#does anyone have any advice on how to clear my mind from all of this?

[lovsome]

..

[the-joy-of-knowledge]

25 Laws of power for women

Conceal your goals especially the ones that are appealing. Losing weight, reinventing yourself, marrying wealthy. Instead talk about your altruistic goals - to help children, invest in education, this will chase insecure people with vile intentions.

Do not give anyone your source of power: Was is a book that changed your life? a mentor? a movie? Never give up your secret to success. If forced to do say allude to God, the universe, the a random phenomenon

Use the patriarchy to your favor; we live in a world that is, only associate with men who have power, use that power for good.

Never appear too perfect but be selectively vulnerable when needed. Only share something that you will be comfortable saying. You might say “I forget my keys all the time,” “I don’t know how to perfectly park a car “. But never disclose something you are not comfortable with just because you are afraid of being perfect.

Maintain distance in relationships. Friends are the best and you need them. But if you feel that they are becoming too dependent, see them at your own will. But also the reverse could be the case. Your friend may keep a distance, and that is the way of life. You have got to move on from it.

Develop your own style that makes you unique, beautiful, and elegant. Avoid trying to fit in the crowd of people who claim to care less about their style yet have too many opinions about other women’s style

Avoid male friends at all cost, you will have male colleagues, male bosses, male acquaintances, business partners. Keep it that way. You do not want a Truman Capote divulging your secrets to the world. Do not keep a man who does not fit your standard.

You do not have to win at every game. Pick and choose what is best for you and leave room for others. And step down if you have attained that level of success, do not let the society do it for you.

Trust people but remember that we are all humans. So trust with discretion!

Confuse people with kindness; people are not always comfortable with beautiful and intelligent women. That power is too intimidating so confuse them by being genuinely generous, curious, kind, and passionate.

Keep your strong opinions to yourself.. if you support a movement, a way of life, do so silently.

We all have dirty laundry, wash them privately, don’t expose yourself. Remain silent when people try to attack you or shame you. Whatever is not confirmed is not true. You are the only one who knows all the truth about you.

Don’t attract pity or praise: People who pity you do not help you, in fact they might think that you are weak and could mock you at their annual gossipping meeting. And if you are doing things for the sake of praise you are wasting your time.

Choose yourself all the time; never put any one’s feelings above yours.

Trust your own intuition if you feel someone is being malicious towards you, giving you back handed compliments then you should let them go

Never speak bad of another woman. Do not lazy around gossipping. Keep your hands clean and your conscience clear.

Avoid women with low self esteem they will bring you down. For some reason they do not like seeing other women who are doing better than them

Be careful who you seek validation from. Not everyone needs to be pleased. If they are in no way capable of contributing to your life in the ways you prefer, then don’t ask them for their opinions or please them.

Do not compete with other women, if you do you are only putting them on a pedestal. You are making the the standard by which you measure your progress. If you do compete, begin digging your grave.

Do not give unsolicited advice, do not share the inner workings of your mind, If your mouth is very charitable you better start journaling.

Be well-rounded and interesting. It attracts people. It also keeps you busy because you are continually improving and learning. An idle mind is an easily subdued one.

Avoid women who want to live vicariously through you; they want to know who you know, shop where you shop, befriend who you befriend, wear what you wear.

Pay attention to the source of your discomfort; get rid of them. You tell them your dreams and they remind you of all your hindrances. They ask why are you dressed so fancy as though fancy isn’t subjective. They undermine you interests and goals. They will also be quick to bring you down because they are afraid of your potential.

Do not fear power or please power. When we see powerful people we try to hard to befriend them, to be close to them but you need to be comfortable without them. Don’t push yourself in the name of friendship, do not try too hard to be in their inner circle. Your independence of mind is the most important. Instead become a powerful woman, aloof to the presence of power but aware of its importance. Be an ingenious and intelligent and use your creativity to uplift yourself. When you do so it will be hard to ignore you. Even the powerful will become an ally.

Enjoy moments of solitude. Use that time to develop yourself, improve your body, learn new skills, create with your mind, read widely, become more elegant, then launch yourself.

Remember the most powerful women are the most intelligent. Inspired by Robert Greene's 48 Laws of Power. Use at your discretion.

[serial-unaliver]

making this post so people stop sending the ask: "how do I get a failson"

so I hate to break this to you but real life isn't booktok and you need some sort of redeeming qualities to attract anyone of any financial status who is actually a respectable human being. my failson relationship actually began with talking and became more intimate over time like most romantic relationships. it wasn't like, a special thing I manifested. when I made those failson posts I didn't expect to gain anything from it, I just basically say whatever's on my mind on here regardless of how off-putting it may be to the average person. some people dislike that type of honesty while others are attracted to it. failson is actually honest and unashamed like me. I find this an attractive quality. it's not a common one, it requires a certain level of pride and confidence--genuine confidence and not a facade for validation. what i'm trying to say here is we actually found qualities in each other beyond financial status. I didn't reveal this at first but I continued contacting him not because I had no "options" but because I enjoyed our conversations, and it's pretty damn hard for me to get invested in conversations involving more than debates about politics. he brought out feelings in me I honestly had no idea existed before. a lot of my own family sees me as "sociopathic" and questions my intentions in relationships. I think i'm just careful--well, careful in some ways and enjoying an adrenaline rush in others. I assumed i'd only be capable of purely transactional relationships but i've discovered that's not true. it makes me feel vulnerable but much more alive.

okay wait i'm really straying from the original topic to talk about myself--queue the narcissism tiktoks, everyone! but my "advice" for "getting a failson" is not special. it's a normal relationship that is only seen as abnormal because of the honesty involved. people also apparently think i'm such a weirdo i've been talking about the failson ai character here. we met online first then in real life. he is in fact real 😭 and no, he does not hate that I call him failson, we both actually use fail-terms; i'm not THAT mean, people! if someone is uncomfortable being called something then I would stop calling them it. I have made it quite clear I find his failson qualities endearing. perhaps I am a class traitor 😩 ANYWAY that is all. you can stop begging for failson advice now. I may make jokes on tumblr but i'm a real person with real feelings who would not actually start seeing someone based on wealth alone. it attracts me, but I would never get intimate if wealth were the only factor. one more thing- I do not actually force failson to spend money on my behalf. I encourage it by my obvious failson enthusiasm but ultimately it's his decision. so i'm not like, "give me an allowance" or whatever else people assume i'm doing 😂 I actually find it significantly more attractive if there's choice involved because it shows motive beyond transaction. he likes to see me happy and I get equally excited when he smiles at me. ughhhh this is so cheesy I am embarrassing myself here by not faking nonchalance so you all better appreciate this post!

[faux-ecrivain]

1950s househusband x gn reader

marinette4943 asked: Hey!

I saw your yandere housekeeper and loved the way you wrote it. Do you intend to do a next part?

If so, could you tag me in it?

————————————————————

Name; Angelo

Thirty second official post

@marinette4943

————————————————————

From Part 3; 

        He is absolutely whipped for you, everything you do is committed to his memory, and he inches closer to you with every passing second. “You’re welcome, so, are you going to give me a tour of the town or some advice to settle in, and get along with my neighbors?” He didn’t want to, but he figured that it was best to be as helpful as possible. That way, you’ll trust him the most and will come back to him whenever you need help. You, however, scoot away from him, eventually ending up near the end of the couch in a corner. “Oh, uhm, certainly. I’ll be happy to give you advice and a tour, but I was hoping we could simply have a friendly chat first…” Angelo responds hopefully, he just wants to get to know you and does want to talk about anyone else.

              However, something you said earlier caught his attention. “Unexpected? Wh-what do you mean by that?” He questions nervously, his wide eyes nervously glancing at you and his bottom lip quivering at the thought of you hating him. You tilt your head, slightly confused and then you try to clarify without sounding rude. “Well, back where I’m from men don’t often wear dresses, that’s all.” Before you can clarify any further he interrupts you, which was quite rude and he apologizes for that, but doesn’t stop talking. “Sorry for interrupting, but you don’t like it? Does my fashion sense upset you?” He inquires his expression shifting into anxiety and his mind begins to work in overdrive. His hands squeezes the cloth of his dress and he twists the fabric. Angelo doesn’t do well with rejection, of any form or shape. 

          Suddenly this conversation seems very awkward to you and you regret opening your mouth. “That’s not what I meant, that dress looks great on you. It’s just someone have to get used to, that’s all.” He smiles and he seems content with your response. “Really? You mean it? Thank you!” It isn’t often that he gets a compliment from anyone and it’s been a while since anyone he was interested in complimented him (excluding his spouse, he loves his spouse so very much and is very interested in them). Angelo relaxes and leans his head on your shoulder, which causes you to cringe and push his head away. He whines and leans against you once more, this time he wraps his arms around your arm and nuzzles your neck. Now you’re very uncomfortable and have begun to regret your decision to let him inside.

 ———————————————————-

 Subtly, you try to push him away. You didn’t want to be rude, but his unnecessary affection was making you extremely uncomfortable. Sadly, his grip on your arm does not loosen and seems to tighten. Angelo scoots closer, he’s so close that you could count each one of his eyelashes. He sighs, seemingly unaware of how close he is, or maybe he knows and just doesn’t care. You clear your throat and lean as far away from him as you can. “Ahem, so, about that tour…” You smirk awkwardly and try to make a simple conversation, if only to alleviate the discomfort you felt. He acknowledges your words with a hum, but doesn’t respond for quite some time. It’s silent and awkward as you try to ignore the very obvious bedroom eyes Angelo is sending your way.

