#internet isn't a place where you can just turn off your brain

[niteshade925]

真真假假 假假真真

真中有假 假中有真

真复为假 假复为真

真假分明 真假难分

[ladyniniane]

The worst Greek mythology retelling?

Unless you live in a cave (lucky you), you can't have escaped the wave of Greek mythology retellings. Some are bad, some are good and most of them are mediocre. Among those I've read, one was particularly bad and cringe and we are going to dissect it today.

PSA: As you can see, I didn't include the book's title in the post, nor use specific tags. This post is primarily aimed at me and my mutuals. If you disagree, feel free to block me and mask my username. You're the master of your ship and the only one who can curate your internet experience. Rude comments will be sent to the Tartarus blocked. And I mean, you aren't going to change my mind anyway so don't bother trying😎.

Now that we are done, let me introduce you to this book.

I already see some of you in the back rows being like "But Niniane, why did you bother with this? It's obviously going to be bad!". Well, sometimes I need things that are light and easy to read. Everyone needs to turn their brain off from time to time.

And besides, it looked inoffensive. The idea of modern women being isekaied during the Trojan War is fun. As a writer and enjoyer of OC fanfics, I absolutely love new takes and dynamics with existing characters.

Except that...it wasn't fun at all! Let's dive! And I hope you're prepared because it's gonna be a ride.

-So it starts with the goddesses being fed up with the Trojan War and male egos (Lego des Zhommes if you're French). They decide to find a way to stop the war. So far, so good.

-And their solution is to...send modern women back in time. Yeah, because they think that ancient-era women are too weak and meek. Only independent modern women will be able to handle those strong warriors:

"modern mortal women are different from ancient women [...] they're independent and smart and not used to bowing down and taking orders [...] maidens from the ancient world are not equipped to handle such a man, but I know that modern mortal women are different ---stronger, smarter, more independent."

Yes, you've read correctly.

First of all, it reeks of victim-blaming. If the Trojan women had been more assertive, they could have stopped this. It could have prevented them from being raped and enslaved! They just had to lean in and...Stop, stop. And I'm sorry but those ancient women are more equipped with dealing with that sort of men because they live with them every day. Idk the goddesses could have just...empowered the Trojan women so they could resist? Send the Amazons to help (with more success than in the original myths)? Give them a safe place where they could be protected?

-So, anyway, the heroine is transported in the body of a Trojan princess. But there is another problem. The heroine's friend who transmigrates with her is black. And she gets turned into a white woman. The reason? "Jacqueline’s lovely dark skin would be too hard to explain among the golden Greeks"(sic.). Here, we can see that the author didn't bother doing her research. Many stories regarding the Trojan War have an African king come to the Trojans' aid. The ancient world was furthermore interconnected. So yes, it would have been f*cking easy to explain. And to add insult to injury, our black woman turned white becomes the servant of the main character and is treated as her property.

-So anyway, MC becomes Achilles' war prize. And being a war prize is such a cool and fun life! You can wander around the camp, with no fear of being sexually assaulted!

-MC is a therapist and wants to try to help Achilles. She thus practices hypnosis on him and decides to have sex with him while he's still in that state. So, she basically rapes him. The worst thing: she knows it's wrong, but she does it anyway and she isn't sorry.

-Then, Achilles tells the MC that he has frequent bouts of berserk rage and that he even raped a woman. But he didn't mean to do it. Poor meow meow.

Needless to say, I stopped here. This wasn't fun, this was downright insensitive. The ending is predictable: MC ends up with Achilles and MC's best friend with Patroclus because no one can stay single!

Anyway, that was, imo, the worst Greek mythology retelling.

[daughter-of-sapph0]

the reason this website works while others fail is because the main dash is in reverse chronological order and only shows posts by people you choose to follow.

algorithms never work. a computer will never know what someone wants to see more than the actual person. it might give you some content that people can turn off their brains and consume for a few hours. but tumblr doesn't have "content". it doesn't have family friendly short form tiktok videos for people to scroll through for hours. it doesn't have arguments about petty internet drama where people tell each other to kill themselves for disagreeing like twitter does. like, sure those things can exist on tumblr but they aren't the main point of tumblr.

tumblr isn't content. it's conversations and art and writing and music and pictures and movies and experiences and people's lives being shared with their close friends. the reason this website works is because of the fact that their is no algorithm.

algorithms do not work for a website like tumblr. I only want to see the posts and reblogs from people I follow. the people I follow share similar interests to me and share and create posts that I know I will enjoy. even if there's a blog that posts one thing I really like, if the rest of their blog is stuff I have no interest in, I won't follow them.

staff says that the current model unfairly rewards popular blogs.

first of all, rewards them with what? clogged notification? that hardly seems like a positive, and I should know.

secondly, so what? no one cares if anyone is popular or not. follower counts aren't public. blogs don't get popular. certain posts get popular.

also thirdly, their solution to the "popular blogs" issue is to introduce an algorithm which will either:

just promote the posts of blogs with lots of followers, therefore making the "problem" they're trying to fix bigger

recommend posts from smaller blogs who do not want the attention and will end up getting "ew why am I seeing this garbage" on their personal vent posts

completely ruin the whole reason people follow tags and tag their posts in the first place and will end up thinking that non-fandom posts that aren't tagged from fandom blogs should be shown to people in that whole fandom (see point 2)

show posts to people who have no interest in them, such as showing posts about photography to people who only use tumblr to talk about video games, or vice versa

will end up promoting posts by fascists and terfs that staff still will not ban

the whole idea of an algorithm is a fucking stupid idea to implement on tumblr, and I hope that all the executives who decided to push for the idea get fired.

@staff @wip @changes @support this as a warning. no one on tumblr wants an algorithm. you can check the notes on your recent post, and it's all unanimous. people will leave this site en mass if you implement it.

you will not gain more users with an algorithm. anyone who would ever use tumblr has already jumped ship from twitter and reddit and tiktok. all those websites are currently failing because of poor executive decisions, and trying to make tumblr like them will be a death sentence. the only reason people join tumblr is because it isn't like every single social media website.

if new users wanted something similar to twitter, they'd join one of the dozens of twitter clones that will be shut down in a few weeks, like threads or bluesky or whatever the fuck they're called. people don't come here because they want twitter. people come here because they want tumblr. and an algorithm will fundamentally change and ruin what tumblr is

you will not gain users from an algorithm. but you will certainly lose them. it is a terrible decision that no one will like.

[al-the-remix]

Random fandom thoughts/feelings

The reblog button is turned off on this post but I think it's another incredibly important one to be thinking about. I enjoy their framing of how the profit economy of other social media sites has been bleeding into fandom spaces on both tumblr, and like this post focuses on, Ao3. It's something that I've been noticing more and more and it really rubs me the wrong way and I feel like OP's post words it perfectly in a way I've been struggling to express.

This sort of connects the previous post I reblogged on the topic talking about how fandom is not a good in road for becoming internet famous.

A facet of this that's really bamboozled me recently is that I feel like i've been seeing more and more of is the idea that a singular person has a right to call "dibs" on a specific piece of media. Which is honestly totally fucking wild to me and if I'm being totally frank kind of dumb.

Every single one of us who interacts with fandom and by extent and IP is flirting with copy right law, the consequences of which everyone should be extremely familiar with by now with the fall of LJ and various lawsuits by authors, dmca notices, etc.

We have all heard the adage "there's no such thing as an original idea"; the idea that everything we create is the amalgamation of all the things that influence us, good and bad.

This is totally normal and good, actually.

For example, if I and another person both watch a TV show, see a production photograph that we really like and decide to draw it and post them one after the other it would be considered extremely bad behaviour to then turn around and make a big stink about how someone else had the gall to turn around and draw the same thing that I did. We can all look at a picture, video, lyrics to a song, become inspired and create something wildly different based on our tastes and influences--but we also are equally, if not more so, likely to create something nearly identical to our peers, especially in a fandom space where ideas are concentrated and we are all consuming each other's thoughts, opinions, and creations. More than once I've come up with an idea for a fic or a drawing that someone else had had a nearly identical execution of without us communicating or viewing each other's work. That's just the way the human brain works, we're hard wired to make connections in a fairly similar way.

You do not have a right to call dibs on any one photograph, clip of video, song lyrics or any other bit of media you might consume.

This stands for artists, writers, gif makers, AMV creators, and any other way you choose to express your love of fandom creatively.

If you are really hard pressed to focus on the numbers and work at being ~influential~ the burden is on you to distinguish yourself creatively.

