#but its also a bit sad and bittersweet at the same time

[marymekpop]

⟢ highlight of the hour: lovely runner [01/16] ⟣

life-changing

[noodlesarecheese]

So Watcher is launching a Dropout (it's not called Dropout but they're clearly using the same template format platform thing idk what it's called, and the same pricing structure), and the reaction so far has been wildly different than what I remember from Dropout's launch. I was curious about why that was or if I was just misremembering the Dropout launch, so I went back to the Dropout launch video to compare them and I think I can see where some of the difference is coming from.

If you want to make the comparison yourself: Watcher's Video, Dropout's Video.

I wanna clarify first though that this isn't a knock against Watcher or the fans who are reacting one way or another or anything like that, I genuinely am just fascinated with how different the reactions are to what seems to be the same business decision. This also isn't a 'wow watcher sucks and dropout is so much better' I'm just using them for comparison because they did the same thing with different results. ALSO this isn't about the business decision itself, just the presentation! Disclaimers out of the way, here's the analysis.

Title and Thumbnail So the Watcher.tv announcement video is titled "Goodbye Youtube" and the thumbnail is Ryan, Shane, and Steven sitting on a couch looking serious, with a dark background. That really makes it seem like they're quitting (which, ok, they are quitting youtube but not quitting quitting). Viewers are already primed to be upset, and it's easier to go from upset to angry than upset to excited, curious, or neutral.

Compare to the dropout announcement video: "How the Internet is Ruining Comedy" - inline with other collegehumor video titles, might make you curious. Thumbnail - Big News! with Sam smiling and a bright background. We know its big news, but he looks happy, and the exclamation point let's us know they want us to be excited. Viewers are primed to be curious and excited.

Tone The Watcher announcement has 2 main tones. The first half is very sentimental, almost sad or wistful at times, and while there are parts that veer into pride at achievements, it's mostly bittersweet and sentimental. The second half is a bit more uplifting, but still quite serious. It reminded me of a tech announcement, like when they introduce the new iphone or something like that. Very professional, sleek, and serious, which isn't automatically a bad thing! But I do think that's not the vibe a decently-sized chunk of the audience expected or wanted. Many people watch Watcher for the cast's dynamic with each other, humor, and the more relaxed/conversational/friendly feel that most of the series have.

Compare to dropout - excited and comedic tone. Still professional, but also fits the expectations of the viewers. People watch collegehumor for the humor (it was in the name, after all). They also poke a bit of fun at themselves, which lightens the mood, shows self-awareness, and alleviates some of the bad feelings about paywalling.

Focus The Watcher announcement focuses a lot on the creative journey of the cast and company, as well as how this move will benefit them. Which isn't a bad thing, that's actually quite interesting! The problem here, I think, is actually more about what isn't here - a solid explanation of how this will also benefit the viewers and why the viewers should be excited. There's a brief description of one new show, and the promise that existing shows will get an upgrade, but we weren't given many specific details about how they'll be improved, and there's only one new show to tempt us into subscribing. Some people will be excited for that, some people won't, and some people will be excited but not enough to subscribe. Having 2 or 3 series (even if it's 1 fleshed out plus a few teasers of what's in production or what is being planned) plus some more details about how existing shows will be improved would've helped. Without that, it really does seem like it'll just be the same stuff viewers were getting for free, but now paywalled, rather than new and exciting stuff. That makes a big difference. I think with the fans not getting as much focus, this also led to some (accidental, I hope) hurt feelings. Based on what I've seen from fan reactions, all the talk about hitting the peak of what they can do on youtube and wanting more, translated for many people to 'youtube isn't enough' which became 'you (the current viewers) aren't enough.' Which I don't think was their intent! But I also don't think fans are wrong for feeling hurt by that.

Compare to dropout: They clearly explain how the move will benefit fans, and reassure viewers that existing content will stay where it is, and only new content will be behind the paywall. (Watcher clarified this too, but in a comment. It's not in the video itself, which is a huge problem.) They include clips of several new (at the time) series that would be premiering on dropout, including things that specifically could not be made on youtube (due to weed, violence, and sexual humor), so the reason for the shift is clear to the audience.

Advertisers Both videos contain the sentiment that being monetarily successful on youtube means working to appease the advertisers, and that over time what the advertisers want and what the creators want drifts further and further apart, putting strain on the creators.

However, I think the message gets lost a bit in the Watcher vid. Instead, it leaves viewers with the idea that the main problem is just ads are annoying instead of advertisers putting constraints on content. I'm not even sure what the specific constraints are for watcher, because they didn't give any examples. And the focus on ads being annoying leaves viewers frustrated because people typically either don't mind ads or they already have an ad blocker.

Timing and Size Okay, this isn't exactly about presentation, but it is still a factor that impacts perception so I'm tackling it. And I'm actually going to do dropout first. CollegeHumor launched dropout in September 2018. Pre-pandemic, but also pre-Sam Reich as CEO. The company was still owned by IAC. It was a Company, and while it wasn't huge it wasn't tiny either. So launching dropout was a Company Decision, a Business Strategy. Some people were upset about, but it wasn't a personal betrayal (generally, anyways). If I remember correctly, this was also not a high point for the company. They kinda needed dropout to do well to keep things running smoothly (which is why they shut it down and sold it to Sam just 1 1/2ish years later), so the sudden shift made sense.

Watcher Entertainment is a company, but it doesn't feel like one. Ryan, Shane, and Steven own and operate things, but they're also the faces, and they're youtubers. Which makes every business decision they make feel more personal to viewers, especially those who have been watching for a long time. They've also seemingly been doing well on youtube, which makes it more difficult for viewers to understand why the sudden change is happening now. They do talk a bit about it, about the company expanding and wanting to do things that advertisers don't like (which I've already covered). However, mostly the choice to start a streaming platform is framed as 'the next big step' without much clarification on why it's the next big step. Plus, it's post-pandemic, and a lot of people are still struggling financially with the ripple effects of that. Yes, $6 isn't a wild amount of money, but there have been some months where $5 absolutely meant the difference between paying all my bills or not, and I know I'm not the only one. This, coupled with a lack of clarity about why exactly they're doing this, leads to fans feeling hurt, betrayed, bitter, and frustrated.

Now, presentation and framing isn't everything. No matter how perfect your announcement is, some people are still going to be upset. It's a big change, of course people will be upset! But I do think a more careful presentation would've alleviated some of the hurt and anger that fans are feeling. While I do think a lot of the reaction we're seeing is due to the decision, I think (based on what I've seen) that some of it is also based on the poor communication in the video itself, and that could've been avoided!

So I'm gonna get a little speculative and describe what I would've done. In this hypothetical, they've decided to launch the streaming service and brought me on just for the announcement.

Firstly, switch the title out. If they're married to Goodbye Youtube then add a (and hello...?) after so it's at least obvious they aren't fully quitting. The dark color scheme of the thumbnail fits their regular vibe, but they want everyone to be excited so they should look excited. Next, let's lighten the tone up. Being proud of what they've done so far is great, but we don't need the sentimental music and bittersweetness. Remember, the goal is to get viewers excited about what come's next - so let's focus on what actually comes next! Talk about specific show plans and mention why they wouldn't work on youtube. Then, take some time to reassure the fans. Predict a few likely worries and address them in the video. Acknowledge that it's a big change, that it will take time to get used to, and that not everyone will be onboard, and let the fans know that it's ok if they aren't onboard.

Like I said, this wouldn't fix everything. There are a few differences in between dropout and watcher that don't have anything to do with presentation. Dropout launched with primarily new shows rather than new seasons of existing shows, and they continued uploading to youtube relatively regularly in addition to the content behind the paywall, which I do think went a long way to keeping fans happy. At this point it's unclear if watcher will do either of those or not. But, while I don't think it would fix everything, I do think improved communication in the announcement would've helped.

[nthee]

I DON'T KNOW IF I'MA SEE YOU AGAIN . . .

summary: a slight, or well, not-so-slight blunder led to the unfortunate events of him losing his memory — his memory of you and anything related to you.

characters: riddle roseherts, silver, lilia vanrouge

contains: angst with a bit of fluff, gender-neutral mc (uses second person view aka "you"), the reader blushes (described to be flushed)

notes: title is from see you again hehe :) i just thought it kind of had amnesia trope vibes idkkk dont ask me why atp, inspo comes from anywhere fr. also SURPRISE IM BACK let's ignore the fact that it's been 5 months tho i was so burnt out :(

⌗ RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS

“Let me help you with that. [...] What? You're staring.”

“Ah, it's... it's nothing, sorry.”

The close proximity is enough to make you go insane. Perhaps it's better if you just took the time to actually fix your tie this morning. That way, he wouldn't be so close! So close that...

Oh Seven, what if he hears my heartbeat?! Ack, calm down, calm down! I don't want to scare him of, what if he thinks it's — I'm creepy?!

“You seem flushed, [Name]. Are you alright?” his movement stills while holding onto your tie, and you mentally facepalm.

Riddle's hand makes its way to your forehead, the back of his hand pressing onto your skin, before realizing he's wearing gloves. He clears his throat at the mistake, opting to feel your temperature using the back of his wrist — the exposed skin between his sleeve and glove.

“Temperature is normal... a little bit warm, but nothing serious.”

“I'm alright! It's nothing, really.”

Too close, too close, too close!

Riddle retracts back, almost as if he could hear your pleas. He sighed, clearing his throat as his eyes wander around — look everywhere, anywhere but them, Riddle.

“I should — ah, we should get to class...” you reminded. You mirror his actions, averting your gaze.

“Right. Class.”

He offers an arm, one that you graciously take without a second thought. “Let me escort you there. I did hold you off for several minutes.”

Excuses! Riddle's mind yells. You're falling for them!

He doesn't care in the slightest — just as long as you're there to catch him. Though he knew you for a grand total of five days, he knows you'll be there.

⌗ SILVER

“Have I... met you before? I have, haven't I?”

A bittersweet laugh escapes your lips, startling Silver in front of you. You pull yourself together, smiling as you gaze into his eyes — the same eyes you'd lose yourself in, letting the time pass doing just that.

“Once upon a dream, right? That's what you were going to say?” you wipe a tear from the corner of your eye, thankful you laughed first before the waterworks arrived. Thank goodness, he can't see me sad.

Silver's eyes brightened, his eyelashes fluttering in disbelief. “It's... it's you. I meet you in my dreams! Everytime I close my eyes, I... I see you.”

His hands are softly holding yours as he speaks, his thumb tracing your skin delicately — like you were glass, or a treasure. It's enough to make you swoon, just as he's always done before.

