#just this will tell you if you should bother reading it

[sunder-the-gold]

Imagine making meals because your hobby is cooking, but you have to stay in the kitchen and don't get to see into the cafeteria where the food is served to the people.

In a restaurant like AO3, the hit counter tells you how many people walked into the restaurant. But ONLY that much.

It doesn't tell you how many people immediately walked back out because of the smell.

It doesn't tell you how many people tried some of your food, but found it so mid (middling, unremarkable, boring) that they left without even bothering to insult or criticize it.

It doesn't tell you how many people liked it and read all the way to the end.

Kudos tells you that someone liked... something. Was it the appetizer, the main course, or the dessert? Did they love the appetizer only to walk away without a word because the main course displeased them?

Bookmarks aren't much more informative than Kudos. The reader may rescind them if your work takes a truly offensive turn for their tastes, but that's assuming they even remember they have a bookmark feature.

Number of subscriptions is a little more informative, since people can get emails about updates, which might get them to remember to unsubscribe. I confess that there are a few fanfics I keep getting notifications about for YEARS because I intend to return to them 'eventually' but I don't feel like catching up on them 'now'.

A comment on the latest chapter is, by far, the clearest sign that someone probably read ALL of the story up to that point.

A comment is also the only way that a writer can learn what their audience loved or hated about the execution of the story.

There's not much you can or should do about people who don't like the SUBJECT MATTER of your story. At least as long as you tagged, labeled, categorized, and summarized it properly.

But just because you're writing what you and a lot of other people want to read, doesn't mean you can't want to improve the WAY you write about that passion.

what the whole "please comment on fic you like, it will encourage more writing" vs. "fic writers shouldn't be writing for engagement and validation" debate fails to really grasp, for me, is that comments shouldn't be boiled down to "engagement and validation" in the first place. by which i mean: comments aren't payment for a service, they are communication and connection. they represent the audience reaching back.

i don't write just for myself. are you kidding me? the point of storytelling, to me, is to present certain narrative arguments and produce or encourage an emotional response to them. That communication is essentially useless if there's no endpoint, no listener. To me, there is no point if I'm not communicating with someone. When I write, I am talking to a reader. If you've read anything I've written, then I was talking TO YOU.

you are well within your right to consume fic as ~content~ and withhold your "payment" out of a sense that the writer should be satisfied at having created anything at all in an unresponsive void. but please be aware that it feels really good when you talk back.

[ebp-brain]

a remus/sirius ficlet for new year's!

happy new year, everyone! I hope to write more fic this year so I'm starting today. -ebp

Remus Lupin's New Year's Resolutions, 1/1/1979

1. Get out of the flat more often. Go for a walk at least once/day.

2. Less takeaway. Soup is easy; make soup.

3. Buy the good chocolate sometimes. You can afford it if it’s just once in awhile.

4. Tell friends more things more often. Ask for more of what you need. They won’t hate you for it. You should know this by now.

Tell James it bothers you when he suggests solutions to your problems that require tremendous amounts of inherited wealth (e.g. buy house instead of renting shitty flat).

Tell Peter to stick up for himself esp. re: not liking spicy food???

Tell Sirius that

5. Stop feeling bad about your feelings.

6. THOUGHTS DO NOT MAKE YOU BAD.

Even those ones.

7. Let yourself at least express your thoughts to yourself.

Admit that you

Fuck

8. Ask for small raise at work + call in sick if needed after full moons.

9. Maybe you could write him a letter. Not to send (actually you should send it but let’s say you won’t so you actually write it). Just say that you’re sorry but you have feelings for him and you know that this is probably awkward but you’ll get over it like he got over James fifth year and it’ll be fine and normal once you’ve admitted it to him!

Tell him not to get a big head about it. Yeah, yeah, everyone wants him, sure, but they don’t know he’s a complete MESS they just know he has good HAIR and a kissable MOUTH

So what does it say about me that I do know he’s a mess and I still want him?

10. Maybe less self-analysis this year. Maybe more risk taking.

Addendum from SB 1/31/79: Remus, you’re adorable. Sorry to read your super secret New Year’s resolutions but I got bored while you were in the shower and poked around your desk and they were just lying out under a big stack of notebooks and library books and blank rolls of parchment so I couldn’t help seeing them. Glad you followed resolution number 10 or you’d have suffered the tragedy of missing out on my KISSABLE MOUTH and GOOD HAIR. Also, I’m going to buy you a whole box of the good chocolate and you can’t stop me!!

UPDATE: now with a companion ficlet

[i-am-a-bad-influence-writes]

P*rn ☆  Introduction

Masterlist Word count: 1 k Sylus x Fem!Reader

Summary: You have been following a spicy content creator by the name of Red Crow for some time now. Nothing could’ve prepared you for what would happen when he moves into the apartment next door.

Mature content under the cut. This part is setup. No graphic content yet.

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘ 

It's been fucking years! Not by your choice. No, not at all. You just hadn't had the time or the energy, but God do you crave it. It hadn't really bothered you the first year. You had gone on dates regularly, but despite your love for intimacy you need a certain level of connection before you lay down and take it. Sure, you had a few nice connections but no one that managed to turn you on. 

Not like he does. 

Ever since your regular booty call called it off, you started watching some adult content. At first nothing really seemed to call to you. You were flipflopping from category to category as if you were flipping through a magazine, leaving you high and dancing on the edge of full gratification every single time. Sure, you came but it never felt that great. 

Then you found him. 

Tall as a fucking mountain, grey hair, red eyes, sly smile, toned body, strong nose that's ever so slightly crooked. You even remember the little scar under his left eye. But what does it for you, most of all, is his voice. Low and gravely, constantly teasing and commanding. There's something more to it though. When he gets to the edge, it's almost as if he wants someone to take over and it fucking gets you going. Makes your panties go from bone dry to soaking wet in a matter of seconds. 

Worst of all, the man has a TikTok page and a Tumblr page. Neither are all that suggestive. The TikTok has some thirst traps and workout videos, but the Tumblr page is a different story. On there, he reads spicy romance books to his audience. He had tried it before on YouTube but got taken down real fast. Those books, the way his voice picks up and changes with the story. It's truly something magical. You'd almost consider it better content than the videos of him stroking his dick, though you don't mind that those exist at all. 

And today is Friday, which means he's posting a new chapter and there's a possibility of a new video on TikTok. Nothing too riveting but enough to get you going and keep you going for the weekend. You're looking at a long and satisfying weekend with your magic wand. Just one more hour until your shift is done. 

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘ 

'Again?!' Sylus’ voice booms through the living room of his apartment. If it were any louder, the walls would shiver. 'I was so fucking careful this time,' he says through gritted teeth. His hand has a strong grasp on his phone, almost snapping the thing in his fit of rage. 

"I don't know what to tell you man. Maybe someone followed you?" Kieran, the ever daft creator that makes spicy content with his friend Luke, tells him in the kindest voice he can must up. He knows just as well as Sylus that the man is impossibly popular. It all happened overnight just a year or two ago when he made a video humping a pillow and groaning praises to a nonexistant partner. Ever since then, he's been making content solo. It's doing much better than his partnered stuff used to.  

