#i'm glad my ship sailed but at the same time it was all over the place?

[fantasywater]

Octavia WILL bend the knee

Here I will go in-depth into why Octavia will not be given the same grace in the fandom as Blitz did when she has her Full Moon Reckoning with Stolas.

NOTE/WARNING: I have seen and read the leaks, and they will be part of the reason why I feel this way.

What I mean by Full Moon Reckoning:

This is when the writers finally allow a victim of Stolas to be fully and rightfully angry at him for all the transgressions he has done to them, and more importantly when the FANDOM treats the actual victim's pain as the take back my power moment that it is.

The reason for this distinction is that I have noticed that Stolas is the fan favorite, and therefore it seemed all his wrongdoings got default reasons for not being that bad.

However, when Full Moon aired an odd and swift negative wind hit his character, and it has not abated.

Even with the newer ep the wind didn't lessen it got stronger.

It's like some spell broke.

It feels like a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.

He has gone from the fan-favorite to the most criticized.

The fandom is pretty unanimously on Blitz's side and has stayed on it.

However, as I've stated Octavia will not get this.

Octavia's pain in Sinmas is going up against:

Blitz and Stolas are male

Octavia is female, and a female in a Yaoi series at that. The women exist only as one-note plot devices for male pain, and that's even when said women themselves are technically leads(Loona, Millie).

2. Blitz and Stolas are main characters

Octavia is a side character who has barely been in two episodes spanning two seasons.

3. In the leaks Octavia takes up for her mother twice

Basically, she goes to bat for the fandom's hatesink.

4. Two other fan favorites(Fizz and Asmodeous) are written to be Team Stoliz

Plus, apparently, they are going to be against Octavia's mother and therefore Octavia.

5. THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON why Octavia is going to get it both barrels from the fandom is that Blitz and Stolas are canonically a gay couple by Sinmas.

Viv said an important arc will be finished by season's end, and I saw a post from her patron where she point-blank says they are a couple by the end of season two. Also more proof to me is that Blitz is very affectionate to Stolas in the trailer and in the leaks.

Speaking of, if you go to YouTube pretty much every comment is praising the ship sailing. A daughter is painfully estrangling herself from her beloved father, while he cries and begs for her mercy, and all everyone can talk about is getting wet over a toxic ship flying into her pain.

Recap TLDR:

Blitz got fandom grace because he is THE main character and was at the time rightfully against Stolas.

While Octavia will get to have her say she is also a woman bit player up against Blitz THE male main character who is now with Stolas THE male fan favorite in a gay romantic relationship.

She will also make the unforgivable sin of taking up for her cheated on mother Stella the hatesink.

Blitz and Stolas will also have the backing of two other favorites Fizz and Ozz as well as the rest of I.M.P.

The YouTube comments ignoring her anguish for the now canon ship are simply a taste to come of what the fandom as a whole is going to do.

Basically, this poor girl doesn't stand a chance.

I WANT to eat crow.

I realllly do.

That's why I employ the fandom to give the same grace they gave Blitz these last two episodes to Octavia as well.

However, this show is made by a fujoshi for fujoshi and that's why I know in my heart of hearts she will be damned instead.

Now, I've stated that the fandom is probably going to kiss the Stolitz ring against Octavia, but let's go into what I think the show is going to do.

Yes, after a year in the show and two seasons overall, Blitz finally got to angrily reinsert his personhood to Stolas, and yes it was cathartic and I'm glad it happened.

However, that doesn't change the fact that four episodes after Full Moon his fate is to be his abuser's boyfriend.

Also, if the merchandise is said to be hints of the creator's thoughts then his final destiny is to be his husband.

Basically, if the main character ultimately bent the knee then so will Octavia.

While the fujoshi in charge does allow them to assert their pain their ultimate fate is to comply.

Essentially it's just lip service to shut critics up.

She, and apparently his voice actor, has said don't worry everything will be alright, and by everything it's obvious they mean Stolas.

She has also said she likes happy endings so you can bet there will be none given to Stolas that doesn't have Blitz and Octavia by his side.

Also make no mistake Blitz's own daughter is also there to help the story ignore their pain. The seed was planted in Seeing Stars when Octavia warmly hugged, hung out, and was gaslit by a complete stranger. It's also why she's her ''sister' now in the pride poster.

Yea, Loona has a big part to play in season three alright, and it's to brainwash Octavia's distress so Stolitz can reign supreme.

Realistically if a fujoshi fangirl weren't writing this show this is what would happen:

Now that he has the crystal; Blitz would completely cut ties with the guy who sexually extorted and depersonalized him for a year. Not become his boyfriend/husband.

Sometime in season three Octavia finds out about her father's (poorly written) abuse and attempted murder attempts by her mother. However, instead of seeing him as a martyr, she states that Stella's actions toward him DON'T NEGATE HIS toward Octavia.

He still broke his own daughter's mental health with his infidelity and abandoned her as a consequence of his own actions i.e. illegal grimoire lending.

She then states she still wants him, and her other toxic parent, out of her life for good.

Her final words are Goodbye Dad... No.... Stolas.

Stolas for his part should be having some serious self-reflection by season 3. He should be strongly asking himself if Blitz was worth Asmodeus's self-fulling prophecy of losing his title, wealth, home, and daughter.

It should be NO, but a fujoshi is steering.

What she is going to do instead is make them use Octavia's pain to trauma bond into domestication.

Then Loona and the writing, in general, is going to make sure Octavia solely blames Stella: The Convenient Stolas Trump Card so they can all just be a family already.

Bonus: We will even get to see Octavia kick her mother from the palace with Stolas' signature GET OUT this time.

Ultimately Blitz and Octavia's misery will not mean anything. As the official car sticker merch states they will be a blended family and their suffering by Stolas be damned. 

However, I do have a small (delusional) theory that Ms. Fujoshi could throw a curveball:

Apparently, she has been liking a lot of Vassago and Stolas romantic fanart, but with a of course jealous Blitz. 

What if Vassago is Disney Princess Stolas's true endgame.

The guy who gets to show him what an actual healthy relationship looks like, and for a romantic like him this would be his true Prince Charming.

Sure Stolas ending up with a prince(and therefore getting everything back through him) just drives home that dirty, poor, broken, baggage-having, hypersexual Blitz was ultimately never going to be good enough for Purity Angel Stolas in the first place.

However, on the bright side, he's finally away from his abuser...

So on that note, Blitz's true endgame is Fizz. 

His real first friend. His real first love.

The correct star-crossed lovers.

The person who actually knows the true Blitz and can meet him blow for blow when he gets messy instead of running away crying with self-pitying gaslighting.

However, since she seems to hate her own main character Blitz's true endgame is going to be tainted.

Foreshadowing Number 1:

I've always found it curious that right after the can we make-out line the very next scene is Fizz coming back to Ozz wiping his mouth.

Why even put that thought in the audience's head unless....

Foreshadowing Number 2:

When Blitz shoots the stalker the mirror that Fizz and Ozz are kissing in front of breaks right down the middle, splitting them, with Blitz's face the last thing seen in the fracture.....

Basically, she is going to have Blitz and Fizz get together by cheating on Ozz, and the fandom is going to blow them both up for it.

Other Tidbits:

Blitz still very much has feelings for Fizz.

Even how he acted when he met him shopping in Full Moon showed this, and he fully blushed in the storyboard.

This is something he has never done for Stolas.

You know the endgame we should be rooting for and all that.

Also Fizz full-on blushes(cage) in the Opps storyboard.

Of course, the show properly erases those because we can't have anyone shipping Blitz or Fizz with their true soulmate.

Apparently, in a leaked script bit, Blitz falls in love with Stolas because he reminds him of Fizz. I mean my dear Stolitz shippers it should be a yikes on a bike for that alone.

[anystalker707]

gonna take more than a couple hours

Pairing: Shanks x [male, amab] Reader Summary: Shanks and you have been flirting for a while. It was about time things got taken to the bedroom Tags: top shanks / lots of petnames

Requested by anon ["Yaay! I'm starving for some Shanks or Mihawk fics 😥😥 I'm glad you're doing well! ❤❤ So, could I then request amab male reader (bottom) x Shanks (top) where reader is a booze merchant, sailing the seas and selling the good stuff for both local folk and pirates, but he always has some saved for Shanks(...)"]

MASTERLIST

          “Oh, look at who we have here!” A familiar voice rang over the sound of glasses clinking together and loud chattering. “I’m talking with you, sweetheart.” Given the proximity of the voice, you turned around from the aligned glasses on the shelf and gasped at the sight of the familiar red-haired man leaning over the counter with a grin.

“Shanks!” You gasped with a grin before leaning over to hug him. “Oh, it’s been so long! How have you been?” You pulled away and looked him up and down. No new scars, as far as you could see.

“Oh, fine, of course, ignoring when I was missing the best boy around, y’know?” Shanks winked, holding back a chuckle at the visible embarrassment across your face.

You rolled your eyes and took a deep breath. “Going to spend the night, yeah?” The golden seal of the blueish bottle came off with ease at your experienced ministrations, and the drink was placed in a large glass that you pushed toward Shanks.

“Of course. Only a couple of hours with you aren’t enough,” Shanks said as if it were obvious as he took a sip of the drink, and you had to bite your lip to stop yourself from saying anything. “On a side note, I hope you have enough booze for us this time. We can’t find good booze like yours anywhere else, so we’re taking everything you have.” He grinned.

“Everything?” You raised an eyebrow. “I have quite a bit in stock, so maybe it’ll be too much. Are you sure?”

Shanks clicked his tongue and tilted his head. His thumb ran along the handle of the glass, tracing the shape gently, as his ring shone under the last rays of sunlight of the day that slipped through the window. “You know me, sweetheart.”

You shrugged, breathing a chuckle. “As long as you pay well…”

“Oh, love…”

          “So…” Benn muttered through the cigarette in his mouth. “Eighteen boxes.” He looked at you for confirmation before you nodded, and he handed you the berries, waiting for you to check before walking away.

“Great,” you whispered to yourself, tucking the bills into your pocket. Having the Red Hair Pirates over didn’t only mean pleasantly escaping the monotonous routine but also a good addition to your account. You were about to return to behind the counter when an arm wrapped around your waist, and you didn’t even need to look to know who it was, placing your hands over his arm as you instinctively leaned into the embrace.

“Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” Shanks pressed a kiss behind your ear with a hum. He already smelled like booze, but he drank so much that it’d take more than two bottles for him to start feeling something.

A small smile tugged on your lips. “Work, of course.” The bar was rather agitated with the Red Hair Pirates around, given how they attracted many people and how fond of partying they were. It didn’t matter where, it was all the same thing. In all the bars you’d worked, wherever you’d sell your stuff, the crew was there, down for a drink. “Got a lot of stuff to do tonight.”

Shanks’ arm tightened around your waist when you moved to grab a few empty glasses. “I don’t think so. Well, not here anyway,” he muttered, and you couldn’t help but feel your cheeks warm up. He was being a lot more touchy and possessive than usual… “Y’know, you could show me the bedrooms in his place. I don’t think I’ll be able to find my way back to the ship tonight,” he muttered with an audible smirk, and he certainly had fun seeing you progressively melt.

Taking a deep breath, you placed a hand over Shanks’ before facing him, furrowing your eyebrows. You weren’t sure whether you were worried or afraid or something else. “Shanks…”

“I mean what I’m saying, sweetheart,” Shanks chuckled, rubbing your side, his touch soothing. “Please?” His breath fanned against your cheek, and you had to use all your strength not to turn and kiss him right there. Not that it would matter, but you needed things at a slower pace.

“Come on,” you whispered, squeezing his arm before you stepped away and headed over to the stairs that led to the second floor of the building. The stairs creaked under your feet, and the sound of loud chatter and music became muffled in the background according to how you reached the last stairs and, eventually, the hall. “This is my— Nngh!” 

