#everyone is using scrolls in combat

[thebibliosphere]

I'm scrolling through some ambient noises to help me write, and it got me thinking. Y'know those white noise machines people use for sleeping?

Do you think there's a very specific brand marketed at Gothamites?

Like everyone else has rainy nights on the beach, whale song, the crackle of the campfire, and everyone's all-time favorite "rickety fan about to oscillate off your shitty ikea desk at four in the morning."

And then there's "The Sounds of Gotham," a nighttime ambiance made up of heavy thunderstorms interspaced with the wail of police sirens and the occasional smattering of gunfire.

If you upgrade to premium, you can get the added sound effect of "small vigilante child dropping onto your apartment roof followed by the heavy pitter-patter of their combat boots as they dropkick a criminal off the fire escape."

Mm. Cozy.

[thecordelialetters]

I’ll love you in every multiverse I Five Hargreeves x Reader

WC: 1,791

Post Apocalypse Au! ( Yes Im writing another one )

Pt. 1 Pt.2 Pt.3 Pt.4

Summary: The Umbrella’s can understand jumping through time and all its rules, yeah fuck with the timeline and it’ll fuck you right back. But what happens when a portal opens up in the middle of the academy and outfalls a girl who claims to be Five’s wife from a different universe.

Disclaimer: This takes place after season one if Viktor didn’t blow up the moon.

The Umbrella Academy had saved the world from its supposed end. The siblings had lounged around the academy slowly letting reality set that they had avoided their demise. It was the next morning when each of them woke up to check their surroundings, making sure that doomsday wasn’t there.

Five went downstairs for his morning coffee when he saw Allison scrolling for flights on her phone and Klaus checking where was the next place he could buy drugs.

“Leaving so soon?” He questioned.

Allison looked up at him although happy to see her brother, guilty because he was right.

“I have to go see my daughter. After everything that has happened I need her now just as much as she needs me.”

Five nodded his head, understanding where she was coming from, although a little irked she wasn’t wasting any time running away.

A loud zap was heard and wind swirled toward the top of the room. A red portal had opened above the living room. The rest of the siblings (Luther, Viktor, Diego) had rushed down to see what the loud noise was. It was deja vu, like when Five had returned for the first time. In the portal, they could see a fight happening. Figures that had looked like them in a place that looked like their home. A woman’s back came close to the portal, they could see she was in combat but stood observing. Another man who they couldn’t identify, rushed forward and pushed the woman through the portal.

A girl who looked to be in her early twenties had fallen through. Her face was covered in soot, her hair black as night, and her eyes closed in pain. She was wearing a navy body suit that clung to her figure, and blood, not her own, stained the fabric.

The Hargreeves gathered around to observe this strange phenomenon trying to assess the danger. They were so used to people being against them, so why would this time be different.

You coughed loudly before sitting up, and each sibling tensed with adrenaline. The girl looked around the room with blazing blue eyes before she landed on the youngest Hargreeves.

“Five?” you questioned.

Everyone turned to look at Five.

Luther spoke up first, “You know her?”

“I have never met her in my life.” Five retorted.

The girl dusted off her suit before standing. “Well if you never met me, you either will meet me or I’m dead in this universe.”

“The names y/n , y/n Hargreeves.”

“I don’t remember our father adopting anyone else,” Diego said. He raised his knives, carefully ready to strike at any move she would make.

“That’s because I wasn’t adopted into this family. Married actually.” And with this, she held up her left hand, a beautiful diamond ring shone in the light with a gold band beneath it. The diamond was embellished with 2 smaller emeralds on the side, perhaps representing her lover’s eyes.

“Married? To who.” Viktor questioned.

“To him.” She looked back at Five.

“Well not to him, an alternate version of him. We met a few years ago and got married, nice seeing the family again,” she nodded her head towards the siblings.

“So what are you saying you guys are married in a different timeline?” Klaus asked.

“No, not a different timeline, a different universe.” She sat down on the couch.

Your brain felt like it was rattling against your skull, and your body ached. You took a minute to think. Fuck, it was going to be difficult to get back to your Earth, and to make things better you had no idea where to start.

“Alright before you all start firing questions at me, someone get me a cup of coffee, black please.” You threw a jacket that hung over the couch on you to hide the state of your clothes. "Allow me," The alternate of your husband said. Five quickly blinked the two of you into the car and began to drive, leaving his brothers and sisters dumbfounded. "So you and I, are married in another multiverse."

"Correct." "You look to be about my age, how come I haven't met you yet here." Surely he would remember someone as beautiful as you. "Well it's as I said, my version here could be dead or you might not have met her yet. That being said although 18 out of the 20 multiverses I have visited, we are together." "And the other two?" "In Earth 216, we are strangers, never have crossed paths, and never will. We simply live our lives with other people." Five's eyebrows furrowed. For some reason even if he didn't know you, he didn't like the idea of you with someone else. "In Earth 894, we were madly in love but our egos destroyed us, and we were never the same since." Five could tell there was more to that story but didn't press any further. "So tell me about us, how did we end up together." "I was Diego's friend first, he and I met in the police force. Diego kinda took me under his wing as I was the youngest graduate out of the academy. Perks of having a high IQ." Five raised his eyebrow at that. "Anyways, he invited me over after your father's funeral. " "Long story short, you fell in love with my charms and I was the only one who could tolerate you. We got married not too long after. It was a small wedding but it's my most precious memory. Our families had gathered together at the church no too far away from here. You cried on our wedding day by the way." Inciting a side glare from Five.

"But...that's where we had some problems." "Do you remember when I fell out of that portal?" Five nodded his head remembering seeing a fight in the alternate dimension. "Well, apparently some of the 43 are not too happy about their powers, nor happy about living among the common people, they believed themselves superior and it became chaos." The two of you arrived at Griddys. Five walked over to the side of your door and opened it for you. "Thank you, darling." You said with a smile. Five's heart spiked at the nickname. He shook his head at the feeling, obviously, it's just what you were used to calling YOUR Five. The two of you sat at the counter and ordered your coffees and sweets. You signed before pulling out a small stack of photos from inside your suit. "This is us and your family." The photo was a picture of you and Five on your wedding day. Five had never looked so happy. Beside him was Luther who he assumed was his best man, next to him was Viktor, Diego, and a man who looked like you. You must have caught his staring, "That's my brother Damien." He nodded and looked beside you. You were wearing a long white dress with intricate lacing, the dress was strapless with a square neckline and had a small slit on the side. Your veil was flipped over your head and flowed down your back. Beside you, was Allison as your maid of honor and two other women who he assumed were your friends. You weren't looking at the camera but at him. The next picture you gave him was a close-up of the two of you. You were the one taking the photo. His alternate self was older and had longer hair and facial hair, but he faced your side kissing your cheek affectionately. "This is my favorite photo of you." You handed him another photograph but this one didn't have you in it. This one was a picture of just Five and in his arms a little girl. She looked like you. Five gulped, a million questions ran through his head. Could this... could this have been his future if he didn't make that stupid jump? You said that not all multiverses are the same, you and him could never meet in this one. But that didn't stop his heart from hurting at the thought of missing out on a life of happiness because of his arrogance. "Before you jump to conclusions, she's not ours. She's my niece that we were babysitting. You just looked so sweet with her. You had always told me you wanted kids before but I wasn't ready." You had looked away sadly. In your home, Five always wanted to settle down and raise a family of his own, but you felt like you weren't ready. Now you regretted not because you weren't sure if you would ever be able to get back home. The two of you sat in silence drinking your coffee, both thinking about the what-ifs. "So...how did you end up here. I've been able to time travel but I've never thought about the possibility of multi-dimensional traveling." "As I said there was a fight between us, your family, and some of the 43. They called themselves the Ascendants. Believe to be the superior race." You took a deep breath before continuing. "The Ascendants had a man who could travel the multiverse with his own power, no special gear or machine need. We had planned to capture him but miscalculated. He was ready for us and he aimed to take out me, his biggest threat."

You took another breath before looking into Five's eyes. "I can warp reality. It is essentially in the name. I can manipulate reality itself, altering the fabric of existence according to my will." "But not without a cost," you continued. "Each time I control something, and the bigger it is, the more of my life force I use." Five sat in silence. This was a lot of information to take in. "So what now. How do I help you get back home." "I have...no clue. You were always the smarter one of the two of us. You were the one who had built the machine, of course before it was destroyed when Viktor took out the house." You sighed. It was going to take a lot of research and time to figure it out. "Well, I'm newly retired and have nothing on my plate so let's start at the library." He hopped off the stool and made his way to the door. "You coming?" He said turning to look at you. You smiled, he was a great man. Even if this Five wasn't your husband you loved him no matter what. You ran up looping your arm in his making your way out of Griddy's. ⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆⋆｡‧˚ Pt 2 of this story is out now!

Author's note: I got tons of drafts just full of ideas I've had and never gone through with. I've been rewatching the MCU films and Spiderverse so that was kinda my inspiration for this one. If you like my work check out my other Five stories here! I also always appreciate comments and feedback! It definitely keeps me going. She's my Angel Pt1. Shes my Angel Pt2.

[choking-on-ice]

Laios gets a new perspective on Chilchuck's scars

it's done! I hope you like it!!

!! If you're interested in more scarred Chilchuck content, please check out the amazing fanfic by @turtles-allthewaydown aka smallwars on Ao3, "To The Dogs" right here !!

I started this comic and then while scrolling through tumblr I found their fic link and couldn't believe how on the same wavelength it was lol. My comic holds no relevancy to this fic, they just coincidentally have very similar themes. (Though i did add the canine bite scars inspired by the fic, so there's that)

(okay that's the imporatnt stuff, now a warning for infodump incoming abt my thoughts on scarred Chilchuck lore)

the fact that Halffoots would be used as bait for monsters has been haunting my brain since I heard it. All I could think about was how long Chilchuck has been an adventurer and how even the parties that didn't use halffoots as bait probably weren't that careful with them. Chilchuck gets so defensive about and is constantly reminding people that he doesn't fight, a habit that definitely didn't spring up outta nowhere, and we know he's gotten hurt and/or died plenty of times just disarming traps.

Falin is a talented healer, but not everyone is as good as her and scars would linger. Perhaps the healer wouldn't prioritize him because of their opinion of halffoots, or seeing picklocks as unnecessary. Or since healing is fueled by calories and Chilchuck canonically doesn't eat very much to remain underweight, his body is more difficult to fully heal. Thus >> more scars than the others

But Laios always saw Chilchuck as an equal, he saw picklocks as necessary, valued his skill, and respected his need to stay out of combat. So it probably wouldn't occur to him that other tallmen didn't behave that way, also him growing up around hunters who were scarred and being a fighter he'd probably not linger much on them at first.

Senshi would pick up on it right away though given he expects based on Chil's height that he's a kid.

[songsofadelaide]

prism — a side story to cosmic.

cw: captain narumi x (f) platoon leader, established (secret) relationship, fluff and smut, takes place between iv and v of cosmic. no use of 'yn'. narumi gen is his own warning. minors do not interact.

wc: 3k

You were no stranger to an observant eye. As a Platoon Leader, you were subject to your superiors' watchful surveillance and your team members's discerning gazes. It came as no surprise to you when the Captain of the First Division presented you with an upgrade to your beloved personal weapon, the submachine gun marked FE-0080 or Reginleif and asked for you to demonstrate your marksmanship that brought Asakusa's scorpion-type Honju to its knees.

So you acquiesced to your Captain's command and joined the rookies in their shooting training. You didn't back down from a posed challenge, after all, and you impressed your platoon members and fellow Platoon Leaders once more with your precise marksmanship. 

