squilfer

[whats-in-a-sentence]

It was close upon four before the door opened, and a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room.

"The Illustrated Sherlock Holmes Treasury" - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[ikkosu]

—IT was certainly a sight to see, especially so when it’s not so often that you’d witness the Autobot SIC waddle into your office just as he did now, cutting their discussion short — panting and chagrined as though he’d a run a mile from wherever he left.

“Apologies for being so late.” Prowl straightens up. He tries to ignore the heat of warmth crawling up his neck at the sight of two optics boring into his helm. A question unasked, and one not willing for an answer.

The worn medic and the Prime exchanged discreet glances. The former sported a questioning look, curious at the uncustomary tardiness.While, the Prime is more drawn to the peculiar state of his second in command. Who often was — almost always — impervious to unkempt grooming. There, the obvious scratches along the ridges of his doorwings glinted under the light. And, the unpolished metal plating on his chassis is seemingly chafed. Looking at him now, he’s all but kempt.

He made a mental note to ask him about that later. When he’s calmed down enough to be compliant, of course. If Prowl was rooked into some kind of mental turmoil with no means of expressing it — Optimus would consider his leadership to be a blunder. He’d never forgive himself if his Chief Strategist were to befall an ill kind of omen. One, from the malicious intent of his own servos because nobody else was there to help him out of it.

“Traffic?” Ratchet mused. 

Prime shoots him a look, but it was clear the medic wasn’t backing down.

“The shuttle was congested.” Prowl replies back coolly, locking his gaze.

Optimus nods in agreement. “I can imagine it must be hard to navigate through the halls with so many autobots. Wheeljack proposed we widen the hallways for easy transport. So your tardiness is as understandable as it is forgiven, right old friend?”

“Right.” Was all Ratchet said.

Prowl bristles slightly at his tone. Internally, Optimus sighs. “You don’t seem convinced.”

“He’s not often late to a debriefing so it is something unusual…”

“We all make mistakes once in a while, Ratchet.”

“Sure. I guess we all do.” He smiles. “Even the prim and proper enforcer does. Had a good rest last night? Heard you clocked out early.”

Prowl opens his intake. Then, shuts it. He became warm. Immediately reminded of a place he’d rather be — this morning, in his habsuite and your soft body on top. The noises he had wrung out of your lips. Above, below and behind, his hip against yours. Your grin, your hands, on his—

Prowl groans internally. You’re left unsatisfied and the thought of what’s to come later instinctively made his panel clamp up. Foolish little human testing his patience. At the face of Ratchet’s interrogation, if the medic is in his ruthless mood, his secret on the downlow is now privy to be heard on full display. Along with the many more ‘severe’ ramifications following if the knowledge of him managing to bed the human liaison is divulged. Especially, the younger mechs who had been so intent on courting the liaison.

“Yes,” He says, an edge to his tone. “ I made adjustments to my berth and it was adequately comfortable.”

[tailoroffates]

Writing tips #5 - Conditions

Hey y'all! I'm back again with yet another segment of Writing tips. Today we're going to cover something a bit more vague, conditions. No, not the terms and/or conditions of some contract. What I'm referring to is the current condition of an item, a place, or even a creature.

Clean

Blank, bright, cleansed, clear, dirtless, flawless, fresh, hygienic, immaculate, impeccable, laundered, pristine, pure, sanitary, shining, shiny, sparkling, spick-and-span, spotless, squeaky, stainless, taintless, tidy, unblemished, unpolluted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, untarnished, washed, white.

Dirty

Black, contaminated, cruddy, dingy, draggled, dreggy, dungy, dusty, filthy, greasy, grimy, grubby, grungy, icky, impure, mangy, mildewed, moldy, mucky, muddy, murky, nasty, polluted, raunchy, scummy, scuzzy, slimy, smeared, smudged, soiled, soily, snooty, sordid, splotched, spotted, squalid, stained, sullied, sully, tainted, tarnished, unclean, unsanitary, unsightly, unswept.

Damaged

beat-up, bent, blemished, broken, burnt, burst, busted, collapsed, cracked, crippled, crumbed, demolished, destroyed, dinged, discolored, disintegrated, dismembered, flawed, fractured, fragmented, impaired, injured, mangled, marred, mutilated, peeling, pulverized, ripped, ruptured, separated, severed, shattered, shivered, shot, shredded, slivered, smashed, split, tattered, wrecked.

Faultless

Complete, entire, faultless, firm, fixed, flawless, full, intact, mint, perfect, perfect, plenary, preserved, replete, rooted, safe, secure, set, settled, shipshape, solid, sound, stable, steadfast, steady, unblemished, unbroken, uncut, undefiled, undivided, unharmed, unified, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarked, unmarred, unruffled, unscathed, untouched.

Messy

Bedraggled, botchy, careless, cluttered, dirty, disheveled, disordered, disorderly, disorganized, filthy, foul, frowzy, frumpy, grimy, grubby, ill-kempt, lax, littered, muddled, mussy, nasty, raunchy, ruffled, rumpled, shabby, slack, slapdash, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, uncombed, unkempt, untidy, wrinkled, wrinkly.

Neat

Chipper, clean-cut, combed, detailed, fastidious, groomed, immaculate, kempt, meticulous, orderly, organized, prim, shipshape, snappy, snug, spick-and-span, spruce, tidy, trig, trim, uncluttered, uncluttered, unwrinkled, well-groomed, well-pressed.

New

Advanced, brand-new, contemporary, current, cutting edge, fresh, latest, modern, new-fashioned, newfound, new-sprung, novel, original, recent, stylish, trendy, ultramodern, unfamiliar, unspoiled, untouched, untrodden, unused, up-to-date, youthful.

Old

Abandoned, aged, ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, broken-down, cast-off, crusty, dated, decayed, decrepit, deteriorated, dilapidated, discarded, dowdy, faded, hackneyed, historical, moth-eaten, neglected, old-fashioned, outdated, out-of-date, outworn, primitive, primordial, raggedy, rickety, run-down, rusty, scruffy, shabby, shoddy, stale, tattered, threadbare, time-worn, traditional, used, worm-eaten, worn, worn-out, wrinkly.

[yandere-wishes]

Okay so not an ask more of a Headcanon based on observation and the character he is based on, but I see Honest Fellow as someone who would both idolize/emulate and resent the rich. By his design his clothes, while they pay homage to Honest John with the patchwork pantleg and the misding pinky tip on his one glove seem very well-kempt, on top of that his hat and cane are practically emaculate that cane alone couldn't have been cheap though I wouldn't put it passed the sly fox man to have either swindled someone out of it or stole it from them outright. Point is I'm getting wants to be a rich man but hates the rich people vibes.

All of that is set-up for my headcanon that if he ever had a S/O you can bet he would get them jewelry and expensive clothes. Basically just adorn them in finery he had acquired through whatever means (cough, likely stolen or purchased with dirty money, cough) and proudly have them stand by his side. The thought to use them as a pretty little lure to catch even bigger fish might cross his mind, but I doubt he'd ever use them like that. Personally, I feel like he'd be to possessive to do that even if his darling wanted to help like that, after all what if he let's them go off alone and someone tries to take advantage of his poor darling? He doesn't think they're weak or foolish per say but who could protect them better than him? I think he'd have a difficult time even leaving them alone with Gidelle (only 90 percent sure I got that right), of course he trusts Gidelle, well as much as he can truly trust anyone anyway, but he's the brains of the outfit and unless he's personally by his darlings side he won't ever be truly assured something won't go wrong.

