#and this novel situation has some of them restless

[limonmelon]

armandaniel reclist

Because I really have to start putting these somewhere and because I need everyone to read these and give them the love they deserve:

outcast of all this night by gaypiratedivorce - "After a month in Dubai, Daniel Molloy is back home and miraculously alive, eager to get to work on his first draft. The vampire Armand has other plans." first in an insanely good (and complete!) series.

two truths and a liar by andrealyn - "Facing down the press junket for his book, Daniel Molloy is prepared to hype up his hit novel. He's less prepared to have Armand crash the tour to play bodyguard and doting assistant and he's definitely not ready to have his secrets spilled on a world stage because Armand wants to play games. The longer he sticks around to torment Daniel as he chases him across the country, the longer he stays. So, who's really winning this game?"

to the edge of the earth by andrealyn (you can tell I love her Daniel voice) - "There's nowhere that Armand can run where Daniel won't find him. Using the Talamasca's information, his own dogged determination, and eternity sprawling ahead of them, Daniel's going to find his maker and figure out why Armand keeps running. When he catches him (and he will), he's going to prove that it's going to be the two of them, forever, and that he's going to love Armand the way no one has before."

and then what? by andrealyn - "The droning hum of Louis' boredom is going to drive Armand mad. Instead of accepting it, Armand seeks out the kaleidoscope chaos that is Daniel Molloy's mind to learn why he's so special, so fascinating, so interesting. Every city he finds him in, he learns more before he makes Daniel forget. Every city, Armand grows a little more addicted. And every city, Armand does something he's not supposed to do -- falls a little more in love and eager to give Daniel the memories of who they are together."

his thoughts were red thoughts by spqr - "Daniel’s barely thirty; he can’t fathom one century, let alone five. It’s probably a wonder Armand doesn’t spend his time skulking in a cave somewhere, muttering to himself, covered in the blood and muck of his innocent human victims."

care and keeping by katplanet - "Louis shakes his head. “And now he's got you stepping on him.” Daniel picks his drink up and necks the last half of it. “I have not,” he says, “stepped on him, as of yet.” “But you want to.” “I think so?” Daniel puts the empty glass back on the table and scoots it out of their immediate limb radius. “I think I could want to. I want to want to.” “There you go,” Louis says, “tell him that. That'll set the mood.”" With some really great Louis/Daniel friends who love each other and also fuck too.

Endearments by Nothing_But_Paisley - "Daniel never compared him to a Botticelli angel or a Bernini cherub, never called him a demon or an imp. Such images scarcely existed within that wonderfully secular modern brain of his. Daniel was entirely a creature of the flesh."

open up your skull, i'll be there by typefortydeductions - "He shakes his wrist free and brings it to his mouth, licking up the trail of blood, his eyes never leaving Armand’s. He turns, and walks away, and spends a restless night in his own bed with his dick half-hard and the memory of Armand’s blood and Armand’s hands and Armand’s final whispered words before he upped and left Daniel sprawled newborn on the floor." this series floored me it's so good please read it.

mystic seaport is that way by exastris_scientia - "Daniel should really get more sleep and stop getting himself into these situations..." this series has it's boot on my throat. written pre-Season 2.

bend your dream with the road | VOTE TO END OTW RACISM by meronicavars - "Daniel is asleep dreaming of his own unreliable recollection of Louis at Polynesian Mary's all those years ago and Armand wants to dive into his dream and wrench Louis out, shake him until he realizes that Daniel is his, Daniel has always been his. Isn’t this something Louis should know? That Daniel was his gift to Armand. Why must you torture me with his presence? He wants to ask. Why would you bring him here if not to punish me?" also part of great series and written pre-Season 2.

the man who wasn't there by obstra - ""I just couldn't bear to lose you and Louis in one day.” Armand is looking away from Daniel now and picking more ferociously at the edge of his sleeve, like he's avoiding something big. He's almost afraid to ask, somehow he can tell this is going somewhere significant “Why would losing me be the same as losing Louis Armand? Just some kid you met decades ago in San Francisco, tortured a little bit then threw aside? Explain to me why. Does this have anything to do with the fact that my memory of the 70s has more holes in it than swiss cheese? I thought it was just drugs but I also thought San Francisco was just drugs and look how that turned out.”"

a haunting just for company by valkyrisms - ""I know what a breakup looks like," Daniel says. "The better question is, why are you coming to me about it? I'm the one who broke up your little sham." "This is what humans do, don't they?" Armand asks, letting his voice drop. "Crashing on their friends' couches when there's a blip in their romances?""

Simplicity by WendigoDreaming - "Daniel's memory is a gaping hole morphing slowly into the shape of Armand." also part of an ongoing series!

The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning by trinityofone - "He should have left when he had the chance. But he wanted to see how it ended. His mistake. Because the story wasn’t done with him. All at once it was grabbing him by the throat. (A version of Daniel's turning featuring visions, sex, and sexy visions.)"

forever's gonna start tonight by trinityofone (actually just read all their IWTV fic thank you) - "I’ve lost my mind, Daniel thinks, still lavishing kisses to the chest of the creature that killed him. He says the next part out loud: “I fucking hate you. And you hate me. So something is making us do this.” “I don’t hate you,” Armand pants. “You mean nothing to me. Don't stop.”"

more to come!

[canary3d-obsessed]

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed, Episode 40 part one

(Masterpost) (Pinboard)  (whole thing on AO3)

Warning! Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Agree to Disagree

The juniors are arguing because Sizhui said that some demonic cultivators might have good intentions. According to Jin Ling that means that Sizhui is celebrating the murders of Jin Ling's parents, or something.

(Actor) Peixin Qi uses forehead-squinching as a primary acting tool, which would be perfectly fine if he wasn't playing a character with a red dot between his eyebrows.

He goes on to say that Wei Wuxian is the evillest of them all, way eviller than Xue Yang. Which in sheer numbers of victims, is probably a fair point. But Xue Yang was way more of a dick.

Ouyang Zichen is all of us when he asks Jin Ling to chill the fuck out.

Sizhui apologizes even though Jingyi is ready to throw down on his behalf. It's unclear if this helps, because Hanguang-Jun chooses this moment to arrive. He immediately defuses the situation with the power of stinkeye.

(more after the cut!)

More Than Meets the Eye

Many differences between CQL and the novel are adaptational choices - Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji's deep, early friendship; the yin iron plot, Jiang Cheng being loveable, etc. Changes like that, I normally don't point out, because adaptations are AUs, in my view, and can be enjoyed separately from their sources.

Other changes are driven by censorship, however, and in those cases I think it's fair to look to the novel and its less-censored adaptations for a peek at what's happening off camera. Particularly when there are scenes and interactions in The Untamed where the show seems to be deliberately pointing to the novel to fill in the blanks.

This moment on the stairs is one such scene. In the show, Lan Wangji carries liquor upstairs to Wei Wuxian, and the juniors react with shock; Jingyi drops his chicken out of his mouth and Sizhui stuffs it back in there.

They are shocked because he bought liquor, and that's the extent of their reaction.

In the Donghua, Manhua, and Novel, Lan Wangji is dragging Wei Wuxian up those stairs, having drunkenly tied him up with his headband.

First he stops to show his prize to the juniors, who have basically the same reaction in every version of the story, including Jinygi dropping his chicken and Sizhui stuffing it back in his mouth. In the novel, however, Sizhui does that to stop Jingyi from saying anything to Lan Wangji & his captive.

The liquor, in all versions, is a clear sign of how much Lan Wangji has mellowed since his youth. In case we need another reminder, we learn here that he let Sizhui get a tattoo on his finger.

Every parent will tell you, you gotta pick your battles.

Returning to to the timeline in which no visible bondage is occurring, Wei Wuxian is sitting around in the room upstairs waiting for Lan Wangji. Wasn't he busy talking to Lan Xichen when Lan Wangji went into the inn to shut the kids up? How did he get upstairs before Lan Wangji? Never mind, never mind.

Wei Wuxian goes to look out the window and Wen Ning appears, hanging off the roof like a dork, or like someone who has seen that one Spider-Man movie and is hoping for some upside-down kissing.

Wen Ning asks if Jin Ling is the kid he halfway orphaned, and Wei Wuxian says yes.

Then he hears Lan Wangji coming, and Wen Ning falls to the ground for no reason.

Wei Wuxian urgently shoos Wen Ning away, trying to hide him from Lan Wangji.

Wen Ning acts way too clueless for someone who spends so much time third-wheeling.

There's no in-world reason for Wei Wuxian to hide Wen Ning; They fought side-by side in Yi City, and they were all together for A-Qing's burial. There's not a problem between him and Lan Wangji.

Once again, the novel provides the missing information. Wei Wuxian is hiding Wen Ning because Lan Wangji is hella jealous even when he's sober. Wen Ning fell to the ground because drunk Lan Wangji leapt through the window and kicked him.

In the novel, Wei Wuxian & Lan Wangji's evening ends with a game of tag that's loaded with sexual tension, followed by a kiss...followed by Lan Wangji literally knocking himself out to avoid taking advantage of Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji does everything in the most extreme way possible.

In the live action, the most sexually charged part of their interaction is this positively sinful hip thrust that Wei Wuxian gives when he turns around at the window.

If you've seen Xiao Zhan dancing, you know this is not an accident.

Unlike the novel's perpetually clueless protagonist, live-action Wei Wuxian clearly knows he's on a date right now.

...and he's enjoying every minute of it. He's delighted that Lan Wangji has provided *good* liquor, rather than the rotgut he's able to afford himself.

As he pours for Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji points out that both of their brothers know who WWX is at this point. Wei Wuxian isn't happy about it but he says they can't do anything. Which is...not correct.

He tries once again to get Lan Wangji to tell him how he recognized him, and Lan Wangji responds by asking him why his memory sucks so much.

Wei Wuxian says "you try dying by falling from a great height TWICE and see how your brain likes it." That's what he should have said, anyway.

This whole thing about his memory isn't actually important in the live action, even though it keeps being mentioned. He's forgotten the name of their song because he was delirious when he heard it; otherwise his memory seems perfectly fine.

I think this might be another instance of the live action giving a wink to novel readers in the audience, because in the novel Wei Wuxian forgot Lan Wangji's confession of love. Which, like WangXian, was presented in a cave while WWX was delirious; Lan Wangji is not great at choosing his moment.

Anyway, this may be why Lan Wangji seems to take Wei Wuxian's memory problems personally, despite having very little in-show reason to be upset.

Lan Wangji changes the subject by asking Wei Wuxian to go to Jinlintai with him, to search for Nie Mingjue's head. Sounds like a perfect romantic getaway for a boy and his favorite necromancer.

Just as Wei Wuxian starts to ask what Zewu-Jun will think, Zewu-Jun and his cheekbones come into the room.

He's taken time to think things over--a concept the rest of the cultivation world could stand to learn about, incidentally--and he agrees that they should investigate.

Note: the non-CQL illustrations come from the MDZS manhua, which is complete online (mangadex.org includes the uncensored extra bits), and is about halfway through being published in English by Seven Seas. It's delightful and I highly recommend it.

Bonus: Lan Wangji and Sizhui enjoying some tie-in cup noodles. (A few in-character ads are included in the Viki version of the show.)

