#its had me for over a year oh good golly

[mudwingprince]

...

[heart-of-the-morningstar]

Lucifer x Reader - Trapped (NSFW)

I needed to write a little something based on @the-other-soup’s ask that she got because it has been living in my head rent free!

****

Your relationship was fairly new; at this point you two decided to keep it under wraps for now

But even though it's only been a few months, it's been nothing but absolutely wonderful

And the activities in the bedroom were no exception!

You two felt like hormonal teenagers when you were alone together; there were times you wouldn't even sleep at night because you were too busy bringing each other so much pleasure!

One night after a drink or two at the bar, you decided to get a little bold and touch Lucifer while you knew no one was looking, gliding your hand up and down his thigh

Lucifer gave you a wide-eyed look, a small golden blush creeping across his face

It didn't matter that this angel was thousands of years old with eons of experience, he treated every intimate act with you like it was his first!

You two snuck away a little bit later (a few minutes apart of course as to not raise suspicion) and met at the elevator that would bring you to his penthouse suite

Once the doors closed, you grabbed his face and kissed him passionately; you couldn't wait to ruin him!

But then suddenly, there was a sharp screeching noise and a bang; the elevator had stopped dead in its tracks

"What the...? Oh come on, don't tell me we're stuck in here!" you pouted

Lucifer only shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the predicament you found yourself in "Ahh, well, that's a bummer! Guess we'll have to get someone to...GAAHHH!"

You decided you weren't going to let a dysfunctional elevator ruin the fun you had planned, and you let Lucifer know that when you began to palm his already half hard cock through his pants

"Uhhh, sweetie...honey...darling...w-what are you doing?!"

"Taking care of you, Luci.~"

You dropped to your knees in an instant, wasting no time unhooking his belt and pulling his pants down to his ankles and freeing his already leaking member

"L-Love, you don't need to do that! I'm fiiiiIIIII-FFFFUUCK"

The head of his cock found its way into your mouth as you began to lick tghe precum that had already formed

"I want to!" you responded with a sultry smile. "Nothing's gonna keep me from making you feel good.~"

"O-Oh golly..." the devil murmured

You opened your mouth wide, taking in as much of his throbbing cock as you could, letting it hit the back of your throat with utter delight

You bobbed your head down on him rapidly, pulling out the cutest moans you've ever heard from the man above you

Even though you were alone, Lucifer couldn't help but try to stifle the pathetic sounds he was making, praying to anyone that would listen that no one could hear their sinful act

But after only a few minutes, Lucifer pulled you from his cock, lifting your head to meet his gaze

You whined but Lucifer only smiled back as he effortlessly lifted you up and forced your back against the elevator wall, your legs wrapping around and clinging to his waist

The fallen angel wasted no time pulling you panties aside, not bothering to undress you fully; he needed you just a s badly as you needed him

Slowly he lowered you down on his aching cock; pushing inside of you so easily from how wet you already were

Your moans echoed in the small chamber you were trapped in as he filled you up completely

"L-Lucifer, please...need you...please move..."

"A-Anything you want, my dear.~"

Lucifer fucked you against that wall like his life depended on it; you muffled your screams by biting into his neck as his paced quickened with every thrust

Lucifer could only choke back so many sounds before they inevitably escaped his throat; his body refusing to deny the euphoria he felt when buried so deep inside you

With a few more thrusts, he brought you over the edge; you screamed his name as your sensitive walls pulsed around your lover

Lucifer's orgasm followed yours almost immediately when he felt you squeeze his cock, emptying his cum inside or your needy cunt

Once you both caught your breath, Lucifer set you back down on the ground, making sure you could stand on your own and pulling up his pants once more

And then suddenly, the elevator sprung back to life as it began its ascension again

"Oh, well, that's fortunate!"

"Y-Yeah, very fortunate..."

Your head turned immediately at his suspicious response. "No...Lucifer, you didn't..."

"I uhh, well...you see, I..."

"YOU STOPPED THE ELEVATOR ON PURPOSE?!"

"Please don't be mad! I-I thought it would be a funny little prank! I didn't expect you to...that wasn't my plan at all!"

"So you're telling me when could have gotten out of here at any time?!"

"Yes, I guess technically. But you know, sweetie, I could have just teleported us out of the elevator at any point, you know?"

"...Okay, I'm gonna be honest, I completely forgot you could do that. That's on me. But you're still an ass!" you joked, pushing him gently.

The elevator stopped as it reached the top floor

But before you could step out, Lucifer scooped you up in his arms with ease, causing you to squeak

"Please forgive me, my love, let me make it up to you! I think I'll start by using my tongue to clean up the mess I made. And it may take me all night.~"

[rayveneyed]

that cowboy au was really good 🥹 would you consider doing a part 2?

cw: mentions of death, violence, objectively amoral decisions; mentions of marriage, alcohol

the presence of gojo satoru can only mean trouble.

red sky in the morning — shepherd’s warning. nanami kento tries not to take the sight of it personally, tries not to take simple wonders of nature as omen — but it sits like a lump of coal in his stomach all through the morning and well into the afternoon. he doesn’t know why this particular day seems to be the harbinger of something terrible, but sure enough, just after he finishes milking the cows and putting them out to graze, one of the village kids runs up on him. flushed with excitement and hair windswept, the little one calls his name — mister kento! mister kento! hey, over here, mister kento! strange white-haired fella’s lookin’ for you, skulkin’ ‘round the saloon!

it’s a small-town child’s excitement — a stranger in such a quiet place, one where the closest train station is a town or two over, and the most exciting thing to happen is a travelling merchant every few months. kento’s dread, then, is ice-water over the head in comparison. white-haired. gojo, the bastard. and loitering around the saloon, where you’re working — before he can even think twice, he’s running off to mount his closest horse, and taking the dirt road at a frantic gallop.

not many words in any spoken language could describe exactly how nanami kento feels about gojo satoru. there’s a fondness there — they had, after all, fought and lived side-by-side for years, since they were boys. there was admiration for gojo’s tenacity and drive, no doubt, but there was hatred in equal measure. hatred for the man gojo had urged nanami to become — hatred for the shit he’d been told to do. hatred for the simple fact that, at the end of the day, gojo’s brashness had only ever gotten other people killed.

(and fear. fear that, like he had done a hundred times before, gojo would worm his way into nanami’s head, and convince him to return before he knew what he was agreeing to.)

through the dust kicked up by his mare’s cantering hooves, the humble saloon comes into sight; only a single floor, nothing like the multi-story pleasure houses of san francisco. then again, kento’s never much cared for them, or the beckoning women of the night, or the violent brawls that would break out every few minutes. somewhere quiet to drink in peace, suits him just fine, and that’s here. though with gojo satoru around, peace never lingers long.

he takes the stairs two at a time, pushing through the doors, and—

“always been a city boy, myself,” comes that familiar voice. instantly, kento’s eyes shoot towards it — towards you. “towns like this never did quite suit me — y’know, a man needs a bit of noise in his life!”

oh, noise had been the least of what gojo had gotten himself. blood and guts and bullet wounds, wanted posters with his name and mug plastered all over it.

he shouldn’t be here. it’s almost unnatural for him to be here, sitting in old man tom's favourite seat, lounging like he owned the place.

“now, pretty thing like you,” he hears gojo croon, low and smooth like always, the type of voice that weakened women’s knees, “you shoot me a look, sweetheart, i reckon i’d stay in this sleepy little town a lot longer.”

something like panic sits itself in kento’s chest, and he can’t put one damned finger on what it is. the clashing of two lives — gojo, with his hat drawn low over bright blue eyes, his jacket as dark and fitting as always; this dusty little saloon, with its untuned piano and cheap swill; you, with your hair tied up and your neckline low, with those eyes he knows gojo likes—

“charming,” he hears you say, dry, completely unimpressed. the tightness in his chest eases, a little, and then you seem to realise he’s approaching — your gaze lifts over gojo’s head, and your eyes brighten, and golly — ain’t that something? your smile, at his simple presence? like he was something to look forward to? “mister kento, you’re a man desired — this gentleman’s been looking all over for you, apparently.”

gojo turns those baby blues on him, expectant, and kento sighs as he takes the seat next to him — gently accepts your offer of a drink with a thank you kindly. gojo thanks you, too — calls you sweetness, and kento pretends that it doesn’t unsettle his soul. you resign yourself to the end of the bar to give them some semblance of privacy, wiping at glasses with a cloth to rid them of water-stains and dust.

they sit in silence for a moment, listening to the cicadas calling outside and the distant squeals of playing children. gojo, as usual, is the first to break it.

“been a while, ain’t it? gotta say, wasn’t expectin’ you to go all out on this country life thing, old friend.”

kento pretends not to see the spectre of you in the corner of his eye — pretends that he’s not vastly aware of how he has to balance two personas right now. he keeps his irritation low and tempered, cupping his glass between his hands; still, he knows his voice is frosty when he says: “what are you doing here?”

“oh, so cold, kento! and after all we’ve been through together…”

he restrains a frustrated sigh. dancing around it — that’s gojo. deceptively childish but incredibly intelligent — can’t just come out and say something. and kento could be doing something else right about now, something far more important — in fact, he should already be thinking of how to explain gojo’s abrupt appearance here to you. cousin twice removed? long estranged brother? childhood friend with a troubled streak? “doubt you came to see me outta the goodness of your heart. i’ve got no interest in whatever it is you’re peddling. you wanna drink, let’s drink. nothing else.”

“oh, come now. i gotta be after somethin’ to visit you?”

nanami shoots him an unimpressed look — gojo at least has the shame to wince. he takes another sip of his drink, and they both stare at the dusty shelves of booze, until finally, he shrugs.

“listen: this place is gonna drive you mad, kento,” he says, underhandedly casual, sipping on moonshine and syrup. he always did have a sweet tooth. “the silence’ll do you in.”

a thread of irritation tugs itself through kento’s brow. “silence drives you mad. suits me just fine.”

kento doesn’t know what’s more hurtful — the idea that gojo doesn’t know him at all, or that he does, and just doesn’t care to speak to him like it. he knows exactly what game gojo is playing at — badgering him out of his life of peace to join the gang again, fill the empty space left by geto and haibara and god knows who else that’s gone. he could do him the courtesy of being a little more believable, though. less patronising.

this doesn’t suit you. you don’t deserve something good like this, not after what you’ve done. stick to what you know, kento — and what do you know? violence. greed.

