#i have so many OTPs how painful

[ducksido]

I just read your famous reader x idia in the bikini photoshoot and that was FIRE

I really love the idea of Idia with a famous reader so may i suggest famous reader who is a very popular singer, so much they get a role in a movie (a musical) were they and Vil act as the main characters. They share an absolutely iconic duo song and after the movie is released ppl just go crazy about readers and Vils chemistry while acting and singing. They are actually just very good friends but nothing else ofc since reader is with Idia but the public doesn’t know that reader is in a relationship

Idias reaction to the whole internet shipping his partner with one of his former classmates, just JEALOUS IDIA KQOFBIQWNDGU (fem or neutral reader, and thank you for your time 😔)

Idia had never seen this many hashtags in his life. And that was saying something for a guy whose entire For You Page was algorithmically curated to show 98% anime clips and 2% cat videos.

But now?

#VilxY/N #V/N #SwanSongSoulmates #TheirChemistryThough It was inescapable.

“Ughhghgghhh…” he groaned, faceplanting into his limited edition RFA pillow. “What kind of sadist coded the algorithm today?!”

Your name was trending again. Not unusual. You were always trending lately. Your voice alone could shut down the internet. But this time, it wasn’t your latest single, or your runway appearance, or even the viral video of you teaching Ortho how to Dougie.

No.

It was the movie. The movie. The romantic musical masterpiece you starred in. With Vil. Two gorgeous leads. One fire duet. And now the world was foaming at the mouth with their OTP delusions.

He was trying to ignore it—he really was! But every scroll brought up another edit, another post, another cursed caption:

“WHEN HE SPUN HER AND SHE HIT THAT HIGH NOTE??? GET MARRIED???” “Vil looking at them like they hung the moon... Idia who??” “No but imagine the musical s*** scene they cut out 👀🔥”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN S*** SCENE?!” Idia shrieked, nearly knocking over his gaming chair as he bolted upright. “THERE WAS A S*** SCENE?! THEY FILMED A SEX SCENE?! I’M GONNA BLACKOUT—”

“Brother,” Ortho peeked in calmly, holding a tray with cocoa, “you’re at a ten. Let’s try to bring it to, say… a six.”

Idia grabbed the cocoa with a tremble. “I’m fine. I’m chill. I’m—I’m going to throw up. Why didn’t they say they were going to have chemistry?! They’ve got enough charisma to flatten an entire fanbase!!”

And to make matters worse?

You hadn’t told the public you were dating. You wanted your privacy. He respected that. Really, he did.

But that meant the entire world thought you and Vil were star-crossed lovers plucked straight from the screen, and he—your actual boyfriend—was in the background like some glitchy NPC with emotional attachment issues.

It drove him insane.

Later that night, you strolled into his room, still glowing from the movie premiere, cheeks pink from fan praise. “Hey, babe,” you smiled, plopping onto his bed. “You okay?”

Idia gave you a look. A pained, dramatic, cursed look.

“You and Vil trended for six hours straight,” he said. “I think the internet proposed on our behalf.”

You blinked, then snorted. “You saw that, huh.”

“Oh I saw it,” he grumbled, pulling a hoodie over his head like a turtle. “Did you see the fanfic where Vil and you got married on stage after singing a love confession at the Tonys? Because I did.”

You leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You jealous?”

His hair flared magenta in an instant. “Wha—ME? No! What?! Pffft—That’s—Jealousy is a basic human emotion and I’m clearly more evolved—”

“I’m your duet partner in real life, you know.” You kissed his neck this time, slowly. “I like singing in your key the best.”

His mouth opened. Closed. He turned into a blubbering mess.

“You can’t just say that! I’ll short-circuit—”

“Sing with me then, Mr. Shroud,” you teased. “And remind me who I actually belong to.”

Idia.exe stopped working.

Vil may have been the co-star. But you? You always saved your best performances for him.

[wonhes]

☕︎ CHOCOLATE ABUELITA

SYNOPSIS: reader burns their tongue and anton is quick on his feet! got this idea from a silly lil otp prompt generator 😼

PAIRING: anton x reader

GENRE: fluff (crowd cheers!!!!!)

WARNINGS: kissing, make out session is implied and mm maybe cringey ... ?

☕︎ DECEMBER 1ST, 2024 8:38 PM

smiling to yourself, you bring a shiny gold ornament and place it on your christmas tree. taking a step back, you proudly look at the lit up tree.

"perfect," you mumble to yourself as nod in admiration at you and your boyfriend's creation. "oh wait!" you say, wide eyed as you turn back towards your couch, where you had previously placed all the christmas decorations.

giggling, you spot the missing ornament and dangle it in the air. you couldn't help but smile softly while continuing to stare at it. "how could i forget you?" you whisper to yourself as you delicately caress your thumb over the picture the ornament held.

you had first shown the picture frame ornament to anton as a “joke” weeks ago. you had decided to print out your very first couple photo and place it on the ornament. despite how awkward you two looked and the shy smiles you two gave the camera, you loved it. you just had to print it out.

"baby, no!" anton groans as he walks out the kitchen with two mugs in his hands. placing the mugs on the coffee table, anton tries to take away the ornament away from you. chuckling at his actions, you shake your head at him while moving the ornament away from him.

"no, please! I love it," you plead out to your boyfriend. playfully rolling his eyes at you, he lets out a small sigh. smiling at him, you get on your tippy toes and place a kiss on his cheek. with redden cheeks, anton clears his throat as he nods at you, silently giving you permission to add it to the christmas tree.

"out of all pictures though?" your boyfriend mumbles. "we have so many more and better ones!" anton dramatically adds as he watches you in disbelief.

"it's my favorite one," you turn back to offer him a smile. chuckling at your words, anton shakes his head at you and slightly bends down to grab the mugs filled with hot chocolate. looking at you, anton offers you one before taking your other hand and leading you to sit on the couch with him.

"it looks so pretty right?" you ask in awe as you stare at the lit up christmas tree.

"i think you’re prettier," anton instantly responds back. slightly taken back by his comment, you bring your mug to your lips and take a big sip to try and regulate your rapid beating heart.

"be careful!" your boyfriend quickly yells out as he watches you bring the mug to your mouth. ".. it's hot," he finishes off but it's too late. immediately shutting your eyes from the pain, you blindly place the mug back on the coffee table. following your actions, anton gently places his mug on the table as he sits up.

scooting closer to you, anton brings his palms and softly places them on your cheeks. at the sudden contact, you open your eyes while you continue to have your tongue sticking out. moving forward, your boyfriend gently gives your tongue a peck before swiftly leaning back.

"better?" he asks with concern written all over his eyes. speechless, you continue to stare back at him. at the lack of response, anton feels his cheeks redden from embarrassment and from the sudden realization of what what he did. shaking his head, he brings a hand to scratch the back of his neck. "sorry i-"

suddenly gasping, you bring a hand to cover your mouth as you look at your now wide eyed boyfriend. "my hero!"

"you cured me!" you add causing anton's cheeks to grow a darker shade of red. "— actually, it still kinda hurts," you pout out as you place your arms around his neck to bring him near you. "can you kiss it better again?"

laughing at your words, anton quickly nods at you. placing his thumb under your chin, he gently places his lips against your own for a brief second. "better?"

"no, more." you instantly respond as you close to gap between you two, earning an even louder laugh from anton.

[writing-for-life]

Lupē

Finally, finally I manage a Calliope/Morpheus fic (the Sandman Rarepair Fest had to come along to kick me into gear). It’s just a short vignette, but I hope I did them justice because they will always be the OTP to me. The prompt is Hurt/Comfort.

You can read on Ao3 or here. And no matter where you read, your kudos, comments, shares and reblogs are so appreciated and help writers to get their stuff discovered 🖤

Lupē (616 words) by Writing-for-Life Chapters: 1/1 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Calliope/Dream of the Endless | Morpheus, Calliope/Dream of the Endless, Calliope & Dream of the Endless | Morpheus Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Reconciliation, Past Relationship(s), Rare Pairings, Canon Compliant, During Canon, Canon Related, Canon Rewrite Summary:

Calliope had wept for him so many times, and she felt the tight grip of grief resurfacing. She had mourned the laughter that would never echo through these halls again, the stories of his father he would never pass on to children of his own, the promise of a future shattered. […] And she was tired of mourning, of a grief that felt like it was hers alone to bear.

Lupē

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow upon the twisted spires of the castle. She had not returned here since that fateful day.

The Gatekeepers stood before her, eyes like onyx reflecting the aeons they had witnessed. Last time, they had been impassive, their voices cold as they denied her entry.

But tonight, something had changed: They recognised her.

"Calliope," the wyvern’s voice echoed through the mist. "You seek the Lord of Dreams."

She nodded, and her throat felt so tight she could barely swallow. "I come to speak to him."

Calliope's fingers trembled. She remembered the bitter words they had exchanged—the accusations, the tears. Later, Oneiros had been unyielding, her attempts to speak to him ignored. She was not even sure what would have happened had he acted differently then; the thought of bringing forth an apology entered her mind and was as quickly dismissed. She felt her hands ball into fists, bitterness resurfacing.

No, this is not the time.

The guardians exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. "Why are you here, muse?" the hippogriff asked.

