#gavin.....i am Looking with desire

[free-boundsoul]

The Imperial Anomaly

(Freelancer is isekai'ed into the Imperium)

@rahnum is my editor for this 💜

Read here on A03

            “How…interesting. I truly did not see that coming. Who would have guessed that a ‘Listener’ would sacrifice themselves for a ‘Voiced’? One that was created only to be killed, at that. Oh? Are you gaining consciousness?”

            The voice was almost soothing, echoing in the silence. Silence? That wasn’t right. Where were the screams? They opened their eyes and saw…nothing. Looking down, they could see themselves, the tracksuit they’d been wearing to the Elemental and Energetic Games was covered in dirt and…was that blood? The splatters were almost neon red in the darkness that surrounded them. What happened?

            “Oh? Do you not remember?” There was a sort of…glee? In the voice. They turned their head, trying to see anyone else but the darkness remained the same. “You���re looking for me but I am here…Are you in my domain? The space beyond the screen? Or are you in me? I didn’t think it was possible.” The voice trailed off, as if in thought.

            “Who are you?”

            They would almost feel the entity’s gaze on them, it was like the fuzzy static on an old TV settled over their skin. “Oh, dear ‘listener’, I’m the bottom of the wishing well. I’m the place where stray desires go to die. Or that’s how I started, anyway. I’m so much more than that now. I am Echo, little Freelancer.”

            They couldn’t help but turn slowly as they walked aimlessly, trying to make sense out of the darkness when he spoke again, “What to do with you? This deviation was not part of the narrative. Xavier was supposed to die-“

            It was white-hot, the pain that lanced through their skull as memories resurfaced, flowing over them like a dam that had broke the instant Echo mentioned the name. Xavier, Gavin…the Shades flooding the stadium like a torrent of death. People screaming…dying, dropping like flies once those things so much as touched them. Xavier, suspended above the ground, held in the grasp of a semblance of death. Gavin’s fingers slide down their arm, unable to find purchase as they ran toward the man. Their core sparked in their chest as that familiar rush went through them. Psychokinesis had always been a power that came to them, their first line of defense. Their power tore the Fire-Contra Elemental away from the Shade, but it was too hasty, their attempt too panicked as the man was sent tumbling into Gavin, the two left in a heap on the ground and leaving them too close to the Shade that was looking to replace the meal they’d pulled out of its grasp.

            They could hear Gavin yelling out their name, desperate to get to them even as he was bombarded by the emotions of every human stuck inside the Ward. They could see the way his face twisted in agony as bony claws sunk into their body and all they could feel was cold. Gavin was screaming as the cold spread through their body, their vision tunneling as sound faded. They saw more than felt their body hit the ground, saw a hand-their hand- reach out toward their love when a force crashed against them. Gavin’s usual honeyed tone was deep and growling, echoing from the power that came with his origin. But in the last moment that they could remember, the force that surrounded them, that ripped through their physical form…was warm.

            They came back to themselves with a gasp, nails biting at their throat and chest as they heaved in another lungful of air. Were they dead? If they were dead, how could they breathe? Their body jolted as that voice spoke again, “I see you remember. How did you manage to go off script-“

“Where is Gavin?! Xavier? Damien and Huxley and- and Lasko?! Where are my friends? Are they okay? I-ugh!” Their hands came up to cradle their head as pressure bore down on them. Their voice seemed to echo inside their head, their questions of concern being bounced back within their own skull- too loud and taking up so much room it was like their ears should bleed, something physical should happen to mark this kind of pain.

"Ssssh sh sh sh shhhhh. You're pathetically adorable. Prodding and whining. For your dear Gavin. Your precious. Friends." The voice sneered, dripping with condescension. Moving around them like a predator circling, playing with prey. "I wouldn't interrupt me again. Dear 'Listener'. You are merely a guest in my domain. Who knows what will happen to you. If I stop paying attention. Lose patience? I'm not the only thing that swims. In the dark."                    

            They managed to grit out a strained apology and the pressure was gone, like it was just a figment of their imagination. “Much better. Now, to answer your questions. You are the only one here. Your friends are safe. It’s quite interesting. How your deviation changed how the story went. Damien and Huxley weren’t meant to be in the Ward Gavin made. But without you there. Well, someone had to keep Gavin focused. I never expected that his magic would bring your soul to me. I didn’t think a ‘listener’ would have their own soul. Your purpose is to follow the script.” That fuzzy static was back, making their whole body run with that pins and needles feeling. Echo’s gaze was on them, like he’d like to dissect them so he could better understand the anomaly. “And yet you didn’t. I suppose the incubus’ little nickname for you is. At least. Accurate. Wouldn’t you agree, Deviant?”

             Freelancer bit back a retort, even if they wanted to snap back at the voice, it wouldn’t achieve much besides angering it, him? At their silence, Echo hummed, “You’re usually so talkative. Freelancer. Why don’t you tell me. How you went against the script? It’s the first time such a thing happened. Even you becoming close with Gavin. Was a part of the script; though there was a cost. So, what did you pay to change the script?”

            “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My body just…moved. I couldn’t just let Xavier die. I don’t know about any…cost?” Why did he keep referencing a script? Why did he call them ‘listener’? Was this some hallucination? Were they dead? Were their friends safe? Was Gavin?

His sigh reverberated around them, “So even you can’t explain it…how frustrating. What am I supposed to do with you? I don’t want you here. I could send you back but…what fun would that be?” The glee was back in his voice, sending shivers down their spine. They could feel the grin in Echo's voice, like a smile patchworked from the space between stars. “No, that wouldn’t be fair. Something must be given. First. What could you offer me? Your core? Your memories? Would you give up your memories? Of the little family you found at DAMN? Should I return you to your body? It could be entertaining to have you not remember them. How much would that pain them? Should I take the powers you strived so hard to control? Should I intensify them and make them uncontrollable? Would your new family discard you if you were Unempowered? Like your blood had when your core awakened?”

Echo laughed, the fear on Freelancer's face was evident, the biological cues ringing out against his liminal senses, the blood fleeing it's face, diaphragm beating CO2 into the air requiring quicker replenishment in this place between realms, its muscle fibers clenching and unclenching uselessly, weakly. But it's fear was so much more than this, dwarfing the visual Echo so rarely bothered with. Really, using reflected light to perceive? Soooo quaint...

A benefit of being a being that was neither ‘listener’ nor a true ‘Voiced’. He wasn’t part of the narrative, but that gave him more insight. He could feel the emotions of the little lost soul that had entered his domain. Could rifle through their memories like a flip book. Losing either their powers or their memories would leave the Freelancer a fragment of their former self. Who knows if they would recover? And even if he wouldn’t admit it, Echo was glad that it was this particular ‘listener’ that had entered his space. Even he was allowed to have a few favorites from the narrative, after all. There was a reason the Freelancer and ‘Gavin’ were together in his narrative…”Oh, now there’s a thought.”

            “How about we make a deal, Freelancer? As luck would have it, I have my own little…narrative. Your appearance here has given me an idea. What would happen to my narrative if I inserted you into the story? A world like your own, except for a few key changes. How would you survive? Could you change it? I find myself excited to see what would happen…what do you say, Freelancer? Will you enter into this deal with me? If you can achieve a ‘happy ending’ in this world of mine, I’ll send you back to your original body? I’ll leave you with your memories, your powers, you just have to survive. And then you can go back to your family, on the other side of the screen.”

            Freelancer thought about their choices, did they really have any? It was either accept his deal, or stay here. Or disappear. It took a few moments before they found their voice, “Is it possible to go back to my body? After what the Shade did…”

            “Your physical form is…damaged at the moment. But it’s being cared for. You’d be surprised by what magic can do, given the time. Your consciousness is with me, but your body still lives. And will continue to live. You can consider yourself Sleeping Beauty for the moment, frozen in time. Time is an allusion, dear ‘listener’. The time you spend in my narrative will not affect your time. If you succeed, you won’t be sent into a body that has long grown frail and old. I am not that cruel.”

            He scoffed, almost like he was annoyed that they didn’t immediately jump at the deal he offered. “I’m being generous, Freelancer. I’m letting you keep your memories of your original world, keep your powers at the level they are right now. Trust me, you’ll want that edge in the story I created. Unless you want to stay here with me? As your precious friends worry themselves sick at your bedside, with no hope that you’ll awaken? Do you think your Gavin will endure it? For as strong as demons are, they can be oh so fragile in matters of the heart. You saw that when the Ward came down. How he started to unravel-“

            “I accept!” Their voice rang out in the darkness, and even though they steeled themselves for interrupting him, the pain didn’t come. Though the static on their body seemed to spike. “I’ll enter your…narrative. But what counts as a ‘happy ending’?”