“Don't leave my side.”

He thinks it's selfish to ask that from a stranger. But you are no stranger. You know the truth, but he suspects it's destiny — that you've actually met, talked, danced before, only well, it was in his very own dreamland.

You can feel the tears again. Maybe this isn't so bad? Or, at the very least, this isn't the end.

“I wouldn't even think of it.”

⌗ LILIA VANROUGE

“Are you a friend of Silver's? I don't think I've seen you around before.”

Those words were uttered before you could even process the initial news of Lilia's predicament — before your heart could even let it sink in.

You could only choke back the words threatening to slip off your tongue, lest it sound like utter crap to someone who just lost his memories.

You and I are more than friends. You play— well, played lighthearted tricks on me. I fell for them. I fell for you.

“You... could say that,” was all you could muster up. There was no point in explaining more, he wouldn't understand them.

There was understanding to his nod, a subconscious feeling of something nestled deep in his heart.

“Are you troubled? You seem to be.” his tone is soft, yet firm. Lilia had always been that way; a mentor, father (or, father-like to ones who don't know he was actually one), shoulder to cry on, wise fae to depend on...

A lover. Was a lover.

Now, all was left was Lilia before he even got to know you.

Lilia Vanrouge, a schoolmate of yours, once again.

← | © nthee, do not repost, plagiarize, translate, adapt, and use my work in anything that associates directly with ai.

[akesdraws-blog]

I love you, but I know you don't love me back

Version: 🐢TMNT 2012🐢

❀Sometimes the problem is usually that the heart does not want to admit something that the mind knows and screams with all its might.❀

Sometimes we need a little bit of a bittersweet taste, cupid doesn't always shoot his arrows at both of us, sometimes he has some missed shots.

💙 Leonardo 💙

As well as a great leader, Leo is also an incredible gentleman.

But he never expected that such chivalry would cause a greater emotion than just kindness.

He will quickly notice some behaviors that were familiar from things he even did.

• Showing off for him

• The attention

• Overprotection

• Taking his side even if it was wrong

Attitudes like this did not go unnoticed.So don't expect a big stage or a rodeo.

He will be direct and just like a bandage on the skin, he will tear it off in one movement.

“If I'm misunderstanding, I apologize, but otherwise, I'd like to set the record straight, I'm only attracted to one person, and she's an amazing kunoichi, not just in combat, but also in my heart.”

That's right, don't expect anything more.

Make things clear and try not to be so rude.

He still hopes that they can remain friends despite everything.

He will accompany you home, and say goodbye as they always have.

But even if you close the window, he will stay in the shadows, listening to the soft sound of your sobbing.

He will hurt deep in your heart, he knows it, but he also knows it is for the best.

If your heart understands the pain sooner, it will take less time to heal.

~“The rain falls because the clouds can no longer support the weight. Tears fall because the heart can no longer bear the pain.”~

💜 Donatello 💜

Our silly genius is always making a new invention for his brothers and his friends.

After all that's your best way to show that someone cares.

Although it is no secret to anyone that Donnie is in love with April.

However, since what happened with Bigfoot, let's say that he now understands more things quickly.

But just as he doesn't usually reciprocate, he understands what you feel.

He may explain everything while you are helping him with an invention or while you play a video game.

“I... Don't take this the wrong way but... You know how I feel about April... And you know how she feels about me... I just want to say... I feel the same about you, as I do, what April feels for me... It sounds weird, I know, but... I hope you understand."

He doesn't try to be rude, he tries to be nice but he gets quite nervous.

He doesn't want his friendship to go down the drain, so if you don't say anything he might get a little chatty.

If you tell him that she's fine and that you just need a moment alone, he'll give it to you.He knows you have to process it.

He will still send you some message, just to know that everything is okay.

He will understand even if you don't appear in the sewer for a while, he will give you the space you need.

~“Love is not blind. Blind are those who run after those who do not love them.”~

~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~•°~

We arrive with something a little sad, because sometimes we also need a dose of slight sadness. (I apologize in advance for any spelling mistakes) In case you missed it: Mikey/Raph

Tags:

@turtle-babe83. @dilucsflame33. @thelaundrybitch. @scholastic-dragon. @leosgirl82. @tmnt-tychou . @little-bunny-in-space . @happymoonangel. @lazyafgurl. @kikithedreamerwriter. @androidships007.

[officialah]

Achievement Hunter is changing and we're taking you with us

As you may have noticed, Achievement Hunter has gone through a number of changes this year. We’ve grown a bit smaller as our cast has moved on to work on exciting new ventures, including Inside Gaming and VTubing. Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of Dogbark, a new content group featuring Michael Jones, Alfredo Diaz, Trevor Collins, and Joe Lee. 

Rooster Teeth is at its best when employees have been given the opportunity to pursue new creative passions. Fifteen years ago, this meant giving Geoff the ability to create Achievement Hunter. And today, this means letting the Achievement Hunter cast move on to new creative projects.

Over the last few years, this has allowed our cast to put time into creating F**kface, ANMA, Red Web, Face Jam, and more. More recently, Jack and BK have put their efforts into streaming at Inside Gaming, Lindsay has begun exploring Vtubing as Ruby, and Ky is producing multiple projects, including some of those listed above.

With all of our new focuses, this means we will not be actively creating content for the Achievement Hunter channel. Let’s Play will also look a little bit different moving forward, but we can assure you that it’s not going anywhere, and it’s in great hands.

But why Dogbark, and not just new shows under the Achievement Hunter banner? At this point in our creative careers, we have grown as both people and as entertainers. Much like how early Achievement Hunter evolved from video game guides to Let’s Plays, we’re looking to take Dogbark in a bold new direction that is more heavily focused on improv and sketch comedy. It’s new. It’s fun. It’s weird. And it’s such a departure from what Achievement Hunter has been that we feel Dogbark is truly its own thing.

We’re very excited to share these projects with all of you, and we really do hope you’ll enjoy all the new content we have in store. Through the years, we’ve reached heights we never thought possible–from Haunter to the Hardcore series, from RTX Panels to AH Live Tours. Whether you joined us back in 2008 or 2023, we couldn’t have done this without you. We have been met with so much support as we’ve grown and changed over the years, and we can’t thank you enough for that.

We know this news might be shocking and saddening for you. It’s bittersweet. On one hand, we’re saying “See you later” to a truly indescribable brand. On the other, we’re getting to pursue new passions, explore, test ourselves as creators, and that’s an incredibly exciting experience. It’s hard to do the same thing for our whole lives, and we shouldn’t have to. But, just because we’re not a part of AH anymore doesn’t mean that we didn’t appreciate the time spent there, or with you.

It’s okay to be sad; it’s okay to take time to process. After, when you’re ready, come join us over at Inside Gaming, F**kface, RWBY’s Twitch, Dogbark, Red Web, Face Jam, ANMA, and So…Alright. We’ll be waiting for you.

Love, 

-AH

To watch our full video on this, check out this link: https://youtu.be/YVgACDwlgq0 To learn more about our future projects, check out the links below. 

Dogbark - www.youtube.com/@dogbarkshow || /www.instagram.com/dogbarkshow/

F**kface - www.youtube.com/@fckfacepod || twitter.com/FuckFacePod

Inside Gaming -www.twitch.tv/roosterteeth || www.youtube.com/@insidegaming

RWBY Twitch - www.twitch.tv/rwby_vt

We’ve anticipated your questions and have created an FAQ below that will hopefully provide answers.

Where are [insert the AH person you are looking for] going?

Honestly, nowhere. They’re still here at Rooster Teeth, but are jumping into new exciting opportunities that bring them joy and passion.Geoff and Gavin are focusing on F**kface, Jack and BK are streaming over with Inside Gaming, Lindsay is launching a RWBY Vtubing Twitch, and Ky is producing these projects. Michael, Trevor, Alfredo, and Joe are excited to announce their new project, Dogbark, which launches 10/2.

Does this mean AH content is going away?

Nope. It’ll exist in perpetuity online. Both on Rooster Teeth Site and Apps as well as the AH YouTube channel.

Will AH ever return?

Think of it like your favorite band going on hiatus. We don’t want to close the door completely and turn off all the lights. There’s always the chance that One Direction will come back.

Is Let’s Play content and channel going away?

Also nope! But stay tuned, you might recognize who will start showing up (and reshowing up) there.

[sepublic]

The Owl House's Ending Anniversary...

So it's officially been one whole year since The Owl House ended.

One year ago, I wondered how I would move on. How I would keep going. But I also knew I would, no matter what, because time keeps going on. Things will eventually pass, they always do, that's how so many moments and days for me have gone. Even entire periods of my life.

So I'm not surprised how things have gone on since then; I still had plenty more things to say about TOH, and I still love it just as I have. I've gotten new hyperfixations, and even returned to old ones as some of you can see with recent posts, so it's only a matter of time before TOH circles back again.

And man does it feel so slow, only to feel so brief, it really feels like this anniversary has snuck up on and surprised me! And once again, we have some other, appropriate event lined up; A solar eclipse on this anniversary! Luckily there's no sigils nor coven heads gathered to make me worry. But dang, it was raining in Connecticut when Luz returned there, and it was the rebirth of Jesus when Luz was resurrected.

Makes me wonder if anyone of the Boiling Isles, justifiably, has had PTSD from solar eclipses, and dreaded any that showed up, despite knowing it couldn't happen again. People must've held their breaths the entire time during the first eclipse, panicked at even the slightest fatigue, and then it passed and they realized it really was impermanent and over. And that there was another step towards moving on, which I guess I can relate to now, though this is something I'm much less happy to see gone.

I think a lot about how TOH has influenced both me and my writing, how I approach characters and stories now. I've found myself gravitating more and more towards personal, character-driven stories and situations now. I still have a bit of a taste for grander-scale stuff, but TOH was special for me in that it feels like the first time I really got and understood a show and its characters from the ground-up as I experienced it all in real time. The first time I truly grasped themes and character arcs and could make reasoned predictions based on those, some of which came true! It really feels like THE big start of my media literacy in a way?

It's been fun looking back at TOH as a 'whole' work more or less to reevaluate, and learning other things behind-the-scenes about the show. We've had a few more livestreams and stuff confirmed. Dana's done more drawings, including on her Patreon.

I haven't been writing as much TOH stuff lately, and tbf I've already said soooo much. I might have other, new things to say later down the line, and I do have a few thoughts I've written in notes that maybe could be fully-fledged posts in their own right. I've found comparisons to protagonists of other media, like Miles Morales, or Arin from Ninjago.

