#i really really hope this person continues to get more people like them in the notes and realize their mistake

[franike]

COLD LOVE

Thanos x reader

Authors note: I love him sm there is not enough fics about him, also sorry about my english •+• ALSO i added a character I hope yall don’t mind🙏 THIS FIC WILL HAVE MORE PARTS

It was just a normal day. You were taking the subway home after finishing your day at college. It was hard to pay for all college expenses and you already worked two jobs. As thoughts ran through your head someone approached you.

“Wanna play a game?” It was a strange man - he was tall, had short black hair and also wore a neat suit.

“Uh sure why not”

The game was called ddakaji. You get a piece of folded paper and another one is placed on the floor. The goal is to throw your piece of paper and flip the one on the floor to the other side. You played a few rounds and won every single one.

“Congratulations” The strange man told you as he handed you a card. Before you could say anything else he left leaving you confused. You took a good look at the card. The front of the card had a circle, a triangle and a square drawn on it and the back of it had a number. You looked at your phone for a second before calling the number from the back of the card.

“To play the game state your name and date of birth”

…

You were sitting in your apartment and thinking. What did I just sign up myself for….but i need the money. The pickup date is five days from now on. You looked at the picture on your table. It was a picture of you and your ex that disappeared one day, well not really but he disappeared for you. You still saw him on social media but that’s about it because one day he just said he can’t be with you anymore and left. What an asshole…but you still cared about him just a tiny bit. Perhaps if he died you would be a bit sad.

…First day at squid game…

You woke up at a bed in a big room. There were about 400 other beds and about 400 other people. What is this… You thought as you looked around when all of a sudden someone called out your name. You looked back and saw your friend, Claire.

“CLAIRE what are you doing here?”

“Ah i got myself into a debt..” Claire explained while uncomfortably touching the back of her neck. You didn’t mind however, you were also in a debt just for school, not for…. Anyways soon some guards came to the front and started explaining how this works. All of a sudden some people started complaining about literally everything.

“What about my shoes huh? They’re limited edition!”

Oh no…Its him. Its Thanos. Your ex. What the hell was he doing in here? Did he not see you? What a pain…Soon the first game started, it was green light red light. Pretty easy. That was until someone got shot in front of you because they moved at red light. You started to panic. It soon turned into green light but you were frozen. You felt like you were gonna faint and as soon as it was red light your knees gave out. However someone stood in front of you so you wouldn’t get seen. It was green light again and the person who previously stood in front of you took you by the forearm and forced you to run with them. You turned to look at the person and it was him. Thanos. Again.

“You really need to be more careful”

“Shut up freak”

He just smirked at you and continued the game. How unfortunate that you ended up in the same situation as him. Soon the game was over. Thanos approached you and started to talk to you.

“So why are you here?”

“I’m not gonna tell you”

“Wow calm down ice queen, it was just a question.”

How annoying can a person be. Even after you gave him the coldest glare you could he just simply smiled at you.

“So you’re just going to pretend that you didn’t leave me like some trash huh?”

To your surprise he stopped smiling, but only for a second before he was back to his usual self. He tried to wrap his arm around your shoulders but you pushed him away. The audacity of this man. You started walking away and he started to yell something at you.

“This isn’t over Y/N! You can’t run away from me so easily!” He started to laugh and went back to some guy. This is going to be long six days….

TO BE CONTINUED….

[alextydaisuda123]

Happy New Year to all, guys!!! XD I want to wish you all a lot of good and creative things for the next year))) so that you are bursting with inspiration and so that you do not get sad <:) I also want to thank you all for being with me on this creative journey) Each of you inspired me with this or that drawing or idea))) I especially want to separately thank people like: @creat0rstudi0 - I am grateful to you for roleplays, ideas and friendship^^. You are a wonderful person, and I'm glad that we still communicate to this day ^^ @onelittleornotthing - Your work is great and inspired me))) I fucking love your original characters and the ship Oleg/Stik🌚✨️ @bigboybird - Your AU is beautiful and I sincerely wish that you continue to develop your AU))) Never give up, buddy ^^🤝 @lunar-dal - As I initially said, you are one of those who inspired me to start creating my AU))) Your AU is very cozy and beautiful)) @golubichkalive - I love our conversations and your AU) you are a cheerful person, always be like this))) @luigigirl12 - Thank you for the pleasant communication with me and just for being a cheerful girl))) you will never get bored with you ^^ @gggiiibb - I love your AU, your ideas))) and Damn, thank you for starting to draw Pepperlante from Weirdcore, I was very touched then🥹✨️ @furiouspatience - You are a pleasant person to talk to and you have a cool drawing style))) I noticed your drawings from VK and I really liked them then))) @neocrash1101 - I bow low to you for your AU (they are gorgeous) and the drawings in my opinion Echo Tower, it's unreal😳✨️💙🤝 To this day I rejoice at each of your drawings like a little child 😂🥹. @rediconsss - I will forever remember you as a "pineapple dude" who has a great drawing style))) You are a damn cool dude😎✨️ @gl1tchy-4rt - It was a pleasure to draw art trades with you and I hope to draw them with you again✨️))) Your drawing style and your AUs make my heart happy, such tenderness🥹💙 @djsodabot - Even though our communication was short, I'm still glad that you participated with me in this creative path, thank you))) @technically-a-kiwi - I adore your space AU and sketches for them😳✨️ thank you for your creativity))) @rachlaw7 - I love your simple style, I love your characters, thank you))) @juliatv - You are the first person I started communicating with on Tumblr. In fact, thanks to you, I moved there))) Thank you for your creativity and our correspondence, they are filled with such cuteness that I want to cry with happiness😭✨️ I would tag more people, but I'm afraid I can't remember the names of the accounts, sorry. But still, thank you all, I love you all!*♡*✨️✨️✨️ And yes, I was born in the year of the Snake, so I'm the Snake here >:3✨️

[wandrinstar-media]

things I love about veilguard

Rook might just be my favorite dragon age player character. I love what a good friend they are. I love being this character, in all their iterations.

emmrich and manfred volkarin, just literally everything about them both

I can be nonbinary??? in favorite game series??? plus many other trans & queer characters along a realistic spectrum of ideologies and identities??? FUCK YEAH

factions brought back the feel of selecting an origin a little for me. I wish there had been more content related to each *but* I do really like what there is. I do feel this was done better here than in Inquisition.

Speaking of: my real gripe about Inquisition was just a lack of anything feeling unsettling or spooky or urgent in any way. For me, I learned that the horror elements of previous games were essential for it to really feel urgent, necessary, heroic, and like a Dragon Age game *to me*. imo, Veilguard brought spooky back, with everything from blighted D'Meta's Crossing to Zara Renata's bath to Isseya's haunted twisted grief and the griffon tomb etc etc etc - I really feel like this game didn't hide the creepy parts in the codex this time, and while nothing will ever quite make my skin crawl like Hespith's poetry in the dark blighted deep roads, this brings back an element I was surprised to find I really missed. And the 2.5-3 Big Bads (depending on how you view Solas ymmv) of this game are far more interesting and intense than Corypheus ever was.

I like finally getting to see parts of other countries we've only previously heard about, and I *love* that those areas are realistically somewhat different than the rumor and speculation about them in previous games and that each has grown in unique ways since their first codex snippets.

I like to see that most interactive NPCs are being less openly racist / otherwise bigoted in a Dragon Age game, and I don't really get the people who complain about *not* being called knife-ear or whatever every other minute. I feel that budding cultural shift has been building in game for a long time, we're in new areas, many of which do things differently, and it's well explained by the efforts of groups like the Shadow Dragons and Lucerni and all of our Wardens and Hawkes and Inquisitors and several of the companions shaping change in the world for in-game decades. It can be realistic for things to improve. I love how openly hopeful this game is, when made in such dark irl times. It inspires me to more action in reality.

I love that Bellara and Taash are both clearly neurodivergent in wildly different ways. I love that characters who read very clearly as autistic/ADHD/AuDHD are continuing to be included in spite of all the vitriol there was about Sera.

Lucanis being demi (and imo as a demisexual person myself, quite accurately portrayed as such) is lovely and his romance scenes are delightful whether with Rook or Neve.

I love the other relationships that begin when companions aren't romance by Rook (Taash/Harding, Neve/Lucanis, and Emmrich/Strife are all really cute and have great cutscenes and banter.

The faction based specializations are cool as fuck imo

This game gives me more of the found family vibe of earlier games, I missed that.

Davrin & Emmrich arguing about different Being A Dad Strategies

I've put in 275 hours and I'm still finding new content with each playthrough???

Vorgoth.

I'll probably add more but. yeah. good game.

[jaosol]

I'm new to all the League lore, but definitely not to the whole shipp thing (been reading for a long time, even though I don't engage much on fanfics or discussion). Since I also have strong feelings about these two and can't seem to stop thinking about them, I also wanted to share my point of view about this one! 

I never really tried to analyze a show like this, and I'm not nearly as good in writing as you, so I'll do my best lol.

Ekko spend a considerable amount of time on that perfect world. Enough time for him to fall in love with that different Powder, what Jinx could've been, what they could've been. But at the same time, is enough time for him to also recognize that that reality isn't hi's, and that that Powder is not the Jinx that he knows. But that's all things that you already said, and here is where I diverge a bit.

In his scene with AU!Powder on the roof, he sound somewhat regretful when he talks about him giving up on Zaun, and on Powder (but actually referring to his Jinx). But at least to me, it also sounded kinda hopeful. As if while he realized that he couldn't be with or even truly love (and I could talk more about that later) AU:Powder, he also thought that maybe, just maybe, things could change in his own reality, and there could be more to Jinx than just the persona Silco fostered.

And I think that's not only just a senseless hope because he had just spend time with what Jinx could've been (even though that might've been a big part of it), but also because he knew Silco was dead. And since then, Jinx didn't make an appearance anywhere - so maybe she was already different, and changing her mind wasn't that crazy of an idea after all.