Shanks pressed his lips to yours the moment you walked into one of the rooms, yours, kicking the door close behind himself and cupping your cheek. It was something you’d wanted for so long, but you didn’t know what to do now that it was happening, your mind going blank before you could finally start kissing him back. He hummed in appreciation, deepening the kiss once you started relaxing at it.

“That’s a good boy,” Shanks whispered between kisses, muffling any attempt to answer with more kisses, pushing his tongue into your mouth until he could snatch a quiet moan from you. His thumb ran across your cheek before he finally pulled away. His gaze held yours as he locked the door behind himself. “I’ve been having you in my mind for quite a while, sweetheart, did you know that?”

Your cheeks heated up, both at his words and how he stepped closer again, kissing your shoulder softly as his fingertips peeked under your shirt. “Mm, I dunno if I believe you,” you breathed, hesitantly placing your hands on his shoulders, and you couldn’t help but grip them when he started kissing your neck. His stubble scratched your skin, tickling. It was uncomfortable, but the kisses and nipping on your skin made it seem insignificant, even more so when he bit down on your neck, snatching a gasp from you.

“Maybe I’ll have to show you, then?” Shanks whispered with a soft chuckle, pressing kisses over the bite mark he left behind. The words escaped your grasp for a moment, caught in your throat, and an embarrassed sound came from you instead. “Oh, love,” he sighed softly, kissing your neck. Despite not trusting yourself enough to answer Shanks, you grasped onto his shirt, slowly undoing the last buttons, which earned you a hum of appreciation.  “Join me,” he muttered, tugging lightly on your shirt.

The clothes were removed one by one, discarded and forgotten on the floor while you moved towards the bed, landing on the mattress with Shanks on top of you, his mouth pressed to yours once more. Shanks nipped on your bottom lip until you whimpered before he ran his tongue over the bite and slipped it into your mouth. He kissed well, managing to make your cock twitch and leak just by making out with you, even more so when he kissed you deeper after you tugged on his hair.

“Fuck,” Shanks groaned, like revolted at himself or something else, and started nipping down your jaw, kissing and nipping on your neck and collarbones, anything to get from you the little whimpers that he loved so much. He seemed to know how to do that very well.

Despite how unstable your voice would be, you finally gathered some courage, cracking out Shanks’ name in a broken moan and arching your back into his touches.

“Do you—”

“There’s lube in the drawer,” you breathed, looking away to avoid the look he shot you while you reached for the bedside table and retrieved the bottle of lube. “Can I, please?” Your eyes met his again, and you forced yourself to hold eye contact despite your heartbeat hammering against your ears.

With a nod, Shanks sat back with your legs over his thighs, observing it as you poured the lube on yourself, groaning softly at the feeling of the cold liquid trailing between your legs.

“Fuck,” you breathed, putting the bottle aside.

Shanks could only reach out before your fingers pressed to your own entrance, and his breath hitched at the same time his eyes widened lightly. “Holy fuck, baby,” he breathed, placing a hand on your inner thigh. His thumb pressed to your ass lightly to spread it and give himself a better vision of your two fingers sinking inside yourself. He bit his lip, but the excitement was still clear through the way his cock twitched, with a drop of pre-cum dripping down the thick length.

Your eyes were focused on Shanks’ face, watching his reaction to how you fingered yourself carefully, and fuck, holding yourself back was hard. The arousal made you so sensitive, in a way you could just finger yourself until you came, but Shanks’ cock would be a better, bigger prize. He rubbed circles into your skin with his thumb, and you knew it was time to stop before you got close. Instead, you grabbed the lube again and poured it on Shanks.

A soft hiss came from Shanks when the cold liquid came in contact with his cock, but he gave you a real moan when your hands wrapped around his length, spreading the lube evenly while stroking him. He was so thick in your hands, heavy, making you squirm a little in anticipation. Shanks surely loved the effect he had on you, squeezing your thigh more, but your hands soon left him as well, only returning to his cock once you lay back on the bed, guiding it to your hole.

“Excited, aren’t we?” Shanks had that terrible smirk on his lips as he leaned over you again, kissing you before you could give him any answer. “I’ll make you feel so good, baby,” he whispered between kisses, and the most you could give him in response was a groan.

You arched your back with a gasp the moment Shanks’ cock started to push into you, stretching you nicely, which gave you a light burning feeling that only managed to heighten your arousal. “Mmph, fuck,” you practically whimpered, holding on to his shoulders tightly once he was almost fully inside. When he was, though, you could barely catch your breath for a moment, trying your best to adjust to feeling that full.

“Good, sweetheart?” Shanks’ breath fanned over your skin as his lips grazed your own, and you took a moment to nod, adjusting your arms around his neck. “Great,” he said before he could start moving, chasing a fast pace right away. His elbow was pressed to the mattress, right by your side, and you wrapped your legs around his waist, adjusting the angle of the thrusts lightly, though you doubted he even had to hit your prostate continuously to make you see stars.

It felt better than anything you’d felt in a while, sending an intense wave of pleasure down your spine, and you wondered if Shanks had put anything in your drink earlier—even if you hadn’t drunk anything for a while. He managed to fill you up so well, hitting all the right spots, and making you a mess so quickly.

“Too— Mmph, Sh—” You gasped, nails sinking into his back as your thighs quivered.

Shanks raised an eyebrow as he paused and pulled back a little to look at your face. “Yes, baby? Did I hurt you?”

You gave yourself a moment to breathe before shyly meeting Shanks’ gaze, swallowing. “A little slower, please?” You rubbed the back of Shanks’ neck, playing with his hair a little. “I… It’s too good. You didn’t hurt me.”

There was a pause before Shanks hummed with a nod and a poor attempt to suppress the smirk that tugged on his lips. “Of course, sweetheart.” He kissed you again, softly, holding the kiss as he started moving his hips once more. The thrusts were still intense, but they weren’t so fast anymore, allowing you to have some control over yourself.

Shanks swallowed your moans, keeping the kiss going, nonetheless. He was straining, trying his best not to fuck you as fast and hard as he wanted, but he needed you to feel good as well. There was nothing to lose by taking the slower pace, and it also meant enjoying you for longer. He craved the way you clenched around his cock, milking it with every thrust, a lot better than anything he could’ve imagined during lonely nights.

“You feel so good around me, baby,” Shanks muttered into your ear; his words and moans managed to intensify your arousal. He hissed as your nails sank into his back, his thrusts faltering. “Fuck…”

“Feels so good,” you breathed, arching your back and wrapping your legs tighter around Shanks’ waist. It felt like getting a relief you didn’t know you needed, and it felt like the best thing ever. “Mmph, more…” Your moans started sounding whiny, but you really couldn’t help it. It was one of the last things you wanted to care about right now, with Shanks’ cock filling you so nicely, making your head foggy with arousal.

Pride swelled in Shanks’ chest before he pressed his lips to your neck again, nipping and sucking the soft skin, leaving behind love bites as a token of his love—and lust—toward you. He couldn’t help but thrust faster again, paying attention to your reactions as he did so. He needed it so badly.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah,” you said shakily, feeling your thighs quiver.

The strings of moans echoed in the room along with the obscene sound of skin against skin, and you found yourself lost in a nice haze, barely aware of the existence of anything beyond that bedroom. The reality Shanks pulled you into felt so much better, blissful, making you ache with need.

Your thighs pressed into Shanks’ hips to pull him closer, and the spots his hips hug into would probably hurt later, but that’d just be another sexy reminder.

Whenever you arched your back, Shanks’ cock would hit just the right angle that’d make you see stars, so you invested in it, squirming, doing your best to keep that angle until your balls tightened with the anticipation of the impending orgasm. “Sh—Shanks,” you mumbled, your nails sinking into his back and scratching it. “I’m— Mmph, ‘m close,” you breathed as your thighs quivered, becoming tighter around him, just like your walls tightened and squeezed his cock, craving it.

“Great, me too,” Shanks muttered as he paused before he started moving again, his thrusts faster, not minding how intense it was because your release was actually the goal right now. He loved your gasps and breathless whimpers, how you clung to him, scratching and squirming. His arm hurt a little from holding himself in that position for a while, but you were almost there, so he made a little effort.

A pleased sound that resembled a sob escaped your lips as you arched your back, thighs trembling as you came, cock twitching and spurting warm cum between the two of you messily. It was all it took for Shanks to follow suit, cumming inside you, allowing his seed to fill you while he kept thrusting sloppily to make sure to milk every drop of cum from you. The feeling of Shanks’ teeth tugging on your collarbones was what brought you back to reality after the orgasm, his stubble scratching your skin.

“Fuck,” you groaned before cupping Shanks’ face, bringing him for another kiss. “I think you gotta stay for longer.”

.𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟.

[imaginariumwanderer]

JUST WANNA SAY ur art got me back into shadowvanilla, I was into it right when sm showed up in crk but no one was talking about the ship so I kinda forgot about it, but now there's so much good food 😩✨ ANYWAY HERE'S A DRAWING I MADE TODAY since you (and some fics) inspired me to get back into the ship :3c

Please excuse me for a moment while I lose my mind over this fanart

AGAGAAGAGAGA THEY! THEM!! THIS IS SO PRETTY ASHDGFJHKLASKJKL;

*Cough* now to get us back on track, my wacky origin story with this wacky ship: technically speaking, the 3rd anniversary update is what got me posting for the crk fandom ealier this year. I remember seeing PV and SM first meeting in Beast-Yeast and thinking "oh why do they kindaaa... U know?" then seeing PV interacts w/ SM in the quiz show segment and how he's subtly fighting back in his own way got me like "oh shit?? Can i have some more pls???"

Anyways, I remember browsing through tumblr not long after, seeing some shadowvanilla fanarts, thinking "wait, is this a ship?? Is this allowed??" and coming across the wonderful, amazing, beautiful Echo paradox AU one fateful day. I've been oar-struck with the ship ever since. All this to say, you and I are in the same boat! It's thanks to other shippers that I got sailing, my art dragging another one onboard is definitely this coming full-circle.

I'm so glad to see such a talented artist joining this shipdom, thank you! As a perpetual rarepair shipper, it's my greatest joy is to see fans express their passion for certain unknown/obscure pairings through fanart, fanfic, analysis etc and getting others sucked into the rabbit hole along the way (ah yes, spreading the brainrot muahaha yesss)

There's still so much I want to do with these two idiots. I don't see myself stopping with the shadowvanilla content any time soon, at least not before SM is playable. So until then, please bear with me while continue to be obnoxious about them^^

[kisakis-boyfriend]

I'm so glad your requests are open again! Hopefully this counts towards the winter theme, but I was hoping to request the reader going on a date with Hakkai, going to see holiday/winter decorations, when they get home the reader suggests they warm each other up with their bodies, making sure to explore every inch of him to ensure the 'cold' has been thoroughly worked out of him.

Author's Note: This is a cute idea! Hakkai is so much fun to tease too, what a cutie 💙

Pairings: Hakkai x male reader

Warnings: Male!reader, dom/top!reader, sub/bottom!Hakkai, a bit of cockwarming, teasing

Even with the sun shining brightly on the glittering snow, it was still rather cold outside. Cold enough for the two of you to see your breath as you chatted in front of the food stall. Laughter filled the air when Hakkai's teeth chattered together as he tried to speak. You teased him for this, but before you could say much more the same thing happened to you. Which in turn caused Hakkai to tease you right back, placing his hands on his hips and sassing you while you smacked his arm playfully

Walking around carrying a cup filled with a nice, warm drink to prevent your fingers from freezing off, you and Hakkai strolled through the city admiring the beautiful holiday decorations strewn about the various shops and buildings. There was even a massive Christmas tree set up in the middle of the shopping center! Adorned with all sorts of ornaments in red, green, gold, silver, and even some blue

Everything is so gorgeous this time of the year. Definitely worth the freezing noses and cheeks that plagued the two of you. It was so worth it to see Hakkai's eyes sparkle, pointing at the snowmen and other snow sculptures created by the large crowd of people. Crude sculptures crafted from the hands of young children, simple snowmen thrown together on a whim, and a handful of highly artistic sculptures from some very talented individuals

As fun as your day has been, you did have to head home eventually, lest you two turn into living ice sculptures yourselves...

