edda2290

[bumblebeebat22]

the duality of man dan

[corvidae-00]

Please some jealous (kind of toxic ) joost but with a happy ending 🙏🙏🙏🙏

A/N: **fiddles fingers maliciously** this- I love this- He would so be sorta toxic and totally let his ego get ahead of him- this is gonna be fun to write! I hope you like it!!!!- GN!Reader x Joost :> CW: Toxic mannerisms, Marko is being used as the reason Joost gets worked up- (I love Marko I swear-), swearing, Angry Joost, tinny witty bitty bit of angst, Joost overthinking, smoking. (Let me know if I missed anything!! Word count: 1,747

The after party for eurovisions semi final was packed with the singers and the energy in the room was for sure through the roof. Joost your good friend and his group invited you to come with, Joost wanting to share this moment with you more than anything- the excitement and hype of everyone putting their hearts out there and competing only to come together to talk about how much happened, having you there would make it even better, if that would be even possible.

You agreed to come along, not that you had much choice, the Dutchman having begged and nagged and spammed you until you agreed. Not that you didn't want to come! But you knew you would stand out like a sore thumb, probably hang out by a corner waiting for the delicious food to be available or not so crowded. Looking over your outfit and the time you smile pleased with how you look and wonder slightly if Joost would too. You have had the biggest crush on him since a few months after you got to know him, the feelings having appeared and clung onto you with every ounce of power possible, and honestly? You were fine with that. Smoothing out your clothes you look at the time and decided if you want to make it in time you absolutely had to leave.

Grabbing your bag you left your hotel you had booked for the event and quickly drove over to the Venue like Joost told you it would be, not leaving the Malmo Arena, I guess the hosts didn't want to spend more money renting another place out for the singers, at least it was well know and easy to find. Stepping out of your car you hurry inside showing the security your invite from Joost and entering the main lobby reading your friends text to find the way glaring at the device unsure of what Joost was even trying to explain

"Are you looking for someone?" A strong accented and shy voice came from behind you causing you to turn around and blink a few times at the man in a very midevil looking outfit and gentle eyes holding a cup of what you assumed was water, but could be vodka- maybe he was crazy like that "Sorry- Im Marko.." He quickly introduces himself before continuing "You look extremely lost- Im sorry for spooking you" He says with a genuine tone leading to a smile pulling its way onto your lips. After introducing yourself you look back down at your texts "Im actually here for the after party? my friend- one of the performers invited me and he is quite the character when it comes to instructions..." You rub the back of your neck trying to explain the situation to the stranger who was just as bashful as you "Oh! I was just heading back! I'm not very talkative so I got some air but I can take you to the area they have for us" He offers running his hand through his hair that is surprisingly still in good shape like he had maybe applied hairspray not too long ago "Oh would you??" You put away your phone letting Marko nod and wave his hand indicating you to follow

"So who is your- eh- friend?" Marko looks over at you trying to make small talk. "Oh! His names Joost, he is representing the Netherlands." You explain and Marko's face brightens a little "Oh yes! I enjoy his company!" Marko nods with a smile "Makes sense you two are friends! it seems he can befriend almost everyone" He explains putting a finger to his jaw in what seems to be thought "Do you like cats?" Marko questions as you two get closer to the room, music can be heard from inside. nothing too crazy or club like but maybe just background ambiance "Oh yeah! They are so cute! I don't have any of my own but I like visiting my friends kitty's" You smile watching Marko excitedly pull out his phone "Oh let me show you mine!" He says as you two enter the room Marko going through his camera roll leaning into you to get closer so you can see better

Joost Turns to look at the door, hearing the squeak of the hinges that whines under the weight of it being even cracked open and furrows his brows seeing you walk in with Marko...What was he doing out there? Realizing he must have left the party Joost grows even more confused as to why you two were together- wasn't his directions perfectly understandable? His large blue coat long since shedded, Joost rolls up the sleeves of his white button up and crosses his arms leaning on a table watching the two of you interact. 'he is very close to you' he thinks to himself, a sour taste in his mouth watching you laugh at something he had said 'why is he, the shyer one of the bunch all buddy buddy with you? I mean you always have been so approachable- but that's not fair.' Joost clicks his tongue growing more and more impatient 'what if you are leaving me for him? what if you even forget who invited you here?' Joost can feel his patience thinning and the party getting quieter the more he focuses in on you two. Marko with a big grin on his face and you laughing at a photo he had shown you.

"Hey there you are!" Joost doesn't even recall when he had took strides over- or when he was so close to you he could feel the warm body heat emitting off of you "Marko! How nice of you to find my nieuwsgierig hertje". he purrs looking down at the man who is staring up at him "Oh uh-" Marko looks over at you and then slowly puts his phone away and wraps both hands around his drink "Yeah no issues" Marko nods. "No issues." Joost repeats grinding his molars together forcing a grin. he had never any issues with the Croatian- until he was basically in your arms "Bye-" Marko waves at you with a small smile wanting to escape the current situation and looking at Joost before entering the party again "Joost- You spooked him away" You sigh wrapping your arm around your friend leaning into him and Joost can feel his mind calming "He was too close to you" Joost huffs taking his glasses out of his chest pocket putting them on and pushing them up his nose

"He was showing me his cats-" You raise a brow and Joost looks down at you "that close? I think he just wanted to be up on you" Joost rubs his arms and looks away with annoyance lacing his voice "Whats got you in a mood?" you tug on his shirt and Joost grumbles "Nothing." He reply's and you frown "Nothing my ass, what's wrong" You stand your ground not expecting the tall blonde to drag you out into the hall not caring about his grand exit.

"Nothing is wrong." He snaps once you both get out into the hall "You were all emojis and smiles before you saw me walk in with Marko! he was very sweet." you huff and Joost crosses his arms "Sweet huh? sounds like you have a crush." He fixes his glasses that are slipping off his nose "I just met him Joost, what's up with you?" you frown walking towards him "This is a new side of you" You observe and Joost shakes his head "Im always like this okay?" he throws his hands up and you shake your head

"What- is wrong." you demand and Joost glares "Maybe I don't want to see someone I think highly of with some other guy." He says sarcastically "Highly of?" You push and Joost shakes his head "What are you talking about." You reach for him and Joost grabs your wrist, not hard- you could actually pull away if you wanted too "Someone I have wanted as mine forever, walks in with a guy who clearly was hanging off your every word." Joost pushes through his teeth.

you both stand there still as a wall and Joost observes your face, his pupils scanning you over and avoiding eye contact " you- want me?" You repeat and Joost sighs "onoplettend" he mutters and you shake your head "You cant use your mother tongue to get out of this Joost-" you say and take a shaky breath "Do you like me? like- like like-" You mutter and Joost swallows hard "Ja." He responds and you can feel your face grow hot "Really?" you mutter and Joost drops your wrist "Really. and it really- shook me I guess seeing you come in with him.." Joost grumbles and you shake your head "Your directions were ass" You laugh a little upon noticing Joost's offended face "They were eligible-" He defends and you sigh "I- feel the same- I have for such a long time-" You admit with a small smile "I never thought it was possible-" You shrug and Joost blinks at you like you are speaking in a whole other language

"Not possible-??" he repeats in pure shock "You are the most funniest, smartest, good looking, talented, and so much more of a person that I have ever met." Joost says his eyes going soft and you cant help the silence that comes after your brain still playing catch up with the new information "I wanted to tell you properly- a way you would see me as the same ways I see you..." He rubs his forearms nervously tracing his scattered tattoos. "but I guess-" He smiles "This might do?" he chuckles and you rub your mouth slightly with your hand "It does more than might do- I'm so happy-" You mutter and close your eyes taking a deep breath before walking towards him and embracing him in a big bear hug "You don't know how happy I am that you feel the same way" Joost says exasperated "Next time just tell me you goof than getting all jealous" You tease and Joost shakes his head "I was NOT jealous lets get that straight right now" He states playfully "Okay Mr.Not jealous" You chuckle as Joost wraps his arms around you "how does dinner sound tomorrow night-" He smiles and you nod slightly into his chest "consider it a date." you hum

Dutch translation: Curious deer: "nieuwsgierig hertje". Yes: Ja Oblivious: onoplettend A/N: heheheh I'm just cranking these out!!! I hope you liked it Anon and I hope it was what you were wanting! if not feel free to request again and I'm more than happy to keep writing!!! Thank you all for the love and the requests and everything! it makes my day seeing how many of you like my stuff....thank you! i love you all!!!!!

[ohbabydollie]

I don’t know if you’ve done this before buuuuut

Schlatt x Autistic Reader?

Comforting them at like a con because of the amount of people + popular creators :)

by the time the con is over, your exhausted and overstimulated, ready to go home, eat and pass the absolute fuck out.

your feet feel sore, you want to cry and just you don’t want to be stopped again for someone to get another picture with schlatt because you need to go back to the hotel and you need to go now. schlatt is politely declining pictures left and right so he can get you to a car.

once you’re both in, you’re sitting there, absolutely exhausted as he puts on some quiet music and looks for a restaurant that isn’t busy or crowded to have dinner in. once you both get into the restaurant and get seated, you feel yourself relax as he whispers to you softly. you look around taking in the calming ambiance of the restaurant, soft music in the background and the light sound of people talking to one another.

he orders your drink and food for you and once they arrive he’s happy to see you now relaxed, as you space out and eat.

his hand is on yours asking if you need anything else once you’ve finished eating. you shake your head no, he pays and takes you to the hotel where you both shower and spend the rest of the night cuddling

i tried my best anon, my younger brother is autistic so that’s mainly my exposure to autism

there’s a large chance that me and my older brother are also on the spectrum but we just never got properly diagnosed as kids bc of the area we lived in + how it was seen so negatively in the late 2000’s to early 2010’s, but anyways, i tried my best n hope it didn’t disappoint

[milk-tea-sakura]

~~~~~~~~~~

𝓒𝔀: 2𝓷𝓭 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓹𝓸𝓿, 𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓨/𝓷, 𝓯𝓮𝓶! 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻, 𝓯𝓵𝓾𝓯𝓯

𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓭 𝓒𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽: 1089

𝓔𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮: 4 𝓶𝓲𝓷 17 𝓼𝓮𝓬

~~~~~~~~~~

Han Jisung was always a cheerful and playful person, known for his silliness and quick wit among his bandmates in Stray Kids. However, there was one person who brought out a different side of him – his girlfriend, Y/n.

Jisung had met Y/n at a music festival that Stray Kids had performed at. He had been instantly drawn to her kind-hearted nature and her unique sense of fashion. After some flirting and playful banter, he finally got her number.

From there, their relationship bloomed. Jisung was used to being the playful one in his group. Still, with Y/n, he found himself being more vulnerable and honest about his feelings. He loved how she made him feel - safe, supported, and understood. And Y/n adored seeing this softer side of him, the Jisung who was shy and romantic when it was just the two of them behind closed doors.

They spent their time together creating memories and laughing endlessly. Jisung would sneak Y/n to his dorm room when the other members were out, and they would spend hours talking, sharing dreams, and just being together. Despite the demanding schedules of his career, he always made time for her, even if it was just a quick phone call before bed.

Y/n was Jisung's refuge, a place where he could be himself without the pressure of being an idol. They laughed over silly jokes, cuddled during late-night movie marathons, and found joy in the simplest things, like cooking a meal together or going for a walk in the park.

Jisung's bandmates, although teasing and jokingly jealous of the time he spent with Y/n, were genuinely happy to see their usually sassy and carefree member find such happiness. They often jokingly called her “the only one who could tame Han Jisung.”

