#but I also think they'd do things like that

[evilkitten3]

#this is about naruto I'm too lazy to figure out whicc character this applies to most bc lowkey it applies to A LOT of them

this is just about everyone in naruto but to be fair some of them actually WOULD it's just that said abusers would kill themselves first bc the suicide rate in naruto is absurdly high

“this character should kill their abuser” i agree. unfortunately they wouldn’t do that.

[keferon]

no no no please continiue your ramblings about theoretical Prowl in TfP from the tags of that one reblog of Prowl loosing his absolute shit over dumb autobot rules. I love to hear and see it. Imagine Smokescreen takes Bluestreak's usual role (seeing as in Aligned, Bluestreak and Prowl are written more as romantic than anything else) as being Prowl's ward/son/younger brother/whatever really, just a young kid he cares about.

i'm very curious what you could think of on how great of a team they'd be together. smokey the chaotic lil shit and prowl who utilizes that chaoticness to the MAX.

(also, personal lil hc. i imagine they got separated at some point when Smokey was sent to the Archives and Trion, so Prowl also doesn't know about the Omega Key. but once it's revealed, he'd be FUMING. What do you *mean* Trion stuck a who knows how old ancient powerful Primal relic into his kid????!?!??!?!!!)

OKAY FIRST OF ALL

Prowl would absolutely look at Smokescreen and see Bluestreak in him and it would make him so fucking sad but also protective I imagine. Remember that one episode where Smokey robbed the Decepticons because he could just go through walls?? Yeah. THAT power combined with Prowl's brain would be SO incredibly effective it would drive Megatron mad.

Also just imagine if there's was actually another key inside Prowl too hahah. Decepticons would take him too and then it'd be like

Smokescreen: Okay! We need to get those keys back and find a way to escape! Good thing we can ghost through everything~

Prowl: Hold my hand. We're gonna put so many trackers inside their walls they would have to rebuild their ship from scratch.

_______

Autobots: OH NO WE LOST THEIR SPARK SIGNATURES THEY MIGHT BE DEAD???

Prowl and Smokescreen, in Megatron's private storage room:

[cjlouwho]

The Gift of Going Gray

When Tommy looks in the mirror, the man who looks back isn't the same one that used to be there.

Well, technically it is, but it's doesn't feel like it.

The man Tommy sees now is grayer than he used to be. He used to think about dying his hair when he was young, but he never did it. Now, his body is doing it for him.

He's excited to see what he looks like when every strand is silver. He hopes his beard matches.

He's got wrinkles and laughter lines. Marks and ripples and crevices every time he moves his face, which some may look at with hate. He sees it as a happy life well-lived. He hopes he gets more.

The hairs on his chest match his head, but they're far more sporadic. As he rubs lotion over his pecs, skin a little less willing to stay moisturized, he wonders if those hairs will look invisible against him once they've all lost all their pigmentation.

He pumps out a little more lotion and moisturizes his arms. Still big, still muscular, still strong, but they get sore easier now. Need a little extra recovery time between workouts. Can't survive without monthly massages anymore.

His stomach is different. What was once defined abs is now a soft belly, more nourished than it ever was before. He's not trying for abs anymore. Doesn't really feel a need for it. He's healthy, he knows that, and that's what matters.

His hands have little wrinkles. Barely noticeable unless you really look, but he takes the time to really look. They're rough and calloused from years of manual labor, but the newest addition is the most exciting. Barely there ridges that you can run your fingertips over. Veins that are easier to see than they used to be. Skin that's thinner easier to cut.

There's a tan line on his ring finger. Which in and of itself isn't a sign of aging, but it sure as hell feels like it.

He'd never felt more grown, more centered, more sure, than the day he said, “I do.”

That tan line is a part of him now. Will be there, right under his engraved, gold ring, even when he's laid to rest.

If he doesn't stretch first thing in the morning, his back is likely to lock up on him sometime during the day. His knees require Icy Hot mid-shift.

He got his first pair of reading glasses last year. He couldn't believe the difference. Now there are five different pairs of glasses lying around the house, another pair in the truck, and one kept in his locker at work just so he always has them.

Once he's finished with his lotion, he opens the medicine cabinet and grabs a colorful bottle. His doctor recommended he start taking a multi-vitamin. A special one for older men. He's not actually sure it does anything, but he knows it doesn't hurt anything, so he chews the gummy everyday. The strawberry ones are his favorite.

He remembers when he was young, he used to joke his grandma about how she was always cold. She's laugh along, but she told him that one day he'd get it. One day he'd get cold faster too.

He keeps a space heater in the bathroom now when he showers. Pajamas went from sweatpants and a sleeveless shirt to sweatpants and long sleeves. He keeps socks on almost all the time. The ones he wears at home have little rubber grips on the bottom so he doesn't slip up on the tile floor. They're a literal life saver.

While his grandma got jokes over being cold, his grandpa got jokes about having to get up to use the bathroom during the night. When they'd take Tommy on trips over the summer, his grandpa was always saying that he needed the bed closest to the bathroom. Now, Tommy takes the side of the bed closest to the bathroom. Sometimes, he stops drinking water after seven just so he can reduce midnight trips to the bathroom.

Some people think it's ridiculous, how much he enjoys growing old. But he's seen the alternative too many times. At work, sure, but also in life. So many people he knew and loved whose life was cut short before they ever learned what getting older meant.

Growing old was a gift. And Tommy was grateful for it.

[ahappydnp]

so sorry but ive seen two different things about this now and im very lost, why did people think they were breaking up/broke up in 2012??? pls help me understand, wise keeper of the lore. thank u so much

response under the cut for general 2012 discussion/too long

basically 2012/2013 used to get (and sometimes still is) generalized as this dark and awful time period where dnp "hated" each other and us, when in actuality it was two very young very scared closeted queer people who were in the process of several major life changes at once while also dealing with a new exploding fan base

there's a few big things from that "era" that people talk about:

deleting old posts- around this era dnp deleted a ton of old tweets/formsprings/dailybooths that could read as them being in a relationship. they were blowing up online and had more eyes on them than ever before, not to mention had just starting working with the BBC (where being queer would have greatly affected their careers). also keep in mind dan was still in the closet to EVERYONE, and now he's got tons of fans going through his accounts and sending shit to HIS LITTLE BROTHER on tumblr asking if dan's gay. anyway people decided them deleting early tweets meant they had broken up

dan's customerservice tumblr blog- in the middle of them blowing up and people finding all these old posts, dan in an effort to control the narrative, makes a new blog for people to anonymously ask him questions (: which went about as well as you can imagine for an extremely defensive closeted 20 year old with undiagnosed depression. basically he said some unfortunately things out of fear

the video leaked again- won't get too much into that because of the subject matter, but the yeah the video leaked for the second time except this time way more people saw it/shared it and dnp actually had to respond to it this time. which is. just fucking awful and heartbreaking all around.

phil persona- basically this was the birth of the amazingphil persona that'd follow phil to the quiff era. he became more sanitized and less personable than original phil fans were used to (which got romanticized into uwu he's sad because he and dan broke up and now he's shutting down)

"no homo"- pretty self explanatory...people asked if they were gay (every single day constantly on every platform) and they would say no because what else are they going to say. this one particular vyou where dan's actually trying to make people think kills me (x) god he was so young. but they'd also started doing the "omg i don't want to see you naked/ew people want us to kiss" and the infamous "you need a girlfriend" "my future wife" etc etc.

the breakup rumors mostly stemmed from and became popular/ treated as fact by younger fans who kind of saw them as these fictionalized characters (which i mean not to blame them because they were literal children and youtubers were still so new that people did treat them like tv show characters you could be friends with). it also got turned into more sinister theories like the "dan is abusing phil" ones and "phil is actually gay but dan isn't and just used phil for attention and fame in 2009"

there was also factors like them moving to london in 2012 (and people were CONVINCED they'd stop being friends in london??), people thinking them getting popular would mean they'd get girlfriends like other popular youtubers (shoutout danrific shippers), and most importantly just them sharing less about their personal lives with their audience. like of course they're not going to live tweet their day/location anymore when people are showing up at their house and trying to find their families.

basically, dnp were putting boundaries between themselves and their fans, but the fans interpreted it as putting distance between each other. in actuality the 2012/2013 era was full of some really amazing memories and content and things people loved (literally the photobooth challenge is from 2013!! sleeping phil saying i hate you is from 2012!!!)

in conclusion, imagine building a forever home with your ex lmao

[astrxq]

Girlie, the fact that your stories aren’t famous yet is CRIMINAL

Ugh I just read your Cregan x northern!reader, my heart cracked, literally shattered, that shit made me feel things I didn’t even know a person could feel. My view on writing has forever changed, in the best way possible 💜💜

Could you maybe do a somewhat silly one, or just a fluffy one? I was in a buss crash a while ago, and I couldn’t really move my shoulder for a few days (don’t worry I’m fine now :>) and it kinda got me thinking, how would Cregan react to reader falling off their dragon (at a somewhat low altitude) but still like being kinda injured? Not that bad tho just a good ol’ bonk

oops… i took a bit to write this but! thank you soooo much anon <33 husband!cregan would feel so sick at the thought of you hurt but i also feel like he’d try to lecture you

You hadn't meant to fall.