It also came with unwanted attention. Sylus lives for the praises and truly feral comments on his socials and spicy content, but this. This goes too far. It's the third time in as many years he's been doxed. If it were a stalked he could go to the police but it seems to be someone different each time. 

Sylus groans and runs a hand through his hair. 'I should move further away this time.' 

"That's the understatement of the century. Just be glad they haven't got your name yet." 

Yet. The word rings in Sylus’ head for a little longer than he would like it to. If those feral women and men got his name, he would never get any peace again. Sure, he was the one that decided to put his face in all those videos and that might've been stupid. It is stupid. Especially for someone who likes his privacy as much as Sylus does. 

"Oh, Luke just said he knows a place for you. He has a friend who owns an apartment ages away from your place. He's been looking for someone to lease it to." 

'I can trust this person?' 

"Yes, for sure. I know this guy too. He's some flamboyant artist that owns too many properties to keep track of who lives where." Sylus sighs, a rumble going through his chest. 

'Fine, get me the contact info.' 

∘₊✧───────────────────────────────────────✧₊∘ 

'You doing anything fun this weekend,' your friend and colleague Tara asks with a sweet smile. You almost spill and tell her, but she's far too pure to understand any of your desires. It'd be better to keep this friendship as wholesome as it is. 

'Nothing much. I don't have any plans for once. I'm probably going to binge that TV show you recommended.' 

'Oooh, tell me what you think about it,' she replies excitedly. At that moment, a car honks, and she looks up. Her lovely boyfriend is waiting for her in the car. 'See you soon,' she says with a quick wave and off she goes. The man even gets out of the car to open the passenger door for her. Such a nice man. He waves to you and you nod back. You know him a little, but he never comes along to any company events or dinners. If you're not mistaken, his name is Kieran. Nice guy. 

You make your way to your car and drive home. Traffic is terrible but uneventful. All you can think about is sitting down on the couch at home and listening to whatever Red Crow has cooked up this time. 

[rubywithecat]

JjK men love tropes and how you first meet them

A/n: Please note that this is just a fiction and my own opinion, so please feel free to skip if you find any discomfort in reading. Thank you for love and support ~<33

Gojo Satoru

(Colleagues)

-I first think of student-teacher trope but I personally feel like Gojo wouldn’t date a student (especially his student)

-He would likely to date a colleague or junior partner.

It all started when u were assigned with the strongest sorcerer, Satoru Gojo for your first mission since you graduated. You don’t know if you should feel lucky or doomed cuz the mission is guaranteed to be hard. Since you attended Kyoto school, you haven’t personally trained by Gojo and heard a lot abt how arrogant he is from your teacher, Utahime like how he bullied her back in sch. “So, ur the kid that they partnered me with?” He appeared from behind. You turned your back “Yeah. My name is y/n” you greeted formally. He didn’t even bother to greet back and told you to just stay behind him. You were really annoyed by him but it was not a good idea to make a sense here. You got injured from the mission but helped a lot for him to fight with your cursed technique and he was impressed. He visited you to your apartment, asking about injury. Your impression for him changed quite a bit of how thoughtful he is. Then, you go out a lot with him and started growing feelings for him like who could resist his charm. On the other hand, he couldn’t believe himself but he also fall in love with you without any reason as if he’s capable of love?

Geto Suguru

(Friends to lovers)

-I think he is likely to only date from inner circle so it’s whether you’re his friend or have mutual friends.

It was at your bff birthday party and you were lost in the big room. You bumped into Geto and he apologized, helping you get up. “Thanks” you awkwardly replied. “Im Geto Suguru” he broke the silence since you were starring at him for a couple of sec. “Oh, I’m y/n. I’ve heard abt you from (ur fri name)” you replied, giggling. He smiled at your laughter. “I bet she wouldn’t tell good things, right?” He said and you guys chatted a lot that it was like an hour. “Hey y/n!” Your bff yelled as she saw you from the crowd and made her way to you and noticed someone beside u “Oh Geto! I thought you didn’t come!” She hit his shoulder. “I almost go back home of how boring your party is” he sarcastically replied which made her rolled her eyes. “Stop being an ass, Geto. Were you chatting with y/n?” Your bff side eyed him. He chuckled “Well, see you guys later. I just saw Gojo” he suddenly blushed and made his way out, saying small goodbye to you. You grabbed nearby drink and took a sip, looking at his way “U didn’t tell your childhood fri is cute” you said to your fri. “He’s all yours” your bff smirked at you and the rest of the night, enjoyed the party. The next day, you got his social acc from your bff and added him. You guys started talking and formed a friendship. U wanted more but didn’t wanna ruin the newly built friendship so as he too. But when the third party got involved, everything changed and jealousy grew into more and then he confessed to you finally.

Toji Fushiguru

(Second chance)

-This man would very likely to mess up in a relationship so it wouldn’t work out at first and you break up with him.

Even tho your clan doesn’t agree you with him cuz he doesn’t have cursed energy and is disgrace in jujutsu world, you fought for him and he messed up, letting you go. You were emotionally so hurt and heart-broken when he handed you to your brother back, taking the deal money. That was the biggest betrayal he made. How could he? Besides, Toji had always been selfish and wanted to keep you by his side but he has to give up on you to protect you and he know he couldn’t provide a good life to you so he just thought it would be better to make you hate him and just watching you happy from afar. He thought he would be fine but he isn’t. He couldn’t sleep nor focus on other things and his mind is always on you and memories. When he heard that you are forced to marry to another clan leader, he couldn’t do it anymore and fought for you back, this time harder.

Nanami Kento

(Love at first sight)

-He doesn’t believe in love or he is too busy to think about love. But when he saw you for the first time, he felt a strange but nervous feeling and his heart started to beat faster. Does it called love?

He was watching sunset from his apartment when he saw a girl with her friends, laughing and talking. Your beauty is unmatched and even the sunset he admired doesn’t compare it. It happened so fast that he doesn’t realize he was looking at your movements without even batting an eye. Then, you disappeared and he thought that’s it. Even tho there are several beautiful women who are throwing themselves to him, he doesn’t even bother to look at them. But how could you bewitch him? The next day, he tried his best not to think about the event anymore and went to work and then he saw you when he grabbed a coffee. You worked there. “What would you like to order, sir?” Your sweet voice sounded so good to him. The next day, he always come to visit you and you guys got close to each other and the relationship grows into smtg more.

——

——

[dxrlingluv]

Player || Lee Myung-gi

Series : Chapter 1 : Cards and Debt, Chapter 2

Description:

Driven by love and desperation, you risk everything to participate in a mysterious game with a life-changing prize. But the opulent setting masks a deadly reality.

As the games escalate in brutality, you must outsmart your cunning opponents, confront your deepest fears, and make impossible choices to stay alive.

Will your love for your boyfriend be enough to overcome the unimaginable horrors that await?