It was late at night, and Jisung and Y/n were sitting together in his dorm room, the soft light from a lamp providing a cozy ambiance. Jisung was sprawled on the bed, a pillow propped behind his head, while Y/n sat beside him, her legs draped over his. Jisung had one hand resting on her ankle, his thumb tracing idle patterns on her skin.

The world outside was quiet, the city's buzz reduced to a faint hum in the background. Jisung broke the silence with a soft sigh, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "You know," he began, his voice low and pensive, "Sometimes, I wonder what I did to deserve you."

"What do you mean," Y/n asks

Jisung rolled onto his side, a warm smile tugging at his lips as he looked at her. "You're perfect, you know that?" he said, his eyes roaming over her face. "You put up with my nonsense, you understand me when I'm being a brat, and you love me despite everything. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm worthy of you."

"Of course, you're worthy of me. If anything I should be asking you this." Y/n tells Han

Jisung's smile widened at her words. "Nah, you're selling yourself short," he said, reaching out to gently tug a strand of her hair. "You're the one who makes me want to be a better version of myself, who makes me feel like I can be vulnerable around you. That's priceless."

Y/n shifted closer to him, her thigh now pressed against his. "And you think you don't do the same for me?" she countered, a playful smile on her lips. "You make me laugh, you make me feel special, and you're the sweetest, most caring partner anyone could ask for."

Jisung chuckled, enjoying their playful banter. "Well, we make each other better, then," he conceded, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "But I'm still going to argue that you're the better half of this relationship."

"And I will happily accept that claim."

Jisung smiled, his eyes gleaming in the soft light. "Good," he said, his hand gently stroking her side. "But don't ever forget that you're the one with the power here. You've tamed the brat known as Han Jisung. That's an achievement in itself."

Y/n chuckled. "I've only 'tamed' you because I know I'm the only one you'll listen to," she teased, poking his chest playfully. "You're just putting on a show for the others most of the time."

Jisung feigned offense, putting a hand over his heart. "How dare you," he gasped, pretending to be hurt. "I'll have you know, I'm genuinely a menace. You've just managed to see through my tough exterior and find the softie beneath."

Y/n laughed, fully aware of his playful nature. "Oh, you're such a menace, alright," she agreed, resting her head on his chest. "Scared of horror movies, can't cook to save your life, and cries like a baby when we watch sad movies."

Jisung pretended to pout, his arm wrapping around her tighter. "Hey, those are my vulnerabilities. You're supposed to keep those secrets," he protested, but there was no hiding the smile playing at the corners of his lips. "And for the record, I happen to be a fantastic cook. I just happen to specialize in instant ramyeon."

Y/n's laughter filled the room. "Right, how could I forget your specialty?" she teased, resting her hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "And what about horror movies? You're still the one who hides your face in my shoulder whenever we watch one."

Jisung rolled his eyes, pretending to look indignant but failing miserably as the corners of his mouth curled up. "Hey, it's not hiding, it's called strategic avoidance," he quipped. "I'm not scared, I'm just… tactically avoiding jump scares because I know my heart couldn't handle them."

Y/n chuckled, feeling the playful banter between them lighten the mood even more. "Okay, Mr. Tactical Avoider," she said, her tone light and affectionate. "I won't expose your secret anymore."

Jisung sighed dramatically, pulling her even closer. "Good," he said, a goofy grin on his face. "And besides, I have a feeling you wouldn't want me any other way. You secretly find my jumpy nature endearing, admit it."

Y/n feigned nonchalance, her expression mock and serious. "Oh, absolutely," she teased. "Your fear of horror movies and inability to cook is definitely among my top criteria in a boyfriend."

Jisung laughed. "Hey now, don't ruin the moment," he joked, pretending to sound offended. "We both know you adore all my quirks, even the ones you pretend annoy you."

[plottwiststudios]

PlotTwist Studio's Patreon is Finally Live

Studio's Patreon Page

My Personal Ko-Fi Page

Hello, hello! We haven't had a hardcore update here in quite some time, have we? Well, if you remember back during "Women of Xal's" production, it's very much because we were doing a lot in the background and didn't have the energy to provide giant update posts every few weeks. Well, the stuff in the background will be bubbling up to the surface soon, and it's time to share what we've been doing, and how you can help make sure we keep creating content for those who love our obscure narrative beats. Let's talk about the fun stuff we're cooking up!

Women of Xal: ???

Recognize her? You absolutely do! It's a draft of an in-game Xjena! But this isn't in the visual novel. Why is it being commissioned? What's it for? Is there excitement to be had?! The Patreon would love~ to give an update on that in due time! (Pixel Art by newcomer: Ramon Kalachuchi / Animation by the talented @boxyheadbry)

The People We Are: Episode 1

"The People We Are" is a series of (very) short conversations that chiefly focuses on the very human interactions normal, non-magical people have in reality. Each of these conversations will feel extremely specific and not exactly universal messages or something that can apply to a general audience. But, perhaps, just like with Clanice from our last visual novel, the very personal moments in this story will still make one person feel seen. Episode 1 of this visual novel will drop in August on our Patreon, with future episodes happening ideally monthly. (Art by @nekojirou, artist for Women of Xal~!)

PT's Dollmaker App

Did you know we have over 5000 assets for this app? And putting it together will be a programming nightmare for the programmer we inevitably hire? That's been the key reason why there's no beta! No funds! The three characters on the banner are literally a fraction of the combinations you can make on this app. With countless afro-styles you can mix and match! And of course, once we get the app up and running, your support will see more assets updated! (Artist: Newcomer Jean Maniclang)

Mesto Accelerando: Encore

We'll be releasing chapters in order leading up to "Mesto Accelerando: Encore's" Kickstarter, where we hope the stretch goals will allow us to illustrate or even animate fan-favorite scenes from the book. (Decided via vote from readers) You can be notified when the Kickstarter launches here. (Artist: Alexelle Lee)

Custom Original Music For You!

Have cash to spare every month and want to spend it on our Patreon? Well that's certainly one way to get original music for your personal use or even commercially! I specialize in orchestra and ambiance, so bear that in mind! Everything else is a gamble. Music is expected to be finished by the end of each month.

The Patreon's Trajectory

So this is an Indie studio Patreon. What are the goals? What does the cash fund? How often can you expect to see updates? How on Earth are we juggling all of this on a shoestring budget and full time jobs? Why that last question was a punch in the heart for being too real a thing to ask me, but let's dig in!

The goal is to allow the creatives in PlotTwist Studios create content full time. Right now the head works full time at Walmart Automotive, and that is absolute murder on focusing on getting all this content out faster. (Although it is doing the heavy lifting in funding what I can.)

Funds that go into Patreon will be used to hire artists and programmers on a monthly basis to push our projects forward.

Updates will be based on how many supporters we have and how much we make a month, as you all directly drive the creation of this content.

I can commission people because I'm using my own commission money, my job money, and paying for assets one baby step at a time. No, this is not sustainable on my income, and

By supporting our Patreon, you'll be slowly but surely funding our smaller projects, that will pave the path in getting us a bigger following to support our grander ambitions. (Like our mobile apps!) Please consider supporting us and getting this show on the road!

[misc-obeyme]

unchained - chapter four

masterpostread the chapter on ao3

recommended music: Evermore by Alexis Ffrench word count: 2080

GN!MC x Arsenios [demon OC] a/n: A short and sweet chapter where we get more glimpses into Arrie's character. Nothing too dramatic, but hints of things to come. Warnings: none

It was only a couple of days later that you showed up at Cafe Lament with Simeon and Luke in tow. You hadn’t wanted to go by yourself, too nervous to be the only person to show up. It turned out that Cafe Lament had a special type of pastry that Luke wanted to try and Simeon was happy enough to tag along.

The three of you sat at a table, chatting about things like the brothers and school. Some demons you didn’t recognize were setting up the stage area. It was almost barren, just a sort of makeshift dais with a grand piano and a mic.

You noticed when Simeon's eyes focused on something behind you. And then Arsenios came into your field of vision, stopping beside your table.

“You came,” Arsenios said, looking at you with a little sparkle in his eyes.

You smiled and shrugged a little self consciously. “I said I would, didn’t I?”

Simeon smiled. “Hello, Arsenios,” he said. “It’s good to see you again.”

You were a little surprised that Simeon seemed to know Arsenios. But then you remembered how Beel had said that Arsenios was friends with Barbatos. You remembered seeing Arsenios at the Demon Lord's Castle, too.

“Arrie!” Luke said, waving at him from across the table. “You haven’t been to the castle in forever! You really should try these macarons Barbatos and I have been making lately!”

“Macarons?” Arsenios’s expression was serious. “You’ve been making macarons?”

“Yeah, I know how much you love them,” Luke said. “So you have to come by and try them!”

Arsenios nodded. “Let me know the next time you make them and I’ll be sure to come by.” He put a hand to his chest and closed his eyes. “I would do just about anything for a taste of a macaron made by Luke and Barbatos.”

Simeon laughed. “We’ll be sure to save you some if you can’t make it.”

“I truly appreciate you thinking of me,” Arsenios said.

One of the demons on stage waved in Arsenios's general direction. He held up a hand to indicate he'd seen them, then grinned at everyone at the table, his eyes lingering on you. “You don’t have to wait until the end. I’m really just supposed to be background music, so I don’t know how long I’ll play for. I hope you enjoy the music and the food.”

You didn’t have a chance to respond because Arsenios was already making his way to the piano.

You looked across the table at Simeon. “I didn’t know you guys knew Arsenios so well.”

“I wouldn’t say we know him well,” Simeon said. “But Barbatos does. He often invites Arsenios over to the castle for tea. Since Luke is there a lot, too, we’ve had a chance to talk.”

“Shh, you two,” Luke interrupted. “He’s about to start.”

You and Simeon smiled at each other, then turned your focus to the stage. There were no lights or special effects. It was as he said, he was meant to be part of the ambiance. It was low key. You noticed that he was dressed in the usual casual outfit that he wore when he wasn’t at RAD.

Arsenios tucked his hair behind one ear and began to play the piano.

You were transported back to the dance hall at RAD. Memories of your hand holding his, tracing the black magic circle on the back of it, flooded your mind.

And then to your surprise, he sang your favorite song. It was the same one you had named for him that day when he had used his magic to ease your fatigue.

You were entranced. Nobody else seemed to notice. Simeon and Luke were listening, but in a polite sort of way. The rest of the cafe customers were just going on with what they were doing.

But you were in another place, not that far away, and not too long ago. And you found you wanted to know more about him.

Arsenios had been evasive about some of your questions, clearly avoiding giving you a straight answer. You were sure this had to do with his comfort level - he didn’t quite trust you enough to open up yet.

Still, here he was, singing your favorite song. It was as though the two of you were the only people in the room. Did it mean anything? Or was he just being nice?

You also remembered way back in your first year how he had warned you to be careful about making pacts. Now you had one with each of the seven brothers and you were a sorcerer, too.

You wondered if his opinion about any of that had changed.

Your thoughts scattered as you listened to him sing. It wasn’t that he was influencing you with his song, but rather that his voice was so resonant, it seemed to echo faintly in your chest. It was a feeling that you couldn’t quite describe - a sort of calm before the storm. Like hiding just beneath these peaceful notes was something dangerous, something real. You briefly remembered Lucifer's warning.

Arsenios played through several more songs by the time Luke was finished with the special pastry. At that point, both you and Simeon had sampled it, too. It really was delicious.

“Are you going to try to recreate it?” you asked Luke.

Luke scrunched up his face in thought. “I don’t know,” he said. “I think Barbatos and I could probably do it. But I also kind of think it’d taste better with devilberry filling. The bloodberry isn’t bad, but it’s a little too tart. Maybe Barbatos has a better idea, too.”

