#but i guess if anyone wants to filter this out->

[crystal-rebellion]

I dunno if this is helpful, but I find that the texture of a lot of commercial lotions to be unpleasant, to the point where I can't/won't use them. I've been making my own soaps for several years, so it was only natural to try making my own lotions too. Discovering that the type of oil in the lotion and the water-to-oil ratio is basically what controls the texture, I feel like I've unlocked a new super power.

Obviously this won't help folks who can't stand it on their hands at all, but for those crafty types who are fishing for a kind they can tolerate, here's a recipe to make your own. I pretty much exclusively use my own now and it's really helped.

I don't find it super difficult, and no dangerous chemicals like with soap. It probably won't be budget-friendly to start, because you'll likely need some extra ingredients you don't already have lying around, but you use so little of them when you make it that it can last for a long while. If you end up liking it and start making it regularly, I feel like it is less expensive in the longer run. AND by controlling which ingredients go into it, I can make lotion I actually can stand to have on my skin, which has really helped me use it more.

tldr for other soapers just wanting to know which oils I like? Avocado. That's it. Soft, creamy, not oily, not tacky, no residue.

Make your own 👇🥑🧴

I've linked ingredients out to Amazon because I know rural folks rely on it, and people with a need to do this asap will want things immediately (hello thats me). My go-to supplier outside of Amazon is company located in Washington state named Brambleberry, and they will also have all of this stuff (they also donate to some good charities, too.). It will take a bit longer, and there will be a shipping fee too, so see what works best for you. (They have amazing fragrances, too, if that's your bag. For anyone who's tried my soap, most of my fragrances come from them.)

Note 1: Everything is measured by weight. These numbers look a little rando because my (round number) recipe makes like, a buttload of bottles, so I've reduced the recipe it to about 10-12 ounces of lotion)

Note 2: This lotion recipe makes a creamy, moderately thick lotion. If your texture preference is more on the runny side, you can up the water content. I haven't experimented with it too much, so I'd guess 30 grams, but play with it and have fun. You can't do harm with this.

Water: 187.5 grams (Distilled ideal, filtered tap works fine.)

Oil: 37.5 grams (Avocado Oil; can also be found in many local grocers as well as Costco. Olive Oil works well too, but in my experience, it's a little more oily in the lotion.)

Emulsifying Wax: 12.5 grams (binds the oil to the water and lets it mix)

Stearic Acid: 10 grams (thickening agent and stabilizer to keep it from separating back out)

Optiphen Preservative: 2.5 grams (this is important; since lotion is 75% water, unless you intend to use all of your lotion within a week, you will grow fuzzies in it without this; if you want to do some research on alternatives, you'll want to look for oil-based preservative)

Optional: Fragrance* or essential oil of your choice: .7 grams (Or a few drops)

Other things you need: Kitchen Scale, container for the lotion, stick blender/egg beater/whisk, two microwave-safe bowls. Glass preferred, plastic okay as long as its microwave safe. One bowl will ultimately need to be large enough to hold all of the ingredients combined.

THERMOMETER - this dude is amazing and would recommend just having one in general. Regular stick ones work fine, but will be slow.

Safety gear needed: None, really. Gloves if you don't like the texture of the lotion.

That's it! That's all that goes in your lotion! As someone who also makes soap, I do not use the same bowls for my cooking as my crafting. But for lotion, you can use cooking bowls. Just... wash them well after, or your next meal may taste like ass.

Because I make products to sell to other people, I run all my equipment through a brewing sanitizer - including the bottle(s) and pumps the lotion will be in, just to be super duper sure that no fuzzies get introduced. Basically just fill the sink with hot water, toss in a capful or two and then rinse. I'll leave it up to you if you want to skip this step or not for personal use, it's kind of an annoying one.

HERE WE GO

If you're going to disinfect, do that first. Only items that need to be totally dry is the bowl you'll be putting your oil in.

In one bowl, weigh out your oil of choice, the emulsifying wax, the stearic acid and heat it slowly in the microwave in bursts of about 20 seconds, stopping to stir. Eventually the emulsifying wax and the stearic acid will have melted into the oil.

In a separate bowl, measure out your water, and warm it in the microwave as well, until it's about the same temperature as your oil/wax/acid mix.

