#i love this place and this community so much

[em-emu]

I LOVE getting to go see movies in theaters and really worry about the potential for the movie theater industry disappearing. I feel like movie theaters provide such a comforting level of community experience... like in addition to the fun of seeing something with friends, being able to go see a movie by myself and just experience sharing space with strangers while we enjoy a movie together holds such a special place in my heart. I've gone to the movies a lot this year, and almost every time I've gone to see a new release, the crowd reactions made the film that much better.

Not to mention movie theaters often just create a genuinely better watch experience. That's what they're FOR. Watching movies in theaters makes for a much more immersive experience of a film. There are so many local movie theaters in my city that play reruns and old films and I'm so grateful for being able to go experience films anywhere from Nosferatu to In the Mood for Love to Jurassic Park in theaters.

Plus there's something so charming about little local movie theaters. Sometimes I do want the huge screen and surround sound of a big chain theater, but I think some movies are best watched with the added character and charm of an ornate theater playing 70mm film, or the novelty of a drive-in theater, or a retro cinema with uncomfortable chairs, neon carpets, and the world's cheapest popcorn.

Anyways that's all to say movie theaters can function as really great third spaces and are so important to films themselves and anyone who likes movies should absolutely make an effort to support their nearby movie theater, ESPECIALLY the local independent ones.

idk if this is a boomer take but I think ppl should make more of an effort to go see movies in theaters bc I couldn’t bear it if the movie theater industry went down and the only way to watch movies was through streaming I’m not strong enough

[ennn]

Recontextualisng the Ballad and Road with the Con and the Hex

I know some folks are upset or disappointed that the Witches' Road here was revealed as the product of Agatha's long con and Billy's Hex magic – that this seems to devalue or invalidate what was being explored about covenhood and sisterhood, or maybe "made it all about a guy".

Here's how I've processed it:

The heart of a good con is a story that rings true

The first version of the Witches' Ballad that Nicky performs for others already has a certain darkness to it. Because even though it was born from their love, the song was used to con and kill witches.

After Nicky's death, Agatha further expands the Ballad for her new deadly long con, adding more flourishes to it, including the mention of "death's hand in mine". It's dark, enticing, powerful, magical. Very much on brand for Agatha Harkness.

What's interesting are the changes between this version and the Sacred Chant version we got in Episode 2. And it's these more recent changes that seem to trip up Agatha with the coven.

For example, the version Agatha used across many years (the one overlaid with her killing witches) does not contain the lines mentioning:

"wake thy power earthly and divine"

"a coven true / two"

" fire, water, earth, and air" – Agatha's earlier version does contain spirit however

I think this speaks to how the Ballad and legend of the Road have gotten away from Agatha. At the heart of the con is a story, and this story has out in the world for centuries.

And it's not like Agatha would have stopped it: For the con to work, the story has to spread. The more witches who know about the Road and the Ballad, the more witches Agatha can target.

But people tend to change the stories they come in contact with, making it their own.

Consider that the story under the long con didn't even come from Agatha: a random witch interpreted the Ballad as a way to get to the Witches' Road, and the Road as an actual place. The con worked because Agatha saw what people wanted, a Road to what they want.

People infuse stories with their own dreams and desires, interpret and transform them to fit with their own lens. That there are apparently multiple versions of the Ballad in the show (more than we see as they mention Lorna's version being the most popular) speaks to this, I think.

The Sacred Chant version of the Ballad is probably a relatively recent attempt by Agatha to update the song she uses given the more modern interpretations of it. She knew about Lorna's version and how popular it is, so I wouldn't be surprised if she pulled elements from that.

So Nicky and Agatha created the Ballad, and Agatha developed it as as a killer con, but over the centuries, I'd say that the Witches' Road has become something bigger than two people.

This lore and ballad has become part of this world's witchy history and culture, reflecting the community's hopes and dreams, beliefs and fears: First with its promise of glory and reward – because that's Agatha's hook – and then thanks to artists like Lorna, with the promise of love that never dies, love that cannot be turned.

So what if the Road doesn't really exist? There are stories that are true that never happened. That doesn't make them less true or important.

It was probably... not helpful that we only get Agatha in full asshole mode addressing this reveal. Her dismissing the song as not meaning anything might be the biggest outright lie she’s ever told, given that the song began with Nicky.

Remember Agatha lies. The Road is not just a con and the song actually means everything, especially to her.

And it is significant that it is the Lorna Wu version of the Ballad – the version Billy is shown listening to – that the Hex Road is built around. It is this version that brings the Ballad back to a place of undying love and family and hope, promising "I'll see you at the end".

We probably wouldn't have gotten the Road we did get if it wasn't for Lorna Wu’s selfless love and sacrifice for her daughter. Because that’s the version Billy connected with. Not the ones Agatha used for her long con.

What's real is what you make of it

So Jac Schaeffer has mentioned that this twist was inspired by The Usual Suspects movie. Not just how the reveal was done – with Agatha framed as the mastermind figure who knew all along (camera wink) and Billy piecing the revelation together from clues with growing horror – but more importantly, how it didn’t detract from how the viewer felt about the characters and what they went through:

When you learn it was all a made-up story, it doesn’t undermine your experience of the movie. You still care about Gabriel Byrne’s character, you still care about Edie, and you care that Fenster died.

Does the Witches' Road being a creation of Billy's chaos magic, led by his subconscious invalidate what the coven went through, what these women and this boy did together?

I don't think it does. Because the experience this coven had was real. Their emotions, decisions, triumphs, lessons learnt, the moments of connection they had with each other — all of it was real to them.

Schaeffer wrote for the Black Widow movie and I'm reminded of the scene where Yelena rejects the idea that her family wasn't real because it was rooted in them being deep undercover:

That wasn't real – who cares. Don't say that. Please don't say that, it was real. It was real to me.

With the exception of Agatha (and Rio at least by Episode 8) who were aware that the Road was a hex, there was no filter on what the coven took away from the Road.

After all, chaos magic bends reality and creates.

Consider Jen at the end of this journey. She may never know the Road was conjured by Billy and rooted in a con of Agatha's but she did have her arc and incredible growth – to the point where she was committed to saving Agatha as part of her coven in the earth trial.

Jen got her power back and embraces being a witch again, as a sister in the craft, because of their shared experience on the Road.

For Lilia, her divination magic didn't care where the Road came from or what conjured it. Outside the hex, she still had the vision to place a sigil on Billy, and later the vision of her coven – the coven she needed – and their destiny together.

Lilia's beautiful journey, her remembering herself and her power, is still intact.

For Alice, she still discovered the truth about her mother's quest to keep her safe from her curse. And with the help of her coven, Alice did lift her curse. She did let go of her anger and found new peace in with a coven.

All of that is still real and still happened.

Agatha is more complicated because she knew from the start that the Road was a Hex. But this is also a deeply hurt love-starved person who also allowed herself to believe for a brief period that Billy might be Nicky despite all evidence to the contrary, until Rio made it clear otherwise.

Did Agatha genuinely find herself caring about this coven by the end of Episode 4? I think she did. I think the fear of losing Billy that episode was genuine too, as was her regret and remorse for killing Alice, because she did feel the loss of that coven relationship that had just started to form.

Agatha's knowledge of the Hex further explains why she lashes out at Billy after Alice's death, aside from his moralising. The spirit trial was a product of his subconscious after all. It was just set up for tragedy because of how the Hex worked (more on that below).

Ultimately, the bonds these witches did make with each other, them coming together as a coven even for a limited time, did matter I think. Jennifer, Alice, and Lilia had their arcs.

Agatha's is more of a mess – and that's a whole other discussion to go into – but I'd say that she's made progress on her arc. With Jen healing Billy, Alice stepping up to protect her, the earth trial moving her towards acknowledging the indiscriminate nature of death. She did see and feel what a coven could be for her, and she does remember them, and what could have been.

The magic of the Road

I think part of the magic of the Road was how it seemed to have purpose in bringing a coven together. How "the Road changes for the coven". Well uh it still did... just with different mechanics behind the curtain.

As a reference point: Why did Wanda create her Hex? To get a reality where she could have a happy family. Why did Billy create the Road? He immediately needed somewhere to escape the Salem Seven, but ultimately he wanted a way to find Tommy.

Note that it's not like Billy made up a version of Tommy just waiting at the Road. His Hex doesn't have a solution or answer, his Hex manifests a Road to find a way forward.

It helps to contextualise the Road as not only the product of out-of-control magic, this Road is also a manifestation of:

a genuine love and curiosity for witchcraft, including its culture and history (let's not forget Billy is a witch who doesn't have a coven)

a need for family and community

a desire to help others find personal growth or what they are looking for (Billy is a good kid that's been raised by a loving family)

Most importantly, as a telepath Billy isn't creating the Road only for himself or using only his own thoughts: with his mind-reading his subconscious is pulling from the coven members around him.

That's why the trials are designed for the coven members, with the spirit trial being so weird because Billy has trouble reading Agatha's mind. And what does Billy learn at the start of Episode 5 with the Salem Seven reappearing? Agatha killed her own coven and doesn't seem remorseful about it at all.

Safe to say Billy's subconscious did not like that.

I hear Schaeffer has confirmed this thinking in a recent interview with House of R, saying there were deleted lines in Episode 9 with Agatha explaining that the trials were informed by Billy's subconscious mind-reading. Agatha was not a fan of how Billy's subconscious wanted personal growth and team-bonding.

