#even ones i don't like i couldn't in my good conscience hate.

[sciderman]

Speaking of music blasphemy, I saw a tiktok a while ago asking what everyone’s most hated song was and so many people said Kokomo?!!??

literally who the fuck are these people

[maluustrawberry]

Undesirable encounter

(Claude Frollo X Female reader)

Synopsis: You were the new seamstress in Paris and Frollo suspects that you were harboring Romani in your shop. It looks like your first start was more tense than you expected...

A/n: I confess that I am in love with the Hunchback of Notre-Dame and I especially love the book. I hope you readers like it, and if you want to give me tips I accept (you can correct me too) If you want other Disney characters, you can ask me💕.

Part.2 (Final)

(Guys, I don't know if you know, but the word "gypsy" is a slur and should not be used, the correct one is "Roma" Or "Romani people" I put "Gypsy" only in Frollo's lines since you know the type of person he is.)

It was just another ordinary day in Paris, you had arrived in the city a few months ago and worked as a dressmaker. You immediately became known for the beautiful dresses you produced for the girls and the beautiful clothes for the boys too. You had an excellent aesthetic sense.

But what you had in the way of talent, you also had in the way of kindness. When you heard about the persecution of the Romani people, you felt touched by the situation and decided to help them. It was very risky, but you weren't going to stand by and let it happen like the other citizens of Paris were doing, letting themselves be manipulated by Frollo and his hate speeches. There was a basement in your house that you used to store fabric and sewing materials. You took advantage of that room to help some Romani hide in case of emergency if they were being chased by the guards and if there was no time to run to the court of miracles.

And so it went on, you were extremely careful not to leave any traces, until one day or another these "rumors" ended up reaching the judge.

You were sewing up the sleeves of a client's dress, which had been placed in the moulage to make it easier for you to work, and your attention now turned to the bell that rang as soon as the door was opened. Immediately, the atmosphere of the place changed when you saw who had entered. You knew those clothes, the face worn by age and you couldn't forget that look of superiority and pride, because himself thought he was important and better than everyone because of his opposition and faith. Looking behind those glass windows, you could also see some of his men at the front of the store:

“Bonjour, madame.” Frollo said sternly, snapping you out of your thoughts. That thick, authoritative voice gave you the creeps. “I'd like to know who owns this establishment. Your husband is here?”

“A-Ah! Good morning...” You forced a smile and stuck the needle into the moulage so you wouldn't lose it. “Your Honor, I'm the owner, and no, I don't have a husband.”

As you said this, the judge looked you up and down with contempt. Of course, in the 16th century, a young woman like you not being married was a disgrace to society, and on top of that, being able to read and owning your own business was even worse. You weren't tense or nervous with him in your store, on the contrary, you were so calm... After all, you cleaned out the basement and removed any evidence as soon as a family of Romani's moved out recently:

“I've received information that you've been harboring gypsies in your house and I'm here to find out the facts, have you been harboring gypsies?” He got straight to the point.

“No, sir.” You pretended to be as honest as possible, fortunately you were good at lying.

“You know that if you lie, the sentence for insubordination is death...” He moved closer in an attempt to intimidate her.

“My conscience is clear. You have permission to investigate my store, since my words don't apply to you.”

“If I wasn't allowed to, seamstress, I'd still make a point of searching this place from top to bottom, whether you agree or not.”

The older man signaled for some of his men to enter the store before you could protest or complain. Since you were the only one who seemed to have enough courage to go against the judge's ideas when you were right. They went in and started rummaging around for clues, looking everywhere, even under the skirts of the dresses on the mannequins.

Frollo looked you up and down in an nothing unobtrusive way, you didn't notice the glances, but as soon as you did, it gave you the creeps and you avoided looking back at him. He had never noticed you in the city before and he noticed your accent, deducing that you might be a foreigner. The judge couldn't take his eyes off you, you were a very beautiful woman and seemed so delicate, and it seems that some feeling awakened in him when he saw that you were without gloves and your dress showed your shoulders. He came out of his thoughts when a guard approached:

"Sir, we've looked everywhere and found nothing..." Being a clever woman, an idea came to your mind: perhaps it would be better if they looked at everything to leave you alone.

"Have you looked in my basement, gentlemen?" you asked, kicking the rug that hid the small door in the wooden floor of your store.

Frollo was suspicious, but sent his men in to search every corner of the small cellar. Fortunately, they didn't find anything either, just sewing materials and expensive fabrics. After looking around in vain, the men left the store, leaving you and the judge alone:

“I apologize for this inconvenience.” He said as you went to the moulage to finish the dress.

“You shouldn't believe every rumor out there, Your Honor, not all of them can be true.” You said politely. “but apologies accepted, I know it was for the good of Paris and you care a lot about the city.”

Returning to work, you thought he would leave after all that had happened and notice you "busy" sewing, but no, he stayed in the store while walking slowly around analyzing his surroundings:

“This basement...” He pointed to the carpet above the small door. “Why was it hidden?”

“I don't see the need to show everyone that I have a basement here.” You replied nonchalantly. “and besides, I think that old door would spoil the pretty look of my store.”

Frollo didn't seem to believe in that very much, but you shrugged and continued sewing. There were a few seconds of silence, you could only hear his footsteps coming towards you and could feel that man's gaze on you all the time, causing you a certain nervousness or fear. What did he want anyway?

“Do you want anything else?” you asked in an attempt to break the silence and take your mind off the discomfort of feeling his gaze on you, stopping your sewing and looking at him now.

“I just want you to know.” He said, standing close and looking at her with disgust. “I'll keep an eye on you, I won't trust a literate, single woman so easily... I know women of your kind.”

“I don't think who I am or what I do has anything to do with helping... Ouch!” You interrupted yourself with pain when you felt the needle pierce your finger. It was normal for this to happen when were working with sewing, but it had never been this deep, Maybe it happened because of the anger you was feeling at that moment.

Immediately you dropped the needle out of sheer instinct, and in a quick and daring moment Frollo grabbed your hand with a certain amount of force, bringing it in front of his face, which had a small smile of satisfaction on it. The judge was a sadomasochist, he enjoyed seeing someone in pain, especially when it was someone he thought deserved such a punishment. You were shocked by his attitude, you weren't expecting it and didn't know how to react. What was he doing? Frollo continued to hold your hand, watching the small drop of blood ooze from your pricked finger, but his attention wasn't just there, it was on your fingers, your soft skin and the sensation it brought when you touched it with the contact of the warm hand and his, which was a little cold:

“What are you doing?” You asked, with a bit of hatred for such a vulgar and daring attitude, and he laughed a little.

“What would the church think of a woman exposing her bare hands in front of a high-ranking man like me?” You had no reaction for fear. Gradually his fingers entwined in yours and you saw that his eyes went to your small cleavage and your bare shoulders. “And it's not just your hands that are exposed...”

You quickly pulled your hand free and he looked at you incredulously:

“My hands are only exposed because I can't wear gloves when I sew, and you still don't have the right to do that. It's in the Bible; If your eye or your hand causes you to sin, throw it away!” A small smile came to Frollo's face when he heard that.

“So bold... It's typical of women like you to turn away from guilt in order to confuse men's minds with pagan thoughts, but that doesn't matter any more...”

He walked away, heading for the door to leave, but first his attention turned to you:

“It was a nice chat, seamstress... I want you to make me a cloak and sew me a pair of gloves, I'll be expecting you to deliver them tomorrow night.”

After saying that, he left, leaving you with no reaction to what had just happened. You were angry, but at the same time relieved that he hadn't found out. As soon as he left, you stared at your hand, which he touched and intertwined with his large, thin fingers. You'd have to be more careful now, he'd be stalking you and the reason wouldn't just be because he suspected you of helping the Romani people, it would be because of something else and you know exactly what it was and what his intentions were...

End...

[kirain]

Part 21 of my appreciation project.

@spinfins A fic based on their wonderful fanfic here. Thank you for feeding the fandom!

Art by @toonybrin here!

The water was warm, but Emmrich barely seemed to feel it.

"Bathe him," Dorian had said. "Just enough to soak his wounds. Don't fill the tub. Don't scrub. We don't know the extent of his injuries, and we don't need you peeling his skin like you would a salmon."

Rook winced at the image, and Dorian apologised.

"Look, just... run over them with a sponge as best you can. We can't heal him with magic, so dab away whatever grime you can to prevent infection."

"Right."

"If you need help, give me a shout. I'll come running."

She could have—she considered it—but Emmrich had already been violated and laid bare before too many eyes. She trusted Dorian, knew he wouldn't take any pleasure in it, but the guilt of undressing Emmrich when he had no mind to object weighed heavily on her conscience. She knew he wouldn't want her—or anyone, for that matter—to see him in such a gruesome state.

"I'm so sorry."

She had cradled his head as she helped him into the tub, careful as one might be with glass—no, not glass. He was softer than that. Bruised flesh and weary bone and breath that stuttered shallow in his throat. She'd held him up as he slumped, arms limp around her shoulders, legs shaking as she lowered him into the water.

He'd wailed. Thrashed.

Of course it hurt.

Now he leaned back against the copper edge, his head lolled to one side, damp strands of silver clinging to his forehead. His lips were dry, cracked. His one good eyelid fluttered but didn't open. He looked a hundred years older, and infinitely more fragile.

Rook dipped the sponge again, wrung it out, and brushed it over his shoulder.

He groaned.

She stopped.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Emmrich didn't respond. He sighed arduously through his teeth, the sound tight and unnatural. Maker, she hated this. She hated it almost as much as she hated the Venatori and Ghilan'nain. She bit the inside of her cheek, her fingers trembling as she began again—slower, barely more than a caress over the mottled bruises blooming down his ribs and across his stomach.

"Don't wash his hair," Dorian had warned. "Don't dunk his head or cover his mouth. Don't do anything that might give him the impression he's drowning. He still hasn't regained control of his faculties."

Rook obeyed.

After the ritual—after witnessing what a semiconscious mage could do under strain—she hadn't dared take any chances. She'd gone further still, resting his shackled wrists over the edge of the tub, too afraid to let them sink beneath the water. Instead, she'd dabbed at the skin she could reach, and even that had made him jolt in agony.

