#i can move and stuff. which like. yeah sure totally fine but also WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME

[eosofspades]

okay chronic bone pain gang does ANYONE else have a terrible popping thing in the back of their hips when they lay down or stretch wrong because no doctor knows whats wrong with me and i'm having a BAD PAIN DAY

[wombywoo]

Ok! I've finally decided to put together a (somewhat) comprehensive tutorial on my latest art~

Please enjoy this little step-by-step 💁‍♀️

First things first--references!

Now I'm not saying you have to go overboard, but I always find that this is a crucial starting point in any art piece I intend on making. Especially if you're a detail freak like me and want to make it as realistic as possible 🙃

As such, your web browser should look like this at any given point:

Since this is a historical piece, it means hours upon hours of meaningless research just to see what color the socks are, but...again. that isn't, strictly, necessary 😅

Once I've compiled all my lovely ref pics, I usually dump them into a big-ass collage ⬇️

(I will end up not using half of these, alas :'D)

Another reference search for background material, and getting to showcase our models of choice for this occasion~

When picking a reference for an actor or model, the main thing I keep in mind (besides prettiness 🤭) is lighting and orientation. Because I already kinda know what pose I'm gonna go with for this piece, I can look for specific angles that might fit the criteria. I should mention that I am a reference hound, and my current COD actor ref folder looks like this:

Also keep in mind, if you're using a ref that you need to flip, make sure you adjust accordingly. This especially applies to clothing, as certain things like pants zippers and belt buckles can be quite specific ☝️

Now that we've spent countless hours googling, it's time to start with a rough sketch:

It doesn't have to be pretty, folks, just a basic guideline of where you want the figures to be.

The next step is to define it more, and I know this looks like that 'how to draw an owl' meme, but I promise--getting from the loose sketch above to below is not that difficult.

Things to keep in mind are--don't go too in-depth with the details, because things are still subject to change at this point. In terms of making a suitable anatomically-correct sketch, I would suggest lots of studying. This doesn't even have to be things like figure drawing, I genuinely look at people around me for inspiration all the time. Familiarize yourself with the human form, and things like weight, proportions, posing will seem a little more feasible.

It's also important at this stage to consider your composition. Remember to flip the canvas frequently to make sure you're not leaning to one side too often. I'm sure something can be said for the spiral fibonacci stuff, which I don't really try to do on purpose, but I think keeping things like symmetry and balance in mind is a good start ✌️

Next step is just blocking in the figures. Standard. No fuss 👍

Now onto the background!

It's frankly hilarious how many people thought I was *hand-drawing* these maps and stuff 😂😂 I cannot even begin to comprehend how insanely difficult that would be. So yeah, we're just taking the lazy copy and paste way out 🤙

I almost always prepare my backgrounds first, and this is mostly to get a general color scheme off the bat. For collage work, it's really just a matter of trial and error, sticking this here, slapping this there, etc. I like to futz around with different overlay options until I've found a nice arrangement. Advice for this is just--go nuts 🤷‍♀️

Next, I add a few color adjustments. I tend to make at least 2 colors pop in an art piece, and low and behold, they usually tend to be red and blue ❤️💙There's something about warm/cool vibes, idk man..

Now we move on to coloring the figures. This is just a basic block and fill, not really defining any of the details yet.

Next, we add some cursory values. Sloppy airbrush works fine, it'll look better soon I promise 🙏

And now--rendering!

I know a lot of beginner artists are intimidated by rendering, and I can totally understand why. It's just one of those things you have to commit to 💪

I've decided to show a brief process of rendering our dear Johnny's face here:

Starting off, I usually rely on the trusty airbrush just to get some color values going. Note--I've kept my sketch layer on top, but feel free to turn it on and off as you work, so as to not be too bound to the sketch. For now, it's just a guideline.

This next stage may look like a huge jump, but it's really just adding more to the foundation. I try to think of it like putting on make-up in a way~ Adding contours, accentuating highlights. This is also where I start adding in more saturation, especially around areas such as ears, nose and lips. Still a bit fuzzy at this point, but that's why we keep adding to it 💪

A boy has appeared! See--now I've removed most of the line layer, and it holds up on its own. I'll admit that in order to achieve this realistic style, you'll need lots and lots of practice and skill, which shouldn't be discouraging! Just motivate yourself with the prospect of getting to look at pretty men for countless hours 🙆‍♀️

I'll probably do a more in-depth explanation about rendering at some point, but let's keep this rolling~

Moving forward is just a process of adding to the figures bit by bit. I do lean towards filling in each section from top to bottom, but you can feel free to pop around to certain parts that appeal to you more. I almost always do the faces first though, because if they end up sucking, I feel less guilty about scrapping it 😂 But no--I think he's pretty enough to proceed 😚

They're coming together now 🙆‍♀️ Another helpful tip--make sure you reuse color. By that, I mean--try to incorporate various colors throughout your piece, using the eyedropper tool to keep a consistent palette. I try to put in bits of red and blue where I can

Here they are fully rendered! Notice I've made a few subtle changes from the sketch, like adjusting the belt buckles because I made a mistake 😬 Hence why you shouldn't put too much stock in your initial sketch~

The next step is more of a stylistic choice, but I usually go over everything with an outline, typically in a bright color like green. Occasionally, I can just use my initial line layer, but for this, I've made a brand new, cleaner line 👍

And the final step is adjusting the color and adding some text:

Tada!! It's done!

All in all, this took me the better part of a week, but I have a lot of free time, so yeah ✌️

I hope you appreciated that little walkthrough~ I know people have been asking me how I do my art, but the truth is--I usually have no clue how to explain myself 😅 So have this half-assed tutorial~

As a bonus, here is a cute (cursed) image of Johnny without his mustache:

A baby, a literal infant child !!! who put this wee bairn on the front lines ??! 😭

Anyway! peace out ✌️

[livwritesstuff]

The arrival of fall means the arrival of soccer season for the Harrington family. Soccer, as Eddie has learned, is kind of a gateway drug to the world of sports, the first sport their naive, impressionable youths are indoctrinated with, and all three of Eddie and Steve’s daughters are playing soccer in their town’s youth league this fall, even five-year-old Hazel now (she hates it; it’s probably also the very last time she’ll play too), so Eddie usually spends at least half of his Saturday at a local field watching his daughters’ games.

Steve usually volunteers to coach their daughters’ teams, except there’s another soccer-related first this year – Steve decided to take a step back from coaching Moe’s team like he’d been doing since Moe was in kindergarten, which means that he's actually on the sidelines with Eddie.

At one point during one of Moe’s games, things gets held up for a few minutes while one of the team moms argues with the coach. It seems to be about Moe, given the look of indignation on Moe’s face.

“Did you see what happened?” Eddie asks like he tends to whenever anything happens in Moe's games because they move pretty damn fast and he doesn't have an eye for this stuff like Steve does.

Steve shakes his head, “It’s Moe. Anything could have happened.”

It’s a fair point, honestly, and the coach shuts the whole thing down pretty quick and the game continues. Steve and his ear for drama didn't, obviously, and pretty much the second Moe’s game is over, Steve asks her, “So what was Mrs. Roberts all upset about?”

“I dunno,” Moe shrugs as she hefts her enormous soccer bag higher on her shoulders, “Apparently I said the C-word and she wanted the coach to take me off the field.”

Eddie feels himself freeze, feels Steve do the same beside him because, sure, their kids curse up a goddamn storm (no idea where they got that from) but everyone has their limits and Eddie’s pretty sure that he and Steve have never used that word – certainly not around their daughters, but not really ever (Nancy doesn't like it and they're all a little afraid of her still).

“I didn’t even know the C-word was a bad word,” Moe finishes.

“Okay,” Steve says slowly, something in his tone suggesting he’d rather be asking their daughter anything else, “Well, what…word did you say?

Moe shrugs, “I just said crap.”

Steve visibly relaxes beside Eddie as he does the same. Even still, Eddie can’t help but feel kind of perplexed even by that because, frankly, both Steve and Eddie usually bypass the sanitized expletives and head straight for the bigguns. It’s kind of crazy she didn’t go all in with the F-bomb whenever she got wronged on the field.

“Since when was crap a bad word?” Moe continues.

“It’s not,” Steve waves her off, “But…yeah, don’t use that one around Mrs. Roberts ‘cause she’s weird about that kind of thing.”

“Well, you already said I can’t say shit, so what can I say?”

“Well, you’re ten, so you can say nothing and survive the game totally fine.”

“That’s censorship at its finest, Papa,” Moe rolls her eyes.

“Darling, please don’t cite Dad at me.”

[crabbunch]

for @mcyt-aro-week - day 5 - flowers/wedding

"Etho," Bdubs says. "Should- should we get married?"

Etho blinks and sits up, moving his head out of Bdubs's lap. "What?"

"Well- hey, you didn't have to move," Bdubs pouts. "I mean, should we get married?"

"Why?" Etho says. He's not wearing his mask right now, and even with it on, he manages to expressive. He's obviously confused, which is weird, because Bdubs sort of thought...

"Well, you know," Bdubs laughs a little awkwardly as he rubs the back of his head. "It's- I mean, we're- I don't know! It just seems like something we could do."

It's hard to explain. He loves Etho. It's a deep, deep love, too, because Bdubs loves often and easily, and that's fine, he loves loving people, but Etho- Etho and him have been entangled with each other for so long that it's different. Bdubs knows Etho, and Etho knows Bdubs. Bdubs would do anything for a lot of people. He loves it. He loves them. But Etho...

Well. He's special. And maybe that kind of connection requires some kind of... marking. Celebration.

"I just kind of thought," Etho says. "That- um- marriage was for people in love."

"Bwuh- huh?" Bdubs says. "But- isn't that us?"

"What?" says Etho. "Um, no, I didn't think so..."

"Well, I do love you, you know," Bdubs says. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

Etho looks away, and a horrible dread rises up from Bdubs's stomach.

"But... um, you love me, right?" Bdubs says, voice wavering.

"Well, yeah!" Etho says. "Just- I mean, not in the get-married way."

