#i should've never opened that can of worms

[novaursa]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

This gold. I've almost peed myself.

I love you. ❤️

[warblogs17282]

Satan, the courts and classism against imps.

My mind is going through 50 different thoughts right now, so I thought I'd make a post on the classism seen within the courts.

Short answer: Satan and the people within the courts are quite classist, with there only being a few examples of people not being classist within the court sequences.

Long Answer:

Let's start with the first instance of classism we see within the courts, Loona gets treated differently because she's a hellhound. Sure while they share a few rough similarities with dogs, and people do put muzzles over dogs to prevent them from biting, that really isn't needed here in the slightest, it just really feels like Loona is getting degraded here, being treated worse than the imps, with Loona having more restraints than the imps purely because she's a hellhound and nothing else.

Blitz objects to what Andrealphus is saying, and he's almost instantly told to shut up, having a magical gag or whatever that this placed over his mouth, not letting Blitz make his own arguments, with the courts instead letting the higher-up Goetia speak his mind without allowing Blitz to object to any of it.

Same thing happens again with Moxxie, Moxxie objects to what Andrealphus has to say, and he also pretty much instantly gets told to shut up as well, by Satan himself.

Even further unnecessary restraints on Blitz, because he's naturally objecting to what Andrealphus is saying, further showing that he doesn't really get a voice in the trial, not being allowed to speak his mind and object to what Andrealphus is saying.

A bit of corruption as well, what this shows is that deals like this can be made with witnesses to give testimony, which just opens up a whole can of worms of corruption, considering Andrealphus knows that the witness is lying here, he's basically told Striker to go against Blitz in exchange for immunity, when they both know Stella hired him.

So, while I do admit only Striker and Andrealphus were the ones that knew Striker was told to commit perjury, it still proves the system is inherently exploitable for the people of higher-class, screwing over the people at the bottom in most cases. The court system is rigged for the upper-class. Hell, everything I've mentioned so far shows that the system is rigged against the lower-class, and I'm getting back to this point later in the post.

This scene is the only example of anyone who actually speaks up in favor of Blitz, the only one, and it's incredibly short-lived as Mammon very quickly interrupts the two to make a classist statement.

Mammon instantly proceeds to interrupt them by saying they 'enjoy slumming it with the lower class plebs.', and calls Vortex a 'mutt', purely because he's a hellhound, more casual classism in the court, although they both do fire back at Mammon because well, Mammon is being a cunt here.

Satan calls Blitz an 'Imp bastard' and instantly proceeds to ignore any possible due course that should come with court proceedings, aka, the 'hours of testimony' purely because he's hungry and wants to eat lunch. Instead being completely willing to execute an 'imp bastard' with zero due course because again, he's hungry and wants to eat his lunch. Only Bee, Asmodeus, Moxxie, Millie, Loona and I presume Vassago as well actually want the due course to happen, with literally every other demon in the room (with most of them being Goetia members) voting to prematurely execute Blitz, an 'imp bastard' as Satan puts it. (Yet another example of how the court system is rigged against imps and the lower-class)

'You should've remained in the place that is expected of a low-class imp.' is basically what this scene amounts to. 'When lesser demons try to step out of line.'

And we having people literally celebrating the execution of a few imps and a hellhound, which really gives me the vibes that they're being incredibly classist here as well.

'To remind all imp-kind why you should never challenge the people above you in the hierarchy, why you should never challenge the more powerful people to you, why you should never challenge our authority.'

This screams of authoritarian behavior (is that the right word in this context?), to attempt to scare the imp-kind into being little obedient creatures to them, to scare the imp-kind into staying in their expected place in hell's society, which is obviously very much classist.

Even if Satan is completely lying about this claim, it is still incredibly fucked up and classist that he says he created them to be obedient, just straight up admitting that he expects and demands obedience from imps, not being afraid of using his powers to do so as well.

Outside of Satan just straight up saying he doesn't give a shit about Blitz's final words, Blitz drops a mention of the hierarchy, the hierarchy enforced by the Goetia and above, the hierarchy that forces imps and such into the place that the Goetia and above want them to be in, and that Blitz was trying to rise above that place that them all forced him into.

This alongside Satan admitting that he doesn't care about Blitz's final words, just further shows us how little Satan, and by extension, how little the court system cares about what the lower-class have to say, with that being something I've shown multiple times throughout the post already.

Stolas does lean into the inherent classism the Goetia has during the song, although he's not being classist here to be a dick, it's all an act to save Blitz from execution, but it does to add the general classist vibes of the court, and you clearly see Blitz getting quite pissed off during this part of the act as well.

And Satan quite literally just says that he's the judge, jury and executioner in the courts, leaning further into the authoritarian behavior that I mentioned earlier, because he literally says that Satan himself is the law, which is obviously quite authoritarian.

'You are demon royalty, sooooooooooo... your life has actual worth.', which quite heavily implies that Stolas' life only has actual worth because of the fact he's royalty, a prince. Which also implies that anyone below demon royalty, such as imps and hellhounds for example, their lives don't have any actual worth as Satan calls it. Plus, Blitz gets executed for the same crime Stolas took the blame for, and Stolas' punishment is lesser, only losing his powers, title and such for 100 years instead, and while you can't apply Stolas' punishment to Blitz, the fact the punishment is different for the two of them shows a clear double standard, all because Stolas' life has actual worth, while Blitz's does not to Satan.

Finally, we have the news article Blitz pulls up on his phone, "making them the first hellborn to ever survive after being sentenced to death by a deadly sin.", Blitz is a historical exception, a true one-of-a-kind here, but the fact Blitz is the first, purely because Stolas took responsibly for it still speaks volumes to the lack of care and lack of due process within the courts, and further speaks to Satan's ruthlessness and classism as well. With this further backing up my point that the system is generally rigged against lower-class demons, like imps.

In conclusion: I have shown in multiple ways how Satan, and most of the people within the courtroom contain very classist views, making the court system extremely classist as a result, and I also believe I've shown pretty well that the court system is generally rigged against against lower-class demons, and generally rigged in favor of higher-class demons, like demon royalty for example, with me showing exactly how Andrealphus' and Striker's deal inherently makes the court systems exploitable and corrupt, again, generally in favor of the higher-class demons.

Yikes, even Phoenix Wright couldn't save this kangaroo court, and that's saying something if you've fully played through Spirit of Justice.

[zzbubblegumbitchzz]

u opened a can of worms for me when u said u are open to write nico😵‍💫😵‍💫 can i request dark nico pls i fear i might die

HEHE YEAH HAPPY TO

cw: a little game of cat and mouse, dubious content, stalking? kind of?, no actual smut, however it’s suggestive

it's his favorite game. before he leaves for the last round of games he sends you up the cabin, just so you can relax and decompress and he'll join you when he gets home. he'll go straight there from the airport.

and you never hear his car pull up, you're too invested in the book you're reading when the lights just go out. the panic is only a little at the moment, you'll go outside, down by the tree line and check the box. quick and easy fix right? wrong.

something in your gut told you not to go down there, stay right in that cabin. go find your phone and call Nico. he should've landed by now. you decided against your better judgement. you were fine, nothing bad has ever happened here before.

when you hear the snaps of the branches, and the breathing of someone else behind you that's when the panic fully set in. no shoes, no phone, just run.

you'd never been in the woods before, Nico always told you there was no need. he'd take you eventually. you didn't know where you were going and how you ended up thinking that the woods was the place to hide but fuck it.

seeing what you thought to be a tree, you ran off to the side a little hoping you could catch your breath before you went any further.

what did i get myself into? oh god, Nico’s gonna get home and see my car and not me in the cabin, my phones there and i'm not. oh my god, he's gonna find me dead. thoughts were running rapid in your brain. this can't be real. crouching down next to the tree trunk, you set your hand out to balance yourself to met with a shoe, and a dark chuckle.

you didn't have time to scream before his hand was over your mouth. tears falling at a rapid pace, panic flooding your veins. all you could do was cry.

"missed you a lot, can't believe you ran from me, pet." voice was muffled by whatever was covering his face. "promise i won't hurt you too bad, just wanna play a little game."

"i'll give you a head start. i catch you, i ruin you." his voice was just above a whisper. "run, little lamb."

