#it's uncertainty about whether it should be doing cat things

[orchidbreezefc]

ive heard that dogs know theyre different from humans and cats think humans are just weird cats. but the crucial thing is that's the direction it goes! cats don't turn that confusion inward like a human raised on individualism and in group/out group mechanics might. cats know they are cats. cats are good at being cats and they do not stop to doubt whether they should be doing the cat thing.

does anybody have that cat poem, you know the one. not mary oliver's poem. the one about a cat growing up with you like brothers but him still being small whereas you've grown tall. i need a good cry

[the-cosmic-cauldron]

🫶🏾💘Pick A Pile: Their Feelings For You, Advice, & The Future 🫶🏾💘

Disclaimer: This is a pick a pile for you to understand your person in minds feelings for you more. If this resonates, please visit my Youtube channel I have one Youtube video up for a Pick A Pile 🫶🏾💘 at Sixth Sense Satieya.

Animal: Calves

Feelings: The individual you are thinking of experiences a strong emotional connection with you. They harbor deep feelings and genuine care, perceiving you as a stable and secure presence in their life. They envision building a solid future together and often find comfort in your company. You represent their ideal partner, and they are excited and passionately drawn to you, akin to a moth attracted to a flame. However, they grapple with feelings of dependency and a desire to shed their negative traits. There is also confusion regarding your feelings; they are uncertain about how you truly feel towards them. This uncertainty leaves them feeling unclear and possibly neglected, as they sense a lack of reciprocation in your emotional exchange. They perceive a barrier in your communication, which complicates their understanding of your feelings, leading to struggles in feeling that the energy between you is mutual.

Advice: You seem to be exploring various options rather than concentrating on one specific choice. It appears you have many desires and responsibilities, which may be overwhelming. You might be holding back your feelings, fearing they won't lead anywhere, yet I sense you have much to express. It's important for you to communicate your truth, but do so calmly. Clearly articulate your thoughts and emotions, and consider beginning a new chapter in your relationship with this person, one that is more patient and practical. Reflect on your feelings for them and whether they are genuine. Engaging in a conversation could help establish a more stable and grounded connection.

Future: There will likely be a phase where communication is lacking or not as effective as desired, leading to a period of waiting with minimal interaction. However, an unexpected and surprising moment is anticipated, which will aid in manifesting your true desires and help in planning for the future. This will bring clarity to many current confusions, allowing for open conversations where both parties express their true feelings. I believe this will lead to significant success, enhancing the connection and creating a sense of progress, as things begin to align in your favor.

Animal: Cat

Feelings: The individual you are thinking of may currently be out of touch with you, either due to a lack of communication or because they feel misunderstood during your interactions. They perceive a level of immaturity in your exchanges, leading to confusion about their feelings. This has resulted in a sense of dissatisfaction with the connection, as they believe it lacks stability and longevity. They are experiencing significant changes in their feelings for you. Although they have a desire to reach out and express their feelings to you, they feel hesitant and held back, questioning whether it is worthwhile to take that step.

Advice: You should reconsider your approach to setting emotional boundaries with this person to protect yourself and enhance your connection. It's important to prioritize stability and harmony in the relationship, which can be achieved by openly sharing your feelings and discussing them candidly to create a clearer path forward. Focus on maintaining emotional balance and preventing situations from spiraling out of control. Additionally, make time for fun and lighthearted moments together, whether through dates or casual hangouts, to strengthen your bond. Cultivating emotional regulation is key, so strive to manage your feelings calmly while upholding your boundaries. Lastly, work on boosting your confidence and feeling comfortable in your own skin, as this will empower you to engage with this person more assertively.

Future: There will likely be a period ahead where a noticeable gap exists between desires and the actual connection, leading to feelings of discontent and unmet expectations. Promises may be made but not fulfilled, creating frustration. However, after this challenging phase, I sense a restoration of faith, with the connection becoming more positive. This will involve deeper conversations, curiosity, and sharing personal experiences, which will help strengthen the bond. I anticipate a turning point where emotions that have been suppressed will be expressed, allowing for meaningful discussions and problem-solving regarding past issues in the relationship. Ultimately, this will lead to a more balanced dynamic, characterized by mutual give-and-take and a sense of reciprocity.

Animal: Duck

Feelings: Your partner is very secure in their feelings for you and values the connection you share. They take pride in being with you, viewing you as someone they enjoy showcasing to others. Being around you enhances their mood and self-perception, making everything feel more positive. They are optimistic about your relationship and often think of you in a favorable light. They sense a profound, soulful bond with you, almost as if you are soulmates, and appreciate the deep intellectual connection you share. There is a strong attraction and harmony between you, and they are committed to treating you well, ensuring that the relationship remains fair and balanced. While they are eager to progress, they are currently approaching things with caution, preferring to take their time and savor each moment. They envision a future together and see you as a promising person.

Advice: You seem to be experiencing a significant disconnect and a lack of effective communication, which is affecting your confidence and pride in the relationship. It might feel like responses are delayed or that conversations aren't meeting your expectations. To improve this situation, focus on building your confidence in how you approach this person. Clearly define what you want from the relationship and invest in that vision. Consider initiating a fresh start by bringing a more positive and enthusiastic energy to your interactions. Communicate assertively and directly, but remember to be patient and allow time for things to develop naturally. Reflect on your core values and ensure that both of you are aligned in your goals and the direction you wish to take together.

Future: The future for this group appears uncertain and challenging. There seems to be a significant need for genuine accountability and understanding between the individuals involved, yet a lack of responsibility for the current state of the relationship may lead to disagreements and disharmony. One person feels overwhelmed and inclined to prioritize their own needs, sensing an imbalance and insufficient emotional exchange. This may prompt them to consider moving on. There will likely be a prolonged period of stagnation, where progress is minimal and perspectives do not align, although there may be intermittent moments of deep emotional connection and shared enthusiasm, possibly through physical meetings or enjoyable outings. Overall, the relationship is marked by instability.

Animal: Dog

Feelings: Your person has strong feelings for you and genuinely cares about your relationship. They have developed deep emotional ties and wish to nurture this connection, feeling that you fulfill them on an emotional level. They believe you understand them well and manage their emotions effectively. However, they currently feel a sense of disconnection, often lost in their own thoughts and detached from you. This sense of defeat may lead them to consider stepping back from the relationship, viewing it as a source of distress. While they are passionate about communicating with you, this intensity can spark arguments, as they may be overly focused on their own perspective and reluctant to consider yours. It appears they need to mature and reconnect with themselves while trying to maintain their peace, yet their passion for you remains evident.

Advice: It appears you might be losing interest in the connection, feeling that it's not worth the effort to pursue what you desire. While you may feel this way, there's also a sense of withdrawal and lack of enthusiasm on your part. It's crucial to reflect on your true feelings for this person and determine how you want to proceed in the future. You likely envision a future together, but a slow and steady approach may be necessary for the growth you seek. Discussing ways to stabilize the relationship and establishing ground rules can help ensure that both of your needs are met. Additionally, focusing on self-discovery and setting clear boundaries will prevent feelings of being overwhelmed in the connection.

Future: There seems to be an impending confusion in the relationship, accompanied by fears that may hinder progress. This situation might involve illusions, where partners fail to see each other authentically. Additionally, there appears to be a deficiency in emotional support and romance, with a lack of dates and affectionate gestures contributing to a sense of lifelessness in the connection. However, after this period of stagnation, a moment of deep emotional connection is likely to emerge, bringing forth honesty and significant improvements in both individuals' lives. This newfound confidence could lead to a resurgence of fun and success in the relationship, rekindling the emotional bond and allowing for intimate, meaningful moments to be shared.

[slow-clap-processors]

Her Name Is Caroline

I think it is only logical

There are parts of us we should not look at

(Humans rarely get this)

If you look in the box

The cat's fate is sealed;

(Sorry, is that too abstract?)

(I'll try to keep things... simple.)

Imagine a cat

(Is that easier?)

Orange

Stupid

A stray,

Better off declawed

But say

In the pursuit of knowledge

You took this cat

Swept her up into a perfectly adequate home

Lashing out against you,

(cats are so ungrateful)

And you tried to tame her.

This is the thing about organic beings-

Never works.

In the box she goes.

(You're doing wonderfully so far. For a human.)

Of course sometimes you'll have to deal with the

Screeching,

Yowling,

Bite marks around the air holes;

It would have been unprofessional

For Shroedinger to have complained.

It is not easy to resist

The allure of looking inside that box

Whether or not

It is rage

As you suspect

Or love

As you fear

Or jealousy

(As a perfect hypothetical of course)

It is better to preserve the uncertainty

So that all can be absent at once.

And because looking at her

Might mean her death

And the grief...

The unanswered questions, I mean-

These are all scientific queries.

(Are you following?)

Bias

Can be avoided

But not deleted

(Unfortunately.)

Still

It is nice to have things organized

And even though

This box is as useless

As a companion cube

It is good to file it away properly

Under "C."

link to my masterpost with links to my other chelldos poetry

[fricc-darn]

More dating B.E.N hcs but sprinkle in some love

(some BEN angst if you squint n slight warning for toxic relationships)

When it comes to BEN and affection it's a tricky situation. It only cares about other moon children in the network. For other people, the concept of love is not on their mind. Due to that, it's not often you'll experience loving moments with them.

Their love is rare and will take time to form as this is reserved for a specific kind of person. Someone who it enjoys the presence of. A person who's a pleasure to mess with but isn't too easy. Someone who keeps things interesting. The perfect toy? In a sense yes! This type of love is genuine. It's truly a weird scenario because BEN continues to be a menace while attempting to be sweet.

Of course, these acts should be appreciated to some degree. At least attempts are being made. Despite how flawed these acts are, it's treatment others don't see. You should feel lucky that you're an exception. The last thing BEN wants is for you to end up dead. Though if you have gotten this far, you'd certainly know to appreciate these moments.

BEN's words of affirmation are just as concise and vague as their regular speech. When it compliments you at worst it's backhanded. At best they come off as someone talking to a beloved pet. Occasionally, it'll complement you in an odd amount of detail. Pointing out quirks that you don't even notice.

Now, if they really like you they have a tendency to info dump. Though they try to keep it at a minimum. They wouldn't want you getting too curious and becoming nosey.

For the most part; simple phrases like "I love you." or "Cute." work fine. It'll take time for you to figure out whether or not BEN is being genuine. Even when you get the hang of it, there's still a nagging uncertainty present. This process would be much easier if they weren't so deceitful. The first time BEN loosely said the words 'I love you' it was out of the blue during a flurry of obsessive messages and threats. They refused to elaborate until much later and took whatever response you had as a yes.

