#kudos to whoever can do it

[thanatoseyes]

Me: *strolling along the occult movements in the 1900s* la la la

The article: okay so remember THIS guy. He has ties to this other GUY. And THIS ONE. Don't even talk about him. Okay now moving on this one.

Me: I need a notebook and some aspirin.

[alicepao13]

Rating the Kommissar Rex/Il Commissario Rex/Hudson and Rex human partners for funsies, in chronological order. Contains spoilers, some bias, and opinions based on superficial characteristics. I will take the blame for any distorted memories I have of the shows, although I did a full rewatch last summer. (Rewatch refers to Kommissar Rex and Hudson and Rex. I could only watch Il Commissario Rex once. Well, 0.75 times. I couldn’t find some of the episodes.)

Kommissar Rex

Richard Moser: The blueprint. Not necessarily the best one in my opinion (although if you ask kid me, yes), but they modeled at least two other characters after him in the reboots. Pretty nice (although a product of his time), street smart, recently divorced, and the first few episodes where he and Rex are getting used to living together are hilarious. Moser’s dry humor was good too, also his whump scenes where great. And I appreciated the nude scenes a lot (thanks, German tv of the 90s). 8/10

Alex Brandtner: The hot one. Also, more of a “new age” cop (new age here means post 90s, don’t get confused). Kid me didn’t appreciate the hotness but I watched it in my teen years, and oh boy. And the action scenes, while sometimes ridiculous and making you wonder why???, really showed the actor’s training in physical scenes too. I always liked the way Brandtner immediately bonded with Rex and then we learn of the tragedy with his own dog. Too bad his love life was even more non-existent than Moser’s. 9/10

Marc Hoffmann: I’ll be honest, I just didn’t care for him for the most part, but I did like the fact that for the first time there was a ship with him and Nikki. They went for a different style with this one and it shows. Marc is less type A than the previous two, not a bad thing, but by that point, it was clear that Kommissar Rex as a show was nearing its end and I think it sometimes showed. 7/10

-----

Il Commissario Rex (At this point, let me just say that I don’t associate the two shows with each other. And whoever has watched both, would probably agree with me. It hardly matters that the Italian show starts as a spinoff.)

Lorenzo Fabbri: Ugh, I don’t know what it is with this guy but I didn’t like him much. His style was a lot like Moser at first (adopting Rex, saving him from a miserable fate, learning to live with him, etc.). I absolutely hated the storyline with the forensics scientist throwing herself at him every chance she got and him trying to avoid her instead of flat out telling her he’s not interested, and then at some point they slept together??? Anyway, did not like. 6/10

Davide Rivera: I liked that guy but sadly we didn’t have that many episodes with him. He could have had more to offer as a character. More quiet than the sometimes too loud Lorenzo, and took some time to warm up to Rex if I recall. I liked that he took no flack from his boss (Sidenote: the boss didn’t like Rex at first and kept wanting to get rid of him, and I wanted to rip him to shreds). 7/10

Marco Terzani: I literally found one season of his episodes, so I’ll reserve judgment (if anyone has his second and third season, please give it to me lol or point to the right direction). He seems kinda reckless? He’s definitely attractive. ?/10, more research needed.

----

Hudson and Rex

Charlie Hudson: Started off as kind of mediocre for me, then he made me change my mind. When I started watching, I was hellbent on comparing every single thing of this show to the characters of the original at first, so I’m partially to blame for my initial perception of him. However, I won’t blame myself for the bad writing, pacing, and overall mediocrity of S1 that contributed to a big part of it. Anyway, they used some of Moser’s backstory (divorced, adopts Rex after his K-9 partner tragically dies) and expanded on it. Charlie has had the most development as a character than any of the others, which makes sense since he’s the first of Rex’s partners to live that long or not get rebooted lol. He definitely gets bonus points for having a love life too. And for not dying, despite all the whump situations he gets himself into. Definitely falls under the reckless category too. 70% himbo, 100% whump magnet. 9/10

[blindinghunt]

One of my older fics has suddenly spiked in comments and bookmarks and i cant help but wonder if its on someone's fic rec list somewhere

like yeah i know there are people who see my current stuff and go through my profile to my other fics (WHICH MAKES ME VERY HAPPY EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS) but its this one fic in particular that has gotten 2 new comments and 3 new bookmarks in the last 24 hours. which. HI?? HOW DID YOU GET HERE???

[doofusschweetz]

For the first time ever I feel absolutely lost. The people who are supposed to love you now fear you and I fear them too.

[p0orbaby]

Stress Reliever

summary: important matches call for unorthodox methods

warnings: SMUT 18+, fingering, sex in a random room in a stadium? i have no clue, don’t judge

a/n: i really enjoyed writing this one, so kudos to whoever requested it !

word count: 2.7k

-

You’re in the stands, sipping a warm Coke that tastes like pennies, watching as eager fans filter into the stadium. It’s an hour until kickoff, and you’re trying not to panic because you have the seat of death. The one directly behind the pole. And not just any pole—oh no, you get the thick, structural support beam that’s been placed there by some sadist with a vendetta against sports fans. You can already feel the crick forming in your neck as you angle to see the pitch, bobbing and weaving like you’re on the world’s worst first date.

“Are you—?” A voice interrupts your internal monologue, startling you so much you nearly throw your Coke onto the unlucky person next to you. You look up, expecting to see a security guard, someone here to accuse you of something you definitely did do (sneak in a flask) but absolutely won’t admit to.

Instead, it’s a woman with a headset, wearing an expression of mild impatience—like she’s had to ask someone the same question three times. Which, judging by the size of this place, she probably has.

“Yeah?” you ask, because that’s the only word your brain can offer in the moment. Well, that and hotdog but you keep that one to yourself.

“Are you—” she checks her clipboard, which you find oddly official, like you’re about to be quizzed on the periodic table or something, “—the girlfriend?”

There’s a beat where you consider denying it because the word girlfriend still sounds weird in your ears. Like you’re not old enough for it or something. Like someone’s going to come along and snatch the title away from you because you got it out of a vending machine or a cereal box.

But then the woman’s staring at you, one eyebrow slightly arched, and you realise you haven’t answered, which is definitely making this more awkward.

“Uh…yes?”

“Great.” She doesn’t even wait for you to elaborate (which is good, because you definitely wouldn’t have). “Alexia needs you”

She says it like Alexia needs you is a normal sentence. Like you’re supposed to understand what that entails, as if you’ve been through this before.

“Oh.” You blink. “Now?”

“Yeah.” Another short answer. She’s probably fun at parties.

Your brain’s processing speed is at dial-up levels right now, but you eventually nod, clambering over knees and feet, mumbling apologies as you spill half your Coke in your lap. It’s warm, wet, and uncomfortable. The perfect metaphor for your life at this moment.

The woman with the headset leads you through a labyrinth of corridors, down staircases that don’t look like they’ve been used since the stadium was built, past signs that say things like “AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY” and “NO ENTRY,” which really do wonders for your anxiety. It’s as if you’re being led to the dungeons, or possibly to a secret basement where you’ll be quietly murdered before kickoff.

“Is everything…okay?” you ask, partly because you’re nervous, partly because you’re still in shock that Alexia asked for you. The Alexia Putellas, captain of Barcelona, Spanish football’s golden child. The one who should be doing pre-game rituals or eating her eighth banana by now, not…whatever this is.

“Yup,” says Headset Lady, who clearly graduated from the one-syllable academy of small talk.

You’re about to ask a follow-up question (something like are you a hostage negotiator on the side?) when she stops abruptly in front of a nondescript door that looks like it’s seen better days. There’s a small sign taped to it that reads “MEETING ROOM.” Creative.

“She’s in there,” Headset Lady says, handing you the clipboard like it’s a ticket to a secret club. You take it because refusing might lead to her finally using the taser you’re convinced she’s got hidden somewhere.

“Uh, thanks,” you say, because manners.

She gives you a curt nod, spins on her heels, and walks away without a backward glance, leaving you alone with the door, the clipboard, and a creeping sense of dread.

You’re about to knock when the door swings open and you’re pulled inside by a very strong hand. You barely manage to keep your balance, though your dignity is less fortunate.

“Jesus Christ, Alexia, a little warning?” you gasp, clutching your chest like someone’s ancient grandmother.

But Alexia isn’t listening. She’s pacing, her boots tapping out a nervous rhythm on the floor, her expression a fusion of frustration and something you can’t quite place—like she’s trying to solve a really tough maths problem but someone keeps changing all the numbers.

“Babe?” you try again, this time a little softer, hoping to break through whatever spell she’s under.

She finally stops, turning to face you, and that’s when you notice it. The way her eyes are slightly glazed, her hands twitching at her sides. She looks like she’s about to combust from the inside out, like she’s been plugged into the world’s worst electrical socket.