And now, she was subjecting him to yet more torment, lapping the soapy, browning water over his hollow abdomen. The dirt and clotted blood refused to lift, her strokes too restrained, too tentative—but she prayed the remedy would seep into his wounds well enough to atone for her cowardice.

"You'll need another bath," she said, forcing a smile. She knew he couldn't see it, but she hoped he'd hear it in her tone. "When you're feeling better, maybe Dorian can take us to a fancy bath house."

She chuckled at the notion, then frowned.

Come on, kid. We both know you're not gonna let him outside after this.

Varric was right. She wasn't sure how she'd ever let him out of her sight again.

But you need to get over it. Spooks will never heal if you smother him. He's a free spirit. You need to let him fly, to restore his faith in humanity, or this whole thing'll break him.

"Yeah, well—" Her jaw clenched. "That's easy for you to say... when you're not wrist deep in his bloody bath water. I have to keep him safe."

Suddenly, Emmrich tensed as the sponge drifted over his left side. Another groan—hoarse this time, and louder. His brows furrowed and he tried to pull away.

"I know, I know." She shuddered. "I'm trying not to hurt you."

She didn't cry—she didn't have the right, not when he was the one suffering—but the tears burned behind her eyes like smoke. She'd never seen him like this. Emmrich, with all his gentleness and virtue, reduced to raw breaths and the occasional twitch of a hand he could no longer lift.

She couldn't wash him thoroughly, but she could at least do it reverently, whispering "sorry" into the air each time the sponge strayed too close to his lesions—so many times, the word could've defined her entire life's vocabulary.

When he was clean—or as clean as she could delude herself into thinking he was—she drained the tub in silence and fetched a towel, draping it over him with tender hands.

But even that hurt him.

"Vishante Kaffas..."

He was barely conscious as she dried him off, yet he still reacted. His skin was too pale, the bruises too vivid. She spoke his name once, desperate for him to hear, but he didn't respond.

She didn't stop.

She dressed the worst of his wounds—the split along his ribs, the scratch on his shoulder, the angry swelling around his abdomen. She even tried to patch the infuriating gash on his nose, but he wouldn't allow it, moaning and recoiling, expending energy he couldn't afford to waste. No matter how gently she approached, no matter how many reassurances she gave, any contact with his face was voicelessly forbidden.

His face.

His handsome face.

How many times had those foul cultists grabbed it? How many times had they pried his mouth open and forced that poison down his throat? How close had they been? What did he see? Did he taste their sweat, their transgressions, the metallic tang of their gloves? Did he smell their rancid breath?

She wanted to scream. No wonder he didn't want to be touched, and she had no wish to upset him.

She let it go.

He's not clean, kid. You're wrapping dirty wounds. All you did was get them a little wet. There's still gunk inside.

"No. Dorian said the soap had elfroot and myrrh in it, and he told me not to scrub. He'll be fine." She shook her head. "You'll be fine, Emmrich."

Fair enough.

By the time she finished, the room smelled of herbs and gauze—and shame.

"All right," she muttered, rising to her feet. "We need to get you to bed, sweetheart. Can you handle it?"

He said nothing, of course, but the faint tilt of his head struck Rook as a precious flicker of awareness.

She embraced him, slipping her arms under his. "On three, okay? One... two... three."

He gasped sharply as he stood, nearly choking on it.

Rook winced. "I've got you. I've got you."

He sagged against her, dead weight in her arms as she dragged him from the tub. His poor shins struck the rim with a dull clang that echoed off the walls—but if he felt it, he gave no sign. The greater pain had numbed him to the rest.

"Kaffas..."

Rook staggered back under the sudden pressure. He was so much larger than her, so much heavier in his weakness. But she didn't fall—she couldn't. With a nimble twirl, she hooked one arm beneath his and the other around his waist, then bore him forward with a strength that belied her size.

They made it halfway across the room when his knees buckled.

"No. No, Emmrich—!"

She tightened her grip, but it was too late. He dropped to the floor, almost in slow motion, whimpering as his legs folded beneath him.

"Emmrich!" She crouched beside him, steadying him against her chest. He was trembling, his eyes rolling under their lids. "Sweetheart, you have to stay with me."

He groaned in defiance, head hanging low between his shoulder blades. One hand hovered over his ribs, his body curled ever so slightly inward.

"You can rest all you want once you're in your nice warm bed," Rook promised, her voice quaking but kind. "I'll even fluff the pillows for you. But you have to stand. Just one more time. Please. Can you do that for me?"

For a long moment, she feared he might pass out right there on the floor.

But eventually—painfully—he nodded.

"That's it," she praised. "It's almost over."

With immense effort, she hauled him upright, her heart twisting at the sound of his pitiful mewls. He was heavier than before, swaying into her—directionless. Gritting her teeth, she took a tottering step forward, bearing his weight inch by inch.

"That's it," she huffed. "Just lean on me. You're doing so well, sweetheart. We're almost there."

His lips parted, and one word scarcely escaped: "Rook..."

Her breath caught.

She almost stumbled.

She could have bawled from the way he said her name—like it meant everything. Like it was his reason for living, for enduring days of torture, for clinging to whatever scraps of hope he had left.

Her name was the thread that kept him tethered to reality.

"I... I'm here," she stuttered. "Just keep walking. I won't let you fall again."

Step by slow, agonising step, they made it to the bed—finally. Rook let out a long, exhausted breath and eased him down, her hand cupping the back of his head with the same care one might use to lower an infant into a crib.

"Ah, ah..." Emmrich stiffened the moment he met the mattress—the shift in stance, the pull of gravity, all wringing fresh pain from his battered midsection.

"I'm sorry," Rook murmured for the millionth time, adjusting him in search of the most comfortable position.

It took some trial and error, some fumbling, but lying on his back—with a cushion propping up his left side—seemed to suit him best. That side, for whatever reason, caused him the most distress.

"I'm sorry. So sorry."

His breathing was harsh, laboured, but once she had him settled, he melted under the blankets, the creases in his forehead loosening like knots unravelled. Lying there, his head nestled in a feathery pillow, he looked so small. So achingly innocent.

That was Emmrich Volkarin—a man of boundless compassion, who weathered sorrow without resentment, resisted violence until it was unavoidable, and reached for every outstretched hand, no matter how fleeting. A rare gleam of gold in a world tarnished by cruelty, hatred, and neglect.

"Emmrich, I..."

Rook's fingers curled into fists, her nails carving crescents into her palms. This was the first time since his rescue that she'd had a chance to truly look at him—alone, with no well-meaning intrusions, no one there to poke or prod him. Bathed, bandaged, soul intact—yet he was still a wreck. Still broken. Still soiled. Her jaw clenched, her teeth grinding into her gums.

What kind of monster could do this to a man like him?

They deserved to die. The Venatori. Elgar'nan. Ghilan'nain.

They all deserved to die!

"Dar...ling..."

She froze.

Emmrich's good eye fluttered open, just for a heartbeat—so swift she almost thought she'd imagined it. He looked at her, perhaps even smiled—all of it gone in the span of a second.

"Thank you..." he wheezed.

She didn't move. She didn't dare. Sleep had finally claimed him, and she feared even her own breathing might shatter the silence. An eternity seemed to pass before she was certain she wouldn't disturb him. Then she sat beside him on the bed, her eyes wide and shimmering. She reached for his hand—cold, chained, bare in a way that felt wrong—and held it gently between her own, as if she could shield him from the memory of his abduction.

And she wept.

[ilyasorokinn]

THINK LATER SERIES

think later is actually my roman empire and it’s a masterpiece. i think about it everyday, and probably listen to at least one song a day. tate mcrae, i love you. so, here’s an f1 (i know, who is she??) based on songs from one of my favorite album of all time.

cut my hair - mark webber ❝ whatever she can do, i can do it better ❞

greedy - jenson button ❝ can't tell if you love or hate me ❞

run for the hills - jack doohan ❝ maybe the dangers covered by the thrill ❞

hurt my feelings - esteban ocon ❝ she's got you right now, but i'm still on your mind ❞

grave - oscar piastri ❝ i could never make you want me like i wanted to be wanted ❞

stay done - daniel ricciardo ❝ i know i sound so dumb, but i just can't stay done with you ❞

exes - carlos sainz jr. ❝ oh, i'm sorry, sorry that you love me ❞

we’re not alike - franco colapinto ❝ said she had my back, but she had the knife ❞

calgary- logan sargeant ❝ same fears, same dreams ❞

messier - lando norris ❝ not sure if my mom would call this love ❞

think later - pato o’ward ❝ it's not a good night if you don't take it too far ❞

guilty conscience - mick schumacher ❝ all my morals shot, even it don't faze me ❞

want that too - charles leclerc ❝ i gave you everything that i couldn't afford to lose ❞

plastic palm trees - lewis hamilton ❝ caught in a dream, it's not what it seems ❞

tagging some friends: @2manytabsopen @laurenairay @slafkovskys @kolsmikaelson @comphyjost @boqvistsbabe @fallinallincurls @typical-simplelove @barzysreputation @ebsmind @rosesvioletshardy @iwantahockeyhimbo @papayasonice @lam-ila @sydnikov @literaryslapshot @bitchinbarzal @smileysvech @ohmyeyesmyeyes @lucasraymonds @cuteandhughesy @goldfades

here's the taglist!

[sobblesources]

A LOADED GOD COMPLEX ,

a collection of sentence starters from fall out boy's album from under the cork tree . edited to fit rp needs , adjust pronouns as necessary . warning for some suggestive sentences !

