#but i think i desire the feeling of being wanted more than i actually desire him

[twee-lil-paws]

I tried finding anyone in the comments who added any *actual* engagement suggestions to people who don't know how to do anything but say "hi", and could not, so here's to you my socially inexperienced comrades:

Find Common Ground.

the internet has made this incredibly easy, most people readily share information about the things they like, so Say Something about it or Ask them for their opinions. Ideally you want something you share an interest in, but something your curious about that they might be an expert on also does well in a pinch.

Share Something You Think They'd Enjoy

no, not porn. That comes much much later, if at all. This does require you to have some tangential knowledge of a genre of things that your desired conversation partner is interested in, but maybe hasn't shown awareness of yet. Sometimes they do already know about it and then you're just following the previous suggestion, yippee. This can always be done passively after getting to know people too. Everyone loves being reminded that they were being thought about. Be careful not to Info Dump when sharing these new things tho. No one wants to read paragraph after paragraph from a stranger. Which brings me to the next suggestion:

Engage Each Other Equally, and Be Patient

people have other things in their lives other than talking to you. Nothing is more annoying than someone who's impatient for a reply. "Are you still there?" and other similar innocuous quandaries can quick change your recipients perception of you into that of a chore. Sometimes this means what was spoken between you was forgotten, this is normal and ok. Don't let it eat you alive. Enjoy the time you have together when it happens, and find some other shit to do when it's not happening. Try not to over burden your conversation partner with extra dialogue during these bouts either. Many get overwhelmed by their notification numbers going up and up and up and can lead to your responses going unread for a lot longer.

Be Chill, Be Kind

most socially inexperienced people I've run into have this common problem where they get so excited about talking with someone that they start to over think their interactions after actually landing a good one. This is a special tip for you. Everything in the world can become something hopeful or terrifying depending on how you choose to consider them. You can find signs of any kind of potential disaster everywhere you look IF you go looking for them, so don't. You cannot prevent every terrible thing from happening, and hyper vigilance only makes things worse. Focus your effort on enjoying the good things, and mourn the bad when they happen. Listen to how other people say they feel instead of projecting your insecurities about what you worry they feel.

If It Ain't Working, Go Somewhere Else

there are no magic words you can string together to get the target of your affections to pay attention to you if they don't want to. Learn to cut your losses if things don't work out. It's nobody's fault when this happens. A failed conversation is a Neutral occurrence, happens all the time to everyone, so let go & move on elsewhere. There are a STAGGERING number of people in this world, you will most certainly run into others whereby you may try again.

online advice: simply saying ‘hi’ and nothing else isn’t the best opener for messaging a person you don’t know

[gffa]

I'm still trying to navigate my way through the absolute avalanche of Arcane fic, but I am here to scream at everyone about the fics I've loved so far and try to drag a few more of you down into this hellpit of feelings with me. It's nice down here, I promise! Totally normal and with soooo many hinges, nothing off a single hinge here!

JAYVIK RECS:

✦ To love is to risk the soul's quiet by Disguised_Bird, jayce/viktor, NSFW, 32.7k     When an anomaly suddenly transports an older, scarred version of Jayce into the Jayce of Viktor's timeline, the two must navigate the strange collision of past and future while grappling with feelings neither fully understands. As they work late into the night to find a way to send Jayce back, tension turns into intimacy, pushing Viktor to confront vulnerabilities he has spent a lifetime burying.

✦ Say My Name by Acryllic, jayce/viktor, NSFW, eventually post-canon, 77.2k wip     “Tell me now if you don’t want this.” He stroked Viktor’s bottom lip with his thumb, “Keep saying my name if you do.”

✦ This ain't goodbye no more, it just began by SirCumference, jayce/viktor, NSFW, 7.1k     After he and Viktor save the world, Jayce wakes up in his old bed on the day it all started. Things are different, this time.

✦ first times, second goodbyes by tragicperformer, jayce/viktor, NSFW, post-canon, 1.6k     “What do you mean pull out?” He teases, the corners of his lips quirking up into a stupid, dopey grin. “I have separation anxiety.” “Yes, I know,” Viktor intones. “We were just discussing this. It is why I’m currently visiting you, rather than focusing on my duties back in the commune.” “Yeah. And when I pull out, you’re going to leave again,” Jayce rationalizes. Not entirely incorrect. “Just a few minutes. Please, Vik? Let me pretend for a little longer.”

✦ The Threads of Our Mind by Darling_Pigeon, jayce/viktor, post-canon, 3k     Snapshot of Jayce and Viktor’s new life of exploration after the finale: Viktor helps Jayce adjust to his brace, but they discover they may be connected in another, strangely magical way.

✦ Time For Space by yurikazen, jayce/viktor, NSFW, post-canon, 6.6k     First, there’s a wave of blinding light, tearing through the cosmos like a free-falling comet. Then, Jayce opens his eyes to find a smooth, unfamiliar ceiling above his head. (Jayce dies, holding Viktor close to him, yet death is just another beginning.)

✦ two left feet by ChiliCheeseCornDog, jayce/viktor, 4k     Jayce rises from his seat, face set with a soft smile, and holds out his right hand with the palm facing up. “Let me teach you how.” The pause is long and unrelenting. “You are joking,” Viktor manages to say. or: Jayce teaches Viktor how to dance, Piltover-style.

✦ destabilise by antiparticular, jayce/viktor, 3.6k     Jayce was naked and in Viktor's bed. Don't get him wrong - Viktor had dreamed of this happening, both literally and on slow days in the lab when he was feeling particularly self-indulgent, but for it to manifest outside of his overactive imagination? He was half tempted to pinch himself to check he'd actually awoken. Why was Jayce Talis in Viktor's bed? And more pressingly, why did Viktor not remember?

✦ Run It Back Again by Withercrown, jayce/viktor & vander/silco & cast, 18.9k wip     Sometimes there's nothing you can do except scrap the whole experiment and start over. The worst possible outcome becomes an opportunity for a new beginning. Viktor and Jayce, estranged enemies in a brutal war, go back to the start - and then earlier than that. The key to their salvation ends up being an undercity brat named Silco. He's not quite the person they remember.

✦ Electric Desires by abisbookcase, jayce/viktor, NSFW, 1.2k     Viktor gets an important phone call in the middle of sex, and Jayce keeps fucking him roughly, trying to make him slip up while he talks.

✦ Between gears and parties by chaosheadspace, jayce/viktor, 3.6k     "Why do you think it is so hard for people like me to get a footing here?" Viktor asks. "Aside from the obvious classism, of course. I'll tell you. Bureaucracy. Do you know how difficult it is to even find a place to live without a last name up here?” Or: Jayce wants to save his partner some trouble and gets them married on paper.

ZAUNDADS RECS:

✦ Take Me Like You Mean It by Anonymous, vander/silco, NSFW, 2k     Young! Silco and Vander have sex in the alleyway behind the last drop after closing.

✦ Mr Eye of Zaun by limeta, vander/silco & jinx & vi & cast, 28.8k wip     Mylo and Claggor would say there’s nothing that scares Vi. She can dish out punches and evade danger better than anyone. She’s their fearless leader, always ready to take them on a job and back without losing anyone. It’s that level of assurance that they have in her, that confidence she exudes, that makes them trust and believe in her. But they’re wrong. Powder knows there’s something that scares Vi. And that’s because it scares Vander. Or: Silco reads the letter Vander left in the mines and sticks around as a boogeyman in the Last Drop.

✦ let fall the world by perfidiousalbion, vander/silco, nsfw, 4.2k     Or: before it all went wrong, Silco and Vander had something good.