Lee Myung-gi x F!Reader

You slowly rose from your bed, the sun still hiding behind the fog that accumulated from the coldness. Suddenly, you hunched over to the side of your bed, and puked out everything you ate from the night before. You groaned, your head feeling heavy from all the tireless work and studying you had done the day before.

Grabbing your phone from your bed side desk, you checked the time. 6:34 AM, it read. You groaned yet again, opening your phone and deciding to message your boyfriend good morning.

y/n 🌸

- good morning ! i hope you had a decent sleep. we should definitely meet soon, i miss you.

You waited for a minute or two, just staring at the message you sent as it went from delivered to seen. Not a second passed, your boyfriend replied.

myung-gi 🩷

- yeah.

You sighed, gripping your phone tight to your chest, a heartache slowly forming as you stared up at the ceiling.

You wondered what he might be up to right now. He's never really been this cold before until last week, but you guessed that it was because he's busy trying to pay off his debt. You feel bad that you couldn't help him a little.

You know that he's not telling the truth about how big his debt really is, but being an ex-YouTuber with a lot of subscribers that fell for the crypto coin scam, there should be a lot.

The only thing you wanted to do was to help him find a way to pay off all his debt and restart his life, you'll do anything.

Facing your phone once again, you messaged him one last time before starting your day off, free from school and work.

y/n 🌸

- let's meet up later at our usual place, 11 AM sharp.

Closing off your phone, you decided not to wait for a reply. Standing up, you stretched and immediately went to the bathroom of your small apartment to clean off. After cleaning yourself, you went to the kitchen section of your apartment, opening up the stove, putting on a pan and pouring oil, then grabbing 2 eggs from your small fridge.

Yeah, sure, egg for breakfast, how original. But as a college student, you can't afford to lose even a little amount of money.

After cooking the eggs, you decided you also wanted buldak noodles to come with it.

You sighed for the nth time, staring at your phone. He didn't even bother to reply an 'ok'. Seriously, what has gotten into him?

Hours passed and it's not 10:30 AM. Deciding to take a quick bath, you went off. Locking your apartment door behind you, you check your phone again but seen no response or confirmation.

Arriving at the train station, you awaited for your train. Feeling your back ache from standing, you decided to sit down but immediately regretted it as you felt dizzy yet again and felt like puking. What has gotten into you this time? You can't be sick.

You then felt a presence beside you. Looking over, you saw the guy already staring at you which made you make a face. "Uhm. Can I help you?" You asked him.

He continue smiling at you, then showing you his suitcase and opening it. "Would you like to play with me?"

You stared at him in bewilderment, "Play... with you. Is this some kind of scam?" You accused as you stared at his suitcase that contains a red and blue papers and an uncountable amount of money, and you don't feel bad about accusing him one bit.

He chuckled, staring at his suitcase for a moment before looking at you and speaking again, "No, ma'am. We would only be playing ddakji, if you win, I will give you 100 000 won, and if I win, you will give me 100 000 won in return."

You stood up abruptly in shock, "What? Is this- Are you serious?"

He only nodded in return, slowly standing up to come face to face with you.

"I'm sorry, even if I wanted to- I don't have that amount of money," you admitted, dejectedly.

The business man's smile only widened in return, "You can pay with you body then." And before you can protest, he continued, "If you win I will give you 100 000 won, but if I win, I will slap you."

Now that sounds more like it... a slap isn't too bad, plus you're great at playing ddakji yourself so this shouldnt be a problem.

"Okay, lets do it."

...

100 000

Slap !

100 000

100 000

100 000

Slap !

100 000

...

"That should conclude our game."

"Wait- But I'm not done yet!" You exclaimed. Hoping to get at least 2 or 3 more wins.

The business man's smile ignored you as he fished out a calling card from his pocket. He offered it to you with a smile, too uncanny to your liking. You stared at him in confusion, staring between the calling card and his face.

"If you wish to play more games and win a bigger price, just call the number on this card." He said, answering the million question on your head.

You felt uneasy about this, "Now, this- This is a scam!"

"L/n Y/n, [birthdate], 23 years old, formerly used to live in seoul with your parents until you had to move out to pursue your college degree. You are not in debt, but you desperately need to help your boyfriend with his." He calmly said.

Your eyes widened in disbelief, how did he know this... This made him more suspicious but now that he mentioned your boyfriend's debt, you felt more desperate and wanting to trust him.

Dejectedly, you accepted the card from his hand. You stared at the symbols on the front, a square, a triangle, and a circle. Deciding to call the number later, you placed the card on your pouch.

"How did you-" You started, but was immediately cut off when the man you were just talking to disappeared as if he wasnt even there in the first place.

"Y/n."

You whipped your head to the side when you heard a familiar voice call to you. You smiled.

"Myung-gi."

You ran up to him and hugged him tight, "I missed you so much."

He hugged you back just as tight, "It's only been 3 days, Aegiya." He let go as he stared lovingly at your eyes.

You stared back with a small loving smile, taking in his appearance. He was wearing a hat, most likely to keep his identity as hidden as he can. He was also wearing a grey jacket that fits warmly against him. Even with just a simple outfit, he still looks stunning.

You pecked his lips as he stared at you in shock, "Not here, Aegiya," He muttered shyly.

You feigned shocked and hurt, "Wha-! You dare do that to me, you lover!?" You playfully smacked his arm to which he just laughed at with you following suit.

The both of you decided to eat lunch at a park, having only buy decent meals, enough to fill up your stomachs.

You hummed at the delicious sandwich you just tasted, deciding to talk to him, you asked, "Hey, Myung-gi."

That catches his attention as he paused from chewing his food and looked at you. He hummed, as if to tell that He's listening.

You continued, "You've been so busy lately, if I hadn't told you to meet up with me, would you have asked to meet up instead?"

That made him quiet, slowly chewing for a moment.

"I'm sorry," he quietly said, refusing to look at you.

"For what?" You asked, trying to search anything from his face as he apologized.

He was silent for a moment before responding again, "For everything."

You smiled, sighing from your nose. "It's okay...

I will always forgive you."

[barbiegirldream]

I understand where you're coming from absolutely. I know my fandom history. I did a minor in queer studies I know queer coding. I also know that homophobic fans attack gay ships when they're not canon because they're never canon.

Bakudeku can be as real in your heart as you want it to be. I was just assessing the narrative of the story. Not if I think bakudeku shippers need to die which of course I do not. Like to me itafushi is the only valid ship in all of jjk and no one not even Gege himself telling me directly will ever change my mind. As for not confirming m/f ships Gege didn't even bother to say Maki is the grandmother to Yuta's grandkids he just assumed we'd get it looking at them. And everyone did. Doesn't mean no matter the jokes about how it could be anyone Yuta got with that Yutamaki isn't clearly canon. What's actually happening isn't a secret messags that the m/f ship isn't happening it's taking for granted the the assumption of heternormativity and straight romance.

