#like. very intentionally. they're tangled up in each other

[springtrappd]

really fun how everyone keeps ignoring that the child most central to afton's whole deal is elizabeth, not michael or bv, and by fun i mean i'm so tired.

[magicrainbowkitties]

I know the game is forever old at this point but I'm still so damn pissed that Arkham Knight still ended up being all about Joker instead of Scarecrow. Like. The fucker's DEAD. The writer that came up with that should've been absolutely MAKING OUT with themselves cause HOLY CHRIST that frees up so much to explore with the other villains!

Instead he upstages fuckin SCARECROW from beyond the grave! That's fuckin stupid! There is SO. MUCH. To do with Scarecrow, or other Batman fears! Here's just a few off the dome:

- Vulnerability, be that emotional, physical, mentally, ect. Bruce has been hurt so many times by so many people, and his inability to give and receive trust and lay down guard is one of his biggest character flaws. Bruce Wayne is a very deeply loving, caring man that FORCES HIMSELF to stop trusting people because he is afraid of what will happen if he lets too many people (or the wrong people) into his world and life. Fuckin explore that, nerd!

- Losing everyone he loves. He's got the Batfam in this timeline, and Jason Todd went through WAY more this way round than in other settings (seriously that was a little bit fucked tbh, more on that in a minute). But in this game, he's dismissive of them, cold even, when they try to reach out. THE WRITER THAT CAME UP WITH THAT SHOULD'VE KISSED THEMSELVES FOR THEIR GENIUS, and then BLATANTLY MADE THAT COLDNESS A RESULT OF HIS FEAR THAT HIS KIDS ARE GONNA GET HURT AND HE'S SCARED OF WATCHING THEM DIE LIKE HIS PARENTS, rather than having it come across as the stoic badass attitude he's had throughout the series. We're told he loves his kids, but maybe show that a little more!

- Failure. They talked about this a little with the whole Arkham Knight plotline, but it could've (should've, really) been the focus (given it's THE FUCKIN NAME OF THE GAME). In fact, that scene where he finds out what happened to Jason should've been a fear gas dream, Joker's presence relegated to these hallucinatory scenes of Jason being violently tortured, the reality of the situation being only hinted at or brushed off because Jason, surprisingly enough, doesn't wanna talk about it. This all can encapsulate Bruce's innate fear of failing in his duty as both Batman and as a father, and his fear of confronting his past failures in the form of Jason Todd. And given this is FUCKING SCARECROW'S GAME, the guy who's all about plucking on fear and setting people against each other because they're afraid, he should've figured out how to exploit the fear of failure from the very beginning.

If the whole point is that Joker needs Batman but Batman doesn't need Joker, then why is it that the fear of becoming Like Joker Batman's fear gas hallucinations here? Sure, he can tangle with the fear of killing and wanton violence, even the fear that were he to intentionally kill someone, he wouldn't be able to stop.

But let's be so fucking for real: This Batman would not enjoy it. This Batman barely enjoys beating people up for Riddler info. He certainly wouldn't take the explicitly carnal pleasure in death that this Joker did. He couldn't stomach the idea of killing random people, he could barely stomach the idea of killing fucking Edward Nygma, and even THAT is stretching it HARD. Bc this Batman believes STRONGLY in punitive justice (despite 3 gamesworth and a whole career of experience to the contrary at that point), as shown in all previous entries. Now, he'll certainly LET people die (FUCKING HELL, DUDE, TYGER IS COMMITTING A LITERAL GENOCIDE RIGHT NOW AND YOU WANNA GO AFTER JOKER!? BE FOR REAL!), and is obviously ok with life-alteringly disabling people in settings where that would kill them (looking at you "if you're done eating solid food" in City, where people talk about quite literally starving in the cold all game long), but refuses to even kill a guy HE KNOWS WILL JUST RESURRECT IN 3 HOURS.

And his big fear is becoming Joker bc he has left over Joker Juice in his system?

Be so FUCKING for real.

Let Scarecrow Scarecrow in the goddamn Scarecrow game. That shit they did in Asylum? Shoulda been a whole game of THAT. Because that was fucking awesome.

[abigailmoment]

"I'm worried about fucking things up between us. He's...words. Words," Tav muttered, making absent come-hither motions as if trying to summon the right ones. "Delicate's wrong. Maybe fragile? Fragile like a smokepowder bomb. But that's wrong too. Wounded. But that's not enough. It's like he's walking around with a bunch of scabbed over stab wounds. But he's had them forever and he's so used to them he can walk around, and backstab people, and laugh. But they're still there and they're fucking stab wounds and I can tell when they're being jostled."

"Do you know how he got them?" Halsin asked.

"Parts of it," Tav said. "I am making plans to commit murder when we get back to Baldur's Gate."

Her eyes flicked up to Halsin's face to make sure there was no judgement there. There wasn't.

"I have lists," she continued. "Of possible tactics. Notes. Diagrams. Some doodles." Full text below. Full text on Ao3.

Halsin walked into the woods until the sounds of the revel had faded behind the sounds of leaves. Then he settled comfortably, leaning back against a birch tree, and just looked out.

The colors of the forest were muted in darkness, but it was alive with shapes and sounds. The protecting spread of branches above, and the stars peeking down between them. Cricket chirping and owls with opinions. The world sounded green and alive, and that was very wonderful. Just being present here was like a blessing after so long in a dungeon.

It was hard to say how long he'd been sitting, almost slipping into reverie, when he noticed a pattern in the movement of the animals around him. There were a lot of them heading east. A fox passed him. A racoon. Another fox. A pair of hedgehogs complaining to each other about how two-leggers were always making such a fuss of noise about nothing.

The party he'd left was southward, so this would be something else bothering them. Investigating such disturbances was so much a habit for him that he barely thought before standing and walking quietly west.

He heard the hard crunch of boots crushing leaves--someone moving rapidly and with no thought to noise. He approached the sound and found Tav. No longer at the party, she was pacing back and forth between two trees, muttering to herself. Occasionally she stopped and said 'Fuck!' very quietly but very sincerely. Then she resumed pacing.

Halsin waited, but she didn’t notice him. He took another step and intentionally found a branch to break underfoot. Tav started and her eyes snapped towards him.

"Hi," she said, eyes wide. "I'm sorry. Was this...were you using these woods? I can move."

Halsin put up his hands. "There's green enough for everyone. I just happened by. Is something troubling you?"

"I. Uh." She raked her fingers through her hair once. Twice. "I'm in trouble."

"I see.” Halsin had a few guesses about the kind of trouble that drove one to pace and mutter in the night. ”Do you want to speak of it?"

"I. Maybe. That might be..."

She hesitated. She started pacing again. Got three steps and stopped. She was worrying the base of one horn with her nails. Finally she seemed to come to a decision and turned to actually look at Halsin.

"If you had to pick, out of all of my companions. With whom do you think it would be the worst idea to get..." She made a mixing tangling motion with her fingers, and eventually supplemented the gesture with the words: "...emotionally involved?"

"I feel I would need to know them better to answer confidently," Halsin said.

"That is a thoughtful, charitable sort of a thing to say," Tav allowed. "But I bet you don't actually need that. I'll give you a hint. It's NOT the woman who could set me on fire with a hug."

Halsin took a moment to consider, but based on superficial observation the answer did seem obvious.

"Astarion?" he guessed.

Tav clapped her hands together in a pantomime of celebration and then pointed her fingertips at him. "You're good at this game. Your retroactive prize is being saved from goblins."

Halsin smiled slightly. "I'm glad I guessed right."

"Yeah, me too." Tav sighed. She was rubbing her hands together and staring off to one side. "We were flirting. It was a game. About saying stupid, over the top things that we both knew we didn't mean. And he had all these great-awful pickup lines and we were getting more and more dramatic. And then. And then he looked at me and he said 'I love you.'"

Her hands were in her hair again, raking over her horns. "And he did NOT mean it. But my heart did that little thump-thump-leap thing LIKE he meant it."

She stared hard into the dark woods, hands tangled in her increasingly wild hair.

"And that is a PROBLEM," she whispered.

"Is it?" Halsin asked.

"Yes." She snapped, eyes focusing back on Halsin. "Yes, that is a problem. Because the things I have to offer are effective group management techniques and limericks. And if I lose my head over the most mother-would-not-approve albino bad boy who is part of the team I have to handle I will stop being an effective group manager. Then all I have to offer is limericks. And they ARE magical limericks. But they still aren't going to save the realm from the Absolute. Which is apparently what we need to do."

Then she had to stop because she had not paused to breathe for that entire paragraph. Her hands were moving again, nails raking over her horns to the point where Halsin was concerned she might hurt herself.

So he reached out to take her by the hand and shoulder and suggested with gentle pressure that she might sit down. They ended up cross-legged in the grass. A much more stable and grounded position. Tav exhaled slowly, and looked up at him.

"Hi," she said. "Sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry for," he told her. "It seems you are taking a great deal of responsibility on to yourself."

"I've read a lot of epic legends, Halsin." There was something haunted in her expression. "I'm really starting to think we're in one. I think the things we do here are going to have some far reaching consequences."

"I see," he said. And he supposed a bard would know. "Very well then. Grave as they may be, let's set aside your responsibilities for a moment."

She seemed very gesture-prone, so he decided to illuminate this advice with motion. He moved his hands, as if gathering his responsibilities up into a bundle. He carefully set them down to his left.

Tav seemed wary to the point of intimidated by the prospect of setting her responsibilities aside, even metaphorically. But after a moment she imitated him, and she did so with all the buy-in of someone whose arcane magic was partially based on improv. It took her quite some effort to get all her obligations wrapped up and when she shifted them to the side it was with a little huff of effort. Halsin couldn't help but smile.

"How do you feel?" he asked when she was done.

"Scared," she said. She was fretting her fingernails in the same way she'd been fretting her horns before.

Halsin rumbled in an understanding way, but didn't say anything.

"I like him," Tav continued after a moment. "A lot. He's fun. He's sharp and interesting. And talking to him is like playing. And he's mean, but that's fun too. And he's VERY pretty."

She dropped her head to the side, as if she needed a moment to recover from just how pretty he was. Then she rubbed at her eyebrow.

"And sometimes...he's sad. And then I wish I were a wizard so I could just incinerate everything that makes him sad."

Halsin nodded. "I believe there are scrolls for that."

Tav's eyebrows shot up and she looked at Halsin sharply. "Did you just...are you enabling me? To do an arson?"

"To protect people you care for?" Halsin asked. "Most certainly."

The surprise melted away and she smiled slantwise at him. "I suppose I should have expected that after seeing you maul half the goblin camp."

He nodded, and it was a pleasant moment of mutual understanding. He let it lapse into silence so that she would start to fill that silence again with her fretful thoughts. She did.

"I'm worried about fucking things up between us. He's...words. Words," Tav muttered, making absent come-hither motions as if trying to summon the right ones. "Delicate's wrong. Maybe fragile? Fragile like a smokepowder bomb. But that's wrong too. Wounded. But that's not enough. It's like he's walking around with a bunch of scabbed over stab wounds. But he's had them forever and he's so used to them he can walk around, and backstab people, and laugh. But they're still there and they're fucking stab wounds and I can tell when they're being jostled."

"Do you know how he got them?" Halsin asked.

"Parts of it," Tav said. "I am making plans to commit murder when we get back to Baldur's Gate."

Her eyes flicked up to Halsin's face to make sure there was no judgement there. There wasn't.

"I have lists," she continued. "Of possible tactics. Notes. Diagrams. Some doodles."

"Could your plans use a bear?" He asked mildly.

Tav laughed, and it was loud and startled and genuine. "Yes. Fantastic. Always. I'll incorporate you into my ideas and daydreams."

The laughter did her good. When it finished the thread of tension loosened and her shoulders had relaxed a notch.

"I probably don't need to worry about hurting him with this," she said a little ruefully. "He's not serious. This is a game for him? Or a ploy? I'm not sure. Whichever. I'm the only one throwing her heart around like an idiot."

Halsin, who had been at camp long enough to observe some of the dynamics between the companions, decided not to comment on some of the assumptions she was making. He just made a thoughtful noise.

"So I guess that just leaves me scared about, you know." She flicked her fingers over her sleeve, removing a bit of dirt with affected casualness. "Getting hurt myself."