[kydrogendragon]

Dec 8

(Ao3 Link)

Hob made sure that when he was remodeling The New Inn that the fireplace was updated and functioning. He’d gotten used to having the steady crackling of a fire in the evening after his six hundred years on this planet and the comfort it brought was one he wasn’t willing to part with. Morpheus sat with him in the opposite armchair in his living room above the inn. His mismatched sock covered feet were curled up underneath him, a book in his hands.

He truly was a sight. Even now, with his messy hair he hadn’t bothered to style for their lazy Saturday in and the large black jumper with a hole they’ve yet to sew shut at the bottom hem, he was beautiful. Hob supposed that even after retiring from Endlessness, if you’ve been something more-than-a-god for so long, that level of grace and beauty sticks with you, even if you’re now a human.

Hob rested his cheek on his hand, laptop abandoned, feet propped up on the coffee table in front of them. Adjusting to this new way of life had been a challenge for Morpheus. He’d known, to a degree, what he was signing up for when he “retired” but the reality of the situation was more than he expected. The entire bathroom debacle had been an interesting one. It felt like he was raising Robyn all over again in some ways. But it hadn’t taken long for Morpheus to get comfortable and proficient with his brand new body.

This was one of their first weekends where everything had gone relatively smoothly. They’d gone shopping and the lights and sounds didn’t overwhelm Morpheus like they had before. (They had picked up a pair of noise canceling headphones and brought them just in case. They didn’t need them until checkout.) Their visit to the library had gone well (as usual) and Morpheus even inquired about job opportunities there and nabbed a volunteer form on their way out.

He’d confessed to Hob a while ago that he’d felt restless. He’d gotten so used to always having something to do or think on that the quiet of his mind and the lack of purpose had been slowly eating at him. Hob insisted that he didn’t need a job or anything, he’d plenty of funds to care for them both for a long while, but it still made him happy to see Morpheus look into a position at the library. It really was a fitting place for him.

All in all, today was a good day. Now, they get to relax in front of the fireplace and simply enjoy the quiet.

Morpheus looks up from his reading, cocking a brow at Hob’s staring. Hob chuckled, shutting the top of his laptop. “Sorry,” he said, tugging on his ear. “Just good to see you this content.”

Morpheus’s brows furrowed. “Do I not normally look content?”

“No, I mean. You do, more than you used to. I just,” Hob sighs, leaning his head back against the back of the armchair. His eyes trail over Morpheus with a smile. “I’m just happy.”

Morpheus stares at him, eyes widening slightly. He reaches over to the table next to his chair, blindly, and snags the bookmark resting next to his cup of hot cocoa. His slender fingers slot the thin rectangular paper in the book, shutting it.

“You are… happy. Because I look content?”

“Yeah,” Hob says easily. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“I…” Morpheus looks down, rubbing his thumb across the well-worn cover of the novel they picked up from the library that day. “No. It is not hard to believe. Since it is you.”

Hob’s heart clenched. “Good,” he managed, clearing his throat. “That’s good. I just. I know this transition has been hard. It’s a lot. Being human is a lot. And you’ve handled it so well, through all of this. And I’m so proud of you for it. And seeing you, sitting here all curled up by the fireplace with a cup of cocoa and a good book and you’ve got that faint smile on your face and it just... It just makes me happy. That’s all.” He looks down and huffs. “Sorry, just me being a bit of a sap. What else is new?”

He fiddles with the edge of his laptop, feeling the warmth rise in his cheeks. It was harder with each day, now that Morpheus wasn’t reliant on him for every little thing and his old friend was starting to come back to his usual self, to keep a lid on his feelings. They still come out, like now, in the form of staring just a bit too long or caring a bit too much. He can’t help it, though. Not when he gets to see his best friend so relaxed and actually looking like he enjoys life for once. He just hopes that Morpheus either doesn’t pick up on it.

“Hob,” Morpheus’s voice calls out. Hob tilts his head to the side, meeting his friend’s gaze. His blue eyes were watery, something Hob could tell, even from this distance. “Thank you. For... For caring, as you have.”

Hob tugged on his earlobe, shifting in his seat. “Yeah, ‘course.” He said, lamely. He clears his throat and sets his laptop off to the side. Pushing himself off the chair, he grabs his own mug and nods to Morpheus’s. “Want some more? I’ve a bit more marking to finish up so I’ll probably be up a bit longer.”

Morpheus reaches over and hands his own cup to Hob with a small smile tugging at his lips. “I would like that very much.” Taking the two glasses, Hob retreats away from the warm glow of the fireplace and towards the kitchen. Unknown to Hob, Morpheus’s eyes follow him the entire way until he’s out of sight.

[idensgarden]

you guys seemed to like my last au ranting post so. here we go

some more takes on classic gravity falls aus because i like reimagining things. Here's my 2 cents on reverse falls, which. i havent seen the visual novel if thats considered canon or anything to the au. i think uts like batman now where everything you apply to it is canon if it vaguely follows the premise

from what i've seen, it's more of a situation swap than a personality swap, so most parts of the au will follow that. but pacifica didn't come to gravity falls for the summer- she had to move here because her stupid dad got involved in a scandal or something and had to lay low. the northwests have inherited enough money to last them a good while, but apparently they can't go spending it on "trivial things", like pacifica's very important designer clothes. so she has to get... a... a... god, i can't say it without gagging, a JOB!!! at a worn down car sales shack!!! hold on. let me add a cut here.

okay im back. alright. at her job, pacifica meets gideon gleeful, who's basically gideon but less entitled, and surprisingly a bit like mabel. he's immediately the most annoying person pacifica has ever met. but he's the only company she has, besides mr. gleeful, who is way too cheerful to be pleasant and gives off major discomforting vibes, and mrs. gleeful, who makes her reflect on the lack of affection she receives from her actual mother and creates a deep pit of sorrow in her heart. just girly things.

(since gideon is much more pleasant in this au, his mother is much more stable, and takes the role of the primary caretaker since bud is too normal for me to write about)

the other employees are bad, but could be worse. the sleepy cashier with eyebags for eons and ROBERT written uncaringly on his nametag, and the overachieving pink-haired errand-girl who seemed to have a different name each time you asked her and a cartoonishly large bow on her head.

the longer pacifica works at her new summer job, the more fond she grows of it. when she's not hearing about gideon's annoying ramblings about wanting to be on broadway and the melancholy of settling for a mascot gig, she's actually feeling this gross sense of pride after actually working for something in her life, and getting sandwiches made for her by ms. gleeful (eventually nicknamed aunt agnes). pacifica hates to admit it and it keeps her up at night, but she's happier here than she's ever been. which is why she doesn't leave when she notices strange things happening around gravity falls.

ms. gleeful denies it, but gideon totally agrees with her- something weird is going on in this town. pacifica, going through an old car with an undefinable model much too damaged to repair, finds a journal in the glovebox, embedded with an X over an eye, and from here, the show plays out a bit like normal gravity falls. give it that unnerving, darker touch that the northwest manor episode had. some early episode ideas:

a full episode based on the what's-his-face comic, obviously without the mystery twins. pacifica gets a pimple, and thinks that since she's starting to get older, she's losing her adolescent beauty, and thus becoming less of a 'valuable asset' to her family. what choice does a girl have but demon magic? i hope this one doesn't backfire!!!

after the last episode, the effects of pacifica's fear of not meeting the beauty standard linger. after catching pacifica staring at multi level marketing get-pretty schemes, ms. gleeful decides to revoke her phone and take the kids camping, saying that technology is evil. it turns out she's right, as pacifica's phone has grown restless after it's abandonment and transformer'd into a beast, which is hunting them down in the forest slenderman-style.

pacifica doesn't believe in the tooth fairy- she's almost 13! it takes her a terribly long time to be appropriately afraid when it gets one tooth from her (gideon convinces her to just TRY putting one under her pillow) and becoming obsessed with harvesting her perfect teeth. inspired by ckret2's goldilocks au!! :)

and then comes episode four...

on her break (thank god!), pacifica sits down to watch some trashy tv, but can't stop seeing ads for this flashy tourist attraction called the mystery shack. at first she rolls her eyes, but the lights and the colors and all the cool effects just look to awesome to pass up. this town must be getting to her, because she'd never indulge herself with something like that before, but now she just has to go. she works overtime for money to see the shack, and gideon uses his allowance to go, too. (pacifica is surprised. why is he spending money on this? he said he doesn't even want to go!!! (gideon just wants to get closer with his first friend)).

the shack is run by a professional conman, who collects and shuffles the money dramatically at a fancy desk, called stanford pines (not actually, this is pre-ford). his employees were vigilant, and yet always exhausted- a goth girl with a sharp tongue and a bodyguard who always seemed uncomfortable in his suit.

but customers really came for the twins; mason and mabel, psychic slash drama slash comedy duo. the townspeople practically (sometimes literally) threw money at them. they were the same age as pacifica and gideon, but had this air of disconnect to them. in all their posters they had the same matching yellow earrings, contrasting their bedazzled blue outfits. their hair also seemed to be greying, even at such an early age.

pacifica was not happy to have spent her 45 dollars on watching two kids read fortunes more vaguely than a cookie and tell dumb jokes and do stupid dances, but gideon seemed jazzed.

the next day, there's a knock at the office door. the twins came to visit! pacifica is pissed. mabel asks to chat with gideon, and pacifica tells her to screw off, but gideon rushes out of the door with mabel, 0 hesitation. he probably has a crush on her for a bit like in canon, but it doesn't go anywhere.

dipper invites himself in, offers that pacifica could offer him some tea free of charge, and pacifica almost thanks him. she lashes out at him, and quickly learns that he is all bark and no bite, curling up like a scared kitten in the recliner. she picks on him a bit, barely noticing the glow of his earring, before mabel comes back out with gideon.

"alright, that'll be all! hey, can gideon take work off today?" she says. "we want to go get makeovers! you know, since we're best friends now and all."

for some reason, pacifica feels a strong pang of rage. but she doesn't act on it, just standing there dumbfounded as mabel doesn't wait for an answer, and gideon skips out of the shop with his new best friend.

it keeps pacifica up at night. she should be important to him!!! wasn't she his first friend?

wasn't he hers?

when gideon finally comes back, pacifica is still angry, but she's relieved. at least that wacko girl is gone- nevermind, she's back, and she's taking gideon out for tacos and pedicures.

it goes on and on and on. pizza night this, karaoke night that, arts and crafts here, a cool party there... pacifica knew that she should be mad. she should be frustrated- she was pacifica northwest! she should be the center of everything, she should be invited to these stupid get togethers, she deserved it!

but she wasn't angry about that. she was angry about gideon. and above all else, she was lonely.

so she did the responsible thing and communicated with gideon about how she felt and I'm lying I'm lying to you right now. she actually hunts down mason, demands that he spill the ulterior motives of mabel pines, and yanks him up by his shirt collar like a cartoon bully. at first, mason won't talk, but pacifica drops him on the ground and gets a good look at his stupid dumb constellation birthmark. she asks him about it.