[3amfanfiction]

Johnny's Halloween Costume

Johnny is proud of his Halloween costume. It seems like Ghost likes it too. cw: none. 2.2k, Ghoap smut

Credit for this story is owed to @pricegouge for fostering his ask with me. Now it’s time to give it back. Thanks for always being willing to help my brain worms wiggle! <33

"I want to be slutty for Halloween but nothing sounds good," Johnny huffs as he slams back onto Kyle's bed, ignoring the hey! as he disrupts a clean pile of clothes.

Kyle pulls the clothes out from under him to re-stack while grumbling, "Just be yourself, how much sluttier can you get?"

Freeing the last of the items he turns to sit at the desk, looking at Johnny in exasperation as he recounts all of the options he's thought about and discarded.

"—bunny but everyone has done that. Same with a gladiator," he whines while staring at the ceiling, pouting. "It needs to be something good, something that will drop jaws."

Kyle rolls his eyes at Johnny's dramatics, "Be a hoochie daddy or something, I don't know. Just do it in your own room!" He blinks in surprise when Johnny shoots up to face him, a manic grin across his face. Nothing good ever came from this smile. it's Johnny's 'This is going to go badly but it'll be so much fun in the process' smile.

Kyle thought up the name himself.

"You're a genius, Gaz! I knew I came to the right person," Johnny beams at him, a toothy grin showing all the way to the molars. He bounces up, ignoring the deep sigh as he knocks the clothes over again and strides for the door, eager to get started now that he had a plan.

\\\

The spoon clinks against ceramic as Ghost stirs his tea in the small rec room, having fled from the festivities in the bigger hall after doing his mandatory 5 minute drop in.

He wouldn't have even done that much if the order didn't come straight from Price, I don't care if they're a bunch of numpties. Show up, foster camaraderie for a handful of minutes then you're free.

A handful of minutes. As far as Ghost is concerned that meant five. Three hundred seconds of torture before he was allowed to leave. He would do it but it certainly didn't mean he would like it.

He had escaped the second the hand ticked over and he had no intention of going back. He is going to drink his tea and then go to bed—leave all the idiots to get into trouble by themselves.

The door to the rec room burst open and Ghost is greeted with his own personal headache.

"LT! What are ye doin' hidin' away in here?"

"What are you wearing?" Simon ignores his question, dumbfounded at what he is seeing. Johnny prances into the room in an outfit which showed more skin than it covered.

His orange shorts rest high on his hips, the crotch obscenely tight causing his bulge to be highlighted by the taut fabric. The shorts end after a few brief inches showing miles of thickly muscled thighs covered in dark hair which end in combat boots. On his upper half he is wearing half a shirt, the fabric stopping right below his chest, showcasing his thickly muscled torso covered in a healthy layer of fat and coarse hair. Johnny beams as he looks at Ghost with a lightly stubbled face, his mohawk looking freshly trimmed.

"I've been lookin' everywhere for ye," he exclaims excitedly, hurrying over to crowd Ghost's space. "Well?" He spreads his arms, causing the shirt to strain against his biceps and wide shoulders. Ghost is pretty sure he hears a stitch pop, "What do ye think? I'm a Hooters boy!"

Ghost doesn't say anything, he can't say anything with his tongue feeling like it's two sizes too big in his mouth. If he were any less disciplined he would be swallowing in need right now. Thankfully, Johnny has no issue carrying the conversation.

"Ye should've seen the look on everyone's faces when I walked in. Looked like big mouthed bobble heads, the lot of them. It's like they'd never seen a man as beautiful as me before," he preens, striking a pose for the full affect of the outfit.

Ghost finds his breath shuddering on the exhale.

"You look like a whore, that's why they were staring at you," he finally managers with a deep rumble, staring at where the tight waist makes a gentle pooch right above it. He drags his eyes away to meet Johnny's gaze, thankful for the mask to help keep his expression level.

Johnny only laughs, seemingly pleased at being called a whore by his commanding officer. "Yer only sayin' that because ye want in my pants," he taunts, spinning around to show his ass off to Ghost before completing his spin.

Ghost abruptly makes a decision. Walking over he grips Johnny firmly by the nape of his neck, amused as Johnny instantly goes still and silent, eyes darkening at the pressure. "Let's go, pup. You're gonna get what you're begging for."

"What I—" Johnny chokes, trying to get words out, "LT, I was only joking—"

But Ghost doesn't listen, just turns them both to begin heading down the hall towards the barracks.

\\\

Pushing Johnny through the door first, Ghost directs him towards the bed, hand still placed firmly on the back of his neck, rough callouses scratching the thin skin. He might have unwittingly found Johnny's sweet spot because the sergeant was unusually quiet the whole walk.

He watches as Johnny sits down carefully, enjoying the uncertain hesitation of his movements. It was rare to see the younger man anything but cocky and self assured so this is a treat Ghost has every intention of savoring.

Moving over to the bed he pushes Johnny backwards, watching him collapse onto the bedding with slightly too fast breaths. Crawling over him with ease, he lifts his mask to right below his nose, rolling the fabric until it holds itself up. With no other warning he dives in for a kiss, immediately deepening it and pressing firmly into Johnny's mouth.

The other man moans at the first stroke of his tongue, slick and warm, before reaching up to grasp onto him tightly and kissing back with equal fervor.

Ghost took his time mapping out Johnny's mouth—tracing his teeth, stroking his tongue, tickling the sensitive gums, feeling the soft cheeks. He knows the sergeant is tough—he'd covered Ghost's ass enough times for that to be fact. But damn if he doesn't feel particularly soft in this moment. Ghost isn't sure if he wants to tuck Johnny up inside of himself where he could be kept, secure and warm, or if he wants to live inside Johnny's skin, always present, able to venerate this golden boy who is as warm as the sun.

Coaxing Johnny's tongue into his mouth is the work of moments. He's unable to help his filthy grind at the resulting vulgar groan when he begins suckling on it like a teat.

"Fuck, but you're a needy boy, aren't you?" Simon rasps as he pulls away slightly, panting into the space between their lips. He's pleased at the rapid agreement from the man below him, eager to continue. "I might just have to keep you. Tie you up to my bed, stuff a fake cock down your throat so you can't yell for help. Keep you wet and spread for me so I can slide right in after a day of dealing with idiots."

The choked, needy moan Johnny lets out as his eyes roll back is heaven. Ghost feels a wave of lust flood is veins and he knows right then and there he won't be letting this man go.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" he continues, slowly rocking into Johnny. Short, soft, barely there thrusts that did more to tease than to relieve. "Being my little fuck pet to use as I see fit. Wouldn't need to worry that pretty little head about anything more than when your next orgasm will be."

Johnny shudders in arousal, little panting pleases dripping from his tongue. His eyes wide and soft.

Ghost smiles meanly, snaking a hand under his shirt to pinch at his nipples just because he can. Catching the resultant yelp in his mouth, he presses firmly against him, grinding his hard cock against Johnny's through layers of fabric, enjoying the dry rasp.

Pulling away from Johnny's chest once his nipples are swollen and puffy, he laughs mockingly as he notices the wet spot growing on Johnny's pants.

"Looks like someone's an eager little slut."

Scooting back to sit between his spread thighs, Ghost pulls down Johnny's shorts just enough to expose his cock and balls, cradling them with the bunched fabric. Johnny's cock slaps his stomach as it's freed with a meaty thwack, drooling thick drops of sticky precum onto his abdomen. Ghost reaches down to meanly pinch the ruddy tip, smiling at the resulting yelp before moving further down to play with his balls, rolling them in his palm and giving a firm squeeze intermittently.

"Look at this tiny cocklet. Cute little thing isn't it?" He says antagonistically, laughing callously as Johnny immediately flushes and begins arguing.

" 'S nae little! What are ye on about? Yer probably the one that's little. Go on then, let's have a look. Probably a wee pecker you have in there," he gestures at Ghost's pants, ignoring the tenting which made it clear there wasn't a wee anything about Ghost.

Smirking, Ghost pulls back to shuck his pants, sliding them halfway down his thighs and letting his cock springs out, pointing downward with the weight of itself. He can practically hear the swallow the Scotsman lets out in response.

"Well," Johnny croaks, flushing scarlet red, "that's why you think it's small, isn't it?Ye've got a fuckin' horse cock 'tween yer legs!" He gathers himself valiantly, "donnae mean mine is small, now ye take that back."

Still smiling meanly Ghost responds with a flat, bored, no, before leaning forward, wrapping a sizable hand around both their cocks, his fingers unable to meet due to the thickness between the two of them.