❛ it's just past eight & i'm feeling young & reckless , ❜

❛ we're only liars , but we're the best , ❜

❛ put these words down into your notebook , ❜

❛ we're friends when you're on your knees , ❜

❛ you only hold me up like this , cause you don't know who i really am , ❜

❛ sometimes i just want to know what it's like to be you , ❜

❛ i used to waste my time dreaming of being alive , now i only waste it dreaming of you , ❜

❛ i've got headaches , & bad luck , but they couldn't touch you , ❜

❛ i don't want to forget how your voice sounds , ❜

❛ you always fold just before you're found out , ❜

❛ why don't you show me that little bit of spine you've been saving for his mattress ? ❜

❛ i only want sympathy in the form of you crawling into bed with me , ❜

❛ am i more than you bargained for yet ? ❜

❛ i've been dying to tell you anything you want to hear , ❜

❛ sugar , we're going down swinging , ❜

❛ isn't it messed up , how i'm just dying to be him ? ❜

❛ if you say this makes you happy , then i'm not the only one lying , ❜

❛ nothing comes as easy as you , ❜

❛ i'll be your best kept secret , & your biggest mistake , ❜

❛ wear me like a locket around your throat , i'll weigh you down & watch you choke , ❜

❛ i want to be known for my hits , not just my misses , ❜

❛ i'm hopelessly hopeful you're just hopeless enough , ❜

❛ i'm sleeping my way out of this one with anyone who'll lie down , ❜

❛ i keep telling myself i'm not the desperate type , ❜

❛ i'm not going home alone , ❜

❛ i swear i'd burn this city down to show you the light , ❜

❛ no matter what they say , don't believe a word , ❜

❛ the best part of believe is the lie , ❜

❛ give in , or just give up , ❜

❛ i'll keep you warm & won't ask where you've been , ❜

❛ oh yeah , you caught me , ❜

❛ some secrets were meant to be told , ❜

❛ i'm sorry my conscience called in sick again , ❜

❛ i've got arrogance down to a science , ❜

❛ so progress report , i am missing you to death , ❜

❛ feeling borrowed , & always blue , ❜

❛ why don't you just drop dead ? ❜

❛ i don't blame you for being you , but you can't blame me for hating it , ❜

❛ kiss her , kiss her ! ❜

❛ write me off , give up on me , ❜

❛ darling , what did you expect ? ❜

❛ you said you'd keep me honest , ❜

❛ this has been said so many times that i'm not sure if it matters , ❜

❛ your secret's out , & the best part is it isn't even a good one ! ❜

❛ i know this hurts , it was meant to , ❜

❛ i used to obsess over living , ❜

❛ now i only obsess over you , ❜

❛ tell me you like boys like me better in the dark lying on top of you , ❜

❛ talking's just a waste of breath , ❜

❛ living's just a waste of death , ❜

❛ to hands between legs & whatever it takes , ❜

❛ what did it ever do for me ? ❜

❛ choose love or sympathy , but never both , ❜

❛ i hope you choked & crashed your car , ❜

❛ loose lips sink ships , ❜

[couldtheysurviveshibuya]

1, could coco atarashi survive the reapers game? particularly if your out to Get Her if possible, and 2, rant to us about atarashi please! im curious

Unfortunately, me being out to get her is not a factor, because while the events of Sakuraba's UG experience occurred I was still operating as a Reaper in Chiyoda, not Shibuya. Which sounds like it was probably for the best, considering how things Went Down.

But believe me if I could ruin her chances I would. Atarashi is the worrrrrrst. I keep getting paired up with her for assignments. Yashiro says it's because we both annoy her equally, and that "if you two are kept busy ruining things for each other, then you won't be able to ruin things for anyone else". Which is patently absurd. I do my job. I ensure that my quota is reached, and then I set up my laptop on one of the buildings near the 104 and run my simulations. That doesn't bother anyone!

(Atarashi just leaned over to read my screen, and asked me about the Carmen Sandiego incident. That was NOT MY FAULT. STOP READING OVER MY SHOULDER.)

Atarashi on the other hand has decided that it is her life's mission to annoy everyone in Shibuya. ESPECIALLY me. She puts on this obnoxious cutesy act, like "ohhhh im coco atarashi im totez adorbs and everyone loves me" and then she STEALS MY FREAKING WALLET. She comes up with the most CONVOLUTED tasks for Players and since Yashiro makes me help I have to be the shmuck who has to explain them! To make matters worse, a lot of the time she'll be like "okay players you aren't getting past this barrier unless you buy these specific outfits" and then ensures that those outfits can only be found at HER storefront. I have to go through all the effort of setting up a barrier and yet SHE makes a profit from it??? I don't even get a cut of the payments??? You can't just not pay a Chiyoda Reaper, I WANT MY MONEY.

And don't get me STARTED on her whole "thing" with Minamimoto. I freaking hate that guy, but Atarashi has decided she's his "master" or whatever which means whenever she schemes that moron inevitably gets dragged into it and then I have to deal with HIM too. Yashiro's ostensibly got him stationed on the other side of town, but he keeps SHOWING UP ANYWAY and his mathspeak literally hurts to listen to. I don't care about complex mathematics unless it has to do with simulations or stock prices! And Atarashi encourages him! He always makes a huge mess and then leaves without cleaning it up, and that's somehow MY problem to deal with because Atarashi doesn't want dirt on her "brand new adorbz" skirt. Why couldn't he just STAY FIRED.

Ughhhhh and I'm not even going to get INTO her fashion sense I know Shibuya is like Youth Culture central but the outfits here are all ugly as heck and somehow Atarashi is WORSE. All that pink should come with a seizure warning.

(Annnd she read that over my shoulder too and is now wondering aloud if she should incorporate strobe lights into her outfit. She's probably joking but just in case ATARASHI IF YOU ADD LIGHTS TO YOUR OUTFIT I WILL GO NOISE FORM AND CRUSH YOUR LITTLE RAT BODY DON'T THINK I WONT I DONT CARE IF IM NOT RANKED HIGH ENOUGH TO DO THAT YET I WILL FIND A WAY)

Anyway don't let her charming facade fool you Atarashi is actively trying to make life hell for everyone she meets and I cannot WAIT for the day some Player finally manages to Erase her. ...Though I'd prefer if that didn't happen until after she GIVES ME BACK MY WALLET. And... ugh... unfortunately it is to my benefit if you guys vote for her survival, just as it usually is to my benefit for you to vote for ANYONE'S survival, so I can't in good conscience just straight up tell you to vote for her downfall. BUT I WISH I COULD.

[steppenwolfslair]

Some thoughts on Caterina

I will add some two cents into the Caterina discussion because I've been thinking about it as someone who also grew up in a very matriarchal culture and family. Now I will say immediately that they don't show Caterina enough for anything to hold actual water which is a giant flaw of this game for me. My main insights into her come from Tevinter nights.

I have a very difficult time calling anything Caterina does as ''love'', I definitely have issues when people say she is both abusive AND a loving grandmother as if these things are separated by a barrier and don't necessarily mix. Unless we are calling her love the twisted, egotistical, corrupted kind of ''love'' I will not give her that characterization. We know from the WMJ that Lucanis assumes his training was to make both him and Illario survive in their world which stands and makes sense. Their whole family was wiped out and Caterina is making sure that never happens again.

If we go into this assuming the absolute very best of Caterina and say she is like this because of her great loss, she did what she did because she never wanted her grandsons to witness the same, because she herself didn't want to witness that tragedy again. That she had to steel every inch of herself and do what needed to be done to survive. If we take all of this into account (and this is all one assumption mind you because she could also just be an overly ambitious, narcissistic and manipulative authority who is trying to make sure the Dellamortes name never sees sunset) we are still left with a woman who beat down children with her cane and starved them.

I cannot in any good conscience give her that benefit of the doubt. Even if i assume the very best about her intentions and reasoning this woman tortured her grandsons and i couldn't give a damn about her.

Every abuser has a reason and it is often ''love'''.

And if anyone tries to pull the culture card on me don't even try i lived it. I don't need to understand or look at anything here. Your experience on how you dealt with domestic abuse and your abuser is your own. This is a real issue, it mirrors a very real experience and people are allowed to have the reaction to it and her that they have.

And if you have a problem with people hating her because they witnessed the same type of abuse irl and are therefore being ''unfair to her'' you can shove it :P

[marionluth]

Okay, Jason Todd question/ramble session...

So I saw this post on Reddit about Jason and who would be a good sidekick for him. I read through the comments and saw many different perceptions about it, and a certain question formed in my mind.

Do you think Jason hated/regretted that he became Robin a sidekick/vigilante? Are there comic or movie references that support this claim?

Bear with me because I need to give you some context to make the question make sense.

Ok, so the answers in that post were for the most part comments of the general premise "He'd never want a sidekick, because he died as a sidekick and he wouldn't in good conscience agree to bring a child into this role".

And like... My perception is WAY different, but I'm always down to hear what others think, especially considering I'm not as well-versed in the canon as others.

So, first things first, I know he canonically HAD a Sidekick, Scarlet. I haven't read their story, but I've read about them and checked out some comic panels back when I first heard about her existence. So that alone tells me, he's definitely not totally against the idea. Though I don't know how their story ends or why and if maybe by the end of it we see him change opinions.

Then, also, the claim that he wouldn't because he died as a sidekick and he wouldn't bring a child into this... Just sits a bit wrong with me. Because... I don't think he ever hated that he became Robin.

I mean, maybe he did in a broader sense of "I wish I had never met Bruce" but I don't think he actively hated/regretted the vigilante/sidekick gig. I think he loved being Robin. That doesn't cancel his traumatic end-of-the-gig, don't get me wrong. But like... I think he can very well tell the difference of hating Joker and what he did to him, and hating what Bruce didn't do for him and how he couldn't be enough for him, and at the same time not equating these two things with generally being Robin.

And I don't know if he really ever states he's against children vigilantes. I mean, I can see him being against Bruce having more children/teen vigilantes, but like... I guess I'm not so sure he'd care that much about the young sidekicks premise in general?

Yeah, so that's where and how the question kinda formed.

If we consider the apparently popural perception of him "never doing this because of his own traumatic death as a child vigilante and never wanting to bring children into the life" ... Does that mean he actually hated being Robin?

Again, I'm seeking to hear out others' perceptions and opinions. I'M NOT claiming mine is "better" or "the right one" (is there even such a thing when we're talking character perceptions?). It's the very reason I make this post, trying to consolidate how I feel about this, too.

