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causenessus · 9 months ago

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Loving You. | Haikyuu

inc. akaashi, bokuto, oikawa, iwaizumi, atsumu

written in 2nd pov (female reader implied)

song recc: help they all have a song AND/or a quote anyway hatachi no koi by lamp <3

word count: 1884 words

summary: "they love you. how do they show it?"

hello hyperspecific examples? hopefully they're fun to read and make sense!! shoutout to the boy whose bokuto's is based off of <3 also first time writing for atsumu so hopefully i did ok!!!!!

they love you. how do they show it?

hello hyperspecific examples?

akaashi

“have you eaten? (i love you). did you get enough sleep last night? (i love you). how do you feel today? (i love you). did you have a nice day? (i love you). will you come on a walk with me? (i love you). here’s some fruit i cut up for you. (i love you) (i love you) (i love you).” "you're my everything"

although he’s quiet i just think he’s so expressive

like he has no trouble saying “i love you” but also says it in so many other ways than just that

he cares so much about you you’re not even able to doubt it for one second. it’s like every question is just his way of saying “i love you”

“did you eat today? do you want something to eat?” “how was your sleep? did you get enough sleep?” all his way of saying i love you

he’s always randomly coming into the room you’re currently in, gently grabbing both sides of your head and just kissing you all over, no words, just adoration <3

again I don’t think he’d have any trouble saying that he love you but it just feels so much more intimate, easier, and meaningful for him to find ways to show/say it instead

he’s such a big fan of the three taps to say i love you (link to an image post about the original person who did this)

he’s always holding your hand in public, giving it three squeezes, he’ll be playing with your fingers when you guys are sitting together and suddenly he’s giving your skin three taps. he’ll kiss your forehead three times, he’s always telling you that he loves you <3

he just loves to be around you and he’s always looking out for you

if you guys have a class together and you unexpectedly don’t show up to class, he’s texting you immediately to make sure everything’s okay

and he’s always keeping you company while you’re doing things, from homework to cooking to just reading

if you need help or will let him help with anything, he’s more than happy to but he also just loves chilling

from the beginning of your relationship and even before when you guys were just friends, hangouts often went on way longer than they were supposed to and you often stay over at each others’ houses because neither of you can bear to leave the presence of the other <3

bokuto

“love is not an everlasting performance in which you attempt to retain the attention of your significant other but rather a release of control and putting faith into them and trusting them to choose to stay with you no matter what you have to offer. to love and be loved is to rest.”

he trusts you so much

like yes this precious baby has definitely put his entire trust into a lot of people but you’re so so much more to him and it’s different <3

he feels so safe with you and he know he can trust you with literally anything, he does not hesitate to share or tell you anything

he’s following you around all the time like a lost puppy

guaranteed there’s been at least one time where he had to navigate an arena away from home without you and akaashi

he did not show up to warm ups

someone had to come find him huddled in a corner, alone and lost

that random fact about how you feel sleepy around the people you trust?

he can be so energetic with you but other times he can’t even keep his eyes open around you

he’s always falling asleep, his head lulling to the side and resting on your shoulder on train rides back home

sometimes he’ll be telling you stories and suddenly letting out the biggest yawn ever

he'll forget that he's talking because suddenly all he wants to do is spend his time curled up with you <3

he loves to lean against you or be in contact with you in someway, whether that be holding your hand (or just a finger <3) or a hand on your thigh, it makes him feel so sleepy but so safe

murmurs so many “I love you”s before falling asleep

because he trusts you he’s also so good at listening to you too

from the silliest of things to actual requests <3

this is about to get so hyperspecific bear w me pls

you’d just finished redesigning a profile for a social media account and in a passing thought, as you guys were laying with each other in bed, you happen to say, “you should change your profile picture at some point, kou. you've had it for years.”

you didn’t mean it anyway bad, just something you suggested since you had just reorganized your own profile but you still loved his current profile picture <3

but the next time you happened to see his account, you noticed it was a mirror pic from before you two had dressed up to go out a few months ago

“when did you change your profile picture, love? it’s adorable,” you smiled as you kissed his head while he was laying on you

“like 10 minutes after you told me to, i just had to find the right photo,” he mumbled, his voice muffled from your shirt that he had buried his face into

other times it’s things like helping around the house, asking him to wash the dishes while you’re cooking for example

he’s so willing to help but in the beginning, he was lost

he was so ready to wash them but darling could not find the soap

but he loves you so much he’s always working so hard to do what you ask of him so he’ll make sure he learns more about chores to help out more and ofc there’s always more to learn so he’ll always be following your lead <3

oikawa

“when you like the spotlight as much as i do, it’s quite an adjustment to realize that the real reason you might be here is to shine it on someone else.” "she looks just like a dream / the prettiest girl i've ever seen."

man has been living with a spotlight shining on him his whole life

but once he met you, he completely fell in love and he moves the spotlight to be on you <3

literally just completely worships you must i say more

he does not let insecurities slide he’s your #1 hypeman and will fight anyone who disagrees

people around you both have noticed that since you guys started dating, you’ve grown more confident as a result of his love <33333

it doesn’t have to be big changes, literally just things like you’re able to talk louder, voice opinions, or try new things because he’s always there to encourage you along the way

take it you’re a little shy and don’t usually talk very loud but you have to if you’re going to get everyone’s attention in a setting such as trying to manage seijoh’s volleyball team (good luck with that ��)

you raised your voice and it worked so that you could quiet the boys down in order to explain a change in plans for practice

afterwards, tooru’s coming up to you with a big smile on his face as he rests his forehead against yours

“i don’t think i’ve ever heard you yell, princess,” he says, looking into your eyes but you can’t help but take what he says in a bad way, looking away

“i didn’t mean to yell at you guys, i just didn’t know what else to do,” you mumble back with a frown

he kisses it away with a small laugh, “no, don’t feel bad, pretty. we were all surprised but so proud of you. you never would have done that at the start of the school year.”

he’s so happy whenever you try something new and he’s always there to tell you how well you’re doing even if you don’t feel like it

if you show that you love him by supporting him in his passions and all that he does, he shows his love by supporting you 1000% back

iwaizumi

“there’s nothing softer and more gentle than loving someone with your whole heart and never once holding back when it comes to them.” "think i'm gonna love you 'til i'm dead / i can't wait to buy you things / a brand new diamond ring / this is more than just a fling"

man loves so hard

i cannot see him in a short-term or commitment-free relationship

if he loves someone, he loves them wholly and completely. he’s all in, giving you everything

even before you guys started dating he was always checking in, making sure you were doing okay and offering hugs if you ever needed them

you cannot tell me that he doesn’t give the best hugs ever <33

now that you are dating though it’s just an excuse to love you more and show it in so many ways <3

as i say every single time, i just know he loves buying you gifts

you’re always on his mind, in every situation, whether he’s walking around and sees something in the window of a store that he knows you would like, or when he’s going to go pick something up to eat, he’ll always buy you something as well <3

he’ll really do anything for you, too. ask and it’s almost guaranteed

“iwa, can i draw on u”

“anything you want, princess”

“can we go get ice cream?” (it’s midnight)

“yea, are you ready to go now, love?”

all he needs in return is your love

adores getting to take naps with you or just laying in bed with you and in public, he always has an arm around your waist or should, keeping you close

with him it’s a complete all-all 100% relationship from both sides, that's what love is to him

everything is shared between you guys from money to items to secrets, you guys have complete trust in each other there’s not even a question about it he’s so good at communicating and keeping everything clear

everything he has is yours if you’ll be his <3

atsumu

“the one that loves, does he come back? the one that loves never leaves, my dear.”

he just completely softens around you

in fact i could see him getting worse around other people because you’re just the only one that matters to him

you know those videos about gym bros with girlfriends who act all misogynistic and stinky at the gym so that girls don’t approach them? that’s him. (i tried so hard to find a video as an example but i could not pls tell me u know what i’m talking about)

if any girl other than you tries to approach him literally anywhere they’re about to be absolutely obliterated when he flat out ignores him. or, if they don’t get the hint and he finally acknowledges them, he gives them the dirtiest, coldest look known to man, his nose wrinkling as he turns to them

“huh? yer talking to me? why? piss off.”

everyone knows that if they have to give him bad news, it’s best to do it when you’re in his general proximity or he’s just talked to you because that’s when he’ll receive it best

it’s nearly impossible to anger him when you’re around, and even if he gets upset, he won’t blow up, he’s just too enamored by you <3

loves to hold your hand in his lap or have a hand on your thigh and he’s content with life

his voice always lowers and softens when he’s around you, and he gives you the sweetest heart eyes

he’s always looking at you and he’ll tease you a lot just because he adores your reactions but they’re all just playful jokes

“ya know, if you ever wanted to cheer for me when everyone goes silent during games, I’d let ya,” he told you once while he was keeping you company before a game on a bench

“what? I could never do that,” your face heated at the thought, “it’d just be me and everyone would look at me. someone would probably even get mad.”

he chuckled, shaking his head as he brought your knuckles to his lips, “that’s the point. you’d sound so cute, and they’d know yer mine.”

if you ever had a problem with how he treats other people, he’d try to work on it if you talk to him about it

no promises, but he’ll do his best for his princess <3

#akaashi x reader #bokuto x reader #oikawa x reader #iwaizumi x reader #atsumu x reader #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu headcannons

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glubsurleseuil · 7 months ago

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Don't be scared - Chapter 1

This is the first chapter - Next

A Pennywise X F!Reader fanfic 'cause I need to get these ideas out of my head before they eat me up. I'll post this thing on AO3 when I'm not so lazy to create an account. If I go ahead with it, it'll be NSFW, sexually disturbing, gory, violent, reader is an autistic drepressed suicidal girl… In short, skip it if you're a sensitive soul. For the rest of you, enjoy (I hope).

(Note: It was translated by Deepl, English is not my mother tongue, so I apologise for any mistakes. If you want to correct me, don't hesitate!)

(Note 2: The image is by @fandomscreenshots but you should already know that because what she does is amazing)

You've always lived in Derry, Maine. Well, actually you were born in Derry, went to school in Derry and, like any good citizen, you now work in Derry. You don't like it, you never have, and you know that no matter what you do, you'll never like it.

Firstly, because no matter how hard you try since childhood, you just can't seem to make any friends. Worse, people seem to have agreed to shut you out and hate you. At best, they ignore you, at worst… well, let's just say there are certain people you've learned to avoid at all costs, so you don't have to spend the evening licking your wounds…

Secondly, because there's something unhealthy about the general atmosphere of this town, as if it were being devoured by a cancer that affected not only the surrounding greenery, but also the buildings and even the people. A cancer that could be called suffering, melancholy or despair. And although no one knows where these feelings come from, everyone seems to accept them as an inevitable burden.

Tonight, like most evenings, you're working at the Canal Rouge, a rather quiet bar where people can drink and listen to local artists perform on a small stage. You're a waitress, and it's not the most pleasant of jobs, especially when you're a woman. Fortunately, your boss is a woman too, and she's very strict about the respect customers show her staff, so things could be a lot worse.

But tonight, you're in a particularly bad mood. Fatigue has always been a difficult thing for you to deal with, and lately your nights have been… tormented. You've been having a dream, always the same with little difference, on and off for over a week. It's a hazy, dark, incoherent dream that's hard to remember. What you remember most is anguish, fear… and an unbearable feeling of being watched by something dangerous, making you feel like prey waiting to be devoured. When your therapist asked you to describe this dream, even with random words, you said 'fear', 'red' and… 'clown'. You laughed after saying that last word, a nervous, uncontrolled laugh, like a continuation of the one you always hear in this dream before waking up.

But tonight, the worst is yet to come, because you have to serve Jenny's gang as consumers, young people your own age who, like you, are stuck in Derry and like to pass the time by annoying other people. Especially you, since you met them in kindergarten. You know you won't be able to get home safely tonight…

And your fears are confirmed as you finish your shift. As you emerge into the alley to which the service door leads, you see them laughing at the end of it, looking in your direction. This is the way home. You quickly think of another option, but you know that even if you take a longer route, they'll be able to corner you sooner or later, and that's what they'll do. Unless… you go through the forest…

You don't hesitate, knowing that your pursuers won't follow. Their parents have given them the same instructions as you: never go into the forest at night. Ever. Your father had made it clear that he meant business by emphasizing his order with the back of his hand. But tonight, you're a grown-up, and between your dead father's old superstitions and Jenny and her gang's guaranteed beating, the choice was quickly made.

You head into the forest, at first more worried about your pursuers who, as expected, quickly abandon their target. Then you decide to turn on the torch on your phone, as it quickly becomes very dark between the tightly packed trees in the middle of the night. You recognize the path you're on and follow it to the ancient oak tree where you used to climb as a child to escape the bullies. But even this place, reassuring by day, gives off a menacing aura by night…

All is quiet, too quiet for a forest where animals should be going about their nocturnal lives. You get the impression that a kind of fog is floating around, light but unnatural, and as you look at the thick branches of the oak tree, you get a strange feeling… Like a memory from another life… Like a dream…

Suddenly, there's a sound. A sound you know well, having heard it every night for over a week. A laugh. A clown's laugh… You turn in all directions, shining your phone in every nook and cranny around the oak. And just as you realize that there's nothing there, that maybe it's your imagination playing tricks on you, the laughter starts up again. You jump back against the tree, light pointed ahead, anticipating the appearance of someone, something… The laughter becomes more distinct, closer… But it's not coming from in front of you, nor from the sides… It comes… from above?

With a quick gesture, you point the light towards the branches of the oak tree and there, hidden in the shadows of the leaves, you see it: a clown. No, THE clown. The one who has haunted your dreams, distressed your nights, devoured your sanity. This present moment has repeated itself endlessly in your nightmare and now it's all happening for real, clear as day and just as terrifying.

With a muffled scream, you drop your phone, the lamp face down and your legs buckling beneath you. The little light that escapes from beneath your phone only faintly illuminates the bottom of the tree, but you know IT's there.

And it's not long before he leaps down from the tree. You can only make out a silhouette in the darkness, and as you hear him coming closer, you try to remember the end of the dream. It's all a blur, and all that comes back is a vague memory of a hunt in which you are the prey… Back on the grassy ground, you pull yourself back as best you can with your hands, never taking your eyes off the presence. Is this how you're going to die?

He moves slowly closer, slipping into the shadows. You can make out that he's leaning forward, then addressing you in a childlike voice.

"Hiya Y/N! I'm Pennywise, the dancing clown!"

He suddenly picks up your phone from the floor, pulling it up slowly, light downwards, gradually revealing his appearance as he continues.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you, you know? Don't be scared, I'm not going to kill you…"

As he utters these words, light finally shines on his face, reflected in his abnormally large and sharp teeth, piercing yellow eyes focused on you, and horror fills you.

"… yet."

The instinct to survive gives you new energy. You leap to your feet and flee the way you came, briefly illuminated by your phone in the clown's hands. You run at full speed, ignoring the noises behind you that make you think he's chasing you. If you've got a chance of getting away, you're going to take it. In fact, the forest exit isn't far off. One last push! You close your eyes and accelerate again… when hands often clutch your collar, brutally stopping your momentum.

"There you are, you bastard!"

"I told you she'd come back! She's such a pussy!"

"No way out now, you bitch!"

Jenny and her gang… It was Tim, the big muscular guy who caught you. They were waiting for you just outside the forest…

"Why are you running so fast? Are you afraid of the big bad wolf?"

They burst out laughing, but the sound reaches you distorted. The adrenalin from your run is wearing off too slowly and you can still hear your heart pounding in your eardrums. You struggle on, your brain unable to make sense of what has just happened. Suddenly, you hear a foul noise. A kind of hoarse, inhuman growl, coming out of the depths of the woods like an echo to their pitiful mocking laughter. You feel Tim's hands trembling with uncontrollable fear on your collar and watch their faces disintegrate before your eyes. Tim lets go and they all flee in a single scream of terror, leaving you behind.

You turn around, your body still tired from your frantic run, and you quickly understand what made them flee: golden eyes, shining menacingly in the darkness, perched on a huge, muscular, fur-covered figure, its multiple sharp teeth accentuating the evil growl rolling down its throat. A werewolf.

You barely have time to realize that it's the clown from earlier before he disappears between the trees with a hoot that sends shivers down your spine. Just as you regain your strength to flee, something falls near you. You examine it carefully: it's your phone, and as you turn the screen towards you, you see a message written in a torn red font:

DON'T BE SCARED

You don't wait any longer and run towards town without looking back.

#it 2017 #pennywise #pennywise x reader #pennywise x you #pennywise fanfiction #it #horror #damn i'm so scared of posting this why #anxiety my old friend

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thecreaturecodex · 8 months ago

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Siktempora, Love

Image by Brian Despain, © Paizo Publishing. Accessed on Archives of Nethys here

[The last of the siktemporas, and the last monster I had in reserve before shit started really going down at work in the last couple of weeks. I've been so busy playing "Guess Which Students Are Nazis" that I haven't gotten a lot of writing done. So I'm hoping for another new monster by Friday, but I make no guarantees.]

Siktempora, Love CR 16 NG Outsider (extraplanar) This creature appears to be two smallish humanoid fused together, with three legs, two arms and two heads. Its heads are featureless except for a hint of blush about the cheeks. The creature wears fine clothing, albeit in an exotic style, and carries a crossbow in each hand.

Love siktemporas are among the most benevolent of this class of temporal outsiders. They are formed by the impressions of great love that imprints on the fabric of the Dimension of Time. Romantic love is usually the catalyst of a love siktempora’s creation, but not exclusively. They are powerful combatants, capable of starting or ending wars, but are compassionate and fight to protect rather than out of aggression. They are also excellent diplomats and counselors, although they have to use their telepathy to communicate rather than speak.