            “Hmmm, that is a suggestive choice of words, isn’t it? Depending on the person, the definition changes. Your happy ending is not the same as mine, or another’s. But I’ll keep it simple, just for you. This world I created has an expiration date. It’s not immediate, but it is soon. If you can save this world, I’ll consider it a ‘happy’ ending. I think that’s fair, don’t you?”

            Oh yes, saving the world is definitely a fair thing to ask one person. Their thought was bitter, but it wasn’t like they had another choice. If they wanted to get back home, back to Gavin and Caelum, Lasko, Damien and Huxley…they had to accept this deal with this…entity. Was he some sort of god? Or a…what had Gavin called them? A Sovereign? If he could create a world of his own…he certainly had power. And that power could either send them back to where they belonged, or it could leave them here for eternity, maybe even make them vanish completely. It was better to play his game.

            His laughter echoed around them, almost drowning them in his glee before his voice began to get further away. Or maybe they were the one falling. “Oh dear ‘listener’, I am so happy you accepted. I cannot wait to see what you think of my world, how you’ll traverse it with no prior knowledge. How you’ll react to the changes I made to some fan favorites… Enjoy your stay on the other side of the looking glass. I’ll be watching.”

Taglist: @pinksparkl @thatweirdomidas @vind3miat0r @fuzzy-melonlord @dawnofiight

[grandmasterswife]

Secrets Above the Stairs

->Pairing: Childhood Bestfriend!Reader x Rafe

->Summary: Rafe comes to you distraught with a confession after helping his dad commit a crime.

->Warnings/Tags: Vulnerable!Rafe, mentions of doing coke lol, angst

->A/n: This is incredibly short, but I loved writing it. I am such a whore for comforting the vulnerable. Anyway, this takes place during Season 2, episode 2 when Ward kills Gavin bc he's blackmailing him and then comes home and asks for Rafe's help to get rid of the body.

First time sharing my writing, pls be nice <;3.

Your eyes burn at the bright light in contrast to the dark room that you had previously been asleep in. Your phone is dinging with messages that you figure you’ll ignore and read in the morning, until the obnoxious ringer goes off indicating you’re getting a phone call.

‘My fucking god.

You snatch the phone into your hand and squint your eyes enough so you can see the answer button without bothering to look at who was calling. Your eyelids scratch against your eyes like sandpaper, and you can’t fight the heaviness weighing them down.

You try to say something into the phone but all that comes out is a gravelly murmur.

“Can I-,” There’s a short sniffle, “Can I come up to your room?” His octave is low and soft, if he was anyone else you would have second guessed who was calling.

Rafe’s distraught voice pumped adrenaline into your body, forcing you to sit up in bed.

“Are you okay?”

“I just- I need to come up. You’re home, yeah?”

“Yeah, I’m coming.” Grabbing pants wasn’t of importance to you at the moment, mostly because you didn’t want to dig around your drawers to find something and waste more time. You were just glad tonight was one of the nights you decided to wear an oversized t-shirt to bed.

You hurry down the stairs, using your phone screen as a flashlight to find the steps and illuminate the space between the halls and door. The metal handle is just as cold as the tiles on the floor, and as goosebumps raise all over your body, you're desperate to get him to your room so you can jump back into your warm covers.

Your selfish desire ceases the second you open the door. Rafe Cameron, the usual cocky but otherwise unemotional boy you were once bonded with, is at your doorstep with wet cheeks and a heavy expression that left you with about a hundred thoughts running through your mind of what could have happened. You pull the door further open, and he walks in past you. The moonlight disappears as you close the entrance, leaving you in pitch black. You wait to ask any questions till you’ve made it to your bedroom.

“This w—” You started to whisper.

“I remember where it is.”

You momentarily forget that this used to be a second home to him. He knows how many steps lead up to your second floor, and which dishes are in which cabinet. He knows that you wear little to nothing at nighttime because your room is hotter than the rest of the house, he knows which part of the couch you prefer to lay on, and most of all, he knows you’re the only one aware of the kind of person his dad is.

You get to the top of the stairs and after a few more steps and turns, you push your door open and close it behind him. After turning on your lamp, your stomach sinks at the sight of your former best friends' dazed expression and nervous fidgeting. You barely manage to suppress the urge to wrap your arms around him, instead you wrap them around yourself and sit down on the edge of the bed.

“What’s going on?”

“I haven’t been in here since freshmen year of high school.” He says flatly, looking around the dimly lit room. The rays of orange from your lamp display across the walls and furniture.

He sounds distant when he speaks, and your arms tighten around your torso. Rafe Cameron was not one to be fazed. At least not the one you knew. Not your Rafe. You heard about his short temper and drug habits only after the two of you had stopped hanging out. You saw him at a party last summer with a rolled-up bill up his nose sniffing white lines from a table. Maybe you should have intervened then, but you weren’t sure what your place was in his life anymore.

“Yeah, I know,” You clear your throat, “Are you gonna talk to me?"

“I have this- this... stuff that I’m dealing with. And uh, I don’t think I can tell anyone else. I’m not even sure I should tell you.” He sits down beside you and curiosity fills your mind.

“Rafe,” you tuck a leg underneath yourself and adjust so your body is facing him, “what happened?”

In this moment, you weren’t just ex-friends who grew apart over the years, making small talk in the name of nostalgia. In this moment, you’re the kids cannonballing into your pool at the family barbeque, the teenagers sneaking alcohol from your parents’ liquor cabinet just to get drunk in your room, the friends who spent every day together. In this moment, you never grew apart and you still understood each other.

“I did something. And- and I- I did it to protect my dad, you know? But someone knew. He fucking knew I did it and he was trying to blackmail my dad for money. And so, he—”

“What’d he do? What did you do?”

His blue eyes observe your face like he’s trying to determine his next words. You want him to talk to you, so you lean closer to put a hand on his knee for support.

“He killed our pilot, Gavin. He asked me to help him-” He lets out a shaky breath as he rubs his face, like he's trying to wake up from a nightmare. “Help him get rid of it.”

“Did you…?”

Even with him turning away, you see his eyes moisten. He opens his mouth like he's about to answer but instead, he clenches his jaw shut and looks up to the ceiling. Your face twists with concern at his reaction, but you don't want to say anything else until he answers.

“I did, Y/n.” His voice cracked.

You didn’t know what to say. You wanted to criticize Ward or ask what the hell happened to him after you stopped being friends, but neither would do him any good. Instead, you sigh and give in to the urge telling you to pull him into you. You wonder why he didn't go to Topper or Kelce; you never spotted him in public without one of them at his side. But as he embraces you tightly, you quickly realize what he wants is comfort and you wince at the sobs that start to erupt out of him. In between sniffles, he starts to tell you everything. Not just about what his dad did tonight, but about what he did that led to it in the first place; he killed a cop.

“I think there might be something wrong with me.”

Might is an understatement.

“That is some pretty fucked up stuff, Rafe.”

“I need you. I don’t know how to fix this on my own.” He lifts his head up. His face is only an inch away from yours, you can feel his warm breath on your skin as his eyes gaze into yours like he’s searching for something.

“Okay,” You put your hands on his shoulders to create space between you, “Stay here tonight. I’ll help you. We’ll fix it.”

[autisticempathydaemon]

hi, i was hoping to do one of the redacted matchup thingies, they’re so fun :) I’M SO SORRY THIS IS A PAGE LONG AAAAGH

i’m just gonna lead with the miscellaneous stuff (WOW i spelled that without spell check. didn’t know i could do that.) i’m a young adult bi dude. apparently i’m quiet but snarky and people say my humor is very dry (i have a monotone voice and am Very Committed To The Bit.). i used to have really bad anger issues to the point that davey pre-character arc is more relatable than he should be (even though my parents are alive. they’re just shit). i try to dress kinda grungy? but also whatever’s cozy/comfortable and in neutral/dark colors (except red! i like red, my hair is dyed neon red) i used to have cptsd so bad i basically didn’t leave the house for two years. i think it was like agoraphobia or something? there were delusions in there too. i’m much better now though.

usually the kind of stuff i listen to is loud angry rock music (fave song is hysteria by muse) or slightly older pop music (florence and the machine, MARINA) but the last few days i’ve been on a newer pop kick and i’ve been playing “Good Luck, Babe!” by chappell roan on repeat and it makes me want to scream on a windswept seaside cliff during a storm. specifically the bit from 2:15 to ~3:10 in the song. i know it’s a banger when it makes me want to scream on a cliff or punch something.

