#and there's definitely some muses I'd like to get back in touch with

[writing-mlm]

Just found this account, and I absolutely love it!! You've probably gotten tons of asks now from the post about requests closed while needing ideas. I'd love to see a Bruce wayne x reader who's trans and is getting ready for a gala with him?? Feel free to ignore it for now if needed! Love your work <3

Summary: Bruce gets distracted by his husband while getting ready for a gala Pairing: Bruce Wayne x Ftm!Reader Word Count: 0.8k Tags/Warning: married Bruce Wayne, reader is mentioned to have top surgery scars but no physical description past that, Whipped Bruce Wayne, suggestive, a lot of touching A/n: to get out of this writers rut i’m probably gonna churn out about five 0.5-2k fics within a week and hiiii anon thank you :3 this was gonna be more of a get ready but i didn’t do that obviously lol

Bruce watches you from the bed, his eyes tracing along your exposed skin as if he was some pubescent high schooler. Perhaps they were right about the no shoulders showing rule because he swears he’s drawn to it. You don’t even notice his staring; perhaps you do, but you’re so used to it that you don’t make it known. Bruce remembers when he first started doing that, watching you get dressed, how bashful you’d been back then and he’s glad you’re a lot more comfortable with it. With him. 

He stands from the lush bed and stalks over to you, his steps purposefully soft and nearly silent so you don’t notice him until you feel the warmth from behind you. He makes slow work of wrapping his hands across your stomach, his fingers gliding across your skin like he was skimming a page and kisses your left shoulder before looking at you through the mirror. 

You’re busy rubbing lotion onto your arms, but you welcome his presence by leaning into his touch and a small smile graces your face. He figures he should make himself useful rather than just standing there so he takes some lotion and starts to put it on your chest. Bruce watches as his fingers trace over your scars and then inhale your scent again while you scratch the side of his head as a thank you. His hands wander lower, running over your happy trail and you swear if you let him he would’ve worked on undoing your belt, too. 

“You’re a dog,” You muse, looking at him through the mirror. He just smiles and leans more into your neck. The feeling of his nose dragging along your neck makes you smile and you mess with his still unkempt hair. His hands raise from your stomach and instead circle around to your hips, keeping you from moving away from him. 

Not that you were going to. 

“You look magnificent,” He justifies his actions into your skin. The vibrations tickle you as they travel across your neck and you roll your head back onto his shoulder. “Are you sure we can’t miss the gala? It wouldn’t be the first one we did,” You’re unsure if he means for less than good reasons or if he means for when you go out in your suits and save the city. It’s probably both, all things considered. 

“Bruce,” You laugh, picking your head up. “It’s in the manor, how can you possibly skip that?” He shrugs but he definitely has a plan already made. You can tell because he has that twinkle in his eye and you doubt he goes anywhere without having an excuse to leave quickly. Plus he’s Batman, you don’t think he’s been unprepared since his time with those damn Tibetan Monks. 

Rather than responding, Bruce instead looks at you in the mirror, his eyes on your face while your eyes travel from his face down to his hands as he grips your hips before spinning you around. Your hands find their natural spot on his biceps while his hands travel to hold your ass, dipping you down to persuade you. When it doesn’t, he starts leaving small kitten kisses across your chest, all the while maintaining eye contact with you. 

“No, Bruce,” You urged through a laugh. “It’s a charity gala and you invited the League.”

“The League,” He huffs. “They’ll be fine without me— I’m a part-timer and I’ve already written the check for the charity. But,” He stands tall and puts his fist on his hips dramatically. “I think that there’ll be a domestic matter we’ll need to attend to halfway through. My dear, amazing, wonderful husband simply couldn’t bear to be around the annoying Oliver Queen.” He gives you a look and you mess with the scars on his arm. 

“Maybe,” You hum. “Or we can deal with it now, get it out of your system.”

“I do see the value in your option, but I think for maximum efficiency we should go with both options,” He nods, picking you up in one motion. Laughing, you hold onto his neck while he walks over to the bed, already kissing your neck.

Bruce places you softly on the bed before he lowers himself to his knees while you’re threading your fingers through his hair.  Unfortunately, the door opens as he places your legs over his shoulders and you rise to your elbows, seeing a tired-looking Alfred. He rolls his eyes, clearly having expected this to be the reason the hosts of the gala had yet to make their appearance. 

“Sorry, Alfred,” You wince while Bruce looks up from his spot between your legs. 

“You haven’t forgotten to knock, have you?” Bruce muses and Alfred rolls his eyes. 

“Nothing I haven’t seen before with the two of you. But do hurry, Master Bruce, Master (Y/n). Your guests are waiting,"

[anime-in-new-albion]

The Spoiled Treatment ~ Jamil Viper

Summary: Jamil works so hard for everyone he cares about. It hurts your heart that no one takes care of him in turn. That's why you take it on yourself to spoil him rotten.

Pairing: Jamil Viper X G/N!Reader

Genre: Fluffy Drabble

Word Count: 768

Warning: N/A

Masterlist

A/N: This is a request!

Jamil worked harder than any other Scarabia student you knew and it broke your heart. You understood why he did it; his family worked for Kalim's and he cared very much for the future of his dorm, though he'd never admit it out loud. But that didn’t mean he needed to work himself half to death. So you came up with a brilliant plan in an effort to help him relax.

When he woke up on the day of your plan, you surprised him with breakfast in bed. Instantly, he was suspicious of your behavior and your motives.

"What's all this?" He skeptically asked, staring at the food before him.

"Well, you do so much for Kalim and the rest of the students in Scarabia, but you never take any time for yourself." You sheepishly explain, shifting your weight from foot to foot. "So I thought I would do something special to show you how much we all appreciate you. And before you ask, Kalim is spending the whole day with his family back in Scalding Sands. The rest of Scarabia is out of the dorm as well. It's just you and me, and I am determined to spoil you rotten today!"

"But-"

You held the food you made for him up to his nose to stop him from protesting. "You can't back out of this, Now, eat up! We have a long day of doing nothing ahead of us!"

Though he seemed reluctant, Jamil finished his meal, which made you smile as he admitted to how delicious it was. Following breakfast, you brought him to one of the spare dorms that was used for the many guests that come over at the request of Kalim. You had completely transformed the room to look like a day spa. It was a lot of work and it was all done behind Jamil's back, but you were proud of what you accomplished. Jamil, on the other hand, was a little annoyed, but let it slide because of the puppy dog eyes you flashed at him.

He enjoyed a warm, relaxing bath as you gently washed his hair. When he changed into a fluffy robe, you brushed and braided his hair with deft fingers.

"You're pretty good at this." He mused as he let your fingers run through his soft, silky hair. "I might just have to ask you to braid my hair more often."

"I'd be honored." You gushed before tying off and beginning to massage his shoulders. 

He flinched at your touch. "What are you doing now?"

"I'm sure you're all wound up tighter than a clock and I was right. I'm just trying to ease some of the tension in your shoulders." You explain. "Just relax, please. Today is all about you."

It turns out, it was a lot harder to get him to relax than you anticipated. He was so jumpy every time you tried to do something nice for him. He also looked guilty when he thought you weren't looking, as if he should be helping you in some way. But you would not be deterred. You were going to show him how much you appreciated him because he deserved it.

You gave Jamil a mani-pedi and a hand massage. You allowed him to assist you with making lunch and he was definitely in his element as he showed you how to make traditional dishes from Scalding Sands. You couldn't stop complimenting him on his amazing cooking skills and his blush made you praise him even more.

After lunch, the two of you built a pillow fort, which was pretty elaborate thanks to Kalim's obsession with pillows. When you both were settled in comfy clothes and full of snacks, you turned on a movie marathon. As the hours ticked by, you watched as Jamil became more and more relaxed. It seemed your plan was finally working.

Dinner consisted of more comfort food for Jamil before you led him outside to stargaze. You both told stories about the stars above, leaning against each other, cuddling under a blanket. You almost fell asleep listening to the sweet lull of his voice, when you were startled by the sound of fireworks.

Jamil smirked and pulled you closer, pressing a kiss to your cheek. "What a finale, I must say."

You shook your head. "The fireworks weren't me."

He furrowed his brows before realization dawned on both of you at the same time. "Kalim."

A laugh escaped you. "Of course! I should've known!"

"Still," He pulled you closer. "Thank you."

"Of course." You nod and kiss him. "Anything for you."

[sunnynwanda]

IDEA!

Chill oblivious Hero x flirty flamboyant Villain

Something funny, or not, whatever you’d like to write :]

Drop Dead

Part 2

Warnings: flirting (?), borderline obsessed with each other.

Song rec: VOILÀ – Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Hero leans back against the wall, their head spinning from the flashing lights and the noise that others referred to as music. Sometimes, social responsibilities felt more tiresome than a night-long battle with Villain. It was certainly more fun, too. Besides, Hero definitely felt more comfortable wearing a blue leather costume as opposed to the black lace masquerade mask adorning their face now. They glance outside the window, city lights capturing their attention, providing a sense of comfort to their buzzing mind.

"Drop. Dead. Gorgeous."

Hero winces, recognising the voice and dramatic flare of their nemesis before even turning around. They glance up, their gaze focusing on the reflection in the glass of the window. Villain looks breathtaking, clad in an all-black outfit, as per the host's demand. Not that it was any different from their usual preference. Hero, on the other hand, rarely wore black.

"You look stunning wearing my colour, baby," Villain continues, choking on their words in exaggerated awe when Hero turns to face them. "Taking my breath away with those gorgeous eyes of yours."

"How did you even recognise me?" Hero questions, brushing their hair back from their forehead.

Villain rolls their eyes with a slight smirk. "I'd know those lips anywhere. They've been driving me insane long enough."

Hero rolls their eyes in utter - fake - exasperation. Villain's flirting was something they grew accustomed to as an integral part of their encounters. Hero couldn't quite pinpoint how that was supposed to give their opponent an upper hand, but they were not one to question Villain's strategic genius.

"You're giving me a headache," they complain, taking a sip of their drink to hide how flustered they are by Villain's unrelenting advances. If it were anyone else acting in this manner, Hero would have punched their lights out months ago, but with Villain... something was holding them back from putting an actual stop to their dynamic. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Just wanted to see you, sweetheart. Been running through my head all day," Villain muses, trapping Hero against the window, the edge of the sill digging into Hero's lower back. "All damn day."

"You could be arrested here," Hero tries to knock some sense into them, looking over their shoulder to check for any spectators. No one seems to be paying them any mind.

Villain grins, stepping closer until their chest almost touches Hero's. Almost.

"You're not working today," Villain counters, taking Hero's glass out of their fingers and placing it on the window sill. "No one else can get me to drop my guard." They lean impossibly close, whispering into Hero's ear.

Hero gulps, their breath hitching in their throat at the immediate proximity. They can feel Villain's breath on their skin, the heat radiating off of Villain's body clouding their judgement before they shake their head, composing their expression and offering Villain a nonchalant shrug. "I could reveal you."

"You could be the death of me, darling, and I wouldn't mind," Villain's smooth voice fills their ears again, a hand trailing up their side until it reaches the side of their neck. Villain somehow leans even closer, making Hero's eyes flutter shut at the intimate touch. "I'd drop dead at your feet if that was what you wanted."

Villain mutters the words into their skin, their lips ghosting over the base of Hero's jaw. It takes Hero a moment to process their words, their eyes flying open when the gentle night breeze hits their flushed skin. They whip around, staring at the ajar window, not a trace of Villain left behind except for the heavy blush rising up their neck and the lingering feeling of Villain's lips on their jaw.

"God damn it."