When Gen first took notice of your personal weapon, he surmised it was specifically made to pair with your speed. Anything heavier would weigh you down. Reginleif was a submachine gun made for more close combat offensives and had less firepower than a machine gun or a rifle, but it made up for its lack of strength with its speed and automatic mechanism.

"Unleashed Combat Power is at 67%."

As you finished setting a record for the rookies to beat, whispers from other division members filled the air. 

"The Platoon Leader's super quick, huh? It's almost like she vanishes into thin air."

"She even beat Platoon Leader Tachibana during the joint training exercises between the Eastern Divisions. That's how Captain Narumi discovered her."

"Speaking of which, she and the Captain have been spending a lot of time together..."

Gen himself didn't notice the amount of time you two were spending together. It was lost to him, but the memory of his enjoyment remained— you coming to see him, summoned or not. One day, your presence simply became natural, like a second instinct, until it became a necessity, especially for him.

You sitting next to him in his office, sometimes as Player 2 but most of the time just plain old you. You in your tracksuit uniform with nothing but a white tee underneath. You mindlessly scrolling through your social media while he stormed through whatever game he was playing, warming his bed until you had to leave him— whether it was due to an emergency or just because the day had ended. The sound of your laughter and derision filled his office and he can't seem to snap out of his compulsion to steal the rest of your sound straight away from your lips. 

He signalled for the end of the shooting training after the rookies concluded their rounds and dismissed everyone for the rest of the afternoon. 

"Captain Narumi, sir," you called out to your superior, who had just finished checking the Operation Leader's report handed to him by your Vice Captain. 

"Platoon Leader."

"One of my team members is celebrating their birthday today. They're planning a short trip to the city for drinks this evening," you started as you shadowed Gen's steps back to the base's main hall. "As much as I would love to finish our Maelduin's Portal campaign from earlier, my platoon would appreciate being able to spend some time with me, and I with them. I hope you're amenable, of course…"

He wanted to disagree with you but didn't want to come off as increasingly needy, especially since he knew now that people were already talking about how much time you've been spending together. Was he being needy? 

"Enjoy the rest of your evening, then."

Because he certainly didn't.

Your platoon arrived back at base a little before 21:00 and the first thing you wanted to do was take a dip into the baths because you were certain you smelled terrible— a smorgasbord of alcohol, barbecue smoke and cigarette ash, no thanks to the old smokers seated next to your group's long table.

But Gen had other plans in mind that derailed your quick trip to the baths. 

A single notification lit up from your mobile phone as you placed it on the desk in your personal quarters. 

[ N. Gen-隊長: I'm outside your room. ]

"Captain Narumi?" You quietly called for him, a tender smile on your face as you opened your door for him. "Did you wait for me all this time?" 

Gen smelled like he just got out of the bath, ready to go to bed, while you still smelled of smoke and alcohol. Still, he didn't think twice before embracing you, which you hesitantly returned. 

"I still smell like alcohol…" You murmured into the crook of his neck as you gently played with the hair on his nape. "Pretty sure I taste like it, too…"

"I don't really care…" He murmured before diving in for a kiss. Sure enough, you tasted like an evening out, the bitter taste of beer still lingering in your mouth. 

"Hey," you said as you gently broke your kiss. "You might be fine with this, but I'm not. I-I mean the way I smell. Please, Gen, let me take a quick bath. I promise I'll be back in five— no, ten minutes. I'll be back and let's pick up where we left off, okay?"  

Not even the grumble that left his lips could stop you from grabbing your basket of toiletries plus a change of clothes and leaving him for a bath you promised would be quick. 

It was only in the quiet that he realised it was his first time here in your personal quarters. It's always been you visiting him in his office but rarely did you invite him over— for reasons now clear to him. 

Your room was incredibly bare, even for a Platoon Leader. Apart from the standard furnishings provided by the Defense Force, nothing in that place anchored you there or made known to others that it was your lodging. You kept no trinkets or little decorations, and on your desk sat your mobile phone, which even had the default wallpaper on. 

It had no passcode, either, and he found himself there aptly named 'Captain Narumi Gen' when he took a peep at your messages. All the people in your phonebook were properly labelled and addressed, such as your parents, your elder brother Kanata and his wife Marie, your squad leaders Akabane, Kagomura, Ookawa, and your fellow Platoon Leaders. 

You kept no notes, even fewer photos, and Gen was filled with this awful dread that you'd leave no trace behind if anything ever happened to you. His thoughts were soon replaced by a wave of comfort when he plopped down on your bed. "At least your pillows smell like you…"

He almost nodded off too if not for your arrival. You were still a little damp from your quick soak, your skin still warm and balmy as you shut your door behind you. "Are you still awake, Captain?"

"Yeah, I am. S'impossible to fall asleep here in your room," he said as he sat up again, quietly observing the way you neatly stashed your belongings in your single closet. 

"Really, now? I'd expect you to get a good night's rest here since I have a proper bed and all," you chuckled at his response. "Or are you so used to sleeping on a futon that a bed's uncomfortable for you?"

"No. Your bed… smells like you," he stated, a hand sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck this time. You were fresh out of the bath, still practically buzzing with warmth, and it made him uneasy in an exciting way. "It's…"

"Is it nasty?" You asked as you made your approach. You were in similar standard white shirts and black sweatpants and Gen visibly swallowed as you sat closely next to him. "Captain Narumi?"

"Don't… Don't call me that now," he grunted at you, his lip trembling in anticipation as you raised a hand to cup his cheek. 

"Gen…" 

Ah, his name sounded so, so sweet whenever it left your lips, but this time even more, and he was this close to stealing that sweetness himself if you hadn't scooched over to kiss him yourself. It was tender and affectionate and somewhat apologetic, tasting of green tea mouthwash this time, until you broke away from him and stuck out your tongue to lick the corner of his mouth.

You did it in such a teasing manner but he couldn't even smile— because he was already so, so hard. He pulled out his erection from under his sweatpants and guided your hand to it, his breath hitching as he felt your warm fingers curl around his length and stroke him at a leisurely pace.

Though you couldn't see his eyes, you were certain he had a heady, cloudy, half-lidded gaze on you. He followed your steady movement with bated breath as you got down on your knees and placed yourself between his thighs. 

"Doing it here in my room has its advantages," you told him as you started stroking him again, your breath ghosting over his length. "No one's gonna come in here unannounced…"

Gen let out a low hiss when you flicked out your tongue and slowly licked the tip of his cock, taking all the time in the world to do so. 

"Ggh… S-Stop it already—" He grunted yet again, and though he told you to stop, it was clear he meant otherwise by the way he had a guiding hand on the crown of your head. "Ugh…"

Hearing the sound of his voice dipping and straining in pleasure encouraged you to do even better for him. He shuddered as you gradually received him in your mouth. 

…Maybe he did find a way to tame that smart mouth of yours after all. 

The pace of your blowjob was pleasant, but you knew he was close by the way his thighs closed around you. He tried to wriggle away from you, but you shook your head at him and gently picked up the pace, your cheeks hollowed out as you sucked on him a bit more. 

He took your refusal to let him go as a sign that you'll receive his seed in your mouth, so he obliged you, his body convulsing as he held your head in his hands. A low, guttural moan he obviously tried to suppress escaped his lips as you swallowed his cum, thick strings stuck in the back of your throat, and you eventually released him with a soft 'pop' from your slightly swollen lips. 

"My good girl," his praise was caught between his soft exhales. He pulled you up into his arms and allowed you to tenderly sweep back his hair that curtained his lovesick gaze. 

"You're so handsome," you told him with a smile, your fingers gently toying with the hair on his nape once more. Gen adored being the recipient of such compliments, even more so from you, but he still gets embarrassed from time to time. He's red up to his neck now, his hands warm on your waist. 

"My good girl," he said yet again, his wine-coloured eyes holding your own heady gaze. One hand wandered underneath your shirt while the other dipped under the waistband of your sweatpants, deft fingers rhythmically running over the moistness between your legs. His lips curl into a teasing smile as your expression fades into one of pleasure.

He was already hard again, but he didn't want to be so greedy. Neither did he want the night to end so soon. He did away with your clothes, all similarly and carelessly tossed aside as he motioned for you to lie down on your back for him. A glint of mischief lit his eyes as he placed himself between your legs, lowering his face to your thighs, peppering them with light and faint kisses before he eventually opened his mouth to taste you. 

Another rapid rush of pleasure shot through your body as he gripped your thighs and happily ate you out, playing deaf to your impatient whines as he leisurely and unhurriedly licked and lapped at your folds.

"Tell me what you want, my good girl," Gen whispered, his low and lazy voice hot against your sopping pussy. He already knew what you wanted by the way you ground against his mouth, the burning sultriness between your legs threatening to overflow onto the rest of his face. He slid a finger knuckle-deep into you and thrust at what he believed was an agreeable pace given the sound of your moans, which you were trying your hardest to suppress.

His fingers were skilled and reached the places you never could on your own, but you needed more. "P…"

"If you tell me, 'please put it in my pussy', then I'll do it."

Oh, you wanted to hurl so many complaints at him, but your impatience already showed in your countenance and he was clearly enjoying this. "Well? Hurry up and say it."

"M… My p… ah…" You pathetically whimpered at him, your voice cracking as he broke into another crooked grin.

"Use your words, my pretty girl. I can't really understand you."

Tears welled in the corners of your eyes as you relented to his teasing, your legs quivering at the leisurely pace he's taken. "Please… Please put it in my p-pussy…!"

It didn't take long for Gen to take charge after hearing you plead for him so earnestly. He was already as stiff as a pole, anyway, so he angled himself over you and slid his length over the burning wetness of your pussy before thrusting into you. 

The pace he moved at was gratifying for you both, the sound of your whines was enough of a confirmation for him. 

"Ah…" You coiled your arms around his neck, trembling at his warm touch, his calluses rough yet ticklish against your skin, especially when he sank his fingers into the plushness of your breasts. "Gh…"

Why does it feel like this? You managed a thought as he fucked you deep into your sheets and mattress, the sound of your soft moans and his pleased groans filling the air in the room. You knew you'd be dead if someone else heard you, but you couldn't consider being considerate now— because he's s-so good…!

Gen's bangs fell over his eyes again, hiding away the blissed-out look on his face. He knew it didn't matter that much to you anymore and neither did it to him— because all he could think about at that moment was burying his cock deep into you— fuck good manners and propriety!

You were seeing stars now, his pace slightly rushed and rough and it could only mean that he was just as close to finishing as you were. "D-Don't… don't stop…"

But he knew he had to. He was smarter than this. He knew he had to pull out. You couldn't afford to— at a time like this, too! 

Yet in between his blissed-out euphoria and common sense was a single thought: a family. With you. Your stomach round with a child that was a heap of trouble like he was—

"P-Please, Gen��� I'm so close…!"

He snapped back to his sweet reality— your walls tightening around him as he thrust with even more urgency this time. 

"Cum for me, then, my good girl," he managed to chuckle at you. You choked out another small cry as tears filled your eyes again in a wave of oscillating pleasure, your spasms making it difficult for him to pull out as he intended. 

"Y-You can cu—" 

Gen pulled out of you panting the moment you were about to say he could finish inside you instead, opting to spill his scorching cum all over your stomach. He caught his breath before flicking his middle finger on your forehead with all his tender might. 

"Ow! Wh-What was that for?!"

"At least let me put a ring on you before you ask me to cum inside ya!"

"You didn't have to hit me that hard."

"It wasn't even that hard."

A large bandaid was spread over your forehead where your boyfriend last exacted his violence on you. Your quiet breakfast for two at the mess hall the following morning was cut short when Eiji sat next to Gen with his breakfast, along with a clean folder that contained only two sheets of paper.

