#can you tell who she likes the most in this group

[emptymanuscript]

I admit I'm on the fence about AI in general... well, on the I have never used it and am not sure if I ever should but I've got the deep fear of missing out side.

But in the context of learning, it strikes me as falling in the same landscape as a calculator or Excel. I use a calculator or (actually more commonly) Excel to do any math because I'm not particularly good at math and never really have been.

BUT

When I was growing up, you did NOT get to use a calculator until you knew how to calculate. This was not a thing to make us suffer or just make life more difficult.

I also had stupid tests where I had to solve 100 math problems in 3 minutes, and I'm not about to argue that was good for me, helped me, or should be inflicted on subsequent generations.

I had to learn how to calculate BECAUSE of the above. If YOU don't know how to calculate, then it is impossible to tell if the calculator gave you the correct answer or not.

Back when I used to post to r/excel, I used to get flack for not showing the "EFFICIENT" way to solve problems but instead would show things step by step. But this is the same thing. If you do things in a big complicated group, you either get the right answer or the wrong answer. If you do things step by step you can CHECK your answer step by step and see if they make sense.

Do I need to know how to do 87^2 in my head in 30 seconds or less? No. I really don't. But I do need to know what is going on and why it is happening.

87^2 = 7,569 is great for a calculator to do. The calculator absolutely can do it faster than most people can. But if I just plug in 87^2 and get 689, how do I verify it? How do I check? Can I even realize, hmmm, that doesn't look quite right. Are my functions all right?

Knowing what is going on is the insurance for that. I can probably catch that, oh, I was trying to use a clever trick and forgot some steps.

The answer isn't all that is important.

And yes, it absolutely can make you dumber. Like I got to hear a discussion between two lecturers I really liked. And one just went off on a tangent and the other was clearly wondering why the hell she was there, this isn't science. BUT because I knew the details of how they were both dealing with the basic problem they were talking about - current science not being able to successfully predict certain phenomenon without numbers to fudge the situation that represent things that can't be proven independently of the need to fudge the numbers - I was able to follow the miscommunication while they, themselves, could not. His tangent made perfect sense in the context of his field of interest and made zero sense in hers. And if all you have the answers with no information of how you got to them, there's zero way to connect "I think the Sun might be conscious" and "I think half of the standard model is based on incorrect assumptions." They were in fact talking about the same things and differing solutions but there's no way to align that without talking about the assumptions, which needs to be laid out in order to UNDERSTAND the answer.

And struggling with my FOMO on writing, there's the basic truth that the reason I fear like I'm missing out is in part because I AM an expert. I have a graduate degree in TEACHING creative writing. I know my shit. So if I ask ChatGPT or whatever to spit out a scene for me, I not only can tell if it is good or bad, I can explain WHY it is good or bad and what needs to be done to improve it. I have zero fear of amateurs asking ChatGPT to spit out a novel for them and getting a novel of quality that I will be competing with. I am scared of people with enough knowledge of how writing works and knowledge of how ChatGPT creating the equivalent situation of me doing long division on paper while they're plugging the equations into a calculator.

A calculator, used as a tool, by someone who understands what they're doing, can do calculations faster and with less errors than someone who also understands what they're doing but isn't using a calculator. But it's not the difference of one being able to do it and another not. It's a difference of speed and accuracy.

It's an entirely different set up when it's someone who understands what they're doing versus someone who doesn't. You can give someone who doesn't know what they're doing all the tools in the world and it will still take them longer and produce an inferior product because they can't understand what they're doing.

And that's the basic problem with using ChatGPT for education. Yes, it can give you an answer. But because you don't know how, you simply have to trust that it is the correct answer. With no way to double check, no way to gauge, and no way to adjust the workflow to better suit your needs.

It absolutely is shooting themselves in the foot. Because school is the point where access to help with process and WHY things work the way to do is easiest to get. It does simply get harder to find the farther away from educational opportunities you get. And when you need it to work isn't the best time to be trying to figure out what you're really doing instead of already having that education and skill under your belt.

It's also relying on the fatal assumption that tomorrow is going to look like yesterday. My earliest datable memory is June 1st 1982. The world is so profoundly different in February 13th 2025, that I am very comfortable promising you that the idea that you can depend on the world looking the same for your entire life WILL get you into trouble because that's simply not the way the world works. Certainly not now. The assumption that it is safe to use ChatGPT now because you will always be able to use ChatGPT is a set up for failure. Will there always be tools? Yes. Will you know how to get future tools to work the same way as ChatGPT? Probably not. I grew up using Dos and then Window's machines. These days, the programs are so different, I find it easier to use a Mac instead of learning the new way that Windows does things.

If you rely on a particular tool solving a problem for you in a way you don't understand beyond that tool giving you the answer, you will be relearning the tool every large iteration. And eventually it will be different enough that it will set you back. That you will essentially be starting from nearly scratch. And then what? If you don't know what kind of answer you should get, how are you going to know if you're using that new tool correctly because some engineer decided that it is more efficient to move in a different direction?

Even novels have changed over the course of my life. Every book I've read that was published in the last 15 years breaks fundamental rules I was taught back in the early 90's. The conventions that I would have insisted that ChatGPT follow have changed. But if I didn't know WHY those conventions existed how would I even know? How would I adjust? Why would it even occur to me that I needed to adjust? ChatGPT sure doesn't know.

That's probably fine if it's just something you're doing for fun.

But if it is your job? Getting things wrong can be the difference between keeping that job and going hungry. It is not a good idea to be utterly dependent on your tools. Tools are to make what you're doing easier, not to do the task for you all together.

Yeah, just don't. The grades are not as important as what you will be able to do (or not be able to do) later in life. And sometimes that later can be a LOT sooner than you anticipate. I watched a LOT of people wash out or nearly wash out of college because they didn't know the whys and hows of what they were doing academically. I saw straight A students flunk out because they just learned the cheat or because their schools were crap and only taught one way to do things or taught nothing at all and just let the cards fall. I had a good friend who came in with a 4.2 GPA and nearly flunk out because she wasn't taught basic skills I had gotten in middle school.

Which was intentional.

Because she was black and poor and I wasn't.

Her schooling was designed to fail her because the best way to make sure someone as smart as her STAYED black and poor was to let her fly without ever teaching her the skills to do better when she needed to. And she was damned smart. And she worked damned hard. And she pulled through and got a master's before I did. But she was in the extreme minority and had a lot of help and still slid through by the skin of her teeth. Most people in her position crashed and burned and ended up WORSE off than they started. Which is great for the powers that be because it makes them a demonstration of why you shouldn't even try. It shows that society is stacked against you. Because it is. Because it is designed to fail.

Understand that ChatGPT is the same set up. It will make things easier. For now. It will give you the answers. It will work. Until it hits the level it can't anymore. And that WILL happen. It is inevitable. And then you have no supports and you ARE going to crash and burn.

There is a reason that ChatGPT is cheap and being forced on everyone. It is controlled by the people who are being served by the current societal structure.

Are you being served? Are you sure? Because if there is ANYTHING about you they can benefit by crushing, washing you out, setting you out to sacrifice, they're going to do it. Anything that is free in our society is a tool to make YOU the product. And they're damn good at doing it. So think long and hard about using that tool when they have so much history and investment in making you crap out for their benefit. Don't rely on them to save you.

I just started grad school this fall after a few years away from school and man I did not realize how dire the AI/LLM situation is in universities now. In the past few weeks:

I chatted with a classmate about how it was going to be a tight timeline on a project for a programming class. He responded "Yeah, at least if we run short on time, we can just ask chatGPT to finish it for us"

One of my professors pulled up chatGPT on the screen to show us how it can sometimes do our homework problems for us and showed how she thanks it after asking it questions "in case it takes over some day."

I asked one of my TAs in a math class to explain how a piece of code he had written worked in an assignment. He looked at it for about 15 seconds then went "I don't know, ask chatGPT"

A student in my math group insisted he was right on an answer to a problem. When I asked where he got that info, he sent me a screenshot of Google gemini giving just blatantly wrong info. He still insisted he was right when I pointed this out and refused to click into any of the actual web pages.

A different student in my math class told me he pays $20 per month for the "computational" version of chatGPT, which he uses for all of his classes and PhD research. The computational version is worth it, he says, because it is wrong "less often". He uses chatGPT for all his homework and can't figure out why he's struggling on exams.

There's a lot more, but it's really making me feel crazy. Even if it was right 100% of the time, why are you paying thousands of dollars to go to school and learn if you're just going to plug everything into a computer whenever you're asked to think??

[adieutristana]

could you write jinx x fem reader who are a couple in season 1 and reader heals jinx's wound after she used a stapler on the wound to remember caitlyn's name

of course! thank you for the request <3

beaches by beabadoobee on repeat rn

summary; comforting and patching up jinx after her fight with the firelights.

characters included; jinx

tags/warnings; hurt/comfort, injury, jinx is kinda rude at first (just pissed), drinking mention (r works at the last drop), mentions of poor mental health, hallucinations, fluff, set in s1

men dni.

the moment that thieram gave you the okay to punch out, you swung your apron off and sprinted towards the doors.

gunshots and explosions- you'd heard the noises, though distant. they weren't uncommon in zaun by any means, but you'd grown to recognize the sounds of the firelights, different groups, the like. you'd been pouring a round of shots for a group of patrons, celebrating a birthday and talking your ear off about their plans for the night. all you could give was flat one-word answers, your mind focused on jinx. where is she? is she caught up in this? is she hurt?

your feet move faster than you can think. clutching the shoulder strap of your bag, running through the dimly lit streets of zaun towards one destination. jinx's hideout.

"watch where you're fucking going!"

you hear from behind you, soon after bumping into a stranger on the street. you turn your head back to yell a quick 'sorry!' before continuing towards jinx's hideout. your heart is pounding in your chest, you're panting and all you can think about is her. the noises had died down about an hour before the end of your shift, and every one of those last sixty minutes felt like torture.

torture in not knowing. torture in having to wait, in knowing that jinx might've needed you in that moment and you weren't there. you couldn't shake the image of jinx on some ledge, injured and bleeding. calling out for help, yet nobody is around to answer it. it made your heart wrench, but nobody knew anything. you'd often eavesdrop on patrons to pass the time, getting invested in stories they'd tell. you didn't know these people, part of you felt like this was wrong. but some of those stories were damn interesting.

but all anyone had to talk about today was their family, their failed relationships, business, or their frustrations with piltover. absolutely nothing about what you'd heard, and it only made the pit in your stomach worsen.

you can see the door to jinx's hideout just a few feet ahead, and your feet begin to move even quicker. it's unclear what's fueling you- adrenaline? fear? likely a mix of both. you swing the door open, breathlessly running inside and up one of the panels leading to the center of the turbine.

jinx's voice can be heard mere steps away. it's the most beautiful thing you'd ever heard, especially now. she's alive, and she's here. that's something to be grateful for, yet she's talking to herself. her voice sounds gruff, and you see her figure- clutching her forehead.

"why would i remember her name?! she's just some stupid topsider!"

followed by a sharp grunt, and a cry of pain.

