#especially because they were all getting paid for this

[skaletoncarnage]

I think it should be noted that, and I see this EVERY DAY working in the games industry, a lot of the guilt comes from the very real lack of IRL protest action. It looks more like "Bury your friends in the morning... dance all night," and in the Media Creation Class (i.e. not just artists but people paid to do art by corporations) "bury" often means "they were laid off" or "moved away and stopped working in the arts". We think of seeing posts of atrocities across the world in this same way as burying our friends, but there is little real-world action or organization that results from it that affects our daily lives, hence this pervasive feeling of guilt. (Do not stop boosting posts about Palestine or deportations or any of the many current issues, but do it while finding real-world places to support these causes! I am clearly not talking about providing financial support to refugees or trans or disabled ppl who can't pay their bills.)

I helped organize a union, the first to get a viable wall-to-wall contract in the industry, and a big sentiment during it was "Everybody feels bad and no one will show up to the in-person events or do the direct actions we are taking to make people feel less bad." The most difficult part to union organizing, which has since influenced California law, a real-life result, was getting people to show up more than once. Getting people to show up for other people they were in the same room with every day. The union tried to host fun events, but most organizing is not fun work, and it took a lot of convincing people to do not fun work even though it would directly benefit them. This is especially true in the Media Creation Class, which recruits young and exploitable employees by posing itself as the Fun Kind of Work!

Yeah, it's important to help people unwind in these stressful times. But you need something to unwind from. If you're just going to work, reblogging some awareness posts, and then retreating into fiction to unwind, you WILL feel guilty, because you do not have a real-life result from actions of resistance, you are just practicing basic survival! Because social media posts, while being useful for bringing awareness to actions of resistance and changing narratives being spread in real life, are not real-life actions in themselves. Join an art collective, a homeless outreach program, a library club, ANYTHING!

OP is making escapism and feels guilty about it. At the end of the day we cannot escape reality, no matter how hard we try. Show up in the real world. Fight escapist tendencies being your first choice of action after work. Your work will feel more fulfilling when you see real-world results. Art is revolutionary when it spurs real-life action. Steven Universe did not legalize gay marriage or give us gender-neutral drivers license markers, but it made it easier for people in real life to show up to do the work necessary. And now examples like that are being taken from us because the right is Showing Up IRL and Doing The Work. It goes both ways. Art is important, but not as important as real life.

Feeling rough lately.

[ninikrumbs]

Kiss tax

Caleb x reader. Established relationship. Height difference. Slightly suggestive. Fluff. Love and deepspace

Caleb has always been supportive of you –whether it was new found hobbies or random competitions and contests that you happened to join on a whim, consequently dragging him into it. He didn't mind though. As long as it was with you.

So it was no surprise that Caleb supported your new reading habit. You were obsessed with books lately, with genres varying from fantays to romance. And now, it wasn't strange for Caleb to find you in a bookstore. You could browse books for hours on end. And of course he would be patiently waiting for you. Gazing fondly as he zoomed in on your focused eyes and pouty lips, indecision decorating your face.

Caleb often hold your books when the pile got too tall. And he'd spoil his favourite girl to no end as he paid for all of them no matter the amount.

But this didn't come for free though. Nope, you had to pay Caleb tax as he would say it. You rolled your eyes at first, thinking it was just some ridiculous joke. But then..

"Uh-uh, pip-squeak. You know the rules." He grins mischievously, holding the book over his head.

A few seconds ago, you had asked him to pick up a book on a much higher shelf. You should have known he’d have such evil plans behind those puppy dog eyes because now he's holding your book hostage.

Glaring at his stupidly tall frame, you whine, "Caleb! Stop playing around!"

He laughs as he watches you try to jump and reach for your book, crushing yourself against him. It only made him grin wider.

After a moment, he floats the book above his head eith his evol. Before you could complain some more he leans down and crowds you against the book shelf, hands on either side of you head. He smiles successfully like a predator who managed to trap his prey, "I'll give you the book, but you have to pay the tax."

Huffing in retaliaton, you look up at him, "You’re so childish."

Your comment doesn't seem to faze him, instead he merely smirks, "So what?"

When you didn't answer, he adds, "What'll be, pip-squeak?"

Pursing you lips, you look side to side to make sure no one was paying attention to the both of you. Luckily, you were covered by rows of bookshelves.

After a moment, you sigh as you stand on your toes, lips parted. Whispering against his mouth, "You win, dummy."

Your arms snakes around his neck, pulling him down to meet tou halfway as you close the disrance between your lips. He grins into the kiss, arms dropping to your back and waist, pulling you flush agaisnt him. You feel your cheeks heat up as Caleb kisses you deeper, lips moving slow yet pressing against you so intensely it makes your toes curl and somewhere in your nether regions, throb. His neediness felt in every push.You whimper against his lips, the sound making him groan in response.

A hard thud from beside you snaps you back into reality. The book that was floating above his head had falled down to the hard wood floor. You quickly push him away with you palms against his chest.

"Caleb, you're getting carried away!" You whisper-shout.

"Oops, my bad. Sorry." He sounded anythimg but. Especially with his heavy lidded eyes and satisfied smirk.

Its makes you groan, sliding hands down your face. "I swear, I can't take you anywhere."

He shrugs dramatically, as if everything was out of his hands, "What can we do? those are the rules, pips."

You gawk at him, "You made the rules! And at home you said it would only be a peck!"

Making a noncommittal noise, he pretends to think about it. "Hmm, did I?"

"You're shameless, you know that?"

The annoying grin that graces his face could rival the sun, "As long as it gets me what I want, I don't mind being shameless."

[hrrtshape]

i am finally at financial peace and my 3d is bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!. or how i climbed my sisyphean mountain. or manifestation success story!!!!!!!!!! because i know people need loa blogger to show their results!!!!

emmanation. listen. i know after today some of you were looking at me like. oh. she's hit the limit. this is the peak. how could it possibly get better than balenciaga and multiple rounds of free café crème. and to that i say: babies of mine. don't tempt fate. of course it can get better. of course it will. that's literally the whole point of me being on this app. i’m everyone’s fairy godmother.

so. context: we splurged. a few monsters. maybe you saw the earlier post. but here's the part you don't know. just under two years ago, my mom's bakery empire lwk collapsed lol. roman republic style. one minute we were doing tasting menus for private chefs, the next i'm shoplifting m&ms because the cashier's back was turned and my lunch was a moral question. my mom had to start a whole new business from actual scratch. we're talking: me skipping school to crack ten dozen eggs. me piping gluten-free mille feulle at midnight. me doing admin work while covered in flour and let me be real, businesses don't exactly pull louis vuitton profits in year one. and yet.

last year for my birthday i had ice cream. no cake. i paid for my own lunch. and i smiled through it because what else do you do. this year? i got a 2.5k louis bag. limited edition. last one in paris. you tell me if that's a manifestation win.

