#and this is my final contribution for the week

[patchworkcuddlebug]

Good Dolls Play Pretend

The doll knew about this store since it was a person, but it never bothered coming before it became. Now, it stopped by every time it was in the city to collect some authentic Asian tea. The mall was a little out of the way, but its witch didn't mind! So it sipped on some boba tea it ordered from a specialty cafe just a floor down while it decided on what flavour to-

"Woah, [XXXXX]?"

It froze as it turned to face whatever just spoke. It was a person, a man that was once the same age as it, a man that it tried and failed to date before it became. "Oh my god, it's been so long, how've you been?" He seems genuinely excited to see this one again.

This one learned to cover its joints with sweaters and longer skirts. This one knew how to talk to make people less mad or confused. This one knew how to play pretend.

"No way! Oh my god, I totally didn't expect to run into you." it said, forcing away its usual eager docility for normal human surprise.

The conversation continued as it would. The man went back to finish his undergrad after the hotel job didn't work out. This one bent the truth just enough to say it found a job as a maid for a normal upper-class woman. It was working, he believed this one! Such a good doll. It was so polite too, nodding along, encouraging him to talk, even accepting his party invitation!

. . . . .

This one finally left the store with a friendly wave as the person went in a different direction. It held the bag of tea as it waited for the bus, finding stillness as it alwaIT ACCEPTED HIS PARTY INVITATION.

Jeans, plain black t-shirt, thin grey zip-up hoodie. Normal person clothes.

Human, it reiterated to itself, waiting for the man to unlock the door to the university's dormitory building. This one... I am a normal human. I have normal human hobbies, such as... chess. I don't smoke but I occasionally drink. I own a computer... no, a laptop, and use it a few hours a week. No, a few dozen. I sometimes order fast food with an app on my cell phone.

The door opens and this one begins to pretend. It is not politely standing at attention, awaiting orders. It has a relaxed demeanour and a casual regard for most things. It smiled at those sent to great it and lead it to the on-campus pub, with the amount of demureness that is normally expected from a human person.

This one can hear the music from all the way down the hall. It is intentionally showing a normal human reaction, which is neutrality.

This one hasn't been contributing to the conversation as much as it thinks it should. The people have been talking at it, explaining what a pub crawl is and what kind of alcohol it should order. It really, really, really shouldn't ask if they serve tea.

The people take a seat at one of the tables, and it joins. The others ask what it would like to order for an appetizer. It says the pizza seems tastiest. It doesn't say it seems the least messy.

The waitress arrives. The others are ordering drinks. They're saying names the doll doesn't recognize, and maybe never did. The doll asks the waitress what drinks they have, and the others look at it with amusement. The waitress suggests an apple cider for beginners, and the doll accepts, not caring how she knew.

It sat still. This one was great at sitting still. But it didn't feel any stillness at all. This doll's purpose is ease the burden on others. To help them relax by taking care of something they would stress about or be annoyed by, by helping them talk through their emotions, or even just by staying out of the way and leaving people alone. The closest it could get was by remaining seated with three other partygoers. At first they occasionally deferred to this one for input on a conversation, but it seems something told them not to do that anymore as the night went on. Did they... find out?

"[XXXXX]?"

The doll is startled, realizing its attention is needed. It didn't catch the first time it was said. Everything is so loud. It holds no animosity towards its old personhood. Just the same hazy disconnection one feels towards a half-remembered dream.

"You don't look too hot. Did you drink too much?"

The doll looked at its half-finished drink. The doll looked at the exit. The doll nodded.

He escorts you out the building's closest exit. He leans forward on the railing, lighting a cigarette. He offers it one, and it refuses.

The person apologizes for inviting the doll, saying that he could tell it was upset. The doll asks him if he knows, and he says he only assumed until it asked that.

In an instant, the doll's thin veneer of humanity fades away. It fixes its posture, its face slackening into a much more natural empty expression. Its arms rest together, hands wrapped in each other.

The person hesitates, seeing such a shift. He looks back out over the railing he leans on, taking a drag as he looks out into the city.

He asks if it misses its witch. It says that Miss gave it full permission to spend the night out. He says that's not what he asked. The doll says it would much rather be home.