You know that look. You’ve seen it before, but not like this. Not with this intensity, this…desperation.

“What’s going on?” you ask, though you think you already know. You’re just not sure you’re ready for the answer.

“I’m fucking freaking out,” she says, her voice low and tight, like it’s taking everything in her to hold it together. “I can’t—I can’t focus, I can’t think—I just—fuck!” She runs a hand through her hair, tugging at the ends like it’s their fault.

You step closer, cautious, like you’re approaching a wild animal. “Is there anything I can do?”

And that’s when she looks at you. Really looks at you. Her eyes narrow slightly, and you can practically see the lightbulb go off above her head. It’s not the comforting moment you were hoping for. It’s more like the moment in a horror movie when the killer realises the protagonist is hiding in the wardrobe.

“Actually…yeah.” Her voice drops an octave, and you swear the room temperature does too. “There is”

Oh no. You know where this is going. You’ve been here before. This isn’t the first time Alexia has decided that the best way to deal with her pre-game jitters is to channel them into something else. Something physical. Something that, once upon a time, you thought was a great idea.

You were wrong.

But it’s too late to back out now. You’re trapped, like a mouse caught in a particularly horny mousetrap.

“Here?” you squeak, glancing around the dimly lit meeting room, which is as unsexy as a room can get. The walls are beige, the carpet is a hideous shade of grey, and there’s a whiteboard in the corner with some sad-looking, lidless pens. It’s as if the universe decided to create the least erotic environment possible.

“Here,” she confirms, and you can’t help but notice the way her voice drips with something dark and dangerous. Something that makes your pulse quicken and your palms sweat.

“But what if—”

“No one’s coming in,” she interrupts, and there’s a note of finality in her voice that tells you this is happening whether you like it or not. “It’s locked”

“How did you even get a key?”

“Does it matter?”

It doesn’t, but you feel like you’re owed an explanation anyway. Because what if someone does come in? What if they see you—two responsible, adult women—going at it in a meeting room like hormonal teenagers? You can already see the headlines: “Football Star and Girlfriend Caught in Bizarre Pre-Game Ritual”

“Alexia, I—”

She’s on you before you can finish the sentence, her hands gripping your waist, pulling you against her. Her lips crash into yours, and suddenly the room isn’t so cold anymore. It’s like being hit by a freight train made of pure sexual frustration, and for a moment, all you can do is hang on for dear life.

But then the reality of the situation hits you. You’re about to have sex in a room that smells faintly of wet dog and failed business deals. This is not how you pictured today to go. You imagined something more…romantic. A win celebrated in a plush hotel room, or at the very least a place with a bed.

But Alexia doesn’t seem to care. She’s already pawing at your clothes with a speed that’s both impressive and alarming, like she’s done this a thousand times before. Which, now that you think about it, she probably has. Just…not here. Or so you hope.

“Wait, wait,” you pant, pulling back slightly. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Nope,” she says, but she doesn’t stop, and neither do you, because you’re weak and she’s hot, and who are you kidding? You’re definitely going to do this.

It’s not graceful. It’s not even sexy, really. It’s more like a frantic scramble to get clothes off while trying not to knock over a stack of chairs. You’re pretty sure you elbow her in the ribs at one point, and she steps on your foot twice, but neither of you cares because there’s a bigger issue at hand.

You think about saying something witty, something to break the tension, but then she’s on you again, and words are suddenly the last thing on your mind. All you can do is hold on and hope the table doesn’t collapse under the weight of your combined bad decisions.

She pushes you back onto the table, her hands firm on your shoulders, and suddenly the wood beneath you feels a lot harder than it looked a second ago. It’s all happening too fast, but not fast enough, and when her mouth finds yours again, it’s all teeth and urgency. The kind of kiss that doesn’t ask permission because it knows it’ll get what it wants anyway.

Her hands are everywhere, pulling at your shirt, fumbling with the buttons like they’re some kind of cruel joke. You help her out, batting her hands away, only to struggle just as much. It’s like your fingers have forgotten how to work, each movement clumsy and desperate. When you finally manage to yank your shirt over your head, you feel a brief, victorious rush, like you’ve conquered a small but significant mountain.

She barely gives you time to breathe before she’s back on you, her mouth hot and demanding against your neck, her hands sliding up your sides. You gasp as her fingers slip under your bra, her thumbs brushing over your nipples with just enough pressure to make you arch against her.

“Fuck,” you whisper, because it’s the only word that makes sense right now.

She grins against your skin, clearly pleased with herself, and you know you’re in trouble. Alexia knows exactly what she’s doing, and she’s doing it well. Too well, actually. The kind of well that makes you forget where you are, why you’re here, and who you are as a person.

Her hand trails down your stomach, dipping beneath the waistband of your jeans, and you suck in a breath, half expecting her to stop, to clock on how ridiculous this all is. But she doesn’t. She just keeps going, popping the button on your jeans with a quick flick of her fingers, pulling the zipper down in one smooth motion. You lift your hips to help her slide them down, and suddenly the cold air hits your bare legs, making you shiver. But it’s not the temperature that’s getting to you—it’s the anticipation.

She’s back on you in an instant, her fingers finding their way inside your underwear, brushing against you in a way that makes your breath catch. Her touch is light at first, almost teasing, but it doesn’t stay that way for long. She’s not in the mood for games, and neither are you.

“Please,” you murmur, not entirely sure what you’re asking for, but knowing you need it.

She doesn’t make you wait. Her fingers slide inside you with a confidence that comes from knowing exactly what you like, how you like it, and how quickly she can drive you insane. And she’s doing it now, the slow, steady rhythm making you forget all about the uncomfortable table beneath you, the smell of stale coffee in the room, the fact that someone could walk in at any moment. None of it matters. All that matters is her, and the way she’s making you feel like you might come undone right there in that drab, fluorescent-lit room.

You cling to her like she’s the only thing keeping you tethered to reality, your hands digging into her back, your nails leaving marks that you know take back to the changing room with pride. The table creaks beneath you, protesting with every thrust of her hand, but you don’t care. You can barely think, let alone worry about the state of some cheap office furniture.

When she curls her fingers inside you, hitting that spot that makes you see stars, you have to bite your lip to keep from crying out. The last thing you need is for someone to hear you, but fuck, it’s hard. Especially when she starts moving faster, her thumb brushing over your clit with just the right amount of pressure to push you closer and closer to the edge.

You’re so close now, teetering on the brink, and she knows it. You can see it in the way she’s watching you, her eyes dark and intense, like she’s savoring every moment, every gasp and moan she pulls from your lips. It’s almost too much, the way she’s looking at you, like she’s claiming you, owning you in a way that goes beyond this moment, this room.

And then you’re falling, your body tensing as the wave crashes over you, pulling you under. You bite down on her shoulder, muffling the sound of your release, and she groans at the feeling of your teeth sinking into her skin. It’s raw and primal, and at this point in time, you don’t care about anything else but the way she’s making you feel.

She doesn’t stop, doesn’t even slow down, working you through your orgasm until you’re trembling beneath her, your breath coming in ragged gasps. When she does finally pull her hand away, you feel the loss of her touch like a physical ache, but you’re too spent to do anything about it.

For a moment, neither of you moves, the only sound in the room your heavy breathing and the distant roar of the crowd outside. The game is about to start, but for once, it’s the last thing on your mind.

When she finally pulls back, you expect her to say something, but she just looks at you, her expression softening in a way that makes your chest warm. There’s something unspoken in her eyes, something you’re not sure you’re ready to acknowledge, but it’s there all the same.

“Better?” you ask, your voice shaky, but there’s a smile tugging at your lips.

She smirks, that familiar, cocky grin returning as she reaches down to adjust her shorts. “Much”

You laugh, weak and breathless, but it’s genuine. Because despite the absurdity of it all—the meeting room, the table, the fact that you’re still half-naked in the most unromantic setting imaginable—it was exactly what you both needed.

You sit up, wincing as your muscles protest, and begin the awkward process of getting dressed again. Alexia helps, her hands lingering a little longer than necessary, and you swat at her playfully, even though you’re secretly glad she’s not ready to let go just yet.

“We can’t make this a thing,” you say, though you know it’s a lie the second it leaves your mouth.

“Sure we can,” Alexia replies, already pulling on her shorts like nothing happened. Like you didn’t just defile a piece of office furniture.

“You owe me,” you grumble, trying to smooth down your hair, which now looks like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket.

“Add it to the list,” she says with a wink.

You roll your eyes but can’t help the small smile that tugs at your lips. Because yeah, it was reckless and stupid and definitely not sanitary, but damn if it wasn’t one hell of a way to start a match.

“Good luck,” you say, and you mean it.

She gives you a look that says I don’t need luck, and you believe her. Because if she can handle you, she can handle anything.

As you walk out of the meeting room, legs still a little shaky, you can’t help but wonder if this will become a regular thing. You hope not.

