#i mean joke in the role of the goddess of love and sexuality is a thought

[ctl-yuejie]

Hidden Agenda is moving very quickly -last week Zo had to get persuaded to ask for Joke's help and this week he already realises that he's catching feelings for Joke -

too fast? maybe. but I think that's the point:

Admittedly Joke is hot, suave and has shown to be kind since from Zo's perspective he's helping him on a self-admittedly ludicrous mission (getting tutored by the ex) after getting bad-mouthed by his friends. However, Zo had a bad impression of Joke beforehand and has liked Nita for a long time.

So why the sudden change?

I have to rewatch ep. 1-2 but Zo seems lonely? He has of course his club and friends but his family seems a bit absent. And even knowing he has friends still doesn't make it impossible for him to be lonely. The initial teaser mentioned that he wants to be in love.

So why Joke?

I think that puzzle can be solved by asking: why Nita?

She's hot, popular and most importantly nice to Zo. He is extremely awkward around her (and ripped her bag strap!) but she's been friendly throughout.

I think Zo is craving that. His crush on Nita is legitimate (at least I want to think it is), but he is more into the idea of her. He doesn't actually know her (my man only now scrolled through her instagram to see what she likes).

And like Joke accurately observes: he doesn't know himself and dislikes to try new things out so he's stuck not getting to know himself better, which also means: we can't be too sure he knows what he wants and likes romantically.

This is the first time he spends a lot of time with a new person trying new things. And it is intimate: they touch, mess around and have a good time together.

Or like Joke poses, and Zo repeats in his head: 1. Passion 2. Initimacy 3. Committment. I don't think his perception of what love is changes after Joke's triangle of love but someone put finally into words what love is to Zo. And intimacy seems to be a big thing for him (be it physical touch or the feeling of not being alone).

And when Joke -after Zo reads the story of Aphrodite and Adonis to him- says were he Aphrodite "he wouldn't have left Adonis alone in the first place" and their electrifying pinky touch, it becomes clear that this is is what Zo is looking for. Not only someone nice, but someone who won't make him feel alone. (That's why the date with Nita went perfectly well - it's fine to interpret stories differently and they got talking about it - but he didn't feel a spark)

Which will complicate things in the future. Not only the possible betrayal he feels when he learns of Joke's hidden agenda, but in the preview it looks like we get the first kiss. And it's initiated by Zo.

The chemistry he feels is definitely true. But can Joke believe that Zo has caught feelings when he is still on the way to getting to know himself better and seemingly craving for a romantic connection to someone ?

I don't know how to tie this back into the theme of "hidden agenda" but it is at least the reason why I see conflict on the horizon and don't believe the show is moving too fast.

Upon re-reading I might have idea, which isn't that clean but maybe workable in the future: hidden agenda also means you are not true to someone else. Zo has changed who he is for Nita, even agreeing with her reading on his favourite bed time story because he thinks that what she wants to see him romantically. But we know that what Zo wants is to be wanted in a way that - according to Joke - goes beyond what even Aphrodite felt for Adonis. And in front of Joke he is very honest, even down to admitting feeling confused about his heart not racing when he got close to Nita. Which in turn can led to more conflict, because he was so honest in front of Joke while Joke hides his motivations.

In even better news: it means I am getting the ultimate trope of them dating while thinking the other isn't into them.

[yanderehsr]

OC x CANNON event, thingy. . ?

### ﹒﹏﹒✦﹒`[Noriku Reiko]`

✸ ── age :: 16

✸ ── gender & prns :: female, any prns

✸ ── sexuality :: Pansexual

⌣  　⊧ 　 　🩰　 　❀

✸ ── personality ::

she’s erm, a little full of herself! ^v^ She is often quite blunt with her words, not really afraid to say what’s in her mind, No matter their role, status. Although some might view her as rude and such, it did not deter her from acting as a ‘savior’. Saving others was what mattered to her, and as long as people were grateful for her services, she would continue to do so. Good or bad, her reasons for saving others were irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

> Noriku's brutally honest nature often led her to point out others' flaws without hesitation. She was not afraid to express her dislike for certain individuals, and could be quite spiteful about holding grudges. That, combined with her tendency to be hard to please, made her a rather difficult person to get along with.

✸ ── background ::

> In her childhood, Noriku often felt overlooked and even ridiculed. As a result, she craved acceptance and adoration from others, to the point where she started behaving in a false and pretentious manner. She put on a pretense of being a "kind and loving girl" when she started attending school, even if it was not her true personality. She figured that this act would please people even if it was not authentic.

> However, now that she has gained popularity and admiration at school, she has become self-centered, vainglorious, self-absorbed, impolite, and unscrupulous. She manages to get what she wants through trickery and deceitful means, regardless of the consequences.

✸ ── trivia ::

➜ pink is her favorite color .

➜ she dislikes intrusive people .

➜ she likes physical affection

➜ speaks in third person.

✸ ── relationships :: Noriku is fine with whoever, as long as they like her, she doesn’t care.

✸ ── Appearance :: a little lady of 16, she has light pink hair, which is often held in pig tails. With some of her hair sticking out behind her neck. Her eyes are dark - bland pink.

“Well, Noriku doesn’t dislike much anything, honestly. Noriku gets whatever Noriku wants already, so why should Noriku dislike anything? Noriku likes herself best.”

—

Platonic yandere, I doubt you want to write pedophilia.

Genshin please! I don’t really mind any character.

Congratulations on the 1k by the way! I love your writing ^^

(I hope I did this right…)

I have stated it before, but I am able to write romance for character 16 years or above, I feel since I don't write NSFW that it's okay.

Anyways, hope you'll enjoy😄

Trigger Warning: Yandere, Obsessive behaviour, Possessive behaviour

Hu Tao: She immidiatly figures out Noriku's real personality, Hu Tao is a trickster, she loves joking and playing pranks, and she is especially good at reading people, but even if she knows how Noriku really is, she just finds it really cute.

Hu Tao will tease, taunt and pull on every string to get those cute angry reactions out of Noriku, she will probably hate Hu Tao but she can't do anything about it, Hu Tao will threaten to reveal to everyone how she really is, and then no one will want to be around her.

Since Hu Tao is always around Noriku, everyone mistakes them as best friends, Hu Tao doesn't refute it cus it's true, Noriku is her best friend and it doesn't really matter what Noriku wants, Noriku is stuck by her side with no way out.

"I couldn't help but notice you weren't by my side yesterday, wanna explain that Nori... I'll forgive you this time, it better not happen again, okay"

Barbara: She worships Noriku, every word, every move and literelly everything she does is worshipped by Barbara. Noriku is like a goddess to her, she even quit her daily prayers to Barbatos and is praying to Noriku instead.

Barbara believes whatever Noriku tells her, and she doesn't believe it if anyone told her what Noriku's true personality was, she thinks they are trying to ridicule her precious goddess, so she ignores every warning she gets.

Barbara is clingy, wanting to hold Noriku at all times, the best part is that Noriku doesn't seem to mind it at all, Barbara sticks around Noriku so much and threatens the other ones around Noriku that Noriku doesn't notice that the only one left by her side is Barbara.

"Noriku doesn't understand, where is everyone?"

"Oh they just can't see how great you are, don't think about them too much, I'm here after all"

[oh-for-fic-sake]

Your Perfect

Masterlist

Summary: Alphas were strong and fierce, the ultimate protective dominant companion. Omegas were sweet loyal and fertile submissive. Alphas were huge. Omegas were tiny. Or so they say, but there were always exceptions to the rule.

Warnings: A/B/O, slight Angst, Fluff, mentions Of Breeding, Mentions Of Heat Cycles, RPF

A/M: so wanted to do a different take on the typical A/B/O a little role reversal~ I hope you all enjoy!

Taglist: in reblogs

You froze on the spot scenting the air. They were here. Your omega. It probably wasn't the best first impression onset, freezing in the middle of the gangway head up alert scenting, searching with both your nose and eyes the many small males walking past.

With a deep inhale you began the hunt. Instincts pulling at you frantically as the spiced delectable scent moved. Your omega had caught a whiff of you on the air and was trying to avoid you. They where panicked weaving about the crowd trying to escape the alpha that was on their trail. With a little luck your size would throw them if they did look around for you as they tried escaping.

To look at you wouldn't have been thought to be alpha, a thick supple woman all of five foot four. Normally female alphas were tall Amazonian muscular goddesses! But you, broke the mould. Like a hammer to a landmine.

You chased the scent ducking and diving around the many busy bodies, abandoning where you were meant to be in favour of locating your mate. It didn't take long to track them as in a frantic rush they lead you out of the throngs of people to the more quiet area of set, the trailers.

They were trying to run to their nest, it was their safety. A beta security guard tried to stop you, but with a snap of your jaws and viscous snarl they stumbled back. Noting the bright red ring outlining your pupil separating the black from your colourful iris. The sure sign of an alpha chaseing their mate.

Once you growled enough making the beta submit you looked forward again and continued, stalking towards your omega. The scent was muffled so they'd reached their nest, not that it would do any good, he was yours and you'd find him.

You slowly stepped down the row of trailers nose in the air sniffing around each one mentally crossing off each one. Then froze. There. The dark grey on your left, with the twitching blind. You walked passed slowly scouting for any danger, needing to inspect your new territory but kept an eye on your omegas nest.

Then once finished your walk round you came to a stop. You could feel it, anxiety and panic radiating from the nest. It made you falter and whine low in your throat. He was scared? Terrified you could smell shame on the air! In that moment all you wanted to do was scoop him up and hold him, make him see there was nothing to be ashamed or afraid of, you'd never hurt him. Only love and protect him.

You stepped up to the door and knocked slowly, your stomach twisting as you heard the footsteps inside and deep fearful pants, laboured breaths loud enough to be heard through the door.

"Omega. Its okay, I wont- I'm in control I wont hurt you" you started speaking low and calmly despite being torn up inside, you wanted to comfort him, stop him from becoming overwhelmed. You heard a small whimper from the other side and another wave of acidic fear hit you making you scrunch your nose in distaste.

"I promise I wouldn't have followed if I wasn't sure, please. Open the door? I just want to see you, I wont do anything if you don't want me too...Please" you pleaded pressing a hand to the cool metal of the bus. You wanted to see him but you wont break in, even if it was probably for the best. Many omegas panic until they meet their alphas properly, face to face. And with the both of you working onset there was only soo much you could take before hunting him down properly like all the horror stories that make the headlines.

"I can sense this is hard for you- your embarrassed you shouldn't be, I wont judge you... I wont many males are omega and its perfectly fine" There was a small shuffle and a deep shaky breath before the door handle was clicked and the door was inched open.

"Y-you promise?" Was the weak reply that tugged on your heart strings. Your need to comfort him when he sounded so upset and defeated. Lonely and scared.  You tipped your head to the side peering through the crack in the door. You understood, much like a female alpha was an anomaly male omegas were too, mostly bullied growing up because of being omega. There were less accepted the female alpha. A female alpha could be sexualized as 'dominatix' and 'domme'. Omega males were victims of slurrs such as 'sissy boy' 'nancy boy'.

"I swear, wont you let me in? We can just talk, or snuggle if you like-whatever you want to do nothing more" you added trying to hide the desperation in your voice. You held your breath as your omega sniffled quietly and whined once more. You could scent the desperation on him too, he wanted to seek you out but was frightened, unsure of himself.

After a few moments a large hand appeared  pressing the door open and holding a hand out to you palm up finally giving into his need for reassurance. You let out a sigh of relief and quickly help his hand shuddering as the contact sent goosbumps up your arm. You took a moment to admire the way his hand locked with yours so perfectly, despite dwarfing yours. With a gentle tug you were being pulled into his nest slowly.

You entered the bus eyes eagerly seeking out your omega. You paused seeing him. At first you didn't even click who he was you just revelled in his presence. The feeling of finally being here with your mate, having him before you after a lifetime of guessing just who fate had instore for you. You were surprised people had joked your mate would be tiny if you were the alpha! But they were wrong. He was huge both wide and tall, muscular and.

"Perfect... Your perfect" you uttered as he blushed ducking his head down trying to hide it. His other hand twiddling with his shirt nervously. You climbed the steps letting the door close behind you finally standing on the same level as your stunning mate.

"You... you mean it? I-I know I'm not...a typical omega my size and strength it of an alpha and its weird, you can refuse me if you want-" he began his anxiety rising with each word the pungent scent making the air thick and unpleasant. You hushed him quickly speaking over him.

"Didn't I just say your perfect Henry... your perfect just the way you are" you said still marvelling at your omega. You didn't really care who he was. You were far to enamoured with the realisation that he was your omega. He was like you, unique and wonderful. Exactly how he was meant to be... apart from those hormones mixed in with the scent of suppressant's. You leant forward sniffing and frowned momentarily.

"Hormones? You've been trying to hide?" You were right. He hung his head feeling deflated before nodding to you ashamed.

"I... Sorry its... People that find out are... They ridicule me I hate it" he said slowly it made your heart clench. It angered you. Just like everything else in life if you didn't fit the social norms you were pressured to change it. He had been taking hormonal supplements to try and force himself to be alpha. Tried to cover up his true presentation to fit in. You understood he was large and muscular and a perfect embodiment of the 'perfect male' handsome strong features, the deep voice and charming confident personality. Yet he was an omega. Its probably why he felt the need to push himself so much. He was over compensating.

"Don't worry about them I'm here now" you uttered moving pressing a hand to his cheek making him look at you. He gapsed when he locked eyes feeling the bond begin to form already just with the simplest of gestures.

"Do you trust me?" You asked slowly still trying to be mindful of how skittish he seemed. He nodded unable to deny the feeling of trust and warmth. You felt like home and calm in a way he never felt before.

"Good boy... i promise to look after you my sweet omega" you cooed letting a low rumble of your purr into your words easing his fears. You could taste him on your tongue the air around you becoming more relaxed and welcoming the anxiety lifting making you breath a sigh of relief. He whined before dipping his head to you pressing his forehead to your shoulder prompting you to encircle him with a bear hug. He shuddered before sniffling returning the hug whimpering as sobs wracked his body uttering 'alpha' over and over holding you tighter with each call.

