#i spent 4 evenings creating it and this work is living hell

[nonomikun]

happy valentines day! :D

i was thinking about either redrawing my old work or making something new...but just ended up exploiting my old idea XD

the lyrics are from unreleased dallon weekes song "valentine"

( o˘◡˘o) reblogs appreciated!

[magapatriot64]

A brutally honest take on Ukraine from a U.S. Army Veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq that is also a Purple Heart recipient (edited):

I have never and will never support the war in Ukraine. I now understand the Military Industrial Complex and the trillions spent off of the lives of US, the people.

If you do support the war, this post is going to offend the shit out of you.

And I honestly don’t care what you think. Some of you may agree, and some of you probably truly need to hear this.

I have been shot at, blown up, returned fire, everything imaginable. War is serious shit. This is not Call of Duty, this is real fucking life. The term “War is hell”, is coined for a reason.

First: I will start with NATO and Europe.

Why the hell are we in NATO if they don’t barely lift a finger for shit? Why is America always the one that will carry the burden of these asshats. Even President Trump commented TODAY and was almost begging for an end to this. To NATO: If you want this war so badly, then grab a compass and head due East.

Second: You can say whatever you want about President Trump. You can like the man, or you can hate him. However, you cannot argue the point that none of this bullshit was going on when he was President. Just throwing that out there. This is an undeniable fact.

Third: Why is it that it took an Airman to leak classified documentation to totally disprove the efforts in Ukraine? Don’t you notice how this story has been completely wiped from the mockingbird media? They are concealing the truth as well. American taxpayers have been lied to since this began.

Fourth: Where is all of our American taxpayer money going? Let’s be honest about it. How do you “over-calculate” over $6 BILLION DOLLARS of our money for this effort? Where exactly is it going? Into Politician or Zelenskyy’s pockets? If any of us made an “accounting error” on our taxes, we would all be in prison now. This is fraud, waste and abuse putting it lightly.

Fifth: This brings me to another point. Are politicians making money off of this war effort? If so, sorry to say, but you belong in prison. Plain and simple. And that is bipartisan speaking. There are Americans working 2-4 jobs at times just to make ends meet. People are recovering from a lockdown that YOU created.

Sixth: To the Americans backing this war. Why don’t you book yourself a flight to Kyiv and partake in this fight? It’s easy as fuck to be okay with war, while you’re chilling with your Starbucks in your comfortable environment. You love to criticize our country but have never contributed a fucking thing to it.

Last: Why are we not discussing diplomacy? There have been ZERO attempts to sit down like grown fucking men and come to an agreement. None. It is all too clear that they want this war to continue.

I sure as hell don’t claim to know everything, but this bullshit has gone on long enough.

To the dickheads who will inevitably cherry-pick this tweet know this, your opinion does not matter to me. You can comment, but I won’t give you the benefit of replying. Thanks for playing.

I know this is a very long-winded post. But if you took the time to read, thank you for listening.

[choppersconfirmedkills]

Your intro post says that your transformers dr is a combination with jurassic park/world and that sounds super cool! Idk if you’ve explained it before but can you tell me how that works and what it’s like?

YES YES YES ABSOLUTELY I WOULD LOVE TO! (prepare for the yap fest, I'm sorry but also not sorry).

It all starts with the greatest man to exist: my dad (aka my hero)

Dr. Alan Grant (and his stupid hat)

This background is common in my DRs and that's because of how connected I am to my father that it tends to manifest itself in my DRs.

Most of how I script is through what I call "core memories." I think on Tumblr they are more commonly referred to as "downloads?" If I'm not mistaken. So that is how I know most of this.

There is a long and complicated story as to how my Dad became a single father, but long story short: the surrogate (my mother) is not the best person.

(me and @moonsdrs commonly refer to him as Lord Mother, because he's the best mother to exist)

Growing up with a Paleontologist for a father, I was homeschooled and spent a whole lot of time on site with him, or bothering other personnel (how I learned Spanish).

I was pretty smart and learned things fast which is another reason I was so smart because I just kept learning. Me and Dad lived in a trailer bc of cost and location. And when I was about 9 years old he received an offer to save the dig site, and our family. So he went to Jurassic Park. Childcare, however, is hard to come by, so I came with.

I survived the events of Jurassic Park. Made it out alive but with a nasty scar on my leg and a particularly stubborn undiscovered infection.

My Dad always knew about my powers, but he was so nervous about the idea of me being tested on that he made me keep it secret. I have a vivid memory of being under the crushed car and I'm about to use my powers to lift it off me and Tim. I look to Dad and he shakes his head at me with the most serious look on his face.

One connection to Transformers is my cousin Sam.

Sam's father is my surrogate's (bio mother) brother. He was appalled by what she did and given they had a son my age, which influenced them to create a bond. Sam and I spent so much time together that we became nearly inseparable (we have a habit of holding hands in dangerous situations). It was important to both my Uncle Ron and my father that we have a relationship.

Years later, (a few years after an incredibly traumatic situation), my Dad and I got roped into going to Isla Sorna. Where I got another nasty scar, this time on my chest. Shortly after my father "died" (listen it's a whole complicated ass story that I still don't fully understand).

I moved in with my Uncle Ron and Sam. When I was 20, the first Transformers movie took place.

Here's where Jurassic World comes in (I'm sorry, I am such a yapper). After meeting Will and going on a few dates, he inspired me to follow my true passion in life: following in my father's footsteps. But not exactly like him. I got a degree in Paleontological Animal Behaviors and became a registered Animal Behaviorist. Eventually, I joined a program in the Navy called "LS-9." They were looking to research how sharks could be beneficial for the military. We were successful.

I wind up getting a job offer email about "Jurassic World" (this is about 4 years later, 3 years after the events of TF2). I blow it off thinking it's spam mail, yk? Who in the hell would think it's a good idea to make another park, let alone try and train raptors. That's ridiculous, even though it would be a scientific breakthrough, and I'd be continuing my father's legacy and mine, but no. It's not real.

After a really bad fight with Will, I talked on the phone with my best friend Owen (we met in the Navy) just to get some relief. I mentioned the spam email and he told me he got a similar one, that he did some research, and that he was positive it was real. I was shocked, to say the least. I contacted them just to see and they basically offered me the job (my reputation proceeds me). The downside? I'd have to live on the island for the duration of the contract. Even though Will and I were in a really rough spot, I didn't want to just leave him, but he told me that I needed to do it as it was my dream.

I wound up there, doing the research. About a year later the company InGen hired an outside military contractor to assess the viability of the program in the military forces. It was Will. That's when the events of Jurassic World occurred. We all made it out okay including my nephew, who did not shut up about the scary dinosaur for years.

3 years later Fallen Kingdom happened, and that's where I met my daughter.

I love this girl so much, Will calls her my "mini-me" because she looks, acts, and talks like me. She is a great big sister, and the toughest and smartest girl to ever exist. She's also an animal lover (like her mom) and spends a lot of time at the rescue farm.

[stanwixbuster]

jynx absolutely fascinates me as a game dev because they're like. inspiration but in the opposite way of literally everything they've ever done

jynx decided they want to make touhou-like shmups, and decided to approach this by building most patterns around extremely fast bullets relying entirely on player reaction or having already seen a pattern before, infamously the most disliked and player-antagonistic way of approaching bullet hells

jynx added a great iteration on touhou-like shmups with flash bombing, an infinitely regenerating way to clear bullets if you put yourself in active danger in contrast to the use of bombs as a safe but finite resource, and then made sure you could only use it if you aren't focusing your shots, which you spend over 90% of a touhou-like doing

jynx created "absurdly extra" stages just as a complete fuck you to the player. half of them are humanly impossible to complete

jynx's version of character development is to add more characters. jynx will drop one of the most fascinating backstories you've ever heard that has groundbreaking and sweeping impacts on len'en lore, yet somehow being entirely consistent with it, and then proceed to do literally nothing and minutes later introduce another character with one of the most fascinating backstories you've ever heard. len'en has 40+ characters and all of them have been in perpetual Big Things Are Coming hell for over half a decade

jynx has spent over an alledged 15 years working on the world and lore in mugenri and the outside world, desperately wants to share this and continually mentions the short stories and lore dumps they write, which we never see, because they have somehow convinced themself the only way to show this story is through touhou-likes, which are notable for showing "story" as an excuse for people to shoot bullets at each other

jynx treats feature creep like an arms race. there isn't a single idea they come up with that doesn't end up in a game or is planned to at a later date. len'en 4 is still technically unfinished despite it having enough paths to dwarf all the previous len'en games combined thrice over and featuring the entire cast of the series in it (i will stress again, 40+ characters), and they've promised a dlc with even more stuff to do

jynx wanted to make a mobile cafe management simulator after having made nothing but bullet hell shmups on pc, just because it sounded fun, realised their previous tools couldn't make mobile games well, realised they'd be going in entirely blind on a new tech stack, realised they'd be going in blind on a genre they have no experience with, decided to tag on a second entire game to the cafe management with a turn-based rpg, realised they also have no experience with that genre, continued anyway, learnt how to use unity from the ground up, realised the multitude of issues unity development brings, decided every single character also needed to be in this one with unique boss battles, realised the problems of having 40+ character assets and 5min+ music themes in a mobile game that very infamously is a platform you need to stick to strict asset and tech limitations, decided to stream in assets from a server, made it a live service game because it would be online and that was an obvious next step, stuck through it, totalling in five years of dev time to make a full "gacha" game that is generous beyond belief and makes them a net zero in ad revenue vs server costs

jynx iterates nothing. literally everything you see in their games is the first go and if it sucks, too bad

jynx creates all their music with default fl studio sounds and the touhou trumpet. everything's unmixed. they earnestly believe that loud = better

jynx, allegedly, "blacks out" when making music after hitting some kind of flow state, and wakes up with a complete track. like everything else, these are never iterated on

jynx wrote the entirety of len'en 4's 100,000+ word script in one week. i don't even have a funny comment for this one

jynx doesn't think len'en would fit the format of a visual novel despite the fact len'en 4 has a 100,000+ word script

jynx refuses to collab with anyone for any reason. motives unclear

jynx did three 12 hour back-to-back livestreams crunching to finish book of the cafe. literally no part of this is a good idea

jynx is like the quintessential representation of everything you shouldn't do as a game dev. they should have burnt out years ago and been remembered as nothing but a random quirky touhou ripoff that was an interesting yet janky interpretation but ultimately went nowhere and YET here we are coming in to len'ens decade anniversary

how the fuck is jynx a real person. why am i so obsessed with everything they've ever made

[iheartsteve0704]

welcome to my agathario rant:

Hold on rewind pause. I just realized that Agatha didn’t have to kiss Rio to die. She could have just been like okay fine I’ll go with you Rio and walked with her and that would’ve been that but instead she decided to kiss her and hold her one last time. Which is nice but I guess when you are WLW you have to just work with the absolute bare minimum because they’re gonna give you nothing. Don’t even get me started on Agatha dying at the expense of a man. I know it’s comic canon but they decided to finally be comic accurate NOW???