"it's... not actually a birthmark. it's,, like a tattoo." mason confesses. "it's a long story. with a really gloomy sleep paralysis demon at the center of it. please don't tell anyone."

pacifica has no idea why it's that important, but utilizes her leverage, and blackmails mason into telling the truth because shes kind of a dick. he tells her that the whole mystery shack is a con made up of conmen and conwomen and conpeople, and mabel is trying to make gideon another cog in the cog-powered con machine and swindling him into giving up his family's business in order to expand the shack, showering him with attention and taking advantage of how gideon has never had any friends.

pacifica is outraged. yes he has, she decides.

she barges into mabel's backstage room in the mystery shack just in time to dramatically yell DROP. THAT. PEN!!! before gideon signs a waiver.

gideon is disgruntled, confused, and angry. "you're just upset that mabel is treating me like a real friend, something you never did for me!"

"i didn't know how to do that for you, i never... i'd never done it before!"

gideon squints and softens at pacifica's confession. oh. so she's not actually that mean, she's just repressed and lonely. she's just like me for real!

the two make up and hug, before the sentimental scene is destroyed by a loud "ENOUGH!!!" from mabel. mason dashes into the room to come to her aid, a bit sorry for leaking her plan, and the two use their cool crystal earrings to beat the shit out of pacifica and gideon.

"YOU WANNA HAND OVER YOUR PROPERTY TO ME SO BAD, IT MAKES YOU LOOK STUUUPID!!!" (cool psychic fight)

eventually, gideon manages to snatch the amulet from mabel, asking her what the diddly darn she's doing. mabel sighs.

"come on, gideon! i have braces! those mess with girls' emotions and hormones and stuff!"

"d-... do they really?"

"no, but you wouldn't know, you never had friends!" she towers over him. the whites of her eyes become a ghastly blue, her pupils shifting to a shape akin to a goat's. "come on, gideon! what's it hurt? your dignity? your family? your life's work? we both know you need approval. need to feel normal. like you're not a freak." her words are venom. "i can give you that. there's no reason for you to miss this opportunity. there's no reason for you to miss me."

pacifica is restrained by mason, reaching out for gideon. "don't believe them," she sputters. gideon looks up at mabel.

"you're right. it's just nonsensical. to miss this. miss you..." he takes her hand, as he speaks again.

"not when my aim is just getting better."

he takes his free hand and SOCKS mabel in the face and unclips her earring because i decided theyre clip ons and ripping it out is a little extreme!!! he throws it on the ground and stomps on it, and mabel is FURIOUS. she turns to mason.

"come on, bro bro!" she huffs. "do something!"

mason is still for a second. and then he shakes his head. "mabel, we need to talk."

"NOW!?"

as the twins begin to argue, gideon and pacifica take the opportunity to flee the shack and run back to the car shop. before ms. gleeful makes dinner, gideon asks if he can actually stay at pacifica's tonight.

ms. gleeful is okay with it, but pacifica quickly dismisses the topic. it's the thought that counts, but she didn't want to see her parents at the moment.

"you don't mind if i stay here tonight, though, do you, ms. gleeful?" pacifica asks.

"please, sweetheart, call me aunt agnes. i have a sleeping bag 'round here somewhere!"

she and gideon smiled at each other.

[princess-of-the-corner]

I was about to give you another fun fact about how Astruc accidentally made a past Ladybug Miraculous user work for Richelieu (his guards were also Musketeers, after all), but I checked the wiki to see if there was any news... And turns out La Coccinelle has been named as René d'Herblay Aramis de Vannes - that is the inspiration for Dumas' Aramis that appears in the Three Musketeers novels (I say inspiration because Dumas took a lot of liberties, starting with the fact the historic inspirations for D'Artagnan and the other three were children by the time the first novel was set). And he also turned him into a woman.

And at that I actually laughed, because I'm old enough to remember Anime Sanjuushi, the Three Musketeers anime from 1987 (it had a few reruns in Italy in the 1990s)... And guess who was also a girl there?

And as I was writing the post I laughed AGAIN because I also remembered what kind of guy Dumas' Aramis is. He had planned to become a Jesuit since he was a child, but some guy insulted him so he dropped everything and spent a year learning the art of the sword just to murder that guy in a duel, at which point he had to become a Musketeer. And then he became one at the end of The Three Musketeers after Milady's execution sullied the soldier's life for him, only to return to the saddle in Twenty Years Later because he was restless as a priest. And in the third novel... Better I avoid giving spoilers beyond saying he pulled a lot of BS.

I'll let pass how Astruc seems to have forgotten that the Musketeers primary weapon was in fact their namesake musket (those novels only show them ONCE in a situation where they could use it, so it's easy to forget)... But seriously, does Astruc EVER think such things through?

..... Gonna be honest I never really thought about the Musketeers being named after muskets every depiction of them uses swords

But also yeah I think he just. Yoinks people from history and says 'ah yes give them a Miraculous'.

[bottlecaprabbitgames]

Obligatory simple yet horny questions written in an unsexy way for the q&a, with the understanding that you don't have to answer all of these and that I have not stalked your tumblr in some time so they may already have answers. Also not actually in-character asks because I'm a rule breaker and a rebel:

1. It was a restless day, and a restless night. What does a typical wet dream for the ROs look like?

2. Most attractive thing for MC to wear for the ROs? And on that same note-- which of the ROs would and wouldn't wear lingerie?

3. What sorts of mundane, normal actions/behaviors would get the ROs unexpectedly worked up when its someone they like doing it?

4. ROs' most obscure kink? what weird shit are they lowkey into

5. Favorite non-bed location to bone?

6. because of a specific conversation we shall not repeat: breeding kink? Check yes or no

7. if called daddy/mommy which is recoiling in Disgust and which is like wait a second. hold on. interesting. hm. better reflect on this. (I'm part of the first group)

8 (my favorite): for those applicable: what are their most embarrassing or funny sex stories. Like, who fell off the bed and gave themself a concussion. the kind of story that takes 3 years together and an official commitment to even consider spilling. blackmail material

HI CHEL LOL

still cant believe u made that fucking rhyme-

This is if they are not romancing MC!

Blake... probably either a curvy, busty woman or a chubby man that's shorter than him, lol. Very much usually involves him on top and leading.

Loche... honestly, I don't think they have them often enough to have a typical one. If there is one it's probably a faceless person of the opposite gender and it's the same situation as they lived with in the Fae Realms, where the only relationships were sexual and one-offs, usually. In private.

Freja... lord have mercy, they're usually her favorite NSFW scenes in her smutty romance novels, but it's her in the leading lady's position. One that appears most often is her with a dress still partially on and a very ruggedly handsome man or tall woman ravaging her.

Iri... them being on the bottom. Does not matter what else is taking place, but they are on the bottom and usually with a more domineering partner.

Adontis... lingerie. Lots and lots of lingerie on faceless men and women in his dreams. Man just likes some skimpy fabric on people, what can I say?

Fawn can't dream.

Blake would want the MC to be wearing one of his shirts... and nothing else. Whatsoever. He'd be willing to wear lingerie but nothing that 'rides up in my ass'.

Loche similarly would just want MC in their clothes, or in a long t-shirt that goes to their upper thighs. They just really like that look. They'd be hesitant to wear lingerie, but if MC really wanted them to, they'd be willing to try smaller scale stuff.

Freja... is a big fan of MC wearing button down shirts with the first two to four buttons undone. That little strip of chest peaking out gets her heart racing. She is willing to wear lingerie, but will need some encouragement and for MC to go slow.

Iri would love to see MC in a teddy! Very big fan of them. Iri is also more than willing to wear lingerie and has several sets, actually!

Adontis would love to see MC in lingerie, specifically something he's picked out for them. Makes it all the more intimate, and he's a big fan of the idea of delayed gratification, and that would definitely play into it. He is not very willing to wear lingerie himself, however.

Fawn would just want MC naked, honestly, lol. Just give her easy access and she's more than happy. She is willing to wear lingerie, but MC will have to be the one to get it... and give it to her to wear.

For Blake, it's MC doing anything involving their lips, like licking them, chewing them, tapping or tracing them.

Loche... loves seeing MC playing with their hair. Their hands itch to be in their hair for a very different and far more intimate reason when they see it.

Freja... MC doing something physical. Exercising, working on a car or something else, anything that'd break a sweat.

Iri... I can't really think of anything for Iri. Hmmm..........

Adontis takes notice if MC is touching their neck or thighs. Especially if they're rubbing either.

Fawn... well, for them, fighting is pretty mundane, and it is definitely an instant kickstart to her libido if she sees MC training or actually kicking ass. Most especially if MC manages to best her while sparring.

OH BOY THE OBSCURE THINGS.......

Blake would 100% be down for pet play. With him being the pet. Not often, but every once in a while.

Loche... honestly, I think they're lowkey into getting caught with MC while they're having sex. Like, I think it would do A LOT for them and it would surprise the fuck out of them. It stems from the fact they're the one getting caught with specifically MC, however. It wouldn't do anything for them if it was someone else.

Freja... honestly, I can see her liking having her face pushed into the bed or pillows if things are getting rough. Not often, but uh... if it happened every once in a while, she'd love it.

Iri lowkey likes being fed.

Adontis... I'm NGL i could see Adontis loving the idea of either under-the-desk bjs type shit. His hand or MC's hand in the others pants at the dinner table. At public functions. Man's a bit of a freak.

Fawn would enjoy watching MC touch themselves, but would stop them before they finish. If they still managed to, however... she'd have to punish them.

Blake's is definitely in the back of a car.

Loche... probably out in the forest somewhere, especially at night. Less noise means they can hear more of MC's noises around them.

Freja... she's had many a fantasy of being fucked on a table.

Iri's would be probably a couch? Lots of fun maneuvering can be done on a couch.

Adontis would be his desk or in a chair. He is a fan of both.

Fawn likes walls. And floors. And tables. And cars. If she can get MC anywhere, she doesn't particularly care about the rest, lol.

AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA-

Blake: Yes

Loche: Yes

Freja: Yes

Iri: No

Adontis: Not opposed to it

Fawn: No

Blake would be down with it.

Loche would be very much NOT into it.

Freja would be like "Just, no. No. Do not."

Iri would be a lil into it.

Adontis would not be into it.

Fawn would let MC get away with it if she's fucking them roughly.

Blake and his wife, when they were dating, tried to have sex on his bike. It ended with him getting a black eye and her spraining her ankle very badly, lol.

Loche doesn't really have one.

Freja has never had sex, so not applicable.

Iri... at their first Magi college, they and their roommate were on the desk... where one of Iri's lab experiments also were. It uh. Got knocked over and processed to melt a hole in the floor.

Adontis and his last wife were... having quite a bit of fun in a carriage, so much so it caused one of the wheels to come loose and they had to wait for a passing cart to help them, lol

Fawn was uh. Had a fellow agent propped up on a meeting room table, expecting it to be empty as she didn't see any meetings scheduled for the day. However, with her pager turned off, she didn't get the memo that an emergency meeting was being held in it and wasn't on schedule. Lo and behold, half-naked agent and half-naked Fawn get found by the entire team and half the fucking Proctor staff, as well as the SECOND-IN-COMMAND OVER THE ENTIRE ADVOCACY LOCATION THEY WERE AT.