You blinked away your own tears you swayed while him. It was overwhelming for him. You dread to think what hell he has been through just because he is omega, especially in the business she was in. But you ere proud, so very proud of him to navigate his career and become so successful despite being an omega? He hadn't let it hold him back like many others who hid in fear of being found out. You rubbed his back and tipped your head pressing kisses to his neck that bared to you.

"Your alright.... your alright I've got you now, I've got you omega come one lets go lay down hmm? We can go and snuggle for a while if you'd like?" you hummed  to him pressing kiss after kiss along the side of his throat. As much as you wanted to mark him you resisted, the last thing you need to do while he is in this fragile state is breed him. Mate him and tie him to you for god knows how long. Plus the suppressants would make it doubly hard, your body would tighten and lock around him despite him not being able to truly breed you. It could cause problems for the both of you. It would be best to wait until next months cycle hit and he let him fall into heat.

"Y-yeah, with Kal too?" He uttered still sniffing you, drawing deep breaths in trying to drown in your scent. You grinned against his neck nuzzling him rubbing your own scent onto his skin.

"Of course with Kal too love" you replied with a grin pulling back a little to eye the akita who was tilting his fluffy head at you trying to understand what was happening.

"Come on off to bed" you said prodding his tummy playfully giggling as he squirmed chuckling and grinning whislt pawing at his eyes trying to wipe away his lingering tears.

"O-okay... we wont?" You shook your head as he trailed off cheeks glowing from the mere mention of mating.

"As much as I would love to claim and mate you, we will wait until your heat, et those suppressants and hormone supplements out of your system~" you reassured him whist ushering him deeper into the bus towards the bedroom area. He chuckled nervously before turning calling Kal to the bedroom as he eagerly scrabbled onto it, wanting nothing more then to curl up and cuddle with you.

You released a deep breath watching as he and the bear got comfy. Your omegas huge blue eyes watching you as you settled down yourself and pulled him to rest his head on your chest. One hand twisted in His hair, the other letting Kal sniff you before stroking him. You grinned closing your eyes finally feeling at peace. After a long lonely life wondering you'd found your boys. And your home.

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP  meme from Werewolf: The Apocalypse "Black Furies" Tribebook (Revised Version) Ch 2 "Pegasus’ Flight"

"But how can you be here?"

"I’m sorry. I’m easily sidetracked. Where was I?"

"Every day the possibility exists that you will find some great treasure — a companion, a fetish, riches, secrets or whatever is important to you."

"Divine justice is not something that can be safely left in the hands of mortal men and women — or even certain sky goddesses, as Athena’s blindness showed."

"While limits and strictures are frightening to many, I take peace knowing that purposes exist for all things."

"The problem comes when limits become absolute."

"It’s a human mind-twister — and I love mind-twisters — that the only rule to which there is no exception is that there’s an exception to every rule."

"I said before I love mind-twisters, but it’s good to know when to stop twisting your mind."

"Change hurts."

"The questions do not always need to be answered, often just asking them is enough."

"If they lead only to more questions or to simple answers (I remember well learning the answer to “What do bees smell like?”), then that also is learning and therefore good."

"Laughter doesn’t have to be mirthful; it can be bitter or rueful as well."

"How many of these stories actually happened?"

"Take from a story the wisdom that is in it; one of humanity’s biggest problems, I think, is that many of them take their legends too seriously."

"Contemplation is good, but too much of it causes the topic to become irrelevant."

"Beautiful, isn’t it?"

"The average first-time mother can expect an ordeal of fourteen hours."

"Everyone agrees that breast milk is best for babies; doctors, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and parenting gurus."

"I am sorry for your discomfort, but you can just suffer through it a bit longer."

"A woman’s sexuality is hers, and can be a closely guarded secret or a gift to the world, as she chooses."

"Only the weak deserve pity."

"And yet we’re still spit on as often as not. Unfair, isn’t it?"

"Sex and childbearing is all about responsibility."

"There is no honor in blood for blood’s sake."

"These assaults take place far from the eyes of humanity, and the large-scale ones are most frequently mistaken for natural disasters."

"First, while faith might be eternal, religion must evolve."

"The world is often random, and believing it to be loving and fair is just as false as believing it to be cruel."

"They aren’t thieves, mind you; they just seem to know where to find things."

"I’m quite sure you’ve heard it all. Stay awake and listen again. This is important stuff, you know."

"That kind of cruelty doesn’t really help anyone, does it?"

"Note that there’s a big difference between “breeding” and “having sex.”

"My opinion has always been that announcing one’s presence and intentions when entering another’s territory is polite and proper behavior."

"A predator sees any encroachment on her territory as a threat. If the intruder nears her den, expect her to become very violent."

"If you enter another’s territory and announce yourself, that doesn’t mean you can stay. The one who lives there can still tell you to leave, and you should respect her wishes."

"Be careful when traveling."

"Look, we’ve all got anger control problems. It’s part of who we are."

"If you’re hurt, quit."

"Die to be a hero if you want, but don’t die to prove you were right."

"When the challenge is over, when the winner is declared, accept the ruling and live with it."

"Challenges are serious business — never initiate one without good cause."

"Do not look away. I hardly need to explain what that will lead to."

"We all know why it isn’t good to eat humans; for one thing, their flesh is fouled by the chemicals they eat, and for another, we’re meant to protect and avenge them, not prey upon them."

"If it becomes necessary to kill humans, do so, but remember that you are what you eat."

"From the face you’re making, I can assume you find the notion of cannibalism to be truly repulsive."

"Find other ways to hide your action."

"The problem is that humans are resilient and tenacious, especially in fear or hatred."

"Sometimes, however, we must let go."

"When the time comes for me to die, assuming, of course, that I do not die in battle, I shall walk into the sea and let the waves take me on my last journey."

"They can’t be challenged if no one can find them."

"I’m not saying that the system is corrupt, only that it could be."

"Such a small place, yet so many differing cultures!"

"Any biologist will tell you that you may measure how well an area thrives by the diversity of life it supports."

"Women are, on average, not as physically strong as men. This means that they sometimes need protection. I hardly need to tell you who should provide it."

"Unless I missed a major theological event, there haven’t been any immaculate conceptions recently."

"No matter your personal feelings on men, they are and always have been one half of the equation."

"A man is not evil simply by dint of his sex; to believe so is no better than calling women “the weaker sex.”

"Weak people produce more weak people, and since humans have virtually no method of natural selection, it is up to us to try to correct their weaknesses as best we can."

"Something is urging the citizens towards these evils, for I cannot believe that they did this themselves."

"The idiot humans continue to think that if they could just clear away the trees, they’d have wonderful land for agriculture, never once realizing that it’s the forest itself that preserves the land."

"Tell me why you think you could do better."

"So many believe the courts will do nothing — and if their attackers are rich and privileged enough, that is sadly true."

"Celebrities and advertisements show thin and unhealthy looking women being adored and generally enjoying life. So, young girls are made to feel abnormal and loathe their bodies."

"The Church decries sexuality for any reason but procreation — and women learn to fear their sexual power."

"Time may dull the memory, but we still have blood on our claws."

"It’s harsh, but good exercise."

"Don’t let their foul behavior and mannerisms fool you. These bumpkins and slum-dwellers have contacts all over the city. I avoid them when possible, but when I am left with no other choice and need information in the city, I go to them. Of course, that information does not come cheaply."

"Some of them can get a little corny at times, I admit, but I’d rather have them with us than against us."

"A more serious bunch of assholes was never born."

"They are reprehensible dogs."

"They have money, they have places to stay, they know good places to party, and they have access to guns, and explosives, and body armor, and — well, you get the idea."

"They have a lot of hate, and the near-extinction of their species isn’t something that one just gets over."

"No one ever identifies herself as “evil.”

"You will get far more than you bargained for."

"Most national leaders are ridiculed without mercy, because every mistake they’ve ever made is on display for the world to see."

"Too much time spent mucking with forces beyond their control taints these people, if you ask me."

"Bloody opportunists."

"I’m not going to say they planned it that way, but they sure didn’t stop it either."

"Sure, they got fucked, but they’re still assholes."

"A quaint story, I thought, no more than a sort of urban legend."

"However, they do learn many secrets that we miss. Getting them to give up these secrets, however, is usually more trouble than it’s worth."

"Maybe they aren’t all dead?"

"Greek myths are replete with dragons; Ladon, Typhon, Python, Hydra, and so forth. They are never cast in favorable roles; most of them only exist for a hero to kill."

"I’ve never liked practical jokes, and I don’t like the notion of pushing someone’s buttons just to teach them not to respond. You can lose your head doing that to the wrong person."

"Other creatures share the unseen world with us, and it would behoove you to know something about them."

"The spirits of the dead do not always rest easily."

"The dead aren’t staying in the ground."

"Some of them are complete pigs, so I’m told, but even so, they can be quite seductive."

[borghildrs]

Hera

SEND ME A CHARACTER AND I’LL DO THIS;

Sexuality Headcanon:

Hera I place as being pansexual though so far she has only ever had experience with men, those being Zeus and Hades.

She's pretty confident in herself so she would easily express it if she were to find attraction to someone else, but at this point in time she wouldn't act on it. She's an incredibly monogamous person and despite what Zeus has done to her she's not going to repeat the mistakes she made in the past when she had her fling with Hades as payback.

Hera does not regret that time but as she put it when she tested Hades they've "grown up." Using sex as a means of getting back at people was a childish thing to do...she probably DOES feel a little guilty about having used Hades since she knows his feelings for her were a little stronger than she had thought during that time---though her feelings for him were also pretty strong.

All in all gender doesn't really come into account for her but because of her marriage to Zeus she hasn't really been with anyone other than him and Hades in the earliest stages of their marriage.

Unless I'm playing against other Lore Olympus muses, however, I'll probably play her either pre-marriage or post a divorce.

Gender Headcanon:

Hera is wholly comfortable and happy as a woman and values her femininity greatly. Given the great number of changes that exist in Lore Olympus to the ""original"" myths (I use that term loosely given how different canons can have different interpretations) I will always go with those, but along with being the goddess of marriage, Hera was often cited as being the goddess of women/womanhood as a whole as well. I'll be going with that idea.

A ship I have with said character:

To be honest nothing I feel strongly for at the moment. Given recent chapters I do think it would be fun to explore a 'what if' scenario if Hera had said yes to Hades but I feel like I would be crucified for that, LOL. Echo is definitely a very cute possibility too as far as healthier prospects.

As for Zeus I think their relationship would definitely be fun to explore but....it's hard to see it working out. We've seen Zeus show regret for how he treats her but he also doesn't seem to have made much effort to stop.

A BROTP I have with said character:

Both with Persephone and Hades. I mean. Do I even need to explain that? They are both so good to her, and she to them. The scene with Persephone telling Hera about what happened with Apollo still pulls at my heartstrings.

A NOTP I have with said character:

Again none I feel particularly strongly for. Her relationship with Zeus is obviously unhealthy but that doesn't mean I don't find it interesting to explore. I haven't really seen her shipping with anyone soooo? We'll see.

A random headcanon:

Hera isn’t really happy at having been given the role of goddess of marriage. She’s happy to be the goddess of women, but she always felt a little weird about having the duty of blessing or dismissing people’s relationships. 

It’s especially frustrating now given how much of a joke her own marriage is.

General Opinion over said character:

I really love Rachel’s interpretation of Hera. In mythology she is a terrible, godawful person but that’s.....literally every Greek God. Every single Greek God is a terrible person. Some are better than others but all have done awful things, and yet repeatedly Hera has always been shown as this nasty, awful, woman for being angry about Zeus being a cheater and yet Zeus a r///st gets to be seen as heroic and noble?

BLEH.

Hera still has her  faults but she’s shown to be a capable woman who is trying to keep her marriage together for the sake of her children, and for the sake of keeping Olympus together.

What we’ve recently been finding out about her during the 6 Traitor’s Dynasty is also fascinating.

[joycrispy]

I Think About Caduceus Clay More Than The Average Person: Also, Fjorclay Took My Lunch Money

I dunno have some miscellaneous thoughts. CW: A touch of gay angst.

--Headcanon: The ‘firbolgs don’t actually have names’ flavor from 5e is actually a thing in this world (Pumat Sol excepted, as Matt said he’s fully integrated into human society and is an outlier). But, given the funereal work of the Clay family, they took on names for ease of communication with other races when they came through the grove. The ‘C’ theme is a running joke.

This is why Cad sometimes seems a little confused about which relatives are which; between themselves, they didn’t actually use them. He knows their faces and traits and voices. Not their names, at least not as well as he used to. 

But then, he hasn’t had to use them in awhile.

--Clay itself is more of a religious designation than a name, but it functions just fine as a surname if needed. Caduceus seems to introduce/address himself as “Clay” or “Mr. Clay” more often than his apparent given name, so I think he identifies with it more strongly.

--Caduceus worries about “what it would mean” if it turned out his entire family was dead, but doesn’t elaborate. To me, this seems like a separate issue from just grief.

Therefore, until Tal proves me wrong (and he almost certainly will), HEADCANON: Caduceus is either ace or gay or both, and has always been hyper-aware of this considering he comes from a sacred bloodline.

And that’s a duty he takes seriously. “What it would mean” for him to be the last Clay is that he’d have to engage in at least a little heterosexuality, and even with that unpleasantness out of the way, he’s never given any indication that he’s interested in being a parent (just the opposite, actually).

--Addendum Headcanon: The “wasn’t honest with his parents” thing? Basically, see above. No grandchildren for you, Cornelius and Constance Clay.

Mind you, I don’t think it’s something he’s agonized over. If the grove had never begun to die and the Clays had never left, I’m sure it would be a non-issue. This isn’t Taryon Darrington Part 2. But I think it would be on his mind, given his highly specific circumstances.

--“I don’t understand what it is I want anymore,” because again he is a big acegay and is unexpectedly falling in love with Fjord, next.