The door to the Shiba house closed and you stepped inside, following Hakkai. A burst of warm air hit your exposed skin and it was absolutely heavenly. “Ugh that feels so good. The vent is blowing right on me.”

Hakkai gasped softly, quickly heading over to where you were standing. “I need some of that too! Seriously, I can barely feel my face!” Both of you giggled at his remark, rubbing your ungloved hands together while you let the heat work its magic. Seeing your boyfriend like this — with red cheeks, lips parted in a sigh — caused your mind to wander to a dirty place. I mean, when else would Hakkai be flushed and moaning the way that he was? You can't be blamed for thinking of that!

“I know of a better way to warm up...” You mumbled, swiftly pulling Hakkai's scarf down so you could capture his cold lips in a kiss– He had no time to react as your hands traveled to the back of his neck, grazing against the hairs at his nape. Removing his scarf and tugging at his winter jacket. Having cold fingertips made it a bit difficult to unzip the coat, but you managed regardless, stripping your boyfriend of his layers and literally taking his breath away

“Mmm, mmph~ W-wait, y/n....” Hakkai tried to say between your heated kisses. “What're you doing...aah!” A cold hand found its way underneath his shirt, causing him to yelp from the sudden change in temperature on his skin. It does feel good though; firm hands all over his back and chest, exploring his skin as if it were uncharted territory and your fingers were the ships sailing forth

At some point, you had to pull away for air, gasping and panting into Hakkai's open mouth as you explained, “Heh...you wanted to get warm, right?” Your partner tilted his head, eyes half-lidded already. “Just trust me, ok? I'll warm you up nicely~”

Before he knew it you had dragged him over to the couch and pushed him onto the cushions, stripping the two of you down to nothing, then throwing a large fuzzy blanket over both of your bodies before crawling on top of your boyfriend. Your lips soon found Hakkai's neck, earning such cute whimpers from him while you hungrily kissed the tender flesh. Sweat has already begun to cling to his skin from arousal, building up most prominently on his back and the palms of his hands

“Hey, I need ya to warm something up for me, babe. Think you can do that?” Your question registered about halfway in Hakkai's fuzzy brain, nodding along with a breathy “O-ok–”

Without warning, Hakkai's hole stretched around something big and slightly wet; surprising the poor guy so much that his voice cracked. Arching his back and whining as you fully slipped inside

“Ooh shit– God you're so damn warm inside, Hakkai. Mm, I love it~ ” You moaned, just taking a moment to stay still and relish in the warm, tight walls of your baby as he so kindly warmed your cock up. Hakkai's hands wrapped around the back of your neck, pulling you down towards him for more kisses. Of course you obliged him, letting more of your weight lay on top of his body like a weighted blanket, rubbing his chilly shoulders until the skin felt warm again

After you parted for more air, you moved down to caress more of your boyfriend's body; sliding over his toned abs and stomach and admiring how strong Hakkai was. His thighs were next; squeezed within your grasp so adoringly. His thighs were too perfect, especially when they were within range of your mouth~ Your nails scratched the insides of Hakkai's thighs and he let out a slutty whine, unable to stop his hips from jerking

“Baby, darling– Isn't this nice?” You asked, cupping Hakkai's cheeks and rubbing them with your thumbs. He hummed a content response, holding onto your wrists and nuzzling his face into your warm palms. Between your body heat and the large blanket surrounding yourselves, he was sufficiently warmed up now

“Told ya! Told ya I would warm you up nicely. Gotta make sure your insides are warm too~” You teased, humping his ass a little bit. Even the heat from your cock inside felt blissful; Hakkai's walls clung onto the gland deliciously as it throbbed every so often. But he was growing impatient...

“Please...”

“Hm? What is it, baby?” You heard something come out of Hakkai's mouth, but it was kinda muffled and said under his breath

“Please...y/n...s-start moving already–” Your boyfriend whined, wiggling his hips against your dick. His glossy eyes peered into yours; like a sad puppy begging for treats. And how could you ever deny that adorable face of his?

You scoffed playfully, leaning down to nuzzle your nose against his. “Anything for you, love. Anything for you~ ”

[fanaticsnail]

Aaa, Yandere Doffy ordering all the pink & red roses for Reader, MY HEART 🥹🥹❤️❤️How can we not love this crazy but devoted man? 🩷🩷

Also, thank you for writing for Rosinante, he deserves all the love. Now I'm curious about that fic! AAAAAA! If Lami was still alive, she'd love Cora-san. Rosinante and Lami would just be the sweetest while Law and Doflamingo stand there feeling awkward as older brothers 😂

I'm glad you liked the wedding idea. The guests would all have to wear pink, while only Doflamingo & Reader wear white. No way is there not a flamingo-themed wedding cake. There totally is. And the carpet is pink, too.

Following the little Law, imagine how Minion Island will be...

After killing Rosinante (Rosinante 😭😭) Yandere Doffy gets word of Tsuru approaching he tells everyone to haul ass back to the ship because you're on the ship, and the warship is incoming and this man just takes flight on his strings to get to the ship quicker and drops the chest (in which Law is) with a thump on the ground that the chest judders and flips over, unlocking itself, and Law falls out but Doflamingo doesn't see him scrambling in the snow cus the baby boy is so small and because Doflamingo is leaping to the ship and putting up Spiderwebs all around to protect you.

He didn't get the Op-Op fruit. He didn't get Law. His own brother betrayed him. You're the only person he has left that he loves and he won't lose you. He is about to fly to intercept Tsuru's ship and destroy it, but his crew arrives - about time! - and they set sail in time and get away while cannonfire fills his ears. (And mutes Law's now audible cries of sadness because Cora-san is gone)

After they shake Tsuru off, Doflamingo rushes down to the lower deck to check on you.

And then you ask where are Law and Corazon.

Good luck, Doffy. You're sleeping on the couch for a year if you're lucky 😂

Also, yes to little Law pulling out a binder and writing down Reader's symptoms. There are definitely tender touches Doffy gives Reader in the night when nobody watches, I like to think. I wonder if Rosinante reveals himself to Reader and offers to take her too, but she grabs him by the collar and tells him very firmly, "Save Law, Corazon. You make sure you cure him. Law is the most important thing. Law needs to live. Make sure Law lives."

And Rosinante nods.

In the end, Rosinante made sure to keep his promise.

To end on a wholesome note...

I like to think Yandere Doffy carries you in his arms and takes flight over Dressrosa so you get some fresh air. Can't always stay in your bedroom, you need to move your limbs a bit regardless of being sick, and the doctor said it was okay as long as you don't strain yourself. When he flies with the sun on his face, carrying you in one arm while the other handles the strings, the wind ruffling his hair, his body heat embracing you... And then he notices you staring up at him and he smiles down at you, a genuine smile the King of Dressrosa gives no one but you, his wife.

Doflamingo makes sure his feather coat is wrapped around you to keep the chill of the breeze in the sky away.

Yandere Doffy train continues driving. 🦩🦩

Why must you hurt me like this with the dialogue?

You: "Corazon? Where is Corazon? That is why we came here, yes? Where is my brother in law?"

Doflamingo: broody silence

You: "What are you not telling me? What-... What are you saying?"

Doflamingo: removes his glasses and hangs his head

You: "What-.... What have you done?"

Doflamingo: "What I had to."

You: heart catching in your throat, hands clasped around your mouth and violently shaking your head

You: "Not... Not him. Not him."

ANYWAY THAT'S JUST ME. HOW WE ALL DOING?

Lami would love Rosi, no doubt in my mind. Law's life would be so different if she lived, same with his folks.

[wixelt]

Btw, I've been working to flesh out characterization and worldbuilding for the Player Culture AU but, due to that technically being a mostly completely seperate AU from Hermitphibia, I'm probably only going to update you where it's relevant as to not flood your inbox with unrelated lore. I've been mostly going through SMP's to see if they have anything lore relevant and seeing where it would apply.

...

So anyway, Pirates SMP Scar is almost explicitly HC8 Scar and also shares the name of his previous sailing ship with New life!Scar's plane and I think The Hermatrix may have done essentially the same thing to the Hermits' memories The Core did to Marcy's memories to ensure they were for the most part versions of themselves that wouldn't catch on to being in a simulations, with the exceptions of Doc and Ren, who were made into versions of themselves that would catch on quick. Yes, this is rather the big assumption to make based just on Scar having continuity, but it's either this or decanonising The Hermatrix.

It also goes to explain some of Season 8's weirdness as a whole and opens the season's lore up to be used again... just not in it's surrounding context. Mumbo is probably a formless shapeshifter with half a soul, but it probably isn't Grian's and he's probably been that way since before joining Hermitcraft. The reason The Hermatrix accounted for Pearl's connection to the moon is because of the subconscious memories she still had but hadn't recalled. Impulse eats rocks because he both is and isn't a dwarf due to existing in like two or three points of his life simultaneously. Pearl's megabyte resembles the human settlement in S9 because, well,

Tl;Dr: either The Hermatrix is explicitly noncannon or it was fucking with the hermits' memories to make them relive moments of their pasts because otherwise I can't see how the entrepreneur who traveled by wagon went on to become a pirate and possibly later an air pilot.

Also Pirate!Scar's pirate hat is in Scar's room in Scarland and Pilot!Scar's head is in Cub's meuseum if I'm remebering correctly, both shown in Sausage's world tour.

(Glad to hear your culture interpretation's going well. Always interested to hear about it in relation to the Hermitphibia AU.)

I like the idea that the Hermatrix fundamentally shifted the Hermits' inherent selves to keep them safe (& that it echoes Marcy in canon/False in the AU), though I imagine its less making them different in personality & more unconsciously nudging them away from certain lines of thought they'd usually have.

The idea that this process embellishes or reinterprets certain traits of each Hermit is fun, too.

I don't know if some of the specific interpretations line up with the way I view things, though, but lets work through them one at a time:

Scar's timeline in my mind happens as released & I don't think too much Hermatrix shifting would be needed, nor would it be non-canon. The Hermits take on personas all the time (RenTheKing, etc.), & Scar of all people is very inclined towards that.

I don't know where the interpretation of Mumbo as a half-soulless shapeshifter comes from (aside from the potato thing, maybe), but I'm not sure if I buy it over, say, the view of him as a vampire. I'd be interested in hearing more, though.

Pearl's connection to the moon in the sim - name aside - stemming from her past lives is something I like. Makes it more than just a symbolic connection, & that'd be especially important in the AU as unless Pearl chose her name (which is plausible), Grian's surname would also be Moon.

Impulse eating rocks coming form his dwarf phase is something I'm going to steer clear of, unless we interpret that the Hermatrix was somehow predicting the future as well, since that was still a season away.

[pure-garbage]

Old Skills and New Friends! Wisdom of the Runaway

Chapter warnings: Gore, mild violence

The events at Little Garden unfolded almost entirely out of Lana's line of sight. Since the island boasted no civilization to speak of, she decided she would travel on with the Straw Hats to the next port.

"You should at least go help Luffy and Vivi find some water," Nami huffed while most of the crew dispersed. "Aren't you good for anything besides picking the same ten locks over and over again?"