She hesitated. "Our son's absence binds us, even in sorrow."

There was no more talk, no further interrogation. The gates just creaked open.

Calliope stepped across the threshold, and her footsteps echoed on the stairs and the marble corridors. With every step, her heart picked up pace until it was racing so fast she could hardly catch a breath.

The door was as she remembered—unchanged, the wood dark and polished, etched with symbols whose meaning she understood and yet didn’t.

Just like him.

But that wasn’t true. He had been changed when last they met. Familiar yet different, faint echoes of what once she loved—and hated.

Calliope pushed the door open, and the air itself seemed to hold its breath. For a moment, she wondered what she had expected to find. How she had expected him to greet her. And then she knew that this was exactly it:

His back turned on her, no sign of movement, frozen in space.

She crossed the room, her breath catching in her throat, unable to speak.

She didn’t have to.

"Calliope," he whispered, still not turning. There was a rawness to his voice, even in that whisper, that caught her unaware.

She reached for him, without any hesitation, and while it surprised her, it felt right. As her hand touched his shoulder, he flinched subtly, but he didn't pull away.

When he finally turned, his eyes held galaxies, and their shared history was etched on his face—the pain, the longing��it was all there, laid bare.

And it was hard not to see Orpheus in him. Hard not to remember how he had told him stories, his voice like a melody spun from darkness and light, stardust and moonbeams, while the boy’s laughter would echo through the halls of the castle, and his cries for more brought a moment of happiness to everyone who heard it.

And then it was gone.

Calliope had wept for him so many times, and she felt the tight grip of grief resurfacing. She had mourned the laughter that would never echo through these halls again, the stories of his father he would never pass on to children of his own, the promise of a future shattered.

She had sung dirges and sought solace in memories, but they only deepened the pain.

And she was tired of mourning, of a grief that felt like it was hers alone to bear.

In that moment, his eyes searched hers. “You came.” And perhaps, they were seeking answers and forgiveness.

“You called.”

And perhaps, they were also holding the faint glimmer of hope…

[blasphemousclaw]

Idk if you plan on doing the "questions-about-character-x" list yet, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on Marika (maybe with a side of Radagon but mostly the golden strumpet).

• favorite thing about them

nothing hits me harder than characters who lash out because of the injustice or suffering they’ve endured… there’s something so cathartic about characters who make their pain and anger felt in the world in a tangible and consequential way. Marika is this character to me!! I think it’s so powerful to introduce her as an all-powerful goddess, keeping her at a distance as this enigmatic figure who shaped the world as it is today and then shattered it, and then to humanize her by showing us where she comes from and what she went through… she was never just a cold, distant, uncaring deity, but a person, with very human motivations and flaws. learning her backstory gives us so much context for why she did the things that she did and gives us the opportunity to feel close to her and empathize with her… I think she was always sympathetic in the base game, but she still felt so distant, so I really love how the dlc fleshed her out and made her character so accessible

• least favorite thing about them

this isn’t even about her, but about how the fanbase has responded to her writing in the dlc because like dear god

it almost makes me want to avoid content of her which sucks because I really like her LOL

• favorite line

“Hear me, Demigods. My children beloved. Make of thyselves that which ye desire. Be it a Lord. Be it a God. But should ye fail to become aught at all, ye will be forsaken. Amounting only to sacrifices...”

absolutely fascinating quote… we don’t really know the context, so there’s many different ways to interpret it… Marika urging her children to become a lord or a god is interesting, because when she deposed the Gloam-Eyed Queen and removed Destined Death from the Elden Ring, it seemed like she was fighting hard to stay in power and to become “Eternal,” but her children succeeding her would necessarily end her reign? This also almost seems like she’s encouraging conflict between her children… there can only be one god and one lord, after all. we don’t know when the quote was spoken, but it almost seems to reference Ranni’s sacrifice of Godwyn on her path to godhood on her own terms? is this a warning? is it a challenge? is it just the words of an extremely jaded and cynical goddess?

• brOTP, ОТР

ok I’m gonna do away with this format here because I just want to list some of her relationships that I really like without having to categorize them:

Marika and Messmer: the dynamic of Marika being a god-queen whose grace is blinding, and her son being born cursed with a serpent of the lightless abyss is so good… him taking up the crusade on her behalf, of his own volition, because he hates how he was born so deeply and will do anything to try to atone for something that isn’t even his fault, committing horrors in her name, is SOOOO

Marika and Radagon: I love pondering where one of them starts and the other begins, how they have opposite goals and worldviews but exist in the same being. really good

Marika and Rennala: I wouldn’t call it an otp but I like it as a ship. Marika being the one to steal away Rennala’s husband, but she actually IS her husband. unparalleled dynamic

• nОТР

there arent any Marika ships I’ve seen that I dislike

• random headcanon

I think she was horrified and disgusted by Morgott and Mohg AND she loved them still. omen babies would have their horns cut off, usually causing them to die, but omen babies born of royalty did not have their horns cut off, so they were allowed to live… I love the idea that Marika couldn’t bear to sentence her children to death, but she also couldn’t bear to look at them because of her past, so they were confined to the Shunning Grounds

• unpopular opinion

*cracks knuckles*

SO MANY people have the wrong idea about her. you’ve got people saying everything she did was justified, she didn’t go far enough, “total hornsent death” etc etc. and on the other hand you’ve got people saying the dlc writing is terrible because it’s excusing Marika for her crimes, it’s baiting you to feel bad for the hornsent and then pulling a plot twist that actually, they were evil and Marika was good the whole time!

both of these interpretations are flawed because the story is not arguing that the hornsent are fundamentally evil people, and it is not arguing that Marika is now blameless because of what she suffered. the story is rife with moments of sympathy for the hornsent’s suffering and examples of the crusade’s inexcusable cruelty, and so much of what’s in the base game showcases the cruelty that Marika’s Order has inflicted. just because the story is giving Marika a sympathetic reason for why she is the way she is does not mean that these facts cease to exist! sympathy for Marika, sympathy for the hornsent, and condemnation for the Golden Order’s and the crusade’s crimes can all exist in the story at the same time!!!!!

• song i associate with them

…how about this: if anyone has a song in mind, leave it in the replies or tags!

• favorite picture of them

Ranni holding her head u_u

[alwayswriting101]

Can you recommend some Florelia fanfics please?

So this is actually a terrible question to ask me because I think all Florelia fics are amazing just by the nature of having my OTP 😅.

But here are my general recommendations:

Literally anything and everything by @florelia12. All of her work is fantastic x1000, But Moonlight & Monsters has literally changed my life. I love this fic (and all her fics) soooo much. She is also a (obviously) a massive Florelia stan. AO3 page

The Florelia chapters in Winx Club One Shots by SeaEmerald (chapters 2, 5, and 6). Oh my God is their writing incredible. Very highly recommend all of their fics, if you're interested in other couples/fandoms.

A Natural Fit: Soulmates AU. Also anything by QueenofHufflepuff. I love their writing style to the point where it's inspired my own fics!) They also go under Matrices and Vectors on ffn.

All the Petals Fall by @lynpheas. I swear to God this fic made me quit writing because like what point is there in writing when a fic this good exists 😭😭😭. Also recommend all of @lynpheas works but not all of them are Florelia. AO3 page

Black Sky by SilverSongstress. I cannot emphasize how epic this story is. There's lots of Florelia conflict (that doesn't really get resolved by the end (at least to my memory)) and I was okay with that! There are some issues re: formatting but it's truly a very strong story.

Lunar Rainbow and Under the Cherry Blossoms by Roxy Fan 4 Ever. Literally love these fics so much. So romantic!

The Neighbor by libra986. Now I actually don't remember shit from fuck from this fic, but I remember being OBESSED with it...do with that what you will...

High Temperatures . I like this one.

Six Years, This one is just so nostalgic for me, I think it was one of the OG Florelia fics 😭. I can't tell you how much it PAINS me the sequel is unfinished.

I Promise, Courage from the Heart, Save Me, My Turn to Save You, and Remember Me by Lill2350. Again very nostalgic fics! I think they have a few more Florelia fics as well.

Living a Dream. Very Cute fic.

Chastity Slightly NSFW so don't open if you're at work or underage. But I thought this was a really cute/romantic fic.

Style by KinkyWings. I think this fic is really, really cute. The author has other fics based on more...untraditional pairings (and fics that are definitely NSFW), but I really like this one.

Waned Worries. Why did this person orphan this account 😭? Really good oneshot.

Kamilia has written a bunch of Florelia stories, too many to list and many of them NSFW in one way or another, but check them out if you'd like!

Flora's Christmas. Just a cute Christmas Time Oneshot

As an aside: here are some fics that I tend to really enjoy that focus on Flora or (mostly) Helia as individuals and not as a couple.

Retired, Falling, and The Moonlight Project by @redemptionarcsucker. Their characterizations of Helia are unmatched. And their writing is impeccable! AO3 page

Also @floralovebot has really great Flora/Helia/Florelia headcanons/characterizations on their page.

A Conversation Between... Literally, love this fic with every beat of my heart since I read it years ago. This fic actually focuses mostly on Stormy but Flora has a lot of characterization through her.

The Meaning of the Color Black and Inspired by Kikurukina Bal Des'cagel. Fantastic Helia centric stories by a fantastic author. They have also written on other pairings.