So while we were joking about the Road forcing these witches to get therapy, it actually closer to what was happening than we realised. It just wasn't driven by some mysterious cosmic force or divine entity, but by a kid subconsciously who meant well.

There's perhaps something to be said about how there isn't a magical Road already existing out there for Witches to find themselves.

Unlike sorcerers in the MCU who pull magic from the universe or other dimensions, the magic of witches comes from within.

[kiame-sama]

the hybrid babies headbutting is so cute 😭 what about for other hybrids? like for azul, the baby would wrap a tentacle around the human's fingers? or for baby gnolls, they prance around the human and nibble on the human's hand? just some thoughts

Warnings: Several hybrid infants mentioned, yanderes in full possession of their darling, fem bodied reader, mention of pregnancy, fluffy, one poly relationship mentioned

Part 1:

~~~~~~~~

Azul's Hybrid Larve:

- After hatching, the larvae are very attached to their Human parent, wrapping their little chubby hands and tentacles around the fingers and arms of their Human parent. The gentle currents of the ocean are difficult for the less coordinated Cecilia infants, so they will anchor themselves on their parents (Azul, or the Human. Azul looks like them and they take solace in that. Jade is primary dad, but they are cautious of Jade's sharp eyes and teeth. They don't trust Floyd despite how much it makes him pout.)

Jade/Floyd's Hybrid Fry:

The little Eel Merbabies are less dependent on their parents than the very clingy Cecilia infants, but the eels will gravitate towards their soft Human parent more. They may nibble a little bit before their teeth come in, but they know not to bite the Human that feeds and raises them. They are absolute terrors to their fathers most of the time and flee to their Human parent should Floyd get annoyed with them.

Vil's Hybrid Chicks:

They follow the Human around in a row and go where the Human goes. Sometimes they like to play under Vil's tail feathers as he does have an impressive train of color and the chicks love chasing their adoring father around. As cold as Vil can be, he is very affectionate to his chicks and mates, often cooing softly to his chicks and intentionally placing the chicks around the Human, only to cover them all with his wings. Vil is a very good Harpy Peacock father. Rook will also carry the chicks around on his back as if they were Drider Hatchlings.

Rook's Hybrid Hatchlings:

The hatchlings want to be on top of something, usually clinging to their parents for safety and warmth. Rook will be carrying the hatchlings most of the time on his large arachnid body, but the little spiderling Driders will still climb up on Vil and their Human parent for that same safety and heat. The little Driders are clingy and hard to remove once they latch on, much like how adult golden Huntsman spiders can grab prey/predators on reflex and are extremely difficult to remove.

Trey's Hybrid Foals:

The Kelpie foals are clingy and practically attached to their Human parent's hip from the time they open their eyes to at least five years old. Sure, they will follow Trey around and trot after him while he bakes, but it is a tragedy among tragedies for them to be split from their Human parent for long. Losing sight of their Human parent will make the foals frantic, resulting in kicking, rearing, high whinnying cries, and bolting to where they last saw the Human as they search for their parent with increasing distress. At home, they are more than content to settle for Trey if the Human needs rest, not nearly as upset should they lose sight of their Human parent.

Lilia's Hybrid Pups:

The little Bat pups need to be held in near constant until about two years old or they will begin to wiggle/panic/scream. It is uncomfortable for them to lay on their backs early in life because of their wings. By being held, that pressure on the wings is reduced and the pups are comforted by the warmth of their parent. Lilia will insist on holding the pups unless it is during feeding or the Human wants to carry the pups for a bit. They are very cute and squeak to communicate early on, clicking and squeaking to their beloved parents.

Jamil's Hybrid Hatchlings:

The hatchling Nagas will wind themselves around the Human when they want attention from their beloved Human parent. They will also do the same to Jamil, winding their tails around the fingers/arms of the older Naga. Sometimes the infants will ball up in their coils and can just be carried around like a ball until they unravel. They are venomous and have venom as soon as their fangs grow in, but they do not bite their parents. They will bite anyone other than their parents, however.

Ruggie's Hybrid Cubs:

The cubs are eager to tumble and play with one another, even at very young ages. Though the cubs are exciteable and wrestle together a lot, they are gentle when trying to play with their Human parent. They will mouth at the hands, arms, and legs of their Human parent, being careful to not bite but still play with the Human. With Ruggie, they are full on biting and being rough because his hide is thicker and able to withstand their rough play. At night they are right up against their Human parent's side, sleeping soundly against the soft belly.

Ace/Deuce's hybrid kids:

The little Goat-hybrids have a habit of climbing and headbutting anything that moves. Headbutting to the kids is more of a challenge or play fighting than a sign of affection. They won't headbutt their Human parent because even they understand that is not appropriate behavior towards Humans, but they sure as hell will headbutt the Fawn or Satyr. They don't have horns until about ten years of age, so it isn't particularly harmful or painful to be headbutt by them, but they will continuously headbutt one another and their Goatly parent until they tire themselves out.

[prismaticsaltedink]

Scoria and Sakura are best friends! It's so cute when I see the things they do together, and it makes me so beyond happy that they both came to live with me so that they could share their lives with each other. They absolutely insist on it, and does so much good for the other.

I can't imagine how else they could have found happiness if things hadn't worked out exactly as they did. Scoria has basically been Sakura's "emotional support snake" while she worked through things from her past I'll never fully know that caused her a lot of issues with panic and fear. Sakura knows this too, and looks out for her sister, the only one she truly trusts and feels completely safe with.

The moment they wake up they both want each other to snuggle and play with. Scoria loves to be affectionate with both me and her sister who seems to have not had this earlier in her life- but Scoria is showing her how nice it is not only directly but demonstrating with me and Sakura also trying, copying what she has seen her sister do.

Sometimes when one goes to check on the other they'll join in on... I'm not even sure what they were doing. But they had a good time while taking a mandated union break from digging tunnels for the isopods.

So happy I get to share in the adventures of these two best friends! It makes me so happy to see them living their best lives together, and being beyond content snuggled together with their found family.

[7ndipity]

Their S/O Suffers From Migraines

Ot7 x Reader

Summary: How the members would look after their S/O who suffers from migraines

Warnings: none

A/N: Thanks to @coffeedepressionsoup for this request! I hope you like it!

Masterlist

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Jin: He would go into full caregiver mode at the first hints of an oncoming migraine, making sure that your space is as dark and peaceful as possible for you, that you have any medications that you need, bringing you tea or something to snack on, since he read that it can sometimes help, etc. He tries to get you set up and comfy as possible and then leaves you be, bc he doesn’t want to potentially bug you later during the worst of it. Afterwards, he’ll make you whatever foods you want and keep you comfy on the couch while you recoup.

Yoongi: I think he would be good at noticing the subtle shifts in your mood or behavior that are usually indicators of an impending migraine, quickly suggesting the two of you take a break from whatever you’re doing and maybe lie down, trying to hopefully catch it early and take precautionary measures to keep your pain to a minimum, keeping you as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Once the worst of it passes, he’ll bring you drinks and snacks and set up a cozy evening in bed for the two of you while you recover.

Hobi: At the first sign of your symptoms, he’s running around(as quietly as possible), closing curtains and shutting off the lights, and getting you whatever you need to feel comfortable. He refuses to let you do anything, wanting to be as helpful as he can be, tho he knows that for a large part of it, all he can do is just sit with you and ride it out. Afterwards, he lets you pick what y’all do, if you feel up to doing anything. Otherwise, he just curls up with you while you rest, playing with your hands or hair while you nap.

Namjoon: He has a tendency to get low-key panicked sometimes when you’re sick or hurt, so he would try and ask you as many questions as possible beforehand about ways he can help so that he’s prepared and ready to do whatever you need him to in order to help you feel better, whether that's bringing you cold/heat packs, or finishing up your work and tasks for you so that you can rest without worrying about them. Whatever he’s doing tho, he’s always super soft spoken and gentle with you, treating you so tenderly that it almost makes you cry.

Jimin: He would be the most dedicated caregiver during these times. It absolutely breaks his heart to see you in sort of pain or discomfort and not be able to fix it, but he does what he can to make you as comfortable as possible, fixing pillows and lights just to your needs, bringing you ice water or tea, double checking with you on everything as he goes. Once you start feeling better, he’ll set up a cozy movie night for the two of you, even tho you have to keep your eyes closed and the sound low bc your senses are sensitive, he just wants to cuddle you and keep you close. 

Taehyung: He's surprisingly good at reading your cues and handling your symptoms, even communicating through gestures and hand signals at times if talking is too painful or difficult. Half the time he just lays with you, not saying anything, just wanting to be near you in case you need anything, lowkey trying to manifest/project healing energy into you. Once you start to feel better, he’ll cuddle you close, making sure that you have whatever you need first, but just wanting you to give you as much love as possible.

Jungkook: He would constantly be researching and finding different things that are supposed to help you with the pain, like those cooling compression headband things and noise canceling headphones for sound sensitivity. He keeps extra heat/cold packs and pain meds at his place in case you need them. He hates seeing you in pain and not being able to do anything, so he tries to compensate with gadgets and preparedness. Afterwards, he’s always extra gentle and affectionate with you, giving you anything you want, from cuddles to takeout to album spoilers(don’t tell the others tho shh)

Taglist: @sopebubbles-replies @btsw1fe @this-must-be-my-tardis @whitefoxgirl @bethanysnow @coffeedepressionsoup @feminympho @classicalelephant @dfqcsqueen @mother2monsters @comingupwithacoolnameishard @bo0ghol @universal-travel-er @k4ngelz