The person sighs. He apologizes again and thanks the doll for doing its best tonight. He puts out his cigarette and turns to face the door, leaning his back against the railing. He looks over to the doll, and it hasn't moved.

He asks if it wants the others to know, and it says no. He says he'll make up a lie, something about a family emergency. That way it can go do... anything else.

The doll thanks him. It didn't even consider refusing.

The relief is nearly instant. There's a melancholy in its chest as it walks away, after giving the person a formal goodbye. It's very happy to leave such a... restless situation, but there's a lingering sense that it's been a bad doll. It's hard for it to articulate why. It didn't do anything that Miss says makes you a bad doll, except maybe do a bad job at pretending.

But it couldn't be sure. Maybe that was what was making it so restless? It couldn't defer to Miss right now. It didn't have that external solidity, the confirmation of purpose.

That made it very happy to be a doll again.

[wnbawag]

Jacked and Kind

Pairing: Breanna Stewart x popstar!reader

Summary: Popstar!reader - think Chappell Roan.

Word Count: 2.1k

Note: Not proofread, I totally wrote this in one sitting and it's not the best lol :)

My Masterlist

The 2025 Grammy’s

“And the award for the Best New Artist goes to:”

The entire building seemed to hold its breath, all the contestants trying to school their features, camera’s panning to each contestant in turn.

“Y/N Y/L/N!”

The artist’s hit song, Pink Pony Club, played in the background as the cameras zoomed in on the winner, who was currently holding back tears while she hugged the people around her.

The building was on their feet, cheering as she made her way through the crowd, accepting high fives and handshakes from various industry giants before finally getting onto the stage.

The announcer gave her a hug, whispering how proud of her she was, before standing back to let Y/N get to the mic.

“Y’all I’m shaking so much, thank you so much,” Y/N said into the mic, lip visibly trembling as she looked around the room.

It was that moment that the entire building was reminded of just how young Y/N was, and they immediately supported her by cheering.

“I remember writing this album, these songs, back home in Kentucky, never thinking anyone would ever hear them. I’m just so happy that you all love them as much as I do, thank you all so much,”

Y/N stepped back from the mic, waved at the audience, and wiped away her happy tears as she was led off stage to do her interviews.

Post – Grammy Interviews

“Y/N Y/L/N, winner of Best New Artist tonight, here with us for a few questions. Now Y/N, you’ve answered a lot of questions about your music tonight, so I have something different. You repost lots of women’s basketball to your Instagram story, specifically about the new Unrivaled league in Miami. Tell us what basketball means to you and why you seem so passionate about women’s sports?”

“What a great question, yes I love women’s sports, and I am guilty of reposting almost everything I see related to Unrivaled,” Y/N said with a giggle, flashing a smile to the camera at her right.

“I love what Stewie and Phee have done with the league; I played basketball when I was younger, so I’ve always been a big basketball fan. I’m really excited that these women have another option in the off season, rather than going overseas being the only option. I love the idea of Unrivaled and it’s been so successful so far.”

“Is there anything you’d want to say to the league or the players who may be watching this?”

“Of course! I want to sponsor something or contribute, I’m not sure what but I’m sure they could help me figure that out! Stewie, Phee, or admin, hit me up!”

And with that, Y/N signed off, giving the camera a big smile and wave before walking off.

Little did they know that interaction was going to change their entire trajectory.

February 2025 – Miami, Florida

The past week had felt like a fever dream. Almost immediately after the Grammy’s, you got an Instagram DM from the Unrivaled Instagram account, asking about a good phone number to discuss a partnership.

This led to several meetings over the span of two days with the Unrivaled board of directors, who decided that they wanted your partnership in the form of content with the players.

Something you were so excited for.

They had you flying out by the end of the week with a schedule of content to make with the different teams.

Of course, you vlogged the whole way there. They were keeping you joining as a secret until you landed, so the content you filmed got sent directly to the media team to edit and have ready to post.

After landing, you were met with an Unrivaled rep at the Miami airport and driven back to the headquarters.

They got you settled in your own Unrivaled apartment, showered you with Unrivaled merch, and debriefed what you would be doing first.

Their first content idea had you hyped.

You would be joining the Mist for a practice.

The entire concept was so unserious. They didn’t expect you to really be able to keep up, they just wanted you to give it a go and build some chemistry with the players while the cameras rolled.