Names. A random, unromantic one shot but I really like the concept.

Never Have I Ever and A Specialist's Journey by QueenofHufflepuff. I've already raved about them in the rec above. Really amazing work. The former is Flora based and the latter mostly Helia based (from what I can remember).

The Shimmering Sunflowers. I am a big fan of fics where Flora is a big sister to Miele.

And finally, I always recommend The Great Witch Rebellion, Brothers at Arms, Band of Brothers, and Bonds of Brotherhood by tearsinrain These fics are focused on the group as a whole and are basically rewrites of the main storyline, but these fics are fantastic. I would bind them into a book if I could. The characterization of Helia (who unfortunately is not really featured in Brothers at Arms), is amazing. And the Florelia scenes that are available are really amazing.

I am a big, big fan of Florelia. If I could fit every fic featuring them onto this ask, I would, but unfortunately, I can't! But if anyone has any additional recommendations please feel free to add! I'm sure there are some stories/authors whom I loved but might have missed, but this is a very general list.

[hetalian-veteran]

Hellloooo!! Apologize greatly if you’re busy, but I was wondering about some of the more basic ships for the shipping bingo out of curiosity, such as;

FrUk GerIta RusAme

etc! I have my own personal opinions on these ships, but I’m curious about yours!

OH HONEY LET'S GO!

Starting off strong with FrUk! This one and PruHun were my two biggest OTPs back in the fandom's heyday. And FrUk is actually the pairing that I think helped me get over a lot of my internalized homophobia growing up. There's such a strong, intense, touching, volatile, and overall complicated history between these two. So much so that I can't bring myself to fully analyze all of it. There's just so much.

I think the fanart is a large part of what got me to ship these two because a lot of it is quite beautiful. But it's also one of those pairings where there's just so much history there between them, not just as countries but also as characters. These two have been through a lot together, and it gives me the feeling that they may know one another better than anyone else.

Also, I usually hate the bickering married couple trope, but the FACE Family content made it work for me lol!

Ah yes, the BIG one! GerIta is probably one of, if not the OG Hetalia ship. And for good reason, too. Italy, Germany, and Japan are more or less the main characters, with the relationship between Italy and Germany given the most attention and development.

The biggest reason I ship this pairing, and I don't think I'm alone in this, stems from the theory of Germany and HRE somehow being the same person. Whether it be amnesia or the same-body-two-minds theory, I love all of the different storytelling avenues it opens up.

I adore the sheer drama and tragedy of a story where HRE supposedly dies or goes missing, prompting Italy to endlessly mourn his first love. Only to meet Germany many years later, where the two of them have this feeling deep in their bones that they know each other. Italy may be able to connect the dots that Germany is HRE, but it's been so long... How can he be sure? Perhaps it's even been so long that he forgot certain details about HRE, making it even more painful, and difficult, to decipher what's going on.

And as for Germany, what is going through his mind when he swears he's seen this cute face somewhere before? He's pretty sure he hasn't met Italy face-to-face before, but something about this fool he found in a box of tomatoes abandoned in the woods feels so familiar, and it's driving him up the wall.

At the end, you could have a beautiful reunion, where the two of them realize who the other is. Germany gets to a point where he remembers his past, and---after having a moment of gay panic and realizing that the cute girl in the green dress back then was actually a boy---realizes just how much he loves Italy. And so, the two of them live happily ever after.

OR...

You could have an ending where Germany discovers the truth but considers himself and HRE to be two completely different people. Germany is no longer the boy Italy fell in love with all those years ago. What could make this even more tragic is if Germany loves Italy but wonders if Italy truly loves him or who he was (that being him or HRE).

Or if Italy loves Germany, but the latter insists that, because he's no longer that same person, Italy is wasting his time. That perhaps Italy is projecting his love of HRE onto Germany as a way of coping.

Or perhaps Germany does love Italy, and while Italy does feel some level of affection for Germany, he cannot bring himself to fully love him. Because for Italy, his heart still lies with HRE, and he and Germany might as well be two completely different people.

And I'm not even touching on the potential drama this would stir up between Germany and Prussia, as this would undoubtedly mean that Prussia hid the truth from him for literal centuries! Heck, I'd even throw Hungary, Austria, and France in on the secret as well!

Overall, GerIta has the potential to be a cute and fun "opposites attract" love story while ALSO being one of the most gut-wrenching, heartbreaking tragedies you've ever read. And the way it all ends is completely up to you.

I've actually been working on a story somewhat based off of this theory because the ideas that stem from it are too good to pass up!

Lastly, RusAme. First off, this is yet another America pairing that falls victim to my aroace headcanon. With that said, I can understand why some people ship it. Particularly because of this reblog post made by @olympeline where they explained the ships appeal to me. Some other's added on as well with some pretty good insights if you wanna give it a look.

Given my love for opposites attract, you'd think this ship would be right up my alley. I mean, how can you possibly get more opposite than the United States of America and Russia? For me, it's that I just can't see them getting along. Which I know is rich coming from me, seeing as I ship FrUk so heavily, but at least France and England have some friendly moments in the series. I can't seem to recall any moments like that between America and Russia.

However, I love the idea of Russia and America being forced to work together on something. I feel like that would be comedy gold lol!

But overall, it's my aroace America headcanon doing most of the work here.

[spnfanficpond]

New Member Spotlight for May 2025

The Pond is always growing, and we want to make our new members feel welcome! Here’s a list of recent additions to our fishy family and a little info about them!

Guppies, Jellies, and Mutuals, oh, my!

Caplan - she/her, @caplanscastiel (also @caplansbuckybarnes), East Coast USA

Other SM names? - castielscaplan on AO3 and Discord

OTP? - Dean/Benny, Dean/Arthur, Destiel

Other fandoms? - Stranger Things (not entirely active right now, though), and I’m working on getting back into Mortal Kombat and Harry Potter!

Looking for in the Pond? - Friends, moots, people to share my writing with.

Pairings you read? - All, for the most part, tbh

Genres you read? - All, mostly angst though tbh

What do you like to write? - Angst, fluff, vampire au, mafia au

Masterlist!

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - I’ve been wanting to possibly write more multi-chapter fics, but I’m so stubborn and have a habit of only writing one-shots lol because I lack ideas.

Kotias - she/her, @kotias, Europe

Other SM names? - Kotias on AO3 and Discord

OTP? - Destiel

Other fandoms? - I'm in too many 🤣 my current most active ones: Good Omens, Deadpool & Wolverine, One Piece, Dragon Ball

Looking for in the Pond? - I'm mainly looking for a community. The SPN fandom isn't one that I've ever been super involved in, despite being in it for the past 15 years; I've always been looking more from the sidelines. I would like to change that, and get to know a few more people from the fandom ❤️

Something to signal boost? - In SPN, not necessarily, but all fandoms considered, I am currently in the posting phase of a huge collab fic project that took a year to finish, with 90+ people involved!! If you're into Good Omens, I recommend giving The Serpent and the Owl a try ❤️

Pairings you read? - I'm mainly a Destiel enjoyer! I do like seeing references to Dean/Benny, because I do believe those two had a one-year fling in Purgatory, but generally speaking, I will be going for Destiel.

Genres you read? - Angst, fluff and smut. I'm a lover of hurt/comfort, but my favourite trope in fanfic is a coffee shop AU! To that, I will add that I have a very soft spot for one character trope in fiction: the curse of being immortal. The way immortality twists morality as it comes with too much loss for a single soul is absolutely fascinating to me and I love exploring it.

Favorite writer(s)? - @bragginball-z - both on AO3 and Tumblr!

What do you like to write? - My comfort zone is romantic and emotional angst. I love writing fics that involve this type of idea; the painful pining is delicious to write. I also love writing fluff so sweet it rots your teeth.

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - It's a dead dove, very very angsty, and in Good Omens. The plot is basically: Crowley provoked the black plague as per Hell's orders. He hated every second of it. It's dark, it's a difficult read, but I poured my soul into it ❤️

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - Generally speaking, if I want to try something, I have probably tried it, as I have almost 20 years of experience. Writing in SPN is fairly new to me, so I might need a bit of help honing down on the characterisations, especially in my dialogues, but overall I'm mainly interested in being with people, and in helping younger writers out 😁

That’s all for this month, folks! (If we’re missing anyone, let us know and we’ll add them to next month’s list!) Make sure to say hi to the newbies and make them feel welcome! Thanks to all from @mrswhozeewhatsis, @mariekoukie6661, @heavenssexiestangel, @spn-fanfic-reblog-writes, @walkingaline, @xpurdyglambertx, and @manawhaat!

[emeraldhypothesis]

I'm back and I have a triple order!

I wanna hear your thoughts on the doomed yaoi men: Yami Yugi, Bruno, and Ai

(Only if you want to, of course)

oh baby we got some good ones

Yami:

Why I like them/why I don’t

God, Yami/Atem is just... such a good protagonist. He's one of the foundational protagonists of my childhood in terms of what I like about a hero, up there with Optimus Prime in how I've grown to love an idea Peter Cullen once said about how he plays Optimus, "Be strong enough to be gentle."