        You clear your throat again and try to get his attention. “Ahem, Angelo, could you please let go of me or move away?” It takes a moment for your words to sink in and when the do, Angelo shoots away from you. His eyes are wide, his face is flushed with embarrassment and his mouths is agape. It’s clear that he’s absolutely mortified by his behavior. Immediately he begins to apologize. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, Neighbor! That was so inconsiderate of me, Oh! I feel so ashamed! Oh, I should go, I shouldn’t behave like that around you!” Part of his apology sounds a bit like an excuse, but you can tell by his expression that his apology is sincere. “Did I make you uncomfortable? Oh, I’m truly sorry if I did!”

          You chuckle and wave off his worries, you begin to placate him, and attempt to halt his incessant apologies. “Oh, it’s alright, Angelo. It really isn’t that terrible, I was uncomfortable, but I’m sure you didn’t mean anything by it.” Oh, he certainly meant something by his actions, it wasn’t anything sinister, but it was something that Angelo wasn’t ready to face. He was experiencing so much turmoil, the very idea that he almost betrayed his spouse made his physically ill. He could never hurt them like that, sure they weren’t the best spouse, but he still loved them. “No, I-I have to leave, I-I can’t-Oh!” Angelo struggles to breathe, his previous actions set in, and he felt like crying.

         He has to leave, Angelo couldn’t stay another minute is your presence. Especially when he’s constantly tempted to crawl into your arms and never leave them. Once more, you try to reassure him, but he doesn’t listen. “Angelo, it really isn’t a big deal. I’m sure you meant nothing by it and nothing came of it, so it’s alright. Let’s just sit back down and enjoy a nice, civil conversation.” It sounded as though you were trying to calm him down, and that made him feel even worse. Well, the way he felt when you expressed concern for him, made him feel even worse. “No, no, I have to go. My sp-spouse is coming home soon an-and I don’t want to disappoint them.” He tries to reason with himself and his desires, but it’s not working.

       Mostly because his heartbeat seemed to increase with every word that you spoke, he knew what that meant, and he couldn’t give into such sinful desires. He had to stay loyal to his spouse, although, thoughts of loyalty seemed to remind Angelo of the way his spouse has been behaving recently.  Which causes his brows to furrow and halts his apologies, as his mind wanders to his spouses recent behavior. His spouse has been distant (more so than usual) and they keep coming home late. Normally, he wouldn’t worry about that, but each night they come home smelling like cheap perfume, and then he starts to think about the recent rumors he’s heard. The ones about househusband Damian and his cheating spouse. This causes Angelo to consider the idea that maybe his spouse is cheating on him, and the very thought is appealing to him. It causes him to be sick, and he nearly faints. (Luckily you caught him before he could actually fall, and now you’re fussing over him, oh, his heart can’t take it!)

         No, he can’t give into temptation. He has to stay loving and loyal, it’s not that hard, and surely his spouse will take notice of his devotion. He just has to keep trying, right? It doesn’t matter how exhausting it is or how much easier it would be to allow his new neighbor into his heart. Angelo has to remain strong, and eventually, he’ll be rewarded for his loyalty, won’t he?

————————————————————

    (I don’t really like this installment of househusband Angelo, I’m not proud of it, but I figured that if I do a bit of writing about one of my favorite OCs then I might get back into writing. But, who knows, I’m a creature of habit and writing is exhausting. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, and hopefully, I’ll be back to writing at a normal pace again.)

[tenderleavesbob]

"Did he ever tell you about Sheik?"

"Which Sheik?"

"His Sheik. Princess Zelda's... disguise? Alternate self? I never did get anyone to clear that up for me."

Warriors hummed and held out his glass for a refill. Malon poured him some LonLon moonshine and then refilled her own glass. They quit wine thirty minutes ago. Most of the chain took one glance at them and the bottles surrounding them this afternoon and left them alone. Time and his concussion and his busted leg were sulking in his and Malon's bedroom.

The idiot deserved them gossiping about him, Warriors thought. Time should have known better than to pull that stunt.

"A little bit," Warriors said. He sipped his moonshine. It didn't burn like it had earlier.

"He had such a crush on him," Malon said. Warriors hummed and nodded. He hadn't wanted to say anything if Time hadn't told Malon, but it made sense that he had. He was so happy that his youngest had made such a good relationship with Malon. "It's a little funny. He has a crush on Sheik but not Queen Zelda. I wouldn't mind bringing the queen into our bed, but I can't say Sheik does anything for me."

Warriors paused before taking another sip of his moonshine. He hadn't expected that to come out of this conversation. He mentally shrugged. What better time to discuss it? "He knew my Princess Zelda was masquerading as Sheik. I think it's different for the two, though. I think your queen is sometimes Zelda and sometimes Sheik." He shook his head and smiled. "He actually told her that his Sheik had a better ass. The little shit."

Malon laughed so hard that moonshine came out of her nose. Warriors whistled and got her a towel. That had to sting.

Glasses topped off and mess cleaned up, they sat down again. Voices rose briefly upstairs before quieting again.

"What else did he say?" Malon asked. She leaned over the table toward him. Her eyes were very bright and her cheeks were almost as red as her hair. Warriors wanted to pinch her cheek.

...maybe it was time to start wrapping up.

After another story, maybe.

Warriors leaned forward, too. He grinned and something about his expression made Malon giggle. "He heard all these ridiculous stories from soldiers and Knights about how they romanced their partners back home and he wanted to know what to do, too." He tried to take a drink and almost made a mess when he snickered at the same time. "He told me some of the stories he had heard from his travels and the other people he had seen and decided he didn't like any of it. He wanted my advice. My advice. I didn't want anything to do with flirting. I wanted to know how to make people stop flirting with me."

Malon laughed at him. Warriors stuck out his tongue at her and froze with his tongue still out of his mouth. He really needed to wrap up. As she continued laughing at him, Warriors sniffed and took another drink.

"Want nothin' to do with sex and guess what?" Warriors took another sip. "Turns out your boy knew what every other race did but not Hylians. Next thing I know, I'm the one giving him the full talk." He paused dramatically while he took another drink. His glass was almost empty. When did that happen.

"Well?" Malon demanded. She went to refill their glasses but paused when her hand wavered. She scowled at her hand like it had personally betrayed her.

"Well," Warriors drawled, grinning like an idiot, "he wanted all the details. You know. For when he returned home." He toasted her with his glass before finishing it off. "So he would know how to deal with you and Sheik. Ambitious little shit!"

Malon threw her head back and laughed so hard she fell out of her chair. Warriors gave in and cackled like a fool.

"Wars?" Time's voice floated from upstairs. "What are you telling her? Warriors? What are you telling her?!"

[hextechmaturgy]

lucanis' romance is disappointing because like many other aspects of this game you can practically smell all the wasted potential

spoilers below!

we know from the stories that came before veilguard that cousins lucanis and illario grow up knowing caterina has a favorite grandson she intends to make first talon one day. it's implied and sometimes outwardly said that lucanis is indeed a better assassin than illario, and being a better assassin in a FAMILY OF ASSASSINS is a big deal. at the same time, we find out that illario is the more personable between the two. lucanis says he can charm just about anyone and zara calls him 'amatus' right before illario fucking kills her, so we know that's true. we find out through banter that lucanis had a crush on viago and failed miserably to show him because his only idea was to get him a knife, and, should you have an active romance with him, he will also admit to your companions that you are his first relationship

lucanis spends his entire romance backing away from you. he barely reacts to your flirting, he ducks away from a first kiss to 'clear his head', he won't shut up about coffee, and the moment you commit to him is just a quick scene where he SAYS he made you dessert, meanwhile, pretty much every other character is kissing you and declaring how much they care for you, emmerich's first kiss happens relatively early into the second act and it's such a sweet scene.

all this tells me is the writers were going for 'fail boy's first romance', packed with the slow burn of someone who has no idea how to show you how much he cares for you. it's sweet! i romance alistair every time for pretty much the same reasons. there's something very disarming about a strong, capable man who turns to mush around you because you're just that precious to him, because he's afraid you'll cringe and run away at his inexperience/awkwardness/eagerness.

but while i think that idea was perfectly executed with alistair, i think what we got for lucanis is extremely weak, to a point where i started wondering if my game was bugged and i had missed a romance flag somehow, or soft locked myself into someone else's romance. that's when it becomes a problem for me. when i flirt with him and he DOESN'T REPLY, it's not even him looking awkward, it's him not looking interested. he certainly sounds cute and awkward around neve, why does he show her that side and not rook? it felt like they were meant to be together, especially with the whole 'pick between treviso and minrathous' storyline, but i checked out neve's romance and that one is really good, one of my favorites in fact, SO WHAT GIVES? it's not that lucanis is reserved as a character, it's more like the game wasn't programmed with his reserved nature in mind. so he shows you he's committed by making you desert... couldn't we have had a scene where we watch him baking, instead of hearing him say he did it? we run into him preparing a surprise and he's out of sorts, or he asks us to go on another grocery run and you piece together what he's planning from peeping the ingredients. SHOW DON'T TELL IS THE MOST BASIC OF WRITING ADVICE, SO PLEASE ???? they did it with kaiden in ME3, he cooks for you and burns the garlic because you're just so distracting. there were multiple opportunities for cute and unsure, neve's romance is surprisingly tender and this one could've been too.

as it is right now, lucanis' romantic interactions feel like game bugs, his pet demon seems to be far more entertaining than him/is generally mega underutilized (can you imagine a scene of spite getting done with lucanis' bullshit and sleep walking some more to tell you he's smitten), and if you are planning to have lucanis as your romance, you should go into it knowing that after your first good, dare i say EXCELLENT first romantic chat at that coffee shop ("like a kiss goodbye" charmed me there and then) you'll be waiting until literally the end of the game for any sort of pay off. there's a good romance to explore here, the complete opposite of zevran as far as crow romances go, but sadly these fun dynamics will only get decently explored in fanfiction i fear

[donquixotehomura]

Donquixote Doflamingo x Reader His Type

Master List

this kinda got away from me lol, it's also messy, Nsfw part warning I marked it tho no worries, the kinda trigger warnings that accompany Doffy apply but not all of them, also blood and death not Doffy or reader..... ish. as always please tell me if you find any mistakes and to address my hiatus I got sick then busy then sick again it was a rough ride lol

Feisty, headstrong, bratty, Loyal, obedient, smart, supportive, sympathetic, insane.