(also yes. i've shifted. fifteen times since like. late jan. early feb. but with shifting it’s hard to PROVE???? it???? so here’s my manifestation success story lol because at least my cr is tangible.)

and before anyone asks why i'm not permashifting. the answer is obvious. my mom. she's in all my drs, yes. she's always fine there. but i can't leave her here yet. i just can't. not while there's still rent. not while i can still help. i don't care how many authors i am in how many timelines, she's my person.

and this matter to me. because. like. not just for the receipts. not just for the bag, i can get one in my drs lol. not even for the fact that the saleswoman said “this is the only one in-store in paris left” and my mom still said yes.

it matters because this is still my…………i dont know. not original place, but the place i’m in. the one i always woke up in. the one with the same street corners and same bank account passwords and same people who think change is slow or conditional or maybe not even possible. and i needed, needed!!!!!!!!!!! to prove that it is. that you can turn it all around with nothing but the words in your head. not a job, not a plan, not a miracle, just the assumption that it’s already done.

because i’ve been wanting a bag like this since i was like ten when i first saw regina george waltz around with that pink lv sakura bag. before i even knew what loa was. before shifting. before i could spell balenciaga properly. and when i started affirming it, when i started saying it’s mine over and over and over, it didn’t make sense. not with our finances, not with our timeline, not with what we had left in savings. like it shouldn’t have worked. but it DID. because i didn’t flinch. i said “it’s mine” even when it looked like a joke, even when we walked into the store with maybe zero intent to buy, even when the price tag could’ve said dream on.

and then it happened, and not because i had shifted or because i worked hard. or that i deserved it. but because i assumed. i decided it was mine and everything else rerouted.

so no. this isn't me going “yay look at my hauls!!!” this is me going: this is the chapter where i realise reality really does melt if you keep poking it. i’m telling you because it’s real. you don’t have to wait, you don’t have to earn. you just have to assume. and keep assuming even when the world says you’re dumb for it. especially then. that’s when it’s working.

and i only started understanding loa properly-properly like. three months ago? and already the dominoes are going down!!!!!!!!!!i'm telling you!!!!!!!it's not about how. you already know how. the part you're scared of is doing it without flinching, so do it. don't wait for it to feel holy. don't wait to be worthy. just assume. it's so much closer than you think, i promise, i really, really promise.

[rhisturn]

dare i say, this is getting a bit ridiculous now.

the no video after tour was enough tbh, if you think about it from the other way around, people, including myself, paid thousands of dollars/pounds to be at tour, travelled 16 hours in my case, and then we couldn’t even get a vid.. i completely understand in that case they needed to rest, but wasn’t it like 2 whole weeks since tour ended at that point.

but what’s the excuse now, this isn’t the first time in the past couple months they’ve done this either. the stalking situation cannot be used as reasoning either because matt especially has been the most active he’s been in months this past week, and if that was the issue they would have gone completely silent. if they were to have been silent all week, and not post today because of the situation. i would have 100% understood, i’m sure we all would. but that hasn’t been the case

i get nervous saying this shit because people lick their arses so bad in this fandom. like i love them so much, but it’s okay to call them out. they’ve one ‘public’ obligation a week, to post a 20 minute video on a friday at 2:30. that’s it. they don’t do anything else anymore. it’s not like we’re getting hours of twitch streams, wednesday videos, podcasts or anything. one video is all they gotta do. bare in mind it pays their rent, is their source of income, is the reason they are where they are. like how are we struggling with ts.

of course it’s also okay to be late with things, it happens. but again, this is their job. haven’t they been doing this long enough for this to be a non existent problem anymore. schedule videos if you know your gonna be busy or if there’s a chance your gonna miss a post. but the thing that bothers me if the lack of communication, being almost an hour late at this point is one thing, but for there to also be complete radio silence, is ridiculous. if your running late or even if you aren’t gonna post. it takes a second to tell us. they’ve got no communication skills with us anymore

i understand not wanting to talk to us like they used to, especially after the past week. but it’s still, again, their fucking job to do this shit. i feel like it’s not a lot to expect. this is probaly at this point the most hate they’ve ever gotten in their career with the ‘their falling off’ and ‘their gonna quit soon’ shit, so if that isn’t the case wouldn’t you go out of the way to improve your content and do the absolute most to ensure people stop talking. not to make it worse, again.

i feel like it this point it’s starting to piss everyone off. at the end of the day, their 21 year old men and this is their only job. when they do stuff wrong, we don’t have to baby them and act like the lack of accountability or communication is okay. in their line of work, that is quite literally their only responsibility. and even amongst everything going on with the hate at the minute. they clearly still don’t care.

this obviously isn’t just about not posting today, cs that would be slightly dramatic lol. but this has been a problem for months and months. even before tour. there’s no excuses anymore.

edit:

well chris has just posted a pic on instagram and nick is liking posts so clearly their all fine and there’s nothing wrong for all the people using that as an excuse. they just don’t even have the decency to tell us anymore, love this dynamic we’ve got going on with them now. 10/10 communication

don’t rip me to shreds please and thanks :)

[annie-ave]

t.w. sexual coercion/sexual content

for the TRA's stalking my blog rn)

i actually have slept with a transwoman before y'know.

it was summer after i got out of highschool, i was on dating apps screwing around trying to forget the female best friend i was in love with, hooking up with random men who were six years older than me in random parking lots. damaging myself emotionally basically, because that's what everyone else was doing.

it was consensual sex, although she did insist on not using a condom bc she "couldn't get me pregnant".

I found out later that the relatively short time she'd been on cross sex hormones meant she could, in fact, get me pregnant. I paid for the emergency contraception myself without even asking (even though i was broke af and had just been kicked out by my parents for fucking women) because I didn't want to risk hurting her feelings on her sex and causing dysphoria.

I was 18 and a massive TRA who cared about everyone's comfort but my own.

For years afterwards, i let her talk down to me about how i'm more clocky than she is as a teenager transitioner, what with my hairy arms, PCOS stubble, and stocky shoulders.

It bruised me a bit then, but I prided myself on being a good ally. I shut my mouth because I'd learned from all my liberal feminist instagram activism pages that trans women were the most vulnerable of ALL women, and that they needed to be protected.

Socialized female in a Catholic home with a stay-at-home mother who left a six-figure salary to stay at home and raise my dads children so he could further his career, i'd been brought up to believe that self-sacrifice in women is a heavenly-endowed virtue.

As an annoying lefty from a really early age (still am despite the amount of ppl who want to insist im not a socialist bc i dont believe female people have a dick and balls), I always really LOVED the self-sacrificial aspect of modern activism.

The idea that I could be alleviating some woman's pain by taking on some of it as mine, even if it meant biting my tongue, was legitimately appealing especially because i'd been brought up to believe this was a woman's role.

This transwoman regularly posted online about her extensive drug use and wanting to kill herself so she could be reborn as a woman (even AFTER bottom surgery). I sent her long voicemails consoling her, trying to convince her she looked perfectly feminine on the outside. More feminine than ME certainly!!

And I wasn't lying. She does, she's stunning. When I was a TRA I'd pull up her photos at the dinner table to show my parents how feminine she was.

"Can you really say she's a MAN!" I'd shout, perfectly unaware of the misogyny inherent in assuming "looking feminine" defines womanhood.

I'd find that out for when we attended a sex party together (I went wild and hedonistic after leaving my Catholic household for undergrad, and many of these stories are regrettable but instructive).

I attended with my lover at the time, a sweet butch who was nonbinary herself. there was already a little tension in her attendance. The transwoman i'd slept with confessed, as if this was some horrid secret, that she'd matched with my lover on tinder and was almost convinced she didnt want to slep with her her becasue she was a transwoman.

I knew for a fact my lover had was a lesbian who had trauma with dicks. I also thought it would have been perfectly alright if she just didn't want dick. I had an embryonic idea that it was pretty misogynistic gay men weren't expected to want vagina to the same extent.

But i didn't want to think about that. I KNEW genital preferences were a "TERF dogwhistle".