Then again…maybe you don’t.

[brittscafe]

𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬

Pairing: Byakuya Kuchiki, Jushiro Ukitake, Shinji Hirako, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Kisuke Urahara x fem! reader (separately)

Summary: Byakuya, Ukitake, Shinji, Shunsui, and Urahara x fem! enemy reader

Request: I love your blog sm its insaneee!! Could you do bleach men (byakuya,ukitake,shunsui, urahara,shinji (you can change or do one of them)) with a frenemy (friend + enemy but more on the enemy) type of relation with the reader. Where she teases (flirts ;)) and annoys them and how they react to her

A/n: Hiiii!! Omg thank you so much <3 This was so cute

Content: Lots of teasing for our bleach men, slight cursing.

Ko-fi link (anything is appreciated <3)

Byakuya:

He's more on the serious side when it comes to you teasing him or annoying him.

He can totally keep his cool when you're annoying him, just sitting there and doing paperwork as you're trying to distract him.

He speaks like a true gentlemen when addressing you, but don't think that he won't call you out or say mean things in a gentlemenly tone.

Byakuya knows how to keep his calm when you're teasing him, but his ears and cheeks start to heat up.

On the inside though, his heart is ramming against his chest and he's trying to keep his cool.

You know and you Byakuya could bicker for ages and describe how much you despise one another, but deep down the two of you are enjoying it.

I think that Byakuya would find bickering more annoying and gets easily annoyed, but he's got a little more patience when it comes to you.

Gets nervous when you flirt with him and is at a loss of words.

At first, he can't tell if he likes it or not, but with time, he comes to have a love hate relationship with your flirting.

Jushiro:

He gets so flustered when you tease him, even though you guys are technically enemies.

You can tell when he gets flustered bc his cheeks turn all pink and you like to tease him even more.

He's such a sweetheart, he can't see you as his enemy.

You find it so funny to tease Jushiro and see the way his jaw drops and how he reacts.

You can and try and annoy him all you want, but Jushiro will never find it too annoying to the point where he's done with you.

You'll flirt with him, rubbing his arms or feeling his abs underneath his captain's uniform.

Jushiro's face bursts into a flame and his heart beats against his chest as you're touching him.

He honestly really enjoys your hate-love relationship and it brings him some entertainment.

You know Jushiro's condition and would never do anything to bring him harm like that.

Jushiro likes seeing your soft side when it comes to his condition, but you will flip back to that enemy side.

Regardless, he enjoys your relationship.

Shunsui:

Your friend-enemy friendship/relationship is perfect for Shunsui. He loves it.

He's easygoing and lazy, which makes it easy for you to tease him restlessly.

Shunsui tests you to your limits and isn't afraid to. He knows you can handle it.

Def tries to feel you up with his hands all the time and you don't allow it.

You're always competing with Shunsui and he doesn't really see it as a threat since he's literally at the top. He thinks its cute and funny.

It takes a lot to really rock Shunsui and affect him with all the teasing and flirting you do.

He'll flirt right back with you and then the two of you play a little game, see whoever backs away first. Hint: It's not Shunsui.

The two of you have a very flirty and playful relationship and everyone sees it.

Shunsui's reactions consist of him just shooting you a smirk and a flirty comment right back at you.

He's very calm and just really loves to have that stupid little grin on his face.

Kisuke:

He def plays mind games with you and isn't afraid to make things a little more physical.

You'll have little play fights or more serious fights where the two of you are using your swords and kudo.

Little teasing jokes in between sword swings and mocking comments.

He wears a sly smirk or grin on his face when he knows he's getting to you.

Kisuke knows how to use his words against you and you know exactly how to tease Kisuke.

He's just a pervy shop owner, touches get him all hot and heavy, words slipping out from his mind.

There's definitely times where you're teasing Kisuke with your hands and then pins you up against a wall.

Kiskuke is super smart and knows exactly how to react to you.

His reactions aren't big at all and the two of you have a super playful relationship.

Shinji:

The king of teasing, finally gets a taste of his own medicine.

It takes a lot to break Shinji and make him flustered, but you're the one who can do it.

The two of you go back and forth teasing each other until one of you breaks, like little teasing fights.

Shinji would totally love to play fight with all the time.

He'll pick you up and swing you around. He really loves to pin you to the ground and get super close to your face, lips inches apart then tickle attack you.

Shinji can deal with a lot, so no matter how much you try to annoy him, he won't budge until he does.

When Shinji does, he takes matters into his own hands and just annoys the shit out of you.

He honestly loves it when you try to annoy him. It's a source of entertainment.

You'll have like little wars with each other, battling each other with your swords, neither one of you backing down.

Shinji can be mean and brutal with his words just as you are.

He just finds the whole thing funny, but cares for you deep down.

The two of you have lots of fun, bickering, teasing, and annoying each other.

[yoonia]

— Dia’s tumblr wrapped 2024 

I know it’s super late for me to share this, but just as many would say, it’s better late than never. Thank you so much for the lovely people who tagged me to do this: @beomcoups, @shadowkoo, @kingofbodyrolls ♡

2024 started off smoothly…until it didn’t. The final quarter of the year has always been a hard time for me and it wasn’t that much different this year. As you can probably notice that I’ve been mostly absent ever since the end of October and I deeply apologise for that. I also regret not planning things properly and for not keeping up with my goals this year but that only means that I'll be dragging my WIP list towards the next year.

Thank you so much for everyone who has been there for me this year, and those of you who have stuck by me despite my inconsistencies. I really appreciate your presence on my blog, whether it’s through your likes and kudos, your reblogs, your comments and replies on my contents, and the kind words you sent me through my ask box. You guys have made it worthwhile for me to be here even after all these years, and I don’t think I can thank you enough for that. Here’s to mark the end of our wild journey through 2024 and enter the new year of 2025. 

OVERALL FIC STATS 2024

Number of fics posted: 4 (four) one-shots, 2 (two) ongoing series, 3 (three) ficlets

Number of fics revamped: 2 (two) completed fics, 2 (two) ongoing series

Number of words written: 448,057 words (dang, no wonder I felt so burned out lol)

Number of fics in progress: 32 (oh, boy…) 

FIRST FIC OF 2024

❥ A Christmas Fix 01 & 02 —  posted Jan 31st & Feb 1st | 1,926 & 1,226 notes

My thoughts: This was…quite a journey. It’s been a while since I wrote a rom-com story and I was pleased to have been given the chance to write this idea through a collab. The final outcome wasn’t too disappointing either, since I enjoyed writing it and reading it afterwards. I’m glad everyone loved this story as well.

MOST POPULAR FIC OF 2024

❥ The Stand-In (Revamped version) — posted Aug 13th | 4,267 notes

My thoughts: Okay, yeah…I cheated a little. But to be fair, this fic did get a lot of notes this year before and after the revamping process. I loved this story so much that I felt like it deserved a major makeover and I’m glad I managed to do it this year.

LONGEST FIC OF 2024

❥ The Bedroom Hymns — series, ongoing, last updated Sept 9th | 50k++ words | I’m too lazy to open each chapter to count the notes I’m so sorry lol

My thoughts: I know…I know, I need to update this one again. I had to take a break from this series because this fic literally became my main focus this year that a lot of my WIPs kept getting pushed back just so I could finish more of this. I had to stop at some point to finally set free my WIPs. I have to admit that I also lost my motivation to write this due to the lack of notes and responses that I got with each update no matter how much time I spent working on it (tacky, I know…but it is what it is). I still love and enjoy writing this, so more chapters are coming. I can see this fic becoming my main focus again in 2025 until I’m done with it.

LAST FIC OF 2024

❥ The Forsaken II: Tears of the Sea — posted Oct 24th | 712 notes

My thoughts: Holy hell…this fic. Who would’ve thought that I’d be revisiting siren!Taehyung this year after…3 years?? Thank you, whoever it was that sent this during my birthday event. I never expected to write a full fic for this to continue the original story and to answer a lot of your questions, but I’m glad I did! 

Honorable mention: 

❥ Our Imperfections — posted Oct 30th | 92 notes

My thoughts: This was the last thing I actually released before I dipped into the void but I couldn’t count this as a fic as this was considered a ficlet or, in a more common term, a drabble.

PERSONAL FAVOURITE FIC OF 2024

❥ Blooming Wallflowers — posted Sept 25th | 927 notes

My thoughts: I had one of those rare moments where I found myself enjoying the writing process of a story so much that things simply kept flowing until it became a full story. This one went twice the size planned (and commissioned) but I have no regrets. At all.

Honorable mention: 

❥ Maps (revamped version) — series, completed, posted Sept 6th, 7th, & 11th | 1,4k++ notes (again, I’m too lazy to open each chapter lol)

My thoughts: I initially planned to release something else for DPR Ian’s birthday this year. But then I started revamping the graphics for his old fics instead and decided to revamp the whole series while I had the chance. This one has always been my fave work that I wrote for Christian, so diving back into this to do a makeover and give it a major upgrade felt absolutely fulfilling. 

