#but there's something about the Simple Science of it that I find charming

[swan2swan]

Cartoons could just Do Anything back in the day.

[honeytonedhottie]

maintaining/creating a social life⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🧁

ok so i used to have HORRIBLE social anxiety and i think that the contrast between me with social anxiety and me now is INSANE. in a good way ofc. so im not going to talk about how i overcame social anxiety, instead im going to talk about how i created a social life ✨

MAKING FRIENDS ;

the science of making friends is simple and im about to explain it. so go to where there are ppl that u can relate to/want to relate to. example being school, clubs, etc.

next, observe who u want to befriend and make sure to start with a compliment. starting off by introducing urself just makes for an awkward conversation but starting with a compliment puts u and the other party at ease.

something thats rly important is ur CHARISMA and ur magnetic energy so be CHARMING ✨ if u find that the other party is not reciprocating its either they're uncomfy, uninterested, or just a weirdo. and in all cases, you should stop.

MAKING FRIENDS THRU FRIENDS ;

make friends with your friends friends -> make friends with their friends -> and so on and so forth. this is how you network and create a friendly status with lots of people.

if ur in a school setting like i am, make friends with people in ur own grade or in a higher up grade, i dont usually make friends with ppl in lower grades but ofc there are always exceptions.

making friends through friends is how u get invited to parties, have more opportunities be available to you, and ofc network for more connections. guys connections are literally EVERYTHING.

MAKE TIME FOR UR FRIENDS ;

make sure to learn who u call friends. when is their birthday? do they have specific preferences? what kind of music do they listen to? knowing ur friends makes them feel special and thats how u learn to be a good friend. i can make a whole POST about being a good friend cuz i've learned and grown so much with that.

THE POWER OF A COMPLIMENT ;

make it ur mission to give a compliment everyday cuz first off, being nice is HOT so pls be nice and second of all, if ur trying to talk to someone and u start with a compliment i promise that it'll go so much better.

if ur thinking "thats so awkward how will i do that" then the category dont be shy is one that u gotta read cuz girl 💀. if u need an example i'll provide one from my own experience so u can see the power of a compliment.

there was this girl in my spanish class and i always thought that she was so pretty and she seemed so nice. one day we bump into each other in the bathroom and i compliment her hair and makeup, she responds well. we continue to have friendly interactions throughout the rest of the school year and now we are good friends on and off campus.

DONT BE SHY ;

when u make friends please please PLEASE work on ur confidence first. you need to be SURE of yourself. if not, when ur being friendly it could come off as desperation and ppl will humiliate, make fun of and take advantage of u. and thats NOT hot.

be CONFIDENT, you literally have nothing to lose. when u shed ur shyness (thru things like exposure therapy etc) a whole new world is opened up for u bcuz sometimes the only thing holding u back is urself and ur limiting beliefs about urself.

MAKE UR PERSONALITY SHINE ;

make sure that know ur own personality and from knowing that u can find ways in which u can make it shine. no matter what ur personality is though, something that i cannot stress enough is BE NICE.

be friendly and amicable with everyone and stay out of drama and if drama comes to you then stay unbothered 😭. dont try and uproot ur own personality to copy someone else's.

[therealcocoshady]

I also had an idea kind of similar to the arranged marriage plot maybe someone sets them up on a blind date… he keeps saying no but the person playing Cupid is very persistent and he ends up feeling obligated to go (idk, just a thought)

Oh, I actually had an thought about something similar to this, a while ago - please don’t mind me, I literally wrote this thing in less than 30 minutes and didn’t proofread. I just wrote it so that you’d get the idea.

After years of frustration with women and trust issues, Marshall has made peace with the fact that he’s going to end up alone. Even his friends have stopped trying to set him up on dates. Sure, they’d like to see him thrive in a relationship, and they can see how lonely he is, sometimes, but they also know he’s complicated. So they leave him alone on the topic. So he dedicates to his work and his role as a father.

And ironically enough, his girls are the only people that could get him to go out of his comfort zone. One of them is still in college, studying psychology. She has to do an assignment for one of her classes and she is searching for volunteers for an experiment on dating and relationships. The design is pretty simple : people sign up, fill some forms and answer questions. Then, an algorithm pairs them up for maximum compatibility and they have to go on a date, during which they will have to answer the famous 36 questions designed to make them fall in love. His daughter is a bit behind on work and she has to find one more volunteer. She doesn’t even believe in this whole thing, she just wants to pass the class. So she begs Marshall, who refuses at first. Because A) he doesn’t date and B) even if he did, he wouldn’t take part in an experiment, much less one involving his daughter in his romantic life. But she’s really desperate and she assures him that the whole thing is anonymous and clinical. « Please, Dad, it’ll take twenty minutes of your time. And who knows if they’ll even pair you with anyone for the date. I just need to pass the class and graduate. You’re the one who always insisted on me getting higher education ! ». Of course, he caves in. Because he did sacrifice a lot for his babies to go to college, and he’ll be damned if his daughter fails the class because of him. Plus, the people in charge of the experiment will probably see his answers and figure he’s a lost cause. Even science wouldn’t find a good match for him, right ?

Except that it does. Weeks later, he receives an email, informing him that he’s been selected for the second step of the experiment and that they’ve found him a match with 95% compatibility. At first, he figures he won’t go. With his luck, they paired him with another fifty-something man who’s just as lonely. No way this could be a woman. Not with the stoic and sarcastic answers he typed in the form. The email doesn’t even specify who they paired him with. They just ask if he’d be available for a date in two weeks time. Basically, it’s having coffee with the other person, answering the 36 questions unrecorded and then filling another form to describe the experience and say if yes or no they feel attracted to the other person and would consider actually dating them. He figures that, even though it’s anonymous, his daughter’s team wouldn’t have the data if he bails and he’ll be damned if his precious daughter doesn’t get her degree because of him. Of course he’ll bite the bullet and go on that stupid coffee date. Even if he’s paired with a 53 year-old name George.

But as it turns out, his date is not 53 year-old George. It’s you. You and your charming smile. You who agreed to take part in the whole thing because your little sister, his daughter’s teammate, begged you at the last minute. God, these college students need to learn how to do things in time and not to involve their family in their cringy psych classes experiment. You don’t even want to do this whole thing but when a charming man shows up, you can’t help but smile and introduce yourself, extending a polite handshake to greet him. He doesn’t seem too at ease in that little café, which you find odd because it’s actually quite lovely. Also, you swear you’ve seen him somewhere, but it’s Detroit and he’s a brown-haired, bearded, middle-aged man in jeans and a hoodie. Pretty generic. You’re not exactly surprised to have been paired up with someone older than you. You’ve always been told you’re an old soul, so of course « science » (or whatever software they used to compile data) would figure out that your perfect match is almost twenty years older. Anyway, you’re not really here for a date. You’re here for your sister to finally graduate. And you’re not one to refuse free Chai latte.

So the two of you exchange a few pleasantries, introduce yourselves and get to these 36 questions. You tell each other who you could have dinner with if you could choose anyone in the world, whether or not you have a secret hunch about how you will die… as it turns out, the thing is cleverly designed. The questions are increasingly personal and both of you end up sharing personal details, things you most definitely wouldn’t think of sharing with a stranger you were more or less randomly paired up with. By the time you reach the last question, you are looking into each other’s eyes, giving your undivided attention, leaning in. When you arrived, you were strangers but by the end of the date, you feel like you really know each other. More than some people you’ve known your whole life. And by the time it ends, you’ve had the time to notice how charming the wrinkles around eyes are, and you don’t find it too unsettling that he blinks a bit faster than most people you know. As for him, he hasn’t failed to notice that little birthmark near your eye, and the way your mouth twitches when you’re trying to think of the adequate word to answer one of the questions. You don’t know each other’s favorite color or the name of your first pet, but both know when the other last cried in front of someone else and by themselves and why. 36 questions and a cup of coffee later, and you’re not really strangers. You actually had a pleasant time. Too bad you reached the end of the questionnaire and it’s time to go. Too bad he doesn’t offer to take your number and call you. Too bad you’re too demure to ask for his. You wouldn’t have minded actually going out with him. Maybe even discuss that movie he mentioned in passing and thinks you’d like.

The two of you share a hug goodbye and agree that it was fun. You wish him well for his daughter’s wedding he told you he’s busy planning and he wishes you luck for that job interview you said you were nervous about. When you go home and it’s time to answer that final set of questions, saying how you feel about the experiment, you actually give the whole thing a solid 8/10. And when you’re asked if you’d actually date the person you met for coffee, you tick « yes » faster than you’ve ticked any box. You do the same when it asks you if you’d consent to the other person being given your contact info.

Weeks later, Marshall is ecstatic when his daughter tells him she got a good grade for that psych class and that she’ll be graduating with honors. He’s proud as can be. She thanks him profusely for helping her. « I know it’s a stupid thing. But hey, there are a few people who reported they had a good time. Who knows ? Maybe I helped someone find love. ». She has absolutely no idea that he is one of the people who asked for the other person’s contact info as soon as they were given the possibility. She doesn’t know he’s been on four more dates with you. People have been so used to him being single that it didn’t even cross his daughter’s mind. Not even when he mentioned he missed the last Lions’ game, which never happens. But she definitely gets a hunch when he attends her graduation ceremony and sees him smile to that beautiful lady who’s attending her graduation ceremony and came to greet him. « Oh, that’s my sister speaking with your dad ! », her friend says. « I convinced her to do the experiment and she told me she met someone charming. Can you believe it ?! ».

