#especially the ones I already rp with

[not-iceking]

Guys, I think he's dead

[piningpercussionist]

Is.. this your cat? Or is this cat.. you?

Oh!

*Kim gently takes Kit (cat) Pine into her arms, smiling softly down at her for a moment.*

Not my cat, no... technically me, yes? Dunno where she came from, exactly, but I think I remember her coughing up a hairball or something onto Scott's coat not that long ago. Devious little thing... I like her, obviously.

[lulieta]

hi.

[dreamerchildunofficial]

So toriel knows the situation right now too?

* Just the basics. She knows time is looping, and she knows about the save points now and that I could time travel with them when we were in the Underground. And she knows about why we need to get everything into the Underground, the fact that everyone except me and Flowey will forget, and uh, the fact that we hadn't told anyone about this until basically just now.

* ...She wasn't exactly happy about that one.

* But she doesn't know about uh, the possession or that I've died before or about the Void or the fog I think, I don't think that got brought up. Basically all she needed to know to help us convince Sans that he needs to help us, she knows, but anything beyond that, she doesn't, but she could tell there were still stuff being hidden from her that she acknowledged we didn't have the time to talk about, and she asked me to explain everything to her myself next loop which... I don't know if I want to do it next loop?

* It's already been a lot, telling Alphys and Undyne everything and then going from just trying to investigate ourselves, me and Flowey that is, to having a plan of action and a lot of people working on it now. I know I can't hide it from her forever, but I think I need time to fully process all of today.

* Also, I would like to take the time next loop to try to test the upper and lower boundaries of this town to see if it really is a sphere or if there's a way to get under or over the fog. Whether that happens while Alphys, and hopefully Sans again- I don't know how well convincing him to help is going to go next round- are off in the Underground working on blueprints or not, I guess we'll see. I have to talk to Flowey about the best way to speedrun telling the important bits that everyone needs to know, and the taking notes of what Alphys and Sans said about the project would definitely help with that, so thank you again for that suggestion.

* If you or anyone has any other suggestions about what to do before the machine gets built, the ask box is always open! Or, I guess we might even have a lot more down time to talk about not important stuff since I don't know how to build a save point tracking machine, and I don't think Flowey does either.

* We'd still have to help though since they can't see it, right?

* True. But we're not exactly equipped to do most of the building.

* Fair.

* Wait, so does that mean... we essentially get to take a break?

* ...

* Maybe...?

* I don't know, it would feel really weird to just... do that.

* Well... I need one, and I miss Maddy. I haven't talked to her in apparently over half of a year.

* You??? Admitting to missing someone???

* I

* Listen, alright? I didn't uh, ACTUALLY mean I miss her, I just uh, feel bad because I've blown her off so many times when I should have been hanging out with her, and

* I can't believe you let Raz call you his friend AND you admitted to missing Maddy!!!

* WE'RE NOT

* I DIDN'T

* FUCK YOU!!!

* HEY!!! UNDYNE IS IN THE NEXT ROOM, IDIOT, STOP THROWING ROCKS AT GBGMSBGfjcmsjfmsnf

[mistrdctr]

Headcanon: Not Sorcerer Supreme.

I think I have written it into my 'about' regarding Stephen, but in my Version he is not the Sorcerer Supreme during and after 'Multiverse of Madness'. He also wasn't Sorcerer Supreme even before that, during Spiderman's 'No Way Home'.

In fact, my version has never been the Sorcerer Supreme. He could have, but never got the title. Keep in mind that my portrayal is 99,9% based on the MCU portrayal, not the Marvel comics.

Why? read down further below.

I did some googling / researching and this bit here actually describes it quite well:

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme, and remains so throughout MCU Phase 4. The role of the Sorcerer Supreme was held by the Ancient One in Doctor Strange, but after her death at the hands of Kaecilius, the post was left open — as Wong states, "Earth has no Sorcerer Supreme to defend it. We must be ready." Given the MCU’s focus on Doctor Strange as the franchise’s central master of the mystic arts, Wong's Sorcerer Supreme status seemed unlikely, as it was assumed that Stephen would assume the role in the years following the Ancient One’s death. This theory gained ground with Strange’s use of the Eye of Agamotto throughout Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, with the hero taking one of the key items used previously by the Ancient One. However, Strange was never confirmed to have been given the role of the MCU Sorcerer Supreme. Spider-Man: No Way Home also confirmed that the title had gone to Wong — the former librarian of the mystical city Kamar-Taj who was integral in Strange’s magic training. Doctor Strange 2 and She-Hulk showed that even after the events of No Way Home, Wong is still the MCU’s Sorcerer Supreme. Be it because of a technicality or because Wong deserves the title more than Strange, Wong’s position as the Sorcerer Supreme suggests that he is the franchise’s most powerful magic wielder.

