#it isn't legal yet in case you're wondering

[imagine-knowing-a-name]

Spies and Secrets

Summary: Natasha has never met her handler, she couldn’t give you their name or identify their face because she doesn’t know it. When she rants about this to you, her wife, you have to laugh... because you are her handler.

Word Count: 2048

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x F!Reader

Warnings: Swearing, lying in the relationship (not in a bad way, just in a spy way), but otherwise it’s just fluff!

A/N: I went back and wrote this idea since it seemed semi-popular. Hope you enjoy :)

»»————-　★　————-««

"Will you finally tell me who they are?"

"This again, Romanoff?"

"Just a first name?"

Fury sighs to make his vexation clear, but that's not enough to dissuade Natasha; she remains determined as ever in her mission and smirks boldly in the face of her exasperated boss.

"Just an initial will get me off your back," the spy continues through his silence.

Fury scoffs and Natasha knows she needs a different approach.

"If it's you, you can just say, Sir."

"Me? You must be losing your touch if you think I have the time for that, Romanoff. Should Hill be taking your next mission?"

Natasha stops and stares with faux hurt while Fury continues on, grinning to his own amusement. He wasn't going to let her keep the upper hand for long.

"If you want to know, ask them yourself!" Fury calls over his shoulder, "Mission debrief. C12-2. 10 minutes. They won't tell you though; above your clearance!"

Natasha groans. As much as she hadn't expected a substantial answer from Fury – she'd been asking him the same question for years – she thought she might be getting somewhere, but no matter which trick she tries, Fury doesn't budge.

On top of that, he'd reminded her that it wasn't home time yet, her mission isn't over until she's briefed her mysterious handler. So Natasha sighs and makes her way to the conference room, still wondering why only her handler chose to shroud themself in mystery. All the other agents meet theirs directly, while Natasha sits in a room alone, waiting for a shadowy silhouette to call in.

The first few years went by without a comment – it wasn't her place to ask – but as she rose the ranks and found her role, her handler, too, remained just above her clearance. Even now, as one of the highest ranking agents, her handler was higher still. Curiosity built like a dripping tap; manageable and menial to start, only to provoke greater displeasure the longer it went on.

"Hi Agent!" the disembodied voice crackles through the speakers. That's the other thing driving Natasha towards irritation, her handler's tone. It's nothing like Fury's commanding orations. No, her handler speaks with an eagerness and informality reminiscent of a junior agent meeting their hero, rather than the commanding officer that they are, and have been, since Natasha first joined SHIELD almost a decade ago.

"Officer." Natasha replies. She had never been told her handler's surname, or even a title she could use to address them. Any attempts she made to learn had been properly shut down, forcing her to stick with the appellation of Case Officer.

"Always so formal," her handler laughs. "As far as I'm aware, the mission was successful, so what's got you so grumpy today?" they continue, noticing an uncharacteristic clarity to Natasha's mood that day.

"If you told me your name, I wouldn't have to be so formal, would I?" the spy snaps back. "And I'm not grumpy."

"Natasha, we've worked together for nearly 10 years now. I know when you're grumpy, and I can throw in an educated guess that my identity is the cause?"

"I've spent my life working in secret," Natasha shrugs, then pauses in search of the right words. "I'm well accustomed to dubious legalities and taking orders from the shadows. I'm also well aware that I would be a risk to security from the moment I joined until I gained the trust of this organisation, so I understood your secrecy."

Natasha stops again, noticing the silhouette begin to fidget; whether out of boredom or discomfort, the assassin can tell the time is right to make her final argument.

"We've worked together on hundreds of missions over this past decade, enough for you to know every detail of my life and mind, while I still know nothing about you. Have you thought about how that might hurt, officer? because it does! to believe I still haven't gained your trust after all this time. That hurts."

The room stills to a silence as fragile as Natasha felt. Her handler's reaction would dictate the situation; any information given could redefine the relationship between the two spies, just as another brush off would leave Natasha spiralling further into this curiosity.

A sigh finally echoes through the speakers; its long pause circling the sole inhabitant of the room. "It's above your clearance," the voice admits. Natasha slumps; she should have known better. "But-" The speed at which Natasha perks up draws out a small chuckle from her handler, before they continue with an audible smile, "I'll talk to Fury. See what I can reveal."

Natasha settles in her seat, unable to keep the broad smile from her face. "I do trust you, Romanoff, I hope you know that… I just don't think I'll be who you expect."

As a trained spy, Natasha wouldn't let that last line slide, immediately thinking of its hidden meaning. But before she can ask further questions, her handler clears their throat. "I think it's time we actually start the mission debrief."

»»————-　★　————-««

Natasha can't wait for the meeting to end. She understands the need – giving her side of the story, answering questions, sharing the intelligence she'd gained – but it drags on without incident and without any further comments on her handler's identity, so she'd much rather be at home. 

What reason was there for her not to do this from home? Her handler calls in from wherever they are, so realistically, Natasha could also pick up from wherever she is. Ideally at home, after a relaxing shower and a little time with her wife. Natasha supposes that's where the issue may lie: you, her wife, who has been led to believe Natasha is a security guard and nothing more. If you overheard a debrief, not only would SHIELD's confidentiality be compromised, but you might never forgive her lies. Natasha's home office was soundproofed though and, because of that, the assassin would take the risk if it means extra time with you.

Throughout Natasha's homeward journey and all through the mission debrief, you are the only thing to occupy her mind. Her mission finished in late afternoon, so she had planned how she would surprise you and spend the evening together upon her return, but then the debrief cropped up, and by the time her key is in the door, the sun has long since set, leaving her to wonder if you're even still awake.

You are. Just about. Your pyjama clad figure appears in Natasha's sight and you rush down the stairs to meet her by the door.

"You're home!" You beam as you wrap your arms over her shoulders and take her cue for a kiss.

"I am."

"How was your mission?" you tease. You know how seriously she takes each assignment, always doing prep work in her office ahead of the trips; she treated them akin to a secret mission and you never missed your chance to rag her for it. 

One of your favourite methods of teasing is to liken her to James Bond, which only gets more realistic when you catch her mouthing along to the movie lines.

"Top secret. Can't tell you," your wife jokes back, her smile threatening to burst off her face.

"No injuries this time?"

"None at all."

"Good girl." She preens. "Have you had dinner?"

"Not yet, I came home as soon as I was done. Couldn't wait to see you."

"Sweet talker," you laugh and kiss her again, then take her by the hand, "I put some leftovers in the fridge, you clean up, then you can eat and share your 'top secret' thoughts."

The evening's plan formed just like that; you reheat the noodle dish while Natasha takes a shower, before the two of you come back together to sit at the dinner table.

"So, how was it really?" you ask her.

"The job itself was alright, no problem." Natasha replies, but by the way she's stabbing the noodles with her fork, you can tell something else is coming. "But my bosses…they just won't tell me all the information. Say it's 'above my clearance'."

"The cheek of them."

"Don't mock me."

"I'm not, I'm not! I promise, love," you say, though you can't hide your barely contained laughter thanks to the prominent pout on your wife's face. You school your face back into an expression of neutrality before you talk again, "that sounds annoying. Do you need this information?"

"No," she sighs, "it's just a matter of trust."

"Well, you must be working with idiots for them not to trust you after all this time."

"Mm, you reckon I should tell that to them?"

"You definitely should."

The smile comes back to Natasha's face as she shakes her head, "you're going to get me fired, sweetheart."

"You're too good for them to do that. Just keep it up, you're going to be leading them one day, I'm sure of it. Then all the secrets are yours."

»»————-　★　————-««

Another week, another mission. And with another mission comes another mission debrief. Natasha asked for her handler's identity three weeks ago and still knows nothing more. With how poorly her recent mission went, she doesn't even feel like asking the question again.

"What went wrong, Romanoff?" that same anonymous figure asks her, and Natasha can only groan: what didn't go wrong?

"We were ambushed to start with; whoever gave us the heads up got their information wrong, or someone sold us out. Either way, the plan went to shit the moment we arrived and the team went to shit by throwing mole accusations around. Splitting up only made it worse; nobody trusted their teammates to do their parts and it resulted in a mad scramble. My orders were ignored, but my team members were injured and I take full responsibility."

"That won't be necessary, Agent," the voice hums, "as leader, the responsibility falls on you, yes, but it is each agent's responsibility to trust in you and follow your plan, and you will not be faulted for working with idiots who don't trust you."

Natasha starts to defend her team, before the familiarity of the phrase has her searching through her mind for a recollection. What she does remember is a long shot, but she'll lose nothing by asking.

"Do you have a wife, Officer?"

"I do," they reply.

"Is she a redhead?"

"She is."

"Works for SHIELD?"

"Why, it's almost like you know her," the handler goades. If one had an illustrated list of all of SHIELD's employees, they would know that the short game of 'guess who' still left a couple dozen potential employees in the running, but the teasing and testing tone is the final clue Natasha needs to make her assumption.

"Y/N/N?"

"Hey love," you reply, with as much adoration as you can muster, glad to finally be rid of the voice modulator while you talked to your wife.

In front of Natasha, the screen flickers before the silhouette that had become so familiar to her is replaced by another familiar sight in another familiar location: the smiling face of her wife…in her office.

Natasha's face falls at once, striking you with panic that this wouldn't be the gleeful revelation that you'd expected; that is, until the assassin speaks again. "Is that my desk?"

"It's your whole office, my love. I'm not taking these calls from our bedroom."

"Is that why it's sound proofed?"

"I gave the approval for that, if you remember, and it's certainly not because you're taking SHIELD calls at home; you haven't even had one while we've lived together!"

"That's because you organise it straight after the mission so I don't have time to go home!"

"Because that's where I am! you'd be suspicious otherwise."

Natasha falls silent for a moment. You know her well enough to leave her to her thoughts, only twiddling your thumbs as you watch her through the screen.

"So can I do debriefs at home now?"

"I don't see why not," you shrug, "remember I still have to take notes though, so I get the desk and no cuddling until after."

"No chance of that."

"Come back now, Romanoff, and we can put it to the test," you challenge.

She accepts. "I'll be there in 30."

"I know."

»»————-　★　————-««

Tagging: @supercorpdanbeau (since you mentioned you’d like to read it on the original post!)

[skelly-words]

more bf!sukuna hcs, but he’s insufferable and stuck in my head. this is part 4…

warning: some NSFW, slight intox, minors DNI

NEVER lets you drive. he’s so misogynistic. “females are bad drivers” ass bitch. "you're gonna wrap us around a tree."

claims to despise when you baby him e.g. forehead kisses, scratching his back to put him to sleep, even fucking cuddling. don’t believe that shit for a second but pretend to and stop until he starts acting grateful.

way too confrontational to be taken out in public. just pretend you don’t know him when he’s pulling a gun on someone who stepped on his shoes.

you’d be broke if you bailed him out of jail every fucking time. at least let him marinate there all night before folding or call his dad to do it instead.

so messy. it's unintentional, but sukuna just leaves a trail of disorder in his wake. throw pillows on the floor, shoes in the walkway, and always leaving the lights on despite complaining about the utility bill.

throw him outside to do yardwork or something. he loves that shit. putting in a couple fruit trees, maybe stepping stones. by the end of the summer you have a tiered garden with slate retaining walls and an automatic irrigation system.

why does he have a green thumb? he's in a secret competition with the neighbors for prettiest lawn. and yet, you manage to kill the little succulent garden he planted for you.

a minimalist (derogatory). sukuna is always trying to throw your trinkets and knickknacks away when you're not paying attention.

he loves getting a little fashion show after you buy new clothes. it's one of the few cute things he'll admit to enjoying. it doesn't matter if the outfit is skimpy or modest, hearts are popping out of his eyes like in a fucking cartoon.

doesn't apologize under any circumstances. the word 'sorry,' isn't in his lexicon. however, he will leave his card on the counter before heading to work and pick up flowers on the way home and make reservations at your favorite restaurant. don't expect to hear a real apology though.

super duper tender-headed. you can't even detangle it without him whining. might cry if you try to do braids, twists, any kinda style. fucking pussy

irritating asf. actually hate him, idk why i’m writing this. i'd probably poison him and collect the life insurance.