[yxlnst]

A formula of love

idol!Vernon X reader!Y/n

🎀 Summary 🎀 : In a high school chemistry class, you're assigned a science project with Vernon, Hoshi, and Woozi. Vernon takes a subtle interest in you, leading to teamwork and growing chemistry between you two. The project earns an A+, and Vernon asks you out for coffee, hinting at a potential romance.

🧸 Word count 🧸 : 1,018

Fluff

🧸 - - - - - - - - - - - - 🎀 - - - - - - - - - - - -🧸

It was a typical Tuesday in your high school chemistry class. The teacher had just announced a major science project, and you were mentally preparing for the work ahead when you heard her call your name. "You'll be working with Vernon, Hoshi, and Woozi," she said, handing you a sheet with the project details. You looked over to where the boys were sitting, each of them with a unique expression—Hoshi was excited, Woozi was focused, and Vernon was leaning back in his chair, looking as relaxed as ever.

Your teacher instructed you to meet with your group to discuss the project, and you gathered your things, heading over to their table. Hoshi greeted you with a big smile. "Hey! This is going to be awesome!" he said, his energy infectious. Woozi nodded in agreement, though he was already scanning the project requirements with intense focus.

Vernon, however, just gave you a lazy grin. "Hey," he said, his voice smooth. "Looks like we're going to be spending a lot of time together." Something about the way he said it made your heart skip a beat. He had this laid-back charm that made it hard to look away.

The project was about creating a simple chemical reaction and explaining its scientific principles. It seemed straightforward enough, but with three very different personalities in the group, you knew it could get interesting. You decided to meet after school in the library to start planning.

Hoshi was all about big ideas. "Let's make it colorful! We could use different dyes and make it like a rainbow!" he suggested, his enthusiasm palpable.

Woozi, on the other hand, was more concerned with accuracy. "We need to make sure the reaction is stable and safe," he said, his voice serious. "No point in making it colorful if it blows up in our faces."

Vernon was somewhere in between. He leaned back in his chair, watching the back-and-forth between Hoshi and Woozi with an amused expression. "I think we should keep it simple," he said, glancing at you. "Maybe we focus on a single color or reaction and make it really strong. What do you think?"

You appreciated his balanced approach. "I agree," you said, nodding. "We can make it simple but effective. That way, we can focus on the explanation and make sure it makes sense."

The planning session went smoothly, with Hoshi and Woozi finding common ground, and Vernon occasionally chiming in with a joke or witty comment. But what you noticed most was how often Vernon glanced your way. It was subtle at first, just a quick look when you spoke, but as the session went on, his gaze lingered longer. You felt a flutter in your chest, wondering if it was just your imagination or if there was something more.

Over the next few days, the group met regularly to work on the project. You were in charge of gathering materials, Hoshi handled the creative aspects, Woozi focused on the technical details, and Vernon helped with the overall presentation. He was a natural speaker, and his relaxed attitude made everyone feel at ease.

One afternoon, as you and Vernon were working on the presentation, he suddenly turned to you with a serious expression. "Hey, can I ask you something?" he said, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced with a hint of uncertainty.

"Sure," you replied, curious about the shift in his tone.

"Do you... do you think we're a good team?" he asked, his eyes searching yours. "I mean, do you like working with us? With me?"

His question caught you off guard. "Yeah, I think we're a great team," you said, smiling. "Everyone brings something unique to the table. And you're a great presenter."

Vernon seemed relieved by your response, but he didn't drop the subject. "Would you want to work on another project with me? Like, outside of school?" he asked, his voice slightly hesitant.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his question. "What kind of project?"

"I don't know," he replied, shrugging. "Just something fun. Like a music project, or maybe a video for the school's YouTube channel. I think we'd make a good team, that's all."

You couldn't help but smile at his suggestion. "That sounds interesting," you said. "I'd be up for it."

Vernon grinned, his usual charm returning. "Cool. Let's make it happen," he said, his eyes twinkling. "But first, let's ace this project."

As the project deadline approached, you and Vernon spent more time together, often staying after school to finalize the presentation. The more you worked with him, the more you noticed his subtle gestures—like how he'd lean in when you spoke, or how he'd find excuses to be near you. It was clear that he was interested in you, and you couldn't deny that you felt the same.

On the day of the presentation, your group delivered a flawless performance. Hoshi's creative touch, Woozi's precision, and Vernon's confident delivery made it one of the best presentations in the class. Afterward, your teacher praised your teamwork and gave you an A+ for your effort.

As you packed up your things, Vernon approached you, a soft smile on his lips. "We did it," he said, his voice warm. "Thanks for being such a great partner."

"Thanks for keeping us on track," you replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I couldn't have done it without you."

Vernon hesitated for a moment, then leaned in closer. "Hey, do you want to grab a coffee or something? We could celebrate our A+," he suggested, his eyes holding a hint of mischief.

You couldn't help but smile. "I'd like that," you said, feeling the flutter in your chest return.

As you walked out of the classroom together, you knew this was just the beginning. The science project had brought you and Vernon together, and you couldn't wait to see where the next adventure would take you.

[harley-sunday]

Renaissance

Renaissance [noun]

re·​nais·​sance ˌren-ə-ˈsän(t)s  -ˈzän(t)s 

1. capitalized : the period of European history between the 14th and 17th centuries marked by a flourishing of art and literature inspired by ancient times and by the beginnings of modern science 2. often capitalized : a movement or period of great activity (as in literature, science, and the arts) 3. literal translation from French : re-birth

Summary: Charles wins the Monaco Grand Prix.

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x reader

Warnings: None.

Word count: 765 (a short one, I know)

AN: You know I had to come out of retirement after Charles winning his home Grand Prix. Hope you enjoy this little drabble. Please come yell at me in the comments ♥

Part of Rituals

Charles Leclerc, in 2021, when asked if he has any race rituals: “At every start of the season, until F2, my grandmother used to take my race suits, remove one of the sponsor logos and sew a little cross instead of it. Now grandma is gone, I can’t sew and the ritual is over. I was thinking about keeping a lucky charm in my pocket but then I thought to myself: if you need an object [to feel better], then you are missing something on the mental aspect, so I let it go.”

[Angel of God, my guardian dear,]

The ritual is not over.

You can sew and the ritual is not over. 

Charles took pole today, you can sew, and the ritual is not over.

[To whom God's love commits me here,]

It’s late. It’s late and with the rest of the world asleep you are wide awake, hunched over in a chair, with the red of the Ferrari race suit draped across your legs, and the floor lamp casting a golden glow over your lone figure. You caught a glimpse of yourself in the window earlier, the scene eerily reminiscent of a renaissance painting you saw in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nice last year. 

Freddy is sleeping at your feet, tired after spending yet another day barking at race cars from the safety of the balcony. The gray hairs around his nose are becoming more and more prominent, a cruel reminder of his upcoming sixth birthday next month. Except for Freddy’s soft snores, the house is quiet, and it almost feels like a sanctuary. 

[Ever this day, be at my side,]

Modern Formula One suits don’t have sponsor patches, everything is printed on, and so instead of having to decide which patch to remove, you try to find a piece of thread that matches the yellow of the Ferrari logo. There’s no exact match, everything you have is a slightly different shade, and after a few minutes you give up and take out a bobbin with black thread instead. 

It’s been years since you’ve last sewn something but your muscle memory makes feeding the thread through the eye of the needle easy. You pick up the fabric and set to work, using a simple back stitch to sew a cross in the black of the Ferrari horse. No one will even know it’s there, not unless they look closely, and people hardly ever do. It only takes a couple of minutes to finish and once you’re done you run your fingers over the stitches, while you say a quiet prayer. 

Careful not to disturb Freddy, you get up then and drape the suit back over the chair, making sure it looks untouched. You leave the light on, it’s almost morning anyway, and make your way back to the bedroom. 

Charles stirs when you lay down next to him and when you settle into him you can feel him press a kiss to your forehead, “Lucie is back to sleep?” 

For a moment you’re confused, not sure what he means, but then you remember you told him you’d go check on your daughter earlier. You nod and tilt your head back so he can let his lips ghost over yours, “She is. You should be as well, chéri. You’ve got a race to win tomorrow.” 

[To light and guard, Rule and guide.]

Charles takes it all in from the top step of the podium, lets his eyes wander over the sea of people below him, the water in Port Hercule glistening in the distance. He can feel his smile growing wider when he finds his family in the cheering crowd - his mom and his brothers looking at him with watery eyes and soft smiles, and her, with their daughter perched on her hip, biting her lip to keep from crying. He wants nothing more than to hug them, hold them close, and celebrate with them, but he knows that will come later, in the quiet hours after the public celebrations, back in the sanctity of their home.

It’s time for the national anthem and so Charles takes his cap off and places his hand over his heart. When his fingers graze over what he quickly realizes is a cross, embroidered onto the Ferrari horse, he has to swallow back tears. He didn’t see it before the race, doubt anyone has, but now that he knows it’s there he never wants to race without it ever again. 

The ritual is not over and Charles Leclerc is a Monaco Grand Prix race winner.