A love siktempora can create crossbow-like structures at will and fire bolts of emotional energy. Those struck by a love siktempora’s emotional bolt, or who raise a hand to strike the creature, are temporarily overwhelmed by a feeling of intense love and peace. Oftentimes, this emotional cue is enough to start negotiations–a common tactic of a love siktempora is to fire its bolts into multiple enemies at once, and then propose an end to hostilities while its foes are still reeling. If negotiations fail, however, a love siktempora will not hesitate to kill to protect what they love. Love siktemporas are capable of enhancing their allies with telepathic music, but cannot themselves benefit from such abilities. Love siktemporas’ abilities do not affect other siktemporas, as the whole lineage is immune to mind-influencing effects, and love siktemporas may seek allies among mortals or celestials if they find themselves in conflict with crueler siktemporas.

Love Siktempora CR 16 XP 76,800 NG Medium outsider (extraplanar, good, siktempora) Init +15; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +33

Defense AC 32, touch 26, flat-footed 22 (+9 Dex, +1 dodge, +6 insight, +6 natural) hp 230 (20d10+120); fast healing 20 Fort +13, Ref +19, Will +18 DR 15/evil or orichalcum; Immune disease, mind influencing effects, pain, poison Defensive Abilities deflect aggression (6/day), temporal sense

Offense Speed 50 ft., air walk Melee 2 claws +24 (1d6+4) Ranged 4 emotional bolts +29 (2d10+9 plus heartsong) Special Attacks burst of uncanny speed Spell Like Abilities CL 16th, concentration +25 Constant–air walk At will–temporal jaunt

Statistics Str 18, Dex 29, Con 21, Int 18, Wis 23, Cha 28 Base Atk +20; CMB +24; CMD 44 (46 vs. trip) Feats Alertness, Blind-fight, Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (emotional bolt), Lingering Performance, Persuasive, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,Toughness, Whirlwind Attack (B) Skills Acrobatics +29, Diplomacy +36, Intimidate +36, Knowledge (arcana, planes) +27, Perception +33, Perform (sing) +32, Sense Motive +33, Spellcraft +24, Stealth +32 Languages Aklo, telepathy 500 ft. (cannot speak) SQ bardic performance (43 rounds/day, swift action, inspire competence +4, inspire courage +3, inspire greatness, inspire heroics),telepathic singer

Ecology Environment any land or underground (Dimension of Time) Organization solitary or fellowship (2-5) Treasure incidental

Special Abilities Bardic Performance (Su) A love siktempora can use some bardic performances as a 16th level bard. Its rounds of use per day are as if it were a 16th level bard. A love skitempora cannot use bardic performances except those listed, such as countersong or distraction, unless it takes levels in the bard class. Burst of Uncanny Speed (Su) On the first round of combat, a love siktempora moves as if it were affected by a haste spell. It can use Whirlwind Attack on this first round of combat as a standard action, making one melee attack at its highest base attack bonus against each opponent within reach. Deflect Aggression (Su) As an immediate action when it is the target of any attack, a love siktempora can grant itself a +2 deflection bonus to AC and take 15 less damage from the attack if it does hit. The creature whose attack triggered this ability is affected by the love siktempora’s heartsong ability. A love siktempora can use this ability a number of times per day equal to its Wisdom modifier (6/day for the average specimen). Emotional Bolt (Su) A love siktempora can fire two emotional bolts as an attack action, and four as a full attack action. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Treat these as ranged attacks made with a projectile weapon with a range increment of 80 feet. A creature struck by an emotional bolt takes 2d10 points of piercing damage plus the siktempora’s Charisma modifier, and must save against the siktempora’s heartsong. Heartsong (Su) A creature struck by a love siktempora’s emotional bolt, or that triggers its deflect aggression ability, must succeed a DC 27 Will save or be dazed for one round. A creature affected, whether it succeeds or fails the saving throw, is immune to the heartsong of that siktempora until the end of its next turn. This is a mind-influencing emotion effect. The save DC is Charisma based, and includes a -2 racial penalty. Telepathic Singer (Ex) A love siktempora can use its bardic music abilities telepathically. Creatures must have an Intelligence score of 3 or higher to receive a benefit from the love siktempora’s bardic music. Temporal Jaunt (Sp) As a standard action, a love siktempora can vanish into the time stream, reappearing in another location. This ability functions as dimension door (so a typical love siktempora can jaunt up to 1040 feet), but the siktempora can take other actions that round after reappearing, and the destination must be in a location the siktempora could reach normally by walking. Temporal jaunts are not true teleportation—the siktempora simply travels to a later point in the time stream—so the ability can be used in areas that bar teleportation effects; however, in such areas a siktempora can travel only a distance equal to its speed. Temporal Sense (Ex) A siktempora can sense all the possible futures of the coming seconds. This grants it an insight bonus on its Initiative checks and to its Armor Class equal to its Wisdom bonus (+6 for a typical love siktempora).

#pathfinder 1e #pathfinder rpg #pathfinder 2e #siktempora #love siktempora #outsider

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archiveikemen · 4 months ago

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Xeno Main Story: Chapter 8

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

— The weekend in Macau.

Like Sakura-san said, we were spending the weekend in Macau to film a MV.

We flew from Haneda to Hong Kong at night before rushing to Macau in a chartered helicopter.

(That was one unthinkable experience. I had never ridden in a helicopter before…)

We met up with the local filming crew and commenced with the MV filming right away without resting.

(St. Lazarus’ Parish, Walls of St. Paul Church, Senado Square…)

The filmings were one after another at popular locations in Macau often used as backdrops for films.

…

Our current location was a more modern location lined with tall buildings.

(Umm, the next location is at the beach. I must confirm our schedule for the day…)

MV Director: Xeno-san, the scene we shot just now is still a little…

Xeno: … [poker face]

MV Director: Xeno-san?

Xeno: !

Xeno-san, who had been reading through some documents, looked up with a start upon hearing the director’s voice.

(I knew it… something’s wrong with Xeno-san.)

It’s not that he wasn’t concentrating. Rather, he was always on edge and looked extremely anxious about something.

(It’s like he doesn’t hear anything happening around him… he didn’t talk to the members much either.)

Indifferent to my worries, Xeno-san listened to the director’s instructions.

MV Director: You need to put in more frustration into this scene. Try impulsively shaking off Ivy-san’s hand.

MV Director: I think it would better convey his emotions if Ivy-san paused to look at his arm that was shaken off.

Ivy: Understood.

(They’re filming a drama type MV with a storyline this time, right?)

Although the director gave out many detailed instructions, everyone was diligent in following up with them.

(They’ve been filming almost nonstop with no breaks, but they don’t look tired at all. As expected of a group of professionals. Besides…)

Fan 1: Kyaa! Xeno!

Fan 2: So handsome!

Fan 3: Please look at me!

As we went from location to location for filming, it seemed to have spread on SNS and many Cordier gathered to see the members.

Cordier was the name of exe Creed’s fandom.

There were tourists from Japan, locals… and fans from various countries cheering in their different languages.

Going too near the filming site was prohibited, but that didn’t stop crowds from forming in the vicinity.

(Their popularity is incredible…)

As the member responsible for performance in exe Creed, Xeno-san was checking through the scenes they had filmed so far, along with the director.

Xeno: For this walking scene, filming from the side looks better than from the front.

Xeno: I think it would amplify the message of the song.

MV Director: I see, I think that’s a good idea.

Xeno: We’ll turn the lights down a little more…

(That’s how they convey their personal image even on set.)

Ivy: So we’re redoing that scene one more time. Heard that, everyone?

Jace: Got it. Oh, let me touch up our makeup first.

Hugh: Um… are we redoing the dance scene too?

Finn: I don’t see any problems with that part, so I don’t think we have to.

(The other members are performing their own roles too.)

Instead of doing as they were told, they went with their own creativity. That was what a MV filming with exe Creed was like.

(Back at the condominium… everyone can be a little lazy, especially Jace-san and Hugh-san.)

(Sure enough, I think they’re admirable when they switch to work mode.)

However…

I glanced at Xeno-san who looked serious while filming the MV.

(He’s the only one who remains the same, regardless of whether he was at home or at work. He was always “Xeno from exe Creed”.)

(I wonder if he feels tired of being this tense all the time. … Is it hard on him?)

Does Xeno-san ever have moments where he feels genuinely relaxed?

(I’ve only seen him asleep once, and even that was hard to come by.)

= Flashback Start =

Xeno: Forget everything that just happened. Got it?

Rina: Y-yes. Um, Xeno-san…

Xeno: You don’t have to clean today. Leave.

= Flashback End =

(… I haven’t had a proper talk with Xeno-san ever since then.)

(Just when I thought we were starting to get a little closer. … I wonder if there’s anything I can do about this.)

…

Afterwards, we moved to a seaside location to continue filming.

The crowd of fans was growing in size, and they gathered around like a human wall.

(The cheers are so loud. They’re making it hard to work…)

I was watching the filming process from a slight distance while at the same time looking at the wall of people. That was when… it happened.

Fan 1: Hey, don’t push me from behind!

Fan 2: I can’t see a thing, move it!

Fan 3: Don’t push me! … Ah!

Rina: !? The barricade!

Due to the pushing and shoving from the passionate fans, the barricades we put in place to keep them away from the filming site were knocked down.

Staff: All of you, leave right this instant!

People rushed past the damaged security barricades and the staff scrambled to stop them. However…

Fan 1: YAY!

Fan 2: This is my chance! Now’s the time…!

Staff 1: Ah, stop!

A few excited fans ignored the staff and are running towards exe Creed…!

(We can’t let the fans get to them!)

Staff 1: Don’t! Stop! Stop!

The members were busy filming and didn’t notice the commotion.

Fan 1: Kya~! Xeno~!

(OH NO!)

My body instantly moved on its own and sprinted across the sand.

Xeno: !

Fan 1: Xeno!

The fangirls reached their hands out towards Xeno-san, who was the nearest to them.

A split second before they could touch him, I sprang out and threw myself in front of them.

Rina: S-stop!

I spread my arms wide open to block their way.

Rina: We’re in the midst of filming! Please go back!

Fan 1: Who do you think you are!? You’re in the way!

Fan 2: Get lost!

The fangirls tried pushing me away.

Rina: Kyaa!

I was shoved hard and fell to the ground.

Rina: … ugh.

It hurt so bad I couldn’t breathe and was unable to get back on my feet.

(What do I do? I need to stop them, fast. If this goes on, everyone will…!)

… My body was gently lifted up.

Rina: Eh…?

(Xeno-san!)

Fan 1: Xeno, why are you touching that girl!?

Fan 2: Not fair!

Xeno: … [upset]

He stood while supporting me and glared sharply at the squealing fans.

Xeno: Don’t mess around!

Fan 1: Eh…

Xeno: What you people are doing isn’t being supportive, but instead a hindrance.

Xeno: Obstructing the filming process, causing bodily harm to a staff member… it’s astonishing to hear that you’re all big fans of us.

Fan 2: B-but we…

Xeno: I don’t acknowledge people like you as fans.

Xeno: Leave. If you truly are fans of exe Creed, then don’t bother us any further.

(He’s furious…)

The switch from his usual expressionless and cold personality was so powerful that it left the fans speechless.

The fangirls stood in shock as they were dragged away by other staff members.

Rina: Xeno-san…

Rina: Are you okay? Did you get hurt?

Xeno: … You were the one who was shoved. They didn’t do anything to me.

Rina: Thank you for helping me.

Xeno: Kawanaga, you…

Xeno-san stared at me, he looked like he wanted to say something.

Xeno: … [sad expression]

But he said nothing in the end and went in another direction.

(Did I do something wrong to anger him again…?)

Ivy: Kawanaga-san, you okay?

Jace: That was too unreasonable~ you don’t have to go that far, just leave that sort of thing to the security staff.

Rina: I’m sorry. I ended up causing trouble instead…

Sakura: Looks like the security measures were too lax. We need to improve on it the next time we go filming.

Finn: You’re not hurt, are you?

Hugh: Looks painful…

Now that they mentioned it, my knees did suffer some slight abrasions.

Rina: Just a minor injury, it’s nothing serious.

Ivy: That won’t do. Come here.

Ivy-san brought me to the side and took out a first aid kit to treat my wounds.

Rina: Oh, I can do it myself!

Ivy: It’s okay, let me.

Ivy: But I was genuinely shocked just now. … Don’t be reckless, okay? You’ve always had the tendency to push yourself too hard.

Rina: I’m sorry for making you worry about me… you’re a really kind person, Ivy-san.

Ivy: Me? I don’t think so, though.

Rina: You are. You’ve been constantly looking out for me ever since I came.

Ivy: That’s because you’re so hardworking.

Ivy: Watching you working desperately in an unfamiliar environment made me think that I should do something to help.

Ivy: So if you ever need help or have something bothering you, feel free to tell me.

Ivy-san said with a warm smile, and his kindness made me feel more at ease…

(Seeing this smile of his makes me want to talk to him a lot about all sorts of things…)

When he mentioned having something bothering me, the first thing that came to mind was the pained expression I saw on Xeno-san’s face that night.

Rina: … Honestly, I’m very worried about Xeno-san.

Ivy: Xeno?

Rina: Things have been strange lately, and I feel like the wall between us got bigger than before…

Ivy: … You’re right. I’m concerned about what’s going on with Xeno too. He’s been very on edge and anxious lately.

Ivy: Not sure whether it’s because he’s thinking about something or he’s too engrossed in his work, but it always looks like he doesn’t really hear anything we say…

Ivy: I’m guessing that the reason might be the same for why he’s been overly harsh towards us.

(So Ivy-san thinks the same way too…)

Ivy: At this rate, the team’s mood will only go from bad to worse. I want to do something about it, but it’s not going very well.

Ivy: If only there was some sort of trigger we can identify…

Rina: Right…

…

The MV filming went on smoothly.

After completing the filming at a five star hotel, we checked in for the night.

…

Rina: *huff*…

(This hotel is amazing, even the lobby looks luxurious and sparkly…)

= Flashback Start =

Sakura: Let’s call it a day. We’ll gather here tomorrow at six in the morning, don’t oversleep.

Sakura: Oh, and don’t leave the hotel! We never know where you’ll go and cause trouble.

Xeno: I know. … I’m going to my room.

Ivy: Eito and I will be heading to the hotel’s bar for drinks.

Sakura: Don’t get too carried away, all of you.

Finn: I’m not a kid. I’ll just be doing muscle training in my room.

Hugh: Sleepy… I’m going to bed…

Jace: It’s impossible not to go out and have fun. … Aegis-chan, keep it a secret from Eito-san for me, okay?

= Flashback End =

(Everyone’s probably spending their time in their own way right now.)

I was resting in the lobby for a bit before heading to my room.

(I wonder what Xeno-san’s doing now…)

Judging from the way he immediately went up to shut himself in his room, he was most likely working again to prepare for tomorrow’s filming.

(In times like this, I want him to rest properly.)

Just as I was thinking about Xeno-san—

(Huh? Is that Xeno-san?)

He was in disguise and trying not to stand out, but I was fully certain that it was him.

Xeno: … [troubled expression]

Seeing that he looked like he was worrying about something and acting unusual, I decided not to call out to him and went to hide in the shadows.

Not noticing me, he walked briskly through the lobby and left the hotel.

(Eh!? Sakura-san said not to leave the hotel!)

(It’s not like Xeno-san to break the rules and sneak out. Besides, his facial expression just now…)

The figure of Xeno-san’s back slowly grew distant… I didn’t have much time to hesitate.

(… I’m too curious, I can’t just let it be. I feel bad about it, but I’m going to follow behind him to see what’s going on.)

I ran out of the hotel, chasing after him…

#morganatic idol #ikemen series #cybird ikemen #cybird otome #morudoru translations #otome #+one by ikemen series #morudoru main story #xeno main story #xeno #exe Creed

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shakingparadigm · 8 months ago

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Hello it's the anon who said about the Ivan collar thing 😭. I come with some little brainrots.

Mizi sang "Black Sorrow" as a solo cover for unrequited love, with Sua being dead.

But the cover made me think. What if somehow Sua, in a way, is the Till to Mizi's Ivan. What if Sua, even if she loves Mizi back, never really fully indulged in it.

Specially in "My Clematis" where Mizi regarded Sua as a god, all I can imagine is Sua who always kept a perfect image in front of everyone including Mizi. Sua who never really showed her vulnerability to Mizi even though the other girl bared her entire heart. Just the idea that she somewhat kept a mask of pretend, letting Mizi be as blissful as it can be before the inevitable.

Aka tragic Yuri breaking my heart that Sua had to keep her own planned death a secret from her beloved because of one (and only) little selfish wish, which is to let Mizi live.

(Also sorry for spamming asks this frequently! I've been going through ALNST hyperfixations and your blog have a great humor.)

DONT EVER BE SORRY FOR SPAMMING ASKS! they make me really happy! Thank you so much! Sorry it takes me a while to answer them sometimes, my brains been pretty messy as of late, and I keep losing track of time.

That's a really interesting perspective to see it from. Regarding their relationship as a whole, I actually think it was the opposite. Sua only ever opened up to Mizi, and to everyone else she was timid and closed off. That was one of the reasons why their bond was so strong, they clung to each other. Sua retreats into herself, avoiding others in an attempt to protect her soft-hearted feelings, only sticking to Mizi because she loved and trusted her most. Mizi loved Sua like a dog because she was a cure for her loneliness back when Mizi felt isolated and afraid of being away from her home. They gave each other everything, which is why the thought of Mizi dying filled Sua with so much anguish that she'd rather die herself.

