#i am not queuing get help

[benevolentgodloki]

@forevermuses

// It's time to go love on Lina today everyone! I'm so lucky to have her in my life as one of the three most awesome people I know (who knew my first true-loml pirate muse would find me each one of you?). All the amazing times and good wishes to a kind, brilliant, bubbly, beautiful person I hope to share many years of knowing, writing with, and bugging irl when I get the chance. She deserves all the happy things coming her way.

Big Loki love to you 💚💚💚

[skitskatdacat63]

Nando being silly in S2E2 of his doc 🥺

[topaziraphale]

"Stop saying Crowley won't help Aziraphale in S3 he'd go back to him in a HEARTBEAT and nothing would stop him" I get it no one likes the idea of Crowley being bitter after what happened for a long period of time but like can we at least acknowledge that he's currently going through probably the most emotional pain in his life since falling? Can we agree that he's opened his heart entirely - something you couldn't pay him to do unless the world is literally ending and he's desperate - to Aziraphale, and got shot down? Can we understand that he did it AGAIN only to lose Aziraphale again? Not that what Aziraphale did isn't without Crowley's own shortcomings (hiding the truth of Heaven's cruelty from him) but like,,,,

The appeal here isn't Scorned Crowley Doesn't Love Aziraphale Anymore, or Never Wants To Help Him Again, the appeal here is Crowley learning enough self respect to not just walk back right to Aziraphale like nothing happened after Aziraphale has had a pattern of consistently refusing him. Going years ping-ponging between "We're not friends I don't even know him" to "That's what friends are for right?" and "We're friends, why would you even say anything?" and "Friends? We're not friends. We are an angel and a demon!"

Like I get it, Crowley is a heartbreakingly forgiving person. Of course he's gonna forgive Aziraphale, I'll be surprised if he didn't forgive him by the time he walked out the bookshop door, but gdi he could at least grant himself the luxury of being at least a little irritated for longer than however long it takes to make a globe and some books float and angrily cry out to God in his flat. But due to the change of pace and dynamic that is establishing part of the conflict for Season 3, I just really like the idea of him for ONCE prioritizing himself and being like "Okay, fine. We'll get back at it when you're ready, then," instead of just taking Aziraphale back like his words and actions meant nothing to him, when clearly they have an effect on him.

What is Aziraphale going to learn if Crowley just accepts what he did so quickly, like he always has the entire time they've been friends? Idk maybe I'm just projecting too much darkness on their dynamic but I mean, if the pattern of Aziraphale pushing Crowley away/disrespecting him one day and then being fine with his friendship the next + Crowley never stopping to be like "Hey, that's not cool, at least give me a little credit" or smth was fine all along and will continue to be fine in the future, then why, after 6,000 years of being friends and loving this demon, can Aziraphale still not accept that Crowley is just fine the way he is, and instead got excited to promote him to an angel in a heartbeat once the opportunity presented itself? You can't blame all of it on Heaven when Aziraphale has demonstrated his free will/defiance to Heaven so many times. Or, I don't know, I guess maybe we can? Maybe I'm just craving too much angst to the point where I'm letting it cloud my analysis of canon. Idk.

[benevolentgodloki]

Loki let out an exasperated scoff. "Of course. I should only ever have expected this. The final lesson learned for untrustworthy Loki, never to be allowed in because the last joke is on him. I guess Sif was right and more fool me."

He wrenched his sling ring off his finger and threw it across the library. His emotion grew with every word he spat.

"Fuck your mystic arts! Fuck the Sanctum. Fuck Agamotto and all the Masters. And fuck you, Stephen!"

Furious tears blurring his vision, Loki turned on his heel. A pulse of magic escaped his clenched fists, spilling almost the entire room's books from their shelves, before he stalked in search of the stairs. With every breath he feared he might cough up his screaming heart.

Stephen wanted it to be true. He would have killed for it to be true, but he knew it was not. Two other truths eclipsed the one he craved, and they were as simple and plain as the fact that Stephen did not deserve love and that Loki was a being crafted in deceit and trickery.

He was also an Asgardian god. What could have ever lead him to love a human such as Stephen? Sure, he was Sorcerer Supreme and held far more power than most other humans, but that didn’t negate his mortality. Loki would outlive him a hundred times over.

With his heart beating wildly in his chest, Stephen steeled himself.

“Liar,” he said, accusation sitting heavily in his tone. “It’s like you’ve just said. Why, out of all creatures, would I believe you?”

[mermaidslabyrinth]

Hi!!! Was catching up on the Rhagerys tag today, and it got me wondering, what do you think his dynamics with Therese & Tristan (and Kaleb too, if you want) would be like?

Feel free to answer whenever! Hope you’re having a wonderful day!❤️

First off, to hear that you read my Rhagerys tag makes me 🥰 mixed with 🫣. Because I know I’ve probably wrote some doozies in the tags. I do feel honored that you would take the time to do so.

Secondly, I did a deep dive into all of their respective tags. I read all that I could about them. I wanted to be able to answer fully. Like I took notes. And I learned so much. I did mix in some thoughts on Rhagerys to help understand how his relationships with Therese, Tristan, and Kaleb would be. Also I wrote a lot. I’m a rambler at heart.

I’m going with Therese and Tristan would be around 17-18. Kaleb would be 36. Those were the ages I got at least. And one of the ages that I write a lot for Rhagerys is around 18 (15 is too young for the topics that’ll be discussed). Plus that’s the age he starts to really “be his own person” if you will. So those are the ages I used.

