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tw1l1te · 8 months ago

Note

In your opinion who do you think in the chain in most flusterable to the guide showing skin and being flirty?

OOhhhhh This is gonna be funnn~

Based on my personal headcanons and others' fanfics I've read, I think that Sky, Hyrule, and Wild would be the most flustered at our guide being flirtatious and showing more skin than they're used to.

However, that's not to say they're the only ones, the others are just better at hiding it.

Let's take it from the top!

Warnings: VERY SUGGESTIVE, NSFW

Minors do NOT interact

Sky

Our cute sleepyhead is beet-red. Absolutely in flames.

It was supposed to be a quiet, typical morning in Skyloft. He would get up and make some tea and look at the Sky before meeting up with the rest of the Chain.

But of course you decided to go on a jog that morning, wearing nothing besides a sports bra and shorts, as you tended to overheat during exercise.

Being so exposed in any of their eras was unheard of, so of course it was a sight to see, particularly for Sky.

The way your chest bounced with every movement, pearls of sweat dribbling down into the crevice between your breasts. He wondered what it would taste like on the tip of his tongue, licking each bead of salty sweat.

The way your hips moved in tandem with your jogging, expertly keeping up with the movement of your legs. Hips that he would grip while he rammed his cock into you, hitting the spongy spot every. Single. Time.

The way your face was pink and rosy from the slight chill in the air, but also running for so long, nearing exhaustion. Your tear-brimmed eyes looking up at him as you took him entirely in your mouth, whimpering at how full you felt.

You suddently waved at him, smiling and yelling something you taking a shower.

You threw a wink over your shoulder at him as you left him behind

Was that an invitation?

Hyrule

He wasn't sure if he loved or hated Wind's era for this.

Going on Tetra's ship for a side quest was the last place he expected for something like this to happen but... he wasn't complaining. Hell, none of them were.

You saunter out from under the deck, wearing nothing but a "string bikini" (as you call it)

Hyrule.exe has stopped working

Wars had to snap him out of his staring, as he was starting to drool

You walk up to him and sit down, looking out onto the ocean

"Eyes up here, Fairy boy."

He fumbles around trying to come up with an excuse while you double over in laughter, he was too in shock to process anything

Once he calms down, you both continue looking out onto the expanse of the horizon, sun begininng to set

He tried to ignore the way the sun illuminated your body, all the small scars and curves in your body highlighting your features

"You know.... I wore this lil' number particularly for you, Rulie. Seems like you like it." you whisper, nipping lightly at his ear.

Before he can respond or formulate a thought, you get up and hold out your hand

"Care to go for a swim, Fairy boy?"

You were gonna be the death of him.

Wild

Wild liked to think he was pretty good at keeping his composure, after all, he was a stoic knight in his past life.

That's not to say he doesn't show emotion, he's so much more open know and genuinely laughs and smiles ever since he woke up from his century long slumber.

So when all of you returned back to his era, he was ecstatic to show you around more, as last time you dind't get much of a chance to.

What he didn't take into account is that you would be sharing a bed with him.

Sweet goddesses, he wasn't gonna be able to sleep for days.

He was right

The first night cam around and the Chain setup their sleeping mats on the lower level of his home, shifting some of the funiture to make sure they all fit, while you went under the stairs to change

Wild was anxiously pacing upstairs, biting his finger nails.

This is fine, its fine! There's nothing weird about two friends sleeping next to each other, if that's what you can call your situationship with him and the seven older boys. It's fine! It's only a night- oh sweet Hylia you were wearing the shortest nightdress he's ever seen-

You yawn as you stretch, one of the straps falling off of your shoulder.

Mother of- he's done for. He's so done for.

You make your way to his bed, crawling up to the side closest to the wall. Peeking over your shoulder, you look at him, his face illuminated by the candle on the nightstand.

"You getting in bed with me or what?"

#yandere linked universe #yandere linked universe x reader #linked universe x reader #twilite answers

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odxrilove · 1 year ago

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it's it's good tho i love it so much kogami is my man btw

i decided to continue psycho pass because seeing it noted down as unfinished on my anime list broke my soul

#I started from the begininng yesterday and am alr on ep16 so yay #! clearing mind .. 🫧

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cowbok · 6 months ago

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Character Analysis: Narinder (The One Who Waits) Part 2

Part 1 Here!!

Alrighty, let's start!! Last time we left it at the begininng of Narinder's jealosy towards his brothers, and the affections the mortals gave them while he received fear and hatred from the mortals.

But before turning on his brothers, he tried to do something about this. He thought "Why do mortals fear me?" The answer was easy. He was the personification of dead. Judge of the souls, the reaper themselves. Of course they would be terrified of Narinder!

So, the curse of action was obvios. What if he wasn't just the God of Death? After all, it was fair! Their brothers weren't the gods of just 1 and 1 thing alone! Shamura was war and knowledge. Kallamar was pestilence and health. Heket was famine and harvest. Leshy is order and chaos.

So why couldn't he be the God of Death AND LIFE at the same time as well?

Of course, Narinder didn't knew about how to create living creatures, not even about the magics that went on the creation of a soul. But he would figure somehow.