UMM nsfw

calling sukuna something corny and dominant in bed (sir/daddy/king/etc.) out of the blue would make him nut. and he isn’t even embarrassed about it at all.

incapable of pulling off a quickie. i think this is more endearing than aggravating. he can't hit it right in just ten minutes. he'll ask for more time. and a little more. then it's been an hour and you're likely running late for something.

thinks you're hottest bent over (i'm not even projecting rn bc my ass is flat). don't worry, he thinks your face is cute, missionary is great too. but if you wore one of those pillow case ass house dresses with no panties he'd go crazy. i hate to air him out like this, but it's true. i gotta link this shit so you know what i'm talking about. makes him feral. maybe i am projecting bc i luv those dresses.

but anyway, he'd fall for the 'bend and snap' so bad (legally blonde reference). these are basically crack, sorry

occasionally forgets that foreplay is a thing and tries to go straight from light frenching to stickin it.

i feel like sukuna’s sunday nights are spent getting really high and kissing on you for hours. he just gets the munchies dude. leaving dewy spots of saliva on all your exposed skin. once he’s tasted that, your clothes is peeled off so he can drool on the rest of you. he doesn’t even realize how much of a tease he is. his mouth suctioned to your inner thigh… maybe i should just write this as its own thingy

p sure i said this already, but he’s a biter. gnaws on you like a mf chew toy. it’s an oral fixation thing, if you don’t like it buy him lots of lollipops and tic tacs.

ok i have to stop before i gross myself out. tyty for reading <3<3<3 have a wonderful day.

masterlist if you wanna read the rest

[randomfoggytiger]

David Duchovny's Rehab Snitch: Confirmation

Every article I've come across discussing DD's stint in rehab always recycled the same sentiment, which abcnews succinctly sums up:

He was the first celebrity to own up to sex addiction. Other public figures have sought treatment following sexual indiscretions since then.... But Duchovny still holds the distinction of being the only celebrity to cite sex addiction as his reason for treatment, as opposed to depression, "undisclosed reasons" or any number of other ailments.

Yet, according to his own words, David had a different experience:

To be honest with you, when I went through it [rehab] and I was stripped of my anonymity, y'know, immediately-- which, if you're going to attempt to do 12 Step stuff, anonymity is a keystone of that. And I was barred from that almost immediately in my journey there.

And I wondered: what could he be referencing, being "stripped of his anonymity?"

Well, the only article I could find that confirms DD's side of things was written in October 2008-- and it paints a different picture from the one I hear commonly speculated:

"X Files" star David Duchovny's announcement that was he was in rehab for sex addiction sparked a lot of rumors. One of them was that he'd been caught having an affair with his tennis instructor (a woman) and that he was undergoing rehab to save his marriage.

Alas, it isn't so, says a close friend. Duchovny did not check in because of an extramarital fling. That much the friend is certain of. Even more so: Duchovny's problem has been longstanding. His wife, Tea Leoni, was aware of it for some time. It had just reached a point where it had to be treated.

I have inferred from my conversation with Duchovny's friend that this has something to do with an addiction to pornography, probably on the internet. It's the sex equivalent of a gambling addiction, where the person is just hopelessly trapped in chat rooms....

By the way, I'm told that David issued that press statement about his rehab because the tabloids were about to issue their own story. What happened: A fellow patient "dropped a dime" on David to make some extra coin. Nice confidentiality!

Huffington Post still has the article up, meaning whatever legal measures David used to shut down alleged affair rumors were ineffective or unwarranted in this case: either because he didn't feel the need to address anonymous speculation-- other rag mags still have "articles" up about he or Tea cheating, after all-- or because the "source" had proof that the newspaper wielded in their defense. Regardless, no other tabloid fodder matched the key detail DD mentioned on his podcast. Meaning, to me, these claims not only coincide with what he said, but also have legs of their own.

This is all to be taken with a grain of salt, of course. No one will ever know the truth of what happened except David and Tea. As is their right.

Thank you for reading~

[shanastoryteller]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!! Mirabel being awesome or Enola Holmes?

a continuation of 1 2 3 4 5

"I'm thinking of children."

Sherlock lowers his newspaper. "Why? Is it for a case? I know a few."

"How have you found fatherhood?" Enola asks. She's not planning to turn her children into informants, personally, but she supposes they were informants first in her brother’s case.

He actually folds the newspaper and places it on his lap. "What on earth are you talking about? Did you hit your head again? You have to stop doing that."

For fuck's sake. She's not going to argue with him about this. "Doctor!"

There's a crash from the kitchen, a curse, and then John is standing there. He does his best to leave them alone for their standing Thursday meetings. She wonders if she should be concerned that smoke is rising off his shoulder, but Sherlock's boy is Sherlock's problem. "How have you found fatherhood?"

John's dark skin flushes and he looks down and away. "Well - well! You know."

Sherlock jumps to his feet, realizes he has no where to run to, and slowly sits back down. "John, what are you saying? We're not fathers!"

John blinks at him several times, then turns to Enola, but she's not helping him out here. She'd introduced the two of them specifically so John could help manage her brother. "Not... legally?"

Yet whenever any of the irregulars gets in trouble, the police always ring 221B.

"Anyway," she says, moving on even though Sherlock seems to have frozen, either in shock or some sort of internal mental breakdown. "As a marchioness, I am expected to have a child or two. Preferably a son, according to Tewksbury's mother, although he isn't particular himself."

"Are you ready for that?" John asks. "Your detective business is doing so well."

"A few months off won't hurt me," she says. "I have people to do the legwork for a bit."

That seems to snap Sherlock out of it. "Enola, be serious. Even Mother put a pause on her extracurriculars to raise you, however unconventionally."

An interesting way to describe the fact that their mother is at the top of every county's most wanted list, each for a different crime. Sometimes the wheels of progress have to be greased along with a little arson, is all.

"She was alone," Enola says. "She managed her 'extracurriculars' while raising you and Mycroft because Father was alive and then she had to stop with me because she was alone. I'm not alone."

Sherlock softens. "No. You're not."

A bang goes off from the kitchen. John groans and hurries back to it.

Sometimes, John Watson reminds her very much of Mother.

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S03E08 - Sleeping Beauty

Okay episode which gets good with character interactions. In fact, I don't really get bored with S3 up until the end where they put some lackluster episodes.

You see one kid being mean to the other, then a minute later you cut to an interaction between parents and you realize why.

These parents are awful.

Charlie: "You have never seen a fairytale before?" Sarah: "I have, except I find them all insufferably sexist". Charlie: "Well, they offer historical context". Do they? Because I don't remember dragons in my history books. Anyway, I'm with Sarah on this one and luckily I didn't grow up with them.

It is interesting, however, that Charlie seems to know quite a bit about these things. I distinctly remember no boy would ever be convinced to sit down and watch these movies.

Sweet potato jerky? Why does that sound so tasty? It's a dog treat.

This is just an excuse to get Sarah home.

"Your new place, which I see for the first time ever, is really incredible!"

Have I mentioned yet on this rewatch that Charlie must be taking kickbacks to be able to afford a house like that? No?

"Kids are loud". Water is wet.

Too cute.

"I guess they're alright". Make up your mind. More importantly, isn't there ample space on the couch next to Charlie for Sarah to sit? What's she doing over there?

Jesse calls from work, Joe is also over there, NO ONE is surprised that Sarah is at home with Charlie and Rex.

See? Instead of reacting to Jesse's antics, react to the fact that your detective and your head of forensics (your? I have no clue) are playing house instead of being anywhere near the precinct.

"Rex is a detection dog. His alerts establish reasonable suspicion to search". Well, thank you, Sarah. Charlie never actually explained it. I wonder if this actually holds up.

I can actually imagine the writers at the start of the season trying to come up with a reasonable excuse for those searches based on Rex's nose. At some point, they might have even opened a law book. I don't think that it would hold up in court to say that a police dog smelled illegal substances and rule based on that but it might give probably cause for a search. All this changes depending on where one lives, though. And if they find something, well, then you have your proof right there. The whole gist of it is to make sure the search is legal so you don't jeopardize the entire case.

"The dog ruined my favorite pants". Maybe you shouldn't have run?

"He's trying to hypnotize me. You're all witnesses."

"So Rick is not the owner of our... glass slipper". I think Sarah is about to whack you with the case file.

Sarah: "Where do you think of starting?" *Rex barks* Charlie: "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, too, partner". Guys...

Why do I think this was taken from when they're looking for the stepmom in the end of the episode? He looks too serious and very much in a hurry, which is not something that he is supposed to be in the current drive.

"I can assure you there are no drugs in this house". Charlie literally has a drug sniffing dog with him, how do you think he's not going to find anything?

I think the lady's excuse that she's going through a brutal divorce actually did get a bit of a reaction from Charlie. Not that he'd give her the drugs back, of course.

Dad-influencer. I hate this age.

"What was your babysitter doing in the back of your truck?" I can't believe there was a logical explanation for this other than "We were having sex".

"You don't think it's possible to have a platonic relationship with an attractive woman?" Wise move not to answer that.

I'd definitely like to ask the Hudson and Rex production where they get their car brand covers because in greek tv productions their look like shit.

"Everyone I know drives this car". This is a 50K Mercedes. Where are we?

I did not have sexual relations with Stacey Nielsen". Okay, who put that in there? I can't listen to it without laughing.

Sad that it wasn't some kind of threesome. She was just carrying their child.

The production getting their money's worth out of the new house.

"She made this for me. It's some sort of woman with... one, two, three, four... seven kids?" "These are dwarfs" lmao

Snow White was in witness protection? Maybe in the next Disney installment.

Sarah: "You don't need a prince for a happily ever after". Get that man, Sarah. Do you have any idea how many men would protest that statement?

Joe: "Nice of you to join us this morning". Don't do this, Joe, we keep trying to extricate him out of the office, let him be late for once!

Charlie: "Rex took forever to get out of the house this morning. Rex: "Don't you dare sully my good reputation!" Charlie: "Okay. I took forever to get out of the house this morning". I love their suspicious looks and also, I WANT TO KNOW! What happened? What are they hiding from us? WHAT??? What did you cut out?

"Need I remind you, Charlie, that warrant-less collection of DNA is not admissible in court?" Maybe. I mean, we sometimes base an entire case off of it.

Seriously, why is he so chipper?

Sarah: "Stacey's not the mother". Joe: "I'm sorry, what the what?" Charlie: "Yeah, what Joe said". You can tell Sarah loves delivering such news.

Again with the looks.

I believe that a person having a perfectly good womb should be able to use that womb however they see fit, including getting paid to carry the baby of a couple that for whatever reason can't or won't do that. The law's intent should not be to police people's wombs but to make sure that children shouldn't be born and grown to be taken advantage of. So it should be legal in cases of parents who want to have a child, and illegal if for example one was to gather fifty women and grow children through surrogacy to take advantage of them (not the only example, just one I thought of). Taking advantage of your body's ability to carry children for monetary gain so that they can be ultimately raised in a proper family that wants them is not the same as taking advantage of children.

"I had a glass of wine at lunch." "Was it served in a salad bowl?" Burn!

Why would you bring the kid to the place her stepmom might commit suicide?

Rex to the rescue once again. I think I've seen this on Kommissar Rex too.

Big damn hero.

"What a needless tragedy this all was". I've seen so many certifiably stupid deaths on crime shows, this doesn't even rank at the top 20.

Suspiciously big enough space for Rex to jump onto. But looks weird before that. Also, thanks for squashing by beer/wine theory like a couple episodes later. I am now thinking that the wine goes with the couch lol

"I think you'd make a great mom." "You're a great dad. To your fur baby over here." "What do you think, pal, you like being my fur baby?" Rex's growl sounds like he wants to bite anyone who says the word fur baby again. Maybe that's just me, though.

It's a good thing Sarah has an alternative plan to motherhood because I can see the future and I suspect it will take a long time.

Again, the case didn't grab me. But they spent sufficient time outside of the office and mostly in Charlie's new house that we just saw for the first time that I didn't mind.

[homeless202]

I’m new here and I absolutely love your type of blogs with analysis and meta and long texts~~

I was wondering—is Eunyung and Haejoon’s relationship the kind that could be interpreted as romantic?

first of all, welcome and ty! and sorry it took me so long to reply, i hope u're still around anon. now to answer ur question

i'll take this opportunity to share all my thoughts on the topic bc i have Many.

TLDR: it is possible to read it as romantic if you really want to, but it's not meant to (at least not as of right now in the story aka ch.224)

deep dive under the cut as to why

-> can Eunyung and Haejoon’s relationship be interpreted as romantic?

i like how you phrased that bc, the thing is, interpretation is very subjective. you're welcome and allowed to interpret things however you want, but in EY&HJ's case, i feel like you'd have to work a lil extra hard to get to that point.

-> is Eunyung and Haejoon’s relationship meant to be interpreted as romantic?

this one's easy bc no. objectively Not. the genre of No Home is drama and slice of life (and once upon a time, horror). even if they were to ever end up in a romantic relationship, that's not what the story is about.

when i ask myself what the author's intention is with this story, i'd say it's to (realistically) portray how a young person with trauma would navigate another young person's trauma. and showing how easy it is to unintentionally fuck it up for various reasons: lacking context as to what exactly said trauma is, generally not knowing how to navigate it, their own trauma getting in the way, lacking the necessary resources. take your pick.

think of it like "how should i carry someone else's baggage when i have my own to deal with?" while also keeping in mind they're kids; they often don't have enough experience to know how to help, and even when they know what the right thing to do is, they're not old enough to take (legal) action.

and especially, the most heart-breaking yet realistic thing, when you're just getting to know someone, you can't know everything about them. it's so easy to accidentally do or say sth that cuts or offends when it wasn't meant to. but when they've got their own issues, it's hard not to take it personally (eg. EY talking about HJ's parents without knowing his mom died not long ago in the beginning of the story).

