#if i want them to kiss they shall kiss

[hecula-propaganda]

I don't know why when I'm in front of the doc I struggle to find a way to properly convey Hector's feelings, and I have doubts like "would he kiss Dracula's hand? and for how long? would he accept his cold?"

but then when I'm daydreaming off the doc brain defaults to "they should kiss on the lips and be cute and almost wholesomely in love 🥺" like it's the most natural dynamic for this creepfest

(in my defense, I think I made pretty clear that Drac is a creep in the first part lol. and, well, the whole point of the fic is discussing Dracula's human love filtered by his monstrosity, and how Hector only sees the first part for better and for worse, so...)

[still-a-morosexual-help]

WHY IS THIS THE ONLY FUCKING OPTION!?!?! MC WHO ARE YOU!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!? I'M SCREECHING

[kagooleo]

so with confidence I present my rarepair...fluffyriceshipping!

they were originally a joke ship (which was my last chance to get out) but they grew on me more and more throughout last year, and months later they've become my favorite pair to draw! their name was the funniest thing to make of them because i got to joke around with their jpn names

the tl:dr of them is that there's a lot of good drama to make of thirty-somethings with the weight of responsibility of their respective cultures on their shoulders, as well as their personal thoughts of the trainers of their respective regions, all this culminating together to be really compelling for me to develop, so I'll ramble a Whole lot more under the cut about them :D!!

~

ok now that the people that wanted to see more about what i'm crazy about when i'm not online are here you guys better prepare for the worddump lmao

before they meet its postgame and they’re both in their thirties (early to mid), lance post gsc/hgss still upholds his champion position and managing the dragon's den alongside any g-man/undercover rocket work on the side (in workaholic mode), riley post dppt is occasionally battling at the battleground but also holing himself up with patrols on iron island and doing egg research and training his aura (Also in workaholic mode)

i'd say all the work makes byron and roark try to get him a break from all that, convincing him at some point to take a vacation! see the sights my guy you've been workin yourself to the bone

it's canonically shown in hgss that riley does appear as a partner for the battle tower, so at some point he is in johto! the region resonates with his cultural sensibilities so maybe he revisits it again to instead actually relax there.

lance would probably catch his hat flying away when he's visiting elm's lab (a fellow egg researcher) in new bark and riley would have absolutely fell first for him (and i'm a sucker for meet-cutes,,,)

and from there they hit it off! being both skilled trainers in their own right they battle and go out to eat after and talk about their family (clair and the elders, for riley's case his family friends byron and roark), their culture (dragon clans and aura guardians), and then when they talk about their respective trainer kiddos (silver and dawn) something clicks between them (it’s a Really rough snippet but hopefully it’s decent)-

"Do you have any kids? I know the news loves to make up some kind of story about secret love affairs with a random person." the guardian says, awkwardly.

Lance smiles, "Oh, yeah! I have one but he's technically not mine." Riley chokes on his iced tea.

"I'm sorry?" A million thoughts roll through his mind as he processes his words said so matter-of-factly.

"Haha, sorry, sorry, I'm only partly joking."

"E-Elaborate..."

The champion explains the general gist of things as he's met him, Silver, his kid-by-odd-circumstance, was homeless for a while, but was training alongside some other up and coming trainers. Uncovering some Rocket related files, he learns he's the son of the boss of the entire organization, and after some on and off meetings he eventually got him a place to stay at the Dragon's Den, and soon after began living with him at his place when he warmed up to the idea of adoption.

There are times he gets overwhelmed with all that he's been through, and some nights its all too much. But Lance was there with him, stayed with him every step of the way, unlike the one who gave him that abandonment anxiety in the first place.

"He's my kid, not by blood, and maybe not by his family, either. But instead, by his own decision he chose to stay with me. I'd want him to keep the freedom he has now." Lance states, firmly. "And now he's grown up as strong as I believed he could. I'm proud of him, as much as he tends to deny that." Riley senses his draconic aura swell with pride, mixed with a humbling sincerity in his words.

"What about you? Any kids of your own?" the sudden flip of the question surprises the guardian briefly.

"N-Nothing adoptive but…I suppose it's similar, in a way to meeting them as you have."