"Good morning, Narumi. And the Platoon Leader, too. Once you're done eating, I'll need you two to fill out these forms," he stated as he handed you one of the sheets with a header in bold letters that read Workplace Relationship Disclosure Form.

"O-Oh," came your slightly startled reaction as you realised what it was. You placed down your utensils and read the information that had to be filled out. "S-So, do I write 'boyfriend' here? This is so embarrassing…"

"The hell do you mean it's embarrassing? Are you embarrassed to be with me? Embarrassed that I'm your boyfriend?!" Gen yapped at you as he filled out the form handed to him. You were shocked to see him filling out the paperwork himself, even more so when he wrote 'fiancée' next to your name. 

"If there is anything to be embarrassed about, it's keeping your fellow Platoon Leaders awake at night because of your… raucous behaviour," your Vice Captain stated with a feigned cough, and though it was clearly addressed to you, his sharp gaze was directed at your Captain. "If you don't want the top brass to hear about this and mete out a punishment for you both, I suggest you refrain from doing it here at base."

"O-Of course, V-Vice Captain Hasegawa! It won't happen again!" You squeaked at the older man and gave him a stiff bow. 

Gen gaped at your quick surrender before eventually turning to Eiji, who had yet to start his meal. "Haa? We're actually doing important work here! They can consider this our attempt at preserving my lineage, Japan's Strongest— Ow!" 

The older man flicked his middle finger at the young Captain's forehead this time. "Since everyone's talking about you two anyway, let's give them more to gossip about. But I expect not to hear anything about it again starting tomorrow."

[bluebudgie]

I got reminded to finally update this post to include Luqqah as well.

Now that the dating day is over it's time to fight characters again.

Should you fight my characters: Asura Edition

Tvekks Battle BGM: Tentacle Battle | Starbound

Should you fight Tvekks? If you're a decent person, no. Sure, he used to be Inquest, but that's long in the past and he really doesn't mean any harm. He's more scared of you than anything else. You'd really just feel like a school bully shoving someone into a locker.

Who initiates the battle? You. Tvekks would not fight unless there is absolutely no way to escape. And he would try really, really hard to escape. He's more likely to die trying to escape than to actually fight.

Who would win? Very likely you. It's a stamina battle, you against a chronomancer manipulating time. If you can handle all the little rifts in time, there really isn't much that would physically hurt you.

Neljje Battle BGM: Shambhala | Fire Emblem: Three Houses I want to formally apologize to this little man for assigning him the awful fire emblem dubstep song but it's just the right amount of unhinged

Should you fight Neljje? Maybe. Man's definitely a safety hazard to people, but the thing is that most of the time he doesn't have people around him. Probably rather to be left alone, but if you get an advantageous opportunity, fight him. Wouldn't hurt anyone to get rid of that one.

Who initiates the battle? That depends on the day. Might stay passive until provoked on some days, might attack on sight on other days. You'd be smarter to start the fight, since you're obviously better off not getting ambushed.

Who would win? How well do you handle an army of oversized zombie alien bugs shooting potent magic at range and then stabbing you with their sharp carapace legs in melee? If you can get past those, you may have a chance. If not, say your last prayer.

Phlish Battle BGM: One Who Bares Fangs At God | Xenogears

Should you fight Phlish? Yes, you should. The little pest absolutely deserves an ass whooping.

Who initiates the battle? Could go either way. Likely you'll both mutually want to go at each other's throat.

Who would win? It depends on where you face him. A battle on land? You will likely win, even though he does put up a fight. A battle in the water? Hope you got your underwater combat figured out, because that's his element. Oh, also... you're not actually fighting the brat himself. You're fighting his (underwater specialized!) mech. Get past that, and the most hurtful thing you'll face is condescending talk.

Qissh Battle BGM: Guard Droid Battle | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Should you fight Qissh? No. There is really no reason why you should fight him. He wants peace. Leave him be.

Who initiates the battle? Under normal circumstances he would not; if you're part of a group of paparazzi he will start the fight.

Who would win? 50:50. His fighting style is self-defense more than anything else (he did mention he wanted to be left in peace), but he can definitely pack a punch. In the most likely scenario you would win because he decides to forfeit and leave.

Khivvi Battle BGM: The Fell God's Tempest | Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Should you fight Khivvi? Yes. From a moral standpoint there is absolutely nothing that should hold you back.

Who initiates the battle? Likely her. While she's not particularly interested in picking fights, she'll definitely attack first if she feels in any way provoked or threatened.

Who would win? It won't be easy, but you might emerge victorious. She's a fairly competent but not particularly passionate fighter. She's got some venomous pet help though, so be cautious about the toxins... they might become a problem well after you're done fighting.

Lahpp Battle BGM: Alexius | Dragon Age: Inquisition

Should you fight Lahpp? Difficult. He may be dedicated to a morally questionable corporate environment, but he's not the worst of the bunch. You'd probably find some arguments to justify a fight, but ask yourself... where's your own morality if you decide to beat up a man in such fragile physical condition he'd drop dead without proper medical care even if people didn't beat him up. Actually you know what, don't fight him. Please.

Who initiates the battle? You. He's not stupid, he knows that he wouldn't last in a 1 on 1 battle that he can't end within the first few moments.

Who would win? While the odds are definitely in your favour, don't underestimate the range of a sniper rifle. Start off in a bad spot, and you're done for in a single shot. If the bullets don't get you (and you don't succumb to potential poisoning), you're definitely going to win this.

Hvitti Battle BGM: Autumnal Sky | Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen

Should you fight Hvitti? Yes, but only if it's a mock-up battle. In that case, he'll gladly join you. Otherwise, no. He's literally done nothing wrong in his life ever.

Who initiates the battle? You both mutually agree to fight each other, mock-up battle or not. This is an honourful duel.

Who would win? He may not look imposing, but he's got a few years of experience as a soldier. That element of surprise might just be what he needs to win. Otherwise, in a fair battle everyone could potentially emerge victorious. Hopefully you both had fun regardless of the outcome.

Petthri Battle BGM: The Synapse - Combat | Deus Ex

Should you fight Petthri? No. Morals completely aside, for your own safety's sake please don't pick a fight.

Who initiates the battle? He's generally peaceful, but if he has to he'll start the fight. Again, please don't start this.

Who would win? Picture this: an elementalist. Scary, I know. Now picture that: An elementalist who does not properly control any of the elements, not for a lack of skill, but for a lack of desire to be able to do so. This is chaos. Pure and utter chaos. You can't strategize around this, the only way you can win is by pure chance. You probably won't.

Luqqah Battle BGM: The Destroyer | Shovel Knight

Should you fight Luqqah? Are you a fan of "the end justifies the means"? If you think murdering people for medical progress isn't the right way to proceed then fight her. You probably should.

Who initiates the battle? Depends entirely on the situation. You might want to start this fight yourself, but if she feels provoked enough she may just deliver the first blow.

Who would win? Luqqah isn't necessarily a trained fighter, but don't underestimate how lethal contact with the wrong kind of liquid can be. If you get through her ranged attacks you'll likely have a chance in close combat. Beware of any surprise needles though.

[renthony]

Official Commission Info Post

(Updated July 8, 2024. Copied over from my main website.)

Pay me to write about a topic of your choice!

Provide me with a topic related to my areas of interest, and I’ll share my expertise, opinions, and insights. My areas of interest/expertise include speculative fiction (sci-fi/fantasy), fiction writing, literature studies, television & film studies, media censorship, animation, and pop/fandom culture.

Note: You choose the topic, not the angle. You can’t pay me to write any amount on the topic, “why Ren’s favorite thing is actually bad,” or, “why Ren’s least-favorite politician is actually a superhero.” I reserve the right to refuse any commission for any reason, with money refunded where necessary. I retain full credit and ownership of my writing—meaning I don’t do homework and I don’t do ghostwriting.

Examples of my work can be found at this link. Further info below the cut.

Rates

$25 USD for 500 words.

Up to 3k words @ $0.05 USD per word.

Over 3k words @ $0.15 per word.

Over 5k words @ $0.20 per word.

Rates calculated using the IWW Freelance Journalists Union rate sheet. Writers of the world unite!

Payment processed via PayPal or Venmo. Final product will be emailed to you as a PDF, and cross-posted to my tumblr and Patreon page along with other platforms as I see fit.

Email me at renniequeer@gmail.com to commission today!

Turnaround Times

I’m disabled and have inconsistent energy levels, so turnaround times may vary depending on my health. At minimum, 500 word essays typically take me about a week, 3k takes about two weeks, and 5k papers take about a month. If there are any unexpected delays to my work, health-related or otherwise, I will email you with an updated turnaround estimate as needed.

À La Carte

Can’t think of a topic but still want to hire me? Here’s a list you can choose from!

General 500 Word Topics

500 words doesn’t give me much space, so these commissions are great for getting my basic thoughts and opinions on a topic. You can use the following list as simple prompts on their own, or as a springboard to come up with your own, more specific prompt.

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Worldbuilding

Self-Publishing

Animation

Tabletop Gaming

Cosplay and Costuming

Media Representation

Media Preservation

Media Piracy

Censorship

Purity Culture

Labor Rights in the Entertainment Industry

Queer Media History

Fandom

3k Essay Prompts:

These topics require a little more space to dig into, so I need at least 3,000 words to do them justice. You can also request any of the prompts from the 500 word prompt list for a more robust essay on the topic.

Always Watch the Background Actors: How Learning Stage Combat Improved My Moviegoing Experience

Animation and Musicals: Misunderstood Non-Genres

Draw from the Heart: Using Familiar Settings to Craft New Worlds

Worldbuilding: Avoiding the Planet of Hats Trope

Worldbuilding: Utilizing Elements of Culture

5k Research Paper Topics:

These are the big topics that will require research, citations, and several long weeks of work. I can write as much on the topic as you want, but it must be at least 5,000 words. You can also request any of the prompts from the 500 word or 3k word prompt lists for more robust essays on the topic.

Killing the Cat: Violence Against the Vulnerable as Sloppy Narrative Shorthand

It Wasn't a Damn Door: Why Jack Dawson Had to Die

Bury Your Gays on Solstheim: Queer Representation in the Elder Scrolls

Invisibility or the Freakshow: Intersex Representation on American Television

The Nuke in the Room: Political Allegory in Samurai Jack

Payment Installments & Discount Options

Times are rough for everyone. If you would like to hire me but can’t afford to pay all at once, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me about paying in installments! Details can be discussed on an individual basis.

For a 15% discount, you may also email me with proof that you have requested my short story, The Queen of Cups, at your local library! For a 25% discount, submit proof that you have requested both my short story, The Queen of Cups, and my wife’s novel, The Last Girl Scout.

[galoogamelady]

What’s Fallout like? Like I know I can google what kind of game it is but more than that what games would you compare it to? and is it more story-based or gameplay-based?

That's a difficult one to answer and I'm not sure I have the authority to do it lol

But I'll try!

The Fallout fandom is fairly complicated due to the IP being passed around and the lore/values of its storytelling being muddied over the years. That being said I think both old-school and new fans would still agree that the story is the most important element, as they're meant to be role playing games where you make decisions on often heavy matters (especially in the games of the original devs).

Fallout 1 and 2 are turn-based isometric rpg-s from the late 90s. If you like that type of gameplay, they're fantastic games and cult classics. They don't shy away from heavy themes.

Then the IP got sold to Bethesda and their version of Fallout is a FPS/TPS action experience, as seen in Fallout 3 and 4. The combat is fun but even the newest game is shit by shooter standards. If you played an Elder Scrolls game (like Skyrim), they're like that but set in a retro futuristic post apocalypse. A large slice of the fandom has only played these ones and skipped the original turn-based games.