The idea was to get you doing basketball things with the different teams, then have you participate in the Celebrity game close to the end of the Unrivaled season, which would be a 3v3 of 3 celebrities vs. 3 Unrivaled players.

You thought the entire idea was super entertaining and were excited to get started the next day, bright and early.

Unrivaled Practice Facility – Mist Practice

“Alright guys, Y/N here, star basketball player, obviously, here to show some amateurs how it’s done,” You winked at the camera, mic attached to your shirt. You were dressed head to toe in Unrivaled merch, Mist shirt and basketball shorts proudly on display.

You had mentioned in one of the meetings with the board that you were good on shoes, you had Jordans.

Then found a brand-new pair of Stewie 2’s in the numerous boxes of merch for you, with a handwritten note from Stewie.

‘Don’t want you dirtying your pretty Jordans – Stewie’

So, of course, you were repping Stewie 2’s paired with some WNBA socks.

You pushed open the doors to the practice court, catching the attention of all the Mist players.

“Okay girls let’s get this,” You stated proudly, strutting in with the cameras following, goofy grin on your face.

You were met with lighthearted giggles from the team as they all came to introduce themselves, several telling you what big fans they were of your music.

Stewie was last to greet you, she had to lean down to hug you properly, whispering that she was so excited you were here.

After she stood back up, you realized just how tall she was, but she looked down at your shoes and smiled.

“Nice shoes, they look good on you,” And winked.

You might’ve felt your heart skip a beat, but that wasn’t important.

Phil Handy greeted you, shaking your hand and telling you he wasn’t going to go easy on you, with an unserious look on his face, before telling the team to line up at the court lines.

He explained a quick handling drill which comprised mostly of between the leg dribbles.

It was that moment you realized you didn’t know how to dribble between the legs.

Standing beside Stewie, you nudged her side urgently.

She looked down at you with a questioning gaze.

“Uh, Stewie? I don’t know how to go in between the legs,” Stewie’s eyebrows raised in understanding, she glanced and motioned to Phil, who nodded.

Stewie took you a few paces to the side and began showing you how to dribble in between the legs.

“You need to be lower than you think, yeah bend over a little, little more. Yup just like that. Keep your knees bent, I know it feels like you look weird, but I promise you don’t. Yup now just bounce it- yes exactly!” Stewie gave a little bounce once you got it, shooting a big grin your way.

Of course, the cameras were catching every interaction and eating up you and Stewie.

The two of you rejoined the drill and made the pass with the team. You were slow about getting across the floor, losing your ball several times as you bounced off your foot.

It could’ve been embarrassing, but Stewie matched your pace, laughing loudly with you whenever you lost your ball, and it seemed every bit of social anxiety drained out of your system with her beside you.

That’s how all the drills went, Stewie showing you exactly how to do the different handles, adjusting your stance on shooting, and explain the 3v3 and 1v1 rules as Phil ran drills. She partnered with you for every drill, giggling with you whenever you failed miserably and cheering when you managed to dribble correctly or sink a basket.

Even though it was all fun and games, you managed to dribble a ball behind your back in a cross over in a 1v1 drill against Stewie, then sink a 2-pointer.

You totally knew Stewie left you wide open on purpose, but you didn’t care when she cheered louder than you did as the ball sunk through net.

You understood why everyone who met this woman loved her.

As practice ended, Phil and the practice players had left the court while the rest of the team crowded around you to ask questions and talk.

At some point, Stewie had asked if there was anything you had ever wanted to do on a court, to which you responded you wished you could dunk.

Which led to Stewie leading you to the basket, ball in her hand. She passed you the ball, telling you to hold it while she put her hands on your waist, moving you to just to the side under the basket.

She leaned down, standing behind you, till her lips were level with your ear.

“When I say jump, jump straight up. Trust me, I got you,”

You definitely didn’t shiver at that.

She told you to jump, which you did.

You felt her strong hands on your waist lift, and you went straight to the basket, your head peeking just over it.

You excitedly dropped the ball in, giggling as Stewie carefully lowered you to the ground, hands never leaving your hips, even when your feet were safely on the ground.

You were barely paying attention to Rickea and Aaliyah yapping about some Tik Tok trend, barely paid attention when Stewie nodded in agreement, you nodded just to agree with Stewie.