"It can be a frightening thing. To be the more loving one," said Halsin. "But it doesn't need to be a bad thing."

Tav hummed in a prompting, curious way. Halsin considered what he was about to say, and decided this was a reasonable time of have an opinion.

"We give each other what we can in the time we have," he said. "You have a gift. You have love for another person. A man who, from what you've said, could very much do with being loved."

Tav hummed a little more softly.

"That's nice," she said. "That's a bit of poetry."

"Pardon me. I know it's not my profession."

"Naw." Tav shook her head. "Anyone can be a bard. Just don't be surprised if I steal your words for lyrics."

Halsin opened a hand and offered his palm. "They are freely given."

"Boring," Tav complained with a smile. "I wanted to steal them."

"Well then." Halsin closed his hand. "I take back my permission."

"Good. Thank you." The smile had wedged itself firmly in the side of her face and remained even as she sighed. "I guess I'm already fucked. It's not like you can fall out of love. Not while we're spending every day together."

She covered her face with her hands and said much more quietly: "And I do not have the willpower to say no to the sex."

Halsin nodded and made a noise of deep understanding. Eventually, Tav peeked up from her hands.

"You're really good at listening," she told him.

"It is an important part of being an archdruid."

"Thank you."

"Please let me know if you ever need to be listened to again."

[hekateinhell]

I'm back as promised with fluffy post-canon Armand & Louis headcanons because I need them, so you're going to get them whether you need them or not. 🖤

In RoA and BC, it's pretty much implied that Armand only comes to court to be closer to Louis and keep an eye on Lestat since there's always something going on. I imagine post-canon things are a lot more settled and he retreats back to Trinity Gate as much as he can, which means Louis goes back and forth a lot when he needs a break from the château.

They don't have a strict visitation schedule per se, but Louis knows it's time when they're on the phone and Armand quietly says something like, "We went to the opera today; you would have loved it." And it's very clear that what he wants to say is, "I would have loved it if you had been there with me." But he's not going to be demanding, that's not who he is with Louis.

Trinity Gate as a coven house is rather busy most of the time, very different when it was just Armand, Louis, and B & S; neither Louis nor Armand prefer to be in the spotlight like Lestat. And as much as Louis needs a reprieve from court life and being Lestat's emotional support animal, Armand also needs a break from being the ever-on-alert guardian and caregiver at Trinity Gate. It's necessary for both of them to have that time away and decompress with someone who can relate to what they're going through (worrying over Lestat; having so much of their identity wrapped up in who they are to other people).

Shortly after the events of BC, Armand purchased a beautiful old renovated Victorian property by Sleepy Hollow, New York (Louis surprisingly never gets tired of making a deadpan Headless Horseman joke whenever it comes up, beating Lestat to the punch). It's exactly an hour's drive from Trinity Gate, so it's easy for Armand to meet Louis when he arrives via Armand's private jet and they head off for a few days.

The Sleepy Hollow house is their special place together. In some ways, this is the first time they can authentically recreate the early days of their relationship under much better circumstances—their "gentle intimacy"—without the ever-present distraction of fledglings coming and going and the earlier threats of Burnings in the 2000s.

They both have an inclination to want to retreat from the world at times, so for Armand being away from the overstimulation that is millions of minds in NYC and for Louis having a complete lack of privacy as royal consort at court, a little house miles anyway from anyone else is a much needed sensory reset. A lot less opulent than Trinity Gate and an actual castle, it's truly a smaller, comfortable, and cozy nest that reflects both their combined tastes.

Armand will typically silently opt to don Louis's old sweaters that he's hoarded and now keeps there, and Louis will very intentionally make it a point to wear nothing but clothes Armand's bought for him in years past. It's his way of saying, "This is our time right now."

Away from everyone, it's where Armand feels the freedom to be more vulnerable and passionate and confess how much he misses Louis, how tired he sometimes feels (remember: he's 500 years old and he has yet to go into the earth once, he must be exhausted). The sentiment is mutual—they were a constant in each others' lives for over a combined 10 decades. 

Oftentimes they take mortal naps together, curled up on the sofa in front of Romeo + Juliet with Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio (a movie Louis is said to have watched in TVA) and the artificial candles flickering. Armand's head on Louis's chest and Louis's "long and delicate fingers" tangled in Armand's curls, a green wool blanket that costs more than my rent draped over them both (Armand enjoys being cocooned and he likes to think Louis does too... and he does). ♥️

[becauseplot]

I finished Ordem Paranormal: Calamidae Episode 3! Wa hoo! A shorter episode, which obviously means this will be a shorter journal post right? Right???

And we're back with the Ordo crew! So happy to have my little guys again, I missed them. The Escripta crew was very interesting though, glad to have met them, looking forward to another session with them. I'm actually writing this having started Episode 4 because up until now I've had time to watch bits of episodes but not sit down and write up a big post like this. But I'm here now!

Me and my mutuals reblogging and liking each other's posts back and forth.

There isn't too much I want to talk about this episode. My last post sure was. A long one. I'll try to keep this one to the basics.

This episode should just be renamed to Carina and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day. Jokes aside, though, Gabi was just. Holy shit. The sobbing, fuck, the voice cracking; the sheer vitriol and anguish and desperation. Chills. Her acting for Carina in this moment felt so raw, open wound. The pain in her voice. Ugh. God. Phenomenal.

The Devil sure is scheming something. More mentions of an oncoming "war," and an invitation to seemingly join a side. But seriously---invitations to a game from Kian, delivered by the Devil, found in Signore Leone's chest, locked in a box with the key found with blood beast Signora Leone, with the symbol from Arnaldo's grimoire on the envelopes. Okay. What the fuck. Whose side, exactly?? This "invitation" sure seems to have passed through a lot of hands. The battlefield of this war is currently a tangled mass of who-do-I-hate-less and my guys need to focus on just making it out of this mansion alive because oh shit there is a whole entire horde of blood zombies after them now D:

You know it's really funny. In my first journal post I was talking about how blood zombies are, at best, tutorial creatures to help new and returning players learn the revised combat mechanics, but now they're STILL TUTORIAL CREATURES MY GUYS FUCKED EM UP ROCKED THEIR SHIT TORE THEM TO SHREDS LETSGOOOO.

Highlights from this fight for me are: Carina turning into a human blender with her knife when in the zombie mosh pit, Dante dual-wielding his AoE spiral ritual, and "torretta."

Then there was the Hanna blood zombie. Lovely lovely detail to include that it looks like its limbs were reattached at wrong angles, as well as the Japanese character carved where its face would be. My boy is an artist <3

Really, though, it feels so. Mh. How do I say this. It's the fact that it's basically a creature of his own creation, intentionally or not. His hatred for the paranormal and the creatures it harbors vs the fact that he is somewhat responsible for this abomination existing. He feels. I don't want to say he feels unhuman, to call him no longer "human" would be doing the character a disservice, but he feels slightly left of human, you know? Not quite creature-coded, but more along the lines of a force of nature. A force of pain. Something that brings things like this into the world. Hanna, having been a powerful occultist in life, was always going to leave behind a powerful creature if left in a paranormally active area, but now it has some of Joui's influence on it and some of Joui's wrath inflicted upon it, which certainly has to be helping on the power-front.

I don't know. There's something about this that I feel like I'm walking around but not quite landing on. Get back to me in 3-5 business days.

(Update: I'm starting to think thoughts, and I might be terribly wrong about Joui being Death-leaning-but-backed-by-Blood-because-Devil and is instead just Blood. Not going to elaborate more because those thoughts need to stay in the pot to cook a little while longer but I really do hope Joui is still Death-leaning. Please it would make me specifically so happy.)

In any case, they took care of creature, even if it landed on top of Carina (ouch). Oh and the fan. Yes, the fan. Surprised that the fan does not, in fact, give the infamous paralysis ritual, which is what it was used for, and instead gives a zoomy ritual. Hanna does have multiple fans. According to Arthur's reaction, though, this seems to be the same one used to paralyze them, which I would assume would have the appropriate ritual symbol drawn on it. Ah well. Another ritual pocketed.

Upstairs and medical room (aka checkpoint before boss fight) and papers time, papers time, time to papers!

I actually don't remember too much about what they were talking about here, I'm pretty sure I was half-asleep when they were discussing lore. They looked over some more things with the black light (mention of a throne? like the Devil's?), they talked about the x-rays and the potential fact that Signore Leone had made a pact with the Devil when he was declared terminal with a heart tumor and BAM blood beast! Kinda sad that they didn't get to theorize more, but unfortunately this house is just full of horrors. I think I'll rewatch this section later.

Blood beast Signora Leone. MASSIVE. Rubens ran out into the hall, followed by Carina, because damn, short ranged weapons are a bad idea. (Head in hands, poor Balu....and with a paranormal Death spiral scar too...)

Believe it or not, these are screenshots from the same pause frame. Two very different emotions here.

At the very least, Arthur and Dante's sniper + echo dolor team attack came in clutch again (even if it was nerfed, rip Rakin) and it was especially cool this time around because Dante's turn was right after Arthur's for this combat. It really felt like they were trading off, chaining attacks. Neat!

More lore. Did not catch all of it. New page for the Grimoire with the symbol of the Mascaras...? Or something...? As you can see I pay careful attention to this series and all of the important plot points and investigation threads when they come up because I am an attentive viewer. Have a squished Dante.

Then there was the funeral for Signora Leone and the rest of the Leone family---once again a symbolic funeral, because there's rarely ever any remains left to bury when someone dies in this series, unfortunately. One thing I've noticed is that when a person dies in the middle of a mission, the burial always starts with their closest loved one(s) digging a grave with their bare hands. Sometimes someone else starts to help, sometimes someone else goes and finds a proper shovel, but it always starts with someone getting on their knees and clawing at the earth. It's raw. It's personal. You know the risks of your line of work and yet you still weren't prepared to do this; you could never be prepared to do this.

Arthur being there to support Carina in this horrible time, using everything he's learned from his own heartbreak and his own families to comfort her... He, too, lost his family in the span of a day. He, too, never got the chance to say goodbye. He, too, never could have imagined that something like this could happen. And Carina, just like he was, will also be saved by her new family---her team. So he gets on his knees beside her and helps her start to dig the grave. He tells her they'll carry the memories of their parted loved ones with them, and they'll continue fighting those bastard Occultists for the ones who are still here, and that the rest of the team will be here with her, always.

EVIL that Guaxi had Arthur pull out this photo. I get why, but EVIL.

A detail I love: in the middle of Arthur explaining all of this to her, calmly offering reassurances and comfort, at some point he hides his face and makes a furious expression---not the first time he's done this. I love the little peaks into how Arthur is really feeling about all of this bullshit. He's trying to stay level-headed and collected, presumably for the people on his team, but damn, it still hurts, and he's still pissed off. Just because he's showing less emotion than he used to doesn't mean he doesn't feel it.

Rotating Balu as well. He said he joined the Order looking for vengeance, like so many others, and everything that his vengeance and hate put him through wasn't worth it. so he left. "It’s better to live a life with a smile rather than with hate, even if it’s forced. You’ll see it’s not worth the pain. [...] I want to be the protagonist of my own story, I don’t want to just be the guy that hates others." Implying that letting yourself be moved by nothing but hate signifies a lack of agency over your own life LIKE YEAH. YEAH. THAT.

Clarissa continues to be stubborn. Everyone handles grief in different ways, and her taking a painful dig at Rubens is certainly a response---hurt people hurt people. Good on Rubens for simply leaving that conversation, it was going nowhere good.

Team sleepover on the (bloody) couches after making some food in the (bloody) kitchen in the (bloody) murderhouse! (If I had a nickel for every time etc etc.) Carina's conked out on the small couch mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, Arthur and Dante are sharing the big couch and you cannot tell me Arthur is not drooling on him, Balu is sprawled out in one of the arm chairs, and Rubens has fully curled-up-crammed his body in the other.