--Okay actually let me explain. See, Tal has mentioned before that Cad has some sort of perspective on relationships and sexuality, but has also avoided talking about it in too much detail, which leads me to believe either a) Tal hadn’t fully developed those ideas yet, or b) talking about them would amount to a spoiler. I think both are equally likely, but let’s assume it’s B for now.

I think, when he was created, Tal fully intended for Cad to be an aroace character. But, just like when he intended Percy to be irredeemable, the role-play got away from him, and now he’s got a firbolg in his brain who is experiencing romantic attraction for the very first time in his long, lonely life.

“This world has changed me.”

Cad knows it’s happening, but he doesn’t know what it means (everything means something, to Cad), or what to do with it. It’s delicious and I love it and you can’t take it away from me.

 --Some thoughts about the way Fjord’s relationship with Caduceus has developed.

Like, we have Fjord. Idolized a man so much that he decided to become just like him, right down to his accent.

His entire model for what a man ought to be came from Vandren, but his own insecurities twisted it. Fjord was always over-compensating, always getting his ego bruised (especially over his size/strength, or lack thereof), always posturing and playing the protector to Jester (who could punch him through a wall). He never quite managed to be the rugged, heroic figure Vandren apparently was.

But, he’s done trying to be Vandren. He has a new mentor now.

“I’ll do anything, I’ll wear pastel, I’ll drink tea…”

Fjord hasn’t taken on Caduceus’ persona the way he did Vandrens’; I suspect he’s grown too much for that. But he HAS latched onto him pretty significantly, and he DOES idealize him (“[Caduceus is] selfless to a fault.”). That’s all interesting, and we can wonder why EXACTLY that’s Fjord’s go-to social script with men he admires…

But either way, I kind of love that Fjord’s new object of fixation is a gentle, pink habitual-nurturer who lives in service to a lesbian nature goddess.

The C O N T R A S T.

--Fjord was waist-deep in the comphet and is also unexpectedly falling in love with Caduceus. He is less aware that this is going on, because Fjord is less aware in general, let’s be honest.

--I’m still not over Fjord being able to feel it when Caduceus is communing with Melora. Do you think he gets the Ghibli hair? He definitely gets the Ghibli hair.

--I don’t have words to talk about the Stone thing yet. Insert yelling here.

 Anyway this whole post will be disproven the minute someone asks either Travis or Tal about fjorclay directly but I GOTTA HAVE HIGH HIGH HOPES FOR A LIVING

[yea-im-smokin-pot]

this is boring but...STARKID SHOW RANKING

12. ani: a parody

ok so lemme explain, i love every starkid show, and i love ani. but i feel like its one of those shows where its like, some things are kinda better than this, yknow? also jar jar binks is one of the best characters in this musical.

11. firebringer

i literally perform this all the time in my room, but i feel like the writing on this isnt the bEeeSt? idk honestly. i love the female representation and im gay for lauren lopez, but this musical is not my absolute favorite.

10. holy musical b@man

i absolutely love the costumes, and i really dont wanna put it this low but iDk this is hard as fuuuuck. the writing is amazing, and by that i mean THE PUNS AND JOKES. they literally made the calendar man call batman and robin “april fools” and he also said “get ready to MARCH into your deaths” like WHAT. also jeff blim’s acting and timing is absolutely perfect.

9. me and my dick

i...fucking love this show? its one of the funniest shows if you’re into sex humor. joey’s heart is one of the best characters and boy am i a lesbian for ms. cooter. i absolutely love the production quality, its worse than a very potter musical somehow. i love how the quality of it has “5th grade sex ed” vibes. yknow?

8. a very potter sequel

oh boy am i gonna get hated for this. a very potter sequel is usually the favorite among the trilogy. ok in the harry potter trilogy, its not my absolute favorite, and it doesnt give the same vibe yknow??? but as a starkid show itself its really funny and the choreography is spectacular. thank james tolbert for that.

7. a very potter senior year

bro this one just HITS DIFFERENT YKNOW? if you ignore the fact that they have scripts on stage and that it seems rushed, then its really beautiful. i was watching it last night and i heard senior year play and i started SOBBING. the fact that it was the end of the trilogy was so sad. also, avpsy was supposed to be the last starkid show which makes it even sadder. the songs in this show are just so much better. for example, tonight this school is mine, sidekick, i was. THEYRE ALL B O P S ! joey richter’s vocals improved soo much and he deserved that solo.

6. twisted

DYLAN FREAKING SAUNDERS, GET THIS MAN ON BROADWAY. i love the character and emotion he put into ja’far. if i believed gets me every time, a tearjerker if i do say so myself. joe walker as prince achmed was the best choice honestly, now he’s one of my dream roles. also, jeff blim’s aladdin???? GOLDEN. thst scene where you find out he murdered his parents and he goes through this whole dialogue between his other identity is hilarious. the comedy is beautiful.

5. black friday

i might get attacked for putting this at number 5. but still, KENDALL NICOLE YAKSHE IS A FUCKING BLESSING. she’s only 13 and shes already top notch at acting. and honestly, i love mariah, i do, but im glad she didnt play lex. i loved angela’s version of her. also, IM SO HAPPY WE FINALLY HAVE AN ALTO. I CAN ACTUALLY SING TO BLACK FRIDAY AND CALIFORM.I.A. also, KIM WHALEN!!!!! HER VOCALS IN TAKE ME BACK ARE FUCKING ASTONISHING. robert manion is a BLESSING and jeff blim looks sosososo happy in this.

4. a very potter musical

i fucking love this musical. draco? a dream role. voldemort? mood. the songs? amazing. hotel? trivago. no but honestly, the reason why i like this musical so much is the nostalgia. whenever i listen to it just tear up a bit yknow? also this musical got me into glee so 😗✌️. also i feel like snape (joe moses) is so under appreciated in all three musicals??? like he’s so fucking funny. the music in this show is so good. also, quirrellmort??? beautiful.

3. the guy who didnt like musicals

and now, the musical that got me into starkid, this mess. ah yes, it was a hot july day. i was performing in a play, but oh shit i had strep!!! so i missed our last dress rehearsal :( but if it wasnt for that, i probably wouldn’t even know what starkid is. i remember trying to watch this musical when it first came out, but for some reason i had a fear of jeff blim so i turned it off. but i watched it and was like “DAYUM” also, robert manion’s hip wiggles are really fucking hot for some reason. i found this musical really funny and im really into comedy. the opening number? golden. the ending is where its at though, INEVITABLE. jon matteson has a really nice voice. and mariah rose faith, A GODDESS!!!! i had been watching mariah’s (@linguinismansion) covers ever since i got into theatre. i loved her dead girl walking cover and her world burn cover. (and now shes in mean girls!! wooo!) im also 90% sure mariah is why im a lesbian so...thanks...i guess?? anyway i love this show and its chaotic cast

2. trail to oregon

you guys are probably very confused as to why this is second. I TOLD YALL I LIKED COMEDY. jeff blim’s writing is fucking amazing. the music? godly. cornwallis? sexy. for some reason when i first watched this i found jeff blim sexy??? dont ask??? but its really hilarious and it honestly is just my family taking a road trip. c h a o t i c. the son is my dream role and if i ever play him then i want my name to be onion. dont ask. but i love the plot and music so much. also joey richter’s constant quick changes in independence are impressive as fuck!!! also he’s so good at every role in this musical. 11/10

1. starship

this might be a shocker since i never talk about it or have never used it in any of my posts. but every time i watch this musical, i cry. i fucking love status quo and joey richter has come so far in singing and theatre. he’s honestly so fucking good. status quo is the best starkid song, there i said it. also, im such a fucking lesbian for taz. her spanish accent, wow im gay. and dont get me started on dylan, the arm structure that you need to hold up pincer’s puppet, damn. he had his arms up for like 12 minutes!!! kick it up a notch is one of the best villain songs in all of starkid. also, brian holden is just fucking...making me question my sexuality, i dont know why but junior is cute as shit. it might be the hair i dont know. starship needs more recognition in the starkid fandom. im not saying it’s underrated like how ani and me and my dick are, but its very rare that you hear that this show is someone’s favorite. this musical is so fucking good and the music is just mWa! s p e c t a c u l a r.

[nikkoliferous]

Ragnarok Makes No Damn Sense (Part 1)

Having now laid out who Loki has always been and why there was an open agenda to demean and debase him, we come to why Thor: Ragnarok is antithetical to his character. Buckle your damn seatbelt. We've got a lot to unpack.

Off the bat, we're supposed to be appalled/annoyed/something that Loki has usurped the throne from Odin. Yet when last we left our heroes, Thor had abdicated his role as King of Asgard, knowing full well that Odin's health was failing, he was emotionally unfit to rule, and there was no other heir to fill his role. Oops! And for all that we're meant to believe in Loki's selfish ambitions for a throne, let us not forget that Loki-as-Odin at the end of The Dark World offered Thor this kingship. It was Thor who refused. What was it he said at the time? Oh, yes.

"For all his grave imbalance, Loki understood rule as I know I never will."

Now Ragnarok wants us to forget all that. It doesn't suit the narrative Taika Waititi wishes to spin. He wants us to believe that Loki is a terrible, lazy ruler who cares only about glorifying himself. But wait, is Loki a terrible ruler? The Hero™ tells us he is, so it must be so. And yet all we really know of Loki's reign is that he had a non-interventionist foreign policy, improved public infrastructure, and supported the arts. Wow, yeah, what a dick.

We will soon go on to meet Doctor Strange, a character who in comparison to Loki is a novice at magic yet somehow repeatedly manages to get the drop on the trickster. This is necessary in order to minimize Loki's power and competence in the eyes of the viewer. Let me also explain why the "I have been falling for 30 minutes" scene is not charming.

Does anyone think perhaps Loki may have a touch of PTSD related to the sensation of falling? No? Then perhaps we should instead analyze the deleted scene in which Loki is locked in a portapotty while men repeatedly urinate on him until Thor arrives to let him out. The fact that this was an idea someone had to begin with is gross. The fact that they came close enough to using it that it was actually filmed is downright shameful. Every single person at Marvel involved in approving this trash should commit seppuku in penance.

Ignoring the sexual assault implications here... I mean, this is literally toilet humour. Literally. What are we, five years old? Who the hell actually finds this funny?

"I keep a watch list of individuals and beings from other realms that may be a threat to this world." - Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok

So how did you miss the huge, purple nutsack wreaking havoc across the cosmos? I mean, no offense. I'm just saying.

Now we have the culmination of Odin's A+ parenting. He's at the end of his life just because he feels like it, I guess, so now it's time to pretend he gives a damn about Loki for a few seconds again. One "I love you" without even looking at him is supposed to make a millennium of emotional abuse and neglect all better or something. Even in his death, Odin can't seem to stop screwing with Loki's mind. What a charming man, I'll sure miss him.

Oh, but before he's on his way, he has a teensy weensy confession to make. Remember when he lied to you about your entire existence, Loki? LOL! He lied to Thor about being the firstborn too! And now the evil sister neither of you knew you had is coming to destroy everything and he's given you no time to plan how to stop her! Don't you feel much better now?

It's been about five minutes since we were reminded that Loki is a coward and an idiot or something, so contrary to Tom Hiddleston's own words that

"The thing with Loki is that, if he’s afraid, he won’t show it. He’s been highly trained, through the experience of his slightly traumatic life, to shield his fears."

it became necessary for Loki to immediately panic and lead Hela straight to the one place he knows she'll be most powerful. Whoops!

The Warriors 3 are quickly dispatched by Hela because it's important we remember that the first two Thor movies were trash and nothing that ever happened in them has any meaning. By the way, Heimdall is Thor's new BFF now and Thor will never mention his former friends ever again. Ever. Like, even in passing. Like they never existed. Those people who committed literal treason for him both before and after he was banished in Thor (2011). And then again in The Dark World. Those friends.

Meanwhile, Thor and Loki have both landed on a planet called Sakaar. It's a giant trash heap and that about sums up how I feel about this whole damn movie, so credit to TW for the symbolism, I suppose. Here's possibly the most cringeworthy moment in the whole debacle—and that's a very high bar. Or low, I guess, depending on how you look at life.

He's a Norse god... screaming, "oh my god!" I don't have enough hands for all the facepalming I feel like doing right now.

Anyhow, Loki and Thor have arrived on Sakaar separately and Thor has just noticed Loki sitting across the room, casually joking about his own suicide attempt. Because there's nothing funnier than suicide, amirite?! Especially when you still haven't sorted through any of the complex issues that led you to become suicidal to begin with. Who cares? We're just here for the lulz, yeah?

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Korg, I'm the director's annoying self-insert, and I'll be pissing on every poignant moment from here on out because reflection is for nerds. You just need to smile more."

Hey, remember that time in The Dark World where Loki was stuck in solitary confinement for a year and Thor didn't come to visit him even once? Now Thor is the one locked up and Loki has come to visit him almost immediately. To offer his help. To try to relate. Maybe mourn the loss of... everything together. But Thor's not interested in relating. He's interested in scapegoating Loki, because that's what this family does.

"What would you like me to say? You faked your own death, you stole the throne, stripped Odin of his power, stranded him on Earth to die, releasing the Goddess of Death.” - Thor, Thor: Ragnarok

To borrow a phrase from the late Luke Skywalker, "Amazing. Every word of what you just said is wrong."

► Loki has never faked his death. What he did is fail to die on Svartalfheim, through no fault of his own. It seems a little insane I have to defend Loki's right to not die, but here we are, I guess.

"We planned to have Loki have a redemptive death[...]We think he's wounded, but it wasn't a death blow." - Kevin Feige, The Dark World DVD extras

"Loki probably in his heart wants to be worthy, and the way he achieves his redemption—his salvation—is to ultimately sacrifice himself, for Thor and for Jane. I hope it’s a very cathartic and moving moment, by saving his brother’s life and avenging his mother’s death." - Tom Hiddleston, The Dark World DVD extras

The worst that can be said of Loki's "betrayal" of Thor at the end of The Dark World is that he failed to inform him that he had survived. And Loki had very good reasons to do so. What had Thor offered him in exchange for his help with the Dark Elves? He would return him to his cell to live out the rest of his days in complete isolation—a fate that I will just reiterate is classified as a form of psychological torture.

