#anyways i used to really trust this person too

[kibbles-bits]

Question, what DOES Val find attractive about Vox?

I'm going to assume this is for the Heaven's Best AU because I… wouldn't know the answer to the canon one? (though Val's audition sheet including the information of sleeping only "with 10's… and Vox" means he likes Vox and doesn't consider him actually attractive. Love it. Hilarious.)

So, what does Valentino in Heaven's Best find attractive about Vox?

His personality and he's mad about it.

That's the short answer! The rest of this is just me yapping.

He finds other things attractive soon afterwards but it's the personality and character traits that got him and he won't admit it.

Canon!Val wouldn't like HB!Vox, but HB!Val is a little different.

He can not relax.

With no partners, Val's had to lean on his more violent traits to keep control of his territory so there wasn't much time to relax. If he wanted to go out he always has to keep an eye out for other demons who might try to attack him and he's lived like that for most of his years in Hell.

He allies with and eventually befriends Velvette - which is still a recent development. Fear for Velvette's safety plus preserving his delicate new image she's built for him means he can't be as violent as he was before which stresses him out a lot. He can't really bring himself to trust anyone else.

So that's where he's at when Vox joins the picture.

Seeing the Exorcists being killed on TV was something he found interesting - it made them feel more like people he can have sex with so color him interested when he hears two angelic beings have moved down to hell. He means to proposition one politely, whichever one he runs into first. He knows he can't force it. Not only is Vox an angel and naturally more powerful, but he's allied with a seraphim and the rulers of Hell. Val talks shit but he's not going to risk their wrath, especially when whatever happens to him will, by extension, affect Velvette. He's not immediately physically attracted to Vox so after failing to make a deal, he lets him leave without any trouble. A little miffed about how it went, though.

Later, when Vox has his Oopsie, Val tries to make him feel better about it. Some of it is because seeing an angel have a breakdown sits wrong with him, but the rest of it is because he wants to see how much use he can get out of Vox now that he's so delicate. Maybe get him to kick Angel out of the hotel. He has blackmail, after all. How would Emily react to her BFF going on a little murder spree?

Except before Val can even hint at the blackmail, Vox threatens him first the moment they're alone in Val's home. Which is bold, considering Val just saw how 'well' he took his first murders. But then a murderer is a murderer and Vox is distraught, who knows what he'll do? Val decides provoking him isn't worth it and just… let's him vent it out. And it turns out he's kinda hot in a weird way when he's venting and when he grabs him and demeans him and--

ANYWAY Val promises not to tell a soul what happened.

And Vox imprints on him? Weirdly? He doesn't understand why (yet) but as long as Valentino doesn't intentionally harm him or Emily, Vox is a pretty amiable guy. He won't smite him for fun and he minds his own business. Doesn't try to tell him how awful he is. He says how much better he is than Val, yet is still the one following him around so Val just finds that funny rather than offensive. It's cute, how dumb he is sometimes.

The two eventually sleep together.

Vox isn't a Sinner, he has no interest in Val's power or territory, he doesn't even live in Hell, he hates it there. So Val doesn't have to worry about any 'power grabs' or Vox trying to take advantage of him. He can't push Vox around (Vox pushes back HARD) and also doesn't feel too threatened by him. Val finds out it takes a lot to actually push Vox into committing another Oopsie, so much he doesn't actually see it happen again for a long time. Vox doesn't interfere with his treatment of Angel so, the blackmail? Unnecessary. He starts to trust Vox not to hurt him.

As a Winner who's been in Heaven for like, 50 years, Vox is naturally more friendly than anyone Val's ever personally met in Hell. He's also more eager to just hang out (did you think I was joking?) Vox keeps blabbering to him about all kinds of things and venting and Val actually likes??? what he has to say??? He gets to know Vox very well - what he's really like and things he hasn't told others. Having another person, someone he doesn't own and isn't manipulating, an equal, trust him does things to him (Gee, Val, how come Eternal Damnation let you have TWO friends?)

Vox earns his trust completely one day when he helps him in a territory dispute that had nothing to do with him. Apparently, Vox has been watching him for a long time when he's not with him. People would find that creepy, but Val knows Vox and, yeah, it is, but he likes it because it means Vox cares. And he likes knowing Vox will have his back.

