#because they has so so much potential to be there for each other here

[meallaaoi]

Not @prismatic-bell here, but as someone who's worked in a grocery store for, uh... *counts* A Long Time (including as a cashier/cashier supervisor, and in Scan File, the department responsible for all the price tags in the store): The main problem, as I understand it, is that the OVERWHELMING majority of grocery stores in the US are part of large, multi-state chains/corporations. For example:

The store I work at is part of a corporation that includes 3 major grocery store chains, with locations that cover the entire East Coast, from Maine down to Florida. The particular chain I work at is in the north of that area.

All of the price tags in the store are sent to us from the corporation's Central Office. They arrive on the Saturday night truck, and then (VERY) early Sunday morning (usually the shift is 3am-10:30am, but this part has to be done by store opening at 7am), Scan File staff (usually 2 people) puts them out on the shelves for any product which is changing price that week.

The price on the shelf tags has to be the base, pre-sales-tax price of the item, for a number of reasons:

Each individual store is going to have to deal with a different final amount of sales tax, based on the state/county/city the store is in - two stores less than 5 miles from each other could theoretically have different sales tax laws applied if they're in different jurisdictions (note: if this was the only consideration, it might theoretically be reasonable to expect each store to receive shelf tags with the after-tax cost based on local tax law. However.)

The final calculation of how much a given order is charged in sales tax (because yes, the calculation is done based on the taxable dollar amount of the order/transaction amount, not piecemeal for each individual item) is done by the store's Point of Sale system, which makes those calculations based on the specific location of the store, with several other considerations, such as:

Some items are subject to sales tax in one jurisdiction, but not in another

Some items are subject to sales tax in some transactions, but not in others (such as when food items that are normally taxed, like candy or soda, are paid for with SNAP/food stamps (obligatory reminder not to judge the purchases a person makes with their SNAP card), meaning no sales tax can be applied, *except* if certain types of coupons were used during the transaction)

Some states have 5 cent deposits on things like disposable beverage containers, or fees for single-use grocery bags, and those amounts may be subject to sales tax, but would not be reflected in the price tag for an item on the shelf

Some purchases made by/for charitable/non-profit organizations are wholly tax-exempt

I'm sure there are other factors that could play into the final sales tax cost for a given item/transaction/location, but honestly I had moderate-major surgery less than a week ago and my brain is still rather fuzzy, so, uh... miscellaneous?

Remember: all of a given store's shelf tags are printed and distributed from their central office. There's no way that all of the different factors which influence the total, after-tax amount paid for an item in a specific store can be accounted for in a shelf tag that's about 2 square inches, and needs to be easily readable/legible at a glance as a customer walks down an aisle.

So. The price on the shelf tag is the base, pre-tax price of the item, and it's expected that a shopper knows enough about the sales tax laws in their jurisdiction (along with any other potentially-complicating factors about their individual status/transaction) to be able to guesstimate/keep track of the final cost of their order, which is calculated precisely at point-of-sale.

(Sorry for the wall-of-text, this is just something that's pretty decently In My Wheelhouse, also distraction from post-surgery discomfort, so, uh... yeah. Hope it helps!)

The US vs the World

[theonewhowanks]

I can’t take it anymore here’s my nonsense and bullshit and opinions and analyses

Narinder definitely has a sadistic streak, maybe he is a full on sadist or maybe he just enjoys the power dynamic, either are possible but im betting on the former. Also potential snuff kink but im unsure

As shown in previous comics and art we can confirm that Narinder enjoys seeing the lamb injured or dying, maybe sadism, maybe just liking to see the lamb helpless although again I do think he is likely a sadist

The Lamb is either a masochist or just enjoys whatever Narinder enjoys, im really leaning towards the former again and I am probably sounding really stupid and overanalytical but that is my job

The Goat gets no dick ass or pusspuss from spiders or otherwise

The Red Crown and the Goat’s Purple Crown (as I call it) seem to be oddly tender in their affection towards each other but they do fuck and fun fact when snakes fuck they get locked together for hours

Leshy is a menace (as always)

Heket loves Heket’s snake wife (I call her Meretseger (name of an old Egyptian goddess, which Heket’s name also originated from I think (also the name means “She Who Loves Silence” which fits so fucking perfectly imo although it is a tad long sorry for the rant)))

Yellow cat is a victim and I love him (platonically. don’t worry leshy im not stealing him.)

Woaw that's a lot of thought put into my silly shit! I am pleasantly surprised! Truth be told, I don't have much of a personal 'canon' because I like playing with ideas a lot but there are some consistencies that I am glad to see someone's picked up on... Allow me ramble and drop some late-night tipsy scribbles:

You are right about my Nari! He takes great joy in inflicting pain, sees death as a very sensual and captivating process, and when it's on the Lamb it's amplified by a lot. The two enable each other and make each other much worse.

The Lamb is actually a sadist to everyone else, and a stone top. For Narinder, they are obsessed enough with him to enjoy submitting. They find receiving pain as cathartic, when they are otherwise repressing themself to the point of dissociation most of the time. With the Goat, they will occasionally mess around because it kinda just counts as masturbation to them.

These two are a mystery. They just like the company I guess and I think it's funny as hell. Leshy... He is, indeed, a menace. I don't have an established personality for my Yellow Cat yet. I just kinda see him as Leshy's assigned supervisor/chewtoy. Who might get Leshy pregnant at some point who knows.

Meretseger is a perfect name and I am taking that now thank you!! Thank you for giving me a reason to ramble! It gives me inspiration to maybe try to make more consistencies in the future, especially when I start talking about an AU I have brewing in my brain, that I am currently working on drawing... slowly.