SFW AKA FLUFFY

He likes how loyal you are to him, how nothing and no one will make you betray him, how you’d defy the whole world for him and how you’d die for him.    He likes that you’re not with him because he’s a god or king, not because of his wealth or influence, not because he’s strong or a conqueror, you love his strength yes, but you love more than just that, you love all of him.   

He likes how nice you are to him, how you always listen to him and how you help him, how you don’t pity him for what happened but your reaction is just sadness because he suffered, it’s out of your pure feelings of love towards him which baffled him for a long time when he found out after he was done suspecting you had ulterior motives.    It takes him a while to get used to this and accept it, especially how you encourage him to open up and that it’s not weakness to have problems and it’s part of being alive, how he can be vulnerable with you without consequences.    If he just wants to talk, you’ll listen attentively and it doesn’t matter how long after if he brings it up again you’ll remember everything, if he wants feedback you’ll give him feedback and advice.    He’s conflicted because you taught him it’s OK to be vulnerable and show weakness to you, that he doesn’t have to be strong the whole time, especially that he wanted to portray himself as strong for you to show he can protect you and that he’s the best, that you won’t find anyone like him, so you don’t ever leave him, you assure him you won’t ever leave and he believes you.   Your love for him persists even tho you know he’s not as strong as he portrays himself, and that he has these *human* feelings, how he’s still tortured by nightmares of his past, how sleep escapes him on many nights and when he does sleep he almost always jolts awake in terror struggling to calm his heartbeat and control his breathing, how when that happens you don’t comment on it and just drag him into your arms and never acknowledge the nightmare waiting for him to do it when he’s ready, how you stop him from drowning out the terror with alcohol and give him an alternative, talking about random things asking about what he’s going to do tomorrow even tho you know his schedule or even read to him or tell him a story, but you never judge him no  matter what you never look at him any less and never leave or betray him.   How you still look at him with the same admiration and love you always did and even more, he questions if you’re sound of mind to be so genuinely in love with someone like him, he knows his flaws and wonders if you don’t, he asks you once and you just tell him that you know and acknowledge his flaws and you love him, flaws and all.

He realizes how much he loves you and that scared him, he avoided you for a couple of days till you basically pursued him and sat him down to talk asking if something was troubling him and if it's you, he doesn't confess outright but he makes it very clear, and he's thankful for your perceptiveness because he didn't have to say it for you to understand how he feels and how confessing won't be easy at least for a while.

In the end he hates that you're loyal and love him enough that you're willing to die for him, he doesn't want to lose you, just thinking about it puts him in pain.

NSFW

He likes his toys obedient and serving, however if you want to be more than just a toy you have to have your own sense of self and not just a mindless fool, he likes feisty and bratty, he likes his partner to have her own sense of self while still being loyal to him, he likes someone who has their own thoughts however if you always question him that’ll annoy him, there’s a delicate balance, he also likes it when you tease him and are bratty, there’s nothing he enjoys more than punishing your teasing till you’re begging for more or for him to slow down depending on which way he decided to punish you either way in the end he’ll be fucking the brat out of you till you can no longer think.    His queen can be as bratty as she wants, and she gets everything she wants, however all actions have consequences, the brattier you are the more he’ll punish you, his punishments are pure blissful torture.    Nothing turns him on more than seeing you be sadistic, killing enemies brutally? Turns him on, getting covered in blood in the process? Sends shivers down his spine and straight to his cock, torturing a traitor or enemy for information? He knows for a fact that you're secretly watching him and can see his straining boner especially when you throw him a knowing glance and smiling teasingly while standing over the poor soul that’s suffering, same goes for you for all the above, especially when he uses his devil fruit how the strings can be so dangerous and sharp enough to cut through anything but he has enough control that he can make them dull enough that he can use them on you without leaving a single cut or a few scratches if he wishes, licking your blood also turns him on.    When you bite him during sex, that’s a privilege held by no other, he discovered he liked it when he was fucking you hard in an empty hallway in some base of an underworld dealer he was making a deal with and got bored and annoyed so during a break, he dragged you with him to an empty hallway pinned you to the wall and told you to be quiet as he quickly pulled down your pants and his fingers found your wetness you lack of panties and being already wet wasn’t lost on him, soon enough he was balls deep inside you while you muffled your moans by burying your face in his neck, his shirt jacket and coat having already been discarded at this point, he never slowed down even as you both heard voices going up and down the other hallways, as you felt yourself about to come you clung harder to him while he encouraged you and also teased you that you’ll get caught if you’re too loud, you came hard and instinctively bit down on his shoulder so hard you drew blood, the sudden unexpected feeling made him follow you emptying himself inside you, quickly realizing what you did you went to apologize but before a word left you, you heard him laughing quietly in your ear, looking at you with that usual grin was an immediate relief what he said next shocked you “so my feisty kitten likes to bite fufufufu ...I’ll keep that in mind for later tonight” he finished his sentence by kissing your red stained lips tasting his blood on them, good news is his clothes covered your handiwork and yours covered his, otherwise everyone would have known what went down a few feet away from them  

[howlingday]

(demi- arkos au) pyrrha makes the mistake of asking her mother how to attract boys.

The Virgin Goddess is not nearly as helpful as you'd think.

secondary story: jaune has two moms, why does he exist? like physically speaking? (jaune takes psychic damage as his goddess mother explains in detail all the advantages of shapeshifting)

II

"Pyrrha! It's so good to hear from you!"

"Hi, Mom." Pyrrha smiled through the video feed. "Um, is mamá there?"

"And if I am?" The goddess said clearly from out of view. "Would you prefer I not be here?"

"No, no, I don't mind! I just..." She sighed. "I have a question, and I'm afraid of the answer you'll give."

"Oh no..." Her mortal mother gave a soft groan.

"If this is in regards to courting, then I'm afraid I will be of little help." Her other mother said. "If this were in regard to the tournament approaching, then perhaps I would be of better service."

"So you don't have any advice at all?"

"I never said that. I have brought kingdoms to their knees and risen children to tyrants. If there is a way within my knowledge, then I will help you with what I know."

"Okay." Pyrrha took a deep breath. "So, there's this boy-"

"No."

"N-No?"

"No." Athena repeated, this time in a more commanding voice. "Men are fools who would destroy everything they touch in service of their own hubris. You would only benefit yourself by abstaining from them altogether."

"All men or all mortals?" Pyrrha's eyes glanced to her mamá, who gave a gulp. Pyrrha could feel a migraine grow, as though her brain were trying to escape from her skull. It was dull, but the message was clear. 'Don't question the will of Athena'. "He's... different..."

"As was Heracles. And Odysseus. And Paris, and Perseus, and Achilles-"

"I am not those people, mother."

"No, but I'm Jaune is very much the same as them in one way or another." Pyrrha became quiet. "Oh, yes, child of mine. I know the name of this man you seek. And he will bring you naught but ruin."

Pyrrha became silent, her lips pursed. She wanted to yell, though it would do no good. Throwing a public tantrum never solved anything for anyone, as her mother taught her. But it would feel so good, wouldn't it?

"Is that his name?" Mamá asked, hoping to ease the tension. "Jaune?"

"Are you talking about me?" Pyrrha whirled around to find her team leader walking up to her, his hood up and his sunglasses on.

"Jaune!" She looked to her mother, then looked to him. She waved him over and his face came into view of the screen. "Jaune, this is my mamá, Carnelia."

"Hello there~!" She greeted.

"Hullo, Misses Nikos~!" He waved to her. "I can see where Pyrrha gets her beauty from."

Pyrrha flushed.

Misses Nikos giggled.

"Oh..." Another voice growled. "You..."

"Uh, hi? Is that your... Dad?"

"Jaune, this is... my other mother."

"Oh, nice to meet you, too, Misses Nikos!" Jaune smiled to the empty space. "Uh, my name is Jaune, Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, and rolls off the tongue. The ladies love it!"

Pyrrha giggled with Carnelia.

"Moulári pou flertárei." Athena grumbled.

"Wait, what was that about a donkey?" Jaune blinked. Suddenly, his scroll buzzed. Checking it, he hopped away. "Oh, sorry to cut this short! I gotta go. It was nice meeting you~!" Jaune turned and ran for the door. "See ya later, Pyr!"

