#just gotta make sure to study and remember enough so i can pass

[a-sleepy-ginger]

24/5/24

✿❈✿❈✿

Double ender toast

Talked with brother

Played with dog

Dinner (rice bowl with veg meat and jalapenos)

[hlficlibrary]

Remember to leave kudos and a comment on the fics you enjoyed to show your appreciation! You can find the library's other recs here.

🎒 so let's cross the lines we lost by @thecoloursneverfade {E, 165k}

Louis lives a not so quiet life on a not so quiet street. Starting university was supposed to be easy, that is, until he realises his new neighbour is Harry Styles, and they kind of hate each other, so falling for him is definitely out of the question.

(or: Harry and Louis have a complicated past, Niall throws too many parties, Zayn is definitely not pining, and Liam just wants everyone to get along)

🎒 i want you so much (but i hate your guts) by becauselarry / @obviouslybecauselarry {M, 83k}

AU in which Louis gets accepted to play for the Manchester University Alpha-Beta Football Team. The only problem: Louis is actually an Omega. He is determined to make it big in the football world, though, and he can't do that bound to an Omega team. With the help of a faked doctor's certificate and some pretty strong suppressants he is ready to fight for his dream.

That Harry Styles (Alpha, second year and youngest football captain of the A-B team in ages) doesn't seem to like him complicates matters, though.

🎒 And I'll judge the cover by the book by harrystylesandstuff {M, 73k}

At twenty years old Harry has his life figured out. He’ll graduate from the private University of Buckingham and move to Oxford to study journalism. He’ll meet someone who shares his values and accepts who he is, and apply everything his successful parents have taught him.

At twenty-two years old Louis has no clue what he wants in life. He’s not sure he’ll pass the year and doesn’t know where he’ll go after that. He spends his time smoking away his doubts about himself with his friends and all he cares about is making sure his family doesn’t fall apart.

They don’t belong together.

Or a Private University AU where Harry is a queer posh prince, Louis is a closeted troublemaker, and neither expect to understand each other the way they will.

🎒 always you (i should have known) by 28goldensfics / @28goldens {T, 60k}

“Oi, now we’re talking. Came running to ol’ Tomlinson for help, gotta say Harold,” He crossed his arms over his chest, and Harry watched as his eyes looked him over. “It's very out of character for you.”

“Yeah, well, don’t feel too special, you're my last choice,” Harry subconsciously crossed his arms as well, giving Louis his own look over.

“Oh, that's a lot of power, I’m your last resort!” He wagged his finger at him, letting out a cackle. “Alright, hit me with it.”

Harry’s lips pursed as he slowly started to regret the words about to spill out of his mouth, “I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend.”

or the one where harry and louis cant stand each other and fake date to make someone jealous.

🎒 Love's On The Line, Is That Your Final Answer? by PearlyDewdrops {E, 53k}

Harry can’t believe it when Louis, the boy he’s always had a tempestuous rivalry with, asks him to be his boyfriend. Well, pose as his boyfriend, that is—for a new television game show in which young couples are quizzed on how well they know each other for a jackpot of thirty grand.

Reluctantly, Harry agrees—because he's got student loans to pay off, hasn't he? What's the harm? And he can totally deal with keeping his secret thing for Louis under wraps too. This is all just to win some money. It's fine. No big deal. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, everything. Obviously.

🎒 catch me if i fall by @shimmeringevil {E, 47k}

“You– how do you–” Louis stammers before attempting to compose himself, fighting off the tidal wave of fear that threatens to wash him away in its wake. “No. You don’t. You don’t know.”

Every protest falling from his lips is in vain, because despite what he keeps telling himself, Harry knows.

Harry's widening smirk is answer enough as he steps forward slowly, walking up until he’s right in Louis’ space.

“You look like you need some time to process things,” he whispers with false-earnestness. Sliding a hand under Louis’ chin, Harry tilts his head so Louis is forced to look up at him. “Why don’t we take a little break and start up again later, so you can mull things over?”

OR - Lovers when on the stage but bitter rivals as soon as they step off, Harry and Louis have butted heads from the moment they first met. Locked in a stalemate that they hope to ride out until graduation, things take a turn when Harry learns that Louis is hiding a secret.

🎒 Through a Mirror Dimly by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup {M, 38k}

Louis Tomlinson, in his third year at university, does not expect nor want the roommate that is being assigned to his room.

Harry Styles, in his first year at university, has just been kicked out of one dorm and doesn't want to deal with yet another snobby, rich roommate.

They don't get along, and that's just how it is, until circumstances force them to reevaluate.

🎒 an ocean in my veins (you'll be diving in) by me_her_themoon / @dreamersdivin-headfirst {E, 31k}

But, since Niall is so talkative to literally anyone with a working mouth, it means that when Louis Tomlinson started to take a shine to him, Harry started to hate him.

Because suddenly, it wasn’t just Harry and Niall, and whoever else wanted to join their antics. It was Harry and Niall and Louis.

Did Harry mention that Louis is a stupid fucking prick? He wants to make sure that’s clear.

[or, harry and louis hate each other and niall just wants everyone to get along]

🎒 don't make this easy (i want you to mean it) by wildestdreams / @thelavendrhaze {E, 24k}

“Harry’s a player. All he does is chat everyone up. And guys like him are just--so ugh. He’s got that arrogant, self-assured smirk plastered to his face all the time. Always smug and stupid, like he could get anyone he lays his eyes on. All he does is make me mad and laugh all the time like he knows something that I don’t. That is so annoying.”

“But that’s just Harry,” Niall shrugged at Louis. “He doesn’t even try to flirt or anything. He’s just naturally charming, but that doesn’t mean he’s a player nor that he’s trying to get into everyone's pants. He’s just friendly. And he likes you. He doesn’t usually fall for people, but he fell for you.”

“Oh, should I feel special then?” Louis asked, snorting and rolling his eyes.

or Harry’s a frat boy who is head over heels for Louis and Louis wants nothing to do with him.

🎒 it's not a walk in the park to love each other by maroonmoonlouis (E, 24k}

“Um, where is your stuff? Have you even packed?” Harry tries not to sound irritated. Louis looks up to level him with an unimpressed glare.

“If you had bothered to pay attention to the news, you would know that I’m pretty sure I can’t leave this apartment.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Harry demands, hoping his panic doesn’t show. If Louis missed his flight, Harry will personally pay out of pocket for a new one. He is that desperate for his alone time.

Or the one where Harry and Louis are roommates forced to quarantine together, but they hate each other very much a lot.

🎒 Love Me Please by @angelichl {E, 23k}

Louis hates Harry, which is fine because he would really rather prefer to avoid him at all costs.

The only problem?

They're soulmates.

🎒 I Didn't Fall For You (You Fucking Tripped Me) by @allwaswell16 {E, 20k}

These days Louis tends to steer clear of dating alphas. He’s dated too many knotheads in his time, and he’s ready to just focus on school and his friends and his pet monitor lizard, of course.

Too bad the alpha next door won’t take a hint and stop using the worst pick up lines of all time on him. He’s really got to stop laughing with him--and talking to him and walking to class with him and letting him bring him coffee and tea and gifts for his lizard and watching Netflix together and...

🎒 Spinning Out Waiting for You by amomentoflove / @daggerandrose {M, 18k}

Harry Styles is a year and a half away from graduating with a masters in potions and he has one huge milestone to reach in his academy career: the Matching Ceremony.

From Halloween night until graduation, matched witches and familiars will have to create a talisman to be a physical representation of their bond. One for the witch and one for the familiar. Most pairings last an entire lifetime.

If only it were that simple.

🎒 if it looks like, feels like, tastes like love... by tempolarriefics / @tempolarriefix {T, 16k}

Niall has an easygoing smile on his face, bright and unbothered, as if he isn’t facilitating a lunch between Harry and the one person he might truly hate. “Niall. Louis,” Harry greets them both, somewhat strained. Louis doesn’t even look up at him. Harry sighs, taking a seat next to Niall and grabbing for the sandwich on the table. “Hear me out,” Niall says, cutting right to the chase. “Family housing.”

Or, the one where harry and louis hate each other but pretend to date to be able to live in university 'family housing', zayn and liam are their nosy next door neighbors, and niall is the friend who made it all happen.

🎒 oh so familiar by @insightfulinsomniac {E, 13k}

When Harry transferred to the University of Mestonwood, he hoped that he'd finally fit in. As a witch, he's much less likely to feel isolated on an entirely supernatural campus, right?

Wrong. Thanks to the cold-shoulder efforts of Louis Tomlinson, president of the vampire Coven, Harry still feels the sting of rejection from the most gorgeous boy on campus. It's doubly frustrating that everyone else, even Harry's only close friend, Niall, seems to think Louis is a great guy.

Harry vows to actively ignore Louis in return, but his plans are foiled when his familiar, Oli, starts turning off their telepathic connection during Harry's classes. It doesn't take long for Harry to find out where Oli is disappearing to - or, rather, who he is disappearing to.

A story of misguided enemies to lovers brought together by a stubborn orange tabby.

🎒 Do You Like My Sweater? by kiwikero / @icanhazzalou {E, 13k}

“Look, for a Sadie Hawkins dance the omegas are supposed to invite the alphas instead of the other way around.”

Niall and Liam shared a look. “That… sounds like the sort of thing you would usually be all over, Lou,” Liam said, face pinched in confusion. Niall nodded his agreement.

“Yeah, if omegas were hosting it,” Louis replied sourly. “It’s one thing if we decide that we’re going to ask the alphas for a change. It’s insulting that they think we need their permission.”

When Harry's alpha fraternity decides to host a Sadie Hawkins dance, outspoken omega Louis has a thing or two to say about it.

🎒 Where Do We Go Now by @jaerie {E, 10k}

Louis goes off to college ready to start a fresh life away from the oppressive alphas of his pack. The odds aren't in his favour when his new dorm mate turns out to be an alpha. Louis hates alphas.

🎒 Can't Buy My Love, Can Buy Me Dinner by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13 {G, 9k}

Is it ethical to accept a dinner date for the free food? And will you hate me when I go anyway?

Fact 1: Louis hates Harry Styles. Fact 2: Louis is temporarily living off toast and spaghetti hoops. Fact 3: ...Louis may be semi-accidentally dating his worst enemy.

🎒 Cut me up, kiss me harder by @lunarheslwt (M, 9k}

“Y’know, you push and push and you’re mouthy and defiant, but it’s all an act isn’t it,” Harry pressed tauntingly. He was helpless to not tilt Louis’ face back up to him by placing a hand under his chin. Louis’ eyes fluttered in response. “You just want to be roughed up a little,” he continued, voice dropping. Louis swallowed harshly, keening. “You just want to be made to take it.” “God, shut UP!!” Louis hissed, fisting roughly at his shirt. “You don’t want that either,” Harry mumbled. “Are you like this with every other omega you fuck too? How does anyone,” Louis seethed, crowding into his space further, “beg you to fuck them when you’re so full of it?” “Who said they do?” Harry asked. “Unless,” he began, voice devious, “You’re speaking for yourself. Is that it? Are you gonna beg for my knot, then? Hmm?” “Shut the fuck up,” Louis bit out. Harry had no time to think before Louis crashed his lips onto his again.

Or, a group of friends, a slightly drunk alternate version of spin the bottle, and the universe having a wicked sense of humour may just be enough to bring one bratty omega and a tired-of-said-omega’s-bullshit alpha closer than they’ve ever been. In more ways than one.

🎒 Lock On by thinlines / @thinlinez {E, 8k}

“Sure you don’t wanna do this? It’s fifty pounds a throw, my man.” The alpha winked as Louis froze before turning slowly back to face him. The twinkle in Liam’s eyes meant that he knew Louis had taken the bait. “Fifty pounds?” Louis exhaled as Liam nodded, holding the water balloon further out. The smaller alpha swallowed thickly. “Why didn’t you say so?”

In which a missed water balloon throw might have led Alpha Louis to the world's most difficult omega

[yukimiyaz]

Aki doesn’t necessarily crave change.

In all honesty, he quite likes things being the way that they are. Having a—somewhat, most of the time—normal routine he can follow. Clock in and clock out and pick up takeout from that one restaurant on the corner on his way home. Make sure Power and Denji don’t try to steal the ramen shop’s cat as they pass by. It’s relatively nice, he thinks. Having a day to day.

But now he’s standing in front of the bathroom mirror and he just.. wonders.

