#but i do *not* enjoy having obvious tells that easily allow people to see what im thinking

[odinsblog]

.

[nana-au]

barista coworker!yuji drabble

barista coworker!yuji who instantly makes you feel welcomed when you first start. he hands you a brand new apron and nametag he already scribbled your name on - blushing when he realizes you can't read his handwriting. (he can't quite understand why, but he suddenly feels really nervous).

barista coworker!yuji who is also your trainer. he is so patient and always makes sure to cheer when you make a drink right. while teaching you how to make the whipped cream, he accidentally ends up exploding one of the canisters after putting the lid on wrong; the sweet mixture of vanilla and heavy cream ending up all over the both of you, causing him to profusely apologize. he hands you a rag to clean off your now dirty apron and you can't stop giggling at what happened. yuji is so thankful you find it funny, laughing along with you while cleaning himself off. after the counters and walls are clean, he goes back to showing you how to date them. you notice while he's talking that he still has a white dot of cream on his face - so you pause his explanation by taking your thumb and wiping the sticky liquid off his cheek. his eyes go wide from the touch of your hand on his face. "sorry! you still had some on your face from earlier," you tell him and he stutters out a thank you.

barista coworker!yuji who easily becomes your favorite person to work with. as time passes yuji and you are each other's favorite coworkers. you both get visibly giddy upon seeing each other's names on the schedule for the day - often goofing off in the back or ignoring customers while talking to each other. some days you bring in homemade treats for yuji to take home and he ends up sacrificing his entire lunch break to pick up your favorite meal for your break as a thank you.

barista coworker!yuji who is always smiling and laughing. you don't think its possible for him to be in a bad mood - even during the most brutal rushes. some days his never-ending optimism still isn't enough to keep your anxiety at bay and so as your shift lead, yuji will send you to the back to calm down when he notices that you're overwhelmed. it doesn't matter if he has to do two positions at once, he hates seeing the stress of the job get to you.

barista coworker!yuji that stands up for you when customers are rude. he remains calm but is firm in his stance that no one is allowed to talk to the barista's that way. (especially his favorite barista - but no one else needs to know that part). yuji knows you well enough at this point to understand how sensitive you are, catching your eyes in his and patting your hand while telling you to ignore people like that. "if you want off of the window, please let me know," he tell you. he just wants you to be comfortable.

barista coworker!yuji who tries not to make it obvious how much he favors you. he can't help it nor can he help the giddy feeling he gets inside every time he sees your face.

barista coworker!yuji who makes work fun, even on the worst of days. you didn't think it was possible to enjoy going to work until you met him.

...been having quite a few rough shifts at work so i wrote this to cope lol.

[emonopolyman]

knight in shinning armour !

knight! abby anderson x royalty fem! reader

HEADCANONS ! sfw only.

synopsis : none.

warnings : physical abuse mention. kissing. mentions of reader have a sister.

a/n : head canon only, but i may expand on some of these or end up writing a story based on this idea. if you like this please interact!!! loves!!

₊˚✧ ﾟ  Knight! Abby who had just come back from a trip abroad, and is regarded as a high authority in your kingdom.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who gets assigned to watch over you, and you only. Which she finds weird but ultimately doesn’t protest.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who remembers you as the rude younger sister who would always bicker and annoy Abby.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who, still after arriving back from the trip, continues the bickering and beef you two have thus leading to a kind of hatred forming between the two of you even as she has to protect you.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who slowly picks up on the fact that your schedule always seems to have an excess amount of suitor dates, or manner classes. 

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who accidentally bumps into the Queen, your mother, coming out of your room one morning, obviously angry.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who finds you sobbing that same morning, a throbbing red mark on your cheek in the shape of a palm. 

 ₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who slowly warms up to you following that morning.

 Abby’s fingers tenderly grazed over the throbbing red mark, trying to apply the makeup smoothly even as your tears disrupt her process. She doesn’t want to tell you to stop crying, instead she wipes the tears and tries to continue her work. “I didn’t know your mother was so strong.” She broke the silence, feeling a need to fill the void of quiet sobs.

 “She usually isn’t just… I really upset her.” Your eyes fell to the floor, ashamed, as Abby kept your head tilted up with her thumb and index finger.

 “What did you do? If I may ask.” She moved to get more powder on the sponge, before dabbing it back onto your skin.

 “I…” You hesitated, “snuck out to see someone.” 

 Abby’s mouth moved into a grin, a mischievous look on her face. “Not that proper now, are you?” You grumbled at the question, not giving a proper answer. “I thought your mother was fine with you seeing bachelors? Your sister used to always sneak out at night before she was engaged.” Abby spoke, swiping the powder on your skin in soft sweeps.

 “I’m not like my sister. These people aren’t bachelors.” You sighed, the obvious truth still hanging in the air. Abby’s eyes studied you, seeing the way you looked ashamed of yourself- she decided to leave it at that, finding the way you seemed to halt your tears good enough for now.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who slowly becomes more protective over you, and ends up working overtime to watch over you whilst you go on dates with the boys your mother picks out.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who actively asks to hear about each date, and enjoys the small remarks you make about each boy which always makes Abby laugh.

 - Knight! Abby who notices how no one else besides her and your mum are allowed near your room.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who becomes so invested in your life that she actively can sense when you enter and leave a room.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who, after your first kiss, will suddenly become cold- never seeming to have any time to talk or help you anymore.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who ends up getting cornered by you when she enters your room one morning, and quickly confesses how much she wants you; leading to a heated make out.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who ‘accidentally’ stays in your room till late.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who pulls you into dark corners and forgotten sections of the castle for a kiss or a quickie.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who gets flustered easily and ends up almost revealing your relationship after you made a sly joke about how much she’s helped you.

₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who gets increasingly jealous of every suitor you see.

₊˚✧ ﾟKnight! Abby who always intimidates any guy who tries to push it with you (leading to a celebratory thank you from yourself.)

₊˚✧ ﾟKnight! Abby who always knows what you want or where you are, making it hard to keep secrets from her.

 ₊˚✧ ﾟ Knight! Abby who is ultimately the best secret girlfriend ever! And definitely savors each moment with you like it's the last!

WE LOVE KNIGHT! ABBY HERE !!

@ emonopolyman 2023

HOPE YOU ENOY !! xx

tags : @feed-the-pumpking-patches @tonkaringo @lottiematthewsceo @bupropiongay @eepy-sleepy @abbysgirlx @lov3lylotus @sapphicxprincess @luluvstars @elliewilliamsmissingfingerss @k1mba @moon4tear @acc-cal @tinysocks0 @femmefelis @vulnerabil1ty @barbieisalesbian69 @a-m-e-l-i-a-1-4 @bupropiongay @information-learner

[restinslices]

If requests are open how abt teens lin kuei brothers x brat male reader? (Also teen)

I tried my best but I’m actually so bad at writing dom characters, it’s insane. After Bi-Han, my brain shut off. If this was a paid service, you��d need a refund gang. You said teens but I kept them as adults cause although ik minors engage in those activities aswell, I’m an adult soooooo😃

Bi-Han

Some people are probably expecting me to say some wild shit like he's the worst, he doesn't respect boundaries, he's always angry at you, doesn't listen to the safe word, ect ect. 

I don't think that's true 

Am I saying he's all soft and squishy? No. But Bi-Han is not a terrible dom. 

Bi-Han is a perfectionist so any precautions beforehand are definitely gonna be dealt with. What he wants outta this, what you want, limits, ect. 

Onto dealing with a brat though, we already know Bi-Han has a short temper so any bratty behavior would noticeably annoy him 

Smth that would guarantee a punishment would be acting out in front of other Lin Kuei or just in public. It'd be discreet enough that no one would really notice what's going on, but obvious enough that he'd know you're being a brat on purpose 

Questioning certain orders, doing things extremely slow, talking over him, the list could go on. Being bratty around people especially when he's supposed to be “professional” is the quickest way to get a punishment 

I kinda see it as a storm. You know it's coming, you see the signs, but when it happens you still go “dammit. I can't believe it's raining like this”

Does he warn you? Yes. But he only does it once. If you keep going, he mentally writes it all down 

Now Bi-Han doesn't strike me as someone who particularly likes physical touch all the time but punishments don't have to be the typical spanking or harsh fucking. He can be more creative 

I feel like he enjoys punishments that have to do with humiliation. There's so much control in telling you to do something and you just follow it. 

Very much a “ride my boot” type of guy 

The type to make you orgasm over and over again and you don't stop until he's satisfied (obviously keeping your safety and what you can take in mind though)

Takes bratty behavior seriously. He's not making funny little jokes or nothing of the sort. He's putting you in your place 

His punishments would linger. For example he'd tell you to tell him whenever you got horny and why for like, a solid week. This seems small but if you get hormonal easily, you're going up to him a lot and he's shaming you everytime. 

His arms? You're that easy? How could you even survive without him?

The best part of this is you don't have to tell him any of this. Realistically you could ignore this or not tell him every time you're hormonal, and he makes sure to taunt you and remind you of this. 

Humiliation punishments are his go to

Rewards would probably be allowing you a bit of control, like picking any toys you'll use or letting you pick the scene 

A brat would probably fit him well cause he gets to constantly put you in your place, which can be a good way to relax for him 

Kuai Liang

Is also very organized. So organized I think he'd have a secret way to tell you he's actually not in the mood or too busy for you. 

“Go take a walk” means “not right now” 

Bratty behaviors that would bother him the most I think would be doing dumb shit. Like, below average IQ type of things. 

It bothers him because you're not stupid so stop acting stupid. If he says do A, don't do B

But it's fine. You wanna play stupid? He can do that. 

I know I said Bi-Han’s punishments sometimes linger but it really ain't got shit on Kuai Liang’s

If you wanna act like you don't understand basic orders because you wanna act out, then he's gonna act like he doesn't understand anything you want. 

You say “I need you” but he goes to do something else. What's the problem? Clearly you were saying you needed him to do laundry that day. 

You say “touch me” but he touches you everywhere except where you really need him 

You could say something as clear as “please make me cum” and he'd bring you close, but would stop. Why are you upset? You didn't say what day to make you cum. You'll do it later. 

Every single request you have for him turns into something you didn't want and he watches with satisfaction as it slowly drives you insane. 

And doing other bratty behaviors to try and get a response outta him doesn't work because the more bratty you act, the longer he's gonna keep this up. He has the patience to do this too. 

This won't stop until you're on your knees begging like a madman for him to do anything to make you feel good and promising you'll behave from now on. 

And even then he's not satisfied. You have to actually show you're gonna start behaving. He won't actually give you what you want until you behave for at least a week or two straight. No problems. No complaining. No issues. 

You both know you'll act out again but for a good chunk of time, he's enjoying his peace 

Tomas Vrbada

I honestly cannot imagine this man as a dom but for you, I will try 

Tomas is a nice guy and this nice guy shit is how the problem would start 

Taunts would be the way to get to him. So when you say “can't you do better or are you too soft?” it gets to him 

Tomas’ version of punishment would be doing nothing at all. 

He's too soft? Ok. That means he's too soft to touch you, to whisper any dirty things, to tease you, ect. 

Kuai Liang is interacting with you but is doing the exact opposite, Tomas is straight up refusing to do anything. 

You can try to seduce him all you want, you're getting a smart ass “we can't do that. I'm too soft for all of that”

Legit becomes the biggest prude when it comes to doing anything with you. Has no problem touching himself and telling you you can't touch cause he “couldn't handle it”

He takes taunts literal. “I could fuck myself better”, ok then he won't touch you at all for awhile. You got it. “You could do better”, you are completely right. As a matter fact, how about he practice on himself or using a toy and making you watch. Ya know, just to have a third party to inform him if he's doing well. 

Just a real petty bitch in a cute package. 

Probably needs the most breaks when it comes to a brat though cause sometimes he's fr not tryna hear that shit and just needs someone to be there. Which is fine. 

I also imagine he’s possibly new to being a dom so this whole thing is trying shit out. He’s willing to experiment with different kind of punishments, rewards, schedules, all that shit.

When dealing with a brat Bi-Han is strict, Kuai Liang is patience and pettiness wrapped in one and Tomas is just petty 

Looking back there’s no mention of male anatomy and it’s so short. Idk why dom characters make my brain short circuit. We will attempt dom characters at a later date but for now, this is all I got.