So when she started pouting at the party after being rejected by my lover. for the second time (talkig sadly to me about how my lover didnt even want to KISS her, and that kissing had nothing to do with her dick and how it was so sooooooo horribly unfair that she didn't have a vagina of her very own) I did feel bad for her. I did see she was in pain. I didn't want her to be in pain. I didn't want my lover to be pilloried for transphobia.

when she asked me if i'd kiss her instead, it didn't seem like a hard decision to let her, even though I had zero sexual interest in her after our first encounter.

i didn't say no- I let her grope me a bit without asking, and consented to touching her chest in return. I did refuse to go further.

it didn't matter. she accused my lover of being a TERF the next day. my lover who also identified as trans.

I still visited her in L.A. after her bottom surgery. This was when I was halfway through discovering radical feminism, and still feeling like a bigot for thinking that the research on children transitioning was actually pretty low quality. I internalized what all my friends told me about TERFS, but I'd also accepted I agreed with radfems. I confided in my partner about how evil I was, convinced i'd be single afterwards. My partner told me I would be ok, as long as I didn't start speaking up about it. how really everyone kind of had these feelings and its most important we let people make their own choices. So i decided to bite my tongue some more. and then she asked me to come see her in L.A.

When I saw her she was still in a lot of pain, especially when dilating (but very happy with her results on the whole). She wasn't well enough to go get food with me so I held her hand and got her water while she lay in her hotel room bed.

I've also seen her since I peaked fully, and despite what some of you might think, no dear reader I did not decide to be awful to her about her transition for no reason, use the "wrong" pronouns, say she looked manly (she doesn't), or tell her I was a radfem.

I didn't see a reason too.

Some part of me didn't want to hurt her, but it was also a pragmatic decision given the kind of online reach she has.

We happened to both be in the same city on vacation so we met for dinner. She regaled me with stories of the sex parties she's been participating in since I left for grad school, complaining that at a recent one only 4/10 of the girls there wanted to sleep with her even though she HAS a vagina now!

she didn't seem to think about the possibility that "a vagina" is not the sole determinant of whether a lesbian would want to sleep with you or not. i see her posting on instagram sometimes about how that hoagie murdereress is a victim of state violence.

i do still reach out to her when i see her struggling. i'm not heartless, but i fully confess to feeling differently when I see her featured as a transitioning success story in the news.

We come from a conservative state originally, and she really likes the camera.

i realize that at this point she can't go back even if she wanted too, and like many (if not most!) radfems i dont support banning HRT for adults partially because I worry about the health impacts of people who have gotten so many surgeries that their bodies physically are unable to create their natal hormones.

I don't want anyone to be hurt no matter how much you think I do. But I no longer believe that means I have to stay quiet and prostrate myself to the idea that humans can change sex.

and I want every female person reading this to know, you do NOT have to sleep with anyone you don't enthusiastically want to sleep with. Self sacrifice in women is NOT a unilateral virtue.

[op1umeyes]

Dealer!Ellie who hopes it wasn’t a one time thing. She’d waited soooooo long and can’t let you slip through her fingertips- especially when your fuckass boyfriend didn’t appreciate you like Ellie knew she could!!

     Dealer!Ellie eventually starts texting you more- starting off with simple ‘how was your day?’s, a ‘what do you think of the new sci-fi movie that just released?’ and even a ‘are you bored? wanna come over?’ And BOY HOWDY does she feel nervous after hitting send. But you replied ‘I’d love to! >:D’ to her last and most palpitation-inducing text so now Ellie really needs to think about what to say when you came over.

     If you heard Dealer!Ellie was nervous about having you over, you would have scoffed. Ellie had you on her couch- talking, mind you- talking about anything and everything under the sun lickety split. And as you went over more to hang out with your ‘friend’ (your boyfriend… was unaware of the activities you and Ellie participated in), Ellie had movies lined ip for you to pick from. But more often than not, you would be sliding into Ellie’s lap before the movie was half over.

     Maybe Dealer!Ellie should have asked when you first started fucking if feelings were allowed: because gee whiz was Ellie catching feelings! She decided that she shouldn’t tell you. Ellie figured that friends with benefits behind your boyfriend’s back would be all she could acquire. But boy were the benefits good. You and Ellie alternated between top and bottom and there was no actual domination happening in the bedroom or on the couch but the chaos of it all added to the appeal.

     Dealer!Ellie didn’t think she could ever get used to the feeling of your hands on her tits, the plush warmth of your lips trailing down her neck, or the heavenly sounds that spilled from your lips as Ellie made you cum on her tongue. It should have been enough… but it wasn’t. That’s the thing about Ellie: she’s greedy.

    After a ‘study night’ with Dealer!Ellie, you decided to text your boyfriend to let him know you’d just stay over at Ellie’s. As you slid into a pair of grey sweatpants and went to the bathroom to tie up your hair, Ellie pulled out a blunt. When you came back out and sat beside Ellie you accepted the burning joint. Ellie watched your lips and before she could stop herself, she said “I want you.”

     You exhaled slowly and looked at Dealer!Ellie curiously. “What?” Ellie melted to the back of the couch. Fucking Christ. She should not have said anything. But she went on with “I fucked up and started liking you. I- you know, your boyfriend is a piece of shit and you are the most amazing person I’ve met and I don’t know what’s wrong with my ability to not like you, but I do. I like whenever you come over and we talk and you smile at me and I like when you call me your nicknames and I like when you make me forget about how i should not like you but of course I fuck up and now it’s not just the sex that I want. It’s… you.”

     Golly gee wilkers does Dealer!Ellie want to swan dive out of her window! “I’m going to break up with him,” is what you say to Ellie’s confession. “I’m going to break up with him and I want to date you. You’ve paid more attention to me and made me cum harder than he has in all of our whopping year and a half.”

     And if that isn’t the sexiest thing Dealer!Ellie’s heard, she doesn’t know what is. 

[spookysanta]

Can u do a spin version of Lessons in Chivalry? Like reader has a hard time understanding as to why he wants to do all this things for even though she is pretty capable of doing all the things that Michael wants to do for her. She loves her independents and has self satisfaction when she can take care of herself without having to rely on a man even if he is being a gentleman.

I may be projecting but when I read this I was like would I let my man do this for me I don’t know. I would see myself sadly getting a little irritated by the fact I couldn’t spend my money and having to hear “you could have just used my card” well I don’t because I have my own money. U can just completely ignore this if you want.

No hate to the fic or you as a writer. Love the fics you make ❤️

Hi bby! Thank you for asking this. I think this is a great spin-off idea. Especially since a lot — not all — of us were ingrained with the idea that we had to do things ourselves, grow up quick, etc. So our hyperindependence is not something that we can just.. let go of. And I’m definitely in that category, too.

Here’s what I’m thinking about it.

His love language is acts of service, for sure. So it doesn’t always register to him that you’d want to do things on your own, for yourself.

And it would definitely be an argument, too. Because though you like that he loves you enough to literally uproot his entire day, just to make sure you’re taken care of, he doesn’t have to do that. You’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, and just because he’s come along, that doesn’t mean that he gets to swoop in and just… make your hard work up to now obsolete.

—

You stand at the kitchen counter, your fingers drumming a frustrated rhythm on the cool marble. The overhead light casts a soft glow, catching on the half-eaten takeout containers littering the sink, clear evidence of the kind of day it’s been. A headache throbs behind your eyes, and all you want is to sit down with a glass of wine and breathe.

But Michael’s voice cuts through the room, gentle but unrelenting. “Hey, I took care of the car today. Oil change, new wipers, and I paid the mechanic already.”

You blink, stunned for a moment. “You… what?”