The Owl House still is and will probably always be something truly special to me; It feels like my first real fandom experience. My first time understanding and learning a show, appreciating it as it develops and even as I speculate. It broadened my tastes and horizons, my ability to participate with others in stuff.

I miss it; I miss new episodes, new developments. I'm still agonized over things that could've been, things I would've loved to see more of. I'm apprehensive over whether we'll get that Raeda prequel because I don't wanna get my hopes up. Plus Dana needs a well-deserved break and is trying and experimenting with new, different things. And I get that.

It's bittersweet, it's scary, it's freeing, it's sad, it's happy. I've gone so far, this show and fandom has gone so far. And it'll keep going, it has to, time keeps marching on. Luz had to lose her father Manny, process that, but still keep going and must be surprised looking back how much she's adjusted since then, how much she's still grown and gained and learned, while still holding him dear; The same applies for the Titan and the magic she once wielded. With grief and acceptance being a core theme in this show, I'm not surprised that it prepped up the viewers to do the same, and now we have.

And you know what? I'm gonna keep going on, like Luz Noceda, possibly my favorite protagonist of all time, one of the greats and a huge inspiration now for how I really want to write and focus on my own protagonists, too. I'm gonna keep doing this like it never ended. The rate and frequency might fluctuate, but every now and then I'll have things to say, and stuff to drop by and check, such as with the tag and the occasional trending post, others' reblogs, and so forth.

So again, thanks to Dana and the crew. Thanks to Luz Noceda, Eda Clawthorne, King Clawthorne, and the other many, many characters! Luz's story is one where it feels like the show really is about her at its core and wraps around to her, and I want to do a story one day that accomplishes the same feeling. And as I see how Dana has been inspired by past influences, I can't help but look forward to future generations and stories that will themselves have been inspired by The Owl House, I know I've been already, retroactively applying it to things that were already fairly compatible to begin with, and really needed the fresh breath of new inspiration.

I'm repeating a lot of the same things I've said last year. Will I say the same stuff another whole year from now? I'll see. But until next time... BBBBYYYYYYEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

[grandlinedreams]

Ok, so reincarnation/soulmates? Reader ate some fruit that basically has them living forever, and the only thing keeping them going is knowing that Law will eventually be reincarnated every decade or so after he passes. Each time he meets our dear reader again he can FEEL a pulling.

Reader also has a collection of pictures/memorabilia to remind her of each of Law’s lives.

YES I am such a sucker for the "souls intertwined so completely that they find each other over and over" also listened to 'The Moon Will Sing' by the Crane Wives bc it slaps and its always applied to that kind of relationship so OUGH

[Heads up!: mention of reincarnation/multiple lives, angst if you squint, but mostly some fluff]

You've known him for a very long time.

You don't tell him that, you never do ㅡ you can't. All you do is let yourself orbit towards him the way he does to you, let yourself take comfort in the time you have with him, however fleeting.

It isn't like you have a choice. And even in the darker times where you have to be without him, endure that lonely, phantom limb of an ache ㅡ you take solace in combing through the things you've kept of this go around.

A pendant, a dried flower pressed between the pages of a book, pages yellowed by the years ㅡ little scraps that keep you grounded, keep you sane.

Time has forgotten you, cursed you to stand against the current of it ㅡ you see people come and go, make new names for yourself, sink into as best you can.

But you never forget him.

ㅡ

This time, his name is Trafalgar Law.

He doesn't remember you, he never does ㅡ as is the deal ㅡ and he's already been through so much by the time you meet him.

His eyes are bright and sharp even for the perpetual shadows beneath them, body inked with tattoos that make you wonder if he knows he's had them before, different symbols but same spots ㅡ little pieces that echo through the vast emptiness of time.

Having lost so much already, you can tell he fights that familiar pull, treats it with wariness and caution. You don't push him, let him take things at his own pace.

When you've lived as long as you have, you have patience in spades.

ㅡ

"You're sure we've never met before?"

It's bothering him, the odd tickle of deja vu that he feels when he looks at you. It lingers like an image on the edge of his periphery, fleeting and gone when he tries to focus on it.

"I doubt it," you say, "I was born on a different sea." It isn't a lie ㅡ he just doesn't need to know how long ago that was. "I've never met you in my life before now."

Another not quite lie ㅡ this version of him is entirely new to you. New and yet so much the same ㅡ as he always has been, over and over.

You regard him with a little bit of sadness, Law realizes. Bittersweet and tucked at the edges, like you know something he doesn't ㅡ and only when you think he doesn't know you're staring at him. Because when he looks at you properly, all you do is smile.

And despite it all, Law lets you in. Lets you smooth the ragged edges, lets you wiggle your way in where he swore he'd never let anyone be ever again.

Law thinks he's destined to lose people, and maybe that's true ㅡ but so are you. You know that your time with him is fleeting as it ever is, between one blink and the next.

And then you'll be alone for a while, tread the waters of time as you have before, let the current take you where it needs to. Then you'll find each other again, eternally bound to each other by forces outside the control of either of you.

You've loved him a hundred times, and you know you'll love him a hundred more and beyond that ㅡ but this version of him is your favorite, you think.

And for whatever time you're allowed this go around, you'll give him every bit of love that you can, all the flaws and hurt and heartbreak ㅡ all of it.

You'll love every bit of him as you always have, and you always will.

[melpomenacorvus]

Can’t stop thinking about the fact that Jayce betrayed Viktor’s trust big time. Twice! And all of it led to the most beautiful writing ever.

Jayce crimes against Viktor: created weapons and not destroyed hexcore. I know that he probably saw a potential in this, but Victor saw horrors it created. It’s kind of funny, because now, Jayce see the destructive power of it and Viktor discovered it full potential.

This scene is my Roman Empire. Viktor talks to Jayce, but Jayce on the other hand, speaks to corrupted consciousness, not Viktor. He doesn’t care about Viktor anymore, because he probably saw, that there no one left inside.

Edit: Also, when Viktor said that was something wrong with Jayce and that’s it connected to Arcane, I don’t think he saw another entity in Jayce, he just so how it heavily traumatised him, changing his personality. This is probably why he invited him, he wanted to cure him too.

Also, Jayce “hallucinations”. Absolute nightmare fuel, I hope everyone who worked on them has both sides of their pillow cold in a hot summer night. Many people said that Victor was turning people into robots. No offence, but i don’t know where some of them even saw that. I think because Jayce is already some what corrupted himself/implanted a rune in his arm, he can see the extend of how much people got affected with Viktor’s “cure”. I don’t think that Viktor was channeling the void, I think it was much simpler.

In scenes with Vander, we see that Viktor and Sky worked together while “healing” people. But it’s looked more like censorship of something that they found possibly harmful for their ideal community.

The core gave him ability to bend people body and minds to his liking, which kind of sad and nice at the same time (the nice thing being that he chose to create an illusion of a peaceful community). His idea of “healed” is a person who out-came their struggles and has mind cleared of hate and negative emotions. Probably what he wished for himself. That’s why Salo looks completely different, Viktor probably just “cut out” an uncomfortable parts of his character, leaving only positive things.

And back to nightmare fuel. Because Viktor affects people to the extreme level, this is why they look like this.

(Also the proof of Viktor choosing what to leave from someone consciousness is here.

Calming down the beast? “Hell nah, I will do my own thing”. )

So I think that Viktor and Jayce were both right. Jayce probably saw how cruel such thing could be, while Viktor saw beauty in unlimited possibilities of its use. It’s a little bit bittersweet that we went from

This

To this

He probably only stood there to make sure he 100% killed him.

Well, good luck, golden boy, don’t get too surprised when your ex suddenly starts to like metal. A little too much and almost concerning…. WAIT NO WAY VIKTOR WILL BRING ORIANNA TO LIFE.

[silverview]

below the cut is a long and overthinky post about in9, mostly

i need to start by talking about sitcom finales, which fortunately is a straightforward place to start. i've probably written this exact bit before, so i'll recap it as briefly as i can

when creators are knowingly bringing a sitcom to its end, they use the final episode(s) to ask and (usually) answer the question: are we getting out of this situation? since the characters aren’t going to be onscreen anymore, they don’t need to be funny anymore, so they have the option of ‘graduating’ out of whatever sit(uation) has been keeping them hilariously unfulfilled. (the sit might be a literal location or simply a social circle, pattern of behaviour etc.) they have the opportunity to be happy, offscreen, after the show ends

characters can graduate by changing their circumstances: for the worse e.g. death (blackadder) or for the better (cabin pressure). if they don't graduate, they're doomed to remain in the sit indefinitely (peep show). or they might realise that the sit has become a place where they feel fulfilled, and they have no need to graduate (spaced). how to classify any specific show can be up for debate & i won't go into detail justifying these examples, but broadly speaking and for the sake of argument, these are the categories

you can mix and match these endings for different characters within the same show, so that some graduate and others don’t (community). this will often be the case when there is a ‘striver’ character who has consistently shown greater ambition/potential to escape than the others. this is going to be bittersweet, in fact all graduations are going to be bittersweet, because – no matter how awful the sit and no matter how nice the graduation – the audience has come to know and love the sit, and the characters/relationships within it, and we’re sad to see that come to an end. the characters left behind will inevitably have strong feelings about a split ending, one way or another – either supporting or attempting to sabotage the striver's graduation

so i’ve been thinking about plodding on as a sitcom finale. as you can tell, it's clearly using this framework. it takes the emergent meta-characters of 'steve' and 'reece,' largely implied presences up to this point, and puts them up onscreen for a very traditional sitcom finale. the show itself is the sit, and we get all the classic struggles to escape, all the ensuing clashes brought on by guilt/resentment/the pain of separation. through this lens, the ending is... well, either a peep show or a spaced ending, depending on how optimistically you read it. but those are just two sides of the same coin – the 'nobody graduates' coin. 'the adventure continues indefinitely.' they move on to a new show, but their circumstances are effectively unchanged, for better or worse. the audience are invited to enjoy the cosy feeling that this is for the best. they know we love the sit, that's only natural, and we don't want it to end. so they very kindly wrote an ending that keeps it alive forever, even if that leaves their characters somewhat unresolved/unfulfilled in some respects

tlog apocalypse is also a sitcom finale, in a sense. it uses a curiously similar formula – manifesting the meta-characters 'steve,' 'reece' and 'mark' onscreen for the first time, and making tlog itself the thing from which they want to escape. like plodding on it even shows us a fictional 'next' project to represent their escape attempt. the difference is that they are not the protagonists; the residents of royston vasey are, represented by lipp & geoff & briss. those guys get their own unique graduation arcs, which all fit the traditional sitcom model to a greater or lesser extent. some are aborted and some are fulfilled, but overall, we get a similar ending to in9: the town goes on, the sit goes on, the adventure continues indefinitely. ('it was all a dream' ambiguity notwithstanding.) because that's basically what the audience really wants.

