#brand new 52

[dailydccomics]

Justice League Dark movie poster cover by Joe Quinones

[you-there-with-the-hat]

🪄🔥🔥🔥❄️⚡️🔥

Anyway isn’t it kinda funny the magic circle has a drop shadow

[chess-blackmyre]

So meta-textually speaking Harvey and Duela have the broad strokes of the same story. Started off as a hero, but then lived long enough to become the villain.

Remember, Pre-Crisis Duela was a Teen Titan! An out and out heroic figure who wanted to show the world that she wasn’t evil because of who her father was.

Except Duela doesn’t get a tragic fall, she just becomes evil and crazy due to the various retcons by different writers and Reality Altering shenanigans. Like, they completely side-step the ‘Dent’ part of her identity and just laser focus in on the “Joker’s Daughter”.

[cissyenthusiast010155]

Can I request Agatha fucking R with her strap and overstimulating her? Reader misses this phrase in middle of the sex “Fuck… Mommy! … Oh my, I’m so sorry, it just… slipped out…?”

Enchanted Gifts ~Mommy!Agatha Harkness xFem Witch!Reader ~Holiday Bingo

Summary— Reader and Agatha host a Secret Santa, and the Reader gets Agatha a special gift. Agatha can’t wait to put it to use… Anon Response—Hey hey anon!! Thank you for the request! I would love to write this, Agatha could always use more content. Enjoy! ♥️

Previous Day <—found here!!

Holiday Bingo <—Here!!

Mommy… Master List

Request & Prompt-List

Prompt— Secret Santa/Gift Exchange

#52. “Fuck… Mommy! … Oh my, I’m so sorry, it just… slipped out…?”

Warnings: NSFW, smut, strap-on use, strap fucking, rough sex, overstimulation, mommy kink, enchanted strap, magic use, etc.

Enjoy (;

Your quaint little cottage that you shared with Agatha was hustling and bustling with many witches tonight. It was your annual Witchy Gift Exchange tonight, and you were hosting this year. It wasn’t a massive group, but it was a substantial group of some of the most talented Magic users.

Your finger foods were disappearing at an extremely fast rate, as everyone chattered away.

You always loved this tradition. Every year, you would all get to together and exchange presents. Who would get who a gift was determined two weeks prior. But the best part was the gifts. It was always so chaotic and funny. Any gift was on the table. Funny, embarrassing, sexy, expensive, cheap, as long as it was a gift.

This year you had drawn Agatha by coincidence. And you had found the perfect gift for her…

Eventually, everyone settled together in the living room and the gift giving began. This usually took a couple hours, and this years gifts were just as on point as usual. You got a herbal remedy from one of your witch girlfriends, a younger witch who was a herbologist as heart. You thanked her and the exchange continued.

Finally, it was Agatha’s turn. You handed her your gift with a slight smirk. Agatha quirked her brows and chuckled as she took the gift from you. She opened the gift and her lips quirked up into a mischievous smile.

“I should have known…” she teased, picking up and showing off a brand new, deep purple strap.

The women all oohd and aahd, but weren’t too phased, and so the game continued. But for the rest of the game, Agatha couldn’t keep her eyes off of you. It was like she was undressing you with her gaze. And she held the strap in her hand the entire time.

When the gift exchange was over and all the guests had left, Agatha wasted no time in colliding her lips into yours. She kissed you passionately and with dominance, pushing and pinning you against her cottage door.

“Agi wait—” you squeaked, as Agatha picked you up and threw you over her shoulder with ease.

She carried you and the strap directly into your shared bedroom. She threw you on the bed, muttering a spell before all your clothes and hers as well repeated. You shivered slightly in the newly exposed cold air. But it didn’t take long for you to forget that, as you watched Agatha strap up and pounce on top of you on the bed.

Before you could get out what you wanted to say, Agatha thrusted inside you with a shit eating grin. You both let out howls of pleasure. This was the biggest you’d ever taken.

“Shit Baby—!!” Agatha screamed, feeling everything in the strap as if it were apart of her body.

“Fuuuuck…! I tried… to tell you Agi—!!” You groaned, “Oh fuck, sss so big, so thick…”

The thickness and length of the strap was making you dizzy. You’d never felt so full. It was stretching you so well.

Agatha looked at you as if she didn’t believe you.

“You enchanted it, and just forgot to tell me…? Oh sure…” she chuckled, before grabbing your hips and thrusting out and back into your hard.

“Holy FUCK AGI—!!!”

Agatha groaned, which then turned into a laugh as she watched you spasm in pleasurable pain. She then began to fuck you fast and with a ruthless pace. The sound of the skin slapping alone made you so close to the edge already.

“Didn’t mean to… tried to tell you…!” You mumbled as she fucked you with no mercy.

But Agatha wasn’t having it. It was more fun to fuck you hard for not telling her anyway. Intentional or not.

You were sure that your skin would bruise from her hands, but your mind had drifted too far to care about that.

The woman then hooked one of your legs above her shoulder, her strap hitting a brand new found spot inside you, making you squirm and scream in pleasure.

“Fuck… Mommy!!!” You howled as she plowed into you.

You gasped and expected Agatha to stop and be surprise by your words, but quite the opposite happened. No, she al stated to fuck you harder and with a wicked smirk.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry, it just… slipped out…?” You squeaked immediately.

Agatha shook her head and chuckled darkly.

“Come on… don’t pretend you don’t want to call me Mommy…” she rasped wickedly, not relenting in her pounding.

You were trembling, as a new wave of intense pleasure coursed through you with Agatha’s words. You shuddered and tried to say something, but all you could do was nod and groan loudly.

“Awwww, poor baby… Is mommy fucking you so good…?” Agatha jeered.

You nodded your head, unable to form words at this point. Your mind completely blanked out.

Agatha chuckled.