[gotta-bail-my-quails]

i should be working on my final project for my class but lol. nope. elaborating on civilian X/other top ten post instead (which I'm calling 💯 au b/c X as 10 in ruman numerals...times top 10....100)

The rest of the top 10 come to his workplace and bother him, either trying to woo him by leaving gifts or just waiting outside for him to clock out.

They nearly fight on more than one occasion. X has taken to trying to trick them into thinking the office is closed by making it look like the lights are off outside. Someone gets a hold of his work schedule, so he goes and makes it look different for all of them (due to his shitty boss, he is working all the time so all the fake schedules technically don't lie about if he is there, just about if he is not--this only stops the top 10 from meeting and fighting each other. X does not want to pay for damages if they break something.)

Eventually he decides he could try to turn them down subtly by implying he is taken/has commitments already only that they're literally like, the top 10 most powerful people in the world so they would probably just pressure anyone else away. Besides, nobody is stupid enough to try fake dating someone with the top 10 after them.

The solution? civilian X makes it look like he is dating hero X. Sets his wallpaper to himself (fake) with his other self. Bonus, now nobody will think they are the same person! Secret identity win!

Except now the other top 10 are seething with jealousy. Now they want the position of X for...different reasons.

So hero X finds himself facing the top 10 whenever he fights. He. is so much more stressed out now, and it shows on his civilian self. The top 10 notice and pamper civilian X more, so he almost forgives them (because free food and whatnot)

Doesn't have to be romantic pursuit either per se. I'm imagining Little Johnny for instance thinking of Civilian X like a father figure and when finding out he is "dating" hero X, is kinda horrified like, "my stepfather would be X?? You mean two of my dads would be X??"

That being said, the sheer comedic potential of Valentine's day? I've made a small comic about it here with Ghostblade and Dragon Boy, but also thinking about what the other heroes would do for it....Luo Li hacking billboards or the lights of the building across the street to spell a message, Queen writing a new law increasing the minimum wage or limiting overtime (b/c of the rules thing mentioned in her PV), Cyan writes a song that plays on the radio for months afterwards and everyone in the workplace fucking loves it. X misses the bus and Little Johnny and Big Johnny come to pick him up before he can teleport. Ahu just sits in his lap in dog form and makes everyone else insanely jealous.

[searchingforglendowerwithleah]

so im following you for trc mainly, but i did used to watch 911 too (this was long before bucktommy even happened and i stopped somewhere around s4) so i really have no context for the current drama taking place. i am curious though - why are people so unhappy with bucktommy? is it just cause most people are buddie shippers or is there something else? not trying to stir the pot or anything im honestly just curious

Bahahah omg sorry to my TRC people I have been actually going off the rails about 9-1-1.

Ok so I am definitely a Buddie stan however, my most prominent reason I don’t like Tommy is his behaviour in Season 2 (in case you forgot Tommy is in Hen Begins, Chimney Begins and Bobby Begins Again having been apart of the 118 before Buck joins). In these episodes Tommy is very antagonistic to Hen and Chimney with some hella racist and sexist moments. HE LITERALLY REFERS TO CHIMNEY AS THE DELIVERY GUY. Whilst not nearly as bad as Gerrard he is not at all likeable (or interesting). This behaviour is pretty much shrugged under the rug when Tommy is randomly brought back to the show 5 seasons later as a love interest for Buck.

Tommy also seems to not really undertand Buck. The best example is Chimney’s bachelor party when he doesn’t get dressed up with Buck for the 80s theme Buck planned. And then Eddie literally plans to do a couples costume with Buck in comparison. Not to mention at said bachelor party Buck and Eddie are all over each other (watch that ep ‘There Goes the Groom’ if you want a comparison in chemistry).

Frankly I think a lot of people just got hot and heated over Buck kissing a guy and that immediate gratification became a vehicle for the ship to gain popularity. There is no care for the romance. I’m not going to get into some of the politics of the fandom fights however there has definitely been some xenophobic attitudes towards Eddies character and just the Eddie hatred from Bucktommy fans is super weird. There is way more stuff surrounding this and in general just examples of Bucktommy being a bad ship and Tommy being condescending. Him calling Buck Evan, getting him basketball tickets when he hates basketball, low key pressuring him to come out.

I’m not apart of the community so my input here probably isn’t that comprehensive but I think the conversation around queerbaiting is notable. Bucktommy kind of feels like a bandaid on the queerbaiting allegations surround Buddie. The show notably has lots of representation but none of the queer ships are between two main characters. Like no the most popular fanon ship can’t become canon but you can have this half assed ship. Although in the long run I do think Buck coming out as bisexual first and having this relationship is a great potential segway to Buddie, especially if they pull of Eddies repression storyline.

Buck and Eddie out of the main cast have had the most tumultuous record of relationships. None of their relationships feel important compared to the other relationships because they aren’t paired with other main characters so they aren’t as pivotal to the story overall. All of the other MC’s (I’m talking like the MAIN CAST) are paired up with other MC’s. This excludes Hen and Karen (with Karen technically being reoccurring) however, their relationship is notably pre established.

It is so clear to me that Tommy is a distraction for Buck from his true feelings for Eddie. The show needs to actually let that romance play out. No relationships Buck or Eddie get into outside of eachother will ever live up to the other main ships because they cannot compete with the the history that the show establishes between the two.

At this point Tommy has even brought up Eddie as the competition and accused Buck of having feelings for him. As long as Eddie breathes then Tommy has to settle for being second best in Bucks eyes because Bucks only defence to that accusation is Eddies alleged straightness.

Imagine your ship hinging on the fact that one of the characters was settling because the person they truly want doesn’t like them back. What strong foundations! Especially strong when Eddie’s arc this season feels like an inevitable coming out is upon us.

