#he observes what you seem to like the most and buys those more often

[miedei]

Spencer is generally very routine with his eating habits. He knows himself well enough to know when he's hungry, and plans his meals around that. He's regimented enough that he rarely deviates from that. 3 square meals a day, usually a snack between each one, scarfed down at his desk.

He's always got something sweet and longlasting for him— a lollipop or a gobstopper for when he gets peckish and wants to gnaw on something around 16:00.

Alongside his own snack, he always has a little something extra in his messenger bag, not for him.

Next to it, tucked into the little pouch, something savoury for you— a packet of chips, or trail mix. Whenever he notices you're getting antsy (often around 3 hours after lunch, but he doesn't want to sound creepy and point it out), he'll wordlessly fish it out and slide it across his desk on to yours.

You're not dating. Of course not. But he notices. He packs food for you.

[nelle-y]

A love story told through voicelines (III)

C/W: slow-burn, Diluc x gn!reader, reader works at the flower shop in Mondstadt, more Wicked and Epic: the musical references, fluff, angst, Crepus mentioned, rumors, no-no word: twat

Note: Pls pretend Donna doesn’t work at the flower shop yet- (here’s part 1 and part 4)

(You) About Diluc: Smiling

He never smiles—I know that for a fact. But when he came to the flower shop today, I swear the corners of his mouth were pointing slightly upward. Hah, I guess you could say the flowers worked! That’s good. Flora took the cost of those flowers out of my paycheck.

(Diluc) About you: Smiling

The way they smiled at me when I came in today… It was different. It wasn’t just a polite smile, but something deeper, something unspoken. I’ve never been good at reading people, but I think… I think they know more than I realize. I just wonder if I’m ready for whatever this is.

(You) About Diluc: Reputation

There are times I feel whispers on the street that have to do with me and Diluc. It’s not like we’ve been particularly discreet in our lunch meetings, so it’s only natural. I just hope nothing bad will happen because of it. No, I’m not so worried that it eats me alive—I’m tougher than that, you know! I’m prepared to take what’s thrown at me.

(Diluc) About you: Reputation

When it comes to ‘reputations’, eyes automatically lock on me, being the Master of Dawn Winery, and—to the Knights of Favonius and the Abyss—the Darknight Hero. But I’m already used to dealing with rumors and disapproving gazes—it’s them I’m worried about. Do they feel the pressure of being seen with me? Or do they understand that it’s not just the weight of my family name that comes with me, but all the expectations and rumors, too? I want to protect them from all of it. I don’t want them to feel like they’re being judged for something that has nothing to do with them.

(Kaeya) About Diluc: Recent behavior

Master Diluc. I see him gracing the flower shop more often. Haha, tell me, is he buying blooms for the winery… or for someone special?

(Flora) About you and Diluc

They’ve been getting distracted since Master Diluc started to pass by more; always rushing out the door the moment lunch time comes. Ooh, is something going on between them?

(Fischl) About you and Diluc

Ah, the tale of thy heart entwined with the ever-guarded Crimson Knight of Flames has reached my ears! Truly, a most beguiling confluence of fates!

Oz: Mein Fräulein, it seems that their bond appears to be progressing at a steady pace. Perhaps the Crimson Knight has begun to lower his defenses.

Indeed, Oz! I, Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, have observed the signs! The subtle glances, the fleeting moments shared between them—these are no mere happenstance. Yet, let it be known, they must tread carefully, for to enter the heart of a man such as he is to walk through a storm. But fear not! For they art no ordinary soul, and the stars favor their cause.

Verily, shouldst they require guidance, I, Fischl, shall lend my wisdom! Together with the ever-watchful Oz, I shall ensure that their journey to the heart of the Crimson Knight is as glorious as it is fateful!

Oz: Or perhaps simply buying him another bouquet might suffice, mein Fräulein.

Hush, Oz! A saga of this magnitude deserves nothing less than grandeur!

(Venti) About you and Diluc

Ah, the stoic knight and his admiring florist—it’s practically begging to be sung, no?

(Amber) About you and Diluc

I’ve been keeping an eye on those two lately, and honestly? I think there’s something special there. I hope it all works out between them.

(Klee) About you and Diluc

That florist is the best! You know… Master Diluc used to be sooo grumpy all the time, that’s why I thought he was weird. But now, whenever they’re around, he’s a lot less grumpy, and that’s pretty cool! No one’s ever made him smile before. It’s like they have a superpower… with flowers!

(Lisa) About you and Diluc

So someone has finally brought down his walls, huh? Hm, well done.

(Jean) About you and Diluc

I don’t know all the details, but… whatever bond the two of them share, it seems to have brought him a sense of ease that I haven’t seen in a long time.

(You) About Diluc: Constellations

I found him sitting alone near Windrise one night, looking more tense than ever. Without thinking, I sat next to him in silence, just watching the stars with my head near his shoulder. He didn��t say a word neither, but I felt his eyes on me for a brief moment before returning to the costellations above us. I’m not one for silent moments, but there was something comforting with how quiet it was. Like the night spoke for us. It felt… nice.

(Diluc) About you: Constellations

The quiet of Windrise was unlike anything else. I had hoped for solitude that night, but when they sat beside me, I didn’t feel the need to chase them away. They were calm, simply being there, with their presence more than enough. The stars above seemed so distant, but in that moment, with them there, everything felt strangely within reach. I didn’t have to speak. We just… existed together. It was a feeling I wasn’t used to, yet something about it felt right.

(Adelinde) About Diluc: Recent behavior

I’ve seen Master Diluc return to the manor with a lighter step recently. I dare say, it’s been a while since he seemed this… at ease. Reminds me of when he was still a child; always causing trouble, that one.

(You) About Diluc: Could it be?

It’s hard to put into words, but lately, every time he stops by the flower shop or shares a quiet moment with me, I feel this… pull. Like the world is shifting, and he’s at the center of it.

Could it be some kind of sign? That my life, my world, is all about to change?

But then there’s that doubt—that nagging little voice in the back of my head. Maybe I’m just imagining things. What if I’m wrong about him? About us?

Still… I can’t help but wonder.

(Diluc) About you: Could it be?

I can’t stop thinking about them. Every conversation, every glance—it stays with me long after they’re gone.

But then, one question keeps haunting me: do they feel the same?

I’ve always thought myself strong, unshaken by the opinions or approval of others, yet this… this is different. What if I’ve misread everything? What if the way I look at them, the way my heart quickens when they’re near—it’s all just me?

Was I really seeking something good with them, or was I just seeking attention? Am I holding onto this feeling because I don’t know how to let it go?

(Donna) About “you and Diluc”

Oh, you won’t believe what I’ve heard! You know that florist that’s been hanging around Master Diluc all the time? Yeah, turns out—they have a little arrangement, if you catch my drift. And it’s not just the flowers. Hahaha! Seems like a desperate move, but who knows? Maybe they’ve been waiting for more than a paycheck.

(You) About Diluc: Rumors

I thought it wouldn’t matter to him, you know. He seemed like the type not to care about gossip. Maybe I was wrong there. Archons—maybe I was even wrong about us! I’m so confused… how could he throw our friendship away like it was nothing?! All because of that Donna—psh, who even is Donna?! Who is she to mind Diluc and my’s business? If she has something to say, then come on! I’m all ears! In a moment, I’ll be all fists too. She’s just jealous! Twat.

It’s no use being angry, Diluc’s gone. He’s gone… and I don’t know what I can do to get him back. … I need to see him. No—I don’t care if he doesn’t want to talk! He can’t just throw away what we have! Whatever that is. I’m going to the manor!

(Diluc) About you: Rumors

I heard about it… from one of my staff. Some girl, Donna, spreading terrible lies about them. I had the situation dealt with, of course. …They don’t deserve this—these watchful eyes and loathsome minds that seem to misinterpret every step they take. I thought by letting them go, I would be freeing them from all of this. That was the right thing to do, isn’t it? Protect the people I care about, even if it hurts me? That’s what my father would’ve done.

(Diluc) About Crepus: Protecting loved ones

Truth is… I don’t think I’m anything like him. He would have handled this better. He wouldn’t have been so cowardly—so afraid of ruining something good that he let it slip through his fingers entirely. I wanted to keep them safe, to protect them the way I couldn’t protect him. But instead, I’ve only driven them away.

If my father were here, what would he think of me? Would he see me as strong, or as a coward hiding behind excuses? I don’t know anymore. All I know is that I’ve hurt them… and I can’t stop thinking about how much I’ve failed them. I promised to protect them, but I’ve only hurt them. And now… I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to make it right.

—

Note: now how tf do I write part 4-

[themultifandomgal]

Tommy Shelby- Christmas Shopping

Day 3

The streets were alive with the spirit of Christmas, twinkling lights draped over shop windows and the scent of roasted chestnuts wafting through the air. YN and Tommy walked hand in hand, both on a mission. YN always loved Christmas she was the embodiment of holiday cheer, while Tommy had allay been the complete opposite, maybe that’s why they worked so well together

"Do you think he’ll like it?" YN asked looking at a bright red wooden toy truck displayed in a nearby shop window. It reminded her of the one her brother had when they were kids, a nostalgic piece that tugged at her heartstrings. Tommy shrugged, his expression unreadable. He loved his kids sure, but Tommy was never one for spoiling them

"It's not about what they like," it's about what they need. Kids want everything, but they don't always know what's best for them. Clothes might be more practical”

YN paused, considering his words. It was true; children often desired the flashiest toys, but what they truly needed was love and guidance.