“c’mon, kento. you’re better than this, y’know.”

kento fingers tighten on the handle of his cup. his gums feel bruised where his teeth grit together — his anger like a reddening metal on the verge of turning white-hot. “you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“you’ve been up and down this goddamned country—” gojo, at least, has the mind to lower his voice, then, glancing over his shoulder— “tyin’ sheriffs up in knots, laying your pockets with gold, and you think this shithole will satisfy you any?”

that’s enough to send kento’s temper skyrocketing — and he, by no means, is an angry man, but shithole is not how he’d describe it in any capacity — this place that had accepted him with little wariness, treated him with kindness, asked very little questions—

“you’re steppin’ way outta line, gojo—”

but his white-haired companion has always been willing to push the bounds of just about anything — and, leaning closer, devilish smile tugging at his lips, says: “hopin’ that, uh, busty barmaid over there’s gonna make you an honest man? huh? i mean, hell, i wouldn’t blame you, but—”

nanami’s glass hits the countertop with such force it rings throughout the saloon — he can feel it draw the gaze of most everyone around. you, the few daytime drinkers. the low murmurs of conversation drew to an abrupt stop. when he glances in your direction, he sees you almost caught mid-action, brows drawn tight as you make to intervene.

maybe it’s the look in his eye that makes you stop; the serious, humourless glint he’s let himself lose the past few months. maybe it’s the tense set of his jaw. either way, you nod a little, and step back to what you were doing — but your gaze remains, ever-watchful.

nanami levels gojo with a glare so horrid he’s sure he’s never used it on him before; and, sure enough, blue-eyed gojo glares right back.

for a moment — for a short, traitorous moment, he regrets leaving his handy pistol back home. he hasn’t had to carry it in months. he hasn’t ever had to carry it for gojo, of all people, but he saw just how quickly the gang had turned on themselves — how quickly trust was lost. and after the loss of haibara, and geto’s betrayal, who knew what state of mind gojo was in?

kento’s fingers flex.

a beat passes.

and then — gojo’s face breaks out in a gleaming, cheeky smile, and his shoulders jump with loud, sonorous laughter. relief is near palpable in kento’s chest, the tension that had suctioned itself to his bones easing just slightly. “hah, you’re just a riot, ken!”

then, slapping a hand on kento’s shoulder and leaning forward, gojo calms a little. nanami gets the sudden feeling that it was all a rouse, right from the start. is he so out of practice he can’t tell what’s real and what’s fake anymore? once upon a time gojo’s jokes and fancies wouldn’t have made him blink an eye.

“just pullin’ your leg,” gojo says.

“you piss me off.”

“can’t lie—” gojo continues— “i was hopin’ to bring you back with me. but this shit really does suit you, y’know.” his smile takes a saddened edge — nostalgic, no doubt, for the life they once led. the stupidity and rashness of it all. sometimes the same feeling hit kento — and then he remembered the bad of it all, and he tucked it back deep inside himself. “country air, quiet life. settle down with a nice woman.”

his eyes trail over to the right — and this time, when his eyes settle on you, nanami feels no overwhelming protectiveness, no urge to drag gojo out by his silver locks or shoo him out. he feels a fool for doubting gojo in the first place. “things out here make the cities look like hell by comparison.”

“it’s a simple life,” kento agrees plainly. his heart still thrums heavy in his chest. he finally takes a proper gulp of his drink — actually tastes it instead of just letting it pass down his throat. “you should try it sometime.”

“wasn’t lying earlier. think the quiet would have me seein’—” he chokes on a bark-like laugh— “ghosts, and the like.”

haibara. riko. yaga.

“mm.”

they go back to staring at the shelves in silence. kento doesn’t know what to say. he’s never been a man of many words, but what does one say in this situation, anyways? i’m sorry geto left. i’m sorry haibara died. i hate that it was your fault, and i hate that it wasn’t. i don’t like the man i am when i’m around you, but it’s really all i know. you’re my brother, and i hate and love you in equal measure.

a trickling sound interrupts his thoughts. his cup is being refilled — and then gojo’s. extra syrup, despite the fact that sugar is expensive as all hell.

“looks like y’all could use it,” you say by way of explanation, a sorry little smile on your face. when you meet his eyes, it spreads, just a little — an extra nudge, just for him. “i’ll get outta your hair now.”

“thank you for the drink,” kento says quietly.

“thanks,” gojo echoes. he watches you go, and swirls his drink idly around in his cup. “y’know, you got somethin’ good here, ken. hate to say it.”

“mm. the farm, it — it, uh, keeps me busy.”

“wasn’t talkin’ about the farm,” says gojo, shooting him a knowing look. kento’s ears burn, and he tries to ignore it — in vain, he’s sure, if his companion’s snicker is anything to go by.

“there’s nothing there.” he wouldn’t allow there to be, after all. a life of solitude is exactly the punishment he deserved for what he’s done. he wouldn’t rope you into his madness.

“right, right. you make googly eyes at every woman y’come across?”

“just drink your damn drink.”

by the time the sun is setting, gojo sets off on his horse. he ignores all offers to stay the night, to wait until morning; he's got business to attend to, apparently, business that couldn't wait — but could, apparently, wait for an hours-long drinking session. he doesn’t hug kento, doesn’t make any claim to sentimentality — that hasn't changed, kento supposes — he only leans down to shake his hand, firm and sure like yaga had taught them as boys, and says:

“don’t be a fool, kento. you got a chance at a normal life right here." then, grinning, like the idea of being serious had turned his stomach, gojo calls: "you don’t take that chance, i'll steal it from right under you!"

kento only shakes his head, and turns to enter the saloon again.

when he looks over his shoulder — just once, all he can bear — gojo’s already gone, no more than a speck riding into the sunset.

[a-fluffer-nutter]

Dragon Darts

A/N - Hey @gladdygirl18 sorry it's taken so long, but I'm your Squealing Santa! I may have made the wrong turn and missed your chimney, but I am finally here with your present! I tried to get this done before the new year, but I've been sick for three weeks and my car just got broken into, so I'm super sorry about the delay! I hope you like it and I want to thank @squealing-santa and @hypahticklish for all of this!

Word Count: 1,260

Playing hide-and-seek with a man who owns two ghost-types was a poor choice, Raihan realized quickly into their game. He didn’t really expect Leon to cheat – well, yes he did, but he had some sort of hope for a fair game – and his smile slipped off his face once he heard Dragapult’s cry from the other room.

Raihan’s turn had gone perfectly. He had no need to use his Pokémon, it was just a simple game of hide-and-seek.

He didn’t quite remember how this little game came about, something about Leon boasting to be the best at all games played by children or something like that, but in an instant, Raihan wanted to call his bluff and Leon was scurrying off to hide.

For a man who had the worst sense of direction, Leon was actually fairly capable at finding a hiding spot. It took Raihan a good ten minutes to find him. It mostly took this long as Raihan had absolutely no idea that Leon could wedge himself behind the washing machine and the wall, but by golly did he do it. Raihan must have passed him a good twenty times before spotting him. After that performance, Raihan knew he had to up his game to beat Leon’s time.

Leon using his Pokémon was definitely cheating though.

Raihan took pride in his height, standing at a good six and a half feet. What people didn’t know is that despite his tall frame, he was incredibly flexible thanks to his slight build, which made clambering over the fridge and into a small cabinet not too difficult. He knew Leon would never check here, but all bets were off once Dragapult entered the game.

“Dragon Darts,” Leon whispered, while pointing down the hall. “Find him for me, if you will.”

Dragapult let out a low cry as he shot two Dreepy from his head. The duo cheered in delight as they sped through Raihan’s house, phasing through the walls as they flew. Leon chuckled as they went off, Dragapult still at his side.

“Am I cheating?” Leon asked, looking up at Dragapult. The Pokemon nodded with a grumble, which made Leon smile. “Well, I guess. Oh, well.”

Raihan could hear the Dreepy coming closer. The duo had split up to cover more ground, and one of them was making a beeline to the kitchen.

Raihan’s hands shook as the Dreepy flew around, zooming back and forth in front of his hiding spot. As anticipation swelled through his veins, Raihan threw his hands over his mouth, fearing the noise he could potentially utter if spooked by any sort of sound. The Dreepy paused after a few minutes of pacing the small kitchen. It let out a groan, which gave Raihan some hope that the ghost-type would just fly on into the next room, but of course he couldn’t be that lucky.

“Hi,” Raihan mouthed as the Dreepy phased through the cabinet door with half of his body. Eyes widening, the Dreepy let out a scream, flashing a toothy grin at the man. Sighing, Raihan reached out a hand to pet the darling Pokémon, knowing that it wasn’t its fault that Leon was playing dirty.

“Found you Raihan,” Leon called and Raihan could just visualize his cocky smirk he had as he walked into the kitchen. “Raihan, where…oh in Arceus’ name,” Leon let out a chuckle as he looked up at the Dreepy, which had now spun around so only the wispy back half was visible to Raihan, “How, Raihan, how?”

“Arsehole,” Raihan simply remarked as he heard Leon trying to scramble up the side of the counter. The door swung open; Leon’s face brightened sweetly once he saw Raihan in his tight hiding place.

“Well, that’s not very kind,” Leon prodded Raihan’s side while wearing a fake pout.

Raihan recoiled into the side of the cabinet, slamming his shoulder with all his weight. His lips quirked into a frown when he looked back at Leon, whose shit eating grin took over half his face.

“I’ll bloody stab you, mate. Leon!” Raihan let out a yelp once Leon poked him again.

“This is gonna be so much fun,” Leon laughed as he brought both hands down on his best friend’s torso.

Raihan definitely did not shriek, no. He could never do that. Never.

Cackling laughter poured from his lips as Leon skittered his fingers along any sensitive parts that he could reach. Due to Raihan’s positioning, he had his knees bent up and his feet pressed against the other side of the cabinet. This allowed all access to the backs of his thighs, and Leon was going to have a field day.

“You arsehole!” Raihan screamed as one hand scratched the underside of his thigh and the other wormed its way under his arm. In no position to move, Raihan just sunk as far back as he could and laughed.

“You’re not fighting back,” Leon mused, shifting his weight slightly. He was sitting on his knees, and while his legs were starting to ache, Leon could not let this opportunity pass. “What’s wrong? Are you stuck or do you just like this?”