Val is, finally, able to relax when they're together (publicly and privately), and he really values that.

But if you ask him he'd say he's attracted to Vox's screen brightness or his stupid little sweater vest.

[inhurtandincomfort]

AITA for keeping my boyfriend locked in the basement and selling videos of him on the dark web?

(This is a creative writing prompt. It is entirely a work of fiction.)

Now the title sounds bad, but hear me out. Nearly two years ago my (23M) boyfriend (23M) of two years broke up with me. He (Let's call him K) didn't even bother to tell me in person, I came home to find all his belongings gone and a note on the coffee table. I tried to reach out to him, but he blocked my number and none of his "friends" would talk to me.

Not only did the love of my life leave me, but via a note? That's worse than a text. We'd been together for two years, and he couldn't even be bothered to tell me? I thought we were so close, but I guess I was wrong. I became a complete wreck. I admit, I wasn't in my right mind for awhile afterwards. I felt so betrayed, and I turned to unhealthy ways of coping. I ended up losing my job, my friends, and my dad cut me off financially. My life was ruined, because of K.

But then I made some new friends who introduced me to an online forum. It's like a snuff/red-room type thing, sometimes live, sometimes not. Anyway I got really invested and saw some people donating thousands to the creators, so I thought I'd give it a shot myself. I grew a sizable following, and started making a lot of money.

Fast forward to now. I've told my viewers all about K, my Angel, and how desperate I was to get him back. I know they would all love him, too. He's the most beautiful person I've ever seen, and he's got such mesmerising eyes. I have no doubt he'll be a fan favourite. With the help of my generous donors, I was able to hire some people to help bring him to me.

I was ecstatic to see him again, but he doesn't seem to share my enthusiasm. It's been over a week and he still keeps crying and begging me to let him go, even though he knows it irritates me. I keep telling him I'm not going to kill him, but he doesn't believe me. He thinks I'm just hurting him for the sake of it, but that's not true. I am angry with him yes - I'm still hurt by what he did to me, but I am willing to forgive. All I want is for us to be together again, form an even stronger bond, a genuine one this time. I don't want him to ever leave me again. For us to move forward, he needs to repent. I'm handing him an opportunity to do that.

AITA?

Edit: I give him food and water, what else could he need? He will earn a nicer room and more freedom when he earns back my trust. I was the breadwinner when we lived together before, I paid for EVERYTHING, he just mooched. This time if he wants nice things, he has to work for it. He had an easy life, and he threw it away. I'm just teaching him a valuable life lesson.

[domwitch]

I was just thinking about how... weirdly comforting cnc can be?

I have a lot of hangups and insecurities when it comes to sex and sexual desire. Actually, in general, I have a hard time asking people for things that I want 😭 So the idea that I could love and trust someone enough to let them *force* me is so freeing, actually. It's okay that I'm nervous, she's going to take me anyway. It doesn't matter if I'm scared, or even if I protest. My body is getting used, and that's just how it's going to be. And the thing is that I'll *like* it. It's going to feel so good, she just had to make it so I didn't have a choice. Having my choice taken away is not only hot for kinky reasons, it's an excuse for me to relax and just let myself enjoy being fucked.

And on the flip side (because despite my trepidation, I do feel that I'm a switch), it would be so freeing and validating to have someone trust me enough to basically tell me "do whatever you want, it's ok. It's even ok if you hurt me a little. I'll still love you. I'll still want you. Let out all the gross and selfish desires you've been holding back. I want to enjoy that side of you."

Idk if this is a thing all guys experience, or if it's more specific to my upbringing, but it's always been so frustrating to me that, in regards to romance and sex, I've always been taught that I have to be polite and gentle and perfect, but I also have to take charge. I have to be the man. But not too much.

Idk, I know it's not for everyone, but I'd love to find someone who I can just indulge with. And we can both agree that we want each other, and there are no limits or niceties except the ones we establish together.

That's what cnc is to me. The beauty of trust and lust, without any shame, whether you're using or being used. And afterwards, we can check in with each other, and reassure each other that we're ok. That nothing was ruined. That's what I want with someone I can truly give myself over to.