[mister-e-muss]

Time for the first backlog report from 2025

Super Mario RPG:

It truly is remarkable just how much this game has done. This was originally a Super Nintendo game created jointly by Square Enix. So very much of it has gone on to become Mario RPG foundations. A penchant for humor, actions that require timings for the player to squeeze the most damage out of, even playable Bowser all got its start here.

Even without much of the extended lore and ideas from the Mario universe, square managed to craft an excellent game with a fun world and an engaging, if rather simple story.

Yoko Shimamura does excellent work in the soundtrack, making something that sounds very Mario while also sounded very distinct. (Although I am of the opinion that the remake’s version doesn’t quite have the same impact.)

As an added bonus: It’s Short. For the genre, 12 hours is Nothing. I’m finding that to be a plus more and more, because if I’m not having fun, it can’t drag on. Even games I like can get weary when I’m on hour 50 of 100. Being able to finish this on a trip was a great experience.

Final Fantasy IX:

The right game can come at the wrong time. Some of them that you may have not liked at first deserve second chances. This was my experience with Final Fantasy IX. I’d started it in college, but found that it didn’t quite grab me for how hyped its fans talk about it. (Renowned YouTube personality ProJared goes so far as to describe it as ‘the platonic ideal of Final Fantasy.’) I initially found its characters to be one-note, and its world to be bland and uninteresting. I’m someone who always appreciates a dash of science to my fantasy, and the way VII and VIII blurred the lines between genres was one of the things that set them apart from dozens of other games. My initial feeling was that in trying to pursue idealized fantasy, Square had forgotten to make anything unique in this world. I was about seven hours in, just past Gizamaluke, and not really disabused of this opinion when I forgot about this game entirely.

Then, late last year, I decided to restart the game and see if it could grab me this time. And I loved it.

While the soundtrack is far from my favorite in the series, it’s still solid and provides more variety than I initially thought. The characters are charming, and the variation in their design makes for an interesting art style. Any complaints I had about IX perhaps lacking in imagination were completely blown out by the time I reached Cleyra. (Giant tree in the desert protected by giant sandstorm is such a tasty idea.) Even the supposed ‘pure fantasy’ complaint was undermined by mist technology and steam engines and artificially created Black Mages. Then the Invincible and Garland showed up and I had no legs to stand on.

I will say though that the ATB in this one was slow. The bars themselves fill up at a moderate pace, Haste is a late game ability, and there’s a noticeable pause between when you click on an option and when it happens. When you have all four party members, you’re basically just playing with regular turns. Previous games had magic take a few moments to cast depending on how strong it is, so you could squeeze in a Phoenix down while your healer was ready to cast. Here, actions play out exactly as they’re entered.

One thing that I can praise without caveat is the equipment and ability system. I initially took it to be grind-y and slow. Then I found out that you could learn abilities twice as fast if you have two pieces with the same ability on it, and the AP went from one of my least favorite aspects, to probably one of my favorite progression systems in FF. It’s nowhere near as deep or complex as the Materia and “Whatever-The-Hell-VIII-had-going-on” systems, but it’s also nowhere near as unwieldy. At it’s best, you have a system that lets you focus down more vital abilities while saving larger abilities as long-term goals.

If I were somehow in charge of a remake of IX, there are only a few adjustments I’d make.

1. Speed up the battles. Don’t change gameplay genres entirely, because the turn based gameplay isn’t something that needs ‘solving,’ but maybe make it so that my party doesn’t have a giant backlog of actions to take.

2. Voice acting. This game has plenty of cinematography and vibrant character design. Add a capable voice cast and these characters can truly live.

3. Make unavailable party members give up their equipment. Or at least allow the player to tweak their equipment even outside of the party. (It gets tiring buying two sets of armor because you can’t remember if you have enough for Steiner and Freya both.)

4. Maybe touch up the localization. There’s nothing grievously wrong with it, but Kuja probably shouldn’t talk quite so casually, considering the piano and class he has going on in his theme. (Freya didn’t read quite right to me either. IDK, someone who knows the Japanese script, correct me if I’m wrong.)

[multi-fandoms-posts]

The Heart of the Scientist

X Men Masterlist

X Men Masterlist 2

In the early morning hours, when dawn cast only a faint, gray light over the city, Y/N Holmes stepped down from the carriage and looked around. Sherlock had sent her here. "A simple task for an aspiring detective," he had said with his typical half-smile when he first sent her off alone on an investigation.

"A detective must test her own abilities, Y/N. You rely too much on me." His tone had been serious, and although Y/N had assured him she would manage perfectly well on her own, she now felt a flutter of nervousness. Sherlock’s instructions had been vague, but he assured her that a man of interest resided in this town, someone with "unusual knowledge that might be dangerous."

Y/N straightens her shoulders and sets off. Her task is clear: find this Victor Frankenstein, learn who he is, what he does, and then, well... figure it out.

As she walked through the city, she felt the cool London mist on her skin, and for a moment, she felt almost as if she were being watched. But when she looked around, she saw only the shadowy silhouettes of early risers heading to work.

"I’m not lost," she murmured softly, though she suddenly felt uncertain. She stopped, glancing around, and in that very moment, a man stepped out of the shadows, as if he had just materialized into her world.

"Good morning, miss," he said, with a bow that was both charming and slightly dark. "You look a bit lost."

"Perhaps," Y/N replied, studying him, feeling her curiosity stir.

"Are you searching for something specific?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You could say that," she answered evasively. "And you?"

"Victor Frankenstein," he introduced himself, and at the mention of his name, Y/N felt a slight thrill—this was the man Sherlock had described. The man with "dangerous knowledge." Yet, unlike her brother, she had imagined Victor Frankenstein differently. Perhaps older, perhaps colder. Instead, he seemed… curious, alive, and somehow also a bit lost.

"Y/N Holmes," she finally replied, watching his eyebrows lift in surprise.

"Holmes?" he asked. "The sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes?"

"Indeed," she answered, smiling a little proudly. "But I’m here on my own initiative."

Victor chuckled softly and offered his arm, which she, after a brief hesitation, accepted. "Well, Miss Holmes, it would be my honor to show you the city. There are places you only see when you truly open your eyes."

They strolled along the streets together, and as they walked, Victor spoke of his passion for science and his desire to understand life in all its forms.

"And what exactly do you hope to achieve?" she asked, intrigued.

"I want to create life," he said softly, almost reverently. "Not as a whim of fate, but through the power of human knowledge."

Y/N felt her heartbeat quicken. "But Victor… isn’t that dangerous?"

"Perhaps," he admitted, casting her a piercing look. "But the greatest risk is never trying at all."

Y/N felt drawn to him, to the passion she saw in his eyes. Hours passed as they continued to wander through the streets, lost in conversation. They talked about life, knowledge, and the dangers of science, but also about simpler things—about their childhoods, their dreams, the adventures they wanted to have.

Eventually, they arrived at a bench by the river and sat down beside each other. The silence around them seemed to form a bridge between them, one made not of words.

"Y/N…" he said softly, looking at her.

"Even though we've only known each other for a few hours, I feel as if something inside me has shifted. As if I’ve finally found someone who understands me."

Y/N looked at him, and without thinking, reached for his hand. She felt the warmth of his skin and the faint tremor running through his fingers. Their eyes met, and she sensed a depth in him she hadn’t found in anyone else.

"Victor," she whispered, "I know my brother might be right… that your research could be dangerous. But I also know you are more than these experiments."

"‘You really see me,’ he says, his voice barely more than a whisper. ‘For the first time, it feels like someone understands me, not just what I create.’

Slowly, he leans toward her, and his lips meet hers in a gentle, cautious kiss. It’s a moment where the world around them seems to disappear, leaving only the warmth of this single instant.

As they pull away, Y/N looks at him, an uncertain smile on her lips. ‘Victor, if my brother finds out… I can already imagine what he’ll say. He’ll think I’m naive, reckless.’

Victor gently runs his thumb over her hand. ‘Sherlock may be a brilliant mind, but he’ll never understand the passion that drives one to dare the impossible.’ His eyes sparkle as he looks at her, and suddenly, he seems less like the scientist and more like a young man who is feeling hope for the first time.

Y/N sighs, but a determined look appears in her eyes. "I’m not here to live by Sherlock’s rules. I’m here to make my own choices, even if they’re dangerous."

Victor smiles, a mixture of admiration and tenderness. "That’s the courage I admire in you, Y/N. I’ve dedicated my life to science, always alone, because I believed no one would understand the fire that burns within me. But with you… I feel I no longer have to carry it alone."

‘Then let’s be crazy together,’ she replies with a mischievous smile. Her fingers clasp around his, firmer and more resolved. ‘Wherever your path takes you, I want to be part of it.’

For a moment, they simply sit there, side by side, in the silence and connection of this moment. The mist begins to lift, and the first light of day breaks through the clouds, as if blessing the decision they’ve made.

‘So,’ Y/N says finally, ‘what now?’

Victor looks at the river and then back at her, a new fire in his gaze. ‘Now… now our adventure together begins.’"

[memoiandy]

@not-so-lost-after-all Thanks for tagging me and being interested in my Tav. She is my baby and I thought a lot about her backstory so I am glad I got the chance to finally put a part of it into words. So:

Your Tav or Durge´s name and their partner:

Her full name is Elianna Lumin but friends call her Lany. Her one and only (dare I say thiramin even!) is s sassy gremlin called Astarion. ;-)

Tell us yout your character – anything at all!