Setting a fast pace right out the gate, he delights in Johnny's wide-eyed gasp, mouth falling into an oh! of pleasure. He promptly makes it a objective to draw that sound out as many times as possible.

A handful of dry, rasping strokes follow before he lets go, ignoring Johnny's whine of pleading disappointment to reach up and grasp his mohawk, pulling him up and forward to hunch over. "Spit," he directs, aiming Johnny's face at their laps.

He hasn't ever seen Johnny so eager before, with how he spits on their cocks before tilting his chin up for a kiss like a dog asking for a reward.

Ghost laughs but can't help leaning down for another kiss, giving him what he's asking for so prettily. Pulling back he pushes Johnny's forehead causing him to fall backwards once more before wrapping his hand back around their cocks, smearing the wetness with a nasty twist before resuming stroking.

The wet glide is significantly better.

Johnny's back arches almost instantly, a loud, low moan falling from his open mouth. He reaches for Ghost—desperate, grasping hands that hold on tightly once they find purchase, reluctant to let go.

Ghost takes great joy in wringing every sound possible from his mouth, every twist, stroke and squeeze done with the sole purpose of finding every soft spot the other man has so he can exploit them ruthlessly.

"Christ, you're whining like a whore."

And he is. Johnny has tears gathering on his lash line, high-pitched uh uh uhs escaping with every stroke.

Ghost watches in awe, biting his cheek to give him something to focus on so he doesn't finish too quickly. Johnny is a vision spread out below him. Sweat dotting his face, mixing with the tears and drool he couldn't keep contained, a blissed out look in his eyes as he watches Ghost back, keeping their gaze locked.

That is the last straw for Ghost.

He focuses intolerably on the areas Johnny moaned the loudest for, touching him with intent. The younger man isn't able to hold back anymore and he comes with a long cry, audible to anyone passing by the room.

A final tug is all Ghost needs before he's finishing too, cum wetting the thick hair of Johnny's torso and pooling in the divot of his belly button.

As they pant in the aftermath, Johnny looks at him with something close to worship in his eyes before it's shrouded once more, pressed deep in an effort to hide and protect the feeling.

Ghost leans forward to give one final messy, wet kiss before backing away to fix his pants. He smacks Johnny's hands away when he reaches for the corner of the bedding with a harsh, leave it, pup, before pulling the orange Hooter shorts back up over Johnny's waist, tucking his slowly softening cock gently to the side.

Standing, he ushers Johnny to the door, opening it and gesturing him out without looking to see if anyone is around. Johnny's breath is still slightly too fast to be normal as he passes. With a firm pat on his ass, Ghost watches him walk down the hallway, still covered in sticky spend for anyone passing to see.

He'll have to come up with a more permanent way to mark him in the future and his mind is already whirring with possibilities.

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[autistic-danieljackson]

Salty Ask List - 13 and 17 :)

13. Unpopular opinion about XXX character?

Daniel - I really don't think he's that OOC in season 9-10. I hear this complaint all the time but I feel like it was a natural progression over the seasons. I also prefer early seasons Daniel but I don't think he gets that out of character in the later seasons. You know when he was OOC? RIGHT AFTER FOREVER IN A DAY! That's not an unpopular opinion but I will never get over that.

Rodney - I don't know if this is an unpopular opinion and I feel like it's going to come off the wrong way but truly he is not as misogynistic as a lot of people like to claim he is. I always see people claim how horrible and disgusting he is and that they couldn't watch Atlantis specifically because of him and I guess I just have to assume they've never watched another show from 2005 before? Because while it definitely isn't great or something to be condoned...there was way way worse during that time. And also he grows so much so I'm guessing they're just watching like half of season 1 and giving up. Again, not sure how unpopular this is but it's something I see way more often than I expected to and it bugs me a lot.

Teal'c - In my opinion, Teal'c was so underutilized. Especially being, as far as we're shown, the only alien employed by the SGC(other than Jonas for a bit of course). But too often it felt like he was there to be the straight man and punch and shoot when it was called for. I would have loved to see more character development and also what sorts of things he got into on Earth. Because that man is getting paid(hopefully) but he's living on base with no rent and his money isn't good on his home world. So what's he doing with all that cash? Personally, I think he buys all the things on those late night infomercials. But I just would've liked to see more personality from him. Also, I just cannot be bothered to care about his family. They feel like such an afterthought(a lot like Sha're). I would've either liked to see more of them or just have that plot cut all together.

I'm realizing I don't know how unpopular any of these actually are but I don't think I have a lot of really controversial opinions haha.

17. Instead of XYZ happening, I would have made ABC happen…

You've opened a can of worms with this lmao! We all know I wouldn't have had Carson die. There are so many other things they could've done instead. I think if they still wanted a shock factor they could've given him a major injury/permanent disability. Losing hearing or sight or a limb and the impact it would've had on him and the team would have been way more interesting than just killing Carson off.

I also saw once where someone was talking about how they should've had Jonas go on the Atlantis expedition and I whole-heartedly agree. His antics would've fit in so well with the Atlantis crew and it almost feels disrespectful that he was main cast for an entire season and then just cast aside other than one episode in season 7(although I'm fairly certain this was due to the actor and not the writers just writing him off but this is ideal Stargate where everyone is pleasant and easy to work with 😂)

Last, I don't know what I would've done differently but I wish they would've kept Ford around. He and Ronon would've been such a good duo and I think we really missed out.

WAIT I FORGOT HOW HEATED I GET ABOUT ELIZABETH! Okay sorry one more because the shit they pulled with Elizabeth actually makes me so mad. First, I don't know if anyone else has noticed but the s4 credits immediately introduce Sam as being main cast with Elizabeth nowhere in sight which spoils the whole thing and also feels extra disrespectful. They didn't change the s2 ones for an episode or two until Ford was gone. But second, there was no reason to do what they did. Just like Carson, I think character death(or I guess in both cases "death") was the least interesting route. I think major injury would've been so interesting in this case as well. Sam steps in as interim leader while Elizabeth gets back on her feet. Watching the pain and frustration as someone who was always in control can't even get their body to obey them. That would've been interesting to watch. And then eventually Elizabeth is able to step back into the leadership position, maybe solely or maybe she and Sam are co-leaders because we needed more women in the Stargate universe. Oh what we could have had...

There are like a million other things I would've done differently but I'll be done for now before this post gets ridiculously long haha

[ilikekidsshows]

When Sentimonsters were first introduced I thought the whole point was that they weren't "alive"; they were emotions given physical form in the shape of a monster that was then controlled like a marionette by the will of the Peacock holder. But apparently the Peacock can create actual life, which means the heroes and villains have been killing sentient beings for the past three seasons. Adrien, Felix and Kagami being Sentimonsters is a narrative can of worms that should've never been opened.

---

We’ve been saying this since human Sentimonsters were still nothing but a theory picking up steam between seasons 3 and 4. Like, we knew it was gonna be bad from the start. And, considering how noncommittal the canon reveal ended up being, I feel like the writers knew it too.

And, like, considering it didn't really go anywhere, it does make you wonder, what was it all for? What did the narrative of Miraculous truly gain from veering into implied existential horror territory that we're then told to ignore right after? It's making me feel like Astruc and his fellow writers are the type of writers who just, never even consider abandoning an idea. it's not like Miraculous has many, if any, unique ideas in it to begin with, but still, being utterly unoriginal has to be better than being absolutely infuriating.

Like, people love to defend rage-inducing writing with "the story is meant to incite emotions, so you getting mad means the story is doing what it's supposed to", but a story that makes you mad on purpose is either a troll or aiming for the long-term catharsis of when it all comes crashing down around the characters, and I really doubt either of those things is in the writers' plans for the story. Miraculous is just really infuriating for no discernible reason other than the writers' ineptitude to keep their narrative together. There's no consistency to anything other than how utterly messed up the morality of this show is in Marinette's favor, there's no proper payoff to anything set up and there sure as hell aren't any themes I can see in this mess of a narrative.

[sacredashes]

For questions about Lace because I love her very much: What do you think about her upbringing as an Andrastian vs. her reconnecting with the Stone? It's such an intense shift of perception of the world, I want to know your thoughts :)

Codex from Dagna: "How can anything be both all and one, together but separate? It doesn't make sense, does it?" While in reference to the Titans and the literal connection between their people, and maybe the Shade and Harding, I think it's a quote that relates to Harding and her entire character.