But the reason so many people take Ochako and Deku as canon is pretty simple. "Let's talk more" isn't literal in the we should talk more. It's how people say they want to start dating now. for example if a guy asks "are you talking to anyone else?" he doesn't literally mean do you have conversations with others. He means flirting with others. Ochako and Deku want to See each other more. As bizzare as it is Toga is the representation of romance. As much as I joke Ochako is repressing her love for Toga it's clear Hori intended Toga to be the wingwoman from the beyond. Just like Bakugo was for Deku.

There is a lot of history in mha in the fandom. In fandom history. in shonen jump. There's a lot of context to our disucssion. But you have to remove all that and just look at the story. Just cause they didn't kiss doesn't mean Hori wasn't intending for it to be read as the start of a relationship. After what he clearly felt was sufficient enough slow burn build up <- it wasn't but most things in mha weren't.

And the reason I was separating it from Itafushi is that I don't think Gege intended for romance because of the themes of the story centering around preserving childhood. Which is the last thing poor Megumi gets to say in the whole series. Gege also clearly likes the love-sick teenage girl trope doing it to both Hana and Ozawa, which is another can of worms to open, so I won't.

If I had a nickel for every time almost half the fandom called a ship canon based off of a casual conversation in a shounen manga's epilogue, I'd have 2 nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice…

_________________________________

If I had a nickel for every time a shounen manga ended with no canon ships but somehow half the fandom still found a way to discredit one of its most profound fanships just because they were M/M, I'd have 2 nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

[shrimptiger]

Alright, normally I don't talk about drama but at this point, I'm pretty tired of it, so I'll just get this off my mind, because it's not like I'll change anything, but YALL ARE BEING SO FUCKING WEIRD WITH THIS LANDO AND MAGUI BULLSHIT.

I've never looked into it, but I'm just trying to scroll on tiktok or instagram and every few weeks I just get like 10 posts like "oh, Lando is in *place*, guess who else is there?", or I'll get a random clip of Lando in public that seems perfectly normal, oppen the comments, and everyone is saying that he's carrying her phone or something.

I can not understand why people care so much, it's not confirmed weather they are dating or not, it's literally just fans making speculations that have gone so far there are literal people who think they are in a public relationship because of so many people posting them and saying that they are 100% dating. If you want to speculate, do whatever you want, I can't stop you, but please just stop spreading misinformation.

I don't know what they are doing, and I don't care, I'm just minding my own business and you should too, whatever they're doing just let them live their lives and be happy for them or fucking explode with jealousy or whatever the fuck quietly, because I'm sick of my recommended/home/for you pages just being flodded with this bullshit.

If you want to know what I think about them, tho: from what I've seen it seems like he doesn't even interact with her but she just keeps trying to chase after him, I saw on tiktok a few months ago that she posted a picture of her infront of his apparent building or something and dating or not, I think that's freakish behaviour, and I really think she should delete that if she hasn't already, atleast for his privacy if not her decency because that is making her look like a hella obsessed fangirl. Obviously, I didn't randomly start thinking and ranting about this, so I'll tell you that what made me do this if a reel that popped up in my instagram feed from a f1 gossip accont of them being spotted togeder at a new years party in Dubai. That clip is gross to me, because you can see him ducking away from the camera and it was even mentioned in the caption, and people in the comments were laughing because "oh, he's so ashamed to be with her" or that they were holding hands (to me, that just looks like he was holding her shoulder, some people also said that she grabbed his hand when he pulled it back but I didn't see that)

Honestly, whatever, if they're dting, good for them, if not, also good for them, people alredy ruined Landos last realtionship so I completely understand him wanting to keep this secret if they are, even tho she keep hinting at it, but maybe she's just an obsessed friend, who the fuck knows?

I also won't post that clip, because I can't download it and sharing the link could show my account, so I just won't do that, which is probably for the better, we should just respect his privacy, because none of us would like being recorded 24/7 and posted online, even if that is part of his job, just let him live his life off the track.

This might be full of typos, I literally can not be bothered to read through this and check so whatever, feel free to rant about this in my comments, reblogs, or my ask box, just don't go in my dms, I'm here to speak my mind, not argue.

[bullet-prooflove]

Hihi I hope you had a lush Christmas! Please can I request "let me feel you react" or "you're so sensitive" with Dean Archer please? 🥵🥰

Tagging: @kmc1989 @mandy426 @sweetdaytimedreams @Cosmic-psychickitty @squeakowl

"You're so sensitive.” You whisper against Dean’s throat as your thumb strokes over the head of his cock, smearing pre-cum across the tip. His teeth bite down on the fabric of your scrubs, stifling the sound that erupts from his throat as your hand starts to move up and down the shaft within the confines of his scrubs.

It’s been a few weeks since you’ve touched him like this, since you’ve been able to spend more than a couple of minutes in his presence. It gets like this sometimes, your shifts mismatching so you have to make room for your intimacy where you can, like the on-call room in the doctor’s lounge.

“You should lie back baby.” You murmur into his ear as his grasp on your scrubs tightens. “Let me take care of you properly..."

The door knob twists, interrupting the moment. You pull your hand out from his pants as a frantic knocking echoes through the room followed by the voice of an intern calling out.

“Doctor Archer, Doctor Archer! The transfer van’s here, they need paperwork signed and I don’t think I can-”

“It’s fine Joey.” You respond, rolling your eyes. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

You listen to the sound of his retreating footsteps before you turn your attention back to your husband.

“Cockblocked by an intern.” Dean groans as he sags back onto the mattress and stares up the ceiling. “This day just keeps getting better.”

You sigh as you look down at him, taking in the dark shadows underneath his eyes, the exhaustion in his features. He’s been tired a lot recently, this job it’s wearing on him you think.

“You’ve had a bad day?” You question.

“It doesn’t matter.” He tells you as he rubs his palms over his weary features. “You need to be somewhere and I should be starting my second shift.”

“If something’s bothering you…”

“It’s fine.” He bites out and you raise to your feet, tucking your hands into the pockets of your scrubs because you know better than to push when he gets like this.

“When you’re ready to talk you know where I am.” You remind him as you unlock the door and step out into the corridor, closing it behind you.

But Dean, he’s not ready to talk, especially not about the pain he’s been experiencing in his brand new kidney.

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Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[issilya]

I've been tagged? In a WIP Wednesday? Like what? Thank you @casino-lights ! That's a first for me 🥹

So then: I dislike rewriting entire quests that happened in game if I'm not really changing much, but I still needed to address the first time Esha and Lucanis met in the Ossuary, so this became more of a retrospective that should lead to an actual scene. Haven't yet decided what scene that should be though, so might as well share it here so it doesn't rot in my google docs!

For Spite, her voice was the first thing he heard that wasn't there to hurt him. It was there to hurt others. “I came here for the crow, whether you want to throw your lives in the package is up to you.”