The wind had been particularly strong that day, whipping across the volcanic plains of Dragonstone with an unusual ferocity. Your dragon, a magnificent beast of deep emerald scales, had been fighting against the currents all morning. Despite your years of experience riding, sometimes nature had other plans.

It happened in a heartbeat. A sudden gust caught your dragon's wing at precisely the wrong angle, and for a split second, the world tilted. Your fingers, that had been wrapped tightly around the saddle's leather straps, slipped.

The fall wasn't particularly high – perhaps thirty feet at most – but time seemed to stretch endlessly as you plummeted. You had just enough presence of mind to try to position yourself for the impact, as years of training had taught you.

The landing was still brutal.

Pain exploded through your right side as you hit the ground and rolled, your momentum carrying you across the rough terrain. When you finally came to a stop, every breath sent sharp daggers through your ribs. Your dragon's distressed roar echoed overhead, but it was another sound that caught your attention – the thundering of hooves approaching at a breakneck pace.

The world was in and out of focus as gentle hands lifted you onto a horse. Voices buzzed around you like angry bees, but you couldn't make out the words through the ringing in your ears. The journey to the castle passed in a blur of grey stone and concerned faces.

The maesters' chamber was warm and dimly lit when they brought you in. You drifted in and out of consciousness as they examined your injuries, their chains clinking softly as they moved around you. The pain in your ribs had settled into a dull throb, thanks to the milk of the poppy they'd given you upon arrival.

It could have been minutes or hours later when the heavy wooden door burst open with such force that it slammed against the stone wall. The sudden noise made you wince, but you'd know those footsteps anywhere – quick, purposeful, yet slightly uneven from an old injury. Cregan.

"Where is she?" His voice was rough with barely contained emotion. "Seven hells, why wasn't I informed immediately?"

"My lord," one of the maesters began, "we needed to assess–"

"Out," Cregan commanded, though his voice had dropped to a dangerous whisper. "All of you. Out."

The maesters filed out quietly, and for a moment, there was only silence. You kept your eyes closed, knowing what was coming – the lecture about being more careful, about taking unnecessary risks. But it didn't come.

Instead, you felt the gentlest touch on your cheek, so light it might have been your imagination. Then Cregan's breath hitched, a sound so soft and vulnerable it made your heart ache.

"You impossible woman," he whispered, and his voice shook ever so slightly. "Do you have any idea what it did to me, hearing you'd fallen? Seeing your dragon circling without you?"

You opened your eyes then, finding his face just inches from yours. The mighty Lord of Winterfell, the Wolf of the North, looked utterly wrecked. His dark hair was windswept, as if he'd run all the way from wherever he'd been when he got the news. There were lines of worry etched around his eyes that you'd never seen before.

"Well," you managed a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood, "at least I landed somewhat gracefully."

His expression didn't change, remaining serious and intense. You'd seen this look before – in council meetings, during war discussions – but never directed at you with such raw emotion. Just as you were about to apologize again, the corners of his mouth twitched, and slowly, like dawn breaking over the winter landscape, a smile spread across his face.

You shifted, trying to move over in the bed, but the sheets seemed determined to trap you. Your fingers fumbled with the thick blankets, each movement sending little sparks of pain through your bruised body.

Cregan was at your side in an instant. "What are you doing?" he asked, his hands hovering over you uncertainly.

"Make room for you," you murmured, still struggling with the stubborn bedding. "Help me?"

His expression softened impossibly further. Without a word, he gently untangled the sheets, his movements careful and deliberate. You watched as he shrugged off his heavy coat, the fur-lined garment falling to the floor with a soft thud. He bent to remove his boots, and you couldn't help but notice how his hands shook slightly – the only outward sign of how shaken he still was.

When he finally slid into bed beside you, it was with the utmost care, as if you were made of the finest Myrish glass. He settled on his side, propped up on one elbow, his other hand finding yours atop the blankets. Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to your temple.

You couldn't quite suppress the small whimper that escaped your lips. "Bruise," you explained at his alarmed look, "I think I'm collecting quite a few of them."

"Tell me where it doesn't hurt," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that you could feel in your chest. His free hand hovered over you, waiting for direction.

You considered for a moment, taking stock of your battered body. "My left pinky," you said with a hint of mischief, "seems to have escaped unscathed."

Cregan's laugh was quiet but genuine, warm breath ghosting across your skin. He lifted your left hand with exaggerated care and pressed a feather-light kiss to your smallest finger. "Anywhere else?"

"Mmm," you hummed thoughtfully, "the tip of my nose?"

He obliged, brushing his lips over the bridge of your nose with such tenderness that tears pricked at the corners of your eyes. When he pulled back, his grey eyes were soft with an emotion that made your heart flutter.

"I should be cross with you," he murmured, his fingers trailing carefully along your jawline, avoiding the visible bruises. "I had plans today, you know. Important meetings with the bannermen about winter preparations."

"And instead you're playing nursemaid to your reckless wife," you finished for him, trying to shift into a more comfortable position. A sharp intake of breath betrayed your discomfort, and immediately his hand was at your back, supporting you.

"Easy," he whispered, helping you settle.

His eyes searched your face for a moment before his lips quirked up in a small smile. "And what of your lips?" he asked softly. "Are they among the casualties?"

"A little sore," you admitted, but even as you said it, you were already tilting your chin up slightly, an invitation in the gesture. "Though I might be willing to risk it."

"Careful now," he murmured, even as he began to lean down. "I won't have you adding to your injuries."

You puckered up in response.

He smiled against your mouth before capturing your lips in the gentlest of kisses. It was barely more than a whisper of contact, but it held all the words he couldn't say – his fear, his relief, his love. His hand cradled the back of your head, fingers threading carefully through your hair, mindful of any hidden bumps or bruises.

When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with emotion. You could see the struggle in them – the desire to pull you closer warring with his fear of causing you pain. Always so careful with you, your warrior lord, even when his own heart was racing with need.

"I should let you rest," he said, though he made no move to leave.

"Stay," you whispered, your fingers curling into the fabric of his tunic. "Please. I'll rest better with you here."

He studied your face for a long moment before nodding. "As my lady commands," he said softly, settling back beside you. "Though you must promise to tell me if anything hurts."

"I promise," you murmured, already feeling the pull of sleep. The milk of the poppy was making your thoughts fuzzy around the edges, but you fought against it for a moment longer. "Cregan?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you," you managed through a yawn. "Even if I did ruin your important meetings."

His chest rumbled with quiet laughter. "The bannermen can wait," he said, pressing another kiss to your temple, careful to avoid the bruise this time. "You, my love, cannot. Now sleep. I'll be here when you wake."

As you drifted off, you felt him draw the blankets up higher around your shoulders. Your fingers remained fisted in his tunic, the fabric warm and solid beneath your touch. He didn’t try to pry them away, letting you hold onto him as though he was your lifeline – which, in many ways, he was. His thumb traced slow, soothing circles along your arm, the touch so gentle it was like a balm against the dull ache spreading through your body.

You were dimly aware of his other hand moving to stroke your hair, the callouses on his fingers surprisingly soft as they combed through the tangled strands. He whispered to you, voice low and steady, his words a mixture of reassurances and murmured promises that blurred together into a comforting hum.

“I think you just wanted an excuse to see if I’d come running.” he joked. His fingers traced the curve of your arm, each touch deliberate yet playful.

