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[ladykailitha]

A Love For Christmas Part 7

Hello! Welcome to penultimate chapter! I've been loving the little guess on the elf, who will be revealed tonight in the final chapter. Thank you to everyone who liked, commented, and reblogged. You make my day brighter.

Sledding is fun is because it's dangerous. And the company holiday party arrives.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

~

The next thing I put the little elf in charge of was the sleds used for sledding. There isn’t much to do in the North Pole, so we always trying to have some fun. Ice skating and sledding are two such pleasures we get to enjoy year round.

I let out a jolly laugh to see that they were finally having fun. Just enjoying themselves and being free.

I should have known that wasn’t going to last.

They got up on the highest hill with the swiftest sled and with one mighty push, they were careening down the slope, getting faster and faster.

I thought for sure they would hit the bottom of the slope and jackknife right into the snow bank at the bottom.

But I was wrong.

What happened might well be considered worse.

They hit the bottom of the slope, but instead of slowly, like it was meant to, it kept going. The elf tried to steer. To get it to slow down.

But it was fruitless.

They saw what was coming and dived off the sled, rolling into the snow. They rose in time to watch the runaway sled crash through the remaining snowpeople, knocking them down like bowling pins or dominoes.

They looked up at me, eyes wide with shame and bewilderment. There was no reason it should have continued like that.

And I suspected sabotage and sure enough another elf’s name appeared on my naughty list that afternoon.

So I gathered up the elf and told them, I would find something special for them to do. Something I knew they could be good at if they tried.

Making friends.

~

When Steve told Eddie that he had never gone sledding because it was too dangerous, the arborist made his mission to get Steve on the slopes as soon as possible. But that meant it would be the morning of the office Christmas party, which Steve was absolutely fine with.

Hell, if it was as dangerous as his mother claimed, maybe he would be in the hospital with a broken leg and he wouldn’t even have to go.

He bought a nice two person sled as well a single seater and brought them to Eddie’s nursery as that was where he was meeting him.

Wayne came out first as he always did because he liked talking to Steve.

“Hey Steve,” he greeted warmly. “I hear you’re taking Eddie to that fancy ‘do of yours tonight. Aren’cha worried he might bring little bit more...bedlam then the occasion calls for?”

Steve threw back his head and laughed. “God, I hope so! I hope he brings all the chaos loving, long haired, metalhead energy he has in him. I want people to see how wonderfully wild and outrageous he is, because I that’s what I adore about him.”

Wayne blinked at him for a moment and then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “And Eddie is aware of this...plan?”

“Yup!” Eddie said cheerfully, popping out from behind one of the Noble firs. “It’s part of the reason I agreed to go. Me and Stevie here are going to have a real good time.”

Wayne shook his head fondly. “All right, as long you both know what you’re in for, I’m not going to stop ya.”

“We’re taking my van,” Eddie said, turning to Steve, “if that’s okay.”

“Yup!” Steve replied licking his lips and pursing them to hide the bright smile on his face. “I’ll just grab my sleds and I’ll meet you at the van.”

“Great!” Eddie said full dimples on display and Steve couldn’t help the feeling of warmth that sunk into his soul that it was aimed at him.

He hurried to his car and got the two sleds out of his car and trotted over to Eddie’s van.

Eddie tilted his head to the side. “Wha’cha got two for?”

“I’m too chicken to go myself the first couple of times,” he said holding up the two-seater. “So I’m hoping you’ll go with me in this. And then...” he held up the single person sled, “once I’m brave enough to go on my own, that’s what this is for!”

Eddie cocked his head to the other side, admiring him. “That’s some good thinking. Of course I’ll come with you the first couple of times until you get your sled legs.”

Steve laughed, putting the sleds in the back of Eddie’s van. “What the fuck is sled legs?”

They both got in the van.

“It’s like sea legs only with sledding.”

Steve shook his head. “Of course it is. What was I thinking?”

“You weren’t,” Eddie said, starting the engine. “But that’s because you’re in the presence of the wonderful me! It’s such a trial to be this pretty!”

He leaned into Steve’s space and fluttered his eyelashes at him. So Steve did the only thing he could think of.

He kissed the tip of Eddie’s nose. “You’re cute.”

Eddie blushed and sputtered. “You’re going to ruin my reputation is what you’re going to be doing here, Stevie.”

Steve just laughed.

They got to the park where they were doing the sledding and the hills were covered in people of all ages screaming and laughing and just have a blast.

“This always looked so fun to me growing up,” Steve said wistfully. “But my mom would never allow me to go. Not even when my best friends tried to sic their moms at her. It was just too much for her precious boy.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat!” Eddie said gleefully throwing himself out of the van. Steve scrambled to catch up.

They grabbed their sleds and raced to the hill.

Will spotted them first and started waving vigorously. Steve and Eddie grinned, then made their way to them.

“Hey!” Mike said with a returning grin. “You guys made it. We’ve been here for hours!”

And they certainly looked it. Their cheeks and noses were red and their pants were soaked to their skin, but they looked like they could go all day without breaking their stride.

“Some of us work for a living,” Eddie groused. “Teenagers!”

“Nancy and Robin both work and they’ve been here all morning,” Dustin huffed, pointing over to the two girls.

There standing on the top of the hill in snow suits. Robin, Steve clocked immediately. She was in a mix-matched suit that was navy blue on the bottom but an ugly brown up top. The other girl was all in pink with bright blue mittens, cap, and scarf. Her curly hair stuck from her under her cap and her cheeks were rosy.

Honestly, if Steve hadn’t known any better, he would have pegged Eddie as her brother, not Mike.

“That was nice of their bosses to let them take the day off,” Steve said with a smirk. “Eddie’s is running the nursery with just him and Wayne, and my boss is a bag of dicks. So...maybe don’t compare what you don’t know.”

Everyone turned and looked at Steve wide-eyed like they had just witnessed a murder. Which, Steve thought with a huff, they probably had.

Then everyone oohhing and whistling and calling Mike out. He just rolled his eyes and said, “Whatever.”

That was when Steve knew he had truly won.

Eddie set down his sled and then took the two seater from Steve. “You ready for this, big boy?”

“I guess, I’m ready as I’ll ever be,” Steve said with a smile.

Eddie set up the sled at the top of the hill and said, “All right, you get on first and steer and I’ll push, okay?”

Steve nodded and did as he was told. Then suddenly they were off, sliding down the hill at breakneck speed. Steve did his best to avoid hitting the major bumps and too soon they were at the bottom of the hill.

“That was fun!” Steve said, turning around to face Eddie. “Let’s do that again!”

And so they did. Steve spent most of the afternoon on the two seater or drinking hot chocolate with Robin, trying to warm up to go back at it. She was there to supervise.

“I’m here to make sure no one gets hurt,” she said dryly. “I’m just too uncoordinated to do it.”

“So come with me on the two-seater,” Steve said. “I’ll push and you steer.”

Robin chewed her lip and then nodded. Steve grabbed it from where it was sitting next to him and hauled it over to the top of the hill. Once they were all sorted, Steve pushed them off with a shriek of laughter and they were tearing off down the hill.

They slowed at the bottom and she looked back at Steve with a wide grin. “Let’s do that again!”

Steve laughed as she echoed his previous statement.

Then it was time for Steve to try his solo trip down the hill. Robin agreed to push him gently down the hill and Eddie offered to spot him at the bottom to help ease his fears.

Steve got settled on the sled but before Robin could even push him, the sled wobbled and started off down the hill on its own. Steve yelped as he struggled to steer the sled. But it was no good, he was heading right for a bump.

“Look out!” he cried as he hit the bump going top speed.

Everyone at the bottom of the hill scrambled to get out of the way. Steve caught air and landed hard at the bottom of the hill, tumbling out of the sled and rolling to the side.

Eddie was standing over him when he finally dared to open his eyes. “Hey, you okay?”

Steve took a moment to take stock. “Sadly, yes. But I think that means I’m done for the day.”

Eddie burst out laughing and helped him to his feet. They said their goodbyes to everyone and made their way to Eddie’s van.

“Thanks so much for today,” Steve said as he climbed in. “It’s been really nice hanging out with you guys all month.”

Eddie smiled fondly. “Of course, Stevie. I just hope you find Christmas just a little bit better.”

“Yeah.”

~

Eddie was dressed up as nicely as he could be, black button up shirt, nice black slacks, but he paired them with combat boots, a leather jacket and as many chains as he could get his hands on. Steve was dressed in a simple dark grey suit with a white shirt and red tie. Eddie thought he looked dashing.

They walked in through doors of Steve’s office building and while Eddie had been there before with the trees he hadn’t seen it decked out. Joyce’s ornaments were beautifully placed and Claudia’s cooking was being doled out by servers in black vests.

“Wow,” he murmured. “You sure do know how to plan a party. Damn, man. You did good for someone who out-nerved Robin that day when you came to the nursery.”

Steve blushed. “Thanks, Eds.”

Eddie’s head whipped over at the nickname and he just lit up brighter than the Christmas tree.

Then a loud, boisterous man came storming up to them. “Steven, what is the meaning of this? You were supposed to bring a date, not the help!”

Steve blinked at him a moment and then cocked his head to the side. “But you didn’t say that though. You said I was expected to bring someone, not a date. So I picked Eddie. He’s been a real asset to helping plan this party, I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Mr. Harrington stuttered and stammered before leaving the way he came, in a huff.

“So...that was you’re dad I’m assuming,” Eddie said with a grimace. “Because hooboy, I can see why you don’t talk about him much.”

“Yep,” Steve said dryly, rocking back on his heels. “Clint Harrington, asshole extraordinaire.”

“Hey, I’m going to get something to drink,” Eddie said trying to change the subject. “You want anything?”

“Just water.”

Eddie frowned at that but went and got him an apple cider, some food and goodies, and brought Steve over some water.

“There you go,” he said brightly.

“Thanks,” he said taking a sip of the water.

He held up his plate. “You want any of this?”

Steve shook his head. “I’ll eat later.”

Eddie dug into his food and they chatted. Everyone gave them both a wide berth and Steve loved every moment of it.

“Thanks for this,” Steve said brightly after the third person skirted around them. “I’ve never had such a peaceful party before.”

Eddie chuckled. “You’re welcome. I’m going to get more of the gingerbread snaps, you want anything.”

Again Steve shook his head.

“I don’t know why you won’t take any of the spoils of your labor,” Eddie said, shaking his head. “You deserve to eat this too.”

Steve looked up at him with a slight smile. “I’m allergic to orange. I literally can’t have any of it because it’s likely been touched by orange in someway, and I’d rather not spend Christmas in the ICU.”