✦ The Lives of Others by Lilbaebloo, vander/silco & ekko & benzo, NSFW, 5.1k     Ekko drops an emotional grenade on Silco and Vander when he brings up their fated night at the river thirteen years earlier. The plunge into the past reminds them both of how far they've come, together and apart, and what they have to keep living for.

✦ The Shore From Which I Fell by ClutchHedonist, vander/silco, NSFW, 1.2k     “I knew you still had it in you.” Silco’s mouth tastes of ash. His tongue, tacky and dry with the suffocating weight of it, threatens to stick to the roof of his mouth as his lips fall shut. He does his best to swallow past the whisper of bruising already blossoming in his throat where Vander’s broad hand has yet again left its mark.

✦ Night Business by spicedrobot, vander/silco, NSFW, rough sex, 2.6k     The rulers of Zaun play a game.

✦ While the world turns around by Blue_Daddys_Girl, vander/silco & jinx & benzo, 8.9k     In a chance meeting Vander sees Silco for the first time since the fateful day he's come to regret so deeply. Silco has changed—they both have. Vander can't stop thinking about him.

TIMEBOMB RECS:

✦ Little Crow by shroomyystar, ekko/jinx, 2.1k     There’s a monster under his bed.

✦ Let's Give It One Last Try by the_whole_shebang, ekko/jinx, post-canon, 12.3k     The war is finally over, and Ekko is finally home, but an old friend has one more favor to ask of him. Jinx found the strength to walk away, but something told her not to let go just yet. Maybe if Vi and Ekko hadn't given up on her yet, then she wouldn't either. Plus, thanks to Ekko, she was starting to think that the past wasn't as set in stone as she though it was.

✦ Let Me Try by Blue_Daddys_Girl, ekko/jinx, post-canon, 4.3k     Ekko walks away from the final battle in a daze after learning that Jinx is dead. Or: An alternate ending to the show, in which she isn't, no matter what Vi believes.

SOMETIMES THE SHIPS AREN'T THE POINT RECS:

✦ wait 'til your sister sees where you've been by QwahaXahn, vi & jinx & cast, post-canon, 12.9k     OR: Jinx falls. The bomb explodes. Everything goes white. ...And Vi wakes up in a different world.

✦ was it the worst you'd never know by Anonymous, jinx & silco, 2.2k     “Fix him,” she demands, voice barely decipherable through the breaking and raspiness from crying. Gentle, gentle, as gentle as Singed knows how to be, which is not very. Jinx will have no qualms killing him if he steps wrong. “He is… very far gone.” And indeed he is. His chest does not rise, and his eyes are vacant. He is gone. “FIX. HIM.” aka jinx refuses to let her father die and brings him to singed. it goes better than expected

✦ Six Weeks Since by argonautoida, jinx & viktor, 2.1k     Six weeks after Silco died, Jinx finally makes a friend.

[aajjks]

RAW (m)

synopsis. Just Toji fucking you angrily from behind.

warnings: èxplícít smüt, ràw sèx, 18+ thèmès, fúckíng fròm bèhínd, ángry fúckíng, hátè fückíng, mèán tójí, únprótèctèd sèx. mdní

note. HAPPYYYY NEWWWW YEARRRRRRRRRRR GUYSSSSS!!!! let’s start this year with nasty filthy smut. lmao I hope this year will be great for us all mentally butttttt if yall follow me? Your year will be the greatest. <33 please re-blog. And follow me hehe

He’s fucking you so hard it hurts your tightening hole.

Toji Fushiguro’s anger and frustrations always have you laying on your stomach as he fucks you from behind, hard and fast as he grips your as, digging his nails into the fragile skin.

He’s been at it for hours, you don’t understand what has got him so frustrated and angry, but you don’t dare to ask him about that because whenever you do, he shoves something into your mouth and gags you.

“nghhh aghhh ahhh!~” you scream into the mattress as he shows your face deeper into the soft bed, his cock feels so hard.

He’s literally splitting you open, you can hear his labored breathing, his groans, the weight of his body is actually too much, he’s so freaking heavy.

He’s always been a muscular and big guy so this is really a struggle for you right now, but it feels so fucking good too.

That is the problem.

“ugh FUCKKK. This tight hole is fucking good.

His language has always been crude and the way he’s fucking you right now. It’s like he’s punishing you, but this punishment is so confusing because it’s pleasurable and yet so painful.

Your boyfriend is a man who is hard to understand, he loves you, but he also fucks you like he hates you.

His dick will probably kill you.

Hes came inside you so many times. It’s dark out at this hour, but he has no intentions of stopping.

“Oh yn- ugh I’m gonna fuckin cum.” He growls, his voice is going throughout the bedroom, the bedroom reeks of smoke sweat, and sex.

Your body feels like jelly. It’s like you have no energy to mutter a single word out. His hips keep working their pace.

It’s so painful.

You want him to stop but it’s impossible when he’s fucking knew so hard that you are seeing stars. You grip on the mattress tighter. He’s pistoning in and out of you.

Toji stands behind you, his eyes burning with unrestrained fury as he glares at your back.

He’s so angry, as he fucks your hole raw.

His hands are balled into fists, fingers digging into his palms.

He’s not angry at you—not directly… but you can feel it radiating off of him, the heat of his frustration simmering dangerously close to the surface.

“You think I don’t know what’s going on?”

he mutters, his voice harsh, like it’s barely holding itself together.

The words aren’t aimed at you, but the way he says them, low, threatening—makes your skin prickle. “You think you can keep pushing me without consequences?”

He steps closer, the air around you tightening as his breath grows heavier. His frustration is palpable, like a storm ready to tear everything in its path.

His voice drops, a growl building in his chest. “I’ve had enough of this shit. Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me?”

He’s so close now, his body looming behind yours, and you can feel the anger and something else, something darker, burning in him.

It’s not just the tension of being forced to hold it in—it’s everything building up that he can’t quite control anymore.

“You’re making me fucking lose it,” he seethes, his voice thick with irritation and raw need.

His hand brushes the small of your back, dangerously close, as if he’s trying to anchor himself in something real. “I don’t know whether to break something or… something else.”

“So gonna fucking break you instead.”

His words send shivers down your spine because you know that he means it and tonight your body is gonna be broken in more ways than one.

His breathing quickens, but it’s not out of desire for you—not entirely. It’s the anger, the frustration spilling over, and he’s taking it out on you, because it’s easier than confronting whatever’s really eating at him.

He’s going to cum again.

You’re driving me crazy,” he mutters, the words sharp and desperate. “And I’m fucking done being patient.”

Every word drips with pent-up aggression, frustration, and an undeniable hunger that mixes with his anger, making him unpredictable and wild.

He has always been unpredictable.

“ASS UP.”

He forces your ass up, angling himself deeper into you as he fucks you both renewed vigor

You’re drooling, he pulls at your hair hard, you’re scalp burns add the sensation, and you let out a yelp of pain, but it changes into a a moan of pleasure as he hits that one particular spot.

“Mhmm yeah you slut admit it you loved me and fucked like this with by me. You know what you are. You are my little fucking doll that I love destroying when I’m angry.”

You mewl, he’s right.

But no words coming out because he’s literally fucking you senseless. And you are loving it.

“This new year better not be shit or else. I’m gonna fucking kill someone.”