“You're right. But I think a little magic wouldn't hurt either," she said with a playful grin “after all, it's Christmas."

They ventured deeper into the market, where laughter echoed and carolers sang familiar tunes. YN's heart swelled with joy as she watched children darting about, their faces alight with wonder. Tommy, on the other hand, observed the scene with a guarded demeanor, his mind perhaps wandering to darker places. Yet, something about the holiday spirit seemed to soften his edges, if only for a moment

"Look over there!" YN exclaimed, pointing to a stall adorned with handmade ornaments “those would be perfect for your aunt. Or for the kids. We could make a tradition out of decorating the tree together, each year buy a new ornament”

“Come on let’s have a look” Tommy knows there’s no point in grumbling, he was the one who offered to join YN with Christmas shopping for the children and rest of the family. As they approached the stall, an elderly woman greeted them with a warm smile

“Welcome, dears! Looking for something special?"

YN picked up a delicate glass ornament shaped like a snowflake, its intricate design glinting in the light

"These are beautiful! I think our daughter would love this" Tommy watched YN's excitement with of admiration

"Let's get a few," he said, surprising himself "one for both of the children, one for aunt pol and one for Ada”

YN's eyes lit up, and she beamed at him

“Really? That's a great idea!" She turned back to the vendor, her enthusiasm infectious. As they selected ornaments, Tommy felt a strange sense of fulfillment. It was foreign but welcomed.

After leaving the stall, they wandered through the market, their arms laden with gifts. YN spotted a booth selling cozy scarves and hats, the perfect addition to their shopping spree

“What do you think? The kids would look adorable in these and they’ are practical” she mused, Tommy chuckled, a sound that surprised even him.

“Yeah, they would. I never thought l'd be out Christmas shopping”

"Life has a funny way of surprising us” YN replied, her eyes twinkling “you know I think this is the most fun I've had in a long time” Tommy glanced at his wife

"Yeah, me too”

[aayakashii]

32 🔪 and 25🔪 for Jiro? I can't really see him calling someone pet names but I can see him mistaking obsessive feelings for scholar curiosity and maybe borderline stalking.

25🔪 “I know everything about you.”

32 🔪 “I’ve always been watching you, beloved”

Warning: yandere behavior, nsfw, masturbation

Jiro could see you with his eyes closed. Much like when you ask someone to picture an apple, in order to diagnose their level of aphantasia, if anyone asked him to close his eyes and picture anything to a level of near-perfection, he would picture you.

He knew every single detail of you. He kept notes on it, in fact. Notebooks upon notebooks of information about you. A stack of paper way thicker than your official patient file, because he included information that definitely did not need to be used when going through an anamnesis.

Sure, he duly noted the usual data. He knew about your health history, your family’s health history, your past medical records, your personal information and every symptom you may have ever had during his care. But hey, that’s to be expected - he was making daily check-ups on you after all.

However, he also knew which drinks you’d buy on a daily basis, your favorite little snacks and how often you’d bite your nails.

He knew how much caffeine you ingested everyday, the way you sighed loudly when you were tired and how you flipped your hair when you were annoyed.

He knew you hummed when you showered, he knew you mumbled when you slept and he knew the placement of every little mole and scar on your body.

Jiro knew everything about you. And a forgotten, mostly silent part of himself felt a bubbling pride over being the only one who could claim that.

He didn’t know who he was before his coma. He lost most memories and unlearned how to feel. Others would call him a mere husk of a human being, something incomplete, and Yuri seemed to find this greatly insulting; Jiro, however, would only blink. He didn’t know what it was to be or not to be human. What made anyone more human than the others, after all? Philosophy became much more of a hassle to understand after he woke up after all those months being half-dead.

But he knew that, amidst the muddled haze of emotions and thoughts, he had one purpose in that new life of his, besides being a doctor’s assistant - and that was to watch you. Something deep in his gut pushed him towards you.

His eyes would follow you everywhere and his feet would take him to your room. He rummaged through your things, analyzed your habits, and read your notes and diaries. He knew he should feel shame over invading your privacy, but there was none (or so he murmured to himself as he rubbed his own face, wiping off a smirk from his lips).

Jiro read all about your fear of mutating into something unknown and that, actually, he could understand. He wouldn’t be able to observe you if you became an anomaly, after all. He needed to find a way to keep you as you are.

He would also go through that one hidden basket, filled with your dirty clothes. He’d always grab one of your shorts and smell it like an addict and something inside him would stir. It was very interesting, he thought, how a rush of blood could feel so pleasant. His hurried hands would push his pants down until his cock was freed, and he would smell you again, wrapping his hand around his length, throwing his head back until breathy moans slipped from his lips. It was good, it felt so good to thrust against his own hand as he suffocated himself with the scent of you. It felt so good, so so good to drench your floorboards with his cum, to mark his presence in your room with stains you’d never see. It felt so good to know you’d sleep with him, in a way.

Gasping for breath, he would watch through the window as you walked in the distance, tired and crestfallen, towards your dorm.

It was always the same thing, everyday. Everyday at 5PM, he’d put everything back in place and slip away, unnoticed, with more of you in his mind - more to write down on his notes.

And the next day, it would be the same thing, all over again. And the next, and the next, and the next.

Yuri and him needed to work harder, he mused. He needed to keep up with his routine.

He has been and would always be watching you, after all, in spite of death.

Full masterlist

[moongothic]

So a few weeks ago I ran into this, old, old Crocodile meta post from 2015, the OP of which hasn't been active on Tumbr (at least on that account) since 2018. And this post (along with some of the OP's other posts) has been living in my head rent free since then.

There was just something there about seeing these old meta posts, completely detached from the current state of the story, the fandom and the Crocodad Propaganda... It just made for a truly refreshing read, but they also had such great observations about Crocodile I hadn't even thought about or noticed*, and somewhat most importantly... validating my own feelings/observations about things I've been kind of afraid to vocalize myself lest I apper completely delulu. Like I dunno I do worry sometimes if I'm just reading into things too much just to make massive reaches to get The Reading of the character that happens to support the Crocodad theory specifically, instead of trying to get a more objective reading instead. So seeing someone else make either those exact same or similar observations nearly 10 years before I did is so validating, and really just made me want to discuss some of those things.

*(Like this whole post about how "DON!" is often used to add emphasis and show the true beliefs of characters, and how Crocodile doesn't really say things with a DON!, almost like his heart isn't in most of the things he does or says. I dunno it was such a good read)

Sidenote: I do want to quickly comment that I don't agree with the OP on some of their readings about stuff, and more importantly, due to the age of the both the original posts and the OP not being active anymore, I didn't want to, like... Treat them as if they just posted it recently and interact with the posts as such. (I dunno, when people go digging through my decade old main blog and start reblogging shit I posted in like 2014 it just. I dunno, it's just kind of uncomfortable. Like you're allowed to browse my past but I wished people let my ancient cringe stay in the past. But that's just me) Like for example I feel like OP has a fundamental misunderstanding what being "trans" really even means (thus I don't agree with their take on trans Croc), but again, OP's take is old and so I don't want to hold it against them. They could have grown since then and come to better understand what being trans means, and regardless of that they don't have to buy into the theory either. And I absolutely do not want anyone to start trying to pester them about it or anything (again, they posted these things nearly 10 years ago), regardless of if they're still active or not. But yeah, that's why this is a whole separate post rather than a reblog with commentary.

So OP in their post speculated how in this moment (chap 206), based on the face he makes and the serious look he gives to Luffy, Crocodile seems to find the idea of someone being willing to die for someone else's sake absolutely incomprehensible, as if he's trying to wrap his head around the mere concept. That, or he used to know what it was like to hold someone/something that dear to you, but has long forgotten what it was like

Rereading this arc a while back I couldn't help but to take notice of this panel too and that unusual, somber(?) look on Crocodile's face. But because I'm a Crocodad Truther, of course I couldn't help but to feel that this was a face of recognition, of Crocodile understanding Luffy exactly in this moment, that willingness to do anything for a loved one. Especially because I have been speculating Crocodile might've been doing all of this with the goal of nuking the World Government out of orbit to protect his long lost baby boy (it's just that he simply finds Luffy's insistence on protecting this random ass princess from a random ass country he has zero ties to ridiculous, as opposed to like, doing all of this to protect immidiate, close family)

So again, despite the different reading it is validating as hell to see someone else think this panel in particular was odd. But the more I thought about it, I did kind of start leaning towards OP's reading. Now this one was originally pointed out by opbackgrounds, how in this scene (chapter 196) while Crocodile is meant to be laughing and mocking the royal guard for "throwing their lives away" to protect Cobra, he isn't actually smiling. We don't even get to see his full face with his eyes blacked out, so we don't get to see Crocodile's true feelings in this scene

And that does kind of reframe what he says in the second panel. For a long time I wondered if the implication was that Crocodile does actually value people's lives more than he lets on (especially with his seeming willingness to blow up a million people in a violent, orchestraded coup), just having a "small sacrifice for the greater good" kinda outlook (as we know, casualties can't be avoided in war, Croco and Luffy both agree on that) (where as I would IMAGINE Dragon having a more "no sacrifices, we have to save as many people as possible" kinda principle)

But now, looking at these two moments together, and knowing Crocodile has trust issues for unknown reasons, there is also that option that, perhaps... No one has ever shown that kind of loyalty towards him, a willingness to follow him to the grave or support him, to stay by his side? And if so, maybe, in these two scenes, Crocodile does recognize that kind of deep loyalty and trust and love, and has to cope with the fact that he has and may never experience it himself, that he's doomed to be alone, surrounded only by people who "respect him" out of fear (something that could be extra painful while knowing someone had just recently betrayed him by leaking his info to ruin his plans/after figuring out it was Robin, his very literal partner in crime. Like talk about rubbing salt into a wound).