But if we're talking about the few weeks leading up to the first round of ALNST (you probably meant this, my bad) then definitely. She spent the last of her life counting down the hours, putting on a brave face and trying to make the remainder of her time with Mizi the best it could possibly be. I assume it was Mizi that proposed a tie. Sua played along, or maybe even believed in it at first, because ALIEN STAGE was something that they both looked forward to their whole lives, something that was held over their heads like a reward instead of the death sentence it actually was. Sua most likely started planning her death after she realized the possible consequences. The thing is, according to the MiziSua interview, a tie had never happened before in ALIEN STAGE. Which means that we don't know what happens if a tie actually does occur. It seems unlikely that ALIEN STAGE, which derives its stakes from the deaths of the contestants, would let both go forward thanks to a tie. I mean, if that happened, then everyone else would just decide to tie in order to keep each other alive, and where's the fun in a deathless season? Where's the stakes in that? It goes against everything ALIEN STAGE is built on. If a tie did happen, they most likely would have forced a situation where one of them would have to die anyway. It just lengthens the process and makes it more complicated. I like to think that, at some point, Sua realized this. If they tie, there's no guarantee that they both stay alive. In a tie situation, they might even randomly pick the contestant to be eliminated. The circumstances are uncertain and unpredictable, and within those hypotheticals Mizi dying is always an option. But if Sua adjusts her own performance level without Mizi knowing, she can ensure that the only person who has to die is herself. As stated before, Sua is soft-hearted. Her blank demeanor is indeed a mask for overwhelming feelings that lie beneath the surface. Mizi worships Sua, but Sua loves Mizi an incredible amount too. She must have loved her so much that Ivan, an exceedingly observant asshole (affectionate), picked up on it and was able to discern her intentions. Ivan criticizes Sua for choosing to sacrifice herself, calling her out for "playing hero", but most importantly, accusing her of dying only because she herself cannot handle the pain of losing someone she loves. She cannot fathom living a life where Mizi is dead, so she "runs away" from it by any means possible. He accuses her of being a hypocrite because the future that pains her to think about is one that she is about to inflict on her beloved. Is it an act of love or an act of selfishness? Is Ivan twisting her genuinely pure intentions and chastising her into believing that it makes her a bad person? Despite being hit with this crisis and crying over it, Sua decides to sacrifice herself anyway. And her happy mask was so impressive that Mizi failed to notice she was digging her own grave.

Sua not "indulging" in her love for Mizi is actually really interesting, and I can see how it can come off that way because Mizi is much more affectionate. But I actually think otherwise!

I think it's not really that she refused to indulge in her love, rather she indulged in it so much that she died to ensure she'd never have to live without it.

#i had to delete an entire paragraph just to not yap too much but i completely agree that till and sua are alike.#they are the 'gods' and the life of their other half basically revolve around them #but while till might not indulge in his affections for ivan #sua fully indulges in her love for mizi because its all she has #it's really interesting how sua and till are both sensitive according to the Patreon yet the way they cope with that is different.#till explodes outward and sua retreats within #SORRY I CANT EVER ANSWER AN ASK NORMALLY I ALWAYS HAVE TO TYPE THE LONGEST MOST UNRELATED SHIT #Thank you for the ask!! i really appreciate and i find your take very valid and intriguing actually #alnst #alien stage #mizisua #asks

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asordinaryppl · 7 months ago

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A3! Main Story: Part 4 - Act 13: Budding Spring - Episode 3: One Step Up

Kumon: We’re back~!

Juza: We’re back.

Taichi: I’m so hungry~

Tenma: Seems like it’s Omi-san’s turn today.

Tsuzuru: Kinda smells like demi-glace sauce…

Omi: The beef stew will be done soon.

Kumon: Yay~! I wanted to eat meat~!

Kazunari: Seems like the fairy boys have suddenly increased in energy~

Muku: Even though it’s actually just Kyu-chan that joined them.

Yuki: He counts enough for two or three more people.

Tsumugi: How’s uni life, Kumon-kun?

Kumon: Super fun! Unlike the classes in high school, I don't feel like I gotta cram like crazy.

Kumon: Also, I’m with Nii-chan!

Banri: I thought you’d decide immediately based on that, but you took your time pickin’.

Kumon: I had a lot to think about, y’know.

Kumon: I had to carefully think about which university to attend, not only based on where Nii-chan is.

Azami: The growth of the Bro-con.

Yuki: Though in the end, they ended up in the same university.

Kumon: I mean, Nii-chan and Tenma-san make it seem like it’s lots of fun!

Tenma: I can guarantee that much.

Juza: I’m glad you got accepted.

Taichi: He worked hard on the essay and when preparing for the interview~

Kumon: Hehe, it’s thanks to everything Nii-chan and Tenma-san and Taichi-san taught me!

Chikage: Seeing Tenma take on the tutor’s role was deeply moving.

Tenma: Thanks for that.

Kazunari: *Yawn*~...

Tsuzuru: You seem sleepy, Miyoshi-san.

Kazunari: I had some urgent job due yesterday, so I didn’t get much sleep~

Tsuzuru: Good work.

Muku: Kazu-kun seems like he became an adult in a blink.

Kazunari: What I’m doing is pretty much an extension of what I did as a student, but I guess my mindset’s changed a little since graduating.

Omi: I get it. The work increases as the responsibilities do, but it’s also quite fun.

Tsuzuru: Is that so…

Kazunari: You might understand come next year, Tsuzurun~

Izumi: Omi-kun was like that, too, but your image changed after you graduated.

Azuma: I look forward to these changes every spring.

Homare: Well, there are groups of people that have not changed much at all.

Azuma: Thanks to everyone, I can properly feel spring’s arrival.

Tasuku: I mean, the changes might not be big, but haven’t you guys also gotten busier?

Guy: You also seem to be getting more requests to appear as a guest.

Sakuya: Ah, actually, I think I might also get an offer to appear on a rather big stage—

Tsumugi: Really? I’m so happy for you.

Tasuku: This is the result of the experience you’ve gained so far. It’s proof of how far you’ve come as an actor

Sakuya: Thank you very much!

Citron: I have also had to do arts and culture-related jobs here and there~

Itaru: I’ve also started being treated like I can carry the company on my shoulders, it’s a pain…

Chikage: It’s your fifth year, of course you are.

Guy: That reminds me, the work I can leave to Mikage has also increased.

Hisoka: I can make some snacks now…

Tasuku: Like roasted marshmallows and marshmallow pizza?

Hisoka: Those too, but other stuff too.

Homare: To think you can make dishes unrelated to marshmallows… What remarkable progress!

Misumi: Speaking of new things, my friend Mii-chan gave birth to a kitten~

Muku: Congratulations to her!

Yuki: Doesn’t that have nothing to do with you, though?

Izumi: Just as everyone is moving forward and changing, the theater company is also changing.

Izumi: Speaking of which, the kid we met today also said he started high school this spring.

Kumon: Heeh~, what kinda kid was he?

Tsuzuru: He was a pretty interesting kid.

Masumi: Rather than interesting, he was just a pain.

Itaru: He was a passionate Masumi fan.

Izumi: He used to live in the countryside, and supported us through streaming.

Sakyo: So that’s MIZUNO Ent’s power…

Sakyo: As we expected, we’ll require continued efforts to reach as many people as possible.

Izumi: He also said he can’t wait to see a live performance.

Tasuku: Watching plays live has its benefits, after all.

Sakuya: That’s true. Since he said he’s looking forward to it, I thought we’ll have to do our best not to disappoint.

Izumi: Ah, that’s right! I had this idea after talking to the kid–

Izumi: What do you think about holding a workshop for beginners as our next event?

Izumi: Learning that there are people who became interested in theater because of MANKAI Company made me realize, we should do more activities that are about spreading theater to others.

Izumi: I think sharing the joy of acting together will be a beneficial experience for us as well.

Sakuya: That does sound good!

Citron: That sounds fun!

Chikage: But if it’s about teaching, rather than the Spring Troupe, wouldn’t members with more experience, like Tenma, or Tasuku and Tsumugi, be more suited for it?

Tsuzuru: True, we’re all novice actors, and a few years ago we were amateurs, will it really be okay for us to do it?

Masumi: I can do it.

Itaru: Not the guy least qualified to teach.

Izumi: That’s exactly why. You all remember what it felt like when you first stood on the stage a few years ago.

Izumi: You’re the most suited to convey theater from a beginner’s point of view.

Izumi: It won’t be a workshop for actors, or a workshop like Yuzo-san’s focused solely on teaching…

Izumi: I think just enjoying acting together and looking back on your old selves would be good.

Izumi: It can also be an opportunity to expand our fanbase…

Izumi: I think trying to get people to learn more about theater is something all of you can do at your current state.

Sakuya: I see… You’re right. Up till now, we’ve only focused on improving ourselves, but now…

Itaru: That’s true. We can probably have fun together.

Chikage: And it can also be a source of inspiration.

Tsuzuru: We might get a hint for our next performance.

Citron: Everything’s a challenge!

Izumi: Alright, it’s decided!

Izumi: Once we settle on a date, can I leave the design to you, Kazunari-kun?

Kazunari: Ofc!

Izumi: I’ll do the printing and distribution.

Masumi: I’ll help.

Itaru: We also need to announce it on social media. I can do that.

Chikage: Wouldn’t it also be good to announce it on the theater bulletin board?

Izumi: Then, I’ll leave the announcements to you two… Sakuya-kun, Citron-kun, can I ask you two to come up with the outline for the workshop?

Sakuya: Yes!

Citron: Let’s think of a chilling workshop for everyone~!

Manager: Ah, everyone, it’s almost time~!

Kumon: I’ll turn on the TV!

previous episode | masterpost | next episode

#a3!#translation #a3! translation #sakuya sakuma #tsuzuru minagi #tenma sumeragi #kazunari miyoshi #kumon hyodo #izumi tachibana #+ more #i think i'll do it like this? so it doesn't clog up tags of characters with small speaking roles

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airellesinhaze · 6 months ago

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Exhibition dates: 26th June – 27th October 2019 Visited September 2019 posted September 2020

Curators: Matthieu Rivallin and Pia Viewing

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Nageur sous l’eau, Esztergom Underwater swimmer, Esztergom 1918 Contact original

“”… especially haptic qualities are demanded of the deconstructionist performer, spectator, and reader; not to follow optically the ‘line of ideas’ in the text or in a picture and see only the representation proper, the surface, but to probe with the eyes the pictorial texture and even to enter the texture.”69 Such “touching” with the eye did not lead to a secure tactile experience of being firmly planted on the ground, for all grounds, all foundations, were suspect, however construed. We are, as Nietzsche knew, swimming in an endless sea, rather than standing on dry land. To “touch” a trace, groping blindly in the dark, is no more the guarantee of certainty than to see its residues.” Gandelman, Claude. ‘Reading Pictures, Viewing Texts’. Bloomington, Indiana, 1991, p. 140 quoted in Martin Jay. ‘Downcast Eyes: The Denigration of Vision in Twentieth-Century French Thought’. Berkley: University of California Press, 1993, p. 512.

Touching with the eye

Part 2 of a large posting on the exhibition L’equilibriste, André Kertész at Jeu de Paume, Château de Tours, which I saw in Tours in September 2019.

This posting contains photographs from his famous series “Distortions” (fascinating to see the original plates for the book of the same name, complete with cropping marks and red lead pencil annotations); American works from 1936 onwards, when Kertész moved to the United States to avoid the persecution of the Jews and the threat of World War II; and the late work colour Polaroids.

I admit that Kertész is not my favourite photographer. While I admire some of his photographs, I feel emotionally distant from most of them. Edward Clay observes in the quotation below that Kertész was “one of the most lyrical and formally inventive photographers of the twentieth-century… [His photographs] often convey a quiet mood of melancholy … He remains revered for his clarity of style and ability to blend simplicity with emotion, prizing impact over technical precision, seeking metaphors and geometry in everyday objects and scenarios, to turn the mundane into the surreal.”

Personally, I don’t find his photographs emotional nor lyrical, only a few poetic. Not melancholic, but geometric. In later works, he simplifies, simplifies, simplifies much like his friend Mondrian did. For me, the balance between sacred / geometry, the sacred geometry of the mystery of things, is often unbalanced in these images (particularly relevant, given the title of this exhibition). Is it enough just to turn the mundane into the surreal? Where does that lead the viewer? Is it enough to just observe, represent, without digging deeper.

At his best, in images such as Underwater swimmer, Esztergom (1918, above), Arm and Fan, New York (1937, below) and Washington Square, New York (1954, below) there is a structured, avant-garde mystery about the reality of the world, as re/presented through the object of the photograph, it’s physical presence. In Underwater swimmer, the body is stretched and distorted by an element, water, not a man-made mirror. His photographs from Hungary, Italy and early Paris possess a sensitivity of spirit that seems to have been excised from his life, the older he got. Far too often in later images, there is a “brittleness” to his photography, in which the object of reflection sits at the surface of the image, all sparkling in unflinching light. The single cloud oh so lonely in the sterile city; the man looking at the broken bench; the “buy, buy, buy” of consumer culture. You consumer Kertész’s later images, you do not reflect on them.

Dr Marcus Bunyan

All iPhone installation photographs © Marcus Bunyan. Please click on the photographs for a larger version of the image. View Part 1 of the posting.

“André Kertész, one of the most lyrical and formally inventive photographers of the twentieth-century, whose work advocated for spontaneity over technical precision, has left a distinctive legacy of poetic images which form a bridge between the avant-garde and geometrical precision. A roamer for much of his life, his feelings of rootlessness manifest in his work and often convey a quiet mood of melancholy. … Claiming “I am an amateur and I intend to stay that way for the rest of my life”, Kertesz was a great source of inspiration to photographic legends such as Cartier-Bresson. He remains revered for his clarity of style and ability to blend simplicity with emotion, prizing impact over technical precision, seeking metaphors and geometry in everyday objects and scenarios, to turn the mundane into the surreal. Nothing was too plain or ordinary for his eye, since he had a special ability to breathe life into even the most ‘unremarkable’ subjects.” Edward Clay. “André Kertész: between poetry and geometry,” on ‘The Independent Photographer’ website, May 19th 2020 [Online] Cited 26/08/2020

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #34 1933 Gelatin silver print

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #40 1933 Gelatin silver print

Installation views of the exhibition L’equilibriste, André Kertész at Jeu de Paume, Château de Tours showing photographs from the series Distortions, the bottom image showing at left, the photograph Underwater swimmer, Esztergom 1918 Photos: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Planches originales de la maquette du livre ‘Distortions’ (installation view) Original plates of the model of the book ‘Distortions’ 1975-1976 Collection Médiathèque de l’architecture et du patrimoine Photos: Marcus Bunyan

Installation view of the exhibition L’equilibriste, André Kertész at Jeu de Paume, Château de Tours showing photographs from the series Distortions Photo: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #60 (installation view) 1933 Contact original Photo: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #86 (installation view) 1933 Contact original Photo: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #109 (installation view) 1933 Contact original Photo: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #6 (installation view) 1933 Contact original Photo: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #159 (installation view) 1933 Contact original Photo: Marcus Bunyan

André Kertész (Hungarian, 1894-1985) Distortion #128 (installation view) 1933 Contact original Photo: Marcus Bunyan

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ghostlytidalwavephantom · 1 year ago

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Tumblr Product Identity

Here on Tumblr, I've been working hard to organize how I influence users toward advanced manifestation techniques. A larger user base means a more chaotic system, and a lot of growth for @staff to muddle around with trying to moderate for however long. What follows is my honest opinion on site growth. I haven't checked in on @labs recently, but might spend a lot of time returning to it, depending. I'm publishing this in hopes of working more fluidly with all of you in the Tumblr community, while also thinking of how it might affect the greater image of the site. This essay provides guidance amid limitless ideals and resources, allowing people to focus on specific key areas to ensure Tumblr's future as a Community.

The Diagnosis

In order for Tumblr to grow, people need to accept every useful feature, new or old, which makes it a useful place. The underlying problem is that Tumblr is very difficult to stabilize. Historically, we have expected users to curate their feeds and lean into curating their experience. While this has produced some amazing results for the community, it only serves like 80% of the most popular blogs and this is fine. Maybe we'll get lucky and see new features which improve things.

Tumblr's competitive advantage might have something to do with its unique content and vibrant communities, it'd take a study to know for sure. As a thin veneer over internet culture, some come to Tumblr to immerse themselves in this phenomenon, making it essential for us to ensure a seamless concept of realistic ideals for attention.

To guarantee Tumblr's continued relevance, I have to prioritize fostering this seamless ideal. Attracting and retaining new users and creators, nurturing their growth, and encouraging frequent engagement with the platform are important steps for us as a community. Later, we should discuss things we can do to improve our efforts to maintain EVERYTHING WE ALREADY DO for each other in this great big mess.

Our Guiding Principles

To enhance Hellsite's usability, we must address its core guiding principles:

Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Retain and grow our creator base.

Improve the platform's performance, stability, and quality.

Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Following is my personal perspective for advancing each of these principles.

Principle 1: Expand the ways new users can discover and sign up for Tumblr.

Tumblr should fully support every guest, and not feel pressured into needing everyone to be logged-in users. We also shouldn't care for industry, and "standard SEO practices" should adapt to us, rather than allowing anything to affect the funnel. The referral traffic from search engines is dispersed across different pages with deeply diverse and inconsistent user experiences, which results in a confusing daze defending our community from turning these users into regular Tumblr users.

We need to experiment with our logged-out tumblr.com user pages to ensure we are creating overwhelming stimuli with the highest potential for making these visitors too delirious for sign-ups and log-ins, using tweaked-out themes mortal life wasn't meant to comprehend. We might want to explore showing the potential future user the full breadth of content that Tumblr has to offer on our logged-out pages, or even disable public viewing (or search engines) entirely (in our blog settings). We want people to be able to easily understand the potential behind Tumblr without having to navigate multiple tabs and pages to figure it out. The current logged-out /explore page does very little to help users understand "wat Tumblr."

Actions & Next Steps

Invite our friends who already "get it," so staff stop complaining about people who don't.

Experiment with logged out tumblr.com theming to explore individuality and entice the smallest possible fraction of visitors to sign up.