[jadeshifting]

i want to shift tonight but i literally haven’t legitimately tried in years. honestly i just want the freaking accomplishment of TRYING at least

if you could give me the most simple mundane steps to even get close to like a relaxation state or feel any symptoms, that would be literally perfect because im a train wreck and i can’t handle complicated instructions

with love,

aves

MY LOVEEE AVES sorry i didn’t get to this until right now, i’m not sure if our time zones are different but i wish i could’ve helped you last night, when you sent this ask i was drunk and eating a gyro on a sidewalk 😔

i completely understand where you’re coming from !! i feel like i have my nighttime routine pretty down, so i’d be happy to give u my lil routine, BUT a couple disclaimers first:

— you don’t need any routine to shift !! sources like early shifttok kept trying to brainrot everyone into thinking they had to do their skincare, clean their room, do their homework, drink a gallon of water, etc etc etc before bed in order to shift. that’s dumb, ignore everyone who said that

— i totally get what you mean when you say you haven’t legitimately tried in years. i fall victim constantly to the “don’t try at all to avoid the disappointment of ‘failure’”, like if i make no attempt at all, then i didn’t fail at anything when i wake up in my CR in the morning

the way i got past this was by “attempting” every night. and i don’t mean laying there and trying to force myself to stay awake while i counted backwards from 100 or anything like that. i mean deep breathing, loosely (BIG emphasis on loosely) visualizing where i’ll be waking up, and telling myself ‘i’m in my DR.’

the first step to the mindset shift is that ‘attempts’ don’t really exist, only whether or not you’ve fully and truly decided you are in your DR

there’s plenty more i could say on this topic, which is farrrr more important than the night routine itself, but i’ll get into what you actually asked for now:

— DRIFT & SHIFT ( a teensy little night routine for the girlies who have a hard time chilling out )

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★⋆. ࿐࿔

( your night routine won’t determine whether or not you shift, but it certainly helps if you’re relaxed, and that’s what this routine is for )

DAYTIME PREP .　　. 　 ˚　. throughout your day, do robotic affirmations. it’s a great thing to get in the habit of doing in general—murmuring to yourself, humming, or just silently repeating them to yourself in your head. “I am shifting every second.” “I am a master shifter.” “I am aware of my desired reality.” “Shifting is less than effortless.” feed your subconscious the important stuff all day, not just at night

1 .　　. 　 ˚　. PHONE ON SILENT — the moment you decide to start winding down and focusing on relaxation. i mean it. not even vibrate. SILENT.

2 .　　. 　 ˚　. HOT SHOWER — i always feel my most relaxed when i crawl into bed after taking a burning hot shower. the sigh you let out when you’re squeaky clean and wrapping yourself in your comforter means you’ve reached an entirely new plane of relaxation

3 .　　. 　 ˚　. STRETCHING — you don’t even need a yoga mat, you can do it once you’re already laying down. alternatively, you don’t even have to stretch, just systematically go through each of your body parts and make a point to relax them. regardless of which you do, the objective is to release any physical tension from the day. sink into your bed like you’re being pulled down into a cloud

4 .　　. 　 ˚　. SOUNDTRACK — put on something in the background, it truly doesn’t matter what—whatever feels right. it could be positive frequencies, a subliminal for shifting, ambient sound that connects you to your DR (hogwarts common room ambiance, forest or ocean sounds, etc. i’ve found some real gems on youtube before), or just soft music playing. quiet enough so it doesn’t distract you, and you can sink into it

5 .　　. 　 ˚　. SCENTTRACK — my reasoning for spraying various perfumes, lavender blend sleep sprays, or body mists before i go to sleep isn’t just for relaxation, it’s also for distraction. in my experience, if something in my environment is different when i’m laying down to sleep (a different smell than i’m used to, for example) makes it much easier to convince myself that i’m aware of another reality—which is the name of the game, really: believing it

6 .　　. 　 ˚　. DEEP BREATHS — my favorite part, and the most important part. nothing in the whole world will get you more relaxed than laser-focusing in on your breathing—in, out, in, out. you’re already in your DR

let go of the pressure and let yourself float into that in-between state where dreams and reality start to blur

goodnight, shifter. sweet dreams and even sweeter DRs :^)

.　　. 　 ˚　. this guide is for anyone, but this DISCLAIMER IS FOR AVERY MY DEAR SPECIFICALLY — you get in your head about this sort of thing and overthink it. no tip or trick or routine is the “secret” to shifting. your mindset and your affirmations are the key, here. i hope this guide helps you relax for bed before shifting, but what you should be focusing on is tending to your precious subconscious and its tightly held beliefs. you’ve already shifted 🫶

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★⋆. ࿐࿔

[theshiftingwitch]

Self concept for the new year

This time of year is always exciting! It feels like a new beginning, a fresh start where you get to leave everything that didn't work behind and look ahead for better days to come.

You're most likely done with your vision boards, your lists, your goals and wishes and dreams, and you're excited for that clock to strike midnight.

Whether you're celebrating alone in your room or surrounded by friends and family, you could probably feel the tension in the air, the arrival of new opportunities, new hope, and new beginnings. It's almost electrifying! And while the sensation is definitely not new, it is fleeting.

By January 5th we go back to the mundane cycle of life. Our new years resolutions become a crumpled list collecting dust on some shelf somewhere while we drown in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

But not you.

No.

You know better.

You have more tools in your disposal than most people do.

You know about the law of assumption!

Ah, I can hear it already.

"But, my dear witch, I have spent most of 2024 trying to manifest my dreams and I left the year the way I started it: Disappointed and deflated. Why would 2025 be any different?"

It is different, my little firecrackers! Because this year, you're actually going to get everything you have ever wanted and more.

How? Simple! You already have it.

I can see you looking around. The 3D is not conforming, you're noticing all of the lack and the negativity and you're wondering how do you have it if you can't see it?

That's where self concept comes to play.

Look, whether you want to admit it or not, self concept is THAT girl ✨

is it necessary to manifest? No, but my god does it help!

If you believe that you are the creator of your reality, that you are the most powerful being, that you are worthy and deserving of your desires and that you're the universe in ecstatic motion, why wouldn't you get everything you could possibly want?

You have to hold yourself in high regard. You have to believe in your own power. You have to love yourself madly, deeply, unconditionally, that you refuse to settle for anything less.

You have to be defiant.

You desire. You decide. You deliver. You receive.

How to work on your self concept:

•Mirror work: stand in front of your mirror and look into your eyes. Choose one or two affirmations and say them out loud while you keep eye contact with yourself. Do that for at least 5 minutes every day.

•Robotic affirmations: Again, pick one or two affirmations and repeat them for as long as you can as often as you can. Dedicate some free time during the weekend (or whenever you have a couple of hours) and do a saturation session in which you repeat your chosen affirmations nonstop (in your head) for hours on end. You'll love the results.

•Subliminals: pick one you like and loop it as you're falling asleep. Let it play all night. Your conscious mind might be asleep but your subconscious is awake and listening, and subliminals are a great tool to impress your new state onto your subconscious mind.

•Live in the end: picture the person you want to be. Who would you be if you were the person who had all of their desired now? Think like them, talk like them, walk, eat, drink, breathe, dress like them. They are you. You are them. Act like it.

Whether you're manifesting an SP, money, success, fame, desired appearance or a different life altogether, self concept is one of the most powerful tools to aid in your manifesting journey. Think in your favor, decide you're worthy of everything good and beautiful, and remember who you are. Take people off the pedestal you belong on and reclaim your power.

Make 2025 different. You deserve to be happy!

Happy manifesting ❤️

[rifari2037]

What , Do you like About Zuko X Katara and Aang and Toph .

There are too many things I love about Zutara and Taang, I've probably talked about them in my previous posts a lot. But, there are some similarities between Zutara and Taang that I like.

Zutara and Taang look sooo good together, I mean, look at them!

2. Zutara and Taang donn't get along when they first meet, but later become very good friends and partners.

3. Zutara and Taang have opposite elements, but they are balanced and complement each other

"Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire, will, and the energy to achieve their goals"

Katara has a fire inside her. She has power and always tries to achieve her will. She's not afraid to fight someone more skilled than her, such as Pakku and Hama. She is also not afraid of the Fire Nation soldiers when helping Haru and the villagers of Jang Hui River.

"Water is the element of change..."

