#but then it magically all worked out with a big romantic gesture

[pike-the-monstah]

okay re: the "deconstruction" post i just reblogged, gotta say, the absolute most boring way to "deconstruct" the romance genre is usually "what if....the characters....didn't get together at the end :O" unless you've put a lot of work into exploring why they want to be together but ultimately don't work for each other, and found some other nonromantic interesting payoff for all the time spent setting up the two characters' bond. but most of the time i see it done it's just a gotcha sUbVeRtInG eXpEcTaTiOnS twist like "haha the characters don't end up together! aren't you so surprised! isn't this such a deep message about how life doesn't have a happily ever after!" and it's like no, it's fucking lazy, you literally just took the most obvious path for deconstructing romance and didn't put any more thought into it

[perfectlyoongi]

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who gave you a ring to seal your relationship. it was just a romantic gesture that made Jin happy, something that didn’t have much value beyond an oath of loyalty and fun. he asked you to choose the ring, wanting to see your preferences right from the start. would you like to have something golden on your finger that reflected all the light and magic that existed in the cosmos? or would you prefer a silver-plated ring, splashed with all the tears in the universe? whatever you wanted, Jin would give it to you and made sure you only received the best. it was with a big smile on your lips and an immense curiosity in your eyes that Jin saw you choosing something that called to you. it was in those small minutes, it was when he noticed all your smiles and the way your eyes sparkled, Jin realized that his idea had been something worthwhile – you simply looked divine when you had the entire cosmos on your tray. “don’t look too much at money. if you like it, say so. let’s try it and if it’s really chosen by you, i’ll buy it. even if it is as expensive as all the stars in the universe. this will be proof that i will always take care of you.”

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who buys you an apartment next to his so you’ll be a call away. since the beginning of your relationship Jin realized that you would be a very important person for him. he could not explain, but you had a magic capable of making Jin believe that what you both had was deeper, more special than many other relationships. as such, and knowing that he would need you at more random times, Jin was quick to find a solution. the most beautiful apartment in that neighborhood was waiting for you to appear to be bought for you. without telling you anything, Jin remodeled the apartment to your taste, always getting a reaction from you without suspicion of what was going on. and when the works came to an end and that house had many resemblance to your ideal house, Jin just gave you the key and, with a smile on his lips and pride in his heart, just told you to enjoy it. “see this as a gift of thanks for everything you have done so far. and i know you think you did nothing to deserve it, but believe when i say that without you my days would never be lived.”

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who just wants the week to end so he can be with you. when the week went by and Jin didn’t have the chance to be with you, he would show up at your house with a box of new clothes and an invitation to dinner. although you are a constant in Jin’s life, always talking to him electronically, opportunities to be together were scarce due to the divergence of your work schedules. as such, when the week came to an end and Jin knew perfectly well that there was no excuse for you to turn him down, he would invite you for a night out somewhere in the city. trying different restaurants every time, staying in the most comfortable hotel there was, you and Jin made those nights eternal in exchanges of affectionate caresses and seductive words. when the week came to an end and there was finally a chance to relax, Jin couldn’t think of anything else but you - Jin’s entire being was only able to rest when it was you who sprinkled his body with that heavenly magic from your lips. “tomorrow’s meeting was postponed, so i can stay late in the morning. this time there’s no excuse not to love me.”

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who likes it when you whisper in his ear. when Jin’s lips caressed your neck with devotion, sending shivers through your body and relaxing your mind, you couldn’t think. with your eyes closed, tilting your neck to make Jin’s worship easier, you allowed your worries to be expelled from your body with all the tenderness and care Jin had for you. wrapping your fingers in his hair and letting your entire mind become clouded by Jin’s love, you couldn’t control the words from slipping out of your mouth and brushing against Jin’s ears. and it was when you called out to him as if his name were a prayer, when you asked him to give you more, when you just lost any control over what you said, it was in those exact moments that Jin believed the world was a beautiful place – your total surrender was enough to turn that place into an ethereal eden.

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who spends every valentine’s day with you. neither you nor Jin believed that valentine’s day was a day that should exist – you both knew perfectly well that the appearance of this date was just to collaborate in the great web of capitalism that covered the world. but that didn’t stop Jin from wanting to celebrate it. yes, you and Jin weren’t really a couple, and almost no one in your lives knew of the other’s existence. but he couldn’t deny that there was a certain charm about that day. maybe it was because everything was pink and hearts, or because there were so many chocolates or stuffed animals, but every year Jin insisted on spending that day with you. and every year you always did the same thing: breakfast at your favorite cafe for you to eat your favorite cake, followed by a walk through the most beautiful gardens in the city before going to eat at Jin’s favorite restaurant. in the afternoon, after watching a movie at the cinema and eating ice cream, you and Jin would get ready for a more refined dinner where he would always offer you a rose for every moment spent with you. it was something simple, a very common and quite childish ritual – but it was something that Jin enjoyed, more for your company and shared memories than for the full meaning of that day. after all, you made every day special for Jin just by being you. “i don’t think there’s a good movie for us to watch this year, but we can always watch one at home. that way we can feel more comfortable and enjoy the day better. what do you say? you can choose the movie this time! yea?”

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who makes all your dreams come true. he liked to spoil you, make you feel special, and all he asked in return was for you to always be honest with him: what did you want? where did you want to go? what did you want to do? nothing was impossible for Jin. whatever you wanted, he would give you. you were the only important person in Jin’s life, you were the only person he knew would never leave him; yes, you might think it’s all part of your contract, but the reality is that there was something much deeper to your relationship – and you both knew it. so let Jin make you as happy as you make him. let Jin give you all the world to thank you for all the stars you stole to keep him warm. let Jin worship you and he promises that you will never live on this earth feeling inferior. everything he was, you helped him to be. whatever you wanted to be, he would help you be. everything. “everything! you might even want a unicorn riding an orangutan. you can ask for a cup full of heavenly dust to wash your face. you can want everything, the whole world, the entire universe, and i promise, i swear, that i will give it to you. even if i have to fight the gods themselves to get it.”

SUGAR-DADDY!JIN who takes you to all his family events. it was the greatest honor there could be: you meeting Jin’s family. you had to admit that when he first suggested it he made you a little nervous, and when it actually happened you almost panicked. after all, what did Jin have in his head to want you, his sugar-baby, to meet his family? was he crazy? no. he wasn’t really crazy. he was slightly in love – the difference was almost zero. so introducing you, the most important person in his life, to his family, those people he would always love, meant so much more than you could believe. in brief exchanges of words, among so many conversations and laughs, you began to integrate into Jin’s family, being seen as Jin’s shy and captivating partner, with so many people praising your relationship. like someone who cultivates a plant, your relationship with Jin germinated into an intense flower of devotion and love – everyone had to see how beautiful you two were. “thursday i have my uncle’s birthday and we’re going to the restaurant you like outside the city. do you want to come? today we could buy you a new outfit and then you can come with me.”

[mooreaux]

Silly questions ahoy. Sorry not sorry.

Who fell first, Deirdre or Gale?

Who fell harder?

Were there any things outside of the main romance plot beats that they had to overcome?

Do they have a Big Waterdhavian Wedding?

Well here is a real time pic of them realizing simultaneously that they were already neck deep in a romance without having clocked it up until that very moment

So much more rambling under the cut!

Deirdre and Gale started off as respectful colleagues. He had his little ‘o wow a warlock huh’ and she had her little ‘yeah what of it wizard boy?��� Both incredibly polite about it of course. They gravitated to one another immediately because they are both well read and spoken and kinda looked at the rest of their companions like

So in actuality they buddied up and then got teased relentlessly for being like an old married couple when neither one of them was even in the realm of romantic attraction. Gale because…. Bomb In Chest. And Deirdre having an internal incredibly well hidden behind bardic shenanigans PTSD nightmare from the horrors she witnessed during her imprisonment in Menzoberranzan.

It was only when they started sharing their magic; the weave scene, and the pic above with Dede sharing some fey vibes, that they started to shift from platonic to romantic. I would say Gale fell a little harder and faster because he just seems like that kind of person to me? Like he knows all the reasons he shouldn’t and that kinda unconsciously eggs him on even more. I’d say the crisis with Mystra’s order thru Elminster pushed them both into taking the step of actually admitting feelings tho. Dede couldn’t stand the thought of losing him. Especially to himself.

As for the last two questions… yeah. Gale’s big grand gestures got them into a bit of hot water during and post game. His constant need to prove himself worried Deirdre a lot about his self worth beyond what he could do for her. She had to go through a lot of talks with him to let him know he was enough. Just him. As he was. No magic or pageantry even tho she loves that about him too.

And of course, Dede has a TON of intimacy issues. A lot was done to her without her consent thru her life. Tadpole being the most recent offense. So she doesn’t really like surprises and has a hard time letting people in. Which is funny considering how bright and bombastic her personality is. She uses it mainly to cover the hurt. Not to say she isn’t well adjusted. She spent many many years with her patron working thru the stuff the lolthsworn drow did to her. Tadpole just kinda inflamed the wound again.

So yeah! I think it was actually several years before he even proposed. And several more after that until they got married. But the wedding was HUGE. Her family is gigantic and they have a wide social circle with the folk of Waterdeep, and Baldur’s Gate, and the Druid Grove which they still frequently visited. Gale went above and beyond constructing a castle out of flowers just for the occasion (dedes Patron helped).

Thank u so much for the ask Harding! I love my gnome gal (and i luv urs too)

[iridiss]

Garroth growing up in a blood family that doesn’t treat him with any love, so as a kid he wishes so hard for the destined, perfect love of his life to come and save him, whisking him away like a knight in shining armor, to a life where he’s truly loved, and it’s that escapism in fantasy that he’s constantly using to cope and keep himself sane growing up

He dreams of the day someone will love him, unconditionally and truly, and though he doesn’t really know what that’ll look like yet, it’s something that he just knows intrinsically in his heart and yearns for desperately. He’s a big lover, he’s super empathetic and sensitive, he has a big heart, especially as a kid. Whenever he falls for anyone, he falls HARD, but he can’t seem to find anyone who would love him back as much as he loves them (especially since people keep seeing him as The Prince and not lovey little Garroth)

Then Garroth being forced to marry a woman he had never loved and barely even met before. Marriage being used as a giant weapon to forever seal him into the horrific life as heir to the throne, as one of the permanent pieces of this broken and abusive monarchical system, when marriage and love was supposed to be one thing that got him out, and it breaks him so much that he abandons everything and runs away. If no perfect and magical knight in shining armor will save him, then he’ll do it himself, alone.

And then he meets the most romantic knight in the world.

Laurance is so extremely homoerotic and suggestive and flirtatious with him all the time, even in canon, especially in canon

Laurance loves LOUDLY and a LOT, he’s very honest and up-front about all the emotions in his heart, and when he falls in love with someone (as opposed to falling in surface-level lust with someone) he falls HARD, but unlike Garroth, he is NOT shy about it lol

Laurance sending love and affection Garroth’s way in droves, and Garroth being utterly confused and clueless about it, because no one has ever spoken to him this way, hell, I don’t think his sheltered Princely blood has even SEEN any other person talk this way. Like Laurance just honestly and bluntly telling him “Hey big guy, I think you’re hot and cute as fuck, we should fuck on the beach right here, whaddya say?” like how is his brain going to compute that, he’s never even SEEN an affectionate relationship before, let alone seen someone be so clear and forward about it

And Laurance is honest and means every word he says, he’s not trying to play or trick Garroth. At one point Garroth thinks he is and gets super suspicious of him, but then Laurance laughs and denies it so casually and easily, and now Garroth is lost again

He literally meets the most affectionate person ever. He’s honest and upfront about his affections, he’s patient enough to give Garroth all the time in the world, he’s emotionally intelligent enough to know why he’s struggling so much with his gestures, and he’ll just patiently stand there and watch him while he has an existential crisis trying to figure out what love even means after Laurance gave him a bouquet of hand-picked flowers. Trust Issues Garroth would eventually try to accept all these kind things Laurance says about him, rather than deny the compliments and insist he’s all the things Zane and his father called him as a child. He leans into the affections, and Garroth learning how love actually works, as the very man he dreamed of as a child holds his face in his hands, and does not mock or beat or hurt him, but kisses him on the cheek instead.