She´s a Sun Elf wild magic sorceress and grew up with her papa in a small-ish community that focused on science, history and healing. Her magic was strong but never stable and since there were some „accidents“ when she was little, she focused on science – notably history, artifacts and a bit of healing. She acts like a bookworm and a practical freak but she actually feels so much. And since feeling too much makes her magic unstable, she tends to avoid it.

She always dreamed about adventures but never found the courage to leave her home. But she was forced to when her community was attacked and people got tortured and killed. It was bad… stuff from slasher horror movies. She lost control of her magic and accidentaly killed many of the attackers but some innocents also. The thugs put a blame on her and she had to run away. (They might not be just simple thugs but I am leaving this open if I ever wanted to think about a deeper revenge story for her.)

She run to a nearest big city - Baldur´s Gate - to get a on ship so she could leave the area. But being a young elven lass (barely 100 years old!) and inexperienced, she got in trouble (again!) and ended up in prison. And surprise, surprise, there was a smooth talking, handsome and suspicious white-haired Elf in a cell next to her. Yeah… that´s how she met Astarion for the first time, long before the events of the game. He got in prison for being too touchy with a young noble. He helped her escape and even though he originaly planed to bring her to Cazador (of course he was), they ended up having a little funny adventure together and shortly before sunrise, he helped her find her ship securely. Before leaving, she kissed his cheek and healed his arm that got flayed by Cazador the night before.

Astarion was shocked. He dared to have a few hours that felt different from his torturous life. He let her go knowing he will be punished for it. She was kind to him. She called him „sir“ and told him to stay out of trouble. In the end, he was tourtured again when he got back to the mansion because he didn´t bring anyone back. Both his legs got broken by Godey. But they healed in a couple of days. It took longer to forget that young elven girl with sad eyes and gentle healing hands. She got pushed back in his mind as another failed hope, another „mistake“ that got punished. Until they met decades later. The girl that got away came back into his life and this time she stayed and helped him get his life back.

Lany did not forget him. You don´t forget Astarion. She even came back to Baldur´s Gate a few years later in hopes she could help that charming rouge who was obviously in big trouble. She stayed for weeks but never found him. For almost thirty more years she was on a run, living as a magical artifacts hunter (think female Faerun version of Indiana Jones). It was a lonely life but she learned a lot about the way of the world.

There was always something missing in her life (beside a stable home). Until she got abducted by a mindflyer ship and eventualy found someone who'd become her home.

What do they enjoy doing together?

They learn from each other. He teaches her to lockpick and how to fight with a bow and arrow. She shows him how to make new poisons. He tells her funny stories and reads adventure books. She sings him elvish lullabies when he has nightmares. They have a funny banter so they just love talking with each other. Joking, gossiping, coming up with a plan, explaining stuff. And they love being physically close to each other. It doesn´t have to be love making or kissing. Just holding each other is a bliss. Sorry if it´s too sweet but I see his romance as something darkly super romantic, so yeah, the sex is great but there´s soooo much more to their partnership.

What´s something your character´s partner loves about them?

She sees the good in him. Not just that he´s not as wicked as he seems to be. She saw through his mask even that night that started in the prison. She wouldn´t come back to search for him if she didn´t think there´s more to him. She sees him as a person with good and bad sides but chooses to focus on the good ones because she loves him. But honestly, she adores his cheeky, sassy, murderous persona. She doesn´t want a sweet guy. She wants him. That makes Astarion feel safe.

She is gentle with him, which annoyed him at first... but came to love her little affections later.

Lany is also smart and brave and has a dark sense of humour so she keeps him on his toes. He´s never bored with her.

Their life after Baldur´s Gate?

Treasure hunting probably for some time. Astarion deserves some adventures. And Lany loves that she has a partner know, someone who can share this with her. They´ll settle down a bit in the future and will have at least one child (I love the idea of papa Astarion). I know people love the idea of him having a daugher but in my HC his firstborn is a boy.

Something your Tav/Durge loves about their partner:

His humour, his endurance, his will to live. The way he is brave in face of his abuser. She has trauma of her own and wasn´t able to deal with it properly. Astarion listens to her story without any judgement and helps her find confidence to use her magic in battle again.

Their story is not that sweet though, she was very hurt when she found out he manipulated her during the party night and after. She knew he was not in love with her, of course she knew, but she never thought he´d be so… cruel. Logically, she understood why he did it. That he fell for her quickly. That he's telling her the truth now to get things right. But still... she was not used to be close to someone and that night was precious to her. It took some time after the confession for them to fully understand each other. But they made the effort because they chose it's worth fighting for and love is not always sweet and easy.

Something that your character and their partner both hate (about anything):

Cazador, of course. 😆

Astarion hates when people get too charmed by her because he wants her for himself. Lany hates when he is apart from her for too long. She worries a lot. She knows of she ever lost him, it'll be like someone ripped a part of her soul from her. Astarion feels the same but plays it cool. I am a sucker for soulmates and both Lany and Astarion are elves so in my HC they are each other's thiramin.

Tagging @madforhoran - I haven't heard about your Tav for a while!

Oooopf... this got super long somehow. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. 😅

[streets-in-paradise]

Tastefull Deception - William Shaw x (Fem)Reader

Warnings: Reader is described as full-bodied because this observation plays a role in the flirting.

Summary: Forced to attend the ball due to the invite of your father's benefactor, you put on your best dress and complacent face to not interfere in the funding relationship for his work.

Feelings of inadequacy compromise you, untill you find out you aren't the only one who doesn't belong there.

Notes: First time writing for this movie I saw a few days ago. @nicascurls, this is my drabble of practice. If I get Shaw right, I will try more writing for this movie incluiding other characters.

That social event could be called anything, but a party. Not at least in your perspective, since there was no amusement you could enjoy of being dragged there because your father seeked to matain his funding. Dressed to impress, smiling and nodding for approbation just to not interfere with the part of his work that required of business. The smug ladies observed you mingling among them, but that didn't mean you were fitting there. Despite your dress and adornments resembled theirs, you were only the daughter of an artist mantaining the formalities of his mecenage relationship. It could also be guessed that your father kept the hope of finding you captivating a man that could raise your status, but that illusion was perhaps vain.

Your atypically plump forms were not tastefull for everyone, so very few approached to discover you were actually a skillfull conversationalist. Not at least untill one did it in a way no other would have done, whispering flattery polite enough for the context, but too indecorous to not be suspicious.

" May you allow a lonely man to express his most sincere admirations? Your exquisite beauty becomes too tempting for my eyes."

You smiled condescendently, what still allowed him to continue by taking your hand to kiss your knuckles while directing you a sweet glance.

" Have you considered modelling? Grace such as yours could be inspiration of great art. " He followed, in the same intimate tone as he made you twirl. " Exhuberant, inciting, sensuous ... Rubenesque. "

His usage of the artistic description would have worked, if you wouldn't have noticed that he added it to sound exotic.

" Controversial female nudes. To some they were indecent, while others found the realism in copying inellegant forms of his models too distastefull. "

The comment seemed to excite him as if you would have just discovered his fond passion.

" A connoisseur of art! I would love to share my appreciations with you. As a man of science, the odds of discussing beauty are often denied to me by the nature of my profession."

He tangled his arm with yours in the iniciation of a gallant walk near the ballroom, introducing himself properly in the act.

" My name is Shaw, ... William Shaw. "

Question began before you would grant him the same courtesy.

" Very well, Mr Shaw. We shall start with something simple ... Epic poetry. Ovid of Virgil? "

Using the positioning of the walk in his advance, he pushed you closer to him so the side of your hip would brush against him.

" I prefer love sonnets, my fault for being a hopeless romantic. "

"Wrong answer, I prefer Homer. " You corrected, in a dry tone. " ... And since you are so fond of aestetically appreciative comparisons, I do can make one of yourself in those excelsior works."

He seemed enchanted, but you were about to erase the charming smile from his face.

" Odysseus, the scammer that breached the trojan wall with the ruse of a wooden horse. A king joining the feast disguised as beggar, or in this case, the other way arround."

The grip of your hand felt tighter as a warning and you looked at him in the eye.

" This is not my first ball. I know what men like you do with lonely, wealthy women, but you picked the wrong fool. My father is an artist, everything we have comes from his patron. "

He chuckled, pretending to deny the assumptions, but before he could say a thing you switched the trajectory into a hallway quiet enough to slam him against a wall.

" I don't have the smallest concern for those pompuous ladies, so I'm willing to let you scam your way to them if you get away from my sight. "

Shaw, if that was his name, wasn't responding according to the threat. His eyes were fixated on you, but lacked the fright over being exposed. His expression resembled more the curiosity found in genuine attraction as he bit his bottom lip before replying.

" Would you believe me now If I say that I crave to kiss you?"

[demonfox38]

Completed - Costume Quest

…Dad?

I was worried that my generation would ruin Halloween like my grandparents ruined Christmas. You know what I mean? In the love of the holiday, Christmas became an overblown mess, with family mandates and stress over gift-giving sapping the quiet affection one could experience on a dark winter’s night with their family. I thought Millennials would go too far with Halloween, put up one too many giant skeletons, spend hundreds of dollars on candy and booze and get blasted into oblivion all in the name of having a good time.