Lana wasn't keen to set foot on the wild, mysterious isle.

"I do have one other skillset," she offered, desperate to save herself from being forced off the ship to forage with the others. "My Mama was a seamstress, and I was supposed to be one too. Don't you guys have anything you need mended or patched?"

"Hah! Please, have you met any of the people on this crew?" Nami laughed. "Come on. I'll introduce you to the pile."

Lana gave a low whistle when she laid eyes on it.

"Have fun," Nami smirked, leaving her alone in the cabin with a sewing kit and a towering heap of slashed and torn garments.

"Is that a sail?" Lana wondered to herself, tugging it experimentally as she prepared to start sorting.

Lana wasn't unhappy to have something with which to occupy her time, even if the work did bring back a lot of memories.

"Beautiful stitching, La-La, you're a natural! Such a good little helper for your Mama!"

"It's so fun! You really get to do this all day, every day?"

"Mm-hmm. I'm glad you enjoy it too..."

Lana smiled while she was lost in the memory of her Mother's pride, but once she came back to the present, that smile quickly faded.

'It's been five years since I ran away... I wonder if she's even still alive.'

Lana forced the thoughts away and focused on the task at hand. She wanted to turn her mind's eye ahead, but she had no idea what the future held for her and the past offered little but pain. With a sigh, she kept herself perfectly in the present, all her attention turned outward as she sewed and listened to the sounds of Nami and Usopp out on the deck.

The soft noises of their conversation suddenly became shouts and thumps. Lana set the spare sail down and peeked out of the cabin door to see the two remaining straw hats conversing loudly with a giant.

'This island has giants? Well thank god he's friendly,' Lana sighed inwardly with relief. If the big guy was going to smash their ship, surely he would have done it by now. Even if he didn't seem threatening, Lana wasn't in a hurry to let him see her. She closed the door and went back to patching the sail.

"After this, I'll take a break and stretch my legs," she decided aloud.

When the time came, she was surprised to find the ship vacant.

"Nami? Usopp? Where'd you guys go?" she called. "Hey! Ugh, I wish they would have said something if they were going to leave me alone with their ship! Guess I should stay on the lookout... but I'm not sure what they expect me to do if something goes wrong. I'm not exactly a power house when it comes to fighting..."

Lana continued grumbling to herself all the way up the mast to the crows nest.

"... stab one lousy marine captain and suddenly everyone expects you to know how to fight. If I could fight worth a damn, I wouldn't have been stuck with the Seeker pirates for so long."

Lana pursed her lips, knowing she'd just lied to herself, but unwilling to call herself out on it. Her hand crept over the sash covering her right wrist.

'Maybe...'

Lana pulled it back a bit, part of her hoping she would only see skin. The orange outline of Corrin's mark caught her eye, sending her heart sinking and her stomach rolling nauseatingly. She quickly pulled the sash back into place and looked away. She hadn't really expected the mark to vanish, but still couldn't help being disappointed.

"It doesn't matter," she reminded herself. "By now, Corrin's been turned over to the marines for his bounty. He's sitting behind bars somewhere... even if I never shake his mark, there's no way he'll ever come after me again."

Deep down, foreboding curled in her gut like a wriggling, sickening clutch of maggots, slowly but surely eating her from the inside out. Despite her reasoning and rationalizations, she couldn't bring herself to truly believe she'd yet seen the last of Seeker Corrin.

As darkness threatened to fall, the Straw Hats stumbled back to the ship, battered and bloodied.

"What in the... What the hell happened to you guys?" Lana gaped.

Luffy and Usopp were all but carrying Zoro. Even Nami and Vivi looked like they'd taken a beating. Out of them all, Sanji was the only one who still looked alright.

"Long story," he sighed in response. "Baroque Works is still after us. It's been taken care of now, Lana sweetest, so no need to worry."

"Sanji! Quit your cooing and help me and Vivi clean up!" Nami scowled furiously.

"But of course, Nami my love!" Sanji cried elatedly.

"I'll help too," Lana offered. "Just tell me what to do."

Nami's blazing eyes snapped to fix their unscathed guest with a glare that could have curdled fresh cream.

"Oh really? As a matter of fact, I do have something you can help with," she snarled. "Come on."

She led Lana into the cabin, where Luffy and Usopp were trying to wrestle Zoro out of his boots while he howled and cursed.

"Just leave 'em!"

"Zoro, you have to take them off so I can wrap your ankles up!" Usopp yelled. "Luffy, hold him tighter!"

"Maybe Zoro's right," Luffy thought aloud. "The bleeding already stopped. I'm sure he'll be fine if we just-"

"The bleeding probably stopped because this bonehead is out of blood!" Nami raged, slapping Luffy and Zoro at the same time, stunning the latter into complacence.

'She's so scary!' Lana thought with alarm.

"Now pull the damn boots off, Usopp! Lana, grab the sewing kit!" Nami ordered.

"Yes ma'am," Lana mumbled, obeying hastily. Behind her, Zoro's boots came off with a pair of wet sloshes that she didn't spare much thought as she searched under the now-repaired sail for Nami's sewing kit.

"Oooh, I'm gonna be sick," Usop groaned.

"Lightweight," Zoro muttered.

"You're both morons," Nami seethed. "Luffy, go get some alcohol from Sanji!"

"Yeah Luffy, bring sake," Zoro requested.

"Whiskey, genius! Bring whiskey!" Nami corrected them.

"Got the kit," Lana said, turning back to the others. "Left it under- holy mother of- Nami! What the hell!"

Lana loosed a shriek, eyes popping out of her head as she realized the splashing she'd heard had been blood emptying from Zoro's boots.

"What the hell happened to him?!" Lana demanded.

"Oh, this dumbass thought it made sense to chop his own feet off to escape a trap!" Nami seethed, still not over the swordsman's brutal logic.

"Wow, that's kind of hardcore, honestly," Lana managed, swallowing her squeamishness while Usopp pushed Zoro's pants up to his knees.

"It was the best option at the time!" Zoro insisted.

"Got the whiskey!" Luffy announced. Lana thought his tone was far too bright given the circumstances, but she'd come to expect as much from this crew.

"Gimme!" Zoro demanded, reaching for the alcohol.

"No way!"

Nami slapped Zoro's hands off the bottle, then shooed Luffy and Usopp away. "This is for cleaning, not drinking. Lana, here!"

She shoved the bottle at their guest, who gulped hard. She was starting to get a good idea of what Nami's idea of 'helping' would entail.

"I'm going to clean myself up," Nami informed her. "Help this idiot get patched up if you really want to make yourself useful."

"Well, I-"

Nami left Lana holding the bottle.

"I didn't know you were a doctor," Zoro groaned from the couch.

"I am not a doctor at all," Lana corrected him swiftly. "But uh... well, you guys are giving me a free ride, so I guess... I'll just have to do my best."

"Don't worry about it," he panted. "Just leave the bottle and the needle. I can deal with this myself."

"No, I do want to be helpful," she sighed, stealing a gulp of whiskey. "Drink?"

"Please."

Lana examined his wounds while he took a long swig. Her gut squirmed and her flesh crawled at the sight. Her discomfort wasn't lost on Zoro.

"Pass me the needle and I'll do it myself," he sighed.

"No need. I can do this. Lemme see that again."

She took the bottle from him and knocked back another shot or two.

"Kinda seems like a waste of alcohol to use it for cleaning," she sighed. "Nami's right though... if these get infected, it'll be ugly."

Lana expected Zoro to protest when she splashed whiskey over the gashes, but he didn't even flinch. He demanded the bottle back as soon as she finished. She set to threading the needle, wrinkling her nose at the smell drifting up from his toes.

"Woof. Bottle, one more time," she requested. "Don't you ever wash your feet?"

"Is that really your most pressing concern right now?" he scowled, passing the bottle down again. She doused his feet to kill the stink, took one final sip and surrendered the rest of the whiskey to Zoro's custody as she got to work.

"Seems like you know what you're doing," Zoro observed after a few minutes.

"Not really. I've mended a lot of clothes, but I gotta say, this is... definitely a first for me."

"Hm. You've got steady hands."

She wondered how much of that stability was thanks to the whiskey.

"You're steadier than I thought you'd be too. I was kinda worried you wouldn't hold still for me," Lana admitted.

'Then again, it stands to reason that anyone with the grit to do something like this to themselves wouldn't be fazed by a few stitches.'

Lana closed the first wound with a brief, relieved sigh. She was glad to be halfway done with the macabre task Nami had foisted on her. Sweat began to bead on her brow as she started on his other leg.

"This ship really needs a doctor," she grumbled, doubt creeping in at the seams of her confidence. Would the crew hold her responsible if their swordsman ended up losing his feet? "I don't know if I can do enough to..."

"It'll be fine," Zoro assured her between drinks. He was all but lounging, relaxing on his elbows while she kept stitching. "I heal fast."

"I just..."

Lana's disbelief at the extraordinary situation finally got the better of her.

"I don't understand how you could even do something like this... to think you got halfway through!"

Her tone was incredulous, but Zoro misinterpreted her volume and vehemence.

"Ugh, spare me. I already got the welfare lecture from Nami."

"I didn't mean it like that," Lana explained. "I just meant... well..."

She struggled to articulate the sentiment overcoming her. It was closer to admiration than the disdain he seemed to take it for.

"Your resolve is like nothing I've ever come across before," she finally managed. "I just have a hard time understanding how anyone could be this... this tough, I guess."

"Oh," Zoro repied, amused now that he understood. "Well that's simple, really."

Lana closed the final stitch and reached for a rag from the pile. She wiped the drying blood from his skin while he explained.

"If I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman, my will needs to be unbreakable. Otherwise, I'd just be wasting my time."

His grin was breathtaking, toothy and manic.

'This sword guy's actually pretty cool,' she thought, hiding her starstruck reaction from him by clearing her throat. She started wrapping his wounds with gauze.

"World's greatest swordsman, huh?" she repeated. "That's your life's goal?"

"Yep."

"Your ambitions are just as lofty as your captains."

"So we've been told."

"I just hope you realize... actually, never mind."

"What? Tell me."

"Well, by that logic, wouldn't this foot-chopping business be an awfully bad omen?"

"You lost me."

"Well if the resolve you used to make these cuts is the same you're relying on to make you the world's greatest swordsman... wouldn't it stand to reason that you'll only make it halfway through that effort as well?"

Zoro froze for a long moment and Lana wondered if she'd made a huge mistake.

'Is this psycho about to slice me to ribbons?' she wondered apprehensively. 'Damn it, Lana, you should have kept your stupid thoughts to yourself!'

The silence in the cabin was thick enough to choke on. Zoro broke it with laughter.

"Well aren't you a wise little runaway lockpick?" he guffawed.

Lana rolled her eyes at him, relieved that her observation hadn't cut deep enough to put her in danger.

"You're not wrong, Avariya. Maybe my body isn't the only thing I should be training to strengthen," Zoro mused.

She patted his knee and rose to see what else Nami had for her.

"Seems like the best solution. Just consider giving it some time so your feet don't fall off," she cautioned.

_____________________________

<== Previous Chapter

Next Chapter ==>

== First Chapter ==

[justaduckarts]

🗣💕✨️🦆

Can we have a drabble of Eclipse or Star Holder being a jelly bean?

"No way.. You're actually jealous."// "Darling.. are you.. jealous?"

I'm interested, how Eclipse would act, if he's being a jelly bean.

In the same time, I think Star Holder wouldn't exactly know what jealousy is.. since they didn't even know how love feels.

Fyfw7hdruh I'll give you platonic smooches

Ok Bye bye

Hello!

One jelly star comin' up!

(Okay I'm ngl I may have gone a little nuts on this)

Spoilers for One Who Holds a Star!

