#june in the purest form

[townofcrosshollow]

Fanfic writers posting major story updates asking for feedback on their plot decision to a total of 2 notes are truly the kind of person I want to be. Finding joy in the act of creation, imagining complex and beautiful concepts to apply to objectively silly subject matter, the confidence to put it out there and be open with the world and vulnerable... man

[theskywithin]

✴︎✴︎ Take Your Power Back ✴︎✴︎

Pluto in the Houses as the Long Return to Self

Real power is presence. It’s the ability to stay with yourself even when it hurts. Even when you’ve been taught that your needs are too much, your truth is too dangerous, or your instincts are untrustworthy. Pluto does not only give power, it also reveals where it was stolen, suppressed, buried alive. And through the burn, the excavation, the obsession, the rupture, Pluto teaches you how to take it back. Not all at once, but slowly, through every instinct that once felt forbidden. Here’s how Pluto teaches you to reclaim your power, depending on where it lives in your birth chart.

just a little note: My book is on sale across all digital platforms (except Kindle) until June 15 ✧ The paperback is still available on Amazon. For the summer sale link, scroll to the bottom of the page 🕊

✴︎ Pluto in the 1st House

Take your power back like smoke that refuses to disappear. Like a flame that doesn’t flinch when watched. You are the pressure before lightning, the stillness that makes people sit up straighter. Take it back by walking in like you were never gone. By letting your silence say more than your explanation ever could. By knowing that intensity isn’t something to manage, it’s your nature, and it’s not up for negotiation. You are not a mirror, you are the original. Let your spine carry your name like a banner. Let your eyes speak in full sentences. Let yourself be seen without shrinking to fit the frame. Your power is in the way you don’t leave when the gaze gets heavy, it’s in the way you stay.

✴︎ Pluto in the 2nd House

Take your power back like gold remembers its weight. Like roots split the stone without asking. You were never meant to beg for what’s already yours. You are the vault, the soil, the inheritance no one can touch. Stop measuring your worth in echoes, stop offering proof of your right to exist. You are not the fruit, you are the tree that does not kneel to be picked. Let your voice sound like a locked door clicking open. Let your “no” feel like metal, cool, final, unquestionable. You don’t owe your light to those who close their eyes when it shines. Take your power back by keeping what feeds you, by standing still and letting the world rise to your value.

✴︎ Pluto in the 3rd House

Take your power back like a secret that stops whispering. Like a spell that chooses to speak itself aloud. Your mind is a blade, it cuts through illusion without drawing blood. You are not here to repeat the script, you are here to rewrite it. Let your voice land like truth in a room full of noise. Let your silence feel deliberate, not timid. Take your power back by trusting your perception, by saying what others tuck beneath their tongue. By letting your words shake the structure, not cushion it. You are not an echo, you are the original frequency.

✴︎ Pluto in the 4th House

Take your power back like a house locks its doors and breathes. Like land that remembers who walked it first. You are not built from silence, you are built from stone and storm and memory that never asked for permission. Let the walls shake, let the old names fall from your mouth like dust, let the roots rewire themselves around your voice. Take your power back by choosing which bloodline ends with you, by blessing the past without obeying it. You are not haunted, you are home.

✴︎ Pluto in the 5th House

Take your power back like a heartbeat remembering it’s allowed to be loud. Like sunlight that no longer dims to make others comfortable.You are here to feel everything and survive it. The moment belongs to you, the beauty, the ache, the riot of being fully in your body. You don’t need permission to enjoy your life. You don’t need a witness to make your joy real. Take your power back by letting yourself exist without editing. By being wild and unguarded in your pleasure, by letting delight become devotion. You are presence in its purest form and that is enough.

✴︎ Pluto in the 6th House

Take your power back like a clock that resets itself. Like a spine that straightens after centuries of bending. You are not here to be useful. Your time is not a currency, your energy is not a favor, your care is not a contract. Let your rituals serve you before they serve anyone else. Let your “yes” feel clean and your “no” feel holy. Take your power back by tending to yourself like the altar you forgot you were. By building a life that fits your rhythm, not the roles you were handed. Your rest is revolution.

✴︎ Pluto in the 7th House

Take your power back like a mirror that stops distorting the image. Like a vow made silently to yourself in the middle of someone else’s sentence. Let your reflection belong to you again. Let your yes be yours, not a strategy. Let your love feel like choice, not survival. Take it back by no longer asking to be chosen. By knowing you are not someone’s peace prize or project. By understanding that connection doesn’t require self-erasure to last. You are the presence that turns longing into recognition, stand beside, not beneath. Love without folding.

✴︎ Pluto in the 8th House

Take your power back like a secret that no longer shakes. Like a hand that opens without trembling. Let your boundaries be velvet and steel. Let your desires speak in their own language, unfiltered, unashamed. Take it back by no longer performing vulnerability to earn intimacy. By knowing the difference between merging and losing yourself. You are the current that runs deeper than permission. You are the threshold and the lock and the key. Let trust be sacred but let power stay yours.

✴︎ Pluto in the 9th House

Take your power back like a wild animal that remembers the door was never locked. Like a name that echoes louder the farther it gets from where it started. Take it back by leaving, by outgrowing, by rising so far past the old story, even your shadow feels lighter. You don’t need a reason, you don’t need a plan, you just need to follow what won’t leave you alone. Your freedom is not a phase, it’s the fire you came here to carry. Go farther. Get louder. Make the world rearrange itself around your next becoming.

✴︎ Pluto in the 10th House

Take your power back like a crown that fits now. Like a name spoken so clearly, the sky straightens. Let the old roles fall away, let the title dissolve if it kept you small let your authority rise from the inside, where no one gave it to you, and no one can take it. Take it back by walking like you belong wherever you decide to go. By letting your presence speak before you do. By building a life that does not require applause to be real. You are here to be known by yourself first. Own your pace. Own your direction. Own the impact you came here to leave behind.

✴︎ Pluto in the 11th House

Take your power back like a constellation that refuses to dim for the others. Like a voice that doesn’t lower itself just to stay invited. You are here to bend the future with your presence. Let the crowd adjust, let the circle shift, let the rooms that once swallowed you grow silent in your clarity. Take it back by claiming your vision out loud, by trusting the dream that no one else could carry because it was always meant for you. You are not the echo of what’s trending, you are the signal that turns the tide. You belong in every space your truth can breathe in. And the rest? Let it burn.

✴︎ Pluto in the 12th House

Take your power back like a shadow that stands taller than the flame. Like a truth too deep for language but too loud to ignore. You are not alone. You are unreachable in the best way. Let the world misread your stillness. Let them call it quiet, only you know it’s the pulse of something limitless. Take it back by listening to what only you can hear. By trusting the knowing that arrives without proof. By remembering that invisibility is not absence, it’s armor. You do not owe your inner world to anyone’s understanding. Your power is not seen, it is felt, like fate. It is the force that shifts everything, silently. You are the keeper of the unspoken and you remember everything.

summer sale :)

[modelsof-color]

I feel that I owe it to the people that sent sweet messages to me , showing their support and love and these people are the only ones I want to read it and more than that , to know that your kindness impacted me 💖

may the universe rewards you with inner peace, health and happiness

My dear Mother passed away on June 30th

I'm learning how to living again without the reason of my happiness

I will always miss her . I will always miss the woman I used to be when she was here in this planet.

I miss not having her here to feel proud of me, I hate that I can't see her being proud the person I'm right now after losing her

I miss her honest words telling me to do better , to be mature about my frustrations, I miss her voice telling me what I did wrong even if it used hurt my ego

I miss the woman who raised me despiste her own insecurities, flaws and fears , the woman who gave me the affection, not too much not too little, just enough .

enough to make me understand , now , that I am a butterfly, with my own colors , my freedom and with endless delicacy as final form

I miss the woman who told me I don’t need anyone to tell me how important I am, that if I know and believe it from the bottom of my heart, I will be able to remind myself about it everytime I go through a hard time

the woman who told me to NEVER blame anyone for not love me back because my self love is the only love I should be afraid of losing

I miss the woman who taught be it's okay to feel like the most vulnerable girl in the world for a little bit as a long as I stand up and keep fighting .

I will always love the woman with the most humanity ideas, artistic mind, and purest heart.

The personification of the quote " the meaning of life is to serve humanity "

My eternal gratitude goes to every single one of you , y'all through spontaneous and lovely messages show me that some people still care , I am back mostly because I need to feel this positive energy and empathy in my life again 💜

[maymaymay5th]

Love, Agency, and the Real Meaning of Feminism in The Handmaid’s Tale

⸻

I just finished The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6, and honestly, I’m heartbroken and angry.

The relationship between Nick and June has been one of the most powerful threads in the series since Season 1. Nick risked his life again and again to protect her. Their love wasn’t a fairytale—it was born from pain, danger, and limited choices. But that’s what made it real. In a world built to crush them, they chose each other. That wasn’t “being a lovesick fool.” That was human courage, emotional agency, and resistance in its purest form.

But in Season 6, the writers reduced Nick to a mere background character, labeling their history a “situationship.” This not only breaks character logic—it disrespects everything that viewers have emotionally invested in. Years of life-or-death devotion were tossed aside for thematic convenience.

But here’s my truth: Feminism doesn’t mean stripping women of love, tenderness, or emotional complexity. Feminism means giving women the freedom to choose, fully and freely, without judgment.

I loved June in Season 1 because she was imperfect. She made mistakes. She still chose to love Nick. She still fought for her daughter. And she did all of it while holding on to her own sense of self. That’s not weakness. That’s personhood.

Season 6, on the other hand, flattened her into an abstract figure of righteousness—who erases people not because of real harm, but because they no longer fit her narrative. That’s not strength. That’s inhuman.

⸻

📣 So let’s stop calling love a weakness.

Let’s stop telling women that to be “strong,” they must be numb, angry, or alone.

Feminism means freedom. Freedom to choose love, freedom to walk away. Freedom to be a person.

I’ve seen so many shippers feeling deeply disappointed and angry — and I understand them completely.

But honestly, I think the answer lies exactly in what The Textual Poachers says: fanfiction has power.

Fanfiction is not just about indulging fantasies — it’s about reclaiming meaning. When the official narrative abandons characters we’ve loved and followed for years, we have every right to take them back. We reshape the story, not to ignore canon, but to challenge it, to heal what it broke, and to honor what it erased.

Even if the writers dismissed Nick and June’s relationship as a “situationship,” we remember what it actually was: sacrifice, longing, mutual recognition in a broken world. That kind of bond doesn’t vanish because a script says it does.

We write because we remember. We create because we refuse to let someone else tell us what mattered and what didn’t.

In a way, fanfiction becomes a form of emotional justice — a space where readers and writers say:

“No, this was real. You don’t get to take that from us.”

And maybe that’s the most powerful resistance of all.

[hsficrecommendation]

@hsficrecommendation 's Masterlist

Note: This is a post that holds links to all of the fic-rec masterlists/wrap ups I've posted of months mentioned below.

Now, this is how it works - I'm an avid fanfiction reader (and I'm sure that if you're here, then, you're one too) and I genuinely believe that it's one of the purest and best forms of media. Every single fic we read deserves ton of support, for which I've got another sideblog called (@ireblogwhatireadcauseduh ) where I reblog all the fics I read.