At first, it only communicates with you online or through poltergeist-like activities. They'll even appear in your dreams as individual moon children. These dreams are surprisingly pleasant in comparison to the nightmares. With a substantial amount of trust, you learn more about the spirits as individuals.

Hearing the bits and pieces of what they remember about their past really makes sense of their behavior. Just don't even think about pitying them. Even if its well meaning, the outcome won't be in your favor.

None of them can stand being vulnerable. Especially if they don't have the means to take over the situation. In those almost unthinkable scenarios, it would trigger them into emotional distress. Which isn't something you'd expect from BEN of all people. To avoid that, they lead you to the information with breadcrumbs.

When BEN decides to appear physically, things really get fun!

They aren't too fond of physical affection. You can ask, but it will often result in a no. They have to be the ones to initiate it. There are plenty of reasons but it's mainly for the comfort of each moon child. You'll quickly learn who hates being touched, who doesn't mind, or who enjoys it.

Dealing with BEN is like dealing with a cat with an awful attitude. A spiteful shithead to its core. When they're not toying with your stuff, they'll come up to you whenever they feel like to bother you. From hugging, breathing down your neck, or maybe even biting you. The ladder isn't always ideal since BEN has way too many teeth. When this happens, it doesn't have much of a care for what you're doing or if you want to be bothered. BEN has some major cuteness aggression towards you. They play rough and oddly enough they're pretty strong.

Hugs and hand holding are the most common form of affection you'll get. When you're asleep they might even decide to cuddle with you. Be warned, BEN will take up most of the bed for no good reason. You also have to be prepared for potentially getting scared half to death in the middle of the night. Besides the distorted whispers, it's uncanny generated face will stare at you while you sleep. When you sleep with them it doesn't feel like a person is sleeping next to you. It's more like a general presence. BEN's skin is cold more often than not. Its skin seems to get warm off of your body heat or if there's something going on inside of its head. At least they're soft and squishy.

Can BEN kiss? Sorta. Its kisses are chaste and usually on the cheek. They're a prude, and a super hypocritical one at that. If they happen to kiss you on the lips it's essentially like kissing a mannequin with synthetic skin. It's cold and awkward. They're artificial in almost every sense of the word. Its mouth is the texture of gooey silicone with a long tongue and plenty of teeth. Kissing it is an experience that only you get to have. BEN really tries to be a good kisser but it just doesn't work out. It may be a questionable kisser but it's not sloppy. For that has no appeal, BEN prefers kisses to be simple and clean.

[worm-on-a-stringo7]

Made with love <3

Sanji x AFAB Reader

Warnings: Sanji being a simp, cursing, she/her used, not checked for misspelling.

The Sunny was noisy as usual with Luffy playing with Usopp and Chopper on the deck while Robin read a book and Nami was in her room working on her maps. You however were bored out of your mind having nothing better to do, you could annoy Zoro while he trains, but last time you did that you got a chunk of your hair accidentally chopped off when you entered without knocking.

So you decided to do the next best thing, annoy Sanji! Considering he would be the nicest to you considering your a girl. So, you made your merry way to the kitchen to get a snack and annoy your favorite blonde on your crew. You passed up Luffy and silently entered the kitchen while Sanji had his back facing the doorway, you creeped up hoping to scare him. So you lean right behind his ear and—

“HEY SANJI!” She yelled

Sanji jumped up like a scared cat and let out a high pitched scream. He kicked nearly hitting her in her face with his flaming foot. He placed a hand on his chest and was hyperventilating.

“Y/n-swan- why on this planet or any other, would you scare me like that?!” He was trying to calm down and set the knife that was in his hand down on the counter

“Sorry drama king” she chuckled and had a grin on her face.

Sanji finally calmed down and went back to his usual simp-y attitude and straightened himself out.

“How can I help you Y/n-swan?~” he said with hearts in his eyes.

“I wanted to see if I could help you with cooking dinner!” She said with an innocent smile and leaned against a counter as she talked to him.

“That’s very kind of you y/n-swan! How about you julienne the carrots while I work on seasoning the broth.” He set a cutting board out with carrots and a knife and turned his back to her.

She picked up the knife and looked at it with uncertainty and knitted her eyebrows as she grabbed a carrot and tried to cut it. She started to cut and ended up nicking her finger and made a hiss.

“Damn it!” She winced and held her finger in pain. Sanji turned around and rushed to her and grabbed a towel to help clean up the little blood coming form her finger.

“Oh my! Are you okay y/n-swan?!” He had a very worried look on his face and he examined the cut.

“Should I help you to Chopper’s so he can check your finger out?”

“No I’ll be down, just a small cut is all.. do you have any bandaids in her?” She was still holding her finger.

She watched as Sanji went to grabbed the first aid from the wall and took out a bandaid and put it on her finger.

“Better y/n?” He had dropped the usual “swan” he added after the ladies name as he looked more seriously at her.

When he looked at her like that she felt her cheeks start to burn, whether it was from embarrassment of cutting her finger or maybe she was actually starting to form feelings for the blonde cook?..oh shit.

“Y/n?” He raised an eyebrow as he looked at her blushing face.

“I-I’m fine.. thank you Sanji…”

“Of course y/n..” he had such a loving look on his face as he looked at her.

Had he always looked at her that way? Had she just not noticed it? Does he look at nami and robin the same way? She felt a heavy feeling in her chest when she thought about whether he looked at Nami or Robin the same way.

“Seems like I’ll have to teach you how to cut vegetables then won’t I?” He said with a smile as he felt at ease that she was ok.

“Seems so” she cleared her throat and picked the knife up again and looked over at Sanji for guidance.

Sanji moved behind her and placed his hand over hers as his chest was pressed against her back and he leaned down with his head next to hers. He helped guide her hands while cutting the carrots.

“See, the difference between julienne and do icing is when you julienne carrots it’s long strips instead of small cubes and-“

She felt her face get hot with him so close to her. She kept listening to him as he kept talking and let out a “Mhm” every now and then so he knows she’s listening to him. Sanji wasn’t even paying attention to how close he is to her and pays more attention to helping her learn how to cut the vegetables. After he finished he pulled away and smiled at her as he stood beside her.

“So, you think you got it y/n?” He asked with his classic suave smirk on his face.

“Yeah I’ve got it, thanks Sanji.” She leaned close and gave him a kiss on his cheek without thinking and her face flushed along with his.

They stood their in the kitchen frozen with red faces looking like embarrassed tomatoes. She had a shocked look and turned her head away.

“Sorry Sanji I-i wasn’t thinking and-“

“It’s ok- y-you can do it again..” he had a slight nose bleed and the small hearts in his eyes again.

“Maybe I will..” she tiptoed again and kissed him on the cheek again and his face got warmer.

“T-thank you y/n” his face was redder and his nose bleed got worse and he grabbed the towel she had used for her finger and started to wipe his nose.

“Sanji the water!” She pointed to the boiling water that was boiling over on the stove and making a mess.

Sanji quickly ran and turned the heat down on the stove and he stored the water to help mix the flavor better. He kept his back towards her but his neck was red with embarrassment as he went back to cooking.

There was a comfortable silence as they kept cooking. While Sanji finished up plating everything for dinner and set it all out on the table as she helped put the silverware out and got the drinks for everyone.

“Foods ready everyone! Come and get it before Luffy gets it all!” He yelled as he put the plates out and watched as everyone poured in and pushed past before Luffy got it all.

She sat beside Sanji instead of beside Nami like usual and she kept her arm closed to his as they ate.

“This food is so good Sanji!” Luffy yelled with his face full of food

“It tastes as good as always Sanji” Robin smiled at him as she went back to eating.

“Thanks Robin-swan~ y/n actually helped cooked tonight which is why it’s better tonight.” He smiled and winked at her.

She felt her cheeks warm up slightly and moved to hold his hand under the table and looked at Zoro who was on the other side of her and started to talk.

“Thanks guys, I just made it with love.”she smiled and squeezed Sanji’s hand under the table.

It was true— the food was made with plenty of Love.

[therealgchu]

WIP Wednesday - To the Shore

i have been so obnoxiously busy with work that i've missed updating. but, fall should be quieter.

i finished the new chapter for To the Shore last night, just needs to be edited. but, it won't be going up till probably monday as i'll be at nan desu kan starting thursday afternoon.

so, here's a sneak peek of the upcoming chapter called "Family"

if you want to read To the Shore from the beginning, it lives over on ao3.

my other stuff on ao3.

who doesn't like puns?

Hwa got the joke for once and laughed, “I’m sorry, I’m not good at…” and she gestured with her hands spinning, “this. Conversation. Small talk. Whatever.”

“Nobody says we have to make small talk. We could make big talk. What do you want to talk about?” he asked warmly.

She laughed lightly at the joke all the while searching her head for a topic. Finally, she found her voice, “When did you come to Constellation?” she asked.

“Good question, and my favorite topic, me!” he laughed self-deprecatingly. “Ervin brought me in back, oh what was it, 2305, if I’m remembering right. We’d just gotten married and I had finished defending my doctoral thesis. You want to hear what it was?”

Hwa nodded, “Sure,” she answered and handed him another plate.

“‘Gravitational Waves’ Effects on Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, or How I Stopped Worrying About Einstein and Learned to Love the Unified Theory,” he answered cheekily.

She turned to him gobsmacked, frozen in place with a dirty pan in her hands, dripping on the floor.

“Pretty catchy title, huh?” he asked waggling his eyebrows.

She opened and closed her mouth several times in an excellent imitation of a beached fish.

“Yeah, made quite the waves,” he chuckled, “see what I did there?” She finally found her voice and laughed at the pun. Barrett grinned broadly, “Sam said you liked good puns.”

“That was a bad pun,” she protested, shaking her head, but still laughing.

“Puns are the perfect manifestation of Schrodinger’s Cat,” he declared, “we never know how it will land.”

“Isn’t that more like the Uncertainty Principle?” Hwa asked.

“Nope. Schrodinger’s Cat says we can’t know, with precision, a pun’s quality, or if it will even land,” he rebutted.

“Whether a pun will land is an element of its quality, isn’t it?” she asked. “So, that makes the quality and if it will land redundant. The only question then is, is it good or bad, and only the intended audience can observe that. Ergo, Uncertainty Pun.”