Needless to say, Freja had a lot to say. Both in the room and after.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED BUDDY, LMFAO ILY

[devondeal]

Some Barrissoka ask game questions for you my dear 💚💙

3,6,8,13,18,19,21,23,31,33,45

Oooo why thank my love 💙💚 I love these things, please y'all send me MORE. It was hard having answers you didn't already know 🤣 Enjoy.

3. What do their Masters think of their relationship and would they show their support?

Anakin would probably not care but I think he'd still be surprised that Ahsoka would be with Miss Barriss "Goody Two Shoes Straight A" Offee and low key be nervous that Ahsoka might learn a thing or two from her 🤣 I think he'd high five Ahsoka for and I quoteth "Yeeeaahh Snips GETTIN IT!" Then he'd just walk off leaving poor Ahsoka confused and annoyed.

Luminara would probably be happy about someone making Barriss happy but she'd still def keep a close eye on Ahsoka since she's protective of her daughter. I think Luminara would wait until Barriss tell her about the relationship before showing open support out of respect that it's Barriss's truth to tell (unlike Anakin).

6. Whose Master is more likely to walk in on them in a compromising position?

Oh Anakin absolutely 🤣 The man is an idiot and wouldn't notice the sock on the doorknob.

8. What do the Clones think about their relationship?

Rex is def Ahsoka's wingman and covers for her much like he does for Anakin. Poor man has a notebook full of excuses for them. But he adores their relationship and is happy Ahsoka could find solace in someone during a miserable war.

Gree loves how Barriss seems looser and more relaxed when Ahsoka is around so he is all for it and gives Barriss all the tips for the best places in town to take a lady out.

13. Who is more likely to give the "shovel talk," Luminara or Anakin and how?

Oh def Luminara. Anakin doesn't care enough to. Luminara however, knows how deeply Barriss feels and what it takes for her to open up to someone so she absolutely will want to make sure her girl is safe.

She would do it inviting Ahsoka to her room to "have a cup of tea" (Headcanon that the Jedi who know Luminara well know that the cup of tea means a beat down). She would use plenty of high vocab and innuendo for what she would do to a person who makes Barriss cry.

18. How would Ahsoka express her affection to Barriss?

I feel like Ahsoka would be very physical so she would love touching Barriss's hair, playing with it, learning to style it. She's a big cuddler and whine if Barriss gets too far away in bed.

She'd also love doing tasks like fixing, building, running errands, driving the speeder, etc. cuz she is THAT dyke.

19. How would Barriss express her affection to Ahsoka?

I feel like Barriss is BIG into gift giving and also loves feeding Ahsoka whether that's making her a meal or taking her out somewhere nice and fancy.

21. Whose more likely to initiate intimacy first?

Barriss. Girl might be the quiet one but it's always the quiet ones. Ahsoka while she seems more aggressive, I feel like would be SUPER shy about intimacy. Girl doesn't even let anyone sit on her bed according to the novel 🤣

23. How do they comfort each other?

They hold and cling to each other because it's what they did in life or death situations in the Clone Wars. Listening to the other's heartbeats help calm them down.

31. How would Ahsoka bond with Luminara?

In my and @jedimasterbailey's headcanon, Luminara loves speeder bikes. Ahsoka loves tinkering so naturally they basically car gals together and Barriss gets so bored when they nerd out over this.

I do think their bond started with Cloak of Darkness though even before Barriss.

33. What do the other Jedi think of their relationship?

Yoda would ADORE them together and non stop affectionately troll them. Plo Koon is happy that Ahsoka found someone to calm her restless spirit. Mace is glad the Luminous Lineage may tame the Disaster Lineage. Obi Wan at first is confused and worries about the two girls in a war situation and how that could affect them but in the supportive protective dad way.

45. Share your Barrissoka headcanon.

Ok so not a unique one I'm sure but I have this headcanon that it's Barriss who gives Ahsoka her diamond choker she wears in her second Clone Wars outfit and even though she doesn't wear it anymore, she kept it or maybe used it to make her new white lightsabers back when she didn't know if Barriss survived Order 66 as a way to comfort herself.

[thelien-in-bg3]

Tav Character Worksheet

Thank you for the tag @hybernating-bear <33

Tagging; @brickhoise @aroaceofthanes

Name: Ullr

Ullr is the name of the god of hunting, snow, archery, and, get this, skiing - I grew up with stories of him just as the other gods, but he always meant something special he shoots while skiing what´s not to like!?

Gender: Male, he´s a lil guy doing funny faces :)

Sexuality: Demi-Bisexual, but in the way he´s not just confused, he has no idea.

Pronouns: He/Him

O T H E R

Family: He was born in the Underdark and grew up there in the cult of Lolth and was later smuggled out "accidentally" by some raiders, he was then picked up by a farmer and his wife and raised there for the rest of his childhood.

Birthplace: Underdark

Job: He runs around doing small things for coin as he doesn't like being confined to one place, he also hates the outdoors just not that much so he compromises.

Phobia: Small places (Claustrophobia) and big places, and fire.

Guilty pleasure: Gossip might be one of the biggest, if this guy hears anything, everyone heard it, that´s not to say he can´t keep secrets, he can as long as you make it clear it´s a secret. Romantic novels, he likes the idea of ​​love you don't have to earn and is that is equal. Those are probably the only two things he might feel a bit of guilt for.

Hobbies: Rocks. He picks up rocks and puts them in his pockets, and others too if he doesn´t have more room, without shame. And dirt sometimes too, if it´s a new place. He keeps small bottles on him for different kinds of dirt and sand that he labels.

M O R A L S

Alignment: Chaotic Natural

Sins: Murder is always okay! So is theft. Most of the time...

Virtues: Loyalty to those he care about, everyone else can die for all he cares as long as he doesn´t need them in some way.

T H I S O R T H A T

Introverted / Extroverted (depends on the person and situation)

Organized / Disorganized

Close minded / Open minded (he always knows best unless you can back your own point up with a nine slides PowerPoint)

Calm / Anxious / Restless

Disagreeable / Agreeable / In between (no is his favorite word :) it´s so short and simple)

Cautious / Reckless / In between (depends very much on the situation)

Patient / Impatient / In between (depends very much on the situation, and who it is)

Outspoken / Reserved / In between

Leader / Follower / Flexible (he enjoys his own company but doesn't mind being joined as long as he withdraw)

Empathetic / Unempathetic / In between (he wasn´t really thought empathy when he was small and it never caught up but he tries for his friends)

Optimist / Pessimist / Realist (optimist pessimist?? "we´re all going to die, but hey at least we had the chance to breathe in some air!")

Traditional / Modern / In between (traditions are important but some of them needs to die)

Hardworking / Lazy / In between

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

OTP: I don´t really know.... either Astarion or Karlach

Other ships: -//- idk

Brotp: Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Wyll, and Gale, Gale in an awkward weird kind of way

Notp: I don´t really think there´s anyone in the camp he doesn´t like, or he would tell them to leave by threatening to do it himself if they didn´t.

[ikemenomegas]

So its established that the alpha is the one that keeps their silence when things get hard right? but then in the nightmare piece, megumi was the first one to notice that the alpha had a nightmare and wasn't in the right state of mind. And that gave me a thought, megumi noticing that they had a nightmare obv wasn't the first time so i headcanon that when megumi was still a child, whenever the alpha was depressed and needed comfort but shut up abt it to avoid troubling satoru more, megumi was the first to notice and comforted the alpha in his own megumi way like sending one of his divine dogs to play with the alpha

Just to clarify, I don't think the alpha is necessarily unique in the way they deal with difficulties! Most of sorcerer society is like this. Some people are lucky to have someone with whom to share their difficulties, but when they lose that person (like Nanami did), they go silent.

Gojo and Getou were that person for each other, but even then they never got to have that supportive relationships as adults, never learned to seek it out (understandable when you realize they don't consider anyone else their equal), and they seldom seemed to talk about what was bothering them head-on even as students (see the argument Shoko runs away from in the flashback arc). I can only speak to my experiences with the east asian part of my family, but that's pretty typical anyways. It takes trust and you still have to entice your loved ones into telling you what's up to them. It's not uncommon to get just as much information from careful observation as from an actual conversation. (Gojo actually doesn't say much either - he knows there are bad situations you can do nothing about, and in those cases sometimes the most you can do is just be there with someone in the shit)

Also, here's another old jjk fandom joke for you: that these people thought [single] parenthood at about 17-18 would fix them. The odd age gap between Megumi and the adults that inserted themselves into his life is part of what makes that relationship much less straightforward than just parent/child or student/mentor. If you like to read post 1800 British literature, benefactor really suits Gojo's role - he acts like one of those wealthy people in novels, snatching up talent because he knows that it will benefit him later, but also truly caring for his charge's well-being. It's a unique kind of relationship that's seldom recognized or codified in the united states, but it wouldn't be uncommon to cultivate these kinds of relationships for someone raised like modern day royalty the way Gojo was.

Shamans live a hard life. Alpha would definitely have had nightmares about something when Megumi was young, and they probably wouldn't have been very good at hiding it, being young themselves. Plus Megumi was an abandoned kid living in an unstable series of situations. He was probably hyper aware of his surroundings for a good little while until things settled with Gojo taking him in.

That said, this headcanon is adorable. Alpha really did have more room in which to be family to the Fushiguro siblings and that means Megumi in turn has more room to show emotion around them.

(I'm bad at social cues... especially online. I don't know if you wanted to see from my point of view what you're describing, but I blurbed it below <3. Thank you for sharing the headcanon anon!)

When staring at the dead TV screen had faded away into a restless sleep, you didn't know. At least this was a formless nightmare, which was both better and worse. Dreams in which you could fight, even with the world sticky-slow or slippery as ice woke you up irritated. The dreams which were made more from the hazy memory-stuff of too many battles, too many near misses and if only we'd been here yesterday's, left you with no specific images but hung themselves like weights in your chest upon waking, robbing you of much needed true rest.

At least, you thought, your consciousness bubbling rapidly back to awareness, it would be over soon. That was truly the best that could be said of bad dreams.

You snapped awake when a warm tongue licked your wrist and a low whine sounded by your ear - distinctly canine rather than human.

In the dark, the shape of White Jade dog glowed like the moon.

You sat up, looking around the room, but neither saw nor sensed anyone (or anything) else in it. Still you crept slowly through the little apartment.

Satoru and Shoko were out of town and you'd come here because you couldn't stand another night alone and now you were glad. The neighborhood was safe enough, but even so...

You trailed your fingers along the wall, the white dog padding along behind you and then slipping past into the kids' room ahead of you.

They were both in bed still, but if the shikigami were out, then that meant someone was awake.

You knelt in the space between Megumi and Tsumiki's beds. She was doing a much better job at pretending than her brother, but if he was awake, then so was she. You sighed softly to yourself. They were both so nervous, even though they hid it. And you didn't blame them.

Too tired for words, you chose to wait instead, and eventually, when you were almost drowsing sitting upright, Megumi rolled over and cracked open one eye. White Jade dog wriggled a little but at the slightest movement from Tsumiki, it stilled again.