“Sweet girl… didn’t know what you were getting yourself into when you bought this for me, hmmmm…? I can feel everything, your walls fluttering and so much more… and you feel so good.” she rasped.

~~~

Next Bingo Fic <—Here!!

Agatha Harkness Masterlist

Holiday Bingo 2023 Masterlist

Tag List: @storiesofsvu @aemilia19 @vexed-jade @willowshadenox @lunala-rose23 @sapphixwriter

[echoesofwisdomcountup]

52 Days Until Echoes of Wisdom Release. Guys this is not a drill. A second trailer and a NEW LOOK AT ECHOES OF WISDOM.

Horses and Zora and Deku Scrubs and outfits and A BRAND NEW ABILITY.

[oliversrarebooks]

The Rare Bookseller Part 52: The Maestro's Correction

Prev > Masterlist > Next

tw: mind control, body control, burns, hand whump, whipping, blindness, abuse, blood drinking

October 1925

Alexander stood and bowed low as the Maestro entered the music room, trailed by Oliver in eerily perfect synchronization. "Good evening, sire. I hope you are well."

"I also hope I am well. That depends largely on your hospitality, I'm afraid," he said. "Let us begin by examining your new acquisition in more detail."

"Certainly, sire."

No, no, no -- it took all of Oliver's self-control to not fight as the Maestro sat down on the padded bench and forced him into a submissive kneel. The hook and eye on his dress was undone, and Oliver's dread rose. What did he mean by examining in more detail…?

It was somewhat of a relief when those stony eyes focused on the brand on his chest. "Slipshod. The edges are clearly uneven. The symbol will hardly be readable." The Maestro looked up. "It's obviously your work, Alexander. If you had coerced Lily into fulfilling your obligation, as you were no doubt tempted to do, it wouldn't be in such a sorry state."

"Yes, sire."

"Your thrall is permanently marred, the results of your task an abject disappointment, and all you have to say in response is 'yes, sire'," said the Maestro, his tone like a knife pressed against Alexander's neck. "When I attended the ballet, your thrall informed me that you are allowing him a great deal of freedom, as well, are you not?"

"Yes, sire."

Oliver couldn't turn around, but he could hear the despondence in Alexander's voice. This had been his fault, hadn't it? He should have covered for his master. But Alexander had warned him in no uncertain terms to be honest. What was the correct action? Was there even a correct action?

"Because your thrall is otherwise so obedient, I feel inclined to only impose a light punishment this time."

"Thank you, sire."

The Maestro indicated a fat candle sitting on the end table, its flames providing the only cheer and warmth in the room. "Place your hand in the candle's flame until I am satisifed."

"Yes, sire."

"No!" The choked cry came from Oliver's mouth before he could stop himself. He wrenched his head out of the Maestro's grasp just enough to see Alexander's shock, his hand hovering dangerously near the flames.

"Oh?" Oliver's head was snapped back to look in the Maestro's eyes, filled with a cold fury. "You disagree with my judgement?"

"No, no, sir, I don't --"

The Maestro slapped him across the face hard. "You disagree with my judgement and then you lie to compound it," he said, rage in every note of his musical voice. "You do this out of loyalty, no doubt. My misguided children seek companionship among humankind, and value loyalty over obedience. A flaw I have not yet burned out of them."

Oliver trembled as the Maestro took his right hand. The vampire's hands were colder than ice and smooth as porcelain. He ran his finger's down Oliver's palm in a way that might have been tender in other circumstances. "Do you play any instruments, child?"

He was thinking of burning Oliver's hands, wasn't he? Oliver desperately wished he could answer yes to that question, in the hopes that he would be spared, but the blossoming bruise on his cheek warned him otherwise. "No, sir."

"Are you clever with your hands?"

Oliver thought back to the many evenings he'd spent repairing the bindings of antique books and mending his worn clothes. "I believe so, sir."

"I see." The Maestro turned over Oliver's hands in his own. "Human hands can be permanently damaged. A shame, truly. Mutilating your hands before you've been given the opportunity to prove yourself useful would be a waste at this time, as would any corrective action that spills excessive blood."

Oliver wasn't sure if he should be relieved by that. "…Thank you, sir?"

"You have an obedient soul. I'm not wrong about such matters," said the Maestro. "It is your master's lack of discipline that is to blame for your insubordination. Therefore, I will not punish you."

"You won't, sir?" Oliver would have found this mercy difficult to believe even if he didn't notice Alexander tensing.

"You don't want to watch your master's punishment, do you?"

"No, sir."

"Then look into my eyes, child. Deep, deep into my eyes."

He didn't have a choice, as the Maestro's power drew his gaze upwards and locked it there before he fully realized what was happening.

"Deeper. Lose yourself."

There was a disconcerted ticking noise in Oliver's head, as though his ear were pressed to a clock, and he realized in terror that he was being enthralled, the power like chains wrapping around his mind. Despite Alexander's many warnings and his own resolve to be obedient and avoid trouble, Oliver couldn't help the urge to pull against it. It was bad enough to have to give over his body. The idea of this cruel vampire invading his mind was too much to bear.

But it was already too late. Oliver was already trapped in his eyes. As the ticking of the clock gradually slowed like a mechanical toy winding down, his thoughts slowed too, his vision engulfed by the cold oblivion of the Maestro's gaze.

"Close your eyes down. Tight. As tight as they can."

"Yes, sir." Oliver's eyes obediently shut, sparing him the weight of that gaze, but doing nothing to free his mind.

"I am placing lead weights on each one. Weights that are far too heavy to allow you to open your eyes on your own." A cold finger tapped each of Oliver's eyelids. "Only I can move these weights. You will not open your eyes again until I allow it."

"Yes, sir."

"Wake."

That crisp snap sounded next to Oliver's ear, and he felt the chains on his mind lift, but he did not open his eyes. Could not. Oliver couldn't help but be confused. The Maestro had full control of his body. Why go through the trouble just to make him shut his eyes?

There was one obvious, awful possibility: because he did not intend for Oliver to open his eyes ever again.

"Now that that's settled, you may take your punishment, Alexander," the Maestro said.

Oliver was forced back into a kneeling position and the Maestro placed one hand atop his head. He heard several steps across the wood floor, and then absolute silence.

Was his master actually burning his hand in the candle's flame? There was no sound at all, no cries of pain from Alexander, not even the sound of breathing. The only thing tethering Oliver to the world was that hand on top of his head. As much as Oliver would hate to see or hear his master in pain, the deathly silence and darkness and suspense made it so much worse.

And just as Oliver thought he couldn't take it any more, he smelled what he desperately hoped was not the scent of charred flesh. His spirit cried out to do something, anything, to help his master, but blinded and bound as he was, there was nothing he could do.

"Enough," said the Maestro, after what seemed like an eternity. "I grow weary of watching you disappoint me. Alexander, play."

Play? Alexander's sire couldn't possibly expect him to play an instrument with a ruined hand. Yet Oliver could hear Alexander sit down at the piano bench and begin to play a piece which obviously involved a great deal of intricate fingerwork. Perhaps his hand was not that damaged after all -- but the smell in the air said otherwise.

He didn't have long to sit and enjoy the music (as much as he could under the circumstances) because the Maestro stood and pulled Oliver up, leading him in a dance. Oliver couldn't see and didn't know the steps, but he didn't have to, as his body was once again puppeted without his input, gliding across the room with a grace that was not his own, his trembling hand trapped in that cold porcelain grasp.

"One," intoned the Maestro. "Two." Several beats of music. "Three."

Oliver didn't know what it meant. Swirling around the music room with his eyes shut tight, his anxiety was reaching a fever pitch, making it difficult for him to relax enough to allow his body to sink into the control.

"Four. Five."

He was counting the mistakes, Oliver realized. Every moment his concentration broke, his body was fighting just the smallest bit against the unwanted intrusion. Each time that happened, he would slightly miss a step, or pull against the Maestro's grip.

"Eleven. Twelve."

He couldn't focus. He couldn't follow. He couldn't stop his treacherous body from rebelling against being made the plaything of the implacable vampire in front of him. And the number was climbing.

"Twenty-two." The Maestro released his grip on Oliver, who reeled backwards. "You may stop now, Alexander. Do you see now what I was talking about? He has obedience, but lacks discipline."

"Yes, sire." Alexander sounded as dead inside as he was metaphysically.

"Try not to spill blood unnecessarily when you administer the punishment. I finally find myself with an appetite."

"Yes, sire."

Oliver didn't have to wait long to know what the punishment was. Once more, he was kneeling, and he felt a sharp blow from a thin implement sting his back. It was followed by another, and another, and although Oliver was being kept from movement, he couldn't help but cry. The anticipation of each blow was as bad as the pain, and his back felt like it was on fire.

"That's twenty-two, sire."

"Your hand was light," said the Maestro. "No matter. You had three mistakes in your playing."

He heard Alexander kneeling beside him. The blows the Maestro delivered to Alexander's back rang out through the music room, unmistakable.