Part 2

A/N: Hi, sweetheart! I might have digressed with this one xD The masquerade theme popped out of nowhere. Hope you enjoy this nonetheless <3 I sure had a blast. Love, Sunny xo

Masterlist

Taglist: @marvellousdaisy @alltimelowing@lateuplight @surplus-of-sarcasm@betwist@excusemeasibangmyheadonawall @enemies-to-idiots-to-lovers@miaowmelodie @thatonerandomauthor @hhabaddon@burningoutlikeicarus @daemonvatis @weepingcowboywolfbat @thelazywitchphotographer @kaiwewi @soul-of-a-local-bard @pigeonwhumps @aflyingsheepnamedrose @thatneptune @ohwellthatslifesstuff @worldsfromhoney@thiefofthecrowns @crow-with-a-typewriter @qualityrabbitsoup @stargeode@villain-life @villainsblood @whumpifi @glassthedumbass @silviathebard @misskowe @ayeshaturnedtoashes4444

[veal-exe]

I trust your taste in media, and am willing to ask off anon. (Your takes on Berserk are PHENOMENAL, and I heartily agree.)

I love a good tragedy. Some of my favorite pieces of literature and media in general have been tragedies. (Unfortunately, since they tend to get review bombed for not having "happy" plotlines, or happy endings, its hard to find recs for them specifically.)

Do you have a set of I dunno... 3-5 tragedies to recommend? (I am trying to expand my read/watch list a bit, since I am running out of things to keep on my second monitor while I work on other things.)

(I am not easily triggered by self-harm, sexual assault, or gore, luckily, and those tend to go hand-in-hand with tragedies quite frequently.)

So here's a secret about me, when I was young I had a 'rebellious' phase where I decided that instead of just dedicating myself to the family business (Dog training, multi generation) I was going to expand my horizons and go into film and media critique, so I went and I got all the education you need for that, and then I decided, no, I actually like training dogs more. You would think this means I flushed all that right down the toilet but actually now I just hobby analyze media.

All of this to say, I have many things to recommend! In various mediums!

I will place a Star next to my personal favorites. ☆

This is not a comprehensive list! I have known memory issues, so these are just off the cuff, if anyone wants more or wants specific themes let me know, some of these may be more, or less, tragic than others, or have better, or worse, endings.

Tragedy is personal and human.

I have given special TWs for things outside the usual scope or that I find worth mentioning!

Manga & Anime

Fire Punch. ☆☆☆

Fire Punch takes place on an Earth that has become frozen over and barren. The series follows Agni, a young man who is able to regenerate his body. After his village succumbs to inextinguishable flames he is left constantly on fire, leaving him in anguish and vowing to get revenge.

[Special TWs: Cannibalism, Incest themes are touched on, and a very poignant moment of discussion of transgender suffering in regards to a main character, tons of sexual assault including animals being used to sexually assault children, there is a TW for everything in here]

Goodbye, Eri!

A manga about Yuta, a young filmmaker, struggling with grief after his mother's death. He copes by making movies, and meets Eri, a mysterious girl who becomes his muse and helps him create a new film.

Wolf's Rain

The journey of four lone wolves who cross paths while following the scent of the Lunar Flower, and their search for Paradise.

Maquia: when the promised flower blooms ☆☆☆

This one is complex, I don't know if I'd call it a full on tragedy to everyone, but it is worth watching, and it's worth watching twice.

The people of Iolph are known for two things: their youthful longevity and peaceful lives weaving tapestry. When that is disturbed and their home thrown into chaos by those believing that their blood gifts longer life, Maquia loses not only her friends, but a place to return to.

[Special TWs: Coerced Pregnancy]

Clannad: After Story ☆

No summary, watch it blind.

[Special TWs: Terminal Illness, Child Death]

Texhnolyze

Texhnolyze follows Ichise, an underground fighter whose arm and leg were severed after he displeased an unnamed, presumably influential, man. He is brought back from the brink of death by Eriko "Doc" Kaneda, who replaces his lost limbs with prosthetics through a process known as "texhnolyzation"

Angel’s Egg ☆☆☆

An atmospheric, dialogue-light, OVA about a girl protecting a mysterious egg in a ruined world.

Monster

A slow-burning, dialogue-heavy series about a surgeon who saves a boy who grows up to be a serial killer.

Devilman Crybaby ☆☆☆

The classic, you've probably heard of it, it is worth it.

Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou

The definitely 100% for sure uplifting tale of two girls and their quest to find hope in a bleak and dying world. I'll give that this one is a semi tragedy, the ending makes it.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Films and Similar

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ☆ ☆ ☆

After a painful breakup, Clementine (Kate Winslet) undergoes a procedure to erase memories of her former boyfriend Joel (Jim Carrey) from her mind. When Joel discovers that Clementine is going to extremes to forget their relationship, he undergoes the same procedure and slowly begins to forget the woman that he loved.

Manchester by the Sea

After the death of his older brother Joe, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked that Joe has made him sole guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick. Taking leave of his job as a janitor in Boston, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations.

The Road ☆

I would really prefer people read the book, but the movie is also pretty great. A father and son travel through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Bleak, cold, and emotionally raw. Not a lot of dialogue, so the atmosphere does the talking.

[Special TWs: Like, everything on earth, Cannibalism, human livestock, infant death, etc]

The Turin Horse

An apocalyptic parable set in an isolated farmhouse...

[Special TWs: Animal abuse, animal death, racism against Romani people, but the people involved get what they deserve in the end]

[Special Warning: Most people consider this a tragedy but it fills my heart with joy, I have a special place in my heart for any film that shows people I personally consider to suck, especially animal or child abusers, suffering and dying slowly and horrifically and that is all this film is, just an animal abusing man and his daughter dying slowly and painfully during the implied apocolypse, it cures my depression <3]

[nisuna]

By popular demand I present you part 2 of the Toji x single mom!reader AU. Hope you enjoy!

(read part 1 here!!)

TW: A lot of bickering as always haha, bj, throat fucking, deep throating, masturbation, cum swallowing, you're both so stubborn holy moly, 1.3k words, Toji x single mom!reader

<3masterlist<3

---------------Strictly 18+MDNI---------------

He stayed longer than just for breakfast and actually became a frequent visitor. He even met your kids on one of his weekly stays. You didn't expect him to be good with kids at all, but they immediately took a liking to him. As soon as your parents heard you had a new man in your life and saw how happy you were they were eager to take the kids in more often so you two had time alone. It was an ordinary day, he was sleeping in as usual, but you were already busy making yourself ready. He promised to take you out on a date today, however even after your many attempts to finally get him out of bed, he still refused. A woman can only take that much, so you finally snapped.

"You're acting like you got pegged last night."

That woke him right up, he even sat up. "Excuse my tiredness after having to do everything myself, pillow princess.", he snarled

He's so annoying. You had to groan as you held your head. "Oh, is that so? Poor you, but just so you know, I do a lot of work, too." you approached him, pointing your finger at him

"Really? Haven't seen much of that lately. You have to try harder or I won't believe you." he was so smug about it as he stood up and took your hand in his.

"Just you wait, I'm gonna prove you wrong."

"Oh, how so?", he mused while pulling your body flush against his, kissing your hand.

"Stop it, we're late, we don't have time for this right now. Move your ass and don't be so stubborn.", you tried to push him away.

"What are you gonna do about it?"

Oh, now he's done it. You finally lost your temper and pulled him to stand against the wall. You palmed him through his pants as you pressed yourself against him.

"I'm gonna suck you dry, boy." , you said, already getting on your knees in front of him and pulling his underwear down.

"Hah, I'd love to see you try, do you even- oh fuck"

"Does he ever shut up?", you rolled your eyes while almost swallowing him whole. You muffled your impending gag with a hard suck.

You pulled yourself off his cock, tongue still sliding over the underside of it. "Just shut up and savor it."

Before he could speak you sucked his tip back into your mouth. You bobbed your head while his cock was hitting the back of your tight throat. You could feel the tears forming at the corners of your eyes.

To make it a bit easier on yourself, you pulled away spitting on your hand and pumping him while your tongue kept playing with his tip. He was being awfully quiet, which made you quite proud. Such a huge man at your mercy, you were definitely digging it. His eyes were glued on you throughout. Even though he had to throw his head back at your skillful tongue, he kept looking back down as if he couldn't believe his eyes. You shot him a smirk as you pulled up his shirt and kissed up his hard abs, your hand keeping a steady rhythm. He was messy already and you felt yourself grow wet, desperately rubbing your thighs together for some kind of relief. You were getting impatient, so you couldn't stop yourself from slipping your fingers between your legs. A moan fell from your lips at the contact. He didn't notice at first, but after feeling you moan around his cock so eagerly he finally looked down. Surely you wouldn't get so much pleasure from only sucking his cock, right?

"Holy shit are you touching yourself? Fuck that's hot.", he groaned grabbing a fistful of your hair and pulling you off of his cock.

Your eyes were still a bit teary and you let out a few coughs, taking a deep breath while you kept playing with yourself, showing him everything. Connecting your lips back to his cock you whispered. "Gotta make this enjoyable for myself too you know" You flattened your tongue and licked a thick stripe from his base and back to his tip. You were working yourself open with the same rhythm you were sucking on his cock.

"Fuck, how are you so good at this?"

"The best, actually.", you grinned, sticking your tongue out and playing with your clit.

"Alright, alright, too much talking." he groaned. "Get back to sucking, you look prettier that way.", he smirked before shoving his cock back down throat with two hands on your head.

He let out a deep moan after he bottomed out, continuing his teasing. "And keep rubbing yourself, I want you to cum with my cock down your throat."

Before you could even roll your eyes, he began moving and you felt like you were about to suffocate as you dug your nails into his beefy thighs. You tried your best to relax your throat as much as possible and went back to playing with your dripping cunt. You tried dipping your fingers in from time to time but your fingers just didn't do it for you anymore after having experienced his thick and long ones, let alone his cock. So you opted for circling your sensitive clit with your nimble fingers instead. His smell and the sensation of his heavy cock on your tongue was making you weak. He on the other hand also enjoyed the sensation of you moaning around his cock and how your throat would constrict from time to time. Oh he won't last long, but he has to hold out until you cum first.

"Good fucking girl, you look so pretty like that. Make yourself cum and I'll fill up your mouth. Fuck there we go."

You felt yourself twitch with every touch and couldn't stop your eyes from rolling in the back of your head as you came with a muffled moan and a mouthful of cock.

He was sooo smug about it and kept making snarky remarks and you let him while you were fingering yourself through your orgasm. But it didn't take you long to get back on track as you stopped his hips with your hand. You were supposed to be the one to make him cum. And that's exactly what you did, pumping his shaft with one hand while bobbing your head and paying special attention to his tip with your tongue. You locked eyes with him and that's what broke him. He grabbed your head, shoving himself down your throat as far as he could and finally gave you a taste of his cum.

It tasted like shit, but you had a point to prove so you woman-ned up and swallowed every last drop. After you were done you pulled yourself off with a pop, proudly sticking your tongue out.

"You were saying?" Now it was your turn to be smug.

"Fuck, you're good, I'll give you that."

"Very good" you hummed and got back up, rubbing out the dents on your knees from the hard floor. "So if you don't have anything else to say let's finally- hey!!", you were very rudely interrupted by him picking you up and carrying you back into your bed. "What do you think you're doing mister??", you interrogated while pulling on his ear.

"You think I can just move on and act like nothing happened after the best head of my life?"

It's so cheesy, he really acts like a horny teenager a lot. But still, you were speechless, so you just blinked at him in silence, letting him continue.

"Gotta finish what you started, sweetheart. l want you to prove me wrong some more why you're not just a pillow princess in bed." So annoying, but extremely exciting as well. "Fuck it", you gave in and crashed your lips against his while he held you up in his strong arms.

You two definitely won't make it out of the house today. Better luck next time!!

------

Part 3 anyone?? haha

[kittwix]

Omg hello I have read some your jjba related stuff and I love it!! Your writing is good and I enjoy it.

Could you prehaps write some Rohan x introvert/shy!reader headcanons, only if you want, I'm aware it might take you some time and that's fine by me! ^^

Kishibe Rohan w/ Shy, Introverted! Reader

yes, i'd like to write more often but I don't want to force myself to cook up something thats like halfass. i'd much rather finish works when I'm feeling motivated again! thank you so much for your understanding <33

tags: fluff, slight mention of sex but its very slight and nothing explicit, rohan being rohan, reader is neither stand user or a regular person, reader is gender neutral!!!

