#emotional exploration

[aventurineswife]

Hear me out, what if HSR men with a reader who's some kinda mimic based monster who's pretending to be human. They're not bad or anything but just suck super bad at hiding the fact they're not human. My only request is Sunday be in the lineup, but anyone else you think would be fun is fairgame :)

To Live is to Pretend

Summary: During the Charmony Festival, Sunday encounters a mysterious individual—you—who is a mimic-based monster pretending to be human. Despite your awkwardness and strange behavior, Sunday sees through your facade and becomes intrigued by your desire to understand humanity. As the two of you spend time together, Sunday acknowledges your efforts and the shared desire for joy, even in imperfection. Ultimately, he finds something human in you, despite your differences.

Tags: Sunday x Reader, Mimic Monster!Reader, Emotional Exploration, Humanity, Fluff.

The glow of the Charmony Festival filled the streets of Penacony with music and laughter, as delicate as the wings of the butterflies flitting through the air. Among the throngs of joyous attendees stood Sunday, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd. His presence exuded a calm authority, every step deliberate, his voice a melody when he spoke. He lived for this—a moment where humanity could forget its struggles, even for a while. But he wasn’t here to simply bask in the celebration. His mind never truly rested.

And you...you were part of his latest dilemma.

Sunday’s sharp eyes had seen many things in his life, yet he could hardly make sense of you. Your smile was too wide at times, your laughter half a second too delayed. The way you moved—a little too fluid, a little too precise—made even the most distracted observer notice something...off. And your hunger. That was a beast of its own. It wasn't human hunger. It was a gnawing, endless craving for sustenance that wasn’t food. Something primal. You hid it, but not well.

Yet you were kind, earnest, and oddly endearing in your awkwardness. Sunday couldn't decide whether you were utterly harmless or an enigma with secrets darker than you let on. He had invited you here today to learn the truth.

“Doesn’t it feel alive?” you asked, looking up at the floating lanterns dotting the evening sky. Your voice wavered slightly, as though calibrating itself to match the tones around you.

Sunday tilted his head. “Alive? How do you mean?”

“They’re like...tiny creatures, glowing, free. Like they’re whispering to the stars.” you explained, your fingers twitching nervously as though rehearsing what a human would do. It was clear you were trying to fit in, but every gesture felt off, as if an artist had painted you from memory rather than reality.

Sunday’s eyes lingered on your face, the halo behind him casting soft light. “You see the beauty of it all, even in ways others don’t.” There was no accusation in his tone, only curiosity. “You’re not quite like anyone else, are you?”

Your movements stilled entirely, an unnatural freeze in the midst of your nervous shifting. “W-What do you mean?” The way your voice crackled betrayed your panic.

“I mean exactly what I said,” Sunday replied, taking a step closer. He loomed, but his presence wasn’t threatening—it was grounding, as though even the world’s chaos would fall silent before him. “You’re different, but difference isn’t a crime. Though I wonder, what is it you truly want?”

Your shoulders slumped, the pretense you’d worked so hard to maintain unraveling before him. “I-I’m not trying to hurt anyone,” you said quickly, stumbling over the words. “I just...I wanted to see what it’s like. To live. To feel.”

Sunday’s expression softened, though his eyes remained sharp. “And this...you mean this festival? Or this world?”

You hesitated. “Both. Humans. I think you call it ‘being human.’ I...I thought I’d try it out.” You chuckled, the sound awkward and hollow. “I’m...not great at it, huh?”

“No,” Sunday said, though the word wasn’t cruel. “But that’s not a failing—it’s an effort. Tell me, do you find joy in pretending?”

The question was so gentle that it made your chest ache. “I don’t know if it’s pretending,” you admitted, your voice quieter now. “It’s...wanting. I want to understand. To belong. But it’s hard.”

Sunday studied you for a long moment, his gaze weighing far more than it should. Then he smiled. “Perhaps you’re closer to human than you think.”

Your head tilted instinctively, mimicry of curiosity despite the genuine confusion you felt. “What do you mean?”

“You desire, you strive, and you falter. You want joy but fear pain. It’s the same for them all,” Sunday said, gesturing to the crowds. “Perhaps the only difference is that you know you’re not one of them. Most don’t even see that much.”

As the festival carried on, Sunday remained by your side, the only one who seemed unfazed by your oddities. For the first time, you felt as though someone truly saw you. Not your disguise, not the gaps in your humanity—just you.

And for reasons you didn’t quite understand, you hoped he’d stay.

[blumoonfiction-blog]

Safe Kids Stories: Prompts for Writers and Creative Inspiration Safe Kids Stories is a platform that offers a collection of writing prompts and resources aimed at fostering creativity and emotional expression for young writers. The site encourages storytelling as a tool for growth, healing, and community engagement. Recommended Reading and Writing Ages:Ages 8–18: Suitable for kids and teens who…

[foundfamilywhump]

the question, you see, is not ‘is it too ooc for this character to cry’ but rather ‘what circumstances would push this character to cry’

this is the whump wisdom, go forth and make that character cry

[kathaynesart]

Felt a bit emotional today over the movie's second anniversary and I thought I might embarrass myself about it online. This little film has become really special to me in how it captured my attention and drew me back into something I haven't been a part of for a long time: a creative community.

