#if you're curious lang

[martilyongabo]

gift for my wife (11.30.23)

i guess it's a little gift for me too since it's been about two months since i've drawn them (well not really, i doodled them but i guess finishing a drawing is still different)

after taking some time away from the CR community, i honestly feel a lot better now that i've disconnected myself from the urge to get ideas out because i'm competing with a running canon but knowing that i'm too slow/busy. that and uh, the fandom can get quite "a lot" in their own way <:0 not to really say that I got in trouble thankfully, but I've seen others get in a big heat, and i know that i was frustrated with how controversial / sensitive topics were handled.

that being said, i've also had the space to solidify on the side how i plan on moving forward, and how i want to regard the effort put into making a story out of it. in posts succeeding this one, i will refrain from using CR-related tags (particularly the main tag + game tags), this includes character tags for characters that are, at this point, so different from their original counterparts. if just wanna draw a cookie normally though, i'll be using the character tag but primarily for organization's sake.

i know this limits my reach, but i honestly feel as though i would be a lot happier since the characters that i've developed so far have become so different from how they are in the games. (+ Devsisters is inconsistent with their characterisations anyway). this has been an idea that's been in the making for a year now, and i'm hopeful that things will continue to look up :DD

a lot of my followers and one of my mutuals came from the CR community, and ofc i'm really thankful and hope that my art helped make your day a bit more bearable! i don't necessarily hate CR or the community, but i'm just putting more distance between myself and them than i usually do (and i'm usually distant when it's a scary fandom hahaha).

hopefully we will see each other again in a more positive context. before then please take care of yourself as the year ends! thank you for reading this little letter.

[mikaela-the-slut-expert]

can you do a hualian x m reader. Like they had a relationship with Xie Lian a long time ago and then they ‘die ‘ or something. They are actually just staying away because they feel like they failed or didn’t protect Xie Lian. Then they see him and hua cheng together and they just look so happy so of course they are happy for xie lian and stay away. Eventually they meet again and Xie Lian is desperate to involve them in the relationship as well. Just all angsty then fluffy 😂

Dragged In

HuaLian x M!reader

Xie Lian is very happy with his life

He has friends, they've saved the heavens, he has a stable life, which is much better than it was back then.

Most of all he has San Lang.

Xie Lian is so grateful he's found someone to love him through everything

That doesn't mean he doesn't miss you

He hasn't seen you in a long time and every now and then he thinks of you.

That's a lie he's always thinking of you.

But he's already accepted that you would never come back and you- you would want him to be happy so Xie Lian doesn't feel guilty for loving San Lang

He still spends late nights telling San Lang about you, telling him about your life about the two of you.

Sometimes Xie Lian makes off hand comments like, "he would have liked this" or " this was his favorite"

San Lang doesn't mind, he loves Xie Lian and he talks very fondly of you. So San Lang likes you too

Although you guys have never met San Lang feels like he has. Xie Lian is very good at telling someones story

You died a long time ago, which was very unfortunate.

That's why Xie Lian talks about you so much, you were his first love and it's been years, centuries. He's scared to forget you.

You didn't deserve the death you were given and you don't deserve to be forgotten either.

Welp good thing you aren't dead!

Not that Xie Lian knows.

You've just been ghosting around, staying in the shadows.

It took you a while but you were able to become a pretty powerful ghost.

Now you can see Xie Lian all the time, just. . . From far away.

You would love to be close with Xie Lian again but he's already so happy

He has a husband and a lovely, stable life after so long.

You don't want to ruin that

You've been watching for a while, you especially don't want to hurt San Lang.

You don't want to break them up and make him feel lesser.

Silly thoughts, Xie Lian would've opened his arms for you.

Which he did. Because Xie Lian isn't dumb and neither is San Lang.

They definitely aren't blind

One can only go so long seeing small flashes of colored robes in the shadows of ghost city.

One can only go so long seeing strands of long colored hair that reminds Xie Lian of the man who's hair he used to run fingers through.

One can only go so long seeing the ghost of a man that he used to know

It's not hard to find you when you peer around ghost city so curiously.

You were always curious, always observant, always watching

So is San Lang

San Lang would do anything for Xie Lian that includes finding you.

When Xie Lian tells San Lang of his troubles, that he's been seeing you and he wishes you were still here

Well he goes to find you of course, he can do it especially since you're in his city.

It's easy pickings.

You know what Hua Cheng looks like but not San Lang.

So when a young man in maple Robes starts asking you for help, who are you to deny?

He needs help finding paradise manor? Alright you've mesmerized the way like the back of your hand!

Plus you can check up on Xie Lian while you're there!

It doesn't go the way you thought when suddenly San Lang is pushing you through the doors of paradise manor and grabbing you by the sleeve so he can take you to Xie Lian.

Look what the fox dragged in!

At first Xie Lian thinks he's gone crazy.

You died, he saw you die!

But now here you are in the hands of San Lang -who is very proud of himself by the way-.

While you sputter for words, Xie Lian is pouncing on you.

He hasn't seen you in centuries and now here you are in his arms, he's so happy he can't help but kiss you right then and there.

It was a beautiful moment but it was quickly broken when you ever so gently pushed him away and stood up from the floor.

Xie Lian's expression turns to heartbreak and San Lang grabs you to make you stay.

Ain't no way you're going to make his Dianxia dad when he worked so hard to find you

You eventually explain that you feel selfish, you feel like you would be taking Xie Lian from San Lang. That you can't believe Xie Lian so readily kisses you when San Lang was standing right there.

You're so nervous but Xie Lian eventually laughs at you. Soft chuckles, and crow feet

He wraps his arms around you and Xie Lian takes a lot of time in explaining that he loves both of you

And there's no reason you all can't be together.

He can share, there's enough love for everyone

There's no way he's letting you go anywhere because you feel self righteous

He wants you to be selfish and he wants to spoil you with his affections after he was robbed of it

So you were basically dragged into a relationship with San Lang and Xie Lian.

For you it takes some getting used to, but your lovers are patient and they spoil you endlessly

Surprisingly enough you and San Lang get along great and he loves spending his fortunes on you.

You deserve it and Xie Lian likes to see it too

How lucky you are.🦊🪷

[dangermousie]

Hey dangermousie some time when you're feeling up for an ask: what are your favorite webnovels? Like danmei, bg, general fiction, anything. You've shared so many intetesting sounding novels in other posts so I was curious what some of the top favorites are? I remember Sha Po Lang, Ever Night, and The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir (which I'm reading because of you ToT)

I love this ask! I am gonna limit myself to 35 novels or we will be here all night. The usual caveat is - this is very personal. You will see that out of 35 (well, 36) novels, there is only one modern, there is a lot of angst and things like noncon and unhealthy relationships don't bother me. But I dislike harem infights and protags who are too OP.

35 I Became the Older Brother of the Heroine in an Abusive Novel by Liu Gou Hua (danmei) - a lovely novel where one half of otp is healthy and wholesome and the other abused feral wreck who melts under sanity and care.

34 After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine by Liu Gou Hua (danmei) - our MC is a modern person who transmigrates into a historical bad guy who apparently married a captured and crippled general who eventually healed, escaped and committed a lot of murder to avenge his humiliation. Poor historian MC transmigrates right before the wedding and is desperate to avoid the fate of having his head hang on the city gates for three years in the near future. Good luck! This has such a wholesome (yet not boring) OTP. Proof that healthy doesn't have to be dull.

33 You've Got Mail by He Dan Bai (danmei) - the sex in this one is gonzo and biologically questionable but the love story is wistful and sweet and somehow both hilarious and involving two rather damaged people.

32 The Blue Whisper by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (het) - the novel is a bona fide angst masterpiece, which really delves into what it feels like to be imprisoned or to love and what makes you you. I sniffled throughout.

31 The Paranoid Emperor’s Black Moonlight Shizun by Chen Sensen (danmei) - a really screwed up disciple and a really decent master have some insane entanglements. To say more would be to spoil but if you want some intensity, angst, groveling and utter codependency and did I mention ANGST? this one is for you!

30 Demon King's Repayment by Gong Xinwen (het) - another delicious Gong Xinwen tale with a powerful ML dedicated to capable FL. This one is a great fantasy plot (I keep imagining it as an animated series) and a sprawling cast of amazing secondaries (and secondary OTPs - there is, I swear, an OTP that is Dong Hua x Feng Jiu done thru GXW lens) to boot.

29 Accompanying the Phoenix by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (het) - the one that just got adapted into The Legend of Shen Li, this is high adventure and cottage core and funny and tragic and powerful ML being putty in the hands of capable FL and just EVERYTHING.

28 The Counterattack of the Cannon Fodder Chambermaid by Jia Mian De Sheng Yan (het) - I remember starting this and loving the realistic feel and the heroine and wanting to stab the hero. Yet the end I was on board with both the hero (who was abused and is rather autistic-coded) and the OTP. Anyway, heroine is a servant who was a concubine in the last life and got killed as part of a rich family’s harem intrigues. In this life, she just wants to keep her head down but her life gets derailed anyway. She gets sold away and eventually made a servant in the household of an exiled prince who takes a fancy to her and she endures it because what choice does she have? All she wanted was to serve out her term and become a small time merchant. This is quite realistic about lack of options for women, especially lower class women or upper class male attitudes (ML is never vicious or mean to FL but it does not initially occur to him to wonder if she fancies him or enjoys being his concubine or w/e.) It is a DELIGHTFUL slow burn tho as they grow to love each other and grow together and become one of the most wholesome cnovel couples out there.

27 The Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script by Teng Luo Wei Zhi (het) - so fucked up, so good, with monster hero who learns to love and be human and heroine who learns to love and be human (but from the other side, her tower of perfection), with a complex plot and no easy outs.

26 The Grand Princess by Mo Shu Bai (het) - a husband and wife who really drifted apart and ended up killing each other (or did they?) get a second chance as they are reborn as their younger selves. This has a great plot, a competent set of protags, and slow burn with complexity and trauma and somehow yet lightness. Plus awesome secondary OTPs!

25 Copper Coins by Mu Su Li (danmei) - a monk and a dragon? More likely than you may think. This is smart and wistful and made me cry; the romance doesn't kick in for the longest time and it doesn't even matter.

24 The Golden Terrace by Cang Wu Bin Bai (danmei) - two smart and principled (yes, they both have principles different though they may be) men navigate their arranged marriage, their past friendship and their past break up, become a super couple (one of the healthiest danmei couples I’ve ever read and proves healthy doesn’t have to be boring), save the country and bring down the emperor or two and just generally this is my rainy day book.

23 Long Wind Crossing (Destined) by Mo Shu Bai (het) - two functional lovely people fighting the world and growing up together and forming an amazing marriage.