It was revealed in No Way Home that Wong came to occupy this role after Strange was turned to dust by Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War. The ensuing 5 years without Strange, it is implied, meant that Wong was the world’s most powerful sorcerer and received the high accolade because of it. Strange’s envy over this fact is played for comedic purposes in Spider-Man: No Way Home, though there is much to suggest that Wong is deserving of the position — from the extensive period of his life that he has dedicated to training and study to the clear respect that he receives from other sorcerers. Given the short period of time between Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange 2, there is no reason for Wong's demotion in MCU Phase 4. Doctor Strange 2 shows how Wong pushed to use his position as the Sorcerer Supreme more than ever before as he is forced to defend Kamar-Taj from the Scarlet Witch’s attack. Wong commands each of his students in maintaining the city’s defenses and manages to amass an impressive number of sorcerers from across the world – all of whom greet him with a ceremonial bow that Strange refuses to re-enact. While at the end of the film it appears that Steven has come to terms with Wong’s superior position, finally bowing in deference, Doctor Strange 2's final shot suggests that the title may soon be transferred to him. The Doctor Strange 2’s ending shows Strange awakening his third eye, mirroring that of Sinister Strange from the Incursion Universe. In the comics, the ability to open one’s third eye grants extra powers to the user such as the ability to see through disguises and probe others’ souls. Finishing on this cliffhanger suggests that the title of Sorcerer Supreme may still be challenged.

Which basically says that we don't know if Strange has ever been Sorcerer Supreme! Which I find very fascinating and that's also the approach I myself am taking with this blog. In a lot of interactions, it is oftentimes implied that the muses think he is Sorcerer Supreme - which is totally fine, as they might expect him to due to his powers, and Stephen will, most likely, correct them (while gritting his teeth lol).

-> It is also totally okay for muses to assume he has been Sorcerer Supreme at some point, but for this blog, it is not canon.

So, while it is likely that he may has gotten the title when the Ancient One died, but we don't have proof regarding that; It could have gone to Wong, simply because Wong has been around for such a long time and Stephen has basically just 'wonderkid his way through Kamar-Taj' and turned out to be incredibly powerful. Even if he is more powerful than Wong (which makes sense as who he is as a character in the MCU Universe), I could see the title having been given to Wong for all the other reasons (him having been around for a long time, suitable to lead Kamar-Taj etc).

-> But also: Perhaps the whole thing of 'who becomes the next Sorcerer Supreme' was still decided upon and then, well, Thanos happened. Before the title could go to Stephen in an 'official way', he was blipped, erased from existence, and Wong got it. That's why it also makes sense for Stephen to mention it to Peter during No Way Home: Because he blipped for five years, Wong ultimately got the title. (I CHOSE THIS TO BE THE 'CANON' I AM GOING WITH FOR MY BLOG)

So all I'm thinking is: If Stephen used to hold the title right after Doctor Strange 1, and then it was taken away from him because he was gone for 5 years - when he returned, why didn't he get the title back? Sure, one could say that there a rules and regulations attached to how the title is gained - but still: Wouldn't they, at least, have given Stephen back his title then, because he essentially made it happen that Thanos could finally be defeated (even if it came with great loss)? Sure, perhaps the former Sorcerer Supreme needs to die for that, but... wow. That's some harsh rule there. Couldn't they have made an exception for a man like Strange, who has saved the world from eternal Doom in so many ways before? (In case he has been the Sorcerer Supreme before...) -> I do think that it's quite likely for the title to either have gone to Wrong first OR for the whole 'who becomes the next Sorcerer Supreme'-thing to not have been finished before the events in infinity War happened.

To summarize my thoughts: My version of Stephen Strange has NEVER been Sorcerer Supreme. He is insanely powerful, yes, perhaps more powerful than Wong is (sorry Wong, ilu), but Wong has been a sorcerer for so much longer and honestly? He's much better at caring for Kamar-Taj and making sure everything is going well over there.

I could see that Wong still very much respects Strange for being so insanely powerful and trusts him in that regard, and the Title is merely a formality (which Wong likes to enforce the rules of, like bowing in front of him for example, lol).

The Ancient One herself says that Strange is 'meant to be the best of us'. So, at some point, he will probably become the Sorcerer Supreme. It will happen, I guess, but it hasn't so far in my portrayal. I just hope Wong doesn't need to die for that...

Here's some more additional 'Why Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme' stuff to read (under a read more bc man, this post is long af):

As Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness revealed, almost every other version of Stephen Strange across the multiverse threatens the very fabric of reality in one way or another. Earth-616 Strange may be a hero who's destined to become the Sorcerer Supreme, but he is just as likely to destroy the multiverse, as evidenced by his own willingness to bend cosmic rules for fixing minor problems. These risks do not exist in Wong's Sorcerer Supreme tenure. In fact, Wong's defining trait is his dedication to duty, which is why Wong was in Shang-Chi and Strange wasn't, even though Doctor Strange most likely also felt the powerful presence of the Ten Rings. While Doctor Strange has his own metrics for what threats or issues require his attention, Wong adheres strictly to the rules binding the Sanctum Sanctorum and Kamar-Taj, which is a necessary qualification for a figurehead overseeing the safety of reality. Even the hot-headed Strange knows this to be true, which explains why he finally bowed to the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange 2. Following Doctor Strange 2, Wong's Sorcerer Supreme status was further proven to be well-deserved throughout MCU Phase 4. In She-Hulk, Wong even showed that his own adherence to rules and duty don't get in the way of his higher duties at Kamar-Taj, as Wong is not above working with the reformed villain Abomination in order to fulfill his responsibilities to the sanctuary. Indeed, Wong deserves to be Sorcerer Supreme because he's willing to face governments, heroes, and other entities as a representative of Kamar-Taj — a tedious role that Strange never really rose up to. Moreover, while Doctor Strange used his free time to fumble No Way Home's memory spell, Wong's break from his duties simply involved watching The Sopranos with Madisynn or singing karaoke with Katy and Shang-Chi, rather than endangering reality. Wong may not be the Sorcerer Supreme that Earth-616 deserves, but he's definitely the one that the Multiverse Saga needs.

used source: [x] also interesting to read: [x]

[victorluvsalice]

Valicer OT3 Week, Day Two: The Cool Kid, The Jock, And The Nerd

OT3 Week (as per @ot3-week) continues with a prompt that definitely seemed suited for a High School AU -- "The cool kid, the jock, and the nerd!" I think we can all agree that would be Smiler, Alice, and Victor respectively. :p At any rate, here's a high school version of the trio hanging out together at lunch -- with Victor having a rather important question for Smiler...

--

“...why do you hang out with me?”

To Victor’s horror, Smiler looked up from their sandwich, confirming that he had indeed said that out loud. “Because...I like you?” they said once they’d finished chewing and swallowing. “Do I need a better reason than that?”

“I – um, it’s just...” Shut up shut up shut up – but now that the door had been opened, Victor found himself plunging onward, needing to know. “You’re easily the popular, well-liked person in this school. The coolest of the cool kids. People think you’re the greatest – and you are!” he hastened to add, waving his hands. “You’re funny, and friendly, and you really s-seem to take an interest in e-everyone – anybody and everyone likes to hang out with you! You could be friends with anyone! And – and I’m–” Victor swallowed, trying to find the words. “I’m – n-not that. I’m – me.”

Smiler gave him a long look – the kind of look that suggested some kind of ��Victor Is Having Self-Esteem Issues Again” alarm was going off in their head. Then they put down their sandwich in favor of taking his hand. “And I like you,” they repeated, looking Victor in the eye. “Even if you’re nothing like me. Especially since you’re nothing like me! I don’t need another me in my life – I’ve already got me! But I didn’t have a ‘you’ until I met you. And now I do.” They shot him one of those stunning grins. “And I’m very happy about that.”

“I...” Victor pulled at his tie, trying not to think about how warm Smiler’s hand felt against his. This wouldn’t be half as hard if I hadn’t had a very enlightening dream about my romantic tastes last night, he groused to himself. Why couldn’t this have happened before I realized I had a crush? “I just – don’t get it? W-why you would want a me?”

“Well, for starters–”

“What’s going on?”

Victor looked up as Alice (aka the other person that he was crushing on, and who hopefully would never find out that fact) came over, carrying a tray. “I mean, I can guess from context that Victor just had a self-loathing moment, but fill me in on the specifics,” she continued, sitting down.

“Not much to fill in – Victor just asked me why I hang out with him, and I’m in the process of reminding him that he doesn’t have to be one of the ‘cool kids’ for people to like him,” Smiler told her.

“Ah.” Alice picked up a chip and popped it into her mouth. “Well, allow me to second the sentiment. I personally find ‘cool’ is often overrated.”

“Maybe, but...I-I just have a hard time seeing the a-appeal of me,” Victor said, looking between them. “Especially – Smiler, like I said, you’re already the most popular kid in school. You don’t need to hang out with someone like me if you want company. And Alice – you’re smart, you’re witty, you have an amazing imagination – oh, and you’re an incredible fencer. The absolute star of the team!”

“I’m also the girl who most people avoid because she spent the majority of her childhood in supervised hospitalization after her family died in a horrific house fire,” Alice retorted, taking a swig from her bottle of soda. “And the one who still talks to invisible creatures on the regular, because so far every medication I’ve tried has had side effects that just are not worth it. Just because I’m like, three percent jock doesn’t mean my social life is any better than yours.” She jerked her head to the side. “Do you think I understand why Smiler’s here? They could do damn better than hanging out with the local loony, that’s for sure.”

“What do I have to do to make you both understand I like you and that’s the end of it?” Smiler grumbled, folding their arms.

“Go back in time and stop the murder of my parents and sister,” Alice replied, waving a fry at them.

“Somehow convince my mother that I’m not a complete failure of a human being,” Victor muttered, looking at his feet.

Smiler sighed. “You two sometimes...look,” they said firmly, leaning across the table. “I think you’re both awesome people, all right? Alice, I agree with everything Victor said – you’re intelligent, you’ve got a great sarcastic sense of humor, and you’re frighteningly good with a sword. I respect that a lot. And Victor – you’re kind, and artistic, and really smart yourself! You know so much about butterflies, you could write your own encyclopedia! I’ve learned a lot, hanging around you!”