"Now that that unfortunate business has been taken care of," said the Maestro as casually as though he'd been discussing an unpleasant chore, "I will take my meal."

Oliver felt every muscle in his body tense, despite the control holding him. It was wrong, wrong, wrong for anyone but his master to drink his blood, but everything about this evening had been wrong.

And it was made even worse by the fact that Oliver couldn't see what the Maestro was doing, when the bite was coming for him. All he could feel was a hand on his head and a thick vampiric aura enveloping his mind. It felt strangely empty. Not like desire or hunger or pleasure, like Oliver had always felt with his master. No, the Maestro's aura was purely about control and practicality, freezing him in position so that he could be fed from. Oliver couldn't even tilt his neck as he'd been trained.

At least a feeding wouldn't be so bad, compared to everything that had happened so far, Oliver reasoned. Miss Lily had instilled in him the craving to provide for a vampire, and the feedings he'd experienced so far had been pleasant, even euphoric. He'd been dreading it previously, but now it actually be a relief.

At least, it seemed like a relief until the Maestro's slender fangs sunk into the flesh of his neck.

Oliver gasped in surprise and pain. It hurt, agony radiating from the bite, and the sensation of teeth in his muscles was deeply violating, not to mention the uncomfortable suction of his blood being consumed. His world narrowed down to nothing but the awful, aching wound, his body spasming with the need to escape from the predator, frozen in place by unnatural means.

It hurt, of course it hurt. He should have known better than to think this might be a relief. Alexander always put him under a gentle spell of sleep and submission and pleasure as he fed, a spell that kept Oliver from feeling any of the pain that would naturally accompany his neck being bitten. Of course the Maestro would not do that, would instead relish his suffering.

As his master's sire drank his blood, his thoughts began to overpower Oliver's own, and he found…

Nothingness.

A pitch black sky with no stars or moon or clouds. An empty field devoid of life as far as the eye could see. A bitter chill sapping the strength and cheer from his very marrow.

Order. Solitude. Misery.

The inky sky rushed to meet him, to swallow him in oblivion, and Oliver thought he might be dying.

"Oliver?"

He was floating back up through the darkness, tethered by his master's voice.

"Oliver? Oliver, please wake up."

"I'm awake, sir," he said, trying to open his eyes and finding that he couldn't, the memories of what had transpired rushing back to him. He couldn't open his eyes at all, the imaginary lead weights keeping them firmly shut. He could tell that he was laid out on the padded bench, cradled gently in what he hoped was his master's arms. His back hurt and his cheek stung and the wound on his neck was intensely uncomfortable… but he was alive. "I can't…" he said, panic rising. "I can't open my eyes, sir. Is he still here? Is it over?"

"He's gone. He probably won't trouble us for some time," Alexander said. "You were brilliant, Oliver. A picture perfect thrall. I wish you didn't have to go through any of that, but you handled it all so well."

Praise from his master cut through some of Oliver's fear and pain. "Will I be able to open my eyes again, sir?"

"Yes, you will, I promise. Hypnotic commands usually fade away on their own if they're not reinforced."

"How long will that take, sir?" said Oliver. Despite the welcome reassurance that this wouldn't be forever, his mind was already filling with anxiety over how he would be able to live. How could he find his way around the expansive manor while blinded? How long would he have to go without reading?

"Well… my sire's very powerful, as I'm sure you know, and you're…"

"Weak, sir?"

"I wasn't going to say weak. You take to enthrallment very well, which has nothing to do with mental weakness, believe it or not. And it's a trait I find endearing, but unfortunately in this case it might be a problem. It could last a month, maybe more…"

Oliver's heart clenched at the idea of weeks in the dark. How could he even take care of himself? Would he be able to cook or bathe? Would he need his master to help him do all of those things? Would Alexander help him?

"…but don't worry!" said Alexander hastily, running a hand through Oliver's hair. "I'll take you to see Lily first thing tomorrow night. She can usually undo things like that, especially considering the grip she has on your mind already."

Oliver never thought he'd be so grateful for Miss Lily. "Thank you, sir. I hope it isn't too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all. You endured all of this for me. Helping undo my sire's damage is the least I can do. Speaking of which, I've already bandaged your neck, but I should tend to the wounds on your back and make sure they aren't too serious. I could get some ice from the icebox for your face, as well."

"But what about your hand, sir? Did you actually…"

"Yes. It will heal on its own, and I can clean and bandage it later. You don't need to concern yourself with it. I wish to tend to you."

Blinded and in pain, Oliver couldn't bring himself to argue with that. "Thank you, sir."

"I can't easily undo my sire's work, but I can help ease your pain with my song. Would you like that?"

"Yes, very much, sir."

His master began to sing, and his voice was like a lifeline in the dark, soothing and relaxing him and making him feel like everything would be okay, even if it very much wasn't.

Prev > Masterlist > Next

Thanks for reading. Next week: happier days with Fitz.

@d-cs @latenightcupsofcoffee @thecyrulik @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @wanderinggoblin

@whumpyourdamnpears @only-shadows-dwell-where-we-are @pressedpenn @pigeonwhumps @amusedmuralist

@xx-adam-xx @ivycloak @irregular-book @whumpsoda @mj-or-say10 @pokemaniacgemini

@sowhumpshaped @whumpsday @morning-star-whump @silly-scroimblo-skrunkl

@steh-lar-uh-nuhs @pirefyrelight @theauthorintraining @whump-me-all-night-long @anonfromcanada

@typewrittenfangs @tessellated-sunl1ght @cleverinsidejoke @abirbable @ichorousambrosia

@a-formless-entity @gobbo-king @writinggremlin @the-agency-archives @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi

@enigmawriteswhump @foresttheblep @bottlecapreader @whump-on-a-string @whumpinthepot

@cinnamoncandycanes @avvail-whumps @tauntedoctopuses @secret-vampkissers-soiree @whatamidoingherehelpme

@strawbearydreams @ghost-whump @tippytappytyping

[eardefenders]

Sherlock & Co - Mailbag Episode 2 Transcript

00:00-00:30 Intro Music

00:27-00:34 *Sounds of a violin playing fade in*

00:34 Sherlock: You see? You see what I mean?

00:37 John: I…don’t.

00:39 Sherlock: Listen! *scoffs* Listen, closely this time. Shh. *resumes playing the bit from the fade in*

00:43 John: Argh. *pause* For God’s sake.

*Sherlock keeps playing*

00:46 John: Sherlock, please mate. We’ve got questions to get through here.

*Sherlock keeps playing*

00:52 John: Maaaate. Matey, mate mate mate mate.

00:55 Sherlock: Did you hear it this time?

00:57 John: Yeah. Sure. Uhh, right. So let’s dive into the discord chat. The brand spanking new discord for Sherlock and Co members. Brimming with Stamfords, Irregulars, and Diogene-sohmy God. There’s thousands of messages. Um, right. Should probably been keeping tabs on those questions. All right I’m going to scroll up and pick one f-from um the sssixteenth of January. Here we go! Come on down…IdleVice! Uh, your question is, “If you could make a Spotify playlist for each other of your own favorite songs, what would some of the highlights be and would you be willing to share the playlists with us. Ooh hoohoho. Uuuhhm. I don’t know if I’d ever get around to actually, y’know, putting the playlist together, as, as such, but what I-I would get Sherlock to listen to. Ummm mmmm probably Elbow? Elbow are a band from the north of England. Uh, Salford I think. But they have, uh, a few strings sort of. I-I don’t know what it’s called-but, elements that involve violins. Um, and all that jazz. Heh. Uh well not jazz! Uh, literally, not jazz. Uh, yeah, Sherlock, what about me?

02:07 Sherlock: Hm?

02:08 John: If you could make a playlist of songs for me what would it be?

02:12 Sherlock: I probably would never do that, Watson.

02:16 John: Okay. Uh, could you expand on that?

02:19 Sherlock: It’s a task that I wouldn’t find that fulfil-Vivaldi.

02:23 John: Uhh, right. Vivaldi. Yep. Anything else pop into mind?

02:29 Sherlock: Pop.

02:31 John: Pop? Is that-what’s that?

02:33 Sherlock: It’s a genre of music.

02:35 John: Uh, right, you’d make a pop playlist for me?

02:38 Sherlock: I’d probably enlist Mrs. Hudson to do that.

02:41 John: Fair enough. And why pop?

02:43 Sherlock: Because it’s an abbreviation for ‘popular music’.

02:45 John: No, I know that.

02:47 Sherlock: You like popular culture, therefore pop music could very well be your cup of green tea.

02:54 John: It’s, it’s just cup of tea. Bu-uh-uh, well, okay, uh, thank you for that. Uh, back to the discord dudes and dudettes. Um, not that I was implying any kind of masculine energy to the use of the word dudes. Dudes will remain, uh, um, an-an-an-androgynous here. My…dudes. Bit like the word mate! I do throw it around. Ummm. Some people just think it’s for blokes. Don’t know why. Uh, anyway. Here we go. Leaf-onk, layff, layfonk? I hope I’m saying that right. Uh, Leif-Leif*onk* asks, ‘Has Sherlock ever hit a vape?”

03:28 Sherlock: Yes.

03:29 John: Lovely. They’d also like to know the flavor.

03:31 Sherlock: Menthol.

03:32 John: D-do you want to expand?

03:35 Sherlock: Mm, not really.

03:37 John: Did you like it?

03:38 Sherlock: It was satisfactory, I suppose.

03:41 John: *sighs* Another thrilling q and a session with the master detective. Here we go! Number one archie fan-He-he-heeyyy! Archie! Found your number one fan mate. Heh. Think they also go by potpourri. Not sure. Don’t really know how discord works because I was born in 1989. Anyway! Number one Archie fan asks, do you have a favorite classical piece? Or a favorite composer, perhaps?