22 Mistakenly Saving the Villain by Feng Yu Nie (danmei) - so underrated. A perfect h/c fantasy with the most functional MC and fucked up ML that never puts even a toe wrong with a premise that could go seriously bad so many different ways, instead telling a funny, moving story of love helping you heal.

21 I'll Be the Male Lead's Sister in Law by September Flowing Fire (het) - one of my all time favorite novels. Heroine is made to marry a disabled nephew of the emperor. He used to be a victorious god of war but went mad and now is basically locked away and kept as a beast. GOD I LOVE THIS NOVEL SO MUCHHHHH! So much hurt/comfort and awesome OTP and after he eventually recovers, all he wants to do is to fight and murder things and dote on wifey. MMM. He’s honestly one of my fave MLs.

20 The Rebirth of a Star General by Qian Sha Cha Ke (het) - not a typical QSCK at all, this one has a heroine who wakes up after being killed by her awful family; in her past life she was a general whose glory went to her cousin but here she chooses to start anew. Revenge is secondary to her - forming a new life and healing are really the focus. Also the OTP (FL and a male general with his own tragedy, and her former schoolmate) is just EVERYTHING!

19 Nan Chan by Tang Jiu Qing (danmei) - it reads like poetry crossed with a nightmare. One of the most unusual novels I've read and with the most alien set of protagonists I've ever read and believably so (a personification of a sword and a cannibalistic fish), I can't even describe this in any way other than a deity-centric paean to atheism.

18 The Rest of My Life by Mo Shu Bai (het) - the sole modern on this list, this is a novella about an aftermath of a regular office worker with a regular life and a regular husband being raped. It's a hard hard read but it's amazing.

17 To Rule In a Turbulent World by Fei Tian Ye Xiang (danmei) - gay Minglan is my elevator pitch. Well that or "what happens if you stick cottagecore and crucifixion in one novel."

It’s a BL novel but honestly, it’s a slice of life period novel with fascinating characters and setting that happens to have a gay OTP, not a romance in a period setting per se. It’s meticulously written and smart and deals with character development and somehow makes daily minutia fascinating (I never thought I’d find daily farming things interesting but here I am.) Farming, politics and the sudden horrors of war all intermingle perfectly.

Our protagonist, You Miao, is the son of a fabulously wealthy merchant, sent to the capital to make connections and study. As the story starts, he buys a sex slave on a whim from his friend (OK, wait wait wait don’t go, why are you bailing :P) Basically You Miao sees his friend’s servants beating someone to death, feels bad, and buys him because, as we discover gradually and organically, You Miao may be wealthy and occasionally immature but he is a genuinely good person. Let's back up - You Miao - our protag. He is the main reason I love the novel. It’s hard to write a character who is wealthy, kinda spoiled, sometimes immature and still make him eminently likeable. You Miao is also smart, pragmatic, funny, surprisingly laid back, a people person, and with a stubborn streak a mile wide. He is not perfect in any way but he is a real living breathing person I came to love.

Anyway, the ostensible sex slave he buys is a barbarian from beyond the wall, named Li Zhifeng. It’s touch and go if the man will survive but eventually he does and You Miao, who by then has to return home, gives him his papers and lets him go (not before they have some pretty explicit sex because hey - You Miao is all ‘why not, might be fun to try’ and LZF is “dude saved my life, why not.’ One of the things I love about the story is that there is no instalove - both sex and love make sense in the way and the order they happen; the two bang on a semi regular basis long before their feelings fully develop into love, which is pretty gradual and realistic.) However, LZF decides to stick with You Miao instead, both out of sense of debt for YM saving his life and because he genuinely likes him. One of the pleasures of the novel is watching LZF slowly transform from a piece of wood automaton into a genuine person who allows himself joy or temper.

So meticulously written, so smart, so vivid, such a cast of secondary characters (that friend who was beating LZF to death ended up being one of my favorite, most tragic characters in the novel because the author gets people are complex.)

16 The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System by MXTX (danmei) - a pastiche parody of web novels that somehow is both witty and makes me genuinely feel desperately for the protags. Go read!

15 Dandere General and His Lord by Gong Xinwen (het) - God, I love this one. Heroine transmigrates from modern world into a brutal slave-holding world at war (think something like Warring States era.) Our heroine transmigrates into the body of a noblewoman who just hung herself. When she comes to, she discovers that woman’s twin brother was the ruler of a city poisoned by a rival claimant and the besieging army of said claimant is about to take the city and original occupant of the body and the rest of the family chose suicide as a way to avoid dishonor. Our heroine refuses, schemes with advisors to pass as the brother and rally the troops. Once the invaders are defeated, she keeps on the masquerade and rides off to one of the never-ending wars “she” is summoned to. Our hero couldn’t be farther from this. A slave and a son of a slave, he’s escaped a horrific, starving childhood during which he narrowly avoided being murdered or raped, and ended up in the army. When the story opens, he distinguished himself in battle and as a reward, he and a few of his fellow slave warriors are invited to a banquet, where they are given some alcohol and to be playthings of any nobles who want them. One of them does not survive this but ML is lucky - heroine feels terrible and so “claims” him for herself. Instead she just tends to his wounds and sends him back. She does not fancy him or anything, she is just a human being with a conscience. And the story goes from there.

14 The Marquis Is Innocent by Peng Lai Ke (het) - this is the set up of very beautiful yet utterly cold-hearted woman marrying a ruthless, powerful man who eventually ends up on top of the murder pyramid. And a relationship that starts as a political arrangement with the husband not caring for her but then the ruthless scheming murder machine falls hard for her while FL actually does not, not yet. It takes a long time. This is such a glorious slow burn (I think by now you realized I love slow burns) and it takes her a very long time to open up or for him to realize that is what he wants (he's a very believable period man who finds it hard to admit he can actually have his happiness based on a woman) and there are steps forward and back and it's glorious, glorious!

13 Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight by 罗青梅 (haven't seen it transliterated) (het) - one of my ultimate favorites, this would make such an epic drama! A smart as hell but cautious and wounded heroine, a hero who is a monk and a warrior but also terribly ill and such a vivid world and amazing secondary characters (heroine’s brother is possibly my favorite supporting character of all time) and so much angst and happy ending. Both the protags are such intense, good people longing for happiness but not daring for it. This has an amazing romance but it’s not romance-centric if it makes sense - ML doesn’t appear for a while. But once he does, it’s worth it!

12 Mountain and River Pillow by Mo Shu Bai (het) - a tender intense and tragic slowburn which shows the limits of knowing what will happen and the fight to reestablish the family with an amazing amazing OTP. Heroine transmigrated into her past self; this time she chooses to go through with her arranged marriage instead of running away for love (it ended badly) but her knowledge fails to prevent her new sweet husband and his whole family murdered in battle and framed for treason. All that is, except for her husband's youngest brother, barely adult and left with an almost impossible task. In the past life he managed but it hollowed him out. In this one he has a sister in law to assist so...Anyway, both the protags are smart, good, intense and amazing people and I love them separately and as an OTP. By far my favorite MSB novel.

11 Those Years In Quest of Honour Mine by Man Man He Qi Duo (danmei) - another really underrated gem, it’s funny and heart-breaking and made me laugh and sniffle within pages of each other. Its two protagonists are both walking wounded but also good people, and watching them find happiness despite all the horrors the world threw at them, watching them take care of each other is so lovely. Also, someone once described the ML as “Lan Wangji gone feral” and that is just A++++

10 The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by MXTX (danmei) - we all know that one is there even any point describing it.

9 Nightfall/Ever Night by Mao Ni (not romance centric but het) - so long but also so smart and unusual and bloody and tho it’s not primarily a romance, you will never see another ML who loves his FL as much as Ning Que does his Sang Sang. And the worldbuilding and the plot and the characters and just so so bleak.

8 Wu Chang Jie by Shui Qian Cheng (danmei) - are you an emotional vampire? I am and this novel is a banquet. In a highly fantastical setting, we meet our protagonists - the sunny Xie Bian and the intense and surly Fan Wushe. Xie Bian is a human who assists his master in conveying souls to the underworld and making sure no mishaps happen. Bian is concentrated sunshine in human form and to meet him is to love him. When the novel opens, his drunk master brings back another human to be his shidi and assist with duties - said human is uncommunicative, intense and surly Wushe. Bian is excited to have a shidi but little does he know that a story dealing with the horrors of past lifetime is about to start.

Anyway, why WCJ? So many reasons. It has such a dark bleak worldview - this world is a horrifying system where powerful cannibalize each other’s cores for an impossible chance to ascend, where gods have sealed off their realm and all that’s left is neverending human misery and hell (the only way you’d see a deity is if they’d been sent down to suffer over and over and over), where even reincarnation doesn’t fix things and bad acts are often unpunished. And the novel then asks - is it worth being a good person in such a world? More, is it worth being a good person in such a world when nothing good has ever happened to you and you have been repeatedly betrayed due to your goodness? And the answer, on Bian’s part, is an uncompromising yes.

Ah yes, the other reason to love this novel - the protagonists and their fucked up fucked up relationship. Bian (who was Prince Ziheng in the past life) is so genuinely good. But he is that rare thing - good but not saintly, noble but not cloying. So much of the novel is his getting taken apart over and over and barely able to put himself back together every time but his soul is still as amazing as ever. And then there is Wushe (who was Prince Zixiao in past life, Ziheng’s not-bio-related brother.) Wushe is not a good person. He is a monster. And he loves Bian/Ziheng more than his life and his soul and the entire world but he’s also the one who hurt him more than anyone else ever could and did it over and over. His love survived a literal century of torture in the worst kind of hell and refused the usual memory loss of new life. But it also humiliated and broke Ziheng down to his constituent parts.

One of the things that is so fascinating to me about this novel is the question of what can be forgiven/what should be forgiven/what kind of expiation is enough/can you ever love someone who you loved so much and then he hurt you so badly and is now repentant? And it never sweeps trauma under the rug or hand waves it away but deals with it head on. If you want healthy relationships, you should stay far away from this novel but if intense insane ones with a feral barely human one capable of destroying the world leashed by love and guilt to the sane deeply good one is your bag, come right in. There is also the world building and the fact that yes, the big fall out between Ziheng x Zixiao is based on not knowing all the facts but it’s not “why can’t you talk?! This is dumb!” But is totally in keeping with both events and their characters. It’s reasonable for Ziheng to do what he does and for Zixiao to misunderstand and decide Ziheng is now his biggest enemy (but still one he’s fixated on) and for Ziheng to never be able to clarify. Anyway, once again this is trigger warning central so please heed those, but if they are no issue, this one is wonderful.