► Loki didn't steal the throne. As mentioned above, he offered Thor the throne. Thor said no.

► There is zero evidence beyond Thor's own assumptions that Loki stripped Odin of his powers. We are meant to believe this only because we are told that it is so. On the contrary: "It took me some time to break free of your spell," Odin tells Loki before his death. But if Odin had been stripped of his power, how then did he eventually break free? Upon examination, Thor's logic fails.

► Loki did not "strand Odin on Earth to die". He left him in a freaking retirement home where he had every expectation that Odin would be well-cared for. An argument can certainly be made that after everything Odin has done to Loki in the past, Loki was downright merciful not to kill the old man in his sleep and be done with it.

► Loki had no way of even knowing Hela existed. How is her release his fault and not, say, Odin's for dealing with all his problem children by tossing them out and throwing away the key? Or for not preparing his sons for the day they would be forced to face her?

Oh well. Now it's time for Loki Is A Coward™, Part Deux, because as I may have mentioned previously:

"The thing with Loki is that, if he’s afraid, he won’t show it. He’s been highly trained, through the experience of his slightly traumatic life, to shield his fears." - Tom Hiddleston

MINOR ENDGAME SPOILER:

Reminder also that this was Loki's reaction to the Hulk in Endgame, only minutes after being beaten to a pulp by him

Doesn't seem particularly frightened, but what do I know?

Hey, remember back in Thor (2011) when this happened? If the Valkyrie were already legend, why did Sif need to prove herself as a female warrior?

Shhh. You were supposed to forget about that minor detail. Now back to the butt jokes.

Now let’s take a short intermission, shall we? Because this movie blows so hard that if I put all my criticisms in one post, it’ll probably break Tumblr.

↩️ back to the compendium

[queerchoicesblog]

Lost Without You (SC Titanic, Zetta x Adele)

A bit later than announced but finally here is my Adele POV fanfic mirroring my very first Titanic work Ghost of You. I added some background to Adele’s past and her survival guilt/trama as well but Zetta always finds a way back into our fave suffragette's mind...and heart.

Thank you all once again for the amazing support showed with my previous work: I can’t tell how much it means to me! Hope you will enjoy this one too!

Disclaimers: I quoted some pieces of dialogue from the original book + I won’t mark this ns*w but this fanfic contains references to sexual activity: if it makes you uncomfortable, please skip it! You have been warned!

Word Count: 1988

Zetta x Adele Tag: @marmolady @animus-and-anima @hayley-carter19 @escako @everlastingchoices @andrxrneda @aestheticsayeed @eleanorwaverrley @indescribablechoices @ahrielstuff @lvcley @nazario-sayeed (+  @andi-the-cat as I have a feeling you like fics that coshowing back stories as well as references to our beloved Hileni: ignore it if you’re not interested!)

_______________________________

Adele walked Miss Sansom, a very chatty yet exquisitely nice old lady who was a regular customer of the hat shop, to the door, helping her maid with the pile of boxes containing the lady’s latest purchases. Miss Sansom immediately took a liking for the Carrem girls and always made sure to leave them a generous tip: Adele suspected that their status of “Titanic survivors” somehow influenced the lady’s genuine inclination towards philanthropy.

She lingered on the threshold until the two women disappeared from view, then she walked back to the counter and secured the coins she got in the tip jar beside the cash register. When they hit the bottom, she turn towards the main window and let her eyes wander on the street. A couple was laughing at a silly joke, two men, probably accountants were discussing the latest baseball match, the baker next door was ushering two giggling troublemakers out of his shop. Despite the leaves were now turning red on the trees, life was still blossoming. There were always places to go, things to see and to do in New York. Life was going on, for anyone except for her. 

For the first time in her life, she was unable to move on and look ahead…which was ironic considering that she had always been the one encouraging people not to dwell into the past and look and fight for a brighter future. She never rested, she marched in the first row at every protest, she ran fast like an avalanche away from the policemen and whoever could hold her back…now she was stuck, frozen in place. She was haunted by that night, the faces of all those people running and screaming in terror, the lifeless bodies of Gustav and her stewardess floating in the freezing water…Charlie looking at her on the lifeboat, anger and disappointment written all over his face: “I thought you knew me, Adal, but you don’t know me at all” before turning his back to her. He never spoke to her again and Adele knew she had lost a friend.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the glass: a pale static ghost in complete dissonance with the world on the other side. “How can they go on? How can they go on with their lives as if nothing happened?”. The reason was simple: they didn’t embark on the Titanic so they couldn’t understand what surviving felt like. They would throw an absent look at the newspapers announcing the official investigation over the sinking of the Titanic: in the end, the mighty “Queen of the Sea” truly made headlines. Just not what Mr Andrews, John Jacob Astor and the White Star Line pictured: tragedy and shame instead of shiny glory.

To be honest, though, even some of those who were on the cursed ship seemed to move forward. Matteo seemed to adjust well to his new life in America or so it seemed to her by the few letters he sent her. Hileni was recovering surprisingly well too. She probably tried to conceal it out of respect for her sister’s mourning, but she liked her new life: she immediately befriended the shop owner and his wife, she slowly but consistently started using new terms of the American slang she heard in the street. Adele suspected that she was quite smitten with the new delivery boy as well as starstruck for the motion pictures: they could only afford the ticket once in London and in New York she quickly turned into a regular at the surprisingly cheap nickelodeons. As a proof, a picture of a popular heartthrob of the big screen was now pinned over her bed.

America must have this effect on most, Adele considered.

“Lives, loves, the past – they’re worthless. Throw it all away and remake yourself. That’s the American dream right here”

She grimaced as Zetta’s words echoed in her mind out of the blue. She could still see her smirking at her in her suite on their first meeting, rather proud of her witty apology of the American dream that meant so much to her. She had to build a new self and a new life right from scratch in this country, breaking free from a liar, one of the many men who betrayed her. But now those words acquired a whole new and very painful meaning.

“Lives, loves, the past – they’re worthless. Throw it all away…”

Was she part of that worthless past to Zetta now? She hadn’t heard from her since they reached shore, even though she kept haunting her dreams from time to time. Her words of love, the desperate kiss they shared on the deck of the sinking ship, how she held her tight as she couldn’t stop crying on the lifeboat…she never left her side even on the Carpathia. Then she lost sight of her: she stroke her cheek and said she was going to ask for another blanket as the one Adele had wrapped over her shoulder was damp, sending chills down her spine but she never returned. Was she intercepted by her fiancé or was it a dramatic exit? Adele decided to leave it unanswered: it didn’t matter now, now Zetta was gone.

Undoubtedly, she had been busy with her new life since that day. Her “renaissance” as she called it at the Turkish baths. As the memory of that day resurfaced, Adele turned her back to the window and had to summon all her strength not to shed a tear.  She remembered every single moment of that day: Zetta, a vision, a goddess in her silky robe, patting the chair beside her, the heart-breaking grief on her face as she recalled James’s evil scheme, then her smile brightening again: she trusted her, permanently and till the end of time. When she smirked at her, Adele couldn’t help but blush like a schoolgirl and when she shared the true meaning of her renaissance and all the brilliant roles she would have loved to get before she couldn’t act anymore, the Carrem girl felt that she could have listened to her for hours: Zetta was a treasure chest full of wonders when she let her walls down and one of the most interesting and smartest women Adele had ever met, way more than just “a pretty face”. As she brushed a strand of damp hair out of her eye, the urge of kiss those soft lips became almost unbearable.

Adele had never experienced the state of pure bliss that washed over her under Zetta’s touch and kisses. Her moves were filled with desire but also adoration as if she was worshipping the girl in her arms. Adele had never been worshipped by anyone even though she had stolen moments of pleasure in the back alleys of London with her first love and a couple of factory girls. But those encounters were rushed, messy: hands fumbling to reach under the skirts, furtive glances around, the haste to elicit muffled moans before someone might catch you. Instead, even though the risk of being discovered was there, in Zetta’s loving arms she forgot about the world for a moment. She walked back to her cabin humming an old pub song of a poor sailor dreaming the golden hair of his rich lady lover. “Let me drown myself in the bottle of her perfume” she sang changing into her nightgown as Lena noted that she was in surprisingly good spirit that night.

Right now it all felt like…a foolish dream. A beautiful fantasy. The suffragette and the movie star, the factory girl and the first-class lady, two women so different from each other that became closer than they ever thought possible. They were just drawn to each other like magnets and in Zetta’s arms Adele felt safe, despite James’ scheme.

Adele found herself asking herself if in the end, deep down, that was what their romance had been to Zetta: a fantasy, a sweet dream bounded to end as they docked in New York, where she had a career and an enamored fiancé impatiently waiting for her. It was in every magazine, everyone was talking about the upcoming wedding and the movie star who survived the sinking. The other day two ladies came in and asked her a hat “just like the one Zetta Serda wears here”, pointing at a picture of Zetta arm in arm with Richard King in a fancy venue.  

Adele tried to remind herself that it wasn’t the first time a woman she loved went down that path, consequently disappearing from her life. She had been there before with sweet Marie, the girl next door who soon became her best friend and eventually more. She could still see her first love tremble as she whispered “Adele” over her lips before claiming them in a shy kiss. After a year, she received a proposal from Jack one of the lads at the factory. “Father suggested it is for the best: Jack is a fine young man, he…likes Jack”, she said, avoiding her gaze. Her father surely didn’t like the Carrem girl, who spoke Turkish and read Mary Wollstonecraft’s books. Adele remembered how she felt her stomach turn at that confession. Eventually, she went to the wedding, where Marie’s parents openly avoided her: she danced with the lads, congratulated Jack and hugged her friend, wishing her all the best for her future. Then, once she closed the door behind her at home, she collapsed to the ground, crying all the tears she had swallowed back: after Mother and Papa, she had lost her only love. Her sobs woke Hileni, who was too young at the time to realize or understand but her little sister wrapped her tiny arms around her, begging her to stop crying because “I am here, Adal”.

Yet that reminder brought no comfort to her this time. It did in the past, but not now, not when it came to losing Zetta.

Adele shook her head: there was no point in dwelling in such thoughts, they would not bring the woman she loved back, they would only make her heart ache more. As if on cue, a new customer walked into the shop, saving her from a grim memory lane: the Carrem girl was silently grateful to the oblivious man asking for a bowler hat.

Later that day, as she was closing up, Tim, the delivery boy stopped by.

"Hey, Miss Adele! Mail for you" he announced chirpily, handing her a letter.

"Just Adele is fine, Tim, remember?" she corrected him, offering a tired smile.

"I wasn't expecting any mail though..." she added, taking the letter into her hands.

"It better be something nice, Adele, cause I didn't go all this way to make you sad" he gallantly commented, tapping his head and winking encouragingly before walking back to his bike. "Have a nice evening!"

Adele looked down at the letter with a mix of confusion and anxiety: could it be bad news? Maybe from Blighty? No, the stamp was American and there was no indication that it could be the police or James...the penmanship looked familiar though: where had she seen it before? Unable to remember, she unsealed it and she found out that it was an invitation to the premiere screening of Zetta's latest film, Surviving the Titanic. So, Zetta didn't forget about me..., Adele though as a familiar warmth spread inside her. Unless it was Sabine's idea -Sabine! That was her writing! - but no, for some reason she couldn't believe that: perhaps this could be a new start, their new start. God, how she missed her...

When she reached to get the two tickets, a slip of paper fell from the folds of the invitation right on the counter. It was handwritten and the penmanship was different. Zetta's?

"Please come, my love. I must see you again. Yours, Zetta"

The last ray of sun illuminated Adele's face. A tear rolled down her cheek as her lips curled into a smile.

Yes, it would have been a new start, their new start.

[ahgaseda]

the NSFW alphabet | Jackson (Got7)

{ this post contains graphic descriptions and explicit content : please read at your own risk! }

A = aroused (how he acts when he's in the mood)

he will be the biggest flirt you’ve ever seen but also blunt as hell. like hey baby you wanna come take a ride on this thick dick. he will get real frisky when he is in the mood. hands roaming everywhere. kissing on your neck and nipping beneath your ear. he can finesse when he needs to and get you all riled up. but he aint above begging either. he will forsake all pride and dignity for a nut and you can have as much fun as you want with that.

B = body (favorite body part of their partner)

he loves your body. he will worship every inch of it and touch you for hours. he loves your boobs. he loves your ass. damn it he loves your thighs and your hips. mine mine mine he says. he always gotta have his hands on you and he just lives to play with your body. even in non sexual ways too he will pat your butt to a beat or jiggle your boobs when you come out of the shower. he just cant help it. youre his goddess and he wants to show his appreciation at all times.

C = climax (what he's like when he orgasms)

he is loud af. and you will know he’s getting closer by the way his voice pitches higher and higher. he is not afraid to let you know in great detail how good he feels. also swears quite a bit. probably mixes up his languages in the heat of the moment. you will become very familiar with swear words in each language he knows lol. he the type that warns you hes about to come even though its oh so painfully obvious.

D = dominance (is he dominant, submissive or a switch)

he is a switch and he is unpredictable. his desires change on a whim. if hes in the mood for you to tie him up and ride him he will tell you. if he wants to shove you against the wall and give you the work he will let you know. power dynamics don’t really concern him in the bedroom unless youre feeling a little frisky and need to be put in your place. he wants to please you above all else.

E = experience (how experienced is he in the bedroom)

he knows what he’s doing. and he is very confident in the bedroom. he knows hes hot and strong and can give you whatever you want. it needs to be said but aries are not opposed to loveless sex. being in love with your partner is a bonus not a requirement. despite that they will be the first to admit the sex is better when a connection is there. it just is.