-> what even is Eunyung and Haejoon’s relationship??

this one's so funny bc i have no idea how to answer and i'm convinced not even EY and HJ themselves would know how to answer. they're not really friends; they got off on the wrong foot and kept walking with two left feet way too much to call themselves friends. the things that pushed them together the most were the dorms (not anymore) and the same friend group (more or less since EY has multiple).

what fits them best i'd say is "the universe forced us together against our will and now we're stuck with one another altho we hate each other" (<- at least in the beginning) extended with the "misery loves company" sentiment. finding comfort in someone who gets it, even tho they only kinda get it but not really but it works out anyway except it doesn't <- THERE'S NO NAME FOR THAT *cry* they invented a new type of character dynamic smh (i've never read a pairing with so much (romantic) potential only to see them completely fuck up their chance so royally by the end of their interaction EVERY SINGLE TIME. like yeah, enemies to lovers whatever BUT NOT TO THAT LEVEL HOLY SHIT)

they've changed each other, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. they're compatible in the way they understand each other on a deeper level and incompatible in the way they don't.

...however...

this is how HJ thinks of EY: (and also what No Home is truly abt)

and this is how EY feels about HJ after EY found out HJ used to steal as well (aka that HJ isn't perfect like the stuck up bitch EY thought he was at first):

so...

<- -> EY's first impression of HJ was that he was looking down on him and sth like "does this guy have ulterior motives? or is he just that naive being so trusting?" until EY found out HJ wasn't that different from him. after that, EY started admiring HJ for still managing to achieve things in life despite the hardships he had to go through. the type of admiration that can easily (and sometimes does) slip into envy.

-

since the beginning, EY has helped HJ (or at least tried to) without him knowing. sometimes it worked out, sometimes not. most times EY tried doing sth nice for HJ was (from EY's perspective) in return to HJ trying to help him or doing nice things for him (which, again, sometimes worked out, sometimes not). EY was just paying back a debt to "this stubborn naive guy who keeps getting into trouble and butting into his business. gotta look out for this idiot or he might get scammed." (<- eg. when EY offered to get HJ's money back from his uncle)

he doesn't do it for credit or friendship or out of obligation, he's just doing what he thinks is the right thing bc he doesn't want to owe anyone anything. he can't accept people just genuinely being kind, genuinely caring and genuinely wanting to help. but he's been learning and slowly coming to terms with it.

-

<- -> HJ first wanted to try befriending EY despite not liking him bc, well, the guy did steal his wallet and stab him in their first interaction. after trying and failing at it multiple times, thanksgiving happened, and HJ started thinking of EY as his underclassman bc he realized EY's just a kid with issues and he should keep an eye on him (discretely bc EY hates pity).

-

with time HJ has come to understand EY better by going after him whenever he ran off and slowly realized that EY does mean well and has his reasons (as fucked up as they might be sometimes). but his mentality abt EY is still "i gotta push him in the right direction cuz he's my underclassman and i unintentionally got attached to him (somehow??)" (also bc he knows EY already gave up on himself so he needs a lil help to find his way again. also also bc he knows EY is lowkey suicidal and he's scared it'll be his fault if sth happens) <- his care for EY comes from a protective/nurturing (/possibly maybe guilty) place which started when he realized EY was just a kid^^. in other words, HJ still bothers with EY out of a subconscious sense of responsibility/obligation in a way (a good way tho. or at least a way that gets better)

see, sth i struggle with is if HJ thinks he has to or wants to or thinks he should or can't just not help/care for EY. i can't exactly pinpoint where the sentiment is coming from. his face is too blank for me to read sometimes T_T

-

to summarize: HJ is EY's goal, what EY wishes he could've been. and EY is HJ's 'responsibility' so to speak (bc 'burden' doesn't quite fit since HJ is there for EY willingly) -> EY has a positive opinion of HJ while HJ has a neutral opinion of EY (which is also gradually getting better)

note1: i think HJ's intention (maybe subconsciously) was to be to EY what HJ's upperclassman was to him. aka someone who's there when you need it and can help guide you. it would explain why HJ kept chasing after EY despite not really having a reason to and EY repeatedly rejecting HJ's care/help.

note2: i also believe the 'upper-under-classman' relationship dynamic fits them the best atm bc it also matches the way the story often singles EY out as he's the only second year (aka younger) of the 6 MCs.

-> Romance in No Home?

another thing i should mention is that No Home rarely leaves things open for interpretation. the deepest arguments EY&HJ had were always spelled out for us, to make us understand exactly what the problem was, and how there isn't a good guy and a bad guy. it's just two people with issuesTM.

from what we've seen in the story up to this point, i couldn't pick out a moment where i'd go "here! that's romantic! that's the moment they realized SomeThing!" yk

when it comes to romance specifically, i feel like a handful of opportunities were missed. there are scenes which could've easily been written trough a rosy lens but simply weren't.

exhibit A:

HJ was speechless bc "wow this mf really is actively picking a fight with an authority figure. i gotta make sure things don't escalate" not bc "hoLY sHiT hE's PreTTy. all his fangirls are on to something". however, this only becomes more clear when you keep reading the next few chapters, so i understand how you could interpret it as the latter.

exhibit B:

here they got so close and the moment was so deep bc "woaa he said he believes me. no one's said to me that before!". unfortunately, EY was panicking too much for it to mean something bc of the guilt he felt for HJ trusting someone so undeserving of trust like EY.

exhibit C:

this is maybe the closest we got to romantic between these two. i think this might be the only (or at least first) ever deep interaction between them that didn't end in a fight or misunderstanding. is it meant to be romantic tho? -> ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

-> what do i think?

first, full transparency: i went into reading this story fully expecting it to be a BL and for EY&HJ to end up together. but the more i kept on reading, the more i got the ick thinking about them being in a (romantic) relationship bc, at least from what we've seen so far in the story, their relationship would be so ToxicTM (which i personally don't enjoy reading).

as they are right now, i wouldn't want them to be together like that. like, honestly, you still can't really consider these two even friends; they just tolerate each other if the stars align correctly (altho, i'll admit, their relationship is gradually getting better!!). every big argument they had i thought "god, there's no coming back from that. i'd cut ties so quickly if was them wtf". i still don't know how they managed to keep on interacting, props to them ig.

there's a lot of unresolved issues between them. and a lot of resentment which would not bode well in a romantic relationship. the smallest argument would turn explosive and they'd be, at best, in an on&off type of relationship. they both have the power to break the other and neither would be afraid to use it. they have a lot of history together, which is not always pleasant, so if they ever were to go the romantic route, it would have to be a long way to go.

technically, i could see them in a romantic relationship if they both went to therapy first and talked out all the baggage they're carrying (both individual and shared). realistically tho, what i think will happen at the end of No Home is that either they never cross paths again after high school ends (which would absolutely break my heart Wanan pls don't), or they somehow (unintentionally) end up living together bc they both desperately needed a roommate to pay rent (which would be a hilarious fucking gag LMAO). just, HJ going to uni/work and EY doing his own thing (prolly an actor) while still cohabiting together; hanging out to watch a movie before bed <- (whether platonic or romantic being left up for interpretation)

<- -> in conclusion, from what we've seen up to this point, their relationship is mainly upper-under-classman; reluctant (maybe) friends who tolerate each other but also care (too) deeply. they've changed each other, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. in some ways they're compatible and in others they're not.

all this being said, their relationship is improving and romance between EY&HJ is not impossible, just rather unlikely imo. but, again, interpretation is subjective and u're welcome to read their relationship however you want.

[pavo-ocxllus]

« rewind. / pause. / fast forward. »

"ah, you're back." 

shinobu was the first person you saw as you walked through the doors of fontaine legal firm once again. "i won't lie to you, i was starting to think something had happened when you didn't show up until now—halfway through our lunch break."

"i guess i've been that busy, heh..." you rubbed the nape of your neck sheepishly. 

"be careful not to overwork yourself... i know we had just thrown a rookie like you into our messy work situation on the first day, but let me know if you need some time to yourself."

"don't worry about me!" you grinned. "after what i've been through, i can take anything you got!"

the green-haired, young woman smiled, her violet eyes crinkling a bit. "alright then... go ahead and have your lunch break."

"got it!"

"do you need me to get to your cubicle? it should have no name plate on it yet."

you assured her that you'd be fine, and off you went in search for your little office. ah, to be an official attorney! there was nothing like having a well-deserved break after the few hours that gone by... maybe you'd ought to get a little bit more work done to get ahead.

speak of the devil, you've heard your phone buzz from your pocket. fishing it out, you opened it up, seeing you got few texts.

ah, if it isn't by beloved partner! (well, soon-to-be beloved partner, but i digress.)

unfortunately, the lack of evidence for our cases is holding us down. me and my acquaintance are working to search for some (specifically for the case regarding itto) and i was wondering if you would like to join the two of us? it'd serve as a great learning opportunity! ;)

- heizou

the way he questionably texts like he talks and how he somehow got your number we're pushed to the back of your mind when you suddenly heard yanfei from the distance.

"[name]!" before you could greet her back, she cut you off with your news. "great news! we're making a little bit of progress in tartaglia's case!! not-so-great news, he kind of broke out of prison-"

"WHAT—yanfei, you can't just say that-!"

"it's alright!! the police are already on the case... and if he doesn't show up to his court date, he'll get a bench warrant and be back in custody so we could run his trial! though, it isn't exactly guaranteed if we'll ever find him..."

the young attorney started to mutter herself, walking away from your shocked figure as her words started to become more and more incomprehensible.

you sighed to yourself, before looking at your lunch again. this was definitely a matter that would require a better state of mind... and for that, you need to get some food in your system.

unfortunately, your plans to eat were thwarted once more.

"hey."

upon hearing the familiar voice before digging into  the undoubtedly delicious lunch you've packed, you narrowed your eyes before glancing behind you. 'lo and behold, alhaitham was standing before you.

"you."

"i was about to think you've changed after we graduated from law school, but i suppose i'm incorrect," the way he talked never failed to vex you.

did he even work here? maybe shinobu was correct about overworking yourself and you were reaping the consequences of your actions by having delusions. however, it only took a glimpse of his i.d. badge mirroring your nonexistent one to (unfortunately) confirm that he indeed, worked here.

"what do you want?" you asked, then taking your lunch to set it on your lap and started to unpack it—you weren't about to let him further delay your lunch!

"shinobu still insists for me to work with somebody on my case... and given you're not the lead attorney in any cases as far as i know, i'm considering to push our quarreling aside in the name of professionalism."

that was the most eloquence he carried in his voice when he talked to you... but never mind that! 

↳ agree to work with him. perhaps it was about time to set aside your differences and be mature, working adults for once!

↳ you can't—you're dead set on finding tartaglia. something tells you that you won't find him unless you're there yourself... but that could be just uneasiness.

↳ you weren't planning on going with heizou to go evidence hunting—but that seems to be a way more interesting than whatever alhaitham's doing.

↳ you were on your lunch break for a reason! refuse to work with him—you have some more important things to attend to.

𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫? 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞! <𝟑

[larcenywrites]

hcs for tony wanting to ask you to marry him ❤️❤️ fem!reader

aaah yes 🥹 This one also became a little more than something so simple 💛

To Have You Forever

Warnings: nothing really except she/her pronouns and like one mild sexual reference

He never really found value in marriage. It was just something religious people did, or for people that seem to think a pretty piece of metal and a kiss somehow made a relationship more important. He gets you tons of pretty metals! Hell, he has one in his chest and flies around in it! He kisses you every day- he’s done it in 16 different countries! If that was all it took, then no wonder you were so smitten with him. Besides, he was far to busy for lawyers, and paperwork, and planning, and surely you didn't want to deal with all of that either, right? You seemed just as happy and relaxed that all of that wasn't taking up your time.

Every Christmas he raises an eyebrow at all those silly ads, one after another. You look at him just like that, and he's never proposed! And every Valentine's Day he has to politely decline his usual jeweler when he tries to direct him to that certain case. And sometimes when he sees that old wedding picture of his parents sitting on the bookcase in the living room, he can practically hear his mom pushing him. And the longer he looks, the more he wishes she were around to do just that. To maybe even help him understand.

Is it a reassurance? Sure, he used to think you'd eventually leave him- and he wouldn't even blame you if you did. But he knows better now. He knows as a fact you're with him until the end, and he doesn't need a paper with a ring when your voice wakes him up in the morning and your hand flies to his arm when you get startled.

Symbolic? Well, sure. Isn't that the whole point? Just a more tangible form of love, or whatever. But he doesn't need that either. Not when you hide silly little love letters in the form of sticky notes in his suitcase, and let him put on which necklace he thinks you should wear tonight because he's bought you far too many for you to decide, and that's all you'll be wearing for him later...

