#for my fellow norm lovers

[trapastrology]

~Astro Notes From Aris~

~11H Virgo tends to be the "mom" friend of the group. They make the schedules. Make sure everyone gets home on time & in one piece. The one who's always prepared. Make sure everyone is fed & okay. Usually, the friend ur parents will always let you go out with because they know you'll be okay.

~Sag & Pisces Mercuries (sometimes aqua) sound more attractive in their native tongue/accent to ppl. So instead of hiding ur accent, embrace it! These are usually ppl who don't ever lose their accent even if they've tried to. It will also feel more natural/comfortable as well.

~Ppl tend to be very jealous & don't believe that 2H pluto ppl deserve the good things they get/have which in return, overtime, will cause the 2H pluto person to feel this way as well.

~Aries NN usually keep the peace & avoid conflict when they should be doing the complete opposite. They will only find true peace when they learn to stand up and stop letting ppl trample them.

~7H Uranus in Solar Return doesn't always mean a breakup for a romantic breakup; it can be an ending of any relationship where you deem the person to be ur other half or y'all are just very close to one another.

~North Node in Pisces must learn forgiveness towards SELF

~For my fellow steven universe lovers, moon sq pluto synastry is equivalent to the relationship & situation between Spinel & Rose Quartz. Spinel would be the Moon person.

~12H ruler in the 3H-keep a lot of things to urself becuz more often than not ppl don't want the best for you & things will go array after you speak about it. If your 12H is in libra with the ruler in the 3H, things pertaining to relationships esp should be kept under wraps. As well as ur gifts, talents & things that bring you peace

~Air sign/house Chiron & Lilith's, were you ever bullied for being a "nerd" or having an interests that weren't the norm then but is now?

~Venus (trine/sextile) NN synastry is the way the Venus person shows love is what the NN person needs. For example, A Cap Venus's love is steady, stable, longlasting, devoted & gives true old romance which is something that a Taurus NN needs but would also be foreign to them due to their Scorpio SN. The Venus persons way of loving will bring the NN person closer towards where they need to be.

~2H/Taurus plmts are usually big cookers/bakers. Or at least they should, it's one of the many things that'll bring them peace.

~12H Libra/5H Pisces love romance/fantasy/magic/supernatural shows & movies!

~11H Cancer are the "emotional support" friend. The one you can go and talk to about your feelings, emotions and family issues. The one that is the more emotional person of the friend group & sees their friends as their family.

~Sag stells/nep-asc/1H Jup- Do people easily guess ur ethnicity or suspect ur from somewhere else? You may not know what gives it away, but someone will ask "oh are you from ____?"

Follow & Like for more!!!!!!!! Dm to book a reading with me. Dm to purchase my book on 12H synastry. Prepare for the new content aheadddddd!!!! Comment any content suggestions as well.

[woniedarlin]

The epitome of opposites attracting: Yang Jungwon

pairing: Jungwon x reader

synopsis: In a high school where rivalry is the norm, Jungwon and you find themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum. Jungwon, the charming and laid-back top achiever, crosses paths with You, a sharp-witted and sarcastic student. Despite their differences, both of you are driven by a fierce competitive spirit that permeates the halls of the school. As the two of you navigate the ups and downs of high school life, Jungwon and you discover that opposites truly do attract, leading you two on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and ultimately, love.

genre: Academic rivals to lovers

warnings: swearing, kissing, angst but happy ending

note: Hiii This is my first time ever creating a story. Honestly, I'm not a writer, so if there are any mistakes, my bad! I've never really done this before, but I just felt like giving it a shot. I just got inspired by all the amazing stuff our fellow Engenes have been writing. This is probably going to be my one and only story, to be honest. I don't think I'll write again after this. Anyway, enjoy reading it!

Decelis High was a prestigious academy where one's achievements often determined their future. You and Jungwon had been labeled as academically gifted students, and you were constantly pitted against each other as a result. The recognition of your achievements fueled a rivalry between the two of you, and despite the public praise, there was mounting tension between the two.

In the halls of Decelis High, Jungwon's name evoked envy among his peers. He was the embodiment of a model son: effortlessly charming, laid-back, wealthy, and intelligent. Under a seemingly flawless exterior, however, there lurked a rival unexpectedly formidable: you. You came from an ordinary life but had an intellect that was on the same level as his. The notion of intellectual parity with him wounded Jungwon's pride.

You stand in front of a list pasted on the wall—a list of students' achievements in various competitions—in the empty hallways of Decelis High. Your name, including Jungwon’s, are listed on the list several times over. The achievements of the two had become a recurring topic of discussion among your fellow classmates. Whether it was a case of 'like attracts like' or 'opposite attracts each other', you and Jungwon were considered two of the brightest and best-performing students at Decelis High. However, despite the public recognition and praise you both received, there remained a lingering tension between the two of you. An awareness of the competitive undercurrents that continued to fuel rivalry.

As you continued to look at the list, Jungwon was just behind you without you realizing it. He had been discreetly following you as you stared at the list of achievements in front of you. He was impressed by your achievements and the competitive drive that fueled your desire to achieve success. Seeing you absorbed in the list, he remained close by, watching you from behind.

The tense silence was suddenly broken as a playful voice rang out.

"And here I thought that the bright spot of your day would be when you'd win the top rank for the third quarter tests," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips.

Startled by his sudden presence, you turned to face him and met his smug expression. "Surprised to see me?,” he quipped, continuing to tease. "I see now that instead, you'd prefer to marvel at the list of your accomplishments." His teasing tone continued with a sly grin on his face. "That's all it takes to impress you? An ordinary list of names and achievements?"

You scowled, defending the significance of the achievements. "Months of hard work went into those accomplishments, including mine and yours. Of course, it's impressive."

But you were surprised when Jungwon's expression suddenly shifted to a more serious one when he sensed your indifference to his teasing. "Is my presence not worth your time? Am I really that insignificant?" His tone remained serious even as he asked the question, hoping that you'd be quick to respond with some sort of denial.

"Huh? " You furrowed your eyebrows at his words.

Jungwon raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to the side, his tone dripping with mock annoyance. "Aren't you going to say anything?"

When you remained silent and only continued to look at him confusedly, he sighed, sounding more annoyed as he spoke. "I was expecting you to deny that I'm insignificant. Am I not even worthy of a single denial?"

Confused by his sudden seriousness, you hesitated before responding, "I'm not saying you're insignificant."

Jungwon's annoyance quickly dissipated when he saw that you were no longer ignoring him. "You're not?" He spoke with an amused smirk. "Aren't I worth a tiny token of your attention? Don't you feel at least a bit irked whenever I'm nearby?"

You scoffed at what he said. "Of course I do. Your existence is just pure annoyance to me."

Jungwon smirked when he heard your response, and his tone instantly became more sarcastic and mocking. "Of course you do." He stepped close to you in the empty hallway, his presence now palpable and unsettling. "Does the mere sight of me infuriate you? I take it that means I have succeeded in getting on your nerves?" Jungwon grins before he speaks, enjoying the fact that he was able to get a reaction from you. You, on the other hand, tried your best to keep your composure and not give him the satisfaction.

Maintaining your composure, you retorted, "You're not worth my time, Jungwon. Let's just celebrate our achievements and move on." You replied with a sarcastic tone, and with that, you walked away.

Jungwon's usual smile quickly faded into an annoyed and slightly hurt expression upon sensing your sarcasm. Determined not to let the exchange end there, he hastened to catch up with you. "Excuse me? "He called out.

You responded with a cold "you are excused," continuing to walk away.

Jungwon's annoyance simmered, bordering on frustration, as he struggled to articulate his feelings. "Do you ever get tired of that sarcastic attitude of yours? "He asked, his tone tinged with irritation.

Rolling your eyes, you retorted, "Never."

His arms crossed, and Jungwon tilted his head in annoyance. "Never?," he echoed, his tone implying the absurdity of your response.

"Do you ever get tired of that irritating attitude of yours? "You shot back, frowning at him.

Jungwon was about to respond when he caught the sarcasm in your tone.

Though he was accustomed to your sarcastic retorts, there was something grating about this one. Frowning, he spoke with a hint of edge, "What irritating attitude?"

You listed off his behaviors, "Constantly following me, being annoying, ruining my day."

His frown deepened at your words. It almost sounded as if you were blaming him for all your problems, which, he begrudgingly admitted, might be partially true. Narrowing his eyes, he asked with a trace of irritation, "And do you honestly believe I'm ruining your day? Following you just to inconvenience you? "

Jungwon's jaw clenched tightly in frustration when he heard your response.

You had not denied his accusations, instead choosing to accept them as the truth. To think that after everything, you still see him as someone who was out to make your life miserable. This thought hurt him more than you could ever imagine. "...Why? "Jungwon's voice was barely audible, tainted with a strong hint of vulnerability.

"Can't you see? You enjoy insulting me and annoying the shit out of me." you retorted, hands clenched in frustration.

Jungwon could barely maintain his composure when he heard you say that, as if you weren't one to make insults yourself. After all this time, did you still not realize that the insults were just part of his playful persona?

"Insults?" Jungwon spoke with a hint of annoyance in his voice, his expression remaining cold. "You still haven't learned to take a joke?"

"Joking or not, maybe you should find other girls that are more compatible with you," you snapped, irritation evident.

Jungwon's eyebrows rose in surprise when he heard your response. "Other girls?" He could suddenly feel the heat rising in him, an unfamiliar sensation that told him that your words had affected him emotionally. He frowned and spoke, still unable to hide the hint of annoyance in his voice. "Are you implying that I should be talking to other girls instead of bothering you?"

"Yes," you replied curtly.