And y'know, that is an extremely sad reading and I feel so bad for my poor little meow meow (that man needs a hug so bad), but also that doesn't really add to pushing The Crocodad Agenda, which is very unfortunate. Especially because I feel like between the two readings, Crocodile recognizing loyalty no one will ever show him (and being hurt by the fact) feels like a more comprehensive and simple reading, than if one is about him showing he doesn't fully believe in what he's doing is right and the other about him relating to Luffy on a deeper level.

But then, as OP pointed out in their post, for the entirety of page 2 of Chapter 207 while Luffy is keeling over from the poison finally kicking in, Crocodile looks like he's fully letting down his walls to express genuine relief, as if the those beliefs Croc had carried and convinced himself were true were just confirmed

What're his beliefs again? That trust in others is worthless, and you can not afford to have ideals if you're weak, great strenght being the only thing that allows you, if not straight up justifies you, in doing whatever you please? Now, maybe it's just me, but if Crocodile was showing relief here over his belief that trusting others is worthless after being reminded time and time again of the love and loyalty the Strawhats have for each other and the Alabastan kingdom has for everyone in it (etc)... I dunno, I feel like that would be kind of weak, if that's where Crocodile's internalized beliefs were wavering. But if Crocodile's whole Utopia-plan had been about destroying the WG to protect his baby boy (and release the whole world from the WG's oppressive rule while he's at it) at whatever cost, while he deep inside knew what he was doing was fucked up beyond belief... Yeah, Crocodile trying to convince himself what he was doing was "justified" would make sense. Him having his beliefs potentially even waver a little bit through out this whole ordeal would make sense. Crocodile in this moment experiencing relief that what he had told himself was the righteous would make sense.

Everybody remember's Doflamingo's speech from Marineford, about how history is written by the victors and its them who decide what is right and what is wrong- the winner becomes "justice" itself. Vegapunk kind of called back to this concept during his broadcast too, and yeah, Crocodile did kind of introduce us to it back in Alabasta. If he had won, he would have been "justified" in what he had done, because it'd be him who'd be deciding what's right and what's wrong.

Now I don't really have anything else to add to that post in particular (though I absolutely love the reading on the Crocodile vs Robin part and now that I've read it I can't unsee nor disagree with it), but OP did make a separate post speculating about some of design decisions Oda made regarding Crocodile, starting with discussing the logo for Baroque Works. And they pointed this out

Bro wrote this in 2015, they have no idea, oh my god, dude had no clue whatsoever

So quickly looking that one up and yeah, wings have sometimes been used to represent the sun (most commonly with the sun, as a winged sun?) and yeah, that actually has a lot of meaning in the current state of the series re: God of Liberation the Sun God Nika. But what's more is that this is actually the SECOND time we're actually finding a way to link Crocodile to sun-symbolism, the other being Crocodile being a reference to the Egyptian god Sobek (protector god, god of military, go to Wikipedia), who has an alternative form (/fusion with Ra) called Sobek-Ra, where he is a sun god. And what was Crocodile trying to do in Alabasta if not falsely "liberate" the country from its original rule. Also worth noting is that seemingly the winged sun was most commonly used in Egyptian iconography, so if Oda ever did research Egyptian mythology for inspiration in Alabasta (which, considdering the sheer amount of Stuff in the story as a whole is more than likely), then it is very possible he could have read about the winged sun and used it intentionally.

But what I do find interesting is that, yeah, wings kinda are a symbol one would considder "heroic" or related to "freedom". And, as I have been going on and on about, if Crocodile's ultimate goal in creating his funny little "utopia" was to overthrow the World Government and "free" the whole world of their rule. Like. That really lines up with the whole symbolism with the sun and the liberation and the freedom and shit, like. Why does it line up so neatly good dear god

I dunno how to end this post, these were just a few little things that I had been thinking about after coming across OP's blog and, yeah, just wanted to discuss them.

Again, OP hasn't been active for years, but if they did suddenly come back please don't bother them or god forbid harrass them/try to get them to change their mind about trans Croco. Just don't start shit, please.

End of post byeeeeeeee

[is-the-fire-real]

'Reminder that "punch a nazi uwu" leftists utilize Nazi rhetoric to justify punching Jews.

It was never about punching Nazis; it was about getting social permission to punch.'

It was this very mentality that drove me away from considering myself a liberal anymore (I AM VERY MUCH LEFT LEANING, I DIDN'T DECIDE TO BECOME CONSERVATIVE JUST TO BE CLEAR. I just don't feel like those spaces have any intrinsic safety any longer). It feels like so much of western leftism has become about "punching up". I don't think it's about compassion or concern anymore, it's about finding the "right" targets. And so often that was just used as a way to excuse bigotry. I'm a goy but I noticed this on a personal level plenty with people identifying as feminists, they'd be perfectly okay saying something unquestionably sexist, as long as "white women" was attached onto the front. It's very much the same with shaming people over physical features that others may have, as long as the individual person is "bad enough" it doesn't matter if wide foreheads or big noses or acne are features many people have and would feel hurt by seeing them used as an insult, because they're only "really" directing it at "one of the bad ones"

So, I'm going to link to this piece again because it's been embarrassingly useful, and explains why I say things like "pretending to believe" despite their clunkiness. For new material, I hope you don't mind that you have accidentally triggered a massive unskippable cutscene, but you tapped into a few things I have been pondering and I'd like to take advantage of your observances to add my own.

Part of what you're discussing here, which I agree with, is that toxic slacktivists pretend to believe that they are Good People Doing Good Work. They are Bad People and their work is Bad Work, but if they all get in a group and pretend together that it's Good, then that's almost the same as being Good, right?

Another worthwhile aspect of what you're discussing is something I became aware of in the aftermath of the collapse of Occupy Wall Street. One commenter on a liberal blog I still follow lamented that mass protest never seems to accomplish anything, and how the millions of people who turned out for OWS protests should have affected more political change. Considering most of them could also vote, write to representatives, etc., something other than littering and arrests could've been done.

Another commenter pointed out that he had personally been at most of the anti-Iraq War protests, including the largest worldwide protest on 15 February 2003 (6-10 million estimated participants). But most of those protesters did not agree with each other. There were at least four major coalitions of antiwar protesters showing up then and thereafter. The ones he listed were:

"Just war" advocates who believed the Iraq War was unjust.

Total pacifists who believed all armed conflicts are unjust, and therefore the Iraq War is as well.

Right-wing bigots who believed a war might potentially benefit those they thought of as religiously or ethnically inferior and subhuman.

Xenophobes, both left- and right-wing, who believed "the US can't be the police of the world" and that any action taken outside USian borders was immoral.

Imagine four people with these beliefs in a room talking about the Iraq War... then bring up the war in Ukraine to them and see how fast the coalition falls apart.

"Well, the war for Ukrainian liberation is a just war," says the just-war advocate. The pacifist starts to scream "HOW COULD YOU DEFEND ANY ACTION THAT MIGHT LEAD TO CHILDREN DYING, YOU MONSTER!". The right-wing bigot says they support the war, too--on the side of the ethnically and religiously superior Russians. And then a left-wing xenophobe says we're wasting money that should be supporting American workers and uplifting Americans out of poverty instead of buying new bombs for Ukraine.

And your "antiwar" coalition collapses, with the pacifist wandering off to agree with the xenophobe while the just-war liberal and the right-wing bigot scream at each other pointlessly and without resolution.

This is one of the wisest breakdowns of human behavior I have ever discovered:

Any coalition of people is made up of many sub-coalitions who only temporarily agree on a single aspect of a single issue. Making sure the group does not collapse prematurely is the true, unsung labor of movement maintenance.

To be real, it's much easier to let one's coalition collapse and scream about how The Menz, or The CIA, or Greedy Capitalists, or The Jews artificially forced your group's collapse than it is to admit that one might just suck a big one at coalition building. This is especially true among leftists, who are sometimes anti-hierarchy and frequently fall for populist, anti-expert nonsense. Having a leader means you're suggesting someone should have authority, and a lot of leftists are allergic to that suggestion.

Moreover, though, a lot of "leftists" are "leftists" but only agree with one or two aspects of leftism.

To use your feminism example: I have absolutely seen feminists who think they can be misogynists so long as they say "white" before they say "woman". I mean, who can even argue? I have also seen feminists who think they can be gender bioessentialists so long as they're doing it towards "men" (a category which includes a lot of people who neither look like men, nor live as men, nor benefit from male privilege). I have seen feminists who think they can call themselves "trans allies" while consistently ignoring, degrading, and dismissing the concerns of anyone who isn't a binary trans woman. Etc.

The thing is, they are all feminists. What makes someone a feminist, at bottom, is the acceptance of and opposition to patriarchy. That's it. It's similar to how what makes a person a Protestant Christian is the acceptance of Jesus as their Lord and Savior--you might need to do one or two things to be considered a part of a specific branch of Christianity, but all you need is that one specific belief about that one specific idea. There's a lot of bunk about how "you can't be a REAL Christian unless you do X" just like there's bunk about how "you can't be a REAL feminist unless you do Y", and it's all bunk.