Eddie eyes went wide. “Come again?”

Steve shrugged. “My parents do this every year. I’ve been allergic since I was seven, but they always had Christmas with everything covered in orange and complained when I refused to eat any of it.”

“Dude,” Eddie hissed. “That’s like child abuse.”

“Yeah.”

Eddie looked around and saw that everyone else was having fun while Steve was forced to put on a smile and not enjoy any of it.

“Do you want to get out of here and grab a burger?”

Steve laughed. “Yeah, sure. I just need to do something really quick. I’ll meet you by the car.”

Eddie nodded and went downstairs.

Steve slipped into his office and sent off an email with a grin on his face. As he was leaving his father stopped him.

“I’m don’t know what you are trying to pull with this,” he hissed. “But your mother doesn’t want to see you until after New Year’s, she that upset!”

Steve shook him off. “Maybe I’ll get to eat something for Christmas for a change.”

He stormed off, racing down the stairs and out into the crisp winter air. Eddie was by Steve’s car and he just held his arms open.

Steve dashed right into them and buried his head into Eddie’s neck. “I just quit.”

Eddie’s jaw dropped. “You did what now?”

“I sent in my two weeks notice, dated today,” Steve said with a grin. “They won’t see until the 5th of next month when they all come back, but by then the two weeks will be up and they’ll have to give my severance as well as all my PTO that I’ve accrued.”

“And just how much will that be?” Eddie asked looking down at this man of his dreams.

“At least sixty thousand dollars,” Steve replied, his grin growing wider. “Enough to get me through school to get my teaching degree so I can teach middle school.”

Eddie burst out laughing. “You are a menace, Steve Harrington.”

“Yeah.”

“Come over to our place on Christmas,” Eddie said, “enjoy the holiday for a change.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

~

Part 8

Tag List: COMPLETED

1- @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @cryptid-system @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006

5- @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon @fearieshadow @thesecondfate

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @steddieislife @tartarusknight @themoonagainstmers

[primoredial-jade]

i haven’t been playing or keeping up with genshin for over 9+ months now, but with the recent lore drops pertaining to childe and his vision, i’m suddenly interested in playing again 🤔 or at the very least, just reading into his role in the fontaine story quest 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[a-bright-comet]

Jade Shadows Thoughts

(NOTICE: I have edited this post after a few days and many lovely replies and tags giving me more insight and opinions, overall my view of this quest has gotten a lot more positive, thank you all <3) okaaayyyy I am utterly rattled rn lmao also made the mistake of looking at tumblr after doing the quest and as expected it seems to be a 50/50 of hating or loving it. so here are my personal thoughts, I am a little scared but talk seems to be civil thankfully. I can definitely agree on the sentiment that this quest needed more time, cause let's be honest the people hating this quest wouldn't be jumping to the things they're jumping to if Jade herself got more screen-time before the big drop, warframe's style has always been vague and never 100% straight-forward and I think that unfortunately hurt it a bit this time, as what they didn't show came off wrong to many people and while I sorta see why I disagree on some parts. I also feel like the quest kinda got a bit *too* hyped both by DE and the fanbase's theories, way too short, it deserved and needed to be a bit longer for it's special narrative. Jade kinda got a weird spot, both being the main focus alongside Stalker but also hardly explored. But let's be honest, most of the negativity is caused by this outside-circumstance alone. Now, what I absolutely disagree with is people insisting that DE was trying to say "bodily autonomy bad" or that Stalker didn't care about her and only the child, thing is I thought it was pretty fucking clear that she *wanted* the child in what little was shown and she was going to die no matter the outcome (thanks to the orokin to absolutely no one's surprise) and Stalker in his guilt for all she's done for him wanted to make sure that he at least kept this one promise to Her, cause She wanted it. she still had bodily autonomy in the fact She wanted this, she wanted the child no matter what. and she wanted stalker to protect her and the kid. And he did, like a true loving partner. DE has a long track record of being very autonomy-positive. A point they make time and time again is that ripping it away is *bad* and horrifying, the quest is a bittersweet tragedy, not a horror. Honestly there would be 0 issue if DE had given us a Jade-only quest before this one, I personally would've preferred it as well, she's cool as hell she deserves it. who knows maybe DE will see all of this and make prequel quests? we can only hope. I do not want to assume the worst of anyone or anything cause that's a miserable existence. Look I personally enjoyed the quest and get the feeling whoever wrote it did it out of some personal experience or sorrow, that's at least the vibe I got. It's a tragedy, but her choice was seen till the end, many women choose to still have a child despite knowing they won't make it, many also don't, that's why choice is important. and she did, she chose her child that she was having while likely forcibly infested and turned into a warframe. (also remember there are women on the team who likely looked at this.) there are some other iffy parts of the quest, (really should've been the drifter instead of the operator if they were gonna do that, but that's personal discomfort.) but overall I enjoyed it and open to explore the implications of a born-warframe-child and Stalker healing as they both grow together. These are my thoughts, and I can understand why people like or dislike this quest, but I think it's fine and just ended up in a very unfortunate spot due to outside circumstances beyond it's control. (sorry if any of this comes off as aggressive it is not my intention despite how riled I am by some folk online, I disagree with you but I do not hate you, I don't even know you.)

Her choice, His promise, Their light.

Thank you for reading my first ever text post about something I care about, not sure I'll be doing this again any time soon out of anxiety lol (Edit: and thanks to everyone responding to this post wonderfully, ya'll are great and have lessened my anxiety and have made me appreciate this quest more <3)

[brittle-doughie]

OH GOD THERE'S TWO OF THEM

hiiii Brittle, its me, Blue Bird Anon! I come bearing gifts of cookie sprites! Crowned Cupcake Cookie (based on Runebrave's lovely design) and her brother of my own creation, Royal Icing Cookie. I had a lot of fun designing and drawing them so I hope you and everyone enjoy as well! (pssst also my art blog is scarabeeart ;3)

I saw an anon guess that Royal Icing was the pure opposite of his sister, and while that wasn't my original concept for him, I thought the contrast between the two would be a very funny idea hjggffg him being a totally normal, genuinely good guy while his sister is. like that.

But the idea I had for him was a classic prince charming, but with the levels cranked to 11. Brave, chivalrous, humble, generous, rides a white horse, he's got it all! All he wants is to sweep Y/N Cookie off their feet like in a romantic fairy tale and ride into the sunset for their perfect happily ever after together <3 May let the prince charming thing go to his head as he has a secret hero complex and will often put Y/N Cookie into danger purely just so he can heroically swoop in and rescue them. And while his sister is more physical with her use of force to chase away those who get too close to Y/N Cookie, Royal Icing is more manipulative and unhanded. Not above willing to plant fake evidence on other suitors and use it as a way to turn Y/N against them and only trust him. "These Cookies are merely trying to marry you only to claim the throne, they want to usurp you, your adviser is scheming and plotting against you" and all the other fairy tale tropes. Will never fess up to sneaking around because his perfect prince image is incredibly important to him. You trust him, right? He's your fiance! Your prince charming, your knight in shining armor. Of course he wouldn't lie to you <3

(hehe sorry for writing so much! I've been thinking about this for too long hjgfhjgf)

First of all.

That’s some damn incredible work you made here. You are getting a follow from me!

Crowned Cupcake now actually looks like canon compared to my more simple style! She’s even pulling a Cherry Blossom with that triangle mouth there!

Royal Icing too! He looks just as amazing, definitely the charismatic type that no cookie would doubt has a dark side to him! Both of them are just wonderfully done and I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to do this!

I did think about Icing being exactly like his sister rather than being a kind soul, with him taking the more psychological approach rather then the brute forcing Crowned would do. He’s willing to play any card in his hand to turn it in his favor, even if it meant falsely accusing other cookies if it meant getting them of the picture.

You would trust him more at first. After all, he hadn’t done anything wrong to warrant any kind of suspicion on him! These liars can’t prove anything against your Prince, so you’ll take his side more often then not.

Overall, this is spectacular and I greatly appreciate the work that was done here!

[gallus-rising]

mp100 horror fic recs 👻🎃

For a while now I've been thinking about mp100's amazing horror potential and how it really doesn't get enough attention. SO! For the spooky season why don't you settle down with a nice scary story ;D

All of these fics are complete and have no shipping. I've only linked 1 fic per author so this list doesn't get bloated, but all of these wonderful authors have other fics just waiting for you to read them ❤ Some definitely freaked me out more than others, but I'm not gonna give any particular ratings since "scary" is so subjective. All fics are properly tagged and you know your own limits better than I do.

Also feel free to add on your own recs!! My general reading preferences and parameters when making this list is only a small sampling, so please share any and all of your favs ❤ Hope you enjoy!

If you see an "N/A" instead of a Tumblr UN that means there wasn't one linked in either the fics' notes or author's bio. If you know the author or are the author yourself feel free to let me know so I can edit the post :] And now in no particular order I present:

The Immeasurable Dark: @tinkertoysdamn Immediately breaking my own "no ships" rule just this once because I can't resist a good House of Leaves inspired story! If you've read HoL is you know what's up. If not expect a fucked-up house and impossibly large spaces, funky text formatting and footnotes, maybe a minotaur. Ship featured is background established serirei.

a pilgrimage: @tooomuchtofu Divine Tree arc bad ending. Told from the PoV of an unnamed worshiper on their first visit to "the capital" aka an overgrown Seasoning City. Uses second person pov wonderfully to build the dread.

And Who Is Killing Me?: @sammisafetypin Koyama beats the shit outta Mob a little harder than in canon, hospitalizing him and delaying the 7th Division rescue arc by [TIME NOT FOUND]. The Awakening Lab kids are so minor I tend to forget they even exist, but oh my god does this author make you care about them! This fic is written with great suddenly swapping PoVs that keep you feeling off kilter without making you lose track of the story. It's the longest fic on this list by far but 100% worth every second of it. A real gut punch.

Adoration: (N/A) The Divine Tree takes a particular interest in Reigen. I don't think I've ever seen anyone properly touch on how creepy the Psycho Helm constructs themselves are like this fic has. God, those things freak me out so much. Features "shipping" in the sense of a sentient broccoli becoming fixated on a guy. Keep in mind that the Psycho Helms look like Mob if you think that'll squick you out, but for me personally it added to the horror.

Similarities: (N/A) Reigen receives a fucked up email. Ends on the sillier side, but BOY is that email fucked up!