"Uh, l-later?" Pyrrha waved. She looked to her mothers, Athena now in view. "So... That was Jaune."

"He seems nice." Mamá said.

"Pyrrha..." For the first time ever, her mother paused before speaking. "Focus on you studies for now. You are here to fight, not to flirt."

Pyrrha gave a nod. "Yes, Mother."

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

"Hey, Mom?"

"Yes, Jaune?"

"I was wondering... Do I have a dad?"

The kitchen was quiet. His mother, Iva, clenched her jaw at the stove while Aphrodite, his biological mother, hummed while carving an apple. The family of nine were having stew with an apple pie for dessert. Setting the knife down, Aphrodite looked to her son with glistening eyes.

"No." She smiled.

"No?"

"No." She picked up the knife again and began slicing the apple into halves.

"What about David?" Jaune asked. The huntsman gone and away from home often was the father of seven children in the Arc family. All girls. His only son was not truly his to claim, if he so chose to do.

Aphrodite giggled. "No, not him, either."

"Then... Who is my dad?"

"I am." She set the knife aside and began placing the slices into the pie crust. "You are my son, and I am your mother."

"So, I don't have dad?"

"Y-You do have a father," Iva said, earning a quirked brow from Aphrodite, "just... not one biologically."

"I... I don't understand." Jaune blinked.

"I'll explain everything when you're older." Aphrodite chirped.

"Mom, I'm 17."

"When you're older, honey."

[chaotic-archaeologist]

I have about 3 years left until I have a masters degree, but I want to work in CRM/my country’s equivalent to we-wanna-build-a-road-here-you-better-save-the-graves for a few years maybe before i possibly go for a phd. As a neurodivergent person who struggles with routines and energy levels I think a lot about how i would manage such a massive full time job. Currently I work part time at a museum that hosts small archaeological digs for kids and adults, and i have been on excavation courses before, so I know how it partially feels like.

My question is; how do archaeologists who work in the field make time and energy for going to the gym, hanging out with friends and cooking etc outside of work? It can be so intense when you work with stuff you love. Any thoughts?

- @academiaautumn

I think the best advice I can give you is that you need to get in contact with someone working this job in your country who can give you a sense of how things work, because every country is going to be a little bit different. If you're in college/university, your professors probably have connections with colleagues or former students that they can put you in contact with.

I haven't done CRM, but I've been in similar situations and heard from friends who have, and I'll be real with you: a lot of the things you're asking about? You just do not do them. But keep in mind this is for US CRM and your mileage (or kilometerage) may vary.

These jobs are location specific, so you have to travel to wherever the excavation is. Usually for a set duration, with the longest being maybe a couple of months. This time frame and travel limits a lot of what you can do. The company employing you will put you up in a motel, but it probably won't have a kitchen. Because of the travel, most of the people you know are probably on the dig with you.

Time and energy... it depends. Check out the notes on this post for different archaeologists talking about what they do in a day. CRM is hard work, which can also translate to less energy for socialization/extracurricular activities than less physical jobs.

I'm a big believer that archaeology is for everyone, but unfortunately that does not mean that all areas of archaeology are accessible across the board. Before committing to this plan, you need to get a very clear understanding of what this work entails and how that interacts with your own needs. If you don't think those are compatible, 3 years out is plenty of time to start coming up with alternatives for after your master's (which I'm sure exist).

I did not go into CRM because of my own brain and body issues. I'm not saying that you can't or shouldn't, I'm saying that CRM is a difficult environment and you should do everything you can to set yourself up for success.

If anyone who does have actual CRM experience wants to add their perspective, that would be great.

-Reid

[sociopathicartist]

Hello! I was wondering if you could make a headcanon of how Sans would act if his partner self-harmed, if it doesn't bother you of course. PS I love how you write and how you focus on representing their personalities in a canonical way.

Hey! So I debated for a while on whether I should do this or not since it is close to being against my request guidelines (no suicidal topics) but as someone who has dealt with self-harm issues, I know that it is not always related to wanting to commit to ending it. This was a heavier topic, but it was great writing practice to really get in-depth to Sans and his emotions and reactions. Thanks for requesting!

TW: Self-harm, Depressive thoughts.

Sans dealing with his S/O self-harming.

While I’ve made it very clear before that Sans is NOT emotionless and does have strong/vivid reactions, I don’t believe that he would react or take well to something like this. I mean, how is he supposed to respond? How do you react to something like this, the love of his life hurting themselves?

It was obviously at a time when you had no idea he would be home soon. He most likely came home from work or something, snagging Grillby’s on the way home since he wasn’t in the mood to cook and he knew it was his night to do so.

“baby, i got the good…”

His hand would pause on the doorknob of the door he had just opened, his pinpricks locked on you sitting on the edge of the bed.

“uhm… what are you doing?”

What is he supposed to do? Here you were, his lover, his baby, somehow finding in it you to hurt yourself? How had he not noticed scars on your arm before? Did you only wait until he wasn’t around to do this? Sure, he had dealt with depression back in the underground, but he just sorta gave up on everything and didn’t take care of himself. He never brought himself to the point of actually trying to injure himself in any way, more so just letting himself collect dust like an old artifact.

The bag of food is immediately set aside as he’s walking towards you, taking whatever you were using to hurt yourself out of your hands and putting it down on the mattress, not caring about the blood stains it would leave on the sheets, just focused on you.

What were you doing? Why? He can’t even get his thoughts out right now, just stuttering over his words before they can even get out and looking at your arms, your words that were apologizing and trying to soothe him just going numb in his mind right now. He had never dealt with this before or had any friends deal with this, and since you were his lover it just made it all the more worse.

He doesn’t want to call and ask anyone for help or advice since this situation is something very personal that both he and you wanted to keep to yourselves, so he just tried to help and comfort you like he did whenever you had a bad day at work. Once your arms are cleaned off and wrapped up, none of the cuts deep enough to require stitches or anything of the sort, he’s mumbling quiet praises in your ear as he runs his hands up and down your back, taking a bath with you or watching a movie, whatever you need from him right now.

Sans isn’t very confrontational unless he has to be, so if this is a one-time deal, he’s most likely never going to bring this up again. It makes him feel sick just thinking about it, and of course, he’s there to give you reassurance and the love you need, but after the night has washed away, the topic of the day's events won't be prompted by him again. Why would he want that to be a conversation? He might feel a bit woozy seeing you hold something sharp, or get a little bit more worried when you’re home alone and having a terrible day, but other than the extra ‘I love you’s’ and normal comforts, this situation will stay in the past.

[msschemmenti]

hinge - a potential series

eventual melissa schemmenti x reader

synopsis: melissa joins hinge. who will she match with?

a/n: hello yes i know i’ve been gone for over a month after saying i was going to finish some things. my job got SUPER busy! but i’m trying to get back into writing and with that in mind i wanted to do a little writing exercise that i thought could be fun. so basically this will be a one shot series where melissa matches with different readers each installment. i was thinking if you all were interested i could open my requests for descriptions of readers you’d like to see melissa chat with and date! this is just an introductory piece to the vision, but let me know if you all would be interested in submitting readers for this. if not that’s cool as well ahaha! but either way, i hope you enjoy this chaotic prologue.

“You know, you should really get back out there Melissa.” Jacob’s voice floated over Melissa's shoulder. The older woman felt the tension between her eyebrows tighten as she slowly turned to address the young teacher. Not only had he been listening in on her conversation with Barb, but now he was giving advice. She knew they shouldn’t have let him stay for the Christmas dinner, now he thinks he’s a part of their circle. 

"What are ya talking about?" Melissa glared. Jacob had the sense to look a bit squeamish under her gaze but still cleared his throat as if to speak.

"I just mean, it's been months since Gary stopped stocking the vending machine. And kind of disappeared off the face of the Earth. And you're a beautiful woman, who deserves to be treated well. I'm sure there's a sea of men just waiting to make you their wife." Jacob rambled as his face grew red.

"First of all kid, I had nothing to do with Gary's career change and if you tell anyone different we'll have a problem. Second of all, I know I'm hot. I'm a Philly 11. I don't need no man making me his wife. I'm perfectly fine with the way my life is right now. Not that it's any of your business." Melissa scoffed with an eyeroll.

"Well that doesn't mean you can't see what's out there." Janine piped up from her seat next to Jacob.

"Oh you're one to talk, what does that even mean?" Melissa asked.

"Well, I'm not looking for a relationship right now because I'm working on myself. But that doesn't mean I don't want to see who's out there. Or even get a little validation from knowing someone wants me."

Melissa listened curiously, "and how exactly do you do that? Are you going to bars and turning down drinks or something?"

"No! Dating apps. People see my profile and like me but I don't have to say anything back." Janine explained.

"Oh yes! Before I met Zack I had a profile on all of the apps, just to make sure I wasn't missing any of the validation." Jacob added in causing Janine to nod.

"I think that could be good for you." Barb hummed before taking another bite of her salad.

"Not you too!" Melissa groaned before Ava walked through the door swiping on her phone.

"What we talking about?" Ava grinned looking around the tables.

"We're trying to convince Melissa to get back out there. On a dating app."

"Oh you should definitely do that. There's a market of men you're missing out on. Get you a young thing to get all up in that Italian Dressing." Ava said wiggling her eyebrows before reaching to make her coffee.