“Power knocked Denji through the bedroom wall again. So we gotta fix it, again,” you sigh as you come in and lean your head on his shoulder. “And Meowy’s stuck on the fridge and won’t come down, so I might need your help with that.”

Aki hums, nods. He figures he can stop by the hardware store to buy more drywall tomorrow after work. And he doesn’t mind to come rescue the cat off the top of the fridge. But he doesn’t move, just tips his head at himself in the mirror.

He's been told many times that it wouldn’t kill him to loosen up, but he doesn’t think he’s all that stoic. Yes, he agrees he is blunt, but he is still soft for those he cares about, no? Is that not enough? Shouldn’t it be?

“Do you think I'm too uptight?”

The question comes out low, like he didn’t mean to even say it out loud, and you catch his gaze in the mirror. No, he decides, it is not enough that he thinks that way. He needs to make sure someone else does, too.

He needs to make sure you do.

“That depends, are we talking on bill day, or?” You’re joking with him, and normally he likes that. but now he just shifts his eyes off you in the mirror back to his own face. You frown, tug at his shirt sleeve until he looks down at you fully. “No. I think you’re curt and honest and take things seriously, but not in a bad way. You’re not like that deep down because you care. Why are you even asking that?”

He blinks at you. Once, twice, three times. He doesn’t particularly want to answer that question because now as he thinks about the reasoning behind what’s got him thinking this way it just seems silly. And what if you laugh at him, heaven forbid?

But he finds it hard to not be honest with you. It's like you’ve signed a contract with an honesty devil, because you somehow always make him sing like a bird regardless of whether he wants to or not. And right now is no different.

“A colleague at work said that I was more uptight than my topknot.” He cuts his eyes from you, because it sounds even more minute coming out of his mouth. “So, I just thought..”

“What?” And your hands are on him, now. running up his chest and smoothing over his shoulders in the way you know soothes him after long and tiring days. He sighs into your touch, remembers his walls do not have to be up here, and lets you in.

“I think I'd like to cut my hair.”

He takes the next few moments to study you, gauge your reaction. there’s the tiniest twitch of your eyebrow, smallest intake of breath, little tilt of your lips. but nothing too expressive, too.. judgmental.

It's times like this that he remembers why he fell in love with you. Because even if he is not entirely conventional, you treat him as if he is anyways.

“Okay,” you say, light and easy and make a show of faux rolling your eyes. “Even though you’ve never gotten more than a trim in the numerous years we’ve been together. I guess it’s time for a change.”

And he doesn’t even need to say anything else before you’re leaning over to retrieve the hair scissors and clippers from the bottom drawer of the kitchen cabinet. Then you’re straightening back up and tapping your finger to your chin.

“Hmm, let’s see. What’re we thinking?” He’s about to answer you when you reach forward and grab his jaw, theatrically tipping his head this way and that as you hum. “A mohawk? buzz cut? Shaved heads are very in style now, you know. I think you could rock it.”

Aki narrows his eyes at that, loosely grabs the wrist you have held up to his face. 

“Very funny,” he gripes, but there’s no real venom in it because the smile on your face dilutes everything that comes out of his mouth. “I don't think I signed up for sarcasm with my haircut.”

You put your free hand on his shoulder and push him down onto the toilet seat before he can stop you. And he gulps just a bit, feels his stomach twist like it does when he sees you cooking breakfast in his shirt. You pat his cheek and he can’t stop himself from trying to chase after the warmth of your palm as you pull your hand away and start to reach for a comb.

“No, but you signed up for it when you got me, so.” You turn back to him and slide the comb through his hair as you step between his legs. “I'd say that it should’ve been a given.”

And that’s true and it is, but sometimes he just likes to pick. That's something that may feed into his apparently uptight reputation or break it down, he doesn’t know, but he never picks quite as much with anyone but you. You bring out the best of him, he’d argue. The parts of him that he thinks are far too soft and fragile for him to walk out into the world without shielding in armor. You ease him, and he likes that. You make him think change doesn’t have to be so bad.

“But seriously,” you hum, sliding your fingers through his hair, twisting the ends lazily. “What are you wanting?”

As he looks up at you from his spot on the toilet seat, he finds his mind slightly drifting from the matter at hand. You look nice today. You’re wearing his cologne, he detects. There’s a flake of something in your hair that he suspects to be from Power and Denji breaking the wall. You seem to handle everything so effortlessly, even though he knows that isn’t quite true. And he realizes something.

“Surprise me,” Aki says, and feels his lips twitch at the way your face lights up. 

You make quick work of it. Like you’ve thought about this before. Mapped out a route of change for him prior to him even asking. He wonders what else you’ve thought about changing in life.

Maybe he should bring up changing the paint on your bedroom walls. Maybe he should ask if you’d like a different brand of spices at the store. Maybe he should inquire about your thoughts on getting another cat. Maybe he should see what you think of replacing the worn out sofa with something better.

He sits on the toilet seat and watches you focus. Smiles at the way you bite your lip in concentration and tilting and turning his head when you tell him to. His hands have politely made their way to the backs of your thighs, mindlessly playing with the hem of your shorts as you ask him about his day and tell him of your own. His cheeks heat up when you catch his eye and smile at him, and his fingers tighten on your legs when you lean down to give him a peck every now and then.

And with each wisp of hair that falls from the scissors and each buzz of the clippers by his ear he finds himself leaning into change easier and easier until you’re taking a step back and admiring what you’ve stripped from him.

“You’re scaring me,” Aki chuckles under his breath as he takes in the look you’re giving him. You’re chewing the inside of your cheek, holding out a hand to him as you bounce on the balls of your feet.

He takes it, as he always does and always will, and lets you drag him back in front of the mirror and turn him until he’s looking at himself. And the breath leaves him all at once.

You've clipped the sides, faded it out and shortened his hair all around and given him layers of some sort. He cuts his eyes to your excited face in the mirror for a split second and wonders if you secretly went to some barber school he isn’t aware of. It’s just so.. nice. It fits him; suits him. His face looks like him, and he knows that should be obvious but it’s different than before. It’s…

“What do you think?” you ask, and you’re half wrapped around his arm now as you blink up at him. “Do you like it? You said surprise you but that’s so nerve wracking so I really just tried to do something that would be more manageable and—“

Aki turns to kiss you so fast that if you didn’t have a grip on his arm already then you might’ve just fallen backwards onto the bathroom tile.

“It's perfect. I love it,” he breathes as he pulls back, looks back into the mirror for a split second before pressing another peck to your lips, “I love you. Thank you.”

And you’re beaming, now. Painting that smug look on your face that you get when you’re cocky as you wrap your arms around his neck. He loves it, adores it. He kisses you one more time before you turn your face from him with a giggle.

“Psh, knew you would. I'm perfect at everything you know. I should charge you, actually. Send you a bill.”

He’s about to jibe back with you—maybe ask if he could repay the favor by making dessert and doing the dishes tonight—but there’s a yell of your name from a few rooms over that sounds suspiciously like Denji’s cry for help when power is fighting with him that drags you away. You peck his lips and grin at him before you scurry your way out of the bathroom and to whatever sort of commotion is going on now.

Aki turns himself back to the bathroom mirror, studies the man staring back at him. He slides a hand back through his freshly cut hair, lets the new buzz tickle his fingertips. His own touch isn’t as delicate as yours, doesn’t welcome the change as gracefully as you do. He turns from the mirror and scuffs his feet across the tile to follow you to the debacle that you’ve been called to split up. And as he watches you soothe an overly dramatic Denji and calm down a riled up power, he thinks.

No, Aki doesn’t suppose that he necessarily craves change, but he finds that he doesn’t quite mind it. And as he stares at the hand you have patting Denji’s head while you flash him an exasperated grin, some of his loose hairs stuck to your shirt, he figures there’s one more change he’s more than ready to make.

Maybe he should start picking out a ring.

[griseldabanks]

for the ask game, would you do #23 for link and zelda?

Let Me Count the Ways ask game

Prompt: "I feel like we've met before…."

“You only want to go there because you think she'll be there.”

“I do not!” Link retorted, hanging his helmet on Epona's handlebars while holding his phone to his ear with the other hand. “I'm going to study for midterms, like I said. Not my fault you didn't want to come along.”

“And watch Malon making googly eyes at you the whole time? No thanks.”

Link paused halfway through slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “What? Malon?”

He could practically hear the rolled eyes across the phone line. “Oh brother. She's had her eye on you since orientation!”

“Really? How can you tell?”

“Because I have eyes in my head!”

Suddenly, Link spotted a familiar pink backpack weaving through the tables outside the coffee shop, heading towards the door. “Sorry, Navi, gotta go.”

“Hey! Listen to me—“

He hung up and darted over to the front door, managing to reach it just in time. He grabbed the door and pulled it open.

The girl who'd been reaching for it started at his sudden appearance, then let her extended hand fall back to her side. “Oh...thanks!”

She smiled up at him before stepping inside, and for one glorious moment, their eyes met. Link grinned stupidly, but she'd already passed him.

Heart pounding in his chest, Link followed her into Lon Lon Cafe. He stuffed his hands into the pocket of his green hoodie, trying to act casual as he stepped into line right behind her. He glanced up at the girl behind the cash register, and the pleasant giddiness in his chest deflated somewhat as he remembered what Navi had said. Sure enough, Malon spotted him and immediately shot him a grin, tucking a lock of red hair behind her ear. And she kept glancing at him as she listened to the next customer's order.

Link looked back at the girl in front of him instead. Zelda. So was so pretty, her blonde hair pulled back in a half-ponytail, golden earrings dangling from her ears and catching the light.... And there was an elegance to all of her movements, even simply in the way she pulled her wallet out of her purse. Like a princess...if princesses ever graced college-town coffee shops.

Suddenly, she looked over her shoulder and turned to face him. “Hey, do I know you?”

The bottom dropped out of Link's stomach. “What?”

Zelda cocked her head to one side. “I feel like we've met before....”

Link swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. “Uh...History 101. Professor Rauru.”

Zelda's face brightened with recognition, and somehow she looked even more beautiful that way. “That's it! So are you ready for—“

“Next!”

With a little start, Zelda quickly turned around and stepped up to the front of the line. While she was ordering her drink, Link couldn't help noticing that Malon wasn't smiling anymore, but answering Zelda tersely and stabbing at the register with more force than necessary.

When it was his turn to order, Link was a little nervous at how Malon would receive him, but to his relief, the second her eyes landed on him, a huge smile lit up her face again. He might have been imagining things, but he thought he detected a hint of sharpness in her gaze that wasn't there normally. “What can I get you?”

Link opened his mouth to reply, but she talked over him.

“Pumpkin spice latte, right? As usual?”

He'd actually been thinking of trying out something different this time, but she was already ringing him up, and he did like anything pumpkin spice-flavored, so he remained silent and just handed over a couple blue rupee notes.

Zelda was still waiting for her drink at the other end of the counter, and Link's heart skipped a beat when she glanced up from her phone as he strode over to her to wait as well. “So, what's your major?” she asked, her blue eyes bright and interested.

“Uh...undeclared, so far,” Link admitted, feeling his cheeks go warm. “I came in with an archery scholarship, but I don't know if that's what I want to go with....”

“Well, that's okay,” Zelda said. “You're a freshman, right? You've got plenty of time to figure it out.”

“Wait, are you not a freshman?”

Zelda giggled. “Oh—no, I'm a sophomore. I just didn't get around to history last year. I wanted to take harp lessons, and my schedule didn't work out.”

“So you're a music major?” Link brightened at that. Maybe he should've signed up for singing lessons or something after all.

“For now,” Zelda said with a thoughtful frown. “I love the harp, but I've been thinking about switching to political science instead. Do some real good in the world, you know?”

The more they talked, the more relaxed Link felt, just like he was talking to Navi or Saria—except that every time their eyes met, he felt a glorious swoop in his stomach. “Maybe your harp can usher in world peace,” he said with a grin.

As Zelda laughed, the barista slid their drinks across the counter towards them. “So do you play any instruments?”

“Oh, just the ocarina—“

They both reached for their drinks at the same time. Both froze, staring at the backs of their hands. Link's left, Zelda's right. Like a strangely geometric birthmark, against their pale skin was the clear outline of a triangle divided into four smaller triangles. On Link's hand, the smaller triangle on the bottom right was filled in; on Zelda's, it was the bottom left.