There's a reason why not being able to see follower counts is so important to the way fandom and tumblr functions. The concept of ~small creators~ and ~big creators~ or BNF or whatever are all burdens you place on yourselves. No one is taking anything away from you by engaging with the same bit of media you are in a similar way. We all have a right to express ourselves creatively and emotionally through any snippet of media that sparks our interest. You do not get to "own it" just because you happened to pump something out first. There are no creative "dibs". This isn't even some sort of "fandom" etiquette thing that has gone thus unspoken. It's a strange possessive thing that I've seen crop up more and more as the idea of being a capital "C" Creator brain rots people's minds and atrophies their ability to be creative.

Sort of on a tangent, but I have a bunch of other personal random thoughts about how this push to be prolific stagnates fandom, but these are more complicated for me and I'm not as clear on how I want to express them. On one had I am completely on board with the "there is no such thing as cringe" mindset and that everyone has a right to create whatever super indulgent thing they want to without having to suffer people being snobby about it. But, on the other hand I feel very strongly that the cycle of people seeing one trope or characterization being repeated repeated over and over and gaining popularity, reading only that--writing only that--leading others to also only consume that, really stymies creativity and makes it harder to grow the fandom if people that are trying to enter aren't into That One Thing, while also ostracizing people who are already in the fandom that aren't into That One Thing. I strongly believe that people's tastes are at least 70% just what they're exposed to, and obviously not everyone is going to be into whatever weird niche concept they're exposed to through fandom, but the more they are the more opportunity they have to expand that horizon. I don't know how many times I've gotten a version of the "I wasn't sure I would like this but I gave it a shot and it turns out I really love it!" and how good that feels and how much I wish other people were emboldened to do the same instead of being so wrapped up in how their work may or may not be received.

This is mostly a subjective thing though, so it's less cut and dry. Like for example, I really struggle with engaging with transgender fic despite being transgender myself because of the way most AFAB fic is written to the point where I avoid it now almost entirely. Which, frankly, really fucking sucks but also I will be the first person to fight for other's ability to write transgender characters wether they appeal my personal feelings and taste or not.

Anyway, this is one of the reasons I'm so protective of fandom community events, especially ones that employ aspects of the fandom gift economy such as exchanges. There are one of the few wholly un self-centred places left where the focus is on gifting someone something they will love and giving back to the fandom at large by flooding it with art and opportunities appreciation and engagement with each other. It is not supposed to be an opportunity for you to think about yourself and "getting something good" in return or using it a convenient deadline. It also offers you an opportunity to engage with fic tropes and genres that you've never considered writing or reading before.

TL;DR if you've found yourself recently squabbling over how many notes your gifs, art, writing, etc. has been getting compared to other people instead of focusing on forging community ties and your own creative expression, I'm sorry to say you're doing it wrong.

[soundwavefucker69]

a lot of y'all want people to flip left in theory, but not in practice, bc you do not want to put in the work to figure out how someone gets to where they're at and how to figure out how to pull someone back from the edge.

listen. i grew up in an evangelical Pentecostal church denomination that is actually registered on the American cult index. the ONLY reason i wasn't homeschooled was bc children were expected to browbeat all those filthy sinning six year olds on the playground. i don't think y'all realize testimonies and recruitment is an actual tactic to make the world big and mean and scary and make you think from a young age that the whole world hates you for your faith. its primary purpose is NOT to get new people in the church. its primary purpose is to keep people in churches for GENERATIONS. better to just have em breed and keep turning out the output than bring in new people, you know?

and it works. it works.

the thing about deprogramming is you don't suddenly wake up one day and be like "actually everything i was ever taught was wrong and bad and i have hurt so many people and need to go perfectly publicly apologize right now and phrase it in the absolute perfect way that is above reproach." like. it is actually a process. you need to wake up one day and go huh. i don't think i agree with this thing the pastor said. and then that thought kinda bubbles around in your brain a bit and grows and crests and then becomes another thought. huh. my pastor says queer people are of the devil, but my friends on tumblr are all really kind to me, and haven't tried to fuck me.

i don't remember my username from back then, but i am not fucking kidding in saying tumblr jumpstarted my deprogramming around 15/16. and it took years. it took actual fucking years. i eventually deleted that old tumblr bc there was so much shit on it i wasn't proud of and moved on and eventually made my way back.

deprogramming is a fucking process. you start by justifying the people that did this to you. then you get angry. you get mad. you realize you were a victim in every sense of the word. then you settle into a comfortable place where you realize you were a victim, and so were they, and that's just how it goes.

the problem with deprogramming is you have to also recognize abusive people can also be fucking victims. and that kind of destabilizes the generally accepted view of victims.

not everyone can actively handle deprogramming someone. it's fucking hard. a lot of the work has to be done by them, and they have to want to do the work. i cannot handle deprogramming someone. i'm too traumatized and i get too upset. it's not one big realization that changes your entire worldview. it's little realizations, over a long course of time. sometimes you slip up and realize years down the line that you're still thinking that way, just dressed up in respectability politics. it's easy to get caught up.

that's the current problem with the current trend of gen z being like the internet police on a scale we have not seen before. bc everyone assumed their parents did the fucking work, but their parents didn't, not really, and now they're fucking insane. everyone went hands off as everything about the internet pointed to a trend of sanitization for corporate interests, and now it's a huge fucking mess where every space on the internet needs to be "child friendly" and all these kids have grown up with that where they were coddled as the internet was made "safe" for them and their parents' sensibilities. like sure, yeah, twitter is fine for a thirteen year old, there's no porn on it. so when they're confronted with actual adult topics, they freak the fuck out. they're so fucking sex repulsed and critical thought is not encouraged at home. safe internet practices are not encouraged. if something that exists on their morally pure internet that isn't supposed to be there, it's a problem.

like i'm not kidding in the aspect we do actually have to deprogram these kids. they're getting worse and worse and inventing new things to not meet their moral purity laws. like height differences are pedophilia coded nowadays. it's fucking bizarre. conflict in a relationship where one person is in the wrong is abusive. they are entirely unprepared for the real world.

but like. it's not happening. the deprogramming is not happening and they're ascribing to new moral panics that just build and build on top of each other. they're radicalizing each other. but like... to deprogram, you do actually have to have compassion. you do have to look and see where things went wrong, where it started, and you do have to be patient. and part of deprogramming means not making an actively hostile space for people to unlearn this shit. bc people on the outside of their echo chambers being hostile is what reinforces the echo chamber. that's just how it fucking works.

i'm not saying you shouldn't go out of your way to reach out to people. no, you don't have to do that. just... if you see someone else doing the work, don't get in their way. i've seen a lot of YouTubers that dedicate themselves to interrupting the alt right pipeline getting fucking slammed for their work and drowning under mass harassment campaigns, and it's not helpful. like, if they're doing something wrong, you can correct them nicely and move on. not lead a mass harassment campaign, bc the people unlearning from their work look at that and go. ha. yeah. no.

anyways. that's it.

[olivieblake]

hi olivie!! big fan i’m in love with ta6 and am looking forward to reading more of your work. one of my social media platforms (my book / pop culture youtube channel!) has gained an unprecedented # of followers! which is great! i suppose the reason i make youtube videos is for people to watch them… but do you have advice for this scenario? where overnight you suddenly seem to have SO many more eyes on you than normal? how do you deal with the pressure of being an “influencer” when what you’re doing is following your passions & you have gained an audience! it’s a good problem to have, i know. im curious for your take <3 thank you!

oh god well you've come to the right place I guess, in terms of people who went from underrated to overhyped over the course of about 48 hours. it's a blessing of course but also in some ways a burden, especially when it comes to creating art, which is by nature subjectively made and interpreted. so, do I have advice... not really! I actually don't think that internet/social media "fame" (microfame lol) is something the human brain is meant to withstand. with every surge of popularity WILL come a surge of haters, that's just the nature of the game, and while I think you can convince yourself on some level to interpret that as a good thing, it's still hard to shake off the effect of what some people think is appropriate to say, especially in those kinds of volumes. not that this is about me

I think I generally have pretty good boundaries, but I've really gotten to a point where I have to admit to myself that there is no conceivable way to have skin thick enough for everything, shy of psychologically warping in a potentially bad way to cope with it. so, I guess my main piece of advice is: remember what you're doing and why you're doing it. always come back to that, because what you're making isn't for everyone, and therefore inevitably people will criticize or complain. don't forget that the people who interact with you, especially the ones who do so to be negative, are only a fraction of your audience, most of whom are consuming your work silently, and they are only a TINY SLIVER of the actual world, which is filled with people who care about you and want you to succeed. go outside. seriously. literally. turn off your devices and remember where life is actually happening. never create content directed at the haters—it only hurts the people who support you and will never do anything to change or educate the trolls. overalll, my advice is the same advice to my husband, who is occasionally frustrated by the problem students in his classroom. address the person in the room who wants to learn from you. focus on the person who is actually listening, because they're the person you will really, meaningfully reach

[chatsukimi]

555 (kenma kozume)

pining pining pining, fluff, slight angst (?), gamer!reader, highschool!reader, canon-compliant. part ii of 5am.