[sillygoofyqueer]

sorry i send you so many asks i might as well go live in your inbox BUT pangolin!shen yuan is SO CUTE (panyuan? shen yuangolin?), i know he LOVES climbing on wei qingwei's broad shoulders and traveling to the peaks, listening to wei qingwei talk endlessly about all the peak lords and cultivators and their swords.

as a pangolin he has no job or anything so he'd wander off to watch liu qingge train, standing there with his little paws held together in that adorable pangolin way. maybe some bai zhan kids try to kick him and liu qingge immediately punts them to the other side of the field bc everyone knows that if you mess with the pangolins, you mess with wan jian peak, and you really don't want that. or shen yuan goes to qian cao peak to watch mu qingfang work his medicine magics. an ding peak is definitely the best place for treats, esp shang qinghua who just plops a whole bag of nuts and seeds in front of him when he visits.

also he'd hide behind wei qingwei's legs, little claws clinging to his robes like a tiny scaly child whenever shen qingqiu comes by for disciple swords, because that man is intimidating and everyone is so freaking tall when you're only 80 cm long.

shen yuan has also 100% bitten people.

You've actually fallen for my trap that I set out purely to lure you into my inbox and now you're trapped here forever and ever and we WILL be having tea parties every week. Sorry. You're my friend now, that's basically what I'm like with my friends. I've just realised that I'm basically atticwifing you....but platonically. ANYWAY. Shen Yuan absorbs so much information from Wei Qingwei's rambles, even squeaking and offering little sounds to ensure that the peak lord knows that he is listening! While the rest of the sect have gotten used to this little limpet hanging onto WQW, visitors are like "is one of your peak lords actually insane" and the peak lords are like "nah just watch this" and they listen as SY seemingly RESPONDS to something WQW has said with a questioning sort of hum. Shocked Pikachu faces all around. Also, I love to think about a couple of the more spiteful, spoiled disciples of one of the peaks ganging up on poor pangolin SY because they think they're above the consequences of their actions. SY stumbles his way back to Wan Jian Peak, where he is met by WQW. The man is. Very gentle. as he treats the pangolin's wounds. Then he turns his attention to finding who has done this to his precious little pet, and all of the peak lords are reminded of just how scary WQW can be when he has a valid reason to be. The man is horrifying, normally warm and friendly smile wiped completely off his face - instead, there's a scowl. A petrifying scowl that looks out of place on his face. Let's just say that the disciples are very quickly found and...dealt with. Also!! I read the last little paragraph and just...immediately thought of a different kind of panyuan - a little demon type creature that WQW likely took in as a baby because...listen, so what if it's a demon, the shimei on the beast peak said that it's okay because "pangolin-type demons are harmless, trust me bro". This little pangolin baby has a human form, meaning WQW basically has a little baby that is sometimes a pangolin. In human form, he has his little tail and spatterings of scales over his body, and he is just a little GUY. He's just as charming as a little child, peeking out from behind WQW's robes and clinging to him, often just resorting to communicating through his little chirps and squeaks when he gets scared or far too shy for words. He is still taken to literally all of the peak lord meetings, because he's just a little guy, and god forbid anyone finds SY NOT sitting on WQW's shoulders or cuddled in his embrace. Everyone else is, at first, kind of hesitant because bro that's a child get him OUT of our meetings. Then they're hit with the big ole eyes and they fucking crumble.

[incandescentflower]

You can always tell when the writing for two characters and their conflict is compelling because you start to see continuous fights break out about which character is "right."

But in the case of Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo in particular, it really feels like the entire point of this drama is being missed by a mile to engage in that kind of thinking.

It does remind me of that quote from Blueming that my mind comes back to from time to time.

About pain, it's an absolute thing for a person. It's not something you can compare. If I feel pain, then it is pain. No body can judge you.

Some very wise words about how pain is not something that can truly be compared. And I do think those ideas continue through this narrative as well, but with the nuance of what if it's the person who you love that hurts you because you are both trying to manage that pain.

I know for many people it comes down to how one person treats the other - either directly (Dohoe pushing on Juyoung, challenging him, trying to make it seem like he can cut off Juyoung because it doesn't matter) and indirectly (Juyoung keeping a relationship with Dohoe's father who was both their abuser, pushing him to confront things he isn't ready to confront, thinking he needs to protect Dohoe from himself by keeping the gym even when that is the opposite of what Dohoe says very directly).

It's interesting because I identify with Juyoung's way of dealing with this trauma more, but it doesn't make it the correct way. And I do feel like the story is trying to say that. The 12 year separation really emphasizes that you can't make someone else deal with their trauma on your timeline no matter how much you love them. Love isn't this magic balm. You can't save someone else. But love can be a brightness in the dark, love can be hope. It's a really beautifully nuanced message.

And when you love someone you can hurt them and be hurt by them. You have to be able to see outside yourself and listen to the other person's needs to be in a relationship. And sometimes you have to decide that loving that person is too harmful to you.

It's Dohoe we see struggling with this, thinking loving Juyoung might be too harmful to him, thinking him loving Juyoung is harmful to Juyoung.

Juyoung is not thinking of that harm so people want to protect him, but that is about his own issues he also needs to deal with. He is just as responsible for figuring out his boundaries and deciding what he can manage and what he can't. He has to communicate his truths to Dohoe. There is still so much that he has held back.

And we see him start to do it. We see Juyoung calling Dohoe out on not saying how he feels and retreating so quickly. We see Juyoung saying what he needs. We see them starting to communicate, starting to smooth some of those edges and we can only hope they keep doing that.

Juyoung apologizes to Dohoe, but it seems like it's for trying to push Dohoe too hard too fast. Dohoe is being very clear about what he needs and Juyoung is now finally listening.

It's like a quote from To My Star (another Hwang Da Seul drama) I think of often:

I really like people like you. People who have their walls up. They seem really strong.

Dohoe's shutting things out is what has helped him survive. You can't just open the flood gates up all at once. Dohoe's avoidance is his protection and you can't just bulldoze it down.

This is a dance of loving someone where their needs are in direct conflict with yours and trying to manage that and figure out how much you can accept a little less of them or give a little more of yourself and hopefully bit by bit you come to some place in the middle together.

[rockinlibrarian]

Must stand up for myself and my husband whose political beliefs suck. There's a lot of assumptions made about what such a marriage looks like, both here in this post/its notes and in real life. Though he sides politically with trad-husbands (is that what the spouses of trad-wives are called?) and evangelicals and such, that's not the guy I married: he's a goofy dad and a doting husband and a gamer and a sap. He's a bona fide gun nut, yes-- that's how he got on that political side in the first place-- but he's safe and smart about it, not one of the dudes waving guns around to look tough and accidentally blowing their nuts off.

The truth is that, despite the fact that who you vote for DOES matter in practical real-life ways, your day-to-day life doesn't delve into those matters much. Yes, we have conversations that are not superficial! We talk about our health, our kids, our extended families, our jobs, our friends, our finances, both off-hand and deep! We also quote dumb movies and and have stupid in-jokes, and kiss and cuddle and other such TMI, and other superficial things that make life bearable and fun.

I have noticed that, when you really talk to people of various political persuasions, you will have your extremists, I'm not saying people like that don't exist, but a SHOCKING amount of people actually care about the same things, worry about the same things: can they take care of their families? Can they keep them and their loved ones healthy and thriving? Will they have enough money to not only get by but to do things they really want to do? The DIFFERENCES are in what they believe the SOLUTIONS to these problems are.

And this is where talking out the differences on governmental levels becomes difficult if not impossible, because there's just a mindset about The Way Things Work and The Way Things ARE, it's like suddenly you're speaking different languages entirely. Words mean different things. (Literally: one good example I saw-- in a Tumblr post once, I think-- is the word "Respect"-- Conservatives see "showing respect" as showing deference, acknowledging that someone is Better than you; while Progressives see "showing respect" as treating everyone as equals. So when a Progressive asks for respect, a Conservative thinks they're trying to be better than others; but if a Conservative asks for respect, a Progressive's like I was TRYING to give you respect but you're trampling everybody else here, geez. Anyway). So eventually you do get like, Okay, never mind, there's no convincing you to see things the way I do on this matter, so let's not talk about it. And most of the time you don't HAVE to talk about it, so great!

Does it SUCK that my own husband is so confused about the differences between socialism and Communism that he'll vote for a guy even he knows is a complete (and even dangerous) idiot just to keep *gasp* LEFTISTS (who might dare enact laws that smack of socialism!) out of office, convinced that because Socialism=Communism=Totalitarianism that we as a nation will stay Free-er under a guy who's bragged about intending to become a dictator? YES, it is utterly stupid! But there is nothing I can say that will break this mindset! Our KIDS take after me, politically, so he knows he's outnumbered anyhow. And who knows, maybe we HAVE made a dent in his beliefs, just like I don't believe Guns are Inherently Bad And Should Be Banned anymore. Enough to get him to stop voting straight ticket Republican, probably not. But every little bit helps.*

In the end, the biggest Issue we have in our marriage is about How Clean the House Is (because we're both--all, counting the kids-- complete slobs, but he's more embarrassed by having a house his mom is embarrassed by than I am, so it bothers him more). I hope the state of our nation never comes to the point where our political differences will interfere with that. I can't guarantee they won't (civil war, for example). But for now, why break what we got?