It is said that Shamura nurtered this ambition of his. Without truly knowing Narinder's intentions, maybe Shamura knew the God of Death wasn't well received so they wanted to support Narinder as good as they could.

Dialogs of Shamura right here.

Narinder was so close to figuring out the secrets of life, and he manages to created ressurection! Finally, after millenia! He would no longer be just the boogey-man of the mortals folkclore!

No longer feared, but loves just the same as the rest of his siblings as the god of Death AND LIFE. No longer he who lays a soul to rest. But also, he who reaweakens a soul anew.

And for this, for trying to go against the natural order, the bishops had to stop him. Of course, at the time Narinder couldn't understand the gravity of what he was trying to achive, he was just so full of ambition and desire.

So he felt so enraged when his siblings denied him. Weren't they supposed to be different from the brainless gods that slaughtered themselves during the purge? Weren't they supposed to be brothers in arms? That there was nothing they couldn't understand?

It seemed like it wasn't that way. And so, the bishop of Death saw red that day, causing the wounds in our bishops that they still hold to this day.

I like to think Narinder felt some guilt from this. But he never admitted it. Specially not after what happened later.

Chained, trapped into the deeps of the underworld, unable to leave for eternity. How could they? They were his brothers, his family, his only home. The only ones he trusted with his life and they dis this?!

Once again, shunned away, hated, feared, left alone to rot forevermore. The tittle of god meant nothing, for nothing had changed from the time he was a mortal.

The only mercy he was given was the company of the two kittens, Baal and Aym.

I like to make a parenthesis for them. Even after Narinder tells us he does not cares of them i believe he's just being a huge tsundere. The kits talk so higly of Narinder that its difficult to imagine they didn't form some kind of bond over the centuries.

I know he does cares but of course, he loved his siblings and look how they repaid him? He would never be found showing love and appreciation over anyother, ever again...

At least he thought so...

The Lamb

A prophecy of a liberator, the most loyal of the followers of dead.

At this point Narinder knows better than to let himself form a bond with his vessel, its supposes to be just bussiness but...

It has been ages since he had devotion poured into him. And the Lamb, he's so different. No fear or hatred, no prayers to keep him away, but true love. The kind of love the followers of their brother gave them, instead of that rancid fear and horror disguised a respect he used to get.

That's why it comes as such a surprise to our cat that the Lamb refused to be sacrificed. They were their most loyal, weren't they?!?! Once again met by betrayal?!?

It seems Narinder has a tendency to see only his way, tho. Of course the Lamb has all the right to feel equally if not even more offended by Narinder's word.

I would give him, that it seems flesh sacrifices were the norm and that it was a way to show devotion. Judging for the scenes where the bishops get powered up by their willing followers. Narinder thought this natural, without taking into account if the Lamb was or not okey with it

(And that depends on the type of gameplay of each one. Personally, i hate doing sacrifices, so i headcannon my lamb as the same).

But this is about Narinder and how he felt when he thought was, once again, betrayed. The heart of the bishop of death cannot get a fucking rest.

After his defeat, might as well die. Why keep living this life that has done nothing more but to stab him in the back and front over and over again? And what's worse, he's not even a god anymore...

And then... The lamb spares him.

And the the Lamb gives him a second chance. And the Lamb takes care of him, and shows him a new life, and shows him things CAN be different, and the Lamb keeps him safe.

(And depending on the gameplay you choose, the Lamb even loves him, shows still devotion. And the feelings are complicated. The lamb betrayed them but... They still... Love him?)

And it's all so weird. So many conflicting emotions over millenia. But at last... He is free. And he has all the time in the world to figure out his place in this new world.

And that's all!! Hope you liked this analysis. I just needed to take it all out of my system haha (HYPERFIXIATES TOO MUCH ON NARINDER HELP)

The cow now leaves. Bye!!

(Not going to talk about finals where the lamb kills him or keeps him alive to put him in the pillory forever because they make me sad 😔)

#cult of the lamb #cotl lamb #cotl narinder #narilamb #colt shamura #colt aym #colt baal

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jmagnabo92 · 1 month ago

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THe same anon who asked you yesterday about my growing distance in feeling connected with James in Prongsfoot fics.

So, when I said James is not as much of a devottee to Sirius in prongsfoot fics as Sirius is- I was talking about after school James. Or atleast after 6th year of school James. When he is really getting into that adulthood phase and leaving behind his boyish times.

Like mostly any fic I read with this pair, Jily happening is a given 80% of times. And there is a me problem that in my friends to lovers fic i typically don't like a person who one of the friends used to date being there in the mix. this is not just about this pair, anytime I read friends to lovers, I like the ex to leave there life or turn out to be super big psyco etc etc.

But with Jily almost all the time precceding Porngsfoot, it is that either her ghost is always hanging above their head, she is dead. Or she is best freinds with James and they are playing a supposedly good family but are divorced.

WHat I disgress about is that if James had such a good marriage with her then atleast for begininng 4 years, his prioroty will be Lily and Harry and then SIrius. Which would be absolutely fine if I was reading a Jily fic. But in prongsfoot it feels one sided for so long and then suddenly James is into SIrius and then they live happily ever after. THis like the chasis of many long Prongsfoot fics i have come accross.