TW: Mentions of loss

The fire crackled softly. Waves gently lapped the shore. Moonlight reflected off the ocean water.

Pluto and Lunar were in the midst of a tickle-wrestle fight, rolling around in the sand and laughing merrily. Lunar was at an advantage; one pair of hands pinned Pluto's wrists while the other pair tickled her mercilessly. Her snorty laughter filled the night.

Warm arms held you close. You were snug in Eclipse's lap, watching the way the tide rushed in and out. Across from you and your large partner, Bonnie was having a drink and enjoying the peace.

Glancing up at Eclipse, you followed his gaze back over to Pluto and Lunar.

"Is something bothering you?"

When tour fingers brushed his arm, Eclipse turned his attention to you. A soft smile spread across his face.

"Forgive me. I was just happy to see her looking so free." He sighed, looking back at Pluto, "I had feared she would never get to be like this again." The smile on his face stretched.

"Truly, I'm glad to see her like this again. Free. Happy. It's what she deserves."

You looked at Pluto. She squealed, attempting to escape Lunar's playful teasing. Then your gaze returned to Eclipse. The softness of his expression felt familiar. You realized it was because he often looked at you that same way.

"...Could it be that you..." You almost didn't want to ask. "You love her?"

The way he tensed against you was answer enough. You slipped from his arms and stood, feeling awkward. Of course he would. Who wouldn't adore Pluto?

"Darling, are you upset?" He looked at you, surprised. "You aren't jealous-

"What if I am?" You fidgeted, looking off to the side. "Pluto is lovely..."

"Certainly, she is." Eclipse nodded. "But you are just as lovely." He gently took your hands.

"Would you say flowers are lovely?" He asked gently.

"...Yes?" You were puzzled by the sudden change of topic.

"And what about stars?" He smiled. "Are stars also lovely?"

"Yes..." You nodded, unsure where he was going.

"You see? The world is full of wonderful things. One can't be compared to another. I certainly love Pluto, but that doesn't make my love for you any less real." Eclipse kissed your forehead. "Pluto and I have a... complex history. You've no need to fret. I am for you, dear. And no other."

You slowly sank back into his arms, allowing him to envelop you.

"Forgive me, Clipsy. I just... I've never seen you look that way at someone else." Now you felt foolish for letting it get to you.

"It's alright, my love." Eclipse cradled you close to his chest, "I assure you, I've no plans of entangling with Pluto. That ship has long since sailed." He rubbed your back.

"What happened with you and Pluto?" You looked at him, curiosity and worry mixing in your stomach.

Hesitating, Eclipse looked up at the sky.

"We met when I was still a child. She was a few years older than me. And I thought she was incredible!" He grinned, "she used to spar with us and put us all on our backs." Laughing, Eclipse shook his head.

"Truth be told, I harbored feelings for her for a long, long time." He sighed, "unfortunately, she was always looking towards my brother. My whole youth was that way- things I wanted ended up falling into his lap. He was brighter, prettier. Popular. Most the goddesses around us were after him."

Eclipse sighed, "I'm not proud of how I handled the situation. I justified my actions by telling myself that I was preventing the star's abuse. But truthfully... I know some part of it was my own jealousy. I couldn't have her, that I could accept. But for Sun to have her? After all he'd done to me? I couldn't stand the thought."

The arms around you tightened slightly. You rubbed one of his arms gently. He smiled.

"That's all in the last, though. Now, all I can hope for is that I might be a better friend this time around."

You nodded, feeling silly for being upset in the first place.

"I think you're doing a good job," you said gently. Eclipse smiled, patting your back.

"Thank you, my love."

As the night carried on, you drifted off to sleep on the blanket that Bonnie had spread out on the sand. The sound of the tide lulled you deep into your dreams.

The gods around you were winding down, too. Eclipse sat, your head on his thigh, gently tracing circles into your back. He'd volunteered to take first watch of the night. Though, likely he'd just let everyone sleep and stay awake through the night.

Pluto was already curled up right on the sand, sleeping blissfully. Bonnie's head was nodding, the empty wine bottle next to him tipped over. He struggled to keep his magenta eyes open, blue ears twitching softly.

And then there was Lunar. He was still on his feet, staring up into the night sky, back to the group.

"Lunar," Eclipse said quietly, "you should get some sleep."

The pale god turned to Eclipse, a complex look on his face.

"I'm fine," Lunar shook his head.

"I know you and I do not get along, but you still need your strength," Eclipse pressed. Lunar frowned. He looked at you, cuddled up to Eclipse.

Eclipse knew Lunar was feeling jealous. He knew, because Eclipse was struggling with his own jealousy. How could he not, when you were walking all about in Lunar's tunic?

"Would you stop acting like you're the bigger person?" Lunar scoffed, "figuratively, obviously. You act like you're trying to be fair and reasonable, but look at you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Eclipse crossed his upper arms, frowning. Lunar crossed both pairs of arms, rolling his eyes.

"Are you serious? Pretty star? Right in your lap? Could you be less subtle?" Lunar's foot tapped, "if you were really concerned about being fair, you wouldn't hog all their attention."

"I'm not-

"Then why are you always all over them, hm?" Lunar's eyes narrowed.

"We're in the midst of a war, Lunar. And the sun god's goal is the star. I am trying to keep them safe." A little growl slipped into Eclipse's voice.

"Oh, so you just don't trust me to do it." Lunar growled back.

"I think you've given me plenty reason not to trust you," Eclipse pointed out, teeth bared.

"Oh, will you ever let that go?" Lunar threw his hands up, "I didn't know he was possessed! I just saw you sneaking around with our star and I- ugh, I don't have to explain myself to you." Lunar crossed his arms.

The silence was thick.

"Man, the two of you really are like fire and oil," Bonnie's southern twang cut through the quiet. Both gods snapped their attention to the half-asleep rabbit.

"Not to overstep, your highness," Bonnie yawned, "but y'know, you're both in the wrong. Snarling at each other all the time like you are, do you think that's going to help? Who are you at war with again?"

"...Sun," Eclipse sighed, crossing his arms.

"Refresh my memory, Lunar," Bonnie continued, "why'd we come out to the beach?"

Lunar fidgeted.

"...To help our star feel better."

"Not just our little star god." Bonnie opened his bag and pulled out yet another bottle of wine and a few wooden cups. "We're out here for morale. If we spend every second of every day pressed over the brewing tension, we'll eventually pop, yeah?"

"That's true," Eclipse sighed.

"Maybe," Lunar frowned, slowly sinking onto the corner of the blanket by your feet. The tired old rabbit poured a few cups of wine and passed them around.

"I know the two of you have had a rocky start, and I know that there are a lot of strong feelings goin' around. But maybe, just maybe, you can sit and talk them out instead of trying to rip each other's throats out like a pair of wild dogs?" Bonnie took a long sip from his cup.

Lunar stared down into his cup, brow knit.

"...It's... not easy for me to control how I feel. It hasn't been since..."

"Since you were poisoned?" Eclipse glanced at Lunar. The smaller god shut his eyes tight.

"...Yeah." His voice came out a whisper.

"I've done some reading, apparently lead poisoning can cause behavioral issues." Eclipse nodded, "I'm... sorry that your village was failed in such a way."

"That's in the past," Lunar shrugged, "what does that even have to do with anything?"

"We're trying to communicate," Bonnie interjected.

"Well it feels like we're just blaming all of it on me now," Lunar snapped, "your temper isn't exactly the most under control either." He glared up at Eclipse.

"You're right," the dark god nodded, "I do struggle to... stay cool-headed." He sighed.

"I suppose in that regard, I'm like my father."

"You're not like him," Bonnie assured, "and Lunar, you aren't a problem. The two of you just need to talk."

Lunar hesitated.

"...I get scared," he admitted, "I've lost everything before. I just... When I see how much our star loves you, I start to think I'm going to lose everything all over again." Blue eyes grew misty with his soft admission.

Eclipse chuckled dryly. Lunar bristled.

"Are my fears funny to you?"

"No," the larger god shook his head, "forgive me. I'm only laughing because that's exactly how I feel." Eclipse looked at Lunar. The soft glow of his rays dimmed.

The look the two shared spoke more than words ever could.

Then, Lunar quietly returned to drinking.

"I will try to be less clingy," Eclipse said softly.

"I appreciate that," Lunar nodded. He passed his empty cup back to Bonnie.

"It's a start," Bonnie shrugged. "You should get some sleep, Lunar. And Eclipse, don't you dare stay up all night."

Eclipse tensed. "Oh, uh... Of course, Bonnibel."

The rabbit snickered before curling up on the sand himself.

As Lunar moved to go and sleep beside Pluto, Eclipse caught the hem of his tunic. Lunar looked back at Eclipse, confused.

"Why don't you stay over here and help me keep them warm, hm?" Eclipse gestured to your sleeping form. Lunar's eyes widened slightly.

"...Really?"

"Really really," Eclipse smiled.

.

When you woke in the morning, you found yourself snugly tucked between Eclipse and Lunar. Both were fast asleep, purring on either side of you.

The sight of the two of them, so at ease, made you smile. You decided you'd wait a little longer to get up and start the day.

[polutrope]

Ya know, reading your wonderful fic Everlasting Darkness made me realize the Earendil x Maedhros ship kinda makes sense cause like in one version of Silmarillion, Maedhros did hang out with Earendil in Vingilot or something while sailing the skies, and then after went to the Valar to beg forgiveness so yeah.

Are you the same Anon who sent me an Ask about this fic a few weeks ago? Anyway, so glad you love the fic! It's one that's close to my heart despite (because of) its crackiness.

Now I hope you'll forgive me for diving into an analysis here because what?! Hahaha I never heard this idea of Maedhros spending time on Vingilot, but I suspect I know where it came from. I thought I'd share because I'm genuinely fascinated by how the "tales grow in the telling" in the fandom with respect to Tolkien's drafts. AND, I discovered to my surprise in revisiting this passage, this interpretation isn't exactly wrong.

Here's a passage from The Sketch of the Mythology, titled The 'Original' Silmarillion by Tolkien. It was a summary of his mythology written for a friend as background to his alliterative Lay of the Children of Hurin. It dates to 1926 and underwent various revisions between then and 1930. I've incorporated revisions in the excerpts below. The relevant quote isn't until the very end, but it's such an interesting passage so I couldn't resist quoting the context.

The Gods [Valar] [...] march through the lands summoning the remnant of the Gnomes [Noldor] and Ilkorins [Sindar] to join them. All do except the people of Maidros. Maidros prepares to perform his oath, though now at last weighed down by sorrow because of it. He sends to Fionwe [Eonwe] reminding him of the oath and begging for the Silmarils [etc., much as in the published Silm]. Maidros and Maglor submit. [...] On the last march Maglor says to Maidros that there are two sons of Feanor now left, and two Silmarils; one is his. He steals it, and flies, but it burns him ... [Maglor casts the Silmaril into a fiery pit.] One Silmaril is now in the sea [because Elwing cast it there], and one in the earth. Maglor sings now ever in sorrow by the sea. [There follows a long passage about the prophecy about the end of the world, including the line:] In those days the Silmarils shall be recovered from sea and earth and air, and Maidros shall break them[1] and Belaurin [Yavanna] with their fire rekindle the Two Trees [...] And thus is was that the Silmaril came into the air. The Gods adjudged the last Silmaril to Earendel -- 'until many things shall come to pass' -- because of the deeds of the sons of Feanor. Maidros is sent to Earendel and with the aid of the Silmaril Elwing is found and restored. Earendel's boat is drawn over Valinor to the Outer Seas [...] From sections 18-19, The Sketch of the Mythology, History of Middle-earth Vol. 4: The Shaping of Middle-earth

"Maidros is sent to Earendel" -- yep! That's there. And, to my surprise, this is after Earendel "sails by the aid of [seabirds'] wings even over the airs in search of Elwing, but is scorched by the Sun, and hunted by the Moon, and for a long while he wanders the sky as a fugitive star." (Section 17).