The arrival of the rest of the Order really felt like the arrival of dawn. Agatha my beloved little alarm clock. Love how Carina, Rubens, and Balu jump when she shouts into the room and both Arthur and Dante barely stir. Something tells me they're used to this. And Ivete! She's here :D Things are feeling a bit lighter. Carina got to tell her sister that she deserves a day to break down and be a mess. Supporting each other <333

And oh, yeah. I feel physically ill about this. In a good way. More stuff about the Marcados being connected to each other by their players. And more stuff to imply the players are themselves entities of the Other Side if I squint, too. Foaming at the mouth.

"Liz would reveal [to Carina] that hate solves nothing, and the love of your family is much stronger." SO SOMEONE ON THE DISCORD TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD'VE BEEN LIZ'S LAST WORDS TO JOUI IF SHE HAD BEEN ABLE TO SAY THEM. UNFORTUNATELY GABI WAS CUT OFF BY CELLBIT AS LIZ HAD CHOKED ON HER OWN BLOOD AS SHE DIED. ANYWAY. THINKING ABOUT THIS IN RELATION TO HOW JOUI IS NOW. CONSUMED BY HATE. Hard to say if hearing this would have done anything to "save" Joui considering that it was seemingly outstanding circumstances---the deal with the Mascaras---that really started him on that downward spiral in opd, though he was struggling before the Mascaras showed up and gave their deadline. Still. It's. A lot. Incredible coming from Liz, who in life believed herself to be a fundamentally bad, hateful person.

Does anyone still think about Elizabeth Webber because I think about Elizabeth Webber I think about Elizabeth Webber a lot actually I think tha

Bonus:

Fofoca (they are talking shit about you)

[captain-astors]

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for the tg head canons

Thank you! Why did I get so many 1's you all know my favorite critter is Furuta and I know most of you hate him (fairly) but I'll take it.

1. His whole thing is kind of just layering himself in caricatures full of the hypocrisy he finds so evident in those surrounding him while simultaneously mocking and irritating them despite how arguably he's exactly within the lines set for whatever position he's placed in. Hence the swing from compliant yet cowardly subordinate, to annoying, overconfident and toxically masculine V agent, and so on and so forth. That's a lot of words, allow me to summarize: Nimura's functionally intentionally ticking off everyone at once, but technically he's always the ideal person for whatever role it is. The Washuu King Kichimura is much the same because arguably he's the culmination of everything they wanted in a Bureau Director. He's commanding, intimidating, he's charismatic, he's terrifyingly efficient and if it was actually his intention I have no doubt he could've wiped ghouls off the face of Tokyo but it's not, and no one actually likes him because they're not supposed to. He plays the perfect role not because it's what he wants, but because that's how he shows how truly disgusting those people are. He's efficient but he completely lacks morals and boundaries, he's very masculine and commanding but effeminate and ridiculous in a conflict, he's intimidating but he's so evidently taking none of this seriously, dressing up in a ridiculous costume and calling it a party because really that's what the CCG does, it dresses up the atrocities so that no one has to feel uncomfortable about it. Kichimura dresses up the atrocities so that you feel uncomfortable about the present ones, and have to start thinking about the ones of the past- though it's kind of a thing that works only in retrospect because I imagine all the investigators were a little too focused on "Oh my god what is this guy doing" to realize it was exactly what they've been doing from the start cranked up to 100. All this to say it would be entirely in character of post-clown siege arc Nimura to wear heels and the added height would make a good distinction from the meek persona of Rank 1 Furuta. I REST MY CASE!

Also this is less of a headcanon and more of a thought which is why I'm sticking it here, but I find it hilarious that he's not actually that much taller than I. Can't even joke about biting his shins because I know multiple 14 year olds taller than this man. 2. You didn't specify a character so random person it is! Uta and Itori made use of Uta's kagune disguising ability to pretend to be a pair of famous food critics they ate once upon a time, and it started as a joke but they're in way too deep to back out now. They give the wildest reviews you've ever heard, but as long as they dodge around describing actual flavors and just talk about the feeling people eat their stupid fabrications up, and they find it hysterical. They've singlehandedly demolished the reputation of 3 perfectly respectable restaurants out of boredom and they don't even know what steak actually tastes like, they're beasts unleashed having the time of their lives. 4. Ship unspecified... Mutsukanae? Mutsukanae. Sometimes the two just collapse upon each other after a long day and wrap each other in a spiky, tangled mix of Bikaku and Rinkaku and pass out for an hour. They will not be moving, do not disturb them. 9. Probably just rampant projection but Seidou feel very ADHD ish to me. I have more thoughts on this but I'm too tired to explain it and I don't want to seem like I'm just slapping it on so ambiguous reasoning it is! 12. Kagune cloning and facial copying exists as a byproduct of extremely advanced aggressive mimicry (when a predator acts like the prey animal, or the prey animal's food source so as to catch them off guard) only certain ghouls are capable of the process by nature and they're considered powerful to a fault, however a large number of the already very small portion of ghoul capable of this will go their entire lives without knowing, because their parents were killed before they could be taught how to do so, and/or they simply don't have access to the RC needed to make a branching puppet and then separate it from their main body. If you manage to get yourself to that point in the first place however, (such as Uta) you're pretty much never going to have an issue reaching it again because one ghoul with that many RC cells in their system is formidable enough, but if you're your own hunting party have pity to the poor souls deemed dinner. But such a ghoul comes around so scarcely and leaves so few survivors that it's not even acknowledged by the CCG. Ghouls without this evolutionary advantage occasionally still practice a rudimentary form of it, so people are often cautioned against chasing after a child's silhouette in an alleyway if it looks a little awkward, as there's always a chance it's really a bikaku's tail or something.

[deviantartdramahub]

You know, sometimes I can understand those who say they're appalled with how things are going on DA, namely when it comes to the forums. Those of you who aren't American like me and beloved Katherine may or may not know that, on July 13th, someone tried to irreversibly harm a person of importance and ended up accidentally striking someone else before being struck down by authorities.

The response from other important people has been appreciated, but I've observed regular civilians do not share this comprehension of fairness and civility. This could be no more apparent from even those I thought may be friends in their true colors in responses/opinions than anyone else. It is above toxic when you think death and allowing making light of it and holocaust denial is fine, even if for a lack of catharsis (stuck up much? And people are still hellbent on what they consider the other issue, like even Mr. Crocker would call you crazy.)

I am not the kind of person who today is politically obsessed with constantly theorizing that certain people who share remote similarities with the suspect of WWII is a fascist, but for that reason, even those who are rightist can admit it is a very dark road to go down, and I wanted to use this as good timing to discuss with you what has been called the six kinds of holocaust denial, because they are all seen as holons of each other, simultaneously separate enough to treat as having exclusive characteristics but intertwined enough to share one umbrella of treatment, perhaps for the sake of DNI lists everywhere (these are all the same in the eyes of people who consider themselves wise).

Tragedy denial: This is the form of holocaust denial most people think of when they hear the term holocaust denial. This includes things like denying anyone was killed (which is a wrongful assumption, many, many people were killed), denying that there was a war, claiming the war was justified, denying the modus operandi of death, etc. There of course was a war, there were twenty million people killed by Adolf, and there were invasions. Even wars that happened thousands of years ago I would not tolerate denial of.

Victimization denial: This refers to anyone who, accidentally or intentionally, misrepresents the victim count of WWII. Do you really think that, every time someone out there says it was "only this group of people who were targeted" or "only that group of people", it does anyone any good? Many people for example completely throw away the fact that people with disabilities were targeted for about a decade before everyone else was targeted.

Perspective denial: This refers to people who, either genuinely or spitefully, listen to war stories and accounts of things that happened during the war and refuse to take it seriously. This is actually the most common kind of holocaust denial, perhaps you may have listened to the glorified accounts of the Allied Powers doing things like making lines of inflatable tanks and remarking it sounds fishy. But this is no less holocaust denial, because it all tangles together in places.

Intensity denial: This refers to anyone who makes light of the intensity of the war, most often through violating Godwin's Law. Every time you compare someone to the worst man who ever lived, you're not just casting an unjust shadow over that individual, you're also unshaming said worst man who ever lived.

Leadup denial: This refers to anyone who denies the context that led up to the war, in fact it is said it was leadup denial of WWI that led to the outcrying that led to WWII.

Aftermath denial: This refers to anyone who denies the things that the war has left us with, for example certain groups that were once scattered across the continent are either overinflated or underinflated. Complicitness denial also plays into this.

Some people are a shame to those they claim to stand by.

[taakitaki]

Omi × Akigumi

On how they would sleep together on the same bed

Banri

- Huddled up to Omi, arms usually kept to himself

- He likes it when Omi's arms are caging him because he feels grounded within them

- Omi usually wants to have his hand buried on Banri's hair though, he loves how Banri's hair feels on his fingers

- Doesn't want to admit that he likes to be cuddled during their 1st year of relationship

- Omi cooed him into admitting it eventually, but Banri is still embarassed to be seen by others while being held by him in his sleep. Who knows, maybe Omi can break Banri's shell and let everyone see how adorable Banri can be

Juza

- He likes being the little spoon to Omi's big spoon because having Omi on his back feels reassuring

- Omi loves being the big spoon to Juza's little spoon because he likes the smell of Juza's (strawberry-scented) shampoo

- Juza subconsciously grasps around for Omi's hands to tangle his fingers into while they're both asleep

- Omi usually wakes up earlier than Juza so Juza can eventually wake up to Omi's cooking

Taichi

- Juza lowkey wants Omi to wake him up when Omi wakes up so they can cook breakfast in the kitchen together

- Will always suffocate himself willingly on Omi's chest, arms wrapped SOO tight around Omi

- Omi wil always reciprocates the tight hug, their legs also tangling around each other

- Taichi "Who needs a blanket when Omi-kun's body heat is enough to warm me up???" Nanao

- Omi (Who needs a blanket when you're hugging your very own sunlight) Fushimi

- Omi wakes up first between the two but he always stays in bed to watch Taichi sleep. Taichi wakes up to Omi staring at him with those droopy eyes and his face instantly blushes

Sakyo

- Huddled together part 2, this time. Sakyo's also suffocating himself in Omi's chest intentionally

[idyllic-affections]

GODDDD FINALLY SOMEONE WHO SEES MY POV ON THIS 🙏🙏🙏🙏 i know it can absolutely be appealing to make the harbingers... less evil, but pulcinella is undoubtedly no better than his coworkers. they're all awful and i just embrace my problematic faves at this point LMAOAOSKSGKFJD i can't make them better, but as a writer, i can make them indefinitely worse!!!

PLEASE. PULCINELLA IS A POLITICIAN. HE KNOWS WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SAY IT. HE KNOWS WHAT CHILDE WANTS TO HEAR. HE HAS CHILDE UNWITTINGLY WRAPPED AROUND HIS OLD MAN FINGER!!!!!! AND CHILDE KNOWS. BUT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO TRUST SOMEONE (....so bro picked the politician? girl. even signora, who he pointedly Did Not Like, would have been a better option 🤨) WITH HIS FAMILY, EVEN IF IT'S VERY MINIMALLY... and in his mind, i think pulcinella is just naturally who he would trust more. i'm sure childe knows better, though. pulcinella definitely seems to treat him like some kind of pet though!

pulcinella and pantalone collaboration when? the politician and the capitalist. what a poor combination. it would be a shame if they worked together oh noooooo...... that would be so scary and unfavorable, i hope they never interact in canon because i definitely DON'T want to see what would happen nooo..... /sarc /lh

NO SAME. I AM SO NORMAL ABOUT THEM (<- lies)...... dottore and pantalone are so intrinsically linked in my brain. they are tangled like a thin thread and it would be virtually impossible to separate them. one can exist without the other, but not wholly, because ultimately they do not find other people as entertaining as they do one another. if the two needed to exist without each other, they would become very jaded. boredom would hit hard for both of them. simply because no one else GETS THEM..... to me, they really aren't all that different--i mean... heretical dottore and his equally so conspiracist husband. character studying pantalone for some time with the few crumbs that we have been given has made it clear to me that the reason they are partners is because they're serving the same goal, albeit for different reasons (i believe on dottore's behalf, it is because of sheer manic curiosity, while pantalone has beef with the gods LMAOO). and you know, dottore might actually be the calmer one in their partnership, and i think that's fucking HYSTERICAL.... they're soooo married. dottore is the only one who understands what the fuck pantalone is talking about. and vice versa! they're divorced (they had a couples squabble and pantalone huffed and claimed they were getting a divorce because he "cannot put up with this"), they're married, they are everything all at once.