Don't get me wrong, if he came back and found Jinx as she was before, I think he would scratch that ideia very quickly if she attacked him or something. But that's not at all who Ekko founds, cause as you said, Jinx was living her own love (and very tragic) love story before that.

And her arc that started with Isha, was all about she discovering that she could - and liked to - connect to other people. Not Silco and Vi, not someone who would boss her around everywhere, not an idealization of her sister that she hold on for so long. People who genuinely liked and looked up to her. She was for the first time being treated as neither a child that needs protection, nor a crazy threat. And that trend continued with Sevika, Vander and even Vi, rebuilding a completely different relationship with her.

So Jinx was actually a very different person - some could say she was trying to fix everything, huh? Sry that was bad lol. 

But even after all this effort to be different, to make friends, to control herself and work with Caitlyn who was the one person she hated the most. After all of that... things ended up very tragically. So much so, that she went completely depressed.

So when Ekko found arrived, she was on the lowest she could ever be. And given her state, I don't think it's fair to say that she was "ready to kill him". I truly think she wasn't, because she just pulls the pin when he doesn't get any closer. But when he steps in and sits down, she throws herself off instead. In summary, I think the explosion would hurt, but not kill him.

Well, maybe that is a stretch, but even if it wasn't the case, because of how bad she was mentally I still don't know if I would really blame her or say she's okay with killing him.

But the fact is that when she's convinced, either because of curiosity or whatever reason, even though they don't know about each other stories, I almost think that helps in a way?

Ekko finds a Jinx that's completely changed, a Jinx that values her connections and relations more than ever, and that proves to him that he was right about not giving up on her.

And Jinx, for the first time in years, encounters an Ekko that does not despise nor hate her anymore, and is willing to give her a chance. The person that seemed the most convinced that she was beyond saving, wasn't agressive at all.

In my eyes, if there ever was a moment for them to have a romantic relationship, was after this. Maybe not between that and the final episode (I actually got a bit lost on how much time has passed between those events), but I wouldn't exclude the possibility completely.

Having all of that said, I completely agree that we can't act like it's cannon, and it's dumb that anyone is being toxic over this. All I wanted to share is why I think that timebomb could've happened and I don't think it's such a crazy ideia. 

I also just finished Arcane yesterday and wanted to talk about it, and thought it would be a fun challenges for me to try and write what I thought since that's something I don't really do. Sorry if I said too much or if it came out confusing, but I was inspired by how good your writing is and wanted to give it a shot!

Okay Fine Let's Talk Timebomb and Season Two.

I do want to talk about this because I have a Lot of thoughts and feelings and it has been building up and building up, not only based on what's happening in other social spaces, but what people keep bringing into mine despite my best efforts to avoid it.

This isn't any kind of hatepost, I don't think I could hate Ekko or the ship if I tried, I just want to explain my very mixed feelings about the whole thing.

My likely-to-be-very unpopular take on Season Two's Timebomb romance is that it left me feeling uneasy and uncomfortable.

Not with what was in the show itself, I feel like that was perfect. Powder and Ekko sold me completely. They made me feel things. I even liked how Ekko and Jinx's story ended. I think it was beautiful, poignant, perfect...

...until.

'The Discourse' since, the way the fan culture has exploded around it, and particularly some of the creators' commentary on it, has made me sour on the whole thing.

It feels like I'm suddenly part of an increasingly small subset of people who saw what they did with S2 Timebomb and applied our media literacy to what was on our screens and got something very different to what the fandom consensus seems to be.

For context, I semi-shipped TB before this. Though I've always been Team Lightcannon, I had a lot of respect for timebomb, I understood it, I had read a few very good fics, I was just in the space of "Jinx has hurt Ekko too much for him to ever fully forgive her for murdering his friends, they might come to an understanding, and there will always be a silent undercurrent of love beneath the hurt, they may fight together on the same side again someday, but whatever bond they had as kids is broken and they can't go back, and both know it."

I respected, and still do, people who shipped them romantically, but I've always seen them as a broken childhood friendship being a much more interesting dynamic, and being hot for each other lessening that to an extent and not really adding anything to it.

All of his interactions with Jinx in season one are violent; she murders five Firelights point-blank in front of him in her intro scene, and Ekko reacts particularly upset to the pink-haired girl, Eve or Eva, whom Jinx shoots in the back. It's clear this isn't even the first time she's fought them. We don't know how many of Ekko's found family she's put on the Memorial Wall or how close he was with any of them.

Ekko is clearly convinced that "Powder" is gone, and the person who replaced her is a cold-blooded killer who can't be reasoned with. Leading to the Bridge confrontation, and this:

This is the first time Ekko catches a glimpse of "Powder", yes, but more importantly, this is the first moment he recognizes Jinx's humanity. He's hurting her, killing her, and he can't do it.

....and she knows he can't do it.

So, to save him the weight, she pulls a grenade, with the intent to kill them both, foreshadowing quite neatly where Ekko/Jinx (but not Ekko/Powder) is going to go in S2.

Fast forwarding from Season One here, Ekko disappears for 2/3rds of the second season, completely offscreen.

When we catch up with him he's woken up in the S2E7 AU; the Powder Timeline.

Here's where I start to get a little confused by the fandom take. Because, you know, I've seen enough Star Trek and Stargate and Supernatural and Batman the Animated Series and Quantum Leap to know exactly what this is.

This is the 'bottle episode', this is the 'Perfect World' trope, where the protagonists find themselves in an alternate universe - or trapped in a dream - or they've died or think they've died and this is their 'heaven' - where they have everything they ever wanted.

This is familiar storytelling and E2 follows a familiar pattern, the protagonist struggles to adapt to the surreal new circumstances, they are seduced by the illusion, particularly falling in love with someone in the Perfect World, but eventually, they start noticing something incongruous - something isn't quite right - (In this case, it's Vi's death, and Powder holding back her genius and hiding her grief to be support girl for others) - that reveals the Perfect World to be not as perfect as it seems.

And the hero has to choose to go home, because he realizes that this isn't real, it doesn't belong to him, he doesn't belong here.

Which is exactly what happens with Ekko in E7.

Which brings is to AU!Powder and Jinx.

And here's where I really start to struggle with the seeming consensus that the romance between Ekko/Powder automatically leads to Ekko/Jinx, like you can just transfer the one to the other.

I'm sorry, fam, I thought my basic media literacy was telling me that this girl:

Is not the same person as this girl:

....and I am not getting into any debate about "Jinx" vs "Powder" as identities within our current Jinx. I'm talking about Powder in the E7 AU.

AU!Powder is literally a different human being.

She may have been the same person up until the explosion in Jayce's laboratory, but from that fork in the timeline, she becomes a FUNDAMENTALLY different person to Jinx, shaped by different experiences, different relationships, different life events.

Powder's physicality with Ekko, as you can see in those GIFs, the casual intimacy, the clear affection, the way she touches him, looks at him, her awareness of him in her space, is so utterly opposite to the way Jinx interacts with him that if anything, it nailed home to me how savagely absent this kind of feeling is from his relationship with Jinx.

Powder loves Ekko. She leans on him, snuggles into him, touches his hands, dances with him, kisses him.

Jinx cares so little about him she barely makes eye contact and would casually kill him without blinking.

And I thought that was the point.

I really thought that was the whole point of E7. Being in the perfect world, getting his perfect love story with his perfect Powder, the girl Jinx could have been, but can never be, drove home for Ekko that his feelings for Jinx, both romantic and resentful, were tangled up in his illusions of "Powder", and it took living those illusions as a physical reality for Ekko to see his mistake.

To be true to himself, and true to her, Ekko had to let that go and go home.

To face his world's Jinx, and be there for her in her darkest moment, even if it meant giving up the love he'd found with Powder, a love that belonged to a different Ekko, for someone who could never love him back.

To me that was Ekko's most heroic moment, an act of selfless sacrifice. But that's what it was - a sacrifice.

Meanwhile, Season Two Jinx is not aware of any of this. The last time she saw Ekko was on the bridge where she nearly killed him, and for all we know she might have thought she succeeded.

She never talks about, thinks about, refers to, or even has scribble-nightmares about Ekko, not even once.

Season Two Jinx is, instead, having a love story of her own.

And Isha was and is a PUZZLE to me. Because she's more plot device than character, she isn't necessary except as a way to give Jinx a villain-to-hero arc and a way to reconnect to her humanity.

But she could have been Ekko.

If they really, really wanted us to have Timebomb Canon, instead of confining the entire arc to a bottle episode in an alternate timeline with a literally, physically different girl, they could easily have given all of Isha's considerable screentime to an Ekko and Jinx romance.

I'm sure Amanda Overton would have been on board with that. But that's not what we got. It's almost like reading two different fix-it-fanfics for the same character, put into the same show and running in parallel.

I'm not crazy, this is what's happening for Ekko in s2;

While this is happening for Jinx at the same time.

But Jinx's love story, too, ends with a tragic sacrifice.

And here's where the two stories finally intersect.

When Jinx is in her darkest moment, her absolute rock bottom, Ekko comes back into her life, a miracle, impossible, a Boy Savior.

But she's still ready to kill him.

Because she didn't dance with Ekko. She didn't invent a time machine with him. She didn't sit and watch the city lights with him and share a tender kiss and a heartfelt gift.

That was Powder.

Jinx and Ekko are resuming right where they left off on the bridge, right back to "I pull this pin and we both blow up".

They've both loved and lost, but their stories are absolutely unknown to each other. Ekko Doesn't Know About Isha. Jinx Doesn't Know About Powder.

It's only when Jinx (a genius, a reminder here) sees monkeys of her own design inside the Z-drive - recognizes her own handiwork, but knows SHE didn't make those - that, I think, sheer curiosity stirs her out of her darkness.

She has to know what that was about. She hesitates, just long enough for Ekko to speak. And, though offscreen, he tells her his story, and maybe she tells him hers.