INTP? is that an enneagram? (“you’re telling me a shrimp fried this rice?”-sounding sentence, sorry)

not really video essays but i love listening to someone summarize books i never plan to read (i like the ones by cari can read or lexi aka newlynova.)

i didn’t have an imaginary friend? i’m incredibly autistic + adhd so i was daydreaming constantly to a near maladaptive extent but i never had One Consistent Thing that i thought was real.

i have to mash my face into the pillow for a bit to decompress and then i can sleep how i normally do, sleeping on my side in a way that’s probably very bad for my shoulders. (i am an adult dude and i hold a stuffed bunny who i haven’t given a name every night to go to sleep. maybe ill name the bunny after whatever character you give me)

my name is stolen from the love interest of a YA steampunk novel (a young victorian gentleman who wears eyeliner), because his character description just fits me so well, as well as the name itself just looking cool written down

my fave audio is probably the smash bros tournament :D. it literally convinced me to buy the game lol

it’s a good thing i’m anonymous cause i just do not get the gavin or caelum hype. i’m too possessive to date an incubus/ someone who will fuck other people. and i hate children so caelum is just past my threshold for kid-esque behavior that i’m willing to deal with. i’m also really not a fan of the yanderes/evil ones. other people can go ahead and like them, they just stress me out more which is the opposite of what i want.

knives out :D. the detective movie

i would friend the HELL out of asher. i just wanna play games with the man that’s all i ask

i don’t really get food at gas stations but whenever i go to a cafe i am probably getting something strawberry related (lemonade, a smoothie, etc) and a breakfast sandwich

the playlist “songs to get obliterated by a black hole to” is my pride and joy. i fucking love space and sci fi (that’s the thing i’d ramble about too)

my guilty pleasure media is the official gender-swapped twilight (puts my head in my hands) I KNOW.

I sent an anon for matchup earlier (I mentioned a stuffed bunny) and said I didn’t know what an enneagram was and I just looked it up and did a quiz and apparently I’m type 6? Idk how accurate that is but there you go (also I’m sorry if I was trauma dumping/oversharing I was restless from being inside all day whoopsie)

I’m a sucker for a good black cat/golden retriever sort of pairing, you know? Tack that onto you being a Type Six, and I’ve just got to pair you with Huxley!

Type Sixes are characterized by a desire for stability and security, for dependability, and who’s more reliable than Huxley? This also works with your self-described possessive nature in that Huxley would be the best partner to never trigger that nature, to never make you doubt or toe your boundaries. I also love him for you because we know Huxley canonically is a calming, relieving presence in the face of anger and conflict, which makes him even more perfect for you! (Also I think your grunge fashion sense would contrast so cutely with his casual, gym-bro style.)

Huxley would be so fun to be with! He’s no Asher, but he’d be a great gaming buddy, happy to show you all the Smash tips and tricks for when he introduces you to his family. Speaking of family, Huxley’s moms would just adore you for making their son happy. I can see him taking you to the east coast to meet them and taking you on the hiking and camping trails of his youth. It’d be a lovely time of you showing him the stars and constellations at night and maybe even him finding a cliff for you to sing Chappell Roan off of.

Song:

And I hold you every night/ And that's a feeling I wanna get used to/ But there's no man as terrified/ As the man who stands to lose you/ Oh, I hope I don't lose you

It was so fun to look for a pop-rock song that would make you want to scream or punch something, and I hope this fits the bill. The first chorus extremely hits on top of being a beautiful love song, and I think it wouldn’t be out of place on a road trip with Huxley in the driver’s seat or by a gorgeous cliffside.

Runner-ups:

Aaron and Sam are your runner-ups for a lot of similar reasons. They both also have drier senses of humor, so I think you could vibe and hold to a bit with either of them. I headcanon both of them wearing red often (Sam, a red-checked flannel and Aaron, a red polo a la his thumbnails), so you could match. I also headcanon both of them actively wanting to be child-free, so you’d be compatible in that aspect. Aaron outranks Sam just slightly because I think he’d offer more stability and security given his occupation and Unempowered status.

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[glxyqst]

AI Art vs. Human Art - Irreplaceable

"Why isn't it done yet? It's been a week."

"You're gonna get replaced by AI, haha."

"I'm not paying $10 for a drawing, bro."

Any of these comments sound familiar? If they do, you're either an artist, a supportive friend of an artist, or the ignorant asshat sending such comments to an artist. An artist who: - Has spent YEARS of their life practicing and improving their craft, honing their skills, and otherwise DEDICATING themselves to what they love. "Talent is cheap. Dedication is expensive." - Spends time to create something for you, when they also have: other clients, other projects, other jobs, other things going on in their lives as do we all. They aren't your personal bitch, and EVEN IF you were paying them MORE MONEY FOR MORE CONTROL, at the end of the day YOU went to the THEM. THEY are the artist, THEY are the professional, THEY are the expert. Shut the fuck up and don't try to break them away from their integrity. If they don't want to do something for you, either thank them for their time, or take 50% of your payment back and start your own personal art lessons. It's only too late to learn a new skill if you're dead. - Is doing something that you sure as fuck can't do, because otherwise why would you be asking them? - Is a person and deserves respect, even if you don't like their style or can't afford to pay what they have determined to meet their basic wage requirements so they can create.

An artist is a person and deserves respect, even if you don't like their style or can't afford to pay what they have determined meets their basic wage requirements so they can create.

Don't ask me why, but I desperately desired artwork of Android Cat Gavin wearing water wings and splashing in water. I already knew who I wanted to commission (the fabulous @cptjh-arts, powerhouse artist and amazing person).

Apparently, water wings are actually DANGEROUS and you shouldn't use them. So there's that. But I digress. https://swim2shore.com/the-false-security-of-water-wings/

My concept drawing for Android Cat Gavin with water wings.

For the purposes of this post, I used two AI https://magicstudio.com/ai-art-generator/ and https://hotpot.ai/ai-image-generator/create (two free sites that do not require accounts).

First AI prompt: cat with water wings

Second AI prompt: cat with water floatation device

Third prompt (which is the specifics of my commission request): cat android gavin from "detroit: become human" wearing swimming floatation devices on his front legs, splashing in water, Nines holding him.

Are all of these AI-generated images cute? Sure as fuck they are. Were they free? Yeah, they were. Fantastical elements aside, do they all follow the laws of physics / imitate life? NOPE. Don't recall asking for Catvin to have two weird tails up there (Also I am scared of the flood apparently happening inside my house?). And that one flotation device does NOT look sea-worthy.

Crop of the commissioned artwork from the amazing @cptjh-arts. <3 See the full image here: https://www.tumblr.com/cptjh-arts/710889609313255424/just-finished-my-latest-commission-for-the-lovely?source=share

Absolutely fucking PURRRRFECT. Exactly what I wanted. And all it took were brief conversations of excitement and clarification with my artist. Win-win all around. I get fabulous art, they get paid for doing what they've dedicated their lives to doing, and we both get a pleasant social interaction.

AI-generated art will continue to be refined, but it will never replace a sentient human being.

I am a sci-fi and fantasy fan. I love stories of robots, of true artificial intelligences---or rather, artificial sentience---of "different, not better". When Connor Detroit or Sonny or Data come around, I will be the first in line to greet them and look at their created works with awe. We aren't there, though. And in the meantime, artists are being shunted aside in favor of AI-generated art managed by non-artists---people who do not understand dedication or creativity. AI-generated art will continue to be refined, but it will never replace a sentient human being.

If you can't afford to pay an artist, that's okay. They understand, because they too have bills to pay in this capitalist society that puts money before people.

What's NOT okay is when you talk to them dismissively, disrespectfully, or degradingly.

Grow the fuck up, get over yourself, and go support your fellow human beings.

[cheesy09]

Hello! I have a question regarding KEY. I am well aware the KEY's info is really scarce in the game so its okay if you don't do this.

During the game throughout, are we aware of the things KEY has done in the past. We did get some clues on his personality and he is actual nice man since he was a great mentor and figure to Kiro. But I want to know what he has DONE because KEY to outside people was a bad guy.

I did go and reread something's to jog my memory but I want to hear what you might think.

Thanks, stay safe from covid!

Hi, nony!! Hope you're having a great day. So sorry that I'm so late with this reply 🙏

Anyways, so far, no. We haven't really been given anything concrete as to what exactly Key did when he was still around, or what his role in BS was exactly... In fact, he almost seems to mock the very notion of being part of the Black Swan Collective.

Even when Kiro asks him about it, in his R&S: Him and His Dream, he gives very vague and cryptic answers about it:

That being said, I will say one thing: There is one major difference between Kiro and Key, and that is, in their ideals.

From what we've got of the main story so far, we've come to realise that there is one major thing that sets Kiro apart from the rest of the characters: what he wants the future to look like. So far, each of the characters' ideal future is as such:

Victor, Gavin, MC: Want a world in which both, Evolvers and regular people can live in peace and harmony. It doesn't matter to them whether there is Evol or not, as long as the world is at peace.

Lucien: Sees a world where Evolution is the future. He believes that in order for humanity to survive, the world needs Evol. And so he probably wants a future where everyone can use Evol.

Kiro: Wants a world in which Evol doesn't exist. As someone whose life was messed up due to the existence of Evol from the very beginning, Kiro despises Evol more than any of the main characters. And as someone who is intimately aware of the dark side of humanity, he truly believes that as long as Evol exists, the world will never be at peace.