7 Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang) by Priest (danmei) - so smart and so much clever world building. There is enough politicking to satisfy a Qiang Jin Jiu fan, it’s steampunk, and our two protagonists - Gu Yun, the empire’s most powerful general, who’s loyal to the empire despite being badly wronged by it, and Chang Geng, a cursed prince with barbarian blood and horrifying childhood - are wonderful separately and together. This is a huge slow burn but it’s totally worth it! They fall in love with each other’s hearts and brains and ability as much as anything. (Yes, this is the one with the yifu thing. Gu Yun is made Chang Geng’s foster father when he rescues him and brings him back to the capital as a way to keep CG safe in imperial strife. They are 12 and 19 at the time so clearly it’s never a parental relationship.)

6 Heaven Official's Blessing by by MXTX (danmei) - I love it’s sprawling narrative and cast, I love its inventive setting and picaresque story. It’s hilarious and can make me cry. But the novel’s place on this list is due to Xie Lian who is part Kenshin part drama WWX part pure goodness wrapped in heartbreak and trauma wrapped in sunshine.

5 (tie) The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl by 一味相思 (haven't seen it transliterated) (het)- Our heroine is the unlucky laundry maid A’Chou. She is a di daughter of an upperclass family but her family got destroyed in one of the political upheavals of the time and A’Chou, only a small child at the time, was the only survivor and was made an enslaved laundry maid. Due to various events, at the start of the novel she is a laundry maid in a minister’s household and the minister’s beloved daughter is having a fit because she’s supposed to marry the former Crown Prince which may have been great a few years back but Crown Prince had since been deposed, tortured, imprisoned and now is living in the middle of nowhere under conditions that are too meager to be called house arrest. And he’s seriously crippled too. Understandably, the young lady doesn’t want to marry him! She’d rather kill herself and so she does. And so, a desperate plan is hatched - why don’t we pretend the laundry maid is the di daughter of the minister’s household and send her off? And so A’Chu is sent as the bride. She arrives to discover a broke, seriously injured man on the verge of death…and we go from there. This is so gorgeous and tender and slow in just the right way and like AAAAAA! Secondary OTPs (one of which is MM) are also epic.

5 Wishing You Eternal Happiness by Peng Lai Ke (het) - this is almost tied with Dreamer as my favorite het web novel ever though it couldn’t be more different from Dreamer, with its hard-edged and hard-souled protagonists ruthlessly cleaving their way to the world and, eventually, each other, its smart cynical air. Except in one thing - the world of Wishing is just as bloody and dark. Its two protagonists are gentle, deeply wounded souls who may find salvation in each other but even something as basic as safety almost seems out of reach. Jliafu, our heroine, is neither a modern-day transmigrator, nor some exotic princess or demoness. She is very much a period woman of her time, from a weathy merchant clan, whose beauty is her curse. You can tell the novel’s tone from that utterly bleak opening chapter where she, a favorite concubine of a capricious dying emperor, is ordered to be buried alive with him and is not even given the “grace” of white silk but slowly suffocates in the coffin, scrabbling at the lid. There is no grand threats of vengeance on her part, not dramatic opera events. Just despair and death. The whole introductory chapter is haunted by emotional ghosts - the empress’ unrequited love for the monster on the imperial bed (turning into desire for Jiafu’s suffering after he dies), the emperor slowly dying in his prime after waging too many wars, and his fear of being haunted by Pei Youan, a brilliant if sickly minister who died of illness long ago on one of imperial campaigns. There is no triumph for anyone, only loss.

When she wakes up as still a young woman, all she wants is to escape the same fate. There are no plans for power or revenge, only a desire for survival. And so she latches on asking for help from Pei Youan, the only man in her past go-around who showed any consideration and desire and ability to protect her, though he barely knew her. Pei Youan is probably my favorite het web novel ML. Despite his brains and ability, he drifts through life. In modern terms, he clearly has depression. One of the biggest, best joys of the novel is watching these two very good, very quiet, very wounded people discover happiness and love with each other. I sort of want to cry just thinking about it, tbh.

4 Ballad of Sword and Wine (Qiang Jin Jiu) by Tang Jiu Qing (danmei) - a dense political tome that takes a while to get going but then it’s a runaway train. In a fictional dynasty, Shen Zechuan, the only remaining son of a disgraced aristocratic family and Xiao Chiye, the younger son of a family of generals guarding the border join forces (and then something else) to get power and pull down the dysfunctional system.

This is so elegant and smart (a rare web novel I’d recommend to anyone who just loves solid period fiction) and you probably need a notebook to keep track of the politics and military strategy. These characters are very very smart not just because the author says so.

As to the characters, there is a large cast and I love many of them, but for me the novel is made by Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. SZC is gorgeous and delicate and icy and can kill you before you have time to blink. Saddled with the sins of the family he had no pleasant interaction with, he claws his way out of hell (seeing the sinkhole he was trapped in, literally as well) to take down those who wronged him but also to amass power so all the tragedy and corruption won’t happen again and the whole rotten system comes crashing down. XCY is a military genius who is trapped as a hostage in the capital because the court doesn’t trust his family. He longs to return to the plains of home and to take his rightful place. The two men start out as bitter enemies, then reluctant and sniping allies, then as friends and eventually as one of the most gorgeous, tender, swoony OTPs. Anyway this is one is a bona fide masterpiece, equal parts smart and emotionally intense.

3 Dreamer In the Spring Boudoir by Bai Lu Cheng Shuang (het) - my n1 het novel on this list, smart and fierce and don’t really read this for romance because it does not start until really late, but ice cold heroine x ice cold hero both of equal brains and ruthlessness is everything. I went from loathing the ML to finding him fascinating to adoring him (and yet he softened around the edges only for FL, he never became “nice”) and loved FL throughout; secondaries are epic. If you read only one non-danmei web novel, make it this one.

2 Stains of Filth (Yuwu) by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat (danmei) - another novel by the author of 2ha. Clearly she just pushes all my buttons every time. This one is much shorter and has a plot that is twisty but less twisty than 2ha. Still, all that means is that intensity and the pain are more concentrated. Aristocratic Mo Xi and former slave Gu Mang were both legendary generals of the empire and lovers. But Gu Mang betrayed the country and switched to the enemy. Now he is back as a peace offering by that country and Mo Xi has to deal with the fact that his feelings are as strong as ever.

This novel!!! So much pain and intensity!!! So many amazing plot twists and supporting characters. The same bleak world view, the same unjust society, the same protagonists doing right things despite the cost. Mo Xi’s intensity and inability to let go (he’s imprinted on Gu Mang and that’s it) is romantic, bone-shakingly intense, and tragic all at once. And oh Gu Mang! So many times I just wanted to reach into the book physically to protect him. The novel deals with unjust societies, memory versus personality, what it’s like to be good in a bad universe etc. And it both made me sob and giggle, repeatedly, and sold me on literally death-defying (but not honor-defying!) love. Oh, and special shout out to the fact that like 2ha, you may start out hating some characters and end up a rabid fangirl (cough Murong Lian!)

1 The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2ha) by Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat (danmei) -my n1 forever and ever.

Taxian Jun, the horrific cultivation emperor of the world who razed cities and destroyed sects, is surrounded on his mountain. The righteous sects are terrified to confront him but tired of living, Taxian Jun consumes poison and dies by suicide at the age of 32. And opens his eyes as 16 year old Mo Ran, Mo Ran long before he became Taxian Jun, Mo Ran who is excited at a chance to save the one person he loved and lost. Oh, and to deal with his loathed shizun, the unapproachable and strict Chu Wanning, his past life’s biggest enemy.

I have no idea if it’s objectively the best on this list but it hits every trope I love, its bleak worldview (the world will change only incrementally but that’s enough, average person will not appreciate the sacrifice but it’s still worthwhile, and love is worth everything) mirrors mine, and the sheer complexity of the plot and cascade of plot twists each of which is insane and yet completely logical, is amazing (this is a rare novel where it’s even more fun to reread than read for the first time because you keep seeing all the hints and trail crumbs laid out that you did not see the first time.)

And the characters!!! I mean, this novel has multiple universes/timelines, a side trip to the Underworld AND the demon realm, a plot more twisted than a store’s worth of pretzels and yet the thing that hits me the most are the characters. Mo Ran is my favorite web novel character of all time and I love Chu Wanning so. All the secondary characters are wonderfully written (and some of them made me bawl) and they are all complex. My opinion of all of them changed many times over; the novel doesn’t make it easy to love some of them but then you do and it’s so worthwhile! That slow change is one of the delights of the novel - I started out disliking the unpleasant, superior Chu Wanning and cruel, callow Mo Ran and then I loved them so so hard and cried for them so so hard and was in awe of their heroism and sacrifice and selflessness and capacity to love.

Oh, and the fact that this novel does something almost impossible - it has its protagonist start out as so clearly irredeemable and then slowly and painfully and thoroughly redeems him (without ever letting the reader forget what it is he needs redemption for.) Also, for a novel that made me cry so hard I felt ill, this book is just so damn funny with the most sarcastic sense of humor imaginable (the serious angst doesn’t even kick in until 90+ chapters!) Anyway I should stop or I will write a dissertation. But this is the one web novel that I would put in my top 5 not just web novels but any novels in any shape or form. The plentiful trigger warnings are there for a reason so stay away if they are an issue, but if not, if anyone hasn’t read it yet, what are you doing with your life?!

[shadowgale96]

Little Moments in S2E2 of Heaven Official's Blessing

San Lang's jewelry sparkling when he's amused (?) by something. This one happens when the ghost gambling bets his daughters life. Reminds me of an anime glasses character's glass shine. this happens several times through the episode and is usually accompanied by a high pitched metallic sound. Like the chime of a sword unsheathing.

The green deer demon girl is adorable. Loving the frog man too.

The wind master genderbending back into a man after being dragged to a ghost spa with the undead women and freaking out about what kinda of products they used on his precious skin.

Xie Lian physically grabbing the wind master to keep him from slipping away to find a mirror. You're on a potentially life or death mission my guy. Bring a compact mirror on your next adventure. Fast thinking on an excuse by Xie Lian though!

This guy having zero points in stealth on a mission that the emperor himself said must be handled discreetly to avoid conflict with the ghost realm.

I love how they both panic, than immediately accept Qianqiu's imminent death at Hua Cheng's hand after he continues to insult the man in his own establishment.

'This place of mine is meant for revelry. If you don't want to take the path to heaven, and break into hell, what else can you do?' Hua Cheng revealing that he knew who they were already. Which isn't surprising because they all stand out enough as is, even if his husband wasn't with them and standing within within eyesight.

Respecting the demons/ghosts for calling out Qianqiu when he said they're lacking humanity and decency. Like 'Bruh, We are literally NOT human. We don't share you're morals or sense of decency at all. Just let us live our lives.' Like, I'm actually in agreement with them.