i would also like to add this, from my other moot and i's brainrots: sometimes pantalone throws a bag of mora at dottore and hits him in the face. intentionally. and dottore picks up his glasses by the lenses. they hate one another (lovingly). <3

AND DOTTORE AND SCARA i can entertain the thought of them but not in a romantic way, because their dynamic is SOOO fucked up and it's very very fascinating, but definitely not romantically AKSLFLHSK they're so codependent it's crazy. good for scara for leaving though!!!! nahida is a good guardian figure for him, i think. she's gentle but firm in the most insane way. she really looked dottore in the face and said "ok, but consider: what if i killed us both 😐" ANYWAY THAT'S OFF TOPIC.... dottore and scara's relationship. dottore has been gaslighting him for the last like, 400 years????? and yet the contradictory way scara behaved about dottore... it's so painful but makes a lot of sense from a psychological perspective. he didn't like him but he NEEDED him at one point. and i think in a way dottore did have the vaguest sense of fondness for him, but sort of like pulcinella's fondness for childe. but even worse! hyv is so insane for that i don't know how some people still don't see the subtle dark undertones in this game pleasejskshskfnf

you're so right about this, though. i definitely think there was just the smallest friendship there. not even a friendship, really, more like a "i tolerate you because you are more preferable than my other options" kind of way. AND YEAH people don't talk about it much, i suppose it isn't an insanely popular headcanon, but i really do like to think they were close. i don't know why. but something about them feels like they were close, and you're right! it could definitely have been how defensive she was at signora's funeral. even if they weren't close, arle definitely respected her at least a little bit. i don't necessarily ship dottobina (you're so right btw she's soooo aroace but in the eldritch being above romance way.....) but i see content of them and smile a little. they're silly. esp columbina and webttore. she harrasses all of the clones for fun fr... before sumeru, anyway. but they also definitely do criminal behaviors together HELSJSKGNF and yes i agree!!!! the top three totally have that kind of dynamic. totally agree with the headcanons btw. columbina is SOOOO a biblically accurate angel to me. she fell from celestia. i feel it in my bones. capitano doesn't cross my mind often BUT yknow what? abyss monster capitano, who childe has a big fat crush on, so real 🫶🫶 it is real to me!!!! that dynamic could be VERYYYY funny, i think. AND GOD. UNCLE PANTALONE. AND CHILDE WHO HAS NOOOO FUCKING IDEA WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT. real. childe just awkwardly nods along. bro does NOT know what to say. i am a big pantalone enthusiast (i wonder what gave it away AJKWHWKAGNF) and i think there's something so funny about him rambling to his unsuspecting coworkers who don't know what the hell he is saying. especially childe. the victim of choice /hj /lh. arlebina thing is totally valid, as i am becoming more acquainted with eldritch characters and their habits i am less of a fan of arlebina than i was once. i think eldritch characters just feeling no compulsion for romance is very neat and cool! AND SO TRUE them being married in the commedia always makes me wonder what their dynamic was like before signora died. fwb so true. they smiled when they talked to each other but then turned around and went "can't stand his/her fake ass 🙄" and scara's concern for her. that was always so interesting to me. it was subtle, but it was there... and she really did NOT care HELP????

GOD. YOU ARE SO CORRECT. the way they say those kinds of things but then just not care is so fascinating, and i think it really is just because they're all the same. there is no moral high ground among them. what judgement is there to be had? who among them could possibly be "good" enough to make such judgements? not a single one of them.

LMAO I GET IT but please prepare for/complete your midterm first 🙏 the ideas will always be there (not if you have a goldfish brain like me but that is what we have notes apps for AJSLAHAJFBFH)

moot. the tags. your tags on the fatui harbinger found family post. they got my brain working. i am having thoughts and i think you might enjoy them. SORRY FOR RANTING IN YOUR INBOX BUT THE THOUGHTS....... they cannot be contained in the idea prison that is my brain

I AM HEARING YOU OUT. SO SO HARD. they are not like the bubu pharmacy found family, they are not like any of the mondstadt found families, they aren't even anything like nahida + wanderer's found family even though wanderer WAS a part of the fatui harbingers' found family at one point. they are not like any of those people. they are so much worse. because the fatui harbingers are so inextricably bound to one another by sin and anarchy to the point where even if they downright despise one another, there is nothing to be done about it, because they are the ONLY people on teyvat who understand one another on that grossly and uncomfortably personal level...... and they all probably hate it, but they also know it is 100% true. because there is literally nowhere for them to go, even if they wanted to leave (scara is the odd outlier; he paved his own way out i think) because there is not a single sane person on teyvat that would welcome them with open arms the way the tsaritsa and the other harbingers do. the fatui harbingers are so inextricably linked with sin and chaos that they can no longer separate themselves from that, especially the ones that seem a little less sane than the others (dottore pantalone signora arlecchino etc).

i think there are varying levels of dependency among the harbingers, like.... childe and pulcinella. it's one-sided, i think. childe relies on him but he does not rely on childe. pantalone and dottore, who make each other worse every day 🫶 i was talking about this with another moot and we agreed that they perpetually make one another more vile and awful. i think they consistently feed into each other's vices. pantalone funding dottore's experiments and dottore entertaining pantalone's heretical and conspiracist tendencies. and then scara and dottore. maybe sandrone and scara at one point. maybe arlecchino and signora before she died (i feel like they were close 🙏 women supporting women yk 🙏🙏). columbina and dottore! capitano, columbina, AND dottore. capitano and childe. there are a lot of dynamics to be explored.

but anyway.... teehee. i do think they have a dynamic of dependency, just with varying degrees depending on what pair you look at. the dependency can be discarded in some cases. i think childe could get over pulcinella if necessary. but in other cases, the harbingers are SO deeply intertwined that the dependency just cannot be dropped so easily.

tldr they are a genuinely dysfunctional found family in the most honest sense of the word 🙏🙏🙏 they destroy one another and they are all aware of that. and they may or may not be fine with that fact, depending on which harbinger you asked.

would they kill for each other? maybe. maybe not. would they die for each other? no LMFAO probably not, but they definitely have a twisted, messed up kind of affection for one another.

they know how to irritate one another. they know how to calm each other down. they know each other uncomfortably well and they cannot do anything about it 🫶🫶🫶

MOOT YOU'RE SO REAL FOR THIS. YOU GET IT. THEY'RE SO HORRIBLE WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER. THEY'RE DOING THEIR MESSY, CRUEL, AND (periodically) VIOLENT BEST. also oh my god no your thoughts are always welcome! i was actually delighted when i saw this HAHSHSHSH

also you're so absolutely correct on their dynamics. contrary to all the fanart i think childe and pulcinella have a sort of from-an-arm's-length relationship; it's implied that pulcinella is probably just showing affection to childe's family as a way to threaten/control him and childe — bless his heart — thinks he "seems genuine". keyword: seems. so while childe does display some level of trust he also doesn't completely take the plunge, y'know? i like to think that pulcinella is simultaneously looking out for childe but also trying to keep him on a leash. he is genuinely fond of childe but he also views him as the tsaritsa's attack dog. so yeah childe is kind of like. a pet LMFAO a really dangerous, potentially harmful pet that pulcinella can't help but be fond of but also knows that he has to keep him under snezhnaya's control.

you and the other moot are so correct on dottolone. i ADORE dottolone it's genuinely my favorite ship in genshin (notice how even in my x reader fic i couldn't help but include them LOL). toxic old men yaoi ftw. they're so fucking awful for one another and they do make each other worse but neither of them mind it. it is actively encouraged. with them it's a very twisted kind of love — the kind that consumes and devours until there's nothing left. the kind of love that requires you to give up all of you because there's no telling where one begins and the other ends. these bitches are married and thrice-divorced. they are on their way to another. they will become exes-with-benefits and then get married again.

also on the topic of dottore and scara. i'm not a big dottoscara person but i do admit that their relationship's got a little kick to it. not necessarily romantic but insanely co-dependent. both being rejects/outcasts?? longing for acceptance?? the amount of insane projecting?? tatarasuna in its entirety?? the give-and-take relationship during their time in the fatui?? what the hell was going on with them. ALSO 'you're still too naive if you think a few words will be enough to convince me to destroy the doctor' still boggles my mind. dottore was threatening haypasia, scara's first follower, someone scara shows a lot of possessiveness over (not to mention scara is already very antagonistic towards dottore even without knowing the truth. there is no love lost between them) and THAT'S his response??? bro.

i like to think there was a weird friendship between sandrone and scara. wanderer doesn't like her based on his voicelines but if he were forced to pick any harbinger to talk to it'd be her. still doesn't like her tho lol. i also hc arle and signora to be close! esp with how defensive arle was during her funeral. columbina and dottore are sadistic partners-in-crime. i'm not very big on dottobina but i do like them as a queerplatonic relationship. the top three (capitano, dottore, columbina) for me are like those kids in the honors class who've literally been stuck together repeatedly for years atp so there's a kind of strange camaraderie between them. they sit together at lunch. they (dottore and bina, i don't think capitano would) complain about how hard their jobs are but are the most efficient at it. i also think all of them are hundreds, perhaps even more, of years old (proud follower of biblically accurate angel columbina and abyssal monster capitano headcanons) so they've been stuck together for centuries. childe having a big fat crush on capitano is really funny and i love it. to add: pantalone going on tangents around childe like a particularly annoying uncle and childe just having to nod along is hilarious. i think there's a lot more to them than we know of? aside from that, childe is also heading debt collection which is adjacent to pantalone being in charge of snezhnaya's finances so. hm. the fatui women are all friends and have sunday brunch. i like chiscara too i think it's funny esp when psychological warfare and violence is used as flirting. arlebina is okay i don't really ship columbina w anyone bc she gives off aroace vibes. not even that really it's just that she's like a primordial being beyond things like romance AHDJEJDJWKA. pantalone and signora are two-faced friends who talk about each other behind their backs and (since they were married in the commedia) probably were fwbs at some point in time. scara showing the most miniscule concern for signora and warning her to not get herself killed was really interesting to me — and also how she so casually insulted him? hmm.

ALSO. GOD. they know each other's real names and each other's backgrounds. they are the only ones who do. i think it's fascinating that they canonically hit each other with the most brutal insults ("you're only number 6 because you can take more abuse than other humans" was so out of pocket like. SIGNORA. GIRL) and it's all brushed off without a care. i think in a way it's a comfort — what judgement could there possibly be from those exactly like them?

anyways. the fatui harbingers are a grotesque, co-dependent, and very toxic little found family and i adore them in their entirety. lord god i want to write a fic about them now 😭 i still have a bio midterm....

[shortpplfedup]

Anatomy of a Scene Two Lovers In Two Moments: An Interplay, and a lot of thoughts about intentions

Hey. You didn't go back to your dorm?No. I wanted to be with you more.Why are you all wet?I just went swimming. Didn't you hear anything?

I Promised You the Moon, Episode 3: Memory Recall Director: Meen Tossaphon Riantong Cinematographer: Koi Boonyanuch Kraithong Score: Vichaya Vatanasapt Cast: Billkin Putthipong Assaratanakul and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn

Ah, the cursed scene. I've included Teh in the pool as part of this scene because I think this whole thing together is important for making both an in-universe and a meta point about intentionality. The fact that this point in the story is where we see their first time and not the point when it actually happens is intentional. Putting Teh in that pool and directly calling back to the float/sink/kiss scene in ITSAY episode 4 is absolutely intentional. Remember:

When I don’t want to control anything, I release my breath and let myself sink. Damn, that feels so nice.

Putting Oh Aew in the sunset tee (Teh's tee remember btw) and directly calling back to the bedroom scene in ITSAY episode 3 when they were so hot for each other is absolutely intentional.

Everything the creators put and don't put on screen in this story is intentional. And I love that. This is the story they're telling, and they're using all these writing and production and direction techniques to tell it well. They aren't shying away from it, and it's bold and controversial and people will hate it and they still didn't shy away from it. Art. And hey, some people think a piece of art is bullshit and they hate it and that's valid because art is personal. For real, ask me about Hemingway sometime if you want to hear me go off on Bullshit Art I Hate...lol.