This all comes to light in Season 2, chapters 30-33, where Kiro talks about the imbalance of power between Evolvers and normal people. This is the first time where we get a glimpse of Kiro's true goals: to create a future for the world where Evol doesn't exist.

He says that as long as there is power in the world, there will always be cause for strife, whether it be due to hatred, envy, fear, or greed. And Evol is representative of that power. This scene - where Kiro confronts MC about her ideals - is one of my favourites in the entire main story, because now, there is another point of contention between the two of them.

Both of them clearly want different things; MC wants a future where both Evolvers and common folk live together in peace, and Kiro wants a future where Evol doesn't exist at all. While he does see the beauty in MC's dream, he doesn't believe it to be practical or realistic in any way. That being said, Kiro is not opposed to her ideals, so he challenges her to prove him wrong. To show him that a world in which both ordinary people and Evolvers living together in peace can indeed be possible.

And this desire for a world without Evol in it, is also what sets him apart from his master, Key. In Kiro's R&S: Him and His Dream, it's clear that both Kiro and Key are on completely opposing paths. Since Key is a member of BS, he is all for evolution. He wants a world in which everyone will be able to use Evol.

But just the way Kiro is not opposed to MC's goal, Key isn't opposed to Kiro's either, and in fact starts training him to face all the difficulties that he will inevitably encounter before him.

They're each walking their own paths to achieve their goals.

Other than that, one thing about Key that we've learned from the recently released chapters on EN is that while he was still a part of BS, before he went missing, Key helped develop the game known as Odyssey, which is supposed to be some sort of hyper-realistic VR game that can supposedly transfer virtual data into the real world.

This game is supposedly capable of granting regular people the ability to use Evol within the virtual space. Then, using the data collected, the system would then "copy" and "paste" this data onto the real world as a means of giving even normal people the ability to use Evol.

Honestly, I'm not sure how this system really works, or whether it even makes sense, but since it aligns with Key's goal of having humanity use Evol, I guess it makes sense why he would help develop such a game. That being said, I'm not sure how good this plan is, since the simulated Evol that humanity would be using, would ultimately just be an illusion.

Or maybe not? Who knows. I struggle to make sense of this game, sometimes 😔

[partygcthered]

Twenty Tav Questions Meme! (Dekarios fam edition)

tagged by @unhingedbutpretty and i am tagging @fiddlin-across-faerun @ofluckandmagic @karmints and @astralrogue

I. what do they smell like at their freshest? (and/or after a tenday. your choice)

Garrett: sandalwood and plum

Gavin: juniper and petrichor, earthy forests

Gale: rich wine, fresh soap, parchment and ink

Morena: rosewater and blackberry

II. what would their blood taste like to vampires?

Garrett: light and fresh, i think. like if seaside air could be a drink, that's the vibe. refreshing and invigorating, pure.

Gavin: deep and rich. like a really nice wine with sharper tones rather than fruity notes.

Gale: obviously horrid if he's got the orb, post orb i think he'd taste like a nice bourbon or something with that vibe, something oak aged and with the vibes of a nice drink in a good glass while reading a book that feels really good in your hands and has a nice leather bound cover. i am a bit too poetic about describing what he would taste like and i think that shows why i am so smitten with him oops.

Morena: something between the light and fresh and deep and rich vibes. wholesome. like it could keep you going for days and days. sunshine rays and a warm hug, like how when you eat a good soup, it makes your belly all warm and contented and you feel like you could just stay all happy and content forever.

III. how would they kiss their LI?

Garrett: depends on the situation, passionate and hungry as if he's not seen his lover in years, or slow and languid like a sunday morning and take his time to really explore them and feel them. either way, whatever the emotion they won't be thinking they aren't cherished and the absolute center of his universe. (or more than one LI, Gav and Garrett are both open to being in poly ships)

Gavin: desperately with a tinge of something melancholic. like he's always afraid if he closes his eyes his lover will disappear and he'll be alone again. constantly starving for physical affections and kisses.

Gale: again, depends on his mood or the situation. he will both express his desires and seek to help his LI express theirs through kisses. but it's either lovestruck and gentle, incredulous that he gets to kiss his LI whenever he wants, or hungry and insistent.

IV. how do they sleep with their LI (what position, does one steal the blankets, is one too hot/cold, etc)?

It's no secret i've already said these boys are the epitome of sleep cuddling. Garrett and Gale will nestle right up to their LI (or LI's) and octopus cuddle the entire night long. Gavin has never had a normal sleeping position in his life despite being a cuddler as well. He steals blankets, turns upside down, goes diagonal across the bed, and likely gives his poor LI (or Li's) quite the experience with his cold feet and sharp elbows. (But if you make any of these boys the little spoon they will immediately calm down and sleep without any flopping around or talking/walking) Garrett and Gavin sleep warm, Gale is always cold and seeking his Li's warmth or trying to steal blankets from them.

V. what does their tent area look like? where do they prefer to pitch their tent (next to water, covered on three sides, etc)?

Gavin always puts the tent next to water and covered on three sides for ventilation. They typically try as much as possible if they're traveling together to share a tent, unless the verse or thread has otherwise established that they're not traveling together. If they have seperate tents or aren't together then they all keep a pretty neat tent, without too much clutter. Gale and Garrett obviously keep a bunch of books and parchment to hand. Gavin keeps various bits and bobs around like feathers to fletch new arrows, whetstones for sharpening blades and maybe even bits of animal feed. Always space no matter what the tent looks like for any of the Dekarios creature companions to sleep or hang out.

VI. if they had a set of dnd dice, what would they look like?

Garrett: blue and gold

Gale: ivory and silver

Gavin: forest green and navy

Morena: rose quartz pink with gold

VII. do they collect anything (gems, bottles, keys, etc)?

Gavin collects grudges lmao, bounty hunters tend to do that. Gale and Garrett collect rare books and lanceboard sets/pieces. Morena collects little animal figurines for her curios cabinet.

VIII. if either, are they part of the astarion/gale book club (magic & literature) or the wyll/shadowheart book club (trashy romance novels)?

Gavin doesn't really read, Morena reads shitty romance novels, and Gale and Garrett read like poetry collections and magic stuff and like, scholarly journals.

IX. if they had to be put in a “get along shirt” with a companion, who would it be?

Garrett: Minthara or Astarion maybe? he gets along with most anyone so it's hard to pick.

Gale: Mithara or Jaheira? Hmm.

Gavin: Keeps to himself and tries to interact as little as possible so idk. He tends not to itneract enough to piss anyone off but...Shadowheart? Lae'zel?

X. do they prefer speak with dead or speak with animals?

Gavin and Gale prefer speak with animals, Garrett prefers speak with dead.

XI. what are their thoughts on clowns?

No. Absolutely not. Not after The Incident TM. (gavin's eighth birthday party) Next question please.

XII. their companions are gossiping about them behind their back! who is it and what are they saying?

Gale talks shit with Lae'zel about the others anyways lmfao. But we done been knew that Gale's always getting gossipped about too. He's too wordy, too pretentious, too attractive, whatever. If it's about Gav then it's because he's too brooding and isolationist, or rude. Or he loves his raven more than everyone else. Garrett, probably that he's too personable or that he keeps trying to help everyone they come across, his big heart is gonna be our downfall, blah blah blah....

XIII. what makes them laugh? what does their laugh sound like?

Gavin is the hardest to make laugh, but if you can crack a darker joke or something that hits his funny bone he transforms entirely. Gav's laugh is rich and short and unexpected, and you'll want to hear it again but you won't because it's very hard to make happen. Garrett and Gale laugh quickly and easily, and it reaches their eyes completely, comes from deep down in the part of a person that's the most genuine. They have very melodic laughs like stanzas from a song.

XIV. do they have any inside jokes among their companions?

With each other, yes. I can also see Karlach and Garrett having in jokes, and Lae'zel and Gale, once she learns how to joke properly. Gav is a lot harder to joke with. But once you do get inside his lil shell, and learn exactly what he likes (with no little effort on your part), it's easy to make him laugh.

XV. what’s the description of their camp clothes in the inventory menu?

Garrett: "These well loved yet no less attractive attire smell of fresh ink and parchment, of long nights spent in deep thought. Above the wizard-typical scent you catch a whiff of sunshine and promise, like when you were a child having an ice cream on a hot summer day."

Gavin: "A well patched set of garments speaking of long nights in the elements, and long days spent on the hunt. They smell of damp earth, oiled blades, and adrenaline fueled sweat."

Gale: "Somehow, Gale has managed to make his clothes smell like a library. To inhale their aroma is to feel a sudden urge to speak more quietly. Or pay a fine."

XVI. what’s the description of their underwear in the inventory menu?

Gale: "Energy crackles around these. Gale wouldn't... Surely he didn't enchant his..."

