#it takes place in the outer space in the future and it’s a mix of old classic fairytales!

[pearlsdiamondsandvodka]

brennan lee mulligan: old king cole was-

me: omg a mechanisms reference

brennan lee mulligan: -a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he so he called for his pipe and-

me: king you’re getting the lyrics wrong this is so embarrassing for you

[velvet-vox]

The dark side of Steampunk: Nox (Part 1)

There is this video made by the Youtuber schnee about Hazbin Hotel, and how its grimsical art style serves the purpose of forming the setting and dictating every writing decision through the usage of its thematic connotations.

It's a pretty interesting video to watch if you are a fan of that series, but I'm not here to talk about that.

No, I'm here to talk about a specific part of that video.

There's a certain timestamp in the video where schnee all of a sudden starts to talk about a movie named "Aeronauts", and how it perfectly nails the Steampunk aesthetic through its understanding of the themes of Steampunk and the historic/social connotations of his it's existence. Here:

For the purposes of his argument, schnee explains to us what Steampunk is all about and compares it to grim dark. While this was fascinating and all, after I've learned the meaning behind the Steampunk aesthetic I couldn't help to think about Noximilliem Coxen the Watchmaker from Wakfu, and how the show writers and character designers twisted the positive vibes of the style to create a more impactful and terrifying antagonist that swims confidently in his own aesthetic.

Today, I'm going to break down how Nox's story uses and twists the meaning of Steampunk to help him stand out.

There's going to be multiple parts to this analysis, so expect me to add their link in the future, but for now, I'm going to focus my attention entirely on the OVA episode and I'll tackle the main series at a later date.

The OVA:

Noximilien is a brilliant inventor specialized in the creation of clocks. His over excitement at the prospect of being the one to find the next big thing is very reminiscent of the classic Victorian scientist present in many stories, usually on the protagonist's side: at the start of his character arc, Milien is the embodiment of the optimism native of the XIX century from which Steampunk stories often take place.

Characterised by the industrial boom, Steampunk (Nox) seeks out to revolutionise the rigid lifestyle of the Victorian era through the wonders of machinery and science. This right here seems like the classic setup for any story of the genre, surely it can't vary more than this?

Unfortunately for our Watchmaker, this is the part where another genre of storytelling is introduced into the mix: the Eldritch horror.

Stories of Eldritch Horror are often characterised by the fear of the unknown: humans going insane trying to understand things that were never intended to be understood, some light ho######ia and ra###m sprinkled here and there, but you can't blame Lovecraft for being a bigot when he was so much worse than that.

Nox finds a mysterious object coming from outer space, it acts weird and suspicious, and he can't understand it, so he takes it back home where he can study it. (I don't know what the bubbles emitted from the cube and the following psychosis are meant to entail, but I think it's up to interpretation).

Immediately, Milien sees the cube as an exciting new discovery, already picking apart its effects on his clock and quickly brushing aside how it affected Igôle. It's honestly not that uncommon in stories of this genre, the inventor tends to be pretty self centered and not particularly emotionally intelligent, it's a flaw that tends to go undeveloped, but it's usually never a problem for these people (Unless they are the villain 🌚).

But here, it's where unfortunately the rift between his family and his desires starts to form: at the beginning of the episode, Galanthe was nothing but supportive of her husband's passion for his inventions and the future, but here, when she asks her husband to let go of his current hyper fixation, she, quite literally, puts a stop to the Industrial dream, one of the cores of this genre; basically rejecting Nox himself, whose the personification of Steampunk.

Naturally, Milien is at fault here, he shouldn't be taking her response too dramatically, but this is going to be the base to his later turn towards the obsession.

While we're here, I might as well mention the beggar and the puppet show.

They're not all that important to Noximilien's character arc (aside from the money problem giving him a ticking clock to all of his actions🌚🌚), but they do provide important pieces of character building and themes for our analysis, so I'm going to briefly touch on them.

The beggar and the puppet show serve to better establish and build up our Steampunk narrative before it can later be destroyed by the Eliacube.

The beggar, is our representation of society. More specifically, Victorian society. He's naturally unimpressed by Milien's creativity and ingenuity, and only seeks to get his part of the bargain. He's strict, rigid, and he's clearly intended to be the obstacle in this situation.

The conflict between the beggar and Milien parallels the conflict between the Victorian society and the positivity of modern science; said tension is the bread and butter of Steampunk and the reason why this aesthetic gained so much popularity in the first place.

The puppet show, created by our inventor, is, again, another establishing piece for our setting, it's the original direction Nox's character was supposed to take, becoming someone who uses their brilliance and generosity to better the world and brighten their family's lives.

If only Milien stayed in bed that night instead of going to temper with the Eliacube, who knows what could have happened.

Maybe, he wouldn't have found the Cube to be all that shiny when he woke up the next morning......

Next part>>>>

Want more Wakfu analyses? Give your vote here.

[sofiaispunk]

The Space Cowboy and his Ladybug - CHAPTER 1

Javier Peña x reader

Summary: As you return to your hometown of Laredo, Texas after more than a decade away, you can't help but feel a strange mix of excitement and trepidation. You're here with your new husband, Steven, a successful lawyer from Austin, and you're not quite sure how he'll handle the slower pace of life in this small town. You left Laredo as a teenager, fleeing an abusive father and a painful falling out with your childhood best friend. But will this place ever feel like home again? Can the wounds of the past really be healed, or are they just scars that never fully fade away?

Words: 1,3K

Warnings: angst, trust issues, violence, brief mention of past domestic abuse (mentally and physically), insecurity, references to suicide attempt, smut, TRAUMA, not proof read

A/N: hiiii beautiful people! This is my first ever fic. Please tell me what you think and what I should change. Basically just write anything that's going on in that pretty head of yours. Ideas, comments, critic everything is appreciated. Have a nice day and enjoyyyyy

You can feel your heart racing as the car approaches your small hometown of Laredo, Texas, with your new husband Steven by your side. The landscape is beautiful, with lush greenery and rolling hills that are a stark contrast to the concrete jungle you are used to. As you drive through the town, you feel a sense of familiarity wash over you. The small houses and local businesses reminding you of your childhood, and the community feels warm and welcoming. „You ok, babe?“ Steven asked, barely looking at you. 

You met Steven through a mutual friend at a networking event in the city. He was successful, charming, and swept you off your feet with his lavish lifestyle. You started dating and soon got married after a whirlwind romance. He gave you the stability that lacked in your childhood. The love and support you missed out on and frankly you were done being alone and miserable. He was at the right time at the right place.

But as time went by, you realized that your lifestyles and priorities were vastly different. Steven was always too busy with work, and when you did spend time together, it was usually at high-end restaurants or events that felt superficial and lacked depth. You longed for a deeper connection and more meaningful experiences that were more in line with your values. Austin was great, just not for you.. It never felt like home, in fact your home did not even feel like home and nothing ever felt like home since you left Chucho’s farm over 10 years ago.

That’s why you were here, back in Laredo, a place you swore you would never set a foot on again. 

Memories flood back to you as you drive past familiar landmarks. „Yeah, I think I am okay.“ You reply while opening the window feeling the light texan summer breeze.

You close your eyes and take a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face and the sweet scent of vanilla wafting from the small corner store. You can hear the sounds of children laughing and playing in the distance, but it's the sound of your best friend's laughter that makes your heart sing. It's your weekly ritual, saving up your allowance money to buy ice cream from the store. As you walk towards the store, your excitement grows with each step. You can't wait to spend the day talking and laughing with your best friend. As you sit on the curb, licking your ice cream cones, you share your dreams and aspirations for the future. You talk about the places you want to travel to and the adventures you want to have.

„ I will be the best astronaut in outer space. And everybody will love me because I will catch all the bad guys and bad aliens with my lasso!“ your best friends raises his chocolate ice cream cone above his head signalizing his victory. „Javi, so you will be an astronaut and a cowboy? Thats not even possible.“ You laugh wiping away a little drop of chocolate ice cream that landed on his forehead. „A space cowboy, dummy! I will be the first one and therefor the best! Don’t laugh at me.“ „OK OK but lets go home space cowboy  or else Chucho Is going to really send you to the moon. It’s getting dark already. Come on. Last one pays for the ice cream tomorrow!“

„-are you even listening to me?“ Steven looks at you with raised eyebrows. „Oh no sorry. What were you saying. I was thinking of something.“ You haven’t even noticed Steven was talking to you, too caught up in your memories. „Just 10 more minutes. And please close the window. You are letting the heat in and the AC is on.“ You nod and close the window. You take another deep breath and try to push the memories of Laredo out of your mind. You know that the town holds both good and bad memories for you, but lately, the bad ones seem to be creeping to the forefront of your thoughts. Even the good memories hurt. You've been trying to stay positive since returning to Laredo with your new husband.

You want to make a fresh start and create new memories in the town that holds so much history for you. But it's difficult when every corner seems to hold a reminder of your past. You find yourself walking on eggshells, trying not to trigger any negative memories or emotions. You don't want Steven to see you in a vulnerable state. You trust him, he is your husband you are supposed to, right? But lately he is being more distant and if you really honest with yourself you never let him get to know you the real you. Always too scared to scare him off and share too much of your true self. With Steve always being at work or on business trips you try to keep busy with your own projects and hobbies, but there's only so much distraction you can find. Thats how it always been. You live in a big house in a big, beautiful house in Austin, surrounded by all the material possessions and friends you've accumulated over the years, and yet, you just couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness inside.

You've been feeling this way for so long, and it's getting harder to ignore. You've built this life that many would envy, but you can’t help but feel alone and disconnected. Of course you’ve tried to talk to Steven about it, but every time you bring up the topic, he brushes it off, saying that you're just overthinking things. You know he means well, but his lack of understanding and concern only makes you feel more isolated. So with time you just dropped the topic all together and returned to this persona you created once you left Laredo. This strong, fearless persona who didn’t miss her life, who could punch back and was not scared of anybody and who never suffered a heartbreak. She was everything you wished to be and so you suppressed every bad feeling, every longing and just pretended. Deep down, you know that you need to confront your past and deal with the emotions that come with it. But it's scary to face the pain and trauma that you've been trying to forget for so long. You're not sure if you're ready to open that door and relive those memories. You've become a master at pretending to be happy, putting on a smile for the outside world while masking your true feelings. You don't want to burden your friends with your problems, so you keep up the facade of having it all together. But sometimes, it feels like you're suffocating under the weight of your emotions.

You and Steven pull up to your old childhood home in Laredo. As you step out of the car and take in the sight of the old, run-down property, a sense of nostalgia washes over you.

"Well, it's certainly a fixer-upper," Steven remarks, eyeing the peeling paint and sagging roof.

You smile, feeling a sense of excitement and determination. Renovating this old house is a challenge, but it's also a chance to create something beautiful and new.As you settle into the house, you begin to envision the possibilities. Fresh paint, new floors, a modern kitchen, and updated bathrooms. It's going to be a lot of work, but you're ready for it.

Steven suggests calling in some contractors to help with the renovations, but you shake your head. "I want to do this ourselves, to really make it our own."Steven looks at you with a mix of admiration and concern. "Are you sure? It's going to be a lot of work, and we have busy schedules."

You nod, feeling a sense of determination. "I'm sure. We can do this together."

As the conversation turns to the logistics of the renovation, you can't help but feel a sense of excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead. Maybe this project is the first step towards creating a new chapter in your life, one where you can reclaim the parts of yourself that you left behind in Laredo.

Part 2

[mixedupmojo]

jttw sci-fi

Just want to put this out there but am I the only one who wants to see a journey to the west sci-fi retelling/crossover. Like considering the number of adaptations jttw has had. I expected there to be at least a few which were inspired by the sci-fi genre and aside from starzinger there don't seem to be any (if there are more please let me know). I just think it would be really cool to do a whole sci-fi version (with some fantasy elements mixed) especially considering how awesomely weird jttw can be at times I just keep thinking, how cool would it be to have a space version that feels like it's in the same ballpark/is inspired by Farscape, treasure planet, hitchhikers guide to the galaxy and to cap it all off the humans are weird/space orcs/space Australia concept.

Anyway with this concept rattling around in my head. it has inspired some ideas, so without further adu here is a list of headcanons for a sci-fi world of the journey to the west that I have. A spoiler alert is now in effect as I'm gonna be referencing some things from the book.

·         First off I am personally thinking of a version that takes place in outer space as I think it fits with the whole journey aspect not to mention there is a whole galaxy of possibilities that could be encountered (see what I did there) 

·         but I could also imagine it taking place in a future dystopian world instead. where Tripitaka has been tasked with getting some important artifact, in order to restore the world and bring back life to the planet or something. however, I'm gonna stick with the space theme so here we go

·         Combining magic and mythology with sci-fi. I just really like the idea that even though this world is heavily technology-based and scientifically advanced there is still an underlying magic system in place that governs things and that everyone relays on. Not to mention it provides an opportunity to delve into different theologies and philosophies and explore these concepts in a different way.

·         just imagine the character designs!!! 

·         Just think of how otherworldly and alien they could be like for example:

 -I can't get the idea out of my head that sun wukong looks like he's made from actual living rock. Something akin to marble with the cracks and veins looking like molten gold/lava (they also glow). I also like the idea that even though he looks like he's made from stone he doesn’t actually feel like it. Like you expect him to feel like marble but in reality, it's completely different, actually feeling like fur in some places. quills in place of some of his more fluffier parts mainly around his neck/back and head. Also, I have no explanation for this but I can't stop thinking that he would have an extra set of arms and at least one extra set of eyes. His eye's would also be huge as this is to do with the fact flower fruit mountain relies heavily on bioluminescence. originally they were black but after the incident with the furnace, they are now blood red with flecks of gold.