Let's say that darling isn't quite so understanding or compliant, his possessive side would certainly get worse. He can't leave them alone for one second qhat if they try and sneak off. Perhaps to save his pride he'd be a bit delusional, they're just a sweet little naive skittish thing that doesn't know any better, possibly they've never known a love as deep and unshakable as his, it's only natural there would be a learning curve for them and who better than he to teach them? I highly doubt he'd ever use physical punishments on his darling, probably doesnt like punishing them as he thinks they are just still learning, but that doesn't mean he won't find other ways to punish them if necessary. I do think if they actively tried to run he wouldn't waste a minute getting something along the lines of a necklace with a chain, something fashionable but functional as a reminder while they're learning, if that reminder isn't enough though he might go for a bejeweled pet collar and leash. If all else fails isolation in a secure location with him as their only source of human, or well beastman, contact would certainly allow them to see how much they needed each other. Whatever he has to do to make them understand it'll all be worth it later once they're settled and he can spoil them like they deserve.

TLDR: Honest Fellow would love to lavish his S/O in (possibly ill-gotten) finery and would actively and proudly show them off on his arm. Everyone can look and admire, but only he is allowed to touch.

This has got to be the most effort anyone has ever put into something they sent in my ask box!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Okay so right off the bat let me say that YES!! This is canon I don't care what anyone says.

I can see him as "wanting what they have" but "not wanting to be them". Essentially he wants the ability to give his darling the best of everything. Yet still ultimately preserving his own "personality". Like you said Fellow hates the rich. They're insufferable, self-absorbed and loathsome, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't crave the glitz and glammer.

Now I can kinda see Fellow only really interacting with his darling at first to use her as bait. Winning her over with expensive gifts and pretty cloths (all from dirty money ofc) and sure darling does start to fall for his tricks. But here's the thing, the moment his darling begins to show the tinest interest in him Fellow FALLS HARDER!! All of a sudden he doesn't want ANYONE near his darling! Just him only him. Sooner or later his darling will start to feel suffocated, she'll be desperate to get away from him. Forsaking the pretty presents and charming "boyfriend" for just a moment of freedom. But Fellow's a sly fox, always one step ahead. He knows how to ensnare his darling before she's even run away.

Overall Fellow will lavish you, treat you like a queen, getting you anything you desire (through underhanded means) but you'll never be allowed to leave him. Forever trapped by his side on the island of pleasure…

Quick question is Fellow meant to be the same age as the third years or is he older??

[forgottenarthur]

Aria + Arthur (of course XD)

so i feel like they may have other kids as well, but here're the twins!

Name: Ardghal Varmont Stafford (i feel like what their last name might be depends on whether or not marian's infidelity is ever discovered so ???? but yeah)

Gender: Male

General Appearance: Sporting his mother's coloring and a penchant for gleaming eyes from both parents, Ardghal generally keeps his hair at roughly shoulder length, showing off its natural less out of any particular vanity and more out of his generally distracted air, something which also accounts for his stubble and rather ill-kempt dress.

Personality: Like his parents and his sister alike, Ardghal inherited an adventurous nature, more often up a tree than with both feet planted firmly on the ground as a child. He also sports a keen mind and a general impatience for anything that brings him back to reality, preferring to contemplate the stars with his Aunt Eilia than to attend to any social gatherings or other such 'trivialities,' as he calls them, that his rank might tend to foist upon him. Still, Ardghal has a generous and valorous heart and, like both his parents, wants nothing more than to look out for the people who look to him, even if he doesn't always go about that in the most conventional manner...Charming and brilliant yet stubborn and arrogant, Ardghal always speaks his mind, a fact that has frequently gotten him into no end of trouble, and he doesn't believe in walking away from a risk when its gain is great, making for a somewhat chaotic person when brought altogether, but Ardghal is as determined as they come, and will stop at nothing to leave this world a little better than he found it!

Special Talents: Ardghal can be a somewhat chaotic and mischievous soul, but when he's feeling more contemplative, his favorite pastime is star-gazing and, endowed with an incredible memory and a passionate heart, he knows each of their trajectories and names and routes.

Who they like better: Aria

Who they take after more: Aria

Personal Head canon: When he's in his twenties, a wrong word to a particularly quarrelsome prince at court began a bit of an international accident for which he roundly refused to apologize for some time, (mostly rightly) convinced the other fellow was in the wrong. When he realized how horrified his mother was at the idea of another war, however, without a word Ardghal went to the other prince's tent and, employing all his charm and good humor, managed to not only dissuade the prince from his anger, but also transformed him into a friend for life.

Face Claim: Aidan Turner

Name: Saorlaith Varmont Stafford

Gender: Female

General Appearance: Boasting her father's coloring and her mother's bone structure, Saorlaith is a notedly lovely young woman. She appeares in two ways: the grace of the well-trimmed princess and the aspect bedraggled peasant. Fiercely proud of her home and heritage, yet also high-spirited and direct, Saorlaith knows how to present herself for company, but she prefers to don more durable threads for crashing around the countryside, toting her father's sword, Daybreak, as she is the only person who can persuade him to part with it.

Personality: Born with a questing, curious nature and an unflagging spirit, Aria dreams of adventure and fun, preferring to act almost the knight-errant to the proper princess, though she loves to sing and to dance a very great deal as well. Still, Saorlaith prefers the company of the common folk to her fellow nobles, considering them proud and false, and spends much of her time in the company of those 'beneath' her, traipsing through the countryside in search of fun and truth and justice. With an easy manner and a hardy laugh, Saorlaith knows how to put people at their ease and inspire loyalty, and she enjoys sorting out the problems of others however she can, often traveling incognito so as better to understand the struggles of the common folk, that she might better know how to mend their troubles when she returns to court.

Special Talents: Saorlaith was hand-trained with the sword by her father and is as redoubtable a warrior as any knight, though she was fortunate enough to grow up without a very great deal of need for these skills, something she considered a great shame as a child but grew to treasure as an adult.

Who they like better: Aria

Who they take after more: Arthur

Personal Head canon: Saorlaith is a bit of a practical joker, but her greatest passion is laughter. Nearly inseparable from her twin brother, sharing moments of joy with her family and loved ones means more to her than anything, and she dreams of being able to bring joy to everyone within her care!

Face Claim: Claire Holt

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Magdalena

Author: Mme Yersinia

Artist: Robin

Rating: Explicit

Pairings: Dean/Castiel, implied Sam/Rowena

Length: 150000

Warnings: Explicit sexual content, torture, self-harm and suicidal ideation

Tags: Canon-divergent s13, domestic kid fic, complex family dynamics, rural americana, mutual pining, dadstiel, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, slow burn, redemption arcs

Posting Date: October 25, 2023

Summary: Castiel swore to protect Jack at all costs. If that means taking him away from the dark dungeon of the bunker, and away from the harsh words and hands of Dean Winchester, then so be it. Castiel takes Jack and runs. He finds them a safe town, a battered rental house, a little job and a little life. He wants Jack to have a normal childhood; to grow up safe and loved, not in a windowless basement.  Dean tracks them down, of course. He begs forgiveness, of course. But redemption is a long, slow road. It’s paved with ginger cats and broken-down Hondas, stolen kisses and dusty libraries and bathroom repairs. Dean and Castiel find themselves growing closer in the haze of domesticity. Dean moves from sleeping in the car, to the sofa, to Castiel’s bed. It’s not easy to carve out a place for themselves in a world that doesn’t always want them.  But strange things start to happen in the home they’ve made. Neighbors complain of shadows in the night. Monsters appear that don’t belong. Coincidences line up.  Wherever peace and happiness try to grow, there are adversaries who would snuff it out. The love holding their family together just might be the last weapon they have against the evils of the world.