Also, Sirius takes the typical girly role in Prongsfoot fics. Not shown as feminine. What i mean is that those typical romance stories we read that the herione is facing so many troubles and her life is so difficult then hero swoops in and now all of a sudden she has everything she has ever wanted. etc etc. Shr pines for her hero who is oblivious and then bam, she does make up, hero sees that oh she has looks going on for her..and they marry...

Hahahaha...

ANyways, jokes aside. You see in Wolfstar fandom, there must have been some start where few fics in the beginning must have decided that Remus has to be the macho man and Sirius has to be the girly drama queen and now everywhere Wolfstar works on this absolutely given basis.

I know you don't like Wolfstar but I was giving an example as to how fandom keeps developing from the early phases. Just like that in Porngsfoot fics, I think the given is that Sirius is the pinner. SIrius is hte one who either will never work to get in a decent enough relationship outside of James becasue he knows he is in love and he knows no is better that James so why try or even if he does then the partner he is with will be some evil person or not as good compared to James's Lily who is swettum duddikins. (P.s.- I saw on your page that you have posted a fic recently. And it may seem that I am targeting that in particular. But I promise, this rant is not about any fic in general. )

Like Prongsfoot has a given that James has a life all set and adult him is going to have the best of his life even if he divorces than he is chumy with Lily who is super supportive. Sirius spends years solving one problem or another.

THis is specially my trigger because in the scene in SWM, James is so not emotionally mature. He doesn't even understand that Lily is not comfortable with his over the top flirting and all. Sirius has to explain it to him. In OOTP also we see that Sirius is very mature despite spending years in Jail.

WHat i am trying to say is that between the two of them, James is the one who i see as someone who will have trouble transitioning into a well adjusted adult, not from the lack of trying but because of the naivety he is yet to loose. Him i can see as someone befreinding people of all types and then regretting over helping etc. So, often seeing well adjuted James, playing the role of a friend whose life is almost all settled. Of seeing jily break up being such a simple thing like it is not a big deal. It all makes it seem that James had it comparatively easy, in fanfictions.

Sirius, in turn, is so accurate in his assesment of people so seeing him being ludged with the wrong sorts of people feels a bit ooc.

I think Prongsfoot, is one of the ship that despite not being canon ship, is the only ship in which authors try to go by the canon the most. so, the route has to be taken of why jilly didn't happen.

But Back to my original ask. Adult James is a great friend to adult sirius. I am not denying that, but, adult Sirius is mostly in love with adult James. and he is so much devoting himself to James, his wife, his child. I don't know why. But it seems that his 'dog like nature' often makes it seem like he is doing more.

And the problem is not that James is late to the party. it is that as soon as he starts to see sirius that way. he is already all that way there. Not over the time getting there. He is suddenly jealous, he is suddenly too much touchy feelly. and Sirius who has spent years pinning,, we as a reader who know Sirius's side because mostly sirius is the pov character, are like, if he needed only this much time to be there, then why so late...

I don't know. Maybe if I see adult James having his own struggles, other than about his sexuality. or his having real actual troubles with Lily for actually wanting to divorce. Like being friends with her seems that they could have stayed couple if they are so good to each other.

In the country from where I come, after children are born to a couple, only the most explosive and violent relationship lead to divorce. Just not being attracted to your spouse is not a reason poeple divorce here. (I am not talking about cheating as a result of that). If they can still stay respectful and concerned about the spouse then they stayed married for the sake of children. So, Jily break up in fics for prongsfoot to hppen doesn't give adult James the credibility if he takes divorce for abolutely no seemingly good reason. Marriage is a big decision but so is divorce. And Divorce between couple who later become best friends is super cliche which i have never seen happen in adult life.....

So, i feel disconnected with James's reasonings, his almost nil personal growth after reaching adulthood, his almost too good to be true marriage with Lily, his perfect relationship with his son, his life has no struggles other than to get Lily to see him date material when he was a teen. When this is all shown in contrast to Sirius who has his life still in shambles. He looks more real in that case. in comparision to James, whose problems are triffle and not out of control sort of. JAmes's problems are the ones he can solve within himself. sriius's problems are on the outside.

I don't know if i was able to share with you my struggles. I left wolfstar because I thought that Siirus can do better than Remus. But then James in Prongsfoot is problem free whereas as Remus from Wolfstar was full of problems.

Reading Prongsfoot which is non canon compliment has helped but they are so less and i in my hunger for more, somehow reach the lands where i promise myself i won't return to.

Wow, this was a really long ask, with a lot of details. So, I had to spend some time to think about it.

Long ass answer below the cut.

I’ll just take each point as it comes along - I haven’t read as many Prongsfoot Fics of late that I should, but I don’t typically read the unrequited prongsfoot, I’m not sure if that’s what you’ve been reading because in all of the fics I read (and from what I know as a member and leader of this community of PF lovers) we usually LOVE their Co-Dependency and Devotion and we always have it go both ways. Like we can’t imagine James as ANY LESS Devoted than Sirius. Like, no, we all see them as equally devoted to each other.

You mentioned thinking that things changed for James (priority-wise) in 6th year, I think you’re right, but not in the sense that he’s suddenly focused on Lily and not Sirius. In fact, I imagine that sixth year was the year of Prongsfoot - why? Because Sirius likely ran away the summer before sixth year, and I think that running away and having James as a safe place to land (but Sirius likely worrying about being a burden) would make James reconsider the situation of pranking and enjoying life and realize that life isn’t easy and there’s a WAR going on. I fully believe Sirius’ home situation is the reason behind his transformation.

Many people credit Lily - I don’t. I 100% think it was Sirius and Lily just started to notice when they both became Head Girl/Boy. And that’s what led to their relationship.

James and Sirius both deserve the credit for growing up on their own and likely together, pulling each other into better places and they’d never leave each other behind.

So, one thing to note with PF is that most of us are also Jilypad shippers. Some of us really love Harry and his bond with Sirius, so in a lot of ways, we always kind of build Jily into it. I think it might also be a habit from building off Canon and Diverging from canon, which since we know in fifth year James canonically has a fancy of Lily, it makes sense to start there. It’s easy to have him realize that he wasn’t actually into her or for it to be one date and him to move on.

That’s kind of how first love works. It’s rare for someone to fall in love at sixteen and for it to work out. I know, I speak from experience. …. It’s a first love for a reason.

Also, I never really see Lily as a ghost hanging over them any more than if Sirius had fallen in love and then later loved James. I firmly believe that Jily had can be friends too, even if he’s with Sirius and I think Sirius genuinely came to love her (we see this most notably with the letter in Deathly Hallows - she and Sirius seem to genuinely love each other). I actually head canon that Lilypad were friends from the get-go (secret friends) that bonded over terrible siblings and wishing they weren’t born into the family that they were. She helps him with muggle stuff and he helps her with wizards stuff.

But I digress.

Here’s the thing about love and families, you can love and prioritize someone that isn’t your spouse. James isn’t the type of person that abandons the man that has been his BFF for years just because he gets married. Even in canon, we see that Lily and Sirius are good friends, she reaches out to him and tells him ‘hey, James misses you, come visit’. Like there’s evidence that they became a trio of sorts, and Sirius welcomed it as much as James did. She knew marrying him meant that he came as a package deal.

***I’m going to preface this next bit by saying - I’m speaking from my experience watching my sister get pregnant and get married knowing it was likely a mistake and knowing from my mom that her situation when she got married to an older man and got pregnant at eighteen and both situations were made better with divorce and realizing that you can’t stay in a situation just because of society and social norms. ***

And getting married at nineteen/twenty, typically doesn’t last. Why? ‘Cause you’re just too young, you’re not fully grown, they say that your brain isn’t fully developed to 25. Things change as you grow and you realize, ‘hey this isn’t what I want’ and that’s okay.

It’s not the olden days where you’re stuck anymore. Yes, there are things you can’t undo, but I think you can make them work in your favor.

Particularly if you have a kid young and get married because ‘it’s the right thing to do’ and then, realize … it as a mistake. Sometimes getting a divorce is better in the long run. It was better for my mom, who was in a terrible situation and for my sister.

So, if James seems to suddenly discover a part of himself that he didn’t already know - that he’s bisexual and usually discovers it because Sirius is an adonis, that’s just par for the course.

I think some people who may not understand coming out later in life or realizing something later in life may struggle to understand James in a lot of these fics. For me, I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m bi, I’m not really interested in a relationship, but I can say after reading certain characters figuring themselves out - Particularly Alex Claremont-Diaz (his bi awakening was so well done in the book that it helped me realize that there are certain things like thinking a woman is hot that probably isn’t all that straight).

I feel like we’re used to the ‘default’ setting that for people that are bi, might easily misconstrue how they’re seeing things. Because well, I’ve been with a man, I know I’m attracted to men, and being straight is easy, why would I question anything if I don’t need to? I feel like James in the 70s/80s would have a similar mindset? He might also be thinking ‘there’s no other way to have a family’ and he seems very much like a family man. So, for him, why question things until it slaps him in the face? (He seems like the type that needs a slap in the face to have things kickstarted. Maybe a kiss like Alex/Buck on 911).

Anyway, digressing again.

As for as the girly-role for Sirius - What Stories Are You Reading???? I really need to know because Sirius is never girly in any prongsfoot fics that I can think of? I’ve read plenty… so…

I’ve never seen him as the heroine waiting to be rescued??? Sirius rescues himself and James just happens to help. Also, this idea that only a woman needs rescuing … is kinda sexist.

Also, Sirius is more than just being a gorgeous adonis. Just saying.

I do agree that pining for Sirius makes some sense because I find it would be easier for him to figuring out he’s bent or bi than it would be for James, who like I said reads as someone that thinks he’s straight because he’s supposed to be. He wouldn’t think to question himself the way that Sirius would. So, naturally, that means Sirius pines.

But also, if we start in canon and diverge, James has a canon interest that Sirius doesn’t, so it’s easier to make that be the situation.

TBF things are changing, we’ve started to writing more of James pining fics because yeah, it’s time he pines. :)

You mentioned that this wasn’t aimed at any particular fic, but I wonder, how many of my fics have you actually read? Because I like mutual pining and not much Lily.

