#i want to commiserate

[haloslips]

i'm going to be very real with you all, if jonathan toews gets traded to seattle i am not sure i'm strong enough not to let him ruin hockey for me for the second time

[currymanganese]

If we ever get Sydcarmy endgame I want to see them crack jokes with each other more, especially during a sex scene if we ever get one, and to see them make each other giggle and fall to pieces and shit. I want them to start sitting next to each other at family, holding hands after the meal or patting/rubbing each other's knees below the table. I want them to throw an arm over each other's shoulders as they brainstorm menu ideas. I want, before they get together, and after they've signed documents to give Sydney an official stake in the restaurant and she shakes the Berzattos' hands, I want Carmy's handshake with her to linger on a little too long and leave him awkward and red as a beet. I want Natalie, Richie, Tina, Ebra, Marcus, Sweeps, Manny, the new staff, Uncle Jimmy, Donna, Sydney's Dad, POTUS, the Vatican, Oprah, and the internet to clock the soft and loving looks that they furtively shoot each other. I want them to have full blown arguments where they don't hold anything back and see them compromise and kiss and make up. I want them to meet each other's families. I want-

*GUNSHOT SOUNDS- CAR SPEEDING OFF*

[summertimemusician]

Linktober 2024, Day 1, Mirror (Self)

Alright here we go again.

Technically a sneak peak of a bigger thing to come in the future that I'm repurposing, and the result of my final playthrough and readthrough before EoW dropped being Four Swords Adventures and that made me sad about Shadow Link again.

Note that this is for the Four Swords Adventures iteration of Shadow Link that might evolve into an LU Shadow, not Dark Link in either LOZ or LU, I have other plans for him.

This one shot was brought to you by Scars by The Crane Wives, Ribs by The Crane Wives, Ruin by The Amazing Devil and Two Minutes by The Amazing Devil because the author's playlist decided to be incredibly cheeky when they blacked out to write this like an ancient seers being cursed with visions and then called mad and hearing they've been put up for execution.

As always the nature of the relationship can be romantic or platonic, mostly due to the author's time constraints and further plans.

Anyway enjoy the reading!

It was cold.

The sort of cold after a wildfire, when everything's turned back to ash, the sort that left burned your vision white after the flames licked through your veins and left an ache in your bones. He shuddered, coughed black onto the stone floor, shaking with a muffled whimper.

It never got any easier, being dragged from the Dark World and into the Realm of Light, the goddesses' world itself revolting against an intruder, wanting the wound torn asunder into their oh so precious realm cauterized. To purge the intrusion and smite it where it stands.

Too bad for them (and for him), his master didn't particularly care about what the world wanted. Didn't particularly care that he hadn't grow accustomed to the pain or the cold, he had to stand up. There was work to be done.

(Shadow gritted his teeth, willed himself not to think about the prophecy of a golden haired princess- because whether he liked it or not, it was prophecy. As those with divinity running through their veins are wont to spill from their throats so carelessly- of violet eyes and a smile a third moonlight and hands holding a hammer.

It always hurt more, after one of the heroes liberated one of the maidens, or the jewels, the pain lingering for days afterwards and carving a home in his metaphorical bones. But just this once he'd take the cold bite of the Four Swords over the pain in the hole in his chest that Vio's betrayal had left, something that felt so much worse than every other time before.

Just this once he wished that maybe, just maybe, the hurt would be too much to bear, that he wouldn't wake up again-

Why? Why does it hurt so much but he's still here? He already knew the Light was uncompromising and unforgiving, but he thought them at least above curses.)

His ears twitched as soft, almost silent footsteps came up to his side. Someone crouching by his fallen form, setting a cautious hand over his own that Shadow couldn't help but draw away from with a hiss, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the world again, to your face, carefully blank as you guided him to lean against your side, a silver choker with a crimson gem winked mockingly at him, the shade closing his eyes and going boneless against your side.

Shadow was so, so tired.

He heard you quietly sigh, plucking his cap from his head and running your fingers through dark amethyst, smoke and mist made hair. "I told you so."

"Shut up." He grumbled, nuzzling further into the crook of your neck. One clawed hand curling against your free wrist, digging into the skin. Absentmindedly noting there were new scratches just above the metal.

It was routine by now, the warmth of your existence against his own a welcome balm, not quite of the Realm of Light where it's unpleasant, not too close to the Dark World where he felt like melting back into the embrace of the darkness, only to howl in agony at being dragged out.