And it's enough, just enough, to set Jinx back on her Redemption Arc, to become the hero Isha always saw in her.

Maybe even the hero Vi and Ekko saw in her, too. Her new costume is full of references to all of the people in her life who never gave up on her.

(side note, the yellow stars and crowns puzzle me, though - they're quite prominent, but who are THEY for? Isha? Maybe? Yellow isn't a color associated with anyone in Jinx's life, but that crown's identical to the one she scribbled on Demacia in Fortiche's map, is... this a very subtle future Lightcannon tease? Nah. I'm not that crazy.)

I mean her costume is also almost literally both a Fishbones and a Fiddlesticks cosplay, with her hair as Fiddle's tongue, so take from that what you will.

It's clear Jinx and Ekko war painted each other for the battle, but the Firelights are also similarly painted up, and (with Linke even confirming this) there really wasn't time to develop anything else, guys.

And I am, honestly, fundamentally angry at anyone who would suggest that, even if she'd been in any space to want it, our boy Ekko, one of the most genuinely good men in recent fiction let alone in Arcane, would take advantage of a girl he just talked out of suicide.

Moving on. During the battle, Ekko is knocked out and lying not far from Jinx. She doesn't even look at him, she leaps up to defend Vi instead.

And that's their final interaction on the show.

Instead of returning to Ekko, Jinx chooses one final act of sacrifice.

Ekko's final shot of the show is this.

He's sitting, alone, burning a mourning paper, where he sat with AU!Powder - where he and AU!Powder kissed - a place that has no significance to himself and Jinx, whatsoever.

It's little wonder who he's thinking about here, and which name he's burning on that paper. The girl he truly loved and lost.

For all he knows, Jinx is dead. But it's not only her he's mourning.

Or maybe he does know, or suspect, she's alive.

But either way, he's making one final act of sacrifice, too, with that paper burning into the breeze.

He's letting her go.

He's choosing his own story.

He's staying where he belongs.

Jinx may have become a symbol of the revolution, but it's Ekko who is, and always will be, the true hero of Zaun.

And this is Jinx's final shot.

Because let's face it, we all know she's on that airship.

She's "breaking the cycle". She's "walking away". She knows that Jinx has left too many scars on the people she still loves - on Vi, on Ekko, on the cities of Piltover and Zaun - for her to pick up the pieces.

She knows that if she's going to find out what "Jinx" might stand for now, she has to go very far away from everything and everyone. She has to leave it all behind and find something new.

Maybe even someone new?

And ultimately, that's why I feel the Timebomb we got was perfect, they shouldn't touch it, they shouldn't try to force it to be "Endgame", not because it couldn't have worked, but because that's the opposite of the story they told.

For the rest of my analysis, lol, this got a bit long but i have FEELINGS.

Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't buy Jinx and Ekko as a love story if they had actually told that love story. But they didn't. It had no screen time. They have less interactions in S2, maybe even in both seasons added up, than Vi and Loris. Let that sink in a bit.

We know it's Amanda's favorite ship, so she may have intended more, and may even actually give us all more at some point, but please, dear god, let's stop pretending they fucked or kissed or even held hands offscreen.

That's honestly a bit insulting to both of these characters, to insist hell or high water that this very important milestone in their relationship happened, but they just didn't even bother to depict it. That an entire love story (because it would be a whole one, remember, Ekko and Powder had a romance but Jinx did not experience any of that, she and Ekko are back at Square One) would just be cut for time.

They both deserve better than that.

Let's stop pretending there was some grand, horny, Forever Love story with 60 minutes of cut footage, all of it timebomb content, somehow left on the cutting room floor of an animated show where every single frame has to be deliberately hand painted.

Because if in some insane universe they had written, storyboarded, voice acted and animated an entire 60 minute additional timebomb storyline and then cut it from the show, that would itself be a searing indictment of the quality of the storytelling in that imagined arc, but that's not what happened. Anyone who knows how filmmaking works would shoot this one down, and the showrunners already have, so let's leave it behind.

I know Timebomb blew up hard, and I get it, but what we got on the screen is not confirmation that there is any relationship at all between Ekko and Current Timeline Jinx. If anything, Ekko and Powder's beautiful romance only highlighted the tragic 'never to be' of Ekko and Jinx.

And it's absolutely fine to look at the art book, look at the creator comments, and imagine what could have been. Draw the fan art, write the fanfic, imagine the what-ifs and the fix-its, those are all beautiful and valid expressions and deserve their space.

But don't go insisting it's "the canon" and going after the shippers of other ships for these characters as "not canon" or somehow offensive theirs, some ships that, yes, have been around much longer than timebomb, is uncool.

I think this is mostly people who are New From Arcane, it's Baby's First Ship and they don't know how to share space. The timebomb fans I knew pre-season two didn't do this, at least not often enough for me to notice or care.

But I'll just say to them, if a Timebomb follow up happens and they actually tell a good love story for Ekko and Jinx, I will accept it. Grudgingly, because I think Lux/Jinx is an untold, untapped story full of incredible character dynamics that would complete Jinx's story in ways that as much as I love Ekko, he's too tied to her past, he can't.

But I love Ekko, and I love Jinx, and I will accept it.

But I'll also say to them, if the followup doesn't eventuate, if things take a turn you don't expect, if Jinx's airship is heading for Demacia, maybe they'll have to experience just a taste of what it's been like for Lightcannon fans for ten long years.

And maybe that's healthy. Maybe that's okay. Maybe our endgames don't need to be 'canon' to have value and that's a lesson we should learn.

Maybe there's a new Light on her horizon, and that's okay too. Maybe Ekko won't be alone forever. Don't forget - until Arcane - his story had nothing to do with Jinx, and there was a whole lot of it.

More with the firelights, the lost children of Zaun, his inventions, his parents, all could yet be in his future. Who knows? He might find a way back to AU!Powder - or she might rebuild what they worked on together, and come to him, no matter what butterfly effects that could set in motion...

But if Jinx is heading for a Light on her horizon, maybe Ekko might Explore some of his possibilities. Find a new Spark of connection. Just saying. Jinx isn't his only ship, either 😌

And it is okay for people to move on, and let go. Maybe, for two characters whose themes are letting go of the past, living in the moment, redefining their identities, and moving on, that's what their story should be.

[arcane-vagabond]

Hey again...

So I've kind of already mentioned it, but figured it was time to make an actual post.

A lot of you already know that I've been a participant in fandom for over a decade now, starting out in the original Hunger Games fandom and then quickly working my way to SuperWhoLock and a couple of others over the years. I took a step back from fandom because of different things going on in my life, and it wasn't really until Summer 2023 that I decided to get involved again. This time around, though, I had stories that I wanted to share and used writing fanfic as a way to navigate and cope with how crazy my day to day had become. Writing became my way to escape the uncertainty that had come with losing my job and keeping me sane while I hunted for a new one.

I could never have imagined how a silly, little U.S. military propaganda movie would change my life in such interesting ways.

I've been writing since I was old enough to tell stories, ideas floating in and out of my head faster than the speed of light, and even though my friends told me all the time how much they loved the ideas and my actual writing, I had convinced myself that I'm not a good writer. I held onto that belief for years until a story concerning a blond aviator as a an outlaw in the old west consumed me to the point where I thought I would go crazy if I didn't start to write it. So I did, and then I got the crazy idea to start posting it - just wanting to see if other people would like it too. To my absolute shock and awe, they did! A lot of people actually did! So I kept writing, and I quickly added new stories too which people seemed to enjoy. I made so many new friends, and people really did seem to enjoy my writing which made me so, so happy.

Stories have always been so special to me, and coming up with new ones and sharing them with others has always been a passion of mine. I love talking about them with other people, talking over theories and characters til I'm blue in the face. What's going to happen? Why? How will this affect the other characters? All things I love discussing, but...fandom doesn't like to do that anymore. All it is anymore is an endless sea of likes, which are...okay, but why are people refusing to talk to me? Are they bored? Are they shy? Was that last chapter too lackluster? Should I have added more action? Romance? Surely not because people are demanding more? More scenarios, more smut, more words, more, more more. Maybe I should step away for a day or two, just to give myself a break? Okay, yeah, that should be fine. Okay, what about a week? I have some stuff going on at this new job that I need to deal with. Okay, now people aren't even sending requests in. Now even fewer people are commenting or sending messages in. Why? Did I do something? Was I away too long? Surely people know that I'm a person behind this screen. Oh, now most of my friends are leaving the site...Now I haven't talked to anyone in weeks.

So...what's the point? Seems like people aren't even reading what I'm putting out these days, so why continue writing for a silent audience?

This is all to say these are some of the thoughts that have been going through my head lately, and I've decided that it's not healthy. Demanding attention from people unwilling to give it is not serving me anymore, and neither are the jealous and hateful people who hide behind the anonymous feature. People who have screamed at me since I started because they've been jealous of the attention I've gotten in the past, trying to get me to quit the entire time. Well, you win. You get your wish, congratulations. I hope you feel happy with the number of people who read your fics because surely they'll come read yours now that I'm not posting anything. Hating on me and my work was never going to make you a better writer or person.

As for me, I'll probably still make posts from time to time if I don't go back to my old blog again. I've decided to dedicate time to writing my actual novel that's been in the works for 12+ years now, and I have a renewed excitement for it now that I know my writing is worth reading. Thanks, strangers on the internet! And who knows, maybe TG3 will prompt me to write fanfic again one day.

For now, my stories will stay posted, but that may change as I decide more on what I'm doing, so please don't be surprised if one day they're actually gone. I've already cleared out my inbox, so...sorry if I didn't manage to get to your request.

I'd like to thank @sorchathered @pinguhub and @attapullman for the late night calls and vent sessions. @goldenseresinretriever and @fanficfandomlove for being constant rocks and sources of inspiration for my fics. And @roosterforme for being a solid head to rely upon and gab with. You guys rock, and I hope you'll stick with me for the journey that lies ahead.