Zuko has the water inside him. Zuko's main arc is redemption, he goes from being an enemy to being a good friend. He changes.

That shows how they can balance each other.

Also, I love how Zuko learns martial techniques from all the elements (he used them all in Agni Kai), but he often uses water techniques in the series.

"Air is the element of freedom"

Freedom is what Toph wants and needs. Aang offers Toph freedom. Aang is also Toph's first friend, she even tells Aang her feelings and shows him the abilities she hides from others.

"Earth is the element of substance"

Toph is the one who teaches Aang to be tough and stand his ground. That's all Aang needs to get out of his comfort zone.

That shows how they need each other.

Also, I love how Aang as the avatar can use all the elements, but earth is the element he uses the most after air.

4. Zutara and Taang have deep connection towards each other that build their chemistry.

Zutara are the reincarnation of Oma and Shu. The story, the symbols, even the colours of their clothes, all show the connection between Zutara and Omashu.

Aang and Toph have a connection, that's shown in episode The Swamps. In that episode, Huu explains how the swamps gives visions of people who are connected to someone.

Huu : In the swamp, we see visions of people we've lost, people we loved, folks we think are gone. But the swamp tells us they're not. We're still connected to them. Time is an illusion and so is death.

Sokka and Katara see a vision of their past, someone they've lost and they love most. Yet, Aang the only one who sees someone in the future.

But, how if Toph is actually someone in Aang's past? How if she is the reincarnation of Avatar Kuruk's lover?

I really love this theory!!!

And even if Toph isn't the reincarnation of Avatar Kuruk's lover, the swamp still show a connection between Aang and Toph when he sees the vision of her.

And they're still connected when Toph decided to live in the same swamp where Aang first sees her in her old days.

5. Zutara and Taang's disguise are matching. Zutara represent the spirit world meanwhile Taang represent physical world.

6. Zutara and Taang have similarities of how they meet the original source of their element.

Zuko and Katara never meet the original source of their elements until they set off their journey with the Avatar. And the way the Avatar meets them seem so magical.

Meanwhile, Aang and Toph have met the original source of their element and have been friend with them since they were little.

7. Zutara and Taang crumbs in NATLA make me love them even more!!! Look at them wore their colour!!

I can't wait to see them in the next season!

[klysanderelias]

@kitabasis so this is one of the posts I was thinking of, there's more context I can't remember how to find but basically the core premise of the argument is that a lot of western fantasies end up recreating a lot of these sort of ideas - stardew is the big one in my mind though because as much as it can be read as an anticapitalist text (and I think that's definitely part of the intention) there is still a lot of libertarian and reactionary ideas embedded in there -

I want to reiterate that I LIKE stardew, and I think in general anything reactionary is unintentional, but it's hard not to draw those comparisons - especially given that you start as an established landowner inheriting a plot of land that you have to 'reclaim' from the 'wilderness' and of course because it's a 'cozy' sort of game, there's no concerns about crop rotations, ecology, etc, and yeah there's a homeless guy but actually he's just weird and LIKES being homeless and digging out of trash cans so it's not like you have to actually reckon with that

Which is being a little reductive but illustrates the overall point - a lot of these fantasies are based around the American Dream ideal of getting married and having 2.5 kids in your single-family home and often it completely sidelines the work you do, or it turns it into something optional, or something that's so much fun it's not really work at all, and at some point if you were to attempt to translate the things happening in-game to a realistic framework you'd have to be a millionaire with passive income in order to make it work.

And as a white guy living in the US, I definitely understand how people get there! That's what we've been sold all our lives, and that plays into our understanding of the world. The problem is that it's whitewashing a lot of the underlying structure of that fantasy - if you're selling cash crops in stardew, hell if you're selling ANY crops in stardew, who are you selling them to? What are the ecological ramifications of the choices you're making? What are the economical ramifications of flooding the market with cauliflower, or coffee, etc? Stardew leans into automation more than anything else but farming absolutely relies on an underclass of cheap labor - either that's migrant workers, or impoverished locals, or in the older days that's why you'd have like ten kids. And of course it's not even mentioning the mines and other dungeons in stardew, and the weird implications of the shadow people and dwarves.

And I don't think it'd be impossible to address those concerns - you can decorate a condo in a 50-unit building as much as the inside of a house, and instead of landscaping your owned land it could be public cleanup or a community garden, and there's enough things out there that gamify boring drudge work like retail so you could do little minigames for your shift at the factory or whatever, but the core issue is that it's hard to sell that as a fantasy - putting aside 'number go up' as an inherent part, a lot of the fantasy is no longer being beholden to anyone, no longer being able to be told what to do or given limitations on your desires. And that's just not... I mean, it's realistic, in the sense that there are definitely people who get to do that, but not only are those people few and far between, they're also kind of the major drivers of human suffering partially because they get to do whatever they please.

And also like, there's a certain point where trying to construct a utopian game genre to make you feel comfy isn't really a valuable desire? At least in my mind. There's too much designed to absolve us of all those uncomfortable back-of-the-mind things, too much out there trying to cover up things like child slavery and the povertization of nations for US luxury, and I just don't think it's worth trying to create a game that focuses on calming our guilt without actually addressing it or changing the underlying causes.

But also I think it's important to critically examine the media we consume to see what sort of things it promotes and reinforces, partially just because I think good media rewards that, and because often it's easy to miss fascist or racist or homophobic etc undertones as both the audience and the creator and speaking as a white guy from the US, there's a lot of stuff that I can enjoy uncritically simply because it's tailored to my cultural expectations that is actually deeply fucked up to basically anyone else, and it's important for me to be able to recognize and address that privilege.

Also also I have a brain disease and I am unable to stop thinking about things period so even the barest interest in a thing can cause me to spend hours turning it over in my head over the sputtering grease fire of my brain

I love calling shit wehrbauer this is because so much liberal/leftliberal/anarchist shit is wehrbauer shit. oh everyone will live on a harmonious developed yet rural commune/settlement where they will be a self sufficient petite bourgousie farmer, who sells their crops at market to other petite bourgousie farmers? and theyll live in a spacious single family home? maybe the whole ocmmunity will be based entirely on their extended family structure? will they work in communal self defense and justice too? will every commune have a theater and everyone will get to have cheap luxury cars too?

[delulustateofmind]

OMG, your fic "This is Love, Right?" was really good. I have a feeling that Geto never truly loved Y/N, at least not as a lover, and neither did Gojo, because it seems to me that Y/N was only important to him until Geto came into the picture. After Geto's arrival, their whole dynamic changed, and Y/N ended up becoming a third wheel and broodmare in the relationship, where they hardly respect or love her as much as they do each other. I just want to know your point of view on the dynamics of their relationship and your perspective on my thoughts about them.

TW: Toxic Relationship, Abuse of Power Dynamics, Discussion of Yandere Behaviors.

Ahhh! thank you! Good question, your perspective is pretty spot on!

Okay, so... long story short, they think they love the reader.

Like, they legit believe this is what love feels like. But their version of love? It’s nowhere near healthy. It’s suffocating, built on possession and this obsessive need to have the reader rather than actually supporting or understanding them. The whole dynamic is super toxic. Satoru and Suguru on their own? They never really could click (Awful at communication). They were always missing that bridge to hold them together—and that’s where the reader comes in. But instead of just letting things naturally work, they basically force the reader into their lives, shaping them to fit their desires and deepen their bond with each other.

Suguru didn’t even think he’d love the reader at first. In the beginning, it was all part of the long game (getting Satoru to kill the higher ups or convincing him to defect). I mean, his daughters were executed just so he could crawl back into jujutsu society (thanks to the higher-ups, who basically had him "finish" the mission of the night he defected). So, at first, Suguru was just talking to Satoru, saying he couldn’t understand how he could date a non-sorcerer, blah blah blah. Then Satoru invited him into the relationship. Suguru figured, why not use this as a way to make the reader’s life hell? He couldn’t wipe out all non-sorcerers, but he could make their life miserable while getting his boyfriend back.