'Kenma seems to have it in for someone.'

'Who is it?'

'Internet café kid.'

Some people don't understand what games mean to players. To them, it's just a bunch of moving figures on a screen. At the back of an internet café, though, covered head to toe with sweat from the latest heatwave, there is a representation of what the gaming world has done for society. It's taken two kids who would otherwise be anywhere else and placed them together, a little madness where the brain should be.

You know it's nothing to be scared of.

'Concentrate.' Kenma nudges you softly.

He texts.

Kenma: 555.

Outside the door, two of Kenma's high school friends are making a bad attempt at redirecting a tourist who probably thought this place was a cat café.

'Sorry. Are you sure your friends won't mind waiting?' you say, finishing off one of the villains in the video game.

Kenma hums.

You two win, full stars. The part afterwards is always awkward. You grab your schoolbag. Kenma slides out of his seat, so you can exit. Making friends isn't easy, you think, balancing with your heavy bag in one hand so as not to slip.

'I watched your stream,' he says.

'Oh?'

'Yeah.' His eyes never fail to wrack an invisible shiver through you. 'I liked it.'

Lucky you've had four months of experience keeping your cool. You smile and tug him out towards his friends, letting go when they turn around. 'M'glad.'

'Kenma! You had us waiting for an hour.'

'Our game wasn't finished,' Kenma mutters.

'Sorry to keep you waiting.' You bow.

Kuroo, the rooster-head, freezes, narrowing his eyes, before he loosens up.

'Any friend of Kenma's is a friend of mine.' He says, 'we were thinking of getting some fish with Yamamoto. You wanna join us?'

You remember Kenma explaining why he was stuck doing laps at the height of summer with guys twenty centimetres taller than him.

'I do volleyball?'

'Sounds like a question more than an answer,' you had replied.

His volleyball friends still scare you by appearing at the internet café spontaneously. Your pact is with Kenma, not his schoolmates.

You shake your head. 'Thank you, but I'll probably have dinner at home.'

You walk to the nearest bus stop and take a ride back home. After dinner, you shoot Kenma a message.

Y/n: Wanna level up?

On normal days, he responds in three minutes, max, which is why you're restless in no time, five minutes, for his icon to display as active.

Kenma: The last week of the last round

You watch the text bubbles float onto the screen. Something in your chest clenches.

Kenma: I'll be in Miyagi

Kicking your legs up onto the table, you toss your phone across the bed. This guy... he’s probably going to Miyagi for volleyball.

You and Kenma had pledged to win every round of this gaming competition, defeat every contestant in Tokyo, and use the prize money to upgrade the tech you two use. You inspect the broken mic hidden behind the school books. Could you learn to fix it, possibly?

Some minutes pass before you hear another ding from your phone.

'This guy...' You press a palm to your face.

Kenma: You should come with me to Miyagi.

...

It's five pm and three people sit at the back of the internet café. You, Kenma, and the beloved Kuroo Tetsurou. Friday afternoons always boast a handsome aroma of coffee and regular chatter. Only, you had not anticipated to be the prime annoyance.

'It's on the weekend. Fukurodani has a great volleyball team.'

'Have you considered the fact we aren't in the same school?'

'Of course.' Kenma glares at your blue and grey uniform like it's the most detestable thing in the world.

'Alright, people. Kenma, why do you need this kid with you when you game? Isn't it... online?'

You stare at Kuroo, answering instinctively, 'better communication.' Duh. 'Would you rather text or speak during volleyball?' With how bad you're holding back, your voice trembles.

'Volleyball isn't gaming.'

Why, what's the difference? Both use hands! It's just in one you choose to get tired, you think to yourself.

'You'll die in a minute if you don't play together, in the last challenge,' Kenma says.

You wince at the thought. Kuroo feigns hurt, placing his hand over his heart.

'Ganging up on me, what is this?'

'I think I've figured it out,' you mumble. Kuroo and Kenma pause their staring contest. 'Hey, Kuroo...' This is the last resort, it really is. '... do you know Bokuto Koutarou?'

'Bo-kun!'

...

'My apologies, Bokuto-san. I won’t falsify documents for a volleyball camp we are not going on. If you want to lie to their parents, you can do it yourself,' you paraphrase. 'That's what Akaashi said.'

Kenma turns to face you. Too bad Tokyo has light pollution. It is twelve am, midnight, and you're lying on the rooftop of an apartment building, a fizz in the air concocted by the honk of cars and the bright broadcast panels flashing over the crossroads and the way his hands find yours.

Deft, small, delicate.

'We're not giving up,' he says.

It's another world up here. The concrete beneath your head feels both rough and smooth. You could laugh with certainty no one would hear you, and cry, the same. The stress in your head drains to your toes.

'You're so...' Your brain catches up with your mouth. '... so you.'

Your thumb brushes over his index finger, then knuckle; each, used to flitting over the controls. You think you know how he functions. You think he knows about you too.

Kenma lifts his hand, bringing yours with him, and hooks his pinkie tight around yours. 'You're you too.'

Whatever you is.

It is like the first time: you look at him, and it feels like you've bared a scratch of your soul, more than you've shown anyone else, more than you knew before.

Instinctual as gaming.

Yet breathless.

...

Coach Nekomata sends an official manager permission form for the trip to Miyagi. The red school logo is edited to blue. A sweat-inducing meeting with you (dressed in Nekoma uniform) and the coach convinces him that if their brain needs a manager, he is in no place to refuse. He lets Kuroo figure out the logistics. Later, Kenma borrows Bokuto's jersey, before it is decided maybe Kuroo is a better fit.

So, Kuroo comes to your house. Over dinner, he persuades your parents the “Fukurodani Volleyball Team” needs their manager with them on a trip to Miyagi. He deserves an Oscar Award for charming your mother so much as to eye you suggestively: this boy deserves to be your boyfriend.

After dinner, you sit in your room and game, Kuroo inspecting your shelf full of knick-knacks.

'I can't believe I'm here before Kenma,' he muses.

'Kenma was never forced to meet my parents.' You keep your head down. 'It's better he doesn't.'

Kenma plays more recklessly than usual. You two pass with two stars. Kuroo cranes over your shoulder. You can smell his grin from a mile away.

'What is it?'

'There are certain things you won't tell Kenma, huh?'

'Eh? Like what? Wipe that smile off your face. That's creepy. I'm never inviting you to my house again.'

From behind his back, he reveals a polaroid taken of pudding-head at an arcade, two months old. You reach at Kuroo's wrist, but he raises his arm higher, an absolute taunt. You chase him. He scrambles back, unlocking the door to run out, laughing like a bloody maniac.

'You sly neko!'

'Y/N, is there something wrong?' your dad says, standing outside your door.

No. Nothing is wrong. You shake your head. Then, you speed-walk down the corridor.

Not this door- not that one-

Ha!

You enter a dark room, feeling a hand slithering up your arm. Your hand goes splat on top of something (like a nose?) and your other hand reaches around the thing to click the lights on. The bathroom flashes to life.

'Reserve the name-calling for snakes, will you?' says Kuroo, removing your hand from his face. ‘When we play Nohebi, you better cheer us on as ardently as you hide your affections.’ Good-naturedly, he pats your shoulder. 'And don't jump to slapping the instant I meet your gaze.'

'Has Kenma ever said you use big words?'

‘Normally, he doesn’t talk about me.’

'Annoyed, I bet?'

'Distracted.'

'Hm...?'

'With you.'

In your room, the phone on the desk glows. A message pops on the screen.

Kenma: r u online?

'That's unfortunate,' you say. You don't know what you think.

Your bathroom has a mirror alit with two reflections. You, and Kuroo, sporting a cunning grin, and a dark blue blazer. Traffic clogs the street out your window. You, instead, imagine sinking your hand into a soft grey hoodie, pushing the cat-languid body against the sink. You can, you can, you won’t; because you don’t know if you will regret it tomorrow.