04:05 Sherlock: Mozart, generally. Can often be tied to my mood. What about Vivaldi? You said Vivaldi earlier?

04:12 Sherlock: That was a recommendation to you.

04:14 John: But not you?

04:14 Sherlock: Definitely not.

04:16 John: Great.

04:17 Sherlock: Uh, Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky. But I am often driven by whatever phase I feel I’m in.

04:23 John: And we’re in a Mozart phase now, are we?

04:26 Sherlock: We are indeed.

04:27 John: Fab. Right, uh, Reeonk asks-ohkay, ok, I see what you’re doing now. Cause of. Cause of Jonk. Okahaha. Let’s all laugh at Jonk-John, I mean.

04:40 Sherlock: *laughs*

04:41 John (affectionately): Oh, ge-Shut up, you big idiot.

04:44 Sherlock: *still laughing*

04:45 John (affectionately annoyed): Shut it. Ha. Uhhhh, we’ll cut that bit. I swear to God. Right! Reonk, who I think also goes by Perfo, if I click here. But yes, as I was saying, millennial at the wheel. Sorry. Reonk’s first question, “Hey John, if you were an animal, what animal would you be?” Uhhhum, *clicks tongue* look, I’ve got to be something airborne. Um, uh I’m sorry, but I have to. Y-y-you can’t have the chance to fly and turn it down, so, uh, I’m a bird.

05:09 Sherlock: Or a bug.

05:10 John: S-s-sorry?

05:11 Sherlock: Bugs. Insects. They’re airborne. Hm, as is some bacteria.

05:16 John: Great, yeah. Let me just decide between a gnat and a germ.

05:19 Sherlock: By all means. Take your time.

05:21 John: I’m being sarcastic. I’m not a bug and I’m not bloody…germs. I’m. *sighs* I mean it’s too much pressure being an eagle, isn’t it. Um, *clicks tongue three times* I don’t want to be something that’s crap at flying, like a swan or a goose or something. Shoutout to Heather, by the way. Ehhh, aw come on John, come on John. Um. Ooo! Tell you what. Now this is going to sound stupid, but if it was my brain in the animal-

05:47 Sherlock: Yes, this is going to sound stupid.

05:49 John: Shh-sh-shh. Yes, if it was me. In the animal. I’m going pigeon.

05:54 Sherlock: Pigeon?

05:55 John: Pigeon. Ehh? Right, listen, ok. I can still live in the city. I cou-I could even live in my room, really.

06:01 Sherlock: You absolutely cannot.

06:03 John: What? Why not?

06:04 Sherlock: I’m not flatsharing with a bloody pigeon, Watson.

06:06 John: It’s me.

06:07 Sherlock: Yes, in the body of a pigeon.

06:09 John: Listen, let me finish my point. I’m a pigeon. I’ve got my room. I can fly about London, y’know? See all the sites, dive bomb some tourists, do a little poo on the House of Commons. I could nick a bit of decent grub. Yeah, go on walks with Archie and Mariana in the park. And no one is the wiser. If I was an eagle or a, y’know, like an albatross, I couldn’t do that, could I? No? It’d be great flying across town, even take the tube. Saw a pigeon on the tube the other day.

06:39 Sherlock: Yes, you said. Twice.

06:41 John: I could look through people’s windows, you know go in their gardens, on their patios….That makes me sound creepy, doesn’t it? Ah, pigeon! *clears his throat* The answer is pigeon. Second question, “What kitchen appliance would you be?” *clicks tongue twice and sucks air in thorough his teeth* Hm. Not being a microwave. No way, don’t get cleaned enough and, uh, having curries and bloody pizzas blowing up inside me, geezus. Uh, fridge. Maybe. Mmm, but I’d see a lot of rotting food, wouldn’t I? Especially if people are away for a while. Probably go with something fun, y’know something where I come out of the pantry or the, y’know, the cupboard or whatever, and all the family go ‘yaayyy, heyhey here he is!’-Wafflemaker, I’d be a wafflemaker. Everyone loves waffles. No one’s getting board of me. I’m getting cleaned. Perfect. Pigeon and a wafflemaker. Ha! That’s not a bad name for our band, eh Sherlock?

07:32 Sherlock: We’re not making a band.

07:33 John: Yeahhh, it was a joke. Right! It’s biscuit time! Saren says ‘Question for Sherlock: What kind of biscuits are, in your opinion, the best?

07:42: *sound of someone walking away*

07:43 John: Uhh, what’re you doing?

07:44 Sherlock: Answering the question.

07:44 John: Well, that would involve sitting down and talking into the mic.

07:48 Sherlock *sound of papers*: Here.

07:49 John: This…is an essay….on biscuits.

07:52 Sherlock: Yes.

07:54 John: By you.

07:55 Sherlock: Yes.

07:56 John: Okay.

07:58 Sherlock: Well, read it. My findings are in there.

08:01 John: Whaaa…it’s thirty-nine pages long.

08:03 Sherlock: Indeed.

08:04 John: Thi-this is supposed to be a snappy question and answer segment. Y’know it’s supposed to be a patreon reward, not a bloody punishment. *sarcastically* ‘Aww thanks for giving six quid everybody, here’s an eleven hour lecture on biscuits.’

08:15 Sherlock: They asked the question.

08:16 John: Right, ok. So, uh, he was eating a lot of custard creams the other day. Um, for those of you who aren’t British, uh, a custard cream is, uh, a sort of sandwich structured biscuit, wouldn’t’cha say?

08:26 Sherlock: Correct. Yes. A sandwich in structure. Two light shortbread pieces acting as the bread. Often stamped with a Victorian inspired Baroque design. And the filling was once a buttercream, but now is a custard flavored cream based on vanilla custard. Not egg custard.

08:43 John: Right, yeah. It’s, it’s that. Um, they’re nice. They are nice. Very moreish. Um, Ellionk, or Ellie, I think, when they’re not ‘Onk’ified, want’s to know ‘Favorite Supermarket: Tesco or Sainsbury’s?’ Um, well, both have gone downhill in recent years, I have to say. So, I’m going to go for neither and say co-op. Yeah, cause every now and again you find a really really good one. But if I’m in fantasy land, it’s M&S Foods or Waitrose. *clicks tongue* Yeah. Uh, there’s a chemistry question here from Ranger Pip which I don’t even begin to understand, so I’m going to move on. Sorry, Ranger Pip.

09:18 John (cont.): Right, last one! ‘Question for possibly John or Sherlock, not sure, lol. What is the story behind the theme tune. Just have to say whoever composed it, the musicians need an award and a shoutout on the podcast.’ Uh, yeah, well it’s a great theme tune, isn’t it? It really is. It’s called ‘Mad Prodigy’. *clears his throat pointedly*

09:39 Sherlock: Why are you making that noise?

09:41 John: Ah well, just saying mate.

09:43 Sherlock: I’m not mad. Or a prodigy.

09:46 John: Hey, uh, I-I’m not saying anything. Um, yeah, it’s it’s by a guy called Jody Jenkins. Uhhh, the reason why I don’t release it like some people asked me to is because it’s owned by a royalty free site. Um, *clicks tongue* the reason why Jody Jenkins doesn’t release it, is the same reason. I-it’s owned by a royalty free site. Uh, that’s generally how they work. I-I pay a fee. Well. Goalhanger pay a fee, use the track, and it belongs too…yeah. Audio Network. Um, I think he’s fab, yeah. But as far as crediting him out loud on the podcast, um, some artists don’t want royalty free work assigned to them. Um, they just do it for a paycheck. Some do. I don’t know him obviously and of course, I-I could piss off the company that actually owns the audio if I just mention him and uh, not-

10:34: *phone vibrates*

10:36 John: Message from Mariana. ‘You’re waffling. These people are paying us their hard earned money.’ Right! Soundproofing in these old houses aren’t what they used to be, are they? Um, *clicks tongue* yeah that’s the reason songwise. Nothing for or against Jody Jenkins. I’m just playing it safe cause these things s-scare me. *chuckles* Corporations and blech, yeah. Uh, horrible stuff.

10:54: *phone vibrates*

10:55 John: Um, message from Mariana. Right, yeah, I’m gonna wrap this up. Uh, thanks for your questions my lovely friends, we’ll be back soon. And, now to play us out, the one and only, Sherlock Holmes.

11:08 Sherlock: What?

11:08 John: Play! Play a song!

11:10 Sherlock *pleased*: Oh. Excellent! Uh, okay. Here we go!

11:14: *violin playing starts up*

11:17 John: Bye bye guys!

11:32: *sherlock’s violin playing cuts into Mad Prodigy

11:32-12:02 *Mad Prodigy carries us out to the end*

[coqxettee]

Coquette Winter Gift Guide:

🎀 Gift ideas for yourself or your friends who love the Coquette aesthetic:

Clothes/Fashion:

1. Anything from Brandy Melville (Amara heart lace pyjamas)

2. Bailey bow uggs or normal uggs

3. Ralph Lauren sweaters

4. A ballet wrap

5. Floral pyjama sets, Cami’s & Long sleeve shirts

6. Grandma cardigans

7. A cable knit sweater

8. Legwarmers/pretty tights

9. A pair of cute gloves

10. ANY clothing from “Mymummadeit”

11. ANY clothing from “Favourite child collective”

12. Any clothing from the “Cutey” section on Romwe

13. A dress/anything from “Selkie”

14. Any slogan tee’s / baby tee’s from small businesses and independent brands

15. Victoria secret Pyjamas/Robe

16. Pink puffa coat

17. Tiffany & co earrings or necklace

18. The “Mymummadeit” puffa bag

19. Kate spade heart bag/Vivienne Westwood one or just a heart purse

20. A printed tote bag

21. Ted baker bags/cosmetic bags

22. Any dresses from - Cider, Motel rocks, Pretty little thing, Oh polly

23. A ballet skirt

24. ECOSUSI summer garden romance bags

25. A cape/fur shaul//A glam doll coat

26. Vintage nightgowns/nightwear

27. Cute earmuffs & things to decorate them with

28. Mary Janes & frilly ankle socks

Beauty:

29. Any products from “Glossier”

30. Dior (addict) makeup products (Lip oil’s, Blush, lip balm,

31. Anything from “Flowerknows” “Etude house” “Too faced” or “Charlotte Tilbury” “C beauty mall products”

32. Chanel lipstick

33. A quilted floral coquette makeup bag

34. W7 Tinted kiss lip oil

35. Miss Dior perfume

36. Chanel mamoiselle perfume

37. Any of the Ariana Grande perfumes/body sprays

38. Penhaligons “The favourite”

39. Oriana “Parfums de Marly”

40. Victoria secret body sprays

41. Paul & Joe Cinamoroll collection

Homeware:

42. The Amazon floral bedsheets

43. A heart mirror

44. Love shack fancy homeware items

45. Anything from Paris Hilton’s new cookery line