Excerpt: Castiel takes his lunch break outside whenever the weather allows. He always intends to spend it reading one of the library’s newest additions. Usually he ends up watching other creatures instead. Birds flit back and forth in the courtyard’s ill-kempt bushes. Interesting insects crawl between the boards of the picnic table. A woman a few blocks down is walking her fluffy, prim little dog on a pink leash when Castiel’s phone buzzes. He hopes that it’s the bank calling him back to say there was a mistake, actually, the check has come through. But no: it’s a text from Sam. “You and Jack doing okay?” The midday sun bakes the back of Castiel’s neck, rising a ring of sweat around the collar of his polo shirt. The library dress code is business casual. He’d Googled what that meant after his interview, and then he and Jack had frantically made a trip to the local Goodwill to scrape together a week’s worth of work clothes for him. Jack had found a dinosaur cup for fifty cents, though, so the outing had been successful by more than one standard. Castiel had almost picked out a flannel. The well-worn, faded, familiar stripes caught his eye from the hanger in the men’s row. Fondness and bitterness blended in a strange way in Castiel's grace until Jack caught him staring and asked, “Do you want that one, too?” “We can’t afford it,” Castiel had blurted out, turning away, because by then it was their turn to check out. He stares at Sam’s text message. Above it are a long stream of others, most unanswered. It’s not Sam’s fault. He’s just stuck working damage control. Castiel taps back an answer. “Yes.” It’s not a lie. A few moments pass and Castiel doesn’t put his phone away. He watches a brown-striped bird peck at the remnants of someone’s french fries on the ground. A reply pops up on his screen. “Can you tell me where you are?” Castiel frowns, chews his lip. His break is almost over. He’s got to work on re-filing the historical nonfiction (F through K) when he goes back inside the library. He texts back, “No.” If it was up to him - if there were fewer variables in this nasty equation  - the answer might be different. He doesn’t want Sam trying to visit so he can peer in on their little life that’s trying to grow into the shape of something human. He doesn’t want pitying glances or offers of help. Least of all does he want Dean to know where they are. Dean has no right to that. The phone burbles a reply: “Okay. Let me know if you or Jack need anything. Talk soon.” Castiel stares down at the washed-out screen in the warm glare of sunlight. His bittersweet moroseness feels out of place in such fine weather, butting up against the scalding green of the garden. He gets to his feet and drags his vessel back inside the library. 

DCBB 2023 Posting Schedule

[teammateswap-au]

CHARACTER SUMMARY : BERDLY

✦ “An intimidating, badass lone wolf who is misunderstood and mysterious”. This isn’t what Berdly is at all but he acts like this is the case. He’s quite vain and cares about the way he’s perceived. He is not that good at acting the way he wants to much to his dismay. The bird’s cowardly, clingy and attention seeking. He may not be the badass he tries to be but does earnestly act “edgy” at times. Mostly through the way he dresses and talks. Despite his weird ill kempt persona, he does have a softer side. That soft side may be as soft as a firm pillow and rarely seen like a four leaf clover but he can be genuinely sweet at times. The only person who has seen his soft side is his only friend, Noelle. Maybe, similarly to Noelle, he’ll open up to others a bit more.

↳ Massive gamer (massive gatekeeper as well)

↳ Can be quite a brat when he doesn’t get what he wants

↳ Is good with makeup and wears eye makeup all the time (though it’s hidden by hair and glasses)

↳ Sees Noelle as a role model and is seen as her companion to some

✧ Light World and Dark World designs

> “Dark World Title” : “Dark Lord / Dark Prince”

> Dark World weapon : Claymore , “Kickass Claymore”

- (Seems very large and heavy. ...can he even carry it?)

✧ Face shadow disappears in certain expressions. Usually shocked ones.

✧ Hair is split into 3 sections :

- The front : which is split into 3 sections. usually the size of each section gets bigger going from top to bottom.

- The middle : which is his cowlick and the bang covering his left eye

- The back : which is, like the front, split into 3 sections. the top and middle being the same size and the bottom being smaller.

✧ His shirt has the O X ◻ △ (circle, X, square, and triangle) symbols which looks scribbled on. Resembling the symbols on a gaming controller (specifically playstation/sony). The shirt can have anything related to gaming on it as long as it’s not inappropriate.

✦ RELATED :

✧ CHARACTER BIOS - SUSIE | NOELLE

✧ REFERENCES

✦ BACK TO MASTERPOST

[shunchitaro]

Sunato Banda x F!Y/N

Genre: ??? (literally when I write about Banda I have no idea if he fits the romance genre, gals it's prob obsession but oh well) Obsession TW: Sunato Banda, Stalking involved (?) ["My doctors can't explain My symptoms or my pain But you are my strange addiction"]

Y/N L/N had entered the Jack of Hearts game with Chishiya Shuntaro.

"Why are you even here again? Didn't you say you wanted to go with Kuina?" Chishiya asked plainly, hands in his pockets as they stood outside the game arena.

"Not like I had a choice, Cheese Boy. You're just saying that because you don't want to be with someone annoying as me, right?"

"You said that yourself- ow" Y/N interrupted midsentence, pulling a generous amount of his hair harshly. "Y/N what the hell! I've just washed my hair with conditioner, don't ruin it" "Jerk, sometimes I don't know why i'm friends with you"

Chishiya was Y/N's best friend before the borderlands. They grew up together since his father knew hers, and Y/N was constantly at his house so he says he had 'no choice but to befriend that annoying monkey'.

"Whatever. Just be sensible and stick to me. This is a Hearts game, so you can't trust anyone but me. Okay?"

"I know, i'm not stupid"

_____________________

They stepped into the game area, collars locked around their necks. Chishiya glanced around, eyeing everyone in the room.

"He looks fishy, maybe he's the Jack" Y/N murmured to Chishiya, who turned to her and subtly followed her gaze to a male with kempt black hair. He wore a blue polo shirt lousily tucked into his grey pants. He stood at a corner next to another male with his bangs over one of his eyes- he wore a striped polo underneath a grey cardigan. "You think the blue polo guy is the Jack?" Y/N asked a little too blatantly, catching the male's attention from across the room. His mouth twisted into a small smirk and he began striding towards the two.

"Crap, he must have heard me." Y/N muttered.

The male stood before them glancing at the two silently, the same small smirk still plastered on his face. His expression made Y/N L/N feel unsettled.

"I heard you speaking about me. There's no need to be shy to approach me.. I don't bite" He laughed before holding out his hand. "Sunato Banda, it's a pleasure to meet people who are interested in me."

Y/N's eyes drifted to Chishiya who just stared at Sunato blankly, probably trying to read him. She noticed that Chishiya's eyebrows knit together for a split second, and she didn't blame him. Sunato Banda wasn't easy to read, his smirk didn't show any ill intention, but his eyes had a glint to them- a glint that the both couldn't understand. Y/N reached out and quickly shook hands with Sunato so as to not make the atmosphere awkward. He gripped her hand firmly as they shook hands, before he planted a soft kiss on her wrist.

"Your hand feels smooth. It suits you, Y/N."

Y/N's eyes shot up to meet his, surprise etched in her orbs. "H..how do you know my name?" She stammered, withdrawing her hand from him. "This isn't the first time I've encountered you" He said, his smirk growing wider. Y/N could feel her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she stared at the man in pure disbelief. Without warning, he laughed yet again.