But then… he started to fall for them—or at least, his version of love. Over the years, though, he’s gotta remind himself at night that he does love them. His love is all about manipulation and control. He’s sneaky about it, isolating the reader emotionally and planting little seeds of guilt and doubt to make them more compliant. He’s so good at twisting things that the reader ends up questioning their own thoughts and decisions. Suguru’s "love" isn’t about genuine connection; it’s about dominance. It’s his way of keeping a piece of Satoru through the reader, not because he’s actually emotionally attached to them. Oh, he knows he can’t have kids with Satoru, so you’re spot on about the reader basically being a broodmare in his mind.

I think though once the reader pops out a few kids, he does grow to love them, especially if they produce sorcerers for him. So good luck ever trying to leave the clan estate, because when he does actually love he's literally insane (the type of insane to clip your Achilles tendon, not permanent but may affect your walking ability)

Satoru, on the other hand, does love the reader—but in this super selfish, messed-up way. Originally, they were just a rebound for him. (In part one, the reader had met Suguru before and had a tiny crush on him—it’s mentioned briefly.) When Satoru should’ve been working on himself, maybe going to therapy or dealing with his issues? Nah, he was pouring all that emotional baggage into the reader instead. His love is intensely possessive. To him, the reader isn’t their own person—they’re more like an extension of himself, someone who exists to make him feel better and meet his emotional needs.

This whole thing started way before Suguru joined the picture. The reader actually almost left Satoru once, and honestly? They probably should’ve, probably would have had a better ending. But Satoru used his charm and playful personality to reel them back in, all while hiding this super manipulative streak. And yeah, he cares about them—like, when the reader ran away, this man was ready to hollow-purple the entire airport. Suguru had to step in and talk him down, suggesting they go back to the clan estate instead. But at the end of the day, Satoru’s love is still selfish. It’s all about making himself happy and avoiding his own pain, with the reader’s needs coming in second—if at all.

And just for fun, I don’t think the reader even understood what love was. That’s the thing with a lot of people who end up in toxic relationships like this—they convince themselves that this is the love they deserve. So, while the reader is being manipulated and undermined, she has to keep telling herself, “This is love.” She’s not being openly abused—she’s still allowed to go to school (a little ounce of freedom), and it’s not like they’re yelling at her or anything. Arguments would’ve been relatively calm, with Suguru usually taking the lead and doing most of the talking.

Because of all that, the reader may be confusing dependency for love. She relies on Satoru and Suguru for financial support, for safety (even if it’s a twisted kind of safety), and for emotional stability. In her mind, she’s thinking, “This is a good relationship.” That’s why it was so hard for her to leave, even when she had a real shot at it. She keeps justifying staying by focusing on the good times instead of the bad ones. It’s less about actually feeling love and more about clinging to the idea of it.

So, in summary: Do they love the reader?

Yeah… but it’s not the good kind of love. Like most toxic relationships, their love is super conditional and unhealthy. It’s not about the reader’s happiness, growth, or well-being—it’s about how the reader fits into their lives and fulfills their needs. To them, this is love, but it’s a love that lacks a lot of fundamentals like respect, freedom, and equality.

Sorry! I rambled quite a bit lol

[wolfofcelestia]

oh i agree. i think he’s very emotionally intelligent and very secure in his masculinity. even when they threatened to curse him as a kitty forever he was so unfazed because he literally couldn’t care less if he had to intimidate other underworld crime bosses with a fluffy tail and pointy ears.

he even walked out accidentally with a funny face mask MC bought for him and couldn’t care less about how people were staring 😂

but yeah he’s very self aware and just… very gentle. sylus gives me the impression of a person forced into a life they never wanted to live due to circumstances. and he’s so respectful of every person from every walk of life because he sees the complexities of society and socioeconomic backgrounds/unsavoury conditions.

like he’s always the first to be like “the N109 zone isn’t just a place for degenerates. it’s a place of business. if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you” every time MC assumes people in these areas are just all slimy criminals. he calls out her prejudice in a very gentle way because he understands that most people in these parts of the city are victims themselves and are just trying to survive (reminds me of gotham)

even in abyssal chaos you can tell he has a deeper understanding on vagrant’s land and has respect for the way the people there live their lives and doesn’t judge or see things in a superficial manner. and challenges MC’s prejudice towards the people living there in what i’m guessing are “slum-like” areas? it’s so “politically informed and educated” of him honestly haha. he’s kinda like the morally grey people’s princess. he isn’t a hero but he does care for the innocent and wants to help the underprivileged. he never punches down. he only ever challenges corrupt people in power.

i’m excited to see what more there is to his story. how he became a crime boss and why. because seeing his personality, it feels kinda unlikely that he’d choose this path willingly. he talks about being tired of power struggles and bloodshed too much to actually want this, so my guess is he’s trying to stay at the heart of intel by running the N109 zone himself so he can stop the crime from within. he’s always been at odds with the judicial bodies so he’d rather die than be a cop. so he’s low-key a vigilante of sorts from what i see. but he’s also so reluctant to admit that he actually cares and seems to frame everything as selfish when it’s obvious he just likes helping people. hes so intriguing to me.

He strikes me as someone who fell into the role of being a big name in the N109 zone because he wanted to help those who were wronged, like he was, if you take his myth as canon. He has the strength to do it, so he uses his strength to shield those weaker than him. And if it means taking the brunt of the law, he would do that too, because as we've seen, he can easily escape. His evol and his aether core allow him to do things normal people would never be able to do, so he lends his power to help those less fortunate

His imposing figure and his willingness to help make him the perfect leader for a group that feels more like family as opposed to a rank and file organization. In the cafe, he asks you to rate your interactions with him and I feel like he would do the same with Onychinus, giving them surveys to keep tabs on what's going well and what needs to be improved

Even if he implies MC is the only one who cares about him, I feel like all of Onychinus would happily sacrifice themselves if he ever needed protection tbh. He was the one who took them in, treated them well, and protected them, and they would give him everything in return

Him being on the wrong side of the law fits into his desire for freedom. And some things just can't be done within the confines of the law. After all the injustices he's seen and experienced first hand, I don't think he has any respect for the law whatsoever, so he does what he believes is right to do what needs to be done. He's definitely a vigilante or at least an antihero

Sylus still needs more of his free 4* companions and anecdotes. Not to mention more 4* cards for him in general, so hopefully we'll see more sides to him in version 3!

[evieelyzabethh]

hiii i was wondering if you could do platonic Mel x reader headcanons? (like theyre friends and reader is on the council???)

thank youu and have a lovely day💗

omggg thank you! i always worry that everyone skips the mel sections. there is not nearly enough love for her, and she is literally my fav character

Contrary to popular belief, Mel is not a cold person in the slightest. She is certainly a bit hesitant to affection and softness, but it isn't unwelcome. When she first arrived in Piltover, freshly cast out by her own mother for her aversion to violence, she is very off balance. You don't become the richest person in Piltover in such a short period of time by being friendly, wealth is won through strategic kindness and an ability to play the long game.

It would be hard to crack that exterior at first, partially because she expects that everyone else is playing the same game she is. She thinks that the friendship is less soft and more professionally symbiotic. You scratch her back, she scratches yours kinda thing. And it's no reflection of who she thinks you are, she's not even aiming to form any personal judgements or get to know you outside of work, but politics is a performance. How genuinely you play your role is of little importance to her, as long as it benefits you both.