For hours I’ve been trying to grapple with Agatha’s switch up on Rio in epsiode 8. It just seemed so jarring and misplaced. Like all of a sudden they had gone from seeking out each others touch to “I never want to see your face again. You make my life a living hell”.

And with the context of 8, you honestly feel bad for Rio. This really WAS her job. She wasn’t killing people on purpose, she can’t even do that. And then we learn she’s given Agatha all this special treatment and this blessed time with her son, who shouldn’t even be alive, and she ends up spiting her and hating her forever when that time is up. But Rio clearly didn’t let that deter her. She clearly still loved Agatha (as we saw from literally the show season). She defended Agatha in front of her mother, defended her from the coven, the broom ritual, showing up the Westview to break her out of the spell and being so gentle with her, telling her the truth about Billy in episode 4. And then they tried to make her the crazy ex by making her say “WHY DONT YOU WANT ME” and “walking the road with ANOTHER WOMAN’S SON”. When she wasn’t crazy. She didn’t even do anything wrong but give Agatha extra time that didn’t even exist in the first place.

It honestly still doesn’t make sense and the last two episodes don’t feel like the characters they built up and the relationship they created in the first seven at all.

Agatha referring to Rio as “my love” in the Salem flashback but there was no context to how they had gotten to that point. Rio calling Nicholas “nicky” even though they apparently had never met each other even though his mom loved Rio apparently. And the killer for me was when Rio came to get Nicky and told him to give his mom a kiss goodbye. I wonder if Rio ever tried to tell Agatha this but she was so consumed in her own grief to even listen.

I’m just sad with how this story was handled. I’m sad that in the last episode of a show called Agatha All Along, the character who’s name is in the title got the back burner for the last 20 minutes. I’m sad that the agatahrio storyline was handled like that. I get that maybe they couldn’t have ended up together because of grief and because Agatha just couldn’t grapple with Rio and her job but the storyline was so inconsistent like it felt like they cut out a huge chunk of Agathario that would’ve given us the proper backstory to have gotten Agatha banishing Rio from her life in episode 8.

Because your honor! Those bitches were clearly in love and then you wrote them like that! Made Rio the crazy ex and Agatha switch up on a woman she spent the entire season pining for. Kevin idk if I can ever forgive you, I’m so serious! Wronging MCU fans, eh whatever. I can move past old man Steve but wronging lesbians??? Having a women led show and then killing 3 of them and most of all the person whose name is in the title and who the show is about? And then using the whole last episode to introduce a new character and his story instead of honoring the women led show from beginning to end? Oh that’s personal.

[shardminds]

2024 Fic Writer End of Year Roundup

Answer and then tag three or more creators to keep the game going! (i did not get tagged but i wanted in on the action!)

1. How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024?

81k, if you can believe that!

2. How many fics did you complete this year?

8!

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year?

2... hell & sacrifice. 2025 will be your year.

4. What was your favorite thing you wrote?

excluding freak week entries (i love them all like they are my children), i think full moon, white honey. i love her so much & i miss her. can't wait for shardminds bday fic 2025!!!

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style?

probably jawbreaker! not experimental in terms of style but defo in terms of content. it held a lot of first for me! first collab between my dearly beloved & i, first organised event (even if it was just us holding hands, playing dead), first fic over 20k— i had so much fun with it as a whole! i loved rhys being a fucked up little freak, i loved diving into feyre's headspace, i loved exploring the whole fic in a safe little space and all the important conversations we had along the way. I hope marissa can say the same!

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception?

listen through the wall. it was my first jump into acotar fic before i found my footing and it wasn't even intended FOR a pairing as such (well... unrequited elriel, really) but i loved azriel being down abysmal and acting it out on a nameless stranger, and so did everyone else, apparently. it has the most hits out of all my fics from 2024.

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!)

corpse until sunrise. i shan't elaborate... ok, i will. i love that fic so much. i loved writing it, i love how much it fought us, i love how disgusting and depraved it is and how the loml and i spent the whole time writing it kicking our feet, giggling, in love with gwyn. i love how thin the line was for that one. i love azriel and i will torture him in everything i write. hope that's okay.

8. Who is an artist that inspired you?

@velidewrites, no question (velide, i love you so much! u insipre me every day!)

9. Who is an author that inspired you?

i cannot remember all of them off the top of my head but i read some banging fics this year / recieved some incredible advice from @damedechance, @separatist-apologist, @iftheshoef1tz @crazy-ache, @tunaababee and many MANY more. i wish i could list them all. i wish i'd kept a list!

10. Who is a new author you discovered?

please see above. i only started reading acotar fic this year after re-reading all of sjm's works in advance of hofas release. most impactful discovery was obvi my heart and soul, damedechance. did you know my first fic of hers was spare your blade? did you know she unprivated things mid-rewrite so that i could read it? did you know my first message to her on discord was GWYNRHYS RISE UP!!!!!!? is everyone sick of us yet?

also ao3 user yooijo. if you didn't know, now you know.

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start?

DID I!? freak week took over our lives for like three months. and it will continue to take over our lives into 2025. (hell, we WILL finish your ass!) but writing with marissa was a dream. she gets me, i get her, it truly is a freak on freak alliance. i love her, truly. it was so FUN to write with her, and it continues to be! she's added so much colour to my life in the almost year of our friendship slash marriage slash codependency slash experiments in telepathy.

it was also a great excuse to send her a 2k bag of jawbreakers in the mail.

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of?

freak week, for sure. we wrote about 50k in a little less than a month!

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year?

i learned to be a freak with it! to be a little strange and off putting! to write what i want to read and be okay with that!

i also learned that it's ok to propose in ao3 comments after reading 2 fics by an author, and also be a scoundrel in the tumblr tags. sometimes, it gets you a wife.

14. Any advice you’d like to share with new or aspiring writers?

people will read what you write or they wont, but the most important question is did YOU enjoy writing it? does it bring YOU joy? i hope so!

15. What are your creative goals for 2025?

finish hell

write & post witcher au part 2.

collab with wifemine again (jawbreaker squeakquel, broken hearts club, az/feyre, or anything from the damedechance wip library. love u, mars ♥)

get a little weirder with it

tagging @damedechance (duh) and anyone else that wants to take a crack at this! it's fun!!

[purple-crusader]

Stephcass Week day 6 is up! Today we deep dive into some fun stuff, which is my take on Cassie's problem with finding identity beside her vigilante persona. Like I said, very fun. It's focused on Steph and Cass' free time as civilians, so I think it fits the prompt, even if they are still vigilantes on the side.

Hope you like it!

STEPHCASS WEEK Day 6: Civilians

Words: 1,188

@stephcassweek

You know things got fucked up, when Cassandra Cain, Black Bat, the daughter of two of the deadliest assassins on Earth, Lady Shiva and David Cain, as well as trained from birth to be a living killing machine, comes back from a fight with a broken arm.

Bane returned to Gotham, with the most powerful version of Venom created yet in his veins and decided the best people to celebrate that occasion with are his friends from the local crime-fighting family. When Batman and Robin realized they could not defeat the man alone, they had to call for reinforcements, those being Red Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, Batwing, Batwoman and aformentioned Black Bat. It took around an hour of non-stop, brutal fighting and crashing most of the Gotham docks to finally put down the villain, but they managed to do it.

One of the factors in defeating him sadly being Cassandra's sacrifice by pushing away Damian from Bane's hit. She exposed herself, which gave the rest time to gather around the man and finally tie him down and inject an anti-Venom into his veins. Before that happened though, the hit landed on Cass' arm, breaking it and making her unconscious.

Fast forward 4 hours later, Cassandra woke up in the Bat-Cave's med-bay with Alfred and Bruce by her side, telling her what happened. "Your arm is broken in 6 different spots, Madame Cassandra. Recovering from that will take months..." Said Alfred. "I'm sorry, young lady, but in this time we need to put you off your vigilante activities."

It was the first time Cass had to hear those words during her vigilante career. She had never taken enough damage to get benched. Hell, she had never even caught a cold. Her training wouldn't allow it, but Cassandra herself was always incredibely careful with all of her moves, because she knew how much Gotham and her family needs her in the field. Now she's supposted to take a few months long break from that life? She did not answer any of Bruce or Alfred's further questions, just sat on the bed numbly.