So, please, people-well-versed-in-canon, help! Share your thoughts, opinions, perceptions. Panels even, if you have them.

I don't know how many this will reach, or if anyone will actually bother reading, but would love to hear from as many of you as possible!

[noona-clock]

Encounter - Part 3

Genre: Star Trek!AU, Enemies-to-Lovers Lite

Pairing: Chanyeol x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2. 3, 4, 5, 6 | Words: 2,692

Going into a career in Starfleet, especially one on a starship, you knew there was a chance something like this could happen. Space was unpredictable, to say the least; you never knew what could happen and when.

But Starfleet's mission to explore and research and discover certainly didn't disregard the fact that anything could happen in space. In fact, it based most of its protocol on the unpredictability and did everything it could to prepare its students for handling that unpredictability.

Before this away mission, though, you'd viewed the 'anything can happen' concept as just that -- a concept. It was something that was real, certainly, but for other people. Not for you!

Oh, how you hated to be proven wrong.

"Okay," you breathed, rubbing the bridge of your nose to try and stave off the headache from your injury. "We have enough rations and supplies, so unless all of our equipment was damaged in the crash, we can still go out there and complete the mission."

The reply you received was not one you expected, but in hindsight, one you should've seen coming: Chanyeol scoffed.

"The second I realized I would have to crash-land this thing, I knew the mission was no longer priority one. What we have to focus on now is getting the shuttle repaired and getting a distress call out there to let them know we're stranded," he rebutted.

His words made you furrow your brow and tilt your head curiously at him. "The mission is only supposed to be three days long," you reminded him. "First of all, we can absolutely survive here for three days, and as soon as the Solstice realizes we haven't come back, they'll send a search party. Second of all, are you that confident you can manage to fully repair this shuttle and its systems by yourself in three days?"

Chanyeol clutched one hand to his heart with a groan and said, "I'm hurt that you think I can't."

"Not by yourself, no!" you laughed. "We were sent here with a job to do. You and I are okay, we have our rations, we have our equipment -- do you realize how much of a waste it would be to not go out there and explore this place? I mean, we still need to figure out exactly what happened! Quite frankly, repairing the shuttle is our last priority."

"Oh, my sweet, little scientist," Chanyeol chuckled.

"Don't --"

"Sorry, sorry," he interrupted, holding up his hands in defeat. "I forgot you don't like to be called anything having to do with 'sweet.' My apologies."

...Unfortunately, it seemed like he was sincere. And the only reason his sincerity was unfortunate was because it meant you couldn't, in good conscience, just roll your eyes and ignore him.

"Apology accepted," you muttered.

"What I meant by that is it's clear you're not an engineer," he smirked.

"If I was, you wouldn't be here," you pointed out. "This is a scientific study. You were only assigned because someone needed to fly the shuttle and maintain its systems."

Almost immediately following your statement, Chanyeol opened his mouth, the expression on his face clearly one of 'gotcha!'

But then he obviously realized you'd said maintain. And maintaining the systems of the shuttle was not exactly the same as almost fully repairing them.

So, he closed his mouth and huffed in frustration.

And, you know what? If he could admit you were right (even though he hadn't actually said anything out loud), then you could come up with a compromise.

"Listen," you began. "You are more than welcome to work on repairing the shuttle, but I will be out on that planet collecting samples like I was assigned to, okay?"

Instead of accepting your idea, Chanyeol stood up from his chair at the main console and began slowly walking over to you. "Not by yourself, you're not," he said without a hint of teasing. In fact, he almost sounded... angry?

"I have a phaser, a tricorder, and a very keen sense of direction. I'll be fine."

"No, absolutely not," Chanyeol insisted, shaking his head as he came to stand right in front of you. "You're not going out there alone, and that's an order."

"Excuse me?" you scoffed, tilting your head slightly to meet his eye. "Since when are you my commanding officer? We're the same rank, you can't give me orders."

Chanyeol stared back at you, his gaze so intense that it almost made you uncomfortable. But you were certainly not going to back down from this.

"I'm going with you," he stated after almost a minute of tense silence. "We'll go out when it's light and come back here to work on the shuttle the minute it starts getting dark."

Well, there was no logical reason for you to refute that idea. It was a compromise -- and a very reasonable one.

"Fine," you accepted.

Since it was currently light enough outside, Chanyeol made good on his part of the deal and headed out with you onto the planet's surface to begin gathering data and collecting samples -- after the two of you made sure you had no other injuries from the crash, had all of your equipment, and stuffed your packs with rations, of course.

Naturally, the first thing you did after stepping outside was crouch down and scoop some soil into a beaker.

As you stoppered it and slid it into your pack, you decided to voice some thoughts that had been ruminating in your mind for several minutes.

"Now, I know I'm not the most experienced when it comes to reading sensors on a ship or in a shuttle, but I like to think I still know a thing or two."

Chanyeol chuckled softly, handing you a new, empty beaker so you could continue collecting samples. "A thing or two billion," he amended. "You're like a walking database."

His words made you pause and slowly shift your gaze over to him, your forehead wrinkled. "...Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Normally, you would be thrilled to hear someone call you a 'walking database.' But with Chanyeol? You couldn't be sure.

"In Starfleet, of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"

"I mean, coming from you..." you pointed out.

"I'm fully capable of paying you a compliment!" he defended with an amused laugh.

Even after processing that and thinking for almost thirty seconds, you still couldn't come up with an appropriate response. So, you simply said, "No comment," and began walking toward what was most likely a tree.

"What?!" Chanyeol scoffed. "I am!"

"Oh, yes, absolutely. You've paid me plenty of compliments in-between your accusing me of stalking you," you replied sardonically.

Unsurprisingly, Chanyeol had no further response other than to grumble something under his breath and kick at the dirt in front of him.

But then he said, "Wait, you were talking about the sensor readings."

"Oh! Right, so, I couldn't immediately place exactly what was happening to cause such a disruption in our flight pattern and our systems to basically fail," you explained. As you approached the tree, you reached into your pack for a pair of phaser shears to retrieve cuttings from the leaves. "But I think now it has something to do with the Minarian Supernova that happened a little over 150 years ago. It wiped out all but one planet in the whole star system. If I remember correctly, this system is probably not close enough to have been majorly impacted but close enough to still feel the effects. So it was most likely a leftover gravitational disturbance and energy surge from the supernova. That would also explain the mild radiation in the atmosphere."

You ended your explanation just in time to phaser off a few leaves from the tree, watching as they landed perfectly into the beaker.

But as you were stoppering the beaker and putting it back in your pack with the soil sample, you realized Chanyeol hadn't said anything.

When you looked over at him, brows knit, you were met with that stupid smirk of his, and his eyes twinkled when he said, "See? Walking database."

"Please," you scoffed. "You could've figured all that out, too."

"Maybe I could've, but I didn't. And I sure as hell would never have remembered a supernova that happened a century and a half ago!"

"You don't remember the Minarian Supernova?!" you asked, unable to hide the shock in your voice.

"...No?! Why would I?" Chanyeol laughed.

"Because it -- I mean, the Enterprise?! Kirk? Spock? Scotty? Surely, you know everything there is to know about Scotty, right? He's the God of Starfleet Engineering."

"Well, yes. Maybe not everything, but it's not like I have all of the Enterprise's missions memorized like you do," he teased.

"It was a supernova! It wiped out an entire star system! You don't find that fascinating or memorable?!"

Chanyeol's smirk grew, almost morphing into an actual grin, and your stomach did a tiny flip which you immediately chose to ignore.

"If I did, I would've been in planetary sciences with you," he pointed out. "Instead, I find the way a starship works to be fascinating and memorable."

You simply shrugged and muttered, "Suit yourself."

Truth be told, you were glad there were people like Chanyeol because if everyone was as obsessed with science as you, who would keep the ships running? You couldn't discover new life in the galaxy if you couldn't get there.

But you would never tell him that. Obviously.

You turned to continue your trek, your gaze scanning the horizon for what you could collect next -- but then Chanyeol utterly surprised you by saying this:

"I am glad there are people like you, though. Obsessed with stuff like supernovas and soil. Otherwise, we wouldn't know about any of it, and we'd be out here flying around just to fly. Just to marvel at the machinery."

You had to pause because, first of all, he had just voiced almost exactly what you'd been thinking. And second of all, he had just complimented you again.

You honestly weren't sure what to do with yourself.

Well, you figured you should start by acknowledging his admiration, so you murmured a "Thank you," and nodded your head. And then you cleared your throat and decided to repay his friendly remark. "I'm... glad there are engineering nerds like you, as well. Starfleet has taught me that we all work best as a team. A well-rounded team where we each have our own strengths and contribute different things... It takes a village and all that."

Chanyeol had turned toward you to listen, his brows gently raised as you spoke. When you finished, one corner of his lips lifted into a smirk and he said, "Aw, you don't really mean that." His tone was a bashful one rather than a disbelieving one, though, as if he felt he didn't deserve your (somewhat) kind words.

Modest Chanyeol was too much for you to comprehend at the moment, so you simply rolled your eyes and began walking again.

"Hey, wait," Chanyeol called out as he scrambled to follow you. "You were supposed to say I do mean it, I'm incredibly grateful for your extensive engineering knowledge because I wouldn't be on this planet without you. I owe you so much, Chanyeol, and I can never thank you enough."

Ah, there we go! Now it all made sense. He had only been pretending to be bashful so you would compliment him more and flatter his disgustingly huge ego.

"Come on," you said, completely ignoring him. "It looks like we don't have much light left today."

"I mean, I would settle for I do mean it, you're a fantastic engineer for your age. Definitely the next Geordi LaForge, too. You don't have to admit that you owe me so much."

When you didn't reply, you heard him inhale sharply to speak again.

Sure enough, he said, "I would even settle for I do mean it --"

"Can we just continue with the mission? I want to collect more samples before we have to go back to the shuttle," you interrupted, unable to keep your annoyance out of your voice.

"Okay, okay!" Chanyeol replied defensively, holding his hands up in surrender. "I was just trying to be friendly."