He loves it, contrary to what some might think. Those who are as arrogant, brash and abrasive like Rohan would think someone who's reserved and kept their thoughts to themselves would take it as a threat. Not him, he thinks your quiet demeanor is rather alluring since he can't seem to really know whats going on in that head of yours.

Has to fight back the urge to use Heaven's Door on you, just so he can understand you better.

He enjoys your silence, helps him concentrate on his work. Would even suggest to have you sit right next to him, perhaps even on his lap if he wants to tease you, all while sketching out volumes for his manga series.

Speaking of teasing, yeah, you're not necessarily safe from his comments. He likes to call you a little mouse because you make no noise. And when you do talk to him, he makes it a big deal and says something along the lines of, "Hm? Are you talking to me?". He loves how shy you get, he's definitely gonna force you to speak up if you want something from him.

You're gonna forever be his muse, whether it's in private or jusf straight up admitting to you that he bases a character off of you. He's not one to really do that and yet, he feels the need to always include a quiet and mysterious character that resembles you very closely.

If he gets stressed and overworked with deadlines and other rival mangakas, you're the only one that can really ground him. You don't find ways to fix things for him, you only just sit and listen to him and it's what he really needs.

He's also very protective of you, would always watch people very closely when they try to talk to you. If anyone tries to push you around, he's quick to cut them down with brutal sarcasm or a withering glare.

Once you give him the okay to touch you or hold you in any way, he can get really handsy and gets carried away pretty fast. A hand on your back when you're walking, fingers brushing along your wrist while you're reading and pushing you to lay next to him when you're sitting together.

He's always gonna be the initiator. Whether it's to lean in to kiss you, going out on a date, or having sex in private in his office room — he doesn't get tired of it either. As long as you give him the 'okay' or that you're comfortable, he'll make sure that you feel love.

Has a hard time dropping the L-word, a.k.a, "I Love You". Because you keep things mostly to yourself, neither of you have the courags to say it to each other despite wanting to. Rohan has his own way of saying it, along the lines of: "You inspire me.", "You're the only one who understands me.", etc. So when he actually lets thoss three words slip off his lips, it shocks the both of you but he smirks to himself because he's also proud that he said it.

fin!

+ masterlist

[pintsizeninja]

The Genesis of a Ship

Since I'm not posting a new chapter of my Odin/Zane fic this week, I figured I'd take some time to highlight why I started shipping them in the first place!

It's no secret I fell madly in love with Poets of the Fall, and Marko Saaresto (young Odin) in particular, after playing through We Sing for the first time a few days after Alan Wake 2 released. I hadn't written fanfic in 10+ years, but like a lot of folks in this fandom, AW2 inspired me to pick up the proverbial pen again. I knew I wanted to write a fic from young Odin's POV and have it set in the 1970s during the Old Gods' heyday - I just needed a pairing.

When I learned Sam Lake provided his bff Marko with poems to help him craft the lyrics for "Late Goodbye" and all the OGOA songs, something clicked deep in my brain. That was it: Thomas Zane and Odin Anderson would collaborate on a project together, Zane would provide Odin with poetry to write songs that would bring his artistic vision to life - and sparks would fly (this is the premise of my fic Talented Voice).

Then this photo happened at the Game Awards, and it was all over after that.

There's even a basis for it in canon:

1) Odin incorporates Zane's poetry into Balance Slays the Demon, over 40 years after Zane disappeared. I headcanon that since Odin is immune from the changed story, he held onto a book (or at least some typewritten sheets) of Zane's poetry for all that time - or maybe even stole them out of the shoebox at some point. If we take the song at face value (and not because of, y'know, game reasons), that's a long time to hold onto someone's poetry. Zane clearly meant something to Odin.

2) Just listen to the wistful longing in Marko's Odin's voice when he sings "The Poet and the Muse". There is a lot of emotion tied up into that song, which was released six years after Zane disappeared. It's both a love story and a cautionary tale, with Odin lamenting the loss of his lover/friend (depending on how you want to look at it).

Then you have the deleted dialogue between Odin and Saga (spoilers, and it's not clear why this was cut although theories abound, so take it with a grain of salt) where Odin mentions giving Zane a song. While this isn't canon since it was cut, it adds fuel to the 'Odin and Zane collaborated together' fire.

So while the two characters never share any scenes together in the games for obvious reasons, it's quite clear Zane was special to Odin; special enough to write a whole-ass song about him and hold onto his poetry for decades.

Here's why it works:

1) This one varies depending on your interpretation of who Thomas Zane really is/was (and I'm not touching that topic with a 10 foot pole, it's been discussed to death on Reddit 😂), but the late 60s were a wild and crazy time. You know Odin and Tor threw some crazy parties back in the day, and Zane had plans for an artist's commune that included the Anderson brothers - so some shenanigans definitely would've ensued. But even without the rewriting (or expansion, again depending on your interpretation) of Zane's history in AW2, the poet likely would've found himself at those parties regardless. Nothing like a little sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll to get those creative juices flowing. 😎

Which leads me to:

2) They're both creatives. They understand the highest highs and the lowest lows of the creative process. That passion thrums in their veins and leads to a deeper understanding between the two of them. Odin and Zane would just get each other on a different level. While the Old Gods didn't exist prior to Zane's disappearance, we know Odin and Tor had music careers prior to the band's formation in 1971. I could totally see Zane falling for the dashing young rockstar, even before he became Odin; just being completely swept away by that stage presence and that voice. That voice.

Two passionate artists collaborating during the time of free love in the 1960s and 1970s, poetry and music intertwining - it's perfect.

If you want to read more:

My Odin/Zane series is now well over 100,000 words long, with at least another 130,000 words planned, and I'm beyond happy other people have embraced this ship. Shoutout in particular to HopelessScribe on AO3 for also writing Odin/Zane.

And, can't forget this beautiful fanart commissioned from Valentina, with more (NSFW!) Odin/Zane fanart on the way 😈

[allmoshnobrain]

𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫: 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

part 01 of 06 | masterpost

word count: 5,1k | ao3 link | fic's playlist

✦ on this chapter: NSFW!!!, james hetfield x female!oc, oc is cliff's cousin, +18, language, slice of life, angst, grief, mxf sex, unprotected sex

✦ a/n: The epilogue's finally here! As I said before, I had to split it into a few parts because it turned out really long and I wanted to tie all loose ends lol I haven't finished writing it yet, but I'll try to keep posting twice a week. Many things will have changed in this, since it's set mostly in 1992. We will have some flashbacks, but I dated all the parts so it wouldn't get confusing. Hope you enjoy the read, feedback is welcome! ❤

December 31, 1991

San Francisco in December hit me with that familiar chill as soon as I stepped off the plane; I quickly slipped on my gloves and shrugged into my coat, letting out a sigh as the cold nipped at my nose and fogged up my breath. It felt weird being back after so long, back to the city where I'd lived, loved, and grown up all those years ago.

I’d bid farewell to San Francisco two years back when my art career started picking up steam, making the move to LA seem like the logical next step. Coming back to the city stirred up a pain that ran deep in my bones — a constant reminder of the happiness I once knew but could never quite recapture, a bittersweet flashback to all I'd experienced — and all that had slipped away.

Lars had invited friends and family for a massive bash at his vacation home, ringing in the end of the year and welcoming 1992 with a bang. I had a hunch the extravagant party had something to do with his recent divorce, after a rushed marriage which had barely lasted two years. He'd even sent his driver, Simon, to scoop me up from the airport.

It was a relief not to have to wrangle a taxi amidst the chaos of folks flying in for the last flights before New Year's Eve. Slipping into the Jaguar, I peeled off my sunglasses with a sigh; those shades had become my shield against being recognized in the last few months. Ever since I'd started doing TV gigs, getting spotted by strangers and paparazzi was becoming a regular thing. It came with the territory, sure, but sometimes, a girl just wanted a little peace and quiet.

"Good afternoon, Miss Burton," Simon greeted me with a smile as I hopped into the car, and I shot one right back at him. "Mr. Ulrich was really looking forward to your arrival."

"Thanks, Simon. Are the others already there?" I inquired, my gaze drifting out the window as we cruised away from the airport.

"Yes, Mr. Hammett and Mr. Newsted are. Mr. Hetfield will show up later; I'll swing back to get him after dropping you off. And Miss Summers won't be joining us."

I let out a sigh. Ever since Cliff had passed, Leanne had drifted away from the group, moving to another city and cutting most ties. She said it hurt too much to stick around — too many reminders of him . I got where she was coming from and harbored no hard feelings, but her absence had definitely put some distance between us over the years.

"Well, I'll have to shoot her a call later and wish her a Happy New Year," I mused absentmindedly. "Do you know if my aunt and uncle are gonna make it?"

"Yes, I'll pick them up later," Simon replied, earning a small smile from me. Despite Cliff's passing hitting us all hard, Aunt Jan and Uncle Ray had been a steady presence for me and the guys. They'd practically become like second parents to all of us over the years, always there in the Metallica routine, whether it was on the professional front or at family and friends' get-togethers.

It took us a bit to roll up to Lars' vacation home, a big old mansion tucked away in one of San Francisco’s most expensive neighborhoods, a far cry from the tiny house we used to live in back in the day. Simon pulled up at the main entrance; the door was wide open, and I caught a glimpse of the staff buzzing around, putting the final touches on the shindig. Judging by the crates of booze being unloaded, this was gonna be more than just a cozy New Year's bash with a few friends.

"Thanks for the ride, Simon," I said, grabbing my bag and popping open the car door. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Miss."

It didn't take me long to spot Lars; the moment I stepped into the foyer, there he was, barking orders to his assistant at lightning speed, champagne glass already in hand. I couldn't help but grin; classic Lars, hitting the booze before anyone else. He turned my way at the sound of my footsteps echoing on the polished floor, breaking into a smile as he strode over.

"Nore!" he exclaimed, pulling me into a bear hug. "I'm so stoked you made it."

"Hey, Lars," I grinned, returning the hug. It had been a hot minute since I'd seen him or any of the guys; 1991 had been a whirlwind for all of us, and work had pretty much consumed our lives at warp speed.

"How was the trip? Did Simon take good care of you?"

"Yeah, it was smooth sailing. Simon's a pro, always has been. But seriously, Lars, you shouldn't have him grinding away on the last day of the year."

"Oh, he's getting compensated handsomely for it, don't you worry. Hey, you remember your way around the house, right? Kirk and Jason are probably chilling in the sauna. Oh, Allie!" Lars called out to his assistant, a dark-haired girl who looked eager to please. "Got the guest list handy? Can you show our girl here where she'll be crashing tonight?" Allie nodded briskly, and Lars flashed me a smile, turning back to me. "Party kicks off at 9 PM, so I'm just tying up loose ends. Make yourself comfy, grab some grub if you're hungry, alright? Consider the place your own."

I trailed after Allie to my room, a fancy suite with a king-size bed that looked like it had never been slept in. Lars always had a flair for the extravagant, but Metallica's success in recent years seemed to have kicked that into overdrive; his new vacation house was straight-up lavish, with more rooms than I could count, a massive pool, a sauna, and even a private movie theater.

I decided to chill in my room until the party kicked off; as much as I was itching to catch up with everyone, I was straight-up wiped out. Lately, I'd been craving more time alone, away from the chaos of the ragers my friends used to live for. But hey, I knew we'd all cross paths eventually, and sure enough, when I finally made my grand entrance, one of the first faces I spotted was Kirk's, rolling in with James, who apparently had arrived while I was hiding out.

"Nore!" Kirk grinned, pulling me into a hug. I chuckled, hugging him back. "Damn, you're looking good!"

"Thanks, Kirk. It's all Lars' doing; he picked out the dress," I replied, nodding at the long red number I was sporting. I’d found it laid out on the bed in my room with a note telling me to rock it for the night. I eyed Kirk's suit, a slick navy number with gold accents. "You're looking sharp yourself."

"Yeah, that's all Lars' handiwork too. Dude's on a mission to throw the ultimate party. But hey, who am I to complain? There's champagne!" Kirk chuckled, clinking his glass against mine.