This one, though, is a blog I created to hopefully preserve some of the best fics, according to me, that I've read so far. Fics that just really affected me in a way that I simply fell in love.

Mentioned below, are links that will lead you to the best fics, (again, according to me) that I read in the namely month. If a month isn't mentioned, it just means that either I didn't really read anything because life gets in the way sometimes, or that I didn't find any fic very touching.

So, if you do decide to read any of the fics that I've recommended in the links below, please make sure to reblog the fics and to leave feedback on them for the writers because that's what keeps them going!!

Also, a very shameless self-promo -- I've got a writing account as well! (Although I'm pretty sure you found this one from there ghsfkhjl) It's named @0oolookitsme ! Feel free to take a stroll <3

Aaand that's all I had to say! I'll let you lose now, hope you enjoy your little walk through this blog, and come back again!

All the love <3

2022

February

March

April, May, June, July, August, September

2023

January, February, April

June

June, September, October

November, December

2024

January, February and March (should be here in the beginning of April!)

[ambulancevsambulance]

This is my Essay from the MCR Swarm Zine. I kept hesitating to put it up here, as I feel pretty tender about it. But after everything that happened yesterday, today. I feel like I have to put it out here. It's necessary. Needed. For myself, at the very least.

--

"'Cause you only live forever in the lights you make”

It’s June 2022, and I’m watching My Chemical Romance perform songs of anger, community, and defiance in one of my favorite cities- Prague. 

The city of my father’s family. A city that has repeatedly stared tyranny in the face and decided to rise up despite the odds.  

It’s 1945 and the citizens have rebelled to take back the city from the Nazis, street by street.

It’s the spring of 1968, and citizens fight against another oppressive regime. They are supposed to be crushed in four days. 

They last eight. Months. 

It’s 1989, another uprising, one that comes to be known as the Velvet Revolution. The city is finally free, a culmination of every revolution and rebellion that has come before. 

In each instance citizens clawed towards freedom by any means necessary, fighting in the open to stop jackbooted goons from holding onto power. To save friends, family, and complete strangers from suffering for one more moment. Each time they lost, they made sure to make it hurt, and to make the oppressor remember how hard the fight had been. 

They didn’t always win the battle,

–The good guys die and the bad guys win–

but they won the war. 

These people keenly knew that institutions will not save you. Only your fellow comrades will.

It’s June 2022. My friends and I are facing calls of discrimination, for extermination. It can be a miserable time, but I find strength in watching one of my favorite bands. I join the hundreds on livestream, watching the thousands in the stadium. Our eyes fixed on the five on stage. 

As Gerard starts crooning out the notes of Heaven Help Us for the first time in fourteen years, again I’m reminded:

They will not save you.

What is this song but a scream to be saved by outside forces? That in the midst of a cruel martyrdom, the Heavens will be silent to pleas for help. It’s the punchline to the joke, right? No higher power is coming to save you, no matter how much you cry. 

Best they can offer is to watch you burn. 

Heaven Help Us has never been a hopeful song–and it’s a struggle to feel hopeful, some days. 

But the world is an echo of the past as much as it is a march towards an uncertain future. I feel those ghosts whispering to remember this city’s history while watching MCR on stage. To remember that the only solidarity that can be found is in mutual aid–in the community of our fellow freaks and queers and fags. That without intersectionality between it all we will fucking fail. It’s hard work, and we won’t always win.

That doesn’t mean we– I – should give up. And MCR agrees. In contrast to the despair of Heaven Help Us, there is Danger Days– which speaks more to me now than any other MCR album. Songs of radical love and resistance against fascist conglomerates and an uncaring apocalyptic world…that doesn’t feel as fictional as it did before. 

In Prague, MCR plays six songs from that album (Boy Division counts, damn it). Seeing Gerard, Frank, and Ray all screaming into their microphones about an apocalypse that is crashing down around our ears lights a fire inside of me. Reminding me that changing the world might mean dying, but hell yeah lets try anyways. Your sacrifice might light the path of victory for others. You get to be the fucking detonator–and isn’t that a privlege? To have your acts of resistance inspire the next in line. 

It’s in direct contrast to the lament of Heaven. Stop asking who, what will save us, and realize we have to save ourselves. By any means possible. 

The concert ends with Kids from Yesterday, and I finish the night listening to Gerard sing that the only people we can truly count on are each other. That fighting for your friends is the purest form of love alive. 

So in the face of extermination, say fuck you.

And make damn sure your friends want to leave graffiti on your grave. 

[naturallyadventured]

cacatua_93

The final sunrise on the best month of my life ☀️

May 2023- very few words except holy fuck.

I started the month atop Knocknarea naked under the Scorpio Full Moon- a full moon linked to rebirth and sacral energy! Queen Maeve has definitely walked beside me throughout May. It’s been the wildest, most sexual month of my 30 years and I’ve never felt more alive 🔥 it’s a testament to the power of a pilgrimage up a mountain with an intention set, the way our ancestors would have climbed these sacred places.

Then climbing Mama Errigal, such a healing feminine place. If you look at the side of the mountain there is a very distinctive vulva down the side of her. And surrounded by the Seven Sisters- it’s my favourite area in Ireland.

2023 was the first year I have ever intentionally followed the Celtic Wheel, and bejaysus when you go inward in the winter months, you come out at Beltane with an energy that seems almost supernatural.

From the fires and Aries of the Uisneach flames, to bring Bish Boshed with tribe around Bellurgan Park, to the most spectacular weekend celebrating love in its purest form at Kilronan Castle- I am ready for a quiet June. Wishful thinking eh?

📸 photo credit from the Pisces supremo himself Mr Kevin Penrose @wildirishwanderer

We climbed this mountain twice in the space of 10 hours to get to see the sunrise and the sunset (when Pisces get together it’s like a big vortex where time ceases to exist)

Its so amazing to witness Kevin in action creating content- I can confirm he is very fond of clouds 🤣☁️🌥️🌥️🌩️🌨️

I’m hoping KP will start a side hustle called Wild Irish Woman and photograph naked woman in various locations across Ireland!

He has an eye not only for mountains 🍑

[hantengudelulu]

I feel a little irritated, but mostly I feel sorry for Shinobu. Her feelings of guilt, her "attachment" to the clones, make me a little angry at first, thinking "why are you feeling this way?! Pity?! Compassion?! Affection for these demons?!", but then it passes, because what she has been through all these years... It is with bitterness and regret that I come to the conclusion that this was inevitable, her feeling this way towards the clones. Shinobu is very strong.

Irritation is normal, especially when reading about complex, painful emotions like those Shinobu feels. But it’s important to consider victim mentality and how trauma bonds work, especially in the context of her situation as that is what I have focused on.

I thought in the handmaid's tale June trauma bond to Serena was well written so got inspired.

Trauma bonds are formed when a person is repeatedly exposed to cycles of abuse, where the abuser alternates between harmful behavior and moments of kindness or affection. This inconsistent treatment creates confusion and attachment. It's not about love in the purest sense, but about survival. Victims often defend and justify the behavior of their abusers, not because they are "in love" with them, but because their abuser has gained their trust through moments of kindness, offering them just enough to keep them hooked. They often believe the relationship can improve or that they deserve the affection they receive, even if it’s conditioned on their suffering.

It’s important to consider that it takes an average of 5 to 7 times for a woman to leave an abusive relationship (and many never actually leave for a range of reasons). This is compounded by the time period (1922) where women had limited rights and even fewer resources to escape their circumstances and society support women leaving their husband or 'domestic partner'.

Shinobu is a unique case because of her importance, her access to resources, and her intelligence. But for most women, leaving an abusive partner isn’t as simple as walking away—it’s a matter of survival.

Yes, it’s common for victims to feel a twisted attachment to their abusers and to experience romantic feelings toward them. But abusive relationships aren't 100% toxic 24/7. This is one of the primary reasons abusive people maintain control—because they are not awful all the time. They know how to charm, how to manipulate the system, and how to convince the victim that they are the problem or that they can change. Society also often sides with abusers because their manipulation is so effective.

(So very Hantenguish. He was probably like this to his wives as a human).

In Shinobu’s case, the clones were not horrible to her at all times. This is the same dynamic seen in The Handmaid's Tale with Fred and Serena Waterford. Fred was not cruel to Serena all the time—he alternated between moments of affection and control. These small moments of kindness or attention help form the bond between the victim and the abuser.

Victims often do whatever they can to survive. Shinobu’s journey is one of unimaginable loss: she lost her family, her comrades in the Corp, the war, her husband, and even thought she had lost her sister. She had to make life-or-death decisions—like choosing Naho to die, knowing it was for the sake of Aoi, Kiyo, and Sumi.

Then she was locked away in the Seishoku Bo and abused by the Shusei (aunts). After enduring nearly two years of that, she was selected as a royal concubine by a demon with six other manifestations—each one part of him, each one raping her constantly. That is a lot to break anyone down.

What followed was a combination of psychological and physical trauma. Even though the clones started treating her better (after drugging her), those moments of care—however tainted—were a lifeline for someone who had lost everything. She was desperate to hold on to anything that might give her some sense of stability, some sense of normalcy.

She had a child with them. Many women in abusive situations feel they cannot leave because of the children. Shinobu is no different. Enishi is her son—her responsibility, her hope for a future, and her only true source of unconditional love. How could she not factor him into her decisions?

And its made worse because of her position as royal consort and who Enishi's fathers are-she simply just can't leave.

It’s irritating, I get that. Because we see this trope of the "strong victim" in media who overcomes the odds, defeats the villain, and lives happily ever after. But that’s not the reality for most survivors.

Shinobu’s situation is complex. She has survived, yes, but survival doesn’t mean she is free from the psychological scars that come with living through years of abuse. It doesn’t mean she’s magically healed or that she can simply “move on” from what happened or that she will be free.

Her attachment to the clones, her conflicting emotions, her guilt and shame, they are all part of the long process of trauma and healing. And as much as we might want her to act decisively and reject them, the reality is that trauma bonding is powerful.

Sometimes, we see a victim’s survival instincts as “weakness,” but they are a means of survival—coping mechanisms in a world that has stripped them of control. It’s easy to judge from the outside, but harder to understand when you’re trapped in that cycle, where leaving is often just another way of losing everything you have left.

Again factor in the society and time period she is in. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

On the side-I never really write the clones/hantengu as someone reforming. Maybe aknowledging they fucked up here and there, but never true accountability. Hantengu made it to old age thinking he was the one wrong. As a demon over 200 years old he still didn't change and thought he was literally as sinless as jesus so yeah...

[inuhalfdemon]

Dirty Dealings (14/21)

Word Count = 7,096 Words

Rating = Mature (SMUT)

Chapter 14: The Revelation

To him. It was the purest form of entertainment. The world was a stage, after all... - Alastor

June 25th, 2001

New Orleans, Louisiana

Having just finished with the disemboweling of a large gator in the New Orleans swamp; Alastor took his time heading back to Adeline. He drifted and slithered easily through the darkness – barely more than shadow himself. It was a trip prematurely made; he really hadn’t needed the excursion quite so soon but he thought it never really hurt to “blow of some steam”. Adeline had been tossing and turning restlessly in her sleep all night; he didn’t need the rest himself but her agitation had been building in him and it began to become quite irritating. The distance from her wasn’t great; but it did help and the activities he usually partook in whilst roaming the muck and shores of the bayou never failed to lift his mood.

