#at least then I can fuel my god complex

[atherea]

fighting the urge to buy another game

[aphroditelovesu]

What about a Yandad! Poseidon with his mortal/ demigod daughter??

❝ 🌊 — lady l: I got carried away and ended up writing a mini imagine. This is not canon and is based on the voices in my head lol, but I hope you like it and forgive me for any mistakes! 💙

❝tw: threats and a slight yandere!Poseidon, but other than that, nothing else.

❝🌊pairing: platonic yandere!poseidon x daughter!reader.

❝word count: 683.

You grew up at Camp Half-Blood, surrounded by other demigods and learning to control your divine powers. Your relationship with Poseidon was complex; on the one hand, you benefited from his protection, but on the other, the shadow of prohibition hung over you. The sea god, your father, had a clear interest in your fate, and the other demigods couldn't help but feel the aura of power that surrounded you.

Your relationship with Percy Jackson, the already known hero and son of Poseidon, was a highlight. The two half-sibilings trained together, shared experiences, and supported each other in battles against monsters and other threats. The bond between them grew, consolidating a formidable partnership, feared by many enemies. Poseidon was more than pleased to see his two favorite children get along so well.

In the years that followed, Poseidon's presence in his daughter's life was constant. He guided you in training, sharing secrets of the seas and teaching you how to control your aquatic powers. As time passed, your abilities stood out among the rest. Poseidon's influence ensured that the instructors at camp also paid special attention to you, preparing you for even greater challenges. However, the constant gaze of the god of the sea also generated distrust among your fellow demigods, fueling rumors and jealousy.

Life at Camp Half-Blood wasn't easy. Monsters constantly threatened the perimeter, and quests were often assigned to the most skilled demigods. Poseidon, in turn, began to discreetly intervene in your life, providing help at crucial moments and ensuring you were one step ahead of impending dangers.

However, your relationship with the sea god was not just one of benefits. In dreams and visions, you began to receive cryptic messages and warnings from other gods and titans, warning you of the implications of being so close to Poseidon. A god can never be involved in his children's lives, well, the demigods children at least.

Tension between the gods grew as your bond with Poseidon deepened. Zeus, in particular, viewed the increasing influence his brother had over you with suspicion. The warnings from the other gods increased, and the shadows of destiny began to manifest themselves more clearly.

One night, during a vivid dream, Triton, the son of Poseidon with his wife and your half-brother, appeared before you. His eyes expressed concern as he warned of the consequences of ignoring divine warnings.

"Proximity to our father can bring blessings, but also curses," Triton said, his voice echoing like the waves of the sea.

Quests abroad became more dangerous, with more powerful monsters and mythological creatures challenging the demigods. Poseidon continued to intervene subtly, but now his help was under the scrutiny of the Olympian gods. Zeus, in his wrath, explicitly prohibited any divine intervention in your quests.

Once, during a battle against a colossal sea beast, you found yourself on the brink of defeat, your companions also injured. Desperate, you silently cried out for Poseidon's help. He responded, sending a furious wave to defeat the monster, but the price of this intervention was high. On Olympus, Zeus' anger became uncontrollable.

The situation reached a critical point when an oracle prophesied that the proximity between Poseidon and you would trigger a catastrophe that would affect not only the demigods, but the entire balance of the mythological world. The gods' prohibition on interfering in the lives of their children became an unbreakable decree.

Poseidon, however, didn't care one bit. You were his daughter and he would help you if he wanted.

[midnight-glasses]

💚 ✨Happy birthday, Laito✨💚

Guys, today is a very important day for me. I know I haven't been very active, but I want to get back to Fandom as soon as possible! Diabolik Lovers is an important part of me as a whole. It feels like yesterday was the day I discovered the anime; however, it has been many years. I discovered anime when I was nine years old, back in 2015, and I have had a love for games, anime, and manga for a long time. However, it was only in the middle of 2021/2022 that I discovered a fandom that is still so alive after years... However, some people are probably wondering why today is a special day for me and where I want to go with this simple speech: today is my beloved character's birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAITO!

This fedora hat shading your emerald green eyes and your somewhat complex and captivating personality, this character who certainly was a great source of trauma for the unaware, this utterly deplorable and broken character represents a lot to me in different extensions and senses depending on the time when I consumed it. For my 9-year-old self, it was my love for vampires and my continuous hyperfocus being fueled. For my 12 and 14-year-old selves, it was a great source of comfort and affection; it also served as a discovery and a reminder of past experiences which unfortunately I had to go through and endured throughout my years of life. At 19 years old, it signifies my profound love for broken characters, Otome games, and it has been the main impetus for me to currently seek a deeper diagnosis regarding my neurodivergences. This character helped me deal with experiences that I had blocked and didn't know how to process. This character isn't everything, but it means a lot to me. That's why I say happy birthday, you stupid vampire! Thank you for being a part of my life and introducing me to such wonderful people on the internet.

I would like to thank everyone who has had contact with me, you are all wonderful people!

@afra-blueraz, @eyelessdoll-y, @dialovers-translations, @dialovers-lover-xoxo, @sekai-takoyaki, @everything-laito, @diakaoniii, @yuma-mukami-garden-god, @rukiyui-fanblog, @its-irsaa-fyp, @benevxllain, @/carlatsukinamistolemyhamsandwich, @kauze-bridgerton/@kauzebridgerton, @callmeklair, @hanakohanabe, @yuikomorii, @kindan-no-kanojo, @laitoscupoftea and everyone else I didn't mention, you guys are a fraction of the wonderful people I have met here, and I will be very happy if you choose to continue this wonderful path for as long as you can feel comfortable, because you are an extension and a very important part of my life even though I have never seen any of you in person.

I didn't come here just to give this thank you without at least bringing something in return to celebrate this cursed vampire's birthday. By the end of March, I intend to release some headcanon or story about or for him. Thank you all, and happy birthday, Laito!

[prairiefirewitch]

I’m hagging out a day early because I’m headed out of town for a couple of days, but I was not about to miss this month’s hag party. I love making infusions and have managed to turn infused witch things into my full time job, so this is my strawberry jam. Strawberry vanilla hibiscus infused mead, specifically.

I try to make at least 2 batches of mead a year; one at Yule to be shared at Midsommar, and the other made at Midsommar to be shared at Yule. It’s a nice way for me to slow down and apply patience (I’ve got zero) to a project, and eventually reap the delicious benefits of waiting for the mead to mature. And it’s very sweet to taste the labors of summer in the middle of winter, and then to taste the warm spices of winter in summer. It’s alcohol-fueled time travel.

This mead is my favorite of all the batches I’ve made, so I made 3 gallons instead of the usual 1 gallon batches I make.

Mead is incredibly easy to make; once you toss everything together, it’s just a waiting game. Here’s the down and dirty but there are many good recipes online if you want something more complex. Sanitizing your equipment is the most important step and you can use San-star from a homebrew supplier, or make your own with a gallon of cool water and about an ounce of household bleach. Everything you use here needs to be sanitized.