"Oh," says Bdubs. "Oh! Well, that's fine. Okay!"

"Okay?" Etho chuckles, shoulders relaxing slightly with relief.

"Yeah, I was scared you were going to be like- oh, you've been hanging out with me for all this time, and you hated me for all of it, and were just too shy to say so. Wow!" Bdubs laughs. "So who would you want to get married to?"

"Um," says Etho. "I don't really know. No one, maybe."

"Oh!" Bdubs says. "So you- so if you're not saving your marriage for anyone, can we still do it?"

"Huh?" says Etho. "Oh, yeah, sure."

"Hey! You were so worked up about it earlier, and now you're just giving in!?" Bdubs says. "What's with that?"

"Huh? Well, if you're fine marrying someone who doesn't return your feelings, I'm fine with it," Etho says. "I like the idea of wedding presents."

"No, but-" Bdubs breaks off and grabs his face in his hands, frustrated. "It's not the hearts and kissing and stuff, because like, I wanna do that to you, but I don't care if you want to do it to me. It's just- you know me, yeah? And I know you. And that's the thing that I care about. That's the reciprocation."

"Oh," says Etho. He smiles. "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I love you. Like that."

"So we can get married?" Bdubs says hopefully.

"Of course," Etho says. "Make sure you require people to bring gifts on the invitation, though."

"You got it," Bdubs promises him.

- - -

Neither of them wear white. Etho, who has about 20 copies of the same outfit and wears nothing else, wears the same outfit he always wears. Bdubs isn't really surprised.

Bdubs borrows one of Cleo's dresses and looks absolutely fabulous in it, even if he does keep tripping over the hem. They pinned it up for him, but it's still far too long- NOT because he's short. Because Cleo's a giant.

It's totally worth it though.

Scar officiates, which means that there's a 75% chance they aren't actually legally married, but Bdubs isn't too bothered about it. This is more for sentiment than anything else. Actually, it's probably a good thing if his finances aren't tied to Etho's, since he commits tax fraud. Etho doesn't take off his mask when they kiss, which kind of sucks, but is also par for the course. Joel monologues loudly to anyone who will listen about the deep bond he and Etho share.

"Congrats," Grian says, grinning like a shark as he downs what has to be his 12th glass of punch, seemingly unaffected by it. "You've got a nice hustle going on here."

"You-! You and Scar and Mumbo did the same thing last season!" Bdubs protests.

"Yeah, but we ended up meaning it," Grian says dismissively. "This? Well, I mean, maybe you mean something by it. Etho doesn't."

Bdubs chokes on his own cup of punch.

Back in the games-

Well. Bdubs tries to keep his lives separate, but it's hard when some of his closest allies don't even bother pretending like it never happened. Etho and Cleo are always rubbing it in his face, the jerks!

The point being- he doesn't like thinking about it, but back in the games, when Bdubs had been red for the umpteenth time and not quite desperate, he had thought-

"He loves me."

And everyone had laughed.

Because the thing was- it had been a little bit of a lie. Playing up the role. Leaning into the blind faith that had carried him that far. But the faith had been there, and it had gotten him that far, so-

Etho doesn't love easily, and when he does, it's a choice, fragile and thin-spun from familiarity and the thrill of trying to stay. It's a little different from the love Bdubs feels- even the platonic kind.

And. The thing had been. That Etho hadn't chosen to love him then. Or he had, but it hadn't been enough, or maybe it was never love at all and it was just- the knowledge that Bdubs was Bdubs and Etho was Etho and that they'd always find each other.

Etho plays into the roles he's given, just like Bdubs. He's a little more subtle about it, sure, but Joel decides that they're soulmates and Etho plays along. Gem decides that he's washed up and he plays along. Cleo decides that they're divorced and he plays along.

Bdubs says, he loves me, and Etho lets him die.

That's how he knows there's something more than Etho just playing along there.

"Well, you think what you want," Bdubs says dismissively, and wanders off. It doesn't matter if Grian knows that he and Etho have stumbled into something a little different than love.

"Bdubs!" Etho shouts, waving him over to the gift table. "Look what Skizz got us!"

"A crockpot?" Bdubs squints.

"An essential for any newly-wed couple," Skizz says sagely.

"Well, if you say so," Bdubs says, and sits down next to Etho to help him unwrap presents.

[starberryfarms]

chef(in training)! laios x reader

tags: fluff, fem!reader,

words: 1.3k

a/n: hiii! I'm back from the dead (boo!), I hope you enjoy this, <3 !!

When you show up to the cooking class and see Marcille nowhere in sight, there are no words to describe how pissed you were. This class was her idea and for her to not be here like she promised after spending the better part of your night begging you to come, was having you contemplating kicking her ass. 

You pull out your phone and scroll through your contacts before landing on her name and calling. The phone rings three times before you hear her voice on the other end. 

“Marcille, where the hell are you?” You whisper shout into the phone. The only reply you get is talking and giggling in the background. 

The voice sounds familiar as you strain to hear what was going on or where she was. You call for Marcille again, as you look around making sure there was no one there watching you shout into your phone like a maniac. When you bring the phone back to your ear, that’s when you also hear Falin’s voice in the background as well.

“Oh my god! You seriously did not flake on me to makeout with Falin.”

“No, I lost track of time, I swear! I’m sorry…” Marcille whines.

“It’s fine Marcille, seriously.” You mumble between her thousands of apologies, before saying goodbye to her and Falin. 

With a sigh you grab your bag and head back inside. Might as well enjoy it and get your money’s worth since you’re already here. The door opens and you follow the sign leading to the room where the cooking class would be held. You follow the sounds of lively chatter and walk in, scanning for a spot to take a seat before the class begins. 

Most people already had a partner, which would’ve been you had Marcille actually showed up. So, you’d have to go at it alone today. “That was totally fine, better than being stuck with some weirdo.”

You come across an empty table and set your stuff down before taking a quick look around the classroom. And as you glance to the people to your left, they are donned in a white apron. With a look around you find a similar apron at your table and put it on. So you don’t look like a lonesome loser, you pull out your phone and start to scroll through social media.

There’s a loud bang and everyone turns to see what was causing a ruckus. Some guy comes in huffing and his eyes scan the room before landing on you. You look around to see if his gaze was locked on you or someone else. Though, him bounding in your direction answered that silent question quickly. A grimace crosses your face as he stops in front of you, his eyes boring into your own. 

“Is this spot taken?” He looks at you with a dorkish smile, his fingers pointing towards the empty spot next to you. 

“N-no go ahead.” You stutter as you stumble whilst moving your things out of his way so he can settle himself.  

“I’m Laios.” His hand comes out to shake your own, which after some slight hesitation you take.

“Well Laios, that was quite the entrance you made there.” You whisper, watching him as he sets his stuff down and puts on the apron. Now that he was still and wasn’t paying you much attention, there was a chance to get a good look at him.

Besides the reckless (and slightly concerning) entrance he was actually kind of… cute.

His dusty blonde hair was tousled from the wind, probably from running here. Which also explained the deep flush on his cheeks, and the sweaty sheen across his face that trailed to his neck. Curious eyes trail down his tall and slightly firm frame, when they come back up to his face he is already looking down at you. His golden eyes stare into your own and a grin spreads on his face, making his cheeks look fuller. 

“Yeah I thought I wasn’t going to make it in time. I practically sprinted here.” He chuckles. 

Before you could apologize for practically undressing him with your eyes, The instructor walks in and he turns forward to pay attention, and you follow his lead. The class begins and the instructor goes over the meal that would be prepared today. Though you tried to pay attention, you couldn’t help your focus drifting back to the guy next to you. 

“So have you been here before.” You question.

He looks over and nods, “Yeah a few times, I’m actually in school to be a chef.”

So he can cook, interesting…

“What brings you here?” He questions as he chops up the vegetables. The veins on his thick hands slightly pulsing from the constant firm cutting motion. You clear your throat as you try once again to focus on the task at hand.

As he finishes them, you take them and add them to the dish, “This was my friend’s idea, but she bailed on me so here I am.” 

“Well it’s a good thing she did, or you wouldn’t be my partner.” His elbow bumps softly against your own as he continues to recreate the recipe.

You’d definitely have to thank Marcille later.

As you walk out of the class, you curse yourself for how awkward you were being. If the not so subtle glancing in his direction didn’t weird him out, then your quick exit sure did. His confused face when you practically bolted out, is an unforgettable image that is permanently burned in your mind. It was probably for the best, the only thing coming out of this mouth would’ve been a jumbled mess.

Instead of clawing out your eyeballs from embarrassment. You reach for your phone to whine to Marcille about yet another one of your fails, only to find your pocket empty. In panic you retrace your steps hoping to see the device sitting pretty and waiting to be back in your hands. When you look up you see Laios running, and it looks like his sights are once again dead set on you. 

“Oh god…”

You quickly stand up to try and look as casual as possible, and not like you were just scrambling up and down the sidewalk like a maniac. 

Laios stops just before running into you, your phone in his outstretched hand as he tries to catch his breath. He moves closer to you, and his scent fills your senses. 

“Hey, you left your phone back there.” 

“Oh my gosh thank you! I thought I lost it.” You whisper breathlessly, you’d think you were the one who was sprinting down the sidewalk.

There is a beat of silence and before you say anything Laios speaks first.

“Hey, I was thinking I could cook for you sometime… Maybe not in a class?” Laios asks.

“Yes!” You answer way too quickly before clearing your throat, “Yeah sure why not.”

He chuckles at your act of feigned nonchalance, before handing your phone to you. You give him a confused look, he motions for you to unlock your phone. There was a bit of fumbling before the initial shock wears off and you open it up for him. Laios puts in his number and adds a little chef next to his name, and then hands the phone back to you.

“Try not to lose it this time.”

Your face heats up at his joke, and you quickly pocket your phone. His eyes meet your own and the feeling of his warm hand when it touches your own to give you back the phone causes a shiver to shoot through you.

 While putting your phone away, you failed to notice his eyes that  slowly trailed over your form. A soft smile growing on your face as he watched you fumble with your things. 