Atem's early behavior in the manga is legit so crazy to look back on, he's like a chained-up demon who bestows karmic justice without concerns of morality or how it looks to others, but gradually softens as he comes out of his shell and interacts with Yugi and his friends more, becoming a more noble and honorable figure worthy of the title of King of Games. I love his boundless enthusiasm and appreciation for games, the deep care and love he has for the gang and how they accept him once they learn about him. He's so fun to follow across the series, not just for his growth but because he's just a naturally engaging character.

What I like about their appearance

I love the vivid shade of purple his eyes are in DSOD, it's so gorgeous. I love the sleeveless jacket he sometimes had during Duelist Kingdom, and his little jacket-cape that he starts wearing in Battle City.

I'm also stupidly fond of his little gray coat from the Dungeon Dice Monsters episode.

Do I prefer their dub names or original names?

Same in both, so no preference. I will say I like the Japanese having Yami and Yugi refer to each other as "Other me," which gradually shows how deep their bond runs.

I'll repeat a lot of what I said about Yugi for the languages though, Dan Green and Shunsuke Kazama are both perfect in the role and I adore both of their takes on Atem. I think I'd give it overall to Dan Green just for how much gravitas he gives a lot of scenes, which gives his softer-spoken moments or his comedic bits more impact.

OTP

Like I said for Kaiba, it's Prideshipping, no contest. Yami and Kaiba's rivalry is one of the foundations the series is built on, and both characters compliment and complete each other in such a way that one without the other feels like a phantom pain from a lost limb.

I also do like Atem/Mahad, largely because Mahad is just the absolute GOAT during Millennium World that I must respect his dedication to the bit.

NOTP

I'm not super fond of shipping him with the other Yamis, and admittedly that's largely due to a Thiefshipping bias but also a bit too little chemistry.

OT3

I think him, Yugi and Joey would have been cute together, or him, Yugi and Tea.

I'm also fond of Atem/Mahad/Mana.

Favourite card they use

I love how sassy Dark Magician can get with its little finger wags and smirks, but I gotta give it to God's Favorite Little Guy, Kuriboh.

Favourite moment they were in

So many, it's so hard to pick. I could list off like five and I'd still be left going "Oh but I could bring up him decking Strings out, or BESERKER SOUL, or his manga ferocity making him nearly kill Kaiba in Duelist Kingdom, or his return in DSOD where he summons Mahad and you get the awesome symbolism of Mahad being summoned facing his king and kneeling before he attacks Aigami and... you get the idea." He has so many, we'd be here all day.

I think I'll give it to the Ceremonial Duel though. It's a perfect ending all around, with Atem giving a wonderful final performance in his summoning of the God Cards, his his warm praise that creeps in when Yugi outplays him and pushes him into a corner, and him embracing his end with serenity and dignity. I saw a post once that referred to it all as the perfect funeral for Atem.

I still cry watching that scene.

Least favourite moment

I've never thought that DOMA made a great case for Atem playing the Seal of Orichalchos when he did, especially when the duel with Raphael had zero stakes to it. It's a bit of a "He would not fucking say that" moment for me, but I'm willing to accept it to allow for his arc that season of being this darkest hour for him that he did play that card and it had real consequences for people around him.

Would I fuck, marry or kill them

at the risk of getting crass: I've had a crush on Atem since I was a child. I would commit many a grave sin to know him carnally.

Bruno:

Why I like them/why I don’t

God he's just so cool though. A fearsome rival who's intensely mysterious throughout the series, alongside Bruno being one of the better Second Season Best Friend characters alongside Johan and Vector. He's just such a silly guy who's helplessly in love with Yusei the bikes, and who can blame him!

Even his name is cool! I love how much meaning went into the Four Stars and their names. It's sick.

What I like about their appearance

I love Bruno's jacket, it looks very comfy.

Antinomy's jumpsuit is super sleek, his slicked-back haircut is rad, and I love his glasses- very telling that Antinomy has to view the world/Z-One through rose-tinted glasses, eh.

Do I prefer their dub names or original names?

Same in both, but I would say I prefer Dark Glass as an alias over Vizor. I am very fond of how they translate "surpass your limits, Yusei" into asking if he's found "The Synchro Solution," that just tickles my fancy.

Voice wise, it's mutual bangers on both sides. Hiroki Tanaka's performance as Bruno/Antinomy is so layered to make each identity distinct, and he does a wonderful job with it, especially in his last duel and his voice softens on that final "Yusei..." augh my heart. He's also just so bombastic with the summon chants that it's hard not to adore Tanaka's take (especially with the Delta Accel chant he did for Glaive Blaster during AGOV's OCG Times stream, super fun watch).

Justin Badger I preferred for a bit as Bruno over Antinomy, but he really got to shine when Duel Links gave him a full chance to play Antinomy. I heard him in an interview once discussing how he played Bruno, Antinomy and Dark Glass differently and that was engaging to listen to. Badger has such a commanding voice that lends itself well, with him going for a more clipped, professional tone that lets up a little when he's going for the bombastic summon chants.

Both are great, is what I'm trying to say. Perfect performance on both sides.

OTP

Toolshipping is suuuuuch painful doomed yaoi. Easily my favorite Yusei ship, the bond it allows Yusei to forge across Season 2 is such a wonderful, soft time that hurts like a knife to the eye when it comes to a violent, miserable end in the Arc Cradle.

Here's how I can ship Faith and Tool at the same time and still win! By throwing Antinomy into the black hole!

NOTP

Bruno/Sherry is too much mlm/wlw solidarity for me to look at them romantically.

OT3

As with Z-One and Aporia, old man polycule yaoi my beloved.

Favourite card they use

Tie between Hyper Librarian (I LOVE DRAWING CARDS IS THIS THE SYNCHRO SOLUTION YOU WANTED) and Halbred Cannon. I like a lot of the TG's though, they're a pet favorite deck of mine.

Honorable mention to his legacy support having some of the best references in the art of any legacy support deck, like Star Guardian Literally Just Being Antinomy, TG Close depicting Halbred Cannon's choke-slam, and Shooting Star Dragon TG EX reflecting Yusei and Bruno's bond.

Favourite moment they were in

His entire last duel with Yusei is one of the best duels of 5D's, and Ark Cradle is a arc of nothing but the best duels in 5D's. The environment is so unique and cool to look at, Halbred Cannon's summon collapsing a star, Halbred Cannon CHOKE SLAMMING SHOOTING STAR DRAGON, and his sacrifice to save Yusei all just works so well.

Least favourite moment

He didn't have one- a GOAT always stands on business and the Synchro Solution waits for no frauds.

I guess his future self's moustache was kinda cringe?

Ai:

Why I like them/why I don’t

Ai manages the difficult task of being a comic relief character who morphs into a tragic figure. His arc across Season 2 has him slowly stripped of the whimsy and zeal for life that he starts with, cumulating in him learning true rage after Earth's death and his broken sorrow after the other Ignis sacrifice themselves to give him and Yusaku a chance to beat Bohman.

It's amazing how complex Ai's villain arc is made given the short time frame Season 3 has to work with. It arguably takes up too much time- you basically need to go into Season 3 already liking Yusaku and Ai for a lot of the Season to land, but as someone who does, it's fantastic.

Ai's journey in Season 3 is perfect. It's a bit abrupt to go from his comic relief angle in Seasons 1 and 2 to such a dark swerve but I think the writing nails it. He's probably my favorite villain in the show, I adore his dynamic with Yusaku and how fucking dooomed it really is, and he manages the impressive feat of going on a massive relay run of older enemies to beat, and made it entertaining. I adore his little deck, and how much symbolism of his grief is tied into the ace monsters and AIland, I love how stupid all of his AI backrow cards are with their silly puns. And I love that all of the jester stuff is hiding a deeply, agonized and lonely character who is basically forcing the one human he's ever loved to be his executioner and God. He's a person who wants to die because both his family are dead and if he stays alive, his last love will die for him. No wonder he's a barely functioning mess.

I am very biased about Ai's Season 3 turn, I have no real notes beyond "Man imagine how much more cool shit we'd have gotten if he had fifty episodes to cook."

What I like about their appearance

His Ignis form is the definition of a scrimblo. A scrunchy. A creechure, you may say. He's very expressive and the design lends itself well to that. I love how you can see him duck and weave inside of the Duel Disk to dodge Yusaku's hands sometimes.

His Soltis form may be a bit "Sterotypical Tumblr Sexy Man" but... look I'm on Tumblr I'm allowed one. I like his earrings. :)

Do I prefer their dub names or original names?

Same in both.

I think I overall prefer the sub, but more because of what Ai is allowed to say in that and how the Vrains dub handles tone in general. It's nothing against Michael Liscio, I'd even say this is his best performance of his major roles (especially because unlike Arc-V he doesn't have to juggle six character voices, seriously who decided that?), but the Vrains dub does have an issue of fearing sincerity sometime so it has to crack jokes. A lot of the time the jokes land are funny, but it does undercut the severity of the moment when Ryoken is fumbling the "Gotta break an egg to make an omelette" analogy while telling Yusaku about Earth's death- or translating Shoichi and Yusaku's Season 2 conversation into the climax of the "Is a hot dog a sandwich" running bit. Liscio does well, but I think I'd have to give my preference to Takahiro Sakurai's Ai largely because of the material. If Liscio was given things like Ai's dying love confession it'd be more even so... get back to me when Duel Links adds Ai, going off Yudias's voice lines love confessions are back on the menu.