I can’t say that I saw a worldwide pandemic burying it. Could have seen Stranger Danger doing it in, though. Maybe it would help if my neighbors ever participated in handing candy out. Or, if a bag of good candy cost less than $20.00 a pop. Or, if it was ever over the freezing threshold here on Halloween.

The point is, Halloween in Iowa has become a raw deal. You should probably pray for all of the Iowa City college girls with their butts hanging out the bottom of their costumes. At least, if you are the praying type.

Is it too early to think about Halloween? Wal-Mart doesn’t think so. Neither does “Costume Quest.” As I was cycling through my Steam library, trying to pick what to work on next, it managed to boot itself up and go, “LMAO, loading drivers, idiot.” Which, fine, whatever. I’m behind on my quota of games to beat in a year. Might as well knock an eager one out.

“Costume Quest” is a turn-based, button-prompt style RPG set on a nostalgic Halloween night. Ya know, the kind of magical night where simple pieces of junk turn a child into a gigantic missile-launching robot or a vampire or a unicorn or whatever this sentient fry monster thing is.

Using the power of imagination and their smart mouths, protagonists Wren and/or Reynold (whichever you pick) sets off on a mini-journey around their suburban hellscape while their sibling (dressed as a candy corn, of all the indignities) is kidnapped by goblin-esque creatures. They pick up two additional teammates who also manage to get into trouble by their own personalities (being too brave and being a little science nerd, respectively.) Along their way, they discover how and why these monsters invaded their little town, as well as the motivation for all of their candy thievery. You know. When the adults aren't just freely handing it out, mindless of who is at the door.

In addition to the main game, a DLC bonus story called "Grubbins on Ice" is included with the game. This takes place a few months after the original adventure, following up on the twitterpation of Wren/Reynold's party members and the homeland/culture of aforementioned monsters. It mostly serves as a teaser for "Costume Quest 2" (and an ad for "Stacking", if you find it), but it does tack on a couple more hours of gameplay, for what that is worth.

Am I glossing over a bit with the writing? Probably. "Costume Quest" isn't on par with something like "Psychonauts", in terms of depth or ingenuity. It's not to say the game is entirely without charm or a few chuckles. It's just exactly what you'd predict for a story like this. Some Halloween nostalgia, lots of modern era cracks at mid-century suburban living, adults being unobservant dingdongs. That kind of stuff.

The gameplay systems are relatively standard as well. Most of your exploration boils down to knocking on doors, seeing if you are going to get treated (receive candy) or tricked (get into a monster fight.) Equipped costumes affect what attack styles and special abilities a character has in combat, to mostly predictable consequences. Except for the fry monster. That's definitely unique! Additionally, some costumes allow you to take special actions while exploring, like using a plastic lightsaber to light up dark areas, skating over ramps with roller blades, or luring people to new destinations using the scent of…french fries.

Look, the fry thing was really creative, okay? Maybe it's not the most impressive costume, but it is super unique. I'm trying to give credit where it's due. That, and using the power of liberty to restore health.

The nearest thing I can ballpark that to is "Parasite Eve"'s Liberation mode, and even that is in name only. (Although, someone should really have a deeper talk with these kids about the underlying and disturbing implications of "Manifest Destiny"…)

In terms of input style and numbers, this is very much a "Paper Mario" / "Mario & Luigi" style of RPG. Your health and levels will seem low-capped, although that is not without some humor as well. (Your max level is 10 in the main game and 14 in the DLC, which corresponds well to ages that kids often stop going out for Halloween. At least, that seems like the joke to me, at the risk of ruining it via dissection.) You will also have to time button presses, tap madly, or wiggle sticks to maximize both your offense and defense.

One to three hits are enough to take out members on either side of the field. So, don't be too surprised if your kids drop like flies early on. You can always bolt on a battle (even final ones), if you don't feel prepared to tackle it. Any time you exit a battle, you will fully restore everyone's health. So, get aggressive. Get cowardly. Do whatever works with your flow!

“Costume Quest” isn't the most complex of games. Like, I completed the game and its DLC within 8 hours, and that was including leaving the game idle while taking dogs out. The reason for this may be… not shocking at all, if you hang around the same circles of gaming journalism that I do. To make a short story shorter: AAA publishers suck; Double Fine needed some fallback game ideas for when their more lucrative deal fell through; an idea jam session resulted in the creation of a couple of games (including "Costume Quest.") So, this game didn’t have the kind of budget more renowned Double Fine games might have had. It was more born out of a need to do something small to keep the lights on. Which, hey. Understandable. Respectable, even.

Having said that, a little polish on the game’s levels could have been helpful. I’m not running the most cutting-edge gaming machine known to man, but it’s more than strong enough to handle games from over a decade ago. There feels like several spots where the game is lagging due to what I’m assuming is bad level occlusion or excessive detail rendering (I’m thinking tree leaves.) Additionally, some of the side quests are redundant, particularly the apple/eyeball bobbing mini game. I can’t say I was enraptured by the music at any point either, but that’s a matter of taste. The battle victory/defeat music could have wrapped up a little faster though. Like, chop chop. We’re out of that mode. Let’s go.

As of writing this evaluation, the Steam price for this game is hanging around $9.99 USD, which…Sure? Am I gonna be that picky on the price? If you catch it under $7.99, that’s probably a little fairer to you, but I’m not the person to tell you how to spend your allowance. I guess it’s at least cheaper than actual Halloween candy. And it’s coconut free! That’s a point in its favor!

Sometimes, friendship and/or civilization is all about finding the people that like coconut and hate almonds so that you can trade with them and make both of your lives better.

[thebardisabird]

I have my reasons for asking this but

The boys as sugar babies. How would they feel about it/their reaction be?

I just wanna see what your input on this would be...for science...👀💦

I think I got something for you, Aryll darling. 🤔 (I made this more sfw than not tho sorry lol - if you'd like an update, I can swing something!)

Some headcanons for the sextuplets being sugar babies, under the cut:

Osomatsu

He gets money whenever he wants and can DO whatever he wants and all he has to do is throw around some dick?! Sign him UP!

Literally doesn't make a change to his lifestyle whatsoever, he's very simple with what he wants: to not have to do jack shit and still have everything he needs.

So to know that he can do exactly that AND get laid? Yeah, he's 100% down to be a sugar baby.

Karamatsu

He gives it much thought, especially when Osomatsu tells him about how much fun he's having doing whatever he wants. Would it be so bad to not have to worry about his finances?

When he does find someone to support that lifestyle, he actually finds loves it! He's able to afford all sorts of musical instruments and travels across the world whenever he likes. The sex is also nothing to sneeze at as well, but...

He realizes after a long while that this type of life isn't meant for him. While he loves what he can afford - the hopeless romantic in him wants genuine connection. Sex without strings and love without a price tag.

Choromatsu

Ever the straightman, he finds that lifestyle something he could never imagine himself being a part of.

Yet when the offer comes to him - Choromatsu realizes he doesn't want to say no. There's too many benefits on his end, too much good that could come out of having his hobbies and NEET lifestyle funded for him.

He prefers to keep whether there are physical relations or not on the low. Very much treats it transactional outside of him and his sugar parent.

Ichimatsu

Doesn't entertain the concept in the slightest...until...

He miraculously ends up in a more escort-ish kind of situation. A much, much older, wealthy woman who honestly just wants company. She has a few cats and an old dog, which Ichimatsu helps her take care of. Perhaps even take walks around the park with her or go grocery shopping. And in return - she pays him handsomely for his time. No sex involved, just honest companionship.

He ends up treating it completely normal, has no problem telling her he loves her even, because deep down, he does. They end up bonding tremendously in a non-romantic way.

Jyushimatsu

He honestly thinks he's being propositioned to join a baseball team at first lol so he asks about his contract, how many seasons, etc.

His sugarparent actually finds this charming and offers him a generous allowance for just to kind of be around. Jyushimatsu enjoys physical connection - but he'd truly have to trust and feel emotions toward someone to want sex, and that may not be the case with this relationship in particular.

With that said, much like Karamatsu, Jyushimatsu may end up wanting a genuine partner rather than meaningless sex that ends up with money in his hands. Now if he was getting money just for someone to watch him swing his bat around all day...🤔

Todomatsu

He's living his best fucking life! Much like Osomatsu he is very down to be a sugarbaby. Who wouldn't want to be given money to do whatever they wanted all the time?!

Totty however is a little smarter - he takes a page out of the Rental Girlfriend Service's book and uses his cutesy attitude to get the upperhand on everything. He doesn't mind there being any physical aspects on the table either as long as his sugar-parent is good at it.

The most successful of the sugar babies. Loves to call his brothers from Dubai or Belize whenever he can to rub it in their faces

[cinnnamoncosmoos]

Chapter One - Space Mall

Keith Kogane x Aley Kaelrin Veyra ( My Oc )

Summary: Aley heads to the space mall with one goal in mind, but a simple goal quickly spirals out of control as she finds herself pulled into a mess of other people’s problems. What starts as a quick trip turns into something far more complicated than she ever expected.

"Check these out!" Kyren exclaims, popping up beside me with a grin, holding up a pair of oversized, glittering sunglasses. "These are the future of fashion, Aley. I can already see it, we'd be the trendsetters of the galaxy."

