#but like maybe ponder about it just a bit?

[fakesimp]

A Gift — ft. Lighter

Fluff ; Established Relationship

A/n — Happy birthday Lighter, my love, my Champion.

You're stumped, you have no idea, what to give to the champion. Left wondering if he even remember his own birthday, he should be, right? ..right?

And now here you are, feeling restless as you watch him fight in the ring, winning every single one like the champion he is. Sometimes will glance down to you who's in the crowd, watching him landing punches to his opponent.

It's 4 days before his birthday, Burnice somehow slip up a party conversation for Lighter 3 days ago, you didn't know what the party was for until she told you that your beloved Champion's birthday is coming up. Leaving you in slight panic since you had forgotten about it and have no idea what to give him, now you feel guilty for not remembering his birthday.

So now, your attention is divided into two, watching him in the ring whilst also trying to think of what to give to him. And everything clicks after you got everything planned, it's not too much, not too fancy, but you believe this is enough for him. He probably won't be too fond of anything too fancy right?

So a new day arrives, the first thing you do in the morning, is admiring your man beside you, leaving a short kiss on his forehead, before leaving the bed— well that was the plan till he pulled you back down, postponing your plan for a bit.

"Where are you going at such early hour? I thought we're gonna be all cuddly and things today." He said, seeming a bit sour at the thought of you leaving so early. His arms around your waist, preventing you to leave the bed. "C'mon, just a bit longer. M'tired, can't you pity this champion for a bit?" He let out a groggy chuckle at his own words, "You're the one that's being unexpectedly clingy, not that I'm complaining.." You lowered yourself down, pulling his head close to your chest as you ran your fingers through his hairlocks. Earning a satisfied hum from the male in your arms, maybe you can relax for a bit and start your plan a little late.

After postponing for almost 3 hours, huddled in bed with him, now you're on your way to the flower shop in Lumina square, Dew Gardening Shop. Planning to buy a bouquet for him, and will take the bouquet on his special day. You ponder what flower to buy though, it took you a good while to figure out what flower to buy and you end up with multiple, Red Orchids, Red and Pink Carnations, Red Tulips, Edelweiss, and The classic red roses.

They're mostly red, you chuckled at the choices, maybe his red scarf truly made him so identic, you couldn't even go anywhere without associating the color red to him. Red equals Lighter. After you're done, you told Orchidea that you'll pick them up exactly at 27th.

The bouquet is done, now it's the present, you tried to go here and there, for almost 2 days, you couldn't find it, and you finally relents and asked for Caesar's help to find it.

It's a bell, A Guardian bell. For him.

Thank the God's above the girls helped you finding one, and bought one for you, Burnice was so ecstatic when she knew you're preparing a present for him, though you are feeling quite, not well with the choice you did.

"Hey, it's okay, it's the thought that counts. You preparing a gift for him, i bet he's going to feel all giddy receiving one from you" Lucy said, patting your back as you stare at the small gift that's already wrapped tidily by you. "Yeah! I bet Lighter will love it! Maybe he'll even show them off too." Burnice added, the girls truly made you feel better.

"Thank you guys, I appreciate it. A lot."

And so the day of his Birthday arrives, your eyes flutter open at the sound of your alarm, turning it off you turned to the man beside you, who's sleeping facing down, wearing absolutely nothing on the top, exposing his back for your eyes to see.

The sight of his scars adorning his skin, made you slowly trace your fingers on them, feeling his muscle tensed up under your touch. You then heard a grumble coming from him, he turned his head to you. His hair is literally covering his face. Making you chuckle as you brush them away, "Good morning My Champion." You greeted him, scooting closer to kiss his temple. His arm draped over your waist, pulling you close, he pecked your lips. "Morning.." he replied groggily, you can never move on from how hot he sounds every morning.

You ran your fingers through his hairlocks, hearing him letting out a content sigh as he nuzzled his face to your neck. "Are you leaving early again?" He asked, it's because the last few days you really left him at such early hour, leaving this needy man all alone in bed. Though he didn't want to bother you about it, so he let you go. But today he seemed a bit more clingier than usual, he doesn't seem like he's going to let you go anytime soon.