Your lips twitched into a faint smile, though your eyes stayed closed. “Mmm… not quite,” you murmured, your voice heavy with exhaustion but still carrying a trace of amusement.

You huffed a soft laugh, your fingers tightening in his tunic as if to refute him without words.

“I knew it,” he continued, his grin evident even in his voice. “All that trouble just so I’d come galloping in like some lovesick fool. You do realize, don’t you, that I would’ve come without you risking life and limb?”

His fingers moved to gently brush the hair from your face, and you could feel the tenderness in his touch despite the mock seriousness of his words.

“You’re insufferable,” you whispered, though the faint smile tugging at your lips betrayed the warmth blooming in your chest.

Cregan chuckled softly at your words, the sound low and warm, like a hearth fire in the dead of winter. His arm tightened around you, drawing you closer as though to prove a point – or perhaps to reassure himself that you were truly here, alive and safe. His lips found your temple, pressing one, two, three soft kisses there, each one slower and more deliberate than the last.

“You’ll be the death of me, woman,” he murmured against your skin, though his voice was laced with fondness. “But I think I’d welcome it.”

Your fingers loosened slightly in his tunic as the exhaustion finally overtook you. He felt the exact moment your breathing evened out, the tension melting from your body as sleep claimed you. Yet, even then, he didn’t let go.

Cregan stayed exactly as he was, holding you as though the act itself could shield you from harm. His fingers resumed their gentle tracing along your arm, and he pressed one last kiss to your hairline, his breath stirring the strands.

[mufos-photo-album]

I agree with this post, but I also somewhat disagree in other regards.

Like, in the past when speculating about what dyeing items in Sky would look like, I was always irked with the idea of having complete freedom with it. To me, doing so would remove the "identity" of each item, though that's not completely true since many of the Sky items are distinct enough even with their colors changed (except for the moth capes, which are all more or less the same and would suffer if you could dye the "main" parts of those capes).

I also think some limitations are fun to work around, though I do agree that some of the limitations of where you can dye are baffling.

Like, I think if there's any place you can't dye an item, it should be a region with neutral colors (such as black, white, or similar colors) or any accent regions (like the black trim of Dancing Performer's cape or the gold accents on the Ultimate Dreams cape). In this sense, I'm actually kinda fine with the dye regions on the Overactive Overachiever's cape ( which would be even better if the light fur was a more neutral color). With these neutral colors, they're more likely to go with any other color that the player should choose to pair with them.

As shown in the post though, there are quite a few capes where the un-dyeable regions are not neutral colors or accent regions, and this post elegantly displays the consequences of that. Like with the snowflake cape, only being able to dye the lower gradient almost locks the player into a certain range of colors because there's only so many colors that look good when blended with blue. A similar principle applies to the Peeking Postman's mask. What range of colors the player will pick is limited by the fact that their selection has to go with red and black, otherwise it'll look poor.

There's technically no limit on what color you can dye your items, though some items are aesthetically limiting by making you have to work with non-neutral colors that can't be changed.

Since I'm here I'll also discuss one exception (of a few, really) to my "neutral/accent colors should be the regions that are un-dyeable" preference: The dark rainbow cape. When I saw that this cape is dyeable I expected one of two things:

Either we could dye all of the stripes and the outside would remain unchanged

Or we could dye the outside and the inside would remain unchanged

Given that we can seemingly dye a max of two regions at a time and TGC's odd dye region selection, both of my predictions were wrong and we ended up with. This???

You can dye only two stripes inside the cape?? Like maybe it's a similar thing where if the player could only dye the outside of the cape they'd have a hard time matching the inner rainbow of the cape, but at the very least it could be helped that the exterior has a slight gradient (or at least I think it does...?) With only being able to dye two stripes, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a color combo that neatly goes from a saturated blue to an almost equally saturated red. I did find that changing one of the stripes to green does help with the "rainbow" look but I'm also not spending precious dye to "fix" this cape!!

I feel super let down by the season of radiance so far.. I expected wayyyy more customization then what we got in the capes and pants. So much so that I'm not excited by the future hat/face cosmetics becoming customizable at all.. Does anyone feel the same? <:/

(Beneath the keep reading I've put some close ups of the text and the before's and after's of each item. Just in case my tiny text was hard to read😅)

[phoenixyfriend]

Okay so we have like. An unusually high ratio of royalty/nobility among the Jedi. Dooku, Quinlan, Oppo, you can sort of count Adi or Xanatos or Bruck, etc. Lots of Jedi 'just happen' to come from royal, noble, or incredibly wealthy/powerful families.

So from this I want to posit four things:

If a royal family has a Force-Sensitive child, and hasn't had one in generations, they may think that sending that child to the Jedi would be a little like sending a child to join the Catholic Church in the middle ages: you get to influence the political choices of the highest religious power in Europe the Galactic Republic Government. (That said, Dooku was sent to the Jedi because his parents didn't want him and ||left him to die of exposure, basically, so that if the Jedi arrived too late they'd be picking up a baby corpse|| because they were so disdainful of Force-Sensitive individuals, and Quinlan wasn't sent to the Jedi so much as he escaped to them.)

They are all incredibly wrong about this, and royals raised as Jedi generally do not give any more of a shit about their home planets than any other planet. They care, of course, but they are not attached, because they are Jedi. Xanatos was an exception (afaik his dad sent him to the Jedi because he wanted to do the Catholic thing? and then Xanatos lost his mind). (Don't correct me on this, it's not really important if it was actually intended or not.)

This is achieved by way of Jedi from royal backgrounds having a mandatory high-level political class on how to handle royal court politics and general intrigue. It's not exclusive to the royal kids, but it is a prerequisite for them. They usually end up doing their home planets as case studies for capstone projects, in part because

Sometimes the planets try to call their errant royals back. It might be because the planet is struggling and genuinely running out of heirs/needs a change in leadership (Serreno) and it might be because it was the plan all along, but on the off chance that the Jedi decides they HAVE to leave the Order and take up a throne to keep an entire planet from kind of imploding on itself... that royal Jedi has to be ready to play the game. OR if they don't actually think they're REALLY needed there, they have to be trained on how to go, and be polite/avoid getting trapped/play the game until they can get the hell out of there, while also installing that cousin that nobody thought was strong enough but DOES understand how to run the treasury as the new king.

I'm just imagining this like. Very specific set of classes that are open to any Jedi that's taken the necessary prereqs, but is mandatory for people like Quinlan and Dooku and Oppo.

This was inspired by a post of mine that's getting circulated regarding QuinObi stuff and my thoughts about how Quinlan might have needed preventative training in case of political upheavals trying to pull him back to his home planet. I want to mess with the Politics Classes that Quinlan is taking because he has to and Obi-Wan is taking because Qui-Gon said he should.

Qui-Gon: You should take this class because I'm training you up as a negotiator and diplomat, and you will need it to interact with people when brokering trade deals or peace treaties. Tholme: You are taking this class because your aunt is insane and you have to be ready in case she tries to pull you back into the bullshit.

And as @firebirdeternal offered:

Quinlan: God this is the worst. So boring. At least Obi-Wan is stuck here too. Obi-wan: This is fascinating wow, I can't believe I almost didn't get to attend, Quinlan is so lucky he's automatically in these classes.

[midnight-mourning]

Sweet Seas

💘💘Midnight's DCA Valentine's Day 1💘💘

Starting out strong with some fish! And by strong i mean this is very syrupy sweet/fluffy, hope you enjoy!

Prompt: Tempest coming in once again with the fish. How about a scuba diver yn with a houseboat? Fish boys trying chocolate for the first time with yn? Maybe catching special fish for them?

Word Count: 2498

Read here if you prefer ao3!

💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌

The wind sweeps up your hair through the open window, making you clutch onto your hat with your free hand. You glance back down to your map, making sure you're at the right coordinates. You swore this was the right spot. If it's not, you'll be a little more than stressed about it. Though, you're sure that if it came down to it, they'd find you before you'd find them again. 

Still, you'd only been planning on a brief trip back to land, just to refuel, stock up on food, and so on. And get your mail. Which there was lots of. Much more than you'd have thought. Though, it'd been a month or so, and with Valentine's day around the corner, you should have expected it. All your family and friends had sent their gifts early, like to make sure you'd receive them in time. 

