#just keeping in touch - more comfortable with each other as their lives become more separate

[potahun]

i wonder who would be the first todoroki to discover that the safety commission pres who brings a huge bunch of fukuoka delicacies as gifts whenever he drops by for dinner (which is at least once a month) is like, in love with their dad

option 1: Natsuo who visits Endeavor once every two years max at Fuyumi's request, drops by one time with his girlfriend and it coincides with Hawks. Instantly figures it out even though Endeavor himself is oblivious. When he's alone with Hawks in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes, Natsuo stares at him straight in the eye, narrows his eyes and whispers: "homewrecker" (he doesn't live at home and there isn't much of a home to wreck. but.)

option 2: Fuyumi doesn't live in the house anymore, but she originates all the dinner gatherings anyway and she visits often, enough to see Hawks every 4 to 5 visits, more if she counts the times she's run into them outside, seeing Hawks comfortably offering to push Endeavor's wheelchair only to get rebuffed with equal casualness. With her perceptiveness, it doesn't take long to put 2 and 2 together. She's conflicted. I mean, the marriage with their mom was arranged and all of that had happened, so it's mostly kinship between them anyway. Mom is happier dividing her time between Tokyo and Asahikawa nowadays, so she's not even here to see this, but still, it feels strange. Maybe that's what dad needs, though? Someone who loves him for all of who he is? She goes to Natsuo to discuss, who just puts a hand up and says "i don't want to know about any of this" (he comes around eventually)

option 3: To his own surprise, after a few years, Shoto doesn't feel as edgy as he used to, when he answers Fuyumi's requests for dinner gatherings. He catches none of the looks Hawks throws at Endeavor, or the little touches, or the lack of personal space and what not that occur whenever Hawks is invited. Fukuoka's mentaiko and hakata torimon are tasty. He looks forward to them. Months or years down the line, some colleague asks him if he still visits his dad and whether it's true that Hawks and his dad are dating. Shoto:

option 4: Rei is receptive to these things. Lately, she's been finding a lot of community projects to keep her busy in Hokkaido. The air is fresher there, the skyline more vast, and she's starting to feel like she has things she wants to finish, things she wants to start, things she looks forward to. From spending a few weeks at a time there, she's now gotten her own apartment in Asahikawa, and spends over half the year there. Enji never asks her to stay in Tokyo. He never touches her of his own initiative either. But when she's back to check in on him, there are the flowers she likes on the windowsill. It helps that he's so scarred he doesn't look the same as he used to, but when their eyes meet, she feels calm, now. Even so, she feels herself drifting away as the weight leaves her shoulders, and he lets her. It's a new kind of companionship that becomes less and less frequent with time, now that their bonds, weaved by guilt and duty, have grown a bit loose. And it's okay.

The family friend called Hawks has bright eyes and always makes the right remarks to make her laugh. Enji is relaxed when he's there. He complains about his day, laments the bureaucracy of his office, and brightens the whole house. But there are always things he doesn't say, a wistful air that lingers behind the genuine grins. One day, she tells him she's reassured that he's here to look after Enji in her absence. He doesn't have to, of course, but she knows Enji treasures his company, more than anyone else's perhaps. For the first time, he looks like prey. Just a fraction of a second.

And then the smiles are back.

When, the same evening, the golden eyes seek hers again and the jaded face utters a brittle "I'm sorry, okusan" that has no reason to be, she doesn't reply, nor does she tell the children. She continues to spend time in Asahikawa with a light heart. She waits for the good news.

[thecampjuicebox]

Astarion relationship headcannons that I cannot stop from absolutely ✨rotting my brain✨(SFW & NSFW)

Early on in your relationship, he would be absolutely caught off guard by any sort of affection, and would probably prefer much smaller forms; gentle brushes of your hands together. A passing kiss on the shoulder. Small acts of service like sharing a piece of food, fixing an out of place curl, adjusting the ruffles on his tunic, etc.

Once he becomes more comfortable, he'd search for more frequent displays of affection throughout the day, probably whining if he goes too long without a touch or a kiss or a hug. He'd pull you to him in front of the others in camp just to hear them snicker and groan at how disgustingly cute the two of you are. Cup your cheek and hold your gaze as his lips hover over yours to tease you before kissing you like he's out of breath and you're his only source of oxygen.

He'd hold you by the hips when walking through the city. Or the hand. Or the back of the shirt. The pocket. The beltloop. Anything to keep constant contact and subtly but not subtly show everyone you belong to him.

Clingy? Yes. Possessive? Secretly. But not really. He'd shoot eyes like daggers at anyone that looked at you with too much interest. He'd mostly keep quiet about it, the fear of upsetting you much more important to him than how he feels about the situation (absolutely to his detriment)

He'd probably try and teach you how to sew. How to fix garments, make new ones, hem pants and tunics, anything he'd deem useful information if for some reason the two of you were to separate or be separated (Not that he'd expect that to happen, or would allow it). He'd see it as a bonding opportunity, for sure.

In the beginning of your relationship he would still offer sex regularly, even though he'd still struggle with actually enjoying the act. He'd put all of his focus on you, your pleasure, how you're feeling, what you want, etc.

When you'd offer to reciprocate, he wouldn't know how to feel. He'd always been made to perform and give instead of receiving and it would take a long long time for him to become okay with it again. You'd be patient, though. And he'd appreciate it more than he could ever express in words.

Once he IS okay with sex again, my gods he'd out-do himself each and every time.

He'd do his best to make it as romantic as possible at first. A warm bath to soothe your muscles, candles, a good meal, a massage, he'd brush your hair, butter you up as much as possible before absolutely ruining you for hours on end.

That time of the month? No problem. He'd relish in your moon blood. Take his time with you. Little bites in your inner thighs so you're reminded of him the following day. Bruising kisses, exploring you with his tongue, tasting every last drop like he's starved. All the while being as gentle as possible with his hands and his words. Help clean you up, lest a single drop be wasted. Not on his watch!

He'd definitely be the type to talk you through your orgasm. Tell you how beautiful/handsome you are, cumming for him. Stare into your eyes and watch as you unravel completely. Kiss you so you're forced to moan into his mouth. He wants to taste your pleasure. Taste your desperation for closeness. And he'd deliver each and every time.

When it comes to his pleasure, I think he'd be relatively simple. Sweet kisses along his cold skin, enjoying the warmth of your hands and lips all over his body. He'd prefer you on top so he can watch you the entire time, or have you pressed tightly to his chest so he can hear your heart quicken and your blood rush through your veins. A symphony to his ears. Your life force, your sweet nectar, all driving him absolutely mad as you ravish each other.

I live and die by this, Astarion would be BIG into aftercare. Giving it and receiving it. Kisses, cuddles, cleaning each other up, picking out comfortable clothing for bed or just stayed pressed together in the nude.

Sleeping next to Astarion would never be truly sleeping NEXT to him. He'd bury his face in your breasts or neck. Or rest his head on your stomach and giggle at the gurgling noises it makes. Tangle his legs with yours, hold your hand, press your foreheads together, anything to be as close as possible. Eventually this becomes the only way he can sleep. The only thing to keep his nightmares at bay.

I hope you guys enjoy my lil headcannons. I'm sure they're not much different from others, but my gods do I think about these REGULARLY.

[psychicreadsgirl]

Pick a Dish: Your Relationship Dynamics with your next S/O

Pick the picture that draws you most. If you can't decide between 2, then look at the 2 readings. Remember, this is a general reading so take what resonates and leave what doesn't behind.

#1

Very relaxed, kind of lazy. Stay at home dates - a lot of Netflix and chill vibes. Almost literal couch potatoes at times.

You two will feel comfortable with each other really fast. You two won't be scared of sharing your "bad" sides like farting in front of the other or telling them how bad your arm pits smell etc. You also will feel comfortable wearing just casual stuff or PJS or home clothes with them. You won't really feel the need to put on makeup or dress up much for your S/O.

You two will feel like good friends, in fact, almost like best friends. You two will either be very clingy towards each other or will lead very independent/almost separate lives, mostly bc of your work/school or some other uncontrollable situation.

You will both help out each other and listen to one another. There's a lot of positive energy between you two. And a LOT of lazy chill energy - which is fine too. Just be careful of your health - still important to exercise and eat healthy.

Some people may feel like you two are like those super old married couples, but you both feel that's ok.

For some there may be a long distance relationship for you two or it will become one after dating.

#2

You both like to keep things fresh and spicy. Expect lots of surprises and fun. I see both of you travelling a lot together and you might even be the couple that quits their jobs and becomes vloggers or quits their jobs to start some other biz etc. Somehow being together leads you two to create something together, whether it be a career/organization/a place/other friendship maybe. There's some "expansion" or creation aspect to this union.

You will find each other to be very funny and will enjoy spending time with each other. You will have endless of things to talk about--likely one of you will be more chatty and the other just more quiet.

You two don't seem to place that much emphasis on material things in life. You enjoy doing activities together -- not necessarily the fact that you two went to some "fancy" restaurant. You both don't really care about luxury goods or brand names. You both would rather spend money on more practical things or entertainment like travel, movies, vacations, etc.

For some of you you might be polar opposites with the other person so inevitably there may be times where you two will definitely butt heads. However you two will make up usually by some physical touch or sex.

#3

There'll be some traditional undertones to this relationship. Perhaps both of you come from very strict families or one of you does or maybe you/they/both have traditional values. Maybe you two were set up by your parents.

There's going to be some element of cultural significance/foreign element too. Perhaps you both enjoy different cultures' foods. Maybe one of you comes from a multicultural family or has lived abroad in many different places. Maybe one of you is fluent in multiple languages or has many different friends abroad. Maybe you guys even are from 2 different countries.

Oddly there's a mix of non-traditional/traditional elements to this relationship. Sometimes that might make for a very interesting dynamic/relationship. Sometimes it might lead to conflict/disagreements because there are 2 different, sometimes opposite views in play.

There's likely going to be someone's parent that disapproves of this relationship for some reason.

I don't see this relationship as one that's particularly easy, in the sense that there are a lot of factors that are out of your control, which try to break you two apart or cause you two conflict. Whether you and your s/o will be able to work with each other to overcome those will be up to both of your efforts in the relationship.

This relationship will also be a meeting of equals, so you both will be quite "equal" in the sense that there won't be a power imbalance. You both could be equally smart or equally foolish. You both could make similar amounts of money too.

#4

This will be a rather chaotic yet dynamic pairing. Somehow there'll be a lot of gossip/news or something related to your relationship. Perhaps this is some office romance that's a bit judged on (i.e. you are dating your boss) or maybe you two seem like such an unlikely pair that people kind of just assume the worst about you two.

I see a strong physical attraction. Sometimes it might even seem like that physical attraction triumphs other parts of the relationship. There will be a lot of physical touch and bedroom activities. If you've never had your 1st sexual experience, then your s/o will likely be the more experienced one. It's not to say that they have fooled around with tons of people out there, but they will have had more dating experience than you.

It feels like one party will be more mature/experienced, while the other seems to be more naive/innocent/inexperienced. There may also be an age gap at play and this age gap can be quite big. Possibly for some of you, this will be the relationship after you've ended a long term relationship or marriage. Possibly for others, your s/o might have been previously engaged or married. Your s/o might even have married more than once before.

This relationship may also have a bit of like..parental feeling? Getting the sense that 1 of you might suffer from issues related to your parents and somehow your s/o kind of takes on the role of a parent that you didn't have. Some people might feel like your s/o is like your nanny sometimes or butler? One of you will definitely be the one that does a lot of acts of service.

#5

There's a very youthful feeling about this relationship. It might even be the 1st relationship that you'll ever have. There's that puppy love/1st love feeling. If it's not the 1st relationship, then it might be that rare serious relationship that you have.

