#but at the present moment that's unfortunately where they logically end up

[dropthedemiurge]

It's funny how it already happened several times to me -

I love complicated and thoughtful shows. I love subtext and deep meaning and hidden details. I really struggle with silly comedy in BLs unless they do it thoughtfully and balance it well with meaning (bless you, shows like Be my Favorite)

I have nothing against silly romcoms but maybe I don't need them right now. I can't even watch We Are Series because I suffered in first episode :(

And yet! And yet sometimes I watch a show that I know technically isn't great or even if cinematography is bad but that show fills me with a lot of warmth and joy. Somehow I absolutely enjoy stumbling upon those weird anomalies. Somehow I lower my expectations based on how they present themselves and I enjoy the heck out of them till the end.

That's what happened to me with Twins the Series and now Boys Be Brave lol

And then I come on Tumblr, and everyone is trashing them xD

I guess I should not be surprised but I think genuinely I just see the potential and I'm content with having the rest of it in my head if the story at least shows where they were going with them and what they wanted to say. Instead, I'm filled with absolutely rage in the finale when the show poses itself like being meaningful and groundbreaking and then completely ruins their own messages and characters (looking at you, Only Friends)

This post doesn't mean anything, I'm just really curious why I don't particularly enjoy averagely-made stories but every once in a while I get truly happy watching one.

(putting this out of my tags - i had a funky thought about the dissonance, jinwoo x kiseob are living in a romcom world, meanwhile inho x balgeum live in a grey shelter world. No wonder we got the similar ending for them, right? Does anyone know what I mean?)

[thewanderingconstellation]

Dimensional traveling Prince!Danny Fenton & Obsessed but still somewhat sane and logical! Damian Wayne

Just a random DeadSerious prompt I thought of at like 2am :>

Clockwork stumbled upon a peculiar universe where a group of humans had been engaging in bizarre activities. Recognizing the need for investigation, Clockwork assigned the newly announced Prince Phantom, a 14-year-old named Danny Fenton, to venture into this realm. It was a training opportunity for Danny, preparing him for his future role as King. Through a portal, Danny found himself suspended above the Lazarus pit, with Ra's al Ghul standing below him. Fortunately, Danny was dressed in his regal attire, which inexplicably aged him to 18 years old, sparing him from too much embarrassment. Ra's began questioning him, leading to a discussion about the potential dangers of the pit.

During his stay, Danny crossed paths with Damian, who was in the midst of his training. The 8-year-old assassin-in-training wasted no time in challenging Danny to a duel. As expected, Danny emerged victorious, leaving a lasting impact on Damian. Danny revealed that he too was an heir to a throne, possessing strength, power, and a tolerable personality, as Damian had previously remarked. These qualities managed to thaw Damian's cold and unyielding heart, finding a special place within it. From that moment on, Damian began courting Danny using the rituals he had learned from secret books in the league's library. He showered Danny with small gifts, heartfelt letters, acts of service, and even presented him with his second favorite knife.

In the meantime, Danny had been well aware of the situation right from the beginning, and he wasted no time in creating distance between himself and the child. Forget about it! Sure, he might be clueless at times, but he's not foolish! When a child hands you a thornless Rose and affectionately calls you 'Habibi', 'Rohi', 'Hayati', 'Albi', and/or 'Ya Amar'—even though he may not fully understand the meanings behind those words, he definitely knows what 'Habibi' means—you can't help but have doubts, you know?! So Danny tried his best to keep the kid at arm's length, not wanting to give him false hope. After all, the kid was only 8 years old for crying out loud! But you have to give it to the kid, he was incredibly stubborn and persistent.

As time went on, two whole months flew by, and Clockwork finally informed Danny that there was no longer any need for him to investigate or keep an eye on the pit. When Danny asked for an explanation, the old man, true to his cryptic nature, simply delivered a mysterious message and left, much to Danny's annoyance. All he could do was leave a letter of explanation for Damian. Damian's heart shattered into a million pieces when he read the letter, realizing that he would never be able to see or even meet Danny again, as they belonged to different dimensions.

Time flew by and it was finally the moment to reveal his secret identity to his parents as Phantom. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned and he ended up being captured by the GIW, strapped to a surgical table for three days. After escaping, he made a quick exit from home, promising his friends and sisters that he would keep in touch. Clockwork then whisked Danny away to another dimension, sensing that he needed a change of scenery. Dropping him off in a crime-ridden city with just a backpack of essentials, including a dagger from Damian. As he transformed back to his human form in Gotham, he pondered his next move. Suddenly, a young vigilante? Hero? appeared and whisked him away through the city with a grappling hook. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse!

Damian, now taking on the role of the vigilante Robin, was out patrolling alone. His father wanted him to gain more experience on his own. As he made his way through the city, he noticed a faint but distinct bright light coming from one of the nearby alleys. Curiosity piqued, he decided to investigate.

To his surprise, he saw his beloved from years ago emerging from a strange green portal. Gone was the royal attire Damian was accustomed to seeing him in. Instead, he was clad in a black and white HAZMAT suit, with a symbol in the center. And astonishingly, he even held the second favorite knife that Damian had given him all those years ago.

In a matter of seconds, his beloved transformed into what Damian believed to be a Wayne adoption bait. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards them, landing in front of them and carefully assessing the situation. In one swift motion, he slung his beloved over his shoulder and shot his grappling hook, swiftly taking off with them.

Damian wasn't sure what he would do next, but one thing was certain - he would never let his beloved out of his sight again. He had lost him once, and he refused to lose him again. His possessiveness over the things and people he considered his had grown stronger.

Perhaps he would find a way for them to sign marriage papers, or at least become engaged, despite their young age. Of course, it would only happen if his beloved, Danny, agreed to it. Consent and trust were crucial in any relationship, after all. If Danny disagreed, Damian would resort to the courting rituals his mother had taught him. The conventional methods from books hadn't worked, so he would try his mother's unique approach. Granted, he was technically kidnapping him, but it was only a few steps ahead. Damian was determined to win his beloved's heart, no matter what it took.

[harmonysanreads]

La Follia

ᯓᡣ𐭩 Yandere!Sylus x Reader

cw(s) : yandere, coercion, implied murder, implications of forced marriage, one mention of blood, guns, imbalanced power dynamics.

「 words : 800+ 」 「 art credits 」

· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ This... is not the fic idea I said I had in my wips but somehow we ended up here anyway ^^;

Before signing any document, it is crucial to carefully read its contents.

Not this one though. Your spite digs its talons into the pen, glaring at the offending piece of paper its situated against. The strings of legal ruminations and dry wordplay are irrelevant, unnecessary and jeeringly useless before your present predicament. Your eyes would rather bleed than capture their meaning.

Vague phantoms taunt your periphery, specks of dust rising from litanies of codicies towards the flickering lightbulb make it impossible to forget your environment. The state of a government office ; a place to admonish rules and keep the reputation of the constitution flowing — he has no need to adhere to them.

Redundant cannot even hope to describe the absurdity of the situation, in fact, you think you're at a stage of mental stupefaction that no adjective can. Perhaps it would carry some semblance of logic had it been a toddler instead of a conscious adult conducting this ridiculous show.

A show, yes, yes — it is nothing but an impromptu drama. To dig and imbibe the fact into your and everyone else's heads, that the leader of Onychinus has the luxury, the power to carry out even the most nonsensical whims.

Why shouldn't it be possible? In a world dictated through strength, governed by the fittest and where history is written for posterity in hopes of conditioning them to sing the greatness of those who won, you suppose something like this isn't all that irrational.

Supposing now, all things considered, that none of this is illogical in the grand scheme of things. In fact, should the so-called strong decide that it is completely normal, acceptable even to hold a gun to another's head, push them to a stack of papers and shove a pen to finalize some joke of a matrimony — it would be deemed appropriate, because it is the one with the might who has thought so.

But what it wouldn't be, is fair ; another hapless notion that can be discarded easily with the universal knowledge that nothing ever is fair in this world.

You peer through your lashes to the unfortunate clerk that had the fortune of witnessing this hilarity. He tries his best to maintain a semblance of professionalism and fails effortlessly, if the way he toys with the silver-band around his ring finger is anything to go by. Your eyes shift to the picture frame kept with care at one corner of the desk, the innocent smiles of figures who you assume to be his family almost make your heart ache.

Marriage. Coveted, anticipated, so beautiful in its purest form yet the causation of so many miseries. You would've never thought it could be ridiculed to this degree before this day.

You don't need to look beside you to picture his amusement, fascinated at how the clerk appears as though he's seeing his every wrong doing and each moment of joy play out before his eyes despite it being you with a weapon pointed at your head.

There is no rationality behind the demand of marriage by a man who dwells in a land governed by the rule of no rules, no explanation as to why he saunters into this establishment and insists that it be finalized through legalese furthermore.

No, no, it is but to prove to your stubborn self — see and witness what I can do should I desire, I can adhere to law and trample upon it according to my whim. Will you still deny me, still deem me beneath you after this?

You will, if just to push his patience to its last hinges. You know very well this is all just a game to him. If Sylus truly desired to end your life, he wouldn't need a measly gun to do it.

You count the beats of time and construse your own schemes, searching for exits from this doomed playground and wander right into his trap.

“Can’t bring yourself to do it?” the purr is close, too close for your comfort. The tip of the pen shines as it tilts in response to your loosened clasp, sharp, you note ; pointed enough to pierce through an eye and dash away a few paces.

“Need some encouragement? Yes? No? Maybe so? You could've just said it instead of glaring at the poor paper.” the cold muzzle retracts from the side of your head but the heat of its presence remains.

The clerk's pupils are clear enough to reflect the panic that paints your face. The pen drops from your grasp, rolling across the papers and the worn out wood of the table ; gravity pulling it closer to the earth till it hits the tiled floor, splattering the crimson pooling around the surface.

The warmth of the hand that forced the weapon to your hand swiftly withdraws, your vision clears to the coldness of the gun in your clutch, the silence that follows the bullet's release nearly deafens your ears.

You hear the devil's whisper, “Now you and I are equal, no? As such, there should be no further excuses preventing you from marrying this monster.”

It would've been a taunt only some seconds ago, but now, it has become an irrefutable fact. No matter how cunning, how stubborn, the weak will always be controlled by the strong.

[lordprettyflackotara]

affection || Sam Golbach || the finale

smut, 18+, minors dni, tw: sad sammy & reader, happy unrealistic ending ;)

Colby Brock was not the moron he presented himself to be.

He was well aware of the fact that people underestimated him, whether it be other creators, haters, stans, or even his friends.

Colby knew that he was known for being a silly goofball ghost hunter on the internet and with that came the unfortunate reality of never being taken serious.

The only person who he knew for a fact that would never think of him that way was his best friend, Sam Golbach.

That was until Sam started fooling around with you being Colby’s back.

Colby knew he should’ve been pissed, the mere principle of Sam sneaking around with you, his ex girlfriend, a significant sign of disrespect.

After all, he would never look at Kat that way.

So why would Sam look at you that way?

That’s when he decided to start watching more closely.

Sam Golbach was not nearly as slick as he thought he was.

When he started coming and going at odd times, Colby in truth did assume he was going on his late night runs.

At first.

That was until he started noticing how different Sam was behaving.

How his eyes glossed over whenever Colby would talk to him. How secretive and quiet he became when the discussion of women came up. Or how he refused to show Colby his phone, even to show him something as simple as a photo he took.

Colby recognized the scent of your vanilla perfume, even if you both were long broken up. It was your signature scent, and Sam started coming home reeking of it.

Which Colby wouldn’t notice, if he didn’t do the houses laundry.

Colby felt like he was growing crazy, Sam’s behavior becoming more and more drastically different.

So he started following him.

It wasn’t Colby’s proudest moment, but he was glad he did. He watched Sam buy flowers for you. Colby had no idea where you moved to after he broke up with you, but he knew you lived in an apartment near your University. Colby watched from a far as Sam came and went from a certain apartment complex with hideous brown paint on its residents doors.

He never saw you. He just couldn’t prove in any logical sense that Sam was sneaking around with you. That out of all people on the face of the planet, Sam chose his ex girlfriend.

So Colby decided to test the waters. He waited for Sam to come home one night, pushing himself into exhaustion. He decided to continue watching Shameless, spending most of the night racking his brain for a reason as to why he was up.

For a bit, Colby wasn’t even sure Sam would be coming home. He didn’t usually spend the night with you, but maybe this time he would.

Relief flushed over Colby as he heard the front door unlock.

Colby had known Sam since they were practically kids, and he recognized guilt washing over Sam’s face.

That’s when he knew.

But that wasn’t enough for Colby.

The next time Sam began to head over to your apartment, Colby followed him again. A part of him felt like a creep, stalking his best friends whereabouts. He watched Sam awkwardly stand in front of your apartment door, lost in thought as he blankly stared at the shitty brown paint.

Colby contemplated intervening right then and there.

That was, until he saw you.

You looked so much better than the last time he saw you. Your hair had grown out, your hips swaying as you hauled over your groceries to your apartment.

Colby didn’t want to be right.

He watched as Sam rushed over and helped you carry in your groceries.

Colby wasn’t a moron, but he was indecisive.

How should he handle this? He wasn’t upset about your break up anymore. Colby didn’t care that you were seeing other people, but why did that person have to be Sam? Was it just meaningless sex? How long had this been going on?

Colby was on his feet before he could stop himself. He stood in front of your front door, where he could faintly hear shuffling.

Knock knock.

The sound of your voice was all Colby needed to hear. He didn’t want Sam to know that he knew just yet, deciding to throw in the bullshit about Kat and missing you. He didn’t resent you, but he had just moved on.

When Sam returned home later that afternoon, he looked like a wounded puppy. Colby could tell he had been crying, his face tomato red and eyes still watery.

“Hey man you alright?” Colby asked cautiously. He rushed around the kitchen counter, grabbing Sam by his shoulders. He tried to meet his gaze, the blondes eyes focused on the floor.

Sam did it all for Colby. There was no sense in telling him now, he had called it off with you. He had chosen Colby over you, even if he hadn’t wanted to.

“Fine,” Sam mumbled. Colby tried to get an answer out of Sam, even if it was a lie.

“Dude you can tell me whatever it is, we’re Sam and Colby for a reason,” Colby offered. Sam briefly met his gaze, the genuine look of sadness engulfing his blue orbs.

“Not this time brother, not this time,”

Colby knew he had to fix this.

Sam’s tears made it apparent to Colby that Sam’s affair with you was far beyond just mindless sex.

Colby knew how upset Kat and his breakup had made him. He didn’t want to see him go through that all over again. You couldn’t just call this off with Sam. Not after Sam was willing to sacrifice his friendship with Colby for you.

The next day Colby made his way over to your apartment. He parked quickly, practically throwing himself out of the car. His eyes darted to your little pastel yellow bug car, boxes filling the backseat.

Oh shit.

Colby picked up the pace, sprinting over to your apartment.

He pounded on the front door, his adrenaline causing him to nearly run in place.

You opened the door hesitantly, bags hanging from under your eyes. You were a completely different person than the one Colby had seen yesterday, your face completely drained of any color. Your skin was pale, your eyes puffy, your lips cracked.

You looked like you hadn’t slept, an oversized t shirt covering your frail body.

“Now’s not a good time Colby,” You say automatically, unfazed by his unexpected presence. Colby stared down at you for a moment, blinking before responding.