"Okay. None of that." Melissa groaned as she and Barb shook their heads in disappointment.

"No, you don't have to start out doing that. You can just start out seeing who's out there. Getting some likes, giving some likes, and then if you want to you can move it to chatting. It's all at your own speed." Janine tried to explain.

Before Melissa could even try to continue disagreeing, Ava had finished dumping sugar in her mug and had snatched Melissa's phone from the table. "The question is, what app do we get her on. I think Tinder is out if she's not gonna let any all up in her business. Bumble is dead and boring. What else is there?"

"How about none?"

"Oh Hinge! That ones really good." Jacob volunteered and Ava nodded moving to download the app on the older woman's phone.

"You are insane! Give me back my phone." Melissa tried to lunge at the taller woman.

"Stop fighting girlfriend. Just let it happen." Barbara appeased placing her hand on Melissa's shoulder in an attempt to calm her.

"Oh not you too!" Melissa sighed.

"Give in Schemmenti. I'm already creating your account." Ava grinned flashing the phone toward the older woman.

Seeing the phone, Melissa just shook her head. "I hate all of yous."

Ava took a seat in the middle of the table and smirked over her shoulder at Melissa. "Alright so let's get these questions and pictures together. Gotta show every how hot you are!"

Melissa scoffed but only rolled her eyes in response.

"So I got all the basics, now who are you looking for? Just men? Or are you down for a lil lady action? You seem like you'd know your way around the lady parts." Ava asked.

"Oh my god. You are the WORST!"

"That's not answering my question. You know what, I'll just put it as bisexual for now. Keep your options open. Let's find pictures for the prompts. You have any nudes in here I should be worried about seeing?" Ava asked shielding her eyes playfully.

"No? What kind of lady do you think I am?"

"I don't know. I'm just saying. Okay I already did the first one now the next one is 'As seen on my Mom's fridge', how about this cute picture of you and your blonde sister?"

"Yes that would be cute!" Janine smiled.

"Oh put this picture I secretly took of her crocheting on there. People love crafts!" Jacob said air dropping the photo to Melissa's phone.

"Why are you secretly taking pictures of me?" Melissa glared.

"Oh hush, it's helpful now. Oh a writing prompt, what are your simple pleasures?"

"Food, wine, and the Eagles." Melissa answered quickly.

"Let's say Cooking, wine, and the Eagles. People like cooking." Janine amended.

"Another picture, let's do this cute one with me in the back. That'll really get you some likes. I'm pretty well known around this app."

"Last prompt, the key to your heart?" Janine asked.

"A clean kitchen and an empty stomach." Melissa spoke with a shrug.

"Oh cause you like to cook for people. You're so good at this. Yes." Janine swooned.

"And with that, you're live. Now you just wait for the local baddies to match with you."

As Ava handed the phone, Melissa had no choice but to scroll. Well I guess this is what we're doing now.

"If this ends poorly, all of yous better watch your back."

[stupidcupid-tarot]

Why I don't have friends?

pile 1 - pile 2 - pile 3

DISCLAIMER.These general free readings are made in good faith for entertainment purposes.

How to pick a pile. When you have different cards to choose from in pile 1,2,3… look at each of those cards. Wait until someone reminds you of a memory. Perhaps a character’s outfit resembles one of your own. It is this pile that has its message. What if they all remind me of something? Go for the one with the strongest memory, one might look like her earring but another might be the favorite candy you got from your grandma when you vacationed at her house. But what if none reminds me of something? Take a deep breath and wait a little longer, without charging yourself or creating worries. Relax, some will awaken some memory in you, I promise!

Pile 1

Hello, little Cherub! When we start reading, we already have a clear answer: the reason why you have few friends is related to judgements, prejudices and realities that you believe to be absolute. For you, the world can be cruel, with petty, prejudiced and manipulative people. That's how you've seen the world until today, with these types of people always ready to take you down at any moment.

It is important to remember that, although there are reasons, this does not mean that the result will always be negative. If you have a closed mind and are very judgmental of others, this may be a reflection of past experiences, such as being bullied. Right? No. In the end you are also being like the people you judge so much. You always feel overwatched… overwatching others. The insights indicate that these perceptions may have been with you since childhood, creating a reality that you believe to be immutable, "all my friendships were like this, so all friendships ARE like this" and because of this, you close yourself off.

You also drink too much of the social media water, so you see gratuitous hate everywhere. You see that no matter what you are, it seems like the world hates you, too fat, too thin, you are a man, you are a woman, you have criticism and more criticism of who you are from strangers on the internet and you conclude again "the world is a trash". Do you want to make new friends? Absolutely! But you're soo scared of these"trash", right?

But the message is clear: this situation is not permanent. Just because you have few friends now doesn't mean it will be that way forever. The advice here is to be more authentic, open yourself to new experiences,. Start opening up to things you like! Cinema, food, dancing, things that you refuse to do because you think they are not for you. HOWEVER, don't feel like you're going to run amok like an addict going to all the bars and places that YOU KNOW are wrong! It's not about doing a 180º and saying that now you're going to be a "rebel", because you're going to MAKE A MISTAKE! Go to places that you can tell everyone and not being asshamed of.

Now, avoid the despair of accepting anyone just to avoid being alone. You will, unfortunately, first attract treacherous people and if you accept them on your path, you will return to the cycle of "the world sucks, people are mean and blahblahblah"…. You will meet them, but remember our good and old "nope". Use your judgment and avoid extreme changes in behavior without adequate planning. You're smart girl, stop acting stupid.

Pile 2

Hello little Cherub! Let's start by understanding why you have few friends. It's possible that this is due to significant changes you've recently faced, such as changing jobs, schools, cities, or even countries. These changes will naturally affected your social circle, right? In some cases, it's just a matter of appearance, major weight loss, an afro hairstyle, or even incurable diseases that change anyone's routine.

You may be finding it difficult to integrate into new social circles. It seems like every time you approach a new group, there's a big bubble that needs to be burst… you all speak the same language but why so diffent??? It's common to feel like your experiences and interests are different, which can make interacting and creating new friendships difficult.

Additionally, there may be personal resistance to making an effort to fit into new groups. You may question whether it is worth the effort to integrate and what the benefit would be. This lack of motivation can result in a more reserved or distant attitude, which can alienate potential new friendships. You want to go back to what you had before, your old friendships…

To overcome this, it's important to recognize that it's not necessary to form large social circles right away. Start small by establishing one-on-one connections, like a friend at work, school, college, or the gym. This can help build trust and facilitate deeper interactions in the future. Being social is healthy and necessary.

Now I need to give you an earful because you are behaving childishly on your behalf too. You know that child shouting "I don't want it" in the supermarket……….. it's you. Also, you're showing yourself like "I know that it's different but it's okay" or "fuck, I hate this"? You close yourself off so much in your reality that it's difficult to enter and understand the reality of others, so they throw a spaghetti party, they don't invite you because every day you say that you hate pasta, and then you find out that there was this spaghetti party and now you're super upset that you wasn't invited…

Avoid behaviors that can alienate people, such as being overly reserved or showing a lack of interest in social activities. Stay open to new experiences and encounters, even if they may initially seem uncomfortable. Openness can open doors to new friendships and a more diverse and enriching social circle.

Pile 3

Hello, little Cherub. Let's start reading by exploring the central question: why do you have few friends these days? It seems like you believe it is due to studies. You've dedicated a lot of time to this, whether on your own or because you're in college. This is your initial perception.

However, as we read deeper, we see that the true reason may be different. It appears that your romantic relationship has played a significant role in limiting your friendships. In this pile I'm not talking about marriage, but a long-term relationship. This relationship has taken up a large part of your time and energy, which ends up restricting your socialization opportunities.

Maybe you and your partner spend so much time together that there's no room for other friendships. As if you had to save all the energy you had left that week to spend time with them. And there may be issues of jealousy, both on your part and his, that make it difficult to get close to other people.

Do you want to have new friendships? Of course. You've always valued having friends around, and you've never been a lonely person. You always had several friends, someone to talk to and share moments with. However, now it seems like your partner is the only person you spend your time with, and that's something you've never done before.

The reading suggests that you have an upright and idealistic personality. Even when you saw wrong things, you did not allow yourself to be influenced by them. But you may now be falling into the trap of not realizing that you are also doing something wrong, like isolating yourself socially because of your relationship, or some really toxic shit, you know what I am talking about. Furthermore, you have this need to show yourself as someone "clean", without mistakes, always with the best and you know, even if unconsciously, that you are "dirty" and feel incapable of getting involved with people other than your boyfriend

The advice here is for you to have a clearer view of your current situation. Reflect on your relationship. Is it stopping you from living fully? Are fights and jealousy taking a heavy toll? Ask yourself where this insecurity comes from. Is it just a matter of jealousy or is there something deeper going on?

It's important to look at what's hidden, the things you might be pretending not to see. If you feel like you always need to appear perfect in the eyes of others, this may be stopping you from opening up to new friendships. No one is judging your character, but if you feel like you need to maintain a facade, this can be a significant barrier.

The final piece of advice is to examine your relationship honestly. Is it working for you? Does it need to be tweaked or maybe even finished? This is an answer you must find on your own. After this reflection, you will be in a better position to decide how to proceed.

That was the reading for you. Good luck and stay well.