"ghh- gah!"

you're almost there, almost at jinx's side, and- holy shit, is that a stapler?

jinx doesn't seem to notice your presence, though. she's sat down, her right leg extended and a gold stapler held firm. she's rambling to herself, words incoherent, and her eyes are darting from spot to spot. never honing in on one thing. you've seen jinx like this, she's hallucinating- she may be alive, but jinx is far from okay.

you smack the stapler out of jinx's hand and drop to one knee in front of her, digging around in your messenger bag for a first aid kit. you'd bought one the first time you cut your hand on a shattered wine glass at work, and now you're damn grateful you did that.

"i was doing something with that!"

jinx protests, still breathless. her eyes are now fixed on you, now that you've interrupted her. blue eyes looking straight through you rather than at you, and it shakes something in you. you've been afraid to upset jinx further, and you've been worried she may not recover from episodes. but you've never felt uneasy in her presence before- not until now.

"you're not using a stapler, jinx. come on, let me have a look."

you place jinx's leg over your lap, coming to sit on your knees. a clean yet deep gash on her leg, undoubtedly a result of what you'd heard earlier. your brows furrow, and your heart twists in your chest. you should've called out today, you thought. maybe then, you could've prevented this. but there's no use in dwelling.

"they messed you up bad, huh?"

"shut up," she winces, her head thrown back and little groans of pain escaping her. she's clearly not in the mood for any kind of comfort or quips. it isn't personal, you know that, but you can't control the slight sting that comes from her words.

"what happened?"

your hands are busy searching through your first aid kit, looking for a roll of gauze. it's half-assed and it won't do a thing for a wound like your girlfriend has, but it's what you've got. you can work your way around a needle thread, but that's out of the question. the last thing you need is jinx getting sepsis on top of this, because you'd used an unsterile needle to stitch her up.

"vi's back." she groans. long blue braids are splayed across the floor beneath her chair, and you finally find what you're looking for- your hands shooting out to grab it.

"vi? your sister, vi?"

"yeah, my sister. who else?"

you huff, knowing it's not worth it to press when jinx gets like this. but still, it's intriguing. her sister, who had left her seven years ago... suddenly back. huh.

"she was in stillwater, apparently. all that time." she grumbles, an exasperated and somewhat sarcastic edge to her voice. as if she suspects there's more to the story.

you begin to wrap the gauze around jinx's leg, and the white is carefully tinged red with her blood. the sight isn't pretty, and you wish so badly that you could take her pain away. that you had the skills necessary to properly patch her up, instead of using some dingy first aid kit from a convenience store. but at least the bleeding seems to have slowed.

"and she's back? how'd that happen?" you hum, your gaze focused on the task at hand.

"said some girl freed her. i didn't think much of it, yanno. just thought someone was doing her a nice favor. until i found out that girl was an enforcer," she grumbles, her head falling further back. her voice is bordering on a growl now. "what was her name, her name..."

she's repeating the question like a vice, more to herself than you.

"her name?"

"her name! i can't remember it, god damn it..."

your lips purse, and you wrap the gauze around once again. careful not to wrap hard enough to cut off blood flow, but still with enough pressure to keep the bleeding at bay. jinx starts to laugh, a low, rumbling sound.

is that what this is about? she doesn't seem bothered about the wound, not that you'd expected anything less from jinx, of course- she's constantly injured in one way or another, and her ego is too big for her own good. she's a strong, capable girl. you know that well. but you also knew that there was a very real possibility of that ego getting her in trouble one day.

your free hand comes to rest on jinx's thigh, squeezing gently in an attempt to bring her back to reality.

"her name, her name..." she continues.

"why is her name important?" you sigh, grabbing a roll of medical tape from the open box. "she's an enforcer."

"yeah, an enforcer who managed to bag my sister."

fair enough, you suppose.

it struck you as odd, for a zaunite to be willingly in close relations with an enforcer of all people. especially when said zaunite's parents were killed by enforcers. but you keep those thoughts to yourself, knowing jinx is likely thinking the same thing- you don't want to fan the flames of her anger any more than necessary.

another moment of silence, then her voice cuts through again. breathy, firm.

"caitlyn."

your eyes widen momentarily as you apply the medical tape, securing the gauze around her leg.

"kiramman?"

not exactly a common name around here, and caitlyn kiramman was an enforcer. along with being the sole heir to the kiramman estate, the daughter of one of piltover's most influential figures. a councilor.

"i don't know," jinx mutters, her hands coming to grip at the sides of the chair. she's not fighting you patching her up, but she seems to be trying to anchor herself so she doesn't squirm. "probably? fancy topsider, with a fancy last name. it doesn't matter."

you take a step back, putting your hands on your hips and letting out a breath you didn't know you were holding. that makes things even worse- for her sister to be running around with an enforcer is bad enough on its own. but a kiramman is an entirely different monster that you don't even want to think about.

walking over to the back of the chair, you drape your arms around jinx's shoulders from behind. it'll probably strain your back, but you still lean down to rest your chin on jinx's shoulder.

"she doesn't matter," you murmur, your lips brushing the pale skin of jinx's neck. "she's just some stupid topside enforcer."

"but she got my sister," jinx groans. she's still tense, but you can see the way her jaw unclenches with your kiss. "i mean, doesn't she remember what happened to our parents?"

your lips press into a thin line. jinx is right, and words are failing you right now.

"i don't know what to tell you, honestly."

you whisper, your chin still resting on jinx's shoulder. as much as you wish you had all the answers to reassure the girl, you didn't. you'd never met her sister, and you'd never met caitlyn- not personally, anyway. you weren't there when they had reunited.

"it was a trick. all a trick," jinx whispers. "she wanted that stupid hex crystal. not me, not her little sister."

the words make your heart clench in your chest, and you shake your head. that sounds out of character, despite you having never met vi. the way jinx reminisced on her, how caring she was, how sweet. the fact that she'd told jinx she could fix anything.

"there has to be more to it than that."

"it doesn't matter. just... i don't wanna talk about it anymore."

you nod slowly, and press another gentle kiss to jinx's neck, then to her jawline from behind. she leans into your touch and one of her hands comes to hold onto the arms wrapped around her, a subtle sign of acceptance. she's calmed down, at least for the most part.

it's not much, but it's all the comfort that you can offer her right now. you'd learned the hard way during previous episodes that when jinx says to drop something, you drop it.

"alright, baby." you whisper. "but if you change your mind, i'm here to listen."

[necromancerbunny]

I’ve got a secret, can you keep it? || #1

summary: Aaron corners you at your parents’ anniversary party to tell you what he wants.

warnings: age gap, dbf!Hotch

If your parents knew what thoughts are plaguing your mind every time you look at Aaron at their anniversary party, they would lose their marbles. But how could you not think about him? How could you not think about the way he looks at you from across the room, how much his expression softens when he’s talking to you? The signs are there, you’re just unsure if you’re decoding them right.

It’s probably the age difference that makes you so uncertain, prompting you to wonder if he would even want something from you. Aren’t you too young? Aren’t you too naive? Why would he want you? Still, the way he looks at you always pulls a dreamy sigh from your lips. Just one chance. All you need is one chance to find out what if.

There’s something about him that keeps pulling you in, that gravitational field forged from his quiet confidence, from the way he acts so nice and polite despite being the unit chief of one of the FBI’s most prestigious teams. And those eyes? And that rare smile? They haunt you in your dreams. Oh, those dreams…

“I need your help. It’s an emergency,” you hear your cousin’s voice a mere second before his fingers clasp around your wrist to pull you away from the terrace door.

You love Liam, he’s only sixteen, but he’s dating his first proper girlfriend now, so he can be pretty lost sometimes, and he doesn’t feel like asking for his parents’ advice. So, you became the person he turns to for a few wise words, which is kind of funny considering you haven’t dated anyone properly in a while.

Despite your love for this kid, your attention often slips away during the conversation, because you know Aaron’s eyes are watching you closely, putting a sweet pressure on you by making it hard to focus on your relative. When you dare to throw a casual glance in his direction, as if you were just scanning the room without looking for anyone or anything, you see that damn smug smirk on his face.

Suddenly, your cousin’s phone starts playing his favorite song, his girlfriend’s name flashing on the screen. He looks uncertain, but you want to take this chance to get rid of him. With a kind, supportive smile, you tell him to be a man and talk to her, tell her why exactly he doesn’t feel like introducing her to his parents just yet.

With a sigh, you head to the backyard, following the path that leads you to your parents. Not because you want to have a chat with them, but because Aaron’s there. He’s busy explaining someone to a woman you don’t know, but you can see that look in her eyes, that smitten look with those sparkling eyes that tell you what she wants from him. He doesn’t seem to notice, or rather he’s just good at hiding his emotions.

It’s jealousy that’s clawing at your heart, leaving an ache behind you don’t want to feel, so you flash a smile at your mother who’s watching you with curious eyes, then take a step back to leave the group. But your body freezes before you could walk away, because you suddenly feel his hand on the small of your back. When you look at him, you see the way the corner of his lips curl into a barely visible smile.

No one seems to notice, not even that woman who’s still watching him with those wide, doe eyes. You can’t help but wonder how long that might last, because you instinctively bite your lower lip when his fingers spread on your back. He’s gonna be the death of you, but god, wouldn’t it be the sweetest possible death?

“I’m sorry, do you happen to have some painkillers? I can feel a headache coming,” he suddenly says, giving your parents an almost awkward smile. Your mother tells him they have some in the master bathroom, but when she puts her champagne flute on a table behind her, he’s quick to speak up. “No, it’s your night, I’m sure your daughter knows her way around.”

It takes a second to register what he just said. He wants you to go with him, he wants you to join him on this trip into the house. A part of the house that is usually off-limits to the guests. Panic fills you, but you manage to take a deep breath to calm your nerves. It’s just an innocent request, he surely doesn’t have some ulterior motive. And if he did, then what? That’s what you want, after all, isn’t it?

Before you know it, Aaron leads you toward the house, passing through the crowd in silence. There aren’t any curious looks, no one seems to wonder what you’re doing there together, because you’re an adult, and he’s just a family friend. A recently divorced and stupidly handsome family friend, someone you have very, very indecent dreams about.

God dammit.

When you reach the master bedroom, he closes the door behind you and stops. You turn back with a questioning look, but he’s just standing there, brown eyes observing you curiously. Gulping, you decide it would be for the best if you just moved on to the bathroom to get what he asked for, so you don’t have to face him. The way he’s watching you? That’s pure torture. It’s like he wants to say something, but he’s hesitating, as if something was holding him back.

You find some Advil in the bathroom, but when you take the box from the shelf, you hear the sound of footsteps behind you. “I don’t really need that,” you hear him say, so you turn around to see what he wants then.

Aaron’s smile reaches his eyes, making you melt on the spot. No wonder that woman was all over him, who in their right mind wouldn’t be? Sometimes you can’t help but think about what he must be like behind the scenes, because there has to be something, a reason why Haley left him. You heard the story from your parents, but you never dared to ask him about that.

“But you said–”

“I know what I said, but that was a lie,” he informs you casually. When you give him a questioning look, he flashes a smile at you. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

At first, you just stare at him, mouth agape. But then your brows furrow as you take a deep breath, preparing to ask the stupidest question you can think of. “Nothing. Why do you ask?” you wonder out loud.