I glance at the absurd frames, unsure whether I should laugh or roll my eyes. "Really, Kyren?" I say, letting the sarcasm drip. "Glittery sunglasses? That's the best you've got? How retro."

Kyren's grin widens like he's just won some cosmic victory. "Oh, come on, it's all about making an impression, Aley. Imagine the looks we'd get, everyone wouldn't be able to take their eyes off us! I mean, I know you'd love all that attention." He winks, clearly enjoying himself.

I roll my eyes and step around him, scanning the area for a map. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"Ridiculously hot?" he quips, setting the glasses down and lazily trailing after me.

With an exasperated sigh, I grab his hand and pull him along, quickening the pace toward a nearby digital map. "We came here for one thing and one thing only," I say, ignoring his smug grin as he lets me drag him.

I let go of his hand, focusing intently on the digital map in front of me, when Kyren suddenly steps in, nudging me aside. "You're taking too long," he mutters, his eyes scanning the display. "What's the place called?"

I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. "Galactic Gearworks."

He snaps his fingers after only a moment. "Got it! Follow me, sweetheart. I'll have you there in no time."

With a dramatic flourish, he offers his arm. I roll my eyes but hook my arm through his anyway, my hand resting on his forearm as he leads the way with his usual overconfidence.

As we walk, Kyren flashes his usual grin. He glances down at my hand still resting on his arm and raises an eyebrow. "What's this? You actually sticking with me now?"

I roll my eyes but keep my pace. "I'm just trying to get to the shop before you get distracted by something shiny."

Kyren scoffs, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, so I'm the one who gets distracted? You, Miss Crimson, can't be talking. I've seen you get sidetracked by, what was it? Cheese, or was it that flashy gadget you swiped last week?" He smirks.

I give him a playful shove, rolling my eyes. "That's completely different, and you know it," I retort, though I'm trying not to smile. "I don't get distracted by everything . Only the important stuff."

Kyren grins, eyes gleaming. "Sure, Aley. Like the time you got caught staring at that vending machine for an hour? Totally focused."

I scoff, picking up my pace, trying to encourage him to walk faster, "I was figuring out the best combination of snacks. There's a science to it!"

Kyren laughs, but then his grin widens as he suddenly halts in front of a large sign. "Look at that, I did get us here," he says, pointing at the tech shop ahead. "I'm practically a guide at this point."

I let go of Kyren's arm and glance up at him. "Oh, look at that. Aren't you just the hero of the day?"

Kyren shrugs, acting nonchalant, but the smug grin tugging at his lips says otherwise. "What can I say? I'm a natural at getting things done. You're welcome, by the way."

I roll my eyes, pushing past him and heading toward the door. "Right, because without you, I'd be lost in this vast, sparkling galaxy."

He chuckles, then dramatically gives me a bow. "Exactly. You can thank me later."

I ignore him, standing at the threshold and waiting for him to follow. But when I glance back, Kyren staring intently at a girl passing by. He quickly turns toward me with a sheepish, pleading look in his eyes.

I groan, already knowing what's coming. "You've got thirty minutes to charm her. I don't want to be here longer than I have to."

Kyren's face lights up, and he winks at me. "You're the best!" Then, without another word, he dashes off toward her.

I shake my head, letting out a sigh as I head into the store. As I walk down the aisles, I mutter to myself, "What happened to keeping me company, huh?"

I move past rows of tech displays, my mind wandering until a large sign catches my eye: Amplification Technology. I smile to myself, perfect, this is exactly what I need. I walk over, picking up the equipment I've been searching for.

I turn quickly and bump into someone. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I mumble, instinctively taking a step back.

I look up, and for a second, everything freezes. My breath catches in my throat, a flash of recognition coursing through me.

It’s him.

He blinks and steps back, his voice apologetic. "Sorry, miss." He doesn't linger, doesn't even give me a second glance.

I force myself to stay composed, to not show any sign of recognition. "It's no big deal," I say, trying to brush past him as casually as possible, keeping my face neutral.

I feel my pulse quicken as I walk away, putting as much space between us as I can without making it obvious. I feel my head buzzing with adrenaline, but I force myself to act normal. Calm, composed, invisible.

At the counter, I plaster on a smile as the clerk greets me. "Hi! Did you find everything you need today?"

"Yes, I did. I'm in a bit of a rush, so can we do this quickly?" I say, trying to keep my tone steady, even as my heart pounds in my chest.

"Of course!" The clerk rings up my items.

"That'll be 13,000 Gacs," they say cheerfully.

13,000 ?! I hesitate for the briefest second before fumbling for the pouch at my hip, spilling out a handful of coins onto the counter. "Right, here," I mutter, counting them quickly. The clink of the coins feels louder than it should, and every second feels like an eternity.

After I make the purchase I grab the bag, offering a rushed "Thank you" before darting outside.

The air feels heavier now, pressing down on me. My mind races, trying to piece together why he was here of all places. Was it a coincidence? Or was it? No. I can't go there. Not now.

I glance around the bustling marketplace, scanning for Kyren, but there's no sign of him. "Twenty minutes," I mutter under my breath. He's got twenty minutes left . Okay, so I just need to lay low until then.

Clutching the bag tightly, I walk briskly down the mall, my heart pounding louder than the ambient noise around me. The adrenaline makes my hands shake, but I force myself to take steady breaths. Okay, everything is fine. Just stay calm. Blend in.

Despite my efforts, the unease lingers, tightening like a knot in my chest. My mind races, replaying the moment over and over. What if it wasn't a coincidence? What if he's planning a trap? What if—

I shake my head sharply, trying to push the thought away. Focus, Aley. Focus.

So lost in my head, I barely notice how quiet it's gotten until I glance up and realize I've wandered into a part of the mall I've never been in before. The bustling crowd is gone, replaced by smaller, quirkier stalls. My gaze lands on a faded, crooked sign hanging over a nearby storefront.

Unilu Swap Shop.

My curiosity sparks despite the circumstances, and I find myself stepping inside. The air smells faintly of old metal and something musty. Shelves and counters are crammed with items, some glowing, some sparking faintly, and others so bizarre I can't even guess their purpose.

In the middle of it all, a tall man with an orange mustache who is arguing animatedly with the shopkeeper, gesturing wildly. My instincts tell me to ignore it and move on, but... damn my nosiness. I inch closer, pretending to browse as I strain to listen.

"How much have you got?" the shopkeeper asks, arms crossed and unimpressed.

The mustached man huffs indignantly. "Oh, I have a handful of pocket lint."

The shopkeeper barely flinches. "I'll take your first-born child."

"I might be able to throw in a used handkerchief."

"I could accept your left foot."

"I'd be willing to sing you a song!"

"You become my butler for one year."

"Two Altean crown bills."

"Five Valuvium ingots."

"Oh, would you accept—"

I can't help it. I burst out laughing, cutting off their increasingly ridiculous exchange. As amusing as this is, it's also kind of... sad. "Well, hello gentlemen!" I say, stepping forward. Both men look at me, startled.

The mustached man blinks, then flashes me a sheepish grin. "Hello? I was just getting to the good part! My next offer was going to be an Olkari flying cube."

I raise an eyebrow, like the one I stole last week? I stifling a laugh. "A flying cube?"

"Yes! They're terribly rare. They hover and glow impressively," he says, puffing out his chest like he's describing a priceless artifact. "I even polished it!"

I pull out an old but pristine silver circuit ring, an outdated but surprisingly valuable piece of tech from my stash. I've been carrying it around forever, mostly because it's small and easy to forget about. Not like I care about it anyway.

The shopkeeper's eyes widen when he sees it. "A genuine Plarium conduit ring?"

I shrug. "Take it or leave it."

"Oh, I'll definitely take it," the shopkeeper says, snatching the ring from my hand before I can even think about changing my mind.

I motion for the mustached man to walk out with me, surprising even myself with the sudden desire to socialize. "Come on," I say, and to my surprise, he follows without hesitation.

"Thank you, young lady," he says warmly, his voice full of genuine gratitude.

"You're welcome," I reply with a small smile.

"Is there any way I can repay you?" he asks, tilting his head thoughtfully.

I turn to him, smirking. "Maybe your firstborn child," I joke, throwing the shopkeeper's words from earlier words back at him.

For a second, he actually looks like he's considering it, and I can't help but giggle. "I'm joking! No repayment. Call it my good deed for the year."

He smiles and I freeze, my heart dropping when I spot him again. The unease I'd managed to bury comes rushing back like a tidal wave. My instincts scream at me to run, but instead, I turn to the mustached man, using him as a distraction, a shield. "I'm Aley," I say quickly, forcing a smile.

He gives me an enthusiastic bow. "Coran Hieronymus Wimbleton Smythe, at your service!"

I blink, raising an eyebrow. "Ohh, what a name," I say, genuinely impressed and a little amused.

Coran opens his mouth to respond, but before he can say a word, his attention is pulled elsewhere. I follow his gaze just in time to see... a flying cow?

"Coran!" the guy shouts, his voice urgent and frantic.

I freeze for half a second. Coran? So they know each other? What the hell is going on?

My fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. Nope. Not my problem . I turn to bolt, hoping to disappear into the crowd and escape this bizarre situation entirely, but just as I'm about to make my move, someone on the cow reaches down, stretching for Coran's arm. Coran grabs the hand of a guy who looks just as bewildered as I feel.