There are people who might be really bad feminists or Christians, but that's not the same as not being feminists or Christians.

So, the coalition of leftism has several sub-coalitions who actually despise each other. Here is my proposal for the sub-coalitions. (Please keep in mind that I am not defining groups by how they define themselves, but by the far more useful metric of their actions.)

Liberals who agree with leftist economic thought, but strongly disagree with leftist conclusions regarding violent revolution. Liberals do not have time for online arguments and superficial action. They are generally participating in protests, running for office, writing postcards to advocate for candidates, informing voters, and working within the system for positive change that alleviates suffering. They are pro-expert but opposed to a vanguard party due to its inherent authoritarianism.

Tankies, whose primary interest in leftism is authoritarian. They oppose capitalism and support violent revolution because they imagine themselves as the vanguard party who gets to control everything when the revolution comes.

Anarchists, whose primary interest is opposing hierarchy. They want to burn down the system because it is a system, and frequently become angry and defensive if you try to ask them any questions about what would be built out of the ashes.

Progressives, whose primary interest is opposing liberals. They also oppose capitalism; they are, like tankies, positioning themselves as the vanguard party because they are already in political power. What makes them Not Tankies is that they care more about sticking it to "the Dems" than they do about actually being the vanguard, opposing capitalism, or achieving anything of worth or meaning politically.

"Red fash", who used to be called "beefsteak Nazis". They say all the right things regarding violent revolution and economics/capitalism, but they only believe what they believe for the sake of their specific ethnic group and nation (frequently, white and USian, but this is extremely popular in Europe too). IOW a red fash wants the vanguard party to only have whites of a specific ethnicity in control of the revolution; they only want universal health care for "their" people, that sort of thing. Some red fash are actual Nazis cosplaying as leftists, but some are just really, really, REALLY bigoted leftists.

Whether we like it or note, the acceptance of armed, violent revolution as a Good Thing means that leftism has always regarded punching up and violence as a necessary component of leftist thought. This is not a perversion of Real Leftism. This is leftism. If you think revolution is good and necessary instead of a terrifying possibility, then you also think punching up is okay; it's just a matter of who is Up and who gets to punch.

Of the five sub-coalitions I described, only one has rejected violent revolution--and it's the one all the other leftists accuse of being right-wing. And interestingly enough, only liberals are habitually accused of secretly colluding with the right... when red fash are natural allies to the right, and when all other forms of leftists openly ally with right-wingers so long as they say the right things about economics. (See under: "After Hitler, us" leftists, left-wing Trumpistas who think they'll rule the ashes after Trump burns down the current system.)

And if you believe in violent revolution, then (let me be facetious for a second) what's the problem with making fun of your political enemies for being ugly? If we believe Steve Bannon is a Nazi, aren't we obligated to stop him by any means necessary, and doesn't that include mocking him for his alcoholism? Isn't mocking someone for their appearance and intrinsic characteristics mild compared to, say, threatening them with exploding cars covered with hammers? Or retweeting pictures of pitchforks and guillotines?

If we believe Ben Shapiro is an opponent to the revolution we accept is necessary and vital to the movement, then what's a little antisemitism in the name of the people? Don't we have to be bigots to oppose bigots? And--

--oh. There's that horseshoe bending round to the right again.

[maopll]

— rivals to lovers !

synopsis: sworn rivals in terms of academics. you two would never even share a glance at eachother. your animosity towards eachother was quite well known throughout the academiya. yet here comes this co-project that will be the cupid for you two.

⌗:, a/n: its a special fic for my irl bestie. it was a deal and I had to do this @isqaroth

⌗:, warning: big tits men scare me.

" considering how you are, I'd say this project suits you. nothing but a waste of time."

You gasped and snapped back at him, "oh? so who gave you this authority to belittle the hardwork of someone? hmph!" you glared at him fiercely and stomped away. Your shoes were clacking against the marble floor quite loudly showing your clear hatred towards him.

"alhaitham, must you truly pick on them today of all days?" kaveh tried to reason, "today is after all the day we present our projects to ensure our enrollment in the best departments."

"What I said was not wrong. How do they expect to get a good seat when they've clearly chosen the topic that others will choose?" stating this he walked away the other direction towards his classroom which he was assigned.

It was the time when the students would be called to their respective departments. Contrary to what Alhaitham had guessed, your project was one of the best among the students and found the best class in your own Darshan.

"so? Mister alhaitham?" you snickered in his direction, "Looks like your intuition missed the bullseye this time." Even he found it quite odd, his guess and intuitions are always spot on but with you they would always come out incorrect.

"It was merely a prediction. Shouldn't you be glad it was incorrect?" he looked at you straight in the eyes. Clear distate in his tongue since he had entered the same darshan as you. The Haravatat, which he tried to avoid at all cost. He took this sore truth with a pinch of salt.

Not a day went by when you two wouldn't bicker. "Stop trying to read books while I'm talking alhaitham," you shouted. Unbeknownst to you, he had his noise-cancelling headphones on. You were fuming, and he decided not to listen to you during the most crucial time?! you unwillingly came to him since you couldn't rely on others' notes, and there was only Alhaitham who you could rely on.

Each passing day, you felt the wrinkles starting to appear on your forehead faster and you sighed more often. Today you felt 10 years of your life got subtracted because you and THE alhaitham were grouped for a project.

"There's no way the professor would commit such a crime..." you spoke devastated. He could say the same but decided to maintain his composure and only heaved a sigh with arms crossed.

The way you two bonded over the days you spent for the project was needless to say quite interesting. The time, place, and situations varied the variable of you two bickering stayed constant. "Did you chart out all the requirements, procedure, and observation?" he asked but you only scratched your neck, "ahh..about that.." he faceplamed loudly.

You two eventually learned more about the other's likes and dislikes. The usual disagreements between you two soon died down. This is the junction when you two started observing one another even intricately.

'guess he's not half bad..'

'seems like they've grown tolerable and kind these past few days..."

While these thoughts seemed foreign to both of you, those little things would soon form a small fragment of a treasured memory.

"Here you go." You threw the drink towards alhaitham and drank yours. "I don't remember telling you the flavour I liked of this drink?" "I'd say it was quite clear to me."

His words rather than being sharp like daggers were now more soothing and soft to hear. Your behaviour became more amicable towards him. Cooking him food sometimes, buying him the books he would tell you in the midst of a conversation. He did the same. The food you liked, the stationeries you'd eye and what not.

With time, the feelings in you for him blossomed. This was when you'd observe his admirable face from afar and when he was not looking. He even caught you looking at him a few times. He couldn't deny the feeling how his heart would rapidly thump inside his chest and the way his cheeks would redden whenever your hands brushed against one another's.

"haah...." he sighed loudly. His face in his hands. He truly needs to gather his thoughts right now. This attraction he felt towards you were not only growing more day by day but also growing quite unbearable as he has to hide his lovesick face under that stoic facade of his. "There should be some solution to this situation right?".

"how am I supposed to tell them that I lo—"

"huh? ah Alhaitham! I've been searching for you everywhere. Were you saying something?"

His eyes widened. "oh I was just.." don't panic alhaitham be calm like how you've always been. think this through.

"Oh it's nothing that important...let's go have dinner shall we?"

Many weeks passed by and alhaitham finally decided to confront you about his feelings. It was just like out of a cliché love story but it doesn't matter to him. For every problem he only wants the answer affirmative.

A soft breeze, gentle glow of the moonlight and quite streets. There was tranquil and a hint of romance in this dreamy landscape. He has been thinking about this for a while but, he couldn't find his happiness without you. Although both of you started your journey with hatred, it soon turned out to be one of love and care.

After a short silence, you spoke "nice view isn't it? to think that we reached one year of doing this project together...been eventful hasn't it?" His mind was all over the place, his heart thumping rapidly, and his palms cold. He's never been this anxious in his life.

"[name] I've been meaning to tell you—" before he could complete his sentence, you wrapped your hands around his large ones. "knew they were cold" you chuckled, "can't keep the hands of yours cold now can I?". There was this gentle look in yours eyes as if they knew everything. The moonlight accentuated your features even more. You look beautiful. Oh, you look godly.

Maybe it was adrenaline? Maybe it was him being serenaded by your breathtaking beauty that he involuntarily spoke what his heart felt.

"I love you"

Your eyes widened. A huge red blush dusted your cheeks on hearing the words from the mouth of a person that you pined for. You wrapped your arms around his neck and planted a tender kiss on his lips. You reciprocated his feelings with the same honey like sweetness.

"I love you too, Alhaitham"

[kazoohaa]

hello!! i would like to request something platonic with jing yuan

how would jing yuan be as a father? (like biologically) headcanons please

𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑. honkai star rail

— notes. omg yes !! also i’m sorry ive been really inactive recently yall 😭

— details. father!jing yuan & gn!reader.

honestly i think he’d be really fun to have as a father!!

light teasing is engrained in his Personality™, he lovingly does it to you a lot

despite his responsiblities as the luofu’s general, 90% of the time he’s somehow free whenever you approach him for things

jing yuan is also 100% happy to spoil you, a lot — he believes that you deserve the best, after all!

what do you mean he can’t spend just a bit of money for you? just this one time? (it isn’t just this one time, and won’t be.) sure, it might seem like it’s a lot of strales (..it is,) but you don’t have to worry about it, he’s got more than enough :)

buys you lots of little things quite often, small presents and trinkets, something like a keychain or an interesting book he spotted, or just your favourite foods from aurum alley

jing yuan also regularly plays xianzhou starchess with you. he’s proud of having taught you many different strategies — a goood amount being ones that you’ve learned from observing his tactics during your games. he’s quite proud of that, it’s made your observational skills sharper, after all! but, even if you’re equipped with lots of knowledge on how he usually plays, it’s still always a challenge to beat him, especially since he keeps somehow managing to one-up you, leaving you baffled, or trying to pull things mid-match without you noticing LMAO

“...did you just take off that piece?”