There are very deep feelings within this relationship from both sides - more emotional than physical. Not to say that physical affection doesn't exist here, but you two will feel very emotionally connected with each other. You might even feel like they don't even need to talk to you and they get how you feel and vice versa. I don't see that a lot of communication is needed between you two. Somehow one look or some behaviour will just let you or your s/o know what's going on.

There can be some feelings of possessiveness/obsession with this relationship. 1 of you or both will be rather possessive. That can be bad or can be fine, depending on how it plays out. The possessiveness can sometimes turn into deep obsession/jealousy, which would not be great.

You might feel in this relationship that without your s/o you are incomplete. You feel like your s/o truly understands you. It's possible that 1 of you have had a traumatic childhood/past or both of you have and you two bond because of this. Or one of you will be very empathetic and understanding or somehow maybe even have an occupation as a therapist/healer/doctor that can help your s/o.

#6

Wow there's something really forbidden about this relationship. You or your s/o might both be already in relationships or even in a marriage but somehow you two are very drawn to each other. The lust/attraction is irresistible and even if you or both are already in relationships, you both will still date. Another possibility is that you two are dating when you're not supposed to be like the school/company won't let employees date or you're dating your best friend's ex partner. Or you two come from 2 different religions/ethnicity that traditionally have hated each other. Other possibilities in rare cases could be like incest or bordering incest (i.e. you are in love with your step sibling who doesn't have any blood relations with you or you are in love with your cousin etc). In other rare cases, you may be dating a well-known public figure secretly.

There's a lot of intensity with this relationship. The physical affection/passion is definitely there. There may be like a lot of angst too or suppressed feelings or you know in movies etc where there's a lot of sexual tension but then someone comes and interrupts and so the sexual tension has to be cut short? Something like that.

This relationship while intense may end rather abruptly or have many make ups and break ups. Somehow you both continue to be drawn to each other.

For some there may be some toxic stuff in this relationship - I see a lot of arguments and shouting and then shortly after there'd be intense makeup sex or kissing. A lot of times the physical side of the relationship will dominate everything else, which isn't so good, because the problems of this relationship don't go away.

For this relationship to work, both will need to recognize the issues and want to change and also realize that communication is very important. For some, this relationship will inevitably end for various reasons.

Because of the forbidden element to this relationship, inevitably there can be many misunderstandings and complications.

This relationship, however, will be one that you will definitely always remember - probably the one most dear to you.

[leeknowlover99]

Skz as love tropes

found it in my drafts ;)

warnings: fluff, suggestive content

masterlist

Bang Chan - coworkers to lovers

you and Chan spent way too much time in a studio. working late nights, eating takeaway pizza, testing new ideas, leaving in the mornings when sun was already high up in the sky. you spent countless nights falling asleep on couch in small studio room. ever since you started working together something between you clicked, you understood and inspired each other. two lost souls trying to find peace in music, stressed overachievers trying to create something perfect. it should not come as a surprise that one day when nothing was working as it should in a heat of the moment you shared the most hungry passionate kiss you could imagine, changing your dynamic forever.

Lee Know/ Minho - neighbors to lovers

your relationship grew slowly. from passing each other on the corridor to saying shy hellos in the elevator to meeting in the coffee shop near by to taking care of his cat when he was on a business trip to going on long walks and talking about life together. Minho with tough and unreadable exterior turned into the softest person you knew. his kindness amazed you with each day. in a span of months from the total stranger he became your comfort person. the change in your relationship seemed so natural. you didn’t even realize when it turned from shy glances to getting railed in his sheets.

Changbin - exes to lovers

you tried to stay away from each other, you really did. it was not working out between you, work forced you to be separated more time than you would like. character differences caused loud arguments. but without each other you were even more doomed. stress piling up in your bodies, minds clouded with too many thoughts, sleepless nights when you missed each other way too much. so when one day you bumped into Changbin in a party next thing you knew you were pressed against him in someones bedroom, hungrily trying to make up for all the lost time. him whispering “i’m not gonna let you go ever again” against your lips.

Hyunjin - soulmates

nobody could replace Hyunjin. nobody could come even close. you have never met someone as passionate, gentle and unreal as him. the way you completed each other could only be described by word soulmates. you understood each other without any words, always knew what the other one needed, could sense emotions like you lived inside each others heads. one look at you two and everybody could see that. your eyes beamed with love when you were together, face glowed. lips curled into most gorgeous smiles. you just had that effect on each other.

Felix - fake dating

it started as an innocent lie but became so much more. the arrangement worked for both of you so you kept going with it. as time passed it was becoming more and more challenging to create that narrative. but neither of you wanted to end it. so you started going on dates, hanging out with your families, posting each other on social media, sleeping in the same bed. the line between the lie and reality was becoming blurry until one day of just vanished. you were no longer pretending, you were no longer keeping the act only when people were around. you were kissing in the loneliness of Felix’s room and although none of you said it you both knew that it became something more.

Han/ Jisung - fwb to lovers

Jisung was never the best when it came to any kind of relationships. one drunk night out with his pretty best friend and all he could think about is your perfect body and those plump lips. he needed you. you seemed to have the same idea. you also seemed to have the same problem with relationships. so after that one night neither of you talked about this. you just silently communicated when you needed each other. expressed your desires and feeling through gentle touches and passionate kisses. way too intimate for only friends. it took a long time for both of you to understand and admit that. but when you did you were two happiest people on this planet.

Seungmin - rivals to lovers

it was always the competition between you two. Y/N vs Kim Seungmin. you were both good, way better than everyone else. but neither of you liked sharing the spotlight. so you constantly tried to either beat the other one or mess with them. after all only one person could get the dreamt internship. this week has been particularly intense, electricity basically sparkling in the air when you were both in the same room. you needed to relax during weekend, that’s how you ended up at Chan’s party already drunk. what you did not expect was to find Seungmin here as well. the look he send your way when he saw you in the flimsy black dress made you weak. from that look only you knew the only competition you will be having tonight is who cums first.

Jeongin - childhood best friends to lovers

stolen glances, shy smiles, late night talks. you and your childhood best friend Jeongin were always more. but you were both too timid and unsure to act on it, so you loved each other in silence. spending all your precious days together, enjoying small moments, but deep down longing for more. and more did come. Jeongin gathered all his courage. “will you go to prom with me?” one day he appeared at your front door with a bouquet of tulips. “as friends?” you asked hoping for a negative answer. “as boyfriend and girlfriend” he responded quietly, cheeks blushed. you provided your response by connecting your lips in a shy kiss which quickly became more passionate when all your suppressed feelings could be finally released.

[randomimaginesideas]

In the end we're all alone (Valtor x reader) One shot

Summary;  You are Bloom’s sister, despite not being the keeper of the dragon flame, you are a strong fairy with passion in your heart. But fire is all consuming, and can leave ugly scars in one’s mind. But when you come across a person who knows just how to add fuel to the fire, can you resist or do you destroy everything you love?

A/N; Remember when I said that I would post a one-shot a couple of weeks ago in that same week. Well, it’s a bit later but it’s here.

Somebody asked me if they could request a Valtor x reader, and I said yes. I liked the idea, and that’s where this fic came from. To keep the surprise on what will happen in this one shot I made a brief summary. 

Trigger warnings; Manipulative Valtor, slight stalking, jealousy, open ending

Most people would be overjoyed when it turns out that one of their lost sisters returns to you after so many years. And don’t get me wrong, at first I was overjoyed. The day Faragonda had called me to her office, and announced that Bloom had returned to Magix. She had been hiding on Earth. Or rather, she had grown up there, unaware of the power she held, and the history of her family. Our family, and we are the only two left of Domino. 

Bloom was a few minutes older than me, making her the keeper of the dragon flame. Our big sister Daphne had saved us both when Domino was attacked. The difference being that she had sent me to Faragonda, knowing that the Ancestral Witches probably wouldn’t come after me since I held no real power. At least no power like the dragon flame. To hide Bloom from the witches she had sent Bloom to earth, a magic-less place. Faragonda sent me to live with a family on Solaria, knowing the family would take good care of me. My adoptive parents were kind and gentle people, who raised me as if I were their own, and told me, along with Faragonda, the truth about my heritage. And then it was time for me to go to Alfea, where a few days later I discovered my sister was alive. 

And like I mentioned, at first I was overjoyed not being the sole survivor of Domino, and Bloom was a nice girl, who accepted me for who I was. We lived comfortably, she had her own friends, the Winx club, and I had my own. But things started to go downhill very quickly. I am not a jealous person by nature, but when your sister becomes the center of attention, the most important person in the whole magic dimension thoughts will get the better of you. Because in the end, I was just the fairy of fire, nowhere near powerful enough to compete with Bloom. Everything took a turn for the worst when Bloom and I had to duel in a battle, to test our strength. She was able to easily take me out, her dragon flame consuming my own. It was until after the battle, and she had received all the compliments she had gotten that she bothered to ask if I was alright. 

I started hanging out with Bloom and her friends more, losing touch with my own. I just wanted to have with Bloom did, a close friend group who stood by each other no matter what, and maybe show that I was strong, like she was. The winx accepted me easily as I was Bloom’s sister, and a sister of Bloom was a friend of theirs. But maybe it was the fact that I wanted to be accepted, that I didn’t notice the distance there still was between the rest of the winx and me. That they weren’t really my friends. 

But even though I was jealous, she was still my sister. So when she was kidnapped by Lord Darkar I didn’t hesitate to offer the winx my help to save her. During the fight the Trix had been able to beat me, not without a fight, but even with my Charmix they had been able to defeat me. I had been separated from the winx, and saw my chance to flee from the Trix who decided they had more important things to attend to. That’s when I stumbled through Darkar’s library. The books screamed dark magic, but they also screamed power. The moment I had picked up a book I felt the power surge through me, promising everything that I was and could be. I admit, I was weak. The promise of becoming stronger, of being worthy of my sister made the decision for me. With a spell I had learned when I was younger, I transported multiple books to a box in my dorm room, which only I got open with a spell. It’s where I kept my most prized possessions.

The winx, and mostly Sky, managed to save Bloom from Darkars hold. That night, I snuck into the woods outside of Alphea with a book in hand, and tried out my first dark spell. It felt wrong, my body felt wrong, as if it was pushing me to stop trying, but I was determined, and when the spell finally worked the impact it had on the trees surrounding me was far greater than any other spell I had. And that was when the first seed had been planted in my brain. I could do this, I could become stronger than I was now. And so I practiced. 

***

It didn’t take long for another villain to rise up, and claim power over the magic dimension. This time it was a man by the name of Valtor, a powerful sorcerer, set on becoming stronger and taking over the magic dimension. He had escaped the omega dimension together with the Trix, and had taken over Andros. The Winx had made this elaborate plan to go to Andros and face Valtor, leaving Stella behind to create a diversion at the school. I came along, as Layla had always been one of the nicer Winx to me, and I didn’t want the same thing to happen to Andros, as it had with Domino. 

After traveling to Andros, fighting the enslaved mermaids, and finding out the Trix had escaped the omega dimension as well, I found myself holding my sister as the platform raised from the ground. Icy had attacked her in the back, the rest of the winx immediately started fighting her, but I flew after my sister as I watched her hit the water and I dived in after her. Water dripped down the columns of the ruined castle, as I assumed it had been just that, and from the edge a man appeared.

I had to admit that at first glance the man was a beautiful sight. He was tall, a lot taller than I was even in my heels. His long golden hair looked sleek and well kept, and he had this dangerous aura around him, tempting just like the books in the Dark Phoenix library had. Everything about the man screamed at me that I should run away, that he was dangerous, but another part, the same part that had made me pick up the Dark books, wanted to talk to the man, find out more about him. But his predatory gaze on my sister told me I had to hold him back. 