On its face, completely contextless, I find this scene so beautiful, two lovers reuniting. In context it's sad, unsettling and a little gross, because there are real true feelings tangled up here, and Oh Aew doesn't know about any of them. These two not talking to each other about how they feel until things blow up or collapse and they have no other choice is honestly going to be the death of me. But I digress.

I don't think anything Teh says or does in this scene is a lie. If it was just about Jai or just about the play and had nothing to do with his feelings for Oh Aew at all I feel like it would be easier for me to think of Teh as a villain, because that would be deliberately cruel. But the fact that part of his intentions are his love for Oh Aew and his very real desire to go back to the way things were, for me evidenced by him returning to the water, returning to that specific moment in their history where he first was able to express that love in a physical way, means that I can't see it that way. Teh's trying to find something he thinks he's lost, not realising it's right in front of him.

Oh Aew also has his own intentions in this scene; he is also trying to reconnect to Teh. In this part of the story Oh Aew is trying to find a new way to feel loved inside of his relationship with Teh without losing the self he has found. He is wearing Teh's clothes and calling back to a time when he and Teh wanted each other so badly to feel closer to a Teh who feels very far away. And when Teh comes to him on a night when he had already said he wouldn't, and makes love to him like THAT, he feels like something that felt like it was fading is full of life and colour again, and he embraces it wholeheartedly.

From a technical standpoint, the cross-cutting technique used to connect the present moment with the flashback is extremely effective both in and out of context. The camera coming into focus on the flashback at the same time the score shifts into a higher key is a moment designed to feel like a revelation, a breakthrough. The mirroring and repetition of specific gestures and touches between the past and the present, while the physical looks of the characters are so different are the button on the scene: things are different in so many ways, but some things are the same. Oh Aew looks gorgeous in both the past and the present, because we're meant to see him the way Teh sees him in the past, and the way Teh isn't seeing him in the present. The blue lighting and shadows of the flashback made me sad and nostalgic for what was, for a time we hadn't even seen up until now other than the aquarium scene (another scene in blue light and shadow): a time when they were together, completely, 100% in sync and totally hot for each other.

This scene was something I desperately needed and wanted to see and when we got it I almost wished they hadn't shown it to us because it's so HEARTBREAKING.

[lea-andres]

Okay, we have Brenda Hernandez, and her apartment in San Fran, as well as her house in Green Hills when she, Tangle, and Jewel move there shortly after the events of Sonic 2.

So first up, here's our Brenda! Sorry about the quality, I was fighting a losing battle with my screenshot software on my laptop, so be glad we have anything at all. 😭

(Not depicted, her committing crimes and driving Wade crazy. 😂)

So, my first movie fic is Meanwhile in San Francisco, where Brenda, while searching for Sonic, stumbles upon Tangle and Jewel in an alleyway. She brings them home to her tiny San Fran apartment:

Which was livable when it was just Brenda (and occasionally her younger brother Damian coming to visit her), but it gets a bit cramped with Tangle and Jewel there too (especially with Tangle being as hyperactive as she is).

Brenda was already saving up to get a bigger place before she'd met the girls (although she was originally planning to stay in San Fran), but when she eventually finds out Sonic's in Green Hills (toward the end of Meanwhile, and just after the events of Sonic 2), Brenda purchases a house there and the three move. (The reason Brenda was able to get a fairly sizable place was 1. She had been saving up to try to purchase a home in San Francisco, and 2. Now that Sonic and Eggman have battled in and destroyed the town twice, the prices of houses there have plummeted.)

There's the outside, ignore the sidewalks outside, Brenda lives closer to the woods than she does the center of town.

There's the backyard, featuring Tangle's pirate ship themed jungle gym! Brenda allowed the girls to each make one big toy request for the new place since they now had the space, and Tangle wanted something outside she could climb around on without worry of it breaking or her getting in trouble. It's probably a bit smaller than the Sims one in actuality, but oh well. 🤷

You're going to notice the house is very sparse in terms of furniture, and that was intentionally done. They're moving from a small apartment in a big city to a two story house in a small town. They barely have any furniture... For now. Once we get into the second fic (name still pending) of their adventures in Green Hills they will accumulate more furniture and the place will be less empty. 😂

That's the first floor. All the furniture they have is either 1. From the apartment 2. Already there when they moved in or 3. Brenda quickly acquired it from Facebook Marketplace or garage sales or someone setting it out by the curb to be thrown away and it was still in good condition.

Second floor! The girls' obtained a better bed and some new furniture (Brenda's prioritized getting them more/better furniture first.) They were each supposed to each have a room, but Tangle and Jewel act like Brenda's separating them forever whenever she suggests getting them different beds/rooms, so that's why there's a guest room and the girls are still sharing. 😂

They got a little play area too! They still have the toy box, but they gained a little craft table, a little chair to sit in, a bookshelf, and the purple thing is Jewel's big toy request: her dollhouse! She wanted a dollhouse for Kit (and whatever other dolls she's accumulated by this point LOL. She's getting at least one more over the course of Meanwhile.), which wound up having to be a custom build. It's almost as tall as Brenda (American Girl dolls are 18 inches tall, trust me when I say their dollhouses either get super long or super tall. People typically make them out of Ikea bookshelves!), but Jewel can fly so it's okay. 😂

And that's all the floors we care about! I haven't decided if they have an attic and/or a basement yet. We'll come back if I decide they have either or both. 😂

[2-fast-2-curious]

Let Me In Your Ocean

Masterlist for Peter Parker

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Original Request: Can you please write a Peter x reader where he makes her squirt for the first time and she's kind of embarrassed but he thinks it was super hot?

Warnings: oral (female receiving), embarrassment, dirty talking, intercourse, fingering, unprotected sex

Words: 2400

Author’s Note: Peter’s an adult in this one. So it’s Peter’s first time making you squirt. I feel like you can tell how sexually frustrated I am by the turn around time on my requests. Kind of inspired by Swim by Chase Atlantic.

You were painting your toenails as you and your friend engaged in your weekly catch-up call. She had moved away after school so the two of you made it a priority to keep in touch.

“We had our fourth date yesterday and after the movie, I asked him if he wanted to come in, and you know.”

You bit your lip as you concentrated on keeping the polish on the nail of your baby toe. “Yeah? And?”

“Best sex of my life. We could not keep our hands off of each other and we were so in sync. He just knew...you know what I mean?”

You made a light humming noise to fake agreement, you could not relate to her at all if you were honest.

“Y/N, are you still there?” Your friend asked.

You broke the awkward silence and answered her question. “Peter and I aren't really like that.” It wasn't that the sex between the two of you was bad, your sex life just wasn't as uninhibited as your friends. It was good, Peter was respectful to you and your boundaries and very sweet.

“Right, are you still hung up over what happened with that jerk from a couple years ago?”

Your blush felt as deep as the maroon varnish covering your toes. “It was really embarrassing, okay? Forgive me if I don't want to screw up the first decent relationship I've been in.”

“You said it yourself, Peter's not like all the other guys before him, he's special to you.” You smiled, thinking about your boyfriend, you were currently in one of his hoodies, you loved to bury your face in the material and just inhale the scent of clean laundry mixed with Peter. “Besides, maybe it was just a one-time thing.”

“It wasn't a one-time thing, it's happened when I'm by myself too.” Usually, when that would happen, you'd lie to Peter and tell him you had changed the sheets because you thought the old ones needed to be washed.

“Wait, so has Peter never made you come before?”

You scoffed, “Of course, he's made me come” Lots of times, sometimes even multiple times a day. “I wouldn't be living with some guy who couldn't give me an orgasm, it's just that when it feels too intense I'll ask him to hold off until I can reign myself in before we start again.” Peter had stamina unlike any other guy you had been with and it worked well in your favour.

“As sweet and gentlemanly your boyfriend seems I guarantee you he's had to have seen it happen before in porn and shit.” You applied the shiny clear top coat to your toes, you smiled imagining Peter's lustful expression as he jerked himself off. “Who knows Y/N, maybe it'd even turn him on.”

You were preparing a sarcastic retort when your friend's phone chimed. “Oh shit, that's the guy from last night, is it okay if we wrap it up and pick up next week.”

You agreed, you had pretty much exhausted every possible topic under the sun and the two of you exchanged your goodbyes.

“Hey gorgeous,” Peter said kissing your cheek. God he was so quiet sometimes you didn't hear him when he came in. “I love the colour.” His arms were wrapped behind you and he was planting light kisses on your neck. He picked your foot up in his hands, playing with the toes. “I think the colour's going to look even better when they're over my shoulder and down my back, don't you think?”

Normally you'd giggle at Peter's attempt to be suave but something about his words and demeanour had your parties dampening. Were you actually buying Peter's dirty talk for once?

You turned your head and giving Peter some kisses on his jawline.“Babe, how much of my conversation did you hear?”

“I heard enough.” Peter began moving the hoodie off of your shoulder, giving little kisses to your shoulder and back. “All this time I thought you were my sweet innocent princess that I needed to take things slow with.”

Peter’s hands roamed underneath the hoodie, discovering you weren’t wearing a bra. He pinched and pulled at your nipples as they stiffened under his touch. “Who knew I had such a cock hungry slut on my hands.”

You moaned, as a response to his touch and his words. You helped Peter take the hoodie off of you, leaving you in your underwear. Peter shifted his position so his mouth could have access to your breasts. “You have the most amazing tits baby girl.”

Peter pressed kisses all over your chest occasionally swirling his tongue around the areola of each breast. You signed blissfully as Peter sucked on each breast. “I'm going to kind of rough with you tonight, is that okay baby?”

“Oh Peter, that would be more than all right.” You replied you licked your lip as you watched Peter strip off his clothes so he could be as naked as you were.

You reached your hands out, tracing the contours of Peter’s muscular torso. “If you want me to stop just yell cinnamon and I will stop whatever I'm doing, no questions asked.”

“That sounds perfect.” You had never had sex that required a safeword but you trusted Peter and you knew he would never want to intentionally hurt you.

Peter threw you over his shoulder. You always had no idea how he was able to do that. But Peter never made you feel any less than secure when he lifted your feet off the ground, his grip on you was steady, never showing any chances of wavering. As you made your way to your shared bedroom, Peter had his hands on your butt, groping and smacking the globes of flesh. Peter moved his hands between your legs, touching the wet fabric of your panties. “Wow Y/N, you’re soaked.”

Peter stroked his fingers, up and down your panty covered seam, applying the perfect amount of pressure. “That’s all you Peter, I had no idea you were so filthy. Your dirty talking and naughtiness made me so wet, baby.”

Peter lifted your body off of his shoulder and dropped you in the middle of the bed. He crawled up on the bed so he was between your legs. He pulled your panties to the side and took a moment just to admire the sight. Your soaked pussy, pulsing clit and plump labia lips, every part of your pussy was so tempting when it was exposed like this. All these parts of you were waiting for Peter’s tongue and hands and he didn’t know what he wanted to do first.

Peter placed each of your legs on either shoulder and buried his face between your legs. He swiped his tongue in a zigzag motion revelling in the taste of your wetness. “Tastes so good baby, your little pussy is so fucking juicy.”

“Just for you, babe” You replied from your perch on the mountain of pillows. Peter burrowed his tongue into your cream coated hole and added his fingers, lightly pinching your clit.

“You ready for my fingers?” Peter asked, collecting your wetness to lubricate his fingers.

You nodded. “Yes, Peter, I want you so bad.”

You bucked your hips, showing Peter you wanted him closer. Peter added one finger, testing the waters before adding another, you were so pretty, looking down at Peter with your lust blown expression, your pussy hugging his digits.

“The most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen. Why doesn’t my girl show me how much she loves my fingers by fucking herself on them?” You bounced yourself a couple of times on his fingers as Peter turned his attention to kissing the soft skin of your breasts.

“Such a good little slut.” Peter took over as he moved his fingers, causing you to mew helplessly. He lightly kissed your clit as he continued fingering you, it couldn’t remember if his fingers had ever been that deep before, he expertly curled them, prodding the spongy surface of your G-spot. You couldn’t believe that your boyfriend was hiding a sex god underneath his sweet exterior.

You felt your orgasm coming, your breaths were getting shorter and you were feeling light-headed. “Peter, I can’t...”