Fallout New Vegas was made by the original team but using Bethesda's engine. Many fans would tell you that out of the modern titles, that's the one with the best writing.

Fallout 4 was a very popular title due to the scrap and build system. As you adventure, you can scavenge all sorts of trash and then build your own little settlements in the wasteland and populate them with settlers. Add mods to that, and the community really did some magic. It made people connect with the world of Fallout on a personal level.

The story in a nutshell: in an alternate timeline, survivors of a devastating nuclear war are trying to rebuild and make the irradiated wasteland of the United States liveable again but every group and faction has a different take on how society should be rebuilt. When the writing is done well, your choices have weight and it's impossible to be fair and please everyone. You get to discover a variety of different factors that lead to the Great War and you have to wager whether humanity is doomed to make the same mistakes all over again. Is there a way to avoid them? What kind of sacrifices does that require? Etc.

A lot of it is supposed to be a critical look at war, 50s Americana and the dangers of nationalism, rampant consumerism, xenophobia, etc.

Hope this helped a little! It's difficult to find two Fallout fans who are on the exact same opinion of all the games. I personally think, the fun part of the games is when you get to carve a little slice out of the wasteland for yourself and your community and the stimulating part is the overarching story and lore.

It's no wonder the original writers made The Outer Worlds too, which I don't consider a legendary game but the similarities are obvious in the themes.

[spinningwebsandtales]

Imagine Playing Video Games With Gen

Gen Narumi X FemReader

Rating: T

Warnings: Arguing, reader’s temper flares and she destroys something, reader is a little stressed, sprinkle of angst, fluff at the end

Word Count: 894

(A/N:) This has been in my drafts for a good long while! But now it will finally see the light of day! I hope everyone is enjoying the Kaiju No. 8 anime so far! I am! Saturdays have become so exciting for me and I’ve been watching the episodes over and over. I just adore this story and I can’t wait to see more moments come to life! But until next time enjoy this little piece! Happy reading! ~Countess

Dating Gen Narumi had it’s ups and it’s downs. But the First Division leader was good at what he does. From killing kaiju to slaughtering online players in the gaming universe. While you enjoyed playing video games every now and again, life always seemed to take up majority of your time. That and the threats of kaiju constantly threatening the innocent civilians. So it was a rare moment when you got to sit down to play by yourself, let alone with the man known as the Force’s Strongest Combatant. 

You found yourself in one such rare moment. It was a rainy day and so far no kaiju threat had emerged. So Gen invited you into his office where he wanted to play games. Surrounded by his figurines and sitting in a comfortable chair before his large gaming setup, you were furiously smashing buttons while Gen sat at your side smirking obnoxiously. Gritting your teeth, trying to come back at the last second only to lose the round. Cursing viciously, you were just about to smash the controller when Gen’s larger hand encircled your wrist.

“These controllers are very expensive babe,” he smirked.

“You can afford a new one captain,” you snarled, temper still flaring. Still Gen refused to release your wrist. Guiding you to sit back down, he brought your hand close to his face, where he brushed tender kisses to the skin of your wrist. You started calming down until he bit down on your wrist playfully. With a hiss you ripped yourself away from his grip and sent his precious controller flying. It shattered against the wall with a satisfying crash.

Normally Gen would freak out, bursting out with a childish tantrum. But as he glared at you, emotions raging inside his eyes, you knew you royally screwed up. Quietly Gen walked over to the destroyed controller, scooping up the pieces and throwing them into the trash. Guilt eating at you, you knew that your temper got out of hand, so you walked to him to help him clean up the mess you made.

“I’m sorry Gen,” you apologized immediately. “I’ll buy you a new one. I shouldn’t have done that.”

He shook his head, “It’s okay. I’ll replace it. I shouldn’t have teased you so much.”

“No it’s not you. I lost my temper and all you were doing was playing with me like you usually do. I guess I just have so much stress on me right now. It’s no excuse but I’ll try better.”

“I’ll let you win some,” he offered.

“Ha! Don’t let me win you goof,” you laughed tossing the last plastic piece into the wastebasket. “It’s no fun that way!”

“Well that was my only extra controller,” he ran his fingers through his two toned hair. “Wanna go get a new one together? The walk may do you some good if you’ve been overwhelmed here lately.”

“It’s raining though,” you whined.

Gen chuckled, standing back up and offering you his hand. “It’s okay! You aren’t sweet enough to melt!” You stuck out your tongue but took his hand nonetheless. 

Walking down the streets of Japan hand in hand with Gen Narumi was something you probably would never get used to. With the stares and whispers encircling you both. It didn’t help that his phone would keep pinging in his pocket from people posting about the handsome captain whenever he made an appearance. Normally he would be scrolling through all said posts and ignore you, but on this occasion as he held your hand and the umbrella above your heads, he could do no such thing. You stepped into him tightly, enjoying the warmth of his body heat as the rain relentlessly beat against the umbrella.

Making it to Gen’s normal electronic haunt and purchase in tow, you both made it back to Gen’s office in record time. It helped that the rain only had picked up heavier as you both were out. Setting it up and handing it over. You couldn’t help but notice that he had purchased the controller in your favorite color. 

“This one will be yours whenever you want to play,” he kissed your cheek. “And maybe if it’s yours you’ll take better care of it.”

You laughed before kissing his cheek back, “Thank you Gen. You know how to treat a girl right.”

“Of course! Now ready to lose some more?”

“Who knows I may get lucky,” you grinned viciously a plan already cooking in your mind.

You wound up winning a couple of rounds, though you did have to resort to cheating. Gen couldn’t play when you knocked his chair over during a critical time in the round. And apparently he didn’t enjoy having feet anywhere around his head. So you took to sticking your toes against his cheek or blocking his vision, with said feet. Though you did pay dearly for cheating as Gen tickled you mercilessly, leaving you both breathless sprawled out on the floor. You couldn’t help but wish for more easy days like this. And though it had started out rough, this was what you needed. Just to be around the man you love and have fun. It was like the tension you had been dragging around for weeks melted away, just from the looks he gave you and you knew that Gen needed this as well.

[howlingday]

Close For Discomfort

A Knightfall Parody

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

Jaune: (In bed, Stretches) Morning, babe~.

Cinder: (Yawns) Morning, blue eyes~.

Salem: (Nude) Speaking of blue eyes, I'm making blueberry pancakes! Y'all want any?

Jaune: AGH! Grandma! For Brother's sakes, put on some clothes! Please!

Salem: Clothes ruin my morning flow! You know that! Now, you want blueberry or chocolate chip? (Walking away) Because spoiler alert, the chocolate chips are HELLA PACKED with THC!

Jaune: ...

Cinder: We need to move out.

Jaune: What?!

Cinder: NOW!

Jaune: Wh- I- B- Cindy, we've got free room and board, a literal castle with protection from Grimm attacks and... all the pancakes we could ever want~!

Cinder: Wonderful, but do you have any idea how obnoxious your grandmother has gotten since we started dating? THREE YEARS AGO?

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

Cinder: (Doing laundry, Rolls eyes at Salem's "Death To All Faunus" shirt)

Cinder: (Turns over, Sees "And Humans, Too") Oh... That's... better?

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

Cinder: And then there was my birthday last month.

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

Everyone: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOU~!

Ruby: Happy birthday, Cinder~!

Cinder: Thank you, Re- Er, Ruby.

Salem: Time for presents~! (Hands over gift) Here you go, Cindy~!

Cinder: (Flatly) Oh, good, I wonder what this is- Oh, look, it's a crotchless panties and a nippleless bra. Who would've guessed?

Jaune: Hey, I remember those! I wonder if mine still fit...

Cinder: ...

Ruby: ...

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

Cinder: And that's NOTHING compared to the bullshit she pulled last week!

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

Cinder: (On Jaune, Drags fingers down chest)

Jaune: (Saucily chuckles, Rubs arm)

Cinder: (Leans down, Stops) Is that a fucking camera?!

Salem: (Distant) STOP BREAKING THE SCENE!

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

Jaune: (Holding "Grimm Pictures Presents: Fallen Knights of Passion " CD) In her defense, the production value on this was... incredible~!

Cinder: (Takes CD, Melts it)

Jaune: AW~! I was really good in that one...

Cinder: Yes, you were. Not the point!

Jaune: Mm... I'm not sure how we'd move in the first place. Can't exactly just buy a house as "enemies of humanity".

Cinder: Well, who's to say we have to buy or rent anything? I'm sure we could easily steal a house on the shore.

Jaune: Cinder! You promised!

Cinder: I'm kidding! I'm kidding! ...Mostly.

Jaune: What about Ruby? I'm sure she could vouch for us now that Salem's gone straight.

Cinder: We could... but I don't think she'd be interested in anything I have to say...

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

Ruby: Cinder, what the fuck?!

Cinder: (Via scroll) You asked, I delivered.

Ruby: I asked for Sonic merch for my birthday, not for you to kidnap another Sonic character!

Big: I'm Big~!

Ruby: He's Big! ...Wait, is that your name?

Big: Yuh-huh~!

Cinder: Well, I'm glad you're enjoying him~.

Ruby: STOP DROPPING FURRIES ON MY DOORSTEP!

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

Jaune: Hm... Well, we could always ask for a trial by combat. I'm already good friends with most huntsmen, so all I'd have to do is ask for the next availability. Not to mention they also pay huge, and we're probably going to win anyways because the only people who could beat either of us that aren't our friends are dead! Oh, I made myself feel bad.

Cinder: And this "next availability" would be when?

Jaune: Let's see, according to the schedule, it is... SIX YEARS?!

Cinder: Fuck that! You need a job!

Jaune: Also gonna be hard since I'm blacklisted as a huntsman and my resume aside from that is just... kid who's related to the woman who tried to wipe out humanity.

Cinder: I don't have a formal education, either. The only thing I learned growing up was the best ways to kill a woman and how to scrub week-old cum off decades-old wood.

Salem: (Pops in) Oh, now that takes me back~...

Cinder: (Hurls fireball) EAT SHIT, YOU OLD HAG!

Salem: (Walks downstairs) Oh, you know I was talking about dick...

Cinder: ...GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

Jaune: Okay, okay! Uh... We could do manual labor! I've been training to fight the Grimm since I was a teenager, so I can still do other work that requires muscle! We could probably build our own house and a whole neighborhood in, like, a week!

Cinder: I... I don't think I could be doing any physical labor.

Jaune: Why not? You pick ME up and toss me into bed real easy when you're feeling frisky. (Come hithers)

Cinder: (Sighs) That's not what I mean.

Jaune: I know, but I mean... I think you'd be great at it! You're smart, you're driven, you're WAY stronger than me without your maiden powers, and you're-

Cinder: PREGNANT~!

Jaune: ...Wha?

Cinder: And, yeah, I know I can still work, but I think it's really awkward to tell your boss, "Hey, I know I just started, but I'm going to need maternity leave really soon!" It just seems like a clusterfu-

Jaune: (Grabs her) You're pregnant?!

Cinder: Yeah... It's why I didn't ask for any chocolate chips.

Jaune: How... How long?

Cinder: Pregnant? About a month, but I only found out a few days ago! I didn't know how to tell you. We have something good already and everything just sort of happened and I have no idea what happens next or even if you want to-

Jaune: Cinder! (Takes her hands) You... You have made me the happiest man in the entire world. No one has ever made me feel this happy before, except you, and you somehow just keep making me happier.

Cinder: (Eyes watering)

Jaune: I... I love you. And I love our baby.

Cinder: (Hugs him) I love you, too~!

Salem: (Leaning against the wall) So, how much longer until your belly gets bigger? It's been a few centuries since my time, so I'm not sure what the standard is now. And I'd like to know before the next video.