She has always been dual-sided: both LACE and HARDING, with all that implies. And now, a connection to two religions, Andrastianism and the Stone.

There's the humble side of that connection: She's close to her family, who are Andrastian, and while they can trace their family back to Orzammar, they're unable to return and are very cut off from that culture. Ma's mother never left Redcliffe. Harding, and her family, never had Stone sense before. Harding IS Andrastian.

And now she has found family in the Stone too. The Titans are her ancestors, and the ancestors of her people, of all dwarves; they are all Children of not just the Stone (which I'm haunted by the fact this could theoretically include the Evanuris, who made their bodies from the same materials), but the Titans.

But on a bigger level, Harding now plays a key role to the institutions of both, to the worship of both.

Harding directly serves in the Inquisition, under the Herald of Andraste. She still is close to the Inquisitor in Veilguard. That speaks to how devoted she is to the cause, as an Andrastian. But I think it's interesting ... for serving the Inquisition, she has to be nameless, for her role as a scout. "Nobody should see me coming." It requires her to be less open, she tells the Inquisitor and Rook to never tell anyone her fears or anything too embarrassing. Leliana can potentially take interest in her as a successor. And Leliana is like, a whole other can of worms when it comes to devotion to the Maker. Says a lot that there's overlap between the two.

ALSO LACE WAS A SHEPARD. SHE HERDED SHEEP FOR HER NEIGHBOR. AND THAT IMAGERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. Very archetypal.

Then we get to Veilguard, her reconnection to her ancestors and to the Stone. I find it interesting that under Andrastianism, the dwarves are notably not included as the Maker's creation, and Harding very much accepts the Titans as her creators, her identity as their Child. I find that to be. Interesting. Intriguing!!!

During the Singing Blade quest, Harding picks up the lyrium dagger, pushing Rook away, because she takes full responsibility for what happened with Varric. Of the Harding/Rook duo, she's the one who remembers the pain. "I should've taken the shot."

This is also the role she now inhibits for the Titans: she is the one to remember the dead and dying, the hurt, for someone who cannot bear it. For someone, and something, whose mind has been altered by Solas. When she accepts the rage of the Titan, she is able to heal its veins. She is able to connect other dwarves to the Titans, if only for one moment. Despite her own rejection from Orzammar due to being a surfacer, she has found her own way to worship. Isatunoll, the prayer and the proclamation. The Chant, The Song. There's a thought here.

Memory is such a big part of dwarven culture, stemming from the loss of memory from the sundering of the Titans, the loss of their own ancestors. ... Which, they don't even remember triggered this need, to find perhaps a Paragon in something else. It was so long ago, it was erased long ago.

And memory is such an interesting thing because it plays into the other religions of the Dalish and obviously of Andrastianism. There are overlapping events between each! There are people rewriting the history of them all, all the time! There are people who were THERE and saw it all and have decided to hold their tongue.

There are empires that are building on the previous one as an ouroboros of endless suffering, all of which keeps Harding and other dwarves (and the elves!) from being able to reconnect to their roots.

There's a lot to say there and explore there ... But I think Harding as this touchstone of both is just really interesting, narratively, as a result of all these overlaps. Harding is not as blindly faithful as others in the series, she has that inqusitive nature. She wants to explore and question and to seek the truth. It's all she can talk about when it comes to understanding why the Titans had to be hurt in such a way, why they had to be hidden by both the Evanuris and by Orzammar. She’s the FIRST to ask if the reveal of the Evanuris and the Blight disprove the Maker …

I love that despite everything, Harding STILL isn’t completely SURE in her beliefs by the end. There's a codex where Harding notes that despite the Stone belief of being eventually returned, should proper requirements be met anyways, she doesn't hear the dead in the Stone when it sings. She asks Emmerich about death and what could come after. She's IMMORTAL NOW? I don’t know if that fully gets confirmed but it’s at least a possibility …

Something about becoming bigger than you ever imagined, so central to the systems of becoming a Paragon, to Andraste herself. A bloody prize!

[theenderdirewolf]

Hello my friend. Considering that you’re fixated on the Helsmits do you have any headcannons you’d like to yap about🎤

OH MY GOODNESS YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAN OF WORMS YOU'VE JUST OPENED. This is going to be SO long. Know if my dominant hand wasn't in a brace I would have drawings for everything just for this but alas!! 😔 I cannot draw right now.

That being said!! I do have a whole canvas of doodles from before I hurt my hand that I can pull from! Including fullbody designs for Welsknight and both Helsknight designs! (Yes, I said both!) But it is just a lot of Evil X doodles for the most part lmao (but I don't think any of them actually fit this somehow acK)

ACTUALLY BEFORE I GET STARTED!! IMPORTANT NOTE! I got into Hermitcraft via Grian in s6! I have watched bits and pieces of earlier seasons (mainly for Evil X and WormMan) but never the full season! When I fell out of hermitcraft initially it was early season 9 and I am slowly making progress! I am still in early-mid season 9 though, and never got pulled into the life series so I know there is a LOT I am missing 😭 please forgive me for that. It's been years since I've watched s6 and S7, and I JUST got pulled back in and watched Xisuma's s8. ..I also do not have the time or the patience to watch streams-

I am working with what I've got! And at the moment that is a heavy focus and fixation on Evil Xisuma, Helsknight and WormMan! (With NPG and playing around with some ideas for BadTimes! But I haven't gotten very far for him yet-) I do not promise perfect understanding! And honestly? They have been hit with the oc-beam at this point but I mean?? Hasn't everyone's takes on these guys?? /hj

AND NOW WE GET STARTED! Where do I even start... Well, I did mention Hels and his several designs so I suppose that's as good a place as any!! Might go.. Hels, Ex, NPG, WM? (Actually I'll just keep it to Hels and Evil X for now! This has taken so long and that way I'll at least get it out there LMAO)

(mid-ramble backtrack: a small bit of context I've realized I forgot! Hels does exist seperately from Wels! He has his own body, just like the other Helsmits! (Also my take on Evil X is not technically a Helsmit OR a Hermitclone, he's X's brother! But the Helsmits welcome Ex in anyway. He fits in well enough!) I think the best explanation I have right about now is that its.. a parallel server/universe of sorts? It's not quite right, but it's the best I've got.

And! (For a currently undecided reason, this is all very WIP) The Helsmits cannot travel over into Hermitcraft, which is why Hels needed the Wels clone to appear on HC the first place! Using the clone as a vessel allows Hels to jump between Hermitcraft (the vessel's "home world") and The Hels (his own home world), giving him an advantage over most of the others. Even if it comes with a cost he.. really should've seen coming.)

That feels like as good a transition as any! Why don't we continue on to:

HELSKNIGHT

(little thing! He/her Hels rubbed off on me a lot so 😔 mostly he/him with a touch of she/her Helsknight!!)

As much as I love human Wels, I'm an absolute sucker for turning him and Hels into dragons. (I had a fantasy au I made with friends on Doomcraft where I did just that!) Though I also was fighting manticore, it was fun.. and then I had a thought!

"Why don't I keep Hels more like your typical scaley, fire breathing european dragon, even give him a sharp spade on his tail, and play around with Wels' design? Give him some lion influence? I think that fits!"

So we have scaled, scrappy Hels, and furred, almost regal(?) Wels!

Only. If you're inhabiting a clone, even a clone of a sort of.. alternate you; you don't entirely look like yourself anymore. Do you?

(his horns aren't out because I like the idea that they can "recede"! Makes it easier to put on a helmet if your horns aren't in the way! (...also I had no idea how his horns looked at the time...) )

Yes. Hels CAN jump between Hermitcraft and The Hels freely now. Something next to none (we'll talk about this later) of her peers can do, but she's lost her scales. Her horns. Sure, he can always stop using the vessel, but what are the odds of him ever getting his hands on something like this again? He can't risk that. So he finds ways to cope. To feel more like himself again and less like Wels. He coats his fur in charcoal, a color far closer to his deep gunmetal scales than this pure fur. The smell reminds him of his burning hair when this body doesn't allow for that. While the soft fur is wrong compared to his sharp scales, he'll deal with it. If it gives her this advantage she'll almost certainly never get again? He'll deal with it.

(I realized after doing all of this that my Hels is incredibly trans coded, complete with (albeit non-gender related) body dysphoria. My poor baby..)