“which?”

“there. i swear you had a piece on that square—”

“hmm? i don’t know what you mean.”

“daaaaddd.....”

it’s become a bit of a game between the two of you. a passerby could see you and jing yuan intensely staring at the board in silence, occasionally glancing at each other, and they’d think that the general and his child must be having an intense match of starchess — but really you two are just examining each other to try and figure out what their tactic is and when you can find a good time to snatch a piece /j

while he doesn’t talk about the past that much, since those times were rather... complicated, and also he doesn’t really see much reason to randomly speak about it. but he does mention some tidbits here and there if you ask him, but sometimes they’re also the most jaw-dropping things that you’ve ever heard, and then it leaves you doing a double take while you process that information he just dropped out of the blue like that — imagine hearing stories about the high cloud quintet for the first time

he also teaches you combat, although he hoped that there wouldn’t be many occasions where you’d have to use those skills. it is undeniable that some areas of the luofu are quite dangerous, especially because of the mara-struck and the followers of sanctus medicus wandering about, but as a parent, he’d prefer that you never get into any dangerous situations if he can help it.

sometimes, you train alongside yanqing, who gets really excited and absolutely fired up at the prospect of getting to spar against you, more so when he actually gets a chance to. being the child of the general, how cool is that! you must be a strong opponent! you two give each other pointers sometimes — jing yuan is a proud father x2, he’s happy you and yanqing get along so well :)

[valiantvillain]

WIP Wednesday

Thanks for the tag @mxanigel. And here's for posting my first WIP Wednesday on here too.

Characters: Miraz (half-orc Tav) x Astarion

No pressure tags: @malabadspice, @mightymizora

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

She found Astarion lounging outside his tent, gazing up at the sky, the epitome of indolence and ennui. Almost as if he had purposefully posed himself. It would have made for quite the romantic image…for a teenage girl. She had half a mind to leave the man to his musings and go to bed before he noticed her. He could have just glanced her way and ignored her, but no, he had to regard her, take in her presence. She folded her arms, expectant. 

“It’s quite a sight,” he said in that sultry saccharine voice that made her eye twitch. “The stars, I mean. I could take or leave your chin.”

So could most people in her experience. The modest underbite and tusks tended to offset an otherwise picturesque image. An impassive hum buzzed behind her lips. Miraz chose to humor him and turn her eyes up toward the night sky. 

Most dusks in Baldur’s Gate ushered in a thick blanket of starless night, shades of softened sapphire in summer and inky blackness during the colder months. Stars tended to hide in the city, fading away in the light of the sea of lanterns and glowing fireplaces. What few you saw were usually dim and elusive. She had once gotten a telescope for her birthday, a gift from one of the priests at the temple of Helm who had known her since she was a babe. Those gleaming points of light in the distance had been pretty but she had always preferred the flicker of flames with their warmth and their smoldering embers, the smells of incense and woodsmoke mingling with the evening air. It was drinking wine by the hearth after a holiday meal, it was reading books by candlelight under blankets, it was near and alive. What did she care for spying on stars? 

Out here in the wilderness however, hundreds or possibly thousands of miles away from so much as a village, it was as if she were looking out across an entirely different sky. It held so many more colors here, an ever shifting gradient of greens and blues and more stars glittering at one time than she had ever seen in her entire life. It seemed so much more expansive as well, without all the walls and buildings to cage it in, like it went on forever, less like staring into an abyss and more like observing an endless ocean. She supposed the stars did have their charm. 

“I guess they are beautiful tonight, in their way,” she mused with a shrug. Still not her cup of tea, but she could perhaps understand why another would appreciate them. 

“I can see the stars from Baldur’s Gate, of course, but not with such clarity,” he replied, drawing her gaze back towards him. He had a preference for speaking in a slow, languid drawl she noticed. It struck her as odd for someone who talked so much. “It got me thinking. Reflecting on what tomorrow might bring, when we find the druid Halsin. Will he know how to bring the worm under control? Will this little adventure of ours be over?”

Again with controlling the tadpole instead of getting rid of it. Why the insistence? And to what end? Miraz had a hard time buying that their newly acquired ability to read minds was a portent of something greater. Certainly not anything with consequences that far outweighed the benefits. For that was always how it went, wasn’t it? Power but at an inevitably unbearable cost. In this case, likely turning into soulless tentacled monsters. She for one would be glad when they found a cure and concluded this misadventure. Besides, given how Astarion rolled his eyes so often she thought they would stick that way whenever she so much as contemplated a charitable act, she doubted he would mourn the loss of her company when this was all over, nor she his. 

Yet he watched her with intrigue, as if waiting for something more than just a conversational answer.

She scoffed, allowing herself the barest tug of a smirk at her lips. “What? Will you miss me?”

“Ha! Why not?” Well, to his credit, he had laughed as he rose to his feet, though it was short bark of a sound. Dare she say it, he seemed satisfied, impressed even, as if he had found whatever he had been looking for in her words. Like he had found just the right foothold to scale up a wall. “You’ve been to the hells and back. Survived the crash. Survived everything that’s followed. I’m not easily impressed by people, but you’re stronger than I gave you credit for.”

Miraz could say the same of him, though her expectations had been low to say the least. After his initial poor attempt at trying to kill her, she had suspected they would end up babysitting him more than anything else, especially given the demeanor she had come to associate with nobles who hadn’t worked a day in their life. He had surprised her, however. The elf proved to be a damn good shot and hardly shy when it came to fighting in close quarters. Nor did he utter a complaint when he ended a battle as drenched in blood as she did. Add in his skill at finessing a lock to open or disarming a trap and he was turning out to be more useful than she once thought. 

Still, when it came to the matter of authenticity or sincerity, to say she didn’t trust the man as far as she could throw him would have been far too generous. More apt to say she didn’t trust him as far as Gale could throw him. To say nothing of the fact of how he seemed to watch her with more than a hint of disdainful distrust. 

“I thought you didn’t like me.” She kept her voice even, cool and nonchalant as if observing the weather. A simple statement of fact. 

For a fraction of a moment, she thought she saw his brow twitched, a short unexpected hitch in his demeanor. A moment’s hesitation before the wheels in his head once again turned. 

“You have your charms…more than you think,” he said with the hint of a smirk and the artful sweeping of a singular bow. 

Ah, was it her turn then? Had the process of elimination gone so horribly awry that he was left with no other option than the half-orc for whatever it was he hand in mind? She was used to being everyone’s last resort at this point, though that didn’t make it sting any less. These days she shielded herself by refusing to entertain the idea of flirtation. It was easier that way. Fewer games to play and fewer headaches to deal with. Astarion was scarcely different from all the charming boys who had been dared by their cantankerous friends to put their skills to test with her. She had fallen for it once as a girl, gone farther than she had ever cared to had she known beforehand. He bore the same rehearsed look of pleasant interest. A smile on his pretty pillowy lips that was a touch too composed, a bit too perfect. Like a shopkeep straining the very boundaries of his politeness to deal with a difficult customer and still get their money. It was a performance and nothing more, a means to some end she had yet to determine. Whatever “charms” he claimed she possessed, they were a lie. It was always a lie. 

“Watch yourself, Astarion,” warned Miraz coolly, schooling her features into a neutral expression. 

His disappointment was swift, gone nearly as soon as it appeared to give way to a grin of playful admonishment. “Oh, you’re no fun.” 

Certainly not his sort, of that she was certain. She rolled her eyes before turning on her heel, calling over her shoulder. 

“Good night, Astarion.” 

“Sleep tight,” he called back, a little too exuberant for her liking. “I’ll see you later, I’m sure.” 

She had rebuffed him, yet even as she sauntered away, his eyes followed her, burning into the back of her skull. It was almost enough to make her shudder. 

[ofwrxth]

BASICS

Full Name: Leo Stone 

Age & Birthday: 34, October 21

Hometown: Clearwater, Wyoming 

Current Residence: Willow Creek Condos 

Occupation: Mechanic at Diego’s shop  

DETAILS

Family Legacy: It’s impossible not to know who the Stones are. Where one goes, the others follow. Even if you don’t know one Stone sibling, you’d likely know another. They’re mostly known for being a large family, with each sibling’s legacy building upon the others, but they’re sometimes known for being chaotic in town, adding to the general hustle and bustle of the Clearwater. 

Favorite Spot in Town:  Probably Meadows Park but also the Fieldhouse for practical reasons. Basically any place he can get a break from his siblings (even though he loves them)

Hidden Talent or Hobby: He’s a bit of a handyman which isn’t that secret considering his job but beyond cars, he’s good at fixing most things or doing most tasks around a house.