“Listen to me, you can’t do this to Sam. He’s a fucking wreck,” Colby said. He pushed past you into your apartment, noticing the lack of furniture or decorations. “And you’re moving away? You’re willing to give up your entire life just to get away from him? He’s not a bad guy,” Colby argued. You stared at him blankly, dumbfounded as to why he was acting this way.

“You really are a moron. I didn’t breakup with him. He broke up with me,” You interjected. You crossed your arms, glaring at him. “So tell me Brock what exactly happened to you wanting to get back together? Did you want to two time your best friend to get back at him? I’ll tell you now i’m not a fucking toy and i won’t be apart of some scheme-” You began rambling. Colby put up his hand, signaling you to pause.

“If I wanted to seek out some weird fucking revenge, you would not be my pick of the litter, trust me,” Colby stated clearly. Your kitchen counters were squeaky clean, bare of any signs you lived there. “So then what do you want? He called this off, not me,” You replied flatly. Colby’s snarky attitude reminded you of your old relationship, the bitterness beginning to reappear.

Colby ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. “Why would he call this affair off? After this whole time?” Colby questioned. Your hair was admittedly tangled, thrown back in a sloppy ponytail that didn’t flatter your features. You tilted your head to the side, staring curiously at the brunette you had so heavily avoided all this time.

“Once again, you’re a moron. He called it off because of you.”

“Because of me? He clearly wasn’t thinking of me when he was fucking your brains out,” Colby answered dryly. You let out a stale laugh, your bottom lip cracking slightly. “What’s so funny?” Colby questioned, becoming more frustrated by the minute. Sam was willing to sacrifice his entire career and friendship with him, just for you.

“Sam called off an almost year long affair for you. All we ever felt was guilty. I’m in love with him and that wasn’t enough to stop him from leaving. All because he cares about you,” You answered honestly. You cleared your throat, watching Colby’s mind slowly process your words. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish packing,” You say. You brushed past Colby harshly, hitting his shoulder.

The brunette watched as you grabbed a box from behind him.

“Are you really going to leave town over this?”

You gave him an icy glare, one that would’ve killed him if looks could kill.

“I didn’t stay in this shitty town for this shitty college. I stayed for Sam,” You spat. Colby’s face fell, realizing his original theory of you staying with hope to get back together with him was all wrong.

“You can’t do this, you can’t abandon him like this,” Colby argued. He grabbed your arm, causing your eyes to narrow. You shoved him off, your ex boyfriend not wanting to cause you physical harm.

“Sam should know all about abandoning people, since that’s what he’s already done,”

Sam was a train fucking wreck.

Not only was Colby not answering his calls, but you had blocked his number. He tried to send you a text about something he left at your apartment, the message not sending.

It was early in the morning when Sam decided to tell Colby. He went to his best friends room, only to find it completely empty. Sam then blew up Colby’s phone, trying to seem nonchalant as he asked him where he was. His questioning made him seem like a guilty train wreck. Sam was sure Colby had somehow found out, and was planning on abandoning Sam all together.

Sam couldn’t sleep, his eyes bloodshot from staying up like an insomniac. He couldn’t face Colby when he came home, the blonde hiding in the safety of his comforter. He locked his bedroom door, deciding hiding from his issues would be the proper form of solitude to tend to his wounds.

It was Colby’s loud voice that awoke him from a light slumber.

“Sam fucking Golbach!”

Sam’s blood ran cold, his eyes popping open.

“Go away Colby, I feel bad enough,” Sam replied. Colby continued to pound on the door, causing Sam’s body to stiffen.

“I’m not pissed dude! Y/n is moving out of this state if you don’t stop her!” Colby yelled. This caused Sam to sit up, before quickly rushing over to his bedroom door. He hesitantly opened the door and peered up at his best friend.

“Y/n is moving out of the state?”

“Yes dude. She only stayed here for you,”

Colby didn’t look angry, as far as Sam could tell. Maybe a little stressed, but not as livid as Sam would’ve predicted he would be.

“And you’re not mad at me?”

“Am I a little bit annoyed you chose my ex to fall in love with? Absolutely. Do we have time to discuss this right now? No,”

Sam raised his eyebrows, giving Colby a puzzled look. Colby threw his hands up in the air, as if the answer was obvious.

“Y/n is moving out of the state today. Go fucking stop her! You have my blessing! Go!”

You had just finished placing your last suitcase in your car, pushing down on your trunk so that everything would fit. Your aunt was gracious enough to allow you to stay with her temporarily while you settled into your new school. You headed back over to your apartment, cringing at the shit colored door.

How did you ever agree to move into an apartment like this?

You looked around, ensuring everything was squeaky clean and empty. The furniture was easy to get rid of or donate, both of which you deemed to be quick and reasonable options. You walked down your small hallway, examining the bare walls.

You held your arms, ensuring no holes from nails were visible.

“Y/n!” Sam called out. He rushed into your apartment, quietly thanking whatever higher power existed you left it unlocked. He slammed the door shut behind him, hope flooding him with energy. You raised your eyebrows, turning your direction to see Sam.

You gritted your teeth. Was your apartment a fucking meet and greet today?

“What do you want Sam? I-” Your protest were cut off by Sam’s lips meshing against yours. He knocked the air out of you, your body tensing under his. You pushed at his chest, staring up at him. “Listen i’m not some fucktoy that you can use one last time-” You began arguing. Sam’s soft hands cupped your small face, his eyes boring down into yours.

“I love you,” Sam admitted. He urgently kissed you again, your body turning into putty under his touch. He pressed you against the hallway wall, his hands snaking under your shirt. He pulled away from your lips, kissing down the side of your neck. “I should’ve told you that yesterday. I fucking love you,” Sam grunted, pleasantly surprised that you were wearing no bra. He tugged at your nipples, that hardened quickly under the stimulation.

“Sam i’m gross I can’t-” You began, before Sam glanced around. His eyes landed on your bathroom door, a devious smirk spreading across his lips.

“Care for a shower then?”

The water was turned on and you both stripped your clothes in a blur.

Neither of you waited for the water to warm up, both of you too eager to feel one another. The cold water caused your nipples to harden even more, your body feeling like it was engulfed in flames as Sam kissed you. You shivered underneath the cold water, the water droplets causing goosebumps to rise on your skin. “It’s fucking freezing,” You whispered, Sam’s lips hot and heavy against yours. Sam chuckled as he pinched at your hardened nipples. “Let me warm you up,” He purred. His hands traveled every inch of your body, exploring and caressing your soft skin. “I’m so sorry,” Sam mumbled in between kisses.

His addiction to you was back in full swing, and his guilt had now been kicked out of the car of his mind. Sam brought his lips back to your neck, sucking harshly at the skin. You groaned as the water grew warmer, dripping down both of your bodies. He sucked at your sweet spots, littering your neck with hickies that would last at least a few days. “I’m never gonna go anywhere. Ever again,” Sam grunted. He snaked his fingers down to your aching cunt, teasingly sliding them up and down your folds.

“You belong to me. Officially. You’re mine,” Sam told you. You whimpered as he drew lazy circles around your clit, your walls clenching around nothing. “All yours Sammy. Forever yours,” You panted. Steam began to cloud the bathroom air, your vision becoming hazy as Sam sped up his abuse on your clit. “That’s my girl,” The blonde praised. He used his other hand to twist and toy with your stimulated nipples, earning hearty moans from you.

“I’m going to ruin this cunt every single night. Youre close already? You fuckin whore,” Sam purred, watching in delight as your brain slowly turned to mush. Your eyes began to roll back, his fingers assaulting your clit. “Sam i’m gonna cum, fucking, fuck, i’m gonna cum,” You mewled. Your hands began to cling onto his back for support, your nails scratching down his skin. “Thats it baby, mark me. I’m yours,” Sam groaned. His cock was poking your inner thigh, but the blondes full attention was on you.

You were so close, your body teetering on the edge of ecstasy. Sam smirked down at you, pleased at you unintentionally waiting for his permission to cum. “Cum for me baby,” Sam purred.

Sam could feel your nails digging into his skin as you came, the pain immediately subsiding from the hot water. He watched you come down from your high, your body shaking as your vision slowly settled.

You pulled him in for a savory kiss, your hand slithering down to his length. You began to jerk his cock, his length twitching in your hands. Sam knew that if you continued he’d cum too quickly, his body yearning for yours. “Turn around slut,” He ordered into the kiss, guiding your hips to obey him.

You turned around, facing the white shower wall.

“Hands, babygirl,”

You slowly put your hands behind your back, Sam’s large one holding them together. “Such a good whore for me,” Sam praised, giving your shoulder a few kisses. He brushed the tip of his cock up and down your folds, groans escaping both of you from the pleasurable sensation. “Please Sam, I need you,” You whined, your core aching in desire.

And who was Sam to deny you of your needs?

He shoved himself into you quickly, careful to allow you to cockwarm him for a moment so you could adjust.

He used his spare hand to slither around to your throat, squeezing it gently. “You feel so good around my cock,” Sam groaned. You pushed your hips back against his, letting Sam know you were ready. Sam bucked his hips slow at first, gripping your neck as he slid in and out of you.

Through the foggy steam he watched your ass bounce against him, the sight only making him harder. He began to pick up the pace, your moans echoing off of the small bathroom walls.

Sam began picking up the pace, slamming his hips into yours brutally. His cock abusing your cervix. He tightened his hand around your throat, your airways becoming restricted. You moaned his name, your breast bouncing as Sam thrust inside of you.

“You’re all mine,” Sam groaned, smacking your ass harshly. The electric shock sent a shiver up your spine, the sharp pain mixing together with the pleasure Sam was providing. Sam allowed you to breathe removing his hand from your throat, tightening his grip on maintaining your hands behind your back.

His hand traveled down to your clit, his slender fingers rubbing the overstimulated bud. “Shit,” You slurred, becoming drunk off of the pleasure. Sam smirked at your response, placing sloppy open mouthed kisses on your shoulder. Sam drew faster circles, grinning devilishly as your walls squeezed him.

“You like that don’t you slut? I can feel you milking my cock,” Sam teased. You babbled a hardly coherent agreement as you whined against his cock, his name a mantra escaping your lips. The cord inside of you was threatening to snap again, your legs shaking. “Oh my fucking God- fuck Sammy, I can’t-” You cried, your orgasm violently crashing over you. Your legs nearly buckled, the lack of access to your hands causing you to almost fall. Sam grabbed your waist quickly, releasing your hands and keeping you upright.

“I got you baby, you’re doing so good for me,” Sam praised. He slipped out of you, wanting to give you a moment to breathe. You panted as you brushed your wet hair out of your face. You quickly turned around, sinking onto your knees. Sam couldn’t contain his groans as you took him in your mouth. “Oh y/n,” He mewled, his hand flying to your tangled wet hair. You took his further down your throat, bobbing your head on his cock.

You forced your jaw to go slack, allowing Sam’s girthy cock to sink lower into your throat. You gagged slightly as he hit the back of your throat, drool dripping down the sides of your mouth. “You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth,” Sam smirked. You licked the underside of his shaft, causing his hips to stutter. “Please keep going,” Sam whispered, the submissive plea leaving his lips unintentionally. If you could, you would’ve smiled.

You began deep throating him, the blondes head thrown back in pleasure. You used one hand to balance yourself against his thigh while the other massaged his balls. The shower water began to lose its warmth, cool water droplets trailing down Sam’s body and your face. You forced yourself to the base of his cock, your nose nuzzled in his blonde curls.

“Fuck, right there, i’m cumming,”

His warm seed came out quickly, spray painting your throat. You gagged, trying to swallow his cum as quickly as possible. Sam slowly pulled out of you, watching as you gulped down his cum. You stuck out your tongue at him, proudly showing him you swallowed his seed whole.

As Sam grinned down at you, a certain feeling of content washed over him.

He would be able to be with you.

Now and forever.

[aydafigs]

ooh I have so many thoughts on The Rat Grinders discourse okay

on the one hand, I think it's completely reasonable to be disappointed that there was no attempt from The Bad Kids to engage with TRG beyond just killing them as quickly and bloodily as possible, or no effort from Brennan to present that as an option. I agree that it sucks that these teenagers, who have been corrupted by rage crystals and are presumably being manipulated by authority figures, are being treated as irredeemably evil and therefore condemned to hell forever for their crimes - and I agree that it feels incongruent narratively, when a big arc this season involved 'redeeming' a corrupted goddess, and a key theme has been the power of utilising doubt to overcome rage. I also think it's a shame that Fig's past attempts to engage with Reuben were ultimately forgotten about and rendered useless (and I definitely got the impression that Emily herself was also frustrated about this).

however! I do also completely understand it from a gameplay, genre, and storytelling perspective.

firstly, mostly just as a sidenote, I think it's worth acknowledging that a lot of 'real-world' thinking and logic surrounding death and ‘redemption’ and the moral complexities of 'good vs evil' don't always work within Fantasy High or d&d. death is treated much more flippantly in a world where characters can and do regularly plane-shift to the very real and tangeable afterlives. it's harder to think of death as truly an end to someone's life when it is known for certain that those who die are actually continuing to live alternate lives on different planes of existence - and I think from a meta perspective this inevitably affects the way players think about killing NPCs within a story. no one is ever truly gone; they're just living somewhere else now.

additionally, in-universe, the prospect of dying or being killed is an accepted risk for those attending Aguefort. they're training to be adventurers, and as fucked up as it is, a key element of the universe and genre that this story takes place in is that people - including teenagers - die on adventures, and this risk is entirely normalised and considered unfortunate but necessary. it's one of those genre-specific tropes that you have to accept for the world to function. this is d&d, this is fantasy adventuring high school, teenagers have to save the world from other, villainous teenagers. it's every teen supernatural/fantasy drama. it's Teen Wolf. it's fucking Riverdale. as Brennan has put it before, "it's adventuring school. people die."

The Rat Grinders are not the heroes of this story - and what is so interesting about them, at least to me, is that they know that. there's a lot of excellent analysis of TRG as existing on a meta level even within the story; they're power gamers, they're XP farmers, they know they're NPCs; and this is the source of Kipperlilly's anger. Kipperlilly's rage stems from knowing that she is ordinary; that she doesn't have a tragic backstory, that she will never save the world, that she and her friends aren't a notorious adventuring party or 'found family' or anything other than regular. so she set out to become Not Ordinary by any means necessary - and if she and The Rat Grinders couldn't be the heroes, they had to become the villains. whether or not TRG 'deserved' to die or not is a moot point, I think. it's not about what they deserve. their story, and especially Kipperlilly's story, is a tragedy in this way; she was doomed by the narrative from the moment she started to write herself as the villain.

The Rat Grinders are, narratively, the Big Bads of the season; the Final Bosses of this game of d&d. this final battle is necessary to conclude the story in an exciting and climactic and satisfying way. it would simply not be as exciting, either for the players or the audience, if this season ended with The Bad Kids talking it out with The Rat Grinders and convincing them to switch sides. at the end of the day, this isn't a movie or a TV show. this is a game, being played in real time by real people who are improvising and having fun while collaboratively telling a story together. of course, the storytelling on this show is phenomenal - but it's never going to be able to do everything. they don't have a room of writers pitching ideas to write perfectly timed and paced scripts for character arcs and resolutions. they're a group of improv comedians playing a roleplay and combat-centric game together. they're playing d&d. they’re playing heroes fighting bad guys.