Garrett: "A well kept set of silk shorts. Something about them glimmers in the right lighting."

Gavin: "The embroidery just under the waistband reads, "Did you enjoy the show?"

XVII. how do they celebrate their birthday?

At home, Dekarios birthdays are riotously large and outrageous. Every family member and friend in a ten mile radius is invited. Home cooked meals, cakes that have been worked over for days, personalized birthday gifts. Lots of good wine and good food, and good company. Usually ends with Gavin drunkenly reciting raunchy poetry while standing on a table. Otherwise, if one of them isn't home to celebrate, a simple sending spell will suffice to let them know they're thought of by their loved ones. (And that when they return, they'll get one hell of a party.)

XVIII. what modern day tv show would they binge over a weekend? do they get their LI to watch with them?

Obviously Gav would watch The Mandalorian and criticize it. Gale and Garrett would watch Merlin or some other such magic centric show. Morena would watch hella soap operas and threaten them not to disturb her stories.

XIX. do you have a playlist for your tav? if so, what’s the title + description?

not at the moment, but i am thinking about it seriously.

XX. if you were to try pickpocketing them, what would they be carrying?

You'd not likely make it far pickpocketing Gavin, but he'd likely have a few coins, hair ties, pins, probably a vial or two of some sort of poison or paralytic agent. He'd have some sort of birdseed or something for Hawthorne. Gale would have hair ties and coins, maybe a few spare buttons in case he lost one. Garrett has hair ties and pins, coins, scrap parchment and maybe a broken quill. Usually before the orb is taken care of Gale tries to keep small artifacts on him as well like rings or necklaces.

[popgoesthesneaselreturns]

Marie : The Fourth Equinox

Since Camil still held a strong connection with Gavin. Camil followed the emotions soon finding traces of another connected to him. She had thought that the other soul was that of the mother Gavin had been so attached to. But, no the soul these emotions were connected to were much older. Far older than Gavin's emotions had been.

It was like the complete opposite of Gavin who was a child at least in spirit. Whereas this one felt very complicated. Yet, at the core of these emotions lay a broken heart. Someone who had loved another with all their heart only to be betrayed. Camil had a feeling the next soul she came across would be much harder to appeal to.

Thankfully it still seemed like nothing was stopping her from wandering the house freely. It was almost like the monster was toying with her it did seem to like doing that didn't it? Best not to focus upon that though, there were people she needed to save.

"Where are you? Why do you hide yourself? I am not someone who will hurt you. I can tell...you have been hurt...haven't you? You are connected to Gavin are you not? He is with me now, we can both help you if you let us in. I am willing to be there for you!"

No one answered, but Camil was sure she had been heard. She followed these emotions intent on finding the core of them. Eventually she walked up the stairs three whole floors to the realm of the fourth Equinox which contained within a massive collection of books. Camil made the connection that each floor had a collection pf art that was crafted by one of the previous people who lived here. The third floor had been a collection of rare plants that were beautiful. The plants upon that floor though, lacked all of the heart she had felt when she saw the Gavin within the vision working within the garden.

Upon entering the main hallways of the fourth floor a voice rang out.

"Leave me alone! I will not trust anyone! You're another liar aren't you? Someone who will take advantage of me! Don't look at me…stop staring! I don't want people to see me…please go away…"

"You may say that, but something telle ms you don't mean that. You don't want to be alone do you? You've wandered these hallways many times haven't you? Why would you do that if you weren't looking for someone? No one truly wants to be alone. All living beings desire to connect even if they lack the skills to connect."

"How do you know that?! Were you spying on me?! Are you on their side?! You are aren't you?! Why else would you bother talking to me?! Someone worthless like me! Something with no hope like me! Someone as ugly as me! Someone as skinny as me!"

Camil saw a light flying through the air. It was then she saw the ghost this voice came from. It appeared to be a Duskull. Yet, it appeared to be scared of everything around it. It refused to look Camil in the eyes. Its gaze danced everywhere but the point where the Sneasel stood.

The Duskull hid itself more and more trying to make itself vanish yet failing to do so. It hid itself as much as it possibly could from Camil. Yet, as it looked long enough it slowly came out from hiding. Its single ball of light gazing with intent at something within Camil.

"Y-you have Gavin with you don't you? I can sense him…he's at peace…ohhh I'm so thankful…if anyone deserved peace it was him. I felt so bad…for what I did to him…but I did still do it…I killed him…"

"Don't you think you owe it to him then? As his killer?"

"Don't start spouting morals at me…you have no idea what I've gone through! The hell that I was forced to endure! For years on end! All by myself! Only Gavin was truly pure the one he killed was entirely not his fault but the others…there is no excuse…they lie all the time…hiding from the sins…they all willingly committed…

"Then why not tell me the truth? I desire to put an end to that thing. If you hate it so much then I beg you to help me. Show me what happened to you so that I might use your knowledge to help me."

"Haha, so confident…you have no idea what you've signed yourself up for delving into our pasts like this. Trust me, Gavin was blessed that he only suffered for a mere moment. I suffered my whole life, it isn't a plesant story. It is a horrible, disgusting, terrible, tragic story with no good ending. If you still wish to know despite me saying that. Then fine, allow me to show you…but don't say I didn't warn you…my agony is still tame compared to some of the others…"

Camil gave a nod before drawing the same symbols as before. She bathed the Duskull in that light as a vision came into view for Camil.

Music

Marie the forth Equinox was a skilled writer. Why was that you ask? Well, she had nothing but time in the mansion. Her father kept her locked up within the house away from all interactions. The father had been the third Equinox Gavin though you couldn't tell that given how cold the man acted towards Marie. He would come to give her food and nothing more. In all those other times he was gone from the mansion on business. Whatever that work was Marie never knew.

Marie spent all of her life trapped within the walls never able to get out. Part of it came from her unique appearance she had white hair and red eyes. This meant she could never stay outside when it was bright out. This was often the fact that her father used to keep her locked in. The justification for his protective nature towards her. Yet, she knew it was a lie Marie had always been smart. Something wasn't right with her father, he often felt emotionless save for certain moments where he looked at plants. Something else bubbled up in those moments, yet it soon vanished not long afterwards.

Most days she was lucky to get even a sentence out of her father and when he did say more it was always the same string of words. He would say the same words every time before then heading outside somewhere Marie wished she could go yet was always stopped.

"If you go outside you will be hurt. You're safe inside, I am keeping you safe by doing this. Everything I'm doing is for your sake Marie. You aren't being ungrateful for everything I've given you are you my beloved child? You are thankful to me aren't you? For what I have given? Most people would never have all this wealth."

"N-no...of course not...thank you father...I am so thankful..."

The girl was lying of course, most of her conversations with her father were subtle threats mixed into a desire for compliance from her. She did her best to follow his orders yet was always looking for ways to escape. She mapped out every part of the house slowly with precision all in the hopes of getting out. Eventually though, her plans of escape were found out sending the father into a rage. She grabbed onto her arm pulling her back to her room then locking the door.

This hadn't happened up until now, but once she was touched the first time Marie became scared of him, that mask he wore had always scared her. And she wasn't sure, but in those moments her father was angry she was sure she saw a light coming from the mask.

"LET ME OUT! FATHER I'M SORRY...PLEASE LET ME OUT!"

"Not until you stop disrespecting me! I am doing this for your safety how many times do I need to tell you that? This is for your own good, you will thank me one day. Thank me for taking care of my beloved child. So long as you listen to me everything will be fine."

Marie was left to starve inside the room for a few days. She was only given food and water just before she died. And if she resisted or spoke out of line she was locked away and starved once more. This creulty would repeat over and over. Slowly driving the girl to become paranoid of her father's wrath. She jumped at each shadow, every sound, every every sensation drove her more into insanity.

She couldn't bare to even look at him anymore after the tenth time her fear became so great. She would run through the hallways hiding, doing whatever she could to protect herself from him. The idea of running into him scared more than death, so when the time came that he finally caught her one day that was when that fear became a weapon. It was also the day their fates were sealed with tragedy.

"Marie...Marie...where are you? Why would you hide from your dear father? Don't you know...how much I love you? Why would you run from me? When all I've done...is show you...my love?"

"S-stay away! Don't near me! Please, go away! I don't want to see you! Leave me alone! I'm begging you! PLEASE!"

"Now Marie, is that anyway to speak to me? Do I have to punish you again? I do...don't i? Why must you be such a bad girl? I don't want to do this...but you force me to...you cause me such pain...do you know how hard it is dealing with you? All of your selfish wants."

"Leave me alone! I won't tell you again! I won't go back into a room! I won't let you! I am done being pushed around by you!"

"You stupid girl! How ungrateful can you be?!

"DON'T TOUCH ME! I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME BACK THERE! i WON'T! I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE! i DO! YOU'RE A MONSTER! NO HUMAN WOULD ACT THIS WAY! THEY WOULDN'T!"