Last night before you part ways with the girls, you asked them to bring the bouquet for you, somehow your guts are telling you in the morning the man himself won't let you go.

And it actually happened.

"No," You play with his hair as you reply in a whisper, "I've done what I need to do, we can spend the rest of the day together." You added, earning a soft hum from him. "Caesar told me that I'm getting a day off today, I don't know why, I can't really argue with her so, I don't know what to do now." He kissed your neck after he explained his situation, it was you who asked her to tell him to get a day off today. You love her and the girls for being such an amazing wingman.

"Well, I also don't know what to do, maybe we'll figure it out as the time goes on." You press your lips on top of his head, now what you have to do is to wait for the perfect moment to give the present.

But when will that time come? Is it okay to give it to him now? You feel the excitement building up for giving him the present, but at the same time you feel nervous for his reaction. Afterall what you bought for him is something small, but as the girls said, it's the thought that counts. And the present you're planning to give holds so much meaning for bikers like them, since they ride so much into the dangers.

Ah, whatever! You pouted and shook your head, you poked his back, making the male that's currently on your chest wiggled slightly at that action. "What?.." "Get off for a minute, I need to get something." He didn't move for solid 10 minutes, until he begrudgingly move himself from on top of you. "You're not leaving me again now are you?" "No Lighter, I'm just getting something from the wardrobe. Wait there okay?"

His words made you chuckle, he really such a loveable man. Making you want to spoil him with love, much love. You went over to the wardrobe, rummaging through them trying to find that small wrapped gift for him, after you found it. You hid them away from his sight, you saw him laying there, on his sides, the blanket covering nothing, just from his hips all the way down to his foot.

His bare chest exposed for you to admire, his messy hair, his eyes looking at you with so much love and tinged with curiosity. "What you got there?" He asked, his eyes following you as you walk over to his side of the bed, sitting by the edge, he looked at you. Waiting, for your explanation at least.

But just as you're about to explain, someone's knocking by the door, making both of you just jolted in surprise, "I'll get it, stay in bed." Lighter was just about to hop off before he just lay back down again chuckling.

Closing the door of your shared bedroom, you hurriedly went to the front door, it was the girls, smiling at you whilst holding the Bouquet you ordered from Orchidea, "Thank you so much." You whispered, hugging them for a moment before stepping away, earning a whispered good lucks from them before they leave.

Walking back to the bedroom, holding the Bouquet, standing by the closed door, you placed the small gift in between the flower. You contemplate for a moment, should you just walk in or do you call him to go outside. After a good minute of contemplation, you decided to go in, only for you to see the door swung open with him looking down at you holding the Bouquet in hand.

"I," He blinked, staring down at you. "Wait, what day is it today, did I miss our anniversary—" "Lighter no, you dork." You let out a hearty laugh as you hid your embarrassment behind the bouquet. "It's your birthday, I couldn't get you anything.. so I bought you a bouquet and .. that little gift"

You heard a small 'oh' from him, soon enough you felt his rough hands brushing against yours as he took the bouquet off your hands, he stared at the flowers, and then at the gift. Curiously shaking the tiny box, he heard small jingles. "You didn't have to," he said before leading you and himself to the living room, sitting down by the couch together. He put away the bouquet as he stare at the small gift in his hand, "Is this what I think it is?" He asked, you simply shrugged and smiled at him.

He raised a brow, before sighing lovingly at your lack of response, slowly he unwrap the gift, he was so careful with it as if it was the most fragile thing. The moment he sees what the gift is, you see how his lips parted slightly, taking out the bell, he sway them in between his fingers. Hearing a soft ring from it.

"it's not much but I—" "I love it." He beat you to it, "I love it so much, I, thank you." He look over at you, "I'll place this on my bike," he went over to you, sitting on the floor. He pulled you by the waist, "Lighter—!?" The position is so weird at first, but you work it out, you're sitting by the couch, him literally draping half of himself over your lap, hugging you by the waist. "Thank you so much," He said again,

Oh my god, is he, crying?