How did he manage to keep surprising you?

"Friendly?" you asked with skepticism.

"Yeah, friendly. Like, joke around and stuff."

"Why do you want to joke around with me?" you asked as you approached what appeared to be a small pond surrounded by shrub-like flora.

"What kind of question is that?" Chanyeol chuckled, almost under his breath. "We're on a mission, just the two of us, stranded here for at least three days."

"...So? Don't you hate me?"

For some reason, you expected him to refute your words and stammer out that he didn't hate you. And, for some other reason, you were a little disappointed when he didn't. He simply let out a breath and followed you over to the pond.

As soon as you filled up three more beakers with pond water, soil, and shrub leaves, Chanyeol finally opened his mouth -- but only to agree with you that it was time to head back to the shuttle.

Since both you and Chanyeol were silent as you walked back to the shuttle, it allowed you to think of how you should handle things.

Unsurprisingly, you couldn't unhear Chanyeol saying he was trying to be friendly and joke around with you. But when you'd called him out on it, he hadn't responded -- and in fact, had hardly said anything since.

So, should you bring it up once you got back? Was this worth an actual conversation? Or should you move on and pretend it hadn't happened?

Obviously, the second option was easier, and since you were currently in somewhat of a stressful situation, 'easy' was incredibly appealing.

As soon as you stepped into the shuttle and the door closed behind you, you took off your pack, unzipped it, and began putting the samples into an airtight container. Then, you stood up, faced Chanyeol, and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

Chanyeol, who had been heading up to the main console, froze mid-step. He turned slowly to look at you curiously. "...What?"

"To repair the shuttle," you clarified. "What do you need me to do?"

"...You're going to repair the shuttle?"

You breathed a chuckle through your nose. "Well, no. I'm going to help you repair the shuttle."

"You are?"

"Why not?"

Chanyeol looked at you as if you were either tricking him or had suddenly developed amnesia.

"Because... I thought we weren't talking to each other because I hate you," he said.

Okay, wonderful. You had been trying to move on and pretend like nothing had happened, but he wasn't going to let you do that. Great!

"We're still colleagues," you pointed out, determined to do your best to skirt around the issue. "I can't just sit here and watch you repair the shuttle. So, tell me what I can do to help."

Instead of actually listening to you and giving you an assignment, though, Chanyeol let out a bemused chuckle and rested his hands on his hips. "You're incapable of following the conversation script I wrote out in my head, did you know that?"

"The what?" you laughed.

"You never say what I think you're going to say -- certainly never what I want you to say. For someone so obsessed with science and order and rules, you're highly unpredictable," he told you.

"O...kay..."

"I mean it as a compliment," Chanyeol explained. "It's actually one of the reasons I like you -- not hate. I like you. I respect the hell out of you, and I always have."

There was nothing you could do after hearing that except laugh. "You sure have an interesting way of showing it."

"The toolbox should be in that cabinet," he said, pointing above your head. "Bring it up here to the console and help me with the communications system."

...All right, then. It was his turn to totally ignore what you'd said and pretend like it had never happened.

And, to be honest, you were just fine with that.

Part 4

[calisources]

THE ONE WITH THE FACE OF AN ANGEL. all sentences and quotes were taken from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series. all lines are by Angel and his soulless self, Angelus, so be warned a few of these are explicit or allude to sexual acts or have double meaning. change names, pronouns and locations (and ages) as you see fit.

That Slayer...she's a pistol.

I wanna torture you. I used to love it, and it's been such a long time. I mean, the last time I tortured someone, they didn't even have chainsaws.

Hey! Who's a guy gotta kill to get a drink around here?!

How sweet that virgin tasted, the fresh smell of a newborn's neck. My first nun - now that's a great story.

As for you, you luscious thing. I mean, you were going to let me out of that cage, so, let's see. I'll give you, what, a ten second start.

Don't be jealous, kitten. She's just the warm-up. I'll save the good stuff for you.

Angel,I love you,but I can't be with you...you ate babies...chicks.

The rumors are true. Angel has left the building, and I am back.

What won't I miss? The moralizing. Soul's already in the ether, boyo. I can smell it.

Tell you what. I'll torture ya for a few unbelievably long hours, and you can tell me if this is the lifestyle for you.

Passion rules us all. And we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments.

If we could live without passion, maybe we'd know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank.

Kill you? Why would I kill you when I can live off you for a month?

I don't want to share my feelings.I don't want to open up. I want to find the guy who killed Tina and look him in the eye.

Are you mad at me for being around too much or not being around enough?

I don't need strength. I just need the sun to rise.

I hated the girls back then.especially the noble women...they were just incredibly dull.

They have no taste for the undead. Not that a sting would do me any damage, it's just... tonight's special.

There's a lot I don't understand. I do know it's important to keep fighting. I learned that from you.

My people, before I was changed, they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a claddagh ring.

Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody.

I'm sorry. I wanted to take you out somewhere fun. It's been a long time since I've been to the movies. They've changed.

How can we be together if the cost is your life, or the lives of others? I know. I couldn't tell you. I wasn't sure - if I could do it if I woke up with you one more morning.

Don't mistake me. I do love the ladies. It's just lately... I've been wondering... what it'd be like... to share the slaughter of innocents... with another man.

Don't... I don't think that makes me some kind of a deviant, hmm? Do you?

Sorry about the chains. It's not that I don't trust you, it's... Actually, it is that I don't trust you.

I can walk like a man but I'm not one.

I'm weak. I've never been anything else.

I wanted to lose myself in you. I know it will cost me my soul, and part of me didn't care. It's not the demon in me that needs killing, Buffy, it's the man.

For a hundred years I offered ugly death to everyone I met, and I did it with a song in my heart.

You're a wreck! She's stronger than any Slayer you've ever faced. Force won't get it done. You gotta work from the inside. To kill this girl... you have to love her.

Let me guess, you summoned back the true Angelus because you need a new boy toy.

Oh, my cure? No, thanks. Been there, done that, and deja vu just isn't what it used to be.

The elders conjured the most perfect punishment for me. They restored my soul.

When you become a vampire, the demon takes your body, but it doesn't get your soul; that's gone. No conscience, no remorse, it's an easy way to live.

You have no idea what it's like to have done the things I've done...and care. I haven't fed on a human being since that day.

See? Whenever we fight you always bring up the vampire thing.

Gave her the puppy dog "I'm all tortured" act. Keeps her off my back when I feed.

Listen, if we date, you and I both know one thing's going to lead to another.

This isn't some fairy tale. When I kiss you, you don't wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after.

I did a lot of unconscionable things when I became a vampire. Drusilla was the worst. She was ... an obsession of mine. She was pure, sweet, and chaste.

Killed everybody she loved. Visited every mental torture on her I could devise. She eventually fled to a convent, and on the day she took her holy orders, I turned her into a demon.

She made me feel like a human being. That's not the kind of thing you just forgive.

Spike, boy you never did learn your history.

If I was blind, I would see you.

A demon isn't a man. I was a man once.

Because I wanted to! Because I want you so badly! I want to take comfort in you.

Am I a thing worth saving, huh?! Am I a righteous man? The world wants me gone!

I watched you, I saw you called, it was a bright afternoon out in front of your school. You walked down the steps and ... I loved you.

Because I could see your heart. You held it before you for everyone to see, and I was worried that it would get bruised or torn. And more than anything in my life, I wanted to keep it safe.

I can stay in town as long as you want me.

I never was much for preachers.

God, I missed watching this.

I’ll start working on the second front. Try not to use it.

Hm. You smell so good. So warm. I miss that.

You're wrong. You don't know what it is you're asking me to do.

Oh, what's the matter? Look a little nervous.

They always mistake me for the character I play. They never see the real me!

When you kill them. Some just stand there frozen while others.. . 

This was about saving somebody's soul. That's what I do here and you're not a part of it.

That's great, it's nice you moved on; I can't. You found someone new; I'm not allowed to, remember?

I see you again, it cuts me up inside, and the person I share that with is me.

You don't know me anymore, so don't come down here with your great new life and expect me to do things your way. Go home.

Buttering me up. Getting me all relaxed, hm? Not the most innovative interrogation technique, but... OK, I'll play.

Well, now that's a question. Not a great question. Not even an insightful question. 

So much for stand by your man. Then again, you probably like her on her knees.

The more you piss me off, the longer I'll keep you alive.

Oh, something tells me she's a screamer.

Hey, you remember that time you tried to get Angel to kill you because you felt all weepy over being such a bad little girl. Huh? Do you still feel that way? Do you still wanna die?

Well, it's not really the kind of message you tell. It sort of involves finding the bodies of all your friends.

I don't need to see movies to get worked up. Just being around you does that just fine. It feels nice, just to feel.

You still my girl?

I know what you're thinking. Maybe there's some good deep down inside of me that remembers and loves you, if only you could reach me.

You know what I just can't believe, all of our time together and we never tried chains.

Dream on, schoolgirl. Your boyfriend is dead and you're all gonna join him.

[inactivewattpadauthor]

Jade x Reader: Not Him

This was supposed to be published last month. My bad. Happy Late Pride Month to all beings!

Context: Reader had feelings for Jade, but she's with Kotal

Angst warning(?) ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The dry night of Outworld was quiet apart from the howls of late workers, laboring hard on the streets of dusk. All you did was watch over with no expression, no certain feeling. You were just in your own thoughts.

Nearly every day, at this time, was when you pondered hard somewhere. Somewhere alone, where no one could keep you away from the dangers of the your own conscience. It was always like self-hypnotizing.

Sighing, you finally acknowledged how you were mindlessly fiddling with something in your right hand. Opening up your palm, was a pretty ring. Gold with a green gem perched on the middle.

Though the gem had dulled a bit, it still had the beautiful sparkle to it. It'll always be there, you hope.

𝘑𝘢𝘥𝘦.

That's what the jewel on the ring is. But for you, the name goes way more than a simple, pricey rock.

The name had always made your heart do little happy flips. But recently, it just makes you sad.