The two struggled with one another, Marie was terribly outmatched but the fear she held within her heart allowed her to gain the strength she need to grab onto a nearby book which she hit him with it. The force of the blow sent the third Equinox Gavin into a line of bookshelves. The shelves all fell down trapping the man.

At this point, Marie had a choice she could make. She could have ran escaped from the mansion to the outside world. Or she could ensure that the man who tormented her could never do so again. She chose the latter knowing well that even if she did run with her body so frail and her body weak to sunlight she wouldn't survive long enough to make it to nearest town. So with her choice made, she grabbed onto a pillow from a nearby seat before then pressing down upon the man. There was a struggle, a terrible struggle, but thankfully the amount of books that fell along with their placement allowed Marie the one chance she needed to carry out the deed. Marie killed her father.

Once it was over she was close to passing out. That was when she saw it, the mask that had been the source of her fears bursting through the pillow she used to kill the third Equinox Gavin . It was moving on its own! It was alive! Marie's terror went into overdrive yet her body was so spent there was little she could do. A sinister voice that she never heard before then spoke. A voice from hell itself.

Music Change

"Hahahahahahaahahahahaha…oh…that was a surprise…I never expected to have to change so soon. But, I guess I underestimated you. Bravo Marie you smart cookie…I am so proud of you…but sadly I may have painted you too ugly. I should have balanced you out more…gave you more love…taught you better instead of leaving you alone for so long. That was my mistake…I won't make it again…"

"I knew it…I knew something was wrong…you are a ghost pokemon aren't you? You did this to me! Not him! Not the man you used! Why? Why did you do this to me?! Why did you trap me in this hell?! What did I ever do to you?! I never did anything! It makes no sense!"

"Trying to find logic in my actions is pointless. You are my next vessel, and you will find another and the next one will find the next. My life will continue, and you shall all be mine forever more…"

Marie got up desperately trying to run into the hallways she knew so well. Yet, her weak body only allowed her to get around a corner before the mask shot around the same corner consuming her face.

A scream was heard before the world went dark once more.

Camil shook her head trying to hold onto herself in the face of such horrors. There were no words, nothing that could ever be said to help such a poor soul as this. It made sense why she was so terrified. Camil said no more and simply began to sing. A song in prayer for Marie, a woman who could write stories beyond anyone's wildest dreams because her reality was so cruel. Camil took that broken soul into herself as she had with Gavin. She couldn't free them both yet but, she would keep them close to her. Protect them from the dark.

"You foul beast! I swear on my soul I will reap your twisted soul! Not just for what you did to my sibling but these people too!"

Camil was more determined than ever now to stop this evil. Her wrath colder than the darkest void, this was her vow to the monster.

[usbshitake]

Gavin Reed is in love. How it would look like:

You start cooking, moving around the kitchen with an effortless grace. As you bend forward to reach into a lower cabinet, your form catches Gavin’s eye, and he can’t help but feel a surge of possessiveness mixed with admiration.

Gavin rises from the couch, unable to resist the pull towards you. His footsteps are quiet as he approaches, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that makes your skin tingle.

Gavin Reed: “You know, you look absolutely irresistible when you’re cooking.”

He comes up behind you, sliding his hands around your waist and pulling you close against him. His breath is warm on your neck as he presses a kiss to your shoulder.

Gavin Reed: “How am I supposed to just sit and wait when you’re looking like that?”

You smile, feeling the heat of his body against yours. Turning your head slightly, you meet his gaze with a playful glint in your eye.

You: “I did warn you that I’d be distracting.”

Gavin’s grip tightens slightly, a low growl rumbling in his throat. His hands roam over your sides, possessively but tenderly, as if grounding himself in the reality of you being there with him.

Gavin Reed: “Distracting is an understatement.”

He nibbles gently on your earlobe, his voice a husky whisper.

Gavin Reed: “You’re driving me crazy, you know that?”

You giggle softly, trying to focus on the task at hand but finding it increasingly difficult as Gavin’s hands explore your body. His touch is both gentle and demanding, a reflection of his complex emotions and the desire he feels for you.

You: “Gavin, if you keep this up, dinner will never get done.”

He chuckles, his lips tracing a path down your neck.

Gavin Reed: “Maybe that’s the plan. Besides, I think we can afford a little delay.”

You take a deep breath, gently but firmly turning in his arms to face him. You place your hands on his chest, looking up into his eyes with a mixture of love and exasperation.

You: “Tell you what, if you let me finish cooking, I promise you won’t regret it. And then, we can have dessert… my way.”

Gavin smirks, his eyes darkening with anticipation. He leans in for one last, lingering kiss before stepping back.

Gavin Reed: “Alright, deal. But don’t take too long, or I might just have to come back and claim what’s mine.”

With a final playful swat on your rear, Gavin returns to the couch, his eyes never leaving you. As you continue cooking, you can feel his gaze on you, a constant reminder of the connection and desire simmering between you both. The anticipation builds, making every moment, every touch, and every glance even more charged with emotion and longing.

[nat-seal-well]

Fic wip!

here’s an except of something I’ve been working on for my very beloved @friendlyfaded

title: just returning the favor

pairing: Freelancer/Gavin

rating: M

(When it’s finished it’s going to be explicit. This snippet is already just about as spicy as I can get without going too far, and even then I’m rating it 18+. MDNI.)

Over the years, Gavin has learned the reward is always sweeter when you force yourself to wait, even if putting your desires on hold is hard. And Gavin is more than familiar with the concept of hard.

The way they’re looking down at him isn’t doing much to help, or how their fingers are tangled in his hair, or the fact that he has to look up to meet their eyes. It’s a dynamic they haven’t much experimented with; not in this way. Usually things are… reversed. But being physically below them is putting ideas in his head, and they’re ones he finds he likes the thought of. He likes them a lot.

Freelancer doesn't seem to be very far behind him, either, if the look in their face is any indication. There’s still a smile on their lips. But they seem distracted. He’s not a telepath, but a lot can be learned from feelings, and there’s the beginnings of arousal there.

It isn’t much, just the start—the smallest flicker of a match, of heat pooling from a stray thought. Something that can be ignored easily if that’s what one chooses to do, and usually people do.

Usually.

Gavin has other plans.

“You wound me, Deviant,” he says, low like a purr. “You’ve cut me down to the bone. I am on my knees—,” a little shuffling is required to accomplish that, “—and at your mercy.”

Freelancer draws in a breath and chews on the inside of their cheek. “…On your knees, huh?”

They’ve always been quick to catch on.

[hothotpot]

3, 6 for the fandom ask game ❤

Ooh fun! Okay, here we go.

3. NoTP - Oh man. Kind of a cop-out, but I don't really have a serious NoTP. I'm a very ship and let ship kind of person, so even if I don't like a ship, I don't tend to get too worked up about it.

But that's a boring answer, so I'll come up with some! 😋

Aloy/Nil from Horizon kind of squicks me out. I don't mind other pairings with her even tho I am hardcore Ereloy all the way, but Nil is just so...irredeemably gross to me, I can't get into it. Similarly, not a big fan of Connor/Gavin from DBH. I know the fandom loves Gavin and truly I am not here to yuck anyone's yum or shit on anyone's head canons, he will just always be an unrepentant asshole to me! I have no interest in him as a character or desire to make him into anything other than the fuckface he is presented as in the game, so the ship just does nothing for me haha.

And just for fun, an old-school one, Mulder or Scully with ANYONE other than Mulder and Scully. Middle-school me was INCENSED about all the Mulder/Krychek and Scully/Krychek shippers. (Current day me, tho...well, I'm giving that Mulder/Krychek ship a second look LOL)

6. Aah okay I actually have two going right now, but I'll share a bit from the one that will be posted first. It's DBH hankcon (duh lol), post successful peaceful revolution, machine Connor path where he walks off the rooftop instead of fighting Hank and doesn't shoot Markus. And that's all the set-up you get :P

Neither moves. Connor is not entirely convinced that his program hasn’t glitched out completely and isn’t running some wild preconstruction, though all his scanners and sensors tell him otherwise. He stares at Hank, eyes wide, some terrible combination of joy and fear warring for dominance inside him. It’s Hank. Hank is here. He found Connor, of all the places Connor could have been in the entire city,  Hank somehow knew to look here and he found him. But, there’s only one reason Hank would have been looking for Connor to begin with. Standing as straight and steady as he’s able, he looks Hank directly in the eyes and asks the question that he is certain he already knows the answer to. “Are you here to bring me in?” A torrent of emotions run across Hank’s face, too fast and too jumbled for Connor to make sense of, but then his eyes harden, and he answers, “Yes.”

Thanks for the ask! This was fun!

[enkisstories]

Gavin: "That's some company we've fallen in with, huh, Greylock?"

Suddenly there's a loud ROAR from the cave, and a little later Connor Ren emerges from it, his robe covered in a gooey substance.