Jungwon's expression stiffened upon hearing your blunt answer. He remained silent for a moment, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of your words.

The thought that you'd be so willing to accept the idea of him moving on from you to pursue other girls instead hit him hard. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, trying to hide the hurt and vulnerability in him.

You sighed as you noticed his silence. "The attitude of mine is something that you shouldn't be dealing with, Jungwon. You should be hating me." You were aware of how horrible your personality was. Yet, you weren't one to change.

"Hate you?" Jungwon outright laughed, a cold and sarcastic laugh that mocked your suggestion. "Do you actually think I could ever hate you?" His tone was filled with derision, daring you to challenge his words.

Confused, you asked, "What do you mean?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" Jungwon repeated your words in a mocking tone, shaking his head from side to side. "I'm just surprised by your notion that I'd hate you. Are we not rivals?" Jungwon's tone turned more sarcastic, bordering on condescending, as he spoke with a smirk.

"We are. So why can't you hate me?" You furrowed your eyebrows once again.

Confused by his words..

"You really think I can hate you, don't you?" Jungwon scoffed and spoke with sarcasm and condescension. “If I hated you, how would I keep pushing myself to get better, to be one step ahead of you? "Jungwon paused for a moment before continuing. "You being my rival is what spurs me to keep growing, to reach the next level. Without you, I'd have never had the motivation to accomplish so much."

Unable to say any words, you muttered, "You idiot..you are annoying."

Jungwon's jaw clenched tightly as he heard your words. The way you said it made him sound as if he was just a nuisance to you. Unable to think of a clever comeback, he spoke again, this time with more anger and sarcasm. "And you are unbearable. Your stubborn and cold attitude is insufferable."

"Just talk to others. I don't want to hurt you more." You replied softly at first, but then with resignation.

"Hurt me…"

Jungwon's heart skipped a beat when he heard your words, his usual arrogant and dismissive attitude instantly vanishing as he realized the implication in your statement. "Hurt me? "Jungwon repeated your words with bitterness, but his tone quickly shifted back into sarcasm.

"Really? "Jungwon scoffed and shook his head. "You think your words can hurt me? "

"Yes," you affirmed.

"Yes?" Jungwon scoffed again, this time with an even more mocking and condescending tone in his voice. "So I suppose that you mean every word you've said so far, then? " The way you nonchalantly dismissed the notion that your words could ever hurt him stung more than he cared to admit.

You justified yourself, "I'm not worth your time. We're opposites. We're rivals, even."

Jungwon's mouth twitched as he heard your honest words. Your nonchalant attitude towards the situation, as if this were something you'd said many times before, only made his heart ache more. "Opposites attract, right? It's also said that our rivals are our true equals." His tone retained its mocking and condescending nature, but there was a hint of something else behind the words, something his voice didn't allow to reach the surface.

"I don't want to hurt you," you stated firmly, though your eyes hinted at a different emotion.

"You're not hurting me." Jungwon spoke with a sarcastic and dismissive tone, still clinging to his usual attitude. He refused to admit that your words were affecting him. "The only thing you're doing is irritating me."

"By what? " you pressed

"By everything. By your cold, dismissive, and sarcastic attitude. By pushing me away," Jungwon spoke with bitterness and irritation, trying to mask his underlying vulnerability with a sarcastic tone. "You're annoying me so much that it's driving me crazy."

Jungwon paused

"You want to know the truth? The truth that l've been dying to say but kept holding myself back? "Jungwon kept his calm demeanor, but his tone was laced with a bit of bitterness. After being forced to confront his feelings, his sarcasm and bitterness began to seep through his words.

"What do you mean? "You demanded, narrowing your eyes.

Jungwon was silent for a moment before he spoke. His words were harsh and blunt, reflecting the inner conflict within him. "I hate how nonchalant and cold you are towards me. I hate how you refuse to admit that we're more than just rivals." Jungwon spoke with more bitterness and irritation now, but there was something else in his voice, something his words failed to convey.

"What are we, then, Jungwon? "

"In my opinion..." Jungwon spoke this time with a hint of vulnerability. "We're not just rivals..to me, we're the epitome of opposites attracting." Though his voice still betrayed an edge of insecurity, there was no mistaking the hint of sincerity and honesty behind his words.

"We may be poles apart at times," Jungwon continued, slowly gaining more confidence in his words. "But we push each other towards improvement, encouraging one another to be the best versions of ourselves. I wouldn't be as hardworking as I am today if it weren't for you. Don't say that I should go talk to other girls when I only want you."

"And... as for the whole hate thing... as much as I dislike admitting it..."

Jungwon paused again as a hint of vulnerability crept back in his tone. "I can't bring myself to hate you."

"Why? I am rude. A horrible person to be with," you expressed, frustration evident in your voice. His admission caught you off guard—unexpected and shocking.

"Because you are also the one who keeps pushing me forward." Jungwon's voice remained quiet and low when he spoke. "Because, despite all the insults, despite all your harsh words..." he paused again as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "You are the one who inspires me because..." Jungwon's eyes finally met yours for a brief moment as he continued speaking.

"Because I like you, damn it."

Your eyes widened at his confession, his words sinking in. The person you were cold and harsh to, your rival, admitted his feelings, letting go of his pride.

Thoughts raced through your mind as you met his desperate gaze.

"You like me…?" you whispered, disbelief coloring your tone.

"Yes." Jungwon's tone remained soft and sincere as he spoke, but his eyes were quick to avert away from yours as he finished his sentence. He took a deep breath and spoke again, trying to hide the nervousness and uncertainty in his voice. "I really like you. You drive me crazy. But you'll only drive me crazier if you keep pushing me away."

"So please.." Jungwon was silent for a moment as he struggled to maintain his composure. He could feel every ounce of vulnerability and fear within him spilling out. "Don't push me away. Don't make me want to give up on everything and move on."

His whole world is centered around you. Without you, life would be so dull.

"Please," he said, speaking these words with pure sincerity and desperation.

His usual confident demeanor was completely gone now. He was speaking directly from his heart, begging you to accept the truth.

But out of nowhere, arms were wrapped around him tightly. Startling him.

Jungwon froze in place when he felt you pull him into a hug. All he could do was stand there, utterly stunned, as he waited to see if his feelings were just playing with him or if the hug was real. He never expected for the same girl, who was rude and harsh towards him, to actually hug him while her head was resting on his shoulder. The reality of it hit him in that instant. Jungwon hugged you back, wrapping his arms around your body and holding you close to him. For a moment, he just stood there, his body trembling with every ounce of fear and relief that was coursing through him.

"You idiot." you whispered softly as you hugged him.

"Idiot? " Jungwon repeated your words with bitterness and annoyance in his tone, not wanting to admit the comfort that your hug provided. He pulled away from you slightly to face your eyes and spoke, a smirk appearing on his face as he tried to tease you. "You're calling me an idiot when it's obvious that you like me too? "

"I do. You are an idiot. But you are my idiot."

"My... idiot? "Jungwon's eyes widened when you confessed to liking him. The way you had worded it was strangely endearing and comforting, which, in turn, made his heart ache for you even more. Jungwon frowned and spoke, his tone shifting from irritation to teasing. "So you admit that you like me? Then why try to push me away? Why act so coldly towards me?"

"You don't know how many people I've hurt because of my attitude, Jungwon," you replied softly. "I don't want to hurt many more, especially you."

"You're afraid that you might hurt me? "Jungwon repeated your words softly, unable to stop himself from feeling touched by your concerns. "But I can handle your attitude." His tone shifted from soft to teasing again. "Besides, what I do think is that you're just making up an excuse so you won't have to admit that you actually care for me."

Your head tilted. "You can handle?"

"Yeah. " Jungwon's tone remained soft as he spoke, still not hiding the hint of sweetness in his words. "Just keep being your bitchy self," Jungwon suddenly grinned and added in a teasing tone. "I can handle it."

"I'm bitchy, but I still managed to pull you? " you teased back

Jungwon smirked at your words, his confidence returning as he teased you back. "You won't just manage, I'll gladly let you pull me." His tone retained that teasingly flirty nature, but there was a hint of something else behind the words, just like before. Pulling you closer, his hands settled on your waist, relishing the closeness between you.

"You idiot," you muttered, burying your face in his chest.

"What's with this idiotic treatment? "Jungwon remained silent for a moment, enjoying the feeling of your body pressed against his chest. A slight smile appeared on his lips, and he spoke with teasing and flirtation in his voice. "Are you trying to flirt with me?’’

"Tsk! I'm not," you replied, your voice muffled against his chest.

"You could have fooled me." Jungwon remained silent again, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. The way you were pressing yourself against his chest was too tempting for the flirting to be unintentional.

"I'm a bitchy person who's also your rival," you stated matter-of-factly.

"And I'm someone who has a thing for bitchy rivals." Jungwon spoke with sarcasm and flirtation in his voice. You felt butterflies stir in your stomach when he said it. It actually drove you insane. This guy really...

"You're driving me insane," you confessed softly, your voice muffled against him.

"Am I? "He replied with a flirty tone. "I thought that it was the other way around."

"It can go both ways," you countered, the tension between you palpable.

"You drive me insane...l drive you insane." Jungwon repeated your words softly, still hugging you as he spoke.

With a sudden burst of courage, you blurted out, "I want to kiss you."

Jungwon widened his eyes for a second before. "Mm..do it then..." he smirked and spoke in a flirty manner, his eyes lingering on your lips, just daring you to make the first move.

His whole world stopped when your lips touched his. His breathing grew heavier as his heartbeat increased, leaving him breathless from the feeling. He wanted that kiss to last forever. The way your body pressed against him, the way your lips felt, the way your hair smelled—everything made him want this moment to never end. Jungwon cupped your face with his hands as he kissed you back, unable to hold back his growing affection for you.