46. A ballerina/music box jewellery box

47. Pink/Vanilla Yankee candles

48. FreePrints photos to make a wall collage

49. Roccoco style picture frames

50. An angel tray dish

51. Fake flowers

52. Pretty Cushions / A large throw fluffy blanket,

53. Caroline medium jewellery case

54. Fake cake jewellery boxes

55. Tall candles and a candle holder

56. Posters of celebrity’s/artists etc

57. Any pretty art that can be displayed/put into frames

Self care:

58. Spa headbands, and wrist bands (Kylie skin headband)

59. Inn is free skincare products

60. Philosophy shower and skin products

61. Chanel eye patches

62. Mulberry silk eye mask (pink)

63. Look fantastic heartless hair curlers

64. Dior prestige skin products and body lotions

65. Baylis & Harding products

66. Angel tangle brush

67. Charlotte Tilbury skincare gift sets

68. Elasti - cream

69. Embellished claw clips

70. Sol de Janerio body cream

71. Mugs, hand warmers, face masks, lip scrubs

Miscellaneous: ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚

72. AirPod max

73. Wildflower phone cases & airpod cases

74. A pink waterbottle (Stanley or Lululemon)

75. Lana del rey vinyls

76. Coquette notebooks

77. Dior & Chanel fashion books

78. My year of rest and relaxation

79. The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo

80. Jellycats

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛

I hope this helped you think of some ideas of things you want to ask or get someone for Christmas 🎀✨🎄

Merry Pinkmas coquette doves

⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ ‧͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛

[mattzerella-sticks]

I think we're all ready for Tim Drake to move on from the Robin codename and costume and take on a new identity just like he had right before New 52. However, while I liked the costume... the name? Red Robin? It wasn't the best. Certainly better than other names that have been suggested for him (looking at you... Drake) but it still didn't give him his own identity, you know? Red is Jason's color, and he's still clutching tight to the Robin mantle. Hell, even the costume he wore was originally worn by Jason during the Countdown series before Final Crisis.

I want him to have his own name. His own costume. His own color.

And then I saw Juni Ba's interpretation of the Red Robin suit and... it hit me -

Condor.

The wings, the curved shape of the helmet looking like a beak... it would be so easy to translate this design into a new costume for Tim. Especially since it looks like a condor more than a Robin. Especially since the symbol he wore while Red Robin never 'looked' like a Robin.

And yes there are questions -

Isn't there already a hero named Condor? Yes. Two heroes and a villain. However we haven't heard much about them in recent comics. Black Condor, to my knowledge, currently only exists on Earth X as there's yet to be a Freedom Fighters team on the main DC Earth even after Heavy Metal. The other Condor was last seen during the New 52 run of Birds of Prey. And the villain Condor exists as a Hawk parallel who, let's be honest, we will most likely never see again.

Why Condor? Aren't there other names, similar names, you could use? Yes, these similar names exist, but it wouldn't sound right or be feasible in the current comics universe. Hawk? Already exists, Hank Hall. Vulture? Villain name. Raptor? Already taken by a Nightwing Rogue. Falcon? Hero for Marvel.

The only name I could also see other than Condor is Eagle, which would also be a great nod to Alfred Pennyworth, but the symbolism of Eagle is also too wrapped up with the government that it would muddle the messaging and vigilante brand.

Condor, however, makes perfect sense.

And you wouldn't have to tweak the costume much! My only thing would be to change the color from red... to green.

Green is currently an unclaimed color amongst the Bat Family and I think Tim would rock it. We've seen him leaning on the color green more and more as Robin, ironic as his most famous costume is when he ditched green all together after Superboy's death. Him choosing green, reclaiming green, would show him fully stepping out from the shadows to be his own hero.

Tl; dr Tim Drake should take on a new codename, Condor, wear a suit similar to Juni Ba's design, but green.

[morganski-19]

Chills Right to the Marrow Part 60

ao3 link| part 1 . . . part 57, part 58, part 59,

the first part takes place (kinda) during , part 46, the second part takes place after part 51, and the final after part 52

Every time Eddie turns around, Dustin is looking at him. Which shouldn’t send chills down his spine, but he can’t help but think that he knows. With the way him and Steve have been acting so carelessly, it wouldn’t surprise him. They just didn’t want anyone to know yet.

Not like it was a secret, just new. It was better to get all the issues worked out before they told anyone, to not cause any drama. If this crashed and burned, only four people would know. Him and Steve, Robin and Nancy. It was better this way.

But after the third time Eddie caught Dustin staring, he knew that it wasn’t about that. Because each time he did, Dustin’s eyes were fixed on two things. Steve’s sunglasses, and Eddie’s crutches.

His brand-new crutches. The kind that wraps around his forearms to help with balance, and a little bit with the strength. They worked a lot better than the underarm ones; it helped a lot. But they were new, more permanent.

Proof that something had changed.

Since the hospital, Dustin stopped asking how Eddie was. There was the initial belief that this was all going to be temporary. That as he recovered from the injuries, his body was going to recover as well. Go back to the person he was, jumping on top tables in the lunchroom and running around making jokes.

These crutches were proof that it wasn’t going to happen the way it had before. Not that it still couldn’t, just that it was different. It changed, forever.

It hits Eddie, then, that they never talked about what happened back there. When Eddie cut the rope, right in front of Dustin’s eyes, and ran away. Leaving Dustin to find a way to get back through, injuring himself, and had to hold Eddie as he died. He was there, day after day, in the hospital, waiting for Eddie to wake up. To get better. To become normal again.

When in reality, none of them were the same as they were before. They were changed. He thought everyone around him was so used to it at this point, they would adjust better. But watching as Dustin kept looking at him, like he’s frozen.

“Has he been acting differently to you?” Eddie asks, nodding his head at Dustin.

Steve takes a moment before nodding. “Yeah. I’m really worried about him.”

“Have you talked to him, at all, about what happened?”

“A little. Probably nowhere near enough. After a while, we’re all so ready to get away from it that we just stop talking about it.”

Eddie looks back at Dustin again, watches as Will goes up to him and pulls his eyes away. There is so much that he wants to say but hasn’t gotten around to saying it. He wants to now, but doesn’t know how to.

But as the days go on, Dustin continues to look at him like it pains him. Continues to stare at his crutches, or his cane, and looks surprised when he doesn’t use either of them. At first, the looks bothered him. His mind linking it with every other look he gets when he happens to go outside.

Until Eddie saw the guilt in Dustin’s eyes, and knew it was different. He wasn’t looking at Eddie because it was different, or he was getting used to it. He blamed himself.

“It’s not your fault,” Eddie says. Tired of the fixed gaze Dustin has on his crutches. He needed to know.

“What?” Dustin asks, the spark of his voice gone. It tore Eddie apart to hear him like this.

Eddie nods over to his crutches. “It’s not your fault.”

Dustin breaks his gaze to look at Eddie, a heaviness on his face that makes him look ten years older.

Before Eddie passed out, he remembered the look on Dustin’s face. The way his voice sounded as he cried out for Eddie to hold on. For him to stay. After Eddie woke up, after he started to remember, it was that voice that kept him up at night. Knowing that Eddie’s decision created Dustin’s pain. He thought that getting more time would help instead of harm.

He thought a lot of things at that moment, most of them were to protect this kid.

“When I cut that rope, I said it was to get more time. Looking back, I don’t think that was the whole reason. Part of it was to stop them from getting to you. They were smart little fuckers; they would find a way to get to the other side. To you. I had to stop that.”

Eddie remembers the first time he saw Dustin, standing in the middle of the cafeteria with that optimism in his eyes. They had nowhere to sit, already outcasts from the world, but he continued to be optimistic. Found a way to keep everything he was untouched from the harsh views of the world, and Eddie wanted to be a part of it.

Only to find out that Dustin was so much stronger than views of the world. Because on top of all that he’s already seen, which would be enough to make Eddie rotten and cruel, Dustin was still himself. It made Eddie prouder than he was able to communicate.

“Which failed horribly,” Eddie continues, “because you ended up coming through anyway. I hated it, I didn’t want you to see me like that. But ultimately, I was glad that you were there. It was part of the reason why I kept fighting.”

It was fitting, in some way, that one of the last voices Eddie heard when he fell asleep was the same one that he heard when he woke up. There was so much confusion when his eyes opened again, none of it really stuck in the long run. He remembers seeing Wayne, even if it was insanely blurry. He remembers hearing Dustin’s voice as he read out the final chapter of the Fellowship of the Ring. Eddie recited the lines with him as he finished it, opened his eyes, and started talking.

He remembers everything after that. He remembers seeing Dustin visit him, with that budding hope in his eyes he tried to hide. Like he didn’t want to believe it either. It was that hope that got Eddie through.