OTP

"If losing a friend means your heart breaks, then why are you trying to break my heart?"

Aiball is one of the peak Doomed Yaoi ships in a franchise that already has an overabundance of Doomed Yaoi. Their bond over Seasons 1 and 2 gradually transitions from hostage to ally, making any time Yusaku slips and calls him "Aibou" all the better. They clearly care for each other and like being around them, but the circumstances of the story keep separating them, and eventually Ai is forced to launch his own Ignis Rebellion in order to find a way to die that guarantees no one brings him back.

It's also fun from a toxic yaoi perspective because of how the entire duel works out- Ai basically goads Yusaku into the fight and only then reveals that he dies either way- meaning he's forced Yusaku without his knowledge into a situation where Yusaku helps Ai commit suicide either way, and that's really fucked up and I kinda love it.

Their last scene together is so haunting, not helped by Ai gradually letting slip that his motive was born from love- seeing Yusaku die in every simulation that Ai made broke the poor guy, so he decided that the best way for Yusaku to live was to take himself off the board for good.

(until Duel Links)

That last shot especially of Yusaku standing among a field of Ai's corpses is genuinely so harrowing, holy crap.

I also have a soft spot for Ai/Lightning due to a reading from a friend that clued me in on them having the world's messiest divorce arc and neither of them having gotten over it by Season 2.

NOTP

Anything with Bohman. I hate Bohman soooooo much.

OT3

Like I said with Revolver, the idea of Ai and Ryoken having to co-exist in post-canon works because they both like Yusaku too much is the definition of hilarity to me.

Favourite card they use

The Arrival, no contest. Such an otherworldly design, helped by an immaculate summon chant.

The A.I. spells and traps are all so adorable though, whoever had the idea that Ai's ego would have him base all of his backrow art of himself was cooking, you absolute genius.

I also like Pikari's funny little hat. :) Maybe Lightning wouldn't have tried to enslave humanity if they had a funny little hat!

Favourite moment they were in

Yusaku vs Ai is probably my favorite final boss duel in the franchise, for reasons I went into earlier, but I think I'll say my favourite overall moment of the duel is when Ai manages to get out the @ Ignister monsters that represent his friends and takes a moment to both think "Holy crap I made the perfect board," and lament that none of them are there to see it.

Shout out as well to The Arrival's summon chant where he can rattle off five superlatives in short order, but hesitates at the sixth- his self loathing coming home to roost and meaning he hesitates to think of something good to say about himself.

Least favourite moment

Ai trying to imply he's the real reason Yusaku took up arms against the Hanoi in their duel. I never liked that line, it comes off as trying far too hard to make Ai manipulative (I can accept he set up the Cyberse deck but I refuse to believe Ai organized Yusaku meeting Shoichi) and it never comes up again so I write the line off as non-canon. It also comes too soon after Lightning is retconned as being the root cause of all evil in the known universe, so that didn't help.

Would I fuck, marry or kill them

Yeah he'd be fun for a rumble in the hay or two.

[salty-an-disco]

For that send me a character post could I ask for Prisoner please

thanky for the ask!!

Send Me a Character and I'll List:

– favorite thing about them: her monotome and dry sense of humor compels me……… I love her face when we ask about the extra chain in the cabin, and she goes, "Maybe it'll fit". And how she tries to feign nonchalance when you're putting it on, but is clearly also curious about it lol. She's so silly, actually, it's just buried by the autism flat-effect.

– least favorite thing about them: Uuuuuuhh, don't think I have one? I genuinely love everything about her character and how she's portrayed.

– favorite line: "To question everything is to deny the truth in front of you. By believing in your suffering, you make your suffering real. By believing in your limitations, you placed a shackle on your neck."

– brOTP: Cold&Prisoner. These two are so similar to each other in so many ways, and the way they differ (Pris being more pragmatic and cautious while Cold is more reckless), they can complement each other. I think they'd be those Emo Friends who just sit next to each other for hours and that's how they have a great time. So fucking mad that burnout came in before I got to write about these two interacting for 'The Rotting Town', their possible dynamic is everything to me ismsksmmxmx

– OTP: Don't really have one for Prisoner, just kinda low-key ship her with Damsel and know she and Skeptic are queer-platonic partners.

– nOTP: Also don't have one.

– random headcanon: she's got sooooo much muscle pain cuz of those chains. Any kinda movement is painful, but she got so used to it, it's just background noise to her unless it fires up really badly.

– unpopular opinion: I dunno 🤷

– song i associate with them: Lovely by Billie Eilish and Everything Stays from Adventure Time

– favorite picture of them:

it's just. such a perfect face akmskksmsm. look at her!! she's so done with this already

[hheartsdramas]

love of the divine tree episodes 18/19

i knew it wasn't going to be that easy (it's not even the halfway point and he's clearly intoxicated or possessed or something) but i am absolutely flailing still because of his confession. if only she knew!

i gotta be honest, the big failing of this drama for me so far is the villains. like mu ranwu is so uninteresting. blah blah, jealous of her sister, blah blah, jealous of a guy, blah blah, sucks at everything. prince ping could come back but he was pretty flat, too. i'm hoping the man in the mask is a twist reveal, or that su yu is evil because i don't like him. otherwise i'm going to have to depend on sys's growing demonic energy to bring some interesting evil to the story.

i love when an immortal takes a shine to a main character and gives them a bag full of future tools of convenience

how many times during filming do you think someone stepped on one of those long trains deng wei is wearing? (gorgeous costumes. but incredibly impractical.)

su yishui seriously hoping su yu got crushed into nothing and walking away. relatable.

lollll not her clocking an illusion because "master would never speak to me so gently." i guess it pays to be dick sometimes

"you believe that because you're stupid." he might be a petty bitch but he's a correct petty bitch

i am getting extremely concerned that su yu has clocked or is in the process of clocking ranran as mqg

WAIT could man in the mask be uncle ye xin?? maybe? only because i don't know who else it could be and he was sort of giving shifty vibes

would it even be xianxia if there wasn't a side quest trying to help a doomed couple loosely related to the plot and with strategic parallels to our otp?

oh it's a sword in the stone situation and great, su yu is there to witness it. sigh

the pain i feel when he says something to mu qingge ranran and she tells him to go tell mu qingge and not her! but he is! he is telling mu qingge! and the only reason he is is because he knows she doesn't remember anything so he feels safe to tell her!

boy i just know the drop of spirit spring in his heart is going to cause problems later now that he has the whole thing in a bottle riding around with him

[karliahs]

For the character ask game, Chihiro??

chihirooooo <3 <3 <3

favourite thing about them:

kindness. not a novel trait for a protagonist I know, but something about the way his is depicted really gets me. the fact that it's one of the first things we learn about him, right after the Unimaginable Violence - how gentle he is with char. the concrete evidence of him driving to three different places to get her the food she wanted.

and I feel like a lot of the time a heroic character expresses their kindness by wanting to save people - but chihiro always seems to want more than that. with hakuri, he says he wants them to be equals - he doesn't just want to help hakuri, he wants to give hakuri the chance to not have to feel helpless and at everyone's mercy anymore. same with iori - he doesn't just want to protect her, he's the one who advocates for her autonomy in getting to make her own decisions about her memory and her father

he passes on the gifts of kindness he received - his dad who always believed in him, and he tells off kyora for not believing in hakuri - and he tries to give people kindnesses he didn't get, like giving iori the choice between worlds he never had

I love him so much...

least favourite thing:

I have...nothing

favourite line:

I love this both because of how much he clings to the things kunishige taught him, but also because it expresses one of my other favourite things about him: how much he wants to understand the world, how willing he is to listen & change his mind even about things that are painful & deeply felt.

we see it really early on with sojo - chihiro doesn't want to consider his perspective at first, but then he does & concedes that he's not the only person who gets to decide what his dad's work means. and then again in this scene when he's asking to hear the truth about the war no matter how painful it is.

for a grieving teenager on a revenge quest, it just really struck me. that thoughtfulness, that desire to understand. bit by bit you have to learn by seeing things with your own eyes...

brOTP/platonic relationships I like:

everyone...but especially I could chew on his dynamic with shiba for days, and I am really excited to see more of his interactions with iori! especially now she has her memories back. and I've been thinking on childhood friends au for them also...

OTP/romantic relationships I like:

hakuhiro...though as usual I'm really happy with them as friends also

random headcanon:

do you ever just think about all the things chihiro has never done/experienced, going right from isolated bubble to revenge quest? one random one: I feel like he spent most of his life with every haircut being done by his dad over a sink. maybe shiba tried to take him to a barber on a trip out once, figuring it might be a nice thing for him, but quickly discovering that strangers that close to him is Not Okay.

so post-kunishige he clumsily cuts his own hair over a sink instead. (someone write a nice fic of one of his friends giving him a haircut. someone who isn't me, who has too many things to write already)

unpopular opinion:

I don't know what the chihiro popular opinions are. uhhh...I think he will be okay. it'll never heal over all the way, he'll never get back what he lost, but one day he'll look in a mirror, face softened by time & rest, and still see the same scar. still not want to forget. but there are so many things he would have missed out on if his life had ended when it felt like it had, at 14.