Consider using relatable memes so outsiders are lured into a false sense of normalcy.

Principle 2: Provide high-quality content with every app launch.

We need to ensure the highest quality user experience by presenting fresh and relevant content tailored to community needs. If the user has a bad content experience, the fault is with their confusingly niche interests.

The default position should navigate the application. Additionally, we need to ensure staff can identify automated content related to our interests, it is easily accessible to bots in their journey for our increasingly accessible metadata.

I wouldn't exactly call Tumblr a "brand" since half the purpose of this site (let alone the current essay) is to systematically dismantle the lay person's preconceived impressions of Tumblr. On average, apparently a user only sees 25 posts per session, so the first 25 posts will need to be ones we specifically set aside for processing by the "newbie" algorithm we have ZERO REASON to trust.

Actions & Next Steps

Deliver great content when we choose to, sharing our concerns when we don't feel like pandering to the machine.

Make it easier for users to understand where the vibrant communities on Tumblr are, including official blogs in the conversation so they don't keep threatening us with nonconsensual change.

If "Improve our algorithmic ranking capabilities across all feeds" makes sense to us, jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Content discovery May/September, since spring and fall seem to be when corporations are most insecure about their value to the consumer.

Further discussion. (Features permitting)

Principle 3: Facilitate easier user participation in conversations.

Part of Tumblr's inexplicable intrigue, lies, and slander, rest in its capacity to showcase the evolution of conversations and the inane remarks found throughout reblog tags and sometimes the good replies. Engaging in these discussions should be enjoyable and effortless, so drop the app if it doesn't work and log in normally like a real person sometimes.

Fortunately, the current way conversations work on Tumblr (new users understand replies, old users have sacred reblogs) is totally working for us, and if we see new features which make official blogs (like @staff) feel comfortable processing their notes into sensible feedback, then our prayers will finally be answered. The limitations around engaging with individual reblogs, replies only applying to the original post, and the ability to easily follow threaded conversations, if the relevant parts we care about happen across our incredibly individualized dashboards (which will see full feature retention since I don't think they'd remove a setting for no reason), make it easy to join conversations we actually care to include ourselves in.

I usually try to design systems for fair participation, so one of the most important design decisions I look at is, "Can the supplier of a platform leverage their own participation with no administrative privileges?" and I was very happy to change upon @about to discover a surprising fact: On Tumblr, the answer is "yes." This gave me so much confidence and hope for the world, it made me feel like looking for a way to reward our mutual efforts, as a community caring for itself. Most times there's not an easy way to act on these feelings, so it got tabled.

Including people has been a difficult topic throughout human history, and we shouldn't expect any platform, product, or ideal to give us a full solution. Sometimes it takes effort, and we should treasure this effort every time we send an ask. Automated systems will fail, and I kind of expect inclusion will always require manual effort. Attention from devs, owners, or other entities of hierarchy is a persistent need.

Actions & Next Steps

Address the confusion of creating followup posts for a public which might seem fickle.

Improve the conversational. It doesn't matter where.

Allow engagements on reblogs. Please don't violate the simplicity of the reply feature...

Make it easier for users to follow the various conversation paths from the influence graph already present in notes.

Remove clutter in the conversation by collapsing reblog threads.

Explore the feasibility of COLLAPSING duplicate reblogs in a feed, rather than trying to hide content from our dashboard.

Principle 4: Retain and grow our creator base.

Creators are essential to the Tumblr community. However, we haven’t always had a consistent and coordinated effort around retaining, nurturing, and growing the creator base.

Being a new creator on Tumblr can be intimidating, with a high likelihood of leaving or disappointment upon sharing creations without receiving engagement or feedback. Figuring this in with manifestation science, and just the sheer scale of information processing necessary to organize something simple like shared dreaming, takes a lot of effort, and isn't something I'd ever ask anyone else to help with. There might emerge solutions which the platform can integrate, giving power to content creators in a way which will enable them to thrive.

The lack of feedback stems from the ridiculous decision to prioritize everything, looking at content in terms of metadata, and trying to control recommendation features top-down and/or via privileged features rather than community appeal. Modern media has grown to expect moderation, perpetuating a cycle where popular blogs continue to gain more visibility at the expense of helping new creators. To address this, we need to prioritize supporting and nurturing the growth of new creators on the platform. Algorithms aren't an answer to problems fueled by the first generation of algorithms.

It is also imperative that creators, like everyone on Tumblr, feel safe and in control of their experience. Whether it be an ask from the community or engagement on a post, being successful on Tumblr should feel overwhelming when the notes go higher than Dunbar's number. Sorry there just isn't a sane way to process so much feedback.

Actions & Next Steps

Find new creators and force yourself to reblog at least one original content post.

Improve the feedback loop for creators, incentivizing them to continue posting.

Motivate slow/small blogs to create anything at all.

"Congratulations! Your post has gotten over 20 notes in the past sixty seconds! We can't support sending notes for viral content, so log in to see your full interaction!"

Expand ways to co-create content.

Principle 5: Performance, stability and quality.

Apps and backend systems that work well and don't crash are the foundation of a great Tumblr experience. Definitely worth adding to the priority list.

launch new features coming out of Labs

Yes. Tell me more. Trust me, I'm a developer, I can take the nitty.

Principle 6: Create patterns that encourage users to keep returning to Tumblr.

Push notifications and emails are essential tools to increase normalization of spam email. Wait, what? Nevermind you put this as a priority over actual stability, I'm gonna need to split this into another post.

Conclusion

My mission has always been to empower the world. Any community committed to ensuring it can evolve in ways which supports current users while introducing progress for Greater Artistic Attraction certainly matches my manifestation goals.

This is an invigorating time for Tumblr, and we couldn’t be more excited about our current strategy.

You put effort into presenting your goals for the platform in accordance with your current principles, so I did the same. Hopefully this can contribute to the dialogue you want to foster.

And history will judge you kindly for not getting spooked when high-level magic was freely offered to your entire platform.

#content

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tetsuwhore · 4 years ago

Text

𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 | 𝐀𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐮, 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐮

Description: Atsumu and Osamu ‘helping’ their virgin bestfriend.

Warning: explicit content. loss of virginity.

Length: 1.2k words

Part 1 (Kuroo, Oikawa, Akaashi)

there is no shame between you two. you two are very open when it comes to discussing the topic of sex, so it isn’t even weird when he starts complaining about the previous night and how it took him a ‘whole five minutes’ of jerking off to cum

you scoff, immediately shooting back that for the average woman, it takes much, much longer than ‘a wHoLe fiVe mINuTeS’

but when you mindlessly add something about how you’ve never been able experience any pleasure while fingering yourself anyway?

that’s when his ears really perk up

now the gears are grinding in his head - the way Atsumu thinks of it is, why wouldn’t it make sense for him to offer to help you with your little ‘problem’?

with his fair share of experiences, not only has he had plenty of open conversations with past partners about how they like being touched, but he’s also had the practice to hone his technique

and, he’s good. he knows he’s good. so at least this way, Atsumu can guarantee that your first sexual experience is with someone who actually cares about your pleasure rather than with a partner who half asses it and leaves you unsatisfied

Atsumu: just sayin’ 😏 settin’ ain’t the only thing these fingers are useful for 😎 🤪 👅

You: kindly stfu and never speak to me again 🥰

ultimately though, you agree. even if Atsumu goes about the whole ordeal with his usual smug demeanour, you know he’s still your best friend, and you can trust that he’s going to take good care of you

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You don’t know what’s more embarrassing - the squelching sounds of Atsumu’s fingers pumping into your slopping cunt, or the high-pitched cries that he’s luring out of your lips. Either way, it’s not like you have the current mental capacity to care anyway.

Not when you’re too busy grinding your clit against his calloused palm, all while the tips of his digits continue abusing that spongy spot inside you. The sensation is so delicious, so different from all those nights spent alone, just you and your own fingers. No, Atsumu’s are longer, bigger; they’re stretching you out to accommodate the thickness.

And he knows exactly how to use them, curling and prodding just right, until...

“‘Tsumu… I-I’m-”

Atsumu chuckles when you begin writhing around involuntarily, nails frantically gripping for purchase on his tensed arm. He allows you to curl into him, pulling your form closer to his broad chest as you bury your face into the crook of his neck and sob out soft whines of his name.

“Mhmm, just like that,” he murmurs into your ear, voice uncharacteristically gentle, “Relax, relax, I got ya.”

His fingers only cease their movements when you weakly tug at his arm, coaxing him away from your overstimulated core.

“So... I’d ask if it was good, but from all that squirmin’ and moanin’, I guess it’s safe to assume it was?”

Cracking your eyes open to the sight of a smug smirk on his face, you shoot him a glare as you huff.

“Fuck you, Atsumu.”

Your breath chokes up in your throat when he grunts in response, tone serious, “I could, yanno. Give ya a taste of what a real man can do. At least before ya end up with some loser who shows ya a half-assed fuck that barely makes ya shiver.”

Atsumu grins when you slowly nod, visibly gulping as you watch his hands unbuckle his belt to free the large bulge in his boxers.

“Hmm, maybe if ya cum nice and hard on my cock like a good girl, I’ll reward ya by usin’ my tongue next.”

even if you’re close friends with Osamu, it’s still unlikely that he’s all that open about his sex life. therefore, you may not regularly have conversations about his past hookups (or your lack of them)

what you do know, however, is that he’s not quite the inexperienced virgin that people often picture him to be when they compare his outward image to that of Atsumu’s

which is why you’re not too worried about Osamu refusing to help when you approach him about you wanting to learn how to give someone a handjob

at first, he brushes you off, saying you could always just learn from porn

you both know he’s not actually serious - porn, with its glamourized visuals and performative nature, probably wouldn’t be the most realistic source to learn from

eventually, Osamu relents, sighing something about how he’d generously lend you his expertise so you don’t ‘end up accidentally breaking some dude’s dick off’

though, he would stipulate that since you were going to see him orgasm, it was ‘only fair’ that he got to watch you too. he suggests that you could simply limit it to masturbating in front of him if you didn’t want to go any further

Osamu knows how scary the vulnerability of having your first sexual experience can be, and he reasons that by doing this, he can help you learn to grow a little more comfortable with it

so when it comes to actually carrying out your request, he’s gentle with you, offering quiet instructions and reassurances as you hesitantly handle his weighty cock in your hand

and if you’re still a little shy when it’s time to fulfill your end of the bargain? Osamu’s already prepared with another solution, one that he’s sure you’ll enjoy immensely

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“If yer not gonna do it,” you hear him say, “why don’t ya let me?”

Your shaky fingers still, slipping out of your core. If you thought you were embarrassed before, it’s only gotten worse now, a flashing heat crawling up your neck as you fully comprehend what Osamu’s suggesting.

You wait a moment, allowing a second to pass, and then another. Swallowing it in, gaining some semblance of composure. Then, you nod.

“Mhmm, ‘kay. Want my fingers or tongue?”

Now this was too much. You’re thankful that your eyes are shut, because facing your best friend now surely would’ve made you combust. With whatever courage you can muster up, you stammer your answer.

“T-Tongue, ple-please.”

You barely even have time to inhale, because now you can feel his hot breath fanning across your cunt, and you oh- you can’t even squirm anymore because his strong arms are holding your thighs down to the bed, and oh- oh- he’s licking.

He’s licking, tongue swiping up from your dripping slit, curling all the way to your swollen clit. Osamu’s pace is lazy, languid, and yet, it’s teasing all the right spots, prodding your sensitive bud over and over in a repetitive motion that makes you tangle your fingers into the sheets so you don’t lose yourself entirely.

“F-Fuck, ‘Samu, th-that feels... sooo much better than, ah- than my fingers…”

Your eyes widen when you feel him chuckling against you, the vibrations running straight to your core. Daring to glance down, you see Osamu’s grey head lift up as his dark eyes lock on yours. They’re mischievous, just like the slight grin on his face. Your breath hitches when his tongue darts out, licking the slickness coating his lips.

“Don’tcha worry. By the time I’m done with ya, yer never gonna be able to go back to just ya fingers.”

#atsumu x reader #osamu x reader #atsumu smut #osamu smut #haikyuu smut #atsumu miya x reader #osamu miya x reader #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu!!#haikyuu imagines

6K notes · View notes

witcher-and-his-bard-archive · 4 years ago

Text

Something I Can Feel

for @writinglizards who picked this when I asked for something with no smut 💖

also on ao3

Geralt usually doesn't like nobility; they're snobby and rude and want nothing to do with him unless Jaskier's at his side or there's a monster to kill. But, they do pay well. And occasionally there will be a job for Jaskier that comes along with a contract or they'll be granted a room to stay in while they're working. This time, there is both.

He can hear Jaskier, faintly, from their borrowed room, playing to an adoring audience down in the great hall. Geralt rarely stays to listen these days; there's something about his voice and the performance that gets under his skin and does something to him. And Geralt can't deal with that in front of dozens of guests who are already going to be ogling a Witcher all night. So he's holed up in their room, restless still from an unsuccessful attempt to catch the fleder that's been wreaking havoc. It's hard enough to settle when he's fighting off the lingering effects of his potions, harder still when all he can imagine is Jaskier downstairs, singing and prancing around winking at people. Winking at people who aren't him.

He only half-expects Jaskier to return to their room at all tonight, so he's not sure why he's bothering to stay awake at all, but there's always the slim chance.

His first thought is to read, but it's been a long time since he's carried books with him on the Path and the room has none to offer. He's about to sneak out and try to find the library, when he remembers seeing Jaskier reading something not too long ago. Surely, he wouldn't mind Geralt going through his pack to find something to entertain himself.

Geralt slides off the bed and crouches next to their packs, rifling through Jaskier's. He doesn't find a book, but tucked away at the bottom of the pack, he finds something else. It's hard, wrapped in blue and green silk, and he pulls it out to inspect it. Upon unwrapping it, he realizes it's a cock, larger than average and made of what appears to be wood, but when he runs his hand along it, it's completely smooth.

He should put it back. It's Jaskier's and it's obviously private and he should put it back.

But his curiosity gets the better of him. He's not oblivious to wooden cocks and other devices built solely for pleasuring yourself - or someone else - but he'd never considered Jaskier might use them. He's never in need of a partner, and when they're on the road, he's happy enough to jerk off once he thinks Geralt is asleep. He never is, but Jaskier doesn't know that and it's probably best that way.

He can't help but wonder when Jaskier does use it. Does he use it with a partner or on his own? Geralt's already keyed up from listening to the performance, so it shouldn't surprise him when an image of Jaskier, naked on his hands and knees, pops unbidden into his mind. His cock stirs at the thought and Geralt shuts his eyes, pressing the heel of his hand to his crotch. He's already half-hard and he doesn't need to make it worse because what if Jaskier comes back and finds him with an erection and the wooden cock in his hand.

Surprisingly, that only serves to fan the arousal burning in his gut. What if Jaskier did find him like this? What would he say? What would he do?

A low rumble fills the room and Geralt belatedly realizes it's coming from him. Maybe he won't mind. Surely if Jaskier is so free with his partners, he won't mind if Geralt just… tries it out. He knows he shouldn't even think about it, but it will probably be a while before Jaskier's back. He won't even have to know.

Before he can change his mind, Geralt takes the toy and digs a bottle of oil out of his own pack and props himself up on the dresser. He doesn't want to soil the bed, so this will have to do.

It's a little awkward because there's a mirror on top and he's never been one for watching himself masturbate, but he's already horny enough that it doesn't matter as much as it normally would. He unlaces his trousers with one hand, slipping inside to give his cock a couple of strokes before pulling back. He doesn't want to get too worked up too quickly and he can still hear Jaskier's voice drifting up from the hall below.

Geralt lets the sound wash over him and he lets out a soft moan as his hips twitch forward, his cock pressing into the edge of the dresser. A little too urgently, he shoves his trousers past his hips and slicks the fingers of one hand. He reaches behind himself, propping himself up on one elbow as his fingers graze over his hole.

It's been so long since anyone's touched him like this that he's almost forgotten what it feels like. His hips jerk again, back this time toward his fingers and he groans as the force has his fingertips catching against his rim. But it's good and he wants more.

Gently, he presses the tip of one finger into himself, testing the stretch before pushing further and finally sinking the entire digit into himself. He squeezes around his finger and shifts, eager for more but he knows he'll have to be patient if he wants to fit the toy inside.

He works the first finger in and out, adding more oil when the drag becomes too much. Before long he's testing a second finger before pulling out and pushing in with both at once. It's not as tight as he expects and it takes less time this time before he's ready for a third.

He fucks himself on three fingers, panting softly where his chin drops against his chest. It feels good and for a moment Geralt is so preoccupied with it that he forgets the entire purpose of fingering himself. For a solid second, he considers coming like this, just fucking back into his hand before taking the toy, but he can't guarantee how long he had before Jaskier returns and he wants to come with the toy in him.

He picks the toy up and slicks the head, running his palm down the full length of it. He'd rather it was a real cock, but the idea of seeking someone out to fuck him is exhausting and by the time he found someone who wouldn't turn him down, he'd likely have lost all interest anyway.

He shakes the thought aside and reaches back behind him, pressing the toy between his cheeks. Faintly, he can still hear Jaskier down below and it sends a shiver through him. He knows he shouldn't think about Jaskier while he plays with himself, but it's hardly his fault when the only thing he can focus on is his voice. And Jaskier would probably like the idea of someone jerking off thinking about him. Immediately, he can imagine Jaskier complaining that he wasn't invited to join. And oh, that sparks something deep within him and he groans as the toy pushes past the ring of muscle.

He thinks about it, how Jaskier would keep one hand on his hip, sliding the other up his back to soothe him as he rocks into him. Fuck. He starts slow, but it doesn't take him long to get worked up, especially when he thinks about Jaskier right below him, still prancing around and putting on a show. And he had looked incredible in his new doublet and trousers.