My eyes glanced in the direction of the winx, who were too caught up in battle to watch me, or Bloom. “Dark fire.” I whispered as I held out my hand in Valtor’s direction, as to not draw attention to the dark spell I just cast. A smirk came on the man’s face as he easily held out his hand and caught the fire ball, with purple flames, in his hand and extinguished it. “Nice trick, but I can do better.” Was all he said before he held out his hand again, and the same fireball came back at me, knocking me in the chest and off the platform. 

Musa was the one to get me out of the water, and was able to cover my eyes just in time as a bright light came from the platform my sister and Valtor had just been standing on. When the light faded we all flew down to the platform. I was glad to see my sister was safe and sound, even though I was jealous sometimes. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to her, but Layla was a different case. Valtor hadn’t only taken her planet from her, but her eyesight as well. 

***

Valtor watched, arms folded together, as he stood in front of his scrying orb. Inside he could see the image of the little fire fairy. It wasn’t the redhead who held the dragon flame, although he kept a close eye on her as well. No, tonight the object of his interests was Bloom’s younger sister. 

Valtor couldn’t say for certain if she was part of their so-called Winx club. He had only seen her once, and now as he looked into the orb he could see a distance between the girls. Standing off to the side of the room, leaning against a table, while the others were gathered in the middle of the room, lying on the couch in their pajamas. “We’ll find a way to get your eyesight back, Aisha. And we won’t rest until you will.”

“What are you looking at?” Icy’s voice caught Valtor’s attention, glancing over his shoulders to see the Trix walk in. They’d just gotten back from a mission he’d send them on to Andros to cause trouble, to let them give their new powers a try. Before Valtor could answer Darcy had made her way towards the scrying orb. “What do you want with her?” She asked, curious as to why the orb would be following the spare domino princess as she walked towards her room.

Valtor could see the remaining two sisters also look into his orb. “Yeah, is one domino princess not enough for you?” Stormy commented, which earned her a glare from Valtor, but also from her sisters. 

“Not that it is any of your business, but this little fairy caught my attention the last time we fought.” Valtor waved his hand over the orb, and in it came the memory he had of standing on that platform, the fireball infused with dark magic - indicated from the purple glow coming from the flames-  coming towards him. “A fairy using dark magic?” Icy asked skeptically, as walked closer to the orb. The memory fading, and going back to present time where the fire fairy had made her way towards her bedroom, and towards a chest on the foot of her bed. 

The four of them watched as the fire fairy opened the chest with a spell and proceeded to grab a few books out of it. She placed them all around her, and then grabbed a notebook she also had in the chest. It was clear that she was translating some of the ancient books, or writing down the spells so she wouldn’t have to transfer the whole book with her. “Huh, don’t those books look familiar to you, sisters?” Darcy commented as she glanced at the rest of the Trix. Valtor briefly looked up from the orb, before returning his gaze back to it.

“Yeah, you think this little fairy is a little thief as well as just an overall nuisance?” Icy replied. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Valtor let the orb some in closer, to see the contents of the books more clearly. He knew that the Trix had worked for Darkar before him, and that the temple had been destroyed. He also knew that the Winx were the reason Darkar had died. He hadn’t expected a fairy to take some of the spell books the Dark Phoenix had in possession. Spells he could very well use himself, if only to make sure nobody else had them. It did explain how the fairy was able to cast the spell she did. Valtor felt himself getting deep in thought as the Trix continued their conversation.

“I’ve never seen a fairy use dark magic with her own free will.”

“Desperate sounds more like it.”

“What, are you surprised? You know how much she wants to be like Bloom. Now she’s even turning to dark magic like Bloom did.”

Valtor’s head snapped up, looking directly at Stormy. “What did you say?” Stormy felt herself getting nervous under Valtor’s piercing gaze. Not sure if the look Valtor was giving her was because he was angry, or curious. She sometimes found his emotions difficult to read. 

“Uhm, she’s turning to dark magic like Bloom did.” If Valtor was surprised by that fact his face didn’t show it. “When?” Was all he asked.

The Trix continued to explain about how Darker had captured Bloom by using one of his henchmen to infiltrate Alfea. And how Darkar casted something he called ‘enchanted darkness’ over Bloom's heart, resulting in her switching sides. They mentioned how much stronger she was then compared to her now, and that the Winx only managed to get her back to her normal self because of; “ugh…friendship and love.”

As Valtor heard the story he watched the second living domino princess, as she was alone in her room, making notes of the spellworks while the Winx were still where they had been previously, all together. “Something tells me that won’t be a problem here.”

***

A couple days had passed since that day on Andros when I’d seen Valtor. Aisha had even gotten her Enchantix and eyesight back all in the span of a few days. Luckily all in time for the party that would be happening on Eraklyon. Even as a child I had been invited to attend some of the more high end parties, seeing as I was still a princess of Domino. The invite was more of a formality, as there was no Domino more I would have been representing. But now Bloom also got invited to these types of parties. Me and Stella had helped Bloom the first time she had to attend one of these types of celebrations, and how the proceedings would go.

Bloom knew that I would still get an invite to the party, and I suppose it was kind of her to invite me along when Sky dropped by to bring the winx their personal invitations. But I couldn’t help but feel the small sting that act caused me. Did Bloom really think that I wouldn’t go to the party if she didn’t ask me to tag along? Or did she assume I wouldn’t get one because she was the keeper of the dragon flame? 

I tried not to let my mind get the better of me regarding the situation. Bloom had a lot of things on her mind, perhaps she had forgotten that the two of them would have gotten an invitation regardless.

To keep my mind off the situation I had brought my notebook with me towards the forest surrounding Alfea. I had spent the last couple of days in the woods during nightfall. One of the new spells I’d learned let me sneak back into Alfea without Griselda noticing, so I had more time to study. Every time I returned from the woods I felt stronger, and I was sure that the next time Bloom and I were put together to duel in class I would win despite her having the power of the dragon flame.

I ended up in the open meadow a bit farther from the school grounds where I had been practicing almost every night. I pulled my notebook from the bag I had been carrying with me, and made it float in the air, pages open and on eyesight. Rereading the spell, and studying the drawings of the hand movements that I had made earlier, I focused on a nearby tree. “Withering fire.” Black smoke shot from my hands reaching the tree. As the smoke consumed the tree I could see the leaves turning brown, and the tree bark shriveling and falling off the tree.

“Impressive.”  Startled, I turned around, my hand still raised in the direction the face had come from. I found Valtor leaning against a tree, his arms crossed casually in front of him. “Valtor.” I said, keeping my hand raised. “You remembered my name. Impressive.” He replied nonchalantly, pushing himself away from the tree and sauntering towards me

“What do you want? The winx aren’t here so you’re out of luck.” I retorted, earning a chuckle from Valtor. His head tilted slightly to the side, as if in pity. “Is that what you assume of everyone? That they come to you for the Winx? No, my dear. I’m here for you actually.” I just looked at him skeptically, waiting for the Trix to arrive any minute and attack me. “Your little trick the other day caught my attention. It’s not often a fairy throws dark magic at your face.” 

“There is more where that came from.” I answered, proud that my voice didn’t betray the fear I was feeling. Because just as he had remembered she had thrown dark magic around I remembered how well he had been able to reduce her spell to nothing. “How hostile, and here I thought you fairies were all about love and peace.” He countered right back. I couldn't help the humorless laugh that escaped my mouth. “As you’ve perhaps noticed I’m not like most fairies.”

Valtor’s expression darked, a predatory smile coming onto his face. Goosebumps started on my skin as he looked at me like that. As if I was the prey who had walked right into his trap, and he had me cornered, just the way he had wanted too. “Funny you should mention that because it is exactly the reason why I am here.”

Valtor snapped his fingers, and feet started to get heavier like my muscles and bones were turning into stone, keeping me locked in place. “Hey, what are you,-” Valtor disappeared in front of me, and before I knew it I could feel his presence behind me but with my feet locked to the ground I couldn’t turn around. One of his gloved hands reached for my hair and pushed it over one shoulder so it was out of the way as he leaned closer and whispered into my ear.

“You impress me. A powerful fairy like you I could use by my side. Imagine all the things you would be capable of doing. You think you learn from those books you keep locked in your room, but I will show you what real power is like.” Along with the goosebumps a shiver ran down her spine. How did he know she kept those books in her room? Had he been spying on her? And if he knew this about her, what else did he know? Not about her but about the winx as well.

And I hated to admit it that his offer was tempting. She had seen the power Valtor was capable off and the possibility of him teaching her was very tempting. But I also knew that it wouldn’t last. The good would always win from the bad. And as long as she remained on the good side, she could dip her toe in the bad, even if just for a few dark spells. But if she would betray the wink, she would close that door forever. She would never fit in with them, and she would lose her sister all over again.

“No. No, you don’t mean that. You just want to use me like you use everybody else. And the moment you’re gone I will tell Miss Faragonda and the Winx you were here and they will get you.” Valtor laughed as he stepped away from behind her and into her view again, still laughing. “And what will you tell them you were doing out here? The truth? That you are secretly a user of dark magic, the magic that is currently destroying most of their home planets. I think you keep forgetting that the winx’s are Bloom’s friends, not yours. To them you are just an extra, a charity case to keep around.”

I flinched at this words, but I tried not to let them get to me. “They will see that I was just trying to protect myself, protect them.” I tried to reason, but Valtor just shook his head. “You keep telling yourself that. My offer still stands, but I think it’s time for you to figure out what you really want.” And with that he disappeared again, and the spell on my legs disappeared.

I sank through my knees, tears gathering in the corners of my eyes. Figure out what you really want he’d said.

“I just don’t want to be alone anymore.” I whispered crying into the dark. 

[madlori]

Here's where I am with Buddie.

[CW: I am using the Buddie tag on this post, even though the gist of it is that I'm increasingly doubtful that it'll ever happen. This is NOT an anti-Buddie essay. If you'd rather not read about this topic, please keep scrolling. The bulk of the essay is behind the cut.]

-------

I've thought a lot about this over the weeks since 7x04 aired. It's not a secret that I'm wildly enthusiastic about the BuckTommy pairing (as are many fans) but what does that mean for my thoughts and opinions about Buddie, a pairing I still love and for which I am still writing fic (slowly but surely…)?

It's become increasingly difficult to reconcile hopes for Buddie with dread for a BuckTommy breakup, but if the show managed to pull off a breakup that did not destroy me, I would still be all in for a Buddie endgame.

But more and more, I don't think it's in the cards, and I'm increasingly okay with that.

First off, I know it's a common assumption that Buck and Tommy have an expiration date, and that it cannot last. That may very well be the case, but…the show is not acting like it, nor are they presenting this arc as if it's short-lived. Episodes 4-6, while also being about other things (especially the amazing Madney wedding plot in 6) were also a bit of a trilogy about Buck discovering his sexuality and taking tentative steps into a relationship with another man. It didn't go…particularly smoothly, but the events of 7x06 where they were concerned had a completely different tone. They had a much more settled vibe in the karaoke club scenes, from Tommy's very boyfriendly "check-in" look before he had to leave, to Buck's casual/distracted "Be safe" (as if he's said this before) and just how they spoke to each other and touched each other was much more comfortable than in the coffee meetup. Which makes me think it's been a few weeks and they've seen each other a few times in the interim.

And then that kiss. Putting aside that it was juxtaposed with a literal wedding kiss, there was nothing uncertain or hesitant about it. It felt like a very arc-capping kiss, coupled with the reveal to the rest of Buck's friends and family, and the clear message was "Okay, they're done 'getting together' now, they are together and will be together going forward, even if we don't see Tommy every episode (much as we don't see Karen every episode)." We know Tommy will be around through the end of S8, if not in every remaining episode. After that, we'll see.