Cinder: If our baby is a girl and we're not out of this house by the time she hits puberty, I WILL murder Salem!

Salem: Tch! Good luck! (Slurps pancake)

[rad-batson]

Hi I'm rewatching Psych (2006) and have found some glaring similarities between Shawn Spencer and Bruce Wayne:

This is very important research. Do not scroll >:(

Bruce Wayne and Shawn Spencer

Not Your Average Detective TM

Works with the local police department, solves crimes in the most illegal way possible

Definitely needs to see a therapist, literally would rather die

Puts on an elaborate show to lie about his identity but he really doesn’t need to be that dramatic about it???? Calm down 🤨

Barely one step above a silly cartoon character, but it is very close

Has a father figure who constantly vocalizes they did not raise him like this while also cleaning up his messes (with love, of course. And sarcasm)

Autistic Swag. Unmedicated.

Hyper-observant with incredible deductive reasoning skills to the point that others are convinced he has supernatural abilities

✨ Breaking and entering ✨

Sleeps in his man cave more than in his actual bed

Homoerotic tension with a grumpy salt-and-pepper detective (if you squint)

Has a psychotic mortal enemy who insists they’re friends despite attempting to kill his family members on several occasions through fun little games and riddles

Owns a business

Wants to lie down and take a nap but if he does then he’ll be left alone with his thoughts so he instead performs dangerous acts of heroism, knowing full well that said dangerous acts do not promise a paycheck

COMMITS TO THE BIT

Way smarter than he publicly lets on

Wanted in several foreign countries, probably

His best friend is both tired of his shit and constantly enabling his weird antics despite having a serious day job because they know he is Much Worse when left unsupervised and they are secretly also just as unhinged

Has mad sexual tension with a concerning amount of criminals

Casually tries to walk off a bullet wound, worrying everyone

Lives in a major coastal city with perpetually constant weather conditions and a surprisingly high crime rate

Bisexual, Canon Be Damned

And yet the straight ship? Still Iconic

Uses his ditzy, flamboyant playboy image to simultaneously protect his biggest secret and hide his deeply scarring childhood trauma

Is babygirl

Bruce Wayne

Orphan

Outwardly has a dark, pessimistic outlook on life

Secretly hopeful and would do anything to make his loved ones happy

Won't shoot a gun but will beat the crap out of you

Bats on everything

Lives on the East Coast

Actually has Autism AND ADHD but his sidekick has more ADHD, making him the default Autism solidarity

Has health insurance

Shawn Spencer

Child of divorce

Outwardly hopeful and would do anything to make his loved ones happy

Secretly has a dark, pessimistic outlook on life

Doesn't know hand-to-hand combat but is a great shot

Pineapples on everything

Lives on the West Coast

Actually has ADHD AND autism but his sidekick has more Autism, making him the default ADHD solidarity

Does not have health insurance

YES THIS WAS VERY NECESSARY THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT

Feel free to add stuff if you also love Psych :D I'm on my third rewatch now

[mossy-rock-in-a-field]

My Elderly Mother Plays Baldur's Gate: Part 4

If you're not up to date on the saga, my mom is having me play Baldur's Gate 3 on her behalf because she has trouble using controllers/keyboards but still wants to "smooch the wizard boy." She is playing a neutral good wood elf druid; this is a detailed account of her crimes. Part 1 & 2 Part 3

Hey, everybody! Thanks to everyone who followed my blog to keep up with my mom's adventures. Also, shout-out to whoever called my mom "Crime Mom" last time I posted about this; she really got a kick out of that. We played for a full day yesterday so we could really get into Act III and make some progress.

Here are the atrocities she committed during yesterday's play session:

My mom is very pissed that she cannot keep Myshka the white cat. When she found Myshka, she told him that she was his mother because of course she did. Naturally, Myshka started following her around the city after that, and she was SO thrilled about it. However, when we went back to camp to trade out a companion and immediately came back to the city, the cat wasn't following her anymore, and my mom was so fucking upset. ("That boy thinks I'm his mother and I LEFT HIM! Why can't I take my son back to my camp with us?") My mom told me to tell my "tumblr friends" that Myshka should be able to join our camp like Scratch and the owlbear cub. So, if any of you guys are from Larian—take notes, I guess. My mother demands a cat son.

Upon seeing Mystra for the first time in the Stormshore Tabernacle cutscene, my mom immediately said in the bitterest voice imaginable, "I'm prettier than her." She is, of course, right. Fuck Mystra, all my homies hate Mystra.

When we found the Hag Survivors Group, my mom asked me if she could try combat for the first time, and she actually started to get the hang of it. ("Left bumper, mom. No, that's the trigger. BUMPER. Other left. There you go.") However, she didn't fully understand what "area of effect" meant and decided to cast Fireball ("Ooh, I've always wanted to use that one!") in an enclosed space before I could stop her. She instantly incinerated Mayrina, the floorboards, and the paladin, Adrielle. I was so fucking proud of her but also laughing so hard I was nearly in tears. She had me reload the save for her.

My mom returned the stolen money to the Counting House's head banker, then asked me to rob the rest of the building on our way out. When I asked her about the logic of this particular decision, she said, "We're saving the city from mind flayers, so these funds are really going back into the local economy when you think about it. We're a great cause!" I have no idea why she didn't just keep the stolen pouch of money in the first place. We wasted so many scrolls and Arrows of Transposition to get everything out of those vaults.

She was FURIOUS when she found out Auntie Ethel wasn't actually dead. My dad called in the middle of the day to check in on dinner plans and mom kept him on the phone for at least ten minutes while she ranted about hags who "should stay dead when they're told to."

My mom adores Jaheira. The two of them are very similar to each other, so I think she gets a kick out of seeing Camp Mom do Camp Mom things that she would do if she were actually in the game. My mom also loves Minsc and Boo. TASTE.

Don't know how soon my mother will come back for another play session, but I'll keep you guys updated whenever I can! She has already asked me if I would DM a D&D session for her retired friends, so I'm trying to find time to do that. Maybe I'll do some updates on that if we get it going.

Thank for everyone's support! Crime Mom and I appreciate it.

[universeskies]

I wanna talk and appreciate so much... Marina Ida. AND I mean That since beginnings. Not beginning Splatoon 2, But rather back in the First Hero Mode of Splatoon! Back when, Marina designed and built ALL The kinds of weapons and Octoweaponry bosses We Fought. (Note, Im gonna refer as First Hero Mode as "Hero Mode" and Splatoon 2's Hero Mode as "Hero Mode 2")

Something that I LOVE SO MUCH about Hero Mode and Hero Mode 2!! Is that, there's a nod and details in how much like, Marina isn't there with the Octarians anymore per say, and its not only on the Music! Given that the little music motlifs that Marina loves to give are present in Splatoon's Hero Mode, but it couldn't be heard during the Hero Mode 2 (instead You hear Callie's voice and as well the song titles being a callback to Squid Sister songs)

And that is on the machinery that We see in both Hero Mode. Marina Ida is recognized and very much so well known to be a HUGE Genius when it comes to building and Machinery, especially when it comes to Octarians Weapons. Thus earning Her ranking of quite a GREAT Elite Octarian. And We do see that during Hero Mode. We do have that confirmation during Octo Expansion and a hint from the first Sunken Scrolls from Hero Mode 2.

Upon closer look, Octostomp doesn't look That much threatening. If anything this could Even Be seen as The Testing of Power before going to the Big guns!

And it shows! See, one thing that I noticed is that, the Bosses that We fight during Hero Mode, really relies in so many kinds of Machines that of course to a degree uses the Octo's limbs of course. We know these. Like all kinds of weapons and all of these are really intimidating and incredible design to go against the Inkling Menace. I really appreciate how out of what the Octarians have and the little scraps they got from the Underground to build all of these. Marina Ida, Elite Octarian everyone. Really should SO MUCH get such incredible appreciation of Her insane skills, and not only that? But We also know this as well with how MANY Shifty stations She has made. MONTHLY MIND YOU. The second Boss is based on rotating and throwing so much Ink, to shoot Around! THIS to test The aim. Then The Third to test The reflex and agility of The Inklings Menace. It's ALL and they get stronger to it.

Like LOOK AT THIS!!! THIS IS TERRIFYING. THIS BOSS was a STRONG MAWS. AND IT ONLY GOT STRONGER.

MIND Y'ALL. ALL OF THOSE GREAT AND REALLY TERRIFYING AND DANGEROUS WEAPONRY?! MADE WITH ONLY LIMITED RESOURCES AND SCRAPS. All by Marina! She is an AMAZING GREAT Asset and it shows!!

Now then. With that being said, lets look at Hero Mode 2. And already, There's a really great decrease of what can be considered Octoweaponry compared to Hero Mode. One could even say that the Bosses are easier in Hero Mode 2, though that is mostly subjective to how one plays. Could be harder or easier in-gameplay. Both are valid.

But then lets look at the designs and what goes behind them. See, for me, I believe that the Octoweaponry in Hero Mode 2 isn't as impressive or like...really unique compared to like what We saw in Hero Mode.

Thats a GREAT AWESOME Narrative detail in this retrospective! Marina Ida has desserted the Octarian Army. Marina isn't there anymore to like design or build up or built the blueprints for these kinds of Octoweaponry that We see in the first one. If anything, One of the bosses are more so, a Mano-to-Mano combat, which is the Octo Samurai Himself.

See, You could say, what about the Roller he wields? That has to be that, right? Like very heavy machine? Well yes, but also no. I think its kinda like an Octo Version of the Dynamo Roller. Octo Samurai could be one of the many Strongest Octarians all around to wield such Dynamo Roller with ease like it was a Splatana, or even like a Carbon Roller.

Not only that, if You look more, Hero Mode 2 has a RETURNING Boss, which is Octostomp!! But with a New Sick coat XD

That being said, already in Hero Mode 2, We really only have TWO NEW Octoweaponry designed for the Inkling menace. And these two machines....really don't seem that much impressive.

Octo Oven? Feels more like a Bubbler or Shield like weapon to be defensive rather than Offensive.

Octo Shower? Its just a bigger version of an Octo Drizzler...that can fly and not FLY BY ITSELF. With help. Add Stingray to it, but to be honest, the Inkling Menace can also use Stingrays...and Tenta Missile...AND a Charger. There's already limit with these two.

We talk about Octo Samurai and that dude isn't really a machine. Just one Honorable Octarian that wants a fair duel. Splats with Honor after all.

Then We have Octostomp that of course, is a returning one. And to be honest, the new coat just seems a more of a simple thought going "More face, means more difficult right? The more the merrier." HELL!! IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE EASIEST BOSS IN HERO MODE!!! And it came back trying to act like being a Third BOSS! When it's Just... They just simply added few more things to make it more of a nuisance rather than Threatening or DANGEROUS.

I want everyone to ALSO know and be aware That... I won't talk about Both DJ Octavio's fights. Cause I believe That those fights speak already from My point in what I'm speaking ABOUT How Marina is such an incredible skilled Set Elite Octarian.

She built then Octobot King used for Both fights!! The FIRST fight was really challenging and was equipped with SO MANY Special weapons. From a Killer Wail to an ALMOST STINGRAY. A FUCKING STINGRAY.

ANd The Octobot King II simply had an added platform for Callie to dance. And spam Bomb Rush specials. Hero Mode 2 DJ Octavio wasnt at full Power and That Made sense since I lean, there really wasnt much to Work with.

Soooooo, I feel that Marina's skills and mindset is just one INCREDIBLE set of thoughts. If anything, I can feel that the Octarians, dealing with the loss of Marina, decided to so much take inspiration and follow in per say what Marina thought. But thats as best as they could get.