For Cass it was like a death penalty, but someone took the news as an opportunity for good, this 'someone' being one and only Stephanie Brown, Cassandra's lovely girlfriend. It's not like she did not feel the pain her partner was experiencing, but she also thought that the dark-haired woman sooner or later needed a vacation and she did not want to wait for their honeymoon for that to happen (and even then Cass would probably pack her suit and change into it the moment she saw a kitten not able to get off a tree).

Cass was advised by Bruce to spend the next four months living in Stephanie's apartment, to be a bit further from the vigilante activity that she would be at home. It lined up perfectly with various activities Steph had planned for them to fill Cass' time during her treatment.

Besides vigilantism, Cassandra was taking online private classes to broaden her opportunities if she wanted to take on a job and generally were supposted to teach her more about the world. These taken up to five hours daily for her. Besides that? She was all free. Usually she'd spent the rest of that time training, working on cases, sleeping, so that she could then have no problem running around on patrols all night. Of course she also always tried to find time to spend with Stephanie, besides when they were cracking a case or playing rooftop tag, so it's not like she had no idea what to do in her free time. That didn't mean the first few days weren't rough for her.

That's where Stephanie came in. The activities she had prepared were generally stuff to bond over or use some skills for. It was stuff like learning to bake new things together, going on walks to the park, the library, the museum. Steph would love to teach Cass more about knitting (a little hobby of hers) but it was definitely hard with her broken hand. She loved to watch though. For lazier nights, Steph would put one of the films or TV shows on the long list she had prepared for her girlfriend to watch one day to be up to date with the pop culture.

And Cassandra absolutely loved all of these things and was really grateful how involved her partner was in making this time better for her. But she could not shake off the feeling that she should be out there, helping people, that she was... wasting time? No, Cass would never say that about time spent with Steph. Yet the feeling was still there.

Something almost broke when the women went on a quiet date in a local coffee shop. It did not end up as quiet as they wanted, when they saw Duke and Bruce drop into park across the street, fighting Mr. Freeze. They did not need help, so Steph was not running to change into her Batgirl suit. It was tempting to Cass. She got up and almost ran out of the shop, when Steph grabbed her healthy hand.

"What are you doing?!" She said quietly but firmly, for it to get to Cass' head. The woman was looking outside the window, as she saw the two vigilantes and the villain leave the park and her sight. She sat back with tears in her eyes. Steph was immediately alarmed. She slided over her chair to seat closer to Cass and hugged her, the dark-haired woman laying her head on the blonde's shoulder.

"I'm sorry." Cass finally raised her eyes to look at Stephanie. "I just- I'm... I love what you do for me." She said taking on of Steph's hands and caressing it. "But I miss this. I can't fight this feeling. I feel so useless... when I can't be out there." More tears rolled down her cheeks.

Steph felt pity for her girlfriend and wasn't really shocked. Cass was made for fighting. First as David Cain's weapon, then she forged it into her mission to help people of Gotham. She was never benched this long and it definitely made her undergo a little identity crisis. But what was Stephanie for, if not going through it with Cassandra?

"Listen, babe, it's okay you feel this way. I'm not mad, I know you have good intentions, but I need you to know, that you are someone bigger than just Black Bat. You are Cassandra Cain, a talented dancer, loving daughter, sister, friend and partner. You are your own person." Steph smiled fondly and kissed Cass on the forehead. She smiled as well.

It got kinda better for Cass after that. Sure, the need to come back to being a vigilante was tingling. But she knew it would come back to her soon. Right now, she had time to pursue things she never thought about before and she wanted to cherish that. Well, maybe even after coming back on the field, she could make some changes to her schedule. To find a moment for Cassandra Cain.

[isa-ghost]

Isa my darling! Happy Birthday, albeit a couple of days early.

Seeing you screech in Philza's streams because Apollo hit you with that dodgeball yet again makes me giggle a lot.

How about since headcanon's for qPhilza's past/pre island relationship with qFit. How they got to know each other, and how quickly they became friends?

Idr if I said this on Tumblr yet but deadass I asked Apollo on my pendulum if qPhil is his blorbo and he said yes. He's been as invested in shit as me and it's been hilarious. I literally have crows yelling at me irl to keep writing rn but I'm answering headcanons first.

The entire time I've been distracted between writing these, crows have been yelling at me about it. Which. Is how Apollo communicates with me when I'm not actively talking to him through readings LMFAO.

Also thank you for the birthday wish :D [desperately hoping nothing else horrible happens this weekend please god]

Anyway qPhil headcanons masterlist let's go

Disclaimer that I didn't know of Fit before QSMP (I've only been in mcyt for 4 years monkaS) so these are gonna be largely pulled out of my ass and a lil repetitive.

These two both have experiences in anarchy and war, they've definitely brushed shoulders a couple times bc of it

They admired each other's work ofc. Phil is a macro scale kinda guy, total annihilation and victory that makes a statement. Fit's more of a micro scale kinda guy, zeroing in on one person or group individually and making their lives hell until the end in the name of surviving a little longer

On that note, I think we all sleep a little bit on the fact that Fit is Also a survivalist like Phil, just in a very different set of high stakes conditions. These two are equally skilled in it and equally sharp strategists

On that note, anyone who knew them from the past would fear the idea of them coming together to create a plan of any kind, especially of the anarchist-fueled variety. If the Federation has done their research right, they should know full well how terrifying this duo could be in an effort to dismantle their authority

Btw by brushing shoulders I don't just mean brief passings by, I mean they've like. Camped out for a night together, temporarily truced for the sake of safety in numbers, etc. More than a few conversations have been had even if the time they've spent together totals to less than a week.

However, even when they weren't actively paired together, they'd still occasionally trade or gift each other surplus resources. It was a genuine kind act, even if it simultaneously served as a reason for each of them to not come after the other. I scratch your back, you scratch mine.

Like why do you think Fit was one of the first threats on Phil's mind in Purgatory. He Knew(tm). And he knew Fit has an affinity for picking off the weak first, like a lion after a herd of antelope. To him, Purgatory was the awakening of a monster who'd been dormant for a long time.

See, present day they're QPR as fuck, they'd never do this now without 10x the pressure Purgatory put on them, but back in the day they took close notes on each other's strengths and weaknesses. Just In Case, yknow? They could very much kill each other. Back in the day they would've if it came to it, no matter how good an ally they were.

Something about how these two used to be so cold and hard to the world. Be it to self-preserve or some other reason. Something about how now they've both softened and warmed after becoming parents. They never could've imagined the other would "weaken" like this, especially back then.

Phil 🤝🏻 Fit - Phil being a historian of the deities/builds of his Hardcore World, Fit being a historian of 2B2T

A lot of this boils down to mutual respect, common interests, and secret admiration tbh. And what's more homoerotic than that?

They're both crisis preppers. Not doomsday type shit, just. Being ready for shit to hit the fan. They both come from places where life is significantly more dangerous than it is in other realms.

The crazy thing is though? Despite the above, they can't imagine being from each other's realms. Phil would LOATHE 2B2T and Fit would hate the absoluteness of Hardcore. Isolation is absolute, death is absolute. There's no wiggle room or margin for error.

With how adaptive the two of them are due to their origins, they could probably acclimate to any conditions. They'd complain about having to, especially if it was inconvenient, but they could. They used to swap tips & tricks with each other on how to improve their adaptability too.

Fit would've 100% been down to join Phil on Doomsday in DSMP. He was thoroughly impressed when Phil told him the story.

[inchidentally]

https://x.com/safeforlando/status/1750936311563723024?s=20

I don't need to add anything. The best driver duo on the grid without a doubt <3

you're so right to say there's nothing more to say, anon. and yet ! lol

(behind a cut so no one can think I'm literally reporting facts here or that I'm living and dying by my own weird and pointless takes I'm just enjoying over-analyzing for fun)

(I am fully switching off RPF/narrative here)

so temporarily switching off friendships or any kinds of ships and focusing solely on driver partnerships, I love how certain Lando's always been about what Oscar has done for his (Lando's) performance. I think this is where age and generation play some part bc Carlos and Daniel are both firmly in the same age group and separated from Lando to a certain degree bc of that. they both viewed Lando as a little brother type of teammate and their careers were never perceived by themselves as especially tied to McLaren or to Lando. they'd both kind of become the lone wolf type by then which is honestly how most drivers have to be. (even moreso in the Max/RB dominance era)

whereas Lando isn't just toeing the line by saying he's a big team player, he adores working in groups in absolutely every area of his professional life and even having hobbies that put him with a minimum of 3-4 people. he also needs to feel the safety of a support network to be at his best. he's the very opposite of a lone wolf. hell, he literally said 'it took an actual village to raise me'.

he very intentionally developed the shared interests with Carlos and Daniel to create those kinds of bonds and familiarity (that's The Lando Effect). and while it's too much of a leap to say for sure, I think it's likely - at least at the start - that Lando felt like they might each have been his teammate for longer than they were. either way, the shared hobbies and friendly bonding didn't really translate to his time time spent with them in team meetings, speaking to the engineers or in development back at the factory. Lando has said he and Carlos were on completely different planes of experience and ability and Carlos was one foot out the door after what, the first year? and well, we know the lack of synchronicity between Lando and Daniel as drivers that started to set in not long after that first season together.

so when it was announced Lando's next teammate would be a rookie and also younger than him, he didn't really hide that the swapped dynamic worried him - even if he was half-joking. and then Oscar being so quiet and independent a person definitely threw him. he even describes their pre-season interactions as friendly but only really having time to say a few words. Oscar had his own work cut out as a rookie (and as we found out, wanting to prove himself most to the engineers and folks at MTC) and Lando already had a full life running alongside his racing career.