*(I mean obviously we HAVE discussed politics, that's how I KNOW what he believes and why. It's just not worth rehashing the things we already know we're not going to agree about).

I cannot imagine willingly staying in a relationship so superficial and bad that you can’t discuss your beliefs.

[fixated-on-fictional-characters]

I just wanted to say, to those people who are saying Agatha did not grow at all. You are wrong.

She’s centuries old and her mother, the person who was supposed to love her no matter what not only turned against her and tried to kill her but also turned her entire community against her.

She has been alone for so so long, always having to look out for herself and only herself because no one else was. So the type of character growth everybody wanted could not in anyway ever happen in a 9 episode series. It is impossible and would have just been so untrue and wrong to the character.

The only reason she cared about Billy in the first place is because she projected her son onto him. Even when all the clues were right in front of her eyes about his true identity, she wanted to cling on to the hope that Nicky was back. So it’s kind of hard to figure out who she actually cares about. Billy? Or just the parts of him that remind her of her own son? Especially when she seems to care about him quite a bit before betraying him.

But, I think betrayal is so ingrained in Agatha. She always has had to put herself first, in her mind it’s either betray or be betrayed, so she chooses her own survival over his. Keep in mind that right before, she had heard him say ‘ Agatha Harkness will never be more than a covenless witch’. (She remembers this since she mentions it after betraying him) That was when he thought he was all alone with Jennifer. So obviously, when Billy later on says ‘you’re not so bad’ Agatha Harkness who has been betrayed so much by her own community, by her own witchkin, who just heard him say what he did behind her back, won’t trust him. Won’t trust that he really cares about her or sees the good in her. At least not enough to sacrifice her own life. Not when she’s spent literal centuries protecting it. So she does what she has always done to survive. And she betrays him.

But, Agatha has grown. She’s learnt that not all witches will turn against her. That some witches, will even sacrifice themselves to protect her (Lilia and Alice) She helped Billy find his brother’s soul and find a body for it, she wouldn’t have done that in ep1, she would’ve made him power her up first at least. She actually listened to Lilia’s advice, smth I’m not sure she would’ve done either had it been the same witch in ep1. And I think her kissing Rio was a way for her to show a tiny bit of forgiveness. Of understanding. She could’ve stolen her powers in any other way but she chose to do it by full on making out. I like to think she kissed her because she didn’t know if she could touch Rio when she became a ghost and wanted to have one last kiss with her. That perhaps is the biggest growth for Agatha. Forgiveness and letting down her guard again. Forgiving her community and forgiving Rio. The two biggest heartbreaks of her life.

This doesn’t mean she doesn’t have more to grow, but we have not been watching the same show if you think she didn’t progress at all.

[simpingforbots]

I really love your transformers series about a human being on cybertron. Kinda wondering if they ever met a human, so this little organic is just a very, very, VERY, smart rat. Anyway, I was wondering if you could make a part 4? It's ok if not.

Was hoping if you could do Alpha Trion, Shockwave, and Soundwave? Maybe even maegatronus Prime for D-13?

Don't do this request if you are busy, don't want to, or sick. I can wait a few months and years.

Have a good day/evening!!!!!!!

thank you so much.

sadly this is a human we are talking about as Transformers One yet to learn that humans are actually sentient and to learn English, and so is human. their language sounds like a clicks, whirls and other metallic noises. So it's more like figuring out by their body language and repetitive noises they make. like a certain noise thay make at you means its your name. they can see you are smart and if you were to be given buttons with certain sounds like in one video you would be able to communicate. so yes they know you are smart, just not realizing that you are THIS smart to be actually considered a sentient.

What if human ended up in transformers one

part 4

Alpha Trion

Alpha Triton, being one of 13 primes, was one of a few son's of Cybertron that realised you were more then just some organic. HE found you during one of Quintessons attacks, with your space ship being an unfortunate target to their fire. out of all your crew you were the last.

he decided it will be best for your own good to keep you by him self and try to establish some kind of contact and maybe even learn where you are from and what planet is your home. so safe to say it was not an easy task and with you being small week and made out of flesh - you quickly become something every Prime grew soft on. you were pampered with pets, soft coos and nice flesh food they could find on surface. he kept you close by, and did his best to keep away from Sentinel as he could see something dark in his eyes and fake smiles. other Primes seemed to trust the kid for some reason and Triton just decided to keep you close to him self. you did protest at first, being manhandled and treated like a some kind of pet. but soon you got used to it and even felt comfort in hand of a huge cat. You also distrusted Sentinel and just tried to avoid him. you enjoyed your life as much as you could until Sentinel lead all primes in to trap. Triton did his best to keep you out of harms way and fight, but he can only do so much. in the end he had to watch you fall and killed by Sentinel, before he was hurt. what he did not expect as to still be alive after all those years and when Pax woke him up, he saw what was left of you - just a pile of bones, near his body, you probably crawled towards him on his last breath and passed away by him. he wished he couldv'e done more, but now he need to do is give this new generation a fighting chance. though when he is captured and was decapitated, he was a bit relieved to see that Prime deemed you worthy enough to joing their after life.

Shockwave

Shockwave probably would see you as something more interesting that anything on cybertron. And before he would become the mad scientist we know of him now, before Megatron, he would 100 percent would run more safe, though still hurtful, experiments. And mostly because of lack of equipment. He would find you as your ship crashed not far from the hideout, and you only one who survived. He observed you from a far at first, trying to understand just what you are. Some strange organic life matter, super fragile and somehow very-very resilient. He observed from afar, keeping tabs and even running his own little experiment - he would find some edible fruits and place them near cave you were hiding in. He watched as you at first was warry, not knowing if you could eat it, but after time you sort of relaxed around food suddenly appearing on your "door". Then Shockwave moved on to next step. Instead of hiding he kept the distance so that you could see him. Of course first time you hid in your cave that was to small for his servo, but with prolong exposure he was even able to get closer and closer. Even one time you came close to him, watching him with curiosity in return. HE reached out with his only servo poking at your head and you touched his finger. After some time he was sure you won't mind if he brings you with him to show to Soundwave. HE was very proud of his little study! So he decided to "study" you more. You were poked, probed and measured in all sort of ways, without your consent and you protested every test he had done. by the end of all the experiments he would keep you on his shoulder, proudly showing you off to other High guards and proud with his experiments. you just wish to go back to your cave and wait for rescue ship to arrive to pick you up. What you had no idea is that Shockwave knew about the signal and already took care of it, stomping it to the ground and making sure that the signal would come of as false. so you are stuck for his intertaiment.

Soundwave

Soundwave would probably find out about you through Shockwave when he was tagged along to observe you. Soundwave was bored at first, but after some time he would come to your hide out without Shockwave, just observing you. You tinkered with some machine, clearly trying to get of this planet by sending some signal. he did not wanted this to happen as YOU were the only intertaiment here for now and kept Shockwave from dying from boredom. you did not even had a chance to properly scream when you were kidnaped by the bot and brought to High Guards and you sort of become a mascot for them. Every other bot found you entertaining, a bright light of hope to lift the gloom. Shockwave was a bit happy as well as he could run his experiments more closer. Soundwave how ever kept you close, not letting you out of his sigh because of what you were. you did not had anything to protect your fragile flesh body and easily got hurt by ether "walking" in to think, stumbling, tripping and falling on a flat surface. YOU are NOT allowed any where outside the fortress at all. Sleep? you thought you will be able to have a moment of solidarity at such moment? Forget it - your recharging place is in his chest so that Soundwave won't have to worry about you sneaking of while he rests. And Soundwave wiling to go to such lengths as to wrap a chain around your body and keep you close, as scaning your head is a bit more troublesome as the reading always come "wrong" and it's just easier to keep you closer then to know what you wanted to do. Food? you can scavenge for it only when HE brought you out and you better to gather enough to last you for weeks. so yeah. have fun with overbearing bot.

part 1 part 2 part 3

[valictini]

You know, it's kinda weird... if Siffrin's country is on a remote island and everybody forgot everything related to that country... what about the people who lived on the island when it happened? Did they starve bc even looking ahead made them pass out with headaches?

...And how did Siffrin and the King escape from there despite such immense struggles? Did they just happen to be outside the country accidentally at the right timing?

...What if the forgetting part is only applied outside the borders of the country? If your theory of the other nations being afraid of wish craft is true, maybe the people of Siffrin's country were actually the ones isolating themselves before anything majorly bad happens?

I don't remember if Siffrin said he returned home after he ran away... maybe he didn't know the curse? Maybe he did it anyway in teenager rage, only noticing far too late that it wasn't what he wanted?

When talking about him running away, Siffrin's memory gets wiped the moment he talks about going back home. Many theorise that it's the exact moment he forgot everything and eventually led him to vaugarde.

Now, did the curse hit at that exact moment when he was at sea, or was it already in place and only affects people from outside the country?

And who wished for it, the islanders or the world? The islanders' wish would probably be something like "protect us from the others" and the wish from outside the country would be "make it disappear" or something like that. God, what if it's both, and the wishes fused together?