[midnightmayhem13]

I dont like a gold rush

hiii this is the ladies being jealous over you🩶 enjoy my pretty gays and theys🩶

hint of sexual theme❕

carol danvers

carol gets protective when she gets jealous. she will not just stand by and feel jealous. whether or not she takes her jealousy out on the other person depends on how flirty they were. it doesn't matter if the person was being sweet or persistent she's gonna scare them off. but in like a nice way? she'll go up to you placing a hand on the small of your back and just casually say, "hey baby, who's this?" giving them a dirty look. but some times, if she had one too many asguardian ales or is genuinely angry. she'll send a photon blast their way. then kiss you sweetly and interlock her arm with yours and walk you to your friends. she'll be especially clingy after that. holding you close. and when you go to sleep her thoughts drift off to someone taking you from her. it always obvious when she thinking these thoughts so you reassure her that your hers and hers alone.

sharon carter

lets be honest, everyone knows you're sharon's girl. so not many people attempt to flirt with you when she's around. but there's always some people that will not get the hint or the "i'm not interested". so sharon deals with them. she'll not only humiliate them in the moment, but she'll get intel on them and make little inconveniences in there life. for example, if they work for a business partner she'll make sure to tell their boss. or she'll send her security guard to pop one of their tires, or even finding where they work and telling their boss they were breaking work code. she can't control her anger when someone tries to take you. she'll definitely take her anger out in the bed later;)

darcy lewis

darcy's a superrrr jealous girl. it's not that she doesn't trust you, she just gets jealous easily. but not in a toxic way! you're allowed to have your own life and she's okay with that. but she's sure everyone wants you. she can tell. well that's what she think. darcy's the only girl you want in your life and you couldn't care less about anyone else who thinks your attractive. darcy gets a little moody when she's jealous. when you ask her what's wrong she pouts and avoids your gaze. you'll kiss her untill she smiles. you whisper reassurances and sweet nothings and hold her close. but when she's just can't deal with you being oblivious she go up to you and the person that's trying to impress you and say "they have a girlfriend" and grabs your hand. you smirk and kiss her gently on the lips. and walk away hand in hand.

nebula

nebulas felt jealous almost her whole life. but when she sees someone trying to get into your pants there's a new type of anger. she's not jealous of you for being flirted on, but of the other person. why are they doing that when your her girl. so nebula doesn't care. youre hers and you tell her that often. so she goes up to you, body slams the other person to the floor, and stiffly holds you. letting out a husk little "mine" while planting a kiss on the top of your head. or she'll pick you up and carry you away from the insistent person and walk away. she'll find a place to sit and put you in her lap, covering your neck in kisses. you tease her for getting jealous and she'll tell you to shut up and kisses you. you can't complain when she slams you up again a door and devours your mouth and rips off your clothes though...

maria hill

big bad hill tends to get insecure when someone flirts with you. sure she'll tell them off and threaten them with her badge for violating your boundaries, but she'll get insecure about it, yk? she won't tell you about it but thoughts cloud up her head. did you want someone else? did you want that person? did you even love her? well you were incredibly loyal to her so she knew that none of those were true. she'd get a bit quiet later that day. you ask her if everything's okay and she'll respond with a yes and kiss you. but you know somethings off. she's always so confident around you and then she's not. but after that any time someone flirts with she'll literally make out with you. she does a lot of pda when there's someone that wants you. and well you're not gonna stop her bc her attention is all you ever want.

kate bishop

kate doesn't really know how to react at first. if someone flirts with you she'll just watch from afar and see you tell them off. she's relieved at the fact but can't help but wish she did more. but then she become more protective. she'll start punching people if they get really touchy. katie will be like "get off of her man!" "don't touch her unless you want a broke nose" a threatening side comes out of her and you can't help but find it extremely attractive. shell definitely be extra handsy after the fact. she will not be able to keep her hands off of you. but she always immediately turns soft and face you asking if your okay while attacking you in kisses or gently stroking your face. she'll become a big bad bird for you.

a/n sorry if some are corny😭 i'm a whore for a protective gal i don't have🩶🩶

[my-head-is-an-animal]

J Is Just A Letter

Chapter 4 - Terms of Agreement

The next day Mycroft cleared his schedule and thought on the deal he could strike with J, he’d already made up a fake pass to get her into the room with him, one that could access small time buildings and people, nothing that could do actual damage, or open any doors that she might have wanted to access.

He went through a list of things he could give her as an alternative, but had the nagging feeling that none of it would be quite satisfactory to her. It hit him like a flash. She was bored, she was in need of distraction but more than that, satisfaction. She like elegant things, she liked power and disliked getting her hands dirty. He knew exactly what she really wanted.

Mycroft was pulled from his office for a few things, but made sure he was there for seven o’clock on the button. J was never late.

The door to his office opened, the woman herself stepped through, looking every bit as beautiful as Mycroft knew her to be. He glanced up at her, seeing her dressed in the same black dress she wore the time before, her dark hair over to one side exposing her slender neck, her lips were blood red. Mycroft looked back down as his work before he got too distracted. He made her wait a moment, making her enjoy it more than he anticipated.

Mycroft put the lid of his pen back on and stood up tidying away the paperwork he was doing so she couldn’t see it. He rounded the desk and took a deep breath.

‘Are you surprised I came?’ She asked with a devilish smile on her face. Her eyes locked with his.

‘No.’ Mycroft shook his head, leaning back against his desk.

‘Why not?’

‘Because we agreed to meet to discuss terms, you’re a woman of your word, I had no reason to doubt you’d come if I asked.’

Her eyes flashed darkly and the thought on it’s own was devastatingly jarring. Mycroft was glad he was sitting down, otherwise he’s knees might have completely given in.

‘Why do I feel like you’re no longer focussing?’ He said.

‘Oh, I’m always focused, Mr Holmes.’ J took a step towards him and he could already feel himself falling into something he might not be able to get out of so easily. ‘Are you?’

Mycroft found himself scanning her face quickly, trying to maintain his composure. ‘I know what you want.’

‘I’ve said it enough times, I’m glad you’ve finally caught on.’

‘No.’ Mycroft shook his head. ‘I know what you really want.’

And just like that, a boundary was broken. J let such a miniscule moment of panic go before recomposing herself, but Mycroft saw it clear as day.

‘Can I take this to mean you aren’t giving me an all access pass?’ J deflected.

‘Why do you flirt with me?’

‘I would’ve thought that obvious.’ She took another step closer, almost between his legs. ‘I like you, Mr Holmes, very much.’

Mycroft swallowed, there seemed to be an honesty to her words and it only served to confuse him more. Something caught his eye, he briefly looked down at her wrist where a small bruise had formed, it looked like a handprint, but she didn’t let him dwell on it.

‘You’re bored.’ Mycroft noted, her breathing was getting a little shallow, all the signs were there. ‘You need satisfaction.’

‘I do hope you’re offering.’ J stepped between his legs, her perfume hitting his senses and somehow igniting him.

‘I am.’ Mycroft felt his voice lower to a depth even he didn’t know he had. Her fingertips found his thighs and began running up towards his hips. He decided to take the chance and allow his own hand to touch hers. ‘If I give you the access you’ve asked for, there will of course be conditions.’

‘Of course.’ Her voice barely above a whisper.

‘If you can agree, I will give it to you.’ He said, feeling her shallow breath against his lips. ‘I want you to tell me exactly where you are going, before you go there and I want to know why. One phone call and I’ll leave you be.’

J smiled, her eyes were fully dilated and Mycroft had the distinct feeling that she would allow him to take what he wanted without resistance.

‘You want to monitor me,’ she said. ‘To know exactly what I’m up to. I’m afraid I can’t agree.’

Mycroft could feel her slender wrist beneath his fingertips, but her other hand was in a different place entirely.

‘If you pickpocket me, you won’t make it out of this building.’

‘Is that right?’

‘I’ll arrest you myself.’

‘You just happen to have handcuffs lying around in case I visit? I’m flattered.’

‘Don’t do it.’ Mycroft warned. His lips were basically brushing hers, he could taste her if he wanted to. ‘I can give you what you really want… if you ask.’

J froze for just a moment, his eyes opened fully again and he watched her beginning to shut down. She pulled back just a little.

‘And what exactly is it you think I want?’

‘Satisfaction.’ Mycroft whispered it and was so close to giving up all control, he held on just a little longer, enough to wait for her answer.

‘Do you even know who I am?’ It seemed a suddenly unusual question for her to ask.

‘Would you like me to?’

‘Yes.’ She breathed. Her emerald eyes begging him for something, before refocussing and shutting down again. She removed her hand with no resistance from him and stepped back. ‘I like it when you flirt back.’

‘I know.’ Mycroft found the little space she was giving him a little easier to focus on where he was. ‘I can’t let you wander around with an all access pass, but I can make sure you’re never bored again.’

‘You mean you want to bring me onside.’

J took another step back.

‘I wouldn’t say no to any information you have of relevance, but I feel that is something I may need to earn.’

J took a step closer to Mycroft, dulling his mind once again. ‘How so?’

‘I have my ways.’

‘I doubt it’ll take much.’

‘I disagree.’

‘Would you like to test that theory?’

‘Perhaps.’ Mycroft felt her hand wandering a little too close to his pocket. ‘Don’t do it.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I’m asking.’ Mycroft watched her eyes soften, she held her hands up in surrender. ‘Thank you.’ He scanned her beautiful face once again. Her smile curved at the corner of her mouth. ‘I had a very good feeling that you wouldn’t be so forthcoming about checking in, so I took the time to draw up something else.’ Mycroft reached back for and envelope. He went to hand it to her, taking it away just before she grabbed it. ‘For your eyes only.’

J only smiled wider. ‘Is there something naughty in here?’

He handed her the envelope. ‘Take the time to review, call me when you’ve made your decision.’

‘Would you rather I paid a visit?’

‘Of course, but I have a feeling this will take some time.’

J stepped back entirely into his space, her lips brushing against his and he wasn’t moving away any time soon. She smiled against him, acknowledging his lack of resistance.

‘Tell me I look pretty today.’ She whispered.

‘Tell me your name.’

‘I already have. Were you paying attention?’

‘I’m always paying attention to you.’

Mycroft could feel his heart thumping hard against his chest, the smell of her was intoxicating, she was beautiful.

‘Good.’ She breathed.

J gave no warning before tearing herself completely away from Mycroft and headed towards the door, envelope in hand.

‘You know, I really am surprised.’ Mycroft felt his voice shaking and he inhaled as deeply as he could. J turned to face him. ‘I thought this was all an act, that you just wanted my attention for the fun of it.’

‘What changed your mind?’

‘I took your pulse.’

J’s eyes flashed once again, she loved the game as much as he did. She eventually left him alone to recompose his thoughts and try to calm himself down a little. He went home and traced over every moment she stood in his office, remembering the smell of her, imagining the taste, everything about her finely curved body amplified. J was beautiful.

Mycroft wondered about the bruising he’d seen that day on her wrist, it almost looked as if she’d been gripped tightly, tight enough to leave a mark, part of him felt jealous, but the other part felt pity for her. Maybe she wasn’t asking for an all access pass to gain access to all locations, maybe it was just one. J was an expert in concealing things, her common trick was confuse people, make the surroundings too busy to focus on what was really important. She made it difficult for details to picked out and deemed important, most people missed everything, but not him.

Something suddenly hit him like a sledgehammer, a thought, no an image, something he’d passed off before, but now seemed incredibly important. Was he paying attention? The answer, evidently, was no.

Mycroft stared into the fire and thought about when she had asked that question. Yarmouth, where she had painted a building neon green and the museum where she had taken one of the statues made of green gemstone, more specifically, Jade. And then there was her emerald dress, the one she wore in Florence, when he looked back at the black and white photographs, he could see the dress draped over a chaise lounge. That was her name. Jade.

He pulled out his phone and began doing his usual searches, new parameters were set up, he now had her name. He couldn’t be sure of her age, but she couldn’t quite be thirty yet, maybe she just had a youthful face, he widened the search just in case.

Mycroft thought briefly back to the first moment he met her, at a gala he was expected to schmooze at. Nothing about her seemed off or obviously threatening. She flirted with him lightly and he enjoyed the subtly of her conversation, but the silver dress she wore had most men floored. She had leaned on him a little, a pleading to help her out of uncomfortable situations and being the gentleman he was, he assisted. He never pushed it further, treating her advances towards him as a passing whim, but she was providing him with good conversation openers with important figures. It was an unspoken agreement that they assist the other that night, he kept her safe, she kept people talking.

After that they developed a distant relationship, he wouldn’t hear from her for weeks or months and then she would pop up being just a little inconvenient, verging on destructive. He did his best to keep her out of the way, but somehow she always found a way to get in his way.

Mycroft placed her on a watch list after that.

His search came up far too vast for his liking, he just didn’t have enough information to be able to search for her identity. He needed more. Mycroft briefly thought about phoning her again, but put it out of his mind when he remembered how the last conversation over the phone went.

If you liked this, please consider supporting me ☕ thanks for reading!

Main Story

Mycroft Holmes Masterlist

[wishitweresummer]

George’s Simp (Dream x GeorgeNotFound)

Word Count: 1611

Dream wouldn't meet Sapnap's eyes as he slunk back out of the living room. Sapnap scoffed at his disappearing frame as George giggled with glee next him on the couch.

"You're seriously...I just don't understand it.", Sapnap shook his head as looked to George again; who just kicked his feet up on the coffee table and started scrolling through his phone unbothered.

"He just knows I'm stressed and cares about me. He would do the same for you if you asked.", George shrugged.

George and Sapnap had been hanging out together in the living room when Dream had come to ask George a question...about his video...that he was apparently editing for him.

"You're so evil dude. I'm not like you, I wouldn't just ask things of him to see what I could get him to do for me.", Sapnap shook his head, half in disbelief and half in amusement. His eyebrows furrowed though when he saw the look on George's face. The, decidedly, evil look.

"Now that's an idea.", George murmured, a creepy smile overtaking his face. Sapnap could see the wheels turning in his head.

"Um. What's an idea?", Sapnap asked carefully. He already knew. Whatever he had said had inspired some future torment for Dream. He wondered if he should ignore this, try and stop it, or lean into it and have some fun alongside George.

"Let's make a bet.", George sat up and smirked, deciding for him apparently.