Finally, the kiss ended after literally 15 freaking minutes.

He tried to clear his head, but he was unable to do so. His body remained trembling, his heart beating out of sync, and his whole world seemed to spin around him. He could barely manage to keep his breath steady.

"God, you are beautiful. I love you," he whispered with so much love and affection. He was down for you. Badly.

You tilted your head slightly and said, "You love me? "

Jungwon pulled his head away with an effort and stared at you. Your lips were still slightly smudged from the kiss, and your cheeks were a beautiful shade of pink. "Yes." He spoke this time with more sincerity than he'd ever spoken to you before. "Yes. I love you. I really do, and I'd do anything for you."

"I love you too, idiot." you replied with a smile, gazing into his eyes with equal affection.

"You love me..." Jungwon remained silent for a moment as he let your words sink in. He felt a tinge of sweetness fill him as you spoke those words. His body seemed to relax the moment you confessed to loving him. He felt a wave of happiness wash over him.

Then he grinned and teased you. "I love you more."

You only pulled him into another kiss.

Jungwon smiled as he felt your lips press against his once more. His arms tightened around your body the second the kiss started, refusing to let you go.

He wanted to stay like this forever, enjoying the feeling of your warm body pressed against his own, savoring the taste of your lips, and just letting time stop in this very moment. An image of him marrying you played in his mind as you two kissed. He was definitely planning to pull out a ring for you in the future. He just doesn't want you away from him.

Months later, your relationship with him went to the next level. The rivalry turned into something more. You both understand each other so well now. All your sarcasm and insults were interpreted differently than before: they are just your way of showing that you care. You also gained confidence with each passing day, letting your walls fall slowly down and starting to open up and trust Jungwon. The two rivals are now an inseparable couple. They can complete each other's sentences, read the other person's thoughts with just a glance, know the other person's likes and dislikes, and anticipate each other's next move.

Indeed, they are the epitome of opposites attracting.

[alovelywaytospendanevening]

Lit Hub: The Question of Homoeroticism in Whitman’s Poetry

Walt Whitman’s best poems demonstrate an almost unimaginable prescience; he and Dickinson, among 19th-century American poets, possess a nearly chilling self-consciousness, an acute self-analysis. Edward Carpenter, the British anarchist, writer, and champion of the Arts and Crafts movement whose life and romance were the model for E. M. Forster’s novel Maurice, wrote this elegant description of a visit with Whitman in 1877; the emphases are Carpenter’s own: “If I had thought before (and I do not know that I had) that Whitman was eccentric, unbalanced, violent, my first interview certainly produced quite a contrary effect. No one could be more considerate, I may almost say courteous; no one could have more simplicity of manner and freedom from egotistic wrigglings; and I never met any one who gave me more the impression of knowing what he was doing more than he did.” That there were words for homosexual behavior in Whitman’s day there can be no doubt. Social structures for enabling same-sex congress seem to have been a feature of life in the modern city at least since the later 18th century, when the “Molly houses” in London offered a zone of permission for transvestism. Herman Melville, in Redburn, carefully evokes the nattily dressed fellows who hang out in front of a downtown restaurant where opera singers perform; he means us to understand what these stylish outfits convey. Historian and theorist Luc Sante describes a 19th-century pamphlet that takes as its project the publication of the locations of various quite particular spots of diverse sexual practice in New York City—so that those informed of, say, the address of a bordello featuring willing boys can take special care to avoid this hazard. Trenchant evidence comes from Rufus Griswold’s review of the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass: “We have found it impossible to convey any, even the most faint idea of style and contents, and of our disgust and detestation of them, without employing language that cannot be pleasing to ears polite; but it does seem that someone should, under circumstances like these, undertake a most disagreeable, yet stern duty. The records of crime show that many monsters have gone on in impunity, because the exposure of their vileness was attended with too great indelicacy. Peccatum illud horrible, inter Christianos non nominandum.” Which is all a way of saying that Whitman inscribes his sexuality on the frontier of modernity; he is writing into being—particularly in the “Calamus” poems of 1860, with their frank male-to-male loving, their assumption of equality on the part of the lovers—a new situation. He does not know how to proceed—he has no path —but he does it anyway. My guess is that he couldn’t have written “Calamus,” or the boldly homoerotic portions of the 1855 Leaves, even ten years later, as the advent of psychology increasingly led to a public perception of the normative, and imagery of the sacred family becomes the object of Victorian romance. As a category of identity—sodomite, invert, debauchee, pervert, Uranian—begins to emerge, so the poems with their claims of a loving, healthy, freely embraced same-sex desire become unwriteable, paradoxically, just as new language of homosexual identity begins to appear. Unwriteable, and, it would seem from Whitman’s later remarks, and some of his revisions, barely defensible. Carpenter and his readers were reaching for signposts of a gay identity when such a thing barely existed, but Whitman is ultimately a queer poet in the deepest sense of the word: he destabilizes, he unsettles, he removes the doors from their jambs. There is an uncanniness in “Song of Myself” and the other great poems of the 1850s that, for all his vaunted certainty, Whitman wishes to underscore. Again and again, he points us toward what, it seems, must remain folded in the buds beneath speech, since it cannot be brought to the surface. (Full article)

[winterillustrates]

WHAT YOUR FAV TWST CHARACTER SAYS ABT YOU!! (CRACK VERSION)

Ace: I'd hate you (/affectionately).

Deuce: I'd propose to your mom.

Cater: You need hugs. And followers.

Trey: You're as sweet as the cakes he makes. Also, you're his dentist.

Riddle: Mother issues. Same.

Leona: You have that one sibling you hate and one you pretend to hate.

Ruggie: You'd rob me and I'd call it our 'meet cute'.

Jack: I'd imitate you to look cool, ngl.

Azul: "Shady businessman/woman/enby? That has got to be my favorite genre." looking ass and I'd never judge you for that.

Jade: I'd bring you peace offerings almost everyday.

Floyd: You owe me a 150,000 worded essay on why and how your standards dropped so low.

Kalim: You want to be as optimistic as him, and you honestly deserve more credit for it. Plus, you cry yourself to sleep while hugging his plushie, cause it feels like he's crying with you. He probably is.

Jamil: I owe you a 300,000 worded essay on why he's the best, and I'd better get an agreement for each paragraph.

Vil: You love breaking gender norms and you hardly ever flop. You make long winded essays on character designs or "Ooh, shiny". No in-between. Also, you memorized his last name.

Rook: You kinda freaky and into yanderes. I'm into yanderes, but I hate this dude, so idk. I'd definitely say "I know what you are" to you, and you'd be thinking "She thinks I'm gay/bi/queer" and I'd be thinking "They're a serial killer".

Epel: You love the "Innocent girl who's a spawn of satan" and probably are one, yourself.

Idia: You "win" online arguments by doxing. That and your fav brother from Obey Me is Leviathan. Don't lie to me.

Ortho: You've always wanted a robotic younger brother!

Malleus: You're the majority. Congrats. (Also you have abandonment issues and ship MalYuu. Not that I can blame you, honestly).

Lilia: You say, "Ow, my hip hurts" then does the latest tik tok dance, no sweat.

Silver: You liked the mystery shrouding him. Plus, you love the found family trope.

Sebek: You see through his loud demeanor and really like his loyalty to his friends that aren't Malleus.

Yuu: You love yourself and I love you. <3

Grim: You're a snitch.

Sam: You are waiting for him to sing "Friends On The Other Side". You watched that one animatic by Laizyboy?? (Remind me the name)

Vargas: You actually thought eating raw eggs would make you strong. ... LOL. Jk. You ARE Vargas. I'm sorry, but how did he get THAT high in 2024 popularity polls?!?

Crewel: You have good taste. Might also be into getting praised.

Trien: VALID. YOU WANT A GRANDFATHER IN YOUR LIFE, RN.

Lucifer (^'s cat): Hello..............IDIA SHROUD.

Crowley: You are someone who wishes they could escape from their responsibilities as much as him. "He's a deadbeat, but he's a funny one."

Chenya: You like characters that are on crack.

Rielle: I...-- Is that even a character, dude?

Neige: You're the minority. Congrats. (Also, you are so confused abt the hate Neige receives)

Rollo: CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, you aren't strictly religious. You also hate the double standards he's shown. And you think he looks actually kinda cute.

Fellow: You love seeing NRC boys get reckted.

Gidel: You think he's the cutest character in Disney. No one can/wants to change your mind.

Skully: You convinced him to skip the mandatory, "Twisted Wonderland is NOT an otome game".

Najma: You love fem!Jamil. Plus, you are the younger sibling that is secretly a little demon. As an older sibling, I'm sorry, but I will expose you at the slightest chance.

Dilia (Deuce's Mom): You're one of those people that Captain Man from Henry Danger was inspired from.

Marja (Epel’s granmama. Thx, https://www.tumblr.com/gremlinvapor): As a Marja lover, you love your grandmother and love hearing stories about her! And your grandma is low key a badass.

SCARABIA STUDENT B: W...who... who are you? Waiting until the ending for this guy. ... Idek what to say, honestly...

Mickey Mouse (Thx, https://www.tumblr.com/gremlinvapor): I’m the Donald to your Mickey. And you are probably so popular. Oh, you are also a cheap stake who fakes to like change, but actually despises it. You only like twst to be ‘woke’, but you don’t even like the characters or talk abt them.

(THIS WAS A JOKE. IF YOU ACTUALLY RELATE TO THESE RANDOM THOUGHTS I TYPED, THEN WOW I AM SHOCKED. Seriously, Idc who's your favorite, and I was not trying to discriminate or anything.