Eventually, soon really, they would need separate rooms. Tsumiki had insisted on staying here until the school year was over, but as Satoru had described it, the situation was delicate enough without negotiating for a non-sorcerer to be exposed to the world of curses.

You reached over and tucked her duvet higher over her shoulder, grateful to see at least that some tension unwound from her.

When you turned back, Megumi was no longer pretending to be asleep at all, although that glaring stare of his was softened.

"I heard a noise," he said to your silence, whispered but still defensive.

It didn't take a genius to figure out at this point that you were probably the noise. When this used to happen on overnight missions, Suguru used to shake you awake and sometimes curl up behind you. Satoru would grumble his own reply to your murmuring until you woke and throw a spare pillow, still warm from his embrace, at your head. Shoko would have tugged you slowly into her arms and soothed you back to sleep with her precise fingers rubbing into your neck.

"Well thank you for sending White to come get me," you whispered back, shaking away the memories. "We should go back to sleep though."

Megumi frowned at whatever face you were making and looked at where the white dog was sitting, head cocked almost like a real dog, at the foot of his bed.

It was sweet that he'd sent his favorite of the two to wake you. Black Jade dog seemed to scare him sometimes, literally making him jump at his own shadow as it melted from the darkness.

When he said nothing in reply, you tried to unfold yourself from the floor. Megumi latched onto your sleeve. His face was turned away.

You carefully crouched back down. "How about I stay here tonight?"

He nodded after a moment, just once, barely noticeable except a shift against the pillowcase, but this time he let you go.

You smoothed down a blanket to sleep on and one to sleep under and pulled one of the couch cushions under your head in between the two beds in the narrow room.

Both of the children responded to your prompting "goodnight" and shuffled around to curl up again. Tsumiki's breathing evened out quickly, but the White dog's presence meant that Megumi was still awake.

It was curled around it's masters legs, head propped on his hip as it watched over you.

"Megumi?--"

Neither child nor dog made any noise apart from Tsumiki's sleepy snuffles.

"--I'm okay."

A barely perceptible little hmph came from the bed on your left.

You could hear a clock - the only thing that still had working batteries when you and Satoru had first visited the kids - ticking in the other room.

Almost five minutes later to the second, White Jade dog settled its head heavily over Megumi's side and disappeared with a sigh.

[rafacarreno]

Pedro Pascal | He/Him | Cis Man | Have you met Rafael "Rafa" Carreño yet? They’re the 44 year old teen social worker that lives around West Point Homes. I think they’ve lived in Seattle for his entire life. From what I’ve heard, they’re communicative but they can also be weak-willed if you get on their bad side. When I think of them, I usually think of In the Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel.

BASICS.

Full Name: Léon Rafael Flores Carreño Nickname(s): Rafa, Raf Gender: Cis man (he/him) Sexuality: Heterosexual Birthday: October 13, 1978 (44) Religion: None Hometown: Seattle, Washington Current Residence: Townhouse in West Point Homes Occupation: Teen social worker at a youth services center Education: BSW from Seattle University; MSW from University of Washington School of Social Work Languages: Spanish, English

FAMILY.

Mother: Valeria Carreño (66) Father: Léon Flores (65) Sibling(s): Elena Carreño (sister, 41), Diego Carreño (brother, 39) Ex-Wife: Delilah Carreño née Wells (44) Children: Sadie Carreño (daughter, 24), Theo Carreño (son, 8) Pets: An 8-year-old Australian Shepherd named Serj

PERSONALITY.

Pos. Traits: Effective communicator, honest, emotionally available, open-minded, easygoing Neg. Traits: Irresponsible, scatter-brained and unorganized, bad at planning and sticking to schedules, restless Likes: Old 90s cartoons, anything that gives him an adrenaline rush, his kids, glass blowing, eating cereal for dinner, watching basketball, giving people gifts, snarky teenagers, scrolling jstor for cool psychology articles, grilling, violent video games, his dog, camping, metal and classic rock Dislikes: People who don't like kids, shitty parents, most rom coms, celebrity culture, fancy restaurants, having to get dressed up, sleeping around a lot, super hot weather, reading novels, pop music

TL;DR.

**trigger warnings for alcoholism and some parental neglect

grew up with alcoholic parents who were never violent but often neglectful and forced raf to have to learn to take care of himself pretty young. his mom suffered post partum depression for several years. she got sober when he was around 5 and they started bonding finally but dad never managed to get fully sober

did some acting out in high school but nothing major. immediately after graduating started dating delilah, the best friend of his senior year girlfriend, and got married three months later, when they were about 19

at 20 had their first kid, sadie. rafa had no idea what he wanted to do with his life and needed to support his family so he spent a lot of time going from job to job

was NOT ready to be a family man yet. loved sadie more than anything but had a hard time giving up partying and shit so by the time sadie was 5, he and delilah got a divorce. it wasn't lack of love but rather lack of being able to co-parent successfully in that situation

things got a lot better when he moved out. he took sadie on weekends and was able to do his own thing (for the most part) during the week

at around 27 he started going back to school and decided on social work. got his degree from seattle uni and then went on to do his msw at uni of washington school of social work. he started out working with schools and youth programs and finally in his early thirties landed a really good job as a social worker for troubled teens at a youth services center where he runs a program and does group therapy and some individualized stuff

eight years ago delilah got pregnant (bc yes they started sleeping together again periodically!!) and had their second kid, a boy named theo, when sadie was 16. raf stayed at the house for a little bit after theo was born to help delilah, which was very confusing for sadie obviously

he's still got some irresponsible tendencies but is overall a great dad and loves his kids more than anything and cares sm about the teens he works with and would go to bat for pretty much any child in the world

HEADCANONS.

has a little glass-blowing setup in his garage and has been doing it for like over ten years, makes his own weed-smoking paraphernalia

does drink but not a ton because he's very wary of having two alcoholic parents and how susceptible he is to it. smokes weed tho somewhat on the regs

tba

CURRENT CONNECTIONS.

baby daddy of and ex-husband to @delilahcarreno

dad to @sadiecarreno

rafa's dog's vet @cemile-sahinx

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

raf's siblings, cousins, any family

parent friends

dad friends im begging you

people he's a father figure to

someone he's a good influence on

people he smokes weed and plays video games with

he loooves hiking and camping, someone he does that kinda stuff with

if ur chara was a teen 10 years ago? gimme people who were in his troubled teen groups

one or two serious exes post-divorce (one could potentially be current)

some fwb, one nights stands, maybe a regular hookup

coworkers at the youth services center

[readingforsanity]

The Hunting Wives | May Cobb | Published 2021

The Hunting Wives share more than target practice, martinis, and bad behavior in this novel of obsession, seduction and murder.

Sophie O'Neill left behind an envy-inspiring career and the stressful, competitive life of big city Chicago to settle down with her husband and young son in a small Texas town. It seems like the perfect life with a beautiful home in an idyllic rural community. But Sophie soon realizes that life is now too quiet, but she's feeling bored and restless.

Then she meets Margot Banks, an alluring socialite who is part of an elite clique secretly known as the Hunting Wives. Sophie finds herself completely drawn to Margot and swept into her mysterious world of late-night target practice and dangerous partying. As Sophie's curiosity gives way to full blown obsession, she slips farther away from the safety of her family and deeping into this nest of vipers.

When the body of a teenage girl is discovered in the woods where the Hunting Wives meet, Sophie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and her life spiraling out of control.

Sophie O'Neill is living the slowed down life in small town Mapleton, Texas after leaving the hustle and the bustle of city life in Chicago. Once a magazine editor, she is now a lifestyle blog journalist and stay at home mom to her 3 year old son, Jack, married to her husband, Graham.

But Sophie's slowed down life is going to get a bit more hectic once she meets the Hunting Wives. They consist of gossipy Tina, reserved Jill, uptight Callie and the gorgeous Margot. The four friends meet every Friday night at Margot's lake house on the outskirts of town to skeet shoot, drink and generally enjoy life together. But they invite Sophie to take part in their secret society. Sophie is thrilled, especially since she has formed an unhealthy obsession with Margot, harboring a sort of crush on her.

On the first night, Sophie understands why they call themselves the Hunting Wives: bored with their husbands and daily life, they go to bars where they aren't well-known and hunt for men to fool around with. Pleased to be included, Sophie goes along with it and is shocked to learn just how much Margot's star shines even in small, hole in the wall bars.

As their friendships deepen with each other, Sophie continously finds herself in strange situations, like that of getting black out drunk while attending a night club in Dallas with the girls, where she sees her friends clearly going against their rule of never going all the way with these strange men. Her crush on Margot continues to deepen no matter what she does to get rid of it.

But, Sophie feels badly about what she is doing to her marriage to Graham. She has fooled around with an 18-year-old boy named Jamie, the best friend of Brad who happens to be Jill's teenage son. Brad and Margot have been sleeping together for quite some time, despite Brad being in a relationship with a sweet girl named Abby, a Junior at the high school.

On one of their Friday nights, Margot decides to call it a night early but talks Sophie into staying behind, much to Callie's chagrin. The others leave, and Margot tells Sophie that both Brad and Jamie are heading to the lake house to hang out with them. After drinking too heavily, Sophie finds herself too drunk to drive home to her husband son, and ends up passing out on the couch. Later, when she returns home, she learns that Abby has gone missing and that a search for her is underway.

Sickened at the thought, Sophie can't help but think that Margot and Brad had something to do with her disappearance after she spied some unruly text messages between the two of them. However, a few days later, Abby's body had been found on Margot's lake property, a shotgun to the chest. And Sophie is now the number one suspect after the murder weapon is determined to have her fingerprints on the trigger.

Slowly, Sophie's life unravels around her. Graham finds out about her trysts with Jamie, though nothing truly ever happened between the two of them outside some touching and kissing, but he can't stand the sight of her at this point and kicks her out. It was determined that Abby had been pregnant at the time of her death, and now she's sure that Margot and Brad had something to do with it.

She goes to the lakehouse to confront Margot, but finding her with Callie, can't bring herself to do anything about it. After accepting a glass of wine from Callie, Sophie realizes that she had been drugged. In her atempt to sob herself up, Margot seduces her and the two of them sleep together. When she comes to later that night, she finds Brad in the doorway of the master bedroom, and she nervously leaves, heading back to her hotel.

But, Margot goes cold to her in the coming days, only for her to find out later by the detectives working on Abby's case that Margot is also dead, having drowned in the water on her property, a clear struggle and foul play apparent. Sophie feels grief in a way she didn't think she would, but she now realizes that Margot never had any intention of helping her out of the situation she had found herself in.

Realizing now that someone was trying to get Abby to have an abortion, she heads to Dallas in search of answers in the abortion clinics. She locates the one that she is sure Callie and Margot had taken Abby too, but instead of finding out that it was Margot, she learns that it was Jill. The same Jill that she is now alone with on a boat, heading out into the middle of the ocean.

Jill confesses that she had to kill Abby because of the unwanted pregnancy, stating that it was going to limit Brad if she had decided to keep it, therefore she took her to the clinic in the hopes she would end the pregnancy. But when she wouldn't, she found Abby sitting on the curb outside of her home after Brad had attempted to end things with her. Luring her to her own lake house with the idea that Brad was going to be there waiting for her, she took her to Margot's property and shot her with the shotgun that Sophie had used that evening during their skeet shooting.