 -when it comes to tang Sanzang/Tripitaka I have a few different schools of thought about how he could be portrayed. The first is that he is human as I feel it kind of fits based on how his character was originally portrayed in the book and it also allows for an outsider's perspective (IDK I'm just getting token human vibes off him for some reason). Second, he is part of an endangered race that is very spiritual, taking on a slight insect appearance but in a very subtle way with iridescent skin. But for all versions, he has this hovering platform which he constantly sits on or uses as a place to meditate. it has the ability to fold in on itself for easy storage/carrying. I also like to think that as the journey progress, he starts using it less and less

 -I think it would be a cool idea for Sha Wujing "Sandy" who is obviously some kind of aquatic alien having to wear a high-tech suit that allows him to breathe out of water. Something with a large fish bowl helmet that is filled with water   

 -Zhu Bajie "Pigsy" I honestly haven't given it too much thought when it comes to him. But I do like the idea of him having these insanely large tusks like that of a wild boar

 -for Bai long ma I have this whole idea. if anyone here has seen Farscape then you will know that in the show Moya is a living space ship and I kept thinking what If Bai long ma was the same what if he started out as a space dragon, but instead of turning into a horse-like creature he would become a living space ship as it makes a lot more sense since the group are travelling through space. there could even be moments throughout the journey where he needs to turn into a smaller dragon-like astral horse creature in order to travel places or conserve energy as I imagine travelling through the void of space would take a lot out of him

 -six eared macaque shearing sun wukong's rock-like appearance (as they were both born from stone) but instead looking like he is made from quartz, with some parts of him even appearing transparent (he is also much softer to the touch than wukong somehow). his six ears are always changing colours and look like reflected rainbows

 -Neha looks like a lotus flower but on fire. Let me elaborate he looks vaguely humanoid in shape but where his head is it looks like it is made up of lotus pelts, which depending on circumstances appears as a bulb or in full bloom and he always seems to be admitting a flame-like aura around him. His body is comprised of living armour and appears copper coloured that is heavily patterned. He never walks he is almost always floating this is done through the use of a high-tech version of his fire wheels

 ·         Space dragons with translucent glittery scales that reflect the void of space so all that you see is a shimmer before they reveal themselves to you and it's suddenly like a whole new galaxy just appeared before you. Their eyes burning with the force of the sun

·         The four dragon kings are the largest of all the dragons and because of this each of them is often mistaken for being a star themselves. However in reality each of the dragon kings has taken up residence in the biggest star in each of their respective galaxies and are often found curing around them hence where the confusion comes from. and like the Tardis in doctor who, Their star homes are much bigger on the inside

·         sun wukong's staff was originally being used to prop up the sky in the domain of the dragon king of the east ao guang. After taking it the loss caused that part of the sky to sag and several stars to fall. to this day they are some of the most coverted items in the whole of the galaxy and ao guang was not happy about losing them

·         On that train of thought just imagine how cool and high-tech the weapons could be  

·         I'm just imagining the part where wukong is first brought before heaven to stand trial play out similar to stitch's trial 

Jade Emperor: It is an affront to nature. It must be destroyed!

The gold star of Venus: Calm yourself, sir. Perhaps it can be reasoned with. wukong give us some sign you understand, any of this. Show us that there is something, inside you that is good.

The entire court of heaven waits on bated breath as wukong takes a moment to think before breaking out into a great big grin

Sun wukong: Meega, nala kweesta!

The court of heaven gasps, several of the members fainting

The gold star of Venus: So naughty!

Wukong laughs maniacally

 ·         Space pirates/bandits with ships that look like they've been cobbled together or ones that take after a traditional sailing boat 

·         On a side note, just imagine all of the different types of space transportation and I'm not just talking about spaceships. What if there is more than one way to get around in space such as teleportation and it being highly regulated much like an airport you have to go through mass amounts of security. or star roads that only appear at certain points in the day and only last for a certain amount of time so you have to be quick when crossing 

·         Space fish and other creatures that somehow manage to survive in the vacuum of space

·         On that note when it comes to wukong's summersault cloud I have two schools of thought one being that its technology base appearing as a sort of hoverboard. the other is more mystical like it's made out of stardust or something

·         The group having to hitchhike on different spaceships for whatever reason and having memorable encounters with each individual that picks them up

·         Flower fruit mountain is completely bioluminescent the plants, the rocks even the water and everything seems to pulse with a strange heartbeat. the plant life being larger than life tree's towering thousands of miles into the sky that are completely hollow on the inside and looks like they are nothing but roots that have been twisted together. The flowers are as big as cars and appear to breathe their petals opening and closing in rhythmic patterns. The ground and the rock are always emitting a strong heat with different spots on the island being warmer than others and all of the residents taking advantage of that. Flower fruit mountain appears to be steeped in an almost permanent night. This is mostly due to the fact that the island does not have a sun of its own, since it is constantly on the move. It doesn't matter though as both the mountain and the inhabitants have evolved to survive without 

·         I like the idea that flower fruit mountain is a wondering place never staying in the same spot for too long, and like the stars and planets themselves appearing in certain places depending on the time of year and season. I also like the idea that it is very much a floating island and not an actual planet. The rivers just flow off the side and down disappearing into the void of space. While all the residents have to be careful not to fall off the edge

·         all of the monkey residents being very varied in their appearances and species. They live high up in the vast canopies of the trees in intricate woven villages that are hidden from all, but the ones in the know

·         The water curtain cave being at the highest point of flower fruit mountain and behind it being a complete juxtaposition from the rest of the mountain. The mansion/palace/house (I've heard it be called a couple of different things) being made of a chrome like metal and heavily patterned. 

·         The entrance to the place of the dragon king of the east sea is a wormhole. 

·         Heaven being an intergalactic space federation type of organization. with the main headquarters being located on a planet that looks a bit like Saturn but has at least five times the amount of rings and glows. it is also near impossible to get to, as you have to navigate through a minefield of asteroids and other obstacles. 

·         Just imagine all of the different worlds to explore and the different alien cultures to encounter like for example:

-the group having to cross a desert made up of red and purple sand, with there being at least three suns overhead but somehow the sky is a deep plum colour and it feels dark despite this.

-coming across a world where the inhabitants are long since dead but their spirit still lives on vicariously through their creations

-visiting a planet where the colours are completely inverted or alternatively a world where everyone perceives a completely different spectrum of light/colour (kind of like how a mantis shrimp can see 12 more colours than a human can) and trying to navigate it.

-a Gulliver travels inspired world. I'm just imagining a scenario where Tripitaka gets kidnapped by a giant little girl who views him as a new pet and the group has to figure out a way to get him back.

-visiting an intergalactic spaceport and trying to navigate through the crowds of different alien species

-accidentally ending up on a primitive world that hasn’t yet figured out space travel or the fact that they are not alone. Trying to keep a low profile so as to not freak out the locals but inevitably being discovered.

-going to a planet that is entirely covered with water and wukong absolutely hating it while sandy is just having the time of his life.

-ending up on a very sketchy planet where crime is rampant and having to constantly be on the lookout for anything shady. Wukong slowly loses his mind as somehow Tripitaka keeps getting into trouble every five seconds. the rest of the group is no better.

-visiting cities that are technologically advanced, fast pace and obsessed with the latest craze.

-stopping at an intergalactic truck stop for food and rest and being confronted by the strangest weirdest food they ever have to eat, while simultaneously trying to figure out if it is even edible. Just imagine everybody's unique individual reactions in this situation.      

 There are just so many possibilities

 ·         Imagine them having an encounter with chang'e on the moon. I'm just picturing the group having a nice chill tea break with chang'e talking about life and just taking some time to recharge before they have to move on.

·         Encountering red boy on a planet made of pure molten lava and fire. Where the fire/ lava of this world is safe to touch in some parts and in other parts it burns so insanely hot that it can melt the flesh off of the bone. and no one really being able to tell the difference between which fire is safe and which isn't. red boy is completely immune to this world and knows how to wield it to his advantage

·         Demon bull king and princess iron fan are some of the galaxies' biggest warlords and conquers. They have one of the biggest fleets of battleships and an unstoppable army. As such they have conquered multiple planets

·         That just made me think what if there was a galactic villain scoreboard just like the one in wander over yonder. Or at the very least the villains have a celebrity status amongst the galaxy. (at some point wukong would have been totally at the top of that scoreboard)

·         There's a part in the book where they encounter a demon that turns out to be Guanyin's pet goldfish that’s gone rogue. And I like the idea of the group encountering a giant dangerous Robo-mech that they have to face off against only for it to turn out that it was a tiny goldfish controlling the suit all along. (and he would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling pilgrims)

·         the lady bone demon being in control of a hive mind of other alien species. Working like a parasite she infects/possesses other creatures to do her bidding and expand her influence. the longer they are under her possession the quicker they start to waste away and become a skeletal zombie-like version of their former selves. Think of something similar to the zombie-ant fungus.  

·         What if the Single Horned Rhinoceros King instead of just stealing everyone's weapons through the use of the jade ring (an alternate form of the diamond snare that Laojun had made and used to capture Sun Wukong) like in the book. he was actually capturing planets and hoarding them like ships in bottles and the jade ring is actually some super weaponized shrink ray that allows him to do this. The group ends up not only trying to find a way to defeat him but then having to figure out how to return all the planets back to their normal size. This idea could also work with an original character as an alternative. 

·         The immortal trials I can see playing out much like the book with the exception that It takes place on a more primitive planet that does not have much experience with technology and goat, deer and tiger immortals taking advantage of that. using the knowledge and tech they have to trick people into thinking that they are all powerful, omnipotent beings and forcing them to do their bidding

·         The spider queen/spider demons being these drider like aliens. Their ships are equipped with web-like nets that they use to capture spaceships. The nets are huge in size as well as virtually unbreakable. They then kill and eat any of the unfortunate victims that they trap and sell off the ships for scrap metal along with any valuables they find. Often they will leave their webs out in space, trapping anyone unfortunate to get stuck and not returning for a lengthy period of time while they check on their other traps. by then the victims of the snare are too weak to fight back and make for easy pickings.

·         Shapeshifting while being pretty common is extremely hard to do with only a few beings being able to actually do it properly (sun wukong is one of them, pigsy on the other hand is not so he resorts to holographic glamour instead) most just end up using holographic technology to glamour themselves. Or pills that can transform a person for a short amount of time, or even stranger alternative methods

·         A planet being inhabited entirely by females playing out much like the book. With the inhabitants having the appearance of both lizards and starfish combined. They are very pleasant but extremely curious about the male species 

·         Finally, let's talk about the main goal/objective of the journey personally I like sticking with the whole finding the scriptures and returning them to the east. Which still works for this only the stakes are much higher as the whole universe has been plunged into chaos and is on the verge of full on collapsing and the only way to stop it is to get these special scriptures (honestly this can be subjective as they don't need to be scriptures just something of great importance) and get them to where they need to be. Not only is the journey there hard but the stakes are upped as they now have to get them back and by now every powerhouse and criminal wants to get their hand on them as they are a highly coverted item

    So yeah those are my thoughts. If I think of any more I'll be sure to add them but for now, this is all I got. Apologies for any spelling mistakes or if I've messed up on the lore (I tried to be as accurate as possible). I'll be honest I'm getting very tempted to write a full story based on this however I've got other writing projects in the works so I don't want to start anything new just yet. But who knows maybe one day in the future.

[dkaufmandevelopment]

Exurbs: America’s Fastest-Growing Communities and What It Means for Real Estate Developers

The concept of “exurbs” has taken center stage in discussions about America’s fastest-growing areas. These far-flung communities, located 30, 40, or even 60 miles from major metropolitan centers, are rapidly evolving into some of the most desirable places to live. A combination of affordable housing, remote work trends, and a yearning for a more balanced lifestyle has propelled exurbs into the spotlight.

What Are Exurbs?

While the U.S. Census Bureau doesn’t officially define exurbs, it describes them as “far outer suburbs” with both urban and rural characteristics. StorageCafe, in its analysis, offers a more data-driven definition: regions with fewer than 250 residents per square mile at the start of its 10-year study. These areas, once considered remote, are now transitioning into vibrant suburban communities.

Key Growth Insights

According to StorageCafe:

• Housing Inventory: Exurbs saw a 15% increase in housing stock over the past decade, outpacing suburbs (14%) and principal cities (10%).

• Population Growth: Exurbs experienced a 16% rise in population, surpassing the growth rates of suburbs (13%) and cities (9%).

• Educational Attainment: 36% of exurban residents hold bachelor’s degrees, reflecting a highly educated demographic.

Why Exurbs Are Booming

Two major trends have fueled exurban growth:

1. Affordability and Space

Skyrocketing housing costs in urban and suburban areas have pushed homebuyers and renters further out. Exurbs offer more affordable housing options and larger properties, appealing to Millennials and Gen Zers seeking space for families and remote work setups.

2. Remote Work Revolution

The pandemic accelerated remote work adoption, enabling workers to prioritize lifestyle and community over proximity to city centers. Exurbs provide access to nature, a sense of community, and a slower pace of life.

Regional Standouts

The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area in Arizona exemplifies this shift. While growth in Phoenix itself has slowed, exurban areas like Maricopa and Casa Grande have surged, contributing one-third of the metro’s population growth in 2023. Florida and Texas have also witnessed rapid exurban expansion, particularly around Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Challenges of Exurban Growth

The rise of exurbs isn’t without obstacles. A report from Texas A&M University highlights key issues:

• Infrastructure Strain: Rapid population increases have outpaced school capacities, road systems, and stormwater management.

• Environmental Concerns: Wetland loss and increased traffic demand urgent state and local investment.

• Funding Gaps: Flexible funding mechanisms are essential to support schools, roads, and environmental preservation in these expanding areas.

Opportunities for Developers and Investors

For real estate developers and investors, the exurban boom presents both challenges and opportunities:

• New Markets: Exurbs represent untapped potential for residential, retail, and mixed-use developments.

• Infrastructure Projects: Public-private partnerships can address infrastructure gaps, ensuring sustainable growth.

• Community Building: Developers have the chance to shape these communities into desirable hubs for living and working.

Looking Ahead

As housing costs and work preferences continue to evolve, exurbs are likely to remain key growth areas in the coming years. Developers, investors, and policymakers must collaborate to address the unique needs of these communities while capitalizing on their potential.

What’s your take? Are exurbs the future of housing development, or will urban and suburban areas regain their dominance? Let’s discuss in the comments!

[sizzlepropertiesvillaplots]

Discover BDA-Approved Plots for Sale Near KR Puram, Bangalore

 Bangalore, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India, has become a prime destination for homebuyers and investors alike. Among the many sought-after locations in this bustling city, KR Puram stands out for its strategic connectivity, burgeoning infrastructure, and vibrant community life. If you’re on the lookout for BDA-approved plots in this area, you’re in the right place!

Why Choose KR Puram?

KR Puram offers a perfect blend of urban convenience and serene living. Here are some reasons why investing in a plot here is a great decision:

Excellent Connectivity: KR Puram boasts excellent connectivity via road and rail. The KR Puram Railway Station and major arterial roads, including the Old Madras Road and the Outer Ring Road, provide seamless access to the rest of the city.

Proximity to IT Hubs: With tech parks and IT companies in nearby areas like Whitefield and Marathahalli, KR Puram is an ideal location for working professionals.

Growing Infrastructure: The area is witnessing rapid development, with schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and entertainment hubs emerging, enhancing the quality of life.

Investment Potential: With the ongoing urbanization, property values in KR Puram are expected to appreciate significantly in the coming years, making it a lucrative investment choice.

BDA-Approved Plots: What You Need to Know

BDA (Bangalore Development Authority) approval signifies that the plot complies with all regulations and is free from legal hassles. Here are some key benefits of investing in BDA-approved plots:

Legal Assurance: BDA-approved plots ensure that you are purchasing land that is legally recognized and has clear titles.

Infrastructure Facilities: BDA layouts often come with well-planned infrastructure, including roads, drainage, and parks.

Community Development: Being part of a BDA layout typically means access to better amenities and services.