2024 SPECIAL EVENT

❥ 𝖙𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖋𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖆𝖉𝖊: yoonia’s 2024 birthday bash

My thoughts: Once again, I can’t thank you guys enough for joining this small event of mine. I promise that I’ll have another event in 2025 so please stay tuned! (see you in March!) 

Fave reads of 2024

I have to admit that I haven’t been doing a lot of fic reading this year. But I’m happy that I got to dive back into reading some fanfics during my birthday event and found some lovely gems that I truly enjoyed

The Taste of Sin by @shadowkoo

Vignette: Duty by @cybrsan

The Athlete by @beomcoups

A Lover's Redemption by @writtenwhalien

Dandelion by @shina913

The Wood by @sailoryooons

Minted by @kithtaehyung

Mr. & Mrs. Yoon by @monamipencil

On The Ropes by @raplinesmoon

Top Ten Tracks of 2024

Loved — B.I

People — Agust D

Make You Mine — Black Violet

Gemini — Cheyenne 

Close To Me — Mamie, Eloy, Trippy Bass

HUH?! — Agust D feat. J-hope

Love — Lana Del Rey 

Reasons — COTIS 

Watch Me Burn — Michelle Morrone 

Die First — Nessa Barrett  

GOALS FOR 2025

Write more. Tackle more WIPs each month. 

Finally finish my old abandoned WIPs (About Time, Blood Moon Rising and the Shifters Series, Chance Encounter) 

Finish writing and officially release my original stories/novel as a web-series

Try to do better with planning and scheduling and keeping up with them

Finish revamping Carousel and release the novel version on Ream

Read more. Both published books and released fics

Focus more on my personal health, mental and physical 

Start job hunting again

I know I’m late for this, so I’m passing this over to the writers who are tagged on the list above (if you haven’t done this yet) and also tagging a few who come across my mind right now (only if you want to!): @ressjeon @lo1k-diamonds @pars-ley @minisugakoobies @inkedtae

And also tagging randomly anyone who feels inspired to create their own tumblr wrapped! 

[greyias]

Look I don’t mean to call anyone out, but on a fic where HK-55 tells Theron Shan that they’ll “make beautiful explosions together”, and the pure sweet innocent astromech T7-01 wolf whistles and creates a dating profile �� I’m just a little sus about the “breath taking plot twists and turns” and “adding depth and layers” to their personalities.

Something about this is really weird. I don’t want to report genuine comments as spam… but I’m fairly certain these are not genuine. Like there’s no sus links or anything but this is really really off. One I can ignore, two is starting to form a pattern

Hm

Looks like we’re getting a new wave of weird spam comments on AO3

[thenightshadowqueen]

Death for a Dollar watchthrough thoughts

Holy shit, this was unhinged. I loved it so much. (That’s too many italics, but I don’t care.) I’m kind of speechless; the number of times I actually covered my mouth in shock (usually because of Sam, but Tom was insane in this one, too) was staggering. I adore this play.

Anyway, I’m going to get into my actual thoughts instead of just rambling.

Just to start, ‘Death for a Dollar’ is a great title, so kudos to whoever came up with that

Oh my god, Hank and Gareth 2.0!!!!

“You don’t know what he did for this place.” “That—Tell me!” This is off to a strong start

“Where was your showmanship?” I love it when they work mini games of Change into the plays

Mr. Twilliger is an incredible name

“This is me being the bartender, getting the stories out of the customers, so they reveal things, and then they want to drink more because they’re reliving their trauma.” I mean, it’s a valid tactic to get more money; yay, capitalism! (sarcasm)

AJ forcing Tom to be musical… Caesar and Juliet, anyone?

I love that Luke knows off the top of his head how many keys a piano has (I’m honestly not surprised)

Is Sam’s hair a little longer than normal? Because it looks really good

“I got three keys, three teeth, three toes. I’ve been through a lot.” I love Tony the piano player (who was also referred to as Bill once)

“My mind can take an awful lot; there’s not a lot in there” I love him, actually

“You ain’t trying to seduce him!” “But I get bigger tips when I do!” Sam

Can I just thank whoever edited this for giving us that little shot of Tom laughing? Because I love it when we get to see him actually laugh.

I love Mrs. Prostitute (and I love Tom for including positive representation of sex work)

“This is what feminism looks like” West End Big Boys flashbacks

“My mum is crazy” SAM

Also I think my favourite thing about the microphones is that we can hear them laughing so much more clearly (brought to you by Luke, on this occasion)

I adore Sam’s weird little harmonica thing he does in western-genre pieces

Ooh, younger versions of characters being played by different actors; I don’t think we’ve seen that before

I love Sam being confused and Tom’s response being to start clapping

I love Sam being annoyed and retaliating at AJ with a bald joke

“I told my daddy that I was real fast with a pistol, and that maybe I could go and work in law enforcement, but he wouldn’t have it.” “No! No son is going to go work for the government!” AJ trying to paint his father as the villain and Sam trying his very best to make the audience like him… This is gorgeous

“Telling a man if he’s allowed to own people or not” okay, never mind, I take that back

I don’t know why Sam picked the Watson-clown voice, but I’m glad he did (also I love that the voice made Luke break)

“Many Fingers Pussy” Jesus Christ, Tom

“They thought I had the devil in me” god damn it, now I feel bad for Bill

Sam is so good at playing wide-eyed innocent characters

“God, I wish they had that law in America in the modern day” I wish I had enough faith in people’s judgement to wish that

“I didn’t know you could do magic” I love it when Sam causes trouble

I can never see a reference to a one-man band like that and not think of Mary Poppins

“I can’t wait to hear those four white boys do those accents” oh dear

Luke speaking Spanish!!!

You know what, that vaguely Mexican accent could have been a hell of a lot worse, so well done, Sam

“So you can work on a farm, or you can jerk people off” oh my god, Sam

“He offered me a job” and then AJ realising what it sounded like and walking it way back

Tom entering the scene and waiting for a moment to join in and then Sam just throwing him in without warning is amazing

“I work here jerking people off” Tom

“She said she helps people el secrete-o” SAM

“Hand stuff Jesus is okay with” Sam

I don’t know why the fact that Tom knows little bits of Spanish brings me so much joy, but it does

Holy shit, Luke speaking Spanish with an American accent might be my new favourite thing

I love Maria, the bank robber/prostitute

You know what, I get Bill; the little, slightly mosquitoy “yeah”s are alluring

Half-kiss!!!

“A beautiful flower turns to a crooked leaf” I fucking adore AJ’s weird little sayings

“It’s a well-known expression” and then the advert with the merch saying ‘more well-known expressions’

“Something went worse than wrong. It went really wrong.” Gorgeous.

Sam’s slip oh my god

I know I already said Sam’s hair looks good, but Sam’s hair looks really good

I already said it but I will never be over Luke’s Spanish-in-an-American-accent. Never.

“I’ll keep my hands moist for you” it seems like Tom like using the word moist (the moisturiser fairy comes to mind)

I love audience participation

I’m sorry, as someone who struggles with mental math, that quick multiplication from Luke was impressive

“Got a lot of spunk in you, have you?” I love Tom using his English degree to make dirty jokes (obviously this doesn’t require an English degree; I just mean that it’s a wordplay joke)

I love Sam making sure to bring the story full-circle, with Tony losing his teeth and toes

Jesus, Tom

“Have we invented the electric chair yet?” I looked it up, and it looks like it was invented in the 1880’s, so not quite, but it wasn’t nearly so far off as I thought it might be

“I’ma travelling electric chair salesman” … honestly, I’m not even surprised at this point

Tom is right; this is really dark

I don’t think Sam knows how electric chairs work (affectionate)

Okay who the fuck let Sam wink like that

“Well, I guess that’s the end of the Shoot from the Hip show” I love when they get meta

“What could go wrong with giving a southern American teenager a pair of guns? I’ve got school tomorrow!” Holy fucking shit; may I present Sam Russell, the king of risky jokes

“…when we faked my death…” I love Tom so much

“I think this is the first time we’ve used the principle of the unreliable narrator” I actually love this so much; this is such a cool concept, especially for an improv show

Tom is unhinged in this one and I love it

I love this so much

I already made as post saying this, but it bears repeating: this is BUS levels of insane

[the-last-teabender]

Can I just say kudos to Andy for making both Robin and Morven his main characters.

Like neither of them feels less developed than the other (even though Robin is literally a Human Commoner).

And whichever one is awake wants to stay in control and doesn't want the other one in charge and will do their damndest not to switch over. Even if it would be more situationally appropriate to somehow swap out, he is fully dedicated to the best interests of whoever's sheet is in front of him.