A lot of fans have viewed one of the guys coming out as queer to be a first step towards a Buddie future, but I have to say I've never been super comfortable with that logic. I've always thought that if they were going to get together, or both be revealed to be queer, it would have to be at the same time, with each other, via them getting together. The minute they pulled the trigger on Bisexual Buck, I immediately thought that this made Buddie far less likely. Why?

Because it would mean that the writers/showrunners would be making BOTH their "hot younger firefighter" characters queer…separately. In separate storylines. Distinct from each other. And I just don't see that happening. I'm not saying it SHOULDN'T happen. I'd be over the moon. I'm saying I think that's unlikely.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think Eddie will be written as straight and will continue to be written as straight. I don't disagree with the many examples of queer coding we've all seen - the problem is all of them can be just as easily interpreted as arising from a different trauma. Almost everything we've seen from him that could very legitimately be read as breadcrumbs for a queer identity for him could also be rooted in his trauma over Shannon's death, his family trauma, his PTSD, or his general anxiety over being enough for people. He can be read as having sexuality crises. But he can also be read as having other crises with the same results.

I'm not seeing a sexuality crisis for Eddie in the future. I just don't feel like that's where they're taking him. They're taking him somewhere -- he's got storylines coming up -- but I think they're going to have to do with his family, possibly his friendship with Buck, maybe his relationship (I think we can all agree Marisol isn't going to last, she's like the anti-Tommy in that she's been around way longer but has infinitely less of a presence), and Christopher. That's a lot to deal with just right there. If I'm wrong, I will be delighted to be wrong.

But.

I think the show will continue to prioritize and showcase Buck and Eddie's very deep and emotional friendship, which is revolutionary in its own quiet way. Another thing that makes me think they're setting Tommy up to be a long term love interest is that one of the first things they did with him was affirm that he will not come between Buck and Eddie, give him his own relationship with Eddie and Chris, and have him show that he understands and respects the depth of their bond. Not to mention they've integrated him with the firefam. No other of Buck's love interests have gotten this treatment (Taylor had the most contact with the firefam, but I don't think anyone would say she was integrated, LOL). And it shows how committed they are to maintaining Buck and Eddie's friendship as a key emotional element of the show. Tim has also said this, repeatedly.

People often say that there's no explanation for how Buck and Eddie are with each other if it's not romantic - I read a fantastic essay that pointed out that this statement is the reason their platonic friendship IS so important. Men should be able to be vulnerable and loving with each other without it being romantic, as women can be. If we're unable to see a loving friendship without interpreting it as romantic or sexual, what does that say about the kind of male friendships we see everywhere, that makes this one so different?

I know this is an old anti-Buddie argument and I'm not anti-Buddie nor do I mean it's wrong to see it as romantic. I still do. I'm saying if it's not, if it never is, what it is, is already valuable and special, especially when one of them is now openly queer and dating a man.

Anyway. That's where I am with it, and my interpretation of where the show is with it.

[billskeis]

Hi! Absolutely love ur work💕💕 Okay so could you write hcs with all four members (separate) that have a quiet/ shy type s/o?

(Sorry that this req is short but my brain is running out of juice rn, love the work, keep it up😘😘)

ᡣ𐭩 tokio hotel w shy s/o

thank u so much! and don’t worry, you’re doing great! let’s appreciate all my shy and quiet homies out there! y’all deserve some more appreciation in your life.

headcannons down below!

bill

loves loves loves that you’re shy, he thinks it’s so cute

usually one to go for loud spontaneous girls but you’re like a stick in the mud, and that drew you to him

since you don’t talk much you’re a really good listener, and bill is known to ramble a lot

appreciates the fact you listen to him attentively

because of how tall he is, loves the fact that whenever you’re out to meet new people you hide behind him, how you have to peak behind his shoulder once he introduces you to his peers or acquaintances and is always holding your hand through it, squeezing it to ensure everything is okay

hand holding in public gets you super shy but bill loves to show you off in any way possible

his love language is definitely words of affirmation, so will out of the blue compliment you to see how you react

hiding your face, not knowing how to respond, running away from him to only catch up to you quickly

he fucking loves that shit

“aww come on baby, am i not allowed to tell you how beautiful you are?”

tom

just like bill, usually goes for spontaneous girls

but when he saw you at the club and how flustered you became when he hit on you, MANS WAS DRAWN INNN

physical touch all the way, makes you insane and knees weak, and he just lives for that

sudden grabs of the waist, hugging, holding your neck gently to swiftly pull you into a kiss

maybe if he’s feeling bold he’ll sneak a hand on your ass

the eye contact goes crazy, once you look at him and he catches you, he’ll never break his gaze

finds it super adorable that you’re always the one to break the stare down, laughs and pats your head always afterwards

omgosh loves and i mean fucking loves it when you hide yourself in his clothes especially his sweaters when he’s wearing them how you’ll just tuck yourself into the sweater bodies pressed together engulfing like FUCK do this more often he loves it

whenever you go out to get food, you’re shyness doesn’t allow you to take to service workers so he always offers to order for you, eventually it becomes a habit and does it himself

“how’s that baby, i made sure to get your coffee just how you like it.. oh me? a coca cola!”

gustav

introvert x introvert ALL THE WAYY BABEYYY

the way you and gustav show affection for one another usually comes from physical touch or acts of service

communicating with each other isn’t hard, it’s almost like a spidey sense where you just know what the other person wants or needs and can simply do that for them

expect soo many cuddles, movie marathons and baking/cooking sessions, gustav loves to cook and bake with you, the playlist on in the background that the two of you curated for one another simply enjoying each other’s company is enough for the both of you

on the other hand, if you guys wanted to step out of the comfort zone to go outside on a date, expect to play rock paper scissors to see who has to talk to someone to either order food or request a table at a restaurant

you and gustav can also have one on one sessions with each other deep conversing, talking about anything and everything

can immediately notice when you’re uncomfortable or feeling way too shy or nervous in situations

will either step up, say something, or simply bring you somewhere else where it’s now just the two of you

if you tell and express to him how you feel, will fully listen to you, holding your hands together caressing them

“i understand.. we can either leave, or if not, you can sit next to me! i’m right here with you.

georg

is the biggest shit ever

even more than tom, loves to tease you, you can find him tapping your shoulder and running away leaving you confused or whenever you compliment or tell him you love him will make you repeat it loud and clear

but if it comes to that case, will have to beat the shit out of someone if they make a comment about how shy or quiet you are

not much of a talker, but when he does find himself talking a lot more than you in conversations always asks what you think and what your opinion on it is

does it solely just to hear you speak because he loves your voice and doesn’t get to hear it enough ugh y/n what’s wrong w u??

expect him to rest his arm on your shoulder, head on chin, and bear hugs, he thinks that just because you’re quiet he treats you as if you were someone smaller than him

but he this is just how he publicly shows how in love with you he is

constantly compliments you on how you look, the outfits you wear, how good you are at things vice versa nd that

but you finally snap back at him and compliment him even further and woah honey you have him in a chokehold rn

“fuck, i didn’t expect you to say that, can you say it again? please? i wanna’ hear it one more time..”

[deathandrainbows1]

Kanej Headcanons - Touch

They might not be the physically intimate, can’t-keep-their-hands-off-eachother type of couple but the intimacy they can find in the smallest of acts like a brush against the neck or a caress of the hand cannot be put to words. They’re both so in love with each other it makes me sick.

Kaz loves holding onto Inej’s hand, he loves how warm and how alive she feels. By now he’s memorized every vein, line and callous on her hand, to the point where he knows the back of her hand better than his own. Inej likes how gentle, almost reverent he is with her, and the way he caresses her hand with his thumb.

Similarly, Inej loves holding onto  Kaz’s hands, the hands she’d spent so long admiring in their scarred, unnatural paleness from being in his gloves so much. She likes how it makes her feel in control; The control that she’d never had in her days in the Menagerie. Kaz finds the way she holds onto his hand and intertwined their fingers together comforting. He still gets chill everytime, in the good way (most of the time, at least).

It’s comforting for the both of them, they like rubbing the other’s hand with their thumb while they’re holding onto it and on days where holding hands is too much for them, they make do with linking their pinkies together.

And there are still days where its too much, days where Kaz can’t tell the feel of a living body from that of a dead one, and days where Inej can’t tell the touch of the boy she loves from that of a customer at the Menagerie.

They understand this, and respect it. They have memorized each other’s tells, whether it be the way Kaz freezes up at the slightest brush against his hand or how Inej flinches and sighs when she’s held, even if she tries to hide it. But, they try to push past their traumas together nonetheless. It has worked too, compared to when they started.

Still, when it does become overwhelming they both know to let go and give each other the space; Coming to terms with this fact alone makes them feel so much safer and more comfortable with physical contact. They’re both helping each other heal and recover from their respective traumas, and its beautiful.

That being said, they are still just kids in love.

Kaz is still utterly entranced by Inej. He stops to stare more often than he’d like to admit and tries to play it off when she catches him. She can see through it of course, that armour means nothing to her now.

Not that she’s any better either mind you, you’d think after all they’ve been through and seen, and how often they hold hands, she’d be used to the sight of Kaz’s bare hands. She isn’t, and still turns red whenever he takes his gloves off. Kaz still hasn’t noticed, clueless as he is but Inej is convinced that he does it on purpose.

Sleeping together in one bed is difficult, not that they haven’t tried. The amount of physical contact can get too much, too many nights Kaz has woken up in a cold sweat, shaking from nightmares about the Reaper Barge, and too often has Inej nearly stabbed Kaz after nightmares about the Menagerie. 

The solution? Separate beds.

They keep two beds next to each other separated by a small distance, that way they’re still close without quite touching. They still hold hands or link pinkies between the beds though it helps them sleep.

And on the days where they both can handle it, they push the beds together. It might take them a while before they’re comfortable enough to cuddle, but just the warmth and proximity is enough for the both of them for now.

Oh and Kaz absolutely does Inej’s hair.

It was therapeutic once they realised that its easier for the both of them when he touches hair rather than her skin. She finds it relaxing, and he is enchanted by her hair. She taught him how to oil it, brush it and braid it, and its almost a nightly or every-other-nightly ritual for them, Inej sitting there while Kaz does her hair. 

I do think that they would eventually become comfortable enough to move on to more intimate things, but that would probably take a long, long time.

[fallingsatellive]

⩝

This isn't just an essay about my archetrope identity; it's also the explanation for what it even is.

I've tried to narrow it down, I've tried to separate it, and I've tried to find convenient ways to define it. I explained it as having multiple distinct archetrope identities that were closely related—"wanderer," "mimic," "opportunist" "shapechanger"—but they aren't distinct. Most archetropes will say their archetypes are things like knight, or unreliable narrator—I don't think mine is inherently different or more internally complicated in any way, but the problem is that most archetypes and concepts have words that mean them. Everyone knows what a knight is. No matter where and how long I pored over the dictionary and Etymonline, I couldn’t find one single word that explains what I am. I had to realize that it's the very fact of what it is that makes an existing word or phrase impossible. So I made my own.

I call it Wayvariance. It's a portmanteau of sorts, between the words "wayfar" and "variant." A wayfarer is obviously a traveller or explorer, but the etymology of way (to mean the course by which something occurs) and fare (to mean to wander, to be/exist, or even simply just to go) implies a connotation of someone who doesn't just travel, but who's defined by it. Variance originally meant only the act of undergoing change. Its meaning of diversity, difference, came later; a result of inevitable change. The way evolution is a constant course of change, meaning inherently that it's also existence in infinities.