Dragapult and the two Dreepy let out small huffs of amusement as Raihan just cursed, wiggling as much as he could. One of the two Dreepy had a brilliant idea, so he smacked his brother with excitement. The other Dreepy grumbled, frowning from being distracted from the delightful show they were watching, though he brightened up once his brother revealed his plan. Flapping his arms, the Dreepy let out a wail, following his brother into the cabinet right next to the one Raihan was in. Both phasing through the side of the cabinet, they appeared beside Raihan’s head, one on each side, and began to nuzzle into the trainer’s neck.

“Okay! Stahahp!” Raihan exclaimed after a few more minutes, his deep belly laughs were becoming hoarse and weak.

“Fine by me,” Leon snickered, pulling his arms back and jumped off the counter. “My arms were about to fall off!”

“Oh, boo hoo,” Raihan growled, though he still had a wobbly smile.

The two Dreepy flew down to Leon and purred, rubbing their bodies against his shoulders. Dragapult just rolled his eyes, though he had thoroughly enjoyed watching the shenanigans. This scene wasn’t too uncommon. Leon was always sweeping Raihan off his feet and throwing him onto the couch or against a wall to tickle the hell out of him. It was the big brother energy that he was always exerting, though Raihan was six months Leon’s senior. Dragapult often had to drag the two apart, along with Leon’s other Pokémon. Of course, Raihan’s Pokémon were usually present, but they never tried to help him. Only Flygon really cared, wanting Raihan to be victorious in these little fights, but her favor was usually won over by Leon rather quick, as he always kept little mints in his pocket that she loved.

“You are the absolute worst,” Raihan glared, looking down at his best friend.

“But that’s why you love me,” Leon batted his lashes.

“You know I’m going to kill you, right?”

“Yep.”

“Wanna make this easy or hard?”

“Bye,” Leon replied as an answer, as he darted off, blowing a raspberry as he ran.

“Of course,” Raihan rolled his eyes, then glanced over at Dragapult. The two Dreepy had returned to their spots atop Dragapult’s head, where they looked eager for more action. “Can you by chance to me a favor?”

Dragapult nodded, grumbling in amusement.

“Alright. Dragapult, use Dragon Darts.”

[luq-s1m0ns]

Chapter one (pt.5): Pigeon Pancakes

[“You should tell Darryl about the eagle,” piped a small voice nearby.

Simon groaned. “Today’s going to be bad enough. If Darryl finds out I lied to him, I’ll be grounded for a month.”]

“Oh golly, I wonder who that could be?” Simon said feigning ignorance, “it’s not like I didn’t have many friends before losing my uncle and knowing I have people trying to kill me!”

Winter had the dignity to look sheepish and patted Simon’s foot, “In my defense, I thought you knew what you were.”

“An American.” Simon deadpanned, “A born, bred and raised New Yorker. A French and German-speaking polyglot who was learning Spanish for 3 years before running away to a zoo.”

“Don’t be a smartass, Si.” Winter groaned, yanking Simon’s legs and watching as he slid down Jam’s lap and closer to her and Ariana. She grinned and he flipped her off, sticking his tongue out—making her laugh.

[A brown mouse scampered up the leg of Simon’s pajamas. “Better than being in grave danger, whatever that means.”

“And how am I supposed to explain that to my uncle? Tell him a little bird told me?” Simon scooped the mouse into his hand. “I’ll be careful, Felix. Don’t worry.]

“Eyy, Felix!” Simon whooped, letting Jam ruffle his curls, “Finally, we get to see the man—mouse—in action.”

“We get it, you like the rat that’s basically your pet at this point.” Winter teased, purposely calling the mouse a rat as she watched Simon huff.

“Again, not a mouse and not a pet— he’s my friend,” He said, pouting and sitting up. Ariana and Winter laughed, the latter reaching over and ruffling his hair.

[Perched on his hind legs, Felix rubbed his paws together. “I should go with you today. Someone needs to watch your back.”

“I’m a thousand times your size. If anything, I’ll be the one protecting you from becoming that eagle’s lunch.]

Jam nodded, “feel like that’s every time he comes along our quests.”

“I know, right?” Ariana scoffed, “imagine being a mouse to the reptile council and to Atlantis.” The three shot Simon a look.

Simon raised an incredulous brow, crossing his arms as he sat upright at their gaze, “Oh what, you think I can control a full-grown adult mouse as a tween? Tough luck, buttercups,”

They looked at each other then Simon, “Fair enough.” they said, shrugging and Jam pulled Simon back up into his lap but not befroe making a soft groan at how his legs were numb.

[“But—”

“No buts. If something goes wrong, I’ll come straight home.” Simon set Felix on his pillow. “And don’t try to watch TV while I’m gone. One day Darryl’s going to come home early and catch you, and you know exactly what he’ll do to you then.”]

“Ooh, bird brain being commanding,” Garret snorted, mocking him. Nolan shot a disappointed look, making the wild cat to falter, but continued quieter, “As if he could actually command respect.”

“He can, and should, actually.” Jam said, pushing up his glasses up his Roman nose, “but he won’t.”

“Hell no, I won’t, do you know how many people I would have to oversee to do their jobs properly?” Simon groaned, “the gods know i’m begging the bird faction could just fly free instead of me being its ruler.”

“You’re still my heir, Simon.” Orion said, his good eye watching Simon intently who deflated as he back stared at him.

“Fuck.” He deadpanned, turning to Ariana, “Can I just live on the run?”

She snorted and shook her head, “Unfortunately, no, you cannot—every animalgram knows your name and what you look like.”

“I’ll dye my hair and do make-up and contacts, then.” Simon suggested, “i’ve always wanted to see what I look like with a dyed hair.”

“Ooh, maybe I should dye it for you, then?”

Simon made a face, “No, nope, nuh-uh, not the whole hair—just some highlights of colour.”

“Good enough for me,” She nodded.

[Felix huffed, and Simon headed into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He’d found Felix in his closet half-starved to death eight months earlier, and after Simon had nursed him back to health, Felix took up permanent residence in their apartment. They had struck a deal: Simon would continue to feed him so long as Felix never let Darryl know he was there. It had worked out so far, even though Simon worried constantly that his uncle might find the mouse.]

“Can you not be so nice?” Ariana stressed, watching Simon snort and shake his head, making her slump in feigned dissatisfaction before straightening, “Please, never, and i mean, ever, change Simon.” Putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Oh, I won’t, trust me, Ari. I’ve seen and dealt with enough injustice for one lifetime.” He grinned, turning to the rest, “Promise to stay the same as well? That applies to you two too, Wint and Jam.”

“We will, dude.” Jam said, while Winter rolled her eyes good-naturally and nodded. Rhode watched how easy it was for Jam to open up, feeling her stomach sink at the thought of losing her baby brother. She looked at Jam’s friends and couldn’t help hating them a bit more.

[Once Simon finished with his teeth, he tried to tame his shaggy brown hair. It was almost time for a haircut, which Simon looked forward to about as much as his pre-algebra homework. His uncle tried to do a good job, but his massive hands made him clumsy with scissors, and the end result was always uneven. While Simon didn’t particularly care what his hair looked like, the kids at school did, and their endless taunts never became any easier to bear.]

His friends gasped, affronted. “Seriously?” Winter said, sounded offended by the mere thought of Simon’s blonde hair being undesirable.

Simon tilted his head, raising a brow, “Why do you all sound so shocked?”

“Your hair was, and still is, majestic, dude,” was the answer he got from Jam. Sure, Simon liked his hair – he spent quite a bit of time to make sure his curls looked good – but to call it majestic ? Before he could think on it longer, Jam added with a shy smile, “it was neat and, gods, you had nice bangs.”

“And sides,” Ariana nodded, “with some long hair at the back that you could put in a small ponytail.”

“Uh, thanks? I was growing it out,” Simon said, twirling a loose curl around his finger nervously, “Now can we stop complimenting my hair before I get an ego bigger than Zeus’,”

Winter and Ariana made a horrorfied expressions while Jam snorted, “Yeah, maybe… but we won’t.”

“Gods, I hate you all.” Simon pouted, before grinning. They smiled back, leaning closer to one another—making the current rulers gawk at how easy it was for them their heirs have a discussion. No threats, no demeaning of their kind or anything— just communication and open-minded conversations with light bickering and jokes around.

[Other than his weird haircuts, Simon thought he looked normal enough, with blue eyes and freckles. He was a little too skinny, and his head was a little too big for his body, but he wasn’t a total freak. He didn’t understand why his classmates liked to pick on him so much.]

“Me neither, past me, me neither.” He sadly nodded, “I will never understand neurotypical people sometimes.”

Winter snorted, “I don’t think it's just neurotypical people you don’t just understand.”

“Hm, yeah… i guess it’s just neurotypical people and other animalgrams — either I cannot read discussions about the gods know what, because i’m foreigner to my own kind,” He gesutred to the others around them with a small frown, “or I analyse every bit of it and I short-circuit.”

Jam smiled, “Yeah, yeah, join the club.”

”What, the understimulated kids club?” The bird student snorted, “the neurodivergent future rulers club?”

”That’s not a bad name, considering how we are.” Winter pointed out, a small smile on her face.

“To being so mental, we’re each other’s best friends,” Ariana joked, raising her hand as three others connected to it, repeating after her in the same teasing tone.

[scary-pixie]

Initial Thoughts on Dragon Age: Veilguard

Please Note: I wrote this a few days ago, and since then have gotten to the Lighthouse and uncovered one of its secret passageways. Golly!

HELLO FRIENDS I have started playing Dragon Age: Veilguard on my home computer and would like to offer my initial thoughts on the matter.

First off: I may or may not continue with these writeups in the future. I had been floating around the idea of starting up a "game blog" for a while, but I am worried it may take too much time away from my art and other creative pursuits. Your thoughts are appreciated! To note: I also write for RPGFan, PLEASE VISIT OUR WONDERFUL WEBSITE!

A few thoughts on Veilguard, then.

Character creation took me a good 2.5 hours, as I kept going back and tweaking things and even ended up restarting at one point. Eventually I settled on a female Elf Warrior of the "Wardens" faction with a nice Xena-esque hairstyle.