“Not to mention your piano skills,” Alice said, shooting Victor a little smile that made his stomach do flip-flops. “I know your parents have got you thinking that you’re not worth anything, but – you really are. To us, at least.”

“Yeah – so could you please stop trying to understand why we’re friends with you and just accept it?” Smiler added, reaching over and giving Victor’s wrist a little squeeze. Then they shot him a disarming grin. “Or do I have to kiss you silly to get that to happen?”

Victor felt himself go beet red as a certain bit of a certain dream started replaying itself in his head. “I – uh – you – um–”

“Who put you in charge of kissing him?” Alice asked, with a playful smirk that did not do anything for the images inside his brain. “Maybe I want a go at it.”

“Maybe we should just do it both at once then,” Smiler joked back. “That’d probably reset his brain.”

“...really?”

This time it was both Smiler and Alice blinking that alerted Victor to the fact that, once again, he’d said that out loud. He dropped his head, wincing. Oh no – that’s it, that’s the bridge too far, it doesn’t matter what they said before, me blurting out that I’d be open to kissing both of them at once is sure to make them –

There was another squeeze on his wrist, and he looked up to see Smiler and Alice looking at him with – not disgust, like he’d feared, but simple surprise. And – just perhaps, if he wasn’t seeing things – a bit of interest? Could they possibly... ? “Well,” Smiler finally said with a little wink. “Think that’s a discussion we should have after school.”

Hope alighted in Victor’s heart, chasing all the dark thoughts away. “Yes,” he breathed. “After school.”

[boatswainscall]

Nothing makes me feel immediate overpowering resentment and envy like hearing about people who have D&D campaigns that last years. Meanwhile every campaign I've ever done with my friends has choked and died four sessions in due to schedules getting too fucked and tangled to maintain ANY kind of consistent play schedule

[miqojak]

24. What is an alternative life path your OC might have gone down? How different would their life be if they'd made those decisions?

Edgy OC Ask Meme ( @the-sycophant for also asking this one! )

It's funny, because it would both be not very different, but also quite different. There's a couple turning points, I think - either A) She and her twin never try to pick-pocket Kublai, thus never ending up in the Yakuza, or B) She ends up in the Yakuza, but never meets Ketsuchi.

Both of these still end in her career being quite similar thus far - she always ends up as some sort of crime boss, be it in the East, or as some sort of gang leader in Ul'dah. The real difference is in the lack of knowing Ketsuchi - all other people she's interacted with in RP that she's let herself get close to? Have all been a let down. They've all left her behind/left the game, so all her biases have been confirmed all along - save for the instances where Ketsuchi helps her to learn to better communicate, to better express herself, to put the somnus down... to, in small ways, be a slightly better person and version of herself. He claims, even IC, that his own moral compass isn't great - but he's basically single-handedly steered Jak off of a path of destruction - both her own, and that of everyone around her.

She'd be a less forgiving leader, however - just as exacting in every way, but without any margin for forgiveness - and far more violent in upholding her standards and expectations. It's hard to say if she'd still be on somnus - she was trying to kick the habit, but Ketsuchi gave her a lot of shit about it at the time... thus encouraging her to try even harder, to not just prove herself wrong... but him, too. She'd just be... a lot more cold, and cruel. She wouldn't doubt herself when she calls everyone a sheep. She wouldn't look for diamonds in the rough. She wouldn't have as much heart for those still in the gutter... because the last of her little heart would have been left behind about the time she ended up in an abusive relationship with a de-throned crime lord, and didn't have Ketsuchi to pick her up (and say "I told you so") afterwards. She learned a lot about him, about herself, and about the world during that time -and though she wishes it hadn't happened? It showed her that she can't keep painting all people with one brush. The people who let her stay with them while she was recovering had no reason to help her - save that someone they consider a friend has asked it of them. And someone who had told her he loved her had hurt her in ways unspeakable - and all while the one man who had never said any soft words to her really... kept showing up for her. She believes in actions, and his actions showed her, over time, that her fears and suspicions were oft misplaced.

When you rescue an alley cat, you coax it out not with soft words - but with your actions. You move slow, you offer kind gestures, and eventually it realizes that you're just bringing it some tuna, and leaving it alone, and that's okay. Ketsuchi was the one person willing to take the time it takes to coax Jak out of the dark place she'd dug into, back into the light of day, and show her that while most of the world is pretty terrible - it's not all as bad as she thinks it is. Everyone else got her about halfway to seeing the light, then washed their hands of her - not truly comprehending how damaged she was, despite how many times she insisted they not bother, that these people not get her hopes up if they were just going to walk way. A taste of that light is worse than not seeing it at all, after all - it just hurts, at that point. So...it might sound sentimental, but it's more like he was monumental in helping her be who she is, today. If he weren't around in her life? Well, she'd probably be decidedly villainous; when the world cares not for the broken, what else are the broken edges to become, but sharp?