She also killed Margot when she realized that she was still sleeping with Brad even after Abby had been killed, and she was also standing in the way of her son going off to college. And she says that she now has to get rid of Sophie because she knows too much. But, unknowingly, Callie is walking up on them with a shotgun of her own, holding it against Jill's back until the police arrive.

Two months later, Sophie is back in her home but Graham has moved out and is renting a house across town, and the state of their marriage is still unsure at this point. But she is happy to be back in her own space, and is talking with a therapist in her hometown of Chicago and is looking forward to the future.

[translations-dark-matter]

Living as an Extra in an Omegaverse novel

Chapter 30

The intention to clearly block my path was evident. It was at that moment when I lifted my head to get a closer look at the approaching figure.

As soon as I saw the person's head tilt towards me, I quickly stepped back and tensed my body.

Various thoughts raced through my mind as I observed the face of the person who seemed impolite.

"Why is Ha Jin-seong in front of me?"

Why are they standing in front of my house? What's the reason for blocking my path? Could it be that they saw Shin Tae-oh drop me off?

"Do you remember my face?"

Whether it was the answer they sought from Se-hyeon's expression or not, Ha Jin-seong slowly straightened up their posture. Even though there was enough distance between us to breathe easily, for some reason, my chest felt constricted.

Unlike when I was with Shin Tae-oh, I found myself becoming increasingly tense. I swallowed the saliva that pooled in my mouth. I couldn't help but wonder why I felt so entangled in Ha Jin-seong's gaze, even though it wasn't the first time we had met. And then I realized the reason.

"It's different."

Unlike the previous encounter where they observed and prodded me, this time there was a clear purpose. My instincts, unwilling to be swayed by it, recoiled.

I had suspected it, and it turned out that Ha Jin-seong had been waiting here to see Se-hyeon.

I composed my expression, pretending to be nonchalant, and faced Ha Jin-seong. There was nothing to gain from showing any wavering here, so I suppressed my voice and asked, "What is it?"

"You didn't answer my question."

Their words annoyed me out of the blue. It was as if they had shamelessly come here as if we had recently met and engaged in conversation.

Given that they stated it was a question but didn't say anything else, it was probably meant for me to figure it out on my own. It was a statement that purely reflected Ha Jin-seong's impertinence.

In such situations, I usually had to recall the past to grasp what question they had asked.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to."

That wasn't it.

"And I don't care to know."

Ha Jin-seong listened attentively, as if trying to remember, but they weren't the kind of person I needed to jot down notes for fear of forgetting.

Ha Jin-seong was interpreting my response however they pleased, whether I was pretending not to care or genuinely not interested. Their tone seemed to suggest that they believed themselves to be the center of the world. Yet, the true protagonists of this world were Ha Min-hyuk and Yoo Jin-ha.

Ha Jin-seong tapped their lips thoughtfully. They remained calm and composed from beginning to end. It was enough to make anyone around them feel restless.

"I told you to come to me."

"If that's the case, I did answer at that time, but..."

"You were given time to think."

"Well, you see..."

Why was it so difficult to have a conversation?

"Tell me what you want."

It was at that moment, when I was contemplating how much more bluntly I needed to refuse due to my growing frustration. Among everything said so far, it was the most normal thing to say. So, I was asking what they wanted in order to scout them.

"I'll give you a house and a car."

"Even if you say that, my answer remains the same."

It was a proposal that didn't require any consideration from the start. When I first became Se-hyeon, I could have chosen Ha Jin-seong for the thoughts of a nice house, a car, and a lot of money. Driven by emotions, there might have been a chance to receive a house or a generous sum of money that I couldn't earn in a lifetime.

However, that wasn't what I wanted.

Stability.

I had simply sought the safest person in this novel and wanted to live honestly on a regular salary, not relying on hazard pay.

In that regard, Ha Jin-seong was someone I had to push away without a second thought.

"I decline."

"Is that because of loyalty? Or was my offer insufficient?"

Ha Jin-seong asked as if genuinely curious, then suddenly smirked. As their eyes creased with the smile, it resembled the smile of a fox.

So when asked if it bothered me, it meant that their dubious impression had softened, indicating that it was fine.

At this point, I gave up on taking Ha Jin-seong's words seriously.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out something I had kept handy, although it wasn't something I usually carried around. I had taken it with me while tidying up earlier.

"Think about it carefully. It's better to come in peace..."

I placed a candy in Ha Jin-seong's mouth, interrupting his continuous rambling.

With the sudden candy in his mouth, Ha Jin-seong's eyes rolled around. Blocking his mouth that had been spouting nonsense seemed to have had a positive effect.

In the tranquility of the alley, just like any other day, I released my tension. I had heard why Ha Jin-seong had come, so there was no need to remain on guard.

"It reminded me of something sweet when you mentioned it. Enjoy the candy and have a good day. As for me, I have to prepare to welcome our capable CEO Shin Tae-oh tomorrow, so I'll be heading in."

I summed it up, telling him to stop since I had no intention of going with him, and walked past him.

"I'll come again, so be prepared with a different answer next time."

I don't like it.

***

I changed into comfortable clothes and lay down on the bed. As I stared at the ceiling, I wondered what had happened today.

I had a fairly busy day, but the most memorable moment was:

"Do you... like gifts?"

The vivid memory of Taenyang's flickering eyes came to mind.

"Is it true?"

I turned my head and looked at the sink. Expensive dishes were stacked neatly in a pitiful cabinet, making a clinking sound.

Of course, they were bought by Shin Tae-oh, but I ended up bringing them to my own house instead of leaving them at his place. I had quietly brought quite a lot of things to my own home. Usually, secretaries wouldn't place such things in their own homes. Well, they wouldn't even consider going to a secretary's home.

In novels or dramas, secretaries always handle everything at their boss's house and disappear like shadows.

"Maybe I should stop."

I was truly grateful when Shin Tae-oh didn't demand my resignation, even though he knew my true identity. But now, I hesitated, wondering if it would be better to leave.

It seemed like Shin Tae-oh was genuinely interested in me.

"But that's not normal."

I shouldn't deviate from the original storyline.

And what hesitated me even more... was that I didn't think I could accept his feelings.

"I... can't."

I quickly got up and picked up the phone I had thrown to the side.

"Should I look for something new?"

I had some savings, and I could take a few months off without working.

Impulsively, I opened a job recruitment site and started browsing, but then my phone vibrated, and suddenly, my mother came to mind.

"Hello."

- Mom?

"Yes, what's the matter?"

- What's the matter? It's been so long since we last spoke, so I wanted to hear your voice too.

Has it been that long? I thought to myself as I aimlessly looked around the room. As I absentmindedly touched the buttons on the coffee machine, I remembered Shin Tae-oh's bewildered expression when he saw me doing this.

I smiled and then realized I was still on the call, so I refocused on my mother's voice. I thought the call had been disconnected because she didn't say anything after a while.

- By any chance, do you have some money?

There's something going on.

"Why... are you asking that?"

I knew it was difficult for her to bring it up, so I asked.

- Well, your father said he would go up the mountain despite the bad weather, and he slipped in the rain.

As soon as she mentioned that he slipped, I stood up from my seat.

"Is it serious? I'll go right away."

- Huh? No, it's not necessary. It's just that his ligament stretched a bit when he slipped, but it's not serious. However, during the examination, they found a very small lump, so they want to perform surgery.

"A lump?"

- Yes. It's bothering him, so he thought he could have surgery while he's at it... But, well, the cost is not insignificant. I should have gotten insurance or something, knowing this could happen.

As her words became longer, I could sense her hesitation due to burdening me.

"I actually received a bonus this time, which I was planning to send anyway. Don't worry and get the surgery. I'll find time to come and see you."

I quickly delivered my words and ended the call. In the atmosphere that had become heavier, as if accompanied by a renewed silence, I lay back on the bed without even having a chance to let out a sigh.

It seemed like I had to send the savings to my parents, and as for me...

"I will serve diligently."

I spoke politely while looking at the coffee machine.

Considering the money I had to send to my parents next month, I decided to continue working without a break.

***

"Good morning."

Shin Tae-oh, who was about to leave the house, stopped in his tracks at Se-hyeon's greeting and nodded his head.

"Why do you say that?"

"I feel like we've had a moment like this before."

Shin Tae-oh's gaze swept over Sehyun from head to toe, and then he stroked his chin.

"You were diligent before, but now you seem even more diligent and quick-witted. Did you make some kind of resolution yesterday?"

It was because I didn't want to quit, but I pretended not to know and tightly held onto my tablet.

"It's because I had a hearty breakfast."

I skipped breakfast due to my uneasiness, but it was a suitable excuse to throw around.

"Oh, the power of food. It's the power of rice, huh."

Shin Tae-oh nodded casually and then thrust a paper bag he was holding in one hand towards me.

"Take this."

It felt more like he was telling me to receive it rather than bringing it to me.

"Is this... a gift?"

"Yes."

Even though I said I wouldn't accept it.

Se-hyeon extended the item he had been holding in his hand towards me.

"I'm not planning to reject it without even looking at it, am I?"

"Ah..."

Is that so?

Come to think of it, I rejected it without even knowing what it was.

Se-hyeon obediently examined the contents inside the paper bag. A tumbler?

"What is this?"

"It's a nutritional powder."

Why is he giving me that?

"Because it's hard to work on an empty stomach. Eat it."

He left with just those words.

"What is this?"

What should I correct?

Is it that I have an empty stomach? Or is it that I think I can't refuse because it's a nutritional powder?

Prev / Next

[prettylittlelyres]

2023 - My Year in Writing

Hello, friends! Happy New Year to all of you!

I hope 2024 is fabulous and fun... but also very calm and soothing, even if it needs to be a little bit boring. I think most of us need a slightly boring year after whatever mess 2023 was. All I see - all over the internet - today are posts about how 2023 was a giant mess for nearly everyone, and while that makes me feel less alone, it also makes me a little sad for everyone else who had trouble with it.

I am sure 2024 will be better, because, for goodness sake, it can't get worse. And, on the bright side, the Gävlebocken (Gävle Goat) has been gobbled up by jackdaws, and I firmly believe that to be a good omen. May 2024 bring us abundance as the goat brought abundance to the birds of Gävle. (We derve some tasty abundance.)

But, with the start of a new year comes the end of an old one, and that means it's time for me to write about all the writing I did in 2023.

This was the year I tried to be kind to myself, and I certainly succeeded in that. I'm proud of the leeway I have given myself this year, and - perhaps ironically - I have achieved more because of it. Letting myself work without pressure has always been difficult for me, but I think I finally learnt to do it in 2023.

So, here's what I did.

The best thing I did was start joining in with the writers' Discord server I joined last year. I lurked for a long time, never really piping up in the group chats, because I never really felt like I had anything to say. I didn't write anything like as much in 2022 as I wanted to (would you believe I started the year with a bullet journal page covered in New Year's Resolutions for Writing that included "finish redrafting 2 novels", "write 2 novels from scratch" and "plot another 2 novels"?) and I was upset with myself about it. At the end of 2022, I found out that I'd been quite ill for a while, and started getting better, and I decided I'd be kinder to myself from the start of 2023.

