#are we getting out of hand? Maybe

[residentdormouse]

Leisurely Locating “L” Words Tag Game

Luckily, this labor of love legitimizes learning liberal levels of lyrical linguistics, leading to ludicrously large labyrinths of limitless language located in literal libraries littered with loads of lush lingo. Ok, I went too far. Writing helps you pick up a lot of good words and create nice things, or something…

My Words: Lost, Line, Less, Learn, and Live

There were an abundance of all of these words. Tbh, I think that makes it harder. Pick one of 9 different sections vs pick one from 238. There may be better selections for each of these words, but honestly, just went with the first one that had enough of an image in a small section. Eh, it is what it is I guess.

New Words for You, @mrsmungus : Meaningful, Music, Mind, Melt, Motivate

Lost

(I gave Hayden my love of alliteration as well. This is the first instance I caught of it actually in writing.)

Reluctantly Glen pulled away from her and took a walk over towards their truck. "Seems, I'm not the only one seeing things in my dreams these days."

As soon as it was said, there was a rumbling off to the side. Cracking. The group watched from a safe distance as the whole retaining wall in front of them collapsed in a landslide. Snow, dirt, rocks, all began toppling down the side of the hill as the road began to crumble and finally gave way, the large chunk of pavement crashing down the drop off into the valley below.

Hayden felt her jaw go slack as she watched what was once a clear path in front of them turn into ruin. A couple more feet, a few seconds of travel, and that would have been them. That was almost them. How was it not them? She looked over at Glen for those answers.

"We can also rule out the pen being a factor. Unless Dinny is keeping some big secrets from us. Gonna say that's probably not the case." The reference to his pen was lost on her, and he seemed to realize it once he said it. "My 'prophetic pot dreams', you called them. The alliteration might not be needed. Just your standard prophetic dreams, it is."

"Standard. Right." She nodded, but they all knew; nothing here was standard.

"You're telling me the kid knew this was about to happen?" Harold. Still the skeptic.

"Knew enough to tell us to stop. Didn't really have much time to discuss anything further, I'm afraid." Glen began to walk towards his truck, while Larry began making a three point turn to go back the way they came. "We’re going to loop back, and try and hit 70 again later. Need to find a place to set up for the night too, this is gonna put us back another day.” As he walked past her, a hand was placed on her shoulder, and he gave a light squeeze. The unspoken words between them were still felt.

‘Stay safe.’

‘I love you.’

‘We’ll be home soon.’

Line

Her speech went into an autopilot setting as her fingers flew across the keys, clattering away on the keyboard. A majority of the screen went to black. Predominantly green text began flying upwards, occasionally switching to yellow and red. Regardless of color, the code itself had familiar notes to her.

“It's just like, think about it. How many languages started from Latin, right? It’s dead now, but it was the basis for so many things. If our code is their latin, then maybe I can piece this together. If/Thens may look a little different, or there may be some new loops to adjust to, but I could probably find a way in. As long as— Oh look! They still make comments! Isn’t that nice…”

The script came to a stop as new lines began to appear at the speed of her typing.

“If I was a villain, I would so be doing the maniacal laughter right now. ‘You fools! Leaving comments behind for the likes of me! Your encryptions mean nothing! Mwahaha’.”

She looked up to see Nick sitting on the desk in front of her, a very amused expression on his face.

“Well, I guess Max’s shitty music will have to make do. I'm assuming this is Max’s." She looked at the smaller screen quickly. "Dangerous. Yeah, has to be Max’s. It does have a certain ‘I’m a badass’ vibe to it, though, I'll give her that. I mean, this is badass, right? Hacking into a global organization to find all their nasty little secrets.”

Her fingers began typing away furiously again, new lines scattering across the screen. There was a pause while she read the screen and her eyes went wide.

Less

"I'm…I’m Hayden. Stu was telling me you used to hypnotize people?"

Formality gave way to familiarity, and he began smiling. "Yeah, got some good laughs at parties, for sure! It's crazy the stuff people come up with when they're in it… chicken dances, head stands, flips..."

The smile she put on felt expected, but it never made it to her eyes. This was seeming less promising. Stan was clearly not at Glen level of observation though, because he kept going without missing a beat.

"The best was the guy I had thinking he was a stripper every time you said the word dance."

"Did you ever use it to help people?"

She blurted it out, not able to keep her distress in any longer. This wasn’t a joke. She wasn't a party game. His brow crinkled as he thought back. "Had one guy that wanted to stop smoking. You mean like that?"