He turns to leave with one final wave as you watch him go, giving a small back in return. When you’re sure he’s out of sight you let out a little squeal and do a little shimmy before heading back home.

Oh Marcille is going to FREAK when she hears this.

𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 <3 !

© starberryfarms 2024 [ plagiarism is a violation of moral rights ! ] 

a/n: let me know if you enjoy chef!laios, I'm planning to write more about him.

[threepandas]

Bad End: Traps

"Darling~!" A rich voice greeted me, as I stepped through the final doors leading to an opulent office. "You're looking better! Are you finally adjusting to the anti-poisons? I know they made you feel quite sick."

THAT was an understatement. Try worst cramps and fever of my life, with a dose of puking for days. They put me on IVs. Buuuut? I wasn't gonna say THAT. Not a chance in hell. We, team Earth that is, were supposed to be here for DIPLOMACY. So? Fucking LIE~☆

Yep! "Bit" sick. Just a touch. Hardly noticed, really. Took a nap.

Veneni laughed, rising from the elegant sprawl she'd been resting on one of her "not called couches but totally are" things. To be honest, her voice reminds me of those old "radio stars" from the clips at the museums. All smooth yet husky, curling around you, like they're going to invite you somewhere dark to learn a naughty little secret if you're very VERY good.

Kind of voice you could listen too for HOURS, reading the most boring shit imaginable, and it be the best time you'd had in years.

I am... SO gay, for Veneni.

Like? You DO NOT UNDERSTAND. She SASHAYS. Not walks. Not strolls. Sashays! Like life is a catwalk and she is the alpha bitch here to show these other models how it's DONE. But also? Like she doesn't even NOTICE! It's just... effortless. How she moves. All delicate hand motions and rolling hips and curves.

That I Can Not Touch because she is SUUUUPER poisonous.

Which is? Frankly? Homophobic and a crime against me, specifically. Yeah, her whole species is like that. And it's why all of us are suffering through the Anti-poison adjusters. But STILL! I can't even "accidentally" brush her hand? No potential kissing of hot hot hot alien gf? Illegal. Blocked. Everyone here is a bastard and I want to complain.

.....not, mind you, that I have the metaphorical lady balls to actually CONFESS anything.

But you know... maybe.... maybe if I pine hard enough?

Good ol' stand awkwardly nearby and mentally project "NOTICE ME SEMPAI!" At her? I put on my nice outfit! Makes the girls look-! Wait, does her species even give a shit about boobs? FUCK. Okay, see this? THIS is why I was a flight assist. Just inventory and handing stuff to people who knew what they were doing.

MASTER of the fine arts of "I Can Understand The Instruction Manuel, In Case Of Emergency"!

Pretty good at coffee, too. Not to brag.

But, like? Jokes aside? Things had been... Bad.

Everything had gone to shit. Then somehow found a shovel in the manure pile and started digging. Started OUT okay! Really, it had! Travel was unexpectedly a bit rough. Some sort of space storm that went RIGHT over my head, but we dodged every major catastrophe. Got here in one piece.

There was a fancy meeting party. Whiiiich? In hindsight? Terrible idea. WAY too many people with hella poisonous skin, standing WAY too close. Only reason we didn't IMMEDIATELY lose the head diplomate? Was the regulation "new planet, unknown pathogens" full body biosuit. He? Got a HUG. Like... right out the ship.

Oof. That would have been IT, for him. Unfortunately, he didn't make it past that much longer. Someone's pet bit him. And? Yep. Completely fucking venomous. Lethally so. A tragedy, right? Outlier, surely?

Ha!

No. No this planet was trying to fucking kill us. It was a toxin coated hellpit and had so far? Murdered just over half the diplomatic crew. Those that were still alive? Over half of THEM were in emergency care. With just over a forth of the OTHER survivors being the only ones who could safely care for them.

Rest of us were either in isolation or sick as FUCK.

Isolation for those who needed to get rescued, because the Anti-poison adjusters would fucking kill them. Or sick as hell, for those few who remain that finally, FINALLY had found a way to Not DIE.

ALL WHILE PEACE TALKS WERE TRYING TO HAPPEN.

It was a shit show~☆

I? Went from basically a nobody? To "congrats! By merit of NOT being dead or dying, you're the head diplomat by proxy!" Which? Fucking WHAT? You could physically SEE the stress radiating off the poor guys back home, as they tried to speed run me through "how to not Accidentally A War 101".

I was pretty sure his cup, did in fact, NOT contain coffee. But I wasn't telling.

Instead, I got the honor of carrying the video call. Literally. Since our tech was incompatible. I got to carry the whole set up. Portable battery included. So the ACTUAL Really, Actually, Trained In Diplomacy, Diplomat could call in. And then I could look pretty and nod seriously at the appropriate times.

Mmmmhmmm. Yes. I agree. I both understand what is being said, AND support Earth's position on these matters! I have definitely studied the materials. Am supposed to be here. We have DEFINITELY suffered no catastrophic loses, pay no attention to the chaos behind the curtains! Diploooomacyyyyy....

God, she is pretty.

Watching her smile, her sensors gently shift around her like flowing water, the way her hand delicately gestured as she spoke? I... I wanted to build her, like, a cabin or something. Bring her breakfast in bed. Maybe adopt an alien dog together. And like? I don't even KNOW how to build shit. But, fuck it. I'd learn.

Cause I mean... you KNOW you got it bad, when you look at Toxic Super Hell the planet, look at pretty lady, look BACK at the planet that in no uncertain terms ACTIVELY thirsts for your blood... and go?

"So when do I move? Feeling REAL patriotic for my new home! Wooo, New Home!"

Yes I have a problem. Shut up, I'm aware.

A quite click signaled the end of their talks. Finally done for the day. I definitely, in now way shape or form, perk up like an excited puppy hearing the word "walkies". Because that? THAT would suggest I had WAY more dignity. I am a thirsty, thirsty bitch, okay? SO PRETTY. Nice laugh! Calls me Darling!! I have a LIST!!!

"Mmmm, what an unpleasant man that was. Did something happen to Mr. Ho?" She asked, stretching in the slow rolling way of hers. It looked boneless and decadent. REALLY distracting. "I hope nothing Serious~. We were nearly on the cusp of getting you home! I do hope he gets well soon. But, ah~, where ARE my manner today, Darling? You must be starving!"

Veneni sweeps forward to tuck my arm in hers, pulling me against her side. Even through my biosuit and her modest dress... I... I can FEEL her body heat. How soft and warm she feels pressed close against me. She smells tingly and spiced, kinda like citrus and mulled cider. NOT! That I'm smelling her! WHICH I'M NOT!! Because that would be so, SO creepy! It's just-!? You know-?! AaaaaaAAA???

She guides me to our little table. Probably set up for guests in general. But... you know... kinda like to THINK of it? As ours?

I REALLY need to stop while I am ahead. Good fucking gods. Ignore me.

Mmm, yes, distraction cake! Let's talk about THAT instead! Wonder what she-? I then choked on my drink. Because... because after bringing out the usual traditional deserts of she was teaching me about? And dishes I could try? Veneni... c.. casually as you please rests her chin, propped up on one hand, then reaches out with the other... to place it on my hand, which rests on the table between us.

Hear that? That's my soul screaming at a pitch only dolphins can make.

OH MY GOD.

I'd like to say? I don't immediately embarrass myself? But that's a lie. I make a wheeze reminiscent of something dying horribly. Against all odds. She is NOT immediately disgusted and done with me. Dear lord, my parents may actually have a chance at seeing me married! Holy FUCK.

Wait. No. Slow your roll.

SMILE first. We GOT this! Seduce her!

I open my mouth... and stupid fell out. FUCK.

"Calm yourself, Darling!" She laughs, the bemused fondness lighting up her face. "You hardly need to impress ME! Believe me. I knew you were mine the second I saw you. Nothing could possibly change that~"

Her cute fangs catch the light, deadly sharp. Her's is a predatory species. I wonder if they like social touch? Cause I REALLY want to cuddle. Hold hands. Touch. Ooooother stuff~ But! Mostly the Hold Cute Alien GF! Assuming that's where this is headed. Please GOD let that be where this is headed!

"I was thinking... and I don't want to be too forward, of course," oh god please do "and I hope I'm not interpreting things incorrectly!" You are not. Take me you magnificent, purple, high femme queen amongst the masses. "But... I would VERY much like to... get to know you, Darling. On a more... personal level...?"

I kept my lips pressed desperately together to keep from literally shouting the word "Yes" in her face. Be cool. BE COOL! We are both cool and Very Normal About This! Scream in incoherent joy later!

Y..Yeah! Sounds great!

This is the best day of my-!

An explosion shook the biodome. While the whole planet WAS toxic as fuck? There were levels to it's toxicity. Some places too much for even native life forms to handle. And, of course, no place that non-natives could safely survive. Thus the capital's biodome. Highly filtered air, earth, and resources. Built for diplomacy and several critical care hospitals.

Now under attack. Another bomb exploded. Cracks in the dome.

I could only stare in mute horror at the pillar of smoke. Because... Because that was the isolation area. Our evac's. Someone just blew up... Then my brain seemed to comeback online all at once, as adrenaline flooded my system. I looked between the still unpacked call system and Veneni.

A piece of tech or a high ranking, probably high interest target. My maybe hopefully girlfriend. Not really much of a choice.

Fucking LEAVE IT.

We had to go. I pulled Veneni up, told her as much. She looked so startled.

"Of... Of course, Darling. Yes. You're right. I AM probably a target, aren't I?" The thought didn't seem to have occurred to her. God, I felt like a monster having to bring such ugliness to her attention. Scaring her like this. But ignorance wouldn't keep either of us safe.

"I...I think there was a safe room?" She faltered, arms crossing almost artfully, looking so uncertain I couldn't help but want to comfort her. "But, Darling, I'll admit.. I'm.. I think I'm rather scared. Will you protect me? Stay with me? ...please?"

I couldn't help it. She looked so scared. So delicately small. I stepped forward, arms going around her. Pulling her close like I could shield her from the world. I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I promised myself. Felt her arms, a few of her sensors, desperately curl around me.