F = fortitude (does he have a lot of stamina and energy)

one round is boring to him. if you’re both up to it once is not going to be enough. he likes to mix things up and keep the fire going until hes exhausted and blown off all that steam. he will eat you out or let you ride his thigh between rounds. the time it takes for him to get hard again is very short and in some cases he can stay hard after getting off but it varies.

G = gratification (what really gets him off)

mark him as yours. be aggressive and possessive. be spontaneous. he needs fire and passion but most of all he craves being needed and desired. hes fairly easy to please in the bedroom because he brings so much of the energy himself. getting to let it out is where he gets the most release. pleasuring you gets him off the best. seeing his partner taking what he has to give and losing themselves to ecstasy that he caused will make him bust in a heartbeat.

H = habitat (preferred place to get busy)

anywhere. anytime. he don’t care. yall regularly joke about having fucked on nearly every surface in the house. he also moves a lot so sex that starts against the wall can lead to the table or what began in the bed can end up on the floor. there is also a lot of bath or shower sex with jackson. plus he welcomes you visiting him in the studio. he loves a good distraction and orgasm combo.

I = intimacy (how emotional is he when it comes to sex)

not really during sex itself but it will come in afterward. he loves to cuddle and talk after sexy time. but there will be days when he slows it down and makes everything a really sensual affair. intimacy will be the focus and everything will be very intense. this doesnt happen too often but he takes great pride in those nights. usually birthdays or anniversaries or holidays.

J = joke (how much does he play around)

there is a time and place for humor and it depends on the mood. most of the time he is good at reading the mood. generally he likes to be playful and have fun during sex. if you cant laugh during sex then whats the point lol since hes such a dramatic flirt he will definitely have you cracking up before during and after sex but especially during foreplay.

K = kink (toys or kinks)

body worship. both giving and receiving. it definitely plays a big role in those really intense sessions. sex is his favorite hobby so you can expect plenty of kinks and toys in bed. keeping in mind he wants to please you so not much is off limits and he will always be down to test out anything you want to try. he also the type to be into pegging and you can expect him to bring it up during playful banter shamelessly.

L = lust (how often does he want it)

he is an Aries so his sex drive is quite high. very hot blooded and the type that gets hard at the drop of a hat. seriously you can just mention handcuffs in passing and his dick will stand up like hello i have been summoned lol

M = masturbation (mutual and solo)

he jacks off regularly no big deal. having such a high sex drive hes just gotta relieve the stress whenever he can. watching you masturbate is a kink of his but only in theory. once you get into it he has to jump in. it turns him on so bad and he doesnt have the patience to be a bystander. hes not into you watching him either. hes gonna want your hands on him asap. phone sex is a lot of fun with him though. he loses his damn mind over it and threatens to hop on the next plane to come home and fuck you.

N = never (what he will not do)

a hard limit for him is pain. he is not going to do anything that causes you considerable pain. sure he will spank you or choke you within moderation but dont expect him to push the limit with anything more hardcore than that. also degradation doesnt do it for him. he will call you a dirty slut or daddys little whore in taunting but hes not going to go farther. its too contradictory to his personality and even if its in roleplay it will still leave a bad taste in his mouth.

O = oral (giving and receiving)

the pussy eating champion lol. seriously he eats you out all the time and loves every moment of it. if you aint screaming like a demon is coming out of you then he aint happy. he also the type to suck you dry and totally not expect anything in return but he tends to do it before sexy time cause he loves you to be wet and sensitive when he fucks you. now when it comes to blow jobs he is the happiest boy alive. getting head is his weak spot. you can have him singing your name and shaking like a leaf. will not shut up about how well you blow him.

P = position (favorite position)

he loves them all. he the type to change positions rapidly during the same round. he cant stay still. he wants to hit it from every angle. but his favorite could be the Lotus. youre both sitting up face to face and youre straddling his lap which means not only can you ride him into the sunset but he can also move to meet you. he likes that youre both fucking each other plus the feeling of closeness and constant kissing melts his butter. though hes not opposed to doggy because he can dig in deep he prefers being able to see the way your face scrunches up in pleasure.

Q = quickie (what is a quickie like with him)

quickies are fun. he likes quickies. they happen very often. he loves the spontaneous and rushed nature of them. but he will also want more when hes done. once hes in the mood he has a lot of sexual energy to burn through. quickies are more a fast fix for a reservoir thats always overflowing. but the best part about a quickie with jackson is beast mode. when that kicks in just hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

R = roleplay (favorite routines and tropes)

fear not damsel he is coming to the rescue. he can start off strong with tropes but in the heat of the moment hes gonna forget all about it. at a certain point he runs out of patience and concentration and all he can think about is getting that nut. with that being said he likes a challenge. if you make him work for it he will be eating out of the palm of your hand. he also likes anything primal and animalistic. that fucks him up real good.

S = seduction (how he gets you in the mood)

he is playful. but his hands are expert. his kisses are sweet but intense. he starts targeting all of your weak spots and does not hold back. hes a professional smooth and dirty talker. the shit he says will have your mouth watering. he likes if you dont give in too easily and he can lay it on real thick. but then there are times when he will just point blank tell you hes hard and asks if you would like to help him with it.

T = teasing (what is the best way to arouse him)

if you wanna get him in the mood then tell him. tell that boy you wanna ride the soul out of him and hes all yours. he needs to be needed. he also very visual so wear something provocative. get handsy. touch him and get his attention. if it were up to him yall would never ever leave the bedroom. very rarely will he turn you down for some loving. he would have to be exhausted or ill to not want a romp with you.

U = underwear (lingerie and costumes)

oh yes lingerie will get him in the mood but beyond that its just gonna get ripped off anyway. the birthday suit is his favorite outfit. he does particularly enjoy costumes though. he will actively send you screenshots of lingerie or costumes that he finds to see if youre down to try them. he mainly prefers you sending him naughty pics of you in these ensembles. he saves them on his phone and looks at them whenever hes away from you on schedules or tours. he would make his fave the lockscreen on his phone if fansites wouldnt lose their shit about it.

V = verdict (what do you think of your sex life with him)

sex with him is fun but passionate. its also very frequent. morning sex is like part of the normal routine. despite how often the two of you get down it doesnt get stale or boring. hes always mixing things around or spicing things up that there is no shortage of variety. passion runs so deep in him that it spills into everything he does including his loving. even the quickies are mind blowing. jackson is very open about sex and the conversations you have with him about it are very natural and comfortable.

W = words (how vocal is he and dirty talk)

he is not afraid to be loud but he is ever unpredictable. if hes the one on top his focus is giving it to you good and may not be as noisy. if youre on top he will be as vocal as he needs to be to let you know youre doing a hell of a job on him. will wake all the neighbors when you blow him and will wake all of his ancestors when you overstimulate him. his dirty talk is shameless. will you text you raunchy shit and then go into sweet detail of how you are the precious love of his life in the same freaking breath.

X = x-rated (how does he feel about porn or sextapes)

a very big fan of both. he will watch porn on his own or with you. it doesnt matter. can be inclined to film the two of you in bed and will watch it all the damn time. likes pov cams the most. is the type to totally strap on a go pro and go to town on you as a gift to himself.

Y = yawn (what is he like after sex)

he wants to chat. he wants to know how he was in bed. he needs to know if sex with him made your day a little better. he wants to know what you want for breakfast in the morning. he will ask if the bills are paid. may even ask you to remind him to take his vitamins tomorrow. it takes him a few minutes to simmer down with all that energy. still flirts uncontrollably but mostly wants to make small talk until he finally drifts off while spooning you cause you his goddess. 

Z = zodiac (what his sign says about him in bed)

an Aries loves sex. they have a high sex drive. since they are a fire sign there is never any shortage of heat and passion in the bedroom. having a partner that is not compatible with them in the sack can be a major deal breaker. but despite being a selfish sign aries desperately want to please their partner or else they feel insecure. if you aint enjoying it then they arent either. while they prefer fucking over making love, they can temper this to suit their partner without any fuss but at the end of the day they really just wanna have a good time with you.

{ copyright 2018-2020 © ahgaseda // masterlist }

[aion-rsa]

9 Best TV Roles From Gillian Anderson

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Full-time TV goddess and part-time television detective Gillian Anderson is never far from our minds. Here are nine of our favorite TV roles from the actress, whose on-screen legacy reaches far past The X-Files franchise to British period dramas, eccentric Bryan Fuller shows, and animated snarkiness.

Dana Scully in The X-Files

Let’s just get this way out of the way, shall we? Not because Anderson’s turn as Agent Dana Scully over the course of 11 seasons (and counting?) of The X-Files TV show and two The X-Files movies should or could be diminished, but because most everyone is familiar with Anderson’s turn as the chronically skeptical FBI agent.

Dana Katherine Scully is more than a TV character. She’s an institution. I grew up watching The X-Files and having a female character who wasn’t the same cookie-cutter example of what it was to be a woman made me feel like much more was possible. Gillian Anderson’s understated, yet affecting portrayal of the character was a large part of that.

Scully was (and still is) complex and flawed. She is a scientist with a commitment to her Catholic faith. She is a skeptic who, nonetheless, believes in Mulder. And she is funny as anything—much of that down to Anderson’s dry, deadpan delivery (“Bad Blood” being a great, oft-cited example). If Gillian Anderson had to have one character define her career, she could do a lot worse that Scully.

Miss Havisham in Great Expectations

If you’re looking for a great Great Expectations adaptation, the 2011 BBC/PBS miniseries is not your best bet. If you’re looking for a role in which Gillian Anderson gets to chew up the scenery in a miniseries-stealing performance, this three-part series is for you.

Anderson is so often cast in understated roles, and she plays them incredibly well, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t gratifying to see her make moves as a completely over-the-top villainous character, like her turn as the bitter, mentally unstable, and highly-flammable Miss Havisham. As they should probably start saying in England: Come for the Dickens, stay for the Anderson.

Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier in Hannibal

Hannibal is not a show for the faint of heart, but it rewards viewers endlessly with its sumptuous visuals, unpredictably gruesome plot, and its ridiculously stellar cast. Gillian Anderson is only one of the many talented actors who make up this ensemble — including Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, and Gina Torres.

Remember how we were talking about how Anderson often plays understated characters? Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier may be the most understated of the bunch. Perhaps the most enigmatic character on a show filled with enigmatic characters, Anderson manages to imbue the sly, clever Bedelia with a complex vulnerability that her cold, proper surface only occasionally lets through. If you are a fan of Gillian Anderson or good TV, Hannibalis a must-watch.

Lady Dedlock in Bleak House

A big part of Gillian Anderson’s career renaissance has been Dickensian adaptations and this is, perhaps, the best example. The BBC did a 15-part (eight-hour) adaptation of Bleak House in 2015. Anderson took on the role of the cold, secretive Lady Dedlock and she is one of many deft moving parts in this brilliant retelling of the Dickens classic, which is much more fun than its lawyer-heavy premise might suggest.

Anderson seemingly agrees. She spoke with The Daily Beast about finding an appreciation for Dickens through her acting, saying:

One of the only things that I have regrets about in my life is my experience of school and education. I wish I had known how important it was to pay attention … My first foray into a lot of the classics has been through my work. It’s only after falling in love with the screenplay or adaptation that I’ve then gone on to read the novels themselves.

Stella Gibson in The Fall

If you’re and Anderson fan and haven’t yet watched The Fall,a Northern Ireland-set crime drama about the cat-and-mouse game between Detective Inspector Stella Gibson and serial killer Paul Spector (played by Jamie Dornan), then stop reading this and go do so now. Anderson plays Stella Gibson, an English DI who is brought to Belfast to stop the series of murders of young professional women that have been occurring in the city. The Fall has been celebrated for the fact that Anderson plays a character who is almost always male. She is extremely focused (and good at) her job, sees sex as a primarily casual habit, and doesn’t have the most robust of personal lives.

Anderson’s nuanced performance makes Stella a strong and sympathetic character — one who is deeply affected by the way that men take out their anger and frustrations out on women, and who knows how to navigate a world and professional space riddled with misogyny and casual sexism. Anderson has called Stella Gibson her favorite role, and it’s easy to see why. The actress is asked to do a lot in the BBC drama—and she more than steps up to the challenge.

Dana Scully in The Simpsons

Sure, this is really just a guest starring role on someone else’s TV show, but how could we not include at least one of Gillian Anderson’s animated turns? (She also appears briefly on Robot Chicken,as Fiona.) This X-Files spoof episode—”The Springfield Files”—comes in The Simpson’s eighth season and it is filled with in-jokes about the paranormal drama. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson basically just voice their characters, but — as A.V. Club‘s review notes — “Anderson is, if anything, even more restrained than she is on The X-Files, which makes her lines funnier.”

“The Springfield Files” is far from the best episode of The Simpsons, but it is another great example of the kind of range Anderson has. Sure, she may be playing another version of her most well-known character, but getting that same character across in voice work is far different from getting that character across on live-action TV. Anderson nails it.

Media in American Gods

Sadly, Gillian Anderson is no longer on American Gods, which has suffered a series of high-profile “departures” that began with the “exit” of showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green before Season 2. But we will always have one season of Anderson as Media, the mouthpiece of the New Gods, in this Starz adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s bestselling novel. As Media takes on the form of various celebrities and lives off the worship people give to their various screens, we got to see Anderson transform herself into people like Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, and David Bowie—a smorgasbord of eclectic Anderson performances all in one show! For one season, we truly were blessed.

Jean Milburn in Sex Education

For a show that is mostly about The Youths, Anderson certainly makes her presence felt in Netflix’s British dramedy Sex Education. Anderson plays Jean Milburn, a single mom to teen protagonist Otis (Asa Butterfield), and a sex therapist. When Otis somewhat accidentally shares some of the sex education his mother has been feeding him presumably for his entire adolescence to a school bully, he falls into the sex advice business, helping his classmates with their sexual struggles. As Jean, Anderson gets to be both wise and neurotic, a mother and not defined by it. She also gets to regularly deliver lines like: “Why don’t you start by telling me your earliest memory of your scrotum.” Honestly, we deserve this show and its brilliant casting of Gillian Anderson.