And before I can even process what's happening, Coran yanks me toward him in one fluid motion. "Hold on!" he exclaims, like this is all perfectly normal.

"What the—" I barely get the words out before I feel another hand latch onto my arm. There's no time to resist. Suddenly, I'm hoisted up onto the back of the flying cow, my breath catching in my throat as we lurch forward, soaring above the marketplace.

What the actual fuck is happening?! This cannot be real. My mind races as I grip the cow's back for dear life, trying not to scream. The wind rushes past, and I can hear Coran laughing like this is some sort of amusement park ride. I glance at him, incredulous.

"What is this?!" I yell as I cling onto the cow for dear life, but Coran just grins.

"I'm not entirely sure, but welcome to the ride of a lifetime, Aley!" he shouts, clearly enjoying himself.

I don't have time to reply, as the security guard's furious yell rings out behind us, "Get back here! Doggone it! You better run! And don't let me catch you in my jurisdiction again, pirates!"

Pirates?

One of the guys laughs, twisting around to shout, "Oh, so you can't follow us outside, huh? That's convenient!"

The cow bucks slightly, and I cling tighter muttering a string of curses under my breath. Of all the ridiculous situations I've been in, this has to take the cake. What in the universe led me to this moment?

A loud crash jolts me out of my spiraling thoughts. I glance to the side, catching a glimpse of one of the guys tumbling roughly off the cow. The sight is so absurd I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, turning my head away quickly before I lose my composure entirely.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself as the cow comes to a complete halt. I glance around, trying to shake off the unease. Glancing down at my watch that reads fifteen minutes. That only took a few minutes? I glance toward the entrance, wondering how long I can linger before he finds me.

"Need a hand?" a voice asks suddenly, and I turn to find a guy with messy black hair standing on the ground, offering a hand to help me down from the hover cow.

I blink, confused for a moment. Had everyone gotten off already? Why is he even helping me? His face looks like he's about to ask for something, but he just stands there, looking a little awkward, like maybe he didn't think this through.

"Uh... sure, thanks," I say, trying to keep my tone light. It feels weird to accept help from a stranger, but I don't have time to be picky. Besides, the fact that he doesn't seem interested in talking to me helps. Less interaction, the better.

With his help, I slide down easily, my feet hitting the ground. I give a quick glance back at Coran, who's still chatting away with the others. "Good riddance to that flying cow," I mutter under my breath, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all.

The guy who helped me looks over, clearly amused. "Yeah, not everyone's a fan of cows."

I let out a breath, forcing a smile. "Not a fan of flying ones, either."

The guy stares at me then, his gaze intense and calculating, like he's trying to figure something out. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but I shrug it off. I don't have time to care.

Just as I'm about to turn away, Coran's voice cuts through the moment. "Aley, why don't you come with us to the castle? It's a little out of the way, but I do wish to repay you."

I glance at my watch again, twelve minutes . I don't have the time to be standing around. He could be getting closer, and I can't risk it. I glance at the guy with the black hair, but he's still watching me. Something about the way he's looking at me makes my stomach tighten, but I push it down.

I shake my head, trying to brush it off. "You don't have to do that, really. It's fine. I already told you, that was my one good deed for the year."

Coran, however, doesn't seem to hear me. His face is still set with that determined, chipper look. "I insist!"

The guy who fell off the cow, shoots me a grin and leans in close. "I say just accept the offer. He's gonna keep insisting," he says, his tone teasing. "And hey, a castle doesn't sound too bad, right? I mean, who wouldn't want to hang out with me and Coran?" He winks, clearly trying to act cool.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his obvious attempt to charm me, but it's enough to make me pause. The urgency I feel in my chest is louder than my pride. Plus, my gut is telling me that staying near these people, at least for now, might be safer.

"Fine," I mutter, with a small sigh. "Just a quick stop, though. I really can't stay long."

"Fantastic!" he says with a dazzling grin, sliding his arm around my shoulders like it's the most natural thing in the world. He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a playful murmur. "Don't worry, I'll make sure the castle tour is extra memorable for you."

I force a tight-lipped smile, resisting the urge to roll my eyes as we head toward their ship. Great. Just great. Something tells me this is going to be a very long night.

[sciencestyled]

A Stake in the Code: Van Helsing's Wild Foray into Bioinformatics

Let me tell you, dear students, about the day I discovered that monsters don’t always lurk in dark castles or foggy graveyards. Sometimes, the most sinister creatures hide in something far more diabolical—data. Yes, you heard me right. While you imagine your brave professor charging through the night, crucifix in one hand, holy water in the other, you must now picture me hunched over a glowing screen, battling spreadsheets and strings of code. How did it come to this, you ask? Well, sit tight, for this tale involves an unfortunate encounter with a conference on modern science, an espresso machine with a grudge, and, of course, Dracula.

It all began when I was invited—lured, more like—to a prestigious science symposium. A splendid opportunity to expose these modern "men of logic" to the perils of the undead, I thought. Instead, I was met with a barrage of jargon, acronyms, and more slides of molecular models than I’d care to recount. I made it through the first day, my senses numbed by an endless stream of buzzwords—"genomics," "data analysis," and, shudderingly, "algorithms." Oh, the horror! I was sure that even a vampire bat would be driven to stake itself in frustration.

However, my despair peaked during a presentation by a rather excitable researcher on a topic called "bioinformatics." Now, I had no idea what kind of nefarious creature this was, but the term "bio" immediately set off my vampire-hunting instincts. Perhaps this was some new breed of blood-sucking pestilence? The researcher, with the fervor of a man possessed, prattled on about deciphering genomes, comparing them to vast tomes of knowledge that could predict diseases, track mutations—essentially, the modern-day grimoire of disease.

I tried to stay awake by guzzling coffee—until the machine itself turned on me. One ill-timed splutter, and I was doused in scorching liquid. As I wiped the caffeine from my waistcoat, it hit me: bioinformatics was a science of tracking. Not just tracking disease, but tracking the malformations of life itself. It was a code, a pattern, a series of markers… much like the bite marks of our nocturnal enemies! If bioinformatics could trace illness, then surely it could predict vampirism—or at least explain why Dracula’s hair had the consistency of damp hay.

My interest piqued, I cornered the researcher after his talk. Through a series of incomprehensible diagrams, I learned that bioinformatics involved massive troves of genetic data, all neatly catalogued and ready to be mined for clues about humanity’s most terrifying afflictions. This was no mere science. This was a battlefield. And as we all know, I have never met a battlefield I didn’t like.

I had found a new crusade. In bioinformatics, I saw the potential to eradicate vampiric curses at their source—by identifying genetic markers long before the first fang ever punctures a jugular. Picture it: no more garlic garlands or holy water showers! Imagine a world where we can pinpoint who is destined to become a creature of the night with a simple blood test. No more guessing whether your charming neighbor is just a night owl or plotting your demise.

Of course, there were skeptics. My students, bless their skeptical hearts, scoffed. "But Professor," they cried, "surely science can’t predict something as mystical as vampirism?" To which I replied, "If it can decode the human genome, it can decode Dracula!" Armed with this newfound knowledge, I plunged headlong into the arcane realms of bioinformatics. Genomes, sequences, databases—they became my prey, and like any great hunter, I stalked them with unyielding determination.

Thus, I resolved to pen my insights. Not just for posterity, but as a rallying cry. For if we can battle genetic ghouls with modern science, perhaps we can rid the world of vampiric plagues once and for all. And so, dear students, I present to you my findings—my digital stake in the dark heart of bioinformatics. Let us see where this madness leads...

[jkl-fff]

Top 5 (or 10 if you have many) favourite magical creatures and why! (Includes folk, media, science fiction too if you wish, urban legends, etc! The point is that you like them, they don't even have to be so magical!)

The first will always be Unicorns for me. The real-world history of them is fascinating (meaning the folk beliefs that people had about them in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia, the heraldric and spiritual symbolism, the use of them in fantasy literature) (also the origins of them being traced to rhinos, poorly transmitted descriptions of rhinos and Ice Age megafauna, rare mutations in deer and horses, and simple imagination--it's not hard to imagine a horse with a horn). But also and especially influential for my personal preferences ... the main character of one of my favorite movies both as a child and even today as an adult is a unicorn. "The Last Unicron", to be specific.

(Gods above, how could anyone be surprised that I turned out to be both gay and filled with ineffable melancholy?)

Coming in at a close second are Satyrs like the Greek God Pan. There's just something charming about merry, little goatmen who live their lives simply and at one with nature while dancing, singing, making music, and just plain having a good time together in a pastoral way. This one can also be attributed to some formative interests in my childhood, since I was a Greek Mythology kid and also enjoyed "The Chronicles of Narnia".

(Plus ... As was previously mentioned, I'm gay. And they're cute, shirtless, happy men who live together out in the woods. Little me might not've realized why they were so fascinating to him, but big me certainly gets it.)

For number three, I'd choose Bigfoot or Sasquatch or Yeti or whatever we want to call the big, hairy, ape-like cryptid that seems to exist in the folklores of every continent (except Antarctica ... unless the penguins have got some stories they haven't shared with us yet). This one, to my knowledge, has no childhood memories associated with it (nor gayness, surprisingly), nor is it born of a belief that Bigfoot is literally real. More it's because I find the folkloric stories fascinating--how they're composed and how they spread, what they say about the people who share them, etc. Kinda like my fascination with stories about Alien encounters; it's less about the creatures in question, and more about the people.