There’s a beat of silence before he steps closer to you. “Dinner. I have a reservation for eight, so I’ll pick you up half an hour earlier, okay? Wear something nice.” When he sees that you froze from the suggestion, he lets out a quiet chuckle. “You’re so beautiful when you’re confused,” he says as he reaches out to push a strand of hair behind your ear.

A secret relationship with Aaron Hotchner is like a rabbit hole. You dive in, following the flow, and only hope things would work out in the end. But damn, isn’t it the best thing ever? He’s nice, handsome, confident, and did you mention handsome?

Yes, you’re screwed.

[luvvictoria]

Hiiiiiii!! I’m sorry if this request sounds skrunkly but could you write 141 squad guys who are low key clones of original squad (which died in one of the missions) but have teeth of Mileena from mortal kombat and the reader is the scientist who has created them >:3 Thankies in advance >3<

That’s such a wicked idea — cloning TF141 but giving them Mileena’s teeth is crazy in the best way. The mix of science horror, a poly relationship, and a little spice? I’m all over it. You want it to have an unsettling but intimate vibe, right? Like, the reader created them, but now she’s theirs, in a possessive, eerie, yet tempting way?

I’m thinking something like:

They remember things they shouldn’t—fragments of the original squad’s lives.

They feel obsessive toward their creator, like they were designed to crave her.

Their mouths are a secret—until they show her what they can do.

Maybe she didn’t expect them to desire her this much, but now there’s no way out.

LET ME COOK !!!

Ghost (Simon Riley) – The Shadow That Haunts You

Moves in absolute silence, watching you from the edges of the room even when you think you're alone.

Knows things he shouldn't—your scent, the pattern of your breathing when you're anxious, how your pulse flutters when he's too close.

Keeps his mask on around others, but around you? He likes when you see his mouth, the nightmare you created.

Enjoys the way you pretend to fear his teeth but shudder when he gets too close.

“You flinch when I touch you, yet you never tell me to stop. Why, love? Is it because deep down... you want to see how far I’ll go?”

Would drag you into his lap just to feel you tremble, pressing his lips to your throat, teeth just grazing—never biting. Not yet.

Soap (Johnny MacTavish) – The One That Smiles Too Wide

The charmer of the group, but there’s a cruel edge to his sweetness. His grins are too wide, too sharp, all teeth.

Loves to make you nervous, backing you against a wall, leaning in, whispering things you shouldn’t like.

“Ye made us tae kill, bonnie. But we were born tae worship ye.”

Has zero sense of personal space—likes to press his chest against your back while you work, his breath hot at your ear.

Will lick the blood off his blades slowly, knowing you’re watching. “Bet ye think about it, don’t ye? What this mouth could do.”

When he finally gets to kiss you? He groans, deep and animalistic, like he’s been starving for the taste of you.

Gaz (Kyle Garrick) – The Soft-Spoken Predator

Quietly the most dangerous—he doesn’t need to threaten. His patience is unsettling.

Always watching, eyes too warm, too knowing. He enjoys watching you squirm under his gaze.

Calls you “love” in a way that should be affectionate, but somehow it’s possession, a claim.

“You say you fear us, but I see how you look at me when you think I’m not watching.”

Runs a gloved finger down your lips, thumb brushing over your lower lip. “Would you let me?”

He’s the one who eases you into it, drawing you into their orbit until you don’t even realize you’re theirs.

Price – The Commander Who Owns You

The leader of them all, the one who keeps the others in line—but he’s no better. He’s just more patient about his obsession.

Gravely voice at your ear, whispering things you shouldn't crave. “You think you’re in control, love? That you can keep us caged?”

Smokes cigars, and the scent lingers on you because he deliberately stands close enough for it to cling.

Doesn’t need to threaten. Just gives you a look—one that makes your stomach flip, one that tells you there’s no way out.

“You made us, darling. And I’m the one who decides what happens to you now.”

Lets the others crowd you, corner you, but he’s the one who delivers the final command. “Take care of her, boys. But be gentle. She’s ours.”

When he finally kisses you? It’s slow, deep, devastating. He makes sure you feel owned.

The lab was sterile, pristine, cold. A place where life should have been created with precision, not passion. Yet passion had seeped into the cracks of creation. You had made them—Simon, John, Kyle, and Price—perfect clones of the fallen, but twisted. Designed to be stronger, faster, more ruthless. Their scars were synthetic, their memories stitched from scraps of the originals, their hunger... primal. But the worst thing you had given them was their teeth.

You never meant to make them monsters.

"Doctor," Ghost rumbled, stepping closer, his masked face tilted ever so slightly downward. "You're running from us again."

You pressed your back against the cold steel table, fingers trembling as he closed the distance. They all did. Gaz leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes glinting with something unreadable. Soap loomed near the door, his usual easy grin sharper—too sharp. And Price... he was the worst, the way he loomed over you, the way he watched.

"I'm not running," you whispered, pulse betraying you.

"Liar," Soap chuckled, low and dark. "You made us. We're a part of you. We know when you're lying."

Ghost raised his hand, slow, deliberate, and traced a gloved finger along your jaw. The leather was soft, but beneath it, you knew what lay hidden. Those mouths — those teeth. You had crafted them to be efficient killers, but something about them was... alluring. Hypnotic. You should have feared them, but instead, you felt the warmth pooling deep in your stomach.

"Tell me, lass," Soap murmured, his Scottish lilt coiling around you like silk. "Did you make us like this on purpose? So we'd crave you? So we'd need you?"

Your breath hitched as Price’s gloved hands settled on either side of you, caging you between his massive frame and the table. His voice was thick with something dark, something hungry. "She didn't think we'd feel this way, did she? Didn't think we’d remember her touch even when she wasn’t touching us?"

"We remember everything," Ghost confirmed. "The way you looked at us in those tanks. The way your hands lingered when you checked our vitals. The way your breath caught when you saw what we were."

Gaz finally moved, stepping in beside Soap, trapping you completely. "You're ours, love. You made us. And we take care of what's ours."

You opened your mouth to argue—to protest—to tell them this wasn't right—but then Ghost leaned in, his mask brushing your cheek as he whispered,

"Say the word, and we'll show you exactly what these mouths were made for."

[flygefisk]

don't have the energy for more than these rn but! remy & lux!

remy (pitbull/snapper, he/him, full name remedy) is a retired gladiator. he fought his way out and was granted enough money to purchase a piece of land far, far away from the city where he was imprisoned. he built a farm on that land, where he grows his favorite fruits & vegetables & raises a small hive of giant bees and a few giant spiders. he only has to interact with others once a week when he sets up at the town's market.

remy is gruff, hard-working, and has absolutely no respect for authority. he's ultimately a pretty sweet guy, gentle & generous- the little old ladies in town adore him.

lux (deer/unicorn hybrid/imperial, he/they?, full name luxury) is a prince in hiding. his mother, the queen, was horrible, both to her country and her family. after her assassination, his family began receiving more frequent and vicious threats from both her allies and enemies (mostly the allies). so his eldest sister decided the heirs would be safer elsewhere. she placed lux with remy for two reasons: one, he's about as far as you can get from the capitol while still in the kingdom, and two, he hated the queen, so he'd have no reason to work with any loyalists who may come sniffing around.

lux acts like a spoiled little party boy (not entirely untrue) to hide his crippling self-loathing. he was a disappointment in every way to his mother, which is something he's quite proud of, but worries the few he respects feel the same. haughty, self-centered, and deeply rebellious- he in fact assisted those responsible for the queen's death.

remy only agreed to take lux in for the generous pay packet and the promise that lux would work to earn his keep. lux was… less than enthused about this arrangement. him, work? in the dirt?? get mud on his clothes?? in his hair???

some fun (?) facts about them:

remy is a trans man. he'd lived as a boy since early childhood, but didn't really choose his name til he escaped the ring- remedy to represent healing and commitment to a peaceful life after so much violence. he escaped at 24, and is 28 when lux arrives.

remy had a rough start. homeless orphan living with a group of small time criminals, then the king died and the queen instituted a crueler guard force and awful punishments. he got arrested one too many times, and the new sentence for repeat offenders was gladiatorial combat. he was seventeen.

remy has 1 (one) tiddy. he'll tell you the story- bitten off by a chimera! or maybe burned away by a dragon. or popped off by a kraken? the real story is honestly just as dramatic- it happened in the ring. an opponent chopped through it, remy made the final slice and dared them to do the other. they did not. they also did not leave that fight alive.

remy is also missing a pinky finger and most of his ears and tail, all taken as punishments by the ring guards. they docked his ears for insinuating he'd fucked a nobleman's wife (he hadn't, but did after that). they took his pinky for saying a visiting duke liked it up the ass (he had, in fact, greatly enjoyed remy's visit). and his tail... was for mooning the queen.

remy raises bees for honey & eggs, and spiders for silk. the bees are large chicken/smallish turkey sized, and the spiders range from large dog to cow sized depending on breed. he also has a mantis who herds the spiders & guards the bees at night. he makes mead with the honey and sells/trades the silk to a weaver in town- she once made him a very very cozy blanket as a thank-you.

lux wasn't really given a chance to be anything but cishet growing up, and little changed as an adult, given the expectations placed on royalty. in the peace of the countryside, he starts questioning that. grows out his hair, tries on skirts. he never really picks a label or even pronouns- any are ok. he's 26 when he arrives at remy's door.

lux's father was the unicorn, his mother the deer. his father died when lux was ~10 (supposedly of heart disease, which is unheard of in unicorns- most now believe the queen poisoned him to become the sole leader). he was a much better ruler than his wife, and the country took a nosedive after she took power. lux misses him very much.

lux looks more like his mother, which he hates- he inherited his father's long tail and silky hair, but only a teeny horn on his forehead. his eldest sister beauty is their father's spitting image, and his older brother treasure inherited his glittering coat. (lux never grew out of his big ol' fawn/foal ears)

lux's mother named all her children things she wanted them to embody (from oldest to youngest: beauty, marvel, treasure, luxury, splendor), not because she wanted them to be happy, but to show them off. she treated them less like children and more like trophies. she was especially proud of lux's antlers, they grew in early and elegant- he chopped them off and they never grew back properly. he still cuts them back every season.

lux does grow to love farm life. he misses some of his home, of course, and goes back every so often once things settle, but he'd rather stay with remy. he loves the bees, and especially loves mulberry, the herding mantis (she's very spoiled for a working bug)

these guys actually started as d&d npcs several years ago- they were a half-orc and a high elf, but otherwise pretty similar. i forget the whole story, but i remember remy crit during a fight and killed an enemy with a carrot lmao

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

Chapter 40 SUPER ROUGH SNIPPET

disclaimer: this is in the early rough stages so a lot of things are missing! But enjoy!

“You know for someone who claimed he had no time to spare for picking up his shipments, he sure is moving leisurely now, isn’t he?” Cepheus commented as the pair watched the group of nobles and servants come to what must’ve been their fifth stop near a glowing wallflower bush.

“That’s just the way people with power work,” Asha murmured as she sighed. 

“Or people who have more scents than sense, which full offense seems to be a running trend amongst your nobles.”