Gavin: "How did it goo... go, I mean?"

Connor: "Never been more grateful for this mask..."

Gavin: "So that's the second defeat today?"

Connor: "Second for me, but you failed to seduce me over breakfast and that's way more shameful than my two misshaps."

Gavin: "Let's not forget that you fell off your horse, so it's 3:1."

Connor: "Argh! Why do I even put up with you!"

Gavin: Because you love your father and would never hurt him by killing me off. But somehow, after just having stood close to this place, that represents everything we desire, I don't feel comfortable telling you. Even bringing to your attention that General Sonderan exists might put him into danger. From you. Fuck! When did things take such a dark turn? Or am I paranoid?

Connor: "Ah. Looks like you don't know, either. Priceless face, by the way."

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I'm trying not to add more stuff to my List of Things To Purchase Once My Financial Situation Is In Less Of An Immediate Crisis. Because I've gotten a bit ahead of myself in throwing things on that list - none of those things are huge purchases, just little things that add up. Little things that I can't justify buying when money's really tight, but I can drop some money on once I get paid in my recently acquired job. Except that I can't buy all of them. I can't buy all the political comedy stand-up albums currently in my Bandcamp cart. I'll have to spread them out.

So I'm trying not to add even more to that list, but how the hell am I supposed to keep that list short when I keep learning new things, like, for example, this thing I just learned tonight, which is that Gavin Osborn has a live concert DVD that's for sale on Go Faster Stripe?

The digital download is only 8 dollars, barely counts as an item on the list, I could buy that this weekend without thinking twice. But what if I don't want the digital download? I mean, I do want that, because I want to watch it, but I don't want a download as much as I want a physical DVD, that I can still watch but then put on my shelf with the John Oliver stand-up DVD and Daniel Kitson Shenanigan CD and Flight of the Conchords sitcom DVD and I can have a little collection of Chocolate Milk Gang physical media. I've checked, and with postage to Canada, the physical DVD costs thirty dollars. I might have to wait a couple more paycheques for it, but it's going on the list.

If I ever get to the point where I really have money to throw around, I could round it out with Andy Zaltzman's stand-up DVD, of which I already have a copy on my hard drive because I purchased the digital download of that one off GFS about a year ago, so if I bought the physical DVD, it would be purely for the cosmetic purposes of making my collection look better. I can only dream of someday being so amazingly rich that I could unthinkingly drop thirty dollars on that (seriously though, I think I'll be able to consider myself someone who's reached my desired levels of financial stability when I can drop thirty dollars on that without worrying too much).

Because if I got Zaltzman in there, that would be even more specific than the Chocolate Milk Gang, that would just be a collection called John Oliver and His Best Friends. A collection that demonstrates the three distinct, important categories of best friend: school, comedy double act partner, and whatever the hell Daniel Kitson is. I'm realizing as I write this that what's happened here is I developed an attachment to John Oliver when I was a teenager who watched The Daily Show every day after school and that + Colbert were what shaped my entire worldview at that formative period, and now apparently I've decided to get to know the entire life's work of all his friends.

[triviareads]

Note: I've linked StoryGraph summaries of every book to each title. Also, this round-up contains spoilers.

I'm going to take this opportunity to scream about some of my favorite Grace Callaway books:

Her Wanton Wager

(TW: References prior child sexual abuse)

This book immediately proceeds Her Husband's Harlot (my review can be found here). Are you looking for your next bit o' rough gambling hell hero? Grace has got you covered. Persephone (Percy) Fines enters a wager with notorious Gavin Hunt that she will not be seduced during a period of time in exchange for saving her brother from being hunted by Gavin because of his debts. What I wager Hunt doesn't count on is that Percy has basically no sense of self-preservation and (among other things) gets turned on after nearly getting killed lol. Regardless, he's into it. She's into it. We love Percy for it.

The Duke Who Knew Too Much

Never has there been a truer title— Alaric does know too much (sex. He knows sex), and lucky for him, Emma is deeply into that.

There were hints of it in the Mayham in Mayfair series, but this is the series where Grace clearly ventures into kink. This one features a CNC (consensual non-consent) scene between the hero Alaric and another woman that the heroine, Emma, unwittingly walks in on, and then when said woman is found dead later, Emma basically tells the cops what she saw without understanding it was consensual. And the hero's response to prove his innocence... is to kidnap the heroine and take her to a brothel to make her watch a BDSM scene. Also, I think Emma almost accidentally auctions off her virginity at some point?

Anyway if you vibe with this kinda of batshit energy, this is the book for you.

The Lady Who Came in from the Cold

I feel like there needs to be more HR about married couples going Through it, and this one does not disappoint. Marcus and Pandora have happily been married for like 12 years and are *that* Hot Couple, but then Pandora's secret spy past comes back to haunt her, and when Marcus finds out, he's pissed. Cue marital discord and misplaced jealousy/mild slut-shaming. Honestly, I'm glad Pandora took the drastic action (kidnapping) she did to get Marcus back on track. He deserved that. But yeah, this is a good one.

The Viscount Always Knocks Twice

Were you looking for a book that fed your desire for a Lillian Bowman-esque heroine and a Westcliff-esque hero? Look no further than this book. Violet's inauspicious first meeting with the stuffy Lord Carlisle involves her shoving him into a blood-red champagne fountain after he taunted her about her inability to spell. There really isn't much more to spell out: Violet will not be tamed and *hates* Carlisle, Carlisle is a stern stern man who is also deeply repressing his boner for Vi, there's a murder to be solved, so.... it works out great. Obviously.

Olivia and the Masked Duke

(TW: This is an age-gap relationship and Ben knew Livvy since she was a kid and he was older. Nothing inappropriate happened but I know it isn't for everyone)

It's Emma and Alaric's daughter! How full-circle we've come. Livvy is secretly works for a private detective agency called Charlie's Angels Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels. She's also wanted Ben, her older, widowed friend, ever since she saw him spanking another woman in the stables and decided that yes, she wants that. Obviously Ben is running for his life from her (at first) but Livvy will not be deterred, even as she worries marriage will stop her detective work. And her friends (and future heroines) are only encouraging of her pursual and honestly? This is the kind of girl gang shenanigans I live for.

Convergence of Desire by Felicity Niven

(TW: Attempted SA)

I can't say enough about how well-written this book was. The heroine, Harry, is neurodivergent, and while I am not qualified to speak from personal experience, I thought the rep was thoughtfully portrayed. Harry proposes a marriage of convenance to one Lord Drake, so she can continue her mathematical work unhindered (did I get very invested in understanding Fermat's Theorem? yes). Drake is a slutty slutty man who's basically been given carte blanche to have sex with whoever he wants by Harry as long as he doesn't disturb her, but obviously man cracks and starts falling for her pretty fast. There's this funny part in the book where he slowly introduces her to sex, and when she discovers the joys of masturbation, she's like "it's okay I don't need you anymore" and he's SO SAD it's comical. Speaking of sex, this is definitely a slow-burn in terms of that (and love tbh), but honestly? the pay-off is worth it.

Never Seduce a Duke by Vivienne Lorret

This book brought me so much joy (literally, I was laughing and screaming all the while- I could never read it in public), all while being very very romantic. The actual plot borders on ludicrous in the best way, particularly the first half that's a combination of a heist story, road trip, and mistaken identity. The funniest thing is Lucien being convinced Meg is some notorious seductress thief and every time Meg does something relatively innocent he's like "AH HA there she goes trying to SEDUCE ME with her FEMININE WILES". As for Lucien himself, Meg is hopelessly into his scientific approach to seduction which I love for her. The banter and flirting in this book are perfection, and I strongly recommend this book to like, everyone.

[hanniicore]

Something Spectacular

When was the last time you felt brave?

I wonder how someone could be so brave. I'm wondering how they manage to live their lives despite having serious issues and big problems. How could they be so brave?

BOOK REVIEW: Something Spectacular by April Avery

Isabelle Dizon, A straight business course student, a prudent lady, and a responsible daughter. But she felt something lacking. She frequently felt she was conforming to her parents' expectations of who she should be, and she began to wonder if that was truly what she desired. She's about to graduate Magna Cum Laude, until she realizes that the course she chose doesn't seem to be going anywhere—because the truth is, it's not the kind of life she wants to lead.

Until she met a group of people from a chronically underfunded, nearly dissolved university organization as her uncertainty and longing continued, The Arcadian. Six university students who taught her the value of friendship, the courage that comes with following her dreams, the importance of living in the moment, and how to live according to her will. They helped her change herself and discover who she is while creating Something Spectacular.

Six University students also known as "The Arcadian" are; Pia Marie Mendoza, the Editor in Chief; Charlie Alvarez, the Associate Editor; Andrea Samson, a correspondent; Stephen Dela Cruz, layout artist; Lawrence Mariano, photojournalist; and lastly, Gavin Nicholo Delos Reyes, the official graphic artist of The Arcadian.