It may come as a surprise that even though they would have been born bastards, Rhagerys wouldn't dislike Therese and Tristan on that fact. He dislikes Jace and Luke for very personal reasons. One reason, in my story, is that they are betrothed to his sisters. Something Rhagerys feels is his birthright. He learns that they're bastards before that, so when their betrothal was announced, the disdain for them grew. But bastards as a whole? As long as they don't disrupt his life he wouldn't care. And from what I've learned on Therese and Tristan, they would help his life.

So the affairs that each twin has? Or how Kaleb is with Rhaenyra and Alicent? Doesn't matter to Rhagerys. He isn't exactly clean when it comes to sleeping with people who may be attached to someone. To sleeping with someone because it’s something he has wanted. To downright having a long standing affair himself in his two marriages.

THERESE

He would appreciate Therese just for marrying Jace alone. Rhagerys would see Therese as an option to marry. That is if his sisters were betrothed to Jace and Luke. However, if she was betrothed/married to Jace, he'd really like her then, because that meant he could marry Baela.

Rhagerys would not so much have a crush on her but she has Targaryen blood and that would make him at least consider her at times, like 'what could have been'.

Just know that if Therese and Rhagerys were to marry for whatever reason, he would treat her with such reverence and kindness. She may not be his biological sister but she’s still a Targaryen, has Valyrian blood, and that’s what would matter to him. Don’t get it twisted, the love and respect would be there (boy chugs respect women juice) but the icing on the cake for him is the Valyrian blood, since that is what he’s been taught since ever to want in a bride.

With that thought out of the way, how I see these two interacting where neither are betrothed/married yet, Rhagerys would be very sweet. He was taught by his caretaker to be kind to any woman no matter their station. And Therese is a noble bastard turned princess, so his sweetness wouldn’t be as forced.

Rhagerys absolutely adores his sisters, so Therese would automatically be adored by him. It would be like *DJ Khaled voice* Another one. Therese is his sister for life no matter what the future brings, so he will always be there for her in that capacity.

She is a strong willed lady, like her mother. Rhagerys would admire that. However, if she’s too much like Rhaenyra he may be a little put off by that. He has mixed feelings about Rhaenyra. He appreciates her for giving him Aegon and Viserys even Joffrey for younger brothers. At the same time a lot of his problems he goes through can be traced back to her in someway. So if Therese exhibits habits, personality traits, an air that reminds him of Rhaenyra he would be put off greatly by that. He’d grit his teeth and be kind but on the inside he is resenting every moment around her.

But if they keep it surface level it could work as a friendship. I saw that she likes playing in the rain, Rhagerys does as well. If they can find common ground on things like that then I feel they could get along well enough. Also if she isn’t put off by his animal skull collection, his room is like a mini museum, that would also endear her to him. If she doesn’t care for them, first off he’d be used to it, but he would appreciate it if she isn’t rude about she lets him know.

He would love to dragon ride with her. Nightwing is black as night and Starsong is dark purple almost black, these two would have such shenanigans at night with their dragons. Daytime they’d have to mostly just fly around since their dragons may stick out a little too much.

Also when they both have children, Rhagerys would want one of his children to marry hers. To strengthen the bloodline and House. Out of his kids I’d say Daegon would be the perfect match. He may look like Daemon but he’s an absolute sweetheart and would 100% support whatever daughter of Therese’s he would marry.

TRISTAN

Tristan is another younger brother, not biological, around his age that Rhagerys did not ask for. So there may be a little standoffishness in the beginning from Rhagerys. But he would very quickly learn that Tristan is nothing like how Jace, and Luke to a lesser extent, is with him.

When I read that Tristan joined the Kingsguard what immediately popped in my head was Rhagerys going “What a waste.” Because he has Valyrian blood in him and he chooses not to make sure to continue his bloodline? Rhagerys wouldn’t get that. Even though at the age Rhagerys is at (18) he has no desire to do so himself for some time. But he knows he will have to someday (Daemon will make sure of it) and to see Tristan so easily walk away from that option confused him (maybe even make Rhagerys have a hint of jealousy. Not for the Kingsguard choice but to be able to have a say in his future).

Then upon seeing how kind and sweet he actually is. The ‘White Knight’ as you put it, I just feel Rhagerys hearing Tristan be that way and would just *looks at the camera like he’s on the Office*. Rhagerys would be thinking “This boy cannot be for real.” He wouldn’t respect him for it but he would be impressed that he would actually want to hold those kind of views and values.

Rhagerys finds Helaena an absolute sweet girl. Nothing too deep happens with them (I tried they just didn’t mesh) but he does care for her. Upon seeing how Tristan acts as her sworn shield, Rhagerys would ease up a little on his thoughts about how Tristan “threw his life away”. Because he would see just how much Tristan cares for Helaena. How she trusts him and how Tristan in return makes sure she is happy. That Helaena’s bugs and odd talking doesn’t bother Tristan. Rhagerys would see that as a possibility to maybe Tristan wouldn’t mind some of his off putting habits. Maybe…

Oh but if Rhagerys was to find out about Tristan and Helaena…*insert smug smile*. He wouldn’t ever let it leave his lips. But every time he was around Tristan he’d be like 😏. Like “I know your secret. It’s safe with me. And now you’ll help me with my secret.” AKA sneaking around with Aemond.