You need all this stuff to make a gallon:

2.5 - 3 lbs honey

1/2 pack sweet or dry yeast mead (I used champagne yeast because I like it bone dry)

1 gallon spring or purified water

2 cups berries

Vanilla bean, split and scraped

10 raisins

1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers

You’ll also want a gallon sized glass carboy, a big funnel, a large cooking pot, a small cooking pot, an airlock, a sieve, a rubber stopper that fits your carboy, and a big spoon to stir with.

Put your honey in your large pot and add about half a gallon of water. Warm it on low just until the honey dissolves. Watch the heat, honey scorches quickly. While it warms, put your clean chopped strawberries into the small pot with about 2 cups of water. Bring it to a low simmer and use a potato masher or an immersion blender to make a purée. Add your hibiscus flowers, heat for a few minutes to let them soften and turn off the heat. When it’s just barely warm, use your sieve to filter out the seeds and flowers.

Once your honey water cools to about 100 degrees, pour it into your clean carboy. Add the other half gallon of water, and your sieved strawberry purée. Top up with additional water if needed, leaving about 3 inches of head room. Add your vanilla beans and raisins. Raisins provide nutrients for the yeast. Sprinkle the yeast on top, but be sure your mixture is 90 degrees or cooler or your yeast will die.

Pop your rubber stopper into the carboy and insert the water filled airlock. Now you wait. Let it ferment for 2 weeks. Most of the activity will have stopped.

Now you need to filter the mead into a second carboy. If you don’t have one, use a sanitized pot or bucket while you wash your carboy for the secondary fermentation. You want to pour or siphon slowly and carefully, using a fine mesh strainer, so you leave most of the settled yeast and bits of strawberry out. Once it’s carefully filtered, add it back to the carboy, put the stopper and airlock back in. Now wait for a long time. This mead should be ready to drink in 6 months, but it’ll be a bit rough and unrefined. You can bottle it at this point, which is what I do, but lots of people just let it age in the carboy. I like heavy duty swing top glass bottles, but wine bottles work too.

If you’re patient, save a few bottles to age for a full year. This is when your mead becomes a nectar fit for gods, with all the roughness gone, and the delicate honey flavor gets complex. Keep your bottles in a cool dark place.

Thank you @msgraveyarddirt for hosting!

[urhoneycombwitch]

linecook Eddie going “Good. Now go sit pretty in the living room and get out of my kitchen.”

I think I swooned... and then the smut? Fainted again.

Most people who work in kitchens don't really like cooking/making food when they get home but I feel like Eddie powers through for you. Your stomach grumbles? He's asking what you want to eat before you even noticed the sound happened? You're all boneless and recovering in bed after morning sex? He's in the kitchen making refuel breakfast. Maybe the smells get to him too much some time, or maybe his feet hurt after standing on them all day, but to see his love get that happy little smile after that first bite, knowing that even if the money is tight or he still feels insecure about how to properly provide love, at least he feels secure he can make sure you're fed

heeheehee thank you for ur praise it fuels my god complex stop it some more 🥰

yeah yep he’s so… domestic dom.

He’s saying shit like “baby, you’re not leaving the house for your shift before eating something. sit your sweet ass on my counter and come talk to me while I cook you some eggs.”

He’s the one keeping the fridge stocked, he loves taking you to the grocery store for your approval on different things, pen tucked behind his ear, squinting at different pasta jars- “You want spicy or no, angel?” even if you don’t have a preference, he’s asking every time just to check.

boyfriend *screams into pillow*

[straightplayshowdown]

Indecent: The story of Sholem Asch’s controversial play, The God of Vengeance, and the passionate artists who risked everything to bring it to the stage. The story—about the daughter of a brothel owner who falls in love with one of her father’s prostitutes—was polarizing even at its first readings, with many of Asch’s fellows arising him to burn it. Nevertheless, it achieved great success on the stages of Europe and in the Yiddish theatre scene of downtown New York City. But when an English-translation was attempted on Broadway, the play—featuring the first kiss between women on a Broadway stage—proved too scandalous for the general public, and the entire cast was arrested and charged with obscenity. 

Arcadia: The show takes place in a single room on the Coverly estate in two separate times: the Regency period and the present. 1809 finds a household in transition, where an Arcadian English garden landscape is being uprooted to make way for picturesque Gothic gardens, complete with hermitage. Meanwhile, brilliant thirteen-year-old Lady Thomasina proposes a startling scientific theory that is only starting to be figured out more than 200 years later. In the present day, we find two competing scholars researching the world of the estate in the Regency Era.

Propaganda under the cut!

Indecent:

Best, most emotionally resonant play I have ever seen performed. It recounts the controversy surrounding the play God of Vengeance by Sholem Asch, which was produced on Broadway in 1923, and for which the producer and cast were arrested and convicted on the grounds of obscenity. In God of Vengeance, the brothel owner's daughter falls in love with the female prostitute. Vogel's play goes far beyond recounting the censorship. It's a complex story that follows the show's playwright and performers and how their relationship to the material changes from the plays original run, to the Broadway censorship, to the Holocaust. It focuses on the need for hope and love.

A troupe of ghosts rise to keep alive the story of author Scholem Asch's most controversy play. In three languages & innumerable roles (including a turn by Katarina Lenk in the 2017 Broadway production) the lovers in God of Vengeance preserve for the stages of eternity one rain-soaked & sacred night. Meanwhile Asch, once a passionate defender of the plays love story against intracommunal accusations of fueling antisemitism and well, indecency...he gets quieter as Lemml becomes the stage manager of a story whose ending he will always forget. The play that convinced me that I could & would read Yiddish theater.

A breathtaking play about art, censorship, and Jewish lesbians, by THE Jewish lesbian. "He’s crafted a play that shrouds us in a deep, deep fog of human depravity: then like a lighthouse, those two girls. That’s a beacon I will remember."

Arcadia: 

it's the COOLEST. it's an exploration of entropy and how time scrambles popular perception and desire derails supposedly perfect plans and how knowledge makes its way through the years as sources get lost. 

it's about math and also lord byron is a character and there's a turtle

This is his best play (and pretty accessible for Stoppard). It’s an exploration of humanities vs. science, chaos theory, the interpretation of history, and also a love story. 

This is such a beautiful play about academia and how we do research and understand the past. And it's about love and friendship and biases and egos and so much more. 

THOMASINA: Oh, Septimus! -- can you bear it? All the lost plays of the Athenians! Two hundred at least by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides -- thousands of poems -- Aristotle's own library!....How can we sleep for grief?