It was still fairly early; the sun now only just suggesting its arrival to a new day. Alastor made a mental note to initiate intercourse with Adeline this morning before things got too busy for them; it might just release some of the tension she had building between them and it might help prevent any…arousing mishaps…during this event she was so focused on them attending.  

Funny enough; he was delighted at the thought of getting to go to an art gallery with her tonight. However; the connection they shared was becoming stronger and Adeline’s feelings and emotions were coming to him – sharper and sharper – by the day. This, of course, was made worse by whatever anxiety she was holding onto with tonight. Her mood was swinging from one feeling to the next so erratically: excitement, apprehension, fulfillment, insecurity…that familiar and deepening passion…an equally deepening sense of dread, a feeling of expectation… Nervousness, hesitation, genuine fear… It was such a mess for him to receive that he was incredibly impressed with how well she was functioning. If not for their unique situation; he wasn’t certain he’d have caught very many of the signs to her internal war.

Sighing; Alastor smoothly shifted himself into his radio demon form. He was still committed to his new domesticated role and was dressed in the jeans he had fashioned to accommodate his tail and a loose black T-shirt. The T-shirt didn’t hide the crisscrossing of scars he had marking his neck and upper chest but it was comfortable enough. Waving a hand; he produced a shimmering, green portal and stepped through with swaggering strides.

He materialized in Adeline’s kitchen; finding her already awake and just in the beginnings of making her own coffee.

“Oh! You’re back already!” She greeted him, smiling. Her hair was a complete mess from her restless night and she looked exhausted.

“Just a quick trip.” He said, smiling back at her; his radio filter coating his words. He went to her; leaning over, he kissed her forehead softly.

“You in the mood for yours or mine, this morning?” He nodded to the coffee pot she had been getting ready to fill with water. 

“Yours, please.” She sighed; putting the pot back in it’s place. “I had a Hell of a night.” She groaned.

He chuckled; reaching into the cupboard and pulling out a mug for her. Snapping his fingers, he filled her cup and produced his own – the red “Oh Deer” mug she had gifted to him on a whim. It brought him great amusement and he found that he was quite fond of it.

“Refills included.” He smiled, lifting his own mug and sipping at the steaming beverage.

“Thank God.” She said, taking the cup with her to head into the bathroom and get ready for the day.

He watched her walk away; disappearing into the restroom.

Even as a hot-early-morning-mess, she was…beautiful, he admitted to himself. He felt the beginnings of a…stirring…in his jeans. Yep, he would be getting her into bed at some point this morning. He was having none of that nonsense on another Anniversary night; not if he could help it.

He rubbed his face with his hand; thinking about the fantasies. They normally weren’t common; especially if he and her kept with their regular routine they had established for themselves. Every once in a while though…one would creep up and invade his thoughts. He tried not to give them much consideration; he was sure they were…normal…in some twisted way. Recently, they were drifting into his thoughts more and more frequently; catching him even in moments they had just collapsed into that post-coital bliss. What’s more, they were becoming more vivid; more macabre. He had even had a fucking wet dream in his sleep: of him cannibalizing her. He assured himself they held no merit but…they disturbed him; and he didn’t care much for the feeling.

Coming out of the bathroom; Adeline was brushing her hair.

“So, what do you want to do this morning?” She asked him; he could feel a touch of the jitters coming from her.

“Well, I thought I might get my trip to the cemetery out of the way before –“ He began.

“Oh, shit.” She said; pulling the brush from her hair. “Oh, fuck. I’m sorry…I completely forgot. I never got the sunflowers.”

He tilted his head; a long ear drawing back at her reaction.

“It’s really just fine, Adeline.” He assured her.

“I can go get some right now.” She told him. “I’ll get dressed and-“

“Adeline.” He tweaked his ear. “It’s still early…I’m fine going without them or if you’d like to join me; I’ll take you wherever it is you normally get them before we go. It doesn’t have to be right now.”

“You-“ She starred at him. “You want me to go with you?” She asked. “I mean, I know you invited me before but…” She had always meant to respect his privacy; not wanting to intrude on his personal commitments.

“It would be my pleasure.” He told her; going over to her, he touched her face, tilting it to look down at her with warm, soft eyes. He wanted to know what she was thinking…what swirling thoughts were driving her mad.

“Then, yes.” She smiled; touching her hand to his and holding it to her. “I’d like to join you – and I would very much like for us to get the flowers before we leave.” She clarified.

“Splendid.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb, then dropping his hand; hers falling away with his - he took it – briefly squeezing it before letting go. “Now, you finish up. I’ll go make us some breakfast.”

Adeline finished getting ready for the day. They both had breakfast; the radio playing : a series of classic rock songs - one of the few moments Alastor was choosing not to listen to jazz.

Alastor was cleaning dishes to AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds” while Adeline considered the dresses he had bought for her, years ago. He had offered for her to find and pick out whatever dress she’d like but she insisted on wearing one of the three he had sent her previously. She decided she would wear the green dress. It was formed to be less revealing than the red dress had been but like the red dress; it was trimmed in black. It hugged her body nicely and cascaded in soft, flowing ripples – the coloration of the fabric throwing varying shades of green depending on the lighting that struck it.     

Alastor was just finishing in the kitchen when Adeline came back. She was dressed to do their errands; casually – wearing jeans and a colorful T-shirt. She had a thought, entering the dining room though and sat herself onto the edge of the long table.

Alastor – drinking his next cup of coffee – sipped from his mug, watching her. “What are you doing, Adeline?” He asked her.

“Well, you did say it was early…” She told him, suggestively.

“Yes. I’d say it still is.” He allowed.

“We could find some way to pass the time.” She offered.

“On your dining room table?” He asked her, un-amusedly. His ears sweeping back at the thought.

She shrugged.

He placed his coffee down; walking over to her.

“This table is meant for eating on.” He told her, disgusted. 

She gave him a coy smile.

“No.” He told her, stopping in front of her; his arms crossed.

“I’ll make you a deal…” She teased him.

“Your terms?” He grumbled.

“You have your way with me, here.” She told him. “And, I’ll do whatever it is you would – might -  like.” She finished, hoping to encourage some new sexual fantasy he might be hiding.

“Hm…” He unfolded his arms; leaning in. “Deal.” He growled.

In one smooth motion, he stepped between her legs. She spread them readily; wrapping them around his waist as he pulled her close. She was ready for him to dip her back; when instead he hiked her higher onto his waist and pulled her from table; carrying her out of the kitchen.

“The fuck!?” She yelled at him.

“You offered very vague terms, Adeline. “Here” could mean anywhere in this apartment; I’m taking you to the bedroom.” Alastor told her. “I am not averse to taking my meals there.” He chuckled. “You’d make a very poor profession out of your deal-making, dearest Adeline.”

“You’re such a bastard.” She told him.

He carried her through the doorway, into the bedroom.

“You like it.” He growled at her; tossing her easily onto the bed.

He crawled on it with her; over her. He kissed her sweetly as he hurriedly helped her out of her clothing. Tugging at her pants; he was pulling them off her as she worked his shirt off; each of them taking turns to pause and orient themselves throughout the process to get the job done.

When they both were fully naked, Alastor stepped from off of the bed, gripped her thighs and pulled her roughly to the edge of the mattress; his claws not cutting her but leaving sharp lines in her skin. She gasped; excited by his enthusiasm.

Winding his arms around her legs; he spread them open and dived right in. Adeline’s back arched and she threw her head back; normally he was more restrained with her than this – his movements much more slow and teasing.

Freeing one arm; he firmly pushed her down onto the bed with his hand; claws spread across her abdomen; digging into – but not piercing – her skin. She shuddered; her heart rate racing. His other arm still wrapped around her leg; he tightened his hold with it and pulled her into him; enjoying his feast. He had his face buried into her; his lips, teeth, mouth and tongue all in – licking, biting, kissing, sucking… Her head was absolutely swimming at the rapidity of the amount of stimulation she was already feeling.

Kneeling how he was; she had no good access to his needs and like her; he was quickly reaching his point of climax. His antlers had branched out in twisting points; curling upwards. Desperate for relief; he pressed his hand holding her down further into her firmly, his claws creating more marks in her skin; giving her a non-verbal cue to stay…before releasing her. Finding himself with his free hand now; he palmed and pumped himself.

Adeline could feel her climax rushing in. Alastor had stopped his biting and sucking frenzy only to slide his tongue into her – deeply – before firmly curling and dragging it so that when it came out; it was licking her firmly from entrance to clit; back in again and starting all over.

A gush of her wetness filled his mouth at his next pass and he knew she was about to fall apart. Her thighs quivered and tightened around him; he bore himself deeper into her sex – his tongue twisting and writhing into her with such a penetrating force that when she came she screamed.

The sound of it sent him over the edge.

“Ah, fffffuck.” He growled; his hips jutted into the side of the bed; spraying cum onto the fabric and into the carpet.

They stayed where they were; her lying on the bed and him knelt on the floor – both trying to process what just happened in the last 180 – or so – seconds. They both were panting; shaking and sweating from the heightened urgency of the whole event.

Recovering, Alastor pulled himself up onto the bed. Angling himself so that his feet were facing opposite from hers; he laid beside her – both of them breathing heavily – shoulder to shoulder in opposing directions.

“That was….” Adeline breathed; unable to find the words.

“…hm, quite so.” He agreed; sighing. If there was anything from sex he truly enjoyed; it was this – the feeling of soaking in all the endorphins and chemicals the body released following a moment of intimacy. It wasn’t enough of a reward for him to want to continue anymore of these sorts of activities than he absolutely must; but right now – it didn’t suck.

Adeline shuddered beside him; still feeling prickling jolts of post-climaxing energy strike through her body.

“So…what do I get to do for you now? A deal’s a deal.” She asked him, nearly lost in a haze. 

“Ah, yes…” He had drifted off; remembering. “A deal is a deal.” He laughed, lightly. Breathing in deeply; Alastor sat up and turned himself so that he was leaning over Adeline; his body still facing the opposite direction from hers.

“What I want, dear Adeline…” He breathed. “Is for you to tell me what’s got you so wound up this morning.”

“What?” Adeline asked him; completely caught of guard. “That’s not a sexual favor!”

“I don’t deal in sexual favors, darling. I’ve told you before, I find them distasteful.”

Adeline groaned.

“Again; you need to work on the specificity to your contractual terms. You said, -“

“I KNOW WHAT I FUCKING SAID!” She tantrum-ed.

He watched her, waiting - amused by her moody antics.

She groaned, exasperated. "The art gallery... there's something more to it than just that. There's a reason why I want you there with me..." She said; not sure how much she wanted to tell him yet.

"Would you prefer to tell me what this reason is now; save us both this...suspense?" 

"...no." 

"Then, I will wait." He told her, kissing her. “I am quite curious…”

“I’m more afraid of-“ She bit her lip; nervous. “Of how you might react.” 

“Hm…make that incredibly curious.” His ears twitched; his interest piqued.

He could have done some digging - looking into what all this event was supposed to be but a part of him liked the idea of...delayed gratification. If anything; it brought entertainment. 