Many people theorise that the island disappeared at the exact moment Siffrin was at sea, and that he escaped the curse by pure chance, but maybe the curse was already in place and he just didn't know! Or maybe it was at a time when there were only rumors about people not returning from the sea, but he didn't take it seriously! And as for the King, it is said that he was found washed up on the coast of Vaugarde, so many assume he was also at sea when it happened?

God, the islanders not being aware of the curse at first would make it so much worse, actually. Like they're all fine, they know who they are and they go fishing as usual... but no one ever returns from these trips! Because the second they're far away from the island, they forget their whole entire identity, what they're doing, and where they're going! Most probably end up dying because they can't remember how to operate their ship...

Eventually, islanders just dont go at sea in fear of disappearing too. And they effectively can't communicate with any other country anymore. They're stuck on their little piece of land, never knowing what happened to the people who disappeared!

Though the one thing that makes me think it might not be the case is that they'd still have wish craft on their side, so I'd assume after years of being isolated, they'd find a way to break the wish that trapped them... or maybe not, maybe the intent of the whole entire world can't be countered by such a small population, even with the right rituals... god this is absolutely depressing, I love it!

[pressplay-if]

I don't think this has been asked before (if yes then sorry and ignore this) but since it's a staple in the IF community, what would the ROs do in a Orpheus and Eurydice situation. Who would look back and who would resist looking?

Angel would look back. He's twitchy and anxious and would cave almost instantly. He would hate himself for all eternity afterwards, but yes, in the moment, he would cave.

Stevie would look back also. It'd take longer than with Angel, though. She loves MC more than anything, but she's so, so worried for them and eventually, the doubt would just become too much. She, too, would of course regret it for the rest of her life.

Lincoln does not. They move forward driven by their obsession alone, and that is a powerful force indeed. In the moment, they might be going insane with worry, but they would not look back, no matter how hard it is.

Zima also resists. They have not gone to these lengths just to give MC up now. The way out is torturous, but Zima tells themself they've been through worse, and perhaps subjectively, they have. Their mind is not a pretty place, but they've learned to shove all that nasty stuff down, and that's what they would do then.

[midnight-shadow-cafe]

Long Time Coming

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x reader

Warning: slight angst (usual mentions of walking dead stuff), mostly fluf

Authors Note: this does mention pre breakout Daryl briefly but I was inspired by @dixons-sunshine I love their fics so check them out

Word Count: 1.4K

Masterlist

MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+

You and Daryl Dixon had known each other for as long as you could remember. Growing up in the same small, rough town, you both carried more bruises—both physical and emotional—than you’d ever admit to anyone else. Your families were the kind people whispered about, and no one in town expected much from either of you. That didn’t matter, though. You and Daryl understood each other in ways no one else ever could.

You spent most days together, wandering the woods on the edge of town, finding safety in the quiet and solace in each other’s presence. Words weren’t always necessary; there was a kind of silent understanding between you two. He wasn’t much for talking, but you’d learned to read him—by the way he moved, the set of his shoulders, or the way he clenched his hands when he was angry. Over time, he relaxed around you, and a friendship formed that was deeper than anything you’d ever known.

As you grew older, things shifted in small ways. You noticed the way he’d sometimes stare when he thought you weren’t looking, a kind of softness in his eyes you didn’t see anywhere else. You’d find excuses to brush his hand or linger a little too close, your heart hammering every time you did. Despite your unspoken feelings for each other, neither of you dared to confess. Each of you feared risking the one good thing you had.

When things got bad at his place, Daryl would come to your window late at night. You’d let him in without a word, and he’d curl up on an old sleeping bag on your floor. In time, you started keeping the little things he brought you from his walks—shiny rocks, a feather, even a small metal dog tag he’d found at a garage sale once. “Thought it looked cool,” he muttered, giving it to you with a rare, shy smile. On the back, he’d scratched his initials, *DD*, with his old pocket knife. You wore that tag around your neck every day, the feel of the cool metal against your skin a comforting reminder of him.

You thought you’d have all the time in the world to tell him how you felt, that someday you’d finally be able to put your feelings into words.

But then everything went to hell.

When the world ended, you were waiting for Daryl to come by, the way he always did. You hadn’t planned anything special—just another day spent together, escaping the world for a little while. But that afternoon, the world collapsed. Panic swept through the streets as people ran, screamed, and clawed at each other, desperate to escape the horrors that seemed to emerge from nowhere.

You barely managed to escape the initial chaos, fleeing into the woods where you and Daryl had spent so much time. You waited there for hours, hoping he’d come, but as the sky darkened, you realized you were on your own. Days passed, then weeks, and still, he didn’t show. You held onto hope, but each day without him made it harder. Part of you feared the worst, but the other part clung to the belief that he was out there somewhere, just as determined to survive as you were.

Months went by, and you learned to fend for yourself. In and out of groups, you never stayed anywhere long. Trust became a luxury you couldn’t afford, and you hardened, learning the skills you needed to keep going. The dog tag around your neck became your one constant—a small, silent reminder of what you’d lost and the person you couldn’t give up on.

That was where Carol and Maggie found you, holed up in the back of a crumbling grocery store on the edge of town. They convinced you to come with them, promising a safe place, a community. Their words stirred something in you—a spark of hope you hadn’t felt in a long time. You decided to follow them, if only to find out if “home” was something you could still have.

As they led you through the gates of the prison, Carol introduced you to a man named Rick, who assessed you with a calm, piercing gaze. “Daryl’s off workin’ on repairs,” he explained, “but he’ll be here soon.” Then he turned to someone nearby. “Go tell him to come help our new friend get settled.”

At the mention of Daryl’s name, your heart skipped. You fought to keep your expression neutral, reminding yourself that it was a common enough name. But a part of you couldn’t help hoping that maybe, against all odds, it really was him.

The minutes felt like hours. Then, finally, you heard heavy footsteps echoing down the hall. You turned, breath catching as he came into view.

There he was—older, rougher, with longer hair and sharper features. He’d changed, hardened by survival, but his eyes, those deep blue eyes, were still unmistakably him.

“Daryl?” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath.

He froze, his gaze locking onto yours, and you saw the shock, the relief, the unmistakable softness that was always there when he looked at you. “It’s…really you?” His voice was rougher now, almost hoarse, but it was still him.

You barely managed a nod before rushing into his arms, holding him tight. His embrace was just as fierce, his grip solid and real, grounding you after all the months you’d spent alone. He buried his face in your shoulder, his breath shaky as he murmured, “Thought I lost ya. Thought you were gone.”

You pulled back, your fingers instinctively going to the dog tag around your neck. You held it up, showing him. “I kept it,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I never took it off.”

His eyes softened even more as he reached out, fingers brushing the tag with a gentle reverence. “Didn’t think ya still had it,” he muttered.

“Of course I did. It was all I had left of you.” Your words were raw, spilling out without restraint, and you saw him visibly swallow, his emotions barely contained.

His hands cupped your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks as he gazed at you with a fierce determination. “Ain’t lettin’ you go again,” he whispered. “Not makin’ that mistake twice. You were gone too long.”

In that moment, the world fell away. You leaned forward, closing the distance as you kissed him, pouring all the words you’d left unspoken into that one moment. His arms wrapped around you tighter, his kiss deep and fierce, as though he was as desperate to make up for lost time as you were.

When you pulled back, breathless, he kept his forehead pressed to yours. “We’re gonna make it,” he promised, his voice barely a whisper. “Ain’t lettin’ you outta my sight.”

In the days that followed, Daryl’s protective instincts grew stronger than ever. To others, especially newcomers, he was cold and distant, rarely bothering to remember names. But with you, he was different. He softened, his usual roughness fading when he looked at you.

If you mentioned needing anything—medical supplies, food, anything—he’d make sure it got to you, no matter what it took. Whenever he returned from a supply run, he’d bring back something small for you—a shiny rock, a wildflower, a feather. They were things that reminded you of how he’d once come to your window at night, gifts in hand, and it warmed your heart that he still did it, even now.

One evening, he handed you a small, tarnished silver ring he’d found on a run. “Ain’t worth much,” he mumbled, cheeks tinged pink as he rubbed the back of his neck. “But…figured it might look good on ya.”

You slipped it on, smiling. “I love it,” you said softly. Those three words carried weight, and you saw him blink, the truth settling between you.

Daryl was everything to you now, your one safe place in a world that had torn itself apart. He watched over you with a quiet devotion, his gaze always tracking you in a crowd, his hand resting on your back whenever you needed grounding. If you felt uneasy or scared, he was there, his presence a constant reassurance.

Some nights, as you lay wrapped in his arms, you’d trace the scars on his skin, your fingers mapping the battles he’d survived. And sometimes, he’d open up, sharing things he hadn’t told anyone else. You listened, holding him close, letting him see that with you, he was safe.

In a world that had taken so much, you’d both found something unbreakable. No matter what came next, you knew you’d face it together. Because after everything, neither of you would ever let the other go again.

Hope you enjoyed! Please consider liking and reposting! -Midnight💜

[kiame-sama]

Humans Are Extinct (Yandere!TWST x Fem!Reader) Monster AU pt 15

(Painting done by @Sugar-sprinkles Thank you again for the fan art, I love it!)

Warnings; nightmares, comfort after nightmares, communal grooming, blood for the blood gods attitude, grudges, breakfast, let him cook, new technology, Dragon, Vampire Bat, Raiju, Cervitaur, Hellcat, Shinigami, Gnoll,