Memories not quite his own bled into his mind all the time. How you'd shape ice into flowers for the princess in winter with nary a though, of blinking and from one second to the next you'd have whatever sword he had hostage if you though it was time for a break with a smile brighter than the sun.

His master had changed that though. It took months for you to stop trying to claw the collar out and to stop trying to fight Vaati.

(Funny how holding a mage's dragon as a bargaining chip is just as effective as kidnapping a ruler.)

Your gaze flicked to the polished obsidian of the Dark Mirror, to the gold, ornate frame. "The offer is still open, you know. Let me take the suffering from you."

"No." He scowled, leaning back to glare into your eyes, a hint of fangs poking out from a maw struggling to keep the shape of a human jaw, "You helped him. Helped them." Shadow spat, there is that hurt again.

You shrugged, a movement that's just slightly awkward as you flinch, "That I did." You confirmed simply, it almost made Shadow see red as he leaned away, knocking your hand from his head in the process, but if there's anything him and the heroes shared, was a lack of a desire to hurt you. It was a little grating to be honest, "Vio even offered to take me with him, to be honest."

"Then why didn't you leave?" He demanded.

Why did you stick around?

Your eyes shuttered, a hint of conflict in your pursed lips. Before you found your words, they come out softly, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you why. You'll just have to find out yourself."

You tug your wrist from his grasp, and Shadow lets you go.

(Stubbornly pushing down on memories and emotions that arearen'tarenotanymore quite his.)

You stand and turn away, pushing the curtains away from your sight, you turn your tired eyes to Shadow with an emotion he can't put a name to. "Just keep it in mind that there's more than one way to end this. Nothing is truly inevitable."

Shadow watches you go. 'There's nothing that can be done. He tells himself, hand hesitating above the Dark Mirror, briefly, it curls into a fist. The hero's original self stares back at him.

'… Does he really believe that?'

He shakes his head, and focuses on willing the Dark Mirror to show him his counterpart.

His chest still hurts.

[veilkeeper]

its so hard being horny about a character in a game that hasn't come out yet because i dont know how to be ACCURATELY horny about him. im just sitting on the cusp of being completely unhinged and waiting for a scrap to latch onto

[vickyvicarious]

Probably Arthur's worst week of his life is also Mina's worst week of her life, at the same time.

One day she suddenly loses her childhood best friend without saying goodbye, without even going to her funeral, her letters unopened, the same day she buries her foster father… all while her husband (her only support now) has a gigantic shock and gets seemingly worse by the day.

These two have sorrow to share and should hug...

THEY DO... THEY SHOULD...

Both of them are losing their most loved ones so swiftly, both of them had to be the strong one caring for a terribly ill loved one... Mina of course has the horrible horrible sorrow of missing Lucy's death and funeral, of being unable to do anything about it or even know until it's all over. But while he doesn't quite have that, Arthur still missed the majority of Lucy's illness and was left out/only found things out when it was too late. So there's similarity there as well. Both of them had to leave Lucy's side to care for a loved one who seemed to need it more, as well. I could imagine both of them feeling guilty about her death, especially in future once [spoilers]. I mean, we already know Mina feels guilty about it.

Of course, I don't want to compare grief, but at least in the sense of feeling utterly alone during all of this, Mina had that worse. At least Arthur had Jack and Quincey, and even Van Helsing. Mina had no one but Jonathan, and he was doing so badly and needed her support. Reaching out to Lucy for help and comfort only to find out that she'd never seen it and had died and been buried.... it's so so awful to think about.

[bardnuts]

god I haven't posted about this publicly bc it's kind of embarrassing but. my ocd makes it almost impossible for me to actually play bg3 these days. the compulsive reloading and decision paralysis is genuinely torture lol.

what is it like to just be able to experiment freely with an rpg? wish I fucking knew

[donutcats]

au where norrie wakes up from being ghostlocked somehow and eventually she goes to london to spend time with lucy (because lucy can only stay so long in her old village before feeling like she wants to rip her own skin off) and lucy introduces her to the boys and its really just an outsider pov of the way the house tends to work. norrie witnessing their haphazard schedules for the next week, the way they slot in time for each other if they’re busy doing solo work. it’s the way norrie watches how seamless lucy fits into this new life. the way they juggle around the kitchen table during meal time or pass around a book before anyone gets a chance to actually ask after it.

it’s the way norrie had to sit and watch lockwood meticulously peel an orange during breakfast, as he kept the conversation alive so easily but never once ate any of the slices. and she was going to question it, at the least ask if she could steal one if he wasn’t going to eat them, but then lucy was there, slumping into the seat next to him, and lockwood had so gently passed her the plate of peeled orange slices. as if it were such a normal occurrence.

norrie is starting to realize that it is. little acts of service, reminders that they care in an unspoken sort of way. doing things for each other without ever bringing any attention to it. it’s maddening to witness but she thinks she kind of understands. only barely and only because she loves lucy so much.