Speaking as someone who's played two-in-one characters before, that takes a lot of self control (that I tend not to have) and that's amazing.

[pascaloverx]

Moonlight

Summary: You and Edward Cullen used to have a romantic relationship. But fate seemed not to believe in the possibility of a vampire and a potential she-wolf being together. Years after your separation, you return to Forks. Edward is committed to Bella Swan, and Jacob Black has his own pack. What happens when, upon your return, you begin to transform into a she-wolf and both Edward and Jacob seem eager to revisit the past with you?

Author's Note: The characters in this fanfic do not belong to me but to Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight universe. The story blends events that happened in the Twilight saga movies with invented ones. If you're enjoying the fanfic, please interact. Comments and kudos are welcome. This story will contain inappropriate language, a possible love triangle, scenes of violence, and romance.

FOUR SIX

FIVE

It had been nearly a week since Edward told you he was going to tell his beloved about you two. You were being consumed by guilt and, at the same time, a desire for him to be honest. But there was nothing you could do. As you try to push away intrusive thoughts, you snuggle even closer in Jacob's arms, who sleeps peacefully. Sleeping with him is so familiar to you that it's become a habit. Not that you two are having sex. You wouldn't mind, but it seems like Jacob is afraid to fully commit. Which you understand. And for now, the kisses, hugs, and nights spent sleeping wrapped in each other have been more than enough. As you run your fingers through Jacob's hair, his phone starts to ring. Amazingly, he doesn't wake up, so you think it might be a good idea to answer it for him. You pick up the phone and gently slip out of bed, leaving the room to speak with whoever is calling.

"Hello?" you whisper, trying not to wake Mr. Black or Jacob. You hear an unfamiliar female voice on the other end of the line.

"Hi, could I speak with Jacob? Can you let him know it's Bella?" the woman on the phone says. She sounds a bit nervous, but you're certain Jacob would be furious if you didn't wake him up to take Bella's call.

"Sure, I'll go get him and put him on the phone," you reply as gently as possible. You head back to the room where you and Jacob are sleeping and nudge him until he wakes up. It's almost a mission impossible because he seems to hibernate when he sleeps. But after a few tries, he finally wakes up.

"It's Bella," you say, handing him the phone. He seems surprised to get a call from her, probably because of the hour. But he answers her immediately. You can't hear what they're talking about because Jacob steps outside the house. You can only imagine that it's not good news.

"What did you do?" Jacob says first thing, sounding irritated as he accuses you. You stand up from the edge of the bed, confused.

"What do you mean, what did I do, Jacob?" You're on the defensive. There's no way you and Black didn't wake his father. But right now, you don't like the tone Jacob is using to talk to you.

"Edward told Bella about your dirty little secret. She broke up with him and now she's devastated. Damn it, you coming back here was the worst thing that could happen," Jacob says, looking at you like you're a monster. It breaks your heart. Jacob has always been your biggest supporter. Whether it was when you were younger and your father tried to push you towards Sam to force an imprint, or when you decided to leave Forks after your parents' death. Seeing him look at you with such contempt is tearing you apart inside.

"Are you sure you want to say that?" You ask, wanting to be sure before making a decision; after all, you owe that to Jacob. Your eyes fill with tears as you wait for a response. But all Jacob does is stand there silently. He watches you cry and says nothing. You take a few moments to compose yourself, then start packing your things. Hastily and without care, you pack your suitcase. You're not going to wait another minute for Jacob to apologize.

"Y/N, where are you going?" Mr. Black asks, wheeling his chair over to both of us. Jacob stands at the door of the room while you finish packing your suitcase.

"Away from your son, sir. You've been very kind to let me stay here, but I can't stay with him any longer. I hope you understand." You gently hold Billy Black's hand, saying goodbye to him. As soon as you pass by Billy, you head for the door of the house. Your car is parked in front, and you put your suitcase in the trunk as you feel the rain starting to form. As you get into the car, Jacob appears in front of it. You start to feel an overwhelming anger towards him. The pause between turning on the car and facing him seems eternal. It's as if he doesn't want you to leave but can't bring himself to say it.

"Don't go." That's all he says. You grip the steering wheel so tightly you feel like you might tear it off. How can he hurt you and still expect you to stay?

"If you don't get out of the way of the car, I'm going to run over you" you threaten him, as you feel resentment wash over you. Interestingly, he doesn't leave the front of the car. You look Jacob in the eyes, wanting so much for him to make it easier for you.

"Please, do not go." He pleads, as if he can't bear to see you go. But before you can do anything, his cell phone rings again. He doesn't even need to answer for you to know who is calling him.

"You should answer. It must be the woman you want to be by your side. Don't let me disturb this in your life anymore." You say, still hurt. Jacob seems indecisive, not knowing whether to answer his cell phone and let you out of his life or continue to convince you to stay. And then he answers his cell phone, while you go away.

Driving while trying to stop crying is a challenging task. Now it gets even harder when it's raining. You're trying to think of where to go, but you can't decide. Sam will kill Jacob when he finds out what happened to you two. And when he finds out about Edward, he's very likely to kill you and Edward. Maybe you should go home anyway. Jacob must be right. You ruined everything. And while you're hitting the road, Edward appears out of nowhere. You almost run him over.

"Have you lost your mind, Edward Cullen?" You scream as you get out of your car and go to Edward in the rain.

"I told her. I told her I still had feelings for you. I made it clear that I loved her deeply. But that part of me still belonged to you." Edward speaks loudly as the two of you are soaked by the rain. You look at him without reaction, because you didn't imagine he would be so frank.

"Obviously, she broke up with you. Anyone who admits that they belong to an ex, in good conscience, does not deserve to be by their lover's side. Go to her, tell her you made a mistake. Tell her that your past has upset you but that you love her. Don't make her give up on you because of me. I do not deserve this." You say as you feel a storm take over your heart. You don't believe what you're saying but you need to not be a mistake in anyone else's life.

"Why do you want to run away from me again?" Edward asks, knowing deep down that you really are trying to run away from all of this. The feeling you feel now is that you are sinking into quicksand.

"It's easier to run away than to stay here and face the fact that I don't know if I'll experience a love as great as ours." You finally admitted something that has been tormenting you since the first time you left.

"If our love was so great, stay here. Stay in Forks, stay with me. Rediscover what it's like to feel the feeling we both abandoned years ago." Edward's request seems bold. Rediscovering what you left behind is dangerous. It could be the start of a war between those who are his family and those who are your family. You sigh, thinking about what to do as you stand a few steps away from Edward.

"Don't regret this." You alert Edward, as you run into his arms. He holds you in a hug so tight that you feel like you're walking into a house. Not just any house, your house. You kiss him then, like someone who is thirsty. Since you arrived, you kissed him a few times but never with the feeling of coming back to him. He grabs you by the waist and pulls you up, making your legs wrap around his waist. With his vampiric speed, he quickly places you under the hood of the car as he continues to kiss you.

"Will you come home with me?" Edward speaks between the kiss, while you are too compelled by desire for him to understand that he is asking you to go to the Cullens' house with him.

"I'll go with you everywhere." You mumble close to his mouth as you continue to lose yourself in him. He squeezes your ass lightly and before you know it, you're in the car, taking each other's clothes off.

[allwaswell16]

A fic rec of One Direction fics where Louis is a villain of some sort as requested in an ask I can no longer find oof Hope you see this rec whoever asked for it! If you enjoy the fics, please leave kudos and comments for the writers! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

- Louis/Harry -

💀 Wanted Most by BornOnABeach

(E, 156k, thief Louis) Louis Tomlinson is a thief, and a damn good one at that. Most have heard of him. Most don't understand him. And Harry Styles is the FBI agent who can never seem to catch him.

💀 Cover Me with Jewels by ShatteredGlassHouse / @larryislove

(E, 55k, thief Louis) the one where Louis is a jewel thief and dating Harry Styles, the heir to a designer jewellery business empire, but Louis worries Harry will discover him, so he disappears for five years. 

💀 Tied Down by HamPalpert

(E, 48k, drug dealer Louis) The most interesting case in Liam and Niall's careers falls directly into their laps, courtesy of an epic fuck-up of one Harry Styles, partner to the almost-infamous drug dealer Louis Tomlinson. 

💀 I'll Throw Away My Faith (Just To Keep You Safe) by @theboyfriendstagram

(E, 42k, assassin Louis) AU. Harry Styles is an MI6 agent on a mission to find out who’s planning on killing the Prime Minister. Louis Tomlinson is a wanted professional assassin, hired by the MI6 to kill whoever wants to kill the Prime Minister.

💀 Please, Deceive Me by Larringiscaring

(E, 42k, thief Louis) Louis robs casino's with his ex-boyfriend, and Harry trusts a criminal a little more than he should

💀 no pressure, no diamonds by @karamelised

(E, 42k, thief Louis) Louis is a thief, Harry a grifter. They are thrown together for a huge diamond heist in Paris, where their past soon catches up to them.