Garroth learning how to love from Laurance’s unconditional and obnoxious affections, slowly becoming less and less afraid of it, until he embraces it completely and starts to give Laurance So Very Much Loving in return like he was always capable of doing. And Laurance is perfectly capable of handling the immense amount of affection, he finds it exciting actually

And though I don’t think homophobia is a thing that exists in this fantasy world, I think it’s also thematically perfect that Laurance is the exact kind of person that Garroth’s parents would HATE having as a son-in-law. Laurance’s rebellious pride is perfect for that role of breaking Garroth free of the abusive strings of his evil monarchical family and learning how to love himself instead

[tibbythetiger]

Hello friendsssss! We have an official tag on AO3, we’ve all grown so much in just a few days. Amazing work all around! 

I’m just dishing out some general HCs today! Hopefully, I can actually get the time to turn my main DreamTheory meeting as coworkers at Sparky’s into a real fic soon! 

Both of them enjoy their height difference greatly. Mike usually hates feeling smaller or shorter than people, but he’s never met someone as genuine and nice as Ness so it doesn’t bother him, and makes him feel kinda safe. Ness just loves his pocket-sized boyfriend. 

I know someone else has already said this, but Ness with freckles!!!! Ness with freckles is so very important to me. I think they’re super light during most of the winter, but once it gets warmer and the sun comes out they’re fairly noticeable. Mike likes to kiss each one he can find, it always makes Ness laugh. 

I know we all agree that Ness is Conspiracy Boyfriend, and I agree! I think he particularly loves those paranormal ghost-hunting shows that were super popular back in 00’s, and he’s a HUGE Unsolved Mysteries fan. When he’s looking to get the same thrill but looking for more fictional media, he loves the Twilight Zone. 

Mike makes a mean grilled cheese and tomato soup, this is in part because it’s Abby’s favorite food and he decided if he had to make anything really well it would be this. Ness actually doesn’t like grilled cheese, but Abby talked it up so much he gave it a try and he ended up really liking it. It is one of Mike’s proudest moments. 

I think Ness is really good with kids, he seems to me the type that was the oldest cousin at parties. (This is just projection), so he’s used to having younger kids following him around and having to keep them entertained. While he’s used to it, he’s really genuine and loves doing it. He’s always overjoyed to hang out with Abby, and she adores him because of it. 

Ness and Mike cannot draw to save their lives! They are horrible at it, Abby likes to hold “drawing classes” where she tries to show them how she makes her masterpieces. Ness always tries hard, but it’s just not his strong suit. 

They are the couple that slow dances in the kitchen or living room. Mike is always reluctant about it, he’s fairly paranoid at romantic gestures, and he’s always scared someone will see them, but he always enjoys it when Ness convinces him it’s okay. Abby thinks it’s the most magical thing, so she draws the two of them as princes when they dance during a Disney movie night.  

Ness absolutely tells Mike and Abby stories to help them sleep. They both think he has the most soothing voice, Ness just loves being able to help them, sometimes he’ll even sing to them, but he’s still really shy about it. 

I think Ness really loves listening to musical soundtracks, but he’s also a pop girly through and through, like, he loves Kelly Clarkson, Paris Hilton, and Brittany Spears. Meanwhile, Mike doesn’t listen to music super often, he usually lets Abby or Ness pick. Otherwise, I feel like he’s really into grunge or early rock. He listens to Nirvana sure, but also Radio Head. (I also think he’s a very big Weezer fan) 

I think Mike is a big writer, he started journaling to help him take note of his dreams/memories of Garrett, then really leaned into it once his parents were out of the picture since he didn’t really have anyone else to turn to to vent. Sometimes he can be a little poetic, and he’ll write lil notes to Ness and leave them in his apron or pockets for him to find later. 

Ness thinks this is simply the cutest thing he’s ever seen actually, and attempts to do the same thing. He’s a little cheesier, and are usually filled with lil hearts and things doodled around them, but he sticks them on the mirror or on Mike’s alarm clock. Mike saves everyone he finds and slowly they start to cover the walls in his bedroom. 

The three of them cannot have board game nights. They are all waaaay too competitive, and the last time they played Uno and Ness won, Mike pouted so much and Abby locked herself in her room. They settle for movie nights or puzzles when they’re doing things the three of them. 

When Abby first starts dabbling in painting her nails, she practices on Ness and Mike. Eventually Ness and Abby usually just have matching nails, Ness doesn’t let the looks he gets bother him any. 

Abby absolutely knows they’re dating, Mike tries not to keep secrets from her, especially after the debacle of Freddy’s, and what happened with the Aunt. She’s too young, so she doesn’t get why people are weird about it, but she understands enough that she can’t tell anyone that Mike and Ness are dating. When she does talk about them, most people assume Ness is a girl, just because of his name. Abby just stops correcting people, the only person outside of them who knows is Abby’s therapist(?), but she supports Mike so it’s not really an issue. 

Ness loves stealing Mike’s sweaters and coats, they’re so much bulkier than the ones that Ness buys himself, so they’re so comfortable. In the winter, he’ll steal them and wear them to work or around the house. Mike grumbles and pretends he cares, but he thinks Ness looks cute in them. 

Ness has the worst road rage, Mike is both horribly amused and terrified of this when it occurs. Ness always apologizes afterward usually followed up by an “If people could just learn how to drive, I swear to GOD”  

Mike and Abby will go into Sparky’s when Ness is working just to get desert and to see him. Most of the employees at Sparky’s know there’s something going on between Ness and Mike, but they all let it remain unspoken. It seems like everyone is taking good care of each other, so no one decides to interfere.  

Well, that’s all I have for now! I’m really loving seeing everything everyone is putting out, and getting to read everyone’s work and see their art is amazing!

[sabine-smitten-obviously]

and now i have to find myself a tower in a forest near a wall ...

... and look for a black, dark sorcerer !

You love fairy tales? You love Good Omens? You loved Aziraphale and Crowley in medieval clothes? Then you will love this not so little fanfic i dearly recommend to you!

Villainous by @ineffablepenguin

What it is about:

Once Upon A Time…

There was a red-haired sorcerer who lived alone in a high tower, and a blond prince who lived in a palace full of people. And they were both of them desperately lonely.

The Kingdoms of Empyrion and the Sorcerers of Apollyon have hated each other for hundreds of years, ever since the Great War. They do not interact, other than to occasionally try to kill one another. And they certainly do not make friends.

Crow is an exhausted sorcerer who just wants everyone to leave him the hell alone: for the Sorcerer’s Council to stop harassing him to live up to his potential, and for wannabe Empyrion Heroes to stop attacking his tower to try and kill him. Until one day when he meets Prince Azra of the High Fells, who doesn’t behave anything like he’s supposed to…

Part fairy tale, part fantasy, all love story. There’s magic, and grand romantic gestures, and Heroes and a handsome Prince, and a Villain. There are even some wild heroics, though not necessarily from who you would expect. At its core it’s simply about two (relatively) sane people living in a mad world who find each other.

What i love about it:

🫅🏼 I mean - fairytales? And a lot of them? I found it very nice to guess all the tales when stumbling upon a hint. Nice touch: in the epilogue there is a list of all the fairytales which have kind of flown into this fanfic and i am quite proud that i only missed 1 i actually know (and of course those i dont know).

👑 This story is RICH - and i mean really rich. It goes into details over everything and sometimes it reminded me of books written bei Hermann Hesse because of all the little things that kept coming and being mentioned. On my e-reader it was 566 pages! And yes, it took them about 200 pages for their first kiss 😅 That said, its always drawing a picture and reading the story is kind of seeing in your imagination. Obviously nothing is ineffable for @ineffablepenguin 😉

💪 The action scenes: oh my, its like a Schwarzenegger-movie, you cant stop reading, its fast, its furiuos ... oh, thats another movie, ngk.

🩷 The character development: both of our beloved angels start out being insecure of their roles, their place and their worth. But - this is the first fanfic i ever read, where both of them get to be BAMF !!!!

🩷 The plot: i love being suprised - i mean we do know a lot already, diving into a GO-fanfic with the tag "happy ending", right? So there were some really interesting turns and sometimes i wondered "ok, just how will this play out? How will the author get to unknot THIS?" And i have to admit, sometimes i really didn't see it coming. Very nice!

🩷 The healing: i dont know if it was on purpose or the author just felt like our ineffables needed to hear and think stuff, but actually the way their characters develop and how they help each other with it, what they are thinking etc ... reminded me a lot of trauma-therapy. So as one of those few (ähem) people who really spiraled after the big 15 of S2, this was such a nice feeling.

💫 the epilogue - this story doesnt end at happily ever after. Instead we get to know, how they make a living for themselves and sneak a little into their daily lifes. I truly appreciate that, its a nice way of comforting the Reader out of the story.

This wonderful art is from @pinkpiggy93! 🩷

Most beloved quote:

"And i love you too, my dear," he said firmly. "You are so very easy to love."

And isnt this quite a sentence, we all need to hear?

So if you are into good omens, fairytales, long fanfics to really dive in to for several hundred pages, some surprises and of course a happy ending - this is quite the story for you.

🩷🤗

Reading is not a hobby, its an attitude.

[blues824]

hi!! if your requests are still open, may i request the twst third years with a s/o based on la muerte from the book of life??

i absolutely adore your works btw!! ( ˘ ³˘)♥︎

La Muerte is so beautiful bro. Gender-neutral reader who is not Yuu and is a second-year in Heartslabyul. Xibalba is your friend and not your husband here.

Trey Clover

He is as sweet as sugar, and you are literally made of sugar. As an immortal deity, you are not used to such trivial things like baking for yourself. You typically used your magic to whip up some food quickly that would supply the entirety of the realm you ruled over: the Land of the Remembered. Yeah, you were kind of abducted by the carriage and taken here from your realm about two years ago. Luckily, you trusted Xibalba to rule over both realms, as he was your friend.

The way you dressed was definitely different than most of the Twisted Wonderland inhabitants. You had a red outfit infused with orange and yellow marigolds along with a fancy and big sombrero with tiny skulls dangling off of the brim. On top of the sombrero was a candle along with a few feathers, more marigolds, and more tiny skulls. You once whipped up a replica sombrero for Trey and he really liked it. You even did his face paint on both November 1st and November 2nd for Dia de Muertos, which was a rather intimate affair (I mean romantic, not where your filthy minds went to lol. Take that to my other blog).

You informed him that you would have to go visit your realm during the two days, and he placed a kiss on the back of your hand to bid you farewell. If you were being honest, you weren’t expecting such a gesture, and you pulled him in by the lapels of his dorm uniform jacket and placed a rather passionate kiss on his lips. He started reciprocating when someone walked in on you two, which was when you quickly pulled away and headed to your room to prepare for your departure.