"Gosh, I'm kidding. You look cute when you're shocked. I saw your name on the screen over there, when people join the game, their name and image shows up on the screen."

Chishiya and Y/N immediately turned to where Sunato was pointing to see that he wasn't wrong, everyone's names including theirs were recorded on the huge tv screen on the wall. Y/N could hear Chishiya softly let out a sigh of relief; and Y/N also breathed out with the same feeling, not even realizing she had held her breath.

"Let's team up. This is Eiji Matsushita, he teamed up with me. This is a game of trust, and I assure you that we are both trustworthy. What do you say to make an alliance?" Sunato asked the both of them.

Y/N opened her mouth to reply but Chishiya beat her to it. "Thank you for the offer, but we'll work alone. It's better to work in smaller groups, so when a ruckus is caused everybody can worry about themselves easily. Let's go, Y/N"

_______________

The amount of people slowly decreased and as Chishiya predicted there was a ruckus, people losing trust in others or voting who to secretly tell the wrong symbol to, guessing who the Jack could possibly be. The two were sitting together in the food area, munching absentmindedly on biscuits and chocolates.

Y/N's eyes drifted to the other table nearby to see Eiji sitting alone, staring at an empty packet of Dairy Milk.

"Cheese, do you have any guess who the Jack is?" She asked, only to get no response. "Chishiya" she turned back to see him staring at her, his hand holding out the packet of biscuits he was still munching on.

"You should try this, it tastes great." He replied nonchalantly, making Y/N scoff and snatch the biscuits away from him. "You women are so rude. I just offer biscuits, and you turn me down. I'm to handsome to be rejected, you know." He raised his eyebrows, his lips lifting into that teasing smile that annoyed Y/N so much.

"Who says your handsome? And stop that, we aren't here for you to act like a sweet innocent cookie-selling boy scout. We should focus. Who do you think is the Jack?" She asked him, regaining his attention.

"I have an idea but I won't tell you. You're smart, figure it out yourself" he shrugged, and she scoffed hitting the back of his head with her empty biscuit box.

"How about you, who do you think?" He asked her, rubbing his head

"I think it's that Sunato guy. He asks so strangely, and he seems unaffected after all the chaos and loss of game attendees. It's like he knows it's going to happen- like he planned all of this."

"I have my suspicion, and I agree with you. He's unreadable, earlier when we first got here I couldn't understand what his motives are. But I don't think he's the Jack, someone else fits the description of a Jack." Chishiya spoke calmly, sending a furtive glance to Eiji.

"Say what you want, but I really think it's that Sunato guy. If i'm wrong, I'll eat an entire bag of those biscuits you offered me earlier." She said confidently, and he smiled.

"Silly girl, whatever works for you."

________________

The game ended and Y/N was perplexed to see that Eiji was the Jack the whole time.

"That's impressive, Cheese. Eiji was the least suspicious person for me. He was always so quiet and he even seemed nervous of dying." She said as they strolled out of the game area.

"Impressive? Y/N, I'm Shuntaro Chishiya. This isn't impressive, it's the usual."

"Stop boasting or I'll bash your head against the wall."

"How about you eat the biscuits? I won after all"

She searched through her pockets then his, and smiled triumphantly. "You didn't bring any, and I didn't. I don't have to taste it, thank goodness"

"You hate the biscuits that much?" "It's only for clowns" "Haha, funny"

Y/N glanced at the sky for a few moments.

"Chishiya, i'll just get more supplies and food stocks before it gets too dark. We can find the others tomorrow." She informed him and he nodded, so she went off.

_________________

Y/N was gathering supplies and canned food into her backpack and turned around to leave, but bumped into a chest. She looked up to apologize but froze, the hair on the back of her neck tingling as she saw who it was.

"Funny seeing you here. I didn't see you after the game so I thought that dumb blonde (you'll always be a dumb blonde, ba ba ba da da da~) decided to lie to you about your symbol." Sunato Banda smirked yet again, making Y/N feel unsettled.

"He would never lie to me. Why are you here anyways?" She asked

"I want you to come with me." He said out of the blue

"Why should I?"

He had reached for her wrist dragging her along, Y/N failed to fight him off so she reluctantly followed.

They entered a shabby room on the second floor of an old apartment complex just nearby. Y/N was astonished as she took in her surroundings. The floor was mopped clean of dust and the windows were clear. The sofa was neat and the throw pillows had clean sheets on. Even the electric battery-stove had a kettle burning on it.

Before Y/N could react, Sunato pushed her to sit down on the sofa heading to the kitchen area to probably get refreshments.

"Here..I got this specially for you." He mentioned calmly, placing a tray of food before her.

Y/N froze, seeing the contents of the tray.

On the tray was a hot cup of tea, and right beside it was something Y/N wasn't expecting.

Right beside the cup of tea was a bag of the exact same biscuits Chishiya was offering her during the Jack of Hearts game.

Sunato leaned forward, the same smirk plastered on his lips, his eyes darkening ever so slightly as he held up the bag of biscuits towards her.

"It was an honor to be one of your suspicions during the game. But you do have a point, right? I do seem strange and unaffected during the game."

'How does he knows I said that about him?'

Y/N could hear her heart thumping in her chest. She could feel sweat trickling down her forehead as she held her breath, her gaze frozen on his.

"What are you playing at?" She snapped, her voice crack giving away her fear.

His smirk grew wider, shaking the bag in his hand as the sound of the biscuits shaking inside filled the room. The atmosphere felt thick and uncomfortable, the energy radiating from the male in a blue polo unknown yet unsettling.

"I don't think it would be fair on Chishiya Shuntaro if you don't keep your promise on the bet.. don't you think?"

Y/N felt a pang of bravery in herself and used that small ounce of strength left in her to shove Sunato and run out the room, his laugh ringing in her ears as she stumbled down the flight of stairs back to her temporary place with Chishiya.

She arrived at the makeshift campout, panting heavily. Y/N then felt her delayed reaction, her legs shaking and turning to jelly, the hair on her arms still tingling against her skin. Chishiya got up and went to her, catching her as her legs gave way.

"Woah, are you okay? What happened? Where have you been?"

His questions were nonsense to her ringing ears, all she could hear was the dry eerie laugh that erupted from Banda as she rushed down the stairs out of the apartment complex. She could still smell the cup of tea, and the shaking of the biscuit bag.

Whoever the man in the blue polo was, Y/N didn't want to think about his name ever again.

However, a few hundred meters away from where she was, Sunato Banda sat on the very spot Y/N sat on in the couch, staring at the cup of tea that had now gone cold, the bag of biscuits still in his hand.

The man in the blue polo wouldn’t forget the girl that placed a bet because she assumed he was Jack of Hearts.

And he certainly wouldn’t forget the feeling of her soft palm as he shook her hand.

He wanted to feel it again.

A/N: Helloo, sorry I haven't been writing. I've been super busy since I just finished my junior moving up ceremony and I'm fixing my enrollment for senior high. Apologies if Sunato is slightly ooc, i did my best. I got motivated after I read a tumblr on this so it's slightly inspired. I hope you enjoy! You may put up requests on the Author's Note section before all the oneshots :)) Have a great day!

[lordgrimwing]

I am very curious about the Breeding AU and Art Therapy in Mandos, Feanor-style sounds simply delightful!

Art Therapy in Mandos answered here!

and the breeding au . . . oh gosh, this is tough. Here goes - but first some warnings

CW: lots of discussion about reproduction, things that can go wrong during pregnancy, and sexual assault. So, you know, be warned and go forward at your own discretion. oh, also mpreg. there's mpreg, too, because what's the point of a breeding au if half the population can't carry babies!