"Oh Lighter," You immediately coax him to get up, hugging him properly as he slightly shook in your arms, cooing at him oh so gently as you pat his back and put your hand at the back of his head. "I never thought you're gonna react like this over a bell—" You whispered, you felt his arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you close he whispered. "You will never believe me when I say, I have been waiting for you to give me that bell for so long, I thought, Maybe I should just give it up." He admitted. Making your heart clench, you hug him closer, his face buried at the crook of your neck.

"But now that I have it, I, I don't know what to say," You can feel his body tremble as he took a deep breath, "... Thank you, so much.." He thanked you for the nth time. You then heard another whisper that made your heart skipped a beat—

"I love you, please don't ever leave me."

"I won't, and will never be. I love you too, Lighter, My Champion."

©fakesimp . 2024 ; Do not copy/translate/use for ai

[nerdygaymormon]

In thr garden of eden why would god force Adam and eve to disobey him in order to move forward and keep all his commandments? Why wouldn't he just give them the choice of whether or not to eat the fruit (like maybe offering it to them and they can say yes or no) without commanding them to not do it? God being all knowing, he knows Satan will coerce eve and she'll eat the fruit anyway. I'm mormon and so confused about that part

You're on the right track in that these stories were written to get us to ponder their meaning, what are we supposed to learn from them, what lessons about life can we glean?

Here’s one thing to remember, no one has come up with a satisfactory explanation, it’s left a quandary for us to puzzle over.

I think most Christians view the Fall as a mistake, that we were all meant to live in the Garden and have idyllic lives. That certainly is not the LDS viewpoint.

As Latter-day Saints we have 5 versions of this story: 2 in Genesis, 1 in the Book of Moses, 1 in the Book of Abraham, and the 1 presented in the temple endowment. They differ from each other and the things we can learn from each of them differs accordingly.

There’s two main LDS theories I’ve heard taught. The first is that people are here on earth to learn and grow, how can this happen without choices to make? By giving conflicting commandments, God is forcing Adam and Eve to choose.

The other main LDS theory is that God created them perfect and for them to experience the sufferings and degenerative effects of mortal life and death, God didn’t impose it on them, they had to choose it in exchange for the opportunity to grow and progress. I think this idea is a bit problematic for people who believe Adam & Eve are historical and were the first humans, why would Adam & Eve get to make that choice for everyone? But if we think of them as symbolically representing humankind, then we chose to come to earth and encounter the hardships of mortal life for the opportunity to progress to become like God.

There’s some other theories. One fits with Elder Oaks’s recent conference talk that there are some commandments which are temporary and some which are permanent. Not partaking of the fruit was a temporary commandment, thus the conflict was going to be temporary. One version of the story says God will return with further instructions. Perhaps those instructions would include in what circumstances and timeline they were to partake of the fruit, but then Satan showed up and convinced them to do it now.

Another theory is it was done this way to demonstrate that when we’re faced with a decision, choose to be more like God even if it isn't the easier path. Eve chose to be more like God even if that brought suffering and death. We are all going to die in the end, so focus on choosing to become more like our heavenly parents.

In life, we are all going to have hard decisions to make, choose the higher law. Love is the highest law (see what Jesus said about the two greatest commandments). Eve chose love for God by wanting to be like Him. When Adam was faced with the decision, he chose love for Eve, he ate so he could remain with her.

Maybe another way to understand the predicament of Adam & Eve in the Garden is that life isn’t simple and predictable. Our understandings are limited and what we think is the correct thing to do and what we understand God wants for us can change as we get more experience/knowledge.

I hope I gave you some ideas to explore. Going beyond why would God give them conflicting commandments, what else can we learn from the story of Adam and Eve? You may be interested in some of my thoughts from this post and this one.

[istharoth]

Dancing

Ritsu Shinjo & Fem!Reader | Fluff(I swear on my heart) | can be interpreted as romantic or platonic!

Wc:1k

If there's one thing that happens at Sinostra it's the usual money-making business, courtesy of Taiga's strange luck and Romeo's bookkeeping.