"Sorry." She said. "That wasn't a very equally rewarding deal." 

"Vague terms, vague answers." He shrugged; honestly, many deals he himself had made resulted in a similar fashion. 

"Might I offer..." She turned over so she was faced toward him now; she scooted and leaning over she trailed a hand down his back. His tail waved at her, wagging briefly before she threaded her fingers through the soft strands. "Reciprocation." 

He groaned; melting into the bed. 

"You're such a little minx..." He hissed.

"You like it." She purred back at him.

He chuckled into the covers, pleasure engulfing him as she played and teased with his tail. 

It wasn't long before he was hard again. He - reluctantly - shifted, changing positions to elevate the pressure he was placing on his erect penis. Adeline smoothly pushed him, crawling on top of him; facing away. 

This was something new. 

She slid herself over him; sinking herself low against his hips. He groaned at the sensation of finding a novel angle. His hips jerked. She arched her back, grinding into him firmly as she steadied herself by tightly gripping his thighs; sharply digging her own nails into his skin.

He gasped at the stimulation; his clawed hands finding her hips and guiding her into just the right rhythm and rotation he wanted. When she found it and maintained it for them, he slid a clawed hand across her back; the sharp points tracing stark red patterns across her delicate skin. 

How beautiful she would be...cut open and bleeding; he imagined her reaction to the shock and pain of him slashing deeply into the muscles that ran along her back - she would have a moment of panic; a moment where she'd find herself in a state of flight - adrenaline and epinephrine flooding her system. He'd hear her lovely scream again and he'd surely come into her as he proceeded to rip her apart...

He stiffened; flinching, he pulled his hand away from her back. She had felt his response; interpreting it as meaning something very different, she ground herself harder into him; lifting and kneeling herself so that she was detrimenting his entire length with her tortuous movements. 

He pushed the bloodlust aside; his fucked-up fantasy only bringing him closer to another glorious climax. He bent himself backward, pressing himself into the bed and arching his hips into her. 

His tip and length had tightened and curved, with the arching of his hips he was pushing and rubbing against her in just the right place each time she lifted and dropped herself along his shaft. He felt her tightening around him; gripping his engorged and seeping member in her walls - pushing him into coming undone at the seams beneath her - with her. 

She gripped his thigh tightly, gouging light red marks into his scarred skin. He bucked, feeling himself release; filling her with his seed. She cried out at the sharp jut; it shattering her completely. Climaxing, she shuddered; her body arching back. Her head was bent back, exposing the soft, delicate skin of her neck where it dipped to meet her shoulders to him. He imagined biting into her just there; lacerating vital vessels and tearing ligaments. 

Again; he pushed the thought away, reaching for her and pulling her to him. He slid himself out as they collapsed together back onto the bed; drifting off together into a moment of serenity. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Awhile later they were leaving the apartment together. The sky was overcast, a pleasantly warm June day in New Orleans. As promised; Alastor followed Adeline to whatever floral shop she wished to visit – he was dressed in jeans and T-shirt that now suited him in human form. When Adeline stepped out from the shop, holding the bouquet of sunflowers; he took her hand and they walked to the outskirts of town.

He kept her hand - entwined in his - the entire way to the cemetery; releasing her only when they approached the gate and he swung it open for her. She was surprised to find that thirty-one years really hadn’t changed the gravesite much; many of the headstones were left forgotten and neglected even then and hadn’t seen much attention since.

The old oak tree; still standing sentinel – stretched its branches further out, its crisp green leaves fluttering softly in the early summer breeze. Alastor stopped beside the headstone; he surprised Adeline by lowering himself down into the grass beside the grave; stretching out and sitting comfortably beneath wavering shadows filtering through branches that wound overhead.

She paused; still holding the flowers. Smiling, he nodded his head to the headstone. Remembering how he had placed his rose atop the arch of the stone years before; she placed the bouquet of sunflowers there. She stepped back and he reached for her; pulling her down beside him. Taking her hand in his again; he rubbed soothing circles into her skin at the back of her hand with his thumb. Closing his eyes; he breathed in the smells of a New Orlean summer; enjoying the pleasantness of the weather and the day. He hummed softly; Adeline did not recognize the melody.

Is this what he did? Every year when he came here? He just took the time to be….here…with her – with his memory of her. She must have meant more to him than…anything. Adeline felt hot tears spilling over; suddenly realizing she was crying. He really would stop bringing her if this is what she did every time she came here.

Adeline wanted to ask him, wanted to know: not just her name but what he called her, how she died, what she was like, what his father was like – or if he even knew… All questions she knew she would never be brave enough to ask.

Alastor opened his eyes; Adeline awkwardly wiping at her face with her free hand- embarrassed and feeling guilty that she was the one who was being sentimental. Still humming; he pulled her into him. Touching her gently, he brushed the tears from her cheek. Then taking her face in both of his hands, he turned her so that he might kiss her. His lips pressed against hers so…softly; nothing in it demanding anything more from her than what she was now…there with him. Her chest clenched painfully and he froze; almost flinching from her as he broke the kiss. Adeline starred at him.

“Excuse me,” He looked away from her; clearing his throat. “That was…very out of character of me…”

“S’okay…” She said, watching him. “It was very sweet of you.”

They were both quiet for a moment; an awkward silence settling between them.

“Did you want to be…alone?” She offered after some time.

“No. That is quite alright.” He said; looking back to the headstone; a small but soft smile on his face.

“Do you think we could-“ Adeline started to say then, “I mean, I know we’ve got plans tonight and everything but would you mind if we went somewhere for lunch? There’s a courtyard bar and kitchen in town I think you might like.” She suggested.

“I would be happy to.” He told her; standing up now. Then, as if he had remembered something, “Would you mind terribly if I…well, if I got more comfortable?”

“You know, you really don’t have to ask.” She told him.

“Manners…my dear.” Alastor shifted easily back into his radio demon form; dressed now in his traditional pinstripe suit, monocle and bowtie. He produced his microphone staff for good measure. Feeling more like himself; he twirled the staff with a flourish and led Adeline away from the cemetery.

Once they had worked their way back into town, Adeline took the lead. She had decided something after that…kiss…and she was now on the look-out for any hint of an opportunity. When they were only about 10 minutes away from the courtyard; Adeline found the perfect one. A girl she had volunteered with at a few events was sitting against the trunk of a tree in one of the small downtown parks, reading a novel.

Sighing, Adeline took a deep breath in. She could do this.

“Hey-um, Luc…” She stopped. “Do you mind waiting just one moment?” She asked him.

He had stopped with her; watching her – very curiously. His long ears were perked forward. “Not at all, darling.” His voice crackling radio.

“Ok.” She breathed again. “Just-just give me one second.” Checking to see that the girl was still absorbed in her reading and not observing Adeline having a conversation with what would look like to her to be…no one…Adeline purposefully crossed into the park and approached her.

“Hey, sorry-“ Adeline caught the girl’s attention. “Uh-Venessa, right?” She greeted.

“Oh um…” The girl closed the novel she was reading; clearly caught off guard by the stranger approaching her - who somehow knew her name. “Yeah…hi. Can I help you?” She asked; nervously.

“I’m sorry; you wouldn’t remember me. I volunteer with the local organizations sometimes and you and I helped with the tree planting for the nature reserve trail south of town. That was ages ago…but I recognized you and thought I might say ‘hi’! Those volunteer groups get so muddled, it’s hard to remember everyone.” Adeline explained.

“Oh…yeah.” Venessa recalled the activity she had described. “Yeah, I’m sorry I don’t remember you…but, you’re right; there gets to be a lot of people doing those sort of things.” She said; feeling much less nervous now.

“Yes, well, I saw you – remembered you – and I remembered talking to you about a courtyard kitchen that’s not far from here that you thought you might like.”

“Really? Huh…” Venessa racked her brain; trying to find any hint of memory to this supposed conversation.

“Anyway,” Adeline continued “It’s actually not too far from here: French Quarter, next to the old market. They have a pretty amazing lunch menu.”

“I might just have to check it out.” Venessa told her, obviously interested in the idea.

“You definitely should!” Adeline drove at the idea harder. “Hey, listen- I gotta go. It was nice seeing you again, let me know what you think of the place next time I see you. I’m sure I’ll bump into you again at another event!”

“Yeah, you too.” Venessa made a face at the awkward retort. “See ya.”

Adeline walked away; heading back to where Alastor stood – unashamedly starring at the whole interaction.

“Ok.” She told him. “We can keep going.”

Tweaking one ear off to the side; Alastor watched Adeline with a simmering interest.

“Well, that was rather…odd, of you.” He commented.

“Yes, well…either it will turn into something or it won’t.” Adeline said; talking to herself as much as him as she turned and led them away.

Alastor glanced back at Venessa – who had gone back to reading her novel beneath the tree – before turning and following Adeline.

Arriving to the establishment; Alastor excused himself for a visit to the restroom while Adeline found them a place to sit. Going into a stall; he shifted smoothly back into human form. He stepped out again; straightening and swiping at this T-shirt and jeans. He felt…agitated. The kiss he had shared with Adeline earlier – the kaleidoscope of emotions she was forcing on him was really becoming too much. He felt more disturbed by what had come over him - there in the graveyard - than any morbid fucking fantasy he might have…

Convulsively, Alastor washed his hands. Spending time in his demon form – though briefly – had helped.  He felt things much more…intensely…in this form; felt much more vulnerable to Adeline’s influence. Today; he wouldn’t have much choice, but to endure the onslaught. He promised himself a good deal of hunting in the bayou – of blowing off more steam – once this evening was through.

Leaving the bathroom; Alastor found Adeline.

“I ordered you a Sazerac.” She told him, perusing her menu. “Though, I’m sure you’ll make it into whatever you’d like.”

“Actually, a Sazerac sounds just right. Not theirs, but mine, of course.” He confirmed.

Adeline looked up from her menu and her heart leapt.

Venessa was stepping into the open area of the courtyard; finding a seat to lunch alone.

It…worked.

Adeline hardly dared to believe it. She thought for sure she would have to make several attempts before something came of her efforts.

Alastor caught Adeline’s attentiveness; turning he looked and saw what held it.

…interesting.

Holding a menu, Venessa spent some time becoming acquainted with the offered choices. A waitress stopped briefly where she was sitting. Alastor’s incredible sense of hearing – even while in his human form - easily caught the conversation:

“Have you eaten here before?” The waitress asked, pleasantly.

“Actually, no. This is my first time.” Venessa told her honestly.

“Well, we’ve got-“ The waitress went on.

…very interesting.

Adeline had been watching Alastor but then she realized, sitting just tables away from them was another person she knew; another girl she knew – Jessica. Suddenly, everything fell into place.

Alastor was still watching Venessa with interest when Adeline left the table. Turning; he watched her approach another woman that was out to eat alone. Leaning back; he sipped at his Sazerac – sharply tuned in.

Adeline knew Jessica from other volunteer events they had spent time together doing. Knowing both girls; what Adeline knew collectively was this: both women were interested in pursuing careers involving work with animals. They both were in school studying Animal Sciences. Jessica was a secretary for the local club that participated in the rehabilitation of raptors - birds of prey - and she oversaw the orientation activities meant to find and recruit new members. Adeline was sure this was something Venessa would have a strong interest in.