Link stared at their hands, the marks upon them perfect mirrors of each other. For his whole life, his soul mark had been there, as familiar a sight as the moles and freckles on his arms. He knew it was supposed to be a reflection of his soul, and the legends went that somewhere out there, his soulmate bore the mirror image of it. But who that person was, or if he'd ever meet them...that just wasn't something he bothered thinking about too much.

Just like anyone, there had certainly been times when he'd wondered who his soulmate was. Growing up, he'd compared soul marks with his friends—Saria had been extremely disappointed when she realized that the swirly mark on her shoulder was nothing like his soul mark. In idle moments, he would daydream about whether his soulmate would turn out to be someone he married, like his parents, or a really good friend, or maybe even one of his children someday.

But then life got busy, and there was no time to think about something so frivolous when school and archery club ate up so much of his time. If he ever met his soulmate, he would deal with it then.

Then was now.

Slowly, Link's eyes traveled up Zelda's arm to her eyes, which were open wide with shock. “Does this mean...?”

“You're...m-my....”

“Oh my!” Zelda's face instantly grew as red as a tomato, and she whirled away from him, covering her cheeks with her hands. Link's eyes were glued to the back of her right hand. The soul mark was unmistakable.

Without warning, Zelda began speed-walking back through the cafe, almost knocking into several people on her way out.

“Wait—Zelda!” Link grabbed both of their drinks and rushed after her, finally catching up to her where she had collapsed into a chair at one of the tables under an umbrella out front.

Hesitantly, Link set Zelda's drink down in front of her, then slipped his backpack off his shoulder and sank into the chair across the table. He looked over at her staring fixedly at the cast-iron tabletop as if she could melt it with a glance.

Just to have something to do, Link sipped his pumpkin spice latte, but it scalded his tongue, so he set it aside.

She was so pretty, even with the blush extending all the way down her neck. Actually, the blush made her look even prettier, the pink tinge of her skin setting off the pink shirt she wore.

She's my soulmate, he thought numbly. All I wanted was to talk to her, maybe ask her out eventually...and she's my soulmate. The most important person in my life.

“Um...sorry,” Zelda said with a shaky laugh, looking up at last and tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear. “I didn't mean to run out, I just...that took me completely by surprise!”

“Yeah, uh...m-me too.”

They both realized at the same time that they were staring at each other's hands, and broke into nervous laughter.

“So, we're...soulmates.” Zelda let out a long breath. “No, saying it out loud didn't help. It still doesn't sound real.”

A sudden thought occurred to Link that made his heart sink. “Hey, um...just because of this,” he pointed at the back of his hand, “that doesn't mean we have to...I mean, it's just a legend. You don't have to feel, like, obligated to...to hang out with me or....”

To his relief, she smiled sweetly at him. “You're right. But...I'd still like to get to know you. If...you don't mind.”

“No, of course!” Link said, a little too quickly and too loudly. He cleared his throat, his cheeks burning again. “Can I buy you coffee or something sometime? I-I mean, I know we already got coffee, but....” Crap, he was making such a fool of himself....

But Zelda just giggled, hiding her smile behind the hand that bore the mirror image of his soul mark. “Yes, you can take me on a date sometime. But, um...what's your name, anyway?”

“Oh!” They'd been talking all this time, and he still hadn't introduced himself. “It's Link. Nice to meet you.”

Zelda cocked her head to one side. “Link...strange...it feels somehow familiar....”

Link realized he'd felt the same way, the first time he'd learned Zelda's name. He'd passed it off as merely thinking it was a pretty name, but...maybe it was a sign that their souls were bonded to each other.

Either way, as they sat at the coffee shop and continued to get to know each other, everything felt right with the world in a way it never had before.

[s0lar-ch3ri]

making this a series ig (spoilers, mostly minor, idk well just have to ROLL WITH IT AND SEE)

episode is starting from zero, episode 1 (quick note: i love how excited everyone is aty the beggining for this camoain, so heartwarming) "'for all you audio listeners your about to hear what a man catching on fire sounds like' 'and also a house catching on fire'" "so its like 3 belts? yeah" "this character sucks not enough belts" ok chip hasnt been described and hes already drawn blood "how much trouble does this woman have keeping her pants up holy shit" "anything that looks valueable, take it" "whats a barrel" instant love with this campaine from here "ill carry this" "ok" "but w h y" “this is the fastest I've ever committed arson in a campaign” "ok as soon as we light this ill let them know so they die an honorable death" "but the barrel is terrified of fire" "so this is a barrel" "lets blow up this popcicle place" hes trying guys "grab a barrel as well i need to study" "in you multitude of belts" when did i forget jay had so many and got bullied for it "i hope she didnt find any more belts in there" ok but whenever i hear marshal jon being described the dopamine just floods out "oh! that wasnt the bathroom!" "no it was not, it was the room where we got the explosives" "WHAT ARE YOU GRABBING THE EXPLOSIVES FOR" "to blow up your ship" bro i loved how gill interacted with people before what an idiot /pos "gill make a-dont make anything you told the truth" gotta love grizzly doing a save "and jay you go to kick this man in the back of the knee and you do you realise that his calf muscles are literally built like boulders" "i want to put my hand on his shoulder" and so it begins the convincing! yes gill go!! "hang on let me see that...big j" "JON, ITS YOUR CHOIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE" "as the door is blown off-" "did somebody fart?" ah yes gill you lit the explosive that makes people fart" "BACHOW!" please dont stop this man from making random noises its great "is your skin always wet or is it dry?" GRIZZ ASKING THE REAL QUESTIONS!! "you are to learn a lesson from the moisture master!" remember when gill made his title canon now, its 6 seconds to 20 minutes in "THOSE PIRATES!" man knowing him now its kinda strange to hear him hunting them down "i just occasonally grab people and im like 'you can be better'" cant believe gill went from telling people to be better to just immedately trying to solve their problems (like not even 2 episodes later if im remembering right) "excellent jay you are a fog frog" "im gonna steal somebody's hat then run out the door" jay stealing chips job now "im passing the barrel out the window" i remember when hed just be a problem for any stealth kind of movements "MY FRIEND SAID HE DOESNT WANT YOU TO HAVE AN ADVANTAGE" "there is still time" ITS STARTING WOW "you get the sense this guy cannot see very well" i forgot he had sight problems "YOU BLEW A HOLE IN OUR TOWER" "and you blew a hole in my heart" ACCIDENTAL FORESHADOWING AND A GREAT MOMENT FOR SHIPPERS?? HOW MUCH IS CHARLIE FEEDING US WITH GILLION TIDESTRIDER!?!!? (spoiler: a lot) "can i make a persuasion check?" "sure" if charlie never said this we would never have the future pirate jon, IF HE NEVER GOT A 16 THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED "you cant tell if i cry a single tear or if im usually that moist" the fact that he is can make for an angsty hc that nobody really would notice gill crying "jon didnt make it" oh this better not be another accidental foreshadow "you see, a pink frogtupus" everyone being excited for the preztal reveal was also all of us huh dont lie! "i look like a big flounder" fanartists canon gill description /j "god damn it big j" friendly reminder that (from what ive seen) marshal jon is the only character gill gave a nickname, and he had met him like 20+ minutes ago "YA BOY GILL ABOUTA BE FRIED" "ima just grab them both and jump" ngl i cant put my finger on it but calmer gillion probs the chaos control thats needed because of him being feral "jon this is for you" *proceeds to get an 8* (would have been epic if he suceeded that charisma tho) "jon, the power is- eyeh" "i look over wistfully (?) 'but w h y?'"

[buckera]

20 questions for fic writers

I was tagged by the lovely @jesuisici33 thank you mwuah 💛

I'm gonna put some of it under the cut bc it got kinda long uhh

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

15

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

188,136

3. What fandoms do you write for?

currently consumed by 911, but most of my fics either belong to The Witcher or Stranger Things

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

789 – Long and Lost /geraskier, 9.7k, explicit/

707 – It might walk like a duck /steddie, 10k, explicit/

656 – The Companion /geraskier, 6.9k, mature/

634 – A promise I could not make (But what if I was wrong?) /geraskier, 16.4k, mature/

451 – Of Banquets and Destinies /geraskier, 5.4k, gen/

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Absolutely!! I love everyone who takes the time to comment on my stuff, it makes me so happy and excited whenever I get the email 💛

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I'm a firm believer of heavy angst + happy endings, but I gotta say But where they lay, they cannot stay is hands down the angstiest, because it can barely be classified as a happy ending oops

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I guess Spare me your dreams has a pretty sappy ending lol

8. Do you get hate on fics?

No, but once I got a comment on the last chapter of a multi, saying that they 'liked it up until the smut' because I made them use spit as lube and apparently 'I was promoting unsafe sexual practices'........ love, this is fiction and not a sex ed class. The characters in question weren't even fully human, come on now.

I have been moderating my comments ever since, because I'm just not willing to give the time of day to idiots like that.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Funnily enough I wasn't big on smut for a really long time and though I felt that some stories needed it, I always just wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible (I also used to skim sex scenes when I was reading) because I just didn't really find them interesting... that kinda changed when I found some truly exquisite fics and realised that smut can be written just engagingly as the rest of the story and now I include explicit smut in most of the stuff I write. I just really enjoy getting into that part of the characters' minds and finding different scenarios and new nasty things for them to do 😊

What kind? Hmm. Not sure, I like to sprinkle in some sub/dom undertones and a little bit of a praisekink or edging even for the most vanilla stuff. I wouldn't say my stuff is that kinky?? Though I did write watersports, public settings and some degradation too, but who even knows what's considered kinky nowadays...

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I don't write crossovers, I don't even read them... it's just not for me, I guess.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of, so hopefully not

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope, or at least I can't remember anyone asking

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

It was the way I used to RP in high school... I'd write a paragraph and then my roommate would write the next and we'd pass the notebook back and forth until we finished... it was mostly smut though and I have no idea if I could actually co-write something publishable 💔

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

I have a few forever fandoms and forever ships... but I gotta say buddie is the most fun I ever had in fandom so far, so I think they deserve the title (hah)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

fuck, so many 😭 but I have a long steddie fic (26k already written and it's about halfway done) that I regret not finishing, because it was the ultimate angst and character study and I just... yeah, it would've been great, but maybe I get into the mood when season 5 comes out (or it'll just make me wanna never touch the fandom ever again, who knows)

16. What are your writing strengths?

Not sure what counts as strength, but I love learning the speech patterns of the characters I'm writing for and I guess I've gotten kind of alright at it??

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Writing fluff is definitely something that doesn't come easy for me

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Worth it if it makes sense in context and you can make sure that you translate correctly (or realistically incorrectly, if that's what you're going for). Overusing another language just to show that you can is not a good reading experience though, especially if you only put the translation in the end notes.

Also, making a character that rarely ever speaks that language speak it extensively without a good reason can take me out of the story real fucking quick... generally just use it when it makes sense and you can make sure that you're not butchering it.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

I think the first one I ever posted online was a RyoDa fic (jpop rpf, respectively) and the first fandom I posted for on ao3 was Stranger Things

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Hmmmm. It kinda changes as I move along. I always felt like Hunger at last was pretty under-appreciated compared to my other witcher fics, but It might walk like a duck was something I wrote in about 2 days because it came to me so smoothly and I really enjoyed writing it... The Companion is a big favourite for me because I think it was a pretty unique idea to work with... also it's not even posted yet but the mudslide fic already has such a special place in my heart, plus it has my favourite confession scene I've ever written so...

idk I'm not a very decisive person lmao sorry

✨no pressure tagging: @forthewolves @eddiediaztho @daffi-990 @callaplums @ladydorian05 and anyone who wants to do it 💛

[waltwhitmansbeard]

There's so many good ones, but can we get a Vaxleth #10 for MFL?

10. "Can you braid my hair?" this takes place shortly before the events of my fair lady. i guess this is now my fair lady: drabble #10? i gotta go update everything lol oh yeah if this is mfl then obv it's inspired by @romeoandjulietyouwish's medival au!!

Keyleth is not a fool. She is aware that her value to her people comes from several sources—her ability to make decisions, her knowledge of her nation's needs and capabilities, her years of studying at her father's elbow. There is another source of value, one she has long been loath to acknowledge, but one that is getting harder and harder to ignore: her someday match with a powerful man who will bring a boon to the Ashari Nation.