Available Plots in KR Puram

When searching for BDA approved plots near KR Puram Bangalore, consider the following popular localities:

Whitefield: Known for its upscale residential developments and proximity to major IT parks.

Marathahalli: A bustling neighborhood with a mix of residential and commercial spaces, offering great connectivity.

Hoodi: An emerging area with several new residential projects and easy access to main roads.

Tips for Buying BDA-Approved Plots

Verify Approval: Always check the BDA approval documents to ensure the plot is legitimately sanctioned.

Consult Professionals: Work with a reliable real estate agent or lawyer to navigate the buying process and understand legal requirements.

Inspect the Site: Visit the site personally to assess its condition and the surrounding area.

Understand the Payment Plans: Familiarize yourself with the payment schedules and terms to avoid any financial surprises.

Conclusion

Investing in a BDA-approved plot near KR Puram can be a rewarding decision, whether you’re looking to build your dream home or seeking a profitable investment opportunity. With its strategic location, excellent connectivity, and growing infrastructure, KR Puram is truly one of Bangalore’s hidden gems.

Start your property search today and take the first step towards securing your future in this vibrant part of the city!

[letterfromheart]

— ⊹ ✴

lunette irisya,

might as well be known as chalestine blythe whitney / magenta primrose / lacey caroline as the name 🪷🀦

🀤 i perceive myself as the warmth on a last winter, a gleam at the edge of the blue, the quieten wave, the blooming flower, the growing tree, the merry sky! 𖹭 🕊

a brief information about the shades of ocean blue 𖹭

✶ — if i were ...

a song, i would be the ‘autumn morning’ by IU / instrument, clair de lune / place, would be the ocean sea / a movie, interstellar and its theories / animals, mixed bunny and kittie / paintings, cliff walk at pourville & water lilies / flower, a primrose / colours, musk mist & lavender grey & lace & lilac snow & ancient water & slate gray! 🪷

any kind of appellation is allowed to be given to me as long as it pertains to my identity.. ♡ (i, too, generally give some people a nickname if we happen to be friends with each other; i consider it a present to those who are willing to befriend me, it is like my second nature.. ⊹  ִ ໋.ˑ) feminine or they / them / theirs are my go-to pronouns; nevertheless, it is still fine to address me with other kinds besides it, i swing with any pronouns. if you ever wondering about my age, just in case you are a MDNI user, then shoo-shoo your worries away! i have reached the age of consent (20↑).

to be frank, i am not too fond of the astrology thingy... however! i have discovered something, i happen to be february’s piscean — ☽ after several times taking test, i got certified as xnfj! truthfully, i myself think that type of mbti suits me the most. i tend to be organized with almost everything around me, i enjoy myself as a planner, and i am either too loud when my energy gets fully charged— or too quiet when i am running out of it.. there is nothing in between.

“may love reach you like the sound of the waves . . . ♥︎”

my interests are wheeling around the sounds of the seaside, blabbering and discovering more about the mysteries in outer space and the deepest ocean, taking pictures of trees and the sky, observing and learning about self-improvement, watching a romance-comedy, fantasy, or teen movie, playing with or watching a kitten, bunny, or otter videos, doing make-up and skincare, and exploring other beauty stuff ♡☘︎

aside from those things, i also listen to music and sometimes use it as a way to escape from reality. ever since i was little, music has been my dearest companion! thus, it is making me appreciate various genres. aiming to find some people who have the same interest as mine.. i will make a list of some of the singers or composers whose songs and pieces i have been listening to avidly 🎶

✴ — taylor swift, sunset rollercoaster, wave to earth, the dream academy, sleeping at last, the oh hello, zabawa, secondhand serenade, bruno major, keshi, mitski, the macarons project, a rocket to the moon, charlie burg, niki zefanya, laufey, 92914, beabadoobee, olivia rodrigo, lee ji-eun, novo amor, jannabi, the weeknd, mxmtoon, imaginary future, et cetera.

✴— claude debussy, beethoven, tchaikovsky, chopin, johann pachelbel, mozart, thad fiscella, hikaru shirosu, brian crain, manon clément, yiruma, et cetera.

watching a movie / drama / series is also a way for me to learn about new things and comprehend other people’s perspectives. here, i will also list some of the things i have on my watched-list 📺

✴ movie — interstellar, moonfall, the martian, oppenheimer, 2001: a space odyssey, gravity, barbie, a man called otto, the handmaiden, enola holmes, the princess diaries, passengers, the devil wears prada, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, hocus pocus, ad’ astra, legally blonde, clueless, mean girls, soulmate, the parent trap, charlie and the chocolate factory, ghibli movies, me before you, little women, breakfast at tiffany’s, et cetera.

✴ film-series / series — gilmore girls, gossip girls, the hunger games, narnia, harry potter, the maze runner, wednesday, anne with an e, victorious, the haunted hathaways, sam & cat, wandavision, resident evil, et cetera.

✴ drama — hometown cha cha cha, daily dose of sunshine, the glory, a time called you, little women (korean’s version), the king: eternal monarch, 2521, crash landing on you, forecasting love and weather, our beloved summer, anna, it's okay to not be okay, dream high, pyramid game, et cetera.

🍁 ♡ 𝅄 and there are some things i have not yet written that you might notice when you have been befriending and talking with me !! ☺︎

[snowymuses]

Name: Aqua Alias: Master Aqua, Anti-Aqua Species: Human Height: 5’7 Age: 20-32 (Verse dependent) Gender: Female Orientation: Demisexual Hometown: Land of Departure Occupation: Keyblade Master

Physical appearance:

Aqua has blue eyes, and her hair is blue and relatively short. She wears a black and blue, high-collared halter top, two pink, intersecting belts over her chest, and black shorts. She wears a silver badge and on Aqua's arms are white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves. She also wears a small, segmented piece of armor on each of her upper arms. She wears what appear to be black stockings or socks on her legs which reach to about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small area of bare skin on her upper thighs.

Aqua also bears two strips of blue cloth that drape over either side of her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of cloth tied around her waist, draped in the same manner. Finally, she wears pointed, armored, silver boots with a sharp "hook" on the outer side of each.

By touching the piece of armor hanging on her arm, Aqua will become full clad in her Keyblade Armor.

Her helmet bears two prongs on either side, with her silver ones wrapping around the sides and angling diagonally downwards. Her cape is that of a dusty-rose color.

Personality:

Aqua has an intense devotion to her friends, ranging from making good luck charms for them to sacrificing herself. She holds a strong sense of justice and desire to do what is right. Her judgments between what is right and wrong are never misplaced, she is a mix of serious, kind, strong willed, intelligent, and responsible, as she is generally known to be the reliable one of any group. She is someone who worries over her friends, but is also easily embarrassed. She tends to hide the latter well, but generally modest on all fronts.

She is always worrying about Terra and Ventus, who are two of her closest friends. She has been shown to be blushing and embarrassed, going so far as to shaking her head and arms in an attempt to compose herself. She seems rather modest at most times, although can be very blunt when she finds herself reacting to things.

Story:

Aqua is one of Eraqus's pupils, who trained towards her dream of becoming a Keyblade master.

One day, a man named Master Xehanort arrived and gave Eraqus a new pupil, Ventus. Terra and Aqua started to question him but this ends up troubling him and he passes out. Eraqus explained that it was because Ventus has lost his memories, so Aqua takes on to caring for him. While countless days pass, one day Ventus woke up in front of Aqua. The next day, Aqua takes the Mark of Mastery exam with Terra and became a Keyblade Master, with Terra failing due to not being able to keep control of his Darkness. After Terra and Ventus leave the Land of Departure, Aqua left last due to a conversation with Master Eraqus telling her to bring Ventus back, he also asked her to keep a close eye on Terra and bring him back immediately due to his Darkness.

Aqua, Ven, and Terra came across many Disney characters along the way and fight of hordes of Unversed. Aqua later ended up at Radiant Garden with Mickey Mouse and met Kairi, who touched Aqua's Keyblade in fright, unintentionally performing a Keyblade Inheritance Ceremony. They protected her from the Unversed and in return, Kairi gave Aqua flowers which turn into the Destiny's Embrace Keyblade. Aqua placed a protective charm on Kairi to aid her in the future, believing the meeting was not a coincidence.

Aqua later encountered an unconscious Mickey drifting in space and took him to the Mysterious Tower, where she heard of Eraqus's death from Yen Sid and heads to the Keyblade Graveyard to meet up with Terra and Ven. They were confronted by Master Xehanort and his apprentice, Vanitas and a great battle ensued. Eventually, she was knocked out by Vanitas and was later woken up Mickey in time to find Ventus above on the cliff, but under Vanitas's influence and he wielding the χ-blade.

In a desperate maneuver, Aqua destroyed the χ-blade and lost consciousness. Ending up at Yen Sid's Tower with Ventus, she discovered he had lost his heart in the battle. Taking Ven back to the Land of Departure, Aqua placed his unconscious body in a throne and with Eraqus's Keyblade, transforms the world into Castle Oblivion to keep him safe before tracking down a possessed Terra in Radiant Garden.

Unable to bring Terra back to his senses, Aqua defeated Xehanort who subsequently stabbed himself in the chest with his own Keyblade in an attempt to lock Terra out. As Terra-Xehanort fell through a portal into the Realm of Darkness, Aqua dove in after him, realizing that she would be unable to save them both.

Instead, Aqua sacrificed her armor and Keyblade to save Terranort, and sent him back into the Realm of Light while she remains behind. This action, however, unintentionally doomed the worlds to twelve years of suffering and destruction by the Heartless at the hands of Ansem, Xemnas, and Maleficent.

Stuck in the Realm of Darkness, Aqua continues on traversing the realm to find a way out. She ended up at the Dark Meridian, where she meets Ansem the Wise, who was cast into the Realm when his machine exploded. He reveals that in the Realm of Light, it has been almost twelve years, and he explains the events that have occurred in Aqua's absence, including the actions of Sora.

Ansem the Wise asked Aqua what she will be doing next and she responded that she would stay and wait for someone to come find her. However, their conversation was interrupted by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, arriving to get information out of Ansem the Wise. Aqua stood up against Xehanort's Heartless despite no longer possessing her Keyblade, and was subdued by a blast of darkness and thrown into the Dark Margin's waters. As Aqua fell, she became corrupted by the darkness, turning into Anti-Aqua.

As Anti-Aqua, she believed that she had been forgotten about by Mickey and decided to take her grief and despair out on him when he arrived for her. Upon her defeat, the darkness that had corrupted Aqua escaped her, restoring her to herself, but she fell into a pool of darkness and began to sink into the Dark Margin's waters. A light appeared from the surface along with a cry from Sora, saving her and took her back to the Destiny Islands in the realm of light.

Aqua showed the way back to Castle Oblivion, where she turned it back into The Land of Departure so that they can find Ventus. Upon finding him, Aqua attempted to awaken Ventus, but was unable to. Vanitas appeared and knocked out Aqua before he aimed a fatal blow. In the nick of time, Sora awoke Ventus' heart to save his friend at the last moment, and Vanitas left, giving them a chance to regroup at Yen Sid’s study to prepare for the final battle.

In the aftermath, Aqua reunited with Sora, Riku and Mickey just as Master Xehanort has forged the Χ-blade and opened Kingdom Hearts. With the help of everyone else, she sealed Xehanort in another world along with Sora so that he can defeat him. Aqua stayed behind with everyone else to ensure everything is right until the end of the fight, where she follows him. Master Eraqus appeared from Terra's heart to confront Xehanort, but he apologizes to her for the burden he placed upon her. Accepting, Aqua assisted Sora in sealing Kingdom Hearts.

In the year after Sora’s disappearance, she, Terra, and Ventus took off to search the worlds for any sign of him to bring him back. Searching world after world and eliminating any heartless she finds, Aqua has a purpose to stay with her friends and keep them safe, taking a leadership role among her small group.

Abilities Spells: • Fire • Ice • Thunder • Reflect • Augmented Jumping • Reprisal • Magnet

Command Styles: • SpellWeaver: Utilizes the power of light to hover her Keyblade in midair, swiftly attacking enemies while enhancing her magic capabilities as well. • GhostDrive: Allows her to attack enemies at high speeds while using after-image illusions and tricky movements to her advantage.

Shotlocks • Prism Rain: Light in seven colors bursts from the Keyblade and chases after enemies. • Bubble Blaster: A giant bubble surrounds Aqua and releases smaller bubbles that chase after enemies. • Lightbloom: Aqua's strongest Shotlock. She twirls on the spot while shooting many orbs of white light. As it progresses, her spinning becomes more and more elaborate until she is spinning with one of her legs behind her head.

Keyblades: • Rainfell • Stormfall • Master Keeper • Brightcrest

Verses: None

[marvelslegacies]

Noah | How To Kill A Monster | Past Paragraph

Author’s Note: The following is a simulation and did not happen in Noah’s real life.

According to science, or rather… science fiction, if a man were shot into outer space without the proper equipment to ensure his survival, the first thing that would happen is his eyes would be expelled from his eye sockets. The vacuum that results from the utter lack of oxygen in space would cause him to experience suffocation, asphyxiation, and pressure over his entire body that can only be compared to being instantly crushed by a baling press, the machine that crushes totaled vehicles into cubes.

However, as Noah floated through the emptiness of outer space, none of the aforementioned happened. The sea of stars made him dizzy as he was pulled by an invisible, intangible force like an ocean current. Every hair on his body stuck straight out, standing at attention… waiting hopelessly for the emptiness to be replaced by something. But there is absolutely nothing in space, the planets, the stars, the asteroids, none of those really exist. They are just more nothingness adding to the impossible paradox of nothingness filling the entire universe. And Noah was trapped, crushed into his tiny mortal body like a cube in a baling press.

The world around him rippled and began to spin, he was trapped in a twister of black vacancy and it pushed him around as if he were sitting in the center of Satan’s merry-go-round. “Mon fils,” his father’s voice boomed and rang in Noah’s ears. “Mon fils, se réveiller.” Eyes open, Noah found himself standing in a great hall with white, almost reflective floor and ceiling. Philipe Dupont stood before him, a few feet shorter than him seeing that Noah stood on a raised stage. Noah wiped his head around, taking in his surroundings… behind him was a large and elegant wooden throne, with plush velvet cushions, his favorite shade of blue. The woodwork was a deep ebony gilded in detail with liquid gold.

“C'est magnifique.” Philipe commented, noting the way Noah admired it in awed silence. “Dad, what’s going on?” He asked cautiously, immobile, staring down at the incredibly lavish seat. “It is your future. You have won.” Won what? Noah wondered, his thoughts were interrupted by his father’s thick Cajun accent, “The world iz at your feet. You are more famous t’en Hitler himzelf.” Noah’s eyes grew wide, his mouth fell agape, as he spun on the spot to gawk at his father. “Hitler– you mean Adolf Hitler? The fucking monster who chose genocide?” The words came out stumbling over each other and mixing syllables so he nearly sounded illiterate.