‘Normally, he’s too busy playing with some kid at an internet café. I don’t think the kid cares about volleyball one bit. But he’s prevailed all these years. It makes me wonder, what does he do about the things he does care to spend his energy on?’

‘Volleyball is not simple,’ you answer, 'it makes sense some don't like it.'

Kuroo shrugs, his expression relenting. ‘If you don’t play well, it’s game over.’

That, you can get behind.

‘I’m going to ask you a rhetorical question.’ Kuroo shifts, facing you entirely.

‘Fire away.’

He tilts his head the other way, as though to shed the brunt of impact from his statement to come.

‘Are you two just a game?’

At five-fifty-five, you wander in on Kenma at the internet café, in the seat he first took, chewing a mint. You slide into your regular table, five steps away. The café owner looks at you almost pitifully. You open your game. A slow loading screen lasts -seemingly- in seconds. You’re distracted by the clock, and the person five steps away. When he doesn’t turn around, you play one round, then another, as many as it takes to remember promises are half-hearted. When you play, you can lose, and lose, and lose.

It is another world, but somehow it doesn't hurt any less.

'What does that mean? Five-five-five,’ Kuroo had once asked.

You had said, ‘go-go-go. Don’t stop or think.’

The second hand on the clock ticks by.

Go, go, go.

You waste them all by staring.

Staring.

You hear him at the back of your mind.

(Kenma: 555)

---

part iii is here

555 in Japanese sounds the same as go, go, go, so, according to google, it is used in gaming. Also, is this plot too confusing? I tend to jump between places and stuff, but hopefully you got the gist of it. Hope you enjoyed!

[mokacheer]

Hey do you reblog ai art?

I do on occasions but I usually tag it if I notice that it is AI art, I'll tag it with " #ai ". Why did I not tag something that was AI? A lot of the time I mindlessly add posts to my queue so unless it's in the immediate tags or in the description, I literally won't notice if it's AI or not unless super obvious or I am actually awake while queuing.

And the following isn't meant to come off rude directly towards just you but it has been bought to my attention multiple times why AI art is bad and such or I get a lot of asks like this one. It's getting annoying atp, again not your fault I understand you just don't want to reblog and or advocate for that whatever. But damn I am human and like to turn my brain off and put pretty pictures on my blog without thinking. The internet, tumblr, a blog is not a serious place for probably a lot of others to get asks like these where they probably have to feel like they need to patrol what they reblog afterwards. You never know how someone can react to things now a days.

^ thats just for anyone in the future that sends me asks like this. ill tag it if i notice it or if my brain is on. thats about all i can be asked to do, with love <3

[sciencestyled]

Explosions of Genius: When Beakers Become Brushes

Imagine, if you will, a world where the periodic table is not just a sleep-inducing laminate on the classroom wall but a vibrant palette for the next viral art movement. This isn't your grandma's watercolor class; this is Chemical Art Forms, where safety goggles meet the avant-garde, and the only rule is that there are no rules, except for those pesky safety regulations.

Let's kick off with a scene: a lab that looks like Picasso and a mad scientist had a baby. In one corner, there's an experiment that resembles the aftermath of a unicorn sneeze—glittery, shimmering, and inexplicably sticky. This is the domain where science education and art not just hold hands but do the tango in zero gravity. The fusion of these fields is not merely interdisciplinary; it's an all-out, rave-inspired, glow-stick-fueled party where electrons and paint pigments drop it like it's hot.

Consider the classic elephant toothpaste demonstration, a favorite amongst both pyromaniac teens and weary chemistry teachers. It's not just a foamy spectacle; it's a metaphor for life's unpredictability, a visual sonnet about the chaos inherent in the human condition, presented with the pizzazz of a Broadway showstopper. This reaction, combining hydrogen peroxide with a catalyst, churns out an overflowing mass of bubbles in a display that could rival the finale of a fireworks show, teaching us that sometimes, things need to implode spectacularly to reveal their true beauty.

And then, there's the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, the chemical equivalent of a Jackson Pollock painting coming to life. It’s a swirling, pulsating party of colors that refuses to settle down, like a rave where the beats never stop and the floor is a living entity. This reaction is the perfect allegory for the internet's attention span—constantly shifting, never resting, and absurdly mesmerizing. It teaches us the beauty of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, a term that sounds like it was coined by someone who enjoys complicating simple concepts for the sheer thrill of it.

But why stop there? Let's dive deeper into the rabbit hole with chemiluminescence, the science behind glow sticks. Break one, and you kickstart a rave in your hand—a silent disco for molecules excited by their own energetic dance. This is the chemical world's version of going viral: a sudden burst of fame and light, illuminating the night for a fleeting moment before fading into obscurity, a poignant reminder of our own quest for momentary glimmers of recognition in the vast darkness of the internet.

These experiments aren't just about awe-inspiring reactions; they're a subversive commentary on the educational system itself. They poke fun at the traditional, dry approach to science education, injecting humor and life into subjects that many had written off as terminally boring. It's like turning a Shakespearean tragedy into a meme-filled TikTok saga, complete with costume changes and unexpected plot twists.

Chemical Art Forms is a rebellion against the mundane, a manifesto written in bubbling beakers and exploding colors. It's where the left brain and right brain collide, resulting in a glorious explosion of creativity and logic. This fusion creates a spectacle that's not only visually arresting but intellectually stimulating, proving that learning can be a wildly entertaining adventure.

In this bizarre laboratory, the marriage of science education and art gives birth to creations that are as thought-provoking as they are beautiful. It's a place where you can witness firsthand the transformative power of combining knowledge with imagination, where scientific principles are not just understood but felt, in every shimmering color and unexpected reaction.

So, next time you find yourself yawning through a lecture on chemical reactions, remember: within those formulae lies the potential for the next great art movement, one that promises not just to illuminate the mind, but to set the soul on fire. In the end, Chemical Art Forms is more than just an educational curiosity; it's a vivid reminder that the world is a canvas, and science is just one of many brushes we can use to paint our masterpiece.

[caffeineandsociety]

One thing that I find simultaneously very baffling and very telling about the current wave of LGBT+ conservatism and sex-negativity is...

Where did this obsession with incest come from?

Pedophilia, I get where that came from - our society is creepily obsessed with youth, and while "pedophilia" is...okay look that's a whole can of worms, clinically it refers to attraction to actual living prepubescent children specifically because they are children, colloquially it implies ACTION on that/an actual literal child molester, but it's been weaponized against so many marginalized groups (especially POC and queer people) that at this point it's just turned into a rallying cry implying "ATTACK THAT GUY TO SAVE KIDS FROM GETTING MOLESTED" to get people to turn their brains off and act without noticing the subtext and most fears of it are DANGEROUSLY misguided, but even so it's PAINFULLY easy to see how you can start from critiquing how creepily socially acceptable ephebephilia can be (which genuinely needs to be criticized!!) - and you see that most of the people who care about the difference are creeps trying to use it to say "nuh-uh, I'm not a creep, I want to molest TEENAGERS, not ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS, that's fine!" and you decide "no, I'm not going to play your game, I'm going to use the word everyone recognizes as colloquially meaning 'child abuse' because call it whatever you want, abusing a 14-year old isn't 'better' than abusing a 10-year old" and that can get turned into the fear of...whatever else someone wants to demonize under the specter of pedophilia even in someone who knows about the corrupt usage of the word. Furthermore, child abusers are...somewhat good? at using the internet to find new victims - even though they're one of the least common online threats, mostly what you see is scams and most child abuse is STILL committed by family or authority figures offline, but that's another issue for another day, the point is that we know that assholes creeping on kids online is at least something that HAPPENS, so in that context, it's pretty easy to start from a place of concern for internet safety and end up destructively hypervigilant.

But incest?

One, how do you expect incest to ever be normalized? There are no even somewhat widespread phenomena you can point to that suggest this is even possible, like you can with "barely legal" being a popular porn category or manosphere memes that center on how teenagers don't know better than to run away from creeps like them. When incest shows up in media it's almost always code for deep corruption. It's a pervasive negative stereotype of the poor in red states. How do you expect a few people with taboo kinks to turn that completely on its head?

Two, if that WERE possible, what is the threat here, particularly to the people you're saying it's a threat to?