~•~

George only allowed Dream the time to finish editing his video before he would drag him under his mischief, apparently blinded by it all to allow Dream some peace for his kindness.

Dream came back into the living room to find the other two boys sat crosslegged on the floor speaking in hushed tones.

"Dream!", George callled, coaxing a fond smile from the boy as he trailed over and joined them on the carpet. Before he could say anything else, George set his plan into motion. He let out a well-crafted sigh. Sapnap watched the magic. Dream put all his attention on George and placed a reassuring hand on his arm.

"Dream?", his voice was soft. Dream nodded. George only sighed again, looking away. Sapnap held back his scoff, the show was too obvious. He was surprised to see Dream fall for it hook, line, and sinker anyway.

"George what's wrong? Hey, Georgie?", Dream shook his arm lightly.

"Oh nothing, never mind. You'll just say no..." George murmured and started to push himself to stand. Dream pulled him back down and shook his head quickly.

"I won't! What's going on? Please just tell me. It's okay.", Dream pleaded. In the trap. So in the trap. Really, Sapnap couldn't decide if he needed to slap some sense into Dream or beg George to tell him how he gets people like this so easily. Maybe he'll do both, but for now he was going to enjoy this. George looked back at Dream slowly and tilted his head, feigning hesitation. He took a breath as if collecting his confidence.

"I just really want to tickle you. Could you just let me? And not fight back, just let me?".

Dream's cheeks brightened immediately. Sapnap held back a snicker. In his head this was a well-crafted bet. While Dream seemed to fold to George's will endlessly, he was horribly ticklish. Sapnap is betting that Dream will either find it in him to say no or he will say yes and then not be able to follow through anyway. George is betting Dream will say yes and then actually lay there and laugh himself silly while not fighting back at all.

"Wh-what?", Dream stuttered. He finally snapped his gaze over to Sapnap and his blush burned up to his ears. Sapnap watched him wordlessly. George went silent as well. They both watched him. "George why...what? Why do you want to do that?". George shrugged and played with his fingers, giving him a shy smile. Sapnap shook his head at the evilness of it.

"It would make me really happy.", he stated gently. His tone was so sure, like he knows that's enough. It wasn’t like he was sweetly asking. He wasn’t trying to convince Dream or coax him into the idea. Dream sighed and rubbed at his jaw.

"Alright.".

~•~

     "What if Sapnap just holds me down for you?", Dream asked. His eyes flicked between the two nervously. George was perched on top of him looking particularly menacing with his fingers above him, itching to dive in. Sapnap was sat crosslegged beside them, watching with a strange mix of amusement and pity. Dream was on his back with his hands stretched out above him. Neither boy responded to him as they watched him go back and forth between stretching his arms straight above him and putting his hands behind his head. "Like, I want to stay still for you, but George I'm already freaking out.". He really was, too. A total flustered mess underneath George. He had squirmed enough already to mess up his curls and a dark line of blush crossed his nose and cheeks, seemingly permanent from this point on. Sapnap laughed softly as he met George's gaze. Sapnap is counting on Dream not being able to handle this. George is fully aware of Dream's inability to handle anticipation though, so he barreled on.

"I'm sure you can. Just stop being a baby.".

     George ignored Dream's scoff and started pinching at his hips, drawing a horrified squeak out of him before he burst into giggles. He was a goner immediately. He crossed his arms over his face and giggled hysterically, twitching back and forth under George's teasing touch.

     George grinned and kept his tickles traveling up. He stayed fairly above the clothes, but let his touch become meaner. Clawed hands dug into Dream's sides and he squealed, kicking at the carpet now as the laughter forced its way out of him. They both watched in amazement as Dream crossed his arms tighter over his face, but just laid there squirming and taking it.

"Get his tummy.", Sapnap demanded. It was fun seeing Dream like this, but he had a bet to win.

"I'll get there eventually.". George giggled as he switched to quick poking at his sides. Dream whined loudly before wheezing and arching his back, quickly falling back into his helpless laughter. He was clearly displeased with how they were talking about him, but he seemed determined to not protest as well.

George lifted his hands and Dream gasped for air. His arms dropped above his head and he shook his red face.

“Okay…are you satisfied?”, he was choking back his own giggles. He groaned as George shook his head ‘no’.

“No, I want to see your face.”, he grinned. Sapnap rolled his eyes at how cocky he was. Dream whimpered and put his hands behind his head.

“Really Dream?”, Sapnap gaped. Dream looked away, nearly burning to a crisp. George laughed smugly, knowingly…dangerously. He reached back and found Dream’s knee, smirking as he whined and then slid up, latching onto the muscle above it. He tickled it mercilessly. Dream wheezed and squeezed his eyes shut, writhing in place as his laughter finally caught up and tore out of him. He wailed with laughter, his leg spasming under George’s evil touch. His eyelashes were wet with tears by the time he came to a stop and Sapnap was floored.

“How are you doing this? George okay man, you have to get his tummy.”, Sapnap shook his head and tugged up Dream’s shirt to reveal it, “Come on! There’s no way! I have to see it.”. Dream let out a little cry of protest.

“Fine, but he’s not going to budge.”. George shrugged, grabbing Dream’s waist with both hands, and dropping his head down to blow a series of raspberries into his bare tummy. Dream sunk both his hands into his own curls and dropped his head back. He collapsed entirely into hysterical laughter. Wheezes and screams punctured his laughter as he kicked wildly at the air and into the carpet. His blush crawled down his neck and he twitched violently as he held himself somehow from tossing George across the room. Sapnap watched in jaw-dropped shock. Raspberries on his death spot…and he’s just taking it? Dream’s insane laugh pierced their ears, the volume incredible.

George sat up after nearly a minute of the torture and giggled as he wiped his mouth. Dream’s own giggles were unending. He flopped his arms back, looking delirious as he continued to hiccup with giggles and kick at the ground.

“You totally broke him. That’s so…that’s crazy. You’re both crazy.”, Sapnap shakes his head. He dug five dollars out of his pocket and slapped it into George’s open hand. George grinned slyly.

“What…fuck…”, Dream gasped through his giggles. He looked wrecked. “What, why did you uh…pay him?”, he asks, barely collected.

“I just bet George you weren’t that much of a simp. But, I lost.”. Sapnap stood up and brushed himself off, smirking at the glare George pinned him with.

“Shut up stinknap.”, he hissed. He had been planning on using different wording and Sapnap was going to get him in trouble. Dream gasped and George met his gaze with a sheepish smile. Sapnap escaped the room quickly, pleased with himself. He had lost, but now George would lose too.

A loud shriek rang out through the house and soon it was filled with George’s crazed laughter and tortured screams. While Dream was definitely George’s biggest simp, George was nothing but helpless underneath Dream’s wrath.

(Art by @kazenomegaminowanpisu )

[allpowerfulspacevalkyrie]

Finally watched the Furiosa movie today. I did enjoy it, I was anxious about Anya Taylor Joy but she nailed the role of Furiosa. Alyla Brown as little Furiosa did awesome too. I've never wanted to punch Chris Hemsworth before, but I did watching this movie. A bit too much dialogue compared to the first movie, the first movie did show don't tell very well. This movie reversed course and has too much dialogue exposition in several scenes. I do feel that the plot got a little off. I never read the prequel Furiosa comic but I think most of it comes from there, and after a few hours of digesting I think I know why the plot is off. Spoilers under the cut.

I think the first moment I went, huh this isn't right, was when it's revealed she grew her hair back. When she's a little girl trapped with Immortan Joe's "wives", she cuts her hair off and makes a wig with it. It's an unclear plan for escape until Rictus Erectus tries to grossly play with her hair again, oopsy she's running away free and can hide amongst the boys. So why the hell does she allow her hair to grow so long again? Well the next moment of the movie I realized the guy I thought was going to be her positive father figure that teaches her to be a bad ass driver, is apparently her romance. Can't be a romantic woman with a buzzcut. Don't get me wrong, Tom Burke/Praetorian Jack is hot. Their relationship is pretty good. But woOow that age gap. At filming, Anya was about 26, Burke is about 40, a stretch with their ages, but when they meet as Furiosa and Jack, it feels a bit like she's 16 and he's 40. But again, the relationship is pretty good otherwise, there was chemistry, their escape sequence was fantastic. It predictably ends badly because this is a prequel after all, Dementus catches up to them and kills Jack. The story turns into a revenge on Dementus. I guess Furiosa never wanted to get revenge that badly after watching her mother be brutally tortured to death in the beginning?

I love that the plot ends with how killing in revenge doesn't solve anything, doesn't bring people back, and it's better to find other uses of your time (and use of your anger). However, after turning the whole plot over in my head I feel like that love story shouldn't have been there and the revenge plot on Dementus should have been consistent from the start because of what happened to her mom. Jack stays, there needs to be a balance to all the negative masculine energy in the movie and I don't see why he can't be a father figure. Also I think he's hot.

A central point of Fury Road is that Furiosa is rescueing those women from being Immortan Joe's breeders. I went into this movie expecting to see reasoning why she would want to do that besides the obvious it's right thing to do. What did she experience to motivate her to jeopardize her escape home, for them, with three armies of men following to get them back? Why did she growl in Joe's face "remember me?" before riping half that face off. She's a bad ass driving a massive truck through the desolate desert. She's got a magnificent resting bitch face and is beating the shit out of men left and right. She could escape whenever she wants without those women, far more easily. And with the Furiosa movie, she nearly does it once and has the perfect opportunity to do it again at the very end of the movie.

Why even go back to the Citadel at all? I'd have to watch again but I'm pretty sure she's not bound to Joe for any reason. And the ending with Dementus, while interesting, is such a weak reason to go back. Her interaction with Joe's "wives" in this prequel is so minimal. At most, we're shown a woman desperate to please and produce another son, but her lucks run out and the third baby she's had is another dead one. Off to be milked like a cow. That's it. A scene worth empathy, but we don't see anything else for why Furiosa would risk getting home with three armies of men chasing her across the desert for these women. Besides the obvious right thing to do.

It would have been interesting if some kind of relationship formed with at least one of the other women trapped by Joe. Maybe romantic, maybe a mild rivalry, maybe some encouragement to not try to escape because they are "safe and pampered" (I myself coming from a extreme conservative cult christian upbringing could relate to hearing that delusional thinking). A scene where this woman (or girl) tries to learn where Furiosa is from but Furiosa is sworn to secracy about her home. Then at the end Furiosa gets hit with the reality that those women need her help because of the death of this one woman within the confines of her "safe and pampered" prison. Now Furiosa tells these women of the Green Place, where they won't be "pampered" but far more free and safe (at least until they find out the water went bad).

Wouldn't it have been a great twist if this other girl/woman was about Furiosa's age and is actually Jack's daughter who was taken from him years ago. His Praetorian Jack act is his plan to get close enough to rescue his daughter. But everything falls apart because of Furiosa's revenge quest. Her actions for revenge results in Jack's death, then when Furiosa returns to warn Joe of Dementus's plans, she learns Jack's daughter is dead too.

Yeah. That romance was sweet and all, but unnecessary and weak motivation for Furiosa.

[eldritch-spouse]

Headcanon that Patches is a babysitter for Adelo and Adrul

I literally can see the 2000’s style sitcom where Admin told Patches to keep an eye on them and its end up total mayhem

[Oh, I adore this.]

The Staff as babysitters

Some staff members were initially blacklisted from nanny charges, like Vinnel and Morell, but actually- Most of the team isn't half-bad at this?

Vinnel is, although sometimes a bit too violent with others in front of the princes, very entertaining! They love seeing jester man juggle random (preferably sharp but he's been whipped warned about that) things and tell dumb jokes. He's really perfect for cheering up the little lads and making sure they still see the bright side of things. Adelo's going to absorb some of his mean-spirited humor.

While most people thought Morell would get weird, maybe have some odd urge to cook a god's offspring, he's actually very protective of the kiddos, and determined to cook for them. They're not allowed to enter the kitchen at random however, as no one wants them entering and seeing fresh kills. He would like to teach them how to make animal traps. Adrul specifically loves the chef's baking and has made cakes with him before. Adelo is surprisingly the one with the bigger stomach.

Patches is a nervous, nervous man. While initially a bit awkward, if not fearful regarding his lord's children, he tries to do his best. Problem is, the pumpkin-headed man is at times a little too lenient, and allows the siblings to touch lab equipment they shouldn't while he screams inside. If nothing else, he can take them outside, to one of the nearby stables, and tickle them pink with random horse facts. It would be his pleasure to teach them to ride. Although he sometimes enters long-winded rants that have Adelo groaning and Adrul's eyes twinkling.

Grimbly* knows about as much on how to take care of kids as he knows on how to build a spaceship, which is to say he's got no fucking idea what he's doing. So he settles for buying the princes pretty things and taking them out for ice cream. Because kids like shiny things, right? And sweets? Yeah. Adelo always manages to put a dent in his wallet (now he knows how Santi feels) and Adrul mostly just enjoys it when the bat tries to doll him up, as his centipede-like body is hard to work with.

(*By this point, he has transformed into his older form.)

Santi actually just straight up vomited when he felt Adelo's presence, Adrul's makes him enter a panic... Yeah. Even if direct contact with them is off the table while they grow, the incubus does feel fondness for the princes and occasionally sends them whatever children's toy is most popular these days.