I didn't see the smile, pressed against my front. That quickly vanished as she pulled back. Nor did I notice the calm technician, hidden in the shadows of a side hall, who nodded at Veneni as I herded her to "safety". Would think nothing of how, tragically, my rooms were hit in the follow up blasts. How very lucky, that Veneni has rooms to spare. But oh~ she would not want to over step!

I don't notice a lot of things. But hey, things are great! I got a girlfriend! Or, as she likes to joke,

She Got Me.

[bedsyandco]

and when daisy cancels on him friday night, and he sees that she went to quinn’s game instead with their group of friends, he decided to take trevor up on that offer.

Damn that was kinda mean of Daisy

she was planning on going to jack’s game, she really was. but then all her friends was going to quinn’s game, and he asked her to come and she just couldn’t say no.

she really didn’t think jack would be that upset about it and she could always try to go and watch another one of his games! but he was really upset . . .

he watched the stands for her the whole night. she could’ve at least texted him. and jack makes sure she knows he’s upset too. doesn’t smile at her in the hallways at school. doesn’t bother greeting her when she’s at their house to see quinn. just kinda seems very uninterested until daisy addresses it one day.

he was already in the kitchen when she came down from quinn’s room to grab a drink. and when jack sees her entering, he immediately moves to leave but she stops him before he can.

“can we talk for a sec?” daisy asks, a hand on jack’s arm to halt him and jack resists the urge to lean into her touch more, trying to remember why he was upset with her

“is there any point in talking when I can’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth,” jack snaps, and feels immediately bad for it when she flinches a little

“okay, I deserve that. jack I really am sorry,” daisy says and jack clenches his jaw slightly

“when you say you’re gonna do something, do it. and if you change your mind or something comes up at least have the decency to text someone and let them know,” jack mumbles leaning on the kitchen counter and daisy sighs, moving her hand up to his shoulder and jack gets funny feeling in his chest when her thumb moves back and forth across the fabric of his T-shirt.

“you’re right. what I did was really rude but I promise I didn’t do it on purpose. I wasn’t planning on going to quinn’s game but something came up and I really had to go to that game. and I totally forgot that I had promised you I would go to yours. which is my fault 100% and I’m really sorry I bailed on you and didn’t text, it totally slipped my mind. which isn’t an excuse, I know I messed up okay? and I really am sorry. And I’m also sorry it’s taken me like a week to apologize. to be fair you have ran away from me every time I’ve wanted to,” daisy says and jack huffs

“I wasn’t running away,” jack mumbles in protest but daisy just sends him a look

“the point is i’m sorry okay? I don’t want you to be mad at me,” daisy says and jack sends her a soft smile

“I’m not mad anymore dais. I honestly forgave you already. I just had a bad day and it’s making me more irritated than usual, sorry,” he admits a little shyly and daisy squeezes his shoulder gently

“s’okay, we all have bad days. anything you wanna talk about?” daisy asks and jack sighs

“not really, it’s just hockey stuff,” jack says and daisy knows he’s not gonna talk about it with her, but even if he did, she wouldn’t be able to relate so she probably wouldn’t be of much use anyway, but there was someone else who could help.

“you should talk to Quinny about it,” she says

“I don’t know, he has a lot going on too. I don’t wanna add more things to his plate,” jack says and daisy smiles, finding him endearing

“Quinn is such an older sibling. he loves taking care of other people, especially those he loves. I bet you he’d love being able to give you advice. and he just so happens to be pretty decent at it,” daisy says, and jack just nods, acknowledging he heard what she said, but not committing to doing it. which was fine. daisy wasn’t one to push, which was one of the things he loved about her. liked about her.

“so we’re good?” daisy asks one more time

“yeah dais, we’re good,” jack says and laughs softly when she kisses him on the cheek

“perfect. I know you’re about to make yourself a ham and cheese toastie, make me one? I’d love you forever,” she teases, and makes her way back up the stairs before jack could respond

if only it was that easy, he’d make her all the ham and cheese toasties she wants.

[lorata]

Can you tell me more about Lachlan? Does he any siblings? Are any of them also in the centre? Is he Lower/middle/upper class? Did he keep contact with any of his cohort except Selene/cara after graduation? Do he and Alec date only in the Victor creed/selene au? Is he a loyalist?

Lachlan <3 <3 <3 </3

re: the first stuff, Lachlan grew up solidly middle class, his parents owned a shop somewhere (not sure for what but I feel like one of those corner stores that the family lives overtop kinda deals) and i ... think? he had younger siblings? but he was the only one in the program or at least residential bc i don't know anything about them

he and Alec are only ever a thing in the Victor Creed AU as far as I know WHICH HILARIOUSLY is the only time Alec ever manages something casual i think? normally he uhauls so fast he either scares off the dude by saying i love you or moves in after the second date

he is a tragic character to me, similar to Benvolio -- he's the one who is friends with everyone even when they profess to hate him (Petra) and he tries so hard to keep his friends together but the writing is on the wall, in the end he's one of the only ones left standing

because like ... yeah, of course he tries to keep in touch with everyone! Petra doesn't write him back, so he stops, but he and Selene hang out whenever she's back in town (which isn't often but still), and he and Cara date, and he manages to call Corin / Nicky / Alli / Emma at least every couple months. it's a bit awkward with all the PKs because, well, Selene, Corin & Nicky are all Scouts and they're not allowed to talk about anything they do, but Alli & Emma are regular degular PKs and they're bored out in the districts and nothing is classified so who cares. he even manages to bump into Jason every now and then and it's annoying but you know. oh well.

but then. the war. and he and Cara and Jason are the only ones left.

he and Jason do not make up for a while in canon. there is a HUGE element of how fucking dare you be the one who's left. all the others are gone and I'm stuck with you. i think it's cara who points out that yeah, every single one of their friends are dead and jason is the only one left, are they really going to ice him out just because he's kind of a douche. he's the only one left. at least they have each other

(Lachlan: don't be fucking reasonable when i'm wallowing Cara: marry someone else then jackass)

in the AU it's not AS bad because Selene and Petra also survive and when he reaches out Petra tries to ignore him but Selene is like oh that is NOT happening we ARE getting back in touch and it works! and of course Claudius works his magic with Jason so they do (grudgingly) manage to mend that fence. never gonna be BFFs but, you know, they can do a double date and not be total assholes to each other (Cara and Jason's wife-who-I-should-name get along better I bet, poor wife is dying to please and Cara knows that feel)

re: loyalty, the funny thing is that before the war Lachlan would NEVER call himself a loyalist. that shit's for suckers and Petra, and Chipmunk has that on lock for all of them put together. he's a trainer because he's good at it, and he's not sure what else to do, and well, those who can't do teach, right, so why not. but ...... then the rebels come for the Centre kids, and that is not. allowed. they're KIDS. he fights tooth and nail with the rest of them and they hold, damn it

so yeah, after the war he is not impressed with any reconstruction efforts for a long time because they left D2 out to dry, the kids specifically. but in canon it's Enobaria who fights for the Centre and Lachlan trusts Enobaria (obviously!) so when she comes on board he's like all right, fine. and like he's not in CHARGE he's a junior trainer with like 3 years of experience he doesn't have any say but it still matters, you know?

in canon divergence it's even more complicated because he's mad at CLAUDIUS who joined the rebels, even though he helped evacuate (rather than, you know, try to take out) the Centre, it's still a betrayal, and Lachlan is mad about it! well more accurately he's mad at the whole situation and Claudius is a safe target and D has had enough therapy time to recognize and let him take it out on him, and by the time Lachlan realizes that's what's going on he gets mad about THAT but then they're cool (albeit a bit grudgingly lol).

i do think he and selene have a super awkward talk postwar in divergence where it's like how the FUCK did we end up on not only opposite sides but opposite to where anyone would rightfully have imagined us. he's already taken out his feelings on Claudius so he doesn't have the energy to be mad at her, plus she's lost so many, so it's not an angry talk more a tired/baffled/resigned one. which is why when he contacts her re: the reunion they're already long past it

[illusionsdelusions101]

Back to the Old House~Jude Bellingham

Type~Angst

A/N: Jude won the poll! I felt angsty so here you go! Also thank you for my awesome friend Mistyswifey for this prompt!

Jude was back. In Stourbridge. When you heard the news your heart almost leaped out of your chest! While you were in a local shop, the cashier said “So, heard the news that Jude is coming back?” and that initially send you into a panic. You lived next to Jude, your whole life, until he moved away to live in Madrid. You talked to him a lot when you were younger. Childhood friends even. But after he moved, you didn’t get a call, text, nothing. It broke your heart, still hung up on him. You stayed in your childhood home, your parents, wanting to travel the world so they left you at home. Which was fine, your college was nearby and everything so all was good. But how the fuck are you gonna avoid Jude if he’s gonna be staying right next door?

Jude exited from the car, approaching his old house. He breathes the fresh, wet air of Britain, and walks up the path. He looks to the neighbours house. He doesn’t see a car in their driveway, assuming they’re away, and he can make as much noise as he likes while playing FIFA. He enters the house, his parents and brother hugging him. “How are you mate?” Jobe hits his shoulder. “I’m good.” Jude laughs. “We can make as much noise as we want, because of the neighbours, yeah?” He smiles. Jobe scratches the back of his head. “They’re gone on holidays, but their daughter still lives there. She’s minding the house and plants.” He says while they walk upstairs to Jude’s old bedroom. “Their daughter? They have a daughter?” Jude says, puzzled. Jobe looks at him weird as he opens the door to his brothers room. “Yeah, do you not remember her? You used to talk all the time!” Jude looks even more confused. A girl? Never heard of her. Never seen her. Maybe he did? He doesn’t know. He doesn’t remember. At all. 

You get a knock on your door while you’re laying on the couch. You try and make yourself presentable and go open the door. Jude’s mom appears and smiles at you. “Hello dear! Would you like to come for dinner? I bet it’s lonely being by yourself, come join us!” She beams. You can’t say no, this woman is so sweet that it looks like it would break her heart if you said no. So you accepted. Have you forgotten Jude was over? Yup. 