Like Buck literally says “I don’t have to sleep with everyone I have feelings for and I don’t have feeling for everyone I sleep with” after this. He has in canon essentially said I have feelings for Eddie — I don’t have feelings for Tommy and then Tommy leaves. If that isn’t the nail in the ship coffin I don’t know what is.

If Buck and Eddie go canon it will genuinely be one of the greatest queer slow burns on television. They deserve to have a dynamic relationship that is equal to the other main ships on the show in terms of screen time and importance.

Overall it’s definitely a bit of a ship war and like people are entitled to their opinions but it actually has larger implications for the shows representation and character arcs as a whole. Tommy is not the epitome of evil but the slander is defintely valid. Honesty I just don’t understand why people prefer him and Buck when Buddie has such rich history and potential. The only thing going for Bucktommy is that it’s canon — well WAS canon rip.

Sorry this was so long and unedited and I’m definitely missing loads of stuff!! I’d recommend you start watching the show again however the last three episodes have been TERRIBLE so maybe just go watch some Buddie edits on TikTok.

[becdecorbin]

TRAUM's first anniversary!

May 2nd is the date when TRAUM first started updating on comicfury. TRAUM story 1 especially is a lot of firsts for me, a continuous story that has a conclusion. but of course, TRAUM 2 picks up where the first story left off.

I'd also had never drawn so many pages for one comic, TRAUM 1 ended up being 333 pages long, total.

Chapter 1: 64 pages

Chapter 2: 62 pages

Chapter 3: 96 pages

Chapter 4: 111 pages

which is... just bonkers to me. how'd I manage that, haha. I mean, it does help that each page is in black and white and there's typically 3 pages per panel on average.

putting the rest of my rambling behind a cut, this ended up a bit long.

I'd been burned out on comics for a good while after Daddy Long Legs in 2011. considering it was a full colour comic with self-contained vignettes each update (once a week, even), is it any wonder I burned myself out. the setting also, unfortunately, no longer interests me. I may have done some things differently and I had comic ideas that never came to fruition, but oh well.

even so, sequential narrative art kept beckoning me, I'd been drawing shorter comics for ages and only when I stopped entertaining every single idea as Next Potential Comic Project I could take it easy. just drawing for fun. even if I had a few webcomic ideas that, alas, never quite materialized due to being too ambitious.

TRAUM isn't intended to be anything world-shattering or thought-provoking: what I set out to do was to draw characters going on adventures and seeing how they interact with one another, much like I used to do when I drew comics as a kid by the seat of my pants. it's fun to see characters doing their own thing.

TRAUM 1's story originally started with a basic premise: the subject of grief, bereavement. and because I'd been reading a bunch of Oz books I wanted to make my own scarecrow character, so Wedge was born. a scarecrow standing in a field and unaware their master had died long ago, and after that point they begin questioning their role as scarecrow. what can a scarecrow do if there's no field to scare crows away from? their ability to eat crows came first, but since they're able to do that, surely they can cry, too? I didn't initially intend Wedge to become a main character but it just kind of happened. the character relationships formed organically. I started shipping Wedge and Helmi! truly strange! but I ended up loving their chemistry.

after chapter 2 of TRAUM 2 ends, I uh, I'll see what I'll do, I've been working on another comic project, Lush&Flora, I have the first story fully thumbnailed and pages set up. chapter 3 of TRAUM 2 only needs to be inked and toned at this point, but I'll see how I'll find the time and energy, I'll probably have to put the comic on hiatus while I work on L&F.

in any case, thank you for reading TRAUM so far. I hope you've been enjoying it. it's definitely attracted a few detractors here and there, some not fans of Helmi and Wedge's relationship, someone else considering the comic to be boring, but, vast majority of folks commenting on the comic have been very civil and kind. I hope you enjoy other creative endeavours I may work on in the future, whether TRAUM related or not, only future can tell.

thank you!

[dark-lord-of-awesomeness]

Stan leans into the husband in law bit so much because Fiddleford just hates it. Cannot believe he's indirectly married to Stan.

Okay so hear me out

This is an extremely crack idea

Maybe due to shengagins on April fool’s day somebody tries to get Fiddleford and Stan to marry eachother.

Of course as soon as Fiddleford finds out he wants a divorce.

Hilarious idea, Here's my add on.

Emma-May decides to do it, as a joke, without Fiddleford OR Stan knowing they are getting roped into marrying each other. Stan thinks its funny to mess with Fiddleford, but he does NOT want to actually marry him. He just likes messing with Fiddleford because the man has an amazing reaction to the whole cat-racoon marriage thing.

Marrying Fiddleford means he's too close to the bit. It looses the joke aspect, in his mind. Fiddleford does not want to marry Stan because he's already married enough with him.

But it would be really, really funny Emma-May and potentially Ford thinks. I think they'd get way to close for either Fidds or Stan's comfort with it. I think the best way they'd go about it is cursing Fiddleford into some kind of animal, to complete the cycle of cat-racoon-man marriage.

Scratch that, they do succeed in getting Stan human married to animal Fiddleford, but because Fiddleford's temp curse is immediately broken it didnt link up to his soul like Stan's and Emma-Mays from long term curseing, so their marriage is pretty much Null.

But they know. It haunts them. Mostly Fiddleford though.

[urhoneycombwitch]

okay I've been swirling a couple more thoughts around my head about neighbor Eddie and specifically how you said he's down for what makes his partner happy and also how we've discussed making up handyman excuses to get him in the door

now I'm picturing a PLETHORA of roleplay fantasies he could fit into

okay 1) you said ranch hand? boom... get the hat and those blue jeans that he still has but never wears and are a tad too small and hug just right (it's not like they're gonna be on for long). forget that y'all are in the middle of the city, the blinds are closed to imagine outside is just green fields and trees for miles. really leaning into that southern drawl. he's gonna throw reader around like those bales of hay he's been slinging yessir (if you're into a bit of spanking with implements, this could be an opportunity to get a riding crop? Do you see the vision??)

now stick with me there's more

2) any form of mechanic, handyman, plumber, installer, you name it. As long as he's got those like full bottom denim overalls but he keeps the front open/tied around his waist just to show off that tank top underneath. Got plenty of tools on his belt, and a big one under it too if you know what I mean ;D love a man that's good with his hands. oh no, sorry mister, I don't have any money to pay for the fee...