He grins, like he’s done something wonderful. “Yeah. Thought I’d save you the trouble. They said it was overdue.”

You can feel your heart sink, like he’s cracked something open you’ve been holding together with spit and willpower. “Michael, I told you I was handling that.”

His brows draw together, his smile fading. “No I know, but I had time, and I figured—”

“No,” you interrupt, voice sharper than you intend. “You figured you could handle it better. Like I’m some little girl who can’t keep up with her own shit.”

His jaw tightens, his hands bracing against the counter. “That’s not what I meant. I was just trying to help.”

You feel the tears sting, but you refuse to let them fall. “It’s not helpful when you just — do it without asking me. I budgeted for that, Michael. I was gonna handle it. I like knowing I can take care of myself.”

He runs a hand over his face, that familiar furrow between his brows deepening. “I know you can. I know you don’t need me for everything.”

“Then why do you keep swooping in?” Your voice cracks, raw and trembling. “Why does it feel like you’re always fixing things before I even get a chance to try?”

His eyes meet yours, dark and soft and somehow so damn apologetic it makes your chest ache. “Because that’s how I show I care. That’s how I was raised, okay? You take care of the people you love. You take things off their plate so they can breathe.”

“But what if I want to handle my own plate, Michael?” You drop your gaze, shoulders heavy. “What if I need that to feel like myself?”

Silence stretches between you, thick and humming with unspoken things. He steps closer, his warmth wrapping around you even though he doesn’t touch you yet. “Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it like that. I see you running yourself ragged all the time, and it makes me want to help. I’ll ask next time, okay? I’ll let you do your thing.”

Your eyes lift, meeting his. You nod stiffly, slightly hating that this is the hill you’re choosing to die on. “I know. I don’t mind you trying to help, and most of the time it is helpful, even though it makes me feel weird.” You let out a heavy sigh, like you didn’t realize this was sitting so heavily on your shoulders. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m pushing you away, I just … need to feel like I can stand on my own two feet sometimes.”

His hand cups your cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear you didn’t even realize had fallen. “And you do. Every day, you prove that to me. I just need to get better at proving to you that I see it.”

You lean into his touch, your anger fading as quickly as it came. “I love you.”

He smiles, soft and knowing. “I love you too. Even when you’re mad at me.”

—

I think overall there’d be a compromise. Like he wouldn’t cart you around everywhere as much, or he’d back off on the credit card thing — unless it’s for big purchases. He’s not budging on that.

And he’d also ease up on the lectures. I think part of the reason he used to be so adamant about it is because he’s seen your frustration and exhaustion as a result of overworking yourself and stressing about finances. Because when you first started dating, there’d be that clear discrepancy of yes, you’re capable of taking care of yourself, but obviously, he’s in a completely different tax bracket. 

So his perspective would be that, he’s in a position to allow you to relax and, in his mind, it’d be the perfect dynamic where he handles everything so that his pretty girl can just be … pretty. No money stress. No car stress. Nothing. But for you, that's just not reasonable (all the time).

The other thing that I think would have to ultimately be a mutual compromise, would be like what things do you handle on your own? I think for him, his biggest thing would be to make you feel like you’re able to maintain your independence but not fall into the trap of not asking for help when you actually need it.

So maybe he’d handle your car’s insurance and gas (he’s not budging on pumping your gas, either), while you handle maintenance. We know he loves to cook, so you might get groceries on your way home from yoga (both paid for with your own money), and he’ll cook for you.

But there are also some things that you’ll willingly let him handle because.. duh. Like personally, I don’t want to pay for my nails — all the shit I get done on my nails? shieeeet take this bill, pls (one of these days I’ll share a pic). 

Or my hair. 

Or a spa day.

Or trips. I want to glide when I travel. So in my head, that’d fully be on him.

Ultimately, his goal would be to prove to you that he’s all in. No holds barred, no questions about his commitment — just you. And because you’re his person, and more importantly, he’s your person, there’d have to be a rhythm that you find where there’s a balance between letting him have his moment, and him letting you have yours.

Hopefully that answers your question, my love! ❤️

[bigtreefest]

Chapter 1: Well Begun…

From: Kill For Me Series

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Dark! Reader

Summary: After completion of a contract in Monaco, two super soldiers seem to be hot on a trail. They just don’t know that it’s yours.

Word Count: 2,032

Content/Warnings: 18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI, dark themes, swears, namecalling, mentions of suicide, killing, and death, mercenary themes, pessimistic reader (I kinda love it tho? What do you expect? She’s a dark villain), no physical descriptions of reader however she is able to blend into many environments, me using google translate for French. I’m sorry.

A/N: If you’re a fluent French speaker and I said something wrong, please don’t be shy to let me know. Otherwise, translations of the few sentences used are at the bottom.

Ty for pushing me to finish this @krirebr

Please enjoy and I’ll give you a forehead kiss if you comment or reblog!

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Next >

“Give it up. We have you surrounded.”

You could hear the booming voice of an all-too-familiar public figure through your earpiece. It wasn’t directed at you, though. It was towards your last ally standing. Well, you guess you’d call him an ally only on a good day. He was more of an acquaintance. No, scratch that… contractual obligation. His presence was something that was helping you get paid, but apparently, not anymore.

You watched from a distant window, hardly in range of your coms as the avengers descended on the last remaining member of a team that had been assembled to acquire a relic. One that looked ancient to anyone on Earth who couldn’t be bothered to learn about what lied beyond, but was far more advanced than most human comprehension. Especially that of most of the humans you had encountered lately.

They were all useless meat heads. Probably in this profession because of brute strength, definitely not brain power. That you could be sure of. That’s how that poor scrub ended up cornered by Earth’s mightiest heroes, surely because he couldn’t identify a trap until it was right upon him.

Luckily, his loss wouldn’t ruin the mission. The only reason you’d agreed to take on this one is because you were getting paid more. You always did. And it was deserved.

This was the seventh job you’d been sent on by someone faceless, asking for retrieval of relics that were just like the one tucked up under your bra and the top of your high waistband now, secured by a compression tank and concealed with an oversized sweater and jacket. Oh how you loved European winter fashion. The best for concealing this thing, that you could only describe as a stone slab, slate gray marbled with a translucent yellow streak, covered in runes. You’d say the marbling was a little brighter, more shiny and intriguing as opposed to the similar slab with green instead that you had picked up the month before.

You leaned forward more, looking out at your cornered former teammate, like many of the other residents of the area were doing as the scene unfolded. With everyone hanging out their windows and stopped on the street, so distracted by the event that you could hardly see past the corner of another building in your way, you decided this would be the perfect time to flee.

You pulled out your earpiece and stomped it to flush it down the toilet before you shoved all your belongings into your leather backpack, and slipped on your sunglasses, gracefully running down the stairs and out the door, into the streets of Milan.

If you were right, then just like all the other times, the super crew was still distracted by your former colleague. They were probably already questioning him, lecturing him about goodness, and attempting to tie up loose ends, unaware of the suicide pill in his mouth. Weird die-hard mercenaries. You rolled your eyes at the thought. Only amateurs needed that sort of cop-out. Although, it was surprising none of them had accidentally used the pills thus far, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for such dolts.

Now you just had to get out of here and make your way to Monaco. The quicker, the better, but not too fast as to avoid raising any suspicion. You looked over your shoulder one last time at the crowded street, making sure no one was following you, before slipping into a car that had been planted and driving towards the border.