Anna Pavlovna in War & Peace

Still have room for one more Gillian Anderson-starring period drama? (You know you do.) In this lush yet somewhat soulless 2016 adaptation of Tolstoy’s tome, Anderson plays “glittering society hostess” Anna Pavlovna. Written by period adaptation master Andrew Davies and directed by Peaky Blinders‘ Tom Harper and featuring a cast that also includes Paul Dano, Lily James, and James Norton, War & Peace has a lot going for it even if it never fully capitalizes on its deep reserves of talent and, honestly, with such an expansive cast and Anderson in a supporting role, our fave only gets a small amount of screen time. But, per the usual, Anderson steals the show.

What are your favorite Gillian Anderson TV roles? Sound off in the comments below…

The post 9 Best TV Roles From Gillian Anderson appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[kodibitesback]

kodi !

⧼   banita sandhu, cis female, she/her  /   “heads will roll” by yeah yeah yeahs +  the aroma of garlic spilling out from the curry joint that you walk past on the way home from the ministry that doesn’t smell like your dads’ kitchen but still sets your mouth watering with a hunger insatiable that you must walk away from empty, empty, empty; the heartbeat tattoo of bare feet as you move through your mudras in the dark, a goddess of shadow, a creature of the night; the mirror that you stupidly brought across the atlantic and have subsequently left to gather dust among the unpacked boxes in your ground-floor apartment because you know when you look, you won’t know any better whether you like who you are, forever.   ⧽   ━━   hey, isn’t that POONKODI “KODI” ADALARASU? i read a daily prophet article on them, once ; the TWENTY-SEVEN year old muggleborn WITCH & VAMPIRE is an ILVERMORNY alumnus who has gone on to be an AUROR. i’ve heard she can be quite SCINTILLATING & UNFLINCHING, but i don’t know… she came off very RASH & EMBITTERED in that interview. it really is hard to know what to believe these days though, isn’t it? 

pinterest // playlist 

QUICK STATS

name: poonkodi rainbow hearts adalarasu [POON-koh-dee UH-the-luh-rah-suh]; goes by “kodi” almost exclusively [sees the use of her full name as more personal] age: 27 [technically physically 25 as she was bitten two years ago] gender: cis woman, she/her sexuality: lesbian/queer blood status: muggleborn, in british terminology. raised by two loving and bohemian indian-american no-maj fathers. her parents thought she got a scholarship to a boarding school and then became a cop. now they think she’s dead. creature status: vampire, brand new. bitten while on the job. nearly died. trauma central. she’s still working on finding a good british brand of glamour charms, which she uses on and off to hide or show her status.  alma mater: ilvermorny, wampus house.  patronus: was a kingfisher. is now a bat, to her consternation. wand: 11 inches, whippy, pine wood with a wampus hair core and pearl inlay. manufactured by a descendant of johannes jonkers profession: auror with the british ministry’s department of law enforcement, auror office. was senior for her age in her division back in washington, dc, was once a wunderkind. hired in london as part of the shacklebolt administration’s diversification and beings’ rights initiatives. residence: a very dark, windowless ground-floor apartment in london pets: none. animals don’t like her anymore.  likes: loud music, dancing (club or indian classical), stupid videos, working late, thick blankets, sandals, urban exploration, midnight conversations, quodpot, adventure, decisive action, aggressive flirting, inadvisable makeouts, dueling, bar brawls, making bad vampire jokes about herself dislikes: shy people, boredom, coffee (the smell alone), wet socks, sad movies, arts and crafts, meditating (but she’s trying to do it anyway), being psychoanalyzed, the prospect of eternity, people she doesn’t like making bad vampire jokes about her 

BIOGRAPHY

[Triggering subjects in backstory include references to suicide, blood, violence, death.]

Kodi was a much-loved, much-wanted child. She had two dads, both Indian-American, one a Tamil classical dancer from a whole line of dancers and one a Punjabi art therapist. Her biological mother is her fathers’ best friend, a classical dancer of Punjabi descent. She played the role of a quirky aunt in Kodi’s life; Kodi called her by first name. Largely, she was raised by a village of multicultural artsy queer people who encouraged unconventionality in her. Precocious and bright, Kodi had an unwavering sense of justice and purpose from an early age that often set her at odds with her more free-wheeling little community. She was a charming child but sometimes unnervingly serious for her age. While she was a skillful Bharatanatyam dancer, she never wanted to be an artist. She always wanted to be a hero. 

When she learned about her magic and what that could mean for her future, she had to make a decision. The strict division between No-Maj and wix in the United States meant that she was encouraged not to tell her parents that she was a witch. She thought that they would love to know about the existence of magic, but she wanted something to be her own for once. She wanted something to be her secret. She didn't think they could keep it secret at all. They’d probably do performance art about the role of magic in society or something. In the end, she decided to lie, not knowing that as the years went on, the lies would only grow. So her parents believed she had been accepted to a prestigious boarding school for gifted children, and in fact, she had: Ilvermorny in Massachusetts. She was a smash hit at Ilvermorny with dozens of friends, good at anything she really poured her heart into, which was mostly anything that had to do with fighting Dark wix. She decided from the day that she met her favorite professor that she would be an Auror like she once was, and she worked towards this with great purpose, networking as best as she could as a No-Maj-born. 

Her efforts paid off: right out of school, she was offered a position in Washington, DC with the Auror Division there. She maintained to her dads that she was a cop, which disappointed them deeply, but she decided she had grown past what her fathers thought. She knew what the world was now, and she was going to make it a better place. For a good solid stretch from seventeen to twenty-five, she was kicking ass and taking names. She had a sharp eye and great fighting instincts, and her rise through the Division was suitably meteoric. Her personal life was a bit of a disaster, however, with a string of girlfriends that she messily dumped when they got in the way of her career. She grew more and more estranged from her parents.

As she proved herself, her case-load grew more intense and more dangerous. She became especially known for taking on lengthy assignments that required travel. On one mission that took her into the Blue Ridge Mountains to investigate an illegal potions ring, she was attacked by a vampire. She thought that she would bleed to death, but instead, horribly, she lived, or at least became undead. Kodi, who had been born without knowing she was a witch but had fallen in love with the wonder of magic, had crossed over into the Dark. When she first came to consciousness, she was in the bowels of the Division’s Virginia building, sometime past midnight, and they were asking her what they should do, what they should tell her parents.

She swallowed with a click, intensely aware of why her throat was dry and why her teeth ached. She said, “Tell them I’m dead.”

She recuperated for a long time in a special ward in the largest wixen hospital in the country. She had a lot from which to recover and a lot to which she had to become accustomed. For weeks, her magic sputtered and failed. Even when it returned to her, the magic felt different--but at least it had returned. She was still magic. Eventually, Kodi grew restless. She took the remainder of the year off to travel the world and find herself, or more accurately, her new people. Along with sundry other beings, she met vampires who were loving their countless years and vampires who seemed to be looking to get staked as fast as possible. Kodi had a bad feeling she knew where she fit in that spectrum, and yet she had come too far now to give it all up.

Thus after her prolonged absence, she returned to the DC office, changed within and without. Everywhere she looked, she felt hunted. She could still feel the teeth in the back of her neck. Her old colleagues couldn’t figure out whether to show her sympathy or give her space, but she could feel how their eyes followed her around the room. She could sense the animal fear in them because even when she drank from covered pouches, a little blood would always stain her mouth. Kodi had been raised to be proud of who she was. She was spoiled with love and opportunity. At times, people accused her of overconfidence (though she would call herself cocky but competent). Now, though, Kodi hated herself.

She needed a way out. Always with an ear to the ground, she heard rumblings from across the ocean about a push for beings’ rights from the Ministry under Shacklebolt. Kodi sensed opportunity. She made a visit to the British Ministry, pressed some flesh, passed around her resume, and without too much effort--her superiors in DC had been eager, lately, to see the back of her--she secured herself a position within the Auror Office.

She accepted the job offer before the Warbeck benefit disaster and...made the decision not to back out of it. She went ahead and rented that dark little near-underground flat she’d picked out and called up those people she’d met on her first go-around. It was time to start her new life. 

Kodi endeavors not to have regrets about anything, as she figures she should get into the habit of that if the alternative is living far too many decades, even centuries of regrets. But she can admit that even if werewolves aren’t exactly her natural allies, the environment in Britain for all magical beings is tenser than ever. She feels out of place for so many reasons. She’s American, she’s “Muggleborn,” she’s not even human anymore. Still, she’s great at making conversation, making friends, and making trouble. Kodi works into the night and parties for what’s left of it, dancing til she should be sweating, trying not to flash her fangs when she laughs. Yet her past is a heavy thing; she can’t cast off the burden of it. Every time she tries to move forward, her future feels more fraught, another roadblock rising up in front of her. 

It’s a bad time to be here. She’s trying to have a good time anyway.

FUN FACTS

yes her middle name is actually ‘rainbow hearts’ bc she is a product of her dads’ beautiful gay love. she has a real love/hate relationship to it because admittedly she does love being second-generation gay. if she tells someone her middle name or lets them call her by her full first name, you know it’s real.

she was vegan before she was turned. she’s had some confusing ethical debates about blood-drinking and maintains that she is still vegan (she avoids animal products and only drinks from consenting humans or blood donations).

the legality of her using a wand in britain due to the wand ban (clause three of the code of wand use) is tricky and she’s hoping that continues to be hand-waved. her prepared argument is that she is a human with a condition, same as lycanthropes.

WANTED CONNECTIONS 

professional - she’s a workaholic! her ministry coworkers are half her social circle! maybe someone a lil nervous about her sipping blood out of a juicebox in the breakroom? personal - friends & flings. neighbors. people she’s punched. new gf. w/e! past - she’s traveled and met all kinds of people, wix and creatures alike. reunion time? ORDER ! - she could be a real asset to the order, as she is an experienced auror and also a vampire. i’m looking for someone to recruit her, since she is currently a civilian!

PLAYED CONNECTIONS

alicia spinnet - hooked up after a queer wix speed-dating thing and before the big ministry gala 

dudley dursley - bonding over non-magical backgrounds and kodi making fun of dudley mercilessly. ministry coworkers

heather pettigrew - always butting heads as private investigator and auror. 

[lothirielswan]

Writing Introverted Individuals: Guide and Sources

Hi Awesome Adventurers! So I’ve had to write about a few introverts on my journey through writing so far, and I’m sure you can find a butt ton of stuff like this, but I wanted to make this easier for you guys and offer up some things that I’ve found. Scroll down to see insightful videos, characters, tips, and more!

First off, here is a list of well-known characters in fiction that are incredibly introverted to study (no, there are no spoilers listed with character descriptions):

Ron Swanson — from Parks and Rec. Ron is definitely very far down the spectrum and could be considered the “stereotypical introvert.” Ron Swanson avoids and nearly despises any social conduct with people, yet he does it in a comical way. If you are writing an incredibly antisocial introvert with zero respect for other life forms, I’d look into Mr. Swanson (bonus: you get to watch Chris Pratt, our lovable extrovert, at the same time!).

Loki — from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The star of Tumblr. I’m sure all of you are familiar with him, and the best thing about watching Loki is seeing his introverted nature compared to the biggest extrovert in the nine realms: Thor. This gives us both sides of the spectrum, and it’s a great thing to watch when you’re trying to differentiate the traits of extroverts and introverts. Loki proves that introverts can be funny and witty, but most accurately shows the con of being the introvert: constantly feeling neglected/left out of things.

Everyone from the cast of The Big Bang Theory, besides Penny — well, not quite, but this show has tons of introverts and is one of the best sources to watch. One thing to keep in mind from this is that The Big Bang Theory is focused on a group of close friends—introverts have social circles, too. Introverts can be loud and boisterous around people they know well (the show has multiple examples of this). However, when these introverted individuals are put in a more crowded setting, some get social anxiety, some can’t talk to women, and some find it exhausting. This show is a landmine for studying introverts, and I extremely recommend it for this topic. 

Tyrion Lannister — from Game of Thrones (I’ll repeat this again because I know you: NO SPOILERS). Tyrion is more social for an introvert, but it’s been shown that he likes to spend his free time in solitude. Tyrion is a very independent thinker (a big introverted trait) and is very well read. However, he jokes with people, he is gifted with words (just because introverts have a reputation for talking much does not mean that they are not witty), and is sexually active.

Hope Van Dyne (the Wasp) — from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hope has a very direct way of thinking, and prefers getting stuff done instead of dealing with “fluff.” Hope also had a very cold, loveless background, and while introversion can be considered genetic, it’s interesting to note how the background/backstory of a character plays a role in the level of introversion. 

Bruce Banner — from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (played by Mark Ruffalo). This little cinnamon roll keeps to himself, I recommend watching him onscreen and how he interacts with his Avenging coworkers (when he’s less green!). Especially in social situations, where you’ll notice that Dr. Banner is very quiet and keeps to himself.

MARINA — No, Marina, is not a fictional character; she is a singer that is very real, but she deserves a spot on this list of “introverts to watch”. I’ve listened to Marina’s songs for years, and every album shows the struggle of how introverts struggle to just be in the world. One of her most famous albums, Electra Heart, actually describes her trying to change herself to fit in with this extroverted world. If you want to know more about introverts, I suggest listening to one—and this one sounds like a goddess. 

Some of you may be new to introverts, so bring over some books and blankets to wrap yourself in like a burrito as we explore/review this: what is the introvert?

Okay, there are a lot of myths associated with the Introvert that we should dispel here: NOT ALL introverts are stuck-up or shy, however, their independent nature sometimes leads people to make these assumptions. Instead of thinking of introverts as the Grumpy Cat and extroverts as the excited golden retriever, let me differentiate them a little:

The main difference between introverts and extroverts is how their bodies react differently. When people hang out with friends, it releases a “happy” drug in our body called dopamine. Introverts and extroverts react differently to this.