Until next time.

Liz~

[caffinated-squid]

The Eltingville club- consumerism, control, and how they relate to Josh Levy

So initially I wasn’t going to talk about Josh because I have seen his archetype multiple times and it felt self explanatory, as well as not really having much to say on him as a character, but I still want to give it a shot. So I am going to talk about 2 things: what Josh represents in fandom, and how that intersects with his relationship with his parents.

Starting with the basics, even though all the characters collect figures and memorabilia, Josh is the most obsessive about it, which can be seen in how he goes to several fast food stores for toys to complete his collection, later tearing through several loaves of wonder bread for a card in Bread and Suck Asses, and refusing to eat anything other than Batman Kraft Mac n cheese in the hopes of getting a new figurine.

On surface level, a lot of Josh’s behaviors reflect the overconsumption aspects in toxic fandoms, the need to spend everything to finish a collection, even if it is something they don’t even like. But I also think that its a way for Josh to have something that he doesn’t have a lot of in his life: control.

As much as Josh owns and collects, as much as he knows about trivia, he is unable to control how other people view him, which becomes more of an emphasis when taken into account that Josh (next to Jerry) is usually bullied the most. He has no control over the club, as Bill constantly reinforces his status through making sure that he gets to decide how the day is planned and what they are going to do. No matter how much he knows about comics and sci fi, he will never get hired at Joes because Joe sees him just as another source to get money out of.

I think the collecting allows Josh to have some say in how things go, same with his writing of superhero fan fiction, it gives him the ability to decide what will happen without being questioned.

*This can also apply to how he treats people in customer service, considering how he talks to them and how he treated the seller from As Seen on TV. These people can't lash out because if they do, they will get fired, and only exist to Josh as someone who he can tear into without consequence.

In this case, it is probably why Josh never got better as a writer, along with his own entitlement, he probably saw any criticism as an attack on him, and he already gets shit on daily by pretty much everybody. The only way he could find a way around this was to force people to have to deal with it out of spite, which can be seen in the epilogue as he goes on a whole speech on how when he finally gets in with the desired group of people, he can finally force people to accept his work as canon.

Josh’s parents also play a role when it comes to his consumerism and how he interacts with people. Although they are never seen, the pieces of information given (Josh having the most money to spend on memorabilia, their willingness to let him keep spending money and continue his terrible diet, giving him punishments for his behavior but still being very forgiving as they still let him interact with the club even though that’s usually how he gets into trouble) give more context for why Josh is so quick to anger and entitled, he is used to getting what he wants with little to no resistance which is something that Bill constantly challenges.

Though there is definitely a shift in this behavior after the events in This Fan, This Monster. Out of all the characters that get yelled at, I would say that Josh’s is one of the worst. You can see that his parents have reached their breaking point, and possibly have a lot of built up resentment towards Josh that is finally being let loose as they tell him they would rather be dead and blame him for his mothers heart attack.(as well as their own regrets of how they raised Josh being blamed on him) It is a personal attack that is directed towards Josh, and this is one of the only times that he doesn’t respond with hostility.

The one thing that Josh lacked which he needed the most to improve was some degree of self-reflection, as well as needing to accept that he can be wrong. The epilogue shows he did neither of these and instead doubled down. He may have gained more power, but has not gained any sense of self or respect to others, and will probably be treated as just another disposable piece in the comic industry.

[nicholaschavezobsessed]

I Love the Rain

warnings: cursing, suggestive language/thoughts

wordcount: 855

authors note: something sweet and simple since it was storming here today!

You stepped outside, the humidity fogging up your glasses; it was the one thing you hated about having glasses. You pull them off, wiping them against your sweater. It was an unusually dark day, the clouds brewing something big, something nasty. You continue walking, your vision completely blurred, but you knew the way to the coffee shop like the back of your hand, but what you didn't take into account was the amount of people on the sidewalk, trying to make it to their destination and beat the rain.

Still wiping away your lens, damn the humidity, you think to yourself, stumbling along the way, trying to dodge the blurred figures the best you could. What felt like years later, they finally adjust, no longer fogging up, but as soon as you slip them on, you bump into something solid, more specifically someone's very solid chest. "Fuck, I am so sorry!" I mumble quickly, mentally kicking myself in the ass. A soft rumble comes from the person's chest, how embarrassing, I think to myself as they laugh. You take a step back, glancing up at the person you ran into. Shit. This man was something straight out of a book. Tall, gorgeous, brown hair, piercing eyes, and a smile that could light up the whole damn town. "No need to apologize, I wasn't exactly paying much attention either." He trails off, his hand ruffling up his perfectly laid out brown hair, brown hair that needs a good, rough tug. You toss your hand in the air carelessly, "Really, it was on me, I hadn't had my glasses on yet, this weather just wants me to cause some chaos. " You clear your throat to stop yourself from rambling on, yet your mouth seems to have a mind of its own. "How about I buy you a coffee, or tea? Whatever you want to drink, it's on me." Your thoughts flood in, hoping he doesn't reject the offer.

He flashes that smile, sending a throb between your legs. What can I say? His smile just has that effect. "Ah, how can I say no to that?" His words slip out like honey. Without a second thought, you start heading in the direction of your original destination. The streets emptied out as the sky got darker, if that was even possible. Thunder rumbled out, almost as if the sky was pissed off. "So... uh, I didn't catch your name..." He trails off, glancing at you, waiting for an answer. "Y/N.. you?" You keep walking, hoping to beat the rain. "Nicholas, so where were you in such a rush that you just so happened to bump into me?" He questioned, a hint of playfulness in his voice. "Well, I was on my way to the coffee shop, but someone just so happened to be in my way." You tease, cursing yourself as you feel the drops hitting the top of your head. "You've got to be shitting me." As soon as the words escape your lips, almost as if on cue, the clouds open up, releasing a downpour. Well, there goes my morning, you huff loudly, the cold rain pelting the both of you. His hand reaches down for yours, pulling you down the street with him. "You know the more we run, the more wet we'll get?" You yell over the booming thunder, giggling in the back of your mind at your choice of words. "Trying to get us out of the rain!" He wipes his face as we dodge people trying to find somewhere dry.

You try to keep up with his long strides, your grip slipping on his hand the more the rain comes down. It gets harder and harder to see, barely visible five feet ahead of you, until the sight of an awning catches your eyes, despite the water droplets coating the lens. "There, to your right!" He quickly looks over, finally taking notice of the awning. He pulls the both of you under, his chest heaving up and down. "Fuck, I did not expect it to come down like this." He mumbles quietly as he takes in the sight of the streets flowing with water. "I didn't either, or else I would've just stayed in bed." You rolled your eyes as you run your hands down your soaked clothes. A mischievous glint shines in his eyes as he faces you. "Come on now, you can't tell me that wasn't exciting? Running down the streets, in the pouring rain at that, with a stranger?" Your mood lightens a bit the more you think about the events that just occurred. "A bit romantic if you think about it." His voice lowers as he steps closer to you, your heart beating wildly out of your chest. "Yeah..." His voice barely above a whisper as his eyes glance over you hungrily. You take a step closer, your cheeks burning bright red. This is definitely not how you expected your morning coffee run to go. He leans down, capturing your lips in a passionate kiss. "I love the rain..." You mumble against his lips, causing him to smile.

Taglist: @nicholaschavezslut69

[alwayscorvus]

i have no idea whether or not you take request but ill just shoot my shot ( if u dont take reqs, its a-okay, you can just ignore this)

but if you do, would it be fine for me to request a fic with reader x werewolf!yuanwu ( too late for Halloween? perhaps, but its never a wrong time to enjoy some good supernatural stuff) and something about transformation and discovering about yuanwu's condition ( you dont have to rigidly follow this one, you have full creative freedom over this one)

im currently going insane w the lack of yuanwu content and my brain decides to make me more feral by giving an idea for werewolf!yuanwu <`3

Bittberry Tea

malereader x werewolf!Yuanwu, fluff;

one thing for sure, we both have a great sense of timing when it comes to "Halloween" vibes. I take requests but just hardly ever have time to write them (I mean... I have time for writing just not for translating it later...). So maybe u already forgot about your Yuanwu's phase... Still thanks a lot for it!

even if its not the best, it's probably the longest post i have ever written... and I will try to never make the same mistake again, so enjoy!

Sometimes changes in life weren't as bad as they might seem. Sometimes they opened up a doors for new opportunities.

Or at least that's what your father always said.

That's why when you had to move back to Jinzhou in order to take charge of family business, you weren't really bothered. After all, you had always been prepared for such a turn of events. You went on a trip around the world, met true masters in their fields and gained a knowledge in subjects of tea brewing and herb gathering, just because of that. Also, your father was getting older and his condition didn't really allow him to continue his work.

Time to use your hard-earned skills and expand Liuxian Teahouse's business by opening up customers to a new exotic flavors, has finally come.

But of course, road to success couldn't be too easy. And your enthusiasm was bound to run into a wall called "reality". That definitely chilled your father's dreams. Maybe your traditional teahouse wasn't going to rack and ruin, but for the past decade it clearly didn't live up to its potential in gaining more popularity. And you were the one who was supposed to change that. However, your customers didn't really seem to follow this vision. They were terrified of trying anything new. But surprisingly, you weren't completely taken aback by their attitude and still tried to convince them to new flavors and techniques.

Especially one particular person. Which was stubborn like no one else. And which, despite many attempts, never gave up in sticking to their old habits.

When you returned to Jinzhou, staff introduced him to you as a regular customer of your tea shop. Technically he was there first and that gave him a big advantage over you. But in the end, precisely because of that reason, you couldn't let him win.

How could a person who saw you almost every day miss out so much by closing themselves on only one solution?

-Yuanwu - you announced in an anticipating voice at the sight of a newly arriving customer. Almost feeling happy with the idea of your victim finally getting caught into a trap.