I think this because Protagonist Armour, because of the flexibility & willingness to consider new ideas discussed above, and also because I am MANIFESTING

song I associate with them:

I don't have chihiro songs but I wish I did! tell me chihiro songs...

favourite picture of them:

rghghgh so many good chihiros to choose from but I have been thinking about this one of him carrying char so so much

[mothercetrion]

I got bored and decided to do this OTP ask meme with Johnshi. enjoy!

1) Who rocks the Ferris Wheel seat and who flips out and begs them to stop? Johnny. he is a bit immature and childish sometimes, and being on a Ferris wheel just brings it out. Kenshi is likely irritated at first, but it grows on him quickly.

2) Who is always horny and will have sex at any time, at any place? Johnny. he has a big house, and he loves to experiment. Kenshi is open to trying, but he loves having sex in Johnny's bed the most.

3) Who is more into taking showers/baths together? Who tries to make it relaxing and who tries to make it sexy time? before they get together, Kenshi typically showers, and Johnny mostly showers with the occasional bath (self-care!). after they get together, Johnny is the one to suggest a bath together, and Kenshi agrees after some consideration. it's honestly kind of nice! they're more likely to shower together though; it takes less time to prepare and they can be physically closer together. regardless, they like doing either together, though Johnny likes it more.

4) Who likes to walk around the house naked and who tells the other to go put some clothes on? Johnny loves not wearing clothes, and he's more likely to have a shirt off than to a shirt on. we've seen him shirtless in damn near every game, after all. Kenshi doesn't mind it, however.

5) Who sleeps on the couch when they get into a fight? Kenshi. he is more likely to storm out in a fight, so he'll just go to the couch. sometimes, Johnny will go after him immediately, but other times, he knows that Kenshi needs some space and leaves him there for the night.

6) Who takes photos of the other while they sleep? Johnny. he is convinced that Kenshi is the sexiest man on the planet, plus he needs pictures to prove to social media that his boyfriend is super hot! Kenshi doesn't like making too many social media appearances, but he's on there a few times. regardless, photos of Kenshi sleeping are in abundance on Johnny's phone.

7) Who said “I love you” first? and who ends their arguments in a fight with “Because I love you”? Johnny has said "I love you" first in every relationship he's been in…except his relationship with Kenshi. after a difficult night for Kenshi (nightmares are not fun), he and Johnny are lying together in bed, and Kenshi suddenly gets the courage to tell him how he truly feels. Johnny is stunned, but he reciprocates immediately and admits that he's known for a while. Kenshi will also end arguments with "because I love you" when his protectiveness or his worries over Johnny's safety kick in. the argument will start loud, as arguments tend to do, but Kenshi's voice gets softer and quieter when he tells Johnny that he wants him to be safe because he wants him to come home and he loves him. Johnny is touched.

8) Who likes to wear the other's sweatshirts? Kenshi loves wearing Johnny's clothes, mostly his T-shirts. Johhny goes absolutely nuts seeing Kenshi wear anything that he owns.

9) Who wakes the other up in the middle of the night to tell them a cool dream they had? Who has the most nightmares, and who sings them back to sleep after? neither wakes the other, but if Johnny has a cool dream, he'll tell Kenshi about it in the morning. Kenshi definitely has more nightmares than Johnny. dreams of his Yakuza days or his blinding can appear out of nowhere, and they always leave him terribly shaken (or in pain, depending on the extent of the dream). Johnny will hold him close and tell him stories from throughout his career until he calms down and/or falls asleep. the sound of Johnny's voice is shockingly comforting.

10) Who is more likely to cheat at games? Johnny. he likes winning, and he will pull all the punches to make it happen. Kenshi doesn't catch him at first, but when he does, he's pissed. Johnny always swears that he'll stop, but it's only temporary.

11) Who makes fun of the other for having a crush on them, and who has to remind them that they are in a relationship? Johnny is a teasing bastard, but Kenshi secretly loves it. Johnny will catch Kenshi looking just a little too happy around him, and he'll ask if he has a crush on him. Kenshi counters that they're dating, but he loves the conversations when they happen.

12) Who starts a food fight in the kitchen? Johnny. again, he's immature and childish. however, he does more of the cooking between them, so any fights are pretty rare. if he makes a mess, he'll make it worse if he's in a teasing mood.

13) Who initiates duets? and who is the better singer? most of the time, Johnny will initiate a duet if they're in a car together. Kenshi is less likely to sing along unless they're at home, singing quietly to one another in Johnny's bedroom or their kitchen late at night. they both can sing, but Kenshi is a shockingly good singer, though he denies it.

14) Who starts the hand-holding? Who grabs the other's butt? Who slides their arm around their waist? Who likes to put their fingers in the belt loops? Johnny initially started the hand-holding, but Kenshi gets a lot more confident in initiating it later in their relationship. they only grab butts in absolute privacy, but Johnny is more likely. both of them will wrap an arm around the other's waist and put their fingers in the belt loops of their pants. it's usually to pull them closer when they're hugging and/or kissing.

15) Who likes to write the other's name on their wrist? neither. they keep mementos/reminders of one another in different ways when they're not together.

16) Who is more seductive when they are drunk? and who is louder in bed? Kenshi is much more seductive after he's gotten drunk. Johnny is too, but Kenshi's seductiveness increases a lot more than Johnny's, so it's more noticeable. Johnny is so damn loud when he's in bed, and he cannot help it. however, Kenshi loves that and can't get enough, and he will do anything to keep Johnny happy, even at the cost of another one of his senses.

17) Who is more protective? Kenshi. he will do whatever he needs to do to keep Johnny safe from the Yakuza, even if it means tapping back into his gangster/criminal side. Johnny thinks that Kenshi's protectiveness is incredibly sexy, but he assures him that he will be safe.

18) Who talks to the other while they are sleeping? Johnny (and secretly Kenshi). if Johnny's awake and he's bored, he'll talk to Kenshi until he gets tired. sometimes though, he'll tell Kenshi how proud of him he is and how grateful he is to have him as a boyfriend. Kenshi will whisper how much he loves Johnny when he knows the actor can't hear him.

19) Who drives and who has the window seat? (ignoring how obvious this one is for the sake of the game LMAO) Kenshi had a license before he was blinded, and every now and then, Johnny can convince him to drive with Sento strapped to his back and sunglasses on his face. most of the time, though, Johnny drives. he likes it a lot, and Kenshi likes being in the passenger seat.

20) Who falls asleep in the other's lap and who carries them to bed? both of them! they're both super busy, and they're both tired after a long day. Johnny is more likely to fall asleep on Kenshi's lap, in the middle of telling Kenshi about his day, but Kenshi is thankfully very strong. if Kenshi falls asleep, he usually wakes up in the middle of Johnny carrying him, and he will stumble up the stairs and fall asleep within seconds of hitting the bed.

21) Who cuts the other's hair? neither. Johnny does not trust anyone but his hairdresser with his hair, and Kenshi feels the same way. however, they'll brush the other's hair (or run their fingers through it) all day.

22) Who is super bad at sexting? and who sends them encouraging messages throughout the day? both? Kenshi is bad at sexting because it's unfamiliar, and Johnny is bad at sexting because some of the things he will send Kenshi are not things you send over text. Johnny is more likely to send an encouraging text, especially if he knows Kenshi will be busy and/or stressed. they always help cheer Kenshi up.

23) Who thinks they are not good enough for the other's love? and who’s more afraid of losing the other? Who thinks they keep messing up, only for the other to tell them they don’t need to worry? Johnny is a recently divorced, faltering celebrity. he's not getting the gigs he needs to keep up the image that he wants to. sometimes he feels like Kenshi deserves a lot better than that. Kenshi assures him that being with Johnny is what he wants, regardless of if he's super famous. Kenshi is terrified of the Yakuza somehow getting a hold of Johnny to get back at him for leaving, hence his protective side. Johnny always assures him that he can protect himself and will let him know if something is going on that could be because of the Yakuza. I feel like Johnny would be a little more concerned about messing up considering his track record, but "messing up" in a relationship comes with the territory. both of them can be pretty different, and neither of them has had a partner quite like the other before. but they're willing to learn!

24) Who starts random slow dancing with the other in the kitchen? Who holds the other just above the ground and kisses them? Johnny. he loves dancing, but he loves dancing with Kenshi more. they'll hold one another close and sway as long as they can, listening to soft music from one of their phones. they're so close to the same height that lifting one another just off the ground is difficult, but they both love kissing when they're alone like this.

25) Who says shitty puns and sex jokes just to see the other giggle and blush? Johnny. he's much more pun-savvy than Kenshi. many puns will land and make Kenshi laugh, but others, like sex jokes, will not make him laugh…until they're in the bedroom, and then Johnny's jokes hit much differently (in the best way) and leave him flustered as hell.

26) Who kissed first? Johnny. he's more likely to make a physical move than Kenshi is, and he's the one to initiate that first kiss after a romantic evening at Johnny's house. Kenshi was surprised, but he was quick to reciprocate.

27) Who orders takeout at two in the morning? and who wakes the other up at three in the morning to go downstairs with them to get a glass of water because it’s too dark? Johnny gets bored if he can't sleep. the smell and/or sound of Johnny eating at his desk or in the damn bed will wake Kenshi, but Johnny always gets a serving for him (just in case he wakes up). neither will wake the other to go downstairs for water, but if they're both awake, they'll go together.