I do think there's a lot of valid criticism around rage and manipulation and who is considered worthy of 'redemption'. I just also think there's a middle ground somewhere between "The Bad Kids killing The Rat Grinders is awful and evil and bad storytelling and everyone involved should feel bad" and "haha suck it Rat Grinders fans, told you they were always evil". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ idk. it's all love now. [smooch]

[chirpsythismorning]

Mike’s monologue makes so much more sense when you remember, he’s a frickin’ Paladin...

Paladins take their oath very seriously, and I do think that the whole theme of friends don't lie, is in part loosely inspired by this oath that Paladin's make, and how one of their most defining qualities is swearing by tenants of honesty.

All of us often overlook the D&D aspect in the show and how central of a role it plays, arguably even more so than parallels with the hundreds of movies they refer to for inspiration, and that's why this moment of Mike's monologue with El in s4, along with Mike's monologue with Will in season 2, is so important to consider if we want to be ready for what's about to go down in s5.

It's as if Mike is acting out an oath of devotion to these two characters. Though his oath to Will comes off a lot more genuine, it's unfortunately undermined slightly by the oath he presents to El, because they're both attempting to be an oath of devotion. By saying he loved El the moment he saw her and how his life started at that very moment, he's contradicting what he said to Will just hours before about how meeting El was simple dumb luck, as well as directly paralleling (and in turn undermining) what he told Will back in s2, which is that meeting Will/asking to be his friend was the best thing he's ever done.

Mike is inadvertently breaking an oath he once made, while also creating a new oath that stands on false grounds.

We've talked about the whole Watch out dominos, your dominos are gonna fall, and how it's related to Mike because he's in the shot equally to Argyle as he says it. But seriously you guys, it's related to Mike.

It's about the internal struggle he's been having for a few years now, growing and growing and him sort of refusing to examine it closely, because he knows that he's in a situation where he's supposed to be devoting himself to El. It's the expected path, and not only that but he also feels indebted to El after all she has done for him (also what the ga thinks which is why they argue even if Mike doesn't love El, they shouldn't break up bc it would hurt her.... Mike shares the ga's logic...), and so as it becomes more and more clear to him that she loves him and wants him to love her, he's trying his best to accept it, while also not being able to because he knows deep down he's breaking an oath that he already made if he follows through with this.

While I think there are a bunch of different factors at play, very likely Mike is aware of what his heart truly wants, which is why he's having such a hard time following through with devoting himself to El. Because deep down, he knows he's already devoted to someone else.

Luckily (tragically), Mike is breaking his oath because he thinks it's the right thing to do. Which just makes him even more of a Paladin if you think about it. The fact that him not wanting to break an oath is why he's been struggling for so long.

I don't think he knows that he's hurting Will while he's doing it, because the oath has more to do with him and being honest with himself, and I don't think he knows he's hurting El by doing this either, because he's under the assumption she wants him to say all of these things. He had doubts originally because there were reasons to have doubts as a result of Mike stalling for so long, but I just don't think Mike would go through with the monologue, if he thought that it wasn't what El wanted.

What makes Mike's arc so painfully tragic, is that he is led to believe at this point that El wants him romantically more than she needs him and that's the whole problem. He is unable to love her in the way she wants him to at this point, and he knows this. And he's still holding back.

That's another thing that's so sad about Mike going through with it in the end anyways, because I think a lot of his guilt stems from knowing that El wants him to love her, and yet he's unable to meet her halfway. And then going through with it in the end, when he doesn't truly mean it, that's... like he's breaking every code in his own book by doing this.

And it is likely going to really affect him.

The dominos are gonna fall. Not just for him, but for everyone.

The good news is that there is a standard way for this to play out, based on D&D rules and interestingly enough, it fits quite well with what s5 is likely to entail...

[busghost]

I've been really negative about Honkai recently and I'm sorry about that but with everything that's wrong it gets you thinking about how they could have done it better.

So now I'm wondering what ideas people have for Mei's (gestures at her) everything. Instead of just telling us everything Mei is supposed to be and show us Mei growing as a person.

I do want to see what other people think up because by no means is my idea the only good one.

DISCLAIMER: I'm only throwing ideas out, I'm not claiming to be an actual good writer. I'd be a pretentious asshole to think that if I wrote this in a story format rather than an outline that it'd be any good. It'd be worse than what we got. I'm also not blaming the writers for being crunched so bad. It's just a lot of unfortunate circumstances.

Personally I'd go nuts with the beta Crown of Thorns + the ideas introduced in ch 1-2 of Elysian Realm and the story beforehand (Elysia is "perfect" but acts mean).

Elysia considers herself the perfect human when there's no humanity in her having let the end come because "it's their own fault". As if Mei let Kiana die to her own foolish self sacrificial habits. Her love is a detached one, like she doesn't truly understand what it is to love nor does she understand what she is loving. Humanity is more like a cute plaything than the collection of all people and their hopes and sorrows and hatred and love and everything in between.

The point of the Previous Era was that they were so coldly logical that they lost. They had no love, just look at what happened to RIN, murdered in cold blood and only became a Herrscher because of it. And that basically ALL we knew about the PE for the longest time, the coldblooded murder of a young woman just because she might've been a threat and how Sakura was able to reach RIN and get her to stop killing in the end with love.

Take the examples of love from the PE and crush them under that cold logic. Su being a doctor forced to continually sacrifice the few for the many, going against all he stands for. Griseo growing up in a world so apathetic towards new life. Hua hating Kevin for being Dr. Mei's pawn and killing HIMEKO. Expanding on the throwaway line where she was ostracized for being so close to somebody who became a Herrscher. Eden being so depressed at the loss of art and so much life. Sakura trying to do good by her sister but killing for a living to make it so. I think they really nailed Pardo the first time around. And very importantly, make it clear that MOTH/Dr. Mei's rationality is what caused so much suffering. Despite this, have her thaw out and be understanding even for their worst qualities. As the sims open up, so does she, becoming more like a person again rather than angst with a vague goal.

Contrast all of this with the love Mei has felt through her life. Her few interactions with her father that left a mark on her. Seeing how Hua has changed from the past into the present, finding people that she can openly love and care for. Theresa and Himeko giving her unconditional love and teaching her so much as parental figures. Even the tough love like Himeko slapping her across for face for suggesting everyone else would be better off if Mei killed herself. Kiana and Bronya relying on her and supporting her, her happiest moments being when she was at St. Freya with her family. Even during her short time at Anti-Entropy, Tesla was very kind to her. See the few examples of love that appeared in the Previous Era and realize THAT'S what they're fighting for in the real world.

I forget where it was stated, but I think it was Otto who said that the Current Era has come to a better understanding of what it means to be human and I really like that idea. Herrschers are more capable of being human than some people. That being human and defeating the Honkai isn't based on plans that kill nearly everyone on Earth or making decisions for the people of the future. It's not "PURGE THE HONKAI" as the PE was so fond of saying, it's "Fight for everything beautiful in the world."

With Elysia as the antagonist it doesn't even necessarily need to end in a boss fight against her or anything. But make Mei decide for herself that what she is going to fight for, she isn't "perfect" like Elysia but her love is genuine and she has a deeper understanding than Elysia ever could. She can carry on the memories of the Previous Era, not of all the fighting and plans but of the love people tried to show each other. A rejection of what everything the Previous Era stood for.

Have Mei leave the Realm and World Serpent, not because Kevin said "okay you can go now" but to abandon them to be with the people she truly cares about and believes in because that is what is important now. Maybe have her come to their aid when it's explicitly against WS's interests.

THEN Mei can take Elysia's place as Herrscher of Human/Origin because she truly understands what it means to love people unlike Elysia. How Kiana's arc is learning to accept love and loving herself, have Mei's arc be learning to love the world again.

Also do none of the retconning in chapter 34. Make everything they are doing in the Current Era their own decisions, their own plans. They are supposed to be overcoming Project Stigma through their own determination and knowledge, not because this was the real purpose of Project EMBER. Also just let the Will of the Honkai be something the Previous Era inflicted on the Current Era while tampering with it, not "we were making it easier for the CE the whole time". The Current Era's victory over the Honkai has to be their own.

I'll be first to admit, I haven't thought much into how it's play out and definitely should have more to do with Elysia, the realm is named for her and it's her big secret at the center of it all. You could still pull this off with making Elysia suffer so much for having so much genuine love for everyone in a loveless world or a million other ways. Just not, Elysia decided the future for the Herrschers and everything the CE is doing is actually a PE plan.

[snowbellewells]

MY CSSNS23 MC: "Carolina Moon" {prologue}

**Thank you SO MUCH to my event artist @eastwesthomeisbest for the absolutely amazing cover art she created (in much less time than I should have afforded her). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it, and am thrilled to be able to put it with each update of my story. Also, I'm so grateful to have @xarandomdreamx as my beta for this fic as well, though I did not give her this prologue, so any mistakes here are absolutely and unfortunately mine! And thank you too to the @cssns as a whole for once again providing such a great event of which to be a part!!***

Here is my second submission to the @cssns23 event!! This one is a modern au of the Nora Roberts novel and subsequent tv movie Carolina Moon. The main female character in the movie is psychic/clairvoyant (I’ll admit, I’m not too sure about the distinction between the two) and I thought her visions and what she goes through in connection to them made a nice real-world parallel to Emma’s magic. (There’s also a scene in here where the male lead says something that I could so perfectly see Killian saying to Emma… I just cannot wait to get to that point!)

Anyway, I hope you will enjoy this romantic thriller with some murder mystery elements.  There are some instances of abuse and violence in here though - which I feel like I should mention, since that’s a little darker than my typical style. Most of them are in flashbacks of Emma’s past, or in visions she has of victims, more than in the actual present day plot; still I wanted to make people aware before we got too far.

Please enjoy! (I’d love to hear what you think.)

Prologue

July 1993

The water at their hideaway always feels so good. She could sink into it until her head slips below the surface and never, ever want to come up for air. It’s cooler, more luxurious than even the rich, satiny sheets on the trundle bed those rare nights when she gets to sleep over at Rose’s. Emma Swan’s gangly, 13-year-old limbs slice through the murky water as if the constant humidity and sultry air of Storybrooke, South Carolina can’t penetrate here in their little forest haven. She knows, of course, logically, that the real world isn’t all that far away. The shaded pond she and Rose discovered two summers ago is just a short trek into the woods at the furthest edge of Rose’s family’s boundless acreage. Still, it feels removed enough to bring Emma a sense of peace and contentment she gains nowhere else.

Looking over her shoulder to the large, smooth boulder jutting out of the pond at the bank where they left their flip flops and cutoff denim shorts, she can see her best friend stretched out with her new book where they had spread their towels on the rock’s surface, just in the wash of warming sunlight that streams through the tree branches overhead. Rose’s flawlessly creamy pale skin is prone to burning, but at the moment her friend seems willing to take the risk for the benefit of lazing cozily to read as she dries in the sun after taking a quick dip. Shaking her head, Emma plunges back under, happy to stay in the chilly water a bit longer herself. She knew as soon as they’d met outside Rose’s house that afternoon, and she had seen that Rose held a new Boxcar Children book in her hand, that her friend would not be able to resist burrowing into those pages for long.

It’s funny, Emma supposes, but that’s exactly what bonded she and Rose Jones in the first place. They might seem different on the surface, but in the end, neither of them quite fit with everyone else, and so they gravitate to each other, and have ever since Emma first arrived in Storybrooke as an eight-year-old orphan. They are each willing to give the other at least one person who takes them as they are and with whom they won’t have to pretend. Emma doesn’t care if Rose wants to read quietly and tell her about the stories she’s already finished instead of picking out dresses for the next cotillion class or preening in front of the mirror, practicing batting her eyelashes to charm boys or bragging to Emma about which ones she intends to kiss. Her sister Ruby, who shares the same thickly shining, burnished mahogany hair and pretty pink lips but little of her fraternal twin’s calming, gentle personality, does enough of that for the both of them. Their mother, a former debutante and southern belle, delights in the one daughter’s traditional coquettishness, and despairs of the other’s shyness. Cora Jones is a true throwback to another time who wants nothing more than to see both her daughters marry well and retain their places atop the social ladder. Emma could not care any less about such details; she is already clinging to the very bottom rung of such a social structure - if she and the so-called guardians with whom she lives are on the ladder at all. In turn, Rose doesn’t mock Emma for her thick, dark-framed glasses or secondhand clothes, nor does she cringe away from the “fits” that sometimes take hold of her friend, making strange, disturbing scenes Emma can’t understand flash across her mind with such intensity they sometimes knock her off her feet. Emma knows Rose’s mother and sister find her an unsuitable and embarrassing companion for Rose, but she is eternally grateful her friend seems able to see the best in anyone - even a lost girl nobody else wants - and so blithely acts as though she has no idea about the rest of her family’s opinions.

Cringing even while still submerged in the pond’s depths and practically invisible, Emma tries not to think of her unwanted visions. Her strict, hypocritical, and more than a bit deranged, foster father claims she’s possessed - and more than once has taken her episodes out of her hide. The man swears he’s beating the devil out of her and putting the fear of God in Satan’s place when he takes the thick leather strap to her shoulders, back and legs until she bleeds, but Emma has already lived long enough in a cruel and unfair world to know that his violence and “discipline” have less to do with parenting and concern for her soul, and more to show for his own twisted mind and overindulgence in the bottle. She wants to hide her spells from him, but when they come on her so abruptly and with such power, they are impossible to miss. She can’t fathom how a person like him was deemed fit to take in and care for a child, but mistreatment and injustice seem to be her lot in life thus far, and so she simply grits her teeth and survives.

It’s different though when the spells happen around Rose; the slight brunette merely rests a cool, steadying hand on Emma’s forehead or her arm until they pass, then she helps Emma stand until she feels in control again, listens as she attempts to make sense of whatever she’s seen, and most importantly… believes her. If only she could stay in the huge house Rose’s family calls home. She’d cook, clean, do chores, even stay in the servant’s quarters; Emma isn’t picky. It would still be a far sight safer than the situation she has in the rundown shack with the monster who’d been deemed her caretaker. Barring that, she would honestly rather live wild in these woods and survive off the land. She knew which plants and berries were safe to eat; Graham, her first friend, once a fellow orphan now happily adopted, had shown her ages ago, as well as taught her how to fish. It wouldn’t be easy, but she’d get by, and at least no one would lay a hand on her again.

This afternoon, those eerie images she sometimes has seem far away as she splashes up out of the water, trying to arc playfully like a mermaid as she breaks the surface. Drawing in a big gulp of air after staying underwater so long, Emma startles at the sound of teasing laughter, and whirls to see three figures on the bank where she and Rose left their shoes and shorts. 

“Well, look here,” calls out a taunting voice that never fails to set Emma’s nerves on edge. “It’s the baby beached librarian and her drowned rat friend!” None other than Emma’s nemesis, Killian Jones, crows from his vantage point on dry land.

Rose sits up ramrod straight, book still in hand and annoyed scowl on her face at Killian and his friends’ interruption to the quiet peace of their sanctuary. She isn’t genuinely angry, though; for all that she and her sister share little in common, she and her two-years-older brother are affectionately close. “Shut up, Killy!” she shoots back, throwing in the childhood nickname they all know he hates. “Who asked you to come looking anyway?”

The boy standing next to Killian speaks up next, making Emma scowl just as playfully as Rose had moments before. Graham Hunter might as well be her big brother; he’s the closest thing she’s had to family since her parents were lost in a car crash and she was thrown into the foster care system. Be that as it may, he and Killian Jones are thick as thieves, and he’ll give her a hard time for all he’s worth while in the presence of his buddy. “We just wanted to swim,” he calls across the water to the two girls, smirking at Emma, who now stands in the water with one hip jutting out and hands planted on her waist. “How were we supposed to know you two were infesting it?”