“If you really want me to stop you know the magic word.” Peter looked up at you through his lashes, he loved how vulnerable you looked, at that moment, your pleasure was completely at his mercy. The eye contact between the two of you showed Peter that you could trust him and that was enough to make you come right then and there.

“Peter” You panted “I’m going to-” Peter was relentless, going back to suck your clit into his mouth. “If you don’t want me to-”

Peter released your clit from his mouth momentarily. “Trust me Y/N, I want you. All of you.”

You let out a moan, not caring if the neighbours were going to complain. “Peter!” You screamed his name as he stimulated your g-spot and clit. You could feel your wetness gushing out of you, all over your boyfriend and bedsheets, and Peter eagerly lapped up what he could.

Despite Peter’s actions, you still felt deeply embarrassed, your cheeks were hot and you pulled the covers up, over your head.

Peter crawled up your body, caging his body in with his arms, preventing your escape.“Hey, what’s wrong, Y/N?”

“I’m sorry.” You tangled your fingers in Peter’s wet curls, you weren’t sure if that was sweat or you.

“What are you sorry about?” Peter asked tracing patterns on your wet thighs. “That  you squirted on me?”

You nodded, still refusing to look at Peter.“You don’t need to apologize for that Y/N. If anything, I should be thanking you. You gave me a front row seat to the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” Peter gently cupped your face, turning you so he could kiss you deeply. You could taste yourself on his tongue.

The two of you continued kissing, Peter pulled you closer to him and you could feel his hardness pressing against your bottom. “See how hard you made me? Baby, that’s all you.”

“Peter, I want you inside of me. Please. I want to make you cum, I want to make you feel as good as you made me feel.” You straddled Peter, grasping his cock and jerking him to make sure he was nice and hard. You rubbed Peter’s length against your thigh to use the wetness to ensure he would enter you with ease.

“Take me, Y/N” Peter said gently pulling your hips so the tip of his cock gently pressed against your entrance. You sunk down slowly, you were already so wet. “You feel so good, Y/N.”

You knew that Peter received pleasure from pleasuring you and genuinely enjoyed eating you out due to how vocal you were. You didn’t mind that tonight wouldn’t be one of your marathon sex sessions. Especially after you had come so hard earlier. Your velvety folds always consumed Peter’s thoughts, sometimes it was hard for him to concentrate on anything else. And there was so much to see as you continued to ride your boyfriend, your breasts bouncing freely, your face twisted up in pleasure. One of the hands were on your hip, keeping you steady as his thumb brushed against your clit. His other hand was on your breast, squeezing at the mounds of flesh to his heart’s content.

“I think I’m going to...” Peter trailed off, as he flipped you over. He was now in control and was free to fuck you at whatever tempo, he saw fit while his hands were free to grab and play with whatever part of you he wanted.

“Please cum inside of me Peter, you always make me feel so good. All I wanna to do is make you feel good. Can you come for me?”

He buried his face into your neck, marking you. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” He swirled his fingers against your clit, lightly touching your sensitive lower lips that were wrapped around him so nicely. “But first, I want to make you squirt again.”

Peter punctuated his words with a couple of extra hard thrusts. “Can you do that for me, Y/N?”

Your face was pressed against the pillows so your desperate moans came out muffled. “Yes, I want to come around your cock so badly, I want to squirt for you and soak you.”

There was a symphony of sounds from you and Peter. His thrusts grew more erratic, your pussy was pulsing as you gave in to the intense sensation fully, shaking as your release coated your and Peter’s thighs. When you were finished you could feel his hot cum flooding out of your pussy.

You looked down at the mess between your legs that was dripping down onto the sheets. You began to move off of Peter so you could clean up the mess. But Peter kissed your temple. “Don’t worry babe, I’ve got it.”

He reluctantly slips out of you and you felt disappointingly empty. He wrapped you up in a blanket and carried you over to the chair in the corner of the room.

Peter stripped the sheets from the bed, threw them into the washing machine and grabbed new ones from the linen closet. You snuggled into the blanket as you watched your naked boyfriend be all domestic and shit. He was cute as fuck, you were the luckiest girl in the world. “So... what are you going to tell your friend next week?” He asked you as he tucked in the fitted sheets. You mentally made a note to have Peter in charge of the sheets from this point forward as his impressive arm span allowed him to finish the task relatively quickly

You held together your makeshift blanket dress with your hands as you sat on the freshly changed sheets.“I’m going to thank her for indirectly being responsible for the best sex of my life.”

[dontreadthistrashgarbage]

Pt. 10 (end)

Guerin had gotten the all clear from Charlie, so she headed home with Seyoon and her newest addition, a three month old samoyed puppy that she named Eneoji. She explained to Wow that the name was inspired by HEET but it was also apparent the name was appropriate for the boundless energy contained in the body of the still growing pup.

They both played with her and Guerin gave a demonstration on the training style she would be using with her puppy by teaching her to sit. Seyoon turned out to be very lenient on his criteria for success. Within three attempts Eneoji had learned to con treats out of him for free before Guerin jokingly banned him from teaching her anything.

Eventually Eneoji went into her crate in the bedroom and fell asleep, allowing Guerin and Seyoon to rest against each other on the bed. Both of them were quiet in their own thoughts as they absently stared lovingly at the sleeping puppy.

"I'm sorry." Seyoon said finally.

Guerin looked at him, puzzled, "Why?"

"For Eunkyung. Earlier." His expression was blank with a hint of stress in the corners of his mouth.

"Oh... you don't need to be sorry for that." Guerin shrugged. He looked at her cautiously and she smiled at him reassuringly, "You didn't do anything wrong. And I can't hold you accountable for others actions."

He looked down at his hands, "I should have done more to dissuade her before it escalated."

"Did you ever give her reason to think you liked her?" Guerin asked.

He looked thoughtful, "She was one of our makeup artists. We were all friendly with her. It could have given her the wrong idea."

Guerin scoffed, "It would be unreasonable for me to expect you to not be friendly with people. If someone develops a crush on you it's on them. If they choose to act on that crush it's still on them. What can you do, go around being rude to people?"

Seyoon's expression was still blank as he looked up at her, but his lines had softened. "I expected you to be upset. I feel like I've always been told that girlfriend get upset over stuff like that."

Guerin shrugged, "I trust you. If I didn't I wouldn't date you, the doubt would be too exhausting."

He still hadn't smiled, so Guerin pulled out the big guns. "Seyoonie. Seyoonaaaah. I like you. Kim. Se. Yoon." she said in a high voice, pushing into his shoulder with balled up hands. Wow was surprised into laughter at her sudden aegyo attack and pulled her pouty face into his chest to protect himself from further attacks.

"Yaaaaa." He moaned, feigning distress, "I wasn't ready for that." He pinched her cheek.

She winked and shot finger guns at him in response, "But I like Yoonie so much."

He pushed her away, clutching at his chest and rolling to end up face down at the edge of the bed, kicking his feet and then not moving at all.

She finally broke and started laughing, climbing over to him and shaking him, "I'm sorry I'm sorry don't die please." She pulled his limp body over and he flopped along, staring vacantly at the ceiling before spazzing and feigning a seizure. She laughed and moved away from his flailing limbs until he stilled again.

"Oh noooo, I killed my boyfriend." She sighed and lay next to him, "What a shame. There was so much I still wanted to do with him."

He suddenly rolled so he was over her, grinning seductively, "What kind of things?" He asked.

She licked her lips instinctively as her chest tightened in response to his sudden proximity, betraying her attempt to seem nonchalant, "Oh... you know..." her English slipped out as her brain failed her for a moment, "Going grocery shopping. Taking a trip. Meeting each others families."

"Ah, those kinds of things." He leaned in closer, "Is that all?"

Her breath hitched and her words completely failed her. All she managed to do was shake her head.

"What else?" He asked, his tongue peeked out from the corner of his full lips as he teased her, grin still in place.

She decided words were for chumps, reaching up she pulled him down into her kissing him intensely, tangling her legs with his and pressing her body up against him as much as she could. He returned her fervor, using one of his hands to push her shirt up, exposing her bra. She took his hand and placed it on her breast encouragingly, inviting him to escalate. He broke away from her mouth kissing down from just behind her ear.

"Seyoon." She managed to gasp.

"Mm." He paused and pushed himself up to look at her.

"Do you..." she started.

"I have condoms." He stated eagerly.

She laughed as a knee jerk reaction, "Good to know, and I'm on birth control anyway. But I guess that does answer my question." She pulled her shirt off and started working on his.

"What was the question going to be?" He kept his head enough to he curious.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to have sex tonight." She smiled up at him, patting his chest, then rolling so she was straddling him.

"Yes." He went to hold her hips but she took his wrists and pinned them up by his head as she looked hungrily down at him.

"Thank god." She moved down to capture his mouth with hers.

Woojin had carted HEET to Guerin's favorite park by the Han river where they met up with Charlie. Guerin was intentionally a couple minutes late and hiding to make sure everyone was there before her, fully equipped for a playdate with Eneoji. Once she was sure everyone was there she snuck up as quickly as she could. She was about ten feet away when Charlie spotted her and gave up the ghost.

"Oh my god! Guerin what is that?" She demanded in a high pitched voice. The rest of the group turned curiously to see Guerin approaching with her new puppy. Eneoji was bounding along fluffily by Guerin with heart stopping cuteness. The reactions were varying degrees of excitement with one exception. Minhwan was surprised but looked nervous and hung back as the others surged forward.

Eneoji darted around everyone, clearly excited as they all tried to pet her. She moved so fast the ones lucky enough to touch her had brief encounters at best. Guerin hung back, watching everyone with a grin, holding the end of the long lead she had put her puppy on.

"Everyone, this Eneoji!" She said. The boys all sounded off in approval, happy to have been the inspiration behind the name.

"She must be our mascot!" Gabriel said as Eneoni had finally stopped running long enough to squirm into some enthusiastic petting from him.

Guerin laughed, "We'll see how she likes the idol life."

Everyone eventually settled to the ground, petting and playing with Eneoji. Seungbin had settled close to Guerin. He had been extra clingy with her since she had returned as their manager, she figured eventually he would feel secure enough to return to normal so she allowed it. While Eneoji flitted from person to person she did still make frequent stops to check on her new mom, often throwing herself into her lap for a few moments before getting up to play with someone else. Guerin encouraged the behavior, often cooing at her new pet, enamored with how adorable she was. What Guerin didn't notice was the increasingly sulky looks Seungbin would throw Eneoji's way each time Guerin's attention was stolen.

Guerin did notice, however, Minhwan didn't try to pet the puppy even once. One time Eneoji started to approach him and he leaned away, reaching out and grabbing Woojin's sleeve for support. Tobio managed to divert Eneoji, unintentionally saving their leader.

"Minhwanie," she got his attention, "Are you afraid of dogs?"

He looked embarrassed, "I don't... know dogs. We never had any or any friends with any."

"That's okay!" Guerin said encouragingly, "Do you want to work on it?"

He looked nervous at the thought, but Woojin then shook the arm that Minhwan was still clinging to, reminding the young man of the fearful reaction. Minhwan dropped his hand, apologizing to Woojin.

"You should try. She's very cute." Woojin suggested.

"Yeah... yeah I can. If noona is going to have her around we should at least like each other." Minhwan nodded tentatively.

Guerin began explaining as best she could in Korean about dog body language, showing how comfortable the pup was, but also showing what it looked like when someone tried to hold her paw. She then demonstrated a quick relationship building training session before asking Seungbin to try one as well so she could talk through how it went with someone Eneoji wasn't as familiar with.

Seungbin went along with it but he seemed to agree out of obligation over an actual desire to participate.

He started mimicking the training the Guerin had shown, teaching Eneoji how to respond to her name, or a sit. The puppy was so eager to work that if he took too long to ask for a behavior she would climb up onto his lap and try to give him kisses or barking and wagging her tail for attention. Seungbin's demeanor changed from annoyed to amused and finally when Eneoji ran in a circle and jumped into his lap he stopped pushing her off and instead hugged her, burying his face into her wriggling fluffy form cooing about how she was too cute.

Guerin had Minhwan try next, seated next to him. He only fed treats and offered gentle touches. He was still nervous by the end of the session but admitted he felt a little better.