[piningpercussionist]

(OOC: How about you tag me as.. i dunno, Doc? simple enough.) another psychic message. seems stronger...? a slight twinkling fills the air. barely noticeable. "my... Employers have advised me to broadcast a secondary message, as you seem to have shrugged off the first one. I personally found this to be a... suitable suggestion. being incorporeal. unanchored to this particular low level wavelength isn't fun. floating somewhere between *out there* and *in here*. it's very disorienting. conversing with another sentient thing would be preferable. my name is unpronounceable for your kind. and, indeed if spoken. would simply not register as a name within the consciousnesses of the tiny, infinitesimally small specks who collectively refer to themselves as 'the human race'. so, for the time being. you may refer to me as 'Doc'."

. . .

*Kim glances around to see if any of the others seem to notice the twinkling, but finding them preoccupied, she turns hear head to the window with a tight lipped expression.*

(... I still feel like this is some sort of mental break... but I'm going to entertain this in the name of not having some sort of breakdown before the show, okay?)

*She represses a shudder as she reaches up to scratch the back of her neck, a little sick with dread.*

(Okay "Doc," welcome to the next twenty four hours of what was already likely to be my fucking unraveling... lapse of insanity entire aside... You're probably going to be hearing a lot of swearing and violence in there if you haven't already...)

[proletariatramen]

How to post Ouran headcanons when I’m not an Ouran rp blog anymore lmao

[japhgura]

The human urge to assume everyone secretly hates U

A fine drop indeed😌🍷

[kushinadragneel]

Sylus brainrot bcs I cannot stop it so

Dad! Sylus, dragon! Sylus (blame my friend and our rp, I adore them), king Sylus actually, twins (I love how the whole fandom seems to agree on that), headcanons, short

Genres: fluff, kind of hurt/comfort with a lil bit of angst/sad, very indulgent, might be a bit ooc, admittedly very influenced by my oc as the thoughts swirled with her in mind

Mentions: pregnancy, female anatomy, motherhood, post partum, insecurities, lactation (not the kinky kind)

Dragons were peculiar beings, you've found out as quite the only human in this weird, entirely draconic kingdom. Though, so to speak, you were the weird one here, lacking horns, scales, a tail…

To say you've had many to learn was an understatement. From heats to mating to their habits, everything had been new.

But there you were, mated to their very king and very much pregnant sooner than quite expected to Sylus's delight.

So here's how your pregnancy goes:

Sylus discovered you were pregnant before you even thought of it. He said your scent got sweeter

You were put on rest instantly. Wrapped in furs that deeply smelled of the both of you, with the finest of silk as clothes and constantly doted on

His habit of scenting you? Got even worse. He's constantly glued to your side. Claims he can't help it, it's in his very instinct to protect you.

He was constantly piling up food on your plate

One child was a blessing. Hearing two heartbeats? Unheard of. Unprecedented

He was glued constantly to your tummy so he heard them. He denies crying to this point, but his eyes had been watery

Carries you whenever for his own pleasure. Your feet have barely met the ground, even as you got fuller and heavier

Massages you when he feels you being restless or tired

Constantly caresses your tummy and talks to the babies

Guilty of taking naps with you, curled around you protectively

Also guilty about stirring the twins with his nips, licks and caresses (got decked one too many times by his babies)

You and him bickered on who the kids will resemble (they ended up mini carbon copies of him)

Dragons do start being more welcoming to you and you slowly start feeling included in the community you're very emotional about it

"One carries a child for 9 months and they end up looking like their father!" one of the dragons playfully complained, pretty much in a similar situation to you. "Doesn't it ever bother you?" she asked curiously

No, it doesn't. Sylus is the favorite parents and the twins have your temper. Bless his patience

Talking of patience, he's had plenty of it with you. Especially as you were pretty much glued to his side and snappy to everyone else your instincts craved your mate pretty heavily during the pregnancy. And after

Talking of after

The first two weeks had been so hectic you were more in and out of sleep, barely remembering anything

Sylus is the light sleeper between the two of you. Surprisingly attuned to the kids, considering they barely start squirming and he's already picking them up

He's constantly scenting them. Playing with them. Is a natural at holding them in the weirdest positions while they babble and laugh

Very protective and possessive of them. Nobody but you and the doctors are allowed to touch his precious treasures (even the doctors are constantly under his scrutinizing gaze)

He does so much it's quite making you feel bad. Especially as the twins seem to favor him right out the womb and seem to need you just for feeding

It's been two weeks and you barely even remember anything. It crushes your soul, especially as one of the babies starts getting fuzzy and he is again the one reaching out for them, soothing the precious chubby cub between his arms.

It makes you sniffle and you have quite the breakdown about not being a good enough mom, crying about how he's doing everything and you barely feel like you've done anything.