in both these cases, what we're really rooting for is The Show; The Work Itself. i've said this before, but one of in9's favourite themes is the danger and difficulty of creative work/entertaining people, the damaging effects on the body and soul. but in the end, despite all that, it comes down in favour.

if psychoville had run its course, would the r&s meta-characters eventually have made an appearance? i suspect not, for two reasons. 1) unlike tlog & in9, psychoville has a substantial recurring cast of other actors, so the r&s meta-characters are not such a ubiquitous implied presence. 2) maureen & david are (or ... were) a prominent stable unit that can easily stand in for the creators, i.e. represent their respective aggregate presences on the show. (tubbs & edward can fill this role for tlog; they just didn't in the movie. in9 doesn't have a version of this, or it didn't until the finale.)

i'm talking about meta-characters all the time. i linked to my original post about it above, but i want to try & expand on it. r&s, the implied actors/writers. they're a sort of thin layer between the explicit fiction of the show and the reality of the actual guys. they're emergent, unscripted, unseen, unheard, and largely unknowable. they're made up of the viewer's conscious & unconscious impressions as she watches the show. the easiest way i've found to think about it is this: they're the same as the actor characters on the show that goes wrong – recognisable characters who are actors, themselves playing a variety of characters – the only difference is that 'reece' and 'steve' don't ever break onscreen. we always know they're there; we always know we're watching 'reece' & 'steve' playing tommy & len; we are never just watching tommy & len. we build up a familiarity with 'reece' and 'steve' just by watching them act, and that inevitably shapes our perceptions of the individual explicitly fictional characters

the meta-characters are who the audience is tuning in for week to week, to see what they do next. not the explicitly fictional characters who change every week (although once we know & love them, we return to see them again of course<3). not the real human men, because those are too far removed for audiences to develop an impression of them from the show alone. there is a fictional construct of a man which is never intentionally written or acted, but which nonetheless accretes organically in the viewer's head, until she has a vague sense of a character behind the characters. that's the meta-character.

many such cases, when actors repeatedly work within the same circumstances/ensembles. very similar effect in the carry on films, for example. hancock's half hour features an odd version of the same phenomenon. sketch shows like mitchell & webb look and jfsp repeatedly bring their meta-characters onscreen, and in fact both explicitly acknowledge what they're doing by having the meta-characters point out that their lines are scripted. especially in jfsp, this creates ANOTHER layer of fiction – there's the fully fictional character simon kane is playing, there's the 'simon kane' who has scripted lines in a fourth-wall-breaking sketch, there's the meta-character 'simon kane' who is implied to be reading those lines, and finally there's the flesh & blood human man. this is all getting a bit much

anyway, imagine if in9 had included more ‘backstage’ scenes/episodes throughout its run. imagine how plodding on would hit if you’d been seeing those guys interact onscreen for the whole ten years, sloooowly building their meta-story to its finale

[hyukassubi]

🫧 No.2 Cuddler 🧸

Pairing: Jealous Bf!Hueningkai x reader Genre: Fluff. Not the bittersweet kind but actual cuteness overload, enough fluff to power up a whole plushie factory (ps. after re-reading this, I realized there might be the tiniest hint of angst. JUST A TEENSY LITTLE BIT IF YOU REALLY SQUINT THO, OTHERWISE ITS CUTENESS OVERLOAD I SWEAR 😭😭😭) Warnings: none! Synopsis: You enjoy Huening Kai's embrace, but, turns out, he isn't your favourite cuddler... Content: Reader pranks Huening Kai a bit, Huening Kai giving major golden retriever energy, 'Jealousy! Jealousy!', Reader loves plushies, Kinda puppy lovey-dovey ngl :>, Random highlighted words (mostly Huening Kai's name) cuz, again, thought it was super cute!! ^v^ Wc: 504 !!

Peeling the pink-purple face mask off your cheeks in front of your gold-bordered bathroom mirror. Brushing the knots off your hair after a busy day, throwing your work clothes off and putting your soft blue pajamas on. Trotting out of your bathroom to dip into the velvet living room couch where your lover awaits you.

“How’s your day been, sweetheart?” He says after taking a light sip of hot cocoa, watching an episode of Dug Days on Disney Hotstar.

You latch onto his free arm, leaning on one end of his broad shoulders. “Same old.” You yawn, looking at the tv. ”Same old.”

Huening Kai chuckled, staring down at your squishable face. “I’m so cozy, aren’t I?”

You nod.

“I’m a good cuddler, aren’t I?”

You nodded again.

Huening Kai smirked, ears turning the faintest shade of pink. “Am I… the best cuddler?” He looks at you with keen eyes, kinda like an excited little puppy eyeing a shiny new toy.

You paused for a moment. “No.”

Huening Kai’s face flattened, the air in his chest gone. “I’m not?”

“No.” You repeated more firmly this time. “I know someone far more cuddlier than you.”

Huening Kai striked the sassiest side-eye at you, but also, pouted. Just a bit. Okay, maybe a little more than just a bit. “Who?”

You smirked. “My best friend, my one and only. He’s so soft and cozy and he makes me so much happier whenever I hug him.”

Huening Kai freezes up a bit at that, briefly looking left and right for no apparent reason. “You… sleep with him?”

“I cuddle with him in my sleep, yeah.” You smile so innocently. “He’s in my bedroom right now.”

Now he was concerned. “He- He’s where now???”

“He’s in my bedroom all the time! Wanna see him?”

Huening Kai looks at you with meek eyes, throat too tight to continue sipping on his hot cocoa.

“Sure…” He says with uncertainty.

He harrumphed.

It was more than uncertainty, actually. His chest clenched with shock, betrayal, sadness, like a thousand kilogram weight pushed down his heart.

And when you opened that door, he couldn’t even get to himself to stare ahead and open his eyes-

Oh.

Your room was empty.

You skipped towards your bed, grabbing your cinnamoroll plushie. “Here he is!!”

Huening Kai turned red, facepalming. “I thought you actually had another boy with you !”

You looked at Huening Kai, and then cinamoroll, and then Huening Kai again. “But he is a boy.”

Huening Kai pouted. “How could I lose to a plushie?” In a quiet voice he went, “I actually got a little jealous earlier, you know…”

You smiled at him, sandwiching cinamoroll in one arm and slinging around Huening Kai’s waist with the other. “No one can ever replace you, Huening Kai.” You clutched onto your plushie possessively by then. “But no one can cuddle me better than cinnamoroll can.”

Huening Kai jumped over you, landing on the bed, arms around you. “I will not lose to a plushie.”

A/n: for those of you who don't know, cinnamoroll IS a boy 😤😤😤😤

Reblogs and reviews are greatly appreciated 🫶🫶

[blorbortion]

happy pride month!

i figured its as good a time as any for me to finally post my gay book recs 😌

theyre overwhelmingly YA as im a young adult and thats what ive been reading, but im widening my horizons, so stay tuned for more mature entries! ill be updating this list as i read more gay lit.

WLW 4 or 5 out of 5 stars

- She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (les/bi, enemies to lovers, sports, set in high school, YA)

- The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth (great writing, appealing characters and authentic chemistry, i think les/les, YA)

- Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth (also amazing, also les/les, has heavier themes, YA)

- Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (historical - 1950s, asian american sanfran culture, butch/femme, YA, deserves its popularity. do Not read the spin off its not worth it)

- Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (fairytale retelling, feminist focus, les/les, YA)

- This Poison Heart + This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (urban fantasy, bi/les? i think, poisonous plants, greek mythology, two books, YA)

- How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow (les/les, YA, lots of "reclaimed" slurs, lots of secondhand embarrassment, but if you wanted something seasonal for winter here you go - its not bad!)

- A Spindle Splintered + A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow (fairy tales, lesbian mc, other wlw side characters, fun and short, written for tumblr and its obvious, sometimes depressingly real)

- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amar El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (time traveling, enemies to lovers, short chapters, tries to be poetic and sometimes it succeeds sometimes it doesnt)

- Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (horrors of the ocean, it doesnt get better - no happy ending, still beautiful though)

- Salt Slow by Julia Armfield (women-focused horror short stories antology, i would call it bisexual moreso than lesbian, definitely worth a read)

- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flag (a story that takes decades and focuses on many characters, two of the most prominent are in a same-sex relationship, lovely and bittersweet at times)

- The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall (set in the early 20th century and quite sad, a very relatable story of a gnc lesbian woman growing up and living as an "invert", looking for her place in the world)

- Affinity by Sarah Waters (historical - late 19th century - mystery, set in a large part in a women's prison, mc suffers from depression, spiritualism is a strong theme)

- Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin (contemporary litfic about a depressed lesbian with severe anxiety, a tough read if you relate but SO good, and against all odds it has a happy ending)

MLM 4 or 5 out of 5 stars

- If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzalez and Kale Dietrich (gay/bi?, YA, secret dating, two boysband members, alternating perspectives)

- Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (fake dating, cringe but somehow fun when you get into it, very organic writing)

- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (gay/bi, YA, enemies to lovers, actually fun!, better than the movie^tm, a bit cringe with the ~progressive~ lines and fanficky moments)

- Time to Shine by Rachel Reid (gay/bi, sports romance, there were so many beds and still they chose to sleep in one together, very fun + funny)

- Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei (bi/gay, rivals to lovers, YA, sports romance, a little internet-y at times, theres a side poly relationship)

- More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (NOT a romance, super depressing, a lot of deep homophobia, but also beautiful. i gave it 5/5 on goodreads, YA)

- Masters of Death by Olivie Blake (a fun urban fantasy with a large, found-familyish cast, some slight Harry Potter references and a lot of humor and existential pondering, lovers to strangers to enemies to lovers, bi?/bi)

- All For The Game series by Nora Sakavic (gay/bi m/m, such a guilty pleasure but its SO good, its like a sports anime but 1. the sport is made up 2. its actually gay 3. theres the mafia involved??, very early 2010s with how edgy it is but its worth it i promise. a LOT of trigger warnings though, if its important to you - CHECK THEM BEFOREHAND)

honorable mentions that arent very gay focused but are very good

- If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (campus novel/dark academia, the m/m is mostly subtext, heavy style of writing but so worth it, shakespeare abound, please read it)

- Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio (a halloween-y mystery novella about rats, mushrooms, academia and journalism, a Very Slight f/f element but its enough for me to put it here)

- The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater (YA, fantasy, literally so good, not much of the m/m romance but when it happens it HAPPENS, 5/5 im obsessed with this series)

- The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler (a short sci-fi novel about bringing mammoths back, multiple povs, one of those is focused on a gay couple - which is irrelevant to the story but i loved the book so im using this opportunity to promote it)

- When Among Crows by Veronica Roth (polish folklore inspired urban fantasy, a 3 person found family, very short (160 pages) and reads quickly, if youre polish yourself though be prepared for cringing - language errors abound, a little m/m)

- Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke (a short epistolary novel about a guy with an office job whose soul got sucked into the Slack app. written entirely in Slack messages. VERY funny, quite thought-provoking and at times beautiful! has a small sprinkling of m/m)

less than 4 out of 5 stars but i read them so ill state my opinion anyways

- A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo (YA, wlw - bi/les, great writing boring story, gnc lesbian compared to a boy later revealed to identify as nonbinary, homophobic slurs "reclaimed", cheating, unfinished sideplots)

- Ash by Malinda Lo (YA, wlw, bi/les i think, fairytales, fantasy, uncomfortable het age gap, moral of the story - love triumphs all)

- The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun (YA, mlm, gay/gay?, lots of awkward internet popculture references, slurs, writing mostly fun and engaging but at times felt like an educational PSA)

- The Coldest Touch by Isabel Sterling (YA, wlw, les/bi, marketed as lesbian Twilight - do not be fooled, the author is weird abt race too though, the romance isnt really fleshed out)

- These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever (mlm, an attempt at dark academia, the start was interesting but then it turned into disgusting fetishization of violence in a gay relationship, written by a tif and you can tell)

- Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (the mc is bi and her best friend is a lesbian, the characters are all awful, it kinda felt lesbophobic at times but i dont have proof)

- Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (wlw, YA, as you can guess fake dating, also rivals to lovers iirc?, its nice but just didnt catch my attention much)

- A Million to One by Adiba Jaigirdar (wlw, YA, a heist on the Titanic, i dont know why i keep giving this author a chance, you need to suspend your disbelief so much its inadvisable for atheists to read it)

- Honeymoon for One by Rachel Bowdler (winter holiday romance, les/bi ("pan"), lots of grief and conflict and not enough of the romance developing, so many awful mothers??)

- Running With Lions by Julian Winters (YA, mlm bi/gay, the writing isnt that good, a bit of misogyny)

- Don't Want You Like a Best Friend/More Than a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban (victorian era les/les romance, a very light read - dont expect a historical drama, theres a large focus on other m/f pairings. warning: lowkey step-sibling "incest" - read the book description)

- You're the Problem, It's You by Emma R. Alban (sequel to the previous position, victorian era mlm gay/gay romance, dont expect historical accuracy here)

- You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron (wlw YA slasher horror with supernatural elements, the final girl trope plays a big role, i dont read horror often but this one is not good even though i like the author)

- The Magic Between by Stephanie Hoyt (gay/bi mlm, main character with OCD, an interesting though maybe overdone magic system, overall though just a goofy tumblr romance - nothing special, but good fun)

- The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch (bi/? mlm, holidays with magical royal families, romcom but not a lot of the rom - you can tell the author usually writes fantasy and not romance, fun and silly but nothing amazing)

sekcja polska 🇵🇱

- Noce za nocami i Noce aż po wieczność autorstwa Małgorzaty Wilk (wampiry w Warszawie, pierwsza książka homo m/m druga bi w/m - ale oryginalna parka nadal na pierwszym planie, dużo drugoplanowych postaci lgb i innych par jednopłciowych, nie ma żadnych slurów ani praktycznie nic o trans, lekki i bardzo zabawny styl, bardzo przyjemna dylogia)

- Zanim dojrzeją granaty autorstwa Rene Karabasz (bułgarska powieść o specyficznym stylu, główna bohaterka jest lesbijką i albańską burneszą - zaprzysiężoną dziewicą)

- Pawilon małych ssaków autorstwa Patryka Pufelskiego (pamiętnik geja wyłoniony jako najlepszy w konkursie na pamiętniki osób LGB/T przez co został wydany oddzielnie od reszty, świetnie napisany, bardzo prawdziwy i wzruszający)

- Krew, która nas dzieli autorstwa Edyty Prusinowskiej (główna bohaterka jest bi, jest też istotna postać lesbijki która gra hetero femme fatale ale jest ciekawa, YA, wampiry, fajna lekka lektura, szybko się czyta)

- Córki tamtych wiedźm i Prawdziwe wiedźmy autorstwa Weroniki Łodygi (dylogia wlw, les/les?, middle grade, mało romansu w pierwszej części, Hogwart ale polski i tylko dla dziewczyn, główny wątek rozwija się dość późno)

- Lato w pionierskiej chuście autorstwa Kateriny Silvanovnej i Eleny Malisovej (m/m o gejach na pionierskim obozie w ZSRR, spoko koncept ale słabe wykonanie, diabelsko potrzebuje redakcji)

[scariusaquarius]

the ghost on the shore.

Nixie! Leon Kennedy x Fem! Reader

Summary: After the sudden death of your nephew, a sudden detail about that strange lake within the woods piques your curiosity. Unable to withstand the temptation, you decide to see if the legends of the lake were true. Do you wish to reap what you sow?

-

A/n: LOOK I KNOW I WAS GONNA WRITE A LUIS SERA FIC BUT I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. I've been dying to write this and since I have motivation (i always do when i'm not at my house for some reason) I was finally able to just sit down and power through this. I hope you guys like it!! and yes, john and jack are from red dead. sue me.

also i listened to this as leons violin music &lt;3 and this

-

Genre: Folklore, Horror, Angst Rated: Mature Warning: Death, Drowning, Child Death, Cursing, Nudity, Graphic Depictions of Death, Suicidal Thoughts, Slight Gore, idk what else

-

Author: ScariusAquarius

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The water was still.

Sunlight filtered into the lonely forest as twilight entered the realm, covering the trees and floor of the woods in a bittersweet golden jade glow. The birds did not sing, the trees did not whisper, and the animals did not dare make a step as the man played his violin.

He was sitting atop of a mossy and algae-covered rock in the middle of the large lake, his slender fingers skillfully sliding and pressing upon the frets as his rosined bow glided along strings. His music was melancholic; despondent in its tune yet haunting all the same as the sounds bounced off the water and into the air.

Despite the sad melody, he always did enjoy playing his violin for the earth, even though it would often bring unwanted guests to his lake; his home.

He knew he was being watched.

The man, if the divine could call him that anymore, could feel eyes upon him from just beyond the shore. They had been standing there for a few minutes now, enchanted by his violin just as he intended.

He knew it would not be long until the unsuspecting child would give into the whisper within his youthful mind to wade into the waters, and the second his little feet would grace the top of the lake, the man's beautiful song would have to come to an end.

The man turned to the boy on the shore, looking at him with his bright blue eyes, quietly beckoning him to come closer. Listen to my song.

Poor little boy, the man had to think as the boy began to walk into the water, he would not last very long. As the water rose to the boy's chest the closer the child got, the more excited the man's music became. Instead of the haunting melody it had been before, now there was a playful; almost jovial tune beginning to cut through the light of twilight.

The water was up to the boy's neck now, and the man's toes were beginning to curl in excitement as he continued to quietly beckon the child. How much longer would it take? How much more patience would he have to extend to the little child whose little feet could only move so fast in such frigid waters?

The little boy was under the surface of the water now, slowly swimming his way to the rock in which the man sat, little arms flailing as the boy swam the best that he could. The man's music gradually went into a crescendo, going back to that haunting tune, but this time, his melody spelled out disaster.

Tragedy was afoot, and the second the boy placed his hands upon the rock and broke the surface, gasping for air, the man couldn't help but to smile. Allowing the boy to sit with him, the man was almost vibrating with anticipation. The very second that his song came to an end, the man placed down his violin before grabbing the boy by the neck and diving deep down into the water; dragging him down into unnatural depths unusual for a lake.

The water slowly rippled.

-ONE WEEK LATER-

The tears still had yet to dry as you sat on the edge of your bed. Within your hand was a picture, the edges frayed from how much you had been handling the memory, and you bit your lip as you stared down at the boy smiling so widely at the camera.

Your nephew had only been 6 years old.

It had been a complete accident, your brother told you. John had been out in the woods hunting mushrooms with his son when he had decided to make camp since it was getting dark. Jack had claimed that he needed to go to the bathroom, and when he didn't come back, John had tried to search for him. Nightfall, however, came so fast that John was forced to wait until morning.

And then John found Jack's boots by the shore of the lake, and he knew what had happened. When they pulled Jack's clothes out of the lake, John was in so shocked and upset that the medics forced him to go to the hospital.

He'd begun drinking ever since.

When John told you the news, you had been devastated. You had just seen Jack that day, and you could still remember how excited Jack had been to go camping and mushroom hunting with his father. God only knew how much Jack liked being able to spend time with his dad when John wasn't too caught up on work.

Jack's funeral had been earlier in the day. Friends, family, and many of the townfolk who knew and loved Jack had attended. Nobody said a word about John's intoxicated state as he stood before the preacher and the grave, swaying and fiddling with his flask. Eyes ringed in red, bags beneath them, stinking of body odor and cigarettes, John hadn't spoken a single word.

Nobody blamed him.

So, now you sat within Jack's bedroom, looking at all the books that still had bookmarks in them that Jack wouldn't be able to finish, all the model boats and hunting gear his father had bought for him, taking in the scent of the vanilla cookie wax melts Jack always begged John to buy because of how 'yummy' they smelled, as he had said it.

You missed him terribly.

There was a shuffle within the doorway, and you looked up to see John standing there, nursing his flask and swaying as he tried to blink the bleariness of his eyesight away. He couldn't even look into the room, staring down at his muddy boots, and you felt an urge to suddenly cry as you stared at your brother.

"They keep saying the man in the lake got the boy."

His gruff voice was bitter, his grey eyes dark as he glared down at the floor and shifted to catch himself as he suddenly lost balance, and you shook your head. John was quiet for a moment before he whispered, choking up as he held a hand to his mouth.

"I looked away for a second...let him go to the bathroom like he wanted to and he was gone."

"John..."

Your voice was small, confused on what exactly to say, and John shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut as tears filled his eyes.

"I hadn't even noticed Jack was gone for too long...had I been more diligent...god, it should have been me."