The Water Ran Clean: @bandtrees A Mogami-mentors-Mob AU and a damn fine one at that. Love the sort of fragmented style it's written in, and the exploration of Mogami's fucked up moral code is great. There's some Choice viscerally described imagery here 👌👌 Features a drawing of Mob covered in blood just in case that freaks you out; but worry, it's not his :]

An Outlier Among a Sea of Common Denominators: @hebezunet A rewrite of the early Divine Tree arc that asks the question we've all been too scared to consider: What if the brainwashing was like cordyceps? In particular I want to highlight the opening scene where after eating the broccoli powder cookies Teru has to physically rip florets out of his body to resist being brainwashed. Very gnarly stuff.

Prison Surveillance: (N/A) Touichirou was a very bad boss so Hatori pulls a The Ring to torment him in Psychic Supermax Prison. Was written pre-season 3 so Hatori doesn't work for the government.

Stairs: (N/A) Reigen and Mob have a job in the woods. There are some stairs. Inspired by an r/nosleep story which the author links to if you'd like to check that out as well.

Fight, Flight, or Fraud: @cowardlybean So everyone's got a really specific supernatural fear, right? Something that could absolutely never happen in real life but when you see it in media it freaks you the fuck out? Mine is someone I know being killed and replaced by an evil doppelganger and I'm the only one who knows. I've not seen anything since The Magnus Archives that's properly captured that fear like this fic, which is some of the highest praise I can bestow.

In Quicksand: @ghoststrawberries Reigen catches a nasty cold and by that I mean he gets possessed. Very fun the way Reigen's train of thought and feeling shifts around as the evil spirit tries to influence him while he's unconsciously resisting it. The scene where the gang realizes Reigen's been possessed is a real "OOOOOH, SHIT!!!" moment, but I won't spoil ;D

Playing Human: (N/A) Espers and psychic powers might not be real but spirits are. Poor baby Mob is a ghost possessing his own dead body. Features Dimple as the bad guy.

Mithridatism: If I may be so self-indulgent to list one of my own fics here :3 Absorbing evil spirits while still alive was actively killing Mogami and I wanted to dig into that! Features my Signature™ (lol) "HEY, DON'T EAT THAT!!" style of body horror.

[turcott3]

margaret

tj hughes x fem! reader

warnings?: cursing, kissing, fluff!!

when you know you know

masterlist

-

as you finished packing your bags, you hung up the facetime and turned to your fellow team girlfriend, alexis.

“i’m so excited for this trip, i still feel so new to the group, it’s only been 4 months so it’ll definitely be nerve wracking.” you admit to her

“we all love you so much, you have nothing to worry about. we all hoped tj could land a girl like you.”

“you’re too nice stop it.” you say, a blush creeping onto your cheeks.

“no i’m being serious. he’s a good, sweet, and responsible guy. we’re so glad he has you, and then we also get to have you. it’s a win win.” she smiles as you hug her.

“are you sure it’s okay that tj and i have our own car? it’s a long drive, id feel bad if only we traveled alone.”

“yes babe, it’s totally fine.” she laughs exiting your room.

“goodnight lex.” you call out.

“good night y/n.” she yells back.

-

early the next morning, the lot of cars arrive outside to pick the girls up.

“i’ll see you when we get there.” alexis smiles climbing into the vehicle with rutger and kayleigh.

“you ready to go?” tj asks, appearing next to you leaving the car running.

“yep.” you say smiling.

“me too.” he replies kissing you on the cheek and grabbing your luggage.

“you don’t have to carry that.”

“well i’m not letting you so, it doesn’t matter.” he replies back and you roll your eyes jokingly.

“catch yall in pcb.” frank says rolling the window down before they take off down the street. tj opens the car door for you to get in and puts on the playlist you two made together.

“damn, long drive.” you scoff looking at the screen.

“yeah well at least it’s just me and you.” he says placing a light hand on your thigh.

-

“teej?”

“yeah baby?”

“can we stop? i need a snack.”

“yeah of course, look at the exit signs and let me know.” he says without hesitation.

“this next one has a nice gas station.”

“perfect.” he says, pulling off the long interstate. you enter the gas station grabbing a few snacks and drinks for the ride. you place them all on the counter and they get rung in.

“your total is 11.84. cash or card?” the woman asks.

“card.” tj interrupts stepping up beside you.

“tj i-“

“don’t care, i’m paying.” he smirks before quickly pecking you on the side of the head causing you to giggle. the pair returns to the car, snacks in hand, for the remainder of their 15 hour ride.

“is it okay if i take a nap? i woke up at 4 and it’s really ruining my vibe right now.” you ask.

“yeah of course, however long you need.”

“okay i just wanted to make sure, didn’t wanna leave you lonely.”

“i’m never lonely with you.” he smiles turning to look at you which you gladly return. you shut your eyes with your head leaned up against the window, praying this long drive could be over soon so you could enjoy time with everyone. you were quick to slip from reality soon after you shut your eyes. after what seemed like a few short minutes you woke up and saw the clock had gone from 12 pm to 3 pm.

“woah i slept for a long time.” you say quietly breaking the silence.

“good morning sunshine, how’d you sleep?” he giggles.

“oh i slept wonderfully.” you reply stretching out.

“we only have about 7 more hours to go.”

“ONLY?” you say in disbelief, this ride was endless.

“yeah i know, it’s taking forever. they’re like a solid hour ahead of us.” tj says.

“wow we’re gonna be fashionably late.”

“that’s because we’re awesome.” he turns to you smirking.

“totally.”

-

those 7 hours passed dreadfully and you’d finally arrived. you see the condo building approaching.

“finally.” you sigh as tj passes it without hesitation.

“isn’t that where we’re staying?”

“no baby, that’s where they’re staying.” he smirks.

“what do you mean they’re staying?”

“my aunt owns a house a little further down the coast. she’s letting us stay there.” he says placing a hand back onto your leg.

“you’re joking?”

“not joking.”

“who else is there?”

“it’s just for us y/n.”

“like we have a whole house just for me and you?” you ask and he nods.

“does everyone already-“

“yes, they know. i told them.” he quickly replies.

“they weren’t mad?”

“no of course not. we’ll still see them.” he giggles, squeezing your leg slightly. you pull into the driveway of a gorgeous beach house. as soon as the car is off, you open the door and inhale the salty scent of the ocean.

“it’s beautiful.” you say.

“i’m glad you like it.” he says grabbing your luggage and carrying it up the front steps. he unlocks the door, opening it for you to enter. you observe all of the cute and modern coastal decorations that littered the entryway.

“where’s my room?” you ask.

“you mean our room?” he says and you turn your head.

“this is our first big trip together, of course we’re sharing a room. i don’t wanna spend a split second away from you.” he says hugging you from behind.

“oh i’m so excited. i’m gonna go unpack.” you say grabbing onto his arms.

“sounds good, i’m gonna go grab my stuff.” he says pulling away and exiting the house back out to the car.

-

after you finished unpacking everything, it was late. you’d spent the whole day in the car and just finished unpacking at a ripe 10:30 pm. you step into the bathroom, pushing your hair back with your big tacky bow headband to wash your face. once your skincare was complete, you walk back into the room to tj already tucked in, waiting for you to join him.

“i love that pink headband you use to wash your face. it’s so goofy.” he says as you tuck yourself under the covers.

“it keeps my hair out of my face and i look great in it.”

“touché to that.” he giggles reaching over to pull his lamp string.

“goodnight my love.” he says kissing you sweetly on the lips.

“goodnight tj.” you smile, rolling over and drifting off into a peaceful sleep. when you wake up the next morning, the bed is cold and empty.

“what the-“ you say looking over at the alarm clock that read 8:30. you get out of bed and slide on your slippers, waltzing into the bathroom to put your contacts in. you make your way out of the bathroom and follow the strong sent of something being cooked, which lead you to the kitchen. you’re met with tj leaned over the stove in his boxers and your bright pink bow headband.

“good morning.” he smiles at you.

“good morning my beautiful bow head.” you giggle walking into the kitchen to kiss him on the cheek.

“hey it really does keep my hair out of my face.”

“and you look great in it.” you say, just like he had last night.

“honestly, can you order me one? cards in my wallet on the counter.”

“yes teej, i’ll order you a pink bow headband.” you laugh.

“i’m being fully serious i hope you know.” he says turning to you smirking.

“you are very hard to take serious in that bow babe.” you state, pulling up amazon on your phone.

“i’m a very serious person, haven’t you noticed.” he scoffs, returning his focus to the pancake that was ready to flip. you order him his prized bow headband and pull yourself up onto the counter to watch him hard at work. once he’s finished his cooking, the two of you eat and get ready for a day alone at the beach.

“white or purple?” you say holding up your bikinis.

“whichever one shows more of your butt.” he says, his words muffled by his toothbrush. you took note of the grey swim shorts he was wearing and how they complimented his skin tone. he was practically irresistible.

“lord.” you laugh, setting the white one back in your suitcase.

“what? is it a crime to stare at my girlfriends butt?” he asks, spitting the remaining toothpaste out.

“no tj, it’s not.” you laugh, changing into your swimsuit.

“look at you, do a spin.” he smiles getting a good look at you. you do as your told and approach him, his arms wrapping around you and sliding down your back onto your ass as your arms linked around his neck.

“you’re so beautiful.” he smiles.

“all you babe.” you reply kissing him and pulling away.

“got everything ready?” he asks, picking up the two chairs.

“yup, i’m ready to go.” you say, leading the pair out the door. after a few hours spent on the beach together, you come back to the beach house to get ready to go to dinner with everyone.

“first day at the beach, check.” you say setting everything down on the deck, out of breath from the hellish walk back.

“new favorite thing, going to the beach with you.” he smiles, pressing a kiss to your warm sunkissed cheek.

“baby, i’m getting in the shower.” you call out from the bathroom before starting the water. once it’s a temperature you liked, you step in, washing away all the remaining sand. completely relaxing in the shower. once you were fully rinsed, you step out and wrap your body in a fluffy white towel before hearing tj’s voice. you could tell he was on the phone so you tip toe over to the door, pressing your ear up to it, trying to see who he could be talking to.

“it’s been great mom, the weather is so nice.” he says, you not being able to hear the other end of the conversation.

“she’s been incredible. couldn’t ask for a better woman.” he says before pausing for a good while.

“i really do think i love her mom. i don’t think i’ve ever felt this way about-“ he begins and you back away from the door, not wanting to spoil anything for yourself.

“he loves me?” you whisper to yourself, your heart growing giddy at the fact that you felt the exact same way. you just never knew when to say it. you finished drying off, blowing out your hair and exiting the bathroom.

“bathrooms free if you wanna shower.” you smile at the strawberry blonde boy.

“perfect, i’ll be out in like two seconds okay?” he states.

“okay.” you blush as he kisses you on the head in passing.