Man looked at you with slightly frightened eyes. He really hoped that he wouldn't find you behind a counter today.

Or let's be honest… it was a lie.

Subconsciously, he really wanted to see you. After all, he started coming here more often precisely because of you. Not like before; once or twice a week, but for the past six months almost daily. Just to see your warm smile and exchange a few sentences about how he was doing. He didn't feel the need to talk about himself. If he did, he always had a plenty of people in his gym that he could burden with his thoughts. Yet, he didn't. The only reason why he was getting out of his comfort zone was your charming voice… As soothing as a warm coat on an icy night, as hot as freshly brewed tea and as refreshing as a breeze of spring. Combination that Yuanwu loved and that he could listen to over and over again. Even if it was limited to just few simple answers, winks and snorts of laughter. Oh, how much Yuanwu would give to be able to hear more. Especially about you. Curiosity got the best of him.

But not today. Not during this period. Especially when this was getting closer.

-You weren't here yesterday -you pointed out correctly, trying to let his guard down- A tough fight?

You referred to this tournament that Yuanwu's gym had recently held while rolling up your sleeves to slowly get down to brewing his tea.

Man only mumbled at this with a nod. He really was exhausted. This season was seriously giving him a hard time, and this responsibilities that he had added to himself weren't really helping. But at first, he thought they would be the perfect solution to occupy his thoughts and give him a great excuse to not visit you until everything would be resolved. And while he actually managed to act wisely yesterday, today his instincts didn't let him. And brought him right at your door. Yuanwu hated that, it made him act completely like not him. He became hyperactive and relied on raw force as if in his teenage years. But he couldn't help it, even his calm approach wasn't able to overcome this urge. Before he could even think about it, he was already sitting on a stool at your bar.

Yuanwu scratched himself intensely behind his right ear. Place where his fedora unpleasantly squished his head began to itch heavily again. This time a habit that he also hated. Though maybe not so much, because it always made you smile. And although it involved a great amount of embarrassment (which Yuanwu had no intention of showing on his stoic face) nothing excited him more than your laugh. He really couldn't understand where this feelings were coming from, but ever since he saw you for the first time, some strange force had been pulling him persistently towards you. Exactly like you to him.

You secretly glanced at him with tenderness. Despite his age, proud aura, bulky body or even beard itself, you couldn't deny that sometimes Yuanwu reminded you of a big puppy. Even if he evoked fear and awe in others, there were some certain adorable slip-ups that he made. Reactions of excitement when you agreed with him or sad pouts when he found out that he wouldn't see you for the weekend. All those little gestures unnoticeable at first glance that didn't let you dismiss this thought.

Yuanwu took his fedora off and placed it carefully on the wooden countertop, not far from his hands, which he intertwined together just a seconds later.

He looked in your direction and swallowed his saliva heavily. Seeing your arms exposed to your elbows and your veins tensed from precarious job, Watching your exposed arms and veins, tensed up from precise job, made something unpleasantly swirl around in his stomach. Your focused gaze and carefully thought-out movements while crushing the leaves didn't help either. Your elegance in performing of such a simple tasks was breathtaking. Your movements were so smooth, as if you had done it thousands of times before. And Yuanwu didn't doubt that this could be the case. You were so dedicated to your work that man didn't allow himself to question your passion for your profession or years you had dedicated to perfecting yourself. Yuanwu greatly admired your devotion.

But wait a minute. Something wasn't right. Man looked suspiciously at the stickers of a boxes that you had just used.

-I will have a Bittberry Tea- he warned right away, and you sighed in resignation.

-Fine - you gently lifted one corner of your lips, more amused than offended at the idea of being caught red-handed.

You definitely weren't trying to secretly sneak the other tea.

Or maybe you did.

But at least you didn't have any bad intentions!

And Yuanwu knew this very well. And after all this attempts in convincing him to try something new, he would have agreed to go along a long time ago. After all, he was already too old for such pestering and this types of games were too tiresome and tedious for him. But if the case involved you... Man just had to admit that he was fond of your attention. And thanks to this tea he was gaining a lot of it. If he gave in, your little play would stop and he would lose the only excuse he had to pique your interest.

Or at least that's what he thought.

-By the way… I was just wondering… -you turned your back to Yuanwu as if looking for a new cup, but in fact slightly embarrassed by your sudden boldness- This Saturday there is a full moon and... -your hand froze in a mid-air- I know a great place from where you can see the moon perfectly. Weather hasn't been good lately, but now it's supposed to be suitable for night walks - word by word you quickened your pace, trying to have this stressful moment behind you as soon as possible- when I was still a teenager I loved to stay there and admire the moon for hours. Maybe- Just maybe-… - you turned rapidly towards Yuanwu- you would like to go there with me?

Man looked at you with wide-open eyes. Almost as if he saw a ghost.

You smiled awkwardly. You just screwed up.

How could you even think about having a chance with someone like Yuanwu?! Let's be honest, after all, someone like him was bound to already have a partner. Even if he didn't brag about it. And if not. You were a simple tea seller, while he ran the most respected gym in all Huanglong. You were out of his league. He wouldn't even look at you.

While you felt a mental breakdown. Yuanwu gently slid down on his stool and with an sudden “excuse me!” ran out of a teahouse.

You watched with resignation as his figure disappeared behind a slightly glazed door.

This clearly wasn't the best moment.

It's a good thing that tea makers weren't required to be overly intelligent. Because, if your father had seen you just now, he would have definitely disinherited you from the rights of your family business.

Did you, in your foolishness, choose to talk to Yuanwu and try to repair your not even developed relationship, after he didn't show up at your place for the past three days? Yes. And was it a good idea? Absolutely not.

But something deep inside you told you that you couldn't let it go just like that. Over the past few months, you had grown used to seeing this gray-haired man who decided to reveal his vulnerability to you. And you couldn't imagine ending things like that. Without any answer. That wasn't even in Yuanwu's style.

Anyway, you hoped that even though he didn't reciprocate your feelings he would at least agree to remain as your friend. After all, you didn't even declare anything.

Anyone could have gone on a night walk in the moonlight… Right?

You didn't find him at the gym. You didn't find him at home. You felt a sense of resignation, but only for a moment. Yuanwu's kind neighbor gave you an idea about his potential whereabouts. Although she didn't know him very well, as he rarely talked about himself, she was a great observer. And a bit prying by the way… She couldn't help but pay attention to his enight escapades. Especially since he always came back from them pretty bruised. As if he had drunk a lot and run into a wrong company. And everyone thought that he was such a well-mannered gentleman! Such lies couldn't spread on neighbor's watch. She wasted a couple of evenings, but it was worth it -or at least, that's how she bragged.

Looking carefully through the window, she finally came to a conclusion. Surprisingly, man wasn't sneaking to a bars but somewhere out of town. She had probably hoped for something else. Because this rumors didn't sound as spicy as they might have. But at least she learned some of the truth that was unknown to others. And if it weren't for her old, sick legs that slowly refused to obey her, she would certainly have known more of it.

Not really bothered by older woman's remarks, you focused on Yuanwu himself and headed to a pointed direction. It was getting dark outside so you wanted to find him as soon as possible.

There was only one path leading in the given way, not really awell-trodden one, but you recognized it immediately. It led to a small forest where you and your father used to collect leaves for brews. You remembered this place well thanks to a small wooden woodcutter's hut. Once... magical and cozy. Now... rather abandoned and falling.

You tilted your head to the side pleasantly surprised. There was a smoke coming from a chimney, which suggested someone's presence.

Yuanwu - you thought with hope and rushed to the door hastily knocking.

Nothing.

You repeated.

Still nothing.

Exactly as if he was hoping for you to think that no one was here and leave.

-Yuanwu, I know you are there. Please open up. Let's talk.

Silence.

You growled in disappointment and banged your fist onto a door.

-Yuanwu, please-

You whimpered.

-I won't leave until I find out why you ran out like a scalded cat. I know that we may never have gotten to know each other more deeply, but I've managed to really like you and I can't imagine us suddenly stopping talking. I can't imagine my days at work without you by my side- I-.... -you spoke pleadingly until you heard a quiet rustling.

Your eyes lit up. You took a step back.

Locks in doors clicked. Rotten planks shifted with weight.

Through a small crack you saw a wasted face of Yuanwu. Dark circles stung your heart.

-Just hurry.

He swung the door open, letting you inside.

With each of your movements, a cloud of dust rose in the air. You coughed, chasing away an unwelcome gray particles.

Finally, you were able to get a better look at him. He was hunched over and drenched in sweat. Exhausted as if he hadn't slept for a week. With his right hand, he held up a small oil lamp, and with his left, he pressed tighter to his chest a thick blanket that wrapped around him like a coat.

Yuanwu carefully put down on a small table the only source of light besides a fireplace and threw himself onto the old mattress located right next to him on icy floor.

You moved toward the windows, wishing to brighten the room with more light thanks to a rising moon.

-No!

You heard a desperate scream and instantly turned towards man.

-Just... please don't.

-O-okay?

You took slow, uncertain steps to curled up Yuanwu. You weren't sure what had just happened, but his condition definitely scared you. The only thing you thought about was helping him, but you didn't really know how.

Seeing that he wasn't reacting badly to your closeness, you crouched down and gently placed your hand on his shoulder. He shuddered. But didn't push you away. So you allowed yourself to gently massage his arm through a pile of old rags.

-Are you all right? Did someone hurt you? Just tell me what I can do to help you-

-Everything is all right. Nothing has happened. I'm just-… ill. And I need some space - he was speaking calmly in a weak voice- And about… That. Do not worry. You know that sometimes I haven't visited you for a while, but I always came back. Now I will also be back. Just not today… And maybe not tomorrow - he laughed bitterly- But the day after tomorrow I will definitely return, for you to once again try to push something in me that is not a Bittberry Tea. Everything will be the same as before. Of course, as long as you still want to keep in touch with me - he reflected.