“Not all of them,” Asha argued back. “Some of them were and are quite reasonable when you get to know them. It’s just the bad ones who tend to have the furthest reach…”

“I take it that he’s one of the bad ones?’ Cepheus asked.

“He’s…well…he’s never been particularly kind to me,” she confessed. “Before I met you he scolded me for suggesting that something was going on with the forest. He rushed me when I tried to tell anyone else, and he’s always had this habit of making me feel…really small.” she confessed as the nobleman in question handed Lady Camille another flower before laughing. “It’s strange seeing him be nice to anyone-,”

“Hmm”

“What? What are you thinking?”

“Nothing really other than the fact that from what you’re telling me, he may be one of the most backstabbing, two-faced, air-wasting, disgusting, self-centered, heartless, inconsiderate bastards I’ve ever heard of!” the star smiled. “I’m impressed!”

“What?! What is there to be impressed about?”

 “I mean, all in all I know some bad, even terrible people to! So that’s something coming from me!”

“Terrible?” Asha frowned. Why would a wishing star know so many terrible people? Hadn’t he said that she was his first wisher? Granted she knew that there were apparently other people in space, but still. Why was the star keeping questionable company?

It was one thing for her grandfather to keep it but for the star-

Should she even be trusting him?

No, Cepheus was her friend! He had just saved her life. If she couldn’t trust him then, who could she trust?

“Yeah, what? Don’t tell me that you haven’t come across your fair share of terrible people. In terms of terrible nobles, where would you rank this guy?”

“I…I don’t know…I..I try not to think about him, more than I have to.”

“I see…”

“Asha, can I talk to you about something?”

“What is it?”

“Earlier you asked me whether I had stories about regular people doing regular things…Did my stories make you…uncomfortable?”

“No, of course not! It’s just that…” she paused, shaking her head as she looked down. “You’re probably tired of hearing it over and over. I’m sorry.”

“No, Asha, you’ve been burying these feelings deep within you for so many years. You can’t keep doing that forever, at some point in time you have to let it out. If not for me, then at least for yourself. Please Asha, let me help you.”

He was begging now. Something that shouldn’t have bothered her as much as it did.But As much as she hated to admit it, there was some truth to his words.

She bit her lip, slowly tugging at her braids as she hurriedly confessed,  “You see it’s one thing hearing those stories as myths and whatnot,” she cautiously began as she kept her eyes focused on her feet. “Because they don’t feel real, but then, it’s another to know that it’s real and that things like that can really happen…that legacies like this do and can exist and that they can result in wonderful things for some people.”

When he didn’t speak, she continued, feeling a bit braver than before as her face burned. “I know I’m being petulant. But… it’s just so hard living in a world where some people are blessed to worry about the after of achieving their dreams…when you can’t even be good enough to have them…”

“You think it’s petulant to be angry that life hasn’t dealt you a fair hand?”

She bowed her head as she brushed away a few stray tears. “No it’s just that!” she took a deep breath. “I…I know I should be stronger about it, I mean I live in a kingdom whose motto is to make impossibilities reality! And it’s true. Not a lot of kingdoms would have a prince who falls for a cook, or peasants who just so happen to be born with wonderful powers, but mine does.So, when I met with the king’s advisors turned my proposal down because the number of people like me…is statistically insignificant.”

She sniffled, as more tears seemed to escape her. “I only asked the question I did because I just hoped that being from a world of immortals, that maybe…just maybe you guys might see me differently. That me being in your world might be different, but I’m not sure.”

“What kind of legacy am I going to leave behind Cepheus? I’ve nearly died twice today! And my father…” she shook her head. “there’s nothing left for me in this world…”

“Then come to mine.”

“What?” 

“If this world never appreciated you, then maybe it never deserved you to begin with.”

“Deserved me?” she laughed as she shook her head. “Isn’t that a pretentious assumption?”

“Is assuming that everyone is entitled to basic decency a pretentious assumption?”

“Well no-,”

“I admit I don’t know anything about humans, but even I can see that what that man, your father’s supposed best friend is doing to you isn’t right.” the star quickly added as she cringed. “Do you really think if he cared for you or if that he was a good man that you’d be begging me to erase your very existence? Or you’d be saying that if you died no one would miss you? Asha that’s not right-,”

“But it’s just the way things are,” she sniffled. “In your stories and real life. No one ever cares for the little people like me.”

“I do!” he retorted. “I care for you and if you let me I could show you just how wonderful you are!”

“Wonderful,” she whispered, before looking away. “Am I really wonderful?”

“You are to me.”

She scoffed, weakly staring at the sky. “Why do you care so much for me anyway?” 

“It’s because we’re friends silly,” he smiled, repeating her words. “And this is what friends do for each other, right? They help each other out!”

“I know…” she sadly nodded, unable to understand the strange disappointment filling her at his words. She took a steadying breath, as she whispered.  “But what if I disappoint you and the other stars? Everything will be the same, just like how it is on earth and in those stories -,”

“Not this one…please, Asha. Not every story ends this way. Yours doesn’t…”So many don’t. And not many are as glamorous or as happy as everyone makes it seem.”

“What do you mean?”

“Twins have always been seen as a special things amongst stars, some even consider a blessing of sorts.. It was the reason why, when even after Betelguese had broken off his arrangement, that most of the crimson ones resented Deneb and her children for it. They thought it was an insult from fate itself.”

“Maybe they were onto something,” Asha replied. “Every time she opposed them things always worked out for her in the end so-,”

“Well yes but things weren’t that simple. You see after Rigil and Sirius had been born, Alhena had twins… Polaris and Cassiopeia but the process had been so grueling that she died shortly after they were born.”

Asha paused. There had to have been some irony interwoven into the story of an ambitious star who, when on the verge of finally ascending had only fallen victim to the circumstances she’d so desperately sought. It had been a story she’d seen and heard countless times on earth before. It was only strange to hear a star falling to it as well.

“A lot of stars suspected her death to be of foul play, as Deneb was no stranger to placing spies or even assassins within her enemy’s courts, and given how rumors of the midwife’s incompetency and strange methods ran rampant at the time, most suspected that she’d tried to kill Betelguese’s children.”

“Did she?” Asha whispered. “Would she really kill little stars like that?”

“I don’t know…I don’t think anyone ever discovered the truth…the midwife didn’t last long after that… but the repercussions were severe. Both Sirius and Rigel’s childhoods were fraught with danger…”

[ekingston]

the gay fanfic problem: he sees him. For a moment i thought it was going to be about the lack of 'she sees her'. But no. Typical.

you said that there's good ways to work around the 'actual' problem he mentions, and now that you've mentioned it, i don't think i've ever been confused reading your fics who's doing what! Do you have any tips or advice you could share :)?

xxx adoring reader and wannabe writer

GRAND, EXCELLENT compliment for a writer who adores not only sapphic love scenes (of which I agree there SHOULD be more) but also group dialogue and very, very long sentences. I'm going to be insufferable about this one for DAYS.

And speaking of being insufferable: I do have tips! As always, grain of salt, etc. I may know the rules but I really enjoy breaking them, and I'm sure I've done it in ways that have annoyed some readers.

Which makes for a decent segue to my first (and most important) tip: don’t be afraid to annoy your readers. Fanfiction is one of the least filtered forms of media. No one can keep us from writing (and, thanks to AO3’s user policies, sharing) whatever we want, however we want. We should take that seriously! If sprinkling your work with sparkly descriptors like ‘the ravenette’ makes you happy, you absolutely need to keep doing that! Also, let’s face it—if you share your work online, somebody at some point is not going to like it. You can’t appeal to everyone. Trying to is just going to suck every bit of joy out of this whole endeavour and ultimately burn you out. JUST WRITE IT THE WAY YOU WANT TO.

That being said, you asked for practical tips. I put them below the cut. Because I can never keep anything short, apparently.

1. When in doubt, just use your characters’ names. Even when you feel you’re overdoing it. You’d be surprised by how easily names blend into the background. My fics are full of instances where I use the same character’s name seven hundred times to make it clear who I’m talking about. You just didn’t notice! (Unfortunately you’re probably going to start to, now that I've pointed it out.)

2. This is an actual rule: pronouns (tend to) refer to the most recently mentioned character or noun.

This is why, instead of having to write

Lena winks at Kara. Kara blushes. Kara knocks over three glasses when Kara stares too long at Lena’s neckline

we can write

Lena winks at Kara. She blushes. She also knocks over three glasses while staring at Lena’s neckline

without making our readers wonder who we’re referring to. So that’s how I personally roll, unless:

an action requires emphasis;

it flows better with the rhythm of my prose;

I’ve started another paragraph, and there are multiple characters using the same pronouns in the scene;

there’s only one character in this scene, but I just realized I haven't said their name for, like, the third paragraph in a row.

3. Phrasing! There’s about a million different ways to structure a sentence or paragraph. Knowing how to shuffle words around is a skill that comes in particularly handy when two or more characters using the same pronouns are involved and you feel you’re drowning in a sea of ‘she’s.

Kara blushes when Lena winks at her. She also knocks over three glasses, staring hard at Lena’s neckline.

4. Strengthen your characters’ voices, mannerisms, moods and motivations.

If you know your characters well and you’ve done the work to make sure your readers know them too, we should be able to tell which one of them you’re talking about when describing a scene.

__ winks at __, smiling—pleased with herself—when __ blushes and promptly knocks over three glasses, her eyes glued to the neckline of __’s dress.

If you’ve sufficiently established their dynamic, your reader should be able to tell who is doing what from the context you created. This is also where writing a very close third person POV kind of feels like a cheat code: when your narrator's voice is the same as your main character’s, your reader will start unconsciously assuming you’re referring to your main character when you’re not specifying otherwise.

When you keep the above in mind, navigating additional characters is like learning how to braid with four, five, six etc. strands, it just gets easier every time, and things like

Lena looks at Kara. Nia sighs. Kara and Lena both look worried. Nia knows Kara still isn’t sure about Nia’s plan, and Lena doesn’t trust Nia’s instincts either. Nia can’t blame them. She is new to their world, and Kara and Lena haven’t had a chance to get to know Nia yet. “Please,” Nia says. She just needs a chance to prove to Lena and Kara that her instincts are usually correct.

can become

Nia huffs when Lena and Kara share a worried glance. “Please,” she insists, growing more agitated with every second that ticks by. She knows she hasn’t earned their trust yet. She knows she can’t count on Lena to come to her aid the way she would if this was her world. But she’s not going to change that by letting them call all of the shots. She needs this win, needs to help, needs to prove to them that her ‘instincts’ are—at least usually—correct.

A final note regarding descriptive nouns:

The reason I personally dislike when writers refer to characters by their hair color or job title is that it makes their characters sound like complete strangers to each other. In my opinion, Maura wouldn’t kiss the detective unless it’s an AU where they’ve just met during a kiss-in protest and Jane is a nameless woman with a badge. And if you’re making Lena shiver at the touch of the older woman’s hand, I’m picturing gray hair & the last person I’m going to think you’re referring to is Kara. Queen Rhea maybe, after the mask has come off and you’ve established that Lena feels she can no longer refer to her former business partner by the name she gave her because it too was likely a lie.