An early impression of the first city: golly, there sure are a lot of attractive NPCs in this place. And OH BOY!! Not one, but TWO cats!! I eventually hope to meet all the cats in this game, and perhaps some nice chonky doggos as well. I'm also impressed by the detailed graphics and textures...so much SHINY stuff, and I love that charming outdoor bar with all the wonderful lights! I wouldn't mind visiting this establishment in real life, provided the real-life version also includes two cats. What I don't appreciate are the sky assholes firing lasers all over the place. Alas. To note: I'm not too familiar with the background of this world, having only played Dragon Age: Origins (and this was many, many years ago). I would surmise that the sky assholes are a major force here. Darn.

Combat is fun. I've seen some online complaints that it's too action-oriented, but I'm enjoying it so far. It almost gives me a JRPG action adventure feel! I love JRPGs! To note: I am using a third-party PS4-style controller for everything except menus, and so far it's heckin' smooth and enjoyable. I doubt I'd find the combat as fun with a keyboard and mouse, but who knows.

Alright I've gotten to that big ice dome, fought some more dicks and assholes, and will sign off at this point. I HAVE NOT FINISHED THE TUTORIAL YET! I ENJOY TAKING MY TIME AND EXAMINING ALL THE FURNITURE. I may or may not do more writeups once I really get into the MEAT of the game, though I will definitely be posting more screenshots and occasional thoughts on my Bluesky account. If you haven't added me yet, please look for kittensoft!

Toodle ooooooooo! EXCITING ADVENTURES AWAIT!!!!

[lyss-butterscotch]

btw im obsessed over furina too shes literally just me and if you by aaany chance wanna ramble about her feel free to, tis an invitation. if not thats fine too! boop

Omg kiki hi!!! You have no idea that i just like buried my face to a pillow cuz oh gee golly gosh oh sovereigns above this girl. THIS GIRL.

[Obvious spoilers for fontaine archon quests and furinas story quest]

Literally abnormal about her she deserves all in the world. We have hands to give furina pats on the head we can speak so we can tell furina she did it i am so jdhdjsyshjsjsjsn waaaaaaaaa

I love how they paced her characterization throughout each patch, idk i just feel like its well paced. The first patch shows that shes all bark and no bite. All the flare all the drama with neuvillette being the one truly working the system (you can see it in the patch art too!). I just couldnt understand how she is oh so shamelessly show offy when she literally has nothing to show for but her title like damn i felt bad for neuvillette for dealing with her. But the way she falters and hesitates, just makes you think theres something else going on. But i still felt like she HAS a bite, she just for some reason doesnt use it so i was just expecting her to break and show power later on.

Then act two. Man i never wanted to punch a character so bad like arlecchino LEAVE HER ALONE MAN SHE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS SLANDER. Its when i start to think shes not the god after all. She keeps saying she has plans but its 'secret', as much as i wanna defend her arlecchino was right. She has nothing to show for, she has no plan, no act to help fontaine so what is there to defend? But she CLEARLY cares for the prophecy so WHY ISNT SHE DOING ANYTHING. Arlecchino saying that furina might not be a god after all just makes me even more insane about the plot. Like okay theres no way the gnosis isnt in the oratrice and neuvillette is the sovereign so what the hell is going on with furina???

Then the final patch. Omg oh god oh golly oh my lords above. I hate how even as she got duped into a trial she is still trying to keep up her bark. The way she says 'THE TRIAL OF THE HYDRO ARCHON SHALL NOW BEGIN' with so much fervour like she is STILL trying. It made me think shes gonna reveal some super important bg plot shes been working on to make us go 'wow she really is a great archon'. BUT THEN. BUT THEN SHE GETS OUTED FOR NOT KNOWING WHY THE ORATRICE LET OUT A WRONH VERDICT, NOT WANTING TO SHOW OFF HER HYDRO POWERS, AND BEING AFFECTED BY PRIMORDIAL SEA WATER???

Like at that point i think furina youre done. Its over. But the way she cried and begged for people to believe her still WAAAAAAAA. LIKE GIRL WHY ARE YOU STILL TRYING STOP THIS HURTS TO WATCH. Then she goes full catatonic once the trial is over urgh bby no :(

AND THEN THE WHOLE FOCALORS LORE DROPPED AND LITERALLY EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE, ALL HER DRAMA AND BARK MAKES SENSE. AND THE WAY IT REVEALS THAT NOT ONLY DID FURINA ***NOT*** KNOW FOCALORS' PLAN, IT ALSO MEANS SHE THOUGHT THAT HER FAILING THE TRIAL MEANS ***SHE*** WAS GONNA BE THE REASON FONTAINE WAS GONNA DROWN. AAAAAAAGAFAFDAADFAGAAGSHS

I hate how focalors specified that furina had to act like 'how people think gods act' and not just 'act like a god'. I hate it. I hate how she was trying to be nice but in fear that itll blow her cover she had to shine brighter to blind the people, when there was nothing to show underneath it. Dies dies dies!!!!!!!!!

As much as i hate that they didnt really show furina moving out of the palais mermonia. I think its fitting. How shes so tired of all the flair she has to put up she really just... wanted to leave. Be done with it. No flare just slips away silently.

Im glad that she and neuvillette is still in good terms, i think atleast after 500 years of putting an act together + neuvi finding out the shit she had to go through, he'd atleast have some form of camaraderie or respect for her. The fact that he is supportive of her being involved in a performance after she moved out is so waaaaaa she deserves it!!!! I think its clear that despite her needing a break, performing what she wants is something she likes to do and im glad she has something thats entirely her own going on for her :)

Also also la vaguelette is the song ever. I hope hyv is happy that they made a song that can make me cry 1 second in. Literally best song after yunjins opera song. They did not hold back and my heart weeps everyday.

Also the fact that now she just eats macaroni everyday is a mood. Boop

[dravidssideblog]

Normally, when I wake up in the morning, I like to just lie in bed awhile, hug my plushie bunny, enjoy being comfy. But today, I can't help but feel very… very… hungry~

I feel my mattress shift, and I roll out just in time as it opens up and swallows my blanket. Sorry, but I've got a big day today! I grab my shirt, and it practically wiggles its way over me, eager to have me inside it. In fact, it's a little tough to get my head and arms out the holes! My pants go on the same way, chewing at my waist before settling down. Glad they're easy to satisfy, but now I'M itching for a meal!

I race to the kitchen, pour myself a bowl of cereal, add some milk, grab a spoon, and swallow the bowl whole! Gosh, everything feels so good going down today~

Getting outside to water the plants is a hassle, as the house tries its best to keep the doors locked and keep me inside. I placate it with some rubs, then slip out while it's distracted. The plants are busy wrestling, stems and flowers splitting open to swallow each other up. Looks like a few of them have already won a meal, and one lone plant in the corner is gulping down a squirrel that was probably trying to snack on it first.

Once I get the hose going, the plants stop fighting and open wide for an easy meal. I fill them up, the water traveling down their stems and pooling up in a big bulging belly. The plants are mostly cooperative, but the old tree tries to snag my ankle with a root and drag me inside. But it's not like this is my first vore day, I saw it coming a mile away.

I finish up fairly quick, and the moment I so much as approach the door, it swings open and the carpet stretches out like a tongue to slurp me in! The door shuts and I'm left wrapped up on the floor. The house is satisfied just to have me back inside, but the carpet itself refuses to let me go, coiling around me tight enough to make me burp up the bowl and spoon from breakfast!

Well, looks like I've got some room~ The carpet splits open at the end, hovering above me like a snake, but I lean in and bite it on the corner! I pull and drag, slurping it up like a noodle. A wide, fuzzy noodle that make a nice big bulge in my gut~ Sorry carpet, but it's eat or be eaten today, and frankly, I'm a little too hungry to give up on eating yet~

I check my social media, the site already filling with pics of people showing off their bulging bellies; roommates who slept in, friends who lost bets, or just happy willing romantic partners. Lots of funny pics too; a dog that finally got revenge on the vacuum cleaner, a poor soul who got eaten by their recycling bin (at least it wasn't the garbage bin!), and a video of someone struggling to get their clothes out of the washing machine.

Heading back to my room, I find my pillow chewing on a bunny-shaped bulge. I hold it down and reach into the pillow case, dragging my bunny plushie Hobbles out from its maw. I give her a hug, then a look over; I had her in my belly all day last year, but I'm still pretty full from that carpet. But she is looking pretty tasty right now~ She turns her head toward me, and her face splits into a mouth. Aww, that's cute, she thinks she can- Mmph!

Cloth and stuffing surround my head, then my shoulders. I curl up as Hobbles works her way down my body. Within seconds, she packs me all away, slurping down my feet and turning me into what I'm sure is a COLOSSAL bulge in her little plushie body. And golly, it feels so nice in here~

This is why I had to be so careful not to get eaten; once I'm inside such a soft, tight belly, how am I supposed to resist~? The stuffing all around me, the pressure of the fabric walls, the- Oh, gosh, she's rubbing her belly! Oh, why did it take me this long to get eaten by a plushie? I usually just get snapped up by a friend, or I let my mattress gulp me down. But this is so much softer and comfier and NICE!!

I spend a nice, long while just enjoying Hobbles' gut, rubbing against the stuffing and fabric, shifting around to feel the pressure, leaning into her little rubs and giving her rubs in return. It's so comfy in here, I could relax and sleep the whole day away…

I get bored after half an hour. It feels great, but I kinda want to do things today, so I start to push and struggle. Hobbles doesn't like that very much and does her best to squeeze me in place, but fabric and stuffing can't beat muscle and bone. I push my feet down, stretching her body and pushing me up toward the head- Wha!

My foot slipped into something! Into her leg, I guess. It stretched out really far, my leg is basically all the way in there. Wait… Hey, that's an idea. I feed (heh) my other leg into hers, and feel around for her arms so I can do the same there. I push my limbs into hers, lift up my head, and I can see out her mouth!

Then she snaps her maw shut on me.

"Hey, chill out." I reach up a hand, her hand, and pat her on the head. My head. I sit up and move my legs a bit, then stand up; I'm wearing Hobbles like a suit! She seems to understand, and lets her mouth hang open for me to see. I pet her head. "That's right, you can keep me inside, just play nice. And speaking of nice, this feels INCREDIBLE!" In response, Hobbles wraps her- our arms around us and gives us a squeeze. I join in the motion, doubling our hug's tightness.

Then my belly grumbles. Even with that carpet still stretching out my gut (and Hobbles'), it's just not satisfying me anymore. I snatch the pillow off of the bed, which immediately chomps onto our arm. I pry it off, letting it wiggle upside-down. "Hey Hobbles, this little rascal made you a snack earlier. What do you think we should do with it~?"