"We can keep working on it. It takes time! You did really well I'm proud of you." She rubbed his head and slung an arm around his shoulder as she watched Seungbin sprinting around with Eneoji and, surprisingly, Tobio. All three seemed to have been running from Gabriel who had dramatically rolled onto the ground.

As the sun started to set the group had resettled. HEET was taking group and individual selfies with Eneoji and uploading them to SNS using Guerin's and Woojin's phones. The fandom, Joules, had a strong positive response to the puppy pictures and videos.

"Oh they're here!" Charlie perked up suddenly.

"They...?" Guerin sat up straighter and looked around.

"Yeah, I took the liberty of adding to the surprise." Charlie grinned, standing up and brushing herself off as Guerin spotted A.C.E and Minseok headed toward them in the orange light of the sunset.

"A.C.E Sunbaenim!" Byoungjin had been sitting closest to the women and overheard them. He stood up as the rest of HEET and Woojin reacted, greeting their hyungs. Tobio was holding Eneoji who had started to nap, but she woke up with the movement and recognized Wow. Scrambling out of Tobio's arms she ran over to him who automatically crouched down with arms open and a big grin, giving her energetic body scratches before squishing her face and kissing the top of her head.

Charlie had meandered over to Jun who, despite being distracted, managed to greet his girlfriend. The two groups all exchanged greetings all with a freshly revived puppy introducing herself to the newcomers.

Guerin felt her heart rate increase when she saw Seyoon, and melted at how happy he and Eneoji had been to meet again. After their night together she had to forcibly stop herself from dwelling on flashbacks. Maybe she was projecting but it seemed Jun and Charlie were having similar issues as they kept stealing glances at each other.

"Hi Noona." Seyoon had made his way to her, with his usual alluring smile in place. Chan and Byeongkwan had taken over with Eneoji for selfie time, a challenge given that she was trying very hard to kiss them both on the face any time they moved close to her.

"Hi Seyoonie." She smiled as she battled her one track mind. Guerin was offered a distraction as Minseok approached the two of them with Donghun.

"Noona, can we post our selfies with Eneoji?" Donghun asked.

"That's a question for Minseokie, isn't it?" She glanced to their manager.

"Since HEET already posted pictures with her it would make it pretty obvious that HEET and A.C.E spend unofficial time together. Kim Hyeim approved the pictures but said to ask Han Jisoo first."

"I'll text her and ask." Guerin said, pulling out her phone. She had an inkling that given Jisoo's adoration for Hyeim as well as being able to capitalize on the newly debuted group being affiliated with a successful established group like A.C.E, there wouldnt be a problem. Jisoo's response was a simple approval but Guerin knew her friend was probably secretly stoked.

Jun had the fluffy puppy up pressed against his face for a selfie with Charlie when Guerin shared the approval. The two groups got group photos and paired off for personal SNS accounts. Byoungjin and Chan, Seyoon and Seungbin, Minhwan and Jun, Gabriel and Beyongkwan and Tobio and Donghun all paired together for selfies as well.

Unfortunately as the darkness deepened Eneoji began looking more and more tired so the outing had to end.

"Oppa, do you have to go now?" Guerin overheard Charlie ask Jun. The two had separated from the group that was saying their farewells. Guerin whipped around, catching Charlie's eye. Guerin could only see a little bit of Jun's face, but his shoulders had raised slightly as he responded to the term of affection with a wide smile.

"O P P A??" Guerin mouthed at her friend, unable to resist teasing. Charlie gave a small shake to her head, which of course Jun noticed who then got to see Guerin unable to keep her chill.

"Opppaaaaaa." She wiggled her shoulders at the two of them as she cooed the nickname, "Oppayaaaa. It's dark and oppa should walk Charlie home." She pouted.

Jun looked mortified and Charlie was ready for murder, "Guerin if you don't shut your mouth right now I swear to God there won't even be a body to hide." She threatened in English.

Guerin couldnt help but laugh when she felt a familiar arm across her shoulders, looking over to see Wow as he spoke, "I think it's cute. You could call me Oppa."

Jun snorted in disbelieving laughter and Guerin scoffed, "You? Oppa? Hah. Maybe Daddy if you play your cards right." She winked as Charlie hid her face, ducking behind Jun to laugh. The commotion caused the others to look over.

"Noona? What happened?" Seungbin came over as Seyoon dropped his arm from her shoulder, ears red but grin still in place. Guerin looked into the sweet face of the fifteen year old idol.

"Ah, it's nothing. I was just teasing Wowie." She lied badly but she wasn't about to explain daddy kinks to her youngest charge.

Seungbin frowned curiously but didn't press.

Time passed, HEET had made two comebacks and were planning a third soon. Eneoji had debuted as their official mascot, often part of their promotional materials and being featured in their photo books and music videos wearing the neon yellow and white fandom colors. Tobio in particular had gotten an interest in training her with Guerin and had creative ideas about how to include her, but Seungbin and her were particularly inseparable and could often be found napping or lounging together in waiting rooms or recording studios. Minhwan had gotten much more comfortable with her but still wasn't sold on dogs as a whole. Byoungjin and Tobio had written the title track for their third EP that earned them their first win, and Gabriel had come up with the design for soon to be released lightning bolt shaped lightsticks.

Charlie had accepted a full time position at the zoo and moved into her own apartment which made things go much more smoothly for her and Jun.

Sometimes gossip articles and criticisms still cropped up about A.C.E's relationships with Charlie and Guerin, but by and large Choice and Joules supported the groups, who kept working hard, not letting their relationships get in the way of their dream. It helped that the two women were also passionately invested in their careers.

Nothing could be perfect. Guerin and Seyoon were aware that hardship was ahead, they hadn't talked about it at length, but it was looming ever closer. A few days after their one year anniversary the two of them were cuddled up with Eneoji on the couch.

"Guerin." Seyoon said suddenly after a period of comfortable silence. Guerin looked up at him, it was odd that he had chosen to use her chosen name so plainly like that. His expression was difficult to read but some of his personal tics revealed that he wasn't going to be talking about something good.

"Yes Seyoon?" She asked him, sitting up a bit to look at him more clearly, unable to help being somewhat nervous.

"We should talk about my military enlistment." He looked determined and uncomfortable as dread filled her. This explained why he had been so quiet and distracted since their anniversary celebration. "I didn't really want to think about it a lot. But I will be enlisting soon."

Guerin nodded as he spoke, nervously licking her lips and blinking, eyes feeling the strain that threatened tears. She fought to keep her expression neutral but he didn't look up at her.

A million thoughts and scenarios had been plaguing him for a while now, increasing exponentially as he reached 28 and knew he'd have to act soon. On top of the stress of being in the military he had worries about A.C.E, but they had done okay without Chan so he knew they could continue on. Additionally they had increased greatly in popularity, especially internationally. But the uncertainty lay largely in what to do with his relationship with Guerin.

"I think I'm going to enlist in the Army." He added, stalling as he suddenly felt somewhat lost.

"So, that's eighteen months right?" Guerin asked unnecessarily. She had done research and even asked Byoungjin and Woojin about their expereinces.

Seyoon nodded, "It's unlikely I'll get a lot of time to see anyone. Communication is limited too..." he trailed off. Guerin clenched her fists, "It's not fair for me to expect you to wait a year and a half."

"Kim Seyoon if you're breaking up with me I'd rather you not drag it out." Her voice broke as tears started to fall.

His eyes wide he looked at her for the first time since he had started talking. "Break up? Ya, why are you crying?" He asked in shock, "Stop, stop crying." He took her face and wiped her tears away, then pulled her against him.

"Well it sounds like it. You're scaring me." Guerin's voice was muffled as she hid her face in his shirt to disguise further tears.

"I don't want to break up with you. I just... don't want to be selfish and ask you to wait." He said as he wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly.

Guerin took a minute to compose herself before pulling away from him to respond. She took his hands and kissed each of them before she spoke, "I want you to be selfish and ask me to wait for you. I want you to ask for letters constantly. I want you to miss me and long for the days you can come back to me. I want you to fight through until you're back in my arms. I want that because that's what I want too. I don't want you to leave me at all but that's not an option so instead I want you to get through it for the future when we're together again. I know I'm going to feel all those things too and it would crush me if you found it easy to be away from me. I want you to be selfish because I am being selfish and if you are too then at least we can get through the suffering together." Her tears had started up again.

Seyoon watched her in silence for her whole speech, helping her wipe her tears as she continued. He waited a beat to make sure she had finished, moving toward her he kissed her lovingly, ignoring the dampness of her face. She returned the kiss, a little desperate from the fear she had felt about possibly losing him.

He ended the kiss slowly, then hand his forehead against hers, "I love you." He confessed. It wasn't new, they had said it to each other, but he felt the moment demanded it.

Guerin smiled and gave him a peck, tears no longer falling, "I love you too."

"When I get back, let's get married." He said suddenly. Guerin sat back in shock. Her emotions were in disarray. The past few minutes had been chaotic but she had gone from believing Seyoon was breaking up with her to this sudden proposal. Was it even a proposal?

"You want to get married when you get back?" She parroted back to him.

"We could get married before I leave, but it would be rushed. If we wait until I get back we can plan a wedding with enough time for our families to both be involved." He said sensibly.

Guerin was gobsmacked.

"I love you. Noona. Go Guerin. Paisley. I love you and I want to keep loving you forever." He said with a big smile. Guerin found it positively cute, but not in an exaggerated aegyo way that the two of them indulged in. It was genuine and pure and sweet and her heart swelled as she looked at the man that she believed to be the love of her life.

She stammered then laughed in shock, "Yes, let's do it. Let's get married."

"Now?" He asked perking up.

"No. Well. Maybe. I dont know! Let's figure it out later. Kim Seyoon I love you, I love you so much." She crashed into his arms kissing him as they laughed through the embrace. Flashes of their possible future with this weird, adorable, dedicated and handsome man went through her mind. The matrimonial thoughts inspired the two of them into a mood shift, until Eneoji awoke to the mess that was her human parents and decided to interrupt the flow by trying to join the laughing couple.

-End-

[taeyangdyb]

Giving love a shot part 57

♡Jae’s views♡

I can’t believe I am a mother now. Me Jaeha with 3 kids? If I look back at my my life, fifteen to twenty years ago, the thought of marriage give me rash, but now now I’m married with children.

Right now I’m in the room with Jay alone cause our friends and family are respectful enough to give us some privacy to process the whole thing.

Jae: so Jaehoon came out first uh?

Jay: yea, you know considering the fact that we almost missed him, I thought  he’d be last. You feeling alright?

Jae: are you alright?

Jay: I don’t know, so the hardest part of our lives begins now, ready?

Jae: you?

Jay: yes, because I have you. You should also feel that way cause you have me and we have each other.

Jae: you think we’ll be alright?

Jay: truth or lie?

Jae: make me feel better

Jay: well then, we’ll be great 

After going back home, it feels like my whole life and world change. The first few days, I might’ve cried a day or two, but I can’t cry cause my husband would cry whenever I do.

It’s strange, how much I Han Jaeha- wait I Park Jaeha, you know how SERIOUS I take my sleep, something tells me that I won’t be sleeping anytime soon.

My son is a  little gentleman,  he only fuss or cry when he need something, but the girls I feel like They're bothering me on purpose,  they cry one after the other. I’m not going to lie, I cry along with them.

Jay’s been doing his best, we tried taking “shift” like I take naps during the day, and he take naps at night. But regardless we still  help each other out.

Someone asked me why can’t I pay someone to watch the kids at night so I can sleep. They are my kids, why would I do that? When I can watch my own kids.

I try to document every little moments, cause before you know it, they’re graduating school and getting married. 😥😣 too soon Jaeha. Too soon..

《Jay’s views 》

The past few weeks has been, words can’t describe great feeling of holding my babies. Jaeha as been remarkable as if she had kids before.

Even though we split the shifts, she still does most of the works. She never complain that she’s tired, or sleepy or anything. I know it’s hard for her, I know my wife, we’ve been together for a while now, and many things I’ve learn is that Jaeha, doesn’t like to ask for help, even when it’s difficult, she handles everything by herself.