Getting into an air bender battle, while San Lang is barely flicking his wrist at him. I like how San Lang crushes the table and sends the shards flying at him. Showing he could easily impale Qianqiu before pulling him up at the last moment. It felt like San Lang was trying to teach him. He might have recognized that Qianqiu was young and foolish, but was trying to do good. So San Lang warns him by showing him what could happen if he keeps running his mouth without knowing who he's threatening. That or he decided not to dice Qianqiu because Xie Lian was watching... could go either way

HuaLian having a tender moment looking into each other's eyes while everyone waits downstairs confused.

San Lang 100% offered Qianqiu as a prize to give Xie Lian the chance to help him and Him the chance to hold hands with Xie Lian X'D

We hear that metallic chime noise again here. I think San Lang gave Xie Lian some of is luck here. San Lang also holds Xie Lian's hands on the final round too when Xie Lian rolled two 6's and wins.

Everyone's reaction to San Lang calling Xie Lian 'Gege'. Qingxuan is curious and confused. Qianqiu looks shocked and a little embarrassed. and the grandma Pleakley looking demon's head falls off their body.

San Lang telepathically ordering his assistant to have everyone STFU while he's playing with Xie Lian.

Wind Master Qingxuan pelting Qianqiu with his fan for continuing to run his mouth.

San Lang being completely smitten with Xie Lian as he drops a man from the ceiling

Xie Lian making Qianqiu shut his mouth. Dude BE QUIET! They JUST saved you.

It was incredibly sweet how when San Lang approaches Xie Lian asking for the bet he's owed, Qianqiu steps between them and holds his arm out to protect Xie Lian from who he perceives to be a threat. Qianqiu knows he wouldn't win, but he moves to protect Xie Lian anyway. He's so foolish but so brave.

San Lang would eat stale pringles off the floor if Gege touched them,

Prince being to good for his own good again by telling Xie Lian not to lie to Hua Cheng. Despite himself not liking him at all for treating him like a pinata prize in front of everyone.

This was a very cute episode and there were so many enjoyable moments.

[thatdeadaquarius]

i swear, i WAS going to leave you alone for the rest of the day. I thought 'oh no, you've bothered them enough for the day, wait until tomorrow' (they did not, in fact, wait until tomorrow) however i had thoughts and wanted to share them with you! 😊

concept: I was scrolling through some of your previous posts for a second time today (still all very cool and awesome btw) and the one about the reader saying swear words without knowing what they are kinda stuck with me.

So lets reverse it! You, the creator, fall into teyvat and CAN speak the common language there, while also still remembering your own native language. and so your native tongue becomes super holy to them (eg. 'omg, the creator is speaking in their holy tongue, lets all listen and nod')

Unfortunately, this has its drawbacks, especially because the majority of the times you speak in your native tongue you are cussing out everyone.

3 potential scenarios have stemmed from my brain because of this.

You getting annoyed at your worshippers and yelling at them, then afterwards they all thank you for blessing them

Swearing so often that the people around you start to pick up on the words and now all of your worshippers are parroting swear words at really important events, while you try and keep a straight face

Accidently teaching one of the kids swear words and then klee starts saying 'fuck' all the time and the adults are all like 'thank you for teaching klee one of your divine words, it truly is a blessing. what does it mean though?' and you're just sitting there like 😅

also thanks for being so nice about my shenhe post :) i love her so much <33

NOO dont worry abt it!! Ill just answer whenever i got the time!! I definitely dont mind multiple asks from the same person dw bby 👍✨️

Here, a cookie for ur time 🤲🍪 PSPSPSSPSPS ITS WORKING THEIR COMING IN, I ALSO HAVE CAKE AND DRINKS!! :D

So this is gonna sound demanding,, BUT SHARE YOUR CONCEPTS AND IDEAS WITH ME ALWAYS YES YES I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO SEE IT YALL R FEEDING MY SOULLL 🛐

This reverse is so much funnier than the OG way, you have such a BIG BRAIN👏👏

Those scenarios had me fucking laughing my ass off, the BLESSING THEM 😭KLEE 😭 PLEASE-

Also this might be ass writing bc I can’t get rid of my headache rn :/

___________

Look what you've done.

It was so harmless at first, teaching Amber a word or two there bc she was curious abt ur accent,

The reveal that Teyvat's language wasn't your native language.

But that was still manageable, that was still okay

From Amber, to Eula, to Venti, to Kaeya, to Rosaria, to Diluc, to Jean, that information spread slowly but surely

After all, you didn't use it often, no one here in Teyvat even vaguely recognized it (not even a vague similarity from one of the other countries even)

It wasn't like,, shocking to the majority of Mondstadt's residents that you had a different native lang. (nor any of the other countries once they realized you were here, and had a diff native lang.)

I mean, you were the Creator,

why wouldn't there be some ancient powerful holy lang. that only you (or along with some lucky priest/vessel/follower) could understand?

.

..

However, it did become a problem when you, as the human experience dictates, got irritated 

You see, Teyvat isn’t an easy world to get used to, from the elemental reactions, the huge amount of hostile/active flora and fauna, there was a lot of room (even as favored as you were as the Creator) for accidents

You had already had a few mishaps, asking the waiter to bring you some salt bc ur table didnt have any on accident, bumping into the allogenes who wanted to walk around with you that day when they stopped abruptly

...

But now you can confidently say you can pinpoint the inciting incident in hindsight.

You had been traversing Liyue, and of course, it’s very rocky, even the well beaten paths outside Liyue Harbor were littered with pebbles and stones

So bc theyre respectful sweethearts, Shenhe, Xiao, Zhongli, Ganyu and the rest of the Adepti wnated to have a calm brunch at Cloud Retainer’s Abode w/ u <3

On the way up, bc u insisted normal walking was fine- no Xiao you want to see the sights teleportation isn’t necessary right now- nO Shenhe, really, the walk will be good for you, you don’t need to be carried-

Zhongli. 

You are supposed to be a mortal these days, not a 60 meter/feet long dragon- 

WHAM (u were so busy telling them to quit it that u werent watching ur path, aint none of their thousands of years old reflexes good enough to save u from being a clumsy fuck)

and your on ur ass.

“Fuck, ow,” immediately Shenhe has swept you up, Ganyu is rambling nervously, Xiao jumped but hasn’t said anything, but you can feel his worry from how tense he is, Zhongli’s hands are hovering, unsure if he should touch, and Shenhe- Shenhe- you can’t breathe- 

“Fuck guys stop, I’m fine-”

They;re eyes widen, Zhongli looks a little happier?? wtf all u did was-

oh no.

...

Now, everytime you have dinner with any of the Liyue characters they bow their heads, and in unison “Fuck guys stop I’m fine”

...

And it just got worse.

Bc you spent a few weeks in Liyue, and you had a lot of events to attend, little incidents like this happened everywhere

“Shit!” you drop a tea cup

“Damnit” some miner guy in town dropped his pickaxe loudly

You blame Zhongli and Ningguang.

Fuckers wanted to make sure they showed you utmost respect, so they both remembered every. single. word. of your language you have ever said around them.

Between Zhongli’s memory and elegant appearance, and Ningguang’s influence, your cuss words spread overnight

Families are now sitting around their dinner and thanking you for Teyvat’s bounty of food, “Thank you Creator for our meal, fuck guys stop I’m fine.” the kids and everything 💀

Liyue literally has become the most dirty mouthed city overnight, and they look SO PROUD OF IT  😭 😭

u never telll any of them LMAO

It’s a little rough, but I hope u got smth nice outta this, ur idea was so good I didn’t even wanna add anything but I wanted to show my appreciation for sharing those with me lol 

TYSM FOR SHOWING UP AGAIN!!

Cheers,

🌒🌊🌧Aquarius♒️🌌🌘

[hexhomos]

HI! hope your day is treating you well, i’ve been interested in doomreed for some time but cape comics are sort of daunting to me just because there’s so much content and i really don’t know where to begin. what do you suggest? thank you!

STRAIGHT OUT THE GATE ill say, read [ "My Dinner With Doom" ] (this is a rly high-qual upload, open it up on desktop!)

It's a key issue oneshot with a lil bit of backstory retelling, featuring a private dinner that happens in the 00's - a good entrance point if you're curious about doomreed in summarization + generally speaking a Real Good Comic overall.

LONG POST INCOMING THIS IS A LONG POST / click readmore

the fantastic four are one of marvel's darling old founding teams so there is pretty much... endless archival, ongoing, multimedia and games content popping up all the time.

They are also kinda one of the rare teams where the growth of the characters is consistent? The kids are allowed to grow older and events from every major run are carried/referenced by the next author so if you want to do chronological there's a lot of incentive and fun stuff.

If you wanna dip your toes into the F4 as a concept, check out:

*the #1 issue of Fantastic Four By Waid & Wieringo (1997) *Mythos: Fantastic Four (2007) [ *The FF (1994) movie that is up for free on youtube!! ] *Fantastic Four (2022) by Ryan North as the current ongoing!

(Some) Singles centered on Doom/Doomreed:

*Fantastic Four (1961) Annual 2 is Doom's original backstory issue *Marvel Two-in-One (2017) by Zdarsky issue #11 & Annual #1 are both crazy good but they spoil big events/conclusions from previous runs if u care abt that!!! (My current fav fic came from these issues.) *Doomgate (novel) by Jeffrey Lang is a good option if you want something that is mostly prose, instead of a comic or movie

NOW BEFORE YOU JUMP AHEAD WITH ANYTHING I *am* following [ this reading guide ] which breaks down specific issues relevant to their relationship as a line through all the different authors over the years.

[ There's also this 2021 guide w/ a few other story/AU highlights! The author said u can send the blog questions and theyll answer too ]

The 'Modern era' (late 90s/00s/10s/Now) Starts with Waid and McDuffie's stuff. The latter wrote My Dinner with Doom!

If you're scared by all the names, don't be - when searching for the issues, just pay attention to the year, # number & author/artist creds.

What I'm reading/liveblogging rn is Hickman's Secret wars era, generally regarded as yaoi ketamine; It's a good epic narrative entrance point if you want to jump into it, and it eventually led into this huge marvel event that changed the multiverse and even brought miles morales into the main timeline, so its BIG and it happened in multiple books - the best way to go about it is;

Pre-hickman:

Fantastic Four (1961) #551 #552 #553 ➡️ (these introduce main ideas we will touch again in secret wars)

Fantastic Four (1961) #558 to #562 ➡️

Doom appears in these too, first/last issues more heavily. Stuff here will be ref'd during the next era.