-

the two of you got ready for dinner, listening to your playlist.

“which button up?” he asks holding up two of the shirts you’d bought him.

“i like the white one, we’ll be matchy matchy.” you laugh, applying a layer of aquaphor. he reappears in the doorway in his shirt and gives you a little twirl.

“you look great babe.” you giggle stepping towards him and attaching your lips to his.

“i’ll never look better than my lady. look at you, pure perfection.” he says, grabbing your hand and twirling you around.

“okay baby, let’s go, don’t wanna be late.” he says grabbing the keys and opening the front door for you.

“so where is it we’re going?” you ask buckling your seatbelt.

“well we have to make a pit stop first since the sun is setting. told them to give us 30 more minutes.” he winks at you.

“tj we are not fu-“

“that is not what i was implying, chill out.” he laughs, placing a hand in your lap and you interlock your fingers with his. he drives to a beach just down the road and pulls into a parking lot. you meet at the front of the car, him reaching his hand out to yours and you gladly accept. you both remove your shoes before walking down the short path to a beach that was completely empty.

“this is so peaceful.” you say as you get further out onto the beach.

“my mom and i used to come here every first sunset of our trips.” he smiles, stopping in his tracks.

“it’s beautiful tj.” you say looking around. he grabs onto your other hand to focus your attention onto him.

“just like you.” he smirks.

“stop you’re gonna make me blush or whatever.” you giggle together.

“listen y/n. we’re been together for 5 months 2 weeks and 4 days. those have been the best 5 months 2 weeks and 4 days of my life all because of you baby. you make my everyday so much brighter. i couldn’t stand living another day without telling you how much i love you. i love you so much i don’t even have to proper words to express it. you’re so beautiful, gracious, funny, sweet, kind. the list could go on forever. you’re fucking incredible. i love you so much.” he says, not losing your eye contact a single time, even as the tears welted up, eventually spilling over.

“i love you tj, i love you so much.” you say hugging onto the boy.

“why are you crying honey?” he giggles holding onto you tightly.

“i’ve never felt this way before. which sounds so tacky but everything just feels right with you. no icks, no complaints, nothing. you’re perfect i love you.” you say grabbing onto his face and bringing his lips to yours.

“you think we can still make it to dinner in time?” he giggles pulling away and wiping your tears delicately with his thumbs, bringing his lips to yours again for a short moment.

“i think we can, come on.” you say grabbing his hand and running back to the car. you make it back completely out of breath and quickly rinse your feet to get in the car, speeding off down the road to get to dinner. once the two of you finally arrive, you enter the restaurant to everyone sitting and waiting for the two of you.

“sorry for the hold up guys.” tj laughs pulling your chair out for you before he takes a seat beside you, placing an arm around your waist.

“and no before any of you fuckers ask, we were not having sex in the parking lot.” you say pointing at duker and rutger.

“hey i wasn’t gonna say anything.” dylan says defensively.

“he’s right, but i definitely was.” rutger says and kayleigh smacks him on the arm.

“what was the hold up then hm?” mark asks as frank nudges tj’s arm.

“you guys are acting like i proposed or something.” he laughs.

“well?” mark repeats.

“i told her i loved her.” he admits and the whole table smiles and rutger hands dylan a 20.

“yall bet on us?” you laugh.

“sure did.” duker smirks as rutger flips him off.

“did you say it back though?” alexis asks from beside frank.

“yes i sure did.” you smirk, leaning on tj’s shoulder as his hand brushed gently up and down your side.

“new official lovers have entered the group, we’re getting crazy now guys.” ethan says causing the whole table to laugh. this trip turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened this semester, you were there with your best friends and what turned out to be the only guy you’ve ever truly loved.

-

(sorry for the tacky ending, didn’t know how to round it off😍)

[elaho]

Stardew Valley MBTI x Enneagram: Elliott

Following my last post about the Stardew marriage candidates and their MBTI types, I've been learning more about Enneagram, how it pairs with MBTI, and how it changes some of the typical characteristics of each type.

The Enneagram and MBTI complement each other wonderfully, providing greater depth and understanding of how a person interacts with the world [Cognitive Functions] and their motivations why [Core Desire/Core Fear].

Here are my thoughts on the MBTI and Enneagram pairs for Elliott.

Elliott - ISFP 4w3: “The Aristocrat”

“ISFP 4w3s are unique people with a touch of ambition. They perfectly combine the adventurous spirit of the ISFP and the creativity of type 4. This type has goals they want to achieve. However, these goals must be achieved uniquely.

Because of their wing, ISFP 4w3s are more action-oriented than most ISFPs. If their wing is especially strong, they’ll have a strong desire to be successful.” - Personality Hunt

Elliott’s Core Desire: To be unique or different

The core desire of the ISFP 4w3 is to be unique and to succeed uniquely. To achieve this, they ensure everything they do highlights their uniqueness.

Even at first introductions, we see Elliott as someone who dramatically stands out in Pelican Town: his manner of speech, style of dress, and his choice to live on the beach alone in a shack.

His goal in life is also unique. Not only does he want to become a successful writer, but he hopes to achieve this dream by moving to Stardew Valley.

“Ever since I was a young boy, I've dreamt of becoming a writer. When the time came for me to leave home and start my own life, I moved here. I was drawn to the peaceful beauty of the valley, and hoped that days of quiet reflection in this idyllic atmosphere would fan the literary flames.”

Elliott’s Core Fear: To be seen as ordinary or a failure

The core fear of the ISFP 4w3 is to be seen as ordinary. They don't want to blend into the crowd, so to prevent this, they'll do everything they can to stand out while being authentic to themselves.

Thanks to his Introverted Feeling [Fi] Elliott stays true to himself despite harsh criticism for pursuing his dreams; however, because his 3 wing is also quite strong, he fears failure or being perceived as a failure if he doesn't accomplish those dreams.

“Everyone back home said I was nuts... that I could never make it as a writer. Can you believe it? They said 'For every successful author there's 1000 who fail miserably'. Such pessimism... it's sickening.”

"I know that I am kind of an 'oddball'. I hope you don't mind."

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

How Enneagram 4w3 changes typical ISFP behaviour:

New Strengths

1. More Ambitious

"Ambition is not the hallmark of ISFPs. Granted, it’s also not the hallmark of ISFP 4w3s. However, it’s more pronounced, thanks to their wing.

Thus, ISFP 4w3s might have goals and targets they want to achieve. If their wing is strong, they might also work towards these targets.

However, because of some of the flaws of a type 4, they might never be disciplined enough to achieve their goals." - Personality Hunt

Having Extroverted Thinking [Te] as his inferior function also makes being disciplined difficult for Elliott, though it's something he strives to improve with his ambitious nature.

Examples:

"I've been working day and night to try and finish my book... It's been driving me insane, Farmer.”

"Hello, Farmer! What a pleasant surprise! I was just stopping in to [the Saloon to] relax after an eight hour writing session."

“I feel so relieved to be done with my book... it's like an elephant's been lifted off my shoulders.”

"My new year's resolution is to write, write, and write! I can never stop improving my skills."

"Caring for babies isn't exactly my strong suit... but I'll do my best to be a good father."

2. Extremely Fashionable

"Type 4 and type 3 are both image-conscious people. Thus, they usually have a good fashion sense. This also applies to ISFP 4w3s.

They dress to perfection, combining the uniqueness of type 4s and type 3’s need to impress. If there’s something you can be sure about, it’s their dress." - Personality Hunt

Examples:

“I'm just taking a quick break to slather some coconut oil on my body.”

"What did I do today? I'll just say this... it takes a lot of work to maintain this rugged physique!”

“I'll admit... it takes me several hours each morning to make my hair look this good.”

"I have to brush my hair daily, or else it'll clump up into messy knots. It's a lot of work.”

“The sun is angry today... My skin is a bit too delicate, I'm afraid.”

"I leave early tomorrow morning [for the book tour]…I need to pack! Don't let me forget my hairbrush, my hairspray, my fine-tooth comb, and my pomegranate conditioner!"

3. More Creative

ISFPs, like most sensors, are practical people. They focus on what is directly in front of them and what they can impact in the here and now. This doesn't mean they aren't creative people, but their creativity comes out in more hands-on ways.

This is different for ISFP 4w3s. They are super creative, combining their Extroverted Sensing [Se] and Introverted Intuition [Ni] into their artistic pursuits. They can create almost anything out of nothing, making them excellent writers, designers, painters, etc., etc.,

Examples:

"... I've been dabbling in piano since I was a kid. I'm not very good, but it's fun."

“Hopefully a crab hasn't snuck onto my clothes again. Imagine crawling out of a pocket and finding yourself on a beach hundreds of miles from home! Hmmm... Perhaps this could make for an interesting novel...”

"A day can never be boring when you follow the whims of your imagination."

"A great idea can pass through your head when you least expect it… but if your mind is too busy you might miss it."

"A crackling fire adds wonderful ambience to the house... every piece of wood burns in a unique way."

"I'm doing a walking meditation. It's good for creativity."

4. More Romantic

"Type 4 is often called the romantic. Thus, it’s not surprising that ISFP 4w3s have a strong interest in love and romance.

While this is true, this does not affect their level of commitment in relationships. Just like typical ISFPs, they are in search of someone they are comfortable with.

This might make them seem flighty." - Personality Hunt

Not only does his interest in romance apply to Elliott's intimate relationships, but it can also be seen in his 'romantic' approach to life and literature, which is:

"...marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized." -Merriam-Webster

His unusual approach to life and romance makes many players suspicious of his intentions and sincerity during their first playthrough [myself included]. His fluffy words and flirty attitude cause many to wonder if he is concealing anything nefarious.

However, even though his language and personality can be mushy and over-the-top sometimes, throughout the game we see him as no less sincere than someone who says things bluntly.

Examples:

"I write in hopes of connecting with others through time and space."

"It must be satisfying to follow your crop from seed to harvest. It's as if your essence is infused into the fruit."

"Farmer, I had a feeling that you would show up. Perhaps we're connected by an other-worldly thread."

“Elliott whispers a sweet secret into your ear.”

“Yes... could I refuse that soft, kind face? The touch of spring-time's sweet embrace?”

“You're ice cold! Let me keep you warm.”

"My love... I wouldn't trade you for 100 iridium bars. Nor 1000...Not even 10,000 bars, no....No, not even 100,000 bars!...Wa... one million bars of pure iridium...? Don't make me do this..."

"I made a whole secret book of poems expressing my love for you.”

"I feel burnt out in your absence. But when I hear that sound of muddy boots on wood, my heart rises from the ash."