SEPTIMUS: By counting our stock. Seven plays from Aeschylus, seven from Sophocles, nineteen from Euripides, my lady! You should no more grieve for the rest than for a buckle lost from your first shoe, or for your lesson book which will be lost when you are old. We shed as we pick up, like travellers who must carry everything in their arms, and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The procession is very long and life is very short. We die on the march. But there is nothing outside the march so nothing can be lost to it. The missing plays of Sophocles will turn up piece by piece, or be written again in another language. Ancient cures for diseases will reveal themselves once more. Mathematical discoveries glimpsed and lost to view will have their time again. You do not suppose, my lady, that if all of Archimedes had been hiding in the great library of Alexandria, we would be at a loss for a corkscrew?

[maxphilippa]

So from one person who finished Fionna & Cake to another, how was the show for you?

i was very tired when i first got this ask so i didn't quite exactly answer it but now i am feeling a bit better so. okay:

Fionna and Cake. I actually just watched the whole series yesterday LOL. I got spoilered from the beginning but i didn't mind. On a general perspective it is what I needed emotionally to be fair. I came back from an vacation that was for my mental health and the series helped me realize about a very much awful friendship I had and how I gave so much of myself to them.

One of the main topics that resonated with me the most is how it treats the search of finding who you are through two characters that are different yet so similar in their struggles: Simon and Fionna. Both of them want their lifes to be different because they're afraid of change and also are running away from their feelings. Seeing their friendship go from complicated yet on decent terms to an genuine friendship/found family type of thing on which they've grown a lot and care deeply for eachother was so important to me.

"Shouldn't they get to die as themselves?" Is a line that stuck with me in a way I didn't expect that it would at all. I haven't really been feeling like myself in months and that got to me very deeply.

And, oh, don't get me started on Simon and Betty... oh they make me so miserable (especially since they were the ones that made me realize that I gave so much of myself to an ex friend). Their whole thing broke my heart on so many ways. I knew that they wouldn't let it go like that and transform their thing into something toxic, because they're not. They're complex. They obviously love eachother, but Simon recognizing that Betty gave so much of herself to him, and how he didn't even notice it as much, how he didn't stop to think what was the best for both of them broke my heart.

People can say whatever they want about the finale being underwhelming but. It is what Simon and Fionna needed. Simon didn't exactly move on just yet, but he accepted that he could still keep going, and that getting help wasn't something bad. And Fionna started to accept that her life is just as normal as it can be and is ACTUALLY appreciating her life for once too. She's not like Finn in anyway, but that's what I like of her. She's her own person.

Both Simon and Fionna go through a lot of stuff together but with general different approaches on said topics. And I related to them A LOT. I think that watching F&C was what I needed because I was just kind of giving up on everything y'know. Life is not easy but you're not alone, and eventually things will get better.

The takes on grief and self discovery, the search of purpose and so much more made me EMOTIONAL to say the least. It was all done so beautifully and with cleverness.

On more silly notes. Farmworld Finn. I love him. He's such a good dad. I live in denial so he's alive for me. A cracked skull never stopped Finn. I love his kids. I loved Jay and Little Destiny. I really did. Loved Cake. LVED GARYLEE. Winter King and Candy Queen were so funny too. AND OH MY GOD THE STAR TIMELINE. WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT. AND AND. UGH. and i kind of hoped that finn and fionna could have met eachother but it's fine mdkhj

fionna and cake was a great series in general and it has so much details and so much love and so much going on i love it. it's also been a main fuel for making aus rn haha. 10/10

[jupiter-86]

Finished vol. 3 of Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang) today!!!!!!!!

This story continues to get better and better with each book-- it was pretty damn hard to put down. Sometimes I was literally saying "OH MY GOD" to myself while reading.

Thoughts and ramblings under the cut (there will be spoilers)

First of all, the reveal of how Chang Geng was given the wu'ergu as a child... dear god that was so disturbing and horrifying... just 100% nightmare fuel.

I loved how Gu Yun reacted to this though, his absolute compassion and heartbreak and love for Chang Geng despite him being possessed with the evil god. Actually I loved Gu Yun even more in this book overall. I can't believe I wasn't all about him in book 1 what was I thinking???

Chang Geng continues to be such a fascinating character. I can never get tired of his scheming tbh, and the way he can be scary and sneering or placid and heroic (and sweet to Gu Yun)... I just love all the facets of his character. Also, his deteriorating mental and emotional state in this book has been heartbreaking to watch. Somebody help my boy!!!!

Chang Geng and Gu Yun together in this book just stole every scene. I mean what else is new but oh, in this book??? Their romance has ramped up to 11 and it's riveting and complex-- sometimes sexy as hell, sometimes heartbreaking and sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes painful, but always they just love each other so much. I especially love how Gu Yun promised to never abandon Chang Geng if he goes mad-- instead he'll break his legs and lock him up and Chang Geng is into it lol.

And sidenote, Chang Geng being so horny and kinky and Gu Yun's fairly vanilla tastes being scandalized is so freaking funny omg.

The plot, too, has got me so so bad!!! Not so much with the Westerners/war part but with the court maneuvering and gathering of power that Chang Geng is doing. I'm so stressed out!!!!!! But also so invested like never before-- like I love the scheming and the manipulations and I do think Chang Geng would make a better ruler than Li Feng, but also can this really be a good thing if he succeeds? There's the wu'ergu to begin with, the little crown prince who'd need to die for him to rule, and Gu Yun's loyalty...

In this book we've seen Gu Yun dream of retirement and take better care of himself because he wants a future with Chang Geng, meanwhile Chang Geng is helping the nation while laying groundwork for usurping the throne... but is the throne actually his goal or not???? Sometimes I'm not 100% sure???

And honestly I don't even know what I want to happen at this point when it comes to the plot. I think I like Gu Yun's retirement idea better than Chang Geng's apparent eye for the throne, at least in theory, but a part of me also wants to see Chang Geng succeed and step on everyone and sit on that throne...ahhhh I'm so conflicted...

I feel like I need to reread the last few chapters because I know there were layers there-- both with Chang Geng's plans and motivations and in Gu Yun's reaction to it. That flute scene alone omg.

All I know for sure is I'm scared and I'm ready for more lol.

Another thing: Shen Yi. Shen Yi is a real one on so many levels and I love him. The way he figured out that Gu Yun and Chang Geng had sex pretty much instantly was hilarious. Also, I really hate that his shitty family is trying to force him into marriage; I do not want him trapped like that for political bullshit. I hope he gets out of it!!! The only person I could see him marrying rn is the doctor girl, Chen Qingxu. But maybe I'm seeing things?

Also, what is up with the plague??? I really want to see the rest of their current investigation. Them going behind enemy lines in disguise was so much fun!

TL;DR I loved it and can't wait for book 4!!!!!