“Qui, mon fils. Today iz t’e day.” Noah didn’t understand what that meant, his father’s words were so shocking and confusing and… how could he be… A cold presence overtook Noah’s being, goosebumps erupted on his stomach, his arms, the back of his neck, the small of his back. His whole body went rigid, his muscles clenched so tight they ached and threatened to spasm wildly at any moment… but he remained impossibly immobile. “Have I… killed people?”

Philipe chuckled at this and turned his back casually on Noah, strolling away as if Noah actually had the capacity to follow him. “Qui, qui, mon fils. So many have perished under your glorious reign, the only ones left who oppose you… ironically, iz t’e X-Men.”

The word X-Men reanimated Noah’s body and he found himself placing one robotic foot in front of the other. “But,” Noah’s voice sounded dry and starved, a choke more than a word… he cleared his throat roughly, “But I was going to join the X-Men!” The sensation of warm wetness on the bottom lids of his eyes shocked Noah, startling him back a step. He wiped frantically at his face and quickened his step to follow his father out of the room. The medal heels of his custom made boots clinked against the dazzling floor, a quiet sea frozen over in luxury and polish. “I wanted to join the X-Men and fight evil like you, dad!”

Philipe turned on his heel and glared into Noah, his red eyes piercing the foundation of his son’s maturity. “You. Will never be. Like moi.” The words were acid sprayed in Noah’s face, stinging his skin into burnt nothingness, “But dad-” “Today is a big day, mon fils. The X-Men have come to kill you and you are waiting to kill them.” Philipe was walking away once more, turning down the hallway and vanishing around the corner, leaving Noah in the hollow emptiness of his empire.

Splitting his ears, the crash of the magnificent stained glass above Noah’s throne was shattering over the elegant, gilded wood. Noah spun around, flames erupting from his palms towering into the air, black smoke covering thickly across the high ceilings. They were here: The X-Men. Noah was braced for battle, winds like monsoons turned the room into a natural hurricane simulation as he charged forward at the group of unidentifiable X-Men.

“You’re going to pay for her death!” A gruff voice exclaimed powerfully, pointing an accusing finger at him. “My death will never be seen by you!” Noah bellowed,  the ground split in an elegant crack between his feet and branched through the tile like those of a magnificent oak through to the farthest corners of the room. “You killed her!” A shrill voice shrieked as she came barreling at him out of nowhere, knocking him to the ground, they tumbled and Noah kicked her off of him. The woman’s body slammed into the wall painfully, but she pushed off the wall and flew at him again, her face wild with revenge.

Noah lifted into the air, his arms out and his legs straight down like Jesus Christ on the cross. Turning to face the remaining X-Men, he rained down fire on them, causing the group to scatter avoiding the balls of flames falling on them like dodge balls. “ENOUGH!” Noah roared and everything ceased, his power disappearing instantly. He floated in the air above them as they regrouped and stood ready to fight, ready to slay him. “I’ve had enough of the X-Men.”

They froze, immobile, crying out in pain, one loud shriek of utter torment. He flattened their bodies to the floor and glided over to them. They lay frozen and trapped beneath his ability to control the blood in their very bodies, “Did you forget my favorite party trick?” He asked in a sinister voice, laughing maliciously, “Or did your leader seriously miscalculate?” He laughed and laughed, enjoying the pain he knew was unimaginable to him.

“You’re a monster.” Noah stopped cold, he peaked over his shoulder slowly, and found his father standing in the broken doorway amidst the rubble of his empire. “Caddie, mon fils, the man of pure evil, the man who destroyed the X-Men.” Noah’s feet touched the ground now, he turned and walked to his father, determination in his face. He was about to speak when Philipe clenched the young mutant’s throat in his hand. Kinetic energy surged through Noah, disrupting his very being, tearing at the molecules that made up his biological existence. “Vous allez payer pour vos péchés. Un atome à la fois.”

Noah’s heart sank and he broke out in a sweat, his head spinning as a starry night came into his blurring, fading vision. This was more than fear, more than death… this was punishment. He’d known it all along: he was an evil being, no good came from Noah’s powers, or his intentions, or his future. Only destruction and senseless pain lay in the wake of the man who controlled the elements. And he who controlled elements showed no concern for the torment and desolation he brought. His one true fear was his defeat, the retribution his enemies would receive from his death. He was lost in the infinite cosmic universe of having to answer for his sins. The war he raged was ending all around him, and he had lost.

[chickenfics]

Team ‘Weekend Trip to Asgard’

Relationship: Loki x Fem!reader (SFW)

Summary: When Bruce invited you to a quick weekend getaway, you'd hardly expected your destination to be Asgard. Just like you'd hardly expected to be accompanied by two gods -- one of whom you're convinced hates your guts. But who would have thought that the God of Mischief has a thing for flowers, a talent for reciting Shakespeare, and knowledge of all the best places for stargazing? Certainly not you.

But in a weekend filled with sunny fields and boisterous feasts, with accidental skinny dipping and drunken magic tricks, you would begin to realize all the different ways Loki could surprise you. 

Word count: 6k

A/N: This fic takes place after the events of Thor: Ragnarök but imagine that Asgard didn't get destroyed and Valkyrie took over there instead of on Earth. Yeah... just don't think about the timeline too hard lol. 

Y/N is used very sparingly (I think really only a handful of times). The reader has a backstory but no physical descriptions (besides being smaller/shorter than Loki) 

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in future chapters! I plan to release them weekly.

Also on Ao3

Next chapter Masterlist

Chapter 1

There could never just be a normal weekend at the compound. Because of course there couldn’t -- not when the place was filled with assassins, super-soldiers, extraterrestrial beings, and rich wise-asses with all the technology their little hearts desired.

Someone was always blowing something up or beating the shit out of someone else -- like that time Bucky had gotten a little too cocky during training and Natasha had roundhouse kicked him into next week -- or, in your case, taking a quick weekend trip to another planet. Or was it another dimension? You still weren’t entirely sure how it all worked. Hell, you had barely been out of the country, let alone outer space.

It had all started with Bruce, bless his big green heart. Though, you really couldn’t complain, on account of him and Tony kind of saving your life.

You’d been a pretty reckless teenager, a dangerous mix between impressively smart and astronomically stupid. You hadn’t had much growing up -- you’d barely had a home -- but what you lacked in physical commodities you made up for in ambition. Unfortunately for you, your ambitions had led you to make some… less than legal choices. What, were you supposed to buy the parts for your latest invention? On a retail worker's salary? Yeah fucking right.

It was all well and dandy for a while. You were good enough to not get caught, and you’d managed to engineer a lot of different things -- inventions you were proud of. But your luck had to run out sometime. At least, that’s what you’d thought as you were being shoved into a police cruiser. Great. You’d just managed to royally screw over your entire life with one little slip-up.

At least. That’s what you’d thought.

Because it turned out that some of your little trinkets were so advanced that a technician who worked in evidence, and a coincidental friend of Tony Stark, reached out to the billionaire. By some gigantic stroke of luck, he’d been impressed by your work. Banner had too, and had told you as much when he’d showed up to bail you out of jail.

Standing there in the precinct, he’d offered you a cup of coffee and asked if you wanted to come work for him. You hadn’t even known who he was until he explained that “wanna come work for me?” actually meant “hey, how would you like to work for the Avengers?”

Your first instinct had been a whopping “absolutely fucking not.” You had no desire to get roped into all that science-fi superhero government shit. And anyway, you didn’t know these people -- the probability of them being decent human beings was just as likely as them turning out to be giant assholes. But the more you thought about it, the more you realized that maybe this was it: your one big chance to get the hell out. It was certainly the best opportunity to do something with your life.

Bruce, picking up on your conflicted feelings, had reassured you that there were no strings attached. You could come by the compound, see the lab, meet some of the team, and then decide for yourself what you wanted to do. And hey, if you decided after a couple of weeks that it just wasn’t for you, no hard feelings.

You’d turned it over in your head, nursing the coffee you wouldn't drink and weighing the options, trekking down the two possible paths that your life could take. And then you’d given him a hesitant nod.

You’d seen a lot, living with the Avengers.

The rest was history, and you hadn't had a normal weekend since. Not that you were complaining. It had been nearly five years, and you still would have preferred Thor and Vision seeing who could throw Mjolnir the furthest over working a nine-to-five.

Still, when Bruce strolled into the lab one day and asked if you wanted to go to Asgard for the weekend, you weren’t exactly sure how to respond to that. Yes? Of course you wanted to go to Asgard? But also… what? That wasn't exactly the same as asking someone if they wanted to run down the street to Seven-Eleven for a burrito during their lunch break.

You’d told him all this, in that exact order, and his grin had increased with every sentence until you stopped, realizing he was now laughing at you.

“Banner,” you insisted. “I’m being serious.”

“No, I know -- I know you are, that’s why I’m laughing.”

You scowled at him, feigning annoyance.

“You’re adorable, you do know that, right?” he said, smirking crookedly before explaining that Thor had some business to take care of back home and Stark had insisted that Bruce go along with him “for moral support,” or something like that.

Apparently, Bruce had been to Asgard before.

“Wait, what? When have you been to Asgard?” you’d asked him, more than a little shocked. Again, it wasn’t like visiting the town over -- it was a whole other universe.

“It’s a long story,” he'd replied with a grimace. Oh, now you really wanted to know.

But just when you were about to ask, Bruce had looked down at his watch at an incoming message from Tony. He was being summoned to a team ‘Weekend Trip to Asgard’ meeting. You were invited to join the party after Bruce had somewhat sheepishly admitted he hadn’t run your tagging along by Tony yet. You rolled your eyes, trying to keep a smirk off your face. For a man with like a dozen PhDs, Bruce could be such an idiot sometimes. It was one of the things you loved about him.

Thor was already in Tony’s office when the two of you arrived.

“Uh, what’s Hopscotch doing here?” he pointed a finger at you. You rolled your eyes at the old nickname -- a result of you being so much younger than them, despite the fact that you were quite literally a full-grown adult. You’d told Tony this once, but he had insisted that you were "still practically a toddler” as far as he was concerned.

“I invited her,” Bruce said, stepping around before gesturing for you to take a seat.

You lowered yourself into the chair next to Thor, who smiled in greeting. You’d always liked Thor -- he was like a big puppy dog, and he always seemed to go out of his way to be kind to you. Or maybe he was just a naturally kind person in general. Either way, it hadn’t taken you long to warm up to him, despite the two of you not spending much time together.

“And why would you do that?” Tony was asking Bruce, who sat down in the chair next to you. He shrugged.

“I thought she could tag along.”

“Absolutely not.”

“C’mon Tony,” Bruce drawled. “We’ve been cooped up in the lab for years. This kid,” he pointed to you, "hasn’t seen the light of day since she was like twelve.”

“That is… not true,” you interjected, blinking indignantly. The Avengers hadn’t even known you when you were twelve. Then again, it had been some time since you’d been outside the compound for more than a few hours.

“Can’t you just let us have some fun for once?” Burce was asking.

You wanted to laugh at how dorky this whole argument was, but managed to repress the urge, as you figured it wouldn’t help your “still practically a toddler” case. Tony rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.

“Banner, a trip to Asgard is not a beach vacation. It’s dangerous.”

“Uh, actually,” Thor spoke up, raising a hand. “That���s not entirely true. Asgard is perfectly safe. Usually.”

“For an Asgardian. Not Little Miss Sunshine over here.”

You couldn’t tell if he was being patronizing, considering you had a resting bitch face that could give Sargent Barnes a run for his money, or if he was actually concerned for your safety. You were pretty sure it was both.  

“She’ll be fine,” Bruce insisted. “She’s perfectly capable of spending a few days in a city of very civilized, hospitable people,” He looked to Thor for support, and the god smiled and nodded.

"And anyway, I’ll make sure she doesn’t get into too much trouble,” Bruce shot you a wink that had you rolling your eyes despite your obvious smirk.

Tony, however, was definitely rolling his eyes out of annoyance. After staring at the ceiling for a moment, his somewhat intense gaze fell on you.

“Whaddya think, kid? You feel up to it?”

It was a genuine question, and you felt your heart grow a little warmer with fondness for the two scientists who had practically adopted you.

“If you’re okay with it, then yeah, I’d be up to going. I think it could be fun,” you added, with a shy glance at Thor, whose smile beamed back at you. He was more ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ than you were.

Tony heaved a dramatic sigh -- which meant that you had won. Despite his flashy exterior, the inventor was a big softie with a heart of gold. And a soft spot for kids, which tended to work out to your advantage.  

“Alright,” he muttered. “But you’d better have fun.”

“That’s my girl. Alright, what’s next? Thor?”

You raised your hands in surrender and gave him a mock salute. “Yes sir.”

The God of Thunder cleared his throat, fidgeting slightly in his seat -- which looked ridiculous, coming from such a large, imposing figure.

“Ah, yes, well… I also have someone that I would like to bring along.”

“Uh… well, you see… I think Loki should come.”

All three of you stared at him, waiting for him to continue, but he didn’t. Not until Tony gave a little shake of his head and said, “You're killing us here, big guy.”

Tony stayed frozen for a breath, then straightened back up, and the look on his face had you imagining the inventor launching his shoe at Thor’s head. Even Bruce was looking at the god like he had just asked them to blow up the compound or something.

“Absolutely not. And I mean it this time," Tony gestured at you as if to insist that the God of Mischief would not be getting as easy of a pass.

“Stark--”

“Don’t ‘Stark’ me. Have you lost your mind?”

“Look, I just -- I think it would be good for him to see home again.”

“Really. You wanna take Evil Jazz Hands back to his spawn point? Does that sound like a good idea to you? ‘Cause it doesn’t sound like a good idea to me,” he looked over at Bruce.

“Yeah, no, I’m with Tony on this one,” he said, glancing nervously between the two men. “Definitely not a good idea.”

“Come on, guys,” Thor insisted, forcing a smile that made you think perhaps he wasn’t as confident as he was playing himself up to be. “I’ll look after him, make sure he doesn’t do anything…” he sought for the word, “irreversible. Besides, if he stays here, you’ll have to look after him while I’m gone.”

Tony took a deep breath, once again glancing up at the ceiling. You followed his gaze, wondering what he was finding up there. Definitely not patience.

“Fine,” he groaned, rolling his head. “But if he brings an end to the Cosmos, or whatever sort of shit happens in space, that’s on you, Point Break.”

“Roger that,” Thor said, mimicking the salute you had given Tony earlier. You stifled a laugh into your shoulder, and he shot you a giddy grin.

“I feel like I’m sending all the toddlers to space,” Tony muttered wearily.

“Hey,” Bruce spoke up. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll be there.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Ouch,” he winced. “That really hurts, Tony.”

“Yeah, well, it’s true. Alright,” he clapped his hands. “I’ll have F.R.I.D.A.Y get everything ready for you. Now get out of my sight.”