Hobbles lifts our hand to hang the pillow over our mouth.

"My thoughts exactly~"

[hoeratius]

I’m doing my dissertation with Flowers in the Attic as a case study! Penny for your thoughts?

Okay, with the caveat that I haven’t a clue what your dissertation is on so not sure how relevant any of these thoughts are – here I go!

Note – this contains spoilers for Flowers in the Attic.

Who is the target audience for Flowers in the Attic?

This is not me describing the target audience.

This is me not having a clue what the intended audience is for a book that features phrases like "Oh, golly-lolly!" as well as erotic descriptions of a toddler’s underwear.

I read this for the first time when I was about 12 and again now I’m nearing my thirties. The first time round, it felt naughty and like I was reading something that was clearly Adult Literature. Now, I see the childlike phrases and excessive use of exclamation marks and think it’s not just because of the narrator, but because of the audience as well.

Like, this book is twee.

It’s about so many layers of incest and child abuse and neglect and religious extremism and repression and it somehow manages to be twee. HOW?

The incest (let’s just get that over with)

Everyone in this family is into everyone. My edition has questions at the back for a book club discussion, and one of them goes:

Had their father not died and they were all still living together, do you think Cathy and Chris would have instead developed sexual feelings for their parents? Why or why not?

And like, those sexual feelings are there the entire way through.

Cathy wants a husband like her father, who gives her a ring and ‘vows to forever love my Cathy just a little bit more than any other daughter’. When their mother calms Chris down, you get a paragraph like ‘Kiss, kiss, kiss finger his hair, stroke his cheek, draw his head against her soft, swelling breasts, and let him drown in the sensuality of being cuddled close to that creamy flesh that must excite even a youth of his tender years.’

Like – Okay! Cool! That is a way to describe your mother! And your brother! Like, this could just be an embrace between a mother and her son and instead it becomes this incredibly loaded, sexual passage. And that happens constantly. The narrative is obsessed with sex, with the sin it might bring and with the changes bodies go through to make it happen. I didn’t count how often Cathy thinks with jealousy of her mother’s breasts but it’s a recurring theme, and I’m kind of glad their father died before Cathy hit that part of puberty because I do not need to hear whatever feedback he’d have given her when she first goes shopping for a bra.

The Aryan perfection

Did you know they are blond? And blue-eyed? And so pretty, prettier than anyone else their age? Perfect? Like dolls? Did you get that??

Maybe it was a eugenics plan to maintain the most Aryan family in the universe, but good lord, has Cathy internalized it.

The good bits

After Cathy and Chris have a sexual encounter where he kisses her breasts after stabbing her with scissors, Cathy asks:

“Chris – what we did just now – was it sinful?”

Again, he cleared his throat. “If you think it so, then it was.”

I’m too early in my thoughts to have anything very coherent to say about this, but it does show their complex relationship with sexuality in a really interesting light. Does anything other than P-in-V count as sex? What is the boundary between normal familiar affection and incest? (Personally, I’d say the family cross the line from ‘normal familiar affection’ constantly but equally, I can see why kissing people on the mouth doesn’t have to be inherently sexual or inappropriate. It’s just that V.C. Andrews’s prose makes everything sexual.)

I also thought it was very bold of VCA to have Chris describe the sex as ‘rape’ immediately after it has happened. Keeping in mind that this book came out in 1979, he is the romantic lead, and it was (I think???) aimed at teenage girls, I was not expecting them to name the beast by its name. Even if Cathy assures him it wasn’t rape (and let’s not get into the victim blaming paragraph, jfc), having it out in the open immediately? Actually sensational.

On a different familiar note, I loved the way they kept waiting for their mother to return and the way their love faded differently for all of them. Cathy’s turning to bitterness sooner (prompted by jealousy over Chris’s affection?), versus the twins becoming alienated and addressing her as ‘Ma’am’ by the end… And yet that constant hope that she’ll show up, the disappointment when she brings gifts rather than freedom…

Corinne’s wilful closing of her eyes to justify the neglect haunted me– the way she stops looking at the twins, doesn’t see how Chris and Cathy are maturing. Especially because Cathy is in exactly the age where so much is changing in her body and there is the horror of being perceived (the paragraph where she describes wearing loose clothing to hide her new curves and feeling like she’s being seen anyway – I remember that.)

And at last: the reveal of the arsenic. Iconic.

The bad bits

Other than the writing (so many exclamation marks!! What the fuck!!! The action of going down the stairs doesn’t need this emphasis!!!!!), I just want to say, with my whole heart, that the twins are the most annoying characters in literature. And their insistence at the start that everyone will surely love them, they are so cute and perfect?

Honestly, if I’d been the grandmother, I’d have thrown them out of the window during their first tantrum.

Overall verdict

Do I like this book? I don’t know. I tried to come up with more bits that I disliked, but everything – the twee-ness, the weird sexualization of everything, the “Oh boy”s and stilted dialogue – it all feels very organically entwined. I definitely understand why it became a middle school obsession when it came out in 1979 and it’s going to haunt me for quite a while to come, I think.

I don’t think I’ll read any of the follow-ups, but I might (might) treat myself and reread the De Beers series one day, or that one set in New Orleans with the evil twin. VC Andrews(‘s ghostwriter) was not afraid to go big and there is a certain appeal to such shameless commitment to drama.

[starsambrosia]

So i stop flooding peoples dash im gonna just make this a group, the tag is #livechatter

Im rambling about my life because i feel like it

mean in all reality they have saved me from a lot of bad people and bad things i just i dunno if i can belive that every single person i meet is some kind of malicous creature or person with bad intentions...its been years and im outgoing i like people but ive had to cut off most people because the gods told me some shit about them that was scary or my divination read something was up

I just dont know but i dont want to risk it...

But like, how many demons can one person come across and how many just so happen to be bad news for me

3 confirmed and funny thing is one of them actually scarred me both physically and astrally /wild/ one was my childhood friend who had a crush on me and also decided to get into a pact with a demon for ...funzies... but i cant recall if she had the bloodline or not because the last one who was actually super chill was following a family tradition

so yeah when the gods say "hey psst beckys a demon" im gonna be like "well golly gee 3 out of 3 demons the gods told me about were demons i wonder if this person is in a pact with a demon

and typically /usually/ me and demons dont get along, they find my energy tasty ig. Like demons are fine they are but like they just want to eat me usually or theyr mad at me on sight :")

But in any case im gonna belive it, its just...really?? I know im a beacon but seriously? Every person i meet is some mischievous or negative entity. I get out here fae are more common but /everyone?/ really? I dunno man i cant just be running into every non human on the planet both online and irl or if theyr normal theyr just the most shit person you can be to an almost cartoonish extent.

/idk man/

But i stare at my pendulum the one i warded clensed banished shit on and used rituals to invoke a gods name and boom its just "yup this ones no good"

Like...OK??? THEN WHO IS??? And theyll set me up with people and it never goes well like it always falls through because the people i click with just arent good enough??? Or they just all want me dead?

Am i the problem? Like its me or its them and theyr gods like idk idk man im lost im so lost, how can nobody be ok how can so many people just want to hurt me on sight am i seriously that pathetic looking?? Or are they playing some kind of protective roll? Thats kind assuming a lot about them

What are the fucking odds theyd just be over protective

Im kinda whirlling right now because i think i figured it out, Apollo always expressed guilt over the whole imprisonment thing even though that was literally my fault for directly disobeying his very clear instructions for some guy, yeah thats an embaressment ill never live down

Im wondering if Apollo felt bad and now hes just being really harsh on anyone who comes near me, i only wonder this because he had been around for a really long time before he helped me escape my home/cult

But like ive asked others too

In the same pantheon

That was responsible for a lot of fucking trauma

Who like most of them have a reason to be harsh on people

I just wonder what would happen if i asked maybe Zeus instead of literally anyone else besides maybe some of the goddesses.

Oh godsssss i think ive just deadass been asking the wrong people because everyone else is bias and angry at people

Jesus christ i knew it was my fault if i had just thought about it for a second and got my head out of the ground i wouldve seen it

But still i could be wrong so i need to go ask Zeus with my pendulum and see whats going on before i go removing anything...im also wondering what other people have to say about this because im honestly so tired of shutting up about my weird ass life

Pendulum with Zeus:

Is the reason i keep getting a no on my friends because everyone else is bias and angry at people

Yes

Will you give me non bias direct answers if i contact you?

Yes

I get so specific with my questions because if it can only say yes no or maybe i want to narrow it down as much as possible, questions are phrased intuitively or auto written but some times intentional, more gently guided though.

So i figured it out by live journaling basically...nice, ok so this is weird...but when is it ever not hhh

Thats sweet honestly, if it weren't so suffocating...i cant belive this this has taken me literally 3 and a half years to figure out and i just had to talk to Lord Zeus??? Hhhhhhh oh my gods

Going to him more often now honestly

I wouldve never guessed that i think i think too lowly of myself if it took 3 and a half years to realize they care enough to be mad at people who caused me like, irreparable damadge hahaaaa

[viky2318]

Let's have a change of POV. just for fun. (this chapter is so damn short confronted to the others).

"It was a day like many others in my little freedom, freedom! The day before I met some lightners, lightners, and we had so much fun together I felt enough tired to sleep for another decade or two. But in my slumber, the day I was talking about, I heard footsteps from outside my cell. Other visitors? That must have been my lucky week, week! I opened my eyes and looked at the new friends- only to see something weird. The two people were monsters, like some lightners, but weren't lightners at all! That meant only one thing… they weren't from the dark world, nor from the light world. It wasn’t the first time I met someone from outside, but it wasn’t even all that usual... "Why hello there, fellow prisoners!" I greeted them, ready to have some more fun. One of them, a kid with a very pinkish outfit and a furry looking tail, looked at me with a serious look that had a hint of that thing… what's it called… ah right! concern. "Good day to you. We need your help finding a person" she said. "Golly, who taught you how to greet new pals? My my, i’m sure you've never been to Card Castle…" I said. She just rolled her eyes and remained silent, silent! How rude! "You're Jevil, I'm Maddy, this is Grillby" the stranger said, pointing at the other monster- a very tall man made of fire with a white shirt and a pair of black trousers. "Now that we're over with the polite stuff, could you please help us?" she asked with that annoying tone. Now, as you may know I'm always open to help people, but… surely not jerks like that kid! And because I wanted her to find her friend, but I also wanted a bit of politeness, I said: "hmmmm… no. I cannot help you… Unless you say the magic word, word!". The cat rolled her eyes with some sort of despair in their eyes, which felt a bit weird because I just asked her to be polite, and then rephrased: “could you please help us find our friend? We don’t have the whole day…”. Now, now, that was way better, better! “Very well” I said. “I will help you. What does your friend look like?”.