(Sorry this got long winded 😭 Sometimes I get these thoughts in my head and I want to share them. Hope you have a lovely new year 🤍)

Wow, your take on cnc is really romantic! It's nice to hear from the other side why cnc is a turn on. I can def relate to the part where cnc is like letting loose all of your "ugly" desires, it really is liberating and wonderful to have someone who trusts you so completely that they let you do that to them. Personally I find cnc hot because I get to be a horrible person without consequences and that makes me feel powerful, but your perspective is so much more sensitive and romantic which I admire.

[puddlejumper38]

Wind and Truth thoughts under the cut

Spoilers for the entire book.

-Oof. The ending. I will come back to that, but its first up because its overshadowing everything else like a giant storm cloud. - :( speaking of. Goddamn it, I liked the Stormfather.

-I want to note, right here, that I still do not trust Szeth to make a single good decision. I don't think he should be the law. I hope he goes back to sheep farming and has no power over anyone ever.

-Interestingly, I like Nale better after this book. He was just a terrifying figure before, but now he's interesting as a person too. (He's still scary)

-What The Fuck Was With Moash Getting Spiked? As a devoted Marsh fan, I am against spiking in general. I have no words about how much I do Not like Moash being crystal spiked.

(side note: I think I dislike Moash properly now. Yes, the guy has some points, but.... he continued even with his own emotions. Attacking bridge 4. That's.... thats too far for me. If he'd decided to fight anyone Except bridge 4 I could have dealt with that)

-Saw that Gav was being prepped to hate Dalinar. Was still as tricked as Navani.

-So. We meet Auxiliary and learn what the fuck with Sigzil. I still don't like the Sunlit Man as a book and it coloured how I viewed the Shattered Plains fight here. I do like Aux.

-I trust Ishar even less than Szeth, therapy or no

-I really enjoyed the flashbacks in the spiritual realm. I loved getting all the gaps filled in, finally. (Or most of them anyway.) Also it just felt like WoK in vibes in a way that I just really appreciated.

-Appreciated the trick with Venli on the Shattered Plains. Not... Hmm. Not sure it matters anymore though. We'll see.

-I particularly liked the Interludes here. I remember those took me a while to get used to back in WoK.

-Had seen enough theories to be unsurprised about Shallan's mother being Chana, but I doubt I'd have thought of it myself

-Formless wasn't there! I thought that was off, because Shallan never fully manifested her, but still didn't clock it. I do love that. There's always details in Sanderson's books that I just don't see coming.

-Jasnah's povs... I just didn't like them. Can't quite put my finger on why, but she shouldn't have played by Taravangian's rules in the first place. She lost, but I don't feel like she lost in the way she thinks she did. I hate her lack of flexible thinking and nuance from someone who is supposed to be a good scholar. I liked her better in WoK Prime. We'll see how her book is, years from now.

-Renarin and Rlain's pov's were another real highlight. I was worried about this one, because Branderson - bless his mormon socks - can be as hamhanded as Dalinar sometimes. But this was just very well handled in my opinion. In character, not forced, and remarkably relevant to the overall plot. Nice.

-I should have known as soon as Adolin wanted to see Dalinar again that he wouldn't. That was a major hint.

-Ah shit I should get to Dalinar.

-That could be its own post.

-Kaladin first then. I.... didn't want that for him. In any way. I could see it coming - because fuck knows it couldn't be Szeth and once these ideas are raised something has to happen. But still. Its not good for anyone and I can only hope its more temporary this time. Yes, he gets a bit of a break. No, he has no friends with him. Poor guy.

-All right. Dalinar.

-I have been angry at Dalinar since Oathbringer. I think he's a good character! But yikes. I mean all of the Blackthorn behaviour, not only Evi.

-I did not want him to be Honor.

(actually I don't think I want Anyone to pick up Shards)

-Hey, he's not Honor, though. Anymore.

-INSTEAD TARAVANGIAN IS!! HEY WHY IS THIS HAPPENING

-Cultivation can try to flee all she likes this is still her fault.

-Taravangian of all people.