You enter the house behind Jude’s mother, and hear the hood of the oven on. “JOBE! JUDE! COME AND GREET OUR GUEST!” She shouts. She smiles politely at you and goes to the kitchen as the boys come downstairs. Oh no. Jude. You see his gorgeous brown eyes and all those years of moving on had disappeared. Your cheeks turn a crimson colour. Jobe greets you first. “Hey! Long time no see!” He hugs you. You hung out with Jobe quite often after Jude left. You both needed company so you guys occasionally watched movies and went to the park and stuff like that. You never found an interest in Jobe. And you knew he didn’t find one in you. Jude approaches you, your hands get clammy and you can feel them starting to sweat. “Hey, I’m Jude. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?” He says, hands shoved in his pockets.

Oh.

Oh.

He didn’t remember you. That’s fine. Totally fine. It’s for the better even. “Hi, I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you, Jude.” You say quietly. “Likewise.” Jude nods and goes to the dining room. You could almost cry in that moment. Staring at the wooden floor planks, the tears scorching hot in your eyes. But now wasn’t the time. You wipe your eyes quickly and made your way to the dining room as well. 

Dinner went smoothly, conversation here and there. At the end, it was time to go. You waved the Bellingham family goodbye, your eyes lingering on Jude. You were about to exit the house when a hand stopped you from doing so. “Hey, wanna hang out sometime?” Jude’s voice being heard from behind you. You look up at him. “Sure.” You smile and exit the house.

Over the past couple of days, you guys hung out. Trips to the park, cinema, having lunch at each other’s, etc. Jude was falling for you. Hard. The ways your eyes glimmered in the sun, your hair always to perfection and your personality so true and honest. One day, while going over to yours, as you guys had dinner reservations, he entered your house. (you texted him that the door was unlocked and he could come in at anytime.) He found you crying on the couch. “Y/N, what’s wrong?” He stood at the doorway connecting your  living room and hallway. 

“Do you not remember me Jude?” You said, more tears falling. You had tried to blow it over the past few days, but him not knowing you when you were friends for such a long time, just made you break down. “What do you mean?” Jude asks. You choke a sob and stand up. “JUDE YOU KNEW ME! WAS I NOTHING TO YOU? YOU DONT REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO GO TO THE PARK AND EVERYTHING? GOD! WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER! YOU’RE PROBABLY GOING TO FORGET ME AGAIN AFTER YOU LEAVE!” You cry out. Jude was confused, upset, puzzled, but mostly upset. “What do you mean, Y/N? I’ve known you for the past couple of days!” He argues. You let out a frustrated sigh. “I CANT BELIEVE YOU!” You scream. “I CANT BELIEVE YOU! YOU COME AND SCREAM AT ME AND FOR WHAT? YOU’RE SAYING NONSENSE!” He shoots back. 

“Leave my house, Jude Bellingham.” You whisper. But he heard it.

“What?” He says, exasperated. 

“Leave. And come back when you remember.” 

You heard his breathing get uneven from the other side of the room. But a few seconds later, you hear footsteps receding and the front door slam shut.

He should remember, you thought to yourself. And then he’ll come��back to the old house.

Pt.2?

[rainswhenyourehere]

also. if someone wants to help. (also btw hibi lore like. the most important part methinks)

how to "keep it casual" with. lets say hypothetically. if you came to a new school in seventh grade. and met a nice guy during swedish class and kinda connected with him immediately and. then you guys are like. best friends in your opinion and you guys hang out allll the time and you kind of have the biggest crush on him and. lets say. like. you love him so fucking much its borderline unhealthy? and like. then he starts sending you flirtatious gifs and texting you so. because youre in love. you send flirtatious gifs back and you guys basically call each other love and sweetheart and everything and !! you guys hold hands and he lets you listen to his music and gives you a plastic ring to match his and gives you gifts and treats and !! holds your hand btw !!!! and nearly asks you to kiss him during a truth or dare game like. implies it strongly . so then you !! decide to ask him hey. what are we. and he goes idk and you guys hve a littl etalk because yay communication !!!!! and hes like. so. i like you . like. thats out there now okay. i like you but i also like this other guy so um. idk so!! because youre in love and would wait like fifty million lifetimes you say okay ill wait for you its okay but then the romantic interactions disappear and its like . because you guys are in a trio right? theres this other guy too. so he starts maybe confiding in the other guy a littl enad you should not feel envious he can do whatever he wants its his life but . you do but youj also dont say anything so like. a year or smth passes idk and he goes. yknow what. tbh. i dont rly like you anymofre?? like i like this other guyu and i think ill always like him and ur kinda heartbroken and shit but you say its fine i was kinda over you anyways. so . that happnes and you stil l love him so fucking much but . you dont say it because youre happy he moved on and . youre probs not worth it anyways its fine and then a ruond a month later while ur eating at lunch hes like. haha can you go away for a while i want to talk abt stuff with person 3 in our trio and youre like. okay sure !!! and then you come back nd . find out he s in love or has a crush or wever on another guy. so . apparently he wouldnt love hte other guy forever but it doesnt rleally matter at least it shouldnt so you drop it its fine . enter grade eight your friend group grows and . theres these classes where you can pick and not everyone goes to the same on e right ??? so . the rest of your friend group goes to the musci class and you go to the . cooking class . which you enjoy btw!!! like!! a lot!!!! and you attend it with another classmate of ur s and boooom youre friends. wow . hooray like. currently youre probably closest to them which is craaaaazy liek. wow. but !! bcs u attned a diff class you get shut out of alll the fun things they do and you dont really feel like you belong and you also kinda feel dsicarded and not important and invisible because !!!! the guy youre in love with yes still kinda hate that !! treats you like air. so. then you ask him whats wrong right before you go on a month long trip on summer vacation without internet access. and when youj come back you find the messag eunread and !! you stressed abt this the whole summer btw. smth smth i dont even want you back i js want to know if ruining my sparkling summer was the goal /lyr ANYWYS. you . jask abt him awgain. on discord and he says that hes changed as a person and his interests have changed and this is fine btw!!! like. you totally understand yep. and then he says that youve beeen like . kinda really annoying recently and sometimes he feels like killing himself while hanging out with you so. that s nice and also !! not being with you has made his mental state like. get better a bunch so "thats just grand".

so. mmm. also by the way this is like. summer vacation after eight grade yeah?? well. just before the seventh grade summer vacation person 3 in ur trio asked you out. and you kinda dated them. even though you ddint really have feeling because they re nice the y treat you well and you had to get over him but then around like . a year later you cant really take it anymore and its not person 3s fault at all theyve been perfetct alllll around like. the most amazing human being ever but. you just cant . you keep choosing him over them and you can see its hurting them and this isnt working nahyways so . a round a yaer later you tell them hey. not your fault i was seeking approval and shit and im like. the jerk ehre but like. thank ou so much and its a whole essay and they go okay its fine but. now youve broken someones heart so . yay you and youre still not over him so . wowww good job.

back to eight grade summer vacation?? you dont really text anyone else except from cooking class friend and person 3 and you dont want to text in the group chat because hes the most active one and you really dont want to intrude his space and . now 9th grade is statrgint in 8 hours and you just saw a message from him . saying asking you to "keep it casual" so the teachers dont come after you guys or something. so . somoene tell me how to keep it casual?? like. do you just stand next to the other guysf rom the friend group?? are you . suposeced to interact with them ???? can you still eat w the guys?????? oh and . 9 th grad eis the most inmportant year academically so i also have to get good grades from everything and actuallly focus on studies so . theres that.

tut on how to keep it casual pls okay love u guys <3

[tinyinvadr]

I’m back with another chapter! Thank you all so much for supporting this fic! It’s cool to know that people like the same stuff as I do, and it motivates me to write more!

Ch. 1/Ch. 2

Hide & Shrink

Chapter 3

I woke up on a plush surface, practically sinking into it. There was a part of me that wanted to still believe my entire experience with the Digital Circus was a dream, but I knew that couldn’t be true.

This wasn’t my bed. Not my real bed, at least. In fact, it didn’t feel like a bed at all, more like a giant pillow.

Right. The last thing that happened before I passed out was when I realized that Caine couldn’t change me back to my normal size. Which meant wherever I was, I was likely still tiny.

I finally opened my eyes, and the bright colors surrounding me were almost blinding. Massive blankets and pillows of every shade stretched as far as I could see.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, the pillows were kind of nice. It reminded me of pillow forts…

Of course. This was Kinger’s pillow fort. That made sense, since he was holding me before I passed out. He probably brought me there so I could rest.

“Oh, Pomni, you’re awake! You really had us scared back there.”

I don’t know how I didn’t notice that Kinger was also in the fort with me right away. Then again, he kind of blended in. His robes almost looked like one of the blankets.

I tried to scoot myself back, but the pillow was too soft and I ended up just sinking into it further.

“Oh, did you need help getting up? I’ve got you!”

Kinger started to reach for me, and I frantically tried to move away faster.

“Nononono! It’s okay! I’m okay!”

He could tell I was panicking and stopped, glancing away in shame.

“Aw, I’m sorry. I must be freaking you out right now. I know I’d be terrified if I was in your place. But there’s nothing to worry about! I won’t grab you again, and it’s perfectly safe in my impenetrable fortress, so we can just wait here until Caine gets this whole thing sorted out.”

Admittedly, I needed the levity, so I gave Kinger a nod of approval and willingly let myself sink into the pillow. I could see why he liked to hide in his fort. It was like a little break room from the overwhelming insanity of the circus.

But it wasn’t as impenetrable as he thought it was.

A pillow on the bottom of the fort suddenly slid out of place, and before either of us could react, a huge assortment of pillows and blankets came crashing down on us.

It was a chain reaction of disaster as Kinger fell onto the pillow I was laying on, and the sudden weight shift sent me flying into the air, only to fall on my face a couple inches away. As I struggled to push myself up, I could hear the voices of the others.

“Jax! What did you do that for?!”

“What? I wanted a pillow.”