3) FIREFIGHTER?! but just the pants and suspenders because then his chest and belly and arms are all oiled up and glistening. (potentially an opportunity for him to practice tying knots? you know, for safety...) can't really say much about this fantasy other than Damn! Is it hot in here? Nah, it's just him

4) and then obviously putting him in something lacy and skimpy. pretty collar (if that's what they're into) and some sexy lace garters around his thick meaty thighs that connect to some thin panties that barely contain his package and you're definitely taking them off with your teeth

(and speaking of packages, let's put delivery guy down on the list too. put his dick in a box I don't care)

but of course, as much fun as it to make him put on a show and be fantasy-fulfiller slutboy, there's gotta be some reciprocation too

which is where I ask you, government name Lulu Urhoneycombwitch, what are neighbor!Eddie's roleplay fantasies? What do he have R dress up as/do?

ngl this one’s been sitting in my inbox for awhile just so I could read it more easily. hm. yeah, anon, ya melted me with this one!!!!! 

cowboy in the bedroom absoLUTEly. i see the vision. neighbor!Eddie in my canon is a bit more reserved (‘least that’s how i’ve been writing him recently as I build out more of his character) but needs someone like neighbor!Reader to bring out his more outgoing and playful qualities. such as: rope tying skills he learned in the barn coming in very handy.

speaking of handy!!! lol. yes. handyman w a slutty thick waist shown off by half-tied overalls. this is most likely one of the first times ya’ll role played and i fear it was unintentional… Eddie was over doing some work on your sink and was dressed Like That so hardly your fault. it def becomes a thing after that. especially when you need him to fix something for real and he’s like ;) ;) this is code right and ur like ;) my shower hasn’t worked in 3 days ;) but i’ll repay you in sex  ;) ;) ;) 

firefighter and femme vibes are both equally alluring to me. y not both. u feel. like a big set of suspenders and pants and a jacket but after stripping him down he’s got a bare chest, fishnets, and a lacy pair of undies. i pledge allegiance…..

gov’t name u kill me lmao. okay if we’re talking Eddie’s personal preferences… well first off he definitely makes themed playlists for each setting and vibe if it’s planned roleplay. if we’re talking older!Eddie (which I often fantasize husky!neighbor!Eddie as 40s…) it’s personalized mixtapes + records.

Eddie loves literally anything that accentuates your curves. drooools over tight-fitting clothes whenever you wear anything that highlights your stomach or thighs or ass etc etc. so by that nature, I feel like one of his fantasies is completed just by getting to see you in lingerie. 

neighbor!Eddie’s ex-catholic for sure he’s just got that vibe to him idk… it’s always the ex-religious ones w a lot of kink lmao. I think he’d be really into seeing you in an angel getup around halloween time. getting fucknasty with a beautiful angel in gossamer and white satin would be a sinner’s dream come true.

he’s a total nerd for fantasy + lore in this life, too, really anything Lord of the Rings related would get him going. a fair maid a hobbit an elf forgettttaboutit. you in ren faire getup brings him to his knees. 

also Eddie would love a stranger-at-the-bar roleplay evening. spending the day apart in anticipation, setting a place and general time to ‘meet’, getting to hit on you at the bar as if he doesn’t know you, the thrill of you saying yes all over again!!!! that’d get him so good. that and the heavy petting that happens in the bathroom stall later that eve 😛

[elbiotipo]

Going back in time to introduce pastoralism and horses to ancient America. Imagine what the alternate Pampas and Great Plains would look like

I feel horrible because I really should have more sources than this, but in one of Bret Devereaux's articles about the historical inspirations for the Dothraki in ASOIAF (which prove not to be based in anything historical) he remarks on how incredibly fast North American natives adapted to life in horseback.

I'm quoting the relevant here:

A skilled Native American hunter on a horse, armed with a bow, could hunt bison wildly more effectively than on foot. They could be found more rapidly, followed at speed and shot in relative safety. It is striking that while pedestrian bison hunting was clearly a team effort, a hunter on a horse could potentially hunt effectively alone or in much smaller groups. In turn, that massively increased effectiveness in hunting allowed the Native Americans of the region, once they got enough horses, to go ‘full nomad’ and build a subsistence system focused entirely on hunting bison, supplemented by trading the hides and other products of the bison with the (increasingly sedentary and agrarian) peoples around the edges of the Plains. Many of the common visual markers of Plains Native Americans – the tipi, the travois, the short bow for use from horseback – had existed before among the hunter-gathering peoples, but now spread wore widely as tribes took to horse nomadism and hunting bison full time. At the same time, Isenberg (op. cit. 50-52) has some fascinating paragraphs on all sorts of little material culture changes in terms of clothing, home-wares, tools and so on that changed to accommodate this new lifestyle. The speed of the shift is quite frankly stunning.