This being said, you are far more tolerable than the rest of them. Besides actually being her age, she respects the approach you have, you are always forthright with your goals, even if the plans you have to achieve them are under the table. You're consistent and she appreciates this. Though she understands the charade of smiles and civility, she knows that most of these people don't care about much other than keeping things exactly the way they are.

Early on in her journey in Piltover she doesn't care much about the fate of the Zaunites, this isn't her home, and that instability is one she is largely ignorant to and doesn't believe it's her responsibility to fix. She does want change. Is this desire to make waves to prove a point to her mother overseas, initially yes, but the point still stands that she wants to do something. That may be what she likes about you most. Not only that you want change, but you want it for yourself. You are here to represent your family, but you are so much more than a name. She admires that you want a legacy of your own, that your morals are your own, that your goals work toward a vision that you dreamt.

While she has Elora to remind her of home, she has you to help build her future in Piltover and figure out what she actually wants. As she warms up to you, you have somewhat of a mentor/apprentice type relationship, though far less formal. Besides teaching her of the culture, what happens in the Undercity, and your personal thoughts and opinions on the cycles of violence, you learn about Noxus. You learn about all the places she'd want to take you to, the difference in politics, how much more aggressive it is.

Mel is someone who usually keeps a calm and cool exterior but being friends with you allows her to break it down. Especially after days where she begins to wonder what she's even doing here, days where she just feels like a pawn still being moved around the board by her mother. She's good at the politics, but it's tiresome, still having to constantly play by someone else's rules. It dawns on her when you are the only person she can think of while sobbing alone in her all to big room that maybe you aren't just some work acquaintance.

Now that the very long introduction is out of the way, Mel is such a hugger. She is very physically affectionate; it's her way of catching up on all she missed out with her mom. She's the type to cradle your head in her hands and rub your back

She is also the 'break up with your boyfriend' friend. If your partner is not giving you what you deserve, she really doesn't see the point in continuing the relationship. She is truly baffled by the excuse 'but we've been together for x years, I can't leave them'. YES YOU CAN! AND YOU SHOULD! People are replaceable, she does not believe in remaining in the company of those you don't like, especially if it doesn't benefit you.

She was also robbed of a traditional sort of girlhood, so she adores those kinds of hangouts. So many sleepovers, except instead of junk food and soda, its wine and fancy charcuterie boards. Self-care nights involve super expensive skincare and a terrible movie playing. If you two get drunk enough, you may even get into a pillow fight and leave the room covered in down feathers and empty satin pillow covers.

Assuming she's still dating Jayce, you definitely know a bit too much about him. It's very hard looking him in the eye after being told about the time she caught him shirtless in a stupid pair of heart covered boxers.

She gifted you one of her paintings for your birthday one year and almost cried when you started crying. Her art was always more of a hobby to air out her big emotions and her heart practically bursts with happiness every time you enter a room. You hang it right over your bed for protection in your dreams and it makes her beam with pride that you love it so much.

She is also such a good gift giver in general. I think she'd be super into journaling and would have like a million of those things, one of them dedicated to her friends and their interests.

Speaking of her journals, I think she'd have one for different goals. For example, one for all the books she wants to read for the year and dedicated pages to rank them and give her opinions. Maybe one for all the places she wants to visit one day. You two would totally swap books and have a friendly competition with your reading goals

[drdemonprince]

I'm the writing on exes anon. For more context, I already wrote it, about messy-ex-friend/high-school-crush/the-song-Mastermind and right now it's sitting in the blog drafts while i decide its fate. So I've been talking this through with some friends and I think what i've landed on is an agreement that;

1. What I wrote isn't really about her, specifically. Her role in it is kinda... fungible. It's more about how little I know, how degraded my memory of her has become, saying very, very little about the actual real person. One friend said "you express that’s it’s more so the idea of her than actually her and you want to forget" and another described it as "a pretty valid diaristic confessional that is way more heavily weighted on the intense feeling of love or even the idea of it".

2. This is something i'll need to reckon with for a while but i have this really desperate desire to feel seen. Not sure what's up with that. Working that problem will take a while, and maybe eventually i'll regret being so open online but right now idk. Idc. I want to archive and document myself. Write myself down. Not in a self destructive way, i kinda just wanna feel real and i use writing to do that

I probably will regret it. But I think i'm going to do it anyway. Thank you, internet author man

If you'll forgive the histrionics, It sounds like you have the soul of a writer in you! I think you should continue listening to that feeling and writing about your experiences and your views on them. it is a life that has its perils but it's also brought so many people closer to me and helped me sort out who I am. Your question reminds me of what it was like to feel unheard and to have words absolutely clawing their way out of me back when I started this lil tumblr blog. :)

[randomthefox]

So if sonic is someone selfishly selfless what does that make charcaters like shadow silver metal sonic and eggman

Eggman is just selfishly selfish lol. He's just as simple as Sonic in that regard. It's all about him. The world is his toy box and everyone in it is a toy he can play with, break, and discard at his whim. I sometimes feel like Eggman might not be aware that anyone else is even really a person at all compared to him. I think he views himself as the only living thing on the planet who's existence is valid. Everyone else is only alive by virtue of convenience. While Sonic lives for himself to the benefit of others, Eggman lives for himself to the expense of others.

Metal Sonic is kind of neither when you think about it, since he has no "self" to be less or ish. He has no free will or desires of his own. He exists purely and entirely to serve Eggmans ambitions, at his own expense. The only time he acted against Eggman was when he was upgraded to Neo Metal Sonic and pulled off a Mewtwo "we wanted to create the worlds strongest pokemon and we succeeded" where he was TOO GOOD at what Eggman was programming him to be. Even then, he wasn't acting out of his own desires, he was acting purely to fulfill what Eggman had instilled in him to do.

Shadow iiiiisssss interesting because it's kind of a combination, he's motivated by Maria's wishes which is selfless but even that in and of itself is sort of selfish? Like he doesn't care about saving the world or its people for its own sake, he just wants to heed the final words of a dead person who he's supposed to have move on from by now. It's kind of a tangled knot. I struggle to actually put how I interpret it into words. His acts are selfless but his internal motivation is selfish? I guess that's sort of the same thing as Sonic, it's just a lot more complicated. Which kind of describes Shadow in general, doesn't it?

Silver wants to be selfless, but he's too selfish to actually pull it off. He's too naive and inexperienced to be properly aware of other peoples perspectives and feelings. If he feels he is In The Right, then he will be fully and totally dedicated to what he's doing and if anybody gets in his way then from his perspective they're willfully being an obstruction to justice. It doesn't occur to him that other people might feel differently than he does, or even that they won't know things that he does know, and legitimately cannot understand why somebody wouldn't believe that he's telling them the truth if he tries to clue them in on his goals. He WANTS to bring about hope for the future and help people, but he gets tunnel vision and ultimately ends up hurting others in pursuit of that.

That would be how I'd describe them at least, going by that paradigm.

[dekariosclan]

Dear Dekariosclan, (I drafted this before Midwinter lol)

Thank you for blessing Galemancers constantly with your witty and poignant insights! I'm here to join the pilgrimage with some kinky thoughts, and would like to place this Ask in your hands🤲 Of course, only if you feel comfortable answering it.

——— 18+ / mature ask below ———

Related but seperate scenario 1:

Perhaps a relatively shy Tav who wasn't too good at addressing their desires, and Gale noticed his practiced tongue etc. were received with love but a hint of unspoken something. One day, maybe it was some special occasion like an anniversary and Gale has prepared a new set of grand gestures to wow his love, when Tav finally worked up the courage to be like, "Actually...all I wanted is to...try sticking things in your butt...

...

...Youknowwhatnevermind--"

Related but separate scenario 2:

Now, what if this time it's a Tav that has some hard-core kinks, receiving or giving. They know Gale is not into pain and degrading stuff (from the Goblin Camp interaction) way before they started a relationship, so they keep it to themselves well even when they are lovers, never mentioning it once.