There's nothing much You can do and such with already limited resources and already with Marina gone, they have even more struggles to really seek what could go against an Inkling Menace.

Remember... Marina did ALL OF THAT STUFF WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND ENERGY.

So I really enjoy how the details of how the struggles of the Octarians are still seen and not only that, but also showcase as well, that Marina is still quite struggling cause I'm pretty sure that She still has to deal with just those kinds of thoughts. She doesn't have to deal with it alone of course, but its simply incredible the kind of attention its given within the narrative of Splatoon's Hero Modes.

Hell, We see inspirations of those Bosses in Side Order. The Ball boss from Side Order is clearly inspired by the same one in Hero Mode from Splatoon. Not only that, but if anything the kind of weapons and the uniform plate armors that Parallel Canon AND Eight uses, are very Octarian-like. Not only that, but also the way that the Pearl Drone functions is really similar to how many Octarians will try to pin point the Inkling Menaces and try to attack with mini Inkstrikes.

All around, MARINA IDA EVERYONE!!! SUCH AN AMAZING SKILL DJ TOO! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

[novankenn]

Jaune et Carro Veloce

Jaune was feeling miserable. His skills were so far below his peers that it was laughable... in a pathetic way. Though his academics in everything but things specifically associated with fighting grimm duties were well above the average. Wonders of the public school system.

So after another desperate failure in Professor Goodwitch's combat class, he wandered off. He heard his friends and teammates calling after him, but he just walked away without a word. Wishing to avoid any and everyone he took the stairs down into the basement of Beacon.

It was dark and damp. The overhead bulbs giving very little usable light. Reaching into his rear belt pouch he pulled out a small flashlight. Say what you would about his performance in combat... Jaune was adept at being prepared for mundane things, like basic wilderness survival.

He looked about, and wandered. His footfalls echoing about the dusty and cobweb cluttered corridors and rooms. There wasn't much of interest. Most of the rooms being either completely empty, or holding boxes of books. Jaune had opened one of the boxes finding it filled with Professor Port's Autobiography "The Heroic Age of the Indominable Sir Port of Vale."

Jaune: Must not have sold well.

Jaune tossed the book back onto the pile of boxes after flipping through it quickly, and continued his exploration. Pulling out his scroll he checked the time. He had been gone for a good three hours and his screen was filled with missed call and message notifications. Sighing he put it away, deciding he would answer a little later.

Turning a corner he saw a massive shadowed filled room. Cautiously he approached, using his flashlight to try and pierce the darkness. Having no success he turned his attention to the near walls, and quickly located a bank of light switches. Flicking them all on he flinched as blaring bright white lights came to blazing life.

Jaune: Oh... wow...

Jaune was stunned by what he found. The room was massive, and filled with artifacts from the Great War and the Faunus Revolution... specifically mobile terrestrial heavy weapon plate forms...

Jaune: Tanks... wow... Tanks on Tanks...

Jaune turned off his flashlight and stowed in away, as he wondered about, his eyes alight with excitement he hadn't felt in ages. While he wasn't specifically a weapon geek like Ruby, he did have a guilty pleasure, aside from comics... and that was tanks. In particular tankettes. While he admired the utility and power of the larger more impressive pieces, he absolutely adored the very much smaller, and faster mini-tanks.

Jaune: An Atlean Panzer IV. A Vale Sherman Firefly. A Vacoan T34, and a Mistralian Tiger I !!!

Jaune wondered, totally forgetting about contacting his friends, which further flew out of his thoughts when he saw it. With a shaking hand he reached out and touched the welded steel armor plating.

Jaune: A Valean Carro Veloce CV33 with twin 8mm machineguns... and over there is the conversion for the 20mm Anti-Material Gun!!!

Jaune was in awe and excited beyond measure as he hovered around what he would call an adorable tankette. Until that revelry was shatter by a voice from behind.

Ozpin: Are you enjoying yourself Mr. Arc?

Jaune: Ah... um...

Ozpin: You are not in trouble Mr. Arc though I was not aware you held such an affinity for... such antiques.

Jaune: Antiques!!! These are pieces of artwork! Form and function made reality! Iron and steel powered by flame and thunder, manned by bone and blood!!!

Ozpin: Please calm down. I only came to see if you are alright. You friends are worried and security alerted me to you entering this area.

Jaune: I'm sorry, I'll...

Ozpin: I already said you are not in trouble Mr. arc. Far from that in fact.

Jaune: Huh?

Ozpin: It is a shame that these icons of human and faunus ingenuity lie here moldering away. How would you like to pick one?

Jaune: Huh?

Ozpin: Pick one. Restore it. Beacon will provide the funds, and maybe you could get others interested in doing the same.

Jaune: This one!

(Imaged sourced from Girls und Panzer wiki)

A/N: Girls und Panzer is a fun Anime... and I get a real kick out of this small Italian Tankette. I want my mind to envision how it would fight against grimm..

[oathkeeper-of-tarth]

Libations

Fandom: Baldur’s Gate 3 Characters: Dame Aylin/Isobel Thorm Length: ~4200 words Rating: M, sexual content and a bit of canon-typical violence, with very temporary character death. Summary:

Five and twenty words exactly and Aylin feels like she will expire on the spot, divine heritage and immortality be damned. By the time she has composed herself and her mind into something resembling coherence, excused herself from the meeting with her lieutenants, and started counting out the words of If you wish it, I shall leave my armour on, and— Aylin realises with a curse that her window for composing a reply has long gone.

Isobel, Aylin, the Sending spell, and the twists and turns of a century-long romance reflected in 25-word installments.

But for the most part our girls are simply playful and horny.

Written for day 7 of Aylin/Isobel Week 2025, for the prompts: The road to Baldur's Gate - and beyond | Courtship, romance, letters, bloodline.

I wanted to end the week on something (mostly) happy. A huge thanks to everyone who's taken part in this - I have so much to catch up on, be it reading, commenting, or replying, and it is a true delight. I hope you all enjoyed my own contributions, and I hope you enjoy this one as well.

Also on AO3.

—

Libations

The summer Isobel completes her training is one of the longest and driest in Reithwin's recollection. When it comes to be her turn for a field excursion and initiation mission with the other acolytes, Isobel begs and pleads and argues with her father for days. There is no need for the Lady of Moonrise to go, he claims; no point to Isobel putting herself at risk, or dragging herself through the dusty, sweltering inconveniences of a field campaign. But Isobel will not be deterred, and the cold war of the two stubborn Thorms in Moonrise Towers stretches on for a full blistering tenday.

Ultimately and begrudgingly, likely knowing his daughter is bound to simply leave of her own accord otherwise, Ketheric relents - but not without stipulations and conditions. For one, Isobel is to report back regularly using the Sending spell to keep him personally appraised of events and of her well-being. Second, Isobel is to use the freshly-procured and altogether excessive amount of scrolls of the selfsame spell, in order to make sure she is never straining her own magical resources.

And so Isobel sets out, saves a village, combats bandits, prevents a drought, heals more people than she ever thought herself capable of, and neglects to use a single one of the spell scrolls.

-

The first message is utter torment. Isobel toils over it, scraps so many bits of drafting paper her room starts looking decidedly snowed-in, and as white as her actually ice-locked balcony. At least Squire seems to be having fun batting the crumpled-up balls around the floor.

There is the form of address, to start with.

Dame Aylin seems, to Isobel's eye, proud and honoured by her role and many, many titles, very delightfully certain of her own resplendence, but also not so keen on being singled out for formalities and praise that erred on the side of worshipful. That kind of reverent prayer and supplication, she claimed as she waved it off, was meant for her great divine Mother.

She is striking and intimidating, to be sure - but once one tries it, she is the very opposite of unapproachable. Her smiles are wide, enthusiastic, freely given, and she is just as generous with hands clapped on shoulders or rousing proclamations. It is so easy, standing next to her, to believe yourself capable of grand deeds. A true beacon of hope and the quintessential paladin - Isobel could hardly hide her starry-eyed appreciation after mere moments in her orbit.

And yet whenever the glorious Dame Aylin turns that gleaming silver gaze towards her, when she truly looks at Isobel, all of this is so unmistakably tinged with something else. Something they are both aware of; something that looms, and seems both so unlikely and strange and so inevitable and so right. One of them need only take the first momentous step.

So, Isobel agonises, is this it? Is this the step? It seemed like such a clever idea when it occurred to her, when she knocked over her case of scrolls one unassuming morning, left over from all those years ago. A simple Sending spell: direct, private, with an invitation for the two of them to meet somewhere just as private. Promising a response within seconds, if the recipient is willing. And if not, well… Isobel could worry about that when the time came to face her goddess' literal daughter in the inevitable duty-related context again.

Honoured Emissary, Sword of the Silverlight, Champion of the Moonmaiden, Blessed Moondaughter - Isobel could use twenty-five words and more just getting through the preamble. Nonsense. Missing the point entirely, at that.

So she simply settles for Dame Aylin, not yet feeling quite so bold as to leave the title out, notes down her auspicious beginning on her current and latest little vellum scrap, and stops.

Now: counting out the remaining twenty-three perfect and exact words she wishes to send, to be heard.

Isobel groans and lets her head thunk against the solid wood of her desk.

-

It started with that fateful meeting in the audience hall of Moonrise, threading the first of its tiny roots through them both. But it flourished with the surprising summons that made Aylin's heart beat like a lively drum, and the brief private audience that turned into a long night of confessions - and rather rapidly growing closeness to stave off the cold - in the frost-garlanded gardens beneath Moonrise.

In the warm months since, it has only bloomed.

Aylin finds herself on the receiving end of many a message from Reithwin's wisest and brightest and most mettlesome cleric, after that audacious first one. The invitations take many forms, from mock-formal proclamations to open suggestions for trysts, and Aylin adores and eagerly answers every single one.

Respected Emissary, starts the latest message, arriving just as Aylin is done cleaning and putting away the equipment she had borrowed for her morning training. The smile audible in Isobel's voice implies this one will be a cheeky mix of her habitual styles. You are hereby invited to attend today's solstice festivities at Moonrise Towers. Following supper, your presence is requested on the topmost west-facing balcony.

The entire whirlwind of the past few months has been altogether exhilarating and so delightfully new. Aylin finds herself wishing to leap into the air to twirl and loop at least some her immense exuberance away; to chase and herd clouds until they spell Isobel's name out in the otherwise clear sky.

Instead, she takes a few deep breaths to calm herself, to slow the blood still rushing through her veins after her drills and stretches and let her ruffled feathers settle back down, then replies: I shall be flying past momentarily, my darling. If my presence is welcome and desired this early, leave your window open.

The window, it turns out, is not merely left open as a signal of welcome. Isobel, leaning out of it, all but grabs Aylin right out of the air to pull her in for a kiss. And then another. And another, until Aylin laughs against her mouth and begs for a reprieve long enough to clamber into the room.

Selûnites, diverse and scattered as they are, have modes of dress and raiments just as varied. Aylin respects them all deeply, and regularly feels her heart both lightened and gladdened when encountering familiar insignia, sometimes with an interesting twist on the moon-and-stars-inspired designs, in some remote corner of the world.

Isobel is a highly skilled, well-qualified cleric, and she has doubtlessly earned her vestments well. She wears them with great pride, and on many occasions - never letting those around her forget she is a servant of Selûne just as much as she is the Lady of Moonrise, and Reithwin, and all the lands around it.

Aylin, of course, likes her best wearing nothing at all. But when needs must, when the time is too short, when the day is full of obligations for them both, she makes do. She ducks her head underneath layers and layers of robes with great delight, presses a trail of kisses up one calf, then all along the inside of a thigh, and prays her Mother doesn't mind Her clerical vestments being worn for a sweeter ritual than the one they shall take part in later.