Nebul is a great monster to pair the princes with when Belo's not around. Due to his increased sensitivity to other people's emotions, the wraith can more easily detect when one of the siblings is feeling depressed or anxious. Both kiddos think he "talks funny", his monotone voice being a source of great amusement apparently. The wraith is generally witty and good at showing them interesting new things. While they may never set foot in the shop for obvious reasons, Purpur is often brought out to play with them. Adrul likes to give the tentacle ball rides on his back.

Gallon is exasperated with the amount of times Adrul and Adelo ask to drink alcoholic beverages. One of them almost got his hands on an unsupervised Willow Twister and the slime's heart nearly stopped. He makes iced tea for them and says it's whiskey. It works for now. Adelo is very amused by the way he can stretch, so the angel will sometimes just run off with a tendril and she how long he can make it before Gallon pretends he's in great pain.

Fank-e is another one the little princes like a lot. Probably because he's loud and constantly decked in shiny weird stuff. Plus, he has a seemingly limitless supply of old Internet jokes and forgotten media. It's safe to say both Adelo and Adrul leave his hands covered in stickers, with three new bracelets and maybe a little too hyper for their own good. Nobody wants to deal with two hyper and powerful monster kids.

Sybastian's got a bit of experience from handling mimiclings, unfortunately Admin and Belo don't like it all that much when he tries to put either one of the siblings in his mouth for carrying. Even if both of them seem to have a lot of fun. The mimic is not the best for conversation, and maybe he shouldn't be trusted with cooking either, but he can keep the brothers safe in the garden while they play and torment Hellion.

Ludwig is a honorable mention, because after he gets serious help and becomes functional again, Admin does want the demon to be a part of her life and will let the children have contact with him. Lud is happy for her and treats the kiddos with nothing but love. He's a decent babysitter but he does need more of a filter when it comes to swearing. Adrul and Adelo call him "uncle Ludwig", and that makes him sentimental.

[zablife]

Best in Show-Meet the Dogs

Dog Show AU- You know the people, but who owns which dog? I'll give you a description (under the cut) and you match the dog with its owner.

🐾 Border Collie-Best known for herding. This dog is intelligent, obedient and hardworking.

🐾 Bullmastiff-A muscular guard dog. This large animal is powerful and confident.

🐾 Italian Greyhound-This breed is delicate and sensitive. It dashes after fast moving prey. It tends to bond to one person.

🐾 Pomeranian-A good companion dog who learns tricks easily and enjoys training. Vivacious and friendly animals.

🐾 Poodle-Highly intelligent breed. They are hypoallergenic and require consistent grooming.

🐾 Norwich terrier-An energetic dog bred to hunt rodents. They also make good watchdogs.

Still unsure? Let's listen in on a few conversations overheard at the show.

🦴 “Don’t worry about my dog, Alfie. The only thing you need to know is that he’s worthy of the Shelby name, a real killer.”

Alfie catches sight of the creature behind Tommy and holds in his laughter as he exclaims, “Oh, really? And what has he killed recently besides your masculinity, Tommy?” He watched Tommy's face turn ten shades of red, hoping he'd embarrassed his enemy enough to withdraw from the competition.

🦴 "You don't employ a groomer?" May asked in confusion, watching Darby snip a few stray hairs from his dog's ear with razor sharp shears.

Before Darby could answer Luca appeared and interjected with a sneer, "Are you kidding? He grooms that dog like he's pruning a fucking bonsai tree." As he strolled away he said to himself, "Sure would be a pity if his hand slipped."

🦴 "Mrs. Carleton, I didn't expect to see you here," Tommy said rather self consciously.

"It's just another hobby to pass the time," May said with a shrug.

"Who do you have there?" she asked with a tilt of her head. "No, don't tell me! Tommy's Secret?" she said with an amused chuckle.

Tommy winced and she placed a hand to his arm by way of apology acknowledging, "It was a bad joke, I know. I'm sorry."

Redirecting her attention, Tommy gestured toward her dog and scratched under it's chin. Then he asked, "Why haven't I seen him before?"

"She's not allowed in the stables for obvious reasons. One misplaced hoof could be disastrous," May said with a shiver. "I suppose that's why I've never seen...What was his name?"

"Cillian," Tommy said with a soft smile. It was true, Cillian was more of a house dog, not venturing out into the world much.

🦴 "Shalom!" Alfie loudly greeted Luca with a grin, catching the paranoid looking man off guard.

"Keep your voice down or you'll upset my girl! ," Luca replied, trying to shove Alfie from his booth. "She's already feeling tense about the competition today."

"My apologies to the old trouble and strife," Alfie said sarcastically. Then looking around quizzically, he asked, "Where is Mrs. Changretta?"

"What are you talking about?" Luca said, barely paying attention as he fished a dog toy from his satchel. Then stooping to catch his dog's attention he cooed, "Look at the bee! It's your favorite busy bumble bee. We're going to stay calm and relax. Focus on your bee and breathe, principessa." Alfie scratched his head as the feared mafioso before him made buzzing sounds mixed with deep breathing exercises. Luca had lost his mind, but that could work in his favor, Alfie thought.

🦴 May shrieked as a dog entered her booth attempting to chase her precious pet. Shooing the intruder away, she stalked over to Jessie with an indignant glare. "You must do something about that beast!" she said, pointing at Jessie's dog. "I must insist you muzzle it before I have you both removed from the premises."

Jessie crossed her arms in defiance. She frowned at May and her entitled attitude. "And why would I do that? He isn't causing any harm to anyone," Jessie replied.

May's mouth gaped open at Jessie's stubbornness. No one ever questioned a Carleton. "Because my family sponsors this event and-"

"And you think everyone should fall at your feet. Is that it?" Jessie snapped. "I'll keep my dog on his lead, but only because I'd rather him be kept away from people like you." She turned on her heel and left, taking her dog with her for a walk. May was left huffing to herself and vowing to get that insolent woman disqualified.

*Answers here

[noodyl-blasstal]

Detective Delivery

Joyus Candlenights @v-for-venusaur I hope you have a wonderful Candlenights and enjoy! 

And also thank you very much to @thecandlenightszone for organising the exchange!

Read Detective Delivery on A03 or below (but fair warning, it's over 7,000 words)

________

There isn’t much time. Angus knows he has to be quick, they always notice when he’s not where he’s supposed to be. He’d think it was because they were onto him, but they’re always so concerned - as if he’s lost, or hurt, or upset and not rifling through their stuff. He didn’t imagine that smugglers would worry so much about his welfare, or play chess with him, or teach him how to bake cookies, but that was probably all part of their thing. One of the hardest lessons he had learned was that bad people didn’t always seem like bad people. The Starblaster crew were bad, they were smugglers, they were stealing. They were bad people doing a good job of hiding it.

Angus finds the crates easily. The illusion cube isn’t subtle - the dimensions of the room are all wrong. He disables the alarm quickly, it’s barely disguised in the loose panel on the wall, finger marks showing exactly where to push. There aren't any other security measures as far as he can see, so Angus walks confidently through the wall and immediately sees the crates he has been looking for. Now he just needs to confirm the cargo is what he thinks it is. The door to the hold hasn’t opened yet, he should have time.

The crates are squat and rectangular, heavily riveted with clawed clamps holding them closed along the edges. Circling the central one, the glow of a keypad catches his eye. Angus examines it briefly, it’s too obvious. There’s no way they would illuminate this, everything about this box is designed to stop it being opened. He works it out just as the door to the hold slides open.

“Angles?” It’s Mr Taako’s voice. Oh no. He doesn’t want to be in trouble.

“Ango?” And Dr Lup too. Probably the worst people to find him here, they sometimes looked at him sideways if he said something which might contradict his story. Not that he did that often. Not that they noticed enough to make him try to jump ship, but they weren’t easy like Ms Lucretia, or Dr Barry.

Angus ducks down behind the crate, they have no reason to think he’s in here. How would he have even made it into the hold? There was a code! How would he have the code? He’s just a little boy.

“He’s not here, Ko. Maybe he’s in the kitchen? You have cooking lessons today, right?” Lup says. Angus cringes, investigating first was a mistake. Maybe he could still make it in time to learn how to make ‘the most baller pancakes you’ll ever eat’ once he cracks the case? Just because they were criminals doesn’t mean he can’t learn some valuable skills. No one has ever had time to teach him to cook before; he has to get the most out of it before Taako goes to jail.

Angus breathes a sigh of relief as he hears the door slide open again and the twins’ footsteps retreat. Time to get his evidence. He peers at the glowing pad again, and, careful to avoid pressing it, twists the entire thing to the left - a small groove in the metal allows the shape to turn slightly. As he does it, he hears movement from the other side of the crate.

“Lost again, Agnes?” Taako’s lilting voice is casual as ever, but Angus hears his hip holster release. It’s probably time to run, but this is the best lead Angus has. It took nearly a year to find the ship, he isn’t going to give up now. He has a blaster for emergencies, and this definitely counts as one. Angus grabs it and reaches for the pad to spin it further, the box opening will tell Taako exactly where he is, but also hopefully surprise him enough to allow Angus to take the upper hand.

The alarm was a surprise. The crate definitely opens, Angus was correct, but he should have considered that there might be other safety features. Something to add to the post-investigation review. His gasp of surprise gives Taako his exact location, and Angus finds himself hoisted into the air by the front of his shirt. He hopes Taako hasn’t creased it too badly, Angus doesn’t have many clothes and it’s important to look presentable when he’s working.

“What did you do, and how do I make it not be doing that any more?” Shouts Taako over the screeching of the alarm.

Angus stays silent. He’s read books about resistance to interrogation, he’s even practiced with his blanket over his head and staying up for an extra day here and there (sure, when he was caught up in investigations, but it still counts).

“Angus? What are you doing in here?” Lup skids through the illusory wall.

“He’s stealing from us, Goofus. What does it look like?” Taako rolls his eyes at Lup, then turns back to Angus.

“How do we make it stop, Angles?”

Agnus thinks about the case very hard. If you have something to focus on it’s harder for someone to manipulate your thinking and convince you to share information with them.

“He really is your protégé.” Lup laughs.

“Good work on getting past the wall, Ango.”

“Don’t praise him!” Taako hisses.

“He’s only a baby and he figured it out, it’s important to acknowledge good work.” Lup replies, side eyeing Taako and making a face at Angus.

“I’m not a baby!” Angus protests. They kept saying it, but he was 10, nearly 11. He ran his own business! He wasn’t a baby, he was practically an adult. Wait… was this psychological torture? He wasn’t supposed to let it get under his skin… aw beans!

“Oh look, he found his voice! It was lost, but magically recovered to refuse to acknowledge the fact he’s a tiny baby who has no business being here.” Taako sets him down on top of the crate.

“Make it stop, Ango.” He snaps.

“You know, we were stealing stuff when we were his age, well, 70, but if you do the conversion to human years, it shakes out about the same.” Lup leans her elbow on Taako’s shoulder and looks to Angus.

“What’s in it anyway Ango? Contract says we can’t look and Dav makes us promise not to, but if you’ve already cracked it then it’s nothing to do with me. Be a shame to waste it.” She peers towards the crate. Angus almost believes her, almost, but of course they know what’s in the crates. They know exactly what they’re doing, who they’re stealing from, and who they’re stealing for. He jams his mouth shut again and tries to make it as obvious as possible that he won’t be helping them, without actually saying anything. He’s not going to make the same mistake twice.

“Stop encouraging him, Lup!” Taako says, nudging her with his elbow.

“It’s good to have an inquiring mind.” Lup says, and elbows him back. Angus debates whether this will devolve into another fight. He kind of hopes so, it’ll give him enough time to crack the lid, record the evidence, and run. He scoped out the small research ship on his first day aboard, and then Dr Barry gave him an extensive tour because he was always excited to show off his lab and the equipment they had. It was almost enough to convince Angus he wasn’t a hardened criminal, but he wasn’t going to be fooled again. It had taken him a long time to rebuild his stock of credits, even longer to find another hat he liked as much as the one they took.

The alarm is still blaring, Angus wants to try and stop it. The noise is overwhelming, but he doesn’t want to take his eyes off the twins. Taako is apparently stronger than he looks and Angus doesn’t want to get grabbed again. The decision is taken from him when a second alarm joins the crate’s wailing, followed by a jarring scraping noise.

“What the…” Is all Lup manages, before the hull doors buckle.

“Angus?” Taako asks.

Angus isn’t sure why Taako thinks this is anything to do with him. As if he has the ability to summon another ship. If he could do that he wouldn’t need transport, would he? As far as they know, that’s why he’s here. He’s obviously going to contact the militia, absolutely and definitely, but not yet. He still has to finish his science lessons with Barry, and Lucretia has really helped him with his drawing but he can still improve. Anyway, he can’t go until Merle shows him the hydroponic tanks properly - Angus still doesn’t know the names of all the fish.

“Attention Starblaster. Prepare to be boarded. A security alarm has notified us of a contractual breech. An investigation will begin immediately.” The tinny announcement pipes from the ship’s speaker system, barely audible over the various alarms.

“Angus, fix it!” Lup hisses. She’s serious for the first time, face paling visibly.

Taako looks scared too. Maybe Angus went too far? He didn’t mean to call the militia down on them… yet. He was going to do that, in the future, probably, not right now.