Surely not just for the legal benefits, right? What more could make your life any easier? Honestly, it might make things more complicated! Besides, you aren't here to make sure you can get all or half of everything he owns because you kind of already have that. Next!

He sighs. What else is there? Fun? To play dress up? That's like every other weekend. Couldn't be commitment. You already have that! How could there be more? You know he’s with you 100%, and god, if there is one, knows that you definitely prove it every day. But that's what finally sticks out to him. No, not the meaning of the word commitment, but your commitment. You’ve stuck around through a lot, huh? He wasn’t always the best during all of it, and yet here you were. Always there to hold him steady after a nightmare, always there to patch him up when he got home. You were still there even when he basically ignored you for days on end and still there even when he was being difficult for no reason. Even when the fridge was full of leftovers and even when he promised to be home days ago.

And for what? To be left alone when you needed him most? To be snapped at when he was in the middle of programming something that he's already fucked up three times and you've accidentally just made it four? To have something to new to worry about just about every week, or for him to start an argument over it even though he knows you're coming from a good place?

For him to be answering all these questions for you?

He's never asked you if you know he loves you, or if you feel like he could show it better than with expensive things and those occasional three words. He's never asked you if those Christmas ads seem just as cheesy to you. He's never asked you if ever wanted marriage. He's never asked you if you wanted kids. So not only have you stuck around through all of his bullshit, but he's never even asked you the important stuff that usually comes with a relationship. And you're still here, with I love you's and soft smiles, with warm baths and kisses. So devoted to a lost cause like him.

What does he even call you? Everyone just sort of knows who you are.

The more he's thinking down this path, the worse he feels. You do everything right to make him feel like he's at home forever, and he-

Suddenly, when he looks over at you sleeping next to him, like you always do, something finally clicks. Something he can’t quite explain but somehow it makes sense. Forever. A dreaded word in many contexts, but he's been living with it for... what feels like forever now. And the thought excites him. Because while you change out those necklaces every time, sometimes don’t even wear one at all, that ring would always be a part of your outfit. He’ll get to call you his forever every time he introduces you as his wife, and he’ll get to be your forever, too. He’ll get to read from a creased little list all the forevers he’s always been to shy to say out loud, but somehow he feels giddy about it knowing that you’ll be just as shy to tell him what he already knows. No matter what happens he won’t -he can’t- leave you behind, and you won’t leave him. And if… he does have to leave you behind, no one can take anything away from you.

He doesn’t know if he deserves it, but you seem to think he does. Why else would you have loved him for this long? You definitely deserve it. To know your love wasn’t wasted, and to know it will always be cherished. To be promised that. He can promise you all of this. Everything!

His too logical brain fights back as always. You already know it’s forever! You’ll still wake up by his side in five years just as you did yesterday. Nothing really changes but your last name. For once, though, his heart wins. He wants to see you walk towards him in one of those long white dresses, to giggle with him in some honeymoon suite on the other side of the world. To have a new reason to keep leaving him notes, and have something more meaningful to anxiously thumb at when he hasn’t called you back.

It’s funny. He never really thought about it, but suddenly (Y/N) Stark has a nice ring to it. He was the only Stark for so long so… well, maybe you wouldn’t mind helping him make more.

Now that his emotions are all over the place, he can’t go back to sleep. He’s planning it all out now! Right when that clock hits 10am he’s on the hunt at his usual haunt, his usual jeweler excited to show off the most popular engagement rings-

Most popular? That just means everyone has one. Your love is far too unique for that. But he can see why the least popular is what it is. Custom? That sounds romantic! Actually it seems harder with all these cuts, and stones, and bands… he’s no jeweler! How should he know? This is going to be harder than he thought.

He’s looking everywhere. Online, LA, New York, Paris. Nothing feels right, but you’d probably take anything, honestly, but he doesn’t want just anything for you, he wants perfect! If you comment on the way something looks while you’re out, he’s taking careful note of what sort of designs you like, but it seems all over the place, or there’s not anything that matches quite right. Maybe he could just take you to go look but that defeats the purpose in a way.

It’s not until he’s in a half destroyed little local shop in Austria- not even sure what town he’s in or if it’s even Austria. It’s not flashy, or big, or particularly stunning in terms of diamond engagement rings, but something about it keeps drawing his eyes back to it. Something about that diamond’s teardrop shape, how that braided band nestled around it so delicately. Or maybe his brain just subconsciously bound to it when it landed in front of his face after getting thrown into the now shattered display case. Shinily sitting at the tip of his nose and surprisingly unbroken. He couldn’t have come up with a better metaphor if he tried!

Either way, he’s taking it home with him, only a little bloody but you won’t have to know that after a quick wash in the hotel room. He’s done it! He found the one! He can’t wait to show you, to tell you! It’s a random Thursday at 3pm and he probably looks like shit, but he’s busting through the door like it’s Christmas Day. You deserve better than his spontaneity, a pretty plan on your anniversary or a gift with a nice bow. But you’re his pretty plan, his future, a gift he’s about to put a bow on.

“Tony?!” You yelp when he picks you up in the middle of the kitchen, tightly wrapped around him when spins you around. He seats you on the marble countertop, uncontrollably smiling. You smile with him, confused but always happy to be along for his antics.

“Be my forever, (Y/N),” he proclaims, taking your hand.

“What?” You ask him with a small laugh, still confused but accepting the kiss he suddenly plants on your lips anyway.

“I know I’m bad at keeping promises,” he starts, pulling away. Your daze is finally broken when you feel something slipping around your finger. You can’t decide where to look, your grip on his shirt quivering. He can get used to the feeling of the cold metal touching his neck when your hand wraps around him. You’re already nodding into his chest before he even got the chance to finish.

“But would you let me keep this one?”

[solradguy]

I hope this isn't too inappropriate a question, but I was wondering if you have any advice when it comes to binders? Like, I know a lot of the minutia, but are there any companies you recommend that make good ones? I'm new to the whole actually-doing-it part and I've found conflicting stuff so I though it was better to ask someone who went through that whole thing already. Tbh I don't know anything about your transition and you might not have even did much of that but you're like the main transguy I know

No worries at all!! I'm really comfortable talking about trans stuff and what I've had to do to get where I am, so if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to toss 'em my way and I'll do my best to help out. The only major trans stuff I haven't done yet are any surgeries and changing my name/legal gender marker (pain in the ass to do in Ohio....).

I got kinda lucky and don't really have much boob tissue going on so I don't bind very often, but I do have two GC2B binders: a full tank and a half one. The full one is a lot more comfortable, imo, because I can tuck it into my pants and it kinda like smooths my entire situation out instead of squishing just my upper body and chafing under my ribcage lol. Unfortunately, GC2B's binder quality has dropped BAD in the last 5 years or so. If you can get one for free or dirt cheap then it might be worth it, but otherwise I'd avoid them.

One of my other trans masc buddies has some binders from Underworks that he really likes. He used to have one of the GC2B ones and it got a huge hole right in the middle of it after less than a year... As far as I know, his Underworks ones are still holding up and it's been over two years now. He did say that they were pretty stiff when they first came in and that washing them with just a tiny bit of fabric softener helped. Be careful using too much fabric softener on them though or they'll loosen up maybe too far. Here's their site: https://www.underworks.com/tri-top-chest-binder

I've seen people say Shapeshifter's binders are good too, though I don't personally know anyone who has one by them. They're a lot more expensive than the Underworks binders.... Here's their site: https://shapeshifters.co/

Make sure you read the sizing charts!!! The very first binder I ever bought was WAAAAYYYYY too small because I didn't read the chart very well... I've found that following the chart and then going up one or two sizes fits the best, depending on how big your chest is/how much compression you'll need.

Here's a big spreadsheet document of a lot of other trans resources with comments on specific things for each site too, like where they're based, shipping details (if the packaging is discrete or not, etc), if they're a charity, and so on. There are other binder websites listed and sites for other gender affirming clothing and packers and stuff too: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lSKoxVant40alYL-MZAP9QekUxjl3mH2EB3MidSk0b8/edit#gid=0

There's also this post with even more resources, but it might be a bit overwhelming going through it all right now haha Including it anyway just in case: https://solradguy.tumblr.com/post/719033735814742016

Good luck!! I hope you're able to find one that both fits and is comfortable to wear for long periods ^^

[the-bar-sinister]

Chains of the Dragon (52775 words) by VickytheSnake, thesavagesabretooth

catch up here

-

October 4, 2028– 10:45 am 

Trucy had been poring over the translated legal tomes for so many hours she felt like her eyes were about to cross. Even considering the judge– who was very nice– had come in to tutor her for a little while before. But he had gone to take care of legal matters even with the court closed for the day, and for now, Trucy was alone in the quiet little room with only her thoughts.

It wasn’t like she was a complete novice…she had cases upon cases under her belt by Apollo and her father’s side…she’d read his old law books when her tomes on magic and showmanship ran dry…

But this was a whole new country’s whole new legal structure.

It felt like she was trying to cram a whole year’s worth of school into her head at once. 

Am I really going to be able to do this? She wondered, flipping to the next page. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to pep talk herself.

Apollo seemed about ready to flip his lid when we brought it up…he studied for years to pass the bar back home, right? She sighed and forced herself to read the dry text on the next page. But if he could do it…if Daddy could do it, why can’t I? It’s not like I’m going to be trying any murder cases.

Yeah. Yeah it's basically just going to be paperwork. I'll be fine. I'm a genius at magic, I can pick this up easy.

Easy… She sat back and took her hat off, rubbing her forehead. She could feel the tension gathering there. She was going to get a headache if she kept studying much longer.

Daddy was an art student, wasn’t he? And he’s famous now…She took a deep breath, and dropped her head into her hands to massage her temples I wish I could pull some aspirin out of my magic panties right about now, though. 

As she worked at tense muscles around her eyes, she heard a soft gasp from near the door “oh!”

Trucy turned at the little noise, grateful for any distraction. "Hello?"

A girl, only a handful of years younger than her, stood in the door…one Trucy realized after a moment she recognized from the trial months ago.

Rayfa, the princess that did the dance of devotion. She looked like she’d been crying, dark circles set under her deep green eyes.

“Hello…I was no’t aware anyone was using this room at the moment.” 

"Oh, well, don't worry, I'm not really here at all!" Trucy put her finger to her lips. "So if you're looking to pull a vanishing act you don't have to worry. C'mon, close the door."

The girl gave her a dubious look as she sidled in and shut the door with a quickness that spoke to just how well Trucy hit the nail on the head.

She was trying to vanish.

“You’re not really here, yet I see a number of legal texts opening themselves. How curious.” She sniffed softly and crossed her arms under her chest with the muffled ringing of the bells around her wrists.

"It's a magic trick," Trucy said with a wide smile. "I think if someone were in this room, they'd be a magician, you see. In addition to the princess who isn't here either, right?"

Rayfa’s smile started small, before it grew into a wide grin as she nodded her head once. 

“I think it’s rather like that indeed! A magic trick and a spirit.” She looked from side to side before she settled herself down at the table, staring at Trucy with wide and curious eyes. “You’re a magician? I’ve never seen one up close…” 

"Look as close as you want. It won't spoil the trick," Trucy said proudly. It was nice to see the girl smile a little, when it was so clear she'd been crying.

Trucy pulled off her hat and reached into it, in the exaggerated way that seemed to make her whole arm disappear, before she pulled out– Rayfa's little tiara! And presented it to her with a flourish.

Rayfa’s eyes widened further, and her hand snapped up to her hair, and then down to Trucy’s hands

“How?? You..I…” she scooped the Tiara up and turned it over in her hands. “I didn’t even feel you take it!” 

She popped her hat back up on her head and put her hands up apologetically. "A magician never reveals her secrets, your highness! It spoils the fun a bit. But I promise I only use my powers for good."

Rayfa , despite her clear surprise…actually looked really delighted as she re-settled the tiara on her head with a grin. She still looked curious, however, seeming to look Trucy over for any sort of sign to the trick

“Only for good, hm? Good! I wouldn’t tolerate any evil magicians in my court…oh! I haven’t introduced myself! You just seemed a little familiar and it slipped my mind!” She bowed her head “I am Rayfa Padma Khura’in, heir apparent to the Kingdom of Khura’in. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Trucy performed a flourishing magician's bow in return. "The pleasure's mine, Princess. I'm–"

Somehow she stumbled over her introduction. Trucy Gramarye, legendary magician? Trucy Wright, rookie lawyer? 

She’d always been ‘Trucy Gramarye, Legendary Magician’. Even with her daddy’s last name, that’s what everyone knew. Trucy in Gramaryeland. Trucy, holder of Magnifi’s inheritance. ‘Legendary magician’ was who she was…right? But when she tried to get it out, her eyes flicked down to the legal texts below her and memories came flooding back to stop her. Her uncle…her father…her grandfather and her mother. The history of secrets, lies and inheritance that left too many bodies in its wake. The fact that she’d only ever been what she was raised to be, from holding bombastic shows to handing forged evidence to her own brother in court. 