“Hey.” Adeline gave a small wave as she approached Jessica’s table. “I’m Adeline. You probably don’t remember me…”

“Oh, hello.” Jessica said. “No, I’m sorry I don’t think so...”

“It’s ok. We’ve done some volunteer stuff…and well, you meet a lot of people at those things and it’s easy to forget names, faces.”

Jessica laughed. “Well, that’s the truth.”

“Sorry to bother you.” Adeline told her. “But, my friend over there – the girl who’s also sitting alone – I know that she’s in the same Animal Science program you mentioned at our last activity. You said something about your…raptor club. Not really my thing but I know that she’d be super interested! Her name is Venessa, if you wanted to mention something to her. I actually have to get out of here, otherwise I would introduce you but I promise; she’d love to know more about all of that.”

“Really?” Jessica asked her, glancing over to were Venessa was.

Adeline nodded. “Yeah, you should go say ‘hi’, tell her I sent you over.”

“Alright! Adeline, right? Hey, thanks!” Having not yet ordered; Jessica gathered her things and moved to head toward Venessa’s table.

Adeline turned away and worked her way back over to Alastor.

Alastor watched intently as Jessica made a purposeful approach to Venessa’s table. He expected her to stop – maybe midway – and suddenly forget what she was doing. But, Jessica walked right up to Venessa’s table.

“Hey. Sorry, you don’t know me…” Jessica faltered. “But, I think…I know you from somewhere? Are in the Animal Science program here in New Orleans?” She asked, suddenly unsure as to why she might know that.

“Hey, and yeah.” Venessa said. “Third year.” 

“Me too.” Jessica said happily. “I do volunteer work for the local birds of prey organization; we’ve got a meeting later tonight if you have any interest in that sort of thing.” Jessica shrugged; really not knowing why she thought this girl would care.

“Seriously? Yeah, I’d love to check it out-“

Adeline was studying Alastor who was studying the entire interaction. Her palms were sweaty; her chest tight. She had no idea how he might react to this…development. Everything fell into place…perfectly. She couldn’t have orchestrated anything better if she had tried. Better she find out what his response was to this before she took him with her to the art gallery tonight.

“Oh, Adeline…” He sung her name to her, darkly. “Well, that certainly was…enlightening.” He grinned wickedly at her; turning around to face her now.

He realized what she was showing to him was something truly…incredible. She had managed to do it. She had found a way to influence others; make an impression, an impact…all things he had meant to keep from her; to keep her from ever obtaining on her own. She found a way to do it…and all without being remembered.

Alastor listened to Adeline as she explained. He had known about her participation in various volunteering activities; it was something she could regularly do with others without having to maintain constant recognition and she had hoped it would bring some balance to her own personal moral-dilemma in having to steal from others in order to create a living for herself...She told him how she had only truly just discovered the possibilities of what she could do just prior to the New Year... 

"I can't influence everyone of course..." She told him. "I've definitely flubbed some interactions...but sometimes,” she glanced over to where Jessica and Venessa were now both spending their lunch together, happily chatting. "Sometimes things fall into place...and I never really know how much will result from an interaction I influence. Those two might never see each other again, they could become friends...Hell, they could become lovers, I don't know." 

"Hmmm," Alastor saw what she meant. The two women were obviously connecting on some meaningful level with each other; what they would eventually become - if anything -was anyone's guess... 

"Well, I suppose you've found yourself a cute little talent in some match-making." He commented with a smirk. 

It...stung...but Adeline was relieved to find that he was choosing to be petty about the whole thing rather than choosing to be...disruptive.

She had had absolutely no idea to what his reaction to all this might be. She felt like she knew him better now...felt like she might have a guess...but in the actual, real scheme of things: she did not know. She only knew a very small part about him, of him...she knew he was something far more, beyond this earthly realm…: knowing he possessed and commanded a fair amount of power. What she didn't know was what lengths he might go to ensure he kept the upper hand in their...deal; in ensuring he kept that power he felt was owed to him. It was made very clear to her that she was never meant to have quite this much...potential.

The companionship he had offered to her...it was nice; and it had kept her sane but she knew very well that in the end...they were where they were now because of the choices she had made that night in the swamps. She promised him her soul: in exchange he gave her more time...bound by a contract; her soul currently in his possession to take once she was ready to give it up to him fully and completely. How long was he willing to play this game with her? She had found something more to what was already an unimaginable - unattainable- opportunity. She found something she had been searching for, seeking – desperately - this whole time...and now, having found it, she wouldn't relinquish her soul...not yet...and quite possibly - not ever. Not willingly at least… 

She hadn't replied to his scathing comment; choosing to ignore it she watched the two girls - now sharing a laugh about something they were discussing - before returning her attention back to themselves and what the rest of the day may bring. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alastor had treated her to another remarkable Anniversary dinner before the event of the art gallery. Dressed in his brown pinstripe suit – in human form – he led her by the arm; her dressed in the fine green dress she had chosen earlier that day. Feeling nostalgic; he brought her back to the high-end restaurant they had spent their Anniversary the year before: dining finely and finding a chance to dance together through a few of the lively jazz numbers before it was time to attend the exhibition.

Adeline was feeling nervous again; she felt the sweat making her hands clammy, a persistent tightness in her throat. Alastor noted the spike in her anxiety as they entered the spacious setting and he remained sharply attentive to her. He guessed that there was something...more... she wanted to show him now. What that was, he hadn't the faintest idea. How irritating intriguing... 

They had only just stepped into a room holding a large part to the collection when a sharply dressed gentleman paused momentarily, staring at Adeline.

Alastor, initially- thought little of the man's response. Adeline was exquisitely adorned in the lovely green dress he had provided her. Her long, beautiful brown hair was styled in an intricate fashion, strands curling and twisting - accenting her face and all of her natural beauty. Alastor - if anything - wondered at how she didn't get more of a gawking response. If he, himself, couldn't help the thought of pulling her away into some unholy moment of privacy...heaven help the poor souls that surrounded them. 

The man, still looking at Adeline, excused himself from the group he had been conversing with and approached them, a look of....recognition...on his face. 

Alastor stiffened; every part of him at full attention now as the man politely introduced himself to he and Adeline; asking her if he by chance...if he might know her from somewhere....? Alastor felt Adeline flinch beside him, her apprehension obvious. 

"I'm sorry." She told him, "I don't believe so...but, I do have one of those faces." She laughed, lightly-shakily. 

The gentleman; having the utmost manners, discussed with them briefly regarding the art surrounding the studio; conversing with them naturally before seeing himself away and back to his original group. 

Alastor watched the man walking away; he felt Adeline fidgeting beside him. 

"Oh...Adeline..." He hummed, softly to her. "What are you up to my dear?" His eyes, sharply on her. 

"Let's go..." She told him, leading him further into the gallery.  

There were more...looks. All kinds and all types of people pausing and stopping to give Adeline a glance of....familiarity. Alastor saw and noted each and every single one...his interest entirely piqued. No one else was so bold at to approach them – however - and soon, turning a corner they both stepped into a large and spacious room; holding the most prized and sought out works to be placed on display for the collection. Dead center -taking up an entire wall - was a beautifully crafted acrylic-and-oil French painting of...Adeline. 

The painting was more than a little…suggestive. Adeline was painted – naked – in a breathtaking series of paintbrush strokes; an abstract done in a remarkable fashion. The lines of paint swept and hinted at the curvature and details to her elegant, and rather nude, body but what stood out vibrantly; in carefully placed details was her face – and the distinct series of seven freckles, forming a constellation across her skin.

Alastor had gone stock-still again, his back straight as a rod as he assessed the artwork; smiling. Adeline wasn't looking at the painting but at him...picking apart each minute detail, each sharp dart of the eyes, each quick and subtle movement of his hands or fingers, a very brief but notable twitch just below the lens of his spectacles on the right side. 

Her tension was building. When it became too much she started talking. 

"I found out it was coming here last month…A stranger recognized my face from it and told me it would be exhibited here. It's called Revenir and it’s painted by Monsieur Alro Miret". She explained. "He's a French artist that I met… while traveling. We were...". She gestured toward the painting; it was more than enough to imply the level of intimacy there had been.

"He...was struggling. He had a lot of barriers with...mental health. Insecurities, negativity, depression...He told me I was his "muse"... He stayed up one night: all night painting....this. When it was done...he had forgotten me but remembered the work he had had in completing the art. It brought him a sense of...fulfillment. He found his creativity – his positivity - again and he began to expound on his abilities. He's a very successful artist and this painting, is considered to be one of his very best works." 

Alastor did not move; his eyes still locked on the painting. 

"This...this is what I wanted to show you, Luc." She breathed. "This is my....potential." 

Finally, his eyes found her; regarded her. 

A smirking smile stretched across his face. "Our little miss Adeline LaRue..." He said softly. "Finding her way to make her mark on the world; playing with tortured artists to make her...impact. I'm impressed." 

"That's not it." She told him. "That is not the reason." 

Turning, he looked at her more directly now, giving him her full and undivided attention. 

"This is my purpose." She told him. "My passion. I finally found it." 

She was looking back at him with such strong conviction; he couldn't look away. 

"I can help people. I can help others." She continued. "I can help people form interactions - connections that otherwise would never have existed. I can make an impression...I can help others find their purpose." She looked back to the painting; feeling the truth of it. 

He startled her by erupting into a loud and raucous fit of laughter; others within the studio were stopping and turning toward them.

Adeline felt her face heating up; whether it was from embarrassment, anger or both...she couldn't decide. He was absolutely doubled over and cackling; unable to contain his mirth at realizing the full implications of what she was showing to him...realizing the true and absolute irony of it in everything. 

She had found her passion; her true purpose in helping others find theirs - in finding their own ways of feeling like they've made an impact, an impression in their own lives - by finding their own truest possibilities and potentials - all while she remained alone and forgotten... To him. It was the purest form of entertainment. The world was a stage, after all... 

"Oh....Adeline...dearest." He gasped between cackles, tapering down now. "You've impressed me - no, you’ve astounded me." He actually was gripping his chest; his laughter still shuddering through him. "Why, never before have I been so thoroughly entertained!" 

"You're not...upset, are you?" She asked him, really wanting to know. 

"Heaven's no." He chuckled. "It throws a rather nasty wrench into the mix for me, certainly. But, to see all of this...potential." His mouth was watering at the thought of it now... 

"And... you're not jealous?" She decided to ask him, truly curious. 

"Of what?" He asked her. He had collected himself entirely now - and wasn't understanding her question. 

"Of..." She nodded to the suggestive artwork. 

"Why would I be?" He asked her, perfectly honest. "I am well aware that you've had previous...relations, Adeline. Unless he was anything less than a gentleman toward you, I have absolutely no issue with it." He paused. "He...was a gentleman... wasn't he?" He asked her, serious now - a rather dark look passing across his face.

"Yes. He was." She said, assuring him. 

"Then it's no matter to me, whatsoever." He shrugged. 

"I wasn't sure...I was careful to make sure he wouldn't be attending this particular event.” She admitted. 

"I'm sorry that you felt the need, my dear." Alastor told her. 

"You never really gave me...a reason...to be worried." She explained. "I just didn't know how you would react to, well, to any of this." 