PERSONALITY

Core Traits: confident, convincing, independent, observant, aggressive, competitive, incisive, protective, stubborn

Strengths: Leo is the sort of person who is certain of himself. He’s never one to seek approval from others but also never feels pressure to be anyone but himself. He’s observant and has a keen eye for potentially volatile situations (even if he’s the one inciting them). Whenever he goes anywhere, he’s aware of the exits and always has a plan. He’s someone who might seem intimidating to talk to at first but once you start, he’s quite engaging – sarcastic and funny, but also shrewd, taking the measure of anyone he encounters.

Weaknesses: Leo can be aggressive and competitive – becoming so convinced of a goal he loses sight of what comes next. There are times his stubbornness has driven a wedge between him and those closest to him because Leo is usually unwilling to give up ground unless they can a hundred percent prove he’s wrong. Even then, it’s not a guarantee. He can be sharp when he just means to be direct and sometimes he’ll take charge without consideration to what other people might be able to contribute.

What Keeps Them Up at Night, If Anything?: Leo sometimes worries about his siblings. They’re their own people but he questions if he’s done enough for them, especially if things ever go sideways. 

How Do They Handle Conflict?: Considering that most of the conflict he gets into is because Kenzie pissed someone off, Leo is quick to settle things. Either with words or fists, he’s no qualms about engaging in either regard. Whenever he has an issue, it’ll usually come out in aggression or sharp comments before escalating. 

HISTORY

Backstory: 

Ian and Tanya Stone weren’t malicious parents, per se, but they weren’t paradigms of responsibility either. Ian worked, but he preferred buying lottery tickets and gambling away what he made rather than bringing it home. It’s for the family! We’ll win big. But he never did. Tanya, on the other hand, decided that kids could take care of themselves as long as one of them was tall enough to reach the microwave. So she’d go out with her girlfriends and hit up bars where Ian would join. They’d say they loved their kids but they just really didn’t love being parents. 

This meant that growing up the oldest Stone, Leo often was left with the responsibility of his siblings. He shouldered the responsibility but steadily grew to resent their parents. Especially when their mom took off on a whim, deciding when Leo was fourteen that the kids could handle themselves. And didn’t they want their mom to be happy? After their mom left, their dad fell into more gambling and heavily drinking. The kids eventually got help from the Vaisman family who gave them a temporary place to stay when their housing fell through. 

They managed to pull money together from odd jobs around town (and theft of course) and a year later got a small condo at Willow Creek Condos that the Vaisman’s helped them secure. By this time, they realized that they had to hide their money because their dad would come knocking. Ian had become known as something of a town drunk and gambler. Sometimes he’d disappear for days at a time only to come back and ask for their help. It got to the point where the siblings made a decision to turn him away for good (especially after he stole some of the little money they had saved). They were better on their own anyway and continued on with this mentality. 

At this point, Leo had dropped out of high school and got a job at the local mechanic shop, learning to do something useful. He’d rather put money in his pocket than read books for tests that proved nothing. And, despite all the siblings more or less pulling their weight as they were able, Leo was still the oldest and felt responsible to keep things afloat. 

Current Situation:

They still have the condo to live in, and Leo has done some random jobs around the building to get a break on rent some months. Things were going well for the past few years until November 2024 when Ian showed up when no one else was home. He seemed out of it, but gave Leo a lottery ticket and a giant wad of cash, more than Leo had seen Ian have before, and told him to keep it safe. He’d been involved in his own fair share of back alley deals to be wary so he didn’t tell his siblings about the incident. 

But two months ago, in December 2024, the police showed up at their door to let them know they’d found their father’s body a few towns over. Though the news was jarring, it wasn’t exactly surprising. Ian had a way of pissing people off with his leech-like tendencies, always trying to get something from someone.  Leo finally took a look at the ticket and realized it was a winning number for three hundred thousand dollars. His gut tells him that it’s not unrelated, and that their dad had gotten into something before he died. 

It’s been two months since Ian died and Leo’s trying to move on. But the knowledge of the ticket and the money are impossible to ignore. He’s now wondering who his father had crossed and if they were satisfied with Ian’s death, or if they were going to try and recover what he’d taken. 

How Do They Feel About the Changes in Clearwater?: 

Leo thinks they’re overrated. People trying to feel important and make themselves feel better about being shitty. He stands in solidarity with Kenzie over the Bluebird Cafe, mostly because his usual drink has gone up by a dollar fifty. Still, he can’t deny the tips are better by those who come into the shop with nicer cars. 

CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Reputation in Clearwater: 

Leo is often held responsible for the antics of his siblings in the court of public opinion. But he’s also viewed as a more or less decent member of society. He’s been known to get into his fair share of fights, so people know he’s not a pushover but he’s also someone who surprises others by how engaging he is to talk to sometimes. Overall, his reputation is fine, not too bad and not too good but that makes him easily overlooked, which is how he prefers it. 

Important Relationships: 

His siblings, Kenzie, Koda, Evelyn, Allie, Vaismans in general, Astra and Nova and Felix by Proxy.

Potential Story Hooks: 

Money Bag – one of his siblings discovers the money he’s had stashed and that can cause drama but potentially make it a sibling decision of whether they spend the money or not. They can decide what to do together or maybe one of them tries to take it and it creates drama. 

Lottery Ticket  – he could tell them about the ticket and that he hasn’t done anything with it yet because of the circumstances of their dad’s death. They can decide what to do together or maybe one of them tries to take it and it creates drama. 

Coming to town – the people their dad was involved with come to town looking for their money and it creates drama for the people the Stones are connected to and also can add a bit of danger etc.

[drift-loon]

A common side effect of the medication I'm on is "vivid dreams", and man, sometimes it gets a bit much! They're rarely scary which is great, but I quite often wake up not feeling rested because (I assume) my brain's been working overtime overnight to go ham on... the most bizarre stuff. It's weird for me because the mental imagery of certain dreams lingers for hours. Pretty great if it's something cool, not so great if it's one of those dreams that makes all my insecurities come to life in Technicolour 4K.

Another side effect is impaired/delayed reactions. It's even printed on the dispensing label. "Reactions may be impaired whilst driving." I was worried about that because I started these tablets a couple of months after I started learning to drive. I think I probably overcompensated for it by being extra observant (my instructor always used to tell me I don't need to check all three mirrors just to turn a corner, but I did anyway.) I'm still so proud of myself for getting a perfect score in my driving test. Sometimes I think ahead to when I'm not on these tablets anymore. I'm going to be superwoman behind the wheel 😆

I miss my driving instructor a lot. It was really nice spending two hours with him every week. I try not to let my insecurities eat away at me that he was only nice to me because I was paying him and that he couldn't wait to be rid of me, but it's hard. He gave me a really decent Pokémon card album. It had some rare cards in it too and he let me keep them. He always asked after the zines I'd submitted things to. He said some lovely, thoughtful things that will stick with me forever. I feel lame for getting so emotionally attached to someone I paid to essentially hang out with me, though a lesson I can take from it is that even one social thing a week is healing. I hate being at least an hour train journey away from friends at the moment. All the more reason to buy a car, I suppose!

My mum's neighbour is a mechanic and she's offered to help me find a second-hand car. She's always busy because she drives to various places to teach car stuff (we tried to find time when we were both free to talk cars over a cup of tea in December and it wasn't happening for us) but if I find something I like, she said I can ask her about it and she'll give me questions to ask, which is kind. She really is a lovely woman.

Her fiancé is a weed-smoking waste of space, and apparently an ex-celebrity hairdresser AHAHA. He always belittles her in front of people, and she often agrees with him about how dumb, clumsy, or useless she is, so naturally I can't stand him. I met her mother recently after they'd gone to try on wedding dresses. Her mother seemed so uncomfortable talking about the impending wedding, like she was gritting her teeth about her daughter marrying this asshole too. She should marry me instead LOL.

Why is it that so many outstanding women settle for such nothing men? That question plays on my mind more than it should, as it's not my life to live or my decision to make, but it stresses me out all the same. It's a terrifying concept to me. I guess what I should take from it is that the times I feel lonely or wish I had a partner, I should remember that a bit of loneliness is still miles better than being stuck with someone who not only doesn't value you but will slowly drain you of the value you have in yourself too.

Also, I'm so fucking happy I'm not straight. Fuck that noise 😆

[petal-party]

A bouquet of Irises: A symbol of enduring faith and hope.

—

The color blue possessed the ability to charm even God; it’s a hue that is simultaneously soft and sharp, both mellow and bright. Evoked by wavelengths of light ranging from 450 to 495 nanometers, blue is one of the most ubiquitous colors in existence. If you were to ask the six-year-old version of myself, the 130 agreed-upon shades of blue would seem insufficient to accurately encapsulate all the nuances of blue in life. One shade seems lacking because none truly captures the reflective windows of a towering office building.

Holding my father's hand tightly, Iris Rosetta Hartwell was a captivating child. I recall each of my father's colleagues with their bright (or rather, falsely bright) faces, eager to pat my cheeks–which I despised the action every then and now– whenever I completed my set of castle Legos. I remember my father's smile. I remember being my father's greatest treasure.

Every day felt like 'bring your child to work' day for my father, so I harbored no suspicions when he asked me to accompany him on a fine day. However, instead of the usual blues, I was greeted by a sea of oranges. Orange was the color of the California sky, casting a surreal glow on Dad’s face. Orange adorned the building we visited, a vibrant shade of tangerine amidst the surrounding gloom. Orange was the fur of the plush cat toy I held tightly, one that my father won for me at the arcade. Orange also echoed in my father's attire, his shirt a bold statement in burnt orange against the backdrop of the unfamiliar faces clad in uniform. Though I struggled to comprehend the significance of their presence, I instinctively assumed they were my father's colleagues. In a sense, I wasn't wrong; whether they were colleagues or not, they were the ones aiding my father in his new cell.