"Trucy Wright," she said, after a heartbeat's pause, and the age of the universe.

Rayfa said slowly as she curled her finger rather cutely under her chin, her head tilted to the side

“Trucy…” “w…w…w..” She pointed suddenly “WRIGHT!!! LIKE BARBED HEAD!!” 

Trucy jumped, holding her hands up. "Barbed head? Oh! That's my daddy!"

“Daddy!?” she squeaked “oh…oh my…”She looked down at the legal texts before her “...so you’re one of the dev—--defense attorneys too? Like he is?” 

She sounded… excited, maybe. And Trucy Wright couldn't resist.

"That's right! I'm studying up on your laws to help with Polly– Apollo's case load!" she declared it boldly. Naturally.

“Wow…” Rayfa’s fingers covered her lips, splayed so they still showed her smiling lips. “Horn head– Apollo, he really needs the help.”

She did sound excited; even more so when Trucy confirmed. Despite her near slip of calling them devils, she seemed to have quite the respect for her daddy, and even for the profession since Trucy had seen her last from afar “are you finding our laws difficult to acclimatize to? Perhaps I can help? Mother says I’m not…that…well.”

She puffed her cheeks “I can help.” 

"If you'd like to help, I'd love some help," she nodded. "There's a lot of local terms I'm not too familiar with…"

Mother says she's not… what? Trucy wondered.

Rayfa hopped up, and scampered rather unprincess-like over to her side of the table to plop herself down where she could look over Trucy’s shoulder.

“Well if it is local terms…I know most of them!” she declared proudly “..an…and I wish to help. You’re Barbed Head’s daughter…a lawyer and a good magician. It’s my royal duty to help.”

Even so, Trucy could see the nervous way she glanced at the door when she spoke. 

"I won't say no to royal duty," Trucy said. She tried not to think about how exciting being seen as a lawyer was. It suddenly reminded her of all her old excitement at being a magician. "But maybe you could help me out as a friend, too?"

She gave the princess a timid but hopeful look.

Rayfa looked up at her with a surprised expression, her fingers over her o-shaped gasp. 

“A friend, Miss Wright?” She ducked her head almost shyly “I do not have many of those. I’ll do my best.” 

"I've got a good feeling about you, miss princess!" Trucy smiled. "Now let's see…"

Rayfa, she seems like she could use a friend as much as I could… she turned the page of the text with a smile that felt more genuinely excited than she’d felt for ages.

Attorney Trucy Wright…learning the ways of Khura’inese law to save the lives of people trapped by an unjust system…she couldn’t deny the feeling welling up inside her. Joy.

But that…and all the complicated little feelings that came along with it…would need to be unpacked later.

October 4, 2028– 10:50 am 

After a couple of hours of paperwork, touring the courtroom, and interviewing with Nahyuta over prosecutorial duties, Klavier brushed his hair out of his face and smiled a dazzling smile at him.

"So, do I have the job?" he asked teasingly, lounging against the frame of the high judge's podium in the empty room.

Nahyuta looked down at the stack of finished paperwork in his hand with a subtle smile and an almost teasing amount of amusement. 

“Let's see…your qualifications are impressive, Klavier. Though you’re a little theatrical for the Khura’in courtroom.” He glanced up at his smile with an amused huff of breath “perhaps it’s the winning smile that tips the balance. You’re hired. Welcome to the court of Khura’in– your honorary prayer beads will be waiting for you in the prosecutorial office.” 

"Perks of the job, ja?" he chuckled, "I won't say no. Thank you for the opportunity, prosecutor Sadmadhi."

“Perks of the job.” Nahyuta placed the papers down by the judge’s desk and looked Klavier over with a smile. “Of course…honestly, I should be thanking you. You came flying in when Apollo…and I…really were really in a bind.” 

"Well, every now and then I'm a useful man to have around," he offered with a smile. He liked it when it was the case, really. He wanted to make some kind of difference here– to make up for the time he'd let pass when he shouldn't have.

Nahyuta paced forward, his arms folding delicately behind his back as he continued in a loose half circle to stand face to face, a little closer to the other man.

“I’ll be hoping to keep you around then, for at least a little while. I know Khura’in is quite different from LA…you must feel a little out of your element.” 

"I have been all the way around the world on tour mein freund, and I know a thing or two about being a fish out of water. But I'll admit, that I am a stranger in your strange land. I commit myself to your hands for guidance." he smiled, leaning a little closer to Nahyuta. He knew a flirtation when he saw one.

The prosecutor prince smiled thinly. “Poor thing,” he mused playfully “I could treat you to a personal tour– as thanks for your kindness in prosecuting for the crown. I could buy you a magatah'man.”

"Oh? Those pretty things I've seen you all wearing?" Klavier slipped his fingers under Nahyuta's necklace playfully in return.

Nahyuta chuckled “actually it’s a bun. A pastry…but I would be delighted to buy you a magatama as well.”

He leaned a little forward, the stone was smooth as it shifted against Klavier’s fingers. 

“They’re good for centering the spirit, of course…but I also think it’d look quite nice on you, Klavier Gavin. I haven’t been able to convince Apollo to wear one yet, much to my chagrin.”

Klavier frowned, for a moment– trying to listen to the difference between words– and then he laughed.

"Ah, whoops. They sound so close I misunderstood," he chuckled, pushing back his hair. He tried not to be embarrassed by the mistake. "I have a weakness for jewelry I'll admit– but I have a more secret weakness for pastry as well."

Nahyuta laughed musically. 

“admittedly, my friend…the pastry is named after the magatama. They shape it to look like it, and named it after it in turn…easy mistake to make, really.” He offered his arm “allow me then. I’ll indulge your weakness for jewelry and pastry. Out of the kindness of my heart.” 

Klavier slipped his arm in to link with Nahyuta's and smiled.

"It seems like you have a kind heart as well as a beautiful face, mein prinz. A powerful and rare combination indeed."

Nahyuta led him back out into the beautiful hall of justice within the great Temple, making his way past old murals of the Holy Mother and her sister in various tableaus of Khura’in’s distant past.

He seemed to flush, just a little as he ducked his head with a laugh. “You flatter me. Not too long ago, few would have believed my heart held any kindness at all.” 

"Ema has said a little about your reputation," Klavier said, walking closely with him. The murals were beautiful, and eye catching. but a little unsettling all the same. "But only a little. Were you really so cold?"

The faceless woman looming above the people, arms outstretched as dramas played out beneath her…her sister with the dagger in hand mid leap in another mural.

They framed Nahyuta as he passed them, glancing over at him with a small smile.

“People could read my determination to do whatever I needed to as a kind of coldness. I had to be cold…or the blood Ga’ran demanded spilled on my hands would have destroyed me.”

Once more, the image of Lana Skye was brought to mind. Ema’s stories of her sister sacrificing everything down to her emotions to do what ‘had to be done’. 

"It seems you've had much weight put on your shoulders, for quite some time, mein prinz," Klavier said. "It made you strong– but hard, too."

Nahyuta’s arm tightened around his as he nodded. 

“and so very few saw any measure of kindness in me. Ema did, though I know she had her reasons.” He glanced sidelong at Klavier “it made me into something I didn’t like. Strong, a bulwark for Rayfa…but cold as a sheet of ice. It’s my hope that perhaps now I can change it. Hearing someone dear to Apollo notice that I’m trying helps.”

"I hope for your sake it can change too," Klavier nodded. "I can imagine what Ema sees in you, Nahyuta. Tell me, does she ever talk about her sister?"

Nahyuta lead him down the long hall, past a chamber where music drifted from the closed doors, and out into the bright sunlight and crisp, slightly thin air.

“Sometimes,” he mused “but not nearly as much as I’d hope. She’s murmured here and there about her, and her circumstances. I heard enough to know the woman was incarcerated for a crime that stemmed from a need to protect Ema.”

"Ja, that's right." he leaned closer to him, his fingers brushing Nahyuta's as they walked arm in arm. "She made herself cold for her sister's sake too. So I think Ema sees some of her affection for her sister in you, ja?"

Nahyuta’s fingers brushed his, slowly winding their way into a loose grip as he smiled up at the sky. His narrow shoulder brushed against Klavier’s as he stepped closer.

“I suppose she must,” he chuckled, “how funny. I suppose I must have gotten lucky! I’d ask if I reminded Apollo of anyone, but…well. We have history.”

He glanced at Klavier “maybe I’ll continue to get lucky, however. Should the Holy Mother will it.” 

Klavier chuckled. "Ja, mein prinz, perhaps you will. Do you know the alternate meaning of that phrase in english, or do I have the opportunity to tease you?"

He batted his eyelashes coyly at the other man. In fact there was someone he suspected Apollo reminded him of. And he reminded Klavier of him too. But he put it out of his mind.

Nahyuta held his free hand towards him with a wry smirk. “Enlighten me, Klavier. I am ever interested in new knowledge. Tease away.” 

Klavier smiled and put his finger to his lips. "Ah well you see 'get lucky' colloquially means to have sex with someone."

Nahyuta’s dark cheeks turned a touch red as he cleared his throat. His pace quickened…maybe just to put a little more space between the raunchy Klavier and the holy Temple, center of faith for those who practiced Khura’inism.

Or maybe he was just really excited to buy Klavier that bun he’d promised.

“I can understand where it sprung from.” he said after a moment, a wry smile gracing his face. “Tell me. Were you hoping to be graced by luck…so to speak?” 

"Mein prinz, I am a man who rarely turns down a stroke of good fortune." Klavier walked quickly with him, happy enough to be out of the holy temple as well. He was no vampire… but just the same. "Besides, you come highly recommended– so to speak."

“My, my.” Nahyuta mused as the breeze blew the strands of his hair against his cheek “is that so?”

His fingers brushed against the back of his hand, fingertips trailing his perfect nails against the skin just under his knuckles.

“I’d ask who’d be improper enough to gossip, but I know the answer well as you do.” he closed his eyes “the impropriety is part of the charm.”

Just ahead, a rather tasty, sweet smell was wafting through the air from a bustling market area. 

"Oh I'm glad you see the appeal, mein prinz," Klavier chuckled. "I've been told I'm very improper. Overly bold even."

He wondered just how much he could get away with…

Nahyuta tugged him through the crowd of people, weaving between them until he oriented on a stall.

Even as he walked, he gave a sly glance back at Klavier. For a reserved monk…there was something almost playfully coy in his glance.

“Overly bold, hm? I’ll be sure to prepare myself in the case I have to slap your hand a few times.” 

"A slap on the wrist hmm? Well, I'm a man who knows how to take my punishment. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time I always say."

Klavier tested his luck, pulling Nahyuta sharply toward him– into the edge of an alleyway– so that their faces were close together.

He was reward by an overt flush on the man’s face and an absolutely delightful look of surprise as his chest bumped against Klavier’s “Oh!!”

"Do you have those slapping fingers ready, mein prinz? You may need them." 

Boldly, he pinned Nahyuta against the wall below him, and leaned in to steal a kiss.

The prosecutor’s lips were soft, and tacky with what must have been a subtle touch of lipstick, and his breath came warm and surprised on his lips as he pressed back against the wall…and against him.

His hand reached out, touching Klavier’s stomach…but they didn’t slap just yet. Instead, his lips parted slightly for Klavier. 

Klavier scooped his arms around Nahyuta's shoulders, encouraged by the lack of a rejection. he pressed his luck, and his tongue into the other prosecutor's mouth. 

So this was the mouth that had been kissing Ema. Had been kissing Apollo. It was sweet, and soft, and tasted good on his mouth. He kissed him eagerly.

What a beautiful man– and softer than he'd give himself credit for.

He felt Nahyuta’s fingers curl around his necklace, pulling it taut against the back of his neck as he leaned in suddenly to deepen the kiss. His tongue brushed against his, tasting of the tea he’d had brewing through the paperwork session…sweet and fragrant…

He was downright eager under the buttoned up uniform. 

Klavier wasn't quite satisfied just to kiss him– he trailed his hands down over his chest and to his hips, searching the hems of his clothing in an obvious manner. He let his lips linger on Nahyuta's as he slowly let him go.

Klavier gave him a teasing, coy look under his long eyelashes.

Nahyuta was flushed, his long lashed eyes heavily lidded and staring right into his as he caught his breath in heavy ,controlled breaths.

His fingers tightened around Klavier’s necklace as he gave it a tug. 

“Clever opening move, Klavier,” he murmured. “..bold. Decisive.” His other hand trailed against his side “you seem to have designs beyond the sort of kiss a slap on the wrist could forgive.” 

"I'm not unfamiliar with the occasional slap across the face either, mein engel," he purred. It was true– every now and again. Not always for being too bold. Sometimes because he'd invited it.