At the end of the day, Ex helps her out a LOT with this. I'll get into that more in their section!!

Speaking of which! Why don't we move on to:

EVIL XISUMA

My boy!! I try to use they/them for Ex, but it's ended up more they/them with a bit of he/him

So! Evil X is NOT a Hels variant of Xisuma! Ex and X are twins! Ex is the younger of the two, and their time in the void (banned) has certainly done a number on them, so they behave younger than they actually are. It's hard to learn/remember how to act around others when you're isolated for so long, huh?

Evil X (Who from here on will be referred to as Ex or Exiona! I can't remember where I first saw that name for Ex, but it stuck with me and I LOVE it. I wish I could give proper credit acK) and Xisuma used to be identical twins! Well, technically they still are but they certainly don't look identical.

However! I'll get into that in a moment! Let's first start earlier on!! Exiona and Xisuma are Voidwalkers! Typical headcanon/fanon stuff, right? From The End in some way or another, having a natural affinity for dealing with code and/or becoming admins, need their helmets to filter the air, so on and so forth.

Xisuma was great with code, fantastic even! He went on to become the admin of Hermitcraft eventually and takes care of his players and ensuring everyone world hops safely and everything! Xisuma is very good with code.

Exiona on the other hand, yes, he's good with code, but nowhere near as good as their brother. Where Ex REALLY excels is glitches. For better or worse, Ex is fantastic when it comes to working with glitches in the code. Using them, exploiting them, creating them. Though them simply being around has an unfortunate habit of making some bits of code unstable, especially early on. I can imagine it tearing a bit of a rift between the Voidwalker twins. Maybe they were young, shouting things they didn't mean. But who knows, I'm not really sure how their younger years went just yet!

At some point, Jeff the Minion got into Ex's head. And perhaps The Dreamer in another! (Evil's Fault my beloved.) And Exiona started going after Hermitcraft proper. Maybe originally it was an attempt to get attention from his older brother, someone he looked up to. A jealous act that went too far and kept going thanks to a certain Nightmare.

When Xisuma bans Ex, he's under the assumption that they'll be sent to the Hub! Or perhaps even a private world? X has absolutely NO idea that Exiona is being sent to The Void. If he knew, he never would've banned them. But it's too late for that now, and he has no idea.

Ex and Xisuma used to be identical. But Ex's time in the more suffocating parts of The Void took it's toll on him. Their once dark brown hair has started to grow in grey from the stress on their body, (leaving them with salt and pepper-y hair! They bleach/dye it all to be the same light color.) all the time floating in the void has left him weak, he is nowhere near as strong as he used to be, and they're quite frail, in fact.

Ex and Xisuma have a sort of exoskeleton mobility aid for their legs! The End has lower gravity than The Overworld, so it was a difficult adjustment at first. They had them made to help them slowly get used to the overworld's stronger gravity. Xisuma no longer needs his, but Ex practically relies on theirs thanks to The Void. Ex's black visor plays another role aside from being a style choice. Light. Light and color would be so overwhelming after floating in Nothing for so long. The darkened visor could not only severely limit the amount of light coming in, but it might make all the vibrant colors more manageable as well! It's possible the helmet could also help dull sound, as well. They are very easily overstimulated now, but their helmet helps a LOT.

Now! I mentioned earlier that Ex helps Hels a lot, right? This actually has to do with Ex's ability to control and create glitches! I like the idea that Ex found a way to glitch their own code to create "disguises" of sorts! Basically, they can go into the code and change their skin for lack of better terms! Doing so, however, takes a lot of time and takes a lot out of him. But, if they can do it on themselves.. why not someone else?

So they, if they have the energy and are given the time, can alter the appearance of others by exploiting glitches they can create in code! Such as, allowing Hels to look like herself from before the clone again! The only issue with this is that, because it's using glitches, it's unstable. It can come undone at a moment's notice, and then has to be done all over again. It's why Exiona doesn't really disguise themself all the time (outside of the time and energy need), because it's too unreliable for a lot of the things they do. But if it's to help a friend get back a sense of control over their (not quite) own body? They may have taken to calling themselves "Evil Xisuma", but they still have a heart.

[laurfilijames]

Will needs better coping mechanisms than putting his dick in her … yeah it’s great but communication is better.

I never want this to end … but how many chapters do you think you’re going to do? 

Hi anon.

Thank you for stopping in with your opinions on how I've written my story.

I always appreciate feedback, but I'll be honest that this isn't necessarily constructive or useful and certainly isn't a good way of helping to motivate me to continue this series that you don't want to end.

It's fanfic. Is it a good representation of how relationships and real life should work? Probably not, but that's okay, because it's for fun and fantasy and indulging a bit. So no, maybe Will putting his dick in her every chance he gets isn't a great coping mechanism but it is for me so that's how I've written it.

I've worked my ass off trying to add depth to this story that when I started it, wasn't even sure it was going to turn into anything, and feel I've included a lot of communication and growth with these characters whether it's blatantly obvious, internal, or just implied. I'm sure I could've done a better job with certain things in this story and with my writing in general, but we're not about to crack open that can of worms. I think every writer deals with the insecurities of comparison and everything else that comes along with writing and sharing FOR FREE and at the end of the day, I am extremely proud of what I've done with this so I'm not about to sit back and apologize for not portraying things how you think they should've been or regret my creative decisions.

Circling back to you never wanting it to end, I'm very happy that you're seemingly enjoying it so much, but I don't have an answer as to how many more chapters there will be and quite frankly, this message knocked any sort of motivation out of me and makes me relieved that I don't have a definitive answer to give you.

I hope the tone of your message wasn't intended to be as negative and offensive as it has come off. I understand that tone does not come out through the internet and I'm unable to see your face or hear your voice so it's hard to know how you've truly meant this. I'm always open to have discussions about my fics as long as they're directed as kind and respectful, and I'll encourage you to consider keeping things you didn't enjoy about someone's fic to yourself.

[legendofmorons]

Wonderland -Prolouge

Hi! This has been a brain worm for like a year now. This is a series where it's like a choose your own adventure. I have a story line thay stems from this song for each Link (minus Wind).

I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL POST THE REST BUT I WILL (I'LL probably start posting towards the end of how to fall in love twice)

Pairing: Chain x reader

Rating:G

Summery: you reminisce on your time eith your ex lover. Some good, some bad.

Warnings: This is a song fic, it has the lyrics in italics.

Other: You don't need to read this to enjoy the rest of the series.

-------

Flashing lights and we took a wrong turn, and we fell down the rabbit hole. You held on tight to me 'Cause nothing's as it seems spinning out of control

Eveyrtime you fell through a portal it was like all the air was sucked out of your body and you were mixed around like scrambled eggs.

The way your head spins after it is entirely too ingrained into your memory. You still get nauseous at the very thought.

When they opened under you the one time you screamed as you grabbed onto your beloved hero, gripping his hand like a lifeline.

He let out a shout of surprise as the ground leaves him but his grip on you was strong even after the world stopped spinning.

The gentle way he made sure you were okay afterwards will never leave you.

Didn't they tell us don't rush into things? Didn't you flash your bright eyes at me? Haven't you heard what becomes of curious minds?

You can remember all your elders warning you not to rush into life, love, or danger. You didn't listen.

You took on Ganon in place of your at the time three year old brother. Then again three years later. Without any hesitation.

You tried not to rush into romance, but then he showed up. Kind, courageous, and someone who understands your history.

He pulled you into his gravity with nothing but a smile or smirk and his eyes flashing bright with joy.

He was curious, always asking about you and your history. His questions giving you hope.

But curiosity always leads to things you don't wanna know. Like the girl he's probably dating or going to date.

Ooh didn't it all seem new and exciting? I felt your arms twisting around me. I should've slept with one eye opened at night

Your first date was exhilarating. He'd taken you to a festival where you all danced for hours. It was beautiful and loud and just like him.

The way his arms wrapped around you made you feel so safe and cared for. Gentle but strong and warm.

The sway of your dance made you giddy as you laughed at his jokes.

If you'd been more aware of things- it would all hurt so much to think about now.

We found wonderland, you and I got lost in it, and we pretended it could last forever, eh. We found wonderland, You and I got lost in it, and life was never worse but never better, eh

You remember nights spent with a shared watch shift, cuddled up by the fire as you talk about anything and everything that can be talked about.