"Hm, well, I suppose my next move does remain to be seen." He told her. "How I do enjoy a good game of chess, though." He laughed. 

"You're not...mad?" She asked him, checking again. 

"No, Adeline." He told her, looking at her through a heated gaze. 

He was absolutely furious... 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 15

[theratsarefreed]

10 lbs of potatoes in a week, what could go wrong?

Hello vast expanses of the tumblr abyss, I have decided to undertake a journey. A divine calling. A foolish endeavor of the hubris of man. I was at my local grocery store a few days ago, and to my surprise, found that the five pounds of baking potatoes that I had been buying, figuring they were probably cheaper than a ten pound bag of more or less similar russets I wouldn't fully use, were priced in a way that it would work out that way, were not. Oh my dear readers, how wrong I was, and how I wish that the economy was that simple. The ten pound bag of russets was the same, TO THE CENT, price as five pound bag of baking potatoes. And so with a smile on my face and a fire in my heart yet to be tuberously tamped, I made my purchase and I sealed my fate.

Why a week you may ask? Because I have very little else to do right now. Long traumatic backstory aside, I need to be suffering at least a little bit before I feel sane enough to not actively sabotage my life, so fuck it. Eating a cheap and relatively nutritious meal but way too much of it? Not only is that tackling a problem I have of not eating enough already, but a cheaper dumbass thing to put myself through for the hell of it than, say, buying a sports car and running it off of a bridge. Approximately 8 AM June 9th, I used the first of the potatoes of the bag, and so begins the ticking timer on my potato self experiment.

The rules of this experiment!!: I can eat anything I'd like, but I must finish this bag before the split second between Saturday and Sunday that marks the final toll. I cannot share any of these potatoes, they are my burden alone. Also for the sake of something of a control, I won't be eating potatoes in other forms. No stopping for a box of french fries at the local burger sweatshop, no chips bought on a nice little sale, and absolutely no potatoes offered to me from the produce bin that were getting close to going off. Potato isolation in the purest form that a home scientist can reasonably reach.

I have eaten approximately four potatoes today and am currently meal prepping to increase my potato consumption's ease (and because I do that for work anyway). Stay tuned for my starchy spiral of sensibility.

[sk3pticillusions]

June 8, 2025

To our dearest loves,

Sometimes, we sit in silence just thinking about how lucky we are to have you both. And honestly, it still feels unreal. What did we do to deserve this kind of love? The kind that doesn’t walk away when things get tough. The kind that sees our messy parts and stays anyway. We still don’t have the right words to explain just how much you mean to us, but we’ll try.

From the very beginning, just the smallest bit of your attention made our hearts flutter. Every little smile, every sweet message, every “how are you?” they never go unnoticed. You two make us feel seen, understood, and safe. The kind of safe where we don’t have to pretend. The kind of love that makes the world feel a little less scary.

We know these past few days maybe even weeks have been hard. There were moments when we didn’t even understand ourselves, and yet you stood by us, patiently holding our hands through the chaos. We’re sorry for the parts of us that were hard to love. For the times we shut down or got overwhelmed. But through all of that, you never treated us like we were too much. You never made us feel alone. Instead, you offered us soft words, warm hugs, and a place to rest.

Solarias, our Sun,

You are brighter than you know. We see it in the way you care, even when you’re hurting. In the way you stay, even when we push. We’ve seen you try so hard to give love, even when you feel like you don’t deserve it. But to us, you deserve all the love this universe has to offer. You’ve pulled us back when we drifted, like the sun that keeps everything in place. You hold us close, not with force, but with light, with love, with patience. Your presence heals us, even when you don’t realize it.

Q, our Knight in shining armor

You fight battles no one else sees, yet you still find the strength to protect and care for others. You’ve shown us that vulnerability isn’t weakness it’s strength in its purest form. You remind us that crying is brave, that needing someone isn’t something to be ashamed of. You let us hold you, trust us with your softness, and that means everything to us. Please know this, our arms will always be open for you. We’ll listen when your voice shakes. We’ll stay when your world feels too heavy. You don’t have to go through anything alone.

You both make us believe in love again. In the kind that doesn’t fade when things get hard. The kind that holds on through every storm. We didn’t expect to find this kind of connection—maybe we were too used to being left behind, too used to believing we weren’t enough. But now, we see love differently. You both showed us that we are enough. That we are worth loving. That we are worth staying for.

So thank you for choosing us. For loving us in ways we never thought possible. For showing up, even when it was hard. We love you more than these words can say. And we’ll keep showing you, every day, in every small and big way we can.

With all the love in our hearts.

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈•  ｡ﾟ

Freedom Wall

"My Lord, The one who speaks crookedly, painted as usual with unshorn locks, even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating of his lyre. . . I know I can be stubborn as you can already tell, I know I can be irrational with my decisions, but one thing I am sure of is spending eternity with you, My love.. Your affection is like poison intoxicating me and drowning me into it, But I cannot help but enjoy tasting it, It is addictive.. I love you Apollon."

— Hyacinthus of Sparta

"I maybe not good at expressing my feelings and emotions, but here I am, Hermes.. even with your Idiotic and annoying presence I find myself in a place that brings me peace which is you..I think your annoying attitude is what makes you complete and now..I don't think its a bad thing to have, I love it when you annoy me everysecond of our time, Mesias, Clingy baby, The one who is always emotional and full of life, I'd cradle you with my arms if that soothes you, even if you're very whiny I find it adorable.. Rina, Kinda Ironic considering I hate myself yet I'm dating you who is basically me in another timeline, I like how your voice calms me down and comforts me alone, The way you would gently set me at ease. I really dont have much words to say other than I love the 3 of you."

— Tiresias the blind prophet

(Credits to me dawling<3 —Hermes)

(I helped him -Hermes)

"Oh My darlings, Even poetry cannot capture the exact words that I wish to describe your radiant aura. Hermes and Mesias, different versions of me with such gorgeous and handsome face, I wish to caress your wings and set loose all your worries, I hope to bring joy on your path and pray you both notice my burning passion to love two attractive Gods!—Rina, My blind prophet, My everything, The person I would get on my knees for and do as you wish, There's not a version of you that I cannot love, Call me greedy or even selfish! But, For I am just telling the truth. I wish to forever gaze at your beautiful eyes, One might say it seems so lifeless but to me, It brings me to life, You absolutely dazzle me. I love everyone of you, Hermes, Mesias and Rina, Do NOT ever forget that."

—Hermes the messenger god✨

"To Our wife and husband, Saraphina and Telemachus.

We've wondered for so long on how you could choose someone like us? Perhaps you both absolutely shares the same brain chemistry. Saraphina, Stop doubting yourself for once and accept the fact that these flaws does not make you any weaker, These flaws are a sign of humanity which not alot of individuals has, We love everyflaws you have and no do not ever doubt if you're a good mother, child, or sibling.. you shine brightly like stars in the sky, even if its dark theres still the glance of glimmers all over the night. Telemachus, Our silly prince, even on your tough days you never fail to encourage people, physical body is not a problem, you already are the strongest warrior we've seen and gazed at.

We love you both alot."

—Neoptolemus and Peisistratus of Pylos

"Hypnos...I love you so much."

—Endymion

(He went back to sleep after slurring these words)

"Dear John Laurens,

I hope this message finds you well, As you already acquire knowledge to— I wrote thousands of pages of essays, yet nothing to those compares my love for you, I desire more of you than you'll ever know, This maybe short it was because I cannot help but get frustrated on words that I can use on you, You are indescribable, My love for you has no words that can fit it."

—Alexander Hamilton

"Hello My love...I know we've been together for a short while but how you shower me with your love and attention, I love the way how someone who knows me for so little feels like they've known me for eternity, I am deeply captivated by you, I wish to be caged and taken care of if its by you."

—Anatolia

"Axyyy, Who knew I would be taking my father's step and dating someone who has vision problems?(Probably everyone) But anyways my darling! I'm writing this to say how much I appreciate you, you really turned my life upside down!!! You're so...extraordinary, I just want to be hold by you and maybe...don't ever let go of me, I don't know how else I can describe these feelings for you. But one thing that I clearly know is that I love you."

— Caspiel

"Lapis, My God, My everything, you are filled with grace and I am devoted to your perfect stunts, the way you keep on trying and even if it fails... It is truly still beautiful, A masterpiece."

—Arkhael

(Zephyrus is shy)

"I love my wife and soon-to-be-husband, Penelope the strongest woman In my eyes, You're perfect, You're beauty and grace, How thankful I am to Aphrodite that she made my one wish come true, To be with you. I am devoted to you, My wife, And I'll do anything and everything just to feel your warmth once again..Diomedes, A briliant warrior, King of Argos, You're always the strongest in battles that even I cannot ever compare to, You outshine me in so many ways yet like they say, Jealousy is just love in its disguise, even if you're the most stupidest and competitive person I know, I'll let you know that My heart is also yours and all of the memories we have, I will forever cherish... I love you both so much."

—Odysseus of Ithaca

"Save the best for last as they all say ! Grimmy, My sweet reaper, the one who yearns my soul only for me to capture your heart, hahah! How does it feel to be inlove with someone like me? After chasing my soul to be guided in the afterlife, you ended up falling for me? Literal Death is inlove with me! And yes I will keep bragging about that, But on a serious note, I never thought someone will care so much for me, I never thought an actual Grim reaper would be the one taking care of me, Making sure I eat and sleep, I never thought I would be loved, And I am thankful to meet you, There's no regret to it, I love you...Casper."

—Yuki/MC

(Aphrodite and Quin we can't find them, Thanatos wants to keep things just between him and his gayass bf, Eliza is contemplating and indecisive, Pallas is resting at the moment, and Patroclus simply did not want to cuz he's shy, Dionysus is...Drunk.)

Thank you for loving this system,

Happy 2nd Monthsary.

@miniqle

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

[yasel-san]

Happy Pride Month!🏳️‍🌈

Well, a funny thing about the country where I live is that Diversity Month falls right in the month where we celebrate a festival "Festa Junina", and as a bonus, the 12th is Valentine's Day here.＼(*⌒0⌒)ｂ♪

I would like to have an idea of ​​how to bring the celebrations together here, but I don't know what to do... I'm accepting ideas for drawings.

The Festa Junina, with its roots in the celebration of the summer solstice and the saints of June, is celebrated in several countries, besides Brazil. Countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Norway, Ireland and Eastern European countries such as Russia, Belarus, Estonia and Latvia also celebrate Festa Junina. (I hope this helps you understand better)

Remember, love is not wrong. Expressing yourself and accepting others is the purest form of love. Know that you are valid and deserve to receive this kind of love.

Love does not have a form, it is just what it is. Love has nothing to do with sexual or romantic attraction. It can come from a beautiful comforting phrase or a hug from someone you love.

You do not need to be out to feel accepted by us. Take your time, we are waiting for you when you are ready.

[iknowshitaboutfashion]

“Abstract art is the simplest and yet the most complicated of all arts. When a figurative painter makes a painting, he has in front of him the object or subject he is painting. He has time to reproduce it. He can go back to his canvas, correct it, judge the effect, compare it to the original, etc.