For a good portion of my adult life I had been forced to put my energies and creativity primarily towards my work. I wanted to tell stories that people enjoyed and had felt like my career was the only method to achieve that. But this community and fandom really sparked a creativity in me I haven't felt since I was younger and I'm so happy to be able to find that avenue I've always wanted not through an employer but through all of you! I have met so many wonderful and inspiring people and none of this would have happened if I hadn't randomly come upon the four minute opening of the film 2 years ago cuz Youtube looked at my algorithm and said: "hm, lets see if she still likes turtles."

Thank you everyone, for loving what I do and enjoying my work. It means the world, and while my updates have become slower due to longer comic posts, real world obligations, and health issues, I still strive to continue the story inspired by this movie with a passion that has shockingly never waned.

Here's to another wonderful year!

[qweenofurheart]

the tim drake experience

[tawnysoup]

Learning to accept support

[pebblegalaxy]

Embarking on an Introspective Journey: Unveiling the Layers of Consciousness

How are you feeling right now? In the vast expanse of emotions, the question lingers: “How are you feeling right now?” As I navigate the intricacies of my existence, I embark on an introspective journey that reveals the intricate layers of my consciousness. Like a wanderer traversing labyrinthine corridors, I delve deep into the realms of my being, exploring the depths of my thoughts, emotions,…

[ofswordsandpens]

thinking about a world in which RR actually committed to the path he set Percy on in hoo (wherein Percy has become jaded, angry, and resentful at the gods for breaking their sworn promises, is frequently sympathizing with Luke, is getting more and more powerful, and frequently losing himself to wrath) and instead of the subsequent Percy Jackson books being about getting recommendation letters, we could have gotten a trilogy exploring a fallen hero arc for Percy (that would ultimately have a positive resolution to it.)

[astearisms]

fionna and cake drawings before and after watching the episodes so far. it’s nostalgic and somehow cathartic and poignant and relatable and—it just started

[vintic-girl]

[aventurineswife]

Where the Lost Find Home

Summary: Jing Yuan encounters an otherworldly fairy who stowed away on his ship after fleeing the destruction of her world. Drawn to her fragile resilience, he guides her as she adjusts to life aboard the Luofu. As the fairy finds a new home, Jing Yuan rediscovers a long-forgotten warmth, a spark of hope that softens his centuries-hardened heart.

Tags: @thalita2, Jing Yuan x Fairy!Fem!Reader, Slow Burn, Found Family, Emotional Healing, Emotional Exploration, Comfort and Angst, Romantic Undertones.

Warnings: Mentions of loss and grief (fairy’s race is extinct), Gentle romance (slow development), Healing and self-discovery, Light angst, Themes of loneliness and survivor's guilt, Light romantic tension and introspection.

The stars above the Xianzhou Luofu were more than just celestial bodies. To some, they were the beacons of destiny; to others, the silent witnesses of countless ages. Jing Yuan, Arbiter-General of the Xianzhou Alliance and leader of the Cloud Knights, often found solace in the stillness of space. His usual calm demeanor belied the depth of his experience—he had lived long enough to see civilizations rise and fall, and yet he remained an unwavering fixture among the cosmos. His time was spent in quiet vigilance, managing peace through foresight and precision.

However, peace was never absolute.

One day, while taking his customary walk through the royal garden aboard the Luofu, he sensed something... unusual. A faint, almost imperceptible presence—a flutter of movement that didn’t belong to any known creature. It piqued his interest, though his expression remained neutral, a quiet curiosity lurking beneath his composed facade.

It wasn't long before he discovered the source of the disturbance: a small figure darting between the blooming flowers. A tiny creature, no bigger than a hand, with delicate wings shimmering in the moonlight. Her wings glowed faintly as she tried to remain hidden among the petals.

Jing Yuan paused, observing her from a distance. He had seen many strange things in his long years, but this was new. The creature was obviously not of any known species within the Xianzhou Alliance—at least, not one he'd ever encountered.

As if sensing his gaze, the fairy froze, her wings vibrating as she turned to face him. Her eyes locked with his sharp gaze, and for a moment, there was a palpable silence between them, the air thick with unspoken understanding.

“You are… lost, little one?” Jing Yuan's voice, smooth as silk, cut through the stillness.

The fairy, though small, stood her ground. “I… I didn’t mean to intrude,” she replied, her voice soft yet tinged with a quiet sadness. “My race is no more. I... I was born to a dying world, and when I had the chance, I fled. This ship... it passed by my planet, and I… I took a chance.”

Jing Yuan's gaze softened, a flicker of empathy in his eyes. “You are far from home. And yet, here you are, trying to find a place where none exists.”

The fairy nodded, unsure of how to proceed. "I don't know where else to go. I don’t even know where I am."

“Xianzhou Luofu,” Jing Yuan explained gently. “A place for the living and the lost.”