If there's another thing, it's the honor student cleaning up the casino with the other Sinostra students. She's gotten used to it by now, actually but it's still a bit annoying. 

Just a few moments ago she was speaking to Ren about Christmas. Curiously enough, the ghoul didn't hate the holiday. It might've been because it was an indoor holiday or he liked the gifts he received. 

She got him something from the list he had made, alongside him, she had given gifts to the other ghouls as well. Unexpectedly, her gifts were well received and she was even gifted a few.

Heck, even Dante had a gift prepared for her. That was most unexpected. 

"Honor Student!" A Sinostra student calls from the other side of the casino, pointing at the stairs leading upstairs, "My family's calling so I'll be back quick!" 

Without even hearing a response, the student runs up, a joyous look on their face. She looks down at the glasses she was cleaning, her blurry reflection facing back at her. 

She looked...defeated. She's not sure what to call it exactly but defeated sounds right. Her hair went unbrushed for who knows how long, her eyes dead tired and her lips chapped from the cold. If Romeo saw her right now, he'd order her to take a break and make herself right stat. 

She almost wonders if sitting on the couch back home, a blanket over her head, eating cereal dunked in milk, watching crappy shows on her glitchy television as the lights from the Christmas tree would provide her some respite.

She almost wonders if she'd feel comforted had she been at home and not Darkwick. 

...Who is she kidding? She knows she would.

She's sure a few minutes have passed, maybe even an hour had passed but the students who left one by one didn't return. She doesn't blame them; working on Christmas night is something no one wants. 

Stretching her arms, she glances at the stairs leading upstairs. Only one student coming down, he's still in his uniform. 

How utterly strange. This student she knows ends all his business as soon as the clock hits 5 PM, this includes changing into more casual business clothing. 

"Inspector," He nods in acknowledgment, smiling lightly. "Shinjo, hey," She waves, walking up to him. She had finished cleaning the tables but she needed to get the dirty rag into the trash before it landed on another table.

She didn't know what she was expecting but it surely wasn't Ritsu saying goodbye to the formalities to ask for a dance. 

"Would you care for a dance?" He extends his hand, bowing into a curtsy. "Got hooked onto the Frostheim Christmas Eve party?" She raises an eyebrow, lips quirking up.

"If you need the specifics," He coughs, taking out a notepad from his breast pocket. "At exactly 14:35, at 29 seconds you were devastated at how you didn't have anyone to dance with on a romantic day such as today." He ends, putting the notepad back to where it previously was. 

She pushes back her hair, smiling awkwardly, "Did you stalk me while I was helping Ren at Mystery Diner?" He scoffs, utterly appalled at the assumption. 

"Of course not. See it as a safety measure." Right...she's definitely going to see it that way. Definitely. 

"You should trust me." He hesitates slightly, "As a business partner, that is." She huffs, crossing her arms, and staring down at him.

"So it's alright to follow me around because you're a business partner? I'd rather you be a friend if you're going to continue this." Obviously, she doesn't want him to do so, but knowing Ritsu, the likelihood of him accepting friendship is non-existent.

He holds a thoughtful hand under his cheek as if seriously pondering it. "Let's do it then." She blinks in surprise, almost dropping the dirty rag on the table she just cleaned. 

"Wha-??" She splutters, much confused at the unexpected answer. This is something she would expect out of Jin Kamurai and not Ritsu Shinjo. 

Seriously! Why would Ritsu Shinjo, a growing paralegal want her friendship?! 

"Because we are friends, would you care for a dance now?" He asks again, extending his hand. Staring at it for a moment, slightly hesitant, she sighs. 

"I never learned how to dance." He frowns, failing to understand the problem. "Dancing isn't required for most parties held for my father's law firm. As my business partner," He coughs, apologizing for his wording. 

"As my friend, all you'll need to do is be by my side." She can feel her face heat up, unbelieving of the fact she earned Ritsu's friendship. Was this seriously the Christmas miracle as said by all the 'Friendship is Power!' shows she watched as a child? 

"Well, thank you, friend." He nods, very pleased with how things are going. He puts his hand on her shoulder, his other hand holding her own. 