The three of you stood up. Thor gave a little bow and made for the door while Bruce patted Tony on the shoulder. The other man reciprocated, letting his hand linger a moment longer.

“I expect you to stay in touch, Banner.” It was almost a warning, but one that clearly stemmed from concern for their wellbeing.

“You know I will,” Bruce reassured, giving him a smile. Tony nodded curtly before flashing one of his own slightly empty smiles, and let his hand fall back to his side. As soon as Bruce stepped out of the way, Tony was holding his arm out. You leaned into his side, hooking your own arm around his back as he squeezed your shoulders.

“Alright, kid?”

“Alright,” you confirmed. “Thanks, old man.”

“Sure thing. Just,” he removed his arm, gently pushing you back so he could look at you. “Be careful, okay. Be smart. Can’t have my best aspiring young scientist getting lost in Asgard.”

“Pretty sure I’m your only aspiring young scientist,” you said, earning you a flick on the arm.

“Hey, don’t be a wise-ass. That’s my job.”

You laughed, grinning up at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll be very safe and at least a little smart.”

“Alright, alright,” he nodded, giving you another quick side hug. “Go on, get out of here.”

You smirked as he ushered you to the door, letting go of your shoulder.

“Oh, and Y/N,” he called before you’d had a chance to make it very far. You spun on your heels.

“Yeah?”

“Have fun,” he meaningfully offered, shooting you a wink.

“What exactly does one pack for an intergalactic weekend trip?”

He had just enough time to see another smile bloom across your face before he swung the door shut.

_________________________________________

Bruce looked up from the desk in front of him, colorful holograms scattered across the clear surface.

“Huh?”

“I mean, you’ve been to Asgard before. What kind of stuff do I need to take?”

“Um,” Bruce sighed, leaning back as he swiped the holograms away. “Well, you know, clothes for a couple of days -- it gets kind of cold at night, so maybe take a sweatshirt or something. Toiletries… uh, you know… a book, if you want…” he shrugged, blushing modestly.

“Very helpful, thank you,” you deadpanned.

Technically Bruce was your boss, but your relationship had never felt like one between an employee and their employer. The two of you had become good friends more than anything, and Bruce had never, not once, pulled his rank on you. You figured he probably hadn’t even considered it a possibility. He was a sweet guy, despite what the general public thought of him thanks to his big green friend -- who you had yet to meet.

“You’re welcome,” the scientist deadpanned right back, and a second later you were both grinning.

“I’m excited,” you whispered, smirking at him.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Also kinda nervous. Okay, very nervous.”

“You’ll be fine,” he reassured you with a smile before turning back to the table. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

You were inclined to believe him. Still, you had never been off-planet. Even thinking in terms of “off-planet” made your head spin a little. Before you’d met the Avengers, you hadn’t even been on a plane. You could remember the first time you’d flown in one of Tony’s private jets -- the bubbling excitement mixed with a roil of anxiety. You wondered if your trip to Asgard was going to be a similar experience.

“Hey Bruce?”

“Hm?” he hummed, already distracted by his work, but trying his very hardest to focus some of his attention on you.

“How do we get to Asgard? Like, do we take a spaceship, or…”

Bruce dragged his eyes away from his work long enough to give you a look of amusement.

“You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you,” he said with a tilt of his eyebrow.

Whatever you’d been expecting when Bruce had told you to “wait and see,” this wasn’t it. You’d expected some massive rocket hidden in one of the various bunkers beneath the compound, or maybe a portal of some sort, like the ones Doctor Strange could conjure. Or so you’d heard, you’d never actually met the wizard -- sorry, sorcerer. You’d been spending too much time with Sam.

Whatever you’d been expecting, it definitely wasn’t this.

The next morning, Bruce had knocked softly on the door to your room, and you had greeted him, bleary and half-conscious but awake. It was alarmingly early. You weren’t exactly sure why you had to leave at the ass-crack of dawn, but a hunch told you it probably had something to do with Tony planning the whole thing. The man liked to wake up before literally every other human being on the planet, because “that’s when work gets done.” You were pretty sure he just didn’t sleep.

With whispered good mornings, you slung your bag over your shoulder and, sparing one last glance at your room, followed Bruce through the hallway. The compound was dark, with most of the residents still sleeping, or, for the more ambitious ones, pent up in the training room. It was silly, but you almost felt like you were sneaking out. The only time you’d ever woken up this early as a kid was when you definitely were sneaking out -- and look where that had landed you: about to leave the Avengers’ compound for a casual trip to Asgard. Wild times.

Bruce led you outside, and when the door to the compound slid shut and locked behind you, the sudden realization that you were really doing this hit you square in the face. This wasn’t a dream. You were actually going to Asgard.

That jittery feeling only grew, along with your confusion as the scientist led you across one of the fields that surrounded the building. The morning air was crisp and cold, and a dense mist hung in the air, the perspiration clinging to your sweatshirt. You took a deep breath, filling your lungs, and let it out in a sigh. Bruce looked over his shoulder to smile at you.

“Feels nice to be out in the wild, doesn’t it?” he said, his baritone voice sounding out of place in the quiet of the morning. You hummed, smiling at the way the early morning dew was making the ends of your pant legs wet.

After a minute or so of walking, you caught a glimpse of two forms standing off in the distance -- looking rather ominous thanks to the fog, despite the fact that you knew who they were and had nothing to fear. Well, that applied to only one of them, actually.

You had only met Loki a handful of times, and you were still pretty wary of him. He was the God of Mischief, after all -- a name which he lived up to in more ways than one. He was… intimidating, and not in the way Thor had initially been intimidating, all muscles and boisterous energy. No, Loki made you feel wary in a way you’d never experienced before. You got the idea that the god didn’t like you very much.

Then again, it seemed that he didn’t like anybody. The first time you’d met, he’d looked down at you from his towering height and you’d gotten the sense that he was annoyed by your very existence. His eyes were piercing -- unsettlingly so -- and you’d found yourself shrinking away from his dignified gaze, suddenly very aware of your status as a measly human.

Still, he hadn’t said much to you -- or anything at all, if you remember correctly -- so he’d never really given you a reason to fear him, though there was a part of you that did, considering his reputation. Regardless, you supposed that he’d shown you a kindness by blatantly ignoring you. You felt a flutter of nerves as you realized that it was probably about to get a lot harder for the two of you to continue keeping your distance.

A few paces ahead of you, the two brothers stood side by side, tendrils of fog swirling around their legs. Thor was wearing his usual getup, red cape and all, and Loki had on a tunic covered by a stiff-looking piece that vaguely resembled a vest before trailing down into a cloak that hung around his legs. Asgardian clothes, you assumed. You looked down at your own clothes and realized you were going to be sticking out like a sore thumb. You felt your cheeks already heating up from embarrassment, which you just managed to choke down as you reached the Asgardians.

“Ah,” Thor grinned, spinning around to greet you. “My little green friend and his littler, not-so-green friend.”

“Yeah, keep calling us that and your ‘little green friend’ might not stay so little,” Bruce muttered. Thor just laughed it off and clapped a hand on your shoulder.

“Well little friend, are you ready for your first trip through the transporter?”

“Um,” you blinked up at the god. “What’s a transporter?”

Loki gave a muted huff, and your eyes wandered over to him before flickering quickly away. Thor just smiled kindly at you.

“You’re about to find out,” he sang, sounding much more excited than you felt. Your stomach twisted.

Thor turned away, and Bruce’s hand replaced his on your shoulder, giving you an encouraging pat before stooping down to grab his luggage.

“Alright, everyone. Hold onto anything you don’t want getting left behind,” Thor said, glancing up at the sky.

Your eyes widened, and you shot out a hand to grab Bruce’s arm.

“N-Not me, just our stuff,” he chuckled.

Oh. You let go of him with a sheepish smile, managing to remain calm despite the fact that you could feel your heart hammering against your ribs. By now you had realized that, however you were getting to Asgard, it wasn’t going to be on a spaceship.

“Heimdall,” Thor’s voice boomed out into the misty morning.

What on Earth was a Heimdall? Some sort of magic spell?

You heard a subtle crackling in the air, like all the energy was being pulled in one direction. Then all of the sudden, with a loud crash that had your bones rattling, a beam of multi-colored light began plummeting towards the four of you.

You gasped, grabbing onto the nearest body just as the light crashed onto the earth, engulfing you in a blinding flash.

It felt like the very fabric of your cells were being ripped apart. It didn’t hurt -- you could barely feel anything, save for someone’s clothes, which you had balled tightly in your fists. A fierce wind whipped around you, and you could see the flashes of color and light even from behind your tightly closed eyes. You felt as your body was seemingly launched through the air, and then it was over as quick as it had started.

The first thing you registered was the solid ground once again beneath your feet. The second thing was your still-firm hold on someone, which was the only thing that held you up until your legs stopped shaking. Managing to straighten into an upright position, you leaned against the person you’d grabbed hold of and took a few deep breaths. You felt as if you’d dissolved and were now coming back together, and it was making your stomach turn.

Inhaling a deep breath through your nose that smelled faintly of pine and cotton, you peeled your eyes open. It took you a second to realize that you were staring into someone’s back, your fingers still squeezing the dark green fabric of their cloak.

Wait a minute. Shit.

You jerked your head up, quickly releasing your hold on Loki. He turned sideways to look down at you, his face an emotionless mask, but his hand was gently gripping your elbow in something akin to support. When he saw you look up at him in mounting horror, he let go.

“S-Sory,” you managed, hastily crossing your arms. “Sorry,” You said it again, mortified. How had that even happened? You swore Bruce had been standing closer to you than… Fuck.

Loki stared down at you, eyes narrowing slightly, and your anxiety was traded for confusion as you realized that he didn’t exactly look angry like you’d expected. Uncomfortable, yes, but not upset. He gave a quick smile -- it was more of a grimace, really -- and nodded once, holding his hand out in gesture. You shot a wide-eyed look towards his feet before stepping past him.

You were in some sort of giant dome. The walls were gilded, and you thought you could see some giant cog-like mechanisms through the dim light. The floor shimmered beneath your feet, and the air felt richer, almost heavy, as if you were wading through it. A few feet away, Thor was helping Bruce find his legs, giving him encouraging pats on the back.

“I’ll never… get used… to that,” the scientist panted.

“No, I suppose no mortal ever does,” Thor nonchalantly replied. Then, noticing you, his smile widened.

“Well,” he gestured. “How was it?”

“Uh,” you hummed, not exactly sure what to say. You still hadn’t gotten over the embarrassment of practically crawling onto Loki’s back out of fright. Your mind would definitely never let you live that one down.

“It was… fine -- yeah, it was fine,” you managed, slowly turning to peek at Loki, who had come to stand next to you. You couldn’t be sure, considering you sill hadn’t worked up the courage to look him in the eyes, but you thought you saw him smirk.

If he had, it was gone as quickly as it had been there.

“Thor,” a baritone voice echoed through the dome. You jumped -- barely catching yourself before you bumped right back into Loki. He definitely smirked this time. You crossed your arms over your chest and tried to relax.

“Shall we get moving, brother?” he impatiently muttered. “I’d prefer to be on our way before--”

Which proved to be hard, when you got a glimpse of the man walking towards you. He was huge. Though not any bigger than Thor or Loki, his armor made him look massive -- a large golden chest plate that extend up and past his shoulders, and a helmet adorned with wide horns outlining his face. You got one look at the giant blade he was carrying and tensed. Instinct told you to retreat as he stepped down from the platform in the middle of the room and headed towards you, but Loki was still directly at your back, and you’d rather get decapitated by a terrifying man in armor than make even more of a fool of yourself, so you stayed put.

“Heimdall,” Thor smiled, reaching out to place a hand on the stranger’s shoulder. “It is good to see you.”

“And you,” Heimdall cordially replied. “I sensed you had guests,” he gave Bruce a nod, and then glanced over at you.

You were surprised by how gentle his face was, compared to the armor that covered the rest of him. His vibrant golden eyes were filled with kindness, and he gave you an amiable smile.

“Welcome to Asgard,” he nodded. Feeling your fear drain away, you returned his smile.

“Heimdall,” Loki tersely greeted.

“Loki,” the man replied, a new hitch to his voice, though it wasn’t exactly unkind -- which gave his next words some extra meaning.

“Welcome home.”

You felt Loki tense up behind you, and the god fell silent.

“I have your steeds prepared,” Heimdall told the group, gesturing to an opening in the dome. Then, leaning closer to Thor, he said, “She’s been informed of your arrival, and is expecting you at the palace.”

“Thank you, Heimdall,” Thor replied, giving him another pat on the shoulder before turning to the rest of you. “Follow me,” he announced, his smirk betraying his excitement.

You, on the other hand, had felt your fear return at the mention of “steeds.” You could only guess what that meant, and sure enough, just outside the dome, there were four of the biggest horses you had ever seen in your life, lined up and waiting more patiently than you thought a horse could. Then again, you were fairly certain these weren’t regular horses. At least, not the kind you were used to -- or rather, not used to.

But your worries about the inevitable ride ahead were swiftly forgotten when you caught sight of the view. A galaxy swam above your head and stretched around you, wide and expansive, making you feel undeniably small in the best way. Beneath your feet was a semi-translucent bridge, peppered with glowing flecks of every color you’d ever known and then some. It seemed to pulse with life, beams darting through the clear surface. You spun, stepping in a wide circle as you looked down at the bridge with giddy awe.

“Holy shit,” you whispered, grinning to yourself as your eyes followed the streaks of light.

Then out of nowhere, someone was grabbing your arm and yanking you backward. You let out a little squeak as your head snapped up. Once again, you found yourself staring into the sea-green fabric of Loki’s clothes -- only this time, it was the tunic across his chest. You really had to stop ending up like this.

He let go of your arm the second you’d both retreated a few steps, and you craned your head around to see that you had gotten near the edge of the bridge, which seemed to drop off into… space? Your blood turned icy as you realized what had been about to happen.

“Careful, little mouse,” came Loki’s slightly taunting voice. “I’m fairly certain that Stark would like you back.”

There was a dry bite to his tone, but somehow he managed to not sound entirely heartless. You glanced up into his piercing eyes, and he stared back at you unwaveringly. For once, you were able to return the favor.

“Thanks,” you said, voice coming out stronger than you felt.

Again, the God of Mischief narrowed his eyes, then gave a curt nod before heading over to his steed. You watched as he pulled himself onto the giant horse with as much grace as if he was weightless. Sitting atop the animal, cloak furling across its haunches, he looked every bit the king you imagined he could make. Daunting, impressive, a bit terrifying.

As you made your way over to the other horses, you were certain you could feel his eyes following you. Sure enough, when you glanced over your shoulder, Loki was suddenly looking in the other direction. You tilted your head before turning back around.

Thor had just finished helping Bruce up onto one of the horses. Your mentor looked comically small on top of the giant animal, his complexion a little ashen. Noticing you watching, he tried to pass you a smile.