28) Who writes poems/stories and love songs about the other? Do they sing the songs they write for them? Johnny is the more creative type, and he can be poetic if he really wants to be. he's not likely to share it with Kenshi unless it's perfect in his eyes, and that's rare since it's a less familiar medium to him.

29) Who does some crazy stunt to try and impress the other and who ends up driving them to the emergency room after it backfires? they're both pretty reckless, but Johnny has gotten hurt more since their relationship began. Kenshi isn't impressed when he pulls off something, but he will help him if he gets hurt, all while chastising him for his stupidity. however, Kenshi is a lot more worried if Johnny gets hurt on set, which has happened before since he does his own stunts. it usually doesn't require a hospital visit by the time Kenshi sees him, but he'll dote on him and force him to rest all the same.

30) Who is embarrassed when they have to wear their glasses and who thinks they look super cute? Kenshi obviously doesn't need glasses, and Johnny doesn't either, buuuuut Johnny does wear sunglasses! and sometimes when they're in public, Johnny will lend Kenshi a pair so he can blend in. Johnny thinks he looks great.

[ghostlykiss]

getting to know mutuals!

tagged by the amazing @mxrcusflint and @intrepidjourneys 🩷🩷

what's the origin of your blog title? Used to work in theatre and love the idea of ghost lights -- there is always a light that stays on, even during "dark days" (days off). Ghostly kiss meaning there is always love present, even if it doesn't outright seem like it.

otp(s) + shipname(s): The main ones are probably Jake and Bradley - Hangster, Steve and Bucky - Stucky, and Jim and Spock - Spirk.

favourite colour: Lilac, or any pastel purple 💜 but I also love pink 🩷.

song stuck in your head: Who We Are by Hozier ("Hold me like water/ or christ, hold me like a knife" ?????? Ask me about my love for characters yearning to be loved as a weapon, to be seen as useful).

weirdest habit/trait: I affectionately and very gently bite the people I hold dearest, especially when drunk.

hobbies: Hiking, film photography, motorsports photography, drawing, travelling, making things (sewing, carpentry, crafting, etc).

if you work, what's your profession? Project manager at a bank (it pays the bills, no I do not like it).

if you could have any job you wish, what would it be? Aerospace engineering.

something you're good at: Anything involving making/building something, I'm good with my hands.

something you hate: Speaking as a dog owner, people letting their dogs run off leash in public (not off leash) areas. I don't care how friendly they are.

something you collect: Old coins/money from around the world but also specifically places I visit.

something you forget: That life outside of my current project(s) exists 😭.

what's your love language: All of them but the main ones are acts of service and quality time.

favourite movie/show: Other than the obvious ones - The Mummy, Some Like It Hot, Pride and Prejudice, and too many others to count, I love movies.

favourite food: Cuisine - Korean, specific - sushi.

favourite animal: I don't know how not to overthink this answer, I love all animals and I don’t know how to pick a favourite 🫣.

what were you like as a child: Independent, big into climbing trees, a bit wild (so nothing changed lol).

favourite subject at school: Art!

least favourite subject: Biology and English (English isn’t my native language).

what's your best character trait? I'm comfortable admitting when I'm wrong, and learning from my mistakes. And while I do bitch a lot, I also have a pretty positive outlook on life and I'm pretty resilient about it.

what's your worst character trait? Not finishing projects, not on purpose I just get distracted by a new shiny project easily.

if you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be? Get rid of the conditions that are causing chronic pain.

if you could travel in time, who would you like to meet? Could I choose to go forwards in time instead, and see/live in the future? If not, then a relative who was a famous ballet dancer/choreographer. I would want to tell him how much he shaped male ballet in the 20th century

Tagging (I'm sorry if you've already been tagged!) @hangmanbradshaw @rcgersromanoff @nixie-deangel @tgmsunmontue and whoever else I missed that wants to participate (Especially if it's your side blog and I don't know what your main is 😭😭)

[maranigai]

Do you still accept characters for that ask meme? I saw you only answered an ask about Messmer so far! How about Morgott for that ask meme? (not sure if asking DS characters counts since like 80% of info about them has to be manually hallucinated by the fan themselves, but I can if that's okay with you!)

Yep, I'm still doing character ask meme, Messmer simply was the only ask for me by now lol Also DS characters are fine too, of course they would be like 95% headcanon based, but that's why we love DS, isn't it?

But anyway, Morgott. My absolutely favourite of favourites of all ER characters...

favorite thing about them

First of all, Morgott is such a beautifully contradictory character. He's a demigod shardbearer and a cursed being, a proud monarch and a monster in his own eyes, a defender of all that is holy and a warlock shrouded in illusions. And all these things are actually logical and completely understandable given his story. Because, above everything else, Morgott is a broken creature, not as a result of his own deeds or guilts, but because of the things beyond his control, some ancient sins and crimes he's not aware of, some old vengeance that existed even before he was born. And this break, this pain, is a spiral, you know? Morgott hates his nature because he was convinced he's a monster, he supports the system that oppresses him because he believes that he's oppressed rightfully and this system is the best remaining option for the world as a whole, even if he and people like him have to suffer for it, and in doing so he causes even more harm, more oppression and misery for himself and everyone around. I love how he's a loyal, determined, faithful person, and this is exactly what makes him a villain in the story. He's an extremely tragic character, but completely consistent in his tragedy, his brokenness, and I have a deep weakness for broken things.

least favorite thing about them

I don't think there's anything I don't like about him as a character, I mean, he's certainly not flawless, but his flaws are what make him so interesting in the first place. So I say that my least favourite thing is his bossfight. Don't get me wrong, Morgott is one of my favourite FromSoft bosses in general, but I have a feeling that they made his moveset (super-complex and interesting) first, then remembered he's a mandatory mid-game boss and panicked to balance him to this level by drastically reducing his damage and hp.

favorite line

May the curse seep to thy very soul.

I just love his spiteful tone in this one, sorry.

brOTP

I could write Mohg or Godwyn here and it would be legit, but allow me to be more exotic this time and mention Malenia. They have many things in common, if you think about it: two cursed, yet somewhat noble beings, bitterly determined and endlessly loyal to their masters of choice. I can absolutely see how they can respect and understand each other, even if not sharing each other's cause. I also love the idea of a young, sick, not-yet-swordmaster Malenia and her Cool Big Brother Morgott, the only person around who takes her seriously.

OTP

Banished knight Oleg. Literally the mix of my favourite tropes of "liege and their a bit too loyal knight" and "my majestic, scheming wife and me, committing whatever crimes she wants me to commit today". Also Oleg dies before Morgott, so my inner angst enjoyer appreciates this as well.

nOTP

Mohg! I just can't see them as a pairing, their sibling relationships is everything to me. I'm also not a fan of Tarnished/Morgott, mainly because most of such arts/fics imply some level of self-indulgence and this just doesn't work for me (though I've seen several very cool works with this pairing too).

random headcanon

Three for the price of one: Morgott's hobby is creating clockwork automatons (a more detailed post about this hc); his favourite half-sibling is Malenia and this is mutual; he also shares Mohg's sense of fashion, but refuses to admit it.

unpopular opinion

While most people hc Morgott to be the elder twin, in my hcs he's the younger one (and the youngest of Godfrey's sons). Ironically enough, this isn't an important headcanon for Morgott himself, but it's an essential part of my perception of Godwyn and (especially) Mohg.

song i associate with them

Мельница - Что ты знаешь

My personal theme song for Morgott as the Veiled Monarch.

favorite picture of them

There're so many cool arts of Morgott that it's really hard to choose the most favourite one lol

So for now I pick this one by Cruentum_Noctis

[multiverse--wanderer]

Unshaken Outlaws | Arthur Morgan x John Marston [ENG]

[ Fan-Fiction based on the OTP between Arthur Morgan and John Marston from Red Dead Redemption ] In a world where the last cowboys are ruthlessly hunted, survival is the only rule. Loyalty, fragile yet vital, is the thread that binds the outlaws together, their sole hope in a landscape marked by betrayal and constant danger. Amidst war and a passion that defies the rules, Arthur and John will find an unexpected path to redemption as their world crumbles around them. For Dutch's gang, the fight for survival has never been easy, but it becomes even more complicated when a forbidden love blossoms amid fallen bullets, lies, and deep wounds. Can this love become the sanctuary they need to withstand the coming chaos, or will it be the end of everything they know?

...

REMINDER:

This story has been written in Spanish, which is my native language. This story has been translated to the best of my ability, although it is possible that it may have mistakes.

This is just a way to transport my writing to a common language for the rest of fans like me. For a better immersion, I recommend reading the story in its original version.

You can find this story on Wattpad and Archive of Our Own.

Thank you so much for reading me and see you in the stars.

...

Chapter 1: When the Deer Saved the Wolf

Present

The storm showed no signs of letting up. The bare, rigid trees groaned under the weight of frost, and the entire landscape seemed determined to bury the men who dared challenge it beneath its white mantle. The outlaws, hidden among those same mountains, knew they were safer than ever under that icy hell, but they also understood that their safety was temporary. Nature protected no one for long; they had to move before the storm eased and the world began hunting them again.