~~~~~~~~

The pleasant electric purple sky swirled above you, rolling with fluffy clouds of shadows bathed in pastels. Green fireflies surrounding you as you lay back on a vast blanket in some forgotten field that faced the setting sun at a wonderful angle to view. Delicate glass flowers swayed, the surface of the glass moving organically as if they were fluid.

Around you countless colors gleamed in the gentle light and warm rays of the red sun set. A soft warm breeze skated across your skin despite the fading light and lowering temperature heralding the arrival of night. Stars dotted in the darkening sky and you noticed the various colors they all seemed to have. Beautiful poisonous purples, handsome prideful golds, rosey blood reds, pearly selfish whites, royal electric greens, intelligent underworld blues, cunning clueless maroons. They danced and moved above you the same way the fireflies leaped around and hummed.

You know better than to be alone.

What?

Where's Malleus?

He didn't seem to be lying with you, or any of the hoard for that matter. Actually, where was everyone? You were well and truly alone in a field. This isn't your home. None of this is familiar.

The stars faded away suddenly, one by one flickering out of sight as the light of the sun faded to darkness. The woods on the edge of the field seemed so much closer now, whispering and moving shadows among the trees with glowing eyes that stared.

Only the light of the fireflies remained, eyes glowing a reflective green in the dark. A snarling growl splits the air followed by a howl from behind you. All around there is barks and flashes of teeth in the dark.

They drew closer as the fireflies dimmed. Your heart seizing as the light seemed to keep them at bay.

'Wait!'

Your voice was soundless as you tried to call to the fireflies to stay, trying to scream but unable to.

'Come back!'

The lights dimmed further as the Wolves circled round and gnashed their teeth. The largest and more scar covered one lunged as the fireflies went out.

All you heard was Grim crying out your name.

~•§•~

Eyes snapped open as you startled awake, a familiar pair of green eyes observing as you awoke. Malleus was watching you with a worried gaze in the dark room, his thin brows drawn together in concern as you somewhat struggled upon waking. You had been sharing a blanket with the Dragon when you fell asleep, so naturally it was the Dragon who woke you.

"You're safe, my Child of Man. It was just a dream."

You didn't realize you were crying until he used his thumb to wipe away your tears. In your chest, your heart beat frantically as you tried to understand where you were and what happened. Slowly you realized that you were safe in the nest with Malleus by your side. Lilia sat awake and watched you with a concerned gaze, his eyes fixed on how disoriented you were.

"Just a dream."

As you calmed somewhat from your fear, you were still disoriented from your nightmare and another almost irrational concern overcame you.

"Why do you never call me by my name?"

"What?"

"My name. You never say my name. Why do you hate it?"

"I don't-"

"Then why?"

Malleus seemed caught off guard by your sudden sensitivity to his usual way of addressing you, trying to calm you once more. When you didn't calm down and only teared up again he worriedly pulled you close to him, laying his wing over you and holding you against his chest. His tail curled over your side and held you close to the Dragon.

"I apologize, my- (Y/n). I didn't know it upset you."

His dark lips pressed against your forehead and the Dragon held you in place against his chest, "I won't call you 'Child of Man' again. I will only call you by your name."

"So you don't hate my name?"

"No. I don't hate your name."

Though Malleus was vaguely concerned how upset you were over what- to him- was an irrational worry of yours, he was content to soothe you. Whatever you had been dreaming about clearly upset you to your core and it fueled your almost hazed perception from interrupted rest. The Dragon was a decent enough source of comfort to you and it helped pull you back into the realm of sleep.

As you lay in his arms and slowly calmed, your eyes started to close again as your heart soothed to a soft lull in your chest. Malleus used his own magic to pull you faster into the arms of pleasant dreams, but you still mumbled out your concerns to the bemused Dragon.

"You don't hate me, right?"

"I don't think I could ever hate you, (Y/n)."

"And you won't leave me to those Wolves?"

"What Wolves?"

"The ones in my sleep... The ones that chase me when the fireflies go out."

Malleus paused, vaguely upset that you had clearly been having nightmares. It hurt him to know the Poachers that attacked you stalked you in your sleep. He could remove them from life, but to remove them from your dreams would be harder. Luckily for you, Malleus was adept at manipulating dreams.

"I won't let them get you. I promise."

You hummed, mostly back into that in-between state of awareness, your mind slowly slipping off into slumber. A faint green light met your eyelids as you fully succumbed back into rest, dreams now of a far more peaceful nature. The great Dragon remained by your side, in your dreams and out of them as he marveled at the soft feel of your figure laying in his embrace.

His greatest treasure.

"Malleus."

"Yes, Lilia?"

"You asked why I wasn't displeased you chose a short lived creature as your desired mate. That is because she doesn't have to live such a short life if you are willing to extend it. So long as you protect her, she can live as long as you do, and never succumb to age."

"How?"

"Let me teach you a valuable lesson, as it had been taught to me by your grandmother. Only a dragon can truly perfect it, but it means neither of us have to live in worry of her age taking her away."

~•§•~

You woke again with the usual hoard among you, Malleus still holding his position next to you and your nightmare long forgotten. It seemed to you that he was being more protective than usual and you worried for your own peace. The Dragon's behavior towards you was much more stringent due to your injury and your repeated exacerbation of that injury. He was now ensuring you healed, going as far as insisting on accompanying you, Silver, and Ortho for the day to make certain you didn't stand without help.

Luckily, you weren't going to classes today because it was the day the various representatives and scientists arrived to evaluate your wellbeing. The threat of being taken from your established norm in this world of madness unsettled you. Honestly, you had worked hard to create a sense of normalcy quite quickly given the circumstances and still you had very little time to relax without threat. Maybe today would be a good test of the bonds you had made.

Truth was, you were angry and upset and just trying to survive in a world built against you. Cater was a damned idiot for revealing you were at NRC and you paid the price for his lack of awareness and discretion. Leona threatened you and you knew even then that you didn't stand a genuine chance if you lashed out. You held your anger in well but you wanted to yell and snap at the tactless men around you that invited themselves into your space.

Even with all that rage, the brush with the Poachers taught you something important. As it was right now, you didn't stand a chance on your own in this world of beasts. In the beginning it felt like the Dragon took you in far too quickly, the rest in the Hoard following suit. The more time you spend among them the more you began to realize everyone in this world acted this way. This was normal to them. The strongest chose who they wanted and the others just had to accept it.

If there was a chance you could escape this world, it would be where you fell into it in the first place. You couldn't tell any of the monster men, however. Knowing what could await the Humans back in your world if the monsters ever knew how to get to them, it was better to try and slip away without any of them knowing. You figured your way home was probably linked to the Hall of Mirrors. The Hall of Mirrors was only in Night Raven College, however. If you got taken away, you would never have the chance to return home.

Malleus swore to help you relax before you were to meet the monsters that no doubt wanted to study you like a lab-rat. If Idia was right, one of them wanted to kill you as well. Your only chance in this world was to ensure the monsters that were fond of you stayed fond of you. That didn't seem too difficult a task, but that meant you needed to ensure you kept your temper contained so that safety net did not abandon you. On top of your health and safety, there was the health and safety of Grim. He needed your protection and you needed the protection of the monster men.

At least you made considerably strong allies. Two of the strongest in the world were enamored by you- one seeming more parental in his affections than the other- their associated allies would follow suit. You could bargain for more personal space later, for now you simply needed to cement yourself in place and keep those representatives from trying to take you. By all means, you were fighting for your chance to return to your true home and the simple chance to live where you could mostly trust those around you.

As the sun rose, the warm scent of breakfast foods caught your attention. No doubt the only other one capable of cooking- Papa Hades- was already up and making a meal to feed the many who seemed to now permanently live in your dorm with you. It was a relief to not have to be the one cooking and you were fairly content with allowing the Shinigami to cook for you.

Grim had moved from his usual spot atop Silver's back and had managed to squeeze into your arms, cuddled close to you. Maybe he also had a bad dream and sought out comfort from the one he saw as a parent. It was odd to you to have more information about the Hellcat, yet no actual answers to the questions you still held onto. If anything, at least you knew what Grim was and you were willing to bring him with you if you ever found a way back to your home. There was no way you would leave the kit alone in such a dangerous world.

Lilia was next to rouse as he stretched his wings, limbs extended as he yawned and his pink tongue flashed across his bat-nose. When he saw you were awake as well, he smiled and crawled through the nest to your side. He was quick to flop down next to you and gently lay a wing over your body. There was something comforting about the loose affectionate hold as the Vampire Bat hummed contently.

"Morning, (Y/n)."

The Bat almost purred his greeting, clearly happy to have any interaction with you. You absently reached up a hand, petting the soft hair of the Bat as he smiled and cuddled closer. He leaned into your touch as if your petting was akin to a massage.

"Aww, grooming me back? That's so sweet of you, (Y/n)."

"What?"

"Keeheehee, nothing, (Y/n). Be careful who you pet, some may take it as grooming, some may take it as flirting."