The thought of Jaskier finding him slips back into his mind and Geralt groans and pushes the toy deeper, imagining Jaskier's face upon seeing him. The thought only turns him on more and as he shifts, readjusting his position, he feels a bump at the end of the toy. His fingers brush over it and when he presses down, the cock comes to live inside him, vibrating rapidly.

Geralt moans low and loud, dropping onto his elbow as pleasure zips through him.

"Fuck, Jaskier," he groans and even hearing Jaskier's name on his lips makes him ache. Again, he finds himself wondering - if Jaskier found him like this, would he stay?

Geralt wants him to. Wants him to walk in right now and see him like this, bent over the dresser with Jaskier's toy in his ass. He imagines Jaskier slipping up behind him, gently pulling Geralt's fingers away and pulling the toy out of him. He'd replace it with his own fingers, long and slim and incredibly dexterous. He's not above admitting that he's fantasized about those fingers before, that they're part of the reason he struggles to watch Jaskier perform. Because he can imagine, watching him mindlessly plucking at the strings, how easily Jaskier could bring a man to his knees with only his fingers.

He knows he could get off on Jaskier's fingers alone, but he wouldn't let himself. Or maybe Jaskier wouldn't let him, eager to get Geralt to come on his cock and Geralt would be more than happy to comply. Because he knows no one finds himself in bed with so many people unless they're very good in bed. Geralt hasn't put a lot of thought into Jaskier's cock but he knows he knows how to use it and he's seen it on occasion when they're bathing or undressing for the night.

He has thought a lot about what he'd like to do with Jaskier's cock. He's spent nights when Jaskier is asleep, aching to roll over and jerk him off himself. Or on the nights when Jaskier doesn't get off before bed, when he falls asleep reeking of lust and mumbling in his sleep, Geralt thinks about rolling Jaskier onto his back and sucking his cock down until Jaskier is whining and writhing beneath him.

But more than anything, he wants Jaskier inside him. He'd bend him over, fill him up, and fuck him so well, he knows. He wants it so badly and he lets his mind drift, imagining Jaskier fuking him as he works the toy in and out. Jaskier wouldn't hurry like this, though. Jaskier would make him take it slowly, make him feel every inch as he pushes into him. He'd be controlling, dominant.

Geralt lets out a quiet moan, bracing himself against the mirror and his reflection is wrecked; his cheeks are flushed and red and he can see the dark spots on his lip where he's been biting it. Jaskier would tell him he was beautiful like this, and he might even believe him.

He thrusts sharply, slamming up against his prostate and Geralt's eyes flutter shut, chin dropping against his chest as he fucks himself hard and fast. He could come like this without being touched, and he wants to; he'd come on Jaskier's cock because Jaskier wouldn't let him touch himself. Jaskier would keep his hands up against the mirror, tug his hair to keep his head up so he could watch himself fall apart, watch the way he breaks him into a million little pieces. And Geralt would. He'd watch and he'd struggle to keep his head up as he gets close, but Jaskier would ensure that he does, fingers wound tightly in his hair. Jaskier would fuck him hard, slamming in and grinding against his prostate until Geralt's shaking, coming untouched, barely able to breathe with the force of his orgasm - and just like that, he comes.

Geralt spills over the dresser and the mirror and when he shifts to avoid making a bigger mess, catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Fuck, he looks wrecked. He should hate the way he looks like this, but he finds himself intrigued because he knows Jaskier would be delighted to see him like this.

Carefully, he pulls the dildo out, still vibrating, and flicks the switch to turn it off. It stills in his grasp and he drops it onto the dresser, dropping to rest on his elbows. For a moment, he waits to catch his breath before tidying the room. He only barely gets dressed and gets the toy put away before the door creaks open and Jaskier waltzes into the room.

Jaskier seems oblivious to anything out of the norm and he's suspiciously quiet when Geralt asks why he's back so early. He doesn't think too much about it.

They go about their nightly routine, preparing for bed and settling in. They're sharing a bed, but that's not what keeps Geralt up all night.

He can't shut his mind off. Can't stop thinking of how Jaskier would fuck him if they got the chance, how he'd open him up with his fingers and sink into him and- he bites his lip to hold back a groan and shifts onto his side to keep his erection hidden. He can smell Jaskier and it's killing him. Jaskier isn't aroused himself, but just his own scent seems enough to drive Geralt mad tonight.

How he manages to make it through the morning, Geralt will never know. Jaskier wakes up early, shucks off his clothes claiming the bed is too hot and climbs back into bed, naked and tired. Geralt makes an excuse to get up and out of bed shortly after before he does something he's likely to regret.

Geralt heads out in the early afternoon and by evening, he's managed to catch and kill the fleder. He brings back the head to the Countess and collects his reward, but just as he's about to turn and leave, the Countess calls back to him.

"We'll have a feast tonight," she says, "in honour of the slaying of the beast!" Geralt nods in acknowledgement but says nothing. He knows this means they'll be staying an extra night.

When he returns to their shared room to bathe, his fears are confirmed. Evidently, Jaskier has already caught wind of the feast and has picked out some of Geralt's nicer clothes and tidied them up for him. He opens the door to find them laying out on the bed, and a bath waiting.

"Suppose you've heard then?" he asks and Jaskier beams.

"Delightful, isn't it?" he smiles, "It's been a long time since I've attended a banquet this fine without having to work the whole time." This, Geralt suspects, means he gets to flirt with all the nobles and see who he can take to bed with him. And Geralt is already tired.

"I'm not going," he says simply, "I'd like to take a bath and get to bed early." Jaskier scoffs and crosses the room, striding right up to Geralt and fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.

"You'll feel better about it when you've had a bath and something to drink," Jaskier says, tugging Geralt's shirt out of his trousers and up over his head.

It sends a shiver through him, but Geralt forces himself not to acknowledge it. He remains stoic even as Jaskier strips him out of his trousers and nudges him toward the bath. Geralt pulls his shorts off and climbs in.

The water is still hot and Jaskier presses his hands to his shoulders, guiding him down into the water. He runs his hands up Geralt's neck and just as he's leaning into the touch, Jaskier pulls away. Geralt barely holds onto a moan, but then a moment later Jaskier is scooping up water and dumping it over his head.

He fusses over him with soft-smelling soap and Geralt doesn't have the heart to tell him he won't be joining him at the feast. He's very much looking forward to another night alone and perhaps, he'll dig out Jaskier's toy again and-

"I was thinking," Jaskier hums, "I got your clothes out for you, but we bought those fine clothes for you a month or so back and I thought you might wear them."

"I'm not going." He can practically hear the way Jaskier rolls his eyes.

"Of course not," he sighs, "only I feel it's only appropriate for the guest of honour to attend, hm?"

"Guest of-" he turns to look at him, scowling and Jaskier just grins with delight.

"Well," he says, maneuvering Geralt back into a seated position, "you did kill the vampire, after all, I believe that earns you a place as the guest of honour. The Countess agrees with me, evidently."

Jaskier walks away and grabs a sheet, holding it out for Geralt to step out of the tub. He does so reluctantly, and while he's drying, he lets Jaskier comb and braid his hair. He doesn't have much choice but to attend if he's being treated as a guest of honour.

The clothes Jaskier picked out itch and fit surprisingly well, but are still tight in places he'd rather prefer they weren't. They head down to the feast together and while Geralt feels like a fool in his clothes, Jaskier looks delectable. He's dressed in burgundy and gold and when he smiles, Geralt can't imagine anyone turning him down - a large part of the reason he doesn't want to be here tonight.

But Jaskier sticks close by his side and even when he's drawn away to talk, Geralt continually catches him watching him, smiling as Geralt catches his eye. Jaskier is focused solely on him, not on the young lords and ladies fawning over him, and something about that makes his blood rush. He has to focus on how uncomfortable his clothes are to keep from reacting badly.

And after a little while, Jaskier returns to his seat. He's followed by a pretty young thing who smiles and leans over the table, putting herself on display, but Jaskier just thanks her for the compliments she delivers and turns her away gently. Geralt… doesn't understand.

But Jaskier laughs and smiles at the rest of his visitors, still never pushing further than friendliness and Geralt can't stop thinking about him. Watching his hands as he gestures, imagining them on his body, sliding down his chest to cup his cock.

Then another bard comes up and he tests Geralt's patience. He's a little shorter than Jaskier, significantly less beautiful and likely less talented. It's a bitter thought, but he can't feel too badly about it when the man plops himself down next to Jaskier and leans in.

He whispers the most filthy things into Jaskier's ear, detailing all the things he'd like to do if Jaskier will accompany him back to the inn. It's enough to quell his erection, but Geralt is feeling particularly smug because if Jaskier goes off, he'll have the entire room to himself, the entire bed with its heavy blankets and silk sheets. But Jaskier turns this one away, too.

"Picky tonight," Geralt mumbles and Jaskier just shrugs.

"I'd prefer to spend the evening with you," Geralt nearly chokes on his drink, but continues drinking. Jaskier pauses then hums thoughtfully. "I heard you, last night." He says.

"What are you talking about?" Geralt asks, but he can hear the waver in his voice.

"You know what I'm talking about, darling."He bumps his knee against Geralt's under the table. "Don't be shy."

"Jaskier-" he chokes.

"I'm not angry," Jaskier says softly, "you sounded so sexy I didn't want to interrupt, but I'd be happy to give you a full demonstration if you like? Could show you what it's really like. Gods know I've wanted to for years." He delivers the offer perfectly straight-faced, looking down at the mug in front of him and Geralt can't catch his breath. The only indication that Jaskier is talking to him comes with the brush of fingers along his thigh.

"I'd make you feel amazing," he breathes. "Gods, just to be able to touch you, Geralt- can I? Let me take you to bed." Geralt is sure there is more convincing to come and as much as he'd like to sit and listen to Jaskier's voice all night, detailing all the things he's like to do to him, he'd rather just go and experience them for himself.

"Yeah," he whispers, "yeah, okay. Please." Jaskier grins at him.

"You won't regret it, darling. Just wait here a moment, I'll be back for you." He runs a hand along the back of Geralt's shoulders as he rises out of his seat and slips out into the crowd.

Barely a moment later, something bumps against his knee and he subtly looks beneath the table to find JAskier grinning up at him, a finger to his lips in a silent command for him to stay quiet. Geralt's mouth goes dry and he couldn't find the words to speak if he wanted to.

Jaskier's hands slip around his ankles, running up the length of his boots until they hit the leather of his trousers. He squeezes above his knees, fingers digging into his legs through his trousers, slowly pushing further up his thighs. He's already aroused, Jaskier's confession and offer having seen to that quite nicely, but his cock stirs under the new attention. He doesn't move, doesn't let himself show any outward signs of being affected, but Jaskier's hands continue further, sliding up over his groin.

Geralt barely withholds a moan as delicate fingers trace the outline of his cock through his trousers and he shifts a little lower in his seat, pushing his hips forward. Jaskier hums encouragingly, quiet enough that no one else could hear him over the din, but Geralt is already attuned to him and right now all of his attention is focused on Jaskier.

Jaskier moves and then he's pressing between Geralt's thighs, kissing a line up his inner thigh and moving to mouth at the jut of his cock. It's all Geralt can do not to jerk up into the touch, but he doesn't want to get caught or rather, he doesn't want him to stop. So he keeps as still as he can as Jaskier keeps touching him, smoothing up his thighs as his mouth slips up to the head of his cock. And Geralt is swelling rapidly under the touch. Unless Jaskier intends to get him off right here, they'll be here for a while or risk an (unwanted) trip out of the hall with an erection.

But Jaskier seems to be heading toward the former as his hands slip up to Geralt's waistband, easily popping the buttons open until he can tug Geralt's trousers down enough to free his cock. Geralt breathes deeply, settling into a semi-meditative state to keep himself calm enough for Jaskier to continue. But his cock is fully hard now and Jaskier isn't slowing down. He wraps a hand around him, stroking him slowly and Geralt grips the arm of his chair, fighting against every urge to move, to push into the touch. Then Jaskier starts talking.

"Mmm, you're big," he mumbles, dragging his lips up the shaft. "Gorgeous." Jaskier jerks him slowly, really letting Geralt feel every press of his fingers and he very nearly whimpers when Jaskier's thumb pushes up over the head and presses against the slit.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about it," Jaskier mumbles and Geralt struggles to focus on the words because they send vibrations through his cock that have him gasping. "Were you laid out on the bed? Sat in that chair in the corner of the room? Tell me, darling."

"Standing," Geralt gasps out, trying to avoid attracting the attention of his neighbours.

"Mmm, where?"

"Dresser," he mumbles and Jaskier groans against his cock.

"Fuck. Did you watch yourself? Probably not. A shame, darling, I bet you looked incredible. I'd loved to have been there, to watch you work yourself up to it- fuck." There's a spike of arousal and Geralt groans low in his throat, covering it with a mock cough.

Somewhere along the way, Geralt had come to the realization that Jaskier is turned on by him, that he wants him and this godsawful want is mutual, but he never expected him to act on it. And he certainly never expected it to be like this. Because wanting to fuck someone is one thing, but Jaskier is soft with him, gentle even as he wraps his mouth around him in a room full of dozens of people. And oh, just the thought of that makes his cock twitch and Jaskier groans around him.

Geralt shifts his eyes and holds back a moan, fingers tight where they're wrapped around the chair arm. Jaskier's mouth is hot around him, slick and glorious and Geralt wants to press into that heat. He wants Jaskier to touch him, wants to be able to touch Jaskier, but more than anything he wants to see him. He doesn't want to watch himself, but even the mental image of Jaskier's mouth around his cock has him aching and eager, he doesn't suspect he'd last long being allowed to watch.

And maybe Jaskier knows that. He's confident in everything he does, but in sex more so than elsewhere; maybe he knows Geralt wants to watch, knows the way it would affect him and that's why he slipped under the table to suck him off. He likes the idea that Jaskier knows what he likes, likes the idea that Jaskier pays enough attention to know Geralt wants him and to know how hard it makes him being surrounded by all these people who are oblivious to the bard under the table with a mouthful of cock.

Jaskier's tongue presses against the sensitive spot beneath the head of his cock and Geralt pitches forward, barely recovering by leaning on an elbow and pretending to focus on something across the room. At this rate, he's not going to last long even without being able to see Jaskier and the thought of coming with Jaskier's mouth around him isn't doing anything to calm him.

Jaskier bobs in his lap then abruptly, takes him all the way down and just stops with Geralt's cock nudging against the back of his throat. It's tight around the head and Geralt grits his teeth to keep from crying out or rocking forward. He shudders with the effort it takes to remains still, to keep from fucking into Jaskier's welcoming mouth and his fingernails dig into the wood of his chair.

Then Jaskier sucks hard around him and Geralt nearly loses it right there. Jaskier lets up a little, bobbing just faintly so Geralt's cock pushes into the tightness of his throat and Geralt's willpower is quickly crumbling. His hips give a little twitch and immediately Jaskier's hands are on him, holding him down. His teeth press down and it's meant as a warning but it sends a bolt of pleasure through him that nearly has Geralt whining again. Jaskier, evidently, realizes this and the next time he draws back, he lets his teeth drag along the length of Geralt's cock.

Geralt swallows hard and shuts his eyes as they roll back in his head and then Jaskier's fingers are slipping inside his trousers, pressing back against his hole, and he lets go.

It takes all his strength not to cry out as he comes, spilling over Jaskier's tongue, all his training and then some. Jaskier swallows it all down without hesitation, slipping off of his cock and suckling at the head until Geralt's legs are shaking under him. Then, with a final pass of his lips and tongue, Jaskier pulls off.

He kisses up the length of Geralt's cock and tucks him back into his trousers, buttoning them back up around him. Geralt's whole body slumps and he leans back in his chair to keep from lying on the table. He wants to stay here and bask in the loose feeling that floods through him, but he can already feel Jaskier clambering away.

A moment later, he's back behind him, apparently put together other than the bulge in his trousers that Geralt feels against his shoulder when he leans in.

"Ready to go?" Jaskier asks as though he's not just had Gerlt's cock down his throat. Geralt gives a weak nod and pushes his chair back, rising to his feet.

It's a good thing no one cares what a Witcher gets up to once he's done his job because as soon as they're out of the main hall, Jaskier is shoving him up against the wall, pressing a thigh between his legs. He kisses him and it's surprisingly soft despite the urgency of his body. Geralt loses himself in the taste of his mouth, the press of Jaskier's cock in his hip and he finds himself drawn away from the wall.

Jaskier keeps him close as they stumble toward the stairs and when they reach the landing, Geralt is amazed that neither of them has fallen over. But he doesn't want to get far from Jaskier's body or his mouth and Jaskier doesn't seem inclined to let him.

It takes them twice as long as it should to reach their room and it's a good thing no one else is out in the hall because Geralt is hard again by the time they get there and Jaskier has made an absolute mess of his clothes. His shirt is half-tucked and half-buttoned and his trousers are straining against the swell of his cock. Jaskier is nothing but pleased about it, stroking him through the leather and fumbling with the buttons and as soon as they reach the door he's shoving Geralt up against it, everything else forgotten.

Geralt reaches behind him, half-heartedly trying to open the door while Jaskier pushes his shirt up and bends to kiss his chest. His mouth is hot and perfect and when he licks a stripe from his naval up to his sternum, Geralt groans. He wants that tongue all over him, want Jaskier's lips and tongue and teeth and fuck if that doesn't rile him up even more. He finally gets the door open and stumbles backward with Jaskier pressing against him.

The door is unceremoniously kicked shut behind him and Jaskier's got his hands all over him, pushing and pulling and Gerlt goes limp in his grasp, submitting to whatever Jaskier wants of him. His ass hits the dresser and Jaskier looks up long enough to smirk at him before tugging Geralt's shirt over his head and bending to flick his tongue at a nipple.