“But… Pomni could’ve gotten hurt…”

“These are cartoon physics we’re workin’ with here. She’s fine, look.”

For the third time, I was grabbed without warning and lifted into the air, this time by Jax. The thought of what he might do made me sick. The others at least seemed like they were worried about me, but it was pretty clear that he didn’t care.

In front of me stood Ragatha, Gangle, and Zooble, all looking concerned. Well, at least Ragatha and Gangle. Zooble’s expressions are kind of hard to read.

“She doesn’t look fine…”

“Yeah. I’m sure she LOVES being grabbed like that, Jax. Totally not traumatizing at all.”

Jax simply laughed off their concerns, emoting by moving his hands and arms around a lot in a way that was definitely intentional.

“Hey, come on, you guys, Pomni can speak for herself. If she didn’t like it she’d say something. Isn’t that right, Pom?”

By the time he stopped talking and moving me around, I couldn’t hold back and I threw up. Again.

Jax quickly dropped me and backed up in disgust.

“Ew. Somebody call Bubble.”

Right as he said that, Bubble appeared in front of me, way too close for comfort.

“Cleanup crew at your service!”

I backed up as he started licking up the vomit just as he did the day before. He’s really a freaky little thing. Though he didn’t look so little from my perspective.

Caine appeared shortly afterward, shaking his head(?) at Bubble, but then shifted his attention to me.

“Goodness gracious! You sure are prone to getting sick, aren’t you? Do you need anything? Want me to carry you to your room?”

The last thing I wanted was to be picked up again, so I queasily backed up in protest.

“No, no, it’s fine, I can get there by myself.”

Just as I regained my balance enough to start walking away, Jax walked in front of me, nearly stepping on me.

“You sure about that, shorty?”

Ragatha glared at him again as she made her way over to Caine.

“Anyway, Caine, have you made any progress on finding a way to fix Pomni?”

“Nope! Still working on it! But don’t worry, I’m sure a solution will come to me soon! After all, this is the digital world, and anything is possible!”

Zooble scoffed. “Yeah. Anything except leaving.”

“That’s the spirit, Zooble! Now then, Pomni, I leave the choice up to you if you want any of us to escort you to your room, or anywhere else you might like to go!”

I really would have preferred to be alone, but that wasn’t an option on the off chance that Jax decided to try anything else. I needed someone I could trust. I needed the one person I’d been avoiding.

Keeping my eyes glued to the ground, I approached Ragatha.

“Um… Ragatha? Can I go with you?”

She didn’t say a word, and kneeled down in front of me, her hands resting on the floor. I looked up to meet her eyes, and she gave a reassuring smile as if to say that this would all be on my own terms, and she wasn’t going to grab me.

I was still hesitant to even get near her, but she had a calm patience that the others didn’t. It was like she was willing to wait there for as long as it took until I was ready. In each passing moment I could feel my nerves ease just a little bit more, and finally, I took the first step onto her hand.

Due to her being a rag doll, Ragatha’s hands didn’t feel much different from the pillow I was sitting on earlier. I sat myself down, continuing to look up at her as she watched and waited.

“You okay?” She asked, her voice soft and warm. I simply nodded, and she continued to smile and wait. “Just let me know when you’re ready for me to stand up.”

I gave her another nod of approval, and she slowly stood up, holding me close to her for support, but not too tight to where I felt trapped. As she lifted me up, I could see the others looking on in surprise at how calm I seemed.

“Alright guys, I’ll be back in a bit.” Ragatha said as she turned to walk down the hallways where everyone’s rooms were.

As soon as we were far enough away from the group, I finally worked up the courage to speak again.

“I… thank you…”

She let out a content sigh as she continued walking.

“Hey, I’ve got your back.”

[pensat-i-fet]

Chats and cuddles (Rúben Dias x Reader)

**I got a request for some cute, clingy boyfriend Rúben and then was totally inspired by my favourite model and WAG posting on IG about visiting her boyfriend who plays in the MLS. Thanks, Luna 😅 and to everyone else, enjoy! ❤️**

Word count: 1325

Masterlist

Wattpad

"I'm off to training".

"Ok, babe. I'll finish packing and then I'll wait for you. Do you want to do something special today? Or do you want me to pick up some food for lunch or something?"

Rúben turned to look at you and you could only laugh at the pout on his face.

"I want you to stay. Can you do that?"

"I wish. But I have to travel to Paris for work tomorrow. You know that. And it'll be only 3 days this time. It's a quick campaign shoot".

"One day I'll move the entire fashion industry to Manchester and you won't have to abandon me anymore".

"One day", you responded, laughing at your boyfriend's words.

He sighed, picking up his bag and coming back to give you another hug. Separating because of your job was getting more and more complicated. He was usually only away for a day or two. But you could be gone for weeks.

"Let's just stay home. We can watch a movie and cuddle. And eat and cuddle. And talk and…".

"Cuddle?"

"How did you guess?", he asks, hugging you tightly while you still laugh.

"My sixth sense".

When he left, you started to make sure you had everything you needed for these days away in the French capital. That obviously included stealing one of Rúben's hoodies so you could wear it while on the plane. Which one should you get this time?

Once everything was ready and you could relax, it was time for lunch. But Rúben wasn’t back yet even though he was supposed to have finished training over an hour ago.

“I know I’m late, sorry”, he said when he picked up the phone.

“It’s fine. I just wondered where you were. Everything ok?”

“We had extra training. Pep didn’t like anything we were doing today”.

“Poor you. Come back so we can enjoy those cuddles”.

"On my way!"

Since you now had more time to get lunch ready, you decided to prepare something a bit more exciting than a boring sandwich.

By the time you were putting everything on the plates, you heard the door opening and a bag falling to the floor.

"Hi! Where are you?"

"Kitchen!"

Before you could turn after hearing footsteps getting closer, you already felt strong arms wrapped around your waist. You knew tired boyfriend Rúben was very clingy and secretly loved it when he was like this. You loved spoiling him.

"Hungry?"

"I guess", he said, putting his head on your shoulder and sighing. "You smell so good".

"Thanks. I showered today".

You had to drag him with you around the kitchen while getting the glasses and cutlery to set the table.

"What movie should we watch?"

“I’ll fall asleep the moment it starts so whatever you want”.

That made you laugh. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened.

“Then we can nap. I could use the sleep too. I’ll be working long hours the next few days”.

And so that’s what you did. Putting all the stuff away in the dishwasher and getting ready for a little nap once you were done eating. You didn’t mind getting into bed wearing the t-shirt and leggings you had been wearing around the house. But Rúben, of course, had to take his shirt off before collapsing on the bed.

You had to laugh at how dramatic he was. But also wanted to spoil him some more, especially knowing you’ll be away from each other for a couple of days. So you sat on his lower back, startling him slightly.

“What are you doing?”

“Shhh”, you said, starting to massage his shoulders. He was so tense.

“That’s better than the nap, yeah”.

You laughed and continued to massage his shoulders, moving a little lower, trying to find all the little areas that felt like they needed some help. Honestly, you could spend hours doing that. It was relaxing for Rúben but also for you.

After a little while, Rúben took your hands to stop you and you looked down at his face.

“That’s enough, thank you. Let’s take that nap”.

So you moved to lay down next to him and he brought you closer to him.

“I’ll return the favour when you come back from Paris”, he promised.

And you smiled, closing your eyes and thinking about that. Travelling so much was tiring, but knowing you were going to come back home to Rúben spoiling you made everything so much easier.

The nap only lasted a couple of hours and then you suggested to go watch the movie before ordering some dinner. By the time you went back to the living room, after getting changed, Rúben had everything ready.

“How many blankets do we need?”

“It’s cosy movie night. We need them to be cosy”.

You shook your head, heading to the kitchen. “I’ll get the snacks”.

Bowl of sweets in hand, you sat down on the sofa, allowing Rúben to cover you with one of the blankets before moving you so you were as close to him as possible.

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

“What?”, Rúben’s question almost made you choke on the M&M’s you were eating.

“You always say modelling is a short career. And football isn’t that long either. I don’t know, sometimes I think about that”.

“Yeah…I guess I do have a few ideas but I don’t know for sure. I’m just making the most of my career now. I don’t even know if I want to work in the fashion industry for long so…”, you shrugged. “And there is also you as a factor”.

“In which way?”

“Well, you are here now but might not finish your career in England. And for you, it’s easy because you can just play but if we had kids, that’s months of non-work for me…”.

“Sorry, I stopped listening after the word kids”, he said, making you look at him.

You had mentioned marriage and children a few times, vaguely. But it always made you smile to see Rúben looking so happy when mentioning those topics.

The way he looked at you made you turn your body so you could hug him tighter. It wasn’t just him that was clingy on days like today.

“Well, there is work for pregnant models but then the babies are born and they have to be looked after so…you know. It’s something to keep in mind”.

"Our kids will have to look like you".

"Why?"

"You're the model. The pretty one", he said, kissing your nose.

"Yes, you're such an unpleasant sight", you laughed.

"We can guess they'll be tall at least".

"Basketball players".

"Whatever", he rolled his eyes. You loved basketball better than football and always annoyed him with that.

“One can play football and the other one basketball then, so there is no fighting”.

“What if they want to model?”

“I rather they don’t. This industry is savage”.

“You could guide them”.

“I guess…”.

“Well, we’ll worry about that when that time comes. I just like knowing that it's something we both want in our future”.

“Yeah, should we watch the movie now? We don’t want to be here until too late or you’ll fall asleep again and the sofa will undo all the work my massage did”.

“Let’s watch it”, he said, kissing your head and moving you so you could be his little spoon.

The movie you picked was a comedy. You wanted something light for this cosy evening together and you loved laughing at all the silly jokes.

Rúben was laughing too but then he stopped and you just assumed he didn’t find them funny. Your sense of humour was quite different. But then you heard some light snoring and when you looked at him you saw he had fallen asleep…again.

"I guess we'll stay here then".

Another night spent sleeping on the sofa. At least you wouldn't be cold with all these blankets.