[geistverrse]

14 for casey and julius, 31 and/or 32 for juno, 41 for dante!! (dante's situation is A Mess but I wanna know if he actually cares about any of the fine print LOL)

Casey Arthurs Q: How did they initially feel after being embraced? Did they like being reborn into something knew or did it take them a while to cope with their new reality? A: Casey's Embrace is one of the only Embraces of my Kindred PCs I was lucky to RP out, DMed by the ever-amazing @odoroshi-rider back in 2021. His Embrace was emotional, done to him by his ex-friend Lannister. He stabbed him in the heart to leave one final impression of himself on Casey after he Embraced him behind a Smithsonian museum. Amidst other feelings - that being, the traumatizing and soul-shattering feeling of gaining access to the Madness Network - Casey was dazed and confused, his mind forever changed by the Malkavian curse. He was lucky to be Embraced in an area where other Malkavians were able to find him, hearing his new hoarse voice in the Network. He was taken in and mentored, but his feelings following becoming a Kindred have remained colorful, to say the least. He's the best version of himself, but is it really a good version of him? He doesn't know the answer to this question - and pours all of his soul into his goals as Anarch Baron, still trying to make sense of his mindscape after being undead for 70 years. Julius von Sternenlicht Q: How did they initially feel after being embraced? Did they like being reborn into something knew or did it take them a while to cope with their new reality?

A: Hatred, confusion, and more than enough narcissism to power a grid. What does it feel like to die by gunshots then awaken in the river you died in Embraced by an enemy soldier? Bad. But he picked his bleeding body off of the ground and learned what it meant to be your own little Godling. Now he's a God-complex authoritarian teacher hiding within the Pyramid that so graciously fuels his ever-evolving projects on the idea of Bloodmagick and its study. Pray you never find yourself in the endless hallways of his library.

Juno Riviera Q: Do they have a ghoul? A: Yes! She has one Ghoul. Q: Do they like their ghoul if they do have one? A: Juno is quite fond of her - her name is Tiffany Bluemane. While a Kindred and their Ghouls relationships can change for better or worse, Juno treats hers as an honorary (NOT temporary) secretary. Their bond is strong enough that Tiffany will offer Vitae for Juno, while Juno will gift Tiffany with beauty from her powered from her own potent Zhupan Vitae.

Dante Sauer Q: Would your OC switch their clan if given the chance? Why or why not? A: Dante's understanding of Bloodlines/Clans as an Abomination is rather skewed - he's less knowledgeable than any Neonate's would be. He's understanding of Garou Tribes and the overall Garou Nation, his experience with it is far deeper - but I don't think he understands well enough to believe he could fair better as a different Clan. He was Embraced by a Brujah (who became a fine red paste after his Frenzy), and honestly, with his current status and occupation, he's a dangerous threat with some of the deadliest Disciplines for someone who's more-or-less a "strength build." I believe Dante, should he have a deeper understanding of his Kindred condition, wouldn't wish to change - if anything, he'd wonder how to learn more for better lethality.

[legendaryrooftopscene]

Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....Thanks...

this is a great question for someone who can retain memories of things they like lol but yes, i will answer it anyway! in no particular order because i simply cannot make myself decide further. this is also hard because I tend to enjoy characters in groups or pairs, with the dynamics between them driving my interest more than individuals (i have noted at the end of each one which dynamics I enjoy about this character with other characters)

Luxa from the Underland Chronicles (book series): she's a queen (literal), she's a bitch (affectionate), she's all of 12 years old and ruling an entire underground nation by herself with only her sworn-companion giant bat to help her. She's smart and competent and a little arrogant (traits you will see pop up multiple times in this list) and everything I wanted to be as an 8 year old. Now, as an adult, I want to wrap her in blanket and keep her safe. (Dynamics I enjoy: platonic soulmates with her bat Aurora; annoyances-to-friends-to-cannot-be-in-love with Gregor)

Dean from Until We Meet Again (Thai BL): if one of my favorite character types is smart/competent/arrogant, the other archetype I love is stoic, gentle, and a little awkward. Dean has this down to a science. He loves Pharm in such a simple, breathtaking way. He has a complex relationship with his own past life (I get the feeling that Pharm would get along well with Intouch, but Dean would always resent Korn, at least a little). He's a good friend and a good brother, even if it doesn't seem like it at first glance. He's got a dumb sense of humor, too, but he passes it off with stoicism. (Dynamics I enjoy: with his soulmate Pharm; with his own past life Korn; with his best friend/annoyance Win)

Tankhun from Kinnporsche (Thai BL): my darling Tankhun! No one has suffered more than him. I love how blatant and fearless he is in his fragility, as if he's daring the world to try to hurt him again. He's the eldest brother but he had to give up his role and his authority for his own recovery, so he has to allow Kinn to take care of his business for him. If his trauma hadn't happened, I know he would have been the most feared mafioso in all of Bangkok. (Dynamics I enjoy: his best friends Arm and Pol are hired by his father to be his bodyguards; his brothers who he went from caring for to being cared for by)

Nott the Brave/Veth Brenatto from Critical Role (Real play D&D campaign): She waltzed into my heart and stole all the buttons from my cardigan. She's a goblin who hates herself but actually she's a halfing who was cursed to be a goblin and she still hates herself. She's self-destructive but extremely skilled and so so protective of her best friend and (platonic???) soulmate Caleb. She has a kid and she doesn't really love being a mother but she does love her son so much. I think she would be improved with a divorce but that's a controversial opinion i guess (Dynamics I enjoy: the completely unexplainable bond she has with Caleb--is it platonic? is it romantic? is it sexual?? i think it's all of it?? they kissed on the mouth and the fandom pretends it never happened wtf. Also her relationship with fellow chaos-creator, jester).

Kyo from Fruits Basket (manga, anime): Kyo is so angry and pathetic and he belongs in my pocket. he's the most cursed person in a family of cursed people, he's got an inferiority complex that fuels his entire character arc despite being very competent at the things he does, he loves passionately and silently and cannot be convinced that he's worth the love others give to him. (Dynamics I enjoy: with Tohru, the girl who loves him and whose love he doesn't feel he can accept; with Yuki, the rival he hates but wants to be like more than anything; with Akito, the god who hates him)

Andrew Minyard from All For the Game (book series): like Tankhun, he's unapologetic about how he deals with his trauma. Is it healthy, how he's dealing with it? not even a little. but he's fully focused on his own healing and on protecting the few things he considers to be precious to him and I greatly admire that. And yes, I do love it when characters get to go violently apeshit in defense of their loved ones. He committed first degree murder and it's simply considered not a big deal by the narrative-- correctly so. (Dynamics I enjoy: with his twin whom he would (and did) kill for but otherwise just kind of ignores; his feelings for Neil which cannot be simplified into a word as meaningless as "love").