The kid described this person to me and, would you look at that! The description matched perfectly with the one of my old pal’s new buddy! He didn’t speak to me since years, but I still kept an eye on him through that window thingie he had. You know, I cannot leave someone like him all alone. He would go crazy, crazy! Of course, by keeping an eye on him I ended up also looking at his grown up child, and now that I think of it, those buddies resembled the guys that they usually hang out with! Oh well, good to know. Back to our story, I knew from my pal’s last conversation with the friend of these kids where she was, so I told the cat I could help them… at a price. I knew the two weren’t unaware enough to let me share my freedom with the rest of the dark world, so I decided I was gonna have fun in other ways. Their visit again gave me enough energy to stay up for another long while, so I told her: “I want you to bring me with you for a very short while. I’ll go away almost immediately, no worries”. The two kiddos looked at each other for a moment, then the fire man nodded and the cat turned to me again and said: “ok, but you better not mess around”. Maaaan, this cat is such a party-pooper! Oh well, I wasn't planning to “mess around” anyway. “Great, great!” I said. I took the other side of the window thingie and opened it to the place where her friend was. “You now just have to take me and jump in here. You’ll be where your buddy is in no time!” I said before turning into the Devilsknife. The cat hesitantly held me, then looked at the window thingie. “That… is an Anti-void…” she said. “Oh really, that’s its name? I always just called it the Big Empty Space" I said. The fire guy finally spoke. I swear, for a while I thought he was mute! “Why should we trust you?” he asked. They are one more rude than the other… I looked at him with the most quizzical expression a weapon could give, then said: “oh well, you ask me for help and then you don’t trust me when i give it to you? Geez, these new generations… look, i’m almost completely harmless now! Your furry friend here has me in their grip, literally! Why should I trick you when, right now, I only risk being kidnapped by you two?”. The man remained silent. Was this his way to say “you’re right”? Aaaanyway, the cat jumped in the window thingie, and then her fire friend followed. And when her feet touched the blank ground… I jumped away from the cat’s hands and escaped here, where I am now. Guess I will hang out here with y’all for another while.”

As the jester stopped narrating his interesting story to you, a gray figure broke down the door and exclaimed: “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?!?!”. “Who, me?” the jester asked with a joyful smile. “Author decided that we needed a new member for your ask thingie to spice things up a bit”.

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Extra thing that I did at the last minute because I CAN:

[cryptotheism]

“Hey it's alright,” said the food reviewer, “I’m glad you like my work.” Ord squirmed in his chair. Something about the detective set him on edge, well, more on edge than normal police did. Detective Eighty-Seven was average for her strain. Raven hair, monotone eyes, almost entirely transparent skin, and missing a limb and a half. She was not average for a police detective. Where one expected a hunched, world-weary man. Captain Eighty-Seven loomed over the desk with a disarmingly sunny disposition. What’s more, her partner was the roundest little Khulari Ord had ever seen. The rat tail, the buck teeth, the big round ears, all looked like accessories stuck into a large furry potato. The pair were supremely unintimidating, but something tickled at the edge of Ord’s senses. 

“So tell us Mr. Mornie, why would anyone want to kill Chef Erwon? For the record.”

“Well for one, he was rich as sin. Restaurants in every major Septentrian city, a reputation that got him in front of kings and presidents, no less than twenty cookbooks! Twenty! Not to mention the pharmaceuticals.”

“Ah yes, the-” detective 87 withdrew a notebook from her cavernous coat pockets and flipped through it. “Sorry, just a moment, I have it here somewhere…” 

“Humoric Balance?”

“Humors! Thats the one! Sorry sorry, I know notebooks are slow, maybe I’m just old-fashioned.” The detective withdrew a pencil from the bird nest that was her hair and tapped her forehead. “I’m gonna be straight with ya Mister, I can’t make heads or tails of this whole humor thing. I hear Chef Erwon was a doctor? Maybe you could explain?”

“Sure.” Ord got the distinct sense that the detective knew *damn well* what she was talking about. He squirmed in his chair again. “Erwon wasn’t always a chef. He actually started as an Alchemist. Guild certified and everything. Few years ago they gave him a fancy honorary title. ‘Maestrum Mysterium’ or some shit. Point is, he specialized in the science of digestion. Hell, he has a few bacterial cultures named after him.” 

“Gosh, sounds real impressive. Hey Oey, any bacteria named after you?”

“Hmm. One time my niece named a centipede after me, and then she ate the centipede.”

“Golly, now ain't that a thing.”

“I took it as a compliment.”

“You know Oey, I always appreciate your outlook.” She turned to look back at Ord. “Sorry, sorry, my brain is a bit of a mayfly. Always running back and forth.” She giggled to herself. “Now, where were we.” She said, flipping through the notebook in what Ord was now sure was a tactic to test his patience. 

“Erwon’s theories.”

“Yes! Thank you! The humors! Tell me about those!”

“Well, detectives. You know how when someone is real good at something, like really really good at something. They kinda think they’re good at everything? Erwon had that. The man was a genius at the digestive sciences, but he had all these wacky theories as to how the body as a whole worked. His theory was that aging is caused by imbalances in the diet.”

“Oh?”

“He thought you could live forever if you ate right.”

“Oh. Oh I see.” The detective ran her fingers through her hair, messing it up further. “Ain’t that a thing.” 

“He sold those uh, vitamin powders. I don’t know how much money those things made him, but I know its a lot.” Ord took a deep breath. “He really believed it too. He thought those things were gonna save the world.”

The detective raised her eyebrows. Ord could see the veins in her face throb. “Save the world? That’s a big ask for a chef.”

“Yeah. It really is.” Ord was suddenly feeling some kinda way. “Drink, detectives?” He stood, strode to the cabinet behind his desk, and returned with a glass of amber liquid.

“No thank you.” Said the detective. “We are on the clock.”

“He wanted to save the world, Erwon.” Said Ord, pouring a glass. “Save people from age, from death. Sometimes, if you got him drunk enough, he would tell you his theories about the Old World. How Old Humanity had perfect bodies, how they could live forever off sunlight and dew. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t one of those Rebuild the Old Humanity, Return to the Human Past types. He just-”

Ord realized he was crying, but only a bit. “Take your time.” Said Detective 87, her voice full of genuine compassion. 

“He was scared. Scared of old age, scared of death. He wanted to free us from all that. It’s a nice thought, aint it?”

“You cared about him.”

“He was a fucking asshole. Stuck-up tit of a chef. Sold himself as an expert on the cuisine of the world, but he was culinarily unadventurous, scared to eat anywhere with less than four stars. Wouldn’t stay in a hotel unless it served the Atlantean Continental Classics. Loved Lwes-Atalan food, but he would always say the *lwes* like it was a dirty word. You know? Just a fucking asshole-” Ord took another drink.

“But he was my friend. A colleague. Maybe even a friendly rival.” Ord pulled his mandibles back, a manic grin on his face. “He couldn’t stand me, and I loved to badger him. He found me vulgar and my reviews pedestrian. But there was a respect, you know? He knew I knew more about cuisine, and he hated that. And no matter what I said about him, he knew I always had to acknowledge that he was a damn fine chef.” Ord sniffed, his wings fluttered in frustration. “I’m gonna miss the bastard.”

The final meal of Chef Dantallion Erwon leaked from the wound in his stomach. Elsewhere, a food reviewer cleared his throat. 

“Ahem.”

I brought all six of my stomachs, but I arrived wearing the gastropod jaw. Chef Erwon’s birthdays are a departure from his ordinary retinue, a gesture to the Continental Atlantean peasant food of his childhood. Comfort food. One expects to scrape wet-grown mosses and brothy vegetables from wood skewers, baskets of baked summer centipedes in pastry, and fine wine. 

Evidently, Chef Erwon was feeling experimental. For detrivores, we were treated to delicate cakes of fried flowers and paper-thin citrus rinds, a variation of the traditional Atlantean summer aperitif. The carnivorous among us ate chainsaw offal charcuterie with an insect tapenade. A visiting church aesthetic was served a live mole to drown in lavender honey. 

The classic bouchon is a staple dish of Erwon’s arsenal. A simple broth of browned butter and olive oil, a body of mixed vegetables in keeping with Continental peasant sensibilities. Erwon’s version is a warm buttery puddle of broth decked with hundreds of tiny vegetable spheres. At his restaurant in Isin, a half-cup will run you nearly 40 washers. I must admit, I am obsessed with the dish. One swipe of the spoon abducts a dozen of the little balls, each cooked to mathematical precision befitting their geometry. I asked a friend in the kitchen just how long it took to cut all the little spheres. She told me that morning, she spent nearly 40 minutes scooping orbs from a single tremendous carrot. 

Next came a short chitin eel risotto. I was told it was cooked by a new method, inspired by Lwes-Atalan rice-and-broth caldo. The result was rubbery, oily, and uneven. Though I suspect even eel chum would taste excellent with slivers of raw garlic and two glasses of dry wine. In good company, I have learned to be polite when chef Erwon says “inspired by.” Post-revolutionary food has never been his strong suit. 

The main course, shoregryphid liver stuffed with expertly spiced fungal pate, is dry-aged and basted with ambitious fruit preserves. I switched stomachs to taste the necrovore preparation, instead stuffed with the animal’s sweet dry-fetid offal and savory bone meal. I found it far superior, reminiscent of the dishes preparation for a Khularim holiday dinner. 

A fleet of glass bell jars marked the cheese course. Green flowers for omnivores, red for necrovores, yellow for detrivores. The flowers were not strictly necessary. Half the cheesemongers in the city were in attendance. I found myself wonderfully accosted with rinds of purple molds and crackers spread with creamy semirotten forest detritus. A fine job all. Though, I draw particular attention to Miss Muribe of Southpine Dairy, who showed off a wonderfully delicate sour-curd aged –as she says– in the fuel tank of a live cargo drake. 