With your stick blender/egg beater/whisk handy (if you have a stick blender available, use this. Your hand will thank you. This can be done with a whisk, but it takes longer.), add the two sets of ingredients together into whichever bowl is larger and whisk. Relatively quickly, it should go from this translucent oil to a milky, creamy color. Good. No need to keep mixing once it's milky and uniform.

We want to wait until the temperature drops to below 140F (60C) before adding in the preservative (otherwise the heat will break it down and make it useless). If adding any fragrance, then would also be the time to do so, and blend a bit more to make sure it's all mixed in.

And that's it! Pour it into your container of choice! The warmer it is when you pour it, the more 'liquid' it will be. As it cools, it will thicken and become creamier.

Handling the hot lotion is safe, other than if the temperature is too warm. This particular recipe is very creamy; if you like your lotion more runny, then add more water as you're blending it.

And that's it, you've made lotion. It can be used immediately, even straight from the bowl.

Happy lotion making!

Note on fragrances:

*If you are using a fragrance, please make sure it's skin safe. Adding more than the suggested amount to the recipe could cause irritation on the skin. Most 'fragrances' sold at stores like Walmart are intended for oil diffusers and may not be skin-safe. Essential oils are usually fine since they're being diluted by the lotion; never apply them directly to the skin. The shop I like for my purchases, Brambleberry, has a bazillion fragrances, and each one details what it can and cannot be used for. (Not an affiliate link, I just really like them. Great equipment if you're interested in actually doing it seriously. Tons of tutorials too; pretty much how I got into the craft in the first place.)

cracked and bleeding hands are not more tolerable than the feeling of lotion

[sirellas]

It's the Seven book anon. Now I understand why you don't want to finish it. Seven is definitely smarter than just to get it with a newly met woman, even if she felt some attraction to her it would only make sense if it was a slow burn romance. I always assumed that evil lady spied on the rangers under the guise of aiding them, and did so for an extensive amount of time for Seven to even pay her any mind. And those lines you showed as an example of how ooc that was written. "She would not fucking say that TM". Seven is concise and precise with her words, random slogan words are meaningless to her and if she was experimenting with that, she wouldn't be overusing those words. She's rather careful with putting thoughts into words. And again, the way that scene was described, with run on sentences, just meh. Like you said, the author doesn't get Seven. And from what I can see, this writing style is just not from me. So thank you for explaining. Now I'll be less likely to read it (mostly to preserve the version of Seven's time between voy and pic my brain created).

Exactly! The whole thing just seemed very lazy and underwhelming to me.

There's a big change in Seven between voyager and picard, and back when s1 came out I was hesitant. But Jeri Ryan really sold it and I was on board with this new Seven who swore and drank and got revenge. BUT there's still a gap to bridge there too. She didn't step off voyager and suddenly talk like a noir detective. And in my mind, even picard-era Seven would still think like voyager-era Seven. She's still the same person after all and really, not much time has passed from voyager to the start of events in this novel. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but it was so opposite from what I would guess picard/ranger era Seven to be. She could be this person who thinks and talks like this at this point (maybe...) but it would need to be explained A LOT more than it was. She adapted to the more common speech patterns and started thinking more like an average alpha quadrant individual, but why and how and when? Still not answered. This is especially jarring since in the novel's exposition she was only talking about how she's an outcast in the AQ.

Anyway. I will also be holding onto my own visions of Seven's time between voyager and picard lol 🫡 I think that's the healthiest thing we can do right now.

[redladydeath]

this might be a bit ooc, but hc that vox has a history of getting caught up in the moment and accidentally sharing deeply personal information about himself with both alastor and valentino. it always comes back to bite him, since neither of them have any scruples whatsoever about using that information against him in petty (or not so petty) arguments. he can never stop himself though. love makes you stupid and impulsive.

[futurewife]

would y'all be mad if i f/o a.drian from p.eacemaker. I think im committing to the bit and watching it. Is anyone going to be mad? I just want him so bad. there are guys that are so dream girl to me

[silent-sentinels]

okay. so. our facet Faucet is our secret keeper, and we did not ask [ ] permission before introducing this blog to others. so [ ] isn't very pleased, to say the least.