Closer. Her anxiety was going to skyrocket if his only experiences were strippers and chicken dances. "More like amnesia. Pulling repressed stuff?"

"Can't say I've ever tried anything like that. Pretty sure I read something on this before, back when I was learning the trick. Something like memories might not come back reliably if you do, but maybe it could work."

She wasn't sure if she was relieved that it could all be bunk, or terrified because she was going to try it anyways. Both, both it was.

"What would you need to try?"

Learn

Nick began to sign, but Harold waved him to stop.

"You know I don't know what you're saying."

Nick stopped where he was, and just looked at Harold.

“What?”

Nick began to sign again. ‘You know what.’

The pair stood in silence. Still. No facial expression, barely a breath. A staring game between the two. Harold broke first.

‘Ok, fine!’ He signed back.

A knowing smirk found its way onto Nick’s face and Harold had to fight down the irritation that was building up. Of course he learned how to sign. Fran and Nick had a whole language to themselves, and spoke it in front of him. Did they realize how insulting that was? It was like spelling words in front of a toddler to hide a surprise.

Harold didn’t want any more surprises.

‘You're not as invisible as you think you are.’

Live

"Too long, don't read. As long as people aren't on the menu and world domination ain't the goal, live and let live."

An oversimplified addition from Max, but still on point. Quinn nodded to confirm, before continuing on in his thoughts,

"In essence, yes. That was the core message. But after decades, the message itself has mutated, the sentiment behind it. And now… All that's observed now, whether it be willful or not, are results. Eliminating potential threats to humanity. Rayna is running this place with unheard of efficiency. Removing “dangerous creatures” before they ever become a danger, with a complete disregard to whether the creature in question would ever act in that manner. On paper, the statistics, reports, all the numbers look astounding, and it's hard to argue against that. But if they saw... it's not just hunting evil anymore. It's more complicated than that. They're wiping out families. Innocent creatures. Because of a hypothetical potential of danger. This success we're having, well, there's always a sacrifice isn't there.."

The silence among them lingered as the music continued to fill the space. She felt Glen shift his weight next to her, and she looked over. The fire Harold’s comments sparked inside of her had taken over, and she didn’t even think to check in with him yet. Now that she had come back down, let Quinn take the lead again, she found herself anxious for his opinion. And he didn’t disappoint in providing it.

"There usually is. One hard concession, then another, until they're not really all that hard anymore. Ends justify the means, judgements made on face value, and it suddenly becomes about what you are over who you are. Yeah, I think I've heard this one before."

"It's fucking bullshit."

"For once, Max, I'm not going to argue with you. Society… Never ceases to amaze in its destruction, does it?"

[bacchuschucklefuck]

couldnt draw my thang for mid-autumn so treated myself to a calne redesign instead

[zephyrchama]

[Thoughts about an MC who gets periods]

Getting periods in the Devildom must be pretty rough. Demons probably don’t get them, and the number of humans freely wandering around has to be incredibly low. If MC takes the form of a sheep then they likely don't have to deal with it immediately, but eventually that's going to wear off and they'll revert back to a human. Does the Devildom even have pads and tampons for sale?

MC might have to sheepishly ask Barbatos if he can acquire some in bulk from the human world. Barbatos would remain professional as always when inquiring about the use of these products and their role in daily life. He'd have to report it to the prince. They're both aware of what periods are, but only in a vague "oh yeah, humans do that" kind of way. (Perhaps in the future, Lucifer could use his secret Akuzon account to order more?)

There's surely some plant or potion that prevents them, but they're not meant for long term use. Probably tastes nasty over time and covers human skin in a weird oozing rash if consumed too often.

A month or two into the exchange program, MC might have to call up Solomon for aid.

---

“Can you help me with something?”

Solomon, not too interested in MC yet, agrees just to be amicable with his fellow human exchange student. They must be scared! They must be missing humans! “Is something on your mind?”

“You know how to do magic, right?”

What a silly question. It’s almost refreshing to hear. “I do.”

“Do you know… like, uh, smell…? Reducing magic? Something to cover up smells? Without being obvious, I mean. I feel like I stink and I was really hoping you could help me figure something out.”

How cute, he thinks. He can’t quite remember the time when he smelled fully human anymore, and he can’t really smell the distinct odor on people that demons can, but he knows demons can easily sniff out a human from afar. “Oh, don’t worry about that. It should go away on its own as you spend time here.”

MC isn’t convinced. “I don’t think it will…”

“Trust me. How are you finding Devildom cuisine? I know you’re not used to it, but eating more will help you adjust. I can whip up a few simpler dishes for you to try if you need help.”