-It was a Good Ending, its also terrifying for Roshar in the short term - but better in the long term! - and the cosmere in general

-Odium needed to be freed from Roshar, for all the reasons thrown at us readers with all the delicacy of a chull in a china shop in those last few chapters (read fond exasperation here, I Got It The First Few Times)(last few chapters of YatNP were similar)

-Retribution is a little More than just freeing Odium.

-That said; It could never be as simple as one side winning the contest and I'm glad it wasn't. That would've disappointed me.

-So no more Stormlight in the Stormlight Archives?? Well, we'll see.

-And Dalinar is gone. I am sorry for it. It was going to happen in some way or other (I'm not sure taking up a Shard counts as surviving)(I'm not sure being bound to serve Odium would count either). But... I am sorry for it. I'll miss him.

[transpathfinder]

HELLO, LICH DEFENDERS! thank you for responding, there're a lot so i'm just gonna file responses here to look at easier when i search for it, you do not have to respond to my replies, no pressure :}

***

@boeing-787 said: hi, it’s me. i romanced emmrich first and i chose the lich path. when the stats got released and people were talking abt the lich choice being like, i think was it 27% of people picked? and how those people cant be trusted? like shuuuuuuut uuuuuuuuuuup

that's one of the things i got soo shocked by, when those stats were released and i went to look at it once i completed the game.. i was sure it would be a closer match between the two. i think it really boils down to many emmrichmancers finding that option gross when it's really just a choice he has been working towards all his life? i feel there's a lot of infantalising him for his decision and want, when he's a grown ass man in his 50s who has known and studied this for years

*

@13skeletons said: i chose lich first! and then played through the ending again to see the other route. I like Manfred, but the lich route is soooo good and so unique. (and it’s the skeleton sex route eheheehheh). anyway i follow someone who has written some really good pro lich route posts. let me find a link / ok here’s one meta: tumblr.com/veilkee… and that person has a few about his lich route in its tags. it actually changed its pfp to lich!emmrich when all the anti lich discourse got too irritating. / also the idea of him finding another partner and being mad about it is so fucking laughable to me. like, he seriously expects you to dump him before he goes through the rites. he tries to hide his face from you during the final romance scene. do these people really think he’d ever open up to someone again? He’s afraid he’ll mourn you forever!!!!! Sorry I’m not normal about him. His lich route is some of the most tragically romantic shit bioware has ever given us / also. also. acting like it’s selfish to accept that death is a part of life, even for spirits? uhhhh (just remembered a post that acted like he couldn’t possibly still love rook afterwards because his heart is gone. love is stored in the blood pump, you see.)

thank you for the link from other lichmancers, that's good, gonna check it out in a bit. and yesss i've seen that post you mentioned too i think about like... how emmrich can't possibly feel anymore, be it love or compassion or whatever for rook and others. and i think this is flat out a false reading of the game when they literally tell you he holds all his same opinions and feelings, just without the flesh?? they're acting like lichdom steals away your soul or something to become a mechanical unfeeling being

the thing about being selfish about manfred is sooo crazy to me cos i felt the opposite of what most people who bring back manfred felt in that it's emmrich accepting a spirit's death! after being bright and brilliant and sacrificing himself for a mission! if anything, blindly bringing manfred back is what makes it sound like emmrich is not ready to accept death as a part of life

*

@corvidexoskeleton said: I didn’t like the lich path at first tbh, but when i did my second playthrough and romanced him, i did the lich path, and now ive actually changed my opinion on it. I find it extremely interesting and compelling, but so many people are too caught up in bitching about it 😭😭😭

i see! yes i totally get how the first playthrough may make an emmrichmancer pick the non-lich route, but it really is a compelling arc for him as a character with purpose, using his skills and interest. even in the romance section, there's so much left. i've seen so many posts bitching about it i got so annoyed at my recced stuff lol like please stop acting like it's some disgusting option to choose damn

*

amalstra said: I hate people saying it’s a cop-out and running from his fear of death….like did you miss the part where he literally has to DIE to become a lich? How is that not facing it? On top of that he has to face manfreds death so…ya hes facing it.