[emuwarum]

oh so baby pond snails are bastards on purpose

[paperwattle]

*releases a drawing of one of the characters from the book series i've been scheming for years onto the world* self care

[somelazyassartist]

What do I have to do to never see graphic novel Taako ever again (/nbh)

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[toytulini]

no more Poasting i have so much shit to do and its already past noon

[purplelightningworms]

okay yes this too shall pass, I know, but what do I do in the meantime I got shit to dooooooooo

[unproduciblesmackdown]

one thing i can intermittently remember re: lackadaisy is that way back when, would've been around '08 to '10, i mentioned it to someone in person w/whomst like informal Media Recs Trading was established & i think mentioned wanting recs for checking out webcomics specifically? & i was like ooh lackadaisy Gotta be lackadaisy (i read like, a few others at the time but was immediately huge on that one specifically due to [the ways it pwned were obvious to me first reading it in '07 and Now alike]) and like. in the realm of Left Field Responses I Got After Ventures Of Someone W/o The Confidence I Have Now Thanks To Grinding For It In The Entire Interim i eventually followed up like did you check it out, what do you think, b/c my enthusiasm was stronger than my reluctance to bring shit up unprompted. and i think they were sort of evasive a moment but then were like nah b/c.......why are they cats....like lmfaoooo was Not ready for that like yeah idk what to tell you if that was that significant a factor. except that if you know that much it's too late the furry police are en route

not long afterwards perhaps truly more unexpected. i managed to finagle going to the first convention marble hornets was at, relatively short notice, and this is thanks to by that point having Enthusiasm behind it again, of course. afterwards to the relatively small tumblr mh ether i Ventured Forth again like is there interest in my talking about it, livestream q&a possibilities style even? and then i got an anon telling me not now b/c hοmestuck had updated. omicron just to not risk it plus i think even now i'd filter my own post. like divide this into four sections the way i'm truly at a loss. didn't have that much to talk about but looking back like fr you're neurononconforming in online fanbase Posting same as in the [random discord servers Hate them! non normative verbal communication happens in scores / hundreds of words if it happens at all] like and yet it gets to you to the con. and to the "i don't need other people to like media 'with' me i didn't talk about lackadaisy at all till the pilot dropping & my [first full reread in a Minute] got me all fired up posting style & 'hey wait. my special little guy. all this fresh Mystery Plot Everything appreciation. whoa'" moment. plus nowadays it's only like Lol Lmao whereas back then it was like :( :/ but also still funny b/c this person was running away throwing chairs & tables behind them like i'm not a furry i'm not and an anon was like didn't ask don't care oppa homestuck style. standing there palms open like. furious theorizing is there for me

[werebear-butch]

[skelliecrow]

I have a writing blog, but I feel like if I want to talk about my ocs, I should do it here, because this is where I post them. I already made a post to my writing blog about how I'm unsure how to maintain it while writing scripts rather than prose, but I also don't want talking about my writing here to make it seem like all art I post is related to my comic wips because it isn't.

I don't know. Like where am I supposed to post that I'm considering making Kari a florist rather than a botanist because I don't know enough about plant science to write her as the latter. I guess I'm posting it here.

[certaimromance]

𝜗𝜚 In Pink Sheets.

Spencer Reid x Fem!reader

Summary: After spending the first night with Spencer, doubts arise about the nature of your behavior at work from now on. How could you not make it obvious that you two had already passed all the bases?

Words: 3k.

Warnings & Tags: +18 (for suggestive talk, they are naked lol, aftercare? but no explicit). bau!reader. established relationship. reader is overthinking and being dramatic (literally me). first “I love you” yep. making out interrupted. english isn't my first language (sorry for my mistakes, be kind please).

Note: Literally my sheets are pink, this is personal and pure fluff to try to fix my tortured heart.

The world outside barely existed. The light filtering through the curtains felt softer, the air warmer, the distant clatter of construction dull and unimportant. Everything that mattered was here, wrapped up in the quiet rise and fall of Spencer’s chest beneath your cheek. Your pink sheets tangled around you felt almost too soft, like they might dissolve if you moved too quickly. But you didn’t want to move anyway. Not yet. Please.