Wayvariance is being a wanderer. Not because I travel a lot, but ontologically. I always leave. I leave both physically and existentially. The wanderer grows bored with home, with comfort and familiarity. Not just bored. Sick. Sick to its stomach. Being in one place for too long creates a miasma. I could find something to hate about anywhere I end up. I've lived in enough places in a short enough amount of time to feel that anywhere I go next is implicitly not a place I'll stay for very long, and to feel like even just three years is a crazy long amount of time for me to spend living somewhere. A new city to become part of is my version of someone else’s return to a cozy childhood bedroom. But I never really am a part of them, I know by now. The homebody is a river carving canyons over eons. The traveller is always the fish.

"I would tell you about the ocean if I had a moment to stay and chat. But those other places call again and we will never see each other after this. I seem to be the only one who recognizes this. You say ‘keep in touch’ like I have hands and not fins."

I go where I go. It’s a matter of perspective whether it's freedom or being towed by an invisible rope to unknowable destinations, I guess. I choose to appreciate it, but only because I couldn't ever choose to stop it. To drift through existence. The word “plankton” etymologically traces back to the Greek for “wandering.” Plankton are defined as any creature which does not swim purposefully, but rather is carried by ocean currents. Am I purposeless? Rootless? Is this why so many people think their roots are their purpose? I never knew what it was like to have either. No wonder I'm anti-zionist as a Jew. Doikayt doesn’t just mean hereness to me, it means anywhereness. There is no soil or stone with my names already carved. There are no waters that whisper for me, only to. You get it.

Which is all to say: the difference between a wanderer and someone who is lost is only a matter of deciding that what you are is a conscious choice rather than being haplessly dragged along by the universe. Either way, there is no end and no source. I don’t even know what to say when people ask where I'm from. Whatever works, who’s asking?

Wayvariance is being a shapeshifter. One who changes. Not just their shape, too, but their whole self. Recreates the self. In fact, it’s my only constant. The one thing that will never change about me is that I will always change. I know that I'm trans because I seek radical physiological transformation more than any other reason. I cannot live a whole life without knowing what it feels like to be so drastically modified; not even out of a frenzied sense of curiosity, but out of an unavoidable instinct. I crave change, and I need it. The wanderer grows bored with home, with self, body, mind. It needs to leave. Stagnation kills me, like mosquitoes breed eggs in the still waters of my life. My name isn’t the same as it was 3 years ago and it won’t be the same three years from now. Even the way I write or draw is inconsistent. Even the way I type. An example: it wasn't a mistake to switch from digit to word when writing the same number just now. I felt like it—but I can't explain why.

Shapeshifter transforms the body and the mind remains intact. Wayvariant, on the other hand, becomes. Embodies. Change does not even have to be from the inside out. When I put something on myself—a name, an answer, an image, a character, a preference—it seeps into my epidermis like the ink of a tattoo until the only way to remove it is with the regular moulting of my feathers. I can't relate to stories of fictional shapeshifters because I can’t imagine turning into something physically but not becoming it in my entirety. What do the words mind, heart, body and soul mean? They are all equally mutable and impermanent. I have identified as otherkin for nearly eight years and I don’t have the same kintypes I did when I first realized, not because I was wrong about being a fox, but because I became a badger instead. Not even the same kintypes I did half that time ago, not because I was wrong about being a badger, but because I became a cladotherian instead. Queer, but never wanting to call myself “against labels” or “still questioning” just because I was aroace femme-presenting nonbinary and now I'm a butch bi man. You get it.

I used to relate to the phoenix. But there's no dramatic blaze of fire or victorious rising up from the embers for me. I don't need to burn to exist in the ashes of everything I used to be. Maybe someday a sapling will grow from them instead of a bird. If there was such thing as consistency, I would consistently be changing. But there isn’t. So when I grow into a tree, I certainly won’t be a bird anymore.

Wayvariance is adaptation, and by extension, survival. Sometimes Wayvariating is like being the last survivor of an apocalypse because you refused to die more like a cockroach than a hero, but that’s OK, you’re used to the loneliness. Sometimes it’s change that’s evolution at such a rapid pace it doesn’t need generations, only you and a certain willpower. Was there a reason the bird needed to suddenly be a tree in the first place? Sometimes Wayvariating is like chewing your leg off to get out of the trap. Backed into a corner snapping and hissing, it’s not very heroic either but I’ve always been more like a wild animal than that particular archetype allows for.

That also means Wayvariance is mimicry, inherently. Mimicry is survival. An adaptation. Some creatures will mimic a coloration of a poisonous species to deter predators. Some creatures will mimic the beats of a human interaction, perfectly memorized and choreographed to avoid being noticed. Some won’t even realize they are the only one in the room who’s having to pretend to be human. For a lifetime. They just know that snapping and hissing don’t protect them as well as dancing and laughing do. So I learned how to dance and laugh, but not because it's funny.

A terrifying concept for humans to think someone in the room might not be the same as them, but somehow smiles and speaks like them all the same. Like it has learned their behaviors, their patterns. A horror movie monster. One you don't notice right away, even speaking to it. What is it scheming? A great evil? To hunt, kill, devour? To make innocent humanity its victim?

Why would an animal have to pretend to be poisonous if it was the one who was bloodthirsty?

Wayvariance is opportunism. That’s also an adaptation. A Wayvariant is an animal that can survive on any diet, in any biome, because it takes what it can get while it can get it. That’s being a generalist. For a wild animal, at least. A sapient person's version I guess would be called eclecticism. My preferences are wide enough that I may as well not have any. Being a generalist means I say I “don’t play favorites” and I say I “have no taste” in things because I never know what to say when someone asks me my favorite type of movie, or game, favorite genre of music, what’s your dream job… where would you like to live? No answer, for me. Every answer. I could find something to love about anywhere I end up.

I also endeavor to diversify the self, too. Not just my options. It’s not just about differences. It’s about encompassments. It is difficult for me to make my self small because it naturally desires so many things. Therian, but struggling to whittle myself down to as socially acceptable a polytherianthropy as I can muster even if some people can only imagine I'm struggling to “maintain so many conflicting identities.” Autistic, and having special interests in topics some people find so impossibly broad like “art” that I have genuinely, not joking, had my disability fakeclaimed over it. Archetrope and having a 'type so conceptual and expansive as this that I need to make my own word for it. You get it.

Which means Wayvariance is to contain multitudes. It is not a contradiction for me to contradict myself. It comes easily because I'm not just OK with being confused or confusing, I embrace it. I don’t understand how others would find being "your own opposite" hard to wrap the mind around. Asymmetry? A walking paradox? Maybe in the eyes of others. Multitude eyes see those variating evolutionary infinities behind themselves. You can be both the desert and ocean. You can be snow and fire. You can be the desert and the ocean but not both at once. You can be snow and fire, but neither snow nor fire. This is so normal to me that it’s tricky to explain. When I write or do art, a million projects open at once that I chip away at over time across the board works better for me than putting all focus into one; if I'm playing three games, or watching three shows or reading three books at once, I finish all three before I would have finished just one if it was the only one. Something about the variety keeps my attention better than hyperfocus ever could, even with the autism/adhd combo. I liked having a million thousand nested links on my blog because there’s something about labyrinthinely navigated lists that makes more sense to me, and something about having different sideblogs for different topics that doesn’t. And I'm plural. No need to expound upon that one. Plural in more than one way, even. Plural in different ways that don't stay consistent. If I expound anyway, it's because I can't help it. You get it.

Wayvariance is ambiguity. I revel in it. I love those stupid link labyrinths, but I also like having nothing in terms of information that's accessible at all, even difficultly, because obscurity is my nest, where I feel safe. Vague isn’t uncomfortable for me, if anything, it’s familiar. Uncertainty is like a lullaby and a confident answer to a question is like waking with a start from the sensation of falling; you know the feeling—jarring, sudden. I'm not insecure when things don't make sense, though I know others sometimes see it that way if I'm nonsensical too often. I never feel more secure than when things don’t make sense. If there was such thing as home, mine would be the strange and ephemeral, and the antichronology of dreams, and enigmas. But there isn’t. So I am always waking up somewhere time exists, and you know the feeling, jarring and sudden. Making myself understood sometimes is like a fool’s errand, especially because way too many people think being esoteric is always a choice. I make an entire new word to describe my archetrope identity and then write an entire essay trying to explain it, because (as the modern adage explains) “human language is like trying to nail down the ocean” and unlike some, I am not human, I am the fish called to seas and from river to river, never with the privilege of walking back onto dry land where words lie.

G-d, why the hell was I an English major.

Wayvariants are outsiders, foreigners wherever they go, from across oceans to their home towns to the inside of their own heads. I am, after all, a wanderer, and I always leave. I leave both physically and existentially. Because I always leave, I also always arrive. I am a stranger wherever I arrive. Both physically and existentially. And a journey inevitably always changes the traveller. If I ever were to come back home, I'd be a stranger there too.

But like I said. There is no such thing as home.

[ballad-of-birdy-lamb]

hii just saw your headcanons for sejanus and reaper and they were so good ,, I was wondering if you could do headcanons for a fem reader who is very touchy with their s/o for reaper and jessup? not in a creepy way, just as a very prominent love language

Live laugh love Reaper and Jessup ❤️❤️

Jessup Diggs x Fem! Physically affectionate! Reader x Reaper Ash (separate romantic headcanon)

Jessup Diggs

Before the Games

The affection is accepted all the time. Each time you feel like hugging him or touching him in some way, he's down for it

He does like getting cleaned (as much as he possibly can) to look nice for you and to make sure you don't get coal dust all over your clothes

His favorite form of physical affection would be laying your head on his shoulder. He feels strong and likes that you are so willing to rely on him for that physical support

While on the train, he would only sleep while you were awake, which he rarely did since there was a huge bat in the train car

He would try hitting it away with his rolled-up jacket and try keeping it in the opposite corner to make sure you didn't get bit

During the Games

The affection you willingly gave to him was a definite comfort. Each caress almost calmed each of his nerves

Jessup could have held you forever and your touch made him think he could go home with you

He likes keeping you as close as possible, lying near you while he was in pain was the easiest form of comfort he could get

Jessup would lie with you, holding your hand while curled up by your side, groaning from what seemed to be body pains

You would try comforting him to the best of your abilities. Telling him stories, petting his hair and face, or even covering him with his jacket to keep him asleep

But every time you tried giving him water from the small, manmade stream in the floor, he was quick to retaliate against it

You wonder why.

Reaper Ash

Before the Games

Reaper takes your affection with honor. He adores feeling your skin against his when you hold his hand and when you hug him.

Similarly to Jessup, many days after working with the fruits and vegetables in the fields, he would be first to clean himself up, especially his hands

Hand-holding is his favorite and go-to form of affection. It was considered easier to do since he would continue doing other things while having some form of affection with you

During your time on the train, he would lay you next to him, almost on top of him at some points. But he was too worried about you to keep you from going far, even if it was to the other side of the small train car

Reaper would spend his time fixing your clothes, telling you stories he made up on the spot, or trying to keep the bat in the train car from getting near you

During the Games

Reaper’s need to keep you close becomes far more evident in the arena. You need to be nearby where he can at least hear you, but even that's a little too far

Lots of hand-holding, the small touch is enough to bring him comfort

During the bloodbath, Reaper had gone to the cornucopia to retrieve weapons for you and him. He had told you to stay in place and to call for him if another tribute got near

Your duration in the arena was spent mostly hiding out in the tunnels, usually in small and dark rooms that only you and Reaper had found

You were allowed to sleep and rest as much as you needed unless it was when you needed to start moving again. Either way, Reaper would look out while you slept, even then, he held your hand

The only time Reaper allowed himself to rest was when he needed to sleep, which he rarely wanted to do. He claimed he was a heavy sleeper and would never wake in time to get his weapons or anything

But you would just shush him and tell him to sleep, bringing his head to lie next to yours and holding your hand. It was the only time he allowed himself to rest in the arena.