and it sounds all projection-y and armchair psychology to say this but genuinely it's clear to state that unlike the usual PR push that a lot of new teammates partake in, Oscar's been notably disinterested in any of that - not even just overplaying a friendship or a bromance with Lando for the sake of the cameras. that's an especially unusual choice for someone who could really have used the Lando Effect boost to his own image after contractgate with Alpine and the hoards of Ricciardo fans/McLaren fans ready to hate someone they saw as a snake or a pretender (usually both). especially considering Oscar pre-F1 was extremely active on social media and had his own viral moments and a much more colorful, fun personality than what he's allowed F1 fans to see so far - it was a pretty deliberate choice to not carry that over right away to selling the partnership with Lando.

we might be able to glean through the murk of Netflix's highly questionable editing of this upcoming season of DTS how much was really going on behind the scenes between Lando and Oscar around this time. but it really seemed like Oscar was more focused on letting his loyalty to the team and his own driving do all the talking (and Mark Webber often said as much). when you compare a lot of those early Lando and Oscar videos and challenges to his Prema ones, he's so unusually quiet and reserved. so he had absolutely no interest in trying to sell himself as a persona or a character to F1 fans. he was perfectly sweet and polite! and boy, did Lando enjoy having someone with endless patience for him lol.

but it's very marked how, despite whatever was or wasn't developing between them as teammates, Lando has consistently always said the same as he has here about Oscar being so talented and giving Lando that "push" and how "you hate and you like it" bc it made him (Lando) take his own driving to the next level. that healthy competition and 'wow, this guy is bringing it' seemed to strike him immediately. Lando can't lie for shit so if he'd found Oscar to be a crappy teammate in any way there's no way he'd be able to choke out any praise for him even for the sake of the team alsgfljasgfa.

and I liked that here in I think March? he said how he planned to get Oscar into all his own hobbies and bring him out of his shell, but apart from one last minute invite to golf that never really happened. we know they spent a fair amount of down time together but it was always mentioned in passing rather than posting about it online or having anyone film it (that we know of yet). the reason I like it is because Lando went on to say how Oscar has reminded him by example to "keep calm and be yourself". and in this interview he'd said how he considers himself and Oscar to be pretty similar people in terms of their approach to their F1 careers. so instead of them bonding through hobbies and interests or both of them being chatterboxes, I think they bonded (if that's the word?) over not being stereotypical extroverted drivers in terms of their personalities and also that they've so adamantly never wanted to have driver in-fighting make life harder for their teams (and themselves). plenty of guys from F2 and F3 can attest to that for Oscar and of course there's The Lando Effect as far as Lando's concerned.

you could almost say they both needed to be teamed up with the other bc for all that Oscar projects Just a Guy, he also finds himself incredibly awkward when it comes to everything about his job outside of racing the car or talking about the car. Lando's just as much the same but he's learned to charm his way through it. he's still awkward as hell even in Quadrant promo videos and he's been doing those regularly for years now, and with all his friends there! they're both enough off-center that they either need an extroverted teammate to lean on or in their current situation, someone who can sympathize.

which I think considering how much loyalty to the team and a sense of 'home' and consistency are for Lando, it makes all kinds of sense that Oscar was the teammate to show up and really form that partnership that he considers to be 'the strongest' on the grid.

they're the same generation, have the same ethos when it comes to their racing careers and Oscar not only went through a court case to get to McLaren he then extended his contract to 2026 the second McLaren made the offer. Lando's got stability as well as a serious challenge from Oscar. he's more poised than ever for that win(s). and now I just hope he listens to Oscar in other ways like not self-flagellating in front of the cameras so much and focusing on where he has done well.

[random-introverted-blog]

His Star - His Queen [Chapter 4 - What Was / What Is / What Will Be]

There you are!

Summary: You wake up in a strange bedchamber alone, in a wing of a strange palace that you are forbidden from leaving and meet your personal Royal Steward and Chamberlain... What is a morning room?

Link to the Tumblr Chapter Index

Warnings/Advisories: Nothing except creepy, possessive and controlling terminology and a very mildly horny Ascendant Astarion. Oh, and some threats here and there.

A/N: The outpouring of support and love for this story could honestly melt me down to goo. Thank you guys so much for the likes, reblogs, replies. If you read on AO3 thank you for the kudos, bookmarks, comments, all of it. Knowing you guys are enjoying reading it as much as I enjoy writing it is what I live for. If I can make someone's day in this little way, it's all worth it to me.

I spent the ENTIRE DAY editing this. My apologies if it's still not perfect, I did the absolute best I could.

I woke up yesterday sick and Christmas is this weekend so I'm not sure when the next chapter will be. Maybe next Friday.

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The darkness swirled and lingered, filling every corner and crevice without a definitive end. But when it all became clear, you almost wish it hadn't.

As you slowly peel your eyes open, you are greeted by the luxurious top of a canopy bed. The sheets were so soft and smooth that they felt like a dream in your fractured memory.

Then it all rushed back to you.

Your body jolted forward, and you leapt out of bed with lightning speed. In a split second, your instincts took over, and you reached for your weapon, but instead, your hand brushed against something soft, and not your belt. Or your padded trousers that made up your leather armor. No, you were dressed in a refined, off-white satin gown that elegantly draped over your knees. The dress boasted a crew neckline and short sleeves with delicate ruffles, exuding an air of sophistication.

You've never felt more vulnerable in your life.

Why did that feel rapidly subject to change?

You vigorously shake your head, banishing the thoughts clouding your mind. Focus on getting out of here. However, that's supposed to work... The memory of trying to kiss Astarion resurfaces, and you can still hear his voice telling you to save it, creating a bittersweet ache in your heart. Then the journey through Cazadors palace. You remember it all, the journey that brought you to this point, every step and decision replaying in your memory. The Ascendant...

This isn't your home. Not your world. Hells, how were you supposed to come back from this? And what about the tadpole? No, you won't let yourself panic and allow your mind to be overrun by wild thoughts. You won't. One step at a time. Get out of this... very expensive "I shouldn't even be breathing in here, it'll put me in debt for three of my reincarnated lives" bedchamber.

And that starts by finding some godsdamned shoes.

In a huff, you search the room until your eyes land on a wardrobe overflowing with countless pairs of shoes. With little regard, you carelessly throw the ones you don't like behind you, surely leaving a chaotic mess of mismatched slippers, sandals and boots that look like they'd crumble to ash at the slightest whiff of rough terrain. All too... blegh... What happened to practicality? Does that not exist in this world?

Finally, you come across a pair of simple black dress shoes. Considering most of the shelves are now barren, you decide it'll have to do. You sit on the ground with a soft grunt and pause when you lift your leg to see your foot.

Wrapped around your right ankle is a small band, its silver and gold hues giving it an almost ominous allure. Reminding you far too much of a shackle for your liking, though you see nowhere to leash a chain. You're now keenly aware of how perfectly it conforms to your skin as you absentmindedly run your fingers over it, hoping to find a way to remove it, only to feel a sense of tension when you discover no breaks. You're not even sure how anyone could have fastened it on you. There's no discernible latch or hinge along the band and it rests too snugly against your ankle to have smoothly fit over your foot.

Regardless, it wasn't there before, which means he had it put on you and that means it's nothing you want on you.

With a sigh, you resume slipping the shoes on, noticing how they conform perfectly to the shape of your feet, and rise off the floor. You tentatively approach the door, half-expecting it might come to life and smack you away. Or it may simply be locked. Then spit lightning in your face.

None of those things happen.

The door simply opens.

Somehow, that's not reassuring.

You cautiously poke your head out, taking a quick look in both directions. An open archway leading to a sort of indoor courtyard and fountain is straight ahead and a skylight streaming in sunlight. To your left there's a grand hallway that opens up before you, showcasing ornate hallway tables, exquisite floral arrangements, captivating portraits, and enigmatic busts of faces you don't recognize. And to your right is more of the same, but with doors lining both sides.

But it was eerily quiet, with no sounds of activity. Good. With a sense of anticipation, you place one foot in front of the other and step over the threshold. No invisible forcefield knocks you back, instead your shoes touch the red carpet that flows down the halls. How tacky.

Each step is slow and soft, filled with uncertainty and trepidation, as you creep onward. The sound of your shoes clicking against the white tile of the courtyard made you flinch, a sudden jolt of sound in the silence. It's wider than you expected, stretching out before you like an expansive canvas. Colorful flowers and green plants are carefully placed along the walls and in the corners, adding a burst of life to the empty spaces. A comfortable distance away from the large, white, three-tiered fountain, a bench beckons visitors to sit and enjoy the view.

You recall wishing you had your own...

Refusing to let your thoughts stray, you give the room a final swift once-over before pivoting and making your way back to the expansive hallway. That led literally nowhere.

This time, you turn left and round the corner a moment later. Another set of double doors, flanked by two muscular men, one a human with scarlet eyes and the other a tiefling with black and blue eyes. Initially, they appear unfazed by your presence until you make a move towards the doors. "Good morning, Lady Ancunín." The human greets you with a gentle nod. "You're up early."

Lady...? Oh no, absolutely not—Ugh, focus, Tav... "Where's this lead?" You ask with a gesture of your chin toward the doors.

"The southwest wing, ma'am." The tiefling answers this time. "We've strict orders to ensure you remain here in the northwest wing. And only approved staff may come and go." He says it so simply, so respectfully, it infuriates you more.

Don't be stupid.

Don't be stupid...

"Well," you exhale softly, your eyes fixated on the space between the two men. "How unfortunate it is that I simply don't give a damn," you conclude just as politely.

Just as you move to charge the doors and they close the gap to bar your way, another voice rings out behind you. "Let's keep our heads, shall we?" The voice, deep and resonant, interjects.