[jakes3resin]

For the ABO trope I'm such a sucker for courting hc/fics. What's your hc for how Gale courts Bucky? How long were they friends before Gale decides that "yes this is the one, this is the one I'm gonna marry and have babies with" then promptly have a tiny bit (massive) panic attack because how does one go about courting an omega like John Clarence Egan???

I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED! I also love courting fics, so I've thought long and hard about this.

In regards to how and when Buck decides to court Bucky, I think it's Curt who kicks his ass into gear. Gale would never be able to make himself reach out like that to Bucky because Bucky is so perfect and has never seemed to want to settle down like that in Gale's eyes. Curt knows better. He says something along the lines of "If you don't do it soon, I'm gonna. And I'm gonna romance the shit out of him until he forgets your name." (Not that Bucky ever would forget about his Buck, but the threat is enough to have Gale actually scared to his boots.) (Also I hc Curt as an Omega, and Bucky isn't so waylaid by stereotypes about if Omegas can court each other, so if Curt tried, he may have actually accepted. Gale knows this. Gale fears this.)

Gale is an emotionally repressed kind of guy who needs his ass kicked into gear (please see the train scene where he doesn't confess his love and friendship to Bucky until he actually thinks they're both gonna die), and he turns into the world's biggest anxious mess now that he has decided to court Bucky. It keeps him up at night.

Buck starts to anonymously court Bucky when they're still in the US, before they're both Majors, but after flight school, I think. They've been friends a while, and Buck's been in love with Bucky nearly the whole time, I'd say.

He's still too unsure of himself to loudly declare himself, so he wants to quietly and softly court Bucky for now. He leaves a small bundle of flowers (baby's breathe and white carnations) on Bucky's bunk with a small unsigned letter asking permission to court him, which Bucky spends the whole day crowing about. Bucky stares at those flowers like they're the prettiest things in the world, showing them off to anyone who walks by. Curt jokingly snags a branch of baby's breath and tucks a few of the buds in Bucky's curls, which nearly sends Buck to his knees. Bucky starts to do that whenever he can, and boy does he look like a vision with pretty curls and pretty flowers. Buck leaves more flowers on his pillow, and Bucky wears them.

Gale has to write Marge for help because he's losing his mind, and if he asks Curt, Curt will say what he would do, which Gale can't handle because he's possessive and still scared Curt will make good on his threats. She says to just talk to Bucky, which Gale can't do because he's an idiot.

Buck starts to leave more letters for Bucky with more flowers and things that remind Gale of Bucky (a ribbon the same shade of blue as Bucky's eyes, a book about baseball, new laces for his boots because Bucky was complaining about them, things that show he cares and listens to Bucky). It's only once Bucky actually learns that he'll be heading to England first that Buck starts to ramp things up. It sends him into a bit of tailspin when he learns Bucky is going to be alone in England for weeks without him. Marge urges him to make his move, and Curt stares at him with a clear look of 'now or never idiot,' so he makes his move. He leaves a scented blanket on his bunk, as close as he can get to signing his name really.

Buck hides out waiting for Bucky to find the blanket and find him. He's actually scared Bucky will reject him, so he goes where he thinks no one will find him at the edge of one of the runways. But of course Bucky finds him, and Bucky tackles him in a hug, giddy and happy that the person he'd loved since they met was asking to court him.

"Took you long enough," Bucky breathes out just before he dips down and kisses Buck for the first time. Bucky hadn't had any clue about who was courting him, but he'd had one person he wanted it to be.

Just before Bucky leaves for England, Buck gives him a small silver ring with one sapphire and one turquoise stone inlaid (both stones are considered like wearing a piece of the sky which is just too poetic for me to handle). It's their birthstones, and it's the closest Buck can get to a mating mark until after the war. Bucky loops the ring onto his dog tags, and when he misses Buck, he presses the ring to his lips. (Not to make this angst, but when Bucky thinks Buck had gone down/died, he shakily pulls the ring off the chain and puts it on his finger. Wearing it is the closest he can get to Buck now, he thinks.)