If you're having fun and want to keep reading you can! Just know that the next storyarc has gathered a largely mixed response bc..... its Millar going hammywammy....... not that necessary.......

anyway when you see hickmans name in the cover STOP and

Jump to actual Hickman secret wars era:

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The complete collection➡️

(optional, side plot) If you like Val + Doom, read specifically; *Fantastic Four (2014) #3 & #5 + Fantastic Four Annual (2014) #1 *Agent of Asgard #6 & #7 *Avengers World (2014) #15 & #16

New Avengers (2013) ➡️ check issues on picture, or, if you're a completionist, look for 'Avengers by Jonathan Hickman; complete collection' and skim for the doom/reed relevant bits. There's a lot of characters here but this is a buildup to the big secret wars. Secret Wars (2015) ➡️ (All issues!) Infamous Iron Man (2016) ➡️bendis' doom writing is not very good but hang in there because right after him: Marvel 2-In-One (2017) ➡️ (All issues!) is a banger. Yaoi btw.

You can basically read all the future/past ones as listed, or starting from the beginning of that author's period without worrying, bc they aren't as indebted to each other storywise.

You can also start somewhere else if you want or check out other single issues on the reading guides; It's not a crime! There's a lot of stuff with different takes and genres, I'm slowly chipping away at the secret wars era bc its just very thick and like a serious television drama attempt, except its also insanely funny sometimes.

(I'm still making my way through it so that's what I have at the moment!)

[rian1023]

What a chaotic family.

In which an isekai'd person gains a family throughout their journey in Teyvat.

-----------

The adepti were having a simple 'brunch' that was introduced by Havria, the goddess of salt.

"Havriaaa~~ One more bite-" Guizhong, her lover was cut off by an odd ring that came from her beloved.

*Ring!* *Ring!*

"Havria, might i inquire as to what that unique rectangular object you have?" Cloud Retainter asks.

"O-oh, it's a phone. A device that allows me to communicate with my family quickly. My siblings are calling..." Havria accepts the call, as a loud screaming came from the other side.

"HAVRIA MY DEAREST BELOVED ATE (OLDER SISTER) PICK US UP PLEASE-" Kunikuzushi, or kuni in short, yelled for his dearest life.

Havria sighed, what had her siblings done this time? "Did you get high without me? Or did set the house on fire again." Rubbing her head which ached.

"IT'S NOT THAT, WE WERE MAKING A JET THAT ATE Y/N TOLD US ABOUT AND SHE SAW IT, FLEW IN IT, NOW SHE'S FLYING IN THE SKY WITH NO WAY TO GET DOWNNNNN!! KHOI HAS FAINTED." Yells came from the other side as Havria hang up.

Taking a bottle of strong wine, she gulped it all down setting the bottle gently. "Havria..?" Morax said questioningly.

"Puta, mga gago sila bakit limang minutos lang na wala ako doon, muntik na sila mamamatay? Oh well." Havria cursed in the language her chaotic older sister had taught her.

(Translation: Fuck, they're idiots i wasn't there for five minutes and why have they already nearly died? Oh well.)

"Apologies i have to leave quickly before my Ate actually dies this time... Mwah, i love you Guizhong, I'll visit you soon!" Havria teleported to a waypoint, seeing her older sister in the makeshift jet. (Guizhong panicked like crazy since she would be meeting with her girlfriends family and sought help-)

Focusing on the body of the jet, she turned it into salt when it was near the ground, also adding a large amout of Iodized salt to soften the landing.

Kuni, Khoi, and Y/n knelt infront Havria, one of the most responsible siblings with Beisht, scolded and worried about her siblings for being idiots as she prepared a snack for them to eat-

"And sarap Ate!" Kuni exclaimed cheerfully. Havria had mastered the recipe of pan de sal (or bread of salt if you translate) better than you.

"Right, when this aside, when are you going to introduce us to your girlfriend?" Y/n inquired, curious about her siblings love life.

"Pff- cough cough! Ate, I'll introduce you to Guizhong later-" Havria nearly choked on her food.

"I'm quite curious as to why Ate Havria likes the goddess of dust, if anything, it seems as if you're very in love that you'd get down on your kne-" Khoi was cut off from analyzing further when you pinched him lightly.

"Khoi, we don't discuss kinks on the dinner table..." You smiled, trying not to allow khoi to continue spilling the tea. "Tell me everything later Khoi.." Beisht whispered.

"Ahem! Maybe this dinner? there will be a feast in the Guili Assembly tonight.." Havria felt excited to introduce Guizhong to her beloved sibings.

------

"Guizhong, these are my siblings! This is my older sister or Ate Y/n, you arleady know Beisht, but she is also my sister, my younger brothers, Kuni and Khoi!" Havria cheerfully introduced you all, oblivious to Guizhong' inner turmoil.

"Lovely to meet you Guizhong! Ito ang ka jowa mo Havria?~"(This is your lover Havria?~)You teased her, Beisht merely giggled heartily.

"Ate please..-" Guizhong was cut off when she noticed her lover's nervousness. "H-Hello Lady Star!—" Guizhong had her shoulders pat by you. "You needn't use that sister-in-law!" Guizhong blushed with embarrassment. Beisht and the two boys just nodded.

"Right.. You already know my brother Morax and Osial, speaking of which here they are-"

"Hi honey!" Beisht chirped as Osial was surprised to see her- "Wait darling, you had siblings??" Osial asked. "You never listen do you." The temperature dropped as Beisht started ignoring Osial who tried to please his wife.

"Where is Haishan, Osial?" Beisht asked. "I-" Osial was cut off when a big ass explosion happened in the distance that seemed like fire..works.

"That looks like Khoi's attempted fireworks..." You trailed off your sentence and looked at Havria. "I- Morax that part of the land is not yours right?" Havria asked.

"I do not believe so..?" Morax replied. Havria seemed to be relieved..? "Good, i was gonna make them fix it up but I'll just bury them in the ground."

Havria turned herself to salt and used the small air particles to move herself.

Boom!

"Well shit, I think i have to get them. What a chaotic family, my chaotic family." You said as you quickly teleported to stop Havria from destroying more property, and also killing your siblings.

The end.

[queeenpersephone]

Prompt: ironwidow reconnecting after the five year gap in endgame. Pepperony optional.

this is short, but i just wanted to rewrite that one scene and this is the perfect prompt for it <3 also heads up: Steve is a hella unreliable narrator. opinions expressed by him are not necessarily the opinions of this author ;)

-

The first thing Steve notices is the nod.

It's subtle, of course, but Steve hasn't gotten as far as he has as a fighter and a leader without a general awareness of the relationships of his teammates. And Tony and Natasha have always had a certain acerbic, yet mutual, respect, but never has Tony looked to Natasha for how to make a play. At least, not more than that period of internal strife that Steve doesn't like to think about.

Tony, holding his young daughter - Morgan, Steve thinks - nods back, and Natasha turns back to Scott and him. "Let's go," she says evenly, meeting Steve's curious gaze head on. She's never been scared of him.

The child turns at the sound of Natasha's voice. "Nat!" She calls, high-pitched and excited, squirming out of her father's arms. Tony lets her down with a grumble, but he can't hide the soft smile at the corner of his mouth. The dark-haired child sprints toward Natasha, who swings the girl up on her hip.

"Hi, Morgan," Natasha says lowly, bumping her nose against the girl's, smiling which she lets out a stream of giggles. "What are your daddy and you up to this week, hm?"

Morgan catches her up as they walk down to the porch to meet Tony. "We caught fishies, and drew pictures, and I built a robot to do my chores at Mommy's!" Morgan pauses, small white teeth grinning at her father. "Daddy helped."

Tony shrugs. "I just handed her the tools."

This is all becoming a little too strange for Steve, who clears his throat. All heads swing in his direction. "Tony," he begins, eyes still on the sight of Natasha holding Tony's child. When? How? Why? "We need to talk," he finishes after an uncomfortable pause.

Natasha sets the girl on her feet despite her whining protests. "Go play with FRIDAY," she encourages. The girl leaves reluctantly, and Tony finally steps up to greet them. "Lang. Rogers." His eyes fall on Natasha, and they noticeably soften. "Miss me, Romanoff?"

Steve swallows, unfamiliar with the growing pit in his stomach.

-

"That's not how quantum physics works," Tony says, raising an eyebrow at Scott, and Steve has never wished more for the return of the man who accidentally created Ultron. Sure, Tony has grown, matured, and settled into a quiet, anti-mayhem existence, but they need a little mayhem now.

"Tony," Natasha says, and Steve jumps a little. She's remained pretty quiet through, but Tony's eyes fall on her with an unexpected intensity at her soft interjection. "We have to take a stand."

He stands, stepping by Scott to get to her, and Steve feels like he has disappeared from the porch. "We did stand, and yet here we are," he entreats her. "Natasha, you know the risks. Is it really worth what w-" He stops, abrupt, at the look on Natasha's face. Steve inhales sharply.

"I know you've got a lot on the line," Scott says, oblivious to the tension now between three of the founding members of the Avengers. "Your daughter - her mother. I heard about your divorce, by the way, and I'm sorry-"

"It's been three years," Tony interrupts, eyes still intent on Natasha. "Pepper and I co-parent just fine."

" - but I lost someone very important to me," Scott continues. "A lot of people did. And now we have the chance to bring her - to bring everybody back, and you're telling me you won't even-"

"Enough, Scott," Natasha cuts him off with an icy tone. "We came here to ask for help, not to guilt Tony into helping against his better judgment." As Scott blusters behind them, Tony's arm rises toward Natasha ever-so-slightly, then falls.

Steve has had enough. "Are you going to make me ask?" He says finally.

Scott turns to him. "What-"

"Yes," Tony interrupts. "Please. Ask, instead of making those all those judgments I see in your eyes."

"Boys," Natasha warns.

"No, Nat," Tony snaps. "What do you want me to say? Oh, thank you for coming out here, now that you need something? Thank you for asking me to rip up my life, to risk my daughter, to risk you? I'm not saying no just for me, you know. If Cap is putting these ideas of 'better' into your head, maybe you should spend some time up here for a while."

Scott, as if on a delayed clock, starts with surprise, wide eyes darting between Tony and Natasha. "Oh, shit," he announces. "Wait, when - how?"

But no one is paying attention to him. "You can't say no for me, Tony," Natasha says with narrowed eyes. "I'm not saying this idea is viable, but if there's a chance, we could at least try."

Tony gives up the illusion, reaching for Natasha's hands. "You were here a few weeks ago," he argues. "Everything was fine. What could've possibly-"

"You were here a few weeks ago?" Steve almost-shouts. "Didn't you think I'd want to know that two of my friends-"

"Oh, stop with the sanctimonious bullshit, Rogers, Natasha's the only one of you who gets an opinion on my life because she's the only one who has visited me without an agenda-"

" - Oh, are you so sure?"

"I found Clint," Natasha says, and everything stops at the waver in her voice. "I found Clint, and he needs me. Us. This chance."

"Natasha," Steve begins quietly.

"Nat, he made his choices just like the rest of us," Tony says at the same time.