__

My tbosas masterlist!!

[arliganzey]

Zey/Vau? 👀👀👀

all right all right I dropped hints here and

and now I gotta explain myself

Folks, this was supposed to be a crackship RP between @the-pyromaniacs-teki and me. We were all like teehee let's write Vau and Zey slash, it's crack taken seriously. Yeah, okay, so we took it very seriously and tried to keep them in character as much as possible and fit it into the canon timeline, and now it consumes our entire beings. We're married to it and there's nothing you can do to change our minds.

It starts right after the events of Triple Zero: Zey has a bottle of vintage whiskey and he determines Vau might appreciate trying it, so he invites Vau to his office for a celebratory drink after a successful mission (this would happen the night that Kal and the gang go out with Obrim and CSF). So Vau has just had the crap beat out of him by Atin, but he shows up anyway (it's a social call and he is a gentleman who honors his commitments).

They drink whiskey too fast. They're chatting. Zey is like maybe I can fix your face? And... the rest of you? (Having no idea what happened. Also Bardan had to learn Force healing from someone so I think Zey can Force heal. Mini headcanon moment.)

So a little face touching later... a little curiosity... too much whiskey... the taboo of kissing a Jedi/Mandalorian...

Look at my pfp. Now look back at me. It happens in Zey's office.

And they're like never again. But then they kind of obsess over it (separately) until Zey caves and tracks Vau down. Happens again. Zey, the detached Jedi, suggests a casual arrangement, because how the hell could Walon Vau develop feelings for a Jedi?

So they meet up a few more times and have a steamy com call or two during the war. (Alicia Keys song 'IT'S A WAAAR TIIIME LOOOVE AAAAFFAIR') Vau teaches Zey some mando'a... because Zey knows lots of conversational bits of various languages for diplomacy reasons, but he should definitely learn more mando'a because the troops are always speaking it...

There's a pretty long lull in contact (8ish months) and then Zey cuts things off abruptly during the events of Order 66, right after the conversation where he asks Vau to spy on Kal. And it's not great! They both caught some feelings! War is stressful and it was some escapism comfort! But Zey is a jerk about it and insists it was all casual and meant nothing!

Insert all canon events here (Zey arrives at Kyrimorut with Maze; Vau is PISSED and argues with Kal about it; Zey gets sent off to Altis).

Are you still with me? Okay this is where we just went straight up indulgent. First of all, Etain lives. Whew. Zey gets to meet Venku. He still cries. Everyone at Kyrimorut is a lot happier in general, and slightly more accepting that Zey is alive.

One way or another, Vau and Zey keep crossing paths (because Zey wants to hang out with his former employee-children Etain and Bardan). Vau and Zey soften toward each other and suddenly they're spending more time together as friends and then wham, Vau has a near death experience on a job and decides to stop farting around because life is short. He gets back together with Zey.

ARE YOU STILL WITH ME? OKAY SO THEY ARE OLD GUYS IN LOVE. EVENTUALLY ZEY GOES FULL MANDO. BARDAN (NOW AN ARMOR SMITH) MAKES HIM ARMOR. THIS IS HOW WE GET ARLIGAN ZEY IN MANDALORIAN ARMOR!!! HE BECOMES FULL HOUSEHUSBAND MANDO AND LEARNS HOW TO COOK AND JUST VIBES AND HAS HOBBIES AND MAKES SOCIAL CALLS WHILE VAU KEEPS WORKING BOUNTIES

"But Cal--" NO I GET IT. I KNOW IT'S INSANE. BEGONE [smashes my Zey and Vau dolls together] NOW KITH

[unicornsaures]

What the FUCK is going on with the Henry-William dynamic and why theyre like That because i think ive put this post off long enough:

tw // mentions of shitty parents, overdose/suicide🤥

Okay so the simplest answer I can give you is codependence. Thats the only way i can describe their dynamic. Henry needs William and William needs Henry! This isnt in a strictly romantic or strictly platonic sense, either. They were both set to meet at one of the lowest points in their life with only each other to go to, so its just easier for them to just stick with each other. Williams trust is fucked up and Henry is just..he just likes having William around because they understand each other. I mean, both of them had suffered through shitty childhoods with Henry having a deadbeat mother and living in poverty and William with an abusive father. They just get each other and it just brought them closer to the point they just couldnt live without each other.

Now, their relationship also isnt the healthiest, either. Its full of jealousy and the whole "I need you" thing just fucks them up a lil bit more. At the same time, though, its worse for them to be apart. I mean, they genuinely need each other to feel okay because each of them posesses qualities the other doesnt, and being apart for too long brings them genuine distress. Thats why theyre always either written, or drawn together. Theyre a pair and its rare for them to be separated if not by force.

Though the main reason I talk about them not being healthy is heavily influenced by how Henry reacts to Williams death: erraticly. I mean, he loses himself the moment William "leaves him."(Thats what it feels like to him, at least.) He becomes impulsive, self destructive, etc because the fact of the matter is, he genuinely needed william to feel okay. William knew Henry for around 25 years, taking up the better part of his life, and when hes always there, Henry didnt really think it was possible to live a life without him there, so ultimately Henry didnt care if he himself died afterwards. He naturally stopped caring because ein his eyes, he was living for william. With william gone, he basically lost the one thing he was living for and the only reason he stayed another 6 months was because he wasnt actively trying to die, it just happened when he was being careless.

On a seperate note, and the question I keep being asked, are they dating? And for that, Its kind of complicated. They arent just friends, but they arent really dating, either. Its something in between, especially post-war when theres no reason that theyre ever apart. They take on an almost domestic kind of style with each other? Like theres more physical touch than one would deem "friendly" whether that be a hand on the cheek, playing with hair, etc. But its for means of comfort. But do they have feelings for each other? By 1785, yeah, but nothing is done about it. They were content being their own thing that isnt romantic and isnt platonic and yayy good for them they were happy with each other and a little bit gay and a LOTTA bit codependent but thats basically their dynamic ^_^

[thelovelylolly]

Can you do fluff alphabet with Robin?

Fluff Alphabet w/ Robin Buckley

A/N: this is my first time writing something like this so i hope you enjoy it love <3 also i didn't find just one alphabet so i kinda picked the prompts i liked lol

A: Affection (how do they show affection/are they good at it)

Robin loves to show affection through physical touch. She'll hug you, kiss you on the cheek and forehead, hold your hand, anything to be close to you and touching you. It takes her a while to be comfortable enough to do it, but once she's comfortable? You two are inseparable :)

B: Beauty (what does she think makes her s/o beautiful)

Your laugh and smile. She loves making you laugh or doing things that make you smile. She gets butterflies every time you smile, whether that be at her or something else. She loves making sure you're happy.

C: Comfort (how she comforts her s/o after a rough day)

Robin will go out and buy you all your favorite snacks, rent your favorite movies, and make your living room into a big fort with blankets and pillows. You two would have a movie marathon and cuddle in the fort, forgetting the rest of the world for a while.

D: Dreams (what does her dream future with her s/o look like)

I feel like Robin isn't someone who would want to get married (even if it was legal in the 80s). She has her s/o and that's enough. She doesn't really need a fancy piece of paper or some rings to prove that. She does want to buy a nice house with you one day, maybe get a few pets, too. She really wants a dog, but she'd be happy with whatever pet you want (no matter how strange it is).

E: Equal (is she more dominant or soft in the relationship)

She's somewhere in the middle. She has her strengths in the relationship, but she also has her insecurities. You two work well together and complete each other, so you're both pretty equal in your relationship.

F: Fight (how would a typical fight go and how easily would she forgive her s/o)

You two rarely fight, but when you do, you two probably step away from each other for a while. Maybe one of you leave the house for a few hours to destress, or you two just go into separate rooms and do your own things. But you and Robin never went to bed angry. If it means staying up later, sitting in bed together, and talking it out, then so be it. Depending on what the fight was about, Robin would probably forgive you easily.

G: Gratitude (is she grateful for all her s/o does/has done for her)

Of course she is. Robin never lets a day go by without mentioning how grateful she is to be with you, so you can expect plenty of 'thank you's when you do a chore she doesn't like for her or made her favorite dinner for her. Little things, but they mean so much to her.

H: Honest (how honest is she to her s/o)

Super honest. She rambles a lot, so the truth always gets out of her. She can try to lie or keep a secret from you, but it doesn't take long before it just slips out of her. Because of this, your super honest, too. Neither of you hide anything.

I: Inspiration (did her s/o inspired her to become a better person)

You showed her that everyone could keep improving themselves, so she did her best to improve herself. It started with her becoming better for you, but it slowly become more for herself. You're proud of her growth, no matter if she's doing it for you or herself.

J: Jealousy (does she get jealous)

It's very rare for Robin to get jealous. You two love each other and Robin is secure enough to be confident you wouldn't leave her. You probably get more jealous than she does, but your jealousy doesn't last long.

K: Kiss (where does she kiss her s/o, where does her s/o kiss her)

She loves to kiss your cheek. It's her favorite place to kiss after your lips. She also loves to give you forehead kisses while you two cuddle. Her favorite kinds of kisses to receive are kisses on the cheek. Though, you can't go wrong with a kiss on the lips.

L: Little ones (how is she with kids)

Robin is not a natural with kids. It takes some trial and error, but she can at least take care of older kids. She isn't some serious figure at all, so she likes to take on the role of the fun 'adult'. She'll plan pranks, sneak candy, all that stuff. Sometimes you try to stop her, but most times, you help her out.

M: Marriage (does she want to get married)

Like I said earlier, I don't see Robin getting married. She loves her s/o, she doesn't need a piece of paper to tell her that. But if you want to get married, she'd be happy to. It would not be a big event, just you two and a few close friends as witnesses. You would probably take her last name, too.

N: Nicknames (what nicknames does she have for her s/o and vice versa)

Babe is most used between you two. You also call her 'Rob', and she'll call you a shortened version of your name or another personal kind of nickname. If she's feeling extra sappy, she'd call you something really, really cheesy.

O: On cloud nine (what's she like when she's in love)

Head over heels, heart eyes, everything. She's like a puppy dog when she's in love with you. She wants to be around you almost 24/7. She loves to give you small gifts or do something for you, even if its new to her. You like this specific kind of paint? Robin found it for you and it's waiting for you on your desk. You want a specific kind of cookie? Robin's rarely baked but she'll make you a huge batch of cookies if you want.

P: PDA (is she okay with pda)

Robin's a bit more reserved when it comes to PDA, and you don't mind. A small, Indiana town in the 80s? Not the most accepting setting. However, you two will link arms when you walk around just to be close. If there aren't many people around, you two will hold hands. But if you two were in a more accepting place, plenty of subtle PDA. A kiss on the forehead here, an arm around the waist there. Little things to make sure you two knew the other was there.

Q: Quirk (a trait of hers that makes her a great partner)

Her attention to detail. Like I said earlier, she will get you gifts or make you something if you mention it. She knows what kind of music you like, what your favorite color is, how you like your coffee or tea. She notices the little things, and you love it.

R: Romance (how romantic is she)

Very romantic. She does little things, but she also does huge gestures just to show how much she loves you. A surprise road trip, a shopping trip on your birthday, anything. Valentine's Day is when she does the most. Roses, chocolates, gifts, a fancy date or dates, she doesn't come to play.

S: Security (how protective is she)

Not super protective, but she'd put herself between you and danger if it came down to it. She doesn't want to lose you ever, and if that means she gets hurt, so be it. Some asshole picks a fight? She'd take the punch (maybe throw one, too).