"Hey, Nore." I glanced up at the sound of his voice, meeting James' intense blue gaze. A faint smile tugged at my lips; being around him always stirred up a whirlwind of emotions that were hard to untangle. Love, sure, but also heartache. It stung, yet it felt oddly comforting. Like coming home.

"Hi, James," I greeted him softly. Kirk shot us a quick look.

“Well, I'm gonna go track down our host. Catch you guys later!" He excused himself. I watched Kirk saunter off, a slight jolt running through me as James' hand landed on the small of my back.

"Have you grabbed a bite to eat yet? Lars said you got here before me," he murmured, his voice low. I looked up at him, seeing his eyes scanning the crowd of guests, a champagne flute in his other hand.

"Not yet."

"Want me to snag something for you? Lars went all out with the spread this time."

"I'm good, James." 

"Didn't drag your boyfriend along to the party?" he quipped, and I couldn't help but snort.

"What boyfriend?"

"That... Brian guy? I dunno, it's hard to keep up with all the dudes you've cycled through since we split," he remarked, a hint of irony dancing in his eyes. I furrowed my brow; was he joking or dead serious? It was getting tougher to read James these days.

"If you wanna know if I'm seeing someone, just ask," I shot back sharply. He let out a sardonic laugh and rolled his eyes. I held his gaze. "And what about your 'Nothing Else Matters' chick? She bailed on the party?"

"I ended things with her," he replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone. "And I've told you that song wasn't about her."

"Then who was it about?"

"Do I really need to spell it out?" he growled, stepping closer. I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. James and I had been locked in this dance for a while now, his anger clashing with my pain like sparks flying. It didn't shock me that Kirk wanted no part of our little reunion.

"I'm gonna go track down Lars," I tossed back dryly before strutting off. I could practically feel James rolling his eyes as he polished off the rest of his champagne in one gulp.

I didn't cross paths with James again until much later, well after midnight had come and gone. We’d all gathered on the balcony to catch the fireworks, dishing out Happy New Year wishes and hugs left and right. When the crowd filtered back inside, I lingered behind, a cigarette dangling between my fingers as I stared up at the star-studded sky, grappling with the bitter irony that another year had kicked off without Cliff here to see it.

"I did wanna know, actually," a voice cut through the silence, jolting me. I turned to find James leaning against one of the pillars, his gaze fixed on me with a serious edge.

"What?" I murmured, my heart picking up its pace as he closed the gap between us.

"You said if I wanted to know if you were seeing someone, I just had to ask. And I did wanna know," he replied, so close now I could smell the booze on his breath.

"I'm not," I answered, and he grunted, satisfied, before pulling me into his arms, his lips finding mine.

He tasted like beer and tobacco, his lips moving against mine in a familiar dance, the echoes of an old tune. No matter how much time passed or how much it hurt, James and I always found our way back to each other.

"You know that song was about you," he murmured, his kisses trailing down my neck, his grip tightening on my hips as he pulled me closer, our bodies pressed together. "Do you really have to mess with me like this?"

I didn't answer; instead, I grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him back to me, his arms holding me tight as he kissed me with urgency, nipping at my lower lip. He wasn't holding back as he pushed me against the balcony railing, his hands hiking up the skirt of my dress, his touch igniting a fire in my belly.

"My room or yours?" I gasped against his lips.

"Does yours come with a bathroom?" he quipped, and I chuckled softly, nodding. "Figures. Lars always hooks you up with the best ones."

"Mine, then," I murmured, a faint smile playing on my lips.

We made our way up to my room, James guiding me through the labyrinth of hallways and rooms in the house with his hand in mine. The moment the door clicked shut behind us, his hands were back on me, pulling me close as his lips trailed hungrily along my neck, tugging at the straps of my dress.

"James, you're gonna wreck the dress..." I protested weakly, my fingers tangled in his hair. He grunted, yanking it down, and I heard a rip that probably meant the garment was already ruined anyway.

"I'll get you another one," he grumbled. "As many as you want."

With urgency matching his, I stripped off his shirt, a few buttons popping off and bouncing across the bedroom floor. Before I could even blink, he lifted me, depositing me on the bed and positioning himself over me. I kicked off my heels, sending them flying into some forgotten corner, releasing a low moan as he pressed against me, his arousal evident through the fabric of his pants. There was no time for calm contemplation, no room for hesitation or second-guessing if this was the right move; our desire for each other was insatiable, ravenous and desperate, and I felt it would consume me completely if we didn't satisfy it right then and there.

I sighed as his lips reclaimed mine, his hand tangled in my hair, gripping it firmly as I worked on unbuttoning his pants, easing them down. He pulled back for a moment, shedding the rest of his clothes before sliding off my panties, emitting a low groan as he entered me. I shut my eyes, clutching onto his arms tightly, my nails digging into his skin. He wasn't holding back; and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Look at me," he growled, his hand guiding my chin as he thrust into me, sending waves of pleasure coursing through my body. I obeyed, meeting his gaze as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, my mouth slightly agape as I let out small, sharp moans. He shifted his hand to my neck, pressing his forehead against mine.

"James..." I moaned, my grip on his arms tightening as he picked up the pace, sending shivers down my spine. "James..."

"I wanna ruin you. You get that?" he growled, sending a jolt of pleasure through my body at his words. Of course, I got it. What were we if not each other's downfall? What more could I want than for him to consume me entirely, even if just for a moment? For all the pain and heartache to vanish, if only while he was inside me. "I want you to be mine, all mine, all mine... Fuck..." he buried his face in my neck as my climax washed over me, my body clenching around him, my legs wrapping around his hips, pulling him deeper. "Nore..." he groaned, his own release crashing over him, filling me completely as he continued to move until the intensity of his peak forced him to collapse onto me.

He rolled away, settling beside me, leaving a pulsating void inside me where pain and pleasure danced together in my womb and heart. I shut my eyes, focusing on steadying my breath, and let out a soft chuckle when I felt his lips on my neck, his arms pulling me close in a fleeting but genuine comfort.

"My girl..." he murmured against my ear, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. I'd lost track of how many times he'd called me that, but it never failed to stir something in me. "Why do you keep running from me? Don't you know I love you so?"

I opened my eyes, locking onto his gaze, a blend of longing and yearning reflected back at me. Nestling into his embrace, I placed a soft kiss on his lips, feeling his gaze soften into a tender warmth that sent tingles down my spine.

"I'm here now," I murmured, tracing my fingers gently over his face. He sighed, closing his eyes, intertwining our hands and pressing kisses to my palm, one, two, three times before pulling me close in a tight hug.

Peace hadn't been a frequent visitor in my life for a while, but in that moment, I found it. I'd always find my way back to James, and he'd always find his way back to me. That certainty coursed through my veins, leaving me feeling whole in a way I hadn't in ages.

The next day, we'd be back in the spotlight, the distance between us creeping back in like a toxic fog. But for now, on that night, I was content. I was at peace.

I was home.

September 28, 1986

The shrill ring of the phone pierced through the silence of the empty house, yanking me out of a deep slumber with a groan. I blinked, the heavy rain drumming against the bedroom windows registering in my foggy mind. Stretching out across the bed, I groped for James, only to remember he wasn't there; my boyfriend was off on tour with my cousin and my friends. That left just Leanne and me holding down the fort.

Dragging myself out of bed, my eyes still weighed down by sleep, I shrugged into my robe and slipped on my slippers before trudging out of the room, descending the stairs at a snail's pace. Flicking on the lights in the living room, I scowled at the clock — it wasn't even seven in the morning. This better be an important call, I grumbled inwardly. I was itching to crawl back under the covers.

"Hey," I mumbled, stifling a yawn and rubbing my eyes in an attempt to shake off the sleepiness.

"Hey, Nore," James' voice crackled through the receiver, but in my grogginess, I barely registered the tense undertone, so unlike his usual laid-back demeanor.

"Babe..." I murmured, another yawn threatening to escape. "I know you're in a different time zone, but it's way early here. I was out cold..."

"I'm sorry. I had to call," he replied, and this time, the strain in his voice didn't go unnoticed. I furrowed my brow, sinking down onto the couch beside the phone, suddenly wide awake.

"Is everything alright? Did something happen?"

"Yeah, something happened. Is Leanne there with you?"

"I think she's asleep. Why?"

"We had a crash," he said, and my heart clenched, a surge of unease and dread knotting my stomach. "We were on the road... Late at night. The driver lost control..."

My breath hitched, and in that instant, a sense of foreboding washed over me. Something felt off, deeply unsettling. It just didn't add up. I knew I should be getting this call from someone else. I knew my cousin; I knew Cliff would want to speak to me and Leanne directly, to break the news himself.

Like when he shared he was leaving Long Beach for San Francisco. Like when he announced he was joining Metallica. Like when he called to tell me Dave got booted from the band, or when he rang to say Metallica was wrapping up tour and he wanted me there for their first hometown gig after dropping the first album.

Something wasn't right.

"James," I whispered, my voice trembling, tears pricking at my eyes as if I already knew what he was going to say. "What happened to Cliff?"

January 1st, 1992

I jolted awake, my cheeks damp with tears that refused to cease flowing. I sighed heavily, my breath shaky, the early morning sunlight just beginning to seep through the curtains. James' arms were wrapped snugly around me, his breath warm against my shoulder as he softly snored.

That dream, again.

It always seemed to resurface whenever I was near James. Maybe my subconscious still linked him to that chilly morning, to that phone call that’d shattered any hope of happiness for the rest of that year and beyond. A call that tore a hole in the fabric of my world, leaving an ache in my heart that felt like it would never mend.

The call that had shattered my heart for good, leaving no chance of putting the pieces back together.

I carefully shifted James' arm away from me, slipping out of bed and heading to the bathroom. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I took in my tired blue eyes framed by dark circles, my brown hair tumbling in waves over my shoulders, and the red marks on my neck and collarbone left by James the night before. With a sigh, I opened the bathroom cabinet, my hands trembling slightly as I reached for the pills I knew would help ease my anxiety.

I lacked the courage to return to bed, so I nestled into one of the armchairs in the corner of the room, observing James' peaceful slumber as the daylight gradually filled the space. He stirred awake soon after, as if sensing my absence beside him, his eyelids fluttering before he groggily opened his eyes. With a puzzled frown, he reached out for the bed, only to find it empty, prompting him to scan the room. A sigh escaped him when he spotted me, a sense of relief washing over his features that tugged at my heartstrings.

"Bad dream?" he inquired, and I simply nodded in response. "You wanna hop back into bed?"

"I'd rather not risk slipping into another nightmare," I admitted, and he sighed, sitting upright.

"Well, I know a surefire way to keep you awake, if you're interested," he quipped, and I managed a shaky laugh. I much preferred this relaxed and caring version of James to the sarcastic and irritable one from the night before. "So, spill. What was haunting you this time?"

"The usual. That day," I murmured. It wasn't anything new; I'd replayed that nightmare countless times, and James was well aware. My demons weren't a mystery to us, but that didn't make them any less terrifying.

With a sigh, he got up and strolled over to me, scooping me up effortlessly, which elicited a surprised gasp from me. He carried me back to bed, settling me down beside him, his hand securing my waist while the other supported the underside of my thighs, lifting one leg and tucking it around his waist. I hugged him tightly, nuzzling into his chest. It was a brief moment of warmth and solace, a fleeting calmness that I knew would vanish as soon as the day kicked into gear and he walked out that door.

"Are you taking off today?" I whispered softly. I understood that once James and I dove back into our regular routines — fame, commitments, the whole mess — things would get complicated again. I'd lose him once more; I'd been through that too many times in the last few years to entertain any other outcome. But as long as we were together, there, shielded from everything else, he was mine. And I craved his presence. I craved his warmth.

"Do you want me to jet today?" he countered, and I shook my head no. He grumbled under his breath, the rumble vibrating against my cheek as I snuggled closer. "Then I'll hang tight. I suppose we can annoy Lars a bit longer."

"I'm too scared to doze off," I admitted weakly, grappling with the heaviness of my eyelids, which threatened to seal shut from exhaustion. James planted a kiss on the top of my head, gently stroking my hair.

"I ain't budging. If you slip into that nightmare again, I'll be right here when you wake up. Deal?" he whispered, and I nodded.