John fell to his knees, sobbing, and you gathered your brother up into your arms, sniffling as his tears invoked your own. You whispered, not trusting yourself to be able to hold back any sobs alongside John if you spoke any louder.

"It wasn't your fault, John. They said his foot got caught on a fallen tree beneath the water."

"It was the man in the lake, (Y/n). He got him. He has my son."

Legends in the town spoke of a spirit that lived within the lake. Sometimes, he appeared as a man playing the violin, and sometimes, he was a beautiful and majestic stallion that would allow his victims to climb on before dragging them to their watery deaths. Many children and women had gone missing when visiting the lake, but there was never an explanation for why.

One minute, they were there, and the next, they vanished; never to be seen again. Nobody really knew if the legends were true, but the bodies of the missing were never recovered. Only some personal belongings here and there.

That's why Jack's death was so hard. There wasn't even a body to bury. Just an empty casket filled with stones to give a false sense of human body weight.

But even you could tell the casket had been too heavy while pall-bearing.

John was sobbing for a minute before suddenly, snores wracked his body, and you couldn't help but to clutch your brother tighter. Using all your strength, you lifted the broken man up and laid him down on Jack's bed, taking his boots off for him before quietly shutting the door.

Making your way down the stairs, you could see a few of the townsfolk standing in the kitchen, all of them nursing a few drinks and snacks that you had made for after the funeral. They were whispering to themselves, but you could hear the words coming out of their mouths.

"I'm telling you, it was the man in the lake. That boy got enchanted and he got him."

A woman, a lady that you recognized to be the owner of the public library in town, shook her head.

"Daniel, you know there ain't no such thing. Jack probably wanted to go swimming, but you know he hasn't learned how to yet. He was supposed to start lessons with his aunt next week."

A much older fellow that owned the gunstore just beyond the library curled his lips into a grim expression. He was nursing a beer, courtesy of John after he filled the refrigerator with the alcohol.

"Leah, I've been in this town long before you both ever saw the sunrise upon this place. Children, women...they've been disappearing for years...every single one of them...that lake is cursed...has been since this godforsaken town began."

When they noticed you, their expressions of grim secrets and fear was washed off of their faces only to be replaced with looks of sympathy. You swallowed thickly, suddenly angry as they all began to open their mouths to speak, and you couldn't help but blurt out.

"Keep that shit about the man in the lake to yourselves. My nephew is dead, and now my brother is ranting and raving about the damn thing. Jack drowned. No man in the lake got him. The boy fucking drowned. That's all there is too it."

Your voice was shaking, small despite the bite to your words, and you couldn't even bother to wait around to hear what the people had to say. At the moment, you couldn't even care. You couldn't care what any of them had to say.

All you cared about was Jack and your brother.

Sighing heavily when you got out the door, you ran a hand over your face and felt the urge to scream at the top of your lungs. You were trying so hard to hold it together, but it was so hard. For years, you were the one to keep a level-headed mindset. You were the oldest sibling, so it was by design that you were the one to stay calm in dire situations.

But being strong suddenly didn't feel good anymore.

Would it have been different had you been there with them? John had asked you to go, but you had already picked up an extra shift at work to make a bit of extra money so you weren't so worried about being able to pay John's rent that he was behind on to help him out, let alone your own rent.

Biting your lip, you shook your head and glanced at your shoes. They were a bit dirty from walking through the muddy grounds of the cemetery for Jack's funeral, and so you decided that it would be best to call it a night and go home to clean them.

You would think more in the morning.

-TIMESKIP-

It was noon the next day. Your shirt was sticking to your back from all the sweat that was running down your spine as you moved boxes off of the delivery truck and into the shop that you worked at in town with your brother, the hot summer sun beating down on you as you unloaded the vehicle.

The auto shop was fairly empty, save for a few mechanics that weren't on-call and instead working on the vehicles parked inside that still had yet to be fixed. Nobody would speak. It was almost as if they were afraid that you were surrounded by glass and any word they would speak would shatter the box and shatter you next.

You were actually thankful.

Less speaking meant more time to focus on doing your job, and more focus meant you got the job done faster and were able to go home. The sound of the door to the front office opening caught your attention, and you looked over your shoulder to see the boss, a man named Chris, walk in. His brown eyes were firm, steely in his reproach as he made his way to you.

To the rest of the people in the shop, it would look as though Chris was angry, but you knew that expression of worry any day of the week.

"How are you doing?"

You almost grimaced as the words left Chris' lips.

"Doing just fine, I suppose. Just...trying to work and get through."

Chris was quiet for a moment before he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Listen, I know that you usually just deal with things and don't give yourself any real time to process stuff before you go ahead onto the next shit, but I think you should take some time off. I know how much Jack meant to you."

You frowned heavily, stating firmly.

"Chris, I can't just take time off of work. I have bills to pay."

"I'll make it paid leave. I just don't want you to drown in work after what happened with your nephew and the man in the lake."

The man in the lake. Ever since that day, that's all you ever heard. It was hard to bite your tongue and not give your boss any lip, but in the end, you knew it would be futile. Chris was as stubborn as a mule. Whatever he set his mind to, he did it with no second thoughts nor hesitation.

Hell, you were sure he would punch straight through a boulder if he really wanted to, so you just set the last box down onto the dolly and slammed the door shut to the delivery truck before silently walking away.

As you walked down the street towards your car, your eyes caught attention of a newspaper headline from the paper one of the older business owners always read during his mornings in the diner.

MAN IN THE LAKE STRIKES AGAIN: CITY COUNSIL SEEKS ANSWERS

You were certain that you drove 90 the whole way home. When you arrived, John was sitting on the couch in a pair of shorts and a tank top, nursing a beer as he sat in front of the TV. The news was on, the news anchor speaking solemnly.

"Locals are petrified once more as the Man in the Lake strikes again. Tragically, six year old Jack-"

You shut the TV off with a furious click of the remote, John's drunken eyes glaring at you as he slurred out.

"What the fuck. I was watching that."

You shook your head, throwing the remote down onto the coffee table haphazardly, the back of the remote falling off and the batteries rolling onto the carpet below.

"I don't give a shit, John. You're drinking yourself into a grave next to Jack's if you keep going on like this."

John scoffed, muttering as he took another deep drink.

"It'd be best if I did. I'm a piece of shit father that should have never taken him out there."

You grabbed the beer from his hand, giving the man a harsh look.

"Johnathan. I know losing Jack was hard. I'm having trouble even trying to keep it together, but drinking yourself to sleep every night won't bring him back."

John looked angry, opening his mouth to speak, and you sat down in front of him, forcing his hands into your own as you added.

"I miss him. I miss his laughter, his reenactments of whatever fairytale he was reading at the moment, and his cute nose...I miss him being excited to see me when I got time off of work to come hang out with him...I miss watching him devour ice cream like he hadn't eaten in days."

John was quiet, staring at you as tears welled up in his eyes as you sadly laughed, clutching John's hands tightly as you whispered.

"I miss him too, John...and there's a part of me that feels like I'm to blame too because I didn't go on that trip with you guys. Had I been there too, maybe it would have been different. He'd be here with us, watching his cartoons while stuffing his face with your nasty excuse for spaghetti."

John couldn't help but to snort before he began to suddenly sob, clutching your hands as he ducked his head low, stringy hair falling into his face and hiding his expression from you.

"I feel like such a piece of shit, (Y/n). I wasn't a good father, but I tried to be. Ever since...ever since she left, it's been hard...I just didn't think I'd fuck up this badly."

"John, it wasn't your fault. None of this was your fault. He wandered off when he knew he wasn't supposed to, fell into the lake, and you and I both know that he didn't know how to swim."

John shook his head, his voice so quiet that you almost didn't hear him.

"I know it was him, (Y/n). I know he took my son and killed him. They never found Jack's body."

You knew what he was referencing. The man in the lake. The evil spirit of the water. The fictional legend the town made up to soothe their grieving hearts. It was almost futile to even tell John that it wasn't real, so you simply sat there with John as he cried, his grip so tight that your fingers had started to go numb.

You'd worry about the ache within your chest in the morning.

Instead, when John had passed out from the drunkenness and the tears he had cried, you had laid him down again and wrapped him up in a blanket. It was hard to watch him become the shell of a man you once knew, but grief was never easy. Jack wasn't your child, so you'd never truly understand the pain, but your heart was just as broken.

You were just trying to stay strong for your little brother.

Settling into your bed, you sighed as you stared up at the ceiling. Sleep was hard to come by nowadays, but you could feel the exhaustion finally catching up to you. Your eyes closed, and you were suddenly dreaming.

You dreamed of water, of hands pulling you under, of cyan eyes that glowed with malice within the murky waters of the lake.

A violin was playing.

The water was still.

-TIMESKIP-

You didn't tell John about the dream. In fact, you didn't tell anybody about it knowing they would stir up a ruckus about how the 'man in the lake' was now coming after you or something stupid like that. You chalked it up to being exhausted and from how much you've been hearing about the damn legend since Jack's death.

Sighing into your cup of coffee, you bit your lip as you stared out of the diner window. The place was busy for a Sunday, most of the customers coming in from the Church down the street, and you could hear a couple talking to each other from behind you. The second they mentioned the legend, your ear automatically tuned in.

"It won't be long until another poor soul goes near that lake, James."

The old man named James sighed, pausing to either take a bite of food or drink his coffee before speaking again.

"None of the youngsters in the town believe in the legend. They haven't been around long enough to know. I keep telling the mayor to put up warning signs, but he won't budge."

The woman scoffed, muttering bitterly.

"That old crone never believed either. The first few deaths, he reported them as being bear attacks!"

James huffed.

"They just don't know any better, Loretta. The man in the lake isn't seen by anyone and lives to tell the tale, so they just don't know."

Your coffee cup was empty, food already eaten, and you were beginning to grow irritated. You were about to ask for the check when the woman named Loretta asked James.

"Do you think the boy was having dreams? Rose said that her little girl had dreams about the man in the lake before she disappeared."

The man hummed deeply, replying lowly.

"We probably won't ever know. God knows the boy's father and aunt are too distraught to think of such a thing, and I've heard from Daniel that the aunt don't believe."

When the waitress came, you silently gave her the money and left, chair screeching from how fast you had stood up and tried to get out of the diner.

You hated small towns.

You hated that everyone knew your business, that everyone you passed gave you such sad and sympathetic eyes, and you hated that everyone was blaming some dumb legend for Jack's death. In a weird burst of determination, you were eager to prove them wrong. You were eager to prove the town that there was no such thing as the man in the lake.