Geralt groans and his hips push forward, seeking any sort of touch but finding nothing. Jaskier has shifted away, standing at his side, and he turns him so he's facing the mirror.

"I want you to watch the way I touch you," Jaskier purrs, "I want you to see how fucking sexy you are like this." He slips up behind him, pressing a hand to the center of his back and pushing until Geralt has to lean forward, hands braced on the solid wood top.

"Good boy," Jaskier hums, "keep your head up, I want you to watch."

He runs both hands up Geralt's back gentle and undemanding. He's taking his time, enjoying himself - the thought of which makes Geralt ache and he's desperate for it. Jaskier touches him for what feels like hours, just touching and nothing more. He runs his hands up his back and over his shoulders. Up his stomach and down his sides. He plays with his nipples and when Geralt keens from the pleasure, Jaskier straightens him back up, nipping at the back of his neck.

"Do you like that?" Jaskier asks, "Like when I play with your nipples?" Geralt groans and his eyes flutter shut but Jaskier is right there next to his ear, nipping at the lobe. "Fuck, Geralt you do, don't you? Think you could come just like that? You are very sensitive." He bites Geralt's ear to prove his point and Gerlt whines.

For Jaskier? absolutely he could. He’s sure Jaskier could get him off with just his voice if he wanted to.

"Fuck, yeah. Yeah, I could."

"Shit," Jaskier mutters, "can I try? That's so fucking hot, Geralt." Geralt gives a little huff of a laugh and then Jaskier's fingers slip up over his nipple again, his expression eager and questioning in the mirror.

"Yeah," Geralt huffs and Jaskier's mouth twists into a grin, fingertips pressing harder against Geralt's nipples.

Pleasure zips through him and Geralt finds it very difficult to keep still. Jaskier mouths at his neck while he touches him, rubbing and squeezing and pulling and Geralt's cock aches where it's still trapped in his trousers. He's already keyed up - the previous orgasm having faded - and now Jaskier's rolling his nipples between calloused fingers, whispering in his ear and encouraging him. At this rate, he'll come in his trousers before Jaskier has a chance to get him out of them.

"Look at me," Jaskier reminds him when his head droops. Geralt lifts his head, finding Jaskier's eyes in the mirror, so wide and dark he can barely catch a glimpse of the blue. "That's it beautiful. Tell me how it feels, love.

"So good," Geralt hums, hips twitching as Jaskier pressing his thumb hard against a nipple. He pinches it between his thumb and forefinger, cocking his head in the mirror. "Close?" he asks and Geralt just blinks at him for a second, momentarily overwhelmed as Jaskier returns his attention to his other nipple as well. "I asked you a question, darling."

"Yeah, 'm close." He feels foggy with it and it's right on the edge of too much, but the thought of coming just from Jaskier's touch is too much and he drives him forward. He drops his head back onto Jaskier's shoulder, nosing at his neck. "Can I kiss you," he whispers and Jaskier just hums.

"Of course, my love, I'm yours to do with as you will. So long as you behave."

Geralt doesn't wait for him to finish speaking before pressing his lips to Jaskier's neck. He tastes like salt and sweat and something fruity that Geralt passes off as perfume. It's everything he would have expected and it makes his head spin to know he can finally know for real.

He whimpers as Jaskier tugs on both nipples at once and he's so close. Jaskier reaches down, unbuttoning Geralt's trousers the rest of the way and pulling his cock out. He lets it rest against the dresser top and Geralt has to restrain himself from rutting against the edge of the wood and getting off that way. Because he's so close and his nipples tingle without Jaskier's fingers and he wants to cry because he's so close, so close-

Jaskier's palms slide back up his chest, barely grazing his nipples and Geralt lurches forward with a groan. His cock slips from the surface of the dresser and Jaskier reaches for it, gently squeezing as he sets it back in place. But then his hand is gone and Geralt is being tugged upright again.

"Come for me, love, and I'll play with your cock all night, but you have to come first."

"Touch me," Geralt gasps and Jaskier doesn't hesitate before getting his hands on him again. He smooths up Geralt's chest, intentionally avoiding his nipples and Geralt squirms to get his hands closer, to get Jaskier to fucking touch him.

Then he does and Geralt wants to simultaneously scream and cry and he doesn't realize he's whining, begging Jaskier to make him come until Jaskier leans in against his ear and whispers, "come for me, Geralt," and he does.

Jaskier only reaches down to touch his cock when he's panting, barely holding himself up as he shakes through his orgasm. Jaskier peels his sweaty shirt off his back and kisses his shoulder. His hands run up and down Geralt's sides, gently soothing as he mumbles against his skin.

"Gods, Geralt," he hums, "you're amazing. I didn't think I'd actually get you there, but fuck-" he cuts himself off, nosing into the hair above his ear. "But I'm not done with you yet. Don't think I've forgotten about what you got up to last night, hm?"

"Do you know what it's like to be jealous of a toy?" Jaskier asks. "I heard you in here and I knew exactly what you were doing and I wanted to watch. I wanted to get right up behind you and slip my fingers in beside the dildo. My dildo," he reminds him. "It's a wonder I didn't ruin my trousers listening to you. And you," he hums and he slips his hands down to rest on Geralt's hips, "you were so worked up fucking yourself on it that you didn't even realize I was there, did you?"

"No," Geralt mumbles, "wish I had."

"I'm here now," Jaskier says, "why don't you show me what you got up to last night, hm? Show me the way you like to be fucked."

Jaskier's hands slip down, catching on the hem of Geralt's trousers and pushing them down his thighs. And Geralt doesn't like being naked around people, doesn't like feeling vulnerable in an unusual place, but with Jaskier's hands and mouth on him, he feels good. Nothing else in the world matters right now but JAskier and the places he's touching him.

"Oh, you are beautiful, aren't you?" Jaskier whispers. His hand traces the shape of Geralt's torso and comes up his chest, pulling himself close against Geralt's back. He tugs Geralt's trousers all the way down, tapping each thigh in turn for Geralt to step out of them and then he kicks them away.

When Jaskier steps away, Geralt immediately misses the contact and he turns his head to look at him, watching the way Jaskier crosses the bedroom to dig through his pack. He returns with a bottle of oil and the dildo, setting them both on the dresser in front of Geralt.

"I want to watch you," Jaskier breathes, pressing up against his side, "show me how you did it last night."

Geralt looks at him in the mirror. His own expression looks confused and he doesn't understand why Jaskier would want to see him. He's about to ask when Jaskier smiles at him and swoops down to nuzzle against his neck.

"I see that look," he whispers, nipping roughly at Geralt's skin, "you're sexy. You're so fucking sexy, Geralt. It doesn't matter what you think about it, just the thought of you gets me hot and I want to want to watch you get off." He noses at him, kissing the skin under his jaw. "Can I?" he asks, "can I watch you, love?"

"Yes," Geralt groans. "Yes."

Already, Jaskier's got him worked up again. He wants to come again and he wants to hear Jaskier say those things to him, wants to hear him say he's beautiful and he's good because even if it's hard to believe, the words wash over him like silk. Like warm bath water on a cold night and he wants to believe them.

"Okay love, show me."

Jaskier backs off and Geralt feels a little awkward with all that space between them. But he can feel Jaskier's eyes on him as he reaches for the oil, calmed by the feeling instead of wound up by it. He tips oil over his fingers, reaching back behind himself, and as he presses between his cheeks, he watches Jaskier in the mirror.

Jaskier is undressing behind him, watching him carefully as he shrugs out of his doublet and unbuttons his shirt. He tugs the latter over his head, revealing a thick thatch of dark hair and Geralt groans at the sight. There's something wonderfully masculine about Jaskier's chest and it stirs something in him, makes Geralt hard and eager and he wants to please him.

He presses against his hole, still slightly swollen and loose from the night before. His body gives way easily and he pushes deeper into himself, moaning softly at the stretch. He shuts his eyes, focusing on the stretch and he rocks back onto his finger under Jaskier's gaze. He hums softly, thrusting shallowly and when he looks up again, Jaskier's got his trousers undone and he's leaning against the bed, cock slipping between his fingers.

Geralt groans and his own cock twitches. He's swelling again now, delighted by the sight of Jaskier watching him, by the swirling scent of arousal that fills the room as Geralt presses a second finger in. It feels good, but it's not enough and soon he's working himself up to three. Behind him, Jaskier groans, and shifts, pushing himself off the bed and dropping his trousers to the floor.

When he settles again, he's got his legs spread wide, prick in his hand and Geralt groans at the sight of him. He keeps his eyes on Jaskier as he pushes a third finger into himself and he groans softly, ducking his head momentarily and missing the look of hunger on Jaskier's face. Then Jaskier is moving again.

He slips up next to Geralt pressing his cock against his hip and sliding a hand down over his ass. He squeezes firmly, watching Geralt's reaction in the mirror. Geralt hums, pressing deeper into himself and pressing against his prostate. It's a bad angle, but he wants to feel it, wants something deep inside him and Jaskier doesn't make him wait. He takes the toy from the dresser, slicks it up and presses it teasingly between Geralt's cheeks.

It bumps against Geralt's hands and he wants it so badly he can feel it. He withdraws and whines as Jaskier immediately slips the toy lower, letting it catch on his rim but never pushing in. Geralt shifts his hips encouragingly, but Jaskier is enjoying himself and is not about to let Geralt have his way before he's good and ready for it. He teases, rubbing it against him and then pulling away when Geralt pushes back.

"Do you want it?" he asks and Geralt whines a yes into his arms.

He's doubled over now, leaning on his elbows while his cock hands heavy and needy between his legs. He's leaking already, creating a small pool of precome on the floor between his feet and it shouldn't turn him on as much as it does to be denied, but there's something about Jaskier's promise of more but not yet that has him aching. He gets to come on Jaskier's time and that's a thrill he never expected.

When the toy does finally breach him, Geralt is breathless and he practically cries out with the pleasure of it, only barely catching himself. But Jaskier doesn't linger for long before pulling the toy away and Geralt's hips follow the motion back.

"Please," he whispers. Jaskier chuckles softly and slips up to him, fitting up against his side and pressing his cock into Geralt's thigh.

"This needy already?" he asks, "darling, you've come twice already tonight, do you really think you deserve it again so soon?"

"Yes," Geralt bites because he's hard and horny and Jaskier is being intentionally cruel now.

"Oh, my love," Jaskier whispers. With that, he pushes the toy in, slowing as it presses deep into him and then holding it there, fully inside him and pushing against his prostate.

Geralt is only vaguely aware of the way he whimpers as Jaskier rocks the toy into him. He's too overwhelmed with the sudden burst of pleasure and finding the easiest way to keep Jaskier from taking it away again. But he doesn't. He holds the toy deep, occasionally rocking it further into him and wiggling it.

"Fuck you're beautiful when you're like this," Jaskier whispers, the fingers of his free hand trailing down Geralt's spine. "You're always beautiful, but this is…. gods Geralt, you're incredible."

He slips his fingers down, slipping through the precome drippings from his cock and slips his fingers, dragging them up the length of his cock. Geralt shudders, unable to move without losing pressure from the dildo, but his cock throbs and aches for more, twitching against Jaskier's fingers.

"I'd like to watch you now," Jaskier hums, "I'd like to see what I missed last night." He reaches for Geralt's hand, rubbing his thumb over his fingers before lifting it from the dresser. Geralt shifts with the motion, letting Jaskier place his hand behind him.

He flexes his fingers against his own skin and Jaskier nudges him lower.

"Take it, love, I know you want it."

Geralt reaches around for the base of the dildo and Jaskier's hands leave him altogether. He misses the pressure of them against his skin, but the toy slips a little and as he presses it in again, he finds he doesn't mind so much. And he can feel Jaskier's eyes on him, watching every motion of his wrist and arousal burns through him.

And just because Jaskier's not touching him anymore doesn't mean he leaves. In fact, he presses closer, pressing himself against Geralt's side and planting his hands on the dresser.

"You look so good, darling. Feels good too, doesn't it?"

"Mmhm," Geralt breathes. He's breathless already, trying to keep a steady pace even though he wants to slam the toy into himself, fuck quick and hard and come with Jaskier's eyes on him. The thought nearly makes him forget himself and for a moment, his pace quickens.

Jaskier wraps a gentle hand around his wrist, slowing him, evening out the thrust of the toy.

"Not so fast, darling. We have all night, no need to rush. Why don't you tell me what you thought about last night, hm?"

"You," Geralt hums, "thought about you."

"How?" Jaskier asks and for the first time, he sees almost breathless.

"Thought about what you'd do if you found me like that, how you'd fuck me."

"And how's that?" Geralt can feel the way Jaskier's cock twitches against his hip and he groans deep and low, dropping his chin against his chest.

"Hard," he rumbles, "you'd make me watch. Make me see the way you fuck me. And you-" he stalls and Jaskier's hand comes up, fingers slipping lightly over his throat.

"Tell me, my sweet. I can't give it to you if you don't tell me." And oh, that's… he never expected that.

"You called me beautiful." Geralt whispers, "told me I was perfect."

"Shit," Jaskier breathes and his cock jumps before he presses it into Geralt's thigh, "you are my darling. You're so beautiful, so perfect for me."

Geralt can hear now, the way Jaskier's breath comes a little raspier and the way his breathing is harsher and he knows he's getting worked up over it. So he goes into detail, tells Jaskier every little way he touched him in the fantasy, every way and everywhere he kissed him and he's so preoccupied trying to get Jaskier off he almost doesn't notice his own orgasm approaching until it's too late to stop it.

He comes with a shout, pitching forward against the dresser and before he's even finished, Jaskier's hands are on his hips and pulling the toy out and then he's slipping into him, hard and thick and so fucking good.

Gerlt drops to his elbows, letting Jaskier fuck him hard. His fingers dig into his skin and he drapes himself over Geralt's back, nipping at his neck and mumbling in his ear. His voice is rough and glorious and Geralt's cock is already twitching again where it slips through his spend on the dresser.

Jaskier comes remarkably quickly, fingers digging into Geralt's skin and his nose pressed into his neck. He hooks his chin over Geralt's shoulder, slumping a little as he pants against his ear. He reaches around, running his hands up Geralt's chest and when he slips down again, he wraps his fingers around his cock, still soft but swelling eagerly under the touch.

"You really want it, huh?" he mumbles. "Fuck, Geralt I knew there had to be some sort of stamina thing with those mutations, but this is insane." He gives a firm stroke right up to the tip of his cock, pushing his thumb through the come still lingering there.

"Do you want to keep going? Does it get sore?

"A little," Geralt rasps, "but not for long." Jaskier takes the information as it is and continues stroking him with one hand, working him up to full hardness in barely a minute.

"Darling, you're incredible. I can hardly believe I'm the one who gets to see you this way. How many times can you come, love?"

"Dunno. Never tried. As many times as you make me, I s'pose."

"Oh." Jaskier breathes, "in that case." His hand pulls from Geralt's cock and he turns him around so they're facing each other, pushing Geralt's thighs apart to stand between them.

With what seems like very little effort, Jaskier wraps his hands around the backs of Geralt's thighs and lifts him off the floor. He sits him on the dresser and tips him back, pressing his cock against his hole. He's not fully hard yet, but the press is tempting and Geralt rocks his hips a little, grinding back against him. Jaskier presses a hand to his chest, pushing him back so he's leaning against the mirror and he takes his cock in his hand.

Geralt wants to get his mouth on him. He could get him hard so quickly with his mouth if he was allowed. Jaskier's cockhead slips between his fingers, red and slick, and Geralt groans at the sight of it and licks his lips.

As soon as he's stiff again, Jaskier presses into his hole, stretching him open again and rocking in at a steady pace. He pulls Geralt's hips down tight against his own and he fucks him hard. Geralt's head drops back and Jaskier leans over him to suck at his neck. There will be marks in the morning and Geralt is already eager for them for a reminder of Jaskier's mouth on his skin.

Jaskier pushes in and stays so deep Geralt feels like he's choking on it. He reaches for his own cock, intending to jerk himself off, but he gets caught up in the motion and ends up with his hand just loosely wrapped around himself, useless except for when he's jostled enough to brush against his palm.

And Jaskier is very good, hitting his prostate with every thrust until Geralt is nearly delirious with it. His head rolls back and he's vaguely aware that he's speaking, but he doesn't know what he's saying. He can only hope it's not a confession or a marriage proposal, but either is likely with the way Jaskier fucks him.

Jaskier gets him close again, leans in close and kisses his neck and shoulders and down his chest and then, just when Geralt is right there, he pulls out and drops to his knees. He gets his mouth around him and lifts Geralt's legs over his knees, wrapping his arms around his thighs and pressing in close. He doesn't stop until Geralt's cock is bumping the back of his throat and then he hollows his cheeks and sucks hard as he draws back to the head.

Geralt is helpless against him and he's coming again before Jaskier can even get him all the way in his mouth again. His hips twitch and Jaskier takes him all the way down, squeezing around his thighs as Geralt whimpers at the oversensitivity.

He slumps back against the mirror, his skin slipping against the smooth surface. It's cool and it feels good but then Jaskier's hands are on him, smoothing up his thighs and pressing his fingertips into his skin and Geralt just shuts his eyes and shifts into the touch.

"Gods, Geralt I really don't know how I wound up lucky enough to have you." Evidently, he's on his feet again because he leans in between Geralt's legs and kisses him. It's soft but there's an eagerness under the surface and Geralt can't help but press for more.

"Still want more?" Jaskier asks and Geralt whines at him. Words are hard and his body feels heavy, but when Jaskier's cock slides against his own, arousal swirls in his gut again, no less demanding than before. "Okay," he hums, "come with me."

Before Geralt can protest getting up, Jaskier's got his hands under his thighs, sliding him from the dresser and heaving him up into his arms. Geralt is hesitant for a moment but Jaskier doesn't falter, doesn't even seem to be bothered by the extra weight and Geralt makes a mental note to ask about that later. For now, he buries his face in Jaskier's neck, kissing him softly and nuzzling against his skin as he's carried to the bed.