Dessert was another of Erwon’s experiments. In keeping with his theory of humoric balance, the final course was intended as a nutritional mirror of the previous dishes. Palm-sized crates of butter pastry filled with chalky sour-grape meringue and crushed green nuts were almost cohesive. I hesitate to use the word “medicinal” out of respect for my colleague’s inventive spirit. Ahem.

The food reviewer cleared his throat again. “That’s as much as I have. Until, well, you know.”

“Fancy stuff,” said the short detective, “really works up an appetite.”

“Oey, be polite,” said the tall detective “Mister Mornie has lost a colleague.”

[deedoessurvies]

two

When was the last time you read a whole book, to the last page exactly? Im doing that today. my last one has been since like november which is wild. ive just been so busy.

How many times have you had sex within the past two years? Guesstimate? Zero. close but zero.

When was the last time you made up a word? Did people think it was weird? i make up sayings often but they arent necessarily a made up word.

How many times in a month do you go to the movies? How much do you spend? when dating Z its like 2-3x a month.

What is one of those movies that you could never get tired of watching? sleepless in seattle, you've got mail, something borrowed, maid of honor, pride & prejudice

When was the last time you heard thunder? Where were you at anyway? here and a couple months ago. we are very close to rain season

Have you ever begged the opposite sex for anything at all? not that i can recall.

Are there many places to shop in the town you live in? What kinds? my town is small.. there are places to shop like grocery stores and small businesses. theres a habitat for humanity store, a military supply store, uhhh beauty stores, stuff like that.

When was the last time you bought shoes? What do they look like? I bought FRYE boots !!!!!! grandma would be so dang proud. I hope she sees this somehow haha. i got them in january some time.

Do you like surveys with really in-depth questions, like mine? Yeah.i wish there were more.

When was the last time you were in trouble with your parents? im in my 30s so it doesnt really work that way anymore.

Has your boyfriend or girlfriend ever cheated on you? Were you mad or sad? cheating sucks period. just break up with the person.

Do you know anyone who claims to have the ability to see the future? uhhhhh OH funny mini story. so sometimes K will send me letters in the mail. but i guess sometimes his handwriting for my street name is blurred so when that happens it gets sent to this chick like 4 blocks away. anywho, she LEGIT admitted to reading a letter of mine one time (wtf) and she basically fell in love with K for the things he was saying and when she reached out to me on FB to get me the letter, she was like omg i love him, you need to forgive him, yadda yadda. then later on she reached out to me and was like I can read your tarot cards and read your palms and stuff if you want! (wtf) lol

Are you a superstitious person? Have you ever been superstitious before? no.

Do you like any songs from country music? If so, which ones do you like? i love country songs. hundreds and hundreds.

Can people read your facial expressions easily? If so, why is this? typically no, im pretty good at hiding my emotions. not saying that in a proud way, because obviously it is good to feel your feels (within reason right) but nah

When was the last time you went on vacation? Where did you go to? uhhhhhhh golly. over the summer i went to Tennessee so theres that. How many states have you been to in your lifetime? Guesstimate if not sure. i think 26.

When you go to the movies, do you actually watch the movies or not? Oh i watch them. i dont think ive ever not watched them unless its obscenely gory and then ill just close my eyes or something.

What kind of instant messaging service do you use? Why do you use this? usually just messages on my phone. sometimes messenger, google chat, or whatsapp

When was the last time your area had a tornado warning, if ever? last summer.

Have you ever had one of those major fights with your current bf/gf? im currently single. was almost taken but that blew up over distance. i am so over distance.

Does it ever bother you when people use abbreviations for certain words? i very seldom care about the way people type.

Would it creep you out if you walked in on your best friend having sex? creep? no. would i be like SO embarrassed, yes but would i move on from it probably. lol. its natural, whatever.

When was the last time you said ‘I love you?’ Who did you say it to? romantically? C and i say it a lot to one another.

Do you have any of those freaky phobias that make no sense at all? my phobia makes sense.

Do you ever look at random people and think they could be a serial killer? >> YES. when I swipe on dating profiles im like "you have the look of someone who would happily skin another person" lol

Does it scare you when the sky gets really cloudy and dark during the day? no i LOVE IT. give me the clouds, gimme the stormy skies.

What was the last amusement park you went to? Did you have fun? busch gardens. yes, its just so daaaaaaaang hot.

[deeahhnuh]

2023!

I’ve done this year-in-review thing since 2007! 2007-2012 are over on my old LiveJournal, and 2013-on are right here on my Tumblr. :)

2023 - been there, done that year! Let's make 2024 a good 'un! :)

What did you do in 2023 that you’d never done before?

Not much - I was pretty consistently dull, I guess lol!

—

Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't make 'em in any official way - like, an actual list or anything. But I always try to keep "be healthy (in lots of ways)" as my big hope for the year!

—

Did anyone close to you give birth?

No lil' bbs this year, aw!

—

Did anyone close to you die?

Thank goodness, no.

—

What countries did you visit?

I never go anywhere lol

—

What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?

The "humble ambitions and hopes" I noted in last year's answer are still there, all humble and hopeful. But I am incredibly thankful to have what I do have!!!

—

What date(s) from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Huh, no big dates this year. Like I said, consistently dull lol!

—

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I have successfully (I think!) maintained the bangs I gave myself last year! Happily, I haven't managed to accidentally cut them too short or wonky. I like having 'em! :)

—

What was your biggest failure?

No big fails this year, lol!

—

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Oh golly, I had a tooth thing that started in November 2022 and was completed in September of this year! I am so fortunate and very, very glad that it all went perfectly - the oral surgeon and my dentist were a dream team!!! :)

—

What was the best thing you bought?

Music! It's vital to my existence, lol.

—

Whose behavior merited celebration?

My dental dream team lol! :) And in non-medical peeps - my mama, who is just... well, she keeps me goin'. ♥

—

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Can't think of anything off the top of my head!

—

Where did most of your money go?

Music, I guess! A worthy spend!

—

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Holidays and good times - birthdays 'n' such!

—

What song will always remind you of 2023?

Every year, I keep a playlist on Spotify of songs that sparked joy - here's my 2023 list! But also, "Padam Padam" by my queen, Kylie Minogue!

—

Compared to this time last year (2022), are you:

About the same, lol?

—

What do you wish you’d done more of?

I keep enjoying most of the same dang stuff. So, more new music. More new movies. More new TV shows. More new!

—

What do you wish you’d done less of?

See my last answer: I wish I'd done less of the same old same old! :)

—

How did you spend Christmas?

Fam, ham. 'Tis the season!

—

What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2023?

Haha, happily I didn't do anything too stupid. Still a few days left in the year, though!! :)

—

How many one-night stands?

This answer is always "none" - lol, same as the question about visiting different countries - so why do I leave it in?!

—

What was your favorite TV program?

Well I'm a complete goofball, so I love mah cartoons: Family Guy, always, and I watched a lot of American Dad too. I also adore Bravo - Real Housewives, Southern Charm, that sort of thing!

But as for, like, quality programming - Only Murders in the Building is a faaave, and I can't believe What We Do in the Shadows' next season will be its last!! I love it so much.

Oh and also The Golden Bachelor - it was a hoot!

—

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?

PJs! Nah, but I do try to be polished and classy-ish! (When I'm not just in my PJs.)

—

What kept you sane?

I said "music" last year - and it's the same answer for 2023! :)

—

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

This is another question I should probably cut from this list, lol!

—

What was the best book you read in 2023?

Pbffft, I will read books next year. And the first book I shall read is one I got this year, by Michael Cragg: Reach for the Stars. It's about British pop music from 1996-2006. Perfection!!

—

What was your greatest musical discovery?

I listened to a lot of synth-y '80s stuff on Spotify "80s Mix" playlists the last half of the year; not sure why I did, but it was a good choice! Yazoo kept me groovin'!

—

What did you want and get?

This isn't a really serious thing, except it is if you love great music! :) This year marked the 20th anniversary of Dannii Minogue's magnum opus Neon Nights - a whopping 7-disc edition of the masterpiece was released and I am so happy to own it!! However! Not too pleased to feel as old as I do when I remember buying the imported original at Tower Records twenty years ago lol!

Anyways, when it comes to really, truly serious things I want - sure, there are things (those humble ambitions and hopes I mentioned earlier) - but I have what I need. I'm good. :)

—

What did you want and not get?

See above!!

—

What was your favorite film of this year?

Scrapbook linking time! I don't have one single "favorite film of this year" - I enjoyed a lot of great movies!

—

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Chilled out! 37!!

—

What three things would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Some things prob could have been better, easier, or calmer - but that's every year, isn't it? This year was okay. :)

—

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Everyone? But to narrow it down to one guy, if I have to lol: Michael Shannon got a mention in my answer to this question last year, and - lucky guy - he gets a mention this year, too.

—

What political issue stirred you the most?

It's all terrible.

—

Who did you miss?

I will repeat what I said last year, because reading it back now, I gotta say I like the way I put it! And just like last year, I mean it just as much. "Family - those we’ve lost, and those who are simply not near. ♥"

—

What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023?

Just keep at it!

—

What quote can be used to sum up your year?

A bit from the incomparable It's a Wonderful Life came back to me at times this year - George Bailey, excoriating Potter: "what'd you say a minute ago? They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home? Wait? Wait for what?! Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken down that they… Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000?"

The "wait for what?!" line hits me. I know he's talking about being being kind and decent to others; it's a key message in the movie, of course.

But this year, I also interpreted as - we wait so often. But we've only got now. We gotta live a little now, in spite of (in defiance of) whatever hard stuff is going on in our lives. ♥

...but the actual quote that sums up my 2023 is "padam."

2024 is coming! Happy (almost) New Year, Tumblr! :)

[ghostiedreamsz]

Guardians of the Galaxy had such a coming of age ending and I am going to cry

⚠️Before I begin, spoilers for every Guardian of the Galaxy movie, especially Volume 3. I’m literally about to dump the entire plot on you and then cry about it. Go watch it if you haven’t it’s good

So I watched every single GOTG Volume in one day because I was bored and oh good golly gee I wish someone warned me about the messages because they absolutely DEVASTATED me every time.