Plus Rhagerys adores Helaena’s kids. So upon hearing that two of those kids are Tristan’s? Well they’re not just his cousins, they’re his niece and nephew. He would be extra protective of them.

One place they could initially bond over is their little jealousy towards how Rhaenyra is with her children. Rhaenyra is an ok stepmother to Rhagerys. But at the same time she doesn’t even try and hide how she favors her boys over him. Though if Tristan told Rhagerys that “No, I know my mother loves me but it feels like she doesn’t at times. But I know that is not true.” Rhagerys would feel a little deflated at that statement. He honestly thought he had a kindred spirit in someone else feeling neglected by what should be a motherly figure in his life.

But then I read more and saw where Tristan tries to prove himself to Rhaenyra to make her proud of him. That is where these two would get along like two peas in a pod.

Rhagerys will ALWAYS be striving to get that proud feeling from his father. To hear those words “I’m proud of you” (Daemon knows if he says those three words then he doesn’t have as much power over Rhagerys. So he’ll dangle those words until he decides he’s gotten all he can from Rhagerys).

If those two ever sat down and talked, had a deep conversation, about how they try so hard to make a parent proud, to see that parent show pride, that they just try, then that would be a bond that would be hard to break. Because they would be able to understand each other on a level that none of their siblings would be able to. A form of respect would form in Rhagerys for Tristan. Upon hearing Tristan lay bare his thoughts about how he tries to prove himself, Rhagerys would silently vow that they are a sort of brothers-in-arms when it comes to this matter. That he would stand even more so by Tristan if he ever needed something that Rhagerys could help with.

I also feel that Rhagerys may also kind of scare Tristan, at least make him uneasy in a way. Like Tristan would be able to see there’s something off with him but wouldn’t want to dig any further. Which is the correct thing to do. Since Tristan has a sweetness to him, in a sincere way, he may see times where Rhagerys’s is fake. Bc all I can think of is that gif of Giancarlo Esposito where he’s smiling and then gets really serious real quick, that’s Rhagerys once the person leaves his presence. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes the majority of the time. And someone like Tristan would see that. But he’s also too much of a kind individual to ever point that out. Also, he would have to have heard of Rhagerys’s ‘rage’ moments so Tristan would have to be wary of that was well.

I don’t see Tristan caring for Rhagerys’s animal skull collection at all. He would be polite the one time Rhagerys shows it to him but after that Tristan would refrain from seeing them again.

But the two can keep their relationship light if need be. Dragon ride together, because that is an absolute favorite of Rhagerys to do at any time if possible. Help Helaena out in something she may need. Keep her company with walks around the gardens or just chilling as she embroiders. Simple moments where they don’t have to have too long of conversations with one another.

Rhagerys and Tristan’s only connection is them trying to impress a parent. If that gets taken away, the only thing left is their surface level kindness to one another. But Rhagerys would pick him over Jace and Luke every single time. Idk how that makes Tristan feel, but he better just take the win and walk away.

Also I forgot to add that Rhagerys would have a somewhat bitter jealousy of Tristan and Kaleb’s father-son relationship (because the only father-son relationship Rhagerys honestly has to go off of until he’s 18 is his and Daemon’s). How easily Kaleb shows Tristan love, gives him praise, anything Kaleb gives Tristan doesn’t come at a price. It would make him start to question himself. Question certain things he has been told, taught. Question everything his father has done. Which is a bad thing for Daemon.

Which leads us to:

KALEB

Oh, Kaleb. Kaleb, Kaleb, Kaleb. First thing I saw was he does not like Daemon (lol who does in our circle of people’s OC universes we’ve created? …besides Rhagerys but…like that’s healthy). So if Rhagerys knew of Kaleb’s dislike for his father, he’d already leery of the man. And not because his father is infallible but it means that Daemon more than likely already somewhat poisoned Rhagerys’s mind against Kaleb. Whether there is any truth to Daemon’s words is another matter. Rhagerys wouldn’t really give Kaleb a chance to explain his side. Because he doesn’t want to hear it. So Kaleb would be wise just to avoid the topic of Daemon altogether with Rhagerys. I’m not saying Rhagerys might snap and unleash the ‘Dragon’s Rage’ on Kaleb but I am warning it is a possibility. Especially if the subject of his father keeps getting needled at.

Now with that out of the way, Rhagerys wouldn’t hate Kaleb, just like he doesn’t hate Rhaenyra. Tristan and Therese are in Rhagerys’s life because of that man. And he would have become fond of them. So he would tolerate Kaleb, for his step siblings.

If Rhagerys found out Kaleb doesn’t care for dragons. That’s another mark against him (Rhagerys may or may not be keeping score).

Also, Kaleb would probably feign interest in Rhagerys’s animal skulls. Not a patronizing way but just like: Kaleb would have a smile on his face and say “Interesting. What else do you like?” It would be just enough for Rhagerys to understand that while Kaleb doesn’t find them as odd things to collect, he also doesn’t want to talk about them.

But I saw one thing that could be just the tiniest of olive branches between the two. Baela. I saw that Kaleb cares for her deeply. It didn’t say too much or why. All Rhagerys would have to hear is how Kaleb cares for his sister like his own daughter(?). He would think “ok maaaybe this man isn’t a 100% cunt.” But there’s a flip side. Now that Rhagerys knows Kaleb cares for Baela, that man better do everything in his power to help/be there for Baela if she ever requested it. So on one hand this is a good thing they can have an understanding with. But on the other hand Rhagerys would be watching that man like a predator stalking prey. One mess up and he’ll pounce.