But Gale notices that Tav did daydream, or read, or even write/draw about it (and may or may not involve daydreaming Gale in these scenes).

What do you think he'll do??

Thanks for reading this long-ass Ask, have a nice day! I would like to draw something for you in return as well XD

This ask is from the wonderful @inglorionamy-ammy! (I had to resubmit it as an anon because tumblr messed up the formatting of the original submission for some reason).

So, Ammy has given me a cheeky Gale question! Hopefully my answer takes the cake…

For scenario 1, How would Gale respond to Tav’s shy/embarrassed ask?

Here’s the thing: Gale wants nothing more than to shower his beloved Tav in love and affection. He strives to give them the pleasure that they desire, he wants to give them ‘sensations beyond reckoning,’ he wants to ‘wow’ them.

I firmly believe that he reaches his own heights of pleasure from pleasing his partner to the best of his ability. Not only because ‘generosity is a noble virtue’ as he so memorably put it, but because much like his skill as a wizard, he takes pride in his skill as a lover.

And in addition to all that—he likes to be adventurous with his beloved! He likes to explore new cultures, new experiences, new knowledge. Therefore, new sensations—especially potentially stimulating/pleasurable ones—Gale would consider with a very open mind. (As he himself says: it’s one of his finest qualities.)

Now, how would he react to Tav’s flustered admission?

I think, after the first few seconds of Gale blinking and processing and realizing exactly what was being asked (which he would understand quite quickly; he would already have knowledge on this subject from books he’d read) he would be intrigued.

I think beads would be a real possibility for Gale to agree to; the potential for heightened pleasure while making love to Tav would be a win/win in his mind. And of course, he would sweetly and lovingly help Tav through their initial shyness in order to discuss it with them further.

I am sorry/not sorry for this, but I can see him taking this opportunity to say something that is both completely ridiculous and, at the same time, 100% straightforward. Something with a dash of his clever Gale wordplay added in. Something like: “My love, please elaborate on what sort of derring-do you desire for my derrière?”

Which, of course, would work wonders to help Tav open up fully about their desires.

Scenario 2: How would Gale respond to a Tav who had more hardcore tastes/desires?

Now this scenario is really tough, because I do think Gale has some firm boundaries on what he will and will not do for sex and erotic play.

As you mentioned, he is a firm ‘no’ on receiving pain as seen in the Goblin Camp. He’s also a firm ‘no’ on adding other partners (the terribly uncomfortable drow scene solidified that, imho).

But I also believe he would refuse to do anything harmful or degrading to Tav—even if they desired it.

He would not judge them negatively for their tastes at all!—he would apologetically reassure them of that—but I can’t see him agreeing to do anything by his own hand that would leave bruises or gashes on Tav’s skin. He also wouldn’t wish to do anything degrading to them, be it physical or verbal.

At most, I could see him agreeing to LIGHT playful spanking, and perhaps some firm scolding in Githyanki tongue (or any gruff-sounding language). I can’t see him agreeing to choking Tav—even lightly—at all.

However! As I mentioned in the first scenario, Gale really does want to give Tav the pleasure they desire. And so I think he would try to figure out a way to put his amazing illusion skills to work to conjure or create a scenario for Tav that they would enjoy, perhaps with a non-sentient image of himself. That way Gale could still adhere to his own firm boundaries of not allowing even the slightest lasting harm to come to Tav (regardless of what Tav would choose to have happen in the illusion) while still giving Tav what they wanted.

And, as a bonus—during their next lovemaking session I’m sure Tav would repay him very, very generously for his ingenuity.

Thanks for the ask Ammy! And you’ve already drawn me this amazingly sweet piece! I couldn’t ask for anything more, it’s perfect! 💜

[bardic-tales]

Sephiroth xReader: A brief respite

So, I have been either laid up in bed or on my computer watching cat videos and the like since I have been diagnosis with RSV days ago. Last night was the first day I felt well-enough to interact with anyone, but being stuck in bed is boring. So, I wrote this.

Please excuse any typos or tense changes, as my temp was like 101.8F when I wrote this: from a fevered dream I had and a scribbled note on it in my dream journal. Setting is some time during SOLDIER. Reader (who is me lol) is his love interest and sick as a dog. But it can work for anyone. I try to leave it genderless and raceless so everyone who is or might be sick can feel some sense of comfort. If you ignore the mention of my actual illness in the first paragraph, I am sure it could work with a cold or flu?

Rated: General. There are mentions of illness

Pairing: Sephiroth x genderless reader

The faint glow of the bedside lamp illuminates the room, casting soft shadows across the wall and resembled monsters with endless wings. You lie there: bored and sore. Your chest is tight and throat raw. Your breath comes in shallow, labored wheezes. The oppressive weight of RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus - lingers in your lungs and every movement feels like a monumental effort.

Sephiroth sits nearby in a simple wooden chair. His long silvery-grey hair cascades over his shoulders and down his back, pooling off the furniture. The dim light catches the metallic sheen of his pauldrons, and the faint reflection of green materia - healing materia - glimmers on his belt. His bright cyan eyes are focused entirely on you. Their cat-like pupils narrowed slightly with concern and a bit of frustration.

You have refused to let him heal you with his magic: or even take the edge of the pain. You view it as abnormal and wanted a more natural way of healing. So, you lay there. Sweat covered your body in a fine sheen.

"You need to drink more water," he says. His voice is calm and steady with the usual softness that he used with those he cared about. He reached out, offering you a cool glass of water.

You nod -- a weak nod as the simple act of sipping is exhausting -- but it was a nod, non-the-less. He watches you closely, your silent sentinel. The professional he's known for in SOLDIER is tempered here by something more tender, and dare you think more personal.

"I made something for you while you were asleep," Sephiroth says after a moment. He stands. His coat flows behind him as he crosses the small space to the table under the window. When he returns, he's holding a steaming bowl.

Pumpkin soup.

The rich orange color is inviting. As the aroma wafts towards you. It was comforting and familiar. He never really explains to you the reason he loved this type of soup. He only mentions that it had something to do with his mother, but you are always so curious of him and never press him beyond that.

Sephiroth's expression remains stoic, but you know him well enough to see the faint glimmer of hope in his eyes: a desire to help ease your symptoms. He kneels beside the bed, cradling the bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other.

"It's too thick," you rasp, managing a faint smile as your back ached from the movement. Coughing created tight, painful bands of agony across the middle of your back. Each movement felt like your back was on fire.

For a moment, he looks almost sheepish and boyish -- a rare sight, indeed. "I can thin it out," he says. This time his voice is quiet and resolute. But instead of leaving immediately, he sets the bowl aside and reaches out. His fingers brushed against your cheek.

"You're warm," he continues. His hand lingers for a moment before he stands, returning to the kitchen area to adjust the soup.

As he works, you watch him: the strong lines of his back, the fluidity of his movements. It's hard to reconcile the man in front of you with the stories you heard of his exploits in SOLDIER. He's so much more than warrior and the Living Legend the world sees. To you, he's Sephiroth: the man who makes pumpkin soup when you're sick, the man who sits by your bedside, refusing missions that his other 1st comrades are going on, and will not leave until you are feeling better.

When he returns, the soup is thinner and more manageable. He offers a spoonful. Even here, his movements careful and precise. You take a small sip, the warmth spreading through you and your system like a comfortable embrace.

"It's good," you whisper. However, you can barely manage more than a taste.

He doesn't respond immediately, but you could see a subtle shift in his expression: a flicker of relief. He sets the bowl aside again. this time, he is content to just sit by your side.