So, this all started because I had to take a comparative theriogenology (that's the study of reproduction in various domestic animal species) and I really disliked studying for most of it, so I decided to relate as much of the content as possible to elves and make it stick a little better. After some conversations with Nightie, these random ideas turned into a full au.

As many have likely noticed, lots of elves die fighting Morgoth. Lots of orcs die, too, but unlike the elves they seem to breed like rodents so there are always more of them, while the elven population steadily declines toward nothing. Realizing how untenable this situation is, most of the elves decide they'd better start having lots of babies to rebuild the population before they're wiped out. The Noldor, being the Noldor, of course turn this into a science to optimize the process and improve genetic diversity and have more strong warriors.

The main exception to this is the Feanorians. They've already accepted their doom at this point and have no interest (or supplied) in making babies. In fact, the Feanorians , being more LaCE compliant, are rather horrified by what they hear is going on.

Well, the third kinslaying happens. M+M get E+E and love grows between them, etc etc. The twins grow up, food grows scarce, and eventually M+M make the hard decision to send the half-elves away so that they don't starve to death.

Gil-galad is the natural choice as new guardian, of course. He's supported by the recent arrival of the Host of Valinor, and the twins are half Noldor. If anyone's going to accept two ill-kempt and weird peredhil, Gil-galad's the one.

The only problem being, of course, that the Feanorians all know that Gil-galad's people have the nasty habit of making everyone have children.

Maedhros and Maglor sit Elros and Elrond down before send thing them away. The twins already know about what might happened. They're scared but trying to keep a brave face because leaving is already painful enough without thinking about the future. Maedhros talks for awhile about what they've heard of the Noldor, and then makes a big point of telling the twins that as long as they firmly say 'no, we don't want to do that', they will be okay because the other elves aren't monsters and they won't force them - the twins just must be sure to always say no and never let anyone thing the answer could be anything else.

The twins leave.

Maglor watches them go and quietly whispers to himself that they'll be ok, that nothing bad will happen to them.

Maedhros looks at his bother, shakes his head, says 'You fool', and walks away to be alone.

Gil-galad accepts the sons of Elwing with open arms, shocked to realize they are alive. He gives them a tent near his, tells them to come to him if they need anything and he'll help or get someone to help (he is very busy after all). He let's them get settled in.

E+E try to adapt to their new lives. The camp is strange, there's so many customs and social norms they don't know and they've never seen so many children running around. They are very firm in their rejection of anyone who tries to get to know them better.

These youths were raised by kinslaying Feanorians, Gil-galad reminds himself after hearing several complaints about Elrond snapping at anyone who tries to talk to him and Elros starting nearly daily fist fights, he probably should have focused more attention on helping them integrate. So, he summons the twins for a chat to try to figure out how to help them adjust to their new lives and explain that, actually, civilized people don't bite people who say 'hi' to them.

He really was not prepared to have the evening conversation, held over dinner to help maintain a relaxed atmosphere, collapse into Elrond glaring at him while holding the cutlery in a clearly aggressive way and Elros shouting that they aren't going to let anyone force a baby into them. Once he composes himself, Gil-galad adamantly explains that none of his people are in the business of raping anyone and besides that, they've got a few more decades before their of age by elvish standards (even if they do look all grown up already).

And there you have it, that's most of the cohesive plot of the au. Then it's just kind of vaguely connected things once Elrond is all grown up and actually decides he wants to have kids with Celebrian and Gil-galad. And also him being a healer and dealing with some of the complications that can arise during pregnancy.

Oh, and of course Glorfindel and Erestor are here too. The issue being that Glorfindel is a mighty warrior, right? So he's supposed to have kids with other warriors to help make sure there's more epic fighters, but it turns out that these warriors all tend to not a great fertility so that doesn't work out so well. And Erestor is of course like a scribe or something so he's supposed to keep his hands off the warriors (he also isn't interested in having kids). Anyway, eventually they get to be together and it's nice.

Gosh, there's even a whole story worth of idea about some random elf and something going terribly wrong during the end of her pregnancy. Humans help her get to Rivendell so Elrond can help her.

-

And that's a wrap. If you made it that far, haha!, hope you enjoyed my insanity

Ask me about fics that live rent-free in my head!

[duckprintspress]

Fandom Lexicon: S

This one is going up a day early, because I’ll be vending all tomorrow (June 22nd 2024) at the Johnstown NY Toying Around Block Party! And here we are, with the letter S, which has the most entries of any letter in our entire lexicon.

View the entire Lexicon posted thus far!

See something incorrect? Notice an entry we’ve missed? Let us know!

Lexicon Entries Beginning with S: (read more)

S[#]: Abbreviation for “season (number).”

SALS: Abbreviation for “ship and let ship.” A different way of saying “you do what makes you happy, it’s none of my business.” See also: DL;DR, YKINMKATO (pending). Read more about the term “SALS.”

Sapphic: An umbrella term for women or women-aligned people who love women, regardless of the sexuality of the women in question. See also: Achillean. Read more about sapphism.

Schmoop: Cavity-inducingly sweet or cute. Typically refers to either scenes within, or the entire setting of, a fanwork. See also: fluff. Read more about schmoop.

Schroedinger’s [Thing]: A thing that may or may not exist so long as we do not attempt to confirm. Reference to Schroedinger’s Cat.

Scrunkly: Cute, but not in a conventional way; scruffy, ill-kempt, messy. Example: Eddie Munson.

SD: Abbreviation for “super deformed.” See also: chibi.

Sealioning: A type of trolling in which the troll demands evidence to “prove” a counterargument, but no amount of evidence will actually convince them. Read more about sealioning.

Secret Masters: A term for the people who run everything; in fandom, this has often been used to reference show runners. Sometimes, it abuts with antisemitic tropes. Sometimes, it leads into illuminati and other conspiracy theories. See also: TPTB (pending).

Self-Insert: When an author writes themselves into a story as a character, typically the protagonist. Often conflated with, but not actually synonymous to, a “Mary Sue.” Not to be confused with reader insert fics. See also: Gary Stu. Read more about self-inserts.

Self-Pub: Shortened term for “self-publishing” and “self-published books.”

Selfcest: When two versions of the same character engage in sexual relations (or are simply sexually attracted to each other). For example, a character has traveled back in time and meets themselves. Tangentially related to the “would you fuck your clone?” meme, and therefore sometimes called “clonecest.” Read more about selfcest.

Seme: In Japanese mlm fandoms, the seme is the character who sexually tops. See also: uke (pending). Read more about the term “seme.”

Sex Pollen: A fic trope in which a character inhales/consumes an airborne aphrodisiac and is overcome with sexual need. Read more about the sex pollen trope.

SFF: Abbreviation for “science fiction and fantasy” as genres.

SFW: Abbreviation for “safe for work.”

Shelfie: In book-loving circles, a shelfie is a photograph of someone’s bookshelves, often showing them attractively organized.

Ship: Shortened version of the word “relationship.” Believing that two or more individuals are/should be/would be good/terrible/interesting/hilarious in a relationship with each other. Typically used for romantic/sexual pairings, but can refer to platonic ones as well. Generally, romantic/sexual ships are denoted with a slash, hence slash becoming a synonym for shipping, and platonic ships are denoted with an ampersand. The verb form refers to the act of treating two or more characters as being in a relationship with each other. Shipping is one of the cornerstones of transformative fandom. Read more about shipping.

Shitpost: 1. Something shared on the internet that is intentionally provocative in some way. 2. Something shared on the internet that minimal effort was put into and that should therefore not be taken seriously. 3. A pointless, silly post that is still relatable in some way that causes it to go viral. Read more about shitposts.