"Look... I fixed up that old rowboat that's been sitting by my house. Pretty nice, huh? Farmer... Would you do me the honor of joining me for her maiden voyage?”

"Some people are shy. Keep showing interest in them and they'll get comfortable around you."

5. More Competitive

Depending on the strength of their wing, ISFP 4w3s can be quite competitive since they want to be the best. However, their competitive side usually only appears in games and other social events.

Depending on their maturity and wing strength, this can be an intense drive to win or playful competition between friends and family.

Examples:

“Well, if it isn't the town's number one ice fisher! That was truly an impressive performance. I never stand a chance, but I always participate just to be sporting.”

"I'm a little out of practice, but I plan on entering the fishing contest tomorrow! You've got some stiff competition, dear.”

New Weaknesses

1. Self Absorbed

The problems of the ISFP 4w3s start here. ISFP 4w3s, just like ISFP 4w5s, can become fixated on themselves.

Thus, they might start feeling they are special. This makes them inflate their problems and put themselves first.

The downsides of this are immense. People might see them as self-centered. They might also strain their relationship with others." - Personality Hunt

The tendency to be self-absorbed creates a lot of problems for Elliott. His desire to be unique often causes him to act in over-the-top and melodramatic ways, especially when first meeting the farmer. Not only are many characters rubbed the wrong way by his melodramatic tendencies, but many players automatically judge him as problematic and pretentious, especially if it's their first playthrough.

However, this is intentional writing for Elliott's character development and while these characteristics can be red flags, they aren't always - as we will see later.

Examples:

“You've plucked Pelican Town's finest flower... Now, you must care for it with all your heart.”

"Another year gone by, another gray hair… I suppose this gift can commemorate my decline."

"Farmer, I know you have faith in my abilities as a writer. That means a lot to me."

“Sometimes I wonder if I might just have an inflated self-image and no real skills...No, no... I'm not fishing for compliments. Though they are appreciated..."

“I have to brush my hair daily, or else it'll clump up into messy knots. It's a lot of work. I'm surprised I haven't just shaved it off in a fit of passion. I suppose I am too vain.”

"Hello, Farmer! What a pleasant surprise! I was just stopping in to relax after an eight hour writing session. Bartender! Fetch me your finest ale. And bring some wine for the lady!”

2. Lower Energy Levels

ISFP 4w3s aren't the most energetic, but if their 3 wing is strong, their lower energy levels may not be that bad. Because they are sensors, they are also more action-oriented when compared to the INFP 4w3.

Examples:

“I can't seem to find the inspiration to begin writing my novel...”

"A great idea can pass through your head when you least expect it… but if your mind is too busy you might miss it."

“That's why I chose this beach as my home, so that I could have peace and quiet to do my work.”

"I spent the afternoon daydreaming about the ocean. So I decided to cook some seafood."

"I had a nice time at the beach by myself. I watched the waves come and go, just like old times."

"Winter is a great time to read books and play the piano. Remember to pause and enjoy a quiet moment or two."

“My inspiration for writing is like the weather... it comes and goes at random. Today I feel entirely dull. Perhaps I'll read one of the classics to get my creative juices flowing.”

3. Battle Between Staying Unique and Being Adaptable

Being a type 4, ISFP 4w3s want to be unique and different. However, type 3 wants to be successful and adaptable, creating internal conflict between the two types, especially if an ISFP 4w3's wing is strong. The core desire of type 4 usually wins in the end, but it's something ISFP 4w3s may struggle with for their entire lives.

Elliott struggles with wanting to achieve his literary dreams uniquely by living a lonely life on the beach. He yo-yos back and forth between wanting stability and security for his future and staying true to himself and his vision of completing his book in his own way.

Examples:

“That's why I live out here by myself. I figured a lonely life by the sea would help me focus on my literary aspirations...”

"Sorry, I'm feeling morose today. I wish there was more certainty about the future. I don't want to grow old as a lonely hermit on this beach…",

“People have scraped a living off the sea for thousands of years. I just go to the grocery store.”

"The sweet friction of pen and paper is the music of my soul. That's why I chose this beach as my home, so that I could have peace and quiet to do my work."

"It's a little lonely out here on the beach… so I apologize if I was ever a little too forward with you when we first met. I was just eager to have a friend. It feels good to have a close friend like you."

"I came to the valley to find the ivory tower from which my talents could reign supreme. But what I really found was a dungeon of loneliness. You saved me from that."

4. Emotions and More Emotions

Being Feelers and type 4s, ISFP 4w3s are very emotional people. While being sensitive to emotion can be a positive, it can also get them into a lot of trouble.

Because of their emotional intensity and Extroverted Sensing [Se] tendency to act in the moment, they can frequently make spur-of-the-moment decisions based on their feelings before thinking them through.

They can also be sensitive to criticism, even if it's constructive and tactful. This can hold them back from achieving their goals and being open to new opportunities.

Examples:

"There's just too much work to do! And my bank account's starting to run dry. Sometimes I wish I could just throw it all away and become a farmer like you."

"I had a good time at the saloon the other day… Though my liver is not quite so enthusiastic…",

“Why do you torment me? Can't you see you've shattered all my hopes and dreams.”

"Gus, I'll order a round for everyone!*hic*… Oh… I don't have the G. Heh heh… Never mind!"

"...Let's see, how do I put this...? For once, I'm at a loss for words... [Elliott leans in and passionately kisses the farmer].” -------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Path of Integration: 4w3 to 7w6

Throughout the game, Elliott struggles to enjoy his life while making his dreams of being a successful author a reality. His core fears of being ordinary and a failure - "to be just like every other failed author" - keep him locked in a prison of his own making.

As a result, he increasingly self-isolates and becomes very self-critical, pushing himself to complete his project even if it is self-detrimental.

"I came to the valley to find the ivory tower from which my talents could reign supreme. But what I really found was a dungeon of loneliness.

Elliott and Shame

Type 4s are in the Heart Triad [along with types 2 and 3] making Elliott's core fear directly related to feelings of shame:

"The core belief type 4s struggle with as a part of the shame triad is that if they aren’t unique, they are unworthy of love...[they] will wear their emotions on their sleeve, and show up as a perfectly curated image to hide that feeling of unworthiness they feel at their core" - Making Mindfulness Fun

"Hello, Farmer! What a pleasant surprise! I was just stopping in to relax after an eight hour writing session. Bartender! Fetch me your finest ale. And bring some wine for the lady!"

Because Elliott also has a strong type 3 wing, his shame is multi-faceted, adding more complexity to his core fears and behaviours:

"[Their] core belief... is that if they aren’t always achieving more, they are unworthy of love...[they] numb and ignore their emotions to deal with their shame. They believe that if they allow themselves to be human, enjoy life, and show their emotions they will be unloved. This leads them to push people away and feel stressed because they believe the only way they can receive love is by being perceived as successful." - Making Mindfulness Fun

"…What I meant is that I'd like to get away from this dark, musty prison and experience a little bit of real life... that's all. *sigh*... sorry I'm complaining like this. I just need someone to talk to now and then.”

Unconditional Love

Once the farmer gets to know Elliott better, he relaxes around them and drops his 'over the top' persona. Though he still enjoys speaking more romantically and eloquently sometimes, he isn't as concerned with having the perfect words to say. He lets his guard down, allowing his true thoughts and feelings to shine.

"Hey. "Look… I fixed up that old rowboat that's been sitting by my house. Pretty nice, huh?"

"But I am grateful that you believed in me… in my vision. And, well… Um… Farmer? How do I say this…Well, we've been friends for a while now… But I'm… I'm not sure if I feel that way about you anymore. No! I'm not saying I want to cut all ties with you! In fact… quite the opposite…Let's see, how do I put this…? For once, I'm at a loss for words…"

Elliott starts to believe that he doesn't need to try so hard to be loved - that he is worthy of love for simply being his authentic self, imperfections and all. It's through the love and support of the farmer that Elliott starts to truly embrace himself and embrace the highs and lows of life, without shame.

Elliott's Book Tour Letters

After Elliott's marriage to the farmer, we see him begin to take on the positive traits of an ISFP 7w6 in his marriage dialogue; however, the evidence of this change can be seen even more in his 14-heart event: his book tour letters.

Letter 1:

"I begin the tour this evening, at a local bookstore. I must admit, I'm becoming a bit nervous at the thought of public speaking…"

Letter 2:

"I miss you very much. Remember to eat well! Oh, and don't forget the leftover crab cakes I put in the fridge…"

Letter 3:

"Last night in Zuzu City was quite the experience! It seems there's a large literary scene here… a few dozen people showed up at my reading! I even signed a couple of autographs… it's strange to be seen as someone important. It's all a matter of framing, a grand illusion… for truly I am no one special. Only your devoted Elliott, as always."

Letter 4:

"In dreams, when graced with lofty view I gaze upon the sunlit sea What distant shores I've traveled to But time now clouds my memory There is but one eternal place Where I shall someday pass beyond In Valley dear, where my love waits: Our little home beside the pond" -Elliott

Letter 5:

"I won't bore you with any more details about my readings. They are mostly the same. I'm sure your time has been much more exciting! I can't wait to return and see what progress has been made...There's a lot to enjoy! Just don't stay out too late in the mines, my love. It's dangerous in there! If you must go… bring plenty of food."

Letter 6:

"This will be my last letter before I return home. I've had a fine trip… though nothing too exciting. It's been nice to meet people who enjoy my work, but I'm eager to return home. I look forward to the comfort of our little house, the satisfying farm work, a home-cooked meal, and most of all, cozying into the flannel sheets with you."

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

Conclusion

During my first playthrough, I had an unconscious bias towards Elliott. I believed that handsome men who took pride in their physical appearance, and/or spoke in a more romantic, flowery way automatically had something to hide.

Though that IS sometimes the case, it isn’t always, and I think that’s what made exploring Elliott’s character a surprising one for me.

His superficial traits rubbed me the wrong way, and I thought of him as nothing more than a self-centred, pompous, melodramatic ladies' man.

However, once I got to know him better throughout the game, I saw him not as suspicious but as a deeply passionate and highly motivated individual, who despite wrestling with his feelings of shame and unworthiness, is still unapologetically true to himself and his values despite the odds and adversity.

I think that’s how his character was meant to be written, and that subversion of expectation throughout the game made learning about Elliott so genuinely fascinating.