My father had once cautioned me about the curse that often accompanies such love—to witness the horrors of war firsthand, to feel the lingering heat of a gun barrel.

"I'll come back. I love you,"

As I hear his name whispered by my fading heart, I echo his sentiment: it truly is a curse. Watching him fade into the afterglow, the silence becomes deafening—a weighty promise echoing into nothingness.

That shelter felt nothing like home. It resembled more of a museum, perhaps an orphanage to outsiders, but never a home. Myself and several other children were embodiments of despair, cloaked in tattered cloth and parental disapproval. Within those walls, there were no shared meals or laughter echoing. It's a curse, I thought, to possess knowledge without understanding, to inhabit a space filled with echoes of what could have been.

I'll never forget the loneliness that followed. For a time, I hid behind a mask, unwilling to acknowledge my longing. When you've spent your whole life loving someone and they're gone, where does all that love go?

The once-cheerful Iris Rosetta transformed into a silent observer. I couldn't muster the energy for conversation, not when my most loyal audience was gone. Not when I knew I would crumble at the first mention of my story. So, I preferred to listen in silence, trying to grasp the flickering hope of those children around me who likely knew nothing else.

No worries, I still converse with my plush cat, though. I named it Door Knob, just to have something to hold onto. Eventually, I grew tired and turned to real cats for companionship. If the caretakers noticed me beginning to leave crumbs from my meals for stray cats, I'm glad they minded their own business.

One day, I encountered a white cat in the back garden of the orphanage. He followed my every step, as if it were a 'buy one, get one free' offer—to find hope and a new home. When the owner of the white cat—a short-haired middle-aged woman wearing a tailored blazer—patted my head, I felt a stirring within me. The world felt like creaking floorboards and trembling walls. My faltering heart yearned for her.

"Let's get you home. I love you,"

A mother’s smile. An angel handpicked by divine being. A warm soup and warm embrace to welcome me coming home. She was the one who reshaped my understanding of love.

Now, living in an environment brimming with love—both metaphorically and literally—I’m reaffirmed in my belief that love exists everywhere. How could it not, when every weekend I bear witness to—and participate in—the celebration of love? My heart-of-gold mother is a wedding planner and sometimes I wish I could freeze time to allow her the rest she deserves.

So when the man of her dreams—a renowned theater owner—visits, I waste no time in giving her my blessing. He adds an element of entertainment to her grounded personality. And despite everything, I’m still searching for my father's love everywhere. He had longed for a daughter for so long, treating me as if he was afraid I’d wither away. And to top it off, he brings along a son who is essentially a little genie named Lyvander Grant.

Exhibit A: I found myself trudging through the soggy streets on a mission to attend Grant's class meeting. Despite my best efforts to shield myself with an umbrella, the icy droplets managed to soak me to the bone. As the day wore on, the fever raged, rendering me weak and helpless. But amidst the haze of sickness, one thing remained crystal clear—Grant's unwavering determination to nurse me back to health. He fetched warm blankets, brewed soothing herbal teas, and stayed by my side, offering words of encouragement in his soft voice. It was at that moment I decided to remain silent and steady, to be a pillar of strength for him.

A long time has passed and I suppose it's safe to say that I made it onto his list of most trusted individuals. I hope he knows I’d give my last breath for him.

It has taken me a long time to tell this story, despite ultimately ending up describing everyone around me. I am Iris Rosetta (although as much as I love my father, his surname leaves much to be desired) and I am just a fragment of everyone I have loved.

[threecardtrick]

@luminescenc1e​:

“ So be more political, play their game, by the human rules. ” It wasn’t the worst idea. It could definitely work, especially since there were so many more vampires working in government, so many more that had not yet come out. They could pull the strings behind closed doors and use laws to attack those protesting outside. This was America, there wasn’t much else these people pretended to believe more than free speech and the right to do whatever the fuck you want to. Considering that vampires were, most at least, considered American citizens, it could be done.

“ We could play the victim, we do need a few nice enough faces to put in front of cameras, maybe even get choked up, by all the injustice of course. I’ll make sure to make a few calls and make sure that the Authority does something more concrete. But, we can do that later. Now, I am curious, what made you come here? Bon Temps, Louisiana isn’t really a popular tourist destination. Vampires tend to come here for three main reasons, passing through, running from someone or something, or looking for someone or something. So which is it? Which applies to you? I’m only asking if you need help. ”

It amused him, how vampires could speak of humans as... something so entirely distinct from themselves. As if every vampire hadn’t been once human. “Exactly,” he confirmed with only the slightest nod. Thomas had observed how vampires liked to flaunt or even rely on their superior strength... when that tactic could in fact be a weakness. These subtler ways of dealing with things could be seen as cowardly, or for one who could not simply overpower their opponent. But Thomas had long learned that often the best way of dealing with things was to not get a drop of blood on one’s hands. Though... he had crossed that line long before he had even become this. But even now, with all of the superhuman gifts he has, he doesn’t jump to tearing people apart with his bare hands.  “If you need anything else from me, I’m happy to help,” he replied, and his altruist might have seemed strange, considering how selfish vampires tended to be. But Thomas remembered the favours he gave out. That wasn’t to say he was so transactional, but he never minded putting in hard work. “With a question like that, you should at least buy me dinner first,” he teased lightly, as the inquiry was highly personal. "Don’t worry Mr. Northman, I’m not in any trouble,” he replied smoothly, to ensure the other didn’t feel at risk by associating with him. “You could say... I go where I feel I’m needed.” He doesn’t elaborate, nor does it show if that was his true answer or not. “And of course, to try some local gumbo,” he added with a grin.

[mercurialgrrrl]

A, J, and O for Mori and Kunikida?

sfw alphabet.

mori ogai.

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Mori’s affection depends on how busy he is with work. If his mind is preoccupied with the state of the mafia, the most you’ll get is a chaste kiss on the lips. On days he’s free from the fast paced happenings of the mafia, which are rare, he’ll be pretty loving and somewhat clingy. Overall though, the most common ways for Mori to show affection is through quality time and gift giving. When he has the time, he likes to take you on relaxing dates at nice (and expensive) brunch cafes, shopping at those luxury malls, and walking through quiet art museums on a weekday afternoon when few people visit. Mori’s actually a pretty good gift giver. He’s very observant and takes time choosing gifts for you. He’s not a particularly sentimental man though, so it won’t seem very romantic in the moment. He won’t write love notes in the books he buys you or engrave his name in a necklace but he’ll buy your favorite book he knows you’ll be excited to talk about with him and he’ll buy necklaces he thinks will look good on you. Mori’s a lot more subtle but he’s practical and his feelings get across.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Mori is like,,, insanely jealous and possessive. To the point where it can be a legit cause for concern. He’s mostly needy when he’s jealous and he doesn’t really see most men as a threat. So 90% of the time, he’s just pouting and whining for your attention or glaring at people who stare at you a bit too long. But when he does feel threatened, he gets quiet and sweet. There’s a dangerous glint in his eye. Next day on the morning news, there will be a report of the guy’s head found on a stick at a random park. God save us all...

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Mori keeps his cards close to his chest. Depending on the information, he’ll tell you whatever it is he thinks is appropriate to tell you over a period of time. There’s a lot he won’t tell you, regardless of how close you are to him. Especially if it’s concerning his work. Overall, Mori doesn’t view openness as a testament of love and his secretive nature will remain throughout the relationship, regardless of how you might feel about it.

kunikida doppo.

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Kunikida is actually pretty affectionate, he’s just not affectionate in the typical sense. He shows his love by almost “mothering” the people he cares about and remembering the little things. The most common form of affection Kunikida gives is looking after your diet. He often makes lunch for you in the mornings while you get ready and makes sure that it’s both delicious and well balanced. Kunikida is also pretty observant of the people he likes. He’s often checking in on you and while he can be brash while doing so, he has good intentions and takes care of you. He wants to lessen your burdens and shoulder them with you. That’s Kunikida’s way of saying he loves you. He’s quite a romantic!

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Kunikida is comical when jealous. He thinks of himself as being above jealousy and that it’s something only mentally weak people succumb to. So when he experiences it himself? Oh, he is suffering. Kunikida’s coping mechanism is mostly through denial and distraction. Of course, Dazai picks up on this and riles him up by saying “Oh that other man is just so strong, isn’t he?” or “Doesn’t the other man have such impressive ideas?”. After some torment from Dazai, Kunikida will become very snappy and sulky. Please baby him a bit when he comes home. Kunikida won’t act on his jealousy though. He’s too ashamed for that and he’ll avoid taking it out on you. So there’s not much to worry about on this front.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Kunikida has a lot of pride and a lot of shame. He wants to look his best in front of you. He wants to be able to stand tall and never let you see him falter. But obviously, that isn’t realistic. It will take some time but not too much time. The pressure to seem perfect and unbothered around you will cause him to break down and all of his worries and burdens and weaknesses will come flooding out. He’ll be greatly ashamed when it happens but after consistent assurance and love, Kunikida will feel more comfortable being vulnerable. He’ll still be a little embarrassed though. 

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

@djdraws20

🌾🪺🏯

Emperor Lan Wangji never allowed his cleaning staff to remove the little nests birds built up in the nooks and crannies of his palace. He specifically instructed them not to bother those that had little eggs or chicks in them already, and nobody dared disobey such high authority.