“Ha!” Emma jeers back, the affront plain in her voice; despite the fact that the entire routine is like a practiced girls-versus-boys exchange they’ve all engaged in countless times. There isn’t much else to do for entertainment in their sleepy little one-horse town. “You idiots know this is Rose’s and my hideaway, fair and square!”

“Well, Rose’s anyway,” a third voice cuts in snidely.

The cruel jab reminds Emma once more that to most folks she is just a charity case, quite possibly only included in anything at all because of her friend’s kind heart, and at the intentional slight, cuts her gaze to the third member of the boys’ little crew, skulking a step back in the shadows behind where Killian and Graham stand, as he always does. Her green eyes narrow to slits in genuine dislike and suspicion. Where before her animosity was largely for show, when they land on Walsh Ozman, it is all too real.

She has never understood why the other two boys - jokers and annoyances though they may be, but good guys when it comes right down to it - hang out with Walsh at all.  Where Graham and Killian are much more cut from the same cloth - athletic, outgoing, well-liked and pleasant - Walsh is a splindy, sniveling character, complaining and whining whatever their little trio gets up to. He lives not far from Emma’s foster father’s cabin with his single mother - a bushy-haired redhead who seems strangely overprotective and attached to her only child. Most people give the property a wide berth, except when high schoolers teepee it the whole month of October, and the general town consensus is that Zelena Ozman might be a witch and to steer clear. Still, beyond all of that, Emma might have been able to look past the boy’s circumstances and see him for himself - she of all people knew the gift it was not to be judged by where a person came from - if Walsh hadn’t simply given her “the willies”. Even standing too close to him made the fine hairs at the nape of her neck stand on end - and not in the way that nearness to Killian sometimes did; an altogether much more pleasant tingle, even if she was just as unable to explain one as the other.

“We could take their things,” Walsh suggests, holding up the threadbare, faded jeans Emma had left on the bank. “Make them walk back in their skivvies.” The wicked smile on his face makes Emma’s stomach turn over sickly.

Something sharp flashes in Jones’ eyes, his nostrils flaring slightly and his head giving a subtle shake of dissent that Emma can see even at the distance she stands away from him. Protectiveness, chivalry, or maybe the honor of a southern gentleman passed down to him through generations of his impressive family line; whatever it is, it sparks to life in his eyes at that moment as he quashes Walsh’s mean-spirited suggestion in no uncertain terms. “That’s my little sister you’re talking about Oz,” he growls, smacking the worn material from the smaller’s boy’s hands, even if the article of clothing isn’t Rose’s at all.

Emma feels her breath rush back into her lungs, though she continues to watch the guys warily for whatever they might do or say next. Before long, they grow bored of standing around and move on, hollering out age old taunts of “Bye, losers” and “Hey, smell ya later” to Emma’s derisive snort and Rose completely ignoring them to flip open her book again.

However, even with the intruders gone, it seems as if the perfect comfort of their retreat has been shattered by the unsettling interruption.  Soon, Emma wades to the shore and Rose clambers down from her perch, to dress once more and return to the world outside. For a moment, as she refastens her jeans around her skinny waist, Emma feels a strange prickling along the fine hairs on her arms… like they’re being watched. She jerks around, searching the surrounding trees and brush, but can’t see or hear a thing.

Rose’s small hand takes hers, snapping Emma out of the moment. “What is it?” she whispers, only true caring in her voice. “Did you sense something?”

Emma nods, but can’t give her suspicions voice. Usually her visions are clearer than that - this had just been heavy breathing and like looking at herself and Rose through another person’s eyes, outside her own body.

Rose stooped to grab the little canvas bag she’d bought along with water bottles, towels, and a second book in it. “Hey, don’t worry, okay?” she offers, hopeful and kind as always. “You’ll figure it out. Wanna meet back out here tonight? Secret Sister bonfire?” she winks mischeivously. “I have to get to dinner now. You know how Mama hates it if I’m not washed up and properly attired for the evening meal - or a second late. But we can talk some more then, maybe you’ll remember more and it will be clearer.”

Emma nods gamely. “The stars’ll be beautiful by midnight,” she suggests. “And we’ll definitely have the place all to ourselves.”

“Since we were so rudely interrupted,” Rose chimes in with a giggle and roll of her eyes.

“Shake on it, pinkie swear,” they say together in practiced unison, executing a complex handshake that ends with their pinkies hooked together and wide, matching grins on both their faces.

“Thanks Rose,” Emma whispers sincerely, trying to speak around the lump in her throat as if it’s no big deal. “I’ll be out here as soon as I can sneak away.”

Rose, for her part, wraps her taller, golden-haired friend into a tight, momentary hug. “Hey, we’re Secret Sisters! You can count on me.  I’ll see you then!”

They part ways at the edge of the forest; Emma heading to the rundown cabin that serves as her nightmarish version of a home, and Rose to the pristine Jones family mansion standing tall over all the surrounding land. Rose looks back over her shoulder with a smile and wave that bolsters Emma, and the memory fades back into the haze of the past…

Eighteen years later….

September 2011

The blaring of the horn as a sports car whizzed by, barely missing the nose of Emma’s beat-up yellow VW where it had begun to edge out into the country intersection, jarred her back to the present with a gasp and painful jolt to her chest. Panting for a moment as she gripped the steering wheel, Emma tried to clear her head and calm the pounding of her heart at the near-miss.

‘Get it together,’ she berated herself. It might have seemed like only yesterday as she remembered that sunny afternoon at the swimming hole, but that day had been nearly two decades ago. She was a grown woman, had made a way for herself, fighting tooth and nail for every step forward, and she answered to no one. She had learned to stand up for her rights and her needs, to control her visions and use them for good, and had even served a special consultant for the Boston PD. But, more than all of that, she had come back to this place to find peace, to lay to rest the ghosts that had followed her everywhere else she’d gone in the years between, once and for all. If she expected others to leave the past in the past, she would first have to manage to do the same.

She’d had no way to know as she and Rose parted that afternoon with promises and plans for later that it would be the last time she would ever see her friend. Emma had harbored the pain and the guilt and the unanswered questions ever since. Finally, it was time to meet the gazes of all of those who had stared at her in suspicion before she’d been packed up and moved away once more, and it was time she found answers. She wasn’t the scared, whipped, mistreated adolescent she had been at 13. What she had lived through then was not her fault, nor was what had happened to Rose that muggy July midnight. 

And if she had to return to Storybrooke, South Carolina to lay that burden down… well, it was long past time she did.

Tagging a few who might enjoy: @cssns @searchingwardrobes @jennjenn615 @kmomof4 @laschatzi @whimsicallyenchantedrose @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @stahlop @jrob64 @apiratewhopines @wefoundloveunderthelight @eastwesthomeisbest @xarandomdreamx @sotangledupinit @justanother-unluckysoul @booksteaandtoomuchtv @kazoosandfannypacks @anmylica @motherkatereloyshipper @jonesfandomfanatic @elizabeethan @the-darkdragonfly @donteattheappleshook @xsajx @lfh1226-linda @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @darkcolinodonorgasm @resident-of-storybrooke @drowned-dreamer @optomisticgirl @tiganasummertree @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @blackwidownat2814 @blowmiakisscolin @let-it-raines

[tadpolesonalgae]

u continuously drop banger after banger what the hell tabbatha 😭

i need chapter 19, feyre's guilt for her sisters turning fae was PALPABLE at the end. for accidentally dragging an unstable reader into an environment that would eventually lead to her attempt. And then having her own chosen family react to her sister this way? Because Feyre has always been attuned to her survival instincts, so I'm waiting for the storm to finally break and for her specifically to lose it on them for making her relationship with reader harder than it needs to be right now after her attempt, (shes the only person the ic will listen to anyway 👀🥱)

Currently Mor is Reader's biggest antagonist (love u for this again xx), but the other members of the IC have or are likely to really freak her out as well. Feyre would realize this talking to nesta i think and likely have a "family meeting" where she tells them all to butt out unless her or one of the other sisters are present. I dont think this would be the best for reader but i imagine it being a very feyre thing to do in this situation, her caretaker instincts likely have been doubled (bc nyx is still toddlin around off page) so i imagine she lets some of the wolf show to get the point across that she's not gonna fuck around when it comes to her sisters (much to the IC's surprise given how nesta was treated) (i think part of it may also be because she doesnt trust them not to trigger reader into accidentally using her powers against them 👀)

I was thinking while rereading ab how the 3 sisters would finally talk about what reader did amongst themselves if they havent already. I know youd write it to the point ur readers collectively KOA cry again and i think thatd be fun 🤭 but i digress. i think they need to talk about it and how they think they should help reader, instincts vs logic vs intuition perhaps? Each of the sisters will have their own ways of trying to help her, but i think with emotions running so high (esp for feyre) that it would turn into a much needed Archeron cuddlepile.

and i just felt lucien needed to be involved 😭 it was time, i missed him. BUT TELL ME WHAT ERIS SAID 🫵

-🤠

‘And then having her own chosen family react to her sister this way?’

I still need to elaborate on this in chapter 19 but my mind just isn’t doing anything 🫠 I know I have to write a scene to make some other stuff work properly (I know, I’m so vague and helpful) but I can’t figure at what point it should be placed and also what and how it’s going to happen? Ugh, it’s giving me miseryyyy 🎵

‘I dont think this would be the best for reader but i imagine it being a very feyre thing to do in this situation, her caretaker instincts likely have been doubled (bc nyx is still toddlin around off page)’

Yeah I can see Feyre just wanting to set things right but I can also see some people in the IC wanting reader to step up for herself and so won’t do much to defend her so she has the chance to do it for herself?

Though I think it would depend on how Feyre snapped at the IC? If it was more lowkey and reader wasn’t there to witness it I think it would be fine, but if it was over a dinner or something I think reader would want to spontaneously disappear from existence and memory 😭

‘I know youd write it to the point ur readers collectively KOA cry again and i think thatd be fun’

Thank you for thinking this but the magic in my fingertips has actually gone, and I don’t know what happening 😭 nothing’s working at the moment so that won’t be happening unfortunately, or fortunately :/

‘and i just felt lucien needed to be involved 😭 it was time, i missed him.

Still vaguely freaked out you predicted Lucien’s presence 👀🪄

‘BUT TELL ME WHAT ERIS SAID 🫵’

Eris told Lucien that high-waisted riding trousers are going out of fashion and he can no longer wear his slutty thigh-high boots with heels on their base and pointy toes 😔

[lumiolivier]

Good Boy

Day 5 of 31 of Kinktober

Prompt: Pet play

Word count: 1456

Light has a little present for a very good boy.

L knew from the beginning.  From the moment he laid eyes on Light, he knew he was Kira.  He knew what he was capable of.  He knew the extent of his killings.  He knew how far Light was willing to go.  And he knew that Light would stop at absolutely nothing to reach his end goal.  He would become God of the new world order whether L wanted him to or not.  And nothing would stand in his way.  And it only got worse as members of the task force were picked off one by one.  Soon, there was no one left.  No one left but L.

Light kept a comfortable penthouse tucked away in the skies above Tokyo.  High enough to reach the clouds.  Something about it felt very godlike.  To have the world look up to the skies and think of him.  But what the general public would never find out is exactly where that heaven was.  What their mortal god looked like.  But they didn’t need to.  As far as Light was concerned, he would always work from the shadows.  At least that was the plan after he finally defeated L.  However, in their time together, Light became attached.

Light couldn’t kill L.  Not really.  It’d take all the fun away from his new life.  He needed something, someone to bat around.  And who better than L himself?  Light didn’t exactly trust L home by himself, but that didn’t mean L didn’t get the same treatment Light did at the old task force headquarters.  Twenty-four hour surveillance was a necessity with L.  Every camera in every room in the penthouse was constantly locked onto L.  Whether Light was there or not.  Light made sure he had no blind spots, no places to hide.  No privacy.  If L so much as sneezed, Light knew about it.

But Light couldn’t stand constantly being away in his ivory tower.  At the peak of his Olympus.  So, he took a little walk down the street to mingle with his people he protected.  He wasn’t entirely heartless when it came to L.  In fact, he was out and about in search of a present for him.  The bell over the shop door chimed and Light knew exactly what he was there for.  It was the best specialty shop Light knew of to procure very specific items.  The cashier behind the counter smiled sweetly as she rushed to the back to get a special order Light had put in a couple weeks ago.  When he got the call of its arrival, he had to pick it up right away.

“And it’s just as I asked?” Light hoped, “Black Italian leather?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Genuine silver for the accents?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And the name on the credit card,” Light asked, “Could you run that by me again?”

“Yes, sir,” the woman checked the computer and there it was on the screen, “L Lawliet.”

“Wonderful,” Light smiled, taking the long purple box off the counter, “Thank you so much.”

“You’re very welcome,” she chirped, “I hope he likes it.”

“Oh, I’m sure he will.”

“And,” the woman grabbed another long box, this one longer than the first, “It does come with coordinates.”

“Thank you,” Light gave her a nod and started heading back home.  On the way, he opened the app on his phone to check on L.  Sure enough, he was balled up on the couch, taking a nap.  It was the only way he could deal with himself anymore.  I’m going to hate to wake you up, L, but…It’s going to have to be done. 

When the front door opened, L immediately jumped.  Something he had unfortunately learned while living with Light.  He knew that the moment that door opened up, something was bound to happen.  And more often than not, it never boded well for L.  He saw it as eternal punishment from an angry little boy who still wanted to play God.  But L didn’t dare say that out loud.  He knew that mouthing off wasn’t going to get him kicked out.  It wasn’t going to get him killed.  It only fueled Light’s fire that much more.  In their time together, L wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.  Something about seeing Light all fired up both terrified and delighted him all the same.  But logic couldn’t piece that together if it wanted to.

L shut his eyes again, squeezing them tight, his back toward the door.  It wasn’t a position he liked much, but if Light thought he was still asleep, he wouldn’t bother him.  Right?  If only L knew what waited for him in that box.  And what waited for him.  He’s not going to bother with me tonight, is he?  I get to have a night of peace and quiet for a change.  I just need a gap in the door and I’m out.  I don’t know where I’d run to, but anywhere has to be better, right?  But there’s nowhere.  He knows all my aliases.  He can track all of my credit cards.  He’d find me. 

“L…” Light spoke softly, taking a seat on the edge of the couch, “Wake up.  Master has a present for you.”

Master?  He’s Master now?  L didn’t budge.  As far as Light knew, L was merely a heavy sleeper.  Which couldn’t be further from the truth.

“L,” Light’s voice took a darker tone, “Wake up.  I’m not going to ask you again.”

Still, L kept quiet.  He didn’t move.  He didn’t hitch his breathing.  He did his best to keep his calm, despite the monster he knew at his back.

“L,” Light growled, “I said, wake up.  I know you’re not dead.  I make sure of that.”

Despite wanting to fight him tooth and nail, L opened his eyes.  He blinked a couple times, a touch mesmerized by the soft gentleness in Light’s cheeks.  He knew how sinister those eyes were, but there was still a certain innocence to them.  That innocence was what fooled them all, “Hi.”

“Hi,” Light could feel L’s little present burning at his feet, “It’s so good you’re awake.  I have something for you.”

“What is it?” L wondered.  Light doesn’t give me presents.  Light gives me exhaustion and stomach pain…And anything else he gives me is for his own selfishness.