I tried to include all characters I could think of atm, but you are free to request more and I'll shove them in! These aren't even my opinions, I'm just tryna be entertaining.

If you'd like, guess my favorite(s)!

If I misspelt some characters names, I'm sorry and please politely correct me, thank you.)

[wishfuldivine]

Why can I see Soap proposing to Gaz with a ring pop?

"Uh, love. What are you doing?" Gaz asks with clear confusion etched on his face.

Soap was in the middle of eyeing a ring pop nervously. He had been meaning to do this for the longest but in the most cheesy and unique style. Something different from the norm, and he thought this way would be perfect. It absolutely screams him.

"Okay, wait. I have somethin' to say. No! To show. Wait -no. I-" Soap growls at his stuttering.

Gaz just blinks as he stands in front of the Scotsman. His mind is going through every possible reason as to why Soap is being like this, but he can't find none. This was the usual thing for the fellow sergeant. Acting strange, that is.

"Okay. Okay. Give me a moment. I needa do somethin' real quick, yeah?" Soap says after a couple of moments of calming down.

Gaz waits patiently. Ever the understanding and sweet person. Is what made Soap fall in love with him. On the field, he was a complete menace. Composed and voice of reason, not afraid to kill anything for the sake of the mission and peace. But behind closed doors, he was such a damn sweetheart that would make anyone's heart melt away.

"Alright. Gaz, marry me!" Soaps blurts out and gets down on one knee, tearing the ring pop wrapper to present the red candy.

Gaz's eyes widen at that. That is not what he's expecting. He blinks once, twice, three times before speaking.

"A-Are you serious?" He asks in disbelief as his eyes stare at the candy before they land on the blue eyes of his lover.

"Very. So? Yes? No?" Soap asks breathly, nervous as heck.

Gaz stares at Soap and smiles widely. He was proposed to! It didn't matter to him. The thought behind it is what did.

"Yes!"

Soap feels himself relax. With a wide grin, he gets up and tackles Gaz to the floor, careful not to actually hurt him.

"My forever bonnie." He whispers before nuzzling Gaz's cheek.

[effypcfcwrites]

The Owl House

(Originally posted on my personal Facebook dated April 25, 2023)

This is probably the first time I'll be posting a detailed review of a piece of media that I like, so witness me sing all of my praises for this animated series from the House of Mouse, because wow, I've never been so invested in a Disney show after rewatching Gravity Falls.

For those unfamiliar, The Owl House revolves around Luz Noceda, a teenage girl who stumbles upon a portal to an alternate world called The Boiling Isles, meets a witch named Eda Clawthorne, learns magic under her tutelage and eventually enrolls in Hexside, a magic school where she makes many friends and goes on multiple adventures.

I binged this whole show in a span of weeks and even stayed up all night on my day off to finish it up to Season 3, the first 2 Seasons being on Disney+ and the latter on Disney Channel's YouTube page.

Simply put, I love it so much! I love how it reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and, dare I say, Harry Potter, which it even poked fun at, at times. Well-deserved, considering J.K. Rowling’s transphobic views and HP’s underlying anti-Semitic undertones.

I loved the pop culture references to Thor: Ragnarok, Howl's Moving Castle, Metal Gear Solid, and even Hades, among many others! I thought those were very clever and funny, and just a treat for fellow nerds, geeks, and fans of fantasy stories, anime, and video games.

I love the LGBTQ+ representation all throughout the show, which was such a bold move considering Disney’s iffy stance on the subject. None of them were antagonized for it, and it was treated as something normalized in both the Human and Demon Realms. The show featured 2 gay dads, non-binary and aromantic-asexual characters, and one of the internet’s favorite sapphic/WLW couples Lumity, which is the ship consisting of canonically bisexual Luz and implied lesbian Amity Blight, whose rivals-to-friends-to-lovers relationship was just so wholesome, so natural, and very healthy, considering they're both teenagers. Suprisingly, there was very little melodrama, not once were they petty towards one another whenever either party did something wrong, and they never got tired of showing affection towards each other. I found myself shamelessly gushing over how cute, adorable, and supportive they were together, and tearing up a lot during key moments of their relationship, especially when they both found themselves in dire straits as the story progressed.

I love the writing and the character development of them all! None of them felt static, they all grew throughout the series, maturing, getting better, and healing from their own insecurities, trauma, and guilt. The humor and comedic timing was a nice touch, and I was really taken aback by how S2 ended on such a dark cliffhanger with all stakes raised to the roof, similar to A:TLA S2 and The Empire Strikes Back, as mentioned earlier. That season wasn’t afraid to have such a grim ending, with such a great payoff by the end of S3 which is worth celebrating.

I love the animation and art style, which blended colorful and whimsical with eerie and ominous in just the right amounts. As a sucker for animated movies and series such as Adventure Time, The Prince of Egypt, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, it was just such a delight watching it.

I love the overarching message of the show, which is to be truly yourself, to embrace your quirks, and never to limit yourself and your potential based on what the majority of society and the powers-that-be expect from you. All throughout, you’ll find the characters challenging pre-established norms and roles, and it’s just so satisfying seeing them all win.

11/10 top-tier show. Don’t @ me, it’s hard for me to find something I disliked about the series. It's definitely a must-watch, especially if you're sick and tired of all the bleak nihilism of modern adult animation, and you just want to baby your inner child and escape to a whimsical fantasy world with characters you can all relate to. Betting my bottom peso you'll all be hooked, like I was.

[jell0buss-37]

Why not? (Peter B. Parker x reader) pt. 1

Your honor, he is a mess. I need him-

This is going to be a series! This is part 1, and it will be a Friends to Lovers trope, and it sort of switches from present to past events, I haven't written in a while now so I'm sorry if it starts out bad, slight slow burn, but patience is a virtue ;)

Warnings: None, just how you guys meet

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

He liked you so much. He hadn't realized it before, but man did he like you. Before, he hadn't noticed that the reason his heart flutters just a little more every time you looked at him wasn't just his acid reflux acting up. He didn't really realize that you were one of the only people who can cause all of his previous anger and stress to just dissipate, gone like loose change dropped down a drainage pipe, and all with something as simple as a text. He never got the memo that the only reason he felt any peace in those moments where he'd be hanging out on your fire escape, was all because of you. It was always you.

Before, all he was was just a colleague, a fellow reporter, and nuisance, at the Daily Bugle. Fresh out of highschool and living with a roommate, Harry, who was one of his best buds since he was just a kid. He needed the money, and was really just taking a year off of school, with his hero duties now and whatnot. Scheduling conflicts are just the norm when you become a webslinging vigilante.

A vigilante that his new boss hated, actually. At first he was shocked, almost pissed, and yet somehow, he felt flattered? At the beginning, he was just really thinking of being somewhat of a temp. That is until he saw the price on his head. Or, at least pictures of it. He couldn't possibly pass up an opportunity to get in on the action. And that's really how he became a reporter. A man on the inside, if you will.

Things started to turn out great! Having just landed a job, plus an extra little award bonus he got from the pictures he "Just so happened to snag of the Amazing Spiderman," he had bragged to Mr. Jameson while he slid them across the desk, a shit eating grin on his face. Life couldn't be running smoother at this moment. 'Pizza and a monster marathon Night?' He'd been asking Harry, his roommate, staring at his phone, too excited, albeit hungry, to look up before-

"AH, DAMN-" in the blink of an eye, he had caught a laptop, a camera, and a coffee mug in his grasp, yet even with his spidy senses, had failed to catch you from falling on your face. "Jesus, you okay there?" He asked, hardly even phased. That was until he saw your face.

He couldn't help but immediately stare at your lips, which in most cases, if this were a normal romance, that would be something of a love at first sight sort of affair, however, if it weren't for the blood trickling from it, maybe this all would've been easier. But for someone like you, nothing feels all that easy. He automatically sets everything down, his hero complex taking over his logic, as he's by your side quicker than the situation started.

"OW- woah- okay, hah, nice to meet you?" You were flustered, your cheeks lighting up in embarrassment between his palms clasped around your face, seemingly scanning you before assessing anything. "Looks like you split your lip pretty bad, man. What'd you do, hit a desk or a fist on your way down?" He chuckled, trying to ease the tension and lighten the embarrassment you seemed to obviously feel. It seemed to work, as you chuckled nervously at the lighthearted comment.

"Bit of both, actually. I actually got mugged last night on my way home. Well, almost mugged. I fought 'em off. Heh, you should see the other guy…" At this point he had let go of your face, only finding the split lip and what appeared to be a bruise around your jaw. His eyes widened a bit, however, he could tell you didn't seem to be the kind who liked pity. Actually, looking at you now, you looked like you could handle your own pretty well. You had a certain glint in your eye, almost a prideful one. You definitely were a tough guy.

"Woah, sure looks like you know how to put up a hell of a fight. That cut doesn't look like it's doing too good though.." At this, your eyes widen, as you bring a hand up to graze your fingers along the cut, hissing as you feel that familiar sting. "Damn, and I thought I was making a speedy recovery there." You chuckled, a defeated slump in your shoulders. "Well, I'm pretty good at taking care of cuts like that, if you can point me in a general direction of a first aid kit, we could have you up an' running in no time!" He jokes.

You're picking up your things, placing them back on your desk while he talks, smiling at his joke, and huffing out a laugh. You nod at the mention of a first aid kit, pulling one out from a drawer in your desk, and toss it to him. He catches it easily, while you plop down into your swivel chair, sighing. He gets to work quickly, and in no time he's got you fixed up pretty good. You look into your phone camera, impressed at his handy work.