In abstract painting, and particularly in Lyrical Abstraction, the opposite is the case. The artist is in front of his canvas with nothing but his paint tubes and his imagination, no reference points, no rules. Painting is now no longer a question of reproduction, but of invention. It is both exhilarating and distressing. It requires an extraordinary amount of concentration. The artist goes in an instant from the deepest despair to the most insane euphoria. He experiences the purest form of exaltation, a profound emotion that the figurative painter will never know.”

Georges Mathieu in “Nord-Éclair”, March 1998

📸Georges Mathieu ((27 January 1921 – 10 June 2012) while working on his painting, “Bataille de Denain”at the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris., 1963

© Georges Mathieu/ Bildrecht Wien 2021 © Daniel Frasnay

[unhirsch]

It's rude to stare, a social rule those in Japan would generally frown upon for breaking. But Chishiya knows what dead looks like as a doctor, and this person looks like it. Which in of itself might have simply been brushed off by the man. There's plenty of cosplayers and conditions in this world that Chishiya's not so arrogant to say he knows everything. What has his interest is the fact that he feels like they're familiar. It makes him think of summer afternoons in June and bleeding to death on the streets across from his rival. He hadn't died. But it had felt close. Everything in the Borderlands had felt close to death, and Chishiya had gambled his life time an time without concern. Funny he survived when so many who yearned to live didn't. Chishiya blinks, like a cat lazily regarding a lizard in front of its claws. " I don't believe we've ever properly met but I can't help but think I know you. " He muses and lifts an eyebrow, curious to how the other will meet his cryptic comment. ( Chishiya & Todd! )

UNPROMPTED ASK FEAT. @sharpsuite

         THERE IS ALWAYS A CERTAIN FEEL TO THOSE          death has formerly had a brush with——————     they come with a taste of smoke   &  ash  &  moss.   they don't believe those in question are consciously aware of it.   why would they be?   for them,   it had been a slightly prolonged nap rather than a glimpse of the dark towers of the dead's realm.   they have not consciously laid eyes on the tideless beach,   the frozen planes of rain or the labyrinthine halls death calls their home,   albeit involuntary.   they remember none of it upon waking  &  death themselves cannot fault them for this————     would they want to know what is in store for them at the very end,   waiting for it to come to pass,   every minute of every day?   the sense of familiarity is what sticks with them,   it is not their face this one remembers,   but everything else their subconscious has deemed to know.   a déjà - vu in its purest form.     "we have not been properly introduced,   no."     &  they are not going to be today:     where death already knows most of the impactful events the one they face has seen     (THUS IS THE NATURE OF YOUR EXISTENCE,   OF YOUR CURSE.)     .  .  .   they are not one for introductions where their own person is concerned.   when the time comes,   they are to be recognized.   such is how it has always been.     "but we have met indeed.   &  i can see that you have been fairing well since that day   .  .  .   most curious."

[s10127470]

The Four Horsemen of The Warner Bros. Apocalypse (Part 1)

Warner Bros....

Has not been doing so hot....

It's no surprise to know that WB has practically been in a MASSIVE flop-era unlike anything seen before.

This company has been getting hoe'd in just about every medium imaginable, with many of the projects being released not doing all to well.

Some of which being the purest form of slop.

And it's largely thanks to their current idiot-in-chief constantly making the worst business decisions known to man.....

Which includes cancelling a massive plethora of currently-running and upcoming projects, the latter side of that included many that were either close to completion or straight-up finished and ready to go!

Needless to say, Warner Bros. is in a rough spot right now.

And unfortunately, after almost three years, they haven't gotten any better.

Today, I want to talk about four recent outings from them that I think perfectly reflect just how cooked the company is right now.

Not to mention they ended up being some of the biggest failures from Warner Bros. in the last three years.

I guess you can say these four as their Horsemen of the Apocalypse!

Okay, moving on.....

Multiversus:

While this is arguably the least bad of the four, Multiversus still deserves to get called out.

When it was unveiled in November of 2021, Multiversus seemed it was gonna be a crossover fighting game unlike any other.

There were two things unveiled about it that made it stand out from other crossover fighting games.

There was a major focus on battling with teams of two, something not often seen in these kinds of games.

There was also a major focus on character interactions, with the characters often chatting with other and referring to each other BY NAME! Something that was weirdly very rare in crossover fighting games.

Top that off with the game's access to the vast library of Warner Bros. IPs, this seemed like a recipe for success.

Early access and open beta versions of the game ran from July 2022 to June 2023, with the game officially being released on May 28, 2024. However, less than a year after it's official release, it was announced that the game would delisted and all online functionality will be discontinued on May 30th of this year.

After reading all this, you're probably wondering.....

Well this was largely because within the almost three years the game has been out, it's player base would slowly but surely start to decrease.

As for why that happened, there were many reasons.

The game struggled with accessibility issues, a grindy battle pass, and a perceived lack of new content outside of ranked modes.

Monetization practices, such as expensive skins and character unlocks, also played a big part as well.

Additionally, developers struggled to fix bugs and balance the game.

A lot of issues were present since the beta, and given how they weren't really fixed when the game officially released, a lot of people were not happy about that.

One aspect that I particularly want to talk about, and one of the many complaints towards the game, was it's roster.

Multiversus had a total of 35 characters by the end of its run.

Which one paper doesn't sound too bad, but when you consider the vast library of Warner Bros. and who ended up making up the roster, it becomes a big problem.

Out of the IPs, featured, DC was definitely the one that got the most love, as it has the most representatives.

But even then, a big problem was how a lot of their other big heroes and villains didn't make it in.

The Flash, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg, any of the Green Lanterns, Zatanna, Shazam, Vixen, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Darkseid, Lex Luthor, Cheetah, Reverse Flash, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Bane, Deathstroke, and so on and so forth.

And for the characters who did get in, a few them received some major criticism for their inclusion.

Specifically, Black Adam and Nubia.

Black Adam would admittedly be a no-brainer for the game.

Unfortunately, it was pretty clear that he was only included to tie-in with his movie, since Warner Bros. really thought it was gonna be the next big thing.

Which yeah......that really didn't happened....

As for Nubia, she's not a very well-known character, despite being closely connected to Wonder Woman, one of DC's three biggest characters.

That's largely because she hasn't been featured in anything outside of the comics!

And that's a topic in itself, given how there's been a lot of recent discourse about how despite, once again, one of three biggest characters at DC, Wonder Woman has gotten little to no adaptations solely to herself.

Looney Tunes is even worse.

Only four characters from that franchise made it into the game.

Bugs Bunny, The Tazmanian Devil, Marvin the Martian, and Lola Bunny.

Yeah.

No Porky Pig. No Yosemite Sam. No Foghorn Leghorn. No Road Runner. No Wil E. Coyote. No Sylvester. No Tweety.

And most infamously, no Daffy Duck.

You know, the second biggest character of The Looney Tunes!

Lebron FUCKING James from Space Jam: A New Legacy got in before he did!

Pass me a cup!

Cartoon Network's representation is also pretty disappointing.

Only four shows from their library was represented in the roster.

Adventure Time, Steven Universe, The Powerpuff Girls, and Samurai Jack.

And even then, their rep could be a hell of a lot better.

Adventure Time has Finn, Jake, Marceline and a Banana Guard of all characters.

Steven Universe has Steven himself and Garnet.

The Powerpuff Girls has the titular girls themselves and The Rowdyruff Boys as alternate skins.

And Samurai Jack has Jack himself.

No Princess Bubblegum. No Ice King. No Flame Princess. No Amethyst. No Pearl. No Connie. No Peridot. No Lapis. No Bismuth. No Mojo Jojo. No Fuzzy Lumpkin. No HIM. No Princess Morbucks. No Ace. No Aku. And no Scotsman.

Not to mention the lack of representation from other Cartoon Network classics like Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Ed, Edd 'n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Codename: Kids Next Door, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Ben 10, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, Uncle Grandpa, Clarence, and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.

But the most pitiful would have to be in the cases of Adult Swim and Hanna-Barbera.

Adult Swim is only represented by one show.

Guess which one it was.....

While including Rick and Morty was a no-brainer, having both it and the titular duo being the only Adult Swim rep is pretty disappointing since......

1#) Considering the other outings from Adult Swim. And it's not like they don't have options. Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Oblongs, Home Movies, Mission Hill, The Venture Bros., Robot Chicken, Squidbillies, Moral Orel, The Boondocks, Metalocalypse, Superjail, Xavier: Renegade Angel, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Black Dynamite, Loiter Squad, The Eric Andre Show, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, Final Space, Primal and Smiling Friends.

2#) It's Rick and Morty. Not that many people would want to see Adult Swim getting sole represented by it, given how much of a joke it's seen as nowadays.

As for Hanna-Barbera, it's.....slightly better as its represented by two IPs instead of just one.

Those being Tom & Jerry and Scooby-Doo!

The former is represented by the titular duo themselves.

As for the latter, they have two reps.

Those being Shaggy (which makes sense given that he's undoubtedly the right-hand man of this franchise) and.......

Velma.

Yeah, you may have noticed the absence of a particular canine.

You know. SCOOBY-DOO!

The fact that within the three years the game has been around, they couldn't even put the titular protagonist of his own damn franchise into the game is pretty sad.

And besides that, Hanna-Barbera just deserves better.

They already have it hard enough when besides the two IPs I just mentioned, their other IPs get little to no representation nowadays apart from brief cameos.

Bar a few exceptions....

This game could've been a good way to help revitalize interest in the brand.

And it's not like they don't have a plethora of characters they can implement into the game.

Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, Jonny Quest, Dick Dastardly and Muttley, Space Ghost, Birdman, Atom Ant, The Blue Falcon and Dynomutt, Secret Squirrel, The Impossibles, Frankenstein Jr., Grape Ape, Hong Kong Phooey, Captain Caveman, and many more!

What makes this even more frustrating is that a while back, this list from a supposed developer on the game leaked, unveiling several upcoming characters.

And as you can see, it says that a good chunk of these characters are done,. including the aforementioned Daffy and Scooby.

So if that's the case, why haven't they been released yet?

I'm assuming this was done for monetary reasons....

Oh who am I kidding? This was definitely done for monetary reasons!

But the worst part about all this is how Warner Bros. (or more specifically, WB Games) reacted to the game's failure.

Shortly after announcing the game's closure for this month, WB Games also announced that they would be shutting down Player First Games (the developer of Multiversus).

This rightfully pissed a lot of people off since back in July, WB Games had just bought out the company.

And now they're shutting down the entire company, not even a YEAR after buying them!

WB Games is just.....the worst.

From their predatory practices, to manipulating critical reviews of their projects, to their constant trend chasing.

If you want a more in-depth look on why they suck, check out this recent video from Dumbsville.

But isn't gonna be the only game on this post that was fucked up by WB Games.

Speaking of which.....

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League:

I honestly still can't believe these two games came out in the exact same year.....

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League has only been out for a little over a year now, and it's already gone down as one of the biggest flops in gaming history!

In all honesty, this game was kinda doomed from the start.

When it announced and showed off its first trailer all the way back in August of 2020, the reception was pretty lukewarm.

For starters, the fact that the game was even gonna be focusing on The Suicide Squad.

Despite haven been pushed into the forefront for the better of a decade by Warner Bros., The Suicide Squad, while well-known, weren't really all that popular and didn't really seem to interest people all that much.