Even before she became of marriageable age, nobles and royalty from all across the globe have been throwing their sons at her, hoping to impress her and her father with their looks or their money or their connections enough to lead to such a match. Keyleth detests each of these meetings, where some strapping young man with a winning smile and too many anecdotes about hunting or archery or jousting tries to woo her over an elaborate dinner, with said young man's hopeful parents just a few seats down the table, trying not to seem too desperate as they watch on eagerly. Keyleth has never been good with small talk, but she is even worse when the tone of the conversation is intended to be flirtatious. She stumbles and blushes her way through each of these meals, which unfortunately only encourages these men, who believe her to be so overcome by their charms that what they are doing must clearly be working.

It isn't. Tonight, like every dinner before, Keyleth is not swept away by this Dwendalian viscount's charisma; if anything, she is barely paying attention, doing her best not to spend the entire night searching for Vax's eyes across the dining chamber. He is positioned near the door, which, luckily, Keyleth is facing. She works so hard to keep the misery from her face, but in the brief moments where their eyes lock, she lets the truth slip, and Vax smiles at her with some mixture of encouragement and pity.

She cannot remember if she says anything particularly insightful or engaging during the dinner, but then, she isn't trying to. When the meal is over, their Dwendalian guests, who mercifully are in Zephrah only for the night before continuing on their journey to Emon, thank Keyleth and her father for being such gracious hosts. Keyleth smiles politely, though she is aware it doesn't reach her eyes. Before the guests retire for the evening, the viscount—surely he told her his name, surely she hasn't forgotten it already—pulls her off to the side to murmur, "I bet you taste delicious in bed, Your Highness."

Keyleth goes ramrod straight, all of the blood leaving her face. She hears a low chuckle in her ear, and then the viscount is leaving, saying his final farewells to Keyleth's father, who claps him on the shoulder and wishes him a good night. Barely breathing, Keyleth's eyes find Vax's, and he is watching her with concern, his hand gripping his dagger in a question. She gives the barest shake of her head, managing to pull herself together long enough to return the guests' goodbyes and bid her father farewell.

Then she is alone in the dining chamber, with only Vax left at the door. In an instant, he is by her side. "What happened?"

She shakes her head again. "I...I can't..."

"Do you want to go back to your chambers?" She nods fervently. "Alright, come on." He starts to wrap an arm around her shoulders, then must realize how inappropriate this would be should they be seen, so he gently places a hand on her back at a proper height and guides her into the hall. Keyleth is working on her breathing as they make their way toward her chambers. She hope her face resembles something normal as they walk, though she can't even remember if they pass anyone on their way.

As they approach her chamber door, Vax curses low under his breath. "Kynan." He slows his pace, and whispers to her, "Go inside. I'll speak to Kynan for a moment, and then I will be at your door within minutes, as fast as I possibly can. Alright?" She nods and doesn't need to ask which door he's referring to. She affixes a smile on her face, forced and painful, and murmurs a hello to Kynan as he opens the door for her. Once she's inside, in the safety of her rooms, where a fire has been stoked for the evening, she collapses, falling into a shaking heap on the floor before the hearth. She vaguely hears Vax's voice telling Kynan to keep an extra sharp eye out this evening, and then there is just the sound of the crackling fire and her own erratic breathing.

She doesn't count the time, but it is not long before there is a familiar scratching at the hidden door behind the tapestry, a sound as comforting to her as birdsong in the morning. She hauls herself off of the floor and opens it, immediately wrapped in Vax's arms.

"Kiki, please," he says into her hair as he pulls her to sit on the sofa by the fire. "Did he hurt you?"

She shakes her head. Her hands are trembling. Why is she so ridiculous? "No." Her mouth is dry. "No, I am...being silly."

"Keyleth." He guides her chin up so she is no longer staring down at her lap and is instead looking at him. "Something he said has you rattled, and I never want you to think yourself silly for feeling the way that you do about anything."

"I just...it surprised me, is all."

"What did?"

"He said...well. I have never had a man, a stranger, really, be so...forward."

She doesn't elaborate, but she doesn't need to. Realization dawns cold and dark across Vax's face. "I see."

"I-It was not a threat, nothing serious, I just..." Her eyes slide closed. She is suddenly so very tired. "I am not used to such advances. Not when they are unwanted."

"But you were made uncomfortable by it." She nods. "Then I am very tempted to slit his throat in his sleep."

Her eyes fly open. "Vax!"

He does not appear to be joking. "Any man who cares so little for you as to cause this kind of distress is not a man I care to let see another sunrise."

"Vax, no." She grips his hands. "I am sure he thought himself...I don't know, romantic for saying such things. He does not deserve to die for it."

Vax huffs out a sigh, clearly disagreeing. Still, he brings one of her hands to his lips, presses a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "Are you sure?"

"We are already at war with Draconia; the last thing we need is the Dwendalians coming at us, too."

His shoulders relax as he relents. "Fine. What do you need? What can I do to ease this discomfort?"

She sighs and leans into him. He is so warm, and she has been so cold. She wants to be out of this damned dress, wants these pins out of her hair and the aura of this terrible night off of her body. "I should like to change, and then...can you braid my hair?" There are few feelings in the world as comforting as Vax's fingers in her hair, their smooth movements as they weave her locks in and around each other into one of his brilliant plaits.

He kisses the top of her head. "Of course. Go get dressed, I'll be right here."

Reluctantly, she removes herself from his warmth and shuffles over to her dressing room, where she changes quickly into a nightdress. When she returns, Vax has her hairbrush and pats the sofa next to him. She sits, and one by one he delicately pulls the pins from her elaborate updo. Her hair cascades down her back, and she could fall asleep right here, with the pressure from the pins gone and the steady rhythm of the brush through her tresses soothing her nerves like a lullaby.

As he begins to braid her hair into something loose and simple, something she can easily sleep in, her heart finally slows to its normal cadence. Though she knows many responsibilities await her outside the walls of this chamber, she wishes with everything in her to never have to leave it again, to never have to part from this fire and this man and these hands in her hair. Someday, her duty will call her to wed an advantageous match for her people, and there is nothing in her future as a royal that she dreads more. But that someday is not today, not tonight, so with her eyes closed and her heart heavy, she will let the man she loves braid her hair, will let him love her the way she cannot believe any other will ever be able to do.

[kindheart525]

It was just in time for the annual family trip to Filly Fun Land when Luster Dawn came to stay with her Gramma and Grampa. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any more hectic than her packed week with her Nana, she was whisked away to the carnival before she had a chance to even put her suitcases down. It was such perfect timing to arrive the day they left for their trip, there was no way they didn’t plan this.

Luster used to go to theme parks as a little filly so this wasn’t entirely new to her. Her dad loved this stuff, now she could see where he got it from. It was almost like reliving a memory.

Yet in many ways it wasn’t the same at all. Her trips with her dad were much more carefree and unstructured. Her Papa always came up with a schedule but it really didn’t matter how much they followed it as long as they had fun. 

But with Gramma and Grampa it was like a performance. They went all-out with the coordinated mascot t-shirts and the expensive VIP passes like they were trying so hard to be a picture-perfect family. All of the pictures they took so far looked almost staged.

Luster’s dad loved amusement parks just as much as the rest of his family but he never went on these trips as far as she could remember. Maybe there was a reason?

“You gotta try out the roller coaster, Luster! It’s a blast!”

Her uncle urged her on excitedly, snapping her out of her thoughts.

First Base’s actions didn’t seem as staged as her grandparents. He seemed like he was genuinely having fun, along for the ride just because he wanted to. He was a lot like her dad in that aspect…he looked just like him too.

“Can we go on a slower ride first? I just had lunch.”

This wasn’t a lie, but looking up at the roller coaster she couldn’t help but notice how much bigger it was than any she had even gone on before. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to go on it at all.

First Base’s grin never dimmed at her turning down his offer.

“That’s fine! I know another ride you’d like! Follow me!”

With that he trotted off, somehow knowing exactly where to go even among all the crowds. Luster did her best to keep up.

She was starting to feel comforted by his genuine, unadulterated enthusiasm before he went on.

“Mom and Dad go on these trips every year, they have since I was a baby. It’s a family tradition! If you live with them we could have loads of fun together! Flash really missed out when he moved away and stopped coming with us. Kind of a killjoy, he was.”

Of course this was just a ploy to get her to live with them. Maybe it was as fun as he said but she didn’t like hearing about her dad this way. He was the opposite of a killjoy! Luster out of anypony knew that!

“Here we are! The boat rides!”

He pointed out the ride and started making a beeline towards it, motioning for his niece to follow him. She trotted after him but slowed down a little, turning her ears back to hear what her grandparents were talking about.

“There’s no way she’s gonna choose Stellar over us! We actually know how to make memories!”

“Been doing it for over 20 years. Beats renovating some old village.”

Honey Bee and Ironwing laughed like they were sharing an inside joke, but Luster knew exactly what they were talking about. They were just trying to make her live with them. As if deciding wasn’t hard enough already. She wanted to have fun with her family, she really did, but her grandparents seemed more interested in convincing her of something than actually spending time with her.

“Luster! Hurry up!”

She sped up, furthering the distance between her and her grandparents and doing her best to leave that drama behind her. She would at least try to have fun. As much as she could in these circumstances, anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~

Previous: Study Next: Schism

Collaboration with h0wlingb0nez Luster Dawn’s cutie mark by NC-TV

[bandedbulbussnarfblat]

Remember that post that joked about Daniel's daughters finding Armand playing with a blender in his house? I wrote a fic of it. Read it on ao3 here

“Dad?”

There's no answer. Rachel can hear a blender going inside; he must not be able to hear her. She digs her own keys out of her hoodie pocket and finds the old key to his place. She lets herself in and heads to the kitchen.

“This has kale. No one likes kale.” She can hear her dad say as she reaches the door. He's in sweat pants and a tee shirt and bedroom slippers. Standing in front of him is a young man holding a smoothie. He's attractive with dark hair and nice shoulders. Something's up with his eyes though, they almost look orange from this angle. And are those pajamas he's wearing?

“It's healthy; you need to eat more fruits and vegetables,” The young man says, passing Daniel the glass. “You can drink it while you take a walk.'

“Or I can make coffee.”

“The doctor recommends thirty minutes of physical activity a day.”

Rachel watches as her dad hooks a finger in the loop of the man's pants and tugs him forward. He murmurs something in his ear. The young man rolls his eyes, then smiles. “Later, if you behave.” Then he kisses Daniel on the cheek.

Rachel does not want to know. She does not want to know.

“Hi Daddy!” she blurts loudly.

Her father and the man turn to look her way. The man does indeed have orange eyes. And okay, whatever. People can wear whatever weird contacts they like. Daniel drops his hand from the man. The man studies her with his gaze, before glancing toward Daniel. They look at each other a moment and say nothing, but it certainly feels like they are communicating something.

“Hi sweetie; I didn't know you were stopping by.”

“Clearly,” she says dryly.

Rachel glances toward the young man. He's younger than her! Mid to late twenties, most like. She just celebrated her 30th birthday. It sent her on a spiral of despair, grief for her wasted youth and all the things she never did. Then she sobered up. Still, it was a reminder of her mortality, and with it, she thought of her father's. He's sick, and she doesn't know how much time they have left. She wants to make things right before he goes.

“This is Armand; he's an old friend,” Daniel says. He looks back at Armand for a second, giving him a Look. Rachel isn't sure what it means, but she's seen her mom do something similar to her stepdad enough to recognize its intimacy. “Armand, this is my youngest, Rachel.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” The voice is smooth like velvet and sweet like honey. And yeah, Rachel gets it. He's hot. Her father is old. Sure, she would have assumed this problem would be more lady-shaped, if it were to occur. How can she bring it up and still sound supportive? She hardly cares if he's gay or bi or whatever. But she doesn't want him taken advantage of by some gold digger. Especially when he hasn't got any gold to dig, not really.

“Uh-huh,” she says and crosses her arms. She really wants to grill this guy. Find out what he's about. She's never felt particularly protective of her father, their relationship has been strained since the divorce with her mom. But he's her dad and he's sick.

“What are you doing here, Rach?”

Rachel shrugs. “You know, it's been awhile.”

Before Daniel can answer—and she wants to hear his answer, she does—his phone rings. “I gotta take this,” he says, then glances between the two of them. “Play nice.”

As soon as he steps out of earshot Rachel snips “So do you call him Daddy too?”

Armand's face is expressionless.

“Never mind, low hanging fruit,” Rachel continues. “How long have you and my dad known each other?”