Anyway: unless it’s done as a gimmick or a joke (humor would be, like, its own entire book compared to the chapter that is this ask response), I personally use descriptive nouns only when they specify a relationship & come with a possessive adjective, like 'her sister', 'her girlfriend', 'her assistant'. These emphasize connection rather than alienation, which is what I feel happens when neutral terms are used to avoid referring to characters we're supposed to know by name.

FYI, did you know it used to be extremely common for femslash (F/F fanfiction, for those of you who never owned a walkman) to be written in second person POV, avoiding this issue entirely? The fact that these days it’s used almost exclusively for the self-insert genre is a tragedy. we used to be POETS. I cut my fanfiction teeth on second person POV and it will never not feel like home to me. All of my notes for YMHW were in second person, and I'm surprised some didn’t sneak into the final version.

[wisteriasymphony]

“For the last damn time, I am not going to take any of MM’s leftovers, especially not the likes of Sydne Rome! I have had it with that bitch, and I do not tolerate women who only know the word ‘no’!” Gabriel shouted to a group of hurriedly-writing assistants. “If they want to stick more of their petits rats wherever they can fit them, tell those shmucks they have to look elsewhere!” 

Gabriel’s demeanor suddenly softened upon hearing the sound of heels skittering towards him. Emilie, in a grey MDM Gabriel pret-a-porter suit and loose blonde curls, had run off to look for Gabriel the first moment she could. They smiled at each other as they locked eyes. Gabriel dismissed the assistants with a wave of his hand, his attention fully taken.

“He-hey, there’s my little star!” Gabriel said with a laugh, clapping for Emilie as he walked over to her. “How does my girl’s first time on with the big leagues feel? The public is buzzing about you.” He went to pinch Emilie’s cheek, adding “Everyone just thinks my girl’s the best thing they’ve ever seen! You’re a natural!” Emilie could only giggle, playfully swatting Gabriel’s hand away. “Thank you, Gabi.” Gabriel sighed, his head shaking slightly as if through mock exasperation at her humility. “Sweetheart, I only speak the truth. They’re gonna worship you by the end of the week, I just know it. The 80s will be ours, Emilie—The 80s will be ours.”

Later, once everything was wrapped up and Gabriel and Emilie could leave together, Emilie tucked herself close to Gabriel as the paparazzi swarmed them the moment they exited the building. The sparkling explosion of cameras was like watching the sun hit ocean waves, a million little flashes of white light out over an expanse that never seemed to end—Except Emilie was in the water, in the light, constantly drinking in the eyes and the watching and the clamoring for her. She'd been used to the limelight since her father got her on the silver screen at 12, but this? It was different, it was electric.

As Gabriel led her out to the limousine, he kept his hand on the small of her back. She looked up at him, and the way he waved at the chattering reporters looked as if he were a conductor addressing his orchestra, a president greeting his people. Gabriel Agreste had a sort of command to his presence that would've made Emilie assume he was a politician, had she not known otherwise. An assured coldness to his gray-blue eyes, a sense of drive.

But what she liked most about Gabriel was the hand on her back. As he waved people away with a singular raise of his forearm and he brought Emilie to the car, it made it clear that no matter what he did, he was going to bring her along.

Gabriel would do the dirty work, Gabriel would put in the hours.

Emilie would be made famous.

[elainsgirl]

Whilst discussing arguing the ships with an anti, they told me that

“Im so arrogant in believing elriel is endgame that I can’t take a step back and realise each ship has a 50/50 chance of happening”

And it made me realise - she’s right, I don’t believe there is a 50/50 chance for any ship to happen. To me - gwynriel, where Gwyn and Az aren’t even canon love interests - neither have confirmed attraction or shift in their relationship to a more romantic tone - do not have the same, equal chance of happening as elriel - a ship were the two characters are canon LIs. Where there is on page confirmation they are attracted to each other. The romantic tone of their relationship has been made clear. Same goes for Elucien. A ship where there is no chemistry. You have Elain who shrinks into herself bcs of Lucien, Sjm literally wrote that despite his mate being in the NC, Luciens loyalty lays with another woman. That ship - in my eyes - again, doesn’t have the same chance of happening as elriel. Elriel that have been built up for 3 books. That bring out the positive in each other. Who have had countless significant moments between them that were integral to their individual characters, a ship that is following the same path that feysand and nessian followed. I feel like it’s completely valid to believe that elriel have a higher chance of happening and im sick and tired of antis constantly telling elriels off for not believing in this 50/50 nonsense. What they label as arrogance, I simply call confidence.

I am confident in elriel, why? Bcs canon backs them up. Every theory, arguement or point can be backed up with sufficient amount of relevant canon. Another reason im so confident - antis are so disorganised and divided. Sure, they’ve come together and all mutually agree that “yh elriel isn’t happening” yet:

Have different reasons why elriel aren’t happening.

have different ideas on how elucien/gwynriel will start. Some say that Sjm ended elriel and they won’t be brought up again, others say that a portion of the book will be elriel and then “they’ll go to their respective red heads”

You’ve got some Gwynriels believing that “Yes absolutely, Gwyn is a lightsinger!” Others are horrified at the idea and reject it, claiming there’s no evidence

The gwynriel plot. They all say something different. Somehow gwyn and az will be involved in the prison (?) others say their book will centre around Illyrians

eluciens can’t decide on a plot. Either they’re ruling the day court or spring court or off travelling on a lake elain has 0 connections too, saving another woman.

most importantly, 4 years later and neither side have come to an agreement whose book is next. Is it gwynriel or elucien. Some say elucien, but then whats the point of Azriels bonus? Others say gwynriel but then what was the point of Feysands’ bonus? You see how both ships can unravel so easily? How weak the foundation for both ships are?

now look at elriel. We’ve all here bcs as a group we came to the same conclusion- Elain and Az will have the next book. We’re united because we all mutually believe in the same theories and arguments. Take Elains spy arc for example, every elriel will agree that yes. Elain is foreshadowed to be a spy, yes that will be part of her arc - some elriels may not like the theory but you’ll never see them disagree or disprove it bcs its in the text and elriels don’t nitpick what pieces of canon to use for our ship and what pieces of canon not to use. We dont let our personal opinions influence canon and what we take from it, its why across the elriel fandom - you will come across the same points. Whereas with the anti fandom - you will come across different points. Why? Bcs they nitpick. They let their opinions influence what they take from canon.

This is a long winded way of saying - why should elriels be shamed for being confident in our ship just bcs antis aren’t in their ships?

[melancholyfool]

Hey lovely, how are you? I had an idea: What if reader is with Henry and she’s currently off somewhere dealing with personal stuff and so when Richard joins the group he doesn’t know about her and then when she comes back he’s shocked to see the Henry that he met becomes so caring and soft.

a/n: hello, thank you for the idea, here's a short little piece! i am trying to answer all my requests but it's midterm season and i am super busy, so i apologize for the wait and to the people i have not answered 🐇🤍

-

Henry mentions you for the first time on an otherwise uneventful afternoon.

Richard had been lingering in the library with the others, flipping through a book he wasn’t really reading, when Henry, without preamble, said, “She sent a letter and should be back tomorrow.”

There was no real reaction from the others. Camilla only nodded, Francis swirled his drink, Charles muttered something about it being ‘about time.’ Bunny, of course, was the only one to comment, grinning as he said, “Ah, well, good. Thought you’d been a bit quieter than usual.”

Richard, however, frowned slightly. He had been around Henry and the others for weeks now, long enough to know their strange rhythms, but he had never heard mention of another girl. He wanted to ask, but before he could, the conversation had already moved on, so he let it go.

It was the next night, at Charles and Camilla’s apartment, that he got his answer.

The dinner was warm and the air thick with conversation, Richard had just reached for his glass when there was suddenly a knock at the door.

Before anyone else could react, Henry was already moving. He set down his fork and stood, stepping away from the table without a word. Richard watched as he crossed the room and disappeared down the hallway.

There was silence and then, faintly, the sound of the door opening, a murmur of voices, and then laughter. A girl's laughter.

Richard turned his head just as you stepped inside. Henry helped slip your coat from your shoulders with ease. The others greeted you with the casual warmth of old friends—Francis raised his glass, Charles and Camilla exchanged knowing looks, Bunny let out an exaggerated, “Well, if it isn’t Odysseus!”

You rolled your eyes at Bunny before turning to everyone else. “Hello, everyone,” you said, smiling. Your gaze flickered across the table before settling on Richard, your lips twitching in amusement. “You must be Richard.”

He blinked. “Uh, yes. Hello.”

You hummed, tilting your head slightly. “So you’re the one they’ve been talking about.”

Henry, behind you, let out the quietest sigh. You smirked, and Richard got the impression that you enjoyed needling him. You moved toward the table, and as you sat down, Henry took his own seat beside you, dragging your chair closer to his.

Richard was not sure what he had been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this.

Henry—Henry Winter, who was typically composed and taciturn, who spoke with precise, calculated words and never indulged in unnecessary chatter—was leaning slightly toward you, his voice a low murmur as he asked, “How was the drive?”

“Fine,” you said, reaching across the table. Henry’s cigarette case was beside his plate, and without needing to ask, you plucked a cigarette from it. Henry, in turn, picked up his lighter and, with a light flick, lit the end for you.

Richard watched this exchange with quiet astonishment.

“And your family?” Henry continued, his voice quieter now, meant for you alone.

You exhaled slowly, the smoke curling between the two of you. “As well as they can be,” you said. “I’ll tell you more later.”

Henry nodded, accepting this without further question. His fingers brushed briefly against the back of your hand before he returned to his meal, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Richard, however, was still reeling.

It was not just that Henry had a girlfriend—though that was surprising enough. It was the way he was with you. He had never seen Henry like this before—so at ease, so attuned to someone else. It was in the way he leaned toward you when you spoke, the way his voice softened just slightly, the way his fingers ghosted over your wrist in passing.

As the dinner carried on, you and Henry continued in your quiet world of familiarity. He refilled your wine glass without you needing to ask, you murmured a soft ‘thank you’. When he noticed you picking at your food absentmindedly, he nudged your plate slightly toward you, wordlessly encouraging you to eat. You smirked but took another bite.

At some point, Bunny, ever oblivious, leaned over and said, “Can’t believe Dickie never even knew you existed.”

Richard stiffened slightly at that. “Well,” he said, glancing at you. “No one ever mentioned—”

“You didn’t ask,” Henry said simply, and Richard turned to find Henry’s gaze fixed steadily on him.

There was no malice in it, no smugness. As if the notion of needing to introduce you to Richard had never even occurred to him.

Richard felt his mind stutter at that. All this time, he had assumed he was learning everything there was to know about Henry Winter, that he had been granted access into the depths of this strange, insular world. But now, watching you press a hand lightly to Henry’s knee as you murmured something low in his ear—watching him listen—he realized he had only ever known half the picture.

And the other half was sitting right in front of him, smiling knowingly as you took another sip of your wine.

[sunni-writes]

𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝

Sylus! x Fem Reader! Valentines Day With Sylus CW: PWP, Domestic/Softie Sylus, Cunnilingus, Overstimulation, Begging, Mention of MC Passing out, Breeding, Subby MC, Use of the word 'Kitten'

"Someone's excited." Sylus jokes as you practically drag him out of his home and push him into his car.