"Woah, pretty good. What are you, a doctor or something?" You look up expectantly. "Ah, nah. Just been through it myself a couple times, is all. I'm actually a reporter. Well, I mean, I just got hired here is all. Just got the job actually!" He rubs the back of his neck, a bit awkward from the compliments on his patchwork.

"Damn, now I can't take you home to meet my Ma." You joke, smirking at him. Were you… WHAT? His eyes widen a bit, and the next thing he knows, you guys are both laughing as if you've been two buds catching up after many years. You stick your hand out to him, smiling friendly. "Well, welcome to the Daily Bugle. I've been a reporter for about a year now myself, actually. So trust me when I tell you that Jameson is a real hard ass when it comes to his stories. Especially on that spider guy!" He shakes your hand, smiling and nodding along to your words, agreeing.

"Oh, I can tell. I actually got him some good pictures that I got of the 'Spider Guy', as you call him." He feels the corners of his mouth shaping into that shit eating grin, pride flashing across his features. "Huh, so your the guy he was just telling me about. He told me I'd be getting some competition, interesting that my hero seems to be a kid who has a lot of nerve showing me up like that." You joke.

He rubs his neck again at the title hero, getting all awkward again. "Hah, it's not much really. I'm Peter, by the way. Peter B. Parker." He offers his name. "(Y/n). I look forward to working with ya." You smile lopsidedly at him. He smiles back, waving goodbye and walking backwards into the elevator by your desk. You look at him with a certain glint in your eyes as the doors slowly shut. At the time, he couldn't quite place that glint.

He didn't have the time to think about it, as he suddenly gets a text. His heart jumps into his throat as he sees who it's from.

'Hey Pete! We still in for Friday?' He smiles at his phone, answering MJ quicker than ever, excited to talk to her. 'Wouldn't miss it!' he hits send, placing the phone back in his pocket. He smiles to himself again, truly excited for their first date that week.

[witchthewriter]

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨

⤷ gender neutral, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!  

a/n: I’m now including Nero and Tara in my SoA preferences. Let me know if you want anyone else added xx p.s. it’s also really hard to sort them into Hogwarts Houses when they’re literally outlaws and would do anything for the club 

Warnings: mentions of death, guns, blood and swears

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ          

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿    

𝐉𝐚𝐱

🌿ENTP 🍁Gryffindor (in Season 7 you could say he’s a Slytherin) 📜Chaotic Good 🔮Leo Sun, Gemini Moon, Aries Rising  

・Jax would be best suited to someone who can handle the outlaw life. Someone who doesn’t care about breaking the law.

・What went wrong with Tara was that she couldn’t fully accept it (no judgement, as it’s very violent and different from the norm). She wanted Jax, and her sons, but they were too integrated in the club

・Jax’s perfect match is someone who is just as badass as he is; fierce, brave but also open-minded. That’s why air and fire signs are his best matches. 

・His feelings are a big part of Jax - he journals, and eventually writes down advice for Abel and Thomas. He would need someone who respects that side of him, who doesn’t see it as unmanly (it’s not unmanly anyway).

・Jax would love to stop and have deep, meaningful conversations with his s/o.

・ He’d also need a person who can look after his sons. Even though he’s one of the more progressive Sons, ultimately he wants a partner that can look after his sons.  

・The zodiac signs that would work best are: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius

・In MBTI terms: most compatible with IJ types- meaning INTJ, INFJ, ISTJ, and ISFJ

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

Enemies to Lovers

Sun (Jax) x Moon (You)

Insane Sexual Tension  

𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐞

🌿ISFP 🍁Hufflepuff 📜Chaotic Good 🔮Taurus Sun, Capricorn Moon, Libra Rising  

・Opie’s perfect match is someone who is loyal, humble and trustworthy. 

・Probably another Hufflepuff would be the best suited for him. And someone with a chaotic good alignment. 

・Although he’s dedicated to the club, he still has a moral compass and doesn’t want to go too far

・Opie is also set on making his family bigger, so a person who is family focused would be important

・ The zodiac signs that would work best are: Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, and Capricorn. Practical, reasonable, intuitive and hard-working. 

・In MBTI terms: most compatible with EJ types- meaning ENTJ, ENFJ, ESTJ, and ESFJ

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

Height Difference

Tough on the Outside, Soft on the Inside  x The Top  

Innocent x Protective (Feels A Moral Sense Of Obligation)  

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐬

🌿ESFJ 🍁Ravenclaw 📜Chaotic Neutral 🔮Capricorn Sun, Gemini Moon, Leo Rising  

・Chibs would be best suited to someone who is emotionally mature and independent. A person who can survive being days apart.

・Would work with someone who can be pragmatic but also imaginative. Probably another Ravenclaw or even a Slytherin. Chibs needs a person who is okay with doing what needs to be done for the cause/the club

・He’d love someone who is interested in Scottish/Celtic culture

・Although Chibs would love feeling wanted, he’d be so impressed by a s/o who can defend themselves. Someone badass, and intense

・The zodiac signs that would work best are: the other earth signs - Taurus, Virgo as well as the water signs - Cancer, Pisces, and/or Scorpio

・In MBTI terms: compatible with fellow SJ types - ISFJ, ESFJ, ENTP, INTP

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

You Confessed Your Love When Thinking He Was Unconscious

Tragic Past x Ray of Light  

The sarcastic duo that can finish each other's insults  

𝐓𝐢𝐠

🌿ESTP 🍁Gryffindor 📜Chaotic Neutral 🔮Gemini Sun, Scorpio Moon, Gemini Rising  

・Definitely best matched with someone who has a sense of humour and an open mind

・The person definitely needs to be chaotic neutral. I think he’d love it if his partner was even chaotic evil - he’d find that really sexy

・Tig loves being told what to do, and wouldn’t care if his s/o was domineering

・And would love being able to make his s/o laugh. That would be an important part of the relationship - the banter

・The zodiac signs that would work best are: Aries, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Leo, and Cancer. Fierce, adventurous, exciting and sensitive. 

・In MBTI terms, someone with: ISFJ, or ISTJ.

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

Teases Them (Tig) x About To End Them (You)

Isn't Scared of Anything (Tig) x Worries About Everything (You)

The idiot number 1 and idiot number 2 who are smarter individually but share 1 (one) brain cell when put together (can argue that Tig already has 1 braincell, but I think he’s smart at times...)

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲

🌿ISTJ 🍁Hufflepuff 📜Chaotic Neutral 🔮Scorpio Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Capricorn Rising  

・Happy’s perfect match would be someone who is family oriented. And not just in terms of the club. 

・He needs someone who will get along with his family, who will come to family dinners and prioritise family life over anything else

・I know it’s a bit of a paradox having Hufflepuff and chaotic neutral - however Happy is all about brotherhood, loyalty, laying down his life for his family. And he would do anything to keep his family/the club safe. He’s a soldier who will carry out his orders without question

・Would do well with someone who knows what they want and won’t be told what to do. 

・ The zodiac signs that would work best are: Taurus, Cancer, Capricorn, Pisces and Virgo. Loving, stubborn, stands up for what they believe in. 

・In MBTI terms, someone with: ENFP, ISTJ, or ESTJ

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

They probably hate me (You) x Deeply, passionately in love … is terrible at showing it (Happy)

Opposites Attract  

Plant Dies (You) x Buys Them A New One (Happy)

𝐉𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐞

🌿INTP 🍁Gryffindor although that could be debated 📜Chaotic Good 🔮Pisces Sun, Libra Moon, Aquarius Rising  

・The best type of person for Juice is someone who is nurturing. Who makes him feel seen, heard and loved. 

・He’s probably the most sensitive out of the Sons, meaning he needs someone who is attentive. 

・You know those hidden things that people love? Having soft teddies, blankies, maybe collecting weird things - Juice would totally be okay with that. He’d even get into it too - but you’d have to be okay with how organised he is. His organisation could be seen as OCD 

・To create a great relationship with Juice you would need to be open, communicative and sensitive. If you’re judgemental then it wouldn’t work. But I think Juice would totally be okay with a bossy s/o

・ The zodiac signs that would work best are: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn and/or Leo. Creative, sensual and enthusiastic. 

・In MBTI terms: ENTJ, or ESTJ

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

Always bringing them rocks they think they’d like (You) x Keeps the rocks (Juice)

The Gomez (Juice) and Morticia Addams (You)

Emotional Support Animal In Human Form  

𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐨

🌿INFJ 🍁Gryffindor 📜Chaotic Good 🔮Aries Sun, Gemini Moon, Taurus Rising  

・Nero’s best match would be someone who is intuitive, passionate, loving and intense. 

・He’s quite an independent person, someone who handles his sh*t, rather than being overwhelmed by it 

・Nero has a good heart, and doesn’t like brutality. He wants to give his son the best life he can. Like a parallel to Jax, except Nero is set on leaving the life of gangsters and clubs

・The zodiac signs that would work best are: Libra (sometimes, opposites attract), Sagittarius, and Leo (fellow fire signs will speak their same passionate language)

・In MBTI terms, someone with: EP types- meaning ENTP, ENFP, ESTP, and ESFP

・The character tropes with his s/o would be:  

Two damaged, vulnerable people swearing to protect each other no matter what

Confident & Flirty (Nero) x Screaming Internally (You)

Great At Driving, Could Be Considered A Professional (Nero) x Drives Like They Have Nine Lives (You)

𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚

🌿ISFJ 🍁Ravenclaw 📜Chaotic Good 🔮Virgo Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Cancer Rising  

・Someone who is stable and makes her feel safe 

・Tara needs to be respected and included

・She would have advanced so far in her career if she didn’t have to look after Abel, and then Thomas (again, no judgement). So having a s/o who supports her rather than having to do the majority of the supporting, would be a fresh and amazing feeling for Tara

・She would do well with a person who is committed to their work, who is grounded and down to earth

・Tara needs to feel like she belongs, and that the person she’s with is completely loyal to her. Cheating is a deal breaker. 