And to me something that is more interesting; the fact that this was a very, very new lifestyle for them (based on hunting rather than herding), and historically we didn't see its full development because of colonization:

At the same time, as Isenberg (op. cit. 70ff) makes clear that this pure-hunting nomadism still existed in a narrow edge of subsistence. From his description, it is hard not to conclude that the margin or survival was quite a bit narrower than the Eurasian Steppe subsistence system and it is also clear that group-size and population density were quite a bit lower. It’s also not clear that this system was fully sustainable in the long run; Pekka Hämäläinen argues in The Comanche Empire (2008) that Comanche bison hunting was potentially already unsustainable in the very long term by the 1830s. It worked well enough in wet years, but an extended drought (which the Plains are subjected to every so often) could cause catastrophic decline in bison numbers, as seems to have happened the 1840s and 1850s. A sequence of such events might have created a receding wave phenomenon among bison numbers – recovering after each dry spell, but a little less each time. Isenberg (op. cit., 83ff) also hints at this, pointing out that once one factors for things like natural predators, illness and so on, estimates of Native American bison hunting look to come dangerously close to tipping over sustainability, although Isenberg does not offer an opinion as to if they did tip over that line. Remember: complete reliance on bison hunting was new, not a centuries tested form of subsistence – if there was an equilibrium to be reached, it had not yet been reached. In any event, the arrival of commercial bison hunting along with increasing markets for bison goods drove the entire system into a tailspin much faster than the Plains population would have alone. Bison numbers begin to collapse in the 1860s, wrecking the entire system about a century and a half after it had started. I find myself wondering if, given a longer time frame to experiment and adapt the new horses to the Great Plains if Native American society on the plains would have increasingly resembled the pastoral societies of the Eurasian Steppe, perhaps even domesticating and herding bison (as is now sometimes done!) or other animals. In any event, the westward expansion of the United States did not leave time for that system to emerge.

And the citation itself is here: A.C. Isenberg, The Destruction of the Bison: An Environmental History, 1750-1920 (2020). Though I believe that Deveraux here underestimate the effect of bison hunting by settlers; then again, I am no expert.

I WISH I HAD THE SAME FOR THE PAMPAS, AND ALSO FOR THE GREAT CHACO, those two places are the other ones where this kind of nomadic culture arose incredibly quickly after the adoption of the horse and the introduction of European cattle. Needless to say the culture that arose in the Pampas is completely unique, and you can get a sense of this by reading contemporary literature like Don Segundo Sombra, it is a whole life at horseback that the Mongols would be probably be proud of.

I hope I can do a better post to do this justice with regards to South America, but here's ACOUP's take on nomadic Native (North) Americans and Steppe peoples. The premise might be to debunk the worldbuilding (or lack of it) of ASOIAF, but don't be fooled, the historical information here about the nomadic way of life is amazing:

[youhavethesun]

jess and rory s6 in her bedroom at her grandparents house,, I don’t know why I do this to myself but I just watched a clip of that scene and I have tears in my eyes. i’m not even saying this for exaggeration i’m genuinely tearing up.. I feel so nauseous like what we could have had !! they were both so happy to see each other. jess’ “you graduate already doogie?!” like he is so completely ready to be overjoyed for her and rory’s little speech about finding the subsect in bookstores and writing her own recommendation notes is just… I am beside myself at how happy they are around each other here :((((

[bixels]

What did/do you like about Pharah?

Uh, gameplay-wise, I really love characters in shooters who rely on three-dimensional movement techs. Chaining together hover and jump to stay in the air for as long as possible and keep momentum is so satisfying, and picking enemies off from the sky made me feel like a bird of prey. I was a good Pharah main.

Story-wise, there unfortunately isn't much to canonically go off because Pharah is so underutilized and neglected. Her personality's pretty boilerplate "heroic hero" (she's literally inspired by Captain America).

But it's the crumbs/bits and pieces that I really latched onto. Pharah's a confirmed lesbian; her short story with Baptiste implies she harbors a crush on Mercy (fucking thank you.). She's biracial Egyptian/First Nations. She has major mommy issues, having grown up both admiring and resenting Ana. She's the bridge between Old Overwatch, inspired by the idealized heroes who surrounded her childhood, and New Overwatch. She's one of the only inter-generational characters in the cast; someone whose experiences span the gap, which is why I seriously believe Pharah would make a great main character.

There isn't much to go off of, though; she's a very uncomplicated character (she's a soldier for a private military corporation, lol.). But that just means she's a blank slate character, so I've seen fanfic writers run wild and create some really interesting takes on her. My favorite interpretation of her's a dense, herbo gym-bro type (a lot of her liens are about work outs, exercising, and playing sports) who's easily excitable under her seemingly self-serious, armored visage. We see how she tends to gloat and hype herself up when she's on a streak too, so Pharah definitely has a competitive and boastful side under her more professional and militant performance.

Now Mercy? Mercy is a real complex character.

[softquietsteadylove]

Thena. A movie premiere with Gil. Very intrusive Paparazzis. For the actor au 👀

It was a barrage of flashes as soon as they were out of the car. Of course they couldn't expect otherwise. The movie was a huge hit, and with them playing leads in a studio hit again, they were bound to have press at their heels.

But this was insane. Gil wasn't sure if he'd ever been swarmed by fans and paparazzi alike in such a way. There were cameras everywhere, people holding out things for signing, screams on all sides.

Gil reached back before Thena put her feet to the red carpet. His hand closed around hers. "Don't let go."

Thena had done some modelling work over the summer, and with a few other projects she'd done coming out, she was the hottest commodity of the year. She had always been a star, but it really seemed like she couldn't take a step outside without being photographed.

And that wasn't good. It meant he had a harder time seeing her outside of work.

Gil held his hand out. Security was already on either side of them, flanking their exit and direct route into the building for the screening. He kept Thena's hand in his, tight but not enough to hurt her.

"Thena! Thena, can you sign this? Thena, we love you!"

All the voices blended together into one monstrous hivemind. Thena did her best to sign a few things. She couldn't see from all the flashes in her face, and he could tell she couldn't.

Fighting through as best he could, he eventually made it to the doorway. He looked around. A few of his security guys were with him, but Thena's weren't. And Thena wasn't either.