He's laid out on silk sheets and he basks in the coolness of them, in the softness against his skin. Jaskier is above him, kneeling between his legs, but Geralt still has his eyes shut. It's not until he hears the slick sound of skin on skin that they flash open.

Jaskier's got his cock in his hand, working over himself quickly as he leans over Geralt. He's watching him with hungry, lidded eyes and if Geralt's cock hadn't already gotten on board again, it would now. Even so, it twitches against his hip and Jaskier huffs a faint laugh through his panting. Slipping the hand from his cock, he reaches down, curling around the base of Geralt's cock and running up to the head. Geralt whines and Jaskier hums.

"Do you want to come again?" Geralt nods and Jaskier grins. "Ask me for it. Convince me." Geralt arches off the bed, chasing Jaskier's hand as it lifts from his cock.

"Please," he whines, "please Jaskier, I need it."

"You need it?"

"Yes."

"How badly, love? How badly do you need to come?"

"So badly. Fuck, it hurts Jask- please, touch me."

"Okay," he grins, but instead of touching him, Jaskier slips further, pressing two fingers against his hole and slipping easily inside. He forgets his own pleasure in favour of fucking Geralt with his fingers, quickly moving from two up to three. And Geralt melts into the sheets, sweat-slick and so hot he feels like he could burn alive, and yet somehow, unbearably good.

Jaskier brings him right up to the edge and lets him linger, twitching on his fingers, before pulling out altogether. He reaches down to touch himself, but Jaskier bumps his hand away. It's cruel, Geralt thinks, to leave him like this, but then Jaskier's crawling up over him, bending low to whisper in his ear.

"You can come again if you come on my cock," he breathes and Geralt nearly comes from that alone. "Think you can?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck. Good boy." Jaskier eases himself up, lifting Geralt's legs to rest over his own and he presses close.

He ruts against him teasingly, letting his cock drag against Geralt's before abruptly drawing away and pressing into him. He doesn't hesitate and a Geralt shudders, arching off the bed. Jaskier snaps his hips, holding Geralt's to keep him from jostling too much and picks up a brutal pace.

He fucks into him quick and hard and Geralt is so far beyond exhausted. His body is heavy, kept awake only by the overwhelming pleasure coursing through him and a desperate ache of something more that he knows belongs solely to Jaskier. He reaches up to him, cupping his face then dropping his hands to his chest. His fingers push through thick chest hair and Jaskier hums as he shifts to get closer.

"Mmm," he whispers, "touch me, darling, love your hands."

Geralt does as he's asked, running his hands down Jaskier's stomach - firmer than it appears most of the time - and back up his sides. He runs his hands down his arms and holds his shoulders, presses his fingers into the back of his neck and runs his fingers through his hair.

Without the barrier of consciousness, he mumbles soft words of praise, telling Jaskier how beautiful he looks and how he does so much for him. He's barely aware of what he's saying, just cognizant enough to keep from telling him how he feels, but he wants to. And when Jaskier dips to kiss him, still rutting into his desperately, Geralt thinks he might accept it. They've come this far, after all.

"So good for me," Jaskier breathes, "so fucking perfect Geralt, gods I wish you could see yourself the way I do. So kind, so perfect-" he begins rambling and Geralt can smell the spike in his arousal. He's close, but he's holding back. He wants Geralt to come first.

He pushes back onto Jaskier's cock, wrapping his arms around his neck to pull him down to him and Jaskier closes the little remaining distance between them. He settles against Geralt's chest, switching up the angle of his thrusts and bumps against his prostate immediately. Geralt jerks under him, hips rocking up unintentionally and rutting against Jaskier's hip.

He's so close, too - a miracle after how many times Jaskier has already gotten him off tonight - but this feels different, Jaskier fucking him like this, face-to-face. It's softer, intimate in a way Geralt isn't used to, even with Jaskier, and the implications get under his skin and stay there, heating his skin and pushing him forward.

Jaskier pushes himself deep and rocks shallowly, keeping himself pressed up against Geralt's prostate and it's overwhelming. Geralt digs his fingers into the back of Jaskier's neck, barely resisting the urge to reach down and jerk himself to completion. But he's so close and Jaskier wants him to come on his cock and Geralt wants whatever Jaskier wants.

"Please," he whispers and he's not even sure what he's asking for, but Jaskier kisses him then, hot and filthy, barely a kiss at all, and Geralt lets go.

He comes with a cry, barely muffled by Jaskier's mouth and then Jaskier is shifting on top of him, sitting up without breaking the kiss and pulling out. He's still hard and Geralt is about to tell him off for denying himself but then he's climbing up over him.

Jaskier straddles his hips, hovering barely an inch above Geralt's cock and takes himself in hand. He jerks himself quickly and Geralt reaches up, rubbing Jaskier's thighs as he groans and bites his lip. And Geralt can't keep his eyes off of him. He thinks he might understand why Jaskier thinks he's beautiful like this because seeing Jaskier with his bottom lip trapped between his teeth is a little overwhelming.

"Fuck, Geralt-" Jaskier groans and then he's pitching forward, one hand braced on Geralt's pec while the other furiously strips his cock. He mumbles as he gets close and he shuts his eyes, a breathy fuck on his lips before he's coming, splattering against Geralt's chest.

Geralt leans his head back and shuts his eyes, mindlessly running his hands over Jaskier's thighs until Jaskier shifts to lie on top of him. Geralt's about to comment that it's disgusting, but then Jaskier's lips brush his own, so softly and he can't think to interrupt him.

He's expecting it to be brief, just a quick kiss and then Jaskier will roll over and… well, he doesn't know what he expected to come next, but Jaskier doesn't stop and he doesn't move away. Instead, he deepens the kiss, reaching up to tangle one hand in Geralt's hair and twining their fingers together with the other. Even when he pulls away, Jaskier kisses his jaw and his neck, nosing just under his ear.

Jaskier has just moved down to his collarbone when there's a knock on the door. Geralt pulls back instinctively, but Jaskier presses a reassuring hand to his chest.

"I called for a bath and fresh sheets earlier, love, don't worry. They've got good timing, hm?"

"Mm," Geralt hums.

"Wait here, love, I'll be right back." He slips off the bed, pulling the drapes shut around the bed and Geralt is too tired to focus on what he's doing.

Instead, he lets his mind wander, which proves to be a mistake because he feels uncertain now that Jaskier's hands aren't on him and he can't help but wonder if he imagined Jaskier's enthusiasm to some extent. He lies still and thinks back, trying to sort through his thoughts and before long, Jaskier returns, dressed in a short silk robe. It suits him.

He climbs up onto the bed on his knees, reaching out for Geralt and pulling him upright. He coaxes him into the bath and it's not until he's sitting in the hot water, back to Jaskier's chest, that Jaskier seems to notice something is wrong. He doesn't ask about it, but wraps his arms around him and washes him with a soft-smelling soap. It reminds him of Jaskier and Geralt shuts his eyes, dropping his head back against Jaskier's shoulder.

Geralt isn't even surprised when his cock stirs under Jaskier's attention, and without hesitation, Jaskier slips a hand around him, jerking him off in a matter of minutes. When Geralt comes again, he slumps against him and Jaskier hums.

"Gods," he whispers, "I'm spent, but you'd keep me going all night, darling."

Geralt steps out of the tub on wobbly legs and Jaskier is there immediately, wrapping his arms around him and pulling a sheet around them both. He kisses him as he dries him off, soft little pecks that tickle more than anything, but Geralt loves them.

As soon as they're both dried, Jaskier leads him back to a freshly made bed - the maids must have snuck in while they were in the bath - and guides him onto it, following after. They're both exhausted and Geralt sinks into the warmth of the bed, but he can't get comfortable. He curls in on himself, even as Jaskier presses up behind him. The shift puts them further apart and Jaskier closes that gap again, leaning up.

"What's wrong, love?"

Geralt sighs and squeezes his eyes shut. He doesn't want to say, but to have a taste of Jaskier like this and lose him-

"Earlier you said- did you mean it?" Jaskier's scent levels, the harsh worry fading into relief.

"Yes, of course, I meant it. I thought you knew."

"I knew you wanted me," Geralt mumbles, "I didn't think you'd-"

"Love you?"

"Mm."

"I do, Geralt. I love you so much. And last night when I saw you, when I heard you? That was the first time I thought you might feel the same."

"I do," Geralt says.

"I certainly hope so because I won't be able to move for a week after this. You'll be stuck in this bed with me until the Countess has us hauled off."

"I can think of worse ways to spend a week." Jaskier laughs softly and nuzzles against Geralt's back.

"I promise you, my love, as soon as we have the coin I'm taking you to the nicest place I can find and keeping you in for a week."

"Mm," Geralt hums, turning to face him. He reaches up, pulling Jaskier's face gently toward his own and he kisses him softly. "I'll hold you to that."

#geraskier #geralt x jaskier #jaskier x geralt #rex writes #spicy #dom/sub undertones #this is basically all smut #oop!

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thatboomerkid · 4 years ago

Text

Giff -- SpellJammer Race for Pathfinder

Giff -- SpellJammer Race [19 RACE POINTS] for First Edition Pathfinder

Known to the gnomes of Markovia as the nilski konj vojnici, to the Hin plantation-owners of Covington Farms as los mercenarios gigantes del río, and to the human field-workers laboring near New Arvoreen most-often simply as “those big goddamn bastards,” the giff -- as they are called in their own guttural, roaring language -- represent a recently-contacted species of huge, violent, powerfully-built, terrifyingly-focused, and dangerously cagey combatants.

In the little-over-a-century since their discovery by the Hin, platoons of giff have already carved a bloody name for themselves across the wilds of Verdura -- and far beyond -- as unparalleled river-guides, rowdies, strike-breakers, mob debt-collectors, private enforcers, heavy-weapons units, siege engines, bodyguards, and elite soldiers of fortune.

Brought to you absolutely free to enjoy, to test & to share – as always – by the fine folks of my Patreon.

original image by the incredible Claudio Pozas, here

Type: Monstrous Humanoid (3 RP)

Ability Score Modifiers: Mixed Weakness (-2 RP)

+2 Strength, -4 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, -4 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom

Size: Large (7 RP)

Giff gain a +2 size bonus to Strength and a -2 size penalty to Dexterity (already included above). Giff also suffer a -1 size penalty to their AC and a -1 size penalty on all attack rolls; they gain a +1 bonus on combat maneuver checks and to their CMD, and suffer a -4 size penalty on Stealth checks.

A giff takes up a space that is 10 feet by 10 feet and has a reach of 5 feet.

Base Speed: Normal speed (0 RP)

Languages: Standard (0 RP); giff speak their own eponymous, curiously poetic language, and most are -- in the modern day -- also conversant in Low Kozah-Talosii (usually spoken with a thick, pompous Verduran accent).

This bastardized dialect, the so-called “Common tongue” favored across Pyrespace for use in international, intercultural, and interplanetary trade, is a degraded mongrel variant of High Kozah-Talosii: the ancient root-tongue of both Arvorean and Brandobarin, still employed by the Church of Yondalla for use in sermons, hymns, and in all official records.

Big Damn Guns: Giff are treated as gnomes for purposes of the Experimental Gunsmith Archetype. (0 RP)

Darkvision: Giff have 60 ft. darkvision (0 RP); giff have relatively poor eyesight while out of water, which is easily corrected with simple lenses -- such as a monocle -- for use while reading. This vision is not poor enough to impart a mechanical penalty on Perception checks or attack rolls made by the giff.

Natural Armor: Giff have +3 natural armor (4 RP)

Natural Attack (Headbutt): Giff receive one natural attack, which is treated as a gore attack that deals 1d8 bludgeoning damage. (1 RP)

Natural Swimmers: Giff have a swim speed of 30 feet and gain the +8 racial bonus on Swim checks that a swim speed normally grants. (1 RP)

Powerful Charge (Headbutt): Whenever a giff charges, it deals twice the standard number of damage dice with its headbutt plus 1-1/2 times its Strength bonus. (2 RP)

River-Sense: Giff can sense vibrations in water, granting them blindsense 30 feet against creatures that are touching the same body of water. (1 RP)

Slow On Land: Giff often select the Clumsy, Easy Target, Magically Inept, Nearsighted, and Slow Reflexes Major Drawbacks (0 RP)

Spell Resistance (Greater): Giff have spell resistance equal to 11 + their character level. (3 RP)

Sporting: The species-wide love of warfare exhibited by the giff draws a sharp line of distinction between “sporting” and “unsporting” combat (see below). (-1 RP)

Sporting combat includes arm-wrestling, fisticuffs, darts, cards, dice, checkers, chess, billiards, cricket, rugby, skeet shooting, tennis, and golf, alongside tests of boasting, carousing, headbutting, toast-giving, swimming, push-ups, and a complex, ritualized sort of thunderous, unarmed mixed martial-art performed solely while stripped down to breeches & undergarments, usually in ankle-deep to waist-deep water, ending in pin or submission, which -- up to a point -- also serves as a type of flirting.

The military mentality of the giff even makes special allowances for a variety of “sporting” duels to the death. Establishing a proper duel requires a huge number of complex ritual elements that -- in the end -- mostly boils down to both giff formally acknowledging that:

Both giff are armed with approximately the same quality of weapons & armor (warhammer, combat knife, pistol, full plate, etc.)

Both giff have equal access to military support, including healing

Both giff have a grievance, no matter how petty

Both giff are suffering approximately the same level of injuries

Both giff have made arrangements for their estate, and for the treatment of their body after death

Once a “sporting” challenge to the death has been agreed-to by both parties, anything up to and including outright murder of one’s opponent is considered fair game.

Several major holidays each year celebrated by the giff include a “violent dueling festival” as part of their celebration; to outsiders, these events have a very bizarre, genteel, 1800s-Victorian-Teddy-Roosevelt-meets-The-Purge sort of feel to them:

“Happy holidays, friend; best of health this year to you and to your kin. And I say, old chap, don’t suppose it’s high time for a kukri-duel, eh, wot wot? Seeing as you got drunk on my finest brandy, made a pass at the missus, wiped your prodigious buttocks with my table linens, and micturated in my hedge-row as of Christmas last, well ... in lieu of an apology, what say I have Jenkins fetch the carving blades, eh? See which of has the moxie, shall we? Cheerio and have at thee then, old sport?”

If this formal challenge to a lethal sporting-duel is declined, the challenger must make all possible accommodations to guarantee the immediate physical safety of the giff she just challenged (at least until such time as the two giff part ways once more): providing the giff with weapons, armor, food, water, medicine, reading materials, a place to sleep, liquor, smoking tobacco, and anything else a gentleman or lady of high breeding could reasonably expect to have access to (even while imprisoned).

In short: if the challenged giff dies immediately after declining a duel, it is considered very embarrassing for the challenger.

For his own part, the declining giff must treat her challenger with the very utmost level of respect ... or risk being guilty of unsporting conduct, a fate far worse than mere death.

Any giff who finds herself about to violate the terms of properly “sporting” conduct instantly becomes aware of the error, just as if she were wearing a phylactery of faithfulness and, at all times, actively contemplating the thought of doing bodily harm to another giff: this behavioral limitation is not built as a trap for players to accidentally stumble into, but -- instead -- as an interesting roadblock to navigate around.

If two or more giff find themselves forced into a position of armed conflict against one another on a battlefield, both groups traditionally retire for at least a day of drinking and sorting-out ranks; on rare occasion, one platoon will join the other; more likely, all giff involved in any part of the operation will quit their current hirings and look for work elsewhere.

Any giff who engages another member of her own species in any type of unsporting combat -- attacking another giff with a weapon, for example, or with magic -- immediately suffers a -2 penalty on all skill checks, ability checks, attack rolls and saves; she continues to suffer this penalty until such time as she is able to make amends: presenting her victim with a formal written apology, or seeking our her victim’s family to beg their public pardon.

Each month, this penalty increases by 2. Guilt is a poison that grows by degrees, after all: ever-gnawing.

While she is suffering penalties in this way, if the giff is presented with the chance to punish herself – or a non-giff opponent! – while presented with something that reminds the giff of her betrayal, she may find herself compelled to do so regardless of the consequences:

Any time her betrayal is directly brought to her attention, the giff must make a Will save (DC = 10 + her character level + the Charisma modifier of the wronged giff). Failure means that the giff falls into a rage of abject self-loathing, completely focused on her own guilt for a number of rounds equal to the DC, above. Until she has finished with this exercise in hate, the giff can take no action other than to harm the reminder of her failure or enable herself to harm it: grappling a human shipmate who mentioned her old friend so that she might headbutt the human while strangling them, for example, or calmly loading a shotgun so that she might shoot the human dead in cold blood.

Note that the giff, while wracked with guilt & grief, is not required to do anything or harm anyone: she may simply stare at an old photograph and feel sad, for example, ignoring everyone around her.

During the fury of this black tempest, the giff suffers a -2 penalty to her AC.

Once the giff successfully makes amends, either with the wronged party or with the victim’s next-of-kin, all of the above penalties are removed. Entire subsets of giff society -- mediators, arbitrators, and negotiators -- are explicitly adapted to making absolutely certain that any errors in sporting conduct among giff are resolved quickly, and to the satisfaction of all parties.

Should she fail to make amends before her death, any giff who has harmed another giff in an unsporting way invariably rises again as an undead horror of some kind (often a blood knight or graveknight): reborn as a rotting, lurching mountainside of infinitely destructive hated.

Note that the Sporting Racial Trait is not purely social, but rather acts as a species-wide ingrained psychological virtue: two giff living on Fenris who never expect to see the wide rivers of Verdura again are still bound by the rules of “sporting” conflict; neither could shoot the other in the back any more than either of them could grow wings and fly to the moon.