I knew that as soon as I drifted off, that same haunting dream would likely rear its ugly head. It was just one more cruel reminder of the growing chasm between James and me. It felt like we were broken, perpetually out of sync, and his nearness both healed and wounded me in equal measure. But in that moment, I was willing to bear the pain if it meant he'd stick by my side.

"I love you, Jamie," I murmured, and he sighed, pulling me close as my body surrendered to sleep.

"I love you too, Nore," his voice was the last thing I heard before drifting off.

February 18, 1992

The bouquet of red roses James had given me was beginning to droop, the once vibrant petals shriveling and browning with each passing day. Yet, the fragrance lingering in the air remained sweet and evocative, as if the flowers were still in full bloom.

I sighed as I ran a brush through my hair, eyeing the dress laid out on the bed for the evening bash. It was the launch party for the new TV network schedule I'd been hired for, and showing up was not just a courtesy but a must.

I hadn't crossed paths with James much since our time at Lars' getaway spot. His absence had become a familiar ache over the last few years, a kind of shield we'd unintentionally built between us over time. Yet, there was always that tiny flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd call out of the blue and bring back that sense of ease with his voice.

To my surprise, the phone did ring that day. I set the brush down on the vanity, hurriedly making my way to the bedside table to answer it, a rush of excitement coursing through me.

“Nore?” the voice on the other end wasn't James', but it still warmed my heart, prompting a smile to spread across my face as I sank back onto the bed, cradling the phone to my ear.

“Lea!” I exclaimed, feeling a surge of joy. “It's been too long! How've you been?”

“I'm great! And you?”

“Oh, you know. Just hanging in there. How's Joe?” I swiftly changed the subject. As much as I adored Leanne, I wasn't ready to spill my guts about how I was really feeling.

“Oh, he's doing fantastic. Actually, that's why I rang you up. We're getting married!” she announced, her excitement palpable, and I couldn't help but smile.

“Lea, that's incredible! When's the big day?”

“It's in August. We figured summer would be perfect. I'm calling to extend the invite; would you do me the honor of being one of my bridesmaids?”

I leaped up, my grin stretching wider across my face. Leanne and I had been thick as thieves since day one; seeing her so thrilled about tying the knot, and knowing she wanted me to be part of her big day, warmed my heart.

“Oh, absolutely!” I exclaimed, a bubbling laugh of joy and surprise escaping my lips. Lea chuckled in response, matching my excitement. “Thank you! I know it's going to be beautiful. Can you fill me in on all the details later?”

The rest of my day sparkled with newfound energy after the news; I even caught myself humming an old song as I finished getting dolled up for the evening bash, weaving my hair into an intricate hairdo my mom had insisted on teaching me.

When I finished getting ready, I checked myself out in the mirror, pretty pleased with the result; the dark blue spaghetti-strap dress hugged my curves just right, with the skirt flaring out at the waist and skimming down to my ankles. A dainty golden choker with crystals adorned my neck, and my long brown locks were styled to perfection, framing my face in all the right places, with my eyes sparkling, cheeks a touch flushed, and lips painted red.

But, of course, I couldn't roll up to an event like that on my own; right on the dot at 7 p.m., I heard the honk signaling my ride had arrived. I sauntered down the stairs, arching an eyebrow in surprise as I stepped outside and spotted the limo parked up front. My old friend Charlotte rolled down the window from the backseat, flashing me a big grin.

“Hey, Nore!” she chirped as I slid into the car, handing over a glass of champagne, which earned a soft chuckle from me. “Ready to rock?”

“I guess I’m a bit jittery. First time going to a party like this one,” I admitted. Now that I was on my way, the thought of facing a swarm of photographers and journalists at the event’s entrance was making me more nervous than I cared to admit, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.

“Well, it's gonna be a blast, trust me! Everyone who's anyone will be there. I'll be your wingwoman, so don't worry about a thing. I'll make sure you rub elbows with all the big shots you haven't bumped into yet during the shoots.”

I nodded, taking a bit of champagne to settle my nerves, the bubbles dancing on my tongue and momentarily diverting my attention. If my acting career was taking flight now, it was all thanks to Charlie; she'd been the driving force behind my return to the scene after I’d graduated High School, persuading me to switch gears from the Visual Arts program up in San Francisco to Drama School down in Los Angeles, and had even helped me snag my first TV gig.

I'd recently jumped into acting over at the same TV network where Charlotte had been working as an actress for a while. Even though I hadn't wrapped up recording my first project yet, the buzz around a relatively unknown actress snagging the lead in the latest drama series had caught the media’s attention. In just about a year, my life had changed completely, going from being just another face in the crowd to even having paparazzi tail me. But truth be told, I was still getting the lay of the land at the network. Charlie had hit the nail on the head; this party was prime time to make some connections.

We rolled up to the party spot; I soon realized that navigating through the sea of photographers and reporters on that red carpet was no joke. But once I got past the Q&A, which mostly revolved around my work and career, it was time to get down to business. Charlotte ushered me into conversations with all sorts of folks: actors, musicians, executives, and even some of the network's shareholders. It hit me quick that networking at these parties was just as much a part of the job in the entertainment industry as being good at your craft.

The hours zoomed by amid chats, laughter, drinks, and nibbles. Soon, I was feeling drained and decided to grab a bite from the buffet before taking a breather. As I was fixing my plate, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around, expecting it to be Charlie, ready to introduce me to someone new.

Never in a million years could I have guessed what awaited me in the next few seconds.

"Nore... Is that really you?" the man exclaimed, looking utterly astonished, and suddenly I was eighteen again, my heart racing in completely uncontrollable pirouettes as my breath hitched, my surprised gaze meeting his, the world filling with color and song as I stared into the eyes of Dave Mustaine.

✧ if you'd like to be tagged on the next parts, let me know and I'll add you to the tag list! ❤ ✧

tag list: @killazilla777 @whatsupvic @70srogah @genswine9 @twice360noscope

[starwarsmum]

Day 6! I have a type 🫶

@maribat-calendar-events

Link to AO3

Adrien got off the phone with Alya four days after she received the email from Clark and frowned. She had seemed calm enough about the contents of the email but he knew she must be pretty pissed just from the fact that it had taken the better half of a week for her to talk to him about it. 

It didn't help that Marinette had been absent for just as long, citing that she had commissions to get done. He'd been suspicious of that immediately because it was the first he'd heard of it, but ultimately let it go. If there was a problem he needed to know about, she'd tell him. It wasn't that they had no secrets, it was that she would never keep things from him if it might hurt him. 

Now that Alya had reached out, Adrien had every faith that Marinette wouldn't be far behind. Or, if the distance really was entirely because of a commission, she would probably be done with it soon. Until she got in touch, he'd continue as usual. 

“Hey blondie 2.0, seen Mari lately?” Jason said, sauntering into the room. When Adrien shook his head, he blew out a noisy breath. “Man, I was hoping to ask her about making me a new jacket. Tim said she's been ‘busy’.” 

“Yeah, she told me she's working on a commission, and when she's in the zone nothing breaks through,” Adrien replied, fingers tapping on the table. 

“I forget how similar she and Tim are,” Jason mused. “Tim doing research is exactly the same and trying to get him to take a break for sleep is nigh impossible.” 

“Go to hell, Jason, I'll sleep when I'm dead,” Tim said as he dragged himself into a seat. “There's nothing wrong with actually being able to focus on something. Unrelated, has anyone seen my favourite coffee mug?” 

“No coffee, you didn't sleep last night,” Dick admonished. It was like all of them had zeroed in on Adrien's location and were swarming. He half expected Damian to appear and make some snide remark about something or other. 

They sniped back and forth goodnaturedly for a while, Adrien occasionally jumping in with a quip or pun, until Jason circled back to his original question, this time aimed at Tim. 

“No idea, I haven't seen her since before my latest trip to New York,” Tim shrugged. “Which reminds me, I'm probably heading back up next month or so.”

“Speaking of, when are you finally introducing Pixie to your other friends?” Jason asked with false innocence. Adrien looked at Tim when he made an annoyed noise, eyebrows knitting together. “Man, you really don't want her to meet your other bestie, huh? You know, you're not really convincing me that you don't have a crush.” 

“Listen, it's not about me having a crush on anyone. Both of my best friends are amazing but they're also chaotic. He's definitely the biggest flirt I've ever met and Mari has a tendency to try and wind me up for funsies. So if they meet…I envision a lot of flirting and maybe a hook up. And then things would be weird for everyone.” 

“Oh, yeah, Marinette would absolutely lean into that,” Adrien agreed, watching as Jason and Dick tried to hold in laughter at the disgust on Tim's face. “Look, you two haven't seen her in her flirty element. When she doesn't let her own insecurities get in the way she's smooth. And people fall over themselves to try and get her attention, present company not excluded. You should have seen me when I was a teenager, I was a mess over her.” 

“Didn't she have a crush on you as well?” Tim asked, eyebrows furrowing. “I'm positive she used to talk about the blond boy in her class that she was friends with that she had a crush on. How aren't you a couple?” 

“I was…sheltered,” Adrien said with a grimace. “I may or may not have thought my feelings were platonic for almost the entire time she had a crush on me? And by the time I realised I was in love, she'd moved on. And since I got over it pretty quickly, I'm gonna say it's not a bad thing. I'd rather be her best friend anyway.” 

“What're you all talking about?” Marinette asked, appearing behind Tim. 

“Hey, we were just talking about my horrendous crush on you and vice versa,” Adrien said easily, enjoying the surprised looks on Jason and Dick's faces. “I think we were also talking about whether you have a type or not.”

“Hmmm, if I had to pick…well, if I have a type, it's oblivious. I'm really far too into people who don't have a clue,” she said, smiling mockingly at Adrien. “That and confident. When they're confidently oblivious? I'm a goner. Also, why is my love life even a topic of discussion?” 

“Because Timbo still doesn't want you to meet his hotter friend,” Jason said before Adrien could say anything. “And then blondie said you have a habit of casual flirting.” 

“That's not what I said! I said you were smooth when you weren't self conscious,” he said firmly. “Alya told me all about that voicemail you left me, don't even.” 

“You say ‘hot stuff' one time,” she groaned, shoving Adrien hard enough that he almost fell out of his chair. “Did I mention how much I hate that you got comfortable here? And that your bonding with everyone is at my expense?” 

“You did, but I know you really just mean you looooove me,” he said with a Cheshire grin. “Otherwise you wouldn't have come to see me.” 

“I'm here to see the gremlin, actually,” Marinette said, completely deadpan. “He's the only one not speculating on my love life or lack thereof. Catch all you losers later.” 

_ _ _

Marinette was exhausted by the time she finished training with Damian. She asked him to push her harder than normal and came away with bruises and sore muscles that made her smile. She'd vetoed actual blades so Damian could be more brutal and he didn't disappoint. 

She wandered down the hall with the vague intention of finding something to eat and finding Adrien, but fate decided her need for sustenance was secondary today. Adrien was waiting outside the kitchen, apparently deep in thought. It took a couple of tries to get his attention, at which point she decided they probably needed to sit down somewhere private for a talk.

He didn't protest when she dragged him to his own room, clearly waiting for her to start the conversation. She hadn't wanted to avoid him for a couple of days but she also didn't want her frustration with the reporter to bleed into their friendship again. Or to get over excited about the possibility of Adrien being allowed to tell the Waynes his other identity, be that as the Bats or as his family. 

“Alya said she talked to you,” she said at last, hugging the cat plushie she’d made for him so many years ago. 

“Yeah, I figured once she had you wouldn't stay away anymore,” he said easily, no trace of anger or disappointment in his voice. 

“It felt like the right thing to do. I mean, Alya was really mad when she got the email,” Marinette said softly. “Mad enough that we didn't want to tell you about it right away. But I think she's really considering letting you tell someone in the League.” 

“I guess we'll see,” he said softly, playing with her hair. “But as long as I have you on my side I know I'll be fine. We make a hell of a team.” 

“Cat and Mouse pair to the end, right? Unless you keep messing with me,” she said, scrunching her nose. “Then I'm going to skin you and leave you up as a warning for the rest of the Waynes.” 