“You—” Eddie takes a deep breath. “You visiting me every day, sticking by me. Making me remember what it was like to be alive, making me want to see tomorrow. I don’t think I’d be as improved as I am if it weren’t for you. So it hurts me to see you looking at me like it’s your fault, when it’s not. You’re the reason I’m still here.”

Eddie means that. Every single word.

Dustin blinks away a line of tears, taking a deep breath. He opens his mouth, the words getting stuck. Eddie leans forward and pulls him into a hug.

“It’s not your fault,” he repeats as Dustin grips onto him.

“I’m so glad you’re still here,” Dustin whispers like he’s not supposed to say it.

“Yeah, me too.”

. . .

“You’re really fine with Steve moving in,” Eddie asks, for the third time.

Wayne sighs, ignoring the box he was packing. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure.”

Eddie shrugs. “Just seemed like you were more hesitant, that’s all.”

Not that Eddie blamed him. Steve and him have been together for barely a month, it’s one thing to live in a house where they didn’t share a bedroom, it’s another to move into a much smaller space. It was a jump that Eddie didn’t even know if he was ready for. But he needed to do something, couldn’t just leave Steve out in the cold. Especially after what he did for them.

“Me offering doesn’t mean that I’m not hesitant.” Wayne places the rest of the stuff from the kitchen they were stealing into the box, closing it up. “Just means you were right.”

Eddie snorts. “Yeah, sure.”

It was more than what it was on the surface, though. At least for Steve. A few nights after Wayne extended the offer, Steve admitted to liking living with people again. More importantly, someone who acted kinda like a dad. After being left by his own, living with Wayne was healing for him.

He said it with a hesitancy that Eddie didn’t really understand. Like he wasn’t proud that Steve was able to find a relationship with his uncle that mirrored his own. Maybe would be jealous over the relationship they’ve fostered. But in reality, it made Eddie really happy.

Mainly, because he could see that Wayne secretly treasured the relationship as much as Steve did. Even if he wasn’t as vocal about it, he didn’t need to be. Eddie knew Wayne, knew how he showed his love.

He could see it right now as he packed away a few of the mugs Steve liked to put in their own cabinet. In their small space, Wayne would make sure that Steve knew he wasn’t only welcome but encouraged to stay. He didn’t do that for everyone.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wayne closes the second box, marking it with sharpie.

“Just that I think you’re not being fully honest.” Eddie stares at Wayne. He ignores him by rummaging through the fridge. “Admit it, you kinda like him being around.”

Wayne shrugs, pulling out some leftovers and sticking them in the microwave. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Come on. You have someone to watch the games with, and you like to cook with him. You rant to each other about work. Sounds like you like him.”

Wayne sighs. “I might like him just a little bit.”

Eddie smiles. “Well, that’s good. Considering he’s going to stick around for a while.”

Hopefully for a long while. Eddie leaves that part out.

“Things between you two going well?”

“I think so.” It’s the first real relationship Eddie’s ever had. He’s not exactly sure he’s doing it all right. But he’s trying. “I mean nothing’s come up, but I still feel like the other shoe is going to drop.”

Wayne hums. “You’re scared.”

“Not scared, just nervous. I don’t want to screw it up.”

“You could be in a million relationships and still think the same thing. Doesn’t matter if it’s your first, just matters that you care. I know you; I know you care.”

Too much for his own good, probably. Eddie constantly feels like his heart is exploding with how fast it beats. The way his nerves light up in a much less painful way than he’s used to. It’s dangerous how fast he keeps falling, but he can’t seem to find a grip strong enough to stop it.

“Look,” Wayne sighs. “As long as the two of you keep talking instead of screaming, and caring about each other the way that you do, I can’t see either of you screwing this up. Make some mistakes, say the wrong thing, sure. But those things don’t matter as long as you can be adult enough to apologize and work through it. Relationships can be easy, but they also take hard work. With some patience and some love, it’ll only grow.”

“I feel the need to clarify that I don’t love him yet.”

Wayne smirks. “Now who’s the one that’s lying.”

The front door opens and shuts, Steve yelling out that he’s home. He finds them in the kitchen, pressing a kiss against Eddie’s brow before finding his own leftovers and grabbing a beer. Following Wayne to the living room so they can start watching the game.

The kiss lingers on his skin as his heart beats faster. It’s not there fully yet, but it’s coming.

. . .

Eddie knew that today was going to be a bad day. He overdid it yesterday. Insisted that he help unpack the rest of the things. Even if his arms were screaming at him to stop, and his muscles started pulsing toward the end of it. He wanted to help; he wanted to graze in the new house glory for one more day. The first two were so nice, he wanted it to last forever.

But, as he laid down yesterday, and his muscles kept pulsing throughout the night, he knew it was going to be bad when he woke up.

It was.

Both of his legs are cramped, and his arms are sending waves of pain up them. His skin feels like it’s burning, and he just the thought of moving makes everything worse.

And Steve’s lying next to him, with his arm over Eddie’s chest. He’s going to wake up and see him like this. Ask the dreaded question of what he can do to help. Which is nothing. He can do nothing. When it’s this bad, the medications can barely help.

There’s this underlying fear that Steve’s going to wake up, realize this is what he signed up for, and walk away from it. Before, Eddie was able to at least move a little. He hasn’t had a flare up this bad since he was in the hospital, when his wounds were still fresh. This would be the first time Steve sees him when it’s this bad.

Logically, Eddie knows that it won’t matter. But he’s still scared.

Steve starts to stir. His eyes blink open as he kisses Eddie’s shoulder. Instantly notified of what’s going on by Eddie’s rigidness.  

“How bad,” he asks. Propping himself up to look Eddie in the eyes.

“Nine,” he whispers.

A wave of concern washes over Steve’s face before he sits up. “I’ll be right back.”

Steve leaves the room, coming back with a glass of water and Eddie’s pain meds. Silently, Eddie thanks him. He gathers up a few pillows and helps Eddie prop himself up.

“Do you need me to do it?” he asks, no pressure in his voice. Giving Eddie the option to do it, if he can. Somehow knowing all the right things to say.

Eddie tries to lift his hand, watching as it shakes not even an inch above the mattress. The smallest movement intensifies the pain shooting up his arm. His arm falls back onto the mattress, weak.

He nods. “Yeah.”

Steve shakes out the dose of pills in his hand, bringing them to Eddie’s mouth before the glass of water. Each time with such care it makes Eddie want to cry.

“Do you want me to get you anything to eat?”

Eddie shakes his head. “Maybe later, when the pain goes down a bit.”

Steve nods. “Ok.” He gets back on the bed, sliding next to Eddie. “Does pressure make it worse?”

“Depends. Why?”

“Oh, well I went to the library a few weeks ago, and I was reading some stuff about neuropathy and other nerve damage and chronic pain conditions. A few of them said that massages could help with the pain. Was wondering if you thought that would help.”

Eddie turns his head to look at Steve. “You did all of that?”

Steve shrugs, like it’s nothing. “Yeah, well, I wanted to know, you know.”

He loves him, Eddie realizes in that moment. He loves Steve. It was nearly as terrifying as he thought it would be.

“It would help,” he says instead. Because saying that would be too soon. “The massage, it would help a little. Specifically with the cramps in my legs.”

“Yeah,” Steve sits up. “Would you want me to?”

Eddie nods. Looking at Steve with more love than he ever knew he was capable of. “Yeah.”

Steve starts slowly, testing the waters. It hurts at first, but eventually, the cramps calm down. His muscles start to relax. There’s still the pain underneath the cramp, but it’s better. And Steve’s touch is so soft, and patient, and loving. It makes Eddie want to cry again.

“That better?” Steve asks, looking at Eddie, face filling with concern when he sees Eddie’s expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Eddie exhales. Blinking away the line of water that gathered in his eyes. “You’re amazing, anyone ever tell you that?”

Steve smiles, coming back to his spot next to Eddie. Bringing a hand to push the hair out of his face. “I can think of a few people. No one matters as much as you, though.”

Eddie rolls his eyes. “So smooth,” he teases.

“Hey, worked on you, didn’t it?”

“Guess so.” Eddie brushes his nose against Steve’s, leaning his head up just enough to kiss him. “I can’t believe you went to the library for me. Medical stuff is no easy read.”

Steve snorts. “Oh, I know. I brought Nancy to help me through it all.”

“You have no idea what that means to me that you did that.”

“I might never fully understand what you go through, but I know that it sucks to have to keep explaining it to people. I didn’t want you to have to explain it to me.” He’s silent for a second before adding, “and I love you, so I wanted to know.”

Eddie stutters. “What did you say?”

Steve sits up, an apology already written on his face. “It’s too soon, I’m sorry. I just—I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow and thought it would be better to say it.”

“Steve,” Eddie flexes his fingers, tracing them around Steve’s wrist. “Say it again.”

He looks at Eddie, holding him in his gaze. “I love you.”

Eddie smiles. “I love you, too. Don’t care that it’s too soon. Screw timelines.”