You smiled over at Simeon, who was beaming. “You’ve learned so much about Devildom ingredients,” he said.

Luke frowned. “Well, of course! It’s not like I can get ingredients from anywhere else easily! And I have to perfect my pastry making skills!”

Simeon laughed. “Of course,” he said.

As you stood up to leave, you glanced over at Arsenios. He was focused on the keys, but you were sure he would notice when you left.

Simeon came up to stand beside you, his eyes also on the demon at the piano. “I think something bad happened to him,” Simeon said quietly to you. “Way back in the past. And I think an angel was involved in helping him.”

You looked at Simeon. “How do you know?”

“I don’t,” Simeon replied. “It’s just a feeling I get. The way he looked at me when we first met…”

You looked back at Arsenios. You hadn’t noticed anything odd about the way he had interacted with Simeon and Luke today. But it was obvious he was now familiar and comfortable with them.

You didn’t ask Simeon any more questions. You had the sense that he was only giving you his opinion. But you agreed with him. Something had happened to Arsenios. You wondered how old he was. Lucifer had called him ancient. He likely had plenty of time for bad things to happen to him in his lifespan. Maybe one day he would tell you about them.

-

The next time you saw Arsenios, you were at the Demon Lord’s Castle where you were invited to a tea party by Barbatos. Simeon, Solomon, and Luke were already there. Lord Diavolo was off on business and you had left most of the brothers to their own devices at the House of Lamentation.

When you arrived, you were happy to see your friends gathered around the table. After a little while of chatting, eating, and drinking, Luke put down his teacup.

“Hey,” he said, picking up a macaron from a plate. “I said I’d let Arrie know if we made macarons again! Can you call him?”

This last question was directed at Barbatos, who smiled indulgently. “I shall send him a message. He may be busy on such short notice.”

“Yeah, but I think he’d really like these,” Luke said.

Barbatos took out his D.D.D. and sent the message. Moments later, he received a response. “It looks like Arsenios will be able to join us after all.”

And indeed, it took only ten minutes or so for him to arrive. Barbatos brought him in to the table, setting another place there for him, between you and Luke.

“Arrie!” Luke exclaimed. “We made the macarons!”

“They look amazing,” Arsenios said.

Luke put several macarons on a plate for him. Barbatos poured him a cup of tea.

Arsenios took a bite of one of the macarons and made a big show of being overcome by the deliciousness of it. “You’ve really outdone yourselves with these,” he said. “Thank you for inviting me over to try them. It’s an honor to taste something so delectable.”

Luke clasped his hands together. “I think you’re exaggerating, but I’m glad you like them!”

Arsenios pretended to be offended. “Me? Exaggerate? Nah. That’s not my style. These are indeed exquisite. I would know. I’ve eaten a lot of macarons. But if you don’t believe me, I’m sure MC would back me up.”

Arsenios turned to you, eyebrows raised. You nodded seriously. “No, he’s right,” you said. “These macarons are beyond delicious.”

“It is a recipe that Luke has recently perfected,” Barbatos added. “I think you can taste the care that was put into them as well.”

Luke blushed and twisted a little in his seat. “You guys are just being nice to me.”

“It’s lucky that you were nearby, Arsenios,” Simeon said.

Arsenios nodded. “I had a day off, so I was just at the RAD library.”

“You were at the RAD library?” Solomon asked. “But you never study.”

“I didn’t say I was studying,” Arsenios said.

You noted right away the tension between Solomon and Arsenios. You weren’t sure what it was, but you filed that information away for later. Maybe you would interrogate Solomon about it.

“Then what were you doing?” Solomon asked.

Arsenios shrugged. “Reading.”

Solomon chuckled. “All right, I get it.”

Arsenios sipped his tea. “Do you? I’m surprised you haven’t already asked me about a pact.”

Solomon put his hands up. “It’s not like that’s the only thing on my mind.”

Arsenios frowned. “Hmm.”

Barbatos shook his head. “I must remind you both that this is a tea party among friends.”

You had to hide a smile at the way both Solomon and Arsenios looked guilty at this.

“Right. Sorry, Barb,” Arsenios said. He turned back to Luke. “What ingredients did you use in this one?”

As Luke launched into an explanation of the way they tweaked an established recipe to make alternate flavors, you met Solomon’s gaze across the table.

Solomon smiled at you and gave you a tiny shrug.

You rolled your eyes.

Arsenios’s D.D.D. began to ring. He looked at the screen and frowned. “Liviana?” He looked around at the table and stood up. “I’m sorry, I better take this.”

He moved off to a far corner of the room before answering the phone.

You felt like he was far enough out of earshot and certainly distracted enough for you to say something.

“Why doesn’t he like you?” you asked Solomon directly.

Solomon let out a sigh. “For the same reason Lucifer doesn’t, I think.”

“Solomon has asked Arsenios to forge a pact with him,” Barbatos said. He looked at Solomon with a slightly exasperated expression. "Multiple times."

You frowned, remembering the time Arsenios had warned you about making pacts. “He seems to be against pacts in general.”

“There is a history there,” Barbatos said gently. “If you wish to understand it, I suggest you ask him.”

You looked at the butler. “You already know, don’t you?”

Barbatos smiled. “It is not my story to tell.”

You couldn’t argue with that. You hadn’t actually expected Barbatos to tell you.

Arsenios returned to the table for a bit, but he had to leave sooner than he had anticipated. It turned out the band had been calling to tell him about a last minute gig that they had booked. You exchanged contact information with him before he went, as you realized you didn't have it yet.

You wondered if you would have the opportunity to ask him about his aversion to pacts. And if you did get the chance, should you? It seemed like a sensitive topic.

You couldn’t help admitting to yourself that there was something about Arsenios that intrigued you. Perhaps you would ask if the right moment came.

masterpost | chapter three | chapter five

taglist: @avalordream @lonely-north-star @expressionless-fr @featheredcrowbones @pumpkinsareamazing comment to be added or removed!

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[bbobpul]

maybe it's a good thing — x. minghao

NOTE. this is not an email! i will put the series on hold since i don't want it to be rushed and end terribly. i want to give each member justice and make their characters well-written so take this minghao oneshot as a little compensation. not proofread.

PAIRING. artist!the8 x singer!reader

GENRE. hurt/comfort, angst (as usual)

SYNOPSIS. a struggling singer and a talented artist, xu minghao, cross paths every evening at a lively local bar

W/C. 5k

WARNINGS. language alluding to death

messy masterlist/navigation

you stand backstage watching the audience as the shattered glasses, muffled talk, and distant hum of conversation all come together to create a cacophonous melody. as you watch, crowds of people gather in front of the dimly lit stage, the spotlight shining a tantalizing glow on the artists who have graced it with their presence throughout the course of the night.

a close friend had approached you a few nights before asking for help. they scheduled a friday night concert at your town's beloved local bar, and they needed a last-minute performer. not only did the owner of the pub offer you a huge payout, but you also pledged to help out a friend in need.

your heart was racing with a mix of excitement and dread as you found yourself pacing back and forth behind the heavy drapes as the hours went by. being in front of a large audience is thrilling yet nerve-wracking at the same time because you've always felt more at ease in smaller and more intimate settings.

there is an electrifying feeling in the pub, even though you are trying to hide from the audience's probing eyes. vibrations of laughter and cheers fill the room, interspersed with the inevitable accident when bottles of beer shatter on the polished wooden floor. its peculiar scent blend—which perfectly captures the ambiance of this local hangout—combines the rich scent of pub food with the lingering smell of booze.

the faint echoes of the preceding act's music can be heard backstage; each chord has a unique magnitude that has fired up everyone in attendance. there's an indescribable feeling of adrenaline in the air, and as you take a deep breath and get ready to step onto the stage for the night's final act, you know that this will be an unforgettable event no matter how it turns out.

you were placed back in reality when the event organizer tapped your shoulder and whispered, “you’re up next.”

you nodded your head as a response and gripped the strap of your guitar before taking a deep breath. affirmations ran through your head as you walked to the middle of the stage. you sat on the stool, placed your guitar comfortably on your lap, and began to play the first few strokes of the strings that caused the audience to scream and cheer for you.

it was overwhelming for you, to say the least. it’s your first time performing infront of a huge crowd. normally, it would just be you playing at a relative's birthday or some stranger’s funeral but never at a place like this. it was electrifying.

your eyes were trying their hardest to find a familiar face in the room, watching and listening to you as you sung the lyrics of the song you had chosen to perform, but you failed yourself when you realized they were all strangers. it wasn't an issue for you. rather, your gaze fell on this one person, and you began observing him without realizing it. he's not paying attention very closely. unlike other people in the audience, he didn't seem as drawn to the performance on stage; instead, it seemed as like he was living in his own bubble with your voice playing in the background. he was, instead, doodling something on a piece of brown tissue paper.

he held your interest. except for him, everyone else was staring at you. he was enjoying his own time as if he was the only one in the room. of course, you don't think that everyone would be watching you, but there was something about him that made you look at him after each verse and bridge you sang that evening.

you thanked them and said you wanted to see them again another evening as you concluded the three songs you had prepared. when you turned to face his table again, you noticed that the man had already left and that it was vacant and spotless. not a glimpse of the tissue paper he had been sketching on before. as soon as you got off the stool and went back behind the stage, people began to make their way towards the exit as well.

"you did so well!" your friend, seokmin, said, beaming with admiration, as you slung your guitar bag over your shoulder. you glared at him and playfully smacked his arm.

"i was looking for you earlier!" you replied, knitting your eyebrows and pouting when he laughed at your mock anger.

"i was watching you backstage!" he defended himself, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"you know, i was fuming earlier since you were the one who invited me here, and yet you weren't even in the audience," you said, a touch of mock annoyance in your voice.

"okay, don't be mad now. you'll get wrinkles. calm your brows," seokmin teased, his laughter filling the air as you both shared a lighthearted moment after your performance.

"oh, by the way! the owner said he'll send the money directly to your account. he also mentioned giving you a bonus if you come here again next friday. what do you say?" seokmin asked, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes as he looked at you, eagerly awaiting your response.

"sure, why not? i'm free next friday," you replied with a smile, feeling a sense of excitement at the prospect of performing again.

"that's good to hear!" seokmin said, his enthusiasm matching yours.

"you better be in the audience next friday. i was dead nervous earlier," you teased seokmin, trying to hide the lingering nerves from your voice with a playful tone.

"yeah, yeah! you should head home now, hun. there won't be any cabs around past 2 am. i still need to close up the bar, so you should head home first," seokmin urged, showing concern for your safety and well-being after a successful but late-night performance.

you bid your goodbyes to seokmin and stepped outside the bar, the cool night air offering a refreshing contrast to the vibrant energy you had just left behind.

as you stood at the side of the road, it felt as if you could still hear the echoes of the cheers and applause from your earlier performance. your heart continued to race, and the thrill of the moment lingered in the cool night air. you inhaled deeply, the cold breeze providing a soothing contrast to the excitement that still pulsed within you, as you waited for a taxi to pass by and take you home.

the pub was situated in a quiet, almost desolate alley, likely to minimize disturbances to the other residents in the area. unfortunately, this meant that very few vehicles frequented the road, especially at the late hour of 2:30 am. as you stood there, you realized that hailing a taxi might take longer than you had initially thought, adding an extra layer of challenge to your journey home.

you let out a sigh and began to reflect, realizing that this night wasn't as flawless as you had initially imagined it to be. however, there was no pressing need to hurry back home, for your house was a solitary sanctuary. there was no one waiting for you there, as you lived alone, except for the friendly stray cat that you often found nestled beside your bedroom window.

you were startled out of your thoughts as a strong, blinding light suddenly illuminated the alley. blinking away the temporary blindness, you turned to see a sleek, black hellcat redeye not too far from where you stood. the car began to roll slowly in your direction, and the driver honked the horn when it came to a stop in front of you. crouching slightly to look through the window, you were taken aback to see the same guy you had noticed sketching earlier in the evening. the unexpected encounter added another surreal layer to an already eventful night.