"I just want to make sure we get there on time!" you say, making your way into car and buckling yourself in.

It was Valentines Day, a day to celebrate a special connection to a special someone. So, who better to celebrate with than Sylus? Usually, he'd be the one to do all the planning and set up for your dates or you would both plan something together, but this year, you wanted to surprise him for a change. You had the entire day planned out. First a fancy new Jazz restaurant that just opened up in Linkon with a beautiful Skyview. Then the two of you would visit the fun laser tag place, where you would give him a proper butt-kicking. And then a walk through the park to play with the kitties that Sylus loved so much, and to end the day when you go back to his place...

Your face feels warm as you remember the attire you bought and stored away in your suitcase for your weekend rendezvous in the N109 Zone. A very special lingerie that you were certain he would like.

You could only hope Luke and Kieran would be done with the set up by the time you returned. It was all going to be perfect! At least you though so...before getting to the restaurant.

"Sorry madam but all our tables are full." the host tells you, with an apologetic look

"But...that can't be, I booked a table in advance." You say, confused as you press a button on you watch to pull up the holographic screen of your emails. You checked, and sure enough you had booked a table at the restaurant for this time.

"It appears that there may have been some sort of glitch with our website. The table you requested had already been booked by a different group. However, if you'd like we can reschedule for that table in let's say...a week from today?" He says as he scrolls to the next most recent availability.

You can't help but pout in disappointment, before you feel a gentle touch of a hand on your shoulder. "That'll be fine." you hear Sylus say, making you turn to him in confusion. "Why don't we go somewhere else instead? I know the perfect place, Sweetie." he suggests as a takes your hand in his own.

You feel a tad bit disappointed; you had worked so hard to find the perfect place, this restaurant had a lot of his favorite foods and the kind of music that you were sure he'd be humming all day after hearing it. The atmosphere was perfect.

But then he gives you a reassuring smile, and gently squeezes your hand, and you feel yourself relax a little.

He takes you to a quaint little 'hole in the wall' restaurant instead. There's only a handful of people inside, but the food is good and the little old lady who owns the restaurant tells you that you and your 'husband' make a beautiful couple.

"You're a lucky lady, miss. Your husband is quite handsome."

Sylus seems to smile at that, while your own face flushes at the thought of you two being married. Despite that, neither of you correct her.

"Thank you. However, I'm the lucky one..." he comments, his gaze never leaving your face as he places a chaste kiss on your knuckles.

The lady smiles endearingly. "Oh, to be young and in love again." she sighs, seemingly recalling her own past love as she makes her way to the kitchen.

When she comes back, she's carrying two large plates of food, "wait- miss? I think we got the wrong order..." you say, staring at the buffet stacked before you.

The lady waves off your words, "It's on the house." she starts to say as she glances between the two of you. "Afterall, you'll need to widen those hips a bit if you ever plan on having children."

You choke.

"Ha ha, I think it's a little too soon for that." you reply back to the nice lady. You can hear Sylus snickering at you, and just as you turn to shoot him a glare, he's already picking up a fork full of food and holding it in front of your mouth with a smirk.

"Eat up, kitten."

---

The next stop was laser tag. Dancing around in your seat as you pull up to the place, you practically rush out of the car and up the steps to the building.

However-

As you close in on the building you notice a small "Closed" sign on the door, and a note from the management that the place is temporarily closed due to "unforseen circumstances". Whatever that meant.

Instantly, you feel your heart sink.

"No..." you huff out in disappointment. Sylus eyes the sign from behind you in silence, his fingers fiddling with a coin he pulled from his pocket. "Don't worry..." he assures you, "We can do something else instead."

For the second time today, Sylus comes to the rescue. Instead of laser tag, he takes you to a private shooting range and instead of shooting at each other, instead the two of you aim at targets and compete for who gets the most headshots.

It wasn't what you had planned but it was still nice. Still, when it's over you can't help but wish things were different. You had wanted to surprise him; he was always gifting you such extravagant gifts and taking you to amazing places. You had hoped to do something nice for him for a change but instead, he was just taking care of you again.

Still, the least you could do now was try to remain positive. He still seemed to be having a good time. Plus, you still had the kitties to look forward to and there was no chance a park would be closed.

"I win!" you gloat, playfully, as you both calculate your points. "Guess the leader of Onychinus can't compete with a skilled hunter like myself when it comes to guns."

Lost in your joy of having kicked the leader of a crime syndicates but in a battle of target practice, you don't notice the way Sylus' eyes soften as he sees the way smile up at the scoreboard.

"Yeah...I guess not."

---

As the two you of you exit the gun range your greeting by the now dim light of outside. As you peer up into the sky, you notice grey clouds have taken form and blocked out the sun, dimming the expanse around you.

Then it hits you, the first drop of due from the clouds above. It was about to rain.

"I don't think there'll be any kitties in the park today..." Sylus says as he drapes his jacket over your head and guides you back to the car.

You had checked the forecasts...it wasn't supposed to rain today.

The sigh that leaves your lips is long and drawn out. Your lip trembles slightly and you drop your head to keep him from seeing the look on your face.

First the restaurant messed up your booking. Then the laser tag place was closed and now, no kitties?? Was Sylus even enjoying himself? He kept having to fix every little thing. Why was everything going wrong today?

You wanted to stay positive, for his sake, but you hated that you couldn't do this one thing, and on such a special day.

He guides you back to the car quickly, not wanting for you to get sick in this weather, and you silently follow.

Once you're in the car, he turns on the heater so the two of you can warm up, then begins the drive back to the N109 Zone. He doesn't say anything at first, the drive home fairly quiet for the most part but, at some point or another his hands find their way back to yours.

"Don't fret about today. We can do all the things you had planned some other time." he says, trying to make her feel better.

"I know, I'm just disappointed. I had planned everything so perfectly and nothing went as I planned. I really wanted to make you happy today...but everything got ruined" you reply, muttering the last part a bit.

There's a short pause between the two of you as you pull into his garage, and then he speaks up again. "Sweetie, with you around, I'm always happy. It doesn't matter what we do or where we are. You're what makes me smile. I love you."

A warm feeling washes over you as he speaks those three words out loud. He had never said them before...sure he had expressed it in more ways than one but hearing him say it set your entire body ablaze.

"I love you too." You say back, looking up at him with teary eyes.

---

When the two of you get inside, it's much earlier than planned. Yet despite that Luke and Kieran don't seem surprised in the slightest.

Instead, the surprised one is you, the two of them standing the living room in front of a giant dino plushie, several floral bouquets all over the room, and various heart shaped chocolate boxes all over the place.

Sylus pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head, "I knew I should've picked the plushie myself" he states as he looks at the oversized thing in his home. Your apartment was too small, he doubted something so big could fit inside, he barely could fit inside your apartment and this thing had to be at least a few feet taller than himself. Plus, he had told them to get the crow plushie.

"But boss...this one look like you." Keiran stated pointing to its face.

"Yeah, she'd definitely like this one more." Luke added.

Sylus was about to say something else, but the sound of your giggling turns his attention away from the two jesters. "Thank you, Sylus. I love it." is all you say, yet it's enough to steal his breath away.

"Today's been pretty hectic. Why don't we just relax and turn on a movie?" you suggest. Sylus smiles softly and nods, "Yeah...I'd like that."

The both of you shower in separate bathrooms and you take brief opportunity to slip the lingerie on underneath your robe.

As the sun sets, you and Sylus are snuggled up together on his bed as a cheesy romance movie plays on the tv in his bedroom -- a new addition to his room that was added in for occasions like this one.

You play with his soft hair while he lays in your lap. There was still one more gift you wanted to give him. "What're you thinking about?" he asks, noticing you lost in thought.

"Well...I still have one more gift for you." You admit shyly, averting your gaze. You weren't usually this shy with him, but you hadn't done something like this before with him, so you were a little nervous.

He raises his eyebrow, your sudden confession piquing his interest.

"Oh? What is it?" he asks, inquisitively.

"Well... It'd be better if I showed you instead." You answer, not wanting to ruin the surprise.

Sylus looks at you with playful suspicion. "Don't tell me, is it another bomb?" he asks with a playful smirk on his lips.

"Maybe..." You answer back, matching his playful tone.

You muster up what courage you have and make your way off the bed, standing over him as he props himself up to get a better look at you.

Right on cue, the lights in the room turn red, and the little flower canons hidden throughout the room go off, sending rose petals flying, floating down throughout the room.

And, as the petals flutter slowly onto the floor, with it drops your robe.

Revealing your outfit underneath

His eyes glow in the dark and yet upon seeing you they still darken instantly, but he makes no effort to move just yet.

"Will you...unwrap me?" you ask, teasingly.

He doesn't give you a verbal answer, instead your suddenly hoisted off your feet, your legs wrapping around his waist for support as he pulls you into a kiss.

Your heart rates sync up, beating quickly as he kneads the soft plush of your ass with his hands, while groaning into your mouth.

The kiss is desperate, full of yearning and desire. It's like he's trying to commit the feel of your lips to memory and imprint the taste of you on his tongue.

As you find yourself dropped onto the bed, he pulls away to rid himself of his own robe, letting the soft silk pool beneath his feet.

"I'm guessing you like your gift?" you taunt, though given how breathless you sound, it only gets a chuckle out of him.

" Oh I love it, Kitten." he answers back just as breathless, as he hovers on top of you, peppering your skin with kisses "But... you'll have to forgive me."

"What? Why?" You moan out as his kisses gradually get more and more intense as they make their way from your neck, to between your breasts, down your stomach, and between your thighs.

"Because" he places a kiss just a few centimeters from where you want him to be. "I'm about to ruin your last surprise..."

"Sylus...Wha-" RIIP.

The seat of your panties is torn off your body before you can even get a chance to speak.

He moves quick, giving you no time to think before his face is buried in between your thighs, his tongue circling around your clit before sucking on it softly. All the while, his eyes never leave yours - observing every reaction.

Your back arches up from the bed, and you can't help grind against his tongue as your hands bury themselves in his soft white hair.

"Oh fuck!" You whine, as he slides his tongue between the soft petals of your 'flower' fucking you with his tongue while his thumb continues to massage your clit.

"Does it feel good, kitten?" he asks, teasing you as two of his long fingers slowly sink inside of you. You can swear a growl erupts from his chest as he feels the way you pulse around his fingers.

His tongue swipes up and down your bundle of nerves and he slowly opens you up with his fingers. "Tell me you like it, beg me for more...."

he fucks into you faster, the veins in his arms protruding slightly as his hand picks up speed.

"I li..like it! Oh fuck...Sylus please!"

"More..." he practically commands, while picking up the pace.

You start to squirm, an orgasm fast approaching, but he's quick. His free hand presses your waist down into the mattress, keeping you in place as pure bliss washes over your body. Your thighs tremble, but he doesn't stop or slow down, kissing your thighs and whispering soft words of affirmation as he finger fucks you through your orgasm.

When it's over his tongue is back on you, lapping up the juices that spilled from you. You whimper from the sensation, sensitive still as he eats you like a man starved.