When extroverts hang out with friends, this releases dopamine in their body, which energizes them and makes them feel good. However, with introverts, dopamine can be overstimulating and overwhelming, making most introverts start to feel tired after hanging around people. This being said: introverts do not hate people. Interactions have a tendency to fatigue them over time. But this reaction can affect introverts’ opinion on social activities, and can discourage them. Back to sciencey terms, there is a drug that introverts experience that they cope better with than dopamine: acetylcholine. This drug is more of a “slow burn” feel to it, that is turned on when you focus on something or are doing something creating like drawing. Introverts favor this chemical reaction, hence their desire for independent activities. (You can find more about this here)

Introverts also tend to be decisive thinkers, and are at peace when in solitude. As the writer, it’s up to you to decide how sensitive your introvert is, but please, do not make the mistake of assuming your beautiful creation hates people for no reason! 

I’ve written about a couple introverts by now, and I am one myself, so here are some experiences, tips, and suggestions on what introverts go through:

What I said above is true about getting overstimulated: I met a good friend of mine about a year ago, and I remember we were hanging out at a Wendy’s (this was back when I was just getting to know her), and after 1-2 hours I just started to feel tired, out of it. There wasn’t anything wrong with her, or me: over time, I could spend more time with her before that tired feeling set in again. Other introverts also experience things like this, but it may not be at the same rate.

Now you understand introverts, and that is awesome! But most people don’t. And that’s a good thing to keep in mind when you’re writing: when you have your introverted character interacting with others, depending on the other character, they may be critical of the introvert’s natural ways. One thing introverts face the most is getting talked over/interrupted when they try to speak. Be aware of your introvert’s unique presence!

Introverts are also very perceptive: they are brilliant observers, and catch more things than the average bear. This seems like something quick to dismiss, but hear me out: introverts can be as perceptive as the deaf. Another personal experience: I cannot tell you how many times I’ve spoiled shows for myself, not because people tell me outright, but because I simply browse the internet (with no intent at all whatsoever), I see pictures, I overhear little details; I start picking up little clues that don’t say it outright but it hints, and eventually I go, “crap, not again.” This is how the introvert’s mind works: it can catch the smallest things, and they’re usually smart enough to stumble onto the right conclusions (this sounds cool, but it can be a real pain in the ass). 

I hope this has been helpful so far! Here are a few links I found to videos on Youtube that have some more insightful information about introverts: 

8 Strengths of Introverts

The Power of Introverts: Susan Cain (TED talk)

A Day in School as an Introvert (the Struggle)

Thank you so much for reading, Awesome Adventurers! I’d love to hear what you think about introverts or if you have anything to add, and if you’d like to talk more about this, go ahead and shoot me over something! I hope this helped you out before you go write your fantastic story that will light up the world! Love, fortune and glory to you!!

[theowlandthekey]

We Don’t Need Covens: In This Essay I Will...

I'm a big fan of Sarah Anne Lawless. I never got the opportunity to speak with her personally, but for those of you who've been around long enough, you likely know about her blog discussing traditional witchcraft and her shop. I often found her posts to be inspirational, providing a unique clarity on subjects that most books skip over. To this day her belladonna ointment is one of the few things that can make my wife's back spasms stop.

Unfortunately both her blog and her shop have closed up. All I can find are interviews with her. In a very broad sense, Lawless came out about abuse and manipulation within the pagan community. She named names and instead of addressing the problems and having an open discussion about it, she was harassed until she backed off.

It upset me at the time in a very distant sense. As I said I never knew her, but I admired her passion and the certainty with which she practiced her craft. Though it's now long after the fact, I finally think I have the ability to put my thoughts into words.

We don't need covens. We never did.

I've been practicing off and on for about fifteen years or so. I've played around with different methods of witchcraft, wicca, and pagan worship. I've been the member of a druid grove, a loose coven association, and even a few on-line groups that claim to do all their spell casting via chat. In the end, I've found them all to be much the same. They promise a great deal and frankly fall short of everything from education to community.

I'm likely going to upset quite a few people with this statement. That's fine. You shouldn't trust anybody who thinks they can tell you your business. But for what it's worth, take a moment to read this over. If something here strikes you as familiar, it might be time to consider another path.

IQuick Note: I know there is a lot of grey area as to what could be considered a witch. You have pagans, heathens, wiccans and the like. Some are comfortable being called witches while others are not. But the connotation changes depending upon each individuals definition. So let's look at witches as people who, for whatever reason, have decided to intentionally avoid Christianity in favor of practicing a personal path of self-realization and independence involving magic, spells, enchantments and the like.

Cult Mentality

First thing you ought to consider is the potential for manipulation and control that exists in any group. This is especially true whenever matters of religion and faith are concerned. It's a touchy subject, no doubt. People are particular about religious practices. For my part, I maintain that witchcraft isn't a religion or a faith. It's a craft. But that doesn't change the fact that people will use religion as a method for controlling others. Especially others who are hungry to fit in with a group that they feel represents them. For this very reason, I firmly believe that witches should avoid becoming a congregation of any kind. Too many of us think of witchcraft as a religion, and while you can play pretend all you like most of us were raised Christian and still have difficulty shaking off the mimicry of organized religion. Our power is in our independence and our ability to think for ourselves, and it becomes much more difficult to do this when you form yourselves into a coven.

Respect My Authority

On that note, you can't form a group without some kind of a hierarchy making itself apparent. I have a strong distaste for covens who create arbitrary titles. They're largely meaningless. You don't really need a high priestess or an archdruid to go around wearing robes with more trim than everybody else. It's just an excuse for someone to hold themselves higher and make decisions without consulting anyone. You'll often find that people who hold these kinds of titles become very upset when someone disagrees with them and find ways to flex their authority in a 'funny' or 'joking' way. Basically telling others that if you disagree with them then you don't need to be there. This comes off especially hard on people who may be new to the craft and are still seeking approval.

Calling Ourselves Out

As sexual abuse allegations are on the rise, we have a duty to be aware of people within our community who put others in danger. We have heard it said that 'while not all priests are abusers, abusers tend to gravitate towards positions of authority'. This is no less true just because those leaders are witches and not priests. You don't get a Free Pass. Covens and groves all seem to want that central authority figure to which they can turn to. We tend to protect them because these people act as a spokesperson for us as a whole. But this does not mean they should be protected if they behave reprehensibly! They are not above the law and if we really want to present ourselves as being different from Christians, we should take a stance of pushing out people who are abusers and manipulators.

But here's the thing. We seem to have this self-righteous indignation that comes with being witches and pagans. Any questioning or perceived threats, especially ones that come from outside the community, are deemed as being biased because of Christian society. While this isn't entirely untrue, it also has a problematic effect on us wearing a permanent set of rose-tinted glasses whenever we look at the pagan community and it's 'stars'. Instead of seeing them as human beings with flaws, we view them as celebrities. We avoid using critical thinking skills when someone in the community comes up against criticism and it can end up damaging our reputation as a whole.

Witch n’ Bitch

While this is one of the most obvious issues with modern witchcraft groups, it is far from the bottom of the cauldron. While many groups come together promising to provide resources for education, help learning rituals and practices, and open discussions, I find that very few of them ever deliver on these promises. I've joined more than a few witchcraft 'study groups' only to have them disband after a few sessions for one reason or another. Others have sessions which quickly get derailed from methods and history into a bitching session about over covens, daily drama, or the like. Instead of helping interested parties by providing resources and discussion, it basically becomes a witches tea party. Brooms are snatched.

Exclusion By Design

Something else I want to bring up is the exclusion by design if not by intention concept that plagues covens. I have seen this manifest in more ways then I can count. Most typically it crops up in the form of “you're not experienced enough in our particular tradition”. However, I've noticed a lot of problems with most pagan groups being painfully white. The excuse is that this makes sense because most witchcraft traditions are European. However, that doesn't seem to stop most witches from liberally grabbing whatever non-European cultural paraphernalia they feel fits their witchy aesthetic. The most notable victims being the American Indians, the Voodoo/Santeria practitioners, and Mexican folk beliefs. I've been told by several people that this isn't on purpose. It's just how it ended up. But when you have to triple check everybody on a Norse Heathen group chat to be sure none of them have any racist ideology there is an inherent problem with the community which is long overdue for exposure.

Queer Craft

I’d like to bring up the patriarchal and hetero-normative slant that is heavily enforced in modern witchcraft and neopaganism. I want to preface this by saying that when I think of a witch, I think of a woman who lives apart from societal norms. She is autonomous. She is self-aware. She is unruffled by others perceptions of her. This is what makes her a force to be reckoned with. Yet much of wicca and neopaganism strives to enforce a very heteronormative perception of a woman's role in society by establishing the narrative of the Maiden/Mother/Crone archetype. While there is beauty in each of these phases of life and there is nothing wrong with a woman finding power in them for herself, enforcing them as a role model for what a woman should be has dangerous implications. A woman must be a virgin, reproductive, or too old to bother with. And it should come as no surprise that concepts have no real male counterpart.

This becomes an even bigger problem as we look forward to a more inclusive world where we are learning to recognize a larger spectrum of gender and sexuality. Where does the Queer witch fit in with these very narrow perceptions of the divine within the self? The pagan community loves to talk about itself as an accepting and open community that embraces all sexualities openly. But that isn't very well reflected in its liturgy and conception. I don't think this gets discussed much because people have heralded the God/Goddess, Horned God/Earth Goddess format for so long that we take it for granted despite these perceptions being relatively modern ones. While there are some traditions which put emphasis on the Queer spectrum and embracing it as a source of power and self-realization, they are few and far between.

Psudo Ethics

The final thing I want to bring up is the irritating moral high-ground that people in the pagan community are so willing to put forth any time we are questioned about our beliefs. It is just as irritating if not more so than listening to Christians proselytize. The Wiccan Rede has held a position for a long time as a general set of standards for what witches and wiccans should consider before acting or casting spells. However, I'm pleasantly surprised to see more of a discussion happening on morality in witchcraft. We don't exist to turn the other cheek. While I'm not a believer in the 'strike first' policy, I am a believer in defending myself when attacked.

I see a lot of judgment happening in the wiccan community, especially now that witchery is in the forefront of social media. People poking their noses into how others practice and deciding to take it upon themselves to 'correct' how another practitioner does their work. I understand why some people want to pursue a more positive and affirming lifestyle through wiccan practices. There is nothing wrong with that. But I confess myself irritated when I'm chided by other witches for casting a curse or have a discussion with a demon. My prerogatives are not your moral imperative, nor are any other witches. So long as my actions are not directed against you, it isn't any of your business what I get up to.

In Conclusion

Ironically, one of the biggest issue with discussing if not resolving many of these issues is that we, as witches/pagans and the like, are NOT a unified group. We are a loose collective. We don't have one central figure who decides doctrine. We don't have any of those things that make for dogma. The fact that we can choose to act independently of one another is a big part of our power. It emboldens us to think for ourselves, question tradition, and seek out new methods and practices which are better suited to our needs. Witchcraft does not begin and end with the anathema and the chalice. We can choose to both acknowledge the gods without permitting them too much influence over our lives. We can dance naked under the full moon while enticing a demon or just make a hot cup of tea while we listen to the rain and meditate. All of this is within our grasp.

But before we can practice together, we have to learn how to function together. And right now I don't' see a great deal of that happening. I believe that by learning how to be ourselves first, by practicing as solitary and independent witches before seeing out a group, we can be more confident overall. After fifteen years of practicing, I can tell you truthfully that I haven't learned anything in a group that I couldn't have learned by studying and practicing on my own. Mostly because 90% of the groups out there read the same damned books I do and are more into repetitive ritual than anything else. I would have loved to work with someone like Sarah Anne Lawless, even just to attend a few workshops led by her. Until we can learn to be better individuals as witches first, I don't know if our community can be better together.

[imagine-organization-xiii]

How would they react (minus the babies) to their SO surprising them by making them sit down and then stripping for them?

Shoutout to Sami and everyone else on discord who did all of this stuff while i literally fell asleep lmao

Most are below the cut because of naughty bits

Xemnas

Xemnas doesn’t often as his S/O to do things for him. He rarely is in the mood because of how busy he is with the Organization. But when he’s horny, he DEMANDS it. “Y/N, strip for me. Right there. Nice and slow” and will dominate the entire process, giving commands of comes off when and how quickly.

His domineering personality is something you fell for, and when he is like this, you can’t help but feel the tingle of thrill running up your spine. And as you strip, he usually likes watching on from a chair of or sitting on the edge of the bed, palming himself through his pants or stroking his cock. Everything in this strip tease is about how slow and torturous it could be for the other person. It truly is a game of restraint.

Xigbar

This man wants action 24/7 and everyone knows it. He’s always horny and up for going at it. Because of how high his sex drive is, usually the two of you just jump into the sack and go at it. There isn’t much to it but to do it. But on those special occasions, maybe getting new lingerie or clothes, you decide to make the night special. And before the nights festivities begin, you decide to push Xigbar onto his bed and tell him to wait there.

He watches in amusement as you turn on the music and start to dance around the room removing your clothes. This kinda strip show is about presentation. Looking as hot as possible and seeing how long it takes until Xigbar just decides to jump you. Spoiler; you never finish your dance. Usually before your bra comes off, he cant resist the urge of just ripping it off himself and things quickly devolve from there

Xaldin

Xaldin works hard. He’s a serious man who takes everything seriously. But it makes him tense, so you decide to treat him and strip. You pull him into a kiss and ease him down into a comfortable sitting position. He would object that he doesn’t need this but you insist and put a gentle finger to his lips. You slowly start to remove your clothes and make eye contact as you do so. Like Xemnas, the dance is about how slow it can be, but with this comes intimacy.

The eye contact and the occasional words of affirmation just build the emotion behind the gesture. Once you’re down to just your panties, you decide to ease yourself onto his lap and kiss him gently and deeply on the lips before the night of nonstop lovemaking begins.