The guardian's turn, now. Dawn was someone he met when he was training on Iron Island, and also served as a guide to get her through the caverns. When he felt something off in the aura surrounding the area, he eventually learned of Galactic causing the pokemon on the island to feel restless and agitated. With her, they were able to clear the island of their antics and even gifted her a Riolu egg on her journey. From there, he was impressed with how strong she was, and did hear from Cynthia that she raised his present up to evolving her into a Lucario. He couldn't have been happier.

That was the case, until he caught the aftermath of the events of Mt. Coronet.

What Cyrus did, the lengths he'd go to, and dragging the both of them into a mess that could have torn the world apart.

After that, Dawn stayed home for a while. Cynthia put him as a contact for her mom, who was really worried for her. With his aura and her friends, Lucas and Barry, they were a big help for her recovery. And eventually, after a lot of time and work, she became the region's champion. She messages every now and then to him, as processing any trauma is never an easy road, but he realized how lucky she was to have the people she'd met to keep her steady, and knew she'll be alright.

"I...still wish I could've done more for her," Riley says, quieter. "Cynthia told me about what happened in that other world, and it...it was a lot for Dawn, a lot of emotions to help her figure out." he finishes, sheepish.

"…I don't blame you for feeling that way, I wouldn't know what to do in a scenario like that, either." the champion says, unsure too.

"It's amazing, in a way. All these kids going through so much on their own. I'd be proud were it not so scary, realizing how young they are to go through what they have been through."

"There's only so much you really can do, as an adult. I've realized that fact a long time ago." Lance's aura felt oddly melancholic, as bright and pretty as it may appear. "It's either immediate or slow when things change for them, and sometimes you'll have to make a choice on the spot when the time comes for them to decide what they want to do." It sounds like he’s speaking from experience, but the melancholy makes it appear that he's had some regrets.

“I trust in them to find their own path, eventually. When they’re together, those kids are gonna be alright on their own.”

His reassurance helped, even if only by a small amount.

-

I should make some kind of master post about them at some point but WAH god I’m so happy I can actually put them together in pokemon masters, they’ve really grown on me and I’ve developed a lot for the both of them in my free time, but yeah this is the rarepair that’s been on my brain for ages now, a gaze into my goo brain 🤪

[nerdy-talks]

I am in love with this new artwork for the new upcoming game.

Angry Lucifer, Satan, and Beel do something to me.

And how about Asmo doing the Yuno Gasai pose?

Not to mention their cute little fangs.

I approve of it all ¬‿¬ 

[skitskatdacat63]

2009 Japanese Grand Prix - Sebastian Vettel

[chiropteracupola]

"more than incidentally homosexual"?

[niuxita21]

The way the entire "Previously on The Mallorca Files..." segment is literally just... Max and Miranda's entire personal relationship progression, from reluctant work partners/compañeros to Max having to correct people that Miranda is not his girlfriend to almost kissing while dancing the paso doble to Carmen rejecting Max's proposal like plot? What plot? You mean this show is supposed to be about solving crimes?? I am LIVING!!!

[funtheysaid]

That’s got to be the best, most insane, most satisfying, MOST FASCINATING season finale I’ve ever watched in my life. Holy fuck.

[missjessefantastico]

i'm so sad we don't have happy interactions between tara and oz, not only i maintain that they would get along amazingly, i'd also love to see what that would do to willow's brain

[a-scary-lack-of-common-sense]

I am exhausted, good heavens.

[paimonial-rage]

My favorite works in no particular order:

Tipsy Tales (Anemo Boys)

Symbiosis (Ayato)

What Destiny Has Brought (Fischl)

Hello How Are You (Gorou)

Follow the Wind II (Kazuha)

Of the Same Coin (Mika)

Songs of the Wind (Venti)

Nothing Lasts Forever (Yae Miko)

Sharing a Drink They Call Loneliness (Zhongli)

Of Hopes and Prayers (Zhongli)

[theearlgreymage]

How in the world is it Sunday already? This past week has absolutely flown by.