I’m not sure Sirius solves any of James’ problems, and usually Sirius is happy with his job and life as he is? Not really sure where this comes from.

I don’t think you can look at SWM James and then compare him to OOTP Sirius - like, I’m sorry, what???

There’s twenty years between the two scenes - twenty years in which Sirius has gone through a war, lost his best mate, has gone to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and now is watching his godson go through HELL while he himself is on the run unable to do anything.

You say you see James unable to become a well-adjusted adult, I just don’t get where you get that. James in fifth year is living in a fun school bubble, yes. But he also finds himself in a situation not long after where his BFF has to run away from home, his parents getting ill and joining the Order. He’s clearly been shown to become an adult because of age but also outside factors that forces them to grow up. The fact that he and Lily got together, got pregnant, and then married, also forced him to grow up.

When you become a young dad in a war with no safety net, you’re going to grow up and it’s natural. I think some people may be stuck seeing him as his sixteen-year-old self, but he’s so much more than that. He’s had five years by the time he died to grow up and everything he goes through reinforces that.

We do like canon, I will say that. We like to diverge from canon because we DONT LIKE FANON JAMES AND SIRIUS. Let’s face it, the fandom that has them not together typically treats them like they’re complete idiots that can’t do anything themselves and they’re lucky anyone puts up with them. We don’t want that.

But also their friendship is SUPER STRONG IN CANON. Like, we don’t have to change much to make it work, so why would we? It’s practically natural.

I feel like there might be a misunderstanding with the devotion thing - James’ devotion would be just as strong if the roles were reversed. That’s kind of the point of the story of JS. Like Sirius devotes himself to James in canon because JKR didn’t give him anything else, and if it were reverse, the same thing would be said about James.

And TBF, we don’t really know James’ side either. He could struggle, but some people (cough, me, cough) prefer fluff, so… the only struggle is ‘man, has Sirius always been that hot?’ (Answer, always).

I actually think that friendly divorces absolutely can happen, I look at Micheal/Athena on 9-1-1, Like if you’re honest and you’re just like ‘you know what I loved you but I don’t anymore’ that it is possible to be friends and work it out. It took time, but I do know couples that are friends with exes. It honestly depends on why the split-up happened. In Jily’s case, if it’s because James suddenly discovered himself or they realize that they were just young and it was too soon compounded by war and a kid, I could see them splitting and staying friends.

You mention how things are in your country… and I grew up Roman Catholic, so I completely understand where you’re coming from, but I also see things differently. If my mom never divorced that asshole, I wouldn’t be here. If my sister hadn’t divorced her husband, she would be a lot less happy trying to force it than they are amicably raising their teenage boys. If it’s better for mental health and for the sake of the kids, then divorce should happen. Now, mind you, my religion technically says you should suck it up - that’s why marriage is a sacrament, but even my dad who is quite religious will tell you that religion isn’t right about everything.

I won’t tell you that your culture is wrong or that you’re wrong for your beliefs, but I do think when it comes to fanfic, you have to remember that not everyone has grown up in your culture or subscribes to it, and I believe, in England (where this story is based) that they aren’t against divorce. So, that might be why we as Prongsfoot writers have no issues with an amicable divorce with Jily.

I also don’t think it hurts his credibility, especially when divorce isn’t one-sided.

Honestly, I think James grows quite a bit, fatherhood, and being a husband, plus war… I just don’t understand the concept that he doesn’t struggle or have personal problems, that he doesn’t grow… I just don’t get that.

Anyway, Sirius can definitely do better than Remus, and that’s James.

James is an except boyfriend/husband to Sirius. And if you’re looking for non-lily fics for prongsfoot….

No Lily, No Jily, No Jilypad - AO3

Of my 461 HP Fics, 306 of them of Prongsfoot without Lily at all.

This was a very long answer, over 2K, if you got to the end, thank you! Please feel free to politely respond.

Thanks for the asks :)

#sirius black #james potter #bambibelle #prongsfoot #Jen's asks

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smaeemo · 4 months ago

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What do you mean “Fantasy doesn’t count as real literature.” Great, Thanks. Have fun reading another white man complain about fincial issues and how women are “too promiscuous these days.” I’m going to go read a cool werewolf book, and guess what, it’s all a metaphor about racial inequites specifically via schooling as a result of colonialism. AND it has a cool map at the begininng. So suck it.

Also, even if I were rereading twilight, atleast im not pretending to enjoy myself reading catcher in the rye. I read 40 books last year, predominantly classics and basically? Not a single one was as interesting as Edward and Bella. 🤷

#smaeemo #ok some of this was exaggerated because a lot of the classics that I did read were relatively interesting and impactful for their time #but I like my trashy romance more than I like pretending to care about Jay Gatsby being a creepy obsessed lunatic #and I stand by it #A lil controversial on this one #I got into a debate about this topic with a Colleen Hoover reader (deragatory) and it was shameful #how can you claim to like quote unquote good literature when you refuse to read anything other than Colleen hoover and dead white men #Sorry this is heated #but still #Wtf do you mean by this????#anyway #love my twilight #twilight #twilight saga #still wishing supernatural were a YA book series #books #booklr #books and reading #classic books #now dont get me wrong #I really do find signigicance in classics and certain old books #but come on #Pride and Prejudice #or #wings of fire #which one is more fun #also fantasy is such a powerful and useful writing tool that continues to be as impactful to this day #I just like to make it silly because thoughts are hard to verbalize and then type into this computer system #ah shit #it got too meta now im thinking about how each word is made up of letters as I tag this