So, you decided that you would make your way to the woods. Sending John a quick text about how you were running some errands and would be back soon, you shut your phone off, got into your old beat-up pickup truck, and began driving towards the forest.

The whole time you drove towards the forest, your knuckles were white from how taut the skin was pulled over bone as you gripped the steering wheel. Man in the Lake this, man in the lake that, why did it always circle back to that dumb man and the lake?

Slamming the truck door shut, you left your phone in the truck, grabbed a pocketknife, a small flashlight just in case, and some granola bars. The lake wasn't too far, but just far enough that you would probably get a bit hungry on the way there.

Weaving in and out of the trees, ducking beneath leaves and long branches, hopping over fallen logs, you were a woman on a mission. You weren't exactly sure what time it was when you began to near John's camp, but the trees were beginning to block out the sun, the forest surrounded within the light of twilight.

It was odd for lunch time.

John's tent had been packed up, his and Jack's personal belongings already recovered, but you could still see the blackened sticks and logs of an old campfire. Looking around, you began to wonder where exactly the lake was located.

Deciding to go with your gut, you took a right and began to walk, a strange sense of foreboding coming over you. The birds did not sing, the trees did not whisper, and the animals did not dare make a step. It was as if the forest had frozen over, keeping itself still as the sudden tune of a violin began to echo through the environment.

It was...beautiful. To you, it sounded sad; a tune of sorrow that had your skin pricking with goosebumps. Who would be out here playing the violin? Maybe one of the townsfolk who didn't believe in the man in the lake was playing for Jack.

The closer you got, the more relaxed you started to feel. The notes soothed you, filled you with a sense of serenity, and you found your feet to be moving on their own. When you arrived at the shore of the lake, you were shocked into such a stupor that you could not move.

A man was sitting on top of a large rock in the middle of the big lake.

Water dripped from his legs, his toes just skimming the surface of the water, and his skin was deathly pale. HIs hair was brown and long in the front, cropped slightly short in the back in the style of a 90's fringe. His eyes were closed as he played his violin, his fingers skillfully pressing and sliding against the strings of his haunting instrument, and you were almost dumbstruck by the way his cupid lips parted to let out a small breath.

He wore no clothes, simply in the nude and thankfully facing to the right so you didn't see anything more than you needed to. His music became slightly louder, and you could hear the slightest whispers in your mind to come closer. Listen to my song.

Your feet dipped into the water, and the water was so cold that you were shocked completely out of the strange trance the man had placed you under.

His eyes finally opened, and they were the most beautiful shade of blue that you had ever seen.

The man turned to you, brows furrowed as his music suddenly stopped, and you were frozen from the fear as his eyes glowed just the slightest within the light of twilight. The two of you stared at one another for a very silent moment, and the wind suddenly blew, making you shiver.

Your voice was soft and shaky as you whispered.

"So they're true?"

The man was silent, simply staring you down with an expression of irritation yet curiosity. He began to play his violin again, the tune more foreboding and disastrous, and you could feel another whisper against your mind.

Come closer. Listen to my song.

Your feet would not move. Something kept your feet planted firmly in the ground, and the man finally turned towards you, his violin becoming angry. The wind picked up, but the water of the lake did not budge. It stayed deathly still, as if it only wanted to ripple if you stepped into it, and you swallowed thickly.

You were strangely unable to speak as if something was keeping you from interrupting the song. Fear rippled through you as well as a strong temptation to get closer. Your eyes were beginning to water from the need to blink, but you were so worried that if you blinked, he would disappear.

The man was growing confused and frustrated.

Why weren't you coming closer? Why wasn't his music entrancing you? You should have been next to him already, enchanted by his song and under his complete control. The man could feel that there was a part of you that was his, but there was another part; an unreachable part that refused to become trapped beneath his spell.

Why were you different?

It scared him. In all the eons that the spirit had lived, he'd never been refused before. Why now? Why were you suddenly an enigma? What made you so special? The man slowly made his song come to an end.

"Do you not like it?"

His voice was frustrated, almost sounding water-logged and vibrated as if he was under water. Within those blue eyes, you could see the confusion and...fear. You spoke to him, feet still planted firmly on the ground though they still felt tempted to move forward.

"It's beautiful...but I didn't come here to listen to your song."

The man looked startled, taken back as your words registered, and he hissed.

"Why are you here then? What makes you different?"

Different? Did he mean that in such a way that you weren't entranced by his song? You frowned and stated.

"I'm here to find out what you did to my nephew. Where is Jack?"

The man's eyes lit up slightly as he spoke, head tilting almost robotically as his words carried through the wind.

"He's with the others."

But where was that? The man almost chuckled as he sensed your confusion and he brought up his violin again, playing a sadder tune that almost had you closing your eyes. You could feel him digging his nails into the tresses of your mind, desperately trying to pull you in, but you shook your head and clutched at your temples.

The music was so loud, it was almost as if he was next to you, and you could hear his voice within your head repeating the words over and over like a mantra.

Come closer. Listen to my song.

Come closer.

Come closer.

Let me hold your broken soul.

You took a step back, gasping in air, and you were disoriented for a moment. Your head was pounding, heart racing within your chest, and you swore that you hadn't been breathing for a while.

The music was gone.

And so was the violinist.

The water slowly rippled.

[END PART ONE]

TAGGING: @backseatmary

[catnatch]

another souyo fic rec list!

this one is exclusively for fics that have never made it off the badbadbathouse/livejournal (to my knowledge/memory). I have my big ass list of every single souyo fill, but this one is curated with summaries, so hopefully it'll be useful to new p4 fans or anyone who doesn't know where to start with p4 on lj!

(these are all from bbbh, so the main post text for all these will be somewhat suggestive, but I will separate sfw fics from nsfw)

SFW fics!

Sunday, 7:43: I've mentioned before but my absolute fav P4 fic <3 even the prompt is the sweetest: a ficcy about the precise moment Yousuke realizes he's in love

Domesticity: Yosuke gets a gray hair :^)

Name That Tune: after Yosuke gives him a mixtape, Souji surprises him with the song he likes the most-- it goes exactly where you think but the buildup is still so good :') this one I feel like I did see on AO3 but I can't find it again if it is

The Frog in the Well (or, Yosuke and the wind.): character study of Yosuke's connection to his element (okay not so souyo but it's got such fantastic use of language...)

Sick Day: good old fashioned sick fic :') actually more of a ensemble fic rather than purely souyo, and the peeks of characterization therein are choice [warnings for vomit]

Cook the Food, Not the Kitchen: teaching the IT to cook- another ensemble fic! but souji def has plans for Yosuke in this one ;) unfinished but very amusing nonetheless

Façade: in order to go out on a public date, Souji elects to disguise as a girl. i like fics where they work thru their issues... but it's still quite fluffy! this one miiiight be on AO3 or ffn

One Way to Start the Morning: Yukiko and Yosuke talk about being in love with their best friends... as much as Yosuke can admit it anyway. realistically awkward but genuine Yosuke and Yukiko friendship, hooray! [warnings for one use of slur]

Whisperwind: Yosuke gains telepathic powers and it's too much (a sorta Carrie au). very surreal but well done horror fic (there is souyo but as you can imagine, it doesn't end well) [no smut but it is very gory so think maybe R? instead of NC-17; major character death]

Contact: souyo's relationship through touch. wonderful sense of tension and space throughout this fic, and i love viewing their progression thru one specific lens

Breaking Up is Hard To Do: Yosuke confesses... the night before Souji leaves. once again the genre is souyo/working on their issues. excellent, naturalistic dialog and not too angsty...

[untitled]: souyo told purely from other character's perspectives. unfortunately unfinished; we really need more outside pov fics !

A Special Report: "I like my women like my coffee" ngl rec-ing purely for Souji's answer ;D (nothing explicit but as u can expect from the prompt, suggestive jokes abound) also sports club trio ftw!!

NSFW fics below cut!

Play Time: Souji likes Yosuke's dick- even outside of sex! i am SUCH a big fan of casual, almost boring intimacy. adult in the best way, funny and so so domestic

The Last Breath We Take: sometime after Yosuke dies, Souji is sure he's being haunted. more bittersweet than outright sad :') (also the nsfw is very indirect and light) [warnings for major character death]

A Night Like This: Yosuke's dad finds out Yosuke's dating Souji and does not take it well. Yosuke isn't a complete pushover (but he is still a sad boy) so that's refreshing! [warnings for abuse]

Bruise My Head: Souji gets a bit fat and meets up with Yosuke years after. flashbacks (one is the short nsfw in this fic) are interspersed in this future fic, and it's an interesting examination how they might change and what stays the same (and how there's always something to work on) [warnings for eating disorders + brief self harm mention]

Technique: Yosuke totally knows what a blowjob is. totally. (smut that doesn't go perfectly >>>>>)

Its a Hard Life: Yosuke falls on hard times, becoming a prostitute and gets a regular who looks very familiar (it's Souji's dad). listen, I'm not gonna pretend that this one isn't carried by pure DRAMA and whump [warnings for dubcon + noncon]

Unfortunate Timing: souyo are having phone sex when Nanako has the WORST timing. Souji's dilemma is supremely entertaining, and we love bratty!Yosuke [warnings for Nanako? she's not a part of/aware of the sex per se but she's in the vicinity if that squicks you out]

Experience: Kanji learns a thing or two from established souyo. the Kanji pov is an interesting angle to view souyo and how well they work together [warnings for dp]

I HAVE NO DUNGEON, AND I MUST TROLL!: Yosuke has a personal blog- very personal- that starts getting hate from one anonymous Souji. this fic is unique for presenting the lj/comments true to life and there's a lovely floaty style to the offline sections; this fic is also an interesting look into Jerkji, who we don't see often in fan characterization anymore [warnings for manipulative!Souji; eating disorders (adjacent); dubcon; suicidal actions]

and finally Sympathy Crime even though pretty much everyone already knows about it AKA the fic where Adachi manipulates Yosuke into a relationship and it takes a tole on the investigation. heed the warnings of abuse, rape, torture, and suicidal thoughts/attempts seriously as the fic goes in depth to depict these, the horrifying effects, and then recovery. It does not pull any punches. The fic really understands how anyone can be susceptible to abuse and how important a support system/lack thereof is. It is incredibly well written- and that is in part because it has a message about horrendous acts of abuse. Additionally, it's a 200k+ (i think) word read so it is A Lot. Sympathy Crime is 100% not for everyone, but if you think you can tolerate reading the subject matter, there is a reason why this is a monolithic fic in P4 fandom history

[princessofmerchants]

Cassian dreaming of Gwydion and foreshadowing Ataraxia and his own HEA 😭🙌🏻

[Cassian observing Ataraxia on Rhys's desk]

"The great sword's hilt was a simple cross guard, the pommel a rounded bit of metal.