“I don’t know how.” He breaks his silence. It seems worth it for this. Angus feels like crying. He doesn’t want to cause problems, he wants to solve them, and he’s so close, so so close. Why didn’t he consider internal security? It was a careless error. This might be just as bad for him as it was for them. If the militia ask who he is… if the crew tell them what Angus said… Oh no. He turns the pad back to the starting position.

“Maybe this will do it.” He says as nothing happens.

“Angus. Fix it.” Taako looks furious.

Angus wants to. He wants to so hard, and maybe if he just closes his eyes, summons up all of his resolve and hopes really hard he can do it. He wishes and wishes and the alarm screams and screams and he has to admit it was a bit of a long shot.

“I can’t. I’m sorry, Sir. I want to, I do.”

Taako’s face softens slightly.

“We’ll figure it out, Pumpkin.” He says, moving to crouch next to Angus as the hull screams more and the doors shudder.

Angus felt better momentarily, then realises what Taako is doing, he won’t be lulled into a false sense of security again.

“We wouldn’t need to figure it out if you weren’t all criminals!” Angus doesn’t mean it to sound so aggressive, it’s a statement of fact after all, but his voice is full of the acid he feels when he thinks about how many children the money would help. There are alarms and noise and everything is horrible and it’s all because of their choices.

“Criminals? Oh, so that’s what you think of ol’ Taako and Lup? We’re good enough to teach you how to cook and make fires and do handstands, but you’re just judging us? If it weren’t for us being ‘criminals’ you wouldn’t be getting home to your Grandfather for Candlenights, would you? Why exactly would the Ambassador to the Astral Empire be using the Starblaster to take his precious Grandson home if we were criminals?” Taako asks, looking offended. Angus almost feels bad… almost. He had to lie to them, otherwise they wouldn’t have taken him. It was their own fault that they didn’t look into the letter any further. How often did someone show up with a letter and a stick of credits to ask them to do a job anyway? Surely it should have rang some kind of alarm bell. And the stuff they taught him to do? They chose that. It wasn’t Angus’ fault that they wanted to show him, he was always happy to learn. Plus, it isn’t fair to judge people either. Sometimes people do crimes and that doesn’t mean they aren’t people, they’re just people who also probably have to go to prison, so they may as well teach him some cool stuff first.

“Sir, I… He… that’s not important right now.” Angus can’t think of what to say. It’s probably time for him to explain that he knows their game, that he understands what they’ve been doing.

“I know what you’ve been doing.” Angus tries to glare, he’s not sure how convincing it is.

“Are you okay, little man?” Lup asks, concern in her voice.

“You’re squinting. Is there something in your eye?”

“Stop looking after me, you don’t care about orphans do you? You’re the ones taking the funds from us!” Angus says. He has to push back, he can’t get used to this; can’t adjust to having someone to watch his back and think about his feelings and wash out his eye if he gets something in it. He’s going to be alone again soon.

“We’re doing fucking what now, sorry?” Says Taako, outrage clear in his voice.

“Stealing from who?” Lup says at the same time.

Angus opens his mouth to answer, to tell them he doesn’t believe their surprise, how could they not know what they were doing? He’s interrupted by the hull doors buckling one last time and screeching open. Four heavily armoured militia stride into the ship, seemingly unaffected by the illusory wall, they level their blasters at Angus and the twins. The alarm from the box finally stops blaring.

“Drop your weapons and stand down.” The voice filters through the heavy black helmet, all traces of accent or personality lost. Angus peers curiously at the red tinted visor, but nothing is visible through it. He usually deals with the more palatably humanoid side of the militia.

“This is all a misunderstanding, the kid opened it by accident.” Lup says casually, jabbing a thumb at Angus.

“No nefarious intent. We’ll just seal it back up and be on our way.”

“The child opened the crate?” The same tinny voice comes from a different helmet.

“Yeah, just kids being kids, you know how it is.” Lup smiles. Angus feels something tighten in his stomach, he can’t read the emotions in their voices, but their body language isn’t indicating that they plan to stand down. If anything, they’re more focused on him.

“No.” They reply in sync.

“Hand over the criminal you have apprehended and we will reseal the crate so you may continue the delivery.” Says one stepping forwards, holstering their blaster and reaching for Angus.

“Absolutely not!” Says Lup at the same time Taako shrugs and grabs Angus again. Surely they weren’t actually going to hand him over? They’d been so kind to him, and Lup said no. If Lup said no then it definitely wouldn’t be happening.

“Okay, here you go.” Taako says evenly.

“Taako!” Lup kicks him.

“We’re not handing over the kid.”

“He was my apprentice Lup. I, Taako, the best chef this side of the Astral Empire was sharing my skills. I let him into my kitchen! He was my apprentice and he tried to steal from us. I was going to give him the good recipes.” Taako says.

“I can’t believe I fell for this again.” Taako sounds hurt. Angus didn’t mean for Taako to be hurt.

“Ko, it’s not the same.” Lup says gently and pulls him back.

“Now get down.” With that, she’s launching a ball of what Angus could swear is fire from her blaster. It slams into the foremost of the militia, shoves them backward, leaves a large hole punched in the front of their armour. Angus tries not to stare too long at the mix of blistered wires and charred flesh he sees there.

“Lulu, what the fuck?” Taako screeches as he dives behind the crate, pulling Angus with him and covering him. Angus isn’t thinking too hard about the fact Taako’s protecting him with his literal body right now despite apparently being willing to hand him over a few seconds ago.

“Are you trying to die? Taako did not sign up for a space rebellion today. Did you look at my calendar? Is “fight space police and die about it” in there for today? No. No it fucking isn’t.”

The ship alarm stops. The others must be doing something… or the militia ship has overtaken the systems, but Angus hopes that’s not the case. As much as he trusts the legal process, he technically did open the crate… and lie about his identity… Which is attempted theft, fraud, and transport under false pretences. He’s technically still registered to the orphanage. This could be bad. He starts trying to worm his way out, maybe he can make a break for it while they’re distracted? Although, now Lup’s going to be in trouble for trying to protect him… but she’s a criminal, he shouldn’t care! But, Angus is a criminal… no, he was doing what he did for good reasons, he had to do it to solve the real crime, her crime.

“Right Angus…” Lup fires twice and ducks behind the crate too.

“What’s this about orphans?”

“Lup, is this really the time?” Taako presses himself around Angus more firmly as the wall above them sparks and shudders from the militia returning fire.

“We’ll be done with this soon.” Lup replies, confidently.

“Backup will be here any second.” She winks at Angus whose head is barely visible under Taako’s armpit.

“Now Ango, you need to tell us what’s going on.”

“You know what’s going on, Dr Lup.” He says resolutely. He refuses to get caught up in mind games, in Lup pretending she doesn’t know.

“Angus, we’re specialist freight delivery. We don’t ask too many questions, yeah, but it’s to help people like you and your Grandfather. Why the fuck would we want to hurt kids?” Lup looks so earnest, so confused, but Angus knows the answer.

“Money.” He says, and tries not to feel guilty as hurt flashes across Lup’s face.

The militia are nearly on them now. Lup fires a few more shots, Taako springs up to cover her, then straight back over Angus as fire is returned.

“Agatha, apologise right now. We raised you better than this. She’s out here fighting space police for you and you’re going to thank her by accusing her of murdering orphans and eating their skin? She just shot a dude to save your accusation wielding butt.” Taako huffs.

Angus debates refusing, but he can’t really argue with the logic… well, some of it. The important bits.

“Sorry Dr Lup.” He mutters.

She winks and pops up to shoot again just as the opening bars of Thunderstruck blare out of the ship’s speakers at full volume.

“Cavalry’s here.” She says as she ducks back down, barely avoids the blast which grazes the top of the crate.

“Taako, your side.”

Angus feels himself shoved to Lup as Taako rolls sideways, fires, and rolls back, grabbing him again.

“Magnus!” Comes a yell from the doorway. Cavalry’s here indeed, Angus can’t help but smile. Statistically it’s highly unlikely that the crew will lose, the militia clearly weren’t expecting this level of resistance. Angus tries not to think about whether everyone on the crew is actually registered as being on board; that information isn’t relevant to his case. There’s a volley of shots, and several loud thuds. Angus tries to wriggle free and look, he wants to make sure it’s the militia falling, not his friends… wait, the suspects. Taako holds him firm.

“Taako’s not gonna let you get hurt, Pumpkin. They’ll be okay. We’ve had worse.” Taako’s voice is calm, well, as calm as it ever gets. Angus wants to ask about the ‘worse’, but it probably isn’t the time.

“I can’t believe he chose fucking AC/DC. He always forgets that it’s not as cool after the intro.”

“Maybe he thought it’d be done by the time it got past that bit?” Angus suggests, muffled against Taako’s arm.

“He doesn’t plan, doesn’t think about the what ifs and the maybes and how long it might take to murder four highly trained space operatives. It’s all “Magnus!” and “Thunder!”” Taako shakes his head.

Another thud and the fire stops. Taako springs to his feet, still holding Angus.

“It’s okay, Ko. We’re good, you can put him down.” Lup nudges his shoulder and nods at the corpses.

“Although, maybe we should cover his eyes?” She adds, a frown crossing her face.

Angus rolls his eyes and wriggles free.

“Dr Lup, I’m a professional.” He pretends not to hear Taako’s loud snort as he strides over to the bodies, he should probably listen to what the crew are talking about, they could be getting their alibi straight, but honestly, Angus has bigger questions. As much as he’d boarded the ship convinced that the Starblaster was behind the thefts, it seemed less and less likely. Why would the militia come because of a crate alarm? Was the Starblaster being tracked?

The armour doesn’t appear to have pockets, Angus isn’t surprised, but was hoping for something. There had to be a clue. Any evidence was probably on their ship.... Their ship which was right there.

“Captain Davenport, was anyone left on their ship?” Angus shouts up, tearing himself away from the corpse.

The crew stops whispering and they turn to look at him. Merle gives an over exaggerated wave, but Lucretia pushes his hand down.

“Angus…” Begins the captain, gently.

“...do you think we’re stealing from the orphanage?”

“Yes.” Says Angus quickly. Then hesitates.

“Well, I did… because you are. Open the box, you’ll see it’s full of the latest donation to the fund. They never make it to the orphanage, because you take them somewhere else instead.”

Mr Magnus looks like he might cry.

It’s Dr Barry who strides over to the crate. The alarm is still wailing, but barely. He pulls the lid away, and stamps the siren until it falls silent, and then a few more times for good measure.

“He’s right.” Barry says.

The argument that breaks out is impossible to follow, and Angus doesn’t see the point in trying. They clearly don’t know what’s going on. Instead, he goes to investigate the hull doors where the militia boarded. He listens hard, no immediate sign of reinforcements. It would be pointless to get arrested now after everything, but he isn’t going to solve this without taking risks.

_________________________________

Taako is going to kill the kid, but he has to keep him alive long enough to do it, so when Angus slips away Taako has to follow. Not because he cares, obviously, just for practicality’s sake. They should be making pancakes right now, now starting Space War VI. They’d all promised to never be involved in another inciting incident after last time but apparently Lup just couldn’t help herself. It isn’t like he was actually going to hand the kid over, it just seemed like a good way to kill time until the others got there, but apparently Lup’s twin telepathy only applied to bullying him and not realising that he wasn’t about to indirectly throw a kid in prison.

It isn’t difficult to keep up but Taako hangs back, Angus is self sufficient most of the time. Anyway, he doesn’t really want to talk to the tiny backstabber right now. Taako showed him how to make the good cookies, and this was how he repaid him? Trying to get him thrown in jail? It’s the circle of life, the apprentice rises up to try and kill the master, but Taako isn’t so easy to usurp, Angus won’t take him out so easily. He’s been preparing for years baby, fool him once, shame on Taako, fool him twice? It simply isn’t going to happen. False accusations are nothing new, that’s why they definitely don’t hurt any more. Taako doesn’t care what anyone thinks.

Angus is thorough, stopping into each room he comes across. Taako tries not to feel too smug about how badly the kid would have struggled with his room - keeping things messy is a security measure. No one can tell him different. It’s definitely nothing to do with how hard it is to put things away. Nope nope nope.

Lup and Magnus appear either side of him without warning. Taako tries very hard not to shriek as loudly as he would like to when Magnus whispers “Magnus!” in his ear.

“Sssh.” Taako hisses, as quietly as possible.

“Are you having a feeling again, Koko? Compelled to look after your baby boy?” Lup whispers and wiggles her eyebrows. Taako debates whether Angus will notice if he shoots her with his blaster, just on the zappy setting, he isn’t feeling that murdery. Honest.

“Shhh.” He repeats.

“In fact,” she continues, “this is the opposite of “out here” which I believe I may have heard you mention is the place you prefer to be.” She gives a shit eating grin.

Taako’s hand drifts to his blaster, just a small zap, a teeny tiny one.

As Lup opens her mouth to continue making ridiculous accusations Taako shoves her and Magnus back round the corner. Angus is on the move again.

They track him quietly down the corridor, engaging in the second quietest slappy fight of their career. Magnus occasionally intercedes to avoid alerting Angus.

“Taako.” Magnus hisses.

“Sssh,” says Taako, poking Lup in the ribs.

“Taako!” Magnus whispers again, sounding more urgent.

“Lup.” He adds, tugging her back as she steps on Taako’s boot.

“Sssh!” Taako repeats.