-Of course I want to! - you protested- After all, that's why I'm here. But that doesn't explain anything-

-Good. -he smiled slightly- But now you should go. There is no time-

-What? I'm not going anywhere-

-No, really. I don't know why, but it's much worse this time-

-What's worse?

-That's-... not important! Please. Go

-No way, I'm not going anywhere until I know what this is all about

Yuanwu shuddered again. This time harder. As if some strange force threw his body. He curled into a ball and gripped his ears to cut off all the loud sounds.

-Yuanwu? -you whispered- Please, say what's-...

-Too late.

A shiver went through your spine. Something in those words and his tone made your blood run cold. But you still didn't move away. On the contrary, you covered him with your body and hugged tightly.

Yuanwu began to shuffle and pull away. But you were stronger, more desperate.

-Let go! I will hurt you - he groaned with difficulty, before his voice got replaced with loud growls and screams of pain.

Agony, as if someone was tearing him apart.

-Not a chance

You gripped him even tighter. Squeezed your eyes shut and waited.

You thought it was just an ordinary convulsionof person in fever. That it would pass soon.

Until it didn't. Until his limbs began to bend in different directions. Until blankets began to tear. Until you felt rough hairs under your fingers.

Something like… fur?

You felt a punch. With a loud thump you fell on the floor. He pushed you away.

More gasps, groans. Cries in indescribable pain.

Finally, a loud howl.

You pulled yourself up, trying to sit up. You rubbed your eyes and looked ahead.

You couldn't believe in what you were seeing.

In front of you, there was a hunched over Yuanwu. Or at least someone who looked like him. He was bigger. More muscular. Naked. But not quite. His torn clothes were replaced by silvery fur, similar to his natural hair color.

You weren't sure what you had just experienced.

Yuanwu looked at you with a frightened and troubled gaze. His eyes, though currently more of a predator than Yuanwu himself, showed a fearful look. Scared of being judged.

-What-… -you quickly corrected yourself- who-…. who are you?

Yuanwu whimpered, letting out the first tears.

You ran out of breath. Why- why was he crying?

-I know that I am a monster. But please, please, can you not leave me? -he threw out pleadingly in a moment of weakness.

Who had hurt him so much to bring such a large, reserved man to this state?

-Please?

His breaking voice tore your heart.

You didn't think twice. You pushed back in a sudden surge of energy and once again threw yourself with a hug on Yuanwu. Your Yuanwu.

You didn't wait for explanations. You didn't need assurances. You didn't even think that Yuanwu could hurt you.

The only thing you wanted to do at that moment, in all this chaos, was to keep him safe.

BONUS:

Liuxian Teahouse was famous for its openness to all four-legged friends. Yuanwu knew this very well, and that's why at first he chose exactly that teahouse.

Whenever he was there he didn't miss a chance to feed his beloved cats. And each time this happened, it greatly amused you. Whenever man approached bowls, cats hissed jumped straight and ran away in a hurry. Leaving Yuanwu with a disappointed look.

However, he never gave up. Poured food to the brim and removed himself into the shadows.

Whenever he left, animals returned. And he, sipping hot tea at the bar, dreamily admired the fluffy creatures who happily ate.

In the past, you were truly fascinated with the idea of cats disliking such a kind man.

Now you knew their secret.

[viperbunnies]

It's officially New years for me here! I am not the best at words, but I'm thankful for the support that I've received for the short amount of time that I've started posting art more often.

What started off as me wanting to just Archive some art I'm proud of snowballed to so many memories that I'll look back fondly to, so many silly ideas that breached containment that I remember seeing people do (Like the draw your oc reacting to their fave card that me and addie just talked about as a joke, and the Shroompocalypse that was just meant to be an Jade stealing people's yume joke)

I'm glad that I met so many amazing people and discovered new artists on this site! With that said I want to drop a few words of thanks to some of the amazing people that I've met here <3

Firstly, thank you to @oya-oya-okay being my first ever follower and mutual! If it weren't for you sharing my art I wouldn't be able to meet so many of my moots, your words of encouragement means a lot to me (and to other people that you also support!) I wish you well in life!

Thank you to @natsukishinomiyaswife ! If it weren't for you reaching out to me back then I probably would've continued lurking. You're a dear friend to me and I enjoy our random talks! May it be about life, or our own interests 💕 I hope the new year treats you kindly.

Thank you to @justm3di0cr3 ! For giving me so many ideas (some I've yet to finish...) and for listening to me whatever the topic maybe. I'm thankful that I met you! You're such a considerate person, always checking in on me whenever I feel down. If something's bugging you, I'm always all ears!

Thank you to @scint1llat3 , your overwhelming support has helped me so much. It's always fun seeing your currynoodles, and just your art in general. But it's just as fun just reading your thoughts! Your comments/tags are always so fun to read 😭 I hope you never get tired doing what you love! Labyu lodicakes (/p) kain ka ng madaming pansit sa new years for long life

Thank you to @jovieinramshackle ! I remember feeling so scared due to some inevitable changes, but seeing your general words of encouragement during that time helped me so much. Wishing you the best on your journey as well!

Thank you to @fell-e ! Your keysmashes and memes are so fun to see 😭 Genuinely need to know how you make them so quickly. Thank you as well for being my earliest supporters, I probably would've been burnt out so quickly if you didn't show genuine interest in my arts.

Thank you to @part-sadist ! For the laughs that you give me from your silly sketches, and for acknowledging some of my ideas. You've contributed so much ideas to my to do list as well, to the point that I don't think I'm gonna run out of any drawing prompts any time soon (They just need to give me the time already...)

Thank you to @taruruchi ! for being one of my earliest supporters, it's just so nice to see someone with similar interests as me! I still have so many Oz and Taru interactions that I want to make, so I hope you look forward to them hehe.

Thank you to @jadelover69 (i miss your old name /j) Thank you as well for your overwhelming support! I love seeing the things you rb on my tl, may it be twst or different fandoms you're interested in. They help lighten up my mood whenever I need it!

Thank you to @the-travelling-witch ! We haven't been mutuals for long, but you've always been so supportive of me! Thank you for showing genuine interests in my ocs! And for sharing me rambles about yours as well! If you ever get any new ideas, I'd love to hear them :> (Probably not asap due to Timezones and schedules, but of course I'll get to you soon!)

Thank you to my friend (alias Melone) If you see this I hope you know that I'm thankful that you pushed me to draw more. You'll always be my no. 1 hypeman, and I wish we can spend more time together soon. 2024 really is cursed-- our annual meetup didn't happen 😔 I hope we can meet soon! I still need to give you my gifts from your birthday.

If I could add everyone I've met here I genuinely would 😭 I love all of my moots/supporters /p.

Honestly I feel like I'm more cynical qnd negative irl... due to many reasons, but perhaps it's due to the people that I've met here that I'e had such a positive influence, which I'm honestly so thankful for. It's helped a lot with my personal struggles.

If you've made it this far, I hope you know that life gets better. A struggle today, doesn't determine the wind's path tomorrow. Wishing you all Happy new years! I hope that this coming year will be kind to us as all ^^

[peterm4rker]

BLUE'S CORNER !!

how happy it makes me to get tagged in these things is not even funny, but yeah ! i don't have many works to do this with, but i did my best !

FIRST FIC OF 2024 !!

ᯓ ¿donde está la biblioteca? [zhong chenle] — september 9th, 2024.

my first ever post and my absolute baby. this smau is completely self indulgent and was brewing in my head for so long before i actually decided to post it (i was terrified). i'm forever grateful for the people that encouraged me to put it out there !! it helped me find a community that i hold so dearly to my heart now, and i will love them forever !!

LAST FIC OF 2024 !!

ᯓ can't help falling [kim jaehee] — december 29th, 2024.

my first post that isn't nct dream !! i have to say that it is one of my favorite fics i've ever written, and it is also completely self indulgent. jaehee has owned my heart since lastart, and i think he (and nct wish in general) deserve way more love and recognition so i hope i can be part of that !!

LONGEST FIC !!

ᯓ can't help falling [kim jaehee] — 3.7k words.

i'm counting this one because i don't think the smaus count so... i have kind of a hard time writing long fics because i have a nonexistent attention span, but i'm working on it !! i hold this fic very close to my heart and i hope that all of you like it as much as i do !!

MOST POPULAR FIC !!

ᯓ from the rooftops [mark lee]

its not a written fic, but it is my most popular one. you all knew i couldn't be me without writing a spidermark fan fiction, and i'm very happy that so many people like it !! i'm taking this fic to next year, so hopefully it will continue receiving as much love as it has till now.

PERSONAL FAVORITE !!

ᯓ the stich that stole christmas [lee donghyuck]

this was haechan's peterm4rker debut and part of a christmas collaboration i did with my self (@tmrwsuns btw wink). i have to say i'm a very big christmas person even though i don't really celebrate it, so writing something for who i have the biggest soft spot for was my way to share that with all of you. i genuinely enjoyed thinking of it, writing it and i'm super happy with how you guys welcomed it, so overall it's my baby !!

i couldnt choose to put them in the banner because i simply adore them all. although i started posting fairly recently, i have at least one fic planned for each of the units and i will continue to write about all of them !! still, i needed to choose my top three, and i think no one will be surprised.

ONE. mark lee — 15,200 words + full length smau.

mark is my everything. the obsession i have with him is a little unhealthy at this point, but i love it and i don't care. to be completely honest, i sometimes have a hard time making my fics not be about mark, because he genuinely is in my head every second of every day. find him in: from the rooftops , wondering why , little white lie.

TWO. zhong chenle — 9,647 words + full length smau.

the fucker who started the peterm4rker industry. i love love love chenle (i despise him), even if he has moved second to mark over time... and yes, i counted the words of the written chapters and so what. find him in: ¿donde está la biblioteca?