“Oh, years now,” Armand says, moving to the cupboard. He pulls down the can of coffee and starts the machine. It's new; Rachel has never seen it before. It has more buttons than can possibly be necessary.

“How many years?” she asks, then “You aren't one of his students are you?”

Armand tilts his head. “You believe your father would sleep with one of his students?”

“If they look like you, maybe,” Rachel says, then winces at the confirmation. “So you are sleeping together.”

“Does that bother you?”

Rachel glances out the door. Daniel is still speaking into the phone. She closes the door and turns to face him. “Real talk, aren't you a little young for him? Because trust me, fucking someone old enough to be your dad doesn't fix your daddy issues. I would know.”

Boy, would she know.

Armand chuckles lightly. “My relationship with my father wasn't lacking.”

Oh. Wasn't lacking. Past tense. Great. So he's probably fucking her dad because his own dad is dead and he has unresolved trauma around it or something. Who knows? But now she's a dick for bringing it up. “Can I ask why? I mean, what's in it for you?”

“Is your father not enough?”

That's a loaded question that Rachel doesn't want to answer. She'd rather not discuss all the ways her father failed her with his new...whatever this was. She sighs. “My mom was his midlife crisis. I don't know what you are.”

“You believe I'm taking advantage of him.” He says it simply, without malice.

“Are you?”

Something shifts in his expression and he looks toward the door behind her. “I believed I was, once. Then with time, I came to love Daniel.” His gaze returns to her, meeting her eyes. “That's what you want to know, isn't it? If I care for him as he does me?”

“I-yes.” Rachel feels uncertain now. There's something in Armand's voice that sounds honest. But then, the best liars did.

“The answer is yes. I plan to love your father until the end of his days, which I'm aware are fewer than mine. We are making the best of the time that remains.”

Rachel nods. She isn't sure if she believes him or not, but what was the harm in letting her dad be happy? He did seem happy.

She points a finger at him. “If you hurt him, I will find you and end you.”

Armand laughs. Rachel doesn't see what's so funny. “No, but Daniel is concerned for his relationship with you. He will be pleased to know you care so much.”

Rachel wants to tell him that her father will never know of this conversation, but the door opens and her father steps in. His eyes go to Armand's and they look at each other for a moment. Whatever he sees in Armand's face must reassure him, because he visibly relaxes.

It'll be okay. Her dad is happy. Everything else will sort itself out.

[istadris]

Funny fuel for: Bot clothing kink

A bit more specification on the humans teasing outta spite one (relevant in TFA especially): 

1) They wouldn’t harass or actively approach. Tease as in pretending they do not know that cybertronians even can be intimate w anyone in the way humans can.

Like doing things that drive em up a wall, for example casually underdressing bc “it wouldn’t matter” to bots, or dropping something and bending over in a waay too short skirt.

2) Especially in TFA bots are very proud of being “more advanced in literally anything” in default, even if they never heard of said thing before. By that logic humans would be this new , underdeveloped and naive civilization. Kinda how they get the condescending “pet status” literally everywhere.

That, together with the fact that they are a different species, potentially unicron spawn, and OrGaNiC, would make it so that they gotta stay in the closet and hide it to keep face. 

And THAT is what humans would use outta spite. Basically blueballing them and driving them up the wall.

3) Example1#: Sentinel “MaGnUs” is too xenophobic and paranoid about a human sent to cybertron and would insist the human stay in sight at ALL TIMES?

As per malicious compliance, not only would they set up shop in the rec room (remember beds included), but would put on/take off most of their clothes in sight. If asked, they woud just tell innocently, that Sentinel told em to stay in sight ALWAYS. Now Sentinel has to explain, that he ain’t a pervert. The rumors would never really disappear, and it becomes an inside joke. Or something OP would tease him with subtly.

Example2#: Is Megs out of his cell but under supervision and in an anklet for plot reasons? 

(like being planned to secretly be manipulating sentinel, like he did with trial&error and has benefits, or diplomatic reasons etc.)

Casually sit in his lap like he is comfy, especially in skirts, or those bedroom gowns with the feathers and silk(and nothing else) in the morning.

He would seemingly not react or move and just look extra grumpy, others thinking he feels disrespected. But when they leave there would be a dent on the metal seat armrest from *that horny grip*, getting visible when Megs moves his hand later.

Let the funny cliche suggestive shenanigans begin! XD

****

I’m sorry, I got distracted by the concept of Sentinel getting trapped in his own bigotry and being stuck between acknowledging he’s a pervert or pass as a complete idiot. Wait, that never stopped Sentinel before. That doesn’t stop him from being a pervert by Autobot standards. Good, gotta make sure he suffers for his cringe crimes.

I think Megatron spent enough time spying on humans in the Sumdac lab to be more aware of the cultural differences (through intense study of the matter. Very intense and careful study) and be less vulnerable to such ploys than your average bot freshly debarked from Cybertron.

I however approve thoroughly of the Horny Grip. Eye twitching is also a good indicator he’s not as unaffected as he pretends.

Honestly though, given the TFA verse, I don’t think any human can combine “seduction” and “subtlety ”. They got villains dressing up as Robin Hood ! They have bold fashion statements ! Would they play up clichés seduction routines ? Of course they would! 

This is why Swindle is so good at business. He knew what he got into the moment he struck a deal with fashion businesses all over the place.

[universestreasures]

@crimsonkaiser​​ (Cause Emi gotta nag her brother’s BF LMFAO)

“You’re sure Aichi’s doing okay in your new shared dorm room, Kai? I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for him to be suddenly evicted from his dorm a few weeks into the semester...” The explanation Aichi gave was vague at best, something about his room needing repairs that would make it unlivable for a while. Emi suspects there is more to the story than what her brother had said, but she doesn’t want to press him on it. As long as he was okay with this new arrangement, that’s all that mattered to her.

Kai being his roommate over some random stranger is a relief to the young girl. She knows just how good the brunette has been for Aichi. Honestly, if it wasn’t for him she can’t imagine her brother having ever gotten out of the cycle of pain he had been caught in since his youth. She’s forever faithful to Kai for that reason, and she trusts him to take care of her brother full heartedly. She and her mother like to joke he’s Aichi’s knight in shining armor, and considering how Kai took Aichi in when he got kicked out of his dorm, the image of such a thing became more and more tangible each passing day.

With her unable to be there for her brother, she had to rely on Kai to take care of him in her stead. Aichi was a handful, Emi knew that much from growing up with him, but she knows the older student is up to the task. He hasn’t let her down before. Besides, Aichi had a support system now. He wasn’t the same as he was when he was younger. She needed to keep that in mind.

“Please promise me you’ll make sure Aichi is getting enough food and rest. You know how he can get so caught up in his studies that he forgets to take care of himself.” She reminds him, placing the phone on speaker so she can continue to converse with Kai as she starts placing neatly wrapped items in a box. Doing so causes a lightbulb to go off in her mind, instantly remembering something important.

“Oh, right. Can you please give me the mailing address to your new dorm? My mom and I put together a little something as a thank you for helping Aichi, Kai.” It was her mother’s idea, of course. She just loves to spoil Kai whenever the chance arises. He had become already part of the family, even if he and Aichi still only being in the dating stage. “We...We really appreciate you looking out for him. We’ll be sure to treat you to dinner when you guys come back into town for winter break.”

~

[alyjojo]

Capricorn Yearly Career & Finance Reading 🪖 2024

Preshuffle: Medical News, health, health, it keeps being pointed out. You need to get something looked at, tests done for something, what you hear is going to shock you and keep you from doing something you’d planned. They may admit you right away, in someone’s case. You don’t see it but you *know* something is off, you’re ignoring it. If not, disregard. Outside of health, canceled plans due to something unexpected that happens. Something you’re planning now?

Meditation: Giant room decorated like a playroom or daycare, rainbows 🌈 on the walls , with a huge circle train track on the ground, and a tiny train that went maybe 2mph, I mean this thing was *slow*. First you were yelling out WHOOOO!!, time passed and you fell asleep, time passed and there was one bump like a break in track, that was kind of exciting but not really, time passed, you were on the opposite side of the track from where food was on a table where you could snatch it. You just waited. Paiiinnfully slow my gosh. Finally I was like “what in tf areee you doing?” You said “waiting for the others”. Huh? Who would want to ride this thing? It’s not fast, or even fun. You were genuinely shocked, and when I turned it off to make it faster, you were mad at me! 😡

Main Energy: 3 Wands

Interesting energy coming out initially. Surprisingly enough, your year is not about money (you??), but instead it’s about pulling yourself out of the doldrums and back towards the things that make you feel PASSION 🔥 Especially in the fall, when Pluto pops back into your sign for a couple of months, it looks really positive. For the rest of the year it’s like you’re on this slow lil choo choo, expecting something. Expecting the fun, passion, advancement, whatever - to come to you. As if you have no role in making it happen. There will be a lot of waiting until you figure it out. Passion, Innovation, and Flash are all about creativity, trying new things, *seeking* the passion and fun in a conscious way, on purpose. It’s there, you’re just not looking at it. It’s like Spirit is going to give you a high you don’t want to come down from (not literally), so that you remember how it feels. Or just know. Maybe it’s the first time. Let loose 🥳

January: The Hierophant & Wheel of Fortune

Oracles: Idealism

Zodiac Signs: Aquarius

You could be making some New Year’s resolutions, if so you’re very serious about them and intend to commit wholeheartedly to whatever this is, could be relating to your finances & career goals. Some of you are divorced, or have been through a breakup, if so I think it’s already done & over with, and you would be committing to enjoy your singlehood until you find *the right one*. Giving yourself some grace, even telling yourself it’s okay to date again. The Hierophant can talk about so many things, separating yourself from a parent, religion, or long-term traditional way of behaving/ believing, studying under a mentor of some kind or going back to school to obtain a higher degree, or simply letting go of “the old way” in favor of YOUR way. Whatever that is. You could want to quit your job even, after you find something better. It’s all about improvements for you, and Idealism shows you with a visionary mindset, looking at things as how they could be, futuristic thinking. You’re hopeful, motivated, and career driven at the start of the year, the future looks bright 💡Some of you have jobs that will require you to travel more, you may counter offer that sentiment with a “sure, for more money”.

February: 4 Pentacles & Ace of Cups

Oracles: Isolation & Convention

Zodiac Signs: Capricorn Venus, Virgo Saturn

Your standards are so high that no one could ever realistically meet them. Do you even meet them? Do you know anyone that does - platonically? You gotta start somewhere, and even those people or situations that would meet your 10 page, bullet-pointed list of expectations, they’re gonna have flaws. It’s going to have things that suck, are difficult and challenging, nothing is rainbows 🌈 all of the time - and if it was you’d still find something wrong with it 🙃 Spirit is calling you a hypocrite here, just last month you were ready to break free from tradition and the same old shit, this month you’re clinging onto it for dear life. If this is regarding love, there may be someone around you that is much younger than you, and you’re closed up like a hermit-crab, you see this person as a baby - The Fool. Or switch it. Though Capricorn is known to attract age differences, in this case it feels drastic or desperate to you, and you are refusing to engage. Could just be someone really immature too. Or are they just fun? 🤷 Could also be a kid. You can’t connect with playing, fun, innocence? Depends on the context. You could be taking yourself way too seriously.

If not love, then this is you either rejecting new experiences, keeping by the book and the same old thing that you know to be good for you, or it’s possible you’re needing to save money in order to take some kind of new adventure, but you’re not there yet. If you’re looking for a job, nothing is good enough - but really, you don’t want to start all over again. It’s easier to play it safe - regarding everything. Some of you are planning new things, you’re still in January’s energy, but that’s not the majority. Most are on the train.

March: 4 Wands & The Chariot

Oracles: Endurance

Zodiac Signs: Cancer, Aries & Scorpio

You’re stuck to something, a habit, some outside thing, transportation possibly, distance, or most likely a limited belief system that you operate by like its the only right way to do things - when it’s not. It’s The Devil - what keeps you stuck, chained, bound to something. A home? Family? With Scorpio and The Devil here, there’s a lot being shown about obsession, drastic actions or emotions, needing to see clarity instead of through an emotional lense. You could have this one idea in your head: I’m moving to Canada. But you’re being blocked every step of the way, can’t find a job there, can’t find a reasonable place to live, you don’t want to live on an ice block in the mountains with no grocery store - that’s reasonably priced though. There’s never a thought of “maybe this isn’t for me” or any acknowledgement of the signs from Spirit who are undoubtedly trying to show you something. A need for travel (if that applies) may be a solution rooted in shadow - you run away from your problems, maybe relationships - and travel is the excuse. If not travel, then just movement, running away/avoidance.