“You’ll be fine, just, uh… hold on."

“Oh, good, yeah -- that makes me feel a whole lot better, thank you.” Despite your sarcasm and your nerves, you managed to crack a smile. You’d always wanted to ride a horse -- now was apparently your chance.

“Alright Y/N,” Thor said, clapping his hands together as he came over to you. “Would you like me to give you a leg up, or lift you on?”

You glanced over at the horse you’d apparently be riding, a heavily muscled creature with an ink black coat, and bit the inside of your cheek.

“A leg up, please," you decided.

Thor stooped down, intertwining his fingers and holding his hands out for you. Placing your foot gingerly on his palms, you began to apply some pressure. You knew it was ridiculous, all things considered, but you were afraid of hurting him.

“Come on, up you go,” Thor encouraged, grabbing your foot and squeezing it as if to say ‘you literally couldn’t hurt me if you tried.’

You nodded and then dropped all your weight into your left leg, standing up on Thor’s hand. He gave you a little boost and helped throw your right leg over the horse. Dragging yourself up, you nearly fell over the saddle as you sat down and slid your feet into the stirrups.

Huffing softly, you smiled down at Thor, who shot you two thumbs up before heading over to his own horse. He mounted with a comical amount of ease compared to how you’d just gotten on, and settled into the saddle like it was the most natural thing in the world.  

“Alright. Try not to fall off, everybody,” Thor called, grabbing his horse's reins. Loki scoffed, shaking his head.

“About time,” you heard him mutter before spurring his horse forward.

On the other side of you, Thor’s horse began to move as well. Your hand shot out to grab the front of the saddle, gripping it until your knuckles turned white, while your other hand held the reins in a similar death-grip.

“Okay,” you murmured, looking down at your steed. “Please don’t kill me.”

You swore the horse actually laughed at you before, with an elegant shake of its head, it began to take off at a trot that had you nearly bouncing out of the saddle. You held on tighter, squeezing with your legs as the horses picked up speed. With a giant leap, they began galloping across the bridge, their hoove sending sparks of color up into the air.

The gallop was a much more comfortable pace, and after you got the rhythm of it, you no longer felt like you were going to be catapulted off the bridge. With the wind streaming past you and the flashes of color dazzling your eyes, you couldn’t help but grin, an ecstatic laugh erupting from your chest.

You let go of the saddle, instead choosing to wind your fingers through your horse's mane, and leaned into the gallop with more confidence than you would have expected. That’s when you finally managed to glance around you. Bruce was looking a little green -- less ‘Incredible Hulk’ and more ‘I’m about to puke’ -- and you felt a twinge of sympathy amid your excitement. The poor guy was not having a good time.

Thor was keeping a close eye on him, but broke his focus long enough to look over at you. Seeing your grin, a smile of his own appeared, and he gave you a little wave. Laughing, you released your horse's mane for long enough to wave back. Whipping your head around, still relishing in the intoxicating power of the animal beneath you, you were met with an equally impressive sight.

Loki looked staggeringly majestic, sitting tall in the saddle as he moved effortlessly with his horse’s stride, an almost bored expression on his face. Still, his features seemed less severe, and if you didn’t know better, you would have guessed he was having fun. Noticing your staring, he glanced over at you and your eyes connected. You gave him a small smile, and he cocked an eyebrow, an oh-so-subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

If you hadn’t been expecting to have so much fun, you could guess that he probably hadn’t expected it either. But you were having fun -- a lot of fun. So, when the loom of Asgard rose larger in your vision, you found yourself almost wishing the bridge was a little longer.

Thor reined his horse back first, stopping at the open gate, where two guards were waiting. Following his lead, you pulled back on your own reins, and your horse slowed to a gentle stop. Leaning over the animal, you furiously rubbed its neck, which was only slightly damp from the exertion.

“Thanks for the ride, big guy,” you whispered, grinning from ear to ear. “And also not killing me."

You heard a quick huff of laughter off to your left, and looked over to see Loki had already dismounted.

He was turned away from you, patting his horse’s neck much like you had, but he was smiling. You let out a breathless chuckle, your already flushed face feeling hotter with embarassment. Loki seemed to do that to you -- and you hadn't even been around him that long. At least he wasn’t glaring at you anymore.

The sound of a fracas to your right drew your attention away. Thor was currently in the process of trying to help Bruce off his horse. Holding him firmly by hips, the God of Thunder was attempting to drag him out of the saddle, much to Bruce's protest.

“Now-- hey, just w-- hold on a minute--"

“Let go, Banner,” Thor insisted through grit teeth, trying to sound encouraging. “I’ve got you.”

“Having fun, Little Mouse?”

You covered your mouth with a hand and tried not to burst out laughing.

Whipping around at the voice’s proximity, you found Loki standing next to your mount, a sly grin on his face. You chuckled nervously and gave a teasing shrug of your shoulders, surprised when Loki arched an eyebrow in reply. Then, growing more serious, he held out his hand, palm up.

“May I?”

It gave you pause. You hadn’t exactly thought about having to get off of the horse, which suddenly felt as tall as a mountain, much less with the help of an actual god. Well, a god that wasn’t Thor, at least.

“Oh, uh…” you nodded, trying to calm your racing heart. Now that the adrenaline had all but fled your body, you were starting to feel very unsteady -- a tremble had set into your limbs that you hoped wasn’t noticeable.

Leaning over the saddle, you stood up and took your right foot out of the stirrup. Swinging your leg behind you, you shifted so you were hanging off the side of the horse. It took you a minute to prop yourself up in order to drop the other stirrup, but the moment you did, you felt yourself falling.

“Easy now,” Loki mumbled, bending slightly over you, keeping his arm around your waist until you’d managed to regain your balance.

Your grip tightened on the saddle a moment before you felt strong hands at your waist. Right. Loki was there to help you. You didn’t know if that made you feel better or worse. Releasing the saddle, you let the Asgardian guide you swiftly to the ground. The minute your feet hit, you felt your knees buckle. You lurched forward, but the grip around your waist tightened, holding you up.

“Jeez,” you panted. “Sorry, my legs aren’t working very well at the moment.”

“I gathered,” he dryly replied. "First time on a horse?”

You turned around, wobbling only slightly, and Loki released you, though his arms continued to hover.

“Yeah,” you replied, grinning despite yourself. “It was amazing.”

“Hm,” Loki huffed, but again, you saw that almost invisible smirk, which, now that you were closer, you realized came with a characteristically mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Hey,” you heard the sound of Bruce’s voice and turned. Loki’s hands darted back to his side as if you’d burned him.

“How ya doing?” the scientist asked, concern deepening the lines on his face.

“Good. Great. That was fun."

“Uh, no,” Thor insisted, appearing out of nowhere and throwing an arm around your shoulder, tightening it until you were dragged to his side, where he used his free hand to gently ruffle a fist across the top of your head. “She’s fitting right in. A little Asgardian in the making.”

Bruce shook his head. "You’re insane.”

“Thor,” you grumbled, trying to shove him away, a frantic laugh filling your chest as he poked you in the side.

“Sorry to break up the party,” Loki cut in, raising a slender eyebrow at his brother. “But I believe we’re being expected.” He gestured to the guards, who did in fact seem to be waiting for some sort of instruction from Thor.

“Right,” the god chirped, finally releasing you and heading over to the armored Asgardians.

You straightened up with a good-natured huff, sweeping your hands down the front of your crumbled shirt and rolling your eyes at Bruce, who smirked back at you. Readjusting his bag to his other side, he, too, threw his arm around your shoulder, though in a much more gentle manner than Thor. Tugging you close, the two of you headed after the God of Thunder, with Loki trailing a few steps behind.

[yinses]

substitute

| you told yourself that you would do anything for satoru |

gojo satoru x reader

rating: 18+

a/n: i have an obsession i know. i’m working on it

it was to a soft tickling at the inside of your thighs that welcomed you into the next day. a soft sigh broke through your yawn as you shifted and twisted against the desires tugging at your veins. 

somewhere in your mind, you registered that it was much too early. 

but of course your body disagreed tenfold. 

“ngh…” an equally tired chuckle vibrates against you and you jumped at the touch of a thumb brushing against your outer lips. 

“the was a cute sound,” the voice purred. your hips lifted once more in reaction before they were assisted into submission by the firm weight of a forearm along your pelvis. 

the sounds of your slick sliding against his tongue were as equally loud as it was lewd. there was no art to the madness, just a series of flicks and heavy suction. 

your fingers clenched at the sheets, wrinkling the integrity as your chest heaved with every moan. in terms of wake up calls, the impending shrill of your alarm easily took last place. 

“you are always such a sight to wake up to. thought i’d return the favor.” 

and return it he did. 

the insertion of a finger freed up the opportunity for his voice to waft around the room again. the rhythm was as languid as his lazy drawl as he bent a joint and raked the nail against your inner walls. 

“i also might need a favor.”

the pinch of your brow came before the comprehension of his words. gojo was always a talker- a stronger contender as a firm charmer that managed to weave his way through society. as his position as ‘the chosen one’, his power spoke volumes. 

with you- he leaned on alternative methods. 

“fuck-toru… you bastard.”

you choked over the inclusion of a second finger, barely swallowing your words as you struggled to rock into them. 

“that’s not very nice of you. to think i woke up so early to treat you this morning.

your boyfriend took the opportunity to curl both fingers this time, smirking when you all but managed to successful buck him off as you keened under his ministrations. 

“it’s nothing big.” turquoise eyes, tinged with lust, met yours as he rose his head. the blanket fell off his shoulders, revealing more pale skin. “i just need a bit of a substitute today.” 

substitute? as in substitute teacher? he had to be joking. 

unlike gojo, after graduation you had more than willingly left behind the stuffy atmosphere of education. as a sorcerer, you never did stop learning. the always evolving curses not letting you hang too far off your game. 

but to return to the classroom to put those young students through everything you hated in your youth? 

no orgasm was worth that.

you disguised your grimace under the pretense of displeasure as he withdrew his hand all together. he tsked at your impatience, using the same hand as a crude form of lube as he fisted his growing cock. 

“it will be easy. these classes are even smaller than ours were.”

 it was difficult to voice a complaint when he was doing just the opposite and sliding into you. your back arched as he filled you to the hilt with little difficulty. 

he experimented with a shallow thrust, a grin pulling at his lips when you responded positively. the pace he set was slower than either of you were use to on a regular basis, but it fit the mood of morning sex. 

his forehead touched yours as he drew back for another long thrust. “shit-squeezing me so early. what a good girl.”

you whimpered when his hips met yours with more force than the last. “think of how excited they’ll be to have a new face. such a sexy one at that.” 

your body slid along the mattress each time he buried himself within you. you didn’t want to admit that he was getting to you. not even his all seeing gaze needed to retell the obvious. his plan was flawless and in short you were too much of a simp for the man.

so you just accepted the early morning distraction, taking direct pleasure in the way it unraveled the tangle of sleep.

you clenched your inner muscles helpfully and your boyfriend groaned in appreciation as he chased both of your releases with new vigor. the twitching and shakiness began with you as the pace picked up. your climax tumbled out of you with a sharp gasp as your boyfriend filled the space with a grunt. 

the two of you took a minute to regain your before he eventually pulled out and you pointedly ignored the stickiness as you relaxed your legs to give him the room to pull away. he didnt stray too far, white locks tickling your nose as he leaned in close again.

“i have more in store for you tonight as a thank you.”

with a huff, you pressed your palm against his cheek before his lips could chase yours. 

“fine, fine. i’ll babysit your class. you better be on some super important mission.”

gojo made a pleased sound, somewhere stuck between a hum and a warm rumble as he nuzzled the side of your neck and pressed his lips there instead. 

“super important. thanks babe.”

                                          you don’t know why you agreed to this. 

leaning back against the desk, you returned the silent gesture as the three first-years scrutinized your presence. aside from megumi, the other two were new faces for you. but your boyfriend’s knack for storytelling painted the picture in the absence of words. 

nobara was obvious. the sole girl of the unit. 

poor girl. 

she seemed to share your sentiment of wanting to be anywhere else but here. 

“so you’re dating sensei?”

you brought your arms closer to your chest as your shoulders rose with the action. 

was that … judgement?

“i’m so sorry.”

it was the sincerity that scared you the most. 

“oh wow, wow, wow. sensei’s really got it all. “

sukuna’s vessel was impossible to miss as any seasoned sorcerer. despite the boy’s positive demeanor, he reeked of the malevolent residue. yet in a way he made it work, there was nothing really about him that didn’t come off as approachable. 

he had something to gain gojo’s infatuation. there was no doubt in your mind that he would use this boy to help him dismantle the systematic hierarchy of the sitting elders. 

you just had to wonder. 

was the kid his main tool or the curse?

“i can’t believe you actually agreed to this.”

ah, megumi. 

the boy liked to express his love for distance, but the years swallowed up so much of it as you watched him grow. your boyfriend was a lot of things but you couldn’t deny the influence he had on the young sorcerer. 

the boy who seemed to disdain the attention knew it too. 

now that everyone had their turn to speak, you supposed it was your turn. 

“he was very convincing,” you offered lowly before picking up the volume. “let’s not pretend you’re actually going to learn anything from me. im just a sit in until satoru gets back from his mission.”

megumi’s scoff shouldn’t have come as a surprise. gojo’s name was rarely spoken without it’s accompaniment. 

“what makes you think he’s not off sightseeing?”

because killing gojo was impossible but you would happily tire yourself exploring your options. 

your smile was tight as you gestured to the door,” lets kick the morning off with some practice matches. the second years are always eager.”

settled comfortably against the bleachers observing as your temporary students got their asses handed to them, you came to the conclusion that being a teacher couldn’t be too bad. perhaps in the future you might be more willing to offer your services with out your boyfriend’s extra persuasion.

speaking of gojo, you wondered how his mission was going. you never actually questioned his agenda. 

you didn’t expect to wait long as the dial tone started up. outside of battle and life or death situations, gojo rarely ignored your calls. he knew in the thick of it you could protect yourself, but he preferred to keep himself available to your needs. 

the sounds of mixed commotion greeted you before his voice did. 

“toru … it sounds busy. where are you?”

gojo’s answering laugh should have been the first warning. to some it may have come off as eased but you could hear the way he forced it in to deflect. 

“sweetheart, how are classes going? i hope they’re not giving you too much trouble.”

trouble seemed to be the opposite of what he was dealing with. there were a lot of people holding their own conversations in the background, all of them too casual to be in danger. in fact, there were too many in general to place him on a battlefield. 

what exactly were you substituting for?

“order #217 for… gogo-san?”

the loud cluck of your tongue against the roof of your mouth was suddenly powerful enough to drown out the clamor. 

gojo satoru prided himself on standing resilient to all threats. it was how he maintained his position as the strongest. he was sought out for his efficiency and ability to overcome all adversaries. 

even against the most fearsome.