On instinct, you spin around and face it. In the center of the hallway stands a tall, imposing human man with jet-black, nearly cropped hair and piercing red eyes. He stands with an air of authority, his hands firmly clasped behind his back. "Lady Ancunín," he addresses you respectfully, his voice carrying a hint of formality. "The master deeply regrets his delay, as matters pertaining to the staff and estate have tied him up longer than he expected, but he assures you he will join you in the morning room shortly."

"First off," you snap, your voice sharp and piercing, "stop calling me that." Your hands wave in the air, a flurry of movement, emphasizing your frustration. "Second, what the hells is a morning room?" The words tumble out, filled with confusion. "And third, pray tell, who are you?" Your hands continue to move in a mix of irritation and curiosity.

"My name is Malacai, ma'am," he responds, his voice smooth and poised. He bows his back gracefully, a sign of his professionalism. The scent of polished wood and fresh flowers wafts through the air, mingling with the soft sound of servants bustling about. You briefly note that they must be out and about now, performing their duties for the day. "I am your Steward and Royal Chamberlain, entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing and ensuring that your servants maintain the impeccable standards that the master expects of those in your esteemed service." Sensing your confusion, he elaborates further, his words like a soothing balm, clarifying any doubt that may cloud your thoughts.

Malacai's eyes twinkle with an apologetic smile, his lips curving gently as he adds, "Regrettably, I am cannot comply with your order, for it would directly contradict the will of His Almighty Majesty." he states, his voice laced with conviction. "However, if you permit, I can enlighten you on the purpose of the morning room as we make our way." He extends his arm, a subtle gesture inviting you to follow. Reluctantly, you comply, the soft thump of your shoes against the carpet floor flowing through the spacious hallways.

As it turns out, it's just a small room to have breakfast in and lounge and it's not that far from where you already were. It doesn't escape your notice that the open window at the end of the hall, near the doors to the room and streaming in sunlight, does not faze Malacai.

A wave of discomfort washes over you as you take in the sight of two girls dressed in servants' clothes, standing in front of the open doors to the room. Brown and blue eyes. Not spawn. Interesting. So he really doesn't turn them all. Once you set foot in the room, they close the doors behind you.

Malacai moves with practiced ease, effortlessly gliding around you. He pulls out the chair facing the window for you. The drawn curtains create a soft filter of light as he watches you expectantly.

With a groan, you begrudgingly go along with it. Taking a deep breath, you roll your eyes and reluctantly occupy the chosen seat. Only to flinch near instantly when your ankle snaps to the wide leg of the chair. Instinctively, you glance down and try to move your foot. It doesn't budge. You can move the rest of your leg, but your foot remains fixed to the leg of the chair...

Hells below, it really is a shackle...

Just as you open your mouth to verbally assault Malacai behind you, the door swings open, interrupting your words. A chill runs down your spine as your blood turns icy. "Ah! Sorry, pet." With a smirk, he confidently strides in, exuding an air of nonchalant swagger. Like this is all fucking normal. "So much to do to accommodate your arrival." The closer he gets, the tighter your hands clench in your lap.

Leaning down, the Ascendant tenderly presses a soft kiss into your hair, and you feel the warmth of his breath against your head, sending a delicate shiver down your spine. A firm, grounding reminder that this isn't him. This isn't your Astarion. "I will stab you with a fork." You grumble, silently wishing you could.

He snorts quietly, his laughter tickling the strands of your hair, before straightening his back. Adjusting his short tailcoat that is practically screaming 'I melted a bank to pay for this'. His dark blue attire, adorned with a white trim, provided a polished and coordinated appearance, complete with form-fitting trousers. "Gods, I've missed you." With a sigh that carried a sense of longing, his eyes shimmered with a mischievous twinkle.

Right before you can retort, Astarion turns away, his tailcoat trailing behind him like a fleeting shadow, and he squints at the table with a perplexed expression. "What? They've kept you waiting?" His lip curls and he suddenly lifts his hand with a resounding snap of his fingers. "Malacai, I know it's been some time since you've served any meaningful purpose, but I did expect better of you."

A flurry of activity follows the sound of his nonverbal command. The room was bustling with staff of all shapes and sizes as Astarion settled into his seat across from you. With an air of indifference, he scans the room, his eyes darting critically over each person while he casually crosses his leg over his lap.

Suddenly, his eyes flit to yours. "Would you like the windows open, my dear?"

It crosses your mind, and a tug of desire catches you by surprise. Genuinely, you would.

Before you can even utter a word, Astarion's eyes twinkle with understanding as he flashes a brief, knowing smile, and then snaps his fingers a second time. "Windows, now." Disinterest replaced in his voice with authority and a glance over his shoulder.

As fast as it all happens, they're gone. So much so that it almost makes your head spin. Situated right in front of you is a tempting display of piping hot pastries and other delectable treats, accompanied by a steaming cup of tea. Sunlight streams in through the windows, casting a warm glow on the room. And besides the presence of Malacai behind you, you're alone. With Him.

It dawns on you. You're not sure what to say. What to do. There's food, and your stomach makes what it thinks you should do known with a silent, dull ache. But you can't will yourself to move. The only thought that remains consistent in your mind is home. Your friends. Your freedom.

Your Astarion.

This isn't your Astarion.

"Simply gawking at it won't satiate your hunger, darling." The Ascendant says, returning you from your thoughts.

"I'm going on a hunger strike."

"I wouldn't recommend it." He replies, though his tone is simple, the faint edge of a warning doesn't fail to reach your ears.

But you haven't come this far in life by backing down from a challenge. "If only I gave a fuck what you recommend." You sneer, shifting in your chair, itching to be free of it.

"Language, my treasure." The Ascendant scolds, and you lift your eyes from the plate to him. "Such a foul vocabulary is unbecoming a woman of your immense stature."

"Stature?" You echo, face grimacing in mild disgust. As you recall what he said before he took you, the air around you feels suffocating, as if the words themselves have become a tangible presence. "I'm just me. I'm a simple adventurer with... admittedly tainted blood—"

"You were." He interjects, the look in his eyes hardening. "Were. But are no longer. What you are now is my treasure. My dark consort—"

Each word strikes your chest like a hammer hits a nail and you try to interject. "No," but your tone lacks force, falling softly to the table.

"And what you will become... is my beloved, faithful and obedient queen." The Ascendant declares firmly, leaving no space for disagreement. "Hmph. I wish we could wed tonight and spend the rest of the evening... consummating our marriage,"

With every word he adds, his voice dances gracefully, like a captivating melody, beckoning you deeper into his presence. His eyes become eclipsed by a shadow, cloaking them in darkness, as his gaze betrays a disquieting blend of adoration, obsession, and desire. Causing an unsettling sensation to crawl down your spine.

Your stomach churns. The rest of your body yearns... No. This isn't your Astarion. This isn't right. "But patience is required." He exhales deeply with a subtle heave of his chest. "Waiting a little longer, so we may plan a proper wedding and coronation ceremony worthy of us is trivial by comparison to how long I've waited already." Says the Ascendant, adjusting in his chair to sit more comfortably. Paying no mind to your baffled, stunned staring.

"Before anything else, we must make your arrival in Faerûn known and declare your position by my side. And we have a mere tenday to organize our engagement announcement." Now he just seems like he's delivering a presentation, not seeking your input. "Don't fret, little love. I will take care of it. Just as I will take care of you."

"Coronation?" You repeat the word, its echoes bouncing around your mind like the distant sound of trumpets. The image of a grand ceremony materializes in your thoughts, with opulent decorations adorning the regal hall. The scent of fresh flowers fills the air, intermingling with the aromatic aroma of polished wood. Apprehension fills your heart, fluttering like a trapped bird. You can almost feel the weight of the crown bearing down upon your head, and a sickening feeling creeps over.

Suddenly, another word emerges from your memory, perhaps one you misheard, "wedding??" Reluctantly, you find yourself envisioning the scenario, as if trapped in a vivid nightmare. The image materializes before you: a pristine white dress drapes over your form, its delicate fabric brushing against your skin, the ethereal music guiding your path. Each step down the aisle sends a shiver down your spine, as your gaze fixates on the Ascendant, patiently waiting for you at the altar. Dread consumes you, tangible and suffocating, as if crawling beneath your very flesh.

A gentle, airy laugh escapes from him, echoing in the room. The sound is painfully familiar. It's not your Astarion. "Naturally, my love," he murmurs, his voice as velvety as a midnight breeze. "How else are you to join my side," he muses, a wicked smile playing on his lips, "and reign as my sovereign queen?" As he leans his elbow on the armrest of his chair, he idly runs his fingers along each other. "But we can discuss such matters after you've had your fill."

"I'm on hunger strike." You remind him, crossing your arms and leaning into your chair. You adamantly refuse to comply with any of this under any circumstances.

With a raised eyebrow, the Ascendant silently expressed their skepticism towards your defiance. "Is that so?" He stares, his intense gaze never wavering from yours. So much about him was the same, even his mannerisms. As you gazed into his eyes, a flicker of affection could be discerned. Your Astarion's feelings for you, but barely. This thing was a grotesque, twisted, and nightmarish imitation.

And it threatened to consume you if you don't get away in time.

Your body stiffened in a way that was becoming all too familiar to you. "You will eat your breakfast until your hunger is completely satisfied." Astarion's words command authority, delivered with a tone that is both warm and firm. His lips betray a hint of amusement as he observes your hands obediently move at his behest, disregarding your own desires.

"That was rather adorable of you, sweetheart, thinking you could resist me." His lips curl into a smile as he purrs, his fingers lazily draped over his lip.

With his other hand, he snaps his fingers; the sound resonating in the silence. "Malacai, be a useful little lark and fetch me a goblet."

"Of course, your majesty."

Astarion casually adds, with a dismissive wave of his hand, "And have someone arrange the offerings from yesterday in Orchid Hall." He regards you intently as you continue to eat steadily against your will. But says nothing further.

‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐–‐

With a wave of his hand, you felt the confinement of your ankle release, allowing you to leave your chair once you've had your fill. You grumble at him, likening his behavior to that of Ethel, a name that doesn't ring a bell for him at first. When he does remember, he's just amused. It annoys you, but you're not quite ready to start another protest with him.

Astarion walks with you through the wide halls of the wing. His eyes catch sight of the open door to the bedroom you woke up in and as you pass, he peeks inside. With an exasperated sigh, he scoffs "hells below...!" and abruptly changes direction, entering the room. You entertain the thought of turning around and leaving, but the piercing intensity of Malacai's stare dissuades you from taking any action.

Confused, you trail behind the Ascendant and take in the chaotic scene of countless boots, shoes, slippers, and sandals strewn around on the floor. Oh, here we go. So much for not protesting, but you're not going to apologize either.

With a disappointed and vexed expression, he looks up at you. "Why didn't you let me know sooner that you weren't satisfied with your wardrobe?"

The more you blink, the more you become aware of his penetrating stare, and the realization creeps in that this is far from a weird joke. "...What?" But you ask anyway, unable to hide your audible bewilderment.

"Little love, if none of these selections are to your liking, I will summon the most accomplished and esteemed shoemakers and designers in the Gate to create something that suits your taste."

"Wait—" You stammer, flinching at the thought, but the Ascendant dismisses your hesitation.

He snaps his fingers, and as if they were mere extensions of his will, three servant girls gracefully glide into the room. With a disdainful gaze, he gestures towards the footwear, conveying their unworthiness. "Gather these and dispose of them," he commands, his voice oozing with a haughty demeanor. "My treasure deems inadequate."

As he straightens his regal attire, the fabric brushes against his fingertips, emanating a luxurious texture that matches his grandiose presence. "Tell Cirrus to ensure that only the most skilled shoemakers are summoned to the palace," he commands, his tone emphasizing the crucial role of expertise. "And a seamstress, while we're at it."

With a confident posture, he stands tall and looks down at them, his gaze filled with a subtle sense of preeminence. "If I discover any of these in your possession or, worse yet, on your wretched feet, I will personally ensure that you never need them again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, your Almighty Majesty," they answered, their voice quivering with a mix of fear and reverence for their all-powerful sovereign.

He gives his jacket a quick tug, ensuring it fits just right before facing you. "Now then To the Ballroom." The Ascendant says, the tone of his voice changing from terrifying tyrant to a tender, dare you say, doting lover. He moves past you, silently ordering you to follow.

But your curiosity gets the better of you. "Can I ask you something?" Your voice comes across as more timid than you expected or intended.

Astarion pauses in the doorway and turns again to face you. "Anything, my love." He smiles with a warmth that seeps into your heart, annoyingly melting it just a teensy bit. Stupid of you, you know it's a lie.

Though you ignore your irritation for now, to continue with your question. One that had started to bother you at breakfast. "It's just... they fit my feet and all perfectly, I... where did they come from?" As the words leave your lips, you realize how pointless they are. What purpose does this information serve? It won't help you get out of here.

His smile somehow warms, deepens, creating a sense of familiarity and ease. He approaches you with deliberate, unhurried steps, and lifts his hand to tenderly caress your cheek with the back of his fingers, his intense stare holding you in a trance. "Once upon a time... they were yours." The fervor in his eyes could make your knees tremble. If you weren't consciously coaching yourself that this isn't him. This isn't your Astarion.

Then, the Ascendant takes your hand in his free one, closing around yours, and you feel the strength and warmth of his touch as he intertwines your fingers together. "But what was... is no longer. Isn't it, my pet?"

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Thought it different to not lock you into a bedroom and instead confine you to a wing of the palace with a magical ankle bracelet lmao. I flip flopped on your Stewards name (yes he is yours personally, Astarion just habitually bosses everyone around) and couldn't decide if Malacai was too odd a name.

More Ascendant next chapter? Or do we peek in on Astarion? ...decisions, decisions, whichever will it be?

[sometipsygnostalgic]

Cartoon scale from "we must kill all magic" SVTFOE to "bring back magic and spread it" SPOP

It's very strange that Star Vs wanted to kill all the magic, it was an edgy outcome and the exact opposite of the episode where Star came back to life. The killing magic logic doesn't even work in itself, because apparently magic creates inequality, but honey, so many things create inequality. The mewmans aren't going to leave monsters alone forever. I get they spent a good season and a half villainizing the magical council for some reason but come on, seriously no solution other than killing all magical beings and magical portals???? Especially since it seems Mewnie itself got portal merged with Earth in a horrifying way.

Like, the show's politics by that stage seemed so angry about something. A lot of spite happening. There's plenty of real life analogies to compare it to that would induce spite, but I don't think any of them are fitting here. Authority....? Is it worth "killing the magic" to give a middle finger to monarchy? Can't you, instead, give magic to everyone? That would be cool!!! EVERYONE getting powers. Therefore people like Mina have no power over anyone else. That's more of what Spop went for, magic as a symbol of freedom of expression and freedom from control.

Something else is, a whole bunch of disgruntled mewmans went to Moon for help, then she superbuffed them with magic for. Some stupid reason. What a horrible character butchering. She endangered her own daughter and for what?

All of this overshadows some of the sweeter moments of Star, such as the aforementioned death and revival at the start of season 3. That entire arc was Star at its peak. And the mother-daughter relationship with all its complexities.

A petty issue I have with Star is she is very ADHD at the start and by the end of the show she's completely "grown out" of it (aka it was crushed out of her). As if it was mere childishness and she has to become a normal boring adult now.

I was very happy when in Owl House, they directly addressed this part of Luz... the crushing of her neurodivergent spirit... and her mother tells her it's all okay to be weird and wonderful and then in the final battle she uses her super self insert furry goth OC powers to annihilate Belos.

THAT shit would make Adora proud too. In season 5, theres a few eps where Adora basically does what the hell what she wants, and Entrapta is also doing what the hell she wants, and it's so liberating for me.

Amphibia exists in a weird spot where, they kill the magic but not in as horrible a way as Star Vs, more so the characters go back to their normal lives. The kicker here was that they fell out and stopped hanging for 10 years for,... some reason? In this day and age? I've known one of my friends since I was 4 years old, and we are still very closet today at the age of 27!!! The rest of our friends we've been with for over 10 years!!!

[girlactionfigure]

Some of the comments about Israel’s operation in Jenin are based on willful attempts to manipulate or ignore facts. Here are a few examples.

1. Misleading about who was killed. One can say “terrorists” or “militants” but willfully misleading is to pretends it’s random people.

2. Persistent use of “refugee camp” is an attempt to mislead. It was a camp established in 1953, it’s a built up urban area today. Willfully misleading is to portray the word “refugee camp” as of the attack is on refugees, as oppose to gunmen in the area.

3. Not mentioning the gunmen, gun violence and far-right religious extremist militia terror groups that are the target of the operation. The armed men openly pose for photos…not showing them is part of misleading about the gun violence these men did to the locals

4. Portraying the use of “missiles” as somehow unacceptable. When hundreds of armed violence extremists take over an area and use it to stockpile illegal rifles, bombs, explosives and other dangerous weapons, they have created a war zone. Precision warfare is how war works today

5. Israel��s use of bulldozers is not against civilians but it is falsely portrayed as such. The fact is that hundreds of gunmen with illegal rifles terrorized civilians and put explosives near streets risking lives. Armored vehicles clearing streets of IEDs is way to remove them

In conclusion, it’s important to start with the reality that armed gangs of men running around with rifles and stockpiling weapons for attacks is what led to this. You can’t have a city terrorized by armed extremists that attack others.

The reality is that the Palestinian Authority backed for years with western aid, and even it’s security forces trained with US backing, had a duty to bring peace and security to people in Jenin and they systematically abandoned the city to extremists (many tied to Iran)

You can go back and read all my and other reports about how illegal weapons openly fueled and destroyed peace and security in Jenin. Stakeholders who were supposed to help the PA, failed to account for this and abandoned the city to armed gun culture extremism.

When is the last time human rights groups or diplomats visited Jenin and spoke out about the flood of illegal firearms and extremists who parade around with guns in front of kids to terrorize people? People have a right not to live under armed gangs

Huge resources were spent on the PA; money siphoned off for villas and BMWs while Jenin was abandoned. While officials relaxed by their pools rifles were stolen and flooded Jenin. Diplomats relaxed in hotels in Ramallah roasting eachother and “human rights” groups as it happened

And so then after the armed groups carried out dozens of attacks Israel increasingly responded. And then those relaxing who had done nothing and abandoned the city to extremists are surprised and misleading.

Jenin is used by gunmen extremists, some backed by Iran, so that Iran can try to turn it into the same hell of Hezbollah-occupied southern Lebanon and Hamas-occupied Gaza and the captogan trade of militias in Syria or the hell of PMU-occupied parts of Iraq.

It’s not like the model isn’t obvious. Iran already carved out an arc of poverty and militia - occupied armed gunmen hell in many areas to profit and use these areas against others. Unfortunately they tried to do the same in Jenin with predicable results.

Seth Frantzman

@sfrantzman

[subukunojess]

DJTober 2023: A Monthly Fan Creation Challenge

Introducing, a new Fan Art/Fan Fiction Challenge for the Month of October 2023!

Links: Archive of Our Own and Spotify Playlist.

I always like monthly fanfiction and fan art challenges in certain months that create new work and get the creative flow going. So I decided I wanted to make my own challenge that anyone could join.