exactlyyyyy i reeeeally don't get that reasoning cos it's straight up lying about what the game is trying to tell you. like what do u mean he's afraid and not facing it.. that's literally the opposite of what it means to becoming a lich. he perfectly understands he's gonna outlive people he loves, and he accepts death, but he stands for a greater cause and what he deems important in his culture??? if fans are just sad manfred died and want him back they should just admit that lmafafo instead of coming up with shit that's not true

*

@ianuarius said: Love the Lich route as much as the Mortal one, personally. As it is, I enjoy it, though I do worry about how his character would grapple and handle with the death of those beloved by him. There’s nice touches, ofc, such as the dialogue with him and Harding about how she may be immortal now in some fashion and they can be friends forever. But I do think how the other backgrounds outside MW are handling that he is functionally immortal and that they do not have this option in the future. / Unless, I suppose the Lich Lords aren’t all specifically of the MW? And may offer them the chance with some convincing? But we know so little of them, currently. And, for Emmrich, I think that while he may have passed through death, he doesn’t yet quite deal with his fear of death but transfer it to Rook. Fears like that aren’t so easy to break, so I think it does just find a different form to take. If not taken care of, properly, I can see his love becoming unhealthy and toxic, which is… yeah. / But, on the other hand, he also has potential to surpass it with help and time. And, I just, currently wonder what all he’s meant to do and more as a Lich Lord other than broadly protect the order of things. Lots of grand promises in this route that makes me wonder what else may be revealed about these guys.

hmmm i see... i guess i don't think of it as a bad thing, that he has to watch those he loves die, the same way i don't think it's unhealthy or toxic with his love. but that's mostly cos i don't see the scenario of someone you love dying in their full age as something to fight or rage against, and iirc there's dialogue with lucanis where he's happy to constantly learn and experience new things, but that's not without to say he won't mourn those who pass on before him. i suppose i see him as a character who is interested and awash with experiencing new things, people, feelings, that lichdom isn't something i see for him as tragic, but freeing.

but yeeess i think there's a lot to explore with and without the mourn watch background with this. i don't think the game gives enough with this choice, but then it's like you said it's a route less travelled and we don't know much about it yet. will be nice to get some meaty info about these lich lords and their general lifestyles

*

@trickster-in-training said: My 1st romance with him was the non-lich path, and I thought it was very sweet! My next Rook will be a MW lich romancer. I’m excited to see how it plays out. I don’t think there’s a “right” or “wrong” choice, just different flavors of an experience.

niceee, i hope you have fun with the lich route, especially with a mw!rook, i think it could open up a lot of dialogue or at least understanding of his choices due to shared culture and affections. same, i really don't see it as good/bad, but i do get the feeling a lot of fandom sees the lich route as... less than, surely, because they're uncomfortable with concepts of death and immortality in romance.

okay in my esteemed authority as a lucanismancer acknowledging we have the most annoying fanbase, it seems the second most annoying fanbase are emmrichmancers who are soo anti-lichdom. i liked a few emmrich romance posts and then tumblr was reccing so many other posts by those who hate the idea of him being a lich, calling it selfish or disgusting and being mad he'll outlive rook, potentially finding another partner, etc, when of course, lichdom is his lifelong dream and has a lot of themes of nobleness in service, archiving, respecting, and protecting culture, in nevarra

there must be emmrichmancers who chose the lichdom path romance, i know it. i wish they were more outspoken (or maybe i just haven't seen any on my dash) and i'd love to see their ideas more on this love. it's the choice i chose for him, and found it very fulfilling and whole. but almost all emmrichmancers i've seen tumblr reccing me sound childish as f about it being the ''bad'' choice, getting their undies in a twist about it and they're the ones more vocal about it when lich!emmrich is so rich with love, respect, and faith, in the concepts history, the dead, knowledge.. there's a sacred reverence to it that blind childish lichdom haters do not seem to want to engage in conversation with i'm just irritated every time i see some bs on my dash

[acesammy]

being cyber stalked sounds insane, scary, and frustrating. hope you’re doing ok

thank you so much. I've had a really tough year and this situation has been a constant undercurrent of it... I've felt like I need to just get over it and deal bc this person was a close friend, but it's been fraying my nerves for a looooong time now. Like i said, I wish them the best in life but oof. I cant handle this anymore

[theshadowrealmitself]

I like to think that Vulcans who come to understand that Humans just can’t try to process emotions the same way as them, it’s just healthiest to let it out in harmless ways, decide that venting and stuff should be taken just as seriously as Vulcan’s meditation time, and will encourage the Humans around them to complain about what’s upsetting them

People who are used to aloof Vulcans who avoid Humans at all cost running into one comforting a Human

“-and then they said my cheesecake was subpar, and they didn’t even bring a dish!!!”