THREE. kim jaehee — 3,703 words.

have i posted him literally once? yes, but he has the highest word count out of everyone i've only posted once. i love him so deeply that i could talk about him for hours, so i'm thinking i shut up before i bore all of you. find him in: can't help falling

@morkiee

the love i have for this little person is not something i can explain in words i think. i enjoy every second when we talk and i have to literally contain myself from exploding at how fucking adorable you are. you make my days better every time you text me and i hope you never forget that. my rave date and my pookie, i'm forever grateful to have you in my life<3

@lyvhie

MY BABY MY WIFE MY EVERYTHING !! i cannot express how much i fucking adore you and how grateful i am that i met you (even if it took us about 289843 years). thank you for always listening to my voice messages even when they're about 5 minutes long of me complaining about a MAN (it's soooo over) and for literally making my life better every day<3

@sinisxtea

oh hey i love you? i'm so incredibly grateful that i texted you (or did you text me?) because you opened the doors to this beautiful little community for me. thank you for always including me and showing me your freaky ass fics, even when all you have is a picture of a man falling through a ceiling. you fr are the wonhyuk to my wonjun (stan e'last please guys)<3

@yizhrt

one of the sweetest people i've encountered here even when we don't really speak much !! you're so cute and funny, and i always think of you because i have this brazilian hair cream called lola... i've been meaning to send you a pic for so long but i'm embarrassed so please bear with me.

@leejenoenthusiast

i literally adore you !! you're so fucking funny and always so supportive of all my works, i'm always happy whenever i see your name on anything !! i promise i will continue to send you pictures of woozi whenever it comes to mind<3

@neozon3nha

have we spoken much? no. do i still love you whole heartedly? yes. like i'm sooo fr when i tell you that i always get sooo happy when i see your user name on my screen like i'm literally cheering internally !!

@yutarot

i haven't spoken to you in SO long (i'm omw to text you when i'm done with this) but still i want you to know that you have a very special place in my top moots !! you've never been anything but kind and encouraging to me, so thank you for everything !!

@nlovesbjh

we just started talking very recently but i think you're really sweet and funny !! i'm glad we can share our delusions to each other, and i hope we can get to know each other better <3

some people i'd love to know better but i'm way too embarrassed to reach out to:

@viasdreams @strrykais @susicheng @wonbin-truther @sunghoonsgfreal @yoshit-he-dinosaur

i'm sorry for randomly tagging you !! i hope we can be closer in the future <3 (im shaking in my boots rn)

�� peterm4rker, 2024

[puddlejumper38]

Wind and Truth thoughts under the cut

Spoilers for the entire book.

-Oof. The ending. I will come back to that, but its first up because its overshadowing everything else like a giant storm cloud. - :( speaking of. Goddamn it, I liked the Stormfather.

-I want to note, right here, that I still do not trust Szeth to make a single good decision. I don't think he should be the law. I hope he goes back to sheep farming and has no power over anyone ever.

-Interestingly, I like Nale better after this book. He was just a terrifying figure before, but now he's interesting as a person too. (He's still scary)

-What The Fuck Was With Moash Getting Spiked? As a devoted Marsh fan, I am against spiking in general. I have no words about how much I do Not like Moash being crystal spiked.

(side note: I think I dislike Moash properly now. Yes, the guy has some points, but.... he continued even with his own emotions. Attacking bridge 4. That's.... thats too far for me. If he'd decided to fight anyone Except bridge 4 I could have dealt with that)

-Saw that Gav was being prepped to hate Dalinar. Was still as tricked as Navani.

-So. We meet Auxiliary and learn what the fuck with Sigzil. I still don't like the Sunlit Man as a book and it coloured how I viewed the Shattered Plains fight here. I do like Aux.

-I trust Ishar even less than Szeth, therapy or no

-I really enjoyed the flashbacks in the spiritual realm. I loved getting all the gaps filled in, finally. (Or most of them anyway.) Also it just felt like WoK in vibes in a way that I just really appreciated.

-Appreciated the trick with Venli on the Shattered Plains. Not... Hmm. Not sure it matters anymore though. We'll see.

-I particularly liked the Interludes here. I remember those took me a while to get used to back in WoK.

-Had seen enough theories to be unsurprised about Shallan's mother being Chana, but I doubt I'd have thought of it myself

-Formless wasn't there! I thought that was off, because Shallan never fully manifested her, but still didn't clock it. I do love that. There's always details in Sanderson's books that I just don't see coming.

-Jasnah's povs... I just didn't like them. Can't quite put my finger on why, but she shouldn't have played by Taravangian's rules in the first place. She lost, but I don't feel like she lost in the way she thinks she did. I hate her lack of flexible thinking and nuance from someone who is supposed to be a good scholar. I liked her better in WoK Prime. We'll see how her book is, years from now.

-Renarin and Rlain's pov's were another real highlight. I was worried about this one, because Branderson - bless his mormon socks - can be as hamhanded as Dalinar sometimes. But this was just very well handled in my opinion. In character, not forced, and remarkably relevant to the overall plot. Nice.

-I should have known as soon as Adolin wanted to see Dalinar again that he wouldn't. That was a major hint.

-Ah shit I should get to Dalinar.

-That could be its own post.

-Kaladin first then. I.... didn't want that for him. In any way. I could see it coming - because fuck knows it couldn't be Szeth and once these ideas are raised something has to happen. But still. Its not good for anyone and I can only hope its more temporary this time. Yes, he gets a bit of a break. No, he has no friends with him. Poor guy.

-All right. Dalinar.

-I have been angry at Dalinar since Oathbringer. I think he's a good character! But yikes. I mean all of the Blackthorn behaviour, not only Evi.

-I did not want him to be Honor.

(actually I don't think I want Anyone to pick up Shards)

-Hey, he's not Honor, though. Anymore.

-INSTEAD TARAVANGIAN IS!! HEY WHY IS THIS HAPPENING

-Cultivation can try to flee all she likes this is still her fault.

-Taravangian of all people.

-It was a Good Ending, its also terrifying for Roshar in the short term - but better in the long term! - and the cosmere in general

-Odium needed to be freed from Roshar, for all the reasons thrown at us readers with all the delicacy of a chull in a china shop in those last few chapters (read fond exasperation here, I Got It The First Few Times)(last few chapters of YatNP were similar)

-Retribution is a little More than just freeing Odium.

-That said; It could never be as simple as one side winning the contest and I'm glad it wasn't. That would've disappointed me.

-So no more Stormlight in the Stormlight Archives?? Well, we'll see.

-And Dalinar is gone. I am sorry for it. It was going to happen in some way or other (I'm not sure taking up a Shard counts as surviving)(I'm not sure being bound to serve Odium would count either). But... I am sorry for it. I'll miss him.

[little-miss-fandom-freak]

Can you please do one with Dr. Phosporus and female dragon reader who’s immune to his radiation and absolutely ADORES him because…you know….FIRE💕💕 She follows him like a lost puppy and is a bit of a bubble head. At first, he takes advantage of the attention she gives him not reciprocating it, but overtime he starts to care for her and becomes just a hint protective

A/N: I wasn't sure if this was how u wanted it but I basically made her like human/dragon hybrid who can turn into a dragon. I drew a quick sketch on my phone (not my best but you get the idea lol). I'm gonna be honest, I'm not the best at writing this type of thing but I really tried my best!

Dr Phosphorus dating a dragon girl Imagine

☆ At first he didn't care for you. Sure you complimented him so much his ego grew 10x, and you would steal just about anything that he asked for (or didn't ask for). Hell you've even killed for him

☆ And all that was nice, he LOVED the attention and loved thar he didn't have to return it in any way.

☆ He wasn't really the type to stay put and commit. He didn't like caring for people.

☆ So he let you go on with your obsessions. You worshipped the ground he walked on, and he all he had to do was acknowledge you for you to be satisfied.

☆ But then came the day where you weren't around.

Phosphorus felt something off that day. He and the team were taking a little tour around Pokolistan when he felt a shift of uneasy. He held back from the group, walking a few steps before it hit him. You were gone.

Normally, you'd be right beside him chatting up a storm about anything and everything. But today it was gone. He retraced his steps, trying is best to look for you, when he heard muffled sounds coming from an alley.

You were held down by some men, your mouth tied shut and your tail was held down by their boot. Phosphorus felt a rage inside him that he hadn't felt in a long time. The flames on his body grew as he charged at your attackers.

You watched in awe as he took them down in such brutal ways it put the devil themself to shame. When he was done, there was nothing left but charred bodies. He quickly made his way to you, untying your restraints as he asked you a million questions.

"Why didn't you stay with the group? Why didn't you call for one of us? Do you realized how much shit you'd be in if I didn't notice? How could you-" His rant was cut off by the impact of your body against his. You held him tightly, putting all of your love and care into the hug.

"Thank you." You whispered.

Phosphorus froze for a second, before he lightly patted you back. "Yeah yeah, whatever." He said, trying to remain nonchalant. "But listen, I don't want you out of my sight, ya hear? Such a fucking ditz, can't even fight off a couple of guys. I swear I'm more of a babysitter with you than the weasel..."

You let him continue on his rant as you just gazed at him with love sick eyes.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I hope you enjoyed this and if you have anything you would like me to personally respond to, message me or put it in my ask box because as of right now, Tumblr won't let me respond to comments :)

[svtiddiess]

⋆˙⟡ svtiddiess tumblr wrapped 2024 ⟡˙⋆

Thank you so much to Raven @shadowkoo for tagging me! This seems like such a fun idea!

I'm forever grateful for all the love and support I've gotten this year! Through this platform, I've met so many wonderful people, many of whom I can truly call my close friends. Thank you so much for all the likes, comments, and reblogs, you leave on my fics, they really mean a lot to me ♡ I hope to continue putting out fics and sharing my love for writing, SVT, and tiddies. See you all in 2025! ♡

2024 FIC STATUS

Number of fics posted: 56 (I'm shook myself)

Number of fics in progress: 17 (for now...)