“honey, do i ever have a treat for you! today was a single-day special at my favorite bakery. you should have seen the lines. it's a good thing i got here so early!”

there were a lot of things you would do for satoru gojo.

and even more that you would do to him when you got home.

[koraki-grimoire]

Laws of Candle Care

Candles, while popular in religion and magik, are rarely properly cared for. Many who use them don't even know how to take care of them. And when you don't take care of your candles, especially candles used for divination, you use them up much quicker and get a lot of false responses.

This guide is important for anyone who burns or wants to burn candles, regardless of how much you think you know.

Vocabulary

There are many, many types of candles. This isn't anywhere near all, but the four kinds you should be aware of:

Tealights: (small, round candles, usually about an inch in diameter)

Pillars: (freestanding cylindrical candles of varying sizes)

Container candles: (candles poured directly in a container--includes prayer candles, which are tall glass pillars)

Tapers: (Tall, thin candles that stand in holders--includes chimes, which are miniature tapers)

Wick: The string, wood, etc. in the center of a candle that you light. Usually a cotton string coated with wax.

Hugging the edges: The process where the outer edges of a partly melted candles are pushed in to extend burn time.

Burn time: The amount of time it takes a candle to burn out when properly maintained and/or the amount of time a candle is being burned

Double boiler method: Heating wax in a pot inside another pot of water. This prevents it from catching fire or burning.

General

Location: Burn candles at least 1 foot from other flammable materials. Never burn a candle directly under anything--candles need at least a meter/yard of space above them to burn safely. Be careful when burning candles on a desk or near other candles. If burning a non-container candle, make sure it's on a heatproof surface like a plate to catch wax.

Wicks: Always trim your wick to 1/4 inch before burning, no exceptions. Wick trimmings should be removed from the candle, not left to accumulate in the pool.

Holders: Use a properly sized holder. This is a holder that the candle can sit in the bottom of, but will not shake or fall if lifted.

Burning: Not all candles can burn unattended. In fact, very few can. Always assume that you can't let a burning candle out of your sight. The main exceptions to this are container candles, but even so, not all container candles can burn alone. Prayer candles are designed to burn continuously, but still require clear, safe space, and should be checked on.

Melting: The first time you burn any candle, you must allow the wax to melt up to the edge of the candle before extinguishing it. Ideally, you'd allow this pool to reach the edge every single time. If you don't, the candle will tunnel, shortening its lifespan.

Extinguishing: Blow, pinch, or snuff a candle. Never use water to extinguish a candle--this makes it more likely to explode in future.

Troubleshooting

Candle wont light: Check if the wick is too short. If it is, hold a flame near the wick and pour out wax in increments until it can light.

Candle is tunneling: Burn it all the way out to the edge. You may need to manually melt the edges with a separate flame. You might also have forgotten to hug the edges.

Flame is smoking: There's a few possible reasons;

Wick is too tall: This one's easy, simply trim it.

Too long burn time: If a candle burns too long (usually 3+ hours at a time), the wick may curl or "mushroom." Extinguish and trim.

Insufficient air: Most smoking comes from a flame not having enough oxygen (which the above two can cause). This can also come if your space isn't well ventilated, or if there's wind, breezes, or other moving air.

Only one side is melting: The candle's wick is likely poorly centered, or you're burning it with one side in a hotter/colder place. You may be able to move it the wick to the middle when melted, or move the candle. Otherwise, it's usually fine to ignore on its own.

"Oh no, what do I do if my candle..."

Spills: Surround the pool with paper towels. Wait for it to cool, then pry off wax with a knife. Beeswax peels easiest. If there's still wax and it's on fabric, put paper to blot on both sides, and iron. Wash as normal.

Explodes/Cracks: If it didn't put itself out, extinguish it immediately. Clean spilled wax and, if present, glass. Do not try to re light the candle, even if the candle is still usable.

Has a curling wick: Extinguish, trim, and wait to fully solidify before burning again.

Catches something on fire: Immediately extinguish both. It's best to own and use a fire extinguisher for this, as water doesn't always work or cool it down well. Avoid blowing if at all possible, as this can feed the flame. Do not reuse the candle afterwards.

Candle FAQ

Q: How are candles made? A: It varies based on the candle! The most common method is by melting down wax in a double boiler and pouring it into a mold, or dipping string repeatedly in a vat of wax.

Q: How do you scent a candle? A: Typically, you would mix in fragrance or essential oils when the wax is melted before pouring it into a bowl.

Q: Can you put herbs in candles? A: Certainly! But please don't do this if you aren't experienced in candle care, it can be dangerous when they catch fire if you don't know what you're doing.

Q: How do you color a candle? A: You use specific wax coloring! It's very important to use colors designed for wax, because those are designed to burn safely. Things like food coloring can and will explode or ruin your candle.

Q: What kinds of candle wax are there? A: There's a few, but the three you're most likely to find are paraffin, soy, and beeswax. Paraffin is essentially plastic, making it the least ecofriendly option, but it's cheapest. Soy wax is from the soy plant, and generally fairly cheap. Beeswax burns the cleanest and longest, and is the best for the environment, but it's the most expensive. They can generally be told apart by texture if there's no label; paraffin is usually hard, flat, and bumpy, soy can be flaky and greasy, and beeswax is smooth and sometimes slightly rippled.

Candles in Magik & Divination

Chances are, if you're here, this is what you use candles for. While it's exciting to see candles doing weird things, remember you should always check for mundane reasons. Fire isn't a toy, and an oddly behaving candle can be a hazard, not just symbolic.

When doing a spell with candles, make sure anything on or around the candle(s) is safe to burn. For example, ensuring you used cotton thread or yarn to tie the candle, not adding dangerous herbs to inhale, and keeping an eye on the type of paper you're burning indoors. (Rolling paper is ideal for burning sigils.)

It's a bit disappointing to learn a "sign" was only a poorly cared for candle, but it's far worse to burn your house down over a false sign from an unsafe candle. So take care of them.

More questions? Send in a DM or ask! Feel free to add on in RBs or notes.

[scarlet--wiccan]

On America Chavez and the needless destruction of prior works

Just finished Made In The USA. I'm furious, and to be honest I'm mostly furious on behalf of Rivera, Quinones, and everyone else who worked on America (2017). I don't know if any of these folks would share my feelings of frustration, so I don't necessarily want to speak for them, but I do want to get this off my chest.

I know that audiences had mixed opinions on Rivera's book, but I think that it was imaginative, original, fun, and full to the brim with love for Black and brown LGBT folks. In creating America Chavez's backstory, Rivera expressed a heartfelt and deeply-meditated thesis on heritage and identity-- one which was at once fresh and also clearly rooted in generations of Latin American and Afro-Latine narratives.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the fantasies and futures that exist in art, and the people, places, and realities which are allowed to exist within those fictional worlds. This is at the core every version of the futurist principle-- "there are Black people in the future," per Alisha Wormsley. America is a the sort of fantasy where LGBT Black and Latine people take center stage, and Blackness, Latinidad, and gay identity are simultaneously the foundation and the fabric of the fantastical, utopian worlds that those characters occupy. Those worlds, and the story which unfolds across them, are truly unique, and in my mind, beautiful, and that is why I believe that Rivera's America is a work of great value to the canon of Western comics. I must stress, as well, that it was perhaps the first of its kind-- Rivera claims to be the first Latina to write for Marvel, and is also, to my knowledge, among only a few open lesbians to ever do so.

In five cramped, bleak little issues, Made In The USA has obliterated everything that Rivera and her collaborators built in America (2017). The retcon implemented by Kalinda Vasquez renders Rivera's story, and Gillen's earlier work in Young Avengers, totally moot. Little effort was made to reconcile with those texts-- Made In The USA simply buries them, along with America's pre-existing history, her motives, and several of her relationships-- under the cheap, tired excuse that "it was a dream all along."

I'm in no place to pass judgement on Vasquez's identity and perspective, and I would be remiss if I did not mention that her exploration of America's adoptive family was sweet, and in many scenes, beautifully executed. I must, however, say that the new backstory she has constructed lacks even an ounce of America (2017)'s heart, and that the entire premise is hackneyed and underdeveloped. She's not from outer space or a parallel world-- she was a traumatized child with a rare medical condition. We never really come to understand that what condition or its treatments actually are, and Vasquez fails to address America's connection to the Demiurge or the fact that Fuertona was demonstrated to be a real place-- nor the fact America's own grandmother, Madrimar, was a living person.

Overall, the undermining and destruction of continuity simply are not earned. It seems almost fitting that the series concluded with the abrupt disappearance, and possible death, of America's newly-discovered sister-- a grim and pointless death that needlessly punishes the title character, much as her fans are needlessly punished for their love and investment in such a unique and historically important superhero.

[btsslowburnfic]

The Arrangement Chapter 8

Series Summary: Desperately in need of money, you answered the questionable ad. AKA-Arranged marriage AU featuring Y/N and Yoongi.

Chapter Summary: First day on the job.

Previous chapter here

------------------------ You received a text message at around 8 am telling you the car had arrived to take you to BigHit. Your aunt had already left for work and took your sister and niece along with her. Your brother had left hours ago so there was no big “goodbye” or anything. You took a look around the small apartment and sighed. It had been really nice of your aunt to take the three of you in. You hoped that you had made the right decision. You put on your backpack, grabbed your suitcases, and headed out the door.

The car was easy to spot. Your apartment complex was not fancy so there weren’t usually vehicles with chauffeurs waiting out front. The tall man waved at you, “ Ms. [Y/L/N]?’ he asked.

You nodded and he walked over to take your bags. “You don’t have to do that,” you politely declined.

“I insist ma’am.” He responded and put the suitcases in the trunk. He moved over and opened the door for you. Fancy. 

“Thank you,” you said as you sat your backpack down on the seat and slid in. This was a definite improvement over the bus or walking, you thought as the car began to head towards the middle of the city.  After a short drive the car pulled into what you assumed was the back entrance of the building and down a ramp into an underground garage. The driver scanned a badge at an outer gate and then had to show an id card at a second guard station a few meters further. Wow, security around here was tight, you thought. Good. 

The driver pulled up next to an elevator and got your bags out. “Alright miss, I assume you’ll have messages about where to go next. Take care.”

“Thank you!” You awkwardly waved as you rolled your bags next to the elevator and took out your phone.

NJ: When you get here, head to the 18th floor and someone will assist you.

Ok. You stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button. Your breathing had started to increase. You found yourself suddenly nervous, remembering that you were starting a new job today, and moving in somewhere new, and you were supposed to marry some basically random dude. Deep breaths. You should have refilled your prescription, you found yourself thinking as you started to become dizzy. Fortunately for you, the doors to the elevator opened and a person got on, pulling you out of your panic attack. 

“Hey! Moving in?” The voice was clear and cute. You looked up. It belonged to a girl either younger than you or with a better skin care routine.

“Oh, yeah. It’s my first day.” You added shyly.

“Nice to meet you!” She bowed politely. “My name is Alice. I moved in last year around this time.” She smiled. 

“[Y/N], it’s nice to meet you as well,” you returned.

“I’m a make-up artist.” She added.

“Oh, how fun. I suck at make-up.” You said before you could stop yourself. 

She laughed. “I don’t know, I think you did a pretty good job for a more natural look,” She said while assessing your face. The elevator dinged at the 14th floor. “This is me. I hope I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, thanks!” You said, grateful for the distraction. A few seconds later, you arrived at your floor.  You stepped off and found yourself in a very fancy hallway.  It looked like it belonged in a luxury hotel.It was very different from the floors you had seen so far. You scanned the hallway and saw a man in a checkered suit sitting on a chair, leaned over and looking at his phone. You checked your phone again, no new messages. You cleared your throat slightly, unsure if maybe Namjoon had mis-typed the floor or something.

The man in the chair looked up, “Oh. Hello there,” he smiled and stood up. “Jung Hoseok at your service.” He quickly walked over and put out his hand. His suit was quite loud, but it worked on him. 

“Hi. [Y/N]. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh. This will be fantastic. Come with me.” He turned before you could ask him what he was talking about. You grabbed your bags and followed.  He walked quickly as though he was on a mission. You didn’t see any other doors as you followed him.

“Alright, you are in unit 1802. Here is your key card.” He stopped in front of a door and handed you a key fob. “Get settled in. Get cleaned up. The rest of your schedule should be in the App. Security is expecting you in 45 minutes to get your badge. Good luck!” He smiled and turned away quickly, chuckling to himself.

You stood there confused for a minute. What the hell kind of dorms were these? You shook your head and swiped the card. You were expecting a small foyer that would be covered in other people’s shoes. Instead you immediately noticed how quiet the space was and were greeted by a large sunken room with benches lining the perimeter. You stepped down into it, pulling your suitcases behind you. There were a few pairs of shoes neatly stored under the seats. You slipped yours off as well and left your two large bags in the foyer. As you walked further into the apartment,  it quickly became clear to you this was no ordinary dorm. 

The place was massive with gleaming marble floors and glass windows running along the entire length of the large living room. On the left side of the living room was a fireplace, situated next to a large staircase heading up to a loft area. A kitchen was to your right. A few bowls and cups sat in a drying rack. A rice cooker was on. Other than that, there were no indications that people actually lived here.

"Hello?" you called into the space. The living room was sparsely furnished with a couch, coffee table, and TV. You walked through the living room and down a hallway. You found a bathroom, an empty room, and a bedroom. The bedroom had nothing other than a bed, night stand, and wardrobe. You furrowed your brow. Was this your room? Was the empty one yours? Ugh. You imagined Namjoon smirking at you as you walked back into the living room. 

You were looking down at your phone as you entered and paused only because you heard a slight dragging sound. You looked up and saw Mr. Min wearing only grey boxer shorts and shuffling towards the kitchen. His body was lean and pale and he had the tiniest bit of a tummy and wow you felt like a pervert all of a sudden. 

Your face grew red and you didn't know if you should say something or slowly back down the hallway or run for the exit to never return. Unfortunately you didn't get a chance to decide. Yoongi looked over at you. He slowly blinked his eyes as though trying to assess if you were really there or not. "Why the hell are you here?" he asked, his voice deep and gravelly like he had just woken up. 

Your mouth gaped open as though speaking was a new skill. "Umm… I am. I am so sorry. Mr Jung gave me a key and told me I would be staying here." You averted your eyes from his half-naked body, slightly surprised that he didn't seem to be bothered by that at all. 

Yoongi scratched his head, fluffing his hair and let out something like a growling sound. He picked up a remote from the kitchen counter and hit a button, causing the curtains to close halfway and darken the living room. 

"I'm sorry if there's been some sort or mix-up." You tried not to stare. "I'm supposed to get down to security for my badge. I'll talk to Namjoon and get this straightened out, ok?"  You heard a noncommittal grunt and the refrigerator open and a drink tab being popped. You looked over to see Yoongi pounding an iced coffee. He sat it down on the counter and looked at you. You did your best to maintain eye contact. 