“Noted,” he said, the grin on his face barely concealed. “But we really weren't saying anything that crazy. Also, you started it! I know I was kind of stupid about the whole,” he twirled a finger between them, “us thing. But it's been three years, can we let go of it?” 

“Nope,” she giggled, putting the tip of her finger to his nose and pushing playfully. It was a familiar motion and it got the desired result of making him smile. “Not until we're both deliriously in love with someone and even then I think the jokes will be there.” 

“Good,” he said firmly, batting her hand away at last. “Alya said she's thinking about inviting you up to the WatchTower too, by the way. You know, officially. I told her it might still be too soon.”

“Is she inviting anyone else?” Marinette asked curiously. 

“Not Nino,” he said with a grimace. “Nobody else really…does this sort of stuff anymore. It would be pulling them out of retirement and so many of them have managed to move on.” 

“So…I'm special, huh?” 

“Oh yeah, so special,” Adrien smirked. And then gave a shriek when she jumped at him.

_ _ _

“Yo, Kon, what's the plan for tonight?” Bart said, zipping in front of him and throwing a handful of popcorn over him. “I was thinking we could watch a movie with Cassie and Cissie, maybe order some pizza or something? Or play some video games? Anything, I'm just so booooored.” 

“Didn't you play a bunch of games wth Timmy?” Kon asked, raising an eyebrow and throwing the kernels off and back at Bart with his tactile telekinesis. 

“Yeah, but that was hours ago. So whaddya say, movie night? I'll tell the girls, we can all hang out?” 

“Fine, but I'm picking the movie,” he sighed, floating over from his bed. 

Hours later, he was trying to doze off again when his communicator blared to life. He groaned and checked to see how quickly he needed to respond. His groan elongated when he realised Clark was sending him off world again, for a couple of weeks later that month. With one of the Miraculous team no less. 

Typical, as soon as he was ready to settle in for a while, maybe get to meet Tim's friend at last, Clark ruins it. Mission briefing wasn't for another couple of days but that just left him with a looming deadline that he could do nothing about. 

Sighing again, he threw his phone onto the bedside table and closed his eyes. Maybe things would look brighter in the morning.

_ _ _

A week or so later, Tim and Marinette were working out the details for her trip to New York. Tim was carefully constructing plans around his friends, and when he offhandedly mentioned that Superboy was going to be on a mission when she visited, her eyebrows raised. 

“Hey, it wasn't my choice for Superman to send him into space again,” he said with a shrug. There was a brief pause as she scrutinised him but she didn't say anything else so he decided to move on. “But Wonder Girl should be there, and Impulse, so you'll get the chance to meet them.” 

“It's so crazy that I'm meeting them without being with my team,” she mused, jotting down another note. “I'll probably need to visit Chloé while I'm there, she'll want a face to face update on how Adrien's doing, so that's at least one evening.” 

“Maybe the first one? If she's going to insist, might as well get it out of the way,” Tim said, sipping his coffee and reaching over to add his own note to her book. “I'm guessing you don't want company, so I'll just work on a case or something while you're busy.” 

“Sounds good, Timbit.” Her voice had a distant quality like she was far away and he paused before looking at her more closely. 

“Everything okay? You've seemed kind of off kilter since you got here today.” 

“Yeah, I'm fine. Just…thinking about the different ways I should be helping out, as Multimouse. Scar is thinking about bringing me up to the WatchTower soon and then I'll be back in the game properly. I think messaging an old, much wiser, friend would give me some perspective.” 

“Whatever you decide, you're one of us now,” Tim shrugged, feeling the heaviness of his eyelids suddenly. Fighting back a yawn, he glared at the mug in front of him. “Shit, who messed with my drink?” 

“Oh, I'm sure the list for that is too long,” Marinette said, peering into his mug as if it would answer anything. “Guess you're going to bed today, I'll update you with the plans for New York in the morning.” 

Marinette watched as Tim succumbed to the sleeping pills she was seventy percent sure Dick had slipped into the (secretly) decaf coffee. She shook her head, glad they all had no idea how little she had been sleeping lately, as she powered through making plans for her trip.

[elacular-kink]

Let sleeping beauties lie?

At least one of you has already seen me kvetching about this, but in the currently dead hiccup forum, there's some stories that I wrote over a decade ago before vanishing off the face of the earth (apologies to anyone there who wondered about that). It was the longest and most involved thing I'd ever written at the time, I was really proud of it, and I still think back on it fondly, but I posted it under a name different from "Elacular" (which I had already started using in non-kink contexts at the time). And now, having the original google docs, but having barely touched them for ten goddamn years, I'm really not sure what to do about it.

I don't want that old writing to vanish into the void. But something about reposting it as myself doesn't feel right. Somehow, though, it also wouldn't feel right to do so under a new pseudonym, or even with the old one. I wouldn't feel like I was lying or stealing or anything, but I'm a very different person than the one I was then. Maybe I'm just a little scared to look back and cringe at my old writing when I've come to actually like rereading my current writing a lot, something I never expected to do.

Whatever I decide, I definitely won't be reposting the crossover shit I wrote with someone else (which is a shame, because that was by far the best part of it in my opinion, and my co-author was fantastic), but I'll see what I end up doing with the stuff that was just me.

Brief, barely relevant personal musings under the cut.

Man. Without getting too deep into it, I remember being curled up in a corner of a public library as a homeless, queer, barely 20 year old writing fetish fics, having not or only just met the people in my life who have become my friends and partners. Times sure change. The world's a lot better for me now, and I'm unbelievably lucky and grateful that's the case. If you're younger and going through the shit, I can't imagine how rough it is for you, but it is possible for things to get better. And if you're dealing with homelessness or queer issues specifically, there's an organization called Outside In that could be worth reaching out to, especially if you're in the pacific northwest. Good luck out there.

[aftapati]

Itty bitty little yap / headcanon if you will, even though I've made posts like these here x, x referring to Sōsuke's spiritual pressure I'd like to touch up on the fact on how it feels being around it or even how it could even look.

If you are someone that does not possess any spiritual pressure or any other supernatural means and happen to experience his own reiatsu, you'll most probably be crushed, eviscerated to nothing, as Sōsuke is reputed for his extraordinary spiritual pressure he wields. It could even happen to those who possess reiatsu, as his own is equivalent to a neverending waterfall. It is extremely overwhelming, and almost nothing can counter it, unless you possess a similar amount of spiritual pressure to his, or another unearthly power equivalent to this.

It feels quite heavy. As mentioned before, If Sōsuke wants to make his presence known, he would usually unleash a sufficient amount of spiritual pressure enough to make his presence acknowledged. ( and by acknowledged, more likely giving you the right to behold his existence, supposedly you can't or he wouldn't allow you so ) So, when this happens, the atmosphere would feel heavier, as if the air is getting sucked, or as if the atmosphere is getting more dense the more you climb on the high mountain. That depends on how much spiritual pressure he decided to unleash but due to the fact he wields in possession an extraterrestrial amount of it, it's more likely to experience all the above mentioned.

Spiritual pressure is not something for anyone to behold with the naked eye, only if you are prone to be able to sense of such supernatural prowess and the user must have a huge quantity of it ( another prime example would be Zaraki Kenpachi ) In Sōsuke's case, should he unleash more than a sufficient amount of it, it is definitely going to be visible in various hues of purple, a colour with symbolism that represents his entirety but that's another can of worms for another post.

You would also feel heavier than usual, as if someone placed some sort of weight upon you, making your knees buckle, walking would feel like a huge deal to perform. You may also feel like as if an earthquake is happening. But as mentioned, in order for all of this to happen, it means that Sōsuke has to releash an amount of reiatsu. Otherwise, he is excellent at concealing it, or keeping it at bay, if you will. Being born with such a gargantuan amount of it, he had to adapt, he had to learn how to control it, and being the person that he is, it is no secret that he had attained mastery of controlling it to absolution.

There's several instances for him to releash some of his spiritual pressure. Depending on the person but most likely the way you are going to interact with him. If he has to put you in place, expect him to do so. If he wants to show you the difference between yourself and him, he would do so ( most likely if he is provoked which is very unlikely ) or even if he wants to get something out of you. Sōsuke is not a man of kindness and he would use whatever means necessary to get what he wants.

Oh, and one more thing. You cannot, under any circumstances, touch Sōsuke unless he has his spiritual pressure concealed to maximum, or he allows you to do so. Otherwise, expect your limbs to be eviscerated due to its nature. Due to his partial freedom, he is keeping his reiatsu to a minimum so that he can enjoy the few activities that he is allowed to without any disturbances of grievances from the seated officers. However, that doesn't mean that you can just lay a hand on him, even if it is as insignificant as a handshake. ( though he wouldn't be prone to that ) It is no secret how unbearable his spiritual pressure is and he expects you to be smart enough not to approach him carelessly. Or else, you will face the consequences.

Important note for interactions: this does not have to apply to interactions that I have with other muses, however, if provoked, he will not hold back.

[branderp94]

What the Hell Happened to Android?

This post is almost entirely me bashing Android’s lack of customizability. If that’s not what you’re here for, I totally get it—have a nice day. This is a pretty lengthy post, so there’s a TL;DR at the end.

Intro:

I have broken this up because I know it is long-winded. The intro will give those that do not know me context for this post, from there, I outline the problems I know people have with iOS from the Android perspective, then turn to what I, as an iOS user, don't like about Android. After that, I’ll explain why I’m writing this, include the TL;DR, and wrap up with closing thoughts.

I wanted to provide useful context for this post. I am using my partner's Galaxy S25 for two weeks. I am just over a week in. I am doing this for a few reasons I will cover later. I have used iOS since iOS 4. That's just about 15 years. I can totally accept that some of this is just the crusty musings of a curmudgeon too stuck in their ways. Maybe I’m just bad at adjusting to something different after so long. But I don’t think that’s the case. I regularly use different desktop OSes and often play with beta builds. I like new things. I think I’m open to change, though I understand someone reading this might still say I’m just “too iOS” to enjoy Android. I’ll touch more on that later.

More background: I’ve worked in IT for years, I’ve used Android phones before, and I routinely support Android users. Still, I’m generally inexperienced with Android. There may be quirks or features I’ve simply missed. I’ve tried to look things up and poke through the settings, but I may have used the wrong terms or overlooked something. If I get something wrong, please let me know - I'd rather be wrong about the stuff I am bitching about.

iOS isn't Better

I definitely prefer iOS, but that doesn't make it better. I certainly have problems with iOS, and I think if someone who used Android for 15 years they'd be frustrated with a great many things too. I am not arguing for Android v. iOS. I want to talk about ways I think Android could be better, from the perspective of someone who uses iOS. I would be very interested in the perspective of someone who has used Android for 15 years going to iOS.

To that end, years ago, my father switched to Android. I remember his biggest pain points. They were:

No theming: He loved having a steampunk theme on his old phone.

App limitations: Android apps used to be wild—overlays, floating tools, etc. That spirit mostly feels gone now.

No back button: This one drove him nuts. To the unmitigated horror of many Android users, iOS straight up doesn't have a back button to this day.

iOS still cannot be themed. Icon packs exist, but they’re locked into a grid, with fixed shapes and grid-aligned with four columns and six rows. You couldn't place icons wherever you wanted on that grid until last year. Apps cannot be displayed as overlays (unless you count the very controlled Dynamic Island only available on specific iPhone models). And worst of all to would-be switchers, iOS STILL does not have a back button (funny enough, the Apple TV does, which means Apple totally gets how to make one, has made one, and could implement it on iOS, they just don't think they should -- I think they are wrong.) I can totally see how any one of these things are totally a deal breaker for long-time Android users. Again, I am not making the argument anyone should switch, I am just advocating for things I hope can be improved on Android.

So - Out With It, What Do You Hate About Android?

The Lock Screen and Notifications, mostly.