Fascinating! I can't say I think Tolkien intended in this sketch to suggest Maidros served some time as Earendel's crewman but I also can't say the text precludes that reading. Thank you, Anon, for bringing this little nugget to my attention. I wish I could say I was playing on it in Everlasting Darkness, but I was not.

[1] Maidros is replaced by Feanor in all subsequent versions of this prophecy. I do find Tolkien's first impulse to make it Maidros fascinating.

Btw if you're intrigued by the role of Maglor in this passage, a little plug for my Maglor Biography on SWG.

[swashbucklcr]

1, 3, 10, 93, 94, 95, 100, 105 (dont have to answer all these, just want the world to know!)

@iron-hearts-ablaze | Questions for my Tav

This is super fucking long so it's under a read more:

1. What is their backstory and why did you choose it?

Well, I wrote up a bit on his backstory on the carrd but essentially he's a classic story of a good lad being forced into a criminal lifestyle cause of family and left events.

Finn's moral compass for most of his life is constantly spinning around, not sure which way to point. His mother raised him until just before his teens and she tried her best to nurture a kind hearted nature, a boy who loved music and arts and just wanted to play the lute and sing.

After her passing and his father returns to his life to take him "under his wing", Finn's life of music and art is torn to shreds as his father toughens him up for the life of a pirate. At first Finn resents his father, but over time begins to see it as his father trying his best to make sure Finn survives and thrives in this lifestyle. And by his late teens he certainly thrives. He earned the name Finn "The Fury" Locke for his rage during raids but mostly his constant simmering anger even out of fights.

He's fiercely loyal to his father, the captain, and the crew, having taken many injuries and killed for them throughout his life. Out of the crew, his closest friend and mentor was a half wood-elf named Jon. Jon was the chef and took wee Finn under his care when Finn was still a child grieving the loss of his mother and the life he once knew. Jon was much calmer than most of the other pirates, more patient and open-minded. The kitchen was always a space for Finn to be himself and funnily enough, the one spot on the ship where he never simmered to anger.

As for WHY I went with Finn? I've always been fond of the sea, I've sailed, dived, surfed, etc. I spend so much of my free time at the beach. I wanted to write a character that also shared the same love for the ocean and with all the plotting we've done Vix, Finn as a pirate just fell into place for me. I wanted to write someone who's maIn obstacle isn't anything or anyone but just finding himself again. For the story of the fight against the Dead Three, Finn doesn't have his own personal battles per say, just the slow crawl to self discovery and finally feeling happiness with himself. The fact he has also met Osian, the man who makes him finally believe soulmates just makes his journey all the better.

3. Do they multiclass? Why (not)?

Yes! With our playthrough we're going up to level 20 (😎) and so my current plan for Finn is:

Level 12 Rogue Pirate

Level 5 Fighter Battle Master

Level 3 Bard College of Swords ( only happens near the end of Act 3 as he begins to embrace his Bardic nature )

10. What was your Tav like as a child?

Near unrecognisable to the man now. Young lad, not well off by any means but rarely knew hunger. Carefree, happy, excitable child that had a small group of friends where he loved being the jokester with. He would sneak to watch street performers play songs and tried to set up a terrible band with his friends.

Academically he was perfectly average in most classes, with exception to music and writings where he excelled. His mother worked hard to save up to buy him a lute that he treasured until his father took it from him and cast it into the ocean.

93. What do you think happens to the party, afterwards? Do they go for drinks? Do they go their separate ways?

Finn would certainly suggest drinks, a well earned rest. He'd also be very glad the Elfsong is still standing.

Now, the question is would Finn join Karlach in Avernus? I'm between two minds on this cause Finn would adore Karlach so much, she's a very dear friend to him but he'd also know that Wyll (or Gale of we're throwing in our HeatWeave plot) would join her too.

If he doesn't join her, he'll be dashing after Astarion and using his cloak to cover him up enough until Osian can join them and help with some magic. After that, he will insist on serving all those who remain a pint or two in the Elfsong but he wouldn't feel much joy to celebrate. His best friend(s) is(are) fighting for her life and freedom in the Hells. If anything he's just grateful it's all over and he can focus on the next stage of his life.

Otherwise, he's diving right into Avenrus and smoking that fat cigar before chopping up as many demons as possible while the smarter lads work on a way to fix her engine for good.

94. Years after the game, what do you think your Tav is up to?

Most of his adventuring, and rogue lifestyle has been put away. Finn has now focused his energy on being a simple bard and author. He's trying to write the story of the journey of their adventure with the tadpoles and how a group with little in common banded together to crush the plan of the Dead Three and later the Netherbrain.

Finn has no ties to anywhere on land, his home in Waterdeep is long gone and so he will happily go wherever Osian needs to be. He will ensure to visit his favourite niece Calise as often as he can, and has regular correspondence with Osian's family who have taken him in as his own. He's far happier and more relaxed now with the love of his life and the life he always wanted to live.

One day he also meets Jon, who's left the pirate life to set up an inn in Baldur's Gate and Finn makes sure to be as much of a regular customer as possible.

95. What do you think of your Tav's development throughout the game? If you compared them to who they were at the start, what would be different?

Like chalk and cheese, Finn in Act 1 wouldn't recognise Finn in Act 3, from physical appearance to his entire personality. Finn slowly gets calmer and open to new ideas, plus Finn in Act 1 would have never expected to fall in love with a wood elf wizard and yet by Act 3 Finn can't imagine his life without him.

Yet, Finn post game finally understands how it is to be truly happy with himself. He's finding peace.

100. Did Karlach get upgraded? Did she turn Illithid? Did she return to Avernus? If so, did Tav join her, or Wyll, or both?

Mostly answered this in question 93!

No fucking way would be agree with illithid Karlach.

105. Anything you want to say about your Tav! Give a random headcanon, answer a random question, say whatever you want!

Pigeon is the real hero of the story.

[ambelle]

What I don’t understand is how or why that one kiss between DB in the present constituted any type of response (emotional or otherwise) when DK weren’t together at the time? SERIOUSLY! He couldn’t in good conscience even take her on a proper date because he was too busy flirting with Kory and obsessing over Red Hood and Scarecrow. Dick literally had Babs threatening to eat her pet goldfish; suggested them skipping the gala and hunting down Jason. He was so determined to find them that he was using Tim (a strangers) leads; saw Jason and ended up in an accident (on his motorcycle when Bruce Wayne has a fleet of cars). Let’s not forget, Dick was with Babs several more times after that kiss: the hospital, her office (where they both heard the bogus video that Scarecrow made to discredit the Titans) the bar where they used to hang out and created that stupid plan for the team to surrender themselves to GCPD 🙄 However, they never kissed again - not even when he left Gotham. Whatever was supposed to be going on with them is in delusional people’s minds and per the narrative was over before it even started. The vision of Mar’i in the Lazarus Pit was just the nail in the coffin for DB as it gave Dick renewed hope to try (again) with Kory.

Hey anon, I feel your frustration radiating through my screen.

long answer sorry

My conclusion is that some people deliberately ignored how undercooked and one-sided Dickbabs was on the show. Why? Your guess is as good as mines. Maybe one of my previous guesses was correct and they just enjoy being pissed off.

No one can say if the show had done Dickbabs they would have pulled out all the stops...because they did do Dickbabs...and it was embarrassing at best. They fought a majority of the time and "dated" for 2 eps never actually making it on a date. The ship never even sailed. They for real butted heads did a lot of case work, kissed once, then broke up. And seeing Mar'i made him so giddy he came out the pit a brand new man and started flirting with her mom.

But doesn't it feel like beating a dead horse repeating this sometimes? Like we all watched the same show yet somehow their takeaway is Dick was dead serious when he told Babs she could always come with him. That exchange between Dick and Babs is called tonal aporia. Similar to a rhetorical question the answer is known and they don't really want one. It's just being said as a funny gesture. Not everything is literal which is why they were both basically laughing as they said it.

I don't even dislike Babs and I'm glad there was no love triangle or humiliation or overlap here for Dick Babs and Kory. Had no desire to see Kory crying over them like people claimed she should have been.

But hey at least the discourse over this half-assed ship is almost done for good right?

Almost to the end now hang in there LOL

[baekhvuns]

I almost thought I forgot to send you an ask, dw abt the timing tho. it happens to me a lot 😭 I forget if I had done something and then i question it?

IKR HIS WHOLE PERSONALITY IRKS ME SO MUCH BUT THEN HIS FACE?? HIS FACEEEE!!! 😩😩 he's such a hypocrite honestly, and each time he makes a dumb fucking decision I want to punch him in the face so bad!! BUT THEN I RMR THT ONE CHAPTER WHERE NAVIER'S HAVING A FLASHBACK TO WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND- 😭 I CANT-

Bcz...this just got too real? 🫣

NO STOP STOP ITTTT HWA TURNS INTO A PANTHER 😭😭😭 IM READY TO BE THE TARZAN!!

U GIVE ME THINGS TO GUSH OVER EVERY DAMN TIME! BCZ WDYM INTIMIDATING CEO X FAKE DATING AUS OH IM SO READY 😭

😒 don't even talk abt tht selfish piece of shit, I hate her. The audacity she has, like she literally just said "there's not a woman in the whole world that wouldn't sulk if his lover is spending time with another woman." 😃 miss girl YOU are the OTHER WOMAN! He is spending time with his WIFE! On her BIRTHDAY. Jail. I want to see her in jail. I'm glad Heinrey knows the kinda person she is, he and the empress are the only ones putting her in her place. Like it annoys me so damn much how she cries over every damn thing, idc whatever shit she went thru, it didn't give her any right to become a homewrecker. And soveishu is dumb enough. And navier?

....she's. Etheral. How to be her? How to hv a man like hers? How to be bold like her? How to BE NAVIER??

OMG GURL YES I READ IT 😭 I CANT BELIEVE SOVEISHU KISSED NAVIER'S NECK?!?!?!?! 😭 IM- IDK THT MAKES ME LIKE HIM MORE DESPITE HIS SHITTY ATTITUDE?? WHAT DO I DO 😭 but respectfully, he should fuck off....you lost the chance man. You lost her. No Bcz what does he want frm navier??? Does he think she has a heart of stone? As if she doesn't hv feelings??? He gets all riled up if she even talks with some other guy and look at him, going out with a strange girl he has no idea who tf she even is.

I'm telling you rashta is the downfall of the empire. Girl I'm telling ya, if I see a strange woman running to hug my man like tht..id throw hands idc what my status would be, I would THROW HANDS. (On both, my man, and the girl) Navier is so strong. BWAHAHAHAHA AND HIS GUTS TO SAY "IM A GOOD MAN" 😭🤚 STOPH- HES THE MOST DELULU PERSON EVER! Rashta is like that one annoying cousin. LIKE SHE HAD THE AUDACITY TO WEAR THE SAME DRESS AS NAVIER?!?!? FASION POLICE- YOU GOTTA ARREST HER! BCZ THT IS PLAGIARISM 😭

WTF WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCKK??? SHES PREGNANT 😭😭😭😭 (tbh I bet the emperor thinks, a baby is made if you hold hands) GURL IM GONNA FAINT FRM ALL THE DRAMA THAT UNFOLDS IN EVERY CHAPTER NOOOOOO NAVIER!! I WOULD HV CRIED I WOULD HV- I WOULD HV COLLAPSED AND STARTED TO WEEP SHES SO STRONG!! 😭😭

LESGOOO MY SHIP IS SAILING!! I WONDER WHEN THE DIVORCE EP WILL COME!! OH COME ON NOW IM FALLING FOR DUKE KAUFFMAN 🤧

NO WAY HE DRANK THE LOVE POTION AND DISTRACTED SOVEISHU 😭😭😭 IM DYING- :0 he punched him

I'm gonna kill him, I'm gonna kill him, I'm really gonna kill him I HATE HIM SO MUCH! NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS A CHARACTER MADE MY BLOOD BOIL THIS BAD!