[froizetta]

WIP Wednesday: Procrastination Edition

I told myself I'd work on (Love) Triangles this week, but instead I decided to impulsively write most of a borderline-crack superbatlantern fic. I guess that's just where my life is right now.

Excerpt below from the first scene, in which Hal and friends discuss their suspicion that Superman and Batman are fucking. (NB: It's just Hal, no-one else really believes this. (He's totally right though.))

“So what is up with them? They having another fight or something?”

“A ‘strategic disagreement’, Batman would probably say,” Barry said. “But yeah. A big fight, about plans for the upcoming mission. Superman was doing the whole paternalistic disapproval thing where he was really mad but trying not to act like it. And Batman was being all snarly and growly and throwing insults at him. It was, uh. A little more vicious than normal, maybe.”

“Yeah,” Hal agreed. “And they kind of looked like they wanted to kiss the whole time.”

Barry turned to him, mouth agape. “Dude.”

“What! I just say it like I see it! Is that so wrong?”

“You keep bringing it up! Why are you so obsessed with this?”

“I’m not obsessed,” he corrected with a frown. “Like sure, it’d be hot and all—” at this Barry made a face of mild revulsion “—but it’s not about what I want. I just don’t get how you don’t see it.” He looked consideringly between Ollie and Barry. “Maybe it’s just straight guys being oblivious? Dinah gets it.”

Barry, for reasons Hal couldn’t parse, looked deeply offended by this. Dinah just shrugged. “I mean, I guess I see it, yeah. Although maybe I’m biased? Bruce’s yelling-at-Superman voice sounds a lot like his sex voice.”

“Oh my god,” said Hal, delighted, just as Barry said the same thing with a tinge of horror. Which Hal didn’t get at all; this was fucking gold.

“I keep forgetting you actually slept with Spooky,” Hal went on, leaning forward conspiratorially. “What was it like? Let me guess: weird and intense, like everything else he does? Ooh! Did he try to suck your blood at any point, or is that something he saves for the fainting damsels he takes to his castle?”

She smiled. “Sorry, Hal. I can’t tell you or Ollie will get weird about it.”

“It’s fine, pretty bird,” said Ollie, “tell them whatever you like! As long as you also tell me later. Privately.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

She jerked a thumb towards him. “See? Weird.”

“Aw, c’mon, Di! Look I’ll give you my cell number so you can just text it to me later. Ollie doesn’t have to know.”

“I definitely have to know,” Ollie corrected, eyebrows still waggling.

At that, Barry, who’d been looking increasingly uncomfortable throughout the whole conversation, finally snapped. “Ugh. What are we even talking about right now? Can we just move on, please?”

“Oh shit, Bar,” Hal said, “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting you’re a prude.”

“Jesus, Hal— It’s not prudish to not want to talk about our coworkers’ sex lives! Coworkers I respect. If anything, you guys are way too comfortable with it.”

Hal leaned back in his chair and shrugged. “I mean at this point, it’s not about the sex stuff for me so much as it’s a point of pride. They’re just so obviously horny for each other. I feel like everyone except Dinah is gaslighting me.”

“We’ve been over this, Hal,” Barry said tiredly. “People disagreeing with you isn’t gaslighting.”

“Whatever. Point is, I can’t move on with my life until I know for sure if I’m right or not.”

“You could, though, is the thing,” Barry said, now with an edge of desperation. “You could definitely move on. You could move on so easily.”

Ollie was watching this exchange with amusement. “So what, Hal, you wanna bet on it or something? Because I’d take those odds in a heartbeat.”

Hal snapped his fingers and threw him a triumphant grin. “Now you mention it? Yeah. A bet sounds like a great idea. You always have such great ideas. Have I ever told you you’re my favorite?”

Ollie grinned back. “Not often enough, I think.”

Dinah looked between them, frowning. “And how the hell are you ever gonna settle this either way? You’re gonna sneak up on Superman and Batman and catch them in the act? You?”

“What are you doubting me for?” Hal said, rising to his feet. “I’m the motherfucking Green Lantern. I’ll figure something out.” He held out his hand. “You’re on, Ollie. Fifty bucks says they’re doing the nasty on the reg.”

“Fifty?! That’s chump change. How about 500?”

Hal, who had $150 in his bank account last he checked, shrugged. “You can pay me that if I win, if that’s more interesting for you. But I’m still only paying you fifty if you win. We can’t all be billionaires.”

“Fine! Fifty,” Ollie said and clasped his hand in a firm handshake. “Actually, you know what? If it turns out they’re making out right now, I’ll actually give you that full 500 for free. How’s that?”

“This is so deeply inappropriate,” Barry muttered.

[faraway-sunshine]

What about the split in half one? That one looks most like you, I think

Meet Whoever's Inside My Head #2: Sunny Omori (Myself)

Once again, bulk of info under the cut.

You can address me as: Just Sunny and He/Him's fine. Calling me Omori might trigger something, I'm not sure.

(Saturday 16th September, 2000, 11:39 PM)

(Yeah, I stayed up all evening figuring this stuff out)

Until recently, I would have made this a separate page.

Omori was my most prominent other self. After Mari died, I escaped from reality via dreaming and sleep, and when I was awake often these dream elements were carried with me to the waking world. But every time I managed to escape for a while, I'd remember and it'd all come crashing down again.

Remembering a memory when I sat at Mari's piano, a uniquely crafted model the maker called an "Omori", I adopted that name when I felt myself kind of form another version of me. One twelve years old from a few days before Mari died, who played with his friends and existed in a vacuum, who only ever existed in this faraway alternate world with no parents or rules or school or music lessons or anything. One who was, for the most part, oblivious.

But Omori grew curious, as I, Sunny, faced the reality of moving. I think maybe Omori realized so many times before, but either I managed to get rid of his memories or he did so to himself. For all I know each wipe could have been a brand-new Omori. I also felt two extra pieces break off Omori after a time, one protecting us, the other a punisher of sorts.

As I developed and started facing fears and reconnecting with friends, this bled into Omori's world. At the end of it all, when for the first time I decided not to let myself fall back into unknowing and when I saved Basil, I had no need for this sort of escapism. I thought maybe Omori would vanish or die, that the vicious scramble in my head was for his own self.

But that didn't happen. Instead, Omori's presence changed. I could tell which "memories", which emotions and thoughts and likes and dislikes that I felt unified on or weren't coming from me or any other distinct voice. And I never really felt Omori either go away or take charge. I don't know if this is the right terminology, but I think maybe Omori and I merged? Became one person? I'm not sure. But it's a nice thought, really, that after years of separation and infighting that we're both starting to properly live.

Having said that, there's a lot more me than there's Omori, as Omori largely thrived on distance and neutrality and drifting by and also kept himself very guarded. That doesn't make Omori any less important or deserving of nice things, though.

Although we both have overlap, Omori is more left-brained, focused on logic and facts and straightforward ways of getting through things, while Sunny is more right-brained. We can play off each other pretty nicely. And although I (Sunny) never feel Omori take total control anymore, sometimes he lets me zone out while taking control of a tedious chore or boring conversation so I don't have to think about it.

The parts of me that feel more like Omori aren't interested in deep conversations. Or blog passages. But there's a bit of Omori in everything I do now.

Design

I tend to think of Omori and I as like a yin-yang symbol, so the black and white is paramount. Splitting down the middle was more of an introductory thing; visually I see us as kind of the same person wearing one outfit rather than half of two. However, I do imagine myself being a bit lopsided, as Omori did not really age in any way and when Omori totally fronted he completely believed we looked as we did when we were 12. And for the white in our eyes, I tend to draw only a little bit in one eye and a larger bit in the other, as when Omori was almost always confined to my lucid dreams I tended to think of him as having lightless eyes and I think it's a nice visual metaphor for getting used to the sunlight.

[tadpolesonalgae]

‘I imagine hopping from angsty cbmthy to smut riddled basically-everything-else might be a bit surprising at first 😭’

I for one am a very happy camper of angst and smut🤫 especially when they’re so well written like yours are!🌸

‘And it’s not like anyone other than Mor might have any reason to go to the Winter Court so it’s like he’ll be completely out of reach once he’s gone!’

And we all know reader has a wonderful relationship with Mor HA HA…ha…(laughing in pain🫠) WKJDJWJD BUT TRULY I WILL MISS BAS WHILE HES GONE🤧 he was in so many ways…kind of a consistent light in reader’s life. I can’t imagine the kind of guilt and sadness she has, believing that she’s gone and ruined another good thing (even if she’s really just being WAY too hard on herself most times🤧🤧)

‘do you think anyone might spot a single empty chair and pause? Or pass a pair of gloves and remember sensitivity in their fingertips? After six months has passed, I mean’

*GASP* TABBY STOP, TOO REAL🤧 (AND I LOVE THIS STORY AND YOU FOR THAT BUT- AHHHHH)

The amount of thoughts that would pass through their minds. I’m sure they’d be constantly thinking of all the ‘maybe’s, and ‘what if’s. I can just feel the guilt and longing radiating off that

‘If reader could accept that offering I think things could be very happy though’

I hope she can be happy with the outcome!! It would really show her that they pay so much attention to her! Even though…I think she’d probably feel some more distress over the fact that all those gifts they gave her are still gone…🫠 BUT HEY MAYBE ITLL PUSH HER TO ACTUALLY PUT THE STUFF THEY BUY HER NOW TO USE!

‘Yes! Yes! Finally! I’ll shower you in metaphorical flowers!! Thank you!! I promise it’ll get better, just stick with me and everything will be fine!! ‘

I am totally in this for the long haul🫡 in Tabby and Az I trust

‘I think it’s very funny that they keep meeting, and trying to have a normal conversation and just,,,failing,,,consistently 🤭’

(SOMEONE TAKE THEM BACK TO THAT LITTLE SIDE SHOP)

*me finally getting the chance to send in a reply but already read Chapter 23 knowing Az and reader bout to have many more failed attempts incoming*

‘To be fair, in that moment Azriel thought that reader was accusing him of sexually taking advantage of her which is why he opposed her in a way that was kind of embarrassing for her, when reader was actually talking about Azriel using her to get a read on Elain (which yay, reader’s keeping that in mind now!!)’