And somehow found yourself in the Mist locker room, filming a Tik Tok. You heard the music “a boy who’s jacked and kind” come from Rikea’s phone and you immediately knew what you were in for.

But couldn’t find it in yourself to care as you and Stewie faced the camera, her easily lifting you up and onto her shoulder.

She shot you a smile before smirking at the camera and flexing the bicep that wasn’t holding you in place.

You couldn’t help the soft smile that graced your own features at her antics.

Stewie came along as you filmed other content with other teams for the rest of the day, claiming it was ‘co-founder duties’.

You didn’t miss the eye roll from Phee when she said that.

The two of you made eye contact several times during the Owls content, silently bonding over amusement from Stewie not leaving your side.

She found several excuses to pick you up throughout the day, saying she had never met someone so small.

You felt you should’ve been offended at the constant comments about your height, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care when Stewie’s strong arms were wrapped around you.

Several times, you caught yourself staring at her lips as she yapped, something you were sure the cameras had picked up on.

Not that you really cared.

Board of Directors Dinner

The Board had invited you to a dinner after your first day, you were unsurprised when Stewie said she was going too.

Phee looked at her in surprise.

“Didn’t you say those things were stupid and you would never go-”

“Nope, I never said that. I live for stupid dinners,”

You and Phee made exasperated eye contact, choosing to not comment about the sneaky arm that had made its way around your shoulders.

You leaned into it during the dinner, keeping a hand on Stewie’s thigh or fiddling with her fingers under the table.

You definitely knew you were driving her crazy the entire dinner. Not that you cared.

Stewie had insisted on walking you home, even though you were living in the same building as everyone else for the time being. But you let her, leaning into her side while she wrapped a hand around to your hip, you let your own arm wrap around her waist.

Once the two of you were in the building, Stewie looked at you with a hesitant look on her face.

“I know we like, just met, but- only if you want to, no pressure or anything, but would you want to come back to my place and- y’know,” Stewie blushed, looking down at her shoes.

You giggled, the light sound bringing her attention back to you.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask,”

[musubiki]

balor 🥰

[cactus-juiceee]

epilogue

[stone-stars]

[ID: Four versions of the Two Books meme. On the left of each is the same large tome labeled "neverafter". On the right is a different version for each faction of the neverafter, labeled "neverafter if [faction] gets what they want". Destiny's Children have the same tome but cut up into small pieces. The Daughters of the Crown have empty space. The Fairies have a significantly smaller tome. The Stepmother has the book distorted into her silhouette.]

the finale to my neverafter memes: the factions of neverafter and their goals, explained by books

[queeny-v]

Day 5 of Ppkm Week 2024 - Winter

I had so much fun participating in this week! This is my last post for it so I hope y’all like it! 💛

Close ups!

I like to imagine they’re on a school trip to Big Bear Lake that’s in California, it’s the only place I know of over there that snows every year lmao.

[petricorah]

since it's over my dash today, when i draw comics, this is my "divorced" zukka au: That they choose their duties over their personal lives. Sokka out of love and obligation. And Zuko out of love for his people...but also out of guilt and fear that he'll end up like his father. And they got together, briefly, wonderfully, before they had to part ways. It was the culmination of years of pining and worrying about their friendship, and for a brief moment, they think they can have a future before reality and their own choices ruins it for them, and Sokka leaves and Zuko stays. They didn't get the chance to be happy together and now it hurts too much to even be friends. Because all that's left between them is what could have been. And sometimes they'll have to do a mission together and things will click back into place like they were meant to be, just like boiling rock, and they'll be reminded of what a good team they make and how much trust they have in each other. And Zuko is reminded that he hasn't really smiled that way in years because Sokka's the only one who can make him that happy, and that realization comes with a bitter twist inside him because he knows it's fleeting, and it's not fair that he can only be happy with someone who lives across the world. And Sokka remembers what it feels like to have warmth and sure footing. What it felt like to be with the one person he could completely let go with and know he'd be caught if he fell. And how he missed hearing the sound of Zuko's laugher so much he has trouble enjoying his own jokes because it just feels a little bit empty without the person he wanted to spend his life with by his side to hear them.

And then, the mission ends, and they're having to say goodbye, again, and it hurts more and more each time until neither of them are able to face it at all.