"He lost everything except me," she interrupts. "And we all know I'm not enough to tether him. And neither of you seem to care. You" - she looks at Tony - "seem to think everything's perfect as long as you have your bubble. And I'm happy for you, I'm so happy to be a part of that bubble, but it's bad out there, Tony. You can't ignore it." She turns to Steve. "And you, you want this to work so badly, but you're not acting much like a leader. When was the last time you reached out to Thor, Clint, or Bruce? Because I know you haven't seen Tony. Is it all for Bucky, then?"

"That's not fair, Romanoff," Steve replies, hurt.

"None of this has ever been fair," Natasha retorts, "and-"

But she doesn't get the chance to finish, because Morgan runs out and grabs her by the legs. "FRIDAY said your heart was working too hard," she says, "are you okay?"

Natasha mumbles something under her breath about meddling AI systems, but scoops Morgan into her arms anyways. "I'm just fine, kotyonok," she murmurs to the little girl. "Let's go inside, hm?"

She pauses, then reaches up to brush a soft kiss over Tony's mouth. Steve shuts his eyes, blocking it out. If Natasha is with Tony, everything changes.

Suddenly, he feels a squeeze to his shoulder and opens his eyes to an expressionless Natasha's, Tony's child nestled in the curve of her shoulder. "Part of you is still in that bunker, in Siberia," she whispers. "Unless you come out, you'll never get your chance to save the universe." Then, she leans back. "Or you'll... lose one of us in the process," raising her eyebrow to indicate that she's being careful with her terminology due to the child.

"No one should get lost!" Morgan replies from her shoulder.

"Out of the mouth of babes," Tony quips as his eyes follow Natasha and Morgan inside. Then, he turns to Steve. "It's actually good to see you," he says finally, almost easily. "If you don't talk shop, you can stay for lunch." Then, his expression closes, and he continues, tone tight with anger. "However, if you ever insinuate anything negative about our relationship again, I will never see you again. And there's nothing that Natasha will be able to do to convince me to give you yet another chance." Then, he disappears inside.

Scotts looks at Steve. "I don't know what I was expecting from this, but it's definitely not that."

Steve ignores him, turning to walk back to the car. Now, he can identify the pit in his stomach. Betrayal, shock... guilt. "We need to talk to Banner. Maybe he'll have some answers."

Scott hurries to his side. "What about Romanoff?"

Steve shakes his head. "She'll come around. She knows that we have to do whatever it takes to save the world."

At least, that's what Steve has to believe.

[absolutebl]

Heya ABL !! Hope you're having a nice day .

So I recently started watching Laws Of Attraction and ngl Mr. Charn's smile is one of the most terrifying smiles I have ever seen in all of the media I've consumed throughout my life . He's the kind of person I won't fuck with. Ever . And that brings me to the question I have for you . I'm curious to know, who are some of the characters in BL you'd absolutely NOT fuck with irl?

Characters in BL I would NOT fuck with IRL

OMG I love the question, but I have a ton of answers, a busy work day, and tumblr keeps eating my posts so I'm gonna be super rough with this one.

Criteria

Generally the red flags I avoid are:

broken beyond repair,

unpredictably unhinged (elbows everywhere),

just too angry,

stalker

looking for salvation (AKA deal with your own damn problems)

AKA baby, you aren't smart enough to be worth the drama.

Ready? Here we go.

The "You Legit Unhinged" Bracket

Charn in Laws of Attraction

Currently my favorite character by a land slide he's evil, manipulative, bonkers, and damaged. RUN AWAY.

Devil Judge goes in here too. Not BL but... The "censored off my lists" Chinese historical BLs have tons of these characters.

The "baby is WAY too extra" bracket

Aoki in Kieta Hatsukoi

No thank you. I like my life peaceful. Sweetie, you cute but CALM TF DOWN.

I'd put quite a few other disaster ukes outta Japan in here, the kids of Mr Unlucky, Senpai, etc...

The "your damage is on the outside" bracket.

The men of My Beautiful Man

Yeah, neither of them. BOYS. I mean to say... BOYS. You are way way WAY too much work.

I'm coming around to putting both Weatherman boys into this bracket too, and what's his bucket from the Pornographer series. Oh and Takumi! Ugh.

The "a boyfriend is not a therapist" bracket

I couldn't pick a winner for this bracket so here's my list:

My Tooth Your Love's Bai Lang

Uea in Bed Friend

What's his name from The Eighth Sense (probably quite a few other Korean BLs, actually)

Fiat in Don't Say No et al

Team in Between Us

Sky in LITA

Anger management issues

Semes in: Love Syndrome III and Dinosaur Love

and Type in TharnType

Stalkers need not apply

Secret Crush on You

Be Mine Super Star

Love Mate

Currently airing stalker pulp thingy.

There are more. A lot more.

You're not romantic, you're just a jerk

and probably should be in prison

Tharn from TharnType (could have gone into the first bracket too)

Bohn in My Engineer

Pai in LITA (bite me)

Pure in My Gear Your Gown

Some of these may surprise you because they're some of my favorite characters. But just because I like them on the screen doesn't mean I want them in my life.

I left the Japanese dark BL off this list for the usual reasons.

Honorable mention:

[dezelies]

⭑ Substitute Teachers ❜

ᵖ﹕→ ONE.

Some senior students had agreed to a program to teach students who are still lea rning about this world. To give them tips, and advice, and substitute as their teacher for the day.

You, Alex, and some other students have accepted this opportunity. You love to teach children because you have the patience, hence you're a professional at this. While, Alex has the complete opposite reason, his reason being that he only accepted this for the extra grade he will gain.

With his formal suit on, he gained his courage and headed straight to the office where he will get his directions.

Alex held a straight face as he held his shoulder bag with a strong grip, only smiling at the people he familiarized.

"HUY! KUYA! ANG POGI NIYO PO!" You're so handsome! All the grade students yelled as Alex walked out of his car and headed towards his class.

"MGA BATA! BUMALIK NA KAYO SA CLASSROOM NIYO!" The guard yelled making everyone scatter around and leave the school grounds.

While you got easily lost, fascinated by the school. Which was rumored to have underground buildings and other essentials in a community. It made you wake up from your bed feeling curious and excited.

With your borrowed formal clothes you made your way over to the office where you will get your directions with the help of a guard.

As the two of you walked to the office, you both faced each other.

You looked up from your shoes and saw the man in front of you, just outside the door of the entrance that led to the office.

"Hi." You quietly greeted him first, he just glared at you and faced away from you to look at the door.

Before you could even respond to his demeanor a staff called the two of you to come inside with a smile to seem friendly.

He entered first not even opening the door for you, How rude. Was your FIRST impression of him.

"Okay, parehas kayong late." Okay, you're both late. The staff said with a strong expression that says it all.

"So, what are we going to do now?" He asked. You didn't expect his voice to be soft and sound a bit younger but, moving on.

"May isa nalang room sa building six, meaning parehas niyong tuturuan mga bata doon, mga ilang oras lang." There's only one room left in the sixth building, meaning the both of you have to partner up for now to teach the children, only for a few hours.

"Here's a paper that will inform you about your surroundings and the class." She gave the two of you a paper and you immediately observed the information of the children.

"Grade 3 sila? Akala ko po grade 6 ang tuturuan ko?" They're 3rd graders? I thought I was going to teach 6th graders? You saw their names and couldn't resist judging their names, like come on! Who the fuck names their child Calvin Klein? An underwear brand?

"Ehem! Miss? Are you listening?" She waved her hand in front of you making you snap out and look back up at her.

"Like what I said, there's only one room left!" She firmly said, her annoyance obviously radiating off of her voice.

"Okay po. What time are we going to go there?" He looked up from his clipboard and seeked for her answer.

"In about 40 minutes. Quickly get to know each other, it seems like to you are both strangers." She shooed the two of you and pointed at the door.

"Uhm, alright." You awkwardly held onto the clipboard that came with the paper.

You didn't know where to go so you just followed him around making him a bit annoyed, since he just wanted this day to be over already.

"Are you good?" You gave him a smile, assuring him that he could talk to you.

"Yeah." He responded dryly, "Well, alright, I heard the cafeteria in this school is pretty large and has good food, would you like to come?" You offered him to come with you.

"Err.. 'wag na, mamaya nalang, may 12 minutes nalang tayo before we go to the children's room." Err.. we can't, maybe later, since we only have 12 minutes before entering the children's room. He differed.

"Oh, come on! Mabilis lang naman." It will be quick! You insisted, standing up to see if he would come along.

"Seriously, no. Bahala ka nalang diyan, if you get late." He picked up his stuff and headed to the 6th building.

Oh, he's pretty bossy. You grabbed your stuff and followed him to the building.

You both entered the room and was greeted by the children in the class. "Hello!" You waved at them with your charisma.

"Goodmorning po!" They all said in unison while standing up, some with their cheeky smile.

"I'm Ate Y/N! You don't have to call me Teacher Y/N pero, it's fine if you want to." You noted to them.

"And this is-" He cut you off, "Goodmorning, I'm Kuya Alex, and is there someone who's willing to introduce themselves in front of the class?" They stayed silent not wanting to do it.

That's too straight forward, baka nahihiya yung mga bata. You thought for a moment, "Or! Let's play a little game!" They agreed and waited for you to respond,

"I want everyone to stand up." They all stood up, surprising Alex a bit, "Okay po, very good. Partner yourselves into TWO or more!" They all rushed to their very best friends and held the other.

"Okay, sige. So with your group pwede po ba kayong mag-stay sa isang table so that we can start the introduction?" Alright. So, with your group, can we stay around one table so that we can start our introduction? They nodded and laughed in excitement.

"Here's a twist! We are not going to introduce ourselves but! Introduce the other person in your group! Like this, This is Alex po, he's my best friend he can be a bit bossy at times but he's a great friend!" They gasped and excitedly nodded.

"So, who wants to go first!?" Most of them raised their hand and you picked the one that caught your eye first. As they all introduced their friend one by one, Alex observed the whole thing happen, simply shocked by your teaching style.

"All of you are very good students! But! I'll give a piece of chocolate to the one who will answer my question!" You caught their attention automatically and students prepared to raise their hand to participate even if they get it wrong.

"Oh sige, how do we put an elephant in a fridge?" You saw a lot of the same hands so you decided to choose one who hasn't been raising her hand at all.

"You! How do we put an elephant in a fridge?" She hesitantly stood up, the other kids looking at her for her answer.

"Kakatayin po!" We slaughter it! She confidently answered, making you, Alex, and the other kids laugh at her answer.

"AY! Nice try, Reb, maybe that was a unique answer but the real answer is-".

"So, does anybody have a question?" Alex looked at each one of them with a friendly smile.

"Me!" One child raised his hand, "Okay, go ahead." He crossed his arms. "Mag-jowa po ba kayo ni Ate Y/N?" Are you and Y/N together? He asked shocking the two of you while the whole class cheered on with an "Ayie!"