Ah, he knew waltz? That was unexpected of Ritsu Shinjo but at the same time, she could see him doing it. 

Mirroring his actions, she places her hand on his shoulder, quickly moving her left foot upwards. Ritsu frowns at the sudden dance move. The first step is usually left to the men, yet here he was following her lead. He can't say it's bad, really.

"Waltz?" She chuckles, "It's not unexpected." He hums, quickly moving his feet, matching his pace with hers.

"Were you lying when you said you didn't know how to dance?" He asks, undoubtedly curious about the Inspector. 

"I told you I never learned it, not that I didn't know it." She shrugs, moving her foot to her left, w a thing carefully as he mirrors her actions. 

She almost wonders if the other ghouls of Sinostra knew how to dance. Taiga seemed like a hip-hop-free style type of person whereas Romeo seemed like a tango person. 

Irrespective to anything else, she got her wish granted and she's overjoyed by the case of events.

Merry Christmas, Y/N-San." He mumbles, pushing a stray hair behind his ear. Calling someone by their first name is embarrassing but considering they were friends, it should be alright.

She blinks in surprise then giggles, "Merry Christmas to you too, Ritsu."

AN: Hi, hello, this is much later than when I was supposed to post it lol, but, Merry Late Christmas to all those who celebrate.

I hope you had a great time, and even if you didn't, I hope you can find some comfort in the following days and into the New Year's.

[sarcasticace]

What if (and i realized this might not fit within the confines of the 3-episode per act structure, but stay with me) Viktor stumbles upon the golem that would be Blitzcrank. Partially buried somewhere in the area that would become his commune. Uncovered as they started cleaning up the place. Maybe we pretend Caitlyn's strike team caused a bit more pollution than they were hoping. Some actual consequences. Maybe now under martial law, they use it more from time to time. Just to eliminate major threats. Only sometimes... and it's for the greater good. They're actually helping Zaun when you think about it. Trust them. don't trust them. Viktor knows the golems were used pre-ventilation system to help out. Not just with the Gray, but with general toxic runoff. Can't just 'stop' polluting the undercity, but they might as well clean up after themselves. So thoughtful. Viktor fixes them up. Going back into some science and mechanical engineering. He's been out of touch, but aided with some hexcore magic, baby Blitzcrank is working great! Not the Blitzcrank we know though, but he's getting there. Sometimes, Viktor sends Blitzcrank out on his own. Clean up some areas in the undercity. Maybe encounters Isha once or twice. Maybe she doodles on them. But Blitzcrank isn't quite Blitzcrank just yet.

Skip ahead a few episodes, Jayce literally claws his way out of that pit. That's when he encounters Blitzcrank. Scares him at first, but Blitzcrank is a friend. He is friend shaped. But there's something... different... about him. Something more. The way they reacts to Jayce. The way they moves. The way they follows along when people talk. Blitzcrank helps Jayce reach the peak where they both encounter Wizard Viktor.

Fast forward. We're reaching the finale. The enforcers have captured Blitzcrank.... somehow. Actually, I got it, Blitzcrank was helping Jinx, Vi, and the gang. As he's not fully sentient yet, Viktor didn't have a connection with him, so he was unaffected when Viktor was shot through the heart. When everything was going to shit, Blitzcrank's programming was like... welp, time to go. And tries to help everyone escape, but then everything got worse. In addition to Jinx, Blitzcrank was taken into custody by the Enforcers. They were gonna trash them, but Jayce intervenes. Jayce knows them. This is blitzcrank, a friend, but... not as he remembers them. Anyways, Blitzcrank is under custody. There's a moment of peace before the war happens. Calm before the storm. To relax, Jayce begins tinkering with Blitzcrank. It's been so long. It almost seems like forever ago since he was in the lab, creating Hextech with Viktor. And he's just so curious about Blitzcrank. He notices Viktor's handiwork immediately. Jayce replaces some old tech with modern hextech. Leaving a bit of Viktor's improvements behind. But Blitzcrank won't turn on. Huh. Strange. Jayce ponders this for a moment, but then his attention is drawn to his hammer. Not his hammer, the other him, but still... his hammer. Both originally built as tools. To help people. Now used as a weapon. To hurt and kill. He's made so many weapons. More than he ever intended. Hextech was meant to help people. Oh! An idea. There must be one here somewhere. Jayce finds a hexcrystal. Places it within Blitzcrank's core. And Blitcrank, finally, awakens. New to this world. Equal parts Jayce and Viktor. Their final creation together. Not a weapon, but intelligent life.