(CC) Stupid Cupid Tarot Some Rights Reserved

[lucy90712]

Puppy- Pedri

Life has been a lot recently I moved away from my hometown and my parents to move in with my boyfriend after being long distance for nearly two years. Getting to live with him has been amazing I love Pedri so much and now we don't have to miss each other in between being able to visit one another. Moving from Tenerife to Barcelona has also meant I needed to find a new job which luckily didn't take long so I've just started at a new company and moved which is a lot all at once but so far it's been mostly good.

I do feel like I'm kind of just getting through each day I wake up and then I'm at work and then I come back home again. My life doesn't feel like my life anymore I had a whole routine back home but now everything is different and I don't have the little things in my routine that helped each day feel less mundane. The best part of my day is when Pedri gets home and we can cuddle on the sofa and watch a movie which has become a daily routine. Don't get me wrong I love my new life as I get to be with Pedri but it's a lot of change all at once and I feel like it's finally catching up to me and I'm starting to miss home a little. 

It's going to take some time to get used to being here but I'm sure eventually Barcelona will start to feel like home and I'll forget all about this time where I felt out of place. I know this is where I'm supposed to be as otherwise Pedri would've never come into my life and he's definitely the best thing that's ever happened to me. When we get used to living together and I get used to the city I'm sure it will all be perfect right now we are just going through an adjustment period. 

Pedri's POV

Like most days when Y/n got home she seemed stressed until she saw me then she put a fake smile on her face. I can tell she's faking it because the smile didn't reach her eyes like it always does when she's actually smiling. I know the move has been a lot on her we both knew the first few weeks would be hard but I can tell she's still struggling and that just breaks my heart. It's not that she doesn't want to be here as when we go places together she really enjoys herself but whenever I have to leave her or she goes to work the next time I see her she looks stressed and just generally unhappy. 

I should've known that moving so far from home and getting a new job all at the same time would be hard for her but I underestimated how big of a change that would be for her. I remember when I first moved here I didn't know anyone and it was my first time living alone it was scary and I missed home a lot and that must be how y/n feels as I know she is really close to her family so not being close to them distance wise anymore is difficult. I want to do something to make her feel more at home here but I have no idea what the right thing to do is as I can't just magically help her settle in. 

This has been on my mind for a few days and I can't decide the right thing to do so I've decided that I'm going to ask some of the other guys if they have any ideas. I've told Ferran about my dilemma but he was no use and the same goes for Gavi neither of them gave me any serious ideas they just joked around like they always do. Asking them made it clear that I need to talk to one of the older guys who might actually offer some sensible advice. 

"Hey Raphinha can I get your advice on something?" I asked 

"Of course man what's up" he said 

"You know y/n moved in with me a few months ago well I just feel like she hasn't fully settled in and I don't know what to do she just seems stressed and unhappy" I said 

"That's hard she must just miss home I know this isn't the answer your looking for but time is the best thing for that and just talk to her asking her how she feels will help you understand what you can do to take some of the stress away" he advised 

"Thanks man I'll definitely talk to her" I said 

"Wait Pedri did you say y/'s missing home" one of coaches said from across the hallway 

"Yeah she just seems to be lonely I guess she's only got me and anyone I've introduced her to so when we aren't around that's when she seems to be the worst" I said 

"This might not be the solution you're looking for but my brother found a puppy dumped in a bin last night maybe having something in the house would help y/n feel less lonely if you want to meet the puppy I'll give you my brothers number" he said 