It was too easy, falling into a domestic routine. Checking on each other after fights. Patching each other up.

Giving small gifts. Gentle touches.

You would have given anything to make it last. You tried to believe that it could last.

And yeah… Everything was awful. You were being hunted down by some immortal godlike shadow. But also- you were happily in love!

So we went on our way too in love to think straight. All alone or so it seemed. But there were strangers watching, and whispers turned to talking, and talking turned to screams

You remember taking the quest on with a new found lightness. His hand in your's as you both ignored the monster attacks increasing.

You find yourself being watched by strangers everywhere you go, but you both think it's funny.

They are just jealous.

You remember the first argument you had though, the way your voices all raised. His, your's and everyone else's.

Ooh didn't it all seem new and exciting? I felt your arms twisting around me. It's all fun and games, still somebody loses their mind

You remember how thrilling each first in your relationship was. How gentle he was with you even if it clashed with his mature. He cherished you.

How he held you after your nightmares. Arms around you feeling so secure.

It was exciting, planning a future where he was in it. He adored the plans you made with him. He told you so.

And it was al so fun- until the end. Until the last portal opened and you watched him leave you standing alone. The last to go through you had a break down.

Oh darling, we found wonderland, you and I got lost in it. And we pretended it could last forever, eh. We found wonderland, you and I got lost in it. And life was never worse but never better, eh

You spend hours remembering it all. The first touch, first kiss, the way he held your face in his hands.

His voice plays in your head too often. And you would rather not hear it. It hurts too much.

You remember his hands in yours as you watched the clouds and the stars alike roll slowly across the skies. It was perfect.

It was. Even when you were all attacked over and over. You always had his back and he had your's.

I reached for you, but you were gone. I knew I had to go back home. You searched the world for something else to make you feel like what we had. And in the end, in Wonderland, we both went mad

You woke up the first morning after your return home only to reach for him to the other side of your bed. Your hand found sheets and it had been heart wrenching to remember he was thousands of years in the past.

You knew you couldn't stay with him. That your home needs you. That Hylia was not so kind to let you be happy together. And it still hurts

You wonder if he moved on? Did he have a family?

Selfishly, you hope he didn't. That he kept searching for traces of you.

[yandereocs]

* None of my drafts have been particularly inspiring lately so I've been having trouble posting. I'm hoping to turn that around by simply brute forcing it but I figured before I do that I should probably write something that IS inspiring me right now LMAO

* I gotta get back on my writing grind....I miss my yandere goobers....

* But for this little thing I made a special drawing!! Just for funsies

Germs - Yandere Andrew X Reader

Disgusting, filthy things.

Andrew hates germs. Despises them with his whole being. In the past his hatred was only for the typical things. Dirty clothes and dishes, unsanitized objects, cluttered and messy living spaces.

But nowadays he finds his hatred has extended to...people.

Andrew's never really been the sociable type. Never really had any friends. He didn't mind, he enjoyed the quiet and the alone time. And while he is pretty snappy when he's in "work mode" it's not like he outright hated the existence of people.

That's changed, though.

He finds people revolting now. Pathetic creatures that are trying to weasel their way into your life. Who do they think they are? Talking to you like it meant nothing. Thinking that they even have a CHANCE at getting close to you.

It makes him sick.

He's aware this isn't healthy. It's not like they're doing anything wrong. They're just being friendly to you. And he wants you to have friends, he does! But it's so hard for him to remain calm.

He tries his best to reign in his worst impulses. To appear composed and gentle and chivalrous for you. He doesn't want to scare you. He wants to seem good for you. To show that you can trust him and he's not going to hurt you for no reason.

But it's so, so hard.

He would never hurt you, of course! Not unless you did something stupid on purpose. But when it comes to others? Watching the other castle servants talk to you like you're just some regular citizen rather than the divine being he knows you are makes his blood boil. It makes him want to beat them to a bloody pulp with his bare hands.

But he doesn't. Because that wouldn't be very polite, now would it? It wouldn't prove to you that he can be a wonderful boyfriend, that he's perfectly fine with you having friends as long as you always return to him.

That's not to say he's NEVER caused harm to someone else, though.

He was doing so good at keeping his jealousy in check. He's found great ways to cope that isn't stalking you! Like journaling! He tries to ignore how his beautiful, neat cursive has slowly devolved into frantic, desperate scribbles of his adoration for you.

But despite his attempts to find normal ways to cope, it wasn't enough. He isn't too sure what happened. One minute he was heading to your room, intent on tidying up for you when he had saw another castle servant going into your room to do the same thing. The next minute he found himself standing over a decapitated corpse with a bloodied sword in hand.

Now there's a bigger mess in your room for him to clean, annoyingly enough.

Andrew knows it was wrong but he doesn't exactly feel...guilty. Why should he? That stupid castle servant should've known better. Everyone knows Andrew was trying to court you. He does everything for you! Brings gifts every day! Whisked you away to one of the best bedrooms in the castle! And this disgusting germ dared to try and worm his way into your life? To try and take care of you?

Andrew kicked the head across the room.

Filthy, pitiful, revolting. Andrew felt so sympathy for things of such nature. Not when it came to you.

Andrew hates blood. But he would spill and ocean of it for you if he had to. To keep you safe. And to keep you all to himself.

You are beauty, you are radiance! You consume his every waking moment. His every thought, his hopes, his motivations. It's all you, you, you. Not even the hours of the day are enough for him, as he often finds himself dreaming about you. Dreaming of protecting you, of holding you close, of learning to be open and vulnerable and getting to kiss every inch of your body.

It's been driving him a little crazy, admittedly. It was hard to maintain his composure around you when his heart starts racing and he all he wants is to drop to his knees and gently caress whatever parts of your body he can reach. Too many times has he paced around in his room clutching at his head because he can't think about anything that's not you.

The way you walk and talk and laugh and sleep. He's obsessed with you. Completely and utterly obsessed. He knows when you sleep and when you wake. What you eat and when. Who you talk to and who you hate. He counts how many steps you take in a day and how many times you chew your food.

It's getting hard for him to focus on his job when all he wants to focus on is you.

Even when he has a literal corpse to deal with he's too busy wondering what you would like for dinner tonight. As he stuffs the body into a bag he thinks about which bedsheets he should put for you. Scrubbing the floors and walls clean of blood doesn't bother him as much as usual, not when he's imagining the next handmade gift he'll create for you.

The room is spotless when he's done. You'd never be able to guess that someone was just murdered in here. That's good. Andrew would hate for you to find out the lengths he goes for you. A man losing him composure like that? Highly uncouth. He should know better.

As Andrew changes his gloves and begins his original task of changing your bedsheets and curtains and folding your clothes, his mind wanders. Would you hate him if you knew what he's done? What he'll keep doing? He knows realistically you would. But surely you could forgive him with time?

They're nobodies, after all. Insignificant lives that don't mean anything compared to you. They're germs. Filthy, disgusting bugs that need to be squashed if they become bothersome.

And, if it's for you, then Andrew will get his hands dirty every time. He won't stop.

Not until you have a clean, pure world to live in.

[cancerian-woman]

Hope definitely could've used the Mikaelson Mansion in Mystic Falls since she was there but its kinda funny the reason why she couldn't is because Rick Ross bought that mansion many years ago lol IRL. Like the mansion is just never brought up again. I get why the Mikaelsons in TO didn't mention that home that much but Hope living in MF should've known about it.

If anything Hayley should've been given that mansion as Hope's mother, as sole caregiver during that period of her life (all of them but). Then thats opens up another can of worms. Hayley leaving Hope after being possessed is crazy as fuck lol and unlike her.