I see that Kaleb is one who does his best to be a bit of an extrovert when in public. While Rhagerys isn’t that outgoing, he has taught himself to be at least a little personable. Because that person he interacts with may be useful at some point. So while Kaleb does so because he’s striving to be the “perfect” whatever in that moment, Rhagerys is doing it because he knows you catch more flies with honey.

Rhagerys would understand Kaleb’s want to be the “perfect” whatever in the moment. But he would also probably get annoyed by it after a while. Like overachiever vibes that Rhagerys would not mesh with. Because Rhagerys would not see a point to drastically go out of his way to impress others.

I think if Daemon wasn’t Rhagerys’s father, he and Kaleb could have a very decent relationship. He would be a wonderful father like figure to him. Someone that would try and do his best to make sure Rhagerys is happy and seen for who he is, not what Kaleb wants him to be.

Kaleb does have little similarities to Rhagerys. Hates the pressures of court, is more himself when truly alone, how they both put on such an “outgoing” mask when in public settings, absolutely loves and protects his family. Once again, Daemon is able to sabotage a relationship that Rhagerys would honestly benefit from. And this is all hypothetical.

Well, I just realized that Rhagerys doesn’t so much have an aversion to men, but if possible he steers clear of them the best he can. There are 2 men in his life, his father and his sword teacher (Daemon’s sworn sword and good friend). And who is the reason for all that? ….Daemon. He made sure Rhagerys would only see him as the only male figure he needs in his life.

You know how I said that Rhagerys ‘Chugs respect women juice’? Well with men it’s more like ‘Refuses to even sip respect men juice’. The only drink dealing with men that he’d drink is the one his father plies him with and, lbr, that drink is spiked on some way.

Rhagerys is just an odd duck…er…dragon. He’s 6’6” (2m), so he already stands out. Men say he has eyes like a crocodile (cold and ever watchful). But ladies would say he has such beautiful, kind eyes. And his smile? It’s sweet and gets the girls giggling. Men wouldn’t know that because he doesn’t smile at them a lot. Rhagerys knows how to manipulate the moment he’s in to protect himself.

He has his reasons for his ways but they are kept close to his chest and under lock and key.

However, he was taught to ‘protect our own’ that is what Therese and Tristan would be. They’re his step siblings. Ones he actually likes. He would be a bit more protective of Therese, gotta protect his sisters. And Kaleb? Well he’s just an extra person Rhagerys has to “play nice” with.

With all this said and done Rhagerys would care for Therese and Tristan but there would be a lot of caveats. Rhagerys would tolerate Kaleb but never really like him.

I apologize for the very long winded answer. But Rhagerys’s psyche isn’t so clean cut. He has his layers and he has to figure out where Therese, Tristan, and Kaleb would or could fit into said layers. He has to strategize relationships. Especially if they’re going to be beyond surface level. And around him more often than not.

[victorluvsalice]

Valicer Multiamory Month, Day Thirty-One: Morning routine (Valicer In The Dark AU)

It's the grand finale of Multiamory March -- thank you again @polyamships for creating this challenge! I had rather a lot of fun doing all these little fics. :) But it's time to wrap things up now (apart from the inevitable masterpost), and today's prompt was another one where I had a fairly firm idea of what I wanted to do, but wasn't sure what verse I wanted to set it in -- "Morning routine!" AKA, for me, "Smiler is a morning person and Alice and Victor are not." XD Accordingly, the first thing that popped into my head for this prompt was a scene where Smiler was up early, preparing tea in the kitchen and greeting Alice and Victor as they came in for breakfast -- but I wasn't sure which universe I wanted to set the scene in. It could fit so many! After much pondering, though, I decided to go with setting it in the Valicer In The Dark verse for three key reasons:

After doing a count, I realized that I'd written five stories each for the Modern AU and the Multiplayer Wonderland AU, and I wanted to make sure what is arguably my favorite AU for my trio got equal time

I also realized that putting it in the VITD universe would allow me to do an even cuter version of the scene, featuring all the gang's pets (and, after a last-minute remembrance, Elder Gutknecht as well)

And I couldn't resist the irony factor of doing this prompt for a world that, thanks to being shrouded in pretty much constant darkness, does not really HAVE mornings. XD

So yeah! To send off Multiamory March, have a look at a typical "morning" in the Three Pillar's lair once they've gotten all their pets and suchlike. Enjoy!

--

“Happy Numbers, Alice!”

Alice looked at them, then shook her head. “I still don’t understand how you can be this perky this early in the day,” she muttered, pushing her hair out of her face.

“Oh, I’ve always been an ‘up with the Embers’ kind of person, you know that,” Smiler said, grinning as they dropped the tea balls into everyone’s cups. “Anyway – sleep well?”

“You were in the same bed as me – you should know the answer to that question already,” Alice replied, though without any real rancor. She headed to the pantry, pulling out flour and sugar. “Pancakes this morning?”

“Yes please!” Smiler stooped and got her the frying pan. “And while I was in the same bed, we were both unconscious at the time, so the question stands.”