One of the initial cons to living out on your little houseboat was the lack of proper communication between you and the outside world, but you'd made it work for the most part. Besides, at this point you don't think you could go back to a normal day job, pencil pushing at a desk all day. No thanks. 

Being out on the open ocean, documenting the sea life you came across up close and reporting back your first hand accounts, you'd take that any day. The crisp sea air, the sparkling waters all around you, the shining stars at night, it was perfect. 

A loud thump on the other end of the boat resounds throughout, just slightly rocking you. 

There was also the added fact of the matter that if you returned to land again, two certain someone's would be a little more than displeased about it. 

It had been an accident, coming across the two mers during your travels. You didn't even know they were real, much less that they could be giant sea creatures. All hiding down below the surface of that vast expanse. 

Why these two had decided to befriend you as opposed to making you a light snack, you still weren't sure yourself. Rather, after the initial shock on both sides, they'd seemingly grown rather fond of you, as you had them. Exchanging stories and laughter and the likes.

Both were rather large fans of affection and the likes, fighting over head scratches and forehead kisses. They loved to bring you things, as well, you'd noticed. Initially lots and lots of fish, though once you explained you had your own food they switched to things like shells or random human things that had sunk below. But also more fish—alive this time—for your research. 

You'd documented this in your own private research, especially their reactions to your reactions to the gifts. They always seemed to be seeking approval for some reason, and you were always sure to give it, but they seemed to be looking for something, more. You just weren't sure yet as to what. 

Another thump pulls you out of your thoughts. You grin to yourself, switching your controls to off so that you're now simply drifting along, and hurry outside. 

At first you don't see any sign of either of them. But then there's another thump, a little larger. This time you wobble on your feet and scowling as you scan around. Off to your left you see the edge of a yellow fin just barely peeking above the railing's edge. Another knock, and you hear snickering. 

You huff, but play along. "Well, I wonder what in the world that knocking could be. I sure hope I haven't run along a reef."

"Do it again, again!" You hear a not-so hushed whisper from the yellow fin's direction. 

Again, the boat rocks. You're not impressed. 

You sigh, turning as if to head back inside. "I guess I have no choice but to turn back then. What a shame, I was so excited to see the boys too." 

You stomp as if to head back to the controls and wait, listening. 

"They're, they're leaving!" Panic now. 

Another voice, harsher in its whispering. "It's a trick! They would never."

You hear an argument begin to form and you make your way to the railing, peeking over with a smug smirk. 

"You know, if you're going to pull a prank, maybe speaking in a language I can understand isn't your best idea. And also hiding a bit better would help too."

Both the mers in the water whip to look at you. 

"Told you." The blue and white one grumbles, though he appears undeniably relieved.

The sunny one ignores him, instead jumping up to grab the railing to meet you eye to eye. It forces you to step back to avoid getting headbutt by his much larger face. Water splashes all around him, and the resulting swells rock your boat, Sun oblivious as ever to his own strength and size. 

"Sunbeam! You're finally back!" He chirps, causing you to laugh. He sets his elbows on the railing, looking at you expectantly. 

You shake your head and reach out to give him scratches and such. You swear you think you hear him begin to purr as you stand on your tiptoes to kiss his forehead. "And you're already begging for attention, color me surprised."

Moon makes room for himself beside the other mer. "To be fair, it's been several days."

"Don't act like you didn't follow me as far as you could." You scoff, switching to give the lunar mer pets now, much to Sun's displeasure. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

Moon tsks, but revels in the attention just as much. "You certainly acted like it."

"Oh, did someone have to find food for himself for once?" You coo, planting a kiss to his cheek as he grumbles. 

Sun whines, either from lack of attention or being called out, hard to say. "It was terrible, Sunshine! Just the worst."

"Well you're both still alive and well, so I think you fended for yourselves just fine." 

Their shared grins all but confirm such, and you sigh as you step back again. "You're lucky I like you both so well, otherwise I wouldn't be sharing the candy I got while I was gone."

They watch as you enter the nearest door, snatching up your Valentine's gifts and coming back out to the deck to sit and open them. 

"Candy? Nothing like that sharp stuff from last time, right?" Sun scrunches his features. 

You chuckle. "No, no pop rocks this time,"—You hold up a heart shaped-box—"Chocolate! I think it's fish-safe." You examine the ingredients list, muttering more to yourself. "At least I think so."

You open the package and pop a chocolate into your mouth, savoring it. "Man, I love Valentine's day. Here, go long." You pick out a piece and raise your arm. Sun checks the memo, and mouth wide, you toss the chocolate his way. His jaw opens and snaps shut in an instant, and as he chews the—relatively small piece in comparison to himself—his eyes widen. 

"Good right?" You ask, doing the same for Moon. 

Sun nods rapidly, with Moon humming in agreement. 

You continue to indulge and share, opening your letters and valentine's cards. 

"Why are all your letters red and pink?" Moon asks, features quizzical. 

You snap your fingers. "Shoot! I didn't explain what Valentine's is, did I?"

Both mers shake their heads. 

You briefly give a rundown on the holiday, the traditions, and so on. They listen intently as you explain, soaking up all the information they could, as usual. 

"So when someone gives things like chocolate, cards, and so on, that means they're saying they love the recipient, right?" Sun questions slowly, uncertain. 

You nod, tossing another candy his way and eating a piece of your own. "Pretty much!" 

At this both mers turn to each other, voices hushed as they speak in that tongue you've not even begun to try and decipher. They seem rather excited about whatever it is they're talking about though. 

You're about to inquire as to what they're discussing when Sun suddenly disappears under the water, leaving you with just Moon. 

"Oh, leaving already?" You're surprised, you'd have thought they'd hang around longer since you'd been gone. 

Moon chuckles, there's an atypical lightness to it. "Not quite. How would you feel about a swim, Sweetfin?"

"As long as it's not too cold." You say, standing up with a stretch. "Give me a few to put this all away and change."

"Take your time." He drawls. 

You head inside, put everything away, and get into your wetsuit. When you walk back out on deck, you're flabbergasted at the sight before you. 

In a—rather large—pile are an assortment of 'treasures' as the mers had insisted upon calling them. Dozens of shells, sea glass, and more was piled up on your deck

 Before you can say anything there's a splash and Sun emerges from the water with even more to add to the pile, beaming upon noticing you. 

You're bewildered. "What's all this?"

"You got us something, it was only fair that we return the favor! Though, we've been trying for some time now, but it's good to know that's how it works with humans! Not that it matters now, but still."

Your brows furrow. "...How what works with humans?"

"Courting of course! If we knew it was a mutual exchange of gifts we would have been more patient." Sun chuckles

It takes a moment, then it all clicks into place for you. That's what all the gifts had meant. They'd been, trying to—your face starts to burn. Partly from embarrassment, partly from your own foolishness for not realizing sooner. You're also, incredibly flattered. You'd had a bit of crush, but had brushed it off because it seemed improbable that they'd feel the same. 

You shake your head, nodding as you start putting on your diving gear. "Right. Makes sense. My um, apologies for not responding sooner." You notice then that Moon's missing. "What happened to Moon?"

"He's waiting down below, we have something we want to show you." 

You glance up, eyes narrow. "What's 'something'?"

Sun's smirk reveals nothing. Hand tracing the water as you hop up onto the railing. "Something you'll really like, that's all."

"Well now I'm a bit suspicious, but I guess I'll go along with it." You adjust your goggles and your mask.

Once you're situated, Sun offers his hand to gently lower you in the water, coming face to face with a snicker. "Good. You weren't going to have much a choice, Starshine."

You shoot him a glare, but allow him to lead you down into the depths. You swim across large reefs brimming with fish, around vents and past seagrass forests. It stops being familiar territory after a bit, the terrain becoming rockier, and semi barren. At a certain point, Sun looks back to you and points to your tank, then down. 

You give a thumbs up, and he nods. 

You end up at the entrance to a massive cave, and after a moment Moon appears from the cave mouth. He and Sun chitter back and forth to each other, then Moon takes your other hand and they both take you inside. Upon entering, it's initially pretty dark, save for the glow of their eyes and fins. But going deeper a glow starts to appear all around you, and the cave grows wider until it opens up wider. 

Looking up, you can see there's an air pocket in space above you. You're not too far below the surface, and the boys seem fine as they break the water, so you do the same. Peeking out above the water, you find a massive open space, filled with various trinkets and the likes. On the ceiling above you, various plants emit a soft glow, similar to the glow in the water around you. 

You swim over to the edge of the pool, and with a bit of help, hop up onto it.

With a bit of hesitation, you remove your mask and are—thankfully—pleasantly surprised to take in a bit of breathable air. 

"This is, beautiful..." You look all around you. "How'd you find this place?"

Moon snickers, getting partly out of the water to sit next to you. His arm pulls you into his side and you feel your face warm again. "It's our home. You've shared yours with us for so long, it's only right we share ours."

"S-share?"

"Only if you'd like. Whenever you'd like." Sun rests his head in your lap, grin sharp. "Though we're hoping that will be often."

You put a hand up to hide your face. All this because of some Valentine's chocolate. You're not opposed, but you do feel overwhelmed, and guilty for not catching on sooner. Not to mention having given nothing in return beside a few measly pieces of candy. 

"Is everything alright, Star?" Moon asks. 

You nod. "It's, great, trust me. I just feel awful that you've been working so hard to... impress me, and I've gotten you nothing in return." You put up a hand as they start to take up for you. "No, really. I gave you a couple of tiny bits of chocolate! I'm gonna make it up to you. I promise. Whatever you'd like, consider it done."

"It's not necessary." Moon scoffs.

You shake your head. "It is!"

You bicker back and forth, then Sun clears his throat, grabbing your attention. 

"Well, there is something you can do..." He trails off, then looks but looks up to you with puppy eyes. 

Immediately you know exactly what he's thinking. "Oh, you're serious aren't you? They're an endangered species!"

"You said borderline! Pretty please? I'll give you the prettiest pearl I can find!" Sun takes your hand, kissing your wrist then snuggling into it. It doesn't slip by you how Moon's hold on your waist tightens just a tinge. Neither does the slight grin that flashes across Sun's features for a moment as he continues his actions.

You shake your head at their antics. Honestly, how you didn't catch on sooner is beyond you. 

"This is supposed to be my gift to you, silly. I'm the one in debt here." You sigh, folding near immediately. "Fine. But only a handful, that's it. If you eat them all up, there won't be any left."

Sun cheers, and Moon chuckles. "It's appreciated, Sweetfin."

"Told you they'd give in eventually." Sun snickers and you gasp. 

Moon's laughter rumbles against you. "You were right, I shouldn't have doubted their adoration. Or the tenderness of their heart."

You scowl at the two of them, grumbling as they coo and fawn over you to make up for their deceit. In all reality, you don't mind too much, you feel it's justified considering they've been trying so long to make their feelings clear to you. 

And now, you'd make yours clear to them.

💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌

Thank you @rosescarletful for the adorable little prompt! I had a lot of fun with the environments for this one, and making the fish very flirty and such hehe ^^

Tag list (if you would like added, simply say so!):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8 @luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @milosmantis @robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva @juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml @divinit3a @amarynthian-chronicles @crystalfay

[panlight]

Tbh I've always thought that what really fucked Bella up in New Moon was the fact that Edward took all of her photos of him and left her without any evidence that he really even existed. And the Cullen leaving just felt like part of that. If they'd stayed but he still took her stuff, she probably would've done better, but if they left and she had her stuff, she also probably would've done better.

Like, in Twilight, Bella did almost die. She brushes it off but I wish New Moon had delved more into how traumatic that would've been, like instead of having nightmares about aging, she could've been having nightmares about James, and how fragile she is as a human. And everyone except for the Cullen think that she just fell down a flight of stairs, scary but not traumatizing. So when the cullens left, everyone that knew the truth was gone, and anyone she could be honest with was gone. Which isn't on them but it seems a little irresponsible, like it's against the law to tell humans the truth so we are going to leave the one human we told alone and never check in on her and make sure she isn't a) losing her mind or b) telling other people. If they owe her anything, they don't owe it to her as Edward's ex-girlfriend, they owe it her as someone that Edward and Alice brought into their world and endangered.

Aside from that, though, the fact that Edward took any trace of him meant that not only could she not be honest with anyone around her, she can't grieve the relationship properly and also she has no *tangible* evidence that he wasn't human. At least in photos you could see the paleness and the eyes. All she has is the scar James' left, which is probably wrapped in its own traumatic memories. If you had to lie to everyone around you for 6ish months, then the only people you could tell the truth to disappear and the only "evidence" you have of the truth also disappears, and you *still* have to lie to everyone around you, wouldn't you lose it a little bit? Wouldn't you start to wonder if you hallucinated the whole thing?

Like, when she sees Laurent, she's actually excited at first. Here is evidence that I did almost die in Phoenix! Here is someone I can be honest with! Here is proof that I'm not crazy! Seeing Laurent isn't painful for her the way that thinking about Edward is, she doesn't try to avoid him or have a panic attack at first.

To me, Bella's depression in new moon wasn't just about the break-up. It was also about how knowing about vampires isolated her from her human friends and family, and when the vampires left, she was alone. There were too many secrets between her and other humans for them to have normal relationships with them. Even if the cullens stayed and she avoided them, at least she knows it was real.

She's also in more danger from other vampires for the rest of her life because she knows, because anyone could come across her and say "shoot, she puts us in danger of exposure, gotta kill her I guess."

Still, I feel like people pay too much attention to the question "hey, is it messed up or not that the cullens left?" and not "hey, is it messed up or not that Edward basically stole Bella's things when he left?"

Yeah this makes sense to me. How being cut off from the vampire world and not having any proof it was even real would mess with someone. Not being able to talk honestly about what you've been through with someone. Edward is trying for a 'clean break' but in doing so removes the proof that he and the whole family was real.

What I never got about the 'abandoned' argument was like "how could Esme and Carlisle abandon their daughter!" because I just did not read their relationship like that. That birthday party in New Moon did not read to me as a family celebrating one of their own; it read as a family trying to be welcoming to a family member's newish partner. They like her. They care about her. But they don't know her that well yet and she doesn't know them that well yet. That conversation she had with Carlisle over stitches is not a conversation you have with your dad or even with your father-in-law; it's a conversation you have with someone you're still getting to know. She's asking him like, really basic stuff about the whole vegetarian thing. At this point in the story she doesn't even know Rosalie and Jasper's backstories yet. She doesn't seem to ever learn Esme's full story. Canonically, Emmett and Rosalie had been in Africa; Bella says at the birthday part it's been months since she's seen them. She and Edward have only been dating for six months, which is a long time for a high school kid, but it's literally nothing for immortal vampires.

The sense I got from New Moon was that the Cullens were still trying to figure out how this was going to end with Edward and Bella. And we learn from Midnight Sun he was planning to leave all along. I feel like Bella thought this was permanent and the "future, the family" she had chosen, but I don't think the Cullens were looking at it the same way. No one was using the word 'mate' in canon; Edward and Bella were not engaged, there was no plan to make her a vampire. Everything was still in limbo. I think Bella loved the idea of being part of this big family but I don't think she really knew them as individuals yet except Edward and Alice (even Emmett, again canonically, was not around that summer to bond with).

Obviously everyone has different headcanons, but there's roughly where mine is. I'm sure they were sorry to leave and that, other than Rosalie, they liked her, but I think they already had a sense that this arrangement between Edward and Bella might not, could not, last. I don't feel like they thought they were leaving behind a family member, just a could-have-been family member. She's like Bree Tanner in Eclipse; they would have happily taken her in. But they hadn't yet and they can't like, force Edward to keep dating her.

But yeah I think the disorientation of having no evidence (except the stereo; she clawed that out of the dashboard herself, didn't she?) and having no one to talk about it with is the real issue; THAT would take a toll on anyone's mental health even without the break up. I just didn't feel like she actually cared that much about the Cullens beyond that; hence the Scenario 2 the other day where Edward stayed but everyone else left. I think she'd feel guilty that she separated Edward from his family but that would be it. If she had Edward, she wouldn't be super bothered to not have the others around.

[lovelessrage]

Hey! I want to address this response I got, because it is part of the problem I'm talking about in this post.

[Image ID: A screenshot of Tumblr tags. It reads: #i feel like this assumption that every allo is sex-favourable by standard is also making them sound like #they'd be controlled by their brain chemicals only and have no choise over their own desires #as an aroace it's sometimes very difficult to understand how the whole thing about attraction works #and it's not helping when allos literally keep saying things like they just wanna fuck instantly when they think someone's attractive /End ID]

The assumption that sexual desire makes you "controlled by brain chemicals", that favourability implies lack of choice and just "following base instincts"? Also rape culture's unconscious biases. The assumption that it is linked inheritely to having sex to also be "out of control"? A common excuse for rape, "how could she resist him? How could he not do it?", and also just fundamentally rude to sex favourable people to say that the implication of sex favourability comes with becoming a passenger in your own brain.

Also, I, the OP of this post, am the allo that wants to fuck instantly after attraction. It is not our fault that our attractions are confusing to you. It is not our responsibility to become something you see as easier to understand. This post is not about shame, or about palatability. Our existence does not create rape culture; rapists do. You may not have intended to be rude, or to imply these things, but that's what rape culture, and, further, sex negativity, as a societal influence creates.

[Image ID: Another screenshot. It reads: #i just think everything abotu sexuality and attraction and whatnot is not as b&w as what people (especially allos) make it sound like /End ID]

As a further comment to this as well, I made this post about what I saw from aspecs. None of what I said was sourced from experience with allos, although they perpetuate it. It was, entirely, from things I observed within thr aspec community, and how we, as long as we turn away from it and refuse responsibility, will perpetuate it as well. We do not get to divert blame from ourselves for these biases existing. Aspecs need to take responsibility for our role in perpetuating rape norms and anti-consent biases instead of always blaming allos for our problems. We still live in the same society they do. We do not have special privilege that exempts us.

Are we ready for the "assuming allosexual automatically means sex favourable is a byproduct of rape culture" conversation or are we not there yet.

[marzipanandminutiae]

Saw a post where you mentioned you broke into an abandoned mental hospital during college and I gotta ask: Did you go to GCSU? if not, how many fucking colleges have abandoned mental hospitals nearby?

I went to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, actually

it was the Belchertown State School in Belchertown, MA, which no longer exists (although there were, from 1992 to 2006, two abandoned mental hospitals nearby- BSS and the Northampton State Hospital)

also, to clarify a bit, my friend and I didn't "break in" in a literal sense. that just sounds more dramatic than "a door was off its hinges in one building and another had a ground-floor window open." my friend, a lifelong local to the area, had broken into boarded-up buildings on the campus with a crowbar before, but I was concerned about the police station next door and had never done urban exploration before. so we stuck to places we could enter without any Breaking required

I should also add that we never had any intent to vandalize, steal, etc. we only wanted to look around and that's all we did. as with many such places, BSS was shut down largely due to inhumane conditions, and we didn't want to make light of the ill treatment people had suffered there. we just wanted to see the abandoned buildings

it was wild. looking back, I'm not sure Enter An Abandoned Hospital Building With Only One Friend, A Phone That's Getting Sporadic Reception In Said Building, And A Powerful Flashlight is something I'd do again, even though it was the middle of the day- they don't show you in fiction that when those windows are boarded up, that's heavy-duty plywood. it's not just a few measly little planks at an angle. it was DARK in there, punctuated only by places where skylights had been left uncovered, and the occasional room where the window coverings had fallen or been prised away. One of those rooms had an antique wheelchair in it, near the window; one of the eeriest things I've ever personally seen

navigating stairwells was a bit of a nightmare. it had rained recently, too, so the floors were wet and gritty. I ended up ruining a cheap pair of ballet flats and throwing them away afterwards

and for weeks afterwards, I couldn't stop imagining every building I entered in the same state. now that I knew what decades of abandonment looked like

anyway they tore BSS down in 2016, the year after I graduated. I think it had developed a problem with arsonists, and they'd been wanting to do something with the land anyway. plans for an assisted living facility have gone back and forth since 2014, finally being approved last year according to a news article I just found. not sure if it's been actually built yet or what

[dailyfigures]

unpopular opinion (maybe): nendoroids are devolving in quality AND selection. feels like gsc is trying to gather a wider audience with stuff like spongebob, optimus prime, goofy or any marvel movie. not that it's necessarily a bad thing (i own an among us nendoroid okay) but is it even making a profit? i always see them on sale after a release. same with anime of the season-type of stuff.

wish they'd focus on stuff that's actually popular with collectors and not try to hook in people who probably aren't that interested.

strongly agree | agree | neutral | disagree | strongly disagree

yeah i don't know what in gods name good smile is doing but i'm not a fan of it. nowadays you're lucky if you nendoroid comes with a neutral face, a slight smile and a slight frown and maybe an extra waving hand. they haven't exactly gotten cheaper either so i have personally completely lost interest in nendoroids. i think the one thing i would still buy is a miffy nendoroid.....oh miffy my dearest beloved......

i also don't think the american media nendoroids are working. i think some stuff that is already popular amongst collectors who like cute things, like snoopy, do work but i don't know who is out here buying suicide squad nendoroids. honestly a shame they're not making decent products for the collectors who have supported their brand all these years.

send me your unpopular figure opinions

[fantasy-anatomy-analyst]

How would you realistically design "vertebrate" creatures with tentacles like the Displacer beasts from d&d? All I can think of is probably treat them like extra limbs? Like make sure the tentacles have enough space away from the other limbs?

for the sake of this subject, I'm classifying "tentacles" as "any boneless appendage that is capable of movement" even though that's not the real definition lol.

this category can apply to a lot of things in fantasy design, like extra long eyestalks, barbels, and the tentacles on a displacer beast, which have toothy looking spikes at the ends.

Luckily, the fact that they're boneless means tentacles and similar appendages are easier to add to various vertebrate creatures like the displacer beast! all you need is a long chunk of muscle, and you can probably get away with making them quite thin since they are just pure muscle. aside from the spikes, in the case of a displacer beast. but we can say those are made of keratin or something, it's fine lol.

For the most part, I think if you want to add tentacles to a vertebrate, specifically the prehensile type you find on cephalopods, you won't need to put too much space between other muscles, just like scoot things over a bit. muscles are already pretty well layered, and these ones don't need a specific bone attachment! The thicker and more powerful you want to make those tentacles, the more space they'll need and the less priority the other limbs will get in terms of musculature.

Displacer beasts do have an extra challenge though, because they also have a third set of legs. six-legged felines with big squid-like tentacles that have a whole toothy club at the end. it's a bit much, honestly! I think if one set of legs was a bit smaller, the tentacles would fit better. frankly, I'm not sure what the extra legs are for, aside from Cool Factor, but if one of those front pairs of legs looked like they served a distinctly different purpose then they'd make more sense lol.

(image description: sketches of creatures with some form of fleshy appendages. at the top is a sketch of an amphibious goblin and a catfish, showing off the barbels on their faces that act like whiskers. at the bottom there's a displacer beast and a squid, showing off their similar tentacles with club-shaped ends. the displacer beast resembles a large cat like a panther, with two tentacles on its back and two sets of front legs. the front legs here have been drawn smaller and folded up, with longer clawed toes than their other feet. end description.)

[hyperions-light]

@uchidachi requested I do this one, and now that the activity around it has calmed down a bit, I thought it’d be fun!

I’ve briefly considered this topic before, but thinking about it for longer I’m pretty sure that if Lucanis or Neve brought this up (lbr here, it’d be Lucanis) it would start a fight lol

Marriage sounds like it involves a whole bunch of things Leth doesn’t like such as

-rules

-legal proceedings

-interacting with authority figures

-politics

However, they do love parties and wearing fancy clothes, so it has that going for it.

Putting the rest under the cut, bc long lol

But I think ultimately the idea would kind of freak them out, because then like… what about Teia and Viago? They have a weird situationship going on that they don’t want to give up or have to think too hard about, and marriage might complicate it. Being freaked out would immediately cause them to start an argument, and then they’d probably run away and hide for some amount of time. (Leth’s instincts always say: fight until you can run, run until you can hide)

If they were eventually convinced (hard but not impossible) it would have to be a wedding where all three of them get married, because they'd think it was unfair, otherwise.

And then probably Lucanis would regret his decision because it would turn into the biggest, most elaborate party in the history of Treviso. Leth has never even met half of the people who show up. Teia is over the moon because any wild, extravagant thing she suggests Leth will enthusiastically cosign. Everyone is invited. EVERYONE. It should be a huge security risk because so many Talons (and the Black Divine and the Archon) are in the same place at once but everyone is so heavily armed it would be suicide to attack them. They probably ask Solas if he and Lavellan want to stop holding the sky together briefly so they can come too. Yes, the necromancers can bring the Necropolis skeletons. Of course Vorgoth is invited! Tell uncle Eldrin to bring the griffons!

Probably the only thing that Leth would actually debate with Teia about is clothes. They don't want to wear a dress (they aren't as good at stabbing people in them. What if they have to stab someone?), they want NEVE to wear a dress. There is a LOT of debating back and forth about color schemes and fabrics and tailoring. I think it's like Divine Conclave level serious; Teia and Leth are locked in a room for a week and everyone else goes in and out periodically looking utterly exhausted. They figure it out eventually, though. They find the right shades of purple and turquoise so that everything looks cohesive.

I think the biggest Issue with the wedding is probably politics. There's the Crow house alliance to worry about, which Viago would get huffy over, and there's Caterina. Viago is very convinced that if Leth is around Caterina for any substantive period of time, they are going to annoy her into killing them, so he's spent a lot of time impressing on them that they should stay tf away from her. But she's going to be their grandmother-in-law now! There's probably a lot of traditions to fulfill, like formal meetings and interviews and evaluations and dinners which will stress Lucanis out! Leth endures it with uncomfortable bemusement. They only irritate Caterina a moderate amount-- she definitely whacks them with that cane at least once. It's fine, though! Leth likes grumpy people and is good at dodging.

I think the celebration is like... Carnival or Mardi Gras, essentially. It lasts a week, no one leaves when they're supposed to, everyone is horribly inebriated. They need healers because the Lords of Fortune tried to play their drinking game in the canals and got sick immediately. People show up late; they go and come back and somehow the party is still happening. Lucanis, Neve and Viago definitely tap out at some point-- meanwhile, Teia, Illario, Isabela, and Leth are having an amazing time! It's sort of also a party to celebrate the apocalypse being averted?

I think Taash would make it through the whole time, Davrin would last a while but he has to do Griffon Wrangling eventually. Emmrich is out after like day two. Manfred would stay the whole time. Bel would have fun but I think she would get burned out on it eventually. I think all the faction leaders show at some point, but they also either 1) have stuff to do 2) do NOT want to spend a week in the middle of this chaos, so I think probably by the end it's just Teia and Isabela left.

Leth brings some of Harding's fade plants to decorate the venue and hand-delivers an invitation to Harding's mom. They order a barrel of that nasty shit they serve in the Hanged Man, and pour one out for Varric-- maybe Bianca sneaks in there at some point. There's probably a dramatic reading of Varric's least favorite book, just so Leth can annoy him in the afterlife.

I think it ends up sort of cathartic for everyone? Like, the wedding is why they come, but everyone needs to unwind from all the terrible shit that happened.

I think the actually romantic part is probably after, during the honeymoon. They just go somewhere quiet and isolated where Leth can make sure their two workaholic partners do absolutely nothing productive for two uninterrupted weeks. Treviso and Docktown will be okay without them, for a minute-- Viago and Elek promised.

Also after that Leth is bringing Lucanis and Neve to meet their clan, because they don't live with them anymore, but that doesn't mean they aren't important. Maybe the quiet, sincere version of the ceremony happens there, with nobody else around? And Leth is bullying them into matching tattoos, which they will do themself.

Hey, hope you all had a good weekend! Unfortunately, it’s Monday =/ Fortunately, it’s time for Rook Intro Hour! 🍀🌺🌼🌸

How it works: I ask you a question about your Rook(s) and you answer it with as much brevity or verbosity as you desire. You can do this whenever you want, and I’ll reblog it + add some comments! There’s no time limit— if you want to do the older ones, they are collected here! (The post is updated on Fridays!)

Today’s Question(s): Does your Rook want to get married to their LI(s)? Do they care about where? Is there a specific tradition/traditions they want to follow, when they do? Who would they invite? What would they wear?

Have fun & thanks for sharing!

[hooksbooks]

Renegade Exchange '24: Her Kingdom As Great

I participated in @renegadeguild's typesetting and bound fic exchange, in which we trade typsetting/bound fic wishlists with other participants and then typseset/bind at least one fic from their list and send it to them.

This post is about the first fic I bound for @celestial-sphere-press: Her Kingdom As Great by MarbleGlove.

I was excited to see this fic on my requester's wishlist, because I've read this series in the past and really enjoyed it. I liked the imagery of the golden wheat berries from the Nearly Endless Plains being used in embroidery on clothing, so I wanted the cover to feature embroidered wheat sheaves.

My first step was to work on the book cloth. I knew I wanted something tan that looked kind of hand-woven, so I went to the fabric store and got some linen-look fabric that I liked. I also experimented with three different ways of making it into bookcloth: backed with tissue paper filled with Heat'n'Bond (right), filled with a 50/50 mix of starch paste and matte acrylic medium (bottom), and filled with the paste/medium mix with a piece of tissue paper on the back (top).

I ended up liking the last option the best, though it meant the fabric lost the slubby linen-like texture I had selected it for. I wanted to go all-in on the tan wheat-tone theme, so I also printed the text on cream paper instead of white (the right typeset in the picture above).

I also added a tan bookmark, embroidered on gold headbands, and added an oxford hollow (although this book is a bit too thin to really need it).

When I went to cover the book, I had every intention of using gold HTV foil. However, I didn't take into account how the beads would inhibit me moving the iron around like I usually do with HTV (to avoid issues with the steam holes). It didn't end well. In fact, it ended very horribly.

The foil only partially stuck, and when trying to use the tip of the iron to apply heat only on the bits that hadn't stuck, the iron left a big black stain on my bookcloth. Luckily, it came out pretty well with a bit of baking soda on a nearly-dry toothbrush. I ended up asking a neighbor for some gold paint and using some regular vinyl as a stencil, which worked out OK. I found out later that it works better if you put down a layer of acrylic medium or the like first to avoid bleeding around the edges, but you live and learn.

Technical details:

Quarto size (quarter-letter, about A6)

Sewn on tapes

Sewn-on made endpapers

Chisel-trimmed

Rounded but not backed

Sewn-on endbands

Sewn-on bookmark

Oxford hollow

The tapes are frayed and glued to the exterior of the boards

The mull is also glued to the exterior of the boards

Full bookcloth cover

Things I especially liked about this bind:

The embroidery. It turned out pretty much exactly how I had envisioned it

The filled bookcloth. I don't think I'll do it by default, but I liked how it turned out and I like having it as an option in my back pocket

Things I'd like to improve for next time:

The title. I don't mind the paint rather than HTV foil, but I didn't love that it bled under the edges of the stencil. Next time I'll try using acrylic medium to seal the edges first, and see how that turns out.

The endpapers. I've been applying my endpapers with the covers open because I was concerned that they'd pull weird and possibly rip at the hinge. Unfortunately, this causes a big wrinkle in the endpapers that does not look nice. I figured out while doing the back endpaper that it actually is just fine to apply the endpapers as I close the covers on them because of the way I taper my boards and glue the mull on the outside of the cover.

Overall I'm moderately pleased. It's the highest-effort book I've made so far, and it turned out nearly how I had envisioned it with only minor issues.

[tokiro07]

Ichi the Witch ch.19 thoughts

[I'll Get You Next Time, Magik! Next time!!!]

(Topics: narrative analysis - arc progression/world-building, character analysis - World Hater/Ichi, speculation)

Aww, the ceiling battle's over already? Maaan...

It makes sense, though. You gotta save something for later, otherwise you can't escalate and everything is either stagnant at best or a deheightening at worst. Zoro vs. Mihawk didn't explain what Haki was, it just showed how vast the gap in power and skill was between the early-game Straw Hats and the One Piece world's strongest fighters

Looking at it through that lens, Desscaras vs. World Hater accomplished its goal quite well. Like I said last week, what took everything out of Ichi was a casual attack for Desscaras, World Hater still comes off as a viable threat because they were able to harm Desscaras despite her overwhelming power, and both still have room to impress and surprise us because we only got a small sample of their capabilities

It also establishes that brute force isn't enough to contend with World Hater. We already knew that since they're a Magik and can only be defeated through their trial, but at least now we know that their trial isn't related to hitting them in any one target spot. As they say, "merely being the strongest isn't nearly enough to effect me"

What this means is that, while being strong may turn out to be a prerequisite to pass, another element will be vital for defeating World Hater. I think it goes without saying that Ichi will be the key to determining what that element is, since his entire role in the narrative so far has been to defy conventional wisdom and tradition, but whether that means that only Ichi can acquire World Hater or will simply facilitate someone else doing so (personally I'd bet on Kumugi) remains to be seen

The odd thing about this, though, is that if Desscaras couldn't hope to beat World Hater, why did World Hater leave?

This Calls for a Tactical Retreat

Theoretically, World Hater's strength should be inexhaustible, while clearly Desscaras was starting to run out of steam. Sooner or later, no matter what Desscaras threw out at them, World Hater should have been able to overtake her and eliminate her as a threat

Perhaps it was because Togeice showed up? Togeice is more analytical than Desscaras, so perhaps World Hater assumed she might be capable of figuring out their trial?

That doesn't seem very likely, since I don't think World Hater has any way of knowing who Togeice even is. If they aren't familiar with her or her abilities, they shouldn't be able to assess her threat level so easily, and given how nonchalant they've been against their other opponents so far, it's not like they're a generally cautious fighter in the first place

In fact, it wasn't Togeice's appearance that prompted World Hater to retreat - it was the disappearance of their target, the villagers. It was only upon noticing the villages leaving the barrier that World Hater decided there wasn't a point to combat any longer, even if it would have meant, again, eliminating major threats

I have two guesses as to why that might be the case:

World Hater can only exist in the world for so long consecutively, and didn't have time to chase down his targets after they'd escaped his barrier

Facilitating the escape of World Hater's targets is related to their trial

The first is supported by the fact that World Hater isn't just constantly warping towns day after day, but instead only appears once in a blue moon to target one or two at once. However, as far as we can tell, it's been years since their last appearance, but we know they're going to come back much faster this time simply by virtue of the story requiring it to advance, so a consistent hard limit on their presence seems somewhat unlikely

The second would definitely explain why he'd be in such a hurry to go, as even if there were another step to take to actually pass the trial, it would certainly be much easier to do once the first hurdle was cleared. However, nothing about World Hater's demeanor seemed to indicate that they were actually worried about that possibility, but this might be a matter of World Hater's character acting and lack of strong emotions

Either way, the incongruence of World Hater's decision to leave seems to carry some interesting implications about them that I hope will bear fruit later, but that really isn't the main draw of this chapter

No, the much more important element of this chapter is the new piece of world-building: the Magic Circle, or a Witch's inner world

Domain Expansion Lite

When we enter Ichi's inner world, we learn two things:

That it resembles Ichi's ideal form of a mountain forest

That all of Ichi's acquired Magiks currently reside there

I'm ecstatic that Inazuri and Uruwashi are both still around and not just completely dormant in their magic stones, as this means that there is still a method for both of them to still function as characters without necessitating that every acquired Magik be everpresent and crowding the narrative. It allows Nishi to use them on an as-needed basis rather than needing Usazaki to have them constantly and uselessly taking up panel space

I am curious how Nishi is going to use this concept, though. Ichi only ended up in his Magic Circle because he was knocked out fighting World Hater, but this is his third time passing out from using Uroro, and yet he didn't end up here before? That's a little odd. I assume he'll be able to come and go as he pleases once he has a bit more training and familiarity with magic, but to what end?

Does time move differently in one's inner world like it does in Bleach? Will he be able to train with his Magiks in there? Will he be able to manifest his inner world like a Jujutsu Sorcerer? Or is it just a way to let Witches commune with their Magiks and reflect on their characterization?

That last one is certainly the case if nothing else, as Ichi's is, again, based on his ideal scenario. It's his world, and it's shaped accordingly - crisp, clean air that's easy to breathe, rich soil that supports bountiful flora, and presumably any creature that Ichi could dream of hunting. It's everything Ichi could ever want

But will that be the case for every Witch?

Is the inner world always one's personal paradise, or does it depend on the circumstances? Ichi certainly didn't always consider mountain life to be his ideal, so perhaps does the inner world reflect one's state of mind?

What would we see in Desscaras' Magic Circle? If it's based on one's self-image, we might see a lavish palace surrounded by adoring fans, the way Desscaras seems to think people view her

If it's based on one's mental state, we might see the warped remains of her old life, informed by her drive to take revenge on the World Hater

Or, if it really is based on one's ideal, we might see what once was. A mundane little house in a mundane little town, and a mundane little family living their mundane little life. Would this be the only way that Desscaras could see them again? The only way she could talk to them and hold them as she once did? Or would it just be a mirage, a video on playback that she can't interact with in any meaningful way, merely a cruel reminder of all she's lost?

Depending on how Nishi chooses to play it, this might even be how Witches get their titles. Monegold's may be lined with gold, Togeice's may be a glittering tundra, and Desscaras'...well, I think you can imagine

I also have to wonder if perhaps this will play some role in the fight against World Hater. Perhaps retreating into one's inner world is a way to evade them? Or they'll be able to enter other people's inner worlds with their portals? They were the same design as the one Uroro pushed Ichi into to send him back to the real world, so maybe World Hater spends their time in their own inner world?

I don't want to read into this too much since...we literally haven't seen anything of it yet, but it provides such an interesting narrative opportunity that I can't help but look forward to how it develops further

And it seems that the same can be said of Ichi

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me

Ichi accepts his loss with shocking grace, believing himself to be the hunted rather than the hunter in this case. I suppose the fact that he doesn't have any grand ambitions helps, as he doesn't have anything to regret, but the fact that he doesn't even seem frustrated is a very interesting angle for his character

Instead, he seems more determined than ever. I know that's pretty standard shonen fare, but the transition is just so...seamless. Like it never occurred to him to be even the slightest bit downtrodden about the loss, he just calmly analyzed it and moved on to thinking about his next steps

Knowing that he's lucky to have lived to fight another day, Ichi presses his hands to the screen that he's watching the World Hater through and vows to gain the strength to one day hunt them down. World Hater, sensing Ichi's bloodlust just as Ichi could sense theirs at the beginning of their battle, turns to his unconscious body...

And smiles

Fellas, is it still yaoi if one of you uses "they/them?"

A few chapters ago I suggested that World Hater may see something in Ichi that they've been looking for, the missing puzzle piece in their life that would make them whole. This doesn't necessarily confirm that, but the World Hater is clearly pleased that Ichi is coming away from his near-death with the resolve to come back better than ever. Possibly for the first time in his life, World Hater has something to look forward to, a way to spend his time other than going through the motions of his usual raison d'etre of mindless destruction

And by the looks of it, I'm not the only one who noticed that

Lamb to the Slaughter

As the World Hater vanishes through their portal, Uroro offers Ichi a warning: "you're gonna end up a sacrifice," and then refuses to elaborate further, passing the buck onto Desscaras

Now, I won't say for sure that this is related to World Hater smiling, but my guess is that everyone has reached the same conclusion: whatever World Hater's trial is, Ichi is their best bet at figuring it out

As Desscaras pointed out last week, World Hater took unique measures when dealing with Ichi, as if they were scared of him, and in comparison were surprisingly casual in how they dealt with Desscaras. This suggests that Ichi has something that Desscaras doesn't, something that makes the World Hater actually consider the possibility that he might be in danger of being acquired

And so, just as Ichi is going to be willing to learn more about being a Witch, Mantinel is certainly going to be willing to teach him, but for completely different reasons: whereas he wants to get stronger, they want to fatten him up and use him as bait for the World Hater

Or at least, that's the impression that Uroro is giving. His word certainly can't be taken at face value, as he's already tried to get Ichi to turn against Mantinel a number of times, but if Mantinel is going to dangle a carrot in front of Ichi that Uroro thinks is actually a stick, then pointing out the stick to Ichi is a win for Uroro whether it's really there or not

Personally I think it would be interesting if Mantinel has a double motive, both trying to bolster Ichi as one of their own and raise him up as a scapegoat to take out one of their biggest threats at the cost of his own life rather than any of theirs. Putting a little bit of political drama like that might be a fun way to up the complexity of the narrative and potentially create a schism within the Witches Association as a whole, but again, I may be getting ahead of myself

Until next time, let's enjoy life!