💀 Buried Like Treasure by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(E, 40k, thief Louis) Semi-retired thief Louis Tomlinson has been pulled in for one last job: steal a painting from an uninhabited mansion. Neither one of them expects a natural disaster.

💀 The Risen (series) by @creamcoffeelou

(E, 28k, cult au) In search of the next breaking story, Harry goes off to do something no one else has been able to do: get the scoop on Louis Tomlinson and his devoted group of followers.

💀 For You, I Will (I Don't Believe in Magic, but) by theweightofmywords / @lil0

(E, 17k, criminal Louis) Louis leads two lives, when all he wants is a simple one with Harry.

💀 focal point by rainbowsandgucci

(M, 8k, thief Louis) By the time you read this, I’ll be gone, so don’t bother looking. Last night was lovely, Harry, I’m sure you agree. Sorry to run, but that’s just how life works sometimes, I’m sure you understand. Don’t forget about me. xx P.S. Thanks for the money

💀 Daisy by Jennifer_Kaid / @poetsreprieve

(E, 3k, mob au) An assassin who lurks in shadows, who kills with a detachment towards his victims, their death always displayed artfully for anyone who stumbles upon the corpse once his work is done.

💀 Stealing My Trust by Phillipa19

(E, 3k, organized crime) Harry hates the danger Louis' 'job' puts him in, but no one ever said being in love with a criminal would be easy.

💀 we're swimming with the sharks until we drown by velvetnoodle

(T, 3k, thief Louis) There’s only one thing that makes Harry’s job on the casino floor bearable, and that’s a chance to grab the attention of the mysterious man who frequents the establishment often.

💀 How to Catch a Christmas Tree by Anonymous

(E, 2k, omegaverse) It's two days until Christmas and Harry needs a Christmas tree.

💀 Marionette by Anonymous

(E, 2k, witch Louis) Harry is a vampire on the hunt. He doesn’t know that he’s not the top of the food chain.

💀 The shape I've made you into by flamboyo / @riverswater

(M, 1k, established relationship) "Sometimes, I wish you'd hit me."

💀 Twenty-Eight by @beardyboyzx

(M, 1k, spy au) Agent Harry Styles has finally caught his nemesis, but there's a knot in the plot he's not ready to detangle.

- Rare Pairs -

💀 To Catch a Thief by StormDancer

(E, 49k, Zayn/Louis) There are some rules even thieves have trouble breaking. Marriage vows, for instance.

[herringstrait]

Don't think words can convey how delighted I am whoever styled Nagumo for the festa merch made his outfit atrocious. Do you GET how amazing and in-character that is? It's like a dog doing whatever he wants bc he knows you'll love him for it anyway. The 2 clashing patterns on the shirt and the pants, the walmart bargain bin shoes, and the goodwill trench in mold green? Even his body language acting on hesitant and shy is more than I could dream of. (don't get me started on how he's drawing attention to the rings on his hands with his fingers). All that mess and people are still going to find him attractive. Teary eyed from just how *perfect* it all is. He has pretty privilege and everyone knows it (himself most of all).

Of course the kiddos and Pops look great, but it's the Order trio that drove home for me the fact the artist/stylist has to have red the source manga. The way they picked something formal for Osa that makes her chest look massive shows just enough skin for her to be slightly uncomfortable yet rock it (think JAA corporate gala). The way they even coordinated the silver in her hairclips and purse hardware with her partner's necklace. Shishiba's lax suaveness in his gangster-adjacent open collar shirt and black suit coat... the hairtie on his wrist... Never been so chuffed about a set of alternate styled outfits in my life. You can just tell when a stylist UNDERSTANDS a character's personality and vibe based on the outfit they put together, and here that understanding even extends to body language. Massive kudos to the brain behind it. They deserve a great packet of freshly steamed meat buns ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

[mongrel-mage]

A Spoiler-free review of Edge of Sleep

Fucking incredible. Like...9/10 and the only reason I say so is because there were only 6 20-ish minute episodes and I wanted the show to be longer and give us more backstory on the characters and such. It'll be a bit longer of a post, but rest assured that there are no spoilers under the link.

Main differences from the podcast, but still minor: the character of The Trespasser does not feature in the show, nor do Dave's story about the Moobles and the ensuing hallucinations he describes. However, I was satisfied with how they used the information from The Trespasser's subplot in the actual TV show, and there was a little reference to him at the beginning of Episode 5 that made me smile, so I'm really not that fussed about those things being missing.

I'm going to take a minute to rave about Eve Harlow, who plays Linda. What a goddamn POWERHOUSE of an actress, honestly. Perfect casting. She nailed a character who is tough as iron, focused, determined, and intelligent without making Linda come across as unnecessarily cold or unlikeable--I'll go so far to say that Linda was my favorite character (by a slim margin, but still there). Eve Harlow has an incredibly expressive face and eyes that convey complex emotions without relying on the same few expressions or overacting what she's feeling. I really want to see her get some sort of awards or accolades for her performance because she carried damn near all of her scenes.

Let's talk about Mark. I already knew that he could act well because I'd watched his other projects, but most/if not all of them have at least some level of comedy, humor, or character who lightens the mental load at least a little bit. We all know that he's a giggly bitch and likes to have fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. That said, I'm comfortable saying that Edge of Sleep is easily his most ambitiously dramatic project--there was a lot of raw stress, grief, anger, and pain that Dave Torres went through, and I was impressed at how well Mark portrayed it. It's obvious how much he tries and how hard he cares; it's so clear that this wasn't some celebrity vanity project. You can really feel the love and the energy and the care that he put into this, and I was, like I said, impressed at his range as a drama/horror actor. There were some moments and expressions he had in the show (namely in the first episode, when the people at the party are giving Dave a hard time about his sleep disorder and past episodes) that hit me unexpectedly hard. Amazing performance, Mark. I'm proud of you.

I also want to take another moment to rave about the makeup and hair department. Standing ovation. The gradual increase of the characters' exhaustion and general levels of dishevelment (the thing that stuck with me the most was Linda's makeup and hair, SO good) looked very real and read well on camera. Anyone who knows me irl knows what a freak I am for good practical effects/makeup, and I want to make sure that those artists are acknowledged and appreciated. I'm also going to throw in some kudos for whoever was behind the Elephant Monster--that thing was FUCKED UP (/pos). I love a Creature and it was sufficiently more disturbing than I had expected it to be, since The Elephant isn't given much of a description in the podcast. I'm not sure if it was practical effects or something computer generated, but whatever it was it was amazing. Hats off to the Creature Crew!

Lastly: I WANT SEASON TWO. GIVE IT TO ME. I WANT TO RIP IT APART WITH MY TEETH. I HAVE BEEN GOOD AND COHERENT FOR THIS LONG NOW GIVE ME MORE.

Also. I promised no spoilers and there shall be none. But that last shot of the last episode? fucking HAUNTING. Here's hoping that us catapulting Edge of Sleep to the TOP FIVE, BEFORE THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH, will seriously throw some weight to whoever can decide to give us a second season.

[inkedinfusions]

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 | eren jaeger chapter 3

⊱𖣂⊰ | In which you fall into a fictional world with the key to Pandora's box.

── ★ ˙ ̟ . 🗝 .ᐟ.ᐟ masterlist

⊰– prev   next–⊱

𝟎𝟑 | 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

chapter word count: 3.1 k

content warnings: blanket warnings

a/n: Third chapter! First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone reading this, your comments and votes slash likes slash kudos do wonders for my motivation. I currently have written up to chapter five, and have a rough outline of the next chapter, so expect those updates soon.

Thanks for reading!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐒 filter through your window, coating your room in soft light, like morning dew on plants. The paneled window lets in a slight draft, making you stir in your sleep.

Your eyes flutter open, and you shoot up from the covers before the confusion is replaced by recognition, your eyes slowly taking in the unfamiliar scenery. You flop onto the mattress again, turning over so that the glare of the sun is not directly over your eyes. The cotton sheets feel soft beneath your fingers, and you numbingly trace invisible patterns over and over again.

The clang of metal pots downstairs spurs you to life, prompting you to get up from the cocoon of blankets you were nestled in. You trod towards the dresser, picking some nondescript clothes to change into. The dress and shirt you choose feel weird on your body, and you're not sure if it's because they look like they came out of an old movie or simply because they are new to you.

You sit on the made bed, mulling over your next step. Zeke and Yelena are in Marley, so, like yesterday, you know that you are in the window of time in between the Scouts discovering the ocean and the envoy arriving to Paradis with the Volunteers. That gives you around three years before Zeke and Eren meet again, four before the rumbling.

Convince Zeke of moving up his plan in the timeline to get you home is not plausible – and why would it? As much as he is, in a way, something of a good person, he won't change his plans for you, a girl he just met.