Why, in the name of all that is good, can't I see more than three notifications on the lock screen? Look, I get that on both iOS and Android it's just a swipe to get to all of your notifications. I can understand the perspective that I just need to get used to swiping the other direction. But, let me pitch to you why I don't wanna. I think it is more intuitive that since by default your notifications are in reverse chronological order by app, it makes sense to scroll your notifications on the lock screen like a timeline, rather than bring the notifications down and then scroll them. It just doesn't make sense to me that I can't scroll them right then and there. There are buttons below the notifications. That implies to me that my notifications are down there. They are not. Why are the buttons down there? I get that I can make them go away. That doesn't answer why they're down there in the first place. This has been by far my biggest pain point with Android. I get that it's a small thing but notifications are such a big part of how I use my phone that not being able to make them work the way I want them to is truly maddening. What's weird is that I know in previous versions of android the lock screen notifications did work that way! You could scroll your notifications on the lock screen without just bringing your notifications down from the top. I have seen others complain about this and the only answer I have seen from Android users is that it's because Security. That reads as nonsense to me and I am really curious for the actual reason. What am I missing here?

On Notifications, why can't I turn off notification sounds while allowing notifications to still pop up?

These can be separately set in iOS and I can't think of a reason they cannot be separately set in Android. It really isn't the biggest deal but it's weird to tie those two together so inseparably to me. I do still want the pop up, I just don't want it to make sound if I have notification sounds turned on. I'm not a monster, my phone is on vibrate most of the time like any sane person, but if I am waiting on something, I will occasionally turn sounds on and I don't want specific apps to bug me during that time. Why can't I have that without the distraction of apps I don't want nagging me? I don't want to miss those notifications altogether either. I do understand that in this mode notifications do still go to the notifications and you'll see them when you swipe down, but I will miss a lot that way. I am just truly baffled why this is tied together.

On that note, can you no longer set separate sounds on a per app basis on Android? That seems to be gone too. You can set separate sounds for different notification types -- like calls get a ringtone, notifications get their own sound, alarms have another sound, etc, but if I want IG to have a different sound than Discord and so on I can't make that happen. Not that you can do that on iOS either, but I thought Android's whole thing was customization (I will also get to that later.)

Face unlock is another pain point. By default, Android unlocks the phone the second it sees your face—which means you can’t read notifications first. There’s an option to stay on the lock screen until you swipe, which is great—except now if you tap a notification, it asks you to swipe before acting on it. Why? I tapped it. Clearly I want to open it. That extra step feels unnecessary. I understand the argument that this avoids accidental unlocks, but I wish it were just a setting. I’d rather take the risk and skip the swipe.

Linus (from LTT) had the opposite complaint when he tried iOS—he was annoyed he had to swipe. I get that view, but I often pick up my phone because of a notification. I want to read it and then act if I decide to. Let me do that.

Last but not least, lock screen customization - on iOS, I have a whole album set to randomly rotate through on the lock screen upon wake. On Android, you’re limited to 15 images. Why?

Also, on iOS, I have a flashlight button, a smart lock button, camera access with a swipe to the left, and widgets to the right. On Android, I can sort of replicate this—but everything’s just a bit worse. Flashlight? You have to swipe, it’s not just a button it's opening a flashlight app. Smart lock? Can’t add it - security risk (But I can on iOS!) Why not let me use fingerprint auth? iOS uses biometric auth if you add a security risk to your screen and doesn't let you use it until authenticated.

If I have to unlock my phone, leave the last opened app, open Google Home, and then tap the lock—I might as well use a key. What’s the point of a smart lock?

I don’t miss everything from iOS. Widgets-on-swipe is cool but unneeded. Still, the lack of flexibility on Android is maddening.

My partner says I just expect Android to work like iOS. I don’t think that’s it. I just want some of iOS’s better ideas implemented. That’s not unreasonable.

Oh my God, Just Use an iPhone

If these little things bother me so much about Android so much and I am okay with all the little ways iOS bugs me, why don't I just use that? Well, I am going back to my iPhone, so there. But also, isn't the point of Android being able to do what you want with it? Why can't I do the things I want to do with it? What is the point of Android if not making it mine? Why can I do more of what I want with my iPhone? The pitch I have always hear for Android is that it is YOUR phone. This isn't Google's vision for a phone, it's not Samsung's; it's YOURS. Where the fuck did that spirit go? I do think it's fine that Google has the Pixel to show what their vision of Android is but what's the phone for people who want their vision? The S25 feels like Samsung's vision. Aside from that, I think Android should be competitive for people who use iPhones. If there's gonna be a duopoly they should always compete for every single user as hard as they can. If they don't they're gonna treat us like shit because they know switching cost is too high, so they might as well milk the ones they have. I'd rather they gun for each other than us (I acknowledge there are ways in which they gun for us - I'd still like to curb that activity where possible).

I’m using Android partly to broaden my experience, keep an open mind, and be better at my job. But also? I’m just a nerd. I like playing with gadgets. In another life, I’d be a tech reviewer.

What I Will Miss About Android

I am mostly writing this post to bitch about things that have been driving me crazy, but there's some stuff I will miss when I go back to my iPhone in a little under a week. I will miss the possibilities of what apps can do if you're a creative developer.I will miss the little now playing pill that sits at the top of your screen when you're playing media. I'll miss being able to tell my phone what double-pressing the sleep/wake button means. I will miss being able to easily change volume for calls, notifications, announcements, media, and system sounds independently (you can change that stuff in iOS but it's so much easier and faster on Android. I hope Apple steals that but Android has had that for like a decade and Apple is seemingly showing no interest.) And finally, I will miss that back button. I go back with the right side of the screen more often than the left because I am right handed and you just can't do that on an iPhone. Still. And I think you should be able to.

Closing Thoughts and TL;DR.

If you read all that or you're just reading this TL;DR, thank you. I would love to hear your thoughts. I hope I didn't ramble too much. I certainly said a lot.

After 15 years on iOS, I’m using a Galaxy S25. Despite Android’s reputation for flexibility, I find it oddly rigid—especially around notifications and the lock screen. I think Android has lost touch with what made it special and I don't like the ramifications, even if I won't be using it long-term.

Edit: The clipboard manager on Android is amazing and it's inexcusable that iOS doesn't have one. I have wanted that for years and Android nailed it. No notes on the clipboard manager.

[wanderersrest]

Some Idle Musings on Patlabor

I've talked about Patlabor twice in some capacity, so I figured why not go for the hat trick, no? (EDIT: The hat trick was ruined because I got tilted by a certain bad take involving Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans)

Patlabor is probably one of my favorite anime series of all time, especially when it comes to mecha anime. Granted, a big part of that is due to me recently coming into ownership of pretty much the entire series on blu-ray, but still. And seeing as how the second post on here was about how people should check it out (among other mecha shows), I figured I'd dive a little bit deeper into at least Patlabor. Who knows, I might touch on all of the other series at some point. I'll definitely cover G Gundam at some point, that much is assured.

Anyways. Patlabor. This isn't going to be a super deep dive, but there are three things I want to highlight with this series that I really like.

The World is Carefully Crafted to Justify Its Giant Robots

A common point of praise for Patlabor is due to how the worldbuilding is set up to accommodate the giant robots. A quick synopsis of Patlabor: giant robots known as Labors were created to help with construction projects. Following the creation of Labors came Labor-related created crimes. To combat these crimes, a special type of Labor was created to stop these types of criminal activity: the Patrol Labor, or Patlabor for short.

And it's not just there that the series fleshes out the Labors. The titular Patlabors (specifically the Model 98-AV Ingrams employed by the main characters) require a whole team outside of the pilots who operate the Labors, including spotters, transport platform operators, and mechanics. The television series also makes it a point of highlighting that the important part of the Labor is not the Labor itself, but the pilot data stored in the machine's computer. The world is so thought out, that the television series even touches on Labor insurance (yes really, and it's probably one of my favorite episodes of the TV series, maybe out of every anime series I've ever watched). This is, if I understand things correctly, why a lot of people love the OVA timeline (which consists of the Early Days OVA as well as the movies).

Great Characters Part 1: Noa Izumi

If the OVA timeline has more of a focus on the worldbuilding and the politics at hand, then the TV timeline (consisting of the TV anime and the New Files OVA) hones in on the character interactions. It's a real shame too, because the main cast are a pretty likeable group. Our main character in particular, Ingram Unit 1 Pilot Noa Izumi, is a delight to watch in pretty much every scene she's in, especially in the TV series. To it's credit, the OVA timeline does keep a lot of the appeal behind the characters. If anything, I'd argue that the change in tone of the OVA timeline is both natural and an extension of the pessimism following the bursting of the Japanese Economic Bubble.

But back to Noa, part of what I like about her as a character is her resilience. There are moments throughout the various entries in the franchise where she gets knocked down, but due to the nature of her work, she gets back up to finish the job. That kind of attitude helps to round out her more usual cheery and kind of naive attitude to most things. Also, she's very hot-blooded. Which is great for any mecha series, regardless of the style of mecha show you're watching. Speaking of hot blood, I think I'd be remiss to not mention my other favorite character in the series (that's not Division 2 chief Kichii Gotoh, because that's cheating)...

Great Characters 2: Isao Ota

I think the YouTuber Argonbolt described Ingram Unit 2 pilot Isao Ota best: "...he's 50% gun nut, 50% [ego]." It's almost impossible for me to talk about how great Noa is as a character without bringing up Ota. I could just say that he works great as a foil to Noa, but I think I'd be selling our red-blooded gun nut short. Part of what makes Ota such a great character to me is the fact that, whereas a lot of Noa's growth pertains to her as a person, Ota's growth is essentially tied to how he handles his Labor.

This is because Ota is a hothead.

No, seriously. Ota's hotheadedness is a large part of what makes him such a great character, and that's just going off of the sheer entertainment value of it all. It also helps that Ota being an American-styled cowboy cop (even moreso than the American Kanuka Clancy, and she's already a bit of a cowboy cop) oftentimes has consequences. Heck, a lot of Division 2's notoriety stems largely from Ota's hotheadedness. But Ota's hotheadedness often hides aspects that betray the manly image he's crafted throughout the series. It's little things like how he frets over Noa like an older brother when she runs off on her own to chase down a bank robber, or the change in his demeanor when Kanuka and her replacement, Takeo Kumagami, start getting into an argument with each other. This depth of character is better explored in the episodes that focus squarely on Ota, with my favorite of the bunch being the aforementioned insurance episode (TV Anime Epsiode 37, "I'm Selling Peace of Mind/Safety on Sales"). Without getting into spoilers, part of what makes it great is how the episode highlights how hard it is to avoid a lot of property damage when it comes to piloting giant robots. But I'm now rambling a bit too much, so let me jump ahead to the last bit about what I like about Patlabor.

This Series Loves Giant Robots

More than anything else, Patlabor loves its giant robots. My first time learning about this series was seeing some random user on Reddit go "See, unlike Gundam, Patlabor is cool." And if there are two things that make me, as an ardent fan of mecha anime, really upset, it's one of at least three things:

Bashing series X in order to prop up series Y (Bonus points if its Gundam)

Saying X is unlike other mecha shows because X focuses on the characters (No 86/Evangelion/Code Geass/Gurren Lagann fans, 86/Eva/CG/TTGL is not special, especially when Fang of the Sun Dougram/Space Runaway Ideon/Mobile Suit Gundam/Getter Robo exist.)

Denigrating a series because it's not super realistic (Basically the whole "Real vs Super" debate. I'll touch on it when I talk about G Gundam.)

But after watching Patlabor on my own, I realized that this series really loves its giant robots. It's often shown through both the worldbuilding, which is really just an excuse to justify having giant robots in the setting to begin with, and also the fact that it's main character is, for all intents and purposes, a mecha otaku.

Final Thoughts

Off the top of my head, I don't really have much else to say about Patlabor for now. Granted, there were a lot of things I didn't get to talk about in depth like how the computer systems the Labors employ are, in my opinion, a great example of a seemingly realistic take on AI (not the generative kind, just AI in general), or how one of my favorite character interactions in the series is the pseudo parent-child bond between Chief Engineer Sakaki and Noa and how their relationship reminds me of my relationship with my dad. Most importantly, while I do have an overall preference of the TV timeline over the OVA timeline, I don't think it's necessarily better. The two timelines have their own strengths, but both timelines benefit from the other existing. It also doesn't cut down on the fact that there are still people out there who enjoy Patlabor, and that's really all that matters.