T: Thrill (does she like new things in the relationship or does she like routine)

Loves routine, but she does try to change things up every now and then. She mainly does that by doing new things for dates. Maybe its a day trip to an amusement park or visiting a town neither of you have been before. If you're down, she's down.

U: Ugly (what are some of her bad traits and does she know about them)

Rambling and ranting. She'll talk over you or interrupt you on accident because she has to get the words out. She knows its a problem and she does her best to work on it, with your help of course.

V: Value (is her relationship her main priority)

Of course it is. You're everything to her. Her friendships never come before you and your relationship. Her friends what to hang out? She probably already has plans with you and she would never cancel on you.

W: Wild Card

While I kept mentioning physical touch, gift giving and acts of service, I think Robin's big love language is quality time. She's just happy to be with you or be around you, no matter what you're doing it. You two could be sitting in the living room doing your own things and she'd love every second of it because you two are together.

X: XOXO (how often does she kiss, hug, and cuddle with you)

If she could, Robin would have her arms around you 24/7. You fall asleep and wake up with her arms around you everyday. If either of you have to go to work, neither of you leave without a kiss. Sometimes, one of you will get overwhelmed and a hug will fix it right up.

Y: Yuck (something she doesn't like)

Robin can't handle certain textures. When you get her a gift, you make sure it doesn't have one of the textures she doesn't like. If you're cooking her dinner, you make sure the food's texture won't bother her. You're happy she told you about it early on so you wouldn't accidentally get her something she didn't like the texture of.

Z: Zzz (how is she when she sleeps)

Not a light sleeper, but not a heavy one either. She snores and sometimes talks in her sleep, like a word or two. However, she can't get good sleep without you. She'll toss and turn, and wake up through out the night if you're not there. Of course, that's later on in her relationship when she's used to being close to you when you two sleep.

[dumblittleboy19]

STORY TIME:

So I’ve never gotten personal on here much. You can call me Addie! If you’ve been on the abdl side of tumbler for 10+ years, I was the male half of ThatOddCouple. We obviously went our separate ways but still keep in touch!

I’ve been into ABDL well before I knew there was even a term for it. If I had to put a number to it, I was probably 10 or 11 when I started to notice I was …..interested in wearing diapers. But there’s a little more to it.

I grew up in a cul du sac with my older sister by 4 years and a bunch of kids slightly older than me. Only thing was that up until I was 10, I was the only boy among the group. And the youngest. And I was “forced” to be walked up and down and all over the cul du sac in their little strollers that their mom would let them use to play “house”. It happened a lot. And it got to the point that I would get jealous when they used the other girl close to my age to be the “baby”. I loved the attention.

At the same time, my mom had a childhood best friend that lived a neighborhood away from us with a son and daughter that were me and my sisters age. I’d sleep over there basically once a week minimum and they would sleep at my house. From toddlers up until middle school I did this. Apparently the son was a chronic bedwetter at night and to make him feel comfortable, she would make us both wear diapers. And she would put each of us in them herself before we got comfy to watch a movie or play video games. I remember sitting in the backseat of the car on the way home the next day and hearing my parents argue about how it was “weird” she did this to her son and me for so long. I LONGED for those sleepovers.

I know both of those stories sound like bullshit. They are real. The other side of this, the side people don’t talk about much, is the negative aspects of their kink. When my parents found out what I was looking at online and how active I was on the DailyDiapers forums (real ones know what’s up) that started an almost decades long cycle of being shoved into different therapists offices to be “fixed”. And whenever a therapist told them I was perfectly fine and not harming anyone, I was accused of lying to my therapists to get on their good side and sent to a new one. It was like this until the day I moved out at 26. To the point where I had to make up a reason WHY I was going to therapy to my vanilla friends and girlfriends.

I spent a lot of my life trying to separate the “vanilla me” and this side of me and in the past 5 or 6 years I’ve just embraced it more. I still keep things separate for the most part, but my closest friends know. I’ve had long term relationships with Mommies and I LOVE a FLR 😍

Always dreamed of having my own place to be little whenever I want and throw abdl parties and sleepovers and have a whole bunch of IRL abdl friends. I’d daydream about having that freedom constantly.

And now I’m doing just that. I host a month abdl banger in south jersey once a month. I’ve made so many friends in the New Jersey/Philly area and they are all such talented and amazing people. We’ve worked really hard this past year and the community we have built is SO amazing. I have become the safe house for people to come and feel like they can be themselves and be little (or be a mommy/daddy. Whatever you fancy). I’ve had people say to me that my house was the first time anybody else has even seen them in their full ABDL gear, let alone compliment them and call them cute and make them feel small.

I love this community and I wanna see it grow more and more. And if you are in the area and you think you’re alone, you’re not. Reach out and let’s be friends.

Well that’s my super long winded post! Thanks for reading if you’ve gotten this far lmao.

That last pic I salvaged from the old ThatOddCouple tumblr page! I can’t believe I found it. If anybody has any other pictures from that page PLEASE share them with me.

[animeyanderelover]

Request: Can I have the letters A, I, L and M with Pluto, Snake Aomine and Akashi?

I'm pretty sure I did already the letter A for Snake a long time ago.

Tw: Yandere themes, unhealthy mindset, unhealthy relationship, possessive behavior, obsession, delusion, clinginess, controlling behavior

Yandere Alphabet

Pluto

Affection-How and how often do they show affection?

🐺 Do consider the fact that this man here is more of a wolf than he is a human. Pluto's brain functions differently than others since he behaves and thinks like a dog would do. His darling for that is his mate, the one he wants to protect and stay with forever. The dog-like behavior is shown very strongly through his obvious clinginess, Pluto is pretty much all of the time attached to your hip and never lets you leave his side. Suffocatingly smothering and very protective are main ways to show his affection. He licks your face, rubs his face against your shoulders and neck and growls at everyone who dares to touch you as he has to defend what's his. Scenting you is very important for him so it isn't all that rare that he transforms and you're stuck with him until you reek of wolf. He behaves like a good boy around you too as he tries to impress you as much as he can to entice you to choose him as a mate although that can include him bringing you things he stole or in some cases even dead animals or people he's hunted down for you.

Ideals-What do they have in mind for the future?

🐺 Planning ahead for the future doesn't seem like something Pluto would really do as excessive as others would. His imagination is limited thanks to his nature. If there's one thing he really plans for the future, it is keeping his mate close to him although he automatically assumes that as your mate, you'd want to do the same. As someone awfully possessive and needy for attention though, Pluto eventually starts searching in the nearby forest for a cave where the two of you can live, starts stealing blankets and clothes to make it cozy and also because he seems to understand that you're sensitive to the cold. You're going to live with him in there eventually as he deems the nest he's found for you two to be the safest place where he can keep you safe.

Loneliness-How do they feel when they’re separated from their darling?

🐺 Best would be honestly to not leave him as he has separation anxiety and starts howling and whimpering the moment he realizes that his s/o has left him. Mates stay together, they aren't supposed to leave each other's side in his mind. If you don't come to him despite his whimpers for you, Pluto will be quick to chase after you, following your scent. It would be best to not stray away too far though as he isn't very careful and will run around naked or even in his hound form, not caring even if people end up seeing him. You can't leave him, he'll feel lonely instantly and get anxious because he can't see you. You can leave him for less than a minute and he'll cling to you like crazy the moment you come back, unwilling to let go.

Mask-Do they change their behavior after falling in love with their darling? Do they act differently around them than around other people?

🐺 Pluto is in most cases friendly to most people he meets, always excited to see and smell new people. He has his favorites though to which he sticks closer than to others. What probably sticks out to him when it comes to you is your scent and your friendliness as you coddle him and treat him with affection. As he yearns for more, he starts sticking closer to you, memorizes your scent and starts tracking you down when he can't find you. It's a rather spontacous decision when his body just decides that you're his mate as your scent and your touch starts affecting him and you become a source of love and comfort for the hound. His attachment gets worse as he grows additionally far more possessive and protective, starts crying his throat out when you aren't near him and becomes very aggressive around others when you're with him and they try to touch you.

🐺Pluto plainly refuses to shut up or listen to anyone when you aren't with him, in fact he only listens to your orders at one point. Whoever held a part of his affection before will now be ignored as he only longs for your attention and isn't above growling and threatening even others who were more or less fond to him at one point. The problem is that he sees others automatically as love rivals, especially if they touch you or smell like you since scenting is definitely a big thing for Pluto. Trying to separate his darling from him will not work as Pluto will turn violent, transform into his hound form and start attacking and fighting so he can see you again as the only person who by now matters to him is his darling mate.

Snake

Ideals-What do they have in mind for the future?

⚕️Snake doesn't want to expect too much considering his insecurities. It would be already surprising enough for him if his s/o would accept him in the first place despite being a hybrid and being constantly surrounded by snakes. He doesn't ask for much from you, he wouldn't really dare to do so. The only thing he truly wants, even though he might not voice it out, is that you stay with him for the rest of your life. He won't ask for anything else but be aware that he sort of expects you to fulfill him at least that wish since his friends do darken his mind at times. Speaking of the snakes, they encourage him to demand more for the future at times since they don't think it's fair that Snake does so much for you and you just take without giving back. He deserves something from you in return too.

Loneliness-How do they feel when they’re separated from their darling?

⚕️He's not fond of it, tends to feel uneasy and slightly anxious when he doesn't know where his darling is at the moment. His snakes always volunteer to watch stalk over you whenever you have to go somewhere in order to keep Snake calm and to simultanously ensure that you don't see anyone else since his friends are very fixated on ensuring that the shy man gets together with you. If one of his friends watches you, in most cases a poisonous one, Snake tends to feel a bit calmer since he trusts his snakes with you. Meanwhile he's just left back waiting silently for you to come back so he can see you again. If he has no tasks to do in the manor, he just retreats to his chambers and waits until the snake who was watching you that day returns, more then often with something they stole from you to make Snake a bit happy.

Mask-Do they change their behavior after falling in love with their darling? Do they act differently around them than around other people?

⚕️Snake appears pretty aloof and intimidating around some people at first, especially since he constantly has snakes with him and never speaks for himself. In reality he's quite shy though, socially awkward due to his past and silently grieving since he lost his family in the circus. Quite honestly, even before he becomes obsessed and just starts liking his darling, he becomes quite flustered and shy. It's the first time his heart has beaten that fast in his chest and that leads to him becoming sort of hyper-aware around you. He sees only the best in you and only the worst in himself as he starts feeling very self-conscious about his looks and is paranoid that you'll think of him as ugly too which is why he starts hiding from you and instead resorts to stalking you or letting one of his snakes stalk you. If he's put in the same room as you, he constantly keeps glancing back and forth between you and somewhere else in the room as his emotions overwhelm him and his shyness gets the best of him.

⚕️His interest in his darling is pretty obvious so the other Phantomhive servants pick up on it fast. Obviously Snake is always a bit shy since he's lived a good part of his life as an outcast and then in a circus, serving for a young lord and seeing so many new things is all foreign to him. Yet as soon as he sees you, he shys away as good as he can as he does his best to hide from your eyes. At the same time he keeps looking at you though and if you approach him, he starts blushing almost instantly, movements awkward. The human servants think it's rather cute, they know that Snake has had it hard and wish for him to be hapy, Ciel and Sebastian are guaranteed to know at one point that this goes beyond your wholesome love but as long as it doesn't stop Snake from working, they're fine with it.

Daiki Aomine

Affection-How and how often do they show affection?