"need a ride?" he asked, his words careful and gentle, as if he were making an effort not to come across as too forward or strange. his concern was evident in his tone.

"yeah," you replied, your voice slightly shaky from the chill of the night. "obviously," you added under your breath, feeling the cold seep into your bones, grateful for the unexpected but timely offer of a ride.

“get in, —.” he said, using your stage name to address you with a gentle smile, a touch of familiarity in his demeanor.

"thank you," you said, the gratitude evident in your voice as you fastened your seatbelt.

he hummed in response, starting the car and preparing to drive.

"where to?" he asked, his eyes briefly meeting yours in the rearview mirror.

"oh, 17 apartment complex. it's pretty far from here. i'm sorry," you explained, feeling a twinge of guilt for the inconvenience.

"no, it's totally okay with me. i don't live very far from your building anyways," he reassured you, his tone warm and accommodating. you settled back in your seat, grateful for his understanding and the unexpected company on your way home.

the first few minutes of the ride were filled with a certain awkwardness. he kept himself occupied by humming along to the tune playing on the local radio, his eyes occasionally darting to the road ahead.

“what’s your name?” he asked, breaking the awkward silence.

“i’m —, you?”

“minghao. how old are you, —?”

“i’m 25.”

"oh, i'm a year older than you then," he replied with a friendly smile, a subtle connection forming as you exchanged this small piece of personal information.

the exchange of personal information had a surprising effect, gradually melting the initial awkwardness in the car. minghao's sense of humor emerged, and he started cracking jokes throughout the long drive home. you found yourself enjoying the banter, though you had to remind him to keep his eyes on the road a few times. the conversation flowed so naturally that it almost felt like you had known each other for ages.

curiosity about why he hadn't seemed attentive during your performance earlier crossed your mind, but in the warmth of the moment, with him right beside you on the drive home, the question seemed less pressing. you were content to let the night unfold at its own pace, and you appreciated the newfound camaraderie that had unexpectedly come into your life.

"thanks again!" you said with a warm smile on your face as you stepped out of minghao's car.

"see you again some other time. go inside now. it's cold," he advised, a caring tone in his voice. you nodded in agreement, appreciating his thoughtfulness.

you entered the building and turned back to look once the automatic glass door of the building closed shut. minghao's car was just starting to pull away, disappearing into the night, leaving you with a sense of gratitude for the serendipitous encounter and a newfound friendship that had brightened your evening in the most unexpected way.

your friday evenings fell into a comfortable rhythm, with your performances at the local pub becoming a regular highlight of the week. minghao continued to be a dedicated audience member, offering you a ride home after each show. eventually, your interactions extended beyond the confines of the friday routine, as you both decided to spend time together on days when your schedules allowed. the bond between you grew stronger, fueled by shared laughter, genuine conversations, and a growing sense of companionship that transcended the confines of the local bar and the friday night performances.

over time, you discovered that minghao was not just an art enthusiast but an accomplished artist in his own right. his talents and dedication to his craft impressed you, and it came as a delightful surprise when he confided that he had an upcoming opportunity to showcase his artwork in a renowned gallery in paris next week.

tonight is just another amazing evening for you, and that sentence carries an entirely different meaning now. a few nights ago, you had entered this local pub with a mix of nervousness and the overwhelming sensation of performing in front of a large crowd, all motivated by the prospect of earning some extra money. however, as the weeks turned into months, you found that you had come to love your evenings at the pub.

the owner, recognizing the growing popularity of the pub's live music, had extended the concert nights to include mondays, wednesdays, and fridays. it was no longer just your fridays, but the entire week had become a delightful series of performances and moments of connection with an audience that had grown to appreciate and support your music.

you had grown to relish the thrill of performing in front of an audience, and the peace and fun that followed each of your shows had become something you eagerly anticipated. what once felt like a daunting task had evolved into a cherished part of your life, a testament to the transformative power of shared experiences and the connections formed on those memorable friday nights.

"hey," seokmin's sudden whisper caught you off guard, interrupting your thoughts as you waited for your turn to perform on stage.

you turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "hey! what's wrong with you?" you asked, unable to contain a playful smirk as you lightly smacked his arm.

"i see you have your own personal driver now, huh?" he teased, earning a playful glare from you in return.

"i don't meddle in your romance with the owner of this pub, so mind your own business," you retorted, a hint of sass in your voice, which only made him laugh even more. the lighthearted banter with your friend helped ease the last-minute nerves as you prepared to take the stage once again.

"so... who is he?" seokmin persisted with his curiosity.

"he's just a friend of mine," you replied, a hint of defensiveness in your tone.

seokmin didn't back down. "i'm asking for his name, not who he is to you," he clarified, clearly interested in the details.

“name is minghao, he’s an artist.”

“minghao? he’s here right now?”

“about that, i don’t know if he could come today since he has a flight tomorrow. he needs his rest, you know?”

“flight to where?”

“paris, he has an event to attend.”

“big time. anyway, you need to get going. the previous act just left the stage.”

with seokmin's reminder, you took a deep breath and made your way to the center of the stage, ready to captivate the audience with your performance. as the spotlight shone upon you, you began to sing, the music filling the air, and the crowd's attention shifting to you, for another memorable evening at the local pub.

throughout your performance, you couldn't help but steal glances at the entrance of the pub, hoping to catch a glimpse of minghao walking in. however, as your performance concluded, he was still nowhere to be seen. 

you had already prepared yourself for the likelihood of his absence, but a part of your heart couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. minghao had become a regular part of your friday routine, and his absence meant that you would be heading home alone, missing the comfort of his presence and the familiar company during the drive back.

you concluded your wednesday performance and bid your goodbye to the audience to your friend, seokmin.

as you stood at the side of the road, waiting for a cab that seemed highly unlikely to pass by, a sense of resignation began to settle in. the cold night air seemed to penetrate deeper as you waited patiently, hoping for some stroke of luck to bring a taxi your way.

just when it felt like your patience might wear thin, you couldn't believe your eyes when you saw the unmistakable sight of minghao's black hellcat redeye approaching. the vehicle came to a smooth stop in front of you, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and gratitude wash over you. 

"i couldn't leave without driving you back home," minghao said with a reassuring smile as you approached the car window. the warmth in his words and the kindness in his eyes instantly put you at ease, and you eagerly hopped into the car, comforted by the knowledge that you wouldn't be braving the chilly night alone. the sense of disappointment that had weighed on you earlier began to dissipate, and you embarked on the drive back home with a grateful heart, appreciating the unexpected friendship that had brightened your life in countless ways.

the night air was crisp, and the streets were nearly deserted as you both continued your journey through the quiet city. minghao's dedication to ensuring you got home safely, despite the early hours and his impending flight, touched you deeply.

"you really shouldn't have. you have a flight to catch, and it's 3 am," you insisted once more, your concern growing for his well-being.

minghao, however, brushed off your worries. "are you kidding me? this is the least i could do for you. i won't be seeing you for a week," he responded with unwavering determination, his eyes briefly leaving the road to meet yours.

"you need to rest, hao," you continued, not wanting him to exhaust himself before his important journey.

"this is rest," he reassured you, turning to look at you once more, his eyes filled with warmth and understanding. the way he looked at you made your heart skip a beat, and you couldn't help but smile in return.

"eyes on the road," you playfully reminded him, ensuring he stayed focused on the task at hand. the bond you had formed over the past weeks was a source of great comfort to both of you, and the journey back home in the early hours of the morning, despite the upcoming separation, felt like a cherished moment of connection.

the dark, quiet streets rolled by as minghao drove you home, and the solitude of the night created a sense of intimacy between you two. his commitment to driving you back, even when he had an early flight to catch, was a testament to the depth of your friendship.

"don't you worry. after i drive you home, i will head straight to the airport and i will sleep there," minghao reiterated, his voice calm and reassuring.

you couldn't help but offer, "are you sure you don't want to have coffee at my house before you head to the airport?" concern for his well-being tugged at your heart, knowing that he was sacrificing his rest to ensure you got home safely.

minghao's smile was both gentle and resolute as he declined your offer. "no need," he replied, "you should sleep as soon as you get home. i'll be fine." his caring demeanor and genuine concern for your comfort and well-being resonated deeply with you, and you nodded in understanding.

"you are home," minghao said gently, drawing you out of your reverie as you continued to stare at him.

"huh?" you responded, momentarily confused.

"we are here," he clarified, gesturing toward your building.

"oh," you murmured, realizing your distraction, and looked to your right to see your familiar apartment building. "well, thank you for the ride, hao. and good luck in paris."

"thank you. good night," minghao replied with a warm smile before you closed the car door behind you.

just like any other evening, minghao didn't leave until he saw you inside the building. the familiar routine and his unwavering consideration were a comforting friend that you had come to rely on, and as you watched his car drive away, you felt a wave of gratitude for his presence in your life.

entering your unit, you felt far from tired. the drive with minghao had been a peaceful interlude in your life, much like any other evening you spent with him. the sense of comfort and contentment that his presence brought was a cherished part of your routine, a bright spot in your week that had transformed your evenings into moments of warmth, friendship, and music. you couldn't help but reflect on how, from a chance meeting at the local pub, a beautiful friendship had blossomed, filling your life with unexpected joy and connection.

the morning you woke up, it was an ordinary thursday. it began just like any other day, with your familiar routine of going on a peaceful walk, visiting your favorite bakery, and then returning to your apartment to spend the day in peaceful solitude. everything seemed as it usually was.

however, a subtle sense of unease crept in when you realized there was no "good morning" text from minghao. at first, you found it strange, but then it dawned on you that he had a flight today. he always turned his phone to airplane mode during flights, and that was why the expected message was missing. 

despite knowing the reason, a slight feeling of emptiness lingered, reminding you of the importance of this daily interaction with your friend. it was a small but significant absence, a reminder of how much minghao had become a part of your daily life, even when he was miles away.

as the hours passed by, you found yourself preoccupied with various activities, but a part of your mind remained fixated on the absence of minghao's messages. then, finally, you noticed his name appearing in your notifications. a wave of relief washed over you, accompanied by a sense of anticipation as you eagerly opened the message, hoping for some news or even a brief update about his journey.

the moment you saw minghao's name appear in your notifications, a surge of joy washed over you, and you couldn't help but express your elation. silently, you let out a muffled scream, as if you were a teenager who had just received a message from their crush. the feeling was overwhelming, and you found yourself rolling on your bed, a giddy smile on your face, relishing the simple yet profound joy of seeing his message.

it was as if the day had suddenly transformed from ordinary to extraordinary, all because of a few lines of text from minghao. the anticipation of hearing from him and the reassurance that he was safely on the other side of the flight were like a warm embrace, filling your heart with a sense of comfort and connection. it was moments like these that made you truly appreciate the friendship you shared and the special place minghao had carved out in your daily life.