It's been a chaotic week - which is normal for me at this point. But I have been able to work on a single little side project. Just something a little fluffy for a friend that's been relaxing after some very long work days. It will hopefully be posted in it's entirety later this week, and then I hope to get back on schedule with all my SnowBaz WIPs.

Shout-Out's and Hello's to those who have been tagging me this past week!! @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @cutestkilla @wellbelesbian @aristocratic-otter @hushed-chorus @j-nipper-95 @confused-bi-queer @ileadacharmedlife

A Small One-Shot in Softness

(What oh what fandom am I writing for today? Is it SnowBaz? Eruri? KazuRei? FirstPrince? I shall make you all wait and see.)

[redacted] nodded, feeling the way the motion of his head brushed [redacted] nose against his hairline. Angling his body in [redacted] hold was easy - one of the advantages to his smaller build. No words needed to be exchanged as [redacted] bumped their noses together. Lips brushing softly.  One soft kiss from [redacted] was reciprocated by one from [redacted]. Little things. Nothing more than chaste pecks at first. Each one lasted a half second longer than the previous until their lips fused together and drew in the other. [redacted] brought a hand up to cup the side of [redacted] neck. Thumbing at his pulse absently, causing [redacted] to melt further into [redacted]. [redacted] lips were as soft as the marshmallows that [redacted] enjoyed in his childhood. Warm and supple beneath his tongue, and an utter temptation for him to sink his teeth into - chewing at the delicate flesh with a growing fever. 

Happy Sunday and Tags to All of the Amazingly Talented Folks below the Cut 😘

@artsyunderstudy @bazzybelle @bookish-bogwitch @captain-aralias @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @ebbpettier @erzbethluna @facewithoutheart @fatalfangirl @foolofabookwyrm-activated @gekkoinapeartree @henreyettah @ic3-que3n @ivelovedhimthroughworse @ionlydrinkhotwater @johnwgrey @krisrix @larkral @letraspal @martsonmars @moodandmist @mostlymaudlin @onepintobean @palimpsessed @prettylightsbigcity @raenestee @shrekgogurt @skeedelvee @stardustasincocaine @stitchyqueer @tea-brigade @theimpossibledemon @thewholelemon @whogaveyoupermission @yellobb

[doodlingwren]

Well, this isn't an art request but do you have a favorite Gold Saint?

I hate all the Gold Saints the same amount. Just joking eheh I hate Cancer DeathMask a bit more ^w^ and maybe also Shaka idk

[flamestar126]

[nerdy-talks]

Fact : I would enjoy teasing Solomon. In a playfully loving way, of course~

It is obvious that Solomon dislikes any form of ridicule or judgment. This has been shown almost every time Barbatos verbalizes his contempt for the "sham of a sorcerer". Not to mention in the OG, Solomon told MC never to refer to him as an "old man" (which could easily be used as an insult lol). Those are just a few examples.

And in the current event, Solomon is faced with even more insults :

He's clearly not happy, understandably so... and then we get to this option :

My mind has entered the gutter (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)

A "chat", you say? Are you sure? Because I think there are much better, more effective ways to make me retract that statement~ ¬‿¬

Though the latter approach would absolutely encourage me to tease him even more lol

But it would be innocent and come from my deep love for Solomon, plus I'd make it up to him one way or another 🩷

[pascal-oswell]

hi. today dante acquires a faust plushie. it was supposed to be cute inferno pink stuff but looking at it again it feels like its about gregor instead sorry

"Do my eyes deceive me? Gregor, in your hands- could this be our esteemed guide?" Don Quixote is sounding more excited by the second. "The great Red Gaze, now made of thread and cotton?"

"Uh, yeah. That's a Vergilius plushy alright." He holds it out to her. "For you, by the way. If you want it."

"What?" She gasps dramatically. "I could never- this is far too great of a gift!"

When Gregor doesn't retract his hand, however, she eventually takes the plushie. She brings it closer to her face, staring at it intently, emotion clear in her eyes.

"This fierce gaze…! You've truly outdone yourself, Gregor! I… I shall never forget this!"

If he's honest, Gregor focused more on reproducing the sad, pathetic look Vergilius always has, but she doesn't need to know that. Instead he smiles.

"Glad you like it."