Incest is bad because some 99.something% of cases are abusive, yes. So that's definitely not something we want to encourage...not that it's exactly easy to encourage like I said, but let's pretend anyway. Let's pretend that person you called out for writing an incest fic absolutely does want to fuck their siblings, and there's a callout for them for that - that callout is likely justified by the claim that this is a DANGEROUS person, and...that's really where this falls apart, isn’t it? Sure, it's good to care about other people, but then why the big public warning of danger that...isn't to you, or any other random stranger online? You can't recruit new family members to abuse over the internet. The closest you can come is get someone to roleplay a taboo kink with you - which...isn't inherently abusive, as it turns out! Consensual roleplay isn't abuse! How about that!

....oh. Wait a second. That's right, queer people have been describing their relationships as "familial" and even legally adopting each other in lieu of being able to get married for at least multiple decades, and laws against incestuous abuse have been repurposed against us for just as long.

Hm. I think some of you got weasel-worded here. Whoops.

[mikesavagenewcanaan]

Mike Savage New Canaan Where To Locate Low-cost Muscular Tissue Vehicles To Buy

Are you racking your brains searching for out where there are economical muscular tissue autos for sale?

Oh for a time equipment to take us back to the early 70's when we could have obtained a great Pontiac, treasured it and also have a terrific muscle vehicle for the 21st century.

Yet, except waiting around for somebody to create a time maker any min, we're mosting likely to have to look somewhere else.

There are a couple of alternatives open up to you, some reasonable better than others. Yet it deserves attempting them all.

Mike Savage New Canaan

1. Ebay.com. I don't understand if you have actually currently thought about looking right here but do consider it as you can fairly quickly discover a prize. I don't understand location in the Nation you are reading this, yet do not be put off due to the fact that eBay is across the country. Regional (to you) vendors additionally make use of eBay and also infact, there's a web site that exists that listings muscle automobiles up for sale on eBay also. Naturally, you'll need to bid as well as you might stumble upon stiff competition. There once again, you might not. It's a little a gamble but if you're significant concerning your muscle mass cars and trucks this may be an avenue worth checking out.

2. An additional alternative, yet the one that involves one of the most function and dedication, is to go out and also find one for yourself. By this I imply; drive about as well as if you take place to see a traditional muscular tissue cars and truck, resting all pitiable in somebody's backyard - start as well as find out if the owner's curious about parting with it for money. I've actually known this benefit some individuals, so at least consider it. Chances are if the vehicle's simply gathering cobwebs, the proprietor may not recognize its worth & you might wind up with a real deal.

Mike Savage New Canaan

3. Don't ignore the noticeable alternative to both of the above when searching for affordable muscle autos offer for sale. Scour your regional newspaper. Possibilities are that a local vendor isn't going to be a collector & so will not be asking an outrageous rate. Once again you could make a take whilst leaving the supplier with a smile on his face at the very same time.

4. Lastly, & never least. Turn your focus towards the on the internet auction sites that have police or government confiscated vehicles for sale. I recognize that the majority of the automobiles that they take are just a couple of years of ages yet sometimes they have actually likewise been known to retrieve classic muscle cars and trucks. You need to come to be a participant of these websites, yet by doing so you have prompt accessibility to over 3000 upgraded auctions nationwide. Some sites also provide real-time public auctions. It's an excellent way to see specifically what timeless muscle mass vehicles are out there. Once again, these websites also assure to have public auction sites that cater for your State. So if you discover one that you want you will not have too much to go. Using this choice to find the muscle cars and truck of your selection indicates that you can be a step in advance of everybody else that's looking.

There are low-cost muscular tissue autos to buy out there, & currently you recognize just where to look.

[codependencytendencies]

This was supposed to be better than the capitalistic b.s. we are sold but it's still pissing me off so I'm gonna scream into the void. Fuck this assessment.

Physical self care

I eat the same thing every day i don't think about it

Who has the fucking money for prevention or medical care

Fashion is overrated bullshit made up by thin ppl who dont even make shit in my fucking size

I'm disabled. I don't do physical activity. I exist and that's enough.

Hot take, it's not my fucking responsibility to constantly try to think positively about myself in a world that tells me they want me dead. I'll be a fucking realist and not lie to myself about shit.

What is it with these pretentious fucks and massages? Noone is fucking touching me and I'm sick of it being so fucking normalized. I will NEVER get a fucking massage and you can't fucking make me.

Psychological self care

Who the fuck has money for vacations? What even is a "day trip"? Driving is exhausting.

What the fuck is "my own personal psychotherapy" even supposed to mean? If it's just a more pretensious way of saying get a therapist, fuck no. I'm not going back to therapy until therapists stop being dicks who gaslight with cbt and work with cops.

The internet is the only place I can interact with other ppl that I don't hate. Taking breaks is harmful.

Who is this written for? How much reading did the creator of this little list think the average person read for work? Bc I don't know anyone who reads for work honestly.

Do you not notice your own thoughts 24/7? How does that even work?

Engage my intelligence... this is one of those ppl who can turn off their brain to watch trash toxic stuff like reality TV isn't it?

Bold of you to assume I'm an expert in anything

This list is so fucking weird. It's like stuff that I don't even think about or stuff that is not helpful at all.

Be curious... this is why I hate so many ppl. If you have to be reminded to be curious I honestly don't understand why you are alive.

Yeah work stays at work but that's just fuck capitalism don't be taken advantage of.

Journaling is such a basic ass thing and after a while it's pointless. I haven't done that since I was like 16. Not to mention it's exhausting. I'm not writing stuff down by hand esp if I'm the only one that's gonna see it. I'll rant out loud in my apartment bc that's at least not a waste of fucking time. Like who even has a thought long enough to write it down like that?

Emotional self care

I.have.no.support.system. that means no fucking ppl to hang out with.

I HAVE NO SUPPORT SYSTEM. Fuck those toxic ppl that gave birth to me and all the fucks related to them. They can go dissolve in the toxic sludge they created.

I am autistic. Rewatching things is kind of required.

Express outrage... ironically that is what I'm doing right now. Again, fuck this assessment

Fuck affirmations. I'm not lying to myself. It's not actually healthy to tell yourself you're a good person. Bc you're not. Nobody is. That's black and white thinking bullshit. I am a person that does good and bad things depending on my capabilities and I know that bc im not a fucking lying allistic that thinks they don't suffer from black and white thinking.

I'm autistic and for me that means i have uncontrollable bouts of crying. There is no allowing myself. Privileged ass person who made this can apparently controlled their crying. How nice for them.

Now here's where the REAL anger starts

Wtf is going on with this whole "spiritual self care" bullshit? Why is it so hard for ppl to grasp that not everyone thinks like them? And they say autistics have a lack of theory of mind.

Causes aren't spiritual. They are opinions and values.

Reflection isn't spiritual, that's just using your fucking brain to analyze yourself, we already covered that, how many reminders do you boring allistic ppl need??

Non material aspects of life? Wtf does that even mean? Am I aware that there are abstract concepts? Yes, social constructs are abstracts, like Religion is a social construct and im not interested, it's boring.

Find spiritual connection or community?? This bullshit is why atheists are so lonely. Yall can't build any community outside religion.

Relationship self care

Partner. No. Fuck that amatonormativity.

Relatives? Fuck those toxic ppl.

What posting on tumblr isn't enough?

Personal correspondence? Did someone forget to upgrade to modern language? Why does this sound like some 19th century person talking about writing a letter to send along the pony express.

There are no people to do things for me. I have been asking for help and there is noone. I hate this fucking state, I have nothing in common with these ppl. There is nothing for me, I don't like any of the things that ppl do here, and they don't have any of the things I like to do.

Literally all I have is my cats, and I had to Pavlov them into loving me.

Workplace self care

Chat with coworkers??? Why the fuck would I want to do that? At best I tolerate ppl enough to do my job. Peers?? There aren't even ppl my own age here. I can go days without talking to anyone at all. support groups at work??? This is some fancy blue state shit isn't it?

Can't balance shit when you don't have shit.

Fuck self care

[birdstooth]

HOWDY 🤠 This is the funniest bull related joke I could find on the internet after 10 min:

there was something sexy about the thought of a drunk Steve just walking in on the two of you.

...??? I guess I'll take her word for it lol 😂

“I never said anything about Frank.  But, let’s see how I know there is something going on.  For some reason, none of the other cowboys talk to you now.  Half the time they won’t look at you, and some have even refused for you to work on them.  Almost as if another one has staked a claim on you.”

I'm HERE FOR INSPECTOR MINDY CSI. Literally casting her as the Clarice Starling of this story rn.

Brain: not every story has a Clarice Staring character tho?