So, whenever I wrote anything, I mentioned it in the group chat where we share our daily wordcounts and achievements (no matter how "small", they are all worth celebrating), and started chatting to the other writers here and there. We had meetups on Zoom, and communal sprints on Twitch that really helped me get back into the swing of writing happily in January and February. I started to feel like a proper writer again, like part of a real community, and I can't quite express how thankful I am to the server for helping me get that feeling back.

I got 78,000 words written in the first 2 months of the year, mostly working on a character study for a story that I've put on hold until I can work out exactly what I want to happen to its characters. I've explored how they'd behave in certain situations, and thrown problems at them to see how they cope (badly!). But a story needs a storyline, and that storyline needs to be coherent, so I've mothballed the project until a good one comes along.

I also started journalling about my reading in the first few months of the year. I did an extensive study of "The Restless Dark" by Erica Waters, and absolutely loved it, filling an entire notebook with my thoughts on what was happening and what might happen next. I haven't kept up such a meticulous habit for the rest of the year, but it helped me focus on reading in a way I haven't done in previous years.

In the end I read 40 books, and the ones I enjoyed most were, "Tell Me I'm Worthless," by Alison Rumfitt, and, "All the Young Men," by Ruth Coker-Burks.

"Tell Me I'm Worthless," is a horror novel about how extremists will manipulate traumatised people to get them on side, but its core message feels like, "It's always possible to recover."

"All the Young Men" is Coker-Burks' memoir about nursing and providing community support to people living with - and dying from - AIDS in Hot Springs, Arkansas, all through the height of the crisis. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal parts, it reminds us all that, no matter how bleak things are, someone, somewhere, will want to help.

In April 2020, I started writing "Journal of a Pandemic", which has turned out to be a much longer project than I ever anticipated it to be. It's a chronicle of my life in the COVID19 pandemic, observing the changes I'm seeing in the world at large as well as in my own personal life. I wish I hadn't been able to write it this year, or at least that I'd been able to rename it - "Journal of a..." well, just about anything would be better than a pandemic, I think - but it's still happening. COVID19 still hasn't gone away, and I still can't go out in public without a mask on, because I'm high-risk. The bright side of my generally dodgy health is that I've been more careful with myself, and only had coronavirus once, in Summer 2022. I managed to escape it entirely in 2023, and didn't get any colds either. I'm eligible for continued vaccinations, which I've been having as they've become available, and I'm doing OK! One day I hope to put the pandemic journal aside, and keep a copy safe to show future generations, but unfortunately that day hasn't yet come.

Throughout 2023, I was working on various drafts of "Violins and Violets", a historical fiction (and historical romance) novel that I started writing in 2018. I kept on getting stuck within the first three chapters, getting "sidetracked" (or so I thought) by early plot points. My aim in 2023 was to redraft the novel to develop Katharina's character more before the inciting incident (when her father forbids her to compose, and burns all the work she's done so far), but I just couldn't get to that point. Originally, it was the beginning of Chapter One! In the outline I'd revised to make the new draft, it was Chapter Four, and I couldn't get past Chapter Three. There was just so much that I wanted to write about...

...but then I realised one day that I needed to make the events before the burning into a novel of their own, and "Violins and Violets" needed to become a series of three books! That "three book" idea quickly became a "five book" idea, and I started working on the first book that day.

The first draft of the first "Violins and Violets" book, which I started on 31st July, became my project for NaNoWriMo, and I'm pleased to say that I won with it! I then took the first 13 days of December to finish it off, and ended up with a complete draft of about 96,000 words. I started the sequel on 14th December, and got 18,000 words of that book down by midnight on 31st December. It's been a number of years since I've written so much so quickly, and I don't think I finished a single draft of any book in 2022. (Although maybe I finished off the longer version of "Vogeltje" early on? I'm not sure!)

I'm very excited to see what I can write in 2024, but I'm going to keep being kind to myself, and take it easy. No pressure to get anything done... but I'd really like to finish the sequel, and get the next book or two in the series drafted, too. I'd like to read more historical fiction, to develop my understanding of the genre, and if I can read some more histfic focused on music and art in particular, I'll be really pleased.

Month-by-Month Breakdown

November - 50,000+ words (won NaNoWriMo!)

January - 40,850 words

February - 37,150 words

December - 29,500 words

July - 24,125 words

March - 22,000 words

May - 18,000 words

October - 13,750 words

September - 12,750 words

August - 9,000 words

April - 8,750 words

June - 5,875 words

Total - 271,750 words

average 745 per day, 22,645 per month

(Sharp-eyed magpies amongst you may notice that I'm posting this on 17th January 2024, and you're right in thinking that's rather later in the month than I intended. It's for a very good, happy reason, though: I've been working on my sequel to "Ladies Don't Write Music" and so far in January I've added almost 32k to the manuscript, bringing me up to nearly 50k total!)

[mustardbee]

I'm thrilled you're thrilled! In that case, I'll elaborate.

Since "chasingly obsessed lovebird x indifferent or avoidant cool guy" is a well-trodden path, it would be easy for a writer to fall in to the trap of letting the trope write the characters--like, lose track of who V1 (and Sinta!) are as individuals and instead kind of mold them to the usual roadmap of the trope, and let the spirit of Sonic and Amy or-what-have-you take over. Culturally, the audience is primed to have sold to them a Cool Guy who's annoyed or uncomfortable/conflicted about the lovebird's chasing (/stalking) and it would be easy to sell out to that. But that's not really who V1 is! And this is where my praise comes in--you do a great job really asking who V1 is and how he, as an individual, would relate to this situation. The trope doesn't win--the characters do.

As it is, V1 is kind of too impersonal to really mind something like Sinta's behavior. Nothing really threatens it and it's not too emotionally invested in very many things. Its loves seem to be balling hard to get that smokin' sick style, and drinking blood. I liked your comment that V1 would find a nonhostile unit novel because that seems exactly correct. It's interesting, not because it has any opinion or concern for the romantic underpinnings but because it's having a great time balling out in hell and having a little extra nuance to its battlefields in the form of a nonhostile unit that gives some situational mild buffs is a new source of complexity and curiosity--new things to style around. It's also funny, having a street cleaner just standing there spraying it, and as both a fidgety and impulsive creature and the most popular streamer in hell, funny is usually something V1 is happy enough to have around.

After all, how we, the player, feel while playing V1, is a lot of where V1's personality seems to come from. There's a lot of elements that show us that what it's like playing it is what it's like being it, such as the diegetic nature of the psx graphics. Even with very little specific demonstration of his character through actions the player doesn't control, the way we're inclined to play it makes your whole body immersed in the experience of being sassy, aggressive, stylish, restless, and gleefully, impartially destructive. There's a reason everyone has close to the same impression of what V1's personality is! And, likewise, the way we, as a player, would probably feel about Sinta being added as a mechanic is "Lol, neat/funny", and that's exactly how you show V1 feeling about her. The hand heart completed with a thumbs up says it all.

I love your street cleaner oc please keep drawing sinta, also the whole thing is greatly enhanced by the fact you clearly understand ultrakill and V1 very well

im ecstatic to receive a good grade on ultrakill and V1 ☺️

[tarotlogy]

TWO OF WANDS

DECISIONS, STAY OR GO/ WANTING MORE

In this card a man stares out to sea as he stands behind the security of a low wall.  In his right hand he holds a globe and in his left a Wand which he places firmly upon the wall.  A second Wand stands behind him and is bolted to the wall.  The man has his back to this Wand and appears to be more interested in staring pensively off into the distance.  He seems to be in a world of his own and totally unaware of the fact that we are looking at him.  He may be physically present as he stands surveying his domain and all that he has achieved but in his mind he may be thousands of miles away.

By his style of clothing and lavish surroundings, the man appears to be well off and quite comfortable.  The fact that this man stands above the village below we must assume that he is in a position of power over his surroundings.  He certainly does not appear to lacking in anything or under threat of any sort.  The Wand held firmly in his left hand is raised into a more superior position to that of the Wand bolted to the wall.  This is the original Ace of Wands, the Wand that has reignited his passion. He holds on tightly to this Wand.  He may have waited a long time for that original Wand to land in his hand and awake his senses, so he will be reluctant to let it go or put it down. If he was totally free, he would have run with this Wand as soon as he was given it in The Ace. He would have let it inspire, motivate and carry him forth him into action.  He believes that this Wand can take him to exciting places and even greater achievement than he already has.  As he stands now, he is Ruler of his Kingdom, but that may not be enough.  The Second Wand which is bolted to the wall symbolises that he has commitments at home, with business, projects, relationship or family.  He can not just ignore them and focus his attention on that which is new and novel.  Or can he? The number Two is Numerology often deals with opposites, extremes, polarity and the dilemma as in which way to go, to stay or to go, up and down, happy and sad. It also deals with conflict of opinions and opposition. What The Ace of Wands brought him was a singular gift; an awakening and igniting of his passions and interest. Not everyone else may be as enthusiastic about the potential of The Ace of Wands. It is in The Two, the man realises he he must make a decision, and that he may be alone in his feelings, enthusiasm and desire. Does he please himself or does he please others? Compromise is always going to be difficult in the Twos when there is a natural inclination to want to get your own way. There is very little middle ground in The Two.

The low wall serves as a divider between the world he occupies physically and the outside world he has been drawn to.  The wall is the security and power he has built up in his life.  Because he is a Wand, this man has not built his wall too high for that would block his view of the outside world which he loves and also because it would only serve to make him feel claustrophobic and hemmed in.   Wands like to move and have a dread of being restricted in any way.  The man has left his wall low enough so that he can keep an eye on what is going on in the rest of the world and also that he can easily step over it should he decide to change location or make a quick escape.

Note the brown colouring of his over garment.  This symbolises the earth energies (commitments and obligations) that bind him to his current situation. However his orange under garment, boots and red hat represent his fire energies which make him restless. The need for excitement, adventure and movement burn deep within and consume his thoughts.  The cloak is part of what holds him but this can easily be cast off when he eventually decides to make a move.    He is tied or bound to his world by something or some person. In his natural and instinctual self, this Wands man would just up and go wherever he fancies but the Wand bolted to the wall has some form of influence or control over his movements. This man has a decision to make.  The decision may not be his to make entirely.  Others may need to be consulted or taken into consideration.

In his right hand he holds a globe which represents both his personal world and the world that lies far beyond his view.  The fact that he holds this globe firmly suggests that he has conquered his world and in power over it.  However, the world he occupies appears to have become so small that it can fit it into the palm of his hand.  He stares at his globe/world trying to find something of excitement and meaning in it.  The Wand in his hand is mobile so he can take it wherever he wishes, which is so symbolic of The Ace, while the other must stay behind.

On the other hand, the man may be very happy in his own world but is forced to consider leaving it due to matters outside his own control.  Recession and high unemployment may leave him with no option but to go.  He must make a decision as to whether he is prepared to settle for little or take the risk of leaving all he knows and loves in search of better career or financial prospects .