I swear to god, the only message I obtained from GOTG1 is “who gives a shit if your family sucks? Come join our gang of misfits! We may hate each other, but we all have our own problems, and have learned to respect each other. Let’s commit some crime!” and it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever heard. Gamora’s dad is a dick who wants to murder half of the Galaxy? Found family! Drax’s family was brutally murdered by a Thanos wannabe and he’s seeking out cold revenge? Found family! Rocket was taken apart over and over and over until he could finally supply his creator with the power and knowledge to create a perfect society? What the fuOUND FAMILY! What was James Gunn on when he created this shit??? I need me some of that If my college found family doesn’t cure my gender dysphoria and crippling social anxiety I’m suing him

GOTG2 had the same message but like 1000 times more powerful because this is AFTER they created their little Guardians of the Galaxy family and determined that where they came from and how shitty their parents are doesn’t define them. I loved this movie so much. It does wondrous things for my heart that I’ll need a solid year to just put into words. Also Mantis is in it and I love her

But GOTG3. OH MAN GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3. Shit had me SOBBING. It’s implied that it takes place after the events of Endgame (I never watched Infinity War/Endgame so idk what happened other than Gamora’s death it was memed to oblivion please don’t murder me) and their dynamic is so obviously different as a result. Quill is in shambles, Gamora no longer remembers they were together, it’s obvious Nebula feels some kind of guilt over what happened (or unrequited love for Quill), Drax and Mantis are doing their best to help but they just can’t, and Rocket spends half of the movie dying and reliving his hell of a backstory. Groot is frankly the only thing normal about this dynamic, but he’s Groot so we’re moving on. It’s obvious the Galaxy Family is not at their best. So you know what happens? At the end of the movie, after they’ve saved the galaxy a third time, and helped all the children and animals and such, they all split up and go their own ways. Gamora joins the Ravagers, Drax realizes his experience as a father makes him really good at raising kids, Nebula goes out to save more people who might have been victims like her, Mantis goes alone on a journey to find herself after realizing she’s only ever taken orders from others, Star Lord goes to see his grandfather one last time (and had me bawling my eyes out), and ROCKET. ROCKET TAKES OVER AS THE LEADER OF THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY! HE MAKES HIS OWN GUARDIAN GROUP TO SAVE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS TO WHEN HE WAS A KID!! HE ALSO COMES TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT HE WAS A RACCOON!!! ISN’T THAT COOL?!

This is the greatest ending a trilogy could ever have, in my opinion. There’s no “We HAVE to stick together. We’re a team.” The group is aware that their dynamic is different, and that they aren’t what they used to be. And that’s fine! They all have their own problems to get over and passions to explore, so splitting up is the best solution! The found family is no more, but in its place is something so realistic and beautiful. It’s such a bittersweet, “so I guess this is the end” coming-of-age sitcom ending, but GOD I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. THANK YOU GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, and here’s to more silly little adventures!!

[qourmet]

@thebrookesnook Also I really liked the idea Cangse choice her name cuz its very on brand for her. Since the courtesy names are basically the expectations/wishes the parents want for their child in the future and Cangse is over here being like "i make my own destiny >:)" like the gremlin she is. What a queen, I stan ✋️😌.

Oh i like to think that Baoshan Sanren gave Both Xiao Xingchen & Cangse Sanren their courtesy names. I have headcanons about cssr just Coming to bssr with a blank-slate, no name to speak of. she responds to Liu as a name but it likely wasn't spelled Like That until after her orphaning & after she became a disciple on bssr's celestial mountain (like how lwj changed the spelling of Wen Yuan's given name but kept the pronunciation). She definitely gave herself her own surname, though & all i can imagine on that front is a monkey-child running amok on bssr's celestial mountain Demanding respect with the things she chose herself & bssr having no complaints.

Thank you so much for feeding my curiosity and I also wish you the best this year :Dc (Ps. love the shade being thrown at Airplane, i can imagine SQQ being asked by his disciples how to write fiction and he just points at their shishu saying "see that guy? dont be that guy")

LMAOOO we (me, just me) try so hard to deny it but good Golly gosh shen yuan is aggravatingly relatable. all of the svsss main cast is, rip. sqq sits on my shoulder judging my ever move, criticizing me before i have the chance to set anything in stone

other dumb name facts:

• i've headcanon'd Wei Changze's given name to be Tóng but this will very likely change because that's Absolutely an Airplane move. i like to think that his mother wasn't very educated & i made the "haha wouldn't it be funny if she named her kid a homonym for Servant" but Airplane did that homonym shit with Shen Jiu & i have a big enough sense of shame to rethink these things

• i can't bring myself to name any of them after Jewels or Flowers or Fruits or Nymphs even if there's double-meaning to those names because there's a Wei Wuxian on my other shoulder telling me "why are you naming them like they're cheap prostitutes" & it kills me, the Only character i Almost named after a flower (peach blossom) was Wen Ning/Qing's mother but it was because there's a juxtaposition between a delicate name & a tall/broad/sharp woman

• i have one big document where i save the most finalized versions of everyone's names but i'm a disorganized person who writes ideas down Anywhere when they pop up because i think it's better to get them down Soon as opposed to Orderly. anyways i found notes on a different app & Yixi had other name contenders such as:

• केतु/Ketu/Meteor Shower/夜瀑/Yepu/Night Waterfall (lovely but i didn't feel the pronunciation was Close Enough in both languages to justify it) • འཆི་མེད་/Chime/Deathless/逝没/Shime/Deathless (who Actually names their daughter this?? i say that like i don't know 3 Different fathers who Would)

hello, hope you’re doing well :D! i’ve been obsessing over all of your art and hcs of the mdzs older gen and i was wondering what your thought process of the names you chose for them were because they’re really cool!! like i was thinking how yixi’s name is probably referencing that she came from tibet or how qhj’s courtesy name is maybe referencing his position as heir then later sect leader, like him inheriting the responsibility of leading the lan clan, and maybe the night character is in reference to his quiet personality but also his future loneliness in seclusion? or maybe im just looking into it too deeply (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

hello hello!! i've been very busy, this new years is starting off with lots of farewells on my end & promises to see friends as they settle in to their lives, i hope you are well & i hope you've had a good holiday & will have a good year.

WAH you're too sweet 😭 i'm gonna be honest, a Lot of my thought process when Naming characters in general has been:

• "follow the naming process of mxtx," which means you can bet your butt i've been Carding through Tang Dynasty poetry for Months • making Absolute Sure that None of the names i settle on are homonyms for anything with a double-meaning such as: modern swear words, innuendos, or just anything in general that would make them look like a clown • do NOT be Airplane (Shang Qinghua) when naming characters- which in essence if you haven't read svsss means do Not give characters names that spell out the core of their origins. no "risen from the frozen river" names, "don't be too on-the-nose i'm Begging you do research" @ me • do your absolute Best not to choose characters with a ridiculous amount of strokes Especially for given names (a rule i've struggled to actually live by) • do your Best to not have too many overlapping characters that Canon names use • sparingly looking at the tao te ching because i'm too scared of being culturally insensitive to nitpick a name from any pinyin i might come across

i won't claim ever to be a native chinese speaker: i have enjoyed the incentive to learn characters that are the building blocks to actual words that reading mxtx's works (& subsequently other cnovels) have given me, but it is not a culture i was raised in and it is not a language i read fluently. can't speak mandarin or cantonese or suzhounese or any other dialect and have been blessed with multiple friends who do and have done their best to help steer me in the right direction. all that being said, here's some dumb facts with the names:

• regarding the last-most point, i've picked ONE name from the tao te ching. i'm glad you enjoy Chengye/承夜's name but i've deliberated over it too long and have come to the conclusion that it Will be changed. taking inspiration from qiren's name, there needs to be a verb in there paired with something abstract but innately Human & i've found a passage in the tao that i Really liked that i feel alluded to my own characterization of him had the phrase Yǒuqíng/有情 which is Just as abstract and ridiculous as Chengye (which i cannot remember where i pulled that name from), but comes with the added bonus of being from the Adjustment of Controversies. to Have affections but understand where they should be going or how they should be distributed, to question why a person favors One thing over Another despite the inevitable conclusion that All of it is working towards an inevitability completely out of a person's control, it all feels just absolutely peachy to thrust that onto qingheng-jun when he couldn't in his lifetime maintain the favor between his family & his wife. plus Wangji's name being tao-derrivative made me feel i needed at least one of the prev gen in this boat with their successors. i've studied the tao in a scholarly setting Once for a semester, and Once more for a week or two on my own time so Please do Not take my word as any level of expertise i'm begging you. • I Do remember when picking out a name for Qingheng-jun, coming across a name that in essence meant "Bear the Night" felt a little too on-the-nose. there was no double meaning though i tried applying one. he's a Leader, he's a Cultivator, it's Expected of him to bear this and bear it as if it weren't a burden. and the more i thought/think about it, the less it made sense especially when All cultivators are expected to soldier through the same conditions, yanno? • Cangse-Sanren is the only girl i've headcanon'd so-far with a courtesy name! and i Really Really wanted it to be something to do with celestial bodies Exclusively because Xiao Xingchen has the Most celestial name on this show outside of Lan Xichen but he doesn't count in my head. i also wanted it to have Anything to do with the moon because Xiao Xingchen's name has a good chunk of sun radicals in there, but also Moonbeam is what you'd call a fairy and she's a fairy and i Will Never let that go. the most buckwild batshit fairy you've ever met but a mortal worthy of being a celestial being. her Surname means Wish, so go wishing on the moonbeams because her husband certainly did. • Cangse-Sanren in my headcanons named herself. She was a whimsical child, she named herself something outlandish for her surname, & she was obsessed with the cowherd & weavergirl story as a child so she named herself Liu/浏 with the milky way in mind (here i go breaking my Not Too Many Strokes rule). • tragically Yixi's name was more utilitarian than anything else. i needed something that worked in multiple languages based on my headcanons of origin & with the limited selection i had to work with, 益西 was by & far my favorite. plus the implications of her having value, of being benificial to some far-off location that was as far away from Gusu as you could possibly get, how could i Not see the poetry in that? • Yixi has no surname. Yi is not her surname, her full name is Yixi. where i headcanon her From, surnames weren't particularly commonplace outside of nobility and i don't headcanon her family to be of major importance (though i believe they're relatively self-sustaining). She might be associated with a specific clan her family works under or for & that may come up in the future, but for now it's just Yixi until or unless you think of her as already a married Lan. jury's out on whether the Lan clan would've ever called her Madam Lan tho. • confession: Bu Xin's name was directly inspired by Unchained Love's Bu Xin. different spelling but iirc it's completely a homonym. second confession: i have yet to finish watching Unchained Love please go Easy on me