That’s almost where I’m sad Azriel thought that’s what she meant. I understand it! Buuuut, she also made it really clear when she confronted him the first time in the library, that she didn’t/doesn’t like that he only comes to her when he wants to know something about Elain. And sure maybe that’s cause he was so focused on showing he doesn’t reciprocate but honestly…there are definitely better ways to tell/show someone you aren’t interested🤧

But to be fair, maybe that’s just how I see it. Honestly I’m someone who has gone through what reader went through with the lack of reciprocity in like- every “close” relationship I’ve ever had💀 Not a cool move on Az’s part to only seek her out when it aligns with his interests. Anyone would feel hurt and used

‘I’m not going to elaborate on this part because it will be expanded upon later in the series and I don’t want to spoil anything, but yeah. It was fun to write those two paragraphs from Az’s perspective 🥲’

I can tell you had fun with that!! It surprised me that we got any Az POV in Chapter 22 BUT WOW- IT ADDED SO MUCH TO IT (I have reread it so many times, that and the scar..bonding(?) talk)

AHHHH I can’t wait for the next parts! I’m dying to know what Az means. I’m really wondering just how “bad” his hidden thoughts or opinions are for him to choose to watch her rive in pain and panic than to be honest. I suspect that it’s his own view of himself stopping him from being accepting of her. But who knows! (You do…go ahead and call me a fool Tabby😔)

‘since Reader was obviously raised human, and time alone with a man + TOUCHING??? = Marriage. Horse and carriage. COURTING. (I’m being hyperbolic 😶)’

‘Like him touching the spot atop her heart?? Much more intimate than a one night stand where it would only be physical nakedness 😭’

I totally get it!! Screw the sex am I right?!

Truly I think reader had felt and seen Azriel’s true nature and fell in love with him. The REAL him, not this cold act (seemingly) that he puts on.

I’m going to be trying to send in messages whenever I can now! I just really want to show my appreciation for you and your amazing works!! Hopefully you’ve been doing okay and taking care of yourself! Until the next message!!

(P.S. I’m hoping the 🌸 emote hasn’t been taken👁️👁️ but I also feel like I’ve seen it🫠)

'I WILL MISS BAS WHILE HES GONE🤧 he was in so many ways…kind of a consistent light in reader’s life.'

I'm going to miss him too honestly. He completely started out as a filler character but he just ended up kind of sticking with reader throughout the series so far so it's really strange that we're seeing him off? And I agree with you that despite their slightly unusual dynamic (unusual for reader, that is) Bas was there for her in the beginning so I imagine she'll have a lot of feelings she won't really know what to do with once he's left the Night Court :/

'I can just feel the guilt and longing radiating off that'

I'm hoping to write some other little parts where thoughts like that kind of begin to pass through some of the sister's minds? Because yes it's a loss for reader but her sisters are the ones who'll have to potentially deal with life on their own after the six months? Theoretically?

'(SOMEONE TAKE THEM BACK TO THAT LITTLE SIDE SHOP)'

Okay, funny note about that scene: It was going to happen anyway at some point in the story but I hadn't decided when? And then I suddenly thought that if reader and Azriel's relationship only started improving once he knew she's been given six months to live I would probably have to write reader as worrying that he was only being nice to her to make her last few months nice and that it wasn't actually sincere? So that's why I decided to write that scene when I did, so reader can remember her and Az have had a good exchange before he knew anything about her limited time!

'*me finally getting the chance to send in a reply but already read Chapter 23 knowing Az and reader bout to have many more failed attempts incoming*'

I don't know what could have possibly given you the idea that reader and Az being basically completely alone for two weeks together could lead to anything remotely bad

I think looking at how chapter 24 is coming along her and Az will have their trip up northeast to collect weaponry and get reader fitted for some leather armour and then they'll be heading briefly back through Velaris before going off on their exciting adventure!!!

'That’s almost where I’m sad Azriel thought that’s what she meant.'

Well don't you worry there are going to be plenty more moments of those two misunderstanding one another 🤦

I also think that fundamentally with the kind of people they are/the vastly different lives they’ve lived, there are going to be quite a few sections where their differences come out? I think in particular reader experiences a much stronger romantic/emotional attraction to Azriel than a sexual one? I haven't really decided if that's down to her upbringing or whether that's just the type of person she is, but I imagine Azriel potentially thinking of her affection/misunderstanding her tenderness for him as lust-fuelled would probably be a blow to her self-esteem 😭

'AHHHH I can’t wait for the next parts! I’m dying to know what Az means. I’m really wondering just how “bad” his hidden thoughts or opinions are for him to choose to watch her rive in pain and panic than to be honest. I suspect that it’s his own view of himself stopping him from being accepting of her. But who knows! (You do…go ahead and call me a fool Tabby😔)'

Thank you so much for anticipating the next parts because I'm convinced I feed off your enthusiasm to write :')

Don't get me wrong I'm really excited to write the rest of cbmthy, but with the type of series it is, it can be very draining in parts? If that makes sense? So whenever I know I'm going to have to write a scene or section that's a little more angst-heavy/angst-centred, it really helps to hear that someone is looking forward to reading more, so thank you 🧡💛

Though I'm not yet sure how in-depth I'll go into Azriel's mindset? I don't want to go so far in that we theoretically have a complete understanding of who he is because point blank I don't think I'm anywhere near capable enough to write him as complex as I would like to, but also because I very much enjoy leaving certain elements up to your/my interpretation? I like there to be wiggle room so writing too much from Az's perspective is something I'm wary of? I’ll likely just keep it to a few paragraphs every now and again, but we'll see how things go!

'Truly I think reader had felt and seen Azriel’s true nature and fell in love with him.'

Yes, that's what I'm going for! It's just that since the story starts from when Azriel becomes more detached towards her, as the reader readers we haven't gotten to see Az how Reader saw him while she was falling in love with him - it's going to be fun writing the warmer sides of him eventually emerging again after hibernation! Or when they occasionally pop up and how reader reacts to them if/when she notices a shift in his behaviour!

'I’m going to be trying to send in messages whenever I can now! I just really want to show my appreciation for you and your amazing works!! Hopefully you’ve been doing okay and taking care of yourself! Until the next message!!'

I'd love to hear your thoughts yes whenever ch. 24 comes out!! I'm sorry though that I've taken such a long time to respond to you and I hope it hasn't totally put you off from writing in 😭 My life's pretty busy at the moment so I'm not getting as much time to do fanfiction-y things which is why there's been a delay :')

'(P.S. I’m hoping the 🌸 emote hasn’t been taken👁️👁️ but I also feel like I’ve seen it🫠)'

Oooh, I think I've seen it around in messages but I don't think I've seen anyone use it as a sign-off emoji, so you should be good to go!! I hope to hear from you again!! 🧡💛

[cerealmonster15]

listen people can have their differing opinions that’s cool I just Personally Feel Like it’s just so mean to be yelling that feedback such as likes on posts and a kudos on fics are “useless”. What do u mean. Why. are ppl not expressing their feelings in a way that makes them comfortable ? ?

Like I Understand i guess in the sense of you don’t get to hear peoples opinions. I also feel kinda lonely and stuff when it’s quiet feedback but calling anything useless sounds so WEIRD to me ??? What is the goal. And also yea they do something still I’m pretty sure????

Take ao3. Isn’t sort by kudos an option on there? If your goal is to be seen more or whatever then if people are looking for high kudos fics, then people giving ur fic a kudos isn’t useless yeah??

And then tumblr. People keep saying “likes do nothing here there’s no algorithm” or whatever but that’s not really fully true. On your standard dashboard, sure, likes “don’t do anything” to move a post around on there. BUT that’s not the only place people find posts. If u are looking in the tags for posts, im p sure the default is to sort by popular posts. That’s, as far as I understand, a TOTAL NOTES count. Likes are included. Likes help ur posts her higher in that “popular” zone. I have several posts that have ended up in there in some small ship tags BECAUSE of all the likes, which does still have people seeing those posts now and then when they’re in the tag.

AND I’m pretty sure it’s a similar mechanic for the for you page. I’m sure we think people don’t use that feature but I’m pretty sure people do/ maybe new users. This is more of a theory on my part lol buttttt. I’ve noticed a few rare times where I’ve made an addition to a reblog on someone else’s post, there will be a stretch of time sometimes where random people that Do Not Follow Me keep liking/reblogging the post via my addition. WAY more times for it to just be a stray person wanting it from my addition without comments under (and I don’t think people do that when they’re only liking the post lol). And the few times I’ve accidentally had my for you tab on, I believe it does show via other people’s reblogs lol. So that’s just my way of saying total note count INCLUDING LIKES probably does put posts in peoples eyes on the for you tab / my experience tells me people do use that feature so it’s not just sitting there dusty lol.

Anyway I like mostly understand why people want reblogs and comments, like I do prefer them too bc I like when people tell me what they r thinking (however sometimes people do not add their thoughts in the tags either and that is just how it is!). And I also understand some people maybe just don’t know that others like that kind of feedback and need to hear it first to feel encouraged. I think I just personally do not like the tone that a lot of posts have when they talk about it. When ur calling likes useless bc idk it’s not the right kind of feedback u wanted so it’s inferior ?? 😭😭😭 I also feel like that intense vibe like, idk if this makes sense or if other people felt it too, but it negatively shifted my own perception too? Like. I thought likes were fine. But now with how intense people are about them and not meant if likes bc they just don’t count in ur eyes, now when people like instead of reblogging, I just think of all those posts and I’m like “hmm ok is my post bad did I make a bad post bc everyone says the likes aren’t good so if I’m getting likes I made A Bad Post. It’s Pity Feedback” <- which is SO unhealthy and also tbh has a lot more to do with my own issues that are just getting influenced here so it’s not all on those posts lol. I just Also Have Extra Issues 🫡

Ok jeeze I don’t wanna sound soap boxy tho so I’m NOT letting people rb this aJsndjfcjfjfjcjfj and ppl can absolutely have different feelings and opinions about the situation it’s fine. this is just. how I feel ✌️