Me: well this one does now.

smh at this dude trying to get private healthcare in a public healthcare system tho lol

“Or could be the fact that you tense up when it’s his turn to ride.  Clench your fists, and when he actually rides the full eight seconds you get excited, only to gasp when he has to get off the damn bull,”

Me: New plot, Mindy is like undercover FBI working to break up some kind of drug smuggling ring, bc she suspects one of the riders is using THE BULLS to smuggle heroin

Brain: how?

Me: ok so they get the bulls to swallow like these small bags of heroin to transport them over state lines, and then collect the bags later in the 💩💩💩

Brain: that sounds extremely stupid

Me: yeah, which is why no one would suspect it!!

“No, Steve is a slut.  A proud slut, and we love him for it.  Steve doesn’t care if the porn is on his phone or on the bed next to him.  

people in general kind get the ink from PDA right? It's not just me I'm pretty sure? But imagine like, having a brain where u see 2 people going at it and instead of wanting the earth to swallow u up, you're like "cool, free porn" lmao

He can be slowly fading in and out of consciousness, but he’s going to hear you, and believe me, he’s watching.  You have your own damn room.  Ride your cowboy there.”

Me: dude, that's why she know so much about each rider! They're all suspects!! she has a file on each of them

Brain: well I mean she also works with them??

Me: which gives her the perfect opportunity to collect more info. Do u think she's going to try to recruit Bunny to get the scoop on Frank

Brain: ...no

Me: you're right... if Frank was a top suspect, he would be dangerous and Mindy would try harder to discourage Bunny from spending time with him. My money is on Steve for primary person on interest

Brain: I didn't ask lol

Me: ok ALSO, saying that Steve is always watching even if he seems unconscious or drunk? That's some sleeping with one eye open bc u never know when the feds will catch up with you behaviour. So maybe Steve is the dangerous one and that's why she suggests Bunny goes to her own room.

Hughie, all they want to do is split us up.  It’s not happening.  I’m not in a relationship with them, I’m with you,”

The name "Hughie" has already been taken by that character from The Boys, so I'm going to have to decide whether to do a recast, or she's going to have to change the nickname to like, Hughie_1 or something

Would it be accurate to say that having sex in the shower is like eating soup out of the can? B/c sometimes I eat soup out of the can so I won't have to wash a bowl later, and isn't that similar to having sex in the same place you're going to have to go after to clean up? Or would it be more like eating soup straight out of the dishwasher? Or is it like none of these things and I've made a wrong turn somewhere

 He gives another look over to you, flicking his hat with the biggest smile.

how does the hat stay on btw. Is there a chin strap or hair clips or something?

If you’re taking me to the hospital, I need a private one.

whoa does he have insurance or is he like rich or something. I don't really know how y'alls healthcare works but I know its expensive lol, so private healthcare would be more expensive I feel?

“And what a ride for Frank Adler.  Best score of the night, that cowboy is walking away with an eighty-nine!”

Me: I mean he's not exactly walking away tho hahaha... I crack myself up... just like his ribs probably lol

Person beside me: what??

Me: I said this sure would be an inappropriate time to make a joke about someone getting hurt even tho they chose to participate in this activity without any protective gear, HAHAHA😰😰😰

 “I thought you were given the night off?”

What does that mean? Is she batman or something lol like, take a night off Bruce, the crime in Gotham will still be here tomorrow

“Would you be a dear and check on dinner?” Linda smiles over at you, but Harlan shakes his head no.  “Well, she is part of the help.”

OH ok she's Harlan's nurse I guess? IDK why I didn't make that connection haha

While the first time you met Ransom, he had a lot to be desired.  But now after two years later, and one of those you had been dating Ransom,

Can we get a blooper reel from year 1🥺? I bet there was some good banter 😂

“Mr. Adler, you broke four ribs

whoa he could have made like 4 Eves with those ribs 😬😬

“Black Jack is the most docile horse ever.  He’s always been an old man.

Me: I'm casting Black Jack as the Seabiscuit of this story

Also, the carrot stuff gave me cinnamon bun flashbacks loool. Is it not confusing to cross your wires like that tho? I don't want cross contamination between my Thought Categories lmao. I like to keep everything in my head super compartmentalized. Nothing breaches containment. And if it does, we go into box breathing mode immediately to shut down that area of the brain and minimize damage.

A sweet moment was turning way too hot, and you were still on the back of the horse.

Guys Black Jack isn't Steve maybe he doesn't want to see this 😭😭😭🙈🙈🙈

Bonus expectation/reality reveal of the reference picture I used compared to what I created loool it came out more cow than I wanted but live laugh learn right guys

Closer to Heaven and Closer to You, Part 2

Summary:  Frank gets hurts.  You can’t stand Richard and Linda

Pairings:  Frank Adler X Reader (Past), Ransom Drysdale X Reader (Present)

Rating:  explicit

Warnings:  oral sex (F receiving), language, broken bones, 18+ ONLY

Word Count:  4.2K

Previous

Series Masterlist

*dividers created by @firefly-graphics​

Keep reading

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

The wedding ring

When Lan Wangji returns home from a long and gruelling work day, the last thing he expects is to find a quiet, dark and empty apartment. Wei Ying was supposed to be home, but obviously he is not, so maybe he's out with friends? Or getting groceries? He would have let Lan Zhan know if that was the case, but then again, people forget things and it's not like Wei Ying needs to update him on every single thing he does during the day either, he isn't controlling or distrustful of his own husband after all.

With a sigh, Lan Zhan turns on the kitchen light and decides to get himself a light snack before whipping up something for dinner, when something catches his eye on the kitchen counter: golden and shiny, Wei Ying's wedding ring.

Now that's odd. Very odd. Wei Ying never takes it off, ever. Lan Zhan picks the ring up to inspect it - maybe something is wrong with it and it made Wei Ying uncomfortable so he decided not to wear it. But the ring is smooth and perfect and Lan Zhan starts feeling uneasy.

He's fishing for his phone in one of his pockets when he sees, forgotten on a table corner, a little post it note with an address and a phone number, with the words "moving out" written in capital letters at the top.

The ring, the note, the empty and suspiciously tidy apartment, no communication... is... is Wei Ying trying to...

Lan Zhan feels his pulse thrum in his ears as he swipes his thumb across Wei Ying's number on his smartphone and he's praying Wei Ying will pick it up and Lan Zhan will find a way to fix this. He loves Wei Ying so much, he couldn't bear him leaving, much less in such a way... Had Lan Zhan hurt him somehow? Neglected him? Had he forgotten any important dates or anniversaries?

Wei Ying doesn't pick up the phone.

Lan Zhan is halfway out the door the next moment... and nearly gets himself smacked in the face when the door opens to reveal Wei Ying happily strolling into the apartment, earphones in.

He smiles widely when he sees Lan Zhan there and yanks them out of his ears before launching himself to kiss his husband. His very dumbfounded husband.

"Wei...Ying?"

"Yeah, that's me for sure. Why're you so surprised? I live here too, you know?"

"...you do."

Wei Ying raises an eyebrow. "Lan Zhan, are you okay? Did you fry your brain at the office today or something?"

"Why do you want to move out?"

Wei Ying blinks up at him, now confused as well. "You did fry your brain today. Why would I want to move out?!"

Lan Zhan produces the little paper with the address and the phone number, as well as Wei Ying's wedding ring, from one of his pockets. "Please, be honest with me, Wei Ying, don't lie to me."

Wei Ying looks at the heartbroken expression on Lan Zhan's face, then at the two items... and laughs, pulling his husband into a hug. "Silly, Lan Zhan, I'd never lie to you. I'm not leaving either."

Lan Zhan squeezes him tightly. "Then why aren't you wearing your ring?"

"I was washing the dishes this morning and it slipped off my finger down the drain! It was so much work to get it out of there that I decided to keep it off so that I don't lose it forever while cleaning!"

A sigh. "And the note?"

"Oh, that's for Sizhui. You know he wants to move out from the university dorms, so I've scoured the Internet today helping him find a new place. That's the number for one of the apartments I liked, I was going to send it to him."

"And where have you been?"

Wei Ying laughs again. "Took out the trash! I can't believe you'd think I'd just disappear like that! Especially after I decided to surprise you by cleaning this whole place up myself so we don't have to do it tomorrow anymore! We can take the day off, go out-"

And suddenly Wei Ying is swept up and over Lan Zhan's shoulder. "No going out."

"Then what?" A flirtatious tone. "Will you keep me in bed the whole day?"

"Absolutely."

[takuyakistall]

to yuu.