・She needs a person who wants a long-term relationship, rather than a fling

・Would need to be in a relationship with someone who is more open-minded than traditional. Although there’s nothing wrong with being a housewife (only if you want that!!!), but being forced into that role stopped her progression. 

・The zodiac signs that would work best are: most compatible with EP types- meaning INFJ, ENFP, ISTJ, and ESFP

・In MBTI terms, someone with: Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, or Cancer. Grounded, perceptive, balanced and/or sensitive. 

・The character tropes with her s/o would be:  

Are they friends? Are they lovers? Who cares they’re happy and adorable together

Aggressively Supportive Of Each Other

Looks Like A Softie, But Can Kill You (Tara) x Looks Like They Can Kill You, But Is A Major Sofite (You)

[rings-of-darkness]

Blog Post: Embracing the Abyss: My Journey into Anton LaVey's Satanism

Posted by Damien Harker | Date: 13 September, 2023

Greetings, fellow seekers of the shadows,

Recently, I embarked on a new journey into the realms of Satanism, specifically delving into the wisdom of Anton Szandor LaVey, the enigmatic founder of the Church of Satan. As a metalhead, horror enthusiast, and lover of all things dark and mysterious, it felt like a natural progression to explore this intriguing philosophy.

My initiation into the world of LaVeyan Satanism began with "The Satanic Bible," a collection of essays penned by the High Priest himself. What initially drew me in were not the sensationalized stereotypes that surround Satanism, but rather the intriguing blend of individualism, rational self-interest, and unconventional wisdom that LaVey presented.

Satanism: Beyond the Misconceptions

Before diving into the book, I had to confront the misconceptions and misconstrued notions often associated with Satanism. Contrary to popular belief, Satanism, as articulated by Anton LaVey, isn't about devil worship, black magic, or malevolent rituals. Instead, it's a philosophy that champions personal empowerment, critical thinking, and a rejection of societal norms that stifle individuality.

The Nine Satanic Statements

One of the key aspects that resonated with me in "The Satanic Bible" was the Nine Satanic Statements. These statements serve as foundational principles, challenging us to question dogma and embrace the idea that we are our own gods. It's about taking control of our destinies, acknowledging our desires, and unapologetically pursuing them.

The Satanic Rituals: A Unique Perspective

While exploring the rituals presented in the book, I found LaVey's approach to ritualistic magic to be refreshingly pragmatic. Rather than supernaturalism, his rituals are psychological tools designed to tap into the power of the mind and one's own will. This practical perspective aligns with my fascination for the mystical and the psychological, bridging the gap between the macabre and the cerebral.

Embracing the Darkness

In the world of Anton LaVey, Satan is not a literal deity but a symbol of individualism, rebellion, and the untamed aspects of human nature. It's a philosophy that encourages us to embrace our darkness and to acknowledge that we are creatures of both light and shadow. This, for me, is a profoundly liberating concept.

My journey into LaVeyan Satanism is just beginning, and I'm eager to delve deeper into its tenets, explore its symbolism, and engage with like-minded individuals who share my fascination with the dark and unconventional. I'm not here to convert anyone, but rather to share my own experiences and perspectives as I navigate this intriguing path.

So, fellow shadow-dwellers, stay tuned for more updates on my exploration of Satanism, the occult, and all things that dwell in the twilight realm. And remember, sometimes, the most profound revelations are found in the depths of darkness.

Hail Satan, and hail the pursuit of individuality and self-discovery!

Until next time,

Damien Harker 🤘🖤

[tlonista]

Astarion fic recs, Batch 2

Thanks so much to everyone who had kind words for my Astarion fic rec list! My habit continues unabated so I wanted to throw out another little batch of mostly recent, mostly hurt/comfort-oriented Astarion-centric fanfic that I liked. As before there's references to Astarion's past abuse and assault so mind the AO3 tags.

Anyway happy holidays fellow pale elf fans, pls tip me off if you watched the latest Larian animated short and felt moved to write about shivering blanket-wrapped Astarion sitting on Karlach's lap.

Incomplete Multi-Chapter:

The Friends We Meet in the Dark by Copaline

Astarion is captured by monster hunters while spiraling over how to earn Tav's affections. Second in a series, but can be read standalone; one of two chapters posted. Big fan of its protective f!Tav, and there's some fun banter with the rest of the gang.

I Don't Know You Yet by thbreakofdawn

Nicely executed modern Bloodweave social media (text messages and Twitter) AU. Astarion is a sex worker and Gale is a grad student struggling with his relationship to his girlfriend Mystra, and they strike up a text-only friendship after a random connection. Very effective use of the multimedia format.

If the Cross on the Door Doesn't Scare You by Aylwyyn228

Sweet, angsty "Astarion starves in the Shadow-Cursed Lands because he's too scared to ask for blood" fic with the added turn of Gale guessing exactly what's happening, but being too toxic-blooded to actually help unless Astarion tells the others about his vampirism.

a half-blown rose by winter_writes

Astarion's "Tav didn't kill Cazador" dialogue in the Patch 5 Epilogue is one of the saddest things in the game, and I'm so excited to see writers running with it. In this fic Astarion was recaptured by Cazador post-game and then finally freed thanks to a fire... but he's terribly injured in the aftermath and ashamed to have his ex-lover see him. Only one chapter so far but I'm a big fan.

death by rock & roll by falco_c

This hasn't been updated in a while and Astarion hasn't actually appeared in it yet, but I'm throwing it in as a bonus because I really love its Almost Famous-y music industry AU vibe. Its translation of the tadpole ensemble into rock-and-roll burnouts, featuring in-world interviews, is absolutely delightful.

One-Shots:

Untitled by trulycertain (Tumblr-only)

It's spawn Astarion realizing he can turn into a bat and flying around and getting tired with Tav around, that's it, that's the fic. Completely adorable fluff. But "Is this what it’s meant to be like? Being a spawn? Not a starved slave?" kills me.

Family by sword_and_lance

Astarion goes to see his family after being turned, and Cazador cements his control over Astarion by offering him some scraps of comfort in the painful aftermath. It's short and restrained and chilling and so so sad.

Pointy Ears by SpaceBarbarianWeird

Yes another fluffy fic, what am I coming to. But who doesn't want to read about Astarion rediscovering trust by letting Tav touch his sensitive pointy ears with some brief digressions into elven social norms and gift-giving.

Complete Multi-Chapter:

Desperate Measures by Asidian

One of the fics that inspired "If the Cross" above, and one of my favorite "Astarion in the Shadow-Cursed Lands" pieces. Very good at balancing a sympathetic take on the character with him being, like canon Astarion, deceptive and a little bit abrasive when cornered. Plus bonus fun with Scratch.

this is a gift (it comes with a price) by ryttu3k

A post-game Ascended Astarion fic in which AA is literally soulless and knows it, and his sometimes-lover Duke Wyll Ravengard discovers over a series of nighttime visits that he secretly hates it. One of my favorite Ascension fics in part because, intentionally or not, it feels weirdly true to the experience of depressive anhedonia?

The Light of the Seven by Verelia

@reddenmore mentioned this one in the tags on my last fic rec list and I wholeheartedly agree; it's a real good Szarr Spawn Family character study delving into the backstory and personality of each of Cazador's "children," including Astarion.

[skynapple]

Budding Romance | Ch. 7

Love and Deepspace | Jeremiah x MC / slow-burn / friends-to-lovers

warnings: none

Multi-chapter | A03 link

Beginning | <- Prev | Next ->

A new day, a new dead plant

The morning air was crisp and fresh, the summer sun already warming the earth to a slightly uncomfortable temperature by the time most of the world was awake. It never ceased to amaze him how drastic the earths temperatures could be throughout the year. It always made him long for the carefree summers of his youth on Philos, running through warm tall grasses with not a wanderer in sight. 

Despite his sunglasses, the sun already felt too bright. Especially with the dark backpack he wore, perspiration had begun on his back through his thin white shirt, only making him more uncomfortable as he stood outside her apartment complex. The flowers in the planters surrounding the building already looked sorely parched, and added to the dizzying scent of summer smells as the last of the morning evaporated away. A few thoughts came to mind. One, that he should have remembered to get a haircut, two, that despite their agreed upon time, she was late. A strange sensation of humor tickled his brain, knowing that the woman he had known had always been exceptionally punctual.

Another minute passed and finally she texted to indicate that the front gate was open for him. He passed through, and headed up the familiar elevator. Although she was a floor beneath Xavier, the layout in the hall was identical. Since she and Xavier were neighbors, it wasn’t his first time at the complex, but it was his first time without Xavier’s knowledge of him being there. At first he’d felt inclined to let him know he’d be stopping by, but thought better of it. It was an interesting coincidence to him that she was quite literally the exact apartment beneath her fellow hunter. He couldn’t help but wonder if maybe it was too coincidental… then again, despite Xavier’s patient way of calculating things, Jeremiah had noticed that things just tended to just happen in the mans favor. 

The door swung open and he couldn’t help but smile at her overtly enthusiastic greeting.

”Hello, sir! Welcome to my humble abode! Thanks for coming.”

He’d never known her to be one for theatrics, it made him want to laugh. The pink over-all dress she wore with soft white chiffon sleeves was mostly modest in appearance, although seeing her so casual and cute made him feel like maybe he was seeing a side of her that he wasn’t supposed to. And also that it could be more teasing fuel against Xavier later.