“Agnes will…”

“Hear you, Sir?” Says Angus.

Taako tenses and barely muffles a cry of surprise.

“Jeezy creezy Agnes! You try to get me arrested and now you just straight up try to kill me?” Taako shouldn’t have come. He should have left the baby to go do his big brain bullshit with the militia ship alone and unguarded because apparently he hates Taako and wants to make sure he’s dead - be it from prison food, getting fucking shot, or shock.

“I knew you were following me the whole time, Sir.” The kid has the audacity to roll his eyes. Taako wonders how difficult it would be to uncouple the ship with Lup and Agnes on it. They’d be fine, probably.

“But I thought you should all know at least two more of the militia are still on board.” Angus smiles at them as if he expects a pat on the head. As if anyone’s gonna congratulate him for…

“Well done, Ango!” Says Magnus enthusiastically.

“How did you work that out?”

“It was simple, Sir!” Angus glows with pride and Taako glares at Magnus, then takes a quick mental holiday during the explanation. Wah wah wah, amount of rooms, mih mih mih, clock in sheet.

“So we have to kill two more super soldiers who are probably on high alert and ready to murder us super hard?” Taako asks, interrupting the end of Angus’ unreasonably detailed explanation.

“Bet I can kill mine faster than you.” Says Lup to Magnus.

“Nuh uh!” He protests, about to take off running. Taako grabs him.

“Woah woah woah. Chaboy has a notion, just a little idea, something off the wall, but how about we come up with some kind of plan? I know. I know. Ridiculous. But what if, and hear me out, what if we knew which direction we were going and whether we knew about any specific weaknesses, or… or… we regrouped and got the others to help us too? Barold has that gnarly death ray.” Taako watches Magnus’ face fall as he speaks. Oh, the crushing weight of not rushing in, poor Magnus, how he suffers.

“That’s a really great idea Sir. There’s two of them, and you’re going that way.” Angus points towards the corridor ahead from which clanking steps echo.

“I’m afraid it might be a bit late for the other bits, but I think their weakness was being shot a lot with your blasters. Anyway, I’m going to hide in here, good luck!” Angus ducks into the room nearby. Well shit.

Magnus glances into the room and dives in too, Taako knows he's not running away and abandoning them to the fight, but he can't help the brief flicker of panic. But even if Magnus did run, he and Lup would be fine, they've got this.

The twins level their weapons at the corner as the approaching steps speed up. Maybe mildly hysterical yelling wasn't the best stealth decision. Taako ignores the impulse to grab Lup and run, he knows she'll fight him every step of the way and never forgive him even if he could win that strength contest. Anyway, the nerd needs to stay alive long enough to get taught Taako’s second best pancake recipe (two can play at betrayal, Angus!)

Taako fires too soon, he knows it the second before the shot hits empty air and the footsteps stop. Fuck. Taako shoves Lup through the open doorway as the Militia return fire. He feels the tell-tale sting on his thigh, not quite fast enough; but Lup’s okay, Angus is safe, Magnus is here. It’s not worth mentioning, probably cauterised itself anyway, he can still walk… kind of, if he just shuffles his jacket they won’t know.

“So what’s the plan?” Magnus asks, keeping his voice low, and shooting blind down the corridor.

“Not getting fucking shot.” Taako replies, grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling him back. His leg twinges, but holds.

“We lost the element of surprise, but there’s still three of us.” Lup says. Taako isn’t sure whether to admire her, or try to tackle her. If she gets herself shot over this kid he’s going to do something about it, definitely something, yelling probably. Fuck his thigh hurts.

“Four of us, Dr Lup.” Says Angus, peering out from below the bunk in the corner.

“I brought my blaster.”

Magnus shakes free of Taako’s grasp and offers Angus a hand to help him slide out.

“Ready?”

“Absolutely not.” Says Taako, firing his own blaster down the corridor, careful to angle his leg away from the others, retreating before the answering fire can catch him again.

“The baby isn’t allowed a gun.”

“I’m not a baby!” Says Angus.

“We need everyone we can get right now.” Magnus adds.

“You can stay at the back.” Says Lup. Only Taako picks up on the slight wobble in her voice.

“Lup?” He asks quietly, he’s not sure why she’s letting this happen.

“We’ll keep him safe, he won’t have to shoot, but if we leave him out he’ll make his own plans.” She mutters to Taako, and yeah. Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Angles won’t be told no, that’s for fucking sure.

“Fine, baby in the back.” Taako says loudly.

“I’m not a b…” Begins Angus, a shot glances off the side of the door. Those bastards, are they trying to do trick shots? It’s not a game of fucking pool.

This time, Taako doesn’t grab Magnus as he runs to the door.

“Still just the two, one’s hanging back as cover, the other’s advancing.” A shot hits the side of the door where Magnus had peered out.

“Looks like they’ve figured out the angles.”

“How about heights? Can we do anything with that?” Lup asks.

“I’m tall.” Magnus says, helpfully. Taako glares up at him.

“Mr Magnus, Sir. Why don’t we use the desk as a shield, it’s extremely sturdy. It’s bolted to the floor, but I think you should be able to…” Angus stops talking as Magnus rips the desk out of the floor.

“...loosen the bolts.” Angus finishes.

“Everyone behind me?” Magnus asks. Taako hopes the desk will actually fit through the door. At least Magnus is holding it upright and not sideways. Taako sweeps Angus behind him and gets into position behind Lup.

“You’re sure the desk is gonna be sturdy enoug…” Lup starts to ask as Magnus advances.

“I certainly hope so.” Mutters Angus behind him.

The desk takes the first volley easily, after the third it begins buckling. Well fuck.

“Go time.” Yells Magnus over the fire and starts fucking sprinting. Taako hopes that no one hears his pained whimpers over the protesting metal and sparking explosions. He can’t do too much of this.

The first impact is satisfying. Taako isn’t sure how you miss a fucking table barrelling towards you at speed, but maybe they didn’t anticipate that it was just gonna keep rolling straight for them? Did they think the Starblaster crew were just going to stop and duel? They deserved it. Magnus lifts the table slightly.

“One down, watch out underfoot and keep him down, Lup.”

Magnus kicks out as the armoured figure tries to right themselves, fells them again, and Lup drops back briefly. Two short blasts denote that it’s done. Taako glances at Angus, he didn’t see phased by the bodies in the hull, but it was different seeing the aftermath.

“They were trying to kill us, Sir.” Angus says without looking up. Rude. Taako didn’t give him permission to read his mind.

“Table isn’t gonna hold, I have another plan.” Says Magnus as Lup slots back into formation.

“What are you…” Lup doesn’t finish her sentence before Magnus launches the table down the corridor. A second thunk implying it found its mark.

“...thinking.” Lup finishes.

The table falls short, trapping only their legs. Taako and Lup pull up their blasters to fire, but Angus is quicker than both of them, firing a stun into the gap between the helmet and neck armour.

“I thought you might want to ask one of them what is going on, but feel free to finish the job if you don’t need to. The stun isn’t very effective on cyborgs, so you’ll need to grab them quickly.”

“On it.” Magnus lunges forward.

“They won’t need these.” He says, and grabs an arm. Taako feels sick, there’s definitely a robot/people line for these things and Magnus has apparently smashed right through it. Lup looks back at him with wide eyes and side eyes Angus a few times.

“Right Pumpkin, let's go find the rest of the super secret documents.” Taako shoves Angus forwards, past the horror show Magnus is creating.

“It’s okay, Sir, I’ve seen worse you know.” Angus shouldn’t sound so calm right now.

“Oh so you’ve got time to spend watching Mangus rip someone’s arms off, but you didn’t have a few moments to get back up before you came onto an enemy ship?” Taako keeps walking, hopefully Angus will follow, he isn’t in the mood to watch what Magnus is doing right now… Maybe Lup can talk him down.

“Yes Sir, you’re right Mr Taako. We should go and find evidence. I think we might be able to clear your names.” Angus skips forwards as a horrifying ripping sound comes from behind them, followed by a firm “Magnus no! That’s people!” from Lup. Taako focuses really hard on singing the jingle for HoloPans! in his head, just in case.

In the cockpit he leaves Angus to his own devices. It’s like releasing a bucket of spiders into a room but the kid’s every spider and he’s in one place and is also all of the spiders at the same time, just without the extra legs, probably, or does he have more than two? Taako is fine, is the thing. He’s fine and he doesn’t need to look at his leg, but he is going to have a little sit down because it has been a big day and he deserves it.

“You didn’t do it, Sir.” Angus is tugging Taako’s jacket. Taako doesn’t know why, he isn’t asleep.

“I know I didn’t do it, Agnes. Which is what I’ve been telling you since you accused me. If I recall correctly, Lup told you too, and Magnus, and Barry, and everyone fucking else. Mostly, because we didn’t do it.” Taako isn’t defensive about this. Definitely not. He just likes to be thorough when explaining things.

“Suspects don’t usually confess immediately, Sir. I had to check. But now I know, and I can show the militia that too.” Angus says brightly.

“Uh huh.” Says Taako, giving Angus a moment to catch up.

“I can’t tell the militia can I, Sir?” He says, quietly.

“Nope!” Taako pops the P.

“Probably not best to let them know that: Good news! The Starblaster crew didn’t do it, we just killed five…ish of your scary tech soldiers to prove it, also you did it so arrest yourselves!”

“How did you…?” Angus looks slightly offended.

“Work out it was them?” Taako asks. Angus nods.

“Who else was it gonna be? Big scary Astral Empire with its big scary space force. Never trust authority, kid.” Taako throws up a peace sign and definitely doesn’t list sideways, Taako’s good.

“They were switching out the donations before they even got to the orphanage. Then they put trackers in the boxes and tail you to make sure you don’t open them and don't ask any questions. They keep tabs on your trips, but don’t do the job themselves so they can pin it on you if they ever need to.” Angus pauses and focuses on Taako with a frown.

“Is the wound worse than you thought, Mr Taako?” Angus asks, looking directly into his fucking soul.

“What’re you talking about, Agnes?” Taako’s cool as a cucumber, a really cold one, straight from the freezer, terrible texture, great for black eyes.

“You got hit, Sir.” Says Angus softly.

“Nuh uh.” Replies Taako, got him. Can’t refute that. Now it’s time for a nap! Winners get to sleep.

____________________________________

Awareness comes back slowly, but he can see brown skin and a white topknot bobbing about beside him.

“Merle?” Taako croaks.

“Decided to re-join us have you?” Merle grouses.

“It’s Candlenights, and here I am, busting my ass, trying to make sure you don’t shuffle off the mortal coil.”

“Tell Lup to put more salt in the mashed potatoes, she never uses enough.” Taako says as his eyelids grow heavy again.

______________________________________

This time, the noise wakes him. He grumbles and tosses his head, but nothing’s blocking out what sounds like fucking Margharetiaville being stop-start jabbed out on the piano and then echoed on a violin. Are they seriously trying to figure this arrangement out right now? Why isn’t he in the med bay? Who the fuck is thumping on his brain? No wait, that’s Angus, Angus is thumping on his good Tupperware with his olive wood spoons.

“Those aren’t drums!” Taako tries to get up, realises it’s a losing battle and flops back onto the chair.

“Told you that’d do it.” Says Angus smugly and smiles up at Lup and Barry.

Barry pats him on the back and slips him some chocolate.

“Good one bud, you win.”

“Guh?” Says Taako, wisely.

“Thought we’d Weekend at Bernies you so you didn’t miss out on the entirety of Candlenights, brother mine. It wasn’t the same without you” Lup flops down on the sofa beside him.

“Wanna see the photos? We really thought you’d wake up during the doughnut sandwiches, but you can catch it next year. Lup grabs a stack of photos from the table and flicks through to one with Taako slumped in a chair wearing a pair of doughnut deely boppers while everyone else cheers together doughnut sandwiches dripping peanut butter.

“Glad you’re back with us.”

“I… you? Urgh.” Everything hurts and Taako’s brain feels like it’s brimming with soup, the kind that you could stand a spoon up in. Good for bread, terrible for thinking.

“I think you might need to explain what happened, Dr Lup.” Angus wriggles his way onto the sofa too, and Barry slides on beside Lup.

“Once upon a time…” Says Barry.

“There was a beautiful elf,” Adds Lup.

“And her brother Taako, who was just fine.”

Taako groans.

“I need you to know that I would be storming out right now if my leg worked.” He prods Lup in the ribs and is pleased to get a gigglesnort in reply.

“So I got shot.”

“You got shot, bud.” Says Barry.

“And then?”

“You went into shock, then you got an infection, because you can’t do anything and not be dramatic about it.” Lup says, grinning at him. Taako resists the impulse to huff and prove her right. It’s fine to be expressive.

“Then you decided to drag me to meals while I was passed out?” He asks.

“Not just meals, we also just used you to scare Magnus a lot.” Barry says.

Taako snorts, to be fair, Magnus had it coming after the last 3 years of trying to ‘prepare them for anything’.

“Ms Lucretia read to you.” Angus says soothingly.

“And Merle…”

“Please don’t finish that sentence if it involves plants.” Taako cuts him off, not wanting to hear about what level of flirting and or heavy petting may have gone on next to him while he couldn’t make it stop.

“Captain Davenport ordered you not to die!” Angus’ change of direction tells Taako everything he needs to know about Merle’s conduct.