Alice snorted. “All right – I slept fine, thank you,” she said, accepting the pan. “And I hope you did the same.”

“Rawk!”

“Peeep!”

A flapping of feathery and scaly wings announced the arrival of Sooty and Benny into the kitchen. Sooty promptly soared over to Smiler’s shoulder, giving their hair a greeting preen, while Benny wrapped himself around Alice’s neck like a dark blue scarf. “Hello you two,” Smiler greeted them, stroking Sooty’s head. “Looking for breakfast yourselves, I take it?”

Sooty nipped lightly at their finger, while Benny peeped again and looked with interest at the flour and sugar tins. “I’m sorry – if you want those, you’re going to have to wait until I’ve mixed them together,” Alice informed him as she got the mixing bowl. “Plenty of rats about if you want something now.”

Whatever reply Benny might have had for that was cut off by a “Ruff!” from the doorway. Moments later, Dogmeat trotted into the room, followed by a yawning Victor. “Happy Numbers! And hey, you’re just in time,” Smiler said, nodding as they checked on the steeping tea. “Give me a moment to get it the way you like – sleep well?” they added as they headed to the cold box to get the milk.

“As well as I ever do,” Victor replied, giving Dogmeat’s fur a ruffle – the dog barked and licked his fingers. “Good boy...I did start having a bad dream at one point, but – well. A certain someone took care of that.”

We couldn’t let our spooky friend feel bad!

Us scurried into the room, followed closely by Guide. Besides, you told us we could eat your bad dreams, they continued, waving their tentacles at Victor. You said it was allowed.

“I did,” Victor said, crouching down to give Us a pat and Guide a scritch under the chin. “And I appreciate it.”

“Mmm – anything that helps Victor sleep better is fine by us,” Alice agreed, smiling as Guide came over to wind about her legs. “Smiler, while you’re over there, could you grab me an egg?”

“Sure thing!” Smiler pulled one out of the carton and brought it over to her. “Pancakes,” they added in Victor’s direction.

“In roughly twenty minutes, anyway,” Alice added, dumping her flour in her bowl.

“That’s fine – I can wait.” Victor stood, leaning against the table as he shook his head and blinked. “Ugh...I do wish I could wake up easier in the morning.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, my boy – I was always a late riser myself.”

Elder Gutknecht floated in through the wall, getting a startled “merow!” from Guide. “Granted, that was probably because I often stayed up half the night studying, but still,” he added with a chuckle. “So long as you’re awake enough to eat breakfast, you’ll be fine.”

“We’re working on it,” Alice said, bending down to stroke Guide before resuming getting the pancake batter ready. “Aren’t we, Benny?”

Benny agreed with a “peeep!” Dogmeat added a “woof!” of his own, then playfully bopped Us’s side with his nose before hurrying away. Hey! Get back here! Us cried, scurrying after him in hot pursuit.

“Be careful!” Victor yelled, watching as they came dangerously close to upsetting a chair. “Don’t knock over anything!” He sighed and looked over at Smiler. “Goodness, we do have busy breakfasts, don’t we?”

“We do,” Smiler agreed, adding the milk to Victor’s cup before stealing some of Alice’s sugar. They looked around, taking in the cozily-crowded room, and smiled. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

[mangofresca]

zephyr | 18+

ii.

“We could leave, y’know.”

Romano startles, head turning over his shoulder as if he were searching for a spy, a conspirator. Sometimes, that’s not unlike how Portugal feels here, always a little too relegated to the outside for comfort, too close to the inside for tranquility or freedom.

He shakes the thought away, eyebrow raised in question at the only other person here who hasn’t exhausted him yet.

Romano’s eyes flick from his face to the windows, to the rain pelting the windowpanes, and he scoffs. “And do what? Get soaked?” His fingers tap the glass in his hand, and Portugal watches with muted disinterest as the wine rocks back and forth, back and forth, an ocean all its own, confined and confined and confined.

“Better than staying here.” Staying here and playing pretend with a government who can only just tell him and Spain apart, and Portugal doesn’t have the stomach anymore for the accent or the language or the face of it all.

Romano tsks, and, for some reason, this infuriates him, as if Romano is content to sit here and be lessened, nothing more than a jewel on a crown on a head who so blatantly picks favorites. Like they’re above it all, the two of them.

He turns, and he leaves, and he doesn’t care enough to see if anyone watches him go.

vi.

“That was–”

Portugal is already pushing up off the bed, flicking hair from his eyes. “Want a drink?”

“Obviously,” Romano snorts, but he sounds like he’s amused, and when Portugal turns around to look at him, all he can see is the way Romano’s lips curl around his teeth, how his cheeks look when he smiles.

ix.

Romano snores when he sleeps, raspy and rough, and when his hair falls in front of his eyes, his nose crinkles with the tickle of it, too deep in dreams to bother moving it away.

We shouldn’t be doing this, Portugal thinks, because things are messy, only getting worse, and he doesn’t understand how Romano doesn’t grow restless beneath a thumb that demands obedience, that is all too comfortable pressing down on the pulse of their throats, hard enough to feel it beating, not hard enough to choke.

“I wish this was easy,” he says instead, and his skin goes cold when he realizes he means it, green eyes already looking down at tanned legs tangled with his, errant curl brushing his collarbone.

He’s gotten used to that, too.

iv.

Portugal can see him on the docks again, hair just as windswept as that first time, waves falling over each other to brush against dark eyelashes, to curl into knots at his hairline.