As he followed her inside, she offered him common hospitalities, which he gently refused, suddenly not wanting to invade her space too much. While he had felt comfortable and informal with her, he realized that he just wasn’t a part of her life. This was an acquaintance-in-her-home-for-a-quick-assist thing. Not a longtime-friend-hangout thing. The backpack he brought was set at his feet, grateful for the cool of the air conditioning inside. He spared a glance around, trying not to be too invasive, although, feeling exceptionally curious about what type of person she’d become here. It was a different layout than Xavier’s, neat, with plenty of feminine touches here and there. Scattered around were a few familiar plants and florals. It felt surreal to be there.

Almost as if she picked up on the mental “business” attitude, she retrieved her ailing succulent and set it on the thin kitchen bar in front of him.  “See!” She indicated, incredulous. “I barely water it. I feel like a succulent should be pretty hard to kill. Am I just that bad at this?”

Taking it, he examined it, humming in thought, albeit a bit amused. In fact, there was not a single thing he had known her to ever be bad at. Ever. To realize she had such an anti-green thumb was almost…endearing. "How often are you watering it?” He asked.

"Let's see... probably once every 3 days? I know I'm not supposed to water it every day."

"I see. And where do you normally put it?"

She lead him around, stepping into her room. It was one thing to be in her home, and another to be in the very room she slept. Whatever he had imagined the day before, he was not prepared to be stepping inside. A fluffy carpet caught his eye and a few glittering objects. The cuteness of all of it left him in awe. The brilliant commander he’d known, with soft feminine touches. He wondered if she was like this all along, secretly. Then again, it wasn’t as if they had opportunities to let their objective personalities be on display very much in matching uniforms during a war. 

Moving a little awkwardly, he followed her to the window next to her bed, where he asked her a few questions about the angle of the sun throughout the day and the draft from the air conditioning, take his time in explaining that despite the window being closed, the heat would still radiate inside from the glass. She seemed to listen eagerly, but he felt the urge to tease that it wouldn’t last despite her efforts. 

“You say you’re paying attention but I saw the other dying plants around your living room. Shall I start writing a eulogy for your succulent soon?”

“What? Not fair! Let me show you my pothos. I promise it’s doing so much better ever since I started following your instructions!” She exclaimed, guiding him back through her room to the kitchen area where she picked up the leafy pothos. It was admittedly doing much better than the last time he’d seen it.

“Alright, I guess someone can follow instructions.”

For some reason, she beamed up at him proudly. “Yes! I’ll keep getting better.”

He took another glance around, laughing internally at the sight of more dying plants next to her television set. Just then he noticed the absence of a rather large object.

“Where exactly did you put your prize from last night? I didn’t see if in your room.”

“Oh! This way. It’s on the balcony."

He followed her outside to her balcony, noting that it was decently spacious, enough for a pair of seats, a small table, a few plants, and a large plush toy with two significantly smaller plush toys posed in front of it. He fleetingly wondered if this is where she and Xavier spent days off.

“So I see it’s found its home here.”

"Yeah! And those are its siblings, the matching set. Xavier helped me catch those actually from the claw machine at the arcade by the complex."

Ah, so they are meeting outside of work. Good.

“Really?” He remarked, trying to sound surprised. “I didn't know he had it in him."

“Actually,” She laughed leaning against the wall against the balcony. “He has a whole book on how to win at claw machines."

Jeremiah laughed, trying to think of how best to spur her interest further. "He has a whole host of strange books. He’s an interesting fellow. Which, I’m sure you'll find the more you get to know him.”

The breeze picked up, carrying her hair and a light fruity scent with it. It was a welcome relief from the warmer weather outside. Throughout his fragmented memories, there wasn’t a time he could recall where he noted her wearing scented fragrance, except, probably for a special occasion. 

“Ah, speaking of books, I brought you something."

"You brought me something?” She asked, interest piqued. 

He slipped inside and retrieved a book from the backpack he’d brought, grinning at the title. A quick glance at the time told him he shouldn’t overstay what was supposed to be a quick bout of assistance. Just like before, he had to tell himself not to get too comfortable. 

Returning to the balcony, he slid the door shut behind him, and handed her the book. ‘How to Keep Plants Alive: For Dummies.’

She made a face, wrinkling her nose at him but laughed. "Jeremiah!"

The familiar tone was the one he missed the most. It was the voice he heard most often, right after teasing her. The tone was familiar but the expression was new. Normally, it had been of irritation along with a usual punch in the arm. It didn't come. Whether is was the warm weather or from the gesture of receiving such a gimmicky book, her cheeks were lightly tinted pink to match her dress.

"I'm not that bad, am I?” She was saying in despair.

"Worst I've seen. Of alllllll my customers, you're the most murderous.” As he saw her expression of helplessness, yet alight with humor, he continued teasing. "You're lucky your plants have me. Look at them! You’ve given them anxiety."

Now she bit her lip to stifle a laugh and did thwack him in the arm. He laughed, pulling away and putting his arms up to block his chest as if expecting another hit. It may have been the heightened sun, but he did feel warm inside. 

“I’ll study and do better!” She whined.

“You just need to master the basics! Pay attention to the water and light. Keep an eye on the AC drafts. You’ll get it. I think your succulent will survive, they’re pretty resilient.” He comforted, in contrast to his words earlier, only able to handle teasing her so much before caving to her tone, having been totally caught off guard by how earnest she sounded. “But," He continued, indicating behind him towards the living room on the other side of the wall. “That drooping plant by your TV? That one has a disease.”

“A disease?” she asked in disbelief.“Now I know you're making things up. How can you tell?!”

"I'm not!" He took the book from her hands, opened it, flipped to a section, then handed it to her. "Check that out."

“Oh…” She said in awe, examining the pages in shock

“See the health suggestions?” He leaned over, a little closer to her than intended “I think you can save it. I carry that stuff in my shop. It says if you spray it at least once a day, you can probably bring it back.”

Just then the doorbell rang. Jeremiah felt his shoulders tense.

"Oh, sorry, might be a package.” She left to answer the door and he could’ve sworn her cheeks had turned an even darker shade of pink. 

A minute later, a familiar voice inside told him everything he needed to know.

Time to go.

Stepping inside, he found himself face to face with his friend in a casual white hoodie, which he found ridiculous considering the weather.

"What a coincidence." Xavier said, his expressive eyes saying more than words could.

She explained to him animatedly that Xavier was stopping by to drop off a video game for her to try, in turn explained to Xavier Jeremiah’s reason for stopping by.

“I didn’t know we all had the same day off. We should do something!”

"Actually," Xavier said with a nod towards him, “Jeremiah, I thought you were usually busy with research on Saturdays?" 

Jeremiah drew a breath and went to pick up his backpack off the ground. “Sorry, he’s right! I was about to head out. My plant doctoring was all done anyways. But, you two have fun with that video game!”

“Oh,” She sounded disappointed, but he wasn’t sure if that’s just because she liked doing group activities? He couldn’t imagine why else. "Maybe one of these days you can take a Saturday off and we can all go have a fun night like we did yesterday.” She offered, smiling.

Xavier looked perplexed. ”Fun... night?"

He didn't know.

"Yeah!" She cuts in, excited. “Jeremiah helped me get the limited edition plush I was talking to you about!”

“Did he?” Xavier looked right at his eyes.

… Great.

Jeremiah took a step back, waving as if suddenly in a rush. 

“You really missed out, Xav. You two should go tonight. Anyways… I should really get going. See you!”

She called over to him, waving back, ”Sorry you were busy today. Thanks for stopping by!” Xavier was standing very close to her, a softer expression now.

Just like old times, Jeremiah knew when to take his leave. If merely hearing his voice from the balcony was enough to send Xavier running downstairs, then Jeremiah counted that as an entertaining win. All the more reason to continue teasing.

Despite telling himself this, he couldn't stop feeling a little regretful, if not disappointed. The feeling lingered in his heart as he headed back to his base hidden in the shop to get some work done. If the feeling was only a desire to be with his friends like old times, then he assumed there would be more opportunities in the future. What mattered was her proximity to Xavier. He tried to shrug it off.

If it mattered to see her, he’d have to find opportunities to somehow not be in the way when Xavier was around. The mere thought of it made him roll his eyes to himself on the bus.

[voxofthevoid]

Hi! For the ask game, sukuita or goyuu? Whichever you feel like answering.

I also recently discovered your fics and I'm in the process of binge reading them. Your ideas are so fun and interesting.

Thank you!! I'm very glad to hear you're enjoying my fics, and it's always very flattering to hear the ideas are interesting 💗

Sukuita

Ship It

What made you ship it?

When I was reading JJK's description and after I saw the first episode, I thought I might end up shipping these two because the dynamic seemed so interesting. And then I watched/read the whole thing, and well, I wound up shipping it but not as my main ship and not how I usually ship. Sukuita is one of the few pairings I'm into where I don't want a happy ending or anything harmonious, just the two characters taking their hate and rage out on each other. I find it deeply compelling from that angle and that angle alone.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

So, the thing is, this is one of those pairings I ship in a very specific way—namely, I want them to try and rip each other apart, and dicks can be involved, as a bonus. It's why the current manga developments are highly pleasing to me. I just think it's fun when they blur the lines between sex and murderous violence.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Oh, many, but I think my most unpopular opinion is that I find happy sukuita to be fundamentally unappealing, even in AU settings. Whether they're brothers, demon-and-vessel, or mundane lovers, I want them to be tearing into each other.

Goyuu

Ship It

What made you ship it?