Anyways, I'm going to go crawl back into a hole and wait for any morsel of news involving Patlabor EZY.

[templeofvengeance]

[eyes], [hands], [built]

send me a word! || learn all about my muse's physical features!

[eyes]: not just the colour, but the shape, the length of their eyelashes, whether they’re alert or usually half-closed, large or small, sunken into the face, ringed by bags, etc.

... Well--

Khonshu doesn't have eyes by default. Or lashes. Or skin. Just hollow sockets with a black void on the inside. If you asked him (and depending on how bitchy he's feeling) he might say Marc's eyes are his as well, since Marc agreed to be 'his eyes, his hands, his vengeance.' More likely he'd say the moon is his eye, and he can see anything the moonlight touches in one massive panoramic view, the kind of thing only a god's brain is built to be able to process without going nuts.

He did have eyes in his humanoid form and as a falcon, and in both cases they were either black (White sclera, black irises) or solid white. (Maybe they even changed based on the moon phase.) He wore kohl eyeliner in both forms. (Looks a little like how the markings around Ra's eyes look on the falcon form.) As for that secret 'true form,' I mentioned, I've thought of a lot of different designs for his eyes, usually I like the idea that they just look like a void of space with the moon serving as his 'iris.' I imagine he could also do that with his skull if he wanted, looking into his empty sockets and just seeing stars and planets.

[hands]: are they large or small, do they have pianist’s fingers or short stubby ones, do they tend to get sweaty or are they always dry, is the skin rough or delicate, are the nails painted or chewed or sharp, etc.

Finally something he actually has and not something I have to build completely out of headcanons! (As if I don't love doing that.)

So in the comics (and a lot of fanworks), khonshu usually has sharp claws/talons. I go back and forth on it, but in general I stick with the MCU giving him normal hands. It's just a very human detail that I like, and I guess it kind of represents that I play Khon a bit more humanlike. (For better or worse.)

He has large hands relative to a human, but they're in proportion to the rest of his body. Long, skinny fingers, always wrapped like the rest of his body, so no real flesh or nails to speak on. They're not really the hands of a fighter, funnily enough, at least not one that fights by punching. (Khonshu's not the one who does the punching after all, he assigns that job to his Avatars.) Back in Ancient times, I like to imagine he had his nails painted, probably white or gold.

Khonshu actually talks with his hands a good bit, especially around people he likes.

[build]: are they skinny and petite or do they resemble a body builder, are they tall or short or average height, are they lean and wiry, are they overweight, are all of their features proportionate, etc.

Khonshu's build is so awkward. He's clearly given himself some muscle definition (or at least the appearance of flesh and muscle under his wrappings, he doesn't look emaciated) but not a lot. His legs are long, hips and waist are thin, but then his shoulders are super broad. Granted, his cloak looks a lot thicker up on his shoulders so that might be an illusion.

I kind of love it whenever the comics make Khonshu really muscular, especially when he's trying to look scary. Because of course that's what he'd do, wanting to look all buff and powerful as the god of vengeance. MCU Khon can't be bothered with that, it seems. (To be fair, his skull head on a bodybuilder body would look pretty silly.)

I'd give him points for not caring about something shallow just for his image, but Khonshu absolutely cares about being tall. Whether that's casually being 8-10 feet tall, or standing on rooftops, or sitting on cars over people, he loves to tower over people. I might chalk that up to a habit gods just have, used to being literally and metaphorically 'above' humanity. By those standards, Khonshu's actually fairly down-to-earth, willing to stand alongside Marc (or sit in Jake's car) and not just shout at them from above. (I mean he does do that, but. Not exclusively, I'm saying.)

[wintershub]

:)

Winter Hyper Analyzing (& possibly Critiquing) MUSE Designs

This was a fun one to sink my teeth into, first on the chopping block

Marsha

This is a very basic and simple design but that doesn't mean there's nothing to talk about here. With the exception of her accessories, Marsha's main outfit has a lot of brown + combined with the grey skin, dark hair, it gives the impression of a character not meant to be noticed. Combine that with her hair covering half of her face, I'd definitely guess that the vibe I'm supposed to get from Marsha is a "don't notice me" type of vibe, kind of reminds me of Violet from the first half of the Incredibles, if feels like Marsha is deliberately trying to not call attention to herself

The fact she has a hood, cloak, and gloves actually adds to this. These are commonly accessories given to mysterious characters, the hood and cloak are self explanatory they're often used to conceal an individual

Gloves are an interesting thing when it comes to character design, as with the exception of characters who are wealthy, dressed extremely formally or wearing winter clothes....gloves are often used to symbolize a character is hiding something. Because how often do you see everyday people wear gloves? Not often. And when they do they normally serve a purpose (it's very commonly a trait given to secretly villainous characters because ya know....gloves conceal finger prints)

Of course Marsha has fingerless gloves which are more commonly just a fashion choice, though some professions do need fingerless gloves for protection while needing finger dexterity. But due to various punk sub cultures using them purely for aesthetic, they are usally there to give a character some edge. As a result this could have different meanings

The gloves could symbolize Marsha is more complex than she let's on, they could be there to show Marsha has some edge or something of an in-between. Hell if we take common symbolism of gloves being used to show a character is hiding something, Marsha having fingerless gloves could be playing into that in a "she isn't telling us EVERYTHING but she's not hiding who she is"

I will say the decision to make the gloves pink was a very good call both for some color but it also hints at Marsha's more girly side, the jewel (I'm assuming is a necklace) also gives the design a bit of spice and the bright green combined with the browns gives a certain earthy feel to her which could tie into Marsha's heavy association with animals and nature to a lesser extent

I oddly enough don't care for her bow, it's the only thing that feels like it's there just for the sake of being there (which isn't a bad thing sometimes smal details are just small details) and as a result feels more like clutter. But it doesn't lessen the design any and does feel appropriate for Marsha so take it as you will.

Her shoes really remind me of converse and those being a big thing back in the 2010s, which I feel like does give the design a nice modern touch

Sarah

Fun fact I actually didn't like her brown hair when I saw her in your art for the first time, I thought it was out of place and a little tacky but it's grown on me since then. It works for her color scheme and helps her stand out amongst her sisters, so it's a very nice touch actually once you get use to it

There's a lot of purple here since, which is pretty interesting for many reasons. Purple, especially dark people, is kind of rare for character design. It's normally only reserved for characters heavily associated with royalty, magic, and mystery. It's a very classy, sophisticated color. Sarah being heavily tied to it gives Sarah sense of elegance, it could show her being the main one that councils over her siblings (like a queen would in a way) or hint that she's just better put together overall

She also has gloves and a cloak, which again common ties to concealment / "this character is hiding something", tights are also often used for this though not as much since they are a lot more common of a fashion accessory than gloves. However, given Sarah lacks a hood to their inclusion doesn't feel tied back to deceit the same way it does with Marsha, more so partiality or personal perference

You do get the vibe she's very reserved, especially when you take in that she wears a lot of layers almost like she's protecting herself from something. Combine that with her color scheme and get up, Sarah feels older. You'd probably assume she was the oldest when put right next to any of her sisters

Kinda wish there was more going on with her hair tbh, nothing here is bad but I think if it had some texture to it (curls, waves, etc) then her design would pop off even more. It just feels a little.....flat and since her hair is the main thing that helps her stand out from her sisters you could add onto that by having her not be the only one with straight hair

Plus curls are also used to symbolize elegance alongside purple, so it just feels like it would fit her. But as is it's just fine, like I said not bad just kinda lacking or coming across as whatever

Her skintone is also darker than her sisters which might be just how my sceen renders so it's possible it's not intentional, combined with the fact you stated Sarah's hair comes from Elise and all the sisters are poc-coded so it makes me wonder if Sarah is supposed to be the most dark skinned of the sisters or if I'm just reading too much into the color scheme. If that is the case textured hair would help tie into that, but if not then it can just be a fun detail to add

Rosaline

Not sure if you changed her main outfit or this is just a different drawing but I could have sworn her main color was pink so this surprised me, what surprised me even more is how good the soft blue actually works for her. It kinds me of how blue used to be considered a girl color due to its more gentle nature while pink was associated with boys due to its harshness. Either way, it looks really cute on her. I think it helps symbolize her innocence and childlike nature more than pink would

I don't have much to say with her outfit as cause.....yeah that's a standard outfit for a young kid, and most kid designs have to keep the outfits basic because...that's how most kids dress. Yeah, they have style preferences sometimes, but most just want clothes they can run around in easily because they're playing all day. Rosa's outfit is cutesy but also something a kid would wear

I'll call special attention to her hair because pigtails are an interesting choice. High pigtails are a classic choice for femme characters, especially young girls, but commonly are given to prissy, spoiled, or outright evil characters. Not helped by the fact that high pigtails can cast a shadow that invokes horns and devil imagery. Low pigtails are generally considered a lot softer and more playful, typically given to country bumpkin type characters like Dorothy Gale for example.

They're very feminine but simple and practical, again tying into the innocence of Rosa's get up. Especially the size of them, it's very rare for children characters to have very long hair purely because kids don't often have hair that long for many reasons, largely because parents don't won't bother helping them maintain constant treatment with long hair so it ties back into Rosa's wealth upbringing while giving her design a fun bounce, I'm sure if I were an animator I'd enjoy drawing Rosa running around with her hair bouncing beind her

The bows really tie it all together and feel very fitting as opposed to Marsha's bow which again isn't bad just feels like it's there for the sake of being there, while with Rosaline they feel very nessecary and she'd be lacking without them

[taggedmemes]

SENTENCE MEME ⟶ THE OUTER WORLDS / PART FOUR always feel free to tweak the sentence to fit your muse.

'sounds like someone poking into somewhere they shouldn't be got into a spot of trouble.'

'you've got an ear for intrigue and a nose for money.'

'that's how you know your weapon loves you back.'

'time stood still. i was aware of nothing but the smell. it could have been days.'

'i'm just going to hang in the back and try not to touch anything.'

'it's a- a game we play, he and i.'

'you're going important places, i'm sure. big, exciting, important places.'

'it's personal business, i'm afraid. miserably, terribly personal.'

'i'd like to drown myself in work.'

'makes it hard to trust outsiders. you seem different.'

'couldn't've done it without your moral support.'

'if you could find some way to solve this without violence i'd prefer that.'

'a little advice? before you start telling lies, get a feel for who you're talking to.'

'sounds complicated, but profitable.'

'hey, careful with the 'c' word around here.'

'be seeing you. make sure you aren't followed on your way out.'

'i'm sorry, am i causing a scene?'

'he's a brave idiot with a penchant for getting himself delayed... sometimes by dates, usually by bandits.'

'i'd rather not die early of an infectious disease, myself.'

'no need for her to be worrying herpretty little head about me.'

'i'll be fine. so long as i'm left alone.'

we can discuss this like the level-headed folks we are.'

'awfully cold-blooded of you. though i admire your backbone.'

'alas, the only collateral she has is... her organs.'

'i guess it's better than losing your organs, but...'

'if you were that stupid, you deserved to get caught.'

'is this what carbon monoxide poisonin' looks like?'

'speaking for myself, i am not of a mind to be murdered by a psychopath who plays with fire.'

'keep talking. i like the sound of your voice.'

'the principles of the universe dictate that sometimes we must appease others to keep from being roasted alive.'

'we had a carnal understanding a few years back, and she wanted me to have something to remember her by.'

'that's bureaucracy for you. piracy with a smile.'

'just try not to piss off any of the jesters.'

'you don't got a thing to worry about. you know, aside from fires and such.'

'i have the pleasure of making life or death decisions on a shoestring budget.'

'i can also be a real hard-ass.'

'the scoundrel deserves a light beating at least before he kicks off.'

'we keep the community lubricated with a steady supply of booze and unconventional erotica.'

'it's a real romantic poem. made my chest hurt kinda.'

'you weren't joking about being a pirate.'

'you probably don't need my diagnosis, but he's definitely dead.'