He soothes you by holding you closely and nuzzling your hair. "You deserve to rest. You're doing more than enough. Let yourself heal"

You get worried about how much time he actually spends glued to your side, simply because it feels like he's ignoring his duties as a king because of you

He does explain to you that dragons do understand and nobody would be insane enough to expect him to not be by your side constantly at first

Tender moments

He always makes sure to have a regular bath prepared for you and is keen on washing your hair

He truly is a fiend. A kiss stealing fiend

His hands are so gentle over your body, massaging oils and kissing every inch of you. God forbid you ever feel less than wanted, he would snap someone's neck

He's still a flirt with you, just softer

He's actually more worried than you, he just doesn't let it on

He has to stop himself from growling whenever his kids stumble or cry at anything they find scary

The twins are menaces. He spoils them too much

He plays fight with them in the way wolves and lions do. He fakes being tackled to the ground and everything. Barely has the heart to scold them when they nip a bit too seriously at his skin

Though, he does have the heart to scold them when they try the same with you. He's very stern about your safety

[fourfuckinghorsemen]

Your intelligence is a gift to humanity. Put it to good use. Build a bigger nuclear bomb.

Nope, not happening.

[jester-privilege]

I've been trying to do more colouring, especially to find ways to practice lighting in different styles. This is from one of our AUs, called Do You Come Here Often - Robotnik meets Stone, a bartender, during a painfully boring charity gala and they hit it off.

I wrote a short story based on our RP, so I'm putting it under the cut below!

A charity gala. A waste of time, that’s what it was. Something to stroke the already grossly swollen egos of the guests, most of whom just loved masquerading as philanthropists for the tax cuts. 

It was well below Doctor Robotnik, and yet, he’d been forced kicking and screaming into a suit to sweet-talk potential investors. There was going to be reckoning once he was back in the lab. Maybe he’d launch the latest incompetent assistant into space. 

“ - and another thing - do you use that - that stuff, that comes from babies -” 

Then there was this asshole. Trapped into a conversation, Robotnik could barely maintain his rictus grin as he leaned his elbow on the bar counter, listening to the gormless, chinless man yammer on and on. Rich, politically active, and an absolute imbecile. Robotnik was going to strangle him with his stupid bowtie. 

“Because let me tell you, pal,” his conversation partner slurred. “When I’m a senator, I’m - banning all that shit. It’s not right - it’s just wrong, you know -” 

“Yes, we wouldn’t want the harmless salvage of iron rich cells from biowaste,” Robotnik muttered under his breath. 

“Yeah!” The other man gestured, coming dangerously close to spilling his watered down whiskey. “You get it - good man - what was your name again, Robot - something?” 

“Doctor Robotnik,” Robotnik said, in clipped tones.  

The man chortled. “Oh come on, you’re not a real doctor.” 

Robotnik squeezed his martini hard enough to hear it crack. His smile grew wider, his pupils narrowing. He was going to - 

“Gentlemen! Do I spy empty glasses?” a perky voice interrupted them. Robotnik turned, stiffly, and stared at the bartender - a rather handsome, well-groomed man with dark, twinkling eyes.

Robotnik’s conversation partner blinked, and looked down at his nearly empty glass. “Oh, well spotted, boy. Whaddya recommend?” 

“May I recommend you try my special blend?” the bartender suggested, his voice lowering an octave as he slid forward a glass, his movements mesmerisingly precise. “I promise it has a kick like you won’t believe.” 

The man chuckled, reaching for the fresh drink. “Just so you know, I don’t believe in tipping,” he said, as if gunning for the title of world’s most loathsome man, and downed half of the drink in one go. 

The bartender smiled peacefully. 

“Bit of a weird aftertaste,” the man slurred. He blinked, suddenly tilting forward sharply. A hand shot out, and the bartender grabbed the man’s hair, guiding his head to rest on the counter. 

“There we are,” the bartender said cheerfully. “Nice and easy. Now,” and he leaned back, smiling at Robotnik like he hadn’t just drugged his customer. “What can I get you, Doctor Robotnik?” 

Robotnik took a moment, blinking as he adjusted - and then raised his eyebrow. He was, despite himself, curious. “Not - what, a mix of ketamine and benzo?” 

“Trade secret, I’m afraid,” the bartender said, smiling. The man in the next stool snored loudly. Robotnik stood up, moving a few spaces over, and the bartender followed him. 

“I supposed you did save a life,” Robotnik said, haughtily. “His, I mean. How do you know my name?” 

“I heard the other gentleman mention it,” the bartender said. “Of course, I did recognise it.” As he spoke, he pulled out a glass, pouring in some ice. “I remember reading your paper on hive mind artificial intelligence. I always wondered whether you ever built anything based on your theories.” 

If Robotnik had been curious before, he was now drawn in, like a moth to a flame. Of course, there was a good chance he was going to get murdered tonight. “You read my - “ He paused, taking a moment to lower his voice and curb the enthusiasm. “Early prototypes showed some information lag,” he said, warily. “I’ve made some adjustments to the data compression and prioritisation - out of curiosity, how much of it did you actually understand?”

The bartender, in the midst of pouring something in the glass, blinked. “Most of it, I assume,” he said. “I did have to make some notes, to research and fully comprehend it, but - you’re a very entertaining writer, Doctor. I enjoyed your footnotes.” 