[viennacherries]

WIP Tag Game

omg this is so exciting i've never been tagged in one of these before!! thank you @darkurgetrash for the tag i love u <3

gonna tag a couple of the besties: @cakeboxie @drizztdohurtin @underdark-dreams and all of my other moots who do writing <3 or if you don't write show us your art wips!!!

~~~

It's not like you didn't already know this, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that Rolan is not a patient person.

You'd managed to find a spot with a rock outcropping that made a good enough shelter. The problem is, for both of you to fit under it, it's a little cramped. But you didn't want either of you sat out in the open where anything could spot you, so you'd reluctantly backed up to the wall and against Rolan's side.

It's a bit maddening, being this close to him. His scent fills your nostrils (he smells like weave and something musky, like sandalwood), which is incredibly distracting, and up close you notice he's covered in freckles. They cover his cheeks and forehead and climb their way up to his ears. He's also taken his hair down, which is frankly rather rude of him. It looks soft.

What's ruder is the fact that he literally cannot sit still. His legs bounce where they're stretched out in front of him, and every few minutes he adjusts his posture with a loud groan.

When his leg starts bouncing again for the umpteenth time, your hand shoots out and grabs his knee on its own accord to hold it down. He jumps at the contact and whips his head towards you, and the look of alarm he's wearing would be funny if he wasn't driving you insane.

"Rolan. If you don't stop fidgeting I'll stop you myself."

He frowns. "I can't help it."

You arch an eyebrow, "right, so you want me to hold you down for the rest of the evening? Because I will."

His face flushes and he shakes his head no, so you withdraw your hand. You feel his body relax next to you.

"You may as well try and get some sleep. I can keep watch and wake you up when it's safe to move."

He clears his throat, "that won't be necessary. I'm fine."

You scoff. He's definitely not fine, he's been wiggling around since you both sat down. You tell him as such and the blush rises back to his cheeks.

"I'm not- That's not why I'm-" He sighs "I'm fine."

"Ah, yes. People who are fine usually writhe around like worms."

He scowls at you, but doesn't say anything. At that moment you feel a shiver rip through you. His face softens with concern.

"Are you okay?"

You nod, wrapping your arms around yourself, "I'm fine."

He pulls a face at you. "Ah, yes. People who are fine usually shake like leaves."

Okay, in fairness, you walked right into that one.

"I'm okay, honestly. I'm just a bit cold."

You hadn't really thought about it when you left the inn, hopped up on adrenaline, but now you're sat here you've begun to realise you're not dressed for the chill. You're wearing a pair of light trousers and an old sweater with holes in the sleeves; the clothes you sleep in. It was fine when you were racing around looking for Rolan and fighting shadow creatures, but now that you're sat still with your back up against rock the cold is seeping into your body.

Rolan looks you up and down a few times, then makes a noise of frustration. "Gods, I'm sorry. I should've thought to- I haven't got enough magic left to cast anything to keep you warm."

"It's fine, I'll manage. Besides, you're like a furnace."

It's true, you can feel the warmth from his body where his arm is pressed up against yours. You've trying not to think about it, but it's getting harder to focus on anything else.

There's a moment of silence, and a look of hesitation in Rolan's eye, before he lifts the arm that's against you and instead wraps it around your shoulder. You flinch.

"What are you doing?"

He's blushed again. "Well. We- tieflings, that is- we naturally run hotter. And I got you into this predicament, so the least I can do is stop you from catching pneumonia."

You try desperately to think of an argument that stops him pulling you closer, but you come up empty. You're cold and he's warm, and he smells nice and his hair looks soft, and you are a weak, weak woman.

When you don't say anything else, he tentatively stretches his arm back around your shoulder, and places his hand there awkwardly. You pull a face at him.

"That can't be comfortable, your wrist is at an angle."

He shrugs, which makes you sigh. You grab his hand where it rests on your shoulder blade and manoeuvre yourself so that you're resting your head against his chest. You wrap his arm around you and push yourself against him. He freezes.

There's a long moment where you wonder if you've overstepped a boundary, but then he's sinking himself down against the rock so you can better lean on his chest, and pulling you tight against the side of his body. There's a moment of hesitation before you feel him rest his chin on the top of your head.

His scent and warmth wraps around you and you can feel his heartbeat against your cheek. His chin on the top of your head is a comforting weight, and being surrounded by him like this feels... intimate. You like it.

"I'm sorry, Tav."

You frown, but don't move. "For what?"

He swallows heavily. "I really was unfair to you. It's not your fault Cal and Lia were taken. You're the only reason any of us made it this far in the first place. I lashed out and it wasn't fair."

You give a small shrug, as much as you can without shaking his arms from around you. There's a moment, and then he's moving anyway, turning to face you and holding both of your shoulders.

"Tav, I mean it. It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry."

His eyes are piercing and you struggle to look away despite how intense his gaze is. "You were right. I'm not a leader. I just wanted to do what felt right, but I've put people in danger in the process."

He shakes his head, "I wasn't right. The best leaders are the ones who didn't choose it. They're the people everyone follows because they believe in them." One of his hands comes down and grasps yours, and you feel your breath hitch. "People believe in you, Tav. I... I believe in you."

You don't know how to reply to that, so you don't. Another shiver rips its way through your body, and Rolan wraps both of his arms around you and brings your head back to his chest.

"For warmth, of course." He says it softly.

You nod. "Of course." Your voice comes out quiet and breathless, and you feel Rolan shudder minutely.

A voice in the back of your head tells you that you're walking a fragile line, that you're slowly inching your way over it. That once you cross it there's no going back. The warmth of his embrace must be clouding your judgement, though, because you find you don't care.

[sinner-sunflower]

P.2 HH Lucifer-centric AU 8/?

STORY 1, PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, PART 7, PART 9, PART 10, PART 11, PART 12, PART 13, PART 14, PART 14.5, PART 15, PART 16, PART 17, PART 18, PART 19, PART 20, PART 21, PART 22, PART 23, PART 24, PART 25, PART 26

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When Keekee suddenly showed up at the hotel without her dad, Charlie had a slight moment of panic. Thoughts of 'oh my god, did they kill him?', 'is he locked up in Heaven???', 'I knew I or someone should've went with him', and 'please don't be dead dad!' went through her head.

Thankfully the cat familiar took pity on her and relayed her master's message and whereabouts. It didn't really stop Charlie from worrying but it eased her just a little bit to know that her dad is safe back home.

Charlie: I should go to him, right? To make sure he's really fine?

Angel: Toots, I think short king just needs a little time to himself. Just cos he said you can go doesn't really mean you have to go now.

Vaggie: I hate to say it but I think Angel is kinda right, surprisingly.

Angel: Oh fuck ya! I can give sound advices too, yaknow.

A chuckle from Cherri Bomb is what started a whole roasting session that they will surely laugh about later.

Cherri Bomb: Pfft, sure.

Angel: I do!

Husk can't help but join in on the teasing too.

Husk: Angel, just give up. You're gonna give that Fizzarolli guy a run for his money telling those jokes.

Angel: Gasp! Huskie, you too?! Betrayed by my own boyfriend.

Husk: I'm not your boyfriend!

The blush on the bartender's face could rival Alastor's outfit's shade of red. It became redder when Nifty let out a sinister-like gremlin laugh that no one in the hotel would like to hear if they can help it.

Nifty: Hehehehe. Not yet~

Angel: Husk, baby, have you been talking to others about your feelings fo' wittle old meeee?

Husk: No!

They continue to bicker and Charlie can't help but look at them with adoration. All of them have come so far and she can confidently say that they have evolved into somewhat of a family unit. A bit dysfunctional but she won't have it any other way.

Vaggie: Why don't you let the man sleep for a bit.

Charlie: I just worry, Vaggie..

The soft look her girlfriend gave her would've melted Charlie into a lovesick puddle if she wasn't so preoccupied with her dad.

Vaggie: I know, babe.

Alastor: I do have to agree with them, dear.

The ex-exorcist yelped in surprise at Alastor's sudden presence beside them while Charlie had grown accustomed to the man's nasty habit of sneaking up on people. Maybe she should invest a bell for him. Hmm... She wonders if her dad can make Al wear one.

Vaggie: Jesus, Alastor!

Charlie: You too, Al?

Alastor: Why don't you join us for a meal first, hm? That should give your father enough time to rest. I seem to remember that it was your turn to set the table, isn't that right, Vagatha?

Vaggie grumbles something in Spanish that Charlie is sure is a curse word but doesn't argue anymore.

Vaggie: Everyone, dining hall. Now!

And just like that, everyone stopped talking and went straight to the kitchen, leaving just Keekee, Charlie, and Alastor in the lobby.

Charlie absentmindedly pets Keekee who climbed up in her arms while looking at her family fondly. She takes notice of Alastor next to her sporting the same look as hers.