But Lucanis wasn't sure what to make of the de Riva that was apparently breaking him out. The way her icy-blue eyes measured him when he stood before her. The squint in her eyes, and a smile in the corner of her lips. The other elf with her immediately noticed: “He's possessed!”  But his fellow crow did not seem bothered by it. It was no surprise Spite was immediately intrigued by her.  “I wasn't expecting… that.” Her voice was playful, almost tinted with praise. A tone that brought only pain for a year now. But not this time, it seemed. Unless? Could this be a trick, he wondered?

She walked softly, her gaze transfixed on the sea. A whale passed above them and she hummed at it, spinning on her toes as she followed it with her eyes. Her fingers brushed the enchanted walls gently, as if she was afraid to break them with touch - but too curious to just leave them alone. She was relaxed as she turned her back to him, while her companion kept eyeing him suspiciously. He almost felt taunted by how careless she was around him. Or was it Spite who felt taunted?

So vulnerable.

But then he saw her fight. The way she dashed towards the few Venatori still left in the prison, the smile on her face as she cut them open. There was a feral fury in her that gave him a chill. She was not the killer many crows grew to be. There was a deliberate slowness in some of her moves, as if she found pleasure in the act. She inhaled the smell of blood like a hound on a trail.

They walked by the torture cells in silence. He could tell she was thinking about it - about what he went through - as she passed the tables and looked at Zara's notes. He looked for pity or disgust in her eyes, like he would expect, but there was none of it. No judgement. Nothing, but focus on the goal and a stoic mask he could not read.

When Calivan lay dead, she reached down to his body and unceremoniously snapped a necklace off him. She tied the gemmed medallion to her belt like a trophy.

Her bloody fingers carelessly brushed a strand of hair behind her tattooed ear before she looked at him with a smile. Satisfaction of a job well done.

“Time to go?” She asked so matter-of-fact, as if they didn't just fight demons and horrors beyond comprehension. As if she wasn’t talking to an abomination. So undisturbed.

Careful. She knows we're not right.

Yes, she knew. But she didn't seem to care like he would expect. Not like her friend, visibly nervous. And Lucanis wasn't sure if that should worry him.

He expected questions. But she only spared him a short glance when they were on the way back to the shore. A shadow of a smile danced on her lips as she lowered her hand into the water. It weaved softly between her fingers as the boat moved. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

The Veil Jumper with her seemed less relaxed. She tried to work through the tension. “So, you're Lu-”  “Bellara.” De Riva cut her off in a low voice. A reminder not to talk with other crows around. “Right. Sorry, Rook. Maybe later.” The elf's heavy earring jingled as she focused on her shoes. They spent the time in silence as the crow who waited for them paddled back to the shore. Lucanis’ mind wandered as he watched Treviso’s roofs get closer. Rook. A curious nickname. How did she get it?

Their eyes met when they got to the docks. She saw the shock in him - the look she gave him dared him to keep it together. He let her lead the way to the Diamond, and she walked slowly, letting him take in the change in his city. The reality of occupation he had no idea about. The reality she did not have the courtesy to prepare him for on their way back.

[deadlysoupy]

DATV banter if my Rook (Urchin) was a companion 2/? (part 1)

if you can't tell this is my addiction now. i pretend i'm being productive while not actually writing any long pieces i wanted to write. everyone wins!

Neve: Are you having any more headaches after Solas and Elgar’nan exchanged pleasantries in your head?

Rook: Well, they’re not headaches anymore, that’s for sure.

Neve: Migraines?

Rook: Yep.

Neve: If you need it, I have a good method for getting rid of them. Not permanently, of course, but they dissipate faster. I can cook something up for both of us.

Rook: Oh. Really?

Neve: Sure. Swing by my room and let me know.

Rook: Oh?

Neve: (laughs) Don’t get too excited now.

~~

Neve: So. You killed a noble.

Rook: Not my… proudest moment, but I don’t regret it.

Neve: That had to earn you some enemies.

Rook: Oh, for sure! I’m surprised no one tried to assassinate me yet. Unless they did try, and I was just too good.

Neve: (laughs) You are hard to get a hold of. But doesn’t it bother you?

Rook: Does your job bother you? You crossed a lot of important people in Dock Town.

Neve: Touché.

~~

Rook: You aren’t much of a crow, Lucanis.

Lucanis: Excuse me?

Rook: You’re more like a cat.

Lucanis: Are you… going to explain it, or?..

Rook: Nah, you figure it out.

Lucanis: (sighs) You and your riddles.

~~

Lucanis: You look good in leather, too.

Rook: Really? I don’t know…

Lucanis: You should try it. It could highlight your waist.

Rook: Oh? Been looking at my waist, have we?

Lucanis: I suppose I was. Just don’t wear capes. 

Rook: Ah, yeah, tried capes and other long dingly things. Got caught in a trap and almost ended up impaled. Don’t recommend wearing capes or cloaks in dungeons.

Lucanis: Duly noted.

~~

Rook: Davrin. What starts with an “A”...

Davrin: No. Nope. Denied.

Rook: But I didn’t even finish!

Davrin: And you won’t. Just keep walking.

Rook: (whine)

(a little bit later)

Rook: I’ll be quick. What squawks but doesn’t— 

Davrin: I said “no”! 

Rook: You’re a fun killer. A fun hunter.

Davrin: Uh-huh. Complain to someone else.

(and a little bit later again)

Rook: …

Davrin: …

Rook: Why can't you hear a phoenix go to the bathroom?

Davrin: …

Rook: Because it's pee is silent.

Davrin: (coughs to interrupt a laugh)

Rook: Ha! I heard that!

Davrin: (coughs) No, you didn’t.

Rook: O-oh, my dearest Davrin. I will never let you live this down. You like pee jokes?

Davrin: We aren’t talking about this.

Rook: Can we pee about it?

Davrin: I’m locking you up in your room when we get back.

Rook: Nice try. I can pick the lock.

Davrin: Not while tied up.

Rook: You wound me. Isabela teaches classes on how to unbind yourself to five-year-olds.

Davrin: Well then I’ll… figure out what to do with you later.

Rook: Challenge accepted, Pee Boy.

Davrin: I hate you.

~~

Rook: I had a pet once.

Davrin: Oh, yeah? 

Rook: A rat. It died.

Davrin: Oh. I’m… sorry?

Rook: (sighs) I’m making a terrible point. What I was trying to say is… We’re not always in control of who we take care of. You’re doing good, Davrin, even if you don’t think so.

Davrin: Uh. Thanks for the vote of confidence? Why did you bring this up in the first place?

Rook: I heard you talking to Assan before we left off. I guess I just had to say something.

Davrin: Hey. What did we talk about snooping?

Rook: “Snooping is bad”.

Davrin: That’s right. But thanks, Rook.

~~

Rook: “Professor Volkarin”, huh? You're a teacher?

Emmrich: Was, Rook. And, to be frank, I deeply miss it.

Rook: I wonder what you teach.

Emmrich: Simple evocations, really. Etiquette dealing with the dead, Nevarran culture.

Rook: Cool. Cool. Do you, um… teach reading, by any chance?