Thank you for this ask!! I loved writing this, and my inbox is always open for anyone and everyone!

[omocatboy]

i know i’m on break and this isn’t a full sign i’m Back but i just woke up aroused as all hell from a really good dream and i need to share it because i think i’m gonna need to cum before i can sleep again holy shit

so the dream was inconsequential until the last bit, a few friends were over and we were hanging out and just chilling, i think we had been at the mall earlier. and one of my friends was a little uncomfortable-looking, until he whines out of nowhere:

“I have to peeeee. can i peee?”

i’m trying my best to be as normal as i can about this and i’m like “wh- yes of course it’s over here” and i show him where the bathroom is. while he’s in there i’m on instagram checking stories and i notice something in his story from earlier while we were out at the mall:

he was visibly potty dancing in the video. like, being all excitable and happy, but he was clearly dancing around and like pushing his legs together and swaying around. it looked like he was trying to disguise it as just being excited but the way he was jumping around and swaying was very obvious to me, especially given his whiny admission earlier.

i’m doing my damndest to not be so horribly turned on by this all from my friend, but i swipe up on his story and chastise him for holding it when he could have said at any time he needed to pee and i would have helped him find a bathroom. then i think he responded along the lines of,

“i know. B-but i just peed yesterday! it’s not fair :/“

he doesn’t have a piss kink as far as i know and he doesn’t (at least to my knowledge) know i have one either, so he has no clue what he’s doing to me. i chastise him a bit more, relate with the sentiment a little bit (i get very annoyed about needing to pee when i’m non-sexually age regressed bc it’s usually when i’m stressed) and then when he comes out of the bathroom i’m immediately scooping him into my arms on the bed and we’re cuddling (and i’m desperately trying not to grind my dick into him)

again, he doesn’t know how into this i am- or, if he does, he hasn’t let me know. we kinda fool around a little bit as friends (long distance bc we’re far apart) and i can’t say i don’t have a little bit of a crush on him, but this was… mmngh. fucking hell. i need either a cold shower, my vibrator, or a fucking priest now

[metabolizemotions]

Maybe Station 19 was like an experimental cubist painting.

There were too many stories to be told and too many people trying to tell them, from too many perspectives, with too many styles…

Each viewer saw a different picture.

It was the show that tried to capture the zeitgeist and represent the under-represented. Also the show that often struggled. With the tones and textures. With representing w/o tokenizing. B/w laughing with and laughing at. B/w realism and romanticizing. B/w deliberate and arbitrary. B/w educating and entertaining. B/w what they consider profane and sacrosanct.

At times, it touched our hearts deeply. At times, it frustrated us to no end.

Not every story was given the respect, sensitivity and intricacy it was due.

One moment could lead to a profound understanding of an aspect of a lived life some of us had never known; while the next could be a moment that was beyond confounding - about an aspect of ourselves that made us feel slighted, diminished and even erased.

It had often been an exercise in empathy to find our common humanity at the intersectionality of stories. Yet, the scale of empathy often skewed too far in favor of some characters with the differing standards, narrative frames and plot armors. Ironically yet reasonably turning people off these very characters they wanted people to root for. A persistent dissonance and disconnect.

But it was also the show that didn’t shy away from the ugly, the raw, the uncomfortable and messy parts of our shared human experience. The tribulations of oppression. The perils of ambition. The tests of morality. The trials of friendship and love. That we would make mistakes, but we could also make amends. That we're not defined by our worst. That our best lives could still be in front of us despite the current struggles. That sometimes life sucks but having your people with you makes it more bearable.

I would think it an interesting journey for the diversity of people behind, on, and in front of the screen. The evolving stories, evolving characters, evolving storytellers, an evolving fandom - all amidst an evolving media landscape.

It was probably not an easy show to make. The show had a bewilderingly lack of support from abc or shondaland. Diversity seemed to be both good for promotion (when there was any) and the reason for the prejudice against it.

Just as it had not been an easy show to watch - so biased, inconsistent and self-contradictory. Like when they kept telling us about the family spirit and deep friendships yet somehow spent more time showing otherwise. Or when the writing of systemic sexism was somehow inherently sexist.