Information and Text version of Prompts under the cut:

So what is DJTober? It is a challenge where you can draw or write based on random songs and verses as the daily prompts. I picked the name because it was different and I think Songtober was already taken. You can either post fan art or write fanfic or create a gif or anything that you feel like creating! Will this be a thing? Who knows? Will I make a side blog for this? It depends. Either way, I'm going to try this challenge myself and share it with others.

A couple of things to note:

In order for me to see your work on your platform (either Tumblr or AO3), please use the tags: #DJTober and #DJTober2023.

You can write a one-shot or multiple chapters, one fandom or multiple, and dark/whump/NSFW are allowed as well. Just make sure to tag appropriately and be mindful of triggers/content warnings.

Having said that, I do not allow things like pedophilia or similar in the works. I will immediately remove it and/or take drastic measures if need be.

Your fic can either be inspired by the song itself or by the suggested verse in the picture, or a different lyric of your choice. You can even have someone say the lyric in a quote. Your fic does not have to be a songfic.

You do not have to go in order of the list and you can start as early or late as you want. Just be aware that the collection that is opened now will remain unmoderated until the end of the first week of November.

Without further ado, here are the prompts:

Life's no fun without a good scare. (This Is Halloween from Nightmare Before Christmas)

2) All of your time spent keeps us alive. (Larger Than Life by Backstreet Boys)

3) Think of it as my desire for you. (Chant from Hadestown)

4) Tell me you love me in private. (Montero (Call Me By Your Name) by Lil Nas X)

5) I'm wearing my heart like a crown, pretending that you're still around. (The Great Pretender by The Platters)

6) I'm far renowned in the underground and you can't take that from me. (Land of the Dead by Voltaire)

7) Because you're mine. (I Put A Spell On You, either Screamin' Jay Hawkins or the Hocus Pocus version)

8) No one else takes care of me. (Independent Women, pt 1 by Destiny's Child)

9) Just what to do. Help them to help you. (The Pitiful Children from Be More Chill)

10) Talk so pretty, but your heart got teeth. (Teeth by 5 Seconds of Summer)

11) Go ahead and kick it up a notch if your life is at a level too low. (Kick It Up A Notch from Starkid's Starship)

12) Don't have the heart to live in the fast lane. (Worthless from The Brave Little Toaster)

13) And no one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike. (Thriller by Michael Jackson)

14) May your feet serve you well and the rest be sent to Hell. (Let's Kill Tonight by Panic! At The Disco)

15) This plant is talking to you. (Sominex/Suppertime II from Little Shop of Horrors)

16) Your beauty never ever scared me. (Mary on a Cross by Ghost)

17) Music and passion were always the fashion at the Copa. Don't fall in love. (Copacabana by Barry Manilow)

18) Part of life's eternal rhyme. (Mother Earth and Father Time from Charlotte's Web)

19) You can't reason with a headless man. (The Headless Horseman, any version)

20) With a taste of poison paradise. (Toxic by Britney Spears)

21) Ain't it the sweetest noises in town, that beautiful sound? (That Beautiful Sound from Beetlejuice the Musical)

22) What you gon' do when there's blood in the water? (Blood // Water by grandson)

23) Because a caricature is all they know. (Candle Queen by Ghost and Pals)

24) If you stay close to me in my dreams tonight. (Dreams to Dream from American Tail: Fieval Goes West)

25) Don't ever laugh as a hearse goes by. (The Hearse Song, any version)

26) We're hand to hand, chest to chest, and now, we're face to face. (Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna)

27) Would you please send directions on how I can get where you are? (T.E.A.M./The Baseball Game from You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown)

28) Sip the gossip, drink til you choke. (Gossip by Maneskin)

29) So sweet. So cold. So fair. (St. James Infirmary by Cab Calloway)

30) Every day, I'll take you higher and I'll never let you fall. (Let Me Be Your Wings from Thumbelina)

31) Writer's Choice/Request/Free Space (You can either choose a favorite song of your own, request a song on your blog for others to suggest, or use this as a free space/day to write whatever you want).

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me. Please reblog to spread the word!

[witchhatproductions]

Witch Hat News #4 - Lessons from the Archives

by Tata Calthrop

This is an archived version of our microfiction newsletter! You can read along on our tumblr, or subscribe here.

Which archive, you may ask? Well, it's quite simple.

Our own one.

Yes, like many twenty-somethings in the creative field now, I was forged in a rather specific fire – the classic Internet pipeline of Neopets, Deviantart, Tumblr, Twitter, usually interspaced at some point with either a gender crisis or a formal diagnosis of mental illness.

You see, for a young nerdy preteen in 2010, you have two sexy choices made available to you, neither of which you will perceive until it's too late. You will choose either the path of solitude (voraciously consuming and creating content in incredible loneliness and feeling like the only person in the world who does so), or the path of the internet, where you will learn at an incredibly young age how to receive and handle a death threat. I was raised on a raw, unfiltered diet of fandom. (Sonic the Hedgehog. The world has not been kind to me.)

The fans and the hermits have a lot to teach each other. In fact, as easy as it is to make fun of – well – most people on the internet, there is something valuable to be learned from every subculture of creativity, including the horny ones. 

So let me make a confession to you: I'm a fanfiction writer. I have a shameful record of 155,821 words, none of which will ever give me a scrap of credibility with anyone, including other fanfiction writers. (Heavy is the head that wears the dunce hat of Adventure/Comedy.) Hell, I've spent over a year picking away at a fancomic project. For zero dollars and no publication accolades, I have written at least five full completed novellas, which will never be published, be recognised, or prove anything except my big, fat crush on the uncle from Encanto.

My god, was it freeing.

The social pressure to monetize your art is insane. I took my first art commission before I even had my first bank account. It was my teenage dream: to be paid is to obtain credibility. The label will hang over your head like an execution hood: PROFESSIONAL. Of course, the loop never really stops; start making money and suddenly your eyes are open to how many opportunities you're missing, and how little you make compared to others, and how wide the chasm is between you and full-time creation. 

(That's not to say the money and recognition aren't nice! That part I do recommend.)

But making fan content, and making friends who also make fan content, and building up a small audience of people who just want to be there for fun is incredibly liberating when you're not used to it. Get a bunch of friends who create together, join a community that makes its own memes and creates a bubble of mutual feedback and appreciation, and you start to realise: this is how they made the old tales, the oral ones before the printing press.

Here's two lessons from the archives.

Love characters. Fall in love with their vulnerable moments, their jokes, their relationship dynamics, the little unseen parts of them that you can never put in a real story because there's simply no point. Linger on the details. Develop a little crush. Project all your issues and obsess over nothing. Love your own characters, and you'll find suddenly that creating art about them changes from a chore to an act of affection. Learn what makes you fall in love with other stories, and look for the same aspects in your own.

Making art to impress a large audience will disappoint you; making art to impress a social circle of about ten interested people is how life is supposed to be lived. The early humans who painted mammoths on cave walls had no audience except themselves.

Here's a quote I like, from Prof. Henry Jenkins, Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism and Cinematic Arts at University of Southern California: "Contemporary Web culture is the traditional folk process working at lightning speed on a global scale. The difference is that our core myths now belong to corporations, rather than the folk.”

Here's another quote I like, from twitter user @FarfinFarfin: "the fastest way to improve your art is to become some sort of pervert, doesn't really matter what kind, whatever you're comfortable with". 

Reviews

The Northern Caves by @nostalgebraist. The Northern Caves is a cosmic horror story about unwary scholars who delved too deep into the ancient texts, except the scholars are a group of hardcore nerds on an early 2000s fan forum for a mediocre fantasy series, and the ancient texts are fan theories about the author's baffling final novel. I know almost nothing about original fiction on Archive of Our Own, but I recognise a wonderfully online scary story when I see one. Psychological, terrifying, and twistedly fascinating reading for anyone who's ever watched an online community implode.

Songs for Girls in Love by @phemiec. PhemieC was one of my favourite musicians as a teenager, and when I got into my first relationship I rushed into the familiar arms of their love songs. They also were making, at the time, Homestuck fansongs. But when I was 15, this music made more of an impact on me than any classic musician ever could. Songs for Girls In Love has a number of fansongs mixed in, largely for things I've never consumed, but you'd never know it from their lyrical subtlety and I'm still a huge fan. 

Digital Land Grab: Media corporations are stealing our cultural heritage. Can we take it back? By Henry Jenkins. Okay, okay, this one's not exactly micro or fiction of any sort. But it is the article that I quoted earlier, and Prof. Jenkins could be described as the grandfather of fanwork studies in academia. A good read about the history and creative validity of fanwork, and the ways in which corporations suppress it. I highly recommend it, even if you know nothing about fanfiction.

Your project here. Do you make art of any kind - visual, written, performed? Are you starting a project or recruiting co-creators? We want to hear from you! Email us at contact@witchhatproductions.com.

That's it for June. See you next month!

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Human Cannery Co.

Fandom: YJ98, Superfam, Flashfam, DC Comics

Summary: Conner is faced with a dilemma when Bart's clone shows up at his apartment asking for help.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Conner Kent, Thaddeus Thawne, Bart Allen, Tim Drake, Cassie Sandsmark, Clark Kent

Relationships: KonThad

Additional Tags: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Thad Thawne Redemption Fic, Clone 4 Clone, Developing Friendships, Angst, First Kiss, Roommates, Canon Divergent AU

Chapter One: Ferris Wheel Prologue

He wanted to go on the Ferris wheel last, so he could see the whole carnival as the lights went down. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I felt more human around another clone than I'd ever felt in my whole life. We spent half the night eating state fair food, playing carnival games, and talking. The lights from the wheel reflected blue and green on our faces as we slowly made our way to the top, and he started to whisper something and faltered. "You're smiling," Thad whispered. I turned to him, and his eyes were closed as if he were asleep.