“It’s this,” Light handed L the smaller box of the two.

“That doesn’t tell me anything.”

“That also didn’t sound like a thank you,” Light growled, “Did it?”

L let out a quiet sigh of exasperation, “Thank you, Light.”

“That’s better,” Light approved, running his hand through L’s hair, “Hmm…Maybe it’d be better given to you after a bath…”

“No,” L shot him down, hoping his wince wasn’t too noticeable, “Please, Light.  I can’t do another bath.”

“I didn’t say now,” Light settled him, “But later.  You’re going to want one later.  I promise you that.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Go on.  Open it.”

L still didn’t like where things were going, but he wasn’t going to fight him.  Although, when he opened the box, he wasn’t expecting to see a black leather collar sitting in it, “What’s this?”

“Come on, L,” Light teased him, “You’re one of the greatest minds of this last century.  You can’t tell me you don’t know what a collar is.”

“I know what a collar is,” L did his best not to roll his eyes, but let it be know that he really wanted to, “I guess the better question is why are you giving me this?”

“Because,” Light took it out of the box and wrapped it around L’s neck, “I think my cute little pet needs to have that reminder of who he belongs to.”

“I…” L felt his face go hot.  Hotter than it had ever gone before, “Did you just put a collar on me?”

“I did,” Light cradled L’s cheek in his palm, “Look, I know you’re looking to bolt the first chance you get.  I know you think I’m holding you captive.”

“I don’t think you’re holding me captive.” Hostage on the other hand?  That might be the more appropriate word for it.

“I won,” Light whispered in his ear, “I bet you weren’t thinking I’d claim you as my prize, were you?”

“No,” L felt his heartrate skyrocket.

“Good,” Light hooked the coordinating leash onto the D ring on L’s collar, “Come with me.  All fours.  To our bedroom.  We have a fun night ahead of us, L.  I just have one question before things get started.”

This is fucking humiliating, “What is it?”

Light couldn’t wipe the dirty smirk off his face if he wanted to, “Who’s a good boy, Lawliet…?  Who’s my good boy?”

[waiting-on-a-dream]

𝙼𝙱𝚃𝙸, 𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖 𝚘𝚌𝚜!

𝙼𝙱𝚃𝙸

Ichiro: INTP (He's curious about the world, despite getting stuck in his own head and losing track of time often. He gets many ideas but forgets them just as easily. He doesn't care much for what people think about him, but goes along with the flow so nobody will be unhappy (he probably doesn't care about the topic either but that's besides the point). He's also really detached from his own emotions, and finds it hard to empathize with other people.)

Akane: ESFP (She's really focused on her surroundings and is often experiencing everything that's happening around her, never missing a single detail unlike Ichiro. She also has a good grasp of her emotions and has a strong moral code, hence why she's often so angry with other people who look away. However, knowing that she's angry doesn't help control her emotions that well. She doesn't like being a bad mood, but she doesn't know how to manage her feelings properly.)

Daisuke: ESTP (Like Akane, he also pays attention to his surroundings well. He's always up and about, flitting from one exciting activity to the next. He also likes to think about things in a logical way and doesn't care about the morality of what he's doing as much (his job, cough). However, he has FE as his third function, so he's not completely terrible at navigating social and emotional situations. In fact, he's quite good at utilizing his emotional manipulation.)

Suzume: INFJ (She has a bad habit of always having her head in the clouds and worrying about the future. She mostly gets by with life through her intuitive gut feeling, which hasn't failed her so far. She also wants everyone to get along and will sacrifice her thoughts and feelings in order to go with the majority, to the point where she might put on a mask for someone if they want her to act a certain way.)

Haku: ISTJ (He tends to relate his past experiences to present circumstances, where his memories are used as a frame of reference to build ideas about how the world is and how it works. Whatever has been established to work well, he'll keep going with that until another solution is required. He's reasonable and rational, but has enough emotional intelligence not to rub most people off the wrong way.)

Yui: ESFJ (Her decisions and opinions are heavily influenced by her interactions with other people, as well as cultural and societal norms. She's friendly, sensitive and empathetic, always willing to help other people whenever she can. She also tends to act and respond in patterned ways that have been proven to work in the past, not willing to step out of her comfort zone most of the time.)

Rin: ISFP (He's sensitive and very aware of his inner emotional state, having a bad habit of being self-centered and aloof often. He only does what seems right to him, and doesn't enjoy being told that he's "wrong". Like most teenagers, he's trying to form his own identity while still gaining approval from his peers (its hard to do both). He also pays a lot of attention to his surroundings, concentrating on living in the moment instead of planning ahead.)

Noa: INFP (She's sensitive and empathetic, unfortunately jaded and anxious from bad experiences in her past. She used to be an idealistic dreamer when she was younger, but she knows now that she was just naïve and unaware of the world. She's also speculative and creative. Her NE allows her to see patterns everywhere, jumping from one thought to another as each item reminds her of something else.)

Kiyoshi: ENFJ (Like Yui, he's friendly and helpful to everyone he meets. He feels a sense of responsibility over people in a humanitarian way, and often sacrifices his own thoughts and feelings to keep up the peace in a group setting. He makes sure to plan ahead in life, but ends up relying on his instincts to guide him more often than not. Its okay, his gut instincts rarely fail him!)

Mayumi: INTJ (She worries a lot about many things, always stuck in that chaotic head of hers. Even though she thinks so much, she finds it very hard to voice her thoughts in a way that others will understand. How frustrating. She might be anxious often, that doesn't necessarily make her an emotional wreck though. She's actually quite level-headed when the situation calls for it, making reasonable and rational judgements every time without fail.)

Haruto: ENTP (He has a speculative and creative intellect, seeing patterns and connections everywhere to make a bigger picture. Whether or not he chooses to share his vision is another thing. He also prefers to think about things objectively and logically, questioning many things he comes across. Like Daisuke, he's also perfectly capable of tapping into his emotional intelligence.)

𝙴𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖

Ichiro: 5w6 (sp/sx)

His self-preservation instinct manifests in his tendency of retreating into his head to think, hence why he's so detached from reality. He's hesitant to do something if he isn't sure how it'll go, leading him to observe life from a distance instead of participating in it. His six wing causes him to feel alone and incapable without outside support, and he wants to feel safe with the people that he trusts. But he's primarily a type 5, so despite wanting attention from the people that he likes, he ends up minimizing his needs to avoid having them think he's too needy.

His social instinct comes in second because of his natural curiosity towards the world, wanting to learn more despite being so detached from it. He also finds comfort in knowing the acceptable boundaries of how to act through "authority figures" such as: his mom, Haruto and the other adults in Milgram. Because they're supposed to know more than him, he automatically trusts most authority figures and what they tell him.

Akane: 6w5 (sx/sp)

Her sexual instincts manifest in her tendency to appear bold and fierce in order to protect herself from any threats. Sexual sixes have the mentality of "the best defense is a good offense", and Akane is no exception. Her constant anger isn't a façade per say, but it stems mostly from her fear of getting or being allowed to get hurt. She would also like to have someone to rely on, but that isn't her main priority. Her sexual 5 tendencies manifest in her distrust of people instead, constantly analyzing and testing them to find out if they're any threat to her. Her guard is always up.

She doesn't trust any authority around her (they've all failed her so far), but she can't help the small feeling of hope that they'll help her every time. They're the authorities, so they should care about her and want to help, right? Right? She also doesn't pay much attention to anyone she doesn't like, as they tend to make her angry and that isn't good for anyone. If someone can connect with her and/or hold a conversation with her without pissing her off though, she's surprisingly loyal once she gets attached.

Daisuke: 7w6 (sp/so)

His self-preservation instinct manifests in his characteristics of being practical, opportunistic, and good at networking. He likes the sense of banding together with trusted others in which he knows he'll be looked after. Its funny. He fears being completely reliant on others, yet wants to be able to rely on someone. His six wing further emphasizes his need for support. His morals are questionable, but he still seeks friendly connections and alliances. And to do this he projects a friendly, trustworthy, and supportive persona as good allies are supposed to be.

Daisuke imagines having something better than his bleak reality sometimes, but only sometimes. He's not enough of a dreamer to be so idealistic. He has a flair for being dramatic, and exaggerates good effects when trying to rope in clients, but that's about it. His romantic side likes to sneak out in the presence of a certain someone though. He isn't as aggressive as Akane (sexual 6 wing), but he does tend to feign calmness in the face of "danger". He's good at not showing it, but he's actually quite scared most of the time.

Suzume: 9w8 (so/sx)

Her social instinct manifests in her tendency to work hard to support the people she cares for and prioritize the group’s needs above her own. This is due to the feeling that she doesn't actually belong among the people she cares for, so she overcompensates by being generous and sacrificing whatever is necessary to meet the needs of the group in order for a sense of belonging. She is also very focused on protecting her loved ones but has a hard time expressing vulnerability and emotions. 

Its hard to live in such a harsh and cruel world, but she is able to find a sense of comfort through the satisfaction of physical needs. Enjoyable activities like eating, reading, watching television, and even sleeping get her from one day to the next. As long as she focuses on the present instead of the daunting future, she'll be fine. Her 8 wing allows her to be good at making things happen. When she wants something, she most certainly will work hard to get it! She just needs to actually want something first.

Haku: 5w4 (sp/so)

Like Ichiro, he tends to keep to himself and learn about the world through observing rather than participating. While Ichiro has garnered a love for drawing, he has a passion for music, specifically piano. His 4 wing is where he differs from Ichiro's enneagram type. A type 4's greatest sin is "envy", and Haku tends to compare himself to others in terms of music capability. He actually isn't that talented when it comes to playing the piano, but he makes up for it through hard work. Still, he can't help being jealous of others who seem to get by without having to suffer as much as him. There's no point in whining about it though, so he learns to endure everything with a stoic face.

Sexual fives live for a kind of ideal connection, always searching for someone who they can trust with all their secrets. They can be said to be romantics in that way. Luckily for Haku, he already has his beloved brother who is always by his side. Everyone else in the world pales in comparison to him. The sexual side of Haku's 4 wing manifests in his competitive streak towards his peers. When it comes to the piano, he hates to lose to anyone else. Even though he isn't as naturally talented as everyone else, its what he's best at. Its an important part of him, and he can't let go of it.

Yui: 4w3 (so/sp)

As a social 4, she tends to feel things deeply and finds it hard to regulate her negative emotions. A part of her wants her suffering to be recognized and understood, but she also fears displaying such vulnerability to the potential of being rejected. To compensate for this innate sadness, she projects the exact opposite image. She's flourishing and beautiful and popular, liked by everyone. Her smile will surely outshine her shadow.

She also often feels competitive towards other idols in the industry, especially those that seem to be better than her. She can't stand the thought of being forgotten in someone else's shadow, so she works hard to shine in her own right. Its not always about her though! She likes to see her loved ones flourish as well, and will often work hard in support of the people she cares for. There's a special kind of pride she feels when her loved ones are acknowledged after improving with her help.

Rin: 1w2 (so/sp)

As a social 1, he is highly idealistic and driven by an internal sense of morality. He strictly believes in rules and responsibility, hence why he takes pinky promises so seriously. He can be nitpicky and stubborn, causing him to feel separate from his peers because he struggles to find someone he can totally relate to. Even though he finds most people annoying, he quickly grows attached to anyone who treats him nicely. He's a hard worker with the occasional competitive streak, wanting to stand out and make an impact within whatever group he's joined (his school's science club).

He often feels that he knows the “right” way to do things, and will get frustrated at those who don't follow his views. Its not that he believes in perfection, but there's a certain standard that everyone should live up to. He can't understand people who fuss over trivial things that don't amount to anything in the end. Once someone manages to befriend him, he'll give lots of attention to them, wanting to be their best friend just as they are his. He gets lonely quite often actually, and isn't good at letting go of people.

Noa: 4w5 (so/sx)

Similar to Yui, she's sensitive and has a bleak outlook on life and the world as a whole. Its as if she was born to be sad, and she can't help but feel as if life isn't worth living most of the time. She tries not to burden others with her depressing thoughts and feelings, but it feels good to let the weight off her back once in a while. A part of her fears that her loved ones will start seeing her differently once she shares too much though. These feelings might be born from her tendency to live in her own head, filled with romantic ideals of a better world with better people. She was never one for mundane, ordinary life, how could she be? The books and movies she watches are much more interesting, and they often make her wish she was living in another world instead.

Her self-preservation instinct tries its best to make her not seem like an utter failure. Others will surely be annoyed at her whining, so she should just keep these messy feelings to herself. This inner conflict only causes her turmoil most of the time. Her 5 wing also causes her to have a need for clearly defined boundaries, to have a place of safety she can retreat to to avoid feeling lost in the world. Even though she wants to, its hard to voice her thoughts sometimes. Especially with the potential of rejection.

Kiyoshi: 2w3 (so/sp)

He's obviously a social 2 with him being the helpful and responsible leader type. He wants to help people and preserve the peace of the community, and is ambitious in pursuing any goals he sets for himself. Everyone who knows him admires him for his accomplishments, he's a role model for his community after all. A part of him needs everybody's admiration and respect as a way of earning a sense of belonging in his community. His parents are very active in the community as well, so he's learned that people who go out of their way to help others are always well loved and accepted. He makes sure to live up to everyone's expectations.

He also strives to forge intimate connections with others. It'd be nice to have some close friends, to share secrets with others and to be shared with. But he wants to be approved of and liked so much that he is willing to agree to anything someone says. He doesn't even realize that he says whatever the other wants to hear until hours after the conversation. Because he tries so hard to be good and perfect, he doesn't know how to react to criticism. He also goes out of his way to support others, particularly his loved ones. He wants everyone to get their own chance to shine!

Mayumi: 1w9 (so/sx)

Similar to Rin, she believes that everyone has a certain standard to love up to and responsibilities that they must fulfill. She strives to be the perfect example to others by living according to the rules and portraying correct conduct. She has a strong moral compass and bad habit of judging others in secret (she tries not to). However, she's more peaceful and compromising compared to Rin, as she doesn't want to offend or cause trouble for anyone. She works selflessly for the group without desire to be in the spotlight or be heaped with praise, simply being part of a meaningful group of people means the most to her.

Her self-preservation instinct manifests in her tendency to be plagued by worry in her daily life. She wants to be prepared when things go wrong, and will put in a lot effort into making sure her life is in order. Despite her anxiety and annoyance whenever things don't go smoothly, she still strives to live a calm and peaceful life. This means that she is practical and routine-oriented, trying her best to focus on the present and find ways to make her environment more enjoyable and comfortable.

Haruto: 8w7 (sp/so)

He doesn't have to worry about such things as a prison warden in Milgram, but he actually has a strong need to obtain what he needs for survival. He has a sort of ruthlessness in going after what he wants and finding ways to get around people who might stand in his way. He's efficient and calculating, but not entirely cold-hearted. His 7 wing also helps him with being opportunistic and good at networking, qualities that are always good to have for survival. He believes in strength in numbers, so being friendly and forming alliances with others is important to him. Even more so when he comes across someone who can help him in achieving his goals. Perhaps he struggled a lot before Milgram.

His sexual instinct has him being distrustful of rules and not afraid to go against the grain of convention. He's found himself in a strange place with no memory of anything before, so he's always uneasy despite being in the "highest position of authority" in Milgram. He wants to be in control of himself and his environment, and gaining more information is the only way to do so at the moment. His optimistic 7 wing keeps him in good spirits despite his uneasiness, and he tends to be impulsive because of it, much to the chagrin of some prisoners. Planning, improvising, envisioning – these are the things that occupy his time.

𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜

Ichiro

Gender preference: None. He'd probably grow feelings for anyone within his age range that treats him nicely.

Giving:

Gift giving - Its a nice way to show his affection without coming off as too clingy. He tends to dedicate and give his drawings to the people close to him. Drawing is his hobby, and he's quite good at it so he thinks his drawings are a good gift for his loved ones. He'll also pick up anything that he thinks his loved ones would like. Flowers, keychains, food, smooth pebbles for paperweights (that he paints first), you name it.

Quality time - When he likes someone, he wants to spend time with them (isn't it like that for everyone?). He'll try his best to pay attention when they're talking or trying to show him something. Compared to the way he usually ignores other people, his preference for someone can be quite obvious over time.

Receiving:

Quality time - As long as he can be doing the same activity as his loved one, he's happy (like a cat). The amount of attention they're willing to give him is how he measures their feelings towards him actually. If they don't want to spend time with him, that must mean that they don't care about him.

Words of affirmation - He has mommy issues, so of course he wants to be called a good boy. But seriously, compliments and kind words will have him curling into a ball of happiness. He doesn't believe in lies, so he thinks that any words of affection towards him is true. He likes being reminded that he's loved.

Akane

Gender preference: None. She's giving pansexual vibes actually.

Giving:

Acts of service - She's used to doing all the chores around the house, so doing the same thing for someone she actually cares about shouldn't be a problem. She isn't very good at cooking, but she'll practice if she wants to impress someone- He first-aid skills are quite good from experience, so she'll insist on patching up the wounds of her loved ones whenever she has the chance. She's not happy about them getting hurt or anything like that! She just likes having the opportunity to show her care for them.

Quality time - She's never had someone genuinely care about her before, but he wishes she had someone to talk to often. She's very picky about who she spends her time with, but when he likes someone, she'll go out of her way to seek them out. Who would've thought? Even a tsundere like her wants love.

Receiving:

Gift giving - Her father is a good-for-nothing, and a high school girl is only able to rake in so much income, so she doesn't have much to herself. Practical items like food, bandages, clothes and stationary are the fastest way to her heart. She'll find a way to repay the giver because she doesn't like feeling indebted to people, but she appreciates the gesture all the same.

Words of affirmation - She is so weak to compliments. Butter her up a little and she'll be a flustered blushing mess. Its nice hearing her loved ones tell her that she's pretty cool, okay? Especially after the things her father and teachers have said to her.

Daisuke

Gender preference: None. Bisexual disaster at his finest.

Giving:

Physical touch - He's a touchy guy, even towards people he just met as long as they don't seem to mind (most of the time). If he likes someone, he'll definitely be draping himself over them a lot like a sloth. If he likes someone, he'll be thinking of kissing them so much its embarrassing. Even he gets embarrassed about it.

Gift giving - A part of him gives gifts in hopes that the receiver will think of him whenever they look at or use the gift, like a little reminder of his affection for them. But for the most part, he has money and he likes spending it on the people he cares for.

Receiving:

Quality time - His parents were often busy, so he was quite lonely in his childhood. Its easy to arrange for meetups with friends now that he's an adult, so that's exactly what he does. He'll do the same for anyone he has feelings for too. He doesn't call it a date, the potential of rejection is too much. He just wants to spend time with the people that he likes, preferably doing something fun.

Physical touch - Is he touch starved? Any skin contact makes him happy actually, even if its a little rough. Maybe he's just a masochist. Cuddling is his favourite, especially with his special someone playing with his hair. Not that he's ever had a special someone cuddle him... But its nice to dream about.

Suzume

Gender preference: None. I'm getting bisexual vibes from her too.

Giving:

Acts of service - Her main method of showing her love is easy to overlook, hence why she feels she isn't good at loving. Doing the chores, remembering important things for her loved ones, positioning things around the house for convenience... Even though it feels like she's being taken for granted sometimes, its her way of showing her love and she isn't stopping anytime soon.

Quality time - When she cares about someone, she gives them her full attention and tries her best to remember the important details about them. She'll only remember the times she spent with them in the end after all, so why not create as many happy memories with her loved ones as possible?

Receiving:

Quality time - She's really happy when her loved ones talk to her or do an activity with her. Watching a movie together is one of her favourite activities to do her loved ones actually. She gets to enjoy the movie with them, and then discuss it with them afterwards.

Words of affirmation - She's the type of person to hear "I love you" a thousand times over and still not get tired of it. Same goes for compliments and reassurances. She just has to hear it with her own ears even if they're lies and she'll be alright.

Haku

Gender preference: None. He isn't interested in dating, but he probably has the capacity to be attracted to people.

Giving:

Acts of service - His way of showing love is quiet. He's already a responsible older brother, so doing chores and offering massages to his parents is normal for him to do. Helping his brother talk to others is a loving act of service as well. His parents tell him he coddles his brother too much, but he can't help it.

Gift giving - He tends to buy snacks, flowers and little trinkets for his loved ones like a cat bringing its spoils to its master. Whatever he thinks they'd like. Learning to play piano songs that they like seems to be a gift rather than an act of service, so I'll put it here. He also leaves the portion of his meals that his brother likes for the other to eat, another example of him spoiling his brother too much.

Receiving:

Quality time - He just likes being around his loved ones. He could be in the same room as them, doing separate things, and he'd still consider it quality time. Of course its more special when they're doing an activity together though. He especially loves the music related activities, it feels more meaningful to him.

Physical touch - His family members are quite touchy actually. His dad pats his head frequently, his mom often squishes his cheeks, and his brother is always clinging to him. Since physical touch is their giving love language, he's likely adapted to receive it. He's quite picky with who touches him though.

Yui

Gender preference: Male. She thinks girls are cute, but isn't interested in dating them?

Giving:

Words of affirmation - She can't help but want to blurt out all the nice things she can think of about her loved ones. When someone mentions them, she automatically goes on a spiel about how amazing they are. She has to stop herself from ranting for too long most of the time. Shell praise compliment her loved ones face-to-face plenty too. And she means every word.

Physical touch - its hard to hide when she's feeling clingy. She loves hugging her loved ones, throwing an arm over their shoulders and tucking her chin onto the crook of their necks. She especially loves playing with their hair, no matter the length.

Receiving:

Quality time - Having her loved ones want to spend time with her is a surefire way to cheer her up during a bad day because she finds their presence comforting. She just needs them to sit with her. It lets her know that they don't find her annoying? Its a silly thought, she tries to shit it down every time it pops up.

Words of affirmation - Receiving compliments always improves her self-esteem. When she's feeling down, a few compliments is sure to get her mood back to normal in no time. She turns into a flustered mess when showered in kind words too.

Rin

Gender preference: Female

Giving:

Gift giving - He likes to treat his loved ones to snacks and buy little gifts for them. He doesn't receive that much pocket money, but he still insists on buying things for his loved ones because it makes him happy to see them happy with their gifts. He looks forward to special occasions like Mother's day and Valentine's day to be used as excuses to buy gifts for his loved ones.

Quality time - He likes seeing and interacting with the people that he likes! He can actually get antsy and restless when he hasn't been able to interact with his loved one(s) for too long. Like that time his parents went on a week-long trip for their anniversary. He was fidgeting while waiting for them at the airport.

Receiving:

Quality time - He tends to measure how much his loved ones love him based on how much time they spend with him. And he has a bad habit of taking it personally when they're too busy to spend time with him. It isn't that hard to hang out with him though. Most of the time he just wants to share a meal or read together.

Acts of service - He can sometimes forget to take care of himself when he's engrossed in his work, so its really nice when his loved one runs him a hot bath or brings him a snack while he's working. Little acts like that never fail to make his heart melt.

Noa

Gender preference: Male

Giving:

Physical touch - She can't help but want to feel her loved ones with her hands. Ruffling her brothers' hair, holding her mother's hand, hugging her beloved husband. There's something comforting about being able to feel their skin against hers. It grounds her, reminds her that they're here and alive. Is that weird?

Quality time - She isn't very busy, so she has plenty of time to spend on her loved ones. If her loved ones have something to show her, she's sure to give them her full attention! Any time spend sharing love for each other is quality time for her.

Receiving:

Words of affirmation -She tends to feel down sometimes, but little words of support and reassurance always help to pick her back up. Sometimes she just wants to be distracted and will ask them to ramble about something instead. She finds her loved ones' voices soothing, so they serve as good distractions.

Quality time - Since she likes spending time with her loved ones, she feels loved when they want to spend time with her too. She feels rather honored when her loved ones share something special to them with her actually. That means they trust her enough to share something close to them. How wonderful.

Kiyoshi

Gender preference: Female

Giving:

Acts of service - He wants his loved ones to be safe and comfortable at all times, so if there's anything he can do for them, he'll do his best to help them. Especially his beloved parents. He's a reliable assistant for his father while working, and frequently brews relaxing teas for his mother.

Gift giving - He likes to buy fancy and expensive gifts for his loved one on special occasion. Watches, fruit baskets, decorative items they're sure to like. His mother has a fondness for flowers, so he makes sure to buy a bouquet every Mother's day. He just loves seeing the look of joy on his loved ones' faces when they receive something they like. He can't get enough of it.

Receiving:

Physical touch - He's used to being touched a lot as a kid. His parents hugged him often, and his elderly neighbours liked to pinch his cheeks. They still do it even though he's all grown up now. Not that he's complaining! He quite likes the attention.

Acts of service - He's always making sure everyone else is taken care of, so who will take care of him? Sometimes he gets so engrossed on his work that he forgets about his own needs. Just having his loved one check in on him gives him enough motivation to keep going (and remind him to eat something).

Mayumi

Gender preference: Male

Giving:

Acts of service - She's more of a practical person, so she'd rather do something useful for her loved ones rather then profess her care with words. For her, talk is cheap. So she doesn't mind doing extra chores and cooking meals and such.

Gift giving - Another practical way of showing love that Mayumi prefers. She's known to knit sweaters for the children living in the hospital she works at, and her mother is always happy to receive more cooking equipment. Basically, she prefers to get things for the people she cares about that they will use.

Receiving:

Quality time - She's busy with her job as a nurse, so she treasures the precious moments spent with her loved ones. Even time spent doing chores with her mother is treasured by her. But she prefers activities like having a conversation over a shared meal.

Acts of service - She's very tired at the end of every day, so it'd be nice to be taken care of for a while. A simple cup of tea is enough to get her spirits up most of the time. She also tends to misplace her things quite often, so having someone help her to look for it and bring it to her would be really helpful.

Haruto

Gender preference: Both, both are good.

Giving:

Acts of service - He has traces of responsibility in him (likely from his past) and is always helping the people he care about feel comfortable. He's the kind of person that always has to be doing something, and that translates to his love language as well.

Words of affirmation - He tends to casually compliment the people he cares about, usually with a lighthearted tone. It just slips out so easily for him, he hardly has to think about it. The ever meaningful "I love yous" are saved for special occasions though.

Receiving:

Words of affirmation - Compliments and praises make him so happy! They inflate his ego too but we don't talk about that. If someone likes him, they must think he's pretty cool and want to voice it, right? He knows lots of people don't operate like that, but he wants to hear proof of their love from their lips. At least once in a while. That shouldn't be too hard for them if they love him.

Acts of service - Its nice to have things done for him. Even better if his loved ones is proactive about it! He's sure to do the same for them, so its only fair. The little things like being brought a drink and having his hair dried really makes his day!

[fishrpg]

2024-08-19: Hex 19 (Forest)

A lush canopy of leaves whispers overhead as far as the eye can see.

Notable Feature: Hazard (Disorientation)

Although ample light penetrates the canopy, the trees in this section look unnervingly alike. Each character attempting to traverse the hex must make a DC 18 WIS check. On a success, the character traverses the hex without incident. On a failure, the character traverses the hex after suffering a misfortune. Roll a d6 and consult the table below to determine what misfortune occurs to the character.

You run around in circles trying to catch up to the rest of the party after losing sight of them briefly; gain a level of exhaustion.

Bashing your head against an unseen tree limb leaves you seeing double. For the next 24 hours, you have disadvantage on ranged attacks and checks involving estimating distances or speeds.

Waves of dizziness wash over you; for the next 24 hours, any checks made while moving (running, horseback riding, riding a train, etc) are made at disadvantage.

A wild animal scratches you badly. Take Setback (slashing) damage and on the following day, you begin to develop mental fog. For 1d4 days, you have disadvantage on concentration checks.

For the next 24 hours, your are absolutely convinced that you are somewhere else. During this time, whenever you are present while anyone else makes a check to navigate or ascertain position, you also make the same check with advantage. If the result of your check is the same or higher than the other checks, you convince the party to listen to you and confidently guide them in the wrong direction. The GM decides if that means the party ends up stuck in the same hex or moves to a different hex that is not the one the party was looking for.

You wander off an hour or so without telling the party and another player character is forced to find you and drag you back to the rest of the group. Select the player who locates you at random; and that person gives you an unfortunate or embarrassing nickname as a result of your disappearance. A character who already has a nickname will receive an additional nickname each time they roll this consequence. Depending on how memorable the party thinks the nickname is, it may become permanent.

Hidden: Powers of the Mind

An incredibly ornate stone cairn is being fussed over by a man whose dark hair is just beginning to gray. The cairn is hollow inside and has enough space to for a seated person to fit, and the man is incredibly focused on positioning each stone just so according to some sort of inscrutable logic. If the party interrupts his task, he curtly introduces himself as Dr. Emilio Gabasa, an Astra-Litho Precognition expert and attempts to return to his work.

If the party continues to try to engage Dr. Gabasa in conversation, he will only talk about his niche research interest. He has made a breakthrough in his field of Astra-Litho Precognition, which is the science of using the resonant energies of particular stones (the cairn) to create an astral field that allows a person to limited glimpses of the future. The math works out and Dr. Gabasa is indeed able to see a few days into the future for nearby locations, but the setup currently only works for Dr. Gabasa. He refuses to discuss any aspect of his personal life or where he is sleeping for fear that someone will steal his research.

However, he does request the party's help in testing a particular hypothesis about the mutability of precognitive outcomes. It's fancy-talk for seeing if you can change the future he saw. In approximately two days from the moment the party meets Dr. Gabasa, a wealthy cattle rancher will attempt to destroy a beloved prayer tree in Hex 20 to begin making room for cattle grazing land. If the party can stop the rancher from destroying the tree (ideally stopping its destruction permanently) the party will prove that the future can be changed. (as long as they get the information back to Dr. Gabasa within a week).

Hidden: Get Off My Land

In an isolated cottage with a large covered porch and all the windows covered up with blankets, there lives a grumpy and busted-up bandit named Koen Woesthuis. Anyone knocking on his door is greeted by the sound of shells being loaded into a shotgun before he opens the door. Koen is normally quite grumpy, but now he's even grumpier because the last visitor he had a few days ago attacked and bit him, leaving scabs in the shape of tooth marks on his cheek and jawline. The visitor appeared right at dawn and begged Koen to let him rest for a few hours inside the house, and when Koen said no, the traveler turned to violence.

Koen shot the traveler, who ran off deeper into the forest to die. Since then, the world has seemed too bright and his stomach hurts. And weirdly, he developed a paralyzing fear of an old stone statue in Hex 31 that was carved centuries ago by indigenous people. Koen asks if the party would mind smashing that particular statue to bring him peace of mind.