Arthur trudged forward with difficulty through snow that reached his knees. Every step was a titanic effort, and the cabin sheltering Jack, Abigail, Hosea, and the women seemed miles away, though in reality, only a few meters separated him from it. Finally, he arrived, his face battered by the icy wind and his muscles numb. He shook off his coat, sending a dusting of snow scattering onto the wooden floor by the fireplace, where it hissed upon contact. Without waiting for an invitation, he moved toward the fire, extending his gloved hands toward the flickering flames that greeted him with an almost painful warmth.

—He's been gone for days, and it doesn't look like this storm's letting up. —Abigail's voice broke the tense silence, though her tone couldn't hide her worry—. He's strong, and he's smart. I'm sure he'll...

—Strong, yes —Arthur interrupted, arching an eyebrow with sarcasm—, but smart...

The comment made Abigail frown, but before she could respond, she glanced at Arthur, and her expression softened. The fury on her face gave way, though the restless glint in her eyes remained.

—Hi, Arthur.

—Abigail.

His response was curt, tinged with the indifference Arthur always reserved for her. By now, Abigail knew how to read him. That mask of coldness didn't fool anyone who truly knew him. Determined to break through the wall, she took a step closer, her voice dropping a notch, becoming almost sweet.

—Arthur... how are you?

He glanced at her sideways, his sharp eyes evaluating her with the resigned weariness he used when he knew someone was about to ask him for something. He'd seen that tone in her too many times. With John, it was practically a weapon, a surefire way to get what she wanted. And with him... she only used it when she needed something no one else could give her.

—Fine, Abigail. You?

—I need... —She hesitated for a moment, but Arthur didn't need to hear more. He sighed, tired of always anticipating others' needs—. Sorry to ask, but...

—It's about little John, isn't it? —His tone was bitter, almost biting—. He's gotten himself into trouble again.

Abigail's face hardened instantly. She didn't like the way he spoke about John, but she forced herself to stay composed. Her frown sought Arthur's gaze, as if daring to confront his sarcasm head-on.

—We haven't seen him in two days, Arthur.

—Your dear John will be fine —He replied with an ironic smirk—. I mean... even if he's dumber than rocks and duller than watching grass grow, a snowstorm isn't going to kill him.

The comment echoed in the room, leaving an uncomfortable silence. Hosea, seated by the fire, lifted his gaze, his expression calm but laden with authority. Arthur seemed agitated—more out of worry than anything else—but his pride wouldn't let him admit it. No matter how much he wanted to hate John, he couldn't help feeling that blend of anger and fear. Because, in the end, he cared more than he wanted to admit.

—Go check on him, at least. —Hosea intervened, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument.

Arthur grunted, frustrated. He couldn't refuse Hosea, because Hosea wasn't just a leader. He was his mentor, his father in all but blood, and the only one who truly understood the complicated relationship between him and John, even when they themselves couldn't figure it out.

—Javier, go with him —Hosea added, directing a look at the young Mexican, who immediately stood.

Javier smiled with that ever-casual air of his, but his gesture was kind as he gave Arthur a pat on the chest.

—You know, if the roles were reversed, John would do the same for us. Let's go, Arthur.

Arthur pressed his lips together, hiding his expression beneath the high collar of his coat. His gaze met Hosea's, searching for support or maybe permission to cling to his pride. But Hosea didn't relent. His silence was a tacit order: "Set your anger aside and do the right thing."

Without another word, Arthur gave a brusque nod and headed out, Javier following close behind. As they shut the door behind them, the icy wind roared with renewed fury, as if the mountain itself were challenging them to find John before it was too late.

...

CONTINUE READING THE FULL CHAPTER HERE:

[lalaurelia]

original timeline Akutagawa for the ask thing, if you're in the mood ^^

Aw, thanks, lovely anon! I'll be glad to talk about him~

Favorite thing: Now I had to sit and stare at the wall for a while, because there are so many things I like about him, so many compelling things. And at first he seemed to be very removed from the characters I tend to like, but then, then everything happened XD I like how stubborn he is, how it takes him a while to accept an idea that contradicts his worldview (yes, this is about Atsushi). I like how he really has no brakes when it comes to achieving what he wants, and how blunt he is. There's something very simple at his core, but he is not simple at all. His design screams 'traditionally Japanese' to me and I love that too. I like his unclean battle style, evolved from him having to accommodate his physical fragility, and I love how he's wild and reckless despite that physical fragility. Sheer strength of will, sheer stubbornness to exist by his own rules, I find that so fascinating. And through all that stubbornness and rigidity, he still found himself able to change. No one does it like him.

An honourable mention goes to how he tried to help Kyouka while she was in the mafia. Yes, it was highly dysfunctional, yes, he was basing it on his own experience more than trying to understand her, yes, it was ultimately not good or fitting for her. But even in his single-mindedness he found it in himself to care about an orphan who seemed like him and didn't want her dead before at least giving her a chance. And how, after clashing with Atsushi, he found it in himself to understand her more and accept her choice, and be happy for her.

Least favorite thing: How Dazai-centric his worldview is. Was. He's made some progress in that regard, and I love to see it. So it's not even something I actively dislike about him, that's a part of Akutagawa after all, and I love him in all of his messed up entirety, turns out.

Favorite line: "You damn fool, hurry up and go" will never not make me emotional. I have a bit of a beef with the prettied up translation of it being "away with you", and like, I get it, Akutagawa speaks in a sort of unusual way, BUT in that moment, when he was pushing Atsushi to safety with all that he had and then some, his words would be viscerally simple.

brOTP: Akutagawa strikes me as a painfully lonely man, which is all the more painful that he wasn't when he started. He had friends back then, friends he loved to the point of losing all purpose when he lost them, and I bet that they loved him too, making the loss even more acute. His relationship with Gin doesn't strike me as the most... I don't want to use the word 'healthy', it's not about that. They love each other, obviously, but they're also very detached from one another. Akutagawa clearly lets her choose her own path without trying to control or hinder her, and Gin is clearly comfortable around him to be this very feminine, very traditional 'Yamato Nadeshiko' self, and she brings him tasty snacks to help him unwind or just show some affection. But they're not a major driving force in each other's lives. All that to say that I guess there's no brOTP for Akutagawa - but I wish we got to see his relationship with Chuuya more. It feels the closest to what a brOTP could be for him.

OTP: Shin Soukoku. I feel I haven't explained it much when I was writing about Atsushi, but, oh dear God, I love how their relationship progresses. From hostility and enmity to begrudging respect and admiration, to literally sacrificing themselves for each other, all the while bickering. What compels me the most is that even when they actively disliked each other, they still listened to the other's words, they still wanted to find that understanding. And the driving force behind that understanding was Atsushi trying, but Akutagawa responded to it - Atsushi hit him with all the emotions all at once, pulling them out of Akutagawa despite him pushing them down for so long, and he kept thinking about, he kept responding to what Atsushi was saying even as his own rigid thinking fought against understanding someone Akutagawa thought he needed to despise.

And maybe it's cheating to bring BEAST into it, but the ease of their connection there shows how quickly they could've become close if they had a chance to meet normally. That 'what if' keeps making me feel things.

I love how Akutagawa willingly makes himself more vulnerable in order to empower Atsushi. There's something very layered about him surrendering his precious coat for Atsushi's sake, to shield him and make sure he's safe. A knightly thing, I could say~

And Akutagawa demanding his jinko back is. Amazing. Please tell me Atsushi would learn about it.

nOTP: This will probably come across weird, but it's the pairing with Higuchi. It feels too one-sided and too uneven, and she deserves a lot better than to be an afterthought in someone's mind. I have some thoughts adjacent to that, but I'll prolly make a separate post.

Random headcanon: Akutagawa doesn't consider physical abuse as something particularly harrowing. So those times that Dazai hit him and shot him, they're just a part of the educational process to him, or something. But he despises psychological mindfuckery intensely. So when he learns about how the orphanage headmaster's words mess with Atsushi's head, he can't help but feel sympathy for him and despise the headmaster on his behalf.

(He'd hate the way Beast!Dazai triggered Beast!Atsushi intensely too.)

And for Atsushi it is reversed. He can take the psychological fuckery, but he draws the line at physical abuse, because he's had more than enough of it and he doesn't want anyone else to go through that. So when he sees Akutagawa getting hit by Dazai, there's more of that sympathy for him. But he probably wouldn't change his opinion of Dazai anyway.

Unpopular opinion: Don't know how unpopular that is though, but I don't think Akutagawa ever had romantic feelings towards Dazai. He loves him, for sure, but it's not familial nor romantic, it's worse, it's something you'd direct to a God if you're religious, with no thought of yourself or your own desires. Also, Akutagawa's not gay. Definitely some sort of queer though. Perhaps pansexual, but he's very - what's the word... - selective? picky? about who he finds attractive. Jinko.

Song i associate with them: Let's be cheesy and say it's Can't Deny My Love by Brandon Flowers.

Favorite picture of them:

It's so RAW with emotion. Not the perfect knight, but a man who saw the person dear to him gone. I am. Unwell about it.

I like his knightly look a lot, can't lie. That's why I'm not going through the latest chapters, or I'd end up bringing all the panels with him XD