Robotnik’s footnotes were exclusively reserved for insulting other researchers. He found himself smiling, crookedly. “There’s a functional hive now.” 

The bartender looked startled, and then smiled, his teeth flashing. “Seriously? That’s amazing. How many?”

Robotnik shifted in his seat, starting to find his groove. “Three main hives, inter-connected via slow transfer - much faster on their intra-network. Fifteen, thirty-three and hundred and seven, respectively. It would be much more if my budget wasn’t decided by mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers.” 

“That’s still respectable numbers,” the bartender responded, enthusiastically. “I’d love to see them in action some day.” 

“Oh, would you now?” Robotnik smiled. “Which country are you spying for?”

To his surprise, the bartender laughed. 

“I wish I was in espionage,” the bartender said dryly. “I’m just a fan, Doctor. Personal interest - I saw some of your earlier work, in the field, a few years back.” 

“In the field?” Robotnik raised an eyebrow. “What sort of field does a bartender end up in, exactly?” 

“None whatsoever,” the bartender replied, mouth curling. “I was a mercenary. Gun for hire.”

“And now you’re bartending?” Robotnik asked, skeptically. 

“Well, I did just kill that guy,” the bartender said easily, nodding to the slumped figure a few seats away. “So after I clean up here, that’s my night done.” He smiled. “I’m Stone, by the way.” 

“...Pleasure,” Robotnik said weakly. He stared at Stone. He thought for a moment. 

“So,” he said, clearing his throat. “A fan. Don’t tell me you’ve only read one of my papers.” 

Stone pushed a drink towards Robotnik, smiling slyly. He was rather handsome, in a well-groomed, fit and conventionally attractive way, Robotnik had to admit. 

“Of course not, Doctor. That one was just my favourite - well, besides the one you wrote about applied nanotechnology -” 

“That one was utter garbage,” Robotnik said, waving his hand as he accepted the drink. “I’ve since scrapped it, started fresh with a new approach - the new paper is nearly done, if you -” he stopped himself, feeling the skin under his collar heat up. 

“If I what?” Stone asked curiously. 

“If you want to read it,” Robotnik said stiffly. “You said you were nearly done here, right? How about we blow this popsicle stand and - you come over to my hotel room, and I can show you a thing or two?” 

To his confusion, Stone went momentarily quiet, his eyes widening, before the other man stammered out a reply. 

“I - I’d love to! If you’re sure - I mean, I swear I’m not a spy - I just heard you were here, so I took on this gig in the hopes of catching a glimpse, I didn’t -” 

Robotnik raised his hand sharply, starting to feel uncomfortably warm. “Bzzzt! I’m well aware this is an honour for you! Save the yammering for later - I want to get out of here.” 

Stone had been handsome before, but he was much more so when he was flustered. Not that Robotnik cared about that - it was just rare to meet anyone who admired his work, let alone understood even half of it. He might as well use the rest of his night for something pleasant. 

“Okay, sure,” Stone said, clearly breathing slowly to calm himself down. “Uh - I have some protection on me, if we need it,” he added, shyly. 

Robotnik snorted, standing up, starting to already pull off his cursed bowtie. “Maybe for yourself, Stone. I have no need for it.” He paused, momentarily tempted to introduce Stone to his gloves - but decided against it. He’d have plenty of time for it back at the hotel, away from spying eyes. 

Behind him, Stone all but rushed from behind the bar over to him, hurrying to catch up with Robotnik’s long strides. He was blabbering on about hoping they weren’t moving too fast - as if Robotnik couldn’t get out of here fast enough. He glanced back at the other man, his chest tightening briefly at Stone’s earnest expression. Stone really was stupidly good-looking. He supposed that would be nice to look at, while they went over his papers. 

[maelancoli]

Adding Tension After the Ship Happens

i feel a lot of slow burn ships lose steam after the characters finally get together, whether it's just from sleeping together or them actually engaging in a relationship, so here are some ideas for how to maintain steam.

their problems are not solved now that they've crossed the thresh hold

first things first, the plot itself i'm sure has other details than just their relationship. even the most fluffy of fluff has other things going on than kisses and giggles. don't abandon these details once the relationship truly begins. and if there was any kind of unresolved tension point or previously mentioned ex/trauma/insecurity/fear bring it back! bring things back around that might put a strain on a new, tender relationship. this can either make them have problems or be a way to develop their bonds and *show* it in action. any of these foreshadowing/resurrected points can be added in edits if you didn't start out with them or with retconning if you're writing rp/fanfic. all the writers do it. we see it in tv everyday it's ok if u gotta pull a rabbit from a hat.