-

Another change of seasons comes, then another, but the sweetness of their time together changes not at all - and neither does the enticing tension of their brief times apart.

Isobel grows well-practised in casting the Sending spell, and makes sure to have the bit of clipped copper wire it requires close at hand. Still, she keeps her stock of scrolls replenished, too. They are pricey - but Isobel allows herself this one indulgence, this one luxury.

She supposes she will eventually stop blushing furiously during her morning prayers, when it comes to the preparation of her chosen rituals and spells for the day. Isobel hopes the Goddess is amused, if anything; Her blessings She gives freely and easily enough.

But no amount of flushed distraction or momentary embarrassment can deter Isobel. Not when her beloved is so quick with the replies, so eager to rise to any challenge; not when a cleverly-worded message so often leads to her presence at Isobel's side and sparks such delectable inspiration in her.

Tonight, however, is merely frustrating. An inconvenience at most, in the grand scheme of things, but Aylin being called away on a brief but urgent matter when they'd had an indulgent romantic evening arranged soured both their moods considerably.

Aylin promised to return as soon as she was able that very night, swore the two of them would salvage whatever bit of their plans they could; swore, again, to make up for this ill-timed absence a dozen times over.

So Isobel waits, relieved as the humidity of the day slowly clears, watches the moon steadily traverse the clear summer sky, and indulges in thoughts since all else is out of reach. She hums and contemplates the shapes of a gorgeous, strong neck trailing down to a beautifully corded shoulder, with that one eye-catching line of gold woven across it.

She discards their plans one by one; the dinner, the stroll, tasting the new seasonal ales at the inn, the bath— well, perhaps not the bath.

Isobel goes out onto her balcony, pacing in the blessedly fresh breeze that still fails to drive the nigh-feverish flush from her skin, and sends her message.

I am in no mood for romantic candlelight. I wish to see this firestorm kindled within me illuminate the divinely chiselled marble of your face.

Aylin's reply is as a murmur against her ear, as light as the caress of the midsummer wind on its sensitive tip.

Our Lady of Silver, in all her foresight, has fashioned for my beloved a throne. Soon you shall take your rightful place upon it.

Not an hour later, when the sound of wings finally comes from just out of view, Isobel feels like she could take flight herself.

-

The winter campaign against an unpleasant alliance of Sharrans and Cyricists is long and arduous, and takes Aylin further north than Neverwinter. The cold is biting and the ground hard, particularly after she has allowed herself to get used to the luxury of a high-born lady's warm bed. But worst of all is the gaping wound that her absence feels like. For all the joy Aylin draws from the loyal comrades she has been fighting with, they are simply not Isobel Thorm. Her darling, unmatched in every aspect.

Another day dawns, another map is unfurled upon the camp-table, another scouting party reports their findings. The dark forces seem to be dwindling, at long last, and Aylin lets burgeoning hope wash over her.

My fierce, fearless paladin, Isobel's sweet voice bursts out of nowhere, rich with yearning and just a touch breathy, pouring like honey over Aylin's mind. I often wonder how it would taste, to have a sip of you fresh from battle, eyes still ablaze, raging. Consider.

Five and twenty words exactly and Aylin feels like she will expire on the spot, divine heritage and immortality be damned.

By the time she has composed herself and her mind into something resembling coherence, excused herself from the meeting with her lieutenants, and started counting out the words of If you wish it, I shall leave my armour on, and— Aylin realises with a curse that her window for composing a reply has long gone.

-

She misses her sorely, today. Her Aylin, her angel, off on an important quest that turned into a months-long endeavour. And it is not - well, it is not just the enthralling physical proximity, or the delicious skills of mouth or fingers, nor simply her wonderful warmth during the cold winter months. It is the large, sword-calloused hand always ready to envelop Isobel's, the blindingly bright smile, the eyes softened and gentle and wide in their endless attentiveness, the way she makes even the simplest everyday statements sound like poetry.

The world feels just a little bit emptier, because she is not here. So Isobel does the one thing she can, and weaves a bit of magic to let her know.

My precious angel, from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were meant to be mine, and I yours. And then she pauses - Isobel cannot, in that tiny span of time she has to finish her spell, summarise the enormity of this feeling. So she concludes simply: I miss you.

The reply comes almost instantly, the beloved voice effervescent in Isobel's mind and sending delightful shivers down her spine.

Darling, I yearn for your blessèd presence more than words can say. I shall endeavour to show you most ardently upon my return. Eternally yours—

Isobel smiles at the sudden stop, clutches the thin remnants of her little wire to her chest. She wants to throw herself on her bed and giggle giddily like an enamoured schoolgirl. Wants to flee the tower and leave Reithwin behind immediately, running off to wherever Aylin was.

Instead she takes a deep breath in a room that feels slightly less cold and desolate, and prepares to go about another day.

-

The days have grown long and warm, but the spring showers have not yet begun. Aylin takes advantage of the light and flies back to Reithwin as fast as her wings can carry her - faster, perhaps, as she notes some soreness and a twinge of fatigue that her tireless self is hardly used to.

But it matters little, for she cuts the deliberately unannounced return trip from her long absence by almost half. Awash in self-satisfaction, Aylin sneaks up the stairs at Moonrise on subtle foot instead of flying up by resplendent wing. She reaches the second floor landing when an almost-expected, certainly-anticipated message rings out so musically in her mind.

I have seen this long winter to its bitter end, with nothing but thoughts of you to keep me warm. Will my reprieve come soon?

She knocks at the door, and Isobel opens it, then stares, agape. Aylin smirks, meets her wide eyes shining bright with joyful surprise, and sends her reply, gaze unbroken.

Momentarily, my dearest. I do so love when you spill your sweetness down my throat.

"Aylin," Isobel half-cries, half-hisses, flushed. She yanks Aylin into the room and kicks the door closed in one movement, then locks it in another. Yanks, again, Aylin down for a kiss, quickly followed by several more, frustration and delight mingling delectably.

Aylin grins into the kisses, then chuckles when Isobel nips at her lower lip. "Is vengeance not my most holy duty? Here is but some small restitution, for your… adventurous messaging, darling Isobel. Or is it that you would have preferred me speak the words aloud? I am more than willing—"

"Aylin," Isobel breaks her daze enough to twine her fingers in Aylin's hair and gently pull, urging her downwards. "Put that incorrigible mouth to better use, my love. I'm— it won't take very long."

Aylin follows and obeys, eagerly and happily. On her knees, large hands grasping at the softness of Isobel's thighs tightly, chastised mouth hot and willing and hungry.

-

Summer comes early that year, and stays late.

And so does Aylin. Perhaps it is her Mother's way of repaying her for a prolonged tour of duty. Perhaps Selûne merely wishes to spoil Her dear daughter. In any case, Isobel has no complaints whatsoever.

Aylin, it seems, cannot get enough of any of it. Not the vagaries of mortal life that she keeps discovering, nor the extended indulgence of this honeymoon.

"I have bathed in the silver waters beneath Argentil," she proclaims, "coasted through the timeless Astral Sea… but this… this is a wonder beyond even my reckoning."

The wonder is a perfectly average and perfectly divine day spent alone together. They are in Isobel's room, all of its doors and windows open to allow as much of the sweet-smelling late afternoon air in as possible. Entangled in each other upon an utterly mussed up bed, gloriously happy and sated.

"Nothing compares to this," Aylin murmurs her conclusion against Isobel's damp, tangled hair, and presses as close to her as plain, mundane, material flesh and skin and bone will allow.

Isobel frowns; the sweetness, unbidden, suddenly developing a bitter aftertaste. Her darling is a being of two worlds and Isobel has anchored her to one. When she is gone, what tether will remain, if any?

But that is not a contemplation for now. Not when Aylin's hands, always prone to wandering, start trailing some rather suggestive paths over her bare skin once more.

"Again?" Isobel laughs, though she cannot find it in herself to complain at all.

"Hmm," Aylin hums against her neck, which she now seems determined to entirely cover with kisses. "Call me a glutton, then. Name me… ravenous and insatiable. Dame Aylin has never shrunk from the truth."

"What else is she, this Dame Aylin?"

Aylin pauses and lifts her head to look at Isobel. Then she smirks, always all too happy to play along. "Proud, to be sure. Though not without reason, I should think."

"Oh?"

Aylin nibbles on the sensitive pointed tip of an ear, before whispering into it - and how delightful, Isobel muses, to face an opponent who knows all your weaknesses. "She does not need to weave spells and convey her words directly into her beloved's mind at inopportune times in order to make her blush, for one."

"Is that so? Well," Isobel smiles, turning to face her with a steely look in her eyes, unflinching in her challenge. "Prove it."

Aylin inclines her head, the picture of respectful obedience, save for the cheeky twist to her lip she is failing to suppress, and the telltale way her feathers have ruffled up. "As you wish. Let me first count the words, in the interest of complete fairness."

Within moments, she bends down to murmur against Isobel's ear again. "My darling, enticing within and without," each word Aylin accompanies by a light trail of fingers - under Isobel's chin, along her rib cage, up and then down the inside of each thigh. "Bids me drip upon her sheets my eagerness to receive whatever gifts she sees fit to bestow upon me."

"Not bad at all," Isobel replies, biting her lip to stifle her grin at the delightful frisson the words have invoked, and pressing her thighs together when Aylin's hand tries to venture further. "But why don't you try again?"

-

Your counsel is required on a crucial matter. Come to Moonrise at your earliest convenience. It is of vital importance that you do not delay.

It is Isobel's message, of course, but Aylin is struck by the tone of it. No endearments, and no playful teasing - utter seriousness.

I am on my way, beloved, worry not, Aylin replies, simply and swiftly. Then she frowns, turns to the assembly of merchants and tollhouse clerks Ketheric Thorm had drawn her into for incomprehensible and likely petty reasons, and excuses herself.

A few wing-beats, and Aylin has coasted across the breadth of half the town. A turn and a dash and she is flying up the imposing tower of Moonrise along most of its height, until she alights on Isobel's balcony. She herself is standing there, expectant, but entirely unperturbed and blissfully calm even in the chill breeze.

Aylin sighs, understanding what has transpired at once. "My darling, as grateful as I am for your valiant rescue, you cannot make a habit of this."

Isobel does not pout - it would be unbecoming. Instead she raises a clever eyebrow and smiles just so. "Oh? Whyever not?"

"What if you needed me urgently and I thought it merely one of your jests, your sweet games…"

Isobel smirks, maddeningly close, wildly beautiful. "But I always need you quite urgently." Then, upon seeing Aylin's frown, her teasing drops, and she amends with all seriousness. "If it has become uncomfortable, or if you don't like it for any reason at all, I'll stop, of course. Aylin—"

"No! No, no. It is not that. I enjoy it, I do. All of these delightful reminders… as if you were with me, always, even when I am leagues away. But soon…"

"Soon, there will be no need," Isobel finishes, reiterating that most solemn pledge. As soon as the season turns, as soon as the roads clear, the two of them are setting off on long-promised adventures of their own. Then she gives that little smirk again that makes her eyes glimmer with the most exquisite mischief. "But it can still be fun, regardless."

Aylin nods, then raises Isobel's hand for a kiss. "Shall we go inside, then, and see to this urgent matter?"

-

There are months that pass like days, and days that pass like years, and years that, in their passing, vary their span from decades to minutes.

And there is a period of Aylin's life when she would have named herself blissfully happy. Utterly content, even. But, however long it lasted, it could never have been long enough.

-

The first dagger comes out of nowhere; out of a darkness so complete the warm, diffused light of the hallway torches right outside the room does not even touch it. The force of it and the pain send Isobel to the ground. Her spear is kicked out of her hands, swallowed by the shadows.