Nahyuta’s slender hand raised from his side…and there was a sudden slap, teasing and light for the moment, against his cheek as Nahyuta’s wry and subtle smile grew.

“For shame. Working your hands under the shirt of a monk in broad daylight. Would a few slaps straighten you out? Or dare I suggest drastic measures?” 

"Drastic measures?" Klavier grinned. "A good whipping, perhaps? A night in the dungeon, ja?"

Nahyuta’s lidded eyes watched him with a trace of amusement…and perhaps something else. “I have a number of ways to elicit penance. I’ll consider that an admission, then.” 

"Ja, consider it my confession," he teased. That was, unfortunately, when Klavier's cell phone started to ring. He cursed the interruption to his flirtation as he fumbled to answer it. "Who– Ema?"

“Hmm?” Nahyuta leaned over to look with a raise of his eyebrow. “I wonder if she’s found a lead…” 

Klavier answered the phone, putting it on speaker. "Ja, fraulein?"

“You’re not gonna believe this, Klavier! It’s a fucking shitshow!” Ema’s voice was tense, loud and marked with the telltale sharpness of barely restrained anger. In the back, shouts and screams played as accompaniment to her as she continued.

They could almost hear them in echo on their end.

“There’s a fight. A full on fistfight in the middle of the market…by the old entrance to the Defiant Dragons base, the …gah, okay, you know where the big goddamn bird was while we were walking? There. Multiple parties….Apollo’s gotten involved too. Just threw himself right into it when communication broke down.” 

Klavier grimaced as panic shot through his system. "Ja, fraulein, we'll be right there! Not to worry!"

Without a second thought– and without hanging up– he shoved the phone in his pocket and grabbed Nahyuta's wrist.

Nahyuta’s eyes flashed with something dark as he began to run. Out of the alleyway they burst , and in only a moment Nahyuta was the one tugging him through the crowded street.

“Dammit, a fight in the market? It couldn’t be–Apollo, we have to help him.” 

"On it, mein prinz!" Klavier agreed, heart beating in his chest as they pushed their way through the maket. The sounds of the crowd getting louder– and more urgent.

If Klavier had been paying attention– if he hadn't have been screwing around– they might have been there when the fight started. Hell, they might have kept it from happening. Kept Apollo out of it.

Hopefully they wouldn't be too late.

Nahyuta’s muscles were tensed…he could feel it even through his wrist, and the man’s eyes were narrowed dangerously as he waved between members of the crowd before they noticed and began to part with whispers of ‘the Lord Regent’ and ‘Prosecutor’

The scene opened before them, a flurry of bodies slamming together and punches thrown in the dust of the market street. 

Klavier barely waited to catch a glimpse of Apollo before he waded into the brawl himself. It was chaos. At least 10 people were already involved not including bystanders, and the shouting had devolved to a point that Klavier had no idea what was going on.

Frankly, he didn't care.

He threw himself in front of a blow meant for Apollo, who yelled out his name as he saw him.

“Dammit, Klavier!” Ema Skye called out as she lowered her phone. Nahyuta passed her, patting her on the shoulder with a serious frown.

“Let him get Apollo out…I’ll put a stop to this madness.”

For Klavier, the voice soon faded into the chaos of the brawl, as a man’s fist nearly collided with his face, and a set of nails swiped for his arm. 

Klavier was by no means an experienced brawler– but he'd been in enough fights and mosh pits in his time. He grabbed for the man's wrists and tried to grapple him, acting purely on instinct and rage on Apollo's behalf.

He came face to face with a dark haired man with a sharp grimace of fury on his face, a distinctive smattering of sun-bourne freckles across his cheeks that Klavier soon got an up close and personal view of as he attempted to headbutt him at the same time

Klavier reeled at the sick crack and sharp pain in his own nose, but it elicited an angry snarl from him rather than a yell of pain. From somewhere inside of him there was a reserve of ferocity as he struggled with the man, slamming him backwards in return into a stall with a great heave.

He turned to see if Apollo was alright.

Apollo stood, eyes wide, and yelled, "Behind you!"

Klavier started to turn, but Apollo grabbed him and pulled him out of the way as an iron bar passed through the air where his head had been only a moment before.t

It was as the pipe swung that he heard Nahyuta’s voice again. 

“Cease this, in the name of the Holy Mother and the Kingdom of Khura’in!” It boomed loud and commanding over the ensemble as he stepped into view at the edge of the crowd. “....You will all be allowed the chance to air your grievances in the appropriate forum. The guards have been called, and I ask you all again to stand down!” 

Klavier didn't know what pacified the crowd– the threat of the guard, the command in the regent's voice, or something else. But he did know that the shouting, brawling mob came to a standstill for a moment.

And then some of them grabbed one another and started to run off.

Nahyuta ran in…but instead of giving chase he bent down to Klavier and Apollo with his hands outstretched “damn it all…”

He looked up “Miss Skye!”

Ema saluted before she took off running after the fleeing individuals, already writing something in her notepad…possibly identifying markings. 

Klavier was panting– and he was suddenly aware of the sensation of wetness on his face. He let Ema give chase as he touched the spot over his mouth.

"Klavier– you're bleeding." Apollo stared at him, and at the same time, he saw that it was true. Blood came away staining his fingers.

"Oh. Oops." He smiled dizzily. "Guess you won't want to kiss me until I clean up, ja?"

Apollo grabbed his shoulders. "You idiot!"

He kissed Klavier anyway. It didn't do anything to help how dizzy Klavier was feeling– but it was nice. Their first kiss in months, even.

October 4, 2028– 11:40 am 

Ema came back to the spot where the brawl had happened, with a notebook full of details– as full as she could make it– on the fleeing suspects.It was still difficult to believe it had happened. They'd run into a few dragons at the market, and Apollo had asked if they knew anything about the graffiti. 

Before they knew it one of them had tried to clock her in the damned face. It was only a few words exchanged, and the man’s growing anger in his voice as she leaned in to ask if he knew anything about who might have bought the paint at the shop they’d zeroed in on.

It was a simple question, and a simple answer… though one told in violence rather than words. It was only her surprise in darting back that saved her from being struck down, and Apollo’s sudden and furious interference when they made it clear they weren’t happy with either of them. 

The knot of dragons had split into those defending them, and those clearly incensed. When Ema returned to the scene, she saw Nahyuta, Apollo, and a bloody faced Klavier talking to one of the Dragons who'd remained.

Ema leaned against a post holding up an awning, taking a number of deep and shaky breaths. When she noticed the blood on Klavier’s face, she was struck.

“Dammit!” She stomped forward , ripping her handkerchief out of her pocket and grabbing his shoulder. “Klavier…is it fucking broken?” 

"No idea, fraulein," he said with typical good humor. "I've never broken my nose before, ja?"

Apollo turned to Ema, rubbing his face. She could see bruises already forming. "I can't tell if he broke it or if it's just messed up. There's not that much blood is there? Are YOU okay?"

Apollo had a little blood on his face too, but Ema could tell it wasn't his.

Ema began wiping under Klavier's nose with her handkerchief, cursing under her breath

“dammit… She looked at Apollo with a mix of deep, affectionate respect and quiet fury…but most assuredly not at him, as she watched the bruises form. “I’m fine…they never touched me thanks to you. I managed to get a pretty decent view of ‘em too.” 

"That's good at least. That you're alright, for sure," Apollo nodded. "I didn't– I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start a fight just by talking."

Klavier let Ema have her way with his nose obediently standing there while she inspected him. "Herr forehead, what do you mean? I can't imagine this was your fault."

“I’m the one that started asking them about the graffiti.” Ema countered with a sharp sigh. “...Apollo, this isn’t your fault.”

She brushed the cloth under Klavier’s nose before she grabbed it lightly to feel for a break. 

"Oogh…" Klavier winced as she touched his nose. It didn't feel broken at least, but it was going to be sore for a while.

"Well– it's not your fault either then, alright, Ema?" Apollo insisted. "I just… I wish I could say I can't believe it happened, but I guess Datz already warned us."

“He did…” Nahyuta frowned. “Now I suppose we have solid proof of the schism appearing before us. With Dhurke gone…there’s a contingent of the dragons who are tired of letting the monarchy continue its reign and are willing to use methods he’d never approve of.” 

The dragon who'd been talking with Nahyuta gave a salute. He was a rough, young looking man with a dense beard and fierce eyes, under one of which was a pale scar. "It's hard to believe it's happening. But Hatir's got half the dragons spewing this communist propaganda, your highness."

“Communist propaganda, huh?” Ema murmured. “so that’s what it’s about…”

Her brow furrowed. It was a growing political struggle…one where some of the people wanted to rise against the monarchy and take power for themselves.

Part of her couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t like she was a monarchist, typically, and Ga’ran’s regime had utterly destroyed the country’s infrastructure, legal system…hope.

Why wouldn’t they be wary of it?

But part of her couldn’t forgive the growing violence– not against people she cared about. Part of her wanted desperately to miraculously convince Rayfa and Nahyuta to abdicate…to run, just like she’d talked about with Klavier. 

"Communist," Apollo frowned. "Well. Great. Well, can you tell us who's involved?"

"Aside from those you saw?" Hatir shrugged and spread his arms. "I think I can give you some names. I hate to turn against my brothers, but it was they who cast the first stone."

“Yeah…” Ema pinched the bridge of her nose “thanks. If nothing else we’re gonna have to interrogate them.”

“Hatir’s the one, then?” Nahyuta spoke up from over her shoulder. 

The dragon nodded. "That's him. I heard a rumor he's been calling meetings in secret, but I was never invited to any of them."

"And you are?" Klavier asked, around the handkerchief over his nose.

"Radik," the fierce eyed nodded. "Radik Al Yenceh. The prince regent knows me– I believe our brave friend here may as well."

He gestured to Apollo who smiled abashedly.

"Your dad was in the Dragons when I was here as a kid, I think?" he offered. "Ah… I''m sorry, I don't remember his name."

"Fers. Fers Al Yenceh," Radik said. 

Apollo snapped his fingers. "That's right. Fers. He was one of Dhurke's oldest supporters. A famous defense attorney from before the DC act."

“Ah yes…” Nahyuta nodded with a smile “I remember your father well, Radik…and you of course. Thank you very much, old friend. This information should prove helpful.”

Ema watched with her hand still on her face, leaning against Klavier with a pensive frown.

He put his arm around her and whispered into her ear. "We are really in the political shit, aren't we, liebchen?"

Ema nodded against him with a shaky smile. “Yeah I’d say” she whispered back. “way deeper than I ever wanted to tread, I’ll be honest.” 

"Any clever ideas, fraulein?"

Ema watched him as his gaze followed Apollo who was talking with Nahyuta and Radik.

“Aside from just pack up and drag them outta here while we ask someone with a little more experience in international goddamn politics to sort this shit out?” she watched Nahyuta herself, her brow creasing with worry.

She knew how badly the title of Regent weighed on him. It showed in the subtle slump of his shoulders and the forced tranquility. 

"We might be in luck there," he murmured back. "I think I may have softened herr prinz up a little."

“You did, huh?” She turned against him, looping an arm around his waist as she whispered excitedly. “You’re kidding…how?” 

"Just talking. Well, and then some making out. But that came later. I think he wants to be convinced. But we shouldn't talk about it here."

Ema flushed brightly, and coughed as he mentioned making out. 

“I think so too. Let’s…let’s talk in private.” She glanced back as she saw Nahyuta give a warm smile and pat the dragons on the shoulder with another thanks. 

[thefisherqueen]

Reading Letters from Watson's The Norwood Builder now! Here we go :)

“From the point of view of the criminal expert,” said Mr. Sherlock Holmes, “London has become a singularly uninteresting city since the death of the late lamented Professor Moriarty.” You literally killed him, Holmes, then faked your own death and spent years in hiding because of him, and now you're complaining that he's dead and you're bored - to the very one who's still recovering from the shock that you're alive? I diagnose you with some major Readjustment Issues and should consider therapy instead of just trying to cope with inappropriate humor. Watson is very valid in calling you whimsical

"At the time of which I speak Holmes had been back for some months, and I, at his request, had sold my practice and returned to share the old quarters in Baker Street." Of course. No news here

“I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes,” he cried. “You mustn't blame me. I am nearly mad. Mr. Holmes, I am the unhappy John Hector McFarlane.” Quite the introduction! By the way, why are so many of Holmes' clients young men on the verge of a nervous breakdown?

"Familiar as I was with my friend's methods, it was not difficult for me to follow his deductions, and to observe the untidiness of attire, the sheaf of legal papers, the watch-charm, and the breathing which had prompted them. Our client, however, stared in amazement." Character growth! Well done, Watson. I'm proud of you. Freemasonary, by the way, is so broad a movement it barely means anything. This quote prompted me to do some research into the symbols of freemasonry. The watch in itself isn't the symbol, a combination of a builder's square and compasses (used to draw perfect circles) with the letter G was the most common one. I guess Watson is referring to the fact that this gentlemen's watch has an added engraving or something similar with this symbol. Also, I wonder about the connection between freemasonary and the murdered man being a builder in this case.