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tj-dragonblade · 2 years ago

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FLUFFBRUARY 2023: Feb 18, 19, 20, 21, & 22

Feb 18 prompts: recovery flight film Feb 19 prompts: mosaic dragon nursery Feb 20 prompts: favorite reveal lounge Feb 21 prompts: marathon young journal Feb 22 prompts: bridge throw dawn

Another multi-day amalgamation. 'Recovery' was the theme that got me started; 'dragon' 'young' and 'throw' popped in as words used and 'reveal' is a theme that threads through the whole thing as well. It's more hurt/comfort than fluff until the last bit, I'm afraid, but uh. It is what it is. Spoilers - this centers on a relationship from later in comics canon but comics knowledge isn't really necessary.

On AO3 - 2900-ish words

~~~***~~~

When Dream first tells Hob he's got a girlfriend ('courting', was actually what he called it, which sounded so much more refined), Hob is surprised. Happy for him, sure, but very surprised.

And maybe a little bit…something else. Can't quite put a name to it, but he'd been getting rather worried at his friend's long absence, not having seen him for several months. Should be a relief to know all's well, that he's just been entertaining a lady-friend in the Dreaming all this time, right?

"Her name is Thessaly," Dream says when asked, his face soft and smiley, and Hob stuffs down the little voice that says Hope she's worth the worry you caused me.

"I'm happy for you," he says instead, and he is. Truly. "Tell me about her?"

~~~***~~~ "I have been neglecting our friendship, alongside my duty," Dream admits, the next time they talk, and Hob is enormously mollified to hear his own sentiments echoed.

"I don't blame you, my friend," is what he says, though. "Young love can be very distracting. Things still going well?"

"Yes," Dream says, and Hob listens politely as he elaborates, steadfastly pushing down his jealousy.

Because yes, he can admit now that that's what it is.

Finding out that his erstwhile stranger is not above romantic entanglements, that the option exists, has forced a thorough examination of his own feelings, things he'd always just steered around and refused to confront. And what he's discovered is that yes, they are indeed what he'd suspected them to be, and they're a little bruised now on top of that. Six hundred years he's known Dream, but he doesn't merit the offer of permanent residence in the Dreaming?

Not that he'd want it, mind; he loves living life. Here. He wouldn't want to give that up even if it meant being with Dream all the time, but it would be flattering to be given the option.

"She has no care for my station," Dream is saying. "It is. Refreshing, to not be regarded with awe and deference."

"Imagine it must be," Hob agrees, but inside he's nursing the nameless wound that's just opened. He has always seen Dream as more or less an equal, has always treated him as 'my friend' above all else, even after being trusted with the truth of who Dream is. Why is it unnoticed and unremarked upon in him, if it's so notable in Thessaly?

But. Dream is happy. That's truly the most important thing.

It is.

~~~***~~~ "I fear Thessaly is growing unhappy," Dream says, some weeks later, and Hob squashes the piece of him that perks up at that, because what kind of friend would he be to take joy in the possibility of relationship troubles?

"What's been going on?"

"In the begininng, I gave her. All, of my time, and attention. But my duty cannot be left neglected in the long term. There are others in my life with whom I would share my time, as well." His eyes flick up to meet Hob's for a second as he says this last, and Hob has to just breathe past the warmth lodged suddenly and sharply in his chest.

"In tending to my duty, in seeking balance, I have given her. Cause, to find fault," Dream continues, and a red flag goes up in Hob's brain.

But no. He'll put that away, for now, and not leap to conclusions just because they might benefit him.

"Talk to her," he advises instead. "Maybe she just needs the reassurance that your feelings haven't changed, even though the time you spend with her has. Honest communication can solve a lot of problems."

~~~***~~~ It's another unusually long stretch before Hob sees Dream again.

"My friend!" he greets, old habit, when Dream finally puts in an appearance at the Inn. "You look…a bit of a wreck, honestly. Are you well?"

Granted, Dream frequently seems just this side of 'mopey and depressed', and today is no different, but. There's something more in his bearing, no matter how put-together his physical presentation—something exhausted, worn down, haggard, and it alarms Hob, just a bit.

"I am. Well enough," is what Dream says, and Hob doesn't quite believe him but also knows better than to expect any sort of direct explanation. He answers Dream's questions, carries on a little while about all the things he's been up to the past couple months, before gently beginning to prod.

"And how's Thessaly?"

Whatever ease Dream had attained during their conversation vanishes instantly; his mouth hardens, his eyes redden, and Hob's heart sinks.

"She. Decided she no longer loves me," Dream says.

And Hob sees red.

He knows, rationally, that there's two sides to the story, that okay yes Dream can be a bit of an arsehole sometimes, and it's not fair to pin the failure of a relationship solely on a single party.