"What the hell?" he glared at them.

They looked affronted. They were hired for his security, after all.

But Gil growled at them, "you just left her there?!"

They had no response. Gil pushed back into the crowd, which was a hellish mass of undulating bodies at this point. Thena was surrounded on all sides. He could barely see the top of her blonde head amidst the chaos.

"Please, back up, just-" Thena was trying to reason with them, but they were pushing and shoving and deafeningly loud. There were placards and books and magazines being shoved at her from all angles. "Back up!"

Gil shoved a few people out of his way. This was beyond out of control. "She said back up!"

"Hey!" the guy most in her personal space protested to being pushed. He had some big photo of her printed on a canvas, shoving it at her for it to be signed. "What's the-"

Gil tossed the thing aside, grasping the jackass by the front of his shirt. "You don't fucking crowd her like that."

The dirt bag was easy to toss, like the trash he was. The security guys around her were trying to keep people at bay, although he didn't know how hard they were trying, since they certainly weren't fucking succeeding at anything.

He took Thena's hand in both of his, refusing to let it slip away from again. He pulled her with him, closer, keeping people away by any means necessary, if it meant kneeing, elbowing, shoulder checking.

He didn't pause at the doorway, either. Only once they were inside and the door was closed did he lean away from her at all. He glared at her security, who were shaking out their jackets. "What the fuck were you doing out there?! Because it certainly wasn't your jobs!"

"Gil," Thena put her hand on his chest.

"How the hell did anyone get that close to her?!" he bellowed at them. Although, by the second time Thena called to him his eyes were on her. He smoothed down the odd hair of hers that had gotten tousled in it all. He tilted his head. "Are you okay? You didn't get hurt, did you? Did anyone put their hands on you?"

His hands would be laid on anyone who did, was his point. But Thena shook her head, straightening herself out after the anarchy. He could see on her pale skin where people had pushed and shoved and grabbed.

Thena looked up at him as he slipped the fallen strap of her dress back onto her shoulder. Finally, she managed a small smile for him. "Thanks for the save."

He was happy to save her. But he had never considered it saving her before because there hadn't been any peril quite like that. He looked at the security again. "I'm serious, how was anyone able to just come up and get that close to her? Isn't your job to keep people away from her?"

"Look, it's crazy out there," one made a pitiful attempt at defending their poor performance. "We did what we could."

"Really?" Gil's face darkened. He put his hands on Thena's arms. He could feel her shaking. "Because I seemed to do a lot better than you guys at keeping those animals off of her, so tell me right now why I shouldn't ask each and every one of you to be replaced?"

No one had an answer to that.

He could try to beat it into their skulls how useless they were all night. But he had more important priorities. He pulled his jacket off, leaving himself in the mockneck sweater he had worn underneath. Once it was on Thena's shoulders - completely dwarfing her tiny frame - he put his hand at the small of her back.

"You'll get a reputation," she said, either chiding him or amused by him. "Acting like a beast while you're ushering me away from people."

"I think 'people' is being kind of generous in this situation," he scoffed, letting his disgust ring out loud and clear. "That's no way to behave."

Thena sighed. "It is the craziest I've seen it in some time. I may have to stop signings again, just until people can calm down. Unless the studio can arrange barricaded carpets."

They were going to work out something, Gil was certain of it. Because he wasn't going to watch Thena's bodily safety come into question like it just did. He leaned closer. "Are you sure you're okay? It was pretty scary in there."

She smiled, and he could tell she was trying to put on a brave front. But he knew he had felt her trembling when he'd touched her arm. "I admit, when they came over me like a tidal wave I didn't quite know what to do with myself. The others were there with me, but in one instant--I don't know, I lost sight of everyone."

How it was possible for her security to allow her to lose sight of them, he didn't know. But Gil swallowed that feeling. It wasn't constructive and it wasn't what Thena needed now.

"So, when I say thanks for saving me," she continued, putting her hand on his arm as they started climbing the stairs. "I mean it, now more than ever."

He put his hand over hers, letting her hold onto his arm properly while her other hand pulled her dress just enough to allow her to walk up each step. "I'll always be here to save you, Thena."

She let out a fluttery kind of laugh, although he couldn't see when she was looking away from him. "Don't say things like that."

"It's true," he protested. He could feel some of the tension leave her the further away from the screaming they got. "Those security guards may not be worth shit but I'd like to see anyone try what they tried tonight if they know I'm there."

He thought he was making her laugh; putting on a front, flexing for her like some dumb, macho tough guy. But she eyed his bicep in the half sleeve of the sweater, then looked up at him. And then she was blushing, out of nowhere.

He cleared his throat, finding himself flustered as well. Once at the top of the stairs, Thena didn't really need to hold onto him anymore. He paused, letting them catch their breath. "Are you ready?--to go in there, I mean."

She sighed, smaller than the last one, though. She nodded, her expression solidifying into more of the fearless Thena he had come to know. She looked at his jacket swaying around her like a cloak. "Won't you need this back? I'm sure your stylist will have something to say about me stealing it."

He kept imagining that creep's hands, how they had come so close to grasping her pristine ivory skin. He shook his head, helping her fan her hair out. "The oversized blazer look is a thing, and everything looks good on you."

Gil blushed again; he really had to stop saying these things to his very trusted and respected colleague.

Thena gave him a more sheepish smile as she adjusted her hold on his arm. "It's my armour, to protect me from the wilderness outside."

[wizardnuke]

now a dnd party with a strong bond and synergy is great and all and i'm confident that my party will get there but as of right now only about 5-6 sessions in we've had multiple shouting fights, countless threats, and one instance of pvp. now. i hope this changes. me and one guy are sort of working to fix that. but it's so fun don't discount the joys of you and your friends pretending to hate each other

[hadesknockedupintheunderworld]

Existing in Prime fandom is seeing posts about Nine and 99% of the time either thinking "congrats, you fell for his act" or "...and you just believed what other characters said about him over his pattern of actions?"