The other day I walked in the room and find her crying, she gets annoyed. I did some research and find out she has post partum depression, I didn’t know what that was until I realize that Jaejae was doing the exact same thing.

She stops caring for herself, only worrying about the kids, she get scared even when they’re peacefully sleeping. I think she feels like I’m not going to love her, because of how much her body has changed over the past few weeks, even before that, she always had that insecurity that, I’m going to leave her once she gets old.

Truthfully I’m the one that afraid that someday she’ll leave me. Speaking of let me go check what she’s up to.

Walking in our room I find her looking at herself in the mirror almost in disgust.

Jay: you like what you see?

Jae:*sigh, walks away*

Jay:*pulls her back* what’s wrong?

Jae: nothing

Jay: babe, come on

Jae: it’s just….. I’m ugly, my hair is all tangled… I’m a mess *starts crying*

Jay: okay first of all, don’t ever call yourself ugly ever again, and-and look at me I have a mustache

Jae: and you look pretty hot with it, lucky you  *She say while crying*

Jay:*smile* awe thanks babe, and you’re right I am lucky. I’m lucky to have you as my life partner. Look, my parents are coming over, how about we let them watch the kids, and we have a date.

Jae: date? We’re going to to leave the kids at home by themselves?

Jay: baby no, my parents will watch the kids, and Mo the lady you trust and raised you will be here, let’s just take a night just for us. Please. I know you worrying about the kids, and I am to, but I’m more worrying about you. You have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of them.

After managing to persuade her, she agrees only if we stay in. After that we took care of the kids before my parents get here, once they came, I start getting ready for our date.

Since we’re staying in, I know exacly what to do. I start by running Jaeha a bath since it’s one of favorite things in life. Go in her closet and pick her a dress.

Minutes later she walks in surprise.

Jae: babe? What’s going on? What’s all this?

Jay: for our date

Jae: but I thought we were staying in?

Jay: we are, come on *takes her in the bathroom*  there go in

With her sitting in the water I sit on top of the tub to brush her hair.

Jae: aren’t you afraid that my hair is going to get in the water?

Jay: things like that doesn’t bother me. Do you know how many times I wake up with you hair on my face, all over my pillow.

Jae: *exhale* this feels nice. *leans her head on his knee, and holding on to his leg*

Jay: Jaejae

Jae: mhmm

Jay: I want you to know you’re not alone, you have your friends, parents, and you have me. If something is wrong with you, you have to tell me. The same way It hurts when our kids are crying and we can’t do anything about it, it hurts me 10 times more when you are crying and I can’t do anything to help you. I dont want you to be crying in the closet by yourself, or wait till I’m sleeping. If you need to cry I’m always going to have a shoulder for you to lean on.

Jae: I’m just afraid

Jay: afraid of what?

Jae: that you’re going to leave me, for someone cuter, younger, with a better body

Jay:  Jaeha, baby that is never going to happen. I’ll will never leave you, till death do us part remember. I will never love any other woman the way that I love you, you are the love of my life, and that will never change. if anything I’m more afraid that you’ll leave me

Jae: why would you think that?

Jay: because I’m always hurting you.

Jae: not intentionally, but the hard work has just begin.

After her bath, we go for our dinner.

Jae: where are we going?

Jay: well we’re going to have dinner by the golf course.

Jae: how romantic

Jay: well I figure you need some air

Jae: awe babe

Jay: I know you hate wet grass so, the sprinklers,  will be a bit late tonight.

Jae: *smile*

We had dinner, talk, laugh, I couldn’t be any more perfect. After eating we walked a bit and then head back in our room.

Jae: so what now?

Jay: whatever you want

Jae: how about a massage?

Jay: I’m at your service

Jae: no, this time I’m at your service. You worked equally hard. And I’ll help you strip *wink wink*

Jay: Jaejae, as much as I would love to get a massage I have a feeling we’re both are going to end up naked.

Jae: *walk up to him* would that make you happy?

Jay: very

Jae: okay then, let’s get naked

We had a great night for once in a while. It feel great being able to wrap my arms around her again.

Jae: shouldn’t we go check-

Jay: the kids are fine, let’s get some sleep while we can *pulls her closer to his chest* goodnight

Jae: love you

Jay: love you to babe

After she fell asleep I couldn’t help but feeling teary a bit. I spent most of the night, just admiring this woman, I cannot believe how far we’ve come.

I’m not going to say that she’s looking old,  but looking at her now and years before, she look more mature. I love taking time to just admire her, when she’s sleeping cause she gets embarrassed about it if she’s awake.

After Jaejae gets into a deep sleep, I went off to check on the kiss. Knowing them at this time they’d be awake  for food.

Walking in, my parents were feeding them.

Mom: you’re awake?

Jay: yeah I wanted to check on these guys first.

Dad: they’re good.

Mom: were you crying?

Jay: *sits on the floor* I was just looking at Jaejae and I couldn’t help it.

Dad: what?

Jay: I’ve known her for almost 10 years. In that time I realize that I dont deserve her. I’ve cause her more pain than she deserve. It freaks me out more now, I feel like one day she will have enough and she’ll just get up  and leave with the kids.

Dad: then stop hurting her, that’s just your past catching up to you.

Mom: shouldn’t you be comforting him?

Dad: Jaebum is not a kid anymore that needs to me comforting anymore. Your a married man now, you have a son that’s going to look up to you, what exactly are you going to teach him?

Jay: the worst part about it, is that she’s always taking my side even when I’m dead wrong. I really can’t count with one hand the amount of time she has embarrassed or disappointed me, but the amount of times I’ve embarrassed, humiliated, and diappointed her, was good enough reasons for her to say no 10 times when I asked her to marry me.

Dad: so now you’re having regrets?

I spent an hour talking to my parents. My mom tries to suggacoat things when she’s talking, but my dad on the other hand just tell  me to man my ass up.

Jay: I should probably go back, before she gets up and starts looking for me. I’ll see you guys later.

*next morning*

She’s not on the bed I know exactly where to find her.

Jay:*looking at her playing with the babies*

Jae: hey good morning

Jay: morning *sits next to her*

Jae: *kisses him*

Our kids are growing up very fast. It’s cute the girls are friendly, but my son, he is a serious momma’s boy. He will go to people but as soon as he sees or hear her voice, he doesn’t want anybody else.

He has a weak stomach, he vomits everything as soon he eat. The doctors gave us medicine, it’s actually working.

Jay: how’s it going?

Jae: well so far I’ve got sneezed on, vomit, drool and peed on. So I guess where having a very productive morning. Hoonie hasn’t thrown up yet, and I fed him 15minutes ago

Jay: You ready for today?

Jae: not really You?

Jay: not at all

Since Jaeha and I have the worst luck we have to take our kids to the doctor for a check up…. *sigh* also the dogs to the vet. It’s not like it’s just Gajeel, she has 3 pops.

You all know how she cares about this dog, like it’s her first child. So we’re about to take our kids and grandkids to the vet. I know I’m drinking later on.

Jae: you ready for today’s challenge?

Jay: yes let’s do it.

First it’s starts with taking the kids a bath, you put on their diapers and then they poop before you even finish with the other one. This woman sanely got evrything done, pack snacks for the kids, the dog, and me.

It shows me how strong she is, and if we didn’t have money and you know all the extra help that comes with it, she’d do fine. She’d be better than fine.

When we finish we load up, 3 car seats, dogs and head out.

Jae: okay everyone and everything is on board. 

Jay: can I ask you a question?

Jae: fire away

Jay: how can you do all of this? Do you have kids somewhere else?

Jae: it just come naturally. You automatically knows and see what you have to do.

Jay: just the dogs would drive me insane

Jae: because they dont listen to you.

The kids are doing great, except for Mr weak stomach, but the medicine are helping. They each have to take two shots, and they’re going to hurt.

Jaeha cry of course all 3 of her kids are crying. I’m just here feeling sorry for everyone. After that we head out to the vet.

Getting to the vet, they doing check up all you can hear is Jaeha’s stomach going off.  She forgot to eat or pack anything for herself.

Jay: you gonna eat anything?

Jae: I forgot to pack mine, but I’m not really hungry

Jay: baby, come on stop doing that.

Jae: I forgot, Hoon was throwing up, and I forgot.

Jay: you want to share mines?

Jae: no there’s cinnamon in it.

Jay: I’ll go buy you something

Jae: babe, I am fine.

Jay: I do not care, I’m getting you something.

After 3 hours everyone fed, and changed we making our way back, but first I have to stop to get something for Jaejae to eat and then stop at illi office.

She fall asleep as soon as I started driving. I cannot believe I’m driving a car listening to nursery rhyme.

*Illionaire office*

Dok2: you coming in?

Jay: cant, I have my family in the car they’re all out.

Dok2: I can’t believe this, You? A family man now, with a car full of kids and dogs. How is it?

Jay: fantastic, you just have to give up sleep ing for a few years.

My life is hectic right now, but I dont think I’d want it any other way.  

[kittygolucky]

Ok I've seen this before and love this theory but I've decided to add on to it and combine it with the pink side theory.

I don't think the X is virgil. I don't think the pictures are for the darksides, well I do but I also don't. I think it's for the sides who *aren't in the video* Virgil is in the video and therefor wouldn't have a picture to represent him. I do agree with the crown and scales for Remus and Janus (also scales is a pun to the fact he's a snake and I love that). But I think the X and the graduation cap are for an orange side AND a pink side. Also another layer is that if the theory that each side sort of counters another one (we'll go with Roman and Remus, Patton and Janus and Logan and Virgil as they seem to be the most common pairs for the opposite theory (though personally I'm not sure they're the best fit)) does that mean that Orange and Pink counter each other? Because that would be interesting to see and it could work considering we technically have two core or "light" sides countering each other (Logan and Virgil). Also another thing that I thought of in the middle of this rant is, is the reason that the symbols are so faded and hard to see (other than not making it too obvious they're there or important) because the "darksides" are repressed (either intentionally or unintentionally) or because they haven't been introduced yet? That would be another interesting detail if it's true. Also (yup just gonna shove a whole bucketload of theories in here I guess) what if the X isn't an X? Because I have a picture of the background as well because I remembered the original theory post a while ago and wanted a photo of it and mine is a little less blurry than the one up there and I noticed something which is that there are little bits that go in on one of the lines (or possibly one way it's actually two lines and mine is just a bit blurry as well) so it could be something else, especially as it seems very simple and basic compared to the others, for them you used bad rulers, bad justice, etc but there isn't anything really bad about an X so idk it just doesn't fit well for me.

Anyway I'm sorry for this massive chunk of text and tangled mess of theories and rambling. Hopefully someone likes it (and if not at least I'll have something to look back on and see if anything was true lol). I'm also gonna add my picture of the symbols underneath so enjoy that I guess?

The next dark side

Okay, no joke, I think I know what the next dark side will be

Alright, so let’s look at the title screen for something not many have noticed.

Now zoom in...

And let’s make it easier to see by me tracing over it and making the background more bright

Alright, so what do we see here? An X, a broken crown, a judging scale, and a graduation cap.

Now, the X represents Virgil because of the fact he left the dark sides and is missing from their group.

The scale represents Deceit, as he was a lawyer in SvS.

And Remus is represented by the crown, for obvious reasons.

So, that means that the next side will be represented by a graduation cap.

So what? That doesn’t tell us what they are!

Except it does.

Look at each of the symbols and tell me what job they represent to you.

A scale is obviously involved in justice.

A crown is royal.

And a graduation cap is for students.

Now, what traits do you think of when I say “bad justice”?

You think of lawyers lying and manipulating and doing anything to fulfill their own self interests.

Traits that are exactly what Deceit represents.

And what do you think when I say “bad royalty”?

You think of corrupt rulers who provide cruel punishments and who are promiscuous.

Traits that are exactly what Remus represents.

Now, what do you think of when I say “bad student”?

Your mind comes up with this student who is lazy, cheats, and chooses the easy way out while dragging others down.

Now, we could call this side laziness and be done with it, but there’s a topic in Sanders Sides that never seems to be resolved.

Logan hates this issue with a passion. Out of all the issues he fixed, he can’t seem to fix this one, no matter what. No matter what they do, they can’t fix it, because they haven’t talked to the side who represents it.

They haven’t talked to Procrastination.