But Hob, he's always been a bit protective of his friends. Of this friend in particular, especially after…everything. He wants to see Dream happy. He's almost possessive, in that regard, hoarding Dream's presence and Dream's smiles and Dream's conversations over their table like a dragon with its treasure; Dream is his treasure. And to see his treasure—his friend—his treasured friend, to see him hurt this way, it makes Hob livid with fury.

He collars it, stuffs it down, turns his thoughts to sympathy instead. "I'm so sorry," he offers.

"It was not your doing." Dream sounds like he's talking about bad weather, no matter that he looks like he's ready to sink into the ground and disappear for a century or two.

"Course not, but I'm still sorry you're going through it. Heartbreak, s'rubbish."

"It will pass. It is. Passing."

"D'you wanna…talk about it? Go upstairs, have a drink, tell me everything?"

"What purpose would be served, by reliving it thus." He sounds so defeated, and Hob's heart aches.

"Closure?" he offers, gently. "Getting it out, sharing the load, leaving it behind 'stead of carrying it festering inside? Talking through your troubles is all the rage, this century. Therapy, they call it."

Dream says nothing, looks extremely unconvinced.

"I know, not exactly your style, is it." Hob gives him a rueful, sympathetic smile. "But the offer stands, if you decide you want to. I'm here for you; my door's always open."

Dream sits with him in silence awhile longer, and leaves without offering anything further.

~~~***~~~ It's three days later that Dream returns, appearing in Hob's flat late on a Friday night. "It is not. Passing," he says, like he's dragging every word kicking and screaming up from the depths within him. "I would. Try—" He stops.

Hob sets aside his marking, motions for Dream to come join him on the sofa. "Talk to me," he says, very gently.

And Dream does.

Haltingly, with long stretches of silence interspersed, the words sometimes as painful to speak as if they were being torn from him physically.

And Hob listens.

He learns a great deal about Dream's latest relationship and entire romantic history.

His opinion of Thessaly does not improve.

~~~***~~~ Dream comes back again on Monday morning, looking very much on the verge of a breakdown.

Hob cancels his classes, makes tea, sits down with Dream.

"Am I incorrect, to center my function as I do?" He sounds weary, stricken.

"No, dove, you're not," Hob says gently, the endearment slipping out almost without his notice; he lets it slide, unremarked. "There's more to you than your duty, certainly, but of course it's going to be what most of your time is devoted to."

Dream's eyes are glossy and red-rimmed and he looks utterly lost; Hob reaches across the space between them to settle his hand on Dream's knee, offering a kind touch. "Anyone who doesn't understand that you can't give one hundred percent of your time to them forever doesn't understand you. And you deserve to be understood."

I understand you, he can't help thinking; it goes unsaid, because none of this is about him.

Dream is looking at him now with his watery eyes; a tear slips free and he turns away, silent and stoic. Hob watches another tear slide down his face.

"There's no shame in crying," he says, softly, coaxing. "Sometimes you just have to let it all out."

Dream looks back to him, lip beginning to tremble, and then a sob escapes him, and Hob's heart aches.

"Oh, love, come here," he says, opening his arms. It's all instinct; had he stopped to think on it, he probably would have talked himself out of offering this degree of physical contact when the occasional hand or shoulder touch is their norm. The reality of Dream suffering here in front of him bypasses that kind of rational caution completely, though, and when Dream moves a second later to collapse into his embrace, openly weeping, Hob can't regret it.

"I've got you," he murmurs, gently folding Dream against his chest, "It's alright," and "Let it out," rocking him lightly and stroking his back while Dream cries himself out.

It's entirely possible there may have been a helpless kiss pressed to Dream's thistledown hair at some point, but a good friend would not have and Hob is choosing not to think about it.

~~~***~~~ "I do not know, anymore, whether I truly loved her," Dream says the next time they meet. "Perhaps it was. Infatuation, and simple lust."

"…I don't think she was right for you," Hob ventures, carefully. It's mild, but it's the first real criticism he's offered about Thessaly, adamant as he's been to avoid anything that feels like acting on his own interests. But Dream has told him enough to paint a picture of his ex-lover and it's not the picture of someone Hob would want his friend tangled up with.

"And what do you know, of what is right for me," Dream returns, but it's…it's far more considering than condescending, and Hob ventures onward.

"You need someone who understands you," he proposes, "and I don't think she did. From what you've told me, she was not impressed by you at first, already had this pre-conceived notion of who you are, what you should be like, and for all that you dated awhile I don't think she ever really let go of that." Dream is still just looking at him, contemplatively, so he forges ahead. "So once the honeymoon was over, once she wasn't getting spoiled by your constant attention and the newness of your love—the mundane, the everyday, they came creeping back in, and she decided her first impressions were right after all."

Silence settles over them for a few moments, Dream's tea cooling half-drunk in his cup.

Hob touches Dream's hand, gently, and their eyes meet again. "I'm sorry she hurt you," he offers, fiercely sincere. "I'm so sorry that all your past loves have ended in heartache."

Dream manages a wan smile. "I will recover," he says, standing to leave, and Hob watches him go, stepping soundlessly between realms in the blink of an eye.

"I could never hurt you that way," he dares to say to his empty kitchen after Dream has disappeared. "I could be what you need."

He resolutely pushes his bittersweet resignation aside to get ready for bed.