“Arrest you!” said Holmes. “This is really most grati—most interesting. On what charge do you expect to be arrested?” Omg. Barely caught himself there

"My companion's expressive face" Oh, the contradictions in Holmes' character writing. Is Sherlock Holmes that expressive suddenly, or is Watson just able to read him really well?

"He was flaxen-haired and handsome in a washed-out negative fashion" Watson was that judgement really necessary

"For some years he has practically withdrawn from the business, in which he is said to have amassed considerable wealth." Not working, yet amassing wealth. I'd say that's suspicious but, really, under capitalism the only people who are able to gain wealth are those not working - either exploiting or investing (likely both)

"It is known that Mr. Jonas Oldacre had received a late visitor in his bedroom upon that night, and the stick found has been identified as the property of this person, who is a young London solicitor named John Hector McFarlane." Inviting young sollicitors into his bedroom at night. Creepy behaviour. (can't help but think about Dracula's Jonathan Harker). Also, I'm glad the openly naming of suspects is restricted nowadays. No opportunity of a fair trail otherwise

"The conduct of the criminal investigation has been left in the experienced hands of Inspector Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, who is following up the clues with his accustomed energy and sagacity.” Yay, we'll get to see Lestrade again!

"One moment, Lestrade,” said Holmes. “Half an hour more or less can make no difference to you, and the gentleman was about to give us an account of this very interesting affair, which might aid us in clearing it up.” “I think there will be no difficulty in clearing it up,” said Lestrade, grimly. Power struggle. Bless Holmes for working independent and not afraid to tell the police off

“‘Here is my will,’ said he. ‘I want you, Mr. McFarlane, to cast it into proper legal shape. I will sit here while you do so.’ “I set myself to copy it, and you can imagine my astonishment when I found that, with some reservations, he had left all his property to me." Strong Jekyll and Hyde paralell here. I wonder, is murder conviction a legal reason to exclude someone from a will? I guess that doesn't even matter anymore if McFarlane would be executed. And who will the inherentence go to then? The next in line family member? Strong motive for framing McFarlane for murder, then. Next line of inquiry, I guess: who else knew about the will?

Already really liking this story! Protect this poor young sollicitor from injustice, Holmes

"He was a strange little, ferret-like man" Comparing people to animals again. Did McFarlane really say that, Watson, or was that one of your fancy additions?

“You can imagine, Mr. Holmes, that I was not in a humour to refuse him anything that he might ask. He was my benefactor, and all my desire was to carry out his wishes in every particular." Dosing so might cost you your life, McFarlane. *mutters about power imbalace*

“Not until I have been to Blackheath.” “You mean to Norwood,” said Lestrade. “Oh, yes; no doubt that is what I must have meant,” said Holmes, with his enigmatical smile." Oh, Holmes is delightful here! Wasn't Blackheath where McFarlane lives? My guess is that Holmes wants to know what the connection between Oldacre and McFarlane's parents was. Were they both in a same freemasonry community? That would tie it neatly together

I don't trust Oldacre's motivation in leaving his inherentance to McFarlane. Seems a bit like whitewashing of ill-gotten money to me. Then, again, he wouldn't have arranged his own murder. Or - wait - is he really dead? Since there's only some blood and charred remains found. Easy enough to fake. I have a Theory. I feel Clever (likely wrong but who cares)

"You are too many for me" Love that expression. Going to use that

"It is curious—is it not?—that a man should draw up so important a document in so haphazard a fashion. It suggests that he did not think it was going to be of much practical importance. If a man drew up a will which he did not intend ever to be effective he might do it so.” He did not ever intend the will to be effective. I think we have our villain! *Points to my theory* And - did he hide McFarlane's walking cane on purpose? Motive still not entirely clear to me. Fake your own death for life insurence, sure, but not to claim an inherentence that is currently already your own. Something most be up with that money to devise an elaborate, dangerous plot like that

“Well, it is quite possible; but the case is not clear to me yet.” “Not clear? Well, if that isn't clear, what could be clear?" Oh, Lestrade. You started so well by being picking up that Holmes had Thoughts and being willing to listen to him. But now...

Holmes thinks a bypassing third person did it. I'm not buying that. And, after Lestrade's remark that no papers were taken while a third person would have done that, I don't think Holmes is convinced anymore either

"But it is evident to me that the logical way to approach the case is to begin by trying to throw some light upon the first incident—the curious will, so suddenly made, and to so unexpected an heir." Yes! Investigate that!

"There is no prospect of danger, or I should not dream of stirring out without you." Awww! Also, famous last words, Holmes

I had to look up what black-guard means. According to the cambridge dictonary, apperently a word for someone who has no moral principles.

Holmes did you really just call a human being 'fluffly?"

Yet another murder victim who was a terrible person and is not mourned. This is really a repeating theme

“‘You knew him at that time?’ said I." “‘Yes, I knew him well; in fact, he was an old suitor of mine. Thank Heaven that I had the sense to turn away from him and to marry a better, if a poorer, man." Oh, it's personal! Good for her for getting away from him

"She rummaged in a bureau, and presently she produced a photograph of a woman, shamefully defaced and mutilated with a knife. ‘That is my own photograph,’ she said. ‘He sent it to me in that state, with his curse, upon my wedding morning.’ What the fuck. Please let Oldacre be the villian of this story

"I crawled about the lawn with an August sun on my back, but I got up at the end of an hour no wiser than before." Another very amusing image

"Unless some lucky chance comes our way I fear that the Norwood Disappearance Case will not figure in that chronicle of our successes which I foresee that a patient public will sooner or later have to endure.” Holmes! Be more kind to your chronicler!

"But I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard.” Don't give up Holmes! *points to my theory, somehow it all still fits*

"I do not know how far Sherlock Holmes took any sleep that night, but when I came down to breakfast I found him pale and harassed, his bright eyes the brighter for the dark shadows round them." Now I'm feeling sad :( Please, Watson, cheer him up

"Take your breakfast, Watson, and we will go out together and see what we can do. I feel as if I shall need your company and your moral support to-day.” Awww

“At present I cannot spare energy and nerve force for digestion,” he would say in answer to my medical remonstrances." Damn it Holmes, that not how that works. Please take care of yourself

"He led us through the passage and out into a dark hall beyond. “This is where young McFarlane must have come out to get his hat after the crime was done,” said he." Wait, didn't the housekeeper say that McFarlane left his hat behind?? *beep beep* tempered with evidence?

“What a providential thing that this young man should press his right thumb against the wall in taking his hat from the peg! Such a very natural action, too, if you come to think of it.” Holmes was outwardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle of suppressed excitement as he spoke. “By the way, Lestrade, who made this remarkable discovery?” “It was the housekeeper, Mrs. Lexington, who drew the night constable's attention to it.” This is hilarious. Holmes is so ready to tear this 'evidence' to treads

"The fact is that there is one really serious flaw in this evidence to which our friend attaches so much importance.” “Indeed, Holmes! What is it?” “Only this: that I know that that mark was not there when I examined the hall yesterday" Yes :) Now just find the evidence to convince the police. I also wonder how Oldacre attained McForlane's thumb imprint? Perhaps he just asked for it, since McForlane was not in a position anyway to refuse even an odd request?

"And now, Watson, let us have a little stroll round in the sunshine.” I'm making a lot of awww-sounds while reading this story. This is just so cute. I love them going out for walks!

"Lestrade knew my friend too well to disregard his words. He laid down his pen and looked curiously at him. “What do you mean, Mr. Holmes?” “Only that there is an important witness whom you have not seen.” “Can you produce him?” “I think I can.” I'm excited! Is this where Oldacre is shown to be not dead at all? Hiding in one of those attic bedrooms, is my guess?

"Holmes stood before us with the air of a conjurer who is performing a trick." Of course Holmes can not help but be Dramatic (TM) about this. What is he going to do? Smoke the man out?

"A door suddenly flew open out of what appeared to be solid wall at the end of the corridor, and a little, wizened man darted out of it, like a rabbit out of its burrow. “Capital!” said Holmes, calmly. “Watson, a bucket of water over the straw. That will do! Lestrade, allow me to present you with your principal missing witness, Mr. Jonas Oldacre.” Can't believe I got it right! A fake door, no less. Such a fun, dramatic reveal

"It was an odious face—crafty, vicious, malignant, with shifty, light-grey eyes and white eyelashes." *Sigh* There we go with the criminal faces again

Lestrade really owes Holmes a lot this time

“And you don't want your name to appear?” “Not at all. The work is its own reward. Perhaps I shall get the credit also at some distant day when I permit my zealous historian to lay out his foolscap once more—eh, Watson?" Now this is just flirting. I approve

“There's the advantage of being a builder,” said Holmes, as we came out. “He was able to fix up his own little hiding-place without any confederate" Nice tie-up. I wonder about the other loose ends? Will the freemasonry still come up?

"I thought he had not the nerve to lie quiet before an alarm of fire. We could, of course, have gone in and taken him, but it amused me to make him reveal himself; besides, I owed you a little mystification, Lestrade, for your chaff in the morning.” And this is 100% Holmes. I love that man

"It was amusing to me to see how the detective's overbearing manner had changed suddenly to that of a child asking questions of its teacher." I adore Watson's narration here. He is just shamelessly laughing at Lestrade

"He determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine, himself under another name. I have not traced these cheques yet, but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double existence. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere.” So that was how he intended to do it. Clever scheme.

It takes a special kind of evil to be angry at a woman for rejecting you and then, as revenge, frame her child for murder. Wow.

[izzydizzy13]

ok real talk for a second

how are we avoiding AI gang?

Like, I see a lot of people quitting Instagram bc of their policy to feed art to the Meta AI, and I agree that it is not Cash Money of them to do that... but I am also not entirely sure how it changes anything, because doesn't literally *every* website populate Google? If so, doesn't Google's AI take that anyway, as well as any image AI that uses Google as a database? so most of them, from what I can tell...

Am I fundamentally misunderstanding how this works? I ask because most of the art I have seen here recently hasn't been glazed as far as I can tell visually, and while Tumblr isn't feeding images straight to AI the same way Instagram is, I am still worried for y'all. I kind of hope I AM just confused, because it would be fantastic to have places where I could upload unglazed works in their pure, unswirly form. I just thought I could Glaze my future works and upload them wherever I would usually upload, including Instagram because, well, their AI isn't any better at reading it than Dal-E as far as I'm aware. It is gonna be quite annoying though, because it takes upwards of an hour to glaze something to the Default strength, and I like uploading silly little doodles that only took like 5 minutes in and of themselves lol, so I'll have to be more picky about what I post...

Anyways, I am gonna start using Glaze on my art at the minimum, I tested it with an older work and it's not very noticeable. I'll drop the glazed piece here for anyone who has been curious about how it would affect their art visually and been too scared to try using it

the grass looks bad because of me, that's my fault for not knowing how to draw grass. The Glaze is that swirly triangular pattern that is most noticeable in the exact middle of the image, on the shorts and leg. It is virtually invisible on the face, which is the part I care most about anyway. So, while yes it would be an annoying affect if it were something really aggressively well-rendered, I've got very few issues with it for my more cartoony art style. It's the default amount of glaze, so not the highest tier of protection possible but enough.

I didn't really care about AI theft when it was still in its infancy, I still don't think it's the end of the world or anything like that, people enjoy art for the personal connection it has with its artist, and I like to think AI will never fully replicate that... not to mention that all of these AIs are in for a legal nightmare once someone sues for copyright infringement ... but, with how high quality the images are becoming and how thoroughly integrated it is into many of our browsers and websites, I still don't wish to help it any further if at all possible.

For anyone who wants to utilize this anti-AI Glaze, here's the link to downloads for Glaze

There is a browser version as well, though it requires an invite (automatically granted to anyone who doesn't use AI via email) I haven't tried that one yet, my computer is thankfully able to run the desktop version so I've had no need to get an invite.

If this is the first you're hearing about Glaze, I should also mention that there is a thing called Nightshade on this very same website. It does a very similar thing to Glaze, except for that it also gives AI models incorrect information when fed to it that, through a bunch of technical stuff that I don't understand, actually makes the AI worse than it was before. I've decided to just use the regular Glaze since, personally, my goal isn't to screw over the devs who made the AI, even if it's something I disagree with. I just don't want my work utilized, so I will Glaze it and move on. I can't really blame anyone who uses Nightshade though, just explaining why I don't.

I was also wondering if any of y'all have a contingency plan in the case of AI developing to the point where Glaze doesn't work anymore... like are we just gonna have to delete everything from the last however long we've been glazing or what? yike

[salvadorbonaparte]

Hey! I recently found your blog and was wondering if you have any knowledge about the translation career? I'm in my third year of an English literature bachelor and am strongly considering becoming a translator or doing something with (literary) translation because I really love languages! Do you have any knowledge or tips about the field of work? If not, that's fine! I figured I'd ask just in case <3

Hey! Thank you for reaching out :)

I just finished the taught portion of my MA in Translation Studies and I'm preparing for my PhD so I'm not technically a professional translator yet (I'm not being paid lol).