Looking at your ring, you let out another deep breath of discontent. You didn't want this stupid jewelry. You wanted the actual-

"Good evening, Y/n! Why are you up here?"

You gasped out a squeak and jumped up, clenching your fist closed in fear of accidentally dropping the ring off the roof. And you know the poor people of Outworld don't play around with rich litter.

"Oh, Jade! Jeez, you startled me!" You turned around and clutched at your heart.

"Apologies." The pole lady chuckles at your reaction. She then walks to you with her usual friendly look. The beautiful face you've always loved. "What were you doing?"

"Just... a little daydreaming. Night-dreaming, you could call it." You shrugged, sitting back down. You gestured your best friend to sit by you, which she does with no hesitation.

"How are you?" You spoke.

"Very well!" Jade answers with a proud tone. "Today Kotal and I have.... and... then... he's so..."

Your mind went blank already, drowning out Jade's voice with insecure stabs internally. You haven't met Kotal, not yet and hopefully not ever, but you couldn't help but hate him.

The man attacked you by being the only one in Jade's mind and heart. You swore, it should've been you. Right?

"I wouldn't trade him for another." Jade finishes up.

"Right." Your tone accidentally came out full of disdain.

Jade faces you, her hearty smile dropping into confusion. "Is something the matter?"

"No- sorry. I'm okay. Just a little zoned out tonight." You look away, not wanting to show your saddened face to her.

She knows though. Only how you feel, not what exactly it was. All she could do was assume.

"One day, you'll find the perfect man to court you as have I." She reassured with a soft hand on your shoulder.

"No! That's not-" Your mind instantly jumped to correcting her, but... she doesn't know. How would she feel if you told her.

You scooted away from her, isolating yourself from what could feel like something once treasured being destroyed in a flash.

"Y/n. What's wrong? I'm your friend. You can tell me." The Edenian uses her sweet one to calm you.

"I don't think I will find a man, Jade. If anything, I wish I was one- wish I was Kotal." Your voice shook and your words were all vague and worrying to your friend.

"What?" She tilts her head. She is very concern about you right now. She always felt like something was up with you when you began being by yourself increasingly. She just thought you needed time to yourself like everyone does.

"You're fine just they way you are. You're strong and very importan-"

"No, Jade." You finally gathered everything and looked at her. This has always been urking you like a pustule on a morning before something important.

"I... I'm in love with you. I've been for awhile, but kept it hidden. But now that Kotal is in your life, it's been tormenting me every minute. And truthfully, I don't want our friendship to die. And I definitely don't want you to find me disgusting."

Jade's eyes widened at the confession. You waited for whatever judgement she'd give, but all that tension was pushed away with such ease from her.

She still looked caring.

"That explains a lot. I'm honored you're comfortable with telling me." Her smile slowly drops and here comes the expected part. "But I suppose you already know I'm faithful to Kotal."

"Yes. Yes, I know." You held a small smile up, still hurt from the rejection.

"We can still be friends. I care for you a lot, and that will never change. Understand me?" She tilts your lowered head up from the chin to have you see how serious she meant it.

You nod, and then she pulls you into a comforting embrace.

Jade loves you as her best friend. You will always be Y/n no matter your identity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Writer's block fucking me up more behind the scenes🤧

[eta-volantis]

Okay so I finished ZZZ patch 1.7 and I want to talk about it a little

(SPOILERS BELOW)

I actually got a couple of things right omg

Hugo DID use a code word to Lycaon to get him to follow the plan

Hugo did overhear Jack and Lycaon talking, and I think this pushed him to plan to assassinate his father by helping him sink into the part of him that he hated

Hugo was the one that sent the letter to the major. I highly suspected that Hugo has something to do with the Sacrifice Core ended up in the auction as well. It's all very theatrical and smelled of his shenanigans.

That Hugo would end up allying himself with the mayor. This is more half true since it's revealed he'd been in alliance with the mayor this whole time, but my suspicion was that he is more friendly with the mayor than he let on since I suspect this is how the game will have him be more involved in the future through Lycaon.

I talked about it in an earlier post, but I was a little annoyed that they walked back that he killed his father though not unexpected. However! I liked that they didn't walk back that he did plan for it and TRIED. I think it's very in character still for him to chicken out because clearly he does have a conscience but when he was younger, he was extremely conflicted and it took him a long time to deal with it. Also from what we know, I think it's also very belieavable that Hugo's father is so paranoid that the assassination plan would fail as well as Hartman being a vulture that would take advantage of the chaos to finish Hugo's father off. I also think Hugo couldn't let go of his fears for his father so the plan was doomed from the beginning. It still adds a layer that, yes, Hugo DID choose to do something that he ended up regretting that also ended up hurting his ex-boyfriend friend and wasn't just made to be "I didn't do anything wrong actually, I was perfectly good and righteous". So I can live with the walk back. I was more afraid that they'd take this layer of conflict away from him.

Also I didn't think I can love Hugo more but apparently yes I can. Me and Hugo with mother issues:

The fact that he IMMEDIATELY knew it wasn't Lycaon though omg I need these two to kiss already. Lycaon clearly worries about Hugo so much I was losing my mind. Also THE BICKERING. It's so much more friendly now and also the little moments they have together. AGHHH. I love them so much, your honour.

The one real disappointment I have was the boss fight tbh it was very underwhelming compared to 1.6. It doesn't bother me THAT much. 1.6 is pretty peak even though I suspected that Lycaon was in on it and is a touch act to follow. It might be because Dina didn't really compel me? She reminded me too much of Twiggy and her designs is kinda like meh for me. Twiggy stole the show FAR more although I did like Vivian's backstory. Doesn't help that she uses the same animations as Twiggy. Dina comes off as a spoiled brat. I don't sympathise with her the same way I did Twiggy and this is coming from someone who tends to be weak when dads are involved.

This is a weird criticism because it's probably just me but having Robin be a stand in for dark Hugo kinda made me lose my mind a little. I have HUGE cute aggression with Bangboos so the tone shift in my brain was so real I just can't help it. Hugo's VA hard carried that whole segment though OMFG it was CRAZY. That whole scene can be like a whole episode long animation tbh I know why they did it as is, but there is enough material there to do a mindbending full episode of anime it's crazy.

All in all, I enjoyed the patch. Ending was a bit underwhelming, but otherwise I got what I wanted generally especially from a filler patch, too.

[manganyeh]

Kurayami Relationships

Canon

Nahida: While I still had value as a pawn, she might have had other reasons to keep me alive. It's certainly possible that it was because she's wise or benevolent, or happened to see a hint of loneliness within me... You think I'm trying to think the worst of her? Hah, did you really expect anything else? In case you've forgotten, I'm no saint. (adopted mother and son)

nahida i write with: @windsproutwaves

Raiden Shogun/Ei: She completely neglected her own creation, and to add insult to injury, she said it was because she "couldn't bring herself to intervene" in my fate... (former family no longer in connection)

raiden shogun i write with: @eternal-transcendance

Tsarita: Everyone praises her for her kindness and benevolence, but they forget that love is also a form of sin. What if she's just trying to compensate for something? (tensions)

tsarita i write with: @theonlytsaritsa

Pierro: The Jester is a survivor of Khaenri'ah. Besides that singular fact, I know very little about him, and never had any kind of close association with him. He seems to want something from me, though. In the past, he assigned to me many important tasks, including a number of trips to the Abyss. (tensions)

pierro i write with: @jester-of-the-gods

Capitano:  "The ever-righteous Captain," "the brave and fearless Captain," "the nigh-invincible Captain"... Even my mechanical ears demand maintenance after listening to so many compliments from the members of the Fatui. Don't you think that possessing absolute righteousness is actually a latent danger? And that's without taking his great personal strength into account. (tensions)

capitano i write with: @swcrdmastery

Dottore:  It's a pity that Lesser Lord Kusanali already forced him to erase so many of his segments. The joy I would have derived from slicing them apart one by one... (hate and abused by dottore)

dottore i write with: @dottore-official

Columbina: Let me ask: what should you do if you were to encounter a "damsel" who is oblivious and innocent at any given time, and unconcerned and unfeeling in any given situation? If it were me, I could at least challenge her to a fight. But if it were you... with your conscience, I would stay away from her. (tensions)

columbina i write with: none

Arlecchino:  A wolf in sheep's clothing. To exert a higher level of control over people, she puts on a graceful and cordial front. Most of those who have seen her true, crazy self... have gone poof (tensions)

arlecchino i write with: none

Punchiella: Only someone as dense as Childe would think The Rooster is looking after him and his family out of the goodness of his heart. Although the mayor has indeed done a number of things for their benefit, anyone with a brain would be able to tell that the underlying meaning is "your entire family is in my hands." (tensions)

punchiella i write with: none

Sandrone:  She has a terrible personality and cares for nothing outside of her own research. But even with that amount of dedication, she still produced a copious amount of garbage, and could only secure a ranking that's still one whole place beneath my own. How pitiful. (tensions)

sandrone i write with: none

Pantalone: Oh, the ninth-ranked guy. He's obsessed with the idea of "fair exchange," to the point of wanting to overthrow the natural imbalance between gods and humans. But, I guess it's just how ordinary mortals are like — it's easy for them to come up with pointless delusions. Honestly, it's nothing worth writing home about, just like how there's also nothing impressive about his abilities or choice of partner. Hmph. Anyone who chooses to work closely with The Doctor is sure to meet a nasty end. (tensions)

pantalone i write with: @regrator-pantalone

Childe: He's simple of mind and not that strong of body. Naming him to the lowest-ranked seat lowered the Harbingers' collective prestige. Thankfully, I'm no longer part of that group. (tensions but childe thinks their friends)

childe i write with: @snezhnayain-carrot-top

Yae Miko: A smooth-talking youkai. Though she pretends to care about humans to gain the favor of her god, all she seeks are entertaining ways to pass her time (tensions)

yae miko i write with: @narukami-kitsune and @capravulpes

Kazuha: You speak of the descendant of the Kaedehara clan? Then isn't he... Wait, he also possesses an Anemo Vision? ...And even managed to take on the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi? Hehe... Ahahahaha! (respect)

kazuha i write with: @intoendlessdreams

Sethos: What makes you think I know him? The fact that he's always following me around and asking for a closer look at my hat? We've barely spoken before. The first time we met, he came up and asked me if I was Hat Guy... Last time I checked, judging someone by their appearance is superficial. Hmph, somehow, everyone knows the name "Hat Guy" now... (tensions)

sethos i write with: none

Kachina: Kachina… her sweet smile is too sweet for me but I find myself wanting to make sure she is safe I always come to Natlan only to see her. I want to stay in Natlan just to keep her safe (found family)

kachina i write with: @nanatzcayan-young-braveheart

Ocs

Aira: … how did you know she was with me! SHUT UP AND LEAVE (in love)

aira written by: @sunsettia-sky

more to be added!