Blitzcrank follows Jayce around. If anyone asks, Jayce reprogrammed Blitzcrank. Personal bodyguard. No one questions him. They've got no time. Blitzcrank is present when Viktor arrives. At first, he hardly gives Blitzcrank a second glance. And they are left behind when Viktor takes Jayce upwards. That's a long way up, but Blitzcrank has to follow. He... wants to follow. Strange. He wants? Blitcrank tries making his way to the top. The big boy tries so hard. But what's this? Someone is hurt. An unconscious body on his way to the top. Blitzcrank was programmed to help Zaunnites, but.... that's not it. Something more. He... wants to help. He will help.

Just when all hope seems lost. Viktor is about to win. In comes Ekko to save the day. But he's not alone. Blitzcrank is there too. Following after Ekko on his short, heavy legs. Oh, sweet boy. He's trying his best. This is still very much Ekko's fight. Not going take away from that. Ekko is the MVP after-all. Hero of Arcane.

Perhaps Blitzcrank saves Ekko, just once, before getting overwhelmed. They helped a little bit. On impulse, let's say, Viktor's mannequin doll-soldiers tries to assimilate them. And it... works? Viktor connects to Blitzcrank. How strange, but he can't actually control him. He's kinda just... there. Well, doesn't matter, he's captured Ekko too now and nothing can- [rewind] Ekko just disappeared. Where did he... oh, there he is and he's throwing the concentrated power of time at my face.

Epilogue time. Jayce and Viktor are gone. Maybe dead, maybe in another plane of existence. Who knows? That's sad, but Blitzcrank is okay. He returns to Zaun. Maybe he's welcome by the Firelights. Who's to say? But Blitzcrank knows that's where he belongs. Patrolling the streets of the undercity. Helping people. Just like his dads wanted. Zaun has a long path ahead to becoming the greatest city Valoran has ever seen.

What do you think? I know Blitzcrank being the lovechild creation of both Viktor and Jayce isn't anything new or original, but I think I came up with something fun that could fit within Arcane canon. You know, if you just... pushed it into place real hard.

[theoxkent]

"I could never judge you because honestly? I'm also pretty happy you don't remember who it was. He doesn't need to know, this is ours." Theo said rubbing her belly with more intention once again. If anything, they'd like to know who it was just to send them an anonymous fruit basket to thank him for being a cheap sperm donor, they'll always be in debt to whoever it was. But in reality, they didn't need to know. For all intents and purpose, this was their baby. "All the way back huh? I had no idea." When they went to Italy on holiday, they did talk about maybe potentially starting a family some day, something vague but Theo wanted a family with her since... well, since forever. Since they realized they were in love with her.

"Did I? Hm," Squinting their eyes and hugging her a little closer, Theo pretended to ponder. They remembered bits and pieces and it was mostly blurry but they did vaguely remember talking to her belly and does not regret it. "What did I say to the little pea? The half baked cinnamon roll?" There were going to be so many food related nicknames for the little bean inside her, Theo knew it and hoped Imogen was ready for it.

Maybe that was why she wasn’t worrying about educating herself on what was happening right now, because she was so safe in the knowledge that Theo would have all that covered. She was in no safer hands and while some might say that was selfish of her, she’d do the same for them in a heartbeat. When they were younger Imogen had been Theo’s protector from their mum, Imogen’s family becoming their family, and when they got older those roles had swapped but that didn’t stop them both for being there for each other when needed no matter how old they got. “Thank you.” She whispered, giving them another little peck on the lips so they knew she really meant it. Especially since they’d for some odd reason thought they had to apologise for the night before when it was exactly what Imogen deserved. And Theo coming back was more than that. 