For the next few days, they spent time together, him guiding her through the intricacies of the Luofu while she marveled at the new world. Despite her small size, she seemed to have an insatiable curiosity, exploring everything from the ornate architecture to the vast skies above. Jing Yuan found himself drawn to her quiet resilience. There was an ethereal grace to her—an aura of sadness, yet also one of hope, as if she sought to rebuild what had been lost.

It was on the fourth day that the first magical change occurred.

As Jing Yuan watched the fairy with a rare smile, she suddenly shimmered, her wings glowing brighter than ever before. The light expanded, and in an instant, the small figure before him grew, her form shifting until she stood at the height of a normal human. The fairy stumbled a bit at the change, adjusting to her newfound size, while Jing Yuan simply observed with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

"Are you... alright?" he asked, though his voice was laced with concern.

"I... I think so," she replied, testing her newfound height, stretching her arms out. "This is... so strange. I can feel everything so much clearer. The ground feels different under my feet. The air... it’s more expansive." Her voice was filled with wonder, but also confusion. "How is this even possible?"

Jing Yuan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I suspect it has something to do with the magic of the stars. It is rare for such transformations to occur, but not impossible. We will need to take this slowly, however."

The fairy nodded, her face a mix of awe and unease. "But... what do I do now?"

Jing Yuan gave a small, reassuring smile. "Now, you learn how to live in this form."

And so, they spent days together as she adjusted to her new life. Jing Yuan was patient, offering guidance as she navigated this new world. He took her to quiet corners of the Luofu, showing her how to blend in with the other inhabitants without drawing too much attention. Though her heart was still heavy with the weight of her past, the new world she now inhabited seemed to offer her a glimpse of possibility.

She found herself growing fond of the gentle commander. There was an ease about him that made her feel safe. His calm, calculating demeanor was a balm to the uncertainty she carried in her heart. He never judged her for her past; rather, he listened, offering advice without pressure.

And as the days passed, she noticed something in his eyes—a warmth, a subtle affection that had begun to grow between them. Though he rarely showed it, the fairy could feel it. He was not just the strategic leader of the Cloud Knights; he was a man who, despite his wisdom and his years, had never lost the ability to care deeply for others.

Yet, Jing Yuan’s feelings were more complicated than they seemed. He had lived for centuries, seen countless faces come and go, but the fairy was different. She was a symbol of lost innocence, of something pure that had somehow survived the ravages of time. As she adjusted to her new form, Jing Yuan found himself yearning to protect that fragile hope she carried within her—a hope he hadn’t realized he still possessed until she arrived.

"You've changed." he said one evening as they sat atop the Luofu’s highest tower, watching the stars. The wind carried a soft hum through the air, and the fairy’s wings fluttered gently in the breeze.

"How so?" she asked, looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

"You've become... more than just a wisp of light in the darkness," he replied, his voice soft. "You’ve become a part of this place, and in doing so, a part of me."

The fairy looked at him, her heart fluttering, and for the first time in ages, she felt like she was home. She had found a friend, and perhaps, something more.

The path ahead was uncertain, but for now, they walked it together, side by side.

And for Jing Yuan, though time had long since stripped him of the ability to feel the simple joys of life, this fairy—this once tiny, fragile creature—had brought a spark of warmth back into his world.

[bixels]

Posting a sneak-peak of this now because I'm about to be In The Shit school workload-wise, so this'll take me a while to finish.

Doing some character design exploration/expression sheets for Celestia and Luna. Figuring out Celestia's weird ass anatomy while I'm at it.

[sansculottides]

pisses me off to no end when people on reddit or whatever complain that the show wouldve been better off without the tuunbaq.....did we watch the same show? the tuunbaq is everything, it held everything together. the tuunbaq is the main transformative element of the terror. the tuunbaq elevates the text beyond mere historical fact and lets it say something about the expedition's broader context of imperialism. it hunted the british men who were trampling on its home as a mere stopover, a side casualty, to finding the northwest passage (for, you know, "trade with china" after britain beat china into submission after the imperialist opium war). silna couldnt complete a proper ritual with it because of the british men - just as british colonizers have historically intruded and disrupted the practice of indigenous culture. and in the end the tuunbaq dies, after all the injuries it's taken from the british over the course of 10 episodes and finally chokes to death on the worst of them. because there's no escaping the reality of colonial history, and there is especially no fantastical escape for the colonizer. there's no proper way for us to move forward otherwise.

good historical fiction doesnt have to limit itself to accuracy - it needs empathy to draw out meanings in history using literary craft. thats what the tuunbaq means to me.... if you wanted a straight depiction of historical record, just go watch a documentary.. TUUNBAQ DENIERS DNI

[highlysuspiciousstew]

[strangertheories]

I really despise the Marvelification of Stranger Things, because all the interviews nowadays are constantly referencing how fast paced and epic and big the finale will be but the reason people fell in love with the show wasn't special effects or long episodes; it was the plot, it was the characters, it was the mystery. Stranger Things 1 may have been a story about a government conspiracy and a monster, but that's not why we stuck around. The show can throw amazing CGI, Russians, a battle within the American army and an apocalypse at the audience with the biggest budget known to man but if they forget to ground it and keep it central, it'll just get lost amongst a plethora of other "epic" blockbusters. We want Steven King, not Avengers.