Personally, I don’t think characters belong to the writers alone. Besides the usual constraints, the characters were often adjusted back and forth to fit the plots. We’ve also learnt how network execs' dislikes, writers’ personal experiences were factored into the stories. I fully respect the writers’ artistic rights. But actors who embodied the characters for years have a unique understanding too. Viewers also have their personal takes about what were true to characters. It's ok to agree to disagree.

There had been sparks of brilliance, but often extinguished too soon. It has been confounding how the greys-verse did not capitalise on its vast potential, esp. S19. Even while both shows share a show-runner. Grey's anatomy could have lent its scale while Station 19 could have injected renewed energy back into its mothership. Both shows could have been better for it.

Although the characters have the foundation of distinct and interesting backstories, their development often did not fully utilise the narrative potential and the talents of the cast. I’m sure the crew was also competent and hardworking. But somehow some elements b/w n within the shows seemed to just cancel each other out instead of amplifying their impact. IMO 704 and 709 were a few exceptions.

But I'll always be glad S19 existed and we got a S7. I believe they had tried their best to wrap up and give closure to everyone invested in the show. I truly appreciated the hard work given the circumstances even when I personally didn't agree with some takes.

In the end, I really do want to remember it as the show with heart, the show that made us laugh and cry and the show that tried. The show that's unique - in both its merits and flaws. I’ll definitely miss the characters. One last time - 19!

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

Your post. About being at a different place in your life than your friends. Particularly a place where you don't think you're doing anything meaningful. I feel that shit so hard.

I could ramble at length about how and why exactly. It's irrelevant. I just wanted to let you know I see you.

And also to point out that have you seen the economy lately? Having the ability to actually settle down, get married, buy a house, have any kids at all, whatever. These aren't the result of just one privilege or helpful circumstance. They're a pileup of many. These things are available to a rapidly dwindling minority, and if you should already not be ashamed of being in a different place in life, which you shouldn't, then imagine how much less shameful it is when so much of it is due to systems specifically designed to exclude the many.

Write "capitalism" on the next pumpkin you crush. It won't help, but it'll be funny and poetic.

Hey, I appreciate this a lot. Thank you. I know I'm not the only one who feels frustrated and left behind. It all sucks. It's just harder to ignore when I'm spending multiple days listening to my friends map out all of their great life plans, usually I can just retreat into weed oblivion when I don't want to think about something that hurts 😂 instead I have to be a good friend joke around and tell them how great it all is, because I don't want to be a dick.

Unfortunately I already filmed a new pumpkin crush video (I'll probably post it next week after it drops on my OF) but maybe I'll try to do a bonus one too for the capitalism idea 🎃

[loregoddess]

*slaps the roof of Unicorn Overlord* This game can fit so many self-loathing characters, tragic siblings, siblings with complicated relationships, children with complicated feelings towards their parents and/or parental figures, parents mourning their dead children, and characters who are generally a little bit fucked up but doing their best in it.

[callhimnowmarisamylove]

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. You were bigger than the whole sky

Screaming, crying, throwing up etc.

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

...i'm sorry but. are you saying that. ART. provided. leverage??

i have another crew it might be interested in. it and bot both, actually.

[distantdiamondskyy]

uni students should be given the key to the universe to unlock infinite time so we can do our stupid little hobbies in peace

[milder-manners]

Take your time! We'd rather have you unstressed and well rested and have it take a while for the next comic, than have you push yourself to get it done fast at the cost of your health. You're not a content producer, you're an artist, and good things take time. And there's no shame in taking breaks!

I really love your White Dragon AU, all the worldbuilding and seeing the ccs personality shine through (like Dream being super kind and Sapnap being super loyal), as well as the little things, like Dream's cat-ear beanie to hide his horns. I can see the love put into the story. Just wanted to let you know that you've made something really cool and that there are many people out there who enjoy it. More than the notes show. Dtblr is known for having many lurkers (I'm one of them). So think of this as my likes/reblogs on every part of the comic!

This really means a lot to hear anon, thank you truly.

I guess I'm just so excited to show you what I've got planned that I'm disappointed in myself when things don't follow through (oh man this kind of sounds like one guy that I know ...). But you're right, art takes its time and that's ok.

I'm really glad to hear that you're enjoying the big and little aspects of the AU as well as the world-building. Genuinely glad you're entertained.

also here's a sneak peak of the first page for anyone who wants to see: