#i'm happy with where we are and i think they needed their respective adventures to get all primed for each other

[gem-de-lune]

Daily Vibe Check 11/26

To lighten the daily read load but still ensure I get to everyone, i will be reading on 1 Riize member daily, and Seunghan every other day or just if something with him shifts significantly. I will do Riize collective reads every other day that I'm not doing a Seunghan Read. So today it is Seunghan + Sohee and then an SM read i found in my asks. Tmw it will be Riize collective + Any other member + something relevant to current topics or asks. Hope that makes sense.

Seunghan

Knight of Chalices + King of Wands + 6 of Wands

Honestly bro is just chilling right now...lowkey this is his card when he is at his most neutral/leaning positive state. Very charming very vibey. He seems to be cheeky lately. He is doing well. I asked about how he felt about Rolling Loud in Thailand, and he responded with the King right there. He's feeling very very high up about the ordeal. Rather than being the King, he sees Briize as the King, and him gathering his graces and motivation to push gorwards simply by watching. There are a lot of fond and just overall respectful and "in awe" emotions attached here. To the point where he may wonder if it is overbearing for others (cough OT6 cough) leading me to believe he may have seen their distainful reactions. Nonetheless it wasn't enough to erase his positive feelings on the matter. He really feels like he should bow down in gratitude lmfao.

When I had asked if he had contacted members recently i got the 6 of Wands, which is a yes signally a positive and celebratory? Chat. Therefore, it is probably around or on Taro's birthday they spoke.

One thing of note that I and maybe many have noticed is that Taro seems the most standoffish out of all the members regarding this entire situation from the start. This is true-ish deep down. I pulled another card to clarify the 6 of wands, which made everything I already knew click into place for me- but I accidentally reshuffled it in my deck and I do not remember exactly what card it was- but I know it fully cleared this up for me so I will share the explaination I came to here:

Taro doesn't really know how to deal with negative situations. At all. He acts as if they do not exist unless he must face them. He is not good with them. He will spiral out of control and doesn't know how to work through those things properly, so he believes the most mature thing is to not engage to begin with. Therefore, it was very awkward for him to try and contact Seunghan directly. He does not know what to say. He has been avoiding it even if he also believes he was wronged and is still OT7. He is the most awkward member about this. I do believe that Seunghan mayhaps reached out during his birthday, and this relationship is starting to mend again. Wanted to share bc this makes me sad and happy.

Sohee

The World + 6 of Chalices + 2 of Pentacles

Sohee is generally feeling really good, maybe like something has been completed to an extent sucessfully. I think, tbh that he is glad to be home lmfao, but he really enjoyed the adventure. That sort of feeling. Since people were asking, I decided to ask if he had really smiled and nodded at the Riize is 7 banners at Rolling Loud, to which I pulled 6 of Chalices. This is a yes, it made him think of some other memories- so since that is the case I really think he may be referring to Madrid, which is funny bc Briize were saying he was grinning just like he did back then!

I then asked him how he thought things were progressing for Seunghan's return, to which I got 2 of Pentacles. Things are still being prepared and there's not a clear answer at the moment. This question led me into the next few things we will discuss regarding SM.

SM

Knight of Pentacles + 8 of Swords + Knight of Wands + Queen of Wands

Generally, there is a lot of turmoil here. Careful planning and preparation, but its almost like one team is like "let's do this now, this is stupid and we need to act now" and the other is like "why do we have to do that? I don't wanna". One side wants to do as they have always done, and the other side is younger and more open-minded, wanting to avoid disaster due to refusal to adapt. The older side sees this as reckless, the younger side sees the older as lazy and slow. It is very tough, and they are at odds. I will come back to this energy a bit later.

8 of Wands + 2 of Chalices + 10 of Wands

Someone asked if SM was making a decision regarding Seunghan this week. Pulled 8 of Wands and 2 of Chalices. Yes?? I think they 100% have the intention to do so. But with the 10 of wands as the outcome I think that whatever outcome it is it will be while before it is released, and whatever it is will be due to a lot of pressure being put on SM. So I advise that OT7 really make sure to keep laying it on as thick as possible as this will affect the outcome.

Bottom of Deck:

8 of Chalices + 5 of Wands

The theme here is still a lot of conflict. One side will need to grow mature enough to give up their stance. Whoever gives in first wins.

Final Notes:

Mainly, what I wanna speak on is the energy SM is feeling right now. I made a transit reading when Pluto went into Aquarius that discussed what tf is going on with SM lately and what will be going on for the next few years. I will link it HERE (for twt users, i will link in the twt)

Other than that, again, keep spreading the truth and laying on the pressure here. We are approaching a kind of finale situation rather soon. Or at least some news regarding such. Note that even if we win, we may not KNOW right away. We may not know 100% until closer to a CB. I hope not, but it's certainly possible. So please keep doing what you're doing, and do not give in!!

[waywardted]

Amsterdam (Ted and Rebecca's Version)

[taylorman2274]

We Care About You (Part II)

The aftermath that follows is a struggle for everyone to comprehend.

Content Warning(s): N/A

Notes: SAGAU; GN!Reader

Word Count: 1k

Previous || Next

Taglist: @silverstarred

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The past few days have been hard for your mind to wrap around.

Ever since that particular incident you had while playing Genshin, you've been extremely hesitant to log back on. Now that you knew all the people of Teyvat were self-aware, you were scared to imagine what they thought of you.

"Have they been self-aware the entire time that I've been playing? Have they always been able to hear my voice whenever I spoke aloud? Do the Traveler and their friends hate me for forcibly controlling their movements and actions like puppets? If that's the case, wouldn't it be better for me to leave them alone without letting them know?"

It doesn't seem like there's any part of your day where you're not thinking about how to follow up with the world of Genshin Impact. In fact, it's gotten so bad for you that some of your friends have noticed your change in mood and asked if anything was wrong.

Knowing that this situation is not only unheard of but also impossible to comprehend for anyone, you simply told them that you were dealing with personal issues, which honestly isn't that far from the truth.

Eventually, you began to worry if some of the people in Teyvat would figure out a way to reach you beyond the computer should you not reach back to them soon. In the past, you would've laughed at such a thought. But now that you've witnessed the impossible, you didn't want to wait around and find out.

"If I'm going to continue playing Genshin, I should at least try and accommodate their needs and wants better."

As much as you didn't want to delay your return to Genshin any further, you felt that researching all of your current playable character's needs, wants, likes, and dislikes took top priority over anything else in your life right now.

...Well...besides your needs and wants.

First, you took note of their favorite and least favorite foods. You would feel pretty bad if you kept feeding them food that wasn't their preference. Especially since characters like Lisa and Ganyu were vegetarians.

Second, you took note of everyone's talents. While you know that some characters had passive talents which gave you extra dishes when cooking or extra materials when crafting, you felt that those jobs should be left to the professionals, such as Xiangling and Albedo respectively.

"Let's see. First off, I should probably remove the people in my party with full-time jobs, as they take priority over exploring with the Traveler. So I should probably replace any Knights of Favonius, Liyue Qixing, Tri-Commission Member, etc. However, that doesn't exactly leave me with a lot of options to choose from. Although Xiangling works for Wanmin Restaurant, she's currently exploring Teyvat for ingredients. I assume accompanying the traveler would be fine with her. Bennett works for the Adventure's Guild so that works as well. But that also leaves me with a Pyro-heavy party, which may pose a problem for enemies such as Pyro slimes..."

However, the more you spent time researching, the more pessimistic and depressed you began to feel. Here you were spending all this effort trying to accommodate to all the characters you've obtained without even knowing if they gave a single thought or care in the world towards you.

"...I never really asked if they wanted to join the Traveler's adventures. ...So...maybe I should just only use the Traveler...?"

You sighed deeply. This was not gonna be good for your mental health.

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Meanwhile...

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The Traveler didn't know what to think.

On one hand, they were happy that [Y/N] was getting some much deserved rest. On top of that, they were also happy that they got to have a break from doing commissions all the time. But on the otherhand...

They were really starting to miss you.

This is the longest that they have gone without feeling your presence and they were starting to worry if they had accidentally scared you off due to that incident.

The incident that revealed Teyvat's self-awareness.

"...You're thinking about [Y/N] again, aren't you?" Paimon asked.

The Traveler chuckled sadly. "Is it really that obvious?"

"Kind of? Paimon thinks that's what everyone is thinking about."

They believe her. Zhongli, Venti, and a few others had reached out to them over the past couple of days for any news about [Y/N]. They were saddened by their expressions when they told them they had no news to give.

“...Y/N..." The Traveler sighed.

"Hmm?" Paimon hummed in thought, "What was that?"

"...To think that was their name all along. And to even think that they may be just as human as most people in Teyvat! It’s honestly kind of relieving when you think about it.

Although they weren't going to lie. At first, they saw [Y/N] as an unknown entity that possessed them to do its bidding. It was scary at first, knowing that neither them nor Paimon were able to figure out a way to interact with or avoid it. However, after solving both Mondstadt's and Liyue's respectable crises and powering them up with newfound strength, they started to see you as a sort of companion similar to Paimon.

"Yeah, even Paimon is starting to miss traveling and exploring with them."

"Is that so?" The Traveler taunted, "I thought that at one point you were trying to prove yourself as the better guide?"

"Hey! Paimon told you already that she has proved herself as the superior guide time and time again." She exclaimed as she crossed her arms.

They laughed. It felt nice to tease Paimon like this to distract them from the lack of [Y/N]'s presence, but they were starting to feel like they couldn't keep this up forever.

"Regardless, Paimon hopes that [Y/N] comes back soon. Everybody will feel a lot better once they do."

The Traveler looked up to the night sky and watched the stars flicker with light. Paimon followed their gaze and gave a sorrowful frown.

"I hope so too."

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Author Side Notes: I had an idea.

But in all seriousness, I'm flattered by all the positive comments, reblogs, and likes from the previous post. I only expected to get around 20 notes since it was my first post but somehow I've ended up at 800+ and counting? It's almost too much for me to handle lol.

As for the rest of this story, I've decided that it will likely take around six parts for me to reach its conclusion. We've got two down so far, so that makes four more to go. Of course, that's only if y'all want to read more.

[grandline-fics]

Can I ask for some luffy x femreader angst where they get knocked off the sunny and can't swim? Your writing is so good

DESCRIPTION: You get knocked off of the ship

WARNINGS: angst, comfort, good ending

CHARACTERS: Luffy

WORDS: 1,322

A/N: Who can say no to some angst? Thank you for this request. I hadn't intended it to be this long but I'm happy with the result and hope you are too.

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

DIRECTORY | PROMPT LIST

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Nothing is ever straightforward or as it truly seems on the Grand Line, anyone who goes there with that belief are swiftly taught the harsh lessons. If they are strong and adaptable enough then they get another day on the waters. If they aren’t? Then they either join the many ships and skeletons that are scattered beneath the waves or allowed to return to safer seas with their tails between their legs and dreams of adventures and fame broken along with their pride. As much as the Strawhats, and more-so their Captain are impulsive and quick to race headlong into their adventures, they respect the seas under Nami’s strict guidance. “It’s looking clear now but once we cross the boundary of the next island’s atmosphere it’ll most likely change.”

You all nodded at her warning, Nami was never wrong with these things. So when she made a statement like that you knew knew to make the most of the clear skies, bright sun, and calm sea now while you all could. As soon as you approached the boundary you would all be on guard until you knew for certain what the next island would bring you all. You stretched out from your spot on your deckchair and slowly sat up with a slow yawn building in your chest. You could have stayed lounging for a while longer but knew you were dangerously close to falling asleep, something you wanted to avoid just in case the next stretch of the journey required all hands on deck. Needing to stay alert you began to walk around in search of something to occupy you. 

There was no motivation to train in you just at the moment and it was too nice of a day to wander to the kitchen or go below deck to the library or bar. As you casually scanned the ship your gaze zeroed in on Luffy as he perched happily on Sunny’s head, his legs swinging lightly as his body all but vibrated with excitement. Nami’s mention of crossing the island’s boundary soon meant it would only be a matter of time before the island came into view and the next part of everyone’s adventure would continue. You couldn’t help but smile at Luffy’s infectious enthusiasm. “You bounce anymore you could fall into the ocean, Captain.” 

Luffy laughed at your teasing voice and turned to grin brightly at you. Almost immediately he moved his seat to allow you the room to sit comfortably on the lion’s head with him. When you joined him, Luffy’s smile grew wider. Together you both talked happily about what you thought the next island would bring, guessing what there was to explore and see. You only broke the conversation when you felt that the sun had gotten a little dimmer than it had been and felt the ship lightly sway. Had the water gotten choppier? “We should probably head onto the deck. I think we’re nearly in the new territory.” You began as you slowly got to your feet again. The Sunny jolted as it hit a rougher swell of a wave and you swayed but managed to regain your balance. “The water’s changing fast, c’mon Luffy.”

Luffy nodded and reluctantly bounced to his feet. Ordinarily he would have just remained on Sunny’s head until the end but with you here, it made him just cautious enough to prioritise your safety over his lack of thought for his own. Luffy stepped behind you and planted a hand on your shoulder when another rocky wave surged the ship only this one was accompanied with a strong gust of wind. As expected Nami launched into action, calling for everyone to get to their positions as the storm rolled in seemingly from nowhere. “Luffy! We need you to-”

Usopp’s shout was swallowed by a shriek of wind but the beginning of his call was enough to snap Luffy’s attention for the briefest of seconds. At the same time an enormous wave slammed against the starboard side of the ship, showering seawater over you all and with enough force to tilt and rock the ship upwards and sideways at once. With Luffy distracted and the violent lurching of the Sunny, the two of you tumbled. Acting only on instinct you managed to grab a hold of Luffy’s collar and throw him onto the safety of the deck. However you were unable to save yourself and fell backwards into the darkening, swirling waters. 

Luffy scrambled to his feet, yelling out your name as he leant over the railing of the Sunny, eyes desperately searching the violent waves in search for you.You weren’t the strongest swimmer in the crew but even the likes of Sanji would have struggled to break through the surface in water like this. Sharply he turned to his crew who only just realised what had happened. “Jinbe! Save them!” His order was sharp and held none of his usual cheer. The helmsman wasted no time in leaping into the water while Luffy returned his panicked gaze to the water. “Come on…”

The seconds were an agonising wait, drawing out to the point it felt like an eternity. He didn't even know he’d been painfully holding his breath until Jinbe’s figure broke through the water and landed back onto the deck with you held securely in his arms. Chopper reached you first and took you into his care swiftly. When you let out a choking breath and rolled onto your side, Luffy was on you in an instant, hugging you tight and lifting you off the ground. Even when Chopper yelled at him to be gentle and let you go, Luffy only loosened his hold but still kept you in his grip; his eyes were steely and fixed only on you. 

“Luffy…I’m okay. Promise.” You spoke weakly and your hand reached out to touch his cheek, hating to see him so serious. Quickly you pulled your hand back when he flinched at the touch, fearing you’d overstepped with the usually affectionate Captain. It wasn’t your touch that Luffy took issue with, it was that your skin was so cold. Quickly he pulled you to your room and nudged you inside, only now letting your go fully. “You need to change.”

To hear Luffy so insistent and serious was something you weren’t used to but you could see the worry in his face and while you couldn’t speak you nodded and grabbed fresh clothes before disappearing into the bathroom to dry off and change. When you reappeared you paused to see Luffy pacing, a literal ball of nervous energy and biting the inside of his mouth harshly. This wasn’t the Luffy you knew and you could tell his thoughts were spiralling with memories he never liked to dwell on. With a small sigh you set your hand on his arm and pulled him to sit comfortably on your bed before settling down beside him, facing him fully. “Luffy, I’m safe. This isn’t like you.”

“You’re still cold…” Luffy mumbled, his eyes glancing down at your hand on his arm. He hated this feeling that was twisting in his body uncomfortably. Even worse he hated seeing you worry about him. With a frown he grabbed the blanket from your bed and wrapped it around your body tightly before pulling you close, his hands rubbing against your arm and back. Part of him told him it was just to get you warmed up. Another part of him felt it was for his unshakable selfishness of reassuring himself that you’re only safe with him. Then when you sank further into his hold and closed your eyes, Luffy felt himself finally begin to relax. Nothing was ever straightforward on the Grand Line, for one thing it could make a nasty way of making people have a closer look at their feelings whether they had been initially aware of it or not.

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TAG LIST (If I've missed anyone or if you want to be added just let me know) @3v37773, @tsaaps , @i-am-all-love-puns-and-lazy , @sanemisnonexistenteyebrow , @fiery-captain-spider-santa @kabloswrld , @atanukileaf , @ane5e , @stuckinthewrongworld

[rowdyluv]

𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙊𝙪𝙩 · 𝙟𝙝⁸⁶

summary: Trevor isn’t a fan of how Jack’s changed for his girlfriend.

warnings: use of y/n, kind of angsty, more fluffy, trevor being kind of a bitter friend,

word count: 1.1k

authors note: i really liked the request prompt but i struggled to write it. to the anon who requested it i hope it doesn’t let you down 🥺



Y/n’s laughter echoed through the restaurant, a melody that seemed to seep deep into Jack's soul. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her throw her head back, revealing the small, delicate spot on her neck where he knew her pulse would be racing. He knew if he placed his lips to it just how the noise she would make would sound. Her hair, usually pulled back into a tidy bun, had come loose and now framed her face in a halo of curls. It may have been two years since they started dating, but Jack still found himself completely and utterly captivated by her.

As they finished their dinner, Trevor nudged Jack and motioned for him to follow him to the bathroom. "Look," Trevor whispered, "I know you love her and all, but she's holding you back, man. You need to live a little, go out with all of us, have some fun." Jack sighed, feeling torn. He knew that Trevor was his best friend, but he also knew how important y/n was to him. He didn't want to lose her, no he couldn’t lose her, but he didn't want to miss out on all the adventures he could still be having with his friends.

"Why don't you come out with us anymore?" Trevor asked bluntly. "You used to be the life of the party. Now you're just...different." Jack hung his head, unsure how to respond. "I just want you to be happy, man. I really think you're making a mistake by staying with her." Trevor opened the bathroom door and walked back towards the tables. It was purely happen chance he was even here and Jack was too. Trevor on a date while Jack was on one too.

The two boys returned to their respective tables, Jack couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in tightly churning in his gut. Trevor was on to something; he did miss going out with all their friends and having their crazy adventures. But y/n was everything to him. She made him feel loved in ways he had never experienced and supported him in everything he did. It may have only been two years, but Jack couldn't imagine his life without her now. He knew he couldn't continue like this, though. Something had to give.

That night after dinner, as the two walked hand in hand through the park, Jack managed to gather up the courage to confront his new worries with y/n. "Hey, there's something I want to talk to you about," he said, his voice barely registering over the children still playing on the playground. Y/n stopped and turned to face him, her eyes instantly filled with concern. "What's wrong, Jack?"

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I love you, y/n. I love you so much. You know that. But I feel like I'm missing out on a lot with my friends. I want to be able to spend time with them like I used to." He looked down at his girlfriend who drew in and chewed on her lower lip, clearly being hurt by his words.

"Jackie, I thought we had talked about this.. I thought you trusted me enough to know that I would never stand in the way of your friendships?. If anything, I want you to have them in your life more. You are my life, today, tomorrow, hopefully next week and further, but I want you to have a life outside of me too. I love you more than you probably think I do, but that doesn’t mean we always have to be together.” Y/n told the sweet boy standing before her. He was awestruck while she was speaking.

He looked at her, his eyes searching hers for any hint of deception. An action he instantly felt guilty for. He should’ve never let his friends inside his head. Seeing nothing but sincerity, he exhaled slowly.

"I guess I just... I just need to find a balance, huh?" She nodded, wrapping her arms around him. "I'll always be here for you, jackie. And I want you to know that I understand. We'll figure this out together."

The next weekend, Jack and y/n arranged a "double date night" with Trevor and his newest girl. The four of them went to one of the local art galleries, something y/n loved to do, afterwards they went to a cozy Italian restaurant for dinner.

As they walked side by side, Jack was overcome with a sense of excitement and anticipation. Both had been building within him since the plans were made. For the first time since meeting y/n, he felt like he was truly experiencing something elating again.

The entirety of the night was filled with wholesome laughter and conversations about everything and anything, as both couples shared stories and experiences, and found common ground in their shared love for art and food. Y/n and Trevor even managed to strike up a conversation about their favorite artists and sport teams, which surprised Jack and made him smile. He had never really thought of his best friend and y/n having much in common, but it seemed like tonight was proving him wrong.

“Seems you picked a good one Rowdy.” Trevor snickered referring to y/n. “I’m glad you changed your mind about her Zegras. But I didn’t just pick a good one, I picked the best one. At least for me.” Jack was smitten with her and Trevor fake gagged. Earning himself a laugh from all of them.

While they finished their meals and sipped on their respective drinks, the atmosphere in the restaurant shifted ever so slightly. The lights were dimmed, and a soft, romantic medley filled the room. Jack caught y/n glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, an expanse flush of warmth spread through his chest.

In that moment, Jack realized that this was exactly what he needed: a balance between his relationship with her and his friendship. He didn't have to choose between them anymore.

As the music continued, Trevor and his date excused themselves to the dance floor, leaving Jack and y/n with a moment to themselves. She smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling practically screaming out her love for him and Jack himself was flooded with a rush of his affection for her.

He leaned down, gently brushing his lips against hers, whispering a quick intimate “i love you”. He placed another kiss on her lips, meant to be soft and innocent but as their kiss deepened, the warm, content feeling of love and happiness spread throughout both of them.

The rest of the night flew by in a blur of conversation, laughter, and dancing. They all truly seemed to enjoy each other's company, and Jack couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected gift. As the night drew to a close, they agreed to get together again in the coming weeks. Trevor and Jack said their goodbyes before everyone went their separate ways.

“Y/n?” Jack called out softly from beside her. She glanced up at him, as if to ask him ‘what?’ “Thank you for tonight. I really appreciate what you’ve done for me. For us.” She squeezed his hand and smiled up at him. “I love you, I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you but I hope I keep staying lucky.” Jack brought her hand up to his lips placing a quick kiss to the top of it.

[pendragon1400]

Elfsong

Do you ever think about how messed up the staff at Elfsong are after the party stays there?

Tav traveling with Gale, Astarion and Shadowheart, looking like a respectable adventuring team: "Excuse good sir, is there a room we could rent?"

innkeeper is all: "Eh, everyone else has been staying away due to the gruesome murders, sure. In fact pay me more and you can have the entire upstairs."

Tav: "Wonderful! We should get the rest of the party, I think everyone will be happy to have a bed again!"

Innkeeper: "Uh, okay we do have ample space up there. Remember if you need food you can order it."

*Cut to the rest of the party showing up*

Wyll: "Our campions rented the room upstairs. Is there anyone to help with our belongings?"

Karlach lifting two trunks, "No need for all that! Just show us where the room is."

Lae'zel carrying a trunk and backpack: "If that man is not giving you the key, I am sure we can find another way inside."

Innkeeper: "Apologizes, uh is that an owl bear?"

Halsin gently guiding Scratch and the Owl Bear cub inside.

Innkeeper: "You have an Owl bear...A dog...and"

Minsc: And a miniature giant space hamster!"

Innkeeper: "Right...Well it's upstairs. Enjoy you're stay..."

The innkeeper just watches in utter confusion and mild panic as the entire group troupes up the stairs followed by Withers, Mizora, Duke Raven guard for some reason and Shadowheart's parents.

Also the food requests would be a nightmare.

"I'm just saying all you need to do is add some spice. It is lifeless!"

Tav: "GALE STOP ARGUING WITH THE KITCHEN AND GO TO BED!"

Astarion: "Oh, do they have any more blood from the beef roast?"

Edit: I compeletly forgot about Aylin and Isobel. So on top of all these people in walks the moon maiden loving holding hands with her angel wife. Also Yenna and their cat is there as well.

[campbenji]

*JWCT SPOILERS* very messy first thoughts

OH BOY here we go

-ben and darius's dynamic was epic. the hug. the roadtrip scenes. "is your friend okay?" "no 😊". ben getting darius out of his isolation cabin and darius grounding him in ep2. the parallels with s3ep7. "you kiss your mother with that mouth?" i'm gonna be thinking about that scene for days. their ship is still a swim to me but please they better keep whatever the fuck they have going on in s2 because it's fucking wonderful

-i love that they took the chance to give more light to duos we didn't see much in jwcc. teamups we didn't often see like ben and sammy, THE B-DUO, and darius and sammy got very special moments here

-the amount of pictures/videos from the six years in between??? the brooklynn flashbacks??? we were so well fed

-BRAND!!!!!! i got so happy when i heard him the first episode, he's clearly been checking on his brother and i'm glad he's ok

-bowman family FEAST. brand and darius talking over the phone. the pictures on the cabin. kenji saying he calls mrs. bowman once a week and all the nice things he said about her. the whole mess between kenji and darius. "we're brothers, right?" i died dead. i love this family your honor

-sammy. she's got so much going on and we desperately need to talk about it. i'm so worried about her, she's desperately trying to avoid confronting what happened with brooklynn, with yaz and her own trauma, and then they casually dropped on us that her family isn't speaking to her and never elaborated on that?? sammy, who's love and care for her family was her biggest motivation in jwcc?? i need to know what happened because it must've been big

-mateo!! i liked him a lot, he definitely doesn't want to get into any of this mess but still dabbles around a bit to help the kids, which i respect. also i hope we get to meet his daughter hiraya, she sounds really cool

-MS MICROBANGS (or the handler, or whatever name we're calling her). what is her deal. who is she working for. she's so uncanny, literally almost robotic i need to know more about her

-brookenji over i cheered. don't take this personally i've never been a fan of this ship and a part of me knew they weren't going to last long

-the animation increased in quality so much. the scene after ben, yaz and sammy get out of the sinking van is so well done it's so pretty to look at. and the t-rex with the explosion behind her? it reminds me so much of toro in the tunnels in s1ep8, and i haven't tested this out but i feel like if you put them one next to the other the improvement would be so noticeable.

-also related to the point above: that thing when a character's eyes start filling up with tears but they don't cry just yet? 10/10. chef's fucking kiss

-sure jwct has the same tv-y7 rating as jwcc, but from minute 1 it's obvious it's not the same audience they're talking to. it's not a big change in tone, like for example adventure time/distant lands/fionna and cake, but it's there, you can tell they know it's not little kids watching anymore

-BUMPY IS HAVING A BABY BUMPY IS A MOM NOW they had me shit scared for her and then they pulled a freaking egg my heart was literally pounding. anyways i hope they get both bumpy and the egg somewhere safe and that they name the new anky "speckles" (i've gotten so attached to that name in the last 24 hours it's insane)

-YASAMMY THE QUEENS THAT YOU ARE. their relationship was stellar this season, i was scared when i saw that they were apart but their issues felt organic to their relationship and i just love how they were written in the show, they are still so in love with each other and i can't wait to see where they go next season. they're everything to me

-yeah they were apart for half the season but. benji crumbs. the egg cradle scene. kenji helping ben after he got hit with the stun gun. basically all they did was act like they knew each other but idc. we are so back.

-the brooklynn reveal was... meh?? it could've been more rewarding if they waited until s2 to reveal she's still alive, but at least i hope they take their time before reuniting her with the rest of the camp fam. also i can't believe ppl even guessed what arm she was going to lose y'all have prophetic powers or smth

-bringing daniel back to kill him the same episode was an insane move btw. i would've normally complained but it's all worth it for causing the panic attack scene in ep7. kenji's reaction felt so genuine, i'm forever in awe at how well this show writes grief and trauma

-i'm so conflicted about darius's confession. i like dinostar, but i feel like it wasn't needed for darius to be in love with brooklynn to explain the voicemails and the way he was dealing with her death. she was one of his closest friends, his grief made sense even with them being platonic. on the other hand, i love how he admitted it to kenji and the fact they didn't turn it into a huge fight between them; also, "i didn't know i could even feel that way" aroace/acespec darius truthers never lose

-maybe it's just that i need to rewatch, but i'm lost as to where they're going next season?? i know they're getting on a boat but where does that go?? what are they trying to do?? there's so much happening my head is spinning

-ben... he kind of felt like the comic relief for most of the show, the first episodes showed him as being really paranoid again and struggling with being alone, but halfway through the season they just sort of forgot about it?? idk something was off

-bring back kenji's old latin spanish va idk who this guy is but that is not kenji i can't do this. i'll survive the loss of ryan potter but i won't survive this

anyways yeah i think those are most of my uncooked thoughts, overall i really liked the season, i can't believe we got to see the kids again this is still so unreal to me

[cousmemes]

dialogue starters from DOCTOR WHO SEASON 9. feel free to edit for context / continues under the cut.

"Why do you always assume I'm lying?"

"An enemy's just a friend you don't really know yet."

"Wherever you go, there are people who care enough to find you."

"Anyone can hide from an enemy. No one from a friend."

"I did something wrong. I let somebody down when I should have been brave enough and strong enough to do better."

"You do realise you're still an idiot."

"Are you any good with a broadsword?"

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. Just don't run."

"He doesn't know we're here, does he?"

"When do I not see you?"

"Nobody dies here. Not one person, not one of my friends, do you understand?"

"You want to know how dangerous I am?"

"Is that supposed to frighten me?"

"If she is really dead, then you'd better be very, very careful how you tell me."

"What am I even looking for?"

"They don't have much respect for you, do they?"

"I'm so glad you didn't have to see that."

"I'm your friend. I'm your friend!"

"You know what? I've just had a very clever idea."

"How long do you think it's been down here?"

"What's wrong? You're not happy. Why aren't you happy? Tell me."

"Wait, wait. I don't think they're going to hurt us."

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Do you know what you need? You need a hobby."

"Where have you been? Everyone's been looking for you."

"We're coming back, aren't we?"

"I'm fine, by the way, in case you were worried."

"We need to get there. It's our only way out."

"You're sure they're not going to hurt us?"

"You seem to know an awful lot about me."

"I'm asking what I should say to you."

"I'm not ready yet. I don't want to think about that. Not yet."

"You didn't try very hard to stop her, though, did you?"

"You can't cheat time."

"No one is coming to save you."

"You're always talking about what you can and can't do but you never tell me the rules."

"We're time travellers. We tread softly. It's okay to make ripples, but not tidal waves."

"I had a dream you'd all died. It was so real, I thought I'd made it happen."

"There's nothing to fear, strange maiden."

"What's the one thing that gods never do? Gods never actually show up!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you afraid."

"I have no reason to fear you."

"Not every misfortune that befalls us is down to you."

"We're not cowards. We do not run."

"Stay. You could help us. I know you could."

"A good death? Is that the best we can hope for?"

"I've got a hobby, thanks. It's you, by the way."

"Every time we do something like this, I keep thinking, what if something happens to you?"

"What do you think our chances are tomorrow?"

"I cannot keep you safe. I do not have the strength. But I will try to till the last beat of my heart."

"I'm sick of losing people."

"Look at you, with your eyes, and your never giving up, and your anger, and your kindness."

"One day, the memory of that will hurt so much that I won't be able to breathe."

"I do it for the adventure. Isn't that what life's all about?"

"Now is not the time to be showing off."

"How many people have you lost?"

"Why should I be responsible for you?"

"You're not like this. I know you're not."

"This is what you made of me."

"Did you miss me?"

"What's going on here? Fun and games?"

"I'm a friend. I've come to help."

"Don't do this. You know it's me. Don't let them trick you."

"I love you. I forgive you and I love you."

"You're talking nonsense to distract me from being really scared."

"You see, that's the problem. I am a brilliant liar. How are you ever going to know?"

"So, you must have thought I was dead for a while. How was that?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding? Is this a kidding face?"

"Is that your answer for everything?"

"Oh, admit it. I totally saved your life."

"What were you doing last night?"

"There is no nice way to say you're about to die."

"You enjoyed that way too much."

"You were upset, weren't you?"

"They look at me as if they want to kill me themselves."

"I did this to save you, you silly thing."

"Why do they always run?"

"So this is your life, then? Just bouncing around saving people?"

"Oh, she is the worst. I love her. Take that how you like."

"I swear, I never meant for anyone to get hurt."

"What were you thinking? Sacrificing yourself?"

"I can do whatever the hell I like."

"You've read the stories. You know who I am. In all of that time, did you ever hear anything about anyone who stopped me?"

"I did this, do you hear me? I did this. This is my fault."

"Listen, if this is the last I ever see of you, please, not like this."

"No. This - This isn't happening. This can't be happening."

"Why can't I be like you?"

"You're going to be alone now and you're very bad at that."

"Don't let this change you."

"Don't go. Stay with me."

"This is as brave as I know how to be."

"I know it's going to hurt you but, please, be a little proud of me."

"I can't keep doing this. I can't! I can't always do this! It's not fair!"

"You are not the only person who ever lost someone. It's the story of everybody. Get over it."

"Nothing's sad until it's over. Then everything is."

"Is this a story or did this really happen?"

"Isn't this going a little far?"

"I'll try not to break your jaw."

"Please, I don't want this."

"Look at me again. In the eye. Look at me. Just do it."

"Tell me what they did to you."

"People like me and you, we should say things to one another."

"You really are thick, aren't you?"

"You don't seem surprised to see me."

"I'm trying to keep you safe."

"Nobody's ever safe. I've never asked you for that. Ever."

"These have been the best years of my life and they are mine."

"So what happens now? Hey? Me and you, what do we do now?"

"Why don't we just fly away somewhere?"

"I don't think I could ever forget you."

"No. Stop it. You're saying goodbye. Don't say goodbye!"

"Run like hell, because you always need to. Laugh at everything, because it's always funny. Never be cruel and never be cowardly. And if you ever are, always make amends."

"I didn't mean to do this. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, that would be nice, wouldn't it?"

"Why does everybody think I am so scared?"

[respectthepetty]

Pride Petty Watch (SOTUS) 5/5

I'm finally finishing my second blacklisted shows (Love in the Air was the first and The Untamed is on hold) which means I am on the final episode of rewatching my former sworn enemy SOTUS (these are the previous posts in this rewatch adventure: first, second, third, fourth, fifth).

Without further hesitation (it's already been eight years of me dragging my feet), let me go back to the beginning.

This entire beginning portion would have been better if it was sprinkled throughout the series or came before the ending because it would have made me understand Arthit just a wee bit better. However, I would have HATED seeing this man more because he is the epitome of every power-hungry fraternity and sorority leader who must remind a potential member that they are NOT worthy of their letters, their house, or their membership.

Tum is such a little bitch in the past, and the fact that he gets married in the present pisses me off!

KNOT, FUCK HIM UP!

Arthit stopped him?! Urgh. It's a good parallel to Knot stopping Arthit when he wanted to punch Kong for saying he would make Arthit his wife, but . . . he could've let Knot fuck up Tum just a bit.

And now Tum is talking to his future wife like this, which we knew from the wedding, but it doesn't make him suck less!

GIRL, WHY DID YOU MARRY THIS ASS?!

He tried to excuse his behavior with some bullshit about respect and now he is saying he doesn't need to explain himself.

Bruh.

Girl, you should've pushed him off a small curb then and saved yourself a divorce years later. Because you WILL get a divorce because y'all are about to have a kid, and he WILL be a shitty father.

Thank, God! We are back in the present with my kinky masochist and his need to be controlled and punished.

Oh. Oh. Look who is coming into his kinkiness! Look who is ready to play along now. Look at our baby sado master understanding what his boyfriend needs from him and when to apply it. *wiping away a tear*

Kong is begging for it! DENY HIM, ARTHIT! He gets no rewards until he earns them!

Oh, my ghost ship! How I have missed you in the past few episodes. M is still Kong's right hand man, while Arthit has his left hand tied up. Poly is the answer.

Arthit, being queer and in a relationship where you can be in control looks good on you sir. Kink is the new skincare regime.

Now Kong is holding up the gear, and if this show had any balls, it would have had a tiny freshman stand up to him and threaten to make Kong his wife. But no. There is only enough room for one boy to be in a queer relationship . . . WHERE IS PREM AND WAD?!

Kong clearly likes to be punished as a reward, so it's wild to be that he is now reprimanding others. Like, how stressful might this be for him? I think I'm going to have to watch SOTUS S to find out.

And what is included in these boyfriend duties? Annoying Arthit enough so he can get punished (rewarded)? Ironing his clothes? Bringing him pink milk? What I'm asking is WHERE IS THE DOMESTICITY?! I'm going to have to watch SOTUS S aren't I?

Iced coffee and pink milk, the true main characters of this show.

I'm cheesin' right now. I'm giggling like I've been sold to One Direction. Kong is always direct and tells Arthit what he needs and wants in the most unexpected times, and it makes my heart happy.

Grab him just like you did at the wedding, Arthit! Don't let him drop that on you then walk away!

This show is the kinkest PG-rated series ever because the way Arthit leans in here to whisper to Kong that he does miss him is like MGMT's "Electric Feel." Like, we know it's sexual, but your mom is too busy dancing to it to be bothered by it. "I said, "ooh, girl, shock me like an electric eel. Baby girl, turn me on with your electric feel"

YES! TELL THAT MAN TO STAY THE NIGHT, KONG! He can't bring his A-game, whisper in your ear that he misses you, then leave! YOU EARNED YOUR PUNISHMENT REWARD!

Kong wants Arthit to stay, and Arthit tells him he will be punished if he is late for his job tomorrow. The way I am screaming! This back-and-forth in front of the waiting taxi driver is top-tier. This is AO3 level of writing! The kudos button would be smashed!

Arthit is reading Kong's journal, and I think Kong is writing his own AO3 story! It's RPF?! This is a cute ending, but WHERE ARE THE KISSES?! Is this why I hated this? I think so!

Final thoughts:

I didn't plan on doing this because I didn't think I would have 'thoughts' about this. I only thought I'd hate it just like I did the first time I watched it, but here we are and I actually really loved it! Well, the second half that is. The first eight episodes probably added to my hate when I originally watched it. Regardless of what the juniors said and how the SOTUS system was framed, it was trash, and this is coming from me who is a lifelong member of a Greek-letter social organization. Hazing is universal, and it still sucks in any language.

The other issue is this story feels older than 2016. The language, the style, and the prudishness of the characters all belong in the early 2000s, but 2016 is too late to still be doing some of the stuff they were doing. We had Love Sick two years before this. We had Make It Right the same year. I don't need kisses in a series to know the love was real, but this didn't feel like a relationship until the final episode, and even then . . . I don't know. I love Kong and Arthit's dynamic now that I think it is based on kink, but am I convinced they are in a romantic relationship? Not really.

However, despite my issues with the show, I enjoyed this rewatch. A lot. I'm actually thinking of rewatching SOTUS S now, and I'm greatly looking forward to My Ex-Morning, which was not the case before this moment. But I know I would not have enjoyed this rewatch as much if I had done it sooner than this year. Be My Favorite helped lessen my grudge against Krist (but it is still there!) and seeing Singto act against others outside of GMMTV like Fluke Natouch in Shadow was great, but now I'm ready to see what these two have to offer eight years later. They are clearly trying to bring the kisses and more skinship from what I see in the trailer, but what else are they capable of as one of the longest-branded pairs since they were originally put together in 2016? OffGun have been partnered together just as long, but they have been consistently working with each other in seven shows during that time period. Actors are actors and they can do their jobs, so regardless of the outcome, I'm excited to see what these two bring us in 2025.

But I'm especially excited for the pink milk and iced coffee to return to main character status.

[animebw]

Phenotyping the Stereotypical Anime Love Triangle

Something I've noticed over my years of watching anime is the existence of a specific kind of love triangle. One that pops up over and over again, often in some of the most popular shows of their respective eras. And the more I think about it, the more it feels like the skeleton key to really understand The Male Fantasy as it exists in otaku culture. This particular trope, repeated across so many different genres and decades, is a Rosetta stone for understanding how male anime writers approach female characters and why so many of them fall flat. Or maybe it's just a fun little pattern I've noticed that I'm trying to make into a bigger deal than it is. Either way, I need to rant about it for a second so it'll stop bugging me. So roll up your sleeves and let's do some literary science here.

First, we need to define what exactly I'm talking about. This isn't about every single love triangle, nor is it about harems or any romantic situation with more than three participants. No, the breed of love triangle we're discussing here involves one guy at the center, romantically pursued by or entangled with two specific kinds of female character archetypes. The guy in question is pretty versatile: he can be shy, a self-insert, brash and egotistical, edgy and emo, whatever the story needs him to be. But it's the girls fighting over him who matter. Put simply, this is a love triangle where the two female characters represent two competing philosophies of romantic happiness for the male lead. They aren't just fighting over the guy: they're designed around two specific, directly contrasting character archetypes that the guy must choose between as competing statements on what love should be. And everything about the girls- from personality to color design to even superpowers- is designed to emphasize that contrast.

So what are these two competing archetypes? Put simply: Hot and Cold.

HOT: The exciting girl. Probably a tsundere. Even if not, her personality is strong and overbearing. Her hair is red and most likely long. If this is a fantasy setting, she'll be some flavor of alien or superhero or magical warrior, something that sets her above common people. Her elemental power is, naturally, fire. This girl represents challenge and adventure for the male lead. She's someone who crashes into his normal life and upends it, shaking him out of complacency and inspiring to seize his destiny with two hands. If he chooses her, it symbolizes his willingness to reach for greatness and keep pushing himself to accomplish the impossible, proving himself worthy of being such an incredible girl's partner.

COLD: The shy, quiet girl. Her personality is usually sweet and caring, though sometimes she can be a deadpan kuudere instead. Her hair is blue and almost certainly in some kind of bob cut. Elemental power: ice. While the Hot girl is someone new who crashes into the male lead's life, Cold is near-guaranteed to be his childhood friend, someone who's known him for a very long time. She represents stability and domestic comfort. In contrast to Hot inspiring him to rise above him limits and become something greater, Cold accepts him as he is. She's the girl you don't have to change for, the girl who'll give you a long and happy life of simple contentment. By choosing her, the male lead shows he's able to see the happiness right in front of him and mature into a dependable partner.

Obviously, not every example of this trope fits all these parameters. There's plenty of variation in how many aspects of the Hot and Cold archetypes each girl fulfills. But if you look across anime history, you will find that a great deal of 1-guy-2-girl love triangles fall into this pattern to some extent. For just a few examples:

Darling in the Franxx- Zero Two and Ichigo. Probably the most prominent modern example.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight- Stella and Ikki. Go watch Trixie's video series on The Asterisk War for more info on them.

Re:Zero- Emilia and Rem. Obviously Emilia's a huge departure from the Hot archetype, but she fulfills the thematic purpose of someone Subaru must challenge himself to be worthy of.

Oshi no Ko- Kana and Akane. They swap the expected hair lengths, but the personalities are pretty spot on.

Waiting in the Summer- Ichika and Kanna. Never watched it so I may be wrong, but from what discussions I've seen, these two fit.

Shakugan no Shana- Shana and Kazumi. The show where I first started noticing how often this trope popped up.

Guilty Crown- Inori and Hare. Another case where Inori is much more a Cold archetype personality-wise but fulfills the narrative role of the Hot archetype.

Evangelion- Asuka and Rei. Kind of a funny example because they probably inspired a lot of future hot/cold love triangles, but they're also worst-case subversions of their respective archetypes that turn what they represent into something horrifying (What if the spunky foreign girl is actually a walking shell of trauma? What if the demure girl-next-door was actually just Your Mom?). Essay for another day, perhaps...

Blue Box- Chinatsu and Hina. Pretty textbook example of how this trope functions in a normal, grounded high-school setting with no magic or monsters or whatever.

Your Lie in April- Kaori and Tsubaki. See above.

Fate/Stay Night- Sort of an edge case with Saber and Rin both fulfilling the Hot archetype, while Sakura tackles the Cold archetype.

And finally, an honorable mention for Flip Flappers, which asks the question, "What if there was no guy and the girls were just in love with each other instead?"

It's worth saying at this point that I don't think this trope is inherently bad. Writing characters who represent two contrasting ideas or philosophies on how to live is a staple of literature across history. And I don't think all of these examples are bad either! If you've been around on this blog long enough, you know how much I adore the way Re:Zero handles Subaru's relationships with the girls around him. But the reason this trope bugs me so much is, well... have you noticed anything missing in this discussion of what these archetypes represent and what it means for the guy to choose one or the other?

Exactly: What about what the girls want? What are their desires? So often it feels like the girls in this kind of love triangle are written solely for their importance to the male lead, with little consideration for who they are as people. This trope can work, but only when everyone involved has dreams and personal goals beyond the triangle itself, things they want to accomplish that are bigger than who ends up smooching who at the end. And while the guy usually has bigger, more plot-relevant things going on, it's a bit of a coin toss whether or not the girls are allowed that same interiority. More often, they only exist for the sake of some dude's personal growth, denied the chance for the narrative to build something resonant out of their own circumstances and speak to their own experiences. Case in point: Akane being driven to attempted suicide by online harassment in Oshi no Ko mostly just existing as an excuse for her to fall in love with Aqua for saving her with no lingering impacts on her psyche or her relationship with the entertainment industry. Because why focus on how this traumatic turn of events affects her when her story only really matters in service to someone else's narrative?

The Hot/Cold love triangle exists for straight boys and men to explore their perspective on love. It gives male viewers a choice between the excitement of love as a constant adventure that challenges you to be better and the warmth of love as a stable commitment that accepts you as you are, and it tries to guide them toward the answer it believes it's best. But a relationship isn't something you can possess like an object. It's not a choice you can make on your own. It's a partnership between two people, each of whom matters equally in building a life together. And if stories like this fail to show men the importance of the woman's perspective? Then no matter which best girl wins, all girls lose.

PS: Surprise! Stealth advertisement for my webcomic, lol. I actually got the inspiration for Beyond the Sable Shore from thinking about this trope and wondering, "How could I write this kind of love triangle in a way that's actually compelling and meaningful and does justice to the female characters?" So if this discussion was interesting for you and you wanna see me grapple with this trope a little more, feel free to check it out!

[renthony]

🏳️‍🌈

any good queer book recomendations?

(Drop a 🏳️‍🌈 in my inbox and I’ll respond with a queer media recommendation!)

The Second Mango by Shira Glassman is the first book of the Mangoverse series, a queer Jewish fantasy series about young disabled lesbian Queen Shulamit and her family. It's very good, very sweet, and just about the most heartwarming cozy fantasy series out there.

The first book follows Shulamit after she's had her heart broken by her lady love and is trying to find other women who love women. Accompanied by a dragon-riding warrior woman named Rivka (my personal favorite character <3), Shulamit helps save a temple of women turned to stone by an evil wizard, rescue a beautiful woman from captivity, and get a wholesome sapphic happily-ever-after.

Here's the official plot summary:

Queen Shulamit never expected to inherit the throne of the tropical land of Perach so young. At twenty, grief-stricken and fatherless, she's also coping with being the only lesbian she knows after her sweetheart ran off for an unknown reason. Not to mention, she's the victim of severe digestive problems that everybody thinks she's faking. When she meets Rivka, an athletic and assertive warrior from the north who wears a mask and pretends to be a man, she finds the source of strength she needs so desperately. Unfortunately for her, Rivka is straight, but that's okay -- Shulamit needs a surrogate big sister just as much as she needs a girlfriend. Especially if the warrior's willing to take her around the kingdom on the back of her dragon in search of other women who might be open to same-sex romance. The real world outside the palace is full of adventure, however, and the search for a royal girlfriend quickly turns into a rescue mission when they discover a temple full of women turned to stone by an evil sorcerer.

The other books in the series follow Shulamit as she deals with things like "I have a severe gluten intolerance, but nobody respects my dietary needs!" and "I'm a cis lesbian in a relationship with a cis bisexual woman, but we gotta produce an heir to the throne!" and "oh no, our kingdom's crops are being affected by a mysterious blight and we have to help the farmers!" and "how do we help a gay prince from a neighboring kingdom fight against his father for the labor rights of the common people?"

The series is very Jewish, very queer, very feminist, and they're incredibly comforting. They make me believe in a better world, full of wonderful people who care about each other and fight to improve the world. It's a perfect series to read if you need something to feel hopeful about. The second book was even dedicated to a local labor rights organization in the author's city, which I think is pretty awesome.

The series gets mis-categorized as young adult fairly often, because it doesn't have explicit depictions sex or violence. It is not YA, though--Queen Shulamit is 20 years old in the first book, and by the fourth book, she and her wife have multiple children. YA is great, don't get me wrong, but this series is very much for adults!

Do yourself a favor and check it out if you're looking for diverse fantasy with a happy ending, where marginalized people get to love each other fully and triumph over difficult circumstances.

[fandomnerd9602]

Could you do Sam Carpenter x male!reader where y/n is Jack Reacher's brother.

The California sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple as you and Sam strolled along the pier. The gentle murmur of the ocean provided a soothin backdrop to your laughter, your fingers intertwined with hers. Every now and then, you'd steal a glance at her, marveling at how the golden light seemed to dance in her hazel eyes.

Dating Sam had been a whirlwind. After the Ghostface killings, you, Jack Reacher's younger brother, had offered her support, drawn to her strength and resilience. What started as friendly coffee dates blossomed into something deeper, fueled by shared laughter, late-night conversations, and stolen kisses under the stars. Tonight, the air was filled with unspoken affection as you two walked in comfortable silence.

"Penny for your thoughts," Sam nudged you playfully.

You grinned. "Just thinking how lucky I am to be here, with you."

A blush bloomed on her cheeks, mirroring the fiery hues of the sunset. "Shut up"

You chuckled. Jack, ever the overprotective older brother, hadn't been thrilled about you dating a Ghostface survivor, let alone borrowing the daughter of a serial killer. But your unwavering enthusiasm and Sam's genuine charm had eventually won him over.

Reaching the end of the pier, you leaned against the railing, gazing out at the vast expanse of the ocean. "Remember when we first met?" you asked, a smile tugging at your lips.

"How could I forget? You showed up at my doorstep with Jack, looking all worried and determined," Sam said, her voice laced with amusement.

"I was, the whole thing was a favor to Kirby," you admitted. "But you surprised me. You were..." you paused, searching for the right words, "exactly who I needed."

Her hand squeezed yours tighter. "And you," she began, her voice soft, "were kind, understanding, and the best distraction a girl could ask for."

You turned to face her, drawn to the warmth in her eyes. The memory of that first meeting played in your mind – the fear in her eyes quickly replaced by determination, the spark of defiance that mirrored your own. In that moment, you knew you weren't just drawn to her; you admired her, respected her.

As the last sliver of the sun dipped below the horizon, plunging the pier into a romantic twilight, you leaned in, closing the gap between you. The kiss was slow, sweet, and filled with unspoken promises. When you pulled away, breathless, her forehead rested against yours.

"I'm glad you're here," you whispered, your heart brimming with happiness.

"Me too," she murmured, her lips curving into a smile. "And who knows, maybe next time, we can convince Jack to join us for dinner sometime"

"Get him to agree to come here, maybe" you give a wink. As you continued your walk hand-in-hand, the future stretched before you, filled with the promise of more laughter, shared adventures, and the comforting presence of the girl who had stolen your heart, the survivor who had found solace in your arms.

[feeling-pushy]

Upon a Wishing Star Part Two

You can find Part One here!

Thank you so much to @grandesteartherquakedreamer for this amazing commission! I'm so happy you came back to continue this story!! I literally got this done so fast, the writing spirit took over more or less! I honestly hope yall love second part much as I do!

~6k, fpreg, pirates, magical pregnancy, birth, fluff, nsfw.

The Jolly Serpents glided through the turquoise waters, its sails full and billowing in the strong sea breeze. The crew bustled about the deck, eyes fixed on the horizon where a lush, green island slowly emerged from the morning mist.

Standing at the bow, Captain Taro gazed eagerly at the approaching island, her heart racing with excitement. Her purple captain’s coat flapped around her, and her captain’s hat sat firmly on her head, as always. The past few months at sea had been long, but every rough wave, every sleepless night, had led them to this moment.

Taro’s hand instinctively moved to her belly, which had grown considerably since they last docked. Her rounded abdomen pressing quite snugly against the fabric of her coat, as she gently patted it, “Well, my little stowaway. We’re nearly there. Your first adventure awaits.”

As if responding to her words, Taro felt a soft but firm nudge that made her smile. She chuckled, rubbing her belly affectionately, “Already excited, are you?’ she teased, ‘I knew you would be.” The baby kicked again, a little stronger this time, and Taro’s smile widened. She couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride and love for the tiny life growing within her. The thought of sharing this adventure with her child, even before they were born, filled her with a sense of fulfillment she had never known.

Just then, her First Mate approached, “Captain.” They greeted, with their usual formality. “First Mate.” Taro greets with a smile. “We’re about an hour away from the island.’ they reported, they then stole a glance at Taro’s belly before going back to her eyes, ‘How are you feeling?”

Taro waved off the concern with a grin, “Never better. I’ve been waiting for this moment for months! And so has my little one, it seems. They’re ready for their first treasure hunt, aren’t you, kid?” She gave her belly another playful pat, eliciting another gentle nudge from within. The First Mate nodded, “Just... take it easy, Captain. We don’t want you overdoing it.”

Captain Taro laughed, “Don’t overdo it? Where’s the fun in that?” she joked. Her First Mate did not find the humor in it however, as their expression hardened slightly, their brows knitting together in a familiar look of concern, “Captain, with all due respect, you need to be careful. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately, and I know you’re eager to find this treasure, but you’ve got to think about the baby, too.”

Taro rolled her eyes, letting out a good-natured but exasperated sigh, “Oh, not this again. You’ve been fussing over me like a mother hen since I got properly big and round. I’m fine, and so is the baby. We can handle a little adventure.”

The First Mate shook their head, clearly frustrated but unwilling to back down, “It’s not about being able to handle it, Captain. It’s about being smart. The crew looks up to you, and they want you and the baby to be safe. You can’t just ignore that.”

Taro’s gaze softened slightly as she glanced down at her belly, which seemed impossibly large, “I hear you, First Mate. I really do. And I promise I’ll be careful. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let life pass me by. This treasure could set us all up for a long time, and I want my child to know the life I’ve lived, the life they’re going to be a part of.”

The First Mate sighed, clearly torn between their respect for Taro and their worry for her well-being, “Alright, Captain. Just... Promise you’ll let us help more. You don’t have to do everything on your own.” Taro smiled, placing a reassuring hand on her First Mate’s shoulder, “I promise. I know I’ve got a good crew to rely on. And that includes you, First Mate.”

First Mate nodded, satisfied for the moment, “Thank you, Captain. I just want you both to be safe.” Captain Taro nodded back, giving her belly a gentle pat, “And we will be. Now, let’s get ready to make landfall. There’s treasure to be found, and I’ve got a good feeling about this one.”

----------------------------

The Jolly Serpents finally dropped anchor just off the island’s pristine shore, and the crew quickly lowered the gangplank on the beach. The excitement on board was palpable, with every sailor eager to set foot on solid ground and begin the hunt for the treasure. But none more so than Captain Taro, as she was the first off the ship. She practically waddled down the gangplank, her heavily pregnant belly leading the way and her boots sinking slightly into the soft sand as she stepped onto the beach.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she took in the sight of the dense jungle beyond, already buzzing with the thrill of adventure, “All right, everyone!” Taro called out, her voice filled with energy, “Let’s get a move on. We’ve got treasure to find, and I don’t want to waste a minute!”

She quickly began organizing a small party for the expedition, “First Mate, you’re with me.’ she said, nodding to her second-in-command, ‘Briggs, Lila, you too. And we’ll need a few others to carry supplies and keep an eye out for any surprises this island might have in store.”

The selected crew members nodded eagerly, gathering their gear and preparing to follow their captain into the jungle. The rest of the crew began unloading supplies from the rowboats, setting up a temporary camp on the beach and keeping watch over the ship.

As the small group prepared to set off, the First Mate stepped forward, a concerned frown on their face, “Captain, are you sure we shouldn’t bring the Doctor with us? Just in case something happens.” Captain Taro turned to face them, shaking her head, “Dr. Nat will be safer on the ship, First Mate. There’s no need to drag them through the jungle for no reason. Besides, I’m fine. The baby’s fine. We don’t need a doctor tagging along to slow us down.”

First Mate’s frown deepened, clearly not convinced, “But Captain, you’re due any day now. Anything could happen out there, and if you-” Taro cut them off with a wave of her hand, her expression firm, “I appreciate your concern, but I’m not about to start treating myself like I’m made of glass. The doctor stays with the rest of the crew on the ship. That’s final.”

Her First Mate opened their mouth to argue further but quickly thought better of it. They knew that look in Taro’s eyes, and when she got that look, there was no changing her mind. With a reluctant sigh, they nodded, “Aye, Captain. If that’s what you want.” Taro nodded firmly before giving them a reassuring smile, “I promise, everything will be fine. We’re just going to have a little look around, find the treasure, and be back before you know it.”

With the matter settled, Captain Taro turned back to her assembled crew, “All right, let’s move out! Keep your eyes sharp and your wits about you. Who knows what we’ll find out there.”

Captain Taro then led her crew into the heart of the jungle, the dense foliage surrounding them on all sides. The sun barely penetrated the canopy above, casting everything in a hazy, green light. Vines hung from the towering trees, and the ground beneath their feet was a tangle of roots and undergrowth.

Two crew members moved ahead of the group, hacking away at the thick foliage with their machetes. Each swing sent leaves and vines flying, clearing a narrow path through the dense jungle. The humid air clung to their skin, and the occasional call of exotic birds echoed through the canopy above. Sweat dripped from their brows, but nobody showed signs of slowing down, driven by the promise of treasure hidden deep within the island.

Taro’s excitement was palpable as she pressed forward, the treasure map clutched in her hand. She glanced down at the map, trying to make sense of the faded markings and sketches. Her swollen belly pressed against her coat, which was beginning to feel like a stifling weight in the oppressive heat. She paused for a moment, pulling her coat open to let in the slightest bit of air. The cool breeze was a welcome relief against her blouse, and she sighed, her free hand resting on the curve of her belly.

“Almost there, little stowaway.’ she murmured to her baby, her fingers gently rubbing at her belly, ‘We’re getting close. I can feel it.”

The path grew narrower, the jungle around them becoming denser with every step. The crew hacked through the underbrush with machetes, clearing the way. The sounds of their progress were accompanied by the noise in the busy jungle, the usual chorus of birds and insects abundant.

As she moved forward, her attention split between the map and the terrain, she suddenly felt a light, almost itchy cramp spread across the underside of her belly. The sensation was unexpected, and she paused, her brow furrowing as she tried to decipher what she was feeling. It wasn’t exactly painful, but it was enough to catch her off guard.

First Mate, ever vigilant, noticed her pause and turned back to look at her, “Everything alright, Captain?” they asked, concern flickering in their eyes. Taro nodded, giving them a reassuring smile, “Just a little twinge. Nothing to worry about. Probably just the baby shifting around.”

The First Mate’s expression didn’t soften much, but they took a deep breath, trying to calm themselves, “Alright, Captain.’ they said, their voice steady but still laced with concern, ‘But please, promise me you’ll tell me if anything changes. We need to know if this is… The real thing.”

Taro gave them a reassuring smile, patting them on the arm, “I promise, First Mate. If these cramps turn into something more, you’ll be the first to know. Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s treasure to find, and I’m not about to let a few cramps stop me from doing my job.” First Mate’s lips pressed together to form a thin line, but they nodded, respecting their Captain’s decision.

Taro adjusted her stance, rolling her shoulders and shaking off the lingering discomfort. She had felt plenty of odd sensations over the past few weeks, and she wasn’t about to let a little cramp slow her down now. Not when they were so close to finding the treasure. She took a deep breath, the humid air filling her lungs, and pressed on, moving with a bit more caution but still driven by the thrill of discovery.

As Captain Taro and her crew traveled deeper into the jungle, the cramps became more frequent. At first, she tried to ignore them, chalking it up to the strain of trekking through dense foliage and the oppressive heat. But as the minutes passed, the cramps started to follow a pattern, each one rolling through her belly with a steady, rhythmic persistence.

Her eyes stayed on the map, but mentally she began timing each cramp as it came. They were coming every fifteen minutes now, lasting about thirty seconds each time. It was too consistent to ignore. She realized, she was in labor, and a thrill of excitement shot through her.

A smile tugged at her lips despite the heat and the growing ache in her belly. She had known this day was coming soon, but she hadn’t expected it to happen right in the middle of a treasure hunt. Still, there was something fitting about it, her little stowaway seeming eager to join in on the adventure.

She glanced down at the map again, tracing the faint lines with her finger. According to the map, they were just a short distance away from the treasure’s location. If they could reach it quickly, she could let the crew celebrate and then slip away back to the ship before anyone realized what was happening and not cause a big panic amongst them, which was the last thing she needed.

“Captain, I think we’re almost there.’ Briggs called from up ahead, his voice cutting through the dense air, ‘There’s a clearing just beyond those trees.” Captain Taro nodded, her excitement bubbling up again, “Alright, everyone, let’s keep moving. We’re nearly at the end of the trail.”

The crew picked up the pace, hacking through the last of the thick foliage. Taro followed, her heart pounding with anticipation. As they broke through the trees, a small clearing opened up before them, the jungle suddenly giving way to a sunlit space. In the center of the clearing, partially hidden under vines and leaves, was a large, moss-covered stone that looked almost like a marker.

Taro’s heart leapt in her chest. This was it. They had found the treasure. She could feel it in her bones, “Let’s clear this area.’ she ordered, gesturing for the crew to start working, ‘The treasure should be right beneath us.”

While the crew got to work, Taro took a step back, watching as they began to clear away the foliage and debris. She felt another cramp hit her, this one a bit tighter and more intense than the last. It spread out from her back, radiating around to the front of her belly. She stopped in her tracks, placing a hand on her back and taking a slow, measured breath to steady herself. The sensation was stronger this time, more insistent, and she couldn’t ignore it as easily as the others.

She closed her eyes briefly, taking a slow, measured breath and focusing on the slow release of tension as the cramp gradually faded away. When she opened them again, she found her First Mate standing beside her, their face etched with concern.

“Captain, are you alright?” they asked, their voice low but urgent. Taro waved them off, trying to maintain her usual air of confidence, “I’m fine, really.’ she insisted, ‘Just feeling a few light cramps is all.”

The First Mate’s eyes widened, their face paling slightly, “Cramps?” they repeated, their voice tinged with worry. They seemed ready to launch into a flurry of questions, but before they could say anything more, Taro held up a hand, cutting them off.

“Before you start panicking. They’re irregular.’ she lied smoothly, ‘I’m not even sure if I’m in labor. It’s too early to tell. These could just be... False alarms, you know? But regardless, I think I’m going to head back to the ship ahead of everyone else, just to rest. The heat and humidity are getting to me. I want you here to oversee the crew. You’re the one I trust most to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

The First Mate hesitated, their worry evident in their eyes. They didn’t seem fully convinced by her explanation but nodded nonetheless, “Alright, Captain. But at least take Lila with you as an escort. Just in case.”

Taro opened her mouth to protest, but the First Mate cut her off with a firm shake of their head, “No arguments, Captain. I insist.”

She pouted, and First Mate crossed their arms, giving her their signature disapproving stare. They stared each other down for a solid miniature, before Taro relented, “Fine, fine. I’ll take Lila. But keep things moving here, alright?”

First Mate nodded, though their gaze remained fixed on her with concern. Taro gave them a quick pat on the shoulder before calling Lila over and gesturing for her to follow. Soon, they began to make their way back through the jungle.

----------------------------

Captain Taro and Lila had moved through the jungle as quickly as they could, the dense foliage rustling around them with every hurried step. It also didn’t take long for Lila to notice the way Captain Taro would occasionally pause, her hand going to her belly as she took deep, measured breaths.

“Captain.’ Lila said quietly during one of their brief stops, her voice laced with worry, ‘Are you… Are you in labor? Taro gave her a tight smile, nodding slightly, “Aye, seems like it, but don’t worry.’ she reassured, her tone calm despite the growing discomfort, ‘I’m fine. We just need to get back to the ship quickly, alright?”

Lila looked unconvinced but nodded, knowing better than to argue with the Captain. They continued their trek, quickening their pace as much as the jungle terrain would allow, lucky they had the path her crew had forged earlier to lead the way. Taro’s contractions were growing stronger, each one more insistent than the last, but she kept pressing forward, determined to reach the safety of the ship.

A few more times, Taro had to stop, leaning against a tree as she breathed through another wave of contractions. Each time, Lila stood by her side, placing a gentle hand on Taro’s back. At first, Taro had flinched, not expecting the touch, but then she felt Lila’s hand start to rub slow, soothing circles over her lower back and she found the small counterpressure to be surprisingly comforting, so she welcomed it.

Finally, the dense trees began to thin, and the familiar sound of waves crashing against the shore reached their ears. The sight of the ship anchored off the coast filled Taro with a sense of immense relief. She straightened up, taking one last deep breath, and motioned for Lila to keep moving, “Almost there.” Taro said, as much to herself as to Lila.

The familiar creak of the wood underfoot was a welcomed sensation as Captain Taro and Lila stepped back onto the deck of the Jolly Serpents. The fresh sea breeze was much more cooling than the thick jungle heat, though that did little to ease the growing discomfort in Taro’s belly, but she was glad to be back aboard. Without wasting time, they sought out Dr. Nat, who was below deck tending to some supplies.

“Doctor.’ Taro began, keeping her voice steady despite the contractions making it difficult to focus, ‘I’m in labor.” Dr. Nat looked up and smiled curiously, “Labor? How far apart are the contractions?”

“Um, every six or seven minutes I think? Lasting around forty-five seconds.” Taro says after some thought, Dr. Nat nods, “Yep, sounds like you’re about to leave early labor. Let’s get you to your cabin for some privacy and comfort then.” They say as they immediately moved to Taro’s side, ready to guide her. Taro nodded, appreciating the Doctor’s calm efficiency, “Agreed. Lila, you’re free to go. Thank you for your help.”

Lila nodded, before she suddenly took off, her movements quick and purposeful. Taro furrowed her brow in confusion, wondering what had gotten into Lila, but another contraction began to build, and her focus shifted. She placed a hand on her belly, feeling the tightening, and decided not to worry about Lila’s sudden exit. She had more pressing concerns.

Dr. Nat guided her towards the captain’s cabin, and once inside, she soon found herself in the thick of it now, as the intensity of the labor only seemed to increase in the following two hours.

Taro soon found herself leaning against the desk, the bedpost, the wall. Just anything that was closest to her as she groaned through the pain. Dr. Nat, who was helping her to pace around the room, encouraged her to breathe deeply as they rubbed her back at her request when the contractions hit hard.

She had just leaned against the edge of her bed, breathing heavily through another contraction, when the door swung open with a sudden burst of energy. First Mate stood in the doorway, slightly out of breath and looking more frazzled than Taro had ever seen them, a rarity for sure.

Their eyes locked onto Taro, and a flicker of frustration flashed across their face, “Captain.” First Mate said, their voice tinged with both worry and a hint of exasperation.

“First Mate.” she grunted more than greeted, but still flashing them a smile.

“You promised me you’d tell me if your condition got worse.”

Taro, still catching her breath, could only manage a sheepish grin, “I didn’t think it would happen so quickly. Also you got back sooner than I thought you would. Did you find the treasure?”

First Mate huffed, “Can’t believe you’re thinking about that at a time like this. But yes, we did. I only got back as quickly as I did because Lila came back and told me you were in labor. I left Briggs in charge and ran back to the ship as fast as I could.” Taro blinked in surprise, touched, “You really ran all the way back just for me?”

“Of course I did. You said you wanted me here for the birth. Did you think I’d forget?’ First Mate replied firmly, their voice softening as they stepped closer, ‘I wasn’t going to let you go through this alone.”

A warm flush graces Taro’s cheeks, she hadn’t expected such a heartfelt response, and it filled her with a mixture of embarrassment and affection, “Thank you…’ she said softly, smiling at them, ‘Well, come inside then.” First Mate nodded and entered the cabin, closing the door behind them. They moved to her side, a calming presence amidst the storm of contractions that continued to roll through her body.

Taro felt a renewed sense of courage in knowing that she wasn’t facing this alone. She had her crew, her trusted First Mate, and soon, she’d have her baby in her arms. The thought brought her a sense of peace as she prepared for what was to come.

The next few hours seemed to blur for Captain Taro as her labor somehow intensified further. The contractions growing stronger and closer together, and each one demanding her full focus. She continued to pace around the cabin. But now her First Mate was at her side. Taking over from Dr. Nat in rubbing Taro's back during each contraction, their hands moving in soothing circles as they murmured words of encouragement.

As time passed, Taro leaned into their support more and more, finding comfort in the familiarity of her First Mate's presence. She was grateful for their calm, their steady hands, and the way they knew just what to say to keep her spirits up.

As Taro was crossing the room again, trying to walk off the latest pain, another contraction slammed into her like a rogue wave crashing against the hull of her ship. Taro cried out, unable to hold back the sound, and she instinctively reached out for the nearest thing to steady herself. Her hand found First Mate’s arm, and before she knew it, she was leaning heavily against them, her head buried in their chest as she panted through the mounting pressure.

First Mate blushed slightly, not expecting the sudden contact, but they didn’t hesitate. They wrapped an arm around her, holding her close as their other hand continued to rub soothing circles on her back, “You're doing such a good job, Captain.’ they murmured softly into her ear, trying to keep her calm, ‘Just keep breathing through it."

As the contraction peaked, she felt a strange sensation, a small pop deep inside her, followed by a sudden rush of warmth down her legs. She gasped, pulling back slightly from First Mate to look down, and saw clear liquid trickling onto the cabin floor, “M-My water.” Taro managed to say, her voice a mix of shock and awe.

Dr. Nat, who had been observing closely, stepped forward with a reassuring nod, “That's a good sign, Captain. It means your body is getting ready. You’ll be meeting your baby very soon."

Despite the pain and exhaustion, Taro’s face lit up with a bright, excited smile. She squeezed First Mate's arm with renewed strength and looked them in the eye, “There almost here.” she said, her voice brimming with excitement. First Mate gave her a firm nod, their expression softening with their admiration, “Aye, Captain. Let’s bring that little one into the world."

----------------------------

Minutes seemed to stretch into hours as the steady pressure began to build in her hips. With her waters gone, her little stowaway was moving into position, preparing for their descent. And as each contraction ebbed and flowed through her, Taro could feel the weight of the baby pressing down, feeling heavy in her body.

At this point, Taro was exhausted from pacing, her body hot and drenched in sweat. Finally, she turned to First Mate, her breath coming in short pants, “Can you help me… To the bed?’ she asked, her voice laced with fatigue, ‘And… I need to get out of these clothes.”

First Mate’s cheeks reddened, but they didn’t hesitate, gently guiding her to the bed. Dr. Nat moved to help, and together, they carefully undressed her, removing her captain’s coat, skirt, and blouse. She was soon completely nude, the cool air feeling heavenly against her fevered skin.

Once on the bed, Taro let out a heavy sigh, sitting upright against the bed frame and sinking back against the soft pillows piled up against the headboard. The cool air on her skin was a relief, but she still felt a bit stifled. She looked down at her wooden prosthetic leg, feeling the uncomfortable weight of it.

She looked to her First Mate, “Can you take off my leg?” she asked, her tone more vulnerable than usual. First Mate blinked in surprise. It was rare for Taro to remove her prosthetic, especially in front of others, “Are you sure?” they questioned, their voice gentle.

Taro nodded, “It’s too uncomfortable right now. I want it off.”

First Mate hesitated for only a moment before nodding and kneeling beside her, carefully unstrapping the wooden leg, before setting it to the side nearby. Once it was off, Taro let out a small sigh of relief, feeling a little more at ease.

First Mate then settled into a chair beside her, close enough that Taro could lean against them whenever she needed to. And as the contractions continued, Taro found herself doing just that, as she rested her head on their shoulder, her breath hot and labored against their neck as she panted and groaned.

First Mate wrapped an arm around her, their hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, murmuring soft words of encouragement, “You’re doing great, Captain. Just keep breathing through it. You’re so strong.”

Taro’s grip tightened on their arm as another contraction hit, clamping down like a vice. She groaned, her body tensing as she rode out the wave of pain. When it finally subsided, she was surprised to feel a new sensation. Faint but unmistakable, swelling inside her like a tide beginning to rise. An urge to push. She huffed through the end of the contraction, trying to catch her breath.

When the pain let go, she looked over at Dr. Nat, “I felt like I needed to push on that last one.” she admitted, a small, shaky laugh escaping her lips. Dr. Nat gave her a reassuring smile, “Good. On the next contraction, if you feel the urge again, you can try pushing.”

Taro nodded, her heart pounding as she sat up a bit more and leaned back against her pillows, adjusting her position to brace herself. She glanced over at First Mate, and held out her hand, a small, knowing smile on her lips, “You ready?” she asked, her voice steady despite the pain.

First Mate took her hand, squeezing it gently, their own smile growing increasingly nervous but still trying to look encouraging, “I’m here. You’ve got this.” Taro nodded, her grip tightening as she waited for the next contraction.

As the next contraction built, Captain Taro’s body tensed, her breath hitching as she braced for the peak. She waited, and when it felt right, she gave a small, experimental push. Even with that light effort, she immediately felt her baby move down a little, a sensation that was both strange, but exhilarating.

Taro released her push, a laugh bubbling up in her chest, “I felt it move!” she exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement. Dr. Nat smiled at her, nodding approvingly, “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Push when you feel like you can.”

Taro glanced over at First Mate, who now looked so nervous, they looked like they were on the verge of fainting, their face pale and eyes wide. It was a rare sight to see them so uncomposed, and Taro couldn’t help but laugh again, despite the intensity of the moment, “Don’t pass out on me now, First Mate.” she teased, her voice light despite the strain.

First Mate swallowed hard, their grip on her hand tightening, “I-I won’t.’ they stammered, trying to regain their composure, ‘You’ve got this, Captain.” Taro gave their hand a reassuring squeeze, appreciating their presence more than she could express. She then took a deep breath, focusing back on the task at hand.

As the next contraction rolled in, she felt the familiar pressure building and began to push again, harder this time. She could feel her baby moving down with her effort, the sensation spurring her on.

She soon found herself falling into a rhythm, pushing with the contractions, then relaxing and catching her breath in the short moments of rest in between. The pain was intense, but pushing felt good as she worked alongside her body to bring this baby down.

“Good, Captain.’ Dr. Nat said gently after one particularly strong push, ‘Just like that. You’re doing great.”

Taro nodded, sweat dripping down her face, her hair sticking to her skin. She could feel her strength waning a bit, breaths ragged, and her muscles aching. But there was a fire burning within her as she refused to let herself falter.

As the next contraction gripped her, Taro bore down hard, a growl building in her throat as she felt a shift from within. There was a lot of pressure now, all of it going down, as she found herself opening her legs up a little wider, as if to give her baby more room.

She let go of her push to catch her breath, but this latest contraction didn’t seem to relent, so she took another big gulp of air and pushed again. Curling forward a bit and trying to work with all that building pressure, pressure, pressure.

Suddenly she felt a sudden, sharp burning sensation and gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. Dr. Nat’s calm voice reached her ears, cutting through the intensity of the moment, “The head is starting to peek through, Captain. You’re doing a great job. Would you like to feel?”

Taro, her heart pounding, nodded. She reached a trembling hand down between her legs and was met with a small, teardrop-shaped opening. Her fingers then brushed against the little bit of soft hair that was peeking through, and her breath caught in her throat. That was her baby. They were almost here.

Leaning back again, Taro gritted her teeth and doubled her efforts, growling again and bearing down with all her might. The opening widened gradually with each push, revealing more of the baby’s head. She could feel the burn intensify, but she welcomed it, knowing it meant she was getting closer.

Beside her, her First Mate’s face lit up with excitement. They leaned closer, squeezing her hand tightly and encouraging her with every word, “That’s it Captain! Keep going! You’re almost there!”

As the burning sensation reached its peak, she let out a loud grunt of pain and effort, her body trembling with the strain as she let go of the push and leaned back, moaning a little at the intense burn, “The head is fully crowning.” Dr. Nat announced, their voice steady. With a mix of disbelief and joy, Taro reached down again, her fingers touching the crown of her baby’s head.

She felt more of the soft, wet hair, and she couldn’t help but start to cry tears of relief, happiness, and pure love. That was her baby’s head sitting there between her legs. It almost didn’t feel real. She looked at First Mate, and without a word, she took their hand before gently guiding it down to feel the baby too.

First Mate’s eyes widened, and as they touched the tiny head, they also began to cry. Overwhelmed by the moment and moved by both Taro’s and their own tears, First Mate leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to Taro’s forehead, “You’re doing so good Taro.” they whispered tenderly, voice shaking with emotion as they looked at her.

Taro, still caught in the emotional whirlwind, didn’t fully register the kiss. But she had felt the warmth of First Mate’s words, so she glanced up at them. Her usually neat bun was a mess, her face flushed a bright red from effort and she was both wet with tears and sweat, but she gave them the widest, most excited grin.

Then the next contraction started to build, and Taro refocused her efforts as she bore down again. She could feel the baby’s head moving, and after two long, hard pushes, she felt the baby’s head pop out fully. A cry of relief and excitement escaped her lips, her body sagging momentarily as the intense pressure eased.

As she took a few deep breaths to recover, Dr. Nat’s voice broke through the haze, calm but firm, “Taro, I need you to breathe and push lightly. Let’s ease the baby out.”

Taro exhaled slowly but nodded as she gave short, gentle pushes. She felt one shoulder slip free, then the next, and with one final, careful shove, the baby’s body slid out completely. A small cry of relief and joy burst from her as the tension and pressure disappeared, leaving her in a state of euphoria.

Dr. Nat caught the baby, their experienced hands quickly rubbing the tiny body with a cloth to clean and stimulate the newborn. Taro, her heart pounding with anticipation, reached out immediately, her arms aching to hold her child. Dr. Nat smiled and placed the baby across Taro’s chest.

As the doctor continued to rub the baby’s back, a sharp, strong cry filled the room. Taro’s heart swelled, her eyes flooding with tears as she gazed down at her newborn, “Hello, my little stowaway.” she says her voice thick with emotion.

Dr. Nat, still smiling, glanced up at Taro, “It’s a girl.”

Taro looked down at her daughter, tears spilling over as she gently cradled the tiny, squirming body, “She’s beautiful.” she whispered.

----------------------------

Taro rested in her bed, her newborn daughter nestled against her chest and her eyes closed as she savored this moment of calm. She then heard the door creak and Taro’s eyes fluttered open as her First Mate entered, “I told everyone the news. The crew sends their congratulations.” Taro smiled warmly, “Thank you. Come sit with me.”

First Mate moved to the bedside, sitting down carefully as if afraid to disturb the serenity of the moment. Taro shifted slightly, revealing the baby’s tiny face and the now clearly rainbow-colored hair, something that hadn’t been as noticeable before when their hair was still damp.

“Her hair…’ First Mate breathed in awe, leaning in for a closer look, ‘Is that because of…?” Taro shrugged lightly, “Could be the pendant’s doing. Or maybe she’s just that special. I mean, she is my kid after all.” She joked a little bit.

First Mate smiled and rolled their eyes a little, but was still awed by the sight, “Have you decided on a name?” Taro nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips, “Iris.”

“That’s a perfect name.”

Taro gazed at her daughter, then looked back at her First Mate, her expression turning serious but affectionate, “I couldn’t have done it without you. You were there when I needed you most.” First Mate’s face softened, and they reached out to gently squeeze Taro’s hand, “I’m just happy I could be here for you, Captain.”

Taro’s lips then quirked into a teasing smile, “And about that kiss…”

First Mate’s face flushed a deep red, their usual composure slipping away once again as they stammered, “I-I got caught up in the moment.” Taro chuckled softly, “I was just teasing, but we’ll talk about that later, okay? About what it means.”

First Mate nodded, still blushing but managing a smile, “Alright, Taro.”

Taro’s attention then returned to her baby, marveling at the tiny, perfect being in her arms. In that quiet moment, with her daughter safe in her arms and her closest companion by her side, Taro felt a profound sense of peace. As she held Iris close, Taro kissed Iris’s forehead and smiled, silently thanking the pendant, knowing that whatever magic it held had brought her the greatest treasure of all.

[the-burd-lord]

Playing around with Alastor’s design a little bit. He would still wear most of the same outfit he wore back then, don't fix what's not broken, but with an added suit jacket that's a bit too big for him. I need to make a bit of to at some point, but after his break up he draws on a pencil mustache to add on to his emphasis of having a new appearance while still staying in his time.

A post depression mustache if you will.

As for some of his creepy aspects I'm cutting out the voodoo elements of his character, and instead using the uncanny and analog horror elements instead (I am a simple creature).