“this is a scheduled text. if you received this, i have already landed in paris. i love you, take care.” the message read.

as you read the message from minghao, the words "i love you" leapt out, catching you off guard and leaving you momentarily stunned. the audacity of his heartfelt expression, conveyed through a scheduled text, brought forth a mix of emotions. there was a sense of disbelief at the timing and manner of his declaration, tinged with a hint of annoyance at his boldness to express such sentiments from afar.

yet, despite these conflicting emotions, a warm and giddy feeling enveloped you. his words had a way of transcending the distance between you, bridging the gap created by the physical miles. minghao's unexpected proclamation served as a reminder of the deep bond you shared, one that had blossomed from the simple moments and shared experiences, transforming into a connection that was as sincere as it was unexpected.

just as you were processing minghao's heartfelt message, your phone began to ring, and you were taken completely by surprise when you saw the caller's name – the owner of the pub. this unexpected call brought forth a rush of questions and curiosity, leaving you to wonder what could have prompted this sudden and surprising contact from your boss, joshua hong.

“seokmin said you are friends with minghao. you might want to come to yoon medical center.”

“what?”

the owner's cryptic words and the mention of minghao's name left you in a state of bewilderment. it was as if the ground had shifted beneath your feet, and you were struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation. what had happened to minghao? why were you being summoned to the medical center? the flood of questions raced through your mind, each one more unsettling than the last.

as you rushed to the yoon medical center, the world seemed to blur around you. the streets and buildings became a mere backdrop to your racing thoughts, all focused on minghao's well-being. you couldn't help but replay your last moments with him in your mind, the excitement of his safe arrival in paris now overshadowed by the nagging uncertainty of his current condition. the bond you had shared with him had taken root in your heart, and the fear of losing it, even for a moment, was almost too much to bear.

when you arrived at the medical center, the reality of the situation hit you with full force. the bustling of medical personnel, the hushed conversations, and the sterile scent of the hospital environment all added to the growing sense of dread that clenched at your chest. you couldn't help but wonder what had transpired, and as you made your way through the unfamiliar corridors, the suspense and anxiety intensified, a heavy weight on your shoulders that seemed to grow with every step you took.

the owner of the pub, joshua, explained the grim situation after a few moments of somber silence. "he never made it to the airport," he began, his voice heavy with sorrow. "a drunk driver hit him on the road not too far from your apartment, and doctor yoon said he didn't make it alive at the hospital as there was too much bleeding."

the words hit you like a tidal wave, and your world seemed to shatter in an instant. the shock and disbelief washed over you, leaving you struggling to process the devastating news. minghao, your friend and confidant, who had brightened your evenings and shared in your daily routine, was gone, a victim of a tragic accident that had torn him away from your life.

tears welled up in your eyes, and the weight of grief settled on your heart. the bond you had shared with minghao had grown deeper and more meaningful with each passing day, and now, you were left grappling with the harsh reality of his sudden and untimely departure. the sense of loss was overwhelming, and you couldn't help but feel a profound emptiness in the absence of your friend and the simple yet cherished moments you had shared.

joshua's words resonated deeply, and he continued, "he was also my friend. when he found out about his trip to paris, he told me to give this to you a day before his flight so you'd have something to talk about."

in his hands, joshua held out a piece of brown tissue paper, and as you accepted it, you were met with a moving sight. it was the same brown tissue paper that minghao had been sketching on that evening. the image portrayed you, sitting on a stool in the middle of the stage, your guitar in hand, captured with intricate detail. it dawned on you that he had been watching you that very evening, his artistic portrayal a testament to the shared moments you had on that stage.

as you gazed at the drawing, a mixture of emotions washed over you. it was a beautiful and poignant memento that encapsulated minghao's presence in your life. 

the world became a blur that thursday. joshua insisted on driving you home, a gesture of comfort and support, which you declined. you felt the need to be alone, to process the shock and grief in solitude.

he also suggested that you didn't have to perform on friday, understanding the emotional toll of the recent events. however, you firmly declined that offer as well. performing at the local pub on friday was not just about money; it was your connection to minghao, a way to honor his memory, and a source of solace in your time of loss. it was your lifeline, and you couldn't bear the thought of letting it go, even in the face of such profound sadness.

the days ahead held uncertainty, but the routine of the pub, the music, and the memories of your time with minghao were the anchors that would help you navigate the turbulent seas of grief.

joshua and seokmin stood by your side, offering their support and presence as you navigated the difficult hours following the heart-wrenching news about minghao. their unwavering companionship served as a source of comfort during a time of profound grief.

the following evening, you found yourself back at the local pub, a place where all your cherished memories of minghao had gathered. the stage, the familiar audience, and the music had always been your sanctuary, and it was there that you sought solace and a way to honor your friend's memory.

stepping into the center of the stage, you began to sing, your voice laced with emotions that ran deep. the lyrics spoke of your sorrow, and you poured your heart into the song. the audience may not have been aware of the tragedy you were enduring, but there was an unusual silence that enveloped the room, as if they could sense the heaviness in your voice.

“i’m singing at a funeral tomorrow..

for a kid a year older than me.”

as you continued to sing, the weight of your emotions became almost unbearable. you felt a disconnection from the world, a profound sense of loss that threatened to consume you.

“jesus christ, i’m so blue all the time

and that’s just how i feel

always have and always will

always have and always will.”

grateful for the concealing embrace of the heavy red curtains, you completed the song, your spirit broken but your determination to carry on as strong as ever. the local pub had always been a place that carries peace, but now it cradles your insurmountable grief, maybe it's a good thing that you decided to perform this friday because on this night, it served as a poignant tribute to a friend whose memory would forever echo in the music and the moments you shared.

LOL advance happy birthday minghao

[batwingsandblackcats]

Once and Formerly Haunted was an apt name for this place. Deep red mahogany and dark walnut gave the atmosphere of a curiosities shop as Imogen scanned the multitude of wooden bookshelves. Items ranged from spellbooks that lined the shelves next to the storefront window to glass jars that contained what she assumed were spell components. The jars sat higher up on the shelves and sparkled in the setting sunlight. Leather-bound books stacked nearly to the ceiling laid around in neat piles against several of the bookcases that were too packed to allow even a single sheet of parchment. Scroll cases were arranged on the highest of shelves and above the front counter that housed even more oddities within the glass display. Cobwebs clung to the corners but seemed almost decorative and intentional rather than negligent. They looked as if they were delicately spun just to fill the space. Everything appeared lovingly placed by the owner, who Imogen now realized had been the one speaking to her. — Once & Formerly Haunted, Chapter 1: copper kettle confessions

This painting has consumed every brain cell in my head for the last month, and the room in this painting has been floating around in my head for over two years, since @sageobo31 and I started playing with this AU in summer 2022.

This painting really came about because I wanted to listen to the ambiance of Once & Formerly Haunted. Not the playlist Sage and I put together, but the actual sounds of the space. I wanted to make a music and ambiance track for this little shop, and I wanted to make a youtube channel, but...I didn't know how to paint backgrounds. I didn't think I could paint backgrounds.

But thanks to a few tutorials and one guy's beautiful speedpaint of a similar scene, I stumbled my way (am still stumbling my way) through learning perspective and how to paint backgrounds. And then I made a youtube channel and made that ambient mix.

This painting and the ambient mix is a love letter to this little AU and all of you who have been following along despite our slow updates, and it's also a gift to Sage for playing in this little sandbox with me for so long.

So pour some tea and have a listen if you want to sink into Laudna's little magical bookshop. And if you prefer rain to a clear night, there's a version for that under the cut.

Happy listening, and thanks for stickin' around, y'all 💜🖤

[intimidating-fettuccine]

I have a question: What inspires you to write? Every time I try to, I can't seem to find any inspiration, and it frustrates me to no end

I’m a big simp. That’s true for like writing for the blog, because I love these characters and I love coming up with ideas for them and being able to write them out, and I very much like providing content for all of you. Whether it’s fluff or angst, I thoroughly enjoy being able to give you guys something that can emotionally influence you and make your day better and that’s the main thing that keeps me going for the blog.

The other thing honestly is just that I really like writing. Sometimes I get writers block or I don’t have the energy to write something some days, but the big reason I’ve had this blog for three years is because I just really like writing. I like being able to contribute to a fandom and put my own spin on things. I write because I want to and because it makes me happy.

I think if you put pressure on yourself, it’s only going to make art block worse for you. Listen to music, watch a show, take a walk, sit somewhere comfy. A lot of my ideas come from the things around me. Also just… Space out and think. Sometimes I’ll imagine myself in a scene with a character, or something I think a character would say, and I’ll expand on it and write it out. Imagination is key, so just picture the scenes you’d like, think about them, and work on writing them. Also, don’t think you have to write a whole thing at once. Write down some ideas, some lines, chunks of something, and if you get writers block, just go back another time when your head is clearer.

I also don’t know if you have ADHD or not, but I do, and I’ve found I focus and concentrate best with something playing in the background. Sometimes it’s songs I like, but I also really like ambiance playlists you can find on YouTube of like jazz or classical stuff.

That’s just my take on it, sorry if this isn’t helpful I just be out here wildin.

[quinn-borel]

Modern AU first meeting and/or first date :D

He looked at his watch for the fourth time as the elevator took him up to the venue. He cursed under his breath–first his flight ran late, then traffic, then issues with his hotel room…the list went on. Everything that could go wrong did, which made him late for the Leveilleur Foundation charity event. While he was still rather green to the scene, he wanted to make a good impression towards the potential investors and partners he could make connections with to strengthen Ishgardian Holdings’ foothold in the region. He exhaled slowly while fixing the cuff of his suit jacket over his timepiece–ding, the fourteenth floor. As the doors opened, he was greeted by an usher clad in black with a tablet in hand.

“Name, sir?”

“Aymeric Borel of Ishgardian Holdings.”

The usher checked the tablet and gave him a polite nod, “Ah, yes, Mr. Borel, I see you here. We’ve been expecting you. You may proceed.”

With a sigh of relief, Aymeric made his way into the main venue–a grand ballroom filled with guests from all sorts of different businesses, organizations, and even government entities. Tables lined the inner sanctum while the fringes had buffet tables and pop-up drink bars. One could not want at this event, save for some privacy given the occupants. Aymeric was tasked with meeting and schmoozing with three industry leaders that night–Lominsan Maritime LLC, Elemental Trading Co., and the Bank of the Sultanate. Surely their representatives were around and about, though admittedly he was unable to catch their names in his rush to the venue. Though names were meaningless without a face to put them to…

He closed his eyes to gather his thoughts, allowing the accompanying music to play in the background and calm him down. It was a lovely melody coming from the main stage–smooth jazz, the piano certainly in the foreground. Just as he was about to open his eyes, he felt a hand clap itself on his shoulder, which startled him.

“If it isn’t my old friend! How have you been Aymeric!?”

Aymeric glanced to the origin of the hand, amazed to see that none other than Haurchefant Greystone, his old college friend.

“Haurchefant? I didn’t expect you to be here.” Aymeric said with surprise, fixing his blazer from the sudden shift,

“Oh? Really? I though word of my recent promotion would have made its way to the parent company. But that aside, it’s good to see you my friend! It’s been years.”

“Quite.” Aymeric gave him a nod with a warm smile, “Last time I saw you was at graduation. You mean to tell me you’re working for one of our subsidiaries?”

“Why else would I be here?” he asked with a grin, “When I was informed you were being sent on behalf of Ishgardian Holdings I was elated! I didn’t think they’d send the big guns all the way out here.”

“Well, fath–I mean, President Thordan was apprehensive about it. Needless to say, this venture came out of my own pocket and I’m here rather incognito–the others whom I’m looking for probably don’t know I managed a spot on the guest list.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find them in time, friend. And when you do, you’ll have them in the palm of your hand I’m sure. That silver tongue of yours is one to be reckoned with.”

“One can only hope so.”