Emmrich: Well, most of our students already have some kind of basic knowledge of grammar…

Rook: Oh…

Emmrich: …But I would love to teach you, if you're willing.

Rook: Oh! Okay! Yeah, I’d love to.

~~

Emmrich: Rook, you’ve been to many an ancient crypt and ruin, correct?

Rook: Not to brag, but yes, I’ve been to a few.

Emmrich: Excellent! I would highly appreciate your help in uncovering a few mysteries I’ve come across. Your expertise would bring a new perspective on things, I’ll be sure to not waste it.

Rook: I… You want my experience in your research?

Emmrich: Why, yes! I’m sure you have a lot of knowledge on ancient architecture, traps, old magic, and many other skills I haven’t a clue about. Is that a problem?

Rook: No, I’m just… No one really wanted my skills in anything before. 

Emmrich: And that’s their loss, my dear. I assure you, your knowledge is as precious to me as any other book.

Rook: Wow. Thanks, Emmrich. That’s… really kind of you.

Emmrich: It’s nothing, I assure you.

Rook: Not to me.

~~

Rook: Harding. Hey. Lace.

Harding: Oh, sorry! What?

Rook: What do you call a sad cheese? A “blue” cheese. 

Harding: (hearty laughing) What was that! That’s terrible! 

Rook: (laughs) I know. You were all caught up in your thoughts, and you looked sad, so.

Harding: (chuckles) I was thinking about the Stone, but your awful joke helped. 

Rook: It’s what I’m here for.

Harding: To be a bard? Sorry, I should have clarified. To be a bard college drop-out?

Rook: No offence taken. Or maybe a little.

~~

Rook: Lace. You’ve been pretty much anywhere, right?

Harding: I’ve been to a lot of places, but I wouldn’t say I’ve been everywhere. My short legs can only carry me so far.

Rook: Still, you’re experienced. What’s the most romantic, or, I guess, scenic place you’ve seen?

Harding: “Romantic”, huh? Got someone to impress?

Rook: So what if I do! You wouldn’t want me to drag them out into the streets of Minrathous, right?

Harding: Oh, no, of course not. But… If I could recommend any place, it would probably be Val Royeaux, the capital of Orlais. Beautiful palaces, good roads, fancy attires…

Rook: Maybe something closer to home? I don’t even know if we have an eluvian that would reach so far.

Harding: You’re missing the point. Orlais has wyverns.

Rook: …oh. Wait, how did you…

Harding: (laughs) I notice things. 

[beautifultypewriter]

I’m not gonna lie… things are not good over here, but also… I have so many feelings about this and it’s the only thing that is keeping me going. Boromir was born to be a girl dad and while the poll I did was for a different story where he doesn’t get to be a dad, I had to write a universe where he actually got to raise his daughter. Also I’m going to use my oc, but only her name, there’s no description and I’m going to write in 3rd person. I have so many thoughts about this. Keep your eyes peeled for some new Gondor Girl content. And quick timeline Boromir and Limmeth get married about 2 years before he leaves for Rivendell and their baby is born a month before he leaves. Also warning: brief mention of labor/childbirth, but nothing detailed or graphic. It's over 2k words, so it's under the read more. @streets-in-paradise Lu, sorry to bother you, but I need you to see this.

Boromir as a dad:

Boromir is ecstatic when Limmeth tells him that she’s with child. Like he is so beyond happy… for about 2 minutes and then the worry starts to settle in his chest, he keeps smiling though as she’s smiling up at him because the last thing he wants to do is worry his sweet wife.

But he can’t help it. There is a WAR going on and Mordor is RIGHT THERE and he already has so much on his shoulders, worrying about his people, his city, his father and brother, Limmeth herself, and now this? Man is stressed.

And although he tries to hide it, Limmeth sees right through him. She puts her hands on his cheeks and gently kisses his lips, “This is a good thing. Everything will be fine.”

He repeats those words to himself nearly everyday for the duration of the pregnancy. It helps keep him grounded and it helps the happiness shine through. He’s able to focus more on the pregnancy and the fact that soon there will be a little baby, that hopefully looks just like Limmeth, in the world. And a little baby that looks like his sweet, perfect Limmeth will certainly bring light to the darkness that they often find themselves in during these times. 

Then the day arrives. Boromir is with Faramir and few other men, making plans and going over resources when a maid scurries into the room and whispers in the captain’s ear.

Boromir doesn’t think twice before rushing from the room, with zero explanation to anyone else by the way, and making his way to where his wife has started her labor. He beats the healer to the room, and he rushes in, quickly grabbing Limmeth’s hand and placing a kiss to her forehead. 

Hours and hours later, Limmeth is propped up by some pillows with their baby girl in her arms as Boromir sits next to her on the bed, his own arms wrapped around her. He’s blinking back tears as he stares down at his little girl. 

Unfortunately the peace is interrupted as Denethor enters the room, Faramir trailing behind him. The steward is smiling as he approaches the couple, but that smile quickly drops as Boromir introduces him to his granddaughter. 

Denethor glares at Limmeth, blaming her for this in his twisted mind, before he storms out. Limmeth is on the verge of tears and Boromir is seething. 

Fortunately, Faramir is still there, and he steps up and gushes about how beautiful the baby is and how lucky they are that she looks more like Limmeth than she does Boromir, which makes his brother roll his eyes and his sister by law laugh. 

Then he asks what his niece is to be called and Boromir and Limmeth look at each other for a moment. Because they never really discussed names and now they have to navigate hazy thoughts of what their daughter will be called for her entire life. They both get what they believe to be a brilliant idea at the same time. 

An argument breaks out over whose mother they should name her after. Limmeth wants to name her after Boromir’s mother and Boromir wants to name her after Limmeth’s mother. Both of them refuse to back down. Faramir is rubbing his temples as the little baby snoozes through the argument. Finally, he steps up and suggests that they choose a new name, one not related to either of them. 

The idea is considered for a moment before they ultimately agree and then they start to brainstorm. It’s hours before they land on Amathael (Glimmering Shield. Glimmering for Limmeth and Shield for Boromir). 

When Boromir holds his daughter for the first time, he cries. He tries so hard not to, but not even Gondor’s mightiest warrior can hold back tears as he looks down at what he is positive is the most beautiful baby to ever be born. Limmeth watches him with a smile on her face, tears brimming in her own eyes as Boromir gently traces a finger over Amathael’s cheek.

Unbeknownst to them they only get a month together before Boromir is traveling to Rivendell and Limmeth is left to wonder if she will ever see her husband again and whether or not Amathael will have a father. 

At some point between these two events, Denethor goes on a verbal rampage about how Boromir’s wife is useless as she did not provide Boromir with an heir and that they would have to have another child as quickly as possible to ensure that their bloodline continues, and Boromir loses it. He is able to remain pretty calm which is surprising as he sets his father straight. “You will not speak of my wife and daughter in such a manner. If I hear it again…” his jaw tightens and his fist clenches and he turns and walks away. 