"How—?"

"I had a good feeling... But I'm still afraid to ask," Thad mumbled. I wanted to reach for his hand but couldn't risk not knowing. I had to hear Thad's question. I had to know if he had second thoughts.

I chewed my lip and knitted my brows together with worry. "You should ask me," I replied softly.

"Did I—? Did I make you smile?" Thad asked. It was an innocent question. The kind of question that made my cheeks rosy.

I was careful not to chuckle. Besides, it wasn't funny. I took the tip of my nose and nudged Thad's cheek. He looked so beautiful under the lights. I wanted him to open his eyes and look at me. Really look at me. He opened his eyes, and we stayed in that moment, locked in eye contact until I could work up the courage to kiss him. He kissed me, and it was clumsy at first. His lips crashed against mine, and we bumped noses. I think it hurt him more than it would've hurt me. He pulled away and tried to apologize. I couldn't help but lean in before he could say something else. I couldn't stop smiling as our lips touched, and he giggled. I reached for his cheek with my eyes closed. His lips tasted like his orange lip oil. I grabbed his hand and looked ahead at the rest of the carnival. "You make me smile even when I don't think I can," I whispered. I rubbed circles into the back of his hand with my thumb.

I could hear the lights shutting off for the other carnival rides nearby. "I don't want it to be over," Thad whispered. I didn't say anything because I felt the same way. It felt like goodbye.

Eventually, we had to get off the Ferris wheel and the last carnival games packed up for the night. I walked to the park holding Thad's hand, and we sat down for a while. "That was my first kiss," Thad whispered. I frowned. "What's wrong?"

I could tell he'd never kissed anyone, but I didn't mind. "Nothing, I was thinking... I hope it won't be your last," I whispered.

In twenty-four hours, I would have to prove Thad's rehabilitation in front of my friends, our families, and their colleagues. I would have to dissect my friendship with him in front of everyone. Every sweet little detail, every private thought. It felt like an intrusion, but they allowed me secrecy for only so long. Bart didn't even know Thad had been living with me for the past three months. He'd be furious. Everyone would think I betrayed them, and Thad would feel just as violated as I did. I couldn't shake that thought. As clones, we didn't get the luxury of privacy. Born in labs, developed in tubes, created for purposes with the expectation that we reject individuality. I would have to make a sales pitch for his life. It wasn't fair.

A few months ago, I wouldn't have cared. I didn't care about Thad back then. Hell, I didn't even like him. I would've thrown him to the wolves and thought it was the right thing to do. It wasn't my place to be self-righteous or callous, though. I did the kind thing because he begged me. He had to make a case for himself. That's where things get confusing. No one knew he was with me, let alone in the twenty-first century. He showed up one morning, sitting on my kitchen counter, eating my canned goods, and asking me not to pound his face in. Tall order. I heard him out, and he explained that he'd figured out how to save Bart's dad and aunt. He told me how he executed his plan and where to find them. I almost didn't believe him, but he swore his goal wasn't for recognition or retribution.

Thad was sincere and almost in tears as he told me the amount of planning he had to go through to save them. He had to snatch them from what appeared to be existence and place them in a pocket dimension until he could find somewhere to put them that wouldn't damage time. Thad had to let Bart become a hero and Jenni too. He gave me a date and a location, and when I asked him why he wanted my help, he told me that I was Bart's best friend. I believed him.

After I talked to the League, the Titans, and my friends, I would have to slip away to retrieve Mr. Allen and Mrs. Ognats. It was a lot of pressure for one person to be under, but I was honored that someone thought I was Bart's closest friend. Maybe it was a shallow appeal to my ego, but I took it at face value.

I returned to the present and glanced at Thad, but he was fast asleep. I sighed and carried him home on my back. I'd miss him. I never thought I would've enjoyed the space he occupied so much. If they didn't believe Thad was redeemed, I'd never wake up to his presence again. It was as simple as that. I would be alone in my apartment, surrounded by nothing but my memories of him. It wasn't fair.

I took off his shoes and coat and tucked him into his bed. I couldn't sleep. I went over every nice thing I could possibly say about Thad. I wanted to help him because he deserved it, not simply because I had a crush on him. I knew Thad was good. I only had to prove that to everyone else.

I pored over my cue cards and notes as if I were going to a business meeting. It sucked. "Okay... He's attentive," I read in a whisper. Thad woke up in the middle of the night and peeked over my shoulder.

"These are all nice things... You have nice things to say about me?" Thad asked. I nodded and invited him to sit with me.

"I've got tons of nice things to say about you... This is all for tomorrow," I explained, "I'm just contemplating whether or not I should bring you or have you stay here."

"It's my trial. Isn't it? Shouldn't I be there?" Thad asked. I didn't want to subject him to that if I didn't have to. "I'm not gonna let you go by yourself."

Thad laid his head on my shoulder, and I kissed his cheek. "I can handle it... Thad, I don't know if I want you to hear all they've gotta say-."

He took some of my index cards and read over them. "Nothing I haven't heard before... But this-. No one's ever talked about me the way you do," Thad whispered, "I wanna be there to hear you talk about me." I grinned.

"Or I can say it all now," I offered. Thad chuckled.

"Do you really like me? I mean, really like me?" Thad questioned.

"Of course, I really like you," I answered, "I don't go around kissing whatever pretty face I see. I only kiss people I have feelings for." I paused and fact-checked myself. "Yeah! I only kiss people I have serious feelings for. Flirting's a little different... But I digress." Thad grinned, and I brushed his chin with my knuckle.

"No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm glad we kissed," Thad whispered, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself to fight for me. You gave me everything I wanted from you and then some... I'm beyond grateful. Thank you."

Thad was thanking me. I never expected him to say the words out loud. I had to fight for him. I had to show everyone how much he'd changed and grown. He deserved my best efforts. And I wasn't ready to let him go.

[anjukurada-fanfic-rec-blog]

1. No comment, other than I absolutely loved the Wing sheltering

2. Look at the way Crowley is here. How happy, excited, genuinely OPEN he is. Vocal stims, pure joy, all of it. How many time had Aziraphale seen that after this scene? Many more times? I’d assume, if they were at all close after this moment. Now, Aziraphale mentions that he remembers the angel that Crowley was, which means he remembers that joy and excitement and happiness, and he hasn’t seen it on his friend’s face for over 6,000 years! Of course he would want Crowley to become an angel again. He would want him to be back there, to experience that, because he feels Crowley deserves to be that happy again. But he is so blinded by that desire to make his friend/love happy that he can’t see that he WON’T be happy. That was the past, and so much has changed, that there is no longer a chance at being happy there again... Zira is so purely trying to bring back a happiness that will never exist again...

3. I loved the silent treatment. It was a very realistic representation of what would happen in a relationship after a fight. Zira is obviously rather hurt by what Crowley did, and wants Crowley to know it. Childish as it is, it is realistic.

4. I want to know how it started! Crowley says he doesn’t do the dance, Zira explains a number of times he’s done it in the last couple hundred years. Did Zira end up doing something so horrible that Crowley demanded he PROVE how sorry he was, so Zira decided to embarass himself by doing a little dance? I neeed to know!

5. They both performed half of a miracle together and ended up setting off alarm bells in Heaven and creating a massive plume of magic. IMAGINE WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF TOGETHER, if they decided to perform a full-blown miracle! A half-arsed half-a-miracle held enough power to resurrect 25 people, imagine the power of a full-blown attack. No wonder Metatron tried so hard to separate the two!

6. Imagine being the cause of your best friend’s temporary death, and having to live how long on Earth without them simply because of a stupid little magic trick. I wouldn’t want to do it either. And this moment proved that Zira was willing to face ANYTHING in order to follow through with the trick, even knowing their miracles weren’t working to save them. It’s reckless, and he wants to keep Zira safe.

7. There are plenty of fics out there that show how horrible Hell could be for disobeying their orders. Knowing how determined he was to get the “insurance” when he came back to Earth, fearing the demon’s coming after him again, willing to put himself in danger to get the Holy Water himself, was proof enough that it was a very trying time for him.

8. I WAS SO EXCITED FOR HIM IN THIS MOMENT! He was so happy to be able to dance. But I wish he would JUST LISTEN! They both just never listen to each other. Communication, out the window!

9. The haunted look on Zira’s face when he explained that there was a fire and how easily books can go up... I believe that Crowley may have brought some of them, but honestly, I wouldn’t blame Zira for stocking up himself as well...

10. These motherfuckers spent 4 YEARS together and just said “What are they gonna do?” Aziraphale and Crowley have been so scared to take that leap because of their respective offices and the punishments that would come from it. Because, in part, of Gabriel and Beelz. Zira feared being cast out, as he has witnessed what that was like with his former fellow angels, and Heaven is all he’s ever truly known. Crowley didn’t have much to lose, so he pushed a little harder, but still! And then these two, who condemned them for working together, just went “yup, great idea, let’s do that, too!” Gabriel was fully prepared to FALL to be with Beelz! TO FALL. He didn’t care. And Beelz knew how bad off Hell was, so what were they really going to do to them? They KNEW they could get away with it, so they did, while our boys hid and suffered for THOUSANDS of years! BS!

11. So much pain and desperation in this scene... Angst hits far different when you can physically SEE it play out, rather than just reading it on paper/screen...

12. I am still not over this............................

13. He was planning on taking Zira to the Ritz... Driving him there, playing this song, after their little confession, for a nice breakfast and some “us time”........

14. I waited through the WHOLE credits scene, hoping for SOMETHING. ANYTHING. And we got NOTHING but pain.

GOOD OMENS S02 + TUMBLR REACTIONS