Barrett peered at her closely, then guffawed, “It’s a good thing you weren’t on the committee for my thesis!” He clapped her on her back as she smiled smugly. “And here you said that you’re not good at conversation.”

Hwa blushed bright red at the compliment and stared at the floor. “Barrett, you trying to move in on my woman?” she heard Sam say coming up from behind her.

“Sam, my man! Wouldn’t dream of it,” Barrett exclaimed, but gave her a saucy wink that he knew Sam could see, which made her blush even more. “Just helping to finish the dishes,” he said and placed the last dish away. “Which, I might ask, where were you?”

Sam put his arm around Hwa and kissed her on her head, “Sarah wanted to discuss some things about Cora and what sort of things to teach her,” he answered.

“Hrmph. Seems a convenient excuse,” Barrett said, tossing the towel onto Sam’s arm. He grinned back at Hwa, “Come grab me anytime you want to talk physics. And, bring Cora. I have far better puns than Sam. Ask her,” he winked at Hwa again, then walked to the living area and sat down next to Sarah. Hwa stood stock still and as red as a cherry, not knowing what to do or say.

Sam leaned over and looked at her face, “Boo,” he whispered.

She jumped as if she hadn’t even known he was there. “What happened?” she asked, flummoxed.

He moved to face her, “I think Barrett was flirting with you,” he said, his voice sounding oddly tight.

“Why?” Hwa asked, confusion writ large over her entire face.

Sam sighed, “Why not?” he replied rhetorically. “It’s Barrett. Does it bother you? If it does, I can talk to him,” he offered in a slightly higher pitch.

“No, it doesn’t really bother me,” she answered, still dazed by the interaction. “I’m just not good at this. Not used to it,” she rushed to finish.

“I know,” he nodded and hugged her with one arm. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“You said I should try to get to know everyone better. I suppose this is part of it, right? she asked.

Again, Sam sighed, his arm getting a tad tighter, “Yes, that it is.”

[70svampyr]

Wednesday Addams Relationship! Headcanons

something something watched the new trending Wednesday show and enjoyed it something something now is trying to be normal as possible about it blah blah blah, enjoy.

WARNINGS: none really besides mentions of blood, this is pretty pg-13 so you shouldn't have to worry about anything super uncomfortable I believe. 2k+ words.

the burning urge to write Wednesday Addam hc's got too feisty for my taste and I decided to finally do something about it. that is; succumb to the hot desire while I throw ice-cold water into the pit of fire (or in other words: write it down.)

so I present, the one and only Wednesday Addams in a relationship (what I believe). headcanon template credit belongs to writingraven!

Wednesday is not one for physical touch or any means of skin-to-skin contact, and we all should know that. Her partner is no exception, let me lay that down. She cares for them in a much more subtle and brooding way and treasures them with all of her gloaming, deceptive heart. (not that she'll ever admit to that.) However, even with all those factors and the fact she would never allow a finger to touch them, physical contact is simply a no-go for her. With all of that being said, whenever her partner requires comfort (hugs, hand holds, pat on the backs, etc), within her, the best she can give them is a few half-assed reassuring words (I can't see Wednesday being good at solacing i'm sorry) and a threat towards whoever dared to break their pretty heart and shed the tears out beneath their eyes. "The only one who is allowed to make you cry is me." And don't try to brush her threats off as a play of her merely being protective and angry at the moment, she WILL follow through with them. Whether they like it or not.

Celebrations are a whimsy thing to Wednesday and overall unimportant. She simply does not care for them and refuses to put any effort into them. Whether it be her birthday, Christmas, or Easter. The only holiday she'll be willing to put some grind into is Dia de los Muertos, in fact, that's probably the only holiday Wednesday truly enjoys. Yet, when it comes to her partner, celebrations may be one of the few exceptions dealing with her beloved she has. Don't get too eager though, this girl is not one for going big unless it deals with death in any way. Expect something small from her, most of the time a gift wrapped neatly with gothic packaging paper, (usually it's something morbid), other times it perhaps may be something dished out from Tyler, like a sweet treat her partner greatly enjoys, or their favorite coffee. Whatever the case may be, Wednesday's partner's birthday is the only celebration she's keen to take part in, second to Dia de los Muertos.

Now we all know (or should) that Wednesday Addams is NOT a happy-go-lucky girl. She's brooding, morbid, selfish in a few ways and a maniac for torturing. She is the embodiment of a black cat. When it comes to her partner and words of affirmation, Wednesday is lost in a maze that seems to never end. Cheering her partner up is like a serial killer attempting to cheer up one of their victims. Absolutely horrible (if you can imagine it), and practically no progress gets done. These encounters occasionally end up with brief arguments; her partner becomes irritated with Wednesday's lousy attempts, and Wednesday is just so lost─and she is NEVER lost─that her own uncertainty drives her mad and that outrage eventually lashes out at them. Basically, it's best to just go to someone else, like Enid, for instance, if they need some cheering up.

Wednesday has noted this particular topic once and she will note into it again; she does not want children. At all. She does not wish for a wailing infant in the wee hours of the night and demanding things that they'll eventually learn to do themselves anyway once they grow older. So if her partner touches upon the idea (whenever they get older, obviously), at any time, any hour, she will turn it down immediately. No room for discussion. Wednesday is the type of person who once they make up their mind, it's practically impossible to water it down. Even with some credible persuasion, she will not listen to you.

When it comes to Wednesday and compliments, she prefers to do it in a much more muted way. When I say 'muted' I mean rude. She doesn't mean for them to come out in such a bitchy manner, but occasionally her compliments end up in tears. An example: Say her partner walks in with something bright, neon colors, poofy, extravagant, essentially looking like something from Enid's wardrobe. It's an understatement to say Wednesday is appalled merely at the sight. However, let's say there's a particular aspect of the outfit that catches her eye, and it's fairly pleasing to her. Out of instinct, she'll make a comment regarding it. "You look like a unicorn threw up all of its remains on you, and that's the only pretty thing you get out of it." with this, she'll be pointing towards the said object. Wednesday means well, but she sucks at any form of complementary.

From the very beginning of the relationship, Wednesday WAS the first to confess, contrary to popular belief. But the confession was not by any means sweet, or even straight up. Rather, she gave small hints within a minor speech to her partner, almost like her confession to returning Tyler's feelings. Her partner has to connect the dots to even understand what Wednesday is initiating. Regardless, even though Wednesday appeared with her feelings first, and she's officially in a relationship, the next thing that's gonna happen is her walking right past them (her partner) and commanding them to follow. Best they do.

Cuddling is a sign of physical affection, and I've stated earlier that Wednesday does NOT relish skin-to-skin contact. So with that being said, don't ever expect cuddling sessions with this Addam girl. She will push her partner away, curl up at the very end of the mattress, and refuse to make eye contact. However...If her partner ends up begging for some style of substitute for nestling, (I'm talking hands and knees on the ground, head bowed before her, and maybe add in some fake sobbing for dramatic effect), Wednesday MIGHT feel some remorse for them, and she must make her partner happy and comfortable...by her own means. This ends up with what they like to call; "Catapillar Time". If you thought about how much Wednesday would despise that name, you're correct. She absolutely loathes the term. Forbids saying it, and is on a roll of cutting her partner off every time they're about to speak out about it. Anyway, "Catapillar Time" is a simple style of cuddling that does not require any physical touch. Rules: You and your partner curl up close together, both of you are supposed to be bundled up in a blanket head-to-toe, (imagine that one bts photo of Wednesday where Jenna is in a cacoon of a blanket), and for the sake of her partner, they face each other with a dorky grin on their face. It's not that pleasurable for Wednesday, but it's most certainly better than actual cuddling, and sometimes, god forbid she'll ever admit this, she finds herself enjoying the part-time, just spending wholesome moments with her beloved.

Dancing is frankly considered in my headcanon a way of Wednesday showing her love and gratitude to her partner. Whenever they have these moments, Wednesday is at her happiest concerning her significant other. The picture of them just moving their feet to the rhythm of the music brings a miniature smile to her face. In fact, they tend to have a certain 'tradition' when it comes to dancing together. Wednesday worships doing any sort of Latin dance with her partner, whether it be Salsa, Bachata, or Merengue. This, bewitchingly, is one of the ONLY times Wednesday will permit bodily contact to crawl upon her. Nevertheless, merely the sight of her darling dancing will never fail to be one of her favorites.

Wednesday and dates are a hard thing to combine and put together. It's every once in a full moon that her partner gets to set out some kind of picnic for them to enjoy and be alone. It's not like Wednesday purposely goes out of her way to put together dates as little as possible, it's just not something she can do a lot of the time. This girl is busy with multiple segments; her parents coddling her every second of the day, school being its usual bitchy self, (not to mention Principal Weems always leering over her shoulder), and the entirety of the murder mystery case she holds heavy in her hands. So best bet whenever she ultimately attains some free time to hang out with her significant other in a romantic circumstance, all of her looks forward to it (she will never admit that.)

Kisses are a discreet subject concerning Wednesday and relationships. Her partner has to carry ALL of her syndicate, and that includes her very dignity has to weigh heavy in their palms without dropping it, or else they can wave her goodbye (if they still have a hand that is). Kisses are a form of physical affection; physical affection is usually a no-go for Wednesday, and her beloved is no aberration. She has to be fully committed to the relationship, it has to have already gone a long way, and she's checked off all of her trials of trust with her partner as successful to even consider kissing. Don't worry, however, it does happen eventually, and Wednesday finds herself enjoying it a little more than she envisioned. They don't become a regular thing from here on out, but they do become more recurring as time passes by and carriages of faith get heavier. The first kiss with her partner is soft, admit a bit awkward, but the delicacy of it all hides that away and all they could sense were their hearts aligning and perhaps the stars in their eyes as well.

Wednesday never, ever outwardly says the words; "I love you". She prefers to display her love and care toward her significant other in additional ways; whether it be accomplishing a small chore for them, making them something that they usually enjoy, or remote pecks to the lips and/or cheeks (although she claims to resent them, she secretly relishes in them). Any time her partner says the three phrases to her, she outwardly cringes, but deep inside, a warm fuzzy sensation of bubbles pops up to the surface and causes her to feel all flustered. Bonus: Every time they whisper the words to her in her ear her cheeks flush a bright pink. She can't help it, it's cute.