[gibbearish]

ok i finished the first chapter and am gonna take a break now but im v excited to keep reading im really liking the way the author looks at things so far

[ridingtorohan]

𓇻 ft. tulpar crew x gn reader

𓇻 request. the crew's reactions to walking in on reader touching themselves.

𓇻 content. 18+ content, minors dni. potential second hand embarrassment, reader is gender neutral (no genitalia specified), getting caught, masturbation, semi-public masturbation.

𓇻 enjoy! feel free to like, reblog, or send in asks!

‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ Masterlist ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎Part Two: walking in on them

By all accounts, Curly is a respectable captain. He respects boundaries and doesn't cross the line. He's the captain, after all. Not having locks on the door is a safety issue, he knows. Just as he knows to knock. It just wasn't on his mind; he needed your help with something and you're technically available.

So he breezes right in, words on his lips and - there you are.

Holy shit, there you are. In all your lewd glory. "Oh." Then, oh. "Sorry, I'm just-" and he doesn't even finish the sentence because he backtracks and shuts the door behind him.

The thing is, that image haunts him, later. Wriggling like an infestation inside his skull. When he sees you, he acts every bit the proper superior, doesn't bat an eye. Internally, he sees flashes of skin, the way you moaned and sighed.

It leaves a lasting impression in his mind and he's so painfully aware of it. Aware of it in more ways than one because he knows nothing can come of this. It's awkward enough walking in on someone, awkward even more when everytime he knocks on your door afterwards, he's praying that you'll be nude and waiting for him.

Late at night, he remembers it, stroking himself and pressing his face into a pillow as his hips jerk, spilling himself over his fingers, wishing that it was your hands on him.

Sometimes, he wishes you'd walk in on him too.

Even Jimmy knows better than to poke through doors, especially when everybody is awake. He's never felt the need to, not with the open door policy and frankly, until this, he's only noticed you in passing.

Nimble as ever, he opens your door, irritated over something that one of the crew members had done the other day. Sometimes, he just liked to vent and rage about the injustice. You're easy to talk to, but he's never really sought you out for anything else before.

The door shuts behind him and he just stands there, previous irritation set to the backburner. Because there you are, uniform discarded and showing off your form, hand between your thighs as you nursed your arousal.

Above all else, Jimmy is a certified voyeur. He likes to watch and admire, drilling inside his head about the way your hand moves, the curve of your spine. Each individual sound. But even Jimmy has his limits.

When you're close or have already come, he slides up behind you, hot breath at your neck, thick hands skimming over your waist, to your thighs, only to settle on top of yours. "As much as I enjoy the view, pet, I'm going to take it from here." And he makes damn good no his promise.

He makes a mental note that to visit your room far more often.

Anya really just needed an answer to a quick question, relating to your latest check in to the medbay (or your duties). She knocks on the door, too softly to be heard over the sound of your activities.

It takes her an embarrassingly long time to even realize what was going on. All she sees is your huddled form. First comes the concern, her hand reaching out for your shoulder, "Are you oka-"

And you let out such a noisy sigh that she freezes. She's gotten laid before and suddenly it hits her like a truck just what she walked into because she knows what those sounds mean. Furiously backpedalling, her hand raises to her mouth. "I'm so sorry."

Quietly, she excuses herself from your quarters, ears a little red and hands shaking.

For a long, awkward time afterward, she can't even meet your eyes, even going as far as delegating the psych eval to Curly.

If you ever get injured, she performs it as meticulously as she can, her eyes tracing over every ounce of your body, trying to forget the way you moved.

Frankly, at one point, one of you would have to address what happened. But she's more than eager to ride this bumpy path until then, even if it strains your relationship with her.

Everytime she sees you that familiar, yawning ache simmers in her gut.

As much as she tried to deny it, what she walked in on affected her.

When the tension becomes too much, she finds herself sitting on her leg, grinding herself against her calf, biting the inside of her cheek as she imagines you there.

As stupid as it is, she might have maybe done it in your presence, hands trembling as she tries to keep a conversation going, desk separating you two. Other times, when it becomes unbearable, she rubs her thighs together or slides her calves against the leg of her chair, praying to god that you don't see her. (But half of her hoping that you will.)

He's been looking for you for the better part of half an hour; usually, he finds you in obscure places or with his intern, so the last place he thought to look was in your bedroom. Really, that should have been his first guess. You two were supposed to talk about something and it's been on his mind like a nagging hornet.

Sure, walking into another's room is technically frowned upon, but with all the mishaps of Daisuke barging into people's rooms (much to the disgruntlement of, well, everyone) that for a split second he didn't even consider it.

He just opens the door and - okay, so you're doing that. No wonder you were absent, so engrossed in self pleasure that you didn't even hear him stepping in.

Swansea feels too old for this, seeing your twisted figure, your cries of pleasure. So he just turns around and shuts the door, leaving you to it.

He tucks himself back into a latest project and perusing Daisuke's homework, busying himself until you're finished and in public. Not that he planned to publicly confront you about it, but because he knew everybody needed a little time alone. As small as the Tulpar was, he knew any time and space should be well spent. Even if he silently questioned your methods.

But he does bring it up. He doesn't let it slide (not like how your hands slid between your thighs and-).

Despite whatever personality conflicts you two had, he had eyes and all working parts, thank you very much. He also had needs.

Once the original topic was out of the way, he crossed his arms, expression serious when he says, "Now, it's all my doin' for bargin' in like that, but I saw something of you that I shouldn't have." He'd elaborate if he had to, "If alone time is what you're after, we've got socks for that. Toss it on your door handle and be done with it; I ain't gonna let nobody disturb ya during it."