His arm was placed gently around your back, and his fingers drew simple circles against your skin. You could feel his heartbeat, steady and rooted, as your breaths gradually came into sync. It was the closest you had ever been to a state of pure bliss.

You moved slightly, just enough to feel him tilt his chin down, to feel him sweep over you with a careful gaze that made you feel completely seen and literally naked. His breath caught, his throat cleared slightly, and you knew what was going to happen before he even tried.

“Don’t even think about asking if it was good,” you murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to his skin. “It wasn’t good. It was perfect.”

You definitely knew him a lot.

His chest shifted under you as a soft, nervous laugh escaped him, breaking the quiet. It wasn’t the kind of laugh that carried confidence or certainty—it was shy, almost unsure, and it made you lift your head slightly to look at him. His cheeks were flushed, a faint pink that spread up to the tips of his ears, and his lips curved in a sheepish smile as he avoided your gaze.

“What’s so funny?” You asked gently, your voice low and curious, tilting your head to study him.

He glanced at you then, his eyes meeting yours for just a second before flickering away again, as though the intensity of the moment made him squirm. His fingers, which had been tracing lazy circles on your back, paused, and you felt him take a breath like he was gathering his words.

“It’s just…” he started, his voice soft, hesitant. “I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that…this is real. That you’re here. That we’re here.”

His words hung between you, vulnerable and raw, and you felt your heart ache with a warmth so deep it was almost overwhelming. You reached up, brushing your fingers along his jaw, coaxing his gaze back to yours.

“Hey,” you said softly, your thumb tracing the curve of his cheek. “I’m here. This is real. You’re finally in my bed, and now I’m probably going to have to figure out how not to smile so much at work.”

A slow, genuine smile spread across Spencer’s face at your words, and for a moment, you both just looked at each other, as if savoring the perfect reality of the moment. He exhaled, his tension easing slightly, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something that hinted at both excitement and uncertainty.

“You think you’re going to be able to hide that smile?” He teased, his voice a little more confident now, but still carrying that softness that made your heart flutter.

“Probably not,” you replied, the hint of a smile tugging at your own lips. “But I’ll try. For the sake of professionalism, of course.” You raised an eyebrow as you added, “It’s not like anyone needs to know I had a…very good moment.”

“Moment?” He smirked, eyes glinting with amusement. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

You bit your lip, feigning innocence as a faint heat rose in your cheeks. “I didn’t want to be too explicit. You might not be able to handle it.”

“Oh, it’s far too late for that,” he quipped, his grin widening into something sly, the corners of his mouth betraying his growing confidence.

It's hard to believe that this is the same shy, awkward boy who, before he started dating you, could barely look you in the eye without stuttering or turning red.

Your eyes narrowed slightly, your tone playful but sharp as you leaned in closer. “Well, aren’t you bold now?” You tilted your head, studying him with mock seriousness. “I think I might have corrupted your innocent soul.”

And in a way you already had. For some reason, you had the genius that everyone told their secrets to because they thought he had no one to air them with, telling everything to you and having to hide his own secrets. Two months of dating and sneaking kisses were under a thousand keys, and no one suspected anything. Thank God.

It was common knowledge, especially for someone like Reid, who could recite all the FBI rules without a problem, that romantic relationships were off-limits between coworkers. Even though you understood the logic from day one and knew that feelings and professionalism could be a dangerous mix, you still couldn't help but fall for someone like Spencer without return.

However, it wasn't your fault. I mean, who wouldn't fall in love with someone they see every day and who is clearly the perfect man? You just blinked, and there you were, already dreaming about him and feeling butterflies every time you heard his nervous laughter or ramblings on different topics. If your team hadn’t noticed the way your gaze lingered a little too long or how you always seemed to brighten when he entered a room, it was pure luck.

“You know,” you began thoughtfully, breaking the silence, “I read something once…about how people can always tell when two people have…slept together.”

Reid tilted his head slightly to look at you, his brows drawing together in curiosity. “Oh?” he asked, his tone both amused and intrigued. “And where exactly did you read that?”

You hesitated for a moment, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious under his gaze. “Um…” you started, biting your lip as your cheeks warmed. “It was in a magazine.”

His eyebrows lifted, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a barely contained smile. “A magazine?” he repeated, the question laced with playful skepticism.