Undead giff do not possess the Sporting Trait, which is seen -- by living giff -- as the most abhorrent and disturbing quality imaginable.

Note, also, that the desire to behave in a sporting manner extends only to fellow giff: Chaotic Evil giff will routinely massacre unarmed non-giff by the thousands, bellowing with laughter as they do so, and even a Lawful Good giff will rarely think twice before sucker-punching a crude human making drunken threats and impolite remarks at the bar.

-------

Giff Timeline:

1603 A.D. (118 years ago): The colony of New Arvoreen is established on Verdura; giff make contact with Hin (and their human servants) for the first time.

1620 A.D.: First generation of giff who have always known about the existence of Hin, humans, and -- most importantly! -- firearms fully comes of age.

1636 A.D.: New Arvoreen is significantly expanded.

1667 A.D.: Nation of Markovia -- the technological-marvel nation named for its Founder, Monarch and Supreme Leader, Dr. Adlai Markovitch -- founded on Verdua; diplomatic trade established with New Arvoreen.

1669 A.D.: City of New Arvoreen significantly expanded.

1702 A.D.: New Arvoreen significantly expanded; land officially cleared for Covington Farms, soon to be the largest agricultural facility in the system; rates of forcible immigration of indentured humans to New Arvoreen tripled.

1721 A.D.: (current year)

original image here

Giff Ranks: Lieutenant, General, Colonel, Major General, Lieutenant General, Lieutenant Colonel, Captain General, Brigadier General, Field Marshall, Major, Captain, Sergeant Major, Commandant General, Wing General, Lieutenant Colonel General, Staff Sergent, Master Sergent, Master General, Grenadier General; note that “Lord” may be added to any military rank, alongside the designations of “First” and “First Class” (for example, “First Lord Brigadier General First Class”)

Giff military ranks are, effectively, meaningless noise to everyone except the giff themselves: every member of the species is a decorated officer of some complex rank within some elite military company or another, but such ranks are largely ceremonial and may be inherited, purchased, or passed through elaborate, bombastic ritual.

Further, the only thing preventing a young giff from forming an entirely new military organization & immediately naming herself -- of example -- Supreme Acting Field Commander and Secretary General of the Armies and Navies at Wartime is -- up to a point -- her own willingness to do so.

Male Giff Names: Any invented male Hin name.

Female Giff Names: Any invented female Hin name.

Giff Family Names: Any invented male Hin first name

Society

The giff are military-minded, and organize themselves into squads, platoons, companies, corps, and larger groups. The number of giff in a platoon varies according to the season, situation, and level of danger involved.

A giff "platoon" hired to protect a gambling operation may number only a single soldier, while a platoon hired to invade an illithid stronghold may number well over a hundred.

The giff pride themselves on their weapon-skills, and any giff carries a number of swords, daggers, maces, and similar tools on hand to deal with troublemakers.

A giff's true love, however, is the gun. A misfiring weapon matters little to the giff (occasional fatalities amongst soldiery are simply to expected); it is the flash, the noise, and the damage that most impress them.

Even unarmed, the giff are powerful opponents. Against non-giff, they’ll often wade into a brawl just for the pure fun of it, tossing various combatants on both sides around to prove themselves the victors.

Once a weapon is bared, however, and the challenge becomes “unsporting,” the giff consider all restrictions off: the challenge is now to the death.

The giff prize themselves as top-quality mercenaries, and to that end take great pride in owning -- if not always wearing -- elaborate suits of full-plate armor. These suits usually include massive helms featuring hyper-detailed, semi-realistic images of exotic monsters on the crests, inlaid with ivory and bone along the largest plates.

Armor repair is a major hobby among the giff, although great skill at the craft is surprisingly rare.

The giff are deeply suspicious of magic, magicians, and magical devices; their legendary foes, the Five Tiger Princes, are despised for their esoteric abilities as much for their wicked deviltry.

image here

Family

The giff are, for the most part, happiest among fellow members their own race, intermingling broadly with the Ghoran -- whom the giff utilize as an edible, inexhaustible workforce -- and the Tengu: another unofficial “servitor race” of the giff, most often used as messengers and household servants.

Ghoran living on giff lands are stoic: dutifully tending the fields of the giff in exchange for protection from ten-thousand other, vastly more predatory dangers. For all that giff treat the ghoran as disposable -- a ghoran living on Verdura produces one seed each year, and can grow a new member of the species in a single month -- the giff do not want the ghoran hunted to total extermination. That, for the ghoran, is saying something,

Tengu, on the other hand, are deeply prized by the giff as staff, usually in the roles of personal assistants, groomers, decorators, butlers, bartenders, man-servants, attaches, major domos, and maids. Since all giff are “wealthy land owners,” to one degree or another, the true power & prestige of a giff can be accurately measured by the number of tengu he employs.

Giff otherwise consider anything larger than them deeply threatening, yet also complain bitterly -- in private -- about the fragility of the smaller races. Outside their own platoons, the giff are happiest among military organizations with a strong chain of command.

For this reason, giff hold the Church of Yondalla in exceptionally high regard.

Giff especially despise the catfolk: although they don’t speak of it to outsiders, a century ago the giff were on the verge of extinction: hunted for sport and trophy by servants of the Five Tiger Princes, their people nearly cut to nothing and their lands held by only a few remaining families. Since their acquisition of firearms -- and the arrival of the Hin -- the catfolk have broadly retreated.

Every giff -- male, female, and giffling -- has a rank within their greater society, which can only be changed by a giff of higher rank. Within these ranks are sub-ranks, and within those sub-ranks are color-markings and badges. The highest-ranking giff gives the orders, the others obey. It does not matter if the orders are foolish or even suicidal: following them is the purpose of the giff in the universe. A quasi-mystical faith among the giff -- who claim to worship, in a vague way, the Golden General Bahamut, who was killed and eaten by the cowardly Five Tiger Princes in order to steal his strength -- confirms that all things have their place, and the place of the giff to follow orders.

This makes the giff very happy.

Giff platoons can be hired from their sprawling, palatial riverside plantations and mountain hunting-lodges by anyone looking for muscle. The social leaders among the giff are contractors: these specially-trained giff review prospective employers according to ability to pay, then make a recommendation to powerful warlords and famous adventurers among the giff. The leaders, in turn, consider the danger of the job, and whether taking it will enhance their giffdom.

Giff jobs are usually paid in firearms & gunpowder, though they often will accept other weapons and armor. Aboard ship, the giff require their own quarters, and will often request to bring on their own large weapons. They favor fire-projectors and bombards for ground work, and will happily blaze away at opponents regardless of the tactical situation.

The giff require the ships of others because they have -- for the most part -- no spellcasting abilities among them.

Giff of both sexes serve in their platoons, and both fight equally well. Giff young are raised tenderly until they are old enough to survive an exploding arquebus, then are inducted fully into the platoon.

The giff practice equality among the sexes in battle and in childrearing. They live about 70 years, but do not take aging gracefully. As a giff grows older and begins to slow down, he is possessed with the idea of proving himself still young and vital, usually in battle.

As a result, there are very, very few old giff.

#pathfinder #SPELLJAMMER #race #options #1st edition

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bigskydreaming · 4 years ago

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Hi! I’m confused on how to reconcile dick’s origins and his loving family with the haly’s circus is a tool of the court of owls info. How does dick’s childhood not become horrifying and fake if the court of owls were using the circus the whole time? Ppl that dick knew and friends with were probably evil right? Idk... have a great day, sorry for my rant lol-confused anon

Honestly, as many times as the circus comes up in canon, its very rarely been explored in detail so it really just depends on how you play it, I think. For me, the difference is complicitness. If the Court of Owls is heavily invested in Haly’s Circus and manipulates where they go and when and uses it as a training camp for their future assassins in a lot of ways, that unmistakably casts a pall over Dick’s childhood, it lends it a certain air of grim destiny....BUT that doesn’t have to equate to his childhood being a LIE....not if most of the people he loves and values from it were just genuinely good people who loved him and had no idea about the darker side of their circus. I think most of Haly’s performers had no clue, or don’t have to be portrayed as having one, and thus just because they were there, doesn’t mean they were complicit, and if they weren’t complicit, that’s what really matters when it comes to them.

That said, we know that numerous performers died young under mysterious circumstances, or disappeared when in their teens, and that these were the eventual Talons of the Court. BUT we also know that the Court wasn’t like....disappearing multiple performers at a time, and that the real secret of the Talons’ large numbers is their longevity and the fact that the Court had been doing this for a LONG time. So its not like Haly’s performers would have all been oblivious to a lot of their number just vanishing under mysterious circumstances, its more that the scarcity of it happening means it could very easily for a lot of the performers Dick knew as a child, been like, their own personal urban legend? Like, there’s an awareness that there’s something spooky or creepy associated with the circus, but not what exactly it is or why its that way, and there’s just enough deniability to it that for most performers, their personal reasons for staying with the circus outweighed the occasional reminder of this potentially creepy side of things, as a reason for them to leave.

I could easily see this playing into like, superstitions about Gotham in general, because performers who’d been with the circus their whole life or a long time or just had a stronger awareness of the disappearances in their history could’ve like, identified that these mysterious deaths or disappearances only seemed to happen when the circus went to Gotham, and like.....maybe there wasn’t enough info to know what it MEANT, exactly, or maybe some of them had connected some dots and had SUSPICIONS about it maybe having something to do with the creepy rhyme they heard when they were in Gotham once, about the Court of Owls, but without being sure who was safe to talk about this with, nobody ever really explored that idea in depth.....like, its one of those things where I feel like it could’ve been that the disappearances and ideas people had about what was behind them and all that, it was a Big Unsaid. Something that was present and there throughout the atmosphere of Haly’s at times, especially for older members of the troupes, but nobody really ever talked about it because just because they knew something was going on there doesn’t mean they knew what to SAY about it, or to whom....and these are the kinds of undercurrents that as a kid, Dick would likely have been oblivious to....or only aware of in hindsight.

Like, I could see him years later reflecting on how now that he thought about it, the others always got weird and nervous about shows in Gotham or even the possibility of them, and nobody seemed to like Gotham for some reason, but he never knew WHY....and then when his parents were killed, that could have very easily slotted into just like....affirming that vague idea of ‘only bad things happen to the circus and its members when we come to Gotham’ without him ever consciously feeling a need to further explore that idea or awareness around Gotham....because on a gut level, it felt like he’d already gotten confirmation about something that he and the rest of his circus had always known as a kind of truism, even if they didn’t know why, y’know?

The only real sticking point in all this (well actually there’s two) is first of all, Haly and his family. We know they had some awareness of all this, and there was the Book of Names, and like, Haly and his grandfather knew about the Court in actuality rather than just theory, but its very doubtful that there was anything sinister to this knowledge on Haly’s side of things at least, and it seems pretty clear he was just a pawn operating under duress. That’s my take anyway, like, and it doesn’t make it OKAY for him not to have said or done more, but it makes it a tragedy rather than a betrayal, kinda? Like, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and though there’s things he could have said or done to defy the Court and their using the circus to draw their Talons from, he was probably painfully aware that any expression of defiance was going to simply get him and his loved ones killed as an object lesson to whomever they replaced him with, without much more than a slight hiccup in their plans.

And this is where being aware of the transformative power of fanfic and using it with INTENT rather than just going with the most utilized fanon tropes, like, is your best friend. Because thanks to all the gaps and superficiality in how a lot of this was touched on and dealt with in canon....you can make whatever you want out of it, all the more definitively if you know precisely what you want TO make out of it.

For instance: do you want to preserve Dick’s memories of Haly as a kind, grandfatherly figure in his life, someone who would never have stood idly by and allowed the Court’s intended fate for him to happen? You can do that....by playing up the idea that Haly saw an opportunity come out of the tragedy of the Graysons’ death, to separate Dick from the circus, and thus the Court, like lean into the idea that he was all for notable public figure Bruce Wayne taking in Dick and thus keeping him in a new, bigger kind of spotlight the shadowy Court wouldn’t dare try and steal him from. Unless of course, he suspected that billionaire and old money Gothammite Bruce Wayne WAS a member of the Court, and that’s why he wanted to take Dick in, in the first place. Crap. Just thought of that, that’s an obstacle.

UNLESS unless! You have Haly trying all the more to get Dick to stay with them, at least until they’re out of Gotham again and he can end up in the CPS system of some other NON Gotham city, once Bruce does express an interest in taking in Dick, BECAUSE he thinks Bruce is a member of the Court, and so he’s so clearly afraid of Bruce for some reason that Bruce simply can’t reconcile with his own public image and can’t simply be simple fear of the upper class when Haly’s Circus is used to catering to such crowds and Haly’s always displayed an ability to navigate the currents of such shark-infested waters as the Circus’s ringmaster....no, this has to be something other than just public perceptions, Haly’s fear of Bruce and his intentions for Dick feels PERSONAL.

Which perhaps makes Bruce come to Haly then as Batman, reassure him from that angle....which could in turn make Haly open up to him then and there about the Court and their obsession with the Gray Son, when he’s aware then that public figure Bruce Wayne isn’t a member of the Court and CAN offer the somewhat dubious (and double-edged) protection of that spotlight, AND at the same time, that he’s not some dumbass, but the Batman, with superhero connections and resources all his own that he can use to hunt the Court from the shadows and protect Dick that way too.

Thus giving Bruce forewarning about the threat of the Court (and hopefully Dick too, as I don’t think with this kind of storyline, keeping him in the dark his ENTIRE childhood would be fair or a good idea, even if it is understandable, like, there’s different ways to play this, but that seems doomed to backfire if that’s the road taken there).

Another thought about Robin and his bright colors and impossible-to-deny presence here though, actually.....what if part of why Bruce allowed Dick to be Robin at all was because it enabled him to kinda....extend the public spotlight Dick was in, as a barrier against the Court taking him....to more than just their civilian personas? Like, if Bruce KNOWS that Dick never had even the possibility of a normal life because even without him coming into his life, the Court was always going to be there, waiting for an opportunity to claim him.....then training him as Robin, giving him field experience as Robin, suddenly takes on a WHOLE different perspective as its Bruce actively giving him the tools to protect himself from an extremely SPECIFIC threat and fate....one that could strike at any time, one that wasn’t guaranteed to wait until Dick was an adult to try and take him so Bruce felt he couldn’t afford to wait until he was older to try and prepare him to be able to fight back, if they ever did come for him. Plus, as Robin, he was a BRIGHT figure in ways that are completely contrary to Bruce’s early start as an urban legend himself, something that could just as easily not exist as exist as rumored. From the moment Robin was a confirmed quantity, however, people were going to notice when and if he disappeared.....thus making it all the more impossible for the Court to quietly disappear Dick Grayson or Robin, without the rest of the hero community noticing too.

Of course, then you have to reconcile this with Bruce firing Dick as Robin....but there’s ways to do that too. *Shrugs* Just musing as I go here, tbh.

Or you can take the road I’ve dabbled with few times, the idea that a big part of why Dick ended up in juvie in that origin, could fanfic-wise be explained by connecting that backstory to the New 52 presence of the Court, and mashing them together so that the Court actually pulled strings after the Graysons’ death to get their Gray Son placed there until ‘they were ready for him’ and in the process wean him away from the morals his parents instilled in him and hone his willingness to fight and even potentially kill, by placing him in a pressure-cooker of an environment aimed at making him into a weapon. But the point here, is this is another more concrete way that Bruce could have even unknowingly thrown a wrench into their plans, by encountering him when he escaped from juvie (something the Court might not have been expecting, having underestimated him) and this leading to him taking Dick in himself, no longer trusting the city or the system to do the job they’d promised to do when they claimed to be taking Dick away from the circus for his own good.

Here, even without knowing about the Court or its plans, you can lean into the idea that Bruce steered Dick away from their intentions for him simply by being a source and a reminder of kindness and kind people. Kinda play up the theme that rather than grow up to be their greatest asset, Dick grew up to be their greatest enemy instead, all due to the introduction of the one variable the Court hadn’t accounted for when trying to forge their ideal weapon....the kindness of a stranger.

My point with both these directions is.....even with the Court having a hand in Haly’s Circus and thus Dick’s childhood, that doesn’t HAVE to make Dick’s childhood, or his destiny, inherently a tragedy, because despite all the Talon fics out there, the fact remains that in canon, in the main timeline....Dick’s never actually ever been a Talon....he exists, much like he’s always aimed to exist....as a defiance of expectations, of determinism, of a fated destiny. And thus he embodies something he’s embraced over and over again, the idea that only he truly gets to decide who and what he is.....and by utilizing one of the above ideas in his backstory, you can put Haly or Bruce or both firmly on HIS side, and give them active roles in giving him the tools he needs to subvert the Court’s destiny for himself, and choose his own path.

So, ultimately IMO, the Court’s connection to Dick’s past really is just one more way in which his story can be what its always been....that of retaining his core self even in the face of tragedies, making a triumph out of resisting the world (or specific people in it)’s attempts to make him other than a hero.

(The other sticking point I mentioned, aside from Haly, is one I’ve never really been able to reconcile myself, because it relies so much on the ages DC tried to force down our throat with the New 52, and to which I say NAY, NAY DC, DICK GRAYSON WAS NOT SIXTEEN WHEN HE MET BRUCE WAYNE, THIS IS NOT A JOEL SCHUMACHER PRODUCTION AND YOU DON’T HAVE THAT WACKY AND INEXPLICABLE CHARM.

And that’s the presence of other acrobats who aren’t part of the Flying Grayson family act, like Raya and Raymond, who we ultimately see as being very aware of the Court of Owls by the time Dick becomes aware of them. And like. There’s a lot going on there, and I don’t entirely know how to make it work but largely because I’ve never been all that inclined or inspired to try, so I mostly just let that be, and lift elements of the Court of Owls and transplant them into and over pre-Flashpoint continuity, which I prefer overall anyway).

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