Granted, a lot of the court officials did end up having to clean their robes of bird waste a bit more often than they had expected, but it wasn't as if they could protest against the emperor. Not to mention, it wasn't only him that enjoyed the feathered ones' company, the young crown prince did as well. In fact, there was a running conspiracy in the palace that little prince Yuan was teaching the birds which officials gave his father the most grief and they would ever so randomly swarm said officials and peck at them viciously. Of course, there was never proof of such a thing, yet coincidences were many.

One day, as harvest season was nearing its close, prince Yuan and his father inspected the royal reserves, the emperor teaching his son how to check crops and why it was important to save a portion of it after every season.

Just then, a new caravan wheeled through the gates, a rather attractive man holding the reins of the seemingly troublesome donkey that dragged the load behind him. Several other men walked behind him, carrying various produce.

The man wore simple robes, likely one of the peasants that either grew or helped harvest the crops for the palace, and in one hand he twirled a young rice plant, leaves still green, as he lectured the others.

"We're leaving all this harvest in that big barn over there, and then we have to bargain with that stuck up official for prices. I'll take Wen Qing and go, the rest of you make sure not to damage anything, or we won't even get enough to buy radishes for the winter!"

The other men agreed loudly, and the group split up. The man left in the direction of the reserves office with a lady, while the rest approached the barn. The emperor made himself scarce, not wanting these hardworking men to bother with bows and platitudes, instead waiting around the reserves office for that man to emerge.

"A-die, why are we hiding?" Prince Yuan asked, cowering behind his father's ornate robes.

"We are not hiding. We are observing."

"What are we observing from behind this big wall? I can't even see anything!"

Several minutes later, the reserves officer and the man seemed to be arguing quite intensely, with the officer nearly kicking the man and his companion out.

"A-Yuan, send in a pigeon."

The boy giggled silently and waved at a nearby tree, wherefrom five pigeons descended like god-sent arrows. They swarmed the officer just as he was about to spew an insult, and the laughter that escaped that beautiful man was enough to make Lan Wangji's heart flutter.

"That's a sign from the heavens!" he exclaimed, "Give us the price we asked for and I think the birds will leave you alone!"

"Fine!" the officer agreed, trying to prevent a pigeon from biting his nose off. "Fine, I'll give you your price!"

A-Yuan waved at his pigeons and they left their target, returning into the tree.

The officer mumbled something about witchcraft as the man laughed and left with a spring in his step.

Emperor Lan Wangji watched him walk out.

A white dove landed on his shoulder.

[pen-observing]

Hi! If you will have any inspiration about this

What do you think would be little things that brothers would bring you as courting you? As like birds or penguins with rocks and sticks?

Thank you 💜

sjdaj this was fun! i did have an image of lucifer bringing feathers as a meme in my mind for a sec

what the brothers bring you while courting you/wanting to impress you:

Lucifer:

He is what many would consider to be a classic idea of a man. Tall, dark, handsome with refined taste. Because of this he tries to be refined in what he brings you as well. Why should you two not share such traits?

Lucifer because of this relies on the extravagant, classic choices. Most of all – jewelry.

Rings, necklaces, bracelets – everything he sees while out on an errand that catches his eye.

He also tries to match some items with you. He has a golden pen, why shouldn’t you have one as well?

However, one thing that gets in his way is that: no matter how strong his impulse to buy or obtain rare jewels is – he cannot always give them to you.

He overthinks it.

‘if I give them two rings two weeks in a row, would that be too much? Would they then spend money to buy an outfit that matches it? Would the gifts lose their meaning if I don’t space them out? If I continue to give them so many gifts, they would feel responsible to return them so they would spend more money on me and we both know that I am the one who has more money so--’

All these thoughts come to him. Sometimes Lucifer even thinks that your pride would be hurt if he gives you jewels so often.

He tries not to go overboard but he knows that there is a whole desk drawer of little boxes just waiting for the right time to go to you.

Mammon:

No matter how much Mammon may chase gold and sparkles – he is no Lucifer and there is no way that he can just rely on jewels.

Sure, on very special occasions he manages to surprise you with them and that does make it more meaningful.

Mammon puts aside everything else and actually gets a job whenever your birthday is close.

So what else could be bring you?

He is well aware of how birds bring branches or rocks – how sometimes they even spend so much time flying high above and continuously dropping walnuts for others on the road until they crack. His approach is similar.

When you have issues or need to open something – he always offers himself.

It is a bit silly but being there for someone counts.

Besides this – every trinket that he sees somehow ends up in your room

Plushies, fun masks, nail polish that matches his, a leaf that fell in his hair while he was sleeping under a tree and dreamt of you.

He also brings postcards, magazines, photos you might enjoy.

Once he brought you a heart shaped stone and bragged about how his keen eye managed to observe it in the clean river!

Something in every corner of your room will be adjacent to him.

“What if I brought you branches?” “What?” “Nothing!”

He just wanted to ask!

Leviathan:

Lucifer is impulsive in buying just one thing, Levi, however, is impulsive all around.

And that impulsivity goes in many directions.

He is able to use and calculate all his Akuzon points to make sure that you get 10 products instead of just 1.

He takes it very, very seriously.

Sometimes he buys you way too many snacks, other times he orders 5 costumes

Often his courting relies on the thought; what if we shared this!

His mind says that the more you have in common the better match you are.

This is why he brings matching keychains or slippers or even computer backgrounds and mousepads.

He still knows that ‘matching’ does not fully count but it really warms his heart when he sees that you are willing to share and indulge in those small things that would not really matter to others.

It gives him a confidence boost and reassures him that you are in fact open to him.

However, something still has to be yours alone.

Yours alone, from his hands and he needs to make sure of that.

Levi does bring you pearls like penguins do.

And he did in fact spend a long time underwater making sure he brings the best ones.

Just... never show him the video that trended of a female penguin cheating on her partner in the human world.

Satan:

Satan, no matter how much he tries to deny it, is in many ways similar to Lucifer.

He might dress the way he does but he tries to be a classic gentleman in this regard.

He does bring jewelry too – however he never brings it without a deeper, more profound reason.

‘so what if this ring is rare? What does it matter to them? Nothing.’

He has to hear you say it is very pretty to give it to you.

The necklace needs to remind him of your eyes or he is not buying it at all.

Because of this – he is very picky so few gifts are of this nature.

What else does he bring?

Satan writes you notes all the time.

Sometimes they are there to remind you of water or meals, other times they are short quotes.

In fact, he brings you annotated books; lines that remind him of you; quotes of feelings he knows thanks to you.

He brings you parts of himself and looks for parts of you in everything.

This is his idea of courting.

And don’t be surprised to get letters (wax made by him) under your door even if you live close by.

Asmodeus:

Unlike the others, Asmo has no problems with giving you whatever his own impulse says to.

Why should he hide these 2 perfumes that he bought thinking of you and wait for 3 weeks to present them to you?

No, do it right then and there because your heart felt the love or do not do it at all!

Because of this, his impulse costs a lot. Only second to Lucifer.

Asmo wants to give you luxurious things but he knows that jewelry alone can get boring rather fast and is limited by time and fashion and practicality etc.

So he gives you luxury in everything.

New lines of fragrance are yours as well as his, new skin care products that few humans can buy just show up at your door.

Does he also give you framed photos of him? Yes

Does he give you best silk? Also yes.

Why should the two of you not enjoy these things? You deserve it after all.

Still, Asmo is very sentimental too.

He gifts you photo albums of things that make him feel so. Memories of trips and walks; of sleepovers and quiet nights as well.

Yes, luxury is there but this small pretty pen is cheap and has hearts on it! He simply has to give it to you!

Beelzebub:

Beelzebub knows the ‘proper’, ‘correct’ or expected ways to court someone.

He knows what gifts others give and why.

But, all of that seems slightly...like vanity or showing off to him.

It just wouldn’t feel right to give you a framed work of art or color stones that glimmer if it does not really awake something.

His gifts are as gentle as him.

Yes, food is the most obvious choice but he really does worry if you are eating well because humans are fragile.

Flowers that he sees in shops or on walks.

While once walking with Luke he saw some and said how pretty they would look on you. Luke taught him to make flower crowns for that reason.

Most of his gifts are handmade.

He wants to help you on his own no matter what.

The most consistent gifts however are those that you said you needed.

Doesn’t matter when you said it or how, maybe it was just a passing thought, but he remembers and he gets them for you.

Belphegor:

it wouldn’t be wrong to say that he manages to mix up all of these ways and refuses to settle down on just one type.

This is because he is similar to Beel.

Beel gives you thinks you said you needed; Belphie gives you those you did not even notice.

He is constantly observing you and being as smart as he is – nothing escapes him.

You don’t have to complain how you grew bored of your boots or how annoying those headphones are.

He just notices it and gives you new ones.

Sometimes he looks at you during a party in Diavolo’s castle and things that a necklace is missing and would actually be useful in the future as well; so, he buys it.

Books for assignments you are not aware you will need next year find their way to your table. Yes, it is a year but he is a published Devildom scholar so trust him with this.

Paintings, matching rings with stars, a keychain of some small alien from a human TV show etc.

He treads the lines of outlandish with luxury and simple.

Seeing you surprised no matter what because you never mentioned these things always brings him joy.

a/n: how tf do you spell jewelry is it this or jewellery or i hate his word pls