MC is silent for a bit. Solomon thinks his job is done until they say quietly, “that’s not the problem.”

“What?”

“I’m pretty sure the brothers I live with can smell, uh, my cycle.” No use being coy about it, better get straight to the point. “They stare at me when I’m on my period. I think - no, I know - they can smell the blood. I’ve seen them sniff the air when I’m around. It's weird. And I can’t exactly stop it from happening every month.”

“Oh.” Now it’s Solomon’s turn to be quiet. He’s embarrassed and surprised, a little humbled, and also really interested in this problem. It’s not something he’s ever thought about before.

MC continues, “I think they can tell when I’m ovulating too, Asmo started lingering around more often, and Lucifer looked scarier than usual, and they all stare more, and-”

“I think I get it.” Solomon can’t stop his face from turning pink. Despite his usual grin, he doesn't think he’s ready to listen to the rest of MC’s sentence.

There should be an easy solution, but it’s something that warrants testing if MC doesn’t want the brothers noticing a sudden spell cast upon them. It could get mistaken for something malicious. Solomon says, “I might be able to help. Can you come over today?”

[noodles-and-tea]

For the twins in time AU, I genuinely wonder what kind of people the young twins grow up into because of Stan’s/Ford’s influence. Especially if it takes years for the portal to get fixed.

(Sorry if it seems like I already sent this question, I don’t know if it got sent the first time I asked)

I haven’t fully fleshed out how Ford grows up in the past but I do have thoughts on Stan presently

[aroaceleovaldez]

i have suddenly become obsessed with a theme that HoO established but never proceeded to extrapolate on, which is:

You are Percy Jackson, and you have been swapped with a boy who was allegedly everyone's favorite person, but they have decided to replace him with you. They just met you. You stand next to his best friend and the people he's known his entire life. In his home. In his cloak. In his place. They stopped looking for him.

You are Jason Grace, and you have just found out you have a long lost sister who completely replaced you in her life with this girl you just met. Your lives and personalities are mirrors. She is you, living the life you were robbed of.

You are Annabeth Chase, and you have just become starkly aware that you have been inhabiting the void left behind by your best friend's long lost brother. You and Luke were just replacements for him. Now you have to look him in the eyes when he has nothing and know you took that life from him.

You are Piper McLean, and you have just found out your relationship is fake and built entirely on the memories of Annabeth Chase. You have been given a boyfriend when hers has been taken away. You have no idea how much of it is real or not but regardless you feel like if your relationship isn't exactly in their image that you have failed.

You are Leo Valdez, and you have just learned that you are the echo of your great-grandfather. You are not your own person. You just exist to be a mirror of him. A doppelganger. An actor and stunt double facing all the danger he never had to but wearing his face. To be there for his best friend decades later simply because he couldn't. You are playing a role. A seventh wheel and a pawn for a goddess who carefully sculpted your entire life for her own purposes.

You are Hazel Levesque, and the only reason you are alive is because your brother couldn't save your his sister. You are a consolation prize. An apology. Your existence here is misplaced in every way but you inhabit it anyways.

You are Frank Zhang, and you are a shapeshifter. Inhabiting your own body feels strange and clumsy when you could be literally anything at any time. You are anything and everything and live your life with the simple certainty of knowing exactly how you will die.

[lucabyte]

On autonomy, and what it means to be Obliged to Help.

Bonus:

[laniidae-passerine]

don’t get how you can watch iwtv and be a sincere diehard lestat hater. like the world’s biggest lestat hater is louis and that man can’t even commit to it for more than five minutes before literally hallucinating lestat wearing a wedding ring and talking pretty to him. this show is about louis and every road leads back to lestat for that man

[mohntilyet]

about illario working with the venatori, we can't forget that elgar'nan gifted him blood magic, so I do think that he somewhat influenced him and that's why he's so much more vindictive and jealous in comparison to tevinter nights. I don't mean that he's being mind controlled, but it's a bit like cyrian, a god just amplifying those negative emotions in you and promising power and glory can push a person to that edge and to make stupid af decisions.