You remember Johann Grice’s face, one he shares with his youngest son, one who has a stronger bond with Zeke that you currently do. Falco had been unlucky he consumed the wine, and even unluckier when Zeke, even if remorsefully, screamed, turning him into a titan.

So, the other option left is Eren and Historia. Small problem though, they are on the other side of a sea you have no way getting across. And what would Historia even do, if she wasn't a pure or intelligent titan? You didn’t feel comfortable sacrificing her for a ticket home.

You sigh, combing a hand through your hair. Well, you'll burn that bridge when you get there, or however the expression goes.

After carefully storing the clothes you arrived in and tidying up, you make your way downstairs, following the sounds that woke you up. There, in the kitchen, you are treated with a very bizarre image.

A steaming pot at the stove gives the kitchen a faint smell of coffee, and Zeke stands next to it, stirring another with what seems to be breakfast porridge. He turns your way when you approach, your footsteps announcing your arrival, and offers you a bowl. You accept it with a greeting.

“Good morning.”

“Morning, kid. Sleep well?”

You nod, shoving a spoonful of porridge into your mouth, relishing in the warmth it gave off. You didn't realize how hungry you were before, the only thing in your stomach being last night’s biscuits.

Zeke chuckles at your newfound energy, matching it with his own after grabbing a bowl. The clock on the walls ticks away unreadable numbers, provoking Zeke to draw you a page with the different variations of numerals at your request.

It's pretty simple, and you thank Isayama or whoever made the writing system for the fact that it follows the same logic your own does, just with different symbols.

“I'll see if I can get some simple picture books for you to practice,” Zeke says as he writes up the last number, the one standing in for nine. “But for now you'll have to be content with my chicken scratch.”

That elicits a small snort out of you, the idea that someone that's currently causing you anxieties has something as pedestrian as bad handwriting being ridiculously funny. He starts writing another one for the alphabet, reviewing with you the way they matched up to yours.

“What, did you fail calligraphy 101?” you ask, falling back into lighthearted banter.

“No, but I did receive glowing grades in porridge cooking.”

Your shoulders shake as you laugh, and somewhere in your consciousness you blame the lack of restful sleep and outlandish situation for the ease with which you snicker. Econ major Zeke was not on your bingo card for today.

You and Zeke finish your breakfast simultaneously, and he takes your bowl with him as he stands up, heading towards the sink. You follow, knowing that you'll feel bad if you don’t help, even if it's just a couple of bowls and mugs.

Soapy water runs down the dishes as Zeke cleans them, and you do your best to guess where each goes after you've dried them.

“So what are we doing today?” you ask, locating the cupboard with mugs.

“I–” Zeke emphasizes, “–will be going to a meeting with my comrades.”

“Comrades?”

“The Warriors. They are chosen to serve Marley, and each holds a special titan within them.”

“Oh. And you are one of them?” you question, remembering the explanation he gave you the day before. You had carefully cataloged the information you were given, as to prevent any future slipups.

Zeke nods, handing you the last bowl before drying his hands with an embroidered towel. You notice it matches one you saw at the Jaeger’s yesterday.

“As for you, well, I'm going to ask you to stay here a while. Practice your numbers, or if you feel confident enough, take a crack at some books.”

Your brows furrow as you close the cabinet’s door. While you recognize that going into a city you know nothing of is at the very least disorienting and at most dangerous, you don't want to feel trapped in the house.

“Can’t I come with you?” you try to bargain, already knowing the answers going to be no. You hope it's a no, anyway. Meeting the Warriors immediately after meeting Zeke would permanently raise your blood pressure.

“No.” Ah, there it is. “But I'll take you some other day to meet them.”

Huh. Unexpected compromise, and not one you really accounted for.

“If you do need to go outside though, for any reason, be sure you are wearing this,” he points to his red armband. “It's something that is required of us.”

You nod, mentally jotting down the books that you could try to read with the twenty six letter codex Zeke had given you.

Zeke bids you a goodbye afterwards, and you stand in the threshold for a minute before going to your room, pulling up some paper to do line drills. You meticulously write the ten numbers over and over again, losing yourself in the repetition.

The writing gets tedious after a while, so you let your pencil fall to the paper and stretch upwards, relieving the tension in your bones. You lay your head in your arms, parallel to the desk, and watch the window, fluttering leaves intermittently filling the view.

It would be easy to imagine being home, if you closed your eyes. This could just be another impromptu nap after finishing homework, and you would sleep until a shout would wake you up for dinner.

You drift away, engrossed in your memories, before you are suddenly pulled out of them by an impatient knock on the door. You consider ignoring it, and just then, the knocking doubles in speed, making whoever is on the other side of the door someone with either an emergency or an inability to wait.

You trudge downstairs after retrieving the key Zeke had gifted you yesterday, using it to unlock the front door. A small fist enters your vision, and you register a small, brunette girl attached to the other end of it.

She blinks, surprised, and hastily retreats her hand.

“...Hello?”

The girl just stares, not saying anything, and you look around to see if maybe someone responsible for her is near. As you do so, the girl speaks.

“You are not Zeke,” she states, and god are you getting tired of people telling you who you obviously are not.

“I'm not. Who are you?” you ask, not appreciating being questioned by a prepubescent girl.

“Gabi. Why are you in Zeke’s house?”

The name she introduces herself with is enough to quell your irritation.

“Oh,” you exhale, buying time to come out of your stupor. “I'm Y/n. I’m, uh, staying with Zeke for a while.”

“Why?”

“My dad died.”

That serves to silence her, the tense atmosphere growing exponentially with your comment. You feel a little guilty when she squirms, uncomfortable, so you sigh and move to the side, letting her in.

“Zeke’s not home,” you say, following her inside. “He went to a meeting, I think.”

“Oh, with the Warriors?”

“How do you–” you pause, your eyes flitting to the yellow armband decorating her bicep. So she was already a candidate then. Sick bastards. Child military in this series was a massive problem.

“I'm going to be one when I grow up.” The pride in her eyes makes your heart stutter. Gabi couldn't be older than ten, and here she was, already willing to die to serve Marley.

“That’s… a big dream,” you conclude, not wanting to quell her hopes, but also not willing to condone her goal.

Gabi gifts you a blinding smile, and begins to rummage through the room. You watch her as she drifts from drawer to drawer, before resigning yourself to the will of an eight year old.

“Are you looking for something?” you ask, ready to go back to being alone in your room.

“Zeke said he had a book about birds for me.”

You don’t recall spotting any other books in the house, only the ones in your room. And maybe Zeke’s room, but no way in hell you would intrude in his personal space. You let out a puff of air, gesturing Gabi’s expectant figure to follow you upstairs.

“It's probably in my room.”

Gabi’s footsteps trail behind you, already over seeing a stranger in Zeke’s house. Maybe stranger danger wasn’t a thing here, who knows. You roll up to the shelves, before remembering that you can’t actually read the titles.

You hesitate, embarrassed, before a high pitched question makes your face heat up even more.

“Why are you writing numbers over and over again?”

Gabi stands in front of your number-filled papers, innocently turning to you when she asks. While children in your world might not be master analysts, Gabi senses the shame written all over your face, and she hurriedly apologizes.

“I mean–” she stumbles over her words, “–you probably wrote differently where you lived, right? I’m sorry, I didn’t want to–”

“It’s okay,” you interrupt her. “I used a different alphabet there.”

You don’t mention that ‘there’ was not in her world map.

“Could you just tell me if the book you are searching for is here?”

You step aside to allow Gabi a better view of the different texts, and you watch as she squirms, her eyes scanning for what she is looking for. After a moment, she looks at you and shakes her head, denoting that it wasn’t.

“Afraid you’re going to have to wait for Zeke, squirt.”

Gabi scrunches her nose at the nickname, and her voice rises with the displeasure of it.

“I’m not a squirt!” she exclaims. “I’m actually tall for my age.”

You chuckle at her grumbles.

“Yes, but you are smaller than me. Ergo, squirt.”

“At least I can read,” she mumbles.

You freeze and your eyebrows raise all the way up your forehead, the comment catching you off guard. Gabi begins to take your prolonged silence as a sign that she messed up, but before she can apologize again, you begin to laugh.

She joins you in laughter a few moments later, and the two of you giggle like sleep deprived school girls. Wiping tears from your eyes, you try to control your snorts, losing it when your gaze catches hers.

“That was mean, squirt,” you tell her as the chuckles begin to subside.

“Not a squirt.”

“Sure,” you reply halfheartedly.

Gabi falls silent again, her eyes looking back at your line drills. Her eyes flit back to you, and then down to her hands, who begin to play with the hem of her shirt. Timidly, she pipes up with a proposal.

“I could bring you some books from when I learned to write.”

Your heart practically melts at her suggestion, and you are quick on taking her up on the offer. You thank her with a smile, which widens when she begins to look more comfortable in your presence. You, not wanting to leave a debt unpaid, speak up with your own idea.