Note: I wanted to write short HCs for each character as they wrote the letter when I finished reading everyone's thank you messages (◕ᴗ◕✿) ! All of them are very cute and I couldn't help but get some midnight rot so I had to write it down. Here's the link to the post where every message is listed down. Before you start reading, just a heads up, most of these are written in a romantic light. I also recommend reading the letters themselves first before heading here.

Characters: All students + Grim (Excluding Ortho)

Riddle Rosehearts

"Dear friend," Riddle thought that it was the most appropriate way to address you—or at least, that's what his brain is trying to make him think. Ever since overblotting and you helping him snap out of his frenzy, he had difficulty in labeling what exactly you were to him.

Before everything, you were supposed to be just a mere acquaintance to him and yet here you were sending him gifts out of the blue. The general "rule" towards receiving gifts was to give the giver your thanks. Albeit the better option was to thank you personally, he thought that maybe a letter would be better so that he can sort out his thoughts.

Friend. He nodded, proceeding to write down the rest of his message until he realized that this was an opportunity to invite you to tea with him under the pretense of paying you back for the gift. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly as he continued writing.

Surely, you would accept his invitation, right?

Trey Clover

"Hey you," was that too casual? Too rude sounding? Trey shook his head as he stared at the two words. He hadn't been expecting a gift from you and frankly, he was more than a bit surprised. Though perhaps he hadn't read the "gift" part when he suddenly started writing down questions about what you liked.

He immediately started thinking of how he should pay you back—gifts? He doesn't know your taste that well. Favours? Hmm, he's not too sure about that one. That's why he decided to ask, if there was something you wanted—he'll do his best to find it for you. A tempting offer, right?

It seems like you have to tell him that this wasn't a trade.

Cater Diamond

"Helloooooo," he started off. The extra amount of Os he used was proof that he's trying to take this occurrence casually. Though in the inside he was absolutely beaming. Gifts never fail to put a smile on his face, especially if it came from someone you didn't expect to give you a gift or someone special to him.

In this case, it was probably the latter. He took a small break as he stared at your gift, wondering what he should write. A small smile took over his face as he picked up his phone and snapped a few selfies of him with your gift with a caption before hitting the post button.

"Received a gift from a dear friend, isn't it amazing? ♪"

Deuce Spade

"Friend," Deuce rarely got to experience receiving gifts from friends to one another judging how his past years were spent as a delinquent. To say that he was happy to receive one from you was an understatement, he was over the moon.

He felt the need to mention it to you with a huge grin on his face. He thought of various ways to give you something back as he let out a small hum, he felt like he was having a field day. He signed the message and told himself that today was going to be a great day.

Ace Trappola

"Hey you," Ace was terribly suspicious of the fact that you sent him a gift out of the blue. Were you trying to buy him silence over something you did? Were you trying to convince him to do your homework for you? A lot of questions springed up inside his mind but not once did he think that it was just a genuine, sweet gift with no ulterior motives hidden beneath.

He knew that you would get mad at him if he continued to suspect you so he said that he was kidding in all caps with three dots after that—which didn't help his situation at all.

He felt awkward trying to convey his feelings like this and he ruffled his own hair as he told you that he just needed to tell you something later, when you're face-to-face. That would make it easier for him to speak.

Leona Kingscholar

"Good day," Leona uncharacteristically typed. He felt like he was being held at gunpoint by his past etiquette teachers as he tried to think of an appropriate response. If it were up to him, he would've just slapped a "thank you" on a piece of paper and asked Ruggie to give it to you.

Though he thought that perhaps it was better for him to actually put in effort for once. Even if it seemed like his so called effort seemed like something he just stole from the internet—that was more than enough, right? He'll just put his signature at the bottom and ask Ruggie to give it to you.

Ruggie Bucchi

"Hey you," a big grin took over his face as he wrote down his first few words. He wasn't as experienced as other people when it came to writing down messages of gratitude, he once tried consulting Leona about it—asking how to make it sound decent only to be met with an answer that went like: "Just put whatever."

And that's what he did! Truly, he's thankful for receiving a gift. For a split second, he wondered if he should share it with the people back in his homeland. Though he pushed that thought to the back of his head as he signed the bottom of the paper with his signature. He'll figure that out once he gives the letter to you.

Jack Howl

"Friend," he doesn't know what to say it's embarassing. Even in letters, he still manages to retain that straightforward yet somewhat roundabout personality of his. A tinge of embarrassment seeping through the letter.

He wished he could've just talked to you in person instead but alas, he was stuck here trying to rack his brain for words. In the end, he felt like it was best to keep it simple—the slightly demanding tone at the end was the result of him getting flustered at the thought that it's possible that it could be a date between the two of you.

Azul Ashengrotto

"My dear friend," Azul couldn't count the number of times he had crumpled a piece of paper and threw it into the trashcan only to get a new one—rinse and repeat. Jade and Floyd had to stifle their laughter when they saw how distressed he was over a single message. Though, perhaps that was the fruit of his unconventional feelings towards the giver.

He didn't want to sound too stiff and professional to the point that he sounded like a robot but also, he didn't want to sound too casual to the point that you might find it weird. He had to let out a small sigh as he ruffled his hair, another piece of paper thrown into the trash can before deciding that he should just play it safe and give you a free drink.

Jade Leech

"To my dearest," oh no. His hand slipped and accidentally made his greeting more intimate than it should be, he could go back and change it but—fufu, where's the fun in all of that? His lips tugged up into a smirk as he continued writing, knowing full well that what he was implying would evoke an interesting reaction out of you. But, if that wasn't enough to stir you up a bit then why not put a little more something? He was a prick this way.

He spotted an empty space on one of his shelves in the corner of his eye, glancing at it for a few seconds before an idea popped into his head. A smile that barely showed off his sharp canines, hidden beneath his gloved hand.

"Truly. Would I lie to you?"

Floyd Leech

"Little shrimpy," he grinned. Floyd was in an especially good mood today after receiving such a thoughtful gift from you. He played with his pen in hand, spinning it around as a distant look took over his face when he tried thinking about the reason why you gave him a gift out of nowhere.

Knowing that Floyd pays a little more attention to you than others, he was bound to be curious and he was more than eager to find out—there's always a reason behind someone's actions, after all. He tried expressing his intent to get the answer out of you which came out a little threatening but if you saw the look on his face there's no mistaking that it was an even bigger threat than you initially thought.

Kalim Al-Asim

"Hey love," Kalim was as straightforward as ever. Not a single filter as he wrote down his raw feelings. There was no reason for him to hesitate especially now that he was practically about to shake from pure joy—he was incredibly close to signing the letter and hopping into his magic carpet to give it to you personally but Jamil was there beside him to stop him if he ever does that.

Though that didn't mean that it was gonna stop him from wanting to ask you out on a magic carpet date with him, he'll just have to explain to Jamil when you accept his invitation. That is assuming you'll accept, right?

Jamil Viper

"Dear friend," Kalim practically forced him to write a letter back to you. Jamil wasn't an ingrate, he knew when to show gratitude when it was appropriate but he preferred thanking you in person. He had to settle for this in the meantime, he thought that maybe he'll just invite you to Scarabia to talk about what he could give in return.

He hadn't really expected a gift from you, especially with all the trouble he might've caused you due to his overblot. Though he didn't think it was all that bad. In fact, he felt a little relieved that you didn't hold any grudge against him.

Vil Schoenheit

"My dear," Vil had an unmistakable smirk placed upon his lips. The choice of words he wrote managed to give out a slightly smug vibe as he stared at your gift on his desk. Impressed by your ability for finding him a suitable gift, he decided to give you a little bit in return.

His smirk slowly turned into a gentle smile as he imagined your face probably tearing up at the thought of him giving you a signed card, he couldn't help but put an offhanded comment near the end. But it was quickly followed up with a single bit of rare praise from him.

Rook Hunt

"Hey love," Rook was always one to act dramatically whenever he had the chance and even in letters, he managed to sound dramatic. As soon as he realized that you had sent him a gift he started gushing about how wonderful it was and how inspiration was raining down on him like tiny droplets.

What's a better way to let his raw emotions out than poetry? That's right, this man wrote you a poem expressing how he feels because of your gift. He almost forgot to say his gratitude because he got carried away but thankfully, Epel pointed it out to him before he could give it to you.

Epel Felmier

"Dear friend," he rarely got any gifts from anyone outside his relatives so when he saw you give him a gift, he was excited to say the least. There's always a certain joy you can evoke in a person when you give them a gift it was almost euphoric for some. He thought that it was sweet of you to give him a gift and decided to give one back with a small message.