"Actually that sounds like a great idea" I said 

Getting a puppy was definitely not something I'd planned on doing for a while as I'm not around as much as I would need to be to look after a dog and I didn't want to put that all on y/n as she's getting used to life here but maybe it would be good for her. Having a little puppy around the house to keep her company while I'm not around sounds like a great idea to me and she can meet new people taking the dog for a walk. 

~~~~~~~~~~

After seeing the puppy my mind was made up he was so sweet and he reminded me a lot of the family dog y/n has back home which seemed like a sign that this was the decision I needed to make. It took a few days to get everything sorted but finally today I picked up the puppy and brought him home to explore a bit before y/n got home from work. So far he's done just that he hasn't stopped running around and playing with the few toys I got him as well as my shoes but we will work on stopping that another day. 

Your POV

Today has been a long day we had a big presentation at work today and I had a few important meetings and now I'm just exhausted. When I pulled into the driveway Pedri's car was already there and that made me feel a little better as seeing him and cuddling with him sounds like it will make all my problems go away at least for tonight. As I entered the door I saw a little plastic ball on the floor which had me confused as I don't know why Pedri would have one of those or why it would just be on the floor. Then it all made sense when a tiny ball of black fluff ran towards me grabbed the ball and ran away again towards Pedri who picked up the puppy and brought it towards me. 

As soon as he placed the puppy in my arms I was in love it looked exactly like my parents dog back home which they got when I was little and we grew up together. Holding the puppy made me feel like I had a bit of home with me and it reminded me of my childhood and all of the photos I have with my parents dog. 

"Whose dog is this?" I asked Pedri 

"He's ours" he said 

"I have so many questions" I said 

"Well one of our coaches at the club overheard me talking to Raphinha about how I think you've been missing home and feeling lonely here and said that his brother found a puppy dumped in a bin so I went and met the puppy and instantly knew he'd be a perfect fit for us and I know we both have busy lives but I thought he'd keep you company while I'm away" Pedri explained 

"Who would dump this little cutie" I cooed to the puppy

"I do have one last question does he have a name yet?" He asked 

"I haven't properly named him yet as I didn't want to do it without you but I was thinking we could call him Nilo" he said 

"I like that welcome to our crazy household Nilo" I said 

Pedri took my bag off me while I took Nilo to the living room so I could sit and play with him to destress from my day. It didn't take long for Pedri to join us and we both threw the little ball across the room and watched little Nilo scamper after it. A puppy would've been the last thing I thought I wanted if you'd have asked me even just yesterday but I actually think Pedri is right Nilo is going to be great at keeping me company when no one else is here and having such a happy little thing here to greet me when I get home is definitely going to brighten my days. It feels like I've got a little bit of my life from back home here now that we have a dog and hopefully that will help make Barcelona feel like home. 

For the rest of the night we didn't take our attention off Nilo but eventually we had to go to bed now we had agreed that Nilo wouldn't sleep in the bed with us but that went out the window within two seconds. As soon as we saw him sitting on the floor in his bed whimpering and wanting our attention Pedri got up and put him on our bed which stopped his crying instantly. Nilo was quick to make himself comfy in my arms as Pedri put his arms around me and we settled down for the night as some sort of weird family.

"Thank you for getting Nilo just having him here has made me feel more at home" I said 

"There's no need to thank me I just want you to be comfortable here and honestly as soon as I saw him there was no way I was leaving without him he was just too cute" Pedri laughed 

"He certainly is cute you have competition now" I joked 

"I don't think I'm going to win that competition" he said 

"No you won't but I still love you" I said 

"More than Nilo?" He asked 

"Of course for now at least" I joked 

Pedri rolled his eyes but I know he feels the exact same way I do. 

[sapphicwhimsy]

heres my gift for @kerrosin as part of @mcyt-summer-of-yuri! i hope you like it!! take my heart, pull it apart on ao3!

"Congrats on getting together," Cleo says, and decidedly does not add the 'finally' she wants to. She watches Gem press herself as close as possible to Pearl, curled up in her lap, and Pearl trills softly, in a way that isn't quite human. No doubt something Pearl didn't expect Cleo to hear, but Cleo knows better than to make any comments on it. She just watches the happy couple, pressed as close together as could be.

She's happy for them, really. Truly. She's happy enough for them to know better about teasing something that's so obviously new and tender for the both of them, where they're both so clingy and desperate to be together. Not that it's truly anything new for the two of them to be pressed to each other's side, but it's completely different to have Gem in Pearl's lap of all places, head pressed firmly under her chin, as close together as they could physically be.

It's cute, in an almost sickening kind of way.

Pearl's cheeks are decidedly not a human shade with the blue on her cheeks, arms wrapped around Gem, but Cleo knows better than to mention that either, especially not with the way she ducks her head down and buries her face into Gem's hair. Gem's pointed ear twitches, a more human shade of pink staining the tip with her blush, and she looks to Cleo, smile sheepish but unabashedly so very happy.

"Thank you," Gem says, earnest in her reply. They both look so happy, and Cleo couldn't be happier for them. Even still, Gem looks sheepish, chewing on her bottom lip. "You're actually only the second person we've told."

"Really now?"

"Aside from Impulse, you're the only one who knows."

"I'm flattered. But I have to ask... Why me?"

Pearl is the one to look at them then, bottom lip worried between her teeth. She looks nervous, fingers twisting around each other and picking at her nail beds, and Cleo can see the hesitation. Fear momentarily strikes into their heart, a conversation already playing at their mind, and the words come out before she's truly realizing she's speaking them.

"If you're here for advice, I'm afraid you've come to the wrong person." The tone is maybe a bit harsh, because Pearl throws her hands up, letting go of Gem for the brief moment. She waves them about, as if to clear the words from the air.

"No! No, we..." Pearl swallows, and their eyes meet. An unnatural shade of blue stares back at her, a different shade than the blue on Pearl's cheeks, but the comments about it stays locked behind her lips. They know what it's like to not be human, though they've never truly tried to pretend like Pearl, and know the fact that she's showing any of these weaknesses around her means she's at ease. Finally, Pearl seems to find the words she wants, because she rubs a hand across her face. "I just thought, after Christmas..."

Christmas. Her present, Pearl all dolled up to look like her. Horns at the ready, phrases prerecorded. They'd spent the whole day together, nothing but laughter and giggles, hours by each other's side. Pearl's makeup had seemed impeccable, perfect. They looked exactly alike, not a difference to be seen between them besides the name tag above Pearl's head displaying who she truly was, if anyone was to take a glance at it...

And then after all day, she'd asked how. How did Pearl look exactly like her? How had she kept this up all day? No makeup had been smeared, not a slip that showed who she was behind it all. It was like she'd had a clone next to her side, a perfect replica, and they wanted to know. It hadn't been meaning to pry. Not really. It was just a question about how she'd done her makeup so flawlessly.

There had been a moment of fear. Worry. It wore on the copy of her face in an unnatural way, before Pearl had confided in her. Trusted her with something she'd only told Impulse and Gem so far. That she wasn't normal, and that singular word had sent an arrow straight to Cleo's heart like nothing else ever would have. They knew all about not being normal.

Pearl wasn't normal, because she wasn't human. The words all came out in a rush, because she trusted Cleo. She shared her secret, words heavy in the night air between them, confiding that her flawless makeup had been a disguise. Something that clung to her skin, like the one she wore every day. She was scared to let anyone know, kept the secret close to her chest, and...

And oh, Cleo had assured her it was alright. That she knew about not being what everyone else saw as normal, that she understood what it felt like, at least in a way, because she didn't love the same as everyone else. Not romantically. She never would, understood how it felt to not quite feel like you fit in...

Pearl trusts her. Fully, and completely. This is something new for Gem and Pearl, something scary. Something they aren't ready to tell everyone about just yet, and. And they both trust her with it. Trust her to know.

"Thank you," Cleo eventually says, because the swell of emotion the realization brought up makes it hard to speak. The blush makes sense now. She trusts them. Cleo tries to not let that twist any feelings in her heart, though it's already too late for that. They clear their throat, and glance away, because it's easier than anything else.

They aren't known for being soft, aren't known to be the one everyone would go to first for things like this. They aren't a kind and gentle being in any sense. They're sharp barbs and easy digs, and maybe a little dirty with their jokes. She isn't soft or sweet, or endlessly kind and caring. But they both still trust her, with their newest secret.

It's almost nice. To be so completely and entirely trusted with something like this.

But it is, in it's own flavor, overwhelming. She looks back at them, at the way the two are watching her, and clears her throat.

"How about a castle tour, while you're here? I've done some work since the last time anyone was around."

"Sure!" Gem agrees, without missing a beat. She can seek the change of topic, the necessity for it, and hops off Pearl's lap easily. She only waits for a moment for Pearl to stand before she's taking her hand, their fingers twisting together, though Cleo pays it little mind. They're happy, and she's happy for them.

"Great!" Cleo stands as well, clapping her hands together. She gives them a moment to press a quick kiss to each other's lips, and with it, the urge to tease is too great. She won't let them go the entire day without a few jokes at their expense, after all. "While we're at it, how about you tell me why you both took so long to confess?"

And the flustered sputtering she gets in response is well worth it all.

[wickedgamesoyaoya]

❧ 2. Indestructible

❧ Masterlist - Previous - Next

❧ A/N: written portion below!

It's all too suffocating. The expectations, the micromanaging, and of course, the eyes that never stop analyzing your every decision. Whether you choose to extend a sigh only a mere second longer, or whether you choose to wear your favourite sweater twice in a row. Everything is observed and critiqued.

And sometimes, it's just far too much.

Even the mirror cannot provide you with a safe space. The fluorescent lighting is far too cruel for your liking, highlighting every imperfection that you really wish to pay no mind to. Yet, beyond the imperfections, it's the eyes that captivate even your own interest. A shell of a person stares back at you, yet the eyes... They carry a heaviness that would startle most, and would haunt others.

They tell a story about a marionette whose entire life consisted of obeying the wishes of others. The invisible strings that were embedded into the limbs of the marionette, lifted her up and helped her continue the play.

No matter how disastrous the storm inside of her soul was, she had no choice. The show must always go on.

"Y/n? Are you okay?"

The voice disturbs your inner monologue, yet it does not frighten you; nor does it trigger any negative emotions. Instead, a small smile claims the corners of your mouth as you take in the presence of your younger brother.

"I'm okay, Reo. I just needed to use the bathroom." Instinctively, you reached out and provided a gentle pat to his cheek, earning you an inquisitive blink in response. It was clear that your words did not provide him with the reassurance he craved.

"You don't have to hide things from me." The purple-haired boy stated this as if it were a universal fact; one that was not open to debate. "I'm only a year younger than you. I can help protect you too."

The latter part comes out more in a childish grumble; one that warms up the ice that was claiming the surface area of your chest.

"Oh, is my younger brother now a knight in shining armour?" Lifting up your brow, you tapped a finger against your bottom lip with a sincere smile now itching to grow. "Or is it, a knight in shining Armani?"

"I think Armani." Another party joined the conversation with a whimsical laugh. It's a sound that brings a wave of tranquillity, so you more than welcome it. "He's too weak to carry armour."

"Right, anyone would appear weak in comparison to you, Oikawa." The younger boy showcased a charming smile, but the irritation underlying his words was clear.

The chestnut-haired male blew out another laugh before snaking an arm around your middle. The fluidity of his movements did not catch you off guard. This was all merely part of the performance. And the two of you, were no doubt, the best performers.

"Oh, you're so kind, little Reo. Maybe I should repay that kindness by teaching you how to work out?" After slowly leading your back to collide with his chest, Oikawa leaned down to whisper into your ear. "Unless Miss Y/N has an issue with that?"

Ahead of you, Reo narrowed his eyelids the slightest, while the emotion drained from his face. He knew that you and Oikawa were simply pawns on the chessboard. It was not as though you both had the luxury of free will. Yet, it bothered him how easily Oikawa could play the aloof asshole.

Nothing belonged to Reo. Not even his own body. Every part of his life was calculated from birth. The only reason he had the slightest bit of sanity was you. His older sister. The one who bore the punishments that would come if he made any errors. And the one who sheltered him from knowing the true torment that came with being a Mikage.

So, the fact that Oikawa Tooru could make light of Reo's physical state... It upset him. Especially, knowing that the only reason he was not completely skin and bones was because his sister would sneak him in food.