A large part of that is most likely attributed to the ABYSMAL 2016 film, which was a lot of audiences' first introductions to the team.

Another reason why the game's reaction was lukewarm was the fact that they story would see The Squad having to stop an evil and corrupted Superman.

At that point, the evil Superman trope had been ran into the damn ground!

But perhaps the biggest nail in the coffin was the fact that the game was gonna be live-service.

As I'm sure many of you know by now, live-service games have more or less become a recipe for disaster.

Just about every major live-service game to come out in the last five years have ended up being absolute failures.

Radical Heights, The Day Before, Concord, Babylon's Fall, Marvel's Avengers, Anthem, and Outriders.

Hell, even WB themselves contributed to that pile with Gotham Knights!

As a result of all their, WB constantly keep pushing back the release date of Suicide Squad.

It was originally gonna be released in 2022, but but ended up getting released in February of 2024, roughly TWO YEARS after its planned release date.

And after all that time, how was the game?

Yeah the game was really nothing to rag home about.

The story was safe and predictable, with tons of plot convenience and plot holes.

You can tell that they were hoping this game would be successful enough to warrant more updates, which would've most likely answer some of these questions.

(The game was shut down back in January)

Plus when it threw in the multiverse into the mix, most people checked-out given how overused it has become.

And the gameplay, while somewhat fun at first, become incredibly tedious.

When looking at the history of this game, it was essentially all Warner Bros. fault.

In fact, WB has a LONG history of constantly meddling with projects.

Basically, with the rise of live-service games during the 2010s, they wanted to capitalize on that with Suicide Suicide.

This resulted in the game to linger in development hell for nearly a decade (the game originally started development in 2016).

There's was also the simple fact that Rocksteady Studios (the developers of the game) really didn't want to do this.

Largely because it was out of the realm of what they were used to.

And....

That's all I can really say for this game.

There's really nothing else to note.

Well, there is one thing.

Prior to its release, Suicide Squad got into a huge controversy due to the fact that a released cutscene showed the titular team killing off Batman.

And it should be important to note that this is famously the same one of the iconic Arkham series.

This set many people off because to them, it came off like a insult to the legendary long-time recurring voice actor of The Caped Crusader: Kevin Conroy, who sadly passed away back in November 2022.

Thankfully, everyone else has pointed out how this was definitely not the case.

This game wasn't trying to insult Kevin or his legacy whatsoever.

This was basically the Stephen Hillenburg situation all over again, though it weirdly didn't last as long.

Seriously, you'd be surprised by the amount of people still bitching about the SpongeBob spin-offs after over half a decade!

But anyway, the failure of the game resulted in Warner Bros. losing about $200,000,000!

And given Warner Bros. has been trying to get out of their debt for the last few years, you know that had to hurt!

Velma:

I don't think I can say much about this show.

Pretty much everyone has gone over why this show is just....the worst.

Not to mention it's completely deserving of being considered of the worst TV shows ever created.

But one element in particular that really contributed to its universal-scorn was when it was released.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my post, Warner Bros. has become notorious for cancelling multiple currently-running and upcoming projects.

Many of which seemed genuinely promising.

Not to mention constantly removing content from Max.

Hell, it was reported in May 2023, Warner Bros had cancelled and removed a total of 87 projects from Max!

Good chocolate-coated GOD.....

So the fact that Velma, a project clearly made with no passion or soul, got to live while all the projects that were made with passion and soul, got sent to The Shadow Realm rightfully pissed everyone off.

Only made worse with how the series managed to become successful enough to get a "second season" and a Halloween special.

With the main reason supposedly being "hate-watching".

However, what if I tell you that in reality, Velma was never really all that successful?

I mean, a TV show with two seasons, 20 episodes, and a special isn't something that most people would call successful.

But then again, nobody really even knows what counts as a successful show nowadays.

But it actually goes much deeper than that.

From what I've gathered, Velma was initially picked for a twenty-episode season.

This is pretty impressive given how rare it is for streaming shows to get an seasonal-episode count that's more than 10 episodes.

And that's if your lucky!

I'm assuming this happened because the show did feature the involvement from Mindy Kaling, one of the biggest people in the entertainment industry.

Plus it was connected to one of their most profitable IPs.

But if Velma only had one season made, why did we get two?

Well there's a reason for that.

A lot of animated shows made for streaming in recent years have usually been produced as single seasons, but had their episode counts split up into individual seasons.

This is often done to maintain audience engagement and for production efficiency. 

So essentially, Velma was never renewed like the news outlets and WB claimed it to be, it was just finished.

And with that knowledge, it makes looking back to when Season 1 came out pretty funny.

During Season 1's run, WB were low-key kinda glazing Velma and acting like it was gonna be next big thing.

Especially with this announcement right here.

A lot of people blamed this (along with the myth of it being renewed for a second season) on hate-watching.

First off, claiming hate-watching is responsible for this is pretty disingenuous since just about everyone only watched the show to see if it was bad as they were expecting (it was).

And secondly, a lot of people constantly forget this....

Like, MoistCr1TiKaL was the only person to point this out.....

That being when Velma premiered, there were NO other original animated shows left on Max!

All of them had been cancelled and removed from the service!

There's also the fact when I've talked to people who have seen Velma, most of them just used.....other means to watch it.....

Since 1#) they didn't want to support it, and 2#)....

IT'S FUCKING MAX!

In case you didn't know, Max has been losing tons and tons of subscribers over the last near three years for, once again, constantly removing their own damn content!

And they're still doing it to this day!

So with all that considered, plus the fact that finding out viewership for shows on streaming is pretty tricky from what I've heard, it's hard to believe that Velma was the biggest premiere of any Max original animated series.

Or that it even got that much viewership.

So if that's the case, why would WB possibly lie and say that a show that most likely isn't all that successful was successful?

The answer is quite simple: they're desperate.

I mean, within the months between Velma's premiere and the company's merger with Discovery, their reputation went down the drain!

Once again, for the reasons I've stated before.

And I think they know it.

And corporations have been shown time and time again that they're not above lying to make themselves look good.

But with the universal backlash Velma has received, it seemed like WB had to eventually admit that the show was a lost cause.

I mean, look at the road to Season 2!

Although knowledge on it coming was known since the spring of 2023, the season and its release date wasn't officially confirmed until April 1st, 2024, with the announcement revealing it would be premiering on the 25th of that month.

Cutting it dangerously close would be an UNDERSTATEMENT!

Most shows tend to announce the release dates of their upcoming seasons months in advance, not within the same month as release!

There's also the fact that the only form of promotion it got was a trailer released on the 15th, just 10 days before it's initial premiere!

And when the season finally dropped, Max took the Netflix approach and dropped the entire season all at once.

In contrast to the first season, which released on a weekly basis!

Yeah, it's clear that WB more or less wanted this show to be done and over with.

Though one thing that is strange is how despite the show being cancelled, it's still on Max.

All the other original series for the service that got cancelled also got removed.

But for some reason, Velma is still on there.

I have two theories on why that's the case.

1#) Since let's be real, nobody is watching Velma, WB sees no reason to remove it. Remember, the reason why they've been removing so much content over these last few years is because with the viewership these shows get, they generate residuals that rightfully go to the people involved with the shows. And WB has been cost cutting more than Mr. Krabs. So with the show having barely any viewership, they wouldn't have to worry about giving any money to the people involved.

Or 2#) Mindy would probably make them suffer if they dared to take down the show. Remember, she's the one of the biggest and most powerful (and most egotistical) names in the industry! You don't think she wouldn't make them pay?! And if she does, WB would be looking at yet another money sink!

And if you didn't think WB looked pathetic and desperate already, the last of The Four Horseman will certainly do the job.

But I'm gonna have to save that for later since I'm about to run on the media limit.

But until then, let me know what you guys think about this post!

And one last thing before I end this, I just want to know.....

What the hell does Max have left?

That's actually worth your time?

[ladyjuquia]

!! Yumeshipping/OC x Canon Post !!

Tristan & Juquia - Their Flowers and their Meaning (in their relationship)

Tristan and Juquias Flowers are pretty basic with Tristan having the red Rose and Juquia the Daisy. But besides that it fits for both of them, not only in meaning but appearance, I also think the way how humble and „basic“ it is, it reflect their relationship very well.

Tristans Flower - A Red Rose, who is more dark and has slight dark tips

Tristan, a man marked by passion and love from his past, is actually someone so beautiful you don’t want to just approach him. You maybe even simply can’t. The thorns symbolise his own isolation on that as well. He is a dark red rose as he is not only known for love and passion, but the dark red rose stands for itself for Loyalty and eternal Beauty. While Fate goes more with the depiction that Tristan betrayed one Isolde, I think it signalised more that he was loyal in another way - Thought the Tristan of my Story is more Gottfried von Straßburg based which works more with the theme of Loyalty, especially for Tristan. The black tips here stand rather for Tristans condition being trapped in insecurities, anxiety and depression. Something that might make his beauty faint a bit.

This paired with the fact roses start blooming in Mai, a reference to the Maifest where his parents met each other and fell in love, the start of their romance and the very core beginning of Tristans existence with them making love later which leads to pregnancy with roses also having their main blooming time during June and July, with June being also the release month of the Tristan and Isolde Opera. Also Juquia has her Birthday in July, once could say he blooms the strongest for her.

Also a fun fact, in my language I often say „Tristannuss“ meaning „Tristan-Nut“ coming from Drystanus/Drustanus - Funnily the Rose fruits, the Hagebutte, belong to the family of nuts haha.

Juquias Flower - The Daisy, one with pink/bright red tips

Juquia is the Daisy. Nothing special. At least at first. Daisies are one of the most seen flowers, people often call it „the Persistent/the Persevering“ with Juquia being always there, even with the curse, no especially because of the curse that won’t let her just die. She stays alive for as long as possible. Juquia is someone who gained a strong healing power, funnily the Daisies are also said to be having strong regeneration powers and being used for healing.

While Daisies also can stand for innocence and being pure, which would fit to Juquias core, it also can stand for being humble and trust. Coming to Juquias Wish of just having one person on her life she can trust and who likes her for who she is and who can stay at her side, plus the trust she did put in the world especially the clock tower it makes sense, even if she seems pessimistic at core. In some terms the Daisy can also stand for beauty. A persistent beauty. This is something rather how Tristan is perceiving her. Juquia sees herself rather as small, not special and not noticeable and easily replaceable. When a daisy is used as Fortune Teller, for the petal Game, Juquia sees herself as always the bad outcome with her curse bringing bad luck to the people around her. But it also contains her inner fear of in the end being just used, when bringing good fortune, being robbed of everything that makes her whole to be thrown away afterwards. So she is alright with not being noticeable.

The pink tips stand for Juquia still being a romantic person who yearns for companionship, who daydreams about happiness and love in its purest form. And especially with Tristan she let this love in her life.

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

In the core, both are more seen as basic flower. Nothing special. And probably that is what TrisQuia is. Nothing special at core but them embracing this normality makes it beautiful, like the flowers they represent. Tristan and Juquia are both tied together trough a very humble wish - to find someone who found completely understand them. They didn’t even wished for a Lover, but for someone to trust. For someone where they can be themselves without worrying to lose this happiness in an instant.

And while both flowers represent their „ugly“ parts it also shows their simple beauty. Especially for each other.