You rolled your eyes, groaning softly as you buried your face in his chest. “Okay, okay, I know. It’s not exactly the kind of reading you’d respect, but I was sixteen, okay? It was one of those random magazines my mom had lying around the house.”

Spencer chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest beneath you. “I’m not judging,” he said, though the amusement in his voice made you peek up at him skeptically. “I just find it fascinating that a teen magazine would tackle…body language.”

Of course, he definitely wasn't the kind of person who read gossip or fashion magazines in his spare time. It was possible to believe that he had never even opened one in his life and had only seen them from afar, hanging next to the newspaper.

You groaned again, pulling a pillow closer as if to shield yourself from his teasing. “It wasn’t exactly a scientific study, okay? It was more like—‘How to Spot When Two People Have Chemistry,’ or something equally ridiculous. But it stuck with me for some reason.”

For some reason? Or because when you were bored, you played at analyzing people and their relationships?

His eyes softened, and though he was still clearly amused, he propped himself up slightly, leaning his head toward yours. “Okay, so tell me—what did this magazine say?”

You sighed dramatically, though you couldn’t keep the grin from your face. “It said people can’t help themselves. They look at each other differently. Their body language changes. The way they smile, how close they stand, the way their energy shifts. It’s like this unspoken, glowing secret, and apparently, everyone can see it.” Especially profilers.

His lips twitched again, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced with something softer. “So, according to this magazine, we’re giving off some kind of…post-coital signal?”

“Oh my, when you put it that way, it sounds even worse.” You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “That's something an old scientist would say.”

He laughed quietly, pulling your hands away so he could see your face. “Hey, I’m just trying to understand you. But I guess I can see the logic in that. People do give away a lot without realizing it.”

You exhaled, relieved that he wasn’t outright laughing at you. “Exactly,” you said, your confidence returning slightly. “And now I can’t stop thinking about how obvious we’re going to be at work. Like, what if everyone knows the second we walk in?”

It's easy to imagine your coworkers looking at you funny as soon as the elevator opens, Morgan making some jokes about your goofy smile, and you laughing in a way that makes it seem like you're not owning up to everything.

He smiled, his expression softening. “Well, if it’s true, then I think it’s more about them noticing how happy we look. Not anything…incriminating.”

“Just tell me, why would you be happy on a Monday morning?” you asked, tilting your head and narrowing your eyes in playful suspicion.

He gave a small shrug, his tone matter-of-fact. “Honestly, for us, is there even a difference? We work almost every day—it’s like weekends don’t exist.”

You chuckled at his answer, the playful spark in your eyes never quite fading. “I guess you’ve got a point here, Dr. Reid. But still, Mondays are supposed to be miserable, right? Isn’t that like, the universal rule?”

“Well, if we’re being honest, I think that’s just a myth. I mean, when you get to spend your weekends like this…” He gestured between the two of you with a light, affectionate movement, “Mondays don’t seem so bad.”

You tilted your head, narrowing your eyes with a teasing smile. “And that’s exactly why everyone’s going to know what we’ve been up to when we show up at work. It’s like you have a neon sign flashing above your head saying, ‘I had an amazing weekend.’”

Spencer chuckled softly, shaking his head as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “I don’t know if that’s true. I think we’re good at keeping things under wraps,” he said, his voice light but carrying that hint of uncertainty.

It was a good argument; he had two months in his favor.

“Just...don't point your feet at me or hug me so closely." You said with surprising seriousness. “The magazine says those are clear signs.”

“I’m not going to do anything that makes you uncomfortable,” he said quietly, his voice gentle and reassuring. “Feet and hugs, noted.”

Wow, he was taking it so seriously that it made you feel tender.

“Maybe we should act like we hate each other, put on a show.” You said, raising an eyebrow, unable to suppress a sly smile.

He gave a gasp, looking confused. “Oh, I’m not much of an actor, but if you want…”

You cut him off with a playful scoff. “It was a joke, sweetheart. I’m not really trying to pull off some dramatic office rivalry.”

“Good,” he replied quickly, his voice almost too serious, “because I don’t know how to act like I hate people I love.”

He…what?

You blinked, stunned. “People you what?” you asked, your tone catching in surprise.