Jim Hawkins from Treasure Planet (movie): tiny baby me looked at Jim with his rat-tail undercut, his complex relationship with his parents, his misunderstood bad-boy nature, and his drive to be a small part of something big and went "oh worm?". I've been slowly rotating him in my mind since then. (Dynamics I enjoy: cool teen who loves his mom but doesn't want to show it; the morally-ambiguous pirate who became a pseudo-father to him on accident)

Rose Tyler from Doctor Who (tv series): tumblr loves her so I don't have to explain, surely. But I will. She's 19 and brave and powerful and determined and somewhat of a shitty person but again as I said, 19 years old. and she has an unspeakably old and powerful alien wrapped around her finger. iconic. (Dynamics I enjoy: her whole thing with Nine and Jack, plus how different things are with her and Ten)

Thorin Oakenshield from the Hobbit (book/movie): stoic, awkward, honorable, arrogant... this was a character invented in a test tube to appeal to me. Banished king who worked as a smith to support his nephews and lead his people as best he can. Beautiful singing voice. Went mad and redeemed himself in death. He lives on in my heart (and au fanfiction). (Dynamics I enjoy: with his best friend and right-hand man Dwalin; with Bilbo for Bagginshield reasons clearly)

Parker from Leverage (tv series): she's soooooooooo everything to me. Competent, smart, autistic as hell, lives in the vents and has two partners (let's not quibble about if they're smoochin, we all know they are) who love her so much. she takes down criminals while being a criminal herself. (Dynamics I enjoy: with her boyfriend Hardison who very carefully courted her; with Eliot who is not her boyfriend and not her friend but who understands her on a deeper level than anyone else; with Sophie and Nate who trained her to be a leader and a mastermind)

This was very fun to write out, thank you for asking me this!!

[hyperbole-smut]

Hi, I'm the same person who sent the long anon last time. I'm still closeted, since it's dangerous to be outed (is that the correct word?) where I live. Sending another, since you asked for a secret.

I fucked my god daughter's uncle for three weeks, when he came to take her to the USA to live. During that time, nobody around knew that either one of us even liked each other, since we'd bicker about everything. He's out where he lives, and everyone thought that my disapproval for his lifestyle was what fueled the arguments (actually, it's because he was selfish and only wanted to top, because of his Napoleon complex).

We'd have sex in my car, in my living room, the kitchen (only once, because we broke a couple of glasses knocking over a rack of dishes), the pool of the beach house he was renting, the backyard (grass is itchy and he got sunburned on his... back) and even once in the surf at night. I don't recommend the last, because sand gets everywhere, and unless you enjoy the sensation of sandpaper condoms, you should avoid areas with strong waves and get into deeper water.

When he boarded his flight back home with his sister and my god daughter, he had a couple loads of cum in his ass, courtesy of me (a little something to remember me by). We didn't stay in touch, since we were only in lust together, and it's hard to keep that alive with 5000+ kilometers between us, but he was good for an anon submission, at least.

Sad to hear you can't be open, maybe the time will come of you'll be able move somewhere where you can be open 🩷

Glad to hear you had a great time, hope his selfishness didn't make you feel inferior or exploited and that you feel it was an actually good time 🤗

[usafphantom2]

The SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (aka R2-D2) worked by tracking the stars and was so powerful that it could see the stars even in daylight

Mounted behind the SR-71 Blackbird RSO’s cockpit, this unit, (that was affectionately dubbed “R2-D2” after the Star Wars movie came out in 1977) computed navigational fixes using stars sighted through the lens in the top of the unit.

SR-71 T-Shirts

CLICK HERE to see The Aviation Geek Club contributor Linda Sheffield’s T-shirt designs! Linda has a personal relationship with the SR-71 because her father Butch Sheffield flew the Blackbird from test flight in 1965 until 1973. Butch’s Granddaughter’s Lisa Burroughs and Susan Miller are graphic designers. They designed most of the merchandise that is for sale on Threadless. A percentage of the profits go to Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base. This nonprofit charity is personal to the Sheffield family because they are raising money to house SR-71, #955. This was the first Blackbird that Butch Sheffield flew on Oct. 4, 1965.

The SR-71, unofficially known as the “Blackbird,” was a long-range, Mach 3+, strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the Lockheed A-12 and YF-12A aircraft.

The first flight of an SR-71 took place on Dec. 22, 1964, and the first SR-71 to enter service was delivered to the 4200th (later 9th) Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., in January 1966.

The Blackbird was in a different category from anything that had come before. “Everything had to be invented. Everything,” Skunk Works legendary aircraft designer Kelly Johnson recalled in an interesting article appeared on Lockheed Martin website.

Experience gained from the A-12 program convinced the US Air Force that flying the SR-71 safely required two crew members, a pilot and a Reconnaissance Systems Officer (RSO). The RSO operated with the wide array of monitoring and defensive systems installed on the airplane. This equipment included a sophisticated Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) system that could jam most acquisition and targeting radar and the Nortronics NAS-14V2 Astroinertial Navigation System (ANS).

The SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (aka R2-D2) worked by tracking the stars and was so powerful that it could see the stars even in daylight

SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System

According to the Smithsonian Institution website, the ANS provided rapid celestial navigation fixes for the SR-71.

Mounted behind the SR-71 RSO’s cockpit, this unit (that was affectionately dubbed “R2-D2” after the Star Wars movie came out in 1977), computed navigational fixes using stars sighted through the lens in the top of the unit. These fixes were used to update the inertial navigation system and provided course guidance with an accuracy of at least 90 meters (300 feet). Some current aircraft and missile systems use improved versions as a backup to GPS.

About the ANS RSOs were known to say, “no one can jam or shoot down the sun, the moon, the planets or the stars.”

Piloting the Blackbird was an unforgiving endeavor, demanding total concentration. But pilots were giddy with their complex, adrenaline-fueled responsibilities. “At 85,000 feet and Mach 3, it was almost a religious experience,” said Air Force Colonel Jim Watkins. “Nothing had prepared me to fly that fast… My God, even now, I get goose bumps remembering.”

The SR-71 Astroinertial Navigation System, aka R2-D2, was crucial in Blackbird mission. Here’s why.

But once the SR-71 reached cruising speed and altitude, it was time to focus on the mission, which was to collect information about hostile and potentially hostile nations using cameras and sensors. The pilot’s job was to handle the aircraft and watch over the automatic systems to make sure they were doing their jobs properly. Meanwhile, the RSO handled the cameras, sensors, and the all-important ANS. The ANS was the 1960’s version of GPS, but instead of using satellites to locate itself, the ANS used the stars. This is because before the invention of the modern satnav networks there wasn’t a way to navigate the SR-71 in the areas where it operated. The SR-71 needed to be able to fix its position within 1,885 feet (575 m) and within 300 ft (91 m) of the center of its flight path while traveling at high speeds for up to ten hours in the air.

The ANS provided specific pinpoint targets located in hostile territory. It was a Gyro compass that was able to sense the rotation of the earth, while still on the runway before the SR-71 would take off. The RSO could use his coordinates of the spot ….of one place …on the runway …then read of the ANS. They were almost always exactly the same. Not always were the same stars were used on every mission, as they used the stars depending on what part of the world they were going to fly to. If flying in the southern hemisphere* they used only the stars that were seen there.