This man appears to have everything and is probably much envied for his prestige and position.  He now wants more and something tells me that he does not believe that what he wants will be found at home.  The walls of the castle that offered him security for so long now appear to be hemming him in. He has outgrown his present circumstances and now wants something different. Nothing is terribly wrong but there is a strong sense of boredom here. He is making a decision as to whether he should stay in his safe comfortable but predictable place or to go. The excitement and new experiences he seeks with The Ace may be found on foreign soil as we see him stare out across the water.  Indeed he may be thinking about travelling far away from home, and possibly all he knows. If he could just kick the Two of Wands out of the way he would be free to move on to The Three of Wands with his original Ace. Patience is a virtue not often found in the Wands so when the Two of Wands appears, frustration and a sense of entrapment can often be found. The Ace of Wands is burning a hole in his hand and his feet are itching to move but there he stands motionless, at present unable to move or do anything. He needs to think now and make a proper decision, not a hasty one, but one where he takes the time to deliberate over the pros and cons of what he wants to do. If not he may discover in The Three of Wands that the decisions made in the Two and any subsequent actions taken in The Three fail to turn out as he had expected. He may regret making impulsive decisions in The Three. He may be terribly disappointed with the results.

The Two of Wands often represents being at a crossroads in your life and not knowing which direction to take. Wands do not like to stand still for long so this is bound to cause them frustration.

The other aspect of The Two of Wands brings us the dilemma of decision once more.  This time the man now may have to consider staying as he is, the sole ruler of his domain, or to join forces with another.  This would represent one strong power partnering up with another.  He may be weighing up the pros and cons of expanding his empire and giving a share of power to another.  This partnership may indeed take him to new lands and even greater heights, but it will also bring restrictions.   However, the man may simply be deciding to expand into the overseas market.  The bolted Wand is secure and steady so does not necessarily have to be worried about.  He may decide to travel and or do some research into the matter before making his decision.  Because the man appears to be standing still we know that his decision will not just come out of the blue.  It may appear that way to others when it does,  but make no mistake,  he has been dwelling on his situation for some time. It may take others by surprise but when The Two of Wands appears, depending on surrounding Cards, the person represented by the Figure may have moved on some time ago and is now just waiting for his physical self to catch up.

KEYWORDS

Physical Decisions, Stay or Go, Deciding Which Course Of Action To Take, Waiting For The Signal To Act, Waiting For The Right Time To Make Your Move, Being At A Crossroads, Travel Over Seas, Power, Ambition, Aspirations, Business Partnerships,  Forging Alliances, Negotiation With Another Over Goals/Action To Take, Overseas Expansion, Boredom, Restlessness, Life becomes Dull, Not Content, Outgrown Current Conditions, Feel You Are Missing Out On The Action, Needing New Challenges, More To Life Than What You Have, Greater Things To Achieve, Could Do Better For Yourself Elsewhere,  Wanting More Out Of Life, Vision Of Better Things, Wanting To Make Something More Of Your Self, The Need For Something New, Plans Waiting To Be Implemented, Needing To Move On, Grass Greener on Other Side, The Lure of Adventure, The Lure of Foreign/Overseas Places, Emigration, Sudden Departure, Restrictions to Freedom, Overseas/Long Distance Relationship, Attracted To Someone Not Of Your Own Nationality, Hankering For Someone

MEANING

The Two of Wands often brings the decision of whether to stay with what you are used to or to go in search of new experiences or a new life. It can suggest that you are bored with your current life and want more.   On the outside it may appear you have it all and are very successful but changes have been occurring on the inside for some time.  You may have a new plan of action or a burning desire to do something else.  You may feel that your fires have been burning low and that you are in dire need of a new lease of life, change of scenery or change of faces.

The Ace of Wands has fallen firmly into your hands and now you want to do something with it.  You may have been given a wonderful opportunity to travel, a door may have opened for you career-wise or you may want to start something completely new.  You may struggle with the decision The Ace demands of you in the Two of Wands. The Ace wants immediate action and movement while The Two is in Two Minds about it all.The second Wand in the Two of Wands suggests there is more than just you to take into consideration. The decision you need to make may effect others.  It may entail leaving someone or something behind as the less baggage you have, the lighter you travel. This card is notorious for highlighting sudden unexpected actions or departures.  This can often cause turmoil and upset to those around you but if they had been paying attention they would have seen you were not happy with your present circumstances.

In a relationship reading The Two of Wands can suggest there is trouble. One partner may have become remote and detached withdrawing love or even walking out suddenly on a long relationship causing shock all round.  It may be a case of choosing between two possible partners.  One may be rock steady, secure and reliable while the other may be exciting, adventurous and inspiring.  As a couple you might be in the process of making the painful decision to emigrate and leave all you know behind including family and friends.  The decision in the end may be sudden and departure swift should a golden opportunity be offered.  The departure may also be the knee-jerk decision to just up and go leaving job, selling up house and just getting the hell out.  On the other hand if you have met someone from overseas you may be faced with the decision of maintaining a long distant relationship or whether to pack up and move over to them.        

In a career reading the Two of Wands represents deciding to stay in the position or career one is in or to move on to something completely different.   Suddenly leaving a boring job after a long time, just jacking it in and taking off. It may have been a very secure position but it offers little in new challenges or interest. You may have a desire to expand your horizons and are considering travelling overseas in search of work.  Your are bound to be spending considerable time doing research on the internet to see what is out there and where you might fancy going to. You may have wonderful qualifications and experience but with recession and high unemployment, you may be forced to leave home and go overseas to find work.

If in business it may be a time to decide whether or not to expand into the international market. The Two of Wands stands for a powerful position, and in business it is a card for success with a desire for even more success.  A business cannot just stand still like the Wand bolted to the wall, it must be constantly up-dating and expanding.  This may involve the decision to join two big businesses or the forming of a Partnership that will yield greater results and profit.

[casspurrjoybell-29]

Forging Ties - Chapter 28 - Part 1

*Warning Adult Content*

Hamish had a restless night, constantly waking to check on Aris and then carrying her up on deck to check the situation with the creature they were following.

Finally, Duran made them up a bed on deck, placed Aris in her bassinet and pulled Hamish down to sleep.

It didn't stop him from waking up every half hour but at least now he could check in on things quickly and then go straight back to sleep.

Hamish was awoken one final time at dawn to a deep, mournful sound that seemed to resonate through the ship.

He made it to the railing in time to watch the creature submerge itself.

It didn't come back up.

The ocean around them was calm.

Duran yawned and then rested his chin on Hamish's shoulder.

"What now?" Hamish asked Everett as the small man hurried by on his way to adjust the sails. "Where are we headed?"

"Go take a look from the front of the ship," Everett said without pausing in what he was doing.

Hamish made his way to the front of the ship and looked out into the endless ocean beyond.

Or... no, not quite endless.

Just barely visible in the distance was a tall, light blue structure.

The Spire.

This trip had been the journey of a lifetime but Hamish was glad to be home.

Not that he really had a home at the moment but anywhere the people he cared about were was home enough to him.

Duran wrapped his arms around Hamish from behind and leant his forehead against his back.

Hamish reached around and gave Duran a pat on the back.

"How are you feeling about being back?"

Duran let go of Hamish and tucked in against his side instead.

"Ready to tackle it."

"Yeah."

"Before we left, the whole thing just felt too big to me. Overwhelming. Now I see that it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to do everything all at once. You can start by getting to know just one or two people and that makes everything else a lot easier."

"You already knew Danya and Fanner, though. Didn't that help?"

"I got to know Fanner while we were travelling together but he's a busy boy these days. I don't really know Danya at all. I knew him as a slave, to a degree but that's not what he is anymore. Sure, there are some things about the three of us that we'll always understand about one another better than anyone else can but that's not friendship. Friendship is something we'll have to work on building now that we're allowed to be people."

"Makes sense. And that's strength, you know? Building relationships. Anything that makes you stronger is strength. I was in the military and they teach you a very macho perspective on things but honestly, a lot of those ideas only make you weaker. Simon can be an ornery little bitch but there was never any shame between us when it came to being open and sharing what we were going through. And sure, now I know a lot of people who are like that but Simon is the one person that I know has that in him so deep in his core that it survived an environment that tried to strangle it out of him. That matters."

"It was never about being macho for me, of course but being too open with your feelings was generally a bad idea. Even with other slaves. I have a lot of things I need to unlearn."

"Just let me know what you need. We'll figure it out."

Duran shook his head, a smile making its way onto his face.

"A novel concept in itself. It's going to take me a while to get used to the idea that I can ask people for help."

Hamish grinned.

"Well, at least you're not the only man who's bad at that. It won't take much to be better than average."

"I do strive for excellence."

Hamish heard Aris fussing and gave Duran a friendly pat on the ass before going to check on her.

He lifted her out of her bassinet and she immediately settled down.

Sometimes she just wanted to be held.

Hamish bundled her up in her blanket and carried her back to the front of the ship.

The Spire was clearly within view now.

Slone strolled over to join them.

He looked down at Aris and gave her a smile.

"She's prob'ly only half the size of a human baby by weight but compared to a Werewolf baby, she's tiny. Cutest little thing I've ever seen."

"I'll have to ask Skye if she's going to grow into a normal sized person or if she'll just always be small," Hamish said. "He doesn't seem like he's in the mood for talking, though and he was never that keen on it to begin with."

Slone looked up towards the crowsnest where Skye was still hiding.

"Ah, yeah. Seems like he's having a rough time of it. I want to help him if I can but we'll see."

"Well, hopefully you can because I don't know what to do for him," Hamish said. "He's not much of a words guy and it doesn't seem like he wants physical contact right now."

"Grief's a tricky thing," Slone said. "Must be even harder when nobody else around you knew the person. When you're just alone in it."

"I guess that's why you'd be the one to help with that. His friend was a wolf, right?"

"Yeah, he was. Like I said, we'll see. I'll do what I can."

As they sailed towards the small dock near The Spire, Hamish carried Aris around the ship and talked to her quietly as he pointed things out even though he was pretty sure babies couldn't see for shit and he was certain she didn't understand a word he was saying.

She seemed happy enough, though.

She was still in that potato baby stage where they mostly just sat there and blinked around at the world uncomprehendingly whenever they weren't asleep.

Watching Sera, Everett and the robot work together to bring the ship into the dock was interesting.

Everett was small but he dashed about and climbed with ease when he needed to.

Sera was just as fast, though her methods were different.

She used her wings to get between places as quickly as possible.

The robot was slow and clomping when it moved but it could perform any task with perfect precision.

As they finished docking, Slone stood under the crowsnest and called up to Skye.

"You comin' with us?"

Skye looked down and shook his head.

"I'll stay with him," Perry said. "I would like to talk to someone about long term positions here, if possible but I'm happy to hang back until something can be arranged."

"You don't gotta hide yourself away, you know," Slone said. "But all right. I got a few things I need to take care of but I'll sort that out for you. I know people who know people."

"Thank you," Perry said. "I appreciate it."

"We're going to go into town and explore trade opportunities," Sera said as she kicked the boarding ramp to make sure it was secure before allowing Mirriam to wheel across it.

"We'd also like to talk to some people in charge at some point but that can wait."

"Right," Slone said. "I can help you with that, too but you might have to remind me later. Got a lot of things up in my head right now and not a lot of room to spare."

"I will do that," Sera said.