Some of you want to work at home and refuse to do anything else, or that’s the driving factor to keep a job, if a new one doesn’t meet that criteria, then it’s not for you. Honestly, that’s gotta be like 80% of people these days. Some of you are avoiding dealing with darkness in the home, relationships, family. Bad habits, toxic cycles, outdated or harmful beliefs systems, shit is not healthy whatever it is. The Emperor at the bottom shows what you want - to be the boss. Then…take charge. Start small, probably with what’s in front of you. The bottom of the deck shows you getting the clarity you need like a bolt of lightning, and it could be small. Jeez I haven’t cleaned this garage in 10 years, I could sell so much of this that I don’t even need or use. Step 1. The more you wake up to how you keep yourself stuck, the faster you can open up to new experiences, it’s a process. Some of you are literally trapped to a house, maybe one at a distance, something inherited that you’re still paying taxes on, a family, a business, you want to do your own thing but feel beholden to someone/something higher than you. Rules, traditions, laws even. For someone this can be a DUI or some court order to not leave the state/city, home arrest, but being trapped by the law in that case. This could also refer to engagement or taking the next step in a relationship - either being unable to do that or feeling like you’re trapped/switch it. Reasons - someone could be married, live far away, hopefully isn’t underage cuz gtfoh, their job is demanding/important, etc. Or you could feel distance keeps you from these things, maybe you already live on an ice block and long to leave it 🧊

April: 8 Swords & Queen of Wands

Oracles: Defense & Influence

Zodiac Signs: Aries, Scorpio, Taurus Mars, Libra Mercury

If you are married/committed, there may be temptation, possibly a lover, or one existing anyway, looking good and trying to sway your affections. I don’t see you biting the bait if that’s the case, you may just be removing yourself, blocking them, or somehow getting them out of the picture and celebrating your family or partner more. Like a passive aggressive “fk off”. This could be at work. If single, again the message of standards…attractiveness or sexy qualities don’t matter to you anymore. You’re looking for someone to build 10 Pentacles, THE one, a mother figure, maybe someone your family will approve of. Even if there’s someone attractive at work, you’re so focused on career, responsibilities, the long-term, you’re not interested in potentially messing that up. Are you attracted, yes. But also, pass.

Otherwise you could keep your own desires hidden, some may be sexual or passionate, within a marriage/partnership. Doesn’t have to be, if you’re wanting to buy a bunch of leather and get tattoos, buy a sports car, a bigger house, there’s a sense of “status 🤑” with whatever this is, you’re keeping that quiet too. You could feel like it’s impossible, your person would just reject it. Or you’ve been doing this for some time and it’s all coming to light now. Your true ambitions, what lights your fire, what you really want for the future, career goals. Again a house shows up, maybe you don’t like where you are, or again maybe you want to transfer to the main branch of a company, located somewhere else entirely. There could be one particular job you really want, somewhere else. Or you’d like to move the family to a safer city. There’s a practical element to whatever it is, yes it’s attractive but it also makes sense to you. It’s family or a partner that isn’t thrilled, doesn’t want things to change, doesn’t want to move anywhere. Or switch it, this could be a partner’s energy. 8 Swords could indicate there being no choice, someone got promoted so it looks like you’re moving now. Or your family, maybe they’re leaving your home town for this reason. You or someone else feels helpless to do anything but go along with whatever this is - or helpless to actually act because someone says no way. Those focused on work at home jobs probably still haven’t found anything yet, that could be the driving focus for a location change, you can do it there but not so much here.

May: The Sun & 2 Swords

Oracles: Optimism

Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius Moon

The Sun ☀️ is very happy energy, especially with Optimism, you have reason to believe in whatever it is that’s coming towards you. Maybe you found the job of your dreams, and they’re willing to hire/transfer you, The Sun is a card of promotion, success, positive attention, fame on some level. Some of you are just bringing more attention to this conundrum you’re having, like “look, here’s what I want, why is it so difficult to get!” in the hopes your friends/family may have some suggestions or ideas. You could be complaining about your current job and how things stand, on social media maybe, or even directly to your boss or someone with influence. Showcasing your talents - you’ve risen above or have outgrown this position, when might they consider moving you up? Not would - when? Whoever you’re talking to is going to be surprised when they hear what you have to say, or you may be shocked by the response…how about right now? Tomorrow? Or when you leave one for another, the first job is like whaaat 🤯?? Whatever your new thing is, new job, new passion, possibly a new partner/lover, it’s sudden and shocking to others around you. Could be the same person at work you were like “nah” to the first time. Or they’re confessing their feelings to you and you’re paused like…wow, they really like me? Hmm. Ok let’s try it. Something good is happening, you’re not sure if it’s good and you question it, it could be happening really fast and you’re not sure if you trust it, but it makes you feel good.

June: King of Pentacles & Strength

Oracles: Harmony

Zodiac Signs: Heavy Libra

You have some sort of news to drop like a bomb, but you’re holding it close to your chest instead. Not because you’re unsure, or questioning it, but because you’re quietly plotting “an escape” is what I heard. Could be family you’re doing this with, knowing they’re gonna have something to say about it. Could also be work, if they don’t know you’re leaving, your property manager or someone involved with a house (which comes up again), some of you are secretly planning to buy a home somewhere else, or you’re acting in secret so that when the time comes - it’s too late to stop. You can’t change your mind, or be swayed by what others say, it’s already done. A house or lease, money to pay for something, putting in two weeks and working it for the extra money, waiting for a start date or even a new home in a new area - may be the only reason you don’t act immediately, you have to wait something out for responsible/practical reasons. Your family may be very upset, or you know they will be.

July: The Fool & 5 Cups

Oracles: Extremism

Zodiac Signs: Aries, Libra, Aquarius, heavy Scorpio Sun & Mercury

This is the month things come to light, you’re taking action, and there is sadness (or devastation with the extremism card) and disappointment from loved ones, parents, childhood friends, maybe an established relationship/marriage, kids, the whole nine, anyone is involved or possible here. You could be selling the childhood home (again home comes up, every month so far) in order to buy one somewhere else. You may be disappointed in yourself due to someone guilting you, like “if you would have told me, I would have…” something it’s too late to do, and there’s sadness there. The impulsivity or quick decision seems thoughtless or selfish to some, but it wasn’t actually all that quick…you knew it would be like this. Even if it’s a good thing, people are upset. A King of Wands in particular may act quite dramatically over the situation, could be a fire sign, and they may say or do something “extreme” that breaks your heart in response to hearing your news/decisions. King of Wands can be you too, knowing what you want, taking the steps to make it happen, could be centered around work. There is a better job in this city, I’m sorry, I have to go. For someone, it could be your job is closing a branch or something, moving cities entirely (or countries?). If you’re not going with them, this would be your own sadness, and maybe extreme actions in anger/retaliation. Some of you are leaving a family, maybe even kids, and there are some high running emotions there. Your actions may seem extreme to others - but you feel it’s necessary, or switch it. Because Queen of Wands showed up earlier as a temptation, this could be someone they’re with or were, be very careful, “extremism” may be you getting your ass kicked by someone in a rage. Or this is you and your person, and it’s your/their family that’s upset.

August: 10 Cups & 2 Cups

Oracles: Caution & Discrimination

Zodiac Signs: Heavy Libra, Virgo Mercury/Venus

You’re very cautious in how you proceed, but very happy all the same, like your dreams have come true. You may have had to take on an entire family war, switch jobs, buy a new house, move to a different country even, but you’ve got what you wanted and that’s all that matters. Some of you may end up getting pregnant around this time, or you/this person could have kids that you’re bringing into the mix to create this 10 Cups ideal. Both Oracle cards are ones of perfectionism, matching the reality to your inner picture of what you want, and how things should be. You won’t be hearing any words that suggest otherwise from anyone, period, it’s like you’re ready for negative feedback and you’ll shut that shit down immediately. Most likely from family, who are heartbroken. You may get the blessing of your mother, who is on your side and will work on the rest of the family. Or maybe your family are upset but coming around very quickly, especially if you’re leaving town, like they’re sad but they don’t have time to be sad, they need to make it right now before you go. Some family members might tell you to fk off, if so you’re sad but oh well, what can you do? You’re focused on your growth, in career, love, family, you name it. Whoever comes fits with your inner picture and whoever can’t, it’s love ya see ya later ✌️ There may be sadness over selling a home, either it’s not selling for as much as was hoped, or there’s a lot of nostalgia attached. A whole family dynamic could be changing.

September: 8 Wands & Ace of Wands

Oracles: Enterprise & Status

Zodiac Signs: Heavy Sagittarius, Aries Jupiter, Taurus Jupiter

Once you are given the green light 🚦 it’s GO, immediately! No more train for you, 8 Wands is one of the fastest movement cards in tarot, you could simply be waiting on news or approval, then you’re off. Moving towards your passion, what inspires you, excites you, turns you on in some cases - Ace of Wands with Lust at the bottom of the oracles. You will win because Jupiter Aries will make damn sure of it, they don’t lose. Jupiter Taurus cautions against a newfound love of extravagance, materialism, overindulgence or superficial things. Money. Status. Don’t get too caught up in appearances, or what doesn’t really matter…then it’s The Devil (Capricorn).

You have cooperation with this new thing, whether a new love, new coworkers in a new job, maybe some status holding (important) neighbors or work contacts that are willing to give you hand, a good word, they could have all sorts of suggestions you appreciate. There’s a new group around you, with new ideals, and anything from before is a burden on you now. You’re not that person anymore, you’re determined not to be. With these Jupiter signs, and this planet moving into Gemini in…June? Ish. You may have been dreaming for this to happen for the past few years, and you’re finally getting everything you ever wanted. Or it’s available on the horizon, you can SEE it.

October: Page of Wands & 6 Wands rev

Oracles: Eccentricity & Manipulation

Zodiac Signs: Pisces, Scorpio Jupiter, Aquarius Saturn

There could be a friend working against you, upset you’re not around, doesn’t agree with whatever you’re doing. Or family, or even someone at work that tries to undermine your efforts or act out of jealousy/manipulation. They smile to your face and hide their hands, or that’s how someone feels about you. If you made big sweeping changes for a job or relocation, someone may betray you or it’s somehow not all it was cracked up to be - Manipulation being here shows you could have been mislead, 10 Swords on the bottom showing betrayal. Or maybe someone in your circle that wasn’t aware could feel betrayed.

Could be a kid. No one will make you pay for a mistake like your own kid 💯 Could be your person’s as well, maybe they’re not sure about you, question your intentions, see right through you even. For most it’s probably family, someone close to you, they could be inquiring about holidays or something and feeling betrayed by failure to make them a priority. 2 Swords here isn’t “no” it’s “I don’t know” but it’s enough of a no for someone to get pissy with you. It’s like they’re aware you’re putting in so much effort towards happiness, maybe family even, they’re just upset they’re not included in that. Or the tables have turned and a friend is doing the same thing to you. It’s like you’re being punished for going off the beaten path - Saturn Aquarius. A failure to plan ahead for something is being noted, you may not have enough money to cover initial expenses, or you planned for house payments, electric, etc etc but WTF is a sewage bill, you’re stuck with satellite and why is there community tax for some privacy gates? It’s possible someone sells you on an idea with a lot of passion and you’re bamboozled later, especially anyone that goes door to door (I almost learned that the hard way myself 😬).

November: The World & 5 Pentacles

Oracles: Power

Zodiac Signs: Heavy Taurus, Scorpio Moon

Oof this month is tricky. Manipulation already came out, but the vibesss are strong here, and next month as well. Someone is out to teach you a lesson, could be a parent. If they were helping you out financially, that’s ending, or if they’re giving to you and feel you’re not wanting to do anything for them, cut off. At the bottom is you with 9 Cups, a dream come true, could be some extravagant or self pleasing spending and if you’re borrowing money then this person is like “absolutely not”, that’s done. It’s possible wherever you’re working is cutting hours or something for the winter, because you’re struggling with debt or not having enough and it’s some “official” decisions. At the bottom there’s a sentiment of “you got what you asked for” - but like…ominously. Yeesh. The Hermit. This could also be the fake friend/family member pulling shit last month, or throwing a fit, cutting you off this month. Someone feels neglected, left behind, not cared about, forgotten. It’s possible some sort of promotion or bonus is going around, but you miss out on it - not being there long enough or there’s some reason. The Emperor can also show anything law/official, maybe a hefty bill for something indulgent? Or having been indulgent before, you don’t have enough now. Public intoxication? A ticket of some kind. Closing costs. Insurance. Those are what came to mind. If you’re asking your father, they may gift it and say “that’s it, you’re on your own now.” For Moon Scorpio to come out, that could describe a person, or this is definitely going to make you feel a way. Emotional, vengeful, explosive, intense, a silent burning or overdramatics (maybe hidden), manipulation like I said. Water energy is strong at the end of the year, some of you have a watery family that operate passive aggressively but…petty, vengeful, tit for tat.