SR-71 print

This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. SR-71A Blackbird 61-7972 “Skunkworks”

On Jul. 2, 1967 Blackbird crew Jim Watkins and Dave Dempster flew the first international sortie in SR-71A #17972 when the ANS failed on a training mission and they accidentally flew in to Mexican airspace.

The ANS works by tracking at least two stars at a time listed in an onboard catalog, and with the aid of a chronometer, calculates a fix of the SR-71 over the ground. It was programmed before each flight and the aircraft’s primary alignment and the flight plan was recorded on a punched tape that told the aircraft where to go, when to turn, and when to turn the sensors on and off. The stars were sighted through a special quartz window (located behind the RSO cockpit) and there was a special star tracker that could see the stars even in daylight.

*It is not confirmed if the SR-71 ever flew in the southern hemisphere.

@Habubrats71 via X

[freshie44]

Disventure Camp All Stars Episode 18

Disventure Camp All Stars is the WWE of Disventure Camp. I've just lost hope. I glad the writers are enjoying what their writing at least, I'm just in apathy at this point. Jake - "I feel great, I stand by the move I made and ready to vote". You know what good for you kid. Shit like this is why you'll get @ by randos on the internet with the Ellie speech from season 1 on a constant basis. The endless Jake & Ally feud is god awful. It literally just the never ending 2009 John Cena v. Randy Orton feud. I despise sacrificing characters to prolong this stupid feud. Also statement like above just fuel the hate, because I've seen your early game, your mid game, and your late game and Jake, honey, you've been playing like SHIT. Insta falling for any lie you've been told, throwing challenge for yourself just to fuck over someone else, and starting random ass feuds to put yourself in the crosshair of the votes. Your own story says you SHOULDN'T BE PROUD OF HOW YOU PLAYED THE GAME! So you sir, even in your wishy washy petty confidence don't get to say SHIT like that and get my backing. Ally - "yeah I'm confident it probably me tonight. I know these people consider me a huge threat" No, NO, NO! You are not a threat, you've been an afterthought. You got carried to the merge. They got rid of Ashley because she was the biggest threat among the heroes, Tom because he a challenge king, you got lucky with Yul & Gabby, got carried by Grett to go over Aiden and Alec. Only to be an afterthought to Grett. You are HERE because you aren't a threat! You had wishy washy writing who can't decide if you a heel or face because consistent booking is overrated. Your story line been the bonus song they throw in, not even making the A or B side. The only threat you've ever been is as a flipper. So nah, not wanting to back you. Riya - She 2015 Roman Reigns, she the BIG DAWG, she got the DAWG in her, she the ultimate survivor because she the BIG DAWG. She can do whatever she like because she always figure a way out. Karma, no she beat Karma in the ring, made it tap out. She is a "COMPLEX" Character that we just have to maximize her screen time for. She so obviously going to win because fun went and died. Conner - speaking of 2015, Danial Bryan at the 2015 Royal Rumble. Now start the booing.

[elena-oc-blog]

You guys are in for a lore dump treat copy pasted from my personal discord server. I was just suddenly possessed by the muse when trying to sleep some more this morning

I'll put it under read more so you don't have a giant block of text on your dash, you are welcome

A bit about the different kinds of magic in my world:

Inborn magic: magic one is born with. This magic involves no spell casting and is instead manipulating ones own magical energy to achieve things. Still requires skill and discipline and practice to get better at it but it's a natural base ability some people are born with. It's pretty rare among humanoids and animal folk but most mythic born have at the very least minor shifting magic to better blend in. Inborn magic is typically just one type (fire for example) but in some rare cases there's multiple though more than 2 types are almost unheard of and will also cause instability in the body which can lead to corruption and explosive mishaps.

Learned magic: this is magic gained through study that requires spellcasting, gestures, rituals, glyphs and whatnot. This magic is extremely varied and can be workshopped into new types! It's basically taking the fabric of reality and the magic energy that floats around in the world and interweaving/recoding them into something you want it to do. This takes skill and patience however, and if you do it wrong results can vary from "nothing happened" for small spells and "giant fucking magic explosion/death" for complex spells. Some people are more attuned to learned magic and can see/feel the flow of energy around them. The amount of magic energy in any given area can also vary depending on nearby sources of for example spirits, demons, holy sites or even deities. This magic also consumed some of your energy to use as fuel, this can be replenished with rest and food. Learned magic can also be imbued into items which is..

Imbued magic: potions, charms, glamour. This magic can either be permanent or temporary, though permanently imbueing magic into living beings has to be done very carefully and takes a huge amount of skill and energy. This typically is only done with cosmetic magics such as permanently changing hair/fur colour, magic tattoos, giving a human claws etc. Magic plastic surgery basically.

Potions/magic drugs only give the consumer temporary magic changes, the duration and strength varying on the skill level of the potion maker and the potency of the ingredients

Magically imbued accessories and charms will only work as long as the user is wearing them or are placed in the environment correctly/remain undamaged

There's also magic artifacts which are objects permanently imbued with magic so that they have magic properties. Making one of these again take a lot of skill, patience, focus and energy so these are rare. Bags of holding are a popular example of this and a beloved luxury item.

Lastly there is patron magic:

Magic that was given to a mortal by a divine being. This can be done by spirits, demons, hellborn and gods. the more powerful/higher ranked the divine being is, the more powerful the magic has the capacity to be. There are two types of patron magic:

Blessing/Curse (permanent with no further energy input necessary from the divine) and Contract (There are conditions and contact that must be upheld with the divine being or the magic will be taken away. This requires a constant flow of energy going into the mortal from the divine being)

There's also ascension or damnation where a divine being turns you from being mortal into a demigod, spirit, monster or demon but this is very rare and almost unheard of outside of folk tales.

Hope you guys enjoy this lore dump!

[leaderlamby]

I've been wanting to send you a ask for a while now but I've felt nervous to do so and don't know what I'd say so I never got around to it.

here's a silly image at least

You don't need to be nervous, beloved follower!~

You can send as many asks as you want 🤍

The fact that I invoke anxiety in you fuels my god complex.

[illumins]

CHAPTER THREE

Hydrangea and Letter

My gaze was fixed intently on the intricate design adorning the café's mugs. Each flower was meticulously painted, and I marveled at how the ceramic handle gracefully curved into a leaf. Lost in thought, the bustling world around me faded into a distant hum. In my mind, I assembled my thoughts like a complex puzzle, only to let them scatter again when the weight became too much to bear. I repeated this mental dance, contemplating the missing pieces I was too afraid to confront.

The realization that I had unwittingly become a target filled me with dread. This was not something I could report to the police or confide in a passing stranger I met during the day. In fact, that prospect troubled me even more. The assailant who had attacked me looked undeniably human—alarmingly so. He could have easily greeted me at the start of my shift, and I would have been none the wiser. Death, I realized, could take on any form, wear any face.