"S-Sylus..." you whine, trying to squirm away from his fervent tongue.

Theirs a glint in his eyes that makes him almost seem scary in the dim lighting of the room. Like part of him is lost in lust, it's such a primal stare that you would swear that he intends to devour you.

"Taste yourself." Is all he says, as he brings you into another heated kiss. You kiss back, meeting his desperation with twice as much passion. He licks the inside of your mouth, and you actually get a taste of yourself from his tongue.

You're so lost in the kiss that your mind blanks, and the soft shuffling of his underwear being slipped off and dropped on the floor goes unheard.

It's not until you feel the firm head of his dick pressing up against your that you come back into focus.

"Sylus wait..." you start to say as you press up against his shoulder. "Do you want to stop?" he asks, checking to make sure you were okay.

You flip over, making it so you were now on top. In part because you wanted control...but also because you had a feeling that if he had control most definitely lose it.

"I'll be the one in control tonight." you state matter-of-factly. He's shocked at first but lets you have your way -- for now.

"Go ahead."

He watches you as you take his cock into your hands, the size of it making you falter a bit. He wasn't just long but thick too, you could feel the veins that run alongside it. As you line it up with your entrance you can't help but wonder how you managed to fit it inside you the first time.

You push down a bit, earning a soft sigh from Sylus as you slowly sink down onto his tip. He's trying his best not to buck his hips up into you, but the way your face looks as you take him in inch by inch is too cute. He wants more, more reactions, more of your pretty sounds, more of you, all of you.

He holds your hips, guiding you down more until finally you're sat on top of him. You're shaking like a leaf, and he gives you just a moment to adjust before grinding his hips up into you. It's slow, but just quick enough to coax a few moans out of you.

You match his pace, bouncing up and down to match his thrusts. He places his hand at the nape of your neck, pulling your face down so he could kiss you while the sound of your bodies connecting fills the room.

You moan in his mouth, and he brings his hand down to grab and grip and the soft flash of your ass.

In seconds you're flipped over again, and you gasp as he pins your legs to your chest.

"Sylus?? What're you--I mean I'm supposed to--"

He slowly draws his hips back, leaving only the tip inside your heat, then thrusts back in fast, the sound of skin on skin echoing loudly in the room from its impact.

"Sorry Sweetie, but I'd much rather play with my new gift this way."

You're left with no time to think, as he does it again. and again. setting a new pace that has your mind blanking.

The sex feels nothing short of primal as he practically digs a space for himself inside you, burying himself inside your pussy.

This time, the two of you cum together, and your vision fuzzes from the jolts of pleasure that flow through you.

"Seems like your body prefers when I'm in control too..." he whispers in your ear just before nipping at it lightly.

You think that after he came, that would be the end. Yet despite his recent orgasm, the man hovering over you is still as hard as ever.

He must read your expression well, because the next words that leave his lips have you shaking with anticipation. "Did you think I would be done with just this? Valentines' day isn't over until the sun comes up, and I intend to enjoy my gift all night."

Flipping you over to your hands and knees, he starts again. Thrusting at an impossible pace to keep up with, pushing himself as deep as your body will allow, grinding against that sensitive spot inside you over and over again.

"I love you..." he whispers, kissing away a few tears that fall as another orgasm consumes you. Never had you felt this good before, it was amazing and too much all at the same time.

You tell him you love him too and he groans, while pressing into you deeper, harder.

'He's a beast' you think as he tells you he wants more. To hear his name from his lips more. To hear you tell him you love him more. More sounds. More.

---

Both your bodies drenched in sweat; his fluids mixed in with yours is dripping down your thighs, and bites and bruises litter your skin. You're not sure how much more of it you can handle. He's slowed down, thrusting more gently to accommodate for the fact that you're more sensitive, but shows no sign of exhaustion. Only desperation and yearning. He keeps at it like once he stops you'll disappear.

"No more..." you croak, voice hoarse from all the screaming you've done.

His face is buried in your chest, kissing any spots he thinks he's missed with his cock still buried inside you. He looks up at you with a look of longing, and for the first time ever you catch him pouting.

"Just...one more..." he asks, practically begs, while kissing each of your nipples, "The suns not up just yet..."

---

The sun is shining through the curtains when you wake up. Your entire body feeling both sore and heavy. Instead of the lingerie you wore last night, you're in one of Sylus' black buttons ups and a fresh pair of underwear, and your body is clean and so are the sheets.

The fresh smell of food catches your attention as Sylus makes his way in with painkillers and breakfast. "You're awake." he chirps, much to lively for someone who was up all night.

"Did you sleep at all?" you ask, concerned as you try to sit up.

"Don't move. Let me take care of you." He states as he sits down on the edge of the bed with tray in hand, "And yes, I slept just fine after making sure you were cleaned up." he answers, holding some food up to your lips.

"Are you some kinda beast? Why am I the only one tired and sore?" You frown but take a bite anyway.

"I didn't think you'd pass out. Next time, I'll be more careful." he says in a genuinely apologetic.

You sigh, giving a small "it's fine." to show you weren't really upset. You honestly kind of liked that side of him. "Next Valentines Day, I'll give you an even greater gift, and I'll be in control" you mutter, taking another bite of food that he offers.

He smiles, imagining another year with you at his side, "I'm looking forward to it."

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

Authors Note: Hey Everyone! This is my first fic! I hope you enjoyed the read, it's a long one but I really wanted to give a full valentines day experience with the character! Ignore any spelling or grammar errors. English is my second language and any mistakes I will try to revise and fix! For any Love and Deep Space Players who want to Connect, you can find me on X and Ao3 (Check in BIO!) I also intend on making a Discord chat for anyone (21+) who would be open to making requests, making suggestions, or just yapping about Love and Deepspace Content so please be on the lookout for that soon! I hope you enjoy the story, and more for the other LI's will be coming soon!

[axylotls]

⌕ s͟e͟a͟r͟c͟h͟i͟n͟g axyl's pg . .

zᶻ ( ABOUT ME ) ⨟ ♡

hi guys!!! my name is axyl / rivera — i don't mind whichever, but as you can tell my account is branded after axyl. i go by many nicknames such as river, vera, riv, ax, but i'll ask you to refrain from calling me any pet names ( babe, honey, love, etc.) as they make me uncomfortable! my pronouns are they / she / he btw if you choose to just use one please use they

i am nineteen years old, turning twenty this year on july 4 ('05 liner!!) and i'm from canada! canadian shifters please moot me especially if you're from ontario . . i'll let you know that i'm neurodivergent (undiagnosed but i'm like 99% sure i'm autistic so i simply say that most of the time) so i might react in ways that aren't conventional. also, i have extreme anxiety, so please understand if i'm a little intimidated by certain interactions

zᶻ ( MY LOVES ) ⨟ ♡

k-pop stan at heart forever and always!!! currently obsessed with zerobaseone and boynextdoor<3 my other ults are stray kids, enhypen, aespa, and njz. although i stan more boy groups, i listen to girl groups the most overall. other musical artists i enjoy are taylor swift, gracie abrams, sza, doechii, sabrina carpenter, and . . many more that i'm forgetting off of the top of my head but!!!!

my favourite tv show and comfort series is criminal minds (i haven't finished it yet ㅠㅠ) and my favourite movie is little women ♡ i'm also a huge fan of k-dramas and have just recently started delving more into j-dramas so i'm always open for recommendations if you have any :]

rapid fire of my other favourite things: the colour yellow. cheesecake. cinnamon buns. hello kitty. my frog plush. vie & rei. books. heartless by marissa meyer. reading. books. have i mentioned i love books. spending money i don't have on books. writing. pink and green. brownies. baking. finding new recipes. my sister. shifting. astrology. witchcraft.

zᶻ ( DNI CRITERIA ) ⨟ ♡

basic dni criteria including bigots, homophobes, transphobes, misogynists, etc. anti shifters. race changers (srry not srry) - follow up: people who judge people for shifting with their cr morals - anyone who wants to come into my inbox simply for hating on me, my friends, or anything in general

i do not tolerate any sort of hate on my page so please take your leave before you even try, otherwise you will be blocked and possibly put on blast!

 layout inspired by hrrtshape

[flippinpancakes64]

How would the cullens (separately) react to a really flirtatious reader. Like where reader makes flirtatious jokes and comments about them all the time and how they would react to the reader doing that in front of other people?

The Cullens with a flirty! Reader

Am I back in my Twilight phase? Who knows. Only time will tell.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Thank you for requesting and I hope you enjoy!

Edward:

He can hear them before you speak

And if he could blush, he would

He’s one of the more traditional people, probably the most stuck in his ways out of all of them

All that to say he goes crazy over an ankle showing

Any comments you make about him have him (mentally) blushing and telling you to stop

Now don’t get me wrong, he can dish it out too

But only in private

The moment he hears you formulating a flirty thought in your brain, his hand is covering your mouth

You rarely ever get the jump on him

He might let you speak your mind in private

But you can already forget about saying anything with others around

Alice:

She would beat you to it every single time

She’s the flirty type

Y’all match each other’s freaks

You two have had compliment wars where you guys just go back and forth flirting

She loves it though

Every compliment, every innuendo, makes her fall deeper in love with you

And if you go out of your way to flirt with her in public, she goes feral

She loves being loved and you are more than happy to do that for her

Also you can’t embarrass her

You’re talking about how sexy she looks in that dress in front of a group of classmates?

She doesn’t care

She’ll retort back about how she can’t wait to get you back home later

When they go low I go lower type beat

Jasper:

Bro is a Casanova

Absolute sweet talker

But only in private

The moment you try to flirt with him outside of the confines of your or his rooms, he’s out of his element

Again, if vampires could blush, his face would be bright red

He always gets mildly annoyed when you say insinuating stuff in public

Not actually annoyed but more of like a

“Come on, really? Now? Here?”

The truth is that he loves the attention

Just maybe not outside of the bedroom

Rosalie:

She can def take it and dish it out

If you two are together, she is your ride or die

And she wants everyone to know

She’s not shy about flirting with you in public

And she never says no to you flirting with her

She welcomes it, actually

She loves the idea of fully being someone’s

Of her partner not being afraid to show her off and publicly admit how much they love her

Some would call it vanity

Or ego

But she calls it love

Emmett:

Oh sweet Emmett

He loves it

No ifs ands or buts

He feels like he’s on cloud nine when you flirt with him

And trust me, whatever you’ve got to say, he has much worse

I think he has a dirty mind

Definitely similar to Alice in the if you go low I go lower department

You’re out with friends and you make a flirty comment?

He’s going to go on a whole rant about how much he loves *insert specific body part of yours*

So yeah he basically has no shame

Say what you want

Just be prepared to be outdone

Esme:

I feel like she’s similar to Edward in this department

She loves the flirty compliments in private

But she gets all flustered in public

Cause wdym you’re at the store with her and now you’re talking about melons??

She’s gonna leave you behind to find your own way back

She gets embarrassed in private too

But it’s not as bad as in public

At least in private yall are left to yourselves

(Save for Edward unwillingly eavesdropping)

Definitely the type to smack you playfully

“Babe are you from tennessee? Cause I’m tryin-to-see them titti-“

*Smack* “Not another word.”