No, no it wasn’t ideal, it wasn’t how either of them had wanted to do this. In all honesty Imogen always wanted their baby to be Theo’s egg inside her, or vice versa depending on who they decided would carry the baby, but they did have a point. IVF was fucking expensive, and babies too, so add the two together they might well have thrown themselves into some nasty debt. Especially if they’d wanted to do it more than once. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry I caused this.” She was the one who needed to be apologising here after all. “I’m happy we’re going to be parents together too…and…okay do not judge me before I’ve finished my whole thought but I’m glad I have no fucking idea who the dude from the bar is because it’s not about him anyway. It’s about you and me and now we can just focus on that without any outside noise.” She giggled softly as they mentioned being elated, pressing her lips together, nodding her head as she looked at them. “We’re having the family we always wanted, the one I’d been thinking about from…shit…the first month of us dating?” Not that she’d ever confessed that. “Yeah, yeah the rest is confetti.” Hand going over theirs on her stomach as she looked down at them with a tiny smile playing on her lips. "Do you remember talking to my still very flat stomach last night as well? Because you did that - a lot." @imogen-rhitt

[theteapotofdoom]

Thinking about the early days of MHA and Tomura’s first appearance at USJ, and I’m kind of flabbergasted when I remember all the "man child" comments from the UA teachers because my boy was literally 19 at the time so like … yeah.

[forgetme-eternally-blissfully]

The White Star learns that Cale Henituse transmigrated from a body that he stole. He learns that the person inside Cale Henituse lived with the same curse that the White Star has to.

“Cale Henituse,” the White Star sneers, “or should I address the person inside of Cale Henituse?” Cale stiffens. What is this crazy bastard saying now?

“Yes, the man inside of Cale Henituse. How did my curse feel?” He shouldn’t know this information, but he does, Cale realizes. He has an informant on a god’s level. Raon flinches at these words, and Choi Han levels a deadly stare at the White Star. Oddly, Cale thinks, the blood draining from his face, it feels like he’s glaring at him. Cale doesn’t know why but it feels like he made a mistake somewhere down the line.

“You know the one. I’m sure all of your friends do too at this point as well. Was it fun? You must’ve lost your parents, or even been abandoned? Abused? Did everyone you care about die in a horrible accident?” Cale struggles against the sparking Records, trying to keep his mind on the White Star. In a way, Cale has experienced it all.

The past is the past.

“Raon, he’s stalling.” Cale whispers as quietly as he can, and Raon silently sends out the message to everyone. They need to be prepared. The White Star wouldn’t reveal this knowledge for no reason.

“Cale Henituse, you lived terribly, didn’t you? Yes, you must’ve been pathetic. No wonder you’re like this… You cling onto everyone you know but keep them at arms length, never daring to let the little bug within you know what counts as love, and what counts as use.” The White Star drifts closer, threateningly, and everyone flinches into position. Their eyes are shaking.

“You whiny bitch.” The White Star flinches, pausing in the air. “Do you think that’s how I lived? Is that how you see my actions?” Cale scoffs in disgust.

He’s wrong.

I took everything I could until everyone was gone.

I was selfish.

“We are nothing alike. We are not the same. You may be a disgusting liar, but at least I’m honest trash.”

I barely care about anything because it was always taken away. I don’t care about things because I don’t remember how.

“White Star, do you know what the difference between us is?”

Two similar existences stare at each other.

“Cale Henituse, stop rambling,” the White Star frowns.

Cale rushes at the White Star suddenly, grabbing onto his arm. Before he can shake him off, Cale whispers.

“I’ll tell it to you as a secret.”

Confident as ever, the White Star humors him. Cale whispers even quieter.

“You knew how to care before you chose to lose everything…”

“… While I never had the chance.”

An explosion erupts from their location.

Cale coughs up blood, smiling at the dour expression of his enemy.

“You throw everything away, but I hold everything as close as I’m allowed. As close as I’ve ever able to hold anything.”

Cale drops his expression, glaring up at the disgusting person in front of him.

“Just out of arms reach.”

The White Star launches an attack, and the fight begins again.