The Mothman comes in at number four for similar reasons. Except, unlike with Bigfoot, we have a specific time and place pinpointed for the genesis of the Mothman's urban legend. Point Pleasant in West Virginia, 1966 through 1967. Even a specific event that causes its story to coalesce into something more than a very regional cryptid. The collapse of the Silver Bridge on December 15th of 1967. After that event, allegedly the Mothman has been sighted across the globe before many disasters, which causes some very specific powers attributed to the creature (it foretells disaster, either being the cause of it or an omen of it) (unlike with Bigfoot who doesn't consistently have any magical powers).

Basically, the Mothman urban legend is like Bigfoot folklore, except from the modern day and with modern documentation of when and where the story developed. Which is cool!

Lastly ... Gryphons. No particular reason, I just think they're neat. And it certainly doesn't hurt that their origin might be attributable to triceratops fossils (besides human imagination).

Thanks! This was fun!

[thecinemarattifilmclub]

Join us as we celebrate the films that we love starting with Movies That Make You Want to HUG the Weekend! The List, in no particular order:

Tenet In Her Shoes John Wick Chicago It's Complicated Train to Busan Honorable Mention: Call Me By Your Name, I Am Legend

Tenet, 2020 From the opening scene, Tenet is an electrifying blend of heart-pounding action and mind-bending science fiction. Director Christopher Nolan delivers a captivating and visually stunning film. The Protagonist, portrayed by John David Washington, is a complex figure who moves through the film asking the same questions we have as viewers. The cast is fantastic, and there's this one unforgettable scene towards the end where The Protagonist has a revelatory, emotionally charged moment with Neil, Robert Pattinson's character, that leaves you heartbroken. I love this movie and will watch it again and again! -Alana

In Her Shoes, 2005 Often overlooked in the flurry of rom-coms released in the early aughts, director Curtis Hanson’s In Her Shoes exists as one of the most endearing films of the genre. In this 2005 gem, the film’s leads, Toni Collette, Cameron Diaz, and Shirley MacLaine, each deliver performances that are beautifully nuanced in telling the story of two estranged sisters finding their way back to each other, and themselves, after reconnecting with their estranged grandmother. Yes, this is a story about love - the unexpected ways we might find it, learning to permit ourselves to experience it, how it profoundly changes us, and what we are willing to do to rebuild it after it’s been broken - but this film is about so much more than that. In Her Shoes pulls the curtain back on how grief and mental illness change our relationships in ways that can reverberate through generations and how we might be able to pick up the pieces and build something beautiful for ourselves. This movie fundamentally changed me when I first watched it. I love watching movies exploring the depths of sisterhood, both loving and complicated, and this one just means so much to me. -Victoria John Wick, 2014 Keanu Reeves, a fan favorite, is dynamite in the John Wick series. The movies are action-packed, well-acted, and feature a simple yet intriguing storyline. Whenever I'm in the mood for an exciting film with snappy dialogue and an interesting cast, I always turn to a John Wick film. Among the series, the original John Wick is my go-to because what's more exhilarating than a grieving hitman seeking vengeance for his puppy and his car? I mean, if "you've effed with the wrong one" was a person, it'd be John Wick. I'm here for it! -Alana Chicago, 2002 Based on the 1926 play and 1975 stage musical of the same name, 2002’s Chicago is a soaring accomplishment from director Rob Marshall. This musical crime dramedy tells the spellbinding tale of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, both inmates on Murderess’ Row at Cook County Jail, as they chase celebrity and notoriety while awaiting trial. What is at once a tour-de-force of its own merit is also an enchanting homage to its source material, this film is one I simply cannot get enough of. The performances from Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah are electrifying and completely mesmerizing, each wholly embodying their lauded characters. Aside from the spectacular acting each delivers in this film, the musical performances are simply out of this world, with credit to the original music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb respectively, of course, but the production comes to life in a whole new way on the big screen. I watch this film a few times a year and highly recommend keeping the soundtrack in your rotation. -Victoria It’s Complicated, 2009 Oscar-nominated writer and director Nancy Meyers followed up a legendary four-film run (The Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give, and The Holiday) with 2009’s rom-com It’s Complicated. Starring Meryl Streep, with charming supporting performances from Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, this film follows a 10-years divorced baker as she navigates life as an empty-nester and discovers what might be next for her - which appears to include an affair with her now-married ex-husband (Baldwin) and a blossoming romance with the architect remodeling her home (Martin). This film explores the complications of divorce and moving on, while highlighting the joys and pits of rediscovering yourself, especially in your golden years. While this film was met with mixed reviews from critics, there is an undeniable sense of the Nancy Meyers charm that makes it the cozy and beloved film it is to me. Like any Meyers film, the set design is a character and story to discover in itself and perhaps one of my favorite elements of this movie - it’s an aesthetic feast! I have loved this movie for years and it’s one of those movies that pulls on your heartstrings, tickles your funny bone, and makes you feel hopeful for the future by the final scene. -Victoria

Train to Busan, 2016 Train to Busan is an electrifying and almost unmatched zombie film. Like any good movie, it has emotional depth. Your investment in the characters and their survival catapults you from scene to scene. Yeon Sang-ho’s directorial choices build the tension and suspense required for the film’s propulsion, but he also incorporates space for you to catch your breath. And with this plot, you'll need it. Gong Yoo and Ma Dong-seok are a great pair, using their ingenuity and sheer power to fight their way through zombie hoards. Whenever I'm looking for something exciting to watch, this film never fails to deliver. -Alana

[retrieve-the-kraken]

9 favourite books

Thank you @gwiazdziarka for tagging me (and thanks for all those book recs, I’m adding all of them to my list, except for the ones that I’ve already read), and I agree, maybe all of these won’t be my absolute favorite books, but they’re either books that I think about a lot, or books that have a special place in my heart, but not necessarily something that I go back to over and over.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exúpery

This one is definitely a favorite. It’s a book that I’ve reread many times, because I feel that it has a different feel every time, depending on what I’m going through at that moment. Also a classic. Love it so much that I’ve started to collect editions in different languages; so far I have Spanish (of course), French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Euskera (possibly one of the rarest), and Swedish (of course, because I intend to be able to read it by next year).

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Also an absolute favorite, classic down-the-rabbit-hole type story that takes place in London Below. Fell in love with it, with the world-building within an already existing world. If i actually had to list 9 of my favorite books, pretty sure the whole list would be Neil Gaiman, but this book is both entertaining and comforting, so I pick this one. The BBC radio drama adaptation starring James McAvoy and Natalie Dormer is also excellent. Still waiting for the book sequel, though…

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

The most charming book in history, composed entirely of letters between an aspiring writer and rare books collector in New York and the manager of a rare books bookshop in London. Their relationship is platonic, and yet one of the most romantic things I have ever read. The movie adaptation is equally charming and it has Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench in it. Read the book first, then watch the movie, then cry endlessly. Rinse and repeat.

Like a Hole in the Head by Jen Banbury

You should know that I get a lot of book recommendations from TV shows, so I decided to hunt down this book when Monica was reading it in more than one episode of Friends (felt like a subliminal message). And it was fucking worth it. Also a book about a book. A dwarf comes into a bookshop where the protagonist works, to sell a first edition of Jack London’s White Fang, and only after he’s gone she finds out just how rare it is. Heist plot ensues. It’s equally strange and exciting, mind-blowing and cathartic.

The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan

Very melancholy, this book is a collection of essays, poems and short stories published posthumously, as Keegan died in an accident at 21. She was very talented and could write convincingly about many things. Can’t even pick a favorite one out of the collection, because they’re all very good in very different ways. Very bittersweet.

Los Caballos Estornudan en la Lluvia by Dimas Lidio Pitty

Another short story collection (the title literally translates as “Horses Sneeze in the Rain”), from a Panamanian author, from the region where I spent my childhood summers, which still holds a very special place in my heart, and which has a mysticism about it that he helps preserve in these stories. Dimas Lidio Pitty was very good at magical realism. One of the stories in particular is so brief, but it’s incredible how good it is in such a short narration.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I’m a huge fan of classic dystopic science fiction, and this one has got to be my favorite. The narrative is interesting, moves along at an excellent pace, and it covers everything. Another book about books too. If you haven’t read Fahrenheit 451, the premise is simple: in this dystopic society, firemen don’t put out fires, they start them… to burn books. Book banning to the extreme. What happens next? You need to read it to find out.

El Misterio del Solitario by Jostein Gaarder

I have been obsessed with this book (The Solitaire Mystery in English) by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder since I started reading all his books when I was a teen (I don’t even know how I came across him, I just picked one up one day and went with it, it wasn’t even Sophy’s World, it was Through a Glass, Darkly). Of course Sophy’s World is probably the most famous, and it was very good, but this one is so strange and magical that I read it several times ages ago, and it was such a comforting book, and now I would like to reread. Maybe one day soon I’ll read it in Norwegian!

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Another classic and favorite, which I have also read many times. Some people like Alice in Wonderland, some like Peter Pan, I like the Wizard of Oz. I like anything Oz related, the movie, the musical, Wicked (the musical, not the book, tho), everything. But the source material is still where it’s at.

No pressure tags: @makingupachangingmind , @voldiebeth , @raincitygirl76 and @phoebenpiperx .