He goes to his and Limmeth’s room to see her cradling Amathael and quietly singing the same Dol Amroth lullaby that his own mother sang to him and Faramir. All the tension leaves his body as he stands in the doorway and watches his whole world. 

Boromir dreads having to tell Limmeth that he’s going to Rivendell. He knows that it’s unfair to her and Amathael, but he really has no other choice in this. He tells himself that this could be the key to finally defeating Sauron and creating a better world for his daughter to grow up in, a thought he repeats to Limmeth as she cries in his arms later.

He makes Faramir promise to look after and protect Limmeth and Amathael while he’s gone and of course his brother agrees. He was going to take care of them without having made the promise. Boromir hates having to leave his girls at all, but he especially hates having to leave them with his father when the man still has not gotten over the fact that Amathael is not a son.

Amathael is only a month old when Boromir leaves for Rivendell. She’s still so tiny as he cradles her to his chest in the early morning light. He’s humming quietly, soaking in these last moments with his little girl. He doesn’t know if this will be the last time he sees her. Limmeth wakes and quietly makes her way over to the pair, resting her head against Boromir’s arm.

It’s nearly nine months later when Limmeth is reunited with her husband. Battle worn and full of grief, Boromir stumbles into the Tower of Ecthelion. He has already been given the news of his brother and father and all he wants is to see his wife and daughter.

His wish is answered when he steps into the throne room, followed closely by Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, and Éomer, to see Limmeth standing in the middle of the room, Amathael in her arms. Boromir doesn’t think twice before rushing forward and wrapping Limmeth in his arms.

Amathael fusses a little bit, not used to having Boromir around (something that breaks his heart a little bit, but he’ll never admit) and he is struck by how big she’s gotten. Limmeth has tears in her eyes as she hands the baby over to Boromir before tucking herself into his side, staying close to keep things peaceful.

Boromir holds Amathael close, his eyes closing as he gently rests his forehead against his baby girl. She soon stops fussing as she stares at Boromir with big eyes that mirror his own.

Because while Amathael is Limmeth’s twin in every other sense, her eyes are her father’s. Something that Limmeth absolutely adores.

So Boromir gets a very short amount of time with his family before he’s marching away again and although she tries to hold onto hope, Limmeth feels almost sure that he’s marching away from her for good.

BUT because I have made everything beautiful and wonderful, Limmeth’s fears are never realized and Boromir rushes into her arms once again. Amathael fusses less and even reaches towards Boromir’s face as the three of them are pressed close together. His heart soars and he takes her from her mother’s arms.

Aragorn is crowned King and Boromir is made steward. There is a lot of work to be done in the aftermath of Saron’s defeat, but Boromir always makes time for his family. He’s already lost so much time with them, and he doesn’t want to miss another second of Amathael growing up.

Family walks through the markets of the lower city. Boromir carries Amathael, smiling and tickling her as her laughter rings out. Limmeth smiles as she watches the two most important people in her life.

Boromir 100% throws Amathael up into the air and catches her and she shrieks with laughter. As she gets bigger, it gets harder, but all she needs to do is pout for a second and he’s lifting her and tossing her as high as he can.

He would do anything for her, like seriously, she has him wrapped around her finger. It delights Limmeth to no end. And Boromir is completely oblivious to it too. Like he does not even realize that he is being unintentionally played by this little baby.

Once Amathael starts walking, she is following Boromir everywhere he goes. Her absolute favorite place to follow him to is the small meeting room where Aragorn holds council. She stands in the doorway and watches her Da and her two uncles settle themselves at the table, nodding to the few other men who come in. Aragorn notices the little girl in the doorway first and he smiles as he waves her over. She runs in and Aragorn scoops her up and sets her in his lap. She laughs as Boromir looks over with a fake look of hurt on his face. Amathael doesn’t last long before she’s scrambling off of Aragorn’s lap and running over to Boromir.

She’s grinning as she climbs into his lap and pressing her face against his chest. Boromir wraps his arms around her and chuckles quietly. Faramir and Aragorn are laughing along with him. Amathael stays in Boromir’s lap as the meeting begins. She falls asleep rather quickly and Boromir cradles her as he half pays attention. Limmeth comes to retrieve Amathael and her husband reluctantly lets the little girl go. Limmeth presses a kiss to his temple before she carries Amathael out of the room.

Boromir starts to bring Amathael to the training yard with him and she very quickly becomes interested in learning about fighting. She loves watching Boromir, Faramir, and Éowyn train together and she wants to be part of it.

Limmeth will come watch them all and Amathael is constantly stopping to call out to her mother, telling her to “watch me!” and to “look at this!” Limmeth is only too happy to watch everything and cheer as Boromir lets Amathael disarm him.

Limmeth teaches Amathael how to ride horses and the three of them go on family rides together. Before Amathael was old enough to ride, she would sit with Boromir on his horse and continually challenge Limmeth to races. Limmeth would laugh as Boromir would groan and then she would take off, forcing her husband to kick his own horse into gear to catch up to her. Amathael would laugh loudly as they rode and a grin would stretch over Boromir’s face.

Amathael loves to run around with her cousins and Aragorn and Arwen’s children. Boromir loves to see her having fun with and playing with the other children. It reminds him of his own childhood and he’s glad that Amathael has friends to play with.

Boromir loves to dance with her at any kind of feast or celebration that they have. When she was really little, they did the whole standing on his feet while they dance thing and it was the most precious thing in the world.

Boromir loves and hates watching his little girl grow up. He’s so proud of her and the person she is becoming, but he wishes she could stay his little girl forever. Limmeth needs to constantly comfort this man about this. One thing that never changes about Amathael though is how much she loves her parents.

I see her future playing out in one of two ways… she becomes the first female Captain of Gondor or she marries Eldarion, Arwen and Aragorn’s son, and becomes the next Queen of Gondor. Or maybe both?

[the-terrible-theys]

⚠️ spoilers for last laugh below btw if you haven’t read it

tonight i am thinking about niles’ first holidays Without miles. the first new year’s eve in years that he spends alone in his room—just like he always used to before miles came into his life. it’s a routine that should feel familiar, but instead leaves him with a hollow ache in his chest. he’s grown a little too fond of and a little too accustomed to spending the night at the murphys’, to participating in their traditions. it’s strange to be without that, tonight. it’s something that never used to bother him, but now, it’s strange to be alone. everything felt different, when miles left, and everything continues to feel so, even after so many months.

the party his parents are holding downstairs is loud enough to hear even over the songs niles has playing from his radio, and it’s hard to focus on his book when strangers keep shouting the time—thirty minutes to midnight, twenty minutes, fifteen, ten. niles gives up on his reading and goes instead to his window. the low lighting of his room doesn’t create much of a reflection on the glass, and so he can see each distant firework with perfect clarity. the crowd downstairs continues to shout numbers: seven minutes, six, five. the window is cold where he leans his temple against it.

at the two minute mark, his phone rings.

he nearly tips a stack of biographies in his hurry to cross the room. he finds himself answering without even registering the caller id.