"Okay, thank you for your question, Jak. But, me and Ate Y/N are friends!" The disappointed look they had after his answer made you laugh.

"Any other questions?" "Ako po!" "Okay, Roberto go." "May jowa na po ba kayo?" Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend? What is it with these ridiculous questions, Alex thought. "Wala pa po, I'm quite busy with my studies." You answered.

Another disappointed look but someone raised their hand again, "May crush ka po?" Do you have a crush? Nanaman? "Okay, the next person who asks about my love life will gain a deduction on the next seatwork." Finally, they stopped.

The class hour ended meaning you and Alex had to say your goodbye's and see if you both can come back tomorrow...

TBC

sorry 😔

[dedalvs]

Hi I've been working on a conlang that underwent tonogenesis by losing coda non elective stops and becoming high tone (coda elective stops then become plain voiceless, giving a fun way for my language to be divided into different initials and finals) and low tone coming from the coda fricatives [s] [ɕ] and [ʑ], with mid tone happening in open syllables or with coda sonorants (though 2 of those sonorants from the proto lang [r] and [r̥] are now fricatives [ʁ] and [χ]). I'm also debating having intervocalic /s/ debuccalize to [h] and then delete and get contours from those new diphthongs like this: [ˈʊ˩.sə˧.nʊ˩] > [ˈʊ˩.ə˧.nʊ˩] > [ˈʊə˧˥.nʊ˩] > [wə˧˥.nʊ˩] but I'm still not feeling satisfied with this but then I remembered reading yours and Jessie Peterson's posts on instagram about Ts'ítsàsh some months ago where you guys had tonogenesis by consonant loss and also stress and I was curious about how that worked in Ts'ítsàsh because I think that could be what I'm missing, especially because stress in the proto language was based on morae and was therefore not fixed and I want my conlang's tone to be more dynamic. Sorry for the long introduction and thank you for your time.

What is an elective stop...? I've never heard that term.

Essentially, stress is another variable you can play with. You can ignore, as your system here has, or you can add it back in to potentially create even more tonal distinctions in your language. Stress is associated with a number of elements, depending on the language: volume, vowel length, pitch level, or some combination of these. The goal is to somehow give a particular syllable more prominence than other syllables. If stress is associated with pitch, well, tone is also associated with pitch. You can imagine, then, you have two syllables, however this works (i.e. whatever needs to happen to get you these two proto-syllables):

*pat

*ˈpat

Now you've got options. You already know that a loss of something like [t] in coda position results in high tone on the previous syllable. Throw in stress, and you have some options. Here are some examples. First, there's option A, which is what you have above:

*pat > pa˥

*ˈpat > pa˥

That is, stress plays no role, and it's simply the loss of the consonant that gives the syllable tone. Let's call this option B:

*pat > pa˦

*ˈpat > pa˥

This kind of additive tone. The loss of the coda [t] pushes the pitch one point higher, while older stress pushes the pitch one point higher. This results in a high tone and a super high tone, which is now a regular distinction your language makes.

Now here's an option C:

*pat > pa˧˥

*ˈpat > pa˥

Some tone languages don't allow contour tones on short syllables, but if yours does, this is another option. With the loss of [t] and stress you get a solid high tone. The the loss of [t] and no stress, however, the tone is dragged down a bit, resulting in a rising tone.

This is how an older stress system can play into creating a more complex tone system down the line. You have to be meticulous in writing down the rules, and, both Jessie and I can tell you from experience, it's easy to forget them, but it can lead to some more grist, if that's what you're after.

Again, though, this is not something you have to do in creating a tone language. Often stress plays no role in the development of tone.

[captaincoldzero]

Civil War (Part 2) | Steve Rogers x Hawks Male Reader

Fandom: Marvel

A/N: I know it took me a long time to bring the continuation, but all these months I was in a huge block. Anyway this is the continuation of the last story I posted.

A/N.2: Sorry for any mistake, but English is not my first language.

Steve Rogers meets Reader: here

Civil War (Part 1): here

‒ I don't know if you guys made this official yet, but did you get out of the front seat to sit next to your boyfriend? ‒ Sam complained about the backseat he shared with Bucky.

Any move one of them made hit the other, starting a small fight between the two. Steve just looked smiling at Y/N.

‒ No offense, but I'm more important than you, Wilson. ‒ Y/N responds looking in the car's rear view mirror.

‒ You can fly, why did you come in here? ‒ Sam asked, hitting Bucky with his arm who had done the same thing.

Y/N hugged his backpack with his feathers, but didn't respond to Sam who was distracted by another fight with Bucky. Steve drove to the airport he had scheduled to meet Clint.

He parked next to the van Clint was driving.

‒ Cap. ‒ Clint spoke when he saw Steve get out of the car.

The two shook hands. Y/N got out of the car, opening space for Sam and Bucky to get out later. While Wanda gets out of the van's passenger seat.

‒ You know I wouldn't have called If I had any other choice.

‒ Hey man, you're doing me a favor. Besides, I owe a debt. ‒ He spoke looking at Wanda.

‒  Thanks for having my back. ‒ Steve said.

‒  It was time to get off my ass. ‒ Wanda crossed her arms decisively.

‒ Who is he? ‒ Clint asks when he saw Y/N approaching.

‒ This is Y/N, he will help us too.

‒ Are you a famous avengers archer? ‒ Y/N asked as he shook Clint's hand.

‒ Famous is one way of saying it. ‒ Clint said smiling.

‒  How about our other recruit? ‒ Steve asked.

‒ He's rarin' to go. Had to put a little coffee in him, but… ‒ Clint opened the van door, startling the man who appeared to be sleeping. ‒ He should be good.

Steve and Sam looked at each other, curious about the new recruit.

‒ What timezone is this? ‒ Scott said as he got out of the van.

‒ Come on. Come on. ‒ Clint gave Scott a light push.

Scott greets Steve, with an emotional look on his face.

‒ Captain America. ― Scott spoke, extending his hand to shake Steve's hand.

‒ Mr. Lang.

‒ It's an honor. I'm shaking your hand too long. ‒ He spoke when he realized he still hadn't let go of Steve's hand. ‒ Wow! This is awesome! Captain America. ‒ Scott spoke, looking at Wanda behind him. ‒ I know you, too. You're great! ‒ He turns back and feels Steve's shoulders.

‒ You shouldn't touch him too much, should you, Y/N? ‒ Sam teases Y/N who just rolls his eyes.

‒ What? Why? ‒ Scott asks, looking at Y/N. ‒ I've never seen you on television.

‒ I prefer this way. ‒ Y/N responds smiling.

‒ Jeez. Ah, look. ‒ Scott returns to speak with Steve. ‒ I know you know a lot of super people, so…  thanks for thanking me. ‒ Steve just nodded. ‒ Hey, man! ‒ Speak to Sam now.

‒ What's up, Tic Tac? ‒ Sam replied.

‒ Uh, good to see you. Look, what happened last time when I . . .

‒ It was a great audition, but it'll… It'll never happen again. ‒ Sam spoke, interrupting Scott so he wouldn't say anything about it.

‒ They tell you what we're up against? ‒ Steve asks, causing Scott to look back at him.

‒ Something about some psycho-assassins?

‒ We're outside the law on this one. So, if you come with us, you're a wanted man. ‒ Steve warned.

‒ Yeah, well, what else is new?

‒ We should get moving. ‒ Bucky spoke still near the car door.

‒ We got a chopper lined up. ‒ This time, Clint said.

An alert starts ringing in the building, drawing everyone's attention.

‒ They're evacuating the airport. ‒ Bucky as if translating what the alert was saying into another language.

‒ Stark. ‒ Sam spoke.

‒ Stark? ― Scott asked.

‒ Suit up. ‒ Steve spoke in an orderly tone.

While everyone was getting ready, Steve approached Y/N who was sitting in the passenger seat.

― I think you better stay out of this.

― What? Why? ― Y/N asked, confused.

― This whole mess is between the Avengers.

― And even so you brought that common guy in a van? ― 

Y/N spoke, showing his irritation.

― Scott got into trouble with the Avengers base. ― Steve raised his voice.

―  Look, if you're worried about me, that's fine, I feel really happy about that. But you're not going to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. Ok? ― Y/N got up from the bench, standing in front of Steve, even though he was still a few inches shorter.

― It could stay away. Observing from afar and only intervening when necessary? ― Steve asked as a last resort.

Y/N looked at Steve, deciding whether to accept the deal or not.

― Ok, whatever. ― Y/N replied, crossing his arms, obviously annoyed.

― I hate to interrupt the couple, but we're ready. ― Sam said.

Y/N opened his backpack and feathers flew out. He put on the aviator jacket that had the cutout on the back for them and each one joined at his back, forming his big pair of wings.

― Wow. ― Scott gasped. ― Wait, are you the news guy?

Ignoring Scott's question and one last look at Steve, Y/N flapped his wings and walked away.

― Sounds like you have competition. ― Clint said to Sam.

Y/N stood at a distance watching the entire battle unfold. How a spider boy appeared stealing Steve's shield and how the two sides appeared one after the other for a confrontation that damaged the entire area.

At times, Y/N almost moved or sent some feathers when it looked like Steve's team was losing, but they always managed to keep fighting. Y/N could see the separation of thoughts in a battle, with Scott and Spider Boy just wanting to show off for Steve and Stark.

To his surprise, Scott grew gigantic and grabbed the other Iron Man by the leg. He was able to stop the advance of Stark's team alone. Until the other Iron Man that had been thrown came back with Spider Boy attached to his back by a web line. Scott was having difficulty and unable to take the anxiety anymore, Y/N left the point he was and went to Scott's direction.

As he approached, Spider-Boy was hanging from Scott's body while the other Iron Man distracted him. Y/N threw a feather that cut Spider Boy's web and got close enough to kick him away using both legs.

― Do they still have one more? ― Y/N heard the other Iron Man speak.

― I deal with him, help the Captain. ― Scott spoke to Y/N who just nodded and went in the direction Steve and Bucky were running.

― I told you to stay away. ― Steve spoke as he ran.

― I do what I… ― Y/N stopped talking when she felt her entire body vibrate and her ears pop.

The other Iron Man fired a Y/N type blast of sound that forced him to cover his ears tightly. Steve threatened to come back to help Y/N.

― No! ― Y/N yelled. ― Go ahead!

Steve continued running alongside Bucky and Y/N used some of the feathers that were already loose, making them hit the other Iron Man's arm. Throwing a few more, Y/N pushed him away, not before he used a propulsion ray on Y/N that threw him to the ground.

Throwing a few more, Y/N pushed him away, not before he used a propulsion ray on Y/N that threw him to the ground. Throwing a few more, Y/N pushed him away, not before he used a propulsion ray on Y/N that threw him to the ground. 