He's not everyone's cup of tea, but based on what we know about him, his personality, and his journey throughout the game, he has much more to offer than what first impressions might imply.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- References:

Personality Hunt: ISFP 4w3 - The Complete Guide Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "Romantic" Definition Making Mindfulness Fun: Enneagram Shame Triad Personality Hunt: ISFP 7w6 - The Complete Guide

[toffeeanddragons]

10 Fandoms, 10 Characters, 10 Tags

Thank you so much @idle-brit for tagging me!This was lots of fun :) 💖

My tags: @delyth88, @elymusplant, @galaxythreads, @chemical-processes. No pressure to answer, of course :)

1. Loki (MCU)

As much as I love everyone on this list, there is absolutely no competition for number 1. Loki has been my favourite character of all time for nearly 6 years now (because clearly the best time to join someone's fandom is after they've just been murdered), and is showing absolutely no signs of being replaced anytime soon. I have a Loki blog, for god's sake. The brodinsons are my favourite relationship in any kind of media, ever. I love them so, so much. Loki's a million different things and feelings, all at the same time, all fighting with each other, which makes for a wonderfully complex and nuanced character. Also, he's hilarious. Look at that eye roll. This is a man who hates his life, which makes me feel better about mine. Thanks, Loki.

2. Klaus Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy)

As will become obvious throughout this list, I love me an emotionally traumatised crazy person. Klaus is that. One of the characters who makes me laugh the most, ever, show-stopping dress sense, and a bucketload of unresolved trauma which goes largely ignored by Klaus, the other characters and the narrative itself? It was love at first sight. Their banter with the other characters, especially Ghost Ben (rip) is one of my favourite aspects of the show. Here's to hoping that Klaus won't be getting the Allison treatment in season 4!

3. Pippa Fitz-Amobi (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder)

I binge-read the entire AGGTM series earlier this year, and instantly fell in love with it. Pip is one of my favourite protagonists ever. Impossibly clever, compassionate, obsessive, badass, and a teensy bit unhinged. What's not to love? I would die for her. I'd say that I'd kill for her, but I think she's got that covered. I think she's written in a very realistic way, firstly as a genius 17 year old girl who doesn't really know what she's getting into, and later as a haunted individual who wants to stop investigating but can't. The way she politely knocks on people's front doors to dig up their traumas, accuse them of murder and all-round ruin their lives is everything to me. She is my blorbo. I am so, so excited for the show to come out, and I'm sure that Emma Myers will do a wonderful job as Pip!

4. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

One of the best-written characters, in one of the best-written series ever. Reading from her perspective is such a delight- she's endlessly suspicious of everyone around her, constantly on survival mode, trusting very few people and relying on exactly no one (to begin with, at least). She's a random teenage girl, from the poorest district, and she wins the Hunger Games. She's so mentally unstable that she has to be sedated, and still she's made to be the face of a rebellion. She's rude, and kind of unlikeable. She adopts all the weakest tributes, at risk to herself, knowing that they won't win. She's doomed to fail by the narrative. She's the it girl of 2010s dystopian YA fiction. Jennifer Lawrence is an amazing actress, who does a beautiful job portraying the depth and conflict of Katniss in the films. The themes and social commentary of the Hunger Games is one of its (many) strong points, and I am so so glad that people are talking about it again, because it is my favourite book series out there.

5. Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)

I have no idea what to say about this man, I just love him. He just like me fr. What an icon. Impeccable music taste. I've started saying, "no my god" now, and nobody understands what I'm talking about. Even in a sitcom, my favourite is the one with issues that he refuses to talk about or fix. The episode where he's trying to hide that he dressed up as spiderman makes me cry-laugh. Claire's speech at his wedding makes me just cry. He's not a perfect man, but he's certainly better than everyone else.

6. Shin Tsukimi (Your Turn to Die)

My favourite cringefail loser! I said Katniss was doomed by the narrative in a metaphorical way. This idiot is actually doomed.

No but in all seriousness, I do really love him. Before the beginning of the game, he was just a relatively normal young man- but, when confronted with the inevitability of his own death, he made himself into a monster to survive. He has a violent vendetta against the local badass teenage girl, who is traumatised as hell already and does not need Shin chipping in as well, thank you very much. I love his relationship with Kanna, his biological sister; how he uses her, manipulates her, and still cares for her so much that he dies for her with a smile on his face in the Emotion route. Conversely, in the Logic route, his actions are a direct cause of her death, and I just love how much YTTD hates siblings. I hope that his past with Midori is explored more in either a mini-episode or the final part of the game, because I find it sooo interesting. I'm super excited to see whether he actually has no chance of survival, or whether he makes it out, against the odds, on one of the routes. He's a bit useless, so I won't get my hopes up.

7. Rue Bennett (Euphoria)

I think it goes without saying that Euphoria has its issues, lol. Sam Levinson is an idiot. While a lot of the show (especially season 2) feels shallow and like it doesn't care about its characters, Rue's storylines always have heart and depth and I am so invested in her arc. It's no wonder that Zendaya won 2 Emmys for this role, because her acting is phenomenal! Rue feels so real to me, in the way that she's trying so hard to stay sober but she falls down and relapses time and time again. Recovery isn't linear, but she's getting there, and I adore her with all my heart. Her relationships with Lexi, her mother, her sister, and her sponsor, Ali, are my favourites, and the healthiest for her, in my opinion. Her brief friendship/ romance with Jules may have kept her more solidly sober than anything else in the show, but Jules (understandably) cracks under the pressure of Rue's mental health, and can't be there for her. Rue needs to heal for herself, which she appears to be doing at the end of S2.

8. Max Mayfield (Stranger Things)

Duffer brothers, please just let her be happy.

Despite only being introduced in Season 2, Max has, in my opinion, had the best character development out of everyone on the show. Her growth from someone standoffish, rude, and uninterested in the group (maybe I'm being a bit harsh. She was, like, 12) to someone who is willing to risk her life to help her friends and Hawkins means so much to me. The scene in "Dear Billy" (S4, Ep4) where she escapes from Vecna remains my favourite in the whole show and will probably be burned into my brain forever. Her relationships with Lucas and El are very sweet, and some of my favourites in Stranger Things. Her final line in S4, after all her struggles over the season, being that she doesn't want to die literally breaks my heart. I hope she gets some degree of a happy ending in the final season. She was my first profile picture when I joined this hellsite, and I love her a lot.

9. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

The shenanigans that this girl gets up to never fail to make me laugh. The bit where she accidentally dyes her hair green and then has to hack it all off makes me feel awful for her, but. it's hilarious. Sorry, Anne. Her friendship with Diana is so sweet but also so funny to me because they really are the most chaotic duo of the 1880s. The scene where Anne accidentally gives her alcohol instead of fruit juice is so mortifying but so, so funny. Amidst all of the insane situations that Anne gets into are a lot of really heartwarming moments and relationships. Matthew and Marilla adopting Anne, even though they wanted a boy, because she's so endearing and alone in the world is probably what made me who I am today. I still haven't gotten around to watching Anne with an E, but I've heard it's amazing. I look forward to watching it when I have the time :).

10. Daphne Blake (Scooby Doo)

My first ever favourite character! Another one who I don't have a tonne to say about. She's an icon, she's a legend, and she is the moment. She has done nothing wrong, ever. She knows martial arts, so watch out.

Honourable mentions: Thor (MCU), Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games), Gretchen Weiners (Mean Girls), Jake Peralta (Brooklyn 99), Maurice Moss (The IT Crowd), The Eleventh Doctor (Doctor Who), James (The End of the F***ing World), Ali Abdul (Squid Game).

If you read all of this then thanks, and have a great day!

[coeluvr]

You're so wonderfully devious. Your IF is so well written. I've played through it once several months ago, lost track of it, then found it again 🤗 but seriously, the complex emotions you pull out of me is what makes me keep coming back.

There's no time to not grieve for the MC. And your time jumps make it so no matter how much time has passed for MC, we don't get that relief. It makes me wonder if the MC feels that way all the time for the last 9 years if the grief we experience is just as intense. So I absolutely adore how you give MCs the ability to name a journal Alistair and to have a tattoo to keep them with you.

I don't know what to do with Rosea. I think the only way to hurt Luceris is by hurting the ones they love, Lancelot and Helios. But then this cycle of revenge continues and warps, and it's this massive spiders web because when you hurt Lancelot and Helios, then you hurt Farah, Vincent, and Hunter. It makes even more people want to put a stop to MC's machinations.

I know we're going to see it in writing, but the generational guilt on these kids [cause fuck they are basically still kids] heads is crushing.

The adults trying to alleviate guilt by saying "Mc is protected as consort" and has the "freedom to do what they want" is a poor consolation prize. They can't get rid of how they were complicit in MCs trauma.

Somehow, you have me litterally insane, tinfoil hat and all, do you play a kind MC so everyone can see how unhinged Luceris idea was? Because I'd love to play this game as quiet and kind MC, one who's forgive and try to move on, but when MCs twin died, I became just as crazy as Luceris. Now I have to be okay with the fact that I'm playing the long game of revenge and whatever that looks like.

Anyway, thank you for your work. It's amazing and I can't wait to see what happens next.

My toxic trait is I like being called evil or devious or anything insane. 🥰 Thank you for your kind words! 💗

Honestly, the time jumps do serve that purpose. Mainly because I think MC gets a little better each time jump but then something happens and it brings back what they felt that night in Vesphire.

For example, the time jump to meeting Fadiya is kind of supposed to be like "well at least someone wants to be friends with our baby" and that feeling is kind of hopeful, at least to me. With the 1st short story, I wanted to cement that feeling since it's like "world against MC but this little kid is here!!" and again it's hopeful. Chapter 2 is softer too with Fadiya, there isn't much angst until the very end where it's like "ah right, shit still sucks." and a part of the healing that the player might have felt just dies lol.

Chapter 3 is kind of different but technically MC is doing "better" or well coping better so there has been some progress on their part albeit it can be unhealthy.

I've gotten the "Oh this is kinda rushed" comment a few times but I don't think I could've taken these first few chapters more slowly since it is supposed to be kind of like a blur to MC. In my head, chapter 3 is when things are more slow for them but now they're leaving on a trip so...

I think revenge (that isn't like "get power throw him into jail") will always come with the loss of people. The only reason Luceris didn't lose people is because he didn't really have anyone to lose except for Lancelot and we all know how that's going. (Ikram doesn't count, if she refused he could just get another military general and been like okay. Don't be friends with your boss people. /j)

A Luceris that had Farah wouldn't have done that ever because she would have left him so yeah! It's normal to be stuck between what to do when you have people you care about who actually have somewhat of a normal moral compass.

Easiest way is to simply not have anyone (unless they're 100% in love with you and would throw away all their morals just for you ofc) and well maybe I can help with that! 🤭

The adults are insane and the kids are burdened with the problems that their parents are to blame for. I love the whole "burdened by the sins of your parents" trope. ✨️

God this got a bit too long lmao 😭 it was fun discussing some of the points. 🤝

[spider-jaysart]

Character ask: Damian Wayne (duh!)