As you double checked your mirrors for a tail, you faintly made out a spot of blue next to the reflection of the sun off what you assumed to be a metal arm. What you missed as your face pointed back towards the street, though, was the way curious blue eyes under a mop of dark brown hair caught the motion of a vehicle at the back of the crowd.

It was a long drive between the two cities, at least for most Europeans, but this was really nothing for you. Other jobs had been far worse than this one. By the time you were arriving, the sun was just about to sink beneath the horizon, nearly blinding you on most of your drive westward. At least it was a nice view, though. Shame you were only out here for assignments, but maybe one day, once you saved enough, you’d take a vacation.

You pulled up near the outskirts, ditching your car. It was only a short walk to a small bed and breakfast near the center of town. Going to get a room out of sight on the edge would be too expected and easy to find, not to mention isolated where you couldn’t blend in as easily, and all the major hotels wanted forms of payment that were too traceable, plus, you knew they’d have security. This was perfect. Anyone else would probably expect you to be somewhere less traveled first before coming to a crowded city center, and a mom and pop running the place probably weren’t fully up to time with keeping cameras in their old villas. The gorgeous view didn’t hurt, either. It almost reminded you of one you remembered from your childhood. Calm. Serene. Full of life and culture and innocence. Almost.

No time for reminiscing, though.

The jangle of a bell on the door signaled your entrance to the lobby. Out of a back room emerged a stout woman, a smile on her face, as she asked if you needed a room. You smiled politely, not wanting to be memorable for anything, and replying in French. She nodded, going back into the back room and emerging once again with a key, sliding it over to you and stating the fee.

“Est-ce que l'argent liquide est accepté? Je ne suis là que pour une nuit.”

She nodded.

After completing the exchange,

You quickly turned around and headed up the stairs. No need to be in the open more than necessary for this mission. Just enough that you didn’t raise suspicion more than any old tourist. You’d go out again for dinner, and to double check you didn’t have a tail.

Steve sighed with his hands on his hips, pacing the sidewalk outside of the major hotel just outside the city where Bucky had tracked a car to, just to see it abandoned. He was exhausted. It had already been a long day, and there was another suspect lost regarding these mystery missions that were popping up all over the world. All Steve knew was that some type of alien tech or something was being collected for someone powerful. Dangerous with high-paying contracts and ghost mercenaries. Some of which would rather die for their cause than give up information, apparently.

Even as a super soldier, his body was growing weary, but he pushed himself for Bucky’s whim: one that the rest of the team didn’t follow, instead heading back to New York to regroup. Steve trusted Bucky’s instincts, and the opportunity to see more of the world was never something he turned his nose up at, although he knew it would take a backseat to the mission. All he could do right now, though, was follow his friend deeper into the heart of the city where they hoped to gain information, and then take a tactical nap before the jet picked them up in the morning.

As the night began to grow cold, it was almost time for the drop. All you’d need to do was exchange the tablet in your bag with another that was draped off the bench of a couple sitting on a cliff. Remote, but not too much. Just enough seclusion to keep cover. Should be easy. Red dress, white shirt, sandals and loafers was all the intel on the targets you were given. But luckily, that combination was singular tonight.

They sat in idle conversation, looking over the deep blue water. You approached steadily, with grace calm enough to not be spotted, and leaned down to compliment her pearls, your hand reaching behind her to make the swap.

As you slung the new bag over your shoulder, you strutted back to the inn to prepare for dinner.

Steve wiped a hand down his face in an attempt to clear some of the tiredness he was feeling from his eyes. It was only partially effective, at least not as much as Bucky’s metal elbow in his ribs through the dress shirt.

“Look alive, punk. We’re here to gather some information.”

Steve nodded with a deep breath, heading to the bar in the rustic, outdoor restaurant. He stood by the counter and gave his order before sitting down at the only empty seat, next to someone who really caught his eye, that just happened to be you.

Red wine had already started to stain your lips from the few sips you’d had since you sat down. You hadn’t expected to be faced with the two Avengers so quickly, though, but something told you Steve sitting next to you was purely coincidental. All he gave was a curt nod, his eyes scanning elsewhere in the venue.

“La vue est magnifique, n'est-ce pas?”

You looked up from your glass, surprised he was talking to you. You had to play this the right way, though. The inn keepers already knew you spoke French and you didn’t want any discrepancies. Maybe you could pose as a Canadian tourist to him? Just to avoid suspicion. Canadians are rarely villainous, anyhow.

“Oui, le meilleur que j'ai vu.”

He smiled as his glass was placed in front of him. He grabbed it and tipped it towards yours, a silent offering for a toast. You brought your hand up next to his and the vessels clinked.

“Les deux meilleurs que j'ai jamais vus.”

It looked like the captain had picked up some charm over his years, which was a nice surprise. Last you’d heard, he was a workaholic hung up on an old love, but something about him seemed different that that red, white, and blue persona that was so prominently plastered everywhere. There was something deep and sad, yet still righteous. You liked that, but you couldn’t let him see. Not when real feelings were a gateway to the real you.

You had to keep putting across as much feigned innocence as you could. When your eyes met his and you saw that sweet smile, you almost lowered your gaze in genuine embarrassment, but time on the job had made you much more calculated than that. So you still did it, but just purposefully, speaking down into your lap, starstruck to meet Captain America.

“Merci, c'est très gentil.”

And that must have sold him on his observations. You did the accent just well enough that it worked.

“Québécois? You’re Canadian?”

You giggled and nodded.

“I am.”

It was almost like you could see his shoulders visibly relax at the thought of something familiar. Moments like these made you glad such obvious tells were beaten out of you at such a young age. You could never give up your emotions that easily. It could get you killed or worse. But you supposed maybe he was lucky to live a life so innocent.

Steve’s smile grew even more as he offered out his hand.

“I’m Steve. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but have you seen anything suspicious around here?”

Way to kill the mood, golden boy. Internally, you were rolling your eyes, but externally, your brows were knit together in confusion and concern.

“No, but… should I have?”

He shook his head. “No, no. I was just wondering.”

You spun the glass with your fingers.

“Oh, okay. What a relief. I’m sorry to be blunt now, but…I hope that wasn’t all you stopped by here for. Would you maybe want to have a couple more glasses of wine with me?”

And possibly spill some secrets on just how much you know?

Steve grinned, so sweetly you might add. Ignorance truly is bliss sometimes when your enemy is the one whose knee is touching yours.

“I’d like that.”

Next >

Translations:

Est-ce que l'argent liquide est accepté ? Je ne suis là que pour une nuit. “Is cash okay? I’m only here for a night.”

La vue est magnifique, n'est-ce pas? “The view is magnificent, isn’t it?”

Oui, le meilleur que j'ai vu. “Yes, the best I have seen”

Les deux meilleurs que j'ai jamais vus. “The two best I have seen”

Merci, c'est très gentil. “Thank you, that’s very kind.”

Taglist: @cakesandtom @steviebbboi @awkwardgiraffe726 @hawkeyes-queen @ronearoundblindly @mercurial-chuckles @thiquefunlover63

[thelovelywriteress]

➷BABYSITTING YOUR BOSS𓂃 ࣪˖ ཐིཋྀ

─Dante Sparda x Reader

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢

﹉﹉﹉﹉﹉୨♡୧﹉﹉﹉﹉﹉

┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ ୨♡୧ ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣

You looked at a younger version of Dante, who was whistling, then at Lady, who give you a knowing nod. You once again looked at a younger version of Dante, who was smiling at you, then at Trish, who also give you a knowing nod.

"No way!"