Shoto: Shortened version of “shotacon.”

Shotacon: A Japanese genre that focused on young or young-looking male characters, often sexually. See also: lolicon. Read more about shotacon.

Shou: In Chinese mlm fandoms, the shou is the character who bottoms sexually. See also: gong.

Shoujo: A Japanese genre of YA stories that usually feature groups of young women who are friends, adventure, romance (most often between teenaged characters), and are aimed primarily at teenage women. Examples: Hana Yori Dango, Fruits Basket, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura. Read more about shoujo.

Shounen: A Japanese genre of YA stories that usually feature large casts of young men who are friends with each other and often engage in match-based story lines (for example, sports events, arena fights, etc.). Aimed at teenage men. Not to be confused with shounen ai. Examples: Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto. Read more about shounen.

Shounen-ai: A Japanese genre of mlm stories, usually with the relationships less explicit than in yaoi titles. Approximately a synonym of BL. Not to be confused with shounen. Read more about shounen-ai.

Slash: Gay fanworks, most often mlm. Sometimes used for wlw, or those works may be called femslash. Read more about slash.

Slow Burn: A story that contains a romantic/sexual element that takes most of the work’s word count to resolve. Can be used on works of any length but is most applicable on longer ones. Read more about slow burn.

Smushname: A smushed-together ship name, as in when parts of two or more character names are combined to create a new name used to refer to that ship. For example, Spirk means “Spock/Kirk,” Bingliushen means “Luo Binghe/Liu Qingge/Shen Qingqiu,” etc. Read more about smushnames.

Smut: Works that include explicit sex scenes. Read more about smut.

Snert: A term used to refer to someone as an asshole. Originally aimed at teenagers, it supposedly stands for “Snot-Nosed, Egotistical, Rude Teenager,” though there are variations on that and there’s no agreed-upon definition.

Sockpuppet: A fake account created on a given platform to present as someone other than/in addition to oneself. Not typically done in good faith. Also is used as a verb. Sockpuppeting is the act of creating multiple fake accounts to cheerlead someone, bully someone, advertise someone, etc. Sometimes shortened to just “sock.” The most famous instance of fandom sockpuppeting is the Ms. Scribe affair. Read more about sockpuppets.

Songfic: A fanfiction story written around (and usually including some lyrics from) a specific song. Read more about songfics.

SPAG: Abbreviation for “spelling and grammar.” A term often used when discussing copyediting, as in, “I edited for SPAG.”

Spam: Rapid/repeated activity or content sharing that may be annoying to others. Typically associated with low value/low effort content/activity, but volume and speed are the more important defining traits. Also used as a verb. Read more about spam.

Spam Liking: Going through someone’s social media account and “liking” many of their posts in rapid succession. Some people love when others do this, others feel it’s rude or even creepy. These differences in opinion are often generational and/or related to the platform being used (for example, spam liking is often considered fine on Tumblr but inappropriate on Instagram.)

Spec Fic: Shortened version of “speculative fiction,” the overarching genre that includes science fiction, fantasy, modern paranormal, horror, ~punk, and related subgenres.

Speedrun: Performing a lengthy activity in a time frame often deemed implausible or impossible by conventional measures by taking advantage of media-relevant shortcuts (for example: taking advantage of glitches, skipping nonessential episodes, and reading plot summaries). Originates in video game fandoms, where people speedrun to complete a game as quickly as possible. Read more about speedrunning.

Spiders Georg: A humorous way to refer to a statistical outlier who should not be counted when compiling data. Refers to a Tumblr post about a spider who eats 10,000 spiders a day and throws off the average spiders eaten a day statistic. A thing might be called [Thing] Georg if its behavior is exceptionally outside the ordinary and the person making the reference is amused by it. Read more about Spiders Georg.

Spork: 1. Outdated: To lovingly encourage a fanfic author to please write more (of a specific thing or in general). 2. The practice of mocking bad fic. Read more about sporking. 3. Noun: a fanwork created as a parody of a specific bad fic. 4. A combination fork and spoon.

Squee: A high-pitched happy noise, typically made in relation to a character, ship, or individual, but can also be in response to good news. Read more about the term “squee.”

Squick: Content that an individual would prefer not to interact with and/or finds uncomfortable. Not to be confused with a trigger (pending). See also: YKINMKATO (pending). Read more about squicks.

SSC: Abbreviation for “safe, sane, and consensual.” A term used by the BDSM community to define a baseline of expectations for sexual activities. See also: PRICK, RACK. Read more about SSC.

Stan: An unusually obsessed fan. Coined by Eminem in 2000 in a dark song by the same name. Often said to be a portmanteau of “stalker” and “fan.” Despite its dark origins, this work is often used as a light-hearted self-descriptor. See also: tinhat (pending). Read more about stans.

Strikethrough: Refers to when, in 2007, Livejournal performed a mass deletion without warning of accounts that it found objectionable, with devastating results for fandom. Coined because deleted accounts on Livejournal are marked with a line/strikethrough over their name. Read more about Strikethrough.

Sub: 1. A submissive in a BDSM Dom/Sub relationship. 2. A topic-focused messageboard (“subreddit”) on Reddit.

Super Deformed : An art style that puts extreme emphasis on certain body parts. For example: large chests, large heads, long legs. See also: chibi.

Superhell: A reference to the Big Empty in Supernatural, where angels go when they die. It is “superhell” because it is worse than actual hell (also present in the show), and in reference to the show title. Has come to be used synonymously with “a place where gay characters go to be disappeared from canon,” as in a variation on the “bury your gays” trope. See also: eeby deeby.

Sus: Shortened version of the word “suspicious.” A term with a complex history that became extremely common after the game Among Us became popular.

SW: Abbreviation for many things, with the most common being “sex work” and “Star Wars.”

SWERF: Abbreviation for “sex-work-exclusionary radical feminism.” A form of radical feminism that is anti-sex work and anti-sex workers and explicitly excludes sex workers from their activism. Fuck SWERFs. See also: TERF (pending).

[cosmik-homo]

I think not enough energy is taken, in the writing of the master- and I could be completely off base here I rely do need to watch pspt series 10 before I start mouthing off like this, but this is MY blog- not enough energy is applied to like. The "without witness, without reward" of it all. The master doesn't just do The Evilest Thing at any given moment cuz they're 🤪 cray cray w those drums 🤪. The master is perfectly capable of not being evil, often is charming or just a bit campy, and chooses to do destruction.

Terrible job rebooting a character do not pass go do not collect - they want attention! They specifically want to Rule The World or Destroy It to feel superior to others, and we literally see in their second ever episode their "big fear" is being a laughingstock, specifically by the doctor- the doctor getting over them, the doctor not taking them seriously. I've said before I really want, if we're gonna keep doing big morally exmaining Doctor-Master arcs, a really refined, polite and charming master, styled after Delgado's, who's traveling with a frenzied, ill-kempt and often abrasive doctor and often Apologizing for their friend's "poor behavior, I swear theyre (the doctor) a good person if you just give them a chance, please don't excuse them (until they're in the position for me to hatch my scheem) haha". Good is not nice and evil is not necessarily wantonly destructive, it's choosing to put your own ego and gratification above others.

(especially interesting if you are partial to the view delgado is actually the last master and this is his choice of retirement, Saturday morning cartoon chill villain games)

[commonguttersnipe]

Chapter 3: Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?