As awkward as that conversation was, he's handled it before. He has grown kids, after all. But you're not his kid, and you're certainly grown - he's seen that. Noticed it off-hand a few times before too.

He sighs, leaning back, letting you decide when he adds, "But if release is what you're after, I know a thing or two, and I can help you with that."

All but acting like a lost puppy, Daisuke often turned to you for help in locating his missing items. Batteries, dust pan, his gameboy cartridge. (Swansea was so mad the last time he lost the screwdriver and thanked you profusely with your help locating it.) So popping in for a quick minute into your bedroom to ask for your help in locating his soap was a mindless task.

He pops in, door banging, energetic words on his lips. His brain all but sputters when your eyes connect, nude form on the bed, sprawled out, light sheen of sweat on your body, looking like a tribute straight from the gods.

Despite your hasty attempt to cover and a spew of apologies from Daisuke's lips, he can't take his eyes off you. It's like he can't even blink, so absorbed in your image that half of what he's saying doesn't make sense.

You'd have to forcibly remove him because he is rooted to his spot, unable to vacate of his own free will. He'll be banging on your door, pleading to be let back in, to talk it over. He's not sure what he wants to say - more apologies? Explain why he's there? He wants to offer help so badly.

If he's not pushed out at all, his brain ceases to function. Despite being a handsome lad, and being twenty, he's hardly been with anyone. Sure, he knows exactly what you're up to - he's done it himself plenty of times-- but all those words die in his mouth.

"Soap, I swear I'm just looking for soap," he explains, trying to rush into an explanation, the only coherent thing he can say.

He'll eventually manage to sputter, "I was going to go shower, but nowIwannaknowifyouwanttojoinme" is strewn in with "ohmygodpleaseletmehelpyou".

He's all jittery, achingly hard in his pants, wanting to touch and hear you make those sounds again. Daisuke feels like he'll go insane if he doesn't. Hands fidgeting, his fingers curl in, unconsciously taking a few steps in. He'll finally manage a coherent, "Please let me stay."

[eraserbread]

nanami's not about to fight with u... he's just gonna show u who you truly belong to. read part 1 for context

"i'm not fighting with you, just get on your knees."

"ken, we have a houseful of guests-

he's shaking his head, tugging his zipper in a fateful swoop. you don't lie and say you weren't buzzing with the idea of what he'd do next, but it felt so wrong. now was not the time to be getting him off.

"i won't repeat myself." then his pants are down and he's easing his already-flushed cock from its confines. he's rubbing himself to his full potential right in front of you, so comfortable with you standing in front of him, wide-eyed and nervous.

luckily your kitchen is closed off from the rest of the house, but it's not completely closed. someone could easily pop their head into the arched entryway and see everything you're seeing. deep down you know kento wouldn't let that happen. he has the awareness of an anxious cat, so you trust him enough to get on your knees, crawling to close the distance between you two.

"i'm doing this because domination tends to make you mild-mannered," he explains briefly, voice tinged with a hint of arousal. "and that's what I need from you right now. do you understand?"

"mhm." you reply, looking up at him with silent doe-eyes. from this angle at his feet, he looks so much bigger. daunting and familiar. so beautiful... and all yours.

"relax your throat." he demands just before taking a handful of your hair and guiding you down the length of him. he's not easy to take in the slightest - your jaw burns, eyes screwed shut as you try to swallow back a gag.

then, a thunderous bout of laughter erupts from the other room and you fold -- gagging and choking all over his pretty cock.

he yanks you backward, face screwed up in distaste. "what did I just tell you?"

"'m sorry." you whine as he smushes your lips with his tip.

"if satoru walks in here and sees you like this, i will be extremely upset."

"'m sorry." you repeat, genuinely sorry and just wanting him inside of you again. he's barely gracing your lips, but every atom in your body is screaming for him. if you thought satoru was charming five minutes ago, you didn't even know who he was now. all you want is your husband.

"him and his righteous savior complex.. makes me sick." he mutters, mostly to himself. he has two big hands on either side of your head, squeezing like only he can. it's been too long together, he knows you're not a china doll.

so, he fucks your limp throat like he hates you, eye twitching as he watches your face go more flushed with each mean thrust he's delivering. you've never taken him like this, feeling the drippy tip of his cock at the base of your throat, giving you goosebumps all around his touch. you've never felt closer to him, yet so pained by every one of his movements.

it's like your entire mind goes limp. etched with scrawling versions of his name only. he's you can think about, all you can taste...

only when he's finally done and marked your stomach with his seed, does he help you up with a strong hand, just holding you close for a second until yours stops shaking.

he doesn't say a word, just watching your eyes as they stare back at him expressionless but teary and bloodshot nonetheless. he leans forward and kisses your forehead.

"sorry. you know i'll always love you."

you nod, because... yeah. same. that makes him smile.

and he guides you back to your party holding your hand, watching out for you as you take the seat next to satoru back. it's like he doesn't even notice your presence, he's far too preoccupied teasing utahime about some nameless story from the past.

once the party has concluded and kento is seeing them all out, does satoru stop and say something.

"poor, little nanami..." satoru stops just before he reaches the first step past the front door. ken regards him with a nod, leaning against the doorframe. "this is what happens when the lamb chooses a wolf."

"do i even want you to explain?"

satoru shrugs him off, throwing up in hand as a curt goodbye as he turns around. "she's too nice. it's sad to know you yelled at her... she was all teary-eyed and mellow for the rest of the night."

kento turns around, chuckling to himself as he finally shuts the front door. reveling in the quiet comfort of his home he thinks:

ha. did much more than make her cry...