on the other end of the line, his best friend’s voice greets him back warmly. and just like that, niles feels all the loneliness seep out of him, out of the room, out of the night.

miles starts going on about how he would’ve called sooner if not for a “cupcake incident”, and then judy murphy’s voice rings in the background, telling miles to put the phone on speaker. niles hears the telltale click of the lighter followed by the hiss of two sparklers, a tradition he’s grown familiar with.

niles makes his way back over to the window. bursts of color erupt from over the hills, echoing faintly. the party downstairs is louder than ever, but niles is only focusing on the countdown miles has started over the crackling phone line—“twenty-eight, twenty-seven, twenty-six—”

on his windowsill is a lighter and an opened pack of sparklers. he sets the phone down next to them and turns it to speaker so that he can have both hands free. niles joins in on the count—“twenty, nineteen, eighteen”—as his now-practiced fingers slip a sparkler from the pack and ignite the lighter with only minimal struggle.

his stick bursts into light as they chant in sync, he and miles, with ms murphy right there in the background. their voices raise as the seconds tick by—“eleven, ten, nine!”

the shouts from downstairs grow in volume, too, but they feel far away and oddly off-beat. niles doesn’t pay them mind. he holds the phone closer to his ear with one hand and holds his sparkler out with the other. it glows captivatingly bright in comparison to the faint lamplight of his room. the tepid heat it puts off somehow feels consuming; his very heart is swaddled in warmth, it seems. and he knows it’s because of his best friend’s exuberant chant ringing across the line.

the final numbers are a dizzying blend of deja vu and newness. a fleeting thought crosses his mind, of how it’s funny how different all the years end up being, even when they all end in similar ways. niles doesn’t have the time to linger on it, though, and adrenaline sweeps it out of mind as he calls out the last seconds.

he and miles yell “ZERO!!!” in the same instant, loud enough to make the phone echo oddly for a long moment, jumbling their subsequent shouts of “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

it’s chaotic and warm, and it’s different—like everything has been since miles left—but it’s still good. he still has this little tradition, and he still has many years of knowing his best friend to look forward to. it’s different, but it’s also just the start of something new.

thinking about miles murphy and niles sparks celebrating new years together.

niles riding his bike to miles’ house that evening, judy murphy insisting he have dinner with them. she makes one of niles’ favorite meals because she knows he’d be coming over and she goddamn loves this boy, and niles damn near cries over it. this is the first new years niles can remember that he’s spent doing anything other than sitting by himself in his room with his nose in a book, avoiding the annual new years party his parents always have going downstairs. (it was never as if he was banished to his room or anything, of course. niles has always been free to join everyone downstairs if he pleases. it’s just that it’s always loud and there’s always too many people and he barely knows any of them and no one there is anywhere near his age and there’s a certain awkwardness to being the only kid at a party for adults, and. just less overwhelming to keep to himself.)

judy has to leave because she works odd hours as a nurse, and as disappointed as she is that she couldn’t get the rest of the night off to spend with her son, she’s equally glad that miles won’t be spending the night by himself. miles has niles. she leaves them with matching hair ruffles and a pack of sparklers and a “be careful, i mean it, call me right away if anything happens, love you”.

miles and niles leave with an hour ‘til midnight, ride their bikes side-by-side through the dark, reach the top of the hill that holds their carefully selected firework watching spot (they’d spent the previous couple of days scouting out potential spots and choosing between those for the best possible view) with twenty minutes to spare. niles slings off his backpack and pulls out a bottle of faux-alcoholic sparkling apple juice. miles has never had sparkling apple juice before. they drink it from paper cups. miles decides he does not like sparkling apple juice. niles likes it even though it tastes like shit.

they pull out their sparklers, prepare to light them up as soon as the clock hits midnight. this is a tradition miles has held with his mom for many years. he’s glad to have a second person to share this with. he’s glad that that person is niles. niles starts whispering the countdown in time with his watch, and miles’ practiced hands light his own sparkler with ease as they shout the final seconds. niles fumbles with the lighter, can’t get the stupid stick to work right, so miles puts his hand over his friend’s to guide the lighter. niles finds himself getting distracted by the way the sparks look reflected in miles’ eyes, almost loses count. his own sparkler catches right as they yell ZERO!! and, oh, they both feel so alive. fireworks go off all around them in brilliant bursts of color and sound, and they’re waving their sparklers high in mimicry, and their breath clouds in the cold air, and this is the best new years eve that niles sparks has ever had. this is the best year he’s ever had. and that’s all because of miles.

they—niles and miles, both—look forward to annual repeats of old traditions, to starting new ones. to more years together, and more ends of years together, and more togetherness in general. it’s the best new years eve either of them have ever had.

[zadig-fate]

Not trying to wade too deep into the ongoing Jance debate (I've already reblogged people who've made the same argument I would)

But for those who interpret Nace's line in the film as him being tired/annoyed with the shipping stuff, I will point out:

That moment was filmed pre-Stožice while they were setting up the stage.

They made that "there's an ongoing conspiracy theory and it's all true" video while backstage before the show... so probably a few days AFTER the exchange we saw in the film.

If they really were tired of the shipping at that point, I doubt they would have thrown fuel on the fire with that video. So, at least at that time, I think it's fair to assume they were more amused than annoyed by it.

How they feel about it NOW... that's a different question. But at least during that moment in the film, I really think they were joking.

[wereh0gz]

Sonic au where everything's the same except the werehog was feral during unleashed. Nothing else abt the plot changes bc at his core sonic is still himself BUT he's more Creature. Bigger, fluffier, can't talk, overall more animal-isms. Yeah

[padfootastic]

No but man child x fun sponge is a perfect way to describe that dynamic. It just really fucking gets to the core of the problem (women must parent the men, the men get to be carefree but the woman takes on all responsibility but man isn’t it annoying how lecturing these women get about doing work?) and like. God. I fucking hate this and how prevalent it is, both in fandom and official fucking media too.

ugh yesss this dynamic is exactly why i hated jily and lily for so so long. every single het ship seems to be pigeonholed into this for some reason? it’s like we’re incapable of writing it any other way and it!! bugs me!! so much!!!

like WHY is it that the women are always concerned about safety and responsibility and the kids and consequences but somehow the men aren’t??? why do the women automatically move into the kitchen or for cooking and the men are fucking around or going out to duel like,,,

i feel like it wouldn’t bother me so much if it was written like so with intention ykno? like, if it was a part of their character, for eg, like say, hermione trying to get her boys to finish their homework. makes sense, i can see where it’s coming from. but lily doing the same? ginny? luna? narcissa? alice fucking longbottom?? there has to be a point where u run out of fem characters who’ll fit that mold no?😭

and conversely, it makes no sense for the guys to be written the opposite way either like,,,if it’s wartime and james/sirius are more concerned about pranking someone idk and lily is shrieking in the background for them to take things seriously like just. where is this coming from.

[corvidcall]

i very rarely get a sense of satisfaction from completing tasks. ive heard people say this is an ADHD thing, but idk. personally i think i might just be bad at being alive