She hears the assassin cry out in surprise, then hears Squire yelp.

Isobel seizes the distraction, drags herself along the floor, towards the brooch she has been using as a spellcasting focus, and the bit of wire clipped to it just in case, that has torn off her robes and skidded under her desk. But the assassin looms over her once more, twists the knife out of her back, and kicks at her hand again, and Isobel's lifeline is lost in the darkness, too.

The contents of her desk are strewn on the floor around her, most of them stained by the growing, concerningly large puddle of blood beneath her.

One of them is a scroll. Isobel reaches for it with rapidly numbing fingers, and starts to speak as it disintegrates in her hand.

"Aylin," she gasps out, just barely, "help."

The rest of the words go unused.

Miles away, Aylin is startled awake from her doze, awash in a cold terror that matches the icy winds outside, and knows it is too late.

-

Then there is a century of silence. But this, too, passes.

-

It is a honey-sweet molasses-thick summer afternoon when Isobel finally sees the sea. And as wondrous as it is in all its seemingly endless span before her, at the moment the most fascinating part of it is the droplets and rivulets that cling to and race across Aylin's skin. Gold, gold, gold, wherever she looks.

She presses a gentle kiss to her shoulder, wide, strong, solid, with an ancient oath Isobel herself has sworn: tenderness for Aylin, always, forever, to make up for a century of none and to fill up every crevice of her being. This time it is but a small measure poured from Isobel's lips, in exchange for the salty tang.

The water is a bit too cold for Isobel's taste - she did not go in past her ankles, and swiftly retreated to the sun-warmed sand they'd spread a blanket over. But she still gets a refreshing taste of it when Aylin rushes in up to her chest, spreading her wings and fluffing the feathers, flicking this way and that, working the water into all of her and showering Isobel with a pleasant spray. Her pure, joyful grin is utterly contagious, and her exclamations as she swims out make Isobel's heart swell.

Isobel reaches over to the satchel at her side, plucks out a scroll and sends I love you I love you I love you I love you until the words run out to Aylin, within glorious sight but just out of reach.

Aylin's surprise is evident as she starts, then turns to swim and wade back immediately. Her eyebrows shoot up almost comically as she catches sight of the entire armful of scrolls Isobel has packed away.

"My darling," she begins, as close to hesitant Isobel has ever seen her be, incongruously combined with her ever-impressive broad frame currently on such luxurious display. "Do you not find it beautiful, nay, miraculous, that should you have any desires, you need only ever lean closer and whisper them into my ear?"

"I do," Isobel answers, truthful and heartfelt, and awash anew in appreciation of all their hard-won blessings. "But for the sake of a little fun once in a while, I thought it couldn't hurt. Besides, the young master of Ramazith's Tower and all its endless magical riches owed us a favour, and obliged, no questions asked."

Aylin hums in understanding, and grins. "So," she drawls, in a beautifully and heatingly familiar tone, "does my beloved harbour any wishes of me?"

"Not for the moment," Isobel shakes her head but does not try to hide her sly smile. "Enjoy yourself - I was merely enjoying the view."

Aylin nods, but stays crouched next to her, eyes narrowed, intent. Then with little warning she scoops Isobel up in her arms, and ambles back through the sand and pebbles and into the sea. She effortlessly keeps Isobel above the surface of the chilly water - such casual thoughtfulness - and lets her instead be soaked by the clinging seawater warmed by her own endlessly warm body.

Isobel laughs and laughs and laughs, then throws her arms around her and kisses her sweetly.

Suspended, amber-clad and preserved in all its beauty, the moment lasts forever.

[madman479r]

It was a bright and sunny day at Beacon Academy, today all the students had the day off. A time for the students to relax and recuperate from gruelling lessons of Beacon.

A day Ruby fully intended to take advantage of.

She stood atop a chair as she looked down at the small gathering within team RWBY’s dorm.

"Alright, everyone! Today we are free from boring classes and can do whatever we want..." Ruby began her speech.

"Within the law, of course." Weiss interject.

"Right, right. Do whatever we want within the law and I have the whole day planned for us all!" Ruby shouted out near the end with a fist raised into the air.

Pyrrha smiled. "Thank you for also inviting us, Ruby."

"Of course! Team RWBY and JNPR are practically one big team!" Ruby beamed back.

"So, sis. What's the plan for today?" Yang asked with a hand on her hip.

"I'm glad you asked." Ruby opened up her binder, her own one. Weiss had gotten annoyed with Ruby constantly stealing borrowing hers and bought one for the scythe wielder. "I was thinking we head down town and see what it has to offer. I was gonna head the weapons store first for some ammo and see if they have anything I can use to upgrade crescent rose. Next I figured we could..."

As Ruby continued to give out her plan, Jaune felt his scroll buzz and casually opened the device to see he had a new message. He didn't read the name of the sender before he opened said message but once he saw if, he had a good idea who it was and a large blush on his face.

Jaune quickly hid the scroll to his chest and looked around the room to see if anyone had noticed. Thankfully everyone was focused on Ruby so nobody saw him.

Jaune took another peak at his scroll and bit his lip, feeling his blood rush to the surface of his face and to his lower regions.

"... So? We all in agreement?" Ruby's voice broke Jaune from his trance.

"Yeah, sounds fun." Yang said.

"You had me at bookstore." Blake gave a rare smile with Ren humming in agreement.

"You had ME at arcade!" Nora said energetically.

"I do need to resupply my dust." Weiss nodded.

"It sounds grand." Pyrrha beamed.

Jaune hissed in dismay, which made all eyes turn to him. "Oh, uh... sorry, Rubes, but I can't come with." Jaune smiled apologetically.

Ruby and Pyrrha looked saddened by this. "Awwww! What?! Why?!" She exclaimed.

Pyrrha frowned. "I was looking forward to going to the comic store with you." She had never read comics before she met Jaune and found herself liking them. She especially liked reading them with Jaune.

Jaune winced, feeling incrediblely guilty. "Uh... You see... somethings come up, all of a sudden. And I'm needed." Jaune tried to explain as he got up from his chair and started for the door.

"But, Jaune." Ruby whined.

Jaune was halfway out the door as he addressed his fellow leader. "I'm sorry but I can't ignore it. Look, next week I promise I'll do whatever you want." He smiled.

Ruby slumped with a kicked puppy expression. "...Promise?" She meekly asked.

The sight was like a sword to Jaune’s heart. "An Arc never goes back on their word." He reminded her.

Ruby sighed but conceded. "Okay."

Jaune gave another apologetic smiled before he exited the room.

Jaune hurried down the halls of Beacon as he made his way to his destination.

His destination? Miss Goodwitch's office.

As he sped walked towards his professor's office, Jaune couldn't help but take a peak at the message he received, which only fuelled the fire within his belly.

Jaune bit his lip again, subconsciously imagining his own lip to be Glynda's perky nipple and gulped down a growl of want. He never imagined the strict combat teacher/head mistress would have this side to her, much less be the one to see and experience it.

But he wasn't complaining.

[jaidens]

i have a request for daniel larusso!! so i just got done gossiping with my friend 💞 and i was thinking… what abt gossiping with daniel? like maybe reader and daniel and having a sleepover and they’re like gossiping with eacher 😭😭 while doing like makeup or skincare 😭💞??

You Heard The Rumors From Inez

pairing [s] : daniel larusso x reader

warning [s] : good ol’ gossip |

a/n [s] : thank you for the request! also gossiping is good for the soul sometimes.. [requests are open]

Daniel sometimes loved and hated his highschool.

On the good side, you went there and some of his friends did too.

On the bad side, the rumors and gossip spread like wildfire. There was barely any chance to tell anyone you were dating Daniel before it spread to everyone because you were caught holding his hand. It was easier, you told him, that you didn't have to tell people.

He never understood, why people spread rumors whenever he knew the damage of it. Especially when you're the butt of it all. He eventually got used to the rumors and sometimes it was hilarious to listen to.

You're sitting in front of your vanity, taking off your makeup (Daniel assumes) and you let out a loud gasp and turn down the mixtape Daniel made for your year anniversary. You twist around quickly before he questions what happened. “Did I not tell you what Samantha Jenkins told me yesterday?” You ask him to watch him gently shake his head no. “No you didn't baby.”

He's laying on your bed, throwing a trinket you had on your night stand. “Okay, so, basically Jessica Stevens found out that Danielle Cunningham slept with four guys while dating Freddy. And I mean, I couldn't believe it. So, I asked her. And she said, believe it or not, that's not all!” You're talking excitedly and waving your hands around in the air. Daniel sits on your bed and admires you.

“Oh yeah. Fred was air-headed last game. Danielle actually slept with that many guys? She would always go into the locker room to ‘to talk to Freddy’ that's whenever I found her and Ben in the bathroom.” Daniel tells you, pretending to shiver and gag. You laugh at his antics, “What are you putting on your face? It kinda looks like orange juice.” You laughed at his comparison of your Ten-O-Six lotion.

“It combats acne and stuff. I swear on my life by it. Okay, so she slept with Ben too? I only knew about Chase, Leon, and Tommy.” You turn your head to look at him and he nods with a weird look on his face. You close your vanity drawers after sticking everything back and you push your chair in. “You’re finally done now...” Daniel tells you holding his arms out and giving you his grabby hands. “Not can do. I'm gonna go get us face masks!”

You hear him let out a groan and you yell back, “Do it if you love me!” He stops his groaning suddenly and you give a small laugh whenever you grab your face masks from the cabinet. Once you walk back into your room, Daniel is sat up against the wall with pillows stacked up to his head.

He's messing with the channels on your television and scrolling aimlessly through them. You tell him to stop scrolling whenever you see one of your favorite movies, Secret Admirer. “Michael Ryan is so fine.” You whisper under your breath and you see Daniel cock his eye brow and give you a ‘are-you-serious?’ look. You laugh and sit down on your bed and Daniel pulls you into his lap.

His eyes are focused on your face as you get the face mask out of the tube to put it on Daniel's face. Daniel's hands go to your thighs rubbing soft circles whenever you push his hair out of his face. You apply the cold facemask onto his face he lets out a quick breath through his teeth. “Smells like lemons... mmm.”

Daniel's eyes close and you continue applying until your phone rings. You pick it up and Daniel hears a shriek on the other side. You and her talk for a couple seconds before you hang up and turn back to Daniel. “What was that baby?” He asks as he follows your face. “Steph’ just got the scoop on Angela Murphy. Apparently, she was talking smack about her best friend and they rumbled in Clarity Hills.”

You applied your mask while talking, Daniel sat and listened to things she had done to you. “She was always mean to everyone. In freshman year, she picked on me all the time. I never liked her. And hearing what she did to you? Bitchy.” Daniel laughs with you before feeling his face get tight. “The mask is making my face hurt.”

“That means it's ready! I'm gonna go ahead and pull it off okay?” He nods and closes his eyes and your hands go to his face and you start pulling it off. It comes off in one piece and he stares at it. “You pulled my face off!” Daniel jokes and you slap his shoulder gently.

You and Daniel stay there for a bit, laying and watching the movie. At the climax of the movie, you fall into a kiss with Daniel. He holds his lips before slowly deepening. The credits play and you turn the television off. “I love that movie. I saw it in theaters with Jessica and we both cried.”

You and Daniel laugh and he squeezes you tightly. “I love these nights with you. Especially the one we had after the tournament.” He teases in your ear, reminding you of the wild night you enjoyed with him on the warm Reseda night. “You tease.” You mumbled under your breath and kissed him again. “Thanks for coming over. I bet your Mom's happy.”

When you went to go look back up at him, he was asleep. You put the blanket over him and kiss him softly on his nose. “Goodnight, I love you.”