Spain’s hand is heavy on his shoulder, smile tipping into something that more resembles a bridler than a brother. “You look like you’re thinking hard,” he says, and Portugal hears the warning in it like a bell tolling within his head. “Everything all right?”

“Fine,” Portugal replies. The weight on his shoulder feels suffocating.

vii.

“We should have sex here,” Portugal says, out of the blue and apropos of nothing, voice hushed into a conspiratorial whisper when he leans himself into Romano’s ear.

Romano coughs, splutters, eyes narrowing when Portugal only grins at him.

“Not now, obviously,” he continues, because his brother is here, and his—their, because God forbid any of it is really his—government, too, and he isn’t stupid enough to try anything here, now.

Romano wipes the coughed wine from his lips, arm crossed over his chest as he settles back into the wall behind him. “Please,” he says, and he already sounds scandalized and petulant, “as if I’d settle for anything less than a bed. You think I’d let you fuck me on a settee? Not a chance.”

“I think,” Portugal replies, smiling, “you’d let me fuck you anywhere I want you to.”

Romano scoffs again, furious and blustering, but his shoulder brushes Portugal’s arm, and he doesn’t move it away.

v.

Lively doesn’t adequately describe it when it finally happens.

Romano has him pinned up against the library wall, holding Portugal’s wrists against hand-bound books and shelves which haven’t been dusted in God only knows how long, but all Portugal can think is how difficult it is, when kissing Romano, to push him away, to have him be the one pressed between linen and literature.

He manages, only just, and the heady, groaned gasp of surprise he receives pleasantly makes it worth his while.

x.

Portugal can see him on the docks again, hair wind-knotted and wild, exactly like it was that first time, exactly like the second, like every other time, every other time.

He can’t discern the expression on Romano’s face, too far away for detail, sunlight blinding on wave-crested waters, but he can see him turn around, see him walk away, back to that house and that voice and that hand and that crown.

He almost regrets leaving without a goodbye, but he knows, is certain in the knowledge, that expectation for their kind is the heartbeat of disillusionment, and he doesn’t have it in himself to be disappointed by someone so supine as to find comfort here.

Nothing ever gets resolved with avoidance and shame, but their arrangement never really did have room for much else, anyway.

iii.

He has a dream, then, that lingers worse than a bad hangover or a bloody wound. Maybe it’s years after their last conversation, or maybe it’s days, or maybe it’s hours; he can’t be bothered to keep track, not that their kind usually does when it comes to time.

(Hard. He wakes up hard, and that’s not how his dreams usually go—or, not the ones with Romano, at least.)

Romano was over him, or under him, maybe—not that it matters, because it doesn’t matter, not really. What matters is that Romano was close, breathing against his neck, sighing his name, and it’s—

It was slow, the way they moved. Tender, close.

Odd.

viii.

He’s gotten used to it—the way Romano’s voice hitches, goes taut, tight as his white-knuckled grip on pearl-hued sheets. He’s gotten used to it.

He’s gotten used to it.

i.

They meet officially, formally—and notably without supervision—on the docks of Almería, both windswept and water-worn, and it makes Portugal wonder how long Romano had been standing there for him to look like that, like he himself had blown in with the breeze of the ocean, side-swept bangs tangling into soft knots at his temples.

He is sure he himself is no better, likely worse—a ribbon can only do so much with the whipping winds that dance themselves through his sails—but he doesn’t bother brushing his hair from his face before approaching, grin ticking at the corners of his lips.

Romano blinks at him, hazel eyes owlish before settling into something calmer, almost bored. “Oh,” he says, “it’s you.”

Portugal smiles and tips his head. “Hello,” he replies. Always best to start with hello.

[benevolentgodloki]

Loki gives another light snort of amusement at the 'first date' comment. He presumes Tony refers to their first meetings, blasting one another with energy; verbally sparring; using the other to break glass. Though there's a tightness in his chest that betrays just how not fully okay he is, the compliments are a balm.

He feels a pull now as he listens to Tony speak. Perhaps it's the innate magic of the hour, but he finds himself craving the man's physical presence. Or Stephen's. Or both. To feel that chemistry of whispering in the dark with someone so close. How he has missed that and how so very long ago he has felt it.

Tony's next question draws him back to less comforting thoughts.

"Now you mention it, yes. I can't say if there has been an influx of the dead returning. You'd think we would have heard. I suppose I assumed it must be something to do with the multiverse meddling our mutual acquaintance engaged in. Or something about the time at which we died put us in a place that allowed us to get back here."

His lips purse before he utters his next words.

"It may be possible for me to uncover lost memories. Only I know your feelings on magic on minds."

There's something infinitely comforting in all this, and Tony was never one to use that word genuinely. But there's an undeniable blanket of peace that washes over him. Perhaps it's the midnight hour, the soothing tenor of the god's voice, or perhaps he's simply too weary to hold up his defenses much longer.

However, the why is rather irrelevant when in the shadow of the what. What will Tony do with this bubble of stillness that bloomed between them?

Warm brews within him at Loki's words, and a soft chuckle escapes his lips.

"If my opinion holds any weight—and we both know it does; my consulting rates have only increased with the inflation—I will say that you seem to be holding up pretty well given the circumstances, which, mind you, are not small even by our standards. You don't land on Earth with that powerful, cunning, and tenacious and not make something of yourself, and I'm not talkin' about our first date."