“The purpose of this event was that every participant brings a food item of sorts, correct?”

“Yeah!!”

“And they did not follow this rule while insulting dishes that were brought?”

“Mostly just my dish but yeah >:(“

“How illogical”

“That’s what I’m saying!!!”

[tetsuskei]

this made me want to walk off the nearest twenty story building because, yeah, they’re correct.

[thesmokinpossum]

It's honestly kinda insane to me that Vito trusts and respects Fredo so little that even with his strict catholic moral he literally trusts the reports of his late son's ex-mistress more than anything his actual son has to say like wow, you're not even pretending to care for this man at this point 😬

[goldkirk]

I opened Pinterest for the first time in months.

That made me realize a lot about how bad I was actually doing and how much of a Waffle House Index use of Pinterest is for adult me, apparently.

I hadn’t realized it had grown that foundational to me in a healthy-brain-exercise-and-hobby-joy way. Nice to know moving forward! It’s another sign I can keep track of and use to spot correlation/indicator patterns earlier my behavior.

I love this kind of thing, it makes me so excited!

[worstloki]

prize for least genre aware protagonist 👑

[blujayonthewing]

thinkin again about the time elyss's DM cut in to stop a conversation between her and a semi-retired player character to hurriedly take back control of him as an NPC before he could give her, as an extremely kind and thoughtful gift, one of his own personal belongings, and then said 'elyss can probably buy it from him though :)' instead

like. what an egregiously fucking shitty thing to do, actually.

[daz4i]

how and why is there discourse about whether or not certain queer identities exist/if people should be allowed(???) to use them. why is "people know their own identity better than you ever could, and they're the only one who get a say on what they are" such a tough concept to grasp

i think if you find yourself offended by the label someone uses (especially if they're a stranger) or think it invalidates your own, it's a good idea to look inside yourself and question why that may be. more often than not, it's a result of insecurity or uncertainty of your own identity (or many other things, but i won't make a whole list here). whatever reason it is, until you resolve it, you shouldn't take it out on people for having an identity you don't understand

many have said it before but it's worth saying over and over. infighting only helps our oppressors. conservatives don't care if you're a cis gay or a xenogender aegosexual aplatonic lesbian, they hate all of us either way. trying to fit in by going for people who are easier targets for them isn't gonna help you, it'll just alienate you from your own community, and you're never gonna please them. the momentary rush you get from hearing you're not like "one of /those/ gay people" is not worth it and is gonna do more harm in the long run, i assure you

also, it is important to me to say this, but having some less than nice kneejerk reaction caused by confusion about an identity you don't understand doesn't mean you're a bad person or anything. as long as you aren't mean to that person, and you take a second to think smth along the lines of "wait a minute, this isn't any of my business" after having said reaction, you're good 👍 a lot of reflexive reactions we have to things are ingrained into us simply by. well. living in a society 🤡 and you're not terrible for having those thoughts. it's your actions that matter, and your second thought (the "wait, why did i just think that?") is more defining of your actual character and morals than your reflex. i know that having thoughts like this, even tho they're unwanted, can very easily make one spiral, so it's important to me that whoever needs to hear this knows this doesn't make you a bad person 🙏 you're good, keep taking actions to be good, accept other people even if you don't understand them, and you're on the right track :)

[justinefrischmanngf]

it’s not that it makes me sad per se but i really could’ve been dating someone i did actually kind of really want to date since JULY. and now the moment is literally so far gone and i didn’t realise until the moment was so far gone !!!

[eebie]

will be a hater for a second but i will be real. idgaf aboutkabru And 90% of the reason why is bc me n my friends watched the dub and couldnt stand how much he talked with the super breathy generic anime protag voice

[pyrriax]

ANYWHO goodnight tumblr i'll be back on the art grind tomorrow i think 🙏