"I truly do! I cannot thank you enough!"

Gregor chuckles as Don Quixote runs off with her newly acquired plushie. He was right to make something for her as his first attempt at plushie making. She's probably his only coworker who would react in such an excited manner. It helps him feel better about the whole thing.

He hears footsteps.

"Was it you who gifted Don Quixote the stuffed toy, Gregor? I just met her in the hallway."

"Ah, manager." Gregor turns to look at him. "Yeah, I… actually made it." He falters, hesitant to talk about it even if it's just Dante.

"She told me as much! I had no idea you could sew, Gregor, let alone were so good at it!"

Gregor looks away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sewing is a good skill to have, for mending all kinds of things. I taught myself at a young age. Plushie making, though… that's new. I just wanted to try my hand at it."

There's more to it than that, but Gregor doesn't really feel like explaining himself right now. Something about wanting to use his hands for something beside violence.

"Well, that was certainly a good first try, then." Dante chuckles, thinking about how expressive the simple button eyes felt to him, when Don Quixote shoved the plushie in his face. "You really managed to capture Vergilius' essence, in my opinion."

"… Yeah?" Gregor perks up a little at that. "You don't think it's stupid?" It's not like the toys they might get from abnormalities. His plushies are useless in battle. Or in general. It's a waste of time, one might say.

Dante pauses, sensing the sinner's discomfort.

"I don't. I understand plushies hardly have any practical use, but that doesn't make them worthless. You were happy to make one, and Don Quixote was happy to receive one." He tilts his head, thinking. "Well, rather… Even if they really were worthless, that shouldn't matter, either. It's a harmless hobby. No one should get to judge you for it."

For a long time, Gregor silently stares at Dante. Then he closes his eyes, breathing out a laugh. Why was he even worried?

"Thanks, manager. Would be nice if more people were like you."

Dante has a few thoughts about that, but he will not voice them. Now isn't the time.

"It's no problem. Besides, plushies are quite cute, aren't they?"

Gregor opens his eyes to look at Dante. He raises an eyebrow, smirking.

"What, manager, did ya want one too?"

"Huh? Oh, no, I didn't mean- I mean, it would be lovely, of course- but I wasn't trying to hint at that. I'm not… exactly sure what I'd do with one. I'm sure others would appreciate your hard work more."

Dante's never really thought about buying plushies. He's not particularly against the idea, he's just… always focused on more necessary things, and, well, not much else.

"It's not like you have to do anything with a plushie. It can just sit there on your desk looking cute."

"I… suppose you're not wrong."

"Anyone you'd like a plushie of, then?"

"Wh… Oh, right, you did make Vergilius for Don Quixote…" Dante looks to the side, thinking. What would he even want a plushie of? An animal? That might be more complicated than a person, though… But then, who? Perhaps just himself? No, that'd be silly…

Eventually Dante sighs.

"I don't really know, honestly. I'm hardly a fan of anyone like Don Quixote is."

Gregor shrugs at that. "You don't have to be. Could just be someone you like enough to have a plushie of."

Dante thinks about it. His flames flicker as a name crosses his mind. He does not say it, however.

"… Thought of anyone, manager?"

"No," Dante replies far too hastily for Gregor to believe him. "I apologize, Gregor. You should probably ask someone else. And I… should probably get back to work."

"Sure then. See ya around."

Dante nods, turning to leave. "Yes. See you later, Gregor." And with that, he walks away.

Gregor purses his lips as he watches him go. He thinks he has an idea as to what kind of plushie he can make him.

---

Dante has long since forgotten about his discussion with Gregor when the man walks up to him, a plushie in hand. Dante immediately notices it.

"Ah? Is that another of your plushies, Gregor?" He tilts his head questioningly. "Who did you make this time?"

"Well, why don't you take a look for yourself?"

"Mh? Sure." Dante takes the plushie from him, turning it around so that it faces him. He observes it carefully. The white wool, the blue buttons, the small pout… His fire flickers. "Is that Faust?"

"Yup. I'd like to think I did a pretty good job."