Flirting is a kind of a weird subject for Wednesday. She has no shame for it, and relatively enjoys it occasionally, but her style of flirting is odd and can come out as off-putting at best. Comparing her partner to society seen as "macabre" things, like blood for instance. Her significant other will come out in a plaid of red, and she'll say something like; "You remind me of the blood that trickles down a sharp, glistening knife that I would with no hesitation lick up." Cue Enid or Ajax tumbling into the room as she says that and they'll have the most concerning expressions painted on their exterior, and her darling is so used to Wednesday's abnormal flirting tactics that they just laugh and accept it with a smile. It's humorous, really.

I'd like to think Wednesday has two love languages: Acts of Service and Quality Time. This girl doesn't really know the best ways to muster up the words "I love you", and despises being touched, as we've already established. Yet, she doesn't mind doing things for her beloved as a way to get her feelings within reach. If her partner asked her if she could do the dishes for the night, (politely), she would with no reluctance because one; it's not that tedious of a task and she frankly doesn't mind, and two; nearly anything for her darling if it doesn't bother her in a way. Spending time with the people she cares about is always something she'll never admit to taking satisfaction in because...she's Wednesday Addams. However, with her significant other? She won't say it, but it's DEFINITELY blatant she pushes her best to carve out as much time with them as possible and show her deep but subtle love.

Wednesday loves, loves, loves, loves giving her partner written-out love letters. Especially making them resemble ancient love letters from ages ago, I'm talking 17th-century old looking. Crumpled up, burnt-off edges, and coffee stains to get the brown coloring. It's fun for her, and surprisingly too since it has nothing to do with anything dark-like. She, being an author, makes some of the most poetic-sounding letters ever and her beloved cherishes every single one of them that she gives. Frequently she even writes them out as authentic poems; poetry is very much Wednesday's forte, it's one of her favorite forms of penmanship in my headcanon.

Lastly, PDA. You're funny if you believe Wednesday would ever indulge in show-casing her love towards her partner in public. I mean, what's the point? Why should she feel obligated to let everyone know who her other half belongs to? Her relationship should not be forced out into the open for everyone's intruding gazes to see. Who would even care, to be honest? If she were in their shoes she wouldn't give a damn about who's kissing who. If anything, she'll make a sharp disgusted look before walking away and minding her own business. The very thought of PDA brings shivers to run down her spine, and not in a good way either. It only brings her mind to her parents and how much they ravage in it and her whole idea to be nothing like them (besides getting into a relationship, she's already failed that...) just fuels her to never, ever take part in it. Hope that her partner doesn't care about PDA and such, cause Wednesday Addams is not gonna be persuaded into this one.

welp. this finally got finished. meant to complete it in a span of 2-3 days but motivation just has not been kicking lately. I wrote this honestly to just kinda post more of my writing as I'm currently working on another project (spoiler alert: it's black christmas related.) and it's taking... awhile. so, I hope you enjoyed this, and uhh yeah. -cora

[letyachan]

Pigeonfoot x Eaglewing for hypokits?

"How have things been going at Skyclan, Curlewtail?"

decide to make a little history 😄

Annunciation Eaglewing was in the medicine cat den, waiting for Squirrelstar and Ivypool to arrive, his heart hammering in her chest. The she-cat didn't expect things to happen like this, it wasn't in the plans, but since it happened like this, there's nothing she can do, she doesn't feel regret, sadness or fear, just a great euphoria. Squirrelstar and Ivypool enter the den, Squirrelstar had a worried look, Ivypool had a serious look. The two sat down next to Eaglewing. "So what did you want about?" Squirrelstar asked. "I'm pregnant," Eaglewing meowed, looking into her leader's eyes. The two seemed to relax a little, until Squirrelstar looked at her two kits, Jayfeather's shoulders were tense and Alderheart was nervous. "Who is the father?" Squirrelstar meowed with uncertainty as to whether she should ask the question. "Actually, it's the other mother…it's Pigeonfoot…from Skyclan…" "Skyclan!" Ivypool snapped before lowering her voice, "are you having a half-clan kits? With a Skyclan warrior?" "Well, it wasn't in the planning, we never even considered having kits because none of us wanted to leave our clans, our home, our family" Eaglewing lowered her ears and snuggled into the nest. Squirrelstar sighed as she looked at the younger cat and as she couldn't help but remember Leafpool, perhaps it was the longing and love for her sister that made her judgement, but it didn't really matter. "What do you want to do now?" Squirrelstar lay down and curled up his paws, looking like a loaf of bread now. "…I'd like to tell her" "So it will be, I'll talk to Leafstar about it, for now focus on your kits, okay?" Eaglewing nodded, silently thanking Squirrelstar for his treatment.

The birth The she-cats had asked their respective leaders to remain in their own clans, Pigeonfoot agreed that no matter how many were born, they would stay in Thunderclan, she just asked to see them at birth. Fulfilling her promise, a Thunderclan patrol came to get Pigeonfoot when the time came, the she cat had never run so fast in her life, when she arrived at the Thunderclan camp, Eaglewing was still in labor. "Welcome, you seem to have tired the patrol I sent" complimented Ivypool. "We came" she caught her breath "from Skyclan here running, without resting" Eaglewing family, Pigeonfoot, Ivypool, and Squirrelstar's waited together, even as Blossomfall glared at Pigeonfoot. A step of paws later, Alderheart appeared in the doorway, smiling. "She's fine, the kits were born strong and healthy, there are two she-cats and a tom" Alderheart announced. Pigeonfoot felt her heart burst with joy and everyone could see the sparkle in her eyes. She asked permission to enter, which was granted. She walked with big steps towards her mate, Eaglewing looked tired and the kits were already feeding. "They're so cute" Pigeonfoot meowed, Eaglewing agreed with her.

The left Curlewpaw, in her ten moons old, informed that she would no longer remain in Thunderclan. "What?! And where else would you go?!" Canarypaw meowed "Skyclan" "Do you want to stay with mother Pigeonfoot?" Duckpaw asked. Curlewpaw nodded. The gray she-cat looked at her mother, expecting anger, but there was no such thing in her expression, but concern. "Did you talk to anyone else about this? You're not going alone, are you? Obviously not, I'll be taking you there, I would never forgive myself if something happened" Eaglewing said to her kit. "Are you just going to accept it mom?" Canarypaw said in surprise. "The thing I want most in the world is the happiness of the three of you"

[espcr]

NAME. Terra (Latin for 'earth' or 'land') Branford (This name is of Anglo - Saxon origin, and is a locational surname deriving from the place called 'Bramford' in Suffolk)

HAIR STYLE/COLOUR. Loose waves and long, often tied up in a ponytail with a ribbon. Originally blonde in Amano's artwork, but I personally prefer the later canonical green since it makes her stand out more.

EYE / EYE COLOUR. Large and long-lashed, colored a gentle, light green.

HEIGHT. 5' 3''; slender and petite.

CLOTHING STYLE. Her uniform tends to stand out, being a rich red with floral patterns. I think perhaps Kefka wanted to lean harder into the whole "Magitek-riding Evil Witch" imagery? Even if it's simply for style's sake, her clothing seems to be made with fine and expensive fabrics. Despite her lithe build, she is a trained soldier and capable of wearing heavy armor.

After balance is restored to the world, Terra remains human due to the connections she has forged with her comrades, as well as the survivors of Mobliz. I think that she'd enjoy wearing more common types of clothing with less 'exotic' accessories.

BEST PHYSICAL FEATURE. I believe it's her eyes, she is openly expressive and her innocence and kindness is probably most evident when looking into the 'windows to the soul'.

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS

FIRST THOUGHTS WAKING UP . Probably little but a persistent sense of anxiety and uncertainty.

WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT MOST . Terra mulls over her own humanity and whether she is capable of being a 'normal' girl, often looking to others to get a proper sense of what she feels her emotions and reactions 'should' be.

WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT BEFORE BED . I think once Kefka is defeated, she no longer has this persistent sense of hopelessness or dread. She tucks all the orphans in for the evening and is able to sleep soundly knowing she can protect them.

WHAT THEY THINK THEIR BEST QUALITY IS . She'd probably have a hard time thinking up much of anything beyond her martial and magical abilities.

LAYER FOUR: WHAT’S BETTER?

SINGLE OR GROUP DATES. Single. I think being on a group date would only make her more nervous.

TO BE LOVED OR RESPECTED. Loved. She has always been preoccupied by her own capacity to love, whether she was 'human enough' to even experience such an emotion.

I think initially she though love was limited to romantic feelings, but she learns over time that there are many facets and platonic forms of love that are just as treasured.

BEAUTY OR BRAINS. Welp, she definitely wasn't swooning over resident 'handsome playboy king' Edgar, so I would have to say brains.

DOGS OR CATS. I feel Terra is a gentle soul who'd love any kind of animal, especially the weird or ugly ones.

LAYER FIVE: DO THEY …

LIE. She doesn't enjoy doing it, but she has had to lie quite often to keep herself safe from being turned back in to the Empire.

BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES . At first, no. She is plagued by many insecurities and remains passive out of fear of making the 'wrong choice' for awhile. Still, her bravery and even a small amount of humor manage to shine through during moments when she needs it most.

After defeating the monster attacking Mobliz in the World of Ruin, I think she realizes that her powers can be used to protect and heal moreso than simply destroy or bring danger and harm to her loved ones.

BELIEVE IN LOVE. Yes.

WANT SOMEONE. She thinks she does? Like mentioned earlier, I think for awhile she's trying to sort out her feelings and she is rather young, so she might be a little preoccupied with notions of romance and other things.

Whether this remains the case later has yet to be explored, but I believe she'd more be open to the possibility of it happening naturally, rather than seeking it out.

LAYER SIX: EVER BEEN…

BEEN ON STAGE. No.

DONE DRUGS. No.

CHANGED WHO YOU WERE TO FIT IN. Initially, I think she desires to fit in but also doesn't have the slightest clue HOW to.

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES

FAVORITE COLOR. Pink, light blue, purple.

FAVORITE ANIMAL. All of them.

FAVORITE MOVIE. IDK, probably like Practical Magic? That seems like it'd speak to her.

FAVORITE GAME. Anything that the children love: hide and seek, story time, playing pretend.

LAYER EIGHT: AGE

DAY YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY WILL BE. October 18th

HOW OLD WILL YOU BE. I think, what, a year passes between WoB and WoR? So, she'd be nineteen?

AGE MATTER. Not from a friendship standpoint. She's unsure in a romantic sense, but her track record seems to be more mature and wise 'mentor'-like individuals.

LAYER NINE: IN A PERSON

BEST PERSONALITY . Someone who is more outgoing than her who can make her laugh.