"Want one? " He asked. 

'Uh yeah sure." you walked closer still trying to not check him out. 

He pulled another drink out of the fridge and handed it to you. It had a picture of V on it, causing you to laugh. These fucking models were everywhere. 

"Don't worry. I'll kill Namjoon and Hobi myself. You can leave your bags here for now." He said, grabbing his can of coffee he headed out of the kitchen and up the staircase. You stared at him the entire time while sipping the coffee. There's no harm in looking at your future husband you laughed at yourself at how weird this fucking thing was. 

---

You refreshed your make-up in the bathroom before leaving the apartment and then opened the BigHit App to see where the security office was. The building was massive and had its own gym and grocery store. Jesus.  

You exited the elevator and saw Namjoon waiting in a chair. "Oh, so you're still alive?" you asked. 

"Funny. I was going to say the same thing to you." He countered, standing up. "Are your new living quarters acceptable?" 

Your jaw dropped. "It seems like you dropped me into Mr. Mins house" you whispered, looking around. "I don't see how that's very discreet at all. And it seemed like he was surprised by it as well." 

Namjoon shrugged. "Eh it can't be helped. You two will eventually live together anyways right? Why make you move twice? And besides, only Jin lives on that floor and he thinks it's hilarious. He doesn't know about the dating thing but he does think having Yoongi live with his assistant is some kdrama level shit."

You rolled your eyes. *Yeah well Yoongi hates it. You should have told him first." 

"Yoongi hates everything I do so I don't really care. Let's get your badge ready and then you have to start posting. First day on the job selfie, tweet, whatever it is you kids do these days." 

You rolled your eyes at him, "I'm older than you." 

"To the security office Noona! Jesus why didn't you do your make-up? This badge has to be worn at all times." 

"I did do my make-up today, asshole," you responded as the two of you walked around the corner to the security office. He opened the door and ushered you in. 

"Gentleman, here is Ms. [Y/L/N] ready for her badge and photo." Namjoon plastered on his smile, causing you to scowl. 

The men walked you through another set of paperwork, fingerprints, and a photo. Twenty minutes later you had a fancy security badge clipped to your skirt. 

"Stay out of trouble. Stay on top of the App. If you need anything text Jimin. And start posting" Namjoon said, exiting the security office. He headed in front of you and around the corner,suddenly stopping. 

"What the hell is wrong with you?" You heard Yoongi's voice. It sounded like his voice but you hadn't heard him get angry yet. 

"Not now Yoongi, I have a meeting in 15 minutes." Namjoon sighed. 

"You just dropped a girl into my house without telling me and think I'm not going to have something to say about it?" 

"You knew she was starting today. You agreed that the two of you were going through with all of this. What did you think that meant? Huh?" Namjoon said, almost bored.

"Why don't I get a say in any of this?" Yoongi raised his voice, exasperated. 

"You did. You picked her." Namjoon said calmly as he pushed the up button on the elevator. 

"This is such bullshit!" he yelled. You walked around the corner, surprising him. 

The elevator for Namjoon arrived and he got on it, not bothering to look back. 

You walked closer to Yoongi. "Hey. I'm sorry this was a surprise for you. It was to me too. I thought I would be in a dorm with a bunch of other girls." You gave him a sympathetic look. 

He took off his hat and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry it's not you. It's just...ughhh…" He put the hat back on.

"Really. It's fine. It seems like Namjoon isn't interested in our opinions though, huh? I'm a good roommate. I'm quiet and I clean up after myself. And I can cook." 

Yoongi wasn’t angry at you, so his feelings had morphed into pouting at this point. "It's fine I put your bags in the guest bedroom." He pushed a button on the elevator. He sighed 

"Thanks Yoongi." you said, standing next to him. 

“And I can cook too. So don’t think that’s part of your job or anything.”

“Now what kind of wife would I be if I didn’t cook for you,” You teased as the doors opened up. You were surprised to see him blushing. He hit the button for the 12th floor, keeping his head down the entire way.  NEXT CHAPTER

@lidda  @anpanman-sonyeondan  @firefairy1  @cuteipat  @sugaslittlekookies  @janeelizabeth1216 @deeepvibes @gxldenhunny

[duxhess-kryzewan]

please write satine/siri/obi-wan oh my gosh!!!

- Types - 

Satine was not a jealous woman. 

There were a few things that were very unbecoming of a Duchess. Jealously was certainly one of them, and she had always been very keen on keeping her emotions - especially one so negative - in check. After all, jealousy never helped anything. 

Really, she should be jealous of Siri Tachi. The galaxy had presented her with perhaps the only other person Obi-Wan Kenobi had ever harbored some form of feelings for. 

But the other woman was so polite and welcoming that she had a hard time hating her. 

That too would be rather unbecoming. 

In light of recent years, specifically the rekindling of their romance, she had learned not to doubt his feeling for her. They were as genuine as hers for him despite the circumstances being what they were. It was clear to both of them that they would never have an orthodox relationship, and that at any given point the universe could force them apart, but for now they were making die with what they had been given. 

“This is Siri.” He had said when she arrived at the Senate building. He had explained how she had been on a months long excursion on the outer rim with her former master, and that she had only just returned. 

Clearly they were quite good friends. 

“Pleasure to meet you, Master Tachi.” 

The other woman had smiled; a grin so warm that she couldn’t help but smile back. 

“The pleasure is mine, your grace. Obi-Wan often talks about the era of peace you brought to Mandalore. A noble accomplishment.” 

Something flutters in her chest and for a brief moment she wonders just what he says about her when she isn't around.

"Thank you, truly. It means a great deal to have supporters of my cause. The senate often isn't."

​Siri glances over at Obi-Wan, eyebrow raised in amusement, "You certainly weren't lying," She looks back to Satine, "He had told me you were very firm in your efforts to stay out of the war."

She recalls a conversation they had during their year on the run. Obi-Wan had told her about the feelings he once had for Siri. He and the other Jedi had been friends since they were children at the temple. More than once during their training with their respective Masters did they end up working together. Somewhere, he had said, the mutual admiration and respect they harbored for one another grew into something a bit more. 

But they were young then. Much too immature and focused on their futures to ever allow it to go farther than mutual affection. Becoming Jedi was much too important to the both of them to ever jeopardize that chance. 

She didn't know what it said about herself knowing that he almost gave it all up to be with her. 

Siri tucks a lock of sandy hair behind her ear and for a moment Satine has to refrain from laughing. It didn't take much to recognize that Obi-Wan has a type, if their blonde tresses and blue eyes were anything to go by. 

"I've found you have to be in the midst of wartime."

Something flashes across the other woman's eyes for a moment; the slightest tinge of sadness at the mention of the war. It seemed she too was less than supportive of the ongoing violence. 

She really would never be able to dislike this woman. 

Siri reaches out towards her, gripping onto her hand and giving a reassuring , "Your efforts do not go unnoticed by us who want to protect the galaxy; I do hope you know that."

In another life perhaps - whether she been born a Jedi or Siri been born a Mandalorian - they would have been friends. 

Satine smiles, "Thank you, master Tachi."

Siri nods respectfully, "Its been a pleasure to finally meet you, but if you'll excuse me, I have to go prepare for a departure with the 313th legion soon."

​The Jedi master turns to walk away, but stops herself before she takes another step and looks to an unusually quiet Obi-Wan. A look is passed between them, an expression that only the two worn torn Jedi would be able to understand. Satine knows it's a message she'll never be able to read; a secret understanding between two fighters battling a war. 

Siri reaches her hand out and places it on his shoulder. Even from the few feet of space between them she could make out just how firmly her fingers gripped on to him. 

"Take care of yourself Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan nods and places his hand on top of her own, squeezing it for a fraction of a second, "Be safe, Siri."

Satine watches as Siri makes her way down the hall and away from them. She wonders, briefly, if her affections for Obi-Wan still lingered within her. Her heart aches for the other woman at the thought; she too knows how hard it is to walk away from him. 

"Would you like me to escort you back to your suite, Duchess?"

His voice pulls her out of the trance she found herself in and suddenly she realizes that they're still in the Senate building, surrounded by people less than privy to their entanglements. 

"I suppose I can allow it."

Her offers her his arm which she graciously accepts. It felt right; her hand wrapped around the crook of his elbow while he lead her through the winding halls of the building. If she tries hard enough she can make herself believe they're strolling through the halls of Sundari palace, free from the constraints of their duties. 

Reality swiftly moves in though. 

"I like her." Satine finally says as they step into the elevator. 

"People like Siri are rare," He says, "She's very pure of heart; something that's hard to find in times of war."

"I see why the two of you get along so well then." She notes. Obi-Wan was as altruistic as they come, something she too found to be a rarity.

"You're a rarity too." 

His gaze falls to the floor. if she looked closely, she would be able to make out the blush hidden behind red stubble. Even now, years later, he still reverted back to a nervous Padawan when paying her a compliment. She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy his nervousness. 

"As are you, dearest."

He looks up just as the elevator doors slide open and grins at her before leading her gently into the hallway. She had long since dismissed her guards upon their arrival, stating that she was more than well protected while inside the Senate provided suites. 

In reality it just made sneaking him in much easier.

He shuts the door behind them, and she's already working on unraveling her hair from it's ornate hair piece.

"She's very fond of you, you know." She comments.

His expression is hard to read; a mix somewhere between curious and confused. 

"Siri and I have known each other for a long time," He says, walking closer to her, "She's certainly saved my life a time or two. I'm rather grateful she was at my side at times."

"Well then I too am grateful," Satine says, smiling at him, "I rather like having you around."

Obi-Wan laughs before pressing a kiss to her forehead. She tries to visit Coruscant as often as she can, though never as often as she would like. It had been almost half a year since they had seen one another.

Satine stands on her tip-toes and catches his mouth with her own, smiling against his lips. 

"I feel compelled to point out that you, Obi-Wan Kenobi, certainly have a type."

He abruptly pulls away from her, "I beg your pardon?"

She cups his face between her hands and laughs, "It's not by sheer coincidence that every woman you've ever had fancied are blue eyed blondes; and I have a feeling Master Tachi is just as steadfast in her convictions as I am."

She really should not like the woman. 

He lets out a deep breath and she suddenly realizes that he had been nervous since the moment she ran into them. 

"Siri is a valued ally friend," He finally says, taking one of her hands in his own and bringing it to his lips, "But I do hope you know that whatever affection I harbored for her in my youth is nothing more than respect and admiration now, and there's certainly only one person I fancy in all the galaxy."

Trusting Obi-Wan was never a difficult decision for her. She trusted him with her life, heart, and soul. Even in the fleeting moments of insecurity she felt in the other woman's presence, she knew Obi-Wan would never intentionally do anything to harm her feelings. Or Siri's, for that matter. 

"You're in luck then, Master Kenobi," She whispers, draping her arms lovingly around his shoulders, "Because I very much fancy you too."

He kisses her again and everything feels okay. 

-----

Note: While I do love fics with Satine being a bit jealous over her Jedi Knight, I also think that Satine 100% would be down with supporting other women and not being petty because her man had a crush back when they were kids. 

[katiegangel]

Disneyland Snacks

Art by the incredible @the-patrex​

There’s truly nothing like the feeling of stepping out onto Main Street U.S.A. at dusk. The slightest hint of coolness had woven its way into the air, the lamps were starting to glow in that turn-of-the-century romantic style, and some families had already started picking their location for the parade.

Bag in hand, I moved back toward the castle where I knew she was waiting. She loved watching people react to the castle. Anytime a human being had a look of wonder or joy in their eye, it seemed to be her happy place. I think she  enjoyed the rides and the food, but it was the atmosphere and experience of it all she loved the most. That sensation that, even if it was for a one second, even if it was in the world of make-believe and even if it would have to be left behind, everything was okay in the world.

We’d made it a tradition to go back to a Disney park at least once a month. Whether on or off world- Yes, to no one's shock, in the future, Disney had gotten their parks in outer space- we’d go there, even if it was for a walk around. It became our place. A tiny mix of fantasy and reality. It was home for me, it was a break for her. What I thought of as fantasy was a reality to her. I think this place gave her the fantasy she’d lost long ago.

I’d never tell her, but she’d become such an integral part of my life… I wish I could give that back to her. It always made me smile when the tiniest thing made her happy, it broke my heart when something hurt her, it amazed me when she was strong when I couldn’t be.

In my heart, I knew this wasn’t forever. I knew she’d change, I knew someone else would be her companion one day. In a way it hurt…

But I had some comfort in the thought that someone would always be there with her, even if it wouldn’t be me.

I headed over to the castle and pulled out my treat. A mickey shaped chocolate and Villiana Marble cookie, covered in chocolate frosting with a raspberry drizzle. The blogs had been buzzing about this one, saying it was the best cookie Disney had put out in years. Honestly, I was a little skeptical. Not that Disney didn’t have some of the best baked goods ever, but theme park cookies usually fell into one of two categories: “Soft and comfortably ‘nostalgic'’” or “processed and generic.” Still, they haven't steered me wrong on the cherry and pistachio sundae or the Lumpia in Pandora, why doubt them now. Besides, everything was worth a try.

I looked around as I approached the castle, unable to find her. There wasn’t too much of a crowd and I wondered if she had wandered off- as she was prone to do. I was about to head into Tomorrowland to go look for her when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked to see no one was there, but my attention was quickly pulled to a strange sensation in my hand. When I looked down, I saw Mickey’s left ear missing and the sound of chewing beside me.

“Oh!” The Doctor, mouth completely full. “That is brilliant.”

“Hey!” I tried to sound angry, but I couldn’t help it.

“Love the raspberry glaze on it!” The Doctor said, her face so bright, little raspberry specks at the edge of her mouth. “That is a good nosh!”

“You should have told me you wanted one, I’d have gotten you one!” I said, somewhat annoyed that she’d gotten the first bite. Not too much though.

“Taste better coming from you!” The Doctor said. “You should try it!”

I rolled my eyes. “You know, I-“

I was stopped as something appeared in my face. Upon closer inspection, it was a vanilla cupcake, decorated with golden frosting to look like a beehive. A tiny white chocolate bee was on it and little honeycomb bits were sprinkled on top.

“First bite is for you.”

I don’t know why I teared up. Just looking at her, she filled my heart with so much joy. Sometimes, I wish I could tell her how I really felt, but I just felt it would ruin everything. I took a bite of my own cookie- Oh! The blogs weren’t kidding, it was amazing- before taking a bite of the cupcake.

“MMM!” I moaned, “I’ve never been a honey fan, but this is great!” The Doctor smiled, leaning in for another bite of my cookie, but I stopped her.

“Ah, no!” I said, smiling, taking her hand. “Come on! We’re getting you your own!”

“Then can we go on the teacups?”

“You wanna go on the teacups after eating?” I laughed.

“I’ll be fine,” She replied.

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I smiled.