💙 Aomine is cocky and possessive and someone who loves to show what is his and his darling is no exception. He's very touchy and physically affectionate with you, constantly has an arm wrapped around you, kisses pressed against your temple and pulls you always a bit closer to him when someone approaches you or tries to flirt with you. He feels without a doubt best when you're tugged away within the safety of his arms. He expresses his affection additionally through his arguably somewhat overprotective tendencies as well by carrying your stuff for you or even carrying you if you feel tired, calls you by a few nicknames too. He's probably asking Momoi at times for ideas for cute dates too since he feels like she would have better ideas than he does.

Ideals-What do they have in mind for the future?

💙As long as his darling stays with him, Daiki wouldn't have much more in his mind for the future. If he can keep his darling happy with him and be able to provide and protect them, he wouldn't ask for much more though. Marriage and children don't interest him that much but he's still young so that might change as time passes by. If his darling happens to want to get married and/or have children with him though, he wouldn't mind. If it makes you happy, who is he to protest? The idea of being able to call you his spouse and you introducing him as your husband has it's own appeal too after all.

Loneliness-How do they feel when they’re separated from their darling?

💙 He despises it and everyone who isn't a close friend of his should better stay away from him since his mood turns sour and he becomes quite tense. If he could, he would like to keep you close to his side all of the time but even if it bothers him, Aomine does understand that personal choices and some privacy matter in a relationship too, for you at least. He wants to try to respect that at least although he gets rather quickly worried about you. He's just impatient and even more short-tempered than he normally already is the more hours pass by and he's especially aggressive if you don't even answer his messages or call him. Fundamentally he understands that his behavior isn't right and he shouldn't be that territorial but he can't help it and if he has to be honest, he can't care at times either.

Mask-Do they change their behavior after falling in love with their darling? Do they act differently around them than around other people?

💙 The average person would be quite scared if meeting Aomine for the first time and I can't say that I blame them. He's tall and tends to come over as more rough and aggressive although he is softer around people he cares about. That's what's without a doubt most noticeable for everyone when it comes to the way Aomine behaves around you. He treats you quite normal at first, behaves as politely as he can. He grows softer as time passes by, starts worrying about you, constantly offers to help you and suddenly starts asking Momoi for advices how to confess to someone. At the same time he also becomes noticeably more jealous and possessive though, starts towering over everyone who might make a move on you and tries to monopolize as much from your time as possible.

💙 Everyone knows that Daiki is interested since he doesn't even attempt to hide it. If people know that he has his eyes on you, they're bound to think twice before trying to flirt with you after all. He gladly ditches other people as he values you far more than others, his closest friends are probably an exception. Be careful though as he starts acting more hostile around people he isn't close to though when it comes to you, it can even escalate to violence if someone pisses him of enough. Coming back to the cockiness mentioned at the very beginning, Aomine does think that he is stronger and talented than some others and for that can protect you.

Seijūrō Akashi

Affection-How and how often do they show affection?

🏆 Considering that he is the most dangerous from the entire cast, Akashi certainly knows how to treat his lover and show them his love in various ways. There's a lot of gift-giving as he's rather rich and enjoys to spoil and adorn his darling with clothes and accessories, all which are anything but cheap. Trips and dates are planned by him and will certainly stick in your mind as he enjoys the togetherness and behaves very gentlemanly around you all of the time. We're talking opening doors and offering you his jacket if you're freezing. He's in comparison to some others a bit more sutble with physical affection although he does make sure to have his fingers always intertwined with yours or have his arm wrapped around your waist. Calls you by a few classic nicknames like "love" or "darling" too.

Ideals-What do they have in mind for the future?

🏆 I picture Akashi as more traditional so I can see him definitely wanting to marry his darling. A traditional Japanese marriage which he will remember fondly for the rest of his life and for which he will definitely pay a lot of money for but it's going to be worth it. The expensive wedding rings are not going to be any cheaper and Akashi expects you to wear yours if you go outside since he wears his all the time too. Marriage is his biggest idea for the future so he feels quite contend once he has married you and is living with you inside a tall mansion where he knows he can provide for you with everything someone might desire. A child might be considered by him too although that can still wait a few years.

Loneliness-How do they feel when they’re separated from their darling?

🏆Akashi will always be a tad bit too controlling but as long as nothing has triggered him and caused his other side to come out, he will do his best to respect his darling's wishes. Similar to Aomine he understands that personal space and time for yourself matter too. Admittedly, you'll have to tell him what you plan to do on such days so he always has an idea where you are and can pick you up when you're done but otherwise he'll try to focus on his work. Call or message him a few times though just to make sure that everything is still fine. The problem comes when his other side does come out and you have two mismatched eyes drilling into your soul because that's when Akashi is rather intense and far less lenient as his need for control gets the better of him and you'll be supervised for as long as he needs to calm down.

Mask-Do they change their behavior after falling in love with their darling? Do they act differently around them than around other people?

🏆 He's courteous around you when he meets you for the first time as you have the luck to meet him after he's learned that his other side can't control everything. He still has this aura around him though that makes you feel that there's still a difference between the two of you as Akashi's pride hasn't been vanquished completely either. He pays attention to the people around him in general but you can't help but feel like he's paying especially much attention to you at one point as he always asks you if you're feeling fine when he realizes that you seem out of it or recalls small details you mentioned briefly and don't even recall saying yourself. Alongside with that comes the increasing amount of time he spends with you and only with you as something inside of him longs to be the only one you look at.

🏆 Akashi's polite yet somewhat distant behavior is given to almost everyone he meets for the first time and even if someone is rather rude, he keeps his composure. Something that happens after he's realized just how strongly he feels about you is that he makes it clear to everyone in your surroundings that they shouldn't try to approach you. He isn't even aggressive and vocal about it but one quick glare from him that feels like it could easily crush someone's soul is more than often enough to do the job. He keeps his darling as well as the people around his darling in check to avoid a rather unfortunate event before it can even happen. There's this warm sparkle in his eyes though when he looks at you, something that no one else receives from him, the gentle brush of his hand against yours to reassure you when he realizes that you're nervous.

[justafriend-ql]

power, protection, partnership: the progression of palmnueng's physical intimacy

physical touch is a hugely important aspect of palm and nueng's relationship, and it's one of the best ways to track the progression of their relationship from one of power imbalance to one of equal partnership. consider this an extended explanation of why their favorite forms of physical intimacy - slow-dancing and forehead touches - make me so insane.

phase one: power

palm and nueng start out as boss and servant, and this power imbalance is reflected in how they touch each other in episodes 1-4. in these episodes, nueng is nearly always the one to initiate contact, usually in the form of a forceful grab of the wrist. we see this when nueng pulls palm into the hallway to hide from their classmates in episode 1, put palm's fingers to his throat while correcting his mandarin pronunciation in episode 2, and prevent palm from leaving their conversation about ben and nueng's kiss in episode 4.

since nueng is the one who occupies the position of power in the beginning, he has to be the one to reach out first. it would be inappropriate for palm to do so. nueng's initial attempts at making physical contact with palm are a bit aggressive, perhaps because he isn't convinced softer appeals will get palm to listen to him. this is why palm looks so surprised the few times nueng is gentle with his touch, like when they pass the gun in episode 1 and nueng tends to palm's wounds in episode 3.

because the status difference separating palm and nueng seems so insurmountable at this stage, palm can only daydream about slow-dancing with nueng. it's an unattainable, foolish dream because to dance with another person is to be their partner, matching their movements and keeping pace with one another in lock-step. from palm's point of view, he could never dare to be nueng's equal in this way, so the dance lives in the realm of fantasy.

phase two: palm protecting nueng

the turning point marking the beginning of phase two comes when nueng attempts to force palm to dance with him at the party in episode 4. he wants to have a relationship with palm, but their different statuses still forbid it. however, nueng's embarrassing outburst and collapse to the ground due to his allergic reaction to alcohol lower his status. with nueng on the floor just like palm, they're finally on the same level. his voice is plaintive rather than demanding as he calls out to palm and stretches his fingers toward him, seeking help and comfort.

as nueng becomes increasingly emotionally volatile and fragile in the wake of ben's betrayal and his mother's potential death, we move into phase two - palm protecting nueng. this phase spans from episode 5 through 7. nueng's vulnerability provides palm with the "permission" he needs in order to initiate physical contact despite his subordinate status. in episode 5, he repeatedly wraps his arm around nueng to comfort him and prevent him from hurting himself.

on the rooftop, he grabs nueng's wrist to keep him from furiously wiping at his mouth in attempt to get rid of the feel of ben's kiss. nueng glares at palm when he does this - the forceful wrist grab is nueng's prerogative, after all. or at least it was, before nueng's emotional vulnerability gave palm the "power" in their relationship.

upon arriving at the beach, palm continues to provide nueng a feeling of safety through physical touch - namely, by offering nueng his hand to hold. this is a shift from the "power phase," when nueng would grab palm's wrist, to a more tender, freely given comfort. nueng is initially wary of palm's offerings and rejects palm's offering of touch (e.g., ignoring his extended hand at the beach and refusing to hold onto palm's waist while riding the motorcycle). but by the end of episode 6 and throughout episode 7, he gladly takes palm's hand.

phase 3: nueng protecting palm

episode 8 through 10 mark another shift in palm and nueng's physical touch. at this point, nueng has become comfortable with life on the island, and due to palm's mother's endangerment and ultimate death, palm is now the one who needs comfort. illustrating this role reversal, we see nueng comforting palm with a hug, trying to calm palm down at the rocks, and kneeling down to talk to palm soothingly in episodes 8 and 9. all these scenes parallel the ways palm comforted nueng through physical touch in episode 5.

at the end of episode 9, the second failed slow-dance attempt takes place. i say "failed" because palm is too emotionally numb to move, and the dance ultimately turns into nueng hugging palm as tears stream down his face. (we also see another parallel to episode 5 here when nueng kisses palm to comfort him, just as palm did for nueng on the rooftop.) in order for the dance to work, palm and nueng have to be equal partners, able to carry themselves independently while also moving in sync with one another. in episode 4, nueng was too rash and egotistical to be a good partner; in episode 9, palm is too emotionally wrecked to hold his own.

in episode 10, we begin to shift into the last phase (partnership). even though palm comes after nueng to protect him, nueng is still the primary protector because palm is still emotionally fragile from his mom's death and nueng leaving him behind. he wraps his arms protectively around palm in the bathtub and allows palm to hold him tightly in bed once they are reunited, petting his hair tenderly.

phase four: partnership

in episodes 11 and 12, palm and nueng finally reach the stage of equal partnership, in which both are confident in themselves and their relationship. the most important example of this is their successful slow-dance and forehead touch at the end of episode 11. nueng has just reassured palm that although he has many ambitious goals for the future, the most important thing to him is that palm be at his side. now that each of them are confident in the strength of their relationship and their contributions to it, they can easily complete the slow dance they've struggled the whole series to perform. they are finally confident in their own shoes and perfectly in sync with one another.

as they dance, they lean their foreheads against one another, a gesture they repeat three times in the last part of episode 12 alone. it's clear that forehead touches are their "thing," as they are seen touching foreheads again in the trailer for our skyy 2 as well. the forehead touches are perhaps the epitome of palm and nueng's achievement of an equal partnership. they signify absolute trust, as both parties close their eyes to their surroundings (and any potential threats), focusing only on the other person. forehead touches also require people to be positioned in the same exact way, mirroring one another. this makes it impossible for there to be physical representations of power imbalances, such as one person standing or sitting higher than the other, looking down on them. while these kinds of shots abounded when palm was nueng's servant, they are nonexistent now that they are equal partners.

so, in summary: you can trace the progress of palm and nueng's journey from superior/servant to equal partners through how they engage in physical intimacy with each other. this progression is best seen through the slow dance - a recurring motif that has manifestations in all four phases. and palm and nueng's final act of physical intimacy in the series - a forehead nuzzle following a soft kiss on the beach - seals their status as equal partners, once and for all.