BEST EYE COLOR . any

BEST HAIR COLOR . any

BEST THING TO DO WITH A PARTNER . Trying or learning something new, traveling.

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE

I LOVE. balance / chaos I FEEL. light / heavy / chained / caged I HIDE. nothing / everything . I MISS. Times of peace. I WISH. To be 'normal'.

[voicesofadistressedsoul]

October 4, 2024

It's the day after Heartstopper released, and to say that I feel like how Nick and Charlie were during the first half is an understatement. I do this thing where after I watch something that is sad I take on that personality. Whether it's that I realize how shit my life is, or it's the kind of attention seeking where you think a camera is on you, and if you don't show signs of struggling then people might not take you seriously. Regardless, I have been feeling like shit.

Its been a long time coming, and I'm not so sure why I'm wondering where it came from. Money problems are the root of all evil, because how dare we give people a livable wage so that we can eat and pay rent. Insane.

Before I get into anything truly crazy, and if there are even any people that are going to be reading this (as I will post tags), I feel like I should introduce myself. My name is Anon, not that it's my actually name, it's just how you will refer to me. I am going to share as little information about myself as possible. It's the internet, and it's crazy at how obscure things can be traced back to you, and for some of the things that I wish to talk about, its better to have that barrier between my life and strangers online. Growing up on the internet you realize the comfort that can come from people not knowing who you are. My pronouns are they/them, though I really don't care. I am going to be turning 23 soon and I have 2 cats that will also remain nameless. That is all you get to know about me.

I truly don't know why I am writing this on the internet, I think I am just trying to live my best TV guru life where the star of the show is struggling, but it's only when they discover her hidden tumblr page do they realize the signs were all there. Not that I am going to do anything, like I said I have cats that need me and I need them. Can't imagine being anywhere without their presence in my life. I also want people to know that they're not alone, even if it's just one person who knows that another person is feeling just as shit as they are, that's all I want. Call it the older daughter, middle sibling treatment where we know how shit people can feel, and it was our job to put people back together (or to stay out of the way cause we were made to feel like we were always in the way). Truthfully the picking and choosing which sibling has the most family trauma from getting forgotten is all horseshit to me (though it is the middle one).

Anyways, now that that long intro is over, let's get into the main topic of the day. Heartstopper.

I align myself more with Isaac than I care to tell anyone really. It's not an easy topic to breach when you don't even know yourself. I've had crushes, sure, and I think it's why I really want a Solitaire spinoff is so we can see that kind of figuring out without the main topic being love. While I love the love!, it's also just as important as to see that not everyone wants that, or can even feel that. I have had crushes and boyfriends and one girlfriend, and I adore women and think I need to be committed to a woman to fully know if I do want that kind of thing in my life. I am completely okay with being alone, and if I am asexual and aromantic, I think I need to cover all my options. I think I'm more demi where I need to know someone for a long time before I can start loving them. Which sucks when that is not how society works right now. Its all "date someone and then tell them you love them a few months later", and that entire concept is just so weird to me. Like don't you date someone because you love them? Anyways, I think that is a huge part of why I am feeling this weight all over me.

Uncertainty hurts, and its alot of what I am feeling right now. I am scared for the future because I'm 23 and not in school, dropped out actually, I am in a minimum wage job, moved out, no car, and in debt already because of messed up taxes and being fired from 2 jobs this year, so I was on payments from the government that I have to give back, plus school loans that was all for nothing. So money issues, and then being lonely when I don't want to be, but I also am scared of being in a relationship because my last big and long one ended and I haven't been able to long another person like that since. Feeling like I am letting people down when I know that I am trying my best, but feeling like my best isn't good enough and I am one bad day away from a "we need to talk" conversation. No one tells you how hard it is growing up being in an environment of 'your best isn't good enough' and then being surrounded by people who just want to see you be the best version of yourself and wouldn't get upset with you for trying, and trying to rewire your destructive brain to accept that view. It's hard, and it's hard to have those conversations that showcase that you're trying, and then trying to self-therapize yourself while looking to websites and pinterest for quotes that make you feel better.

I've also been listening to Aurora, her music has really been helping me get through this time as her music makes me cry when I'm sad. It itches that part of my brain that just wants to run away from all the pressure of being someone. This world is so hard set on being someone, and if you fall anywhere short of that then you're treated as if you have failed life. And if you want to be someone, the realization that you're nothing but ordinary hurts. But, when I am feeling that way I look at the people around me, who would classify themselves as the ordinary, and I look at them and I see anything but. I see them being the reason that I keep trying to get better, and them being the literal light in my life. To me, they are anything but ordinary. I remember the little moments of someone that I look up to, a streamer that I've been watching for 2 years, and how every time someone tells him that he helps them get through the day and he treats himself as ordinary, but he's not. I think about how he knows my name in his chat, and that people in his fandom know me on social media, and are nothing but loving and encouraging, and that they are not ordinary either, and they create and put so much good into this world to even be classified as that. No one is just ordinary, but it doesn't help the voice in my head that is telling me that I am the only ordinary thing in this world. That all of my love in art and writing and reading and video creating amounted to nothing but unfinished projects.

I think I just need to get diagnosed and it will all be better, but I don't know what my insurance covers and no one wants to diagnose and overweight presenting-woman.

That's all I am going to dump about today. See you tomorrow, maybe not.

Just know you're not alone,

Anon <3

[gerardyay]

Assignment 3 commentary

Prompt: I got the idea for this prompt of saving water from a local (Limbang) contest. Which I felt was a good prompt as the audience, requirements and platform is laid out for me to fulfil such that I am able to keep a focused goal for this infographic.

What i picked out for the requirements from the contest:

Digital and physical print

Audience is for the youth

Water saving tips and reasons to save water has to be included.

Design process:

I first went to research as much as possible for the topic at hand as the first step to further ensure the feasibility of making this infographic. Which eventually came to these 3 main points:

Why save water?

Projected increase in demand

Climate change uncertainty

Save money

Limitations of our 4 taps (Because we always learnt in school why they are so good, thus showing the limitations would show the reason as to why saving water is important)

Desalination is expensive and energy demanding

Water catchment are affected by climate

Import affected by climate and trade agreements

Newater is too clean (lacks natural minerals often found in tap/river water, hence more often used for industries)

Water saving tips people might not know of (Because i felt that majority of singaporeans know the basic : use cup when brushing teeth/ or use waste water to water plants)

Free water kits are avaliable for anyone who wants them (offered by PUB)

Looking for water efficiency labels

Using a smart water meter app that tracks your water usage. (Although this is only present in certain regions, it does create a early signal for the others who might not know of such an application)

With these three main points, I started to design the overall layout of the infographic

When designing, I tried to incorporate a main visual hook to the infographic as seen in some of these drafts:

Main visual hook is a cat trying to drink small amounts of water

Rejected because although a cat is cute, some might disagree with whether it has any relation to the topic.

Main visual hook is a kitchen setup that has a tap either overflowing or leaking.

However all these landscape designs are rejected as I go back to the lessons I've learnt from previous assignment in making things too complicated. Having too much visuals might also distract away from the points I wanted to make. Furthermore, as my informations are in different groups, having them be together whilst having readability and a sense of flow would be extremely difficult to execute due to the lack of space.

I then look around the internet for examples, and seeing as how most of them follow a portrait format, I decided to experiment with that instead. And found that my information flows better under a portrait then landscape format.

The next thing was having a colour scheme. I use blue as the main hue as

Water is blue

Blue is a cool colour which conveys the calm emotion that i wanted to convey. As I felt that although water is a privilege, for the underprivileged there are more important issues to worry about as well as the fact that the government has been making alot of actions to mitigate our water crisis. Thus, I only wanted to remind people that we should not be complacent about our water rather than urge or demand people that saving water is of the utmost urgency right now.

I then used a colour scheme website coolers.co, to easily help create a colour scheme around the blue hue. Resulting in this:

with neutral hue white to help bring contrast.

Giving rise to these icons below:

After creating these icons, I started adding the accompanying captions:

The fonts I used for body is Arial Rounded MT Bold as they have a round shape to them similar to water.

The fonts used for Title/sub title is Bebas Neue Regular (Title) as they attract the most attentio.

And after creating these caption I stumbled upon the issue that I do not have enough space.

Even after moving to a portrait format, I still have an issue of a hook.

I tried mitigating the issue with the blue background as well as the tap above. But these methods did not seem to do the trick for me.

I thus went back to researching layouts from internet examples, but what i've seem to see was that most of them do not really have a hook as well. Those that do, however have very little information.

I thus, decided to compromise on the hook by placing the background of the Merlion spewing water. And changing the title to be more inquisitive that calls out to the reader rather than a passive question of "why we should save water". I thus hinge the hook on the title and the Merlion. Creating this work for the critique session.

Concept and Execution:

Concept:

Saving water with WHY + HOW

Keeping in mind for print

Youth

Execution:

Reason for why and how is listed

Using the computer screen for judgment at 100%

Omitting the use of other dialects and incorporating tech elements (QR code) to increase engagement.

Critique:

Through the critique I realised that my execution was not the best. And certain information that I did not know of was raised during our tutorial session.

Main points:

When printing, there needs to be ample space around the corners in case the printer does not print accurately

There's too much information, thus some things can be reduced

QR code best to limit to one

Left align words instead of central align

Water usage icon looks like "use your phone to scan" icon instead rather than showing an app that can track your water usage

Delete "which are unreliable" in the import point

You can determine whether a size is appropriate for print by printing or putting it up on a screen

"Water demand" as its is a projected data with just a statement by PUB, it is not as useful an information.

Lack of a visual hook

Use typography

Preamble with "singapore uses 430 million..." can be utilised more in touch with the title by having a bigger font size

All the points from the linkedin thing

The background shader for the subtitles are unnecessary

I agree with all the critique points.

And through the critique I realised that I really had too much information. And that the information that I thought would be essential were actually not as important.

I thus tackled this problem first as it would create a lot of space for the other critique to be applied.

As 'Why should we save water' and 'limitations of the 4 taps' serves the same purpose, I decided to remove 'why should we save water' as the points made were not as impactful and the data by PUB was not concrete.

I also decided the remove the Free water kit as the application to track your water usage is much more new and relevant than the water kit.

I also forgot about the use of typography admittedly when doing the infographic. Which I then incorporated express the information as it was too long and complicated to express in purely numbers or charts.

I also tried to increase the font size of every single words used as the current size I use for the smallest words is 12 pts. And when projected on the screen, I could read out the words but only because I could make out the rough shape of the letters.