@venetiangoldroz

Lolll

1. How I feel about this character:

Small boy!! Very intelligent, has a good heart that he usually tries not to show off too often but it is always there with him, sweet animal lover, and is a cool, crazy, weird kid that I love so much lmao

2. All the people I ship romantically with this character:

Jon Kent

3. My non romantic otp for this character:

Jon Kent

4. My unpopular opinion for this character:

Some fans don't like that Damian is a fan of Dinah Lance as a singer, but I personally like it lol. I don't like how silly he was made to be about it though, like singing one of the songs out loud in public for example, because he would never actually do that all lmaooo, he would keep that to ONLY himself lol. Also, I'm hearing now that it was actually a crush he was having on her, which I hate. Like, yes, he's an adult in that specific comic, but I'm tired of DC making him fall for almost every female and older woman that he interacts with, like just let him be normal about them already!!! I just like him being a fan of her music and that's it

5. One thing I wish would happen/had happen with this character in canon:

Not just one thing, cause I'mma list them all here

Start getting the respect he deserves after so much😤, cause like he literally changed himself and went through so much development for years now, but it's still not enough for DC writers or even some fans!! Like, just what do you want from him anymore????? He's been trying so much for too long now!!

For writers to stop treating him like he's nothing but evil, because he's not!! He's just a kid who grew up with a kind of life that's VERY different from everyone else's and was just taught ever since from a really young age to see things in other ways because of that. He does have a heart, it's the reason why he's made so much effort to become the person and hero he is today now and has left the whole League life behind. And about him being a tough person, that's just literally his dang personality, it's not something that adds to him being "evil" at all either

For DC to also just let him choose and make his own path as a hero when he grows up. He shouldn't become the next Batman by force or go through with becoming head of the Loa either, one of the big parts about his character is about discovering who HE actually is and figuring out what he really wants for himself instead, so he deserves to make his own choices by his own will. He should also become a vetinarian when it comes to getting a career

Stop with the white washing and start consistently representing his Arab side more, just like how the artist Gleb Melnikov did very boldly and also wonderfully in Robin 2021 when drawing him

And another one for the writers is to also stop making him crush on older woman!!!! PLEASE!! Just cut it out already!!! This entire thing has been going on ever since he was just 10 years old and nothing about it has ever been "cute!" or whatever they think of it as! It's just freaking weird and I don't understand why DC writers keep doing that to him! He's just a kid, not a grown man, so treat him like it!!! And stop deaging woman who were also already much older just to be with him and stop setting him up with his own female family members too! That one's already happened twice now (Mar'i and Cassandra) and now I'm scared that the writers of the second Supersons movie are gonna push that into there too with Cassandra AGAIN and ruin the film that way, which I really HOPE that doesn't happen AT ALL!😖

Let him have an actual relationship with his Mother instead of keeping them distant so much! Damian deserves to have her in his life too, not just Bruce as his Father, and she also deserves to have him in hers as well. Despite how things may be, they really love eachother a lot and it's not fair that they don't get to be as close as they were before, which is also really heartbreaking to think about honestly

Damian should also get to have a relationship with Respawn too that can develop into a sibling one at some point if ever he ever does appear again in the future

Never let him act like a normal person, let him forever be his weird, strange self, because that's literally one of the biggest things that MAKES HIM DAMIAN and I love him for it lol. Batman and Robin 2023 tried to change this about him in it's protayal and I hated it, it felt like some imposter, which just frustrated me a lot and made some things boring too. This goes for other kinds of mischaracterizations that were done to him too, like Gotham War as the most recent example, which was a big time failure at doing it well in a different way. Writers need to learn how to get to know him better first before actually writing him in their stories, deciding how he will react and treat things that happen in said story and it's plot. Here's something else much better too, he needs to start getting writers who actually like/love, respect, and actually understand him!

I think that's all for now loll but Thank you for the ask, @venetiangoldroz !! Sorry about the little delay btw, but I enjoyed answering this!!!

[udkmehahaha]

Hey there, you expressed that you are open to talk about byler so I hope it’s ok that I ask you :D I was wondering how you deal with byler / duffer doubt, if you have doubts at all?

The last time I was emotionally invested in a ship was with Sherlock and John back in the day,,, and that ended up being heartbreaking, so I‘m afraid of this happening again..

Especially since I see some parallels with the way a lot of people look at the writers, I think? The writers of Sherlock were also thought to be these great detail oriented writers, who craft the narrative so wonderfully subtle … and with Sherlock it turned out that they were not these writers we imagined them to be at all…

I’m also afraid that I just project my own feelings onto Mike, my queer gaze haha

But it’s a comfort for me to know that el will have her arc of independence, cause she obviously deserves to explore the world and herself and not just stay with the first guy who stumbled upon her! :D it also comfort‘s me that will‘s feelings for Mike will have to be addressed even more in s5

Do you have anything to comfort you? Or are you very convinced?

i think everyone has their fair share of byler doubt moments, but for the most part, i truly believe that byler will become a thing for 3 reasons.

1. byler is the only ship in the show handled with SO MUCH CARE. the van scene took a whole DAY to film, and the writers, directors, and the crew (even the actors) all love this ship so much and you can see that through all the thought that is put into their scenes.

2. i always tell anti-bylers to rewatch the show and really dive deep into the mike/el/will love triangle because if you REALLY analyze, (and have some common sense) you will see with the way the characters have been written, the way the story has been going, it ALL adds up to mike and will being the end couple and if you dont want them to be the end couple then you dont want happiness for the characters.

3. since the beginning, we have been feeling bad for will. the poor kid went missing in an alternate dimension, had an abusive (later absent) father, gets bullied in school, got possessed by an evil monster and told people how to fix the problem even if it would end up killing him, got left behind by all of his friends, still has a connection to the place that will haunt his nightmares forever and likely will still have that connection until vecna is dead, got swerved a hug buy his best friend, got third wheeled (on his birthday) and is a gay kid in love with his best friend (and made us believe that his friend "does not reciprocate his love") in the 80's. so tell me, why would they make this kid suffer AND make him queer just for us to see him get heartbroken and sad in the end, because its a pretty known fact that without mike, will might likely never be happy, so why would they end up doing ALL OF THAT for will, just to see him lose in the end? that doesnt make sense, the audience is rooting for will, and vecna dying, healthy relationship with his family and friends, and being able to kiss mike on the mouth are the key things to make will happy.

honestly my only doubt it that the writers will just simply change their mind about it. 😭 or netflix will not let them do it. also this might sound crazy but sometimes i dread byler coming on screen because my dad is probably the most homophobic person ever and i dont want to deal with him talking about some "2025, they wanna make everyone gay so people will keep watching" and im just like no. you dont get it.

thank you for the question! keep sending more.

[leifygreeens]

"you said a while back that Elliott isn't "vanilla by any means, but that's a story for another time"....... your requests are open........ is it another time now please? 👀 xoxo @unabashedly-so"

I tried posting this once before but tumblr said “we’re gonna block this from everyone and make it impossible to find haha.” So I’m reposting it and hoping this works lmfao. Anyway, Elliott is a kinky man and we all know it. Here are a few of my own thoughts on how he navigates playtime, per Bash’s request. Thank you! <3

Warnings: Temp play, false modesty, tickling, blindfolds, improper(?) use of mirrors, pomegranates, and ropes. Enjoy! ;)

Elliott likes temperature play >:)

Would stick an ice cube in his mouth and kiss all over your skin, and would absolutely pass the fuck away if you did the same for him

He’d burn candles that turn into lotion that’s wonderfully hydrating AND smells delicious

And spend twenty minutes at LEAST rubbing it in until you’re all sleepy and content

Sometimes that shit doesn’t even lead to sex, and he takes absolutely no issue with that at all

Likes tying you up

Prefers using pretty colored rope (deep red is his favorite) to tie you up with, and sometimes he doesn’t even want to touch you afterward, he just wants to look at you

Something about the pretty intricate knots swirling over your skin does something to his brain

But he’s weak for you, so begging usually works to get him riled up, and he’ll touch you eventually

He adores it when you indulge him, though

And it also helps him in other ways, too

It’s great for when he has some nasty writer’s block

Working on something as methodical as shibari knots gets his brain rumbling and allows him to go back to his writing desk with a fresh perspective

Also fruit kink. Specifically with pomegranates

Similarly to the ice cube thought, but also not

He would squeeze a pomegranate over you and watch the juice drip onto your skin, staining it temporarily, and then he’d lick it right up, because Elliott always cleans up his messes

A few of his own shirts have been stained purple permanently by his fruit kink and his burning desire to make love to you while you’re wearing them

He won’t even unbutton them or anything, especially because he thinks false modesty is hot

Think backless dresses, poet shirts that show off too much clavicle, or god forbid SHEER clothing where he can barely see the outline of your body when you stand just right in the sun?

This man will literally pass away and it will be all your fault babe

Have I mentioned that he likes tickling?

You can fight me on this but I fucking swear he likes it

If you’re riding him, do me a favor and tickle his stomach, just beneath his belly button

You’ll make him come in like five seconds flat so definitely don’t do it unless that’s your goal

But yeah. Tickle him. He fucking loves that shit.

Also blindfolds. Blindfolds are so hot to him.

He’s fine being blindfolded, adores it, but seeing your reactions and how you’re completely blindsided by every touch is just.

HNNNNGGFGF he’ll cry

Mirror sex besties

He thinks you’re so gorgeous and will get so fucking sad if you don’t watch yourself while he has his way with you

Please indulge this man. He just wants you to see yourself from his point of view :(

[rainbowbarnacle]

WHEW I did a ton of traveling over the weekend and I got home yesterday evening and I just now finished catching up with my dash

HI EVERYBODY HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I went with @vastderp to Nebraska to attend the life celebration of his deceased brother.