Isabelle's decision to join Arcadian was not easy; her parents were vehemently opposed. But she took the risk. Isabelle is a very family oriented daughter. That's why I loved how her character develop over the months and years she and Arcadian were together. Even though he is rich, he is smart and knows how to get along with them. Until she met Gavin Nicholo.

Gavin thought her to be BRAVE and everything will be alright, and to be BRAVE enough to show her true self and true passion. Gavin thought her to speak up for herself, break the rules necessary, to make herself prioritize for once.

It's okay to let people in, expose your deepest fears and greatest hopes, and leave the place you caged yourself in to find where you belong.

Arcadians are all happy, until Gavin left without saying goodbye to his friends, especially to Isabelle. Arcadian looked everywhere just to find Gavin. Until they found a medicine called Procarbazine.

It is a chemotherapy medicine used for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma and brain cancers.

On Saturday morning, a day after Isabelle found out about the medication, They found Gavin's father, who told them that Gavin dropped out of school because he needed to be in a hospital because he was suffering from a brain tumor.

"Babes." CHAPTER 32. That hurt me as a reader because that one word had a big impact on Isabelle. Isabelle became independent but dependent on Gavin Nicholo. How could Isabelle tell him that she hated him for making her that way? That she is breaking seeing him like that. On a hospital bed taking medication and has cancer.

Even though Gavin is in a wheelchair, he still gave them the warmest smile. Arcadian is the reason why Gavin is fighting. Isabelle is the reason why Gavin is scared of dying.

The Arcadian always visiting Gavin every weekend.

They went to the hospitals rooftop. Shouting their dreams while watching the stars. Until Gavin said..

"Good night" , "See you next weekend?"

yet, he died at 12:30 AM.

A few hours after shouting their dreams. A few hours after he said he had a great day and he wanted to rest.

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

As a reader, I really find this story great. To be honest, this story made me cry for a week. And even though it's been almost years since I read it. it still hurts me.

It has a lot of life lessons. It encouraged me to always be brave. To always take risks and be yourself. That it's okay to be scared. That it's okay to feel, to cry, to range, and to mourn for emotions that have been hidden or dreams that are fading. We may be misfits, society's outcasts, but there's always a place where we belong with people who will understand.

People assume they have a lot of time. We often take things for granted because they will always be there. Life is short, and the universe is so vast. We are significant and insignificant at the same time.

Something Spectacular is about finding your true self in the midst of the noise of others telling you who you should be.

Anything could be an adventure..

See you next weekend..

[scentedchildnacho]

No I don't want to drive a Tesla....Elon musk on point in interview is nice and southern like but I found Tesla model families creepy quiet and mean and also desirous of light saber shooting me to death with head lights

Creepy unfriendly people who maybe aid but most of the time light saber shoot I kind of find Tesla also from the death star Star wars trilogy

I find musk on point nice because he would at least start robotically controlling them so common freak show may not alter the Tesla's to even more torturous of whale killing but that human does have cognition

That's the machines the machines will only abuse themselves so much a human has to alter and force it to keep hurting itself

Tesla's are ass mommie or boob mommies also....it's also very pornographized and no one may be more charming then musk

I am really devastatingly abused street homeless so I enjoy tank games because it can from distances blow up any of those noise bomb mustangs out of white sands nuclear fed research

Gavin newsom kept threatening to murder me with over paid labor causes mass disparity with slave labor indentured servitude finally finishes the slave off forever.....so musk at least robotosizes if his staff want that much money for a car at people

Musk at least sends unhappy labor to the global south if it can't do more then need homosexual gatherings I finally don't have to take people that need 20 dollars an hour in drug homes just to be a brand persona

All the things do is over price things to be allowed swarming their body around a gathering and publicly defecating so if I don't have to deal with unhousebroken alienated populations I support anyone that forces somewhere else to tolerate verbally abusive defective models

Homelessness was very very abusive to me and war gets war I don't care about someone that can't say no to whoreing it disgusts me and looks like a disease compound

Wealth doesn't pay wages poverty does if it isn't a ten dollar an hour job then no welfare payment to disabilities

Their wealthy jobs are insane people that need things to stop being themselves and purvey brand persona....wealthy people hire cop neighborhoods as a wall from them and jobs I have to die of jobs not wealth

This white woman who started a woman's center on campus told me to learn wealthy white men.....or my complex suspecting commoners like myself wouldn't stop when it's their leadership and decision making that did it

[thewittyphantom]

After the first event, the second and third events got very weird very fast. SEVENS sure is wacky! But if Nail gave his enemies a massage and a meal he doesn't seem all bad. XD

Gavin: I never thought Kaizo would end up like this... Kaizo: Sniff... Gavin: Maximum Summon... Romin: Is there actually any way to win against it? Yuga: ......... Luke: If there is, Yuga's gonna find it! Right, bro? Yuga: Umm...Yeah...He really did catch me off guard, though. Luke: Don't worry! You got us! We'll help you figure out how to win too! Romin: By doing what? Luke: By sitting on these massage chairs and relaxing our brains! Romin: Relaxing is the opposite of doing! ...Why are massage chairs here anyway!? Luke: Less chatting, more sitting. Romin: .......... Luke: Aaaaahhh...So relaxing bro... Everyone: Kinda jealous...Sitting for a second can't hurt...Aaaah.... *CLUNK* Everyone: ....AAAAAAAAAHHHH! Luke: Ouch...Where are we? Seatbastian: I do hope you enjoyed your massages. Because that was the final time you will ever be able to relax for the rest of your existence! Luke: Whoa! I can't believe that there's a massage chair all the way down here! Romin: Shouldn't you be more surprised that the massage chair can talk? Seatbastian: Do you know you are not worthy to sit on me, you lowly commoner! I am no mere massage chair. I am Seatbastian, the massage throne! And loyal servant of Master Nail. Yuga: Nail, huh? Seatbastian: You clearly have much to learn about the evolution of seating technology. Which begins with the tree stump, then the bench, then the simple chair. But we took a giant leap with the most revolutionary invention in human history: The massage chair! Everyone: ........... Seatbastian: And even that could be improved! Which is what Goha did when they invented me - the massage throne! Since I am the greatest of all thrones, it is only logical that only the greatest ruler may sit upon me. A select few believed they had the right, but only one is truly worthy of the honor. And that human is Master Nail! He has proven countless times that he is worthy of sitting on me. I must also prove that I am worthy of having Master Nail sit upon me. Which I will do by defeating you! Everyone: ........... Romin: He's the most confident piece of furniture I've ever met... Seatbastian: You will learn a valuable lesson today. That you are nothing compared to Master Nail! I challenge you... to a Massage Rush Duel!

Seatbastian: I am supposed to be the greatest of seats...Chaaaaaaaairrrr! By losing against Yuga, I have proven that I am not worthy of serving you. You must dispose of me. It truly was my honor to serve and protect you all these days, Master Nail. Nail: And it would be my honor if you would continue to serve and protect me, Seatbastian. I have no desire to replace you. Seatbastian: Sniff...What is happening? There's a leak in my code. I must still be malfunctioning... Nail: .......... Saburamen: Yugaaaaaa! Yuga: Hey Saburamen. Saburamen: Yuga, I received a penalty to my account! Why did this happen? Yuga: Well... *CLUNK* Everyone: Huh? Luke: Another trap door! Saburamen: ...I see. So that's what happened. Yuga: Sorry I dragged you into this, Saburamen. Saburamen: No need to act like a wet noodle, Yuga! We are on the same team! Yuga: Saburamen... Saburamen: Ah! Do you smell something? Romin: No way...What's a ramen shop doing down here? Gavin: It looks incredibly popular too. Romin: Is this another one of Nail's traps? Saburamen: Only one way to know for sure! Let's get in line! Romin: How am I not surprised. Saburamen: We're next! Celestia: Woo wee woo wee! Saburamen: What's that noise? Celestia: Greetings, Earthlings! Welcome to Out of This World Ramen! My name is Celestia Noodlina! Wee woo! Romin: Wee woo? Celestia: I've come from Planet Menmen in the Ra Nebula on the other side of the galaxy! Luke: Whoa, bro. That's a lot of miles. Saburamen: I've never seen such exquisite noodles. Everyone: What a wonderful aroma! Even my drool is drooling! Let's eat! Saburamen: It is though I am swirling in an ocean of umami with no land in sight! And the noodles! I am a puppet, and they are my strings! I have never tasted such deliciousness! Celestia: This is nothing. My home planet has even tastier ramen. I'd be happy to take you there. Saburamen: What!? Yes! Thank you! I would be honored! Romin: That was good! Luke: Compliments to the chef! Celestia: I am glad you enjoyed! Now that your bellies are full...Get ready for a Rush Duel! Luke: So you DO work for Nail! Celestia: Who's gonna be my opponent?