[hoeforhao]

↳ ༉‧₊˚✧ * in another life * ༉‧₊˚✧ 🤍

✦pairing : idol! jeonghan x fem! reader

✦genre : smut, phone sex, fingering, masturbation (both f and m), mutual cumming, angst, ex boyfriend au.

✦warnings : explicit language, jeonghan is an absolute bastard here(only the character, no hate towards our angel), manipulation, verbal degradation, heavy angst, unrequited love, one sided pining. tell me if i missed any!

✦word count : 1.3k

✦author's note : took me five shots of vodka to complete writing this as it's a real story, beautified by a writer's mind. not proofread as i didn't have the heart to re read it!

Was it really that easy, as people staged it to be? To be your ex's so called "close friend"? Someone he only came to while being completely lonely or peak horny -

These are the only thoughts that kept storming your mind, whilst your eyes were fixated onto that 'hey hey hey' from jeonghan's pvt account.

Did your brain exactly know what his single hey meant? Hell yes! Did your conscience immediately give in and try to stop you from replying to that? A cent percent yes! Yet your heart knew no bounds. What do they call it? Yes!! Everything's fair in love and war...even if it meant losing your dignity again and again...but come on at least you weren't hoeing around with several -

Quite a dumb way to justify what was gonna come next, right? Shaking all these warning signs off of your body, you respond with -

"Yes sir?"

"Are you home rn, y/n? You know it's night and something just takes over me whenever the sky paints itself dark!!" a short vibration of your phone and jeonghan's message pops up on the lockscreen.

"Yes. I'm home han." oh how you wishes to type hun, oh how you wished to reply affectionately to your lost home, ask him how his day was, is he eating well, remembering to take rest in between dance practices and most importantly caring for his soulful voice. But alas, you couldn't!! cuz you knew his lustful replies will only hurt you more, than you already are.

"You know what I want right, hun?" that one word from him and your heart felt like it was being poked with a thousand icicles.

"I do. Should I? Or you'll?"

"I'll baby. Pick up quick nah!!" this was the last string where all your organs tried their best to hold you back from diving into the fire again...but well...

×××××incoming video call××××××

knowing that picking up his call would mean dirtying yourself for the third time, yet sometimes love makes you do things even laws can't ~

"Moan for me baby, i wanna hear you scream my name while pleasuring yourself"

how even in the darkest corner of your heart, you still had the faintest flames of "what if he greets me like the old times, just once" burning brightly, only to be put to sleep by han's desperateness for your body, not the soul he painted once so beautifully.

"Do you have any special requests? Cuz I don't know what to say" what more where you even supposed to say huh? while you two were together, you would make sure that you went out of your comfort zone to pleasure him. Trained yourself so well in this field that your moans became honey to his ears ; but now, now you've no right over him, no right to call him explicit names. Thus the only way for you was to act just as he directed you to.

"Moan daddy for me bitch, if you wanna see me cum. Ain't that your favorite thing, pretty slut?"

As much as each of his syllables tore the skin of your insides one petal a time, all you could do was abide by his demands, with a heart of stone.

"H-han i wanna s-see you cum so bad, daddy pls" your lips burned aflame each time a word left its crevices.

"That's like my good slut. Now strip for me baby. I wanna see each and every part of your body" instead of his stern angelic voice, all you could hear was jeonghan panting into the speaker as he kept on stroking himself.

Not wasting anymore seconds, you seductively took off all your clothes, leaving you in nothing but all the scars that life has carved out on you.

"Happy now?" probably the most useless question you've ever asked, knowing quite well that it was gonna be a long night.

"You think so? Awee such a naive little bitch you're y/n!!! The fun has just started baby" his mocking smirk irking up on your skin even from another side of the screen.

"Finger yourself until you come undone on the sheets, while screaming my name. Wanna see you doing all the nastiest things tonight."

Muffling in all the cries that your heart has been wanting to blurt out all these time, you just quietly lay down on your back, the cold sheets beneath stippling a wave of shivers through your entire body.

Spreading your legs wide apart, ensuring to give jeonghan the perfect video of your pussy, you gradually slide down your fingers, rubbing gentle circles 'round your clit.

"The prettiest moans I've ever heard and and the prettiest pussy I'll ever see. Such a desperate whore for my dick, aren't you bitch!"

It's as if everything around you was muted all of a sudden and all you could hear was jeonghan praising how much he loved your womanhood, fueling your fingers to slide at a faster rate in and out of your hole.

"J-jeonghan am gonna c-cum...aaaa" even before you could finish your sentence, warm fluids coated your fingers, earning the lewdest groan from han.

"Naughty girls don't deserve the gift so soon. How many times have i told you not to call me -"

"S-sorry daddy! I was lost in pleasure that's why it slipped out of my mind" your hormones were now peaking , thus making you absolutely desperate to see him cum for you.

"Still you need to be punished babygirl. Hump on the pillow infront of you while pinching your nipples hard" han's cruel demeanor echoed through the room.

Not seeing any way out, you sat on your knees to do exactly what as asked of you. At this point you've become his own little porn star who would give him a show whenever his lust wanted.

"I guess my job's done now?" you finally open your eyes, boobs aching from the intense action it got and conscience all blurry.

"Yes baby. Such an obedient slut you're for me. I love to see you beg for me so much aah" jeonghan's moans kept getting loud as he was climbing his high.

"Y-y/n aah I love your pussy s-so much babe" and with this you saw the smooth white liquid ooze out of his pretty dick and onto his stomach. As much as your mind wanted to take in this heavenly sight with as much lust as possible, your heart kept drifting away to the thought of "only if he would move the camera to his face while I watch him sleep all peacefully, face painted with the most beautiful smile this world has ever witnessed...just like the old times".

"Well then I gotta go sleep ig. Bye"

Such a fool aren't you? Expecting the impossible always ; knowing very well that even the heavens can't bring your home back anymore. The shoulder you always leaned on, the first person to ever see you cry, your bub your sugar was now far gone. What was left was a bastard who just keeps on using you for his pleasure.

Well not that it was his fault tho. You've always been the hardest to love.

"Maybe in next life, when I'm as pretty as you're, I'll be lucky enough to hug you to sleep. Bye bub. Sleep well♡" you hushed under your breath before tapping the red button on the screen that brought you the opportunity to at least listen to his voice once in a while....

[lorynna]

Andrew Tate, a huge hypocrite, is the perfect example of: create the disease, sell the cure." Now, let me explain.

Tate starts off with his webcam business. He openly admits on camera - filming and releasing the footage himself -, that not only is he purposefully manipulating girls, making them fall in love with him (he himself calls it and actively uses the term "lover boy method" as a descriptor) but then also convincing them to work for him as cam-girls, telling those women that they could get rich together if she would simply start instrumentalizing her body and sexuality. He continues to explain in great detail how exactly he emotionally abused those women, lied to them and used several manipulation tactics on them. But I'd rather not mention all that here, since that would open up a whole new conversation and take too long to fully dive into this.

He also admitted on camera that he robbed them of about half of the money those women made "working for him" and then states and I quote: They thought they were on 50% and I said that the despair of the money was because of taxes."

He continues to talk about men "falling in love" with the women he recruited for his Webcam business which were selling their houses, spending all of their life savings etc. in order to pay for the cam-girl services and he commented on those men's actions saying," give me all of it" admitting he didn't at all care for the lives or fates of those men. Tate built his whole empire on being a pimp, which he defines as and i quote again" being a positive, inspirational, motivating person", exploiting and extracting money from lonely, depressed, porn-addicted men.

Now something might start to click. But isn't he a known advocate for those exact men? Telling them that porn consumption is bad, to get their health and depression in check, recommending going to the gym and preaching about how much he hates prostitutes?

He's an advocate for men's suffering and problems? After he caused so much damage to them, making money off of them, taking advantage of them and furthered their misery? The irony.

First he scammed those men, taking their money with good conscience, now he is an advocate for them, making them hate the kind of women he himself manipulated into this, talking about how bad porn is, when he literally owned a webcam business. And don't dare to come at me with "but people change, maybe he learnt from his mistakes".

For now I just recounted why he's a huge hypocrite but now let's focus on why he is a huge mysognist. He has said many things I don't even want to recount, including but ofc not limited to him demonstrating how he'd hit a women in the face that would "misbehave" and not "listen to him" and I have also unfortunately personally seen the video footage that is going around of him beating up a woman with a belt.

One example out of his many many statements so I can further lead on with this text: He further talks about his webcam business, saying "the only girls i couldn't recruit, were girls who had rich parents. Because they're like: Oh, but I don't need that money, my parents are rich! Girls are gonna get their Luis Vuitton bag either way." Implying how all women are superficial and only rich parents prevent a girl from being a "hoe". He got his fame and money from the same women he continues to publicly shame now.

He damaged women and men at the same time, yet there's still people, mostly men, defending him saying "yeah, but he also sometimes tells things that are true!". I appreciate your intention to differentiate and trying to filter through the many bullshit things he's said just so you can cling on to a single true statement.

Even the worst person sometimes has valid points, but that doesn't mean that we can just overlook the things he did in the past and the overall harm he has caused and is STILL causing.

Aside from all of this stuff, Tate continued to deny many of his statements he himself posted online before, showing massive double standards. It seems like he just tries to profit off what's giving him the largest, most uncritical fan base and by targeting incels who love to follow and hear an "alpha male" talk about how "all women are bitches", fueling their anger due to being rejected by women, he seems to have found a goldmine.