im also not forgetting that zara line in inner demons where she talks about an envy demon. like. why an envy demon in specific...there's THINGS between zara and illario that were not shown

no literally if you get me talking about illario + envy + the possibility of getting him possessed, you will have me here for fucking ever. a non mage doing blood magic (any magic at all) is really weird and interesting to me and i don’t remember an example of this happening before (feel free to correct me tho lol. i’m discounting possessions and dwarves)

i had started wildly theorising after bloodbath that he had been possessed and he was tapping into the fade using an envy demon. especially like you said, zara mentions it, AND because i swear there’s a codex in the ossuary where it mentions an envy demon whereas spite is obviously determination, right? so i thought it was a breadcrumb trail to a big “illario is being influenced and doesn’t even know” reveal— same as you anon like great minds am i right— but i’m not sure there is actually any evidence of that lol. like maybe if you squint but i do believe it was explained away by “oh yeah, and elgarnan let him do special blood magic”

it does also make sense to me that illario can only control lucanis, due to being part of the same family. a bloodline thing, and it is very poetic to me that their shared family connection in caterina is what allows him to control lucanis, even for a moment lol. spite being the extra magical boost that lucanis needs to block that out ALSO makes sense to me so i’m not too fussed abt these details lol🤔

the envyllario in my heart also gets spectral weapons for himself. lucanis gets wings, illario gets talons, PLUS green-purple are complementary colors so it would have been really fun to see them clash with their spirit/demon-powers. the talon thing is also a kind of reflection of his end-goal desire, how envy demons already have those freaky hands, and it manifests as claws and is a much more aggressive, strength-augmenting manifestation (as opposed to manoeuvrability and speed-augmenting that spite’s wings give lucanis.) anyways that's what the diagram above is supposed to be (this is extremely hot to me)

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Happy Year of the Dragon!

[heartorbit]

a fool and a sinner

[im-totally-not-an-alien-2]

Halloween prompts year 2 day 10

Danny groaned, blearily raising his head from the nest of blankets and pillows he had made in his apartment. He had smelled something strange.

Something strong enough to wake him from his sleep. Danny got up and stumbled to the front door, cursing his luck for getting a fever so soon into his interdimentional road trip.

Peering out of his open doorway he saw a little kid shivering in the cold, badly hidden behind two trash cans in the mouth of an alley. Danny didn't think twice. In fact he didn't think at all. It wasn't uncommon for an Omega to smell a child who didn't have the scent of another Omega on them and immediately claim that child as thier own, and seeing as his home dimension had exclusively Omegas...let's just say there's a lot of drama in family court and a lot of laws pertaining to this.

So of course the next thing Danny knows is that the kid was bundled up inside his very soft and comfy makeshift nest before Danny passed out.

For the next week Danny had this mysterious fever and he acted like a parent on autopilot, barely conscious as he instinctually cared for the little boy. He made them food and cut them up into tiny bits to feed his baby and if it was handfoods like pizza rolls or sandwich triangles, Danny would hold him in his arms and rock his back and forth, humming softly as his child ate.

Eventually his heat ended (note that omegas from his world don't have heats, they don't have alphas and so they don't even know what a heat is) and Danny was very surprised he has a child in his house. But he and the baby are very emotionally attached to one another. When Danny asked what the little kids name was (and man this kid was little) the kid stared at him in the way little kids do before muttering the world "Clone" followed by what sounded suspiciously like a serial number.

Danny decided, nah. His kid now. Sucks to be the bioparent cause Danny doesn't wanna share.

Somewhere in the city, the bats were freaking out. They had raided a lab and discovered not only had one of them been cloned, but the clone had escaped and no one knew where it was. Cue panicked parental frenzy.

[bacchuschucklefuck]

while teen while goblin while aroace while injured while doing your best

[arsenicflame]

happy "our marriage is never gonna recover from this" day

[introspectivememories]

sorry but do you ever think about the fact that the bernard we have today is a direct amalgamation of everything that happened in his past and i know that sound like such an obvious statement to say but it actually kills me to know that you can draw a direct line from who he is today all the way back to that sixteen year old boy who watched his best friend bleed out. like it is the defining moment in his life. it fundamentally shaped who he is and the person he's become. he is the bernard we know and love not despite the grieves shooting but because of it. because the gangs all got together and shot up his school. because tim walked out of that room with nothing but a baseball bat. because his darla got shot. because he watched her gasp and cry as she died. because he watched the blood coagulate around the wound. because he sat there and held her hand as her life drained out of her. because he walked into school that day with a joke he knew would make her laugh and her nose would scrunch up and she'd snort a little and tim would roll his eyes at him and call him ridiculous and instead he walked out with a bloody white shirt, blood under his fingernails, and two friends less. because, even now, almost half a decade out from the shooting, he thinks that if he closes his eyes, he will always be that stupid, scared little sixteen year old, holding the cooling body of dead best friend.

[necromycologist]

rip ianthe tridentarius... born to be the one and only fucked up failgirl forced to somehow end up as the voice of reason

[buwheal]

Why does the orange Addison's mannequin kinda resemble you?