We stayed with Luka's sister, who has this wonderfully chill apartment with two adorable goofball chihuahuas living in it. The three of us had amazing fun talking and watching youtube videos and being silly, it was awesome. <3 And she gave me some of her gorgeous handmade jewelry. My dresser is approximately 300% sparklier now. The life celebration was really nice. We gathered in a park. There was lots of food and friends and loved ones, and lots of folks brought their dogs with them, and I just kinda wandered around and listened to people share memories and stories and catch up with each other.

also something sort of hilarious and wonderful happened--while we were packing up the food to leave, we kept seeing guys in suits showing up, and it turns out they were planning on using our bit of the park next in a wedding reception

buuut there were also construction workers around, I guess, and apparently the father of the bride was so determined that they get to use the park on this day (which was admittedly very cool and nice out, especially for August) that he bribed the construction workers and hid all the construction tools in the forest so the workers had no choice but to leave

(he also informed the construction company, so everyone knew what was going on, they just couldn't do anything about it)

and the construction workers were absolutely FINE with that arrangement, they were like "hey this guy just gave us beer money for the rest of the week, we're good, happy reception everybody!" and Luka's sister was like HEY WANNA HELP US EAT ALL THIS CHICKEN? and they were like YEAH GIMMIE)

and when we were putting stuff in the car, we saw more people in fancy clothes show up (there was one guy in a tux who was walking around with a lint roller, and I dunno why but I thought that was adorable) and then we saw the briiide and she looked gorgeous and one of luka's relatives was like "hey your dad's a badass, have a happy wedding!!"

I never knew Luka's brother, but judging by all the stories I heard about him, I think he would have gotten a kick out of that.

After the celebration, we got to go to @shunted5934's place! (it was SO GREAT finally getting to meet you! :D) I was delighted to meet several sheep, some chickens, some horses, two kitties, and a 90 pound mastiff boxer mix named NALA who was the biggest sweetheart in the world and shed all over me. <3

And, yeah, overall it was just this big wonderful busy three days. I don't think I've talked so much or met so many people at once in... I dunno, at least a decade. X)

IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HOME THOUGH

I think Beabea has finally forgiven me for vanishing.

I HOPE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WELL <3 <3 <3

[shima-draws]

Okay so. I'm like, 99% done with V3 and I realized I've barely shared like any of my thoughts here so. SPOILERS AHEAD

-The fact that Ryoma wanted to die and was fighting to find something to live for only to find out that he had NOTHING...that shit was sad bro

-Was NOT expecting Kirumi at all but in retrospect it's the least suspicious ones that you should be the most suspicious of. Also her execution was p brutal

-ANGIE WITH THE CULT...the fact that she managed to brainwash half the group had me terrified. Also her Atua worshipping got real old real fast. I hate religious cults lmao I was literally sitting there like "I REALLY hope she's the one to die this chapter" bc if I had to read one more sentence of her being like "Atua will save us all <3" I WOULD have gone to play in traffic.

-Angie needed to go but TENKO 😭 She was just a hopeless lesbian in love with Himiko she did not deserve what happened to her

-Speaking of Himiko I was kinda meh about her at first but after the chapter 3 trial her character developed so wonderfully...it was so nice to see her grow and change and learn to express herself 🥺

-TRAINING TRIO MY BELOVED FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER I would kill for them genuinely.

-My hatred for Kokichi only grew as time went on but after forcing Gonta to kill. MAN. That trial was so heartbreaking Gonta was just trying his best to protect everyone :"( Kokichi's such a little shit

-Kaito brushing off his illness as just him being afraid of ghosts AGGHHHH I knew there was something wrong from the start but seeing it progress and get worse was just 😭 I was literally sitting there like. Does he have a terminal illness. Oh my god he's going to die isn't he. NO HE'S MY FAVORITE PLEASEEEEE

-Was NOT expecting the space colony twist but even more so was the fact that the world ended...not once, but TWICE

-Me during chapter 4: How much you wanna bet next chapter Kokichi's gonna get killed and Kaito's gonna be the one who kills him Me during the chapter 5 trial: FUCKING. CALLED IT!!!!!!

-MAKI FALLING FOR KAITO and admitting it right before his execution.......my heart can't TAKE this shit please!!!!

-Kaito dying from his illness before the execution was even over...Monokuma being pissed about it...everyone looking at him and going HA BITCH YOU THOUGHT! Kaito beat you!!

-Also me during all this: NOT KAITO THAT'S SHUICHI'S EMOTIONAL SUPPORT BOYFRIEND

-Keebo going off the rails was not on my 2024 bingo card but here we are

-KAEDE DIED FOR NO REASON?? She didn't actually kill Rantaro. My girl was innocent after all huh 😔

-Me, 3 chapters in: Tsumugi is so boring she literally brings nothing to the plot whatsoever. She's just...there Me, during the chapter 6 class trial: OHHHH. THAT WAS INTENTIONAL. I KNEW they wouldn't just have a useless character that should have been my first clue honestly

-Also me: Why do the Monocubs even exist. They've done nothing but comedy routines and die this entire time. They're literally pointless?? I've been watching Game Grumps play V3 and every time they come on screen Dan and Arin collectively sigh together. LMAO

-Imagine me with my jaw on the FLOOR once everything was revealed to be fictional. It's all a lie?? They Truman Show'd this shit?? Neither of the first two games MATTERED?? (A friend explained that DRV3 is in a separate universe than the first two games so that calmed me down a little lmao I would have been so pissed if it were actually the case that everyone from the first two games were just. Not real. Didn't actually exist. It was all faked)

Anyway I'm not completely done with the game yet I'm at the tail end of the chapter 6 trial so we'll see how things go from here 😬 This has been a wild ride. An emotional rollercoaster for sure

[somelazyassartist]

Is Jocasta Nightstrider Taako from Tv????

by which i mean is Jocasta and Taako is the same character?? This whole time i was under the impression Jocasta was a completely separate character?? who is Jocasta????

Howdy!! Jocasta Nightstrider and "Taako Taaco" are the same character but at very different points in their life!! "Taako" is who we see them as throughout Balance and the following 9 years after Story and Song that the liveshows happen throughout. However during the sequel, The Zone of Adventure: Imbalance (a 3-part miniseries that takes place 10 years after Story and Song), "Taako" goes through a really severe identity crisis and generally is having a Really Bad Time in regards to the overwhelming social isolation and stripping of his personhood that comes with Everybody in Every Universe Everywhere treating him as some godly savior and not as a real person.

There's a lot of development that happens but basically his response is to go through an extremely trans-coded character arc where he reclaims his life and body as his own to choose what to do with instead of continuing to let other people's expectations for him force him to be somebody that he doesn't like being. He starts back from zero, letting go of his wizarding days and starting a clean slate as a Ranger. He changes his name (now going by Jocasta Nightstrider), voice (taking up a faux-Shakespearean accent), how he dresses (donning a shimmery purple cloak), and sets off into the world as a completely changed individual to go adventure again, hoping to help those in need and do good in the world in a way that he wouldn't have ever been able to when he was chained down by his old identity.

So yeah! They're the same person, "Taako" is basically Jocasta's deadname, and Jo's just a much happier and healthier version of themself :] I think it was handled really wonderfully and Jocasta's my absolute favorite iteration of the character, their journey of reinventing themself and healing from their past trauma came at a time I really needed it so it's a character and story that I'm particularly attached to, if you couldn't tell haha.

If you wanted to watch it (it's very short, only 3 episodes), it was just recently uploaded to all the podcast sites alongside where the rest of The Adventure Zone airs as a direct continuation, but I personally think the best way to watch it is from their YouTube channel where it was originally uploaded 2 years ago, it has video and it's really entertaining to actually see everyone playing their characters with each other! (Edit: here's the link :])

[strawberryshortcake1495]

Stranger Falls AU 10

Excerpt from Journal 3:

All my grandnephew’s fears are unfounded. All I feel towards him is love and pride. He is a wiser man at twelve thirteen than I was at thirty. He has an incredible future ahead of him, his mother would’ve been so proud.

Speaking of parents, I learned from Stanley that Dipper and Mabel are adopted, and that their parents had tried to keep it a secret from them in order to protect their “innocence”. I do wonder about their biological mother, Terry Ives. That poor woman, I hope she didn’t feel any pain in her final moments.

Looking back on my own catastrophic mistakes, I realize one great pattern in all my follies. I thought being a great man meant being alone. Apart from the crowd. I bristled at the idea of sharing my accomplishments with anyone. I shunned my brother for one dumb mistake, and I shunned Fiddleford for having the sense to try to stop me from dooming the world. Even when I was given a second chance, I still held others at a distance. If I had been able to widen my circle of trust… if I had just told everyone about the prophecy sooner… we might have gathered everyone together and banished Bill before he was able to strike. I just couldn't get over the idea of myself as the lone hero… and it was Stanley who paid the price.

"Trust No One"

What an absurd and paranoid idea. Trust shouldn't be given unconditionally, but it should be given a chance to be earned. There is strength in having the humility to work with and sacrifice for others- a strength I now realize was in my brother all along.

Stanley Pines was the man who saved the world, not me. I spent so long thinking he was a selfish jerk, and he turned out to be the most selfless man I've ever met in any dimension. If I'm totally honest, I must admit that he's a hero and I'm… a hero's brother. And I'm okay with that. Thank goodness he is recovering his wonderfully twisted mind. And I vow to spend the rest of my days making things right between us…If only he gives me a chance. . . .

It is a beautiful summer day. Everyone is packing for their respective futures, but I have found my mind drifting to how lovely the cloudless sky looks beneath the August sun. I've spent too long with my head in a book; it's time to look at the world- and people- around me once more.

But what to do with these journals? They've been created, destroyed, lost, found, buried, and burned, and yet, somehow, despite everything, they remain here like a curse I cannot escape. I had suggested to Dipper that because of all the misfortune caused by them, we burn them in the last campfire of the summer. Mabel, Soos, & Stan all seemed very excited by this notion. But Dipper had a better idea: we burn all my Bill Cipher artifacts instead. So we did. My scrolls, carpets, window… everything I'd ever collected with Bill went into the fire. We made s'mores and told stories until sunrise. It was Mabel who ultimately came up with the best solution of what to do with the journals….

And so here we are at the Bottomless Pit, a mystery of Gravity Falls that I still have never fully solved. Based on my investigations, tossing these journals inside could land them just about anywhere. They may end up in the center of the Earth, being devoured by a subterranean dinosaur, or in another dimension, or somehow in the hands of another curious young mind whose adventure has just begun… perhaps someone who will find secrets in this book that were hidden even from me…

And that brings us to you, dear reader. If you are holding this book in your hands, you hold something more than a record of the curious happenings of a town called Gravity Falls. You hold a record of one man's folly and the journey of his family who saved him from himself. It's never too late to learn that growing old doesn't have to mean growing up.

Stay curious, stay weird, stay kind, and don't let anyone ever tell you you aren't smart or brave or worthy enough. If you have come on these adventures with us, then you are an honorary member of the Pines family, and your adventure starts today.

And if anyone ever gets in your way- well, we have an entire section on Curses. Have at it. For the last time, unless we meet in some distant world, this is Stanford Pines, signing off.

THE END