Nana had attempted to explain the entities that lurked within the Nightworld, providing small details discernible only to those with a keen eye.

"There are witches, cunning beings," Nana had cautioned. "They don't resemble the depictions in movies, with pointy hats and animal companions. These witches are tied to the other side, their souls tainted by gods. Instead of animals, they draw their power from humans. You can spot them by the occasional purple shimmer in their eyes. They all bear a birthmark on the side of their pinky finger, resembling a four-pointed star. Be cautious around them; you don't want to cross their path.

"Then there are the werewolves, or Lycans, as they prefer to be called. Mostly harmless, their numbers have dwindled due to relentless hunting. Cursed by an age-old lovers' feud, they're a rare sight. You can recognize them by their golden eyes, which only appear in their transformed state or during intense emotions.

"And then there are the Vampires—dark, cruel, and plagued by heightened emotions that can be perilous. You... oh, you should hope never to encounter them. Their eyes gleam crimson, reflecting their insatiable lust. They also bear a red birthmark on their chests, right where the heart lies. They possess the ability to read the emotions of others, except for those within the Nightworld. Be cautious; their sense of fear only fuels their desires."

That was all Nana had been willing to divulge, fearing that delving further would attract the dagger's attention. Or at least that was Nana's belief.

A soft tap on my shoulder jolted me from my thoughts. Looking down, I realized that I had unwittingly cut the cake into too many slices. Moreover, a customer who had been patiently waiting for my attention now observed me awkwardly. I cleared my throat, hastily placing the knife down and offering an apologetic smile. I then made my way toward the kitchen, my mind cursing myself for drifting away from reality so easily.

Gazing up at the ceiling, I shut my eyes tightly, whispering to myself, “All I need to focus on is this job, and then I can go home and deal with the rest.”

A sing-song voice echoed in my head, startling me. “Seems you didn't heed my warning last time, hmm?”

In fear, I whipped my head forward to find the blonde woman once more. This time, she was dressed in a black mini-dress with a white lace corset at the front and a shimmering regal purple stone choker. The woman had noticed my wandering eyes and twirled gracefully.

“Oh, this?” she quipped. “It's the uniform I wear for my job, just like you with your apron and nametag.”

The woman's attitude had taken an unsettling turn, and I couldn't help but feel disturbed. This wasn't the demeanor she had displayed during our first encounter—too perky yet still elegant. “Where do you work?”

At the question, the woman raised an eyebrow and smirked, taking measured steps toward me. “Nope, nope, nope,” each 'p' popping from her lips. “That's not a place for someone like you.”

Now standing before me, the scent of hydrangeas enveloped her, inducing nausea. The woman began to circle me, studying me like an animal. “Although,” she mused, “you would look quite fetching in a dress like this, don't you think?”

Unable to endure the scent any longer, I walked away, massaging my temples in hopes of dispelling my nausea.

Puzzled for a moment, the woman soon realized her effect and offered an apology. “Oh, my apologies. I tend to have that effect on people like you.”

“People like me?” I questioned.

Dismissing the question, the woman casually positioned herself against the cutting table. “Regardless, I'm here to warn you that danger awaits outside the store again. Perhaps this time, don't ignore my warning like last time, alright?”

My tension grew, and I reached out toward the woman, desperation in my eyes. “Not again, please. What do you mean, outside?” But the woman swiftly evaded my reaching hand.

“Sorry, Sora, I can't,” she replied coolly.

I sank to my knees in despair, but my coworker entered the room, alarmed by the scene. He rushed toward me, his hands gripping my arms as he pulled me upright, concerned that I might faint. Yet I gently extricated myself from his grasp and stood straight. I didn't bother asking if he saw the woman; hardly anyone seemed to notice their presence. Even as a child, only my eyes could perceive what others couldn't.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with worry.

Before responding, I glanced behind him to find the woman gone. I walked to the door, peeking outside to see waiting customers and tables in need of cleaning. However, my true focus was on spotting any potential threats, especially the man from my recent encounter.

Turning back to my coworker, I asked with pleading eyes, “Sicheng, would it be alright if I take you up on your offer?”

It took him a moment to comprehend my request, but he nodded in understanding. “Oh, I see. Yeah, of course. But are you okay?”

“Yeah, just feeling a bit off today.”

Not wanting to press me further, he reassured me with a touch on the shoulder as he passed by and exited the room. As he walked out, he encountered a crowd of people, but I didn't have the energy to exchange greetings and smiles. I scanned the kitchen one last time for any trace of the woman but found none. After taking a deep breath and gathering my resolve, I stepped out of the kitchen and into the café.

“Sorry for the wait—” my coworker began to apologize.

The sun had surrendered its position to the moon, and stars began to dot the night sky. The streets remained lively, but rain now filled the gaps between the bustling crowds. Streetlights, with their red, yellow, and green hues, cast reflections on the moving puddles formed by each raindrop. A chime from the bell above the café's door marked the beginning of the night and the end of a day's work.

Usually, the café stayed open late, but the owner had requested an earlier closing time for the impending cold months. In mid-September, the slight chill of October's approach was already palpable. I had always admired the transition from summer to fall, with leaves changing from emerald green to vibrant shades of orange and yellow. Yet this year, my enjoyment was tainted by the paranoia of the man Jisung returning.

I glanced at Sicheng as he locked the café's door, trying to reassure myself that everything would be alright as long as he was there. He turned to me with a warm smile, gesturing toward the bustling streets where throngs of people walked. “Lead the way.”

Minutes passed as the two of us strolled around Main Street, sharing stories and savoring the nocturnal scenery. Tensions that had weighed on my mind earlier gradually dissipated as Sicheng continued to captivate my wandering attention. I understood his intent to lighten my mood, and for that, I was grateful. The prospect of feeling somewhat normal and free from constant fear brought me immense relief.

As we approached my home, a sudden melancholy settled upon me. I don't want this night to end, I thought. I feel okay right now. I want to be okay again tomorrow. But the sight of Sicheng yawning made me reconsider. I knew he juggled two part-time jobs and school, and his gesture of accompanying me meant a lot.

“Thank you, Sicheng,” I said.

“Of course,” he replied. “Knowing you're safe on your way home puts my mind at ease. Don't hesitate to ask anytime, okay?”

I chuckled at his concern and nodded. “Alright.”

“Well, I should get going. I have work tomorrow.”

We bid each other farewell, with Sicheng retracing his steps down the street and me ascending the steps to my front door. As I rummaged through my purse for my keys, I noticed a letter at my doorstep from the corner of my eye. With my keys in hand, I crouched down to retrieve it. The letter bore a fine wax seal imprinted with the image of a dove in flight. Turning it over, I read the cursive letters that formed an unfamiliar name: Lee Donghyuk.

My fingers gently traced the edges of the wax seal, still radiating warmth, a testament to how long it had rested at my doorstep. I cast a wary gaze around, searching for the elusive sender, but the empty streets, shrouded in darkness, yielded no answers.