Navier no...the potion has worn off, Duke Kaufmann likes you 😭

OHMYGOD KOSAIR IS HERE HES HERE AHHH SO PROTECTIVE 😭😭 NO I GET IT WHY U LIKE HIM! DOUBLE EMPRESS?!?! 😭 *Searches on Google:- how to be an empress?*

No way you fell asleep on the stairs...was it Bcz it was comfortable or you were just too tired to walk till your bed? 😭 (OMG I WROTE THIS THINKING YOU WROTE "I FELL ASLEEP ON THE STAIRS" AND I WAS LIKE ?!?! WHAT- I READ IT WRONG 😭😭 but this is so funny so I kept it in the ask, i cn be so silly sometimes)

NO WAY DROP THE NAME OF THE MOVIE! controversial? I'm questioning my tastes-

Ikr it's so wholesome and cute, the last episode ended on sung ho offering haebom to drink with him, man I'm totally up for everything that's coming next, Bcz haebom, is already in love and he might not realize it yet, Bcz the way he blushes EVERYTIME he sees sung ho. LIKE WHEN HE DROPPED HIM AT THE DAYCARE CENTRE HE THOUGHT "DID WE JUST LOOK LIKE A COUPLE RN??" NOW TELL ME THIS MF DOESN'T THINK ABT IT ALL THE TIME 😭😭 dw I'll update you once the new episode comes.

I don't wanna go to work tomorrow AND I DONT WANNA GO TO UNI I wanna fall in love with someone IM SO LOVESICK 🤧

LMFAOOOO 😭😭

RIGHT??? SOMETIMES I GENUINELY FEEL BAD FOR HIM BUT THHEN HE DOES SOMETHING AND IT MAKES ME SO MAD LIKE U DESERVE RASHTA ATP like he looks like hwa and it makes me feel bad but then he ABSOLUTELY DESERVES IT 😭

please stop. im in a public setting this picture to picture comparison is taking me out pls don’t let me do this bc i have this draft where the reader is an undercover empress and san’s a thief w heinry’s personality

LMFAOOOO NOT TARZAAN FBKWDHKW

A VERY INTIMIDATING CEO (YSL PERSONA) X HIS PRIV SECRETARY WHO WAS HIS JUNIOR IN UNI FBWMDJWKDJKW WRAPPED INTO FAKE DATING ANON DO NOT DO THIS RN

no srs as much of a goof heinry is he is quick to check someone like rashta or whoever disrespects navier like that,,,, rashta needs to go to jail esp for what she did to that maid???? gOD 😭😭😭 ITS ON SIGHT WITH HER AND THE WAY SHES COPYING NAVIERS STYLE AND HAIR ?????? CRYING honestly soveishu puts her in place sometimes and it makes me feel so good omg i just spoiled it for u

NAVIER IS THE PERSONA OF ELEGANCE !!! THE EMPRESS, ur asking the right questions bc when will fate put us under her fate 😭😭

NO SERIOUSLY AND HE MADE HER CRY LIKE ??? AND THEN ASKED HER TO MARRY HIM AGAIN AND BE THE MOTHER OF RASHTAS KID ???? BOY???? THATS NOT EVEN UR KID THQKDHWK NO LITERALLY PLAGIARISM WHERE U AT 🔫🔫🔫 DIVORCE EP WILL HAPPEN!!!!! HEINRY TREATS HER SO WELL GETS HER BLUSHING AND SHIT TOO 😭😭😭😭

duke kaufman is so 🥰☺️🥰 id be w him ngl very mingi coded

DUDE KOSAIR IS SO 😩😩😩 WHYS NAVIERS ENTIRE FAMILY SO PRETTY

NO LMFAOOO THIS IS SO CUTE FHWJD 😭😭😭 I FELL ON THE STAIRS LIKE GOING UP THE STAIRS did not fall asleep but i was transferring from my couch (where i slept on) to my room and i thought the platform of the stairs was there and i took a step and boom im collapsing <3 my eyes were closed yes bc i have this thing that if i open them while i transfer my sleep will vanish <3

omg ok it’s a 2006 bollywood movie w srk in it, it was extremely controversial bc of the concept but i think if it were released today it would’ve gotten a better reaction nonetheless

“DID WE JUST LOOK LIKE A COUPLE RN???” STOP IT. STOP IT. WEVE REACHED THE MOMENT OF REALIZATIONS !!!!!

manifesting a ceo who does ur taxes and handles everything for u <3

[gay-little-treat-wizard]

Elrya: The New World By T. A. Onkọwe (Me)

4 - Lǐzhì-Mei

The following are instructions to make an invisibility potion:

1. Grind together 1/2 teaspoon each of ground ginger, nutmeg, and gryphon saliva in a mortar.

2. Add these ingredients to a cauldron containing equal parts boiling water and mantrap leaves at a volume of 120 litres.

3. Stir the mixture clockwise over a medium flame until it turns a light green colour.

4. Add the following: -1 pint of manticore venom -1 ounce of maiden's hair -A sheep's eye -55 pints of pulverised sky serpent scales

5. Stir the mixture until it thickens and turns a deep dark purple colour.

6. Turn the flame down just barely and let the concoction simmer to a syrupy consistency.

7. Remove the cauldron from the heat and let it cool.

8. Once cooled, bottle the potion and drink it to achieve the desired effects.

- From the 11th edition of the compendium of rare and experimental potions, by Arcturus Zephyr and others.

The miniature Jung fleet which surrounded her tea ship split their formation and hung back, letting her little tea ship speed past.

Lǐzhì bounced on her feet, eagerly awaiting landing on the holy island and, far more importantly, the fellow demigods who were supposed to be there More people like her presented a wonderful research opportunity! She could finally test her observations against other test subjects instead of endlessly theorising.

What a wonderful scientific opportunity!

Lǐzhì watched the sailors prepare to dock as they approached the golden shores of Zhōngxīn. She hadn't touched land in a month and was eager to disembark. She rushed up to her cabin and rushed through her rooms, packing her alchemical supplies and spell scrolls away before rushing back on deck with her stuffed pack.

"Chin up Mei, don't hide your face." Yù-Liàng tutted. Liàng was a short, stout woman draped in many layers of silk and jade jewellery. Her dark, pitch-dyed raven hair was perfectly sculpted, and her makeup was exactingly applied.

"I'm not." Lǐzhì sulked, resisting the urge to do so.

"You are, and you need to be at your best." Liàng admonished as the ship began to dock.

"You said I'd be perfect for this."

"And I'm not taking that back, but you need to be presentable. You're meeting with other demigods, some of which are of the nobility, and high priests. You're representing all of us."

"I know that. I've spent my whole life preparing for this." Lǐzhì lifted her hand and drew a character in the air in front of her. Her bags lifted jerkily, bobbing and floating along behind her as they disembarked.

"This is what I'm talking about." Liàng reached forward and corrected her rune, refining her sloppy handwriting. Her bags moved along smoothly now. "Magic is supposed to be refined and elegant. Your form and character work... is not."

In combat, there isn't time to keep your magic pristine. Lǐzhì was about to bring that up, about to rehash the same arguments they've already had over and over when Hua appeared. The tanned older sailor hobbled forward on a simple wooden cane to greet Lǐzhì's delegation. They had sailed ahead of the group to prepare things for her, a measure Lǐzhì thought was unnecessary, but she was so glad they were here now.

"Liàng, I don't think now is the time for a lecture. We wouldn't want our esteemed allies to be kept waiting?" They walked up to Lǐzhì and placed a kind hand on her shoulder.

Liàng sighed. "Fine. I will speak to the Kyst delegation to make sure your accommodation is prepared." Liàng flounced away, leaving Lǐzhì and Hua alone to speak.

"I wanted to check you were all packed and ready and I see you... certainly are." They glanced at her overflowing baggage.

"Yep," She patted her floating pack.

"Good. How are you feeling?"

"Excited but anxious?" Lǐzhì paused then whispered. "I want them to like me."

"The bonds I made as a soldier lasted with me my whole life." They set a heavy reassuring hand on Lǐzhì's Shoulder. "You will find your place."

My place? What is my place? What if they have another spellcaster? A better one? Will they even need me? What if Liàng is correct and they think I'm clumsy? Pathetic? Lazy? 

Talentless? Defec-

"I see I have only made your worries worse." Hua frowned. "Trust me. You will be fine."

Fine, fine, perfectly fine. I'm fine, fine...

Lǐzhì chanted to herself quietly as she disembarked from her tea ship and walked onto the docks, surrounded by her guards and retinue. The docks were full of other foreign ships and sailors: dark skinned O'Àwiṣuran's sailors with their deep multi-decked canoes, fair-haired Cerisi with their longships, and so many others. Her retinue met a delegation of priests

headed by a grey and stooped over, golden robbed priestess followed by younger priests and their guards. The priestess walked with the help of a wooden staff, topped with a golden cage that held a flickering flame.

"Welcome to Zhōngxīn." The priestess spoke in a soft raspy voice. "I am Mother Qiara, and I will be your guide while you're here, Lady of the Hǎimén, daughter of the Grand Zi of Shābīn-shāi."

"Thank you for your invitation, Mother Qiara stewardess of the flame." Lǐzhì bowed. "I am Mei, and these are my companions."

"If you follow me, I will take you to your accommodation."

Lǐzhì would have preferred to walk, or float, but Liàng would sooner die than let her do something as unnoble as walking and Hua couldn't save her this time, so Lǐzhì awkwardly stepped into a litter that her servants dragged down from the ship. Lǐzhì train of people followed Qiara's through the city, her entourage in tow. The city was bustling with people, all of whom stopped to stare at Lǐzhì and her entourage. She tried to ignore them, but it was hard. She was used to being stared at (one doesn't use a litter as their main form of transportation and not expect stares), but not like this, not stares of adoration and...

...devotion?

"They're staring at me," Lǐzhì whispered to Hua who walked next to her litter. Liàng sat slightly behind to her left in her own smaller litter.

"It's not everyday one sees a godling walking among us," Hua whispered back.

Lǐzhì frowned and shrank back into the litter, trying to hide herself from the crowds behind the litter's silken curtains and plush pillows.

"Don't hide your face, Mei." Liàng said. "You can't let them think you're too stuck up to make eye contact. But don't make too much eye contact, or they'll think you're overcompensating. You need to be proud but not too proud."

Stuck up? Am I stuck up? I hate eye-contact. Why do people love eye-contact so much? Overcompensating? I didn't know there was such a thing as too little eye contact? What's wrong with people? Or is there something wrong with m-

Lǐzhì took a deep breath, closed her eyes and righted herself. She stared straight ahead, trying to shove her anxiety down as she carefully and mechanically made eye contact with a few random bystanders. She felt like an automaton, but that's probably what Liàng wanted. The procession continued through the city and began cresting up a hill towards the city centre and the temple square.

A.N- @sewi-li-suwi, @sinharder, @reiki-tsubetai@concoctionboy and @hummbirb if you're interested. Let me know if you don't want to be @'ed.