When the whole ordeal with Azul took place and you heard that he was giving Yuu trouble, you were absolutely pissed off. You were baking something with Trey when the Prefect of Ramshackle as well as Jack Howl rushed over to you and pleaded with you for your help as the cecaelia tricked their friends and about the unfair deal proposed by the Housewarden of Octavinelle. Trey, having known you for two years as you were a year behind him, warned them to cover their ears.

In a flash of blinding light, the four of you all were teleported to the office as you shouted Azul’s name at the top of your lungs. Even with everyone’s ears covered, they felt as though their eardrums would burst. The unfortunate cecaelia felt a bit of blood trickle from his ear, but that was the least of his concerns at the moment. He had a borderline murderous deity in his office, after all. You demanded that the octopus break the contracts or you will make sure that he ends up in the Land of the Forgotten faster than he could say ‘deal’. Your baker boyfriend was definitely surprised and tried to calm you down, but you weren’t having it. You even slapped him for having the audacity to make a wager that you knew they wouldn’t have any chance of succeeding in.

It wasn’t until the eventual battle between Azul’s overblot and everyone else where Trey finally understood the extent of being a deity and how much it took out of you. You were not allowed to interfere with the affairs of mortals, so you had to stand by helplessly. The Vice Housewarden of Heartslabyul heard about your feelings when you came back to the dorm. You broke down in tears and he pulled you into his arms to comfort you.

Cater Diamond

It was pretty much love at first sight for him. When he saw you in the Mirror Chamber that day when you came to NRC and you got sorted into Heartslabyul, he was captivated. He wanted so very much to take over introducing the first years just to be able to see you, but he knew that someone else was in charge of it. However, when you were getting settled in your room, there was a knock on the door and Cater came in to check on you. That started a friendship that would last until it turned into a relationship.

His Magicam as well as his normal camera roll was filled with pictures of you, and you were beautiful in every single one of them. I don’t mean this in a creepy way; he had your consent. You’ve even made a matching sombrero for him and you both posed for a picture. He didn’t post it, but he made it his home screen. His lock screen was a picture that Ace took when you were doing his face paint to look like yours on November 1st.

When you told him that you would have to leave that night to make sure that the Land of the Remembered was alright, he was pleading with you not to leave and he followed you around like a sad puppy. Eventually, you got kind of fed up and just pulled him into a kiss on the lips, catching him by surprise. You pulled away with a giggle before leaving to go to your room, and you left a stunned Cater behind. It wasn’t until he met up with you in the Mirror Chamber where he returned your kiss with one of his own, giving you a surprise before you headed back to your realm.

The first time he saw your less-nicer side was when you were both doing your makeup in his room to get ready for a photo shoot in your second year and his third year. Yuu and Jack burst into the room, asking for your help because Azul cheated in his deals with the students who got his study guides. Oh, you were livid. You took a deep breath in anger and roared Azul’s name. There was a blindingly bright light, but then there was an unsettling silence.

Everyone now found themselves in the Housewarden of Octavinelle’s office within the Mostro Lounge, and you were yelling at him. You had a vice grip on his tie as you threatened him and demanded that he end the contracts lest you end his life much earlier than it was originally intended to. The poor social media influencer had no idea how to calm down his significant other, but he definitely started recording so that others could be aware what happens when you make a deal with the cecaelia. Suddenly, a loud smack resounded, and it knocked the octopus merman to the wall as you walked off.

Then there was the battle with the overblots that you had to sit through. With Riddle’s, with Leona’s, with Azul’s, with each of them, you couldn’t do anything. Cater asked why you couldn’t, and you had tears in your eyes as you explained that you couldn’t interfere with the affairs of man. The pain in your eyes as you feared for not only Yuu’s life but also the overblot victim’s was a pain that Cater never wanted to see in your eyes again. Once it was reported that everyone would be alright, he quickly wiped the tears that fell and assured you that everyone made it out alive.

Leona Kingscholar

He’s somehow a more tsundere version of Xibalba. When he first met you, he tried so hard to convince himself that you looked weird rather than gorgeous. However, it was all in vain because he felt surprisingly grumpy and jealous when you got sorted into Heartslabyul rather than Savanaclaw. It was a few moments later where you walked up to him and told him that you had gotten separated from the group and needed assistance. In reality, you knew where your group was, you just wanted to talk to the grumpy-looking lion. That started both a humorous and an infuriating relationship between the two of you.

In November of that year, you walked into his room as gracefully as you usually did with a trail of marigold petals behind you. Leona was, surprisingly, wide awake and he watched you walking to his side of the bed. When you sat down, you let out a sigh as you told him that you would have to depart at midnight to make sure that Día de Muertos ran smoothly in your realm. To say that he didn’t want you to leave would be an understatement, but he knew that you needed to leave. Now, this did not stop him from pulling you into his bed and using you as a pillow, savoring the time left before you had to go home for an entire two days.

The day you came back was the day to rejoice for many, especially if they were in the Spelldrive Club. During the entire time, Leona was grumpy and made everyone run more laps, making a few of the members throw up because of dehydration in the heat that Savanaclaw had to offer. You heard about this, and when you walked up to him, you leaned in close and pretended like you were going to give him a kiss, when you suddenly slapped him with some magnolia petals and walked off in anger.

He started off strong, not chasing after you and trying to convince himself that you were in the wrong… but he grew restless. From what he could see, you were living your best life at Heartslabyul and with the Ramshackle group, often acting as a parental figure. He eventually came crawling back (not literally, but he was close) and apologized with a bouquet of flowers and a fancy picnic in the Botanical Gardens. You, being a sucker for romantic gestures, found it in your heart to forgive him.

This peace was short lived, however, because you eventually found out about how Leona planned on sabotaging the Spelldrive tournament. You were fiddling with one of your marigold flowers that went behind your ear, chilling in your dorm room, when Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce told you everything that they discovered. They also told you the fact that Leona may or may not be overblotting at the moment. You were angry beyond belief. You roared your lover’s name as a bright light shined throughout because of your candle, and everyone was teleported to the colosseum. 

Everyone was shocked at how angry you looked, including the overblotting victim. The slap you gave him drained him of all the ink, and made him fall. They all prayed to whatever higher being was up there that you had mercy on the man because from the looks on it, you would leave him within an inch of death. You did visit him in the infirmary, and you gave him the silent treatment which made him feel even shittier than he already felt. Eventually, he recovered a bit and promised that he wouldn’t try and cheat in the game ever again. You gave in, and you placed a kiss on his lips and stayed by his side until he was cleared to leave.

Vil Schoenheit

He was in his second year when he met you, and it was during the sorting event. Your makeup was so strange but so beautiful, as was your sombrero. You would think that the candle on top would go out, but no. Anyways, he couldn’t explain the sudden sadness that filled him when you were assigned to the Heartslabyul dorm, as he thought that you would definitely be in Pomefiore. It didn’t matter in the long run, because after about an hour, you walked up to him and asked if he could put you in the direction of your dormitory. He volunteered to walk you there, and you both learned a lot about each other.

The two of you can often be found in his room, and he would sometimes ask if you could do his makeup like yours. The first time he did it, it surprised you, but you gladly got everything ready. As you were doing his face paint, you told him the meaning behind the calaveras, and how they symbolize smiling at death and happiness and the sweetness of life, making him smile since you were made of sugar. Once you were finished, you used your magic to whip up a sombrero of his own, identical to yours but in purple, and you both posed for a picture taken by Rook Hunt. However, Vil still had a surprise up his sleeve; when the picture was done, he placed a kiss on your cheek before going to reapply his lipstick.

Unfortunately, this was all to lead up to you telling him that you would have to depart at midnight to celebrate Dia de Muertos with your realm, the Land of the Remembered, for two days. He knew the responsibility that resided on your shoulders, so he placed a kiss on the back of your hand to bid you farewell. However, that wasn’t enough for you, so you pulled him into a kiss on the lips. You apologized for ruining his lipstick before going through the mirror, but that kiss was unforgettable. He thought about it every second of every minute of every hour that passed by until you returned, where he was able to return it.

This sweet side of you did slip a few times, giving way to an angrier you, and Vil got to see it almost every single time. You were arranging a bunch of magnolia flowers into two vases, so you and Vil could each have one, when Yuu and Jack Howl burst into the room. The Housewarden of Pomefiore was annoyed, but you placed your hand on his shoulder to calm him down… only for you to grip it in anger once you heard what Azul Ashengrotto had done to Ace, Deuce, and Grim; basically your children. Vil shouted for them to cover their ears as you were trembling. Then, at the top of your lungs, you screamed Azul’s name in pure rage as there was a blind light emitting from the candle atop your sombrero and everyone was teleported to the cecaelia’s office.

They eventually all snapped back to reality because you were yelling at Azul. You were slapping him like Edna Mode slapped Elastigirl, and Vil had to pry you off. You were fighting against him, but you didn’t want to hurt him so you calmed down and just demanded that his victims be let out of their contracts. Unfortunately, the contracts are binding, so you couldn’t do much. You did, however, spread the news about his shady deals and everyone believed you because you were their parent away from their actual parents. It was honestly the worst curse or poison that Vil couldn’t compete with, and that’s what he really loved about you.

Let’s not forget about the multiple overblots that you just had to watch through because you were not allowed to interfere much with mortal dilemmas unless it was Dia de Muertos, in which you were given a bit of leeway. However, it just so happened that none of the overblots landed on either of those days, so as Vil overblotted and went on a rampage of rage, you could only watch on while Yuu and Grim fought each one. It was unfortunate that you were in a current bet with Xibalba and couldn’t take the Medal of Everlasting Life and give it to Yuu.

Rook Hunt

This man felt Cupid’s arrow pierce his heart in his second year at NRC once he saw you being sorted into your dormitory, and his heart broke and turned cold as a lifeless body once you were sorted into Heartslabyul instead of Pomefiore. However, you took him by surprise by coming up to him and asking for assistance to get to your group as you got separated. On the way, he was very bold and straightforward about how he was a connoisseur in all things beautiful, and you were absolutely pulchritudinous. To say the bombardment of compliments flustered you would be an understatement, but you loved it.

He loved having you pose for pictures, much like a very formal portrait. You had become his muse, and you didn’t mind it. Many people back in your land have images that they conjured of you, so it was really no different than normal. The marigolds worked well, and he would have someone on a ladder, delicately dropping petals so that it would make for a good photo effect. Then, you asked if you could do his makeup like yours and take pictures, and he felt another one of Cupid’s arrows pierce his heart. 

November 1st came quicker than you wanted, and you had to depart after the Halloween celebrations to the Land of the Remembered to celebrate Dia de Muertos. By that point, you had grown very comfortable with physical affection between the two of you, so it did not come as a surprise that he pulled you into a kiss so deep that it was bordering on making out. You had to stop him before it progressed, but you knew that he would miss you, and you knew that you would miss him as well. However, you had a realm to get to in time for the festivities, and you made sure to take pictures of your time back home and post them on Magicam.

Your happy-go-lucky self was not around to stay for very long, though, because one day, as you were being bombarded with serenades and such by your lovely boyfriend here, Yuu and Jack suddenly burst in to plead with you for your help. Azul had used his cunning to persuade Ace, Deuce, Grim, and a bunch of other people into a shady contract that they had no chance of meeting, and this pissed you off to no end. Rook warned the two First Years to cover their ears as you took a deep breath, and then you screamed Azul’s name in anger. There was literal fire in your eyes, and it was burning as bright as the flame of the candle that was on top of your sombrero, which was burning at a blinding brightness.

All of a sudden, everyone found themselves in Azul’s office, your hand grasping his tie as you got in his face and started yelling at him. No one had ever seen the cecaelia so pale as he was trying to scramble away. His strength, however, could not even begin to compare to yours since your strength was boosted by your wrath. Jack, Yuu, and Rook all tried to pry you away, and it wasn’t until the last person where you let go of the scared-to-death Second Year. As you held your beloved hunter’s hand while he led you out, you turned to give Azul a death glare and called him a “misbegotten son of a leper’s donkey”. 

Every time there was an overblot, Rook had to see how sad you were, and he hated it. You were helpless, as you couldn’t do much to interfere, especially after Leona’s overblot where you intervened. After each one preceding that incident, you gradually got more and more upset, and your lover was here to hold you as you wept. You believed that there was good in all mankind, but they were doing too much, which in turn put too much on your shoulders because you felt guilty. Rook would always be there for you, no matter what, because he loved you so much that he never wanted to see you sad.

Idia Shroud

He was there, physically, during your orientation, and he almost fainted when you stepped up to the mirror to be sorted. You were just so gorgeous, he didn’t feel like he could handle it. Then, you glance in his direction, as his fiery hair was very hard to miss. His hair went pink, and you smiled at him?! He could die a happy man at this point, but he had to focus on the new members of his own dorm, which you did not get sorted into. After the sorting, however, you surprised him by going up to him and asking for directions, and he just froze. You smiled again before grabbing your hand in his and asking if he was alright, and he fainted.

It was a rather rough journey, but you somehow both ended up together eventually. He does still get shy around you, but you make it known that it is quite alright for him to mess up in front of you because you didn’t mind. In fact, you loved his rather clumsy behavior, as you thought it was endearing. He finds comfort in you, as you do with him, especially since you were a deity and he was the Housewarden of Ignihyde. Once, you did his makeup to look like yours, and he was so flustered by the close proximity that his hair went red. But once you were done, you placed a kiss on his cheek which left a lipstick mark… and he fainted again.

Anyways, a few days later, you had come with the unfortunate news that you had to leave for the Land of the Remembered for two days. Idia did not want you to go, but he knew that you had a responsibility to celebrate with your people. He FaceTimed you (yes, FaceTimed; not just a voice call) and you showed him a few people you were celebrating with. Now, was he jealous of Xibalba being so close to you? Yes. Could he really do anything about it? No. That aside, he was counting down the hours until he would see you again, and when you returned he summoned the courage to greet you at the mirror, which surprised you. You placed a kiss on his lips, and a dopey smile stretched across his face as he followed you back to his dorm like a lovesick fool.

The happy moment wouldn’t last very long, as Yuu and Jack Howl both burst into Idia’s room to plead for your help. You stood up in surprise, tossing your sombrero onto your boyfriend to make sure that he was hidden from view and thus didn’t need to communicate. However, the surprises kept coming, as you were just informed that Azul dragged people into his shady dealings, and you started shaking in pure anger. It went silent until the entire earth started to rumble, and you screamed Azul’s name at the top of your lungs.

In a few seconds, they were all teleported to the cecaelia’s office. You got in his face and started screaming at him, and he and Idia both had the same fearful expression. However, the latter was glad that your wrath was not directed at him. He instead felt pity for his Board Game Club member, as there was no strategic move that he could have predicted. Emotion wasn’t foreseeable, and neither was the end of your one-sided screaming match. Then, a slap resounded throughout the room and even the Lounge, as everyone went silent. The hand print that was imprinted on Azul’s face was redder than a STOP sign, and you let out a frustrated groan before marching off.

When Idia overblotted, you had never felt a fear so harrowing. You had interfered twice before; with Riddle and Leona; but you couldn’t any longer. It was against the rules within the Book of Life. Sure, there were other overblots up until this point, but your beloved flame was being taken over by an energy-drinking ink. When you slapped Leona a few months prior, some ink resided on your hand, and you had to employ the professors’ help because sugar is very absorbent and the ink spread up your hand. Even if you could interfere with mortal affairs, you couldn’t interfere with the overblots (canon event??)

Malleus Draconia

He met you in his second year at NRC, and you were a first year. It was your orientation, and he caught your gaze, and there was a nearly instant connection. He felt hopeful when you were getting sorted, and made sure to keep his eye on you lest you slip into the crowd. Luckily, your sombrero (Malleus did not know what it was called at this point in time, but thought that it was a lovely and unique hat) gave you away and he went up to you and introduced himself as Malleus Draconia. You, being the deity of the Land of the Remembered, already knew who he was because there was a very long line of Draconias celebrating there right at this moment. 

From that point on, you both completely fell in love with each other. One day, you both had extra time, and you knew that your departure was coming up in a few days, so you asked if you could do his face paint to spend some more time with him before breaking the news. He, not knowing anything, agreed and loved the close proximity that it brought between you. Your hands as you positioned his face felt soft and sweet against his skin, much like powdered sugar. As you were putting everything away, you let out a sad sigh before just ripping the bandaid off. 

To say he was upset the first time would be an understatement, but your second year was a bit easier for him. Now, if any of the other guys were jealous of Xibalba, Malleus was on a whole other level. He saw a picture you had posted on Magicam (with the guidance of Lilia), and he was angry. When you got back, he was distant before asking who he was, and you realized that you had a jealous dragon on your hands. You laughed before placing a bunch of kisses on his face and assuring him that you held no romantic interest for your dear friend and that you much preferred him anyway. It made him feel a bit better, but you still owed him attention.

When he got to experience your anger was before Leona’s overblot. Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce each made the trek to Diasomnia just to ask for your assistance. In the relatively short time that the dragon prince had known you, he had never seen your hands start to shake, and suddenly the entire ground started to shake as well. Malleus reached out, but had to cover his ears as you screamed Leona’s name at the top of your lungs and the candle atop your sombrero burned to a blinding degree.

Everyone aside from the Crowned Prince of Briar Valley found themselves at the colosseum. He wasn’t too shocked that you were gone, as he knew about your abilities, but he quickly grabbed a mirror and used his magic to see what was going on. It was clear that you were angry, and the nice clean slap that you delivered even made Malleus flinch. He had no idea that his beloved was capable of such a thing, as you were always kind, polite, and loving to all of those around you. However, when he saw the ink drain from his rival’s body, he couldn’t help but try harder to remain on your good side so that you don’t slap him.

Unfortunately, there were many more overblots to come, and when you went back to the Land of the Remembered for the second time, Xibalba as well as the Candlemaker warned you that you could not interfere with them. You came back crying and running into your lover’s arms, explaining your situation through tears. He held you, knowing that you needed comforting, and he removed your sombrero to place gentle kisses on the crown of your head. If he was here, no one could hurt you. You felt safe in his embrace.

Lilia Vanrouge

When he saw you, he knew you were familiar. You were one of the gods above watching over the war he fought hard in, and you were the one who kept the bloodshed limited. You recognized him too once you met his gaze, and you were a bit surprised before you smiled and politely nodded your head. Then it was your turn to be sorted, and you ended up in Heartslabyul. It wasn’t the ideal dormitory, as Lilia did want to thank you for everything you did, but you were nowhere to be seen, despite your large hat. It wasn’t until classes started when he found you. A trail of magnolia petals trailed after you, and you went up to him directly to ask him where one of your classrooms was. He extended his arm out for you to take, and he led you to the door, at which you gave him a kiss on the cheek before entering.

Since then, you both have been together. You have taken over the role as co-parent of the Diasomnia dormitory, despite already being a parental figure in the Heartslabyul dormitory. You definitely can whip up better food than he could, and it was delicious. When you heard that your beloved was feeding these poor students something akin to garbage stew, you knew that you needed to interfere and you showed them the cuisine from back in your land. They all fell in love, and they never wanted you to leave.

However, life as a deity meant that you would have to leave back to your home every once in a while, specifically November 1st-2nd. As you were helping Lilia set up the Halloween decorations, you explained that you would be departing later that night so that you could arrive back home early. The former general understood, as you had done the same thing the year prior, but he wanted to see you off before you left. At the mirror, he placed a kiss on the back of your hand to say farewell. You just pulled him into a very passionate kiss in response, and he was not complaining in the very least.

During the entirety of your trip, Lilia kept himself updated by texting you and keeping up with your Magicam page. He wasn’t very jealous when he saw you posing with Xibalba, as he knows that you are very loyal, and he was glad you were having fun celebrating your holiday. You left behind a bunch of recipes that the other members of the dormitory tried recreating, but it just didn’t hit the same. They never wanted you to leave again once you came back, but the bat fae knew you would be going on the same trip next year as well as the one after that.

Let’s get to the topic of your anger. Lilia has faced a small ounce of it once, and it was when you found out that your poor ‘children’ were being fed garbage. You glared at him every single time he entered the kitchen. When Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce all came to report that Leona was sabotaging the Spelldrive games, Lilia heard it all. The candle that sat on the top of your sombrero burned brighter and brighter until everyone found themselves at the colosseum. Lilia was already there, but he knew that shit was about to go down. You were yelling and screaming at the overblot victim, until a slap was heard and all the ink was drained from the Housewarden of Savanaclaw’s body. Anyone present just sat in shock as you stomped off in anger, but your boyfriend chased after you to try and calm you down.

A few days later, you had received a letter from your friends back in the Realms of the Dead, and it said that you could no longer interfere with the overblots. You showed it to Lilia as you were in tears, and he was surprised. He knew how much it meant to you when you were able to help, especially when it came to the magicless Yuu. But the rules were clear, and he made a promise that he would help out with each overblot as much as he could on your behalf, and you pulled him into another kiss to express your gratitude.

[hurkules]

Gale Headcanons with some NSFW ones below the cut

He loves kissing. He will never be a peck and go kind of man. Every kiss is deep and full of love. He’ll kiss your hands, your arms, your neck, your legs, your stomach, your back, and especially your lips. The two of you get carried away quite easily and before you know it, it’s been an hour of just kissing

Gale loves when you play in his hair. Whether you’re mindlessly running your fingers through it and massaging his scalp or purposely find your way into it during more intimate moments, he loves it. His eyes instantly close and he’ll hum (or moan) in pleasure

He’s touchy. Somehow, someway, he will touch you. Holding hands is fine and lovely, but he’d rather link arms or have his hands around your waist. If you’re leaning into him, he’s satisfied

Speaking of touching, he loves having you in his lap.

Gale is sickeningly romantic. He’s all about grand gestures and professions of love. Nearly everyday he finds a new way to say “I love you.”

He likes to lay on your chest especially after s rough day. In the past, he’d spend his time poking around in the library or cooking his feelings out. Now, he’ll crawl into your arms and lay his head against your chest

He always brings you back little gifts and trinkets. “I passed this on the way home from the academy, and I thought you’d love it” he’ll say with a grin

Since being in waterdeep, you’ve taken up baking. As a result, he’s started to gain a little weight. He’d never complain about it because everything is delicious, he’s glad you’ve found something to enjoy (he was worried about leaving you in the tower alone so often), it’s a simple fix, and he’d never turn down something from you especially when you’ve worked so hard

He shows you off. If you make him lunch, he’ll go around showing everyone what his lovely partner made. He jumps at the chance to introduce you as his wife/husband

He’s a crier. He cries at the wedding. He cries on the honeymoon. Sometimes, he cries just thinking back. He’ll hug you and through tears he’ll admit “I’m so grateful to you. I was a man long gone, and, somehow, you brought me back.”

He’s not a good dancer but he never resists when you pull him towards you giggling. When he noticed how much you love dancing, he does practice in private with a mirror image. After a while, he can follow along with you pretty well.

He unironically does a big dip and kiss and often.

Yes, he will make love to you in front of the fireplace and the piano will play a melody in the background.

He will also make love to you on the balcony. If you’re well versed in magic, you’ll cast a spell so one can see or hear you. If you’re not, he’ll cast the spell. At night under the full moon is your favorite. He’s more than happy to pleasure you any time of day, but his favorite time is at sunset. He just thinks you look so incredibly beautiful in the light with how the sun reflects off your skin

The two of you will never make love at the academy but he will definitely sit you on his desk and make his way between your legs. He’ll lock the door and cast the silence spell from before and he’s going in

We all know that when it comes to intimacy, he’s more of a giver than receiver. The man loves being between your legs. He hates quickies because he likes to take his time and admire you. He wants you to feel as much pleasure ad possible and quickies feel disrespectful. It feels like you’re a toy to be used and discarded, and you mean so much more to him than that. Despite that, he will find time to make you see stars from oral, give you a long loving kiss, and then return to whatever he was doing, elated that you’re satisfied

He loves all of you equally but he is a boob guy. Wear a low cut a shirt and he’s tripping over his words and struggling to maintain eye contact.

He can’t hide his attraction and he’s not ashamed of it. Even with this, he always asks permission. A gentle “May I?” while kissing you before moving to your neck. A breathless “is this okay?” as he’s lowering himself and kissing your legs.

Sex is slow and gentle with Gale. He likes to take his time with you, so nothing is ever hard and fast. If you wanted something rougher all you’d have to do is ask but it’s not his first instinct.

He’s pretty vocal during intimacy. He grunts, groans, and the occasional moan. Mostly, he talks. He for sure talks you through it and loves complimenting you throughout the whole ordeal.

[cuffmeinblack]

Andrew Larson headcanons

General & SFW romantic

⤍ Andrew Larson masterlist ⤎

General

💙 Andrew is quiet and reserved by nature, as well as friendly, honest and loyal.

💙 In many ways a typical Ravenclaw with a thirst for knowledge, he's a bookworm but also has an adventurous spirit and is also very creative.

💙 He enjoys travelling to sate his curiosity but isn't much of a duellist and has no desire to endanger himself or others. You're more likely to find him in a museum or art gallery than chasing down hidden relics.

💙 He finds 'forbidden' knowledge and darker forms of magic fascinating but as a pretty straight-laced guy he's terrified of being found out or people getting the wrong impression. His interest really is purely academic. Luckily, he had no problems gaining access to the forbidden section of the library at Hogwarts due to his stellar reputation.

💙 Picked as a prefect in sixth year and Head Boy in seventh. For the most part enforced the school rules, though he was known for being soft on those he liked.

💙 There weren't many classes he didn't like at Hogwarts but never saw the appeal of Divination like many of his other classmates. He says this was because it's such an inaccurate branch of magic but it's actually because he saw the Grim in a teacup and decided he didn't want to know anymore about his fate.

💙 After Hogwarts I can see him going into research or maybe becoming a healer; anything that requires constantly bettering himself and acquiring knew knowledge.

💙 He would need some form of creativity in his chosen career, whether creating art or applying it to problem solving.

💙 He wears reading glasses and is slightly self conscious about it.

💙 He's a cat person.

SFW romantic

💙 He'd be a wreck for days before working up the courage to tell you how he feels. An admission of his feelings would be a big deal, requiring a romantic and private location, a gift or thoughtful gesture to accompany it.

💙 Andrew is very much a gentleman when it comes to romance. He insists on traditionally courting, hand-holding and chaste kisses for your first few dates.

💙 When it comes to a romantic partner, he wants to know the real you. A pretty face isn't all he's interested in; he prioritises kindness, empathy and a curiosity to match his own.

💙 He isn't likely to be intimate with someone he doesn't know. He needs an emotional connection with the person before pursuing anything physical.

💙 His primary love languages are acts of service and quality time.

💙 He enjoys giving gifts more than receiving them, putting thoughtful touches into every birthday and special occasion, or giving you a bunch of your favourite flowers or a book he thinks you'd like for no other reason than to see you smile.

💙 He's a romantic and sees the beauty in the word.

💙 When dating Andrew, you can expect quiet days curled up with a pot of tea and a stack of books, art galleries and exhibitions, exploring hidden parts of whatever place you happen to be in.

💙 He can be a little insecure which can lead to jealousy but he won't show it. He's got a level head on his shoulders and good emotional maturity, so he'll sit you down and talk to you if something is bothering him.

💙 His partner is the most important person in his life and he's very loyal. He expects the same in return.

💙 As for future plans, he wants to spend his youth travelling and focusing on his career but will eventually want to settle down to build a stable home life.

💙 Andrew comes from a small family himself so one or two children seem like a manageable amount to him. He'd equally be happy with none, if that's what his partner wanted.

[binah-beloved]

Hello, thanks you for anwer my question from last time. Could you consider to write headcanons about the 5 love language. If only you want to of course :)

May many happy things come to those who love Binah. Merry Christmas and happy New year. Your posts always make my day better so thanks you.

don't worry, i want to

~ * ~ The Love Languages of an Arbiter Acts of Service:

Giving: -One of the main ways Binah expresses affection. Whether it’s during her time at Lobotomy Corporation or when the Library opens its doors, she strives for ways to make your life easier.-Listen, she was forced to become the Extraction Sephirah, she knows how difficult and tedious your job could be and it didn’t get much easier in the Library. -Plus, acts of service mean that she can show she cares while being subtle about it- and that’s really what Binah’s love is all about, subtlety. She’s not one for grand romantic gestures, preferring smaller, quieter things that accumulate over time. It makes for a more constant show of appreciation, she thinks. -Sometimes you’ll wake up and find that your paperwork has been sorted in alphabetical order. Or maybe the books Angela wanted you to put away have already been shelved. Or, most commonly, you’ll find a cup of steaming hot tea waiting for you after a long day, Binah sitting across from you and holding whatever novel you’ve been flipping through lately, so she can join you in reading.

Receiving: -Binah’s very appreciative of anything you do for her- she’s ranked higher than you, both as a Sephirah and a Patron Librarian, so the thought of you trying to make her life a little easier or just doing things out of goodwill makes her heart warm a little bit. -Unfortunately you can’t help her with much of her work unless it’s just sorting some things, since you’re not qualified for it, so you settle for tasks that don’t involve papers and books. -One of your favorite acts of service is restocking her tea when she runs out. She’s not sure how you procure it so quickly and so quietly, but often enough she’ll be out of a blend one day only for a full box to magically appear the next day. -You’ll know she found out when she comes up behind you and pats your head, murmuring a small “Thank you” in your ears.

Quality Time:

Giving:-Speaking of reading together, Binah spends time with you as often as possible, which unfortunately isn’t very often in Lobotomy Corporation. It gets much better in the Library, since she can easily steal you away for a tea party if you’re not actively in a Reception. -She’s gotten into this habit of simply picking you up and carrying you away when she wants to see you, and if you protest she just shushes you with a kiss. -All the invites she extends to the other Librarians for tea? Yeah, you’re the one she wants to accept the most, and her demeanor is just a little bit brighter if you do find the time to attend- it might not seem like much, but it’s a big change for someone as calm and mysterious as Binah. -But unlike the others, she also puts aside time for just the two of you, time where you’re the only two people in the world and that’s all that matters. If there are areas of the Library that are outdoors, she’ll gladly bring some treats so you can have a little picnic together. Or if you just want to indulge in one of your hobbies, Binah will be by your side to keep you company, watching calmly and asking questions here and there, because she loves watching you do anything.

Receiving: -If you go out of your way to spend time with her, Binah might actually cry. -Not much, mind you, just a tear or two, but it means the world to her. Although she tries to deny it, Binah is incredibly lonely, being locked away in the Extraction Department during each cycle, then being confined to the Floor of Philosophy and surrounded by people who fear her. Yes, she wears solitude wonderfully well, but she despises it, too. -She’s used to being the one inviting others, setting up gatherings and chats with the other Librarians, so when you extend a hand to her instead she’s both surprised and touched, even if she doesn’t show it outwardly. And you do it so casually, like you’re asking her how the weather is instead of inviting an ex-Arbiter to spend time with you. -Yes, she knows you do it because you love her and want to be by her side, but it’s such a foreign concept that she can’t help but pause, blinking a few times as your words set in. -Then a small smile blooms across Binah’s face, her hand slipping into yours as she asks you to lead the way. She doesn’t care what you’re doing- it can be anything- as long as she gets to spend time with you; it’s like the hollow emptiness that was so present in her life is mended whenever you’re nearby. -To her, it doesn’t matter what you want to do. As long as you’re there with her, she’ll enjoy herself. -Sidenote, Binah has a softer smile that she only uses around you, and her features subtly light up when she does, it’s beautiful.

Physical Touch:

Giving: -Binah doesn’t initiate physical touch very often, not because she doesn’t want to! It’s partially because she doesn’t want to hurt you by mistake and also because she simply forgets that physical touch is an option. Most of her years were spent killing and torturing people, she’s not used to touching someone out of love. -When she does remember, it’s the gentlest, most delicate touch you’ve ever felt. She’s very hesitant at the beginning, since she’s very aware of her strength, so most of the time it’s a simple hand on your shoulder before she slowly upgrades to patting your head. -The first time Binah holds your hand, she’s surprised at how much warmer you are than her- she tends to run a bit cold- and immediately moves to lace her fingers with yours. -She’s very fond of curling her little finger around yours when you stand next to each other. It’s a subtle way of saying that she’s there for you and that you’re safe. -Likes kissing you on the forehead, because when she pulls back she can get lost in the loving way you look at her.

Receiving: -There’s no beating around the bush, Binah is touch-starved. -Not in the sense that she’s clingy, but in the way that occurs because she’s never been hugged or held gently in her life. -So the first time you hug her she stiffens, immediately wanting to defend herself. But then she registers what you’re doing and the warmth of your arms and how securely you’re holding her, and she just absolutely melts. -To anyone else she looks the exact same, but you can feel her slump a little before she returns the gesture, a small sigh escaping her as she leans against you. She’s going to want a hug every day after that, and she will stare at you from across the room if you forget. Whenever you finish a Reception she always whisks you away for a quick hug if you’re not too injured. -Binah loves snuggling with you, no questions asked. The most common way is for you to be on her lap as she sits in her favorite armchair, gazing down at you as you lean your head against her shoulder. Occasionally you reach up to cup her cheeks in your hands, feeling her soft skin under your fingertips and watching her eyes shut briefly, her normally stoic expression softening just a tad. She’ll also let you braid her hair, if you know how. -She’s the big spoon when you’re sleeping, it makes her feel like she’s protecting you even when you’re both unconscious. Plus, the sight of your sleeping face when she wakes up is enough to energize her for the entire day, without drinking even a single cup of tea.

Gifts:

Giving: -Binah’s not a big gift-giver, it makes her feel like she’s trying to buy your affection, which she most certainly isn’t. That being said, she’s not completely opposed to it, she simply doesn’t shower you with gifts (and frankly neither do you). -The things she does give you are usually small and fall into at least one of two categories: having a practical use, or having a deeper meaning. -For example, she gifted you a notebook when she noticed you liked jotting things down on scraps of paper you came across, as well as a good, sturdy pen. Just for fun, she made sure it was black and gold to remind you of her, and you carry the notebook everywhere you go. -Perhaps the sweetest gift she’s given you was the matching earring to the one she wore as a Sephirah- she gave it to you as a way of confessing her affections. You don’t wear it that often anymore, since she swapped her own out for the small gold pair, but occasionally you’ll both wear the matching pair for fun. It makes her smile when she sees you wearing it in the hallway. -One day she swears she’ll give you one of her rings. One day.

Receiving: -She’s rather neutral on being gifted things, except if, again, they’re practical or have some sweetness put into them. If you like hand making small crafts, she’ll absolutely accept one as a gift. For example if you make her a bookmark or a coaster for her teacup, she’ll internally melt. -Another thing she’ll always accept is matching jewelry. Just like her own rings and earrings, if you gift her one half of a pair, she’ll make sure to wear hers whenever you wear yours. -But Binah really doesn’t need you to give her gifts to know that you love her, and if you worry about it, she’ll just tell you that you are the best gift the world has ever given her, and nothing could ever be lovelier.

Words of Affirmation:

Giving: -Probably the weakest of the love languages for Binah, in terms of giving it. She’s just not a very openly lovey-dovey person, and while she’s good at going off on cryptic tangents, she’s not very good at verbally expressing herself. -It’s mostly because she finds little need for words when in your presence- you seem to bring out this blanket of calm and peace whenever you’re nearby, and she wants nothing more than to quietly relish the feeling with you by her side. -Occasionally you’ll hear her whisper “I love you” when you’re in her arms, or a soft pet name, but for the most part you’re both content just existing with each other. -She does try to tell you that you did well after a particularly difficult Reception, and even back in L Corp she would always give you a small pat on the head after suppressing an Abnormality- she’s trying her best. -But once in a while, you’ll catch her watching you from across the table, and when you pipe up and ask about it she’ll flatter you with a long and eloquent compliment, a faint smile on her face as she watches you stumble over your words in response. It’s almost like a surprise, and she does like surprising you.

Receiving: -All her life, Binah has been complimented mainly about how good she was at her job, at maiming, slaughtering. And every time, the praise brought nothing to the emptiness she felt, they were just meaningless words to fill the air. -But when you compliment her, it’s so… genuine. You compare her to stars and flowers and the moon, because you truly think that she’s beautiful, that she’s intelligent, that she’s strong and elegant and incredible. And when you say it, she does feel like all the things you praise her to be. -It surprises her when you tell her she’s gentle and kind. She was Garion, and now she’s Binah, and both are known for their cold, sadistic tendencies- and yet here you are, with the brightest smile on your face, complimenting her to the Head and back. -Her favorite phrase, though, is simple and a little cliche. It’s when you lean your head back to look at her and say “I love you” for all the world to hear. There’s no hesitation in your voice, no doubts in your mind. If there’s anything that flusters her even slightly, it’s that.

[weird-is-life]

Hi! I have an idea for Spencer Reid x Reader romantic fic that you could use if you would like. I was thinking about a Hogwarts au with BAU as friends at Wizarding school or where they are adults and work at Ministry as Aurors (analyzing behaviour of dark magic users?).

Ty for this cute request🥰! Hope this is okay, I've loved writing this au. Warnings: Hogwards au, fluff, use of pet names and y/n, jealous Spencer, (0.6k)

Spencer loves, that he can work with you and also go home with you everyday. Even if it's sometimes hard and scary with the work you do.

But right now, he feels like, he'd rather be anywhere else than here, at the ministry.

His eyes are on you. You are standing next to your desk as one of your colleagues, some other auror, blatantly flirts with you.

And he can see, that you are trying to get rid of him politely. He isn't worried for one second, he knows you can handle him all by yourself. You are, in fact, an auror. It is the only thing, that is keeping Spencer from using some mean charms on that guy.

Spencer keeps burning holes to the back of the guy's head with his deadly glare and Spencer finally thinks, the guy is ready to leave, but no, he just readjusts his standing position and continues talking/flirting with you.

You, on the other hand, are trying to catch Spencer's eyes, but he is currently looking sulkilly or more like annoyed at his hands.

You've been trying to get rid of the guy for a few minutes, but not even waving your hand in front of his face with your rings doesn't help. So you hope, Spencer's appearance will.

When you eventually catch Spencer's gaze, you quickly gesture for him to go to you. And he does that, he almost sprints towards you.

"Hi, Spence, do you know Harrison?" you kind of introduce the guy.

Spencer's hand immediately goes around you, he places it protectively over your hip.

"Don't think so, I'm Spencer, y/n's husband by the way," he says sternly and almost glares at Harrison.

"Oh, nice to meet you," he responds, surprised. He clearly got the picture, that he should get the hell out of there and stop flirting with somebody's wife,"sadly, I have to go now, I'll see you guys around." He says it as swiftly as he leaves.

"What a douchebag," Spencer murmurs under his breath, annoyed.

"Spence, that wasn't very nice," you are smiling cheekily tho as you say it.

"Well, he should learn for good, that you are not interested," Spencer is still frowning, while Harrison becomes only a small dot in the distance.

"Yeah, he should, I was trying to get rid of him so badly, but he just wouldn't get the hints," you chuckle, when you see the big scowl on Spencer's face," Spencer, relax, you don't ever have to be jealous of anybody, especially not a guy like him."

"I-I'm not jealous," Spencer quickly responds, tho his red cheeks aren't helping his case, like at all.

"So you wouldn't like to hex the hell out of him?" you tease.

"No," he lies," but if it ever came to charms fight with him, he wouldn't stand a chance."

You only laugh at Spencer's jealous thinking, it's kind of cute.

"I know, handsome, I don't think anybody would actually. You are literally like a book full of charms,"you point it out softly," but thank you for having my back."

"Always, you know that, sweetheart," you nod and look around, before giving him a swift 'thank you kiss'.

"I do know that," you smile at him and give him another quick kiss on his cheek.

"Shall we go get some lunch? I think you could use a small break, huh?"

"Definitely, let's go, sweetheart. Before I decide to listen to my irrational thoughts," you only chuckle some more and drag him towards the nearest exit. Intend on loving a bit on your 'not at all' jealous husband.

[unremarkablehouse]

Domestic Partners: Together at Last

MSR | PG | WC 2075 | AO3 Summary: A look inside the workings of Mulder and Scully’s relationship once they become a romantic couple. This is Chapter 2 but stands on its on, Chapter 1 can be found here. Tagging: @today-in-fic

For Mulder their romantic relationship didn’t begin with their first kiss or even the first time they slept together; it was when Scully started casually holding his hand in public. They’d held hands in private countless times throughout their partnership but something about the way she so easily started transitioning to doing it in a public setting felt like a wall had come down. It was such an innocuous gesture that made Mulder smile every time she did it, and at some point Mulder would always take her hand and kiss it. So formal and old world, Mulder’s hand kisses were always incredibly endearing to Scully. For all the intimacy and domesticity they had shared up until this point; being able to show affection without restraint was the turning point that signaled their romantic relationship. 

Of all the things they had imagined about their sex life, laughter was one element they both completely failed to predict. In fact, neither of them had ever laughed so much in bed as they did with each other. Their love making often held a sense of light heartedness and fun; so starkly different from the rest of their lives. Playful, experimental, magic, the two had a unique sexual chemistry that rounded out their relationship and was the embodiment of people who were truly compatible. Mulder’s stamina and diligence in the bedroom was admirable but Scully had to get him to pair down his routine to a solid 20 minutes on work nights. With a grumble he acquiesced, not wanting to lose sex privileges altogether, but the moment they were off the clock Mulder made up for it with long, languid love making sessions. 

As a couple they formed new routines which slowly phased out the listless void that had been such a large component of Mulder’s life. Unlike previous relationships he’d experienced, they moved in tandem as a team, and his restlessness naturally faded. Scully, was wary of Mulder’s eagerness to throw himself into their relationship and be the partner he believed she wanted. So she spurred him on to keep up his independent interests; and he chased sightings of Bigfoot, looked into conspiracies with The Gunmen, and would disappear on vague trips with little explanations but big hugs. It took a little while for Mulder to understand that this wasn’t a rejection, but Scully’s insightful way of making sure their relationship was sustainable. ‘Two whole and independent people who chose to be together but are able to function apart’ she told him. From a psychological point of view he knew she was right, but he had been functioning on his own most of his life, he just preferred when she was near. 

Discretion was important to them both, which meant no public displays of affection in D.C and their options for dates were pretty restricted. This gave Mulder an opportunity to get creative, adding extra travel days in between cases to take Scully to concerts, eat at nice restaurants and pretend to be normal for a while. Mulder talked of a life outside of The X Files and field work, but Scully was skeptical that he’d be able to give it up and certainly didn’t want him to resent her for this decision in the future. After an endless stream of cases Mulder finally revealed the truth into the darkness like a silent confession. He was tired of worrying about their lives always being in jeopardy, but his real motive was that he’d looked into being a Foster Carer, and he couldn’t bear the thought of making that commitment and letting a kid down because of their work. Scully sobbed at this admission and finally she understood that Mulder wasn’t running away from The X Files to appease her, he was just looking towards a future with her. 

As people who intellectualized their feelings, communicating emotions wasn’t a strong suit, but on long drives or quiet nights one of them would summon the courage to speak of their hopes and dreams, or fears and anxieties. Each time it happened they found it easier to do, a ritual that only they shared and the knowledge of the fact that they were safe confiding in each other. 

However, it was not their comfort with this new stream of dialogue that raised their profile in the FBI, but a display of their non-verbal communication in a meeting with other field Agents and department heads. While Scully was presenting her findings a fellow Agent made a joke at her expense, Mulder arched into action but with a look Scully commanded him to back down. Mulder gave a look of acquiescence and his gaze shifted over to the lectern where their papers were stored, after a nod from Scully, Mulder silently handed her a document. Scully continued to address the Agent who made the joke and showed him a report with the evidentiary findings that proved her point and ended by reminding him that regardless of his diminutive view point, human lives were saved as a result of their involvement. The air was sucked out of the room for a moment as the other attendees struggled to comprehend what they had just witnessed. Eventually Skinner wrapped things up but rumors of the pair developing telepathy became an ongoing joke. Skinner loved to recount stories of silent fights he’d witnessed the pair have in his office after a few drinks and he knew their connection was something to be envied.

For Maggie Scully, there was no official confirmation that Mulder and Scully were in a relationship. Mulder began attending Sunday dinners while their relationship was still technically plutonic, so their bickering and teasing didn’t count as genuine evidence because in that regard, they were still very much the same. Mulder was a welcomed addition to the Scully family dinners, always bringing a bottle or wine or a bunch of flowers as a host gift. The times he brought flowers he always got Scully a bunch too, which she put in water and tried to downplay her delight at his simple gesture. 

After dinner it was quietly understood that Mulder and Scully would do the washing up. Their hushed conversations and stifled laughter made a pleasant hum throughout the house and Maggie loved to silently watch the pair in their own little world. Even Bill Jr begrudgingly got used to Mulder’s presence, unable to deny the happiness he brought his sister, the way he helped Maggie while he was away, and how his son adored him. As men often do, Bill Jr and Mulder had a silent agreement to stick to talking about sports and avoided any topics that could cause contention. Bill didn’t even tease Mulder for tearing up while watching Beauty and the Beast with Matty; although Scully mocked him mercilessly. 

‘Scully, it’s just the lyrics to that one song! “Just a little change. Small, to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared..” it’s us!’

‘I better not be the Beast, Mulder…’ 

With a kiss Mulder silenced her mocking but a few weeks later Scully discovered Mulder had bought the soundtrack to Beauty and the Beast and it was in his CD player. 

The ease at which Mulder fit into her family functions surprised Scully, and he was quickly a favorite amongst her relatives and family friends. Much to her surprise, Mulder was quite comfortable manning the Grill and always willing to help prepare food for the guests. 

Part way through their first Summer as a couple Scully had to ask him to stop accepting every invite to these cookouts and gatherings. Between Sunday dinners and these additional get-togethers, Scully was seeing more of her family than she had in a decade, and preferred to pick and choose which occasions she showed up too. So an agreement was made that all invitations would be run by Scully first to “check if they would be working out of town” and bypass Mulder’s inability to say ‘no’ to Maggie Scully.

Mulder’s diet, which had previously subsisted heavily on takeout and dry cereals, changed dramatically once dating Scully. Most nights in D.C they cooked together. Nothing overly complicated, grilled fish or chicken served with vegetables or a salad. Mulder wasn’t really one for cooking, but he enjoyed helping Scully prepare their meals and they made a pretty efficient team. Once every few weeks they’d go to the local farmers market and buy the fresh produce (as well as a large bag of kettle corn for Mulder). This was one of the many activities they did before they were a couple, but now the chances were much higher that the items purchased would be shared. Every time they went to the markets Scully would make sure to go to her favorite local honey vendor, Hank. A pharmacist by trade, Hank discovered beekeeping as a way to help control his seasonal allergies. Hank explained to Scully all about the studies on ingesting bee pollen or honey collected from local bees for allergies, which she found fascinating. Mulder’s dislike of Hank was juvenile and fueled purely by jealousy. Once they officially started dating, Mulder was no longer allowed to make snide remarks or roll his eyes while she chatted to Hank, so he would just stand next to her silently and watch the interaction with all the intense concentration of a trained guard dog. In a million years Mulder would never admit that he loved Hank’s honey and it actually  helped him a lot during allergy season, but Scully noticed him slipping it into his tea every chance he got. 

Since their first year as Partners Scully had accused Mulder of essentially being a bear who owned furniture with his ignorance of basic domestic care. Her judgmental looks and glares were originally enough to get him to clean his toilet and take out the trash semi-regularly, however he quickly realized if he wanted Scully to spend the night with him, he’d have to up his game. Fresh sheets, clean bathroom (with no empty shampoo bottles on the shower floor), and toilet paper placed on the holder became a regular feature at Mulder’s apartment and he was rewarded with Scully spending half her time in D.C at his apartment.

Like any couple, especially ones who had known each other for so long, they argued. But while they may have fought like all couples they did not fight like a normal couple. There was no yelling or throwing things, their disagreements were more of a heated debate with time allocated for both views to be presented as well as rebuttal. One of their first fights as a couple happened late one night at Mulder’s place. Not willing to concede defeat Mulder became sullen, sarcastic and petulant towards Scully. Rolling her eyes she muttered in frustration that he was being an ass, then she kicked him in the shins and walked into his bedroom to go to bed. From the other room she could hear Mulder give a bewildered laugh and the tension evaporated. With an exaggerated limp Mulder walked into the bedroom to make amends, and was happy to do so more than once that night. 

Their other arguments didn’t always resolve as quickly and they both usually needed a day to reflect on the details. Mostly they got along very amicably though and their bickering reduced dramatically once their relationship became physical. 

There was now a TV in Mulder’s bedroom and Scully found a bed frame with built-in bookshelves for him. While on the whole his insomnia had improved, Scully didn’t like waking up in the middle of the night to find him missing. So now he could watch tv on low or read without worrying about disturbing Scully. Mulder had mentioned cohabitation but it led to one of their awkward standoffs, so he was happy to compromise with sharing a bed with her almost every night.

The road that led them to this point was fraught with so much turmoil, sacrifice and pain. For Mulder, he couldn't remember a time when he had been happier. A part of him understood life would always turn on a dime so he tried to savor this time as much as possible. But for all his anxiety about the future he knew they would continue to fight together, comrades in arms, bracing themselves for the next roll of the dice.

[tyramir]

My Thoughts on Veilguard

I've finished the game, and as a longtime Dragon Age fan, these are my (spoiler free) thoughts.

It's good. It's not great. It wasn't worth the ten year wait.

Veilguard is a semi-climax in terms of lore building across three games. There are mysteries that have been resolved and paid off. Long asked questions have been answered. We know so many things we didn't know before, and there's satisfaction in the knowing.

This is where Veilguard succeeds the best at, in my opinion. The big picture.

Where it fails is in the execution. In the little things. While lore is paid off in the grand gestures, it almost feels spat on in the small ones. It's tiny things, little inconsistencies that feel like nitpicks, but they build up fast. The breaking point for me was one character chanting an incantation while casting a spell. Since when does Dragon Age magic require incantations? The answer? Never. Do your homework, please. I know you're trying to build drama into your scene, but the complete lore break took me out of it. It was so jarring and unneeded and kind of lazy.

And that's what a lot of the writing feels like in this game. Lazy. And all respect to Trick Weekes and their team. They've done great things in the past. But the writing in this game clearly doesn't trust its audience to draw its own conclusions about anything. It is constantly trying to feed you an opinion to have, both in what characters say to your Rook, and in the dialogue options Rook is presented. I know by and large that you're going to have limited dialogue options as a consequence of budget and technical issues, but certain issues presented are very nuanced, and the dialogue tends to feel, "You think this is good", "You think this is bad," "You think this is sad," or "I have a quippy sarcastic comment about this that does not require me to commit to an opinion one way or the other." And while it works for the first half of the game... it doesn't work for the back half.

I don't know about anyone else, but the romance storyline I pursued felt... short. As if it were added in as an afterthought. As if someone said, "Well, I guess we're known as the horny RPG franchise, so we have to include something."

A lot of people come to Bioware for the interpersonal relationships, both romantic and not, between characters. And both romantic and platonic, this felt like the weakest entry in the series in a lot of respects. I feel like there was more growth between the friendship of Lucanis and Davrin than there was between Rook and any given party member.

A lot of narrative arcs didn't do it for me. At all. I found Neve's entire plotline and character very phoned in. I was excited at the idea of a Mage Detective in Tevinter, looking to protect the little guy. She was presented, on-paper, as a clever and passionate mage who defies what it means to be one in a country that very much believes in magical supremacy. It's probably because of my expectations. I wanted Harry Dresden. Instead, I got ... Neve.

I understand there is party banter that explains why Neve wears high fashion outfits when she comes from a poor neighbourhood, working jobs for people who have little to no way of paying her. But why is her voice actor also presenting her as very posh? Why is this woman throwing around sacks of coins to overpay for her lunch, and not scrounging for loose change in cushions at the Lighthouse? Why is she presented as highly educated and well-spoken, and not a street-savvy, 'I learned from experience and have great intuition but poor grammar' gumshoes?

And then there's Taash. I am not going to be one of those dudebros who cries about woke culture. Or at least, I hope I do not come off that way. But Taash, written personally by Trick Weekes, was so clumsy and hamfisted, and I am left disappointed. I romanced Taash, and I am disappointed with their character arc. Because it is so painfully generic. It couldn't have played into cliches harder if it tried. I wanted more. Taash does have a personality beyond being non-binary. But they don't have a character arc beyond that.

Expectations, I guess. I went into Veilguard with a lot of them, and they came up short.

I like this game. I swear, I do. But Inquisition came out when I had an Xbox 360, and was just about to get an XBox One. It's been so long since Inquisition, we have an entire generation of consoles in between releases. I expected a masterpiece. And I did not get one.

[goodomensjail]

I was totally wrong about 1941:

In my first watch of Season 2 of Good Omens I was disappointed by the 1941 flashback. I had gotten all hyped for a crazy falling out or a huge failed romantic gesture and instead we got a… zombie romp gun magic trick with Crowley almost looking disinterested some of the time?

I was A FOOL

There was no big apology or discussion on their falling out; there was no huge romantic declaration or physical move. Having finished the season (like 5 times now): Of COURSE NOT, they don’t TALK. Instead we are seeing the “dance”. They argue in 1862, they stew, Crowley comes back without anyone actually apologizing or working through it because Aziraphale needs rescuing. They hang out.

The Job story is the beautiful beginning of realizing they are lonely and can share a “new side”.

The Edinburgh story is their lively debate on morality, ending with the stark reality that Crowley doing the right thing can get him dragged down to hell for God (or the Devil) only knows what punishment.

1941 is “The Best They Can Have Under the Circumstances” before the Armeggedon that Wasn’t.

Crowley can swoop in to save the damsel Aziraphale; they can ride around town together for no other reason than they like to be together; they stumble over the words “friends” both because saying that out loud is dangerous and maybe they are more than that; they can seek validation and give encouragement to one another (see Crowley’s pep talk, and Aziraphale’s “do you really think it went well?”); they can trust one another so fully they don’t need miracles to perform magic tricks; they can sit in candlelight (on the same side of the table which always amuses me they need to choose to shift their chairs that close) sipping wine….

But Crowley could also be dragged away by a legion of demons to stand alone before the punishments of Hell just for hanging out with Aziraphale.

So no. I was wrong. 1941 is so goddamn romantic, they are at their tenderest toward one another, and they are at their most tragic “star crossed” lovers not allowed to be seen together. This is the height of their relationship… and the moment it was stunted.

They cannot apologize, they cannot go wherever they want, they cannot do what they want, they can’t even say “friends” without Crowley needing to look away and hide the flicker of feelings. And THIS is where they stay until AFTER 2019.

They are STUCK in 1941 in terms of their relationship. I think that’s why it’s the last flashback in S2. There’s nothing else to show us in their past, in the present we are witnessing the repercussions of their need to freeze where they are to protect what they have.

[worseforwords]

The Strawberry Song - Part 1 (Alessia Russo x Reader)

Valentines day. The day you had been looking forward to for two weeks, but you were now dreading. You stared at the door that you had had thrown in your face exactly fourteen days ago, practically paralysed, trying to recall the words you thought you had memorised perfectly, but now you were drawing a blank. Maybe this was a bad idea, maybe you shouldn’t have come here, given her more space. A deep, disappointed, sigh exited your mouth as you sat back into your car. You warm breath made a fog appear on the front window, forming what you could only see as the shape of a strawberry. Making you smile softly as you remembered the first time you met Alessia.

You were in a bar with your band members, celebrating finally finishing your first album, when you spotted the breathtakingly beautiful blonde at the other end of the bar. A mixture of the triumphant feeling of completing the huge, months-long project with a result you were all incredibly proud of, and the alcohol coursing through your veins caused by the many celebratory shots you all took earlier, gave you the perfect boost in confidence and you decided to walk up to her. “Hi,” you said, holding out your hand and not breaking eye contact once she met your gaze, “my name is Y/N.” “Hi, Y/N, I’m Alessia.” She answered, looking rather flustered. Clearly, your newfound cocky attitude worked its magic on this girl. “So, Alessia,” you held your breath for a noticeably long pause, “can I buy you a drink?”

The rest of the night was a blur as the previously taken shots started to kick in even more, so the next day you woke up with a pounding headache and a very limited recollection of the night before. However, you remembered one thing very vividly: the taste of her lips. You even recalled asking her about the sweet flavour, which turned out to be strawberry. You woke up alone, both of you being classy women (you really weren’t, but something told you this girl would be worth the wait), but you had exchanged numbers. At some point during the night, a fairly intoxicated friend of Alessia’s, named Ella, provided you with some much appreciated advice on charming her best friend. Apparently she was quite the romantic, passionate and longing for big romantic gestures, to which you were usually the opposite, so you knew you had to step up your game.

You didn’t wait long to make your next move, as you called her the same day, stating you hoped you weren’t coming on too strong, but you’d love to see her stunning blue eyes again. In hindsight you must’ve still had some alcohol in your blood, being that bold, but it worked. At your first date you were far less suave, constantly stuttering and getting flustered, but you made sure to bring your A-game, picking her up with flowers and holding the door open for her whenever you could.

The romantic gestures didn’t end there, as the next few weeks you kept outdoing yourself with dates, gifts, and even a custom made playlist. You quickly grew close together and you loved every minute of it. Apparently so did she, as she eventually asked you to be her girlfriend: you did it, you won her over.

Dating a footballer wasn’t easy, especially trying to make a career as a musician at the same time, you had to work hard to make time for each other. You both supported each other through and through, as you were frequently in the stands at her matches, and she brought her teammates to your gigs. When one day one of your bands songs suddenly hit the charts as a result of it being used on some TikTok trend, Alessia couldn’t be more proud. She even surprised you, showing up to your next gig with her whole team wearing your merchandise, screaming “That’s my girl!” throughout the whole concert.

Even though it was you dream, the breakthrough of your band was nothing like you thought it would be. Your schedule rapidly filled up with gigs, parties, media events and you were not prepared for the insanity of it all. Being new to all this, at first you said yes to everything, and you felt high on all the attention you were getting. You were living that rock and roll lifestyle you had always dreamed of, but the late night parties and gigs and the afternoons spent in dim-lit studios definitely took a toll on your body. Your usual morning workouts turned into sleeping off hangovers, and your balanced home cooked meals became microwave meals of take-away fast food. 

Alessia, being an athlete, quickly started to get worried about your newfound lifestyle. For a while she just observed how it changed you. She took note of the daily bags under your eyes and the sluggish movements of your once fairly athletic body, and when she noticed your sunken cheeks she couldn’t help but interfere, as she confronted you about your health. You were quick to dismiss her concerns, stating it was all part of being a successful musician and you just needed some time to adjust. 

The opportunities for Alessia to check up on you were becoming increasingly rare, as the two of you seemed to live in different timezones. You were still asleep when she left in the morning and when she came back you had usually left, either to spend the night working in the studio, or to perform or party. You started forgetting about dates you planned with her, and short texts with the occasional heart emoji were all that was left of your previous romantic gestures. At this point, you rarely even made an effort to sleep over at her place or invite her to yours, and even though you were too busy to even be bothered by it, she was getting more frustrated about it by the second. For you it felt like a few days had past since your band hit the charts, but in reality it had been weeks, and for Alessia, it felt like months.

Eventually, she decided to confront you about it. She sat you down for what felt like an intervention and she read you a letter she wrote, expressing how alone she had felt and how concerned she was for you, whilst sniffling softly in between sentences, sending shivers down your spine. She ended the letter with some sort of ultimatum: you had to change, or she’d leave. You completely broke down at her words, promising to be better from then on. 

You knew you had to prove your promise, and you decided to take her on a trip the next weekend, as she happened to have the weekend off. You asked for time off from your band duties, which your manager wasn’t happy about, but you insisted you needed the time. 

The night before you were supposed to leave, your manager called you all into the studio with some news. He had booked you several new gigs, multiple of which were at venues bigger than you had ever played at before. You all cheered at the news, and your drummer stated that this called for a celebration. You politely declined, making everyones head turn to you in surprise. Your manager added that he could get you a private table at one of Manchesters most exquisite clubs, so you had to join for one drink at least. As it turned out your neglect towards your body also took a toll on your self control, so you agreed on having just one drink, which unsurprisingly turned into two, then three, and then another blur in your memory. 

You woke up the next day feeling like your brain was about to explode. You picked up your phone to check the time, and audibly gasped when you saw the many missed calls and texts, the last one from an hour ago being “Never mind, I’m going home. We’re done Y/N”. Fuck. Your heart broke as you envisioned her waiting for you at the airport, with her suitcase all packed, slowly losing faith in you showing up. You swiftly got out of bed, ignoring the pounding headache and nausea it caused, grabbed some paracetamol and a coffee and got into your car.

You knocked on Alessia’s front door as you nervously fiddled with the bracelet around your wrist. When there was no answer, you knocked again, or pounded, really. The door finally flew open but you weren’t met with the disappointed blue eyes you were expecting, instead a rather angry Ella stood in front of you. “Piss off.” She said. “Can I please just talk to her?” You pleaded. “I said, piss off!” Her yelling made your pounding head hurt even more. You looked at your shoes, contemplating how to change her mind, when a soft voice from inside the house came to your rescue. “Let her in Tooney.” You looked up, slowly stepping forward to get into the house, before a hand on your shoulder stopped you. “You know, I can’t believe I actually thought you were worthy of her. You’re dead to me now.” Her words hit you like a brick, but your focus was still on the other girl in the apartment, so when Ella let go of your shoulder, you swiftly moved into the living room, being met with the devastating sight of Alessia’s tearstained face. 

“Hi, Less, I am so s-” “Explain yourself.” She interrupted. “I- I can’t, I-” You stopped your stuttering when she suddenly looked up to you, eying your messy hair and the bags under your eyes. “Oh my god, you’re hungover again aren’t you?” “Well, yes. I am so sorry Less, I know I fucked up. Please let me make it up to you, we can still go on that trip, I will book us new tickets and everything, please.” You rambled desperately. “Is this supposed to mean something to me?” She said, sounding awfully bitter. “What?” You asked, your voice cracking. “Your apologies and promises. They mean nothing to me anymore. It’s all empty now.” You thought about what she said for a while as you sat yourself down. 

“You don’t trust me anymore, do you?” You asked softly “Well how can I, Y/N?” She sounded desperate. “Well if you can’t trust me anymore then what are we doing? Do you want to end this?” You blurted out, immediately regretting it, hoping she would jump in. She didn’t however, and the silence that followed terrified you. “Listen, Less, I love you, I don’t want to lose you. All I can do now is promise you I will try to be better, not just for you but for me too. I’m not being healthy and it’s draining me both physically and mentally, which you fell victim to and that isn’t fair. All I ask for is one more chance to prove myself. I won’t promise perfection, but I can promise to give it my all.” Your sudden revelation caused a silence as Alessia contemplated your words. “Please, Less, say something.” You pleaded, when the tension became too much for you. “I- I don’t know Y/N, I just need some space and time to think about all this.” “Yeah, okay, I’ll leave.” You said, getting up from the couch. You cautiously put a hand on her shoulder. “I am really sorry, Less.”

The next day, you didn’t call or text her, respecting her request for space and time. You waited until the next evening to go up to her house once more, stopping on the way for some flowers. “Hi.” You said as she opened the door, holding up the bouquet. She didn’t take it from your hands, which made your stomach drop. “Y/N what are you doing here?” She asked. “I told you I needed space.” She looked exhausted. “Yeah, you had all of yesterday and today to think right?” You said, confused. “You don’t get it, Y/N, I need some actual time and space.” She explained. “Oh, right erm, how much are we talking here?” You asked carefully. “I don’t want to see you or talk to you for at least 2 weeks. No calls, no texts.” She said before loudly closing the door in your face.

Waiting for two weeks doesn’t seem that long, however, in this case, it felt like forever. The agony of waiting for the woman you loved to decide whether she can forgive you after everything you did wrong really got to you, resulting in many sleepless nights, but you were adamant on using the time to both work on yourself and plan the perfect apology. Coincidentally, the first day you’d be allowed to see her again, would be on valentines day, and since you had neglected the romantic side of Alessia for way too long this was the perfect time to change that.

So here you were, sitting in your car reminiscing all of your mistakes, when a noise from the house you stood in front of earlier suddenly woke you up: Alessia. As she was locking her front door, you contemplated your next move. You had two options: leave quickly, with a chance of getting caught chickening out and thereby most likely ruining any chance you had left with her, or finally facing your fears and hoping for the best: getting your girl back.

-------------------------------------------------------

I hope to have part 2 out tomorrow, as it is the part that takes place mostly on valentines day. And maybe, just maybe it will have the actual Strawberry Song in it, that I wrote in a spur of the moment yesterday, but only if I gather the courage to actually post it, oops. We'll see I guess.

Update: Part 2 is out now (including the song I wrote!!)

[rhiezus]

this stopped being a fling a while ago. // devi x usiK HIM COME TO HIS SENSES

misbehaving has always been on the list of exceptionally intriguing of devika's abilities, she didn't deny that when it came to doing different from what she was told she was a master. and obviously dating usik was one of those "don't do it" things, she saw all the signs and ignored them. at first, it was probably because she felt entitled. he was, undeniably, a hot and new famous face around making his way into korean's hearts everywhere and she was still on the path to do the same so there was something magical and risky about seeing him. and sometimes there were no reasons at all for them to continue doing so other than the fact that they became used to each other. it was way easier to just hit a text and be at the same hotel for the next few hours than to go out, meet new people, introduce them to your way of life, and hope for the best. either way, they could score both ways, but they eventually just chose each other over and over again.

nevertheless, that didn't mean they were ready to call it a full ongoing romantic relationship. at least, devi thought so, and mainly because she would have never in her wildest dreams guessed that's what usik was trying to do. as far as she was concerned he was never going to actively chose her as his girlfriend and not because there was something wrong with her or them for that matter, but because of all the weight such thing might attract. "what the hell do you mean by that?" she had her eyebrows curved and her funny laughing bunny face, half of her expression meant she was delighted to know where that conversation was going and the other half was just pure confusion, thankfully he couldn't see it better than her because she was facing the mirror in a different direction than he had his eyes on. devi put on her lip gloss like she was casually going out again, when in fact she just made her way back to the bed and sat by the edge to put her rings back on that were forgotten on the nightstand.

not everything had to be timed and perfect, devi knew that but when it came to usik she was stubborn. she wanted him to run that extra mile for her, even though she knew he probably wouldn't. sometimes it was even disappointing to try and look for him, because she was never sure where they were standing and while trying to be the cool and stoic girl not to chase him away she had to keep putting the act, even if that meant hiding her feelings. she was never gonna demand some big and extraordinary gesture, but she was going to wait for it perhaps knowing it might not come at all. which explained the reason she had a flair for the dramatics and the meaning behind her affection towards usik in the first place: she liked shiny, explosive, and overall just dreamy and nonrealistic situations because that meant they never occurred to anyone else, just her.

putting a more courageous and savage face on she leaned back on the bed to observe usik more, maybe even try to find the real feelings of him behind his eyes. but she didn't, she couldn't fool herself into believing him. devi closed the distance between their worlds and kissed his lips in a soft and refreshing move, her fingers closing in on his hair and letting go just the same time as she moved away a little bit to be heard. "if you really want it, then you should really do something about it." so a smile tugged on her face, a mischievous little grin suppose to do to him what she knew it was going to do. she might not have been the strongest soldier on that bed, but at least she still had weapons to work on her favor and hoping to stay on his mind for as long as she could was one of them. there was no winning here, they were both already at a loss as soon as they found the real answer to such questions in their hearts. because no misdoing in the world could qualify finding someone you really want and keeping them close despite your fears, it takes work, and devi would never really feel reassured when it came to seeing themselves battling for steadiness, when they comfort laid on everything but that.