[ladymidnight-goesforth]

Tamlin Week 2024, Day 4: (a belated) Happily Ever After

@tamlinweek

We stood atop the hill in silence, until the setting sun gilded the house and the hills and the world and Lucien called us to dinner. ~ A Court of Thorns and Roses, ch. 45

This was inspired by the meadow scene in Studio Ghibli's "Howl's Moving Castle", hence the Ghibli-esque illustration style I went for here.

Many pro-Tamlin fans prefer to think of ACOTAR as a standalone book, and I am no exception. So my contribution to the "Happily Ever After" theme is them walking off into the sunset at the end of book 1. I hope you like it.

I am the artist. Please do not repost without permission.

[foreverfearlessred]

istfg if I lose Logan on the grid and his replacement is C***** of all people I will do something that puts me on the international news like this could not be worse for me personally besties xo

[bitchy-peachy]

Followed some deity advice and now I feel myself with more energy and less pain.

They told me I was obviously dehydrated which caused weakness, stomach problems, pain, inflammation and fatigue. They told me I needed to take more than 32 ounces of water per day (which isn't even enough but was what I taking. They told me take TWICE as much) as well as drink coconut water (at least an additional 8 ounces).

I did that yesterday and even managed to clean up some stuff and move around late last night (after midnight. That damned insomnia came back and filled me with energy.) Felt no nausea or stomach aches.

I was also told to avoid fried foods and to add more fruit and fiber in my diet. I've done that and now my stomach isn't as upset after every meal like before.

I also have to avoid potatoes and rice. My family swears that rice cause no issues but ever since I took rice out of my diet a couple of days agon along with potatoes and overly salty foods my symptoms lessened considerably.

Still am weak as shit though. I have a lot of altar dust which I plan to turn into black salt to eventually to put in a cleansing spray. I need to at least energy cleanse my floors with some cleaning concoctions (cinnamon purification helps a bit. I also use witchhazel to wipe down surfaces).

But I'm still not in a good enough state to do all that right now and they thankfully understand and I was told so. To not worry too much cos also stressing and letting my blood pressure rise sadly helped contribute to my inflammation and that causes me even more body pains.

So to fellow witches out there, don't fear asking your deities for guidance even during extreme illness. I made that mistake because I didn't want to overstep but it turns out they're always ready to help especially if you can channel them to hear them as clearly as any person.

I mentioned this before in my witchy blog cos I made a mistake of never asking for help either from deities or actual people. (My family hates that I don't ask for help 90% of the time. I actually hate asking for help 😭. I don't like burdening others. Its embarrassing and I don't want to annoy my closest ones. Ugh.)

[stalebagels]

nature is healing

[silkpages]

one month off uni LET'S GO!!

[sophitz]

sophitz is the most yuri het ship in kotlc. to me

[mycelium-bf]

can't wait for winter break i still have like a hundred chapters to catch up on for hxh but ik i need to catch up on black butler too i just don't know how much there is

[front-facing-pokemon]

[seiya-starsniper]

Dreamling Week Day 2 - Dragons

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to finish out the fic I wanted for today's prompt, but I do have a snippet I'm happy to share! Hope y'all enjoy it while I kick my butt into gear for the rest of the week!

There are trespassers in his mountains. Dream can smell their foul odor from miles away. He shifts quickly into his dragon form, then lets out a bellowing roar, hoping that this warning will scare them off. When he smells them getting closer, he holds his fire in his mouth, manifesting smoke to release through his nostrils and waft through the trees. Still, the wretched things persist with making their way through the pathway up his mountain.  Dream would find himself impressed with their tenacity if he did not hold so much distaste for human life.  It has not always been this way. Once dragons and humans easily coexisted amongst one another. Dream himself had settled within a village teeming with creative humans who spent their time weaving songs and stories. They were often delighted by his ability to shift from dragon to human form, and the children in particular would beg and plead to ride on his back. It was a period when humanity had been at its best, he remembers, but it was not a time meant to last. As humans propagated themselves across the lands, like any other creature, they began to fight for territory rights. Soon the landscape was torn apart by war and famine, and many of Dream’s kind had been caught unwillingly in the fray, killed or captured by humans wishing to use them to serve their own violent needs.  Dream has not seen another one of his kind in over a millennia. He is unsure if he ever will again.