His cheeks flushed a deep red, eyes darting away as though he were trying to escape the weight of his own words. “I…people I love,” he stammered.

You stayed silent, studying him, your gaze softening as the words lingered in the air between you. It was clear that this wasn’t something he said lightly, and his vulnerability made your heart ache in a way that was both comforting and new.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Spencer turned toward you, his eyes meeting yours with a fierce intensity that stole the air from your lungs. His breath was shaky, his words barely more than a whisper, but they struck you like lightning. “I love you,” he said, his voice full of quiet sincerity, each syllable wrapping around you like a promise.

He said it. He really said it.

“You love me,” you whispered, your voice shaky, as if the very sound of those words was too much to fully comprehend. You repeated it, a little louder this time, trying to grasp it, to make it real. “You, Spencer Reid, love me.”

He nodded, his eyes soft but unwavering, the faintest trace of a smile curving on his lips. “I do. Me, Spencer Reid, I love you.”

A soft, breathless laugh bubbled up from your chest, and before you could stop it, the smile that had been lurking there finally broke free. It was impossible to keep it in, not when everything inside you was overflowing with a joy you hadn’t known was possible.

“God…” you exhaled, your heart swelling with warmth. “I don’t think I can hide this smile now.”

The air between you both felt charged, like a fine thread of connection weaving you closer with each passing second. His gaze was soft but unwavering, a silent promise in his eyes that made everything else fade into the background. The gentle rhythm of his breath mingled with yours, and before you knew it, your hand instinctively found the back of his neck, your fingers brushing the soft skin there. You pulled him just a little closer, as if the pull of your desire and your heart was impossible to resist, a gravity stronger than any force you’d ever known.

He shifted beneath you, guiding you to lie on top of him. His hands were warm against your skin, and you could feel his pulse, steady and strong, under your fingertips. Slowly, your lips met in a kiss—tentative at first, as if testing the waters, but it deepened quickly, drawn by the magnetic force of everything left unsaid, all the things you were only just beginning to understand.

“You love me,” you whispered between kisses, the words tumbling out in disbelief, as if the very idea of it needed to be reaffirmed with each touch. “You love me.”

Spencer’s response was immediate, his hands finding your waist and pulling you closer, his lips skimming the sensitive skin of your jaw, his breath hot and urgent against your ear. “I love you,” he breathed softly, the words coming out as a promise, each syllable wrapped in a depth that made your heart ache.

You kissed him again, this time with a softness that felt more vulnerable, more like a question—one you didn’t need an answer to, but you couldn’t help but ask anyway. “You love me,” you murmured, not sure if you were trying to convince yourself or him. But as you pulled him closer, his lips finding yours with a quiet urgency, you knew, deep in your bones, that it was true.

His lips found yours again, this time with a fervor that left you breathless. The kiss was deep, desperate—both of you giving in to the craving that had built up between you, a need so raw and powerful that neither of you could hold back. His tongue swept against yours, slow at first, savoring every moment, every sensation. But the deeper the kiss became, the faster it escalated, a fire starting to blaze where there had once been only a flicker.

“I do,” he whispered, the words coming out in a low, steady stream as his hands slid up your back to cradle your face. His touch was gentle but firm, as if he wanted to hold you forever, as if the very act of touching you was something sacred, something worth cherishing. “I love you, I love you, I love you…”

The repetition of those words stirred something deep inside you, a quiet happiness that blossomed with every echo. You smiled against his lips, your heart swelling with warmth, and for a fleeting moment, you felt invincible, as though nothing in the world could touch you. It was just him and you, here, in this sacred space, and you didn’t care about anything else. Not the noise, not the chaos, not even time itself. Nothing mattered except this, except him.

His hands gently slid the sheet that still covered part of your body, the coolness of his fingertips contrasting with the warmth of your skin, and you couldn't help but shiver at the contact. You responded with a kiss, your lips meeting his in a passionate embrace. His mouth was everywhere: your lips, your neck, your jaw, tasting, exploring, claiming. It was as if time had stopped and there was nothing but the two of you, lost in this world of sensations and feelings.