TOP 3 MOST POPULAR FICS OF 2024

Thot Hour (1.7k notes) Mingyu x reader

Favourite Comments:

↳ there's nothing i love more than a man groveling for forgiveness LOL the intro alone had me hooked. i do love when he cracks tho, not able to take it anymore. we love men that are down bad for their girls 🥹🖤 @shadowkoo

↳ #im jealous i wanna dream about some yoga mat fun too @luvseungcheol

Nom Nom (1.5k notes) Seungcheol x reader

Favourite Comments:

↳ #what the fuck!!!!#screaming without the s#the way i already think bout this man’s tiddies 24/7 and now THIS????#about to reach levels of delusion never before seen in humankind I mean that with full seriousness and as a warning @nightshadeblooming

↳ #used as a wallpaper???#this is vile#EUNHA YOU'RE FUCKING VILE#svtiddiess has never been more accurate before @multi-kpop-fanfics

↳ #SCREECHING HERE#need to mark him up good and proper#like fr fr#that man NEEDS to be bitten#I dont make the rules#I just enforce them @whipped-for-kpop-fics

Sex Education (1.3k notes) Mingyu x reader

Favourite Comments:

↳ Oh sexy nerd 😩👄💗 @thepoopdokyeomtouched

↳#SUBBIE GYU IS MY WEAKNESS#oh my lord#oh my fuck @feat-sun

MOST RECENT FIC OF 2024

Moonlight (posted 28/12/2024) Jeonghan x reader

Favourite Comments:

↳ The way you wrote this I felt like I was actually there @do-you-remember-summer-127

MOST LONGEST FIC OF 2024

Green Eyes And Confessions (3.9k words) Mingyu x reader x Wonwoo

Favourite Comments:

↳ #I HAVE READ THIS APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES NOW. OR A LITTLE MORE#the buildup??? delicious. conniving mingyu??? scrumptious.#WONWOO'S SWITCH UP??? ABSOLUTELY DELIRIUM-INDUCING @kwondotcom

↳ Rereading this while in heat was not a good idea 😖 but a GREAT idea 🥵😝💦💦 @brownbunnyb

PERSONAL FAVOURITE FIC OF 2024

Quiet Baby Seungcheol x reader

My first ever smut fic! The one that started it all. It might not be my best work, as I've improved a lot since then but it'll always hold a special place in my heart ♡

Favourite Comments:

↳ #unintelligible thoughts#as for enjoying it?#yes#thoroughly#in fact#im logging off till i recover#you have @svtiddiess to thank#yes i know i participated#but this?#😭😭😭😭😭#shambles @brownsugarbaybee

↳ Me when i realized there's only one choi seungcheol and i can never have him this way #SCREAMMMMINGGGGG WITHOUT THE S#you did so well bby 🩷#the jumpscare in the middle of the cafe was worth it @tomodachiii

FAVOURITE READS OF 2024

⭑.ᐟ Troublemaker by @whipped-for-kpop-fics ⭑.ᐟ Hush by @sailorrhansol ⭑.ᐟ The Intruder's Eyes by @miabebe ⭑.ᐟ Creature's Of Desire by @ddeonghwa-s ⭑.ᐟ Tease by @gyuzgrl ⭑.ᐟ Anything And Always by @miabebe ⭑.ᐟ Calendar Killer by @miabebe ⭑.ᐟ Sixth Sense by @gyuzgrl ⭑.ᐟ Crossroads by @smileysuh ⭑.ᐟ $60 billion by @onlyseokmins

MY TOP TRACKS OF 2024

➣ LALALI - Seventeen ➣ Rain - Seventeen ➣ Whiplash - Aespa ➣ Supernova - Aespa ➣ Igloo - Kiss of Life ➣ 1-800-hot-n-fun - Le sserafim ➣ Kazino - BIBI

GOALS FOR 2025

✮ Finish and publish all wips and write more! ✮ Adopt a more active lifestyle. ✮ Get back into reading books.

No pressure tags: @tomodachiii @welcometomyoasis @soo0hee @chanranghaeys @c-oupsie @pochaccoups @diamonddaze01 @ylangelegy @brownsugarbaybee @miabebe

+ anyone who wants to do it!

[more-than-a-princess]

Sonia laughed: Eira insisted she should hold it against her, but Sonia never would. In fact, there was little she would hold against her at all. "Well, you are welcome to visit at your convenience, though letting me know is helpful. Arranging transport from the airport, for example, if you are not flying with me directly. And there is plenty of space for Bacchus-san and anyone else you would like to bring along." Or need to bring along. That was probably more accurate: if she had to guess, Sonia would wager that she was one of the few with ample space in her various homes to house all means of traveling staff, including private security. She had a feeling he'd fit right in anyway with the rest of her own security detail, if not the entire Royal Family's.

Still, she shook her head at Eira's apology. She was bold, but Sonia liked that about her. She could tell her how to live her life whether Sonia herself actually heeded her words or not: blunt, but well-meaning. "Don't apologize," She half-told, half-ordered her. To the extent she could, anyway. Eira was her friend, not her subject. "It is not childish to dream. It is something we simply find harder to hold onto upon growing up. It's funny: so many creatives mark the loss of innocence as a death, or having sexual intercourse for the first time. And yet I wonder if it is much less immediate than that but no less profound: how the realities of life seep in over time that the ideal one once strived for is no longer there, simply because it is unattainable."

Some things, of course, she wouldn't give up: the belief in the existence of ghosts and demons, for example. But a balance of both personal fulfillment and a love her family and the country both approved of and found hope for the future in? That one had been chipped away at for years, to the point that Sonia felt she was simply biding time now until the inevitable union to some handsome, well-bred but dull man whom the country swooned over but she deemed perfectly fine.

She'd halfway stood up by then, moving to set down her shot glass on the low table before getting the door. But Eira had beaten her to it, despite her instructions, and thus Sonia just chuckled, pouring herself another shot with a shrug. It would take much more than two shots of vodka to put her out of sorts, and it wasn't as if she were driving. She was highly dissuaded from doing so in Japan: it was a problem if she was found to be doing so without a license. She didn't need one in Novoselic and therefore had never been issued one.

"You were not a complete disaster!" Sonia called after her, likely confusing the poor person assigned to their delivery. Hopefully they weren't a fan of idols or royalty. "You were simply relaxing as we indulged in some of the best Japanese competition shows! Do you know they've moved on from questioning if things are chocolate to if things are cake? The bakers are quite innovative with their uses of molding cake shapes and fondant!"

Unless, of course, she counted cheerful greetings instead of her usual, more tempered nature as a disaster. Sonia watched with interest: one shot of vodka and she was practically giddy. She really didn't hold her alcohol well, something Sonia found surprising. Most people she'd met from Eira's part of the world looked at drinking alcohol as a necessary social skill, if not a sport. Rather the way her family did: when Eira did come to visit, she'd have to be on her guard to ensure no one took advantage of how much of a lightweight she was. Liam, at least, would enjoy playfully bullying her until she was red in the face.

"You are quite enthusiastic, Eira-san," Sonia remarked with a small smirk as she returned and set down the paper bags containing the Indian takeaway, moving to help her unpack and plate its contents for the two of them. "I cannot blame you: a good curry is worthy of such excitement. Did you want to continue the police procedural or would you like to watch something else? Obviously, nothing idol or royal related." That was a given for them: no matter what sort of media they consumed, the one rule was that it couldn't resemble their real lives that much.

Or be too disturbing, though Sonia tried to push the limits with that one. Serial killer and death cult documentaries were fascinating, after all.

"That I haven't made a visit yet already feels some degree of criminal." Eira observes, a disappointed huff leaving her flushed face as she leers at the table and maps invisible distances in the elegant grain of the wood. "I believe you can and should hold that against me. At least until it's rectified. And... mmn..." The 20/20 hindsight was kicking in quite quickly. Though, not as fast as the alcohol, which brought her to the situation to begin with. "It should be both. It should be possible to find a way for it to be both."

Seeing how her friend struggled with this reality had long seeded a source of distress for Eira. And not just because of the narrow reflections that future may cast down onto her own life. Perhaps it was the vodka, but she absolutely was struggling with her own wishes and desires on the relationship front.

How does she reconcile her heart with not acquiescing to her mother's controlling whim? And why does that bother her so much?

So stupid!!!

Eira resists the urge to pour another shot. A hand retreating from the glass and folding firmly in her lap. Perhaps one wise decision she was capable of making this night. Sitting back and glaring at the bottle instead.

"I'm sorry, Sonia... I say all these ... childish things. How we can just make what we want in spite of it all. As if one day is enough to paint over the rest of your life. And then I throw out my own set of ridiculous ideals and then go and act like we at all have the same reality to contend with. And all the while you--" Ah yes, it is indeed a wonderful time for the doorbell to ring. Sonia's security, likely having intercepted whatever poor delivery worker had chauffeured the dishes to them.

"Yes. And take the bottle, too!" Eira throws a finger out, laying all accusation of her state on the vodka. "If I don't have any more of that, and get something in my stomach now I'm sure I'm not going to repeat that first night I met you. God, I am... oh my god I can't repeat that. As if I'm not looking a big enough mess. A complete disaster, right?"

...Eira had said for Sonia to get the door, and yet in the midst of her silly spiral had gotten up and gone to the door herself. As if on an autopilot regardless of Sonia having already poised herself to do so. Kletski had already hopped away, taken her position on the throne of the kitchen island where she might sit, look pretty and composed.

"Hi!" She blurts out, forgetting any sense of decorum. There's a madness in her eyes, an overcorrection of the blubbering she felt inclined to do if she didn't smash her features into the proper shape through sheer will. "Thank you for bringing the food~!" And now that had slipped into something more akin to her idol persona.

[anthromimicry]

[gilbirda]

the autistic urge to correct people online

*the gif of the guy vanishing into dust*