I need to actually remake the color pallets for him and old Vox, but essentially they both start off as black and white or with grey like colors, and gain new ones after they split up. Vox becomes more saturated and Alastor becomes sepiatone, as while it's more colorful it's still is reminiscent of the past.

Now time for some of the silly rivalry bits:

I’d image they would have casual debates on the radio and tv that would soon devolve into insults and eventually nothing but 30/50s slang and Creole French that would last for hours.

I need to finish writing this bit, but basically Charlie sees it as a good idea to go on Vox’s talk show to promote the hotel and herself. There’s some lil rivalry moments between Vox and Al, but ultimately Vox doesn’t fully let his grudges get in the way of hosting a good show.

Even though they mutually broke up they still each regret ending the relationship, and as such covey their loneliness in their respective mediums. Vox making sad, gay movies and being so worn out after that when he watches them he doesn’t even know what he made.

And Alastor having a late night audio story about a turtle and a hare going on adventures. There are times where he’ll just start describing crushing regret and isolation, and he’ll realize that he may have gone a bit far and try to steer it towards more of a happy ending with Vox listening in on all of it.

Something something relationship meme with a sketch I’ll probably never finish. Also surprising, but also not that surprising, to me that in "Stayed Gone" they didn't go with the obvious joke on what to call his late night talk show.

The grrls r fighting!! But for real this time.

Been playing with the idea of Vox turning into pure energy when he's overly stressed, or just becoming a weird robot creature as form he can take as an overlord. It's probably going to result in a lot of sketches where I 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 won't use Videodrome as inspiration (lie).

At some point I need to get a good animation program and just start making a bunch of animatics or animations cause I have so many song inspirations for these two.

Specifically one that I want to make a whole animation for is “(They Long to Be) Close to You.” Basically it’s just going to be them fighting interspersed with moments of them waltzing together. I think you can probably parse out the metaphors and connections I'm going for here.

Also me and a friend were talking about song inspirations and after I continually listened, watched, and worked (at least for me) on Hadestown we just replaced Hades with Vox in some of the songs.

🚨SPOILERS FOR HADESTOWN🚨

One stanza that I need to make an animatic for is in Chant Reprise, specifically 2:33-3:18 with the “I conduct the electric city” line.

This is going to become a bit of promotion for the show cause I love it so much. Probably my favorite musical ever! Also highly recommend listening to this version of "Chant," cause there’s a verse for Persephone and Eurydice that provide some cool reflections that reflect the original “Chant” in their verses.

There’s no direct references to any of the other characters, although you can add your own interpretations.

On that note here’s another song that reflects them. “How Long?” mainly with the “your pity won’t fit in my bed” lines, and when Hades and Persephone are actually singing to each other turning it into being about their relationship instead of the fates of Orpheus and Eurydice.

And a lil teaser for how they make up:

Will make another post about them. I have so many sketches WWHYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN’T ESCAPE EITHER VERSION!!!!

[soudakuwunmoment]

About Dirk's role in the downfall of DirkJake

I mentioned recently in a post that I don't like DirkJake as much as I used to, and credited that to how Jake treated Dirk before they broke up. I know it's far more popular to say the breakup was Dirk's fault, but I'm here to add my perspective, because I truly don't think this is entirely the case.

Disclaimer, I am BIASED AS SHIT. I LOVE Dirk as a character, I relate to him on many levels, and his breakup with Jake is one of those levels. I was in Dirk's place a few years ago in a near identical situation, with a partner who was dissatisfied with our relationship and refused to tell me, while simultaneously distancing from me in a way which was incredibly unhealthy. I don't hold it against him now, and neither do I hold it against Jake. Both were teenagers. Immature and scared. However, while this gives me bias, I also think it gives me a unique perspective and experience in this exact situation. I think I have a place discussing this.

So, where to start? Well, first of all, let's establish what the issue was and how it led to the breakup.

After the time skip, we see that Jake is frustrated with how clingy and overbearing Dirk is being. He is overwhelmed by the intensity of the relationship, but is too scared to say anything because he doesn't want to upset Dirk or put them on bad terms. After all, Jake DOES love Dirk, despite what many people think. Having issues with your partner does not automatically mean you don't love them. In response to Jake's distant behavior, Dirk tries especially hard to impress him, make him happy. Dirk is anxious; he has been lonely his whole life, and has loved Jake for 3 years at that point. He is finally physically close with someone who he loves and is having his feelings returned. But now he senses that he might lose that. Dirk is VERY proactive about his problems, and is notoriously a chronic overthinker. So, Dirk attempts to "mend" things. He offers adventures and treasure and tombs; Jakes favorite things. Jake doesn't see Dirk's intentions and is oblivious to how anxious he is. He doesn't read behind the lines and therefore comes to the conclusion that Dirk has just been far too clingy lately. And so, we have a vicious situation. Jake's reaction to Dirk's clinginess is to hide, and Dirk's reaction to Jake's distance is to overcompensate and be more affectionate. It's a cycle that only gets worse the longer it's left unchecked.

So how can this be solved? Communication, obviously. It's the key to healthy relationships. I feel very strongly about that.

Both parties could do to communicate their exact thoughts, but in reality, Jake is more at fault. Sure, it would help if Dirk were to express specifically that he is anxious about the relationship and that's why he's being more clingy. But realistically, Does Dirk know that? Is he self aware enough of his actions? He never makes it clear whether he is. And him saying this to Jake, while it would help, it would only get them so far. The responsibility ends up on Jake. After all, Jake is fully aware of the reason for his behavior, we KNOW this. He tells us why he is doing what he's doing. And if he were to express this to Dirk, it would not only soothe his anxiety ("I see, so Jake isn't avoiding me because he doesn't love me/there's something wrong with me") but it would also spark a conversation about what to do about their situation. Perhaps a "I will give you the space you need so long as you don't become too distant/spend time with me" from Dirk, or an "I will spend more time with you so long as you respect my wishes when I wish to be alone" from Jake. But no, they can't have this conversation, specifically because Dirk does not know WHY Jake is becoming distant. Yes, Dirk DOES know Jake wants space. He is aware of this. But he does not know WHY. This is why he is anxious; he thinks it's because of his own personality or because he is a burden or because he is "toxic" as he often describes himself. And as long as Dirk is anxious, he will become "aggressive" in his clinginess. Sure, you could say this is a negative trait of his, but it can be avoided with communication, VERY easily.

You can say the breakup is Dirks fault all you want, and yes, he plays a role. But my opinion is that if either of them were to be considered a victim of the other, Dirk was the one who suffered more as a result of Jake's refusal to communicate.

[sanicsmut]

Words of the Fallen

Technically Darien Gautier x Vestige!Reader, but all I can say is play Summerset's main quest in ESO before reading this.

part 2

Warnings : Use of Y/N once. Angst because it is. Spoilers for the end of Summerset. Language. The letter is taken directly from the game, which is why it’s written way better than what I’ve actually written.

Words: 1000 (I can't believe I got such a perfect count)

Robin’s comment: Cried making this, bon appétit. More seriously, this chapter (the game's DLC I mean) made me hate Meridia. She was one of my favorite daedric princes, but now it's over. All hail Azura. Anyway this is basically me telling Meridia what she deserves to hear. There's also a hint of a part two at the end ;). I'll try to write it, but I can't guarantee anything.

"Never trust a Daedric Prince. If there's anything I learned from all this, that's it in a nutshell. I used to think I had a purpose, a part to play in the grand scheme of things. I suppose I did, sort of, but the way things turned out, it wasn't at all the way I imagined. Meridia said I was her vessel. I guess my fate was sealed from the moment she brought me into existence.

Now, here I am, back in the Colored Rooms. I thought that when I gave my energy to restore the sword—and I did that for my friend, not for Meridia—I thought that was the end of me. I'm back, though, but this time is different. My light, it's fading. I can feel the darkness getting closer, pressing in. I expect that once the light goes out, that will be the end.

I need to tell you something about Meridia. She's a deceiver. She promised that if I served her faithfully, I'd earn my freedom. She never told me that freedom was just another word for the void. Don't trust her. Don't trust any of the Daedric Princes. Not ever.

I've found peace though. Meridia gave me a chance to see the world, and those I care about, one last time. To save those I loved. I'm grateful for that, at least.

I wish I had a chance to say goodbye to everyone. To Skordo. To Gabrielle. Gods, I'll miss them. But most of all, (Y/N). I don't know if she will understand how much she truly meant to me. Perhaps we'll see each other again, in another place, another time. I probably won't be the version of myself that's writing these words, though. That me will be gone. I can live with that.

I only wish I could have spent more time with everybody. Had a few more adventures. Ordered those drinks like we always talked about.

I hope my friends find peace, happiness, and love. They deserve what I could never have. If anyone ever finds this book, know that I will never forget those I named herein. And, if you find them, and I pray that you do, tell them this.

Protect the ones you love. Hold them close. Cherish their every moment. Make them laugh, and laugh with them. Smile together and never, ever, forget that the moments you have are so very precious.

Oh, and tell them not to forget me, either. I mean, I am a legend, as far as I know.

The polite, handsome, and humble knight,

Darien Gautier”

You let the book fall back on the bench where you found it.

No… No…

You were breathing heavily. And a few minutes later, surrounded by those trees, you let out your anguish.

Dawnbreaker gripped tight in your hand, you screamed.

“Take it back! Take your goddamn sword back!”

“It seems my vessel isn’t the only one who ended up having feelings when he shouldn’t.”

A bright light. There it was, this patronizing voice. This voice you had respected, after giving you back your soul and helping you in Coldharbour. This voice you grew to hate.

“You bitch, he was my friend!”

“Where is your respect, Vestige?”

Vestige. You hadn't been called that since that time you helped Abnur Tharn in Elsweyr. Only the companions called you that. The companions and Meridia. But even the Daedric Prince hasn’t called you that during this whole mission. It was like you were back in Coldharbour all over again. Back fighting for what you thought was right, back, fighting against and with forces you couldn’t comprehend.

“My respect for you died when Darien got condemned. By your fault.”

“He was my vessel, an empty shell, a weapon to do my bidding. He served his purpose.”

“He was my friend!” You yelled again.

“And a traitor.”

“How the f-”

“He sacrificed he life for you. He purified my sword, not to serve me, but to help you.”

“Oh, so this is it? You’re throwing a tantrum because your tool wasn’t devoted to you only?”

“Careful with your words, Vestige.”

“You owe me! I’m the one who fought Molag Bal, I’m the one who assembled all those allies to stop the coalition! I’m the one who just stopped Nocturnal! And you owe him too! He may have purified Dawnbreaker for me, but everything else he did was for you, to serve you, because he was your champion! Because he truly thought he could trust you!”

“And you owe me for your soul. And he owes me for the purpose I gave him.”

“You wouldn’t have been able to take my soul if I hadn’t fought in Coldharbour! It’s all thanks to me! And his purpose? He could’ve been a hero without disappearing for your fucking sake! Hell, he just wanted to help his friends!”

“Friends he shouldn’t have had in the first place.”

“I swear, I defeated Molag Bal and Nocturnal, I can defeat you too. Take back your fucking sword and give me back my friend.”

You could feel Meridia’s rising anger, the air feeling tense around you despite the Daedric prince not being here physically.

“You want your ‘friend’ back?” The prince of light asked, her voice filling you with a bad feeling.

“Yes!” You answered. “Free him from your realm!”

You swore you almost heard Meridia growling, even if that sounded out of character. But that being was strict and cold, full of authority, like a severe and cruel mother. But nothing about her was motherly. She might have been less ‘evil’ than other princes, but she still served her own interests, mortals were just tools for her, or obstacles she had to get rid of. And you were sure that she was now in the second category.

“You will have to free him yourself.” Meridia declared. “That is, if you can get out of my realm.”

Her voice was tainted in cruelty, and a blinding light burnt your eyes before everything went black.