their relationship will not be suddenly smooth and solid as if they have been married 20 years

okay they kissed/fucked/agreed to be together. now what? what circumstances kept them from getting there sooner? are those circumstances still present and how will they deal with it as a team? you also don't have to have characters officially together once they've done something physical. there is still discussion to be had and boundaries/expectations to establish. those conversations could be interesting to explore. and, even more-so, this is the perfect point for plot to happen and keep them from being able to have those conversations when they should. you can add angst, you can add miscommunication, you can add anything that tickles your fancy. especially a perfect time to have an ex return to cause some tension and uncertainty if they haven't made it official. they don't know what they are yet and that uncertainty is a delicious point to write it and really give the characters a hard time

utilize the main plot's tension

again, if you're writing more than just a contemporary fluffy romance, the romance should enrich the main plot. the romance as a subplot should be a component which merges with the main storyline and does not take away from it. if you don't want to milk the will-they-won't-they anymore than you already have it's time to build the relationship up in the midst of OUTSIDE conflict. let them disagree about how to resolve problems. let them butt heads. let them be scared and do and say stupid shit because they're scared. let them be worried or angry or frustrated and have to figure out how to balance their newfound vulnerability with who they are and were before that point. let them hurt each other a little so they can come back together stronger.

utilize the characters around them

if it is a plot which is mainly romance filled, then think about the tension from the lives around them. think about their loved ones and how their own issues could influence the plot points the characters have to face together. this could be a time for them to be introduced to loved ones. you could throw in a group trip with silly mishaps and shenanigans. you could even have loved ones try to break them up or doubt the love interest. navigating new relationships while also dealing with friends and family can be a source of plot and tension in and of itself. this can be a point to let love interests reassure each other and prove their salt. it can help them grow closer. it can be the heroic moment for one of them to stick up for the other or prove they're there for them no matter what.

overall if you're struggling with what to do after the slow burn feels like it's sizzling out it's time to zoom out. make sure you are not losing the whole picture of their environment or steamrolling past the real development of new relationships.

[shorthaltsjester]

doing questionable things like rewatching a bard’s lament for “fun” and scanlan and vex you will always be famous. the fact that scanlan brings up that they’ve travelled across planes to fix vex’s daddy issues but then it’s vex’s daddy issues that ground her rebuttal to scanlan when she tells him to stop treating kaylie like an object. and god. vex’s “fuck him! fuck him for not saying anything sooner. and fuck us for not asking.” in the immediate aftermath, and then once she has time to put her walls back up, vex’s “my take-away from scanlan is that we all talk too much.”

the fact that vex was the one who made that comment that without his magic scanlan is just some guy but he’s also the some guy that vex spends the campaign looking up to (even if she does it through barbs and snark), the fact that when vex was fighting against saundor hearing things like “unproven ally” scanlan was all jokes until he realized how much vex believed what was being said to her. the fact that when scanlan comes back, it’s vex who literally sees through his disguise.

what do you mean scanlan was a deadbeat father who discovered a daughter that he did love but loved only as an object until vex called him out on it? what do you mean vex was a woman who struggled to forgive in part due to her crapshoot father and she was the first to forgive scanlan when he came back?

vex and scanlan also have such interesting interactions in terms of the balance of snark, silliness, and sincerity. it’s not uncommon from any characters of sam or laura’s since they are both silly little guys who also love drama and roasting each other especially when it comes to character rp, but as always it’s so dynamic when it’s the two of them bouncing off each other, especially when they’re doing so through scanlan and vex who are already bitchy characters (affectionate) with humour as a deflection method. but it’s a silly and deeply sincere moment when vex finally puts the witch hat scanlan gave her back on with his promise that he won’t run away from the final battle. it is one of my favourite laughable moments in c1 but it also reeks of sincerity when scanlan asks vex if she prefers planetar scanlan or normal scanlan and vex tells him he is fucking hot as a planetar, but she loves him like he was and he’s her favourite when he’s just himself.

like. they’re insane do you understand. the dawnfather asks vex to prove herself and scanlan turns her into a dragon to help her succeed, pelor asks vox machina what vex means to them and scanlan says she’s greedy and mean and the most perfect of them all. the knowing mistress asks scanlan to prove himself and vex escorts him on a broom he unlocked for her and then she picks an impossible lock for him, ioun tries to remind scanlan that his strength is the joy he provides to his friends and he makes a deflective quip that he’s really powerful and vex undercuts his deflection with a sincere assertion that he is. scanlan cast his last wish spell letting her see her brother on her wedding day. vex sent herself across the continent alone with her worry and grief while scanlan’s corpse lay awaiting resurrection to ensure that his daughter could be there to either bring him back or say goodbye.

they are the platonic chosen soulmates of all time to me. i make a post like this like once a year minimum and it’s because they Haunt me. both sam and laura said what if we made high charisma characters using their charisma as a shield and humour as a weapon and they saw through each other’s masks but they never explicitly talked about it to one another. good riddance to talks machina but i will never forget the episode post bard’s lament with laura and sam where sam revealed that vex was the only one who said anything that actually got through to scanlan and another episode where laura revealed that the reason vex was so angry and sad when scanlan left was that vex felt like her and scanlan had a unique bond where they were the only two who really saw one another’s masks for what they were. also laura providing the insight that while vex was actively working on being more forgiving, another reason she was so open and happy with scanlan when he came back was that vex didn’t want to scare him away again.

what am i supposed to do with all that? be normal about scanlan and vex? literally impossible