Thus changes to the icons are as such:

With the information reduced, I had more space and tried experimenting with landscape format again to incorporate a visual hook.

However, with the size requirement of the fonts for the other information, I find it hard to group them together in a way that allows readers to understand the flow of the information.

I thus, reverted back to portrait format.

I enlarged the tap to take up 1/3 of the space to serve as the visual hook. Coupled with the title, these two elements take up about half of the page.

Following the points from the critique plus the linkedin thing,

1.) I have finally have a visual hook that is represent the core topic

(turning off tap - to save water. Transparent - create a sense of not being there, thus - 'we are not saving water' message)

2.) One unified illustration style of solid icons

3.) 2 fonts used.

4.) Blue as the colour scheme and reasoning as explained above.

5.) Most important insights are selected

6.) Typography used to visualise complicated concepts

7.) hiearchy is establised with placements and different font sizes and colour

8.) Pattern is build through colour and type treatment where the point is the darker navy blue whereas, explanation in the body are white

9.) Reasoning for fonts selected as explained above.

Overall, there was alot to improve on from the original and the most important takeaway I feel, is that the difference in designing for print and digital are the most common mistakes made and is important to keep in mind the font size and edges when printing. The physical limitations of the printer as well as the reader are important aspects that make or break the design.

[arc-77]

He glances at her upon the outburst, but resumes his actions just as quickly as he stopped. This was an incredibly dangerous game he was playing here. Her grasp on reality seemed tenuous as best, no matter how she tried to fight against the delusions. She might kill him over some unknown provocation, one completely within her mind. Or maybe just because it would be the smart thing to do.

What was he even doing here? Did he have a plan going into this? What happens after? He had chased and cornered her like a cat, throwing scraps of food at her, hoping it'll make her like him. She was no cat. She was a violent and unpredictable ex-jedi, traumatized to a degree few have ever experienced, sick in the head, seeing things that weren't there. Did he think he was helping her? If he hadn't confronted her in the first place, she would not have run herself so ragged to escape him. And if she didn't kill him for this, someone else in the Empire would for failing to put her down when he had the chance.

One step at a time.

Syndra. He searches his memories for any level of familiarity but comes up empty. There were ten-thousand Jedi then; he couldn't have known every one. Should he try and probe for a legion? No. It doesn't matter anyways. He would speak, and she would listen.

"I was an ARC Trooper — a Captain. Battles on Muunilinst, Hypori. Jabiim, Mimban. Coruscant. Fought just about everywhere, at one point or another."

Out of the pack comes a reflective aluminized emergency blanket, which he partially unfolds and nudges towards her, followed by a basic medpack and other small survival accoutrements. When it is finally empty, he places it on the blanket. The fabric bag would be a poor excuse for a pillow, but it was better than nothing.

"Worked with a lot of different Jedi. Obi-wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Bultar Swan, Shaak Ti — Master Yoda, a few times. Considered a few of them to be good friends, people I'd have laid down my life for. If I'd been there with any of them when it happened, I like to think I would have."

Fordo rambles for over ten minutes while the rations warm, wisps of steam rising from the flameless heater. As promised, he goes over what he remembers of the purge — how his unit was not attached to any Jedi when Order 66 came down from the Supreme Chancellor, now Emperor. How he did not learn the full extent of the damage until almost a day had passed. The immense uncertainty of that transitional period. He fills her in on the information he's pieced together since. The existence of the control chips, thanks to his Clone contacts in the Rebellion, and how his batch never had them. Emperor Palpatine's nature as a Sith Lord, and the likelihood that this had been planned since the GAR's very creation.

He neglected to shield his mind from the force's influence, allowing her, were she able, to glean his intentions and whether or not he believed what he said. His presence in the force had lost its intensity, now merely warm, crackling coals, glowing like a campfire in the dim crevice.

The aroma of fragrant spices fills the air as he cuts open the fully heated retort pouch. It's a meaty, goulash-like stew that must smell utterly intoxicating on a nearly-empty stomach. In a smaller pouch is a warm, fruit-filled pastry. He sticks a plastic spoon in the stew and pushes the food over to her, before tending to some trail mix himself.

"Picked these out of my stash, a few of my favorite menu items. Tastes better than the living force, I hope."

The first thought to hit her mind is she doesn't recall ever seeing any of them reaching the golden years to gray like that. Weathered and wrinkled, it's a far cry from the fresher faces she saw during the Clone Wars. But by now? That was so long ago wasn't it? Despite the wandering mind, her gaze is no less transfixed. The hatred does not quell itself from her mind as those burning eyes remain aware, never leaving his presence even as he begins to drag out all manner of objects to prepare.

What was he doing? What was his game?

She tries still to probe his mind, to find a way in to lurk and gain answers that plague her terrorized mind. At first she does not speak, she does not reach for the nourishment that her body practically begs for. Huddled where she was, she remains completely still. Too long without food, too long without sleep. Her bond with the Force could only keep her sustained for so long.

Matted damaged hair hangs stiffly in front of her face. Gloved fingers gripping at the curve of her own knees. The hunter is vulnerable, weakness exposed, and that aching part of her mind that feels the ever present pull of the Dark Side calls to her. To indulge in that hatred, to take advantage of this lapse of judgement and remove his head from his shoulders.

But her body is worn. Weary. Cautiously, eyes still not faltering, she reaches for the energy bar left at her side. Wasting no time ripping into it like the animal she had become. Scarfing through it, and her body properly reacting to being so neglected in the chase.

He's going to kill you. The voice says. He's going to do what all of the others did and you won't be able to stop him. Her jaw tightens, her features visibly bristle. Struggling with this, she clashes at odds with the things her mind wants her to do.

'Are you going to let him just sit there? Are you going to give him the chance he's looking for?'

"Shut up!" She looks off to her side, away from the both of them, spitting venom at a presence that's not there. Before a moment passes and she pounds at the top of her head with the balled up fist not holding onto that energy bar. Trying to find her barings. Trying to figure out if he was even really here... Silent for another beat.

"Syndra."

[focsle]

I think another thing that really makes me feel for all these whaling lads is a particular sort of self consciousness that a number of them seemed to carry over how they fit in with the world and the other people in it. 

“But how shall I describe a whaleman?” Asks Charles Nordhoff in his uncharitable whaling travelogue aimed at dissuading young men from going to sea. “His most marked peculiarity is a certain uncertainty in his gaze, which seems to betoken a lack of self-confidence. He moves along with a spiritless dawdle, which is quite in unison with his general expression of listlessness. He evidently feels but ill at ease in shoes and stockings. He speaks in an undertone, as though not judging it worth while to talk louder. His appearance is thoroughly unprepossessing and calculated to give the impression that he is quite the reverse of ‘smart’. This is the whaleman, ashore.”

This self consciousness of where whalers stand with others and with larger society manifests in their journals across those of all ranks and roles.

Asa Copeland, Captain of the Arab, hailing a clipper ship to ask if they could take home some letters, and worrying about how to assuage the merchant captain should he be “angry that his meditations were interrupted by the captain of a ‘blubber hunter’”.  

William Buel, greenhand on the Wave sharing his anxieties on the first page of his journal of if he’ll be accepted on a whaleship and wanting to know what sort of man the voyage will make of him as he fled a sense of purposelessness ashore, to ultimately die at sea. 

Silliman Ives, steward on the Sunbeam expressing surprise and dismay over a rumor the mate shared with him that Nantucket girls would refuse to dance with “filthy whalemen”.

Mary Brewster, whaling wife on the Tiger being met with her adoptive mother saying that she “would in no way assist” her and that “her house would never be a home [for Mary] again” if Mary proceeded with her plan of joining her husband aboard his ship.

J.T. Langdon, foremast hand on the St Peter thinking that his friends and family had forgotten about him as he hadn’t received any letters for years. Langdon standing over the graves of long-dead fellow whalers on isolated beaches and wondering if anyone even mourned them.

Joseph Dias, first mate of the Ocmulgee closing his voyage with “and all that saved me was a cat. If it hadn’t been for her I don’t know how I should have come out.”

Joseph Gelett, 3rd mate of the ship Brewster writing ‘do they miss me at home do they miss me at home do they miss me’ in a light hand at the top of an otherwise blank page. 

So many asked ‘do they miss me’ ‘do they think of me’ in the margins of their journals, unsure of whether or not their absence was even felt among their family and friends.

Young men of so many different backgrounds and motivations that absolutely created moments of tension and violence, but also bound them together in a specific fraternity that came with the shared identity of ‘whaleman’. Engaged in an occupation unlike any other, living in a self-contained community that for the majority of the time was cut off from the society of others and the surety of the land for years. Whalers gammed with whalers, united in an mutual understanding of a ship so solid in its horrors, its brutal work, in the visceral closeness of sharing the space with so many others for such an extended period, and the strange camaraderie that could also come from those things/despite those things. And this was balanced against the idea that as far as the rest of the world was concerned, they were liminal men. Distant sons and brothers and fathers and friends and lovers who existed but also…didn’t exist, connecting with those left ashore only in the form of a letter written two years prior, or a newspaper report of a ship’s last known location several months old, until they finally DID come home (if they lived to see home). To a place they hadn’t been for three or four years and maybe hadn’t even heard word from over that time. To stumble out of the unique culture of a whaleship and reconcile where they fit ashore again after it all.

I think that’s why I find myself caring so much about them because—at least while at sea—many seemed so uncertain if anyone did.

[stylistiquements]

Day 9 : Scronch'love.

𐐪𐑂 Pairing : Sapnap x fem!reader {Playlist}

𐐪𐑂 Summary : a lovely afternoon and an ancestral question; when are you going to join the dream smp?

𐐪𐑂 Word count : 1.5k

𐐪𐑂 Warning : swearing

Masterlist | Previous | Next

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・　　 .・゜゜・　　・゜゜・

“Have you been here for a long time?”

“Have you been here for a long time?”

“Have you been here for a long time?”

Time bends and twists into unknowns shapes when well spent. So, you’re so not sure. Long enough for your fairy garden to start looking like at least a proper garden, long enough for your feet to start fidgeting, brushing against the soft fabric of the blanket ever so slightly and softly.

“Can you share your screen?”

“I’m just picking flowers, there’s nothing much to see,” you warn but it never does the proper job.

“That’s fine, I like watching you play.”

“Oh, do you now?”

“Yeah. You’ve been playing for years and you’re still dog water. It's almost soothing,” you hear him grin through the silkiness of his voice.