Steve laughs. “Screw timelines.” He leans down to kiss Eddie, soft and slow.

Whatever Eddie did to deserve this, he’ll never know. Sometimes it still feels like it’s all going to get ripped away from him. But he was given a second chance at life. He wasn’t going to waste it all on being cynical.

Living might look different than what he thought it would, but it wasn’t going to stop him. Just last week, he was able to get his fingers to form a chord, and actually play it. It was going to take a lot of work, and time, but Eddie was going to play again.

He wasn’t going to let almost dying dictate his life. Instead, he was going to live.

what do you mean I'm already done writing Eddie's pov. Well, time to go write Steve's (the fact that I'm almost done writing this fic is really weird)

tag list (closed): @the-they-who-nerded, @insteviewetrust, @croatoan-like-its-hot, @jettestar,

@tinyplanet95, @steddie-as-they-go, @slv-333, @littlecelestialmoth, @thatonebadideapanda,

@fandomsanddeath, @marismorar, @wonderland-girl143-blog, @glass-bottle03, @gutterflower77,

@here4thetrama, @goodolefashionedloverboi, @jaytriesstuff, @cryptid-system, @manda-panda-monium,

@resident-gay-bitch, @anaibis, @xxsutherlandxx, @forevermineliv, @mugloversonly,

@gregre369, @n0-1-important, @different-tale-student, @spectrum-spectre, @tartarusknight,

@devondespresso, @swimmingbirdrunningrock, @cheertain, @anti-ozzie, @autumncrocusandladybug,

@greeniebean911, @cr0w-culture, @stillfullofshit, @connected-dots, @daisynotquake,

@morgannotlefay, @a-little-unsteddie, @dolphincliffs, @maskofmirrors, @me-and-my-sloth,

@papergrenade, @waelkyring, @sweetheartprincess28, @katouasobj, @astercomoasflores

[galeorderbride]

Hiii!!

I discovered your account recently, and I'm a fan! This strengthens my love for Gale even more! I have a request, is it possible to use the following prompts :

3)Touching foreheads

7) Kissing scars

11)Sharing secrets

41)Washing each other hairs

52)Crying into their shoulder

60) sitting in their lap

i will probably ask for others prompt later ahah!

thanks you so much 🖤

Thank you for the request!! I’m stoked to know I’ve helped strengthen your love for everyone’s favourite rizzard lol. And send as many prompts as you like!

Your prompt awaits:

Rated: M (Gale and Tav sharing a bath, non descriptive nudity).

Gale x F!tav

Words: 1652

...

Wash my Troubles Away

Baths were always the way Tav chose to unwind after a stressful day. Before the nautiloid, and after, although she’d been seriously lacking in access. In all honesty, she was surprised it took this long for her to break down. Months on the road, toiling through endless swaths of blood, shit and tears with the onus on them to solve everyone’s problems. At first, Tav enjoyed helping, seeing new friends suffer a little bit less in such a difficult society. Once they reached Rivington, however, her patience ran drier than a dead fountain. 

Thankfully, they found the Elfsong, where a private bathroom awaited. As soon as the fee was paid, Tav thought about taking a bath—craved it. A space to calm her muscles and cry out her troubles without drawing attention. 

Hot water flowed against her naked back, bubbling with lavender oil and sudsy soap, emanating the scent of vanilla and oat. Tav tucked her legs to her chest, curling into a ball of frustration and embarrassment as she couldn’t stop crying. Tav needed more resilience than this. Facing the end of the world required stalwart bravery, and she was having a meltdown over finding gold for a bank manager. How in the hells was she supposed to take down a giant brain? 

Meanwhile, everyone else had no problem being selfish. A toy maker set explosives in his own products, totally willing to kill children to save his own skin. Idiots tying up Volo just because he was talking about the things they wanted to ignore. Ironhand gnomes masking abusive bigotry with a shining cause. Tav was tired of everyone’s bullshit, making excuses for themselves, taking zero responsibility when she had no other option but to face problems head on. 

Her self pity was interrupted by a knock at the bathroom door. The sound of a lilted, erudite voice coming through the wood: 

“Mind if I come in, love?” 

Gale appeared in the doorway after Tav agreed he could enter. Holding fresh towels and a wicker basket of different bath products, looking brand new as if he’d just returned from an apothecary. Tav splashed water in her face to mask the puffiness of her eyes, as if her detail oriented wizard would ever let a thing like that get past him. 

“You seem like you could use some company. And so far, I’ve been very skilled and…calming you down, so to speak. I fetched some products from Bonecloak’s, all your favourite scents. Jasmine, pomegranate, aloe vera. If you’d prefer to be alone, know you won’t offend me. I just wanted to give you these so you know someone is thinking about you,” he said. 

Tav turned her head, grinning as best she could, easier because of his presence. Since their romance had begun, he was the only one virtually incapable of annoying her. He always knew what to say, always understood the right words or actions to keep her grounded. No one had been such a positive force in her life, and every morning, no matter how terrible, she thanked the stars for finding that unstable portal. 

“I’m not enviable company at the moment, but yours, would surely heal my weary heart,” Tav replied. 

Gale smiled, “No matter how you’re feeling, there is no one in the realms I’d rather spend my time with.” 

Times like this were when Tav didn’t believe she deserved his sweetness. Doting on her out of an adoration she couldn’t figure out. He placed the bottles on a tiny stool beside the tub, undressing so he could join her in a warm, sudsy water, snapping his fingers with a little magic to heat it back to ideal temperature. He made use of the large, circular space as he sunk in behind her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace as she rested her back onto his chest. Little hairs tickled her skin, causing her to chuckle for the first time all day. 

Careful movements of his fingertips massaging her scalp sent shivers down Tav’s spine. Scents of pomegranate and jasmine soothed her sinuses, letting the hot water pour down her head, through strands of clean hair. Tension from her muscles seemed to dissolve with each considerate touch, Gale’s hands created to caress her skin. When he finished, he wrapped his arms around her, rocking her back and forth as they both watched the window ahead. A clear night gifted them glimmering stars, a cool breeze whistling out of a crack in the insulation. Tav leaned back, resting her head in the crux of Gale’s shoulder as she closed her eyes. A few, stray tears fell from her eyes, overwhelmed by the sudden comfort of her magical lover lifting her through the ache of evening. 

Gale didn’t press her for reasons, didn’t rush to solve the problem when he noticed her tears. He just held her, waited in solidarity until she was ready, happy to let her sink into his life force to refresh her own. 

“I’m sorry,” she finally said with a tearful chuckle, “You must think I’m ridiculous. Crying for no reason like this.” 

“Well, my love, your mind may be telling you that there is no reason, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. With all our travels, all the weight on your shoulders, you have every reason to cry. You’re more resilient than you think, I’d have crumbled long ago,” he said. 

Tav looked up at him, in utter admiration for his thoughtfulness, his beauty, everything. If she could, she’d sing his praises for a thousand years, to make up for all the times Mystra never did. Or anyone else who didn’t care to see the magnificence of him. 

Her fingers traced up his collarbone, around the mark the orb left that paved a path to his wonderful neck. A forced tattoo sunk into the surface of his skin, binding him to his well intentioned folly. Their foreheads touched as Gale lowered his head, wishing desperately that he could hold every

 part of her at the same time. Mage hands and mirror images weren’t enough, it had to be him. 

“Can I tell you something I’ve never told anyone before?” He asked, words hanging on between their breaths, lips hovering over each other but never quite meeting. 

“Hmm, you’ve already told me about Mystra. And that you haven't spoken to anyone in over a year until me. Oh, and that you get excited when you see me bloody after a fight. What else could there possibly be?” She asked, flirtatiously smiling at him with her eyelids batting just the way he liked. The smirk he made when he saw it was irresistible. 

Gale chuckled, “This one is far less serious, but might be what you need to hear in this moment.” 

They adjusted slightly, Gale sitting up as he pulled his arm out of the water. Just above his elbow was a superficial scar, raised tissue blending in with the rest of his skin. An uneven line travelling up his arm, about three inches long. Wherever he got it from, it had to be years ago. 

“People don’t notice this scar much anymore, not with the giant black circle on my chest. But people used to. I’d tell them it was from a kitchen knife,” he said, “But…really I accidentally set fire to my neighbour’s rose bushes when I was a child. I was trying to conjure, and the fire got away from me. Singed my arm in the process.” 

Tav turned, scooching further onto his lap as she examined his arm. She couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s your secret? Ruining a bush?” 

“Not just any bush. A rose bush. One of the most beautiful I’d ever seen. I’d pass by those roses every day, stare at them for a minute or two. Just to see something be so effortlessly perfect in its imperfection. They simply grew that way, and then I destroyed them. All I could do was cry, sob over how I tarnished something so innocent and pretty for my own sake. I don’t talk about it because…well, it’s silly, but it’s the worst thing I’ve ever felt. It’s stayed with me my entire life, and the burn scar only serves as a beacon for it,” he explained. 