Gwydion, the last of the magic swords, had been dark as night and as beautiful.

How many games had Cassian played as a child with Rhys and Azriel, where a long stick had been a stand-in for Gwydion? How many adventures had they imagined, sharing that mythical sword between them, as they slew wyrms and rescued damsels?

Never mind that Rhys's particular damsel had slain a wyrm herself and rescued him instead."

—ACOSF, ch. 42

My absolute favorite HOFAS spoiler after the break as I lose my mind over this moment in ACOSF after having read HOFAS 🥹

I am screaming at how this moment is in ACOSF, Nessian's book — then cut to HOFAS where Cassian's badass mate Nesta slays a damned wyrm with the same magical sword he's looking at here (which she herself Made by the way 💁🏼‍♀️), the same one that makes him think of Gwydion, which in fact is in his very same mate's possession by the end of HOFAS 😭🙌🏻‼️

All the times I read this before HOFAS, there was always something kind of bittersweet and sad about the way Cass's train of thought here ends on Rhys and Feyre and how badass his High Lady is, and how grateful Cass clearly is for the way she saves his brother by loving him...

I always assumed SJM was partly leaning into the fairytale trope of dragon slaying by looking back to that very first book in the series where she brought the Middengard Wyrm onto the page and used it to further characterize her main heroine at the time, Feyre.

Little did we know SJM, with this moment in ACOSF, was also pointing to the future and, for Cassian in particular, creating an echo simultaneously forward and back in time to when his own mate would go on to not only slay the same kind of wyrm, but would do it wielding the immense power of the very same new magical sword, Ataraxia, on the table before him — and only because he loves her and trains her to wield it 😭🙌🏻

Cass is filled with such longing in this moment. I'm floored in the most amazing SJM-induced way that this longing ABSOLUTELY gets fulfilled.

And again, in past readings of ACOSF that fulfillment was legible in part by how at the end of ACOSF Nes finally claims Cass as her mate then literally saves him when she erupts and Un-Makes Briallyn, in whose thrall he is trapped. That was always amazing enough, a beautiful HEA in its own right.........

BUT TO THIS CASS OF ACOSF CH. 42 I SAY: YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE RICHES OF DREAMS FULFILLED YOUR HAPPILY EVERY AFTER WITH NESTA HAS IN STORE 😭 JUST YOU WAIT MY DUDE

(Can you even imagine how Cassian must have felt, what his reaction was when Nesta came home after her adventures with Bryce in the tunnels under Prythian, and he learned what Nesta did to that wyrm with Ataraxia? He must have melted into a mated puddle of goo to the tune of "That's my fucking mate, y'all!" 🥹)

[shinxeysartgallery]

How we feeling now that murder drones is ending?

I think it's so unfair that glitch is cancelling murder drones cause tadc is much more profitable like damn I thought they were better than this

To be fair, we never explicitly had a Season 2 confirmed and I don't think it's fair to blame TADC over it getting cancelled. From what I can tell, it seems like GLITCH and Liam both planned on there being a Season 2 at some point, but we also don't know what's happened behind the scenes. ANYTHING could've happened.

Maybe they didn't get greenlit for a Season 2? Even if they have enough funding and support from the fans for it, they can't move forward without that green light.

There's not enough funding or other resources for them to realistically work on a Season 2 right now. They're also working on TADC and the new Gaslight District and have also just now picked up helping Lackadaisy with funding. Pretty sure at least some of the GLITCH crew works on the main SMG4 channel's stuff as well. That's a LOT to work with from such a small company! It might be a case of they bit off more than they could chew. This could also indicate that it's a temporary thing, but they don't want to get peoples' hopes up in case they can't give us the coveted Season 2.

Liam could be feeling burnout and wants to work on something else. I believe Murder Drones is his longest running series, and it's been in production for at least 4-ish years, counting the Pilot episode. He could've very well lost motivation or be suffering from burnout in that amount of time!

The main series is ending, but it's because they're planning on doing something else with Murder Drones (such as a sequel or spinoff) instead of a Season 2. Up until about when Episode 7 dropped, the Murder Drones playlist was labeled "Season 1" and Liam has said in a past AMA that he planned on there being a Season 2 at some point. He could've discussed his plans for Season 2 with GLITCH and they collectively decided that a spinoff/sequel/etc. would be a better fit for Liam's ideas!

Those are just a few scenarios that could have caused its ending; it's not necessarily a "hurr durr we wanna ditch literally everything else we're working on because TADC gives the monies" situation. Obviously, unless Liam himself or someone actually from GLITCH comes out and makes a statement about it, we don't know for sure why or what caused it. But again, I think it's incredibly unfair to blame TADC over it.

As for my feelings on its conclusion though? Bittersweet. I'm so excited to see what Liam's got planned for the finale and I know it's going to be epic; it'll be so cool getting to see everything come to an end! But at the same time, I'll be sad 'cause it's over. No more excitedly waiting and wondering what's going to happen in the next episode or wondering how the current one's cliffhanger is going to resolve. Buuuut that doesn't mean it's the end! There's still a chance we could get more official Murder Drones content, but even if we don't we've got fanworks! This fandom is one of the most passionate ones I've been in and I don't think it's going anywhere any time soon, even if we never get another official piece of content.

Personally, I'm going to keep working on my AU and keep drawing my drones. The show ending isn't going to stop me! >:D

(Also lowkey is kinda good because after this episode, I don't have to worry about the next episode completely destroying some of my lore again. lol)

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

4.5/5. Releases 10/8/24.

vibes: "are we friends or have we always wanted to bone (the second one)", TIME TRAVEL!!!, sexy hilarity punctuated with emotional gutpunches, and Lite Christmas (Yule)

Heat Index: 6.5/10.

The Basics:

Powerful but reclusive witch Bowen Penhallow hires the chaotic human Tamsyn Bligh to be his personal magical-item-finder... for reasons that may have a lot to do with redemption. After months of a slowly-building working relationship that becomes genuine friendship (albeit with a lot of sexual tension) the two accidentally end up at the same wedding. Tamsyn is out to steal a million-dollar find for a mystery item. Bowen... is coming face to face with the darkest part of his past. But when a witch accidentally sends the two of them back to the 1950s, they're stuck trying to right what went wrong long ago--otherwise, they just might be trapped there (or worse) forever.

The Review:

I've really enjoyed Sterling's previous books about, you know, witches, kissing, a good bit of romcom-ery. But as soon as I learned that there was a Penhallow brother who looked like a craggy werewolf, I was like "THAT ONE". And God, his book did not disappoint. Easily my favorite of the series, The Wedding Witch takes us to a different place both physically and emotionally, while at the same time maintaining the things I loved about the previous books--a lot of humor, a lot of chemistry, and the friction two people who really wanna fuck but don't want to confront their feelings.

And the magic is kicked up a good bit, too. The series has always been pretty paranormal. Like, this isn't Immortals After Dark, but it's also far from Bewitched. You have ghosts, curses, some actual factual spookiness. Here, we go to another level with a grief-stricken witch throwing Bowen and Tamsyn to a different decade... and I fucking loved the way the time travel was done.

Like, instead of getting up its own ass about How Time Travel Works, this novel goes full camp in the best way. Oh my gosh, that's that old lady we saw at wedding, but she's a YOUNG LADY now. That's the crazy father of the bride as a little, crazy boy! Those are my grandparents? Young and hot and bickering at each other?

Which is really one of my favorite things about the novel. Bowen and Tamsyn are actually thrown back to shortly before his grandparents' wedding... and they've just broken up. So it's a PARENT TRAP SITUATION. Or rather, a GRANDPARENT TRAP SITUATION. Bowen and Tamsyn (apparently) need to get his grandparents back together before the solstice! Aaaaah!!!!

Like, it gives hard Christmas movie in a lot of ways, even though the holiday is less Christmas and more Yule. For the record, though--I can be a little iffy on consuming Christmas content this far ahead of the holiday, but honestly? While there are some Christmas-y moments, the sense is more... Christmas media than Christmas, if that makes sense. I mean, I've definitely seen my fair share of time travel Christmas romcoms.

And in many ways, this was my IDEAL Christmas time travel romcom. Because first off... this is a fuckton hotter. Like. The Wedding Witch doesn't end on a chaste kiss. There are several sex scenes, and each one fully goes for it. (It's never a bad thing when the hero is all "I'm worried that I won't be gentle enough for you" and the heroine is like "PROMISE?"). The sexual tension between these two is heavy from their first meeting, and while I do think this one could fall under friends to lovers... Were they ever really friends? Did they ever see each other in a truly friendly way? Or were they just slow-motion falling in love the whole time?

While by no means is this a heavy book, there is also a kind of emotional resonance that you won't find in most Hallmark Christmas movies. I was really fucking sad about The Thing driving Bowen (and his guilt). There's one aspect of the plot here that's really bittersweet--not in any way that directly affects our romance, don't worry, this is very much an HEA, but in a way that injected some seriousness. I kind of wanted everyone to get everything they wanted in the end, but by withholding that indulgence, Sterling ensured the book hit harder.

I don't know if she'll write in this world again, but if she doesn't, she went out on a high note and didn't tie every single thing up with a little bow, which I appreciate. But to be clear: this is, overall, a very funny, adventurous book. You have a snarky teenager who actually isn't annoying, the horror of realizing your grandparents were hot and also had a fiery sex life (Elspeth and Harri were QUITE the secondary couple, and I loved every bit of pagetime they got), and some truly classic tropes. (Only one bed, sexy bathtime, very MUCH opposites-attract shenanigans.)

I read 80% of this in one sitting, and that's kind of hard for me to do at the moment. But it was just so fun! And I really wanted to see what happened next the entire time. Which is when you know a book is really good, right?

The Sex:

Like I said, you get several sex scenes, and while there's one other thing I would've liked to see on the page (it happens, it's just not directly on the page), what we do get is so good. Like. It gets hot up in this romcom. Tamsyn fantasizes a lot about Bowen before they get together, and she lets him know exactly what she does when she fantasizes (in total darkness... with him becoming QUITE responsive). There's some mirror action. There's some tree action. Look, you'll be happy with this shit.

It's always great when a book not only lives up to your expectation but surpasses them. Full of whimsy and heat and FEELINGS, The Wedding Witch is one to catch!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.