If you love translation and can imagine yourself translating as your day job I really recommend looking into a translation master's or diploma (depending on where you are). Some countries don't really have any regulations and just let anyone become a translator but I'm very critical of that. If you're in Europe or consider studying there, consider a European Master's in Translation.

When it comes to literary translation it's really difficult to get into but it isn't impossible. I met a literary translator recently actually. There's the Emerging Translators Network and specialised degrees. I'd still recommend to look into other fields to have a backup plan (examples include video game localisation, commercial translation, medical translation, legal translation, translation technology, terminology management, project management, audio description, subtitling, surtitling, dubbing).

Some more general advice:

Learn about translation technologies. Seriously. There's a lot of fear mongering about AI but to paraphrase a translator I talked to recently: computers won't take your job but someone who can use a computer better than you might.

Be aware of the ethics of translation. I'm not only talking about the texts your translating but the way you interact with the industry. Capitalism is... Bad and if you're beginner with little experience and no degree companies might try to hire you just so they can pay you less. At the same time, professional translators won't be able to get jobs and have to lower their rates to compete. That's one of the reasons we've been pushing for better associations and why I often try to convince people to get professional training before becoming a translator.

If you want to get some ethical practice to build up your portfolio consider volunteering to subtitle/translate TED talks or join Translators Without Borders. You can also translate fan works and things like that.

If you want to get some taster sessions in what a degree in translation would look like, I have a lot of resources on translation studies in a folder in my pinned post. There is a lot of information on basic theory, strategies, technologies, audio-visual translation (which is my speciality).

If you have more questions feel free to ask them :)

[artis-lined]

Regarding Recent Events

(Believe whoever you want, I don't care, I just hope this stops.)

Hey guys, I unfortunately didn't want to have to be the one to do this, but I'm sorry to say with everything happening, I have obtained enough evidence to confidently accuse @slow-snail and @luminous000 of everything. Strap in, because this genuinely going to be a long one.

Red Flags

Let's start with some things arent quite evidence yet still may be a cause for suspicion. If you'd like to skip this section, please go to the next, titled "The Stalker"

Lumi has very similar texting patterns as Ghost

I have been in multiple situations where someone I know has faked being two or more people. I feel like I know the signs at this point. Lumi and Ghost are very similar, I remember thinking that they were just the same person and it was just a back up account before Ghost said it was his bf.

Ghost makes uncalled for jokes that are not, infact, funny.

I understand humor being a coping mechanism. It is even recognized by many mental health professionals. The thing that bothers me (and hopefully many of you) is the point where it stops being a coping mechanism. Playing dead for a day and a half is not funny. It is not cute. It is, infact, hurtful and can even be traumatizing for some. It's not funny how worried we were. It was a worrying time, many of us were so shaken up we blamed ourselves. It is not funny.

Convenient timing

It seems like every time they get better something either happens to Ghost, or Lumi. If they don't recieve enough attention, the resort to drastic measures to get everyone worked up and then come back to say: "no everything's ok now, ty for worrying 🥹". Like no shit. People are going to worry if you post how you're going to jump off a fucking bridge.

The Stalker

Here I will discuss how the story had more plot holes than things that actually made sense. Please read this part, as it contains important arguments.

Texting us while on the white board

Whether he was lethargic from "blood loss" or abt to pass out, they never stopped typing. On top of that, most of the responses were so premeditated it immediately made me feel like we were all just role playing.

Usage of medical terms

Other than the usage of 'stitches', the other terms were improperly applied.

"The goal of a medically induced coma is to reduce the work of brain cells and protect them from increased pressure inside the skull or after an event such as a stroke."

"The medically induced coma is intended to reduce the metabolic demand of the brain cells."

[Another term for a medically induced coma can also be sedation]

Source

My uncle was placed under sedation when after his heart surgery, his kidneys stopped working on their own. It is different from anesthetics since anesthesia slows blood flow to the brain (and decrease brain activity). Isn't it wonderful what a quick Google search will teach you? Oh, speaking of Google searches..

Lack of News Reports

I'm not saying the news reports everything-- but I find it odd how even when googling key pieces of evidence regarding this case, there was nothing remotely similar. This includes turning off local searches.

Went Home Quickly

After about two days in the hospital, Ghost was released. It was very short considering being in critical condition (including the fact they apparently flat lined multiple times). There was also no vital organ seemingly damaged, so then why would he flat line? Blood loss is serious, but they were alive in the hospital and ambulances have O- blood on hand since it is a blood type that everyone can use.

Ghosts Suicide

Finally, the last piece of evidence. This was disgusting... genuinely disgusting. Please read this part, as it contains important arguments.

Medical Inaccuracies

I'm not going to type out the whole medically induced coma argument again, but the point still stands.

Legal Inaccuracies

Lumi would not have been the person contacted regarding medical information. They have expressed to be around fifteen, and have no legal or blood relation. It's nice that they're dating and all, but it does not make them automatically the one updated with information regarding Ghosts wellbeing. It's one thing to be updated by the parents, but Lumi has shown that Ghosts "parents" don't like him.

Death occurs when there is no more brain activity.

This part was horrible. It had so many lies in it I don't even know where to begin. First, it's illegal to just pay a doctor and say that they're dead. Second, multiple doctors are there to ensure a patients safety. There has to be evidence of brain death.

The Next Chapter

I can't be the only one who sees what they're doing, right? Lumi was in denial when Ghost came back, and it's going to end in one of two ways.

Lumi is so upset about what happened, and as they are plagued by guilt of not know sooner, they attempt to kill themself, and don't succeed. The cycle continues.

It turns out Ghost has been hacked (probably by the stalker if they're feeling like it needs a plot twist) and it turns out the hacker is going to do something horrible to Lumi.

I'm just so done. Like, actually done. I tried to make this post as informational as I could, because I don't want anyone to think I'm being a jerk. You don't have to agree, but I'm probably going to take a short hiatus or something just to get away from all this.

Thank you for reading everything.

@parma-san @i-dont-draw-stuff @aimless-aimz

[asociallyawkwardduckling]

I'm sorry cause this is out of the blue and definitely feel free to ignore this if it's intrusive or insensitive.

I saw your comment on the gifset of the two animals at the laundromat and their pride clothes and how open you are about being trans.

I only recently figured out I'm a trans guy at 30+ and I'll hopefully start medically transitioning soon, but so far I'm not out to many people, so I especially wonder how to come out at work. Did you ever really come out at work or did you just drop hints and talked about HRT or told people who asked about it?

Sorry again if you don't wanna share more, I totally understand. And I know every workplace and situation is different so I can't compare other people's experiences to mine, but hearing about others would be helpful I think so I won't feel as alone :)

It's totally fine, and you're not being insensitive at all. At my current job before i was hired, I was already pretty much fully socially transitioned, and I had made sure that they knew to call me by my preferred name when i was hired. I simply told them that I go by [blank] since i have yet to legally change it. As for coming out, no, i dont think i did. I just mentioned HRT, and people filled in the blanks. Although if they asked me about if I was and were respectful, I would say yes. Luckily, my workplace has been very open and accepting(which i know isn't always the case), and I've had people ask questions, but usually they're pretty respectful.

I hope this answers some of your questions. I'm a bit if a rambler lol.

[uluruanarchist]

In light of this, let's take a closer look at the Lesbian Action Group. (readers should note that this post contains links sourced from anti-trans associations. if you're using Shinigami Eyes, I'm sure you're seeing a lot of red.)

The Lesbian Action Group is apart of the Australian chapter of notorious intersexist anti-trans hate group the LGB Alliance. The LGB Alliance was established back in 2019 in the UK, reportedly splitting off from the prominent LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall (named after the monumental historical event of the Stonewall Riots) over the charity's stance on transgender matters and refusal to allow for debate on said matters. Presumably, this ever-so devisive stance, was Stonewall's announcement of dedication to trans equality back in 2015 (note: this link is to the Trans People and Stonewall report pdf. Available by means of The British Library.) Dissenters argued, that the charity no longer represented them, and that they were promoting a 'trans agenda.' As an organisation, the LGB Alliance has claimed that: gender-affirming therapy is conversion-therapy; amab trans and gender-diverse people cannot be lesbians and afab trans and gender-diverse youth existing is lesbian erasure; puberty blockers are mind-altering(?); sex is not a spectrum; among other things. Also, it seems suggested in their glossary of terms, that people can identify other people as trans, regardless of that person's own self-determination. They claim to value "factual" and "honest" communication, yet ironically, frequently spread misinformation, and simply source a twitter status in some cases (I could not verify personally the nature of the tweets, as I do not have a twitter account, nor do I want to, but a trusted person assures me quite frankly that they're opinions). They have gone on to establish chapters in many countries. Now, onto the Lesbian Action Group. Given the group exists under the Australian chapter of the LGB Alliance, they follow the same core values, and quite obviously so. The Lesbian Action Group claims that lesbians can no-longer legally assemble in single-sex spaces. This is unequivocally false. The Lesbian Action Group seek to publicly assemble, which is an entirely different matter. They also claim trans-only events are widespread, which I cannot find evidence of, which suggests if they do exist, they follow the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, unlike what was proposed by the Lesbian Action Group, and are in fact, importantly, not public events.

The Lesbian Action Group may fall within the definition of a ‘voluntary body’ under the SDA.6 However, the Lesbian Action Group is not seeking an exemption to discriminate in connection with the admission of persons as members, or the provision of benefits, facilities or services only to its members, as permitted by s 39 of the SDA. Rather, the Lesbian Action Group seeks to hold public events restricted to ‘lesbians born female’ and to advertise those events ‘widely and publicly’, beyond their membership base. The Commission is of the view that the s 39 exemption does not apply in these circumstances, where the provision of ‘benefits, facilities or services’ is proposed to extend to persons beyond members of the Lesbian Action Group. (source)

(quote text sure is large.) In a bit of a side tangent, I'd like to mention this division within Australian lesbian spaces has been going on for at least 30 years. So while they may claim things about what lesbian means and what women are, I know there are likely many Australian lesbians in their 50s and 60s who disagree (yes they exist! isn't that wonderful? I'm going to make a post later about all the wonderful things i've found researching this!) I also think it's important to mention that the single-sex exemptions of gay hotels, The Laird, and The Peel, mentioned in the Lesbian Action Group's purpose statement (maybe I should just start calling them LAG) and male exemptions granted section, allow trans men. Certainly a claim, LAG cannot make. LAG doesn't consider trans women 'women' after all. (also not entirely relevent but there used to be a Lesbian Action Group back in the 80s who I assume are seperate from the current.) LAG makes mention of a trans-only (the article title in the link says trans and gender-diverse) swimming event. While it may have indeed existed, I cannot ascertain the nature of it as the link they supplied. led to a 404 page, and The Wayback Machine's only capture documented the same 404 page. Also, I believe a bloody good distinction to be made is that LAG is going for a public event and in contrast, The Laird and The Peel are hotels. Those aren't events. Those are places. Also, unsurprisingly, one of the main defenders within the preliminary review is the LGB Alliance Australia. Anyway, I'm really tired of seeing their stuff, so here's a bit from Q+Law.

Q+Law submitted: It is important to note that lesbians are not a homogenous group. The lesbian community as a whole is made up of intersectional experiences and diversities including but not limited to race, religion, socioeconomic background and gender. Q+Law supports rights-based inclusion and seeks to improve the well-being of lesbians regardless of other intersecting identities. … Q+Law assumes the exemption is sought to allow the applicant to discriminate against all people who are not cis-gendered women sexually attracted to only other cis-gendered women. Therefore, the exemption seeks the right to be able to differentiate between sub-categories of women.

Anyway, I would say more, but I am so damn tired. I have spent the last several days reading and watching LGB Alliance material and that of LAG, and it has just been a progressively terrible experience. I'm sure you can see the quality dropping off throughout this and I do apologise for that. I wanted to make this more comprehensive, and maybe I'll go into these groups more in the future, but I can't take anymore days of this right now. Yeah, so I apologise if I've made some errors. I'm a bit overloaded. I mean the stuff in the post-statements, so you'll see that somewhere down along the line. Love you all. Toodles! Bye~ (p.s. If you don't understand some of the words I'm saying. I'll happily elaborate! Also if anyone thinks this could be more accessible, I'm open to suggestions and then I'll see what I can do about it!) (p.p.s If I've gotten some stuff wrong, or there are ways you think I could make this better, let me know! I'm fully capable of making mistakes, and after working on this for a few days and it negatively affecting my sleep I've probably made some mistakes. I'll make an amended version later if I get some good feedback.) (p.p.p.s LAG if somehow you're reading this, please update your page to be better <3)