Wanda managed to hold onto the tower before falling. But the other Iron Man shot the same sonic blast at Wanda causing her to drop the turret.

Y/N sped up to approach where they were. Sensing something approaching in the air around him, guessing it was the other Iron Man, Y/N released a few of his feathers, just enough to propel Steve and Bucky into the shed before the turret hit the ground. And as he did so, he felt his foot being trapped by the Spider Boy's web and when he was about to let go, he noticed small missiles being launched in his direction, forcing him to protect himself with his wings and being thrown to the ground.

Spider Boy threw more web, pinning Y/N to the ground while he had his wings protecting his body. With more work than he thought he would have, he managed to free himself from the webs. Steve's jet had already left the airport, the two iron men along with Spider Boy were taking Scott down and Vision was beside Wanda, as if he was comforting her.

And when he thought that was over, he noticed Stark and the other Iron Man flying towards Steve's ship. Y/N hurried to fly to try to stop them, Sam was way ahead of him when a laser shot passed close to Y/N was going towards Sam who noticed and managed to dodge it, but hitting the other Iron Man who started to plummet.

Y/N went towards him, trying to send some feathers to try to soften the fall when he was hit by small missiles launched by Stark. The pain was enough to destabilize. Unfortunately, when Stark approached his friend, he had already hit the ground hard.

After managing to regain his balance, he landed next to Stark next to Sam.

― I’m sorry. ― Sam spoke really sadly.

― I could have caught him if you hadn't… ― Y/N was cut off with Stark shooting a propulsion beam towards the two, leaving them unconscious.

When Y/N woke up, he was in some sort of cell. Leather straps were attached to its body, which impeded the movement of its wings, and it wore a technological metal collar, which it assumed was the reason it couldn't control its feathers telepathically. Through the glass of her cell, she could see Wanda in another cell, her arms tied, sitting on the floor.

He felt impotent, he couldn't do anything there and like that. So he just sat on the bed, hugged his legs and accepted his future, hoping that Steve would finish what they started.

A few days passed before he heard someone approaching his cell. He knew it wasn't the guards because it wasn't mealtime.

Y/N looked through the glass of the cell, the man approached and when finally the light entered his face, he could see Steve smiling at Y/N.

― You took too long. ― Y/N said but knowing he was smiling too, happy to see Steve well.

― I had some mishaps along the way. ― Steve spoke ― I hope you have already packed your bags.

― For sure. I already made my review with one star for the terrible room service.

[discordantwords]

20 questions for fic writers

I was tagged by @khorazir and @raina-at. Thanks so much for tagging me!

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 47 (how is it that many?!) 29 for BBC Sherlock 18 for The X-Files

2. What's your total A03 word count? 897,533

3. What fandoms do you write for? Currently only BBC Sherlock

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea

White Knight

Incidents with Dogs, Curious and Otherwise

Another Auld Lang Syne

The Dead Detective

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I try to! I'm not always the best at keeping up, especially lately as my schedule has been erratic and I can only steal a few minutes here and there for fandom activities. But even when I don't have a chance to reply, I do read and treasure each and every comment.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? I guess maybe The Pillar upon which England Rests has the saddest ending of anything that I've ever written, but I don't really consider it a sad story. It's set immediately post Reichenbach, told mostly through flashbacks as Mrs Hudson shares the story of how she met Sherlock with John. Sherlock is still "dead" when the story comes to a close, and John and Mrs Hudson are both grieving, though we as the reader know their loss is temporary.

I have a few shorter fics with ambiguous endings that lean in the angsty direction:

Nothing Happened in Belarus deals with accidental time travel, with grief-stricken S4 Sherlock finding himself briefly in the care of S1 John. Alas, the reprieve is a short one, as neither Sherlock nor John become aware of what is happening in time to take advantage of the opportunity.

At the end of Leaves Sherlock and John have either triumphed over the hallucinogenic vines that have invaded 221B… or they haven't. (I have my own theory, but you are free to interpret the ending however you choose.)

In EXECUTE John inadvertently deletes Mary from existence. He gets his happy ending, but has to live with the uncomfortable knowledge of the choices he's made.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Most of my fics have happy or at least hopeful endings. I like leaving the boys in a good place. I guess it depends on the flavor of happy you're looking for. But I'd say that these are probably the happiest:

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea

Inscrutable to the Last

White Knight

Another Auld Lang Syne

Whirlwind

8. Do you get hate on fics? Thankfully, no. A few weird comments here and there, but nothing too bad. The vast majority of my interaction with others in the fandom has been absolutely wonderful.

9. Do you write smut? Most of my sex scenes stay in R rated territory. But I tend to roll with whatever the plot demands of me.

10. Do you write crossovers? I've done quite a few fusion fics, but not crossovers. Crossovers aren't usually my cup of tea.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Once, sort of, but I don't believe it was done maliciously and I don't wish to call attention to it.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes! I'm always flattered by requests to translate my writing.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? A friend and I used to write together quite a bit in high school, but nothing that has made it out into the world.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship? Sherlock & John and Mulder & Scully.

15. What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Crime Writer is a Sherlock/Knight Rider fusion that ran out of steam a while back (although it was intended to be episodic and IMO doesn't feel too horribly unresolved where it ends, so don't let the unfinished nature of it put you off if you're inclined to read it).

I'm still optimistic about most of the WIPs in my WIP folder, heh. I guess we'll see what next year brings.

16. What are your writing strengths? I like to think I'm good at writing complicated people with complicated feelings that don't always resolve neatly.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I don't think my smut is particularly inspired. And I have a very hard time writing fluff or domestic situations without having some angst to drive the plot.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? I personally wouldn't attempt it. I'm not fluent in any other languages and there's far too much nuance to leave in the hands of Google Translate. :)

19. First fandom you wrote for? X-Files! (Unless you count unrefined and unposted scribblings from my younger years, I definitely went through a phase where I was trying to fix the Terminator time loop in a way that allowed Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese to live happily ever after.)

20. Favourite fic you've ever written? Oh, this is always such a hard question to answer. The Pillar upon Which England Rests is the first fic I wrote for the Sherlock fandom, so it has a special place in my heart. I'm really proud of the cases and complex plot in Out There. (Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea is the one that seems to resonate with the most people. And White Knight is the fic I'd most like to see turned into an episode of the show. :D

I'll tag @thetimemoves @insistentbass @lololollywrites @arwamachine @naefelldaurk @clueless-mp4 @totallysilvergirl and anyone else who would like to play along!

[ask-emilz-de-philz]

Re-sharing:

PSA

Because di na nakakatuwa yung mga nag-aabuse sa Anon mode in Tumblr and Curious Cat.

Respect lang po, please thank you. This is for both overall healths of ours. ))

(( ever since na created ang page last 2012, this is my number 1 rule that I have no intention of breaking. If you don't know what personal questions are, please, you're on the internet, use the search engine. Thank you. It's also one of the reasons I'm still around, the internet is , for most of us, our happy space. Don't make it a place for trauma and regrets pls. Thank you. ))

[niabridges]

Since we are here - alone Ennea Bragge x Sebastian Sallow.

Sebastian Sallow: (smiling) You know, with Christmas approaching, I was thinking...

Ennea Bragge: (curious) Thinking? That's dangerous for you.

Sebastian Sallow: (mocking offense) Ouch. But seriously, what if we spend Christmas Eve together? Just you and me in the Slytherin Common Room. I got no place to be (he is begging with puppy eyes)

Ennea Bragge: (raising an eyebrow) Just the two of us? What's your angle, Sallow?

Sebastian Sallow: (grinning) No angle. Just some company, a bit of warmth, and the ambiance of our cozy common room. What do you say?

Ennea Bragge: (smirking) You're not planning to unleash enchanted mistletoe or something, are you?

Sebastian Sallow: (feigning innocence) Me? Never. But if mistletoe happens to be enchanted, who am I to complain?

Ennea Bragge: (laughs) Fine, Sallow. Christmas Eve in the Slytherin Common Room. But no pranks.

Sebastian Sallow: (crossing his heart) No pranks, I promise. Just a bit of holiday cheer with my favorite Slytherin. (He kisses her gently on the head)

[bonkbobl]

i should be sleeping but i couldn't help but check your blog tonight and i'm so glad i did lolol,, hihi !! i just caught up on your last two recent fics and i must say, though i loved loved state of undress, i do find myself wanting to see more of distraction first. it was unsettling to read (the SA part mostly and the aftermath) yet so intriguing... i especially liked when you wrote of roose's conflict in realizing and feeling regret of his actions towards the reader & how he wants to apologize to her. i'm curious to see where you'll take it next ! (also the absolute fear i held when reader had to speak in front of everyone in the tent 😭,, i love that catelyn spoke up for her tho :') <3 ) needless to say, i would not mind whichever fic is posted first, as long as the one with a happier ending is posted second bwahahaha,,, i'm a sucker for angst but i fear roose bolton will be the death of me in this category 😭

i love that bed chem by sabrina was what loosely inspired you for state of undress bwahaha,,, which the gif??? where do u find these gifs they're all just so precisely fitting !! like even distraction he's so up close like 😳... AND OMG DISTRACTION WAS THE FIC U HAD TO REWRITE??? ur absolutely insane and dedicated and i love you for it 😭 i hope you took breaks in between writing :')

school has just begun and has been clocking my ass but seeing your posts have rejuvenated me !!! it is always a delight to see something new from you, fic or not haha,,, i hope school has been improving for you btw and i'm sorry to hear about your partner :/ i hope the split was civil and decent :']

btw those tiktok edits you're talking about.... is it the crawling back to you edits because istg i too have been watching them on repeat !! i like these two a lot as well:

https://www.tiktok.com/@rejoiceprime/video/7376165691335937285?lang=en — the song is kinda silly but the scene where he tilts his head back in his seat is just so KLDJSKLJDSKJDS 🫣

https://www.tiktok.com/@mannis_cc/video/7342193627386449184?lang=en — this one is just so dark and the song is just so him and ughhh

i hope the links work/ are valid and u like the edits haha,, let me know if you've seen them before :)

i look forward to reading the second parts to your recent fics, as well as any other new ones you might have in mind :) please do take care dear author !! wishing u all the best ! — 🩰 anon

im really happy you enjoyed them both ahhh!!! also yeah definitely the part 2 to distraction, if i end up writing it, will still have angst themes. although i like kind of tried to flesh out the ideas a bit more and im not super sure if im that passionate about it :/ but we'll see. i think i have lingering feelings about that fic and would like to flesh it out a bit more.

i hope school gets better for you soon. its lowkey been kicking my ass too LOLL especially since my courses are getting more advanced and more STEM focused.

ALSO LMAO NOT YOU KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT IM CRYING LOL. yes its those. also thanks for the new food i'll be saving these for later <3