You protest quickly. Why the hell you gotta waste your night taking care of Dante, especially kid Dante. That guy acts like kid in his normal body too, you can't imagine how annoying his kid version would be.

"Oh come on, he is your boss. See it as another of your task." Lady tried to convince you as Trish agree on her point.

"Yeah the tasks I already don't get paid for and now this."

"(Name)! (Name)! Do you hate me?" Little Dante grip your leg and give a puppy eyes much to your dismay.

"What the hell in the way is he talking?" You once again question the ladies in annoyance. Lady look bit nervous, much to your confusion but Trish quickly explain situation to you,"He do have his memories but just say except that he is all child. From body to mind."

"So you don't even me to take care of Dante but in fact babysit a literally child Dante?" You remark to show your frustrations but Trish simply nodded like finally happy you were understanding the situation.

"I-I will go!" Lady hurriedly left the scene which was concerning,"Is she alright?" You enquired but Trish simply shrugged,"Maybe she remembered something like I did that I still gotta enjoy the night." And with a wink she was also vanished from Devil May Cry.

Everyone left you and now it was just you and kid Dante who was gripping your leg like he is afraid you would left him.

You sighed. As much as you wanted to straight up beat your boss for not paying you on time and even then having audacity to ask you on dinner, you still weren't this cold to let out your angry on a child.

"Do you remember the time, when I ask for my salary but you said you didn't had any but next moment you were asking me to go out with you to eat that you will even pay for whole thing."

You asked through you didn't know why. You doubt anything you said will help your angry on normal Dante.

"Yeah because if I gave you money, you could have go to eat with someone else." Kid Dante said with a smile like he just solve hardest question of math while you just sighed. Yeah he is definitely not saying anything senseful but again you doubt normal Dante would say much different too if not same.

"Let's go." You called him in dead voice already feeling like some miserable single mother who had no money to handle the child.

You cautionsly hold Dante's hand, your maternal instinct taking over. All way the home, you were pulling him away from people on road and even at some point just hold him in your arms to make things easier for you.

"Here." You open and push the Dante inside before closing door behind. As his little eyes scanned the area and run inside to explore more of the place he is staying at.

You saw him looking around but once his eyes fall on you, looking at him from sidelines, Dante chorused your name as he run towards you but you get out his way before he would latch on you, causing him to hit with the table and making the things on it fall down.

"Ouch." He rubbed his head through he also get worried that now you will scold him which wouldn't be new but he didn't like it when his body was small.

Uncharacteristically you didn't throw him a glare or any words just stare down at him, like just casual stare. Totally unaffected, bored stare.

"Sit at the table." You order and pick up the fallen things before going through the fridge much to Dante's suprise.

"Sit at the table." You order and pick up the fallen things before going through the fridge much to Dante's suprise but he assumed you were only being like this because of how he looked.

You heat up whatever you supposed would fill their stomach and brought to them. Dante complaint about wanting Pizza but you told him to just eat whatever was in front of it.

Dante took a spoon and just put the hot food in his mouth, not realising it was way more hot than one needed while eating,"You didn't burn your tongue?" You asked with concern. Dante has a demon had great resistance but that moment, he quickly poked out his tongue and start fanning it.

You pass him the water before getting closer to him and taking and blowing on spoon and putting it near his mouth. Meanwhile Dante on inside was giggling. One would who would have feed him to dogs days ago is now feeding him food.

After the dinner you were once again at table staring at the young boy which made me feel little conscious.

"Aren't you a cute boy?" Your expected words scared him as you continue with your face resting on your palm,"Can't believe this cute face will belong to an annoying pest in few years?" Dante pout at your words but you didn't mind his reaction, in your eyes he was child─nothing.

"Okk now time to sleep." You pulled him but Dante resisted throwing a fit.

"I don't wanna sleep! I don't wanna sleep! I don't wanna sleep!" You moved his hand like a bird's wing as you let out an annoyed growl,"Tell me what can I do to make you sleep?" And that's what Dante was waiting to hear.

"I wanna you to pat my head!" He grinned with excitement as you tilted your head in confusion.

"You are now a cat?" You questioned as you watch Dante's satisfied reaction to you playing with his hair.

Next he wanted to ride on your back and commanded you to go there and do this and that, which was most hated part of this night.

Then he wanted to dance with you which with you guys height difference means you holding him in your arm and just moving in circles on your own which made you nauseous.

"Now I want to marry you." He stated as for a moment there was silence, he was scared that you catch on your act of finally snapped but which to his suprised you let out a tired ok.

Of course he was still extra. Not only did he ask you to provide two rings (which you get from the snacks) but also wanted you to wear something on your head as veil.

"(Name) I liked you. I know you think that I can't be serious and all that flirting of mine have no meaning but let me tell you that I do want to be with you. You may act so cold and annoying at times but I still remember in my depressive times you once never left my side, ensuring I eat and stay alive and even after delaying in your salary you still never stop coming. So let me have a chance to show you how much a gentleman I would be for you." He wholeheartedly confessed as you let out a weary 'yes, yes I get it' and ask him to just put the ring which he happily did and happily let you put yours on his finger too.

"Just sleep now." You fall on your back, feeling more exhausted then ever as Dante give you puppy eyes before his last demand.

"Can I sleep with you?"

"Why?"

"I feel scared in this new place."

"You won't make a noise?

"Nope."

"Do whatever you want."

Dante latch to your arm through you find it awkward and uncomfortable at start, you eventually doze off too.

In the morning you felt a hand pushing you into a chest as you felt difficulty to breath and eventually your started to flutter open.

"THE HELL?" You let a scream that definitely wake neighbours but not the Dante who has turn into his usual self again and his hugging you like some stuff toy.

Blood run to your face as you viciously pushed him off you,"Ahh (Name) such a nice morning. I wanna have a kiss." He puckered his lips, probably thinking he was still child and you would agree but you punch him instead, waking him completely.

"Way to wake your husband." He groaned as you throw him a glare to which he simply showed his finger with the ring you put night before. As you felt like this whole universe haad taken revenge from you Dante simply throw you a chessy grin,"Now you can't refuse me to go out to eat with him."

You stare at him, blood boling so your cheeks thinking how many hours did you let him hug you,"DANTE YOUR SO DEAD!" You pounce on him.

"No way each of you lie to me." You groaned, showing your disappointed at the trio through out of three only Lady took the accountability.

"Well he did turn into kid during fighting a monster to get the money you are always asking for so I don't see what was the problem with you taking him." Trish said not even sparing you the glance as her focus was on her nails on which she was putting paint.

"There is problem and one of them is you lied about his mental age too! He was just acting like kid." Once again only Lady apologized and other two keep on doing their own stuff.

"Atleast we know you will be a good mother." Dante joked before putting another pizza in his mouth as you shot him a glare.

"What did you say?"

"Remember we are married."

"Dante you are officially dead!"

Even a devil may want to enjoy night with his crush even if he had to deceive her.

[mothvalentino]

ཐིཋྀ "Of course you weren't.", Val comments with a smirk, amused to see Alastor somewhat flustered.

But his playful mood shifts into something more serious when his company explains himself further. To that habitual assumption, he can relate all too well.

"It's not a failing to be cautious. Especially in Hell."

Listening to Al play the banjo, Val tries to match his rhythm, which turns out to be harder than expected. And isn't that just another perfect analogy for their dynamic? First, holding pace, then losing step, one faster or slower than the other. Perhaps, it'll take more time. More practice.

"Before Vox and Velvette, I never felt like someone would take a bullet for me. Not because they get paid to protect me, at least. We fight a lot amongst ourselves, but I would double-die for them in a heartbeat. Don't tell them I said that though, I'd never hear the end of it. Sappy oversized bitch baby."

He snorts, seeing Vel in his mind's eye pointing a finger and making fun of him for being a softie.

"I used to think attachments were a weakness and maybe they are... it's just that I don't care if it makes me vulnerable anymore. Once someone becomes truly important to me... being close to them is worth the risk."

Looking at Alastor, Valentino gives a soft smile, indicating that his words may eventually apply to the deer, even if he doesn't say it out loud.

"...I wasn't implying that sex was the eventual outcome, but-"

Something. He doesn't know what, though. And the point is moot, regardless. But funnily enough, Valentino's allegory to instruments and bandmates is... Slightly more feasible for him to understand.

And though he hesitates, Alastor eventually turns back to settle in a seat near to the drum set that the other has occupied, sitting cross-legged on the floor as he snaps his fingers to manifest his conjured banjo. It's not the primary instrument that one might consider as a partner to the more percussive drums - but it's his comfort zone. Familiarity.

He takes a moment to tune the strings, not looking up at Valentino while he gathers his thoughts, only speaking once he feels as though he can articulate appropriately.

"...I am not accustomed to someone wanting to keep my company without outright wanting something," he confesses. "Perhaps it's a personal failing of mine."

And he hates to admit it.

[cookieshapedrat]

She deserves the universe…

[starscreamingg]

Detroit Become Human and why does this game decide that the problem in society is individual people treating androids poorly because those androids are choking them out of the workforce and NOT the corporations and governments who deliberately designed the androids to do this

[headfullof-ideas]

Okay, hear me out: Ruffnut and Tuffnut would be backpackers/super intense world travelers in a Modern AU. In the show, they show a passion for cuisine from other parts of the world that they can’t make on Berk (hyena gizzards from the Defenders of the Wing), they love to learn all about all sorts of random things from different cultures (explaining to Snotlout the roots of the deity Mother Nature in whichever episode it was, I don’t remember) they know more than one other language, and then there’s that whole travel/resort guide they wrote for Vanahheim (i do not believe I spelled that right, but we’re rolling with it before I go to bed).

Ruffnut and Tuffnut would be that Instagram and TikTok famous pair almost everyone somehow knows or has heard of that go on super extensive trips to various locations around the world, from super iconic locations to the smack-dab middle of butt-nowhere literally no-one has ever heard of. No one knows how they fund their trips, no one knows where they find the time to get to and from anywhere, and no one that doesn’t know them knows if they even have a permanent living residence. And everyone back at their home doesn’t know how they’re able to do all of that, and still spend an insane amount of time in their teeny-tiny smack-dab in the middle of where-are-we town that they come from in order to hang out with the rest of the gang and get arrested every once in a while for speeding, before skipping off to freaking who knows where until they post a reel of their latest exploration expedition.

I also believe they’d have a shared tumblr account that is also super popular as well, filled with a strange combination of memes and strangely philosophical quotes. Nobody knows that this account belongs to the backpacking idiots that everyone is at least mildly jealous of. There’s a betting ring amongst the gang on if or when someone connects the dots and blows up the internet trying to prove it to everyone else.

[sysig]

2024 Purge (Part 3)

A whole Three-Parter for 2024! Damned very completely took over my brain and I made so many many doodles about it haha <3 Also ft. Helix and SCII generally, and a few other cursory Damned-style things :)

Little mini ZEX walk cycle from his Kissing Strangers meme ♥ He’s so cute, wobbling around on these weird new legs, not used to using these stiff arms to assist him back up!

Floorplans!! Of the Vyer Estate, I unfortunately don't know the layout/room configuration of estates or mansions very well haha, so I kinda just guessed at what kind of structure the house would have - I could've looked up blueprints, but the foyer is such a strong image in my head that every other room kind of fell off around it lol - though I still oscillate between seeing the stairs in the frontmost room or to the sides, hmm

Many many speculations, including the outer spaces, yard out front and in back, what all is within their fencing, if its built on a slab or foundation, if there's a crawlspace or cellar or full basement, ahh, so many possibilities! You can see in the left full-view I mistakenly put Dex's room on the first floor lol, both his and Max's room are explicitly described as being upstairs, on a separate floor from the kitchen. Very important! But where is the master bedroom...? The two on the right are kind-of both of the same thing; the platform at the top of the foyer double stairs, and the room beneath it that leads outside to the back garden - I moved the dining room around here and there, it would be nice to open up the back doors and have a dinner party able to go in and out I think :)

Going a bit more granular, made some temps for Max's room specifically - he hangs out there a lot, it's important! Even pulled out my grid paper for this one haha, fun to have an actual floorplan kind of look with tile-spaced everything! Very Sims, quite fun. I do like the idea of him having a window seat, but he's also described as standing in front of his windows so that probably wouldn't be the Only type he'd have hmm

On the topic of the Sims, I ended up making the three mockups in the Sims 2 as well! I do like this one - I was especially surprised that Max was even able to get to the bed! I thought the dresser would be in the way but no, it’s all walkable :D Very pleased. Not fully satisfied with the placement of his en suite tho, would it encroach into his room itself, or be tucked into a wall...? I kind of like that idea of that :0

The double bay windows is maybe a bit much, but I mean. Idle rich lol. At one point he’s looking out the window and then backs Dex up against a wall, but Which wall hmmm, must align room layout with seduction attempts, very important

Switching entirely over, you might remember the card I posted of Stanley, and the small mention of having made a matching card for the Narrator... I may have made significantly more than just that lol, I can't help it!! The Damned structure is wonderfully made, it invites creative speculation and idea generation at a nearly alarming rate! I commend the game builders for their craft. So I made a bunch of the faces I'd want to see at the institute lol, I love duos the most-most, so picking a pair from several of my favourite pieces of media was just ahh! Yes!

Apaultheosis and Emma seemed like a particularly fun match :D Would that make Paul his "real" counterpart...? I mean, it says Matthew right there lol, but would he just act like Paul? Would be doubly weird if Paul-proper showed up while the Apotheosis was out swanning around haha, Apaultheosis really seems like the right level of "belongs in an institute" to have a lot of fun with :) And if it's my immune-Emma AU in particular, Emma's already used to having to be around a bunch of weirdos haha

The LAC boys!!! ♥ Making everyone's little background was a lot of fun too - yellow for the TSPs, blue splotches for the Hatchetfield duo, little devil trappings for these two :D Such fun! It was also very fun to write up everyone's little personalities in simple phrasing, really break them all down to their core characterizations haha. Helps with not pushing them too far one way or another too! Would they do any given thing because [trait]? S'fun!

Weird Duo, the Watchers pulled from And the Universe Shifts - the explorations of villains having to put up being on the same side as/having to get along with heroes really makes for an interesting examination of how they'd go about doing that! These two are still absolutely insufferable, but they're also trying to escape! It's interesting :0 Also casual headcanon of how the institute would deal with enby/trans characters, possibly something I've had a lot of thoughts about lol

Last fanduo from the first batch - all of these were made over the course of like, two days, if that lol, I was very excited about this idea - I genuinely love how anime/JRPG characters are usually given fake names also in Japanese, it's very fun :D I only did so halfway for Nova's since she's only ever had the one kind of anglicized personal name, no family name - could she also be a kid from Jersey? Such mysteries haha. She also probably wouldn't have her hair clips during the day unfortunately :P But I couldn't resist drawing them, she's not her without them! The Watchers get their masks, give my girl her barrettes!

