to her own house. She did very well, for her age. After her mother arrived home from the store, Tiana lied and said that the neighbor girl, who was almost eighteen, had driven her and run back to her house for dinner. (This did not explain why the neighbor had supposedly left her own car behind.) The truth was that Tiana had been thinking about possible emergencies that could force her to drive a car prematurely, and she only wanted to know that she could do it. These days, Tiana chalks up the incident to teenaged impulsivity, but she would never tell her mother that she did it.

Secret 3: Tiana has a secret recipe for chocolate chip cookies that uses both white and brown sugar. This is not an uncommon way to make chocolate chip cookies, so Tiana wouldn’t mind if people knew this secret. After all, the real trick lies in combining the ingredients gently enough to make the cookies softer. (Most would-be bakers go a little too fast at this stage.)

Secret 4: Only Tiana’s mother and her friend Charlotte know that Tiana went by the nickname Ti-Ti for an entire summer in high school. She and Charlotte spent part of that summer at camp, where everyone seemed to have a nickname, and Tiana pretended that she had always gone by Ti-Ti. The appeal wore off on the first day back at school that autumn, when the principal gave a speech about “behaving more adult-like.” Tiana will blush if this nickname is ever brought up again.

Secret 5: Only Charlotte remembers when Tiana’s first car broke down outside the La Bouffs’ mansion. Tiana doesn’t swear, but she did that day. Profusely. Some truly terrible insults were born from Tiana’s rage toward her failing car.

Secret 6: Although Tiana deeply loves her mother, she can’t bring herself to relate to her mother any feelings she’s had about boys. She knows that some mother-daughter duos talk about boys all the time. But for whatever reason, Tiana feels best when she keeps romantic thoughts private. One boy in particular, who took sixteen-year-old Tiana to the homecoming dance, did make Tiana feel special, but she implied to her mother that he only seemed nice to her. Another boy, who won her heart at culinary school, was also described to her mother as “nice enough.” Maybe when she settles down with her future husband, Tiana will finally admit to her mother that she feels something.

Secret 7: Tiana will never, ever touch a calculator. She abhors math. For a person so keen on building a business, math is not just essential, it’s life or death. But Tiana’s mind struggles to hold onto numbers the way it holds onto quantities in the kitchen. In high school, only intense concentration and memorization helped Tiana make it through her math classes. Now, she plans to hire a reliable accountant to handle the growth of her future restaurant. If only graphs and percentages made as much sense as filling up half a cup of water, or adjusting a recipe for more people.

[nguerrero]

general info —

full name: natalie isabel guerrero

nickname: nat

age: 25

birthday: february 4th, 1998

sexual orientation: pansexual

residential area: downtown fairford

occupation: tour and event coordinator at her family's vineyard

gender: cis female

pronouns: she/her

traits:

+ Reliable, Independent, Knowledgable - Critical, Worried, Perfectionistic

about —

the youngest daughter of the guerrero family, nat was born into a life of financial stability and general comfort. she grew up in the farmlands, a huge estate that sometimes needed motorized transportation just to get around in it. (think of parker knoll in parent trap)

it was very clear to nat, from a fairly young age, that what the guerrero family had was a privilege, even if she didn't recognize it as such at that age. but she always knew she was lucky and knew that not everyone else had the same luck. despite her comfortable life, she never mistreated anyone based on their financial opportunities, although multiple times she has faltered and assumed that her daily commodities were norm.

unlike other kids, nat's room was always tidy and her school notes were color coded. she did not particularly excel in any particular subject, but loved english and languages. she still got by with decent grades and a lot of friends, despite the resting bitch face she grew into as she got older. she was in every single planning committee she could get into and helped coordinate multiple events in high school, as well as yearbooks and field trips. to this day, people talk about these events and remember them - and for good reason: nat would not allow herself anything short of perfection. a trait of hers that would end up developing anxiety and self-worth issues.

after graduating high school, her parents paid for her to study in barcelona for two years, but after getting homesick and struggling with her mental health, nat returned and finished her degree in business management in washington state. despite her threats and promises of moving away and traveling the world, she has never been able to leave her family and the fairford community for long.

she started working full-time at her family's vineyard as soon as she graduated college and is the best at hooking friends up with jobs at the vineyard too. she does most of the tour and event planning there, which is a big job - and it is surely burning her slowly, but nat claims that she loves it.

natalie loves her family and she's super grateful to them for everything they've provided for her, but has realized how coddled by them she's been her whole life, so she's on the search for her independence and her individuality, trying to figure out who she is outside of the guerrero bubble. she now lives downtown in an apartment, and is kind of struggling trying to figure out adulting by herself.

more!

although she's not the most creative nor does she really possess the skills, nat enjoys knitting. if she loves you, she has made you something.

she's a big people person and loves going out, aka huge extrovert. does things like paying for people's drinks as long as that means people are drinking with her.

speaks english, spanish, italian, and is learning korean.

some other hobbies of hers include: reading, travelling, wine tasting (duh), gym-going, and convincing people to let her organize their closet.

wanted connections —

members of the guerrero family. give her older siblings, or younger brothers, anything. pls.

adult friends! she's super outgoing and really loving once you get past the rbf.

one night stands/hookups

exes, failed situationships (from high school, college, or present day)

high school friends / lifelong friends: nat grew up in fairford, and her family is well-known.

gym buddy

neighbors in downtown

previous neighbors in farmlands

clients she's worked with at the vineyard

friends she's made traveling (barcelona friends would be cool but i'm open to more than just that!)