“By the way,” he Haurchefant glanced over Aymeric’s shoulder, “where’s Varlineau? I thought you two–“

“Oh.” Aymeric felt the heat in his cheeks from embarrassment, “That…didn’t last as long as I had hoped. We went our separate ways about a year ago. Nothing messy, just had different goals.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Haurchefant guided Aymeric over to one of the bars, “How about a drink? Whiskey neat?” he pointed to him expectantly,

“On the rocks.” Aymeric put his hands in his pockets, once again taking in the ambiance. Haurchefant gladly took two drinks from the bartender and handed one to his friend,

“So, what do you think of this place?”

“It’s quite the spectacle.” Aymeric’s gaze scanned the room as he took a sip of his drink, “The music is nice, too.”

“That’s because the pianist is one of the best in the area.” Haurchefant nudged Aymeric slightly, motioning towards the stage. There sat a taller woman with fiery orange locks and tanned skin, elegant as ever as she leaned over the piano, tickling the ivories with a warm smile on her painted lips. She appeared…angelic, in a way. Ethereal, even, with how the lights shined down upon her on the stage. Like a siren’s song, Aymeric couldn’t help but to focus his attention on her.

“She’s, ah-”

“Quite the pretty little thing, is she not?” Haurchefant chuckled, “I met her some time ago at another venue she was performing at. Much smaller, mind you–this is her first big gig.”

“Does she have a name?”

“Miss Quinnelainne Varria.” Haurchefant waved his hands in front of him as if he were showing off a spectacle, “Beautiful name, is it not?”

Aymeric looked off to the side before putting his drink back to his lips. He was always taught not to stare at a woman like that, yet something deep within him wanted to gaze at her. She was absolutely beautiful, as was her name. He could only softly grunt in agreement. Obviously, Haurchefant had his eyes on her anyway. But the young man beside him seemed dejected as he took a sip of his own drink,

“She’s a finicky one, though. I asked her on a date and she called me her ‘brother’. Can you believe that?”

Aymeric smirked, “Sorry you struck out, my friend.”

“You should meet her, though. She’s quite something.”

Aymeric raised his brow with surprise. While she was not necessarily the company he was tasked with meeting with, he couldn’t help but to be a tad curious about this Quinnelainne. Haurchefant always did introduce him to the most fascinating of people in their youth. He checked his watch once more–there was still plenty of time to do his business and have another drink. the party was just getting started.

“Can you introduce me?” Aymeric asked. Haurchefant looked rather surprised, yet the grin on his lips was telling,

“Look at you, you sly devil.”

“What?” Aymeric’s cheeks lit up again, “You say she’s interesting to talk to, so I want to talk to her. That’s all.”

“Right.” Haurchefant scoffed and finished his drink, “Maybe you’ll have better luck than me.”

“I’m not trying to be lucky.” Aymeric warned him, “Just forget about it.”

“I’m only teasing.” Haurchefant abandoned his spot next to Aymeric and approached the stage. Just as the number had finished, he waved the pianist down who had stepped to the side to take a drink of water. After a bit of conversation and her glancing over his shoulder, she gave him a nod and went back to the piano. Haurchefant then returned to his spot and ordered another drink,

“She gets to go on break after a few more songs,” he explained, “she would be more than happy to meet you.”

“Just like that?” Aymeric blinked a few times as he, too, finished his drink, “You didn’t promise her anything, did you?”

“Just a drink and a good conversation.” Haurchefant laughed, “I’m sure you can manage that, right?”

Aymeric gave him a nod as his attention went back towards the stage. He and Haurchefant continued their idle chitchat for the remainder of the two songs, catching up on what had happened since their college graduation. Finally, the siren of the night left the stage with a slight bow and she immediately went up to one of the bars at the other end of the room. Haurchefant nudged Aymeric with his elbow,

“Go get her, friend.” he said with a wink. Aymeric brushed him off, sighed, and approached the woman from the other end of the room. As he approached, he felt a slight lump in his throat–completely abnormal from his normal demeanor when he met someone new. But this wasn’t a business negotiation, nay, this was a face-to-face and intimate conversation between strangers. She had her back to him, her sanguine cocktail dress outlining her frame perfectly and…accentuating her assets, much to Aymeric’s dismay. He felt the heat under his collar the second he was inches from her, actually nervous to say something to her.

No. He had to keep cool. This was Haurchefant’s friend, after all. a Friend. Friend.

“One whisky on the rocks, please.” he requested of the barkeep as he took to her side, his gaze falling to her before he cleared his throat, “Good evening, Miss Varria.”

She took a long sip from her cherry sour before setting it down with an unsettled look in her eyes,

“Oh, Haurchie really did tell you my full name, didn’t he?” she sighed, “I hate it when he does that.”

“Is there another name I can call you by, then?”

Already the conversation got off to a rocky start, but maybe it could be salvaged with a bit of finesse.

“Just ‘Quinn’ is fine.” she explained, “Sorry, I guess I should have properly introduced myself when you came over here. Aymeric, right?”

“Yes.” he relaxed his shoulders a bit as he took his drink, “I apologize for using the wrong name.”

“No, it’s fine.” she smiled at him, “Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. Although brief, Haurchie told me a little bit about you.”

“Is that so?” Aymeric’s gaze flickered to across the room, to which Haurchefant was giving him a thumbs up.

“Yes,” she leaned against the counter in her seat, a long finger curled under her own chin as she examined him, “you’re an old friend of his from his college days. Summa cum laude, now in the top brass of Ishgardian Holdings.”

“…He told you all of that in a short conversation?”

“No,” she winked as she pulled out her phone from her purse, “I just have the internet.”

Aymeric chuckled as he took a seat next to her, “Well, there’s only so much Eorzeapedia can tell about a man, right? And yet, I know very little about you. Will you share?”

She leaned back, impressed with how he took to her researching him, “Very well. I’m just a dropout from music school–took to the streets to hone my craft. Played a bit at a shopping mall before my talent was recognized by Scions Inc., a talent agency. They got me gigs at small cocktail lounges before two of the Leveilleurs entered our ranks. They had their connections and, well, here I am.”

“I didn’t realize you were acquainted with the Leveilleurs.” Aymeric sipped his drink, “That’s quite impressive.”

“I can’t say I’m used to this sort of thing.” she sighed, “There’s just something about drunks at a cocktail lounge that make a better audience than one of these upscale events, you know? But, I can say: it has it’s perks. I get to rub elbows with some of the best tippers in the region. Seriously, the big guns in the business love their music.”

“You have other connections?” Aymeric asked quizzically.

“I do,” she explained, “I can tell you exactly who, too.”

She turned in her seat, motioning him to follow her gaze. There she pointed out four individuals who were conversing at one of the far tables,

“So, you have Merlwyb of Lominsan Maritime in the black suit. Kan-e-Senna of Elemental Trading in the white dress. Miss Namo is the shorter girl in the pink dress, that’s the owner of the Bank of the Sultanate. And finally, the big guy is Raubahn of the newly reformed Ala-Mhigan Freight company–they just recovered from an old buyout.”

Aymeric blinked a few times in amazement, “How do you know these people?”

“They’ve hired me at their own private events.” Quinn mused over her drink, “I take it you’d like to meet them yourself, Mr. Borel?”

“Please, just ‘Aymeric’.” he turned his attention back to her, “Anyway, you’ve quite the history with your craft. That’s very impressive.”

“Thank you, not a lot of people really recognize that.” Quinn took the garnish from her drink out, “So, tell me more about yourself.”

“Me?” he mused, “To tell you the truth, you’ve pinpointed most of my achievements already.”

“Yeah, but I wanna know the real you.” she said with a wink, the whole cherry disappearing inside of her mouth. Aymeric exhaled slowly as he tried to think,

“Well, I’m thirty-two years old, I have a pet cat, and my hobbies include cooking, writing, and a bit of dancing here and there. I try to keep things modest when I’m not at my desk.”

She smiled and gave him a nod, her gaze still oddly studying him. Aymeric took another sip before he turned the conversation back to her,

“…’Varria’, right? That’s Hannish, if I’m not mistaken?”

“You’re right.” she replied, “Very worldly of you.”

“I’ve visited that area a few times. Beautiful place, truly.”

“Thank you for not hitting me with a ‘almost as beautiful as the women who came from there’ bullshit.” Quinn laughed.

“Please,” Aymeric also laughed, “if I’m going to flirt with someone I won’t go for such low-hanging fruit.”

“Then, how would you flirt with me?” Quinn leaned in slightly closer to him with a devious smirk on her features. Aymeric could still see her making work of the cherry garnish in her mouth. He sat his drink down next to hers and leaned closer,

“I would first start with a compliment,” he muttered, “I’m more of a gentleman that way. Maybe something about your voice, or your eyes. Nothing too daring, mind you. Something a bit more subtle, I would say.

“I see.” Quinn snickered and pulled back, “Well, the clock is unfavorable for us this evening, sad to say.”

From her purse the pulled out a pen and a small business card, to which she scratched something on the back of it in bright, pink ink. Quinn slid the card face-up towards Aymeric before getting up from her seat,

“What’s this?”

“Give me a call if you need company entertainment–my agent’s number is on the front.” she then leaned in closer once more, taking the cherry stem from her mouth and placing it in his empty glass, “…on the back is if you’d rather have have a more intimate encounter.”

With a wink and a gentle pat on his cheek, Quinn went back to the stage. With flushed features, Aymeric looked down at the card and noticed she had given him her personal cell phone number with ‘Text me <3 ‘ written underneath it. He quickly placed the card in his wallet before he noticed the cherry stem in his glass, knotted right in the middle.

[nebulousfishgills]

Behind the scenes for Necrosis please!

1, 6, 7, 11, 17, and 21

Okay let's see here, one essay coming up :)

1) How long did it take you to write this fic?

According to AO3, I published the first chapter on April 20th, 2023 and finished it on October 5th, 2023, so theoretically that's just about 5 and a half months. Of course that doesn't include writing that first chapter and planning it out.

Although, I have planning messages (I wrote my outline on Discord like a Normal Person) that I first wrote on March 29th of that year. So... like six and a half months or so? Give or take?

Damn, when I do the math I'm kind of insane for that.

6) What do you need to write? Is there anything special you need to do/have to help your creative flow?

I have to have some kind of background noise, but that's just a general necessity for me. I can't do complete silence or I can't function. My headphones are going like 70% of the day playing music or whatever.

Writing specifically though, and for Necrosis specifically since that's the focus of the ask, typically it was like, rain/castle/fireplace ambiance. This one was my go-to:

Sometimes I'd also use instrumental tracks/playlists depending on the vibes, or even my Emily playlist (the Twilight one, ofc... god the fact that I need to fucking specify...).

7) What inspired the idea for the plot?

Okay so honestly, with Necrosis I just kinda found the plot along the way.

I knew I wanted to do a sequel to Diplopia of some kind to really give myself a sandbox to play in and see where this story could potentially go. But, eventually I found what I would consider to be my three main plot points, what I would later consider to be the three main arcs or "acts" of the story: Mele and Emily's "unwitting motherhood" arc, the ball and the disaster that befell that, and what I like to call "The People vs. Aro Volturi."

Mele just kind of came to me in a flash of inspiration after scrolling through wikis and looking into Life and Death (genderbent Twilight) and to be honest, all of it kind of stems from that idea. Life and Death has a lot of similar beats in the backstory for the Volturi presented. Sulpicia witnessing Didyme's murder, reporting it, having Mele steal Aro's gift to give it to her before he's executed. Regency ends up two-thirds female, you get the idea. Shipping her with Jane was just me having some fun.

One of my HUGE big brain moments was me deciding to have Athenodora's murder be orchestrated by Aro because he knew that she knew about his sister. In the original story of Diplopia (the full thing, not the very original one shot), I had Athenodora be dead just to cut down on the chaos of the whole situation, but I actually took inspiration from Caius' canon backstory for it. He hates werewolves in canon because he was almost killed by one and is utterly terrified of them. In my version, he hates them because werewolves killed his wife.