[starcchild]

Your oc your choice! But since you asked.. maybe it's just me and my brainrot with hero x villain dynamics in media lol but I would love Carterio being canon in the main verse and I do think it could work, cuz the thing about Quentin is that he knows how to be sweet and likeable.. until his brain decides its time for homicide/genocide LMAO. The problem is that Tony would object if he ever found out, he would warn her and I think Carter would listen to her father, so the ship wouldn't sail. (1/2)

(2/2) What I don't see tho is Quentin dating her to get a job or level up at SI - not because he wouldn't do that, because he absolutely would, but because he doesn't need to. As terrible as he is (which is why he makes a good villain) he is intellectualy gifted and no amount of evilness can take that away from him. Before Tony did The Thing, maybe Quentin would simply want to date her because she's nice, pretty and they both speak Genius? IDK man but I will go down with this ship 😫😫💔

((exactly!! That's why I love him despite being a giant asshole sdfgkhjdfsh - he's a strong character and ngl I'm bummed they tossed him as quickly as they did, but, I am glad he actually had a lasting impact instead of,,, disappearing,,, like Obadiah did,,, I'm not salty dgsfjhkgsfdjh

also under the readmore because I rambled sfdjgfsd

aNYWAY, so I don't think Tony would object if this is before Quentin works for SI, just because there's no reason for him to have any red flags since he never met him. But, yeah, otherwise Carter would absolutely listen to Tony, but she'd also make her own opinions on the matter - like, with Pietro, we all know Tony is not happy about it (which I mean,,, kinda fair sdkjhfsdj), but while Carter has heard him out on it, she isn't gonna be breaking up with Pietro over it, because she knows who Pietro is. With Quentin, the issue comes with his manipulation, sooo I could see it going either way! I think it depends on the situation and how long she'd been with him and all that jazz

and, for the SI job thing, I mentioned it because I can see him hoping for some good ol' nepotism to kick in lol, but yeah he definitely doesn't need to like. hang his whole hope of getting into SI on it. So he would definitely be into her, but it'd kinda be a mix of factors of him wanting to be with her.

but, I do wanna say, I did think about it some more, and I think I'm just gonna scrap the idea of them dating in college and keeping it as an alt verse thing, since I do have a plan of how that would work out jhfdsj - they'd start dating like,,, maybe four years post-iw? And they would've met before then and been friends (with Quentin befriending her to try and get to Tony, and later dating her for the same reason since Tony would've pulled the BARF thing by then), and with Carter wanting to take things slow in a relationship, she's not one to really start talking about her partner until things progress and they're both comfortable with being in a relationship (like, outside testing the waters). She tells Tony she's seeing someone, but, doesn't say who it is! So Tony can't sit her down and lay things out from what he knows of Quentin. She does this because Quentin asked her to, and she didn't see any problems with this, because Quentin seemed freaked out as in "holy shit your dad is Iron Man I don't wanna die" and not "your dad stole my tech and fired me and I hate his guts and don't want him figuring out my plans". She does start getting a little suspicious as he keeps it up for however long they're together because they're serious at that point and she would like to introduce her dad to Quentin because of it, but she also wants to respect Quentin's wishes. Also, there's a quote I've seen floating around tumblr from boj.ack hor.seman (I haven't watched the show, btw, so idk the full context), where one of the character's says, "You know, it's funny. When you look at someone through rose-colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags.", and that absolutely applies to Carter in this scenario.

anyway, their relationship goes on for about a year? maybe a lil less? but before Carter can sit him down and really dig into the issue of him refusing to meet her father/let her talk about him to her father, eg happens. Tony dies, or maybe not (I don't,,, have strong feelings - it's just an open option for threads since I ignored eg as is sfdjhgfsd), so that absolutely gets pushed aside because Carter has bigger problems going on. Quentin also has problems, because either Tony's dead or hella out of commission, and his plans are just,,, falling apart. He and Carter start fighting over various things, and their relationship starts falling apart. Carter ends up leaving because his temper absolutely starts scaring her, and then Quentin does all his shit as Mysterio and whatnot. Same motive to overrun Tony's legacy to get back at him for BARF and all that, just a deviation beforehand.

[backmaskedliedermacher]

In Memoriam David Crosby

Just heard from a friend that David Crosby has passed. He's… an easier man to mourn than he was to live with, apparently. Some people are like that. More loveable dead than alive. It can't be easy to be one of those sorts of people. I'm sure all kinds of people he hurt and fucked over will be writing heartfelt and possibly equivocal tributes and remembrances.

Because he was brilliant and he was a genius and he was entitled and an asshole and traumatized and deeply, deeply fucked up in so many ways. Like the man literally deserved to die long before he actually did. It's well-known. He burned through a liver drinking and they gave him another one even though he didn't deserve one. Everyone knows it, he probably knew it. I don't know for sure. There's a movie about him I haven't seen.

In some way he was the most honest of the boomers, I think. Before everybody hated boomers, they hated Crosby, for the same reasons the boomers are the Awful Generation. (And yes it's not an age thing, boomer is a mindset, sometimes I act like a boomer, which is why I'm writing a eulogy to David Crosby now.) I still remember the first time I saw a T-shirt that said "Save the planet, kill a boomer", I still remember how much of a hard-on it gave me. I don't know what that says about me, but it definitely says something about me. I don't get hard-ons anymore and I'm glad. I got to transition. Just barely. I'm not sure I would have had the chance if I was a boomer. I mean yeah on the one hand it's "never too late" but it's a long long way from August to December, from 46 to 78. The days grow short when you reach September. That's what Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson said.

David Crosby, the guy who "grokked" Heinlein's repulsive misogynist take on polyamory and turned it into "Triad". David Crosby, who wrote "Almost Cut My Hair", a song about how long hair on guys was a symbol of political resistance and not queer at all actually. He was more than self-centered and arrogant - he was self-destructive. He knew it. He just couldn't quite figure out how not to be the asshole. As much as that's infuriating and pathetic, his total lack of empathy, I mean… at least he faced real, meaningful consequences. I like that. Most boomers don't.

His most assholish moments… I respect them in a weird way. He co-wrote Wooden Ships, about sailing off into the sunset leaving a wasted, ruined post-apocalyptic land behind. It was escapism. It was an abdication of responsibility. It's not too far off from the way I live my life. Someone, I forget who, you can find a cite if you like, once asked Crosby what about the people who didn't make it onto the ships. "Fuck 'em", he said. That was horrifying but it was honest. I don't know that Kantner would be that honest. I feel like Kantner maybe believed that the ships would have all the Best People, that it would be just and not be packed with privileged white people. Because sometimes "privilege" is just the difference between living and dying. Yeah, Crosby didn't deserve another liver. What was he supposed to do? Die because it would be "just" for him to do so? Somebody else could have had his liver. Somebody else deserved to live instead of him. Fuck 'em.

Croz. Desperate. Afraid. Oppositional. Defiant. He's a reflection of my own privilege, of my own unjustified, paranoid fear. It will always be part of me. I try to manage it better than he did. I have more opportunity, for all of his privilege, than he ever did. Chances he never had. The boomers were given the world and destroyed it, and those of us who follow in their wake have… what? I don't know. I don't have a word for it. Something, though. Something. My being, my existence, makes sense only now, in the Decline, the crepuscule, the approaching ruination of their world. Their cruelty, their callousness, emboldens me to renounce them, and their works, and their empty promises.

The song that means the most to me of his is "Laughing", from his solo debut If I Could Only Remember My Name. Here are the complete lyrics:

I thought I met a man Who said he knew a man Who knew what was going on

I was mistaken Only another stranger That I knew

And I thought that I'd found a light To guide me through My night and all this darkness

I was mistaken Only reflections of a shadow That I saw

And I thought I've seen someone Who seemed at last To know the truth

I was mistaken Only a child laughing In the sun

--

Did he actually understand? Did he realize the truth in the song? It's an old truth. The child is father of the man. Wordsworth. Van Dyke Parks. Fucking… David Clayton Thomas, right? The child laughing in the sun is the truth. That's the most we can ever know of the truth. I don't know. It took me a long time to understand that, but I understand it now. Did he? Does it matter? No. He was an asshole and he's dead now and it's a fucking great song.

Maybe David Crosby's name doesn't matter so much, but I remember it, I will remember it, as long as I live. His name is Cronos. He is the unrepentant monster who devours his own children, and we are the children who burst forth from his stomach. The day is cold and clear. I'm laughing. Why am I laughing? Because I fucking love being alive.

[avastyetwats]

The way Charles was gazing at him with his chin on his hand had Flint's stomach doing all sorts of flips. Seemed this five time gold medalist was perhaps interested in him in return? He sat down with him, after all, so that was definitely good for Flint. Not only did he have a fucking beautiful smile and gorgeous eyes, but that long brown hair was loving Flint admired. It suited him wonderfully, and he couldn't help but follow those strands down his muscular arms, some of them draped over his broad shoulders and thick chest and - fuck. That tank top was deliciously tight around his torso.

Shit shit. Was he really eyeing his chest? Yup. But he cleared his throat and took a drink, hoping he caught himself before it was too obvious. "What's that?" He asked, only then realizing what Charles had asked. "Oh," He chuckles. "Synchronized swimming, wasn't it?" He answers with a somewhat serious expression, though the smile breaks through and he laughs. "Horizontal bar." He answers seriously this time. "And vault. Though, you're great at the parallel bars, too. It always amazes me how strong those things are." Because Charles was a very muscular man. They always looked so fragile when the gymnasts swung on them, as though they would snap at any moment but they never did.

"You're kidding." He laughs, pleasantly surprised to hear he was into pirates and his father was a fisherman. "Always dreamed of sailing a big ship, myself, like in the movies. Anytime I was on my dad's boat, he'd let me be the Captain. He was my First Mate," another fond smile on his face. God, was he really retelling childhood memories to a stranger over coffee? Yes, he was. But he seemed to be enjoying it at least. It wasn't often Flint spoke about his grandparents, but he'd take advantage of it any chance he got. "Wonder if your father and my grandfather ever met." Considering they were both fisherman and lived in relatively the same area. Same country, anyway. "Your parents here in Paris for the games?" His grandparents were and he was glad they could be here.

His brow quirks at Charles's excitement when hearing the name Israel Hands and he nods. "The very one," he chuckles, shaking his head. "You know his name well, but not mine? I'm a little insulted." Of course he was only kidding. Israel Hands was well known from the Olympic games and as a coach. He was loved and admired by many. As he should be. With as many medals he earned during his time as a Olympic, he deserved the recognition and praise and Flint was damn honored to be training under him. "I'm no five time Olympic gold medalist, but uh, I like to think I'm good, yeah." He smirks, hoping this year would earn him his second gold medal. That remained to be seen, but he was the one to watch out for. James Flint was the name people were betting on to take the gold. He aced all of his trials without fail. He couldn't help but notice the way Charles licked the contents of his drink off that straw, his eyes watching that tongue work. He felt his jeans suddenly tighten and he had to look away once more, clearing his throat. "So, uh, have you traveled outside of the village, yet?"

Charles wrinkled his nose when he asked if he liked fencing. “ It’s not that I don’t like it, I just hadn’t been exposed to it. It’s kind of a sport for the rich, and well.. I ain’t that. “ At least the gymnast was brutally honest. “ My parents used to hold fundraisers, punch every penny, and find sponsors so I could take gymnastics classes. After I won my first medal, they were sold. “ He snickered.

“ Love to. I just came from practice actually.“ Oh he really asked me to sit. This is going well. He didn’t know if the man was inclined toward men, but even if he wasn’t he was easy on the eyes. Charles followed him to a table, poked his straw into his drink and took a sip. Then he continued. “ I came from nothing. But ya know I paid my parents back for all that training. Got them a nice house with my sponsorship money. “ He smiled a little. Some athletes that were here couldn’t even afford rent, but if you were good.. you could score all kinds of sponsorships, commercials, the works. Charles was one of the prized athletes of Great Britain, so it was fair to say he had a lot.

“ So. “ Another sip, a gesture of his hand. “ How’d you get into fencing? Gotta be a story there. “