What Koen doesn't know is that the traveler he turned away was a vampire trying to seek shelter from the sun. During the fight, Koen contracted a very mild form of vampirism, which is why everything is so bright for him, his stomach hurts, and why he is afraid of the statue. There is no known cure for vampirism or Koen's mild form of it, though destroying the statue will allow Koen to travel freely to the north again. However, it will also allow any vampires to travel through Hex 31 as well.

[thequietmanno1]

Thelreads, Vigilantes 84, Replies Part 1

1) “Time for vigilantes, if that wasn`t completely obvious I guess lol, and oh my, am I excited to see how he`ll get out of this pickle. “-  He’ll get by with a little help from his fri-… current unfortunate associates.

2) “Alright, right where we left, and the backup jet seems to not be igniting. See Koichi, this is why maintenance is so important, rockets can`t fly on the power of friendship alone, not at the moment at least.”- He doesn’t need to fly long, just angle himself enough far away to reach the landing spot, and his ‘Double-Jump’ method is sufficient to pushing himself just far enough along to reach that, even without the massive thrust his rocket mode allows. 3) “OH MY GOD IS THAT MIDNIGHT? IT LOOKS LIKE HOW MIDNIGHT DRESSES

WHAT IS GOING ON WHY IS SHE HERE WHAT DREAMS HAVE TO DO WITH NOT BECOMING A SPLATTER ON THE GROUND?”- She’s here to be Koichi’s figurative deus ex Machina to ensure Pop is actually saved in the end, even if it would have been nice if the vigilantes had been on-the-spot competent enough to not need a professional’s aid to stabilise Pop. But then again, I guess Furuhashi wanted to highlight that there’s realistic limitations to what untrained amateurs can logically pull off trying to save somebody in a rescue service without any if the advantages of experience or medical training,. Koichi’s got enough versatility and training beaten into him to preform under pressure, but there’s no way to prep yourself for a surgical operation with a shoestring budget – even Knuckle clearly was trained on proper first aid whilst he was still operating as a hero before he turned to vigilantism. 4) “Also, are you going somewhere Koichi? I thought the idea was to not go splat, where are you trying to get to?”- The trick with learning how to take a fall is to pick the right landing spot. 5) “Go girl, if you get there quick enough you might make Koichi sleep a pleasant dream instead of agonizing to death on the ground after his fall.

Ohhhhh- so that`s what the tittle is about, I see…”- Well, her dreams, and Nomura’s, though he’s dead-set on turning it into a nightmare for Koichi….    (Vigilantes ch 79) 6) “Yeah, you know, like I said, Koichi could probably already be there if he was on his on. I don`t know what kind of equipment y`all carrying on that truck, but he probably can do without it. “- Koichi might be able to fly, but need needed some way to stick that landing with an unconscious passenger. “Still, that must`ve hurt like hell, I hope he managed to slow down a lot before hitting that thing, because otherwise his internal organs and bones won`t have a good time.”- It would be even worse for Pop, given her insides are presently in the midst of a revolt from her current passenger. 7) “Oh right, the self-destruct thing. Trust me, that`s the least of her worries right now, there`s a fucking bee in her brain. Tamao got extracted while her heart was stopped, I think Pop will be fine.”- It was one thing to remove the queen when it was agitated and wreaking Tamao’s body, it’s another thing entirely when said bee has been shot up with an unknown drug that’s making it go unstable and at risk of violently erupting if agitated too much – plus, Soga clearly doesn’t have Knuckle’s iron willpower of split-second decision making skills to support him in moments like this. 8) “You know, I wouldn`t call this a deus ex machina, but fucking hell Furuhashi, do you know you can set up the cavalry before it charges into the enemies? It would be a lot more exciting seeing Midnight coming here before she suddenly is needed”- This does deflate their ‘victory’ here somewhat, given that their efforts only proved to be halfway successful with saving Pop, and she still needed professional assistance in the end. On the other hand, I got the impression furuhashi was trying to send a message of how not everybody can be a hero, even with a lot of potential, prep time and a plan of action. There’s limits you run into, and at times like these, it’s ok to ask for aid, especially because it helps prove to them that not every hero and official would judge Pop as a villain despite her actions. On the other hand, it would have been nice if Koichi had come to that realisation himself organically, and called Midnight for aid… or maybe even have has Pop’s singing group to contact her for him in case things turned out of the worse 9) “This was supposed to be Koichi`s sink or swim, there were no heroes that he could trust on, no allies besides those criminals with a warehouse, this was supposed to be the point where the lines were blurry between good and evil, since they were about to do something that, although necessary, is pretty fucked up. And then you show up.

And now we have a hero that not only has an ability that can calm down pop, but is willing to help with no questions asked.”-  Granted, Koichi’s efforts were still necessary to actually get Pop to a location where Midnight could help subdued the bees within and away from Nomura’s control, but it would have been better if Koichi had had the foresight to relaise this was going to be an outcome they’d need to deal with, remembered Midnight’s subduing scent quirk from that pub crawl, and discreetly arranged with her to meet up here once he’d gotten Pop out of the line of fire himself, in a way that didn’t direct unwanted attention into Midnight interfering with another Pro hero’s arrest of a villain and lets Midnight handle the part of saving Pop that Koichi and crew aren’t equipped to handle themselves. 10) “And that raises the question of why it hasn`t done that already? Knuckle saved tamao because he acted fast, once her heart was stopped he immediately removed the bee, but Pop here- jesus, she got shot down, Koichi run away with her, flew up and then crashed down and now we`re talking about removing it. The Parasite is trying to charge overtime it seems.”-  Tamao’s body still had bees and other options to use and she was ‘controlled’ by the Queen throughout the whole mess, but Nomura’s shot has effectively disrupted the Queen’s control and rendered it unstable, unable to fully control either Pop or itself, thus giving the kids a larger window to either extract or neutralise it.     (vigilantes ch 80) 11) “Yeah I truly believe that one, alright… Suuuuure. I`m shiver in me timbers over the possibility of Pop dying here, because Furuhashi would most certainly do that, right. sure.”- Well, she sure didn’t get off easy regardless… 12) “Yeah see. Pop is Twitching and and convulsing? Well, fear not, here`s the one hero that can put her to sleep with her quirk, who just so happen to also be completely onboard with everything.

So much for “we can`t trust the heroes on this one””- Well, to be fair, the majority of heroes who didn’t know Pop, they couldn’t cooperate with, and if they’d come close to actually taking Pop down, then Nomura would have sneakily detonated her before anybody knew what was up, so Koichi’s aid was still vital in getting her away from him and his ‘script’, but having Koichi independently rely on the allies he’s made so far would have made him some across as a better independent ‘hero’ than he does. Regardless, for his first actual act of heroism in the field, it wasn’t overall bad – if Knuckle had still been around, he could have probably taken over the bee extraction without Midnight, so I guess it’s to highlight that Koichi won’t automatically succeed at becoming a hero on his first attempt without adult supervision to help him out when he falters? 13) “Why you looked at him? When did you suddenly started looking up to Koichi for confirmation? “-  Soga’s the ‘technical’ leader of this band, but Koichi’s still the one actually being the hero, so it’s his call – especially since Soga’s well aware he ain’t hero material. 14) “HOLY FUCK IT WAS HIM

HE ACTUALLY TRACKED DOWN KOICHI?

NOW, HOW DID HE GOT HERE SO FAST? I THOUGHT THIS ENDEAVOR COULDN`T FLY, DON`T TELL ME HE FUCKING POWER-WALKED ALL THIS WAY FURUHASHI”- I’m more interested in the random bystander he shoved out the way to reach them. Very crowed back-alley for what was supposed to be a ‘remote’ hiding spot they could safely extract the bee in. 15) “Also, endeavor just arrived, there`s no way he`s gonna let this go on, this is an absurd, and those people here are criminals on his eyes”- The good news is, with Puto out cold, Soga and co just look like some random bystanders helping out their drunk friend after a hard night’s drinking that were passing by where Koichi and Pop crashed down, meaning they have plausible deniability protecting them. 16) “You`re barking up the wrong tree Midnight, five minutes ago Endeavor wanted to turn her into a pile of smoldering ashes, I don`t think he`s just gonna let her go scot-free. This Endeavor would put her in handcuffs and ship her to Tartarus without batting an eye”-  That was when she was still an active threat and could be immolated under the flimsy excuse that she was a danger to others. Rendered unconscious and in critical condition, there’s no longer any justification for Endeavour to flame-broil her – plus, he’s presently more enraged against Koichi for accidentally hitting his ‘All Might’ button, so he’s got a more pressing target to go after than her. 17) “I bet he`s gonna eat that one. Just watch it.”- He might be more aggressive and confrontational than MHA-Endeavour, but this Endeavour still isn’t dumb enough to pick a fight with another pro hero that could devolve into a scandal over a situation that’s now basically resolved without any proof, so he just takes the obvious lie whilst he looks for Koichi himself. 18) “KOICHI PLEASE WHY ARE YOU CLIMBING THIS BUILDING RIGHT WHERE HE CAN SEE YOU

YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE BEHIND A WALL, WHY DO YOU NEED TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY”- He was actually hiding behind the giant inflatable landing pad they set up, which would have been the first place Endeavour checked out as being massively suspicious and wouldn’t have hidden him for long- seems he was taking the opportunity to stealthily slide up the nearest building whilst keeping an eye on Endeavour to know when to speed up before his attention was brought back to him.

19) “Now Koichi also learned how to teleport, or become invisible, because there`s no way he managed to climb that whole thing in the second it took for Endeavor to turn around.”- You can technically achieve both of those through the power of Turbo Fast. @thelreads

[rpmemesbyarat]

A VERY basic rule of writing is to challenge your protagonist. A story is only as good as its antagonist at the end of the day. The antagonist doesn’t need to be a person—it can be a situation, the environment, or the protagonist to themselves—but whatever it is, it has to challenge the protagonist. If a hero just overcomes everything with little or no effort, there’s really no tension or stakes, which makes for a poor story. When I read a book or watch a movie, I know LOGICALLY that the hero is going to survive and win (unless it’s a tragedy) but I need to wonder HOW. Even children’s stories understand this. Let's say I'm writing a story about Little Timmy entering a boat race. He builds the best boat and he wins. That's technically a story, but it's not very gripping, because it has no stakes. There's never a moment I'm really wondering if Little Timmy will win, or how he will pull it off. When I go into watch most movies, I know the good guys are going to survive/triumph unless it's a tragedy. But a good movie makes me wonder, holy shit, how? How can they get through this? That's what keeps me there. I know how it will end, but I'm there to see the journey. So, Little Timmy enters the boat race. But the store is out of materials to build his boat! So he has to hunt through junk heaps to find materials. The time he spends doing this gives him less time to build his boat than the other kids, so he's at a disadavantage. Then on the day of the race, his dog gets sick and he's in a time crunch to get his pup to the vet AND get to the race in time to start. He manages that, and once the race begins, another kid's boat rams into his!  That kid is trying to sink him! See how it gets more exciting when things go wrong for Little Timmy? And in order for these stakes to exist, the antagonist has to be competent. If a master martial artist is attacked by a common street punk, the fight isn’t really interesting or impressive, because the master doesn’t have to do much to win in a second. If the master martial artist has to face another master, then we get to see them struggle, and they’re forced to display their best moves, which is far more impressive. You can certainly have a comical antagonist, but unless you’re actually writing a comedy where the joke is the antagonist constantly failing, they still need to present a threat. Like, Don Karnage in TaleSpin is funny as hell and really ridiculous and I love him, but he also genuinely has the heroes on the ropes a few times. I have to wonder how they’re going to get out of this, and in order for me to have that concern, Don Karnage has to be competent enough to warrant that concern. If he’s weak and stupid and ineffectual altogether, and presents little or no real challenge to the heroes, there’s no concern, no tension, no stakes, and thus no satisfaction when the heroes best him, because it’s not impressive that they did so. If Little Timmy’s boat is never under a threat that seems genuine, I’m not really invested in his win, and it’s not much of a story if he does win. This not only means making your villains competent, it also means letting them get one up on the heroes. Think of the climax scene in any movie or book or show, the big showdown between the hero and villain. The moment of truth. In order to get to that point, the villain has to have gotten a few wins in. How could Will and Hannibal have ever gotten to the cliff scene if Will had bested Hannibal every step of the way from the start? How could A Series of Unfortunate Events have lasted past a single book if everyone believed the Baudelaire children and Count Olaf was successfully captured? This is where a lot of writers mess up; they do a good job building the villain up as being a real threat in theory, but they’re so against letting their darling protagonists so much as struggle or, gasp, LOSE for even just a moment, that in practice The Big Bad is barely an annoyance, no matter how menacing they originally seem. In the Anita Blake series, Marmee Noir, The Mother of All Darkness, is a great example of this. She’s presented as being the originator of both vampires and wereanimals, an ancient pre-human who has been in hibernation for thousands of years, and a being of immense power and terrible intentions. When the characters realize she’s begun to stir, it’s a huge Oh Shit moment, and there’s a lot of buildup over the books about how bad this is. But when Anita is actually up against this supposedly all-power supernatural force, she just. . .absorbs all Marmee’s power and kills her, lickety-split. A great many fans understandably found this terribly disappointing and anti-climactic. Let your bad guys be threatening, and let them make good on at least some of that threat potential before being defeated. Let the villains get some wins in. Which, yes, means letting your protagonist lose sometimes---and have to WORK for their ultimate win, become their best selves to triumph, pull out all the stops and everything they’ve got so that the audience sees what they’re really made of. It makes both your hero AND your villain look cooler to the readers, AND makes for a better story!

[sanguinescorpios]

stream sniper

dream x f!reader

summary | dream is on an important stream and too busy to give you attention. unfortunately for him, you’re feeling needy.

warnings | smut, thigh riding, voyeurism, dom!dream x sub!reader, edging, cockwarming, orgasm denial if you squint, this is filthy

word count | 2.8k

it started out innocent. you had been missing your boyfriend; between your school work and his editing, you rarely got to spend time together despite living in the same house.

you admit, you were a needy partner. you liked to be attached to clay’s hip at any chance you got, and he just let you. during recordings, during editing, even during streams; you were always there. it didn’t matter if he couldn’t really pay attention to you or if you had to sit on the couch behind his set up, you just enjoyed being in his presence.

this one, however, was slightly different than the average stream. you could count on one hand the amount of times clay had refused to let you be present for a stream and every time he had, it was a trainwreckstv stream.

it was fine, you always said, you understood. of course he wouldn’t want you there for a stream like that. he had to focus a lot harder on how and what he said on train’s podcast because the demographic and content was so drastically different from his own, and you would only distract him. it wasn’t personal. still, you couldn’t help but feel bitter about it. you missed him; final exams week had just ended and the idea of spending worry-free quality time with him was what got you through it. so you did what your totally logical brain told you to do: walk in anyways.

the door creaked as you opened it and you cringed internally. your sock-clad feet tread lightly as you moved forward into the room, praying your boyfriend wouldn’t notice your presence.

he did.

being a faceless creator, he didn’t even own a camera to accidentally have on, so you were safe on that front. the look on his face, however, told you that you were not so safe after all.

“i thought we agreed on you not being here for this stream?” he asked after tapping the mute keybind on his keyboard. he spun around in his chair with an abrupt kick from his heel, trying and failing to veil his annoyance.

“we did...but i missed you.”

he rolled his eyes, still ticked off but not so much that he was willing to turn you away. he missed you as well, he couldn’t deny it. not having you in his arms for so many hours was excruciating, though he tried not to think so dramatically. clay waved you over to him, the corners of his lips curling up at your attire.

“is that my shirt?” he asked, and you nodded. placing his large hands firmly on your hips, clay kept you close to him while he took a closer look at the oversized red t-shirt. it hung loosely on you, two sizes too big and ending mid-way down your thighs. clay couldn’t help but notice your lack of pants, too.

swooping his head down, he pressed a kiss to your exposed thigh. you brought your hands up to your face, heating up by the second, and giggled.

“no pants, hm?”

you gave him another non-verbal response, bashfully shaking your head while looking down at him through your fingers. he tsked you before pressing another kiss against your skin, inching closer and closer to where you needed him most.

“naughty girl,” he remarked after a few more kisses.

“aren’t you on a stream right now?”

clay glanced behind himself at his monitor, watching as the grown men on the screen argued with each other over some nonsensical issue. returning his gaze to you, he shrugged.

“yeah, but it was getting pretty boring.”

without a warning, clay clumsily pulled you into his lap and spun the two of you back around in his chair. after giving you one more kiss, he placed his headphones back on his head and returned to the conversation on his computer.

“yo, dream, you’ve been pretty quiet, man,” train noted, just in time.

“yeah my cat was acting weird, so i was gone for a minute.” clay placed a hand on your thigh and squeezed, a stupid grin on his face. this was gonna be one hell of a night.

***

you hated to say it, but you regretted crashing the stream. the conversation was painfully boring and dragging on, but there was no way you could leave now with the hold clay had on you. one hand lay around your middle and the other was firmly gripping your thigh. with his calloused fingers rubbing circles into the crease between your leg and your torso and his confident voice rumbling in your ear, you weren’t sure if you’d make it to the end of the stream. maybe he was teasing you, or maybe you were just needy. either way, you were gonna need a little more attention than this.

you stretched your neck in order to meet clay’s gaze, hoping he’d see the desperation in your eyes. instead, he gave you a soft smile and a kiss on the nose before turning back to the screen. he expected you to turn back as well so when you didn’t, he took notice.

reaching to mute himself, he gave you a concerned look.

“you alright, baby?” he asked and you shook your head no, “what’s up?”

“need you,” you admitted, barely concealing the whine that threatened to escape your throat.

clay’s eyes darkened ever so slightly, making it feel like the air had just been sucked out of the room. he was thinking, debating what to do next as he bounced you on his leg. the pace was punishingly slow and you grit your teeth to hold yourself together. 

“i’m a little busy, pretty girl,” he began as you let out a whine, “you’ll have to take care of yourself for now.”

you weren’t sure what that meant until you followed his gaze down. oh. oh. he wants you to...use him. okay. you raised yourself off his lap and he gave you a confused look, but it disappeared as soon as he saw you slipping out of your panties and was replaced by a smug smile. 

climbing back onto his leg, facing him this time, you let out a puff of air. fuck, he felt good. your already dripping center pressed against clay’s jean-clad thigh, the rough fabric intensifying any amount of friction you could manage. you wanted to move so badly, but clay’s tight hold on your hips kept you stationary. you looked up at him with big eyes, silently asked for permission. finally, he nodded.

you immediately began rutting your hips against his thigh, resting your hands on his shoulders to stabilize yourself. fuck, you thought as you felt the sturdiness of him underneath you, his shoulders. small mewls and whimpers escaped you as you increased your pace, chasing a high that you weren’t sure you could reach on your own.

train had clay talking about his sudden success, which was a fan-favorite topic as everyone either hated or loved him for it. the only catch was that, being the nature of train’s podcast, the focus was less on the money and more on the, well, you know.

“think about it, dream. there are people out there fucking themselves to the sound-to the thought of you. isn’t that crazy?” you heard train ask, though it was muffled by clay’s headset. 

clay looked down at his lap, on which you were grinding your bare clit like a bitch in heat, and then back up to his monitor.

“not really.”

you nearly moaned at his words, but hid it by sucking a bruise into clay’s neck. clay hissed at the feeling and tried to push you off, but you were unrelenting. you swirled your tongue around the section of his skin to soothe the pain. pulling back to admire your work, you were met with a now aggravated clay.

“y-yeah i’m alright man,” he started, glaring down at you, “my cat just scratched me.”

you rolled your eyes. great excuse, asshole.

you began to lean back down towards his already bruising neck, but were instead met with a strong hand gripping your jaw, turning you to face your now dually frustrated boyfriend. something had shifted, the air felt thicker and clay felt sharper, all softness void from his demeanor. the look in his eyes was made of steel and flickering between your own gaze and your mouth, brows furrowed and tongue dipping between his lips to swipe across them. the little voice in your head was screaming “danger”, but danger didn’t look so bad in that moment. danger looked good, danger looked worth the risk. danger looked like getting the best fuck of your life. 

ignited by the heat building in your core and the near-paralyzing look clay was giving you, you continued your previous actions. rutting your hips against clay’s thigh with fervor, you smiled proudly at him. the roughness of his jeans sent shivers through your body, you had to be soaking him and you were only getting wetter by the second.

your chin raised, a smug smile plastered to your features, and that challenging glint in your eye - you were such a fucking brat and clay lived to put you in your place. his hold on your jaw tightened before sliding down to rest on your throat, squeezing until your eyelids began to flutter and your thrusts grew sloppier. the knot in his stomach twisted tighter at the sight. fuck, clay thought, you were something else. something that needed to be taught a lesson.

clay muted again, taking advantage of the ad break to pull down his sweatpants and pull out his cock. he pumped it a few times, precum leaking from the tip and sliding down his length. your stomach flipped at the sight, never not taken back by his size. clay grabbed you by your hips and spun you around so that you were facing his pc, facing everyone on the call that you had nearly forgotten he was still on. then, he began to tease his tip at your entrance. 

“this what you wanted, pretty girl? wanted me to treat you like a slut? wanted me to fuck you with everyone on the call?”

you moaned at the feeling of him circling the place you needed him most. the heat was still heavy on you from your previous actions and your body was no less frenzied than before, you wanted your release more than anything. knowing that all of those people were there didn’t help your crazed state. you felt dirty and you liked it.

“sit.”

you lifted yourself over him without a second thought, slick and sensitive from the buildup of your long-awaited orgasm. a moan slipped past your lips at the stretch, feeling every inch of him against your walls as he bottomed out. instinctively, you let your head fall against clay’s shoulder, overwhelmed by how full you felt. god, he felt so good. when you went to move, clay’s strong hands gripped your hips and held you in place.

you whimpered against his neck, trying and failing to get some sort of friction going. when that didn’t work, you opted to clench around him, but clay simply tsk-ed you.

“you’ve been naughty, baby,” he started, “now you’ll sit here like a good girl and keep me warm until the stream’s over.”

what? you thought to yourself, the panic setting in. he can’t be serious!

“no, no, no, no, i’ll be good!” you begged. you’d been practically edging yourself for what felt like hours now, you needed him to let you release.

“i know you will, baby. now sit still for daddy, okay?”

time passed immeasurably slow. your mind was racing with thoughts, trying to focus on anything but clay’s cock throbbing inside of you. you tried your hardest not to squeeze him too often, despite how much relief it brought you. clay was feeling the heat too, your warm, velvety walls gripped him impossibly tight and he was beginning to regret choosing this punishment. you needed the lesson, but god was he suffering for it.

when the stream finally came to an end, the first thing clay did was thrust up into you. you yelped, gripping his arm in surprise at the sudden movement. he started up a steady pace, pounding up into you and rubbing harshly at your clit. the feeling was intense, especially after how long you’d been teased and forced to wait, and you found yourself moaning wildly because of it, unable to control your noises as he spun you around in his lap once again.

“had to-make me-punish you-during a stream, huh?” he taunted between harsh thrusts, grabbing you by your hair and forcing you to look at him. “had to choose today to be a little slut?”

you let out a near-pornographic noise, your eyes rolling back into your head as he hit your most sensitive spot.

“i asked you a question.”

“i’m sorry, daddy. i - ah! - i won’t do it again!” you wailed, head falling back as you felt your release fastly approaching.

clay grunted and forced you to look at him again, pushing his thumb into your mouth and letting you drool around it.

“look at me when you fucking speak,” he ordered.

he picked up the pace in frustration, wanting you to apologize appropriately. you distracted him, you should know how much he hates that. you should also know how much he demands your eye contact, getting fucked or not.

you coerce your eyes open and look at him, not concerned about how absolutely wrecked you must look right now. mascara running down your cheeks with tears from over and under stimulation, eyeliner smudged around your blown out eyes, lips red and sore from kissing on his neck, you were a mess. a hot one, if you asked clay.

“i’m sorry, daddy. i’m sorry, i’m sorry, i’m sorry!” you continued to babble around his finger as his thrusts somehow grew harder and harder, the pace excruciatingly pleasurable. you were going to cum, you knew that much, but you needed permission.

“gonna cum, daddy!” you warned, feeling the burning knot in the pit of your stomach begging to unravel.

“cum for me, baby. make daddy proud.”

and make daddy proud you did, cumming hard around clay’s cock and feeling yourself spray his stomach with your juices. did you just? oh my god, you did. the embarrassment only made you feel hotter as clay continued to fuck your hole past your orgasm. you whined from the overstimulation, but he couldn’t have cared less.

clay’s moans went from low grunts to higher, breathy gasps, the closer he got the lighter his noises became. his brows were furrowed tightly and his eyes were blown out, the darkest shade of green you think you’d ever seen. the muscles in his arm pulsed as he gripped your waist tighter, completely using you as his own personal fuck toy. he was almost there, you could feel it in the way he gave his all but couldn’t keep up the organized pace he had before. you needed him to cum, not just because you were close to being worked up all over again from the stimulation, but because you wanted to make him feel good. in that moment, making him cum felt like your life purpose, your only purpose. you didn’t just want him to cum, you needed it.

“please give me your cum daddy, wanna feel it inside me,” you begged, taking matters into your own hands, “need you to make me yours.”

at that, clay groaned out a loud string of profanities and came inside of you. he painted your insides, you could feel him everywhere. you sighed at the feeling, warm and full and satisfied. clay let his head fall into the crook of your neck as he breathed through his cool down, pressing soft kisses to your neck and shoulder and mumbling praises and ‘i love you’s’. it took a moment for either of you to actually speak, just relishing in the moment and enjoying each others company.

“you gonna move anytime soon, bud?” you finally asked with a giggle. clay simply shook his head and buried it farther into your neck, humming out a ‘no’.

“wanna make sure it stays in for a while.”

you giggled again at his confession, pressing a kiss to the side of his head and ruffling his hair.

“okay baby,” you paused and pouted, “i’m sorry for interrupting your stream.”

clay sat back and gave you a soft smile, pressing his finger to your lips and turning your frown upside down, literally. he shook his head and gave you a sweet kiss, pressing his own lips tenderly to yours.

“don’t apologize, it was worth it.” a cheeky smile spread across his face and you rolled your eyes, the endearing air around you severed by your boyfriend’s childishness. you loved it, though you’d never tell him.

“you think anyone was suspicious of us?” you inquired, hoping to god no one had picked up on your quiet moans while the stream was still going.

“nah,’ clay lied.

[yoonoclock]

oh so divine | jjk

❝he adored you beyond words could express. from being friends for years to now a couple, he took the opportunity to share with you a special gift. he only hopes you treasures it as he does you.❞

• pairing: jeongguk x reader

• genre: fluff, established relationship

• warnings: none

• word count: 820

• note: writing some cute drabbles here and there because i couldn’t resist! having been writing for years i think it’s nice to step back and enjoy doing a few drabbles instead. i hope yall like this!! not edited. 

You had been home for over an hour but had yet to turn on most of the lights. It’s as if no one was home. The only evidence could be found at the doorway where a pair of wet shoe prints remained from the dozens of puddles outside. Everything was tucked away into its proper location. Material objects are as they should be. As for you, you are lying on the carpet with your feet perched on the sofa cushions. There was only an ounce of energy to do just this. Nothing more. 

A clear frown embedded into your features as evidence from the hours prior. Work was incredibly ridiculous for no reason. You normally develop this sense of dread when a morning feels particularly stressful…and that’s exactly what happened. Already prepared for pure nonsense, you expected to be disappointed. Now you are finally home with no intention of moving. 

“Yoo-hoo,” Jeongguk called from the darkened hallway. “Big winter blowout.” 

You sighed, “The shop is closed.” 

Jeongguk mirrored your previous actions and never bothered to turn on the lights until he approached your figure. He took the opportunity to flip the switch on the lamp nearest to him. Immediately he could fully see your expression. You meet his gaze with the same amount of exhaustion that he felt. 

Two peas in the same pod. 

He crouched down beside you to ease into a seated position. Having his back pressed to the sofa, he assisted in guiding your head onto his lap for further comfort. 

You felt the tension in your body relax ever so slightly. 

“Today sucked balls, huh?” Jeongguk asked while running his fingers through your hair. 

“Yeah,” you answer in a monotone voice. “I think it’s reasonable for me to yell at inanimate objects.” 

“That’s the only logical solution,” Jeongguk smiled. “I will join you.” 

“Not a good day for you either?” You look up at him to study his expression. 

Jeongguk nodded. That is all either of you needed in order to understand. Being working adults is never an easy quest. Actually, it’s not a quest you wanted. Unfortunately, you didn’t have a choice. What you could decide upon is how to end the day. Instead of allowing the negativity of a long shift to spoil the time you rest at home, both of you opted to bring an ounce of light. 

Thankfully you shared it with someone special. With someone you absolutely love. 

“I actually have something for you,” Jeongguk murmured in a way that means he has been hiding something. 

You noticed his voice lower and his hands moving to his jacket pockets. Whenever he wanted to give you a present or share a special moment, he became this shy mess. You found it to be incredibly endearing. It also means you are 1) about to cry and 2) fall more in love. 

“Oh no,” you pulled yourself into an upright position. “What did you do?”

Jeongguk gnawed on his lower lip, “Well…it’s a project that has been ongoing for about a year.” 

“No,” you narrowed your eyes. “Don’t you dare.” 

He revealed a small booklet that had your name scribbled on the front cover, “I wrote letters for you.” 

One thing about you is that you are an absolute sucker for handmade things. It didn’t matter how long it took or the size of the object itself. What mattered was the heart behind it. In this case, Jeongguk has always put a great deal of thought and effort into his presents. More often than not, these happen to be ones you never saw coming. 

You loved it and hated it at the same time. 

“All of these letters began because I was too afraid to tell you that I love you,” he began to explain while revealing each page filled with his handwriting. “So here are three hundred and sixty five ways I love you…which isn’t a complete list.” 

A wave of emotions consumed your body. As you scanned over the hundreds of pages that were filled to the very last line, you broke down into tears. A man so gentle and so beautiful poured his soul into this. A man that has been your best friend for years. A man who is your boyfriend after you worked through the courage to confess to one another. 

Every difficult shift was worth it because you get to come home to him. 

“Jeongguk,” you whispered in awe. “I love you.” 

You leaned closer to kiss him. By feathering your lips along his jawline he broke into a soft giggle that prompted him to cup your cheeks, allowing him to plant a proper kiss. 

Slowly, you pulled away so that you both could follow along with each letter. Leaning your foreheads together, you read aloud the beautiful words he wrote by hand. 

Every single one caused you to blossom beyond what you could comprehend. 

Jeongguk is everything.