She's glad that he's opening up bit by bit. She wonders if her dad had anything to do with that or if Alastor just learned to trust on his own.

Speaking of Al and her dad. That's a can of worms that she was, at first, afraid to open. She's happy for her dad, don't get her wrong, but there's still days where she misses her mom. Sometimes, if she's in a really bad place, she imagines her mom coming back and all three of them living happily ever after again.

With Alastor in the picture, she became a bit afraid. Of being replaced as the most important person in her dad's life or how her once dream happily ever after will never be reality, she doesn't know.

But seeing Alastor's genuinely care for her dad; never leaving his bedside after the Roo debacle, leaving Marigold's everywhere (how romantic is that, Vaggie!), and providing solace for her dad that she knows she can't always give. Those actions told her that maybe despite not getting her original happy ever after with her mom and dad, she can always dream of a new one.

There's something different about Alastor right now, though. He looks more stiff than usual but sagging at the same time. It could be also be worry but Charlie thinks she knows Alastor enough to tell that he's irritated. And he's definitely leaning into his cane more.

Alastor, probably feeling her stare, sighs.

Alastor: What is it, my dear?

Charlie at least had the decency to be flustered for staring.

Charlie: Sorry, Al. But um... are you okay?

Alastor: Whatever do you mean?

Charlie: It's just- you look, I don't know, irritated? Or like annoyed? I know I sound hypocritical but dad's gonna be alright.

Alastor: I appreciate the sentiment, Charlie, but I have full faith in your father. He is not the source of my... mood. Not directly, anyway.

He accidentally said the last part instead of just thinking about it but thankfully it was quiet enough that Charlie didn't caught it.

His answer just made Charlie more confused. Tilting her head, she looks at the radio demon quizzically.

Charlie: So you are in a mood?

Alastor: Nothing for you to be worried about, my dear! It might just be my cravings.

Charlie: For... human flesh?

He gives her one of his more sinister grins, the one she's seen when he's hungry for blood (and not the cannibal kind). He's just being silly, she thinks to herself. She made a note to ask her dad about partner choices later.

Alastor: Fried fish.

And with that, Alastor disappears into the kitchen. Keekee purrs in Charlie's hold as her eyes trail the retreating shadow.

Charlie: What a creepy guy, huh.

Her pet only meows in response.

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This wasn't how this chapter was supposed to end but I decided to cut it in half anyway.

Tomorrow is some meal moments and Charlie going to see her dad.

Don't worry, we'll get back to Luci in a bit!

[alrightbuckaroo]

Alright, here's a little cheat as it's a Work is Published, but with love can pull you out of yesterday officially coming to an end, I feel like it's most apt to share a little something from the final chapter :)

“And the worst part about this, is that if this is,” God he can’t say the word, but he has to. His eyes linger on TK’s hand, and he thinks about the way their fingers used to interlock. “If this is goodbye, I can’t even hold your hand.”

His eyes move from TK’s soft hands to his chestnut strands. “Or run my fingers through your hair, or,” Eventually his eyes stop their journey as he takes in TK’s face. A face that Carlos sees every time he closes his eyes. “Kiss your head.”

He leans in closer as he feels a lone cold tear worm down his cheek. Its normal heat paling in comparison to the one that’s barreling inside of Carlos. “Not without it feeling like some kind of violation.”

“Believe people when they tell you who they are,” His anger is building upon itself, starting with a foundation of self-sought vengeance. “Just believe them, right?” Yeah, well that's exactly what I should've done when you walked out on our first date, I should’ve realized that's who you were.”

Carlos even acknowledged it before. He tried to give TK a meal and TK ran. He offered TK something even grander, a feast, and TK still ran. “That’s your mechanism of defense, isn’t it? Running?”

Eventually this wave of anger crashes against shore, leaving behind pieces of his shattered heart scattered amongst the teeny tiny grains of sand. “You asked me to feel safe with you.”

“And you know what hurts the most out of all of this?” Carlos asks, not expecting an answer back. He’s used to it by now.

Quietly, to himself, he says, “All I want to do is feel safe with you again.”

open tag +

Thanks for the tags:

@heartstringsduet, @strandnreyes, @honeybee-taskforce, @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad, @freneticfloetry

@lemonlyman-dotcom and @carlos-in-glasses :)

No pressure tagging:

@reyesstrand, @herefortarlos, @carlos-tk, @lightningboltreader, @americansrequiems,

@fifthrideroftheapocalypse, @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut, @basilsunrise, @bonheur-cafe,

@never-blooms, @nancys-braids, @mikibwrites, @paperstorm, @orchidscript

@theghostofashton, @whatsintheboxmh, @welcometololaland, @rmd-writes, and @your-catfish-friend :)

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

picking them up from work and nathan bateman

Send me a comfort prompt

It takes you a few moments to react. At first you're just...Gobsmacked. But when he tips his head forward, brows raising, it spurs you into action. You don't run and jump into his arms. If you did, he'd just be so, so confused. It's not because you're that girl—you can be, for the right person—but Nathan's just not that guy. He'd sooner hold his hands up to stop you than open his arms to catch you. Hell, he'd laugh about it, too, ask if you thought you were in a fucking Hallmark movie.

"What are you doing here?" You ask as you grow close enough for him to hear you.

"Haven't seen you in a while, figured I'd stop by."

"Just—Like that?"

"Well," Nathan tips his head from side to side, averting his gaze, and you have to fight back a knowing smile. Caught him. "I had some business."

"What kind of business?"

"Just a meeting."

"For what?"

"Do you wanna get in the car and grab dinner, or stand here and question me on the sidewalk?"

"Honestly? I'm happy to stand here and question you."

Nathan scoffs, pushing off of the side of the hired car and opening the door for you, grumbling, "Just get in."

You can't help but giggle as you climb in, giving the driver a quick wave in greeting. You settle back into the seat, turning to look at Nathan.

"So?" You arch your brows. "Where are we going?"

"So now you're going to question me in the car," Nathan sighs heavily, even as you worm your hand into his and intertwine your fingers. "I should've left you on the sidewalk."

--

"Tell me how your day was."

You raise a brow, propping one arm up on the table and resting your chin on your hand. You want to snark back, but for a moment, you just...Can't.

Sometimes the way Nathan watches you catches you so off-guard. It has an effect on you when you're video-chatting, but it's so much more acute when he's physically in front of you. When he's there, you know that he won't glance away to jot down a note or approve a change. It's even better now that he's pulled his chair up to the side of the table right next to you, rather than sitting on the other side of the table. His knees don't brush against yours, they press. His arm rests on the table, too, his fingertips gently sweeping against your arm.

They're little touches, but they're so sweet—like he can't help it when he's so close.

"See, the difference between you and me is that I ask questions," You tip your head toward him, "But you demand answers."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"I didn't say it was bad, it's just...Interesting."

"Opposites attract."

"Yeah, if you're a magnet."

His lips quirk, and you shift in your seat as he slides his other hand up your thigh.

"Fine. Please, oh please, will you acquaint me with the details of your day?" He asks dryly. You snort, reaching out and taking up your drink.

"You know what, I take it back. I prefer it when you demand answers."

"Then answer for fuckssake," Nathan laughs. You grin, shrugging.

"My day was fine."

"How was the check-in with your manager?"

"Not bad. She just wanted to see where I was with that rewrite."

"Didn't she only assign that, like, yesterday?"

"Yeah."

"So what's with the micromanaging? You can do your fucking job."

"I know that and they know that, but this is a big project with a short turn around. She's just keeping a close eye."

"Well, she needs to get the stick out of her ass. They're paying you for a reason."

"Awww," You coo. "If only people really knew how kind you are."

"Tell 'em all you want. They'd never believe it."

You smile, reaching out and cupping his cheek, feeling the bristles of his beard beneath your palm.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" You ask.

"Honestly? I wasn't sure I'd be able to see you. If I did, I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Mission accomplished. But, you could've told me you'd be in the city anyway."

It takes Nathan a moment. He lowers his gaze to where his hand is resting steady on your thigh, his thumb sweeping across your pant leg.

"You've mentioned a few times that you don't get to see me that much."

"Yeah, because I don't."

"I didn't wanna disappoint you."

Your stomach flips. It seems like a bitter admission. You curl your hand around his jaw, tipping his head up to meet your gaze.

"You could never disappoint me," You insist softly. Nathan nods a little.

"...Unless you do," You add, "In which case, you know. I'd be bummed, but I wouldn't hate you or anything." You lean back in your seat, taking up your drink again. Nathan huffs a soft laugh through his nose, patting you thigh.

"Keep it up, baby."

"And if I do?"

"You're walking home."

"If I have to walk home, you're not gettin' any."