"You did!" Dante looks up at him. "Would it be alright for me to ask who this is for, though? I can hardly imagine Don Quixote being interested in a plushie of Faust." He assumes it's fine to ask, since Gregor did come to show it to him.

Gregor points a finger at him.

"That'd be for you, manager."

Dante freezes.

"I'm sorry?"

"You heard me. We talked about it last time, didn't we?"

"We did, but I don't seem to remember actually picking anyone, and…" he looks down at the plushie once more, "… and certainly not Faust?" He would remember that. He definitely would.

"Yeah, you didn't. So I picked myself." Gregor shrugs, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Out of everyone, I thought she was the best choice for you."

"I… really don't know what you mean." His fire is dancing wildly, making that hard to believe. "In any case, I- I don't think I can accept this- wait, Gregor!"

Alas, Dante notices Gregor's escape too late, and is thus left alone with the Faust plushie. He soon runs off to his room, fearing someone might seem him with it.

---

Now in the safety of his room, Dante quietly stares at the Faust plushie. It impassively stares back.

"…"

"…"

Suddenly overwhelmed with embarrassment, Dante impulsively throws the plushie away from him and onto his bed, only to immediately run after it, apologizing profusely.

---

Crouching, Dante observes the plushie, which is now properly sat on his bed. Had he been less panicked about the whole thing, he would have been able to tell Gregor just how cute he thought it was. It probably wouldn't have been a completely objective judgement, however, so maybe it's for the best that he didn't tell him.

---

After pondering for a long time what to do with the plushie, Dante eventually remembers his past conversation with Gregor and carefully sits the little Faust on his desk, before busying himself with paperwork.

At first, its presence actually motivates Dante to work harder. It's a silly thing, but he tells himself he needs to do his best so he won't disappoint the plushie. But only at first.

After a while, Dante cannot help but get distracted, staring at the plushie and thinking about the real Faust.

It's only an hour later that he catches himself and violently interrupts his daydreams by slamming his clockface into his desk. The plushie is slightly shaken, but otherwise unaware of its crimes.

---

Do not tell anyone, but when Dante has to leave for a mission, he always takes the time to grab the plushie and lay it in his bed, tucking it in, so that it may rest peacefully in his absence.

---

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Dante carefully holds the plushie in one hand, bringing the other up to carefully pat it on the head. But he soon lets his hand fall to his side and looks down at his lap, his embarrassment rising.

---

Dante has now stopped counting the number of times the plushie's distracted him and led him to think about Faust.

---

Lying on his bed, flat on his stomach, Dante happily looks at the plushie sitting in front of him, the bottom of his clockface resting in both of his hands. Faust complimented him during today's mission. He giggles, kicking his feet in the air. He's going to be thinking about it all day.

---

There is a knock on Dante's door.

"Come in!"

The door opens, and Dante looks up from the report he was filling to see Faust walk in.

"Oh, Faust! Hello!"

"Good evening, Dante. Are you busy right now?"

"As busy as usual, I suppose. Don't worry about it. What can I do for you?"

She nods, walking over to him. "I wanted to ask you about tomorrow's…" she trails off as something on his desk catches her attention, "… mission."

"Faust? Is something the…" he follows her gaze down to… "… matter…"

Dante has so few visitors, it never occured to him that he might need to hide the Faust plushie when inside his own room. That is why it now sits proudly on his desk, in full view of the real Faust.

When Dante's fire suddenly shoots up, Faust wonders if it might reach the ceiling. In the end it doesn't, and when it settles down, Faust only watches as Dante slowly gets off his chair to crawl under his desk where he curls up, hiding his face in his knees.

She still hasn't even said anything yet.

---

It's not often Faust seeks out Gregor, so he's a bit surprised when she approaches him one day.

"Gregor."

"Hey, Faust. What's up?"

"You've been making plushies, yes?"

He blinks. This is not where he thought this conversation would go. He's not sure he likes it.

"… What about it?"

"I know you've made multiple human plushies. Can you do anything else?"

"… Maybe? I mean, I've never tried, but…" He furrows his brows, confused. "Why, did you… want something?" Surely that couldn't be it, but he doesn't see why she'd bring that up in the first place.

Faust is silent for a while.

"… How do you feel about clocks?"