Vexen

Vexen works way too hard. But unlike Xaldin, Vexen could go days without stopping his work, and he will destroy himself in the process. He is too busy and too invested in his studies. But sometimes you want to just need him to stop and take a break. You drag him out of the lab telling him that there was sometime very urgent that needed his attention, and then sit him down on the bed before running to the restroom and threatening that if he goes back to the lab that he would seriously regret it. He’s tempted but too afraid of what you’d do to him.

You emerge again from the bathroom wearing one of his lab coats and he quickly realizes what you’re up to when you start to unbutton the jacket and reveal the lingerie underneath. His face goes red almost immediately. Even though he’s seen you naked before, he always gets flustered like he’s seeing it for the first time. He stammers as you slowly remove the coat and start to remove the other layers. He keeps his hands to himself as you slowly remove your clothes. He’s very stiff and not just his dick which by now is painfully obvious. He’s sitting up straight and his movements are rigid as you sit into his lap and kiss him. Tonight he was going to relax and you are going to MAKE him

Lexaeus

Lexaeus is all about that emotional connection as well as tender loving. But because of how large and strong he is, he usually asks you to strip for him. Not exactly in a sexual way but because he is so paranoid about destroying your clothes accidentally. That doesn’t mean you don’t like to play and make the view a little more interesting. 

You often like to take your clothes off in a playful and graceful manner. This kind of stripping is less of a dance and more of a graceful removal of clothing, but still just as meaningful. And here’s a secret, he LOVES it. When you move around and ease out of your clothing, he just feels so much love in his heart. It’s like you’re a nymph or a goddess. No one should possess such elegance, but here you are.

Zexion

Super distracted with reading his books that he really doesn’t often notice when you’re near, let alone when you are slowly rolling your shirt up and over your head. But this setback quickly turns to your advantage as you quickly slip out of your clothes and down to your underwear before Zexion can notice. And then, once you are bare, you decide to gently tip the book in Zexion’s hand down, tearing his eyes from the pages and onto you.

He first tried to react in irritation from being torn from his book, but as soon as his eyes come to you, he stops mid sentence and quickly turns beet red. He has gone silent as he looks at you. “Surprised?” You ask “uh… yeah. You could say that.” You then slide down into his lap and gently bookmark the page your partner was reading before tossing it onto the floor. No more reading tonight. His eyes and hands were needed for much more important activities.

Saix

When he’s in the mood, Saix is often the one to rip your clothes from you, so on occasion,  you like to mix things up. You catch Saix in his room alone and quietly shut the door. He knows you’re there but chooses not to reaping because he is reading important documents. Which honestly is good because you know if he wasn’t occupied, your clothes would already be in tatters. So, you do what any sane person would do and get your lovers attention by calling his name in a sensual tone.

As he looks up from his clipboard, he sees you looking at him with sultry eyes and removing your clothes. Now the battle of wits has begun, for now Saix must barter in his mind of what side he must choose: finishing his work, or succumbing to his own lust. This is purely strategic of course and eventually Saix gives in. Luckily, you’ve already removed your clothing before he gets to you so they were able to be saved. The same can’t be said for your panties.

Axel

SO down when his partner tells him to sit back and relax. He is just thrilled to bits. “All right! Nice! This is awesome.” He continues to chuckle and amuse himself as you slowly ease out of your clothing while attempting to seduce him with your eyes and silvertongue along with your body.

All the honey-laced words and doe eyes almost worked, if he didn’t keep sassing you from every angle. Seriously where are all these retorts coming from? Ugh. Soon into your dance, you give him with this dumb asshole and kiss him. “Aww wait no go back I’ll be good!” “Nope too late! You’ll just have to settle by having sex with me” It’s then when his eyes roll and he lets out a chuckle “oh no,” he smirks, “how could I live with such a horrible punishment as to have sex with you”

Demyx

Such a giant child, he and his s/o always have the most fun of the guys. The afternoon starts as any other, maybe just making out in his room or laughing about some kind of joke, and you get a brilliant idea. You ease Demyx into sitting up on the bed and you turn on the music. You’d think you’d want some kind of smooth jazz or something romantic, right? NO WAY. Definitely not. It’s always some kind of silly old song like Ocean Man by Ween or Doing the Sponge from Spongebob. Something completely asinine. 

And as you start to goofily dance around the room, you start making terrible faces at Demyx and mouthing the words like a dramatic asshole, taking your clothes off in the process and watching Demyx laugh hysterically. This strip is less about being sexy and more about the fun.. by the end of it, you’re in your panties and you throw yourself into the bed in fits of laughter and Demyx, still laughing, just pulls you into a big embrace as you kiss between the bursting giggles and fun. It’s just such a perfect moment. “You call that a dance?? Oh man I can’t wait for it to be my turn. I’ll show you the best dance you’ve ever seen!”

Luxord

Here you were, standing in Luxord’s room in this tacky maid getup, as he stares at you from the edge of his bed and already palming himself through his pants. You shouldn’t have made that bet. You REALLY shouldn’t have thought you could try and beat him at any game.

But as you slowly make your way out of your clothes, you take on your role and start to have him with it , pulling out the old “master Luxord” routine and he starts slewing it back to you. And suddenly this isn’t just a striptease anymore, and that was a-ok. And then the rules changed and soon he was on top of you, kissing you and sliding his hand up your skirt. And things quickly devolve from there

Marluxia

An appreciator of all things beautiful, Marluxia holds aesthetic beauty above many other things.  Sometimes taking off your clothes isn’t enough and the usual sexiness needs to be kicked up a notch.  So you spend a little munny and buy some nice clothes, maybe some lingerie decorated with floral decoration.  And when he comes home, you are there waiting for him.

This strip isn’t about time of sex appeal but being as elegant as humanly possible: sliding straps over your shoulders and gently tugging at clothing parts until they just slip off effortlessly. And trust me, Marluxia appreciates you like a goddamn art piece. Hell he might just pour some wine and just observe and enjoy.

Larxene

Okay Larxene both loves and hates surprises. Like she loves getting them but hates waiting for them and not knowing what it is. So you have two options; not tell tell her and hope she doesn’t figure it out, OR tell her you have a surprise for her and watch her just pull her hair out over it and BEG you for hints. Well either way, when you get her into the room, she still has no idea what you’re up to until you come out of your bathroom wearing some very very tasteful clothes/lingerie/underwear. I only say this because as long as it’s tasteful, she’s putty in your hand.

She’s an angry woman but if you get her flustered she turns so red but is also SO mad about it. As you strip you can see her face go more and more equally awestruck and frustrated. “What’s wrong, love? Is something the matter?” “Th-The only thing the matter is YOU and your STUPID FACE not being on my face right now!” “Now now. can’t I finish?” “No. Now get over here.”

[100witches]

2- Nancy Downs (Fairuza Balk)

2- Nancy Downs (Fairuza Balk). The Craft (1996).

I can’t tell if I love this movie because it holds a special place of witch nostalgia in my cold black heart, or if its actually a freaking great movie. I try to watch it several times a year, and it keeps just getting better and better. It is unquestioningly one of my all-time favorite movies about witchcraft, and conveys the practices of real witches in a way somewhat unparalleled in cinema. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that the film employed a Dianic Priestess and Information Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess (a multi-denominational Wiccan collective), who sought to couch realness and truths inside a medium she knew would nevertheless have grandiose Hollywood overtones. Or perhaps it has to do with the fact that witch icon Fairuza Balk is cast in an empowering, albeit tragic, character. Either way, The Craft, and Fairuza Balk, fundamentally shaped my witch-identity, and that of an entire generation of young witches, Pagans, and Wiccans alike.

The plot of the movie conveys dozens of classic themes about witchcraft. It begins with a group of social outcasts who reside in the margins of the hallways. They come from diverse backgrounds and various tribulations which have made them feel powerless. On one side, you have Rochelle (Rachel True #40) and her confrontations with racism, prejudice, and bigotry. On another, you have Bonnie (Neve Campbell) and her physical ailments and scars that, especially in high school, are perceived of as grotesque and ugly. On a third side, lies our dear Nancy, her alcoholic mother, abusive stepfather, sexual proclivity, and (as Rochelle puts it), her innate destiny as white trash. The three young girls, feeling powerless in their world, discover witchcraft as a means for gaining confidence, power, and protection. Witchcraft acts as a way to interpret the chaos around them, and can be used as an arbiter of justice against the world that has forsaken them. I get an all encompassing sense of deja vu every time I see the scenes of them walking down the hallways of their school, not just because I’ve seen this movie  a trillion times, but because my friends and I were those kids. We all had our problems and difficulties, and together found various forms of witchcraft, ceremonial magic, and other occult traditions as a means to understand the world around us.

You’d think by the length of this post already that we’d be halfway into the movie, but it hasn’t even started yet. While I’ve spoken at length in this series as to the power of three (Charmed #67, the Graeae/Moirai #64, the Weird Sisters #5, et. al), modern witchcraft and most denominations of Wicca continue this ever building strength in numbers to a notion of four-ness. The aforementioned girls, while attempting to practice magic, are held back as their circle in incomplete. Ritual witchcraft often has a Calling of the Corners/Quarters, East, South, West, North, which requires the participation of four practitioners. This is the actual plot of the movie, as the fourth arrives as another ostracized woman. Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) transfers in to the school. As if being a new kid wasn’t tragic enough, her mother has died, and Sarah now struggles with depression and suicide. Sarah is a perfect candidate for a new initiate into witchcraft— she too needs to find strength and order in the world around her.

Now complete, the coven truly begins to explore witchcraft and magic in earnest. Rochelle, as a swimmer and character who is surprisingly malleable and soft-hearted, takes the West—water. Bonnie, who suffers from tragic burn scares and self confidence issues, takes up the South—fire. Sarah, whose magic stems from her mother and hereditary witchcraft, takes up the North—earth. And Nancy, crazy, crazy Nancy, whose own imagination is her only limit, takes up the East—air. Together, the girls perform some of my favorite cinematic interpretations of actual magic. The classic “we are the weirdos” forest scene (“In perfect love, in perfect trust”), as well as the notorious beach invocation scene, are truly unrivaled interpretations of actual witchcraft and Wiccan rituals.

There are dozens of undercurrents of classic witch themes throughout this movie. The juxtaposition between natural, hereditary witches like Sarah, and learned occultists like Nancy, illustrates the differences in witch-lore between magic/power being innate versus acquired. While both are true (magic can be both natural and learned), this tension between those with magic and those who learn magic is reminiscent of a kind of Promethean battle for power and strength—who can steal the fire first. In the case with Sarah and Nancy, the hereditary witch ultimately wins (ugh they usually do). However, this is not due to increased ability or a genetic superiority/predisposition to magic. Instead, Sarah becomes the victor due to purity of heart and intent. The movie is wrought with the philosophy that magic is neither good nor bad, it is the intent and the person who can manipulate magic in either direction. As the bomb-ass witch in the occult shop, Lirio, puts it—Nancy takes it to a dark place.

I could certainly do a post on Sarah, and perhaps that could come after this 100. She is a great representation of a witch, from the strength of her mother to her defeating her own sisters who have turned on her. Sarah’s magic is some of the strongest we see, most notably her final binding of Nancy. In another great representation of Sympathetic Magic, we see Sarah perform a magical binding to prevent Nancy from doing harm to others or herself. By wrapping a ribbon around an image of Nancy while repeating the mantra, Sarah hopes to stop Nancy from her (self) destructive behavior. Sarah repeats the binding in their final fight scene, and in a moment of script writing brilliance, Nancy is thus fated to being truly bound to a bed in a psychiatric ward at the end of the movie. Unfortunately Nancy becomes institutionalized as she’s flown too close to the sun, but she is unquestioningly unable to do harm to anyone while in that padded room.

So, WHY NANCY? As a character, she is one of the most bad ass witches I can think of. Despite her flaws, she has a strong sense of morality and is fiercely protective of her sisters. She uses witchcraft to punish a sexual predator (….full transparency here, she kills him…) and sees power as a means of uplifting both herself and others. Her tragic flaw comes in her full and total submission to her religious philosophy (Minnie Castavet #19 and Bellatrix Lestrange #15). She is unfortunately unable to control herself once she realizes her full power, as she has invoked all the power of Manon*. Nancy illustrates the journey of many witches, from disenfranchised outcast, to an empowered and autonomous woman, to, yet again, a woman suffering from a mental health crisis. Solidifying The Craft in its explication of witch archetypes, Nancy conveys the long history of witchcraft in a single character.

BUT FAIRUZA?!  

I can’t think of another actor who has done as much for witch-lore as Fairuza Balk. In addition to her role in The Craft, Fairuza has appeared as Dorothy Gale in Return to Oz (1985, mentioned with Mombi #48), as Mildred Hubble in The Worst Witch, as well as  dozens of other, non witch related roles. Fairuza’s mother studied Egyptian, Turkish, and Moroccan traditional dance, and her father is allegedly of Romani and Cherokee ancestry. Fairuza has been acting since she was a young girl, and continues her career as a musician and artist. A quick visit to her website reveals that she sells and designs custom sigils, symbols which are imbued with certain magical principles. In many ways reminiscent of witch-icon Stevie Nicks (#59), rumors have been circulating as to whether or not Fairuza is a practicing witch for decades. It didn’t help when stories circulated about the Dianic expert allegedly initiating one of the cast members of the film, or when Fairuza herself purchased an occult shop in L.A. She has stated that she first learned about witchcraft through The Craft, as so many of us in my generation have. Whether or not she’s out of the broom closet is besides the point. Fairuza remains one of my all time witch-icons, and I am greatly indebted to her for her work in furthering the tradition.

*Manon is perhaps one of my favorite parts of the movie. Due to the fact that the actors were performing actual Wiccan rituals, they were advised against using the name of an actual existent deity. Instead, Manon was created to prevent any actual invocation from occurring, especially by young fans wanting to mimic the film. Good thing too, because the aforementioned beach scene invocation resulted in swarms of bats, crashing waves extinguishing the candles in the scene, and a total loss of power on the set. No joke—that all actually happened. The description of Manon, too, as the Stadium and Field on which God and the Devil play football, is beautifully illustrative of much of Pagan theology.