[itspileofgoodthings]

ALSO I am learning how to teach very introverted students, something my natural skillset as a teacher does not help me with.

[kittybunnycoded]

it'd be so fucking funny to ask owner about his pronouns honestly. he starts to go on a tangent about identity and why people seek it and stuff

sasaki: so... owner... i was just wondering.... what are your pronouns?

owner: my pronouns?

sasaki: yeah...

owner: pronouns are linked to the identity somehow, yes? it's hard for a being like myself to have one. humans always search for identity... why, i wonder? to give them an anchor in this world, proof that they exist? or perhaps to explore new things within the self? i don't see the point, honestly. a human's lifespan is so fleeting. they spend all their lives looking for a sense of "self" when they'll die soon enough. like wandering aimlessly through the fog...

sasaki:

owner: but, you may use any for me. refer to me as whatever you like.

sasaki: y-yeah... thanks... (what was that all about?!)

[shion2nd]

niche annoyment moment but i just saw people on tiktok complain about normies using "delulu" but then their examples of actually being "delulu" were also.. incredibly normal www

[impossible-rat-babies]

i love that eshka loves spite and that, to a degree, he sees her actions and can interpret them in his own way to understand that she cares for him. and the opposite is true as well

[nosferatufaggot]

Children and the elderly are very similar in the fact that a lot of you don't TRULY see them as actual people. We've had talks about treating children more as people because we were once children and know that we were people as children, but most of us haven't been the elderly. And it's gonna be a terrifying switch from being seen as a person to being seen as something people need to take care of for a few hours as community service and then go home.

We can empathize with children because we were children. How long until the elderly are seen as people?

[linguenuvolose]

I applied for a new job today 😩

[jrueships]

looooool lololololol

[subatomicskud]

Upgrading to new headphones: wow the sound quality of these are amazing! You can actually hear the twinge of fear in the singers voice as they're about to record the first song of their debut album.

[bookwyrminspiration]

It’s me again: the anon who wants tam to cry. However, this time I want happiness for him. It’s pride month so legally I have to be nice

He deserves cuddles. To feel so at peace that he just falls asleep on his friends. They’re too scared to move in fear of waking him- the same way most are when a cat falls asleep in their lap. Do you think he’d snore? I do, but very lightly.

OKAY I've been thinking about this so much recently, because I've been trying to figure out how much physical touch and affection I think he would tolerate and enjoy (so I can write him better according to my interpretation and style)

On the one hand, the immediate argument might be that he hates getting close to people. He's bristly in canon and is known to push back, and he doesn't trust easily, which may indicate a distaste for anyone getting up close and personal. He doesn't want anyone that close

But! On the other hand, a big thing for Tam is that aforementioned trust, and he's not always bristly. he has no problem putting people back in their place and questioning things, but he's not rude to the people he cares about. Once he trusts people, his challenges become more for amusement, he teases people a lot--case in point: teasing Sophie over Keefe throughout Lodestar, and poking fun at their awkwardness and implications (like with Dex).

And, to tie it back in specifically to touch, he's shown no problem being physically affectionate with Linh. Evidence: after he, Fitz, and Sophie were taken he wraps his arm around her as she buries her face in his shoulder. Granted, they're not touching often, but there's no hesitation or discomfort shown from Tam. instead, there's comfort offered

SO it stands to reason that while he is a prickly character and distrustful, meaning he doesn't like people close to him for trust reasons, there will be a few exceptions made for those he's especially close with. it's an external barrier, but like his sharp tongue, it's one that can be lowered once someone's earned that clearance with him. he's therefore, in this interpretation, not a universally touch averse character but it's instead all tied to trust

WHICH is especially relevant in my musings because trust is also an essential part of Fitz's character (though I won't get into it here). And I was having all these musings to figure out whether it would work with Tam's character to have them cuddle. And my conclusion is, if I've got a strongly established trust between them then yes. I can make them cuddle in character.

And I got sidetracked but yes, I think Tam lightly snoring is very possible. either that or he sleeps like stone--doesn't move or make noise at all, to the point everyone gets nervous and checks to make sure he's still breathing :)