He promotes harmful, misogynistic views on women, promoting toxic behavior towards them and is imprinting on the minds of young, impressionable, vulnerable men.

If after knowing all this, you're still a defender of Tate, you might be just as bad as Tate himself.

[the-way-astray]

hate your lover, love your hater, and be studied by her friend: pt.4

For almost two weeks, no word came from Keefe.

On one hand, Stria was understandably relieved. For the first night in the last few days, she went to sleep without Keefe on her mind, and thus found herself more relaxed. In all good conscience she couldn't forget about his existence, since it was so very...worldview-breaking, but given that he wasn't pestering her anymore, she could certainly ignore it. As days went by without his messages, Stria started to hope. Maybe he's cut off contact for good and I can move on with my life in peace, she dared think. Maybe I'll even be able to read cawtulk again without fixating on the fact that they're real. She'd never be able to fully ignore it, of course—no one would. But maybe she'd be able to set it aside.

Of course, such an optimistic situation could hardly last. One fine evening, when the groupchat she'd made all those days ago on a whim had been buried under an onslaught of more recent texts, only some of which were Katie being concerned about Keefe's well-being, her phone pinged. Stria reached for it absently, opened the message, and then registered the sender: Keefe.

A direct message, too.

I've been thinking about it, he texted. A long gap followed.

Sadly, Stria replied, you haven't yet come to the conclusion that I don't want to be bothered and thus you shouldn't bother me. One can only dream that you'll get there one day.

But I NEED your advice! She could practically hear the whine, but truth be told, Stria had almost got used to it. It was unpleasant, yes, but the same sort of unpleasant as the noise of rattling pipes you eventually learned to fall asleep to when living in hastily rented lodgings. There were always worse problems, like musty curtains or light fixtures that mostly didn't work. I'm worried about Sophie.

Of course you are, Stria replied dryly, though she did feel a modicum of sympathy given that she quite liked Sophie during her good moments, and that she was real. No doubt you've gone and been nosy about it?

A moment passed. Then: I haven't, actually.

Stria actually gasped out loud.

So you're telling me you didn't actually go and pester her or try and take a reading of her or something like that?!!!! That was...progress! Astonishing progress, in fact. It was possible, of course, that Keefe was lying. But what motivation would he have? She knew he wouldn't seriously fall in love with her: Sophie was still alive, and so long as that was true, he would be devoted to her, and she would be safe.

Which meant that he most likely wasn't lying. Keefe character development! Actual! Development!!!! she thought. I never thought I'd see the day.

She looked back at her screen. I haven't taken a reading, no, he replied. The typing bubble flickered for a long few seconds, then disappeared again. I just...I noticed that I do this thing where I shove myself in with her where I'm not wanted.

It was no news to her. Stria stared at the screen impassively.

It was because of your rant, actually. There it was! Stria smirked in vindication. These bits, when we were going to Alluveterre:

“‘They’ll have to keep their faces very close together,’ Mr. Forkle noted. ‘Foster and I volunteer!’ Keefe shouted.” (59) Volunteering someone for a very uncomfortable experience without their permission, ah yes, my favorite. And yes, Dex does it too, and so do Fitz and Mr. Forkle. I’m not exempting any of them from the blame. I’m just saying that this was something Keefe unironically said (and he said it first, too). [neverseen] “He leaped from his pleisosaur to hers and prodded Sophie’s eckodon to swim away from the rest of the group.” (63) Shannon forgot to add “without Sophie’s permission and without giving any thought to breached personal boundaries” to the end of that sentence. Seriously, he just leaped onto Sophie’s eckodon with no sign she wanted him to, just because . . . he wanted to? Sophie’s wishes? Never heard of them. [neverseen]

And I've been doing that recently too—you must have read it or whatever. On the island?

Of course—while Stria hadn't got to Stellarlune in the second part (or indeed to Unlocked, in which Keefe had grated on her even more terribly than he usually did), she could guess what he meant. Sophie had picked Marella, Maruca, and Fitz to come with her to Stellarlune, and found Keefe coming with her too. Without her having either chosen him, or included him in the deal with Vespera.

I've read it, she replied, begrudgingly appreciating the fact that he'd realized it on his own. What about it?

Well, it's been a while since that, and she still seems tense, he texted. We barely got away, and now...things have changed.

Stria wanted desperately to ask for spoilers, but she didn't. It wouldn't feel right without Shannon's writing style as an intermediary. And you haven't pried into her secrets, whatever they are?

No, he replied, but I want to ask. Carefully. Without probing or prying, just to see if she's alright. Because Sophie...she doesn't share, because she doesn't want us to take the burden.

That was in fact an interesting, well-considered point. Now look, began Stria, I'm not your couples counselor or something like that, nor do I care exceptionally about your love life. You should take this to Katie if you want sympathy. But if you're really so desperate for my two cents, tell her she can tell you but don't force her to. Given how much you usually force her, the gesture will probably mean a lot more than you think.

A beat of silence. And then: Thanks, Stria. I'll talk to Katie about it too. You've helped a lot, really.

The earnestness, the serious talking, was so un-Keefe that Stria almost started to wonder if his phone had been hacked into. Until: Bye, Hater-Girl.

There it was. Still the same Keefe. Just...emotionally maturing? Perhaps? With the evidence taken into consideration she could dare to hope somewhat.

Stria sighed, texted him a gruff 'good, now don't bother me', and went off to bed.

When she woke the next morning, it was to several enthusiastic messages from Katie, most with the word 'Keefe' in them.

She smiled, and started to read.

*

Part 4 is here! Just wanted to let everyone know that this fic will remain SPOILER-FREE FOR UNRAVELED for the most part, and anything spoilery will either be unintentional or a very mild hint/reference. Please don't try to go look for them if you haven't read it yet and don't want spoilers. Note also that I may or may not start hinting at my self-indulgent Book 10 predictions in this fic eventually :)

As for the reference to the end chapters of Stellarlune, I did not have access to a copy at the time of writing, and Keefe sort of shoving his way onto the Sophie-Marella-Fitz-Maruca team is only something I remember vaguely from having noted it in a fic I wrote about Vespera a year and a bit ago. If it isn't accurate, please do not come for my blood, and I would have loved to check it if I were able to.

Hope you enjoyed this, and part 5 will be written when this one's out, as usual!

—@worldsunlikemyown/meta anon (feels wrong to send this off-anon)

PS: The word count is now just above 5k, rant included. Do with that what you will.

parts one, two, and three as always

two weeks without keefe . . . too good to be true . . .

literally the second i start daring to hope that keefe will never reach out to me again, he does . . . lmfao

NOT YOU USING CAWTULK . . . LMFAOOOO that’s how i pronounce kotlc out loud, but i do think of the series as kotlc like in my head

“such an optimistic situation could hardly last” LMFAOOOO

does keefe never dm katie? i feel like he would do that

”one can only dream that you’ll get there someday” CRACKING UP HELLO????

KEEFE DIDN’T TRY TO PRESSURE SOPHIE INTO SPILLING???? WHAT IS THIS PARALLEL UNIVERSE . . . (to be fair, he lost the ability to take a reading of her emotions in stellarlune/unraveled . . . although he’ll probably get it back in book ten lol)

NOT ME RATIONALIZING WHY KEEFE WON’T FALL FOR ME . . . do strieefe shippers harassing me on tumblr exist in this universe? because without them my mind would not even go there lmfao

this might be because you have a weird obsession with sophie, keefe, and think you therefore have a right to know everything about her. this may come from your lack of true trust in sophie and how you feel like you have to fix everything for her as if she’s not capable of doing it herself . . . ranting again sorry

”it was no news to her” yeah, keefe, way to read between the lines and see the obvious (finally!!!!). do you want a cookie

STELLARLUNE’S CLIMAX TAKES PLCE ON AN ISLAND???? i thought it was just a place between five rivers . . . huh

don’t talk to me about unlocked keefe. he for real can’t even go a single paragraph without being an annoyance and a bother and a generally morally shitty guy

weirdest part about that was keefe literally jumping out of the bushes. i’m pretty sure those are the exact words: “keefe jumped out of the bushes”. in the stellarlune scene . . . he for real just ambushed her if i remember correctly

OOH THINGS HAVE CHANGED, HAVE THEY

”stria wanted desperately to ask for spoilers, but she didn't. it wouldn't feel right without shannon's writing style as an intermediary” literally me trying to dodge unraveled spoilers BEFORE THE BOOK EVEN FUCKING OFFICIALLY CAME OUT

an interesting well-considered point from keefe????? insane . . .

honestly, the way shannon writes sophie is a pretty important contributor to her letting keefe off the hook for his shittiness. sophie’s just always okay with whatever keefe does and it’s generally presented as a good thing for him to be so nosy and insistent. you can tell sophie finds it endearing, and no, i don’t think shannon meant for sophie to come off as an unreliable narrator when it comes to her general opinion of keefe. so. i’m not sure if sophie will even realize that now keefe isn’t pressuring her anymore, so i don’t know how much it will mean to her. but we shall see

you should write a katie pov section in the next chapter . . . lowkey it would be so funny

god i hate keefe’s sense of humor so bad . . . even if he emotionally matures, he sure will never mature with regards to humor

OH SO KEEFE DID DM KATIE? THAT’S WHY SHE MESSAGED ME ABOUT HIM AT THE END?

RAHHHH I WANT TO SEE THE BOOK TEN PREDICTIONS GIVE ME ALL THE BOOK TEN PREDICTIONS

yeah i think keefe shoving his way into the team at the end of stellarlune is a lot milder of an offense than you make it out to be here (i wouldn't really say he pressured sophie into letting him come, so much as he did just show a distinct lack of trust in her decision-making abilities, because my goodness, why does he have to be part of everything), but it is true that this guy basically demanded sophie take him along when he was not originally supposed to be part of the plan (which again just shows a distinct lack of trust in sophie's leadership and planning skills)

five thousand is insane . . .