“Can I braid your hair?”

Her brown hair falls longer on her back then it ever did in the series, and she fiddles with it for a moment. When she nods, you guide her to your chair where you begin plucking strands from her hair, forming a simple, triple plait.

“So how do you know Zeke, Gabi?” you ask, making small talk as your fingers weaved through her hair. “Is it through the Warriors?

Gabi begins to assent her head in agreement, before remembering to stay still.

“Yeah. I’m training to be one.”

You hum, adding small flourishes to the braid. “Are you any good at it?”

“Good?” she asks incredulously. “I’m the best at it.”

Oh, to be eight years old and have the confidence of a god. If it wasn't for the horrific implications her situation has, you could pass this moment off as some coming of age scene, where the protagonist states her dreams, only to achieve them at the end of the story.

You suppose that she did, in a way, help save the world from the Devil of Paradis. And she was –or would be– an excellent marksman.

“What are you good at?”

Her question sends you in for a loop, your fingers stilling in the middle of the plait. You find yourself unsure how to answer for the second time today. Although you weren’t particularly bad at anything, it also wasn't like you had something you excelled at.

“...I like to read stories,” you respond, following a pause. “All the more reason to practice reading, huh?”

“Guess so, if you’re into that sort of thing.” Gabi shrugs.

“Didn’t you come here looking for a book?”

“It’s not for me.”

“Oh.” You should probably have expected someone as lively as her to not take much interest in reading. “Who is it for then?”

“A friend. His name is Falco.”

Another name you recognize. At this point, it shouldn’t be a surprise when people reference other characters, but it still manages to catch you off guard. The little boy from the series is Gabi’s age so he’s also young now, younger than when he had to carry an enormous burden to save humanity, younger even than when he killed his own brother in the blast to forcibly become a titan.

“It must be nice to have a friend like you,” you concede, missing your own. It must've shown on your tone, because the next thing Gabi says is a direct consolation of it.

“I can be your friend too,” she offers softly.

“...Thanks Gabi.”

“And Falco has an older brother who I’m sure you’ll like–” you interrupt her as she begins to wiggle her eyebrows, breaking the wistful ambiance.

“And you’re done!” You finish up the braid with a tie, and you watch as her hands come up to feel it.

“I also have a cousin who just returned–!”

You shush her, failing to do so as you both begin to laugh again. Gabi thanks you for the plait with a smile, and you chat in your room until both your stomachs begin to rumble. Making your way to the kitchen, you realize that you have no idea of what to make, and less of what ingredients are available.

You and Gabi rummage through the kitchen, hitting jackpot with some vegetables and bread. You make quick work of slicing them as Gabi prepares a sauce that reminds you of your world’s curry.

“Won’t your parents be worried about you being out so long?”

Gabi sticks a spoon in the sauce and offers it to you, nodding proudly when you give her a thumbs up for the flavor.

“It’s fine. They know I’m with friends.”

“Friend. Singular.”

“I could invite Falco and his brother–”

“Point taken, thanks.”

You both settle on the table, and the conversation quiets down as you both start to eat. The freshness of the vegetables mixes deliciously with the dressing Gabi oh so graciously prepared. You split a small loaf of bread and offer the bigger piece to Gabi, who takes it gratefully.

The evening is spent in between banter and games, after Gabi’s unsuccessful attempt to tutor you in your writing and reading. She resigns, regretfully wallowing that the Grice’s would make better teachers than her.

The sun dips over the horizon, and you send her off to her house with a promise for a repeat of the evening some other day. When Zeke arrives in the evening, you are in the middle of cleaning up the cards Gabi had strewn across the room after a particularly bad defeat.

The front door’s knob rattles as he turns it, and he greets you when he spots you in the kitchen.

“Hey, kid. Did you bring a tornado with you?” he says, referring to the playing cards you have yet to pick up. Tornadoes seem to follow you, from your arrival to the mess in the house.

The seemingly innocent question makes your heart speed up, the implicit again in his sentence not going unnoticed by you. The card in your hand draws a droplet of blood when you clench it, making the red mix with the blue ink, swirling around like the dust had when you first arrived.

You swallow, the calm atmosphere you had created with Gabi shattering with the reminder that Zeke was after the mystery of your appearance.

“Gabi came over,” you respond, with you back to him.

You listen as Zeke’s clothes rustle, followed by what you think is his coat being draped over a chair. You rinse your hand in the sink, dabbing off the dark drop in the card while you're at it.

“I see. Was she with Falco? I promised to give him a book.”

You shake your head, turning around.

Zeke hums, muttering under his breath that he’ll have to pay them a visit at headquarters. You have dinner in a tense silence, an utter difference from the lighthearted banter at breakfast. If Zeke notices the disparity, he says nothing.

Maybe it was sleep deprivation what made you lose your wariness. That’s why, after washing your dishes, you bid Zeke a curt goodnight, making the trek up to your room once more.

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[hyog-blog]

Fangs of Fortune (ep. 33 - ep. 34)

Okay, I might need therapy after this show now, but oh boy, did they end on a hopeful note (I mean that sweet special episode that made EVERYTHING better). I almost don't want to recount the torment that was the last few episodes, but it was pretty. And all of them are incredibly beautiful sufferers D:

Li Lun had a spectacular, albeit short, redemption arc, sacrificing himself both for Zhuo Yichen and, most importantly, Zhao Yuanzhou. LL and ZYZ are especially tragic if you come to think of it. They've both lived 30,000+ years, can you imagine the amount of cycles their relationship went through? They could have been enemies just out of boredom, and then lovers again, and then friends, and then whatever. They both don't pose as very sociable beings, so I imagine having each other in their lives was pretty important. Thus, losing the other one was pretty much unbearable. It's akin to losing a part of yourself, of your body and soul (once again, the TORMENT of Li Lun dying and what ZYZ was going through was palpable).

"I can't stand seeing him so useless."

And that moment when Zhao Yuanzhou needed to kill the phoenix but he couldn't utter the goddamn spell because Zhuo Yichen was in there, too, and he could have been killed. Gosh, give that old demon a break, hasn't he suffered enough already? (Mr.Guo says: nope, not nearly). But that handshake was hotter than a kiss, I swear :)

That moment when Zhao Yuanzhou was going to his death, leaving Wen Xiao behind and breaking A LOT at the passageway, realizing he wouldn't be able to keep any of his promises - to her and to him, that was almost worse than the death itself. Hou Minghao played it so well it physically hurt to see him like that.

Don't get me even started about Bai Jiu and how he held onto Zhuo Yichen's hair bells for strength and courage D: In the end, he was the one who saved everyone. A baby boy who was scared of everything.

And what a day it was for Wen Xiao to lose both her stepfather and her loved one. Zhao Yuanzhou did sacrifice him for her (otherwise she would have done it as a goddess for all those people), but a small evil voice in my head (probably Li Lun's XD) whispered that it's just one city, how many ppl could the Chongwu Camp have infected? Screw the city, save Zhao Yuanzhou XD Well, I'm obviously biased, so, yeah. One Great Demon saved the day, finally realizing his deathwish, which was no longer there.

Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen during the killing - it was just pure heartbreak. ZY manned up (if it's even applicable here) and did the deed himself, not waiting for ZYZ to go full-on Ying Long on him. Instant depression for the whole Demon Hunting Bureau, whoever was left there still. But kudos to our boy for saving a part of Zhao Yuanzhou's soul - just like Bing Yi did. And not only that, he went looking for it. I have no idea what you could do with a particle like that (can you grow him back? I'd like to think so, although Ying Long was kinda stuck and didn't seem too happy, hmm).

Also, the last person Zhao Yuanzhou saw was Zhuo Yichen D;

But still, that ending in the special was hopeful. Instantly made everything somehow less dreary and lonely. Zhuo Yichen's character growth was IMMENSE. Our boy went from hating demons who killed his family, then getting to know so many of them, and one especially well, and even to becoming one himself. And in the end, he refused to give up on Zhao Yuanzhou, saying he'd be guilty for the rest of his life if he didn't find him. Well, maybe that, but also because of their love, which was HUGE.

I like how the show explored different types of love - friendly, sisterly, brotherly, m/m, f/f, and everything in between. Unrequited love, platonic love, the whatever love - it's all been there. Pei Sijing's face said a lot when Wen Xiao told them she was also leaving - to stay in the Wilderness. It's not-really-funny how without Zhao Yuanzhou their whole team broke apart (well, some died, but each of them went their separate ways). I kind of hopefully imagine that if he came back, he'd probably want to spend a small eternity with Zhuo Yichen or Wen Xiao (or more likely both) and that could be a whole new adventure for them.

I sacrificed my night's sleep for this, no regrets whatsoever XD Not nearly enough kittens in the world to heal after this, though. But the show is so-so good.