"You should consider training yourself a bit more, before giving out advice, my sweet Tooru." Sensing Reo's discomfort, this was the only response you could offer. Beside you, a pout settled onto Oikawa's mouth, and you were unable to ascertain whether he was genuinely upset.

"What's going on here? Are my three favourite people fighting?" The last individual to enter the conversation had your stomach in knots. Your mind was prepared for the mental warfare, yet your stomach raged with a dozen emotions. The muscles of your body, responding to the havoc ensuing inside of your stomach, also strained under the pressure of his gaze. Oikawa must have felt your sudden change in demeanour, as his grip around you tightened.

"No, father. We are not fighting. Please do not misunderstand." Over time, you had perfected a low and velvety tone. It was one that contained an essence that was both docile yet refined. In ways, it served as a defensive weapon. One that had saved you and Reo on countless occasions.

"Yes. I sincerely apologize if it seemed that way, Mr. Mikage." Oikawa matched your facade, yet stated his words with a royal-like confidence. It was a simpler task for him, as he was not afraid of your father, but his own.

"Well, alright. If there are no issues, let us all return to our table, hm?" The grey-haired male pressed his lips together into a faint smile, before motioning forward with a short and calculated hand gesture. "And Reo, be sure to stop by my office when we return home."

****

The shedding of blood commenced almost 15 minutes after the family returned home. The ominous comment issued towards your brother had you on high alert throughout the car ride. Reo did not utter a single word, instead his attention was fixed on the tiny droplets of rain sticking against the glass. Your parents, on the other hand, were speaking freely with each other about how delightful the banquet was. The Kise family hosted the banquet to express their gratitude towards the Mikages. They were another family who were "saved", without truly realizing that their saviours had more than a few skeletons in their closet. Under the Mikage dynasty was a blood-run river, one that exchanged souls for wealth.

Oh, it was also the banquet that caused you to delay your enrollment into Sacred Arms Academy. Not that it mattered now.

When the four of you entered the shared residence, you prayed your father had forgotten about his request. Ten minutes slipped on by, and he did not call out for Reo. Usually, if your father was to administer a punishment, it would happen immediately. So, you accordingly thought that it would be safe enough to at least take five minutes to change your clothes.

Only halfway into changing into a sweater, the sound of glass shattering brings your heart to sink into the pit of your stomach. Almost on autopilot, you quickly slip your arms into the sleeves and begin down the long staircase. For approximately 20 seconds, silence consumes the house. And it's once you reach the bottom of the staircase, do you hear your father's loud voice boom through the space.

"You dare disrespect the Mikage name? You dare?!"

Panic ignites inside of your muscles as you proceed closer to the study room. Based on your experience, rushing in could make the matter worse. However, standing there - in safety - while your brother was forced to endure abuse was also not an option.

"You are no longer at the weight you were assigned. Two pounds. You gained two pounds! It was enough for the Oikawa boy to even notice!"

How in the world could Tooru's comment be construed as a comment on weight gain? Honestly, your father's lack of critical reasoning was beyond your comprehension. The truth was, the old man was always looking for excuses to harm his children. It was not about the perfect image; it was about keeping them within his grasp. He craved complete and utter control, but he could never fully obtain it. Because he was not God. And you two were not his puppets. There was no way for him to completely strip you both of your individuality. And he hated you for it.

"I... I'm sorry..." This time it was Reo's gentle voice that cut through the air and pierced your heart. "I'll make sure to lose it..."

Oh, Reo. Your sweet, innocent Reo. It wasn't fair. None of this was. But soon, you'd be leaving him to fight for himself. And you knew deep inside, that you couldn't.

You absolutely could not do it.

"He won't be losing anything." Upon entering the study space, your eyes instantly searched for your younger brother. It only took a few seconds to find the purple-haired boy, on the floor with a superficial cut decorating his cheek. When you had heard the glass shatter, you had incorrectly assumed it was aimed at the wall. Now, that you were inside the room, you could see the impact was right beside Reo. "You threw a glass at him?"

Terror gripped your throat as you stared at the younger boy. But the pure dread animating his irises devastated you in a way it had never before.

"You... This is enough." Perhaps it was time for the bricks to break from the pressure of the well. And maybe that was the reason for the steaming liquid running down your cheeks. "We're not playing your stupid little game anymore. Do you understand, father!?"

Senior Mikage took a cautious step back upon hearing your words. He reasoned to himself that he had no reason to fear you and yet, this was a new reaction he had elicited. He was unsure just how far you would now take this.

"What insolence... What -"

"No. You do not get to curse us anymore. You will not lay a hand on us. Do you understand?" Adrenaline had you practically bouncing on the spot. Even if your father were to strike you now, you doubt you would feel it until tomorrow. All you could do was continue your proclamations and pray your father would not lift his hand again.

"In fact, you'll be enrolling Reo into the academy with me. And we'll both be leaving tomorrow. You will no longer have the privilege of living with your children. Do you understand me!?"

The only reason Reo was not joining you in the first place was due to your father's needless meddling. The two requirements for the academy were an undergraduate degree and a recommendation from a family of wealth. Those were two items within Reo's grasp, the only issue was your father.

"What... How dare you -" The older male could not process what was occurring at a reasonable pace. He had become far too comfortable in his artificial reality that he forgot that his children could choose to defy him. Once the varying forms of abuse were no longer effective, what was he to do? What was his plan?

Well, there was no plan. And that was why you were able to use the circumstances to your advantage.

"Come here, Reo." After wiping away the tears with the sleeve of your sweater, you curled your fingers into your palm to motion the younger boy forward. Although he was hesitant, Reo mustered the limited energy left in his body and removed himself from the floor. "This is the last night we'll ever stay in this haunted house. We're going to finally be free."

Once Reo was within arms reach, you took his hand in yours and without sparing your father a glance, exited the study space. To your dismay, you almost strolled straight into your mother who was clearly listening to everything from the foyer. Upon seeing her children, the older woman exhaled a breath while crossing her arms over her chest. Her behaviour did not coincide with that of a worried mother. Instead, she appeared disappointed, and that fact alone had the acids inside of your stomach churning in revulsion.

A mother who could bring herself to care for her own children was no mother at all.

"We'll clean up your wound first, Reo. Then we'll start packing." Your intentions were purposefully stated, to serve as a warning to both your mother and father. If either of them were to intervene, you were not completely sure what you would do. But the adrenaline soothed your concerns, whispering little lies about your indestructible state.

For now, pretending would be enough. But starting tomorrow, you'll commence your journey into discovering how to become more than skin and bones.

Taglist: @boosyboo9206 @hunnie-lily @valleyofheartz @pearl-blue-musings @moonlit-mizukage @lilith412426

[dreamchasernina]

What do you think when people say that in tsr aang didnt understand katara?

Do you think the episode made a rift between them as some zk's claim

In my eyes she definitely owed an apology to both him and sokka but i think she appreciated aamg's advice later on although we didn't see it at first

I’m so glad you asked me this question because I’ve been waiting to give my two cents. I'm trying really hard to sort out my thoughts so bear with me if this post is too long.

I saw this take that Aang was overstepping or did not understand Katara or was forcing his beliefs on her in The Southern Raiders for the first time a couple of months ago. I swear I rewatched the episode to see if maybe Aang was stepping out of line or was inconsiderate of Katara's feelings and I honestly don't see how anyone could reach that conclusion.

Aang knows Katara, he knows Katara better than anyone and he knows that revenge will not make her feel any better. He knows that is not who Katara is, she is not the person to take all her anger out on someone and end their life. Aang telling Katara this is not the right path for her is literally him returning the favor Katara did for him in the Desert. They're the same situations, in the Desert Aang is hurt and angry over losing Appa, he is consumed by rage and is about to hurt or maybe even kill the sandbenders, which goes against everything Aang stands for, So Katara stops him. She stops him from doing something she knows he will regret for the rest of his life. Is Katara stepping out of line here? Is Katara forcing something on Aang by getting him out of the avatar state? No. If Aang was clear minded he would never ever want to hurt anyone, even the people who took Appa from him. This is the exact situation Katara is in in The Southern raiders, she is consumed by rage and grief and she is willing to lash it all out on that man. And Aang knows that will not take Katara's grief away, it will only be something she will regret, taking a man's life is not who Katara is, even if that man did the worst. So, he does what Katara did for him in the desert, he tells her there is a different path for her to take.

If you need further proof Katara was not herself that episode, the exact way Aang was not himself in the Desert, all you have to do is go back to The Puppetmaster episode. Katara was horrified to learn about bloodbending and refused to use it. When she had to use it to save Aang, she broke down crying. BECAUSE THATS NOT WHO SHE IS. Bloodbending goes against who Katara is. And in the Southern Raiders she uses that technique, the technique she said was wrong and swore she would never use. So that should be enough to tell you Katara is not herself in that episode, she is so blinded by anger and vengeance she uses the technique she was horrified to learn a few episodes back. So, Aang, her best friend, sees that and tries to help Katara not loose sight of who she is. Here is Katara breaking her morals because she is filled with hate and anger, and you're telling me Aang was our of line because he thought going on that path would betray who Katara is? MEDIA LITERACY IS DEAD!

It's not like Aang didn't want Katara to go on that journey or tried to stop her, he literally says "You need to face this man, but when you do, please don't choose revenge. Let your anger out and then let it go." Which is exactly what she does, which is exactly what she needs, Wow. Her best friend knows exactly what she needs. Shocker. Even Zuko says at the end of the episode "You were right about what Katara needed".

Some people had issue specifically with the fact that Aang told Katara to forgive him. But those people don't even know what he's saying. Of course that man doesn't deserve forgiveness, that man deserves to be miserable for the rest of his life, or even worse, Aang tells her to forgive for herself, not for him. He wants her to let that anger out and be free of it. When you forgive someone, that doesn't mean you're ok with what they did, it means you've moved on, you've let go go the anger that was consuming you, and that's exactly what Katara needed. Just because she didn't forgive him doesn't mean Aang was wrong. She saw that man, saw who was the monster who took her mother from her and she realised that he's not a monster at all, he is a pathetic old miserable man, and facing him was enough for her to be free. She didn't forgive him because that was not the path for her, and that's ok, but she did achieve what Aang wanted for her, she let that anger out and started healing. As a Katara stan, I love that for her, I want that for her! I want her to move on and heal, I want her to not feel guilty, and I want her to no give up her morals.

I truly don’t understand how someone sharing their beliefs and wisdom to help the person they love stay on the right path, is considered forcing their belief? Iroh gives Zuko wisdom and advise all the freaking time! Does anyone call that forcing his beliefs?? The hypocrisy, man. Just goes to show you how forced the Aang hate is. If it was a legitimate arguement I would take it seriously but the people who criticise Aang in this episode are also the same people who are saying Zuko understood her and helped her and was the only one supporting her. Which immediately makes your argument invalid, I'm sorry. Zuko doesn’t even know Katara! He had 2 conversations throughout the show with her, and you're telling me he understands Katara better than her best friend and HER OWN BROTHER WHO LOST THAT SAME MOM TOO? I need you to be so for real right now. The person he's "supporting" isn't even the real Katara, as I explained earlier. So, please, stop.

Now, to address the second part of your question. Katara’s line to Sokka did hurt and I’m sure she apologised for it but people tend to be too focused on that moment. She was filled with rage and hunger for revenge, this is exactly like how Aang was behaving in the desert after he lost Appa. That’s perfectly understandable, they were both not themselves. That line works so well showing you exactly how Katara isn't seeing things clearly. I, personally, was more offended by her telling Aang he wouldn’t understand. That was a little out of character for her cause girl, you were there watching Aang consume himself with anger ready to kill when he found out about Gyatso AND Appa, so what do you mean you knew he wouldn’t understand? Aang is the only one who truly understands. (no, Zuko doesn’t, please don’t get me started on how Katara losing her mom is nowhere similar to how Zuko lost his). So even though I feel like Katara wouldn’t have said that to Aang, I still know she wasn’t herself so I don’t hold it against her like the rest of the fandom does.

I'm sorry this answer is so long but I've been wanting to let this out for so long. I do not understand how people can say things like that in the first place. Just Completely misinterpreting the scene and the characters to fit their own narratives. I just can't stand it.