The subplot of Necrosis with Emily finding Athenodora's journal and putting the pieces together about what actually happened is still something I'm very proud of because that wasn't the original intention of Athenodora being absent, and I'm also proud that I had Thena's knowledge be somewhat of a mystery as well, so the reader only realizes it once Emily points it out when she's delivering her litigation.

Anyways, that was a tangent for only one plot point.

I chose to have a ball in the middle because I feel like it can be a staple in Volturi fics, and also because I wanted to include some more traditional vampire-type tropes. I wouldn't go as far to call it like a "red herring" part of the fic since it seems like a weird distraction from the main plot...

And this is where I admit that the HARDEST part of planning this fic was figuring out the conflict, and ultimately I landed on another Twilight fic staple: Newborn army conspiracy.

I knew that whatever this conflict was, it was only meant to be a plot device/distraction from the actual conflict of the fic, which was Emily dealing with this forbidden knowledge about what happened to Didyme. But this plot also couldn't be entirely pointless because it had to lead to some type of explosion that lead Emily to announcing this information. It was a lot of complex pinboarding in my head. So, I kinda just landed on Newborn Vampire Army and let that do what it will.

Fun fact about that, if in that first group of newborns caught in chapter 2, one of those vampires seemed a liiiiittle personal (the one Emily executes herself), it's because I based him on my ex. So.

Anyways, naturally the last plot point was the main reason I wrote the whole fic. Didyme and all that backstory is an aspect of the Twilight lore that fascinates me because it's genuinely interesting, yet never mentioned or expanded upon and I LOVE fics that deal with it.

I had to leave little breadcrumbs leading up to it, and I even foreshadowed it in Diplopia when I had Emily tell Sulpicia that she was sure "someone [t]here has sororicide on their conscience." Which seems like a highly specific and odd detail unless You Know.

Necrosis was all about showing some growth for Emily. She's been in Survival Mode for most of her life, and now that she's comfortable, she can enter that Growth Stage of living. Diplopia wasn't about character development, at its core it was about me being silly. Necrosis' entire thesis is basically me flipping a fat bird to Stephenie Meyer's dumb and hypocritical tidbit about vampires being static beings incapable of developing. Emily has the ability to care about others and for the greater good, she just was never in a position to try.

Those three plot points kind of showcase those developmental phases. Caring for and helping Mele learn and grow (theoretically this parallels Eleven), letting herself be frivolous and enjoy herself for the hell of it (dressing up all fancy, dancing, this arc even opens with Emily in bed with Heidi to explore her sexuality), and then choosing to act in the interest of the greater good because it was the right thing to do.

So, tl;dr, Necrosis' plot was very complicated to map out because I had the different destinations I wanted, but had to do some work to chart the courses.

11) Was there a scene you hadn't originally planned to include? Why did you decide to fit it in?

To be honest, most of Necrosis happened as I planned it, convoluted as it was. There weren't many outtakes, if any that I can remember. I suppose there were tidbits that I'd debated about including or not before ultimately deciding to add them in anyways. Emily and Heidi being intimate springs to mind as one of these elements because I always had assumed that they had some type of physical relationship, but only really implied or mentioned in passing. I felt bold, though, and just decided "fuck it."

I did this silly doodle a while back using that lesbian eyeshadow meme as a template (it's not very good, be warned) and I've made memes about them having some type of intimate relationship.

Something else that I never did explicitly state but I've headcanoned since basically the veeeeeerry beginning was some type of similar relationship between Emily and Sulpicia, even if it was only like once or twice. Maybe in my mind I think the way it goes is that Heidi was very obviously some type of awakening for Emily and when she's confused by this, she asked Sulpicia what the fuck is going on and Emily basically has to get the "gay urges" talk from Picia. Then, perhaps similar to that bit in Game of Thrones with Daenerys and her handmaiden in the first season, Emily has Picia show her what to do with a woman before she tries to work her almost nonexistent charm on Heidi... tbh this might make for a good one shot.

Emily's the embodiment of repression, and she fell into a coven of actual slut vampires that do whatever they want is what I'm saying.

17) What was the hardest scene to write?

"Hard" can have multiple definitions. If we were to say scenes I was dragging my feet to get through, I'd probably say some of the ball scenes because they just weren't as meaty as I would have liked and I was itching to get to the chaos of the After.

Smut actually got easier overtime because I was practicing in private for little personal projects, but the hard part eventually became a wording issue. I've learned how to get nastier with it, but I know I need to hold myself back in certain regards because a) it's not the focus of the fic and b) not everyone is into hardcore smut. It's a balance that must be hit, but as one of my friends put it, "having to be eloquent about it is like pulling teeth."

Hard emotionally, I'd say that the bit in the last chapter when Emily and Caius are talking about outliving everything and everyone they knew. It was my last chapter and I hadn't intended for it to get that deep at all, but it was 2 AM and my brain just kind of led me down that angst ramble unplanned. Finishing Necrosis was always gonna be emotional for me and that just really hit a certain way. I actually had to stop and finish it in the morning because I had started crying over it.

It was the existentialism and my chronic "Emily Leaving Henry" guilt flaring up with a vengeance.

21) What was something you didn't expect people to notice or gravitate towards in this fic?

Something that was funny to me was how you in particular seemed suspicious of Mele and her actions lmao. I can totally see why, but honestly her quick acceptance of vampirism can be boiled down to three things:

1) In some ways she felt like some type of caricature of people who want to be vampires and would be like "yeah sure fuck it."

2) Plot Reasons/Mating Bond with Jane. Mating bonds/pulls aren't technically even a canon thing, but like eeeeeevery fic uses it to the point that it basically is canon. Another example of this is Caius being a painter. Not technically canon per se, but it's a pretty universally accepted headcanon.

3) I'm lazy. Somethings are just easier to handwave.

Although admittedly Mele being some type of twist villain would 100% be some type of shit I'd pull, so I don't blame people for thinking about it. It honestly hadn't ever crossed my mind because my lizard brain was focused on getting to Emily exposing Aro's secret.

And honestly, Emily trying "Caring for a Supernatural Child 2: Electric Boogaloo" was just such a fun concept.

I wonder if Eleven will ever know that she has several non biological/they're emotionally Emily's children siblings. One of them's also named Jane, how funny.

[healingagoddess]

Happy New Year

Request: Maybe a little predictable, but how about something with a new year's kiss? - by @softquietsteadylove thank you so much 🖤

Warnings: English is not my first language.

Pairing: Thena/Gilgamesh

Words: 799

The radio played soft tunes in the warm ambiance inside their home. The candle lit place looked cozy and soft; only occasional shadows danced at the candle’s flame beat. The place smelled of food as Gilgamesh continued with their special dinner. Thena being present was quiet in her special seat at the table as Gil walked around her managing the different meals. He smiled as he went, proud of the feast he was going to present and happy as Thena was having a good day. A country song played in the background, old as time yet the same tunes she had learned as these played often.

“You are going to love this special blueberry pie I have prepared just for you. It will be my treat for tonight.”

Thena smiled, content to taste whatever Gilgamesh presented her. She was always grateful for everything Gil had managed to prepare for her. She knew he had a lot of work at home with her being not present for long periods of time. It made her feel special to be able to remain calm and present for this night with him. She did not care much about celebrations nor special events, but if it was Gil who proposed the idea she would follow his plans. She wasn’t much of a talker, it was Gil who would ramble about many things she did not comprehend most of the time, but she loved it.

“I conserved these berries just for tonight. I wanted to make something special for you.”

Then blinked slowly with a smile on her face. It was a great sign of apprehension and sincere. She watched as he went on to gather different dishes filled with different variations of food; some she recognized and some she didn’t.

“I just know you are going to love it. Not to brag, but this is better than the cherry pie you love so much.”

She snorted amused, leaning to get a better glimpse of every meal set out on the table. Soon he would disappear through their door as he went outside to collect the pie. She got up to follow him, and stayed at the doorway watching him manage the pie like an expert. She loved seeing him just as present as she was, no worries and no pain. It had been a long time since she had been this present. As he returned she remained at the doorway blocking it, he looked at her before offering a smile as he waited for her to move.

“What?” He asked amused.

Thena only raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips as she closed her eyes in a smug expression. She turned on her heel and went back to her place. Gil laughed before following ber inside, he loved when Thena was being unpredictable in her own ways. In no time, he had joined her at the table as he sang along the music.

“I like the apron.”

Gil let out a hearty laugh, pleased with her answer.

“Best in fashion.” He replied.

“Hm.” She agreed.

“This new year will be the best one yet.” He said trying to hype her up.

She shrugged; another year meant nothing to her, only less time until they returned home. Having lived for so long in this planet she knew time was just a human’s structure.

The tunes were put to a stop as a man’s voice replaced them. The countdown began, Gilgamesh looked thrilled and got up to prepare for a hug. Thena did the same, but she was more confident in her move as she got closer to him.

“…three,” he said as the man on the radio “…two”

At this point Thena found it a little bit silly.

“On-”

Thena’s lips crashed against his own, taking him by surprise at the sudden show of affection. Yet, he embraced her pulling her close to him. The kiss was slow and full of passion, even if Thena’s domination was more aggressive, more like her. It was silly, but the fireworks he heard on the radio were inside his chest as his heart raced loving every movement of their lips. Thena hummed through their kiss at the pleasant sensation of him. She felt drunk and overwhelmed with love before she pulled away with another smug smile.

“Happy new year, my love.” She spoke softly.

“Happy new year, my love.” He replied with a foolish smile. “Now try the pie.”

Thena rolled her eyes and sighed feeling content. And Gil was right, he laughed as her face exploded with different emotions as she took a bite of it. It made him feel special to see Thena like this; loosing ber strong façade and showing her true emotions. This was going to be a good year for both of them.

[bearbluebooks]

Chapter 14 Christmas in Velaris

“You sit back and relax, sunshine,” he replied. As she watched the scene unfolding in front of her, she couldn’t help the humming that escaped her mouth. Whenever she was nervous or very happy, her vocal cords would find release in the comfort of song. When she caught herself doing it, she looked at Azriel to gauge his reaction. Some people found it annoying or distracting. When she looked into Azriel’s eyes, she found her own emotion reflected back- the rediscovery of home and all the ease and absolute bliss that accompanied it.

Read Chapter 1 here or Chapter 14 here on AO3

17th December, 17:12

They stayed in bed all morning, where he held her tightly in his embrace until her stomach growled so loudly, he proclaimed “You need food”, and went out to get pastries from the corner shop. He even remembered her coffee order- vanilla late with sugar.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in pure bliss, as they alternated between lounging on the couch and in bed.

They left Gwyn’s home for an hour to pick up her car. Azriel brought his tools and fixed Betty on the spot. Gwyn couldn’t help but be in awe of the man in front of her. How he rolled up his sleeves and repaired her car with the speed and knowledge of 17 year old Azriel who still worked at Lenny’s garage. And he looked great doing it.

When he offered to cook dinner, she practically yelled “YES” in response.

Not just to taste his excellent cooking, but also to finally see his evil lair.

To her surprise, they didn’t drive into the city towards a penthouse overlooking the city. Instead, he parked the car in a driveway, in front of a gorgeous townhouse next to the Sidra.

But that didn’t really matter, because she hadn’t seen the inside yet.

She had already pictured his place thousands of times- the sleek interior, the mission impossible to find any other color than black, the lack of Christmas decorations. Maybe she would even find a control center with TV screens that had a surveillance feed of every house in Velaris.

With wide eyes and an ever wider smile, she opened the enormous door that revealed all the answers.

What she found was a surprisingly lavish yet cozy space. 

The primary color was still black, but there were paintings, plants, and even a rug? “Did you decorate this yourself?” she asked in equal shock.

“Not what you expected?” he said with a smirk.

“I haven’t seen everything yet,” she challenged with her arms crossed in front of her.

“No secrets here,” he said as he put his arms up in mock defeat.

She did have a secret. One she hung up on his bedroom wardrobe- Christmas lights that glowed in blue, red and green. One preconception was true, and she was determined to grace his home with at least one Christmas light.

As soon as she fixed the problem, she let curiosity guide the way as she opened door after door.

“How big is your house?” she yelled from the upstairs guest room. “Right behind you,” he said with a smile that even reached his hazel eyes. Gwyn practically jumped into the air when she saw him leaning in the doorway when she expected him to still be in the kitchen.

“Big enough,” he said with that same look on his face, as he walked behind her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Do you like it?” he asked slightly worried.

“I love it,” she said truthfully.

“I want to show you something,” he said as he pulled her by her hand towards the living room.

When she entered the huge space, her heart skipped a beat. He had filled every empty surface with candles.

The entire space was bathed in warm light as soft jazz music played in the background. He had created such a natural and cozy ambiance, she couldn’t help the warmth spreading through her body.

“Take a seat,” he said as he walked towards the marble counter. “We’re having spaghetti. I hope it’s still your favorite.”

With a smile as bright as the candlelight, she said “I love it.”

As he rolled up his sleeves, his muscular arms were revealed. Before she could stop herself, her hand reached out to touch the obsidian swirls that extended down his arms.

“You didn’t have these before,” she said whilst she thought of all the other things she missed when she was gone. The thought saddened her.

“I’ll show them all if you want,” he replied, as if he could read her mind. And she knew he meant ‘I’ll show you everything you want to know’.

“I can’t wait,” she said in response to both.

“Can I help?”

“You sit back and relax, sunshine,” he replied.

As she watched the scene unfolding in front of her, she couldn’t help the humming that escaped her mouth. Whenever she was nervous or very happy, her vocal cords would find release in the comfort of song.

When she caught herself doing it, she looked at Azriel to gauge his reaction. Some people found it annoying or distracting. When she looked into Azriel’s eyes, she found her own emotion reflected back- the rediscovery of home and all the ease and absolute bliss that accompanied it.

When the pasta boiled, and the sauce simmered. Azriel reached out his scarred hand once again and asked “Care to dance?”

Even when they were younger, dancing was a weekly occurrence. Azriel’s mother taught him how to dance when he was just a little boy. Dancing was one of the few ways he received love, and he had shared it with Gwyn as soon as he taught her how to dance too.

When she placed her smaller hand in his much larger one, he pulled her into his chest in one powerful motion. A small gasp escaped her mouth at the sudden strength of the action. “Increase the volume”, he instructed as he placed her hand on his left shoulder. His other hand moved to the small of her back whilst she rested her head on his hard chest.

When he connected their hands again, he guided them towards the empty space in the living room, where she let him spin her around the rest of the night.

The joyful tunes of jazz music played in the background, as faint smells of pasta dominated the air. Candlelight softly illuminated Azriel’s handsome face, as she listened to his heartbeat underneath her ear, she felt it beat to the same rhythm as hers and she couldn’t help but think this was all she ever needed in life.

Him.

[multiversetravelingjournalist]

As a person with interests ranging from worldbuilding, to animation, to cinematography, to constructing languages. On top of being literally one person with household resources. All of this, I feel, leads to a drive to create something to combine all of them into one big (or multiple smaller) project(s).

specifically, the drive to create animations that have absolutely no sound whatsoever. no music, no dialogue, not even audio effects. more silent than the categorical silent films that at least have a band present to provide some ambiance to the visuals.

How could I convey dialogue in such a film? Captions. but not just any captions. no, I want my films to feel as if they were made in universe. forget legibility. I don't go to films to read, that's what fanfiction is for. If I am to put text in my films, they will be just as stylish as everything else I impulsively cram in. every writing system, typeface, and font will be used to convey the character that supposedly speaks the silent line. whether it be the edgy invaders, spritely warriors, or stationary accountants. And to top it all off, every line shown will have some system of meaning. It won't be asemic, there is a grammar and lexicon underneath that mess.

Sounds. Sounds could be conveyed not just by vibrating the air. it could be conveyed through the soldier clapping a hand over his ear as the giant machine gun next to him goes off. it could be conveyed through the rumbling of the frame. the ripples in the water from a far-off plodding giant. the trembling of an alien explosion. perhaps not as impactful as feeling the engine vibrate through your body via the surrounding speakers. but I have seen enough consequences of certain sounds to draw connections. the fear brought by sirens, the hope by bells, and the dread by chainsaws.

As for music, a more orderly sound or set of sounds. honestly, I could provide a list of recommended songs to play during certain parts of a film (it seemed to work for the old ones at least). but there are certain patterns that convey a certain feeling. music in colors. hearing the drumroll of a rapidly pulsing black-to-white-to-black oscillation in the background. the fade from one color to the next imprinting on me a danger light without alarms. the structural swapping of palletes creating a visual beat. admittedly, this would be the hardest to compensate for in the films I want to make. music feels so natural that I barely notice. but I definitely notice a lack of it.

All of this would be interesting to explore. If I could stop worrying, stop procrastinating, stop wondering and just make the films already!

[prodigal-explorer]

my top ten undertale songs of all time

(my opinions are very unpopular. also, spoilers for undertale below!)

the top ten undertale songs of all time are as follows (my opinions are extremely unpopular, and one is the best):

10) ghost fight (it's just so groovy and fun! i like it better than dummy because the simplicity of this one just makes it more groovy and fun.)

9) undertale (just because this song is seven minutes doesn't mean it's number one. i still really love it though! the orchestrations are gorgeous.)

8) respite (oh my gosh, it's such a sweeping melody, it brings me to tears whenever i hear it, especially when i remember when this song plays. this part of the ranking up is when you can really start to hear toby fox's talent for putting feelings into music and giving each song the exact message and vibe that it's supposed to give. in this case, that vibe is that feeling of knowing that the world is so much bigger than it used to be, and there's so much potential, but it also makes you feel so small. things are never going to be they way they were before, and you're forever changed.)

7) bonetrousle (this song is the perfect mix of goofy and sophisticated, which makes it the perfect papyrus song! the orchestrations are amazing, and the melody is very unique! i've never heard anything like it, and it just flows. this song gives me the image of somebody with a lot of bravado who internally believes they're this grandiose, dangerous, person, but really, isn't seen as an explicit threat by those around them.)

6) it's raining somewhere else (man this song is just so good. the little background noise toby added for ambiance just adds to the piece even more. the melody is so bittersweet while also being smooth and almost jazzy. it reminds me of somebody who hears bad news, and suddenly, time has gotten slower, and everything's still except for them. they feel lost and cold, but slowly, whether it's from somebody else or it's from within, comfort emerges, and warmth starts to seep into their body again.)

5) waterfall (i just love the mystery to this song, the way it's calm and relaxing, but there's a strange sort of darkness to it that only reveals itself in the smallest and most inconspicuous ways, as if it doesn't want to be detected. it gives the air that waterfall is an enchanted place, but it's not harmless. the energy is just so cool, and it's another amazing melody.)

4) asgore (i just love this song. it's super epic, and the harmonies are just so good, it's such a musical piece. it doesn't tell as much of a story as some of the other pieces, but it just had to be high up on this list because of the sheer emotion in the music. it almost feels like a declaration, a decision that can't be reversed, so you might as well go all in.)

3) battle against a true hero (man this song...it's so amazing. it's definitely the most advanced boss song musically, i think. there's so many melodies, so much of a journey from the beginning to the end. i think how long the song is represents undyne's desire to keep pushing past her limits. the song almost feels longer than it naturally should be, because undyne is pushing herself past her natural limits. it's another song that is so representative of what is happening while it plays.)

2) heartache (this song is the BEST boss song, and i cannot be convinced of otherwise. sure, other ones are more "epic", but heartache opens up toriel's mind and heart, it shows the listener how she's feeling so acutely: desperation, fear, pain, loneliness, dread, and love. hesitation creeps in, and the entire song is toriel battling with herself, even though she knows that no matter what she picks, she loses the game that she created for herself.)

1) core (okay i'm gonna feel like a goof because all these other explanations are so meaningful and deep...i just like this song because it's a bop. objectively, it is just such a good song, it has me dancing in my seat every time i hear it. and it has an intensity to it. i think since the core is the last real location before new home, it builds up to something very climactic as the player realizes how close they are to the end. it's really spectacular!)

[maximuswolf]

The Mobius Machine - a Metroidvania game [Review]

The Mobius Machine - a Metroidvania game [Review] I'm a big fan of Metroidvania games (think Hollow Knight or the Ori series). I recently found The Mobius Machine and I thought I'd write a quick review so others can enjoy it.The story is that you've crashed on a planet and trying to figure out what happened and try to get out. It starts well with some humor and you have a robot pal. Let's just say that's where the story pretty much ends. There are no answers and there's no resolution. I felt like the company contracted out to a writer but could only afford to write an intro. Does that matter? I think so because there's no huge payoff at the end. It's just stuff that happens without any consequences. If this was part of a multi-game series then it's one thing and we'll see if that happens.Now on to the game itself. You have abilities that you acquire and upgrade over time. There are tons of secrets though it was a bit annoying how many of them are literally marked on the map and this is partly because the areas are so large that you'd have a hard time actually finding anything without really looking around. I have dozens of hours in this game - I'm in no rush and I like to explore everything - and I'm enjoying it but... in pieces.The reason is because the game gets very repetitive. There are a handful of monsters (which respawn over time off-screen) and the game "cheats" by simply giving monsters slightly more abilities in subsequent levels as opposed to having brand new monsters. Same ladders, similar jumps, it's pretty repetitive. Level after level. Other than some color differences, it's a bit of a slog. Even with a booster pack, you feel like you're sliding forever.So does this game suck? If you don't like Metroidvania then it's probably not for you. If you like Metroidvania then here are the good bits. The game is GORGEOUS. The background visuals, explosions, the sound, the ambiance, the particular visuals for underwater sections (which are extensive), are amazing. Even the music is fantastic (though it can get repetitive after a while). This game is excellent for someone who loves Metroidvania games and for someone to just relax for an hour or two playing something visually beautiful. It really does relax you and I think it's the visuals and the music. It really puts you at ease. The game isn't hard, the puzzles barely exist, and the closest thing to a difficulty is a few of the bosses where you'll die maybe a few times before you figure out the pattern. It's not rocket science. If you die, it doesn't matter, you just respawn at the closest save point and if you go back to where you died, you get your scrap (in-game currency used to buy things) back.I think this would have been a better game if the story was more interesting and you had more interactions with this world instead of sliding through it and killing the same enemies over and over. Perhaps if you make the maps a bit better and definitely triple the types of enemies. It's a solid B.Is it worth 25 bucks? No. I bought it for 20. I think you should wait for 10. Unless you're a speed runner, you'll get a good bang for your buck. As good as Hollow Knight or Ori? No. Those games have a lot of replay value and I don't know if I'd want to replay this game again since it feels so desolate and there's no emotional impact (Ori was amazing at kicking you right in the gut over and over). The maps are just too huge to find everything again. But if I'm feeling stressed and I want to relax? This is definitely the game. Submitted September 19, 2024 at 02:06PM by SsurebreC https://ift.tt/TEOsrP1 via /r/gaming