His eyes roam the darkness as he draws in a slow pull of breath.

"Do you ever think it's mighty suspicious that we both cropped back up shortly after the other? Like someone might've lost their action figures, and they might be coming to collect?"

[miralyk]

Hiiiii! I was the one who asked about Henry and I want to say I LOVED the analysis. Also the mention of Eileen also made me thing how her and Henry's interactions show despite not knowing each other to well, you really sense their bond and care for one another. Also how Eileen is just such a KIND character to others even causing Young Walter to prevent his older self from killing her.

I’MMMMM so unwell about henry and eileen, especially with them together…!! even before they directly interact, it’s fascinating how they take notice of each other (eileen being one of the few people who remembers henry in passing + picks up on how he’s been missing for awhile, while henry sees her through the peephole and hole that reaches her apartment, both of which are when he's trying to make contact with the outside world), and in spite of contrasts on the surface like how outgoing they are, they both share the same core traits of humanity and altruism caring for others <:’’’)

i love how they get along very well and work together to understand the situation and figure out how to deal with it, especially given how they're now "properly" meeting and getting to know each other for the first time;; they're very cautious yet sweet with each other, and i also really appreciate how you note eileen's kind like henry too! henry generally keeps to himself offering help if/when the situation arises to jump to, while eileen's less reticent personality has her more outgoing and dedicated to going out of her way to express and continue providing sympathy, i think.

with her trying to understand the mystery, she expresses sympathy for young walter wanting to essentially give him peace and put him at rest even in spite of learning the truth of who he is, and she's gone out of her way to be kind like to giving a doll when she was young,, which has also ironically doomed her in the start, giving it to walter led to him latching onto her and exploit that kindness now intending to make her the mother reborn. both henry and eileen's kindness more often than not get them hurt and have their efforts unappreciated,, and yet they still persist.

they're both so lucky to have each other's backs in sh4 as they survive and can thrive together, henry and eileen compliment and support each other so well...!! there's so much i could keep talking about w them (either individually or together) but yeah, they're both so caring and it really shows with how secure they feel and gel with each other, the bond is so strong and easy to root for and wish the best for them

[starflungwaddledee]

do you have any tips for leaving compliments on other people's art ?? your tags are always so well phrased !

oooo oooooooooooooo uuhhhhhhhh hmmm!

firstly, thank you!! i'm rather glad to hear that! i try quite hard to leave meaningful comments so it's nice when folks notice or appreciate it!

outside of commenting on the work, i first consider the tone of what i'm saying and who i'm saying it to.

i always try to make sure that what i'm saying will be appreciated by the person! that's the point. for the most part i leave comments to bring joy to the op, and thank them for their hard work, for being here and sharing art that made me happy! if i'm speaking to a mutual or friend, there's gonna be inside jokes and probably an amount of casual yelling. possibly even a little friendly roast, if i know them well enough. if i'm speaking with someone i don't know as well i try to keep it a little more professional, but i keep in mind that this is a fandom so an amount of yelling and screaming is expected. i tend to think about what i would like from someone else.

also if i notice that a caption or a blogs about is not in english i double check. if english is not the first language of the artist i make sure to construct tags that are easily translated and i use only and exclusively positive phrases. saying things like "delete this!!!! /pos" or "eating my own hands" can be totally lost in translation. i also keep in mind the age of the OP. don't tag as though you're Looking Disrespectfully at the art of a minor, even if that's your favourite blorbo.

as for how to comment on art or storytelling itself, this is indeed a learned skill, and it can be helped by training your eye to understand different things in artwork. but it's easy to start practicing! this is intuitive to me now, but an easy way to begin is to pick out one or two things that really stand out to you on a piece. (examples could be line quality; is it smooth? neat? textured? full of emotion?, shading: is it crisp? atmospheric? realistically rendered?, or colour choice: is it vibrant? is it moody? is it perfectly on model?) and draw attention to them and how the artist successfully used them to make the piece work.

if the piece includes design-work, pick something of that which you like as well. (clothes, colour choices, abilities, parallels to other characters, totally new or unique concepts that you haven't seen before. if you see your favourite colour combos or notions, let them know, but if it's a stranger remember they made the design for themselves, and you just share (good) tastes!) if you really want to make an artist/designer/storyteller's day, try to find the Little Thing that they've snuck into their art or design that ties into the story or lore that they are telling. even guesses to this end tend to be appreciated!

generally useful things you can also comment on are how well an artist has utilised a medium for its strengths, especially if the medium is a little unusual. if someone @'d me in particular i make sure to acknowledge that too because they probably read me for something and i should acknowledge the effort!

another thing i also always, always encourage, is to try to periodically share and comment on the work of people who are either less experienced or who have less visibility than you. especially if you have more of a platform! if you want to keep your blog clean of too many reblogs for aesthetic or professional reasons you can even go through and remove them later, but sharing the work of smaller accounts- even temporarily- makes such a huge difference! and encouraging + supporting younger or beginner artists is something we should be endeavouring to do as much as possible!

at the end of the day, i always just try to be very earnest in my tags.

there is generally no reason to withhold any praises i can think of, because it's usually nice to have your work perceived and appreciated! i personally loooovvve long rambling tags, screaming tags, stuff like "AAHH NOOOOOOO (THE BLORBO)" and so on. i try to leave the kind of thoughtful comments that i like (and am lucky enough) to receive, and i try to share artwork from a wide variety of people!