But then, as if the universe couldn’t bear to let you stay in this blissful bubble for even a moment longer, there was a sudden, sharp buzz. It broke through the air with an almost cruel precision, pulling you both out of the fragile world you had created. You groaned into Spencer’s mouth, breaking the kiss reluctantly, your forehead resting against his. His chest was heaving beneath you, both of you struggling to regain control of your breaths, your bodies still humming with the aftershocks of the kiss.

The buzz came again, persistent, urgent. Your eyes flicked to the phone on the bedside table, and your stomach sank as you saw the name that appeared on the screen: Hotch.

His expression mirrored yours, frustration creeping across his face. “It’s a text…” he muttered, but he didn’t reach for his phone. He simply sighed and buried his face in your neck, the sudden weight of reality settling between you both.

You kissed his forehead softly, your fingers threading through his hair. “Not now…please,” you whispered, as if pleading with the universe to give you just a few more minutes of peace.

He chuckled lightly, but the sound was laced with a hint of frustration. “I’m sorry.”

You gave him a mock frown, but the smile tugging at the corners of your lips betrayed you. “How dare you,” you said with a sigh, unable to fully suppress the warmth in your chest.

Before you could kiss him again, another buzz came—sharp and relentless, interrupting the fragile peace. Spencer groaned, reaching for the phone with a resigned sigh. He checked the message, reading it without making any effort to sit up or pull away from you. You could see the familiar irritation flicker across his face as he absorbed the contents.

“It’s a case,” he said softly, his voice heavy with disappointment. “They need us. Now.”

And just like that, it's time to say goodbye to soft pink sheets and sweet kisses and hello to body language techniques for hiding the memories made in your bed and the fact that Spencer Reid loves you.

[phantomrose96]

I'm thinking about Tumblr Live again and ruminating on WHY it's such a huge flop and I think I've figured it out: They've completely refused to make it a tumblr feature...

By which I mean (begrudgingly goes to unsnooze Tumblr live) this:

^This is meant with zero insult or derision to the people above, but these are absolutely not Tumblr users.

Every single thumbnail I've ever seen for Tumblr live seems to say "This is for clout!" "This is for a thirst trap!" "This is for influencers!" "This is for Tiktok wannabe stars!" "This is for showing your pretty filtered face and reaping what people on Instagram and Tiktok are desperately chasing!"

I'm remembering that Reddit has (or had) livestreams you could tune into like this. I've tapped into some. Ones I remember offhand include:

a guy just wandering around downtown in his city silently showing people the streets and stuff

a guy streaming his attempt to beat the last level of Celeste

a guy streaming his dog he was petting

And that, that was Reddit. That was undoubtedly just regular Reddit users going "oh stream feature? yeah okay. here's my dog." "here's my video game." "here's my street corner in Prague."

And when I think of all the recent successful Tumblr features, they're all things that correctly tapped into actual Tumblr user interests. Blaze had people go "haha yeah here's my dog." "here's my advertisement for a horse lawyer (lawyer who is a horse)." They let us buy crabs because, fuck it, crabs. The blue checkmarks were funny. Polls turned into the fandom brackets people have desperately wanted to make for a decade+. I'd wager the merch that calls on old Tumblr memes is at least decently successful.

If Tumblr Live wanted the chance to be successful, it should have been angled toward Tumblr users. "Here, you can livestream your cat if you want." "You can livestream yourself working on some fanart and chatting." "You can livestream yourself going bird watching because birds are your hyperfixation and you can identify them all by their song to all your followers who want to tune in for bird facts."

But Tumblr Live has never tried to be that. It ONLY seems like it wants to be a Tiktok-clone, Instagram-clone, clout-chaser baited-hook trying to pull converts over from Tiktok/Insta/etc who are trying to grow their influencer brand, which Tumblr is lethally hostile to.

(And ALL of this is only touching on the concept behind what's happening here. I haven't even touched on the third-party streaming service and questionable data protection.)

Like fine, I guess I get it from a business model of trying to grow your userbase--since catering to your existing userbase doesn't pull in new meat. But this will not work. Because anyone, tumblr-native or not, trying to grow themselves as an influencer will NOT find success here. This place is not a place of honor. No highly esteemed deed is commemorated here. Nothing valued is here. What is here was dangerous and repulsive to us. We will not watch your Shein haul stream.