Back to Helix, more short-haired Max! I do like this one but I also thought the pose was silly so I held off on it haha, he looks cute with short hair! <biased towards Max generally

Another one that was too silly to put anywhere haha, ZEX being attacked by an invisible Kayako - Teisel is very confused at your inexplicable reactions, Admiral!

Normally I wouldn't post my studies, partially because they're mostly for my own benefit, to better understand how to draw a character, and also because I am usually very ❤️💕💖💞💗 in my commentary lol, as evidenced. I was excited to see him!! Especially in the institute uniform!!! <3 I'd doodled him a couple times as such but Seeing it, ahh <3 <3 So cute, wonderful ♪♫

Max! Another half-study, frog mouthed boy <3 Goofy floofy lad, love him <3

And another! This time of him being teary-mad, gosh he's adorable no matter what he's up to

Hehe <3 A particularly silly one in reaction to Dexter having arm-pinned him on the floor - how different certain things look in hindsight, through the lense of a crush, hm?

Talanaaaa ♪ In actuality she removed her shirt, but how cute would it have been to tie it up at her side instead ahhh

Lovestruck Zelnick, totally listening, mmhm <3

The silliness continues! Was thinking about the little pink bits at the end of VUX tendrils and how I've sometimes seen them speculated as also being little tongues? I'm still not sure what I think about it! It is good and potentially creepy I think, but would they taste? Would they be as dexterous? Hmmm, thoughts thoughts

A dandelion for the sunshine Captain <3

There he is! The sunniest boy of them all! Sweetest sweet lad ♥ Love him :)

Speculating ZEX plushie stuff still - going over the construction of his uniform, possibly as part of his body, possibly as something to dress him in so he can be fitted into other clothes as well :0 I'm still considering the tail slot, but probably only for uniform-as-body - otherwise, laying his tunic overtop his tail would probably be the easiest all the way around. I do like VUX with short tails too tho, hmm, how to make it visible... On the right are a few more detail ideas :D Different eye styles, what would be embroidered vs. sewn together etc. - I considered felt medals and badges, but I really think embroidery would have the prettiest result! Even my notes say so haha, that and where to put weighted pellets in place of fluffy stuffing :)

Speaking of plush 👀 Ahem

An alternate Strawberry Blond panel, ZEX pulling him up fully to look at him hhh I love him <3

And also touching him a bit, what is this feeling DAX is feeling! ZEX has some ideas :3c Though when doesn't he lol

More DAX expressions! Angy and owie, they do tend to go hand-in-hand, poor lad got well-knocked around and he still ended up the least injured of the three!

Rando icons, I can't help myself ♪ This uniform has its hooks in me, is it the ominous smiley face's bright yellow on boring grey, the contrast, the sameness?? I just like it! Was a fun small and simple thing to pull together :)

I actually started this set somewhat early on, speculating what DAX's MU scene might be, but never ended up with anything solid - since he wasn't there initially, it's hard to think of what would be a fitting torture for him, apart from what Was there i.e. having to watch what ZEX went through :( That does seem like it'd leave some pretty massive mental scars on him - always always always unable to save him in the moments where it really counts! :'0 But it doesn't do anything to his Body, and that's supposed to be the point of MU! I do still like many things here, DAX's offer of self-sacrifice being rejected and him being powerless to do anything else

And the way I used hashmarks to imply his eyes going fuzzy with them both open and the stress - looks like a pause symbol haha

Also a big fan of the little corner doodle being so cute and wholesome, the two of them excitedly circling each other, excited to see each other! I love-loved that so much in their meeting <3 <3

Then there was that one time DAX and DAX met, that was fun :) If only ZEX had shown up, then what would DAX do! Self-defense in a way hehe, that's one way of getting on the same side haha

The raw doodle that eventually became Get Out of the Way! For as sad a way as it was to go out - failing to be protected, the last of his allies, not even able to wield his own weapon effectively - it does still remind me of a silly quote. Those dogs were indeed very nasty!

A temp doodle of Dexter holding both Max's clothes and ZEX's uniform after his "discharge" (;;) from the institute, the only things he has left to hold onto 💔 So very little left of him :(

I at one point asked smol who she’d put in the institute for funsies and she picked Maison Talo, and so I tossed Apaultheosis at him - they do both consider humans as prey! Just, a bit differently lol. Would the Apotheosis even be able to convert a Realtor by their lure? Where does the goo need to be to start to take effect, many questions

Stanley Icons <3 It's only fitting that my first choice for a card gets his own set of reactions! Icons like these are actually really fun to make - pulling around from my doodles, slapping a bit of colour overtop, edits to screenshots (Stanley's "Dead" reaction is probably my favourite of those, I'm sure y'all can guess which ending I pulled from lol) - and it all has me tempted to make a few more...

Back to Just-SCII! More Baby VUX!! 💖 They're so cute!!! Just little guys, adorable <3 Casual clothing and PJs and having to tie one's sash back on haha, all those complicated loops and knots :)

Also some muscle/arm shape speculations of how VUX armtips might change based on what they're doing, the roundedness of recoiling is very funny to me haha

Obviously had to make these two's versions in TS2 as well, the most fun <3 “What brings you in today, Mr. Vargas?” “That’s doctor.” “Oh, sure, right.”

More of the Doctor meme! Poor DAX haha, certainly sick with Something ♪

I think the lyric is “three times a day”? But what three times a day, that's the real question lol. ZEX has his own suggestions hmm :) I do like their hug in the first one hehe, so cute <3

Totally all better! Definitely nothing would make his symptoms flare up again!

Poor DAX <3

Digitized Dr. Doran! He really is so tiny haha, it was fun using Wander's colour scheme, mostly filled out already! The institute's dress code for staff is a mystery; presumably some of the therapists wear medical/professional clothes, but then there's Stein who still has the screw in his head - surely they'd allow jeans, right? Or is that where they draw the line lol. Look it's fine, he's meant to be the Approachable Therapist, he gets special allowances, totallyyy

All two Locked In doodles that didn't make the cut but also have nowhere else to go lol - there’s a few dozen concept sketches that haven’t been written into complete scenes yet that I'd love to post as their own sets! At some point!! Poor Oz is so put out, and Leah's big goofy grin, very silly hehe - that one's just meant to show off her outfit! It's winter, no bare legs here!

As a bonus to make up for those being the only two doodles, here’s Ozzy and Thrax in TS2 failing to get along lol. Oz! You're not good enough friends for that yet! Will they get there someday? :3c

VUX snuggles <3 Love the them so very much ♥

This is one I really want to digitize to get them a little more cosplay-accurate, but I'd been going back through some nostalgic AMVs and had the sudden realization that KuroFai, being one of my fairly early/influential ships on my heart, and now they...

Fai even loses an eye, I jfdlskafdlhfdf

Finishing out with my last set of cards, I had to make the two leads from SAOA, truly a masterwork in abridging <3 They're just such fun characters! And it's not like they're not already used to being trapped somewhere that constantly risks their lives :'0 I love them, I swear! Good things for them!

[naniahi]

She's a 10 but she leaves 10% tips, makes over $300/hr and doesn't buy groceries. Instead, she gets all of her food from a food bank

So she's off the table, -7, but she's calling me baby and writing me poetry and like.hfjdbfjdfb

Why can't this be a simple "off the table"?

How come she has to have a deep love of music and reading AND write me poetry?

Ugh

[tariah23]

I can’t wait to start estie school wha