Carlisle:

He thinks it’s funny

He doesn’t really take it too seriously

You like his man boobs?

That’s nice sweetie

Very pacifistic about it

Doesn’t care if you’re in public or private

He loves you and your antics either way

The only time I could really see him caring would be if you came to visit him at work

As long as he’s wearing his coat, he needs to be professional

So that’s where he draws the line

Vampire! Bella:

I get mixed feelings about her

I can’t decide if she would love it or absolutely hate it

On the one hand, she would definitely love the silly jokes and all the attention

She has lower self esteem, and being able to know for sure that your partner finds you desirable is a great thing

On the other hand

Whenever you flirt with her in public she feels like she’s gonna die

She knows it doesn’t really matter

She’s a Cullen now

But she’ll be damned if that little anxious voice in the back of her head isn’t still there

[beardedmrbean]

Two Sydney nurses have been stood down after disturbing footage emerged of the pair saying they would “kill” and refuse to treat Israeli patients.

It’s understood the clip, which showed two workers from Bankstown Hospital wearing New South Wales Health uniforms, was filmed during a live stream on Tuesday night.

The video shows the pair speaking to a popular Jewish influencer in Israel.

During the conversation, the man who claims to be a doctor tells the influencer: “I’m gonna be really honest with you … you actually got really, really beautiful eyes, but I’m so upset that you’re Israeli, like eventually you’re going to get killed.”

“Why do you think I’m going to get killed?” the influencer asks, before the female nurse interjects.

“It’s Palestine’s country, not your country you piece of s–t,” she says.

“One day your time will come and you will die the most,” she continues before the video cuts out.

“Listen to me when your time comes, I want you to remember my face so you can understand that you will die the most disgusting death.”

Wanting to ask a question, the influencer begins to say: “Let’s say an Israeli, God forbid …”

“I won’t treat them, I’ll kill them,” she interrupted. “Not God forbid, I hope to God.”

“You have no idea how many Israeli … dog came to this hospital and … ,” the man added, gesturing a knife through his neck.

“I literally sent them to Jahannam.”

Jahannam is the Arabic word for “hell”.

NSW police confirmed they are investigating the video, announcing Strike Force Pearl, which investigates anti-Semitic attacks, has taken carriage of the investigation.

“NSW Health, believe they have identified the individuals involved and are currently assisting detectives with their investigation,” a NSW police spokesperson said in a statement.

“A thorough investigation is underway.”

No charges have been laid.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park condemned the “appalling” video.

“The comments are vile, dehumanizing and unacceptable,” he said.

“They made me sick to my stomach.”

“If the investigation concludes that this behavior has occurred, these individuals will no longer be working for NSW Health,” Park continued.

“These comments do not reflect the values of NSW Health or the broader NSW community.”

“We cannot afford to have people like that in a health system. Everyone is entitled to access NSW health and hospital services without featuring for their life and without having that sort of hate-filled attitude come through some of our health care workers,” he added during an interview on 2GB.

‘Disgusting’: PM responds

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the footage “sickening and shameful”.

“The antisemitic video circulating today is disgusting. The comments are vile,” he said in a statement on X.

“These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia.

“These individuals have been stood down by NSW Authorities. They have rightly been referred to the NSW Police for criminal investigation.”

Albanese concluded by stating those who have committed criminal antisemitic acts will “face the full force of our laws”.

In a joint statement, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Federal Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said the government “utterly condemns the appalling video”.

“This video is as chilling as it is vile. The comments made in this video are sickening and totally unacceptable,” they said.

Butler and Burke said they welcomed the news the individuals involved have been stood down.

“Health workers have a solemn duty to treat and heal everyone who comes before them needing help. The vast majority hold to that oath,” they said.

“The idea that you would single out a particular group in our community and indicate you wouldn’t care for them runs against every single principle in our health care system.”

‘Act of bastardry’

Addressing reporters on Wednesday morning, Park said those people, subject to an investigation, will “not ever be working for NSW Health ever again”.

“There is no place for this sort of perspective in our society.”

Park apologized to the Jewish community.

“I can assure you this, the care that you get in our hospitals will continue to be first-class. We will investigate this uphill and down dale. We will not be looking at this incident per say but we will also be … going through previous cases to make sure that hospital has been working in a way that reflects those values around safety and care.”

Addressing healthcare employees, he said: “This act of bastardry, this act of vile disgusting behaviour, from two individuals, will in no way diminish the value the secretary, myself as the minister, but more importantly our state, values the work that you do each and every day.”

‘Tip of the iceberg’

The co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australia Jewry Alex Ryvchin said the video was “utterly sickening to watch”.

“Their unrepentant, gleeful hatred is the precursor to the violence we are experiencing in our country and it must be stamped out,” he said on X.

“No doubt we will see the defence that Jews have brought this hatred upon themselves through Israel’s war in Gaza.

“That these people are merely traumatized from the images of the war. They have it backwards. It is this hatred and dehumanization of Jews that causes wars and the carnage of October 7 and if left unchecked it will further degrade our society. Time for consequences.”

Speaking to Sky News, Ryvchin warned the incident was just “the tip of the iceberg”.

“This is a warning sign once again to all Australians about the evil that exists in our midst, the need to understand this ideology and to confront it, and the harm that it does to all Australians,” he said.

Ryvchin said for months he’s heard from medical practitioners who have been warning about extreme content posted by other nurses and doctors online.

“This is clearly the first time it has gone to such a public, brazen level. But I think we’d be kidding ourselves if we thought they were isolated individuals. I think that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.”

Medical community responds

Dr. Michael Krasovitsky, who is Jewish and works as a medical oncologist at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney said it was “terrifying” to hear the comments made by fellow healthcare workers.

“I love my job, and I feel very connected to working within NSW Health. To hear that two hopefully rogue colleagues of mine so deeply hate Israeli and Jewish people is simply terrifying,” Krasovitsky said.

“No matter our ethnicity, political beliefs, sexuality, gender or other defining characteristics, we all deserve respect, and all deserve compassionate and best-practice health care.

“I will hold my head up high when I next provide the best care I can to someone whose beliefs don’t align with my own”.

The Australian Medical Association (NSW) has condemned the “anti-Semitic commentary” within the health system.

“On behalf of NSW doctors, we want to make it very clear that doctors, nurses and other health practitioners are committed to providing the best possible care to every patient in NSW,” it said in a statement.

“The Declaration of Geneva states doctors will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between their duty and their patient.

There is no place for hatred or division in the health system and this behavior will not be tolerated. Our hospitals must remain safe havens for all patients.”

[arclundarchivist]

Finished the first episode.

This is a really curious beginning and I’m intrigued to see where it all goes.

And it kinda hammers home how much the Bells just did not understand the gods at all.

They were so iffy on the Primes, but here we see them that even during their carnage they can and wish to be merciful, a Wildmother that had curbed her harshest tendencies and making sure most of the prisoners could get away.

The Storm Lord granting a gift to the one who can carry his blessing the best.

And the Bells are out here telling the Strife Lord “raise a kingdom” and this is what that shit would look like

Tyranny, Oppression, Slavery.

Way to go folks.

I loved the Wildmother’s army and the Dawnfather saying fuck you in particular and painting a guy across near a mile of landscape. Like is that scar still there?? The armor is all still there during C1-C3.

And I am very curious to see what becomes of this group of nobodies, if they’ll gain class levels and what they will be.

Erro, the old wanderer partially broken by the cycle.

Fiedra, a criminal out for herself first, and those who she has gained the loyalty of.

Crokas, The Big Guy, Kind but ferocious, I’m worried for his safety lol. I’m also curious about his Multi-Colored Scales and lack of Breath Weapon.

Nia, I want to know how she gained so much autonomy, and where her path leads as she seems almost religious but clearly not.

And Garen, this ancient beat to shit dwarf with so much trauma that may be one of the predecessors to Kraghammer? Wanting community, wanting the future.

If there will be a bit of a jump from this episode to the next.

Also I wonder if that thing flying was the Wildmother’s forces chasing after Desirat or some devil.

The Gods are just leaving and I want to know where exactly they are going.

Excited for what comes next.

[torpidgilliver]

Sure, I'll bite.

I'm aro/ace. I figured out the asexuality fairly early on, around high school or so, but kept dating because I was cripplingly afraid of dying alone. I threw myself at a couple of really solid friendships that opened themselves up to romance, and after the initial limmerence period wore off, I started to hate the partners whom I'd loved as friends. I broke up with my last partner after we hung out with my cousin and his then-boyfriend, because after a rowdy night of wandering the darkened city streets, it was clear to me that "enjoying a relationship" didn't look like anything I recognized. I told my ex that I needed to be alone because I was fairly sure I was aromantic and he responded in a way that still ticks me off to this day, by saying that he loved me and would wait until this phase passed. Every few years he texts me, usually in February, to briefly ask how I'm doing. Conversations with him usually peter out quickly after I tell him that I'm happy.

I was single through most of college, and living in a place where I had dozens of friends within walking distance purged fears of loneliness from my mind until I dropped out in senior year. I cannot stress this enough: regular in-person contact with people who make you smile is vital to your wellbeing. I'm an introvert who does a poor job of making friends, and this is true even for me. If I don't see humans who aren't my family or coworkers at least a couple times a week, I start to wilt like a sunless plant. I don't even notice until it becomes bad.

Where I am now, I've kind of fallen into. My best friend and roommate (and technically queerplatonic partner, though I'm allergic to any language that's associated with romantic relationships after all the bullshit I dealt with to get to accepting being aro) is polyam and pan, and damn near my opposite in every way that doesn't matter. She's disabled and autistic and needs patient help with things that might seem trivial to an allistic person. She's also a steady presence in my life who can handle situations that frustrate me to tears, and she's the only person I trust completely with every thought in my head that I might otherwise be ashamed to share. And we met by accident; we were both looking for roommates and the guy who connected the two of us with the intent of us being a group of three wound up getting muscled out of the picture because we were too close and he was too useless.

She helped me break through my anxiety to uproot from Florida and escape to the midwest. Her encouragement eventually got me to quit my last terrible job and find one that I'm happy in. And every evening when I come home, she's got the curtains thrown open for me (even though she likes to pretend to hate the sun) and the biggest hug I've ever had ready for me to walk into. I can't imagine life without her, and I'm not expected to sleep with her—or anyone—in order to keep this incredible gleaming light in my life.

If you're lonely and scared, I see you. Know that wherever you are right now, physically and/or emotionally, isn't where you will always be. For me, reaching happiness meant getting on an antidepressant regimen, linking arms with my favorite person to escape from a sinking hell to what we hope to be solid ground, and being pressured so hard at a job I hated that I finally quit and went to my dream job: admin in a small specialty clinic. Your path to happiness will be yours, and I promise that if you keep moving ahead slowly, eventually the fog will clear and you'll be able to see at least a few steps ahead.

Looking for some insights from the aro community...

If you're an aromantic person who is not in a romantic relationship but who feels like they are abundantly (or at least sufficiently) loved... can you talk a little bit about what your situation is, and how you found the people you did? It would really help me to hear some happy stories right now...