As the night wore on, your breathing remains strained, but Sephiroth is a constant presence. He reads quietly from a book, the soft timbre of his voice soothing, even if you are too tired to catch all of the words. Every so often, he reaches out to adjust your blanket -- a silver and black blanket with the Shinra emblem stitched in the corner -- or offer you a drink of the cool water.

Eventually, he stands. You hear the soft clink of his pauldrons as he removes them, setting them on the nearby dresser. Opening your eyes slightly, you see him standing there with his long coat brushing the floor as he slips out of it and drapes it over the back of the chair. He is left standing in his black trousers, the leather pad with the Shinra emblem over his stomach, and, of course, the crossed suspenders over his chest.

Sephiroth climbs into bed beside you, careful not to jostle you too much. His arms encircles you gently, pulling you against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your ear is a balm against the fever ravaging your body and the discomfort that still lingers.

"You'll feel better soon," he murmurs. His breath stirs tiny wisps of your hair. "I'll make sure of it."

His warmth surrounds you: a steady and unyielding presence against the disease that threatens you. You let yourself relax into the safety of his embrace. Despite the heaviness in your lungs, you feel a small spark of comfort being with this man, knowing that no matter how difficult the night becomes, Sephiroth will be there, holding you close until the morning light.

[yanderes-galore]

Hello! Do you mind doing some general HC's for Kusakabe, from JJK? Thank you ^^

I'm going to be honest, I have no clue what to write for him, but I will try my best to make something for the Kusakabe fans. He doesn't have much on him :(

Yandere! Kusakabe Concept

Pairing: Platonic/Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Overprotective behavior, Manipulation, Slight stalking, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Dubious companionship/relationship.

Kusakabe is a character I don't have much to work with.

He shows up for like three arcs and even his wiki doesn't say too much.

He's a Grade 1 Sorcerer, one of the strongest, even without an innate technique.

He knows his weaknesses which makes him come off as a coward.

He's tactical and smart, he's good with a sword, and while he isn't the strongest physically...

Kusakabe still packs quite a punch when it comes to his abilities.

While he typically stays out of danger, he has moments where he'll step in to save his comrades.

Besides that, that's all I really have to work with.

For the most part I can see him being almost like a mentor with his obsession?

He's capable of being a leader but I wouldn't really call him all that intense.

His obsession could be a student of his (platonic), or a fellow classmate.

He knows a lot about the Jujutsu world and would definitely be telling his obsession little lessons here and there.

He's a subtle yandere since I think he mostly keeps his desires under control.

He feels he has to, while he does worry for your safety, he knows he needs control.

He's smart with how he deals with his feelings.

He knows they can be problematic so he'd keep them in check.

He's a person who cares for the safety of others, even if he tends to be fearful.

For you he can temporarily ignore his fears just to make sure you're okay.

Studying trouble? He can help you out.

Need help training? He'll see what he can do.

He's helpful but not smothering like other yanderes.

He's kind, protective, but never overly violent.

His main goal is to keep you in an environment where you can grow, improve, and stay safe.

He doesn't typically sacrifice himself, the only time he'd do such a thing is if his obsession was going to be in danger.

Let's be honest, based on his fight later on in the manga, he can definitely take down strong curses.

He just tends to stay away from it, wanting to keep himself safe.

Yet if he had to pick between you and him for getting hurt... sure, he'll bleed for you.

If you were ever hurt, he'd be quick to make sure you're treated.

He's no healer but he sees himself as responsible for you.

To cover some more basic yandere behavior...

Yes, he'd harm curses for you, but I doubt he'd harm a human.

When it comes to humans, he'd try to talk things down or pull you away.

Since I feel he'd be like a mentor, he'd probably make the excuse that you have to study or train.

In reality, he just feels more comfortable when he's looking after you.

He likes the quiet between you, he doesn't need to worry about anything else other than you and him.

Would he kidnap? Well... It's complicated?

I can't really see Kusakabe kidnapping his obsession for any reason other than fearing for them.

He cares for their safety but not enough to just... take them unless motivated.

He might put you under his care if you're hurt.

In fact, I can probably see him trying to talk his obsession out of being a sorcerer.

He himself focuses on self preservation... He may feel his obsession should do that too.

After all, he wouldn't have to keep changing your bandages if you just... stayed out of battle.

So while he may try to convince you to stop being a sorcerer, he won't force it unless he could actually lose you.

It's not quite kidnapping... but it's definitely a way he takes some freedoms from you.

He's scared to lose you, y'know?

Does he get jealous? Not really.

He's rather controlled, if he is jealous, he hides it strangely well.

He's a protective yandere more than a possessive yandere.

There's times he's controlling but it's usually to steer you away from trouble.

His heart is in the right place, but it's debatable on if his feelings are justified.

After all, you deserve to have the freedom to become a sorcerer.

Kusakabe will let it happen for the most part.

Although... If you were to ever get hurt, hurt to the point of near death...

Kusakabe may just have to break his rule about kidnapping you.

Even then, it's more like convincing you to stay at his home for a little while.

He'd give you whatever you needed, he'd ;earn to tend to your wounds...

Then soon, well, maybe he'd just convince you it's safer here?

He understands you might disagree... But you're so reckless...

Isn't it better here?

In terms of affection, I don't know if he's that affectionate?

Maybe he's like... a cuddle guy with a movie if his obsession is romantic?

But platonically he's mostly just a mentor.

He'd give you a comfortable bed with good food.

He'd give you just about anything as long as you quit and allow him to take care of you.

Well you disagree? Probably.

But Kusakabe will try to stand firm on this.

He wants you to not be reckless and put yourself in danger.

So until you can prove that you'll improve, or until Sukuna is defeated...

You'll be staying with him.

[profoundlyfaded]

I really love this take, and it’s not one I had really considered.

Arguably, the answer could be closer to, he can’t decide without the second opinion and that fits his character portrayal much better than actually answering the question himself. Ultimately, when I posed the question, I was musing on whether or not Emmrich had the capacity for the equivalent of Gale’s SneakyGod!Ending in BG3, but I don’t think he has.

Thinking further on this, as I was a couple of evenings ago, it occurred to me that you could set up a situation of not saving Manfred but not completing the story to take that final step to Lichdom in-game. In that situation, it occurred to me that even with Lichdom still open, there is every chance that a romanced Emmrich would not take that step, even at the very end of his life. This is my kinda cake-and-eat-it scenario because it allows for the HC of more time for the couple as mortals before making that ultimate decision. It’s also a cake-and-eat-it from a meta pov for me because I think allowing one of your allies to pretty much kill themselves in the hope his soul could be drawn back to his body is a dangerous long shot on the eve of battle.

Another element to the question, as posed was, Sylvia F had posted that for Emmrich, being in the romance was the fulfilment of a long abandoned desire for love. And I guess, I kinda wanted to know what was the greater wish, as well.

But then you have the issue that in the context of the game, at that decision making point, that love and romance is still very new. Is it going to hold, and for Emmrich was it something worth investing it.l? His answer at that point might very well be no - he’s had an unsuccessful love life that has not produced the marriage he once wanted, no doubt family to go with that.

Ultimately, both sides of the answer are quiet melancholy - as you expertly point out, in the Lich pathway the melancholy comes later, probably as their relationship endures and he ponders the what-ifs as Rook nears the end of their life; marriage, children, love. But I think there is melancholy on the other side as well, perhaps as he reaches the end of his life and recalls there was a decision that could give them more time together (this is where the cake-and-eat-it ending could work as a get out clause but feels hollow as there should be some element of enduring grief in this romance as it’s already established as a theme).

I like your take and thanks for sharing it!

OMG, I don’t know what to do with this.

My inference to this is that ‘no, he would not abandon his dream to become a lich in exchange for love.’

Any other readings?

(And yes, that is the real me in the Bluesky profile pic, don’t laugh)