“That’s good of him.” Taako says, trying very hard to pretend he’s not crying. He isn’t, obviously, his eyes are just watering because they’re not used to being open apparently.

“Magnus reworked some of his robot arm collection into a spare leg in case you needed it.” Lup grins at him.

“It’s as horrifying as you imagine.”

“Speaking of his collection…?” Taako doesn’t want to say more, he’s not sure if he actually wants to know the answer.

“I didn’t let him.” Lup says quickly.

“He understood… eventually.”

“And why are you still here, kid?” Taako asks.

“I thought we needed to get you home for Candlenights.”

“I still have a pancake recipe to learn, Sir.” Angus says, smiling brightly.

Taako stares very hard at the ceiling.

“Okay cool.” He flops back onto the chair and closes his eyes. If he passes out again no one can ask him any questions about how he may or may not feel.

New voices approach and Taako stays resolutely still.

“Oh no, you just missed Taako. He’s definitely absolutely passed out again. I suppose we can at least try and get the perspective picture that looks like he’s on top of the candlenights bush. Do you want to hold him up, Magnus? Unless of course, he is awake and wants to talk about his feelings?” Lup directs the last bit of the sentence into Taako’s ear. Taako plays dead. There’s no way he’s giving up that easily.

_____________________________________________

Taako frames the picture of the 8 of them gathered round the bush. Magnus stood to the side, dangling Taako by his collar in the general direction of the bush, nowhere near the top. Lup and Barry are throwing up peace signs, Dav salutes formally, Lucretia looks vaguely worried, and Merle is uncomfortably close to the greenery. Angus sits happily in the middle of the frame, his smile bright enough to distract from the chaos around him.

[leorawright]

Greetings!! I'm here for an oc matchup :) could I maybe get both romantic and platonic?

Name: Bélanger Charnell le Blanc, although he goes by Charnell

Unlabeled + attracted to men (he/him pronouns) 22 years old.

He's French and Chilean, and he speaks English and French.

Personality: Charnell is very sarcastic and doesn't show much emotion. He comes off as rude due to his sheer bluntness and honesty. He dislikes talking with people, typically trying to keep his conversations short and to the point. He's very hesitant with speaking and tries to only have important inputs. He has humor that can easily fly over people's heads, and he loves it. He has a slightly deep voice with a French accent. He also has chronic fatigue syndrome and hates doing alot of physical activity.

Other: He has the ability to see and speak to ghosts. Additionally, they can possess him if he allows it. Charnell has a ghost that follows him around named Odette. They are surprising friendly for a ghost and they possess Charnell alot. Odette does enjoy messing with people and scaring them, and they're sarcastic like Charnell.

He can create sigils that can do alot of things, the most obvious one being the sigil on his cheek. He uses it to prevent ghosts from possessing him without him allowing it. When a ghost possesses him, the ghosts strength and abilities are given to his body and can be used by the ghost. For weapons, he uses a semi-automatic one handed gun, and a sigil he puts on his hand that allows fire to shoot out of it. He also has sigils covering his room in an attempt to prevent severe nightmares, although, he still has them. He's also a smoker, although he's trying to quit. Cigarettes calm him down alot, and with his sigils, he doesn't have to worry about always needing a light.

What Charnell seeks in a friend/partner:

Someone who isn't freaked out by his ghost friend. Odette is very important to him, so he wouldn't be able to get along with someone who hates Odette.

For a friend, he wants someone who's funny and not too much for him. He prefers chill people who he can mess around with.

For a partner, he would want someone who just really loves him. He doesn't open up much, so he needs someone who listens him. He'd love someone who can calm him when he has a severe nightmare, and isn't disturbed by his abilities. He'd especially like it if his partner was friends with Odette.

Apperance: His eye color changes based off if he's possessed by a ghost. Charnell's eye color changes to the ghosts.

And here's his picrew! He's around 5'7 and isn't physically the strongest. Take care!!

For platonic I pick...

Sombra!

You want funny? She's got surprisingly good humor and laughs at a lot of jokes especially dark ones

She can be pretty lazy if she's not focused on something so perfect friend to chill with on any day

Prepare to get into three a.m. debates with her

She's fascinated by Odette and the fact that you can ghosts

Please tell her everything about Odette or let Odette tell her she'll listen to every word

For romantic...

Genji!

Genji is really patient and understanding after being with Zenyatta for so long

So if you don't want to open up just yet Genji won't push you and he'll even talk more about himself if that makes you more comfortable

When you tell him about ghosts and Odette he's really intrigued so please explain everything

He remembers everything you tell him without fail

He's had nightmares before so he's good at dealing with them and good at comforting you when they happen

When you tell him you're trying to quit smoking he tries his best to help and goes as far to get movie set cigarettes in order to maybe help you

[noveltyreads]

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass Book Review 

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I thought I knew what I was getting myself into when I first requested A Thousand Heartbeats from NetGalley, but I was still subtly surprised by this book and how much I enjoyed it.

A Thousand Heartbeats follows Annika, a princess forced to marry a man she doesn't love for the sake of her country, Kadier. On the other side of the continent lie the Dahrainians, a nation of people living in ruins, awaiting the day they enact their revenge on the throne who drove them out centuries ago. Leading this charge is Kawan and the soldier who does all his dirty work, Lennox, who travels to Kadier to show how easy it is to infiltrate enemy borders. When Lennox brings back Princess Annika, they begin to realise they're more similar than they initially thought. As the two grow closer, so does Kawan's thirst for power and they find themselves together but also on opposing sides of a war years in the making. 

When I first started reading, I was surprised by how easily I was absorbed into the world of Kadier. The story immediately set off an almost fairytale-like vibe and the main characters were likeable with dual perspective POV that suited the story really well. Having previously read the first three books in The Selection, I could see just how much Kiera Cass's writing has grown and developed since her debut novel and series. There was a big effort made to create layers and backstory to both Lennox and Annika's characters, focusing on the weight of guilt, loss and grief and how it can weigh heavy on every aspect of life. I liked seeing how the characters bonded over this and found a joint connection through their hardships. 

I believe it would be hard to review this book without looking into the romance. It was obvious even from the blurb that this would be an enemies to lovers novel, so I knew from page one that Lennox and Annika would get together. My biggest concern though was whether this romance would be an insta-love sort or if it would be more of a slow burn. It's clear which one I would've preferred. The focus instead was more on developing their personalities, their lives and their characterisation, allowing for a richer romance where you just wanted the best for the both of them and all the side characters. 

That being said, I found Annika and Lennox both suited each other well but I wished their chemistry was more developed. Make no mistake, I thought it was good but the romance really happened in one big moment rather than short little bursts. I would've liked for the two to have had smaller moments to build up that romantic tension and chemistry instead of it all occurring at once and then all of a sudden calling each other "the love of their life." That just seemed a little quick if you ask me but then again maybe that's because I'm a little sceptical over the whole concept of true love and soulmates and don't consider myself to be a romantic. While the subtle pining was good, I felt like they should've been with each other a bit more before deciding in a heartbeat they would do anything for one another including giving up entire kingdoms for the pursuit of their love.

 Romance aside, I also enjoyed the platonic and familial relationships with the characters. I loved Annika's relationship with her brother, Escalus and how they easily bantered on. I also liked Noemi's character although, I must admit, I was sceptical of her and thought her to be in on the deceit to usurp Annika's position and jeopardise Kadier. I thought that would create a thrilling plot twist which would've changed everything, hence why when the book took a more linear approach, the plot seemed quite predictable at times. I could tell who would betray who from a mile away and I wish the book didn't make it seem so obvious. 

The other thing of mention is with the antagonist, Kawan. To me he seemed very two-dimensional as a villain. He didn't have this air of danger to him and he acted more childish than as someone who evoked fear. I felt like he was too easy a villain and that Lennox and his friends could've easily taken him down. If his misdeeds (apart from that one hunting scene) were shown more and we were given glimpses into his scary nature, then I might've seen him as a more menacing figure. I thought the real villain in the story was Nickolas and that's because we saw some of the backstory with him and saw his deviousness, unlike Kawan who's motives weren't as described. That being said, I would've loved to see more from Nickolas and the supposed tension between Annika's and his family. It was mentioned and it obviously played a huge part in his sense of duty and subsequent characterisation, but I wished that avenue was explored more. 

All in all, this book is definitely one I'd recommend to any Kiera Cass fan or hopeless romantic, with well written main and side characters with layered backstories, and intriguing dual POV perspectives. The only downsides I found were with the characterisation of the villains/antagonists, the rapidness of the romance post the slow build, and the often predictable plot twists. That being said, I did enjoy reading this book and I managed to breeze through it fairly quickly. It reads in a way that is reminiscent of fairytales or classic fantasy so if you are a reader drawn to those types of stories, especially ones with happily ever afters, A Thousand Heartbeats is a book for you.

ACTUAL RATING: 3.8 STARS

[lotreckk]

i might be cringe but at least i'm happy this with my warden x loghain thing

1. i think i'll start with a little preamble. surana is not only a magic nerd but he is also a history nerd. so ofc he had read about maric, loghain and rowan (you know this whole adventurous vibe of the rebel prince his bride who is a warrior herself and their best friend of humble origin in love with both of them) in the circle. thus, he respected loghain even before their first meeting at ostagar. loghain's actions at ostagar confused him but he never hated loghan for that. ostagar wasn't surana's battle yet, he didn't lose important people here and king cailan didn't look serious enough for him when he greeted him and duncan. what really disappointed surana is loghain's attempts to kill the grey wardens (an irrational decision in his opinion), his association with howe (who were a stupid asshole) and the alienage (this almost made surana despise loghain). but at the landsmeet and during their dialogues before the final battle surana saw loghain's point. he neither agreed nor justified all of loghain's decisions, but surana understood his attempt to secure the country as loghain saw fit, a willingness to tarnish his reputation but save ferelden. by that time, surana had already seen what actions people commit during war, and for him choosing between lesser and greater evils or sacrificing morality for the greater purpose is not something impossible. besides the fact that surana is naturally attracted to smart rational people, for him warm feelings for a person begin with mutual respect. and they had it with loghain. after the battle until loghain left for orlais and surana remained in amaranthine they developed a mutual understanding. surana had no familiar faces left after the blight and they spent a lot of time together. they had common values ​​and similar morals, and loghain also understood the burden of command. surana knew that loghain wouldn't judge him and this thought was comforting for him. i think at this moment he started to indentify his feelings for loghain as somewhat romantic.

2. i think something might have happened on the eve of surana's departure to amaranthine. i think loghain wasn't really into an idea of any kind of romantic relationship, but he's also too mature to go around in circles (and anything can happen when two people during the war and in post-war conditions, are forced to work and eventually spend evenings together). and surana knew similar attitude from the time in the circle - only a stupid mage allows himself to fall in love and act based on feelings; in the circle he did not see full-fledged romantic affection. but after loghain's departure to orlais, through their correspondence and eventual personal meetings the relationship they had acquired a new level of deep affection.

3. ahaha yes and not intentionally. you know the inevitable excitement at the sight of your favourite person being covered in your foes' blood. surana is not one to be easily embarrassed bc he often does not understand the subtleties of hints and his own feelings. but this one time he realized why he enjoyed watching loghain so much...

4. no. i think in public they don't even use each other's names it all goes with mac-tir and surana/commander. calling each other by name is something very personal and meaningful for them.

5. they are quite comfortable with just sitting in silence and doing their own stuff, what matters is a presence. but also chess. maps. and loghain helped surana learn to wield a sword more efficiently (like yes arcane warriors use magic whatever but technique is important).

6. i mean... they have 10 years experience of long distance relationship i think they handled it well (aaand loghain got into conflict with the orlesian wardens for obvious reasons while surana became even more inclined to isolate himself and not telling anyone anything about his plans; i think it's important for them to have each other you know).

7. now i'll be silly UNEXPECTEDLY BUT anders and secretly nathaniel since they saw surana and loghain talk at the vigil's keep (and nathaniel is the one who has to listen about loghain's whereabouts in orlais because sometimes surana just needs to discuss his letters lol).

8. BESIDES THE WHOLE STORY WITH THE BLIGHT??? they are both too mature for more fighting... however i have one idea in mind! i think they had a fight somewhere a couple of years after loghain left for orlais, when they already had a more than friendly emotional connection, but they didn't discuss it or characterize it in any way verbally. as i said, surana tends to keep his plans to himself if a person isn't directly involved in them, also, he is a fan of expeditions to the most distant shitholes on the deep roads. surana usually asks and values loghain's opinions but this time he decided that loghain had a lot of problems of his own + he wanted to show loghain the results of his "expedition" and studies + surana felt like loghain wouldn't really appreciate him working with the architect etc. and surana just left the vigil's keep for seneschal and nathaniel, took velanna and a few other wardens and disappeared for a long period of time. and i mean it because yes sending letters to orlais takes a long time but not so much and this was strange in surana's case bc he is a fairly consistent person in his “routine”. i think nathaniel wrote a quick letter to loghain like “sorry, warden-commander went to the deep roads, didn’t say when he’ll return, but he leaves grey warden road marks on his way, if he disappears for a long time, we’ll send a rescue expedition". and well obviously loghain understood the duty of the wardens but this was surana's initiative to explore more of the deep roads for whatever reasons and also he didn't appreciate the fact that surana didn't tell him anything. and he kinda had a wonderful flashback from the time when maric run away with the wardens in the calling. loghain trusted surana's abilities but he anyway found himself worried that surana had simply disappeared when he himself was far away from ferelden's part of the deep roads. loghain thought that some small precautions like marks left by the ferelden wardens, and “if I don’t return in a few months, you can send a rescue party for us” would not help. so when surana and his group returned, i think he and loghain were quite reserved in their correspondence, but then, for some plot reasons, they met in person and actually had a little fight. perhaps loghain would go with the argument “you are endangering not only yourself, but also people under your command.” something like this. and surana would be very confused because he expected that loghain would not be pleased that surana had not told him about his plans, but he did not know that loghain might actually be worried about him personally. like would it matter if surana died? all of them, grey wardens, die a slow death anyway. but it turns out that for loghain it would matter. in fact, this is one of the important episodes in the development of the emotional side of their relationship.