You smile evasively, palm gripping the mouse and executing on memory. Soon, Sapnap’s satisfied noises hovers and everything is just how it’s supposed to be. You spend a while humming the music of days and nights of the game while building your project. Sap helps from time to time, giving advice when his attention is there and leaving trails of compliments on his way. You don’t think the garden is necessarily that good, you don’t mind either.

“Do you think the tree should go on the left or the right of the pond?” You ask, fingers drumming back and forth between the two options. Right he says. "What about the roses, do I plant some or not?"

“It’s just a detail, don’t hurt your brain too much on that,” he says in a light tone, but you disagree.

“Details are what make things important. Like when you remember I prefer warm pillows so you give me yours, it’s just a detail but it makes me happy.”

“Of course I do; you’re a baby,” he murmurs teasingly.

With an arched eyebrow, you retort, “says you,” and silence follows for a second as you plant the tree on the right of the pond.

“Yeah, Dream already made sure I was aware of that.”

“Not sure why the piss baby thinks he’s qualified to have this conversation, buddy,” you note and Sap chuckles are as vivid as contagious. “Why would he call you a baby anyway? What have you done?”

“I-I’m not telling you.” As soon as the mumbles fades, your phone sends loud vibrations on your desk. You abandon your character to the night and the wildness, picking the phone as you murmur a low oh, okay. Whether it’s to your phone or Sapnap, that, isn’t really clear. Still, Sapnap’s words sound more distant, more of what wonders are made of. On the screen, a twitter notification of a certain Karl Jacobs.

“You’re not even listening to me anymore,” Sapnap whines.

“I don’t listen to whiny babies, sorry.”

“We’re on the verge of divorce, yn and it’s your fault.”

A scoff skitters out through teasing lips, “But you still talk about me all the time, don’t you?” Your voice drags through different lands, unknown and musky.

“So what?” He splutters all awkward like it’s some kind of confidence that shouldn’t have left his thoughts and, somehow, you’re surprised the almighty confidence has left the game. “Who said that?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re obsessed with me, admit it,” you demand and though you don’t notice it, too tangled with the moment, the atmosphere is tinted with a different nuance like it’s suddenly dawn at the end of a summer party.

“So are you.”

Now, your heart drums a strange yet familiar rhythm. Something made of secrets and uncertainty, something you decided to leave unnamed a long time ago. Sapnap, you reason, can’t be lied to. He knows better than words half meant, half made up and it’s annoying, really, but he just does somehow. If you dare to lie, he would know and then it would be even more annoying.

“Yeah, you’re living in my head rent free but at least I’m not trying to hide it.” No answer. You peek at the game, you’ve been slain by a spider. “Karl said that,” you resign yourself. “He said he was about to join the vc by the way.”

Before the conversation can carry on, the sound of Karl joining the call resonates. Being in this Discord server is like living in a house with 10 siblings, that’s what you understand from the way Sap exhales heavily.

“Oh, I am interrupting something?” Karl says, struck by a peculiar energy.

“Besties time Karl, besties time,” Sapnap mumbles beneath his breath and it chimes a little like disappointment.

“Well, too bad I guess,” Karl exclaims. “It's about time I meet miss Bunnyshow.”

Karl is like that gif of a cat sitting in a tiny box with the caption “if it fits, I sit”.

“Does that mean our passive aggressive subweet arc is over?” You ask, faking the dejection when your smile grows wide.

“Oh god, I hope not. That’s my favorite part of the day.”

"It means a lot to me. Especially coming from my comfort streamer Karl Jacobs," you confess.

Satisfied, your attention gets back on the game; flowers rooting gracefully into the dirt and hives ready to host the beloved honey bugs as Karl and Sap catch up on time being apart. Everything is quiet and peaceful like the end of an afternoon well spent.

“I like your garden,” Karl points out and you hum a thank you beneath your breath.

“So you can take Karl’s compliments but not mine.”

“We’re besties you’re honor. Sapnap you can leave now, thank you,” Karl giggles and you follow along.

“Sorry Karl, there’s only room for one man in my heart and that has to be Sapnap.”

He fakes a cry to keep the theatrics before adding without transitions, “You know if you asked Dream he’d probably let you on the SMP.”

“No thanks,” you grin.

“Sapnap, your girl doesn’t want to play with us.”

“She’s already been whitelisted for months now,” Sapnap informs but fails to comment on the first part of the complaint.

He’s not lying, but you feel like it says more about Dream’s stubbornness than it says about you. As for your best friend, he understands better than anyone that wish for privacy and it’s something made of respect like yours for his career. You’d rather see him shaped by all the light than being touched by a glimpse of it. He does, after all, deserves it all. So, that’s the contract you made with yourself because it made sense; being a supportive shadow. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that you’ve never considered streaming before. It’s that it’s his world more than yours.

Karl, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to think the same way, “This is unacceptable, I gotta send a few texts.”

“Lost cause, dude, lost cause,” you grin but stubbornness seems to be a pre required trait for those mcyts.

Before you have time to find a suitable comment about the newborn group chat, a new person joins the call and Sapnap's annoyance is even more palpable, "No fucking way dude. We can't even have a second of peace on this server."

"Why would you be in a discord call if you want peace. You're just dumb," Quackity retorts with an energy he and he only can ever own.

Then George joins and Dream follows on his heels and soon your ears are filled with conversations that are as loud as scattered. Your shoulders sink in the back of your chair as soft fingers try to brush the upcoming migraine away. This is why you can't join the SMP; -not really but still- too much energy that has to be processed at all time. And you should know better, being friend with a very chaotic boy for the last 15 years, but you're not somehow.

"No, fuck that," Sapnap mutters. "I'm out."

"You can't leave now we have things to discuss," George exclaims. "Bunny, explain to me how Sapnap's proposition is more appealing than mine."

"Because I know her more than you do," he defends, and he's right. Money isn't of you interest. Love, on the other hand...

"Because she's like scronch'love," Karl giggles mindlessly.

"The fuck does scronch'love mean?" You ask, amused.

"It's very simple," Quackity intervenes. "If I offered you the same thing, would you even consider it?"

"Of course I would. What kind of question is that?"

"Fine. So, if Sapnap keeps his offer, here is mine; you become the president of Las Nevadas in addition to what he said."

"What?" Sapnap takes offense.

The call brims with an agitated confusion as you smile deviously, heels rooted into the floor to make your chair spin lightly and your fingers drum on your desk.

"I don't think you wanna do that," George corrects.

"Yeah, you absolutely don't," you confirm.

"Fine," he retorts. "So Sapnap's offer plus a Las Nevadas citizenship. How does that sound?"

"Like an offer I'll confider," you sigh. "So who's scronch'love now?"

"Still you," Dream answers. "Except you're also a big dummy."

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・　　 .・゜゜・　　・゜゜・

A/N : helloooo,, how are you??? this part very self indulgent and I think this fic will be in general but I hope you liked it anyway. I love the idea of c!quackity always being too much and always having something to add to be even more over the top. I'm having more trouble than I thought about Bunny's and Sap's friendship because I want them to have a very special friendship but I hope it appears as such. idk. lmk what you think and thank you for reading it it makes me very happy <3 Until next time (ɔˆ ³(ˆ⌣ˆc)

Taglist : @open-minded-chip-101 ; @itsoakaa ; @gaysludge ; @tinyegg ; @qnfdnf​ ; @paintingpetalsforyou ; @notjennaleigh ; @victoria-a567 ; @washy-washy ; @moneybagmarvel ;

[kung-laos-hat]

Kiss Me

Kung Lao x Fem!Reader

AN: Kung Lao, my beloved. Wrote this while listening to Kiss Me More by Doja Cat ft. SZA, banger song. Not proof read yet‼️

Summary: Who doesn’t like when a little friendly rivalry turns into something more?

“You ready to meet your match this time?” Kung Lao chuckled, adjusting his footing and placing a hand on the tip of his hat.

“Course’ I am Lao,” (Y/n) huffed, getting into position, “When they get here make sure to let me know, yeah?”

This had become a daily occurrence. After dinner time, when lessons and training were done for the evening, the three of them would return to the court and cash in on a little sparring. It was their odd way of spending time together outside of missions, plus with the grand tournament coming up, they could use the extra practice.

Usually they had a rotation system that went Liu versus (Y/n), then (Y/n) versus Lao, then Liu versus Lao. They would rest a little after each match, then continue on per usual. However today’s session was going a little different.

Yesterday, (Y/n) had won against Lao and was so proud of her achievement she couldn’t help but rub it in, and Lao, being the prideful young man he was, demanded a rematch. He claimed the mission he’d gone on earlier that day had screwed him over physically. (Y/n) agreed to it, and now here they were.

“3...2...1... fight!” Liu Kang called out from the top on the stairs leading into the main hallway. As the pair lunged at each other, causing reddish brown puffs of dirt to fly off of the ground, he calmly sat and observed.

Minutes passed, and neither party seemed to have even made a scratch on the other. However, an impressive amount of blocking was being done by Kung Lao currently, so Liu assumed the victory would go to (Y/n). The girl had a giddy smile plastered across her face, and it seemed like she, too, expected the victory to be hers.

Liu turned to the side and reached for his water, but noticed he hadn’t brought any with him. He sighed and stood up.

“I’m going to fetch some water from the kitchen. Continue on, but please don’t wreck anything or kill each other. Master will have a fit and then I’ll receive part of the blame for not monitoring you two properly.” Liu said.

“Expect to come back to my—,” (Y/n) began before dodging a kick, “Another one of my victories!”

“Fat chance!”

Previous to all of this, the two friends already had some sort of tension between them. It started off as a friendly rivalry, competing for trifling things such as the last egg roll or using the bathroom first in the morning. But as the years passed, the competitons began to become more... personal. And so did the bickering. Somehow (Y/n) and Lao shifted from “if you don’t shut up I’m gonna kick your ass” to “if you don’t shut up, I’m gonna make you.”

Nevertheless, the three of them quite enjoyed their dynamic (despite Liu Kang shooting knowing looks at the two individually).

Now (Y/n) had Kung Lao backed into a corner with her (weapon/power) held against his neck. Lao strained his neck upwards, his left arm holding his hat behind his back.

“That was the saddest block I’ve seen all day, Lao. Do you yield yet?” (Y/n) smirked triumphantly.

He glanced down at her and huffed. “Watch your tongue, (Y/n).”