[akkivee]

one of the craziest bat bars like actually

[benevolentgodloki]

In spite of the agreeable smirk Loki made, a subtle wariness remained. What if all of this was a ploy to capture him and have him set upon either at this man's ship or in this hinted other place? The reassurance Loki had was that the scent of Peter's arousal toward him was heady. Whatever Star-Lord had in mind, he was brimming with lust.

"Talk to me about crazier."

Victory slithered into his smile, and Peter’s disposition shifted into something a little more relaxed now that he knew for sure that he was on the right track to get into this guy’s pants. He only needed to make sure that Thor never found out and he could add Asgardian god to his list of adventures.

“I don’t know what caveat means but I promise to be as good as royalty deserves,” he said with a wink. “My ship’s not too far from here, unless you prefer something a little…crazier.”

[fungus-gnats]

i love spending hours looking at these lil things :3

[duodipersponsh]

"why are women always reading gay men fanfiction this is strange and sounds like sexualizing" have we considered that we as a species have messed up so badly that now there's a gaping hole in our collective metaphorical chest that can and should only be filled with 82755104184910 thousand fics with men that are caring and loving and kind and silly and hurt and stupid and miserable and loved and

[victorluvsalice]

Valicer Multiamory Month, Day Twenty-Eight: Magic (Valicer In The Dark AU)

The end of Multiamory March (as made by @polyamships) creeps ever closer, and today's prompt is a simple but fun one: "magic!" I have a number of AUs where magical things happen, so filling this one? Not a problem. :p Now, one might have expected that I'd do something for the All The Fairy Tales AU for this one, or perhaps the Medieval Fantasy AU, or maybe even the Valicer Forgotten Vows AU --

But when it came time to figure out something for this prompt, the first thing that actually came to mind was my beloved Valicer In The Dark AU. Which does indeed have magic in it -- just, uh, magic you don't want to mess with too much. Which led to me thinking about what the trio would have learned about magic, growing up in Duskwall -- and what Alice and Smiler might think about Victor getting into it once he embraces being a Whisper. And so the story below was born! I hope you enjoy. :)

--

Magic was dangerous.

That was a fact of life one learned early on, living in Duskwall. Magic, and anything related to it, was dangerous. The old tongue of sorcery was the domain of demons now, who used it to torment all who opposed them – from freezing them in storms of ice, to drowning them in massive waves, to burning them with whips of fire. And rituals? Well, you never knew what mysterious, otherworldly force would consent to lend you a bit of its power – or for what purpose. The city was full of stories featuring those who had dabbled in what they didn’t understand, and ended up paying a terrible price. Who had discovered that the power they so eagerly sought was also their inevitable downfall. Magic was dangerous, and thus best avoided.

Alice and Smiler had known that too – they’d grown up hearing all the stories, all the warnings, after all. And for the most part, they’d followed said warnings – Alice had confined her interest in the fantastical to her imagination, where magic could run wild without hurting anyone, while Smiler had channeled their desire to accomplish incredible things into alchemy, which often ran up against the side of magic, but never quite crossed over. Even after Alice suffered the death of her family and ten years in Rutledge Asylum, and Smiler finally ran away from home and was cheerfully swallowed up by the Advocates, neither of them were tempted much by the mystical.

And then they met Victor. Who – after some initial reluctance – wholeheartedly embraced life as a Whisper. Who poured through ancient volumes of spellcraft and sorcery, studying distressingly complex diagrams and practicing words no human tongue should be able to form. Who asked his ghostly mentor what rituals he knew, and how best to perform them. Who eventually came up with his own spells, designed to translate any language or ward them against spectral attacks or even drag them all temporarily into the ghost field. All the sort of terrifying, dangerous activities that any sensible person would want to avoid.

But – well. One could accuse Alice and Smiler of being a lot of things, but “sensible” was not usually one of them. And things Victor did – first, they were genuinely incredible feats of arcane power. Second, he always tried to be as safe as possible, and only use them for the whole crew’s benefit. And third – whenever he spoke a word that brought lightning arcing down from the sky, or drew a symbol that lit up a ghostly map of the city, Alice and Smiler would see the joy on his face –

And think, how could they deny the man they loved such pleasure?

[benevolentgodloki]

All these feelings were like being a child again. Loki was filled with that same innocent excitement experienced by those who hadn't yet had it crushed by the world and other people. Perhaps it came with this 'born again' feeling after he had been ripped from his timeline and now, thanks to her, he was free.

He grinned stupidly at her when she agreed, only just resisting bouncing on his heels.

What he didn't resist was far more Thorish a behaviour. He laughed and scooped her up into a hug, swinging her about, taking the same risks as his brother regarding sharp objects.

"With you?" Sylvie asked with genuine surprise, the glint in her eyes already promising that he wouldn't need to convince her for much longer. She had not expected for Loki to genuinely want her to make a place for herself here, and yet here he is with all these ideas about what they could do together. The smile that already formed on her lips grew warmer and wider, dimples pulling at her cheeks and an almost foolish look appearing on her face. 

How could she refuse this? She would be mad not to.

"Alright," she answers casually, as if the joy in her expression isn't blatant. "I'll give it a go. See how it works out. It'll be interesting to live somewhere that isn't going to explode next week."