9. let's see... the traitor teyrn with depression + a blood mage of questionable morals + most time they are apart from each other + surana not intentionally tries to get lost on the deep roads... i don't know... OK I KNOW ACTUALLY as i said they can balance out their flaws. and if loghain has already passed his moment of grandiose failure, then the potential of surana's grandiose failure, who is also used to deciding everything himself and finds it difficult to rely on others, is still ahead. and with his hunger for magical knowledge and desire to uncover the secrets of the taint and cure it without loghain he definitely can go too far and do some really dubious shit.

10. DIFFICULT I MEAN LOOK AT THEM- i think the most emotionally intense moment was after the battle with the archdemon but the feeling of comfort and understanding came later while they were working together rebuilding the order in ferelden before loghain was sent to orlais. but i also think (i still can't decide what is canon in my main plot) if loghain had survived the adamant, surana would have been unexpectedly emotional and well happy bc he understood perfectly well that falling for another warden, especially someone like loghain, was a doomed thing and loghain would somehow have managed to die while surana was busy with finding a cure for the taint, but... he didn’t die. and that would be the first time when surana would be happy that his prediction was wrong.

When was the moment your character first felt something for their love interest?

How long before they did anything about it?

Has their love interest ever made them blush?

Do they have nicknames for each other?

What are some ways they like to spend time together?

How do they handle being apart?

Who ships them the hardest?

What was their first ever fight about?

What is the most difficult thing about their relationship?

What is their happiest memory together?

(Check out our ten questions for tag if you’d like more posts like this)

[thatmcgwords]

You must describe yourself differently. Stop thinking you are a chronic overthinker; instead, say, “I can make competent decisions easily. I don’t need to second-guess myself. I can weed out what’s unhealthy and insignificant.”

If you want to stop overthinking, you must start doing things differently. After you believe in your ability to improve, you can move on to specific strategies, which we’ll cover later in this summary.

Here are the tell-tale signs of analysis paralysis:

• You postpone decisions hoping for a more suitable option.

• You keep searching for more options.

• You frequently review available information.

• You are afraid to make a mistake.

Intellectually curious people may seek more information on a topic despite already knowing enough, which may lead to decision paralysis. Exploring your options is good, but too much data doesn’t simplify the solution. Perfectionism is another key factor in decision paralysis; it makes you want the perfect answer, so you end up overthinking every detail.

If neither option is perfect, why make a choice? Overthinking is stressful and goes hand-in-hand with striving for perfection.

Reality Check

If you’re often stuck looking for the obvious perfect decision, remind yourself that it doesn’t exist. In most cases, you’ll find a couple of reasonable solutions.

Don’t think; act!

If you can’t pick the right answer, stop researching and start doing. ~ Anne Bogel

One tiny action can give you the necessary momentum and a perspective shift. When stuck between decisions, ask yourself what you can do, whether getting another point of view from someone, setting a deadline, or making a list.

Perfection doesn’t exist

Trying to reach perfection in any task prevents you from enjoying your progress. Comparing your achievements to an ethereal ideal doesn’t help decision-making and brings you down, which pulls you further into the overthinking loop.

Start failing!

Allow yourself to fail. A screw-up will teach you how to improve next time, so it’s not inherently wrong. Any outcome of an experiment is helpful and, therefore, successful. Failure isn’t that scary once you get comfortable with it.

Get curious

When developers work on an app, the first version is never perfect. They want to make the first build quick and see how it works to improve it later. This approach of doing and seeing what happens is excellent for breaking out of overthinking. You don’t have to get it right.

Connect the dots

Once you try each strategy, you can combine them:

• Check your options and their outcomes.

• Get moving and ask a friend for a second opinion.

• Let yourself make a mistake.

• Experiment; pick any option. If you get it right and like it, it’s a win. Otherwise, you know that option won’t work in the future and won’t mull over it again.

When you recognize a situation where you are overthinking, go through each step. It will become a habit with time, so you’ll do it subconsciously.

Ask yourself whether there is a setting that triggers analysis paralysis or perfectionism. What makes you stuck? Which strategies can you use to break the cycle?

Did you know? Women are more prone to overthinking and perfectionism due to physiological and social factors. Therefore, they suffer from depression and anxiety twice as often as men.

If showing up for your loved ones is essential for you, you won’t have to debate going to a wedding or a small gathering. You won’t regret the time you spend because you’re expressing your love and support. The same goes for things that require your attention, like books, media, or global issues.

However, some values people think they have never influenced their decisions, so assessing your beliefs is vital, but make sure to pay attention to your behavior. If you don’t allocate any resources to charity, the latter probably isn’t high on your value list.

It’s normal that your beliefs seem blurry. Examine what influences your decisions and where you spend time, energy, and money. If you don’t like whatever you discover, identify the new values that make you who you want to be. With practice, they will become second nature.

The value of daily habits becomes clear once you neglect them. ~ Anne Bogel

Physical space significantly affects overthinking, so clutter distracts you from a clear thought process. When you feel overwhelmed or can’t find something, that’s your cue.

Moving on from the external environment, let’s discuss the equally important factor — your body. Firstly, get enough rest and nutrition. Exercise also helps your brain, so take daily walks. Remember to take breaks during mentally taxing tasks, which is a simple yet very effective strategy. The truth is this: these exercises don’t need to be complex; a handful of simple actions have an immense impact.

Let’s make a plan for situations that force overthinking:

1. Notice what’s on your mind and what causes negative thought loops.

2. Disrupt the loop by concentrating on the good or practicing gratitude. For example, when you see a speeding car, imagine if there’s someone in labor inside.

3. Get creative and imagine the situation from another viewpoint. What would you say to your loved one if they were in the same scenario?

4. Tell your brain, “Not now” and visualize brushing away those thoughts.

5. Brush away unhelpful thoughts; they just don’t deserve your attention or define your best and authentic self. Recognize them and let them leave. And give overthinking the same treatment.

6. Postpone overthinking and indulge for a short time. This way, you can keep your analysis paralysis from meddling in essential tasks but still get that relief.

7. Write down what’s bothering you to untangle and organize your thoughts.

8. Distract yourself, so overthinking fades into the background. This exercise may seem childish, but it can be effective.

9. Move your body and change the setting because your physical state affects the mind. Whether you exercise or just take out the trash, move!

Apart from the first exercise, you can pick and choose them in random order. Try all of them to see which ones are effective for you. While your mind may get stuck sometimes, you can use these strategies to redirect it.

I know, but…

Sometimes you might know the answer already. However, you keep analyzing the situation because you understand what needs to be done but are reluctant to do it.

Of course, two unpleasant options may also lead to overthinking. In this case, you must start acting. Keeping the unwanted action in front of you for longer will only bring you down, so get moving!

The more you contemplate your options, the more difficult the decision becomes. ~ Anne Bogel

Mistakes are simply mistakes; they happen by accident, and most will never be repeated. Therefore, you don’t need to analyze them to do better next time. Don’t wallow. Switch your attention to the next thing.

Unfortunately, humans have limited physical and mental energy, so treat them as finite resources. Decision fatigue occurs when you feel overwhelmed by too many options. You can avoid it by limiting your everyday choices to free up time for more essential issues:

• Eat the Same Thing:

• Signature Dish: Perfect a recipe you’re good at and use it for gatherings or dinners.

• Pick “The Outfit”: Wear a shirt and pants. Buy clothes that go well with the rest of your wardrobe, and you won’t have to think about what to wear. Like the last strategy, create a signature outfit for special occasions.

• One source: When you don’t know what to read, limit your options to a single source like your bookshelf.

• Create routines: Set a laundry and grocery day or start working at the same time each day. You won’t have to think about how to fit a task into your schedule if it’s set to a specific time.

You can skip some of these strategies if they don’t fit your lifestyle. Their purpose is to clear your headspace so it’s free of minor unnecessary decisions.

When you approach an automatic routine with a different mindset, it can become a ritual. It follows a rhythm and requires participation. For instance, a morning ritual helps you start the day and find harmony to tackle your tasks. A nighttime routine is beneficial for better sleep and a mental reset. You can also turn a regular activity into a routine to structure your day or week.

Most importantly, rituals direct your mind to one activity, preventing overthinking. They can also facilitate your connections with yourself and other people. Don’t stress about looking for the perfect one; implement small rituals in your daily life and reap the benefits gradually.

Be mindful of rituals that leave you anxious. If reading the news in the morning is stressful, move this activity to lunch.

Another helpful exercise is splurging, which isn’t about being irresponsible with money but allocating resources for your splurges. Signature experiences usually cost money, but you’ll receive fond memories of the time you splurged with your friends or family. Sometimes, it’s not about spending money. You may allocate extra time for a road trip or try a new restaurant. Priceless memories won’t make you second-guess your decision.

New experiences bring excitement and curiosity into your life. ~ Anne Bogel

paralysis, expect that you’ll succeed. Your perspective is essential. And when something does not go according to plan, lean into it and predict a pleasant outcome. Choose strategies that seem promising and keep at them.

try these techniques to be mindful of your interactions with technology and stay in control:

• Implement device-free zones where you don't have to decide whether to use them.

• Close unnecessary tabs in your browser; they often represent halfway decisions you keep contemplating.

• Unsubscribe from marketing emails.

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[tomodachipersonalitycentral]

Can I get the personalities of Vox, Adam, and Angel Dust from HH?

Angel Dust has technically already been sorted and you can find that post here. I still agree with that assessment, though as the series goes on I can see him fitting into a more Charmer role over Entertainer, seeing as the Entertainer side of him is a part of his persona. But, as for the others...

For Vox, I am going to give you two answers. One that fits what we've mostly seen thus far in canon and one that fits what I believe Vox's actual personality is like based on the hints we've seen of it.

The very obvious answer for the first is Outgoing Trendsetter:

Comfortable in almost any situation, and makes new connections easily. Radiant and always on form. Has an effortless style that is admired by all. Able to easily adapt to new situations.

Vox is not only extremely good at charming others, but he is the one people follow when it comes to the latest trends in technology, and Vox tries to pretend to adore the attention. He is also able to make decisions in the moment that best benefit him, though it is clear he has to put in the effort when it comes to his PR mask.

However, behind the persona, we see Vox's personality is far more sardonic and sometimes blunt to the point it can be off putting to others. He's more asocial than he looks, though still craves interaction and approval from others, which would make me say Vox without the persona is a Confident Designer:

Tackles any challenge head-on, and has great faith in their own abilities. Diligent, productive, and highly efficient. A master at coming up with a plan and putting that plan into action.

Vox's ability to manipulate others, even himself, comes from his ability to think ahead, and he always seems to be working in one way or another, even if it isn't always obvious. Yet, Vox's scheming can have a damper put on it when he feeds into the darker side of the Confident category. This being allowing his rage or frustration to make him become cocky and, in the case of Stayed Gone, he ends up showing way too many of his cards.

Adam is a bit tricky because most of the outgoing personalities fit him quite well in one way or another. We could argue he's an Outgoing Trendsetter because not only is it difficult to fluster Adam because he goes with the flow, Adam also clearly enjoys others admiring or emulating him. His love of fun could very easily make him an Outgoing Entertainer, absolutely lighting up any room he's in and becoming the center of attention. His positive attitude and sociability could also make him an Outgoing Charmer. Finally, he also fits the role of an Outgoing Leader because he is assertive, has a lot of respect within Heaven, and follows his own instincts and beliefs.

I think Adam is the perfect example of a character that plays within a category more than he does a personality. Sort of like how character archetypes can have different facets to them, Adam imbodies the personalities in the outgoing category depending on the situation or even the individual who he's with.

That being said, I think, overall, Outgoing Entertainer and Leader fit Adam the best on a more personal level. Adam has the confidence to want to be in the spotlight and he tries to make things more entertaining or fun by doing so. At the same time, and when situations are more serious, he takes on the role of an Outgoing Leader, demanding respect and being unafraid to put his foot down when his instincts are telling him something is not a good idea.

Personally, considering the other characters that fit into the role Entertainer, I believe Outgoing Leader in a more lighthearted sense would fit Adam:

Comfortable in almost any situation, and makes new connections easily. Assertive and highly regarded. Has great faith in their own instincts, and has no trouble commanding the respect of others.

Not only does Adam effortlessly take charge when the situation calls for it, but he's also the one often commanding the energy of a room or pushing other's headfirst into fun. When Adam's instincts tell him something, he has no issues following those instincts, and his self confidence empowers him to demand respect from others.