He was going to kill them one day. He really was. The non-stop bickering and screaming had brought Mr Cleese to the brink of madness and he was extremely close to being pushed beyond. With a firm thwack of a ruler against his desk, the class stopped whatever tomfoolery they had gotten into and spun to face him in record time. The willowy man stood there for a second, his face slowly becoming less red as his captive audience tittered in anticipation.

“Right! To-day, we shall be conducting the test for hydrogen gas, professionally known as the squeaky pop test” He emphasised his pronunciation on the p, for no other reason than he thought it was fun to say. “It will take the utmost amount of maturity, diligence and- What is it Isaac?” He sighed as the bedraggled boy put his hand up.

“Please Sir, will it be dangerous?”

“It will involve fire so yes”.

An excitable buzz arose from the group, though now, Mr Cleese was too tired to be annoyed. An overwhelming weight of disappointment hung over him as he tried to seize his pupil’s attention again. He turned on a Bunsen burner, switching it to a safety flame so all could see the magnificent orangey red blaze. He then pulled out a jar of hydrochloric acid and a small dish of magnesium strips.

“Who can tell me…” He paused for silence (which he more, or less, got) “Why this is the most appropriate method of finding Hydrogen gas?”

“It’s cheap”

“You can do it in twenty minutes”.

“Because hydrogen is colourless and odourless”.

“You ran out of ideas”.

He scanned the room.

“Who said it was because it is colourless?” Bevis Larch raised his hand. Mr Cleese pointed to him with a very subtle smile on his lips, indicating to the boy that he was indeed correct. Bevis grinned.

“We now pour some of this liquid into a vial and pop in a strip of magnesium” He demonstrated “Now we will…”

“Is this room 81?” A mousy, young woman had entered the lab, anxiously fiddling with a piece of paper with her red nails. Mr Cleese looked upon the stranger with an aroused curiosity. She didn’t look like a science teacher at all. Far too soft and pleasant looking. Though take off the glasses… She wasn’t half bad. Even if her jumper was far too large to have a proper look at her body. God, he was gross.

He nods “I wasn’t expecting an assistant though”.

“No, I know… I believe they have made a mistake” She gave him a charming smile. Christ, she’s going to be eaten alive…

He gestured to a lone chair at the very back of the classroom.

“I’m Frances, by the way”

“Right” He hurriedly indicated to the seat again, anxious to get the lesson going again after the interruption. After she had sat down, he let out a deep sigh and resumed explaining.

20 minutes later

“Now, I shall go through the safety regulations. One, no running with a lit splint. Two, watch where you put that flame. Three, If you hurt yourself… you brought it on yourself, man up”

All the students scraped their chairs across the floor as they stood up. There was a feeling of delightful eagerness in the room, which John hadn’t realised he had missed. Once hair had been tied up and bags placed under the desk, he took out the wooden splints and ordered his pupils to queue in an orderly queue.

“Ahem.” John turned to see two-year 13s by the door.

“Excuse me Sir, we’re here to talk about the school’s new medical society” A kempt young man, William Skife, smiled, a slightly less pristine boy clinging onto his arm. John knew him as Raymond Luxury-Yacht (though he could never pronounce it), as he had gained quite the reputation for faking illnesses to get out of class. Why he was hanging around someone as intellectually ambitious as Skife, John would never know… but he could guess.

“Skife, we’re a bit busy”.

“But I have a poster?” He almost whined.

“I made it,” Raymond smugly grinned.

Flicking them away like flies, John flung down the poster on his desk. Peeking across the rows of little heads, he noticed Frances intently staring at him. When she realised she had been caught, she uncrossed her legs and began to gaze at the ceiling. Murmuring something about safety flames, he left the students to light the splints and paced over to the unfamiliar admirer.

“I’m John”

“John” she repeated, soft as a cloud. It was like she hadn’t heard the most common name in the world before. Looking down at her, she was rather small and unremarkable. Dull green eyes, crooked nose and russet brown hair in a bun; Epitome of beauty she was not. However, her lips were plump, and a lovesick haze had painted her face with a vibrant blush. He’d even go so far as calling her… pretty.

“Frances, wasn’t it?”

“Yes!” She confirmed, overjoyed that he had caught her name “Frances Pinnet-Crump. I was supposed to be with Mr Jones, but I think there was a mix up… Had quite the hectic weekend. My mam has a new cooker, you see…”

John shut off at that point and instead focused on her, the young woman becoming increasingly attractive with each passing second. The smell of smoke brought him out of what was becoming a wet daydream and he swiftly turned to the direction of his desk which was half ablaze. The poster which he had thrown aside had caught a lite and was now burning like it had just been prosecuted by Matthew Hopkins. Students were screaming, he was screaming, everyone was screaming, except for Frances, who had borderline sprinted to the nearest fire extinguisher. Despite her quick thinking, she became stuck when using the instrument. Panicking, she passed it onto Louis, who most certainly didn’t know how to use it, and prioritised getting the students out of the building. Bert, believing this to be his hero opportunity, grabbed the extinguisher from him and ran towards the fire, automatically burning himself, his arm turning red.

John just kept screaming.

Ronnie surprisingly did know how to use it, and pulled the pin, quenching the flame with foam. Distant sirens meant that the fire department had been called (thanks to Frances) so everybody was left to look at the damage while slow-clapping Ronnie. Matron was now looking at Bert who was trying really hard not to cry. John felt sorry for him until he remembered that he was an idiot. Science classes across the year were cancelled, at least until they could find a new desk.

Mr Cleese, however, was in trouble.

In front of Headmaster Milligan, the 6,4-man felt tiny. Frances was standing beside him, though by her calm behaviour, she was probably going to blame it all on him. He didn’t know who he was going to blame yet.

“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement… John, mate. Out of everyone to not let an experiment go wrong, YOU WOULD LITERALLY BE THE PERSON WHO CRAFTED THAT LIST!”

John swallowed his breath as he was berated. Now he could understand why everyone feared him. This was a terrifying experience.

“Got anything to say?”

For once, John didn’t say anything. His voice seemed to want to crack and all he could spill were a few ‘umms’ and ‘wells’.

“May I say something, sir?” Frances smiled “I was reprimanding him on just this behaviour when the fire broke out. His lacklustre attitude to student’s safety? Why, If anyone is responsible for the fire it’s me.”

“But you were picking up on his failures on student welfare!”

“Causing him to be distracted!”

“But you were doing your job?”

“So they cancel each other out.” She said with a determined finish. John looked at her in awe. Clever little so-and-so.

That was apparently a good enough reason for John to be let off the hook, providing that Miss Pinnet-Crump supervised all of his lessons, for which she was only too happy to oblige.

“So… thanks for that.” They walked beside each other on their way back to the faculty dorms.

“No problem at all” A comfortable silence hung out between them, as they passed tree after tree.

“Do…Do you want to come back to my place?” John blurted out. It was blunt. It was crude. It was inappropriate.

“Fuck yes” It worked.

[blackjackkent]

All right, let's get a look round this place.

It's a pity we can't turn the camera up because judging by the size of its base, Moonrise Tower(s?) is huge.

The two guards at the front are human, but there are a bunch of ghouls roaming the ground floor balcony.

On approaching the place, I got an inspiration from Karlach for having explored every area of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Hector would have been just as happy not to, to be honest.

Going to do a quick circuit of the outer balcony pathway and then go inside, I guess.

The ghouls don't say much, but ramble about being "favoured" and "blessed" and that they will "conquer all." ("To be so favored *and* so blessed!" Gale comments sardonically. "One feels positively riddled with envy.")