Friend. For some reason, it felt a bit off addressing you as that but he quickly shook his head and shot down that thought. As for his gift, he prepared a little something he made himself. Hehe, he's quite proud of it too!

Idia Shroud

"@YOU" it was interesting how Idia didn't bother changing to formal speech when he decided to give you a thank you message for your gift. He's typing the same way he would to his friend, namely "Crimson Muscle", but perhaps that was because he didn't know of any other way to talk to you without sounding unnatural or weird.

People would normally not even think about giving him something and yet you gave him one. He couldn't help but smile a bit when he said how you were a bit of an oddball—he came up with various nicknames for you inside his head. Most of them being different words for the term "weirdo". Yet they always had a hint of affection whenever he would think of it.

Malleus Draconia

"Dearest," Malleus started off. It was rare that he received gifts from people outside his family or nobles back in the Valley since a lot of people found him intimidating—terrifying for some, even. He was glad that you felt comfortable enough around him to show simple gestures such as these. Upon receiving your gift, Lilia noticed how it came from you and urged Malleus to write his thank you message differently from how he usually writes it.

Did you perhaps know of the legends surrounding the Thorn Witch...? If so, then maybe he could sneak in a little joke. The gift of beauty and the gift of song—ah, nevermind. He pursed his lips slightly, he'll just handpick a gift for you himself. A small gargoyle statue, maybe. Or he could ask the other members of Diasomnia to help him.

Lilia Vanrouge

"My dear," his lips formed a small smirk. Lilia appreciated all surprises, big or small. Though, in particular, something about your surprise gift made him more excited about it than usual. Was that just his old age getting to him or was it something else? He couldn't be bothered to think about it that much.

As a form of gratitude, he weighed his options. It was either giving you a gift back or letting you ask a favour of him. He thought the latter would be more acceptable until an idea popped into his head as his eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. He knew you didn't know what it exactly meant but he gave you his signature nonetheless—he'll leave you to figure out.

Silver

"Hey you," Lilia taught Silver that it was common courtesy to show gratitude when someone gives him a gift. He tried thinking of countless ways to say thank you with his old man bugging him to ask you out on a date instead in the background. In the end, he paid Lilia no attention and instead went with the standard short message and giving a gift back.

He urged himself not to fall asleep as he typed out his message even though he already let out a yawn without him noticing. He glanced at the screen blankly, wondering if he forgot to add anything until he slowly felt himself snoozing off. Head resting on the keyboard and typing out whatnot. When Lilia arrived at the scene, he didn't bother waking him up and just sent the message as it is.

Silver was so embarassed the next day and refused to talk to Lilia temporarily.

Sebek Zigvolt

"Human," he didn't even try addressing you as anything else other than that even in letters. When he found a gift lying by his room, he was a tad suspicious but loosened up when he read the tag attached to it. As stated, it came from you and the gift was meant for Malleus—wait, what. Sebek scrunched up his face as his eyes scanned the words printed on it.

"To Sebek Zigvolt" This was a mistake, right? Sebek was a bit flushed but quickly shook it off by saying how it was probably a subterfuge or whatever that was. There was no way it was for actually for him, right? Surely, you must've sent this in hopes of hearing more about the great Malleus Draconia. Right?

That is... Wonderful!

Grim

"Dear underling," it was cute how he made an effort to write you a letter despite being in the same dorm wherein he could just talk to you directly. But perhaps he was so touched to the extent that he wanted to do this—did you give him tuna? He struggled thanking you properly and ended up boasting about how he was going to be the greatest sorcerer.

Even though he called you underling at first, he couldn't help but soften up a bit. That didn't sit right with him somehow, he didn't know why. He let out a groan as he racked his head for a more appropriate word until-!

Partner... Sounds about right.

[who-is-page]

Horoscopes for Alterhumans

Author: Page Type: Experimental Fiction Words: 859 Summary: A list of horoscopes for alterhumans.

[Part of the Sol System’s Alterhuman Writing Project for NaNoWriMo 2021. If you don’t want to see these posts, block the tag #inkedpaws]

Aries: You like things simple and direct, which is why you've been running from those new feelings for a few years now, isn't it? Why are you hiding, Aries? What's the worst that can happen? Introspection doesn’t have the teeth to bite you unless you give it some.

Your lucky number is a stern "fuck you" aimed at someone you hate.

Taurus: Having the coolest kintypes and the biggest (metaphorical) balls of anyone around is your burden to bear, Taurus. Also, you're just so incredibly modest. Is that a new haircut?

Your lucky number is 14, which is statistically twice as lucky as 7.

Gemini: You've been surrounding yourself with so many other people that you've lost track of yourself. It's good to keep your alterhuman pals around, but maybe you should start focusing on your own alterhumanity first. You’re your best anchor.

Your lucky number is a crunchy leaf on a sidewalk. Step on it and seize the day.

Cancer:Consider learning how to crochet to fill the gaping maw of insecurity and fear inside of you. One day you'll crab rave on the graves of your enemies, but for now, some quality time with the most important person in your life (yourself) could do you good.

Your lucky number is food shared with friends.

Leo: The life of the party, except the "party" is just you crying over a self-insert OC at 3am while simultaneously lowkey hating yourself. I get that you identify as something nocturnal, but when you start wondering where you went wrong in life and if Suzie from 3rd grade still hates your guts for the time you accidentally dropped gum in her hair, it's time to go to bed.

Your lucky number is Saint Motel's "To My Enemies".

Virgo: Stop being so critical of yourself and others. It's okay to just exist and you don't need to lean on specific things to "justify" your alterhumanity. If anyone gives you shit, just ask Aries to help you jump them. (For legal reasons, this is a joke.)

Your lucky number is 3.14. Consider treating yourself to some pie.

Libra:In an ideal world, you wouldn't have to deal with the injustice and bullshit you're unfortunately exposed to everywhere. This, however, is not an ideal world. With that said, there is literally nothing stopping you from blocking the exclusionists and anti-kink on Twitter to at least make yourself feel better.

Your lucky number is a soft, warm blanket fresh from the dryer.

Scorpio: I know you want to be a [big shot] and you've definitely got the brains and determination to do it, but you need to give yourself a break. You're not a lump of coal that will turn into a diamond with enough pressure and force, you're a sprout that will grow into a redwood if given time, patience, and effort. Also, you're a phytanthrope. Surprise!

Your lucky number is a field of flying moths and fireflies at dusk.

Ophiuchus: You think with your heart, and that can land you in trouble Ophiuchus. You can end up reading as something of a people-pleaser, spreading "#valid"s (or their equivalency in whatever your preferred lingo is) everywhere you go, which doesn't lend itself to really rewarding conversations. Don't be afraid to stop and talk to the roses, you know? You might just learn a thing or two about yourself in the process.

Your lucky number is the opposite of infinite.

Sagittarius: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Consider checking in on yourself to see if you want to disconnect from the Internet and enjoy some quality time outdoors, especially if you can immerse yourself in a place relevant to your alterhumanity. I think it would do you some good.

Your lucky number is an old-fashioned bowling alley and arcade complex, complete with colorful and tacky 90's carpet.

Capricorn: You’ve been sealing yourself off lately, and you certainly don’t need me to tell you that that’s a bad idea. Don’t be so afraid to open up to other people and, more importantly, to open up yourself. I mean that last bit literally, for the record: there’s a very small nugget of squirrelheartedness inside of you that the surgeon forgot to take out. You’ll have to handle it on your own.

Your lucky number is…wait, where did it go? I could have sworn it was here a second ago.

Aquarius: Sometimes it feels like you don’t know what to do with yourself. You have these opinions and thoughts and even beliefs, but you’re just vibing 99% of the time and content to chill on the sidelines. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it does make you a pretty east target for a kinfeels ambush, so keep your eyes peeled.

Your lucky number is [̴͝ͅR̵̩͖̋Ḛ̷͖̓͘D̶̻̃̿Ȁ̶̼C̴̗͆̇T̸̛̟̦̎Ḛ̷͗͜D̸̫̠̆̊]̴̭̄͠.

Pisces: Have you considered throwing yourself into the ocean, Pisces? A cool, refreshing splash into the seawater is just the thing you need to reset the meh week you’ve been having. Just make sure to avoid the physical shifters, they’ve been wandering the beaches looking for people to kidnap and run off with.

Your lucky number is Brian Jacques’s Taggerung.