December: Queen of Cups & King of Cups rev

Oracles: Practicality

Zodiac Signs: Heavy water 💦 Pisces, Capricorn Sun/Moon

This is either a partner or a mother it feels like, she is using everything at her disposal to get to you on an emotional level. Guilt trips, tears, manipulation, sorrow filled statements to make you feel like you should be reassuring her, telling her you love her, coming around to care for her. Laying it on thick - with King of Cups rev this is intentional, this person is a master manipulator. But not to hurt, if that makes sense. Moon Capricorn is cold AF and that’s what’s coming out, this placement can tend to be kinda distant with their mothers and have issues with feminine energy (others’ or their own), seeing it as weakness. That may be how this person feels you see them, or they’re just not getting the love, care, and attention they were from you and it’s hurting them. Is it your job to make this person feel whole, no, but I think you do care. At the bottom, they just want you to cooperate with them, the family, the group, whoever. They have intentions that are unseen, and on the surface it’s all love. Is that love genuine, it seems like it. They just know how to sway with kindness, fussing over you like a little baby, and easy tears 😭 If there’s conflict between you & Dad, Mom is trying to work her magic, with good intentions…mostly. Could be your person too, in their case manipulating you away from the mother - colder - Moon Cap, towards them and their own family. You belong HERE now. Controlling with softness and googoo eyes 🥹 Could be someone at work asking for favors, which you do because you’re being nice.

No matter who this is, you’re starting to question your decisions, second guessing yourself. Did you even make these decisions in the first place, or did this other person, and what was the motive…is it love? Work? Success? All of it. Maybe you’re questioning both parents now because they just don’t get it. This could be your person trying to work with you, literally, like can you give them a job at your company? The feelings are as genuine as they are filled with motives in any case, I’m not sure how much you’re paying attention to what lies beneath, Capricorn tends not to (unless you’re watery too).

If these Cups people are a pair, one is manipulative and the other is loving & emotional. Could be parents, other family, could be you and your person too. Could also be your person’s ex being upset due to custody/visitation, someone is unreliable. It’s drama, but again at the bottom, you may feel this is all necessary to obtain your happiness, and you wish everyone would just be happy, or happy for you. Fair enough.

[ippu81]

The Darkest Hour.

He sat by the hospital bed, listening and watching, " You gotta hang in there. Come on, please don't go."

He almost begged; he wasn't sure if he could hear anything anymore. It's said that hearing and touch are the last senses to detect when a person dies. He took her hand in his. It was so delicate, cold, limp. He tried to warm it in his own larger hands, hoping she knew he was there still, that she would react and squeeze his hand. But no, the delicate, icy hand remained limp, and he saw the nurses had removed her ring. Well, it wouldn't stay on her finger when his loved one was so withered and so finished.

He refused to believe the doctors when, two months earlier, they had told them both that nothing could be done, no medicine would help, and now they just had to treat the symptoms and try to maintain their quality of life. Quality would be more important than duration, but he wasn't ready to give up on his love just yet.

He felt so powerless, so alone, when he knew what the future would be without her. He heard a slight change in her breathing, a slight break, and felt his heart stop. He stood up.

He lowered the side of the hospital bed and took her in his arms, stroked her hair, and felt her limp, thin body against him. How cold she already was. Pale. Her breathing slowed again; there was a break in it, and now he couldn't stop the tears that flowed from his eyes as he held his dying wife in his arms.

He felt her heart slow and realized how finished her body was. He whispered something in a broken voice, his eyes wet with tears. Then it stopped. He could no longer feel his wife's heart beating or hear her breathing. He broke down, crying inconsolably, holding his now-dead wife in his arms.

Sobbing, " Elena, I love you, always. Remember that. I know we weren't together for long, but you made me so much better, and now I don't know how I can be without you."

Finally, when the nurses and doctors came and pronounced Elena Salvatore dead of leukemia, Damon walked away. He couldn't be human anymore, and he knew, he'd heard, that certain witches would make him a vampire again. He wanted to take his feelings away now and not feel this wrenching emptiness and powerlessness that seemed to tear through him.

Six months later. Michigan.

Fiona Westen was on her way home after a long day at school. She was a teacher and taught children about seven years old. The school where she worked was relatively small, and there were not too many students. She lived alone. She had no time for socializing as she was trying to study simultaneously to get more training for her university studies.

She turned into her driveway on her bike and noticed a raven sitting on the ground; well, it wasn't unusual. She had heard of ravens before. Fiona liked animals, and her favorite subject was teaching biology and telling children about the wonders of nature and animals.

She had two cats, black and white, and she was not above being inventive when the white cat was called Snow and the black cat was called Soot. She got off her bike and walked it out into the yard, and the raven didn't move as she passed by. Fiona locked up her bike and walked back to the bird.

She got close, and the bird only took a few steps, looking weak. Fiona had nursed birds back to health before, and the raven was omnivorous, so she would find food for it before it got stronger again.

She went inside her house. It was a terraced two-room house, and her cats just raised their heads when they saw her enter. She got an old cage. It was big enough for the raven to be in there recovering, and she put in some minced meat and berries, some seeds in the dishes, and water; she would see how the raven recovered.

She walked out; the bird was still in the place, and she took the bird's hands gently, being careful of its powerful beak. She didn't see a ring on the leg, and the bird didn't feel too skinny; she felt and spread its wings; they worked. Then she carried the birds inside. Either the bird had some disease but didn't seem sick, or it had crashed into something.

Fiona had always volunteered during school holidays at animal welfare societies and bird sanctuaries, so she had experience. She put the raven in a cage and was delighted when the raven went to eat the mince. Fiona then went to the kitchen.

She warmed up her food as usual, emailed her mother and cousin, and sighed as she thought about the upcoming wedding. It was one of her cousins, and then she would have to listen to hours of her aunt wondering why she didn't have a boyfriend or even a girlfriend. When she wasn't gay, she wasn't just looking for a relationship now as she was trying to concentrate on her career and get a better job while she finished her studies. 

She watched TV in the evening. She had done some studying, knowing that in a couple of weeks, she would have another brief break when she would resume her studies at university. She couldn't or didn't want to take long periods of leave when she was saving money, so she tried to work as much as she could, and balancing work and study was sometimes quite tricky.

It was getting ten at night, and she always went to bed early. She had given the raven more mince; it seemed in better shape, although it was sleeping quite a lot, and she was mildly worried. There weren't many vets who treated wild animals, and as the raven was not a rare bird, it was possible that the vet just put it down. But she always wanted to give it a chance, so she gave it more mince. Then she retired to her bedroom, brushed her teeth, changed into her pajamas, and went to bed. She was asleep in ten minutes. 

In the cage, the raven watched and listened, and when he was sure she was asleep, he turned into a mist; the mist floated in the air and slowly passed under the bedroom door. After a few minutes, Damon watched his sleeping victim with pleasure.

He approached the bed; she was asleep on her back, snoring softly he went to the bedside, looked at her with no emotion other than the bloodlust that showed in his red eyes, turned her head to the side, leaned over her, and bit his teeth into her neck and drank, delightfully tasting her life force.

When he had drunk half a liter or a little more, he pulled his teeth out, bit his lip, and licked the bite marks on his tongue where his blood was. Healing them, he licked every drop of blood off, turned into a mist, and returned to the cage as a raven. 

Fiona woke up in the morning; she had a headache and was thirsty; she brushed her teeth, put on her clothes, and went for breakfast and coffee, taking the raven some minced meat; he seemed to be much better, even vocalizing in his cage. 

Fiona ate and returned to her daily routine, going to work and shopping when she got home. She was thirstier today, and she didn't think about it. She wasn't pretty; her small eyes, high cheekbones, big nose, and bad skin didn't make her attractive when she wore enormous glasses. Her eyesight wasn't good.

She was thin and shapeless. She remembered how, in school days, other girls teased her, the board. Then, when she was still quite tall, it only emphasized her shapelessness.

She went back then for the afternoon. She gave the raven fresh meat now that she had bought it in the shop, ate, studied, watched love movies on TV, daydreamed now, and then went to bed. 

 Damon turned into a mist again, went and feasted on his victim. He did the same thing every night, enjoying watching from his cage as she came in to eat in the morning, paler and paler, weaker and weaker, utterly unaware of what had happened in the night. Damon enjoyed the power he had over his victim.

He had done the same thing many times across America, where Stefan had been a brutal ripper. He was a secret beast who weakened his victim mercilessly and slowly, enjoying their weakness.

It had been five nights since he had feasted on his victim, and now it would be time for the ultimate climax. He waited as she, white as a sheet, now walking unsteadily as she was dizzy, came into the kitchen, gulping juice and water, making coffee and breakfast.

When she had eaten and was coming into the living room to give him meat again, Damon, in a mist, came out of the cage, making her scream and freeze in place. Damon let his red eyes show, the black veins around his eyes making him look like a demon. He smiled cruelly as he came towards her.

 "Greetings, don't be afraid, it won't hurt. But then again, I lied; it does hurt, but first, I'll have a little appetizer." 

Fiona couldn't move; the raven had turned into a mist, and now a vampire was in front of her. She had heard of vampires. She had just never seen one, and she watched as the handsome vampire man went and took the Snow; her cat stroked it and then struck his teeth into the cat's side, right through the heart, and drank a few swallows, and the Snow hung lifelessly from the man's grip.

Fiona never forgot how the Snow had squeaked when the vampire had bitten. The vampire took the Soot in his arms and stroked it, muttered something to it, and Fiona felt her heart pounding. The Soot had been a wildcat, hadn't trusted a human, and with work and perseverance, she had tamed the cat.

The vampire looked at her and struck his teeth into the cat's heart, which shrieked. And it was over quickly. The vampire threw the cat's carcass away, took a few steps towards her, and touched her on the cheek. The vampire's fingers were ice cold and chills of fear and terror ran down the Fiona's spine.

The vampire whispered, "I have enjoyed your blood every night, and now it is time for the last meal..."

He brushed Fiona's insignificant brown hair away from her neck, bent the woman's head to the side and now slammed his teeth into the side of her neck, making her scream in pain but unable to move.

The vampire's throat moved as he swallowed her now dilute blood greedily, hearing her pulse quicken, smelling the fear and terror of his prey, and then the best part as the pulse slowed. He held his now almost unconscious prey close and greedily continued to drink, and his pleasure was complete as the heartbeat stopped and she stopped breathing. He drank all the blood he could and healed the bite wounds again. He didn't leave evidence behind him and dropped the dead woman on the floor. It was time to change the scenery again. 

Twenty years later, Mystic Falls, cemetery.

Bonnie Bennet visited first time in ages. It had been a while since she last visited, and she had never been to Elena's grave; she hadn't even known of her death while she had been traveling the world.

On a bush walk in Australia, she overheard a tearful message from Caroline on her phone when she returned to civilization. Elena had been diagnosed with a very rare and malignant form of leukemia, and no treatments were working. Damon had been with Elena until the end but had then disappeared and hadn't even been to the funeral.

No one had seen Damon, no one they knew, and Bonnie could not help but feel deep sympathy for Damon. He had lost his brother, and when she broke Cai's curse on Elena, she woke her up. They hadn't had Damon for over three years, and they married after the diagnosis. Elena had wanted to die as Salvatore.

Bonnie had been sad and had been so many times about to go back, but she had never gotten over the death of Enzo. She hadn't been able to go back, knowing that Elena had died too. Caroline was now the headmistress of the school. Alaric was back as a vampire hunter. Matt had moved to New York, made it as far as the detective, and had found a partner. Jeremy also lived the life of a vampire hunter or whatever evil creatures they were looking for.  

Bonnie first walked into Stefan's tomb. Even though Stefan had ripped Enzo out of her life, she didn't want to hold a grudge. Stefan had been dead for over 20 years, and although Bonnie believed there was peace and that one day she would meet Enzo again, she couldn't help but miss him every single day.