~~~***~~~ "I wish to be. Loved," Dream says, with such sadness in his eyes, and Hob aches.

I could love you, he thinks, desperately. I do love you, I would love you the way you want so badly, the way you deserve—

"You'll find someone," is what he says, softly, with conviction, daring to place a consoling hand on his friend's shoulder. "You will."

"Perhaps," Dream allows, which is more optimism than he's expressed since this whole thing began, and Hob counts that as progress.

~~~***~~~ "You are a good friend, Hob Gadling," Dream declares, a month or so down the road, and Hob's heart swells within him because that is all he has tried to be and to hear it acknowledged makes everything else worth it. "You have given me much to consider, and. Helped me, to settle the turmoil within."

"I'm glad you're doing better," is what Hob says in reply, and it's nothing but the truth.

Dream smiles, reserved and sincere and all for Hob, who is as ever a devoted dragon, and gathers this precious gift into his hoard, kept near his heart with every other such treasure.

"Thessaly was wrong about many things. She was. Wrong, about me as well." Dream sounds confident, certain, and Hob is so so glad to hear the healing in his words. "I am capable of balance. And I am capable of. Love."

"Course you are," Hob agrees, brimming with love himself, but still. Even if he was bold enough to act on it, even if he could be certain that Dream's exclusively-female history didn't preclude his own chances for consideration, now is not the time. He doesn't want to be Dream's rebound. "And the next time you fall in love, they are going to appreciate you for the wonderful person you are. They'll thrive on your initial fire and they'll remain steadfast once it settles. Else they'll have to answer to me." He flashes his cheeky grin, and Dream graces him with another smile, gaze warm and considering all the while.

~~~***~~~ "How goes the search for love?" Hob asks, after several more of their weekly meetings. They're upstairs in his flat, after the Inn has closed for the evening.

"I have not been. Searching," Dream replies, which doesn't actually surprise Hob. Thessaly, after all, was by Dream's own admission the first such dalliance in a very long time.

"Giving up on romance for awhile? Or just letting the wind blow as it will?"

Either way, he's got time to sort out what, if anything, he means to do with his own feelings. If he's pleased not to have to sit by while Dream lavishes his affections on someone else again, well. That's for him to know and keep.

Dream offers a small, secretive smile. "Perhaps." He meets Hob's gaze, holds it, and slowly, the smile eases into something else, solemn and serious. "Or. Perhaps, what I seek, has been before me all the while."

Hob forgets how to breathe, just for a second. "O-oh?"

Dream goes still a moment, focusing inward, and then he's somehow reaching between the realms and producing an enormous, elaborate bouquet in a magnificent crystal vase, which he sets heavily on the coffee table beside them. It's very clearly defying several natural laws, gravity included, and it's absolutely stunning—a frothy shimmering iridescent masterpiece of roses and other blooms that largely don't exist in reality; Hob knows he's gawking but can't really help it.

"From the dreams, of a master florist in Germany," Dream elaborates, as if that explains why he's done it, and then he waits.

"…For me?" Hob asks, when it becomes apparent that a response is expected, and Dream slips into another smile, soft and warm.

"For you," Dream confirms. "A small token, of my affection." He reaches across the empty space between them on the sofa, takes Hob's hand in both of his, and suddenly the dream-bouquet is just. Not that distracting anymore. "You have been. Invaluable to me, during my recent tribulations, and I have. Realized, that. Beyond even this…I care for you, deeply, and—" He's struggling with the words but his gaze is steady, direct and sincere and oh, Hob's poor immortal heart cannot take this. "I wish to court you, Hob Gadling. If you are amenable."

"Yes," he says, barely more than a whisper; then, stronger, "Yes. I am." He's about two seconds from throwing himself into Dream's arms and kissing the daylights out of him; he clasps his free hand over Dream's holding his other to quell the urge. "Please. Court me to your heart's content. I am absolutely amenable."

Dream's face is alight, his smile soft and beautiful, and he's leaning in carefully. "Then, if I may—"

But Hob has reached his limit. Abruptly he is wrenching his hands from Dream's and seizing that beautiful pale angular face and launching himself forward, pushing Dream backward against the arm of the sofa and finding his mouth along the way.

And then Dream's arms are around him, Dream's mouth open and eager underneath his, and he's thought about kissing him so many times but the reality is far, far better.

"I love you," he gasps, when he finally draws back, and Dream looks so beautifully stricken by the words he would say them again and again and again til the end of everything, just to see the wonder blossoming in his face. "Court me all you like, as long as you like, but know this: I'm yours, always, have been for ages, and I love you—"

Dream surges up, kisses him fiercely, and Hob. He.

He doesn't know quite what to do with all the happiness singing inside him, but for now, it is more than enough just to kiss and be kissed, to let himself bask in the joy of feelings revealed and feelings returned, to sink into the satisfaction of finally being right where he most wants to be.

#Dreamling #Fluffbruary 2023 #TJs Fluffbruary #TJs Fics #Sandman #this is far more hurt/comfort than fluff #I'm barely sticking to the rules anymore

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