I don't just ship it, I'm pretty sure it's in my bloodstream now. I have not gone this insane for a pairing ever, and it's a mix of factors that's making me write and plot like a demon, but god, the end result is borderline insanity. It initially piqued my interest at a purely superficial level when Gojou kept casually invading Yuuji's space while looking and acting like he had zero innocent intentions, but it was Yuuji's first death at the detention center and their interactions afterward that really got me into it. There's amazing chemistry there, simply as two people who get along, and I love how they treat each other, from the beginning to the end.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

For all our sakes, I'll stick to one aspect, or I'll write a whole essay. I love how they humanize each other from the get-go and how that never really changes. Gojou's the strongest sorcerer, acknowledged by everyone to exist on a level beyond other humans, and to Yuuji, he's first and foremost his beloved teacher. Even after Yuuji learns what Gojou's capable of, he sees Gojou as a fellow human being who needs support like they all do. In Shibuya and after, his desperation to save Gojou and willingness to even die for it just fucking murder me. And the immediate attachment Gojou displays toward Yuuji is just as compelling. He says why early on, in the crematorium: He simply likes people like Yuuji. And he shows it through and through. The first and one of the few instances of true anger we see from Gojou is when Yuuji dies, despite only having known him for two weeks at the time, and he exhibits that attachment and affection, as well as faith in Yuuji, throughout the story.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

My, uh, entire JJK catalog on Ao3 is an unpopular* take on goyuu 😂

*Compared to the fandom norms that is, as people often like to let me know. The fics themselves are doing fine, and the vast majority of my readers are lovely.

Ask can be found game here.

[ayashitetsuko]

Izzy the Hierophant: The Major Arcana that reminds us to get back to work

As a tarot student, I am fascinated by the interpretations made by fellow tarot enthusiasts in the Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) fandom, on which Major Arcana card best represents Izzy Hands. Popular fanmade decks such as The Cat Bandit Tarot by artist Jennie Planet see him as The Devil—a force that keeps the lovers apart—and Judgement—beating Ed down when he was already at his worst. Valid as they are, these interpretations see Izzy as a negative influence, but I like to offer an alternative take. 

I see Izzy’s energy and role in the canon (and eventually, in my personal life as the viewer) as the Hierophant. An energy often found uninspiring, but when used correctly, it can help people make their dreams come true. 

In her book The Holistic Tarot (2015, North Atlantic Books), tarot master Benebell Wen uses Tradition, Conventionalism, and Institutionalism as the keywords that explain the Hierophant card.

“The Hierophant is a holy man, an important figure in his society … People rely on him to be a channel between heaven and earth. In a reading, the card typically indicates a desire to follow conventions and norms, a traditionalist—one who holds traditional values,” she writes. 

The Hierophant is often seen as the card that calls for querents to be conservative. Instead of thinking outside the box, it expects them to open the manuals and follow the instructions. When discussing making our dreams come true, the Hierophant energy is often seen as an obstacle—curbing creativity and exploration in favour of traditions. 

We did see these traits displayed by Izzy in various scenes, such as in Episode 4 when he demanded Ed to come up with a defensive plan after they noticed a Spanish ship coming their way or when he threatened to blackmail Lucius for … you know what he did.

While these scenes might cement Izzy’s role in the story as the Bad Guy, his role is also a reminder of the importance of maintaining a structure—even on a pirate ship. Because this structure, no matter how dull it is, enables us to function and create the impact we want in our personal and professional lives.

The Hierophant energy

The Hierophant card is known for having a restrictive–perhaps even oppressive–energy. In my early days as a tarot student, I tended to roll my eyes whenever it showed up. It was not the kind of nuance I wanted as a young person. But eventually, I learned how the Hierophant energy could positively impact one’s life when used wisely. Instead of preventing progress, it can help with it. 

As someone who works in the tech startup community, I regularly meet people driven to succeed. Buzzwords such as “innovation” and “disruption” are being thrown around lightly; everybody wants to be the next big thing that changes the world. Big ideas, even the most unrealistic ones, are cherished and encouraged.

But people are being brought back to Earth rather quickly in this industry. There are even statistics to prove it: Up to 95 per cent of startups fail simply because they cannot find product-market fit, according to various sources. In layman’s terms, they create products and services that nobody needs. This is why startups are commonly advised to implement rigorous market research and product testing to prove that their ideas work; to have the discipline to do more than just talk.

On an individual level, the Hierophant energy is one I tap into to achieve my goals. To be productive, I need to run my days smoothly. This means clearing my housekeeping tasks before leaving home, logging off social media during work hours, and ensuring I eat my vegetables to stay healthy. They are boring AF, but they provide me with a structure to keep the machine well-oiled.

When I look back on my life, all the times I managed to achieve and create something good for myself (and hopefully others) are when I stopped daydreaming and started implementing the Hierophant energy into my daily life. While it is important to explore new ideas, all of them will be pointless without the structure that ensures it is being developed properly. 

Now, back to Izzy

One might see Izzy as a traditional pirate who is resistant to change. I mean, what the fuck is even a retirement? It does not exist in this line of work. 

This context places Izzy as a counter to Stede Bonnet’s “fresh, groundbreaking” ideas about piracy. It is easy to see Izzy and his beliefs as outdated and needing disruption. But we must remember that piracy is a dangerous business. While pirates generally entered the business with a ready-to-die mindset, a structure that allows the crew to be functional and prepared to handle risks should be appreciated instead of being seen as a threat. 

This is especially more relevant in a situation where a leader struggles to function properly. Ed is a smart and gifted captain, but his short attention span and mood swings have made it hard for him to function on some days and for the crew to maintain their trust in him. His wit may have allowed them to survive another day, but will it be sustainable without a system to ensure that? What happens when he is having his moment? At the very least, they would need a plan.

This is a calling for us to look into our own lives and see: In which area do we need a first mate to yell and remind us to focus?

--

This article was first published in Above All Else: An Appreciation of Izzy Hands, a zine dedicated to Con O'Neill's Izzy Hands from Our Flag Means Death.

[remyfire]

fellow beejmarghawk warrior if you havent been asked already 👉👈👉👈

Do I Ship It? YAAAAAAAAAAAA

Yes, I Ship It!!

What made you ship it? —It is in fact embarrassing how much I ship it. Fuck. Okay, so we fall back into my standard responses—I ship Margaret and Beej because they are electric forbidden fruit to one another but so so good for each other, I ship BJ and Hawkeye because they are soulmates from the goddamn moment BJ steps on screen for the first time, and I ship Margaret and Hawk because I am such a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and the incredible amount of character development that takes them both from where they started to where they end up just tastes so fucking good. It was only natural that I'd realize how all three of those concepts could sync up into a much, much, much stronger whole—better than the sum of their parts, etc.

What are your favorite things about the ship? —I often say that I don't think Margaret is actually made for monogamy in the way she thinks she is. I think she needs a lot of attention and doting and loving focus, and that's incredibly difficult to provide when you're just one person, and that's the biggest reason I will often throw her into a polyamorous arrangement—someone is always available to give her what she needs, and more often than not I link her up with caretaking personalities, and thus everyone is fed really well in turn. Similarly, I love throwing a third at Hawk and BJ because I think the danger with them is that they can sink into a really unhealthy level of codependency where they just lock down with Only Each Other and never really grow beyond it, and Margaret is a great catalyst for preventing that. I love how much they challenge each other instinctively to step away from social norms and blossom into the people they really want to be. I love the unshakeable level of support they give each other even if they haven't admitted they want to fuck like rabbits. I love how much they make each other laugh. I love how well they hold each other when they cry. And mostly I love that they can all trade genders like playing musical chairs and it is a fucking glorious time for all of them.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship? —As usual, the fact that I ship them at all is unpopular hfkfd and I am SO glad I have you around to remind me that I am not out of my mind for looking at the screen and waving at it while babbling inarticulately while they're all on it. Also probably my ideas about how good it is to introduce that third into the mix and how I don't think it would be super healthy if I just left the pairs of them alone.

[comicsart3]

Futura is one of my favourite Golden Age heroines. Principally, I will be honest, for the stories’ terrific artwork by Chester Martin, who created a voluptuous version of the character, both vulnerable and dominant; beautiful and sexy, but also slightly terrifying. In John Douglas’ excellent sci-fi script, Marcia Reynolds starts out as just an “average girl” (a “second grade technical secretary” of “norm intelligence”) living in Titan City on a futuristic planet earth, but when she is abducted by an interstellar kidnapper, a whole new life opens up for Marcia. Transported to Cymradia by the evil Mentor along with other abductees to provide nutrition for an alien race, Marcia swiftly becomes the leader of her fellow-captives, inspiring them to dream of escape. Re-named “Futura” by her captors, the emboldened young woman eventually leads her compatriots in a successful revolt and from that point she assumes her identity as an injustice-battling, planet-hopping and ass-kicking space heroine. Overthrowing space tyrants and pirates along the way, Futura’s main aim however is always to try to return to earth.

In the pages featured here, Futura has found herself falsely accused of being the space pirate Yrina and fights to clear her name. She appears to have done so when, still a fugitive, she manages to capture Yrina and her male sidekick and lover Omma, but, sadly for Futura, the captive pair will turn the tables on the “earthgirl” and the formidable space woman will find herself plunged back into peril. Douglas’ prose was already a little anachronistic by the late 1940s, but it fitted perfectly Martin’s heroic artwork and was reminiscent of the RKO radio and TV shows of the time such as Flash Gordon.

Futura enjoyed a twenty one-issue run in Planet Comics from numbers 43 (July 1946) to 64 (April 1950). The above pages are from the Futura adventure in Planet Comics #58 (January 1949)

Source: comicbookplus