“Even worse than what happened with Mystra?” She asked, grazing her fingertips across the uneven line of the scar. Eyes stuck to the mark as if it was the last thing she’d ever see. 

Gale hesitated, taking a heart wrenching pause. Tav noticed his eyes staring ahead, fixated on the window. A heavy, unsaid energy hung over him.  

“It was the catalyst. For everything. Had I not set fire to that bush, Elminster never would’ve found me. And then I’d never have attracted Mystra’s attention. A boring existence…but maybe a better one,” he said, voice trailing along the waves of his melancholic thoughts. 

Instead of responding, giving him a treatise on how he didn’t need to feel guilty anymore and burning a flower bush wasn’t a definer of his total character, she pressed her lips against the burn scar. Counting her kisses for every year of remorse he felt since setting that fire ball. Ever since their first night together, he slowly began to shed that overconfident veneer, more comfortable to show her the parts of him that hurt, the deep cuts that both of them wished they could bury. 

“Seems we both have a guilt problem,” Tav said. “Come here.” 

Tav moved to straddle his lap, taking the ceramic bowl and filling it with the warm, soapy water. Gale rested on her shoulder, as if on impulse, while she poured the liquid down the long strands of chestnut hair. Running her shampooed hands across his scalp, satisfied every time she heard his happy moans against the scratch of her nails. After rinsing, she kissed the top of his head. 

“Thank you for telling me a secret,” she said, “I’ll tell you one of mine tomorrow.”

[dailydccomics]

steampunk Justice League Dark by Tommy Lee Edwards

[jesncin]

Are you at all excited for the upcoming Absolute Martian Manhunter book later this year? It'll be the most high-profile launch J'onn has been a part of for a long while, being DC's attempt at an "Ultimate Marvel" line. Given how the approach seems to be defined by removing elements of the characters' status quo - Superman has no Krypton tech, Batman is not a billionaire, Wonder Woman is the last of the Amazons etc. - I think there's a very real possibility that for J'onn they'd pivot in the opposite direction and give us a living Martian society. If only because J'onn has so little anyway, there's not as much to remove as with other members of the League, so the logical thing would be adding something back in to shake things up. I'm personally hoping for some combination of Weird and Noir.

I'm absolutely (heh) excited for it (because a new refreshing change even in an elseworld story is exactly what J'onn needs right now!) but also cautious and,,, concerned. DC's revealed the Absolute gimmicks for just about all the other solo supers but J'onn is essentially still a rumor? What's going on there? I was also concerned when Superman's Absolute gimmick was supposedly "he'll be more alien than human" "he doesn't have a fortress of solitude, no Kents, etc" which,,, sounds a lot like J'onn tbh but we'll have to wait and see. Sometimes writers do this thing where they try to do something new with Superman and it's just re-worked J'onn lore. And J'onn lore is fundamentally flawed so in turn that take on Superman doesn't work, but that's just me with early concerns.

Ooh! That's a good point actually! That feels like the most logical shakeup they could do, and YJa helped warm people up to the idea of a living Mars (which I also agree would spice things up and differentiate J'onn from Clark more). And I'd absolutely (heh) love more supernatural-weird-noir for J'onn! We finally had J'onn play into being a martian detective in the 2019 Identity run, but it was more cop drama than detective noir which I would love to see. My only addendum to the idea of a living Mars as an Absolute gimmick is, since YJa popularized this already, what else will this take do to innovate on that idea? My personal wish list is:

Revitalize J'onn's cast system (a mix of old and brand new characters. Don't just make him watch tv to care about humans. Give this martian relationships!!)

Figure out his themes outside of grief!! (I love sad Martian man but he needs to do more than that! It's been stagnating his character)

No Justice League stuff or other superhero cameos/team ups. (J'onn NEEDS to prove he can stand on his own as a solo character so he can stop being pigeonholed as the League's heart or therapist.)

Fresh new take on Martian world building (please get rid of Martian racism, it's dumb and never made sense. It's a shapeshifting society and the idea of characters like M'gann essentially "greenfacing" to "pass" is so weird)

Critical reimagining of J'onn's relationship to justice (we need to get rid of or critically examine his relationship to copaganda.)

Integrate Blackness more thoroughly into his character (CW Supergirl and that one Nubia Coronation special comic are still the only takes that have done this. Come on guys!!)

More thorough reflection of J'onn's multiple identities (undoubtedly what makes J'onn special. But the comics rarely dig into what it means for J'onn to be multiple people. I would love it if his identities [especially the racialized ones] weren't treated as so,,,disposable.)

Ma'alefa'ak please (I just want to see him again I don't even care if they do a bad job. However all I ask is he be a green martian and J'onn's twin again. And a slutty design.)

The last time we saw a big overhaul to J'onn's character was the New 52, and the major flaw of that run was that it had no clear thematic intention to how it interpreted his character. So we ended up with just a bunch of references and a convoluted edgy story that doesn't help J'onn become a self sustaining solo character. The Absolute line is the perfect platform to revitalize him as a character, but I hope the writers can think in the long term to combat his foundational issues.

[satoshi-mochida]

Rune Factory: Project Dragon - latest footage, details -

From Gematsu

Following its initial announcement as Project Magia in May 2023, Marvelous has released new information and footage for Rune Factory: Project Dragon. Platforms and a release date remain unannounced.

Get the details below.

Following a brief history on the evolution of the Rune Factory series and how it has grown across nine titles released over 18 years, Rune Factory series director Shiro Maekawa joined the stream to reveal a new video for Rune Factory: Project Dragon sharing a look at the title’s protagonists. Players can choose to play as either Subaru or Kaguya, two new Earthmates with a twist; they will use the power of dance, rather than farming, to communicate and interact with the world around them. This new approach to interacting with the world comes with non-combat tools, including parasols and drums; series staple weapons like swords; and brand-new weapon types to experiment with, including bows and talismans.

Watch the Rune Factory: Project Dragon segment of Marvelous Showcase 2024 below.

Rune Factory: Project Dragon Segment

(Segment begins at 23:52.)

[buckcluckhater]

New video game hot take: Halo, the whole series.

It's weird, but I'm one of a number of fans who seem to just be unable to put down this series despite constantly criticizing the games and frequently feeling either disappointment or nuisance at its mechanics, and the community is generally quite awful, always has been tbh.

That said, I cannot stand how much hate Infinite gets from casual audiences. The Halo Cycle is real, and you see it firsthand when people start going back to what was previously considered the black sheep, 5, and start dropping compliments. I have seen people claim it has better weapons, a better art direction, better multiplayer release, even better campaign experience. When you apply this even further back, it starts to make sense why there're so many zealots of the original trilogy who will desperately try to convince you that those games are near flawless and surpass anything released today. One need only play 30 minutes of multiplayer or the first two missions on Legendary for any of these games to see that just isn't true. It is 100% nostalgia, and I bought into the hype around Halo 3 for a while myself, despite not growing up with it (I actually played it third to last).

Back to Infinite, this game did not launch well, there were a lot of bugs in multiplayer, playlists were scarce, major expected features were missing for a year or longer, the campaign was bundled as a $60 dlc, and there still has not been, and appears to be no continuation planned, despite the game's ending. The disappointment was so extreme that many were calling for a complete company makeover and/or complete series reboot. While the first slowly but surely did happen, it mercifully looks like the second won't, which is good because randomly rebooting to boost sales is a terrible idea (New 52 lol), and it stems almost entirely from dead franchises like God of War suddenly coming back to the mainstream.

I played this game a lot on my own time, especially because the social features being so barren made it hard to get anyone else to play it with me, so my experience has been solo campaign and Randoms or bots in multiplayer. In the game's current state, it's a lot of fun. I play as my disabled spartan and sometimes take Sativa before running Legendary Firefight or running a couple missions.

I do wish it released at a later date with less news before it dropped so that there would be less hype, fewer demands, and less comparison. But if I had to guess it was a moment of poorly calculated "brand synergy" to tie in with the release of the Halo TV show, whose reputation can only be described as apocalyptic.

I genuinely wish they keep this game updated, because the mechanics and presentation are just that good in my opinion. Also, Halo 4 isn't as bad as I thought.

[audliminal]

It's definitely kinda messy, but I'm getting better at using filters and I learned how to do sidechaining, so I'm feeling pretty good about at least the learning side of it.

Wait fuck i never posted last week's song