The path on the right is completely shattered and blocked, but the path on the left leads to what appears to be an unlocked door on a lower level than the main stairs would take us do. Stepping inside triggers an immediate reaction from our Dream Guardian:

God, I hope so. Hector could use some answers.

This side entry way leads to what appears to be some sort of extremely ill-kempt kitchen full of mind-controlled gnolls.

Each of them has a nickname attached (these three are 'Barnabus', 'Tomelia', and 'Timothy') and they're all under mental domination from a nearby True Soul. Weirdly, they don't appear to really be doing anything; they're just standing there.

A door on the far side of the room leads to more of the outer balcony that we couldn't get to.

There's a sleeping kitty out here (yay) next to an enormous dead mind flayer tadpole (wtf).

Let's talk to the kitty!

Narrator: The feline eyes the parasite with a glint in her eye, intent clear: murder...glorious murder.

Yes please eat all the parasites. (That'd be a twist, wouldn't it - the Absolute brought down by kitty hunting instincts.) I think this one, however, is already dead.

[ANIMAL HANDLING] Hold out your hand, letting the cat sniff it.

Narrator: The cat ignores you, but her eyes stray to a small tunnel hidden in the wall. The message is clear - stay, if you wish, but she will flee at a moment's notice.

The cutscene then ended, and the cat did that little bap-bap thing with its paw at the dead parasite, and then walked over by Gale's feet and went back to sleep. XD

Continuing along the outer ring we find our way to the treasure cache that was marked on our map after we finished investigating the Selunite resistance in Reithwin. It's behind a heavy wall which I had Gale smash open with a smokepower bomb; luckily literally no one seemed to notice.

The collision on the broken wall is a bit questionable also:

But we got some gold and another thing checked off the list, so hooray! Time to go see what trouble we can get into inside the tower.

[laeorinel]

FFXIV Write 2023 - Day 12 - Dowdy

As Vivienne looked over the crowd, she couldn't stop her nose from wrinkling in disappointment. As one of the daughters of House Dzemael, she had come to the feast hosted by Ser Aymeric in the hopes of mingling with the wealthy and affluent elite of Ishgard, not this bunch of peasants. This was supposed to be a lavish affair! Certainly, the lower classes should be applauded for their bravery in fighting against their foes, but not here. This gathering was far above their station. 

Looking over some of the commoners' dowdy and ill-fitting clothes, she trembled with barely contained disgust. By the fury, she would never be caught wearing such garish garments. 

Draining her wine glass swiftly, she seriously considered turning and leaving. It would almost be worth the scandal. Still, perhaps the night would not be a complete waste. There were a few potential suitors among the crowd and a few others that would be perfectly suitable for an affair or two. 

One stood out from the others, a face she did not recognise, but his rugged good looks certainly enticed her. While clearly of common birth, he was at least one of the commoners who put some effort into looking the part. Somewhat clean and well-kempt white hair braided back, sun-kissed skin, a very well-trimmed beard and a surprisingly well-fitted suit that would not look too out of place on a lower-ranking Ishgardian noble. The tattoo on his neck was a bit of a negative, but it could be overlooked. 

Refilling her wine glass, Vivienne moved into the sea of nobles and commoners, meandering her way over to the handsome stranger. In the distance, Thancred was leaning back against the wall, keen eyes watching the crowd for potential threats. While most of the dangers within Ishgard had passed with the fall of Nidhogg, he knew there were still those who wanted to make attempts on Ser Aymeric's life and Samara's as well. Not all were willing to accept the changes coming to Ishgard. While he would typically have few concerns about Samara looking out for herself, here among the nobility was a battlefield she was unfamiliar with, one she could not conquer through brute force and sheer willpower alone. 

He spotted the approaching noblewoman before she was even halfway across the grand ballroom. The bright royal blue dress was rather hard to miss, even among the sea of other bright and gaudy finery. He kept his expression neutral even as he sighed internally, his typical rogue-ish smile falling into place as soon as she was within an ilm of him.

"Ah, wonderful. Finally, someone who can break up the tedium of this evening." The elezen woman wasted no time getting up close and personal with Thancred. 

"You are certainly rather forward, Madam."

Vivienne let out a shrill laugh that sounded less pleasant than nails on a chalkboard. "I know what I like and, more importantly, what I want. Now, be a good lad, and I can pay you a handsome amount of coin for your time."  

"Hate to break it to you, but he's taken..." came a voice behind the pair. 

Vivienne seethed as she turned to look at the person disturbing the two of them. "And just who do you think-" Then her blood ran cold. The Warrior of Light stood before her, wearing her odd crimson-red Eastern-styled garb. 

"Who do I think I am? His partner, for one. Given I'm the only Au ra here, I don't think I need to list my other accomplishments. I'm sure even a preening peacock of a floozy like you knows what they are." Said Samara in a deadpan voice as she brought a fresh wine glass for Thancred. He noticed her tale doing an odd little flick, almost like a whip, one he knew was a sign of irritation. 

Vivienne missed Thancred's raised eyebrow at the mention of being Samara's partner. She quickly let him go and moved away, looking as though she wanted the ground to swallow her up at that moment.

"I...we...a thousand apologies, Mistress Kha! I had no idea you and he were- I...I will make myself scarce. Please do not hold my indiscretion against me or my House!" Vivienne bowed deeply before dashing off, her face as red as the wine they were drinking. 

"She can move surprisingly quickly in that abomination of a robe," muttered Samara, handing the glass to Thancred. 

Thancred let out a chuckle as he accepted the wine glass. "I will not complain about the rescue, though I assure you, I would have been able to talk my way out of that...arrangement."

"I know, but what can I say? Putting egotistical nobles in their place has become my favoured past time here."

"Ah, so this was a mutually beneficial arrangement?"

"Something like that..."

"So...we are partners now, are we?"

"I...well...I had to come up with something on the spot that would make her disappear. And we are partners, just not those kinds of partners..." 

"Well then, we had best maintain the pretence. Many thanks, my lady." Thancred spoke in a very low voice, though whether it was just so others could not hear or because he knew the effect him speaking like that had on women was debatable. Bowing down, he took Samara's hand in his and laid a gentle, chaste kiss on the back of it. 

Thancred smirked as he saw the blush come over Samara's cheeks. He could hear the Auri woman stuttering and struggling to form coherent sentences as she took her place once again at his side, looking far more comfortable than she had at the start of the night. 

It had been some time since the two of them had been able to be like this. Just two friends lingering in each other's company, lightly teasing each other.  

[dykeyote]

13 abd 14 for the choose violence ask game >:)

13: oh my god elijah . oh my god elijah . i ranted abt this in the other post for this i did but literally i hate blorboified elijah so much it combines "woobifying a character who absolutely should not be woobified by any means" and "taking away everything that makes an absolutely fascinating character so interesting" and it literally makes me want to explode tbh!!!! ud think with elijah being so popular id at LEAST get the joy of seeing interesting analysis about him or something but no its just everyone talking about how hot he is or how silly he is or blah blah BLAH blah blah . it makes me so mad i am so sorry im like chomping at the bit

1(5): i dont read a lot of chnt fics bc i only read the ones that look REALLY INTERESTING so ill do fanart instead . jedidiah never looks bedraggled enough and it is an eensy weensy pet peeve but like ):!!!! make him look like he hasnt left his office in 5 days and fell asleep at the table at like 7 am ........ his hair would not be this neat and well kempt . not that im hating on anyones designs ppl should draw the characters how they see fit and the art is always so pretty but i will say that whenever i see jedidiah look like neat and proper im like ): that is not my guy!!!! what did u do to my guy!!!!!!!!