Then she went on her way and found Elena's gravestone. Elena Gilbert, it said, not Salvatore. Caroline had told him that Damon had given Elena's name as Gilbert, not Salvatore, after her death, and Bonnie couldn't help but sigh, knowing that Damon had been in a terrible place and no one had heard about him.

She noticed the ring on Elena's headstone. It had been there for a long time. It was a man's ring. She took it in her hand.

There was engraving, "My soul mate, with love always and forever, Elena."

Bonnie realized that this had been Damon's wedding ring, and he had left it behind. Bonnie laid the bouquet of yellow lilies on Elena's grave, sighed, and just as suddenly felt the danger was near. A fog crept into the cemetery, and a feeling of dread grew in Bonnie's heart. She could feel her heart rate rising.

"Hello, Bon Bon." a familiar voice said suddenly from behind her.

Bonnie was startled and turned around. "Damon. How... no one knew where you were."

Bonnie noticed Damon was just as young looking, then his red eyes and the daylight ring on his right hand told the truth.

"How did you? It's not possible you're a vampire again; the cure killed Katherine; how?."

Damon took a step closer. Bonnie's skin was thinner. This one had wrinkles around her eyes and even a little grey in her hair, yet this one was only 40 or so.

Damon said, his voice cold as ice, "I found some witches, black witches that sucked the healing out of me, making me a vampire again, so I don't have to feel."

Bonnie sighed. Elena's death had broken Damon. This one had made himself a vampire again and taken his humanity off. Stefan was long dead, Elena was dead, and Bonnie wasn't sure how to help her friend. She would have to get Damon's humanity back on.

Damon said, " I don't have my humanity anymore. I have my telepathy, though. Look, Bon Bon, and I wanted it that way, so those witches took my humanity away from me completely. Now, no one can make me weak."

Bonnie said, "I'll get it back when I try. What would Elena say now? She wouldn't have wanted you to do this."

Damon laughed; it was actually a scary sound, and Bonnie almost felt the urge to run away. She had never been so afraid of anything in her life.

Damon said, " Bon Bon, Elena is not here; she died, and besides, that cliché belongs to people; I'm not one of them."

Bonnie gulped. She was like a deer in headlights when Damon came closer. Right on her, looking at her like a piece of meat. Sweeping her hair back, exposing her neck, Bonnie tried to get her mouth, which was suddenly really dry, to say something, but Damon, or what was left of him, was a beast. Indeed. She didn't see an ounce of humanity in this now.

Damon whispered, " Witches are tasty, and I'm hungry.."

Bonnie felt a sharp pain pierce her neck, and hot pain burned as Damon sank his teeth into her neck and drank her blood. And fast. Bonnie tried to summon her magic, but Damon drank her blood relentlessly, fast, and she felt her head spin as the dizziness took over. Her pulse was pounding, and Damon's icy hands held her, and the more he drank, the warmer his hands became.

Bonnie felt her consciousness almost shut down as Damon took his teeth out, looked at her with his mouth bloody, and said, " Well, Bon Bon, don't worry. Soon, you'll be back with Enzo, and tell Elena I said hello."

Damon bit again. Bonnie screamed, tried to fight now, but her movements were powerless, weak; darkness rolled across her vision, and her consciousness shut down.

Damon felt the witch's strong blood trickle down his throat, and he relished it. This was his nature, his true essence, and he had no regrets when he killed and drank away the woman he once considered his best friend. He could feel Bonnie's pulse slowing. Soon, this would be his, as so many other women had been over the decades; Bonnie was limp, cold, and lifeless as he released his grip.

Her eyes were half open, looking at nothingness, lips parted, dry, and expression well dead; he looked at the dead woman for a moment, turned into a raven, and flew away. He had had another meal, and it was time to change places. Find a new victim to feed on for a few nights. They say the darkest hour is just before dawn, and he didn't care. His life was to enjoy that very darkest hour.

[tartt9]

@belasso asked //

run that by me again?

Jamie, while he was no captain, and certainly no coach, was someone who'd spent as long as he can remember studying football. Even before he set foot on a pitch for the first time, it was all football - he'd watch Chelsea play, staring at their midfielder skipper in his big, blue 6 kit, and he'd learn. So... studying film in his free time isn't the strangest thing in the world to him. It's honestly relaxing. And, when they have a home match scheduled for that weekend against a team they'd already faced this season - that makes things even more interesting for Jamie. More to study, more to learn, more to see.

"So - Chelsea - when we played 'em earlier this season - their whole strategy were blocking up our passing lanes past halfway, right?" he asks. Jamie crosses the room to the white board, gesturing with another little mind if I?, the way he'd done in the dressing room at Arsenal. "So they're gonna try that again, cause it worked for 'em, mostly, til we figured it out. Especially if they've watched film on us already, and they know we're playing total football, now. Which, they're a good team - they've watched their film. They expect us to pass more than we did week one, cause our strategy is a lot more passing, a lot less keeping the ball to ourselves." Jamie moves his own magnet closer to the magnets representing Moe, Dani, Colin, Sam, Richard, as he also had at Arsenal. "But - what they won't expect is Isaac coming forward, Sam dropping back. Sam has history in defence, he were a defender in the Nigerian League before he came to us. And Isaac's got the strongest legs on the team, so if we just..." he pushes the forwards' magnets up further, spreading the midfielders' wider, but dropping Sam back towards midfield, switching his magnet with Richard's - Richard at forward, Sam at midfield.

"Widen the passes - make 'em further, harder, stronger - cause the strength is important, or else they'll just cut off the passes again - than we've been doing since the switch to total football. If we're keeping 'em short, we gotta keep 'em really short, like, almost stealing the ball from our own players." Jamie taps the Sam-magnet and the Isaac-magnet. "Isaac'll be our key to the match. Plus, he's fresh off the red card benching from the Brighton match, so they won't know how he'll be playing after the three-week absence. It's, like, a perfect storm, Coach." He pauses, lips pursing together. "Also, tell Van Damme to stay further back towards the goal. Don't come up into the box - Sam's fast enough that he and Jan together should be able to keep the sheet clean of any goals like the one they scored on us in the first half at Stamford Bridge." One more pause. "And if Colin gets close enough to the goal, he's gotta take that shot. We weren't taking enough shots on last match - Hallmark Christmas Movie, yeah? But Colin's gotten better since Brighton -- a lot better, he'll take shots he can find. And... if the lads have the opportunity to take it to the goal, and they're confident in it, tell 'em to take it all the way. Like we're playin' an old 4-4-2, even if we ain't positioned in a 4-4-2."

"D'you get me?" Jamie asks, hopeful. "I mean - I'm sure you lot came up with something like this, too - we was watching the same film, but. Thought I should say somethin', just so we ain't trailing at the half again."

[ from here ! ]

[soletlunasims]

After college, Chip quickly found a job as a Scientist and spent his days inventing new devices and studying space. Chip believed there was other life out there and so he also spent time secretly trying to contact aliens. (Since I have done the NSB challenge before, I am playing this family a bit more loosely. Basically just making them max out their career and doing their aspiration with no other goal. So we didn't finish the elements collection and I stopped going to work with him after I got the satellite 😂)

Chip believed but he also didn't want to seem crazy and lose his job. He would work days and spend nights outside hoping to find proof. Caleb growing increasingly worried of his fiancees weird behaviors.

Then one day....

It finally happened, the proof he was so desperately after. He didn't know what to do with himself. He had to find a way to repeat this phenomenon for proof. He would be reveled as a 'Hero of Science' he thought. He spent all of his extra time trying to document as much tangible proof as he could. During this time, he was abducted several times. He couldn't count how many, simply for the fact that the Aliens were far more advanced then him and as hard as he tried to remember anything that happened when he was taken, he could barely remember being taken and returned in the first place. Some sort of alien technology preventing him from keeping any mental record of what was happening aboard their vessel. Chip kept trying to get something that could serve as concrete evidence that aliens were real and that they were here and possibly among us. But he started feeling unwell and was not sure if he could continue his research. He started calling into work and staying in bed for hours at a time. He thought maybe he was dying. Maybe he had some illness that passed through the EA spaghetti code as a bug (we are gonna get meta here from time to time lol) and he was unlucky enough to get it with no doctor knowledgeable enough to help him. Months passed and things got weird. He started feeling better in some ways but worse in others. He no longer felt like he was sick with some terminal illness but rather, he felt as if there was a parasite that was possibly using him as a host. He had a constant full feeling and weird stomach spasms and he was getting bigger by the day. It was almost as if he was.....👀 Oh. Chip thought it impossible at first but then he really tried to rationalize it. "If I can get abducted by aliens over and over then.... No. I mean I don't remember what happened.... They could have... But why would they? No. That's not possible. They couldn't expect me to know how to handle that.... It's gotta be something else...."

It wasn't...

After a weird and exhausting experience that I cannot even begin to envision, Chip held his little girl in his arms for the first time. "This is remarkable!", Chip thought. "There's no greater proof than an alien baby!" But his face fell almost immediately as he thought about it. Was he really okay with giving his baby over to science to prove his theory? He really thought about it. "I.... I won't let anyone take you from me, Ares. You are safe here. You are so loved. I won't let anything bad happen to you. That's a promise."

Note:

I would like to add that I didn't talk about the slight plot hole of Caleb being a know vampire but how it's weird to believe in aliens. In this save, my canon for occults is that they are definitely around but hide it well. Chip knows Caleb is a vampire. A few close friends do as well. But no one meets Ares as a baby and only ever seen her in her disguise. People believe that Chip and Caleb adopted her. Werewolves are confined to Moonwood Mill as well. I love having the Occults in my gameplay but I often like them to be played as if they are living a double life and that humans do not know that they exist outside of story books

[darlingpwease]

Oh really?? I can't help but wanna indulge u, u dont gotta be frost to bite, bite away <33

Aaaa she could "dance" with me any day and I'd thank her for her time– hhhhh

She sounds absolutely wonderful tho ♡♡♡

Good luck!!!

I feel you... I am not the best in math, so for me, as long as I am passing well enough, that's good :'))

Where i am, the summer is so stupidly humid. Heat is nice, but when it makes the air feel thick and damp, I will happily pass. I love dry heat, not humid heat!!!

AAAA I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, when one floor is the perfect temp but then another isn't, it drives me crazy sometimes, honestly. With rooms also, where one is perfect, but others are either too hot or too cold– like damn, wtf????

I'm hoping ur leg will feel better soon!!! I'm glad to hear the weather is doing well tho!! :)))

-panna cotta

Yes, they got a few ideas stored away ⍨⃝ they are long too </33 they have started to try to write when they can.. maybe I should introduce you?? Or maybe I should keep it hidden???

honey panettone, but if I can be a frost instead and bite you whenever you're outside, then I'll obviously benefit more than if I bite your sweet cheeks a couple of times as a human. In the end, it's not just a matter of morality, but benefits!!! no mutually beneficial exchange, only predation. you can hide your cheeks from me, but how can you hide from the frost? exactly.

/j /pos

I really like the way you elegantly adjust to the interlocutor; don't remember if I talked about it, but it's so cute. won't say if it's noticeable or unnoticeable, but just a fact.

such a sweet piece of candied fruit, my my <333

/gen

have a good rest, okay? you deserve it for your hard work — and because you deserve to rest regardless of work <3

thank you <3 everyone who is good at math is an alien. I mean, for example, my family — I'm sure I was the only member who was not irradiated, so I sit and suffer. mathematics is overrated and I think that its simplest types should be studied, while this brain-breaking should only be given to really persistent people /hj

I hate summer because I can't sleep properly, while in winter I sleep disgustingly much and am constantly sleepy because of the cold. summer is good only with rest and ripe food, nothing else </3

yes!!! did I just move to another room or was it a portal to two different points??? maybe a little of the same temperature please???

everything is fine, they have come to terms with the fact that two more months of winter are ahead /j

before it gets too humid, even the frost isn't that heavy, so yes.

oh yes??? wow!!! do they also write a lot? such a gift, isn't it? they sound like such a good writer!!! surely their audience loves them very much!!! of course you have to introduce us, it would be very mean not to do it after you intrigued me!!! they sound like such a fascinating writer <333

(didn't know you were into other jjk writers dear, can I already be jealous??? can I already feel the competition for the opportunity to bite your cute face and hide you in a cute box???)

/t /nsrs