Returning my attention to the letter, my eyes fixated on the printed name: Lee Donghyuk. I furrowed my brow in an attempt to recall if the name sounded familiar. Lee Donghyuk? I don't think I've met anyone by that name, I mused. Perhaps a customer, but that would be rather strange. I was on the verge of dismissing the letter until a twinge of pain in my shoulder served as a stark reminder of another possibility. The lingering ache acted as a gateway to memories I wished to forget—the night, and the peace I had forged with Sicheng, now submerged in a vast sea of fear. "It's one of them," I whispered to myself, the memory of being slammed against a wall playing vividly in my mind.

The memory echoed louder, growing heavier, its presence intensifying. My muscles seemed to recall the searing pain he had inflicted. 'Jisung,' someone had called him. How could I forget the name that had been the source of my paranoia? As the memory deepened, I drifted further away from reality, from the serenity I had cherished. My breathing grew labored, gasping for air every few seconds.

The longer I held and stared at the letter, the more it fueled my fear. My body felt paralyzed, as if someone, or something, was watching me. Unconsciously, my eyes darted frantically around my surroundings, searching for anything out of the ordinary, for signs of them. My heart screamed at me to retreat inside, to hide and destroy the letter. Yet my body remained rooted in place, defying my will and trapping me in a state of terror. Beneath my ribcage, my heart pounded, crying out for help.

As the darkness seemed to encroach upon my vision, I believed myself lost, a prisoner of my own mind. The entities that had stalked me had stripped away my sense of safety and sanity. And now, as I stood on the precipice of darkness, I let out a desperate yelp, tears streaming down my cheeks. "They have me, they have me, they have me..."

The relentless thought vanished when the sound of my door opening pierced the silence. I registered Areum's presence, her warm arms enveloping me, urging me to rest, sensing my impending collapse. So, in a gentle voice, she directed me to step inside. We walked slowly, still holding each other, through the hallway leading to the living room. Once inside, she closed the door behind me with a measured kick.

After a few moments, Areum carefully pulled away from me, scrutinizing me. Her eyes were watery, with redness at the corners and cheeks marked by dried streaks. Although I appeared calmer now that I was indoors, she could still detect the lingering tension.

“Sora, what happened?” Areum inquired.

I registered the question but initially found it difficult to respond. “I…”

“Sora?...”

Taking a shuddering breath, I evaded the question with another, “Do you... um,” I sniffled, “is there anyone outside?”

Areum observed me for a moment and then shook her head. “No…”

I nodded. “Can you,” I raised my left hand, gesturing toward the window above the couch in the living room. Understanding my request, Areum agreed and made her way to the window.

After adjusting the beige curtain, Areum scanned the area in front of the house—the street and neighboring houses. Nothing seemed amiss, and after a minute, she returned to me, who continued to stare into the distance.

“There's nothing, just the stillness of the night.”

Again, I nodded, my gaze unfocused.

In my own silence, I attempted to ground myself by repeating everything I saw. Oak plank walls and various hanging portraits of all sizes. Living room to my right and the kitchen further down. On my left are Nana's study room and paintings. In front of me are stairs that go up to the bedrooms and more portraits and paintings. This is my home, where I'm safe. I'm safe.

I released a heavy breath and glanced at my right hand, which still clutched the letter tightly. I relaxed my grip, my white knuckles returning to their normal color, faint marks left by my nails. The letter, with its fancy seal, was now crumpled in the middle.

“Sora, what happened?” Areum probed further, noticing the letter that I held and eyeing it suspiciously. “What's that?”

I looked up at her, finding her expression softened, almost too gentle for my liking. I can't let her know, I thought, it's just too dangerous. I glanced down at the letter again and then reached into my side bag, shoving it out of sight. Gathering the fragments of my composure, I mustered a weak smile for Areum. “I thought I had someone following me. I guess I've been overworking myself again,” I lied, rubbing my eyes and forcing a chuckle.

Areum hesitated, her heart not entirely buying my story, but her mind understood that I wasn't ready to talk about it yet. She sighed and nodded toward the stairs. “Then go to sleep before you collapse, and I'll leave you here until morning.”

Agreeing with a nod, I ascended the steps. Once at the top, I paused and turned to look back at Areum, who seemed ready to leave. “Thank you for taking care of her again.”

“Of course, go rest now. I'll lock the door behind me.”

Turning around, I heaved another heavy breath as I walked toward my bedroom door. With one foot, I pushed down on the back of my right shoe, slipping it off, and repeated the action with the other. I sluggishly tossed my bag onto my desk chair and flopped onto my bed. Too exhausted to change into pajamas, I merely removed my jeans, letting them fall to the floor beside my bed.

As I sat there for a moment, reflecting on the evening's events, my gaze drifted toward my bag across the room. I won't open that letter, I resolved. The further I stay from them, the better my chances of a normal life. I attempted to reason with myself, but curiosity nibbled at my thoughts, brewing questions. I remained terrified of the Night World, but the contents of that letter piqued my interest. “Their approach has changed,” I pondered. They attacked me first and now they're keeping their distance and sending letters. Do they lack basic human social skills? I brought the covers up to my chin as I sat cross-legged on my bed. Maybe the letter contains threats.

Staring intently at my bag, my thoughts continued to wander. Eventually, I trudged over to my bag and retrieved the crumpled letter. Gripping both ends of the letter, I ran it up and down the edge of my desk to flatten it. Creases remained, but it was better than before.

Once it seemed close to its original state, I used my nails to peel off the wax seal. Extracting the letter from the envelope, a waft of cedarwood greeted my senses, evoking a feeling of warmth. I couldn't help but bring the letter closer for another sniff. This is not how I imagined them to smell, I mused, surprised. I had expected something more sinister, not the comforting scent of a forest on an autumn evening.

With trembling hands, I unfolded the letter and paused for a moment, listening for any signs that my grandmother might have awoken. When the silence reassured me, I began to read.

Dear Sora,

I'm reaching out to you as a way to apologize for what happened that one night with Jisung. I can only imagine the fear and pain you must have experienced when we approached you. Please understand that our intentions were not malicious, but born out of desperation. That's why I hope you might consider meeting us face to face, so we can offer our apologies and share a proposition. We deeply regret how things spiraled out of control that night. Below is an address where we can arrange a meeting, should you choose to do so.

1179, 서울, 용산구, 한남동, 807-7

Sincerely, Lee Donghyuk.

Reading the letter left me with a jumble of emotions—confusion, curiosity, disbelief, anger, sadness, and uncertainty. Regardless of their intentions, they had made me feel unsafe and paranoid. The stress that had been building over days seemed to wash over me when I pushed the letter back into my bag. I had made up my mind: I wanted nothing to do with this Lee Donghyuk and his friends, especially Jisung. As the weight of the night bore down on me, I sluggishly lay on my bed until sleep finally claimed me.