You almost wanted to stop petting the Bat when he said this, wondering which way he took the gentle affection. Given the fact he told you and gave warning, you figured he was in the grooming category. Especially when you recalled that he was always keen to participate in communal grooming with the other Hoard members.

"Is petting a part of grooming to you?"

"Yes, most take petting as grooming, which is a very social behavior. It's a good way you can show others you care about them. Be careful though, Harpies can take preening as a sign of romantic intentions. Both Silver and Sebek are quite fond of it, as is Malleus. I, clearly, like it a lot."

"So, you're saying I should pet the others in the Hoard to show them I'm thankful for them?"

"It certainly wouldn't be amiss. I'm sure Malleus would appreciate it quite a bit, he is fond of you, after all."

You turned from Lilia to Malleus who was still in deep sleep next to you. It seems unwise to startle the Dragon, but a very persistent part of you encouraged and pushed you to reach your hand up to rest atop the Dragon's head. When he didn't immediately wake at your touch you slowly began to pet his silky black hair, a soft almost purring noise slowly coming from Malleus as he began to rouse. One green eye opened to observe you gently petting his hair and the slightest of smiles pulled at the corner of his lips.

"Good morning, my (Y/n). Hopefully your sleep was more pleasant this time around?"

"No more nightmares, at least."

"Good. Were you waiting long for me to wake?"

"No, I woke up a bit ago. I think Silver and Sebek are still asleep though."

Malleus glanced to the other side of the nest, where Silver slept atop a pile of pillows, Sebek leaning his back up against the Cervitaur. Grim woke to your soft voices, yawning and stretching out his little paws and wings with a light purr. Almost as soon as he opened his eyes, you could hear his stomach growling.

"Hooman, is it breakfast time yet?"

"Yes, I think it is. Smells like it is, at least."

This made the little Hellcat stand up quickly, his tail lashing in excitement as he pulled at your fingers to try and get you up as well. Your laugh in response to his behavior woke the other occupants of the nest. Silver seemed somewhat groggy, but got up quickly as did Sebek.

"Do you want to dress first, or eat breakfast first, (Y/n)?"

"I want to get dressed first, maybe I can wear some of those clothes Vil, Rook, and professor Divus made for me."

"Alright."

The Reindeer Cervitaur dismounted from the nest, standing with his back in line with the edge of the nest so you could crawl onto him. Before you could move and potentially stress your injury, a black tail wrapped around you and lifted you from the bed. Lilia had already hopped off and dug through the now full dressers for an outfit for you. You somewhat didn't know if you could trust what the Vampire Bat chose for you, but the simple pants and flowy shirt seemed decent enough.

The solitude of your bathroom was a nice change from the herd of monster men, but once you had taken care of your morning routine and dressed, Silver carried you downstairs. Naturally, the rest of the Hoard followed suit as you all went to the waiting kitchen.

You were somewhat surprised to see the kitchen had been upgraded as well, noticing a few new electronics you had asked Idia to put together for you. Where there had once been a shabby industrial kitchen, you now saw upgraded ovens, stove-tops, fridges and even a self revolving pantry. What interested you the most was what looked like a large deep-fryer that seemed to be able to clean itself and remove the thick unheated oil without needing to be touched. The things you could now make with that fryer called to you and you resolved to spend a day cooking fried comfort food when your leg healed.

Provided you could stay in Night Raven College.

"Good morning, Little One."

The large and old Shinigami greeted you with a gentle smile, setting the- clearly new- table with plates, bowls, cups, and silverware. He had already placed the large bowls of food in the center of the table. At the head was a large chair- suitable to his own large form- and one large chair at the right hand side where Idia already sat. To the left of the large chair was a chair much more suited to you. Attached to it with its own small table, seemed to be a high-chair for Grim.

Ruggie was already present and whooping excitedly, cackling as he hopped in place to see past Ortho who was trying to stop the Gnoll from immediately digging in. You smiled and Silver helped you dismount, pulling the chair out for you to settle down at the taller than normal table before putting Grim in the high-chair next to you. Idia noticed the way you examined the table and smiled almost shyly at you.

"Don't worry, the table can be automatically adjusted for height. Just press the side buttons at the head of the table to make it shorter or taller. Figured you should have an actual place to sit and eat instead of that little scrub table you had before. I got a few of those things you wanted made and all hooked up. They should work properly, but tell me if they don't so I can tweak them."

"Thank you, Idia. Honestly, I'm amazed you got them done so quickly."

"Why? My main spec is technomancy, after all."

"Just impressed, is all."

A faint pink seemed to take over Idia's flame hair as the gems on his cheeks also burned a light magenta. His smile became an almost drunk grin as he showed off those sharp teeth of his, clearly pleased by your light praise.

"Well, if that's impressive, just wait till you see the heated blanket I've been working on for you. That'll really knock your socks off."

"I'm looking forward to it!"

Ortho sighed and let Ruggie rush forward to the food as he took his seat next to Idia at the table, serving his own plate. The Hoard and Papa Hades also sat down at the table, Malleus making a clear show of sitting next to you and Grim. Everyone seemed content to eat and lightly chat together, you switching between eating your food and getting more food for Grim.

"He will likely need a lot of food to grow properly," Papa Hades started, observing you and Grim with a gentle smile, "he is still very young. I am happy to lend aid where it is needed, if you would allow it. Seeing as you have many who eat among you at any time, it would be best to keep the cupboards well stocked."

"Careful," you warned with a happy smile, "I might take you up on that offer and you'll wind up feeding all of Night Raven College. I mean, you'll certainly be feeding me, Grim, and Ruggie, but I know a few others who would happily dig in if offered."

"I wouldn't offer if I didn't expect several more mouths to feed. Worry not, my kin and I hold a good portion of the wealth of Twisted Wonderland. It is not too burdensome to feed the many young that live here."

You smiled at this and Ruggie barked his agreement, still shoveling food into his mouth. Grim was purring and pulled your hand to him so you could continue feeding him, effectively ending the conversation as you let the small beast feast.

When everyone had finished eating, Ortho and Idia started clearing the table, leaving you and the others present to talk about the events that would take place. It was stressful, but you knew the conversation needed to be had, especially if you were going to catch the representative who hired the poachers.

"You will meet them in a panel type setting around lunchtime, your guards, the professors, and Headmage Crowley will be there. I will keep my presence concealed until I am needed should there be any threats from the representatives or scientists. Young Idia suggests you pushback against any representative who attempts to pressure you into speaking to them alone or accepting their judgement. If this traitor is as temperamental as we believe, they will reveal themselves quickly with any aggression or denial from you. Are you comfortable handling this?"

"So I just have to be a petulant brat to anyone who tries to speak for me instead of to me?"

"That is the idea."

"I can do that, I think."

The large Shinigami nodded, but it was Malleus who spoke next. His voice a deep rumble in his chest as he turned to you with an almost worried gaze.

"(Y/n), I know you likely don't want to hear this, but you need to know. The representative in question will likely be killed once others learn what they have done to threaten you. Depending on where they live, they may be in violation of laws previously put in place to protect Humans."

Your frowned at this, but not for the reason they believed. If anything, you wanted something awful to happen to whoever it was that hired the poachers to kill you. The poachers stabbed you, attacked you and Grim, on top of threatening to kill the both of you. There was no love lost in your heart for the orchestrator of this violence against you and your kit.

"You seem to think I'm going to just forgive them after everything they've done?"

"Well, given how you forgave Cater-"

"I haven't forgiven Cater in the slightest. Just because I didn't want him to be thrown into the forest does not mean I forgave his short sighted actions. The circumstances with Cater are different. I fully believe Cater genuinely didn't know and is just stupid, not thinking about lasting consequences despite general logic speaking to the contrary. He is not forgiven, I just didn't want to see him hurt on my behalf. This poacher wannabe, however, is not someone I care to protect. No, I want this fucker's blood to stain the floor."

Malleus seemed surprised at your anger towards this mystery monster, but he didn't really blame you for your anger. If anything, the only two out of your tablemates who did not seem particularly shocked at your aggression and rage were Lilia and Papa Hades.

"This... seems out of character for you, (Y/n), are you sure you're feeling well?"

"I personally feel just fine. What I don't feel fine with is the fact that this butt-hurt waste of space knowingly dared to put Grim- My Boy- in direct danger to line their own pockets. That I can't forgive or forget. I'll even do it myself if you all refuse to. I don't care what their social standing is or how hard I have to try to kill them, target my boy and forfeit your life. I feel the same for any poachers who are looking to kill or otherwise use me for their own gain. Neither Grim nor I are pets, trophies, or playthings. Anyone who thinks we are needs a reality check."

It was then Lilia spoke up, setting down his flute of tomato-juice next to his plate. His voice was almost giddy in comparison to your own less than amused tone.

"Don't be so surprised, Malleus. I've told you and others before how Humans are about their young. Even the nicest Humans would be out for blood if you dare harm their young. Little Grimmy is (Y/n)'s boy, her kit, and I would expect her to hate anyone that threatens him."

The Bat almost seemed to exchange words silently with the Dragon after his statement, Malleus conceeding with a nod.

"Alright. But let one of us handle them, okay? I understand you are angry, but you have no weapons to your name and I am unsure you have any weapon training. If we need to kill them due to violence towards you, I would rather it be done quickly and without harm to you. Is that amenable?"

"Fine, but after this, one of you is teaching me how to wield a sword or a dagger."

[i-dont-talk-for-days-on-end]

Sooooo, I cannot believe this was one year ago! What surprises me less is that I am still here gushing over Jeremy Brett. I am also still sad I can't actually write him a letter, but although it made me feel silly to write a fan letter to a dead man last year, it was also lovely to see that there are people in this community who appreciated it and felt similar. So, if I know writing this cannot connect me in any way to Jeremy himself, it makes me happy to know it connects me to you. :)

Dear Mr Brett, most likely you do not remember that I have written to you one year ago, but if you do, maybe it pleases you to know that I have since watched much more of your work (not only Sherlock Holmes). If that has changed anything, I now admire your work and - dare I say it - you even more. But most of all I want to tell you: I deepened one and found another true friendhip since I last wrote because your portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is so rich and nuanced. It turns out you can talk about it daily to someone for more than a year, and this is a wonderful basis for a more personal relationship! (Well, let me be honest: Much of that bonding took place over proving that you are more handsome than Gene Kelly. We succeeded, of course. Why do you even ask?) I marvel about this a lot: You and I could never even have met, and now you helped me making friends (talking until 3 am, and maybe even going to Italy!). Time is a strange thing. If you move us 30 years after we could have met, why not thank you 30 years later, too? And I am moved. My own situation made it necessary to reflect a lot about love and friendship in the past year. I know you did not like Sherlock Holmes for a long time, but your portrayal helped me a lot to figure some things out for myself. Ironically, it is Holmes who helps me feel less lonely and less scared ... stories of a great friendship indeed. It gives me strength. I also appreciate roses a lot more since I think about "your" Holmes nearly constantly, and I have never before noticed how many of them actually are around (even in November!). It is a simple exercise, but now, every time I see one, I am reminded there is beauty, and hope. Most likely, you would not want to take credit for any of this. But I do not think it is as easy as this, since I know several people who feel similar. You keep inspiring us - to find some hope, and courage, and companionship. If this makes only a little difference for a few of us, I think this amounts to a huge difference over all. For your 91st birthday, I have nothing else to offer than my sincerest gratitude and admiration, and my best wishes, Artemis Ps: Yes, this letter was properly sentimental and a bit silly, but I trust you appreciate a little whimsy. Pps: Everyone agrees that it is a crime your singing was dubbed in My Fair Lady! Ppps: Please know I would sell my soul to see you on stage (and I am afraid this is also the only way I might ever be able to do so). Pppps: I am sure you receive tons of fan mail (as you should!), so you probably did not get around to sending me a signed photograph last year. I do not expect that you have more time this year; however, I would be a fool not to try again! I would be thrilled and so so thankful (and seriously doubt my sanity) if you would send me one this year.

I think a lot about that one anecdote about Jeremy - the one where he wrote himself fan mail. I obviously didn't know him, but for me, this story encompasses many of the character traits I think he possessed: a delightful eccentricity, humour, a perfectionism that was both a blessing and a curse, a little vanity perhaps, and an underlying sadness.

I think and talk/write a lot about him and Granada Holmes, and while I am sometimes glad I don't belong to those people who have to worry that their idol goes online and sees all the unhinged things written about them, it also makes me sad that none of us has the chance to write him any actual fan mail. I get the impression that he was the kind of person who would be very flattered to receive fan mail for his 90th birthday! So I decided to do just that! It's very embarrassing and sappy and probably mad - but here we go!

Dear Mr. Brett, since you would turn 90 today, I think you would love to learn just how much your portrayal of Sherlock Holmes still means to so many people (including me) today - decades after you worked so hard to gift us the best possible version of Holmes! I greatly admire and love the depth you gave to the character, and no less your own strength, kindness, and determination. I was born too late to ever have the chance to tell you, but you and your work make me a little happier every day and I am so very grateful for that. You truly played the best Holmes there ever was, and maybe the best one there ever will be. I wish there was a thing I could write to give you back some of the joy you give me daily. Happy birthday! Sincerely yours, a Tumblr user who now feels extremely embarrassed but nevertheless meant every word she wrote Ps: Please do send me a signed photograph, I can guarantee you I will faint if I find it in my mailbox. Pps: I agree that you are prettier than Rathbone, Wilmer, and Stephens!

[velvetvexations]

I got this comment on my antigonism explainer and I asked for permission to address in it's own post because I think it's good feedback:

I appreciate your support of transmasc and transnull people more than you can ever know. I, however, think coming up with a phrase that distincts “transmasc friendly transfems” is deeply divisive- and will further the divide and discourse between transfems and transmascs We don’t need a speciality phrase to denote people who are friendly towards us since those that are AGAINST us are the loud minority- the majority of real world trans people (transfems especially) are in unity with transmascs I think that this may just worsen the divides that are already starting to exist, and will further perpetuate discourse where it isn’t needed. Transfems can just say they support transmascs and transNB people, you guys don’t have to come up with a special title. I mean this all with the upmost love and sincerity. Transfems who support transmascs are the majority of transfems, yes there is an issue with TIRFism online But that is not the majority of transfems on the internet- and especially in real life. We should be focusing on greater unity and talking about what makes us similar- not dividing ourselves even more into subcategories to be policed or pointed to. From a transnull who is just as deep in this discourse

I'm thankful for your perspective and that you've given thought to the issue, and wanted to share your thoughts in a way that I feel is really sweet, which as someone with NPD I appreciate a lot. This is something that's been expressed to me about the idea previously.

I disagree, though. Are transfems who support transmascs and other non-transfems the majority? Yes, absolutely! But when the vocal minority is as loud as it is, they need to be loudly shutdown. That kinna thing takes megaphones. They're going to go away on their own and I want there to be a way to take an active stance that throws oneself out there as someone opposed to that shit.

Already it's just taken as a given that transfems are all TRFs.* If we don't go further, we're letting the vocal nature of the minority take up more and more space and become more and more accepted. Because like, they are super aggressive about it. These things get spread around on posts with thousands of notes every day. TRFs do nothing but bitch about non-transfem trans, intersex, and GNC people, and in doing so make spaces an increasingly less safe place for them.

And the signaling is a really important issue too. A lot of the responses to antigonism from transmascs in particular have been saying that it makes them feel safer. I've gotten messages from people who feel really bad about the paranoia trans radical feminism has caused them to feel around transfems they don't know, and that sucks! I'm so not interested in dismissing that as people who need to be less online or something, especially since I've heard a lot of stories of IRL spaces being hostile to any expression of masculinity as well. These are people who are, at best, facing a massive bullying issue, and at worst being driven out of the trans community entirely. It's cruel and I'm not going to shame them for having this expectation hammered into them, especially because I've also constantly been let down over and over and over when I see a post about transmisogyny or the transfem experience that I really like, only to be gravely disappointed when I see they're a TRF. It constantly happens. It sucks. It sucks so unbelievably much.

Hell, a lot of TRFs are self-identified TMEs, and in fact, most of them are! Every time they do one of their polls trying to prove some dumbass point, it's overwhelmingly "TMEs" who respond. It's like, a relatively small number of transfems kicking around a little cult of sycophants, many of whom are weird as fuck in their own ways but also many who are just trying to be good allies. They should also be signaled to that, hey, when I tell them they actually didn't need to drop a headcanon of a character that gave them joy because a transfem said so, I'm not the freak anomaly I get painted as. Like, I've responded to things asking if something so not an issue was transmisogynistic, or what the problem with TMA/TME was, only to immediately have multiple TRFs zoom into the replies like "don't listen to velvetvexations, she alone has those opinions because she hates all other transfems."

And what about transfems who also need to have it made clear TRFs aren't normal, too? Who need to be gently caught before they get indoctrinated into this shit?

When you see a trans woman saying she thinks it's bad to call non-binary people slurs, identifying as an antigonist gives the messages she's not a random confused baby bird brainwashed by Big Transmisogyny to hate her sisters. She is just one of many who feel that way.

And like, is making it a "faction" like that divisive? I don't think so because holy hell, this discourse is already divisive and toxic as fuck. The intense vitriol that gets thrown at one side from another is already radioactive. What's going to make things worse than it is now? TRFs will have to put up with seeing that other transfems are enthusiastic about disagreeing with them? Those other transfems will feel an us vs. them mentality regarding radical feminists?

A friend of mine put it really well last night:

it isn’t enough to just be ‘normal’ about transmascs and intersex people, actually you do need to be actively working against the now baked in harmful ideologies that have gained traction

I don't want to be normal about these things, I want to be actively anti-transandrophobic, actively anti-intersexist, etc. in a way that sends a clear message to everyone. Being normal about these issues is only normal until it isn't. And even if it forever remained a minority with no threat of growing larger than it is today, TRFs should still have the door slammed in their face until they learn to play nice. If transfems who are Normal really are "normal", then make TRFs feel like pariahs rather than having the unmitigated gall to declare that transmascs invented the transmisogynistic concept of transandrophobia because "2024 is the year transfems united under the banner of transfeminism."

Should we let them have that, and just say oh, well, it's obviously intuitive we're the normal ones and they're the weirdos, we can just quietly continue to consider ourselves the default model of transfem while radical feminism continues to cause more and more division entirely on it's own?

*not that they use that language

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