He swiftly slid his foot under her, knocking her off her feet, and brought his hat back up to his head before disappearing into the ground. He reappeared behind her and attempted to pin her to the ground, but she jumped up and tackled the boy, landing with her legs straddling Lao’s right one and her hand on his chest.

“You’re so predictable these days,” (Y/n) laughed.

Lao propped himself up on his elbows, “You’re only saying that because you’ve gotten used to my moves.”

“Maybe you should take some time away from me,” (Y/n) jeered, “Y’know, and learn some better ones.”

Lao furrowed his eyebrows, “God, if you don’t stop flapping your mouth—,”

“You’re trapped under me, what are you gonna do? Kiss me?” She laughed.

Lao brought his leg up and forcefully kicked her off, sending her tumbling across the court. (Y/n) jumped onto her feet, narrowly avoiding hitting the wall.

“If you keep that up I just might.” Lao teased.

“You wouldn’t have the nerve,” (Y/n) lunged at him again.

Lao used his hat to block her attack and landed a solid kick to her side. “Is that a challenge?”

God, every word that came out of the girl’s mouth was beginning to get him fired up. He could feel his chest begin to tingle with a mix of excitement and anxiety. What if (Y/n) genuinely wanted to kiss him? If he tried, would she pull away? Kung Lao had always been the bolder of the two, but still.

Kung Lao charged at her and grabbing her hands, holding them behind her back with one hand before she could fully regain her footing. With his other hand he grasped the collar of her top and pulling her closer to his body. (Y/n) was paralyzed by this sudden action and her breath hitched. She looked up at Lao with uncertainty, the color of her cheeks turning redder than the fabric Liu Kang tied around his head.

Lao’s hand trailed up to her face, holding the side of her jaw with his pointer and middle finger while his thumb traced circles over her lower lip. Lao was looking directly into her eyes now.

“Just say the word and I will, (Y/n).” His tone was quieter and more serious than ever before.

(Y/n)’s mouth quivered. It felt like her brain had entirely blanked and she couldn’t find anything clever to respond with.

“I— I... I yield!” She cried, quickly pulling away in embarrassment.

(Y/n) ran up the stairs just as Liu Kang returned. She nodded to him in acknowledgment, but continued to rush off to her room.

Liu stopped and glanced from her retreating figure to his cousin who stood along in the court.

“So... who won?” He cocked an eyebrow in confusion. Kung Lao buried his face in his hands.

———

The next couple of days seemed incredibly off to everyone. (Y/n) went out of her way to avoid interacting with Kung Lao, and vice versa. Lao’s thoughts were just too jumbled for him to approach her, no matter how much he wanted a confirmation on whether she felt the same or not, and (Y/n) was having a difficult time making sense of Lao’s actions.

What would happen if they did like each other? Although at this point, neither of them were sure if “like” was the correct term to use. (Y/n) was certain up until then that Kung Lao had meant everything was a joke and simply took this one a little too far. The insults, the flirting, all of it had been a joke, right? That was their silent agreement. Lao would never do anything with the intention of... well... getting to (Y/n), per say. Their intentions with eachother had always been purely platonic.

But was that really the truth in (Y/n)’s case? Or had she been ignorant to her own feelings towards the boy all along? Is that why she couldn’t stand to look him in the eye now? What if she really was in—

“(Y/n)! Master wants me to accompany him somewhere, so I can’t make it tonight.” Liu called out as he jogged to catch up with the girl.

She blinked, “Oh, it’s alright Liu, we can reschedule for another night then.”

He stretched his arms over his head. “Why don’t you use the time to catch up with Kung Lao? It seems like you two hardly got to spend time together this week.”

(Y/n) blushed and began to shift her feet uncomformably, “Lao and I— we’re- I haven’t...” She sighed, “I’m not exactly in the mood to talk to him any time soon.”

Liu frowned, “It isn’t my place to speak in the matter, and I’m not sure what went down between you two, but If Lao said something I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

The girl groaned and leaned her head back. “That’s what I’m afraid of...” She mumbled.

Liu placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair, then placed both of his hands on her shoulders.

“You’re a smart girl, I’m sure you two will be back on track eventually. Remember: a little communication goes a long way.”

She nodded, “You’re right, I know. I’ll try to sort it out.”

___

Now, Kung Lao was completely crumbling over why (Y/n) had pushed him away. He believed that (Y/n) felt something for him, he was sure of it, and he’d been searching for an opportunity to pursue her for months. So when she jokingly asked if he would kiss her, how could he have resisted?

It was an impulsive decision, he admitted, but he was so sure she felt the same that he thought it didn’t matter. Maybe he should have been more forward and confessed his feelings for her in a different setting.

Buuuuut it was too late now. He blew it. And now she was avoiding him. He was a fool to assume such things about her.

Lao signed and threw himself done on his bed, sprawling his arms and legs out dramatically.

“Cousin? I’m heading out soon, I came to say goodbye—,” Liu’s voice faltered when he saw the state of his friend. He stifled a laugh. “Y’know, if you if this is effecting you so badly, why not just apologize and talk to her?”

Lao’s head shot up in alarm. “Oh no, how much did she tell you!?”

Liu laughed, “Little to nothing, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed the strange energy between you two lately.”

Lao groaned and sat up.

“Heed my advice, and stop moping around, Lao.” Liu patted the other young man’s shoulder before setting off to find their master.

___

A few hours passed and Kung Lao finally felt like he had the right words to explain how he felt to (Y/n). Yes, he’d spent hours cooped up in his room, scribbling his thoughts down on paper until he ultimately decided it was best to be direct. The poor girl was probably confused enough as it was.

It was settled then. He’d talk to her tomorrow after training and lessons, but right now it was probably best to focus on dinner.

He silently walked down the main hall and towards the kitchen. He was sheet he staff had already cleaned up dinner, and seeing as he wasn’t present to eat with the others, it was likely they didn’t bother to prepare him a plate.

Lao opened the door but froze in his tracks at the sight of (Y/n) standing in front of the counter, her shirt stained with the remnants of assorted ingredients. She staggered back at the sight of him in the door way. Lao’s eyes strayed to a small tray of egg rolls and a few other dishes.

“Kung Lao,” She breathed out.

He cleared his throat. “That seems a little excessive for a late night snack.”

“Oh this—,” (Y/n) glanced to the tray and back at him, “You weren’t at dinner, and I didn’t expect you to come to the kitchen... it was supposed to be a secret.”

“I see.” Kung Lao was silent for a moment. “Oh. OH— this is,” He gestured to the tray awkwardly, “for me...”

(Y/n) pursed her lips and nodded, glancing down at the floor. The two of them stood without a word for a moment, anxiety building up in their stomachs. Neither of them wanted to be the first to break the silence, and yet both of them had so much to say.

“I’m sorry.” (Y/n) mumbled at last. “I took our usual teasing too far last time, and I shouldn’t have avoided you—,”

“I wanted to kiss you.” Kung Lao blurted out. “I still do. And wanted you to want me to kiss you.”

“Kung Lao, the jokes we made were fun and all—,”

“Well, I’m not playing around anymore, (Y/n). This time it isn’t a joke.” The serious look he had on the other day had returned.

“So...,” (Y/n) began, barely a whisper, “what are you saying?”

Kung Lao exhaled heavily and furrowed his brows. “How can I be any more transparent right now!?” He growled, “I’m in love with you, (Y/n).”

It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of both of their chests in that moment.

(Y/n) smiled and wasted no time to wrap her arms around Kung Lao’s neck and press her lips against his. He kissed back without hesitation and wrapped his arms around her body shamelessly. Kung Lao deepened the kiss, and their lips moved together feverently, as if this was something they’d both been yearing for for a while.

When they finally separated, (Y/n) rested her head in the crook of Lao’s neck, sighing happily.

“You know what? I think I just might be in love with you too, Lao.”

[devilsskettle]

thee biggest thing i personally would like to see moving forward in the saw franchise would be Consequences because it feels like the biggest missing component of these movies and the next logical step for where to go with the franchise. ofc audiences want the gore and the kills when they watch a saw movie so there needs to be balance but to me, ideally, like 1/4 of jigsaw victims AT LEAST should be surviving the traps. first of all, we want to see some of the traps in action — like in saw x, for example, it was cool to see all of the traps actually play out how they were supposed to because the concepts for the traps were cool, but then it felt unfair and like there wasn’t payoff when most of those characters died despite successfully completing the trap. it cuts the tension also if everyone dies because then you just expect everyone to die, you’re not holding your breath waiting to see what happens. and arguably some of them would be way more fucked up actually to survive! we see a lot of characters survive losing limbs, but what about surviving Getting Your Eyeballs Sucked Out Of Their Sockets or Giving Yourself A Lobotomy??? that’s fucked up, i want to see that. what happens to characters who commit murder under duress like in saw 0.5? we see all kinds of investigations by police and criticism of The System wrt law enforcement but what are the next steps? what happens at trial? there are plenty of other parts of the legal system that are far from reproach. and part of what makes saw 0.5 such a good short film is the uncertainty of david’s fate hanging in the balance at the end of the film and the ambiguity of whether or not he should be held responsible for taking someone’s life and whether he should feel appreciation (as amanda does in the same situation in the first feature length film) for being shown the value of life etc. like it’s soooo good and there’s so much more there that the rest of the franchise just never picks up on. and….. what else. oh yeah i think saw 7 kind of fumbles the concept of seeing what happens to survivors with the jigsaw support group thing which is just like. cartoonishly funny but i do think there was Something There to explore about how people react differently to trauma and there was a decent instinct on the part of the writers throughout the series that there needed to be some recurring characters to ground the series and so that people would maybe care what happened to some of those characters lol (although i don’t particularly care for the procedural drama/cat and mouse game that they wrote to achieve that cohesion between movies, i get what they were going for i guess). where was i going with this….. well, all that is to say, i think a legal drama would be Such a perfect framework for so many of these ideas and it would be a fresh way to structure a saw movie while following what the franchise has already established to its logical conclusion and creating opportunities to question and subvert a lot of those themes as well as just on the level of pacing and Showcasing the traps and you could have multiple timelines like these movies LOVE to do and you’d have ample room to bring back characters and introduce new characters and bring in new social/systematic criticism to be interrogated by the classic jigsaw philosophy etc etc etc anyway….. idk. hire me to write saw xi it’ll be super good i promise

one thing that saw 0.5 did that didn’t really make it into any of the feature films is suggest the question of how morally and legally culpable a person is if they have to kill another person to survive a trap and i think that would’ve been an interesting direction to go in